June 2001© Newsletter|~!||~!|1254090779|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

I hope all of you and your families are doing well and are set to have a wonderful summer. I attended the ACAM (American College for the Advancement in Medicine) meeting in Nashville last month and much of the conference was dedicated to the presentation of alternative therapies for the treatment of cancer. Many of these therapies are not available in this country due to government restrictions, but are available in Mexico, Switzerland, and Germany. The results of some of these therapies are exciting and encouraging.

Freedom of Choice

In a few weeks the 4th of July, our Independence Day will be here. Many of us will be celebrating the freedoms we enjoy in this country. Americans are also demanding kinder, gentler alternative therapies to costly prescription drug based treatments. More and more states are passing legislation to ensure a person’s right to choose the type of medical care that is right for them. I am happy to report the Florida House and Senate just revised the Patient’s Bill of Rights to guarantee your freedom to pursue alternative or complementary therapies. It was their intent that you are able to make informed choices for any type of health care and not just conventional treatment methods. It also guarantees your right to access any mode of treatment you and your doctor are in agreement about as long as your health care practitioner believes the treatment is in your best interests and you have informed consent. Nutritional therapies work and about 150 million Americans now take nutritional supplements on a regular basis.

Biotics Research™ Supplements

When I attend the ACAM conferences, one of the things I do is to meet with several hundred supplement company representatives that have display booths there. One company that we are excited about is Biotics Research™. This company produces very high quality, pharmaceutical grade supplements in a state of the art facility in Texas. Their licensing would allow them to manufacture prescription drugs if they wanted. Many of their product formulas have their roots with Standard Process™ supplements. Biotics has a unique way of incorporating cultured plant material with naturally chelated minerals and vitamins to produce their supplements. Their quality control process is outstanding both in the raw materials end and in the manufacturing/quality control end. They produce both glandular products and also vegetarian formula products. Many of you are taking BioMultiPlus, their vegetarian multivitamin/multimineral and are having great results. We are finding Biotics Research™ products are often more concentrated than Standard Process™ products. Initial testing at the Center shows 1 Biotics tablet may equal 3, 6, or even 10 Standard Process™ tablets of an equivalent supplement. We will be switching some of the Standard Process™ products that you are used to taking to equivalent Biotics Research supplements. This means 2 things: you take fewer pills and the cost per month of your supplements will be reduced. There are some Standard Process™ products that are unique that we will continue stocking. If you prefer, we can always order any Standard Process™ product for you.

July Center Hours

We recently sent out a mailing informing you that the Center will be completely closed from July 4th through July 15th , and reopen 9 A.M. on Monday, July 16th. Dr. Erickson and the entire staff will be away at a retreat and planning session during this time. Please plan ahead so that you do not run out of supplements or medications during this time and contact Mona or Judy by June 23rd to give us time to place an order for you.

Success Stories

We at The Preventive Medicine Center appreciate the opportunity to serve you and your families. We always welcome your comments and suggestions. Some of you have written “Success Stories” about your treatment here that are placed in a booklet dedicated to our patients in the front reception area for other patients and potential patients to read. We encourage you to write a short (1-2 page) story on what your problem was, what brought you to see Dr. Erickson, and how your treatment
came out, including any “bumps along the way.”

Allergy Therapy with NAET

One story I would like to relate to you is about my 21 year old son, Mike. Since Mike was 2 years old, he was unable to eat chicken or turkey due to a severe allergy to poultry. At first this was just a “rash” on his skin. Before we realized what was happening, he went into anaphylaxis at a Thanksgiving Day dinner at Grandma’s, and I had to give him a shot of Adrenalin out of my emergency kit when he had difficulty breathing and his throat was swelling shut. The only thing he could do up until this year was avoid poultry. Then I learned about NAET (Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique). This is an alternative method (without allergy shots or medication) for eliminating allergies using acupressure therapy. After training with Dr. Nambudripad in Los Angeles last year, we have had many successes in treating allergies in patients. Mike’s big day came up a few months ago when I treated him. Needless to say, his mother was very nervous when I told him to go to the supermarket and bring back a chickenwing and eat it for the first time in 19 years. It took us 2 additional treatments to work everything out and he has now been able to eat chicken without any problems since that time. The treatments are usually permanent.

Many patients have food allergies and they can mimic other conditions. Your symptoms may not be as dramatic as my son’s but if you experience fatigue, bloating, gas, headaches, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pains or heartburn after meals consider food allergy. If you would like information about NAET or how to be evaluated, please feel free to contact the Center. Dr. Nambudripad also has published several books which go into details of how NAET works – Say Goodbye to Illness and Say Goodbye to ADD and ADHD. These can be ordered at a bookstore or can be purchased through the Center at a discounted price.

Odds ‘N Ends

Recently there were headlines in many newspapers declaring St. John’s Wart “ineffective for treatment of major depression.” The news stemmed from a drug company study funded by the maker of Zoloft. St. John’s Wart has never been recommended for treatment of major depression. At the ACAM conference, a psychiatrist from Harvard University talked to us about the over-prescribing of antidepressant drugs. These drugs can have significant side effects including dependency, agitation, weight gain, dry mouth, anger outbursts, and fatigue. He was particularly critical of Prozac. He pointed out studies from Europe where St. John’s Wart was as or more effective in the treatment of mild to moderate depression than Elavil, a tricyclic antidepressant, but has none of Elavil’s side effects. St. John’s Wart is the #1 prescribed product for mild to moderate depression in Europe, and requires a prescription from a physician over there. I should also mention exercise is often forgotten in the treatment of mild depression, and can be as effective as drug therapy and it works in many cases more quickly.

With the summer upon us, take precautions for prevention of the harmful effects of ultraviolet sun exposure. Vitamin E 400-800 IU daily and beta carotene 50,000 IU daily, both of which are antioxidants, are helpful against free radical damage caused by UV radiation. Take these the day before going out in the sun and again on the day(s) of sun exposure. And of course, use at least a
#15 sunblock that is PABA-free, putting this on 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and reapplying frequently, especially if swimming or exercising. If you are grilling foods on the outdoor grill remember to reduce the risk of food poisoning by keeping uncooked items in the refrigerator until they are cooked, and cook them to the proper internal temperature. Also, keep uncooked meat items away from salads and vegetables to avoid cross-contamination. And finally, once we get more rain, insects and mosquitoes will become a bigger problem. Try taking Vitamin B1 100mg three times a day as an insect repellant. It is excreted in the sweat and insects do not like the smell.

The next newsletter will come out in the Fall and the main topic will be on anti-aging therapies and hormonal replacement.


Have a great summer.


Dr. Erickson and staff.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| September 2001© Newsletter|~!||~!|1254090821|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

We at the Center hope you had a great Summer. We appreciate your referrals and patronage. As an introduction to this issue on Anti-aging therapies and HRT (hormonal replacement therapies), I’d like to share a true story.

Sarah (not her real name) was a bubbly lady in her early 50's who came to see me last year complaining of loss of memory. She had seen a number of other physicians for her problems and was told that her memory loss and fatigue were “just part of getting older” and she would just have to “learn to live with it.” She was taking all sorts of vitamins and supplements that didn’t really help that much, including Gingko Biloba. After careful questioning, she was also suffering from chronic constipation, severe fatigue, abdominal bloating, vaginal dryness and osteoporosis. She had previously undergone a hysterectomy and was placed on Premarin (a synthetic estrogen) and had also seen her gynecologist who tried different natural hormones which did not help her symptoms. Sarah was also taking Synthroid for hypothyroidism.

After initial consultation and evaluation were completed, Sarah was taken off Synthroid and was placed on a natural thyroid hormone along with a thyroid nutritional supplement. Her synthetic estrogen was replaced as well with natural, bio-identical estrogens (Estradiol and Estriol). Natural progesterone and testosterone were also added. Her supplements were checked for compatibility by Contact Reflex Analysis and those that were unnecessary or were not being absorbed were eliminated. Special whole food supplements were added.

Within four months her brain fog completely resolved, but her fatigue, although improved, was still present. A hair analysis was taken and showed elevated hair mercury and a subsequent urine test confirmed this and showed lead as well. Sarah decided to have her mercury amalgams removed from her teeth and later took an oral chelating agent to remove the lead and mercury from her body. Her supplements were also adjusted to support the detoxification process. Within a few months she was back to “normal” and today she not only is full of energy and looks wonderful, but feels wonderful as well.

Your Hormones and Aging

Sarah’s story is an example that one can’t have a satisfactory life if one doesn’t have satisfactory hormones. As we go from youth and health to aging and disease, hormonal changes are the single most important transforming factor. If you would like to stay healthy far into old age, full of energy and vitality, retaining youthful levels of your major hormones is like keeping the foundation of your house intact. Hormones are the fuel of youth. They fight infection, heal injury, cause you to grow, permit a good night’s sleep, balance the level of minerals in your body, adjust the burning of fuel for energy, help you deal with stress, and, of course, underlie your sex drive.

Fortunately, due to modern science and with the help of your compounding pharmacist, most hormones can be replaced with natural, bioidentical (i.e., identical to what your body produces as opposed to a synthetic drug) hormones in most cases. Some of the major hormones include estrogen, progesterone, insulin, adrenaline, DHEA, thyroid hormone, melatonin, HGH (human growth hormone), pituitary hormones, and hypothalamic hormones.

Menopause

From the 1940's to the 1960's, menopause was seen as an estrogen deficiency condition, and all women were treated with estrogens. In the 1970's and 1980's, although menopause was still considered an estrogen deficiency state, progestins (synthetic progesterone compounds) were introduced to control the problems that were occurring from estrogen treatment alone. We now know that the story is more complex and that there can be deficiencies in progesterone, the different estrogens, DHEA or testosterone. Menopause is currently being promoted almost like a disease state, rather than just another step in the path of life when a women stops menstruating. So there is a lot of confusion about what, if anything, that needs to be done to reduce risk factors and improve quality of life. The most common way of evaluating a women’s hormonal status is through measuring hormone levels in the blood or saliva.

Statistics show us only about 20% of menopausal women are on HRT. The biggest reason that more women are not using hormones is the fear of developing breast cancer. There is confusion both in the lay and medical press from “hormones” being treated as a single entity. The body produces three different types of estrogen -- estradiol, estrone, and estriol. Synthetic hormones such as Premarin or Provera are very different than the hormones the body makes. Natural, bio-identical hormones are just that – identical on a molecular basis to what a woman’s body produces. Another reason many women are not on HRT is because they have experienced side effects from improperly adjusted hormonal therapies. At the Center, Dr. Erickson uses both lab tests and Contact Reflex Analysis to customize each women’s HRT based on her body’s needs. These custom formulations can be in the form of capsules, liquid drops, trouches (lozenges that go under the tongue) or creams, and are made by a special, compounding pharmacist. Let’s look at some of the facts.

Estrogen

Estrogens are the dominant hormone produced by the ovaries. Like testosterone in the male, estrogens are anabolic (muscle building) steroids, only much weaker. Many of the physical characteristics of femininity are, of course, made possible by this hormone. Men also produce a small amount of estrogen, and as they get older, an enzyme called aromatase converts a certain portion of testosterone into estrogen. If this conversion is in excess, health problems and sexual performance problems can arise. At the Center we evaluate not only a man’s testosterone levels, but also his estrogen levels.

In women, estrogen protects the cardiovascular system. This is why women, prior to menopause, have a much lower incidence of heart disease and heart attacks than men. A large scale study called the PEPI study, showed menopausal women who were placed on estrogen lowered their risk of heart disease by 50%. If estrogen and natural progesterone were used together, the risk dropped to 75%. But if a synthetic progesterone (Provera) was used, the heart risk actually increased. This is significant information because almost half of all women die of cardiovascular disease after the age of 55. In another study done in the Kaiser Permanente health system almost 500 women were followed for 17 years, half of whom were on estrogen replacement. It was discovered that the death rate from all causes was lower by 44% in the women on estrogen.

It has been clearly demonstrated that estrogen replacement therapy reduces the incidence of osteoporosis by approximately 50%. Estrogen probably does not build up bone (progesterone and testosterone do), but it slows the rate at which bone is lost. Bone loss begins in a women’s mid-thirties and the rate of bone loss can increase ten-fold after menopause. Many women have lost a third of their total bone mass by age 60. One fifth of osteoporosis patients are men, and their problems generally show at a latter age. So taking calcium by itself will not do the job. Proper hormone levels are critical.

Estrogen is critical for proper brain function in both men and women. As a women’s estrogen levels decline, so does brain function – memory and mental sharpness lie under a fog, just as in Sarah’s case. In men, this is less of a problem because of the aromatase enzyme being so abundant in a man’s brain tissue, converting testosterone into estrogen. Researchers at the University of Southern California wanted to know if administering estrogen to postmenopausal women would prevent Alzheimer’s disease. They found women on estrogen were less than half as likely to develop Alzheimer’s. This has been confirmed in other studies as well.

Estrogen and Breast Cancer Risk

This is an area of controversy in medicine There is an increased risk of breast cancer with prolonged, excessive estrogen stimulation to the breast tissue, especially with synthetic estrogens and also xenoestrogens (estrogen-like compounds that pollute our environment from pesticides, plastics, etc.). These compounds and their metabolic
by-products can occupy estrogen receptor sites in the breast tissue and other areas of the body.

My personal belief is there is a big difference physiologically using natural, bioidentical estrogens such as Estradiol or Estriol which are identical to what a women’s body produces, and introducing a synthetic estrogen such as Premarin that is made from horse urine and is foreign to the human body. For one thing, the metabolic by-products will be completely different. An interesting viewpoint and one that I happen to agree with is one held by a nationally known research scientist by the name of Dr. David Zava. Dr. Zava worked at NIH (the National Institute of Health) for 12 years studying thousands of breast cancer biopsy specimens. What he found was in all cases of breast cancer, estrogen occupied the estrogen receptor sites in the breast tissue, but there was also no or very little progesterone occupying the progesterone sites in the breast tissue in these same patient’s. Dr. Zava stated he never saw breast cancer in a women with normal amounts of progesterone in the breast tissue. His viewpoint is that because progesterone regulates how much estrogen goes into tissues, it is the lack of progesterone that increases the risk of breast cancer in women by allowing elevated, unopposed levels of estrogen, including xenoestrogens, into the breasts. Unfortunately, some doctors have been taught that Progesterone replacement is needed only if a women has an intact uterus, and so a significant number of women who have had hysterectomies are placed on estrogen alone. In my opinion, this is dangerous. I am often asked about soy products reducing cancer risk. Soy products have isoflavones (very weak estrogenic substances) that work to reduce cancer risk by allowing estrogen receptor sites to be occupied by a very weak estrogen, preventing the site to be occupied by a stronger cancer-causing xenoestrogen. The incidence of breast cancer in Japan is very low, where high soy intake is prevalent. Interestingly, when Japanese women immigrate to the U.S. and eat a typical American diet, their breast cancer risk and incidence goes up.

If one looks at the facts, 1.5% of women over the age of 55 die of breast cancer, while 50% die from cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke. One in two women will have a fracture due to osteoporosis by age seventy. So the decision to take estrogen is a risk-benefit issue that each women needs to make for herself. To get more information on this subject I would suggest picking up a copy of Natural Hormone Replacement by Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. In the upcoming issues of the newsletter I will deal with some of the other hormones that we evaluate and treat patient’s for at the Center.

Vitamin B12 – Does It Work?

Would you like to boost your energy naturally? No, it’s not downing 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. In patient’s with a prolonged B12 deficiency, pernicious anemia and permanent neurological damage can result if not corrected. B12 is also critical to reduce levels of homocystine that contribute to hardening of the arteries and heart disease. Early symptoms of B12 deficiency include fatigue, memory loss, confusion, depression, and nerve problems such as numbness, tingling, unsteady gait and burning. In the elderly, B12 deficiency can mimic Alzheimer’s disease with impaired mental function. B12 deficiency is a lot more common than we think. As we get older, we lose both stomach acid and a substance called intrinsic factor that is in our stomachs that allows us to absorb B12, so taking oral B12 may not work. B12 is commonly found in organ meats and eggs. However, food levels of B12 have changed significantly. Eggs, for instance, have 800% less Vitamin B12 than they did 4 decades ago. At the same time our needs for B12 have increased due to the changing of our environment with more pollution in the air, water, and foods. I have never seen a mercury toxic patient at the Center that was not also B12 deficient. Going to your dentist and getting a little nitrous oxide gas for a dental procedure will wipe out most of your B12 in one visit. B12 is a critical vitamin in the detoxification pathways of the body and without it, waste products and toxins cannot be effectively removed.

B12 levels are commonly measured by a blood test, but this may not reflect low levels in the tissue or the body’s ability to convert cyanocobalamin into active B12 (about 25% of B12 deficient patients have a conversion problem). We use a special, preservative-free compounded B12 called Methylcobalamine, rather than the common cyanocobalamin that is commercially available. We find that because it does not require conversion
by the body into a more active form, it works better.

Sauna Program Update

In a previous mailing I discussed the Center’s Medical Infra Red Sauna Detoxification program. Our first two patient’s have successfully completed the Center’s sauna detoxification program and the results have been dramatic. The first was a patient who had undergone multiple surgeries and was feeling very fatigued, agitated, and mentally cloudy. She was a professional person and her work was demanding. She was concerned about all the anesthesia and prescription drugs she had been exposed to in the past. After undergoing 4 weeks of intensive sauna therapy she is now full of energy and the mental fog is gone for the first time in years. The second patient was a complicated case involving 57 year old man who had seen numerous physicians. Terry had fatigue to the point he could not work and would lie on the couch much of the day. He was having daily heart palpitations that were unexplained by his cardiologist, even after undergoing a cardiac catheterization and full work up. He was also depressed. Terry had documented mercury toxicity but was so sick he could not tolerate the medicine to remove the mercury from his body. He also had Wilson’s Syndrome with low thyroid system function, further compromising his ability to excrete toxins, but taking T3 therapy didn’t seem to help. He had also previously been exposed to numerous chemical toxins, including pesticides such as DDT where as a young boy he would ride his bicycle behind mosquito spray trucks. I felt that Terry’s body had bioaccumulated so many toxins, that unless these were removed no amount of supplements or medication would help him. After 4 weeks of intense sauna therapy he is back to work full-time and his energy is back to normal 75% of the time. He will continue to improve as his nutritional therapies can now work effectively.

The sauna we use at the Center is much different that the typical health club lava rock sauna. It is an infra-red low heat sauna that has a penetrating heat that warms up the person rather than the air, so it is much better tolerated for longer periods. Infra red heat penetrates the tissue 1-2 inches to mobilize toxins that are trapped in the fatty tissues. This same type of technology is used in Europe (hyperthermia therapy) to activate a person’s immune system to treat cancer. The sauna detoxification program is an intense, medically supervised 4 - 6 week program using vitamins, minerals and salts, special oils, and exercise to release and remove toxins that have accumulated in the body tissues over a life-time. It is a life-changing experience for many people.
|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| November 2001© Newsletter|~!||~!|1254090833|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

This is a special “early” issue of our newsletter that I wanted to make available given the events of September 11th and the bioterrorism with Anthrax that is continuing in the United States at the time we went to print. We all share in the upset and anger over the senseless attacks on innocent people that have occurred, and we also share in the prayers that the World community remains united against what is really a small number of insane people who do not value life or a free society. History has shown that freedom is not free, free men are not equal, and equal men are not free. We will win this war.

A number of you have expressed concerns about what to do given the Anthrax threat and all the media attention on this disease. I will let each one of you draw your own conclusions about anthrax, but my personal opinion that the media has exaggerated and sensationalized what is going. The risk to individual citizens being killed from this bacteria, in my opinion, is low. I attended an Alachua County Medical Society Meeting on bioterrorism this week and the bottom line was that huge quantities (e.g. tons) of anthrax material with a proper delivery system would be needed to do more than isolated damage. Here is factual information.

What is Anthrax and how can people become infected?

Anthrax is a bacteria that has been around for thousands of years. In nature, it is found in spores in soil (primarily in underdeveloped countries) and animals are usually the ones at risk. In the U.S., the disease is rare because animals are vaccinated against Anthrax. People very rarely can become infected from eating undercooked meat from infected or dead animals, and this causes a gastrointestinal form of anthrax characterized by nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal pain. There have been no reported cases of gastrointestinal anthrax in this country.

The most common way of becoming infected is by handling animal hides or wool that have spores on them, but even in this form the person would have to have a cut or break in the skin to allow entry of the germ. This could produce a skin (cutaneous) form of anthrax that is usually easily detected and treated with antibiotics. The lesions look like sores (pimples) that have “blebs” with fluid in them. The fatality rate is less than 1% with appropriate antibiotic therapy.

Inhaled anthrax, the most likely form for use in bioterrorism, is fatal in 80-90% of the cases unless treatment occurs within the first 24 - 36 hours of onset of symptoms (not exposure). In this form an aerosolized form of delivery would need to be used. Fortunately, it would take a very sophisticated delivery method to accomplish this on a widespread scale. Even among hide handlers who are at occupational risk and who inhale hundreds of spores an hour, lung infection rarely occurs, with the last case present in this county 25 years ago. Inhalation anthrax has not been shown to be contagious among humans. Cutaneous anthrax (skin type) could be spread if an open, draining sore fluid got on another person’s skin that was cut or abraded.

What are the symptoms of inhaled anthrax?

Symptoms resemble the flu and include fever, fatigue, malaise and sometimes a dry cough. These symptoms start anywhere from 7-10 days after exposure, but may take as long as 60 days after exposure. There is a period of improvement, followed by rapid progression into breathing difficulty, sweating, cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin and lips). Shock and death usually occur with 24 - 36 hours after the onset of these severe symptoms.

Does everyone who gets exposed come down with anthrax?

No. Anthrax produces spores, which are like “seeds.” Spores, like plant seeds, remain dormant and need proper conditions to germinate. It takes a certain number of spores, somewhere in the 8,000 - 12,000 range according to most infectious disease experts, before infection could occur. In inhalation anthrax spores would have to be inhaled deeply into the lungs. Just getting into the nose is usually not enough. This is why the disease is so rare. So when the news media reports “one spore” on a computer keyboard or in someone’s nose, this is not enough to cause disease. In other words, exposure is not the same thing as being infected or ill with the disease.

Will antibiotics work against anthrax?

Most natural strains of anthrax are highly sensitive to penicillin and Doxycycline (a form of tetracycline). Ciprofloxacin is reserved for use in resistant strains.

Should I start taking antibiotics “prophylactically?”

I do not recommend this. First of all, persons exposed to Anthrax have to take antibiotics for 60 days. Initially, Cipro was being used by our Government and 1 in 5 people were having adverse side-effects. Public health authorities have since switched to Doxycycline, now that they know they are not dealing with genetically altered bacteria, reserving Cipro should a resistant strain be found.

Second of all, taking antibiotics will kill off your natural (“good”) bacteria that provide resistance against other germs, and you may develop resistant strains of bacteria which can make you ill. This would also make it much more difficult to find an effective antibiotic if one was needed. Because the poultry and cattle industry pours tons of antibiotics into the feed of animals crammed in pens and feed lots, you are already being exposed to antibiotics in your food. This, along with indiscriminate overuse of antibiotics by physicians, has led to the many resistant strains of bacteria that we are now facing. This is why I suggest to each one of you to eat Maverick beef and Empire Brand Kosher chicken if you are not a vegetarian. These brands are available in Gainesville at Publix supermarkets and have no pesticides, antibiotics, hormones or preservatives.

Is there an anthrax vaccine?

Yes and no. There is a vaccine that can be made, but it will be used for military personnel only.

What can you do?

To answer this question, one must understand that in order for a person to become infected, a number of different things must occur, including a decreased resistance to infection or breakdown in the person’s immune system, or overwhelming exposure. The risk of getting the flu or bronchitis with the winter season just around the corner is much greater. Almost 20,000 people died last year from the flu in this country v.s. 4 people from Anthrax as of press time. Dr. Erickson’s recommendation is instead of focusing on the disease, focus on the terrain the disease would have to live in, your body. Do everything you can to boost your immunity to make it a healthy and inhospitable place for any infection to occur. Take antioxidant vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, E, beta carotene, selenium and zinc on a daily basis. The doses should be adjusted according to your body’s needs, and Dr. Erickson does this with Contact Reflex Analysis and lab work. Reduce stress as much as possible and get adequate sleep on a regular basis. Wash your hands regularly. If there is a question about personal items, they can be decontaminated with a dilute bleach solution (1 part household bleach to 10 parts water). You may want to limit exposure to large crowds. Steam from a steam iron will kill germs in an envelop as will exposure to ultraviolet light. These things sound very basic, and they are, but they work better than taking Cipro inappropriately.

Is there an alternative natural antibiotic that I could use?

If a person gets anthrax disease, antibiotics are the appropriate therapy. If there is no disease, but there is concern about what to do if you come down with a cold or flu-like illness, there is an herbal antibiotic that is useful and will allow you to avoid unnecessarily taking antibiotics. LDM-100 is an herbal product that we carry at the Preventive Medicine Center as a tincture. Our ten year experience with this particular product has been nothing short of a miracle. Dr. Erickson recently successfully treated a teenager (whose mother is a physician) who had West Nile virus from a mosquito bite with LDM-100 and had resolution of symptoms within 2 days. He has treated influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, strep, sinus and urinary infections successfully with this product. Dr. Erickson has a holistic laboratory make this product, ensuring quality control and a fresh source of the root. Lomatium Dissectum has been used by Native American Indians for centuries to treat both bacterial and viral infections, especially those involving the upper respiratory tract, skin and urinary system. It was used successfully by professional herbalists during the severe influenza epidemic of the 1920's. We have no documented studies whether it is effective against Anthrax. Dr. Erickson has requested County and State health authorities to test this product in this regard. It is not approved in pregnancy and natural coumarins in Lomatium may exacerbate the effect of blood thinning agents.

At the onset of a flu or sore throat we suggest you start taking LDM-100 per the bottle directions. If you are going to travel or be around a lot of people (e.g. athletic event, concerts, etc.), Dr. Erickson suggests taking LDM-100, one-half dropper prior to travel or the event. He and his family use LDM-100 before and after they fly on an airplane and are exposed to recirculated air. We have had our lab make up additional bottles of LDM. Contact the Center at 352-331-5138 if you wish for us to reserve some for you and your family.

SURVIVING HOLIDAY STRESS

As Charles Dickens once said, this is the best of times, this is the worst of times. He wasn’t referring to the Holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and Hanukkah. This is a time many people look forward to with mixed emotions. On the one hand the holidays hold a promise of warmth, gaiety, kinship with family and friends, and temporary escape from work. On the other hand, it is a well known medical fact that there is more anxiety and depression around the holiday’s than at any other time of the year.

Here are some tips to making it through this season.

• Don’t make unrealistic expectations of things being “perfect.” Every hostess wants to prepare the “perfect meal” for her guests. Every parent or spouse wants to select the “perfect gift” for their children and loved ones. The pressure of being “perfect” creates unnecessary stress. Life is not perfect. So don’t sweat the small stuff, and just do the best you can.

• If you are a guest, make a sincere offer to help . . . but then do as you’re told. Some people would prefer all the help they can get, and others want to do it themselves.

• If you can’t say something nice, keep it to yourself. The stress of the holidays bring out the best and worst in many people. Pressure can make any hostess touchy. And if you haven’t been able to resolve a family feud prior to the holidays, this is not the time to bring up old problems, as tempting as it may seem. Call a truce. If a zinger should be thrown your way, resist the urge to respond (this takes determination).

• To avoid hurt feeling from different parts of the family, divide your time. Alternate holidays if you are in different towns. Or alternate years. If you are in the same town, you could spend time for the main meal with one part of the family, and visit for dessert with the other part.

• Too much holiday cheer can cause embarrassment or worse. If you decide to drink, limit your alcohol consumption, and take Vitamin B-complex to replace what will be burned up by the alcohol. If the host or hostess urge you to have a little more, resist by telling them you’re following your doctor’s orders. Alcohol and many prescription drugs do not mix. And please have a designated driver who is alcohol-free if you must take to the roads.

Get adequate rest. Get a good night’s sleep before an event.

Don’t stop your exercise program. Exercising produces endorphins, which are chemicals that are in our brains that help handle stress. If fact, if you are feeling tense, go out and take a walk. It helps.

Give thanks! My grandfather Farfar, who lived to be 100+ years before passing on, would say “everyday I wake up with my feet on the ground and my head up is a good day!” He would give thanks every day.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| February 2002© Newsletter|~!||~!|1254090852|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

A new year is upon us and we hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season. I took my family to south Florida to visit my parents and brother’s family over the holidays. I also got in a little fishing with my sons Brian and Michael. The owner of the boat that we chartered was named Captain Jim. Jim was in his 50's and about ten years before was stricken with a cancer of the tonsil. He underwent surgical removal of the cancer and lymph nodes of his neck, as well as radiation treatments to the head and neck. At the time he was a corporate executive under a lot of stress and this event dramatically changed his outlook on life and also his habits. In talking with him he no longer smokes cigarettes and now eats a much healthier selection of foods, basically eliminating processed foods and sugar from his diet. Of course, he eats a lot of fish he catches himself. He was lamenting the fact that there was no live bait in the area for several months and that it would be hard to catch sailfish without it. I told him not to sweat the small stuff, and it was all small stuff compared to what he had gone through. (We didn’t catch any sailfish, but got some dolphin and Wahoo and had a wonderful time on the water.)

How many of you realize how important your thoughts and emotions are in influencing your health? How many of you made New Year’s resolutions to improve your health with a better diet and exercise program, and to reduce stress? It has been my experience most people change either from inspiration or desperation, and usually it’s the latter. One of the steps you should consider if you haven’t been seen in a while is to schedule an appointment for a preventive health check up, rather than waiting until you don’t feel well. Are you taking care of your car better than your body?

In the August issue of the newsletter we talked about menopause, breast cancer risk, and natural hormonal replacement therapies. We focused on estrogen and progesterone in that issue. November’s newsletter was a special issue on Anthrax. We will turn our attention to Testosterone in this issue. I will also share some thoughts on medicine and a different model or way to look at disease that makes a lot of sense.

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A Menopause for Men

One might assume that if a man went through menopause, it would be dramatic and similar to a woman’s. No man loses 90% of his sex hormones in a couple of years in most cases. Men enter what Dr. Shippen, author of “The Testosterone Syndrome,” calls the gray zone. Most men do not want to talk about it. Nor do they understand it. It creeps in on them over a ten to fifteen year span, when a man wakes up and finally cannot deny his muscles have shrunk, his energy has withered, and his self- confidence has crumbled. What was formerly chalked up to “working too hard” or “job stress” is now recognized as getting older. No one wants to get older but it is unavoidable. However, the aging process can be slowed down by replacing hormones when appropriate, so a person can have a good quality of life. It has been my experience that the first sign of this process in men is a subtle downward shift in energy and strength. There may be a depressive change in personality and a loss of eagerness or self-confidence. Men at times try to compensate for these changes by going through a “mid-life crisis” rather than correcting the hormonal imbalance.

Associated with this decline in testosterone in men is an increased risk of heart disease and elevated cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, and decreased sexual performance and desire. You see, testosterone is far more than a sex hormone. It travels to every part of a persons’s body and is involved in the making of protein, the
formation of bone and prevention of osteoporosis, and it helps in mental concentration, mood, and in protecting the brain from Alzheimer’s disease. Testosterone also regulates cholesterol and helps with control of blood sugar. Women make testosterone at about 1/10th the amount of men, and it is critical for them in maintaining strength, muscle mass, bone mass, and sexual desire.

Male impotence -- It’s a little more complicated than just giving Testosterone

Researchers and specialists who treat patient’s with impotence standardly claim that only about 5% of impotent men can be successfully treated with testosterone replacement. This has not been our experience at the Center. The causes for impotence are multifactoral, but one of the most common reasons is estrogen excess in men. It may come as a surprise that men’s bodies produce estrogen, just like women’s bodies produce testosterone. An enzyme called aromatase is widely present in the body and converts a certain portion of the male hormone into the female. Estrogen converted by aromatase can actually displace testosterone at its various cellular receptor sites and switch off activities. Illness, alcohol excess, nutritional deficiencies, certain drugs (especially for hypertension), obesity and the aging process accelerate this process. So when a male patient comes to the center for evaluation of impotence, one of the first things we do is get blood levels of estrogen as well as testosterone, and also evaluate for nutritional deficiencies. High estrogen levels in a man is a catch 22 situation where the female hormone occupies some of the receptor sites in the hypothalamus in the brain and this is interpreted as if testosterone were filling those receptor sites. This causes the pituitary to stop sending out the hormones to tell the gonads to produce testosterone. So the testosterone levels decline even further.

The type of replacement is important

When I was in medical school, it was common practice to give men testosterone shots. What often happened was that the patient felt improved for a short period of time, and then became worse, with increased fatigue and a negative sex life. It was not known that the shot form was driving the testosterone level to an unusually high, non-physiologic range when first administered, and then a large portion of the testosterone was being converted by aromatase into estrogen. Slow release testosterone patches or gels do not seem to do this. In post menopausal women who need testosterone replacement, this is usually combined in trouche form with estrogens and progesterone, or used separately in a cream or gel and applied to the skin.

For alternatives to testosterone replacement and more information please see my article “Testosterone – Its Real Impact” in the Journal of Longevity, Volume 7, No. 9. We have had good success at the Center with a product called b-Vital, which is a natural supplement and can boost a man’s testosterone levels to at times almost double.

Testosterone and Prostate Disorders

The prostate gland is a hormonally sensitive gland, both to testosterone and estrogen. If the male hormone were is some way dangerous to prostate health we should find that a man whose testosterone level is high is at greater risk than one whose level is low. There have been a number of studies that have shown there is no correlation between PSA levels (a marker for prostate cancer risk) and testosterone levels. A Japanese study found an inverse relationship to benign prostatic enlargement (BPH) and testosterone levels – the higher the testosterone, then smaller the prostate size and vice versa. The Japanese scientists concluded too high an estrogen level would cause prostatic enlargement. Saw palmetto extract has been used effectively to treat symptoms of BPH and decreased urinary flow. It suppresses the effect of estrogen on the prostate, and in a study sponsored by Merck pharmaceuticals, it had twice as great an effect in increasing urinary outflow as did the drug Proscar.

Testosterone and Heart Disease

Did you know there are more cellular sites for receiving testosterone in the human heart than in any other muscle in the body? Testosterone controls the production of a natural form of nitroglycerine called nitric oxide. Dr.
Phillips at Columbia University did research to determine whether the degree of coronary artery disease in men would correlate with testosterone levels. Angiograms (x-rays of the coronary arteries) were done on 55 male patients who had experienced chest pain or had abnormal stress tests. The conclusion: the lower the patients’ testosterone levels the greater the degree of narrowing of the coronary arteries. Chinese researchers studied 62 elderly men with angina. They gave testosterone to half and a placebo to the other half. Of the patient’s receiving testosterone, 77% had marked relief of their angina and 69% had improved blood flow to the heart on echocardiography. Only 6 % of the placebo group had improvement in pain.

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Medicine at a Crossroads

When I went to medical school in the late 1960's, the “diagnosis” was the principal goal. Patients are not concerned about diagnosis. They are concerned about their symptoms. The current medical system finds itself being critically reviewed in light of changing consumer needs, biomedical research discoveries, and concerns about the spiraling costs of health care without obvious improvement. In my article published in the fall 2001 issue of the Alachua County Medical Society Journal, I pointed out in a study done at John’s Hopkins University, we spend on average $4500 per person in the U.S. annually on health care. This is more than any other country on the planet, and yet we rank in the lower one half of industrialized nations in quality of health of the population when measuring things such as longevity and infant mortality. Heart disease, cancer, autoimmune diseases, diabetes and obesity are epidemic in this country. The overwhelming majority of healthcare resources are currently spent to treat crisis illness. The most frequently occurring health problems, however, are chronic disease issues rather than acute.

In his book Demanding Medical Excellence, M. Millenson states as much as 85 percent of everyday medical treatments have never been scientifically validated. “At the same time effective therapies can take years to make their way into common use.” As this generation of baby boomers matures, it is becoming apparent that they are interested in a good quality of life and staying as healthy for as long as possible. In fact, it is this consumer led movement toward preventive health care and wellness using alternative therapies, diet, and lifestyle changes rather than just drugs that is forcing medicine to change.

The Evolution of a New Medical Model

In an article published in Lancet in 1950, it was pointed out by the authors that the etiology of many chronic diseases of aging results from a conflict between the genotype (genetic constitution) of the individual and his or her environment. You cannot change your genetics, but you can modify your environment. This relationship between the genotype and the environment determines the phenotype (physical, biochemical, physiological traits of the individual). Expressed another way, identical twins having the same genes and DNA patterns may have a gene for cancer or some other disease, and yet only one of the twins actually develops the disease. Genes do not act autonomously. Most genes operate in what we have assumed is their fatalistic role only when they are switched on by other factors.

I recently attended an intense, one day medical conference on neuroendocrinology and functional medicine. It was given by Jeffrey Bland, PhD, a brilliant biochemist, author, lecturer and scientist. He pointed out (in a very complicated biochemical way) that this model of genotype/environment/phenotype connection challenge’s medicine’s former view that nothing could be done for the individual who carried the genes for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc. Dr. Bland went on to say that it was his opinion that 25% of disease is caused directly by the genetics and 75% by environmental factors and stressors activating gene expression.



Why Do We Get Sick?

Why is this important? Have you ever thought “Why do we get sick?” This defines how we treat illness. As patient’s age, they often present with a multiplicity of symptoms: fatigue, weight gain, depression, cold hands and feet, mental fog, decreased sex drive, anxiety, high cholesterol, diabetes, stomach and bowel dysfunction. Their hormonal and biological systems are out of balance. In traditional medicine patients are then put on a multiplicity of drugs to treat these symptoms: anti-hypertensives, cholesterol lowering agents, stomach acid blockers, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety drugs, etc. This is a symptom based model of disease or illness. Using the genotype/environment/phenotype model, environmental and other stressors create chronic neuroendocrinological imbalance in the nervous system and endocrine systems of the body in people with genetic susceptibility. By changing a hostile environment into a more friendly environment, one could in many cases turn off gene expression and go back to improved functioning and balance. This is not done through a “one size fits all” treatment for a disease, but the therapy is individualized in each case. For example, if a patient’s cholesterol was elevated due to stress, help the patient deal with the stress in a more effective manner with stress management and/or herbals to reduce the sensitivity of the adrenal cortex receptor sites to stress hormones, rather than putting the patient on a statin drug and ignoring all the other biochemical problems going on, or putting the patient on a drug for each symptom. This is why we customize nutritional programs for each of our patient’s and do not treat everybody the same. Dr. Bland observed that the millions of genetic differences are not diseases, but rather codes for “uniqueness.” The technology to screen a single sample of blood for thousands of genetic susceptibility factors is here today. The ability to make this cost-effective for patients is just around the corner to assist in making preventive health care even more effective.

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What’s New At The Center?

*Growing pains We apologize if some of you have had to wait a bit longer than usual at times. We are growing thanks to all of your referrals of friends and family. This is the highest compliment we receive. We are pleased to welcome Peg Donda, LPN. She is joining our staff in February 2002 on a part-time basis and will assist Dr. Erickson in patient care, IV therapies and chelation. Introduce yourself to Peg at your next visit.

* Chelation services Dr. Erickson will be taking advanced training in chelation therapy through the International College of Integrative Medicine in March 2002. We will be offering chelation services with EDTA after he completes his training and certification.

* Prevent-doc.com Our Web site is finally operational!! If has taken a lot of work and effort, but after almost five months, we are on-line. Please log on to prevent-doc.com and take a tour of the site. The primary purpose of the site is to provide general information to new and established patients, rather than specific medical advice. You can keep up to date by visiting the “What’s New” section on a monthly basis.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| April 2002© Newsletter|~!||~!|1254090886|~!|
Dear Friends and Patients:

Last month I had the unique opportunity of spending an evening with a group of scientists and physicians involved in medical research of heart disease. They have pioneered a treatment that will revolutionize the therapy for hardening of the arteries, as well as a therapy for other degenerative diseases. One of these persons was Dr. Gary Mezo, founder and director of NanobacLabs. Another person I spent several hours with was Dr. Neva Ciftcioglu, a beautiful and brilliant research scientist who received a nomination for the Nobel peace prize. She had previously been living in Finland, but is currently living in Houston, Texas where she is working for NASA (National Aeronautic and Space Administration). NASA has been interested in finding out if there is life on other planets, and what forms this life might take. Primitive life forms might be a bacteria or virus of some sort.

While doing research in Finland, Dr. Ciftcioglu and her associate, Dr. Kajander, “accidently” found a new bacteria that is unique to science. Their research project using blood cultures kept failing because the cells mysteriously kept dying. They could find no reason until they left the dead cells alone and later found a “scum” had formed on top of the culture. Analyzing the “scum” they found a bacteria new to medical science that is unique in size and characteristics, that was the cause of the death of their cultures. This bacteria was 1,000 times smaller than a regular bacteria and was named Nanobacteria sanguineum (nano refers to 1 billionth of a meter, and sanguineum is Latin referring to blood). It can only be seen by an electron or atomic microscope and it had eluded detection for decades. It was found to have the unique ability to create or form minerals.

What Do Astronauts, Heart Disease, Kidney stones, and Dental Plaque Have in Common?

NASA is very interested in this bacteria because it grows at a very rapid rate in a weight-less environment, and explains why astronauts have increased kidney stones, coronary artery calcifications, arthritis and other disorders involving pathological calcification. This genus of bacteria is found in mineral deposits on earth and also in some of the rocks brought back from Mars. Nanobacteria sanguineum is unique to humans and mammals.


What Can Nanobacter Do In Humans?

Once researchers found out about this bacteria, they started looking for it in humans. Much to their surprise, they found not only does it exist in humans, it causes pathological calcification by excreting a biofilm that has calcium in it. These calcium shells can be cast off and left in tissue in the coronary arteries, carotid arteries, kidneys, gallbladder, muscle and joints, or virtually any other area of the body. Because this bacteria is very slow to grow, doubling in numbers every three days, it takes decades for the calcification to become apparent in humans. No human tissue is resistant to Nanobacteria, even crossing the blood-brain barrier to cause brain calcifications. According to the people at Nanobac Labs, very high numbers of Nanobacteria have also been found in patients with autoimmune diseases such as lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma or similar disorders. All of these diseases have one thing in common – inflammation of tissues. It is not known whether the association with Nanobacter is causally related or not. These findings are so new they are yet to be studied.

Our bodies do not recognize calcified Nanobacteria as a foreign substance, but as common “calcium.” So our body’s defenses do not attack this bacteria with the immune system when it is protected in its “calcium condominiums.” The biofilm of calcium, however, keeps our immune systems on hyperalert, causing chronic inflammation in our tissues common to most human degenerative diseases.

Is There a Treatment that is Effective?


To date, there are no known natural substances that can kill these Nanobacteria. Additionally, Nanobacterium sanguineum cannot be killed by Penicillin, Cephalosporins, Macrolides, most other antibiotics, heat under 196 degrees F., freezing, dehydration, gamma radiation under 150 MegaRads, other bacteria or viruses, alcohol, peroxides, garlic, colloidal silver, IP6, MGN3, lactoferrin, frequency generators, immune boosters, colostrum, transfer factors, immunoglobulins or herbals. They are the most highly resistant of all bacteria to destruction.

Preliminary research has shown there is an effective treatment for nanobacter. This research is from the Western IRB Monitored NanobacTX-ACES Cardiology II Study done by board-certified cardiologists. It involves first dissolving the calcium deposits with a prescription compounded medication called EDTA in rectal suppository form in combination with a special patented oral powder to enhance it’s effect. At the same time the bacteria are killed with the antibiotic Tetracycline, to which they are susceptible. The antibiotic by itself will not work if the bacteria has its protective calcium coat. This is a once a day treatment and can take anywhere from three to eight months to complete, depending upon the individual’s response and severity of disease.

Patient’s were evaluated with pre and post therapy using Ultrafast CAT scan technology to measure coronary artery calcification. Antibody/antigen testing was also done to measure the amount of bacterial infection. Coronary calcifications were reduced an average of 58.5% after 3 months as measured by Ultrafast CAT Scan, with 19% of patients having zero calcification left. All patients showed marked improvement in heart disease symptoms. All this was done without the risk of surgery.

This information will be published in some of the major medical journals in the next few months. We have this treatment available through the Preventive Medicine Center by prescription, and are participating with the research team in the NanobacTx-ACES Research Trial. It is the only proven treatment for nanobacterial infection, and the only prescription treatment ever shown to reverse coronary artery calcification. With heart disease being the number one cause of death in this country, this is a dramatic and life-saving breakthrough!!

How Can You Find Out if You are Infected?

There is a very specialized blood test that will show the presence of Nanobacter that is not available through most laboratories. One of the unfortunate discoveries made by Drs. Ciftcioglu and Kajander, is that nanobacter is a contaminant in IPV polio vaccines that we give to our children. They suspect that all human biologicals developed in fetal bovine serum are contaminated, as cows are one of the known vectors of Nanobacteria. So this infection may be widespread throughout the world. We do not know if human to human contact, such as in kissing or sex, will spread this bacteria, but we do know the bacteria exist in the mouth in dental plaque that is calcified and in the prostate in prostate stones. The good news is there is effective treatment for infection.

Who Should Get Tested?

If you have heart disease or atherosclerosis involving the coronary arteries or other blood vessels, angina, by-pass surgery or stents, kidney stones, cataracts, joint calcifications, prostate stones, calcified dental plaque (tartar), or any abnormal calcification in your body tissues, I would urge you to have the blood test. If you have received a vaccine, even as a child, that was produced in fetal bovine serum, you should have your antibody levels checked. Since we do not know enough about human to human contact and the spread of Nanobacter, if there has been exposure by oral or sexual contact with someone who has Nanobacter, just like with any other bacteria, you may want to consider a screening test. And finally, if you have an autoimmune disorder such as lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, or severe musculoskeletal pain and inflammation (including a diagnosis of “fibromyalgia”), you may wish to consider having a test run.

To have your antibody levels checked, please call the center at 352-331-5138 during regular business hours. We will place an order for the test kit using your check or credit card. The cost of the lab test kit is $195, payable directly to NanobacTest. To find out if this test is reimbursable by your insurance company you should contact your insurance company or agent directly. The actual testing is performed by AmScot Laboratories in Cincinnati, OH. The test kit can be shipped to you or our office. This is a blood test. We charge a $30 fee to cover the costs of drawing blood, processing the specimen, and shipping to the reference lab. You will need to make an appointment with Dr. Erickson to discuss the results as the lab does not interpret results for you. It takes us around 10 days to receive them. If there is infection present, we will then discuss prescribing the recommended treatment and follow up. Treatment is by prescription only.

For further information on this topic go on line to .

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EDTA CHELATION and Circulatory Conditions

We are often asked about EDTA intravenous chelation therapy for treatment of atherosclerosis. Although the NanobacTX-ACES study did not use I.V. chelation therapy, it did use EDTA to “dissolve” atherosclerotic plaque hiding the Nanobacteria. EDTA (ethyl-diamine-tetra-acetic acid) is a chemical substance that was first developed in Germany in the late 1930's and used in industry. It was latter used medically to treat sailors who became lead toxic from painting ships with lead-based paints during the war. By the mid 1950's EDTA was widely used for removing lead from adults and children, and is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for this purpose today. It is also widely used as an additive to foods. While treating patients with 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 the investigation and use of EDTA to treat hardening of the arteries, even though this is not an approved use by the FDA.

No one knows for sure how EDTA chelation works in atherosclerosis. We do know that this chemical binds to heavy metals and removes minerals such as zinc and calcium from the body. It does not remove calcium from the bones, however, and has been shown to improve bone density. We do know in heart disease called cardiomyopathy, there are large depositions of heavy metals such as zinc or mercury in the heart muscle itself. We do not know why these deposits occur. NIH (the National Institute of Health) plans to fund a 30 million dollar study to document the effectiveness of I.V. EDTA chelation therapy. This is an area of controversy between conventional medicine and alternative medicine. Controversy is not new to medical science. We do know that EDTA is generally very safe and that for many people with circulatory disease who have undergone treatments, they feel better symptomatically.

Just like any other medication, precautions need to be taken. The dosage is determined on an individual basis, and pre-existing conditions such as liver, kidney, and heart disease, and disorders such as diabetes that can effect excretion of toxins are taken into consideration. Intravenous EDTA chelation is given over a 1 - 3 hour period and the frequency is usually weekly to twice weekly over twenty to thirty treatments. Maintenance therapy is given on an individual basis. After every five treatments, a nutritional IV is given to replace lost trace minerals and nutrients.

Side effects that may be experienced include nausea, muscle cramps, hypotension (low blood pressure), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), pain at the I.V. site, and allergic reactions (rare). Side effects are minimized by administering the I.V. at a slow rate, eating a nutritious meal before treatments and by taking the proper supplements during the detoxification process.

Both Dr. Erickson and his nursing staff have been trained by the International College of Integrative Medicine in the proper administration of EDTA therapy. Dr. Erickson has also passed the written Board Exam given the American Board of Chelation Therapy.

EDTA chelation provides an alternative to rectal suppositories, or for those patient’s who do not wish to take a prolonged course of antibiotic therapy. It does not eliminate Nanobacter infection. We have EDTA chelation available at the Center.

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What’s New At The Center?

• High cholesterol? We are now carrying Cholarest™ which is a natural supplement to help lower cholesterol, promote healthy lipid levels, and increase HDL cholesterol (“good cholesterol”). This product also prevents lipid peroxidation of low density lipoproteins or LDL (“bad cholesterol”) so they do not stick to arterial walls. This is an all-natural product that has been extensively studied in humans and animals and is equal in effectiveness to prescription cholesterol lowering statin drugs but without their side-effects or liver problems. The usual dose is one a day, and the cost is $28 for a bottle of 30.

• Phone messages. Some of our patients call in on their cellular phones. Sometimes the message on our end is garbled or words are missing, and we do not know who is calling or what number to call. If you do not hear back from us in a reasonable period of time, please call back on a land line.

• Aloe Plus. Dr. Bruce Walton was a professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Shands Teaching Hospital. He is now retired but he has developed a nutritional product that is of exceptional quality and he is marketing this internationally. This product has Venezuelan whole leaf aloe vera as it’s primary component which comes from volcanic soil. There are a lot of Aloe products available, but we feel this one is the best. It also has other important phytonutrients such as Grapeseed Extract, Green Tea Extract, Wild Yam Extract and other powerful antioxidants. Our experience has been that most patients who consistently take this product over a 60 - 90 day period of time have an improved sense of well being and energy. You may want to give it a try if you are not already taking it.

• Success Stories. We appreciate our patients taking the time to write a brief “Success Story” of how they were able to overcome their medical challenges. These are placed in a booklet in the waiting area where other patients and potential patients can read. You do not need to put your full name on these. We’d love to hear your story.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| July 2002© Newsletter|~!||~!|1254090902|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

I wanted to start this newsletter by relaying a success story about Kelly. Kelly is a beautiful youngster who was eleven years old when she was brought to the Center by her mother. Kelly had a history of severe, incapacitating migraine headaches that started at around age eight. They were so bad she could not attend school and had to be home-schooled for the past several years. She would miss on average one half of each month due to the nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and pain associated with the migraines. Kelly had seen a variety of physicians, including specialists such as neurologists and migraine doctors, and had full neurological workups. She had been on all sorts of prescription drugs, the last one being Neurontin. These did not help her condition but did cause her to be tired and fatigued. She had just been given a prescription for Lortabs, a very strong narcotic, before her visit with me. Her mother and father were very concerned. They wanted to explore alternatives to drug therapy, but had never been to a physician who practiced integrative medicine.

I began Kelly’s evaluation as I do with all patients by sitting down with Kelly and her mother and taking a history of her symptoms and health. This was followed by a physical exam and CRA (Contact Reflex Analysis) evaluation of acupuncture meridians. Kelly’s physical exam was normal but there were subtle outpoints on her CRA exam. Kelly was placed on several natural supplements to balance her energy points, and she and her mother were advised that nutritional therapies, unlike drugs, took time to work. Two months later Kelly was brought to the Center with an acute migraine which we treated in an alternative manner. The headache subsided within a few hours, whereas before they usually lasted much longer. She was prescribed an Ally device, manufactured by Clarus industries, and was taught how to treat her acupuncture points using energy therapy.

Kelly didn’t make her next several appointments and when she was seen a few months later she was virtually headache-free! She was doing well in school, so well, in fact, that she was able to return to regular school with her classmates. Two months later I received a request from Kelly to clear her medically to try out for cheerleading. Shortly afterward I received the following letter:

Dear Dr. Erickson,

I would like to thank you so much for helping me. Before I was seen by you, I had been to about 10 different doctors. I even was taken to Shands and seen by the migraine specialist there. I had 3-4 migraines a week while being at school and sometimes on the weekends. They started in the 2nd grade. I would always vomit at school, in the car, at home. It was a horrible time in my life. The pain was so bad, I thought life wasn’t worth living. I was very depressed. Finally, I received my blessing through Dr. Erickson. Dr. Erickson is the only Doctor that helped me. I do not know what i (sp. her’s) would do if i (sp. her’s) had not been referred to him through my mom’s friend who has cancer who Dr. Erickson helped. Now for the first time since 2nd grade, I very rarely have a migraine. The other Doctors I went to wanted to put me on all kinds of drugs that didn’t help me sometimes made them worse. They didn’t listen to me and acted like it was my fault, or my sister’s fault, or my parents fault like it was all stress related or in my head or something. Dr. Erickson listened to me and knew exactly how to help me. I thank you so much Dr. Erickson for giving me my life back without migraines. Now I am able to accomplish my school work and my hobbies and live a normal life . . . . and have fun!

Thank you Dr. Erickson — Kelly James

I saw Kelly last at the time this article was being written, and although she didn’t make the cheerleading team this year, I told her I was very proud of how she was doing and trying something she couldn’t have done six months ago. She has her whole life ahead of her without being fearful or depressed about headaches. I also thanked her for taking the time to write her letter as it may help someone else who feels they have run out of options. If you have a success story you’d like to share, please feel free to write us. I can’t promise it will be published, but we appreciate hearing from our patients.
A Biophysical Model of Health and Disease

Many of you have commented on the little Q-Link pendants that you often see me or the rest of our staff wearing or the Ally device that we use at the Center and that Kelly uses at home. The most common question is “What do they do?” To understand this a bit better, one has to understand how a human or animal biological system reacts not only on an organ level, but also a cellular level, and on an atomic or energy level. Western medicine is based on a model of biochemical reactions that affect our bodies and how we can alter those reactions by the use of drugs. What is not realized or understood is that all medications, in addition to their biochemical properties, have electrical or energetic properties that can affect the organism or person on an atomic or energy level. Much of the data in this section is from a white paper by Beverly Rubik, Ph.D. who is an expert in cellular biophysics and complementary and alternative modalities. She has served on the White House Health Care Task Force and is on the advisory board for the National Institutes of Health.

Systems of medicine such as Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, presently considered alternative in the West, have for millennia maintained concepts of a vital force or subtle energy as a key element in health and wellness. This energy is known as prana or qi, respectively, in those medical systems. When the person’s energy is balanced, they are healthy. When the energy becomes unbalanced, they can develop symptoms or disease. In 1994, a panel on alternative and complementary medicine at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) created the term “biofield” to address this concept, and this concept over the past few years, as our knowledge base has grown, is more prevalent within science and medicine. Studies have suggested that the human biofield may also be related to the system of acupuncture points and meridians. An example of this is when a homeopathic substance that is the appropriate remedy for a patient is brought near the body of the patient, the electrical conductivity of the patient’s acupuncture points shift immediately and dramatically. Another example is the vascular autonomic signal (VAS response). When a substance that a person is allergic to is placed by the ear, rich in acupuncture points, the substance emits resonant frequencies that inform the person’s biofield of this stressor, and this leads to a change in the tension of the peripheral artery smooth muscle that can be measured. Neither the acupuncture system or other types of energy medicine have been explained by conventional science concepts.

In our modern society we are exposed to barrage of chemicals, toxins, allergens and also EMF’s (electromagnetic frequencies) that come from a vast arrange of electrical devices, computer screens, cell phones, hair dryers, etc. Electromagnetic (EM) pollution is a type of invisible stressor that most people cannot sense directly but can have a wide variety of effects on the body including symptoms of spastic muscles, headaches, fatigue, behavioral changes (in both people and animals), and other symptoms. EMF stressors have also been shown to cause reproductive and developmental changes, altered gene expression, changes in cell growth rate, disruption of biological rhythms, and changes in hormone levels, to name a few. Not all EMF are harmful to life. Some are neutral and some produce beneficial effects.

In the biophysical model, there is a very complex dynamic energy field composed of many different frequencies, analogous to a musical symphony that changes with time, that is created by the components of life, including the biomolecules. Living systems, in this model, are engaged in constant “conversation” with their constituents and their environment, constantly exchanging information and adapting to stressors or conditions. For instance, a person stubs their toe. The immediate area of injury is the toe, but a communication goes on between every cell in the person’s body so that all cells are aware of the injury, and the biofield energy throughout the body is also affected. Stressors can destabilize the bioenergy field.

SRT Technology

Devices such as the Ally or Q-link pendant work by reinforcing or strengthening the body’s biofield. This is in the realm of physics called sympathetic resonance technology or SRT. In a study done by Professor Wilhelm Mosgöeller, M.D., of the Institute for Cancer Research at the University of Vienna, he found that cell cultures that were pre-treated with SRT with a Q-link were protected from subsequent chemical stress that caused cancer and cell death in non-treated cultures. In another study using the Q-link, subjects were exposed to low-level ambient EMF stress for 72 hours and were found to have clumping or aggregation of red blood cells, whereas the Q-link group did not. Also, the Q-link user group felt more energy whereas the control group reported no improvement in energy level.

Evelyn Wiseman is the Educational Director of New Way School in Scottsdale, Arizona, which is a small, private school for children with learning disabilities, ADD, ADHD, dyslexia and underachievers. A one month study involved 52 students, ranging in age from 6 to 19 as well as 11 teachers. The school is situated near a power substation, and one or more computers are in each classroom with flourescent lighting, creating EMF throughout the building. Two types of SRT’s were used in the study, an active unit and a passive unit. Placebo units were used as controls and neither the students nor the teachers knew which one was being used. The bottom line of the study was the most dramatic improvement in behavorial problems occurred when the “active” SRT unit was used in the following areas: “not on task”, “trouble following directions”, and “work not completed.” There was a 49% improvement over the use of the placebo units.

For more information on these devices, please contact the Center. Q-links and Ally SRT therapy devices may be purchased at the Center at a discount.

Chemical Toxins

None of us can escape the slow but steady accumulation of damaging toxins or poisons from our environment. They are hidden in our air, food and water. They can cause a multiplicity of symptoms, from migraines to fibromyalgia to chronic fatigue. Even polar bears in the most remote arctic regions are found to have PCB’s and other chemicals in their fat. Phenol, toluene, benzene, TCE, mercury and other heavy metals, and vinyl chloride, to name a few, are virtually everywhere. Medical recognition of this problem of bioaccumulation of poisons is poor, in my opinion. The Center for Disease Control scientists in Atlanta were quoted as being “astounded” that surprisingly high levels of phthalates from plastics were found in the urine of ordinary Americans. These levels were “much higher” than levels of other well-studied pollutants. Phthalates are known to cause birth defects, glandular and hormonal damage, and cancer. And yet every time we grab a plastic bottle of “purified water” or soda, it has phthalates in it. PVC water pipes, plastic wraps, and plastic baby bottles, to name a few, are also sources of this chemical. When the body sees a new chemical, synthesized in a laboratory and not naturally occurring, there may be no metabolic mechanism with which to get rid of it. So what the body cannot detoxify, it dumps into the fat stores of the body to keep it away from vital organs. In a government study, 100% of the fat biopsies as samples taken from ordinary citizens contained dioxins, one of the most potent cancer causing agents known. We get dioxins from contact with bleached paper products such as paper towels or toilet paper, tea bags and milk cartons, as well as water contaminated from industry. In this same study 100% of the biopsies also contained xylene from gasoline, paints and glues.

What is the Best Way to Get Rid of Toxic Chemicals?

Sherry Rogers, M.D., is an author and an environmental medicine specialist. She states that the ONLY way to adequately detoxify your body given the myriad of chemicals we are exposed in our food, air, water, and environment in today’s modern society is by using an Infra Red sauna. I agree. For people with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, previous surgeries with general anesthesia, thyroid system dysfunction, or other conditions that prevent adequate detoxification, this type of therapy is often times a miracle. It even removes radiation and heavy metals. The Center has one of the few Physician supervised sauna detoxification programs in the United States, and the only Infra red one that we are aware of. These are used in Europe at prestigious cancer centers such as St. Georges Hospital in Germany.

There are many different ways to try to clear toxins from the body, from green foods and juicing to water fasts to colonics. For toxins stored in the fat, these methods simply don’t work well. It has been known for centuries that sweating is a natural, life-saving way to get rid of stored chemicals. Many people, including my wife Judy, could never tolerate a lava rock sauna. It was just too hot and stifling. She would get sick, weak, dizzy and feel faint. We purchased a far infra red sauna years ago and have seen dramatic results. It is a different technology where low frequency wave energy heats the tissues more than the air, triggering a mobilization of chemical poisons from fat storage and into the blood stream and sweat, where they are removed through the skin, colon, and kidneys. This deep tissue penetration allows for a much lower heat to be used, often in the 130 degree range (vs. a 180-190 degree lava rock sauna heat). We are clearly the first generation of man ever exposed to this many chemicals and it seems only appropriate we can use 21st century technology to get rid of them.

For more on this subject, I suggest you go to the Sauna Detoxification Program link. Also read the article on Toxins and Detoxification in the Articles of Interest section. We are running a summer special on the sauna program. Please see the next section.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| September 2002© Newsletter|~!||~!|1254090935|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

Most of us have gotten use to reading literature proclaiming benefits of vitamins or have gotten nutritional advice from clerks at a local health food store or pharmacy. At the Center, we see patients every day who are taking vitamins and supplements and are not any healthier. We all are presented with “new medical facts” that are advertised in such a way as to persuade us to change our eating habits or buy a magic potion or “new medical cure.” We are told not to eat butter but to eat margarine instead, or to cut out fat and eat more carbohydrates instead. We are told eggs and red meats can cause cholesterol problems. Years latter, we are told just the opposite. We are getting what Ralph Nader calls “pseudoscience.” This country has lost the war on obesity. In spite of the “low fat” diets we have been told to eat by the medical establishment, we are seeing an epidemic of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The ages of the victims of this epidemic are getting younger and younger. When I was in medical school there were two types of diabetes – insulin dependent and adult onset. The name of the latter has been changed to “Type II diabetes” because we are no longer just seeing it in adults, but also in children!

In a talk I gave recently at the Gainesville Women’s Health and Fitness Center, I told the fifty women in attendance that good health starts with eating the highest quality food possible. I also shared how our food supply has changed dramatically in the last 50 years. I told the audience that my patient’s with allergies who go to Europe feel better and do not react to foods there like they do in this country. The Europeans do not put preservatives or refine their foods to the extent we do. A number of Europeans in the audience came up afterward to confirm what I had just said and felt the quality of the food on the other side of the ocean was superior.

Foods Are Not What They Seem.

When our parents and grandparents sat down to a meal, they didn’t have to worry about excessive use of pesticides, fungicides, the chemicalization of foods through over processing, “enriching”, or preserving, etc. Fifty years ago a cup of spinach provided a good bit of iron. Today, you would have to eat 65 cups of spinach to get the same amount. Vitamin B12 in an egg today is 600% less than it was back then, and vitamin C complex in an orange is 500% less. That lovely green salad on your table is virtually dead nutritionally! Why?

Over the past century, the rich topsoil in this country has vanished. Important parts of America have blown or eroded away. The natural trees, grasses, and vegetation that anchored the soil are gone. We may not be aware of this in Gainesville, as this is a very ‘green’ community, but hundreds of millions of acres of trees in America have been cut for wood or to clear the land to allow for the raising livestock or to build subdivisions. All we have to do is look to East Africa where famine is caused by a land turned to dust through deforestation. In Ethiopia, for instance, barely 5% of the forests remain from what they were one hundred years ago. Likewise, forests in Brazil and Central America are disappearing. A U.N. report presented at this month’s U.N. Earth Summit meeting was very sobering. During the 1990's, 220 million acres of the world’s forests were destroyed and almost all in tropical regions in Africa and Latin America. This represents 2.4% of the world’s forests and is larger than the size of Venezuela.

Looking to nature, there is a natural process of birth, growth, death and decay that leads to recycling or enriching the soil. Modern farming methods deplete the soil. In 1855 the German chemist Baron Justus von Liebig wrote that the only minerals plants needed were nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. At the end of his life he regretted creating this “artificial manure” and wrote . . . “nature herself points out to man the proper course of proceeding for keeping up the productiveness of the land.” But by that time the German chemical industry was flourishing. One hundred years later Sir Albert Howard published his landmark book “An Agricultural Testament” and promoted using natural rock dust rather than chemical fertilizers. He wrote “artificial manures lead inevitably to artificial nutrition, artificial food, artificial animals, and finally, to artificial men and women.” Chemical fertilizers force plants to grow and can burn the plants and organisms in the soil. The other thing to realize is that the soil is a living substance that when healthy, maintains a balance of minerals, microorganisms, and symbionts such as earthworms and nitrogen producing plants. When there is a symptom in a plant, it will correlate to a deficiency in the soil or a toxin. Could it be, when we see a symptom in a person (who eats plants), it will correlate to a deficiency or toxin as well? Dr. William Albrecht, of the University of Missouri, found that he could cure undulant fever in livestock and humans by adding trace minerals to the soil in which their food was grown. He further proved that mineral deficiencies and agri-chemical toxicity created plant vulnerability to fungus, insects, and disease in general. And remember, plants do not manufacture trace minerals, they absorb them. Medical science is becoming more aware of the critical importance of trace minerals such as selenium, molybdenum, chromium, etc. for human health.

Natural foods tend to decay or go rancid quickly. Most foods today have been chemicalized to the point bread will last for over a week, milk for several weeks, and many other products have a shelf life of months to years. In their book, Empty Harvest, Dr. Jensen and Mark Anderson point out within a generation of WWI, the foods of commerce took over. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) bowed to commercial interests and allowed the manufacturers of our food supply to adulterate the food supply with all sorts of chemicals such as benzoic acid, sulfurous acid, alum, sulfites, etc.. Our children are reaping the harvest of this with an epidemic of ADD, juvenile diabetes, allergies, and other disorders that were virtually unheard of medically fifty years ago. This is why I suggest patients avoid processed foods and eat organic vegetables and organic meats such as Empire Kosher chicken, Maverick beef, or wild game (these do not have preservatives, hormones, or antibiotics).

Vitamins – Natural vs. Synthetic

It’s not only the foods that have changed, but so have the vitamins. In the beginning of vitamin research, almost all of the scientific experiments used natural supplements that were food-based nutrients. These were whole vitamin complexes, not isolated vitamin fractions such as A or C or beta carotene. With foods and food concentrates containing whole nutritional complexes, the body can choose what it needs and excrete the rest. These vitamin complexes all work together in synergy to keep a balance. For instance, all the antioxidant vitamins and minerals work together like a team, but in different areas of the body. Some work better in fatty tissue and others in non-fatty tissue. If you load up on only one you will not protect all areas of the body.

A medical model has been applied to vitamins by isolating parts of the vitamin complex, trying to find “the active chemical.” This is what goes into a synthetic vitamin. This parallels what allopathic medicine did by isolating individual chemicals from herbs or plants to make medicines to treat disease. Synthetic vitamins are not the same as whole food supplements, and a person can become nutritionally unbalanced or even develop toxicity to synthetic vitamins.

Here’s an important concept – on a milligram to milligram basis, natural whole food vitamins are much more potent than synthetic vitamins. Dr. Royal Lee, a nutritionist, dentist, and researcher felt natural B complex, for instance, was 10-50 times more potent than chemically purified or synthetic B complex. He did not feel “megadoses” of synthetic vitamins were healthy, and he went on to develop the Standard Process™ line of supplements, which are all natural. Biotics Research™ takes a different approach by using plant cell cultures to naturally chelate vitamins and minerals that are added before cold processing the supplements. There are a number of other good companies such as Nutrilite® that also use whole plant materials in many of their products. It has been our experience at the Center that whole food supplements give superior results. That is why we carry these brands that are not available in a store.

Is There a Vitamin Blood Test That Will Let Me Know Where I Stand?

The answer is yes. There are different blood tests that measure vitamin levels. Most of you are familiar with a doctor having ordered a vitamin B12 or folate level on you or a family member at sometime from a commercial lab that also runs other lab tests. The problem with this type of test is that it can be biased by the foods or vitamins you have taken during the few days prior to the test, allowing potential long-term deficiencies to be missed. SpectraCell Labs has a patented test using your body’s own white blood cells to measure the vitamin levels inside the cell. As the average life of a lymphocyte (white blood cell) is four to six months, this technology is reflective of your nutritional status over the preceding several months. The results obtained will uncover deficiencies that standard serum tests may miss. We are pleased to now offer this test to our patients. Not only can most vitamins be measured in this way, but certain important antioxidants, amino acids, and factors associated with carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism can also be screened. A pamphlet describing this in more detail has been enclosed with this newsletter.

Is Hormonal Replacement Safe?

Last month the headlines proclaimed the use of hormonal replacement in women caused an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and strokes. These findings were based on data from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) sponsored WHI (Women’s Health Initiative) where 27,000 women between 1993 and 1998 participated. I never use someone elses interpretation of data, because statistics can be colored so I called Wyeth Pharmaceuticals to get specific information about this study.

First of all, this study did not involve bio identical natural hormonal replacement. This is an important fact. It did use synthetic hormones – Premarin® or PremPro™ (conjugated horse estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate). Just as with synthetic foods and synthetic vitamins, synthetic hormones can have adverse affects. The raw data showed after 5 years, of the 8,102 women in the control group (who were not taking synthetic hormones), 124 women came down with breast cancer. Of the 8,506 women taking PremPro™, 166 developed breast cancer. The Data and Safety Monitoring Board stated there was a 8X greater risk of getting breast cancer by taking “hormones” so the study was stopped. However, in analyzing the raw data, 1.5% of the control group developed breast cancer and 1.95% of the synthetic hormone group developed breast cancer. This is not an 8 fold difference.

The increased risk of heart disease and strokes in patient’s taking Provera has been know for some time. Other risk factors, such as cigarette smoking, were not taken into consideration. The PEPI heart study published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) a few years back demonstrated that patients taking natural progesterone had a 75% lower risk of heart disease, whereas those taking Provera had a greater risk than those taking nothing. So this is “old news” that synthetic hormones are not safe.

The bottom line is that natural estrogens including estriol, estrone, or estradiol and natural progesterone were not used in the WHI study. These hormones are structurally identical to hormones naturally produced by the human body. Drug companies cannot patent natural hormones. It is common sense that tells us natural hormones are handled by the body in a different manner than a synthetic drug, and the clinical outcomes are different if hormone deficiencies are balanced using natural hormones. Quality of life issues such as elimination of hot flushes, insomnia, vaginal dryness, frequent urinary tract infections, depression, fatigue, risk of osteoporosis, and mental clouding cannot be ignored.
What’s New At The Center?

• DR. ERICKSON RECEIVES APPOINTMENT Dr. Erickson was honored by being appointed to serve on the Learning Gateway Steering Committee as an expert in health and allergies. This appointment was made by the Honorable Tom Feeney, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. This steering committee was created to provide consultation and policy development so that parents of children with potential learning problems and learning disabilities have access to necessary services and supports. Dr. Erickson will educate the committee about alternative therapies available rather than using drug therapies in children.

• 10% DISCOUNT AT MOTHER EARTH STORES Dr. Erickson has negotiated a 10% discount on all purchases by his patient’s at Mother Earth at Newberry Square or 13th Street locations. Stop by the Center to pick up your discount card. We thank the management at Mother Earth for their help.

• LDM-100 is an incredible herbal supplement that combats viral illnesses, flu’s, urinary infections, and upper respiratory infections. Many of you have had great success with this product. Dr. Erickson has spoken to his herbalist in Arizona who makes this product for the Center, and will be having a new batch made and shipped this month. We suggest you keep several bottles on hand before the cold and flu season starts.

• ADDRESS CHANGES? If this newsletter has been forwarded to you, please notify us with your correct address so we can update our records.

• VITAMIN ANALYSIS BY SPECTRACELL LABS Enclosed is a brochure describing this new service. You may already have had a hair analysis, which looks at mineral deficiencies and toxic elements. The purpose of this test is to assay your body’s vitamin status for the preceding four months through your white blood cells. Most private insurance carriers cover the cost of the vitamin analysis. There is a $30 fee to cover the cost of drawing the blood, processing the specimen and shipping to the lab, payable to the Center.

• FAR INFRA RED SAUNAS High Tech Health, Inc. will extend practitioner pricing on it’s infra red saunas to our patients. If you have an interest in purchasing a sauna for personal use and would like to save money, please call us. A two person sauna costs $2995.

www.prevent-doc.com If you haven’t visited our Web site, we invite you to do so. Each month we try to add something new. Back issues of this journal are available for you to send to a friend or download.

• DR. VERSENDAAL CRA SEMINAR September 28th, 2002 in Orlando, FL.. If you would like to attend as our guest and meet Dr. Versendaal, please contact Mona at our office at 331-5138.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| March 2003© Newsletter|~!||~!|1254090966|~!|
Dear Friends and Patients:

I have always enjoyed reading history and traveling to historic sites, and one of my favorite places to visit is just down the road at the historic town of St. Augustine. Five centuries ago, on Easter, March 27, 1513, the Spanish explorer and treasure hunter Juan Ponce de Leon sighted land as he approached Florida, and claimed the land for Spain. He named the land “La Florida,” meaning Land of Flowers. During his expedition he found a prehistoric Indian spring of water that he thought was the Fountain of Youth. Through the years, the legend of the Fountain of Youth has appealed to people’s desire for health, vitality and living life to the fullest. While the Fountain of Youth is a myth, scientific advances have allowed us to improve the quality of our lives and health.

A Patient Success Story

Mrs. S. is a lovely, 53 y.o. lady who came to see me originally in 2001 for evaluation of fatigue. Physical exam and routine lab work, including a thyroid panel, were “normal.” A hair analysis revealed multiple low nutrient levels and an abnormal hair iodine level that was consistent with thyroid system dysfunction. Like many of my patients with thyroid system problems, she had symptoms of fatigue, weakness, dry skin, inability to lose weight, low body temperature and PMS. Her history was further complicated by having suffered a TIA related to Provera use, a synthetic hormone that can cause heart disease. She also had hypertension requiring the use of medication. Mrs. S. was placed on compounded natural estriol therapy that helped relieve some of her hormonal imbalance symptoms. She was also placed on specific supplements to support thyroid function and to correct her nutritional deficiencies. As Mrs. S.’s nutritional status improved, her fatigue also improved somewhat but didn’t go away completely. She was disappointed that she was unable to lose weight, in spite of maintaining a calorie restricted diet and exercise program.

An IGF-1 level (see next section for details) was then obtained and was found to be low. This indicated that her growth hormone function was deficient. She was started on Trans D Tropin, which is a natural product that is applied to the skin several times daily which improves a person’s own growth hormone production. I saw her one month later. She stated the results were “simply amazing!” For the first time in years her fatigue was totally gone and her body temperatures were normal at 98.6 degrees. Her insomnia was gone and she was sleeping well through the night. For the first time she began losing weight. Her clothes were two inches looser around the waistline.

What Is Human Growth Hormone?

How did normalizing Human Growth Hormone (HGH) help Mrs. S.? If any hormone in the human body is “the Fountain of Youth” it is growth hormone. HGH is the most abundant hormone produced by the pituitary gland, located in the center of the brain. HGH is a complex hormone made up of 191 amino acids. HGH levels peak in adolescence and stimulate our bodies to grow, but we continue to produce this hormone after adolescence in short bursts during deep sleep. Scientific research has shown that as we age, our body’s ability to produce and release HGH diminishes. Some experts now believe that the process of aging is actually the direct result of declining HGH levels.

HGH stimulates the production of IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) from the liver. HGH does not stay in the blood stream for more than a brief period whereas IGF-1 stays much longer. IGF-1 contributes to the many functions HGH is involved with. Here are some of the functions HGH and IGF-1 have in the body:


• Aids growth and repair of all tissues.
• Improves energy levels and reduces chronic fatigue.
• Assists brain function for mental well being, improved memory and concentration, and reduced depression/anxiety.
• Increases bone strength and is essential in osteoporosis prevention.
• Positively affects hormonal levels, sexual function and improves libido/performance.
• Assists in maintaining or improving integrity of hair, nails, and skin.
• Reduces arthritic pain and increases flexibility.
• Decreases susceptibility to illness and improves immune function.
• Improves blood sugar balance and improves diabetic control.
• Improves cholesterol balance by lowering LDL and increasing HDL.

Why Does The Body Produce Less HGH As We Age?

It was originally believed that the pituitary gland just didn’t have the ability to produce large amounts of growth hormone as we got older. However we now know that aging pituitary glands are capable of producing the same amount of HGH that young pituitary glands do, if they are adequately stimulated. Another theory is that as we get older our Somatostatin levels increase, and this is a natural inhibitor to growth hormone. The real answer is that we just don’t know.

HGH Injections and Supplements

Just log onto the Internet and type in “Growth Hormone” in your search engine. There are hundreds of web sites that sell HGH products. “Look Younger! Lose Weight! Boost Your Energy! Increase Your Sex Drive!” And who wouldn’t want to have these things happen to them? Unfortunately, most products that claim to either contain HGH or increase HGH, do not work. First of all, HGH is a prescription drug, not a dietary supplement. It does not work orally and would break down in stomach acid before it got into the blood stream. So any company that claims it’s product contains HGH is either not being truthful, has a homeopathic amount of hormone to get around FDA regulations, or is circumventing the law. There are other products, called secretagogues, that claim they cause the body to produce more growth hormone. Most of these products have not been shown to truly increase HGH levels on a consistent basis or to work clinically.

Growth hormone can be replaced by injections of synthetically made growth hormone. This is a prescription drug that is very expensive – on the order of $1000 a month or more, depending upon the dose and frequency. I do not generally recommend this approach as any time you introduce a large amount of a foreign hormone into the body, you run the risk of side effects. It makes much more sense to let your body produce an adequate amount of it’s own hormone.

The only product that I am aware of that is highly effective is a physician developed product that has been tested using randomized, multi center, double blind, placebo controlled, cross-over studies. It is the Trans D Tropin that Mrs. S. was given. Trans D Tropin is available only by prescription or through a physician’s office. It is comprised of ingredients from non-animal sources, consisting primarily of certain amino acids and fatty acids. It is FDA registered. It is also unique in that it is the world’s first and only transdermal (goes through the skin) HGH releasing analog. Before it can be prescribed, a screening lab test for IGF-1 or Prolactin is required. It’s cost is approximately $180 for a month’s supply. For more information, contact us at the Center.

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Hugs May Be Good Medicine

A recent study at the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina demonstrated cuddling may have a protective effect. One group of 100 spouses or long-term partners held hands viewing a 10 minute video, then hugged for 20 seconds. Another group of 85 rested quietly without their partners. Then all participants spoke for a few minutes about a recent event that made them angry or stressed. Blood pressures soared in the non-contact group, with the systolic reading jumping on average 24 points, more than double for the contact group. Heart rate increased 10 beats per minute for those without contact vs. 5 beats a minute for huggers.

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Soy, a Controversial Food

At the Center I am frequently asked about soy and soy products, and many of my patients are surprised when I caution them there may be a down side to eating excessive soy products. We have all heard that soy is high in protein and low in saturated fat, unlike most meats or dairy products that contain higher amounts of saturated fat. For many people it seems to sit on the stomach a lot easier than other foods. In today’s supermarkets we can find everything from soy milk to tofu to soy burgers.

Unlike other legumes, soybeans are not safe to eat when fresh out of the ground. They are actually very toxic. In laboratory tests, soybeans have been shown to cause birth defects and even cancer in lab animals. Part of the problem is that manufacturers cannot remove all of the toxins out of soy. One of the toxins inhibits trypsin and slows the growth of rats in laboratory tests. We don’t really know if it also slows the growth of human children as well, but before you put soy milk on your child’s cereal you need to be aware that there are some concerns.

In feeding experiments, a soy-based diet requires additional vitamins, including E, K, D, B12 and it also creates deficiencies in certain minerals, including copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium by blocking the absorption of these nutrients in the intestinal tract. This is especially important information if you are a peri- or postmenopausal woman who eats a lot of soy to reduce hot flushes and sweats. You could be putting yourself at risk for osteoporosis or other serious nutritional deficiencies.

Soy, Breast Cancer and other Hormonal Effects

You may have also heard that eating soy can protect you from developing breast cancer. There is research that points in this direction. But there is also research that points in the opposite direction and shows an increased incidence of what is called epithelial hyperplasia, a pre-cancerous change. A chemical in soy was shown to cause breast cells to metastasize. Does this mean that soy causes some breast cancers? We don’t know for sure. But my personal feeling is that until the research comes in, a balanced diet without an emphasis on soy protein exclusively is a smarter approach to health.

What about isoflavones? Aren’t they beneficial? In 1991, Japanese researchers found that as little as 2 teaspoons of soy protein a day caused goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland) and hyperthyroidism in some patients. Isoflavones were thought to be the cause of this. The soy lobby suggests up to 100 grams daily of soy protein. This provides the estrogen equivalent of taking a birth control pill. So if you’re menopausal and are having hot flushes or other symptoms, you’re likely to reduce those symptoms by taking soy. Now if you are an infant taking soy formula, because of small body size, you’re getting the equivalent of five or six birth control pills a day. This could lead to learning disabilities, sexual development that is premature, and thyroid problems according to some experts. This is disturbing considering almost half of all babies that are bottle fed receive a soy formula.

Can Soy cause Alzheimer’s Disease?

A presentation at the 3rd International Soy Symposium in 1999 revealed a significant statistical relationship between eating two or more servings of tofu a week and accelerated brain aging. Persons who ate this amount of tofu in mid-life showed a greater degree of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later in life. This was a thirty year study involving Japanese American’s living in Hawaii. Again, it was thought isoflavones were the offenders.


An article in the February 2003 Journal of Endocrinology stated that soy phytoestrogens (genisten) when given to mice, suppressed cell mediated immunity. Whether this would occur in humans is not known.

The final verdict may not come in for years as to whether soy is good or bad or somewhere in between. I’ve presented some down sides to eating excessive soy and we’ll continue to keep you up to date in our Newsletters or web site.

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What’s New At The Center?

• DR. ERICKSON was recently asked to participate in a filmed interview by Gary Nole productions
on alternative therapies in the evaluation and treatment of children with ADD/ADHD. This production may air on PBS TV in the summer. We’ll keep you all posted.

• DR. ERICKSON WILL BE SPEAKING to Rotary of Gainesville on April 29th, 2003 at their noon luncheon meeting on an Introduction to Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. If you are a Rotary member, we look forward to seeing you there.

• VITAMIN ANALYSIS BY SPECTRACELL LABS has been improved. Using a state of the art technology that allows measuring of vitamin levels and some mineral levels within a person’s own white blood cells, a more accurate picture of a person’s nutritional status can be obtained. SpectraCell has now added additional tests to their panels, including CoEnzyme Q10 levels. Insurance may cover the cost of the tests. There is a $30 fee to cover the drawing of the blood and processing the live specimen, payable to the Center.

• ORGANIC GRASS FED BEEF Dr. Erickson has discovered a unique company that raises organic, grass fed beef that is high in omega-3 oil and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid). You will not recognize this product when it comes as it is virtually fat-free. Log on to AmericanGrassFedBeef.com and tour the website. This company is out of Missouri and is owned by a veterinarian, Dr. Patricia Whisnant.

• MERCURY-FREE SEAFOOD Contact Randy Hartnell, President of Vital Choice Seafood. and tell him we sent you. His website is www.vitalchoice.com. He has certified mercury-free wild Alaskan salmon and halibut that can be shipped to your door on dry ice.
|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| June 2003© Newsletter|~!||~!|1254090977|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:


The U. S. government finally announced that OBESITY is the number one epidemic in the United States, affecting over 50% of the population. It charged the fast-food industry to make its offerings healthier with lower calories, remove the saturated/hydrogenated fat, and to make portion sizes smaller. It is ironic that in the most prosperous nation in the world we are also one of the sickest populations when it comes to diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure, all of which are impacted by diet and obesity.

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 in order 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 most people have 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 and 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 roughly 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’s weight plateaus and they 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 Eskimos eat large amounts of fat in their diets from seafood, especially salmon. They have one of the lowest incidences of heart disease in the world.

The ADA type of diets work some of the time, but results 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 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. A book I recommend is The Type II Diabetes Diet Book by Calvin Ezrin, M.D..

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. Xylitol is a natural product that may also be used.

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 such as grass-fed beef, or poultry and fish that are on the low-mercury list. Make sure the meat and poultry are preservative-free, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free. 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 in the long run does not allow this. In general, you will want to consume 1 _ 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. One of the tests we run at the Preventive Medicine Center is an IGF-1 level, which reflects growth hormone function. If this is low, this will need to be corrected in order to lose weight (see our March 2003 newsletter on Human Growth Hormone).

Are You Toxic?

One of the most common reasons we find a person cannot lose weight is they are toxic. Toxins are normal by- products of metabolism, or can be taken into the body from the environment or in the foods you eat. Our bodies normally handle most toxins, but as we get older, our ability to remove toxins may become impaired. The body’s normal response to toxins is to keep them away from your vital organs and store them in the fat. As a person becomes more toxic, their fat stores increase. Some of the symptoms of toxicity are brain fog, fatigue, constipation, cold hands and feet, inability to lose weight, dry skin, irritability, memory loss. This requires a special detoxification diet and supplements before adequate weight loss can occur. This should be under medical supervision.

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.

>Reduce portion sizes. It’s okay to be a little hungry!

>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 1-3 tablespoons of organic flax seed oil or cold-pressed virgin olive oil a day and use it on salads or vegetables, or use Biotics™ Bio Omega 3 mercury-free fish oil capsules or their mixed EFA’s.

>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 that are low on the mercury content list, and poultry sources.

>If you are having sugar craving, or if you have been unable to lose weight on a calorie restricted diet, you may have insulin resistence or other factors contributing – see Dr. Erickson for help.

>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 adequate 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 suspect you are toxic, you may need a special cleansing program. Contact the Center for evaluation.

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A Patient Success Story

Judy is Dr. Erickson’s wife and has struggled with her weight ever since having two children. Every few years it would seem her weight would creep up a few pounds. She would go on a calorie restricted diet and temporarily lose a few pounds, but they would always come back. Some of the diets she tried she felt a person could not stick on for a long period of time. Her symptoms of severe fatigue, brain fog, indigestion and stomach problems, and asthma increased and she realized she had to do something to clear her toxicity. She would go into our far-infra red sauna several times a week, and this would help temporarily, but the symptoms would come back. She had virtually given up on following a healthy diet. As her husband, this was difficult for me to see, but I realized that she had to come to the conclusion she had to take charge of her health. She was introduced to a special detoxification diet by one of our friends who is also a patient who felt great after undergoing this cleanse. He also lost over 20 pounds in weight. Judy went on the same cleanse, and has lost 10 pounds at the time this newsletter went to print. Many of her food allergies cleared on the program, and her energy was dramatically improved. Judy is an R.N., and will be helping others with this program through special classes at the Center. Call our office for details.

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An Update on Mercury Toxicity Testing

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, mercury is listed as the third most frequently found heavy metal (lead and arsenic are first and second), and the most toxic substance in the U.S.. Mercury toxicity is also considered the second most common cause of acute heavy metal poisoning according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. The contamination of fish with methylmercury and the elemental mercury content of dental amalgams has long been a topic of political and medical debate. It seems there isn’t a week that goes by that there is an article on mercury contamination of food, air and soils on TV or in the newspaper. In my opinion, mercury toxicity is under diagnosed. See the December 2002 Newsletter on our web site for detailed information on Mercury Toxicity.

Acute mercury toxicity may be relatively easy to diagnose by obtaining blood mercury levels. Chronic, low grade mercury toxicity, which can take years to bio-accumulate, by its protean nature is difficult to diagnose. This diagnosis is missed on a blood mercury test. Up until recently, we would obtain a hair analysis and look for bio-accumulations of heavy metals such as mercury or lead or arsenic as a screening test. When these levels were elevated, we would recommend special provocative testing with either DMPS or DMSA, which are chelating agents that cause a release of mercury from the body. Some of my patients who had “normal” levels of mercury in hair would undergo the provocative testing anyhow if I had a clinical suspicion that there was a problem with either the patient’s metabolism (e.g. low thyroid function) or with their detoxification pathways, giving a false negative screen. Often times the provocative testing would show elevated total body burden of mercury with low or “normal” hair levels of mercury.

I recently corresponded with Dr. Boyd Haley, Chairman of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Kentucky, and a world expert in mercury toxicity as relates to dental mercury amalgam leakage. I brought up the issue of blood mercury levels vs. provocative urine testing of heavy metals (which is not widely accepted by the traditional medical community) to diagnose chronic toxicity. Dr. Haley wrote back that he just recently had a manuscript accepted for publication in the International Journal of Toxicology that demonstrates that autistic children have birth hair mercury levels that average below 1 ppm whereas control children have levels that were much higher and corresponded to the number of dental mercury amalgams the birth mother had. However, on DMPS challenge, the autistic children dump much higher amounts of mercury than do the control children. What this implies is that the autistic children do not excrete mercury very effectively from their cells into the plasma. If the mercury doesn’t get into the blood, it doesn’t get into the hair or urine either. Dr. Haley went on to say that there is a subset of the population that are exceptionally susceptible to mercury toxicity since they are markedly unable to excrete it. He felt these were the individuals who developed neurological problems like autism or attention deficit.

This is a new paradigm shift even for alternative physicians, where we cannot rely on hair analysis by itself to exclude elevated body stores of mercury.

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Another Patient Success Story

SB is a 52 y.o. female patient who began seeing me several years ago. She was concerned about her weight, adult onset diabetes requiring oral medication, and a ‘body heat’ sensation where she would shower, dry off, and within a few minutes sweat would cover her body. She had multiple symptoms consistent with hypothyroidism: hair loss, fluid retention, dry itchy skin, sensitive skin, brain fog, memory problems, lack of energy, inability to lose weight, and menopausal symptoms in spite of being on synthetic hormones from her gynecologist. Thyroid studies were normal. On examination she was found to have sluggish deep tendon reflexes and variable temperatures in the low 97% F to normal range. Her hair analysis showed elevated hair mercury and multiple low nutrient levels. This was suggestive of both a metabolic problem such as low thyroid function and also nutrient stress on her detoxification pathways. She was taken off her synthetic hormones (Premphase) and placed on bio-identical compounded hormonal replacement. A DMPS challenge test was performed and SB was found to have a urine mercury level of 63.7ug/mL, with the reference range being below 3ug/mL. Her urine lead level was also mildly elevated. She was placed on a seafood restricted diet to reduce dietary intake of mercury, and subsequently underwent removal of her mercury dental amalgams. Supplements were adjusted to replace low nutrients and she then was begun on a monthly heavy metal detoxification program with I.V. DMPS and nutritional I.V.’s.. After her 4th chelation with DMPS she shared with me “I feel like a new person. I no longer feel hot and my energy is the best it’s been in years. My husband feels like his old wife is back.” Her treatment is not yet complete and SB should continue to improve.

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What’s New At The Center?

• SUMMER VACATION AT THE CENTER the Center will be closed from Friday, June 20th through Sunday, June 29th, and reopen at 9 A.M. on Monday, June 30th. If you need supplements or prescription refills, please call well in advance of June 20th. Also, Dr. Erickson will be out of the Center some Fridays over the Summer months, although the Center will remain open 9 AM until noon Fridays.

• ORGANIC VEGETABLES One of our patients is a wholesale organic food broker, and introduced us to an organic vegetable farmer in Alachua, Florida by the name of Don Applebaum. Don owns the Phoenix Rising Organic Farm and has a web site www.farmtofamily.com He normally sells to stores or ships large quantities of fresh vegetables to the Northeast. He is willing to also sell to individuals. The vegetables can be shipped to you or you can pick them up at his farm. His phone number is 386-462-5479.

• ORGANIC GRASS FED BEEF Dr. Erickson has discovered a unique company that raises organic, grass fed beef that is high in omega-3 oil and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid). Another concern many people have is mad-cow disease, since it has been discovered just across the border in Canada. These cows eat grass -- not proceeded fed. You will not recognize this product when it comes as it is virtually fat-free. Log on to AmericanGrassFedBeef.com and tour the website. This company is out of Missouri and is owned by a veterinarian, Dr. Patricia Whisnant.

• MERCURY-FREE SEAFOOD Contact Randy Hartnell, President of Vital Choice Seafood. and tell him we sent you. His website is www.vitalchoice.com. He has certified mercury-free wild Alaskan salmon and halibut that can be shipped to your door on dry ice. This is very healthy food, high in Omega 3 oils.

• DETOX-WEIGHT LOSS CLASSES Judy Erickson, R.N. will have a schedule of classes and costs involved by the time this goes to print. Call the Center for information if you have an interest.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| September 2003© Newsletter - Hepatitis C Patient Success Story; Vitamin K -- heart disease & osteoporosis; Statin Drugs; Irradiated Food |~!||~!|1254091840|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

You’ve all heard the saying “take time to smell the roses.” In June of this year I took a week off my busy schedule to drive with my oldest son, Michael, to California. He is attending school at the Gemological Institute of America just outside of San Diego to become a gemologist. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to spend one on one time with him and visit some places I normally wouldn’t make the time for. We left on a Thursday night after seeing patients and drove to Pensacola, Florida. The next day we drove through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and into Texas. It was interesting to see oil fields on one side of the road in Louisiana, and crawfish farms on the other. We spent the night in San Antonio and visited the Alamo the next morning. It was an emotionally moving piece of history that we learned more about. The next day we drove into New Mexico and took a side trip to Carlsbad Caverns, which is something I have wanted to see since I was a boy. Mike and I spent the entire morning 700 feet underground in the largest cave system in the Western Hemisphere, and hiked over three miles to see crystal clear underground pools, magnificent stalactites and stalagmites, and learn about how this cave system was discovered in the 1800's on horseback and explored with an oil lantern. It had it’s own ‘air conditioning’, as well, maintaining a constant 56% year round. We then took off for Arizona and spent the night in Tombstone. After exploring this small town the next morning we were thankful for the modern conveniences of indoor plumbing and air conditioning. It was 106 degrees in the afternoon. Going across the mountains in Southern California, where the temperatures suddenly dropped into the high 60's was a pleasant surprise. After getting Mike set up in his apartment and meeting the people at his school, I flew back to Florida. On the flight, I was sitting next to a very busy businessman whose son was also going to start school out of state. I shared what I had done and this gentleman was inspired enough to change his plans take a road trip with his son as well.

We have a diverse, beautiful, and wonderful country and the freedom to explore it. This trip made me appreciate this even more. I hope all of you reading this newsletter had a wonderful summer as well. Now on to medical topics . . .

Spring ACAM Conference

In May 2004 I attended the semi-annual ACAM (American College for Advancement in Medicine) conference in Orlando, Florida. The conference centered around the impact of toxic metals in the environment and the health implications for such illnesses as Alzheimer’s disease, allergies, ADD/ADHD, heart disease, diabetes, and others. It was a fantastic conference. Physicians from all over the globe attended this conference and there were world-class speakers, many of whom were researchers in the basic science departments at major Universities. The bottom line was we are living in an environment that is polluted and it is affecting our health. The environment is not going to change for the better, and so we must become more informed of what is happening and be proactive. The rate for contracting cancer in 1900 was 3 out of every 100 people. Now, the estimates are 1 out of every 2.5 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Heart disease, diabetes, allergies, asthma, and learning disabilities, to name a few, are reaching epidemic proportions and are impacted by environmental pollution. Heavy metal detoxification in people with increased body burdens of toxic metals such as cadmium, lead, and mercury is critical if health is to be maintained or improved. The techniques we have been using at the Center are what were taught at this conference. If you have not been recently screened for heavy metals with a hair analysis and/or provocative urine testing, please contact us. I will share new or useful information in this and future issues of the Newsletter with our readers.

BREAST HEALTH – PART 3 --SECRETS EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW TO REDUCE HER RISK OF BREAST CANCER

This is the third part of a three part series on breast health. The first article was published in the April 2004 Newsletter and dealt with data on breast cancer and current screening methods. The second article appeared in the June 2004 Newsletter, and dealt with the suspected relationship between the environment and breast cancer. In this issue of our newsletter I will make suggestions for improving breast health.

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 believed 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, 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 in those countries. 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 natural 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 (I avoid using estrone, which carries an increased cancer risk).

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 are best 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 is better in some respects (if you have 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.

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 if you have a low 2/16 estrogen ratio.
• 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. Radiation damages DNA.
• 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.
• If you are not eating the recommended 5 or more servings of fresh fruit and vegetables a day, change your eating habits or begin taking “GreensFirst” which is an organic vegetable/fruit powder that has a high anti-oxidant index that we have available at the Center.

A Success Story

Mrs. K is a 36 y.o. lady who came into the practice with complaints of fatigue and being under chronic stress from raising her young children and helping her husband manage several businesses. Her eating habits were suboptimal and she avoided a lot of foods including certain vegetables, lamb, poultry and fish. She was also depressed and in the past had been on Wellbutrin, an anti-depressant. She was taking vitamins on her own, but they didn’t seem to help her much. Her physical exam was normal and her standard lab work showed a normal blood count, chemistries, cholesterol levels, and thyroid studies. Her nutritional analysis using both hair minerals and a SpectraCell analysis for vitamin levels was markedly abnormal, and revealed more than a dozen low nutrient levels including most anti- oxidants, selenium and vitamin B12. She was begun on a series of twice weekly B12 shots using Methylcobalamine, which is activated B12, as well as Biotics B12 2000 lozenges (B12, B6, folate). Other specific nutrients that she was low in were replaced both orally and intravenously, and changes were made in her diet to improve her protein intake. Within a six week period of time her energy returned to normal and she was less depressed.

B12 is a critical vitamin. It clears homocysteine (a compound linked to an increased risk of heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease). It is also important in the formation of healthy red blood cells, nerve health, and in the burning of fats and carbohydrates for energy. A deficiency of B12 can cause fatigue, memory loss, and depression, and it has been our experience that a functional B12 deficiency can be present even when blood levels of B12 are in the normal range. Also, as a person ages, the stomach’s production of hydrochloric acid declines, and so does absorption of B12. Even more important, intrinsic factor declines, and without adequate amounts of this substance, less than 1% of B12 will be absorbed from food or supplements. That is why B12 shots are most effective. At the Center we use the activated form of B12 for injections called Methylcobalamine (rather than cyanocobalamin) that does not require conversion by the body.

This person was also depressed and had a low protein intake. Adequate protein in the diet is important in the production of amino acids that are precursors to the brain neurotransmitters such as serotonin or dopamine, to prevent anxiety and depression.

Another Success Story

Mrs. L is a 75 year old patient who had a sudden, transient loss of vision and went to her primary care physician who found she had a partial blockage in her carotid arteries. He was concerned that she had experienced a transient ischemic event and was at risk for a stroke. He had her evaluated by a cardiovascular surgeon who recommended surgery. Her blood pressures were normal. She had multiple other medical problems and refused to undergo the carotid artery surgery. She also refused to go on Warfarin, a powerful blood thinner, and started taking Nattokinase on her own. She later came to the Center and announced “I want to treat myself without chemical drugs or surgery. This is the way I was brought up.” She was on a number of medications, including cholesterol lowering drugs, sleeping pills, and Synthroid (levothyroxine), a synthetic version of the T4 thyroid hormone. She felt very nervous and had trouble sleeping, and also felt quite fatigued when she first came to see me. We discussed options with her and her daughter, including surgical endarterectomy vs. using non-drug therapies for her problems. The patient elected to be treated in an alternative manner. She was placed on a variety of supplements, including vitamin E and fish oils that thin the blood naturally. Her sleeping pills were replaced with an herbal supplement and her statin drug replaced with a natural supplement that lowers cholesterol equally well. A screening hair analysis showed both heavy metals and mineral deficiencies, and subsequent provocative urine testing revealed increased amounts of Cadmium and Lead in her body. These metals are known to contribute to a risk of elevated blood pressure and inflammation in the arteries, which could lead to cholesterol plaque formation and stroke.

Mrs. L was placed on a special oral EDTA product to slowly remove the lead and cadmium from her system. She also was taken off Synthroid and placed on Armour thyroid, a complete, natural desiccated thyroid that has both T4 and T3 in it. Even though her blood levels of T4 and T3 were normal on the Synthroid, there is no laboratory test to measure the amount of thyroid hormone within a cell, which is where this hormone works. Patients who have taken Synthroid in the past often have marked improvement in their symptoms when they’re switched to a natural thyroid preparation. T4 is converted into T3, a much more active form of thyroid hormone, and only T3 can be used by the cells. But some patients cannot adequately convert T4 into T3, or there may be a block at the receptor site within the cell. One study was done where microscopic glass tubes were placed within cells in diabetic patients, and the T3 levels measured directly. Intracellular T3 levels were found to be 1/3 less than the blood levels!

Mrs. L was recently in the office and told us that this is the best she has felt in years. Her energy is better, she sleeps through the night, her nervousness is gone, and she has had no further transient ischemic episodes or eye symptoms.

Food for Thought about the New Cholesterol Guidelines

In the July 17th edition of the Miami Herald an article appeared exposing the new cholesterol guidelines as being “tainted by the influence of major pharmaceuticals that make blockbusters such as Lipitor and Pravachol.” In new national guidelines, nine experts urged Americans to further lower their cholesterol. The problem: The experts have made money from manufacturers of cholesterol medication and this conflict of interest was never disclosed to the public. Of the nine cholesterol experts, all but one received consulting or speaking fees, research money or other support from makers of the most widely used anti-cholesterol drugs. The article pointed out that “drug makers earned $26 billion worldwide on cholesterol-lowering medicines, the top-selling class of drugs. The new guidelines would add about 7 million more Americans to the 36 million already encouraged to take the pills to lower cholesterol, according to Dr. James Cleeman, coordinator of the National Cholesterol Education Program, which drew up the guidelines.”

Fifty percent of all patients who have heart attacks have normal cholesterols (below 200mg/dL). For a different perspective on cholesterol and heart disease, log on to our website and reference the articles on Cholesterol and also Chelation Therapy. Also, in the December 2004 Newsletter, I will share the latest information on cholesterol, heart disease, predictive lab tests, etc.. that were presented at the ACAM conference.
|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| November/December 2003© Newsletter - Heavy Metals in our Foods & Supplements|~!||~!|1254091895|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

As the Christmas/Hanukkah holidays and a New Year rapidly approach, the staff and I want to say “thank you” for all of your referrals and support this past year. Many of you have worked hard to improve your health and enjoy life, and we celebrate your successes. We hope that 2004 will be your best year yet!

Earlier this year I bumped into a colleague of mine who is a faculty member at the University of Florida College of Medicine. He was telling me how much sicker patients are today than thirty years ago and how much more difficult it is to take care of them (he is an anesthesiologist and puts people “to sleep” for surgery). I agreed with his observation and he asked me why this was. I told him one of the reasons was the environment has changed dramatically in the past several decades and we are seeing a lot of environmentally related illnesses and diseases, such as cancer, asthma, fibromyalgia and autoimmune diseases which were rare fifty years ago. Of course, there are other factors such as diet and nutritional issues. We live in a toxic environment. Heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury are in the food, air and water we take into our bodies. Other chemical toxins come from pesticides and herbicides sprayed on our food supply and even in the buildings we live in. Over time, these toxins bio-accumulate in higher and higher amounts within our bodies, causing illness and disease. A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association pointed out that menopausal women are becoming poisoned with lead. Over a lifetime we all accumulate this toxic metal from the environment, where it goes primarily to our bones and can inhibit the formation of red blood cells. With the onset of menopause women’s bones begin to thin and loose calcium, releasing large amounts of lead into their tissues and brain. This can lead to conditions such as hypertension, renal impairment, and cognitive decline.

Heavy Metals in our Foods

Other toxic metals get into our bodies through our food supply. I attended the ICIM (International College of Integrative Medicine) meeting in St. Louis this fall and one of the speakers shared the following with the doctors in the audience. He was asked to investigate why more people in Mexico were getting heavy metal poisoning with arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. What he found was that in the agricultural industry there, tanker trucks of sulfuric acid were being sprayed on the land to break up hard phosphate deposits from years of using phosphate fertilizers on the soil. The acid caused toxic metals that were bound up in the rock and soil to be released and latter absorbed by the growing plants. So that nice tomato that comes from South of the border may be high in arsenic and you don’t even know it. I would wonder if this is happening in the United States as well. We all have probably heard about seafood and fish oils that can have mercury in them. Large predatory fish such as shark, swordfish, kingfish, tilefish, and some large tuna have excessive amounts and should not be eaten. The surgeon general has warned pregnant women to limit consumption of seafood during pregnancy as well.

Heavy Metals in Supplements

Another source of contamination can be your nutritional supplements themselves. The supplement Glucosamine, widely used for osteoarthritis, is made from chitin which is found in crustaceans. Small crayfish from the ocean are captured and their shells are ground up and used to make Glucosamine. Those harvested from shallow waters especially have been found to have significant amounts of toxic heavy metals. Another supplement is calcium carbonate, which is found in coral calcium and other calcium products. This can have high amounts of lead in it. Make sure your supplement company assays for heavy metals in the products you use.

At the Center we promote supplements only from companies such as Biotics Research Corporation and others who monitor the contents and purity of the raw materials that come into their facilities. All the supplements we supply are pharmaceutical grade, bio available (meaning the body can absorb or use the contents), and the contents are exactly what the label says. These products may cost a bit more, but you are paying for the quality that you are putting into your body. There are thousands of supplement companies out there and the majority do not do “in house” testing of the raw materials. The Federal government does not require the same testing of nutritional supplements, which they regard as ‘food’, as they do of prescription drugs. Dr. Erickson has carefully checked out the supplement companies and the products we use at the Center, including personally visiting some of the facilities himself.

A Patient Success Story

Mrs. J is a very nice lady in her mid-50's who came to see me a number of years ago. Her main symptoms were severe chronic fatigue, forgetfulness and ‘brain fog’, cold intolerance (could never seem to get warm, especially in her hands and feet), weight gain, sleep disturbance, constipation, and fibromyalgia. Mrs. J was basically disabled and spent much of her time resting and staying in her house. She was taking a large variety of different vitamins and supplements, but they didn’t seem to help. She had been to a number of doctor’s, including a rheumatologist, who could find nothing specific on her lab tests. Screens for thyroid disease, arthritis, and diabetes had been negative.
When this patient came to the Center, she underwent a comprehensive physical examination that showed a very fatigued appearing individual who was overweight and had cold hands and feet, but normal pulses. Her body temperature was in the low 97 degree range. The rest of the physical exam was unremarkable. Extensive laboratory testing was unremarkable, including thyroid hormone levels. Hair analysis showed an elevated hair mercury level, a low iodine level that can indicate thyroid dysfunction, and multiple low hair mineral levels. A DMPS challenge test was performed and a urine collected over six hours that showed very high amounts of mercury and tin.

A program of IV and oral chelation for heavy metal detoxification was started after Mrs. J had multiple mercury-containing dental amalgams removed and replaced with non-toxic dental material. Nutritional supplements were used to correct her underlying deficiencies, especially vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, and selenium. She was also begun on bio-identical hormonal replacement rather than synthetic chemical hormonal replacement. It was a two year process before significant improvement became apparent. The patient’s mercury levels are now approximately 1/10th of what they were initially, and she will be finishing her detoxification program this year. Her body temperatures have been normal for over a year and her energy is much improved. Her fibromyalgia is gone, her memory is much improved, constipation is no longer a problem, and she is sleeping much better. She has lost 10 pounds in weight. She is running several businesses and travels frequently. Mrs. J told me the improvement has been “a miracle.”

This story illustrates a number of important points. Mrs. J was toxic with heavy metal poisoning that had slowly accumulated over a lifetime and which routine blood tests and physical examination did not reveal. She and I believe the mercury came from the many mercury dental amalgams that had been placed in her when young. Although this is a controversial subject, mercury does escape from “silver fillings” and goes into human tissue where it can cause damage. (Go to our web site www.prevent-doc.com and under Topics of Interest “Dental Amalgam Mercury Poisoning” for more information). Dr. Boyd Haley, chairman of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Kentucky gave a presentation at the ICIM meeting showing how mercury escapes as a vapor from dental amalgams and easily gets into the brain. He as well as another researcher from Canada demonstrated how mercury at 1/1000th the amount in one amalgam could cause Alzheimer’s changes in brain tissue. When a person has a toxicity it can disrupt multiple biochemical and hormonal systems and pathways. Until the underlying toxicity is corrected, supplements will generally remain ineffective. Also, correcting Mrs. J’s hormonal imbalance with bio-identical rather than synthetic hormones allowed her metabolic processes to optimize and her supplements to become more effective.

Another point I would like to make is Mrs. J’s multiple vague symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, fibromyalgia, and sleep disturbance are often written off as depression or just getting older. Patients are usually placed on anti-depressant medications or anti-inflammatory drugs that do nothing to correct their underlying problems. A final point this story illustrates is that regaining health takes time and it comes back in steps. It took Mrs. J two years before she started feeling significant improvement.

EDTA Chelation Therapy and Reduced Mortality from Cancer and Heart Disease

90% of all deaths in the United States are related to either heart disease or cancer. Reducing toxic metals in the body has a dramatic impact on these statistics by reducing free-radical damage these metals cause. Walter Blumer and Elmer M. Cranton, M.D. published an 18 year follow-up report on the possible role of EDTA chelation therapy in preventing cancer. Blumer studied 59 patients who lived next to a heavily traveled highway and who were given calcium-EDTA infusions because of lead exposure in automobile exhaust gases. Controls were the 172 people living in the same neighborhood. Only 1 of 59 treated patients (1.7%) died of cancer while 30 of 172 (17.6%) of the non-treated controls died over the 18 year period. This is a 90% reduction in cancer mortality after chelation therapy with EDTA.

In 1993 Terry Chappell, M.D. and John P. Stahl, Ph.D. published a sophisticated meta-analysis of nineteen published clinical research studies involving 22,765 patients. 87% of patients showed a clinical improvement by objective testing following a course of EDTA chelation. In 1993 Hanke and Flytlie published a Danish medical study of pre-surgery patients who underwent EDTA chelation. 58 of 65 of the patients canceled planned by-pass surgeries and 24 of 27 patients who were scheduled to undergo amputation of limbs due to peripheral vascular disease had their limbs saved. The National Institutes of Health is now starting TACT, a $35 million 5 year multi-center study here in the United States to further evaluate chelation therapy and it’s benefits for patient’s who have coronary artery disease and have suffered a heart attack.

If you would like to be screened for heavy metals, please contact the us. This requires a provocative urine test with a chelating agent. Hair analysis results can give false negatives! We have a variety of ways of detoxifying heavy metals from the body, including both IV chelation therapy and oral chelation therapy. For more information you may log on to our web site www.prevent-doc.com and under “Topics of Interest” pull up the article on Chelation.

When Is Vitamin C Not Vitamin C?

When it doesn’t work! At the ICIM conference I had the pleasure of meeting Sir Arnold Takimoto, a world renown researcher, teacher, physician, and lecturer. He has developed protocols for alternative treatments for cancer and is the innovator of a number of new products that we carry at the Center. Vitamin C is known for its immune boosting and anti-cancer properties. His observation as well as other physicians at cancer clinics throughout the world was that standard vitamin C that is given intravenously is not working very well. It has been my observation that often times oral vitamin C may not work well in boosting immune function during colds or flues. This is an major change from a decade ago. However, a special type of IV vitamin C called BETAC® (stands for Beet derived vitamin C) causes cancers to become smaller and patients to feel better. What Dr. Takimoto shared with the doctors was that the majority of vitamin C on the market today is a by-product of the corn industry. He hypothesized the genetic engineering of corn has altered the vitamin C in corn is some way. One of the things he did find was that the angle of the molecular bonds was different in corn-based vitamin C than that from beets or other non-corn sources (so at an atomic level, it may react differently). At the Center we use BETAC® brand vitamin C for intravenous use, and have available for purchase non-corn derived vitamin C tablets and powders.

New Year’s Resolutions?

This is the time of year we associate getting together with family and friends. It is also a time of year when many of us resolve to do things differently in the upcoming year. Maybe last year’s resolutions didn’t make it past January, but this is year is going to be different! Right? Lose weight, exercise, relax and reduce stress are invariably on top of the list. Most of us fail in keeping our resolutions because we either set too high goals for ourselves, and then wonder why we never attain them. Or we give up and stop setting goals. Of course, there is a difference between having a fantasy and setting a goal. Researchers at the University of Washington Addictive Behaviors Research Center found 63% of 264 persons they questioned remained faithful to their number 1 resolution for at least two months. Here are some tips on keeping your New Year’s Resolutions.

• Make only one or two resolutions.
• Choose resolutions you’ve been thinking about for some time.
• Choose to adopt a new good behavior rather than trying to shake an ingrained bad habit.
• Choose realistic goals that you feel confident you can meet.
• If you don’t succeed, determine the barriers that blocked you and try again.

What’s New At The Center?

• HOLIDAY HOURS We will be closed Nov. 27 - 28 for Thanksgiving. We will close 4 PM on December 24th to observe the Christmas/New Year Holiday and reopen at 9 AM Jan. 5th, 2004. Please plan all supplement and prescription needs no latter than Wednesday, December 17th, and call the Center by this date if you cannot personally come by the Center to pick up. We can ship supplements to you as an option. We wish everyone a happy, joyous holiday season.

• If this Newsletter was forwarded to you, please contact the Center at 352-331-5138 and give us an updated address.

• Ultra C Liquid $25/bottle – provides intravenous level doses of non-corn vitamin C, taken orally. Each bottle has 12 doses at 900+mg each. Use this when you rapidly need to boost your immune system.
Vita C Powder $18/container – beet derived vitamin C powder; is mixed with water or juice and provides an effervescent and sparkling drink. _ teaspoon = 900mg. 120 servings per container.

• ORGANIC FOOD WEB SITES for your information:
> Organic Grass Feed Beef AmericanGrassFedBeef.com is owned by a veterinarian, Dr. Patricia Whisnant.
> Wild Alaskan Salmon that is mercury-free www.vitalchoice.com shipped to your door on dry ice.
> Organic vegetables FarmtoFamily.com out of Alachua, Florida.

• Do you know what a Myers’ Cocktail is? Topics of Interest.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| April 2004© Newsletter - Patient with dizziness and syncope; Breast cancer screening|~!||~!|1254091939|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

Dr. W is a long time friend and retired physician who recently drove up with his wife to see me. He and I reminisced about how medicine has changed over the past 30 years. We discussed how conventional medicine tries to fix everything with a pill or surgery, and where often times expensive technology is substituted for taking a patient history or doing a thorough physical exam. As I was completing Dr. W’s physical exam he shared with me his internist skipped doing a rectal and prostate exam on his last physical exam. Dr. W had been a former Professor at Shands Teaching Hospital and had a very successful private practice for many years in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery. He gave me an article from the February 12, 2004 edition of the Wall Street Journal entitled “Preventive Medicine Gets More Aggressive” in the Informed Patient column by Laura Landro.

The article pointed out that in spite of all our modern technology and a myriad of pills for virtually every ailment, we are in the midst of an epidemic of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other chronic diseases. (I would point out all of these diseases are impacted by diet. Most of us never think the bodies we have today are not the same bodies we had four years or even four months ago. We become what we eat and our foods often lack the essential nutrients to promote optimal health!) Our health care system is not a health care system but a disease management system. The problem is once a person develops a disease, it is virtually impossible to reverse a disease process. The author points out this brings a new urgency to the concept of preventive medicine – or even a change from “preventive” to “prospective”. I would use the word “proactive.” While the concept of shared decision making between patients and doctors has been around for years, most physicians and insurers have yet to widely accept this idea or the idea of preventive medicine as such. At the Center, we view our relationship with our patients as a partnership in health improvement. Before we accept a patient for treatment, we ask what it is they are looking for and what it is they want to accomplish. All of our patients undergo a nutritional assessment. Before we embark on a nutritional or other treatment program, we discuss with our patients what their options are. Our patients make the final decision as to what is right for them. This is a very different medical model than the physician-centric model of healthcare I was taught when I went to medical school, where the doctor tells the patient what to do.

Each patient’s health plan is customized at the Center. Some programs, such as at my old alma mater, Duke University, are beginning to offer prospective health programs to their employees, where personalized planning with a health coach is being touted. The idea is not just to avoid a disease, but for overall well-being. “What we are trying to do is be on the leading edge of a change in how health care will be delivered in the next five years . . . not with a cookie cutter approach to every patient but by tailoring it to the individual” according to Duke’s chancellor for health affairs, Ralph Snyderman. We at the Center are proud that our patients have been on the “leading edge” of preventive health care since the Center opened in 2000.

A Success Story

Simon is an 87 y.o. patient who is also my father-in-law (he gave us permission to use his name). He is a remarkable person in that at age 87 he is mentally alert, has outlived two wives (and is currently dating), takes care of himself and is still able to drive a car. He is more active than some people half his age. In February of this year he called us at home and told us he had passed-out completely four times in the night. This was different than his usual dizziness that he had been experiencing for some time. My wife brought him to his cardiologist’s office as in the remote past he had a heart attack and also had carotid artery surgery to remove a blockage. His EKG was normal and an arterial flow study of the arteries in the neck was also normal. Much to our surprise and upset, a physician never examined him! His cardiologist was relying solely on high tech tests and procedures instead. I have treated literally hundreds of patients at the Center who felt something was wrong in spite of being told by a physician that their lab tests or x-rays were normal, or that what they were experiencing was just part of the aging process. So I examined my father-in-law and found him to have an elevated blood pressure in the 190's/90's range. His cardiac and neurological exams were normal. His Contact Reflex Analysis exam showed that there was a problem in the circulatory system meridians. The next day we began a program of EDTA chelation twice weekly and targeted nutritional supplements to support his heart and circulatory system. By the second treatment he had no further episodes of loss of consciousness and by the fifth treatment his dizziness of many months duration went completely away. His blood pressure dropped to the 120/80 range without drugs or medications. His lab tests later were returned as showing an increased body burden of lead which the EDTA was removing. Lead is known to cause hypertension and other health problems. Most likely the lead came from past exposures to leaded gasoline, lead plumbing, or perhaps lead paint. Simon states this is the best he has felt in years, and he is only 25% through his chelation program.

Please log on to our web site www.prevent-doc.com under topics of interest if you would like to learn more about EDTA chelation. As an update, the Center was invited to participate in the NIH (National Institutes of Health) TACT chelation therapy trials that started at the end of last year. Although we declined to participate as a research center due to time considerations, we are excited that a large scale study over five years is finally in progress to further evaluate EDTA chelation as it pertains to patients who have had a heart attack.

BREAST HEALTH – PART 1

This is the first of a two part article on breast health. This article deals with data on breast cancer and current screening methods. In the next issue of our newsletter I will discuss the suspected relationship between the environment and breast cancer, and make suggestions for improving breast health.

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. 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 estrogens and xenoestrogens, and ionizing radiation underlie most of the known risk factors.

Breast Cancer Screening

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. Once a woman is 50 or older, then recommend this be done annually.
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. They see no difference in screening interval for high-risk women, unless the women expresses great anxiety about breast cancer.
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 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. 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%. Other studies, however, show the annual age-adjusted mortality rate from breast cancer has not changed since 1930.

Adverse Effects of 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. A mean breast dose of 0.1 rad from a mammogram is considered a low dose of radiation by traditional medicine, but 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.

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 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 woman 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% rang
e (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.” 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.

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. We are pleased to offer this service to our patients beginning late May or early June 2004. More extensive information on breast screening, thermography, and a list of references left out of this newsletter due to space considerations are available on our website www.prevent-doc.com under Topics of Interest.

|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| June 2004© Newsletter - Breast Cancer and the Environment; Success stories of a patient with fibromyalgia and another with uterine cancer|~!||~!|1254091965|~!|In the April 2004 issue of the Newsletter I discussed data on breast cancer screening. We also discussed how I feel it is important for patients to be well informed, independent thinkers so that they can make decisions about their health care and take a proactive approach, rather than waiting until a disease or illness hits. We have been told that women have a 1 in 8 lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. As Mark Twain once said, “there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.” The 1 in 8 statistic is scary and may push women into undergoing procedures that they are uncomfortable with but still accept due to fear. Here is a more accurate accounting of the statistical chances a woman will contract breast cancer according to age:

At age 20: 1 in 2500
At age 30: 1 in 233
At age 40: 1 in 63
At age 50: 1 in 41
At age 60: 1 in 28
At age 70: 1 in 24
At age 80: 1 in 16
At age 90: 1 in 8

When looked at this way, it looks quite different, doesn’t it? So basically, the 1 in 8 risk applies only if you live to be in your 90's. Now let’s look at some of the variables that affect breast health, and I’m going to discuss some of the lesser known ones.

BREAST HEALTH – PART 2

This is the second of a three part article on breast health. The previous article dealt with data on breast cancer and current screening methods. In this issue I will discuss the suspected relationship between the environment and breast cancer. In the September 2004 issue of our newsletter I will make suggestions for improving breast health. The September article will be posted in late June 2004 on our website www.prevent-doc.com under Topics of Interest “Secrets Every Woman Should Know for Reducing the Risk of Breast Cancer” for those of you who have Internet access and do not want to wait until the Fall.

BREAST CANCER AND THE ENVIRONMENT

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.

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. There is also evidence that high consumption of meat may increase the risk of breast cancer. 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 barbequing. Diets high in fat have been shown to increase breast cancer in rats, but the results in humans have been inconsistent.

There is also evidence that phytoestrogens (estrogen compounds found in plants and vegetables) may substantially reduce the risk of breast cancer. 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. 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. You need to decide for yourself.

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 only from prescriptions given by 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.

A Success Story

Mrs J. is a 57 year old lady who was experiencing fibromyalgia pain, headaches, dental pain, fatigue, and cold intolerance. She also was concerned about radiation exposure to her breasts and the pain of the compression in getting annual mammograms. She underwent a whole body Thermography scan. The scan showed a number of interesting things. Her breast scan was completely normal and this was a big emotional relief for her. An area of increased heat was seen in the left upper back and neck that correlated with her pain (she had been in a car accident previously). Her frequent chiropractic treatments had given her only partial relief and X-rays of these areas were interpreted as “normal.” The Thermography results were consistent with inflammation and muscle spasm. She showed the thermography scan results to her chiropractor who altered his therapy and also referred Mrs. J to a massage therapist, as most of her problems were in the muscles. She is feeling much better now. Also, two teeth showed up on the scan that needed attention. She had previously seen her dentist and dental X-rays were normal. The teeth were treated appropriately and her symptoms improved. The point of this success story is that Thermography can show the cause of different types of pain when X-rays are normal and clinical exam is non-revealing.

Another Success Story

Ms. D is a 52 year old lady who was unfortunately found to have a uterine cancer. She subsequently underwent traditional radical surgery and post operative radiation therapy. Following the surgery Ms. D felt very tired and had severe menopausal symptoms with hot flushes, insomnia, headaches and night sweats. Her physician prescribed Effexor, an anti-depressant medication for her in an attempt to control her symptoms, but this didn’t really help. Ms. D saw me several months following her surgery for a nutritional evaluation and to see if I could help her gain her strength back. She told me “I feel totally drained of energy.” She underwent a comprehensive examination in the office that included a physical exam, Contact Reflex Analysis, extensive lab work, and also a hair analysis of body minerals and heavy metals, as well a SpectraCell analysis of intracellular vitamin levels. It has been our experience that the hair analysis and SpectraCell lab testing are more accurate than traditional serum blood vitamin levels, which can miss chronic deficiency states. Ms. D was found to have at least 11 vitamins and minerals that were severely deficient on these tests. She elected to undergo a series of nutritional IV’s (intravenous infusion of vitamins and minerals) to correct these deficiencies rapidly. And although a series of 8 weekly IV’s were planned, by the 6th one she felt “100% improved” and was left on oral supplements only. She was making plans to go back to her job at the time of this article and continues to take specific nutritional supplements to reduce her risk of recurrent disease and to keep her immune system boosted.

If you have not had a hair analysis or SpectraCell analysis in the past year I would suggest you contact the Center and have these tests scheduled or call us to obtain further information. |~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| September 2004© Reducing the Risk of Breast Cancer; Success story of patient with hidden B12 deficiency; Success story of patient with low thyroid and heavy metal toxicity|~!||~!|1254091994|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

You’ve all heard the saying “take time to smell the roses.” In June of this year I took a week off my busy schedule to drive with my oldest son, Michael, to California. He is attending school at the Gemological Institute of America just outside of San Diego to become a gemologist. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to spend one on one time with him and visit some places I normally wouldn’t make the time for. We left on a Thursday night after seeing patients and drove to Pensacola, Florida. The next day we drove through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and into Texas. It was interesting to see oil fields on one side of the road in Louisiana, and crawfish farms on the other. We spent the night in San Antonio and visited the Alamo the next morning. It was an emotionally moving piece of history that we learned more about. The next day we drove into New Mexico and took a side trip to Carlsbad Caverns, which is something I have wanted to see since I was a boy. Mike and I spent the entire morning 700 feet underground in the largest cave system in the Western Hemisphere, and hiked over three miles to see crystal clear underground pools, magnificent stalactites and stalagmites, and learn about how this cave system was discovered in the 1800's on horseback and explored with an oil lantern. It had it’s own ‘air conditioning’, as well, maintaining a constant 56% year round. We then took off for Arizona and spent the night in Tombstone. After exploring this small town the next morning we were thankful for the modern conveniences of indoor plumbing and air conditioning. It was 106 degrees in the afternoon. Going across the mountains in Southern California, where the temperatures suddenly dropped into the high 60's was a pleasant surprise. After getting Mike set up in his apartment and meeting the people at his school, I flew back to Florida. On the flight, I was sitting next to a very busy businessman whose son was also going to start school out of state. I shared what I had done and this gentleman was inspired enough to change his plans take a road trip with his son as well.

We have a diverse, beautiful, and wonderful country and the freedom to explore it. This trip made me appreciate this even more. I hope all of you reading this newsletter had a wonderful summer as well. Now on to medical topics . . .

Spring ACAM Conference

In May 2004 I attended the semi-annual ACAM (American College for Advancement in Medicine) conference in Orlando, Florida. The conference centered around the impact of toxic metals in the environment and the health implications for such illnesses as Alzheimer’s disease, allergies, ADD/ADHD, heart disease, diabetes, and others. It was a fantastic conference. Physicians from all over the globe attended this conference and there were world-class speakers, many of whom were researchers in the basic science departments at major Universities. The bottom line was we are living in an environment that is polluted and it is affecting our health. The environment is not going to change for the better, and so we must become more informed of what is happening and be proactive. The rate for contracting cancer in 1900 was 3 out of every 100 people. Now, the estimates are 1 out of every 2.5 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Heart disease, diabetes, allergies, asthma, and learning disabilities, to name a few, are reaching epidemic proportions and are impacted by environmental pollution. Heavy metal detoxification in people with increased body burdens of toxic metals such as cadmium, lead, and mercury is critical if health is to be maintained or improved. The techniques we have been using at the Center are what were taught at this conference. If you have not been recently screened for heavy metals with a hair analysis and/or provocative urine testing, please contact us. I will share new or useful information in this and future issues of the Newsletter with our readers.

BREAST HEALTH – PART 3 --SECRETS EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW TO REDUCE HER RISK OF BREAST CANCER

This is the third part of a three part series on breast health. The first article was published in the April 2004 Newsletter and dealt with data on breast cancer and current screening methods. The second article appeared in the June 2004 Newsletter, and dealt with the suspected relationship between the environment and breast cancer. In this issue of our newsletter I will make suggestions for improving breast health.

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 believed 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, 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 in those countries. 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 natural 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 (I avoid using estrone, which carries an increased cancer risk).

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 are best 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 is better in some respects (if you have 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.

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 if you have a low 2/16 estrogen ratio.
• 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. Radiation damages DNA.
• 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.
• If you are not eating the recommended 5 or more servings of fresh fruit and vegetables a day, change your eating habits or begin taking “GreensFirst” which is an organic vegetable/fruit powder that has a high anti-oxidant index that we have available at the Center.

A Success Story

Mrs. K is a 36 y.o. lady who came into the practice with complaints of fatigue and being under chronic stress from raising her young children and helping her husband manage several businesses. Her eating habits were suboptimal and she avoided a lot of foods including certain vegetables, lamb, poultry and fish. She was also depressed and in the past had been on Wellbutrin, an anti-depressant. She was taking vitamins on her own, but they didn’t seem to help her much. Her physical exam was normal and her standard lab work showed a normal blood count, chemistries, cholesterol levels, and thyroid studies. Her nutritional analysis using both hair minerals and a SpectraCell analysis for vitamin levels was markedly abnormal, and revealed more than a dozen low nutrient levels including most anti- oxidants, selenium and vitamin B12. She was begun on a series of twice weekly B12 shots using Methylcobalamine, which is activated B12, as well as Biotics B12 2000 lozenges (B12, B6, folate). Other specific nutrients that she was low in were replaced both orally and intravenously, and changes were made in her diet to improve her protein intake. Within a six week period of time her energy returned to normal and she was less depressed.

B12 is a critical vitamin. It clears homocysteine (a compound linked to an increased risk of heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease). It is also important in the formation of healthy red blood cells, nerve health, and in the burning of fats and carbohydrates for energy. A deficiency of B12 can cause fatigue, memory loss, and depression, and it has been our experience that a functional B12 deficiency can be present even when blood levels of B12 are in the normal range. Also, as a person ages, the stomach’s production of hydrochloric acid declines, and so does absorption of B12. Even more important, intrinsic factor declines, and without adequate amounts of this substance, less than 1% of B12 will be absorbed from food or supplements. That is why B12 shots are most effective. At the Center we use the activated form of B12 for injections called Methylcobalamine (rather than cyanocobalamin) that does not require conversion by the body.

This person was also depressed and had a low protein intake. Adequate protein in the diet is important in the production of amino acids that are precursors to the brain neurotransmitters such as serotonin or dopamine, to prevent anxiety and depression.

Another Success Story

Mrs. L is a 75 year old patient who had a sudden, transient loss of vision and went to her primary care physician who found she had a partial blockage in her carotid arteries. He was concerned that she had experienced a transient ischemic event and was at risk for a stroke. He had her evaluated by a cardiovascular surgeon who recommended surgery. Her blood pressures were normal. She had multiple other medical problems and refused to undergo the carotid artery surgery. She also refused to go on Warfarin, a powerful blood thinner, and started taking Nattokinase on her own. She later came to the Center and announced “I want to treat myself without chemical drugs or surgery. This is the way I was brought up.” She was on a number of medications, including cholesterol lowering drugs, sleeping pills, and Synthroid (levothyroxine), a synthetic version of the T4 thyroid hormone. She felt very nervous and had trouble sleeping, and also felt quite fatigued when she first came to see me. We discussed options with her and her daughter, including surgical endarterectomy vs. using non-drug therapies for her problems. The patient elected to be treated in an alternative manner. She was placed on a variety of supplements, including vitamin E and fish oils that thin the blood naturally. Her sleeping pills were replaced with an herbal supplement and her statin drug replaced with a natural supplement that lowers cholesterol equally well. A screening hair analysis showed both heavy metals and mineral deficiencies, and subsequent provocative urine testing revealed increased amounts of Cadmium and Lead in her body. These metals are known to contribute to a risk of elevated blood pressure and inflammation in the arteries, which could lead to cholesterol plaque formation and stroke.

Mrs. L was placed on a special oral EDTA product to slowly remove the lead and cadmium from her system. She also was taken off Synthroid and placed on Armour thyroid, a complete, natural desiccated thyroid that has both T4 and T3 in it. Even though her blood levels of T4 and T3 were normal on the Synthroid, there is no laboratory test to measure the amount of thyroid hormone within a cell, which is where this hormone works. Patients who have taken Synthroid in the past often have marked improvement in their symptoms when they’re switched to a natural thyroid preparation. T4 is converted into T3, a much more active form of thyroid hormone, and only T3 can be used by the cells. But some patients cannot adequately convert T4 into T3, or there may be a block at the receptor site within the cell. One study was done where microscopic glass tubes were placed within cells in diabetic patients, and the T3 levels measured directly. Intracellular T3 levels were found to be 1/3 less than the blood levels!

Mrs. L was recently in the office and told us that this is the best she has felt in years. Her energy is better, she sleeps through the night, her nervousness is gone, and she has had no further transient ischemic episodes or eye symptoms.

Food for Thought about the New Cholesterol Guidelines

In the July 17th edition of the Miami Herald an article appeared exposing the new cholesterol guidelines as being “tainted by the influence of major pharmaceuticals that make blockbusters such as Lipitor and Pravachol.” In new national guidelines, nine experts urged Americans to further lower their cholesterol. The problem: The experts have made money from manufacturers of cholesterol medication and this conflict of interest was never disclosed to the public. Of the nine cholesterol experts, all but one received consulting or speaking fees, research money or other support from makers of the most widely used anti-cholesterol drugs. The article pointed out that “drug makers earned $26 billion worldwide on cholesterol-lowering medicines, the top-selling class of drugs. The new guidelines would add about 7 million more Americans to the 36 million already encouraged to take the pills to lower cholesterol, according to Dr. James Cleeman, coordinator of the National Cholesterol Education Program, which drew up the guidelines.”

Fifty percent of all patients who have heart attacks have normal cholesterols (below 200mg/dL). For a different perspective on cholesterol and heart disease, log on to our website and reference the articles on Cholesterol and also Chelation Therapy. Also, in the December 2004 Newsletter, I will share the latest information on cholesterol, heart disease, predictive lab tests, etc.. that were presented at the ACAM conference.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| DECEMBER 2004© Newsletter - Be a smart patient; Updates on Heart Disease; Success stories|~!||~!|1254092014|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

As we approach the Christmas/Hanukkah holiday season and realize how fast this year has gone by, it is always appropriate to take time to count our blessings. The staff of the Preventive Medicine Center and I would like to thank our patients, colleagues, and friends who have referred patients and family members to us. We appreciate the confidence you have in us. We wish you all the happiest of Holiday seasons.

One of the things I try to do in this newsletter is to give a different perspective of health issues than a reader will normally see in the public press. A “no spin zone” so to speak. It is often difficult to find balanced information on health issues, and in this issue I will present new information on heart disease. As you all know, I have an integrative medical practice where traditional therapies and alternative/complimentary therapies are combined to treat patients. The lack of understanding and utilization of correct nutrition to improve physiological functioning of the human body is unfortunately widespread in conventional medicine. Drug therapies, which work by suppressing physiological function, are better understood but have much lower margins of safety. I recently had a patient come in for a routine visit for her hormonal and nutritional therapies. She felt great and thanked me for helping one of her friends whom she referred who was severely depressed but wasn’t responding to traditional anti-depressant drug therapy. Her friend improved under my care once her nutritional deficiencies and neurotransmitter imbalances were corrected. She stated that this patient’s friends told her she was seeing “the weird doctor.” Rather than being offended, I just smiled. Reality depends on your perspective and personal experience. I tell my children, who are both in college, that the most valuable part of my Duke University education was not book knowledge, but the ability I gained to see different sides of an issue (in debate class we had to debate either side of the assignment) and form an independent opinion.

Medicine is full of examples of “normal science” becoming obsolete, and newer theories ignored because they don’t fit the old paradigm. The medical model of a single disease, a single medication, and a single cause is out-dated but is still widely held. For example, cardiovascular disease may be triggered by insulin resistance, folate deficiency, occult infections, elevated homocysteine, heavy metal toxicity, hereditary factors, stress, and other factors that increase inflammation. The success of medical therapy rests on making the proper assessment of the root cause(s). Applying the classic low-fat diet (= high carbohydrate diet), beta-blocker and statin drug may actually exacerbate the underlying problem in a patient with insulin resistance.

Part of the problem is that some things in medicine are not based in science, but rather opinion. At the beginning of the last century, medicine thought diseases such as scurvy, rickets, beriberi, and pellagra were due to “foreign invaders” or a “toxic factor.” This was entirely in keeping with the infectious model of disease at the time. In 1914, Joseph Goldberger, an officer in the US Public Health Service, doubted the infection theory, because no medical personnel caught pellagra from their patients. He showed pellagra was caused by a deficiency of a vitamin. Few people believed him as no one had ever “seen” a vitamin. It wasn’t until many years later that the Nobel peace prize for vitamins was awarded. But out of this discovery the model of a single vitamin preventing a single disease was born, and the concept of the minimum daily requirement of a vitamin to prevent a disease followed. This viewpoint, still widely held today, is outdated for a number of reasons. Vitamins are multifunctional substances with broad and varied roles in human biology. A single vitamin may catalyze hundreds of biochemical reactions. Suboptimal levels may lead to cellular and molecular dysfunction that is not recognized as a deficiency disease. The notion that higher doses may be needed for optimal human functioning is not generally accepted, despite new evidence that suboptimal nutritional status may contribute to “long-latency” deficiency diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis, neurodegenerative disease, and immune dysfunction. Dr. Roger Williams, a pioneer in nutritional biochemistry and the discoverer of pantothenic acid and folic acid, was the first to recognize that nutritional status can influence the expression of genetic characteristics. He was also the first to challenge the standard recommended daily allowances as adequate for the entire population. The human body has approximately 30,000 genes and 1.5 million genetic variations called SNP’s (single nucleotide polymorphisms) that make each person “unique.” One third of these SNPs or mutations have their function directly affected by vitamins and minerals at co-enzyme binding sites. What we do at the Center is use data such as a hair mineral analysis or a SpectraCell intracellular vitamin analysis to diagnose deficiency states and customize a person’s supplements on an individual basis. Conventional medicine has just recently recognized that taking a multivitamin is a good idea, but this is a far cry from individualizing nutritional therapies to each persons needs and condition.

I encourage my patient’s to be “independent, critical thinkers” and ask questions regarding their medical conditions or proposed treatments, not just during their visits to the Center, but from whomever they are receiving health care. Examine the evidence and come to your own conclusions. Weigh risks vs. benefits. Just because many people believe it, including so-called experts, doesn’t make it so. Consider other interpretations and be willing to tolerate uncertainty. If something doesn’t make sense, ask questions or ask for written information. I am not afraid to say “I don’t know.”

Is Cholesterol the “Enemy”?

Patient’s are often surprised at the answers I give them when they discuss “cholesterol” with me. The “war” on cholesterol to reduce heart disease has been going on for decades, yet this disease remains the number one cause of death in the U.S.. 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. Why is this? If high cholesterol was the answer, then why do half of all patients who die from heart disease have a cholesterol that is “normal” or below 200mg/dL? The United States has 5% of the world’s population, but accounts for 50% of the heart surgeries. In Europe and Canada, stents or by-pass surgery are treatments of last resort, rather than primary treatment. Why the difference in treatment? Or why do people who eat a Mediterranean diet have a 50% lower death rate from all causes, including heart disease, even if their cholesterol is high?

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. 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.

There are multiple variables that contribute to heart disease risk. Some of the following data was presented at the May 2004 ACAM (American College for Advancement in Medicine) conference I attended. I have condensed this data due to space considerations. A more comprehensive discussion is published under “Topics of Interest” on our Internet site at www.prevent-doc.com.

ACAM Conference Updates on Heart Disease – Facts and Risk Factors

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.
Another wonderful presentation on emerging concepts of heart disease was given by Dr. Allan Magaziner, D.O.. He is the current president of ACAM and the author of The All-Natural Cardio Cure: A Drug-Free Cholesterol and Cardiac Inflammation Reduction Program (Avery, 2004). Well known statistics and risk factors are as follows :

• 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. 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. HS CRP is measured by a simple lab test.

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 and HS CRP levels, in addition to cholesterol profiles, since the Center opened.

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 are touted to lower cholesterol, but they actually work by reducing arterial inflammation and lowering HS CRP. Because there have been deaths from these drugs and they deplete CoEnzyme Q10 levels which is necessary for heart muscle health, in my opinion they should be used as a last resort. Co-Q-10 depletion may be a contributing factor in the potentially fatal muscle disease associated with statins, rhabdomyoloysis. There are alternatives in lowering 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.

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 almost 14%, LDL by 19.3%, increased HDL by 18.4%. The benefits were similar to the drug. We carry this product at the Center.

EDTA Chelation Therapy and Subsequent Cardiac Events

EDTA is a synthetic amino acid approved by the FDA for use in lead detoxification. 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. Heavy metal toxicity with lead, mercury, cadmium, and other heavy metals poses a significant risk factor not generally recognized in the development of heart disease by 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. A large, multi-center study called the TACT trial is being 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.

Terry Chappell, M.D. presented a very exciting, 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 biostatistical 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 followed by 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% 4.4% 15.5%
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 EDTA 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, proper diet 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.

A Success Story

Mrs. C is an 80 year old patient whose daughter brought her to see me last December. She experienced sudden confusion and memory problems after receiving a flu shot elsewhere. She was also feeling out of breath, fatigued and weak. She was taking multiple medications, including Vioxx, Lasix, Aceon, Evista and Zocor. The confusion was an adverse reaction to the flu vaccine and it resolved within a week after nutritional detoxification. The patient was also in congestive heart failure causing her shortness of breath and fatigue. I was concerned this was related to depletion of CoEnzyme Q10 by the statin medication she had been taking. The patient underwent a nutritional evaluation and was found to have multiple low vitamin levels on SpectraCell analysis, including a suboptimal level of CoEnzyme Q10. There were multiple low mineral levels on hair analysis. The patient was taken off Zocor and Lasix, and placed on nutritional therapies to correct the deficiencies on the lab tests. This included high doses of CoEnzyme Q10 and L carnitine to improve heart function. Her shortness of breath and weakness resolved within several weeks, and within three months the patient was off all medications and stated “I feel the best I have in years.” She continues to remain active and doing well one year after initially being seen.

Another Success Story – Treating the Flu

Mrs. B is a very nice lady in her 50's who had a bad viral upper respiratory infection or flu. She was running a low grade fever, had malaise, cough, and was unable to go to work. Mrs. B was taking vitamin C and Echinacea on her own, but this didn’t seem to help much. She was having a hard time sleeping due to her cough. Examination confirmed a viral illness. Mrs. B was given an I.V. with pharmaceutical grade hydrogen peroxide over three hours, and then placed on an LDM-100, an herbal preparation which acts like a natural antibiotic, that we have an herbalist make especially for the Center. The patient improved rapidly within 48 hours and returned to work.

The use of dilute intravenous hydrogen peroxide to treat infections of all kinds has been used for over 90 years. This therapy was pioneered by Charles Farr, M.D., PhD. in the 1900's, for which he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He used this therapy in hospitalized patients who were ill with a variety of infections, including tuberculosis, influenza, various bacterial and viral infections. With the advent of Penicillin and other antibiotics, this type of treatment fell out of favor.


The herb Lomatium Dissectum comes from the root of a plant that native Americans have used for centuries. During the severe influenza pandemic in the 1930's, herbalists brewed this plant in a tea to treat influenza successfully. My experience of over 15 years using this herb has been nothing short of a miracle for upper respiratory illness, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. We have this herb available in a tincture. With the upcoming flu season, these are some of alternative therapies that we use to help people get well.
|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| March 2005© Newsletter - Healthy Eating; Leaky Gut Syndrome; Strontium and bone health; Success Stories for GE Reflux and Hormonal Imbalance|~!||~!|1254092035|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

On the first day of 2005 that the Center was open, one of my patient’s told me she always liked going into a new year because the mistakes she made in the previous year were “history,” and she could start anew. In a sense that is true. We can all improve the areas we may have fallen short in during the previous year and set new goals in a new unit of time. One of the areas that is critical for optimal health is eating the highest quality food possible. Of course, the quantity of food we eat is also an issue. This country is blessed with an abundant food supply and the technology to make it easy to obtain food. Most people don’t think twice about how that nicely packaged chicken or microwave dinner was processed, or how that lovely looking apple was grown before it got into the store. To be unaware that your food could be irradiated or genetically modified, or contain chemical preservatives, steroids, antibiotics, pesticides or other harmful toxins creates a health risk for you and your family.


Americans consume about 3 million pounds of antibiotics every year. But did you know chicken and cattle are fed more than 24 million pounds, and if you are not a vegetarian, you consume animal antibiotics through residuals in their meat. The antibiotics in our food supply destroy the good bacteria in our intestines, which weakens our immune systems, and increases the risk of resistant strains developing. There are roughly 900 pesticide active ingredients registered in the U.S., and more than 160 have been classified as known or suspected cancer causing by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Over 4 billion pounds of pesticides are used annually in the U.S., amounting to 8 pounds for every man, woman, and child (EPA Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances 1999). The current law allows 350 different pesticides to be used on the food we eat. Based on U.S. Department of Agriculture testing (1994-1997), conventionally grown foods with the highest toxicity sources include apples, peaches, grapes, pears, winter squash, green beans, and spinach. So that apple may be red and juicy, but it may also have carcinogens in it.

Mercury contaminated fish pose a serious threat to public health as well. Mercury is such a potent neurotoxin that even small amounts can cause irreversible brain and heart damage. EPA scientists recently reported that as many as 630,000 babies born each year may have been exposed as fetuses to unsafe levels of mercury. In March 2004 the FDA and EPA put out a joint national health advisory warning that women of childbearing age should eat no more than 6 ounces of albacore tuna a week. One of the doctors on the advisory panel resigned his position in protest, saying the food industry exerted undo influence to water down the mercury warning, and that albacore tuna mercury levels were so high it should be avoided entirely. Mercury concentrates in the umbilical cord blood and it is estimated that one in six pregnant women have mercury levels that are too high.

To start this year off right, here are a few of my recommendations for eating a healthier diet and being proactive. Every new patient who presents to the Center and undergoes a comprehensive exam gets a written report from me and in this report are these same general recommendations for healthy eating.
___________________________________________

Suggestions for Healthy Eating

Eat fresh, and preferably organic foods, rather than canned or preserved, whenever possible. Only fresh foods have the active plant and animal enzymes needed for optimal health. When shopping, keep to the periphery of the store and away from processed or packaged foods – they contain preservative chemicals or artificial flavoring or colors and do not have as much nutritional value as fresh.

Read labels – if the ingredients contain sugar or high fructose corn syrup, or partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated fats, don’t buy it. Stay away from candy, sugar, pastries, soda, potato chips, fried foods, artificial snacks (try organic corn chips or whole nuts instead) and bread that is not whole grain. Limit servings of high glycemic foods (high natural sugar) such as white potatoes, corn, white bread, most cereals, and anything made with white flour. Excessive amounts of high glycemic foods will make you fat through a condition called insulin resistance. Even the U.S. Government has recently recognized the high amount of refined carbohydrates Americans eat as the main cause of obesity which affects one in three of us. If you need a sweetener, Stevia is a natural plant product that can be safely used if you have a sweet tooth.

Drink the highest quality purified water you can get. Either invest in a good quality water filter or buy bottled (in glass bottles, not plastic) purified spring or mineral water. The type of filter recommended will depend on your water source and problems. Drink 6-8 eight ounce glasses a day to flush out toxins and body wastes. Also, try to get a water that has a good magnesium content in it. Put a little lemon or lime juice in your water. I personally do not like distilled water as it is devoid of natural minerals and has the potential to pull minerals from your body if drunk in large amounts.


Eat breakfast. Contrary to popular opinion, eggs are a healthy food. Again, buy organic eggs. Processed cereals contain high amounts of sugar in most cases. Go to the organic food section of your store and get cereals without sugar added, or eat oatmeal several times a week. Try some of the alternative grain cereals such as amaranth or quinoa.


If you get hypoglycemic, eat high protein snacks in between meals, such as peanut or almond butter on crackers or ask Dr. Erickson about ordering Standard Process™ Food bars that are organic and have a 40/30/30 glycemic index and come in different flavors.


Try lightly steaming or stir frying your vegetables, rather than boiling to preserve more of their nutrient content. Also, eat a variety of different fresh vegetables and fruits each day as well as legumes and whole grains. Buy organic whenever possible. Eat raw vegetables.


Avoid margarine. Some healthy oils are butter in limited quantities, safflower seed oil, sunflower seed oil, flax seed oil, and cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil. These do not contain transfatty acids which increase the risk of heart and cancer problems. Don’t be mislead by the advertising “No Cholesterol”as being healthy (no vegetable oil has cholesterol). You want the unsaturated oils that promote health.


Eat lean meats if you’re not a vegetarian. Empire Brand Kosher chicken has no preservatives, hormones, or antibiotics (Publix carries this in the frozen food section). Maverick beef is hormone and antibiotic-free and has less than 6% fat (Publix has this). Lean pork or lamb is good also. There are sources of organic meats on line. Fresh fish if you are not mercury toxic is also good (stay away from large predatory fish such as swordfish, king mackerel, tile fish, shark and tuna due to the mercury content). The highest quality wild Alaskan salmon and halibut I have found is through www.vitalchoice.com. The salmon is certified to be mercury-free. They ship to your door on dry ice.


Strive to eat five to seven servings of fresh fruit and vegetables daily. If this is not possible, obtain GreensFirst from us and take 1 scoop daily in juice or water. This has the anti-oxidant power of 10 servings of fresh fruit and vegetables. It also has the advantage of tasting good and is organic!


Leaky Gut Syndrome
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 body 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 (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug e.g. Motrin) 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.

Strontium and Bone Health

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?

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.

A Success Story

Mr. B is a 23 year old student who presented to the Center last fall with a one and one half year history of severe heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux) and vomiting at times. This had progressively been getting worse and worse. He noticed certain foods would provoke things, such as pizza or spaghetti. Initially his symptoms would be relieved with Tums, but latter this no longer worked and he started taking Zantac. This would give only partial relief for a short period of time.

Physical examination in the office showed a healthy young man. But his kinesthetic testing showed an overcharged polarity and positive allergy, stomach, and adrenal reflexes. He was placed on supplements that were a mixture of various herbs and phosphatidylcholine to both balance the acupuncture meridians and biochemically improve his condition. His diet was also modified. At his revisit in one month he had no further reflux or digestive problems and felt well.

Another Success Story

Mrs. M is a 53 year old lady who was seen for the first time in October 2004. She was four years past menopause and was still having hot flushes and sweats, thinning of the skin, decreased libido, vaginal dryness, headaches and greatly decreased energy. She was also having problems with difficulty in losing weight, but didn’t feel motivated to exercise because of her fatigue.

After a comprehensive evaluation she was found to have both a hormonal imbalance of all of her sex hormones, and also a thyroid disorder that her previous physician did not discover. There were also multiple nutritional deficiencies found on her hair analysis. She was placed on natural bio-identical hormonal replacement therapy with a combination of estriol and estradiol in grape seed oil, and progesterone and testosterone in a trouche to be taken under her tongue at night. Mrs. M was also placed on the appropriate nutritional supplements to replace the low nutrients on her hair analysis. One of these nutrients was selenium, a very important antioxidant mineral that is critical for thyroid function (it helps convert T4 that the thyroid gland makes into “active” thyroid hormone, T3). She was also placed on a glandular thyroid support supplement called GTA, made by Biotics Research.

Six weeks after initiation of this therapy Mrs. M was seen again at the Center. Her fatigue, vaginal dryness and night sweats were gone. She was sleeping well at night for the first time in 4 years. Her headaches also had completed resolved. Mrs. M had also started to lose a few pounds in weight. “I feel wonderful.” All of her hormones were combined into an all-in-one trouche and she will be seen on a routine basis only. I have often said to my patient’s that their hormonal balance is one of the foundations of good health and functioning.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| June 2005© Newsletter - Breast cancer case "Safe" radiation dose Vitamin E Success stories -- patients with asthma, allergies, and chronic fatigue|~!||~!|1254092052|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

My wife Judy recently flew to California to help our son Michael drive back to Gainesville. He graduated from his studies at GIA (the Gemological Institute of America) and now has his graduate gemology degree. It was a long and arduous process for him but now he has the training to do jewelry appraisals and sales. At times the road for him seemed impossible to navigate. Over 30% of his class quit because the going got hard. His final exam required that he identify 20 difficult gem stones (including fakes) 100% correctly or he would fail. In addition he had to take written exams. As parents we encouraged him to take one day at time, and not focus on setbacks or how difficult things were. We encouraged him to picture where he could be if he kept doing enough of the right things. We told Mike that anything worthwhile took effort. The same principles can apply to improving one’s health.

This past March the Center celebrated its 5th birthday. It has been very gratifying to have helped literally over one thousand patients in this period of time. Many of our patients were discouraged about their health and in some cases felt they would never be able to return to work or go back to a “normal” lifestyle. We try to encourage our patients to take things one day at a time much in the same way we encouraged our son. Nutritional therapies take time before the results are obvious. Also, nutritional and other complementary therapies are not a “cure-all” and help people in varying degrees. The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” applies to one’s health. Another way to look at this is what you do (or don’t do) today will determine where you are at in the future.

Mrs. B, a lovely lady in her mid 50's took vitamins, ate a healthy diet including mostly organic foods, and exercised regularly. She went to her gynecologist annually for checkups, including breast exams. She also had yearly mammograms for the past 8 years. In spite of doing “everything right,” she found a large, irregular area in one of her breasts. This turned out to be malignant. By the time the diagnosis was established, the cancer had spread throughout her body. A friend of hers suggested she see me to get ideas about cancer therapies. Her oncologist advised her to undergo extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments in spite of a predicted very low response rate. I discussed further options with her, including some CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) therapies. I also advised that she undergo a breast thermogram of the opposite breast, as mammography had missed the original cancer and having cancer in the remaining breast could change her treatment plans. Fortunately her thermography turned out negative.

At the end of her interview with me Mrs. B commented “I thought I was doing most things right but still developed breast cancer.” She then asked “Could the radiation from my multiple mammograms have been a risk factor or contributed to the development of my cancer?”

Before answering this question I share this sad story to remind our readers that there is no perfect technology. Mammography misses 1 in 10 breast cancers, on average. It is also less sensitive for women who are overweight, have fibrocystic breast changes, have dense breast tissue or who have breast implants. Thermography, which is a completely different technology looking at heat patterns and sympathetic nervous system response, is also only about 90% accurate. However, thermography can diagnosis a breast cancer 6 - 8 years before a mammogram and does not expose a woman’s breasts to radiation. Combining the two technologies along with clinical breast examination provides a 97%+ accuracy rate. One of the pluses we have found for our thermography patients is that fibrocystic thermal changes that were of concern were able to be reversed in some patients using various natural therapies. For more information on Thermography and Breast Health download the series of 3 articles on breast health and the article on thermography in the "Topics of Intrest" section of this site.

Screening Procedures vs. Diagnostic Procedures

I would like to point out that there is a difference between screening procedures and diagnostic procedures. Screening procedures, which we all assume should be 100% safe, are used to look periodically at symptom-free people for some undetected disease. Screening detects rather than prevents disease, and it makes sense the earlier a problem is uncovered, the better the odds of fixing it. But this assumption has been difficult to confirm with respect to many cancers. By contrast, diagnostic procedures are evaluations of people who already have some suspicious symptoms that may indicate a potential problem. The difficulty, in establishing that cancer-screening which results in early treatment does more good than harm, is intimately tied to the difficulty in telling an early genuine cancer from an abnormality which is harmless. An “in situ cancer” is one which is still located in its original place. Is it then really cancer? Cancer biologists have had a saying: “Cancer is what cancer does. If it kills you, it was a malignancy.” Dr. Otis Brawley, professor of medical oncology and epidemiology of the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University says “overdiagnosis exists in virtually every [class of] cancer.”

No one knows how common cancer therapy is for non-cancers (if you use the definition that a cancer must demonstrate uncontrolled growth). For example, a high percentage of prostate biopsies in elderly men show microscopic cancer cells. Most of these men die from causes other than prostate cancer. There is controversy over whether this is something that should be even treated if treatment has no biological benefit. In the United States aggressive approaches with radical surgery or radiation treatments are often undertaken in elderly patients, whereas in other countries a less aggressive watch and wait approach may be taken. Oncologists use increasing the 5 year survival rates as justification for treatment. This has little or nothing to do with proving that a disease is curable, according to Dr. Robert J. Stanley, a radiologist and past president of the American Roentgen Ray Society in an article “Inherent Dangers in Radiological Screening (Stanley 2001).

What is a “Safe” dose of Radiation?

So could the radiation from Mrs. B’s mammograms have contributed to her problems? Because radiation is invisible, many people do not worry about it’s effects at a cellular level, but it is the most significant type of energy that causes oxidative stress, DNA damage, mutations and cancer. Each time a person has an X-ray, the effects are cumulative over a life-time. My background in medicine started in Radiation Oncology as a resident in training, and I became very aware of the powerful effects of ionizing radiation. Back then, we used Cobalt 60 units and also radium needles to treat certain cancers. I could literally “feel” the radiation from the radium needles tingling through my fingers and hand when I held them in the operating room! I was told by the senior doctors at that time “not to worry about it.” So what are safe exposure levels to gamma radiation from X-rays? Sami Sherbini for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission answered this question on August 31, 2001:

“The term ‘safe’ is a value judgement and is difficult to define. Some people consider safe to mean no risk, while others consider safe to carry risks that they consider negligible, but that others would consider unacceptable. In connection with radiation exposure, there is no safe radiation dose if by safe is meant no risk. This is a consequence of the linear, no-threshold model of radiation carcinogenesis that is currently the basis of radiological protection in all countries. This model assumes that the risk of radiogenic cancer increases in direct proportion to the dose, with no threshold below which there is no effect. Thus, even very low levels of radiation are assumed to carry some low risk of cancer. Because of this, regulatory agencies and standard-setting organizations do not speak of safe levels of radiation, but rather of acceptable levels. The dose limits are set at levels that are considered to be roughly at the dividing line between what would be considered an acceptable level of risk and an unacceptable level, assuming continuous exposure at these dose levels. However, because there are no ‘safe’ levels of radiation, meaning there are no levels that carry no risk, licensees are expected, in addition to operating at all times below the dose limits, to also maintain exposures as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). The application of ALARA has led to occupational and public doses that are far below the limits and that now currently stand at levels considered by most people to carry quite acceptable, or even negligible, levels of risk, or, as some may say loosely, safe levels.”

A Different Point of View on X ray Exposure, Cancer Screening, and Cancer Development

Think back over your lifetime and count the total number of X-rays you may have had, including all the dental X-rays, chest X-rays, mammograms, bone density studies, scans with radioactive dyes or other studies were you were placed under an X-ray beam. How much radiation over your lifetime have you been exposed to? There is no way of knowing as no physician is monitoring this.

There are screening procedures that carry more risk than benefit, in my opinion. One example is a “whole body” CT scan where the entire body is X-rayed. This type of study is usually not promoted by a person’s doctor, but is a consequence of an ad in the newspaper where an out of town group promotes this procedure directly to the public as a “preventive health test” and sends a mobile CT scanner . The amount of radiation a person gets from this type of study would be the same as if the person was 150 miles away during the Hiroshima bomb. There are no long term studies that I am aware of that show where this procedure is either safe or beneficial in the long run, and I do not recommend it.

A brilliant but very technical book called Preventing Breast Cancer: The Story Of A Major, Proven, Preventable Cause Of This Disease was written by John W. Gofman, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Gofman is a Professor Emeritus of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkley. Prior to WWII he worked on the A bomb. Soon after the war he and his colleagues showed high LDL and low HDL lipoproteins to be risk factors for heart disease. In 1963, at the request of the Atomic Energy Commission, he established the Biomedical Research Division at the Livermore National Laboratory. By 1970, his findings on radiation hazards displeased the government, where he and a colleague (Dr. Tamplin) concluded ionizing radiation was much more serious than previously recognized. He and Tamplin spoke out vocally against certain Atomic Energy Council projects that they felt would be dangerous, so the government tried to suppress his work and stopped the funding to Dr. Gofman’s laboratory research on chromosomes and cancer. Since that time he has worked independently and does pro-bono research into human health affects from radiation. He is a lecturer in the Department of Medicine at the University of California at San Francisco.

In his book Dr. Gofman points out that if a woman, starting at age 50, accumulates 15 mammograms over her lifetime and assuming that the mean glandular dose to the breast per 2 view exam is 0.2 rads, the likelihood of a fatal mammogram-induced breast cancer is roughly 1 in 500. If a woman receives more than 15 mammograms or starts at an earlier age, the risk of developing a breast cancer from this X-ray procedure goes up. The bottom line of his book is the recent increase in breast-cancer incidence is not a mystery. He states 75% of the annual incidence is caused by earlier exposure to ionizing radiation from X-rays. He also hypothesizes that medical radiation is an important cause of death from ischemic heart disease due to radiation-induced mutations in the coronary arteries. He is one of a number of prominent physicians who are concerned about the overuse of diagnostic X-rays. For more on this and other radiation related issues you may wish to log on to www.x-raysandhealth.org.

My recommendation is to minimize X-ray studies to those that are absolutely necessary.

Success Stories

Miss C is a 5 year old child whose parent’s brought to the Center several years ago to be evaluated for allergies. This child had a history of frequent ear infections and upper respiratory infections. Miss C would have a difficult time whenever there was an increase in pollens or mold or other inhalants. She would also start wheezing and become ill when visiting relatives who had dogs and cats in the home. She was on multiple medications for asthma and allergies. The parents were reluctant to visit relatives as they knew their daughter would have some sort of allergic reaction and become ill.

After a physical exam and evaluation of allergies using NAET (Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique) vials, allergies to mold, dust, pollens, animal dander, flowers and trees were found. A series of NAET acupressure treatments were undertaken with significant improvement in symptoms. Miss C was now able to visit relatives and not have as severe reactions. This child was recently at the Center and is doing well.

Another patient, Mrs. B, had asthma as an adult and also underwent NAET treatments. At times she would get exertional asthma when she exercised. She began having severe wheezing and breathing episodes that did not respond to her albuterol inhaler, and on several occasions her reactions were so severe she required the use of an epi-pen (self-administered epinephrine). After undergoing an extensive evaluation at the Center it was determined by CRA (contact reflex analysis) that Mrs. B was allergic to her inhaler (most likely the propellant)! In retrospect, every time she would use her inhaler to relieve her wheezing, her symptoms would become much worse. A different brand of inhaler was prescribed and her symptoms disappeared. She underwent NAET treatments and rarely has allergy symptoms now.

NAET is a non-conventional way to eliminate allergies using acupuncture/acupressure techniques and was developed by Devi Nambudripad, M.D.. It is effective in about 85% of the cases in improving or eliminating allergic reactions. I have trained with Dr. Nambudripad at her clinic in Los Angeles. For further information I suggest reading her book “Say Goodbye to Illness.” We carry this book at the Center.

Another Success Story

Mrs. C is a 40 year old lady who presented to the Center in February 2004 with chronic fatigue, inability to lose weight, and bad PMS. After undergoing a comprehensive exam and lab evaluation, she was found to have elevations of bismuth and mercury on her hair analysis. A subsequent provocative urine challenge test using a chelating agent showed a very high level of mercury to be present. Traditional lab testing was normal, including a complete blood count, thyroid studies, metabolic profile, lipid and cholesterol profiles. She ate very little seafood and it was felt her source of increased body stores of mercury was leakage from her dental amalgams, which are over 70% mercury. She also underwent a salivary hormone study which followed her hormonal status over a one month period of time and this study was basically normal except for indications of increased stress.

Mrs. C elected to have her dentist replace her mercury amalgams with non-toxic material, using the proper protocol which included the use of a rubber dam, cooling of the dental drill with water to reduce vaporization of mercury, and amalgam removal by quadrants. After this was completed, Mrs. C began a course of oral chelation with DMSA ( meso 2, 3-dimercaptosuccinic acid ) which is approved by the FDA for lead detoxification, but also in many patients will remove mercury. Once this therapy was completed, a repeat provocative urine test was performed and showed the mercury levels to be minimal (they dropped from 23ug/gm down to 0.6ug/gm). At this point in her therapy, her fatigue had completely resolved and her PMS was no longer a problem. She wanted to start losing weight. We commonly find inability to lose weight as a consequence of toxic metals interfering with a person’s metabolism, hormones, and neurotransmitters that affect appetite. These problems improve or resolve once the heavy metals are detoxified.

Mrs. C was placed on the appropriate diet and supplements and within the first month she was able to lose 10 pounds in weight. This wasn’t easy as all the “bad” carbohydrates were removed from her diet during the induction phase. She no longer craved carbohydrates at her revisit and was able to eat limited quantities without becoming tired. Also, her skin, which had acne, was completely clear for the first time in a long time. This patient is now being seen at routine 3 month intervals.

Mercury pollution of our environment is a major concern and is a well recognized health hazard. It is mostly a by-product of coal firing electrical plants that vaporize mercury into the atmosphere, where it is precipitated into the land and water through rain, eventually getting into the food supply. Mercury pollution of our bodies from dental amalgams can occur when “silver filings” (they are really mostly mercury) vaporize mercury gas each time a person chews food or drinks a hot drink. Replacement of mercury amalgams with non-toxic materials for medical reasons is an area of controversy among traditional dentists. The current evidence is such that there is no place for this toxic metal in the human body. This is supported by medical studies that show mercury causes changes in brain tissue consistent with Alzheimer’s disease, is associated with autism and other neurological disorders, and can also adversely affect hormonal status and heart function. Dr. Boyd Haley, PhD, from the University of Kentucky Medical Center is a vociferous opponent of dental amalgams. NIH (The National Institutes of Health) funded his research for 25 years until he began to seriously call into question the safety of dental amalgams, and the use of Thimersol (a mercury containing preservative) in vaccines and their correlation with autism. Dr. Haley believes that fish are not as big a problem in humans as dental amalgams because methyl mercury from fish is generally excreted quickly while mercury vapor from amalgams is not. At a September 2004 meeting at Tulane University of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Dr. Haley reported on the dramatic rise in autism rates, over 900% in less than a generation in California and 714% nationwide. This correlated with the introduction of Hepatitis B vaccine in 1990 and an increase in the overall vaccination schedule. In 1999, Thimerosal was removed from the vaccines as parents gained increased awareness of the issue and in the first three quarters of 2004 the data showed a decline in autism incidence for the first time.

Is Your Vitamin E Working and is it “Safe”?

Vitamin E is an important antioxidant for heart health and prevents the oxidation of LDL and HDL cholesterol. It also plays an important role for maintaining healthy immune and neurological function. An article questioning the safety of vitamin E was recently published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), stating it was associated with the risk of developing congestive heart failure. There were flaws in this study. For one, the vitamin E levels were never measured in the patients! For another, the patients were ill with heart disease and other diseases, and were on multiple medications. There was no analysis or correlation whether the medications were causing congestive heart failure. For instance, most heart patients are placed on a statin drug. Statin drugs deplete coenzyme Q 10 which can lead to congestive heart failure. Beta blockers are also frequently used in heart patients and can cause congestive heart failure. There was no cross-over where vitamin E was taken away from one group and given to the other group to see if the same thing happened. Using simple logic, look at the foods Vitamin E is naturally found in – nuts, oily fish, some vegetables, egg yolk, and certain oils such as olive oil, canola oil, or safflower oil. Most of these foods are the same heart healthy foods people are encouraged to eat and are the main part of the Mediterranean diet which is associated with a 50% lower death rate from all causes, including heart disease, according to a JAMA article in the preceding year.

A recent study found that cereal fortified with vitamin E has a very high rate of absorption into the bloodstream, whereas pills taken separately with the same food have inconsistent effects. The study also found that taking the supplements alone is largely useless. In this study scientists tested the results of 1) a pill of 400 IU of vitamin E with skim milk; 2) a serving of a wheat breakfast cereal fortified with 30 IU of vitamin E (this is the recommended daily allowance); 3) a serving of wheat cereal fortified with 400 IU of vitamin E; and 4) a serving of unfortified wheat cereal with a pill of 400 IU of vitamin E taken separately.

The 400 IU pill with milk raised the blood plasma level of vitamin E by only 3%. The 400 IU pill taken with cereal had inconsistent results – some people had significant increases in blood vitamin E levels and some did not. The cereal fortified with 30 IU of vitamin E raised the blood levels by a factor of five, and the cereal fortified with 400 IU of vitamin E raised the blood plasma levels by a factor 30 times higher.

It was a conclusion of the scientists that absorption of vitamin E is closely associated with the digestion of food that has some fat in it. If a person is pursuing a low-fat diet or taking vitamin E supplements either on an empty stomach or with just liquids, nothing is being accomplished. This would make sense as vitamin E is an oil. My recommendation is to take all fat soluble vitamins (vitamins D, E, K, and A) with food that has some fat or oil in it.
|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| September 2005© Newsletter - Why is Nutritional Information Hard to Get from your Doctor?; Glutathione and Parkinson's Disease; Success Stories with Fibromyalgia and Depression/PMS|~!||~!|1254092072|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

You've all heard the saying, knowledge is power. I recently had a new patient ask me during her interview prior to entering the practice why there were not more doctors who were knowledgeable about nutritional therapies so that they could combine them with traditional drug therapies. She told me that in her home country of Germany integrative medicine was a common practice and patients were given choices whether to take a drug or a natural herb or supplement. Let me give you my opinion of what is going on.

It all starts with medical schools, where future doctors are educated. When I attended the University of Florida College of Medicine a course in nutrition was never offered. A survey in the 1990's showed only 6% of medical schools offered a single course in nutrition. The attitude has been to delegate nutritional responsibilities to the dieticians. Medical schools today are homogeneous. Most of what is taught in one school is taught in the rest of the schools. Since there is only one kind of medicine accepted (“established medicine” = drug based medicine), all medical schools and medical literature teach basically the same things. Medical research in these schools is certainly encouraged, but since funding is often provided by drug company grants, the research is within the framework of accepted ideology. There is little financial incentive to fund research on food or natural supplements as these cannot be patented.

Evidence-based Medicine

“Evidence-based medicine” is a fairly new term that allopathic medicine now uses to justify drug based therapies. It dictates that any drug or medical research today should be conducted by randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled studies, usually in medical centers. Treatment protocols are based on conclusions drawn from statistical analyses of this research or meta-analyses of previous trials. “Evidence-based medicine” does not allow for testimonials or even clinical observation of treatment outcomes by a physician, but must be measured by a lab test, X-ray result, etc. On the surface this would appear to be a very scientific way of practicing medicine. Alternative therapies are summarily dismissed as “unproven” as most have not gone through this type of research and statistical analysis. So if a patient feels better after taking vitamins or receiving an acupuncture treatment, or pain is relieved after seeing his or her chiropractor for an adjustment, under the evidence-based system it doesn't count. “Unproven” is not the same thing as “doesn't work.”

One problem with the “evidence-based medicine” model is agreeing on what constitutes evidence. The same data can be interpreted in various ways giving different results. Statistical associations are used to justify drug therapies. But this is not the same thing as causation and often (up to 20% in some reports) a latter study will refute the findings of an earlier study. For instance, one study found that people who took aspirin had lower cancer rates, with the conclusion aspirin prevents cancer. A latter study found this to be false. In a recent associated press article over one fifth of all new drugs that were deemed to be “safe” during the clinical trials of the drugs where later found to have major, potentially life-threatening side effects. The good news in this is that the evidence is at least being re-examined. Another problem is that it does not take into account the biochemical individuality of humans. Living systems are complex and the interpretation of data from studies is often difficult or biased. People are not like automobiles, where parts in one car are interchangeable with parts in another car of the same make and model. There are millions of genetic variables that make each person unique. This is why the same drug can cause some people to have an adverse drug reaction, help others, and have no benefit at all in others. Yet another problem is how do you measure health? Health is not the absence of symptoms or having normal lab tests. Traditional medicine is focused on the treatment of disease whereas alternative or complimentary therapies, for the most part, are intended to improve physiological functioning and health. These are not the same things.

Problems with the FDA

Another problem is the suppression of information by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). The FDA will celebrate its 100th birthday next year and was initially known as the Bureau of Chemistry. Dr. Harvey W. Wiley was founder and head of this agency and his job was to enforce the Pure Food and Drug Law. When a sugar-water concoction filed with chemical additives and cocaine was introduced, he filed suit against Coca-Cola to keep this artificial product off the market and prohibit its interstate transport. Commercial interests caused his ouster in 1912 and he was replaced by Dr. Elmer Nelson, who was pro-commercial interests. Within several decades the foods of commerce took over. Dr. Bernard Jensen and Mark Anderson pointed out in their book Empty Harvest, the food supply became “bleached, refined, chemically preserved, pasteurized, sterilized, homogenized, hydrogenated, artificially colored, defibered, highly sugared, highly salted, synthetically fortified, canned, and generally exposed to hundreds of new man-made chemicals.” And what has followed is the epidemic of cancer, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes we see today.

In 1962, the Kefauver Law was passed which basically placed natural supplements in the same category as drugs. This law states that if a claim is made that a substance is intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate treatment or prevent disease, it is a drug. And to suggest any such substance for a complaint, illness or treatment constitutes medical prescribing. Forget that we're talking about natural foods or plant products. Hence, the disclaimers today on every bottle of vitamins, herbs, or natural supplements and the prohibition by the FDA on manufacturers and suppliers of natural products in advertising the truth about what their products can do to treat illness or disease.

Former FDA commissioner Herbert Ley stated in 1970 “People think the FDA is protecting them - it isn't. What the FDA is doing and what people think it is doing are as different as night and day.” The recent rash of problems with drugs approved as safe like the arthritis drug Vioxx (causing heart disease) , the synthetic estrogen Premarin (causing breast and uterine cancers) and the anti-depressant drugs (causing increased suicidal risks and violent behavior in children) have made headlines and raised public alarm. These drugs were left on the market long after evidence of their danger was presented to the FDA.

A USA TODAY analysis of financial conflicts at 159 FDA advisory committee meetings from January 1, 1998, through last June 30 found more than half of the experts hired to advise the government on the safety and effectiveness of medicine have financial relationships with the pharmaceutical companies . Federal law generally prohibits the FDA from using experts with financial conflicts of interest, but the FDA has waived the restriction more than 800 times since 1998. In addition, at 92% of the meetings at least one FDA member had a financial conflict of interest.

What hasn't been in the headlines is the FDA bias against vitamins and natural supplements. An FDA Dietary Supplements Task Force Final Report, released in 1993 stated “. . . the task force considered many issues in its deliberations including: to insure [that] the existence of dietary supplements on the market does not act as a disincentive for drug development.”

Is “Alternative Medicine” Alternative?

Those of you reading this newsletter know “alternative medicine” is actually the health choice of planet earth and is a combination of every good health idea invented by mankind, in every country and culture on this planet accumulated over thousands of years of experience. There is nothing “alternative” about it. The Centers for Disease Control reported that 62% of 31,000 adults surveyed in 2002 had used some form of CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) in the previous 12 months. In 1999, more than half the US health dollar was spent on “alternative medicine” and it was all out-of-pocket. Conventional medicine, on the other hand, is being paid for and is surviving only because insurance and Medicare pay for it - and if it weren't for this, the public would not pay out-of-pocket. There is a place for drug therapy, especially in acute, emergency situations, but drugs are not a panacea and they all have side-effects. People want kinder, gentler, more cost effective therapies. They want to improve their health rather than wait until they have a disease. This attitude is becoming more evident as the baby boomers reach retirement and want to continue active lifestyles.

A study conducted at Columbia University Integrative Medicine Department found that 70% of the cardiac surgery patients surveyed were using some form of CAM therapy. Only 20% of these patients had reported this use to their physicians and almost half of these patients stated they specifically did not want to discuss this issue with their physicians. “Embarrassment” and physician disapproval are most frequently reported as the main reasons patients withhold information about CAM therapies from their doctors (JAMA 1998; 280:1569-1575). Lack of knowledge about CAM is one of the greatest reasons healthcare providers do not discuss CAM with their patients. However, more and more physicians, naturopaths, and allied health professionals around the globe are communicating with each other and are joining organizations such as ACAM (American College for the Advancement of Medicine) and ICIM (International College of Integrative Medicine) which promote integrative medicine. These healthcare providers realize the optimal treatment of their patients demands that they be aware of and better understand all the therapies patients are using. The conferences these organizations sponsor are a blend of basic science, breakthroughs in medical research, and clinical applications where both drug and natural therapies are presented. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medical journals that are peer-reviewed, such as eCAM and Alternative Therapies have emerged. In 1998, recognizing the need for study of CAM and dissemination of this information, the National Institutes of Health established the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. This is an exciting time of change. For the first time in the history of medicine, this change is consumer driven.

Finally, the State of Florida Patient Bill of Rights guarantees the right of all Florida citizens access to not just one type of heath care, but to alternative types of care as well. It requires that all physicians provide unbiased information (informed consent) about both traditional and CAM types of treatments and allows the patient a choice of therapies. Unfortunately this information and treatment choice is rarely given. This puts the burden and responsibility of information gathering, and also decision-making, on the patient. So these are some of the facts and issues, and I let the readers draw their own conclusions as to why nutritional information is so hard to come by.

An Introduction to Neurotransmitters

Most of our readers have seen commercials on TV or in magazines by drug companies touting anti-depressant medications that are supposed to correct “chemical imbalances” of the brain. These brain chemicals are called neurotransmitters . Neurotransmitters relay signals between nerve cells and are required for proper brain function. They function in conjunction with hormones. It used to be thought that neurotransmitters are in the “brain” and hormones are in the “body”, but the truth is that both function as a unit in the central nervous system and also the periphery of the body. As a result of poor diet, chronic stress, increased workloads, genetics, and other factors, people suffer from neurotransmitter imbalances. Think about this - every organ in your body is connected to the brain via a vast network of neurons and receptors for neurotransmitters. It is estimated that there are 100 billion neurons in the human brain. The brain uses the neurotransmitters to signal the lungs to breathe, the intestines to digest, the heart to beat. For instance, epinephrine is released in a “flight or fight” response to a stressful situation or injury. Epinephrine is a neurotransmitter and a hormone. Epinephrine is also used as a drug and is in injectable glass ampules on every hospital emergency cart. If epinephrine is too low in the brain, a person may feel tired or depressed. If it is too high, a person may feel anxious or have a sleep disturbance. So in a sense, neurotransmitters affect the functioning of the entire body.

The problem is how to determine what the imbalance is due to and how to measure it in a lab test. We all know that depression is not a Prozac or Paxil deficiency. I attended an American College for the Advancement in Medicine meeting a few years ago where I was introduced to Dr. Kellerman. This gentleman is a Ph.D. researcher who was studying neurotransmitters, how to measure them in the urine, and how to correct imbalances with targeted amino acid therapy rather than using drugs. Back then he had developed a technology to measure 5 different neurotransmitters in the urine and currently he is able to measure 12 different ones. Dr. Kellerman is working on identifying others. When I was in medical school, the only neurotransmitter testing that was available was collecting urine for 24 hours for epinephrine and norepinephrine to screen for a rare type of tumor that could cause rapid heart beat and elevated blood pressure. Traditional lab testing hasn't come much further to date, unfortunately.

Prescription anti-depressant drugs are supposed to correct a biochemical imbalance. What they do is work with existing neurotransmitter supplies at the synapse between neurons. Most of the drugs affect only one neurotransmitter such as serotonin, and according to Dr. Kellerman, the drugs will eventually deplete neurotransmitters. What if there are multiple neurotransmitters that are out of balance? Or what if there isn't a sufficient supply of a neurotransmitter to work with? The drug then doesn't work. Anti-depressant drugs all have side-effects and are not truly correcting the underlying problem(s) that caused the imbalances. In 2004, the FDA required that all antidepressant drugs carry "black-box" warnings (the highest warning level for a prescription drug), alerting doctors and consumers that the antidepressants increase suicidal behavior in children and adolescents with depression and that the risk of using antidepressants must be carefully balanced with the need. The box also carries warnings that patients who use antidepressants must be closely monitored for "clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior."

Neurotransmitters are divided into 2 general categories: inhibitory and excitatory. Serotonin and GABA are the main inhibitory neurotransmitters. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, histamine, glutamate, PEA (phenylethylamine), and acetylcholine are the main excitatory neurotransmitters. Dopamine can be either inhibitory or excitatory. Dr. Kellerman believes there are over 50 different neurotransmitters, and many of them have not been identified to date.

Besides depression and anxiety, neurotransmitters participate in the regulation of other essential bodily functions. Appetite control and cravings are affected by brain chemicals, and when the messaging system is not functioning properly, the stomach and appetite control center may not tell you that you are full. So a person continues to eat when he or she is not really hungry. ADD and ADHS have reached epidemic proportions in the US. Both in children and adults we find that neurotransmitters are out of balance. Multiple factors can affect brain chemistry, especially that of children. Some factors include toxic metals or other chemicals, food allergies, food preservatives or dyes, electromagnetic stress from electrical sources such as TV's, cell phones, computers, etc., and high sugar diets. Hormone levels and balance are affected by neurotransmitters as well. We find as people age, hormone levels decline and neurotransmitters are also out of balance.

For more information on this topic, go to neuroscienceinc.com.

Success Story - Patient with Osteopenia

Mrs. B is 65 years old and saw me for the first time in 1991. She was concerned about a bone density study that showed moderate osteopenia (thinning of the bones) in her hips and back. She came into the practice taking black cohosh and various types of calcium supplements. Her gynecologist had previously placed her on Premarin and Provera, but she had a bad experience with these synthetic hormones with bleeding and recurrent urinary infections, so she stopped them. She was told to go on Fosamax to prevent further deterioration of her bones into osteoporosis. She wanted to know if there were any alternatives to taking the Fosamax but her gynecologist told her that this was the only treatment available. I discussed natural bio-identical hormonal replacement therapy with her to build up bone mass in conjunction with proper nutrition, supplements, and an exercise program. She was placed on compounded natural biestrogen (a mixture of estradiol and estriol) and also on bio-identical natural testosterone and progesterone. It took several months to adjust doses to where she felt comfortable. We were then able to combine all four hormones into a small trouche that she took twice daily under the tongue for convenience.

Mrs. B also was placed on a combination of Osteo B Plus (calcium citrate, magnesium, various minerals such as manganese, silica, boron, copper, etc. that are also needed for bone health) and vitamin D and vitamin K. She was encouraged to exercise and also to do light weight training. She had a bone density study done this year that is now completely normal, documenting the increase in her bone mass. Mrs. B feels healthy and remains active.

Another Success Story - Patient with Anxiety and Sleep disturbance

Mrs. C is 35 years old and came to the Center with chronic anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance. She had a young child at home and found it stressful trying to be a stay-at-home mom and also help her husband with his business at the same time. She stated she felt fatigued all the time and was not sleeping well. She was also having PMS symptoms around the time of her period where she would become very moody and irritable. After a comprehensive exam and nutritional assessment Mrs. C was found to have a vitamin B12 deficiency and was started on both oral B12/folate lozenges and compounded Methylcobalamine (activated form of B12) shots. She was also placed on targeted amino acid therapy to help restore a low serotonin level after urine testing of neurotransmitters found this level to be very low. This was in spite of taking Paxil, an anti-depressant medicine. Within a month she was feeling a major improvement in energy and was sleeping through the night with a good quality sleep. Within two months her PMS was no longer an issue and she was taken off her anti-depressant medication. She continues to do well at present on the combination of B12 replacement and targeted amino acid therapy.

Update on Intravenous Glutathione Therapy and Parkinson's Disease

In December 2003, I published an article about Glutathione on our website. If there ever was a “miracle” substance that occurs naturally in your body, glutathione gets my vote. Glutathione is one of the body's most powerful antioxidants and is a mediator of detoxification and immune function. Glutathione is not well absorbed orally although there are a lot of oral glutathione products on the market. Large concentrations of glutathione naturally occur in the organs of excretion (liver, lungs, kidneys). IV glutathione therapy enhances the function of these organs when they are under stress from the toxic effects of drugs or heavy metals. Glutathione also has a beneficial effect on the immune system and improves conditions such as chronic fatigue, immune dysfunction states, and macular degeneration.

Largely through the work of Dr. David Perlmutter, we now have access to impressive clinical and laboratory data that shows marked improvement in Parkinson's disease patients with the use of intravenous glutathione. Dr. Perlmutter measured both glutathione and oxidized glutathione levels in the portion of the brain most affected by Parkinson's disease and in normal control groups. Glutathione levels were reduced by about 40% and oxidized glutathione increased by about 30% in the patients with Parkinson's. Nine patients were given IV glutathione twice daily for one month. All 9 patients in the study improved significantly with a 42% decline in disability and the improvement was sustained for 2 to 4 months. This treatment was in addition to medications the patients may have been on, such as Sinemet. Dr. Perlmutter and other integrative physicians have since treated many other patients with success.

Our experience at the Center has likewise been dramatic, and not just in Parkinson's patients. I recently saw a 79 year old lady who became profoundly fatigued after a coast to coast airplane trip to visit her family. She became toxic during the airplane ride from inhaling the myriad of perfumes, chemicals and other substances in the recirculated air during the 5 hour flight. A simple IV glutathione infusion corrected this problem within 12 hours. (Glutathione levels decline with age). Another patient had a severe reaction to medication he was given elsewhere, causing severe inflammation and hepatitis of the liver, requiring hospitalization. A series of twice weekly glutathione infusions helped this patient's liver heal from the toxic effects of the drug. Most of our toxic metal patients find their fatigue improves dramatically with the addition of IV glutathione therapy, and this also acts as the body's “natural chelator” to remove most heavy metals such as lead or mercury (these metals deplete glutathione reserves). We have also used Glutathione IV in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to lessen the toxic effect of the chemotherapy on liver and kidneys, and to improve well-being.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| December 2005© Newsletter - Minerals and Human Health; Success Stories with IV Vitamin C and Chronic Fatigue; Bird Flu|~!||~!|1254092091|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

As another year comes to a close the staff at the Preventive Medicine Center and I wish all of you a wonderful holiday season. It is our hope that you are able spend time with your family, friends, and loved ones. We appreciate the confidence you have in us and we thank you for your referrals. Let’s all work together to have a healthier 2006.

As many of you know, my oldest son Michael is a gemologist and is currently working in Gainesville as a jeweler and appraiser at A.G. Klaus Jewelers. When Mike was small, he and I put together a mineral collection. We would write to the various state universities and ask if they could send us a few mineral specimens from their state. Some of the professors would respond and send us specimens. We would then catalogue the minerals and put them into a display case, reading about each one in a geology book. We would also refer to the the Periodic Table of Elements (blocks and rows of elements) that you may remember from your high school science or chemistry classes. There are 92 elements found in nature and another 22 theoretical and/or observed elements that can be made in the laboratory. Scientific study of these elements has discovered that many of them are absolutely essential to life on this planet. In this issue and upcoming issues, I will discuss the importance of minerals to our health while highlighting select minerals.

Minerals and Human Health – Part I

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 by other physicians that era, who denied there were any such things as vegetables and fruits that did not contain sufficient minerals for human needs. He was also criticized by the agricultural authorities, who insisted that all soil contained all necessary minerals. The truth is that our foods vary enormously in value and some of them aren’t worth eating. For example, vegetation grown in one part of the country may contain 1,000 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 nutrient 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 soil research. In a scale infested orange grove in Florida, 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 (e.g. reverse osmosis or steam distillation removing minerals) or soil, and inadequate dietary intake can cause deficiency states in humans. 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 supplement companies 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. As mentioned, there are exceptions to this 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 last revised 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 (white blood cells) 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. So how much is enough?

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

In this section I will start a brief overview of different minerals important for human health. Due to space considerations, this will be continued in the March 2006 issue of the newsletter.

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 balancing 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. In one study, half the patients with pre-cancerous colon polyps 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.

To Be Continued . . . . .

Success Story – Patients with Chronic Fatigue and IV Vitamin C

Mr. C is a 31 year old accountant who was referred to the Center by a friend. He had suffered with a case of infectious mononucleosis 6 months before, but had not regained his normal strength and stamina. He was having a difficult time at work and felt washed out and couldn’t concentrate. Mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Once this virus is in a person’s system, there is no way to permanently “remove” it. A person’s immune system must activate and quell the virus into remission. Mr. C’s physical exam and routine lab work were unremarkable. However, his nutritional assessment with a hair analysis and SpectraCell analysis showed multiple low nutrients that are needed for proper immune function such as vitamin B12, folate, zinc, Co-enzyme Q10, Glutathione. Mr. C was placed on the appropriate supplements and Methylcobalamine (activated B12) shots several times weekly to correct a very low B12 level found in his leukocytes. At his first revisit in one month he felt “50% improved” and was going golfing that upcoming weekend for the first time this year. He was then began a series of Vitamin C IV’s and rapidly regained the rest of his strength and stamina.

Mr. JC is a younger patient in his late 20's who had problems with intermittent swelling of his lymph glands in the neck, sore throats, and profound periodic fatigue. He did have a remote history of “strep throats” for which he was placed on antibiotics. A diagnosis of mononucleosis was never made. After his initial screening here, a diagnosis of possible early chronic fatigue syndrome was made. Mr. JC didn’t have all the features necessary for the diagnosis, but he did have high titers of EBV. He was also found to have an increased body burden of mercury, a toxic metal that can depress the immune system. Mr. JC had no mercury dental amalgams and it was felt the mercury was due to eating contaminated seafood and possibly sluggish body detoxification pathways that didn’t allow normal removal of the metal. A series of Vitamin C IV’s was started as well as oral nutrition, all intended to boost immune system function. Within several treatments Mr. JC noted significant improvement in his stamina and energy levels. He is now undergoing detoxification of the mercury and feels the best he has in years.

Mrs. B is a 37 year old mother of two children who was experiencing chronic intermittent low-grade fevers for over 7 years as well as severe fatigue. She underwent extensive testing by several other physicians prior to seeing me with all studies being negative for illnesses such as TB, malignancy, Lyme’s disease, etc. Her lab work and blood cultures here were all normal as well. Nutritional analysis showed multiple deficiencies. She underwent a whole body thermography scan that showed a thermal pattern that was consistent with chronic fatigue syndrome. She began both oral and IV nutritional therapies with IV Glutathione and the Myer’s nutritional formula (which has vitamin C, B vitamins, calcium, and magnesium). Within 6 months she felt normal for the first time in years. Her fevers totally subsided.

Vitamin C, along with Glutathione, are the main antioxidants in the human body. Although most animals can manufacture vitamin C in their bodies, humans cannot. We must get our vitamin C from the foods in our diet and from supplements. In May 2004, the American Journal of Public Health reported that close to 23% of Americans have low vitamin C levels in their blood. Extensive research at the Linus Pauling Institute has demonstrated the importance of vitamin C in maintaining human immune function. Vitamin C appears to enhance the T-lymphocyte activity (a type of white blood cell that responds to infection) and also increases phagocyte functions (cells that ‘eat’ invading microorganisms). Since vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, it has the ability to work both inside and outside the cells, protecting against damaging free radicals. High doses of intravenous vitamin C are usually well tolerated, whereas oral vitamin C may cause diarrhea or stomach upset once the dose gets to around 3,000mg or more. In addition to boosting immune function, vitamin C helps to chelate mercury and other toxic metals. It also is essential in the manufacture of collagen, a key protein in our connective tissues, cartilage and tendons. Vitamin C is also an important vitamin for heart health. At the Center, we use non-corn derived forms of vitamin C, as most corn in this country is genetically modified and it is my opinion and that of other CAM (complimentary and alternative) physicians that non-corn derived vitamin C may work better in the human body.

The Bird Flu – Hype or Threat?

There has been a lot of publicity on an avian flu that surfaced in Asia in 1997 in chickens called the H5N1 virus, or “bird flu”. It has infected other birds such as ducks and geese. In this region of the world, chickens are a stable part of the diet and live in close proximity to people in very primitive conditions. The H5N1 virus has also spread to birds in parts of Eastern Europe as well. Scientists are fearful this strain has the potential to cause a world-wide pandemic as it has spread from animals to humans in about 60 cases since 1997, many of them fatal. Humans have no immunity to H5N1 and scientists do not know why this strain is so lethal. In order to cause a pandemic, however, the virus would have to mutate and be capable of human to human transmission, which is unlikely, or mutate and combine with the RNA of flu that already infects humans, in which case it would be less lethal. There is no concrete evidence that this will occur. The 3 great flu pandemics of 1918-19, 1957, and 1968 were all bird viruses that mutated to allow human to human transmission.

The flu vaccination is touted by the CDC and government health authorities as the only way to prevent getting the flu. Because flu strains mutate all the time and because flu vaccines are made up 9 months in advance based on educated guesswork on how they should be formulated, there is no “100% effective” vaccine. Most of our immunity is from previous flu exposures. In older patients the flu vaccine is only 40% effective due to their weakened immune systems. Much of last year’s vaccine was held from the market due to purity problems in manufacturing, but the reduced number of persons vaccinated did not result in increased influenza deaths. There are no current vaccines available to prevent a potential bird flu outbreak, but there may be antiviral drugs that would be helpful.

I am often asked about getting a flu shot. The flu vaccine is a dead-virus vaccine, but there are contaminants in it, such as mercury or other preservatives, and egg protein (the virus is incubated in chicken eggs). This is a risk-benefit question that each person must answer for themselves. In patient’s with cardiac disease, lung disease, insulin dependant diabetes, kidney disease, cancer patients on chemotherapy, or other serious chronic diseases where getting the flu would put the person at risk for complications because of the underlying disease , the benefits of immunization usually outweigh the risks. In these types of patients I suggest administering the vaccination intradermal, rather than intramuscular, with a reduced dose of vaccine so that an exaggerated immune response does not occur, making the person sick.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that between 10 - 20 percent of Americans come down with the flu during the flu season. Most people recover after a week without problems other than lingering fatigue. Complications of the flu in the elderly, newborns, and people with certain chronic illnesses however, can be life-threatening. Some researchers state that deaths from influenza are exaggerated. According to the CDC’s own statistics located on their web site, influenza and pneumonia killed 62,034 people in 2001, but only 257 died of the flu itself.

Key in preventing the flu is keeping your immune system healthy and strong. Avoid fast foods, sugars, processed grains, and trans-fats. Exercise regularly, get enough sleep, reduce stress, and wash your hands regularly. LDM-100, an herbal antibiotic that contains Lomatium dissectum root is effective in treating many flu strains. This is a special formula that we have a herbalist make for the Center and have used for years with great results. There are other supplements that may be used to boost immune function that contain glandulars, mushroom extracts, botanicals or anti-oxidant vitamins (such as vitamin C, E, Co-enzyme Q10). Intravenous bio-oxidative therapy with hydrogen peroxide has also been used successfully for decades in treating this virus.

Access to Medical Treatment Act (AMTA)

“If people let the government decide what foods to eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as the souls who live under tyranny.” — Thomas Jefferson

The Access to Medical Treatment Act (AMTA) is legislation currently pending before Congress. It would allow any individual access to any type of medical therapy, whether conventional or alternative, that the individual chooses by a licensed health care provider so long as:

1) The treatment causes no more harm or side effects than conventional treatment for the condition being treated.
2) Full informed consent is given.

It will allow therapies that are accessible only by going out of the United States to be legally used in the this country without fear of harassment or recrimination of the health care providers using these therapies. It will also grant access to promising, beneficial allopathic and CAM treatments that the FDA has not approved or where approval has not been sought. Many herbal/botanical products are non-patentable and will never be FDA approved due to financial burdens placed on the manufacturers. AMTA is a freedom of choice issue for citizens. Log on to www.citizenshealth.org/amta.htm. for more information. Write your congressman to voice your opinion.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| March 2006© Newsletter - Iodine, a critical mineral for health. Part II of Minerals and Human Health.- Is your water safe to drink? - Success story: patient with lead toxicity and memory problems|~!||~!|1254092109|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

One of the greatest pleasures in my medical practice is the interaction I have with our patients as we journey together to improve their health. I learn about their families, job situations, and outside interests. Most of our patients are proactive with their healthcare and many do research and reading on their own. Recently, one of my patients brought in an article from an alternative health newsletter on iodine sufficiency. She had a heart rhthym problem and wanted to know if taking iodine supplementation might help. So I told her I would review the article as I had never heard of taking iodine for atrial fibrillation. In this Newsletter I will continue the discussion of “Minerals and Human Health” which started in the December 2005 issue, but I’d like to discuss iodine in more detail.

In the early 1900's up until the 1960's, many physicians used Lugol (iodine/iodide) supplements in the treatment of thyroid and other problems. Today, due to misinformation or ignorance, most physicians avoid iodine therapy altogether as if it were a poison. Although there can be adverse reactions to iodine in some patients, it is an essential element for health.

According to a 1998 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism article, one-third of the world’s population lives in areas of iodine deficiency, which is the world’s leading cause of intellectual deficiency. Iodine is primarily utilized in the synthesis of thyroid hormone, and is detected in every organ and tissue in the body. It is found in high levels in the thyroid gland, lungs, liver, adrenal glands, heart, fat and muscle tissue. One article I reviewed stated iodine was depleted out of the thyroid gland and other tissues when thyroid hormone medications were taken. It also stated that some of the problems iodine therapy may help with include fibrocystic breast disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, hypo and hyperthyroidism, brain fog, constipation, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, goiter, and atrial fibrillation. I should also point out that selenium deficiency affects iodine deficiency, as selenium is required in the conversion of the thyroxine form of thyroid hormone (T4) into the more active form, tri-iodothyronine (T3).

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. This is the amount needed to prevent goiter. But how much iodine is really needed to promote optimal health? And how do we test for this? To answer these 2 questions I dug out some of my old reference articles on iodine by Dr. Abraham, a former professor of Endocrinology and a physician who perhaps is the world’s foremost expert on iodine and the thyroid. I also researched a book by Dr. David Brownstein, “Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It.”

In an article published in The Original Internist in September 2002, Guy E. Abraham, M.D. discussed what were optimal levels of iodine for our greatest physical and emotional health. Dr. Abraham pointed out that the Japanese have a very low incidence of fibrocystic breast disease and low mortality rates from cancer of the female reproductive organs. There is a large consumption of seaweeds in the Japanese diet which is estimated to provide 13.8mg of iodine a day. The daily US intake for many people may be as low as one hundredth this amount. Just using iodized salt is not enough. Dr. Abraham concluded the minimum effective daily dose of iodide is 13 mg, with no major side effects up to a dose of 150mg per day (100,000 times the RDA). Dr. Abraham also discovered that even patients with complete thyroidectomies (removal of the whole thyroid gland) benefitted from iodine therapy. In other words, it helped in areas outside the thyroid gland where thyroid hormone and iodine were active. He and other doctors in the Iodine Project also found that diabetes improved, hypertensive patients had more normal blood pressures, and goiters resolved. They also found that those taking thyroid medications could greatly reduce or eliminate these drugs.

One of the tests long promoted to see whether your body needs iodine or not is painting a 2" square of Tincture of Iodine from the drug store on the skin of your inner arm. If it disappears in less than 8 hours, you are severely iodine deficient. If it disappears in 24 hours, you still need iodine. I have concerns about the accuracy and reproducibility of this type of testing so I’ve never promoted it among my patients. After doing some research I came across an Iodine/Iodide urine loading test that can be run at Doctor’s Data lab in Chicago. This is the same lab we use for our heavy metal determinations in the urine, so I feel comfortable with the test’s accuracy and reproducibility. The test involves giving a loading dose of Iodoral (a prescription medicine that contains 12.5mg of Iodide/Iodine per tablet) and collecting urine for 24 hours. If there is low urine iodide excretion, your body is taking up the iodine and you need iodine supplementation. When 90% or more of the loading dose of iodide is excreted in the urine, your body stores have been replenished. We are now able to offer this test to our patients.

Who should have the Iodine/Iodide Loading Urine test?
• If you are taking thyroid medication or have hypo or hyperthyroidism.
• If you have a body temperature below 97.8 degrees.
• If you have fibrocystic breast disease, polycystic ovaries, or a strong family history of gynecological cancers.
• If you have diabetes, memory problems, obesity, chronic fatigue, atrial fibrillation, heavy metal toxicity, high blood pressure, prostate problems.
• If you are a vegetarian or eat little seafood.
• If you want to know your iodine nutritional status.

Call the Center for further information or to schedule this test. Cost is $99 (includes the test kit, Iodoral, specimen shipping to lab and physician interpretation.). A repeat Iodine/Iodide loading test should be performed after three months of iodine therapy to monitor your status.

A word of caution. Iodine therapy can be a bit unpredictable and both slow thyroid function down or speed it up (this type of effect can occur when people living in iodine-deficient areas move to areas that are iodine-rich). So it is important to be monitored by a physician, and to go slowly when taking iodine supplements. Side effects among sensitive individuals include skin irritation, watery eyes or nose, nervousness, headache, racing heart, and increased saliva production

Minerals and Human Health – Part II

In the December 2005 Newsletter, I began an overview of “Minerals and Human Health.” We’ll pick up here where I left off and continue with additional minerals for discussion.

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.

Manganese is an essential mineral co-factor 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. Tea is very rich in manganese. Animal tissue contains very little 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. 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 resulting in 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. The RDA is 70 micrograms. 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. 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.

Is Your Water Safe to Drink?

Clean drinking water is one of the world’s most precious resources and is something we don’t usually think about in this country. Most of us just go to our tap or refrigerator, or pull out a bottle of water and drink it without thinking about what is in it. Water can be contaminated with parasites, bacteria, chemicals, viruses , organic matter, and even radiation from uranium deposits under the ground. Take a moment to consider the following questions about your drinking water.

• Do you depend on ground water for your drinking water, either from a public source or private well?

Ninety percent of disease outbreaks reported to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) in 2001-2002 were ground water-related. Our home in the country had a water system installed and serviced by a nationally known water company. I made the mistake of assuming that our treated water was of good quality because this national company was well-known. Their service people would come out to add salt to our water softener or change the filters in the reverse osmosis systems and we just assumed they were experts in their field and everything was alright. After the 2004 hurricanes, I had a comprehensive analysis of our well and drinking water done by National Testing Labs, which also tests water for governments and industry. This company tested for bacteria, heavy metals, minerals, inorganic and organic chemicals and pesticides. We discovered that the equipment from the well-known water company was not doing the job. After weeks of research, I called Walter Zukowski of Best Water Solutions. Our experience with him was wonderful. He looked at the water analysis data from National Testing Labs and custom designed a water treatment system using ozonation, filtration, and reverse osmosis. We found him to very knowledgeable and I highly recommend his company (he can be reached at 352-372-8962).

If you use well water as a drinking or cooking source, I suggest you have the well water analyzed each year through an independent lab such as National Testing Labs.
• Is your source of water from a city or municipality?

We forget that cities get their water from somewhere, and that somewhere is ultimately a well into the aquifer, or a lake or river. Contact your water utility and ask for a copy of their Consumer Confidence Report (also called a water quality report). This report tells you what substances have been found in the water your are drinking. Although some municipalities use ozonation to sterilize drinking water, most municipalities use chlorination to kill bacteria and viruses that are in the water. Chlorine reacts with organic matter in the water to form by products called THM’s (trihalomethanes). In high concentrations THM’s have been shown to cause cancer in humans. Low levels of chlorine remain in the distribution system to keep it sterile, and there are some studies that indicate drinking chlorinated water for 35 or more years can increase the risk of cancer of the bladder and colon. I highly recommend activated carbon filters which remove chlorine from both drinking water and shower water. Shower water chlorine is absorbed through the skin and contributes to much greater amounts of chlorine than drinking a glass of tap water. A number of different companies make water filters that remove chlorine. The Amway Corporation makes an under the counter carbon filter integrated with an ultraviolet light system to kill bacteria and viruses, and filter out contaminants including toxic metal, parasites and their cysts (we can order this for you at our cost).
|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| June 2006© Newsletter - Integrative Medicine; Chronic Toxic Metal Exposure; Minerals & Human Health Part III; A Non-drug Alternative for ADD/ADHD; Success Story -- IV Vitamins and Chronic Fatigue|~!||~!|1254092129|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

A few years ago I was at a conference where one of the guest speakers was a physician from Duke University, my old alma mater. He told the audience that Duke was implementing a division of integrative medicine as part of its medical center. Their Chancellor for Health Affairs, Ralph Snyderman, MD stated that “many patients are falling through the cracks” of modern health care - especially those with chronic, debilitating, even fatal conditions for which standard medical options are limited. In 2001, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report stating our current health care system was in a terminal state and must be replaced. The IOM report also stated that the new health care system would have to include complementary and alternative medicine, as well as preventive measures. Most people agree that our current system of health care is reactive rather than proactive, disease-based rather than health-enhancing, physician-directed rather than patient-centered. Integrative medicine can perhaps best be understood as a response to this crisis, where there is a combination of state-of-the-art allopathic treatments with careful selections from a range of less mainstream therapies. These therapies are based in ancient Chinese traditions, such as acupuncture and herbal therapies, or stress management tools such as yoga and meditation, the benefits of which have been widely documented. Integrative medicine also utilizes nutritional therapies based on the basic sciences of physiology and biochemistry as pertains to humans. Integrative medicine brings patients and health care providers into a partnership that goes beyond acute medical interventions to seek the patient's optimal health and healing, even when a cure is not possible. Hippocrates put things this way: physicians and health care providers should seek to “cure sometimes, heal often, comfort always.” So when patients call the Center and ask “what type of medicine do you provide?”, we use the term “integrative medicine” rather than “alternative” or “holistic.”

There is also a growing awareness that drugs are not the answer to all health problems. It is wonderful that modern medicine has antibiotics or insulin, however, many drugs on the market are of marginal benefit. Gary Null's “Death By Medicine” states that the leading cause of death in this country is a combination of pharmaceutical, iatrogenic, and hospital-based causes. His work emphasizes the need to scrutinize our current system. Non-drug approaches are often times more congruent with a patients' personal beliefs regarding health and life. The consumer-led movement for persons to use kinder, gentler, more natural therapies has created the explosion in complementary and alternative approaches to health care that over 40% of our population uses. The controversy about integrative medicine is imbedded in the rift between standard, drug based medical practice and the patients it exists to serve. Patients are placed in the middle. Take for instance a cancer patient, with his or her life on the line. Cancer patients receive a set of recommendations from their oncology team. If they go to more than one cancer center or oncologist, they often obtain different recommendations. This can create uncertainty or confusion. Then they are inundated with information and suggestions from their family, friends, the Internet, or the media regarding an array of alternate options. These patients have no way of knowing what is safe, effective, or dangerous and they often have no one in the medical profession to turn to for guidance. Medical schools do not provide much, if any, training in complementary or alternative therapies for future physicians. And most physicians, in part because they are so time-pressured just to keep up with traditional medical knowledge and education, simply steer clear of it all and advise patients to do the same. This situation is clearly not in the best interest of the patient or our health.

Fortunately, there is a growing number of major University Medical Centers such as Duke University,
Harvard, the University of California at San Francisco, MD Anderson Cancer Center, the University of Arizona, Stanford University, and others, who now are offering some form of complementary or integrative medicine to their patients. Organizations such as ACAM (the American College for Advancement in Medicine) or ICIM (the International College of Integrative Medicine) sponsor semi-annual meetings where physicians and other health care providers can come together, exchange ideas and are educated on the latest evidence-based information available in the Integrative Medicine field. The Florida State legislature in its wisdom recognized that freedom of choice with type of health care, just as in freedom of choice with religion, is important and is guaranteed statutorily in the Patient Bill of Rights.

Chronic Toxic Metal Exposure

In March 2006, Dana Reeve, wife of Superman actor Christopher Reeve, died at age 44 with lung cancer. She was a non-smoker all her life and her death shocked many people. As I watched CNN interview her closest friends, one of them made a statement that caught my attention - namely, how hypocritical it was for our government to be alarmed at the epidemic of cancer in this country while ignoring the toxic pollution of our environment that is the cause of many of these cancers. And while we cannot say for sure if Dana Reeve's death is related to toxin exposure, one wonders why a 44 year old non-smoker would come down with this disease at such a young age.

With the advent of the industrial revolution, the presence of toxic metals in the environment has increased dramatically, especially lead and mercury. Natural releases of metals such as mercury into the environment occur with volcanic eruptions and forest fires. Huge amounts of mercury are also released into the environment as a by-product of coal firing electrical plants. Mercury is also used in industry and even still in the dental industry in so-called “silver filings”, which are really 50% mercury. In fact, dental clinics are, for the most part, unregulated when it comes to disposal of mercury into municipal wastewater systems. The dental industry uses over 40 metric tons of mercury a year in the U.S.. Cadmium tends to bio-concentrate in tobacco and also used in nickel-cadmium batteries. Arsenic is used in industry, in treated lumber, mining, insecticides and fungicides. Lead is still present in many older homes with lead-based paints and was previously used in gasoline for years. As we neglect our environment, we are now paying the price in increased diseases of aging, autoimmune disorders, vascular and heart disease, neurodevelopmental diseases, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities and cancers.

In spite of what the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and other governmental health agencies would have us believe, 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 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. They 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 affect DNA directly and can lead to cancer.

Acute toxicity from mercury, cadmium, lead and other heavy metals is rare, and most traditionally trained physicians have no awareness of how to look for bio-accumulation from low dose chronic exposures to these metals. 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 either of hair or urine after a provocative chelating agent is given to release them from the tissues.

Lead in children causes developmental disorders and behavioral problems, which can occur at relatively low levels. We see low IQ, hearing loss, and poor growth as a consequence. Lead can also cause impairment of vitamin D metabolism, depression of red blood cell production and anemia, high blood pressure, headaches, metallic taste in mouth, tremors, loss of appetite, tingling or numbness in the extremities (neuropathy), and brain disorders.

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, impaired memory, 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, as well as renal failure are seen. An association also exists between dental amalgams that contain mercury and intra-oral cancers. Childhood vaccines that contain a mercury preservative (Thimerosal) are associated with autism in genetically susceptible children.

Action to take: To find out what your toxic metal load is, we first recommend a screening hair analysis to look at toxic metals and essential body minerals. This is followed by the collection of 2 timed urine specimens, before and after a provocative chelating agent is given. The urines are sent to a special lab for spectrophotometric analysis. If there is an increased body burden of toxic metals, an individually designed program to detoxify the metals is needed, based on factors such as the persons age, weight, liver and kidney status, etc.

Minerals and Human Health - Part III

In the December 2005 and March 2006 Newsletters I gave an overview of minerals and human health. We'll pick up here where I left off and finish this discussion with additional minerals.

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 for 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 but this varies widely depending upon the boron content of the soils where the food was grown. 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 being 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 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.

A Non-drug Alternative Therapy for ADD/ADHD

There is an effective treatment available for ADD/ADHD that you may not be familiar with called neurotherapy or neurofeedback. Neurotherapy can be used in treating some types of learning disorders, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and in certain head injuries where there has been brain trauma. Neurotherapy is a form of biofeedback (a method of using one's will and mind to influence the automatic functions of our body) through which a person learns to change his or her brainwave patterns. It is a safe, non-invasive form of therapy where the patient sits in front of a computer with several EEG sensors attached to the head, and the patient learns to manipulate representations of his or her brainwave patterns on the monitor.

In ADHD the frontal lobes of the brain produce excessive slow (about 85% of cases) or fast (about 15%) brain waves. Neurofeedback training allows the person to alter brain wave patterns and reduce or even eliminate the ADHD symptoms. Unlike traditional stimulant drug therapy used in the treatment of ADD/ADHD, the benefits of neurofeedback remain once the treatment is discontinued. It also avoids drug side effects. Dr. Joel Lubar (University of Tennessee) has followed children for more than 10 years after the discontinuation of treatment and found the treatments to remain effective. Not only that, he also found that there was an average increase in IQ of 12 points following successful treatment.

Dr. Douglas Starr is a licensed psychologist who is providing this service. If you would like more information about neurofeedback, Dr. Starr may be contacted at (352) 374-5600, extension 8103.

Success Story

Mrs. L is a beautiful 41 y.o. married lady who came to see me in the fall of 2005 with complaints of memory loss, fatigue, and constant aches and pains. Her memory problems started in her late 20's. She finally went to see a neurologist where nothing specific was found. “I am struggling to remember the basics” and she was at the point where her memory was so bad she was afraid to socially interact with people or drive her car. She also “hurt all over” and over the past 5-7 years, this progressively worsened. It was taking her 1 _ hours to just get out of bed in the mornings. She also noted her body temperatures were below normal when she felt worse. She felt very fatigued.

Mrs. L underwent a comprehensive exam and kinesthetic testing at the Center. Traditional lab work did not reveal any abnormalities except for a hormonal imbalance which was corrected using bio-identical hormonal replacement therapy. Clinically, Mrs L. also had fibromyalgia. But what was the fibromyalgia due to? Further evaluation with a SpectraCell analysis (intracellular vitamin analysis) and hair analysis (for evaluation of body minerals and toxic metals) revealed multiple nutritional deficiencies and an elevated hair mercury. The patient had previously had her mercury dental amalgams removed and did not eat a lot of seafood.

Different treatment options were discussed and a series of 4 Myer's nutritional IV's with Glutathione were started at 2 week intervals. By the 3rd IV, the patient was feeling dramatically better, with improvement in her energy, memory, and almost complete resolution of her body aches. After the 4th nutritional IV, the patient stated “I almost feel like my old self.” She has started a series of chelations to detoxify the increased body stores of mercury.

The “Myer's Cocktail” is named after the former Dr. Myer's, a physician who gave IV vitamin therapies to his patients with a wide-ranging variety of disorders back in the 1980's. He realized that patients might have an impaired ability to absorb or utilize oral supplements. This formula contains vitamin C, B vitamins and B12, calcium, and magnesium. Glutathione is a triple amino acid the body produces within the cells, primarily in the organs of excretion (liver, lungs, kidneys), and helps the body detoxify toxic chemicals, metals, and drugs, and is also critical for immune system function. This substance is destroyed by toxic metals. Oral Glutathione is destroyed by stomach acid for the most part, but the IV form is very effective in supporting the detoxification pathways of the body.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| September 2006© Newsletter - Flawed Government Study on Mercury Dental Amalgams in Children; IV Therapies; Success Stories in patients with Hypothyroidism, Abdomninal Pain, PMS, Iodine Insufficiency|~!||~!|1254092154|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

At the time this newsletter is going to press, my youngest son, Brian, will be graduating from the University of Florida. Although Brian is undecided as to whether he will go on to law school or pursue business opportunities, one of the things I am most proud of as his father is in addition to an education, he has gained the ability to think independently and critically. It is my belief that one of the primary goals of an educator should be to help students develop the desire and ability to think on their own. Dependent thinkers accept whatever they are taught and rarely question the information they receive. Independent thinkers try to make sense of the world based on personal observations and experiences, and don’t just go along with the thoughts of others. Critical thinkers are independent thinkers. They are able to able to assess claims and make objective judgements on the basis of well-supported reasons. As we mature we begin to see things in a more relative perspective, recognizing different people have different points of view. An instructor knows he or she has been successful in fostering independent thinking when his or her class starts asking a lot of questions.

Critical thinking also applies to the practice of medicine. Just because something is published in a major medical journal or appears on CNN doesn’t mean it’s so. For instance, the New England Journal of Medicine published an article on calcium and vitamin D not decreasing bone fracture risk. This didn’t make sense as there have been multiple previous studies validating the use of vitamin D and calcium supplements to improve bone health. When one looks at the study design with a critical eye, there were all sorts of problems. For example, there was an overall 12% lower rate of hip fractures in the calcium and vitamin D group, compared to the placebo group; this was not considered statistically significant. Not everyone took their supplements as directed, but these non-compliant people were included in the statistics. When one looked at patients who took at least 80% of their calcium and vitamin D, there was a 29% decrease in hip fractures, proving vitamin D and calcium made a big difference. So when an article in the New York Times entitled “Study Finds Calcium Supplements Don’t Prevent Broken Bones” appeared, what would you have thought if you read this headline? In this issue of the Preventive Medicine Center Newsletter I’ll discuss another study where the conclusions, in my opinion, were misleading.

The Government Proclaims Mercury Dental Amalgams are “Safe”

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 – 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,” including no detectable loss of IQ, memory, coordination, concentration, nerve conduction or kidney function during the period the children were followed. 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.

In my opinion, this seriously flawed report should not have been published. Let’s look at facts. Dental amalgams are 50% mercury, a toxic heavy metal. There has been controversy surrounding their safety, even among dentists, for over 100 years. Amalgams do not lie inertly in a person’s mouth, but emit mercury vapor continuously. Before one can draw conclusions from this study it is imperative to know exactly how much mercury vapor these children were exposed to. This was not done. Instead, the author of the study wrote “dental amalgam . . . emits small amounts of mercury vapor.” This is opinion, not fact. We do know from previous scientific studies that one mercury amalgam can emit anywhere from 3 - 43 micrograms of mercury vapor a day that can be absorbed into the body. These children did not just receive one amalgam. Chewing food, drinking hot beverages, and high copper amalgams are factors that significantly increase the release of mercury vapor from an amalgam into the body. The Food and Drug Administration and the American Dental Association have steadfastly refused to address this issue by doing the appropriate studies, and this study is another example. In fact, the FDA has not revised its mercury safe limits since 1979, and they are four times the EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency) maximum. In my opinion the FDA and ADA know the level of mercury vapor emitted from dental amalgams is too high to be accepted as safe. What they would find is that only a fraction of the emitted mercury is coming out in the urine, with the bulk of the mercury being deposited within the body.

Dr. Boyd Haley, Chairman of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Kentucky in Lexington has studied the effects of mercury dental amalgams on brain tissue for over a decade. He has discovered mercury causes the identical changes seen in Alzheimer’s disease. He has over 100 published scientific articles and is an expert in this field. He and I agree with the World Health Organization position that there is no such thing as a “safe” amount of mercury, especially with regard to children who have developing brains and nervous systems. Dr. Haley and I feel it is unethical to expose children to this toxin, whether in mercury dental amalgams or in vaccines as a preservative. Dr. Haley points out a 1 gram filling would contain 500,000 micrograms of mercury, or 100,000 days of emitting a toxic 5 micrograms a day. This equates to about 275 years of mercury before it is all gone from a single filling.

Another problem is this study excluded children with neurodevelopmental problems, ADD, or learning disabilities. This is the very group of children who could be most harmed by this toxin, but no cautions were given about amalgam use in this class.

Still another problem with this study was only blood and urine mercury levels were measured. But the primary route of excretion of mercury is through the liver (>90%) and into the feces. Fecal mercury should have, but was not, measured. So we don’t really know how much mercury was going into or out of these children. The drop in urine mercury output in the amalgam children after 2 years was ignored in this report. This serious finding reflects damage occurring to the kidneys with a decreased ability to excrete mercury after continuous exposure to this poison after two years.

In addition, there are much more sensitive tests to measure damage from mercury than those used in this study. No tests were performed to measure DNA or immune system effects, which mercury is known to damage. And finally, the toxic effects of mercury in low doses may not show themselves until considerable time has passed.

So don’t be fooled by this study and it’s incorrect conclusions. If mercury amalgam must be kept in a toxic waste container outside of a person’s mouth, it doesn’t “magically” become non-toxic in a person’s mouth. Keep this poison out of your children’s teeth. There are much safer alternatives.

IV Therapies at the Center

One of the services we offer at the Center are IV therapies. These are used both in traditional medicine and in integrative medicine when a more rapid response is needed or if a patient is unable to tolerate an oral route for a drug or supplement. IV antibiotics are often effective when oral antibiotics do not work or when higher doses than can be tolerated by oral administration are needed. The same applies to nutritional therapies. At the Center IV therapies are used in a variety of conditions.

IV Vitamins and Minerals: Patients may present to the Center with fatigue or malaise and are later found to have multiple nutritional deficiencies or insufficiencies either on their Spectracell testing (this is a functional lab test of vitamin levels within a person’s white blood cells) or on their hair analyses. Often patients may be taking vitamins or other supplements on their own but are having problems with adequate absorption. This can occur for a variety of reasons including leaky gut syndrome, poor quality bile or digestive enzymes, lack of stomach acid, antibiotic use, interference from drugs, poor quality supplements, advancing age, intestinal candidiasis or parasites, or disease states such as diabetes or thyroid disease to name a few. At the Center we custom tailor IV vitamin and mineral treatments based upon what a patient’s specific needs are. We often see rapid improvement in terms of a sense of well-being, calm, and increased energy in our patients. Vitamins and minerals are co-factors critical for the correct functioning of DNA and the body’s metabolic pathways.

IV Vitamin C: IV vitamin C therapies are used by alternative or integrative physicians in cancer patients and patient’s with compromised immune status such as chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV, or chronic hepatitis. In 2005 NIH (National Institutes of Health) found intravenous Vitamin C in high doses killed cancer cells, at least in the laboratory. But oral vitamin C did not. What was found, according to lead researcher Dr. Mark Levine, was a 10 gram dose of vitamin C given intravenously produces bloodstream concentrations more than 25-fold higher than concentrations achieved from the same oral dose. “At the highest concentration of ascorbic acid, if given intravenously, they don’t touch normal cells and they kill lots of cancer cells. We don’t know why,” Levine said. A proposed mechanism is vitamin C led to the formation of hydrogen peroxide by the white blood cells, a chemical that can kill cancer cells and germs.

Vitamin C in high doses also acts like an antihistamine and reduces allergy symptoms. It also is an electron donor and chelates mercury and other toxic metals, and helps remove them from the body.

IV Hydrogen Peroxide: IV hydrogen peroxide is a bio-oxidative therapy used to treat certain viral infections. This treatment is not approved by the FDA; however this therapy has been used in Russia, Europe, and among some integrative medicine physicians in the USA. IV hydrogen peroxide has been discussed in previous issues of this Newsletter and on our website. In the 1900's Dr. Farr, prior to the advent of antibiotics, pioneered the use of this therapy using a very dilute solution of pharmaceutical-grade hydrogen peroxide. He would treat hospitalized patients, many of whom would have died from infections such as TB, influenza, bacterial pneumonia, septic abortions. Dr. Farr was able to cure a significant number of these patients and he was even nominated for the Nobel prize for his work. Hydrogen peroxide therapy fell out of favor with the advent of antibiotics. Our experience with this therapy is that it has been useful in treatment of influenza, viral pneumonias and upper respiratory infections, and in certain cases of chronic fatigue syndrome. This therapy also kills parasites.

Some health practitioners and websites suggest taking oral hydrogen peroxide. I do not recommend this. Oral hydrogen peroxide could combine with iron, ascorbate, and other substances present in the stomach to form products that can lead to cancer formation or erosions.

IV Glutathione : This is another IV therapy we use at the Center. Dr. David Perlmutter pioneered the use of IV Glutathione therapy in the treatment of Parkinson’s patients and other patients with neurodegenerative disorders. Glutathione is a triple amino acid that is produced within your body’s cells (primarily in the liver, lungs and kidneys) and is essential in the detoxification of chemicals, drugs, toxins, and also is critical in support of our immune systems. Oral Glutathione supplements generally do not work well as they are destroyed by the stomach acid. NAC (N - acetyl cysteine) is a precursor to Glutathione that can be taken orally, but its effect is unpredictable. It has been our experience that IV Glutathione treatments in patient’s who have a deficiency affecting their detoxification pathways often have rapid resolution (within hours to one day) of the fatigue, brain fog, malaise, nausea, body aches, and other symptoms that go along with a toxic state. It may take several IV’s at weekly to twice weekly intervals to help. Our experience has been mostly in patients with toxic metals and in patients who have had anesthesia for surgery.

IV CA EDTA, MG EDTA, and DMPS: IV EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid) is an FDA approved treatment for lead toxicity. EDTA chelates (binds with) many toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium to allow removal of these heavy metals from the body. DMPS (2-3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate) is a non-FDA approved medication used to chelate mercury, which EDTA does not do well. It also removes some lead and arsenic. DMPS was originally developed in China to chelate metals, and is used in Russia and parts of Europe as well. At the Center, these medications are given via intravenous administration under specific protocols set forth by the American Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology (ABCMT) in patients with increased body burdens of toxic metals. This is considered an elective/preventive therapy consistent with a person’s goal of preventive health measures. Dr. Erickson is board certified by ABCMT, having completed extensive training and passed both written and oral examinations.

The use of EDTA in the treatment of heart disease is controversial and not widely accepted by traditional medicine, which promotes the use of invasive procedures such as stent placement, coronary artery bypass surgery, or angioplasty, and often combines these procedures with drug therapies. Because of the numerous anecdotal reports from thousands of patients of symptomatic improvement in their heart disease after receiving IV EDTA, the National Institutes of Health is supporting a 30 million dollar five year study on the effects of EDTA chelation therapy in heart patients.

Success Story – Hypothyroidism

Mrs. C is a 47 year old teacher who came to see me for evaluation of fatigue, constipation and weight gain. She had been diagnosed as having a “thyroid problem” and was placed on Synthroid medication. In spite of her lab tests showing normal amounts of circulating thyroid hormone on Synthroid and a normal TSH level, she continued to experience joint aches, fatigue, drowsiness, cold intolerance, heat intolerance, PMS, low libido, brain fog, dry skin and brittle nails. All of these symptoms are consistent with hypothyroidism. She was switched to Armour thyroid and had dramatic improvement in most of her symptoms. She was also placed on Iodoral, an iodine supplement, when her Iodine challenge test showed very low body stores of iodine.

Mrs. C was also experiencing hot flushes. A low progesterone level was corrected with compounded bio-identical micronized progesterone cream applied at bedtime. This only helped somewhat. When Trans D Tropin therapy was added to improve her growth hormone output, her hot flushes went totally away and the severe insomnia she was experiencing resolved in one day. At her last visit several months ago she felt great and is being seen now on a routine basis.

Success Story – Kinesthetic testing

Mrs. H is a 49 year old nurse who has been coming to the Center for over four years. She recently developed discomfort in the right upper abdomen that persisted for one month. This wasn’t really related to meals and she described the pain as “crampy.” There was no associated nausea, diarrhea or fever. She was also having occasional pelvic discomfort at times. When I saw Mrs. H her physical exam was normal as were her blood tests, with the exception of a high cholesterol of 260mg/dL. She was sent for an abdominal ultrasound that did not show gallstones or other abnormality. Her gynecologist performed an evaluation that was normal, including a pelvic exam and pelvic ultrasound test.

Her kinesthetic testing at the Center, however, demonstrated positive reflexes in the gallbladder, bile duct, and liver meridians. She was placed on a combination of supplements to support liver and bile duct function, and to lower her cholesterol. One of the products used was from Thorne labs called Choleast. This is a red yeast rice product that safely reduces cholesterol production by the liver. Within a few weeks, her symptoms resolved and her cholesterol dropped by 40 points using just a half dose of the Choleast. It has been our experience that we often are able to help patients using kinesthetic testing of acupuncture points when traditional lab tests or other diagnostic tests are negative.

Success Story – Bad PMS

Mrs. K is a 44 year old lady who presented to the Center less than a year ago with perimenopausal issues and chronic fatigue. She had a history of chronic fatigue following the birth of her son in the mid 1990's. She was living up North and was seeing a CAM physician who diagnosed her as having chronic fatigue syndrome and Lyme’s disease. She was treated at the time with a combination of dietary changes, supplements, and physical therapy. She was also experiencing perimenopausal symptoms consisting of hair loss, dry skin, vaginal dryness, palpitations around the time of her periods, brain fog, and irregular interval between periods.

After correcting nutritional deficiencies, Mrs. K was placed on natural micronized progesterone in the form of a cream applied to the skin during the last half of her menstrual cycle. She was also placed on herbal therapies. In spite of this she continued to experience mood swings, irritability and vague fatigue. Mrs. K was taken off the herbal supplements, but continued on the progesterone. Trans D Tropin to improve growth hormone function and Travacor (a supplement from Neuroscience that balances serotonin and other neurotransmitters) were then added. Almost immediately Mrs. K found dramatic improvement with this change in therapy. Her mental clarity returned, her muscle strength improved, and her periods and hormone imbalance normalized. At her last visit she continued to feel great.

Trans D Tropin is a product previously discussed in our newsletters that is a secretagogue (messenger protein) that instructs the pituitary gland to produce a normal amount of growth hormone. As a person ages, often times the pituitary gland produces a reduced amount of growth hormone, and this adversely effects all the body’s hormones, neurotransmitters, and organ systems. Travacor is a combination of amino acids and vitamin co-factors that improves certain neurotransmitters (primarily serotonin) without the use of anti-depressant drugs. Neurotransmitters work with hormones to improve hormone balance.

Success Story – Iodine Insufficiency

Mrs. H is a 27 year old female who was experiencing vague malaise, fatigue, and menstrual irregularities. Her gynecologist tried her on 3 different birth control pills without benefit. She also noticed she was intolerant to the heat and would have a lot of itching when hot or exercising. Extensive lab testing by her internist revealed Mrs. H to have a Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder.

The patient saw me earlier this year and was found to have a number of nutritional deficiencies, including a severe Iodine deficiency based on an Iodine Loading test (see the March 2006 issue of the newsletter for information about this test). After placing Mrs. H. on the appropriate nutritional supplements based on hair analysis and Spectracell testing, and also on Iodoral for iodine replacement, the patient’s symptoms completely resolved within four weeks.

Iodine deficiency in this country is very common, and can be a causative factor for obscure symptoms such as fatigue or menstrual irregularities.

Do You Wear Perfume?

We need your help if you wear perfume. Don’t! Please remember to be “fragrance-free” on the day of your visit to the Center. No perfumes, aftershave, or deodorant soaps. Many of our patients and some of our staff have sensitivities to chemicals and scents, and become ill. FYI many of the chemicals in perfumes (e.g phthalate esters, synthetic musks) are harmful to your health and should be avoided. Thank you for your cooperation.

What’s New At The Center?
• THERMOGRAPHY SERVICES – Check out the Thermography section on our www.prevent-doc.com website. Thermography is used in breast health screening and avoids the pain, compression, and radiation women experience from mammography. Thermography is also an excellent way to visualize soft tissue injury or pain from accidents, even when X-rays are negative. Call Gainesville Thermography, Inc. at (352) 332-7212 for scheduling. All scans are interpreted by a Board Certified Thermographer and are taken by trained clinical thermographers.

• Holiday Schedule – Labor Day: Closed Monday, September 4th, 2006.
Thanksgiving: Closed Thursday, November 23rd, and Friday November 24th, 2006
Christmas/New Year: Closed Friday, December 22nd, 2006 at noon and will reopen at 9:00AM Tuesday, January 3rd, 2007 for normal operations.

All staff and Dr. Erickson will be away during these periods of time. If you have an urgent medical problem while we are closed, please contact your primary care physician or go to an Urgent Care Center. If you require supplements or prescription refills, please see that these are obtained no later than one week prior to closings.

• Product Highlights: LDM-100 is an amazing product we have an herbalist make for the Center. It comes from the root of the Lomatium dissectum plant. The native Americans have used this herb for hundreds of years to treat flu’s, bladder infections, and skin infections. We are at the time of year when school is back in session and there is an increase in colds and flus. Why not have a bottle or two on hand.

• Established patients, don’t forget to ask for your letter to receive a 10% discount on all purchases at Mother Earth Markets.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| December 2006© Newsletter - Holiday Stress; Chronic Stress and adrenal fatigue; Success story in a patient with anxiety|~!||~!|1254092172|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

As the Christmas/Chanukah holidays and a New Year rapidly approach, the staff at the Preventive Medicine Center and I want to say “thank you” for all of your referrals and support this past year. Many of you have worked hard to improve your health and enjoy life, and we celebrate your successes. Our heartfelt wishes go out to you and your families for a healthy and joyous holiday season. As I reflect back on how wonderful it was as a child to visit our Grandparents during this time of year, everything back then seemed “perfect” – the house decorations, the presents, the meals, the family being together. As adults, we realize the holidays can be especially stressful, often times because our expectations exceed what is possible. In this issue of the newsletter we’ll discuss both holiday stress and chronic stress.

Joel and Michelle Levey, co-founders of Innerwork Technologies have worked with hundreds of leading organizations such as AT&T, NASA, many medical centers, professional organizations and world class athletes. Their works provide a unique synthesis of contemporary and traditional disciplines and wisdom. Below, I have condensed some of their suggestions on managing your own responses to the holidays and perhaps increasing your enjoyment of this special time of year.

1. Create realistic expectations – don’t try to make this the perfect holiday. For many people, creating realistic expectations is the most challenging, and the most important principal to apply to the holiday season. It can be so easy to get caught up in cozy, romantic images of a fantasy holiday where everyone is happy together, everything runs smoothly, and the sounds of laughter echo to a backdrop of snowflakes and sleigh bells. A more realistic measure of success may be everyone feeling some happiness.

2. Say ‘no’ to extra obligations that might stress you out. As the calendar fills to the brim, you may start feeling overbooked and overwhelmed. By learning to mindfully reflect on how you plan to spend your time, you can better prioritize your obligations and make conscious choices about your time commitments.

3. Take short relaxation breaks to let go of tension. It is difficult to sustain high levels of activity and stimulation, especially at holiday time, without taking some ‘down time’ to restore yourself. Whenever you notice you are getting stressed or anxious, simply stop and pause for a moment, take in a deep breath, and slowly exhale, releasing the tension you may be carrying. You can also practice relaxation guided imagery to calm your mind and body. By reducing your overall anxiety level in these ways, you will be able to better cope with the stresses of the holidays.

4. Get involved in a volunteer activity where you help others. Few activities result in greater satisfaction than the act of giving selflessly from the heart. When you help others, you are naturally likely to capture a sense of belonging and inner joy for yourself. What better way to balance the craziness of the materialistic holiday stampede than to volunteer and help those in need?

5. Create a hand-made gift. Creating a gift can provide an important outlet for you to express your creativity. Making a gift can also be a calm, meditative experience, and can foster a deeper connection between you and the recipient.
6. Eat and drink sensibly, get plenty of sleep and exercise. Holidays are the time where a lot of people take in too much fat, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol and forget about enough sleep and exercise. One of the easiest ways to combat holiday stress is to pay better attention to your body’s needs for healthy food, adequate sleep, and exercise.

7. Practice being a peacemaker if family squabbles erupt. With the stress of the holiday expectations, it’s easy for people to get their feelings hurt. If this starts happening in your family interactions, shift your view to the bigger picture and help family members make peace with one another. Two simple keys are to listen more attentively and to let others know that they have been heard.

8. Reflect on the deeper meaning and spirit of the holidays. The deeper, more spiritual meaning of the holiday season can become lost when holidays center on the commercial aspects. By pausing to reflect on the meaning of the holidays for you and your family, you can get a better perspective on how to organize your holiday priorities.

Mind-Body Connection and Health

The link between emotions and health was first detected by Hippocrates and his followers, and even in the modern medicine of today the idea that the mind effects the body is generally accepted. Science has shown that emotions can have an impact on headaches, insomnia, weight gain or loss, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and even the effectiveness of cancer treatment.

Chronic stress is very common in Western society and can be the result of all sorts of factors: a difficult job situation or job loss, a stormy marriage or one that is going through a divorce, caring for an ill parent, spouse or relative, being in chronic pain, etc.. Stress can cause the body to react through stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. This is called the “fight or flight” response. When this happens, epinephrine (adrenaline) is secreted by the adrenal glands, stimulating the release of another hormone ACTH, which in turn causes the release of the hormone cortisol. As with most hormonal systems, there is a negative feedback system to regulate and limit the production of each hormone. During prolonged stress, when the body perceives that survival is at stake, this mechanism does not work. In fact, the body can react to produce elevated levels of cortisol, and this exerts a dampening effect on the negative feedback system. High cortisol can lead to estrogen imbalance, increased salt and water retention, reduced bone mass, impairment of the immune system and reduced insulin sensitivity and increased blood sugar as well as other negative effects.

William Lovallo, PhD at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center has conducted research on cortisol. “We know that cortisol has a long-term effect on memory and that large amounts over long periods of time can actually damage memory structures in the brain.” Researchers recently discovered that prolonged stress also contributes to cellular aging and could cause the development of a variety of diseases. What was found was that stress effects telomeres, which are DNA-protein complexes stuck onto chromosomes. Telomeres promote genetic stability and play an important role in the number of times a cell divides. Elissa Epel, PhD, an assistant adjunct professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, found that women who cared for chronically ill children were more likely to have shortened telomeres than were women who had healthy children.

With prolonged stress, the amount of cortisol produced can initially be elevated, but later the body is unable to keep up and cortisol levels may become suboptimal. A condition called adrenal fatigue can then develop.

What Are the Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue?

Medical books from the 1800's describe “adrenal fatigue” as a clinical condition. However, conventional medicine does not usually recognize adrenal fatigue as such. It does recognize Addison’s disease, a condition usually caused by autoimmune dysfunction, where low cortisol levels are measured by conventional laboratory tests. Adrenal fatigue, on the other hand, is caused by prolonged stress. Some of the symptoms include lethargy, decreased ability to handle stress, dry or thin skin, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), low body temperature, irritable bowel type symptoms, heartburn, and mild depression. There may be a tendency to gain weight and inability to lose it. A person may experience difficulty in remembering things, need coffee or stimulants to get going, or crave salty, fatty or high protein foods. Often times the symptoms improve when stress is relieved, such as on a vacation. Of course, these symptoms can occur with other disorders as well.

Why does Traditional Medicine Miss Diagnosing Adrenal Fatigue?

Traditional doctor’s rely on traditional blood tests, and the traditional blood tests detect only a severe deficiency (Addison’s disease) or excess (Cushing’s disease) of adrenal hormones. Here is the problem: there is a wide reference range of “normal” for cortisol levels. In fact, your adrenal hormones can be 50% lower than the optimum level and still be considered “normal.” But such a “normal” level of adrenal hormones does not mean a patient is free of adrenal fatigue. To diagnose adrenal fatigue, a more sensitive laboratory test is required using salivary hormone assays. One advantage of this test is that it measures the free and circulating hormones available for your body to use, rather than the hormones that are bound to protein and are unavailable for use. Traditional lab tests measure the total cortisol and DHEA which does not differentiate between the available and unavailable hormones. Taking oral or transdermal medications with DHEA or other hormones in them can affect test results, as can being under stress while the test is being run. The salivary DHEA can be measured at any time. Four different timed specimens for salivary cortisol are obtained (7 AM, noon, 5PM, midnight). Cortisol levels are normally higher in the morning and decrease through the day.

If you have been under chronic stress and would like to schedule a salivary adrenocortex stress profile, contact us to arrange this. Adrenal fatigue is a treatable condition. At the Center we customize a treatment protocol that is specific for each patient that may involve nutritional supplements, herbal preparations, stress reduction techniques, amino acid therapies, homeopathic remedies, massage therapy, exercise or yoga, and other techniques.

A Story of Estrogen Dominance

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, abdomen and arms during the last half of her menstrual cycle. Mrs. D was also advised to increase her intake of soy, cruciferous vegetables, and to try Black Cohosh on a daily basis. These plant products have weak but safe estrogenic substances that help reduce the effects of her high estrogen at the receptor site level.

A repeat breast thermography was performed at three months. Mrs. D was excited to see her breast thermal pattern had improved, proving that the therapies prescribed were working. She also noted the fibrocystic lumps in her breasts were less prominent and no longer tender, and the mood swings and heavy periods had also improved significantly.

Success Story – Patient with Anxiety

Mr. M is a married male in his 60's who came to the Center complaining of anxiety attacks. He had been placed on Xanax, a highly addictive drug, by another physician, and in spite of taking this medication, he still had a lot of anxiety. Mr. M underwent a complete physical exam, kinesthetic testing, lab work and a nutritional evaluation. He was found to have a hormonal imbalance with high estrogen levels. An enzyme called aromatase was converting his testosterone into estrogen. He was placed on Palmetto Plus Forte and Calcium D Glucarate to correct this hormonal imbalance. Within 6 weeks his estradiol dropped from the 70's to below 20 (below 30 is considered normal for males).

He was also found to have imbalances in his neurotransmitters on urine testing, including serotonin and epinephrine. He was placed on a program of targeted amino acid therapy (amino acids are naturally occurring building blocks of neurotransmitters and proteins) to balance his neurotransmitter, as he did not want to take antidepressant drugs. He not only was able to stop his Xanax, but his anxiety was completely gone at the first revisit in 6 weeks. He was back actively working and doing the things he previously enjoyed. His wife was excited to have her husband back to his old self again.
|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| June 2007© Newsletter – The Acid/Alkaline Theory of Disease; Are You Stuck with Your Genes?; Osteoporosis Drug Problems Emerging; Success Story|~!||~!|1254092190|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

This newsletter heralds the resumption of our quarterly articles on health and healing. The March 2007 issue never went to print due to the untimely passing of Carolyn Floyd, my long-time nurse and friend in February of this year. I again want to thank our many patients and friends for their kind words and understanding during the past several difficult months.

Please welcome all the new faces at the Center who are here to serve you. Donna Nussel, R.N., is a former hospice nurse who joined our staff in September 2006. Kim Lipsey also came on board in September 2006, and is in charge of our front office. Her smile will welcome all of you as you come in for your appointments. Keren Conner joined our front office staff in March 2007 and will help you when you call or come to the Center. Our newest staff member is Louann Mauldin, LPN, who has worked in Pediatrics at Shands Teaching Hospital for many years. We are excited to have her as part of our Preventive Medicine Center team.

In this issue of the newsletter I will discuss the acid/alkaline theory of disease and share new information on DNA and nutrition. I will also in the next several newsletters share information from the Spring 2007 ACAM (American College for Advancement in Medicine) conference I attended in Chicago in April of this year. This was one of the best integrative medicine conferences I have attended with outstanding, nationally renouned speakers. Some of the topics to be covered will be vitamin C and cancer treatment by Dr. Mark Levine of the National Institute of Health; vitamin D and its role in cancer formation by Dr. Cynthia Browne, a practicing board certified radiation oncologist, who is the director of complementary cancer care at The Van Elslander Cancer Center in Detroit, Michigan; and metals and cardiovascular disease by Dr. Eliseo Guallar, a cardiologist from Johns Hopkins University College of Medicine.

The Acid/Alkaline Theory of Disease - A Myth

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 foods provide protein and red meats provide zinc, iron, folate, vitamins A and D, L carnitine, vitamin B12, and sulfur amino acids. Vegetarian diets are usually deficient in these nutrients. Also, meats and properly prepared whole grains provide phosphorus. Balancing protein, healthy fats and carbohydrates is the key rather than targeting urine pH at the expense of good nutrition.

Are You Stuck with Your Genes?

Our DNA - specifically the 25,000 genes identified by the Human Genome Project - is widely regarded as the instruction book for the human body. But the genes themselves need instructions for what to do, when to do it and where to do it. A human liver cell contains the same DNA as a human brain cell, but somehow knows how to code only those proteins necessary for the functioning of the liver. Those instructions are not found in the DNA itself, but on it, in an array of chemical markers and switches known as “the epigenome.” Think of these epigenomic switches and markers as “on” and “off” switches that help turn on or off the expression of a particular gene. Scientists are still trying to understand better the many ways epigenetic changes come about and, to their surprise, how epigenetic signals from the environment can be passed on from one generation to the next, sometimes for several generations, without changing the gene sequence one bit. There is a growing body of evidence that epigenetic changes wrought by one's diet, behavior, or surroundings can work their way into the genetic expression of your offspring. So as bizarre as it may sound, what you eat today or smoke today could affect the health of your great great grandchildren!

Back in 2000, Dr. Randy Jirtle, a professor of radiation oncology at Duke University, and his graduate student assistant, Robert Waterland, designed a simple genetic experiment. It began with pairs of fat yellow mice called “agouti mice” -- so called because they carry a particular gene -- the agouti gene. This gene, in addition to making the mice ravenous and yellow, makes them prone to cancer and diabetes. Jirtle and Waterland set about to see if they could change the unfortunate genetic legacy of these creatures by changing the mother mice's diet. Starting just before conception they fed a group of mother mice a diet rich in methyl donors, small chemical clusters that can turn a gene on and off. These chemicals are commonly found in many foods such as onions, garlic, beets and in the folic acid given to pregnant women to prevent neurological damage to their infants. After being consumed by the mother mice, the methyl donors worked their way into the developing embryos' chromosomes and onto the critical agouti gene. Now the agouti gene was passed on to the mice offspring intact, but thanks to the methyl-rich diet during pregnancy, they had added a chemical switch that turned off the agouti gene's deleterious effects. The young mice were slender and mousy brown, lived to a spry old age, and did not show a propensity to develop cancer or diabetes! The effects of the agouti gene had been virtually erased by a simple dietary change.

In 2003 biologist Ming Zhu Fang and colleagues at Rutgers University published a paper in the journal of Cancer Research on the epigenetic effects of green tea, where in animal studies, green tea prevented the growth of cancers in several organs. In 1999 biologist Emma Whitelaw demonstrated that epigenetic marks could be passed on from one generation of mammals to the next. “ . . . what we inherit from our parents are chromosomes, and chromosomes are only 50 percent DNA. The other 50 percent is made up of protein molecules, and these protein molecules carry the epigenetic marks and information.”

Michael Meaney, a biologist at McGill University, contends that epigenetic changes can be induced after birth, through a mother's physical behavior toward her newborn. He and other researchers are involved in a multi-million dollar study to exam the effects of early nurturing on hundreds of human babies, using a test group of severely depressed mothers who often have difficulty bonding and caring for their newborns. The question they wish to answer is whether the babies of the depressed mothers show the distinct brain shapes and patterns we are learning to distinguish on MRI scans of the brain, indicative of epigenetic differences.

Marcus Pembrey, a clinical geneticist from London, drew conclusions from two centuries of data on crop yields and food prices in an isolated town in northern Sweden. What he found was grandfathers who lived their preteen years during times of plenty were more likely to have grandsons (but not granddaughters) with diabetes, and these grandsons had double the risk of early death. He also found that the grandmother's experience of food surplus affected the mortality rates of granddaughters only.
Even as the science of epigenetics opens a window into the inner workings of many human diseases, it also raises some provocative new questions. Could the American way of supersizing, where if a little is good, a lot is better, be causing unintended consequences? Could taking too many dietary supplements in high amounts over a long periods of time cause things such as an increased cancer risk, dementia, or Alzheimer's? Could a nutrient that has a positive effect on one gene have a negative effect somewhere else? Could the current epidemic of obesity and diabetes in the United States be partially a result of the lifestyles adopted by our forebears two or more generations back? We just don't know the answers yet as the study of epigenetics is an emerging science.

(The data in this article comes from an article “DNA Is Not Destiny” in Discover Magazine 11/2006.)

Osteoporosis Drug Problems Emerging

Biophosphonate drugs are prescribed for osteoporosis, breast cancer, and bone cancer. In 2005, 39 million prescriptions for oral bisphosphonates were written. These drugs bond to the surface of the bone and prevent the normal osteoclasts from working. Osteoclasts are bone cells that break down old and diseased bone. What is being found by dentists is that women on biophosphonate therapy who have dental surgery, extractions, dental implants, and even dentures are at risk for permanent, incurable osteonecrosis of the jaw ( rotting of the jaw bone). By not allowing the osteoclasts to clean away old and diseased bone, these drugs put women at high risk for this condition. I have one patient in my practice who was perfectly healthy but developed osteonecrosis of her hip after being placed on a biphosphonate drug by her gynecologist. She is convinced there is a causal relationship and it makes sense that this problem may not be limited to the jaw bone only.

The FDA estimates that the frequency of osteonecrosis of the jaw is around 2%; however 90% of all adverse side effects of drugs are not reported to the FDA, so the incidence may be much higher. If you are female and are taking Fosamax, Actonel, or are receiving IV Zometa or Aredia, be sure to let your dentist know before any dental procedure, but especially if extractions of teeth are to be performed. If your dentist is not aware of this condition, show him this article.

The concept of blocking osteoclast cells from performing their normal function doesn't work in the long run. By keeping old and diseased bone from being removed, bone mass is retained so physicians are happy that the bone density scans show slight improvements or, at least, no more loss. But what these scans do not show is that no new bone will be deposited at the sites where old or diseased bone exists. In the long run, it is the old, brittle bone that needs to be removed so that new, stronger bone can take its place.

There is an alternative to biophosphonate drugs which is completely natural, and that is taking Strontium. For more information on Strontium, go to our website www.prevent-doc.com and read the article under “topics of interest.”

Success Story - High Cholesterol

Mrs. C is a 56 year old lady who was seeing me for fibromyalgia symptoms. On routine lab she was found to have a total cholesterol of 280mg/dL, and an LDL cholesterol of 161mg/dL. Her HDL (good cholesterol) was an excellent 81mg/dL. She was not eating a high, saturated fat diet and was exercising daily. There was a strong family history of elevated cholesterols. The patient was concerned about the side effects of Statin drugs and wished to lower her cholesterol using CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) therapies.
Mrs. C was placed on Choleast, a special red yeast rice product we carry at the Center at half the usual dose. A repeat lipid profile was obtained in 8 weeks and the total cholesterol dropped to 223 and the LDL cholesterol dropped to 124. Her ratio of good cholesterol to total cholesterol was 2.8 (below 4.5 is healthy for females).

Traditional physicians are usually unaware about safe, natural and clinically proven solutions available today. When it comes to safety, Mother Nature knows best. It has been my experience that Choleast works as well or better than Statin drugs in most patients with elevated cholesterols. It is concerning to me that the potentially serious side-effects of treatments not be overlooked. Pfizer pharmaceuticals recently abruptly halted a clinical trial of a new drug meant to increase HDL cholesterol by suppressing cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP). The new drug trial was stopped when it resulted in over 50% more deaths than the control groups.

Success Story - Allergies and COPD

Mrs. H is a lovely lady in her mid 60s. She has a chronic history of lung infections related to COPD and asthma. She was living on inhalers that contained steroids and bronchodilators. She felt weak and had general malaise. After a comprehensive evaluation she was found to have nutritional deficiencies, HGH (human growth hormone) deficiency and allergies. She was begun on a program of targeted nutritional supplements to correct her vitamin/mineral deficiencies and also on Trans D Tropin therapy to improve her growth hormone function. Her muscle strength dramatically improved with the Trans D Tropin and her malaise became much less as her nutritional status improved. But she could not get off the Albuterol and Azmacort inhalers. She was then begun on a Chinese herbal product for allergies and lung disease, and within several months she was able to stop all her inhalers. Her lungs no longer had wheezing when I listened to them. Although the Chinese herbal formula does not work for everyone, it has been my experience that the majority of patients with lung problems benefit from it.

Success Story - Breast Thermography

Mrs. M is a 61 year old female patient with a family history of breast cancer in her grandmother and paternal cousin. I was concerned that she might have a condition called estrogen dominance, where her body was producing excess estrogen relative to progesterone. This condition is a risk factor for breast cancer development. She had her initial breast thermography screening at Gainesville Thermography in December 2006, and her thermal pattern did confirm estrogen dominance. She was placed on compounded natural micronized progesterone cream to be applied to the breasts and was encouraged to eat a diet high in cruciferous vegetables. Her repeat breast thermography done three months latter demonstrated a significant improvement in her thermal patterns, documenting the beneficial effects on the breast tissue of her progesterone and dietary therapy. Mammography, which is an X-ray study, does not demonstrate estrogen dominance. Thermography is currently the only known modality that shows estrogen dominance, and also improvement with proper treatment.

|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| September 2007© Newsletter – Buyer Beware; Vitamin D - Not Just for Bones; IV Vitamin C Update and its use in Cancer Treatment; Toxic Metals & Cardiovascular Disease; Success Story|~!||~!|1254092214|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

As many of you know, proposals for government regulation of the dietary supplement industry have been in the news for a number of years. At present, the dietary supplement industry operates with minimal oversight from the U.S Food and Drug Administration, and the FDA hasn't set minimum standards for the safe manufacture of dietary supplements. Instead, manufacturers set their own standards. While I am a proponent of freedom of choice for consumers it is also my belief that there should be safeguards guaranteeing purity of both foods and supplements.

Buyer Beware

China's emergence as a leading ingredient supplier for the supplement industry has raised new fears since pet deaths from pet food were traced back to contaminated Chinese wheat gluten. Soon after, Chinese-made fake Colgate toothpaste was found to contain an antifreeze ingredient and was being sold in discount stores in the USA and in South America. A shipment of bacterial contaminated vitamin A that was to be added to infant formula was also traced back to China earlier this year. In fact, things got so bad that the Chinese government went to the extreme of executing one of their drug officials.

According to William Obermeyer, a co-founder of the independent testing firm ConsumerLab.com which tests thousands of supplement products, about 1 in 4 dietary supplements tested don't meet quality or safety standards. He found some are tainted with pesticides, salmonella, glass, bacteria, lead or cadmium. Others failed due a lack of ingredients or improper ingredients. Because most manufacturers seek low-cost ingredients, Obermeyer said it's a safe bet that some of the tainted products contain ingredients from China.

At the Preventive Medicine Center we deal with supplement companies that are the best in the industry -- companies such as Biotics Research, Metagenics, Thorne Labs, and Integrative Therapeutics. Each of these companies adheres to the strictest quality assurance and control to ensure purity and safety of their products. Because of the specialized nature of many of their products, they deal directly with health care providers only. Before I began dealing with Biotics Research, I flew out to their facility in Texas and spent several days with the owners, touring their facility and talking with their staff and chemists. All of their products are manufactured on site, and are not “farmed out” to another supplier. They have complete control over the raw ingredients and use both independent labs and in-house chemists to verify the quality of their products. If a raw ingredient is not just right, it is rejected and sent back to the supplier. Thorne labs also uses both independent labs and in-house labs to assure the highest quality. They are known for being truly hypoallergenic in their ingredients. Metagenics uses outside auditors to verify adherence to GMP standards (Good Manufacturing Standards) and this is expensive to implement. The products of each of these companies may cost a bit more, but you get what you pay for. If you are trying to regain health, my advice to is to buy the best quality food and food supplements from a reputable source. At the Preventive Medicine Center, we've already done the research for you.

In this issue of the Newsletter I will be sharing information from the spring 2007 ACAM (American College for Advancement in Medicine) Conference that I attended in Chicago, IL.

Vitamin D is Not Just for Bones

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.


IV Vitamin C Update from the ACAM Conference and its use in Cancer Treatment

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.

Toxic Metals In The Environment & Cardiovascular Disease

Although the use of chelation therapy in the treatment of cardiovascular disease has been controversial among traditional physicians, going as far back as WWII it was observed that patients with coronary artery disease being treated for lead toxicity with EDTA chelations had significant improvement in angina and exercise tolerance. A 35 million dollar government study called the TACT trial (Trial About Chelation Therapy) is currently underway to answer this question in a double blind, placebo controlled prospective manner. There are published studies in Alternative Medicine journals supporting the efficacy of IV EDTA chelations in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. The mechanism of action of EDTA is the chelation or binding of toxic metals so that they may be removed from the body. We are now learning that toxic metals such as cadmium, mercury and lead cause significant oxidative stress in the body. Oxidative stress in the arteries and arterioles may lead to cholesterol deposition and plaque formation. We have also learned that coronary artery disease is an inflammatory disease rather than a disease where high cholesterol just “plugs up” the arteries like a clogged drain.

Dr. Eliseo Guallar is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. He also trained at the University of Minnesota and Harvard School of Public Health. His main field of interest is cardiovascular disease epidemiology. He is conducting several studies of the association of different environmental and dietary exposures with cardiovascular risk. He is especially interested in the effects of fatty acids and heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, lead and cadmium. Highlights from his presentation are summarized in the following paragraphs.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, accounting for 37.3% of all deaths. Exposure to toxic metals can have a profound effect in the development of this disease. Lead is an established cause of elevated blood pressure and hypertension. Several studies have established an association between low level lead exposure and coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, left ventricular hypertrophy and chronic kidney disease. Lead is also probably carcinogenic (cancer causing). These associations have been identified at blood levels below 5ug/dL of lead. In fact, there is no “safe” lead level, below which it doesn't adversely affect blood pressure or stroke risk. Lead is found in air, food, drinking water, old plumbing and paint, dust and soil.

Cadmium is a highly toxic metal and is a by-product from mining and smelting. It is used in batteries, pigments, coatings, platings and plastic stabilizers. Exposure occurs through smoking cigarettes (or exposure to secondary smoke), inhalation of ambient air near coal-fired power plants and municipal waste incinerators, and from consumption of some foods. Cadmium has a very long half-life of 15-20 years, leading to accumulation in the kidney. It is associated with carcinogenesis, emphysema, kidney disease, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and endocrine alterations.

Mercury is also a highly toxic metal. Exposure to methylmercury is primarily through fish consumption. Exposure to inorganic mercury in non-occupational settings is primarily through dental amalgams. Mercury is associated with cardiovascular disease, and is both neurotoxic (poisonous to nerve and brain tissue) and nephrotoxic (poisonous to the kidneys). One hypothesis is the reason an increased mercury level is associated with an increased risk of heart attack is because it blocks the beneficial effects of omega 3 oils.

The conclusion of Dr. Guallar's lecture was that there is increasing evidence that exposure to toxic metals at levels currently considered safe is associated with a variety of cardiovascular risks in the general population.

Action to take:
1) If you have hypertension, consider undergoing a CA EDTA challenge test to assess body burden of lead, even if your hair analysis screening was negative. This test will also screen for an increased body burden of cadmium and aluminum, but not mercury.
2) If you have heart disease, consider undergoing a mixed CA EDTA/DMPS challenge test, even if your hair analysis screening was negative. This test screens for an increased body burden of lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, aluminum and other toxic metals.
3) Reduce oxidative stress by supplementing your diet with anti-oxidant vitamins and minerals. Eat organic vegetables. Bio Cardio Pak from Biotics Research and Heart Option Powder from Dr. Takimoto are products that are formulated for heart nutrition that you may wish to consider if you have heart disease or are at risk for developing heart disease.
4) Take a mercury-free fish oil supplement daily and eat only low mercury containing fish such as wild (not farm raised) salmon and sardines. Avoid large predatory fish that contain high amounts of mercury (tuna, shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel.)

Success Story --Inability to gain weight in athlete; Joint pain relieved with bio-identical hormones; IV Vitamin C and chronic fatigue

Mr. G is a 17 year old black male basketball player who initially saw me when he was 16 years old. He had a history of a seizure disorder, inability to gain weight, and fatigue during basketball practice, especially in the 2nd half of his games.

After a comprehensive evaluation, including a physical exam, CRA analysis, and nutritional analysis, the only finding was that of multiple nutritional deficiencies, including a B12 deficiency.

Mr. G was placed on a combination of vitamin and mineral supplements, and also ProGain powder and Whey Protein Isolate. He was encouraged to eat a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, and protein foods, and avoid saturated fats or fast foods. Within a year he was excelling at his basketball games and had stamina throughout the games. His mother stated “his coaches were amazed at the change in performance.” His weight went up to 188 pounds from 177 pounds and this was all muscle.

Success Story -- Joint and Muscle Pain relieved with Bio-identical Hormonal Replacement

Mrs. M is a 69 y.o. licensed massage therapist who came to see me in January 2007. In taking her medical history I found that she went into menopause at age 57. In the past, when she would take HRT, her symptoms would improve. She was having pain mostly in the large joints and in the hands and fingers. She was told by one physician that she needed surgical correction of her carpal tunnel symptoms.

After a comprehensive physical exam, laboratory and nutritional assessments, Mrs. M was placed on bio-identical hormonal replacement therapy with a combination of estradiol, estriol, and progesterone. She was taken off the Boniva she was previously placed on to treat mild osteopenia, and begun on a program of calcium, minerals, and strontium therapy to increase bone mass (see the June 2007 issue of the newsletter regarding the emerging problems with biphosphonate drugs such as Boniva).

Within 4 weeks, the majority of her joint and muscle pain resolved, she was sleeping better, and her carpal tunnel symptoms totally resolved without surgery.

Success Story -- IV Vitamin C and Chronic Fatigue

Mrs. S is a 30 year old lady who saw me in March 2007 with a one year history of severe fatigue. “No matter how much sleep I get I feel tired all the time.” She also had low grade depression and her eating habits were not the best, where she was eating fast foods for lunch and canned vegetables, rather than fresh or frozen. She also felt “shaky” at times, but a 3 hour glucose tolerance test had previously been normal, so these symptoms were not related to low blood sugar.

After a comprehensive evaluation and after ruling out causes such as anemia, thyroid disease, or diabetes Mrs. S was found to have a reactivated Epstein-Barr viral infection. This is the same type of virus that causes infectious mononucleosis. Because her symptoms had been going on for one year I offered IV Vitamin C therapy for this. It has been my experience that IV Vitamin C is a marvelous therapy for this problem. Mrs. S began a series of 4 weekly IVs with non-corn derived vitamin C. After the second IV her energy had improved to the point she didn't come back to the Center for 2 weeks, and by the completion of all 4 IVs she felt well for the first time in one year.
What’s New At The Center?|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| December 2007© Newsletter – Far infrared sauna therapy; Success stories with Asperger’s Syndrome; Elevated Cholesterol and Triglyceride treatment; Breast thermography and hormonal imbalance|~!||~!|1254092253|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

As another year comes to a close the staff at the Preventive Medicine Center and I wish all of you a wonderful holiday season. It is our hope that you are able to spend time with your family, friends, and loved ones. We appreciate the confidence you have in us and we thank you for your referrals. Let=s all work together to have a healthier 2008.

In this issue of the Newsletter I am going to discuss detoxifying the body by using far infrared sauna therapy. We are in the middle of an epidemic of autism, ADD, heart disease, cancer, asthma, multiple chemical sensitivities, and Alzheimer's disease. What these conditions have in common is that are directly impacted or caused by toxic chemicals in the environment. When I graduated from medical school in the early 1970s, chronic diseases caused by environmental pollutants were virtually unheard of except for lead poisoning from lead based paints. About this same time a terrible event happened in the state of Michigan, where PBB (a dioxin-like chemical that is used as a fire retardant) was accidentally placed in animal feed for cattle at the manufacturing plant. By the time this was discovered virtually everyone in Michigan and also the surrounding states had come into contact with contaminated milk, meat, and dairy products. A research team from Mt. Sinai Medical Center studied Michigan residents and found 97% had detectible levels of PBB in their fat on fat biopsies. Even more frightening was 5-6 years later there was no decrease in PBB fat levels on repeat biopsies. In addition, patients were showing adverse effects from this exposure with markers such as elevated liver enzyme lab tests. PBB is known to cause cancer in lab rats, but because there is a two to three decade lag between exposure and development of cancer in humans, this risk could not be determined by this particular study. In another fat biopsy study, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) found that 100% of people studied had dioxins, PCBs, dicholorobenzene, and xylene stored in their bodies - all proven to cause cancer.

Detoxification of Chemicals through Sauna Therapy

Detoxification of chemicals and heavy metals stored in the fat can be accomplished in a safe and scientific manner through sweating. During the same time period as the Michigan PBB disaster, a controversial figure named L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction writer, adventurer and founder of Scientology along with Adelle Davis, a vitamin guru of that era, developed what is known today as the Hubbard protocol. This protocol is basically a sweating program that utilizes a traditional sauna or steam room along with progressively increasing doses of vitamins (especially niacin which causes fat turnover), minerals, potassium and sea salt, and essential oils to remove toxins and drugs from the stored fat. The average length of this program is one month with individuals staying in the sauna on average 2 - 4 hours a day. The Hubbard protocol requires close medical supervision by personnel trained to administer the program and clearance by a physician to participate in a safe manner. This same protocol was used to treat some of the PBB victims in Michigan. Before and after fat biopsies of the participants showed an average 21.3% reduction in 16 chemicals found in the fat, including the PBBs and PCBs, at the completion of the program. More astonishing was fat biopsies taken 4 months after completion of the program showed the 16 chemicals had decreased 42.4%. Other studies using the Hubbard protocol showed dioxin levels to decrease by 97% over a 250 day period. Some physicians hypothesized that the continued drop months after completing the sauna program was due to a rehabilitative effect on the body's natural detoxification pathways.

How Extensive is the Problem?

Since WWII approximately 80,000 new synthetic chemicals have been released into the world environment, but less than half have been tested for potential toxicity to adult humans. Over 4 billion pounds of pesticides are used annually in the United States alone according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This amounts to 8 pounds for every man, women, and child. Current law allows approximately 350 different pesticides to be used on the food we eat. Of the roughly 900 pesticide active ingredients registered in the United States, over 160 have been classified as known or suspected carcinogens by the EPA. Non-organically grown foods have higher toxicity from pesticide residue. Those that are especially high include apples, peaches, grapes, pears, winter squash, green beans and spinach. Americans consume about 3 million pounds of antibiotics every year, but chicken and cattle consume more than 24 million pounds of antibiotics annually. Antibiotics are added to animal feed to reduce infection caused by over-crowding in animal feed lots or poultry cages. This means the animals are getting a low dose of antibiotics on a daily basis, creating superbugs that are resistant to many of our common antibiotics. Consumers unsuspectingly eat the antibiotics (and also growth hormones) along with the poultry or beef.

Toxic Bioaccumulation, a One Way Street

Our bodies were never meant to handle the load of multiple chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis in our food, water, and environment. For many of these chemicals our bodies do not have the detoxification pathways to remove them. Our bodies are generally well-equipped to excrete water-soluble chemicals, but not so well equipped to excrete the fat-soluble ones. A process, called toxic bioaccumulation occurs, where chemicals that cannot be processed and excreted are stored in the body's fatty tissues. Over time and with continued exposures, these chemicals increase in amount and we literally become poisoned as these bioaccumulated chemicals leach out of storage and damage body systems, producing what we know as chronic disease. Over 300 foreign chemicals have been identified in human fat, which is found in most systems of the body, including the brain and nervous system, as well as in human breast milk.

What Are the Symptoms of Chemical Toxicity?

We all remove toxic wastes through our livers, kidneys, lungs, and sweat. There are no other natural ways these poisons can come out. In our liver, Phase I detoxification involves the conversion of toxins by enzymes and minerals so that in Phase II they can be combined with glutathione, a naturally occurring triple amino acid produced within the cells of the liver (and also lungs and kidneys) to send toxins out of the liver, into the feces, and out of our bodies. But what about the toxins locked in our fat? Fat is mobile within the body and triggers such as heat exposure, exercise, fasting, emotional stress, illness and the overnight fast during sleep can send stored fat back into the bloodstream along with its burden of toxic material. Since the body is ill-equipped to excrete these toxins, they circulate freely through the body only to return later to the fat. The response to these chemicals varies from person to person depending on individual sensitivities, genetic factors, diet and environmental factors, and the age of the person.

Symptoms of chronic toxicity are often vague and misdiagnosed. Symptoms can include headaches, fatigue or lack of energy, lack of mental clarity and poor concentration, irritability, memory loss, cold or flu-like symptoms, eye and mucous membrane irritation, skin rashes, low body temperature, insomnia, nausea, anxiety and depression, and musculoskeletal or fibromyalgia pains to name a few.

Dr. Erickson's Own Story

In the early 1990's I went in for “minor surgery” to fix a hernia and had a reaction to the anesthesia. To make a long story short the anesthesia activated a 20 year old dormant parasitic infection I picked up during a trip to Mexico in the 1970's. When traditional medical tests couldn't find what was going on, the parasitic infection was found and cured through an alternative medicine doctor, but the symptoms of fatigue, irritability, decreased mental clarity, and intolerance to chemical fumes such as in a mall or car exhaust didn't go away. I learned about a sauna detoxification program in California directed by David Root, M.D., an Environmental Medicine and Aerospace Medicine specialist. Taking things on faith, as any new patient must do, I flew out to the West Coast for 45 days of sauna therapy. During that time I was not only a patient, but I studied how the program worked and had the opportunity to talk to and observe dozens of patients both undergoing therapy and those who had completed the program. The results in almost every case were dramatic and exciting. I felt younger and better than I had in decades.

Benefits of FIR (Far Infrared) Sauna

The one thing negative about the program was that it was difficult to tolerate the heat of a traditional sauna (around 165 - 180 degrees), especially for hours on end. For individuals with heart disease or hypertension, it is unsafe to be exposed to that high a heat. I later investigated FIR sauna therapy where a much lower temperature that is actually enjoyable can be used with better results. The FIR sauna works in a different manner and is superior to a traditional lava rock sauna. You are all familiar with how sunlight behind a cloud feels nice and warm on your body. You are feeling the far infrared rays of the sun warming your body directly. On the opposite end of the light spectrum are ultraviolet waves which cause sunburn, and in between, are the visible light wavelengths. I don't want to get too technical for our readers but our bodies absorb over 90% of the infrared waves presented to us. Infrared lights are used to keep babies warm in newborn nurseries and are quite safe.

In a lava rock sauna, the sauna heater uses the principle of convection to heat the air and, in turn, the people in the sauna. In a FIR sauna, the infrared energy penetrates the first centimeter or so of tissue, causing mobilization of toxins from the fat and superficial tissues so toxins can be excreted in the sweat or go into the blood stream to be eliminated by the kidneys or liver into the bowel. The air is heated to a much lower temperature (110 - 135 degrees) than a lava rock sauna, and a person could actually leave the door open to the FIR sauna and still sweat. The sweat produced in a FIR sauna is of different composition that regular sweating from exercise or a lava rock sauna, and is much more concentrated in solutes rather than water. In fact, most patients say their sweat feels “slimy and thick” as toxic debris comes out.

Other Benefits of FIR Sauna

Infrared has other beneficial properties besides toxin removal. A typical sauna session will cause a brief 1 -3 degree rise in body temperature. Fever is the body's defense against infection and microbes, and this beneficial side effect triggers production of white blood cells by your bone marrow and killer T cells by your thymus gland. The result is immune system improvement.

Another benefit is some cardiovascular conditioning. The body's natural reaction to heat is to cool itself. It does this by diverting blood from deeper tissues to the skin and extremities. There is an increase in heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate. I have found the resting pulse rate while in the FIR sauna is around 100 beats per minute. This may be important in individuals who are not physically capable of exercising. Up to 600 calories may be burned up during one short sauna session. This may help in weight control, but more important, weight loss cannot be accomplished easily unless toxins are removed first. FIR sauna therapy also improves lymphatic flow and circulation, stimulates endorphins (“happy hormones of the brain”), and lowers lactic acid which causes muscle pain.

Treat the Root Cause, Not the Symptoms

I used to hesitate recommending something as expensive as a home sauna to patients. Saunas can cost several thousand dollars (about the same as a 58” Plasma TV) but after reading a book called “Detoxify or Die” by Sherry Rogers, M.D. I agreed with Dr. Rogers that there is no other good way to effectively detoxify ourselves in a world that is causing environmentally-related illnesses. The title of her book is very dramatic for a reason - we are seeing environmental illnesses, especially cancers, in epidemic numbers. Studies are cited showing that 95% of cancer is caused by diet and environment. Dr. Rogers is an international specialist in Environmental Medicine, a prolific writer, educator and physician who is well known and respected in the CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) community. Backed up by more than 700 references, this book is a must read if you are in search of regaining health as the information goes well beyond the general advice of eating whole foods, exercising, and avoiding chemicals.

In the Introduction, Dr. Rogers states: “You have been brainwashed into believing that the diagnosis given to your condition, a mere label, is the end of the line. But nothing could be further (and more dangerously) from the truth. In fact, the name or label that has been given to your collection of symptoms is totally inconsequential. The only thing that matters is what has caused the symptoms . . .” I couldn't agree more. Getting the body chemically unloaded and nutritionally primed so that it can heal itself is the key to regaining health in many cases. In her book she suggests patients use a FIR sauna daily or every other day for 30 minutes for the rest of their lives.

Where Can I Get an FIR Sauna?

There are a number of places that sell FIR saunas and I would suggest to our readers that they investigate any company they are considering dealing with. We have had a HealthmateÍ cedar FIR sauna that my wife and I have enjoyed for 9 years. HealthmateÍ is the largest FIR sauna manufacturer in the world and produces a very high quality product. They have a lifetime guarantee on their products and have been around since 1979. We have had to replace a control panel or two under warranty. High Tech health also sells a FIR sauna (that is actually made for them by HealthmateÍ) but it is made out of Poplar wood for chemically sensitive folks. They also have a lifetime warranty on their saunas. These saunas can be placed on a covered patio, in a garage, or in the home. They are modular, and can be disassembled and moved if needed. We are able to obtain a discounted price on these two brands for our patients for those of you who are interested. If medically necessary, a prescription will also eliminate paying sales tax, further lowering the cost.
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Success Story -- Asperger's Syndrome

Jack (not his real name) is an 11-year-old youngster who was brought to the Center by his mother because of problems concentrating. He was the product of a normal 9-month pregnancy and delivery. Both parents noticed at about age 18 months, after the administration of multiple childhood vaccines, Jack became less responsive and more withdrawn. He would point to things rather than asking for things. In Kindergarten he would get very emotional and was easily frustrated. He wouldn't look at the teacher and his thinking process was slow. Eventually he underwent psychological testing at Shands Hospital and Clinics and a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome was made. This syndrome is a form of autism. Austism now affects 1 in 150 children in the United States according to a Center for Disease Control survey done earlier this year. Jack was placed on Ritalin and Strattera, but he felt “zoned out” on these drugs. His mother stated they did nothing to improve his concentration but made him lose his personality. This is a complaint I have heard from parents whose children were treated with psychotropic medications for ADD and ADHD as well.

After careful examination and laboratory testing Jack was found to have multiple allergies, both to foods and some of the vaccines themselves. His screening for an elevated body burden of toxic metals was negative. He underwent a series of NAET allergy treatments (a non traditional type of allergy elimination using acupressure). He became much calmer and more outgoing after a number of these treatments, and is doing better in school. In addition to the NAET treatments, B vitamins, essential oils and amino acid therapies were used.

Success Story -- Elevated Cholesterol and Triglyceride Treatment

Mrs. M is a 64-year-old patient who has high cholesterol and lipids. Her primary care physician placed her on Lipitor, but this caused severe joint pain and the medication was discontinued by the patient. Mrs. M was placed on Red Yeast Rice and also a policosinol product, but in spite of these alternative therapies her cholesterol remained in the 300 range and her triglycerides were in the 550 range. An attempt to restart Lipitor at the lowest dose of 10mg was unsuccessful due to recurrence of her joint pains. She refused to take Niacin (Vitamin B3) due to the severe flushing she had experienced in the past on this vitamin. Niacin in some patients will reduce lipid blood levels. She was started on an exercise program and a Metagenics product called Ultrameal, which helps correct insulin resistance and promotes glycemic control. In 6 weeks the patient was having much more energy and was sleeping better. Her cholesterol dropped to 249 and her triglycerides decreased almost 300 points to 260! Her ratio of good cholesterol (HDL) to the total cholesterol was a healthy 3.8. Her weight had also decreased by several pounds and she was excited about the improvement. Insulin resistance is a condition that contributes to lipid abnormalities and overweight, and can be treated with dietary management and certain supplements.

Success Story -- Breast Thermography to Monitor Efficacy of Treatment for Hormone Imbalance

Thermography has recently been promoted on national news networks, including Fox news and CBC, for early detection of breast cancer, and possibly avoiding unnecessary biopsies. This case study discusses a different use. Mrs. J is a 61 year old lady who saw me initially in 2006 for osteoporosis and vaginal dryness. After an extensive evaluation she was placed on bio-identical hormonal replacement to help her vaginal dryness and preserve bone mass. The patient was concerned about getting annual mammography due to the cumulative radiation exposures and decided to do this every other year instead of annually. The current recommendations by organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the National Institutes of Health are for women age 40 and above obtain screening mammograms on an annual basis. In Europe mammography is not used until after menopause for screening purposes and is not done annually. Mrs. J. was given information about breast thermography (digital thermal infrared imaging) as an adjunctive technology in breast health screening. Its overall accuracy is about the same as mammography at 90%, but there is no compression of the breasts or radiation. When mammography and thermography are combined, the efficacy rate jumps to about 97%, better than either technology used individually.

This patient was found to have a thermal pattern consistent with estrogen dominance, a condition where the body is producing more estrogen relative to progesterone. This condition is associated with an increased breast cancer risk that mammography cannot see. In fact, estrogen dominance, which makes breast tissue more dense, may lower the accuracy of mammography. Mrs. J was started on bio-identical progesterone cream to be applied to the breasts and skin. A repeat thermography of the breasts at 3 months showed improvement in the thermal patterns, and her progesterone was adjusted to a higher dosage. Six months later another thermogram of the breasts was taken and was completely normal. The patient was very happy about this improvement in her physiology, especially in light of a family history of breast cancer in a paternal grandmother and a cousin. For more information on thermography, call Gainesville Thermography at 332-7212 or click to the thermography section.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| March 2008© Newsletter – High Cholesterol Part I; Success stories with Coenzyme Q10 Relieving Musculoskeletal Pain|~!||~!|1254092274|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

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. In this newsletter 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.

In the next issue of the Newsletter, I will discuss statin drug side effects and nutritional therapies that can be used to reduce risk factors for heart disease.

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Success Story -- Coenzyme Q10 Relieving Musculoskeletal Pain

Mr. R is a 60 y.o. patient who was experiencing joint pains in his toes, wrists and shoulder. He was also taking a Red Yeast Rice product to lower his cholesterol. He had several episodes of severe great toe pain suggestive of gouty arthritis. His serum uric acid levels and 24 hour uric acid excretion was normal. A work up for autoimmune arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis was also negative. We do know statin drugs deplete Coenzyme Q10 and can cause muscle and joint pain, but we don’t know if Red Yeast Rice does the same thing. Red Yeast Rice contains a natural statin, Lovastatin, in small amounts, so the potential to lower Conenyzme Q10 levels is there. An empiric trial of Vitaline Coenzyme Q10 was started and within 2 weeks a dramatic resolution of all of Mr. R’s joint pain occurred. Mr. R also reported that his low back pain and stiffness that he had for years (prior to starting the Red Yeast Rice) also went totally away.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) boosts energy, enhances the immune system, and acts as an antioxidant. It is a compound found naturally in the energy-producing center of the cell known as the mitochondria. CoQ10 is involved in the making of an important molecule known as ATP. ATP serves as the cell's major energy source and drives a number of biological processes including muscle contraction and the production of protein. CoQ10 also works as an antioxidant. Primary dietary sources of CoQ10 include oily fish, organ meats such as liver, and whole grains. We use Vitaline brand CoQ10 as this company does not use a chemical extraction process in its manufacture. Over 90% of CoQ10 comes from China.

Success Story – Patient with Endometrial Hyperplasia treated with Bio-identical Hormonal Therapy

Mrs. S is a 47 year old patient who initially saw me in 2006. Two years after her periods stopped she began spotting and went to her gynecologist who subsequently found her to have endometrial hyperplasia after performing a D&C. Endometrial hyperplasia is a condition that occurs when the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grows too much. It is a benign condition in and of itself, but is associated with hormonal imbalance that can be a risk factor for the development of uterine or breast cancer. Mrs. S was also experiencing anxiety, sleep disturbance, and fatigue which is common for some women in menopause.

Her gynecologist suggested she go on Prometrium in a high dose for the first 10 days of the month. This is one of the traditional treatments for this condition. Some women undergo a D&C procedure where the lining of the uterus is scraped out. Mrs S. wanted to be placed on bio-identical hormonal therapy but her gynecologist did not agree. After a comprehensive evaluation at the Center, the patient was found to have to have multiple nutritional deficiencies on Spectracell testing, hormonal imbalance with low progesterone and estradiol as well as an anemia on laboratory testing. Mrs. S was placed on the appropriate nutritional supplements and her anemia corrected. She was also placed on bio-identical hormonal replacement with Biestrogen (a combination of human identical estradiol and estriol) mixed in grape seed oil. This is placed under the tongue via dropper twice daily in a customized dose. She was also placed on natural micronized progesterone in the form of a trouche that is placed under the tongue where it rapidly dissolves. The patient’s lab values of hormones normalized, and within several months the patient’s sleep pattern returned to normal. Her anxiety disappeared and her energy returned to normal. She went back to her gynecologist recently who did an endometrial biopsy that showed complete resolution of the previous endometrial hyperplasia (she did not tell him she was taking bio-identical hormones).
|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| June 2008© Newsletter – High Cholesterol Part II and True Risk Factors for Heart Disease|~!||~!|1254092297|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

In the March 2008 Newsletter I presented up-to-date information on cholesterol levels 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. In this newsletter I will continue to bring our readers up-to-date information on heart disease risks and risk assessment. Much of this data was presented at the recent ACAM (American College for Advancement in Medicine) conference I attended in April 2008.

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. We talked about 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 ACAM 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 “Reversing 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:

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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.

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

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

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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

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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.

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

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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.

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Success Story – Patient with Adverse Drug Reaction to Statin Medication

Mr. L is a 58 year old man who saw me for severe exhaustion. During his initial workup it was discovered that his white blood cell count and also his platelet count were abnormally low. He was also found to have antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus, indicative of either past or present infection with the virus that causes chronic fatigue syndrome. Additional history obtained was that the patient was taken off Lipitor medication by his primary care physician 5 weeks prior because he was having muscle pain. Instead of leaving him off statins, his physician placed him on another statin drug, Pravachol. Muscle pain is one of the symptoms of statin toxicity, but this class of medication can also affect liver and bone marrow. I advised Mr. L to stop his Pravachol and his blood count returned to normal within a month.

In the previous issue of our newsletter we discussed how there is no objective evidence showing that statin drugs benefit primary prevention populations in reducing heart disease. This patient had an elevated cholesterol but no history of atherosclerosis or heart disease. He was reminded that cholesterol becomes a problem only if it becomes oxidized.

We also obtained a nutritional assessment through Spectracell and a neurotransmitter study through Neuroscience. Mr. L was placed on the appropriate nutrients to correct the deficiencies we found, as well as high doses of coenzyme Q10 to replenish a deficiency caused by the statin medication he had been on. He was also placed on targeted amino acid therapy to correct his neurotransmitter imbalance. The patient’s severe fatigue resolved within 2 months of initiation of therapy. He was very happy that for the first time in years he was able to do yardwork. “I planted 6 rose bushes and hauled 6 wheelbarrows full of sand away.”

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Patient with Elevated Cardiac C reactive Protein

Mrs. K is a 46 year old lady that entered the practice in December 2007 with a complaint of itching of the skin. On examination no rash was seen but it was felt the patient had liver and bile duct meridian stress based on kinesthetic testing of the acupuncture points. She was placed on appropriate supplements and the itching subsided.

On routine lab testing Mrs. K was also found to have an elevated cardiac C reactive protein of 8.76 (healthy range is below 1.0). This is an independent risk factor for heart disease. All of her other lab work was normal. The patient was placed on nutritional protocols to correct the deficiencies found on Spectracell analysis as well as Omega 3 fish oil, which has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Within 3 months her cardiac C reactive protein had dropped to 1.49, which was in the average range.

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Herbal Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction

Mr. T is a 58 year old man who came into the practice several years ago. He had multiple sclerosis and was having balance problems. His neurologist told him this was due to the multiple sclerosis and that there wasn’t much that could be done for him. Mr. T was found to have a high body burden of mercury and dental amalgams which contained the toxic metal, mercury, in them. He was not eating excessive seafood or large predatory fish such as swordfish, shark, or tuna that have high mercury contents. He elected to have his mercury amalgams replaced under proper protocol with non-toxic dental materials and then underwent a physician supervised elective series of four chelations with DMPS, a chelating agent that removes mercury from the body. At the completion of this series he stated his gait was better and that he had no flares of his MS. His overall strength was also significantly improved, although he still had some fatigue. This improvement has been maintained up until the present. He recently presented to the office with a complaint erectile dysfunction. His testosterone levels were normal but he was eating a lot of soy products and he had an elevated serum estrogen level. He was also taking Saw Palmetto. He was asked to reduce the soy in his diet and his estrogen levels returned to normal, but his difficulty in obtaining an erection persisted. Every day on TV or in magazines we see ads for various drugs to help male sexual function. Mr. T was placed on an herbal product called BetterMan. He took this for two months and has had no further performance issues.

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FDA Request for Public Comments on Amalgam

Mercury is one of the most toxic metals on planet earth and has no business being placed in human mouths. The US government regulates mercury emissions, waste disposal of mercury, and prohibits dumping into the environment. According to the World Health Organization, there is no “safe” amount of mercury in humans. Dr. Body Haley, professor of chemistry at the University of Kentucky has published multiple papers on the severe toxic effects mercury amalgams have on neurological and immune function, including causing changes consistent with Alzheimer’s disease in brain cell cultures. The FDA has announced that it is reopening public comments on a rule first proposed in 2002 that would place precapsulated amalgam in Class II, with “special controls.” Under intense lobbying by IOAMT, a holistic dental association, and under pressure from legal action brought by Consumers for Dental Choice, the FDA has reopened public comments on ways to amend the rule for 90 days. In my medical opinion, amalgam should be placed in Class III, and the manufacturers be forced to prove that it is safe. When amalgam is removed from a human mouth it cannot be disposed of in the trash, but must be treated in a special manner as “toxic waste.”

Based on your experience and knowledge, please express your opinion. Consider the following points:

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Mercury fillings are unnecessary in 21st century dentistry as there are alternative restorative materials that are safe.
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Ask the FDA to totally ban mercury amalgam fillings, or at least ban them for children below age 18, women of childbearing age or pregnant women, and for patients with autoimmune disease, cancer, or kidney disease.
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If you have had mercury amalgams removed, tell the FDA why you had them removed and how you felt before and after.

Send your comments to:

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Via Internet: www.regulations.gov, insert FDA-2008-N-0163 in the search category, and follow the instructions.
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Via Fax: 301-827-6870
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Via Mail: Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), FDA, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

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What’s New At the Center –

3 Center Closed For Summer Vacation: The Center will be closed from Friday, July 4th through Friday, July 11th. We will reopen at 9 AM on Monday, July 14th for regular operations. If you have an urgent medical problem while we are closed, please see your primary care physician or go to an urgent care center. Please call no later than June 23rd for prescription refills that you may need.

3 Product Highlights: Essential GSH is a lipolized glutathione supplement the Center now carries. This is a unique, pharmaceutical grade formula that is alcohol-free and glycerin-free. Glutathione is the most powerful antioxidant naturally occurring in all human cells. It is critical for detoxification and elimination of free radicals. It is an immune system booster and is vital to white blood cell function. Other antioxidants in the body depend on glutathione as well, where it recycles vitamins C and E after they have been oxidized. Glutathione binds to toxins, forming a water soluble complex that is excreted by either the liver or kidneys.

Liposomes are derived from lecithin and they allow the glutathione to be protected from stomach acid while promoting absorption through the intestinal lining and into cells of the body. Adults can take anywhere from ½ to 2 teaspoons daily. The average maintenance dose is one teaspoon (which contains 430mg of glutathione).

3 10% Off Purchases at Mother Earth Markets: Dr. Erickson’s patients receive 10% off on all purchases at Mother Earth Markets in Gainesville. Simply present a letter from our office documenting you are an active patient to receive this discount.

3 Thermography Services – Do you have a hormonal imbalance in your breasts? This is a treatable risk factor for the development of breast cancer and fibrocystic breast disease. Thermography allows us to visualize this (mammography does not). Check out the Thermography section on our www.prevent-doc.com website.|~!|Sun 27-Sep-2009|~!||~!| September 2008© Newsletter – Fragrance-free office; Your Liver and Your Health; Success Story – Patient with sluggish liver and MCS; Success Story – Patient with nausea and dizziness when exercising; Success Story – Chelation therapy relieved shortness of breath|~!||~!|1254092410|~!|Dear Friends and Patients:

We need your help. The Preventive Medicine Center is a fragrance-free office. Some of our staff and many of our patients have allergies, asthma or chemical sensitivities and become ill if they come into a room where someone has on perfume. Please do not wear perfumes, colognes, or other scented products to the office on the day of your appointment.

Many perfumes or fragrances are poisons. Most people think the use of fragrances are pleasant and harmless since they are added to everything from laundry detergent to shaving cream. There are at least 5000 different chemicals used by the fragrance industry and a product such as perfume may contain as many as 600 individual chemicals, most of which are synthetic. Over 80% of the chemicals have not been tested for toxicity or safety. Of the 150 highest volume chemicals used in fragrance products, most of them are known to be toxic, and yet they are still allowed to be used. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does very little to monitor the safety of products with fragrances, allowing the industry to police itself.

In one experiment conducted for a 2006 California State Science fair a student exposed crickets to different perfumes and colognes. She put the crickets in jars with a cotton-ball soaked with the fragrance. She then covered the jar and measured how many seconds it took for the crickets to die. The average time to death for perfumes was 95 seconds and for colognes 105 seconds! This experiment was repeated multiple times with the same results. Now crickets are not humans, but fragrances that are applied to the skin allow the chemicals to be rapidly absorbed. They then go directly into the blood stream where they are transported you all your organs and brain. So I would advise you not to use them. Not all fragrances are bad and some natural fragrances such as lavender or citrus are used in aroma therapy. However, thank you for not wearing perfumes or colognes to the Center.

Your Liver and Your Health

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