Women who hemorrhage with each period, and suffer anemia and accompanying fatigue, don’t have much recourse in their allopathic (regular drug and surgery) doctor’s office. The usual scenario is to check an ultrasound of the pelvis to spot fibroid tumors of the uterus, or malignant looking ovarian cysts, or it may be determined that the endometrial stripe is thickened.

The stripe is the lining of the uterus and should be between seven and 11 millimeters. If it is thicker, the patient is generally offered hormone therapy of a synthetic progestogen (Provera), or an endometrial ablation, which scrapes out the lining of the uterus, or birth control pills, which block hormone production. If all else fails, a hysterectomy is considered (let’s not mess around with this uterus any longer).

None of these therapies answer the causal question of “how did I get here in the first place?” Amazingly enough, low thyroid levels have long been related to menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding). However, the low thyroid condition does not always show up on lab tests. Things like environmental pollutants, which are endocrine (hormone) disruptors, can block the thyroid message at the tissue and organ level.

Patients with low body temperature (normal 1^st AM under arm temperatures should be 98 +/-.2 degrees), coldness, fatigue, dryness, falling hair, depression, puffy appearance, low blood pressure, low energy, infertility, difficulty losing weight, family history of low thyroid and previously having children (the fetal thyroid can make antibodies against the mother’s thyroid) are all potential low thyroid symptoms or causes.

Replacing natural animal thyroid is a good place to start for many women. Be cautious of “Synthroid,” as it is not bioidentical (like the body makes), and may block your own thyroid hormones. Look up a longer review of this issue on www.Mercola.com.

In addition, other therapies such as vitamin K₂ injections reduce abnormal bleeding quickly; as do other bioidentical hormones, herbals, homeopathic preparations and dietary adjustments.

Natural bioidentical progesterone creams or capsules balance estrogen dominance, which cause heavier periods and PMS, fibrocystic breast disease, endometriosis, ovarian cysts and fibroids. Fat makes estrogen and estrogen makes fat, a vicious circle, so weight loss can help. Many environmental pollutants mimic estrogen, bisphenol A (plastic water bottles) and other plastics, pesticides, and industrial wastes such as PCB’s, activate estrogen receptors.

Cleaning up your diet and eating organic foods and pure water is important for getting on top of menorrhagia. Soy products are also estrogenic and are generally not good to eat unless they are fermented for several years, as they are in Japan. Sugar, cow’s milk, wheat (gluten) also disrupt the intestinal tract, leading to stress and abnormal nutrient absorption.

Herbals such as Shepherd’s purse (Thalspi bursa capsularis pastoris) have long been used for heavy periods. One capsule of cayenne pepper (herbal grade), opened and stirred into a cup of warm water, can slow down bleeding quickly as it balances out blood flow in the body. Homeopathic Crocus, 6C or stronger, is great for hemorrhage with clots. Trillium Combination, from Marco Pharma, is great for any acute hemorrhage. Use 50 drops in water, followed by 30 to 40 drops five times daily.

There are over 200 homeopathic medicines for menorrhagia, which can be prescribed by your Homeopathic, Integrative practitioner.

References:

1. Williams, Robert, MD. (edited by). Textbook of Endocrinology. W.B. Saunders Company Publisher. 1974.
2. Murphy, Robin, N.D. Homeopathic Medical Repertory. Hahnemann Academy of North America Publisher. 1998.

Dr. Brian Clement is the medical director of the Hippocrates Health Institute, which is one of the world’s oldest complimentary health centers. Dr. Clement started with the organization in 1975, and has been a director since 1980. Here he shares his considerable knowledge of how to improve your health. The primary focus of this interview is on detoxification, because this is an area that Dr. Clement has great experience with. The full program that Hippocrates offers is called the “Life Change Program,” and runs for 21 days.

“The main thrust of what we offer is not all of the nice things I spoke about. It’s education,” Dr. Clement says. “My objective as a director is to get people to not need me, the Institute, or you. We want people to be educated, to be totally responsible for their life and lifestyle. And in doing so, one of the primary biological factors is you have to eliminate waste from your body.

… [A]ll of us live in an invisible cesspool, and we don’t know it. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the clothing we wear…[O]ur latest book, Killer Clothes, tells you about how we have direct scientific evidence that clothing causes cancer and a wide array of other diseases. It’s the petrochemicals. So all of these is taken into account here…

Not only are we cleansing the body through large amounts of raw food, but also through infrared technologies, Vibrason units… lymphatic massage, deep tissue technology, psychotherapy… and colonic therapy…”

There can be little doubt that toxic heavy metals and chemicals in our environment contribute to the vast majority of cancers we see today. Ditto for other chronic debilitating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

“We know that… for every 17 micrograms of lead in your body, your IQ is reduced by 10 points. Now, think of that. How many of us would have been much brighter if we didn’t grow up in a time where they used lead paint or lead in the automobile fumes? So, we are detoxifying disease-causing elements from the body,” Dr. Clement says. Lack of exercise also compounds the problem, as exercise is a natural form of detoxification.

For more info, go to http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/03/21/dr-clement-on-detoxification.aspx?e_cid=20120321_DNL_art_1.

*This article was reprinted with permission from www.mercola.com.

With every New Year there is always room for change. This is no different when it comes to your healthcare. The medical advancements made in the past several years provide more options for patients to consider. Unlike in the past, when you had severe degeneration in your knee, you waited for it to get bad enough to warrant a knee replacement; now, there are alternatives including orthopedic regenerative medicine. These procedures offer patients who suffer from acute or chronic pain a natural and effective treatment option.

Regenerative medicine utilizes your body’s natural healing ability to repair and regenerate damaged tissue such as ligament, tendons and muscles. The natural healing ability of the body involves blood and more specifically, platelets. It is well known, the regions of the body with good supply heal fast, and the regions with poor blood supply heal slowly. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and stem cells merely enhance your body’s natural healing ability. Unlike traditional treatments, such as anti-inflammatory medication and cortisone injections, which offer only temporary relief, PRP and stem cell grafts provide long term results and virtually no side effects, aside from soreness at the injected site. Furthermore, the injury heals normally and it eliminates scar tissue.

In many cases it eliminates the need for surgery and can cut healing time in half. These treatments are commonly used for soft tissue injuries such as tendonitis, acute and chronic muscle strain, muscle fibrosis, ligament sprains, and joint injuries or conditions such as arthritis, cartilage defects, and inflammation. With these biologic therapies we use Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), also known as Autologous Platelet Concentrate (APC), which contains the body’s growth factors and stem cells.

Platelet and Prolotherapy are done through injections of healing solutions, or your own prepared blood, into damaged areas creates positive local inflammation, which “wakes up” or sets in motion the body’s normal healing process. It is a simple and painless technique that usually takes between 15 to 30 minutes. Any person who is suffering from any type of joint, tendon, ligament or spine problem, should give these therapies a try.

These regenerative therapies use a simple, natural technique that stimulates the body to repair the painful area when the natural healing process needs some assistance. Instead of the more commonly used anti-inflammatory medications, which can have many side effects and do nothing to regenerate or enhance function. PRP and Prolotherapy aid the body in repairing damage, fast and effectively. Plus, you can get back to normal activity the next day with Prolotherapy, and in only three to five days with PRP.

Myth 1

High cholesterol (and LDL) is the #1 cause of heart disease in the country.

Wrong. High cholesterol is among the risk factors for heart disease, but far from the leading factor. The most prevalent: Low HDL, along with small LDL particles. Of every 100 people with coronary heart disease, 60 to 70 will have low HDL and small LDL particles (not standardly tested for). Fewer than 30 will have high LDL. Why do we not hear more about low HDL and small LDL particles? Because treating them is not as profitable for drug companies. But, when it does become profitable to treat this more prevalent risk factor for heart disease, we can expect to hear about “the epidemic” that will justify billions of dollars on new drug expenditures (note the dates on the reference studies–this is not new data!).

Myth 2

If I take a statin agent, I won’t have a heart attack.

This is simply untrue. Low cholesterol (even rock bottom levels) reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of heart attacks. Many heart attacks still occur in people with low cholesterol levels, whether or not they take cholesterol lowering drugs or supplements. Other more important risk factors must be considered besides cholesterol, such as small LDLs, low HDLs, high fibrinogen, high homocysteine, high C reactive protein, and high insulin levels. Results from a National Health and Nutritional Survey showed that 47 million US adults have metabolic syndrome, (low HDLs, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, excess abdominal fat) most of which remains undiagnosed and untreated and substantially heightens the risk of heart disease even in the presence of low cholesterol.

Myth 3

I feel fine and my stress test was normal. My doctor says I don’t have heart disease.

This is among the most widely propagated fallacies spewed by many well-meaning primary care physicians, and even cardiologists. First, lack of symptoms should not be reassuring as most heart disease is silent–without symptoms and undetectable by conventional means, such as electrocardiograms and cholesterol testing. Second, stress testing is a miserable failure for screening asymptomatic people. Most future deaths and heart attacks, in fact, occur in people with normal stress tests (when symptoms are not present). The net result of this misperception is that most future heart attack victims are walking around feeling fine and unaware of the risk. Cholesterol can be high, low or in between, but all too frequently, fails to shed light on this murky situation.

Functional Diagnostic Medicine takes a holistic, full-body, non-drug approach to cardiovascular disease prevention and management. In addition to the above mentioned cardiovascular markers (c reactive protein, homocysteine, fibrinogen, etc.) indicative of probable heart disease, one must look at specific essential fatty acid balance, liver detoxification status, general nutritional deficiencies, pathogenic viral and bacterial assessments, hormone testing, comprehensive stool analysis, toxic profiles (heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants). Any investigation less than this, into the various metabolic factors that negatively affect heart function, simply cannot predict heart health and cardiac disease susceptibility.

Functional medicine is on the crest of a new wave of chronic disease science, due to its holistic and cutting edge diagnostic approach. Fifteen to 20 years from now, these advanced testing procedures may become accepted by the standard medical community and insurance industry, but until then, it’s buyer beware; do your homework and make sure the doctor you choose is properly educated in Functional Medicine procedures.

Next Month, in Part II of Myths of Heart Disease, more on cholesterol: the lipid with the bad reputation, true cardiovascular disease risk factors, and cardiovascular disease and inflammation.

References:

1. Gardner CD, Fortmann SP, Krauss RM Association of Small Low Density Lipoprotein Particles With Incidence of Coronary Artery Disease in Men and Women. JAMA 1996 Sept 18: 276 (11 875-81).

2. Stanpfer MD Krauss RM Ma Jetal. A Prospective Study of Triglycerides Level, Low-Density Lipoprotein Diameter and Risk of Myocardial Infarction. JAMA 1996 Sept 18 (11): 882-88.

3. Ford ES, Giles WH, Dietz WH. Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome Among US Adults: Findings From the Third National health and Nutrition Society. JAMA, 2002 Jan 16 287 (3) 356-9.

For more info, contact Dr. Rutherford or Dr. Gates at (775) 329-4402, or visit online at www.PowerHealthReno.com

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injection is part of an emerging new field of medicine called “Orthobiologics.” The philosophy of this field is to merge cutting edge technology with the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Platelets are small discoid blood cells made in the bone marrow. For a long time, they were thought to only have a role in blood clotting; but research over the past 20 years revealed that they also contain many compounds that play a big role in healing of injuries, and the development of new blood vessels in damaged tissue.

Blood normally contains four main components: plasma (the liquid part), red blood cells (these carry the oxygen and carbon dioxide from and to the heart), white blood cells (these form a major part of the immune system), and platelets.

Typically a blood specimen contains 93 percent red blood cells, six percent platelets and one percent white blood cells. The whole blood is withdrawn in the same manner as for any other blood test, and it is then spun in a centrifuge for 15 minutes. This separates the blood into three distinct layers, two of them are blood cells and one is the liquid portion called the plasma. The cell layers separate into the red blood cells and a layer called the “buffy coat.” The buffy coat contains the white blood cells and the platelets. This is what is withdrawn with a small volume of plasma that is known as PRP. It also contains a small number of stem cells, but that is a topic for discussion in another article.

First tried in 1987, PRP has been used to speed healing in the fields of orthopedics, sports medicine, dentistry, ENT (ear, nose, throat), neurosurgery, ophthalmology, urology, wound healing, cosmetic surgery, cardiothoracic, and maxillofacial surgery.

Most commonly today, PRP injections are used to treat a variety of joint, muscle and tendon injuries usually referred to as “sports injuries,” but it has possible applications to many other problems. Further use is being explored for treatment of chronic elbow, hip and knee bursitis and arthritis.

Use of this technology, in injection form, provides delivery of a highly concentrated, potent cocktail of growth factors and cells, to stimulate accelerated healing.

Future generations of biologic injectables may target specific cells, rather than providing an assortment of non-specific healing properties, but PRP is available today for the treatment of a large variety of human problems.

References:

1. www.orthohealing.com.

2. Mishra A, Pavelko T, “Treatment of chronic elbow tendinosis with buffered platelet rich plasma”, American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2006;10(10):1-5.

3. Anitua M, Sanchez E, Nurden A, Nurden P, Orive G, Andia I, “New insights into and novel applications for platelet rich fibrin therapies”, Trends Biotechnol. 2006;24(5):227-34.

There is nothing more “earthy” than bacteria. Our bacterial flora in the intestinal tract, which the German and Swiss doctors call “the lawn,” amounts to 10^14-16  bacteria and fungi per gram of fecal material¹. Human cells account for 10¹² -¹³ bacteria, depending on who you read. This means that there are thousands of times more bacteria and fungi that live in our intestines than we have human cells in our body. We are vastly outnumbered.

The German biological doctors call our intestines “the lawn” because they have a surface area of roughly 10,000 sq. feet, roughly the size of a football field. If an average, non-obese person has two or three pounds of fecal material lingering in their colon that would multiply out to 3 x 454 (grams per pound) x 10¹³; that’s a lot of bugs.

These bacteria make many toxins and poisons (skatoles, pyrroles, indoles, aldehydes and hundreds more), some are psychoactive (abnormal thinking) and inflammatory (arthritis, allergies), and in the presence of a leaky bowel from yeast and food allergies, dump fecal material right back into the body via the veins around the colon.

Good bacterial types have been overwhelmed from our SAD (Standard American Diet). Our standard diet contains many antibiotics in feedlot beef and chicken; which promote resistant bacteria and fungi such as Candida albicans, which cause the leaky gut syndrome and damage our livers and adrenal glands.

Colonics

Colon therapy, a gentle cleansing of the colon–which we have provided in our office since 1976–removes pounds of fecal material (our record was a nine pound weight loss after a colonic) and re-structures the colon, helping to relax and open narrowed areas; which increase the venous drainage of fecal material back into the body. Colon therapy also treats enlarged areas and loopy, redundant bowel segments with a warm water bath that provides an exercise for the colon to help it to return to a more normal anatomy.

This warm column of pure water exercises the bowel muscles like exercising our outer body muscles. The bowel sewer system is important to address or we will be internally poisoned for life. Interestingly, colon therapy is now used in a major medical center as the preparation for colonoscopy.  Using the regular prep solutions is uncomfortable promoting diarrhea and can cause depletion of important minerals especially in the elderly.  Ask you gastroenterologist for a colonic prep for your colonoscopy. Scientific literature is available to support this procedure.

Sterility

All of the tubing and speculums used in our colon therapy are disposable. The colon therapist is trained and certified for proper use of the equipment. Warm, filtered water is introduced at a very low, comfortable pressure, and massage or vibration is used to optimize elimination. Tummy’s go down after a colonic, and it can produce a calming, relaxing state of mind. Getting rid of trillions of bacteria that may remain in the body is a great boon for health, especially for the chronically constipated. During the colonic, we also implant good pro-biotic bacteria and other healing treatments.

Bowel cleansing has been touted for good health for millennia, and was mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls, the holy men began their day with a bowel cleansing. All of the world’s medical traditions attach great importance to colon health. It is important in Indian Ayurvedic Medicine, Chinese Medicine, German Biological Medicine, American Herbal tradition and others. We always have said good health has many realms, from the gross to the subtle. Cleaning and repairing the sewer system should not be ignored.

References:

1.  Thomas Rau, MD., Doctor of Biological Medicine at Semmelweis-Institut Verlag fur Naturheilkunde GmbH Hoya Germany.
2. www.DanburyHospital.org

As alternative healing gains more attention in society, new studies have begun to validate the effectiveness of Reiki, and many people are curious about how it works, its effectiveness, and how it fits into their religious views. Recently, on the “The Dr. Oz Show,” Dr. Mehmet Oz interviewed Reiki Master Pamela Miles, and hosted a demonstration of Reiki healing. During his interview, Dr. Oz stated that Reiki was his “favorite alternative treatment that could change the future of medicine forever” and Reiki was the number one “Oz’s order.” Dr. Oz, whose wife Lisa is a Reiki master, invited an audience member to have a brief Reiki healing. The audience member reported that after a few minutes of Reiki, her headache was relieved.

That experience is just one of a growing number of reports indicating that Reiki has medical significance. A 2008 survey indicated that 15 percent of U.S. hospitals offered Reiki as a part of their routine patient services. This number is sure to grow as Reiki gains more and more acceptance in both the medical and religious arenas, even becoming listed in a nursing “scope and standards of practice” publication on patient care. Hartford Hospital in Connecticut reported that patients who received Reiki experienced pain reduction by 78 percent, and patient sleep was improved by 86 percent.

Julie Motz, a Reiki healer who works with Dr. Mehmet Oz at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, assisted during both open heart surgery and transplants. She reports that none of her patients treated thus far have experienced post-operative depression; all have reported a reduction in pain; and among transplant patients, none in her care have experienced organ rejection.

Even more astounding is a study conducted on the immune system in Portland, Oregon. Volunteers were divided into three groups, one received Reiki treatment, another received relaxation, and the third received nothing. Blood was drawn from participants before and after treatment. The study showed that the Reiki group received an immune enhancement by way of an increase of white blood cells after the treatment. Another study found that patients who received Reiki experienced a lower diastolic blood pressure. These exciting studies are opening the door for us to learn more about what Reiki can offer to the medical community, and its benefits on our bodies and immune systems.

Often, patients wonder about the religious aspects of Reiki. Reiki is a system of healing based off of Eastern energy principles–the universal life energy is all around us and is channeled through the practitioner to the client. The client’s spirit is healed, and when the spirit is healed it will cause the body and mind to be healed as well. The focus of Reiki is on the seven chakras, or subtle energy transformers along the body, through which life energy flows. This life energy is called “ki,” pronounced “Chi.” This concept of universal life energy is present throughout almost all different cultures and religions, it is known as “Qudra” in Islam, “Prana” in Sanskrit and “Mana” in Polynesian. Energy healing techniques are common around the world, and are mentioned in ancient holy texts. In Christianity, the apostle Paul speaks of healing in I Corinthians 12:4-12, as well as 12:28-31, in which he speaks of spiritual gifts including the ability to heal, and people having different roles in the church, as teachers and healers. In Islam, the seven points, which are referred to as the Chakras, are called the “lata’if,” and an Islamic form of energy healing similar to Reiki has developed called Reiki Sufi, in which the practitioner calls on Allah and uses verses from the Quran. In Israel, a healing technique called “Shefa” is practiced, which is similar to Reiki as well, but uses Hebrew Prayers.

The practice of Reiki, as taught by founder Usui Makao, however, is not at all religious in nature, but rather spiritual. Techniques for energy healing used in Reiki have been used for thousands of years; with over centuries of use, these techniques became closely guarded, reserved only for the religious and societal elite. Reiki as we widely know today was re-discovered nearly one hundred years ago, by Usui Mikao in Japan. Dr. Usui was a Buddhist monk in Japan. He was well-educated and traveled, studying history, medical science, psychology and the canons of Christianity and Buddhism. After traveling to China and Europe, Dr. Usui returned to the monastery at Mt. Kurama in Japan, where he discovered using the techniques of energy healing without depleting one’s own energy. In short, letting the energy of the universe flow through you like a conduit, rather than storing and using your own energy. Reiki itself is religiously neutral, in that it doesn’t call upon the power of any specific deity. Usui’s belief was that practitioners should be able to treat all people equally, and that every person should be able to share in these techniques. Because Reiki is spiritual in nature, love and compassion are an important part of its practice. Its nature is compatible with many religious beliefs, including Christianity, Judaism, Muslim and Hinduism. Thanks to what Usui called “the wonderful gift,” people of all faiths have begun healing, as well as practicing his technique. Reiki practitioners and clients are found in a vast variety of cultural, religious and medical backgrounds.

References:

1. BEN-YAAKOV. Miriam. (2005). Miriam ben-yaakov. Retrieved from http://www.shuvoo.com/miriam-ben-yaakov.php

2. Burns. Kristie Karima, MH, ND. Islamic reiki. Retrieved from http://herbnites.tripod.com/islamicreiki/

3. Oz. Mehmet, Dr. (Performer) (2010). Dr. oz show [Television series episode]. In Dr. Oz Show. New York, NY: Sony Pictures Television Distribution.

4. Motz, J.. Hands of life. Bantam Books. New York, NY. 1998.

5. Rand, William. Reiki the Healing Touch. Vision Publications. Southfield, MI. 1991.

Just imagine you were diagnosed with a cancerous tumor, and your doctor told you that his/her proposed treatment could reduce the size of your tumor by 30 percent, but at the same time increase your chances of developing secondary tumors by a whopping 300 percent!

That is exactly what is demonstrated in recent research (at Harvard and MD Anderson Cancer Centers), and published in conventional Oncology Journals! The history of conventional anti-cancer therapies is replete with cases where the treatment turned out to be far more devastating than the disease itself.

A 2012 study, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), sheds new light on why the effectiveness of a relatively new class of cancer fighting (anti-angiogenic) drugs is actually short-lived, and can turn into a frightening scenario, very likely triggering fatal consequences. This study was published in the January 17, 2012 issue of Cancer Cell.

These drugs act by cutting off the blood supply to the tumors. Scientists and Oncologists from around the world made the shortsighted assumption that by cutting off a tumor’s life support system, they could achieve a successful and permanent tumor regression…WRONG! Little did they know that this would open Pandora’s Box and create a cancer nightmare! This same study described in Cancer Cell found that a group of little-explored cells (called pericytes), which are part of every primary cancerous tumor, likely serve as important gatekeepers against cancer progression and metastasis. In this investigation, Raghu Kalluri, M.D., PhD, professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, had actually intended to find out if killing pericytes could inhibit growth of tumors. They knew that the pericytes are important in supporting the growth of new blood vessels. What they discovered instead was both startling and disturbing: pericytes actually help PREVENT metastasis!

Dr. Kalluri and his colleagues found that by depleting the pericyte numbers by 60 percent in breast cancer tumors, they saw a 30 percent decrease in tumor volumes over 25 days. Conventional “medical wisdom” hailed this as a “breakthrough in cancer treatment.” However, the researchers also discovered that by destroying pericytes by 60-70 percent, the number of secondary lung tumors increased threefold!

These entire findings question the very argument that is pushed on unsuspecting cancer patients by most Oncology medical professionals; is treatment-caused tumor regression a desirable objective?

What is even more distressing is the high cost of these new drugs. In addition to that, other research shows an increased incidence of perforated bowels, perforated stomachs and heart attacks!

Open minded Physicians have long maintained the importance of focusing on treating the whole person, and not just the tumor. When the therapy destroys, or does significant damage to the patient, it cannot be beneficial! For some reason, conventional Oncologists have not caught on to this idea and continue to focus their efforts on tumor shrinkage, at all costs.

References:

1. Ribatti, Domenico, Dept. of Human Anatomy & Histology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy, “The Inefficacy of Antiangiogenic Therapy”, Journal of Angiogenesis Research, 2010,2:27.

2. Kalluri, Raghu, M.D., PhD, “Study Shows How a Group of Tumor Cells Prevent Cancer Spread-Paradoxical discovery finds that pericyte cells help prevent metastasis”, Cancer Cell , January 17,2012.

There are an estimated 100 million people in the United States suffering from sleep disturbances/insomnia. That’s about one third of the entire U.S. population. Ambien (Zolpidem) is one of the most frequently sold drugs in this country, which acts to help people who have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Zolpidem belongs to a class of medications called “sedative hypnotics.” It works by slowing activity in the brain, to allow sleep. The drug, if taken for more than two weeks, is addictive to the degree that if you stop it immediately, you will get withdrawal symptoms–do not so without help from your doctor. This dose of drugs may change your mental health in unexpected ways, even if properly dosed (aggressiveness, unusual out-going behaviors, hallucinations, sleepwalking, feeling like you are outside your body, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, easily agitated, slow speech, depression, suicidal thoughts and more). You get the idea–there is a better way.

Indeed, you can’t sleep because your brain is over-active–particularly a part of your brain called the mesoncephalon (upper brain stem). This over-activity of the upper brainstem essentially puts a person’s brain in a continual “fight flight” syndrome, and abnormally affects people’s circadian rhythms. Fight flight mechanisms are designed to keep one’s system “stimulated” for about five to 20 minutes–not continually. This is the mechanism the “sedative hypnotics” address, and they do so by depressing other parts of the brain–hence the myriad of side effects listed above.  This same mechanism can be strengthened so that your brain’s fight flight syndrome can be slowed down and balanced by the stronger parts of the brain. The discipline that addresses this core cause/mechanism of insomnia is called Functional Neurology, and with thorough evaluative procedures and specialized testing, it can determine the imbalances in the brain and correct these deficiencies with non-drug stimulations to the brain, bringing it under control–no drugs, no side effects.

Metabolically, the brain nerve cells also require proper “fuels” to respond to treatment properly.  Metabolic imbalances (blood sugar imbalances, inflammation, abnormal cortisol/adrenal issues, GI problems) in the body can cause insomnia on their own, or make the above referenced brain mechanism unable to correct itself or respond to the brain based exercises. These imbalances can be ferreted out–again through an organized assessment of all the patient’s symptoms that cause them to not be able to fall or stay asleep. Most patients engage in trying one supplement or another herb/botanical at a time, in a hit or miss approach; which can’t ever get to the root cause of the problem, unless they are very lucky.

The Functional Medicine doctor uses an organized approach that embraces classic and specialized testing to assess all of the potential metabolic pathways and dysfunctions that lead to the various patterns of insomnia.

Combining the clinical assessment protocols of Functional Neurology and Functional Diagnostic Medicine, it is rare that the cause of insomnia–whether neurological (brain), metabolic (imbalances in blood chemistry) or as in most cases, BOTH–cannot be determined and corrected long-term without drugs or surgery.

References:

1. Kharrazian, Datis. DHSC, DC, MS. Why do I still have thyroid symptoms when my blood tests are normal? Morgan James Publishing, LLC. Garden City, N.J, 2010.
2. Rutherford, Martin, BA, BS, DC, CCST. Power Health – Back to Basics.1st Books. 2003.

For more info, contact Dr. Rutherford or Dr. Gates at (775) 329-4402, or visit online at www.PowerHealthReno.com.

There are many things one might say is happening to you during meditation, but basically this is what researchers have found: your brain changes, your blood chemistry changes, your stress level goes down, your muscles relax, your blood pressure decreases, your heartbeat slows, and your sense of well-being increases. Not bad for just a short twenty minutes.

In fact, meditation gives you the ability to focus. The result is a type of mental coherence that isn’t easy to achieve in other ways. This coherence seems to create mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health for long-time meditators.

Some actually describe the meditation experience as being in a nonlocal state of consciousness, where space and time are just informational enrichers, not limitations. They experience a timeless, spaceless connection to something greater. All the martial arts employ this component of mindful discipline; which is a practice of focusing intentional awareness. We call these various focusing practices meditation.

Of all the things you can do to understand yourself and move higher into self-actualization, nothing will serve you as well as developing the habit of meditation.  Although the practice of meditation is typically thought of as being associated with Asian cultures, it is not Christian, Jewish, Buddhist or Muslim and can be done with no spiritual component whatsoever.

The role of meditation in stress reduction is well known. This practice is also becoming increasingly common as a way to treat chronic illnesses, such as the pain caused by arthritis. Meditation is also being taught because of its effectiveness in helping troops to cope with the horrors of modern warfare, and to recover from the posttraumatic stress disorder which afflicts so many thousands of returning vets.

In fact, meditation has entered the Marine Corps. The kind of meditation the Marines were taught, a kind of non-sectarian focusing, has been shown to make a big difference in lowering stress,    increasing the power of memory, as well as improving one’s capacity for empathy. Practitioners have long claimed that meditation provides cognitive as well as psychological benefits, and seems to prove that people are not just feeling better because they’re spending more time relaxing. The brain is actually being changed.

Over a thousand papers, and many books, on meditation have been published in the last ten years, describing studies that show meditation provides measurable progress in alleviating many varied physical challenges. During these years of research, it has become abundantly clear that meditation has lasting effects on our neuroanatomy, particularly our brains. Long-term meditation, independent of a specific style or practice, seems to add grey matter to different parts of the brain, literally physically changing the brain.

One thing to expect: People, who use any meditation technique regularly over time, tend to change their world view. They come to feel that they’re not alone, that all life is interconnected and interdependent, and that this network of life, including them, is connected to something profoundly good; something greater than themselves.

There are many types and methods of meditation. You should have no trouble finding one that resonates with you. Also, there are local meditation classes, so if you feel that you want some immediate instruction, join a class. You may benefit in ways you cannot even imagine.

References:

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1.  Kenyon, Tom. Brain States. World Tree Press. 2001.

2.  McGreevy S. Mindfulness Meditation Training Changes Brain Structure in 8 Weeks.  Massachusetts General Hospital Newsletter January 21, 2011

3.  Vestergaard-Poulsen P., Van Beek M., Skewes J. Long-Term Meditation is Associated with Increased Gray Matter Density in the Brain Stem. Neuroreport 2009;20: 170-174.

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For more info, contact June Milligan, specializing in hypnosis, trauma therapy and helping people let go of dysfunctional thinking at (775) 786-9111, or visit online at www.joyfulchanges.com.

Case Histories

W.A., a 48 year old very pleasant female had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia since 1981. I had treated her for about two years, with modest success. She had Trichinella spiralis (pork worms) successfully treated with Albendazole, moderate yeast, extremely low total Intestinal SIgA and sensitivity to many common foods. After many tries at different regimens, we checked the MTHFR SNP, methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase single nucleotide polymorphism blood test which was positive for a single mutation of A1298C. Basically, this means she lacks the genetic capability for normal methylation (CH₃) involved in hundreds of metabolic processes in the human body. After supplementation with three mg of hydroxycobalamin IM, twice per week, with five mg of folinic acid orally daily, she was transformed. She had many good days, before she had none and no muscle pain. Methylation is an extremely deep issue and is abnormal in many of our chronic patients.

A.D., a 42 year old female had a many year history of CFS, fibromyalgia, migraine headache, insomnia, much recent grief and loss and hypertension. She could sleep all day. I was her eighth doctor she had consulted. After starting all my above regimens, she was completely improved. She said she was, “amazed at how good I feel” in two weeks. She wondered what the most important thing, I asked was? It was the gluten! All of her joint and muscle pain returned after eating a pizza and didn’t resolve for about three days. She now sleeps well, has no headaches or pain, and great energy. It is not always this easy, but we love a good miracle.

D.C., a 57 year old female with total body pain, diagnosed with fibromyalgia, severe fatigue and migraine headaches had been out of work for several years and basically stayed in bed most of the time. She survived on Soma, hydrocodone, Valium, Klonopin and Imitrex. She had multiple surgeries in her history, including total hysterectomy, lumbar spine fusion at L_3-4 and suffered from anxiety and depression, mental breakdown, migraine headaches, and she was scheduled for another back surgery in one month. During her first visit, I started the adrenal complex weekly IM shots, Neurotransmiter supportive IV (vitamins, minerals and amino acids) and Neural Therapy injections to her abdominal scars, back scars, root canal teeth( buccal membranes) and then lumbar spine injections with procaine, Discus Compositum,  Zeel  and ozone, which relieved her pain greatly. In the first two weeks she titrated her thyroid up to one grain and commenced estradiol gel with EstroDIM, progesterone, testosterone gel, Isocorts, Vitamin C and magnesium glycinate.  EBV turned up on our EAV scan and we treated her SP-6 acupuncture points (Spleen-6 is four fingerbreadths above the medial maleolus of the ankle) with 12 days of homeopathic injections of EBV dilutions ( 12x through 200x) with Engystol from Heel.

Two week later she said “I am definitely better, everyone says so, even my husband who hates spending money, and my old boss tells me to continue this new therapy because I look so much better and have more energy.” Although she was still anxious and had some back pain, her overall body pain had disappeared, and she had new hope for recovery and postponed her repeat back surgery because she was so improved.

It is tragic how many people are so sick and damaged in our society. However, it is most gratifying when we can help those suffering from CFS and fibromyalgia.

References:

1. Dosch, M.D., Peter. Manual of Neural Therapy According to Huneke. Karl F Haug. Heidelberg, 1984.

2. Barnes, M.D., Broda. Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness. Harper Collins, 1976.

Written By Martin Rutherford, D.C., C.C.S.T. and Randall Gates, D.C., D.A.C.N.B. |

The main focus of the functional diagnostic medicine practitioner is to utilize an organized approach to assess the nine major systems of the body (nervous, gastrointestinal, endocrinological, immune, etc), and treat the underlying causes of the many chronic diseases that our patients suffer from.

Functional Diagnostic Medicine (FDM) is patient-focused, not disease-focused. For instance, you are not treating the patient’s rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy, etc., you are instead assessing the above mentioned nine systems for weaknesses and imbalances in the patient’s biochemistry and physiology to try and understand why the patient has RA. The functional medicine doctor is like the Sherlock Holmes of the brain and body, discovering and correcting the underlying cause of a disease process or dysfunction, so the body can in turn return to a state of health and wellness and the patient can achieve the desired reduction or elimination of symptoms.

Typically the FDM patient comes to the office after years of pain and frustration having been told that everything looks normal based on “standard” tests routinely run by their primary and specialist doctors. They have been told that there’s no cure, or at least no known reason for their symptoms.

FDM practitioners understand that most of our patients who arrive in their offices are by no means “normal,” even by standard diagnostic models. This is because the standard model in this country today is designed to assess acute disease and pain pathology (i.e., trauma, infection, cancer, cardiac arrest, etc) and not the chronic cousins of these conditions. There are 116 million chronic pain sufferers in the US, and the FDM practitioner understands that these patients are a long way from being in a state of “normal”–no less optimum health. The FDM practitioner also understands the average chronic pain sufferer is not doomed to a life of uncontrolled pain or medication mediated controlled relief.

The FDM doctor also understands there are cutting edge, unique, specialized, interpretive, and diagnostic methods for the chronic pain patient that are not used in the standard “acute pain” approach; which, can help assess a wide range of problems that are more suggestive of sub-clinical or functional problems causing and leading to disease. FDM is about utilizing the best of all diagnostic procedures to become the ultimate medical detective to help this chronic pain population.

The main role of the functional medicine practitioner:

1.  The prevention of disease and function by examining and focusing on the major risk factors of mortality and morbidity.

1. Identifying risk factors that can be reduced or avoided (i.e., avoid the consumption of trans fatty acids).

b.  Making the patient aware that they have risks for developing a particular “disease” (i.e., family history of cardiovascular disease or type II diabetes).

1. Making patient aware that they are at risk for developing disease because of exposure to certain environmental agents (i.e., advising a woman with polycystic ovarian disease that working 40 hours a week in a print shop may be a strong perpetuator of her disease problem).

d.  Help the patient avoid, reduce, and modify risk with patient focused strategies and individualized treatment.

2.  The early detection of disease and dysfunction through use of:

1. A patient focused history–functionally oriented signs and systems analysis.

b.  Functional diagnostic medicine testing.

1. Functionally oriented exams of all nine systems of the body–particularly neurological, endocrinological, immunological, and gastrointestinal.
2. Functionally oriented blood chemistry, CBC, and advanced FDM testing and analysis (digestive, GI, hormonal, adrenal stress profiles, etc).

3.  Advanced patient specific treatment techniques, lifestyle modifications, therapeutic exercise, structural support, diet, nutritional support (supplements/medical foods), stress reduction, brain based strengthening protocols, botanical medicine and other treatments.

Functional Diagnostic Medicine’s ultimate protocols are designed to address the underlying cause uncovered by the standard and specialized testing results. The treatment protocols respect biomechanical individuality of the patient. The approach is focused on restoring the patient’s physiological function, which allows the body to restore to a state of wellness and reduce and/or eliminate symptoms. Lastly, FDM is to cause no harm to the patient.

FDM patients should experience improved quality of healthcare because the FDM doctor is focused on them and not their disease. FDM should reduce long term costs as chronic pain management costs are substantial and are the primary drain on the current medical system. FDM patients should also experience reduced suffering and increase the likelihood of a resolution of pain without medications, and lastly reduce the incidence of premature aging, mortality, and morbidity.

References:

1. Kharrazian, Datis, DHSC, DC, MS. Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests Are Normal? Morgan James Publishing, 2010.

2. www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com.

3. http://www.functionalmedicine.org

For more info, contact Dr. Rutherford or Dr. Gates at (775) 329-4402, or visit online at www.PowerHealthReno.com.

Are there different “types” of water to drink? The answer is a resounding YES! Are certain types better to drink for your health than others? The answer is again, a resounding YES!

There are many kinds of water filters and machines out there. Many of them will tell you that drinking water from their machines or filters will improve your health in various different ways. The truth is that the vast majority of them can produce no proof of these claims. The one machine that can produce this, is one made by an engineer in New York named John Ellis.

The machine he designed holds both national and international patents. It uses a combination of steam, ultraviolet light and ozone to not only produce the purest water on the planet, but to actually change the properties of the water. It changes the angle between the two hydrogen molecules in H2O.

The change of the angle between the two hydrogen molecules, from 104 to 114 degrees, seems inconsequential at first, but it has been proven to dramatically improve the solubility of the water into and out of your cell membranes. The machine changes this angle by taking the water from vapor to liquid, about 300 times per gallon from a boiler through a condenser, and exposes it to ultraviolet light that produces ozone gas along the way.

UCLA Medical Center tested every water product on the market because they wondered which water would give the best blood flow to the extremities, since your blood is 94 percent water. Their report concluded that “No one can argue with something you can measure non-invasively by Doppler ultrasound to determine the ability of the blood to get into the extremities. Nothing even comes close to your water.” This is great news for people with poor circulation.

There is a term called the “Solubility-Energy Ratio” that has to do with the ability of the cells to get nutrients in and waste products out. Solubility has been shown to increase with the hydrogen bond angle. At the relatively low bond angle of 104 degrees, ordinary water has low solubility. After this process, the hydrogen angle increases to 114 degrees and produces these dramatic changes.

When used in a therapeutic setting, these changes in solubility can improve clinical outcomes by providing a better vehicle for drugs, supplements and remedies to get where they are needed to do their job.

References:

1. www.watercuresanything.com

2. Washington Post, 1/27/1992, “This Water Cures Anything”

Thyroid.

Thyroid supplementation, a’ la Broda Barnes, MD, in his book Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness, and many other authors, must be geared to the adrenal status of the patient: low adrenal, use little thyroid. I always use the cup of coffee rule of thumb. If a patient can drink a pot of coffee before bed and sleep easily, one can give higher doses of thyroid. If the patient sips a cup of coffee and is awake for two days, or is obviously very sensitive to any stimulation, one should start with 1/16^th of a grain of thyroid or less, and increase by 1/16^th grain every few days or week.

A grain of thyroid is an old apothecary measurement that is roughly equivalent to 60 mg. The patient who can stand stimulation can be started with ½ grain and increase to two grains after two to four weeks. Overdose of thyroid, due to insufficient adrenal cortical reserve, causes adrenalin symptoms such as anger, nervousness, fast heart rate and insomnia, and in cardiac patients: angina. But, it can also create more calmness, great energy, improved emotional tolerance and relief of fatigue and fibromyalgia by improving nutrient absorption and mitochondrial status. 

Mitochondria are the energy manufacturing plants of our cells. They make ATP, the body’s energy currency. Each of our 100 trillion or so cells has 1,000 to 4,000 mitochondria. Thyroid increases the size and number of mitochondria. I have used a brand that has less additives and more T₃ (the active thyroid in the human body) than other brands for 36 years. If a patient has high reverse T_{3 (}which blocks regular T₃₎ or other high autoimmune problems, I have to substitute with L-thyroxine (T₄) and/or T_3. I avoid Synthroid, it is not bioidentical and may block L-thyroxine. I also test everything on EAV (ElectroAcupuncture by Vol), which was developed in the late 1930’s in Germany to make sure the dosage and hormone are compatible with the patient. 

Guaifenesin.

Fibromyalgia can arguably be looked at as an energy deficiency syndrome in the musculoskeletal system. Both deficiency and toxicity issues are usually present. R. Paul St. Amand, MD, a UCLA endocrinologist, makes a good case for phosphate retention in the muscles and ligaments as the root cause of fibromyalgia. In his book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia, he recommends increasing dosages of guaifenesin, the cough expectorant, which theoretically removes the phosphates. It has many successful patient responses but requires a diet avoiding salicylates, which involves more than 1,000 different foods and herbs, and inhibits patient compliance with his regimen. Committed patients have had moderate or good success with his program but progress is usually gradual and aggravating, especially early on in the therapy, requiring careful titration of the guaifenesin.

At the risk of forgetting one of the hundreds of things that can cause CFS and/or Fibromyalgia, here are a few of the more common causes that I see. One needs to have an extremely broad outlook on medicine. The causes can range from genetic defects, parasites, heavy metal intoxication, dental pathology, chronic sinus infection, chronic tonsil infection, circulatory damage/sticky blood, coagulation defects, multiple hormonal deficiencies, allergy, psychological issues, grief and loss, inherited weakness, leaky gut, parasites, digestive disturbances, Candida, toxic liver, chronic viruses, Lyme, musculoskeletal issues, autoimmune diseases, immune system weakness, endobiontic (fungi that normally occur in our blood) disturbance, other chronic diseases, chronic pain, surgical stress, acupuncture meridian dysbalances, scars, need for the proper homeopathic remedy (especially for miasms and inherited constitutional weakness),  overwhelming environmental stress in the home or work place, physical or sexual abuse, the standard American diet (SAD), nutritional depletion, amino acid deficiencies, organic acid dysbalance, old injuries impeding full recovery, neurotransmitter deficiencies either stress induced or drug induced, toxicity from pesticides, herbicides, volatile organic hydrocarbons, PCB’s and other industrial waste, plastics, solvents, fire retardants and many more.

Far infrared sauna and sweating therapy is one of the only ways to rid the body of the hundreds of chemical toxins we all carry, according to Sherry Rogers, MD in her excellent book Detoxify or Die. EAV devices such as BioMeridian, Vega, Asyra, LSA/Zyto with LED, Laser Energetic Detoxification, Autonomic Response Therapy/Kinesiology can help to unravel this very complex landscape. Regular laboratory testing is also important to diagnose or confirm diagnoses. Many great labs are deep into this process and are very important to the success in treating chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.

References:

1. Barnes, Broda, M.D. Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness. Harper Collins Publisher, 1976.
2. St. Amand, R. Paul, M.D. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia. Warner Books, 1999.
3. Rogers, Sherry, M.D. Detoxify or Die. Prestige Publishing, 2002.

For More on this Topic:

Read Part I of the Series

Read Part II of the Series

Peripheral neuropathy, vertigo, anxiety, autism, chronic pain and fatigue …Call the chiropractor? Perhaps. A chiropractic neurologist? Even better. Randall Gates, D.C., D.A.C.N.B., of Power Health Rehab and Wellness in Reno, is just that. “It’s basically personal training for your brain,” he says. “Sometimes that will include chiropractic adjustments. I am a chiropractor by training, but just as within any profession there are post-graduate degrees to get advanced certification.”

With an undergrad in Biology from California State University, Chico, this Grass Valley native went on to pursue a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) at the Life Chiropractic College West in the San Francisco Bay Area; Gates graduated in 2009 as valedictorian of his class. Amidst his chiropractic studies, Ted Carrick, a renowned chiropractic neurologist, visited the school and gave a presentation. “I was frankly blown away,” says Gates. He immediately began taking extra classes on the weekends in addition to his regular training. By mid 2010, Gates passed the exam to become a Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Neurology Board (D.A.C.N.B.) and has been living his dream at Power Health for the past two years.

“I absolutely love it,” says Gates. “I work very long hours, but it doesn’t bother me because I love what I do. Anytime you start getting patients better–who were told that they can’t get better–and see them get excited about getting over conditions that they didn’t think they could have any progress with…it’s incredibly rewarding.”

About 25 years ago, brain training past adolescence was hardly even considered. “The notion was that once your brain had developed, it was relatively unchangeable,” says Gates. “Your brain can actually change, grow new connections and become more powerful; not that you grow more brain cells, but they can get stronger.” This idea is commonly referred to as neuroplasticity. “We can excite the areas of the brain that have been damaged and see if we can get those areas working again.”

Power Health takes a lot of time to diagnose a possible healing regiment for new patients, time that a regular practitioner may not have. “Most of our patients remark that the initial exam is one of the most thorough exams they have ever received,” says Gates. “With any new patient we go through a 17-page history, general physical exams, I do a quite in-depth neurological exam–we try to figure out which part of their nervous system is not working properly. From there we typically do one to three trial treatments to figure out if we can make a change. Realistically, we can’t help everybody.”

When he’s not helping others, Gates does a lot of work on himself. “I love Olympic lifting and power lifting,” he says. No big deal. “I played football and track in high school, some track in college, lifting was just always a hobby. It’s quite a stress relief.” To relax he enjoys spending time with his wife and their dog, Bailey. Being close to the mountains he loves and going out to the Sierra Valley to take it all in. “I think it’s one of the most beautiful places on earth,” he says. “I really like the natural surroundings.”

In case you’re wondering, Gates goes to the chiropractor just like anyone else. “I get adjusted at least once a week,” he says. “We actually have four chiropractors at Power Health, so I get adjusted by one of the other three. They’re fantastic doctors.” So fantastic that with over 25 years of operations, Power Health is attracting patients from North Carolina, Arkansas, even Germany. Some patients have actually moved to Reno for prolonged treatments at Power Health.

Gates looks forward to an innovative career with Power Health, and sees its potential at an even larger scale. “I’d like us to become a center point for alternative-type treatments, and expand so that we can help more people,” he says. “We’re all given skills. If we can apply and hone our skill to their max abilities, to serve humankind, this world would be a better place.”