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.

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

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.

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.

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

The latest research into particle physics is proving that everything in our physical world, including the matter that makes up our bodies, is composed of infinitely small particles, vibrating at infinitely high frequencies. The specific frequencies that they vibrate at have everything to do with how our senses interpret that information, and how we (our bodies) interact with it.

Common medical therapies (prescriptions, treatments, etc.) usually lag 20-30 years behind the cutting edge research on the true nature of reality. This includes the theories about how our bodies function and create “health” or “dis-ease.”

What if I told you that technology exists right now that has taken the pursuit of health into alignment with the latest research in particle physics and electro-acupuncture. It does!

This is based on the original work by Reinhard Voll, M.D., a German physician who, in the 1950’s, was one of the first European doctors to realize that he could combine the ancient knowledge of acupuncture meridians with the latest in electronic testing equipment. This information was combined with facts learned from the growing science of lie detector equipment by Dr. Vaughn Cook, an Oriental Medical Doctor, to create this cutting edge technology.

It is not used to diagnose any disease. It is used to find incoherent (out of balance) responses to different digital challenges given to the body via the GSR (galvanic skin response). This is the electrical skin resistance in the palm and fingers of the hand.

Our conscious mind (the “thinking” part) is capable of processing about 2000 bits of information per second…pretty incredible, right. But, at this moment, your subconscious mind is handling about 400,000,000 (400 million!) bits of data per second. This technology enables the doctor to tap into the autonomic or subconscious mechanisms to ask your body what’s going on, and make sense of it all. Yes, it can actually ask your body which supplements or medications it prefers, and which have the best chance of helping it heal before you take anything!

Again, to be clear, this equipment does not diagnose any disease. But, when used by a trained medical practioner, it can be very helpful in finding which organs and/or glands are out of balance, and then determining what substances can be used to restore them to balance.

Recently, a hospital study in China was conducted that showed a correlation of 87 percent between the results of Zyto’s technology and organ/lab diagnosis by a licensed physician.

This exciting new technology is available for use today to better help people attain vibrant and radiant health more easily and efficiently than ever before.

References:

1. Klotter, Jule. Bioenergetic devices and Functional Medicine, Townsend Letter, January 1^st, 2009.

2. www.ZYTO.com

Written By Michael Gerber, MD, HMD |

Adrenal support dosing has a very long therapeutic curve. It is nice to start with sleeping eight to nine hours per night, and to enjoy occasional vacations when the stress is off. Reducing stress at the work place, at home and with the kids is important, but how to resolve the stress of estranged spouses bent on revenge, sick relatives, crazy siblings battling over the inheritance, financial collapse and loss of drive to do anything is much more difficult. These people need adrenal help.

I always begin adrenal support with good nutrients important for the adrenal gland, especially good sea salt such as Cheltic salt, or Real Salt. When the adrenals are weak, you leak salt and minerals. Some low adrenal patients take ½ tsp of sea salt in water in the morning and after lunch to improve their energy. Vitamin C, B vitamins (pantothenic acid, B5), vitamin A, chromium, EFA’s (essential fatty acids such as fish oil and primrose oil) and good sources of cholesterol, such as egg yolks, butter and animal protein if possible, are all important. Vegans need to lead a less stressful life and supplement if they are stressed (B12 at least). Of course the liver makes cholesterol, but many livers are very toxic and all the adrenal hormones are made from cholesterol, which can only be consumed from animal sources. Acupuncture, psychological counseling, chiropractic, musculoskeletal therapies, energetic support, color puncture and every body balancing, stress reducing therapeutic modality can help the adrenals to rebuild.

My very favorite adrenal support over the last 36 years is an adrenal complex shot with B12 (hydroxycobalamin) and folic acid. I have it compounded with hydrocortisone 2 mg per cc, DHEA .2mg per cc, pregnenelone .2 mg per cc in a sesame or cotton seed oil base for its time-release properties, with one mg of B12 and 10 mg of folic acid. An average sized woman usually responds well to 1 ½ cc of adrenal complex, smaller women 1 cc, and larger women and men 2 cc plus 1 cc of B12 and 1 cc of folic acid.

This is an old feel-good shot that has been around since the 1950’s from Hollywood, (thank you Alan Nittler, MD and Gary Gordon, MD.) I learned this therapy from Dr. Nittler in 1975 in Santa Cruz, California, and from his book A New Breed of Doctor. He used adrenal cortex extract in those days, but it is no longer available, and this adrenal complex bears a rough equivalency to that product. This shot gives a week of blood sugar stability for most patients and can be done weekly, two or three times per week or daily, depending on the needs of the patient and reducing the frequency of dosing as the patient gets better. Remember that the normal adrenal cortex makes 30 mg to 200 mgs of hydrocortisone per day.

Low dose adrenal support is frequently very helpful for energy, sleep, headaches, gastritis (heart burn) and anti-anxiety qualities, and does not suppress the hypothalamic, pituitary adrenal axis. This intramuscular, time-release shot is given in the upper-outer quadrant of the hip. Isocorts or other oral adrenal tissue support are always great; be careful of whole adrenal extracts as they may contain some adrenalin, which may be too stimulating for some sensitive people.

Adrenal rebuilding, adaptogenic herbs are great, such as Cordyceps, Rodiola rosea, Ashwaganda, Maca, Eluthrococcus senticosis (Siberian Ginseng) and many more.  Importantly, some patients are so adrenal-depleted that they really need hydrocortisone tablets a’ la William McK. Jeffries, MD a co-discoverer of hydrocortisone in 1949.

In his book The Safe Uses of Cortisone he presents many cases of successful treatment of adrenal deficient patients with 5 mg of cortisol (hydrocortisone/Cortef), four times per day, or 10 mg four times per day when ill. Some patients prefer 10 mg AM and noon, or some variation of this dosage regimen. Cortisol can also be compounded in a time-release preparation, which needs to be dosed less frequently and is more convenient for patients. It is interesting that even when adrenal-fatigue patients need larger doses of Cortef to maintain normal energy levels they don’t appear Cushingoid (puffy, moon faced), and they feel great.

References:

Solutions Specialty, Henderson, NV, 702-792-3777.

Nittler, Alan H., M.D. A New Breed of Doctor. Pyramid House Publisher. New York, NY, 1972.

Jefferies, William Mck., M.D., F.A.C.P. Safe Uses of Cortisone. Charles Thomas Publisher. Springfield, Illinois. 1981.

Written By Michael Gerber MD, HMD |

The most frequent chronic complaint is fatigue. Patients never feel right; many can’t get out of bed and are also usually depressed, anxious and suffer from insomnia, poor memory and concentration and frequently dizziness. The origins of chronic fatigue are truly vast. Recently, a 32 year old, four foot ten, 95 pound young woman presented with a history of sexual abuse, loss of both parents, her mother was very stressed during her pregnancy, she was on disability with RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy-referred pains all over the body) fibromyalgia and multiple drug regimen failure; she had asthma, globus hystericus, gastroparesis and gastritis (heart burn). I knew I had my work cut out for me. Building trust with a totally fearful, energy-less girl, with absolutely no self esteem and no money, is an art form. One has to go with their best and least expensive therapy, which also gives gentle results quickly. Incidentally, her globus hystericus (lump in the throat) was immediately and permanently relieved with one treatment of Neural Therapy, using injections of procaine and Spascupreel from Heel, in intradermal wheels (bubbles) in the skin. Likewise, the gastroparesis (very slow empting stomach and digestion) abated with the overall therapy as well.

The History

In addition to an extended regular history and physical, it is also important if your practitioner has learned to do Chinese pulse and facial diagnosis, German iridology, tongue diagnosis, root canal and amalgam evaluation, scar and musculoskeletal dysbalance evaluations. If one shoulder is three inches higher than the other, it tells you something. Dietary history is a big deal. For many patients, it is a game changer to avoid fluoride toothpaste, tap water, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, table salt, milk, frequently gluten, soda, gum, fast food, soy, coffee creamers, non organic everything, stomach acid blockers, statin drugs, cigarettes, microwave ovens, aluminum cooking utensils, excessive alcohol, and so many other environmental toxins. I just started a new patient a couple of months back who looked at me absolutely incredulously when I told her that there were over 300 different neurological  syndromes associated with aspartame (NutraSweet) ingestion, up to multiple sclerosis. She was consuming eight to 10 diet sodas with five Xanax through the day, “just like my mother did”. Her husband was nodding his head through the entire visit, as she had terrific fatigue, anger and little memory.

Low adrenal and thyroid always mean poor metabolism. “When your adrenals are weak, you leak,” is one of my favorite platitudes. Low adrenal hormones cause wasting (loss) of sodium, chloride, and according to some authors, neurotransmitters (brain chemicals controlling mood and memory). Thyroid weakness causes hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) and inability to absorb minerals and proteins. Getting these two organs back on track has an immediate normalizing effect on our miraculous organism.

References:

1. Joseph M Helms, MD. Acupuncture Energetics – A Clinical Approach for Physicians. Medical Acupuncture Publishers. Berkley, California.

2. Peter Dosch, MD . Manual of Neural Therapy according to Huneke (Regulating Therapy with Local Anesthetics. Haug Publishers. Heidelberg, Germany, 1984.

The last article looked at the therapeutic importance of vitamin A and cod liver oil. This month, I would like to address other vitamins, minerals and dietary issues that are especially important for children.

Insomnia and Constipation

From infants to toddlers and older children, sleep disorders and slowed down bowel are quite common. Causes are biological, and certainly these problems are aggravated by milk-based and soy-based formulas. We suggest whey-based formulas or goat milk formulas, as they cause fewer incidents of ear infections, mucous formation, colds and constipation. Remember cow’s milk protein, casein and lactalbumin, is four and a half times longer than human mother’s milk protein, and is meant for baby cows. It causes inflammation in the intestines, which gives a leaky gut and lets large proteins enter the blood stream and overwhelm the liver, and eventually the adrenal gland. If your child has purple, puffy areas under the eyes (allergic shiners) or a blue color to the whites of the eyes (liver wind in Chinese medicine), consider allergic reaction to foods, especially milk, sugar and wheat.

If a child is not having several bowel movements per day, one of the very best supplements is liquid calcium and magnesium. Magnesium, of course, is in milk of magnesia and Epsom salts; it is a laxative and calmative. It kills two birds with one stone. Before bedtime, give one tsp to toddlers and two tbsp to older children, for an effective correction to both insomnia and constipation. The liquid we use is a pleasant, mint flavored liquid that is generally well accepted by children. It is also great if the kids get some sugary treats at home or school, and then become hyperactive and irritable; it frequently calms them down in a few minutes. If magnesium supplementation causes diarrhea, simply back down the dose and adjust to the child’s needs. It’s impossible to get enough magnesium from a standard American diet (SAD) without supplementation.

Vitamin C is also great for kids. We give from 250 mg to 1 gram or more per day to children, to help with constipation and treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. We use vitamin C drink, which is a good tasting, lemon, citrus drink and Honeyvite; it has all the major vitamins and minerals, and can be taken in water or fruit juice. Especially when sending kids into the toxic wasteland of schools with other sick kids, toxic cleaning materials, plastics, formaldehyde in the rugs and many other toxins in the child’s learning environment.

Remember, a goat that weighs 150 lbs. makes 13,000 mg of vitamin C every day in its liver. How much vitamin C does a 150 lb human make? NONE. Only primates, guinea pigs, fruit bats and man make no vitamin C. All the other millions of species make their own vitamin C. We all need to supplement vitamin C. We are all suffering from mild scurvy, including our children. Vitamin C is a universal detoxifier and also acts as an antihistamine and laxative. The highest concentration of vitamin C in the human body is in the adrenal gland (stress gland) and secondarily in the brain.

References:

1. Briggs D.Sc.,Ph.D., Michael. Vitamins in Human Biology and Medicine. CRC Press, Inc. Boca Raton, Florida 1981.
2. Bralley, Ph.D., C.C.N., J.A. and Lord Ph.D, Richard. Laboratory Evaluations in Molecular Medicine. The Institute for Advances in Molecular Medicine 2001.

For more info, contact the Gerber Medical Clinic at (775) 826-1900.

Metformin is an oral drug that came into use in 1994. At that time, there was no mention of its use as a tool to fight cancer. More recently, it was discovered that this drug may effectively combat cancers of the colon, uterus, and prostate. In an amazing study, a group of Swiss researchers found a 56 percent reduction in breast cancer risk in a group of diabetic women who took metformin for more than five years.

Despite most people’s aversion to taking prescription drugs, serious consideration should be given to taking this generic, inexpensive medication that was originally derived from the French lilac. This compound has a long history in botanical medicine. It was “rediscovered” and approved by the FDA as a treatment for type II diabetes in 1994. It quickly became the most widely prescribed drug for that disease.

Beginning around 2002, a series of epidemiological studies revealed a remarkable trend: diabetic patients taking metformin were less likely to die compared to diabetics using other forms of therapy.

By 2005, evidence from large, population-based studies clearly showed that people taking metformin for diabetes were significantly and reliably protected against the increased cancer risk posed by the diabetes itself.

It is a known fact that diabetics are predisposed to a broad range of cancers in the liver, pancreas, colon, breast, uterus, kidney and prostate. Scientists theorized that if ways to reduce chronic blood sugar elevations, and other molecular consequences associated with weight gain were discovered, this would have a powerful impact on interrupting some of the pathways that lead to cancer. It turned out that metformin acts in a multi-targeted fashion, to accomplish precisely those effects.

It has long been recognized that a calorie restriction diet is one of the only “proven” methods of slowing down the aging process and preventing a whole host of chronic diseases, everything from heart disease to cancer, but try getting people to stick to its severe restrictions.

Interestingly, metformin essentially “fools” the body into believing that it is in a calorie restricted state, thereby switching on the same protective mechanisms that arise from calorie restriction itself.

That is not to imply that metformin is a totally benign medication. It is also essential that it only be used under the supervision of a qualified physician.

There is a growing body of evidence showing that metformin acts through multiple pathways to trigger profound cellular changes in every mammalian tissue, activating tumor suppressing mechanisms. This has now been demonstrated to benefit not only those with diabetes but also apparently healthy people.

Due to the multiple ways it works, there is no reason to think that these results won’t, in fact, be generalizable to every human malignancy!

References:

1. Bodmer M, Meier C, Krahenbuhl S, Jick SS, Meier CR, Long-term metformin use is associated with decreased risk of breast cancer, Diabetes Care, 2010 June; 33(6):1304-8

2. Li D, Yeung SC, Hassan MM, Konopleva M, Abbruzzese JL, Anti-diabetic therapies affect risk of pancreatic cancer, Gastroenterology, 2009 August; 137(2); 482-8

For more info, contact Reno Integrative Medical Center at (775) 829-1009 or visit online at www.renointegrativemedicalcenter.com

Oxidation is a chemical reaction that involves oxygen. It ranges in scope from rust formation on an iron tool, to a campfire, to the destruction or stimulation of different cells in our body. Without it, life as we know it would be impossible.

Bio Oxidative therapy is the use of oxygen, in several different ways, to improve health, or restore it after it is lost to disease.

These therapies range from something as simple as aerobic exercise to things as complex as intravenous hydrogen peroxide and ozone, to hyperbaric treatments.

The body uses oxygen to produce hydrogen peroxide in different amounts, for many purposes. Both of these compounds are helpful in regulating things as diverse as cell membranes and hormone production, to blood sugar levels and cell energy production.

The therapeutic use of intravenous hydrogen peroxide was pioneered in this country by Dr. Charles Farr in Oklahoma. In 1993, he was nominated for a Nobel Prize for his research in its use. He was the founder and first president of the International Bio-Oxidative Medicine Foundation; which currently publishes a protocol for the safe and proper administration of intravenous peroxide. Many doctors believe the use of this therapy is unsafe, but they are uninformed about the 50-100 new scientific articles that are published each month, at many major medical research centers, throughout the world.

Ozone therapy is another way to use oxygen for therapeutic purposes. Ozone gas is a form of oxygen that contains three molecules (O3), as compared to the normal oxygen (O2) that we breathe. It is deadly to all viruses, many bacteria, and most of all cancer cells. The most common (and safest) method of doing this involves the removal of a sample of blood, which is anticoagulated, mixed with ozone gas in a sterile bottle, and then given back to the patient intravenously.

There are many different theories about how and where oxygen and hydrogen peroxide are utilized in the body. Both have been found to be important in regulating the immune system, and are used to kill harmful organisms. They are also important in the regulation of everything from proper blood sugar, to the production of certain hormones and compounds necessary for brain and nervous system function.

Bio Oxidative therapy is reported to be beneficial for treating a broad range of ailments including various types of infections, emphysema, coronary artery disease, post-stroke syndrome, gangrene, spider bites, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.

This relatively inexpensive, non-toxic and safe therapy is used much more frequently in Europe, but is slowly becoming more accepted in the United States. Because of the cost and toxicity of many modern pharmaceuticals, it is being looked at more closely by physicians and patients alike.

References:

1. Shallenberger, M.D., H.M.D., ABAAM, Frank. Principles and Applications of Ozone Therapy. CreateSpace. April, 2011.

2.www.arthritistrust.org/Articles/Hydrogen%20Peroxide%20Therapy/index.htm

For more info, contact Reno Integrative Medical Center at (775) 829-1009 or visit online at www.renointegrativemedicalcenter.com

Written By Michael Gerber, MD, HMD |

There are many modalities available for the safe, non-toxic care of children. I will concentrate on vitamin A in this issue, and in ensuing articles cover other therapies such as other vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, volatile oils,  homeopathic remedies, isopathic remedies, oxidative therapies, herbal remedies, hormonal support, allergy treatment, dietary adjustments, amino acid therapies, antibiotics and anti-fungal therapies.

Vitamin A is generally regarded as the anti-infection vitamin and mucous membrane protector. It prevents squamous metaplasia, changing of the body linings from tall, ciliated cells (contain little hairs on them which move out mucous and infection) to cells that are like the ones on the skin, which do not protect the lungs, intestines, sinuses, oropharnyx and ears from infection. Vitamin A is vital to support the adrenal glands (stress glands) and is specific for otitis media (ear infections), acne, growth impairment, hyperkatosis (rough skin), night blindness and xerophthalmia–the leading cause of blindness in the world, especially in the third world, when the eyes dry out from lack of vitamin A and then ulcerate and become infected resulting in blindness.

Beta carotene is a double vitamin A molecule, and is much less useful than vitamin A. This is the substance in carrot juice that turns the palms and body orange; it scares doctors into thinking the child is being poisoned from vitamin A.

Since vitamin A is one of the fat soluble vitamins, it can be retained in the body, causing toxicity. The toxicity manifests as a tight, band-like headache, nose bleeds and chapped lips. In very chronic situations, it causes an over-production of tissue on the outside of the bones (periostium). There are no long term side effects from acute vitamin A overdose; they all go away with discontinuation of the vitamin. Vitamin A is bound to a liver protein, a retinol binding protein, which is produced in higher amounts when people take larger doses of vitamin A. When vitamin A is bound, it is non-toxic; when it is free and unbound, it is toxic. People with skin diseases have taken up to one million units per day without side effects, but the dose must be increased slowly.

Cod liver oil (CLO) is a good first supplement for babies, starting around three months of age. The fat soluble vitamins do not cross the placenta in pregnancy and need to be replaced in infants. Not only does CLO have vitamins A and D, but also EPA (eicosapentenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexenoic acid), which are fatty acids that protect the brain, improve intelligence and prevent cancer. The dosage for children should be 1,000 units per year of age. One tablespoon of CLO contains about 4,500 units of vitamin A, so a three month old could take about 1/8th tsp. Also, give vitamin A intermittently, five days per week, so it doesn’t build up to toxic levels. Vitamin A emulsion (drops of vitamin A) is made from lemon grass and is neutral tasting oil if CLO is resisted by the child. Actually, little children tend to really like CLO and love to crunch the pearls in it.

Supplementation with CLO and vitamin A can prevent ear infections and reduce the illness and death due to measles. Overutilization of typanostomy tubes (ear drainage tubes for infection) was addressed in a 1994 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “About one quarter of tympanostomy tube insertion in this study were proposed for inappropriate indications and another third for equivocal ones.” The authors suggest that several hundred thousand children may be receiving tubes that offer no advantage over other therapies. Rats on a vitamin A free diet showed extensive focal metaplasia. Keratization of normally columnar, ciliated epithelium occurred in over half of subjects. Acute otitis media with effusion was found.  Vitamin A deficiency disrupts the clearing mechanism of the ear. A study from the ENT department of the University Of Texas School Of Medicine studied Micronesian children that were vitamin A deficient and developed otitis media. They also found that vitamin A deficient Guinea pigs showed otitis media and Eustachian tube dysfunction as the primary mechanism. The Wisconsin Division of Health studied the severity of Measles and showed that Vitamin A reduces mortality in African children with acute measles. In the U.S., children hospitalized with measles retinol (vitamin A) concentrations were depressed, and the degree of depression was associated with the degree if illness severity. Actually, many other studies show that mortality (death) from measles approaches zero with vitamin A supplementation.

References:

JAMA, April 27, 1994.

Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, 1979, Nov-Dec, 87:6, 837-44.

Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, 1992 Nov.

Pediatrics, 1993 June, 91:6, 1176-81.

For more info, contact the Gerber Medical Clinic at (775) 826-1900

There are many modalities available for the safe, non-toxic care of children. I will concentrate on vitamin A in this issue, and in ensuing articles cover other therapies such as other vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, volatile oils, homeopathic remedies, isopathic remedies, oxidative therapies, herbal remedies, hormonal support, allergy treatment, dietary adjustments, amino acid therapies, antibiotics and anti-fungal therapies.

Vitamin A is generally regarded as the anti-infection vitamin and mucous membrane protector. It prevents squamous metaplasia, changing of the body linings from tall, ciliated cells (contain little hairs on them which move out mucous and infection) to cells that are like the ones on the skin, which do not protect the lungs, intestines, sinuses, oropharnyx and ears from infection. Vitamin A is vital to support the adrenal glands (stress glands) and is specific for otitis media (ear infections), acne, growth impairment, hyperkatosis (rough skin), night blindness and xerophthalmia–the leading cause of blindness in the world, especially in the third world, when the eyes dry out from lack of vitamin A and then ulcerate and become infected resulting in blindness.
Beta carotene is a double vitamin A molecule, and is much less useful than vitamin A. This is the substance in carrot juice that turns the palms and body orange; it scares doctors into thinking the child is being poisoned from vitamin A.

Since vitamin A is one of the fat soluble vitamins, it can be retained in the body, causing toxicity. The toxicity manifests as a tight, band-like headache, nose bleeds and chapped lips. In very chronic situations, it causes an over-production of tissue on the outside of the bones (periostium). There are no long term side effects from acute vitamin A overdose; they all go away with discontinuation of the vitamin. Vitamin A is bound to a liver protein, a retinol binding protein, which is produced in higher amounts when people take larger doses of vitamin A. When vitamin A is bound, it is non-toxic; when it is free and unbound, it is toxic. People with skin diseases have taken up to one million units per day without side effects, but the dose must be increased slowly.

Cod liver oil (CLO) is a good first supplement for babies, starting around three months of age. The fat soluble vitamins do not cross the placenta in pregnancy and need to be replaced in infants. Not only does CLO have vitamins A and D, but also EPA (eicosapentenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexenoic acid), which are fatty acids that protect the brain, improve intelligence and prevent cancer. The dosage for children should be 1,000 units per year of age. One tablespoon of CLO contains about 4,500 units of vitamin A, so a three month old could take about 1/8th tsp. Also, give vitamin A intermittently, five days per week, so it doesn’t build up to toxic levels. Vitamin A emulsion (drops of vitamin A) is made from lemon grass and is neutral tasting oil if CLO is resisted by the child. Actually, little children tend to really like CLO and love to crunch the pearls in it.

Supplementation with CLO and vitamin A can prevent ear infections and reduce the illness and death due to measles. Overutilization of typanostomy tubes (ear drainage tubes for infection) was addressed in a 1994 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “About one quarter of tympanostomy tube insertion in this study were proposed for inappropriate indications and another third for equivocal ones.” The authors suggest that several hundred thousand children may be receiving tubes that offer no advantage over other therapies. Rats on a vitamin A free diet showed extensive focal metaplasia. Keratization of normally columnar, ciliated epithelium occurred in over half of subjects. Acute otitis media with effusion was found. Vitamin A deficiency disrupts the clearing mechanism of the ear. A study from the ENT department of the University Of Texas School Of Medicine studied Micronesian children that were vitamin A deficient and developed otitis media. They also found that vitamin A deficient Guinea pigs showed otitis media and Eustachian tube dysfunction as the primary mechanism. The Wisconsin Division of Health studied the severity of Measles and showed that Vitamin A reduces mortality in African children with acute measles. In the U.S., children hospitalized with measles retinol (vitamin A) concentrations were depressed, and the degree of depression was associated with the degree if illness severity. Actually, many other studies show that mortality (death) from measles approaches zero with vitamin A supplementation.

References:
JAMA, April 27, 1994.

Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, 1979, Nov-Dec, 87:6, 837-44.

Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, 1992 Nov.

Pediatrics, 1993 June, 91:6, 1176-81.

For more info, contact the Gerber Medical Clinic at (775) 826-1900

Last month, diabetes symptoms and some historical perspective were presented in the article titled, “Sweet Pee – Diabetes at Your Doorstep.” There are many well known drugs, as well as Insulin therapy, for Type I and II diabetes. Once a person needs this kind of intervention with elevated blood sugars, over 130 or so, their doctor may wish to prescribe medication. These drugs are life saving in many circumstances, but rarely address the underlying metabolic disturbances which caused the diabetes. Not only is weight an underlying issue in diabetes but food choices cause inflammatory conditions, which affect the cell membranes and block the sugar (glucose) from getting from the blood into the cells of the body, where the energy is made. This is an extremely complex issue and many lifestyle, nutritional and herbal products can eliminate or reduce the amount of drug intervention that is needed to maintain a healthy blood sugar.

Pesticides and PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls) and industrial waste accumulate in fat, where they persist for decades. Studies show that people who are high in POPS (persistent organic pollutants) have a 38 fold increase in diabetes than among those with the lowest category of exposure. Eating more organic foods reduces the exposure to POPS and reduces the incidence of diabetes, even in overweight individuals. Bisphenol A is used to make resins for polycarbonate plastic used in food and beverage containers, is known to leach into the containers and is found in 95 percent of urine samples in the United States. It increases the risk of diabetes by 39 percent for each standard deviation increase.

Obesity is an important risk factor for diabetes. Weight loss can improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. Both aerobic and resistance exercise can also improve insulin sensitivity and reduce diabetes risk, even without losing weight. It was not necessary to lose large amounts of weight in order to realize a benefit. A mean weight loss of 10 pounds, over a two year period, was associated with a 59 percent reduction in the incidence of diabetes.

Fructose, primarily high fructose corn syrup, from genetically modified corn that has been soaked in the herbicide Roundup, has a host of awful side effects. From 1970 to 1997, the average annual per capita intake of this sweetener increased from .5 pounds to 62.4 pounds. This increase paralleled an increase in the prevalence of diabetes. Healthy male volunteers, supplementing at the level of 3 g/kg of body weight per day, resulted in insulin resistance after as little as six days.

Fast Food Meals served in fast-food restaurants tend to be high in refined sugar, fat and calories. In a 15 year prospective study, frequent consumption of fast foods (more than twice per week) was associated with a 4.5 kg greater weight gain and two fold greater increase in insulin resistance.  These findings suggest that frequent consumption of fast food may increase the risk of developing obesity and type II diabetes.

Cow’s Milk

Cow’s milk is associated with an increase incidence of Type I diabetes, as it can provoke an autoimmune response in the beta cells of the pancreas. Studies show that gluten free diets delayed, and to a large extent prevented, the development of adult onset diabetes.

Once again this is a huge subject. Next month’s article will review some of the many important natural supports for the pancreas, and prevention and treatment of diabetes.

References:

1. Gaby, Alan R., MD. Nutritional Medicine. Fritz Perlberg Publishing. Concord, NH, 2011.

2. Williams, Robert  H., MD. Textbook of Endocrinology. Fifth Edition. W.B. Saunders Company. 1974.

For more info, contact the Gerber Medical Clinic at (775) 826-1900.