It’s All About The Gut
By · CommentsNatural Therapies That Can Help Many Chronic Conditions
We REALLY are what we eat—but more important, we are the foods we absorb. That’s what I think about when patients come to see me feeling cranky and complaining of fatigue, poor memory, aching joints and/or moodiness. They want me to treat their symptoms, but to heal them, I have to go deeper and focus on their natural therapies for digestive health. The reason: A root cause of many chronic problems often turns out to be poor digestion and inadequate absorption of nutrients.
In fact, I find that nearly every patient with a chronic condition needs to address digestion issues…and even most healthy people would feel much better if they improved their digestion.
Since I last wrote about the connection between digestion and chronic conditions in Bottom Line Natural Healing (September 2005), I have developed a successful protocol that heals the lining of the gut. I recommend this protocol for people with chronic digestive problems and systemic conditions related to poor digestion. It also helps healthy patients who want to improve their digestion.
Good Digestion…and Bad
To understand what goes wrong with digestion, it is important to understand how it works. As food mixed with saliva enters the stomach, it is broken down into small particles by stomach acid, then by enzymes produced by the pancreas and bile produced by the liver. “Good” bacteria (flora) in the small intestine complete the job of breaking down nutrients so that they can be absorbed. Undigestable parts of food, such as fiber, and other waste products are pushed into the colon where they remain until eliminated.
The small intestine plays the important role of gatekeeper, allowing nutrients—thoroughly digested particles of fats, proteins and starches, as well as vitamins and minerals—to pass through its wall into the bloodstream for distribution around the body. It also serves as a barrier to prevent undigested food, large molecules and foreign substances, such as harmful bacteria and yeast, from getting through. When the lining of the small intestine becomes irritated and inflamed, it is unable to do its job properly. As a result, bacteria and undigested food “leak” into the bloodstream. Officially this is called increased intestinal permeability, but more often the problem is called leaky gut syndrome.
The Digestion-Chronic Illness Link
Leaky gut syndrome wreaks havoc on immune function and nutritional status. When the gut “leaks,” the immune system believes that it has been invaded by foreign bodies and goes on attack. It produces antibodies, which can inflame the gut and further damage the intestinal lining. This inflammatory response can result in the worsening of systemic symptoms, such as fatigue, arthritis and headache, among others.
In addition, leaky gut syndrome decreases nutritional absorption. When your gut doesn’t efficiently absorb food, you can develop serious nutritional deficiencies that worsen systemic problems. The only way to stop the cycle is to heal your digestion.
Causes of Leaky Gut
There are many reasons people develop leaky gut syndrome. Some causes are unique to our modern society, while others are age-old…
Poor diet. Fast foods are hard to digest, in part because their low fiber content slows their progress through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Foods high in sugar, artificial sweeteners, colorings, preservatives and omega-6 fatty acids (from vegetable oils) may cause inflammation in the gut.
Chronic stress. The body responds to stress by going into “emergency” mode. As a result, digestion slows.
Chronic illnesses. Cancer, depression and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, often are associated with poor digestion.
Existing digestive problems. Conditions such as colitis, Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome can cause—and worsen—leaky gut syndrome.
Common pain relievers. With regular use, aspirin, ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory drugs damage the lining of the small intestine.
Acid-blocking medications. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as esomeprazole (Nexium) and omeprazole (Prilosec), reduce stomach acid. Long-term use of these drugs intrudes on the GI system’s ability to properly break down food, particularly proteins.
Other pharmaceutical drugs. Certain anticancer drugs and oral steroids destroy the gut’s “good” flora.
Bacterial imbalance. Dysbiosis is an imbalance between good and bad bacteria. A deficiency of good bacteria in the gut often occurs as a result of excessive use of antibiotics or an overgrowth of harmful bacteria.
Environmental toxins. Toxic metals in the environment, such as mercury (from seafood) and chlorine (from tap water), kill good flora.
Excessive alcohol intake. Depending on the individual, two or more alcoholic beverages daily can damage the intestinal tract and reduce absorption abilities.
HEALTHY Gut Protocol
In addition to clearing up all kinds of digestion problems, the new protocol I have developed gives the immune system a boost. My patients tell me that they have improved energy, less gas and bloating, better concentration, less arthritis pain and fewer colds and infections.
Another benefit: This protocol helps people with chronic conditions cope with food sensitivities— reactions to foods containing sugar, dairy, wheat, corn or eggs that irritate and inflame the lining of the small intestine. Many holistic practitioners advise patients to identify these sensitivities with an elimination diet, in which one food at a time is avoided to determine if it is an offender. These diets can involve eliminating between 12 and 24 common foods—which can be time-consuming and stressful and deprive the body of valuable nutrients.
My protocol enables my patients to eat many of the foods they want and get the nutrients they need. I recommend taking all of the following supplements because each will have a different effect on digestion. Unless otherwise noted, they are safe for everyone, but discuss your intention to start this protocol with your doctor. Also, be sure to eat a healthful diet, avoiding alcohol, sugar, caffeine and hydrogenated fats (trans fatty acids found in packaged foods).
High-potency digestive enzymes. These plant enzymes assist in the breakdown of all types of food. Because intolerance to dairy products and gluten (a protein in wheat and some other grains) is so common, I prefer enzymes that contain dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP-IV), which help break down gluten and the milk protein casein. Caution: These enzymes do not allow people with celiac disease to eat gluten, although they can help digest hidden gluten in foods. Avoid these enzymes if you have active gastritis or ulcers.
N-acetyl d-glucosamine (NAG). This amino sugar helps to form the mucous coating on the intestine, which protects it from contact with digestive enzymes and acids and helps discriminate between normal and unhealthy particles. NAG seems to directly reduce food-sensitivity reactions. It also may promote a healthy balance of good flora throughout the intestines.
Glutamine. This amino acid has been shown in several clinical studies to restore intestinal barrier function. It helps promote intestinal cell turnover, guards against intestinal infection and helps soothe inflammation of the digestive tract. My patients tell me that they have less cramping and abdominal pain. Take 1,000 mg three times daily before meals.
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL). This type of licorice root extract stimulates intestinal mucus production and has an anti-inflammatory and soothing effect on the lining of the digestive tract.
Probiotics. These healthful bacteria help prevent overgrowth of yeast and other potentially harmful organisms in the intestines. They also help break down food and normalize gut immune reactions, reducing food sensitivities.
MY RECOMMENDATION
Take these supplements for two months, and then evaluate how you feel. Most of my patients notice a marked improvement in their digestion, energy level and chronic conditions. If you continue to have digestion problems, see a holistic practitioner. If you’re doing well, stay on the protocol for three months or more and assess how you feel. If you have a chronic condition and this protocol helps, you can stay on it indefinitely.
Natural Therapies for Seasonal Allergies
This is the season of pollen, which means that trees, grasses and weeds are busy releasing tiny grains of reproductive cells into the air. Just one plant can send out millions of powdery grains daily. Result: When these grains land in the noses or eyes or on the skin of people who are sensitive to pollen, they can set off an allergic reaction.
The symptoms of allergic rhinitis, otherwise known as hay fever, include sneezing…coughing…itchy, watery eyes…and a runny or congested nose.
Ragweed pollen is one of the most common airborne allergens now. Others include sagebrush, redroot pigweed and tumbleweed.
Exciting news: Since Dr. Mark Stengler wrote about treating hay fever with natural remedies in the Bottom Line Natural Healing May 2006 edition, in addition to getting tests for allergies there are several new and effective natural therapies to tell you about.
SUBLINGUAL IMMUNOTHERAPY
In Europe and South America, the use of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a popular allergy treatment. The therapy involves placing tablets containing small amounts of allergen extract under the tongue (sublingual) to dissolve. This technique works similarly to allergy shots, in which small amounts of purified extract of the allergen are injected. After a series of treatments, patients build up tolerance to the substance in a process called desensitization, making them much less reactive to the allergen. SLIT is easier on patients—it is less painful than shots and less time-consuming because the tablets can be taken at home. While SLIT has started to get attention among conventional medical doctors and allergists in this country, the FDA has yet to approve it, pending further investigation about long-term efficacy and dosing.
Although I don’t prescribe it, I find SLIT interesting because it makes use of techniques that holistic physicians have been using for years to treat allergies. The premise behind both allergy shots and SLIT is similar to that of homeopathy, which treats allergies by desensitizing the immune system to the offending allergen—in this case, pollen. The main difference between SLIT and homeopathy is the extract used to desensitize the patient. In homeopathy, the extract is much more diluted than that used in SLIT. The more diluted a homeopathic remedy, the stronger the effect.
Homeopathy can really help patients. One notable 2005 study found that those with moderate-to-severe seasonal allergies had a 38% reduction in symptoms after taking homeopathic preparations compared with those taking a placebo. There are two homeopathic remedies that I recommend for hay fever. Allium cepa, which comes from onion, helps symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes. When hay fever mainly affects the eyes, I prescribe euphrasia, made from the eyebright plant.
ISOPATHY
I use isopathy, a type of homeopathic treatment that also involves desensitization. Isopathy is based on the same premise as homeopathy—that “like cures like.” Homeopathy uses substances that produce symptoms similar to the offending substance, and isopathy uses the same substance to which a person is sensitive.
In isopathic treatment, patients are given a very small amount of the actual substance to which they are allergic in very diluted form. Isopathic treatment is given in the form of drops or pellets in the mouth or under the tongue. I generally recommend that patients take the oral drops three times daily in various low-potency strengths.
My patients who use isopathic treatment begin to notice improvement in allergy symptoms one week to one month after starting treatment. Susan, age 40, was one of my patients who had been troubled by tree and grass pollen for several years. In the San Diego area where she lives and I practice, pollen is present year-round. An allergist had given her conventional allergy medication along with allergy shots, but both were of only mild benefit. When she came to see me, she was having a very bad allergic reaction. Her sinuses were congested, and she was suffering from headaches, an incessant cough and irritated eyes.
I started her on isopathic treatment—10 drops, three times daily, of a diluted extract of actual grass and tree pollen. Within a month, she felt much better. After five months, Susan no longer required the drops on a regular basis. Now, if a mild return of symptoms occurs, she takes the drops for a few days and her symptoms disappear.
Isopathy generally has no side effects and is safe for everyone, including pregnant and lactating women as well as children. Very occasionally, some patients respond to isopathy with their allergy symptoms slightly aggravated. When this happens, I reduce the frequency and/or strength of treatment.
I also use isopathy to treat other environmental allergies using extracts made of dust and dust mites. For those with animal allergies, I use an extract from animal dander. Isopathy also works well for people sensitive to chemicals and odors from substances such as perfumes and cleaning agents. Patients with multiple allergies can be treated with drops that are a mixture of several allergy substances.
People with year-round allergies can start isopathic therapy at any time. For those with seasonal allergies, it’s best to begin treatment several weeks before your allergy reaction typically sets in.
GETTING TREATED
You’re sneezing and sniffling, but what are you allergic to? Here is what you need to do…
Get Tested. If you are unsure of the cause of your allergic reactions, ask a holistic doctor to administer sensitivity testing. This can be done with blood tests, skin scratch tests or other testing. At the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine we offer allergy testing and desensitization.
Determine what will work. When patients have symptoms of hay fever, I recommend a homeopathic remedy. But when they have a mixture of symptoms where it’s harder to pick a specific homeopathic remedy, I use isopathic treatments. Sometimes, for people with ongoing allergy problems, I recommend both.
Reference: L.S. Kim, et al., “Treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis Using Homeopathic Preparations,” The Annals of Pharmacotherapy (2005).
Reprinted with the permission of Bottom Line/Natural Healing
MENOPAUSE: Synthetic or Bioidentical Hormones?
By · Comments
The Difference Between Synthetic and Natural
Bioidentical Hormones?
Difference Between Synthetic and Bioidentical Hormones? With Dr. Mark Stengler, Founder and Medical Director of the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine located in Encinitas, California.
Natural Bioidentical Hormones With Dr. Mark Stengler
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Natural Bioidentical Hormones Are Safest
What Are Bioidentical Hormones? With Dr. Mark Stengler, Founder and Medical Director of the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine located in Encinitas, California.
Safe HormoneTherapy…for Women and Men
By · Comments Are Natural Bioidentical Hormones Best?
AS I FLICKED THROUGH THE TV CHANNELS one evening, as a hormone specialist doctor, my attention was drawn to a heated discussion on CNN’s Larry King Live about synthetic hormones versus natural bioidentical hormones.
Along with doctors debating the merits of bioidentical (natural) hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the show’s guests included the celebrity author and health advocate Suzanne Somers. Her newest book is Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones (Crown). I watched in amazement as one medical doctor—whose ties to a pharmaceutical company that sells synthetic hormones were disclosed during the show—argued (unconvincingly, I thought) that there is no difference between synthetic and bioidentical hormones. I was impressed at how knowledgeably Somers defended bioidentical hormones, countering the doctor’s misinformation with the facts.
As a hormone specialist doctor and Naturopathic Medical Doctor at my Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine clinic, I often prescribe bioidentical hormones for my own patients—male and female—so I arranged to interview Somers myself. Why do I value her opinion? Her book is based on an in depth interviews with 16 doctors who are experts in bioidentical HRT…she uses this therapy herself…and she is a breast cancer survivor who has been cancer-free for six years after her lumpectomy and radiation, despite having had no chemotherapy. While I do not agree with every recommendation in Somers’s controversial new book, most of the information is valid and helpful.
A LOW-HORMONE EPIDEMIC?
Hormones are powerful chemical messengers secreted by the endocrine glands. Hormones affect the activity of every organ in the body…the cardiovascular, nervous, immune and reproductive systems…and growth patterns and sleep cycles. Any hormonal deficiency can compromise vitality. Some people require HRT to combat obesity, to recover from disease or depression, or simply to achieve optimal health.
Many women in their 40s, 50s and beyond live in a state of hormonal imbalance brought on by birth control pills, menopause, poor diet, stress, illness or exposure to toxins. Result: An array of problems, ranging from the annoying (hot flashes and memory lapses)…to the energy-sapping (insomnia, fatigue and weight gain)…to the debilitating (osteoporosis and depression).
Compared with women, men are less prone to hormonal imbalances—yet men’s risk is still very substantial. An article published in 2005 in the Annual Review of Medicine concluded that approximately 30% of men in their 60s and 70% of men in their 70s have low levels of free testosterone. (The “free” level is the amount of a hormone that is not bound to protein and so is available to interact with cells.)
I see a significant number of male patients whose hormonal deficiencies have triggered weight gain, joint pain, erectile dysfunction, fatigue and/or depression. (I was not surprised when Somers told me that both her husband and adult son experienced tremendous improvement in energy and mood from bioidentical HRT that included testosterone.) It is normal for hormone production to decline gradually as we get older. What is not normal is any sudden, rapid or extreme drop in hormone levels—as often occurs when chronic illness, chronic stress and/or an unhealthy lifestyle strains the endocrine system. As the first line of treatment, I advocate dietary improvements, nutritional supplements and other natural remedies. However, for patients who have very low hormone levels, severe symptoms or a chronic disease (such as heart disease, osteoporosis or arthritis), bioidentical HRT is sometimes necessary.
Hormones should be administered by a qualified doctor…at the lowest effective dose…and for the shortest time possible, though some patients do require lifelong HRT.
WHY BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES ARE BEST
The term “bioidentical hormones” refers to hormones that are exactly the same in structure and function as those produced by the human body. Substances derived from plant or animal tissues are modified (on a molecular level) in a laboratory until they precisely match the natural human hormones. Synthetic hormones, in contrast, are not identical in structure and function to those produced by the human endocrine system. For example, birth control pills are composed of chemically synthesized hormones—usually estrogen and progestin (a type of synthetic progesterone)—that are molecularly different from natural human hormones. Actually, the concept of a “natural” source can be confusing.
The synthetic estrogen-replacement drug Premarin is derived from a natural source—the urine of a pregnant horse—but the drug contains estrogens found naturally only in horses and not in humans. Synthetic estrogen-replacement drugs increase the risk of several potentially fatal diseases, especially when combined with progestin. In 2002, a large-scale study called the Women’s Health Initiative revealed that postmenopausal women who used synthetic estrogen and progestin had a significantly increased risk of breast cancer, coronary artery disease, stroke and blood clots. In response to this alarming news, many doctors immediately recommended that patients stop synthetic HRT. Interestingly, statistics for the year that followed showed a drop of 7% in breast cancer overall and a decline of 12% in estrogen receptor–positive breast cancers (which are more likely to occur when estrogen levels are high) among women ages 50 to 69. No comprehensive studies have yet explored whether bioidentical hormones are safer than synthetic ones. However, anecdotal evidence indicates that serious side effects from bioidentical HRT are uncommon. Hormones work by attaching to cell receptors (molecules on a cell’s surface that allow other substances to affect cell activity). Because these cell receptors are designed to interact with the body’s natural hormones, bioidentical hormones provide the best fit. Synthetic hormones do not fit as well—and therefore may be more likely to cause problems at a cellular level.
Evidence: Premarin has been shown in test tube studies to damage cell DNA, according to a study published in 2001 in Chemical Research Toxicology.
Unfortunately, many medical doctors are uninformed about bioidentical HRT—perhaps because bioidentical hormones are not marketed or promoted by the pharmaceutical industry. (To be patented, a pharmaceutical product must not duplicate any substance found in nature, so bioidentical hormones do not yield the large profits that many drugs do.) Still, I am encouraged by the increasing number of doctors who now recommend bioidentical hormones. Suzanne Somers recently spoke at the convention of the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM), addressing 6,000 physicians—primarily medical doctors—who were already prescribing or were interested in prescribing bioidentical HRT. To locate practitioners in your area, call ACAM at 888-439-6891 or visit www.acam.org…then contact the physicians directly to ask if they prescribe bioidentical hormones.
DIAGNOSING DEFICIENCIES
To diagnose a hormonal deficiency, it is necessary to consider symptoms as well as the results of laboratory testing. For instance, blood tests may not pick up mild cases of low thyroid hormone, so I look for telltale symptoms, including fatigue, hair and eyebrow loss, dry skin and poor memory. Many such patients get relief by using bioidentical thyroid HRT, even when lab test results appeared normal. Conversely, some patients with hormonal deficiencies may not have obvious symptoms. Without treatment, they may develop serious health problems. For example, low testosterone (in men and women) increases the risk of heart disease and depression. In such cases, laboratory testing is vital. Because hormone levels fluctuate, the most accurate tests use multiple samples and/or a sample collected at a specific time of the day or month. I recommend annual testing (usually covered by insurance) for anyone over age 40…with a chronic disease…or with symptoms of a hormonal imbalance.
Three types of tests are available…
Saliva testing accurately measures the free hormone levels of cortisol… dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)…the three estrogens…progesterone…and testosterone.
Urine testing can measure free levels of more than a dozen hormones, as well as metabolite (metabolized hormone) levels that provide additional information about endocrine function.
Blood testing measures free levels of testosterone and the three thyroid hormones.
ON THE MARKET NOW
If your tests indicate a deficiency or if you now use synthetic HRT, ask your doctor about bioidentical HRT. The Food and Drug Administration has approved these prescription products…
Estrogen (generic name estradiol), available in tablet form (Estrace), as a skin patch (Estraderm, Vivelle, Climara) and as a vaginal ring (Estring).
Growth hormone, (generic name somatropin), given by injection (Genotropin, Norditropin, Humatrope).
Progesterone, in capsule form (Prometrium).
Testosterone, as a topical ointment (AndroGel).
Thyroid hormone in tablet form (Armour Thyroid, Nature-Throid, Cytomel).
The following bioidentical hormones are available without a prescription, although I strongly advise using them under the guidance of a doctor…
DHEA, sold in capsule or tablet form.
Pregnenolone, in capsule or tablet form.
Progesterone, as a topical cream.
One non prescription bioidentical hormone is generally safe to use without a doctor’s guidance…
Melatonin, sold as a liquid, capsule or sublingual (under the tongue) tablet.
For dosages adjusted to your precise needs, get bioidentical HRT prescriptions filled at a compounding pharmacy. Check the Yellow Pages or contact the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (800-927-4227, www.iacprx.org).
As Suzanne Somers said to me, the endocrine system is like an orchestra. A slight imbalance is like a few wrong notes from a trumpet. When a deficiency is great or when several hormones are involved, it’s as if the entire violin section is out of tune. Bioidentical HRT may help to keep you in fine fiddle.
Reprinted with permission of Bottom Line/Natural Healing
Want a printable copy of this article? Safe HormoneTherapy…for Women and Men
IS YOUR BLOOD TOO THICK?
By · CommentsAlternative Health Remedies to Thin Your Blood
Late last year, there was big news in the pharmaceutical world with the announcement that several new blood-thinning medications were in development. The first to become available, dabigatran (Pradaxa), also was the first new oral blood-thinning medication to be approved in more than 50 years.
The excitement was understandable. Millions of Americans take blood-thinning medications such as warfarin (Coumadin)—and the new medications are promoted as being more effective and safer than the old ones.
Only time will tell if they are safer, but all blood thinners have inherent serious risks such as the potential for excessive bleeding in any organ. And these medications are not indicated for relatively healthy people who want to prevent a stroke or heart attack.
That’s why I want to address the problem of thick blood—which is, after all, a main condition causing the need for all these blood thinners. I will tell you how you can determine if you are at risk for thick blood and how to treat it naturally using alternative health remedies.
WHAT MAKES BLOOD THICK
One of the main ways that your blood becomes thicker than it should be involves a protein called fibrinogen. Fibrinogen is one of several proteins that assist in the coagulation process. Its specific job is to generate networks of fibers that link platelets together to stop blood flow. We need adequate levels of fibrinogen to stop bleeding when we are injured. However, elevated fibrinogen levels are associated with excessive and spontaneous blood clotting (not in response to a wound), which compromises blood circulation and increases the risk for blood clots anywhere in the body. If a blood vessel is partially blocked by atherosclerotic plaque, those spontaneous clots can block the blood vessel completely, causing either a heart attack or stroke.
In addition to promoting clots and playing a role in the development and expansion of atherosclerotic plaque, elevated fibrinogen is believed to slow the flow of blood, which makes the heart work harder and reduces the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the heart, brain and all cells of the body. We know that elevated fibrinogen level is a risk factor (on its own) for heart attack and stroke.
HOW FIBRINOGEN LEVELS BECOME ELEVATED
Remember that other risk marker for cardiovascular disease—C-reactive protein (CRP)? This sign of inflammation throughout the body is produced in the presence of all types of disease. In some cases, when CRP goes up, so do fibrinogen levels. As with CRP, fibrinogen levels are elevated when you are overweight…or have diabetes…a sedentary lifestyle…infection…reduced levels of estrogen (common as women age)…or stress. Fibrinogen also may be elevated because of genetics.
Studies attest to the danger of elevated fibrinogen levels. A 2005 meta-analysis published in The Journal of the American Medical Association involving data from more than 150,000 people found that elevated fibrinogen levels were associated with an increased risk for heart attack, stroke and overall mortality. And a recent study published in Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis found that fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in patients who had had an ischemic stroke than in patients who were healthy.
THE TEST TO REQUEST
I recommend that all my patients get a blood test to assess their fibrinogen levels. Because most doctors don’t routinely order this blood test, you will need to request it.
It should be tested even if your CRP level is normal. I recommend getting tested for preventive purposes, especially if you smoke…are overweight…have hypertension, peripheral artery disease or diabetes…have family members with heart disease…or have unexplained fatigue…fibromyalgia…or memory/focus problems. These risk factors or medical conditions all incite an inflammatory response in the body—and a higher inflammatory response is responsible for an increase in the production of fibrinogen.
In the rare cases where they do order a blood test for fibrinogen levels, conventional medical doctors look for a range of between 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) and 400 mg/dL. Holistic doctors generally prefer to see the level slightly lower—between 180 mg/dL and 350 mg/dL. If your level is higher than this, I recommend working with a holistic doctor to incorporate the following natural blood-thinning program.
Caution: It’s important to check with your doctor before taking any of these natural anticoagulants if you are already taking any blood-thinning medication.
HELP FOR HIGH FIBRINOGEN
Two natural blood thinners in particular are effective at reducing fibrinogen levels. Patients often take these supplements at increasing doses until their fibrinogen levels are in the normal range. Then they take both of these remedies indefinitely…
Nattokinase. This enzyme is the most potent natural anticoagulant. It’s extracted from natto, a fermented soy food eaten in Japan. In one study published in Nutrition Research, researchers gave nattokinase supplements to healthy people as well as to people with cardiovascular or kidney disease. After two months, most of the participants had significant reductions in fibrinogen levels. Most people who use nattokinase start with 100 mg daily. They may increase to 200 mg daily if they need more. A 100-mg capsule contains about 2,000 fibrin units (FU). Doctors may prescribe higher levels if needed.
Omega-3s. The two key omega-3 fats—eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)— are mild blood thinners and are known to reduce inflammation. Dose: 2,000 mg to 3,000 mg daily of combined DHA and EPA.
NATURAL BLOOD THINNERS TO PREVENT THICK BLOOD
For patients whose fibrinogen levels are not high, I recommend that they take supplements to maintain healthful blood viscosity.
Omega-3s. I recommend omega-3 fats (EPA and DHA), as noted above, for all patients. The dose that I usually recommend to prevent stroke and coronary disease is 1,000 mg daily of DHA and EPA.
B vitamins. Numerous studies have shown that regular intake of folic acid and other B vitamins can reduce the risk for ischemic stroke by about one-fifth. Low levels of these vitamins can lead to abnormally high levels of homocysteine, which damage blood vessels. If you have elevated levels of homocysteine, use a formula designated on the label as a homocysteine formula that includes folic acid and vitamins B-6 and B-12.
Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a natural blood thinner. Dose: 1,200 international units (IU) to 2,000 IU daily of a vitamin E supplement. Look for a brand that says “mixed vitamin E” or lists all eight tocopherols and tocotrienols on the label.
Ginkgo biloba. While the herb ginkgo biloba is a blood thinner, it also is rich in flavonoids that strengthen blood vessel walls. Studies have shown that ginkgo supplements increase blood flow to the brain. Dose: 180 mg daily of ginkgo.
Water. Blood is mostly fluid, and this fluid comes from water. Many patients, especially seniors, don’t drink enough water and suffer from chronic dehydration. Drinking about eight glasses of water daily can help maintain normal hydration and thin blood.
References:
J. Danesh, et al., “Plasma Fibrinogen Level and the Risk of Major Cardiovascular Diseases and Nonvascular Mortality,” The Journal of the American Medical Association (2005).
M.P. De Maat, et al., “y’/Total Fibrinogen Ratio Is Associated with Short-Term Outcome in Ischaemic Stroke,” Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (2011).
Reprinted with the permission of Bottom Line/Natural Healing With Dr. Stengler
Naturopathic Medical Doctor
Warns Don’t Drink The Water
Have you ever wondered why there is a warning on the labels of toothpastes? It tells users to keep the product away from children and to seek medical attention if more than the recommended amount for brushing is swallowed. Reason: Toothpaste contains fluoride.
For years, this chemical has been added to our water to reduce the occurrence of dental cavities—but unbelievably, the newest evidence shows that fluoridated water does not protect against cavities. In fact, it turns out that we don’t need fluoride to protect our teeth at all.
Dentists advise that children use toothpaste that contains fluoride—and yet we keep all kinds of other medications and dangerous products away from children. But is toothpaste as dangerous? Yes. The average tube of toothpaste contains enough fluoride to kill a child. And how safe is a glass of fluoridated tap water?
Fluoride occurs naturally in soil, water and some plants. It also is a by-product of phosphate fertilizer production and is an industrial waste product of the aluminum smelting industry.
The FDA maintains that fluoride is a drug. It’s also known to be a highly toxic substance,
even more toxic than lead.
Once used as rat poison, it can cause serious health problems when ingested in unsafe amounts, including weak bones, hormone disruption and neurological damage.
And the truth is—fluoride is everywhere. It’s not only in dental-hygiene products but also still in our water supply. It’s been there since the 1940s, when extensive tooth decay was common across the US. In 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) called water fluoridation one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century.
Fast forward to 2011…and we are at risk for health problems because we are overexposed to fluoride. It is even in a number of products that our families consume (either when we add in fluoridated water or when the products themselves are made with fluoridated water), such as baby formula, processed cereals, juice, soda, tea, wine and beer. What you need to know to protect yourself…
FLUORIDE IN TAP WATER
It’s not only the natural medicine community that is alarmed. Earlier this year, for the first time in about 50 years, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that there was too much fluoride in the US water supply and recommended reducing the amount of fluoride added to water to 0.7 parts per million (ppm) everywhere. The limit had previously been 0.7 ppm in warm climates where people drink a lot of water to 1.2 ppm in cooler climates (where people presumably drink less).
FLUORIDE CAUSES HEALTH PROBLEMS
When you ingest fluoride, about half is excreted by the kidneys. The rest is stored in your bones and teeth, where it does the opposite of what it is supposed to do—it causes damage. According to the CDC, 41% of American adolescents now have dental fluorosis, an increase from 23% in 1987. This disfigurement of tooth enamel in teeth, which can range from white patches to brown mottling, typically occurs before age eight (when permanent teeth are all formed). This very high rate of fluorosis is thought to be caused by fluoride intake during childhood, from drinking fluoridated water (including commercial drinks made with fluoridated water) and swallowing toothpaste with fluoride.
In addition to fluorosis, fluoride causes other health problems…
Fluoride decreases bone strength. A 2010 Journal of Dental Research study found that bone strength in animals decreases with increased levels of fluoride in bones. HHS also has noted that excess fluoride can result in bone fractures and skeletal fluorosis, a crippling condition.
Fluoride impairs brain function in children. A 2008 systematic review published in Biological Trace Element Research found that children in China who live in an area with fluoridated water have five times greater risk for a lower IQ than children who live in a nonfluoridated or slightly fluoridated area. The water was fluoridated at a level of 2.47 milligrams per liter (mg/L), three times the US safe level. (Note that 1 ppm equals 1 mg/L.)
Fluoride upsets cardiac function. Increased fluoride can result in abnormal calcification of cardiac tissue. This can impair cardiac function in animals, say researchers from Agricultural University Wageningen in the Netherlands, whose study was published in Biological Trace Element Research.
Fluoride interferes with cell metabolism. Research published in Toxicology Letters in 2010 points to chronic fluoride exposure as a possible cause of oxidative stress, which results in inflammation throughout the body.
In addition, in 2006, the National Research Council (NRC) reviewed EPA water-safety standards. The NRC found that excessive fluoride intake was associated with hormone disruption, impaired thyroid function, increased free radical activity in the brain (potentially contributing to dementia) and abnormal insulin response.
IT DOESN’T REDUCE CAVITIES
Population studies show that people who live in communities that fluoridate their water have no fewer cavities, on average, than people in communities without fluoridated water. While it’s true that the US has experienced dramatic declines in cavities and tooth decay over the past 50 years, the same holds true for people in Europe, where many countries discontinued the practice of water fluoridation starting in the 1970s. It is believed that cavities have decreased despite water fluoridation cessation because of better oral hygiene.
MINIMIZE YOUR FLUORIDE INTAKE
Water fluoridation is an unsafe practice that should be stopped. If you live in the US, there’s a 70% chance that your tap water is fluoridated. Since water fluoridation is left up to individual states and municipalities, practices vary from town to town. Examples: New York City, Minneapolis and Chicago currently maintain a water fluoride content of 1 mg/L. To check the fluoride content of your water, contact your local water utility or visit http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/MWF/Index.asp.
You can join the growing number of people who are letting their local government agencies know about the health concerns of fluoridated water. To further protect yourself…
Drink spring water. It usually contains less than 0.1 ppm of fluoride.
Use a water filter. One of the best types of filters for removing fluoride is the reverse-osmosis filter, available at appliance stores for $300 to $400. Many household filters, such as Brita and Pur, do not eliminate fluoride.
AVOIDING FLUORIDE IN DENTAL PRODUCTS
The concentration of fluoride in many commercially made toothpastes is high—about 1,000 ppm to 1,500 ppm. Even when you don’t swallow fluoridated toothpaste, some fluoride is absorbed by the body and goes into the bloodstream. I’m convinced that there is no benefit from any kind of topical application of fluoride—whether it’s toothpaste, mouthwash or even a onetime fluoride treatment from the dentist. Both children and adults should not use fluoride treatment or supplements of any kind.
Switch to a toothpaste that doesn’t include fluoride—and that does contain only natural ingredients. Make sure these include xylitol, a compound derived from plant fibers that is known to prevent cavities. Many such toothpastes are available at health-food stores. Also, work with a holistic dentist to ensure dental health.
SAY GOOD-BYE TO YOUR DIABETES MEDICATION
By · CommentsSome of my patients who have type 2 diabetes are able to keep the disease under control with diet, exercise and supplements. Lucky them! But for other diabetes patients, that’s not enough and they must take pharmaceutical medications.
I’m happy to report that there is another natural alternative health treatment option for diabetes patients who currently take pharmaceutical medications. Research has found that a plant extract called berberine can control diabetes as well as, or better than, common medications such as metformin (Glucophage) and rosiglitazone (Avandia). And it does this with no side effects—and without damaging the liver, as some medications do. Here’s how berberine can help people with diabetes.
Natural Health Alternatives for Diabetes Medication
A naturally occurring chemical compound, berberine is found in the roots and stems of several plants, including Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal), Coptis chinensis (coptis or goldthread) and Berberis aquifolium (Oregon grape). Long used as a remedy in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines, berberine is known for its antimicrobial properties and as a treatment for bacterial and fungal infections. Several decades ago, berberine was used to treat diarrhea in patients in China. That was when doctors noticed that the blood sugar levels of diabetes patients were lower after taking the herbal extract—and berberine began to be investigated for this purpose.
SCIENTIFIC STUDIES
Over the past 20 years, there has been much research on berberine and its effectiveness in treating diabetes. In 2008, Chinese researchers published a study in Metabolism in which adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes were given 500 milligrams (mg) of either berberine or the drug metformin three times a day for three months. Researchers found that berberine did as good a job as metformin at regulating glucose metabolism, as indicated by hemoglobin A1C (a measure of blood glucose over several weeks)…fasting blood glucose…blood sugar after eating…and level of insulin after eating. Berberine even reduced the amount of insulin needed to turn glucose into energy by 45%! In addition, those taking berberine had noticeably lower trigylceride and total cholesterol levels than those taking metformin.
In another 2008 study published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, researchers found that type 2 diabetes patients who were given berberine had significant reductions in fasting and postmeal blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C, triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol—and also lost an average of five pounds, to boot, during the three-month study period.
In a 2010 study in Metabolism, Chinese researchers compared people with type 2 diabetes who took either 1,000 mg daily of berberine or daily doses of metformin or rosiglitazone. After two months, berberine had lowered subjects’ fasting blood glucose levels by an average of about 30%, an improvement over the rosiglitazone group and almost as much as people in the metformin group. Berberine also reduced subjects’ hemoglobin A1C by 18%—equal to rosiglitazone and, again, almost as good as metformin. In addition, berberine lowered serum insulin levels by 28.2% (indicating increased insulin sensitivity)…lowered triglycerides by 17.5%…and actually improved liver enzyme levels. Pharmaceutical medications, on the other hand, have the potential to harm the liver.
These were remarkable findings. Here was a botanical that was holding up to scientific scrutiny—and performing as well as, or better than, some drugs that patients had been taking for diabetes for years.
HOW BERBERINE WORKS IN THE BODY
Berberine helps to lower blood glucose in several ways. One of its primary mechanisms involves stimulating the activity of the genes responsible for manufacturing and activating insulin receptors, which are critical for controlling blood glucose.
Berberine also has an effect on blood sugar regulation through activation of incretins, gastrointestinal hormones that affect the amount of insulin released by the body after eating.
HOW BERBERINE CAN HELP
I recommend berberine to my patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes to reduce their blood sugar and prevent them from needing pharmaceutical drugs. When a diet, exercise and supplement program (including supplements such as chromium) is already helping a diabetes patient, I don’t recommend that he/she switch to berberine.
Some patients are able to take berberine—and make dietary changes —and stop taking diabetes drugs altogether. People with severe diabetes can use berberine in conjunction with medication—and this combination treatment allows for fewer side effects and better blood sugar control. I don’t recommend berberine for prediabetes unless diet and exercise are not effective. Berberine is sold in health-food stores and online in tablet and capsule form. The dosage I typically recommend for all diabetes patients is 500 mg twice daily. The supplement that I recommend to my patients is Gluco Well2 which includes berberine at the therapeutic dosage.
For patients with diabetes who want to use berberine, I recommend talking to your doctor about taking this supplement. It’s also important for every patient with diabetes to participate in a comprehensive diet and exercise program. Note that berberine helps patients with type 2 diabetes, not type 1 diabetes (in which the body does not produce enough insulin).
References
J. Yin, et al., “Efficacy of Berberine in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus,” Metabolism (2008).
Y. Zhang, et al., “Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and Dyslipidemia with the Natural Plant Alkaloid Berberine,” Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (2008).
H. Zhang, et al., “Berberine Lowers Blood Glucose in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Through Increasing Insulin Receptor Expression,” Metabolism (2010).
Reprinted with the permission of Bottom Line/Natural Healing With Dr. Stengler
Statin Use Linked to Diabetes
By · CommentsAlternative Health Treatment
Recommended for Lowering Cholesterol
For years I have been an advocate for alternative health treatments to statin medications for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, and now research using data from the Women’s Health Initiative is pointing to a new and unnecessary risk of taking statin drugs—Diabetes.
The finding comes from researchers working at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, who looked at data from 153,840 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years. Among those taking any statin drug simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Altocor, Altoprev, Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), fluvastatin (Lescol), and atrovastatin (Lipitor)), risk of developing diabetes was determined to be 48%! This was not the first study to show a link between statins and diabetes.
While people take statins believe they reduce their risk of heart disease;
They are paradoxically increasing their risk of heart disease since diabetes causes heart disease!
And, of course, diabetes increases the risk of other dreadful diseases such as blindness, amputation, impotence, fatigue, an increased risk of dementia.
This risk is outrageous and another clear sign that doctors who prescribe statin medications in mass to their patients are doing more harm than good. Lifestyle interventions like diet and exercise and natural therapies, including supplements such as niacin and fish oil can have a tremendous influence on cholesterol levels while improving overall health instead of harming it the way statins can. For a natural method of lowering cholesterol see my formula Cholesterol Wellness.
I would also recommend that you have an advanced lipid testing including the new genetic markers – so you can get the whole picture. Contact my office for more details and/or to set up an appointment.
Source: A. L. Culver, et al. Statin use and risk of diabetes mellitus in postmenopausal women in the Women’s Health Initiative. Arch Intern Med (2012).
Trans Fats are Damaging Your Brain
By · CommentsNaturopathic Medical Doctor Alarmed By Food
Industry Use of Trans Fats
We’ve been hearing for a long time that the nasty trans fats that food industry relies on to increase its revenues is harming consumers by raising levels of low-density (bad) cholesterol and reducing levels of high-density (good) cholesterol and influencing other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. You can add another harm to that list: brain damage. As a Naturopathic Medical Doctor having seen the damage caused by trans fats in patients, I am further alarmed by the following study.
The Study
A study by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and published in the journal Neurology showed that elderly people with diets containing large amounts of trans fats are more likely to show signs of a specific type of brain shrinkage that is associated with Alzheimer disease. The researchers looked at the levels of a wide range of nutrients in the blood of study participants (all of whom were in their mid-to-late 80s, but healthy with few known risk factors for Alzheimer’s). They found evidence on MRI tests that people with high levels of trans fats in their blood had brain shrinkage not seen in their low-trans-fat eating counterparts. Plus, the trans fat eaters performed poorly on memory and thinking tasks, whereas people with higher levels of vitamins B, C, D, and E, and omega-3 fatty acids performed well on the tests.
My Advice
The take-home message is clear: Avoid trans fats. The simplest way to do this is to resolve to limit or eliminate processed and packaged foods from your diet. You won’t go hungry! Focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, a variety of nuts, seeds, and beans, lean meats, and low-fat dairy.
Source: G. L. Bowman, et al., Nutrient biomarker patterns, cognitive function, and MRI measures of brain aging. Neurology. (2012)
