Natural help for concussions

Natural Help for Concussions

What is a concussion?

A concussion is an injury to the brain that results in temporary loss of normal brain function. The CDC estimates that 1.6 million to 3.8 million concussions occur each year.  They also report estimates of 300,000 sport-related concussions occur annually.

The following are concussion symptoms:

·         Prolonged headache

·         Vision disturbances

·         Dizziness

·         Nausea or vomiting

·         Impaired balance

·         Confusion

·         Memory loss

·         Ringing ears

·         Difficulty concentrating

·         Sensitivity to light

·         Loss of smell or taste

Many times you will hear concussions called mild traumatic brain injuries or MTBIs.  MTBIs can lead to changes in vascular regulation and other neuro-metabolic processes that lead to chronic consequences, most notably “second impact syndrome”. 

At the time a concussion happens, excitatory neurotransmitters (like histamine) are released which result in cellular membrane (Blood brain barrier or BBB) disruption and ionic (sodium/potassium etc.) imbalances.  Increasing amounts of energy are required in an attempt to correct these ionic imbalances.  This then increases glucose metabolism (which can then lead to a secondary hypoglycemia).   This combined with decreased cerebral blood flow, results in increased energy demands and decreased availability of nutrients.

There is no such thing as a "minor concussion." 

A second concussion soon after the first one, however, does not have to be very strong for its effects to be deadly or permanently disabling (second impact syndrome).  Repetitive head trauma from participation in contact sports such as boxing, football and ice hockey can lead to a permanent decrease in brain function, including:

·         Early Alzheimer's disease

·         Movement disorders such as parkinsonism

·         Emotional disturbances

(Taken from www.mayoclinic.org)

Post concussive syndrome

Symptoms can include:

·         Memory and concentration problems

·         Mood swings

·         Personality changes

·         Headache

·         Fatigue

·         Dizziness

·         Insomnia

·         Excessive drowsiness 

PCS currently has no standard treatment.  (Taken from www. neurosurgery.ucla.edu)  However, the treatment for PCS currently in the United States may be medications for headache, insomnia, irritability, anxiety, and pain; electrical stimulation or acupuncture for nerve blocks, and rehabilitation for physical/cognitive symptoms.  (Taken from www.brainconcussion.net)  However, these do very little, if anything, to help the brain actually heal.

Standard Medical Treatment 

The standard treatment for concussion is rest. (Taken from www.aans.org)  As you will soon see, this not only is this not a great situation, it can actually be detrimental.  There are several treatment guidelines used to monitor (not treat) concussions and currently, there is no consensus within the sports medicine community as to which set of guidelines is the most appropriate.  Some of these guidelines were derived almost 30 years ago.

Inflammation and the Brain

The body’s tissue is primarily comprised of various proteins linked together.  This includes the brain and the delicate tissue surrounding it.  Whenever there is tissue injury, these proteins are the broken and become “foreign”, so to speak.  These foreign proteins are extremely inflammatory and can take quite a bit of time to be broken down by the body.  Especially if the circulation to the area is decreased to begin with; like with a concussion.  When the brain is aggravated by any source-emotional stress, infections, trauma, stroke, poisons, or nutritional deficiencies-inflammation spurs the release of pro-inflammatory chemicals called cytokines.  For each individual the inflammatory response can be unique.  Individual, personalized understanding of inflammation and its contributions to the physiology of mood disorders is a critical, but often a neglected component of integrative therapies for depression secondary to a concussion.  An increasing body of evidence implicates both brain inflammation and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.  Brain inflammation is also being implicated as a factor in autism and autism spectrum disorders. As you can see, simply resting after a concussion can lead to this inflammatory process in the brain to go unregulated and can go from a small brush fire to a forest fire, so to speak, very quickly.

How is lymphatic circulation involved? 

Scientists have recently discovered that the brain has its own lymphatic system comprised of nerve cells called glia.  They have termed this the “glymphatic” system.  In essentially all neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, protein waste accumulates and eventually suffocates and kills the neuronal network of the brain.  If the glymphatic system fails to cleanse the brain as it is meant to, either as a consequence of normal aging, or in response to brain injury, waste may begin to accumulate in the brain (see proteolytic enzymes below).  The glymphatic system then drains into the actual lymphatic system.

The lymphatic system is the garbage truck of the body; taking bacteria, used protein, and other foreign metabolites to the liver to be excreted.  If the lymphatic system isn’t working efficiently, the body can become what people call “toxic”.  The cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, has an intimate relationship with the lymphatic system and when the lymphatics are “sluggish”, the brain will not be able to detoxify itself easily.  Swedish-type massage can help the body’s lymphatic circulation, but the best way to help is through regular chiropractic care.  Doctors skilled in Applied Kinesiology methods have ways to work directly with the lymphatic system to insure it is functioning optimally.

Cranial-Respiratory motion

Physiologic motion of the skull, made up of 8 bones, is very important in normal health.  Many people, including some doctors, perceive that the primary purpose of the skull is to protect the brain and provide a place for the eyes and ears.  While this is correct, there is much more to understanding the cranium and its association with the nervous system.  Within the cranium there are “tension membranes” filled with cerebrospinal fluid and anchored to the cranial bones.  These tension membranes provide support to the brain, cushioning it within the cerebrospinal fluid.  There is a dynamic integration of these membranes within the minute movement of the eight bones of the skull, known as the cranial respiratory system.

There are many reasons why proper motion of the skull can be disturbed.  Disruption of this subtle cranial motion, as a result of head injuries, can reduce the circulation around the injured area.  This can dramatically increase healing time.  Utilizing applied kinesiology methods allows doctors to assess the movement of the cranial-respiratory system and determine where the imbalance lies.

Cerebrospinal fluid is controlled and distributed to the nervous system by the gentle pulsing action of this cranial respiratory system.  Scientists have known that CSF plays an important role cleansing brain tissue carrying away waste products and carrying nutrients to brain tissue through a process known as diffusion.  CSF is in direct communication with the lymphatic system and consequently, the rest of the body.

The problem with “giving it time”

            As you can plainly see, simply giving a concussion time to heal may not be the best idea.  “Giving it time” implies that the body’s ability to heal is optimal to begin with.  This is not always the case.  Prior health imbalances, including prior injuries, have a cumulative effect on the body and in essence, can inhibit the body from healing efficiently.  No wonder some people, especially athletes, are never the same after head injuries.

As of the writing of this post, the NFL is seeking to dismiss more than 140 consolidated concussion lawsuits that include more than 3,300 former players.  If an estimated 300,000 sports-related head injuries occur every year, the amount of athletes in general, especially professional, that are dealing with PCS has to be staggering. 

What you can do

We can all learn great lessons by observing animals in their natural environment.  If an animal is injured, what does it do?  It finds a hole or some other place to hide until it feels better.  It does nothing.  So, conventional treatment of rest is right on.  However, neurological injuries can take large amounts of time to truly heal; if ever. 

Let’s look at the word inflammation again.  Inflammation is a chemical process.  What are the only chemicals we are (generally) putting into our body?  Food and drink, right?  Food and drink can be anti-inflammatory or extremely inflammatory.  There are many “anti-inflammatory” diets out there and they all have great aspects.  The big things to avoid are food additives like MSG, artificial colors, and artificial sweeteners.  White sugar, for a person who has just had a concussion can be VERY detrimental.  NO SUGAR…period.  Sugar, for any injury, but especially a brain injury is extremely inflammatory.

Nutritional supplements can help immensely.  Here is a list of Dr. Todd’s top nutrients for MTBIs.

·         proteolytic enzymes like trypsin and alpha chymotrypsin. 

o   These enzyme “chew up” foreign proteins and allow them to be excreted.  These enzymes can literally cut healing time by 50%.  I have seen it first-hand.

·         Superoxide Dismutase (SOD).

o   This has a high level of anti-oxidant activity and is highly effective at reducing high levels of inflammation in a short period of time, especially in the brain and spinal cord.

·         L-Glutathione and N-Acetyl L-Cysteine

o   Some of the most powerful antioxidants known

·         Vitamins A, C, E, zinc, and selenium

o   These are all basic anti-oxidants and work on a multitude of levels in the body. 

·         B complex vitamins

o   These are crucial.  The brain uses more energy than any other organ in the body and the B complex vitamins are used in every energy pathway the body has.  However, please see the prior blog post below in relation to choosing B vitamins.

o   Http://www.drtoddoverdorf.blogspot.com/2011/12/not-all-b-vitamins-are-same-learn-how.html

There is help for not only concussions, but also post-concussive syndrome.  The key is to find a doctor that is skilled in analysis of the body as it functions day to day.  He or she should not only be skilled in basic neurology, but also how the nervous system functions as a whole.  Be sure that they are well versed in nutritional therapy as it happens in a clinical setting.  Optimally, the doctor of choice should be someone who can understand and analyze ALL of this...at the same time.  Search out doctors skilled in the art of applied kinesiology.

Concussions are not to be taken lightly.  Being proactive can have life-changing results.

 

           

 

Dr. Todd’s cholesterol and heart disease theory

Saying cholesterol inside arteries causes heart disease is like saying flies cause manure piles.  Just because they are there, doesn’t mean they caused it.  Let me explain…

First of all, let us define what cholesterol actually is.  Cholesterol is NOT a fat; it is what’s known as a high molecular weight sterol.

Here are just a few examples of what cholesterol actually does:

Ø  It is an important component of cell membranes

Ø  Cholesterol is used by the body as raw material for the healing process.  This is the reason the injured areas in the arteries have cholesterol in them.  (more on this later)

Ø  Cholesterol is found in large amounts in brain tissue where it is needed for normal brain function.  Research has shown that cholesterol in eggs is helpful to older people whose memory is declining.

Ø  Adrenal and gonadal hormones are made from cholesterol.  These are stress handling, energy producing and reproductive hormones.  (This is why serum cholesterol elevates with prolonged stress.

Ø  Vitamin D is made from cholesterol in the skin.

Ø  Cholesterol is needed in large amounts in the skin where it is vital for skin health and strength.

I am going to draw your attention to how magnets work in conjunction with each other.  Magnets have a north pole and a south pole and do two things:  attract and repel.  When we played with magnets in grade school, the simple observation was made that the north pole of one and the north pole of another repelled each other.  The same thing happened with two south poles being put together.  Then putting north and south pole close together caused attraction.  An electrostatic force of attraction is the force between two polar opposites (positive and negative).

The luminal (inner) surface of the vascular wall is coated with highly negatively charged protein complexes.  It also has long been recognized that vertebrate red blood cells (RBC’s) are negatively charged.  So, let’s do some math and put 1 and 1 together. 

If the lining of the vessel wall has a negative charge and the RBC has a negative charge, wouldn’t it stand to reason that they would repel each other; based on how magnets work?  In fact that is how it works inside our bodies.  When a RBC is flowing through our artery, it is being repelled from the wall.  In other words, it doesn’t come in contact with the arterial wall.  The only way that the RBC would come into contact with the wall of the artery is if one of the charges of either the arterial wall or the RBC would change.  The main reasons for the charge of the RBC to change would be due to a several immune system assault, severe inflammatory conditions or connective tissue disorders.  These situations are much more uncommon than the arterial wall ionic charge to change.  And incidentally, RBCs regenerate themselves every 3 months or so.  Situations that will cause the arterial wall charge to change are much more common.  These would be junk foods like white sugar, refined carbohydrates, and hydrogenated oils, to name a few.  These are known as PROoxidants.  Oxidation inside our body is like rust on a car; eventually, if not addressed, it can lead to bigger problems.

This is where ANTIoxidants come into play.  ANTIoxidants come from organic vegetables (especially the green ones), free range/organic beef, and natural fats like coconut oil and butter, to name a few.  Different nutrients have the same effect; vitamins A, C, E, zinc, and selenium.  Not many people (doctors included) are unaware that our body’s bile is a HUGE ANTIoxidant.  Look for more on bile’s function at a later date.  ANTIoxidants can slow down the aging process.

That was a lot of information in a short period of time, but needed to be explained. 

Now that I have explained how arterial degeneration happens, we can get to how cholesterol ends up in our arteries.

As the ionic charge of the artery changes to a slightly positive charge, it then starts to attract the RBCs.  As the RBCs contact the arterial wall, friction is created.  Friction inside our arteries is just like land erosion from a river.  We have two types of arteries; straight and curved.  The straight ones (femoral, radial) are not the ones to be overly concerned about.  The curved arteries (coronary) are what I am going to draw your attention to.  Why?  Tire wear is greatest on the curves of race tracks; not on the straight-aways.  It’s where the friction is greatest.  The same thing happens inside our arteries.    

As the friction continues, the arterial degeneration continues.  This creates a weakness of the arterial wall.  As the artery continues to degenerate (slowly), the body’s innate wisdom speaks and says, “We need to protect this fragile and weakened environment”.  The body then lays a coating of cholesterol down to brace this weakened area; much like applying spackle to a cracked wall.  As we continue to eat junk food, the ionization continues to change toward more positive.  As long as this ionic change continues, the arterial degeneration will continue.  As this degeneration continues, the body will continue to apply cholesterol to the area. 

Cholesterol deposition inside your arteries is actually protecting you from a catastrophic event from happening sooner.

Eventually, this cholesterol deposition WILL get to the point of narrowing the artery such that it inhibits the blood from flowing efficiently.  This is the point where a heart surgeon says that he sees cholesterol blockage inside the coronary arteries.

So…the biggest thing that you can do for your heart and artery health is to consume good food and quality nutrients that have ANTIoxidant affects.  And, for God’s sake, STOP EATING SUGAR.  This will not only prevent vascular degeneration, but can help to heal an already weakened system.  If given a chance, the body can heal quickly…sometimes very quickly.

To summarize:  No ionic change, no attraction and contact.  No contact, no friction.  No friction, no degeneration.  No degeneration, no cholesterol deposition.

Natural Relief for Allergies

An allergy is a condition in which the body has an adverse reaction to a substance, known as an allergen that is harmless in similar amounts to the majority of people.

                One might think allergies are due to an inadequate immune system; often it is exactly the opposite.  Normally an allergen is controlled by the immune system with no symptoms.  An allergic reaction is a stronger response of the normal reactions than is necessary to control the irritant.  The excess response causes swelling, sneezing, and other reactions the body makes to control the allergen. 

                Allergy symptoms can be in the nose and eyes as hay fever, in the bronchi as asthma, anywhere on the skin as a rash or hives, or in the digestive system.  Symptoms can be remote from the site of the allergy such as severe, debilitating headaches, rapid heartbeat, irritability, or nervousness.

                The approach of determining what an individual is allergic to by various testing methods and then eliminating that item from his/her diet and environment is like deciding to live in a cave as a hermit because you don’t get along with people.  The real answer is to correct the body function so there is proper reaction to the allergen.

                FOOD ALLERGIES

                Reaction to food may be mild to very severe.  Symptoms tend to concentrate in the digestive system as nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea but can be remote.  There may be skin symptoms such as a rash, hives, or itchiness.  Examination can usually find the cause and treatment can correct the reason the immune system is over-reacting to the allergen. 

                Food allergies need to be differentiated from food intolerance.  Food intolerance occurs when the digestive system is unable to digest or break food down properly.  The food then becomes an irritant to the digestive system.  Common causes include an inadequate production of hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes.  Applied Kinesiology examination can determine if there is proper production of these and other factors necessary for proper digestion.

                ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY

                The adrenal glands secrete hormones that are anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory in nature.  These hormones provide the body with one of the mechanisms for the body to keep inflammation in check.  An allergic response is excessive inflammatory reaction to a stimulus.  House dust, specific foods, and pollens do not cause inflammation in a normally functioning body.  In an individual with abnormal adrenal function, the body may be fighting a war with inflammation that is greater than needed for the invading source.

                I have written about adrenal stress disorder (ASD) and what can be done for it in prior posts.            

ACID-ALKALINE IMBALANCE

                Relative acid-alkaline imbalance is a common contributing factor to allergies, especially those associated with food.  By using applied kinesiology methods, it can be determined if you have an acid-alkaline imbalance.  Nutritional supplements such as B vitamins, betaine hydrochloride and other digestive enzymes or dietary changes can be very useful to help bring balance back.

                NERVE CONTROL

                Nerves control the entire body and are closely associated with the immune system, adrenal function, and acid-alkaline control.  Applied kinesiology methods (muscle testing) can help to examine nerve function and return it to proper control of the glands, systems, and structures.  The overall approach is to find the factors that are causing the nervous system to not control your body correctly.  This may cause problems in your immune, digestive, or upper respiratory systems.  When these or other systems are not functioning properly, treatment, usually in the form of chiropractic adjustments, can be provided that allows your body to return to normal.

     

                HERBAL REMEDIES FOR ALLERGIES

                Many times, working to discover the root causes of a person’s allergies can take some time.  The symptoms, however, may be severe enough to warrant short term relief through other means.  There are several herbs which can be extremely helpful. 

·         Licorice root

·         Echinacea root

·         Ginger

·         Thyme

These can be of great benefit to relieve the symptoms of seasonal allergies.      

                The natural approach is an effective method for the long-term remedy of allergies.  You must remember, however, that the cure comes from within your own body.  Applied Kinesiology methods help doctors of the healing arts help your body return to normal control in most instances, although the outlook is not as favorable when there has been long-term use of certain drugs.  Since the cure comes from within your own body, it is necessary for you to follow all the procedures prescribed…including elimination of as much stress as possible.

Natural help for menopausal symptoms

Unfortunately, it seems to be the general consensus that women are going to have trouble when they enter menopause.  The normally functioning female does not have significant problems with the condition. 

The adrenal glands produce the same male and female hormones as the reproductive organs.  During the reproductive years they produce small amounts of the hormones.  Normally the adrenal glands mature in their process of forming female hormones at the time the ovaries reduce functioning.  Although the adrenals do not produce the female hormones in nearly the same concentration as the reproductive system, they provide the necessary maintenance as the reproductive organs cease functioning.  If an individual has prolonged adrenal stress disorder (ASD), the symptoms of menopause such as:

• irritability
• vaginal dryness
• hot flashes
• loss of libido
• depression
• night sweats

If these symptoms occur, a woman should obtain natural health care as soon as possible.  Ideally, a woman will use a maintenance health approach designed to keep her body functioning at an optimal level to prevent the development of such symptoms.

During childbearing years, roughly 85% of the estrogen in a woman's system is derived from the ovaries.  The other 15% or so comes from the adrenal gland.  When treating women with menopausal symptoms, understanding the interplay between the ovaries and adrenals is paramount.

ASD is responsible for so many symptoms that many doctors not knowledgeable in its diagnosis and treatment have classified patients with this condition as hypochondriacs or as having "nervous" conditions, and have given them antidepressants or tranquilizer medications.   I have talked about ASD in great detail in prior posts.

Now that I have explained a bit about the interplay between the ovaries and adrenal glands, let's move on to what you can do about it, naturally.

I would argue the there are two main nutrients at the top of the list.

1. Iodine
2. Wheat germ oil

I have talked extensively about iodine as it relates to hormone health in earlier posts and on my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Solutions-Integrative-Health-Care/167024840053867.  However, I will do a brief review. 

1. Iodine is the major fuel for your thyroid, ovaries, and pituitary gland
2. It is used in estrogen metabolism
3. It is pushed out by chlorine, fluoride, and bromide (common additives in tap water and bread products)
4. It dissolves cystic cells i.e., breast, uterine, ovarian, and skin
5. It thins mucous and nourishes mucous membranes (useful for sinus congestion and eye and vaginal dryness)

Wheat germ oil is source of vitamin E.  Vitamin E is the precursor to our sex hormones.  Wheat berry is broken down in the roller mill during the milling process, and the germ and the bran are separated from the carbohydrate.  The carbohydrate is pulverized and sold as white flour.  The germ carries the oil, which carries the vitamin E.  The bran carries the B vitamin factors.  So the pigs that get the wheat germ get the vitamin E, the cows that get the bran get the  B vitamins and we get the left over starch.

So, those of you that have inquiring minds are saying to yourself, "Hey, if tap water depletes our iodine stores and bread products deplete our vitamin E stores, then wouldn't most people need these nutrients?"

...food for thought

Fever Facts and what you can do about it…naturally

Our body’s first line of defense to any sort of “foreign invader” is a strong and healthy immune system.  If this is the case, the body may be able to eliminate the problem all together with little to no bodily symptom.  However, if symptoms of infection do occur the body will activate “reinforcements”; most notably a raise in body temperature, or a fever. 

For all children above the age of 3 months, a fever is actually a good thing.  It’s a sign that their immune system is functioning properly.  Although many parents will panic when their child has a temperature above 98.6 F, the reality is that a child’s temperature may naturally run a bit higher that what is considered the “norm”.

A true low-grade fever is anything between 100 and 102 F.  This temperature is actually beneficial and will assist the body in repelling the “invader”.

A moderate-grade fever is anything between 102 and 104.5 F.  This temperature, although higher than what most parents and even some physicians think is safe, is still considered beneficial.  It’s what’s needed to kill whatever bacteria the body has deemed not beneficial. 

A high fever is one that is greater than 104.5 F.  This may cause the child some discomfort and result in a bit of “crankiness”.  This temperature is generally indicative of a bacterial infection and means the body is dealing with something a bit more than the common cold.  Although it will NOT cause brain damage, it is wise to seek the assistance of a licensed health care provider.

A serious fever is one that is at or above 108 F and this is the only body temp that can actually cause brain damage.  This type of body temperature can rarely be achieved on its own and typically requires extreme environmental temperatures.

Now…on to the good stuff.  What to do about your child’s fever.  A fever will generally accompany sudden decrease in white blood cells (white blood cells help fight infection).  The single biggest cause of decreased WBCs is white sugar intake.  Have you ever wondered why it’s common for fevers to follow birthday parties with lots of cake and ice cream?

Any sort of white sugar intake will affect calcium metabolism, so the first thing to do is give them a highly absorbable form of calcium.  Examples of absorbable calcium would be, lactate, citrate or glycerophosphate.  A big key to getting the calcium into our cells is to also use a source of fats, preferably flax seed oil (vitamin F).  This will “push” the calcium into the cells and the WBC count will rise.  Do not be afraid to use high doses of calcium.  Many times dosing it every 30 minutes can be necessary.

This would be considered the most important recommendation in the acute situation.  Other aspects can be interpreted as more preventative and would be vitamins A and C, thymus extract, and if the child is over the age of 7 some herbal remedies like Echinacea can be helpful.

If your child is prone to random fevers, the likelihood of a food allergy is high.  Excessive dairy intake should be taken into consideration and removed from the diet.

Natural therapies for chronic fatigue syndrome

Applied Kinesiology examination excels in finding the root causes of fatigue.  What needs to be addressed first and foremost is stress; whether that be structural, chemical, or emotional stress. 

Structural stress is often found when the nervous system is not properly controlling the muscles.  This is the foundation of traditional chiropractic care.  When there is disorganization of muscle function the walking pattern is often disturbed.  Torsion may be placed on the spinal column, which further disturbs the nervous system that traverses the spinal column.

Examples of chemical stresses would be iron anemia, low blood sugar, adrenal stress disorder and general nutritional inadequacy.

Iron anemia can be a common occurrence in the menstruating woman.  This can come from a lack of dietary iron intake or more commonly an inability to break down and absorb the iron that is present in our food.  Frequently, a lack of stomach enzymes is the culprit of low blood levels of iron.

Proper nutrition is slowly coming to the forefront when thinking of health imbalances.  Most, if not all, degenerative disease can be linked, directly or indirectly, to a lack of good quality food and nutrition.  There are some very basic dietary changes that can be made to make a big difference.  Good quality protein intake is essential.  This is how our body maintains everything from our joints to our immune system.  Getting plenty of good fats in our diet is absolutely crucial for our nervous system.  A good quality fish oil supplement can make a big difference in your health and research has shown this time and time again.  Certain people may do better, however, with flax seed oil.  Coconut oil is a fantastic source of fat for our body to utilize.  It’s great for heart, thyroid, brain, and gut health. 

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is a commonly unrecognized scourge of many health issues.  Some common symptoms of hypoglycemia are

·         Confusion

·         Mood swings

·         Depression

·         Forgetfulness

·         Fatigue

·         Dizziness

·         Heart palpitations

·         Insomnia

·         Headaches

As you can see, low blood sugar can be implicated in many symptoms.  Simple dietary changes as stated above can have a drastic effect on hypoglycemia, but that may not be enough to make an appreciable change.  B vitamins (low potency), especially thiamine (B1), can be indispensable with blood sugar imbalances.  Chromium, magnesium, and zinc can help to stabilize blood sugar and also can prevent sugar cravings.  Early correction is essential as hypoglycemia has been called “prediabetes”.

Hypoglycemia is a great transition to adrenal stress disorder, which is largely unrecognized by conventional thinkers in medicine.  This is very common when dealing with fatigue.  It is common to desire stimulants like coffee, alcohol, and sugar with adrenal fatigue.  It is responsible for much fatigue and may produce other symptoms, such as craving for salt or salty foods like chips and pretzels, lightheadedness when standing up rapidly or aversion to bright light.  Again, the B complex vitamins, especially B6, are critical for proper adrenal function.  Several types of herbs like Licorice root and Rehmannia can help support adrenal health also. 

Emotional stresses can be a commonly overlooked aspect to chronic fatigue.  If the physical body is not supported during times of chronic emotional stress, that person can end up with a physical problem.  Again, the B complex vitamins can be essential with any type of emotional stress.  A multi-mineral with extra magnesium is very helpful also.  Herbal preparations can be very beneficial during times of emotional stress.  Schisandra, St. John’s Wort, and Skullcap can be extremely useful.  Homeopathic remedies can also be of a great help during times of emotional stress.

This is just a very basic introduction into chronic fatigue.  Other aspects that need to be addressed are thyroid disease, food sensitivities and allergies, and general immune system problems.  Chronic fatigue can take over your life very easily and as with any health imbalance, proper diagnosis is the key.

Vitamin D and heart function

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45325473/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/

I have been telling patients for quite some time that optimal health is about balance...period. This article is absolutely correct in regards to too much vitamin D causing heart issues. However, I am going to expand on it a little and add that it is more about not enough other nutrients to balance it out. Calcium is a major nutrient used with muscle firing; skeletal muscle and heart muscle. Vitamin D pulls calcium from the food (and gut) into the blood stream. Fats (vitamin F), like flax seed oil, take calcium from the blood and put it into the cells and tissue (skin, muscle...). The first sign of low F is itchy skin and low F can also affect specific heart sounds. Other nutrients that affect calcium metabolism are magnesium, which most people are aware of, and iodine. I have written quite a bit on iodine and its use with the endocrine system, especially with thyroid function. Iodine allows the calcium to be pulled between D and F more easily.

Because of D's effect on pulling calcium into the blood stream, this can also cause it to saturate into the arterial wall. This can lead to sclerosis (hardening) of the arteries. This sclerosis effect is also known as "oxidative stress". Imagine and old bicycle tire that has been sitting for years in a garage. Eventually "dry rot" sets in and the tire will no longer hold air efficiently. When this happens inside the artery, it can break easily (aneurysm). In order to prevent this cracking and breaking, the body lays down a covering; much like spackle on a cracked wall. This covering is cholesterol. The cholesterol that is "stuck" to our arterial wall is preventing it from breaking easily. Eventually the cholesterol builds up too much and then a heart attack ensues. I would argue that the cholesterol build-up is preventing the heart attack from happening sooner.

Let us not forget about other fat soluble vitamins like A, E and K. Remember that word "balance"? Well, these vitamins are no different. They all must be balanced within each other and can "compete" for absorption in the liver.

It is very important the take the right kind of vitamins, not just the cheapest. What most of us do not understand is, taking cheap vitamins is much like putting 87 octane in a top fuel dragster. This simply will not work. It is going to cause more trouble than it's worth. Invest in your health and see someone that is aware of the intricate interactions of all these nutrients so that you can get the most out of your money and effort.

Natural therapies for infertility

This post will seek to simplify a seemingly complicated issue that is sadly all too common.  Some of the information may not be a surprise and yet some might be astounding.   

Infertility is a multi-faceted issue, so this post will only cover the biochemical aspect, not the structural or emotional aspects.  (For more on the structural foundations of infertility, check out my facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Solutions-Integrative-Health-Care/167024840053867)

According to www.americanpregnancy.org there are 6 million women that deal with infertility per year (up from 4.6 million in 1988).

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) are both secreted by the anterior pituitary gland in the brain.  These two hormones work synergistically in reproduction.  Estrogen’s affect on the anterior pituitary greatly decreases the release of FSH, which inhibits follicular development and then prevents ovulation.

The major players in the hormone game are the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, thyroid, and ovary glands.  Secondary players are the adrenal glands, pancreas and liver.     

The best way to analyze hypothalamus, pituitary and ovarian hormones is through salivary testing, as this gives an indicator of active hormone levels.  Blood tests tend to give inactive levels of these.  This is the same for the adrenal hormones, cortisol and DHEA.  The best way to gauge thyroid function is through blood tests.  If your physician is testing your thyroid and just running a TSH, ask him/her to run a full thyroid panel.  This would include not just a TSH, but T3 and T4 levels.  If they won’t do this, find another doctor that will.  Optimal blood levels of TSH are 1.5 to 3.  .9 to 5 or generally the lab values and many people in this “gray area” will have no diagnosis.

I have written several articles on thyroid dysfunction, so please check those for more information. 

If you have had your hormones tested through your saliva, chances are you already have met a doctor that utilizes natural therapies.  If not, most doctors in general are not aware of this type of testing, so the likelihood of your general physician knowing about this type of testing is not high.

The liver is a much overlooked organ when discussing fertility, as ALL hormones are broken down in the liver.  If this breakdown is inefficient, imbalances can easily occur.  For example, many women use progesterone creams.  If this progesterone is not broken down efficiently, the liver then spits it back out as estrogen and thus creates more of an imbalance.  Faulty liver function can also affect pancreatic function.  If the liver is working sub optimally, the blood levels of glucose will be out of balance; sometimes too high (diabetes) and sometimes too low (hypoglycemia).  The low aspect is overlooked as being problematic frequently.

The best way to gauge liver function is also through blood testing.  Normal lab values for liver enzymes (AST and ALT) are typically 5 to 50 with some variance on the high level.  Now, optimal levels are different; those being from 10 to 30.  Clinically, I have noticed that the body functions better when those levels are between 20 and 30. 

If these liver enzymes are elevated, it means your liver is starting to become toxic and potentially storing fat.  In this case, a good solid bio-detoxification program is essential.  Any doctor skilled in natural methods should be able to help you with good quality detox procedures.  These liver enzymes are dependant of vitamin B6.  If your levels are below 20, that is suggestive of a deficiency of B6.  Care must be taken with B6 as too much can inhibit pituitary function.  Please see an earlier post about types of B vitamins.

While we are on the subject of liver function, we must discuss (shortly) cholesterol function.  Cholesterol is formed in the liver and is the precursor of adrenal and sex hormones.  There is mass confusion in society about cholesterol issues, but if your cholesterol levels are too low (yes…too low), your body will not be making these hormones in sufficient amounts.  This can inhibit your ability to get pregnant or hold a pregnancy.  Anything below 160 for total cholesterol is too low for hormone function.  The only way to increase your cholesterol production efficiently is to increase your intake of good quality fats like fish and flax seed oils, black currant seed and evening primrose oils, and coconut oil.  Check out an earlier post on cholesterol medications and their side effects.

The most common reason for B6 deficiencies in women today is estrogen dominance.  Estrogen dominance has been plaguing our society for decades now.  Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has since been removed from most medical doctor’s treatment regimens for many years now due to the Women’s Health Initiative’s findings of significantly increased risk of coronary heart disease, breast cancer, stroke, and pulmonary embolism.  Estrogen dominance can be multi-faceted and has been proven to cause these prior issues.  Estrogen is not only produced by the ovaries, but also by the adrenal glands.  Much lesser known is that estrogen is also produced by adipose tissue (fat cells), can be absorbed through the use of cosmetics and skin lotions and also through the use of plastic bottles and linings of most cans (xenoestrogens).  So, optimizing your insulin levels not only can help you lose weight, but also decrease your estrogen levels.  Read labels of all cosmetics and anything you put on your skin; the big print gives and the fine print takes away. 

Do not get me wrong, we all need estrogen for our bodies to function properly.  There is “good” estrogen and “bad” estrogen and these must be in the proper ratios.  One nutrient that works very well with balancing estrogen these ratios is iodine.  I have also written much about iodine (blog and facebook) as it relates to thyroid function.  Iodine supplementation can also be useful in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).  Most women with PCOS are told that they are not likely to get pregnant.  I can tell you first hand, that I have helped several women with this diagnosis. They have gone on to raise beautiful families.   

Oral contraceptives have been around since the early 1950’s.  With these containing estrogen (sometimes large amounts), it is likely that a woman taking these will be estrogen dominant and hence, deficient in B vitamins, especially B6.  Taking the birth control pill (BCP) for even short periods of time can suppress pituitary function and as mentioned earlier, this is crucial for overall hormone balance.  Not to mention, crucial for fertility.

Taking the BCP for actual birth control is one thing, but taking it to help rectify some issue with your menstrual cycle, like cramps or heavy bleeding, is not a great idea.  Women, your bodies are giving you signs that something is out of balance, don’t ignore it and be careful covering things up.  Messing around with Mother Nature can have long lasting effects.

If a woman is taking the BCP and looking to get pregnant, she needs to stop taking it for at least one year prior (optimally two) to allow for her body to balance some of the hormones.  Working with a doctor skilled in nutritional therapies as it relates to hormone function can make this transition much easier.  Doing this also can minimize the likelihood of miscarriage also (see facebook). 

Saliva hormone testing can be done for about $50 to $250 depending on the type of test.  Blood chemistry panels can be run to test for all of the above for about $70.  Comparing this to In vitro fertilization, which can cost from $10,000 to $20,000 per attempt, you do the math.  The big key with these tests is knowing what to do with the information that they provide.  Working with nutriceuticals (high quality nutrient companies) can have very profound affects. 

Working with women’s hormones can get very complicated as the endocrine system is like a big symphony all playing the same song.  Each organ or gland has a separate role to play, but each is vitally important to the whole system working correctly.  

Above all, NEVER stop looking for answers to your questions

I hope this helps those of you looking for natural fertility methods.