Archive for the ‘Alternative Medicine’ Category

If This Were a Drug…

Monday, October 15th, 2012

For more than 30 years I have been helping people regain and maintain their health and well-being. I have done this by helping them adopt lifestyle changes, including proper diet and regular exercise, and prescribing nutritional supplements that target specific health concerns.

Unfortunately, most conventional physicians don’t always see the benefits of these therapies. And while many agree with my diet and exercise recommendations, few think that nutritional supplements are necessary for good health—let alone to treat disease. Nevertheless, I’m convinced that these natural agents work so well that if they were drugs, your conventional doctor wouldn’t hesitate to prescribe them. Here are a couple of examples.

Alpha Lipoic Acid for Diabetic Neuropathy
Neuropathy, caused by nerve damage and associated with pain, loss of sensation, impaired wound healing, and dramatically increased risk of amputation, is a very common complication of diabetes. Conventional doctors don’t have much to offer patients suffering with neuropathy besides painkillers—but Mother Nature does.

Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful and versatile antioxidant that also helps alleviate pain, burning, numbness, and other symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. In a clinical trial conducted in Germany, patients with type 2 diabetes who had been diagnosed with symptomatic neuropathy were divided into two groups and given either 600 mg of lipoic acid or a placebo three times a day. After three weeks the patients taking lipoic acid reported a two-fold greater reduction in pain as those in the placebo group. Lipoic acid should be a mainstay in a nutritional supplement program for anyone with diabetes. The recommended dose is 600-1,800 mg per day.

Magnesium for leg cramps
Have you ever been awakened by a Charley horse? The best way to relieve these intense, painful muscle spasms (officially called nocturnal leg cramps) is to flex your foot, grab your toes, and pull them towards your knee. Your conventional doctor may recommend quinine to prevent these cramps, but I recommend something equally effective and much safer: magnesium citrate.

This exceptionally bioavailable form of magnesium has been shown to reduce the incidence of nocturnal leg cramps in older people and in pregnant women, two groups that are especially susceptible to them. This natural therapy also has a multitude of additional benefits. Magnesium helps optimize blood flow, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, bone formation, and other important biological functions.

At Whitaker Wellness, we get great results with Magna-Calm, a powdered form of magnesium citrate that dissolves in water. Take one scoop (420 mg magnesium) 30 minutes before bedtime. (Be aware that excessive magnesium intake may cause loose stools.)

Posted in Alternative Medicine, Nutritional Supplements, Vitamins | No Comments »

Boost Your Autumn “D-Fenses”

Friday, September 28th, 2012

The days are growing shorter. On October 1, we get three to four fewer hours of sunlight than we did in mid-June. By the end of the month, we’ll lose yet another hour, and as the year draws to a close the daylight hours will continue to dwindle. You may not realize what a toll the dark days of winter levy on our health. Cold and flu season arrives. Depression rates soar. Aches and pains, as well as autoimmune disorders, tend to flare up. Fracture incidence increases. Heart attack and death rates climb. And, as you likely know, vitamin D levels plummet.

As autumn has arrived, I suggest you take one simple step to boost your immune system, lift your mood, reduce your risk of disease, and maybe even save your life: Make sure your blood level of vitamin D is in the optimal range.

Protective Effects of Vitamin D
The benefits of vitamin D just keep rolling in. A recent study from Duke University Medical Center concluded, “Vitamin D insufficiency appears to be highly prevalent among older adults. Evidence from epidemiologic studies and small clinical trials suggests an association between 25(OH)D concentrations and systolic blood pressure, risk for CV [cardiovascular] disease-related deaths, symptoms of depression, cognitive deficits, and mortality.”

Other studies demonstrate firm links with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, autoimmune disorders, fractures, frailty, and pregnancy outcomes. Deficiencies even affect athletic performance. Based on the latest studies, sports teams such as the National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawks are now testing for and correcting widespread deficiencies in players.

Avoid Getting the Flu
This vitamin also protects against the more mundane challenges of the colder months, such as colds and flu. It triggers the production of antimicrobial peptides and reduces the inflammatory cytokines that cause fever and other symptoms of viral infections. You’re likely being urged to get a flu shot. A better way to protect yourself may be to shore up your vitamin D stores, as supplemental vitamin D was shown in a recent placebo-controlled study to significantly reduce risk of flu.

Most people can get enough vitamin D in late spring, summer, and early fall by spending about 10–15 minutes every day in the sun. However, during the rest of the year it’s virtually impossible. Protect yourself by taking supplemental vitamin D and encouraging your loved ones to do the same.

Posted in Alternative Medicine, Immune System, Vitamins | No Comments »

Quick Tips for Improving Your Metabolism

Tuesday, September 11th, 2012

Metabolism, strictly speaking, refers to the chemical processes that keep us alive, and this includes the breakdown and processing of nutrients from the food we eat and their transformation into energy. Metabolic rate—the amount of energy expended—differs from person to person and is influenced by a number of factors, such as genetics, body composition, hormones, and gender.

If you have a fast metabolic rate, you may be one of the lucky ones who can eat whatever you want without gaining a pound. However, a sluggish metabolism can make weight loss and even maintaining normal weight an epic battle. But even if you haven’t been blessed with a perky metabolic rate, there are several steps you can take to boost your metabolism naturally. Here are some of my favorites.

Get Your Exercise
You probably know that your metabolism shifts into high gear while you are exercising. But did you know that your metabolic rate remains elevated even after you kick off your walking shoes and collapse on the sofa? Studies have shown that regular exercise resets your body’s thermostat for hours after you stop exercising—which is precisely what you want. Shoot for a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate activity, three to five days a week.

Build More Muscle
You can increase your basal metabolic rate (BMR)—the number of calories you burn at rest to increase respiration, heartbeat, circulation, body temperature, and other vital activities—by building more muscle. The more lean muscle you have, the higher your BMR and the more calories you burn, even when you’re at rest. To build muscle and, in the process, boost your BMR, it’s important to include strength training in your exercise regimen.

H2O to the Rescue
Water is a crucial element for sustaining all the body’s processes. When you’re dehydrated, everything slows down, including the burning of calories for energy. To keep your metabolic rate on an even keel, aim for at least eight, eight-ounce glasses of pure, filtered water each day. Try drinking a glass before each meal as well. This aids in appetite control as well as keeping you hydrated.

Drink Coffee or Tea
Caffeine is a natural, mild thermogenic agent that facilitates fatty acid metabolism, i.e., fat burning. — Although most people who drink coffee or tea have a cup or two in the mornings to help perk them up, I also drink it before exercising. That’s because, in addition to mobilizing fat and boosting metabolism, caffeine also enhances endurance. For these—and caffeine’s many other well-studied benefits—I recommend regular consumption of coffee and tea to all of my patients.

One More Factor to Consider
If you are following a healthy diet and exercise plan, using the metabolism boosters mentioned above, and still not losing weight, you may need to take a look at your thyroid function. If you exhibit other symptoms of hypothyroidism—fatigue, cold hands and feet, dry skin, hair loss and/or constipation—talk to your doctor about a trial of natural thyroid.

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Posted in Alternative Medicine, Diet, Nutritional Supplements | No Comments »

Detox Daily: A Healthy Way of Life

Friday, August 31st, 2012

Detoxification, as its name suggests, is the process of removing toxins or poisons. Your body is in a constant process of detoxifying, neutralizing, and eliminating the myriad toxins encountered in our environment, as well as the waste products of normal metabolism.

The Typical Detox Kits
Most of the detox kits sold on the Internet and in health food stores consist of laxatives and fiber to clean out the colon. Some also include herbs and other nutrients for liver support. They’re designed to be used for a month or so and often come with recommendations to eat a healthy diet and avoid alcohol, sugar, caffeine, meat, and the like.

Give Your Body a Break
My approach is a little different. Rather than spending a month attempting to unload toxins from your body, I believe that you should take daily measures to support your natural detox systems.

Eat, Drink…
First, eat a healthful diet with plenty of fiber-rich vegetables, beans, and other plant foods, and avoid artificial additives and excess alcohol (as well as  acetaminophen and other drugs). And for good measure, take supplemental fiber, such as psyllium, glucomannan, or my favorite, freshly ground flaxseed. If you have regular bowel movements, laxatives are not necessary, as even natural laxatives can be harmful over time. For optimal bowel function, I also recommend daily use of probiotics.

Second, drink a lot of water. The kidneys filter metabolic waste products and excrete them in the urine. Water is so important that if you don’t drink enough, your body will divert limited resources to life-sustaining functions such as maintaining blood pressure—at the expense of flushing out toxins. Get into the habit of drinking at least eight glasses of purified water per day.

…Sweat and Supplement
Third, exercise—and sweat. The lungs and lymph are also involved in detoxification, and exercise encourages deep breathing and gets lymph moving. Make sure you exert yourself enough to build up a sweat. Sweating mobilizes and excretes stored toxins.

Fourth, take supplements that nourish the liver, your primary organ of detox. Your best bet is a combination product like Liver Cleanse, which contains milk thistle, selenium, alpha lipoic acid, and N-acetyl-cysteine. You can order it by calling (800) 810-6655. No matter how vigilant you are about your health, you cannot entirely escape the toxicity of our world. However, these recommendations will keep your natural detoxification processes running smoothly.

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Sleep Apnea Takes Its Toll

Tuesday, July 31st, 2012

Not getting enough sleep is an obvious cause of fatigue. But what if you’re one of those people who sleep eight hours a night and still feel tired? You may have sleep apnea, especially if you snore.

Almost half of all adults snore, and as many as 40 percent of snorers — and a fair percentage of non-snorers — have a serious condition called sleep apnea, in which breathing stops during sleep for periods lasting ten seconds or more. I’m one of them, and I can tell you that this condition is a real energy zapper.

Why It Occurs
Sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissues at the back of the throat relax and the airway closes partially or completely, usually during the deepest, most restorative stages of sleep. Cessation of breathing causes the sleeper to wake briefly, gasp for breath, and then fall back asleep. A person with mild sleep apnea may go through this routine five to ten times per hour. Those with severe sleep apnea have at least 15 events per hour. When I was tested for sleep apnea at a sleep lab, I had 69 events in one hour!

The Many Side Effects
One of the major effects of sleep apnea is excessive daytime sleepiness. Sufferers usually have no idea why they’re so tired, since they have no memory of the frequent awakenings during the night. (It’s usually a spouse who first suspects a problem, since they’re likely to be disturbed by the snoring and alarmed by the long pauses in breathing.) Untreated sleep apnea takes its toll on health. Studies have found rates of traffic accidents to be four times higher among sleep apnea sufferers than the general population, primarily due to drowsiness. Sleep apnea sufferers also have an increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

How to Treat It
For mild sleep apnea, weight loss, avoiding sleeping on the back, and abstaining from alcohol may be enough to promote restful sleep. For moderate to severe apnea, however, the most effective treatment — and the one I use — is an automatic or continuous positive airway pressure (APAP or CPAP) device. A mask worn over the face is attached to an air blower that forces air through the nasal passages, keeping the airway from closing during sleep. Since I began using my device, I no longer snore and I sleep like a baby — and so does my wife.

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Breakthrough Pain Relief Therapy

Monday, June 18th, 2012

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a powerful therapy that relieves pain and facilitates recovery from all types of acute and chronic injuries. PRP harnesses the healing power of platelets—components in the blood that initiate and regulate tissue repair—by delivering concentrations of the body’s own platelets directly to damaged or degenerated areas.

Surgeons have been using PRP for years to enhance healing of bones, surgical incisions, and other tissues, and many elite athletes are now benefiting from this therapy’s ability to speed recovery from sprains, strains, cartilage damage, and other injuries. However, PRP’s greatest potential may be to relieve pain and restore function in patients suffering with chronic neck and back pain or with arthritis of the hip, knee, and other joints.

How Does PRP Work?
Platelets are nature’s reservoirs of proteins, peptides, and other compounds that facilitate healing. They include clotting factors to stop bleeding; inflammatory chemicals to drive the acute phase of the healing process; and growth factors to promote tissue regeneration and the formation of blood vessels that nourish new tissues. PRP treatment simply directs and amplifies the natural healing process.

Because PRP is an “autologous” procedure, meaning it’s derived or transferred from the patient’s own body, it’s exceptionally safe. It’s also minimally invasive, well-tolerated, and requires little to no recovery time. Finally, it costs a fraction of the price of any surgical procedure.

A Typical Treatment
PRP treatment at Whitaker Wellness involves removing a vial of a patient’s own blood and spinning it in a centrifuge to separate out the red blood cells, plasma, and other components. This produces a very small amount of concentrated platelets (5–10 times the amount in whole blood) in a little plasma (the clear, liquid part of blood). The patient’s PRP is then placed in a syringe and injected into the affected area, which is numbed beforehand to make the injection more comfortable. A single injection to each site is all that is usually needed, although some patients require additional treatments, spaced out over time.

Within a few weeks, the regeneration process that PRP stimulates becomes evident, with often dramatic improvements in pain, range of motion, function, and quality of life.

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Posted in Alternative Medicine, Back Pain, Chronic Pain | No Comments »

Fibromyalgia: Pain Free at Last

Friday, May 25th, 2012

Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic, diffuse pain and tender points, often accompanied by extreme fatigue and other complaints. Beyond that, there’s a lot we don’t know about it. There are no definitive blood tests for diagnosing fibromyalgia and no consistently effective conventional treatments—symptoms rarely respond to the usual pain meds. We don’t know what causes it, although it’s believed that something’s going on in the central nervous system to alter pain perception. Some doctors don’t think fibromyalgia is a real disease, and others believe it’s merely a physical reaction to stress, depression, or anxiety (which explains why antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs are often prescribed).

I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I do know that when I sit down with a patient who has fibromyalgia, her pain and fatigue are real. And I have no doubt that one reason we have good success at the Whitaker Wellness Institute treating this condition is because we don’t make patients feel like it’s “all in their heads.”

What we do first is look for underlying conditions that may be causing symptoms. People with diffuse pain often have low levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiencies can cause a bone disorder called osteomalacia, which mimics fibromyalgia’s aches and pains. Low levels of this vitamin are also associated with depression and weight gain, other common coexisting conditions.

In addition, we test for heavy metals. Middle-aged women, the group most likely to suffer with fibromyalgia, may have a high body burden of lead or other toxins. In some cases, a course of chelation dramatically improves symptoms. The same goes for hormone levels. Women of pre- and postmenopausal age are low not only in estrogen and progesterone but oftentimes in thyroid and adrenal hormones. Addressing hormonal deficiencies has profound effects on a wide range of symptoms.

Reenergize With the Right Supplements
Next, we start patients on a comprehensive nutritional supplement program. People with fibromyalgia and its common sidekick, chronic fatigue syndrome, often have below-normal levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy that fuels your cells, as well as a reduced ability to manufacture ATP in muscle cells. To improve cellular energy, we prescribe coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, magnesium, and ribose.

Though all of these nutrients are involved in cellular energy, ribose may be the most important for people with this condition. Texas researchers gave 41 patients with fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome 5 grams of ribose three times a day. After four weeks, nearly 70 percent of the participants had significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life.

Beyond Supplements
Patients with fibromyalgia also respond well to acupuncture, massage, reflexology, and another alternative therapy called Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM). FSM is helpful for all types of chronic pain. During a typical session, you recline comfortably while a technician uses a device to deliver painless low-frequency currents to tender areas. These currents increase ATP production, stabilize cells, and reduce inflammation, resulting in sometimes remarkable pain relief.

I want to close with one final recommendation: Low-dose naltrexone (LDN), a nontoxic prescription drug that is garnering rave reviews from patients with autoimmune disorders, cancer, and other problems. Many patients report dramatic improvements when they take 3-4.5 mg of LDN at bedtime.

As you can see, there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for fibromyalgia, and I can’t say exactly what might work for you. I can promise, however, all of the therapies discussed above are safe, and they will likely have a net positive benefit on your overall health.

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Stay Hydrated This Spring

Friday, May 11th, 2012

Keeping hydrated is one of the most important things you can do to ensure good health. Your body, and the bodies of all mammals, is nearly two-thirds water, and this life-giving liquid is crucial for almost all biochemical reactions. While a camel roaming the desert may be able to survive up to three weeks without water, you, on the other hand, would be hard pressed to last a week.

I firmly believe that getting plenty of pure, clean water (at least eight to 10, eight-ounce glasses per day) is a must. However, water isn’t the focus of this particular story. There are a handful of other beverages out there that not only satisfy thirst but also confer multiple health benefits.

Tea-ing Off
Hot, iced, green, black, chai, jasmine: It’s tea time around the world. In America alone, more than 127 million people drink tea daily, and for good reason. Next to water, tea is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet.

Green Tea. Known for its therapeutic polyphenols, which have proven protective against cancer, heart disease, and even cavities, this health-enhancing tea was recently shown in lab tests to block the HIV virus from attaching to healthy immune system cells. This is just one more example of how green tea continues to prove useful in the medical arena.

Black Tea. Black tea accounts for nearly 80 percent of all tea consumption worldwide, and here in the US, a whopping 90 percent of the tea we drink is black. Not a bad choice, considering this type of tea has been shown to reduce risk of skin cancer, lower LDL cholesterol, and protect against heart attack and cardiovascular disease.

White Tea. Less well known than its black and green counterparts, white tea boasts its own health benefits—along with a sweeter, milder taste. Because it is processed from younger buds and leaves, white tea contains lower levels of caffeine. Even more important, when green, black, white, and oolong teas were tested for their ability to hinder pre-cancerous mutations in cells, white tea came out on top.

Another bonus? The caffeine and polyphenols in tea are thermogenic agents, meaning they help boost weight loss by revving up the rate at which your body burns fat.

Ale for What Ails You
While wine has cornered the market in recent years, both in sales and purported health benefits, beer is starting to make a comeback—Americans drink more than 220 million barrels per year. They just may be on to something because beer is a boon for a multitude of health conditions.

One is osteoporosis. Everyone knows that calcium plays a role in building strong bones, but silicon is also important. This mineral promotes greater bone mineral density by allowing other bone-boosting minerals to be absorbed into bone tissue. And guess what a primary dietary source of silicon is? That’s right, beer. Furthermore, it’s an exceptionally bioavailable form of silicon.

Beer is also a great source of B complex vitamins and is linked to lower levels of homocysteine and reduced risk of heart attack and stroke. So enjoy an occasional cold one this summer, but don’t forget that the positive effects of alcohol end after one or two daily drinks. Cheers!

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Posted in Alternative Medicine, Prevention, Wellness | No Comments »

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Autism

Friday, April 13th, 2012

The rising prevalence of autism in America is alarming, to say the least. Forty years ago, autism affected 1 in 10,000—today it’s 1 in 88. I believe that the many vaccinations foisted upon our children are largely to blame.

Regardless of the underlying cause, recent research reveals that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) offers new hope for the behavioral, social, language, and emotional problems these children and their families face.

Study findings presented at a meeting of the US Autism and Asperger Association revealed that children with autism who were treated with 40 one-hour sessions of HBOT had marked improvements in cognitive awareness, speech, motivation, communication, and overall health. This has certainly been our experience with the scores of kids who have received HBOT at the Whitaker Wellness Hyperbaric Center. For information on treatment at the clinic, call (800) 488-1500.

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Posted in Alternative Medicine, Autism, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Innovative Therapies | No Comments »

A Healthy Lifetime of Intimacy

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

No doubt about it, sexual desire and function slow down as we get older. What doesn’t change, however, is our lifelong need for intimacy. For many people, that includes satisfying sexual relations. It’s important for men and women to understand the challenges they and their partners face during this time of transition—and to be aware of therapies that enhance libido and performance in both sexes.

Good Health = Good Sex
You can’t expect to have topnotch sexual function if you have poor overall health. Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled diabetes, and other disorders involving impaired circulation are commonly linked with sexual dysfunction. That’s because optimal blood flow is required to produce erections in men and clitoral engorgement in women. Other conditions that can affect interest in sex and the ability to act on that interest include anxiety, depression, hormonal imbalances, chronic pain, and neurological problems. Once these health issues are tackled, desire and function often return.

Prescription Drugs Can Interfere With Performance
Problem is, some of the medications used to treat these diseases make things even worse. For example, psychotropic drugs are notorious for causing significant sexual dysfunction. Studies suggest that up to 60 percent of the men and women taking Prozac and related SSRI antidepressants have difficulty achieving orgasm. Also problematic are some blood pressure–lowering drugs (especially beta blockers), stimulants, narcotics, antihistamines, sleeping pills, and peptic ulcer and heart meds—more than 130 prescription drugs in all!

Recently, I heard from a subscriber whose husband had been taking a number of drugs that robbed him of his sex drive. It was very frustrating for both of them. He finally got so fed up with feeling lousy on all of his medications that he replaced them with CoQ10, L-arginine, and other nutritional supplements. Now his libido is back and their sex life is “fantastic.”

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Harvard researchers have found that men who eat a good diet, exercise regularly, and maintain their optimal weight are able to delay age-associated erectile dysfunction by about 10 years! Among the bad habits that contribute to sexual problems are drinking too much alcohol, overeating (obesity), and smoking. As you can see, anything you can do to improve your overall health will also improve your sexual function.

HRT to the Rescue
A hallmark of getting older—and what many experts believe to be an underlying cause of aging—is declining levels of hormones. As a woman’s production of estrogen gears down and her monthly cycles cease, the vagina loses elasticity and becomes drier, which makes intercourse difficult and uncomfortable. No wonder some women lose interest in sex! Men, you’re not off the hook either. As testosterone levels fall, erections take longer and are less firm, and libido may take a hit as well.

Fortunately, there’s a solution: hormone replacement therapy. Estrogen can be a lifesaver for women during and after menopause. It relieves hot flashes, improves vaginal tone and dryness, and lifts mood, which often translates into better sexual function. Suffice it to say that bioidentical hormones—exactly like those produced in your body—can be a godsend at this time of life. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy requires a prescription and must be ordered from a compounding pharmacy. To locate such a pharmacy, contact the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP) at (800) 927-4227 or iacprx.org.

Testosterone for Men…
I have one thing to say to men who are having sexual difficulties: Give supplemental testosterone a try. Although men don’t experience a defining “event” such as menopause, testosterone production tapers off throughout adulthood. This decline is linked not only with sexual problems but also with increased risk of obesity, loss of muscle and bone mass, heart disease, diabetes, and even death. Supplemental testosterone is an amazing libido lifter. If lack of interest is your problem, I can almost guarantee it will work. But sexual desire isn’t the main problem for most men—it’s erectile dysfunction (ED). And testosterone can also improve function. Given its many benefits, I recommend it as a first-line therapy for this condition.

…and Women
Women who want a libido booster should also talk to their doctors about testosterone. Testosterone is the hormone of desire for women as well as men. A small amount of weak testosterone cream, applied to the skin daily, is the best therapy I know for restoring female sexual desire.

Nonprescription Options
Nonprescription options are also available. One of my favorites for men is the amino acid L-arginine, which is the direct precursor to nitric oxide, a vasodilator that relaxes the arteries and improves blood flow to the penis. For women, I suggest trying DHEA, a hormone that converts into testosterone in the body. Although results aren’t as predictable as with the drugs, supplemental arginine and DHEA have been shown to improve sexual function in several clinical trials—and they don’t require a prescription.

I recognize that sexual problems are a sensitive topic, and there’s no single solution that works for everyone. The good news is, you do have several options. I sincerely hope that these suggestions will help you and your partner enjoy a lifetime of intimacy.

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