December 2011 Report

> HEALTH PURSUITS READING AND RESEARCH: MEND

DECEMBER 2011 MEETING REPORT

Notes: January meeting will be Jan.9 at 7 pm with the nutritional
assessment kit and the MRS mat available starting at 6:30. If you’ve read
Wheat Belly, we will be glad to have discussion on that. Members’ topics
always welcome. Anyone who needs reference to our huge Nutritional
Medicine reference book by Dr. Alan Gaby, please contact me so I can
prepare it for you. (dawberm@kos.net) The latest sections I prepared
included Hypertension, Methionine and Multiple Sclerosis.

First Up: MINI WORKSHOP LEAD BY ROBERT BLACK, RMT, DO, at 6:30 was as
follows:

QI GONG WINTER WARMING SELF-MASSAGE
TO BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM
As per Dr. Daniel Michel, MD, DO (Fr.)

PART ONE : ASCENDING LOOP (ENERGY PART)

1. Friction using side of hand under clavicles, emphasizing stroke to
outside.

2. Friction on sides of body about nipple level using flat of hand,
emphasizing down stroke.

3. Friction from under 11th rib upward to xyphoid notch with edge of hand,
emphasizing toward centre to activate lymph gland system.

4. Friction up and down sternum emphasizing upstroke to activate thymus.

5. Friction from mid-chest knob of the clavicle upward on neck to angle of
jaw, fingers on jaw and thumb moving up from clavicle to stimulate thyroid
and lymph ganglia. Allows energy to move from head to chest and back.

6. Friction just above Adam’s apple across neck using edge of hand.

7. Friction using edge of hand across below lower lip and above upper lip
to stimulate two meridians running from pelvic floor to lips, one in front
and one behind. Keep tip of tongue on palate to bridge meridians.
Enhances return of energy.

8. Friction spiraling up sides of nose to mid forehead with side of index
finger to clear sinuses and nasal cavities.

PART TWO: DESCENDING LOOP (MECHANICAL PART)

1. Friction on both clavicles.

2. Friction on both sides.

3. Friction Lower ribs.

4. Friction Down from lower ribs to pubic arch on ‘six pack’ for heat to
penetrate lymph in the belly, hormonal and immune system.

5. Friction inguinal creases, an acupuncture area for circulation between
trunk and legs.

PART THREE: ENERGETIC LOOP

1. Put pressure on sternum between hand and sternum so they work as one.

2. Continue and breathe to feel relation between hand and sternum and vice
versa. Inhale and sternum takes energy. Exhale and sternum returns
energy.

3. Pressure on sternum to increase suppleness. Big in-breath and then let
it rebound.

4. With a slow breath vibrate sternum.

5. With a slow breath vibrate sternum saying, “Ooo,” on out-breath.(Sound
of spleen.)

6. Back to reasserting relation of sternum and hand.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL MR. BLACK AT 613-544-3331 (now at 206
Concession St.)

According to a member, Qi Gong classes are available in Sydenham at the
public library on Tuesdays and Thursday at 5:30 p.m. or Mon., Wed. and
Fri. at 9:30 a.m. Karen Smart is the instructor.

Second: The MRS (Magnetic Resonance) MAT was tried out by most
participants. Contraindications include electronic implants such as
pacemakers, seizure disorders and pregnancy. The devices were discussed
on Dr. Oz in December since the FDA has approved two of the devices in the
USA for pain relief.

One participant had an extremely vivid experience – a visual image of
strong cables being untangled and then correctly coiled. Another could
feel a specific area relax. Another felt known scar tissue heating up in
an old injury. Improving circulation is one effect of the mat. Another
is balancing the electromagnetic field. Many years ago we read a book by
orthopaedic surgeon Becker about the use of very low electric current to
help recalcitrant bone breaks heal. These devices work similarly.

For Fibromyalgia, the book recommends starting with the least amount of
time (8 minutes) at the low intensity of 10 (on a scale going up to 400.)
This is what I did, gradually increasing over the year to 24 minutes
(maximum) at an intensity of 100 during the day or less (50) close to
bedtime. It seems to have helped me work through the pain of adhesion
releases.

The mat will be available again at the January meeting for those who wish
to give it a try.

Three: Members as always have lots to share. Here are some ideas.

CALMING YOURSELF
Telehealth is running a meditation series.

A book, the Langage of Letting Go by Melanie Beattie.

Vitamin D to help you absorb the relaxing calcium – a book, Vitamin D for
Dummies.

CHANGING YOUR PHYSICAL ALIGNMENT

Invisalign system is helping another member change her jaw problems. The
difference in her alignment was quite visible. She reports that the
process is a bit painful and difficult but she thinks the results are
significant. Others who have tried it confirm improvements.

Changing your feet can change your jaw as well. A member is using the
Masai Barefoot Technology footwear with good results for alignment and
function. Allegria is another brand of rocker-soled technology tried with
success by members. Skechers evidently also have a product.

I’ve probably told my story before but as a young person I had bone spurs
on my heels (cortisone shots into the bone in 1968) and then, as a
middle-aged person, I had a Morton’s neuroma (surgery in 1984) so
basically foot pain most of my life. I went the osteopathic route and my
osteopath worked several times on my feet – described as being like peanut
brittle. After working through the toxic releases with the nutrients, and
balancing my nutrients with our assessmentkit, I can now wear almost any
shoes, go barefoot at home, walk every day, etc. despite being 20 years
older.

As always, do whatever works.

NEW SERVICE: Tanya Ann Wintle is starting a new business providing
at-home services for seniors. You can contact her at
inhomeservices@Bell.net

NOTICE to members that Zia Rita’s Gluten-free Bakery will be shut for
January while Rita moves her business across the street. Thanks to Rita I
did no baking over the holidays with no one the wiser.

Happy New Year to all. I wish you success with your efforts in 2012 and
hope the same for myself. It was a tough year last year. May 2012 be a
little easier.

Cheers,
Diane
Board Chair

Send membership renewals to:
Health Pursuits Reading and Research: MEND,
c/o Diane Dawber, 207 County Rd. 6,
R.R.3,
Bath, ON
K0H 1G0

January 2012 Report

HEALTH PURSUITS READING AND RESEARCH: MEND
JANUARY 2012 REPORT
Next meeting: Feb. 6 at 7 pm with the kit and magnetic resonance mat available at 6:30. A scent-free event.
Review:
1. WHEAT BELLY by William Davis, MD
(who also has a blog))
NOT JUST ABOUT CELIAC ANYMORE
Since we have observed that those with chronic health issues seem to be much more likely to have a problem with wheat or gluten, it is interesting to read Dr. Davis’ reasoning for this correlation. In his opinion, it is not just that the genetically-based condition is under-diagnosed but that the genetics of the present-day wheat are triggering increased responses. It’s not just about celiac disease anymore.
HYBRIDIZATION OF WHEAT
Wheat is a particular sort of plant that, when two different parent plants are combined, the resulting hybrid contains all the genes of both plants instead of half the genes of each. As well, new proteins are created. This means that present-day wheat contains much more gluten (80%) as compared to wheat in our great-grandparents’ day (10%.) This makes it much easier for bakeries to produce fluffy loaves (gluten is the elastic that gives bread its spring) but much harder for us to digest (to cut the springy protein chains.)
THE MORPHINE EFFECT
Undigested gluten proteins have been shown to be analogues of morphine. Two implications of this are that people with difficulties digesting gluten may be feeling a little ‘high’ with the cognitive effects that implies and that they may experience a withdrawal effect when the ‘high’ wears off.
THE WITHDRAWAL EFFECT
The withdrawal effect may be responsible for cravings for more wheat. Satisfying the craving may be responsible for weight gain despite the touted healthy diet of ‘whole grains’ as long as those whole grains are wheat.
THE BLOOD SUGAR EFFECT
Dr. Davis says that a slice of whole wheat bread is similar in effect on blood sugar as eating sugar. He says we have been sold an untruth by the nutritional’ powers-that-be’ by encouraging us to eat so much grain. Of course, wheat is often paired with sugars and fats in baked goods so add the glycemic effect of those to that of the wheat by itself.
THE WEIGHT-LOSS EFFECT

If a person has weight issues, going gluten-free has an additional bonus. People usually lose significant weight, 30 pounds in many instances. The elimination of the withdrawal effect and blood sugar swings may have a lot to do with this since it is reported that people eat about 600 fewer calories on a gluten-free diet.
INTESTINAL HEALING
Because the partially-digested gluten proteins actually damage the ability of the villia in the intestine to absorb nutrients, vitamin and mineral deficiencies occur. As we have noted before, iron is a red-flag deficiency that may be a clue to problems digesting gluten. At least, we have had much success that way. I have seen children, and adults, with long lists of deficiencies, when gluten was identified as the problem.
It may take a vigorous approach both to the diet and the supplementation to reverse the problems associated with each deficiency. What we know so far is that probiotics will help since undesirable bacteria may flourish on the damaged areas. L-glutamine is touted as the amino acid that will help heal the intestinal lining and it helps produce other amino acids as well. Multivitamins, multiminerals and B complex all have a place besides the vitamin D so necessary at our latitude.
ASSOCIATED DISEASES
Conditions associated with gluten intolerance include digestive system cancers, diabetes, heart disease, hair loss, cataracts, dowager’s hump and even wrinkles. Who knew!
For further reading on healing the intestine, a new book, Primal Body, primal Mind: Beyond the Paleo Diet by Nora T. Gedgaudas suggests that at 9 years post-gluten, only half of celacs had restored intestines. Of course, that may be without the support of the additional nutrients.
Dr. Gaby’s section on celiac disease in his huge reference book, Nutritional Medicine, suggests the following nutrients: folic acid, B6 (pyridoxine or pyridoxal ‘5 phosphate, B12, magnesium, iron, zinc, l-carnitine, vitamin A, vitamin E, copper, vitamin K, calcium and vitamin D. He also goes on to suggest that those who do not completely respond to the gluten-free diet may have other food sensitivities e.g. cow’s milk and egg. He suggests that a low-dissacharide diet (e.g. low lactose, sucrose, etc.) may help. Of course, we would test to see which of the nutrients were in question.
RED FIFE WHEAT
Interestingly, the older form of wheat, Red Fife, is being grown in the Kingston area and Michael Smith’s new restaurant at Queen’s Mac –Corry Hall, The Canadian Grilling Company features buns made from Red Fife Wheat. Are we on trend or what!
THE COGNITIVE EFFECT
Just to follow up on the book review, a member reported at the meeting that her daughters both suffered from depression. The elder, not of medication yet, decided to give the gluten-free diet a try. Her depression cleared. The younger daughter, on medication, then decided to try gluten-free. She is now weaning off the medication.
CONFIRMATION
A new member, who did the test kit recently , was advised that gluten might be a problem. No ‘grass’ growing under her feet, she went home and went off gluten immediately. A week later a little piece of plum pudding when visiting relatives (always a hard situation) had her rolling on the floor in pain. A couple of days later, the grandkids wanted McDonald’s. Even the plain patty and fries had her in misery. When she googled the McDonald’s ingredients, she found that the burger and sauce have gluten and the fries are coated with it . At least now she knows and can act to end her pain.
2. THERMOGRAPHY VERSUS REGULAR MAMMOGRAMS
According to a member, those interested in thermography can contact:
Kingston
The Live Well Centre
348 Bagot Street
Kingston ON CA
K7L 3B7
3. MAGNETIC RESONANCE MAT
One member who tried the mat at the meeting found that she could zip up her high boots afterwards when she had not been able to before. Is it just having a horizontal rest or is it something else?

4. HISTAMINE

The book, 7 Weeks to Emotional Health, by Joan Matthews Larson, provides a great deal of information about histamine and several questions to help determine whether histamine levels, either low or high or in combination with other biochemistry, are a factor in your problems. Unfortunately, I read it many years ago before we had the nutritional assessment kit so I could not quite figure out where I was in the questionnaires. This is a common problem with questionnaires. I’m sure we donated a copy of the book to the library at one point. If not available there, it is listed on Amazon.

Histadine is an amino acid that can be converted to histamine in the body. Unfortunately, it is not an amino acid that we have in the nutritional assessment kit.

Higher histamine levels are often found when the body is reacting to something that it cannot process e.g. a toxic chemical, a food, hormones etc. Pollen season is often when high histamine prompts people to take an anti-histamine.

Strategies would include checking diet and environment for possible sources of irritation. Rotation diet is especialluy useful. Nutrient strategies could include vitamin C, quercetin, niacin, or any nutrient that is deficient, especially an imbalance of B vitamins, as well as minerals such as magnesium or selenium if required. Niacin empties histamine from the MAST cells which is okay if you are high histamine but not so great if you are low histamine.

5. TROUBLE SWALLOWING

Many people in the group have had difficulty swallowing. I myself had some extremely nasty sessions where my whole upper body would go into a spasm when I would try to swallow.

It can be a neurological issue. Magnesium is important in sending the message to muscles to relax. Calcium is important in muscle relaxation. B6 is important in neurological function as well.

Babkin Palmomental is the reflex associated with eating and so swallowing. Dr. Masgutova has strategies to reintegrate this reflex if it has been disrupted.

6. SIERRACIL
A new member reports that a product, Sierracil, has been useful in helping both her sister and a friend with polymyalgia rheumatic. Mineral clays act as detoxifiers (taking parasites and toxins away in the intestine) and may alkalinize the system.
7. KIDNEY STONES
A member who has had a recent episode with a kidney stone informed us that there are 4 kinds of kidney stones but she did not yet know which form she had passed. Going to Dr. Gaby’s book, he explains calcium oxalate stones, uric acid stones, calcium phosphate and stones with a mixture of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate.
Conventional recommendations are to increase fluid intake to 2 L a day. Dr. Gaby goes through dietary strategies such as reducing refined sugars, especially fructose, decreasing soft drinks with phosphoric acid but not citric acid, avoiding oxalate in such foods as beans, cocoa, spinach, chard, beets, parsley, rhubarb, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, currants, oranges, sweet potatoes, plums, carrots, celery, kale peppers and cucumbers. Black tea is cited. Peanuts an almonds are cited. He cautions that cranberry juice increases the excretion of oxalates but also the excretion of stone formation inhibitors. Phew! Not easy.
Uric acid stone formers are advised to limit purine-containing foods, alcohol and and sugars.
Those with ileal disease are advised to eliminate saturated fat because it affects precipitation of calcium oxalate in the intestines.
Sodium chloride (salt) can contribute to high calcium and so stone formation.
Protein studies on the effect of low or high protein on stone formation were contradictory. However, a low carbohydrate/high protein diet (e.g. Atkins) is not recommended.
Rice bran was shown (at 10 g) a day reduced the frequency of calcium stone formation by 83% — but wheat bran did not. Three guesses and the first 2 don’t count.
Lemon juice was found to provide citric acid to reduce the rate of those types of stones. Cranberry juice was found to give contradictory results.
Magnesium supplementation has been shown in a variety of studies to reduce occurrence. IV magnesium may help stones pass more easily by relaxing smooth muscle.
Pyridoxine (B6) has also been shown by various studies to reduce occurrence.
Calcium had contradictory results in studies but Gaby suggests taking it in the form of calcium citrate and with magnesium citrate.
Potassium citrate is approved for use by the US FDA for the treatment of hypocitraturic calcium oxalate stones.
Vitamin A recommended where deficiency exists.
Vitamin C does not cause kidney stones. In fact, a large study showed that 1500 mg/day was associated with a decreased risk of kidney stones.

Vitamin D: A note of caution from Dr. Gaby – Large doses of vitamin D may increase urinary calcium excretion, potentially increasing the risk of kidney stones in people with high calcium levels. We always have to remember balance. You can have too much of a good thing.

Rotation Diet is a good thing to keep in mind in dealing with any condition as it reduces the body’s load.

Low Salt Diet Alert/ Parents

Please note that a low salt diet may be a problem for some people, expecially children. You need salt for the lining of your stomach to work. Your adrenals need some salt to help keep blood pressure up to normal. High potassium might be a clue that sodium is too low since these should balance. A diet high in vegetables and fruit is great but it may also be high in potassium and low in sodium, maybe too low.

Raw Milk/Vitamin D Alert

Please note that raw milk is not fortified with Vitamin D. If you are using raw milk for your child be sure to follow the Canadian Pediatric Association recommendation of at least 400 IU vitamin D daily. Vitamin D is required for the absorption of calcium from the milk.

HP Report Nov. 2011

HEALTH PURSUITS READING AND RESEARCH: MEND
REPORT OF DISCUSSION, NOV.7, 2011
UPCOMING EVENTS:
1. Next meeting, Dec.5, at 7 pm, Isabel Turner Library.
2. Before the meeting, at 6:30 pm, there will be a special session to teach the Qi Gong immune-boosting and warming self-massage. Cost will be $5. Members who took the workshop with Dr. Michel were very pleased that the activities can be modified for sitting or lying down so that those who have trouble exercising can participate. Give yourself a holiday gift and attend.
3. The book for review in January (and probably February) will be “Wheat Belly’ by William Davis, M.D. Two copies of the book have been purchased and donated to the Kingston-Frontenac Library system to expedite access to the book. Chapters has a stack of them. If you had trouble with why wheat might be a problem for so many of us, this cardiologist provides some answers.
Want to lose weight or avoid weight gain over the holidays? Give up gluten.
4. If you would like to discuss another topic from Dr. Gaby’s book, Nutritional Medicine, please contact Diane dawberm@kos.net and request it.
ADRENALS AND LOWERED STRESS TOLERANCE
Re: Hypoadrenalism (adrenocortical insufficiency) by Dr. Alan Gaby in Nutritional Medicine, 2011, Fritz perlberg Publishing, Concord, NH.
As Dr. Oz discussed in one of his programs, there is controversy about adrenal insufficiency. When your adrenal glands fail completely, it is called Addison’s disease, a life-threatening situation if major stress or infection occurs. This can be diagnosed by assessment of cortisol levels and response to stimulation with ACTH or measuring serum aldosterone levels after this. Dr. Gaby wades into the issue of whether there are lesser degrees of adrenal insufficiency. The alarm bells for allopathic medicine concern administration of cortisol which is considered risky.
SYMPTOMS might include fatigue, weakness, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, salt craving, hypotension or orthostatic hypotension, hypoglycemia, hyperpigmentation of the skin, decreased body hair (women) and poor tolerance to stress and exercise and, in some cases, intolerance of thyroid hormones as treatment for hypothyroidism. NOTE: Administration of thyroid hormones when there is severe hypoadrenalism may trigger an ‘adrenal crisis.’
At other meetings we have examined some effects of increased adrenaline: narrowed blood vessels, increased blood pressure, digestive system stoppage or emptying, dumping of glucose from the liver increasing blood sugar, narrowed visual focus, decrease in rational thought in favour of instinctive flight or fight – a sort of brain fog.
CAUSES An increase of adrenaline could be caused by such as societal events, relationships with work, friends and family but also things like allergic reactions to foods, contaminants in air or water, effects of medications, effects of electromagnetic radiation, or even stimuli from biomechanical problems. My jammed ribs certainly caused some adrenaline reaction every time I bent or lifted.
Adrenal glands can handle these adrenaline demands at unique levels for each individual and for unique amounts of time. At some point, things start being too much. A person would notice that a stimulus would cause a bit of adrenaline but the effects won’t wear off well and then fatigue sets in. In some cases where too many stressors have severely challenged the adrenal glands, bleeding can occur which leads to scar tissue which doesn’t function the way normal adrenal tissue does. There are various levels of the problem.
To avoid the problem and allow adrenals to recuperate, the first step would be to reduce stressors. Eliminate chemicals, mold, dander, etc. from your environment. Optimize your diet by eliminating processed foods, eating whole foods, identifying and eliminating allergens, and rotating the rest. Have the movement of the adrenals checked by an osteopath in case inflammation has caused scarring and adhesions. Then a person could support adrenals with the nutrients recommended.
NUTRITIONAL ASPECTS: Many years ago, in Dr. Jonathon Wright’s newsletter I read about the nutrients he considered to be support for adrenal glands — vitamin C, Pantothenic Acid, Magnesium, and salt (sodium chloride.) Dr. Gaby expands.

1. SALT: One member who went on a low salt diet with her husband, soon found she was weak and dizzy, especially with exercise or in hot weather. There is a big controversy about how much salt is needed but we all know that it will probably be quite individual. How to know? One way to try and figure it out would be to use the olfactory test on the potassium sample and on a sodium chloride sample. They would hopefully balance in the neutral zone. If potassium is stinky, then salt may not be in balance with it. You might also have too much potassium, in which case a low potassium diet might be in order. If the sodium chloride is stinky you either have too much salt or not enough potassium. Blood work could confirm your suspicions.
2. LICORICE ROOT: Dr. Gaby mentions licorice root as a useful herbal treatment. Licorice is very salty so be aware that using it may require more potassium as well as tri-lipids. There is a protocol on-line for using licorice root . There are a variety of forms of licorice as well, some saltier than others. The treatment may be as short as a couple of weeks or as long as 3-6 months.
3. DHEA: Dr. Gaby says that DHEA in women is mostly produced by the adrenal gland so that sometimes in severe cases this is useful in very small amounts.
4. VITAMIN C: We all know to take vitamin C in divided doses (of less than 500 mg at a time) and to use bowel tolerance as a guide. (i.e. when diarrhea hits, that is too much vitamin C.) It would be well to monitor manganese as it’s required to utilize vitamin C.
5. PANTOTHENIC ACID (B5) was found in recent research to have a dosage range up to 10 000 mg in special cases. In such a situation, the smell test would not be very sensitive. If it smell neutral then quite a lot could still be needed. I myself am using 1 500 mg and feeling better for it. Of course, it is necessary to balance with the other B vitamins so B complex is definitely indicated and retesting them all frequently. I found that my requirement for riboflavin (B2) went up as I increased the B5. Dr. Gaby says that it helps promote fluid balance and prevent hypoglycemia.
6. MAGNESIUM : Dr. Gaby quotes studies and then recommends 200-600 mg of magnesium. Magnesium will generally signal overdose with diarrhea, like vitamin C. If magnesium is sweet on the olfactory test, I’d see a practitioner immediately. Magnesium helps in the transmission of signals to muscles—and the heart is a muscle.
7. L-TRYPTOPHAN is contraindicated in those with suspected low adrenals, says Dr. Gaby, so don’t use it for sleep. Interesting to see how it registers on the olfactory test.
8. PYRIDOXINE (B6): A reason why tryptophan may be contraindicated is that tryptophan requires pyridoxine (B6) for conversion to serotonin and B6 may be deficient. B6 is included in formulas for adrenal support (e.g. TADS Plus.) B6 and its other form P’5P register quite readily on the olfactory test . Symptoms of B6 deficiency include lack of dream recall so another clue to what’s going on.
9. ZINC is included in adrenal support formulas. Minerals do not register as strongly on the olfactory test unless near overdose or severe deficiency. You do not want to overdose on minerals. They are metals. A usual dosage range is 15-30 mg but as we know things are very individual. I require much more myself.
10. GROUND ADREANL SUPPLEMENT: We have found that this works very well in the olfactory test to indicate whether adrenals are stressed or not. If it smells sweet, investigate quickly. If it is neutral, some nutrients might be in order
11. FURTHER REFERENCE: NATUROPATHIC ENDOCRINOLOGY. Michael Friedman, ND, CCNM Press, 2005.

HEALTH PURSUITS READING AND RESEARCH: MEND
REPORT OF DISCUSSION, NOV.7, 2011
UPCOMING EVENTS:
1. Next meeting, Dec.5, at 7 pm, Isabel Turner Library.
2. Before the meeting, at 6:30 pm, there will be a special session to teach the Qi Gong immune-boosting and warming self-massage. Cost will be $5. Members who took the workshop with Dr. Michel were very pleased that the activities can be modified for sitting or lying down so that those who have trouble exercising can participate. Give yourself a holiday gift and attend.
3. The book for review in January (and probably February) will be “Wheat Belly’ by William Davis, M.D. Two copies of the book have been purchased and donated to the Kingston-Frontenac Library system to expedite access to the book. Chapters has a stack of them. If you had trouble with why wheat might be a problem for so many of us, this cardiologist provides some answers.
Want to lose weight or avoid weight gain over the holidays? Give up gluten.
4. If you would like to discuss another topic from Dr. Gaby’s book, Nutritional Medicine, please contact Diane dawberm@kos.net and request it.
ADRENALS AND LOWERED STRESS TOLERANCE
Re: Hypoadrenalism (adrenocortical insufficiency) by Dr. Alan Gaby in Nutritional Medicine, 2011, Fritz perlberg Publishing, Concord, NH.
As Dr. Oz discussed in one of his programs, there is controversy about adrenal insufficiency. When your adrenal glands fail completely, it is called Addison’s disease, a life-threatening situation if major stress or infection occurs. This can be diagnosed by assessment of cortisol levels and response to stimulation with ACTH or measuring serum aldosterone levels after this. Dr. Gaby wades into the issue of whether there are lesser degrees of adrenal insufficiency. The alarm bells for allopathic medicine concern administration of cortisol which is considered risky.
SYMPTOMS might include fatigue, weakness, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, salt craving, hypotension or orthostatic hypotension, hypoglycemia, hyperpigmentation of the skin, decreased body hair (women) and poor tolerance to stress and exercise and, in some cases, intolerance of thyroid hormones as treatment for hypothyroidism. NOTE: Administration of thyroid hormones when there is severe hypoadrenalism may trigger an ‘adrenal crisis.’
At other meetings we have examined some effects of increased adrenaline: narrowed blood vessels, increased blood pressure, digestive system stoppage or emptying, dumping of glucose from the liver increasing blood sugar, narrowed visual focus, decrease in rational thought in favour of instinctive flight or fight – a sort of brain fog.
CAUSES An increase of adrenaline could be caused by such as societal events, relationships with work, friends and family but also things like allergic reactions to foods, contaminants in air or water, effects of medications, effects of electromagnetic radiation, or even stimuli from biomechanical problems. My jammed ribs certainly caused some adrenaline reaction every time I bent or lifted.
Adrenal glands can handle these adrenaline demands at unique levels for each individual and for unique amounts of time. At some point, things start being too much. A person would notice that a stimulus would cause a bit of adrenaline but the effects won’t wear off well and then fatigue sets in. In some cases where too many stressors have severely challenged the adrenal glands, bleeding can occur which leads to scar tissue which doesn’t function the way normal adrenal tissue does. There are various levels of the problem.
To avoid the problem and allow adrenals to recuperate, the first step would be to reduce stressors. Eliminate chemicals, mold, dander, etc. from your environment. Optimize your diet by eliminating processed foods, eating whole foods, identifying and eliminating allergens, and rotating the rest. Have the movement of the adrenals checked by an osteopath in case inflammation has caused scarring and adhesions. Then a person could support adrenals with the nutrients recommended.
NUTRITIONAL ASPECTS: Many years ago, in Dr. Jonathon Wright’s newsletter I read about the nutrients he considered to be support for adrenal glands — vitamin C, Pantothenic Acid, Magnesium, and salt (sodium chloride.) Dr. Gaby expands.

1. SALT: One member who went on a low salt diet with her husband, soon found she was weak and dizzy, especially with exercise or in hot weather. There is a big controversy about how much salt is needed but we all know that it will probably be quite individual. How to know? One way to try and figure it out would be to use the olfactory test on the potassium sample and on a sodium chloride sample. They would hopefully balance in the neutral zone. If potassium is stinky, then salt may not be in balance with it. You might also have too much potassium, in which case a low potassium diet might be in order. If the sodium chloride is stinky you either have too much salt or not enough potassium. Blood work could confirm your suspicions.
2. LICORICE ROOT: Dr. Gaby mentions licorice root as a useful herbal treatment. Licorice is very salty so be aware that using it may require more potassium as well as tri-lipids. There is a protocol on-line for using licorice root . There are a variety of forms of licorice as well, some saltier than others. The treatment may be as short as a couple of weeks or as long as 3-6 months.
3. DHEA: Dr. Gaby says that DHEA in women is mostly produced by the adrenal gland so that sometimes in severe cases this is useful in very small amounts.
4. VITAMIN C: We all know to take vitamin C in divided doses (of less than 500 mg at a time) and to use bowel tolerance as a guide. (i.e. when diarrhea hits, that is too much vitamin C.) It would be well to monitor manganese as it’s required to utilize vitamin C.
5. PANTOTHENIC ACID (B5) was found in recent research to have a dosage range up to 10 000 mg in special cases. In such a situation, the smell test would not be very sensitive. If it smell neutral then quite a lot could still be needed. I myself am using 1 500 mg and feeling better for it. Of course, it is necessary to balance with the other B vitamins so B complex is definitely indicated and retesting them all frequently. I found that my requirement for riboflavin (B2) went up as I increased the B5. Dr. Gaby says that it helps promote fluid balance and prevent hypoglycemia.
6. MAGNESIUM : Dr. Gaby quotes studies and then recommends 200-600 mg of magnesium. Magnesium will generally signal overdose with diarrhea, like vitamin C. If magnesium is sweet on the olfactory test, I’d see a practitioner immediately. Magnesium helps in the transmission of signals to muscles—and the heart is a muscle.
7. L-TRYPTOPHAN is contraindicated in those with suspected low adrenals, says Dr. Gaby, so don’t use it for sleep. Interesting to see how it registers on the olfactory test.
8. PYRIDOXINE (B6): A reason why tryptophan may be contraindicated is that tryptophan requires pyridoxine (B6) for conversion to serotonin and B6 may be deficient. B6 is included in formulas for adrenal support (e.g. TADS Plus.) B6 and its other form P’5P register quite readily on the olfactory test . Symptoms of B6 deficiency include lack of dream recall so another clue to what’s going on.
9. ZINC is included in adrenal support formulas. Minerals do not register as strongly on the olfactory test unless near overdose or severe deficiency. You do not want to overdose on minerals. They are metals. A usual dosage range is 15-30 mg but as we know things are very individual. I require much more myself.
10. GROUND ADREANL SUPPLEMENT: We have found that this works very well in the olfactory test to indicate whether adrenals are stressed or not. If it smells sweet, investigate quickly. If it is neutral, some nutrients might be in order
11. FURTHER REFERENCE: NATUROPATHIC ENDOCRINOLOGY. Michael Friedman, ND, CCNM Press, 2005.

HP Report Oct. 2011

HEALTH PURSUITS READING AND RESEARCH: MEND
REPORT for October 2011

UPCOMING and INFORMATIVE:
1. Next meeting is Nov.7 at 7 PM, Isabel Turner Library. We have several NUTRITIONAL MEDICINE topics leftover from last meeting – adrenal insufficiency is one. If you have an urgent request for another topic, please let me know so I can have it there for you.
2. Masgutova Classes at Mindworks:
Please see the poster at the end of the report or as attached. Pairs of adults as well as pairs of parent and child are welcome. Please Note that Robert Black has offered free assessment to start. If you have chronic pain, this may help.
3. QI Gong and Osteopathy Workshop with Daniel Michel, MD, DO. This will be part lecture and part movement activity. Tuesday, Nov.1, at Diane’s unless numbers become too large. Call Diane for more info. at 613-389-7179.
4. If you have food allergies, go to www.myfoodfacts.com . They have a mobile phone app which eliminates a lot of label reading and makes shopping easier. This company is working with us on a proposal to do a mobile phone app for the rotation diet. That would make life easier as well.
5. LIVING ROOMS, a building supply store on Cataraqui St. with environmentally and human-friendly building products e.g. countertops, Safe Cote paint. Remember that environmentally-friendly does not necessarily mean human-friendly so we’re glad to hear this.

AT THE MEETING:
OSTEOPOROSIS/OSTEOPENIA
We read and examined some of the long article from Nutritional Medicine on this topic.
I remember reading about a study done in Toronto on Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoporosis. At the time, the theory was that the cortisone treatments were causing the problem. I was interested because my father (and several of his siblings) had RA and osteoporosis ultimately was what killed him. The study showed that the inflammation was the factor causing the osteoporosis, not the cortisone.
So it was not surprising that Dr. Gaby cites osteoporosis linked to food allergies such as gluten and casein intolerance. Indeed, the children we have assessed with low calcium are the ones with problems digesting dairy.
As well, Dr. Jeffrey Bland’s book (The 20-day rejuvenation Diet)which we read so many years ago, explained that the body uses calcium as a ‘bandaid’ on inflammation. Wherever there has been inflammation, there are likely to be calcium deposits. Isn’t that a little scary. Magnesium helps keep calcium inside the cell where it belongs.
As a member discovered, it may be important to have a baseline Bone Density scan early on if you have allergic, digestive or inflammatory issues.
Dr. Gaby’s book, Preventing and Reversing osteoporosis, was also a book that we read early on. It is available from the library system and totally worth a read.
His final recommendations:
“1. Diet: Avoid refined sugar. Avoid excessive intake of caffeine, cola beverages and sodium chloride. Test for celiac disease in patients with unexplained osteoporosis. Consider investigating food allergies.
2. Environment: Attempt to minimize exposure to aluminum, lead, cadmium and tin.
3. Calcium: 600-1200 mg/day.
4. Magnesium: 300-600 mg/day.
6. Vitamin K: 100-1000 micrograms/day of K1. Vitamin K2 at a dose of 45 mg/day may be considered in selected cases.
7. Additional supportive nutrients (daily doses in parentheses) B6 (10-25 mg), folic acid (0.4—5.0 mg), B12 (20-1500 micrograms), vitamin C (100-500 mg), zinc (10-30 mg), copper (1-3 MG), MANGANESE (3-20 MG), BORON (1-3 MG), SILICON (1-5 MG) AND STRONTIUM (2-6 MG.)
8. Strontium: 170-680 mg/day in selected cases. Consider a dosage reduction after one year.
9. Hormone replacement therapy: DHEA, estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone (individually or in various combinations) in selected cases.

GUPTA AMYGDALA RETRAINING PROGRAM FOR MCS, FM, CFS/ME
A member, who has already worked on diet, nutrition, and environment, is trying out this program. Go to info@harleystressclinic.com or www.guptaprogrammme.com
Stay tuned.

A PUZZLE TO SOLVE

On our olfactory assessment, the d-ribose smells good to most people. This makes sense because it is involved in mitochondrial energy production and we could all use more energy.

So what if it doesn’t smell good and the person has low energy? We’ve investigated the supporting nutrients l-carnitine, oxygen, magnesium and CoQ10. If any of those are low, supplementation has sometimes brought the d-ribose into the sweet-smelling range again.

HP Report Sept. 2011

HEALTH PURSUITS READING AND RESEARCH: MEND
DISCUSSION REPORT, SEPTEMBER, 2011
NEXT MEETING: Oct. 3, Isabel Turner Library, 7 pm
IN THIS REPORT
OUR REVIEW OF ANSWERS TO ANOREXIA by Dr. James Greenblatt including
1. ZINC AND OTHER NUTRIENTS CONNECTIONS TO MOOD, APPETITE, ETC.
2. MORE ON GLUTEN AND CASEIN PROTEINS
3. MORE ON NIACIN/B3 AS WELL AS
4. MORE ON MCS
5. HISTAMINE REACTIONS
6. H.PYLORI, A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME
7. LYMPH MASSAGE
8. From 1928 and 1970
ANSWERS TO ANOREXIA
Kudos to Dr. Greenblatt. There was something of interest to everyone.
The way he connected psychological symptoms to nutrient deficiencies was very useful.
Zinc deficiency was especially well discussed. He links it to poor mood as well as poor appetite so that although anorexia can cause zinc deficiency, zinc deficiency can also cause anorexia. As you can imagine, this is a downward spiral. His information prompted several members to increase their supplementation when the zinc sample is neutral in smell. One person also went the extra mile and obtained the zinc sulfate solution for the ZTT taste test described in the book. As you might guess, a sweet or neutral taste indicates need and a bitter, unpleasant taste indicates sufficiency. Since zinc is a metal, it is important to not overdo it which could cause immune suppression. However, according to Greenblatt, it can take a year for zinc levels to recover .
In my experience, some of us are dependent on particular nutrients which means that we cannot function well without them. Dr. Hoffer also addressed vitamin dependency in his books. Better to be dependent on a few vitamins or minerals for feeling well than to depend on substances that have negative side effects. There is no downside to the nutrient dependency, except, of course, expense and effort.
Another important subject covered was the effect of poor digestion of gluten and casein (dairy). When those proteins are not completely digested, they are found to be analogues of morphine which would account for ‘brain fog’ that clears when those foods are avoided, as reported by members. It also accounts for the difficulty in avoiding those foods since there is an addictive component. When the ‘morphine-like’ reaction wears off, the person craves more. A member reported that just one accidental exposure to gluten would cause cravings for some time. Phew! It takes willpower to be gluten-sensitive. Casein sensitivity can be primary or it can be secondary if the intestinal damage is from gluten or some other agent. A member reports recovering from casein sensitivity after a year off gluten.
His discussion of symptoms related to Niacin (B3) deficiency were also interesting. The deficiency disease is pellagra which also used to be known as the ‘rough skin’ disease as one symptom was rough skin making up pellagra 4 D’s –dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia and death. The delusions, etc. of pellagra are very similar to those of schizophrenia and giving 1000 mg of B3 for up to 3 months can distinguish the two. Read Dr. Hoffer’s classic work on this topic.
Dr. Greenblatt highlights the fact that too much corn increases the need for B3 and this raises a question. Does high-fructose corn syrup, which is present in so many processed foods, also increase the need for B3? Since the average age for onset of mental illness is 14 years, is the increase in consumption of processed foods, also at this age, a factor? Is stress of puberty as well as transition from elementary school to secondary factors as well? B3 is required to make tryptophan which is then further converted to serotonin so another connection to mental health.
B3 is recommended for high cholesterol which is how it came into the discussion. Of course, doses of B3 must be increased gradually, and maintained at a level, to avoid too much flushing. Niacinamide, the other form of B3, does not do the same job as niacin or nicotinic acid. B3 is present in fish, eggs, dates, figs, prunes, etc.
Overweight is related to underweight since the nutrient deficiencies and food sensitivities can skew appetite and body image in many ways. The food sensitivities, as mentioned above, can set up food cravings. Another theory is that deficiencies cause people’s bodies to crave more in order to find those nutrients. A member reported that when she was on the rotation diet, she lost 25 pounds and lost her intensity around food. As soon as she abandoned the rotation she gained the weight back. By the way, the rotation has nothing to do with quantity and everything to do with varying the food list from day to day so that cravings can be broken. As a side benefit, eating a bigger variety of foods will also ensure a wider variety of nutrients. A caution – losing weight usually means losing fat. Fat is where we typically store toxins as well as fat-soluble vitamins. Those with anorexia were found to have higher levels of the fat-soluble vitamins , perhaps since they had lost their fat stores. Of course, they were lower in the nutrients that are required to process toxins such as B vitamins and minerals.
Omega 3 essential fatty acids, speaking of fats, are also related to depression in adults and ADHD in children and adults. Depending on the EPA and DHA amounts in supplements, up to 9 capsules a day may be required. Recently, diets completely devoid of fats and oils have been touted in the media. Every cell is a fat sandwich. The brain is mostly fat. Cholesterol is required to make hormones. According to one of our local experts, many people succumb because they don’t have enough cholesterol. Just remember that you have to be able to digest the fats. Smell test the choline and betaine. Check out the lipase in digestive enzyme supplements.

Inflammation can be caused by many factors – air or water contamination with chemicals, molds or pollens; food contamination or food choice, deficiencies, and movement habits or lack thereof. The whole debate over acidity continues to rage. Allergic responses can throw off your pH. A member reports that her interstitial cystitis is helped by balancing acidity using Alka Seltzer Gold which is just sodium and potassium bicarbonate. Another member is trying to manage her allergic responses with anti-histamines. Adrenals mediate allergies and blood pressure. Anti-histamines reportedly raise blood pressure.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivities came in for some discussion. The strategies suggested included avoidance of chemicals (which is why our meetings are scent-free events,) sauna, colonics, ionic foot baths, avoidance for food and other environmental triggers, management of stress, and a carefully monitored program of supplementation including attention to improving digestion.
H. Pylori: A member reports final success at beating H.pylori with three courses of antibiotics and a lot of misery. Worth the effort as she’s feeling good.
Swelling/Edema: Two members report success in reducing swelling. One with exercise and the other with lymph massage of her legs.
Thank you to Diane F. for loaning me a copy of a book from 1928 titled, Health at Seventy. You would be interested to see many of the same strategies we use, espoused in this book — diet, nutrition, environment and exercise. Of course, there are a few odd ideas which have fallen by the wayside and the germs of a few ideas which are only now being developed. The author would have loved our olfactory assessment. Included with the book was a complementary pamphlet on constipation. Some things never change.
A member has also given me a copy of another book by Dr. Lendon Smith, The Stress-free Diet. Interestingly, he cites the Page diet to take stress off the body. It is a way of eating all the food groups but only a tablespoon of each at each meal or snack and starting with the protein whether animal or vegetable (grains and legumes) to take advantage of the stomach acid. This is exactly opposite to the food combining idea which starts with fruit. This diet doesn’t even list fruit. But goes through meat, grain and legumes, red vegetables, yellow vegetables, and greens. Rotation seems as easy a sfalling off a log after reading that!
Cheers,
D.

MS in the News

Again today, there is an article in the Globe and mail about the costs and side effects of drugs for MS. My same-age first cousin died of MS and uterine cancer. I have had the related conditions of FM and breast cancer. All I can say is that the strategies used by members of Health Pursuits would be positive steps for anyone facing MS. TO MEND we have to address Movement, Environment, Nutrition and Diet, not in that order, more in reverse order. I had so many adhesions that I couldn’t move in any direction without severe pain. Today I’ve carried wet wash upstairs and hung it out on the line without any pain and I will be going for an hour-long walk later. Many more in our Health Pursuits Reading and Research group can say the same. Go to our web site www.healthpursuitsgroup.com for more info and read the blog from the beginning.

Caffeine Debate

Just a quick note on the on-going caffeine debate. Some people clear caffeine quickly through High Phase one liver detoxification and this can be caused by increased exposure to toxins e.g. by smoking, drinking, envrionmental toxins, internal gut-derived toxins, barbiturates, phosphatidyl choline, sulfonamides, Isoniazid, crucifers (like broccoli family vegetables.)

Speeding up this pathway could be a good thing UNLESS the pathways secondary to this cannot keep up. Then there could be a build-up of intermediate metabolites which are often more toxic than the originals.

So there is a price to pay for that head-clearing effect of speeding up the first pathway. You can poison yourself with the back-up of toxins in other areas.

The studies do not address this issue. I cannot handle caffeine at all because of this. I could not even handle the naturpathic detoxification goop because it did the same thing. It revved up Phase one while Phase two went into overload. Once I figured out what nutrients would help me with the slow Phase Two then things improved a lot.