I'm officially famous!
Ok... Not really famous, but I did get a nice video posted on You Tube about my services. A patient and friend of mine started a website last year called SingleDad.com. It is an informational site for fathers who are single for one reason or another. It is a great site full of really good resources. Articles, recipes, tips/hints for good parenting, etc. Basically it is all about supporting each other. Really it is a site that is great for anyone to browse. I have submitted several articles to this site and will continue to be a part as a resource.
So check out my my video at the link below and see first hand what an average acupuncture session looks and fees like. Enjoy!
http://www.singledad.com/health-and-fitness/how-to/Acupuncture_Anyone_1234041647.php
So check out my my video at the link below and see first hand what an average acupuncture session looks and fees like. Enjoy!
http://www.singledad.com/health-and-fitness/how-to/Acupuncture_Anyone_1234041647.php
The Misunderstood Prostate
If there is one thing that us men have to look forward to as we get older it is the fear of our prostate glands swelling up like apples and wreaking havoc on our urination and sex lives. And of course then there is the matter of prostate cancer. But for most old guys it is usually safe to say that there will be at least some discomfort around the concept of peeing freely. We all know about enlarged prostates, but do we really understand why it happens and how to protect ourselves against it? I hope through this article to shed some light on that pondering. And offer some food for thought.
The primary reason for an enlarged prostate would certainly have to be elevations in the hormone DHT. DHT is an extremely potent form of Testosterone and is what is also responsible for male balding for the most part. When there is an over abundance of DHT the tissues of the prostate become enlarged and give us the problems men either already know and love, or will know at some point in our lives. It is for conditions like this that the herb Saw Palmetto is so well known. Many men already know this and sales for such supplements are soaring! That’s the easy scenario. That’s the one the docs all lean towards. It is the easy diagnosis. Most of the time hormone testing isn’t even done. It is a simple description of symptoms, a finger in the rear end, and wammo, a basic diagnosis is made. But what if there is more to the equation?
And what do you know, there certainly is more to the equation. A little known fact, and one that is never considered in mainstream medicine, is the role that Estrogen plays in prostate health. Why look at Estrogen in a man? We men certainly don’t want to hear about it if there is any female hormone floating around in our bodies! But it just so happens to play a major role in prostate health. Not to mention, breast tissue growth, depression, low sex drive/performance. Hell it can even affect your golf game! Did I get your attention yet?
It works like this… Estrogen acts to lock the DHT hormone into the prostate tissues longer than normal therefore promoting more stimulation to the prostate tissues with less DHT hormone needed. So in essence you can have normal or even low DHT and still have prostate problems! You see, hormones are supposed to bind to receptors in the target tissue, do their thing and then move along. Elevated Estrogen in men stops DHT from leaving the tissue and there is nothing Saw Palmetto can do about that. Perhaps these are the men who end up under the knife because they “have tried everything” without success. If only they were told the whole story perhaps there would be more healthy prostates out there doing what they do best! And if you don’t know what prostates do best… Well, they produce semen! And men would probably prefer to have their ability to produce semen intact if given the opportunity, wouldn’t you say?
The good news is that this is a classic Functional Medicine problem. Considering variables like elevated Estrogen in men and going after the root of the problem is how people get better without the harsh medications, hormone replacement therapy and/or tricky surgeries which very often lead to erectile problems. No knifes near my prostate please! And believe it or not, another female type hormone Progesterone also plays a role here, but that is another article. The bottom line is that prostate health isn’t all that simple. It deserves a lot of care and consideration to get the proper results.
If you or the man in your life is experiencing these discomforts please call and book a free consultation. There really is no time like the present. Seriously, if left too long there is no other option than surgery. Once these tissues get too big there is no turning back. Prevention is your best friend. Don’t let that strong male ego stop you from peeing freely or having the perfect orgasm. Because what is more manly than that? Seek out knowledge and act! Your prostate will thank you.
The primary reason for an enlarged prostate would certainly have to be elevations in the hormone DHT. DHT is an extremely potent form of Testosterone and is what is also responsible for male balding for the most part. When there is an over abundance of DHT the tissues of the prostate become enlarged and give us the problems men either already know and love, or will know at some point in our lives. It is for conditions like this that the herb Saw Palmetto is so well known. Many men already know this and sales for such supplements are soaring! That’s the easy scenario. That’s the one the docs all lean towards. It is the easy diagnosis. Most of the time hormone testing isn’t even done. It is a simple description of symptoms, a finger in the rear end, and wammo, a basic diagnosis is made. But what if there is more to the equation?
And what do you know, there certainly is more to the equation. A little known fact, and one that is never considered in mainstream medicine, is the role that Estrogen plays in prostate health. Why look at Estrogen in a man? We men certainly don’t want to hear about it if there is any female hormone floating around in our bodies! But it just so happens to play a major role in prostate health. Not to mention, breast tissue growth, depression, low sex drive/performance. Hell it can even affect your golf game! Did I get your attention yet?
It works like this… Estrogen acts to lock the DHT hormone into the prostate tissues longer than normal therefore promoting more stimulation to the prostate tissues with less DHT hormone needed. So in essence you can have normal or even low DHT and still have prostate problems! You see, hormones are supposed to bind to receptors in the target tissue, do their thing and then move along. Elevated Estrogen in men stops DHT from leaving the tissue and there is nothing Saw Palmetto can do about that. Perhaps these are the men who end up under the knife because they “have tried everything” without success. If only they were told the whole story perhaps there would be more healthy prostates out there doing what they do best! And if you don’t know what prostates do best… Well, they produce semen! And men would probably prefer to have their ability to produce semen intact if given the opportunity, wouldn’t you say?
The good news is that this is a classic Functional Medicine problem. Considering variables like elevated Estrogen in men and going after the root of the problem is how people get better without the harsh medications, hormone replacement therapy and/or tricky surgeries which very often lead to erectile problems. No knifes near my prostate please! And believe it or not, another female type hormone Progesterone also plays a role here, but that is another article. The bottom line is that prostate health isn’t all that simple. It deserves a lot of care and consideration to get the proper results.
If you or the man in your life is experiencing these discomforts please call and book a free consultation. There really is no time like the present. Seriously, if left too long there is no other option than surgery. Once these tissues get too big there is no turning back. Prevention is your best friend. Don’t let that strong male ego stop you from peeing freely or having the perfect orgasm. Because what is more manly than that? Seek out knowledge and act! Your prostate will thank you.
I'm Leaking From Where Now? - Part 2
Back in September of last year I wrote an article about Leaky Gut Syndrome. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading about leaky guts you should do so now. You can find it in the archive section for 2007. Not only is it good fun reading, it is incredibly important for our conversation today… Leaky Brain Syndrome. I don’t necessarily mean that we all have poop for brains, but if left long enough leaky brain syndrome might as well mean poop for brains! Read on and I will explain myself.
Much like the way that it sounds, leaky brain syndrome is a situation where the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) has become compromised and substances that are not meant to cross this barrier are able to pass either in or out unchecked. This barrier was discovered in the 19th century by the bacteriologist Ehrlich. He found that when he injected animals with staining chemicals every part of the animal took the stain but the brain. And subsequently when he injected the stain directly into the central nervous system nothing outside the brain took the color. The scientist therefore demonstrated that there was something that was stopping the transport of chemicals into and out of the brain. And this was for a good reason. The brain is of course a highly important organ for every function in our body and needs a high level of protection from harmful substances. When this barrier system becomes compromised the brain becomes susceptible to damage by invading substances and pathogens. The bottom line is you want a nice and tight, non-leaky blood-brain-barrier!
There is now current research that demonstrates to us the things that can both help and hurt this barrier system. Just several of the ones that harm the barrier should sound familiar to many of you. I see them in my practice all of the time. Increased oxidation due to free radical exposure, elevated Homocysteine (also a heart disease risk), stress of any kind (physical, mental/emotional, chemical), alcohol, and elevated blood sugar all work to destroy the BBB. If there is any one thing that I see the most of it is poor blood sugar regulation. Controlling all of these things as well as taking in Alpha-Lipoic Acid, antioxidants and simply using your brain all work to help maintain and rebuild the BBB.
This all becomes very important when considering the treatment and better yet, the prevention of many of the modern medical problems facing our society today. Loss of BBB integrity has been linked to several disease processes including meningitis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Parkinson’s Disease. These studies can be found in highly respected medical journals like the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Neurotoxicology, Journal of Leukocyte Biology, Brain Research and more.
If you are interested in seeing if you might have a leaky brain condition there is a simple field test that you can perform on yourself. At the health food store you can purchase a supplement called GABA. GABA is a neurotransmitter found in the brain which elicits a relaxed state. People who are low in GABA tend to have anxiety type disorders. This substance should not be able to cross the BBB. (Which makes you wonder why it is being sold at all!) The test is to take 1000mg of GABA and see if you feel any enhanced state of relaxation. If you do then this substance has crossed the BBB and you have a “leaky brain!” Bad news. You need to fix that pronto! Oral GABA should not induce relaxation. If it does I can help you with this.
Believe me, there are a lot of things out there that if they get into your brain can lead to serious damage. Our brains are not supposed to have foreign substances in contact with it so when that happens the response is severe. Quite literally our immune system can go on a killing spree in a last ditch effort to save our brain from damage and in doing so will wipe out everything in its path including brain tissue! Counter productive, yes, but it is what we have, and it is good to know about.
Don’t let this happen to you. There are simple steps that you can take to protect yourself from a leaky brain. I am happy to be your guide in proper brain health. This is seriously one area of medicine both mainstream and alternative alike that is consistently overlooked time and time again. And in the meantime neurological disorders are continuously on the rise. Call to day for a consultation and request a free Brain Health Questioner.
Much like the way that it sounds, leaky brain syndrome is a situation where the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) has become compromised and substances that are not meant to cross this barrier are able to pass either in or out unchecked. This barrier was discovered in the 19th century by the bacteriologist Ehrlich. He found that when he injected animals with staining chemicals every part of the animal took the stain but the brain. And subsequently when he injected the stain directly into the central nervous system nothing outside the brain took the color. The scientist therefore demonstrated that there was something that was stopping the transport of chemicals into and out of the brain. And this was for a good reason. The brain is of course a highly important organ for every function in our body and needs a high level of protection from harmful substances. When this barrier system becomes compromised the brain becomes susceptible to damage by invading substances and pathogens. The bottom line is you want a nice and tight, non-leaky blood-brain-barrier!
There is now current research that demonstrates to us the things that can both help and hurt this barrier system. Just several of the ones that harm the barrier should sound familiar to many of you. I see them in my practice all of the time. Increased oxidation due to free radical exposure, elevated Homocysteine (also a heart disease risk), stress of any kind (physical, mental/emotional, chemical), alcohol, and elevated blood sugar all work to destroy the BBB. If there is any one thing that I see the most of it is poor blood sugar regulation. Controlling all of these things as well as taking in Alpha-Lipoic Acid, antioxidants and simply using your brain all work to help maintain and rebuild the BBB.
This all becomes very important when considering the treatment and better yet, the prevention of many of the modern medical problems facing our society today. Loss of BBB integrity has been linked to several disease processes including meningitis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Parkinson’s Disease. These studies can be found in highly respected medical journals like the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Neurotoxicology, Journal of Leukocyte Biology, Brain Research and more.
If you are interested in seeing if you might have a leaky brain condition there is a simple field test that you can perform on yourself. At the health food store you can purchase a supplement called GABA. GABA is a neurotransmitter found in the brain which elicits a relaxed state. People who are low in GABA tend to have anxiety type disorders. This substance should not be able to cross the BBB. (Which makes you wonder why it is being sold at all!) The test is to take 1000mg of GABA and see if you feel any enhanced state of relaxation. If you do then this substance has crossed the BBB and you have a “leaky brain!” Bad news. You need to fix that pronto! Oral GABA should not induce relaxation. If it does I can help you with this.
Believe me, there are a lot of things out there that if they get into your brain can lead to serious damage. Our brains are not supposed to have foreign substances in contact with it so when that happens the response is severe. Quite literally our immune system can go on a killing spree in a last ditch effort to save our brain from damage and in doing so will wipe out everything in its path including brain tissue! Counter productive, yes, but it is what we have, and it is good to know about.
Don’t let this happen to you. There are simple steps that you can take to protect yourself from a leaky brain. I am happy to be your guide in proper brain health. This is seriously one area of medicine both mainstream and alternative alike that is consistently overlooked time and time again. And in the meantime neurological disorders are continuously on the rise. Call to day for a consultation and request a free Brain Health Questioner.
A Body Fighting Against Itself
Probably one of the most up and coming of serious medical problems facing Americans today is auto-immunity. An auto-immune condition is one in which the immune system works to attack a particular tissue in the body. This problem can lead to a huge variety of disorders including Type I Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hashimoto’s (auto-immune thyroid), and many many more. The title of this article is actually two fold. It points out that not only are our bodies fighting against themselves, but the medical establishment, and the population as a whole is also caught up in a system that is working towards self destruction.
Let me use the example of a recent patient of mine who came in with concerns about “feeling terrible.” She has been on Thyroid medication for a long time but does not feel that it is helping. After a simple blood test we discovered that she was not classically hypothyroid (low thyroid) as her doctors diagnosed her, but auto-immune thyroid. Her immune system is attacking her thyroid gland which of course led to deficiencies in her thyroid output. One particular antibody specific to her thyroid tissue was over 11,000. It should not be above 40! This indicates that her immune system is attacking her thyroid gland in a big way. Her doctors never caught this fact. It took going to an acupuncturist that she was referred to in order to find this information out. And it was an out-of-pocket expense. So in this case, and millions of others, the patient’s needs were not being met by the system. Therefore, the root of the problem is not being treated. Hence a medical system which has mechanisms in place that work to weaken and disable the people it is trying to help. I consider this an auto-immune condition of society at large.
The reason that these tests are not run on a routine basis in the mainstream is that the therapy would not really change either way. The mainstream medical model is very much a “replacement” model. By this I mean that if there is anything wrong with you hormonally they will prescribe for you replacement hormones. End of story. This most often ends up working against us, and usually does not help the symptoms of the problem for very long. When was the last time you heard of anyone taking thyroid medications that felt “great” about it? It just never happens. In fact in cases of auto-immune thyroid the antibodies that attack the thyroid gland also block the thyroid hormone receptors. It is the hormone/receptor interaction that allows hormones to act on our body. Without a good hormone/receptor interaction you have nothing! So this means that even with supplemental hormone therapy the person won’t feel better because the hormones won’t bind and stimulate the receptor like they are supposed to! It is a self defeating concept to give thyroid hormones to an auto-immune thyroid patient. And it beomes an important concept because 50 - 80% of all hypothyroid patients are estimated to be auto-immune thyroid!
Medical doctors do have some methods for treating auto-immune conditions which involves suppressing the immune system either chemically or by removing certain immune system glands. This lends itself to infectious diseases and a lifetime of worry over contracting a serious illness. In fact a common flu could kill you this way. There may be a time for this, but how about looking into safer and more effective alternatives first? Ones which work at the root of the problem. They are out there, and I can help you with them.
One basic concept is important to understand about all auto-immune conditions… No matter what problem you think you have, like the thyroid problem I mentioned above, it is now an immune system problem and not a problem with the particular organ or gland being affected. You can throw all the support that you want toward the effected organ and you will not get anywhere. You will continue to struggle and feel sick until the root of the problem is dealt with. Moderating the immune system is the only way to take back your health from conditions like these. Only once you have the immune system under control can you begin to effectively support the effected organ or gland.
Allow me the opportunity to help you or the people around you with these problems. Treating auto-immune conditions requires very specific analysis of the immune system. These tests simply are not being done in the mainstream medical system. And remember… Don’t let where you live stop you from contacting me. I can work long distance with great success. Call or email me today and set up a consultation. Let’s start the process of getting you back to feeling good again!
Let me use the example of a recent patient of mine who came in with concerns about “feeling terrible.” She has been on Thyroid medication for a long time but does not feel that it is helping. After a simple blood test we discovered that she was not classically hypothyroid (low thyroid) as her doctors diagnosed her, but auto-immune thyroid. Her immune system is attacking her thyroid gland which of course led to deficiencies in her thyroid output. One particular antibody specific to her thyroid tissue was over 11,000. It should not be above 40! This indicates that her immune system is attacking her thyroid gland in a big way. Her doctors never caught this fact. It took going to an acupuncturist that she was referred to in order to find this information out. And it was an out-of-pocket expense. So in this case, and millions of others, the patient’s needs were not being met by the system. Therefore, the root of the problem is not being treated. Hence a medical system which has mechanisms in place that work to weaken and disable the people it is trying to help. I consider this an auto-immune condition of society at large.
The reason that these tests are not run on a routine basis in the mainstream is that the therapy would not really change either way. The mainstream medical model is very much a “replacement” model. By this I mean that if there is anything wrong with you hormonally they will prescribe for you replacement hormones. End of story. This most often ends up working against us, and usually does not help the symptoms of the problem for very long. When was the last time you heard of anyone taking thyroid medications that felt “great” about it? It just never happens. In fact in cases of auto-immune thyroid the antibodies that attack the thyroid gland also block the thyroid hormone receptors. It is the hormone/receptor interaction that allows hormones to act on our body. Without a good hormone/receptor interaction you have nothing! So this means that even with supplemental hormone therapy the person won’t feel better because the hormones won’t bind and stimulate the receptor like they are supposed to! It is a self defeating concept to give thyroid hormones to an auto-immune thyroid patient. And it beomes an important concept because 50 - 80% of all hypothyroid patients are estimated to be auto-immune thyroid!
Medical doctors do have some methods for treating auto-immune conditions which involves suppressing the immune system either chemically or by removing certain immune system glands. This lends itself to infectious diseases and a lifetime of worry over contracting a serious illness. In fact a common flu could kill you this way. There may be a time for this, but how about looking into safer and more effective alternatives first? Ones which work at the root of the problem. They are out there, and I can help you with them.
One basic concept is important to understand about all auto-immune conditions… No matter what problem you think you have, like the thyroid problem I mentioned above, it is now an immune system problem and not a problem with the particular organ or gland being affected. You can throw all the support that you want toward the effected organ and you will not get anywhere. You will continue to struggle and feel sick until the root of the problem is dealt with. Moderating the immune system is the only way to take back your health from conditions like these. Only once you have the immune system under control can you begin to effectively support the effected organ or gland.
Allow me the opportunity to help you or the people around you with these problems. Treating auto-immune conditions requires very specific analysis of the immune system. These tests simply are not being done in the mainstream medical system. And remember… Don’t let where you live stop you from contacting me. I can work long distance with great success. Call or email me today and set up a consultation. Let’s start the process of getting you back to feeling good again!
Don't Like Fish... Well They Like You!
Ok, perhaps my title is a little misleading since the fish actually have to give up their lives in sacrifice of your good health. But nevertheless, a diet lacking in fish is a great way to spiral headlong into the many depths of poor health. Like fish or not, they are really good for you. More specifically the Omega-3 Fatty Acids found in fish are what I am taking about. You simply must include a diet rich in these fatty acids if you want to avoid illness and injury, and here’s why.
The Omega-3 Fatty Acids found in fish oil (EPA and DHA) are not only an essential part of our cell’s structure, but are extremely anti-inflammatory in nature. Americans are overly inflamed as a general rule due to our over ingestion of grain which are heavy in Omega-6 Fatty Acids and our disturbing addiction to foods that spike our blood sugar. Omega-3’s are anti-inflammatory while Omega-6’s are pro-inflammatory. It is vital to balance out this Omega-3 to Omega-6 ratio in order to maintain the stability of our health.
Inflammation can be linked to almost all of the current killers in our society today. Conditions like Heart Disease, Stroke, Alzheimer’s, Depression, Cancer, Arthritis, Chronic Pain, Type II Diabetes, and even Obesity can all be associated with lower than optimal levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acid intake such as those found in fish oils, and subsequent inflammation. Without the anti-inflammatory properties of fish oil these conditions are allowed to run wild and ruin lives.
The basic rundown of how this works is as follows. There are little hormones produced by our bodies called eicosanoids. Unlike most all other hormones which are produced in glands, eicosanoids are produced by every cell in the body and can therefore act on every cell of the body very directly. We have approximately 60 trillion eicosanoid glands in our bodies! Depending upon the ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 in our cells, these hormones can go in one of two directions. They can either be pro- or anti-inflammatory. There needs to be a balance of both to maintain proper health. The “good” ones work to prevent clotting, they open blood vessels, reduce pain, decrease cell division (good for fighting tumors), enhance the immune system, and improve brain function. The “bad” eicosanoids do exactly the opposite. They promote clotting, constrict blood vessels, promote pain, promote cell division, depress the immune system, and depress brain function. Which would you prefer? Do you like fish now?
There are two ways in which to improve the ratio of “good” to “bad” eicosanoids in the body. The first way is to improve your blood sugar and therefore produce less of the hormone Insulin. High levels of Insulin work to promote “bad” eicosanoid production. The second way is to take high doses of pharmaceutical grade fish oil. Taking a highly purified pharmaceutical grade fish oil allows you to take higher doses without the stomach upset, fishy burps, and heavy metal threat that are found in other less purified oils. This is one supplement that you want to spend more on to ensure quality. But the more you get your diet in line the less fish oil you have to take to achieve the same goal.
There are several tests that I can order to see exactly how inflamed you really are. I can order these tests anywhere in the country and drop ship you the high quality fish oil to boot. It is time for you to take a different path on your journey towards wellness. Believe me, the current medical model isn’t working. Standard treatment is focused upon subduing symptoms and not at all on fixing the problem. Call or email my clinic any time and let’s help you change your life!
The Omega-3 Fatty Acids found in fish oil (EPA and DHA) are not only an essential part of our cell’s structure, but are extremely anti-inflammatory in nature. Americans are overly inflamed as a general rule due to our over ingestion of grain which are heavy in Omega-6 Fatty Acids and our disturbing addiction to foods that spike our blood sugar. Omega-3’s are anti-inflammatory while Omega-6’s are pro-inflammatory. It is vital to balance out this Omega-3 to Omega-6 ratio in order to maintain the stability of our health.
Inflammation can be linked to almost all of the current killers in our society today. Conditions like Heart Disease, Stroke, Alzheimer’s, Depression, Cancer, Arthritis, Chronic Pain, Type II Diabetes, and even Obesity can all be associated with lower than optimal levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acid intake such as those found in fish oils, and subsequent inflammation. Without the anti-inflammatory properties of fish oil these conditions are allowed to run wild and ruin lives.
The basic rundown of how this works is as follows. There are little hormones produced by our bodies called eicosanoids. Unlike most all other hormones which are produced in glands, eicosanoids are produced by every cell in the body and can therefore act on every cell of the body very directly. We have approximately 60 trillion eicosanoid glands in our bodies! Depending upon the ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 in our cells, these hormones can go in one of two directions. They can either be pro- or anti-inflammatory. There needs to be a balance of both to maintain proper health. The “good” ones work to prevent clotting, they open blood vessels, reduce pain, decrease cell division (good for fighting tumors), enhance the immune system, and improve brain function. The “bad” eicosanoids do exactly the opposite. They promote clotting, constrict blood vessels, promote pain, promote cell division, depress the immune system, and depress brain function. Which would you prefer? Do you like fish now?
There are two ways in which to improve the ratio of “good” to “bad” eicosanoids in the body. The first way is to improve your blood sugar and therefore produce less of the hormone Insulin. High levels of Insulin work to promote “bad” eicosanoid production. The second way is to take high doses of pharmaceutical grade fish oil. Taking a highly purified pharmaceutical grade fish oil allows you to take higher doses without the stomach upset, fishy burps, and heavy metal threat that are found in other less purified oils. This is one supplement that you want to spend more on to ensure quality. But the more you get your diet in line the less fish oil you have to take to achieve the same goal.
There are several tests that I can order to see exactly how inflamed you really are. I can order these tests anywhere in the country and drop ship you the high quality fish oil to boot. It is time for you to take a different path on your journey towards wellness. Believe me, the current medical model isn’t working. Standard treatment is focused upon subduing symptoms and not at all on fixing the problem. Call or email my clinic any time and let’s help you change your life!