More than the Basics: Achieving True Wellness Care

When we watch TV today, regardless if it is satellite or cable, the public is inundated with infomercials on every type of revolutionary new exercise equipment or gimmick that will restore your health by removing excess weight, take away your chronic back pain and even grow you new hair.

The unfortunate thing is that the consumer who is suffering from one of these ailments will commonly seek out these gimmicks in search of a solution to alleviate the pain instead of seeking out chiropractic care, which may be able to find out the real cause of their problem.

Each day we hear patients comment on their weight, degenerative arthritis, fibromyalgia, constant neck or low back pain and what do we do? It is a common fact that, regardless of our patients’ complaints, they still are under hydrated, have poor eating habits, get little to no exercise, do not get enough rest, take numerous prescribed medications and countless over-the-counter remedies. We see this each time we review the case history of a new patient.

When considering this common episode, you need to ask yourself, “What types of services am I providing to help my patients achieve a real wellness style of healthcare and activities of daily living?”

We know today’s patients are more educated about their healthcare choices and want to be involved in their health care–both in the decision making, as well as how and where they want to spend their healthcare dollars. I commonly will get a new patient who comes to our office and has been under previous chiropractic care. When we ask why he is coming to our office, he says, “Every time I go to Dr. X, he does the same thing: lays me on my right side, lays me on the left side, pushes on my mid back and twists my neck to the right and then to the left, and says, ‘I will see you in a month!’” Does this scenario sound familiar? Are we guilty of doing the same thing?

There is no replacement for the chiropractic adjustment! It is what separates us from all other healthcare providers. But, our patients who have chronic pain syndromes, gait instabilities, and complaints about managing simple activities of daily living often come into our office with a soda and a bag of chips! They need more from us to develop a true wellness lifestyle.

To help educate a patient on better diet and eating habits, simply ask a patient to fill out a questionnaire or a two-week record of everything they eat and drink, then make simple recommendations. If you do not use any type of nutritional supplements in your office, I am sure you have a peer who does and can give you advice for your patients. Many times, we put all our focus on providing a great chiropractic adjustment and forget to focus on some of the additional components of the vertebral subluxation. When joints and their surrounding supporting tissue and muscles do not move in normal patterns (either from trauma, a compensatory pattern or from an injury to another part of the body) then, oftentimes, these areas need to be rehabilitated. You do not need to have the equivalent of a powerhouse gym in your office, just the use of low-tech resistance bands. A basic knowledge of how to use them can establish normal ranges of motion. This, followed by some pattern reeducation and strengthening, can go a long way in helping a patient improve his or her lifestyle. Simple things can have a huge impact, such as just teaching a patient how to correctly stand out of a chair, rise from the bed correctly, or even educating the patient on the use of a better pillow.

The use of custom-made, flexible orthotics to stabilize an abnormal movement pattern within the feet will then positively affect compensatory problems up the kinetic chain from the foot to the base of the skull. This will lead to numerous postural changes, and could help relieve musculoskeletal pains and chronic pain syndromes. Let’s take an additional look at how these biomechanical abnormalities can cause the above-mentioned conditions.

We know, during ambulation, the body goes from a heel-strike position, transitioning to midstance and followed by toe-off. This normal pattern places stresses from the rear foot through the midfoot, where weightbearing forces are accentuated when the midfoot rolls medially, or pronates. This is a normal pattern of movement. This allows the shifting of the weightbearing forces to the first and second toe for toe-off. This is, also, why most people’s big toe is longer—it’s to create a better lever. If the medial roll or pronation is excessive or not enough, the weightbearing forces are placed more laterally and (more commonly) more medially. When this abnormal pattern of movement takes place, the tibia will rotate medially more than normal. This, in turn, causes stress at the knee, hip, sacroiliac joint and throughout the spine. It sounds like the old children’s song, “The knee bone’s connected to the hip bone.” Using a custom-made, flexible orthotic that is measured in the weightbearing or midstance position allows support to provide the foot with a normal pattern of movement, going from heel strike to toe-off. Allowing this normal pattern will commonly provide additional support for the musculoskeletal chain and allow better support and holding, once the chiropractic adjustment has been given.

There is no doubt: Neurologically, it is “from above down and inside out” but, biomechanically, it is from the ground up (from the feet up) and is evidenced by simple anatomy and movement patterns.


A 1980 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, Dr. Kirk Lee is a member of the Palmer College of Chiropractic Post Graduate Faculty and Parker College of Chiropractic Post Graduate Faculty. He has lectured nationwide on sports injuries and the adolescent athlete, and currently practices in Albion, Michigan.

Reversing Osteoporosis Naturally with Whole Body Vibration

Bone health is rapidly becoming one of the most acute health issues in the US. The incidence of osteoporosis has increased dramatically in recent years. Consider these startling facts:

• Osteoporosis affects an estimated 10 million Americans over the age of 50. Some reports say the numbers are as high as 28 million people. It is estimated that, by the year 2020, half of all Americans will have or will develop bone density issues.

• Close to 1.2 million bone fractures in the United States each year are related to osteoporosis.

• An estimated 50,000 people die each year from post-fracture complications.

• As many as one-fifth of people suffering from osteoporosis end up in nursing homes.

• Women are extremely vulnerable to osteoporosis.

• At menopause, bone loss can range from 4% to 8%.

• A common consequence of osteoporosis is the collapsing of the bones in the spine, called compression fractures, but also known as a “dowager hump.”

Over the years, I have found that there is a lot of misinformation about osteoporosis. Yet, as chiropractors, we see patients on a daily basis with this disease. As practitioners, who often like to work with our patients on a non-pharmaceutical approach, we often encourage them to include weight-bearing exercises and give some nutritional advice. I believe there is a lot more we can do.

As a living tissue, bones are constantly rebuilt via a two part process. Osteoclasts resorb and remodel bones. Osteoblasts deposit new minerals and collagen back into the bone. These osteoblasts are stimulated by the mechanical pressure exerted on them when weight bearing. And the more weight is being loaded onto a bone, along the trabecular pattern, the more stimulation is generated. Hence, the recommendation of weight bearing exercise.

The current pharmaceutical trend in treating osteoporosis is based on inhibiting the osteoclastic function via medications such as Fosamax. As a chiropractor, I prefer a more holistic way that centers on increasing the osteoblastic function. Stimulating bone formation, while allowing proper remodeling seems to be a more sensible approach.

Fifty years ago, the Russian Space program was facing a startling phenomenon: when subjected to Zero Gravity in outer space, the cosmonauts rapidly lost bone and muscle mass! The way the problem was dealt with was refreshingly simple. If the body responds to loss of gravity this way, why not increase gravity on the bones to recover? The fastest way to accomplish this was to stand on a platform and have this platform move up and down rapidly about 2-4 mm, loading the weight bearing structures with the individuals complete body weight. Thus, Whole Body Vibration (WBV) was born.

With WBV, the body’s weight bearing structures are being loaded with the total body weight on every up-stroke and are being unloaded on every down-stroke. Therefore, WBV is often referred to as rapid acceleration/deceleration training.

At a setting of 20 Hz, the platform moves up and down 20 times a second! It serves to note that this type of focused, hi-level, non-traumatic loading of weight bearing structures would be very hard to replicate with exercise! An individual standing on a platform at 20 Hz is experiencing 20 brief, short range impulses onto the femoral heads, pelvis and spine per second with the total body weight! A vast number of research programs all over the world over the last 40 years have shown the beneficial effects of WBV. It is a widely accepted form of treatment that is just now getting publicized here in the US.

After reviewing the literature, I have created a protocol for my patients, which consists of two 10-minute sessions a day at 20 Hz, to be performed in a three day on, one day off cycle.

During this time, the patient is instructed to stand with their legs straight, in order to maximize the transfer of stimulus to the above mentioned osseous structures. The challenge is to find a WBV unit strong enough to transfer the impulses throughout the skeletal structures, yet gentle enough that even lighter weight patients can tolerate it.

The second component of the holistic approach is on the nutritional side. It suffices to say at this point that WBV will stimulate the blood flow into all of the area of bone being stimulated. The purpose of a nutritional support should supply all the necessary components that are synergistically necessary to support the osteoblastic function. Several nutritional recommendations are currently readily available from several of the nutritional companies. Basically, all of these protocols include the following nutrients, but are not limited to:

• A complete multi-vitamin;

• Dietary enzymes for better absorption and utilization;

• Calcium, preferably in the form of an ascorbates, gluconates, citrate or carbonate for optimal absorption;

• Magnesium, to assist calcium absorption and maintain proper balance between them;

• Vitamin K-1;

• Genistein, an isoflavone;

• Omega 3 fatty acids;

• Vitamin D-3.

 

As chiropractors, we have been at the forefront of holistic healthcare and wellness for over 100 years. The above protocol shall serve as a recommendation for us as a profession to step up again as the leaders in healthcare. By integrating WBV into the chiropractic offices around the country, doctors can safely proclaim that they are addressing one of the most pressing and prevalent health issues of our society in a balancing, supportive way. Isn’t it time?


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Dr. Christian H. Reichardt is a 1983 graduate of National College of Chiropractic. He may be reached at 1-310-829-0453, by email at [email protected] or visit www.Golf-Health.com TAC

 

See references on page 46

Prescription Drugs, Muscle Contraction and Subluxations

An important part of every case history, and even ongoing case notes, should be knowledge of the patient’s prescription and over-the-counter drug use. This has always been important, because drugs mask symptoms and physical findings that are important in making an accurate assessment of the need for chiropractic care.

 

One of the tenets of basic science is the need to maintain homeostasis within the extracellular fluid of the body. This fluid comprises 33% of total body water, and must be maintained within narrow limits of temperature, pH, volume, and concentration of dissolved substances. When one or more of the body’s organ systems is unable to perform its responsibilities for maintaining normal function, we develop symptoms. Hopefully, reduction of stress, a change in diet and exercise, as well as good chiropractic care will be enough to restore normal function. When these efforts are not enough, prescription drugs are used to allay symptoms and to prevent further damage to the tissues.

In that regard, it is important to remember that any visceral dysfunction produces contraction(s) in the muscles that share spinal innervations with the stressed organ(s). This occurs not only in the periphery but at the spine as well. Thus, we have the occurrence of spinal subluxation concomitant with visceral dysfunction.

When prescription drugs are used to alter visceral function, muscle contractions and subluxation patterns change. Thus, it is imperative that a patient’s use of prescription medications and any changes that are made in their medications be carefully noted by the clinician. It is imperative that we remember that prescription drugs are used for the treatment of disease and they do not restore normal function, nor can they maintain health. All prescribed drugs work by either blocking receptor sites or interfering with a human enzyme system. Hence, they all cause side effects that can be recognized very early by changes in muscle contraction and subluxation patterns. An extreme example of this phenomenon is seen with the use of statin drugs for controlling LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels. There is the persistent occurrence of myositis which begins slowly and can gradually progress to loss of joint range of motion and severe pain. But, make no mistake, it occurs to some extent with all medications.

One of the prescription drugs being advertised very heavily now is TriLipix®, so you can expect to see its use quite often in your patients.

TriLipix® is one of a class of fibrate drugs. Fibrates are amphipathic carboxylic acids. That is, they are chemical compounds that are both water-soluble and lipid-soluble. Common amphiphilic substances are soaps and detergents. They are used for a range of metabolic disorders, including high cholesterol and high lipid levels in the blood. Commonly prescribed fibrates your patients may be taking are TriLipix®, TriCor®, Bezalip®, Modalim®, and Lopid®.

 

Indications for Use

 

Fibrates are used in combination with statins. Although less effective in lowering LDL, fibrates increase HDL (high-density lipoprotein) levels and decrease triglyceride levels, and seem to improve insulin resistance and other features of the metabolic syndrome (hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2).

 

Mechanism of Action

 

Fibrates are able to penetrate cell membranes and block fatty acid receptors within the cell. They stimulate a class of intracellular receptors that modulate carbohydrate and fat metabolism. Activation induces the transcription of a number of genes that facilitate lipid metabolism.

Free fatty acids can penetrate the plasma membrane due to their poor water solubility and high fat solubility. Once inside the cell, a fatty acid reacts with ATP (adenosine-5- triphosphate) in a number of steps to form the entry molecule for the Krebs Cycle.

Thus, fibrates are agonists, that is they replace fatty acids as well as prostaglandins and leukotrienes at the receptor sites with the cells of muscle, liver, and other tissues. This results in the following:

• Decreased hepatic triglyceride secretion

• Increased lipoprotein lipase activity, and increased VLDL (very low-density lipoproteins) clearance

• Increased HDL

• Increased clearance of remnant particles

• Unfortunately, there are side effects to all this.

 

Side Effects

 

When considering the following side effects of fibrate prescriptions, consider, as well, new muscle contractions and subluxation patterns in your patients. The most obvious is myopathy, muscle pain with CPK (creatine phosphokinase) elevations.

• Most fibrates can cause mild stomach upset and, since they increase the cholesterol content of bile, they increase the risk for gallstones.

• T5 to T9—stomach and biliary dysfunctions with concomitant loss of the normal dorsal kyphosis (so-called anterior dorsals).

In combination with statin drugs, fibrates cause an increased risk of rhabdomyolysis (idiosyncratic destruction of muscle tissue) leading to renal failure. Lipobay® was withdrawn because of this complication. The less lipophilic statins are considered to be somewhat safer when combined with fibrates.

• T10 to T11—kidney dysfunction and increased low back pain before the side effects are diagnosed.

My objective in writing this article is not to disparage the use of prescription drugs for the treatment of disease but, rather, to encourage the chiropractor to be aware of the drugs their patients are using and to be aware when there are changes of those prescriptions.


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Dr. Loomis can be reached by mail at 6421 Enterprise Lane, Madison, WI 53719 or by phone at 1-800-662-2630. Visit his website at http://www.loomisenzymes.com.

Knock Out Arthritis, Autoimmune Diseases, and Wrinkles

Throughout the centuries, one of the most pressing goals for medical researchers has been to find more effective ways to diminish pain. As medicine enters the twenty-first century, we are still seeking a perfect pain reliever with no side effects. After all, end-stage cancer patients are still given morphine, a narcotic drug that was used during the Civil War, to dull their excruciating pain. And experts on pain are sizing up the benefits of marijuana for their patients. Somehow, we haven’t been able to develop a pain reliever that’s truly effective and doesn’t cause a drug-induced high.

Pain is often the hallmark of disease. Chronic pain, itself, is not a defined medical condition but, rather, a symptom in the body that something has gone awry. Pain usually stems from inflammation of the body’s tissues. Although there is no blood test for pain, the patient is acutely aware of its existence.

A wide number of painful conditions caused by chronic inflammation can be helped and alleviated once you are in the Anti-Inflammation Zone.

Sometimes physicians can’t make a definitive medical diagnosis to explain the underlying cause of chronic pain. They may shrug their shoulders or use a term like fibromyalgia, a diagnosis made to describe intense, diffuse pain of unknown origin. Regardless of whether a definitive cause of chronic pain can be found, every patient knows that the pain is very, very real.

The most powerful pain relievers, however, are corticosteroids. They have an immediate effect, but they knock out all eicosanoids—“good” and “bad”—indiscriminately. This can lead to severe side effects, such as immune depression, cognitive impairment, and diabetes.

Arthritis

The first published journal article on the benefits of high-dose fish oil as a treatment for arthritis appeared in 1775. The oil used in that study was a very crude form of cod liver oil. (Remember that I said people used to let the oil from cod’s liver ooze out into the streets?) Patients who could stomach the horrific-tasting oil (estimated to be a daily dose of 7 grams of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids) enjoyed spectacular relief of pain. But the taste of the oil was so putrid that they soon abandoned the fish oil.

Some two hundred years later, fish oil finally returned to the arthritis scene. In the 1980’s, positive research findings ushered in claims that fish oil was a “new” miracle cure for arthritis. Since fish oil was now more refined and could be consumed in soft gelatin capsules, the taste was not so bad. Early studies used only about 3.6 grams of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids so, although the results were positive, they were not spectacular. Also, this fish oil was health-food grade, so higher doses wouldn’t have been tolerable. Because such a low dose of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids was used, it isn’t too surprising that the benefits were not dramatic.

On the basis of my experience using Ultra Refined high-dose fish oil for patients with severe pain (such as fibromyalgia and gout), I’m confident that Ultra Refined high-dose fish oil, especially when coupled with improved insulin control, will have a significant role to play in the treatment of chronic pain, including arthritis.

Autoimmune Disorders

Arthritis isn’t the only inflammatory condition that can be relieved by Ultra Refined high-dose fish oil. Autoimmune disorders, in which the immune system begins attacking the body as if it were a foreign invader, can also be alleviated with Ultra Refined high-dose fish oil.

Multiple sclerosis is one autoimmune disorder that can be positively affected by Ultra Refined high-dose fish oil. Lupus, a life threatening autoimmune disorder that causes kidney failure, has also been shown to be positively affected by high-dose fish oil. In animal studies using rats that were bred to develop lupus, significant increases in their life spans are observed, if their standard diet is supplemented by high-dose fish oil. However, injections of “good” eicosanoids (like PGEi)—which fish oil is known to boost—have a spectacular effect on the life spans of the same types of inbred animals. In fact, at the end of the thirteen months (a very long life for a rat), all the control rats had died, whereas all the rats injected with “good” eicosanoids were still living, even though the injections of the “good” eicosanoids started well after lupus had been established in the animals.

IgA nephropathy is another inflammatory condition that attacks the kidneys. This disease, which is a major cause of kidney failure, has been found to be alleviated with Ultra Refined high-dose fish oil. Long-term studies with fish oil indicate a dramatic reduction in the development of kidney failure in these patients compared with those taking a placebo. Here Ultra Refined high-dose fish oil is acting not only as a modulator of eicosanoids but, also, probably as an inhibitor of the release of various inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF.

As you can see, Ultra Refined high-dose fish oil has a remarkable ability to decrease a broad spectrum of inflammatory mediators, resulting in a reduction in pain associated with seemingly hopeless chronic conditions.

Reduce Inflammation, Look Younger

No one wants to look older than his or her age. But if your skin is full of premature sags and wrinkles, you can’t avoid it. Although you may not think of your skin as an organ, it’s actually the largest organ in your body, and one of the most critical. Your skin has an extremely critical role to play, as it has to provide a barrier against a very hostile external environment that includes bacteria, fungi, and perpetual oxidation caused by the sun. Furthermore, unlike other organs, your skin is constantly renewing itself to maintain that protective barrier. With new layers of skin cells forming all the time, your skin is even more sensitive than your other organs to changes in eicosanoid levels.

Your skin’s appearance gives you a window into the internal state of your body. Let’s face it: You know when you look good and, usually, it’s when you’re feeling strong and healthy. When your skin has a rosy glow, this means you’ve got blood circulation within the skin and, probably, through the rest of your body. On the other hand, you often know you’re getting sick when you see pallor to your skin, indicative of poor blood flow. You can bet that the rest of your body is not too far behind.

One unmistakable sign of aging is the formation of wrinkles. Scientifically speaking, wrinkles are caused by the cross-linking of collagen fibers in the skin, and this cross-linking can be accelerated by constant exposure to the sun. The most effective way to reduce wrinkle formation (other than staying completely out of the sun) is to reduce arachidonic acid levels in the skin, thus, decreasing the potential for the production of pro-inflammatory “bad” eicosanoids.

An even more powerful approach to preventing wrinkles is to increase the levels of “good” eicosanoids in your body, because of their powerful anti-inflammatory actions. These “good” eicosanoids will do far more to reduce the inflammatory processes that lead to wrinkles than all the fruit acids and vitamin E creams you can possibly rub on your skin. This is because “good” eicosanoids are both very powerful vasodilators (which increase blood flow) and very powerful anti-inflammatory agents. With improved blood flow and decreased inflammation, your skin will look years younger.

Skin diseases, especially conditions that cause dry, scaly skin like eczema and psoriasis, often result from excessive levels of “bad” eicosanoids. While neither eczema nor psoriasis is life-threatening, both conditions are cause for concern, because they indicate that a significant inflammatory process is already taking place in the skin. Research shows that both of these conditions stem from the overproduction of “bad” eicosanoids called leukotrienes. Reducing arachidonic acid levels by using high-dose fish oil chokes off the production of leukotrienes while, simultaneously, increasing the levels of “good” eicosanoids. Dermatologists usually prescribe corticosteroid creams to reduce inflammation, but these drugs also unfortunately knock out “good” eicosanoids, and that leads to a thinning of the skin. Various studies have indicated that Ultra Refined high-dose fish oil, without the use of corticosteroids, can contribute to some improvement in psoriasis. Other inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema, also respond well to the high-dose fish oil.

Another key to improving your skin’s appearance is to increase your production of the key structural proteins of the skin—collagen and elastin—as you age. These structural proteins give your skin its firmness and elasticity. As the production of collagen and elastin decreases with aging, your skin starts to droop and sag. In order to keep collagen and elastin at increased levels, you need to increase blood flow to your skin, since that stimulates the enzymes that produce these structural proteins. Using techniques such as laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, and chemical peels, plastic surgeons can not only remove cross-linked proteins from the top layer of skin but, also, stimulate the blood flow to your skin. This increased blood flow enhances the new production of both collagen and elastin but, unfortunately, with significant increase in inflammation and pain in the process.

Just as my dietary program stimulates blood flow in your heart and brain, it can also stimulate blood flow to your skin, which will increase the production of collagen and elastin to give aging skin new body and elasticity without a need for laser resurfacing and other tools of the plastic surgeon. At the same time, it will reduce the likelihood of wrinkles by reducing inflammation in the skin because of the increased production of anti-inflammatory “good” eicosanoids.

Since beautiful skin ultimately begins with what you eat, high-dose Ultra Refined high-dose fish oil, coupled with improved insulin control, will have a significant role to play in the treatment of inflammatory conditions and may represent the best cosmetic product you can use. 

Dr. Barry Sears, leading authority on the dietary control of hormonal response, author of the New York Times #1 best seller, The Zone, is a former research scientist at the Boston University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For more information about The Zone program call 1-800-404-8171 or visit  www.drsearszonefast.com

Pottenger’s Saucer: A Structural Manifestation of Elevated Homocysteine Levels

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. The pharmaceutical industry spends an enormous amount of money on advertising prescription drugs that will lower “bad” LDL cholesterol in order to lower the risk of heart attack or stroke. In fact, according to a report aired on 60 Minutes, much more money is spent on advertising than on researching solutions.

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One of the factors involved in cardiovascular disease is an amino acid called homocysteine. The correlation between cardiovascular disease and elevated homocysteine levels was first suggested in 1969 and confirmed in 1976. Yet, little definitive information has confirmed homocysteine as a primary contributing factor. What studies have been done, concern the role of vitamins B6, B12, folate and betaine in protein metabolism in the liver.

 

What Is Homocysteine?

Homocysteine is a transitional sulfur-containing amino acid that is formed in the liver by the breakdown of methionine, which should be quickly transformed into other compounds. If this transformation does not happen and elevated levels of homocysteine are found in the blood, this indicates that a metabolic enzyme reaction was inadequate to meet demand.

 

Homocysteine and LDL Cholesterol

Pharmaceutical interest in homocysteine stems from the fact that it can cause cholesterol to change to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (“bad” LDL cholesterol), which is associated with atherosclerosis. In addition, high homocysteine levels may increase the potential for blood clots, intensifying the risk of stroke. While no studies have shown that lowering homocysteine levels helps reduce strokes, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular events, it has been shown to be elevated in those at risk for heart disease.

 

Dietary Recommendations for Lowering

Homocysteine Levels

Most people with a high homocysteine level do not get adequate amounts of betaine, vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid in their diet. It is well-known that diets high in meat and dairy products are deficient in these compounds, usually because of processing. Thus, marginal deficiencies can result in the accumulation of homocysteine.

Eating more fruits and vegetables (especially leafy green vegetables) can help lower your homocysteine level by increasing the folate you get in your diet. Good sources of folate include many breakfast cereals, lentils, asparagus, spinach and most beans.

If you or your patients do not have enough vitamin B6 in your diet, add good dietary sources like fortified breakfast cereals, potatoes, bananas, garbanzo beans and chicken. Dairy products, organ meats (such as liver), beef, and some types of fish are good sources of vitamin B12.

Dietary sources of betaine include beets, broccoli, and spinach. Interestingly, many wines contain betaine, particularly less expensive wines that use beet sugar to increase the alcohol content. Some experts suggest that this may be part of the “French paradox,” in which wine drinkers from France tend to have low rates of heart disease despite diets high in fat and cholesterol.

 

Pharmaceutical Approach for Lowering

Homocysteine Levels

While dietary changes may be important to lower elevated homocysteine levels in the blood, accumulation of homocysteine has also been shown in patients with low levels of thyroid hormone, kidney disease, psoriasis, hallucinations, psychoses, and use of some prescription medicines.

At this point, I could present a list of pharmaceutical attempts to lower homocysteine levels; but, frankly, there isn’t a clear-cut known way to do that yet. What is known is well-documented in the literature. For example, while a high level of blood serum homocysteine is considered to be a marker of potential cardiovascular disease, current research is attempting to determine if serum homocysteine is the problem or merely an indicator of extant problems.

It is more important to point out that all prescription drugs have side effects, because they interfere or block normal enzyme systems in the body. Clearly, this is needed to save lives after damage has been done; but, if you could identify patients at risk before abnormal test results are identified, these problems could be prevented.

What is needed is an examination that will identify metabolic dysfunctions and viscerosomatic stress points in the body before elevated laboratory values are found. Only then can preventive measures be instituted that will remove the stress and restore normal function.

 

Chiropractic Approach for Recognizing Potential CV Disease

Poor protein digestion is the first step and poor liver metabolism of protein is the second step on the path to elevated homocysteine levels in the blood and cardiovascular degeneration. Both of these “metabolic dysfunctions” are seen in chiropractic offices everyday and are easy to recognize. Obviously, structural problems also begin with poor protein digestion, its metabolism in the liver, and maintenance of adequate calcium in the blood and tissues. The following is only a brief list of related problems:

• Fibromyalgia

• Hypochlorhydria (esp. in the elderly)

• Chronic sacroiliac instability

• Biliary dysfunction and gallstones

• Collagen fiber weakness

• Functional hypoglycemia

• Degenerative joint disease

• Problems with skin, hair, and nails

 

Have you considered that a chiropractic examination can probably identify those patients at risk for elevated homocysteine levels and LDL cholesterol levels long before abnormal laboratory tests reveal the problem? The trick, of course, is early detection. For medicine, that means waiting for blood and urine tests to become positive before treatment can begin. Treatment then consists of recommendation of lifestyle changes and prescription drugs.

 

Metabolic Subluxations and Viscerosomatic Stress Points

For the chiropractor, “very early” detection of physiological stress means recognizing chronic or recurring subluxation patterns emanating from a visceral source and involving poor protein and calcium metabolism. This is easily accomplished by recognizing muscle contraction patterns involving the spinal innervation to the digestive organs in the mid-thoracic spine, beginning with frequent occurrence of a Pottenger’s Saucer. After that, particular interest should be muscle contractions related to:

Cardiovascular dysfunction and recurring back pain in the shoulders and upper thoracic spinal area;

Liver and kidney dysfunction and recurring back pain in the dorso-lumbar spinal area.

 

I believe that, by broadening its vision and recognizing that metabolic dysfunctions produce viscero-somatic stress points, muscle contractions, and loss of range of motion, the chiropractic profession could ultimately serve as a true health care provider and leave sick care to medicine and the pharmaceutical industry.

howard-loomisDr. Loomis can be reached by mail at 6421 Enterprise Lane, Madison, WI 53719 or by phone at 1-800-662-2630. Visit his website at http://www.loomisenzymes.com

Stress Takes on a New Meaning

The 21st Century lifestyle certainly encompasses an increase of stressful situations. Modern technology has not lessened stress as we thought it would; rather, it has actually increased it. We tend to think that children are not affected by stress and that the word implies some sort of adult mental overload.

The truth of the matter is that life is all about stress. All ages are affected—even being born is a severe stress. Learning to survive in a world that has every level of challenge is stressful. Adapting to the cold or the heat or sunburn is a form of stress. We know that food can create a stress response in the body. In fact, stress is just a response to a stressor, and pretty much everything in life is a stressor. Our environment, from the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the relationships we have, to our activities in work and play, creates challenges to which our body must adapt and then continue to maintain normal function.

The vast majority of our stress responses which help us to survive and maintain normal function1 happen without our even being aware that something is going on within us. We have a built-in system which knows how to keep all of our systems working and healing without the slightest sign; that is, unless we push the body’s limits. Then we have another function to tell us we are now in trouble and that function is called PAIN.2 However, the problem is that, if we wait until the PAIN message appears, there has already been a lot of damage done.

Current medical research is now revealing that 95% of all diseases are actually stress based—from diabetes to cancer. How can this be? What happened to the germ theory—you know, the one we have been taught, in which germs are the cause of disease? It appears that someone finally asked the question, “Hey, if germs are the cause of disease and I have them on/or in my body, why am I not sick?” The answer is, because your immune system is working correctly.

Since it is important that our immune system work correctly, then best we find out what makes it work.

The nervous system controls the function of the immune system. Guess which system also has to deal with stress; that’s right, the nervous system. Ever notice that people under stress tend to get sick? How sick? Medical research now shows that impaired nervous system function plays a major role in the development of cancer.3,4

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 “Hey, if germs are the cause of disease and I have them on/or in my body, why am I not sick?” The answer is, because your immune system is working correctly.

 

Some of the most fantastic research of the 20th Century, as well as the 21st Century, can be found in the studies of brain activity and chiropractic care.5,6 The research shows that the chiropractic adjustment actually changes brain function and improves overall neurological balance. While the majority of chiropractic patients, and many chiropractors, are focused on back care or pain relief, science now shows that the adjustment does much, much more. Armed with this new knowledge, a new breed of chiropractors are seeing incredible results with health challenges such as learning disabilities, chronic illness, attention deficit disorders, and a host of other problems which patients thought were either life threatening or lifestyle limiting.

The point—stress is with us everyday, but there is now proof that regular chiropractic care can help you cope. How does it get any better than that?

 

Dr. Richard BarwellDr. Richard Barwell is the founder and president of the Chiropractic Equity Offices, Inc. program, and has more than 30 years of experience in chiropractic practice.  After graduating with honors from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1964, he started a family Wellness Practice in British Columbia .  He has since established numerous successful practices, won several awards and guest lectured at various chiropractic institutions. Dr. Richard Barwell is the developer of Neurologically Based Chiropractic and the NeuroInfiniti.  For more information please contact us at 877-233-0022, or e-mail us at [email protected]

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

Over 20 million Americans suffer from thyroid disorder. Yet estimates suggest that at least 10 million women with a low-grade thyroid dysfunction go undiagnosed. They simply fall through the cracks.

The main function of the thyroid gland is to take the amino acid tyrosine, along with iodine, and produce the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones are essential for life and affect the body’s metabolism, growth, and development.

Every cell in the body depends upon thyroid hormones for regulation of its metabolism. The pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain, produces thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and the hypothalamus, a small part of the brain above the pituitary, produces (TRH). When the level of thyroid hormones (T3 & T4) drops too low, the hypothalamus releases thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), stimulating the pituitary to release thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which then stimulates the thyroid gland to produce more hormones.

One can imagine the thyroid gland as a furnace and the pituitary gland as the thermostat. Thyroid hormones are like heat. When the heat gets back to the thermostat, it turns the thermostat off. As the room cools (the thyroid hormone levels drop), the thermostat turns back on (TSH increases) and the furnace produces more heat (thyroid hormones).

Normally, TSH increases the uptake of iodine by the thyroid gland and increases production of thyroid hormone.

Women are naturally prone to iodine deficiencies. That’s because the thyroid gland in women is twice as large as in men—so, under normal circumstances, women need more iodine. However, when women are under stress, the need for iodine can double or triple.

Most people believe that you get all the iodine you need from iodized salt. However, I learned first hand that many of my patients were, in fact, very low in iodine. And, in fact, the foods we eat seem to contain less dietary iodine. For example, back in 1940, the typical American diet contained about 800 micrograms of iodine. By 1995, that amount plunged to just 135 micrograms. That’s an 83 percent decline.

If there isn’t enough iodine in our diet, insufficient thyroid hormone is produced by the thyroid, and the person develops symptoms of low thyroid function.

Blood tests for thyroid function are often inaccurate. Blood tests for thyroid function measure the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), T4, and T3 in the bloodstream. But thyroid hormones don’t do anything within the bloodstream; the action takes place in the cells themselves. There’s no way to measure how much thyroid hormone is actively in the cell. We can only guess how much thyroid hormone is actually in the cell.

The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry has reported, “Laboratory blood tests for thyroid may be inaccurate for many who get tested for hypothyroid disorder.” And, to complicate matters, T4 needs to convert into T3 for optimal metabolic function. The normal thyroid gland produces about 80 percent T4 and about 20 percent T3; however, T3 possesses about four times the hormone “strength” as T4.

Unfortunately, patients often have a problem converting T4 into active T3. A build-up of the hormone reverse T3 (RT3) actually blocks the conversion of T4 into T3. Most doctors don’t check for RT3.

Reverse T3 is initiated by stress. The more stress, the more Reverse T3 and the more likely T4 isn’t converting into the more active T3. A patient’s blood test may show normal levels but, since T4 is not being converted to T3 within the cells, fatigue and other symptoms associated with low thyroid begin to appear. Individuals taking synthetic thyroid hormones like Synthroid (T4 only) may continue to have the symptoms of low thyroid for years, even in spite of normal blood tests.

The adrenal hormone cortisol is also necessary for the conversion of T4 to the active T3. If the weak adrenals are not addressed, the patient may see little, if no, benefit to thyroid therapy, actually feel worse and/or develop symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland, such as palpitations, a rapid heartbeat, and increased sweating.

And, since nutrition is involved in every aspect of thyroxine (T4) production, utilization, and conversion to triiodthyronine (T3), the minerals selenium and zinc, along with iodine, vitamins A, B2, B3, B6 and C, as well as the amino acid tyrosine are all needed for the production of thyroxine (T4) hormone. A deficiency in any of these key nutrients may lead to low thyroid function.

New Thyroid Testing Parameters

Not only are blood tests inaccurate, but the parameters for determining who has a thyroid disorder and who doesn’t have been changed. And most doctors don’t even know this!

In the past, those with a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) above 5.0 were considered hypothyroid (low thyroid).

In 2004, The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) changed the guidelines so that a TSH above 3.04 is now considered positive for hypothyroid. I routinely get patients who’ve been to their doctor, had a thyroid blood test, which showed their TSH was above 3.04, only to have their doctor tell them, “Your blood tests look normal.”

Low Body Temperature is a Sign of Hypothyroid

Dr. Broda Barnes was the first to show that a low basal body temperature was associated with low thyroid. His first study was published in 1942 and appeared in The Journal of the American Medical Association.

Enzymes and their actions are influenced by the body’s metabolic temperature (controlled by the thyroid hormones). When the body temperature is too low, the enzymes slow down, creating hypo-metabolism (hypothyroidism) and reduced metabolism (cellular energy) and every cell and every bodily system starts to slow down, leading to all sorts of health problems. The body works best at the optimal temperature of 98.6.

If you have patients that are sick and tired of being sick and tired, help them uncover a possible low thyroid function by checking for low body temperature, and nutritional deficiencies. For those patients with low thyroid function, over-the-counter thyroid support or glandular supplements often yield amazing results! The sick become well and the tired become energetic once again.

Self Test for Low Thyroid

The test for low thyroid function according to Dr. Barnes protocol: First thing in the morning, while still in bed, shake down and place a mercury thermometer (digital thermometers are not as accurate) under your arm and leave there for ten minutes. Record your temperature in a daily log. Women who are still having menstrual cycles should take their temperature after the second and third days of the period. Menopausal women can take their temperature on any day. A reading at or below 97.8 strongly suggests hypothyroid.

If using a digital thermometer, wait 2 hours after waking up and take under the tongue (don’t eat, drink or brush your teeth ten minutes before taking temperature).

How to Self-Test for an Iodine Deficiency

1. Dip a cotton ball into USP Tincture of Iodine. (You can get iodine at the drugstore for under one dollar.)

2. Paint a two-inch circle of iodine on your soft skin, like the inner part of your thigh or upper arm.

3. If the yellowish/orange stain disappears in less than an hour, it means your body is lacking crucial iodine and has soaked it up. If the stain remains for more than four hours, your iodine levels are fine.

Rodger Murphree, D.C., has been in private practice since 1990. He is the founder of, and past clinic director for a large integrated medical practice, which was located on the campus of Brookwood Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. He is the author of Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Heart Disease What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You, and Treating and Beating Anxiety and Depression with Orthomolecular Medicine. He can be reached at www.treatingandbeating.com, by email at [email protected] or call 1-205-879-2383.

References

 1.  Life Extension Foundation’s Disease Prevention and Treatment Protocols, 3rd edition, as reported on the AACE website 2003.

 2.  Arem, R., The Thyroid Solution, Ballantine Books, 1999, New York.

 3.  Shames, RL, Shames, KH, Thyroid Power: 10 Steps to Total Health, Harper Collins Publishers, New York, 2001. See www.ThyroidPower.com.

 4.  Brownstein, D., Overcoming Thyroid Disorders, Medical Alternatives Press, 2002. See: http://www.drbrownstein.com/

 5.  Wilson’s Thyroid Syndrome by Denis Wilson, MD; 1991.

 6.  Kraus RP, Phoenix E, Edmonds E, Nicholson IR, Chandarana PC, Tokmakejian S. Exaggerated TSH Responses to TRH in Depressed Patients With ‘Normal’ Baseline TSH. J Clin Psychiatry 1997;58:266-270.

 

7.  AJ Halterer, J Herbert, C Hidalea et al. Transthyretin in patients with depression. Amer J Psychiatry 1993 150: 813–15.

Botox® and Migraine Headaches

Botox® injections are now being given routinely for migraine headaches, and this has important implications for your practice. Migraine headaches have long defied understanding. These episodic events are a common condition and affect women more frequently than men. They are often credited as having either a neurological, hormonal, or circulatory cause.

The typical migraine headache is described as being one-sided and having a characteristic pulsation that lasts 4 to 72 hours. Nausea and vomiting are commonly associated complaints, as is a heightened sensitivity to bright lights and noise. Only one-third of people who experience migraines get a preceding aura, in which a patient may sense a strange light or unpleasant smell.

Patients often describe that they feel their migraine is precipitated by certain foods and beverages, stress or menstruation. In so-called “silent migraines,” these typical features are present but the headache remains absent.

The exact cause of migraine remains unknown, but the most widespread theories involve the following:

  •  Disordered control of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
  •  Migraines can begin in the brain stem and involve dysfunction in calcium and potassium ion transport between cell membranes. In other words, the inability of cells to respond appropriately to autonomic stimulation.
  •  Fluctuating hormone levels show a relationship to migraine pain: Three quarters of adult migraine patients are female, while migraine affects approximately equal numbers of boys and girls before puberty. Migraine is known to disappear during pregnancy in a substantial number of sufferers.

Migraine or Muscle Tension Headaches?

Headaches that occur unilaterally (migraines) have always been differentiated from bilateral headaches caused by muscle tension. That no longer seems to be the case. This change in thinking has resulted from a study reported in a presentation at the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery meeting held November 2-5, 2000. Richard Glogau, MD, professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, reported that 75 percent of the 24 patients in his small case study experienced four to six months of relief from migraine headaches following injections of Botulinum Toxin A (Botox®) to muscles of the face and head.

Since 1992, Botox® has been used in purified and diluted form to temporarily paralyze the muscles that bring the eyebrows together, thereby eliminating wrinkles in this region. Patients injected with Botulinum Toxin A in the upper third of the face for treatment of cosmetic frown lines (who coincidentally suffered from migraines) reported relief from their headaches. This has led to the following guidelines for selecting patients who can be treated with this procedure.

  •  Patients who prefer this treatment
  •  Patients with disabling primary headaches
  •  Patients who have failed to respond to conventional treatments
  •  Patients with unacceptable side effects from existing treatment
  •  Patients in whom standard preventive treatments are contraindicated
  •  Patients in special populations (the elderly) or situations (airplane pilots, students studying and preparing for examinations)
  •  Patients misusin, abusing or overusing medications
  •  Patients with coexistent jaw, head, or neck muscle spasm

At the present time, there does not seem to be a specific protocol as to which site of muscle contraction is responsible for each individual patient’s headache and the injections are done on a hit-or-miss basis. The following are the sites most commonly reported.

Botox® has been approved for cosmetic uses such as reducing facial wrinkles, loose skin, and other imperfections. However, it is commonly being used to treat a wide range of other conditions, such as cerebral palsy, for which the drug is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. In addition to Cerebral Palsy, for which it has had some disastrous results, Botox® is also used for the following conditions:

  •  Involuntary head movements due to neck and shoulder muscle contractions (Cervical Dystonia)
  •  Post-stroke muscle tightness
  •  Severe underarm sweating
  •  Excessive itching
  •  Tennis elbow
  •  Enlarged prostate

These “off-label” uses of Botox® account for many of the serious injuries and deaths associated with the drug each year. A lawsuit filed by a Texas firm contends that Botox® has killed four and injured eleven of its clients, and attorneys for the plaintiffs are calling for a halt to promotions of “off-label” uses of the drug and for better training for those prescribing the injections. In their defense, physicians are insisting that cosmetic use is safe and side effects, which include drooping of the eyelid, double vision, and muscle weakness at the injection site, are minimal. They believe that consumers (patients?) who choose off-label treatments should be sure the physician is well trained in treating their specific condition.

Hopefully, I have been successful in pointing out to the reader that a chiropractic examination could pinpoint the exact muscle contractions and associated subluxation pattern in each individual case of muscle tension or migraine headache. Once the exact cause is established, the appropriate therapy becomes obvious. The success rate in these cases should be phenomenal and without the devastating side effects produced by the hit-or-miss injections.

Howard F. Loomis, Jr., DC, President of Enzyme Formulations®, Inc., has an extensive background in enzymes and enzyme supplementation. As president for fifteen years of 21st Century Nutrition® (now the Loomis Institute® of Enzyme Nutrition), he has forged a remarkable career as an educator, having conducted over 400 seminars to date, in the United States and internationally, on the diagnosis and treatment of food enzyme deficiency syndromes. Dr. Loomis welcomes your comments or questions through the Loomis InstituteTM at 6421 Enterprise Lane, Madison, WI 53719 or by phone at 1-800-662-2630.

Prozac Deficiency or B Vitamin Insufficiency?

Americans now spend more money on antidepressants than the Gross National Product of two-thirds of the world’s countries. Yet studies consistently show that, in up to 70 percent of the time, these drugs are no better than sugar pills.

In their search for the Holy Grail of happiness, patients with mood disorders often try one antidepressant after another. Unfortunately, each new drug eventually loses its punch and the patient is left feeling hopeless once again.

But what if the patient isn’t suffering from a Prozac deficiency but a vitamin B6 insufficiency?

Vitamins and minerals play an important role in preventing and reversing the ill effects of anxiety and depression. In fact, B vitamins are so important for producing and maintaining optimal neurotransmitters that a deficiency in any of the B vitamins can lead to a host of symptoms associated with anxiety and depression disorders.

The brain chemicals or neurotransmitters depend on adequate amounts of B vitamins, especially, B1, B2, B3, B12, and folic acid to join with the amino acids tryptophan, glutamine, and phenylalanine, to make serotonin, GABA, dopamine, and norepinephrine.

 Folic acid is needed to make catecholamines, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Low levels of folic acid have been linked to depression and bipolar disorder in a number of studies. Insufficient folic acid is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies, and one-third of depressed adults are low in this vitamin.

A sore, red tongue may indicate a folic acid deficiency. Folic acid needs vitamins B12, B3, and C to be converted into its active form.  

Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of folic acid in reversing depression. One of these studies evaluated the use of folic acid in a group of patients suffering from depression or schizophrenia. Results showed that 92 percent of the folic acid group made a full recovery, compared with only 70 percent of the control group who took the standard prescription-drug therapy. Those who received the folic acid spent only twenty-three days in the hospital, while those on prescription-therapy alone averaged thirty-three hospital days.

One British study shows that depressed individuals with low folic acid were often poor responders to prescription antidepressant-drug therapy. The addition of folic acid increased the recovery time of these depressed individuals.

A study showed that women who received folic acid plus Prozac had a greater reduction in depression symptoms than women who took Prozac alone.

 

Pyroluria and Vitamin B6

 

Pyroluria is a blood disorder. When the body produces hemoglobin, a constituent of red blood cells, there is a byproduct called kryptopyrroles. Normally harmless, in this group of people, the kryptopyrroles multiply too rapidly and block receptor sites for B6 (pyrodoxine) and zinc, leading to a serious deficiency of these two nutrients. Among other things, B6 and zinc directly help maintain a healthy emotional state. It’s widespread, and estimates as high as 20 percent of all mood-disorder patients and 40 percent of people with schizophrenia have pyroluria. It seems to affect women more than men. The symptoms of excess urinary kryptopyrrole first manifest themselves as behavioral abnormalities. Although children tend to be more easily diagnosed than adults, the symptoms are consistent: poor tolerance of physical and emotional stress, mood swings, depression, sensitivity to light, noise, and other tactile sensitivities. Later symptoms can range from severe depression to chronic schizophrenia.

Pyroluria was identified and promoted more than forty years ago by psychiatrist Abram Hoffer. Dr. Hoffer is one of the founding fathers of Orthomolecular Medicine. Orthomolecular medicine describes the practice of preventing and treating disease by providing the body with optimal amounts of substances which are natural to the body.

Most conventional doctors dismiss pyroluria and orthomolecular medicine as “snake oil” psychiatry. People with pyroluria don’t respond well to common antidepressants, such as selective serotonergic reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s), and are often suicidal.

Individuals who suffer from pyroluria may have some of these characteristics: fair-skin, sunburn easily, don’t dream at night, history of cluster headaches, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), anemia, cold hands or feet, tingling sensations in the hands or feet, motion sickness, poor immune function, white spots on the fingernails, stretch marks on the skin, sensitivity to sunlight, and an aversion to protein-rich foods. All of these characteristics suggest a vitamin B6 or zinc deficiency.

Vitamin B6 is found in such products as brewer’s yeast, sunflower seeds, soybeans, walnuts, lentils, lima beans, hazelnuts, brown rice, avocados, and many other common foods.

Those who suspect they have pyroluria should be taking 100 mg of a special form of vitamin B6 known as pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P), along with 100mg of zinc and a good optimal daily-allowance multivitamin mineral formula.

Individuals under chronic stress—alcoholics, women who are pregnant, lactating, or taking oral contraceptives—are all prone to developing a B6 deficiency.

While there are several labs that will test for pyroluria, Bio Center Laboratory, 1-800-494-7785, is, in my opinion, the best.

So, is it a Prozac deficiency or a B vitamin insufficiency? You won’t know unless you check.

Want to reduce this risk of mood disorders in your patients? Make sure all your patients are taking a good optimal daily allowance multivitamin.


Rodger Murphree, D.C., has been in private practice since 1990. He is the founder of, and past clinic director for a large integrated medical practice, which was located on the campus of Brookwood Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. He is the author of Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Heart Disease What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You, and Treating and Beating Anxiety and Depression with Orthomolecular Medicine. He can be reached at www.treatingandbeating.com, by email at [email protected] or call 1-205-879-2383.

 

References

 

1.  Rodger Murphree, D.C., Treating and Beating Anxiety and Depression with Orthomolecular Medicine. Harrison and Hampton Publishing, Birmingham AL. 2005.

2.  Peter Breggin, Brain-Disabling Treatments in Psychiatry: Drugs, Electroshock and the Psychopharmaceutical Complex. (Springer Publishing Company, 2008). www.Breggin.com

3.  Alpert, J.E.; Fava, M., Nutrition and depression: the role of folate. Nutr. Rev. 1997 May; 55(5): 145-9.

4.  Kelly, G.S. Folates, Supplemental forms and therapeutic applications. Altern. Med. Rev. 1998 Jun; 3(3): 208-20.

5.  Carney, M.W., Neuropsychiatric disorders associated with nutritional deficiencies. Incidence and therapeutic implications. CNS Drugs 1995; 3(4): 279-90.

6.  Coppen, A., Bailey, J. Enhancement of the antidepressant action of fluoxetine by folic acid: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J. Affect. Disorders 2000; 60: 121-30.

7.  Bukreev, V.I., Effect of pyridoxine on the psychopathology and pathochemistry of involutional depressions. Zh. Nevropatol. Psikhiatr. Im. S. S. Korsakova 1978; 78(3): 402-8 (in Russian).

8.  Carney, M.W., Neuropsychiatric disorders associated with nutritional deficiencies. Incidence and therapeutic implications. CNS Drugs 1995; 3(4): 279-90.

9.  Joan Matthews Larson, Depression Free Naturally, p. 146.1999 Blalatine Publishing New York, NY.

Chiropractic and Prescription Drug Use

Fibromyalgia is the most common widespread pain condition in the United States, yet its causes are still not fully known. While both men and women can experience fibromyalgia, 80 percent to 90 percent of those diagnosed are women.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is considered to be a specific, chronic non-degenerative, non-progressive, non-inflammatory, systemic pain condition. This means it has a specific set of signs and symptoms that occur together. However, the National Institutes of Health have reclassified it as a true disease, while most authorities today say that, technically, FMS is not a disease. Diseases have known causes and well-understood mechanisms for producing symptoms and the cause of fibromyalgia is not known.

Fibromyalgia places large financial costs on patients and society. It causes lost work days and lost income as well as the need for disability payments.

Fibromyalgia is no longer considered to be a psychological condition, but it can impact mood and cause distress. In that way, it is similar to other chronic pain conditions. However, the majority of sufferers do not have mood-related disorders.

The essential symptom of FMS is pain, except in the case of elderly patients who are more troubled by fatigue and depression. Younger people experience discomfort after minimal exercise. Low-grade fever or below-normal temperature, and skin sensitivity are also common.

Diagnosis

According to the American College of Rheumatology, to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia patients must have widespread pain that has lasted at least three months. They must also experience pain in at least eleven of eighteen parts of the body known as “tender points.” However, it is not necessary for all of those tender areas to be present at the same time.

Laboratory Tests

Laboratory tests for fibromyalgia are valid only to rule out other conditions. There are still no objective tests that can accurately identify fibromyalgia. It cannot be detected through a blood test or X-ray. Chiropractors must perform a “tender point” exam to make a diagnosis, something they are uniquely qualified to do.

Symptoms

Patients experience chronic widespread pain, multiple tender points in the neck, shoulders, back, arms, and legs. Pain can be above or below the waist and on the right and left side of the body and, in fact, must be found in all four quadrants for diagnosis.

Treatment

 

The outlook for people with fibromyalgia under chiropractic care is quite good when exercise and diet are included based on the results of a careful examination and structural findings. Because fibromyalgia has so many symptoms and causes, your chiropractic findings will differ from patient to patient. Clinically, I have found fibromyalgia to be related to visceral dysfunction generally and autointoxication specifically, with differing muscle contraction and subluxation patterns. Therefore, I believe a purely structural or pharmaceutical treatment approach will fail.

Lyrica by Pfizer

About a year ago (June 2007), the F.D.A. approved pregabalin for the treatment of fibromyalgia in adults 18 years and older and Pfizer began marketing the drug under the name of Lyrica. Previously pregabalin was used in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, and for adults with partial onset seizures.

Prior to the introduction of Lyrica, symptoms of fibromyalgia had been treated with NSAIDs, other pain or sleep medications, muscle relaxers, or antidepressants. None of these has proven to be satisfactory.

How does the drug work?

The mechanism for the effectiveness of Lyrica is not known and there are no objective tests to determine its need. However, it is believed the drug reduces or blocks pain receptors.

Two randomized studies of 1800 patients used double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials and showed that doses of 300 mg or 450 mg of Lyrica per day reduced pain and improved function, often by the end of the first week of treatment. However, the symptoms quickly worsened when the drug was withdrawn.

Some patients reported serious allergic reactions (angioedema) to Lyrica, including swelling of the face, mouth, lips, gums, tongue, and neck. Others experienced trouble breathing, rash, hives, and blisters.

Also, be aware that studies showed that the drug made male animals less fertile and birth defects occurred in the offspring of male animals who were treated with pregabalin.

Pharmacists will, of course, advise patients of possible adverse drug interactions that can occur with Lyrica, but it is also important to keep yourself informed and monitor your patients prescription drug use. Patients who have had prior drug or alcohol problems may be more likely to misuse Lyrica.

Other harmful interactions can occur with antihistamine and barbiturate use. Also look for medications used for Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, pain, or for nausea/vomiting, as well as muscle relaxants and sleep medications.

The use of Lyrica for symptoms of fibromyalgia has not been studied in children and pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding. Also no studies have been reported on the development of nutrient depletion for this drug.

Howard F. Loomis, Jr., DC, President of Enzyme Formulations®, Inc., has an extensive background in enzymes and enzyme supplementation. As president for fifteen years of 21st Century Nutrition® (now the Loomis Institute® of Enzyme Nutrition), he has forged a remarkable career as an educator, having conducted over 400 seminars to date, in the United States and internationally, on the diagnosis and treatment of food enzyme deficiency syndromes.

Dr. Loomis welcomes your comments or questions through the Loomis InstituteTM at 6421 Enterprise Lane, Madison, WI 53719 or by phone at 1-800-662-2630.

 

References:

1. FDA Approves First Drug for Treating Fibromyalgia. FDA. June 21, 2007. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01656.html.

 2. Living with Fibromyalgia, First Drug Approved. FDA Consumer Update. June 21, 2007. http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/fibromyalgia062107.html.

 3. The Official Site of Lyrica. June 25,2007. http://www.lyrica.com.

4. FDA Patient Information Sheet. Pregabalin (marketed as Lyrica). November 21, 2005. http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/patient/pregabalinPIS.htm