RestorMedicine

Soothe and Relaxx: Help for Pain, Sleep and Mood

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:17:19 +0000

One pill that can help pain, sleep and mood – and it’s all-natural!

Soothe and Relaxx is one of my all-time favorite remedies. It contains an amazing mix of ingredients to give it application to many different states and conditions. It lessens pain, reduces inflammation, calms the nervous system, provides joint and connective tissue support and relaxes the muscles.

Many people with chronic illness experience pain. Much of that pain stems from inflammation, which can be systemic or localized. Pain can also come from muscles that are tight or in spasm; or it can come from a hyperactive nervous system. Soothe and Relaxx can address all those things.

Insomnia is also a major problem for many people. Prescription sleeping pills can be highly habit forming and are best avoided, so natural agents are a great alternative. Dr. Nicola’s Sleep Support is another great natural sleep formula, but Soothe and Relaxx is sufficient for many to make a difference.

Athletes also love Soothe and Relaxx. I take it after every run and every workout. I find the magnesium and malic acid, together with the anti-inflammatory herbs, quicken recovery and prevent post-workout muscle soreness.

The Soothe and Relaxx Ingredients Include:

Glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid

These ingredients are great for joint and connective tissue health – they protect the joints and cartilage, and even provide ligament support. This is important for anyone with arthritic joints or musculoskeletal pain or any degenerative joint condition. These nutrients are important for Lyme patients as the bacteria tend to attack and lodge in joints.

Magnesium and malic acid

Magnesium helps to relax muscles, while malic acid helps to clear the toxic waste, such as lactic acid, that accumulates in them. Many people find magnesium helpful for a restful sleep, and it can help in constipation by relaxing the smooth muscle of the bowel.

5-HTP, valerian, passion flower, lemon balm

Amino acids and herbs that calm the nervous system can help take the edge off anxiety, promote good sleep and support healthy balanced mood. Anxiety and depression are a common occurrence in chronic illness, so by supporting the brain chemistry with serotonin precursors such as serotonin, we can help these things naturally.

White Willow, Holy Basil, Curcumin

Nature’s own anti-inflammatories. White willow is high in salicylic acid, the compound that is manufactured into aspirin. Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Yet these herbs do not have the side effects of NSAIDs, such as GI irritation.

This is not an exhaustive list, but it gives an overview of the scope of Soothe and Relaxx and what it can help. I have found that 7 or 8 people out of 10 come back with a clearly noticeable improvement after taking Soothe and Relaxx. Standard dosing is 3 capsules twice daily, but people adjust this to fit their needs – those with major sleep issues might take less in the morning and more at night; those with more pain during the day might take even doses or more in the morning; athletes might time it around their workouts and recovery.

For a complete list of ingredients or to order Soothe and Relaxx, visit www.shop.restormedicine.com

Naturopathic Medicine: the medicine of the future

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:18:04 +0000

After several years of being in practice as a Naturopathic Doctor, I am more and more certain that this is the way that medicine will be practiced in the future. Ironically, much of the practice of naturopathic medicine involves a return to the way things used to be – doctors who actually listen to their patients and take time with their patients, therapeutic modalities that are in harmony with the body’s natural healing processes, and a philosophy of medicine that respects the body’s ways and puts patient and doctor together as a team.

I am not categorically opposed to Western medicine, nor am I for a minute implying that allopathic doctors do not care as much about their patients or the practice of medicine. I do believe, however, that the rise of managed care, accelerating costs of health care to both provider and consumer, and the enormity of the pharmaceutical industry have impaced the way medicine is practiced. Naturopathic medicine is in a unique position to get us back to the way it used to be, without throwing out the advances and benefits of western medicine.

At face value, the major difference between naturopathic and allopathic medicine may appear to be in the therapeutic modalities. Allopathic medicine relies more on drugs and surgery, while naturopathic medicine utilizes more natural means such as herbal medicines, nutrition and homeopathy. But the differences run much deeper than that.

I believe the most significant philosophical tenet of naturopathic medicine is the drive to find the underlying cause of disease or dysfunction, not just suppress the symptoms. Not only does this allow for deep and lasting healing, but it also opens up the potential for fully seeing the person as a whole – factoring in physical, mental, emotional and spiritual imbalances as potential causes for disease. To be fair, a naturopathic doctor could treat symptoms and ignore the underlying cause just as easily as an allopathic doctor (we call this “green pharmacy”), so it’s not just about modalities used – it’s about the way we look at our cases, the totality of their picture, not just breaking a person down into systems or organs. This is a philosophical difference, and in my opinion one of the most important facets of medicine.

In my practice, I work with chronic Lyme disease, and many of my patients are prescribed antibiotics, often several at a time, and often long term. So clearly I am not opposed to using western medicine where appropriate. But at the same time, I am looking at their nutrition, their adrenal function, their heavy metal levels, their support systems in their community and family, any underlying stressors or traumas that may be affecting their ability to fight the illness. These are all-important and must be taken into account.

Autism, an ever-increasing syndrome that western medicine regards as having no real cure or treatment, can be reversed in many cases by correcting the underlying physiological imbalances that impact cognitive and behavioral processes. Food sensitivities, yeast and bacterial overgrowth in the gut, inflammatory processes, and nutrient support of specific biochemical pathways, can bring a child back from autism into more neurotypical function.

Hormone issues in men and women can be treated using bio-identical hormone replacement, but again, we must look deeper into adrenal function, thyroid health, nutrition and toxicity to see where the imbalances started.

Naturopathic doctors in California are fortunate in that we have the authority to prescribe certain medications, hormones, and injectible substances, along with our more traditional modalities of nutrition, herbal medicine, detoxification etc. This gives us the best of both worlds and allows us to offer comprehensive, truly integrative care to our patients.

Medicine is about so much more than taking away symptoms – it’s about treating the person as a whole person, not just a set of parts; about respecting every aspect of their being and the interplay of thought patterns and emotions on health; about educating people to be empowered to make their own decisions in concert with their doctor, not being told what to do; and it’s about listening, being compassionate and treating every patient as we would want our closest friend or loved one to be treated. Modern medicine has much to offer, but the medical system is fraught with problems. Naturopathic medicine is the way of the future, to blend the best of western medicine, with the holistic philosophies and modalities of traditional medicine, providing the very best in patient care.

HCG Boost Diet

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:12:24 +0000

Give your system a boost for the New Year!

Many people go into the New Year a few pounds heavier after the holiday season, but with new resolve to improve their health, balance their weight, and shed those extra pounds that were there before the holidays ever began.

There are several options for addressing this. One option, and certainly a sensible one, is to increase exercise, cut back on the alcohol, reduce carbohydrate intake and focus on lean proteins and vegetables. Over time, that should certainly facilitate weight loss and set up good habits.

The HCG Boost

Another option for those who desire a “quick start”, is the HCG diet. The HCG diet has been around since the 60’s, and is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. In my experience, it is a good starting point for long-term healthy nutrition as it allows for lean proteins, veggies and fruits (no dairy, no gluten, no sugar), and it helps us to see that our current portion sizes are way out of control.

Another thing I like about the HCG diet is that it gets people away from sugars (and after a few weeks without sugar, it will lose its appeal and be easy to resist from that point forward), dairy and gluten. For this reason alone many people feel highly energized throughout the program – many way better than they did before they started.

The diet involves a daily dose of HCG (a hormone that women produce in pregnancy which, amongst other things, helps to mobilize fat stores to ensure sufficient energy for mom and baby), and a low-calorie diet. It lasts from twenty-three days to forty days, depending on desired weight loss. I have done the HCG diet and happily lost 17 pounds in 23 days, without feeling hungry or deprived at all. I walked daily and did light pilates, but did not maintain my usual running schedule during that time.

Will The Weight Stay Off?

Most people’s biggest concern is whether the weight will stay off. Most of us have done many crazy crash diets in the past, with no long-term benefit. HCG sets you up to maintain your weight loss with a three-week stabilization period of eating high calories and low carbs. That teaches your body to burn fat readily. After that, so long as reasonably healthy patterns are maintained, there is no rapid rebound weight gain. I would never support a crash diet, which only serves to slow the metabolism and promote rebound gain. Of course, if the long-term diet involves junk food, too much processed food, sugars, etc – then weight gain will inevitably occur. The HCG isn’t a magic cure … it’s a kick-start to long-term healthy nutrition and weight management.

Consider the HCG diet if you have 15lbs or more to lose, are committed to following a fairly strict protocol for 23 days, and are willing to maintain a healthy, whole-food diet over the long term.

Call us to schedule your appointment today – if you start before January 31st we will throw in a weekly B12 shot to further boost your energy and weight loss.

Hormones in Men

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:15:37 +0000

What they are, and what to do about them!

The Significance of Testosterone

The primary hormone that we think about in association with men is testosterone. This poor hormone gets some bad publicity as it seems to drive a lot of men’s thoughts and decisions for several years of their life (and from a woman’s perspective, not always in a good way!). Differences in testosterone and estrogen balance do account for many differences between men and women, and sometimes it seems to create a disconnect. But testosterone is such an important hormone for men, and too much of it or too little of it can certainly have far-reaching effects.

We joke about men in their 20’s and 30’s and how testosterone drives them. Not just sexually either – it fuels their energy, their strength, their ambition. Testosterone is truly a whole-body hormone with highly complex and comprehensive roles in the body. This is true in women too but the amounts are much smaller and women have other more dominant hormones that “drive” us (and we confess, not always in a good way either!). Men, by design, are providers and protectors – they have to go out hunting the deer to bring home for dinner; they have to fight off the wild animals and the boogie-men, they have to keep everyone safe and well-protected. Testosterone is one of the major hormones that allow them to be that way. It is a well-designed system.

Testosterone is vital to a man’s health. It bolsters muscle strength, energy, libido, lean muscle mass, mood and outlook, plus a range of other effects. Men have estrogen too, it’s just in much smaller quantities than women, so it plays less of a role.

How Male Hormones Change Over Time

As a man ages, naturally his levels of testosterone will drop. Subsequently men can experience unwanted changes such as weight gain, especially around the abdomen, difficulty gaining and retaining lean muscle mass, depressed mood and outlook on life and drop in sex drive. Further, changes in male hormone levels have been associated with a range of significant degenerative diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis and hypertension. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) may be due to increased estrogen in men, and research shows that men with prostate cancer often have low levels of testosterone.

Unfortunately, there is a triple-whammy in the hormone pool of men. Along with testosterone levels dropping, there is a rise in Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG). This means that more testosterone is bound to proteins and not available to bind with cells to exert its normal effect. And as if that’s not enough, estrogen levels rise in men around middle age as more testosterone is converted to estrogen, so that they experience more of the estrogen-like effects such as being more emotional (‘softer’ emotionally and physically). This can be helpful for their mates as at this stage in their life, men can sometimes bond more deeply, be more committed and less controlled by powerful sex drives of earlier years. But for many men, the changes are hard to deal with, and there is a feeling of loss around them. Losing hair, losing muscle, losing libido, gaining weight and feeling weaker physically – that doesn’t sound like a set up for feeling on top of the world and like a mighty provider and protector.

What Can Men Do To Balance Hormones?

Fortunately, there is something that can be done. With a simple saliva or blood test, we can assess a man’s testosterone levels. We can also measure the SHBG and estrogen levels, to see what the conversion to estrogen looks like. Along with that, and equally important, is to check cortisol and DHEA levels, which reflect adrenal status, and can influence both estrogen and testosterone.

From there, with evidence of low or low-normal testosterone levels, we can give testosterone supplementation in either a transdermal (on the skin) gel form, or in an injectible form. Typically the injections would be done weekly, and can be combined with B-12 for a further boost in energy levels. Some men prefer the transdermal form as they use it every day, it is convenient to do at home, and it gives a more steady state rather than the ebbs and flows of weekly injections.

The goal of testosterone therapy is not to falsely elevate testosterone out of the safe range. It is to boost testosterone levels to the higher end of normal range on the lab test. Translated to real terms, this means we are trying to optimize testosterone levels for a 30-40 year old man, not create a twenty-one year old monster again!!! The goal is to bring a man back to the feelings of strength, empowerment, sexuality and good health that he has known throughout his life, bearing in mind the natural changes that are built in by design with age.

In chronic illness, I have also seen many men benefit from testosterone therapy. For example, many of my male Lyme disease patients show low testosterone. This is partly because chronic disease takes so much out of the adrenal glands, decreasing the cortisol levels which further decreases the testosterone levels. Chronic infections can also play havoc on the pituitary gland, which filters down to the testes to reduce testosterone production there.

Men do not have to go through their 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and beyond feeling disempowered in their health, giving up their sex life, struggling to stay in shape, and being depressed about the whole scenario. Testosterone therapy, carried out safely using lab testing and moderate dosing schedules, is a safe and effective way to return to men their zest for life.

If you are a man who has experienced these effects with age, or if you suffer from a chronic illness that involves major fatigue, muscle weakness and/ or depression, you might benefit from testosterone therapy. Call us today at 619-546-4065 to schedule an appointment and get started on the road back to great health.

Lyme Disease Diet and Lifestyle Factors

admin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:55:39 +0000

Tips for Nutrition and Lifestyle to Heal From Lyme Disease

Drink 2L daily of clean, filtered water – helps to flush out waste material
Reduce foods that cause inflammation – gluten, dairy, any foods with IgG intolerance
Diet should comprise mostly of lean, organic proteins, fruits and vegetables, healthy fats such as olives, avocado, coconut, flax oil
Ensure adequate fiber to sweep/ detox bowels – flax seed, psyllium
Minimize sugars, caffeine and saturated fats
Sleep – maximize sleep before midnight
Exercise – some gentle exercise is good, but not so much that it wears the person out or increases pain/ fatigue in following days. Stretching, pilates, swimming, walking are preferable.

Natural Lyme Disease Treatment Without Antibiotics

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:51:02 +0000

The Role of Naturopathy in Treating Lyme Disease

A holistic approach is important – simply hitting bugs over the head with a hammer is not enough.

Immune Function

We want the body to be able to fight the infection itself.

The following are beneficial to keep in mind for immunity when treating Lyme disease:

Avoid nutritional factors that suppress immune function such as sugar
Transfer Factors – researched to boost NK cell activity (general and Lyme specific)
Beta-glucans

Colostrum
Astragalus
Mushroom extracts – reishi, shitake, maitake, etc.

Mediate Inflammation

Inflammatory mediators include:

Herbs – curcumin, white willow, holy basil
Proteolytic enzymes – protease, bromelain, papain, serrazimes
Essential fatty acids – often need 4-6 grams daily. Fish or flax.

Antimicrobials

Lyme

teasel
samento (cats claw)
guaiacum
grapefruit seed extract

Babesia

artemisinin
cryptolepis

Bartonella – Houttuynia (HH2 by Zhang)

Parasites

black walnut
wormwood
clove
ginger
gentian

Yeast

oil of oregano
pau d’arco
garlic
cinnamon
caprylic acid

Others

olive leaf extract
colloidal silver

Supporting Detoxification and Herxheimer Reactions

Glutathione
Smilax glabrae (Chinese sarsaparilla)
Liver/ kidney herbs
Lemon juice in water
Epsom salts baths
FIR sauna (with caution)
Lymphatic drainage massage (with caution)

Offsetting Antibiotic Side Effects

Candida overgrowth – prevent with probiotics. Recommended preparation contains 100 billion live organisms daily. Probiotics should be given before bed, at least 2 hours after last dose of antibiotics or antimicrobial herbs. Saccromyces boulardi can be used in conjunction.

Liver and kidney function – monthly labwork is important. Herbs such as dandelion, milk thistle, burdock, schisandra can help strengthen liver and kidneys. Do not give milk thistle to a patient taking Mepron or Malarone (reduces efficacy).

Adrenal Support and Hormone Balancing

Adrenals under major stress – assess using salivary testing throughout the day.
Herbs – rhodiola, ginseng, ashwaghanda. Balancing better than stimulating.
Hormone precursors – DHEA, pregnenolone
Reproductive hormone support – maca, black cohosh (good for bladder irritability also), progesterone, testosterone.

Symptom Relief

Pain

herbal anti-inflammatories
proteolytic enzymes

Nerve pain relief

St John’s wort
lemon balm
Jamaica dogwood

Energy

Adrenal support, thyroid support (iodine and tyrosine)
Mitochondrial support – CoQ10 (not with Mepron or Malarone), NADH, NT factor, carnitine, keto-glutaric acid
Ribose

Sleep

5-HTP
melatonin
valerian
lemon balm
passion flower
chamomile
L-theanine

Muscle spasms

magnesium
malic acid
potassium

Depression

Amino acid therapy can be helpful
Tyrosine – energizing for the brain, also support thyroid
5-HTP – supports serotonin, calming, helps depression
GABA/ L-theanine – good for anxiety/ OCD

Other Issues

Heavy metals
GI infections
Mold toxicity
Chronic viral infections (herpes, EBV, CMV, HHV-6)

Lyme Treatment – Acute vs. Chronic Disease

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:19:03 +0000

Lyme disease can be classified as either Acute or Chronic depending on the duration of time that has passed since the initial infection. Lyme disease treatments differ depending on whether it is an Acute or Chronic case being addressed.

Acute Lyme Disease Treatment

Treatment rendered between 6-8 weeks post infection. If high enough doses and treatment are started early enough, it can eradicate the infection.

Chronic Lyme Disease Treatment

Chronic Lyme infections require long term use of antibiotics – several months up to 2 years and beyond.

Antibiotics should be combined for different forms of Borrelia.

Treatment may require IM (intra-muscular) or IV (intra-venous) antibiotics, and/or various combinations of oral antibiotics. The medications chosen depends on patient sensitivity levels, allergies, co-infections, side effects.

Lyme Disease Tests

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:30:58 +0000

Chronic Lyme disease is predominantly a clinical diagnosis. Lab tests are used to back up the clinical impression and positively identify the presence of Lyme disease and co-infections.

ELISA
First test done as screening test. ELISA is measuring an immune reaction but is not highly sensitive – most cases missed. A negative ELISA test does not rule out Lyme disease. This is not considered to be a sensitive test.

PCR
Looks for DNA of bacteria in blood. Can do for borrelia and all coinfections. Specific, but not highly sensitive.

Western Blot
Looks at IgM (active, current infection) and IgG (longer term, more chronic infection or past exposure).

Certain bands are significant – IgeneX recognizes certain bands that the CDC does not.

Need a certain number of bands to be present to make a positive result – but even one Lyme-specific band may indicate infection (hence need clinical picture)

FISH Tests
Babesia and bartonella. These are smear tests where they stain the sample and see the bugs glowing in the dark!

Antibody Tests
For babesia, bartonella, rickettsia, erlichia. IgG and IgM.

CD-57
Immune marker that is suppressed in Lyme disease. Can be used to track progress of treatment over time, but not a perfect science. Available in Australia/ do not run through IGeneX.

Running multiple tests increases the likelihood of making an accurate diagnosis.

Lyme Disease Coinfection Symptoms

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:16:48 +0000

Co-Infections and Lyme Disease

While Borrelia might be the underlying infectious agent in Lyme disease, there are other co-infections that may co-exist with Borrelia.

Most commonly these other Lyme Disease co-infections are:

Babesia
Bartonella
Erlichia
Rickettsia

Mycoplasma, Chlamydia and Candida are other microbes commonly present (or out of balance) in Lyme disease patients.

Keep in mind that Babesia is a parasite, not a bacteria, so a co-infection with Babesia requires different treatment options.

Lyme Disease Co-Infection Symptoms

Babesia

Symptoms of Babesia infection include: night sweats, low grade fevers, temperature regulation problems, shortness of breath/ air hunger, capillary angiomas, ear ringing, blurry vision, anxiety, nausea, vivid or violent dreams, hormone imbalance, vasculitis (red skin with white splotches). Jaw/ head/ neck symptoms.

Bartonella

Symptoms of Bartonella infection include: severe joint pain, ice pick headaches, bowel problems, pain/ burning in the soles of feet, rib pain, abdominal pain, CNS symptoms out of proportion to skeletal, OCD behavior/ severe anxiety, straie on skin, subcutaneous nodules, scratches.

Erlichia/ Rickettsia

Symptoms of Erlichia or Rickettsia infection include: knife-like headaches, severe muscle pain, low WBC, rapid onset, neuro symptoms (seizures, shooting pains), tendon pain, right upper quadrant pain.

Ways to Identify Lyme Disease

admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:04:17 +0000

Could it be Lyme Disease?

Lyme Disease is often called “The Great Imitator”

Lyme infection can mimic the following conditions:

MS
ALS
Parkinson’s
fibromyalgia
chronic fatigue syndrome
rheumatoid arthritis
autistic-spectrum disorders (kids)
many other disorders

Because of Lyme’s ability to “disguise” itself as other conditions, diagnosing Lyme Disease based on symptoms can often be difficult.

Symptoms that can help to identify Lyme Disease include:

General
debilitating fatigue, insomnia, malaise, headaches, dizziness/ lightheadedness

Neurological
numbness, tingling, paralysis, Bells palsy, burning/ shooting pain, motor neuron impairment, optic neuritis, facial numbness

Cognitive
short-term memory loss, difficulty concentrating, lack of focus

Psycho-emotional
anxiety, depression, OCD, irritability

Musculoskeletal
joint/ muscle pain – migrating joint pain typical; muscle weakness, restless legs, stiff neck

Digestive
nausea, irritable bowel, abdominal pain

EENT
ringing in the ears, visual changes (blurriness etc), hearing loss

Cardiac
palpitations, arrhythmias

Genitourinary
pelvic pain, irritable bladder