ACAM Integrative Medicine (IM) Blog

Naturally Wishing You a Healthy Heart

by Allan Magaziner, DO

Although Valentine’s Day has come and gone, I think any time is a good time to comment on how important it is for all of us to take care of ourselves – for ourselves and for all of those who love and rely on us.

And, if I had had any temptation to put this post off until next February, it would have been cast aside a few weeks ago, when findings from the Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research, stated that (while helpful in preventing cardiac events in patients who have already had an event) people at low-risk for heart disease should think twice before taking cholesterol-lowering statins – something that I’ve been telling my patients for years. In fact, I am so passionate about this topic I wrote a whole book on it: The All-Natural Cardio Cure. But, first, back to the study…

Upon reviewing past medical literature, researchers estimated that treating 1,000 people with little or no risk of heart disease with statins for one year would lower the number of deaths from nine to eight. Unfortunately, they also found that many past reports – all funded by pharmaceutical companies – were unsound. Why? Because past studies focused only on benefits – only about half of them mentioned the side effects of the drugs, and those that did downplayed them. And none mentioned that the majority of patients in the studies drop out because of the side effects that occur!

In fact, I predicted in my book (which was published in 2004), that ‘additional studies may begin to call into question the praise that statins have received in the medical community. I’ve remained upset by the mass administration of statins for high cholesterol. Why? Because I haven’t seen a compelling study that shows that statins truly affect the outcomes of those who have little or no cardiac risk factors other than high cholesterol.

Statin treatment is solely focused on lowering cholesterol numbers, but only 50 percent of people who suffer from a cardiac event actually have high cholesterol. This means that half the people who have heart attacks have them for other reasons. It also underscores that other risk factors are as important as – or perhaps even more important than – cholesterol. And, since we cannot live without cholesterol, we need to really think about what we are using to control it. Cholesterol is only dangerous when it becomes oxidized. Our body needs cholesterol to synthesize the naturally-occurring steroids in our body and to help us produce progesterone, testosterone, estrogen – really all of our sex hormones, which, when decreased, lead to muscle aches and pains, depression, anxiety and low libido. Many people who experience these side effects of statin use assume – or are told – that the pain, forgetfulness or other symptoms are a result of “getting older.” And while many of these feelings are often age-related, I can tell you that growing older does not mean you have to feel stiff and achy, edgy and irritable or forgetful and flaky!

Luckily, there are plenty of natural alternatives that reduce cholesterol and inflammation –another potential cardiovascular health inhibitor. These include:

• Omega 3 Fatty Acids – found in fish oil supplements and flaxseed oil
• Curcumin – found in turmeric and available in supplement form; helps lower oxidized LDL (bad cholesterol) levels
• Flavonoids – antioxidants found in blueberries, oranges, onions, tea and cocoa
• Monounsaturated Fatty Acids – found in avocados, dark chocolate and nuts; can reduce total cholesterol levels in the blood and increase the ratio of HDL ("good"cholesterol) to LDL ("bad" cholesterol).
• Resveratrol – found in the skin of red grapes and even red wine; often best to take in supplement form
• Green Tea Extract – an herbal derivative of green tea rich in antioxidants
• Red Yeast Rice – a naturally-occurring Chinese extract that statin drugs have been modeled after
• Plant Sterols – found in vegetables, whole grains and legumes, these plant substances have been proven to lower cholesterol levels

I’ve treated thousands of patients successfully using only natural alternatives to statins.Rather than “popping a pill” and hoping for the best when it comes to side effects, my patientsfollow a cardiovascular health enhancement program I created that I affectionately call DEAR. The program focuses on:

• Diet – An eating plan rich in phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and amino acids, especially “super foods”, and one that takes into account a person’s unique special needs
• Exercise – A sedentary lifestyle is one of the most serious risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease – I work with my patients to develop an activity plan that takes into account their risk factors, interests, budget and time constraints, and includes aerobic exercise, as well as strength training and flexibility work.
• Additional Supplementation – Ensure an adequate supply of all necessary nutrients with supplements, with dosages customized to take into account a person’s age, weight, general medical condition, health history, etc.
• Relaxation – Identifying the stressors in a person’s life, then working to find ways to alleviate them – whether through practical alternatives, meditation, exercise-based meditation, acupuncture, massage or a better connection to others – is critical to overall cardiovascular health.

I like the name DEAR because I believe to achieve true cardiovascular health, you must love and care about yourself. I’m not talking about a selfish mentality here. Rather, I’m talking about the love that is at the heart of all holistic medicine and involves nurturing the body, mind and spirit with healthy food, exercise and supplements and medication, only when necessary, as well as with intellectual, emotional and spiritual forms of stimulation, relaxation and fun!

Show yourself how much you care by committing to making the changes necessary to decrease your risk of heart disease and improve your overall health, naturally. I promise, in doing so, you’ll also be giving the best gift to all of those you hold dear, as well.

A Message From McGuff CEO Ronald M. McGuff

The FDA is serious about removing Ascorbic Acid injection from the market...

The McGuff Companies were presented with the ACAM Corporate Vision Award in 2008 by ACAM President Jeanne Drisko, M.D. and accepted by Ron McGuff as President and CEO. 

During my acceptance speech I informed ACAM members that Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Chloride and Vitamin B-Complex 100 injections were being marketed by all drug manufacturers as grandfathered drugs, i.e. drugs marketed prior to 1938.  I also let ACAM members know that the FDA had published a new compliance policy guide(1) that defined FDA’s enforcement policy in opposition to grandfathered drugs.  

 I warned the membership that the FDA “believes it is not likely that any currently marketed prescription drug product is grandfathered or is otherwise not a new drug.”(1) The FDA was serious about removing Ascorbic Acid injection and other non-approved drugs from the market and the FDA, via the compliance policy guide, had extensive powers to take enforcement action. 

I concluded my acceptance speech with the remarks that we at the McGuff Companies took the FDA’s intentions seriously, that McGuff was already engaged with the FDA to determine the best and most affordable method to bring these drugs to an approved status and that we would continue to support integrative medicine and the innovative members of ACAM as we have for more than 29 years. 

Unfortunately the FDA became non-responsive to our efforts and failed to provide feedback. The FDA declared all Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Chloride and Vitamin B-Complex 100 injections as “new drugs” on December 28, 2010, but “chose” to use their enforcement discretion to allow some of these drugs to remain on the market while removing others, i.e. the FDA declare these drugs illegal but “chose” not to enforce their own decision. 

Result:  McGuff has known about these issues since 2006 and worked hard on your behalf to prevent the FDA’s declaration, but couldn’t stop it.  However, McGuff will provide all of these drugs to you as long as the FDA allows their availability. 

1.  Guidance for FDA Staff and Industry, Marketed Unapproved Drugs Compliance Policy Guide Sec. 440.100 Marketed New Drugs. Without Approved NDAs or ANDAs.  For complete text of this guide please add this address to your browser:

http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/ComplianceManuals/CompliancePolicyGuidanceManual/ucm074382.htm

 

ACAM Legacy Sponsor

Supporter of Alternative and Complementary Medicine for 32 Years

(800) 854-7220

mcguff.com

 

 

Integrative MD or DO Needed in Tampa, Florida

Tampa, Florida integrative wellness practice is growing and looking to hire a full time or part time family practice DO  or MD. This upscale medical clinic is located in a desirable and affluent area of south Tampa.

Position is available now for the right doctor. Partnership is also available. Physician must have experience and knowledge of functional medicine. Please call 813-546-9686. 

Controlling Inflammation: Five Natural Ways to Put Out the Fire

by Nalini Chilkov, LAC, OMD

The relationship between cancer and inflammation is well established. There is a strong association between chronic, ongoing inflammation in the body and the occurrence of cancer. It is most obviously demonstrated with the increased chance (five to seven times higher than the general population) for people with chronic inflammatory diseases.

For example chronic acid reflux and heartburn which inflames the stomach and esophagus increases risk of stomach and esophageal cancer.  Acid reflux may be caused by infection with H. Pyolori which can be treated with antibiotics as well as natural medicines.

• Chronic infection of the liver with Hepatitis virus B and C increases risk of liver cancer. 
• Chronic autoimmune inflammation of the colon or lower intestine, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease, increases risk for colon cancer.
• Chronic inflammation of the lungs due to exposure to  inhaled chemical irritants including chemicals found in cigarette smoke  or volatile inhaled chemicals from resins and varnishes or  inhaled particles such as asbestos increase risk of lung cancer.
• Chronic inflammation of the skin due to repeated sunburns increases risk of skin cancer.

Inflammation fuels cancer in several ways: 

• Inflammatory chemicals release free radicals or free roving electrons that damage cells and may initiate damage to the genetic material in our cells, our DNA thus leading to cellular mutations, loss of normal cell functions and cancer.
• Inflammatory chemicals stimulate the production of new capillaries, tiny blood vessels that feed cancerous growths.
• Many cancer cells will spread and metastasize in clumps that contain both  inflammatory white blood cells of the activated immune system, called lymphocytes and  sticky  blood cells called platelets, which allow the cells to attach to new organs and tissues. This allows cancer cells spread by travelling to and establishing growth in new locations.

Common Triggers of Inflammation:

• chronic bacterial, viral or parasitic infections
• chemical irritants such as formaldehyde or toluene found in many cosmetics or benzene found in oven cleaners,  detergents, furniture polishes and nail polish removers
• Inhaled particles  from fiberglass, silica or asbestos found in building materials and insulation
• Ionizing radiation from sun exposure or frequent medical scans and xrays

Once the immune system has become activated and inflammation unfolds, the inflamed cells are further damaged by oxidative stress... the presence of roving free electrons that can damage cellular genetic material, our DNA. Damaged DNA is a primary cause of cancer as the expression of genes becomes altered.  Protecting cells from this damage is crucial in preventing and controlling cancer.

Recognizing that inflammation is occurring and is ongoing and poorly managed is the first step.  The second step is to take action

Here are Five Ways to Reduce Inflammation Naturally

1/Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
An anti-inflammatory diet is organic and free of chemical additives and artificial colorings and flavorings and preservatives.  Eat whole, fresh, unprocessed foods that are not charred or deep fried. Eat a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.  Eat healthy fats and oils, emphasizing Omega 3 fats found in cold water fish such as salmon and cod and sardines. Include other healthy oils such as walnuts, almonds,  avocadoes, olives and flax seeds.  Eat animal products from grass fed rather than grain fed (conventionally raised) animals.  Emphasize a plant based diet over a diet derived primarily from animal products. Avoid refined sugars and flours and corn syrup.  Eat plenty of fiber from whole grains, fruits and vegetables and beans.  Drink plenty of fluids everyday.

2/Use Anti-Inflammatory Herbs to Manage Inflammation
Common Herbs which reduce inflammation by lowering inflammatory and damaging molecules such COX2 and LOX5 in our cells include: Tumeric, Ginger root, Boswellia, Resveratrol, Milk Thistle and Cat’s Claw.

3/Avoid chemical exposures:  Eat an organic, chemical free diet as noted above.  Drink filtered water.  Use only cosmetics that are free of irritating and carcinogenic additives.  Identify chemical exposures in the home (cleaning supplies, garden supplies) and the workplace (chemical exposures, fumes, inhalants, radiation).

4/Identify and Treat Chronic Infections: Do you have persistent heartburn?  Do you have chronic loose stool or diarrhea or gas and bloating?  Have you been exposed to hepatitis or parasites while travelling internationally? Do you have a chronic post nasal drip or cough?  See your health care provider to determine the cause and get proper treatment and follow up. Once the infection is resolved take measures to boost your immunity to prevent future infections. Eat fermented foods or use probiotic supplements which contain healthy organisms that are part of natural immunity in our digestive tract and intestines.

5/Keep your body lean.  Keep your weight under control. Reduce your Body Fat.  Build Muscle. Excess body fat is a factory for inflammatory molecules.  All overweight and over fat people have much higher levels of inflammation than people who are lean.  Eat a balanced diet, get regular cardiovascular and weight bearing exercise.  Get enough sleep and manage your stress.  All of these factors will contribute to normal body weight, reduced fat and increased lean muscle.

References:
Ed Friedlander, “Inflammation and Repair,” www.pathguy.com/lectures/inflamma.htm (accessed fall 2006).
Emily Shacter and Sigmund A. Weitzman, ”Chronic Inflammation and Cancer,” Oncology 16, no. 2 (February 2002). www.cancernetwork.com/journals/oncology/o0202d.htm (accessed fall 2006).
National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Biology, “Executive Summary of Inflammation and Cancer Think Tank.” http://dcb.nci.nih.gov/thinktank/Executive_Summary_of_Inflammation_and_
Cancer_Think_Tank.cfm (accessed fall 2006).
Haiyan Xu et al., “Chronic inflammation in fat plays a crucial role in the development of obesity-related insulin resistance,” J. Clin. Invest. 112 (2003): 1821-30. Also available at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.
gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14679177 (accessed fall 2006).
American Heart Association, Inc., “Inflammation, Heart Disease and Stroke: The Role of
Schindler, Thomas, et al. 2006. Relationship Between Increasing Body Weight, Insulin Resistance, Inflammation, Adipocytokine Leptin, and Coronary Circulatory Function. JACC 47:1188-95.

Behavioral/Mental Health Clinic Seeks Practitioners

Looking for a real change in your career? Wyndgate Health in St. Paul, MN, is a growing behavioral/mental health clinic and has a per diem opportunity for a family practice nurse practitioner, or family practice physician. WH is an outpatient specialty medical clinic with over 10 years of experience. We specialize in the treatment of biochemical imbalances of the brain and gut, designing personalized vitamin and fatty acid programs to treat the symptoms of a wide variety of mental health and behavioral disorders—all based on laboratory testing and physical findings. WH is one of only a few clinics in the U.S. that provide this successful approach to behavior and mood disorder treatment.

• No mental health experience required 
• Flexible scheduling 
• Specialized training 
• Electronic medical record based.

To learn more about how we are enabling real change in real people contact us at 651-493-4566, info@wyndgatehealth.com or apply in confidence via our Careers messaging tool on the "Contact Us" page at www.wyndgatehealth.com.

Would You Like To Be An Angel?

Established in 1994, Vitamin Angels is a non-profit organization which provides basic nutrition in the form of supplements and education to those in need around the world. Vitamin Angels has distributed millions of vitamins and other supplements to people in need in 82 countries around the world. Thus far, efforts by Vitamin Angels have helped prevent millions of children from going blind and becoming malnourished.

If you recommend dietary supplements, herbs or food powders to your patients, here’s how YOU can be an Angel:

Our suppliers of McGuff brand supplements donate raw material ingredients and manufactured products to Vitamin Angels. On behalf of Vitamin Angels, several of our suppliers have helped provide over 20 million tablets to those children!

If McGuff oral supplements fit your specific patient needs, by purchasing McGuff brand, you help support Vitamin Angels! 

Check our product selection online at: http://www.mcguffmedical.com/nutritional/nutritionals.aspx, or call our friendly customer service team to have a catalog delivered to you!  If you have further questions, please contact our Nutraceutical Specialist, Janet Delear at 714-545-2491 ext. 118!

To find out more, visit: www.vitaminangels.org  and  www.mcguffmedical.com 

Dr. Kenneth Bock Speaking at iMosaic!

 

Renowned speaker, author, former ACAM President and 4-A Disorder (autism, ADHD, asthma and allergies) specialist Kenneth Bock, MD, will lecture at iMosaic on Clinical Approaches to Detoxification in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. He will speak at the Advanced Heavy Metal Toxicology workshop as well as day two of the General Session.

Dr. Bock attended college at the State University of New York and went on to medical school at the University of Rochester. He remained in New York and established the Rhinebeck Health Center and the Center for Progressive Medicine with his brother 28 years ago. Rhinebeck, New York, is a small town right up the Hudson River about two hours north of New York City. “We chose Rhinebeck because it is situated where people coming from New York City, Connecticut, Massachusetts and other surrounding states can get to easily,” Dr. Bock said. Although, he sees patients from all over the country and all over the world.

The rates of the 4-A disorders are growing at an alarming rate. While many people claim the reasons behind this increase are unknown, Dr. Bock has done a great deal of research on why this is happening. “What we’re seeing is a combination of genetic predisposition - genetic vulnerability and genetic susceptibility - coupled with environmental triggers or insults,” he said, “and as our society ‘advances’ and we become much more technologically advanced, we are exposing our children to more and more chemicals and heavy metals. In essence, our children are growing up in a toxic soup.”

Dr. Bock points to the startling autism statistics that have dramatically increased over the years. “In the 80’s it was one in every 2,500 kids, and that’s a conservative number, some people were saying one in 10,000 and one in 5,000,” Dr. Bock said, “Then in 2007 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) came out with the number one in 150. Then two years after that, in 2009, they announced the statistic as one in 110.” At the very same time, the Journal of Pediatrics disclosed the incidence as one in 91. “There’s no way that’s genetics. You just don’t have genetic epidemics, and those statistics in my opinion qualify as a bona fide epidemic,” he said.

Part of the genetic predisposition may be an impaired ability to detoxify the increasing number of toxicants we’re all being exposed to. “Unfortunately we’re seeing the results of this in children, and not only in the early age of infancy, but in the prenatal period,” he said, “these pristine fetuses are being exposed to toxicants that may have affects years down the line and some of them quite lasting and some of them quite devastating.”

Although the statistics are frightening, there is good news. Dr. Bock is seeing more and more children recover from the use of his five-prong healing program. It usually takes between one and three years, closer to two and three, and not every child recovers, but he is seeing great progress.

The first step in Dr. Bock’s five-prong healing program is to avoid environmental exposures, as much as possible of course. They’re impossible to get away from, but Dr. Bock encourages people to try and use environmentally and people friendly cleaning products, get away from pesticides, eat more organic foods, stay away from plasticizers and do not microwave plastic (it’s safer to store your foods in glass containers when microwaving).

Next comes dietary modifications. He recommends a gluten-free casein-free diet and to avoid foods that the child is either allergic or sensitive to. There is also nutritional supplementation, which many of them really need, both because of deficiencies and/or insufficiencies and imbalances in various types of nutrients, minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids and amino acids.

Then comes detoxification and medication. “Detoxification is so important, and so widely misunderstood by most physicians and many lay people,” Dr. Bock said. It’s important to educate patients on detoxification and find safe ways to detoxify. Medications is the fifth prong and may include anti-microbials, behavioral medications or medications for detoxification or to enhance various functions.

Dr. Bock will be covering his healing program and the whole area of toxicity in children and their exquisite vulnerability in his iMosaic lectures. He will explore treatments to help remediate the 4-A disorders and also discuss the whole concept of the importance of prevention.

As a co-founder of the Integrative Medicine Consortium (IMC) (the leaders behind iMosaic) Dr. Bock is happy to be a speaker and thrilled that the vision of iMosaic is now a reality. “When I was president of ACAM a number of years ago and Jed Natzke was president of the AAEM,” he said, “we got together and talked about the shared interests of the organizations from an education perspective and this collaboration was something we dreamed up years ago. I’m happy to be speaking about a subject that is certainly very important to me and I think it’s really important to all of us - the whole concept of environmental toxicity and its effect on medically fragile children.”

 

Coming Soon: New Book by Dr. Lena Edwards, "Adrenalogic: Outsmarting Stress"

ACAM member and medical director at the Balance Health and Wellness Center in Lexington, Kentucky, Dr. Lena Edwards has a new book entitled, "Adrenalogic: Outsmarting Stress," and comes out in May. It is the first book of its kind to accurately describe how the various stressors in our environment make us feel bad and may ultimately cause disease. She also discusses the evidence supporting the fact that 'adrenal fatigue' is not the primary mechanism through which low cortisol states arise. Also look for Dr. Edwards' educational series on TheDoctorsChannel.com to begin the end of March.

Dr. Lena Edwards received her medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine residency training at the University of Kentucky School of Medicine (UKMC) in 1999. During her residency training, she was honored as Intern of the Year and received numerous other awards for her research and performance. She was a contributing author for a textbook of Infectious Disease and also co-authored the article, "Renal Manifestations of Hepatitis C" which was published in the prestigious American Journal of Medicine.

After completing her residency, Dr. Edwards accepted the honor of serving as Chief Resident for the UKMC Department of Internal Medicine. During her year in this position, she served as a mentor, educator, facilitator, and advisor for internal medicine and medicine/pediatric residents. She also took the initiative to formulate new protocols and procedures for the residency program.

Dr. Edwards entered private practice after serving as Chief Resident and worked in a group setting for three years prior to starting her solo medical practice. In addition to being trained as an internist, she is also Board Certified and fellowship trained in Anti-Aging/Functional/Regenerative Medicine. In March of 2011, she will also have completed her fellowship in Integrative Cancer Therapy.

In addition to her full time practice, Dr. Edwards also pursues academic involvement in the following ways:

• Oral Board Examiner, American Academy of Anti-aging, Functional, and Regenerative Medicine Board Certification Program
• Community faculty member of The University of Kentucky Medical Center
• Faculty member of the Age Management Medical Group

 

Standard Process Daily Fundamentals Provide Daily Nutrition for On-The-Go Patients

Looking for ways to boost long-term patient compliance? Try Daily Fundamentals from Standard Process Inc. (www.standardprocess.com). Standard Process' Daily Fundamentals offers whole food supplements packaged in handy, portable packs. The packs are intended to boost long-term patient compliance because they are more convenient than individually bottled supplements. 

Available in a General Health kit for general health support, and a Bone Health kit to support bone health, Standard Process designed Daily Fundamentals to increase the ease and convenience of taking supplements. 

Each box provides 60 packs for a 30-day supply of high-quality whole food supplements. The General Health packs contain Catalyn, Tuna Omega-3 Oil, and Trace Minerals-B12 to provide patients with daily foundational support. The Bone Health packs contain Calcifood Wafers, Ostrophin PMG, Cataplex D, and Cruciferous Complete to give patients nutrients that are important for maintenance of bone health.* 

“Standard Process Daily Fundamentals are ideal for both women and men with an active lifestyle,” said Bruce Bond, DC, DACBN, who has been using Standard Process products for 14 years, and also speaks on behalf of the company. “These unique packets help to ensure a balance intake of important vitamins, minerals, and associated nutritional factors and can easily be incorporated into any practice.” 

For more information on Standard Process’ General Health and Bone Health Daily Fundamentals, visit www.standardprocess.com. Watch for additional kits targeting a variety of specific health coming soon.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Learn More About New Hope for the Heavy and Some Eye-Opening Information Regarding New Relaxation Drinks

In his weekly appearance on Fox 29 Philadelphia's "Health Talk" segment, Dr. Allan Magaziner discussed the recent FDA approval of lap band surgery for people who have a BMI of 30+, a medically-related condition and are able to exhibit that they have been unsuccessful at losing weight through a program of healthy eating and regular exercise. Previously, the procedure was only approved for candidates with a BMI of 40 or higher. Dr. Magaziner stressed that all lap band patients must target the cause of their problems and change unhealthy habits post-surgery in order to keep the weight off over the long-term. Dr. Magaziner also spoke about the new "relaxation" drinks on the market -- explaining that there is a lot of debate among the FDA and the industry related to their safety -- as no long-term studies have yet been done on them.