Are Plastics Causing Brain Damage?

By Dr. Nicole Sundene

Recently, researchers at Yale University found an alarming result to their preliminary study on how plastics affect the functioning of our Central Nervous System.

Wow! Imagine the possibilities? Wouldn’t it be nice to blame all your forgetfulness on that Tupperware lunch you just microwaved? Maybe you had brain fog this morning because you drank your organic coffee from a plastic traveler’s mug?

Maybe it is plastics, not aluminum, causing Alzheimer’s; maybe it’s all the plastics in our environment breaking down and causing the rates of ADHD, depression, autism, and other diseases of relatively unknown etiology to suddenly rise.

Doesn’t that sound crazy? But—it very well could be reality. All new chemicals are guilty until proven innocent. Why? Because that is the SAFEST option for consumers. However, the FDA does not promote safety, they promote big business in America. Anyone can see that in their inability to properly examine new substances for consumers to ingest.

Did you know that all new food additives can be FDA approved simply by laboratory testing on animals alone? Doesn’t that make you want to think twice before drinking that sucralose sports drink? If you don’t believe me then just think about why tobacco, a known killer has not been banned by the FDA?

You are drinking a man made substance that has NEVER been tested on human beings and approved for safety.

Plastics are no different. Researchers are JUST NOW growing concerned about the degradation of plastics in our environment and starting to really do some preliminary research on the health consequences of plastics.

What would we all do without plastics? We have grown so dependent on plastics.

You might be reading this right now and freaking out! OH MY GOSH! Everything in my house is plastic. My house is made of modified plastics…I drive in plastics…I eat out of plastics…I drink out of plastics! My child is teething on a big piece of plastic.

As a doctor and researcher with a passion for biochemistry, I really think that plastics - just like lead pipes, BPA, Azo yellow dye, asbestos, and all the medications the FDA is constantly approving and then yanking off the shelves - boils down to the same final dilemma that no one in the world is ever willing to accept:

You just can’t cheat the system.

I support people looking for a better way, an easier way. I am always after the same. However, the better way does not involve “cheating the system,” it involves supporting it. When we look for cheap quick fixes for today’s problems without thinking forward to the future generations, we will ALWAYS have a problem with our environment.

Think forward to fifty years from now—think about how much more plastic will be in our environment if we don’t stop now.

So, on one hand we have a very preliminary study done on plastics…and some evidence that plastics may be the problem in certain reproductive cancers…is there enough evidence yet…?

The problem is that the FDA approves something and then that thing is this “golden child” that then must be proven guilty (via expensive research).

Is “innocent until proven guilty” the best solution for potentially toxic products? There are plastics manufacturers everywhere burying the very research we need because they don’t want consumers to stop buying their products.

As a doctor with ten years of post secondary education, I vote for “why bother waiting around to find out”. The damage done by plastics is already more than enough evidence. We know they are bad. We know they break down in to “xenoestrogens,” or molecules that structurally mimic estrogen and are thus able to stimulate estrogen receptors.

We know that we should not even be drinking out of plastic water bottles. We know that smaller organisms in our environment are slowly transforming to a predominantly female gender as a result of the presence of these xenoestrogens in our environment.

This study by Yale University showing that plastics interfere with brain functions is simply the tip of the plastics iceberg. Unfortunately this may just be too big of an iceberg for us to navigate around.

What can you do as a consumer? Stop buying plastics, of course. There are typically superior products available made of stainless steel, glass, wood, and cast iron options that have circulated through generations and proven safe by the best test of all. The test of time is better than any double blind randomized control trial.

Every new thing in science gets a critical eye from me, and the plastics story is no exception. There is enough significant evidence at this point in time to warrant pulling most plastics from the shelves, and yet the FDA is not doing so because the bottom line is always the same thing—money.

Yes, at times these things may cost a little bit more, but just think of it as YOU having the voice to VOTE for what you want our environment to be composed of by choosing NOT to purchase items made of plastic.

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Harvard Docs Score an “F” For Taking Big Bucks From Big Pharma

By Dr. Nicole Sundene

I always love reading Dr. Mercola’s opinions on various new stories because he is fearless, and is quick to point out the pink elephant in the room. He must get a lot of hate mail…poor guy.  But for those of us sitting back going, “AMEN!!!” I would just like to take a moment to say thanks.  Especially when I read up on a topic that has had me concerned for nearly a decade….how drugs are marketed.

Here is Dr. Mercola’s take on this topic: “Harvard Med Students Rebel Against Big Pharma”And here is the original article if you would like more info.

So I don’t really find it big news at all that Harvard Med School recently scored an “F” (yes - the worse score possible) for taking too many kick backs from big pharma….

Not to mention one of the largest drug manufacturers put up shop just right across the street…
Hmmm….coinkydink?

I think NOT!!!

As much as I would love for some drug rep to whisk me away from my life of overworking hell and take me to the Bahamas where I just have to listen to some seminar to make an extra $20,000 grand this year in “grants” or whatever….it just is not going to happen.

The Chief of Staff at the hospital I worked wouldn’t even use a single pen made by a drug rep, and heaven forbid some newbie actually made it past me and into his office!

At the time, I would sit at my desk and organize my free pads of paper, water my free Viagra cactus, eat my free glucophage doughnuts, and drink my free coffee from the Angiotensin II Receptor Blocking Rep (blood pressure med) without being educated enough to understand how deep the bitter ugly irony of my drug rep riddled world was…especially when the phone would ring and I would talk to little old ladies about how they couldn’t afford food because medicare didn’t cover this drug that they desperately needed.

Back before I actually became a doctor, I would observe the doctors I worked for so that I could be as “doctor like” as possible. I watched every move they made. Memorized anything they said.  I watched how most drug reps would manage to schmooze their way in.

I watched how certain doctors refused to read their literature. I watched one doctor hold up a sign she had made with a black sharpie pen that said, “NO THICK GLOSSY LANDFILL” as she signed for that week’s free samples….she was a pharmacologist and an MD, and she knew better than to take advice on how to be a doctor from some “barbie doll with a briefcase.”  Her words, not mine.

Now that 100 people have just unsubscribed from my blog, be sure to drop me some fan mail if you like my occasional angry rants because it sure does help me fight this cause.

Nonetheless….good will prevail over evil….and this article on what should be the BEST of American medical schools demonstrates the fraudulent duplicity in our health care system that results in us being the most unhealthy country second to Finland, while we manage to spend the MOST on health care.

Can I give the entire American health care system an “F” while we are at it? I guess I can’t really fault the students when the teachers….the doctors (from the Latin “docere” meaning “to teach”) are replete with corruption.

You know where the best med school is though?

Bastyr University….my alma mater. The best school for naturopathic physicians in the world. Go there….trust me, there isn’t a drug rep to be found.

If Obama wants to make a difference in health care while in the oval office, he needs to cap how drug companies are allowed to market their product. And for all you capitalists out there…

I know this is America, but we have to draw the ethical line somewhere, and it looks like we need to start on the street dividing Harvard from Big Pharma.

Related Reading:

Drug Company Had Hit List for Doctors Who Criticized Them

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Fibromyalgia: Latest Research News

By Dr. Jim Tabios, PhD

Fibromyalgia is a widely misunderstood and sometimes misdiagnosed chronic condition, commonly characterized by widespread muscle pain, fatigue, concentration issues, and sleep problems.

According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, it affects an estimated 10 million people, mainly women, in the United States alone.

The severity of fibromyalgia symptoms can vary from one person to the next and may fluctuate even in a single individual, depending on such factors as time of day or the weather.

Because it is a chronic condition, in most cases, fibromyalgia symptoms never disappear entirely. The good news is that fibromyalgia isn’t progressive or life-threatening, and treatments can help alleviate many symptoms.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms

The symptoms of fibromyalgia and their severity vary widely, although pain and fatigue are nearly always present. Major symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

• Pain. Some fibromyalgia patients report discomfort in one or more specific areas of their body, while others may experience overall pain in their muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

• Certain areas, such as the back of the head, upper back and neck, elbows, hips, and knees may be particularly sensitive and are described clinically as tender points. The degree and type of pain can range from aching, tenderness, and throbbing to sharper shooting and stabbing sensations. Intense burning, numbness, and tingling may also be present.

• Fatigue. If you’ve ever been knocked off your feet by a bad case of the flu, you have a general idea of how tired some people with fibromyalgia can feel. Though some fibromyalgia patients experience only mild fatigue, many report feeling completely drained of energy, both physically and mentally, to the point that exhaustion interferes with all daily activities.

• Memory problems. Difficulty concentrating and remembering are common cognitive symptoms in people with fibromyalgia.

• Sleep disturbances. Research has shown that the deepest stages of sleep in patients with fibromyalgia are constantly interrupted by bursts of brain activity, causing feelings of exhaustion even after a seemingly good night’s rest. Other problems such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome are also common among fibromyalgia sufferers.

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Symptoms of IBS, including diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and bloating, are present in many people with fibromyalgia.

Other common symptoms:

• Headaches, migraines, and facial pain
• Depression, anxiety, or mood changes
• Painful menstrual periods
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth, eyes, and skin
• Heightened sensitivity to noise, odors, bright lights, and touch

Fibromyalgia Symptom Triggers

The following factors can worsen the symptoms of fibromyalgia:

• Changes in weather (too cold or too humid)
• Too much or too little exercise
• Too much or too little rest
• Stress and anxiety
• Depression
• Some patients also report that pain and stiffness are worse in the morning.

Causes of Fibromyalgia

While the exact cause of fibromyalgia remains a mystery, doctors do know that patients with the disorder experience an increased sensation of pain due to a glitch in the central nervous system’s processing of pain information.

Studies have shown that people with fibromyalgia also have certain physiological abnormalities, such as elevated levels of a chemical in the spinal cord that helps transmit pain signals (thus amplifying, or “turning up,” the signals in the brain’s pain-processing areas).

In some cases, an injury or trauma, especially to the spinal region, or a bacterial or viral illness, may precede a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, which has caused researchers to speculate that these infections may be triggers as well.

Fibromyalgia Risk Factors

A number of factors can increase the odds that you may develop fibromyalgia. These include:

• Gender. Fibromyalgia is more common among women than men.

• Age. Symptoms usually appear during middle age, but can also manifest in children and older adults.

• History of rheumatic disease. People who have been diagnosed with a rheumatic disorder — conditions affecting the heart, bones, joints, kidney, skin, and lungs — such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and lupus are at increased risk of also developing fibromyalgia.

• Family history. Having a relative who suffers from fibromyalgia puts you at increased risk.

• Sleep problems. Doctors aren’t sure whether sleep disturbances are a cause or a symptom of fibromyalgia — but sleep disorders, including restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea have been cited as possible fibromyalgia triggers.

When to Seek Help for Fibromyalgia?

If you experience pain in your muscles that lasts for several months and is accompanied by significant fatigue, see your doctor.

What causes Fibromyalgia?

While there is a lot of ongoing speculation about what triggers fibromyalgia, its causes have yet to be definitively identified and confirmed. Recent research has generally found that fibromyalgia is most likely a result of what scientists call central sensitization, or unusual responses in the nervous system with regard to pain perception.

Fibromyalgia’s Biochemical Triggers

“The [current] consensus is that fibromyalgia is not a problem with the muscles, joints, or tendons, but rather a problem with the central nervous system,” says Dr. Bruce Solitar, clinical associate professor of medicine in the division of rheumatology at NYU Medical Center/Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York.

While it’s easy to think that pain felt by someone who has experienced no physical damage to the body might be categorized as purely psychosomatic, the sensations that a fibromyalgia patient experiences are as real as any other pain.

This was clearly demonstrated when researchers did MRI imaging of patients with fibromyalgia. When they pressed on certain areas of the participants’ bodies, they found dramatically increased activity in the pain center of the brain.

One theory attributes this phenomenon to an increased release of Substance P, the chemical that activates nerves when there is a painful stimulus.

In fibromyalgia patients, Substance P is being released even in the absence of a painful stimulus. And there seems to be an amplified release when there is a painful stimulus,” explains Dr. Solitar.

In addition, the brain’s regulatory effect, which sends “down signals” to turn off pain, also appears to be abnormal in people with fibromyalgia — so when a painful stimulus does occur, it gets amplified rather than dampened.

Fibromyalgia’s Physical and Emotional Triggers

So what causes the nervous system to malfunction in such a way? Scientists aren’t sure, but a number of conditions have been linked to the development of fibromyalgia. These include:

• Infection. The Epstein-Barr virus, influenza, and hepatitis B and C have all been implicated in the development of fibromyalgia. “These viruses may have [long-term] effects on the immune system. It’s also possible that viral particles attach to glial cells, which are cells within the brain that affect neurotransmission [and influence the pain response],” says Dr. Solitar.

  Additionally, there is a well-established connection between Lyme disease and fibromyalgia: Some patients who have been treated for Lyme — and ostensibly recover from it — continue to experience the unusually high frequency of unprovoked pain that characterizes fibromyalgia.

• Trauma. Sometimes the development of fibromyalgia is linked to physical injury, especially in the upper spinal region. In other cases, it’s associated with great emotional stress, like the death of a family member or the loss of a job. The possible link between these unrelated types of trauma is the neurohormonal change that both physical injury and emotional stress can trigger.
• Psychological processes can change — and can be changed by — alterations in the function of hormone-regulating centers like the hypothalamus and the pituitary and adrenal glands, which in turn affect the nervous system.

Fibromyalgia’s Other Common Threads

“Fibromyalgia has been associated with all age groups, though women between the ages of 30 and 50 have a higher incidence of the disease,” says Dr. Solitar. While this increased prevalence among younger females suggests a hormonal connection, he says it’s also possible that it’s related to diagnosis. “Women tend to [naturally] be more tender [or sensitive to pain] than men, so if you base your diagnosis on tender points, you’re likely to diagnose more women with fibromyalgia than men.”

• Genes. Found in approximately 2 percent of the U.S. population (3.4 percent of women and 0.5 percent of men), fibromyalgia often develops in multiple members of the same families, although it’s not clear if this is the result of genetic or environmental effects. “Family members of people with fibromyalgia seem to be more tender than others,” says Dr. Solitar, “but there isn’t a lot of conclusive genetic research out there.”

• Still a mystery. In many cases, why fibromyalgia strikes is still largely unknown. “For a lot of patients, we don’t come up with a good explanation for the development of fibromyalgia,” Dr. Solitar notes. “We all get exposed to stress regularly. And while trauma and infections do seem to be a common [fibromyalgia] theme, there are a lot of people who just slowly develop a sense of feeling poorly.”

Fibromyalgia and Sleep

More than 75 percent of fibromyalgia patients complain of sleep disturbances and fatigue, according to the National Fibromyalgia Research Association. Studies have shown that this is often the result of problems fibromyalgia sufferers have falling asleep and staying asleep.

While some people don’t remember waking up frequently, others do recall these disruptions to a good night’s rest. Either way, these abnormal sleep patterns prevent fibromyalgia sufferers from getting a healthy amount of restful, restorative sleep.

Fibromyalgia’s Connection to Impaired Deep Sleep

There are five stages of sleep, and in the course of a normal night’s rest, a person will normally cycle through various stages, from light to deep to dreaming, every 90 minutes or so. Dreaming occurs during what’s called REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Interestingly, EEG (brain wave) studies have found that fibromyalgia patients lack the restorative levels of deep, non-REM sleep.

It is during these deepest levels of sleep — also known as stages 3 and 4 — that the body restores and refreshes itself. Stage 3 is characterized by moderately deep sleep and stage 4, the deepest sleep phase, is when certain substances like growth hormones are released for body-tissue repair and replenishment.

Research suggests that people with fibromyalgia are constantly aroused by bursts of “awake” brain activity, which limits the amount of time they spend in these critical deep stages of sleep. “On EEG studies, fibromyalgia patients in deep-sleep stages have been found to have alpha waves, which are signs of arousal or wakening,” says Patrick Wood, MD, chief medical advisor for the National Fibromyalgia Association. One study published in the Journal of Rheumatologyfound that fibromyalgia patients experience at least twice as many arousals per hour as people without the disorder.

Fibromyalgia’s Constant “Fog” and Fatigue

The lack of uninterrupted deep sleep may be the reason why people with fibromyalgia are also plagued by extreme daytime fatigue. In today’s world, many people complain of feeling tired, but the exhaustion associated with fibromyalgia is much more severe. Fibromyalgia patients report feeling as if their bodies have been completely drained of energy, which can lead to limited physical and mental functioning.

It’s also common for people with fibromyalgia to have problems with concentration, thinking, and memory, a condition known as “fibro fog.” A recent University of Michigan study found that people with fibromyalgia exhibit memory impairments on tests that can mimic 20 years of aging. One possible reason: Memories are processed during sleep stages 3 and 4.

Brain Chemicals: The Root of the Problem?

While the causes of sleep problems in those with fibromyalgia are not yet completely understood, new findings are uncovering possible links. One theory is that brain chemicals may be out of whack. “There’s very good evidence that fibromyalgia is associated with abnormal amounts of dopamine, which is an energy-related neurotransmitter, or brain chemical,” says Dr. Wood.

“During these two stages of sleep, the brain sorts through information accumulated during the day, taking it out of short-term memory and putting it into long-term memory,” says Dr. Wood. When the amount of deep sleep is reduced, experts speculate that the body may have a limited ability to repair and replenish the brain’s functioning, affecting memory as well as energy.

Norepinephrine, another energizing neurotransmitter, and cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, have also been found to be abnormal in fibromyalgia patients. In addition to interfering with restful sleep, neurochemical and hormonal imbalances may exacerbate the pain associated with fibromyalgia, in the opinion of some experts. Others researchers believe that it’s the constant pain that triggers deep-sleep abnormalities.

More studies are currently underway that may help uncover more definitive causes of sleep difficulties associated with this painful, life-altering condition. It is hoped that in the next five years or so scientists will have more answers about the connection between fibromyalgia and disordered sleep.

The fibromyalgia symptoms your doctor will look for…

Diagnosing fibromyalgia can be challenging for the physician and frustrating for the patient. This is because fibromyalgia symptoms vary from person to person and can be similar to those of many other common conditions. Fibromyalgia’s classic chronic pain symptoms, for instance, can mimic those related to arthritis, depression, and even multiple sclerosis.

In addition, there is no specific diagnostic laboratory test for fibromyalgia. In fact, blood tests and X-rays are often normal. This means that a diagnosis has to be based on a patient’s report of his or her symptoms and on a physician’s physical exam. Because so many complicating factors are involved, it often takes a specialist, usually a rheumatologist, to make a firm diagnosis.

Diagnosing Fibromyalgia: Who Is at Risk?

Fibromyalgia affects 2 to 4 percent of the U.S. population, and it predominantly affects women. “Fibromyalgia affects three times as many women as men,” says Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers of America and the author of From Fatigued to Fantastic! (Avery) although some studies suggest that this number may be closer to ten times as many women, most of whom are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50. But the condition can also affect men, and it can occur in people of all ages.

Other risk factors for fibromyalgia include having a family history of the condition, having a sleep disorder such as restless legs syndrome or sleep apnea, and suffering from a rheumatic disease such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

Diagnosing Fibromyalgia: Common Symptoms

“Fatigue, aches, brain fog (meaning difficulty with short-term memory, word finding, and word substitution), and insomnia sum up the hallmark symptoms of fibromyalgia,” says Dr. Teitelbaum. “If you can’t sleep, even though you’re exhausted, and you have widespread chronic muscle pain lasting longer than three months, you may have fibromyalgia.”

Complicating the diagnosis further, many fibromyalgia sufferers also have a related condition called chronic fatigue syndrome, which is considered a separate disorder, according to Dr. Teitelbaum. Between 50 and 70 percent of people with fibromyalgia fit the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome, and vice versa. The pain patients experience in fibromyalgia is also similar to the joint pain of arthritis, though fibromyalgia does not cause actual joint damage like arthritis.

Sufferers often say that the muscular aches and pains of fibromyalgia are similar to the body aches associated with the flu. The pain — variously described as throbbing, shooting, stabbing, and aching — and the stiffness may be worse in the morning.

To determine whether you have fibromyalgia, your doctor will ask you questions regarding the degree to which you experience the following symptoms.

Pain: In fibromyalgia, muscle pain encompasses the entire body — above and below the waist, and on both the right and left sides of the body. Muscles used repeatedly tend to hurt more. Patients feel stiff and find it difficult and painful to move. Although their joints are not visibly swollen, patients often report a sensation of swelling in their joints along with joint pain.

• Fatigue: Symptoms of fatigue can range from mild to incapacitating in patients with fibromyalgia; many report feeling “drained” of energy. Brain fog and an inability to concentrate often go hand in hand with the fatigue.

• Sleep disruptions: Fibromyalgia sufferers often fall asleep normally but wake up frequently during the night. And even when they get plenty of sleep, people with fibromyalgia report waking up exhausted.

• Digestive problems: Irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain occur in 40 to 70 percent of fibromyalgia patients, along with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or acid reflux.

• Weight gain: Many people with fibromyalgia experience weight gain because of metabolic changes that occur as a result of the disease. “We’ve found an average weight gain of 32.5 pounds among fibromyalgia sufferers, which may happen within six months or over the course of several years,” says Dr. Teitelbaum.

• Decreased physical functioning: This important feature of fibromyalgia can be measured with the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), developed by clinicians at Oregon Health & Science University.

• Other changes in health: Many patients with fibromyalgia experience light-headedness or dizziness, anxiety, and depression. Irritable bladder, noncardiac chest pain, and migraine headaches may also occur and can become more severe during times of stress, in cold or drafty environments, or when infections, allergies, hormonal fluctuations, depression, or anxiety are present.

Diagnosing Fibromyalgia: What Your Doctor Will Look For

Since no diagnostic lab test for fibromyalgia currently exists, your doctor’s physical exam plays a key role in determining whether you have the condition. Your doctor will probably start by taking a health history.

Blood tests and X-rays may then be ordered to help rule out other possibilities, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis, whose symptoms can be similar to those of fibromyalgia. “Testing may also include hormonal tests (thyroid, adrenal, estrogen, testosterone, and so on), tests for immune function and for dietary deficiencies (most often iron and B12),” says Dr. Teitelbaum.

According to guidelines created by the American College of Rheumatology in 1991, a diagnosis of fibromyalgia requires that you have experienced widespread, aching pain for at least three months and have a minimum of 11 locations on your body that are abnormally sensitive to pain when touched with relatively mild but firm pressure.

Called tender points, these spots are found in 18 specific places on the head, upper body, and certain joints. People with fibromyalgia have very strong reactions to even mild pressure on these tender points; your physician may also use the same level of pressure on nontender points (called control points) to compare your reaction.

Linking Fibromyalgia to Depression and Anxiety

Chronic, widespread muscular pain and tenderness, sleep problems and fatigue, morning stiffness and headaches, concentration and digestive irregularities: All these symptoms can make daily functioning very difficult for those with fibromyalgia.

But equally challenging are the depression and anxiety that often accompany the disorder. Each occurs in approximately 8 percent of those with fibromyalgia, according to Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., medical director of The Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers, Inc. In people with fibromyalgia, he says, anxiety often manifests itself as rapid shallow breathing (hyperventilation), and depression (as a decrease in normal interests).

While it is not unexpected to have an emotional or psychological response to a chronic illness, there may be other physiological reasons that explain why anxiety and depression occur in fibromyalgia patients consistently enough that they are listed as symptoms of the condition. “Biochemically, depression is very different in [people with] fibromyalgia than otherwise,” says Dr. Teitelbaum. “In fibromyalgia, it is often associated with an underactive adrenal function [a low cortisol level], whereas depression [in a non-fibromyalgia population] is associated with a high cortisol level.”

According to some doctors who routinely treat fibromyalgia, there are a number of factors that appear to increase the likelihood of developing anxiety and/or depression if you have this condition. These include:

Dr. Smith says that low cortisol levels related to stress often do not show up on standard blood tests, and she has found they are best measured by saliva testing. “Many physicians only measure cortisol levels as related to Addison’s Disease or Cushing’s disease. They do not look at what happens when the body makes only enough cortisol to stay alive but not to function well (adrenal fatigue),” she explains. Cortisol levels can be normalized by reducing stress. She says, adding, “it may take one to two years to fully normalize the body’s stress system.”

As cortisol levels are restored, fibromyalgia-related anxiety and depression generally lessen.

Dr. Jim Tabios, PhD is a PhD Bay Area (CA) Resident specializing in Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Tabios is currently working on a virtual anatomy portal to examine the human body through the use collaborative data from universities and medical imaging databases. Dr. Tabios is also Vice President of the Knowl Project and MENSA International Member since 2007.

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How Clean Teeth Improve Immune Function

By Dr. P., Piero D.D.S.

Cleaning your teeth helps keep your immune system healthy.

Respiratory infections can be caught at any time of the year.

The standard advice for the prevention of these sicknesses is to wash your hands and keep your immune system healthy by eating properly and exercising regularly.

Washing your hands is one way of keeping the hundreds of different bacteria and viruses from getting into your system.

Individuals with lower immune systems are more susceptible to infections, since your immune system helps to defend the body, if and when a virus slips in.

In addition to the standard advice, a less publicized approach to healthy living and avoiding a respiratory infection is to keep your teeth clean. Here’s why:

• There are 400-500 species of bacteria that live in your mouth. Viruses can use bacteria as “factories” to grow and multiply. If a virus makes its way into your mouth (usually from touching your hands to your mouth or biting your nails), the fewer bacteria in your mouth, the less likely the virus will grow.

• Periodontal disease is caused by plaque producing bacteria. The body in defense of the periodontal disease releases cytokines. These cytokines trigger your blood-making organs to constantly fight or defend themselves, thus weakening the body’s immune system to fight other infections.

• Periodontal disease is a potential contributing factor for respiratory diseases, according to the American Academy of Periodontology.

The bacteria that cause periodontal disease and are taxing your immune system are breeding right now in the perfect environment of your mouth. They love the cozy, moist, dark, warm and acidic ecosystem, which is constantly being fed by carbohydrates. The areas between the teeth are particularly good breeding grounds because the damaging bacteria thrive in the absence of oxygen.

The bacteria grow rapidly – actually doubling their count every hour. There are more bacteria in your mouth than people on the planet Earth. The excrement or bi-product of the bacteria is what forms the sticky film that is a constant challenge to remove and what is called plaque.

Symptoms of periodontal infection are often not noticeable until the disease is advanced. Some of the symptoms include: bad breath that will not go away, red or swollen gums, tender or bleeding gums, loose teeth, or sensitive teeth.

A dentist can diagnose the disease in the early stages, prior to individuals realizing they have it. Because 85% of the population have some degree of periodontal disease, it is extremely important to get regular dental check ups. Professional cleanings at a dental office are recommended every six months. Periodontal disease is the most widespread disease on earth.

Visiting a dentist is only one half of the prevention equation. Daily home care is as important. Periodontal disease is prevented by thoroughly cleaning your teeth, requiring the removal of the resilient bacteria. A toothbrush does a good job in removing the bacteria from the high spots, but unfortunately, not in between teeth.

In addition, most conscientious individuals who try to do a “better” job at cleaning their teeth, end up with toothbrush abrasion. This ridge between the tooth and gum line expose the root. The area then is sensitive to hot, cold, sweets and acids, and requires composites that must be repeatedly replaced.

Flossing is important both in the prevention and the control of periodontal disease according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Because it is a laborious task to floss, most people don’t. The ADA reported that only about 5% of the population actually flosses.

In addition, only 18 – 35% of the plaque between teeth is removed when one does floss, according to The Journal of Clinical Periodontology. Flossing can also move the contagious periodontal disease from an infected site to an uninfected site. Although oral irrigators are meant to replace flossing, they can’t cut through plaque’s sticky biofilm since they only use water.

Once afflicted, periodontal disease is controlled by a disciplined and meticulous oral cleaning regimen, both at the dental office and at home. Professional treatment may require below the gum line scraping, three-month check ups instead of the traditional six-month, and a prescription oral rinse.

Oral health is critical to total health. There is evidence that point to a link between periodontal disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), among which is emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Sixteen million Americans suffer from COPD and it is the 6th leading cause of mortality in the US. Studies published in the Journal of Periodontology found that patients with periodontal disease have a 1.5x greater risk of COPD.

The American Academy of Periodontology reported that, “Bacteria that grow in the oral cavity can be aspirated into the lung to cause respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, especially in people with periodontal disease.” The bacteria that are multiplying in the mouth are not only being used as factories for the viruses but are also being breathed into the susceptible lungs.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests that there are over 1 billion respiratory infections each year in the US. Avoid illness – wash your hands, keep them out of your mouth, eat healthy, exercise AND clean your teeth.

Dr. P., Piero D.D.S. is a practicing dentist and inventor of Dental Air Force – a home dental cleaning system that replaces both tooth brushing and flossing by using air, water and all natural cleaner. He can be reached at 616-399-8511, info@dentalairforce.com or visit www.dentalairforce.com

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Trifecta of Red Wine, Tea, and Chocolate Shown to Improve Cognitive Function in the Elderly

By Dr. Nicole Sundene

I was just reading the article, “Intake of Flavonoid-Rich Wine, Tea, and Chocolate by Elderly Men and Women Is Associated with Better Cognitive Test Performance,” and thought this may be the world’s BEST natural medicine news to ever report.

Forget the elderly *wink wink*, this article is a great reminder about picking our “poisons” wisely.

If we are going to have one, two, or maybe even three vices, they should all be rich sources of antioxidants, such as DARK chocolate, green or black tea, and organic red wine in moderation.

Here is the quick and dirty on the latest research:

“In a cross-sectional study, we examined the relation between intake of 3 common foodstuffs that contain flavonoids (chocolate, wine, and tea) and cognitive performance. 2031 participants (70–74 y, 55% women) recruited from the population-based Hordaland Health Study in Norway underwent cognitive testing. A cognitive test battery included the Kendrick Object Learning Test, Trail Making Test, part A (TMT-A), modified versions of the Digit Symbol Test, Block Design, Mini-Mental State Examination, and Controlled Oral Word Association Test. Poor cognitive performance was defined as a score in the highest decile for the TMT-A and in the lowest decile for all other tests. A self-reported FFQ was used to assess habitual food intake. Participants who consumed chocolate, wine, or tea had significantly better mean test scores and lower prevalence of poor cognitive performance than those who did not. Participants who consumed all 3 studied items had the best test scores and the lowest risks for poor test performance. The associations between intake of these foodstuffs and cognition were dose dependent, with maximum effect at intakes of ~10 g/d for chocolate and ~75–100 mL/d for wine, but approximately linear for tea. Most cognitive functions tested were influenced by intake of these 3 foodstuffs. The effect was most pronounced for wine and modestly weaker for chocolate intake. Thus, in the elderly, a diet high in some flavonoid-rich foods is associated with better performance in several cognitive abilities in a dose-dependent manner.”

What does this mean? It means that if you are going to have a vice you should shoot for a healthy one!

I doubt there could ever be better news for me to report!

Forget the elderly, I know this particular trifecta of joy makes me feel good too! We all need a little treat every now and then, and enjoying these treats in moderation is a normal and healthy part of our culture.

So what is this research really proving?  Are these food miracle foods?

Are these foods amazing?

Yes and No

No they are not going to save you from that which ails you and cure dementia and Alzheimer’s, but they are likely preventing disease through the standard disease preventative mechanism.  Antioxidants protecting free radicals. What this trifecta share in common is that they are antioxidant rich.  Flavanoids in these foods are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants mean anti-inflammation, which means anti-aging.

That is the short version of that story, but the moral of it is that you should pick your “vices” wisely.  Just like Indiana Jones knew that the “Holy Grail” was not some flashy supplement, or bedazzled shiny over-sized goblet….I know…and you know…we all know that the REAL fountain of youth is that simple wooden cup, and when it comes to health, the fountain of youth is antioxidants, exercise, sleep, vegetables, and superfoods.

Choose your antioxidants, and your vices wisely my friends. Enjoy the Trifecta. Enjoy the Trifecta of fabulosity organically if possible especially red wine  because as I stated in my article “Best Organic Cabernet 2008,” the cleaner we can keep our vices, the more we can make them work for us, as was perfectly demonstrated by the latest research.

Enjoy 1-2 glasses of red wine (depending on your size), a few cups of black (or green) tea, and 1-2 oz of dark chocolate daily (depending on your weight and health condition) moderately and think about how today you can make all the “vices” in your life as pure and natural as possible.

Remember that we should be able to enjoy life a little bit too while being healthy, according to the 80/20 model of health.

What is your favorite healthy “vice?”

Dr. Nicole

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Scientists Discover How Cranberries Prevent Bladder Infections

By Rod Newbound, RN, Anti-Aging Expert

Although it’s been known for several years that cranberries can prevent urinary tract infections, up until now, the exact mechanism has remained a mystery. But in a newly published study, scientists at Worcester Polytechnic Institute say they’ve discovered the secret.

They found that virulent bacteria, like the kind that create urinary tract infections, have hair-like projections called fimbriae that attach to the wall of the bladder. Their studies showed that even low concentrations of cranberry juice created a thermodynamic energy shield that keeps these nasty creatures from getting a foothold.

No Harm To Friendly Bacteria

Because the good bacteria don’t have these fimbriae, they aren’t affected. This is important, because our bodies have billions of good bacteria that provide protection from such gut wrenching disease organisms like Clostridium difficile.
Unpublished work also shows cranberry juice has potent effects on disease-causing bacteria, but that the effect is temporary. This suggests that in order to have continuous protection; you will need to consume some form of cranberry regularly – perhaps daily.

Cranberries, a Superfood You Should Enjoy Year Round

• Cranberries are higher in antioxidants than strawberries, spinach, broccoli, red grapes, apples, raspberries, and cherries. With 8,983 total antioxidant capacity per cup, only cultivated blueberries outrank them.
• Besides being naturally high in Vitamin C, cranberries also contain calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sulfer, vitamin A, vitamin B-1, Vitamin B-2, vitamin B-3, vitamin B-5, vitamin E, and zinc.
• Rich in a dozen phytochemicals (phytonutrients). Phytochemicals work in a number of different ways to prevent disease, even cancer.
• Proanthocyanidins present in cranberries are responsible for their anti-adhesion properties. In addition, these proanthocyanidins promote dental health since they inhibit the bacterial growth that causes plaque.
• A 2001 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry revealed this red berry (in its pure form) contained the highest quantity of disease-fighting phenols, a type of antioxidant that is thought to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, stroke and heart disease.
• Cranberries are also a good source of resveratrol, the component of red wine that makes it so good for you.

How to Get Your Cranberries Without Terrorizing Your Body With High Calorie Sugars

• Sugar is not only highly addictive; it’s absorbed directly into the blood stream from your stomach, which upsets the natural chemical balance of your body. In addition, sugar has zero nutrient value.
• Pure fresh cranberries have only 45 calories per cup, but when sugar is added, the result tips the scale…
• 140 calories from 1/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries. Note: Craisins (by Ocean Spray) is sweetened with sugar, but Eden Foods offers dried cranberries sweetened with apple juice. Same amount of calories, but better for you.
• 130 calories from 8 oz. of cranberry juice cocktail (sweetened with sugar)
  5 calories from 8 oz. of Ocean Spray diet cranberry juice cocktail (sweetened with fruit juice and Sucralose). Note: Since research has shown Sucralose can cause the thymus gland to shrink, I wouldn’t recommend it. The thymus is important to your immune system.
• 258 calories from 1/3 cup of jellied cranberry sauce
• After an exhaustive search, I finally found unsweetened dried cranberries at Purcell Mountain Farms.

Action Plan: Add the Thanksgiving fruit to your weekly diet. Try them in salads, muffins, pancakes, breads, cheese spreads, on peanut butter sandwiches, etc. You can find unsweetened cranberry juice at some health food stores.

Since it’s very sour, you can either sweeten it with honey (heat them in a sauce pan until the honey dissolves into the juice), dilute with equal parts of pure blueberry juice (blueberries prevent bladder infections likely through the same mechanism) or make cranberry vinaigrette to serve on your salads.

Rod Newbound is a 58 year old Registered Nurse who teaches his patients how to live longer and better. Stop by AntiAgingHacks.com for more great Anti-Aging Tips!

“Healthy longevity – the adventure of your life.”

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Olive Oil: New Research Shows it Prevents DNA Damage

Wow! Olive oil prevents DNA damage, how exciting.

Why should we care about this?

Because DNA damage caused by inflammation is essentially the biochemical mother of all disease.

In an article recently published in the August 2008 “Journal of American Nutrition”, researchers concluded that olive oil likely prevents cancer and aging by protecting DNA from damage.

The “phenolic compounds” in olive oil were studied and determined to inhibit the initial stages of cancer formation caused by “oxidative stress” (unstable molecules in our bodies that destroy healthy tissues resulting in inflammation and disease).

Damage to our DNA is exactly what causes both cancer AND aging, along with a myriad of other chronic conditions. The phenolic compounds in olive oil are shown to have a protective effect in vitro to our DNA. The more antioxidants we can include in our diet, the more we can PREVENT disease.

The good news about this “in vitro” or test tube study is that researchers believe that the amount of olive oil needed to prevent cancer is easily achievable in “in vivo” or real life doses!

Researchers concluded that, “Overall, these results suggest that [phenolic compounds] may efficiently prevent the initiation step of carcinogenesis in vivo, because the concentrations effective against the oxidative DNA damage could be easily reached with normal intake of olive oil.”

Hooray! What a wonderful, delicious cancer fighting treat for us to include in our diets. We already know that olive oil in the diet is important for preventing cardiovascular disease and inflammation, now we have yet another reason to make olive oil a major source of fat in our diet.

So how can you get more olive oil in your diet?

First of all, I always recommend buying extra virgin olive oil, the greener the better.

Next, keep in mind that olive oil is not good for baking as much as it is good for drizzling on already cooked foods such as breads, steamed veggies, salads, soups, and popcorn (yes it is delicious with organic sea salt and nutritional yeast).

To achieve the maximum anti-cancer and anti-aging benefits be sure to keep the temp below it’s smoking point of 350F. Best yet, avoid cooking it when at all possible.

Today’s Kitchen Table Fix: Put olive oil on your bread and veggies instead of butter. Always make your own salad dressing with olive oil and lemon or balsamic vinegar.

Reference: “Oxidative DNA Damage Is Prevented by Extracts of Olive Oil, Hydroxytyrosol, and Other Olive Phenolic Compounds in Human Blood Mononuclear Cells and HL60 Cells” J. Nutr. 138:1411-1416, August 2008.

What is your favorite use of olive oil? Feel free to leave your links and ideas in the comments section.

Thanks for stopping by my kitchen table!

~Dr. Nicole Sundene

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Fibromyalgia and Vegan Diet

By Dr. Nicole Sundene

“Can the Kitchen Table Cure Fibromyalgia?”

When implementing the vegan diet it just might!

Research listed below shows dramatic and promising improvement for those with fibromyalgia by simply adopting a whole foods vegan diet that emphasizes increased fruits and vegetables and the elimination of all animal products such as meat, dairy, and eggs.

From my clinical experience, eating an Anti-inflammatory diet is extremely beneficial for those with chronic pain. Vegan diets are probably beneficial because they are free of the evil kitchen table culprit “arachidonic acid” found in animal fats that most traditional prescription and over the counter pharmaceutical agents work to block.

To spare you all the biochemistry blah blah blah, let’s just say that arachidonic acid becomes inflammation. By implementing an anti-inflammatory eating plan or vegan diet, those challenged by the chronic debilitating pains of fibromyalgia just might experience a dramatic increase in pain relief, as well as less overall need for using medications.

Remember that less medicines, means less side effects. Less side effects means less medicine needed to address side effects of medications. Don’t get caught up in the snowball down spiraling effect of chronic prescription drug use if you can achieve similar if not better results with diet.

The kitchen table is truly the heart of medicine. If you are chronically ill, please consider giving yourself the gift of a healthy whole foods diet!

Going vegan may just be the answer to this painful condition. At the very least do your best to eliminate McInflammation. Be sure to always check with your physician before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Other researched therapeutics that may be helpful for fibromyalgia:

• Eliminate MSG, aspartame, and other “Kitchen Table Villains”.
• Allergy Elimination Diet.
• Reduce stress.
• Gentle exercise, especially swimming.
• Fish Oil
• Magnesium malate and malic acid.

Research on Vegan Diet and Fibromyalgia:

1. PMID: 11093597; Vegan diet alleviates fibromyalgia symptoms.Scand J Rheumatol. 2000;29(5):308-13.
2. PMID: 11602026; Fibromyalgia syndrome improved using a mostly raw vegetarian diet: an observational study.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2001;1(1):7. Epub 2001 Sep 26.
3. PMID: 11508070; Vegetarian diet in the treatment of fibromyalgia.Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull. 2000 Aug;26(2):41-7.
4. PMID: 11093597; Vegan diet alleviates fibromyalgia symptoms.Scand J Rheumatol. 2000;29(5):308-13.
5. PMID: 11408989; Relief of fibromyalgia symptoms following discontinuation of dietary excitotoxins.Ann Pharmacother. 2001 Jun;35(6):702-6.
6. PMID: 1802495; Diet and disease symptoms in rheumatic diseases–results of a questionnaire based survey.Clin Rheumatol. 1991 Dec;10(4):401-7.
7. PMID: 2049586; Primary fibromyalgia and the irritable bowel syndrome: different expressions of a common pathogenetic process.Br J Rheumatol. 1991 Jun;30(3):220-2.
8. PMID: 11156742; Antioxidants in vegan diet and rheumatic disorders.Toxicology. 2000 Nov 30;155(1-3):45-53.

Thanks for stopping by my kitchen table!

~Dr. Nicole

Naturopathic Physician

www.KitchenTableMedicine.com

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Natural Psoriasis Treatments

What natural medicines do you recommend for psoriasis?

The scaly silvery plaques of psoriasis that typically affect the elbows, knees, scalp, and other actively moving or injured regions can be unbelievably frustrating to manage and treat with natural or conventional therapies.

Conventional treatments work to reduce itching, inflammation, and inhibit skin overgrowth. Natural medicines also work to address those factors as well as identifying and treating causes of health imbalance that makes an individual more susceptible to the development of psoriasis.

In my opinion, most cases of psoriasis just need a thorough diet and lifestyle clean up. Most patients with psoriasis have terrible eating and lifestyle habits, and will easily improve with naturopathic care. Harsh medication such as corticosteroids and methotrexate should be avoided when at all possible as the side effects of these drugs are far worse than the symptoms of psoriasis that they are being used to treat.

Please check with your naturopathic physician or family doctor for drug-herb interactions or other contraindications before implementing any of these treatment ideas.

Diet for Psoriasis

• Eliminate all McInflammation.

• Vegan, gluten free diet. Animal fats will increase inflammation as discussed in my “Anti-inflammatory diet”.
• Current conventional postulations regarding the cause of psoriasis indicate a possible genetic error in mitotic control. This means that cells are dividing and replicating faster than they should. Excessive activation of lymphocytes (a form of white blood cells) are thought to be responsible for the short epidermal cell cycle that results in hyperproliferation of skin tissues. Since 70% of our immune system surrounds the gut in GALT (Gut Associated Lymphatic Tissue) food allergies or intolerances may be to blame for immune dysfunction triggering the skin overgrowth aspects commonly associated with psoriasis.
• Dairy and wheat intolerance are common triggers for most people with skin conditions, especially psoriasis. A three week trial elimination of both with a re-introduction period individually of first wheat and then dairy is prudent. If wheat and dairy are not a problem I would continue on to a full allergy elimination diet and see if other foods may be resulting in inflammation and resultant immune dysfunction.

Kitchen Remedies for Psoriasis

• Avoid aspartame. Aspartame is not just a “Kitchen Table Villain”, but sensitivity is common in those with itchy skin conditions.
• Liver Support Foods: Most patients will benefit from some gentle detox.
• Liberal use of green leafy vegetables for magnesium content to aid detoxification.
• Anti-inflammatory Smoothie: Dr. Nicole’s Smoothie Recipe drink daily to reduce reactivity to foods you may be allergic or intolerant to, as well as reduce inflammation.
• Cultured Foods: The friendly bacteria in yogurt and other fermented foods are valuable sources of acidophilus and other probiotics needed for healthy gut flora and proper digestion.

Lifestyle Considerations for Psoriasis

• Eliminate stress: a common culprit known to exacerbate symptoms of psoriasis.
• Quit smoking and drinking alcohol. Smoking and drinking alcohol were shown to increase symptoms.
• Lose weight. Obesity is a risk factor for psoriasis.
• Try to avoid injuring the affected area. Studies also show that skin injuries may make your psoriasis worse, which is why it typically shows up on active areas such as elbows, knees, and eyelids. Sunlight was shown to either make psoriasis better or worse. Drugs that increase psoriasis symptoms are lithium, beta blockers, and NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and over the counter analgesics).
• Acupuncture and hypnosis may also be beneficial.
• Use a chlorine shower filter, especially if you have psoriasis on your scalp.

Vitamins for Psoriasis

• Vitamin D oral and topical are effective for psoriasis. The topical drug Dovonex is a prescription preparation using vitamin D. Don’t take more than 1000 IU of oral vitamin D daily without being supervised by a physician for potential life threatening conditions such as hypercalcemia that may occur.
• Vitamin A orally and topically is also helpful for psoriasis. Both vitamins A and D play a role with cell differentiation, the same mechanism that prescription pharmaceuticals play a role with.

Fish Oil for Psoriasis

• Fish oil is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Cod liver oil also contains both vitamins A and D. I typically recommend 1 tablespoon of cod liver oil with food daily. This can be increased to twice daily.
• Cod liver oil should not be used by pregnant women due to high vitamin A content. Fish oils are not recommended for those with bleeding disorders or using anti-coagulant medicines such as Coumadin. Check with your doctor before using fish oil therapeutically. The omega 3 fats in fish oil are very powerful natural medicine for psoriasis. I would opt for the use of fish oil over flax oil unless the patient has ethical or spiritual concerns regarding the use of animal products. Flax oil may be helpful, but it is not nearly as potent as fish oil, nor has it yet been researched for efficacy with this skin disease.

Herbs for Psoriasis

• Capscasin cream synthesized from cayenne peppers is helpful for reducing pain and controlling itching.
• Topically you could also try some aloe vera gel as well as calendula succus (juice) or cream; as both herbs are particularly soothing to most irritating and itchy skin conditions.
• Detox Herbs. Rather than using herbs mechanistically to fight psoriasis, I would opt instead to use them to “Treat the Cause”. Most people with psoriasis have a large toxic burden on their body, as evidenced by the exacerbations caused by smoking and consuming alcohol. Cleaning up the diet and lifestyle is fundamental, herbs to protect the liver and aid the moving out of toxins such as milk thistle, dandelion root, burdock root, yellow dock root, and turmeric should be helpful for addressing the long term big picture of this disease which typically tends to just worsen over time. For those with digestive upset I would also do a course of gut healing herbs such as slippery elm and marshmallow root to address underlying causes such as food allergies.

Research on Psoriasis

• PMID: 10651693; Psoriasis patients with antibodies to gliadin can be improved by a gluten-free diet. Br J Dermatol. 2000 Jan;142(1):44-51.
• PMID: 12949434; Rapid regression of psoriasis in a celiac patient after gluten-free diet. A case report and review of the literature. Digestion. 2003;68(1):9-12. Epub 2003 Aug 29. Review.
• PMID: 9838718; A review of the epidemiology of psoriasis vulgaris in the community.Australas J Dermatol. 1998 Nov;39(4):225-32. Review.
• PMID: 8977698; Cigarette smoking in men may be a risk factor for increased severity of psoriasis of the extremities. Br J Dermatol. 1996 Nov;135(5):859-60. No abstract available.
• PMID: 15346196; Association between alcohol, smoking and HLA-DQA1*0201 genotype in psoriasis.Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai). 2004 Sep;36(9):597-602.
• PMID: 10396014; A pilot study of hypnosis in the treatment of patients with psoriasis.Psychother Psychosom. 1999;68(4):221-5.
• PMID: 15244317; Calcipotriol cream in the treatment of flexural psoriasis.Int J Tissue React. 2003;25(4):127-30.
• PMID: 15018018; Calcipotriol ointment versus cream in psoriasis vulgaris.Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 2003;23(2-3):47-51.
• PMID: 7688774; A double-blind evaluation of topical capsaicin in pruritic psoriasis.J Am Acad Dermatol. 1993 Sep;29(3):438-42.
• PMID: 10417520; Capsaicin treatment induces histamine release and perfusion changes in psoriatic skin.Br J Dermatol. 1999 Jul;141(1):87-93.
• PMID: 11306830; Phototherapy of psoriasis: comparative experience of different phototherapeutic approaches.Dermatology. 2001;202(2):108-15.
• PMID: 7921757; A double-blind placebo controlled trial of Efamol Marine on skin and joint symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.Br J Rheumatol. 1994 Oct;33(10):954-8.

Thanks for stopping by my kitchen table to ask the question!

~ Dr. Nicole Sundene

Naturopathic Physician

www.KitchenTableMedicine.com

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™

Natural Medicine for Traveler’s Diarrhea

What can I do to prevent traveler’s diarrhea?

If you are traveling, the yeast Sacchromyces boulardii is the supplement that you should always carry along with you. Trust me, anyone that is sick with bacterial food poisoning or a bad viral case of gastroenteritis will think you are the absolute greatest if you have this natural medicine on hand. You can take it as a preventative, as well as use it to treat a case of travelers diarrhea.

Watch out for a severe case of traveler’s diarrhea though! Most should resolve within 24-48 hours. If you are not getting better, or experiencing extreme symptoms be sure to visit a doctor to prevent complications such as dehydration.

S. boulardii is not only great as a preventative for travelers diarrhea, it is also an important healthy flora researched to fight super infections in the gut such as C. difficile that typically result from the overuse of antibiotics.

Think of bowel flora as a war of good guys against bad guys. The more good guys on board such as sacchromyces yeast, and other probiotics such as various acidophilus or bifididus strands; the less likely that bad bacteria and viruses will be able to take over and make us sick.

Be sure to use a high quality product. My recent review of the literature at Consumer Labs, an independent laboratory tester of supplements, revealed Florastor to be the best brand choice.

Always purchase your supplements from a reputable health food store.

All health care providers in need of quality information about supplements should register for information with www.ConsumerLabs.com to stay on top of the latest research and recalls for natural remedies.

~ Dr. Nicole Sundene

Naturopathic Physician
www.KitchenTableMedicine.com

©KitchenTableMedicine.com, LLC ™