Thursday, February 14, 2008
What is Fibromyalgia?
To me, that is a great and personal question. I have been fortunate to be hand picked to represent the fibromyalgia population. I have a destiny that I am answering and it is to serve others who have this illness in there lives. First off, I would like to define what Fibromyalgia is NOT:
1.Hypochondriac person-I think this started centuries ago when doctors could not scientifically explain why people of all ages hurt from head to toe and there was NO real scientific explanation why. Today, we are closer than ever to find a cause which may someday lead to a cure for millions of us who have this life issue.
2. It's all in your head-Really? Why do I feel it in my body, then?-I do not like the way this one has made me feel. This only a half truth which is the same thing as a well planned lie or excuse. The truth of this is, it DOES start in your head, in the brain. There is a theory floating around in the medical community that this could be a central nervous Disorder. That's just fancy smancy medical talk for the chemicals in our brain are too low. We also seem to have poor blood circulation from our body to our brains.
3. Laziness-I am not lazy, thank you. This fallacy comes from the way
fibromyalgia symptoms come and go at times. We tend to do every thing when we feel good and overdo it leading to another flare up. It's so important to find a happy balance. I'm busy in spite of this chronic pain. I own my own business, Babysit two toddlers under the age of 2, have my own kids ages almost 11,2,and 8 years old plus I'm a new radio talk show cohost.
I have two boys (the oldest and youngest) and one girl. They light up my world and make sure that I actually HAVE to get OUT of bed. I used to work as a certified nurses aide before the pain got too bad. I loved it. We had a saying on our rehab floor, The sickest people are the ones who refuse to get out of the bed. They usually died shortly after. Sobering thought isn't?
4.Just an excuse to be a drug addict-Believe it or not, I actually have heard this from friends and family. I don't use recreational drugs and personally, do not get high off the medicine. When your body "needs" a medication, it does not have an adverse effect on your body. It just numbs the pain sensation by sending the right chemical signal to your brain. It feels like I've taken every drug known to mankind sometimes. Having 7-8 medication changes in two years, four of those in the last 6 months, can be a little rough and extremely frustrating. I tried to live with out the meds and I just can't. The pain is that bad. With the combo I am on now, I am starting to really feel like me again.
5. You are just faking it for attention!-I can see why people jump to these conclusions. One day we are relatively normal, the next our house is trashed and we can't get out of bed or fall getting out of it. I have gotten stuck in the shower several times. My husband is such a sweetie he helped me out. We don't have a rail that I can hang on to. Remodeling our bathroom is definatly in negotiation right now.
I don't get any attention when I have flare ups. My family has learned to leave me alone during really awful flare ups. I thank them dearly for that one. Of course, that is a two way street. Sometimes each one of us needs our alone time.
So, What IS Fibromyaglia?
It is a disabling pain condition. Physical symptoms range and vary from person to person. My personal symptoms started out as "growing pains" during childhood around 10 or 11 at the same time as my period. (Sorry to any guys who read the article, TMI, please forgive this is the real me)
It laid dormant into early adulthood. I had my fair share of traumatic experiences in life for several years. It is by the pure grace of a loving God I am here today. I'm living proof of his Word. He's healed and restored so much in my life. After having my second child, my little girl, I had a mental and emotional meltdown. I was extremely suicidal. People would harass me constantly because my oldest was sick and he had severe problems the first few years of his life. He's fine today with ADHD. He is turning out to be a remarkable young man and I'm so proud of him. I had severe depression after my daughter was born. I wanted to die. I tried and failed. I thought Man, I can't do nothing right, not even die! I went to MHMR and sought treatment. I was given some medication and therapy. My life started to get a little better when, my now exhusband who I was married to at the time up and left taking my daughter with him. My son and I were left with no home, no job, no place to go. Thankfully, my little sister got saved while this was going on. She helped me turn my life around which I am eternally grateful. She invited me to go to church with her. I had decided that it was NOT for me. I stepped into that church and I was literally surrounded by God's presence. I had not known that before. It was quite intimidating. I started attending regularly and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into my life. I invited him to come live in my heart and guide me forever. I wish I could say it made my life a fairy tale with no problems but come on I do live on this planet with you. In fact, a spiritual war literally started. I kept getting sick off and on for the last 6 years. I had weird symptoms such as passing out on I35 with no wrecks or injuries,chest pains just like a heart attack,endemitreosis, losing all my weight. I was down to 99 pounds when I met my current husband, Derrick Dunn who I just adore. We dated, got engaged on my birthday 4 years ago. Two months before our wedding, I kept having weird and very sharp pains starting with my head and ending with my toes. I lived in Baird Texas at that time. I drove into Abilene once a week for a month and a half. I was finally diagnosed with fibromyaglia and advised I cannot take any human hormones because it messes with my thyroid. This is where my life gets to the current. I just got my medicines straightened out when guess what? I was pregnant with my third child. The pregnancy was a little rough off and on. It was rough when I worked as a CNA. I was sick most of the time and got huge. My baby kept trying to come early then changed his mind. He, James Isaac, was born on April 3,2006 7 pounds and 4 ounces. He is just a joy. He makes all of us laugh. He loves his bubba and sissy. They think he hung the moon. Bubba Dylan does pick on him though. After all, they are normal brothers. Never a dull moment around here. I couldn't work as a CNA anymore and got severely depressed. I was telling God what HE created me to be. It was the clay telling the potter what he should make. Yes, I know, that was dumb. I have a lot of those moments. I hope you do to. It is so much fun to laugh at yourself. I was diagnosed by 3 different doctors that I do have fibromyalgia. In the beginning, I was so determined to fight it, beat it, hide it. Now, I have accepted this is my body and I have to pay attention to it and modify my life just slightly. I take frequent breaks, relax and be in the here and now a whole lot more. This experience has led to some amazing things. Jesus has totally made me a new creature. I still have my core personality. My life is so much better now. I'm alive because of his promises in the Bible. Check them out sometime. He's got a blessing and gift so unique he can only give it to YOU. He is so waiting to bless you beyond your wildest dreams. I always knew that something great had to come out of the pain. I just didn't see what. My Rheumatologist (Bone, joint, muscle doc) suggested that I look for work I can do from home. I did after seeing some incredible stories on Good Morning America. To my surprise, I found a great match. I am a marketing executive for a health and wellness company. I don't have to stock, sell, or take orders which is nice. I work online and on the phone. That company led to me to a very special lady. Her name is Marla Martindale. We met online at Cafe Mom. She made a group for other marketing execs in our company to network, work on skill sets, chat, whatever it takes for others to start their business successful from day one. She looked on my profile and saw I was in the SAME town. We met for coffee and really just hit it off. We never talked about our personal lives before. We just opened up about our lives, challenges, obstacles, beliefs and have been talking ever since. Marla is a certified RSD life coach. She just opened up her business. She decided she wants to help other people with chronic pain issues and started her very own show on Blog Talk Radio. I have a link to our show on this blog. Please be sure and check it out! It is recorded and available for download until our next show on Tuesday. We had a guest appearance on Lip Service radio our first show. They had to no show due to technical difficulties that night. We decided to go and listen to the woodshed on Blog Talk radio. These guys are really funny. Check them out some time along with The Fake Buddy show and Greenlight Cafe. They were so kind as to let us plug our show on theirs and made a commercial. We have guests contacting us from across the ocean which is so cool. Our first 5 hours, we had 53 downloads. Then it was 70 something and now, it's over 100 downloads our second day. How exciting! : ) We hope you will call in and visit us. We are here for you.
1.Hypochondriac person-I think this started centuries ago when doctors could not scientifically explain why people of all ages hurt from head to toe and there was NO real scientific explanation why. Today, we are closer than ever to find a cause which may someday lead to a cure for millions of us who have this life issue.
2. It's all in your head-Really? Why do I feel it in my body, then?-I do not like the way this one has made me feel. This only a half truth which is the same thing as a well planned lie or excuse. The truth of this is, it DOES start in your head, in the brain. There is a theory floating around in the medical community that this could be a central nervous Disorder. That's just fancy smancy medical talk for the chemicals in our brain are too low. We also seem to have poor blood circulation from our body to our brains.
3. Laziness-I am not lazy, thank you. This fallacy comes from the way
fibromyalgia symptoms come and go at times. We tend to do every thing when we feel good and overdo it leading to another flare up. It's so important to find a happy balance. I'm busy in spite of this chronic pain. I own my own business, Babysit two toddlers under the age of 2, have my own kids ages almost 11,2,and 8 years old plus I'm a new radio talk show cohost.
I have two boys (the oldest and youngest) and one girl. They light up my world and make sure that I actually HAVE to get OUT of bed. I used to work as a certified nurses aide before the pain got too bad. I loved it. We had a saying on our rehab floor, The sickest people are the ones who refuse to get out of the bed. They usually died shortly after. Sobering thought isn't?
4.Just an excuse to be a drug addict-Believe it or not, I actually have heard this from friends and family. I don't use recreational drugs and personally, do not get high off the medicine. When your body "needs" a medication, it does not have an adverse effect on your body. It just numbs the pain sensation by sending the right chemical signal to your brain. It feels like I've taken every drug known to mankind sometimes. Having 7-8 medication changes in two years, four of those in the last 6 months, can be a little rough and extremely frustrating. I tried to live with out the meds and I just can't. The pain is that bad. With the combo I am on now, I am starting to really feel like me again.
5. You are just faking it for attention!-I can see why people jump to these conclusions. One day we are relatively normal, the next our house is trashed and we can't get out of bed or fall getting out of it. I have gotten stuck in the shower several times. My husband is such a sweetie he helped me out. We don't have a rail that I can hang on to. Remodeling our bathroom is definatly in negotiation right now.
I don't get any attention when I have flare ups. My family has learned to leave me alone during really awful flare ups. I thank them dearly for that one. Of course, that is a two way street. Sometimes each one of us needs our alone time.
So, What IS Fibromyaglia?
It is a disabling pain condition. Physical symptoms range and vary from person to person. My personal symptoms started out as "growing pains" during childhood around 10 or 11 at the same time as my period. (Sorry to any guys who read the article, TMI, please forgive this is the real me)
It laid dormant into early adulthood. I had my fair share of traumatic experiences in life for several years. It is by the pure grace of a loving God I am here today. I'm living proof of his Word. He's healed and restored so much in my life. After having my second child, my little girl, I had a mental and emotional meltdown. I was extremely suicidal. People would harass me constantly because my oldest was sick and he had severe problems the first few years of his life. He's fine today with ADHD. He is turning out to be a remarkable young man and I'm so proud of him. I had severe depression after my daughter was born. I wanted to die. I tried and failed. I thought Man, I can't do nothing right, not even die! I went to MHMR and sought treatment. I was given some medication and therapy. My life started to get a little better when, my now exhusband who I was married to at the time up and left taking my daughter with him. My son and I were left with no home, no job, no place to go. Thankfully, my little sister got saved while this was going on. She helped me turn my life around which I am eternally grateful. She invited me to go to church with her. I had decided that it was NOT for me. I stepped into that church and I was literally surrounded by God's presence. I had not known that before. It was quite intimidating. I started attending regularly and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into my life. I invited him to come live in my heart and guide me forever. I wish I could say it made my life a fairy tale with no problems but come on I do live on this planet with you. In fact, a spiritual war literally started. I kept getting sick off and on for the last 6 years. I had weird symptoms such as passing out on I35 with no wrecks or injuries,chest pains just like a heart attack,endemitreosis, losing all my weight. I was down to 99 pounds when I met my current husband, Derrick Dunn who I just adore. We dated, got engaged on my birthday 4 years ago. Two months before our wedding, I kept having weird and very sharp pains starting with my head and ending with my toes. I lived in Baird Texas at that time. I drove into Abilene once a week for a month and a half. I was finally diagnosed with fibromyaglia and advised I cannot take any human hormones because it messes with my thyroid. This is where my life gets to the current. I just got my medicines straightened out when guess what? I was pregnant with my third child. The pregnancy was a little rough off and on. It was rough when I worked as a CNA. I was sick most of the time and got huge. My baby kept trying to come early then changed his mind. He, James Isaac, was born on April 3,2006 7 pounds and 4 ounces. He is just a joy. He makes all of us laugh. He loves his bubba and sissy. They think he hung the moon. Bubba Dylan does pick on him though. After all, they are normal brothers. Never a dull moment around here. I couldn't work as a CNA anymore and got severely depressed. I was telling God what HE created me to be. It was the clay telling the potter what he should make. Yes, I know, that was dumb. I have a lot of those moments. I hope you do to. It is so much fun to laugh at yourself. I was diagnosed by 3 different doctors that I do have fibromyalgia. In the beginning, I was so determined to fight it, beat it, hide it. Now, I have accepted this is my body and I have to pay attention to it and modify my life just slightly. I take frequent breaks, relax and be in the here and now a whole lot more. This experience has led to some amazing things. Jesus has totally made me a new creature. I still have my core personality. My life is so much better now. I'm alive because of his promises in the Bible. Check them out sometime. He's got a blessing and gift so unique he can only give it to YOU. He is so waiting to bless you beyond your wildest dreams. I always knew that something great had to come out of the pain. I just didn't see what. My Rheumatologist (Bone, joint, muscle doc) suggested that I look for work I can do from home. I did after seeing some incredible stories on Good Morning America. To my surprise, I found a great match. I am a marketing executive for a health and wellness company. I don't have to stock, sell, or take orders which is nice. I work online and on the phone. That company led to me to a very special lady. Her name is Marla Martindale. We met online at Cafe Mom. She made a group for other marketing execs in our company to network, work on skill sets, chat, whatever it takes for others to start their business successful from day one. She looked on my profile and saw I was in the SAME town. We met for coffee and really just hit it off. We never talked about our personal lives before. We just opened up about our lives, challenges, obstacles, beliefs and have been talking ever since. Marla is a certified RSD life coach. She just opened up her business. She decided she wants to help other people with chronic pain issues and started her very own show on Blog Talk Radio. I have a link to our show on this blog. Please be sure and check it out! It is recorded and available for download until our next show on Tuesday. We had a guest appearance on Lip Service radio our first show. They had to no show due to technical difficulties that night. We decided to go and listen to the woodshed on Blog Talk radio. These guys are really funny. Check them out some time along with The Fake Buddy show and Greenlight Cafe. They were so kind as to let us plug our show on theirs and made a commercial. We have guests contacting us from across the ocean which is so cool. Our first 5 hours, we had 53 downloads. Then it was 70 something and now, it's over 100 downloads our second day. How exciting! : ) We hope you will call in and visit us. We are here for you.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Personal update
I started this blog one year ago with not much success. I wanted a site where my friends, business partners, future business partners, clients, team, family (not in that order of course lol) and I could discuss topics, issues,share life in general. I just got stuck and didn't know what to put on here. I am going to start with a story of my year last year. 2007 was a very difficult year for me. I was sick for most of it. I've had 7 medicine changes in one year. I won't bore you with all those details. I have not written about my struggles here or anywhere else much because I don't worship my illness, I worship my God. Now, the two have met and it's an awesome story I wanted to share with you today. The story starts7 years ago, I was in a failed marriage and had my second child. After she was born, I started being extremely depressed. I was totally miserable. My now ex-husband was diagnosed with diabetes. He got depressed. He refused to work and everything that went wrong was my fault and my sons. I tried to go to school to get a medical assistant license and had 4 more months to graduate. He walked out on me taking my daughter with him. I was left with an eviction notice, strange physical pain like passing out for no reason, chest pains, back pain and nowhere to live. I was extremely suicidal through this whole time. The state of Texas were going to terminate my rights because the situation was bad for my children. I called my family and thankfully, my sister took us in. It was to be a temporary situation but we lived together for one year and a half. We had our ups and downs together but it was a great time. During that time, I started going to a little church named Trinity Fellowship Church in San Angelo, Texas. They loved on me no matter what I looked like, what attitude I had, they helped in any way they could. This would start a whole new life for me. I went there and met my very best friend Jesus Christ. I would never be the same. I've had many bumps and twists in this journey. I got involved in children's ministry which I still do today. He has allowed me to dream big dreams because he is a BIG God. God just blows my mind each and every day. I'm glad he is my CEO. 6 months after being saved, I had horrendous side pain. I went to the doctor to get checked out. They told me I had kidney failure. They even went so far as to say that I needed to fill out my will and leave my kids to someone. I was terrified. My little sister was getting married. She offered to take the kids. I was angry because I wanted to be here when my kids grew up. I didn't receive that message. I looked that doctor right in the face and didn't move. He told me to come back in 3 days so we could start dialysis. They didn't know what was causing my kidney to do that. I told him I would come back after the weekend and be completely healed. He laughed at me. I didn't tell anyone. I went to church early on a Wednesday night. I was trying so hard not to fall apart. I started crying. My sister's inlaws came over and asked what was going on? I told them and I asked them not to tell our pastor. I wanted to see God heal me. There was an altar call that Sunday one day before my appointment. I went up with a whole line of people. As my pastor prayed that day, he went from one side running over to me. He started praying very passionately. He laid hands on me and anointed me with oil. He claimed that God was healing a left arterial bleed in my left kidney, he touched it and I felt the love of God flow through my whole body. I went back to that Doctor on Monday. He asked What did you do? I said I prayed and God healed me. He laughed said no, really what did you do? I prayed. A third time, "What did YOU DO?" I was agitated by this time, and said I prayed. He was shocked. He confirmed that my kidney was healed. I was so happy. Then, I had an ovarian cancer scare. The cells turned out to be noncancerous thanks to God. Years later, I started having migraines, total head to toe pain. I went to the doctor for several weeks due to weird pains in my head, neck, shoulders, legs, arms, knees. The doctor diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. I had to get off my birth control pills because they messed with my thyroid too bad. 6 months later, I was pregnant with fibromyalgia. Being pregnant with fibromyalgia was hard. I got severely depressed due to fluctuating hormones. I had to take a low dose of antidepressant. It worked. The last two months I was in pain and couldn't take anything. Labor was fairly normal. My little guy, James Isaac Dunn, was born April 3,2006 happy and healthy as he could be.He's still that way today. After I had Isaac, I was exhausted more than the other two times I had given birth. For 6 months, I got up every two hours to care for Isaac. It was hard. When I was awake, I'd cry because I hurt so bad. I never realized how it affected him until one day I laughed after being put on medication and it scared him. He had never seen his mommy smile. I got referred to a great Rheumatologist who is handling my care. I filled out a work at home request during that time to help financially. That started me on a journey like no other. I found a health and wellness company to work for I am very passionate about. Their nutritional products little by little helped me get moving and stay moving again. I'm so thankful for them. I had an 8 month remission of symptoms. I really thought I had received my total healing from the Lord but he had other plans. I was so mad when the pain returned and so was my doctor. He'd hoped we had found the cause of the illness. He put me on Lyrica which I was allergic to. We are now working on a combo to help stabilize my condition. I started working from home running my own business. I went to CafeMom to help find support from someone in our company to help teach me the ropes. Little did I know I was about to embark on an awesome adventure. I found a group on Cafe Mom that a lady named Marla Martindale created. We started emailing and really hit it off. We were unaware of what that was starting. lol.
She went to my cafemom profile page and found out we lived in the same town. We decided to meet for coffee. We hit it off and start talking. We do have a lot in common. She has RSD,fibromyalgia, full body Osteoporosis,and MS. She has become the only certified life coach in the world. She has decided to do her own talk show on BlogTalk Radio. Very cool. She called me up and asked me to be her first guest. I thought Cool. We did our first show two days ago. We have zero experience folks. NONE. We used our marketing skills we have learned from our company. We use free advertising anywhere we can make a friend and make a way. We were excited we had 3 listeners. We have found out that we actually had 12 and there were some celebrities that want to listen silently until they are comfortable to come out of the woodwork and be on the show. Very exciting. We did not do a test show at all. We just went live. It was so nerve racking but a blast! We shared our stories and went over what Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy was. Check out the recording. We got 53 downloads in 5 hours our first day! Yay!!! : ) We have scheduled more shows and even have a guest from Australia coming on the show. People are coming up all over the place. It is fun. We did a guest call in on a comedy show and shot a 30 soundbite for the show promoting our show. Thank you WoodShed Crew! Love Ya! It was a hoot! : ) We were up to 79 downloads as of 5pm yesterday. We are so thrilled! We are hoping to get a primetime slot to reach more people. We are hoping to raise awareness that these conditions are real. We want research funded, a cause found, and more effective treatments with less side effects. We hope to be on TV talk shows one day. : )
Please call in and show us some love!
She went to my cafemom profile page and found out we lived in the same town. We decided to meet for coffee. We hit it off and start talking. We do have a lot in common. She has RSD,fibromyalgia, full body Osteoporosis,and MS. She has become the only certified life coach in the world. She has decided to do her own talk show on BlogTalk Radio. Very cool. She called me up and asked me to be her first guest. I thought Cool. We did our first show two days ago. We have zero experience folks. NONE. We used our marketing skills we have learned from our company. We use free advertising anywhere we can make a friend and make a way. We were excited we had 3 listeners. We have found out that we actually had 12 and there were some celebrities that want to listen silently until they are comfortable to come out of the woodwork and be on the show. Very exciting. We did not do a test show at all. We just went live. It was so nerve racking but a blast! We shared our stories and went over what Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy was. Check out the recording. We got 53 downloads in 5 hours our first day! Yay!!! : ) We have scheduled more shows and even have a guest from Australia coming on the show. People are coming up all over the place. It is fun. We did a guest call in on a comedy show and shot a 30 soundbite for the show promoting our show. Thank you WoodShed Crew! Love Ya! It was a hoot! : ) We were up to 79 downloads as of 5pm yesterday. We are so thrilled! We are hoping to get a primetime slot to reach more people. We are hoping to raise awareness that these conditions are real. We want research funded, a cause found, and more effective treatments with less side effects. We hope to be on TV talk shows one day. : )
Please call in and show us some love!
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Alternative Medicine
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Alternative Health Research Report
An orange with a surgeon general's warningNatural Alternative Medicine
Researched and written by Brenda Templin
In this report, we take a look at why natural alternatives have a hard time getting a foothold in the marketplace, and why physicians are sometimes slow to recommend them.
A 60-year-old man recently came into my office, and happened to mention that he was about to begin dialysis. He had been on 9 different blood pressure medications, and now his kidneys were failing. I asked whether any of his doctors had ever spoken to him about diet and nutrition, and about making lifestyle changes. His answer was no. Why not?
A 79-year-old lady who was an RN for more than 38 years, and had additional alternative therapy training beyond her RN requirements, recently confided in me that she had secretly suggested lifestyle changes, recommended natural foods and dietary changes, and used alternative therapy as a hospital nurse. She chuckled and said she wasn't supposed to do that, but she always did whatever she thought was necessary to take care of her patients. Why did it have to be that way?
The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human body, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease."...Thomas Edison, 1902
Quick jump list to all the major sections:
* Biologically Based Natural Alternatives
* Vitamin Pioneers First Ignored
* Why Physicians Are Slow To Accept And Recommend Natural Alternatives
* Why Pharmaceutical Companies Don't Develop Natural Products
* Some Ancient Herbs Still In Use Today
* Comments From Your Researcher
Biologically Based Natural Alternatives
We have many different options for healthcare today, but I would like to focus on biologically based treatments and prevention. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) defines the scope of biologically based practices to include, but is not limited to, botanicals, animal-derived extracts, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, proteins, prebiotics and probiotics, whole diets, and functional foods.
But first, let’s take a look at the different philosophies of healthcare practiced today. Allopathic, alternative, complementary, integrative…what does it all mean? Each includes many different kinds of therapies, and although alternative, complementary and integrative are sometimes used interchangeably, the general focus of each is different.
* Allopathic medicine focuses on disease and the treatment of the physical body with drugs and surgery. These are conventional physicians with the title of M.D. that are universally recognized as having a medical degree.
* Alternative medicine includes those therapies not generally recommended by allopathic physicians. It includes Energy Medicine, Ethnomedicine, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Homeopathic Medicine, Botanical or Herbal Medicine, Biomolecular Medicine, Manual Medicine, Spiritual Medicine.
* Complementary medicine includes therapies used by both alternative and allopathic physicians. It includes Exercise Medicine, Environmental Medicine, Social Medicine, Nutritional Medicine.
* Integrative medicine is the attempt to integrate the many philosophies of medicine, allopathic, complementary, and alternative, to treat the whole person, physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual.1
Many people are hesitant about trusting their healthcare to anyone other than an allopathic physician. But did you know that Naturopathic Medical Doctors are the only physicians who receive complete training in conventional medicine as well as natural medicine? Licensed naturopathic medical doctors (N.M.D./N.D.) attend a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical school where they are educated in all of the same basic sciences as a conventional M.D. In addition to this training, they are extensively educated in the philosophy and implementation of safe and effective natural therapeutics with a strong emphasis on disease prevention.2 Unfortunately, some states do not yet offer licensing for Naturopathic Doctors.
Allopathic physicians and pharmaceutical drugs are, and always will be, necessary for acute, emergency medical care and trauma, as well as for conditions that cannot be controlled with lifestyle changes, good nutrition and supplements. But many conditions can be prevented and controlled with lifestyle changes and biologically based medicine. Just as many pharmaceutical drugs can interact with other drugs, some biologically based supplements may interact with drugs and cause side effects, so a healthcare provider should always be consulted before adding supplements to the diet. In some cases, alternative therapy may actually have beneficial synergistic effects in conjunction with existing medical therapy, even when not feasible as a replacement.
Biologically based medicine is not new. It was practiced for thousands of years before pharmaceutical companies began manufacturing the first synthetic drugs. In addition, many of the pharmaceutical preparations used around the world are based on plants. As late as the 1930's, the formulation of about 80% of synthetic pharmaceutical drugs began with a natural compound.3 Today, about 25% of prescription drugs contain active ingredients derived from plants.3
The United States has the most advanced medical system in the world, yet the population is increasingly turning to natural healing methods. However, the U.S. still lags behind world stats. A survey of 31,000 U.S. adults conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics in 2004 showed that 35 percent use some form of complementary and alternative medicine.4 Today, the World Health Organization estimates that herbal medicine is still the primary source of health care for approximately 80 percent of the world’s population.3, 5
Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. These diseases and other chronic diseases such as obesity, depression, metabolic and digestive disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and fibroids, account for 7 of every 10 deaths and affect the quality of life of 90 million Americans. Chronic diseases are among the most prevalent and most costly, yet they are the most preventable.6
Conventional physicians treat chronic diseases with expensive pharmaceuticals that may temporarily relieve the painful or uncomfortable symptoms, but the drugs do nothing to resolve the underlying cause, and may actually cause other side effects and serious problems. Because nutrition affects our immune system, organ function, hormonal balance and cellular metabolism, many of these chronic conditions and diseases can be traced to a nutrition deficiency. When the deficiency is not corrected, symptoms begin to appear and eventually lead to disease and premature aging.
Many pharmaceuticals can effectively be replaced with multivitamin supplements, botanicals, amino acids, prebiotics and probiotics, fresh foods and functional foods for both prevention and treatment. Because herbs work synergistically, combinations of herbs with similar properties enhance the properties of each. This is why choosing a product containing a combination of different herbs is usually more effective than choosing individual selections. An example of this is the combination of valerian, passion flower and hops to promote relaxation and restful sleep. All three have a relaxing effect on the body. Valerian relaxes muscle tension, while hops relaxes the nervous system, and passiflora acts as a sedative.
There is a misconception by some that nutritional supplements are not regulated. Before 1994, dietary supplements fell under the same regulations as food. With passage of the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act (DSHEA) in 1994, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was granted authority to ban products that are proven to be unsafe.7
The manufacture and sale of dietary supplements is actually regulated by quite a few government agencies. On the federal level, the FDA regulates product labeling and other safety and quality-related practices. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates advertising. Other federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) impact regulations. In addition, a growing number of state laws affect dietary supplements.
Research on dietary supplements spans the spectrum of basic to clinical research and includes ethnobotanical investigations, analytical research, and method development/validation, as well as bioavailability, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic studies. However, the basic and preclinical research is better delineated for supplements composed of single chemical constituents (e.g., vitamins and minerals) than for the more complex products (e.g., botanical extracts). There is an abundance of clinical research for all types of dietary supplements. Most of this research involves small phase II studies.8
1. Integrative Medicine: What is it? Victoria Rommel, M.D.
2. Naturopathic Medical Education & Training Chaney Integrative Family Medicine.
3. A short list of plant-based medicinal drugs. World Resources Institute.
4. More Than One-Third of U.S. Adults Use Complementary and Alternative Medicine, According to New Government Survey National Center for Health Statistics. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
5.pdf A Field Guide to Herbal Dietary Supplements Dietary Supplement Information Bureau. If you want to read this free 48-page review of herbal supplements, you'll need to provide your name and email address. (759 KB)
6. Chronic Disease Prevention National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Centers For Disease Control And Prevention.
7. Overview of Dietary Supplements U. S. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
8.pdf Biologically Based Practices:An Overview National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (371 KB)
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Vitamin Pioneers First Ignored
Drs. Wilfred and Evan Shute. In 1933 Drs. Wilfred and Evan Shute were some of the first doctors to use large doses of vitamin E to treat heart disease. At that time, antioxidants and free radicals were rather obscure concepts in the chemistry of oxidation, far removed from issues of health and disease. Also at that time, using vitamins to treat serious diseases such as heart disease and diabetes was considered by the medical establishment as misguided at best and outright fraud at worst.10
In 1985, Linus Pauling wrote: "The failure of the medical establishment during the last forty years to recognize the value of vitamin E in controlling heart disease is responsible for a tremendous amount of unnecessary suffering and for many early deaths. The interesting story of the efforts to suppress the Shute discoveries about vitamin E illustrates the shocking bias of organized medicine against nutritional measures for achieving improved health."10
Dr. Szent-Györgyi. Dr. Györgyi became interested in a chemical agent, present in plant juices, which had the effect of delaying oxidation, such as the browning of a sliced apple exposed to the air. He suggested that this agent, which was also present in cabbages and oranges, was the mysterious Vitamin. By 1933, he had isolated the substance in kilogram lots and named it "ascorbic acid" which means "the acid which prevents scurvy." In 1937, he won the 1937 Nobel Prize for his discovery of vitamin C. He was the first to predict the use of Vitamin C for cancer.10
Irwin Stone, Ph.D. Irwin Stone became interested in the anti-oxidant properties of ascorbic acid, then newly discovered, as a means of protecting food against deterioration. He continued his study of vitamin C for the next 50 years, and in the 1950s he established that humans would benefit from ingesting much larger amounts of ascorbates than the medical and nutritional establishments considered adequate.10
Dr. Fredrick Klenner. "In the early 1950s, Dr. Fredrick Klenner began his work with megadoses of vitamin C. He used doses up to 100 grams per day orally or intravenously. In clinical reports he recorded the excellent response he saw when it was given in large doses. For example, polio patients given vitamin C suffered no residual defects from their polio. A controlled study in England on 70 children, half given vitamin C and half given placebo, confirmed that none of the ascorbate treated cases developed any paralysis while up to 20 percent of the untreated group did. This study was not published because the Salk Vaccine had just been developed and no one was interested in vitamins. Dr. Klenner's work was ignored."10
Dr. Klenner was the first physician to emphasize that small amounts of ascorbate do not work. He said, "If you want results, use adequate ascorbic acid." As a result of seeing consistent cures of a great variety of viral and bacterial diseases with huge doses of vitamin C, he published over twenty medical reports. Orthodox medicine's rejection of his lifesaving work stands as a reminder to all medical mavericks practicing today. "Some physicians," Klenner wrote, "would stand by and see their patient die rather than use ascorbic acid because, in their finite minds, it exists only as a vitamin."10
Dr. William J. McCormick. Over 50 years ago, it was Toronto physician William J. McCormick, M.D., who pioneered the idea that poor collagen formation, due to vitamin C deficiency, was a principal cause of diverse conditions ranging from stretch marks to cardiovascular disease and cancer. This theory would become the foundation for Linus Pauling and Ewan Cameron's decision to employ large doses of vitamin C to fight cancer.10
Over twenty years before Pauling, McCormick had already reviewed the nutritional causes of heart disease and noted that four out of five coronary cases in hospital show vitamin C deficiency. McCormick also early proposed vitamin C deficiency as the essential cause of, and effective cure for, numerous communicable illnesses, becoming an early advocate of using vitamin C as an antiviral and an antibiotic. Modern writers often pass by the fact that McCormick actually advocated vitamin C to prevent and cure the formation of some kidney stones as far back as 1946.10
Linus Pauling, Ph.D. It was two-time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling who coined the term "orthomolecular." Orthomolecular medicine describes the practice of preventing and treating disease by providing the body with optimal amounts of substances which are natural to the body. Pauling identified sickle-cell anemia as the first molecular disease and subsequently laid the foundation for molecular biology, and then developed a theory that explained the molecular basis of vitamin therapy. Irwin Stone first introduced Pauling to Vitamin C, recommending 3,000mg a day, which was 50 times the RDA. Pauling and his wife began taking this amount, the severe colds that he had suffered from several times a year all his life no longer occurred. After a few years he increased his intake of vitamin C to 100 times, then 200 times, and then 300 times the RDA (now 18,000 mg per day). Pauling lived to be 93.
"Professor Pauling, as always, is ahead of his time. The latest research on vitamin C substantiates his twenty-five years of advocacy and investigation on the benefits of vitamin C.", said J. Daniel Kanofsky, MD, MPH, Albert Einstein College of Medicine.10
Dr. Josef Issels. Because of his well-known professional skills, his kindness, and relatively high rate of survivors, many cancer patients in the terminal stage came to consult German Dr. Josef Issels. In 1951, one wealthy and grateful patient funded his private clinic, where he continued his successful work until 1960, when he was arrested by the German 'Kriminalpolizei' on the instigation of his medical opponents. He had to close down his clinic for years, in spite of a report from an independent scientist who had concluded that, of 252 terminal cancer patients with histologically proved metastases, 42 had survived for at least five years (17%) with the Issels therapy. For terminal patients, such a score is disproportionately high.10
Issels believed that cancer was the end stage, the ultimate symptom, of a lifetime of immune system damage which had created an environment for the tumor to grow. He argued that conventional therapy just looked at the tumor without recognizing this longtime preconditioning period. Dr. Issels saw the body as having great potential to heal itself. Good nutrition and a clean environment were central to his therapy.10
In the end, Issels was proven to be right. From 1967 to 1970, Professor J. Anderson of King's College Hospital and member of the World Health Organization inspected Issels' reopened clinic. He confirmed the highly significant survival rate of Issels' terminal cancer patients. His legacy is continued by the work of his wife, Ilsa and his son Christian.10
Dr. William Kaufman. Dr. Kaufman was among the very first physicians to therapeutically employ megadoses of vitamin B3 (niacin, or niacinamide). He prescribed as much as 5,000 mg of niacinamide daily, in many divided doses, to dramatically improve and restore range of joint motion in arthritic patients. Kaufman said, "I noted that niacinamide (alone or combined with other vitamins) in a thousand patient-years of use has caused no adverse side effects."
Over 50 years ago, Kaufman showed remarkable foresight half a century into the future of orthomolecular medicine, describing how the lack of a just a single nutrient can cause diverse diseases, including what is now known as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.10
Emanuel Cheraskin, MD, DMD. Dr. Cheraskin was among the very first to recognize and demonstrate that oral health indicates total body health. "Health is the fastest growing failing business in western civilization," he said. "Why is it so many of us are 40 going on 70, and so few 70 going on 40?" The answer, he said, was our neglect of the paramount value of nutrition, an educational deficiency that Dr. Cheraskin devoted a lifetime to eradicating.10
Hugh Desaix Riordan, M.D. Hugh Riordan was one of the most knowledgeable, both as a maverick par excellence and as an historian of mavericks. Hugh was an orthomolecular fighter, who fought hard and consistently on behalf of orthomolecular concepts. He was challenged legally when he wanted to treat his patients with high dose vitamins in the hospital. He won. He was the first to demonstrate how large doses of vitamin C are chemotherapeutic for cancer patients. His main work had to do with the schizophrenic syndrome and with the treatment of cancer using nontoxic vitamin C chemotherapy. Hugh was the leader in making available to cancer patients a treatment that is effective, safe, economical and very tolerable.10
Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Abram Hoffer has spent the past five decades conducting research related to the practice of orthomolecular medicine, which emphasizes the use of nutrients in optimum doses for the treatment of a wide range of diseases.10
In 1952, Dr. Hoffer and his colleagues began developing a more effective treatment for schizophrenia that involved a biochemical hypothesis. They tried two nutrients: vitamin C and vitamin B3. He found that we could halve the two-year recovery rate of patients just by adding these vitamins to the program. This was the first major systematic attempt to use large dosages of vitamins therapeutically. In 1955 he also discovered that niacin lowered cholesterol levels.10
These pioneers and others were first ridiculed, and were ignored by the medical establishment, but were eventually proven to be right.
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. ...Arthur Schopenhauer
10. Orthomolecular History Orthomolecular.org
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Why Physicians Are Slow To Accept And Recommend Natural Alternatives
Not one death was caused by vitamin supplements in 2005 (as reported by the American Association of Poison Control Centers) (588 KB PDF)
It's estimated that over 106,000 hospital deaths per year (one every 5 minutes) are caused by properly prescribed drugs.
Journal of the American Medical Association
So why are physicians slow to recommend natural alternatives?
Five of the ten leading causes of death in the United States are directly related to lack of proper nutrition. Yet most physicians receive very little, if any, formal training in nutrition. During the 1970s and early 1980s, no medical school in the U.S. required students to take a nutrition class. As of 1985, only two medical schools taught 25 hours or more of courses in nutrition.
* 1977 Survey: Physicians score 65% on nutrition test questions
* 1989 Survey: Physicians score 69% on nutrition test questions
* 1988 Tests: Medical school students rated as unsatisfactory in nutrition knowledge. Senior medical students scored an average of 69%.
* 1995 Survey: Physicians correctly answer questions on drug-nutrient interaction 61% of the time.
You might be surprised to learn, as I was, that examination of the most commonly used biochemistry textbooks in medical schools during the 1920s and 1930s reveals that food and nutrition were emphasized. In fact, out of 16 chapters in Meyer Bodansky's 1927 Introduction to Physiology Chemistry, three chapters described the chemistry of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Two described digestion and absorption, four described intermediary metabolism, one described animal calorimetry, and one described animal nutrition. In 1934, Bodansky expanded the textbook by 200 pages, and expanded the nutrition section to include a discussion of protein requirements, the indispensability of fat, and the role of vitamins. Since his first edition, ascorbic acid had been isolated and synthesized, linoleic acid was identified as an essential fatty acid, and other vitamins and trace elements were shown to be essential to the diet.
During the early 1900s, researchers discovered evidence for the importance of specific components of foods in maintaining health and in curing or preventing many recently identified deficiency diseases. For two decades, the pioneering work on vitamins and the discovery of essential nutrients and their relationship to the prevention of deficiency diseases led to a rapidly growing interest in experimental and clinical nutrition. Other important research during the first two decades of the 1900s included the now classic epidemiological studies of Goldberger, the determination of energy values for carbohydrates, fats, and proteins by Atwater, and Elmer McCollum's early work with vitamins, and later, trace minerals.
Early in the 20th century, scientific principles of nutrition were widely taught in the medical schools of the United States. Later, as research in nutrition declined, there was a parallel decline of interest in nutrition education. Today, specific courses that teach the science of nutrition are found only in a few medical schools.
The Golden Age Of Nutrition. During the 1920s and 1930s, the biochemical and clinical aspects of nutrition was being widely taught in medical schools. New organizations were formed to foster nutrition education, and to encourage the application of nutrition principles in medical practice. The AMA reported that all medical schools except three taught biochemistry during the first year, and the remaining three taught it in the second year. Faculty in biochemistry, pediatrics, physiology, medicine, and pathology presented basic and applied concepts of nutrition to first and second-year medical students. That era became known as the "Golden Age of Nutrition."
Decline of the Golden Age. Then, in 1948 a vitamin found to protect against pernicious anemia was simultaneously isolated in the United Kingdom and the United States. In 1949, the vitamin was identified and accepted as Vitamin B12, but about this time, concern for deficiency diseases diminished since they ceased to be a major problem in the U.S. With the advances in food technology and fortified foods, scientists shifted their focus away from nutrition. Nutritional problems no longer offered the same challenge, and biochemists, once deeply concerned with nutritional problems, shifted their focus to the molecular basis of gene structure and enzyme and endocrine function. This was the end of the Golden Age Of Nutrition.
During the 1950s and 1960s, nutrition became a low priority, and was no longer an important part of the medical curriculum. Although the political climate during the late 1960s and 1970s prompted a heightened awareness of existing malnutrition, hunger and chronic disease in the U.S., and advances have been made toward educating physicians in nutrition and the prevention of disease, most physicians are still inadequately trained in medical schools today.
For decades, the role of nutritional alternatives in the treatment of disease was considered unscientific. It has been only in the past two decades that the medical community recognized that many of the diseases common in older people can be tied to nutritional deficiencies. Medical professionals now accept that nutrition is a factor in the onset and the progression of hypertension, strokes, heart attacks, obesity-related disorders, type II diabetes, and some forms of cancer. But too many know only how to treat the symptoms of these degenerative diseases with conventional pharmaceutical drugs, and because of lack of training in nutritional science, do not have enough confidence to advise patients about natural alternatives.
The focus of allopathic medicine has been on giving general advice about eating more fresh fruit and vegetables, reducing salt intake, increasing dietary fiber, lowering blood cholesterol and body fat, along with treating disease. Too few doctors were offered enough nutritional science training in medical school to understand the fundamental role that vitamins, minerals, and herbs play in the prevention of disease and maintaining good health.
Another reason doctors are hesitant about recommending supplements is their concern that patients will use them as a substitute for regular medical care and good diet instead of as intended, to supplement the diet along with lifestyle changes. Another common objection to natural medicine is the lack of long-term safety studies, even though natural herbal compounds have been safely used for centuries, and hundreds of studies are being done.
Physicians have little to no support from policy makers and enforcers, and are discouraged from practicing any form of medicine perceived by medical boards as being unconventional. For fear of losing their medical license after many years of specialized training, some simply choose not to make recommendations, even though they take supplements themselves. Some will give handouts about nutrition so the patient can draw their own conclusions, but will decline to make recommendations.
Folic acid is a good example. Back in 1985, it was documented that folic acid seemed to prevent neural tube birth defects. Further documentation showed that folic acid at dosages needed to prevent neural tube defects had been used by pregnant women in the past without incident. Some physicians reasoned that if folic acid might prevent some birth defects, it had no risks at dosages needed to do so, and the cost was minimal, then why not recommend it. But according to Dr. Alan Christianson, other doctors stuck in the "reactionary new drug=side effects mode automatically rejected this stance." 11
Some researchers estimate that over 200,000 cases of neural tube birth defects could have been prevented if doctors had not waited so long to recommend it.
"When therapies offer no harm and much possible benefit, why not give them a chance before those with definite harm?" 11
Fast forward to 2004. A new survey published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition re-examined the state of nutrition education in 106 medical schools. The results: As of 2004, almost 60 percent of the US medical schools still do not meet recommendations for nutrition education for med students.
March 2007. It's been almost a century since the science of nutrition was heavily taught in medical schools. One hundred and six thousand (one every 5 minutes) are dying each year in the U.S. from properly prescribed drugs. That is twice as many deaths in a single year from properly prescribed drugs as the total number of U.S. deaths from the Vietnam War. Many of these were being treated for conditions that could have been prevented with proper nutrition and natural supplementation.
Dr. Carrie Carter, M.D. is an allopathic physician who does realize the need for supplementing our diet. What You Need to Know About Supplements, a selection from her book, Woman's Guide To Good Health, gives some good advice on how to choose a supplement. Dr. Carter notes that it is a common practice to pick and choose single nutrients to supplement, but recommends not doing this because vitamins and minerals work together to maintain healthy function in your cells, and it's important to maintain the proper balance of nutrients. Instead, she recommends taking a balanced vitamin and mineral supplement.12
Dr. Carter says, "It is best to not only select a balanced vitamin and mineral supplement but ideally one that pays some attention to the plight of poor minerals and their poor absorption history. In some of the higher quality/higher priced combination supplements, this need is addressed by including minerals that have been changed to a state that is easier to absorb. One such product is the Vitality Pack by Melaleuca: The Wellness Company, which uses a patented process called ‘‘fructose compounding’’ to attach the minerals to fructose molecules, which helps the minerals to be absorbed inside the body." She notes that it is wise to be cautious about overloading your body with nutrients, but says most vitamins and minerals are not harmful in amounts that far exceed the Daily Recommended Intake (DRI), and many studies show that many nutrients at higher than DRI levels may decrease the development of degenerative diseases.12
ConsumerLabs.com tested many different supplements and listed those that met their criteria, but they tested only supplements that met the DRI. Dr. Carter explained that supplements exceeding the DRI level in amounts that may decrease the development of degenerative diseases were not tested, which explains why these supplements did not appear on their list. She also noted that Melaleuca's Vitality Pack is one of two supplements she has personally had positive experience with.12
11. Ask the Doctor Why and Which Vitamin & Herbal Supplements are Important Dr. Alan Christianson
12. What You Need to Know About Supplements CBN.com. A Woman's Guide to Good Health. Dr. Carrie Carter, M.D.
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Why Pharmaceutical Companies Don't Develop Natural Products
prescription pills and money
The short answer to this question is that manufacturing of natural supplements is not cost effective for pharmaceutical companies because natural plants in their whole form are not subject to patent protection.
University of Montana pharmaceutical sciences Professor Rustem Medora points out the complexity of plants. “Plants can contain tens, hundreds, even thousands of chemical compounds that act on biological systems in various ways,” Medora says. “It can be very time-consuming testing each extract for activity and then finding out what specific component or components are causing the pharmacological effects.” 13
Although many drugs begin with a natural plant, their structure is changed through genetic engineering or chemical processes to break the plant down into many components and isolating active ingredients of the plant. Since the structure is then changed, they can patent the final product as a drug, giving them exclusive rights to the product for 20 years.
An example of a drug whose origin was a plant is aspirin. Aspirin originally was derived by boiling the bark of the white willow tree. It was synthesized from salicylic acid, one of the ingredients in willow bark. Following the advent of synthetic salicylate, Felix Hoffman, working at the Bayer company in Germany, made the acetylated form of salicylic acid in 1897. This drug was named “Aspirin” and became the most widely used medicine of all time.14, 15
The use of willow bark dates back to the time of Hippocrates (400 BC) when patients were advised to chew on the bark to reduce fever and inflammation. It has been used throughout the centuries in China and Europe, and continues to be used by herbalists today for the treatment of fever, pain (particularly low back pain), headache, and inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. Although the bark of the white willow is most commonly used medicinally, the bark of related species, such as black willow, have been shown to have the same beneficial effects.16
To manufacture a product containing the natural substance such as willow bark without chemically modifying it would not be cost effective for the pharmaceutical company since other companies could copy the formula and market an identical product.
13. Plant Detective: Snooping Around In Nature's Pharmacopeia University of Montana. Research View. Caroline Lupfer Kurtz.
14. The mechanism of action of aspirin Thrombosis Research. Volume 110, Issues 5-6 , 15 June 2003, Pages 255-258.
15. Willow Bark Drugs.com Drug Information Online.
16. Willow Bark University of Maryland Medical Center.
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A Few Ancient Herbs Still In Use Today
Here are just three examples of herbs that have been clinically researched in the modern day and have also been in medical use for centuries.
Valerian. Valerian was used by the Greek physician Galen (est. 130 A.D.-200 A.D.) for treatment of epilepsy in children and adults. He took it himself and claimed it completely restored his health. This generated interest in using the plant as a sedative, and during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries valerian was used to relieve spasms, and as a sleep aid. Valerian was even an official remedy in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from 1820 to 19365, 17 and official in the National Formulary from 1888-1946.17 Today it is generally used for the treatment of acute insomnia, alone and in combination with other herbs. In Europe, it is widely used as a mild nerve sedative and sleep aid for insomnia, excitability, and exhaustion. Given its history of use, positive pharmacological, chemical and clinical studies, and its wide therapeutic use as a sleep aid particularly in Europe, valerian is one of the most accepted phytomedicines from a scientific and clinical viewpoint.5
Echinacea. Echinacea was used by Native Americans for more medicinal purposes than they did any other plant. It entered formal medicine in 1895, becoming the best-selling American medicinal plant prescribed by physicians into the 1920s, and although it was later replaced by antibiotics in the U.S., it has remained a popular medication in Europe. In 1993, German physicians prescribed echinacea more than 2.5 million times. Herbalists have traditionally used it as a blood purifier and to aid in fighting infections.5
Today most consumers use echinacea to avoid colds and other upper respiratory tract infections and to help heal infections. It enhances the particle ingestion capacity of white blood cells and other specialized immune system cells, thus increasing their ability to attack foreign invaders, such as cold or flu viruses. Over two-dozen clinical studies have investigated the therapeutic benefits and safety of various echinacea species, plant parts, types of preparations and dosage regimes.
A recent study found that echinacea may also induce an immune response by stimulating an increase in white blood cell activity and counts. An antioxidant effect was also observed.4,5 Besides stimulating a healthy immune system to deal more effectively with invading viruses, it helps accelerate healing if infection already exists. Another recent meta-analysis of echinacea preparations findings supports the results of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials that report the efficacy of echinacea preparations for the prevention of spontaneous colds.18, 19
Ginkgo biloba. The ginkgo is the oldest living tree species known, and individual trees may live as long as 1,000 years. It has been used for more than 4,000 years for food and medicine, and traditional Chinese herbalists still use the plant for treatment of asthma, bronchitis, and brain disorders.20
Ginkgo contains compounds that absorb toxic chemicals, preventing cell damage, and it is believed that its antioxidant action is a major contributor to its anti-aging benefits. By preventing free radical damage, ginkgo appears to stabilize cell membranes and render blood vessel walls and red blood cells more flexible, improving the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain, limbs, and other areas supplied by tiny capillaries, such as the eyes and ears. By thus enhancing microcirculation, ginkgo can improve a variety of brain functions, including memory, concentration, and problem-solving.20
Primary uses today are for improvement of memory and other cognitive functions, enhancing circulation to the brain, heart, limbs, ears and eyes, reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease, treating cerebral insufficiency, senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease, peripheral arterial disease, and certain eye and ear disorders, and as a potent antioxidant.20
Ginkgo is one of the most extensively studied herbs. Over three hundred scientific studies on the chemistry, pharmacology and clinical effects of gingko leaf have been conducted by European researchers.21
In a placebo-controlled, double-blind, 52-week trial involving 202 patients with mild-to-severe dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease or multi-infarct dementia, stabilization or improvements were seen in a number of daily living and cognitive functions. The researchers stated that benefits could be equated with a "six month delay in the progression" of Alzheimer's disease.20, 22
A 1988 placebo-controlled, double-blind study involving 166 patients over the age of 60, results "confirmed the efficacy of ginkgo extract in cerebral disorders due to aging" after three months of treatment. Patients most affected by disease appeared to benefit most from ginkgo.20, 23
In 1994, significant improvements in mental performance, including short-term memory and concentration, were seen after 6 weeks of treatment with standardized ginkgo extract in a placebo-controlled double-blind trial involving 90 patients with cerebral insufficiency.20
17. Valerian American Botanical Council.
18. Echinacea intake induces an immune response through altered expression of leucocyte hsp70, increased white cell counts and improved erythrocyte antioxidant defences Journal of Clinical Pharmacy & Therapeutics, Volume 30, Number 4, August 2005, pp. 363-369(7).
19. Echinacea in the prevention of induced rhinovirus colds: a meta-analysis Clin Ther. 2006 Feb;28(2):174-83.
20. Ginkgo biloba
The Herb Research Foundation: Herb Information Greenpaper. Evelyn Leigh.
21. Ginkgo
Steven Foster Group. Steven Foster.
22. A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of an extract of Ginkgo biloba for dementia
JAMA. 1997 Oct 22-29;278(16):1327-32.
23. Treatment of cerebral aging disorders with Ginkgo biloba extract. A longitudinal multicenter double-blind drug vs. placebo study
Presse Med. 1986 Sep 25;15(31):1583-7.
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Comments From Your Researcher
As consumers, we need to educate ourselves about nutritional supplements for prevention of disease and maintaining health. When choosing a nutritional supplement, we need to make sure the company uses 100% pure standardized extracts of the highest quality available, and we need to be sure that the supplements are formulated to be bioactive so that our bodies can effectively recognize, absorb, and utilize the nutrients. We need to make sure that ingredients in the supplement are in proper proportions to work synergistically with the other ingredients.
Before taking FDA approved drugs, we need to educate ourselves about how the drugs affect our health beyond relieving the symptoms of disease, and we need to educate ourselves about non-toxic alternative therapies that treat the whole person and the disease…not just the symptoms.
—Brenda Templin
March 2007
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Alternative Health Research Report
An orange with a surgeon general's warningNatural Alternative Medicine
Researched and written by Brenda Templin
In this report, we take a look at why natural alternatives have a hard time getting a foothold in the marketplace, and why physicians are sometimes slow to recommend them.
A 60-year-old man recently came into my office, and happened to mention that he was about to begin dialysis. He had been on 9 different blood pressure medications, and now his kidneys were failing. I asked whether any of his doctors had ever spoken to him about diet and nutrition, and about making lifestyle changes. His answer was no. Why not?
A 79-year-old lady who was an RN for more than 38 years, and had additional alternative therapy training beyond her RN requirements, recently confided in me that she had secretly suggested lifestyle changes, recommended natural foods and dietary changes, and used alternative therapy as a hospital nurse. She chuckled and said she wasn't supposed to do that, but she always did whatever she thought was necessary to take care of her patients. Why did it have to be that way?
The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human body, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease."...Thomas Edison, 1902
Quick jump list to all the major sections:
* Biologically Based Natural Alternatives
* Vitamin Pioneers First Ignored
* Why Physicians Are Slow To Accept And Recommend Natural Alternatives
* Why Pharmaceutical Companies Don't Develop Natural Products
* Some Ancient Herbs Still In Use Today
* Comments From Your Researcher
Biologically Based Natural Alternatives
We have many different options for healthcare today, but I would like to focus on biologically based treatments and prevention. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) defines the scope of biologically based practices to include, but is not limited to, botanicals, animal-derived extracts, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, proteins, prebiotics and probiotics, whole diets, and functional foods.
But first, let’s take a look at the different philosophies of healthcare practiced today. Allopathic, alternative, complementary, integrative…what does it all mean? Each includes many different kinds of therapies, and although alternative, complementary and integrative are sometimes used interchangeably, the general focus of each is different.
* Allopathic medicine focuses on disease and the treatment of the physical body with drugs and surgery. These are conventional physicians with the title of M.D. that are universally recognized as having a medical degree.
* Alternative medicine includes those therapies not generally recommended by allopathic physicians. It includes Energy Medicine, Ethnomedicine, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Homeopathic Medicine, Botanical or Herbal Medicine, Biomolecular Medicine, Manual Medicine, Spiritual Medicine.
* Complementary medicine includes therapies used by both alternative and allopathic physicians. It includes Exercise Medicine, Environmental Medicine, Social Medicine, Nutritional Medicine.
* Integrative medicine is the attempt to integrate the many philosophies of medicine, allopathic, complementary, and alternative, to treat the whole person, physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual.1
Many people are hesitant about trusting their healthcare to anyone other than an allopathic physician. But did you know that Naturopathic Medical Doctors are the only physicians who receive complete training in conventional medicine as well as natural medicine? Licensed naturopathic medical doctors (N.M.D./N.D.) attend a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical school where they are educated in all of the same basic sciences as a conventional M.D. In addition to this training, they are extensively educated in the philosophy and implementation of safe and effective natural therapeutics with a strong emphasis on disease prevention.2 Unfortunately, some states do not yet offer licensing for Naturopathic Doctors.
Allopathic physicians and pharmaceutical drugs are, and always will be, necessary for acute, emergency medical care and trauma, as well as for conditions that cannot be controlled with lifestyle changes, good nutrition and supplements. But many conditions can be prevented and controlled with lifestyle changes and biologically based medicine. Just as many pharmaceutical drugs can interact with other drugs, some biologically based supplements may interact with drugs and cause side effects, so a healthcare provider should always be consulted before adding supplements to the diet. In some cases, alternative therapy may actually have beneficial synergistic effects in conjunction with existing medical therapy, even when not feasible as a replacement.
Biologically based medicine is not new. It was practiced for thousands of years before pharmaceutical companies began manufacturing the first synthetic drugs. In addition, many of the pharmaceutical preparations used around the world are based on plants. As late as the 1930's, the formulation of about 80% of synthetic pharmaceutical drugs began with a natural compound.3 Today, about 25% of prescription drugs contain active ingredients derived from plants.3
The United States has the most advanced medical system in the world, yet the population is increasingly turning to natural healing methods. However, the U.S. still lags behind world stats. A survey of 31,000 U.S. adults conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics in 2004 showed that 35 percent use some form of complementary and alternative medicine.4 Today, the World Health Organization estimates that herbal medicine is still the primary source of health care for approximately 80 percent of the world’s population.3, 5
Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. These diseases and other chronic diseases such as obesity, depression, metabolic and digestive disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and fibroids, account for 7 of every 10 deaths and affect the quality of life of 90 million Americans. Chronic diseases are among the most prevalent and most costly, yet they are the most preventable.6
Conventional physicians treat chronic diseases with expensive pharmaceuticals that may temporarily relieve the painful or uncomfortable symptoms, but the drugs do nothing to resolve the underlying cause, and may actually cause other side effects and serious problems. Because nutrition affects our immune system, organ function, hormonal balance and cellular metabolism, many of these chronic conditions and diseases can be traced to a nutrition deficiency. When the deficiency is not corrected, symptoms begin to appear and eventually lead to disease and premature aging.
Many pharmaceuticals can effectively be replaced with multivitamin supplements, botanicals, amino acids, prebiotics and probiotics, fresh foods and functional foods for both prevention and treatment. Because herbs work synergistically, combinations of herbs with similar properties enhance the properties of each. This is why choosing a product containing a combination of different herbs is usually more effective than choosing individual selections. An example of this is the combination of valerian, passion flower and hops to promote relaxation and restful sleep. All three have a relaxing effect on the body. Valerian relaxes muscle tension, while hops relaxes the nervous system, and passiflora acts as a sedative.
There is a misconception by some that nutritional supplements are not regulated. Before 1994, dietary supplements fell under the same regulations as food. With passage of the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act (DSHEA) in 1994, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was granted authority to ban products that are proven to be unsafe.7
The manufacture and sale of dietary supplements is actually regulated by quite a few government agencies. On the federal level, the FDA regulates product labeling and other safety and quality-related practices. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates advertising. Other federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) impact regulations. In addition, a growing number of state laws affect dietary supplements.
Research on dietary supplements spans the spectrum of basic to clinical research and includes ethnobotanical investigations, analytical research, and method development/validation, as well as bioavailability, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic studies. However, the basic and preclinical research is better delineated for supplements composed of single chemical constituents (e.g., vitamins and minerals) than for the more complex products (e.g., botanical extracts). There is an abundance of clinical research for all types of dietary supplements. Most of this research involves small phase II studies.8
1. Integrative Medicine: What is it? Victoria Rommel, M.D.
2. Naturopathic Medical Education & Training Chaney Integrative Family Medicine.
3. A short list of plant-based medicinal drugs. World Resources Institute.
4. More Than One-Third of U.S. Adults Use Complementary and Alternative Medicine, According to New Government Survey National Center for Health Statistics. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
5.pdf A Field Guide to Herbal Dietary Supplements Dietary Supplement Information Bureau. If you want to read this free 48-page review of herbal supplements, you'll need to provide your name and email address. (759 KB)
6. Chronic Disease Prevention National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Centers For Disease Control And Prevention.
7. Overview of Dietary Supplements U. S. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
8.pdf Biologically Based Practices:An Overview National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (371 KB)
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Vitamin Pioneers First Ignored
Drs. Wilfred and Evan Shute. In 1933 Drs. Wilfred and Evan Shute were some of the first doctors to use large doses of vitamin E to treat heart disease. At that time, antioxidants and free radicals were rather obscure concepts in the chemistry of oxidation, far removed from issues of health and disease. Also at that time, using vitamins to treat serious diseases such as heart disease and diabetes was considered by the medical establishment as misguided at best and outright fraud at worst.10
In 1985, Linus Pauling wrote: "The failure of the medical establishment during the last forty years to recognize the value of vitamin E in controlling heart disease is responsible for a tremendous amount of unnecessary suffering and for many early deaths. The interesting story of the efforts to suppress the Shute discoveries about vitamin E illustrates the shocking bias of organized medicine against nutritional measures for achieving improved health."10
Dr. Szent-Györgyi. Dr. Györgyi became interested in a chemical agent, present in plant juices, which had the effect of delaying oxidation, such as the browning of a sliced apple exposed to the air. He suggested that this agent, which was also present in cabbages and oranges, was the mysterious Vitamin. By 1933, he had isolated the substance in kilogram lots and named it "ascorbic acid" which means "the acid which prevents scurvy." In 1937, he won the 1937 Nobel Prize for his discovery of vitamin C. He was the first to predict the use of Vitamin C for cancer.10
Irwin Stone, Ph.D. Irwin Stone became interested in the anti-oxidant properties of ascorbic acid, then newly discovered, as a means of protecting food against deterioration. He continued his study of vitamin C for the next 50 years, and in the 1950s he established that humans would benefit from ingesting much larger amounts of ascorbates than the medical and nutritional establishments considered adequate.10
Dr. Fredrick Klenner. "In the early 1950s, Dr. Fredrick Klenner began his work with megadoses of vitamin C. He used doses up to 100 grams per day orally or intravenously. In clinical reports he recorded the excellent response he saw when it was given in large doses. For example, polio patients given vitamin C suffered no residual defects from their polio. A controlled study in England on 70 children, half given vitamin C and half given placebo, confirmed that none of the ascorbate treated cases developed any paralysis while up to 20 percent of the untreated group did. This study was not published because the Salk Vaccine had just been developed and no one was interested in vitamins. Dr. Klenner's work was ignored."10
Dr. Klenner was the first physician to emphasize that small amounts of ascorbate do not work. He said, "If you want results, use adequate ascorbic acid." As a result of seeing consistent cures of a great variety of viral and bacterial diseases with huge doses of vitamin C, he published over twenty medical reports. Orthodox medicine's rejection of his lifesaving work stands as a reminder to all medical mavericks practicing today. "Some physicians," Klenner wrote, "would stand by and see their patient die rather than use ascorbic acid because, in their finite minds, it exists only as a vitamin."10
Dr. William J. McCormick. Over 50 years ago, it was Toronto physician William J. McCormick, M.D., who pioneered the idea that poor collagen formation, due to vitamin C deficiency, was a principal cause of diverse conditions ranging from stretch marks to cardiovascular disease and cancer. This theory would become the foundation for Linus Pauling and Ewan Cameron's decision to employ large doses of vitamin C to fight cancer.10
Over twenty years before Pauling, McCormick had already reviewed the nutritional causes of heart disease and noted that four out of five coronary cases in hospital show vitamin C deficiency. McCormick also early proposed vitamin C deficiency as the essential cause of, and effective cure for, numerous communicable illnesses, becoming an early advocate of using vitamin C as an antiviral and an antibiotic. Modern writers often pass by the fact that McCormick actually advocated vitamin C to prevent and cure the formation of some kidney stones as far back as 1946.10
Linus Pauling, Ph.D. It was two-time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling who coined the term "orthomolecular." Orthomolecular medicine describes the practice of preventing and treating disease by providing the body with optimal amounts of substances which are natural to the body. Pauling identified sickle-cell anemia as the first molecular disease and subsequently laid the foundation for molecular biology, and then developed a theory that explained the molecular basis of vitamin therapy. Irwin Stone first introduced Pauling to Vitamin C, recommending 3,000mg a day, which was 50 times the RDA. Pauling and his wife began taking this amount, the severe colds that he had suffered from several times a year all his life no longer occurred. After a few years he increased his intake of vitamin C to 100 times, then 200 times, and then 300 times the RDA (now 18,000 mg per day). Pauling lived to be 93.
"Professor Pauling, as always, is ahead of his time. The latest research on vitamin C substantiates his twenty-five years of advocacy and investigation on the benefits of vitamin C.", said J. Daniel Kanofsky, MD, MPH, Albert Einstein College of Medicine.10
Dr. Josef Issels. Because of his well-known professional skills, his kindness, and relatively high rate of survivors, many cancer patients in the terminal stage came to consult German Dr. Josef Issels. In 1951, one wealthy and grateful patient funded his private clinic, where he continued his successful work until 1960, when he was arrested by the German 'Kriminalpolizei' on the instigation of his medical opponents. He had to close down his clinic for years, in spite of a report from an independent scientist who had concluded that, of 252 terminal cancer patients with histologically proved metastases, 42 had survived for at least five years (17%) with the Issels therapy. For terminal patients, such a score is disproportionately high.10
Issels believed that cancer was the end stage, the ultimate symptom, of a lifetime of immune system damage which had created an environment for the tumor to grow. He argued that conventional therapy just looked at the tumor without recognizing this longtime preconditioning period. Dr. Issels saw the body as having great potential to heal itself. Good nutrition and a clean environment were central to his therapy.10
In the end, Issels was proven to be right. From 1967 to 1970, Professor J. Anderson of King's College Hospital and member of the World Health Organization inspected Issels' reopened clinic. He confirmed the highly significant survival rate of Issels' terminal cancer patients. His legacy is continued by the work of his wife, Ilsa and his son Christian.10
Dr. William Kaufman. Dr. Kaufman was among the very first physicians to therapeutically employ megadoses of vitamin B3 (niacin, or niacinamide). He prescribed as much as 5,000 mg of niacinamide daily, in many divided doses, to dramatically improve and restore range of joint motion in arthritic patients. Kaufman said, "I noted that niacinamide (alone or combined with other vitamins) in a thousand patient-years of use has caused no adverse side effects."
Over 50 years ago, Kaufman showed remarkable foresight half a century into the future of orthomolecular medicine, describing how the lack of a just a single nutrient can cause diverse diseases, including what is now known as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.10
Emanuel Cheraskin, MD, DMD. Dr. Cheraskin was among the very first to recognize and demonstrate that oral health indicates total body health. "Health is the fastest growing failing business in western civilization," he said. "Why is it so many of us are 40 going on 70, and so few 70 going on 40?" The answer, he said, was our neglect of the paramount value of nutrition, an educational deficiency that Dr. Cheraskin devoted a lifetime to eradicating.10
Hugh Desaix Riordan, M.D. Hugh Riordan was one of the most knowledgeable, both as a maverick par excellence and as an historian of mavericks. Hugh was an orthomolecular fighter, who fought hard and consistently on behalf of orthomolecular concepts. He was challenged legally when he wanted to treat his patients with high dose vitamins in the hospital. He won. He was the first to demonstrate how large doses of vitamin C are chemotherapeutic for cancer patients. His main work had to do with the schizophrenic syndrome and with the treatment of cancer using nontoxic vitamin C chemotherapy. Hugh was the leader in making available to cancer patients a treatment that is effective, safe, economical and very tolerable.10
Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Abram Hoffer has spent the past five decades conducting research related to the practice of orthomolecular medicine, which emphasizes the use of nutrients in optimum doses for the treatment of a wide range of diseases.10
In 1952, Dr. Hoffer and his colleagues began developing a more effective treatment for schizophrenia that involved a biochemical hypothesis. They tried two nutrients: vitamin C and vitamin B3. He found that we could halve the two-year recovery rate of patients just by adding these vitamins to the program. This was the first major systematic attempt to use large dosages of vitamins therapeutically. In 1955 he also discovered that niacin lowered cholesterol levels.10
These pioneers and others were first ridiculed, and were ignored by the medical establishment, but were eventually proven to be right.
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. ...Arthur Schopenhauer
10. Orthomolecular History Orthomolecular.org
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Why Physicians Are Slow To Accept And Recommend Natural Alternatives
Not one death was caused by vitamin supplements in 2005 (as reported by the American Association of Poison Control Centers) (588 KB PDF)
It's estimated that over 106,000 hospital deaths per year (one every 5 minutes) are caused by properly prescribed drugs.
Journal of the American Medical Association
So why are physicians slow to recommend natural alternatives?
Five of the ten leading causes of death in the United States are directly related to lack of proper nutrition. Yet most physicians receive very little, if any, formal training in nutrition. During the 1970s and early 1980s, no medical school in the U.S. required students to take a nutrition class. As of 1985, only two medical schools taught 25 hours or more of courses in nutrition.
* 1977 Survey: Physicians score 65% on nutrition test questions
* 1989 Survey: Physicians score 69% on nutrition test questions
* 1988 Tests: Medical school students rated as unsatisfactory in nutrition knowledge. Senior medical students scored an average of 69%.
* 1995 Survey: Physicians correctly answer questions on drug-nutrient interaction 61% of the time.
You might be surprised to learn, as I was, that examination of the most commonly used biochemistry textbooks in medical schools during the 1920s and 1930s reveals that food and nutrition were emphasized. In fact, out of 16 chapters in Meyer Bodansky's 1927 Introduction to Physiology Chemistry, three chapters described the chemistry of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Two described digestion and absorption, four described intermediary metabolism, one described animal calorimetry, and one described animal nutrition. In 1934, Bodansky expanded the textbook by 200 pages, and expanded the nutrition section to include a discussion of protein requirements, the indispensability of fat, and the role of vitamins. Since his first edition, ascorbic acid had been isolated and synthesized, linoleic acid was identified as an essential fatty acid, and other vitamins and trace elements were shown to be essential to the diet.
During the early 1900s, researchers discovered evidence for the importance of specific components of foods in maintaining health and in curing or preventing many recently identified deficiency diseases. For two decades, the pioneering work on vitamins and the discovery of essential nutrients and their relationship to the prevention of deficiency diseases led to a rapidly growing interest in experimental and clinical nutrition. Other important research during the first two decades of the 1900s included the now classic epidemiological studies of Goldberger, the determination of energy values for carbohydrates, fats, and proteins by Atwater, and Elmer McCollum's early work with vitamins, and later, trace minerals.
Early in the 20th century, scientific principles of nutrition were widely taught in the medical schools of the United States. Later, as research in nutrition declined, there was a parallel decline of interest in nutrition education. Today, specific courses that teach the science of nutrition are found only in a few medical schools.
The Golden Age Of Nutrition. During the 1920s and 1930s, the biochemical and clinical aspects of nutrition was being widely taught in medical schools. New organizations were formed to foster nutrition education, and to encourage the application of nutrition principles in medical practice. The AMA reported that all medical schools except three taught biochemistry during the first year, and the remaining three taught it in the second year. Faculty in biochemistry, pediatrics, physiology, medicine, and pathology presented basic and applied concepts of nutrition to first and second-year medical students. That era became known as the "Golden Age of Nutrition."
Decline of the Golden Age. Then, in 1948 a vitamin found to protect against pernicious anemia was simultaneously isolated in the United Kingdom and the United States. In 1949, the vitamin was identified and accepted as Vitamin B12, but about this time, concern for deficiency diseases diminished since they ceased to be a major problem in the U.S. With the advances in food technology and fortified foods, scientists shifted their focus away from nutrition. Nutritional problems no longer offered the same challenge, and biochemists, once deeply concerned with nutritional problems, shifted their focus to the molecular basis of gene structure and enzyme and endocrine function. This was the end of the Golden Age Of Nutrition.
During the 1950s and 1960s, nutrition became a low priority, and was no longer an important part of the medical curriculum. Although the political climate during the late 1960s and 1970s prompted a heightened awareness of existing malnutrition, hunger and chronic disease in the U.S., and advances have been made toward educating physicians in nutrition and the prevention of disease, most physicians are still inadequately trained in medical schools today.
For decades, the role of nutritional alternatives in the treatment of disease was considered unscientific. It has been only in the past two decades that the medical community recognized that many of the diseases common in older people can be tied to nutritional deficiencies. Medical professionals now accept that nutrition is a factor in the onset and the progression of hypertension, strokes, heart attacks, obesity-related disorders, type II diabetes, and some forms of cancer. But too many know only how to treat the symptoms of these degenerative diseases with conventional pharmaceutical drugs, and because of lack of training in nutritional science, do not have enough confidence to advise patients about natural alternatives.
The focus of allopathic medicine has been on giving general advice about eating more fresh fruit and vegetables, reducing salt intake, increasing dietary fiber, lowering blood cholesterol and body fat, along with treating disease. Too few doctors were offered enough nutritional science training in medical school to understand the fundamental role that vitamins, minerals, and herbs play in the prevention of disease and maintaining good health.
Another reason doctors are hesitant about recommending supplements is their concern that patients will use them as a substitute for regular medical care and good diet instead of as intended, to supplement the diet along with lifestyle changes. Another common objection to natural medicine is the lack of long-term safety studies, even though natural herbal compounds have been safely used for centuries, and hundreds of studies are being done.
Physicians have little to no support from policy makers and enforcers, and are discouraged from practicing any form of medicine perceived by medical boards as being unconventional. For fear of losing their medical license after many years of specialized training, some simply choose not to make recommendations, even though they take supplements themselves. Some will give handouts about nutrition so the patient can draw their own conclusions, but will decline to make recommendations.
Folic acid is a good example. Back in 1985, it was documented that folic acid seemed to prevent neural tube birth defects. Further documentation showed that folic acid at dosages needed to prevent neural tube defects had been used by pregnant women in the past without incident. Some physicians reasoned that if folic acid might prevent some birth defects, it had no risks at dosages needed to do so, and the cost was minimal, then why not recommend it. But according to Dr. Alan Christianson, other doctors stuck in the "reactionary new drug=side effects mode automatically rejected this stance." 11
Some researchers estimate that over 200,000 cases of neural tube birth defects could have been prevented if doctors had not waited so long to recommend it.
"When therapies offer no harm and much possible benefit, why not give them a chance before those with definite harm?" 11
Fast forward to 2004. A new survey published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition re-examined the state of nutrition education in 106 medical schools. The results: As of 2004, almost 60 percent of the US medical schools still do not meet recommendations for nutrition education for med students.
March 2007. It's been almost a century since the science of nutrition was heavily taught in medical schools. One hundred and six thousand (one every 5 minutes) are dying each year in the U.S. from properly prescribed drugs. That is twice as many deaths in a single year from properly prescribed drugs as the total number of U.S. deaths from the Vietnam War. Many of these were being treated for conditions that could have been prevented with proper nutrition and natural supplementation.
Dr. Carrie Carter, M.D. is an allopathic physician who does realize the need for supplementing our diet. What You Need to Know About Supplements, a selection from her book, Woman's Guide To Good Health, gives some good advice on how to choose a supplement. Dr. Carter notes that it is a common practice to pick and choose single nutrients to supplement, but recommends not doing this because vitamins and minerals work together to maintain healthy function in your cells, and it's important to maintain the proper balance of nutrients. Instead, she recommends taking a balanced vitamin and mineral supplement.12
Dr. Carter says, "It is best to not only select a balanced vitamin and mineral supplement but ideally one that pays some attention to the plight of poor minerals and their poor absorption history. In some of the higher quality/higher priced combination supplements, this need is addressed by including minerals that have been changed to a state that is easier to absorb. One such product is the Vitality Pack by Melaleuca: The Wellness Company, which uses a patented process called ‘‘fructose compounding’’ to attach the minerals to fructose molecules, which helps the minerals to be absorbed inside the body." She notes that it is wise to be cautious about overloading your body with nutrients, but says most vitamins and minerals are not harmful in amounts that far exceed the Daily Recommended Intake (DRI), and many studies show that many nutrients at higher than DRI levels may decrease the development of degenerative diseases.12
ConsumerLabs.com tested many different supplements and listed those that met their criteria, but they tested only supplements that met the DRI. Dr. Carter explained that supplements exceeding the DRI level in amounts that may decrease the development of degenerative diseases were not tested, which explains why these supplements did not appear on their list. She also noted that Melaleuca's Vitality Pack is one of two supplements she has personally had positive experience with.12
11. Ask the Doctor Why and Which Vitamin & Herbal Supplements are Important Dr. Alan Christianson
12. What You Need to Know About Supplements CBN.com. A Woman's Guide to Good Health. Dr. Carrie Carter, M.D.
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Why Pharmaceutical Companies Don't Develop Natural Products
prescription pills and money
The short answer to this question is that manufacturing of natural supplements is not cost effective for pharmaceutical companies because natural plants in their whole form are not subject to patent protection.
University of Montana pharmaceutical sciences Professor Rustem Medora points out the complexity of plants. “Plants can contain tens, hundreds, even thousands of chemical compounds that act on biological systems in various ways,” Medora says. “It can be very time-consuming testing each extract for activity and then finding out what specific component or components are causing the pharmacological effects.” 13
Although many drugs begin with a natural plant, their structure is changed through genetic engineering or chemical processes to break the plant down into many components and isolating active ingredients of the plant. Since the structure is then changed, they can patent the final product as a drug, giving them exclusive rights to the product for 20 years.
An example of a drug whose origin was a plant is aspirin. Aspirin originally was derived by boiling the bark of the white willow tree. It was synthesized from salicylic acid, one of the ingredients in willow bark. Following the advent of synthetic salicylate, Felix Hoffman, working at the Bayer company in Germany, made the acetylated form of salicylic acid in 1897. This drug was named “Aspirin” and became the most widely used medicine of all time.14, 15
The use of willow bark dates back to the time of Hippocrates (400 BC) when patients were advised to chew on the bark to reduce fever and inflammation. It has been used throughout the centuries in China and Europe, and continues to be used by herbalists today for the treatment of fever, pain (particularly low back pain), headache, and inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. Although the bark of the white willow is most commonly used medicinally, the bark of related species, such as black willow, have been shown to have the same beneficial effects.16
To manufacture a product containing the natural substance such as willow bark without chemically modifying it would not be cost effective for the pharmaceutical company since other companies could copy the formula and market an identical product.
13. Plant Detective: Snooping Around In Nature's Pharmacopeia University of Montana. Research View. Caroline Lupfer Kurtz.
14. The mechanism of action of aspirin Thrombosis Research. Volume 110, Issues 5-6 , 15 June 2003, Pages 255-258.
15. Willow Bark Drugs.com Drug Information Online.
16. Willow Bark University of Maryland Medical Center.
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A Few Ancient Herbs Still In Use Today
Here are just three examples of herbs that have been clinically researched in the modern day and have also been in medical use for centuries.
Valerian. Valerian was used by the Greek physician Galen (est. 130 A.D.-200 A.D.) for treatment of epilepsy in children and adults. He took it himself and claimed it completely restored his health. This generated interest in using the plant as a sedative, and during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries valerian was used to relieve spasms, and as a sleep aid. Valerian was even an official remedy in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from 1820 to 19365, 17 and official in the National Formulary from 1888-1946.17 Today it is generally used for the treatment of acute insomnia, alone and in combination with other herbs. In Europe, it is widely used as a mild nerve sedative and sleep aid for insomnia, excitability, and exhaustion. Given its history of use, positive pharmacological, chemical and clinical studies, and its wide therapeutic use as a sleep aid particularly in Europe, valerian is one of the most accepted phytomedicines from a scientific and clinical viewpoint.5
Echinacea. Echinacea was used by Native Americans for more medicinal purposes than they did any other plant. It entered formal medicine in 1895, becoming the best-selling American medicinal plant prescribed by physicians into the 1920s, and although it was later replaced by antibiotics in the U.S., it has remained a popular medication in Europe. In 1993, German physicians prescribed echinacea more than 2.5 million times. Herbalists have traditionally used it as a blood purifier and to aid in fighting infections.5
Today most consumers use echinacea to avoid colds and other upper respiratory tract infections and to help heal infections. It enhances the particle ingestion capacity of white blood cells and other specialized immune system cells, thus increasing their ability to attack foreign invaders, such as cold or flu viruses. Over two-dozen clinical studies have investigated the therapeutic benefits and safety of various echinacea species, plant parts, types of preparations and dosage regimes.
A recent study found that echinacea may also induce an immune response by stimulating an increase in white blood cell activity and counts. An antioxidant effect was also observed.4,5 Besides stimulating a healthy immune system to deal more effectively with invading viruses, it helps accelerate healing if infection already exists. Another recent meta-analysis of echinacea preparations findings supports the results of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials that report the efficacy of echinacea preparations for the prevention of spontaneous colds.18, 19
Ginkgo biloba. The ginkgo is the oldest living tree species known, and individual trees may live as long as 1,000 years. It has been used for more than 4,000 years for food and medicine, and traditional Chinese herbalists still use the plant for treatment of asthma, bronchitis, and brain disorders.20
Ginkgo contains compounds that absorb toxic chemicals, preventing cell damage, and it is believed that its antioxidant action is a major contributor to its anti-aging benefits. By preventing free radical damage, ginkgo appears to stabilize cell membranes and render blood vessel walls and red blood cells more flexible, improving the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain, limbs, and other areas supplied by tiny capillaries, such as the eyes and ears. By thus enhancing microcirculation, ginkgo can improve a variety of brain functions, including memory, concentration, and problem-solving.20
Primary uses today are for improvement of memory and other cognitive functions, enhancing circulation to the brain, heart, limbs, ears and eyes, reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease, treating cerebral insufficiency, senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease, peripheral arterial disease, and certain eye and ear disorders, and as a potent antioxidant.20
Ginkgo is one of the most extensively studied herbs. Over three hundred scientific studies on the chemistry, pharmacology and clinical effects of gingko leaf have been conducted by European researchers.21
In a placebo-controlled, double-blind, 52-week trial involving 202 patients with mild-to-severe dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease or multi-infarct dementia, stabilization or improvements were seen in a number of daily living and cognitive functions. The researchers stated that benefits could be equated with a "six month delay in the progression" of Alzheimer's disease.20, 22
A 1988 placebo-controlled, double-blind study involving 166 patients over the age of 60, results "confirmed the efficacy of ginkgo extract in cerebral disorders due to aging" after three months of treatment. Patients most affected by disease appeared to benefit most from ginkgo.20, 23
In 1994, significant improvements in mental performance, including short-term memory and concentration, were seen after 6 weeks of treatment with standardized ginkgo extract in a placebo-controlled double-blind trial involving 90 patients with cerebral insufficiency.20
17. Valerian American Botanical Council.
18. Echinacea intake induces an immune response through altered expression of leucocyte hsp70, increased white cell counts and improved erythrocyte antioxidant defences Journal of Clinical Pharmacy & Therapeutics, Volume 30, Number 4, August 2005, pp. 363-369(7).
19. Echinacea in the prevention of induced rhinovirus colds: a meta-analysis Clin Ther. 2006 Feb;28(2):174-83.
20. Ginkgo biloba
The Herb Research Foundation: Herb Information Greenpaper. Evelyn Leigh.
21. Ginkgo
Steven Foster Group. Steven Foster.
22. A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of an extract of Ginkgo biloba for dementia
JAMA. 1997 Oct 22-29;278(16):1327-32.
23. Treatment of cerebral aging disorders with Ginkgo biloba extract. A longitudinal multicenter double-blind drug vs. placebo study
Presse Med. 1986 Sep 25;15(31):1583-7.
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Comments From Your Researcher
As consumers, we need to educate ourselves about nutritional supplements for prevention of disease and maintaining health. When choosing a nutritional supplement, we need to make sure the company uses 100% pure standardized extracts of the highest quality available, and we need to be sure that the supplements are formulated to be bioactive so that our bodies can effectively recognize, absorb, and utilize the nutrients. We need to make sure that ingredients in the supplement are in proper proportions to work synergistically with the other ingredients.
Before taking FDA approved drugs, we need to educate ourselves about how the drugs affect our health beyond relieving the symptoms of disease, and we need to educate ourselves about non-toxic alternative therapies that treat the whole person and the disease…not just the symptoms.
—Brenda Templin
March 2007
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Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Busy Season is Here!
Are you guys getting super busy, right now? I know we are. We are having a good time around our house as well. Our oldest son is playing Jr. PeeWee football. We've played two preseason games, we won one and lost the one. Our season has kicked off wonderfully! The boys have won the last 3 games. It's hard work getting kids to committ to anything these days. I think it's wonderful that they work so hard. Today is raining and my son I figure he doesn't have practice so I decided to catch up on my blog writing. We are getting ready to start dinner. I've also been extremely blessed with having some work to do from home. I babysit for two dear friends of mine. They and their children have kept me and encouraged. To me, They are Jesus in the flesh. They remind me that "We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!" I've hit a slump in my home based business. It makes me realize that I need to sow into my future with training. God has also blessed me in that arena. He keeps putting 6 and 7 figure income earners in my path to guide me along my life's journey. My hearts cry is that I quit being too busy to hear God's small yet powerful voice speaking awesome things over my life. I am so grateful for what I do have. I keep taking small yet powerful steps everyday to build a business to last a lifetime. I'm tired of thinking small. I have a BIG God so I'm daring to dream big!
How about you? What are your dreams and goals?
How about you? What are your dreams and goals?
Friday, August 17, 2007
Life is Good....For the most part
I haven't written on my blog in forever it seems. I thought I had to be professional and have all these insights to share. I've learned through a few friends...I can do that or better yet, I can just be me and share what my life is like and my heart. I'm better at speaking from my heart. I want to share my view on success, it can be any area of your life. I'm working on achieving my vision of success in all the areas of my life right now and it's hard. Once your brain is hard wired for negativity no matter how it got there, it's difficult to re-wire your brain for the good things God has planned for you. I want you to know I speak from personal experience always. I'm not a preachy, teachy not do it person. My view of leadership is care about your people, be real, share your mistakes that brought you to your success and do what you tell others to do please. I'm a work at home Mom of three. No, I'm not one of those people who want to spam you. Recently, I decided to live my companies philosophy out in my life "Enhancing the lives of those we touch by helping people reach their goals." I had an experience this week in doing just that. I have an acquaintance from church that I have always felt a connection with that needed some help in the baby department. I got to take care of 2 babies under 2 years old, clean house and take care of my oldest son. I didn't think I could do it. I felt compelled to help. I kept having the negative attitude. My acquaintance had enough grace and love for me to tell me how others saw me which was not good but I needed that feedback. I decided to change. I decided to see this as an opportunity to grow not a job I have to do. Know what? I prayed. God showed me my problem is I try to do things in my own strength and I can't. With help from him, and the right heart which is love for these kids and other people. I have noticed too many people including myself give up before they reach their success. I've noticed all successful people are consistent, diligent and work hard. They also all overcame obstacles. I encourage myself and everyone else to do the same.
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