Optimal Health

We think of acupuncture for fertility, headaches, back pain and high blood pressure, but how many of us realize it’s also effective in reducing hot flashes and regulating hormones?

In a 2004 Swedish study, reported in the March 2007 issue of Prevention magazine, hot flashes during menopause were less intense and less frequent in women receiving acupuncture.  There was actually a 54% reduction in the number of episodes of hot flashes, and other symptoms of menopause were also improved.  The conclusion of this study was that the women subjectively reported a 91% reduction in menopause-related symptoms.

Now, a new study, performed by doctors at Stanford and Harvard universities and the New England School of Acupuncture, gave 29 menopausal women either authentic or fake acupuncture.  After 7 weeks of acupuncture, hot sweats were 28% less severe in those who got the real acupuncture and only 6% better in those who got the fake acupuncture.

These studies confirm what I have experienced over my 25+ years of clinical practice. Women who are receiving acupuncture for hormone-related problems definitely see improvements. Actually, women who receive acupuncture, herbs and homeopathy get even better results. And it’s usually quite fast — including PMS, endometriosis, cysts, fibroids, weight fluctuations, water retention, migraines…

This article from the LA Times is frightening.   It outlines some of the hazards of living in Los Angeles, and especially of living near a freeway.

What can we do?  Besides getting politically involved to force our legislators to tighten up the standards on auto and industrial emissions, we can take care of our own individual health by increasing our daily doses of antioxidants.   Some of the ones I recommend we all take are:

Vitamin E, Vitamin C, CoQ10, Selenium, Lutein, Bilberry, Beta Carotene.

Also increase your daily intake of fruits and veggies - especially green leafy vegetables.  And try to get organic whenever possible.  The more we can buy organic, the lower the prices will become, due to economies of scale.

If you can’t eat right, than take extra supplements of dried and dehydrated fruits and veggies.   Also keep your system flushed with enough water each day — your urine should be almost clear.

You can also take Chinese herbs to help your overall metabolism, in order to help break down the toxins in the liver and kidneys.

For those of you who would like to read more about homeopathy, I recommend the following:

*My book:  Optimal Health:  How To Get It, How To Keep It – this will give you the basics to follow directions and so you’ll know what to expect during your treatment and what information is important to provide.

*Tim Dooley – Flat Earth Medicine – a friend of mine and a good introduction to homeopathy

*Bill Gray – an MD in the Bay Area wrote – Homeopathy:  Science or Myth – this book clearly summarizes the scientific research on homeopathy up to the time it was published

*Catherine Coulter – Nature and Human Personality – this is a great psychological introduction to homeopathy for the psychologically inclined

*Amy Lansky – Impossible Cure:  The Promise of Homeopathy – another great introduction, whose son was cured of autism by homeopathy, is a great, very in depth introduction to the subject of homeopathy.

*Dana Ullman – Homeopathic Self Care – is a great “how to” for the beginner to determine which remedy to take for many acute problems.

*Everyday Homeopathy for Animals – by Francis Hunter – another “how to” book, but this time for animals, including hamsters, rabbits, rats, mice, birds, dogs, cats, poultry and farm animals.

*Jane Cicchetti – Dreams Symbols and Homeopathy:  Archetypal Dimensions of Healing – provides a great introduction to the world of overlap between psychotherapy and homeopathy from a metaphysical point of view.

All books can be obtained through:  Homeopathic Educational Services at 800 359 9051.   When you call, please tell my friend Dana Ullman that I referred you.  Also, you can ask for any information you would like on homeopathy, and they will tell you of the latest books and latest research.  This is the most comprehensive source for books, tapes, CD’s, computer programs and anything else having to do with homeopathy.

The results of a six-year study at the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital in England showed that more that 70 percent of patients with severe illness showed very positive health changes after taking homeopathic remedies prescribed by their doctor.  More than 6,500 patients participated in this study published in the Journal of Alternaitve and Complementary Meidcine (Spence, DS, et al, 2005; 11(5):793-798.)

Disease included eczema, asthma, migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, menopause, arthritis, depression, and chronic fatigue syndrome.  The largest improvements were seen in children.  In fact, over 89 % of children under the age of 16 with asthma reported significant improvement with homeopathic treatments.  Of this group, 75% felt either “better” or “much better”, as did 68% of eczema patients under 16 years of age.

Most of the patients in this study had tried conventional treatments first without any success.  This  study was reported in the BBC News, November 21, 2005 and by the British Homeopathic Association.

I am often asked by patients about the risks of long-term usage of the herb Echinacea.  Many authorities have told us of the health risks.  While I agree that the long-term use of any herbal product can potentially cause side-effects, I have never in my clinical practice seen that Echinacea in particular has been any more dangerous than any other herbal product taken over a long period of time.

Many of my patients have been taking Echinacea throughout the cold and flu season and done great.  In general, no herb should be taken more than 4 weeks, but everyone is an individual, and has individual responses to herbs.  Some people develop allergies to certain herbs after only a week or so, and other people can take herbs for a longer time with no negative side effects.

In general, and according to Chinese medical theory, it is always best not to take individual herbs.  Combination herbs are far superior and work better in all ways.  They also have less side-effects.  So if you take Echinacea, get it as a formula with other immune enhancing herbs.

In an article published in the Alternative Medicine Review, Volume 6, Number 4, 2001, numerous clinical studies of Echinacea were cited.  All of them found that in the numerous clinical studies cited, there was nothing to support any limitations on the longer term use of Echinacea.

The article states that Echinacea is good for colds, the flu, chronic autoimmune disorders, leukemia, allergies, MS and other chronic immune problems.

In general, I suggest getting on a good immune regimen during the cold and flu season.  This should include a wide variety of herbs and supplements.  My patients and I work out a variety of programs geared specifically to their individual health issues.

The following options are discussed to help you decide if any holistic methods might be right for you, either to treat a problem you are having, or just to help you acheive the emotional and physical health goals you are currently working on.

De-fin-i-tions
(to be definite; to know; understanding)

1. Classical Homeopathy - the most effective, deepest acting treatment; uses minuscule amounts of plant, animal or mineral substances to stimulate the body to heal itself; the prescription is based on a complete evaluation of all physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual patterns in an individual. In Classical Homeopathy, we use the emotional symptoms to point us in the direction of where to treat the imbalance in the body. Symptoms become metaphors, or symbols, for where imbalances are, either emotionally or spiritually. For example, asthma might be used as an indication of some long-standing unresolved grief or loss; urinary tract infections, a symbol of suppressed anger or resentment; low back pain could be a sign of fear or feelings of being overwhelmed, etc.

Your physical symptoms will all eventually be cured using Classical Homeopathy, but as a part of the process, you will also feel much better and happier emotionally. This type of treatment will take from six months to two or more years. Training to become a Classical Homeopath takes many years of study and is highly specialized. Most good Classical Homeopaths study for at least five years before getting good results. Few homeopaths have the patience to dedicate their lives to this type of intensive in-depth study and discipline.

2. Constitutional Homeopathy - similar to Classical Homeopathy, but in some homeopathic circles, this term is used to describe a method where only one, single remedy is used throughout one’s lifetime. In reality, each person has many constitutional layers and requires many remedies in their life. Constitutional Homeopaths use only one dose of one remedy. In reality, as we evolve, we often need to move from one remedy to the next, (even though in some cases, we may need to stay on only one remedy for a number of years,) and may need to take the remedy daily.

3. Acute Homeopathy - in acute homeopathic prescribing, we don’t place an emphasis on the emotional factors involved in disease; rather, we directly treat, and place our emphasis on removing the physical symptoms as quickly as possible. We do, however, look at the causal factor, which in many cases does include an emotional component. For instance, did the cold or flu begin from the emotional stress of a broken relationship, when out in a cold rain or wind or was the cause from lack of sleep and reduced resistance to infection? Is the constipation caused from a difficulty in letting go, a craving for meat or from not drinking enough water. Acute homeopathy will treat every physical symptom known to man, and treat it quite effectively, and in most cases very quickly. But it won’t be a long-term cure as in Classical Homeopathy.
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4. Oriental Medicine - This encompasses many disciplines and treatment types, including acupressure massage, acupuncture, Chinese nutritional medicine, Chinese manipulation (similar to chiropractic) and Chinese herbal medicine. There are many different ways to practice Oriental Medicine, including Five Element Theory, Yin/Yang Theory, Acute prescribing and Korean constitutional prescribing. I use TCM, or Traditional Chinese Medicine most, and place an emphasis on the pulse and tongue diagnostic methods. I do not believe in the use of highly technical computer analysis, but use the more traditional techniques of facial observation and Five Element analysis which have been effectively used for thousands of years to diagnose and treat illness.

5. Chinese Herbal Medicine - This method of herbal medicine is based on the diagnostic methods described in the paragraph above on Oriental Medicine. In this case, however, we use herbs, in addition to or instead of acupuncture, to create the most dramatic and quick curative action that is possible. Chinese herbology usually utilizes formulas containing many different herbs rather than just the individual herbs used in the Western approach. This method is very effective in treating chronic illness and preventing future illness from occurring. There are wonderful Chinese herbal formulas for almost every type of illness, ranging from high blood pressure, menopausal symptoms, high cholesterol, migraine headaches, PMS, ADD, insomnia, colitis, allergies and many other illnesses that plague modern society and which have no know cure in Western medicine.

6. Western Herbal Medicine - This approach to herbal medicine uses herbs primarily found on the North American and European continents. This method generally uses single herbs in order to achieve very specific results. There are wonderful single herbs such as Vitex, Dong Quai, Echinacea, Astragalus, Goldenseal, White Willow Bark, Milk Thistle and others, which can be used to build immunity, balance hormones and eliminate many types of pain.

7. Five Element Acupuncture - This method of diagnosis and treatment utilizes the Five Elements of Earth, Fire, Water, Metal and Wood. The Five Elements are a metaphor for the five primary organ functions in the body: spleen/stomach, heart/small intestines, kidney/bladder, lung/large intestines, and gall bladder/liver. Each organ and grouping of organs has an emotional component as well. Utilizing this type of understanding, we can treat constitutionally as well as symptomatically.

8. Acute Acupuncture - This method utilize specific acupuncture formulas which are designed to treat the acute problems you want to treat. This is the type of acupuncture that most medical doctors study, since it only requires a few weekends of study. It requires many years of concentrated study to practice the deeper-acting Five Element and Constitutional acupuncture.

9. Constitutional Acupuncture - This method utilizes the tongue and pulse diagnosis to assess and then design a treatment plan to treat from a deeper, more holistic framework than the Acute Acupuncture approach. Many very serious and even life-threatening health problems can be totally cured using this method.

10. Bio-chemical Nutritional Analysis - This method of analysis utilizes the Health Equations Program to assess the functional status of your electrolytes and minerals. We start from a Chem Panel and CBC and then do a comprehensive analysis utilizing the basic data from your blood tests.

11. Body-Type Nutritional Analysis - There are many types of Body-Type Analysis. Just a few of the possibilities are Yin/Yang and Five Element Analysis, Endocrine Organ Analysis and Metabolic Typing, among others.

12. Five Element Nutritional Analysis - This is based on the Five Element Analysis discussed above.

13. Yin/Yang Nutritional Analysis - This is based on assessing your balance of Yin and Yang and working with the diet to change the imbalance in Yin and Yang. If your Yin and Yang is in proper balance, it’s very hard for you to become ill. Balanced Yin and Yang is the foundation and cornerstone of balance and Optimal Health.

14. Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation - In our culture, most people need vitamin and mineral Supplementation because very few of us eat properly. In addition, most of us operate on such a high level of stress that we need more of certain vitamins and minerals than in times past. The soil our food is grown on is also almost totally depleted of organic minerals and because of this we need to supplement our diets. Even most organic food is not as complete as in times past.

15. Neurotransmitter Testing & You take a test kit home and obtain samples of your urine and saliva. These samples will tell the lab which of your neurotransmitters are either high or low. The types of problems that will respond very well to this type of testing include anxiety, insomnia, ADD, ADHD, depression, fear, worry, nervous disorders, headaches, chronic pain, PMS, Irritable Bowel, Panic Attacks, Bulimia, OCD, and substance abuse. The test results will be returned to you with a very specific list of which amino acid supplements to take to increase the neurotransmitters you are low in and to decrease the ones you are too high in.

16. Stool Tests and other Saliva Testing for Hormones & There are an assortment of other tests, which include stool, hair testing, blood testing, and others. These may also be useful in helping to determine where you are out of balance and which treatments will work best to put you into balance.

You Decide:

Educating yourself, knowing which modalities (types of treatments) you want and are most interested in, defining your treatment goals, and knowing what you are willing to do to get there, is all an invaluable portion of becoming healthier and overcoming the obstacles to loosing weight, exercising, eating right and joining in partnership with your health care team. You decide which treatment options are right for you after a discussion with Dr. Martin.

What Is Premenstrual Syndrome?

Premenstrual syndrome is one of the most common health problems facing women. About one third of the female population experience some sort of PMS. This translates into a lot of missed days at school or work, severe stress on relationships, needless breakups and divorce, as well as a lot of needless suffering. I can’t tell you how many times I have been thanked by women for literally saving their marriage.

The symptoms of PMS begin ten to fourteen days prior to the start of menstruation and end in the first few days after the onset. There are more than 150 symptoms that have been associated with PMS. Listed below are some of the most typical:

irritability, anxiety, moodiness, anger, headaches, skin problems, vertigo, weight gain, bloating, joint pain, back pain, cramps, constipation, diarrhea, sugar craving, sore throat, vision problems, chocolate craving

What Is The Cause of PMS?

PMS is caused by both psychological and physiological imbalances. Psychologically, the primary cause is stress. Physiologically, the primary cause is an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone. Other secondary causes include poor diet, heredity, and lack of exercise.

From the point of view of Oriental medicine, the primary meridian and energy systems involved in most women with PMS are the Liver, Spleen and Kidneys.

What Are Some General Treatments for PMS?

Diet is the first and foremost factor that is within your control. Foods known to increase symptoms of PMS include the following: caffeine, milk, hard cheese, salt, chocolate, sugar, alcohol, beef, pork, lamb, and pickled foods.

Foods helpful in reducing the symptoms of PMS are the following: whole grains, brown rice, oatmeal, millet, pritiken-type breads with no added oils, salt or sugar; all vegetables, but especially beets, carrots, collard greens, mustard greens, and beet tops; fish, and all kinds of beans are your best sources of protein.

Certain vitamin supplements are also helpful depending on your particular needs. The two most important are vitamin B6 for bloating, water retention and magnesium for cramps and uterine pain. Vitamin C is important to combat stress as are all the B vitamins. A good, well-rounded multiple high in vitamin B is a good preventative.

If you suffer from cramps be sure to take twice as much magnesium as you do calcium. Also take evening primrose oil or black current seed oil.
How Can Homeopathy Help With PMS?

For menstrual cramps there are a number of different remedies. Colocynth type of cramps are relieved by doubling up, bending forward, applying pressure or warmth, as are Magnesium phosphoricum cramps.

Always stop taking the remedy if you feel worse or if the symptoms stop. When the symptoms decrease, also stop taking the remedy. If you keep taking the remedy after the symptoms stop, you will cause them to come back again. Note that often only one dose of the correct remedy in the correct potency is all you need. Be sure to follow all the other rules listed in the homeopathy section of this book.

For symptoms of fatigue or weakness, try Calcium carbonate. This remedy will be particulary helpful if you also have headaches, sweating and are cold in general. Also for fatigue is Sepia. For Sepia to be indicated usually you will also have low back pains, cramping in the lower abdomin, loss of interest in sex and an increase in anger and intolerance for others. Depression and moodiness is also common.

For excessive weeping, sadness, or over sensitiveness, a primary remedy is Pulsatilla. Other indications for Pulsatilla are a desire for company, a desire to be outside or to have windows open, nausea, giddiness, fainting, and unpredictable or changeable moods.

Chamomile is another remedy for excessive moodiness, with fault-finding and snapping over little things. It will also show symptoms of cramps that feel like labor pains.

The Lachesis personality may be angry and moody with ovarian pains that are worse on the left side. Dizziness and diarrhea, a dislike for tight clothing or anything tight around the neck are also characteristic of Lachesis.

Food allergies can be sudden. Most patients who come to me complaining of allergies have never experienced them before. They come in disbelief, thinking it must be something more serious. But in reality, food allergies are one of the most common causes of many health problems.

Symptoms can range from fuzzy thinking, fatigue, upset stomach, neck pain, headaches, pains in the stomach area, diarrhea, burning pains, skin rashes, eczema, asthma, difficult breathing and even fainting. Testing for food allergies can be expensive; many patients believe they have severe Candida, or parasites, which may in fact be the case. But the least expensive way of dealing with the problem is to choose to just eliminate the more common foods which can cause an allergy.

The most common foods which cause the symptoms are nuts, and especially peanuts, eggs, milk and milk products, shellfish, wheat, gluten containing products, soy, chocolate, and some fish.

Eliminating these foods for about 60 days and adding specific, targeted nutritional supplements, will often take care of the problems. Often the patient can eat the problem foods, once the allergy symptoms are gone. What we have found is that adding in the problem foods on a rotational basis will usually be fine, and not re-create the symptoms. But first you must eliminate the food completely, for about 60 days, in order to re-build your digestive and immune systems.

Some of the supplements which work well are herbal anti-histamines, digestive enzymes, pro-biotics, Chinese herbs to build and strengthen digestion, and other herbs and supplements targeted to increase overall health and energy.

We have found that it’s important for patients to ask questions when eating out, to determine the ingredients in the foods. Also it’s important to read food labels carefully, and to learn “code” words for certain ingredients, which may contain harmful derivatives of the problem food. In any case, it’s a great idea to start reading labels of the foods you eat, and to ask to see the packaging list of ingredients used in fast foods.

Testing is available for those who like the more scientific approach, including saliva tests, blood tests, and stool tests, but these are expensive and often unnecessary, if the patient is willing to just stop eating the problem foods without testing. But the good thing about testing is that you can really see, in black and white, the changes in the tests over time, as your body recovers.

Here is a link to a great article on the success of acupuncture for nausea. I have used acupuncture successfully for nausea after surgery, for morning sickness and also for travel sickness. I recently treated a woman who had chronic travel sickness. I treated her with acupuncture five times before a big cruise she had planned. When she returned, she said the treatment had been a big success. The focus of our treatment had been on the inner ear.

Autism is a problem affecting more and more young people. The theories surrounding it’s cause are many. Another, much lesser version of autism is called Asperger’s Disease. A young adult might be functioning pretty well with Asperger’s, yet have social phobias or an inability to succeed at work or school. ADD or ADHD also may play a role.

The following article was sent to me by the company I often use to perform the hair mineral analysis tests for my patients. It’s a particularly interesting case, given the difficulty we normally think of in treating autism.

This case history shows how hair analysis is successful at diagnosing and suggesting treatments for autism. Along with this, I would also always use amino acid therapy, after performing a saliva and urine test to see the deficiencies in the neurotransmitters in the brain.

Additionally, homeopathic medicine has proven successful time and time again at treating a wide variety of behavioral problems, including Autism.

I hope you enjoy this case history from the Analytical Research Laboratories:

Analytical Research Laboratories
Autism - A Case History

Joey, age 3, was diagnosed autistic. He did not speak or interact well with anyone, threw tantrums daily and was severely constipated. His first hair mineral analysis showed a calcium level of 66 mg% (ideal is 40), magnesium of 5 mg% (ideal is 6), sodium of 4 mg% (ideal is 25) and potassium of 16 mg% (ideal is 10.

Vital Ratios

The hair calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium levels indicate a mild slow oxidizer pattern. This is a tendency for somewhat underactive thyroid and adrenal glandular activity. This is uncommon for a three-year-old as most children of this age are fast oxidizers. It indicates some degree of adrenal exhaustion, even at the age of three.

Joey’s calcium/magnesium ratio was slightly high, which is an indication that Joey was overeating on carbohydrate foods. The sodium/potassium ratio was very low at 0.4:1. This indicates excessive tissue breakdown and is also associated with chronic infections, glucose intolerance, kidney and liver stress, and feelings of frustration, resentment and hostility.

Manganese

Joey had a severely elevated manganese level at 0.123 mg% (ideal is 0.04).

High manganese levels are often associated with behavioral problems. ‘Manganese madness’ is a term used to describe the toxicity condition seen in manganese miners.

Aluminum

Joey’s aluminum was also quite high at 3.66 mg% (ideal is 0.05 or less). Aluminum has been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease and perhaps other dementias. However, we find that aluminum can affect mental functioning even in children.

In our experience, aluminum, iron and manganese toxicity are often found together. If any one of these are elevated on a hair mineral analysis, the other two are also present in excess, even if they are hidden. These three minerals are also often eliminated together on nutritional balancing programs.

Lead And Zinc

Joey also had an extremely elevated lead level at 1.54 mg% (ideal is 0.1 or less). Lead toxicity is associated with over 100 symptoms. Prominent among these are hyperactivity, lowered IQ and emotional and behavioral abnormalities. Lead interferes with calcium metabolism, blood formation and a number of critical enzyme systems.

Joey also had a zinc level of 8 mg%. This is very low, with the ideal being 20 mg%. Zinc is critical for over 50 functions. Low zinc is associated with emotional instability, delayed development, slow growth, impaired digestion, skin problems and impaired protein synthesis.

A Corrective Program

The daily nutrient program for Joey included two divided doses of a multivitamin for slow oxidizers, as well as 10 mg of zinc, 1 mg of copper and about 3 mg manganese to help correct his low sodium/potassium ratio.

Let us discuss giving manganese when the level is this high. Some authorities believe that manganese supplements should not be given when manganese is elevated on a hair mineral analysis. However, we consistently find that giving bioavailable manganese will help the hair manganese level return to normal, as occurred with Joey. His elevated manganese is in a biounavailable form. Giving available manganese is helpful in these cases to raise the sodium level and perhaps to provide needed bioavailable manganese as well.

Joey’s daily nutrients also included about 200 mg of calcium and 200 mg magnesium. Calcium is an excellent lead antagonist, and both calcium and magnesium are sedative minerals that can improve hyperactive behavior. Magnesium is helpful for many cases of constipation. Joey also took a small amount of vitamin C and E to help raise his sodium level. Vitamin C can help as a chelator of excessive metals.

Dosing Children

These dosages of minerals may seem large for a three-year-old child. However, we find that often children do well on and sometimes require somewhat larger doses than one would calculate for a child based simply on weight or age. This is an important principle for obtaining the best results with young children.

Results

Joey’s parents made sure he ate well and took his supplements. He improved dramatically. Within four months on a nutritional balancing program he began to speak, his temper tantrums were greatly reduced and he now interacts with people. He will be able to attend a regular kindergarten and is also no longer constipated.

Often the process of correction takes longer, up to several years, and it is often less dramatic. In this case, the chemistry shifted quickly and results followed. We never know which mineral imbalance or other factor is most important and when the body will address that factor. Also in some cases emotional difficulties at home can significantly slow down progress in rebalancing body chemistry.

Retest Mineral Analysis

A retest mineral analysis after Joey was on supplements for four months showed some surprising changes. The electrolyte pattern looked worse in some ways! Calcium was 56 mg%, magnesium was 31 mg%, sodium was 16 mg% and potassium rose to 59 mg%.

Joey became a mixed oxidizer with a fast thyroid ratio (calcium to potassium ratio less than 4:1). A faster oxidation rate means Joey’s energy level improved. This is excellent for general healing. In hyperkinetic children, however, more energy at times means more acting out behavior because more energy is available to the body. This was not the case with Joey, however, as his behavior calmed down.

The calcium/magnesium ratio became extremely low at 1.8:1. This is often due to a magnesium loss. It could have been an elimination of magnesium that for some reason could not be used by the body. This type of change looks worse, but usually resolves itself on later tests.

The Sodium/potassium Ratio

Joey’s sodium/potassium ratio also became much more imbalanced at about 0.27:1. This is extremely low and usually indicates severe protein breakdown or catabolism. Joey showed a pattern we call a double inversion. This is a low ratio of calcium to magnesium combined with a low ratio of sodium to potassium. The double inversion pattern reinforces the low sodium/potassium ratio pattern, associated with excessive tissue breakdown, chronic infections, liver and kidney stress, glucose intolerance and feelings of frustration, resentment and hostility.

In this regard, we have found that on a corrective program, at times the body must go through a stage of breaking down poor quality tissue. This is tissue that may contain toxic metals or toxic chemicals, or tissues infected with bacteria or viruses.

When cells are broken down, potassium and magnesium are released, as these are the primary intracellular minerals. This release is associated with temporary higher hair readings of these two minerals. This in turn can cause a lower sodium/potassium ratio and a lower calcium/magnesium ratio as well.

Other Changes

On the retest, Joey’s lead level was about half of the level on the first test at .84 mg% and aluminum was about 1/3 of his previous test at 1.10 mg%. Manganese was down to 0.078, which is still slightly elevated but much better. These are all excellent changes.

The Zinc Mystery

Joey’s zinc level did not change from the first test to the second. In both cases, the reading was a very low 8 mg%. This occurred in spite of Joey taking a substantial amount of zinc for four months. How can this be?

There are several explanations. First, we know that our bodies will often keep the tissue zinc level low to help raise the tissue sodium level. In Joey’s case, the sodium/potassium ratio was extremely low. The body may not have absorbed the zinc he took to keep the sodium level up, which in turn helps maintain the sodium/potassium ratio. Dr. Eck called this phenomenon a defender. That is, zinc stayed low to defend the sodium/potassium ratio.

Another possibility is that zinc was simply not well-absorbed during this period of time for other reasons. Alternatively, zinc was absorbed, but used up as fast as it was being given.

Finally, we know that zinc is a vital mineral that replaces toxic metals in enzyme binding sites during healing. The zinc level in the hair may have remained low because the zinc Joey took was absorbed and incorporated into the tissues to replace toxic metals that were eliminated. Thus, no extra zinc found its way into Joey’s hair.

By persisting in providing Joey with supplemental zinc in the correct amount, eventually the hair level will rise in our experience. This will mean he is re-establishing his normal tissue stores of zinc.

Does Mercury Cause Autism?

Some health authorities claim that mercury toxicity is the cause of autism. Joey’s mercury level was a very low 0.002 mg% on the first test. It increased five times to 0.01 on the second test. This is still very low reading.

We know that many toxic metals are not revealed on the first hair mineral analysis. They are revealed later as they are mobilized from storage sites deep within the body. Time will tell if Joey will start to eliminate more mercury on future retests.

However, it is clear that other toxic minerals such as lead and aluminum, or vital minerals in excess including manganese, probably played important roles in his behavioral problems. Deficiencies in vital minerals such as zinc also most likely contributed to Joey’s symptoms.

In our experience, it is usually incorrect to blame symptoms on just one metal, as most people have combinations of imbalances.

Conclusion

This case illustrates so many principles that it bears reading a number of times. Perhaps most important, it suggests that autism is not simply an incurable or ‘genetic’ conditions requiring years of therapy to control the symptoms. A hair mineral analysis showed severe mineral imbalances. By following the principles of test interpretation and program design based on the brilliant work of Dr. Paul C. Eck, results were most gratifying.

Although in some ways the retest hair analysis looked worse, another principle is always to ask the patient (or parents in this instance) about symptomatic improvements. In this case, these changes were amazing, reminding us that mineral analysis results may not always correlate with symptoms. Each test uncovers deeper layers of imbalances, and at times the picture may not correlate with how the patient feels. The test results can lag symptomatic changes, or at times test results can anticipate symptom changes as well.

Copyright © 2006 Analytical Research Laboratories, Inc.

This material is for educational purposes only

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