Archive for the ‘Probiotic’ Category

New Years Supplement Recommendations

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

New Years Resolution - Start Taking Your Supplements

 

 

 

Summary:  Everyone needs the most basic supplements, which include:

*Omega 3, 6, 9 Oils

*Probiotics

*Magnesium

*Multi Vitamin/Mineral Fromula for your age and gender

*CoQ10 for your cardio-vascular system

*Individualized program based on symptoms and blood analysis 

 

We all need vitamin and mineral supplements — Right?  With our higher levels of awareness for our body’s health and healing process, who could logically say:  “No—-not me, I don’t need vitamins?”  

 

One might say that medical doctors and many scientific investigators don’t believe in the need for supplements, but this is no longer true.  In recent classes I’ve taught to medical doctors throughout the Los Angeles area, I’ve seen an incredible interest among many physicians  and an honest desire to learn what’s best for their patients.   Many of these docs are taking vitamins, herbs and other supplements themselves and seeing firsthand that they really work!

 

Some of the most common reasons for taking vitamin and mineral supplements are:

 

1.  Large-scale commercial agra-business has depleted our soils of nutrients.  Soil has been scientifically researched and found to be deficient in many necessary minerals.  Organically grown food is much better, and richer in vitamins and nutrients, but is more costly and still hard to obtain for our everyday needs.

 

2.  Pesticides are used around our homes, are found in most of the foods we eat, and are hidden in the form of ant and roach “hotels”, moth balls, mildew removers, fungicides, termite eradication and others.  These pesticides inevitably get into our body.

 

3.  Other environmental pollutants also claim a toll on the body, creating a need for more anti-oxidants and other minerals and vitamins.

 

4.  Smog:  Living in Los Angeles, we are all subject to the effects of poor air quality.  Breathing smog on a daily basis depletes the body of anti-oxidants.

 

5.  Smoking, prescription medications, recreational drugs and alcohol deplete the body of valuable nutrients and electrolytes.  This is why most people who smoke have a lot of dental and bone density problems:  The minerals needed to build healthy teeth and bones have been leached out of the system.

 

6.  Electromagnetic Field Pollution is everywhere.  From airports, cell phones, X-Rays, MRI’s, radio waves, microwaves, television and computer screens, we are constantly bombarded by radiation in every direction we turn.  If you own an electro-magnetic field detector as I do, you’d be amazed by measuring the amount of daily radiation you are subjected to.   Radiation alters your electro-magnetic field, your chi/energy, and personal gravitational center, thus causing stress-induced depletion of minerals and vitamins.

 

7.  We all live under tremendous stress.  Unless you live in the desert  and are on retreat 100% of the time, it’s likely that your endocrine system, including your adrenal glands and thyroid, are functioning on overdrive much of the time.  Stress depletes the body of its essential nutrients, including vital antioxidants and electrolytes.

 

8.  The “Quickening” — Few could argue that we perceive time as speeding up.  The physical body is dealing with a constant onslaught of energy, the mental body is constantly overwhelmed by too much data and information, and the emotional body is being called upon to integrate and make sense of all this additional information.  All of this contributes to stress, which depletes the body by sending it into “overdrive” much of the time.

 

But which supplements are the best ones for your particular body and mind?  Although we are all mostly exposed to the same common environmental problems,  not everyone needs the same products. 

 

Our bodies vary tremendously, and so do our physiological needs.  

 

In 1996, Dr. Roger Williams, the scientist who discovered Pantothenic Acid, wrote a book called Biochemical Individuality.   In this book, he discusses various research studies demonstrating people’s unique needs. 

This is why  the best way to determine your individual needs is through individualized testing and analysis.   And the most reliable form of testing uses the blood.

 

Health is relative, and a person who doesn’t have a known disease is not necessarily healthy.  So the best way to analyze blood chemistry is in terms of “optimum” rather than “normal.”

 

Your blood is alive!   By that I mean that your blood is electrically charged.  Each mineral molecule in the blood carries either a positive or negative electrical charge.   Each negative charge is attracted to a positive charge and each positive charge is attracted to a negative charge.

 

Problems like insomnia, low or high blood pressure, weight gain or loss, fluid retention, arthritis, colitis, constipation, allergies or asthma all begin to make sense when we look at the blood in this way.  

 

 Looking at the typical blood chemistry analysis and CBC, I have an entire picture of exactly which organs are weak, or “under-active,” and strong, or “over-active,” from the point of view of Chinese medicine.   

 

Taken together, these two methods of blood test analysis give a very clear indication of which supplements and herbs are needed to bring the body into balance for optimal functioning.  

 

 

Anti-biotics or Pro-biotics?

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

A friend recently emailed me the following question: Can I start taking a pro-biotic supplement while I’m taking an anti-biotic? Or is that going to undermine the effectiveness of the anti-biotic? Or will the anti-biotic just kill the pro-biotics anyway?

This is a common question and misconception. My answer: Take the pro-biotic. This same situation came up with one of my patients last week. They developed a strep throat infection and needed to go to work, and didn’t have the time or interest in taking a homeopath or herbs. So I recommended he take an anti-biotic so as not to risk missing work or giving the infection to his co-workers, and I also recommended that he immediately go on a pro-biotic.

(By the way, for those of you who are not familiar with the term pro-biotics, this refers to a wide spectrum of supplements meant to help your gut - your digestive tract - work more efficiently. The contents of these supplements naturally occurs in your gut, but are often in short supply, especially after the use of an antibiotic. Some such pro-biotics include the following: L. acidophilus, Bifidus, L. plantarum, among other “good” bacteria.)

I always also recommend that you keep up the pro-biotic for a month or so after stopping the antibiotic. It’s actually good to take pro-biotics one a day anyhow, to keep both the immune system and the digestive system, both closely connected, in good overall shape.

If the problem continues, and the reason you had to take the antibiotic doesn’t get better, even after the recommended dose of antibiotics, try to remember that there are great homeopathics and/or herbal formulas that are sometimes even more effective than antibiotics. Just ask, and we can get you on the appropriate regimen.

In the meantime, while you are on the anti-biotic, you should also always be on immunity supplements in order to build the immune system, since the antibiotic only kills, and doesn’t in any way support the immune system. So try the following regimen, in conjunction with the antibiotics: Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta carotene, astragalus, shitake mushroom formula, echinecea and golden seal, and any others you already know about.

Specific homeopathics must be chosen based on the specific type of infection, and the causes of the infection, and are too numerous to generalize in this article.

Holistic Emergency Medicine 101 - An Introduction on What To Do To Stay Healthy

Sunday, March 8th, 2009

Holistic Emergency Medicine 101 - An Introduction on What To Do To Stay Healthy

 

Arnica - don’t leave home without it;  take Arnica 6C - 3X per day for any sprain, accident, bruise, fall, etc.   After surgery to reduce swelling and promote healing.

 

Hypericum - same as Arnica but for injury to nerves, the eye, tips of fingers, elbows, or after dental work.  6C - 3X per day 

 

Aconite - at the begining of colds or flu or for physical or emotional shock or fear.   Works especially well when onset of cold is from being in cold wind the night before.

 

Nux vomica - the most well known homeopathic for digestive problems, constipation, headaches, food poisoning, diarrhea, nausea.

 

Ignatia - to be taken when you cannot sleep from bad news, emotional loss, or grief

 

Magnesium phos - for headaches, muscle cramps, menstrual cramps or spasms

 

Kali phos - low energy, nervousness, poor sleep, feeling run down, twitching, anxiety

 

Apis mel - for insect bites and stings

 

Rescue Remedy - take as directed for any trauma, physical or emotional

 

Traumeel or Arnica Ointment - use topically for any physcial trauma, ache or pain

 

Yin Chiao - Chinese herbal formula to take at the first sign of cold or flu

 

Pill Curing - Chinese herbal formula to be used for any digestive upset or travel

 

Ponay Tea - Chinese weight loss tea and energy tea to burn fat and stimulate metabolism

 

Probiotic - the “friendly” bacteria - always take one per day

 

Vitamin C - take 1,000 mg per day buffered C to keep your immune system working well

 

Theanine - an amino acid very good for anxiety and nervousness

 

5HTP - an amino acid for sleep

 

Make sure you get enough sleep, see your Medical Doctor annually for a physical check up, and blood tests and get monthly massage, acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments.  Be sure you exercise daily so you don’t build up excess tension in your body.   Women be sure to get your annual female check-ups.

 

Homeopathic Rules:

 

1.  Dont’ touch the pills.  Tap them into the cap and under the tongue

2.  Nothing in the mouth for 20 minutes before and after

3.  Try to avoid mint, and any other strong smells or flavors while you take the remedy

4.  Stop the homeopathic as soon as you are better, and never take it more than a week, without the advice of a trained homeopath

5.  Take them as directed by your homeopath or 3 pills, 3X per day.  For mild problems, just take them once per day only.  Less is better, with homepathy.

 

Also, always follow your Medical Doctor’s advice and never take any product without the advice of your Medical Doctor or other health practitioner.  Never take yourself off any medication prescribed by your doctor without his or her advice.  Try the teamwork approach to health, using a Medical Doctor, acupuncturist, homeopath, chiropractor, and massage therapist.   Also seek the advice of a spiriual advisor, when in doubt.   A teamwork approach is always best in keeping your optimal health.

 

Have a wonderful Fall Equinox and Full Moon!

 

:-)