Lita Lee, Lisa Turner and Burton Goldberg
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 Guidelines to Help Thyroid Function
Enzyme therapy, supplementation with thyroid glandular extracts (see quick deftmtion), herbal remedies, hormonal balancing through the use of natural progesterone, and dietary changes can be integral parts of a treatment program for hypothyroidism.
Enzyme Therapy-Since the endocrine glands (see quick definition) are driven by digested food, my first effort in a treatment program is to correct digestive problems with food enzymes and to emphasize an organic, whole foods diet. |
David Brownstein
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 We may also be able to lessen the symptoms of such chronic diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and arthritis. supplementation of human growth hormone does appear to clinically reverse many of the signs of aging in most people who take it.
Diagnosing a Deficiency of Human Growth Hormone
Human growth hormone levels can be adequately tested in the blood. I utilize IGF-1 as a good measure of growth hormone levels. I have found that effective serum levels for IGF-1 range from 150 to 300ng/ml in men and women. |
| In fact, I have found testosterone supplementation to be one of the most beneficial and safe hormone replacement treatments for men and women.
As with the other hormones mentioned in this book, I recommend using the natural form of the hormone: in this case, natural testosterone. My reasoning is the same as previously presented. In order to get the maximum benefit from hormonal replacement therapy, it is important to try and mimic the body's own production of its hormones. |
| There are two forms of testosterone supplementation currently available: natural testosterone and synthetic testosterone. Natural testosterone is made from plant products and has the same chemical structure as testosterone that is produced in the human body. Synthetic testosterone products, such as methyl testosterone, testosterone enanthinate or testosterone cipionate do not have the same chemical structure as the testosterone that is produced in our bodies. I have found natural testosterone to be very safe and effective in treating many different conditions, including autoimmune disorders. |
| DHEA levels should be measured before supplementation with DHEA and should be checked at routine intervals during the treatment regimen in order to optimize the dose. I recommend pharmaceutical grade DHEA made by a compounding pharmacist. I have often found that DHEA sold over-the-counter at health food stores is not reliable (approximately 80% of the time). DHEA should be taken on an empty stomach for better absorption. |
| This holistic treatment program can include using natural hormones, vitamin and mineral supplementation, diet changes and detoxification.
You will learn how a holistic program can be implemented in order to treat thyroid and other hormonal disorders primarily by using natural items. Chapter 2 discusses how to diagnose and treat hypothyroidism. I was trained both in medical school and in my residency that the proper way to diagnose thyroid problems was to rely primarily on the blood tests, particularly the TSH test. |
David Brownstein
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 One study on patients suffering from severe Lupus was conducted at Stanford University and showed that DHEA supplementation improved the patients' disease state as well as reduced their need for high dose steroids.4
Case Study: DHEA
Patricia, at age 48, had been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for ten years. "It has taken over my life. My hands are swollen and ache every morning, and some mornings I have difficulty getting out of bed, " she lamented. Patricia had to take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug on a daily basis to help relieve the pain. |
| Perhaps by raising levels of human growth hormone (as well as DHEA, testosterone and the other hormones) to levels present at younger years, we can slow down or even reverse many of the signs and symptoms of aging and lesson the symptoms of such chronic diseases such as arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and many others. supplementation of human growth hormone does appear to clinically reverse many of the signs of aging in most people who take it.
Diagnosing a Deficiency of Human Growth Hormone
Human growth hormone levels can be adequately tested in the blood. |
| In fact, I have found testosterone supplementation to be one of the most beneficial hormone replacement treatments for men and for women.
As with the other hormones mentioned in this book, I recommend using the natural form of the hormone: in this case, natural testosterone. My reasoning is the same as previously presented. In order to get the maximum benefit from hormonal replacement therapy, it is important to try and mimic the body's own production of its hormones. |
| DHEA levels should be measured before supplementation with DHEA and should be checked at routine intervals in order to optimize the dose. I recommend pharmaceutical grade DHEA made by a compounding pharmacist. I have often found that DHEA sold over-the-counter at health food stores is not reliable. DHEA should be taken on an empty stomach for better absorption. DHEA works best in small amounts (men: 5-10mg/day and women: 2-8mg/day) and has synergistic effects with the other natural hormones covered in this book. |
| There are two forms of testosterone supplementation currently available: natural testosterone and synthetic testosterone. Natural testosterone is made from plant products and has the same chemical structure as testosterone that is produced in the human body. I have found natural testosterone to be very safe and effective in treating many different conditions, including autoimmune disorders. I believe natural testosterone, rather than a synthetic version, should be used in all cases of testosterone therapy. |
Leo Galland
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 See Chapter Six for the principles of EFA supplementation. Merely consuming large quantities of vegetable oils, however, is likely to be harmful to the intestinal lining. High intake of polyunsaturated oils increases the free radical content of bile, producing a toxic bile that may damage intestinal integrity.44
In addition to a nutrient-dense diet, I recommend several specific dietary resistance factors to preserve normal intestinal integrity. These should be part of any program for intestinal detoxification.
1. Fiber
Fiber is the indigestible remnants of plant cells. |
Dr. Gary Null
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 Physical exercise is another key to lifting depression among women, especially when accompanied by a nutritious diet, meditation, and vitamin and mineral supplementation. According to Dr. William J. Goldwag, the medical director of the Center for Preventive/Holistic Medicine, in southern California, exercise is one of the most profound aids in the treatment of depression: "One of the major errors in the thinking of patients and therapists is the notion that in order to be active, you have to feel better. This is exactly contrary to our approach. |
Jonathan Goodman ND
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 I'd like to single out two of the subtypes—Berger's disease and lupus nephritis—because there's some evidence that they may respond to supplementation with EFAs.
Berger's Disease
Let's start with Berger's disease, also called IgA nephropathy (IgAN). The most common form of nondiabetes-related kidney disease, IgAN mainly affects children and young adults, most of them male. The disease is thought to occur when a kidney accumulates unusually large amounts of IgA antibodies, which results in damage to the kidney's filtering system (the glomerulus). |
| As a result, supplementation with DHA or ARA may be preferable to attempting to get enough of these EFAs from dietary sources.
Two interesting studies looked at the eye-enhancing effects of EFAs in preterm infants. In the studies, "preemies" who were born at 29 or 30 weeks were given either a standard infant formula or one that was supplemented with either ARA or DHA.5'6 In both studies, visual acuity (sharpness of vision) improved in infants who were given the DHA-supplemented formula. |
| Even though the evidence is preliminary, there's a strong enough link between low levels of omega-3 fatty acids and behavior problems that I think supplementation is certainly worth considering in some cases. Many experts in the field, while reluctant to endorse the use of EFAs across the board, do feel that supplements may be appropriate depending on a child's blood levels of EFAs.21 It's now possible to have laboratory tests that detect levels of fatty acids in the membranes of red blood cells. You'll find more information on these tests in appendix B. |
| It's too early to predict which conditions will respond most favorably to EFA supplementation, but there's solid evidence that EFAj are among the more important building blocks for a healthy life. In the following pages we'll take a brief look at some of the conditions that have been shown to respond to treatment with EFAs.
EFAS AND KIDNEY DISEASE
The kidneys are incredibly complex organs, but their main jobs are pretty straightforward. They act as filters to cleanse
Researchers have identified more than a dozen disorders that may be treated or prevented with essential fatty acids (EFAs). |
| In this case, I'm not sure that the evidence is anywhere near strong enough to recommend EFA supplementation in those with asthma. However, I wouldn't hesitate to advise people who already have asthma, or who want to prevent it in their children, to go ahead and include more fish on the menu. Fish is low in saturated fat, it's a good source of protein and other nutrients, and the EFAs it contains just might make a difference.
EFAS AND INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
The two main types of inflammatory bowel disease are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. |
| I mention this because the list of conditions that appears to respond to supplementation with EFAs is a long one. EFAs affect the structure and behavior of cells in a profound way, so it seems likely that their potential uses extend beyond what we can currendy imagine. So far, researchers have looked at the potential benefits of EFAs for treating everything from kidney disease to migraine headaches. An increasing number of physicians are routinely recommending EFAs along with other common supplements, such as calcium, magnesium, or vitamins C or E. |
Dr. Gary Null
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| A double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effects of 8 weeks of Abana supplementation on patients with ischemic heart disease and on ischemic heart disease patients with hypertension. Results showed that Abana causes a significant reduction in the severity and frequency of anginal episodes, significant improvements in ventricular function, and significant blood-pressure reduction.
J. A. Antani et al., "Effect of Abana on Ventricular Function in Ischemic Heart Disease," Japanese Heart Journal 31, no. 6 (November 1990): 829-35. |
| The Effect of Periconceptional Multivit-amin-Mineral supplementation on Vertigo, Nausea and Vomiting in the First Trimester of Pregnancy," Archives Gynecology and Obstetrics 251, no. 4 (1992): 181-85.
A placebo-controlled study gave 250 mg of powdered ginger root to women with nausea and vomiting 4 times a day for a total of 4 days. Seventy percent of the women taking the ginger root experienced relief.
W. Fischer-Rasmussen et al., "Ginger Treatment of Hyper-emesis Gravidarum," European Journal of Obstet. Gynaecol. Reprod. Biology 38 (1990): 19-24. |
| Hot News
Morning sickness has been the subject of much recent research; among treatments found effective by studies are acupressure on the pericardium 6 point, or the use of a wristband that puts pressure on this point; vitamin B6 supplementation; and powdered ginger capsules. One study concludes, however, that morning sickness may not be an unmitigated evil; it is connected with a lower miscarriage rate and may serve to protect the fetus from food poisoning. |
Barrie R Cassileth, Ph.D.
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 By
1998 the government will require increased folate supplementation in grain-based foods, cereals, and dietary supplements to reduce incidence of neural tube defects during fetal development.
T) RDA for Adults: 2 meg (micrograms).
1^ RDA for Pregnant Women: 2.2 meg.
(cobalamin) Purpose: Helps make red blood cells; builds genetic material needed by all cells; converts food to energy. Source: All animal products: eggs, meat, poultry, seafood, low-fat dairy-products; not in plants. Signs of Deficiency: Weakness, sore tongue, tingling in arms and legs. |
Dr. Gary Null
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| Three SLE patients who had previously not benefited from oral and intramuscular vitamin E experienced a total disappearance of lesions following 6 weeks of intramuscular B12 supplementation.
M. T. Block, "Vitamin E in the Treatment of Diseases of the Skin," Clinical Medicine, January 1953, pp. 31-34. |
Stephen T., M.D. Sinatra
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 Thus men may need higher levels of supplementation than women.
In a study of patients who had undergone coronary artery angioplasty, researchers in Atlanta demonstrated that patients taking vitamin E had less risk of recurrent narrowing (restenosis) of the blood vessels. Since restenosis rates for angioplasty are high, I am working with some major medical centers to assess the efficacy of multimineral combinations in preventing reclosure of the vessels following balloon angioplasty. |
David Brownstein
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 Vitamin supplementation includes Vitamin C- 3000mg/day (since the adrenal glands have the highest concentration of Vitamin C in the body), and Vitamin E- 400 I.U./day. Adrenal glandulars have also been helpful and are available at health food stores.
1 Jeffries, William. Safe Uses of Cortisol. Charles C. Thomas, 1996 2
Plechner, Alfred. An effective veterinary model may offer therapeutic promise for human conditions: roles of Cortisol and thyroid hormones. Medical Hypotheses, in press.
3 Mawrey, Daniel. The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine. |
| Perhaps by raising levels of human growth hormone (as well as DHEA, melatonin, testosterone and the other hormones) to levels present at younger years, we can slow down or even reverse many of the signs and symptoms of aging. supplementation of human growth hormone, along with the other natural hormones in this book, does appear to clinically reverse many of the signs of aging in most people who take it.
Growth Hormone Decline Amount
100 _
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Age (years)
Figure 10: Human growth hormone decline as related to aging2
A study by Dr. |
| L-tryptophan supplementation may also be helpful in promoting melatonin production.
Final Thoughts
I have found melatonin effective for about 60% of patients that have sleep difficulties. I think melatonin should be used along with the other natural hormones mentioned in this book when indicated. I have often observed that melatonin alone did not improve sleep, but with the addition of DHEA, melatonin became much more effective. Sometimes finding the right combination is a process of trial and error. Be patient and find the right treatment for you. |
| Melatonin supplementation will usually produce a deeper, more satisfying sleep. Upon taking melatonin, I have had more than one male patient tell me that he gets up fewer times at night to urinate. It is common for aging men to have to urinate throughout the night due to an enlarged prostate. Does melatonin keep men from getting up as much during the night because they have a deeper sleep or does melatonin have a direct effect on the prostate? Future studies need to be undertaken to answer this important question. |
| The proper supplementation of natural hormones along with a healthy lifestyle can reduce the negative effects of aging, improve the functioning of the immune system and effectively treat disease. The results that I see are genuine. They are positive outcomes taking place in real patients—people that are benefiting from a sensible, balanced and natural approach. As a physician, I am proud to be a part of this transformation. To all of our health!
1 Lee, John. |
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