Category: Health Concerns

HEALTH APPRAISAL

Health – COMPREHENSIVE

NAME _____________________________________________________ DATE _________________

CIRCLE the number which best describes the frequency of your symptoms. If you do not know the answer to the question, leave it blank. When you are finished, please add the number of points in each section and enter the number in the Total Points box. The points for YES is the number inside the parenthesis ( ).

(0) never or rarely     (1) twice a week or less    (2) Three to six times a week     (3) daily

 

PART I

Section A 1.  Indigestion 0 1 2 3 2.  Excessive belching, burping and/or bloating 0 1 2 3 3.  Gas immediately following a meal 0 1 2 3 4.  Sense of fullness during and after meals 0 1 2 3 5.  Poor appetite, disinterest in food 0 1 2 3 6.  Offensive breath 0 1 2 3 7.  Bad taste in mouth 0 1 2 3 8.  Partial loss of taste of smell 0 1 2 3 9.  Difficult bowel movements 0 1 2 3 10.  Difficulty swallowing 0 1 2 3 11.  Unintentional weight loss N     Y(5) 12.  History of anemia, unresponsive to iron N     Y(5) 13.  Vegetarian (no eggs, dairy) N     Y(3) 14.  Picky eater N     Y(3) 15.  Spoon shaped nails N     Y(3) 16.  Sores in corner of mouth N     Y(3) 17.  Smooth tongue N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section C 1.  Stomach pain, burning, aching 1-4 hrs. after eating 0 1 2 3 2.  Feeling hungry an hour or two after eating 0 1 2 3 3.  Strong emotions, thought, smell of food aggravates stomach 0 1 2 3 4.  Heartburn, especially when lying down or bending forward 0 1 2 3 5.  Heartburn due to spicy and fatty foods, chocolate, peppers, citrus, alcohol, caffeine 0 1 2 3 6.  Difficulty or pain when swallowing 0 1 2 3 7.  Chest pain, difficulty breathing, lung infections 0 1 2 3 8.  Constipation, difficult bowel movements 0 1 2 3 9.  Black, lorry stool 0 1 2 3 10.  Unexplained weight gain N     Y(5) 11.  Temporary relief from antacids, carbonated beverages, cream/milk/food N     Y(5) 12.  Digestive problems subside with rest and relaxation N     Y(5)   Total Points __________ Section B 1.  Indigestion and fullness lasts 2-4 hours after eating 0 1 2 3 2.  Pain, tenderness, soreness on left side under rib cage 0 1 2 3 3.  Bloated 0 1 2 3 4.  Excessive passage of gas 0 1 2 3 5.  Abdominal cramps, aches 0 1 2 3 6.  Nausea and/or vomiting 0 1 2 3 7.  Dry, flaky skin, dry brittle hair 0 1 2 3 8.  Difficulty gaining weight 0 1 2 3 9.  Weakness and fatigue 0 1 2 3 10.  Specific foods/beverages aggravate indigestion 0 1 2 3 11.  Roughage and fiber causes constipation 0 1 2 3 12.  Three or more large bowel movements daily 0 1 2 3 13.  Alternating constipation and diarrhea 0 1 2 3 14.  Stool poorly formed 0 1 2 3 15.  Stool – undigested food 0 1 2 3 16.  Stool – greasy, shiny 0 1 2 3 17.  Stool yellowish, foul smelling 0 1 2 3 18.  Mucus in stool 0 1 2 3 19.  Black stool 0 1 2 3 20.  Rectal spasms 0 1 2 3 21.  Dark urine 0 1 2 3 22.  Bone and back pain 0 1 2 3 23.  Pounding heart 0 1 2 3 24.  Iron deficiency anemia 0 1 2 3   Total Points __________

Section D 1.  Lower abdominal pain, cramping and/or spasms 0 1 2 3 2.  Lower abdominal pain relief by passing stool or gas 0 1 2 3 3.  Raw fruits, vegetables and stress aggravate bowel pain 0 1 2 3 4.  Diarrhea (loose watery stool) 0 1 2 3 5.  More than three bowel movements daily 0 1 2 3 6.  Excessive gas and bloating 0 1 2 3 7.  Painful, difficult, straining during bowel movements 0 1 2 3 8.  Hard, dry or small stool 0 1 2 3 9.  Extremely narrow stools, thin stool 0 1 2 3 10.  Alternating diarrhea / constipation 0 1 2 3 11.  Mucus and pus in stool 0 1 2 3 12.  Feeling that bowels do not empty completely 0 1 2 3 13.  Rectal pain or cramps 0 1 2 3 14.  Bright red blood following bowel movement 0 1 2 3 15.  Anal itching 0 1 2 3 16.  Irritable, moody 0 1 2 3 17.  Rash under breast, armpit, around navel or groin area N     Y(5) 18.  Feel ill in damp, moldy settings or rainy weather N     Y(3)   Total Points __________   PART II

Section A 1.  Moderate to severe pain under right side of rib cage 0 1 2 3 2.  Abdominal pain worse with deep breathing 0 1 2 3 3.  Bitter fluid repeats after eating 0 1 2 3 4.  Bloated, full feeling 0 1 2 3 5.  Belching, heartburn, gas 0 1 2 3 6.  Fatty foods cause indigestion 0 1 2 3 7.  Nausea and/or vomiting 0 1 2 3 8.  Feel restless, agitated, angry 0 1 2 3 9.  Unexplained itchy skin worse at night 0 1 2 3 10.  Yellowish cast to skin, eyes 0 1 2 3 11.  Stool color alternates from clay colored to normal brown 0 1 2 3 12.  General feeling of poor health 0 1 2 3 13.  Fatigue, weakness, exhaustion 0 1 2 3 14.  Unable to concentrate, irritable, confused 0 1 2 3 15.  Aching muscles 0 1 2 3 16.  Trembling hands 0 1 2 3 17.  Weight gain due to water retention 0 1 2 3 18.  Swollen feet and or legs 0 1 2 3 19.  Bleeding tendencies in gums, nose 0 1 2 3 20.  Loss of chest and armpit hair 0 1 2 3 21.  Reddened skin, especially palms 0 1 2 3 22.  Dark urine, diminished flow 0 1 2 3 23.  Dry, flaky skin and/or hair N     Y(3) 24.  Loss of appetite and weight N     Y(3) 25.  Easy bruising N     Y(3) 26.  Thinning of pubic hair N     Y(3) 27.  Feeling of extreme dryness N     Y(3) 28.  Loss of skin elasticity N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section B 1.  Tired, sluggish 0 1 2 3 2.  Feel cold, hands, feet, all over 0 1 2 3 3.  Tight sensation in neck 0 1 2 3 4.  Difficult, infrequent bowel movements 0 1 2 3 5.  Dryness, discoloration skin, hair 0 1 2 3 6.  Thick, brittle nails 0 1 2 3 7.  Puffy face, hands and feet 0 1 2 3 8.  Swollen upper eyelids 0 1 2 3 9.  Eyeballs move involuntarily 0 1 2 3 10.  Muscles weak, cramp, and/or tremble 0 1 2 3 11.  Slow mental processes, forgetfulness 0 1 2 3 12.  Slow heart beats 0 1 2 3 13.  Abdominal swelling 0 1 2 3 14.  Unsteady gait, movements 0 1 2 3 15.  Lack of interest in sex 0 1 2 3 16.  Weight gain easily N     Y(5) 17.  Swelling of the neck N     Y(5) 18.  Outer third of eyebrow thins N     Y(3) 19.  Thinning hair on scalp, face and genitals N     Y(3) 20.  Loss of appetite N     Y(3) 21.  Premenstrual tension N     Y(3) 22.  Infertility N     Y(3) 23.  Excessive menstrual bleeding N     Y(3) 24.  Absence of periods N     Y(3)   Total Points __________   PART III

Section A 1.  Progressive, mild fatigue after exertion or stress 0 1 2 3 2.  General weakness 0 1 2 3 3.  Blurred vision, dizzy when rising 0 1 2 3 4.  Depression 0 1 2 3 5.  Rapid mood swings 0 1 2 3 6.  Irritable 0 1 2 3 7.  Dark circles under the eyes 0 1 2 3 8.  Abdominal pain, indigestion 0 1 2 3 9.  Bouts of nausea, vomiting 0 1 2 3 10.  Diarrhea or constipation 0 1 2 3 11.  Blotchy skin (white patches) 0 1 2 3 12.  Craving for salty foods 0 1 2 3 13.  Decreased appetites N     Y(3) 14.  Gradual weight loss N     Y(3) 15.  Tan skin, no sun N     Y(3) 16.  Gradual loss of body hair N     Y(3) 17.  Black freckles on upper forehead, face, neck N     Y(3) 18.  Sensitive to minor changes in weather and surroundings N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section B

1.  Catch colds easily 0 1 2 3 2.  Infections – eye, ears, nose throat, lungs, skin 0 1 2 3 3.  Diarrhea 0 1 2 3 4.  Puffy face 0 1 2 3 5.  Dark areas on cheeks, under eyes 0 1 2 3 6.  Difficulty seeing at night 0 1 2 3 7.  Eyes tear, burn, discharge 0 1 2 3 8.  Ears, continuously drain 0 1 2 3 9.  Nasal congestion or discharge thick, yellow, green 0 1 2 3 10.  Sore throat or post-nasal drip 0 1 2 3 11.  Cough with mucus 0 1 2 3 12.  Inflamed or bleeding gums 0 1 2 3 13.  Cold sores, fever blisters 0 1 2 3 14.  Gums swelling, bleeding 0 1 2 3 15.  Unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds in last three months N     Y(3) 16.  Lack of appetite N     Y(3)

Section B (continued) 17.  Nail discolorations N     Y(3) 18.  Bumpy skin on back or arms N     Y(3) 19.  Wounds heal slowly N     Y(3) 20.  Hair is easily plucked out or falls out, grows slow N     Y(3) 21.  Lips are red and swollen N     Y(3) 22.  Tongue is red, swollen, raw looking N     Y(3) 23.  Impaired taste and smell N     Y(3) 24.  Neck, armpit groin swelling N     Y(5)   Total Points __________

Section C

1.  Muscles fatigue quickly 0 1 2 3 2.  Moody, irritable, tired 0 1 2 3 3.  Severe fatigue 0 1 2 3 4.  Severe joint pain, redness, swelling 0 1 2 3 5.  Chronic pain, stiffness througout body 0 1 2 3 6.  Migraine headaches 0 1 2 3 7.  Specific food(s) worsen pain, inflamation, stiffness 0 1 2 3 8.  Sensitive to light (skin or ees) 0 1 2 3 9.  Dark circles under eyes 0 1 2 3 10.  Swollen-looking face or body 0 1 2 3 11.  Localized or general itching – eyes, ears, throat, nose, skin 0 1 2 3 12.  Clear, wattery discharge from nose, eyes 0 1 2 3 13.  Extreme dryness of eyes, nasal passages, mouth 0 1 2 3 14.  Sneezing 0 1 2 3 15.  Cough or wheezing 0 1 2 3 16.  Moldy, damp environments trigger sickness 0 1 2 3 17.  Post nasal drip with certain foods 0 1 2 3 18.  Heart palpitations after eating certain foods 0 1 2 3 19.  Weight loss, muscle weakness N     Y(3) 20.  Scalp hair falls out easily in clumps N     Y(3) 21.  Hair loss, entire body N     Y(5) 22.  Easy bruising N     Y(3) 23.  Nails -loosened, pitted, discolored N     Y(3)   Total Points __________   PART IV

Section A 1.  Sense of being overly tired 0 1 2 3 2.  Prolonged recovery after exercise 0 1 2 3 3.  Coldness especially in hands and feet 0 1 2 3 4.  Difficulty breathing on exertion, palpitations 0 1 2 3 5.  Headache, dizziness, spots before eyes 0 1 2 3 6.  Irritable 0 1 2 3 7.  Forgetful, poor concentration 0 1 2 3 8.  Mild yellowing of eyes or skin 0 1 2 3 9.  Ringing in ears 0 1 2 3 10.  Susceptible to infections 0 1 2 3 11.  Jaundice and dark urine 0 1 2 3 12.  Black stool (no iron supplements) 0 1 2 3 13.  Unusual cravings for clay, dirt, ice 0 1 2 3 14.  Fingernails are flattened, spoon shaped, brittle, thin 0 1 2 3 15.  White patches on skin N     Y(5) 16.  Pale lips, gums, eyelids, nail beds N     Y(3) 17.  Red, sore tongue N     Y(3) 18.  Mouth, throat, rectum ulcers N     Y(3) 19.  Unusual bruising N     Y(3) 20.  Spontaneous bleeding – nose, mouth, gums, rectum or vagina N     Y(3) 21.  Small red dots under the skin N     Y(5) 22.  Sores in the corner of mouth N     Y(3) 23.  Smooth tongue N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section B

1.  Nosebleeds 0 1 2 3 2.  Headache, typically in morning 0 1 2 3 3.  Weakness, fatigue, nervous 0 1 2 3 4.  Ringing in ears 0 1 2 3 5.  Dizziness, drowsiness 0 1 2 3 6.  Blushing – no apparent cause 0 1 2 3 7.  Numbness, tingling in hands and feet 0 1 2 3 8.  Blurred vision 0 1 2 3   Total Points __________

Section C

1.  Feel jittery 0 1 2 3 2.  Heartburn that moves to neck, jaws, left shoulder and arm 0 1 2 3 3.  First effort of the day causes pain around chest 0 1 2 3 4.  Dizziness 0 1 2 3 5.  Choking, smothering sensation 0 1 2 3 6.  Exhaust with minor exertion 0 1 2 3

Section C (continued) 7.  Heart pounds easily 0 1 2 3 8.  Heavy sweating (no exertion) 0 1 2 3 9.  Mild or severe chest pain 0 1 2 3 10.  Difficulty catching breath especially during exercise 0 1 2 3 11.  Wheezing or dry cough 0 1 2 3 12.  Heart palpitations – slow, rapid or irregular 0 1 2 3 13.  Swelling in feet, ankle, legs comes and goes 0 1 2 3 14.  Veins on neck are prominent 0 1 2 3   Total Points __________

Section D

1.  Fluid retention 0 1 2 3 2.  Numbness, tingling, prickling sensation in hands, feet 0 1 2 3 3.  Muscle pain in the calves or thighs when walking 0 1 2 3 4.  Muscle pain at rest 0 1 2 3 5.  Cold feet 0 1 2 3 6.  Headaches 0 1 2 3 7.  Dizziness, everything spins 0 1 2 3 8.  Poor concentration 0 1 2 3 9.  Slurred speech 0 1 2 3 10.  Ringing in ears 0 1 2 3 11.  Brief moments of hearing loss 0 1 2 3 12.  Nausea comes and goes quickly 0 1 2 3 13.  Falling without known cause 0 1 2 3 14.  Brief difficulty swallowing 0 1 2 3 15.  Brief difficulty speaking 0 1 2 3 16.  Stammering or twitching of tongue 0 1 2 3 17.  Double vision 0 1 2 3 18.  Difficulty understanding spoken or written word 0 1 2 3 19.  Brief loss of muscular coordination 0 1 2 3 20.  Inability to recognize persons or things that pass very quickly 0 1 2 3 21.  Inability to feel pain or temperature usually on one side that disappears quickly 0 1 2 3 22.  One leg or arm – shiny hairless skin N     Y(5) 23.  Discolored or blue toes N     Y(5) 24.  Open sores on feet and legs N     Y(5) 25.  Fingers and toes numb in response to cold weather even when protected. N     Y(5)   Total Points __________   PART V

Section A

Missing meals or fasting is associated with the following:

1.  Sudden anxiety associated with hunger 0 1 2 3 2.  Tingling sensation in hands 0 1 2 3 3.  Palpitations 0 1 2 3 4.  Feel shaker, jittery, tremors 0 1 2 3 5.  Weakness 0 1 2 3 6.  Profuse perspiration, clammy skin 0 1 2 3 7.  Nightmares 0 1 2 3 8.  Awoke from sleep restless 0 1 2 3 9.  Agitated, easily upset, nervous 0 1 2 3 10.  Poor memory, forgetful 0 1 2 3 11.  Confusion, disoriented 0 1 2 3 12.  Dizziness, feel faint 0 1 2 3 13.  Feeling cold, numbness 0 1 2 3 14.  Mild headache 0 1 2 3 15.  Blurred or double vision 0 1 2 3 16.  Lack of coordination 0 1 2 3   Total Points __________

Section B 1.  Excessive, frequent urination 0 1 2 3 2.  Increased thirst and appetite 0 1 2 3 3.  Blurred vision, failing eyesight 0 1 2 3 4.  Fatigue, drowsiness 0 1 2 3 5.  Crave sweets, but eating sweets does not relieve craving 0 1 2 3 6.  Feel hungry for air (can’t get enough) 0 1 2 3 7.  Breath smells sweet 0 1 2 3 8.  Depressed 0 1 2 3 9.  Tingling, numbness, prickling sensation in extremities 0 1 2 3 10.  Profuse sweating 0 1 2 3 11.  Dribble after voiding 0 1 2 3 12.  Impotency 0 1 2 3 13.  Dizziness when standing from sitting position 0 1 2 3 14.  Slurred speech 0 1 2 3 15.  Unintentional weight loss 0 1 2 3 16.  Reoccurring persistent infection bladder, skin, or gums 0 1 2 3 17.  Boils and leg sores 0 1 2 3 18.  Very slow wound healing 0 1 2 3 19.  Excessive weight gain 0 1 2 3   Total Points __________ PART VI

1.  Weakness and fatigue 0 1 2 3 2.  Chest discomfort, pain 0 1 2 3 3.  Sudden breathing difficulty 0 1 2 3 4.  Shortness of breath 0 1 2 3 5.  Shallow breathing 0 1 2 3 6.  Noisy rattling sounds when breathing in or out 0 1 2 3 7.  Cough – dry or moist 0 1 2 3 8.  Rapid heartbeats 0 1 2 3 9.  Excessive perspiration 0 1 2 3 10.  Anxiety, restlessness 0 1 2 3 11.  Consistent low-grade temperature (100-101°) 0 1 2 3 12.  Bluish nails and lips 0 1 2 3

13.  Post nasal drip 0 1 2 3 14.  Sputum – thick, clear, yellow 0 1 2 3 15.  Sputum – smells offensive 0 1 2 3 16.  Bloody sputum 0 1 2 3 17.  Bad breath 0 1 2 3 18.  Wheezing 0 1 2 3 19.  Loud snoring 0 1 2 3 20.  Sleepy during day 0 1 2 3 21.  Morning headache 0 1 2 3 22.  Difficulty concentrating 0 1 2 3 23.  Unexplained weight loss N     Y(3) 24.  Infections settle in lungs N     Y(3) 25.  Flu symptoms last longer than 5 days N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

 

PART VII

1.  Retain fluid throughout body 0 1 2 3 2.  Mild lower back pain 0 1 2 3 3.  Frequent urge to urinate, but only small amounts pass 0 1 2 3 4.  Interruption of urine stream 0 1 2 3 5.  Excessive urination 0 1 2 3 6.  Excessive urination at night 0 1 2 3 7.  Burning when urinating 0 1 2 3 8.  Frequent urination with urgency 0 1 2 3 9.  Rarely need to urinate 0 1 2 3 10.  Difficulty passing urine 0 1 2 3 11.  Dripping after urination 0 1 2 3

12.  Can’t hold urine 0 1 2 3 13.  Bloody, cloudy and/or darkened urine 0 1 2 3 14.  Strong smelling urine 0 1 2 3 15.  Joint and muscle pain 0 1 2 3 16.  Tingling in joints 0 1 2 3 17.  Dark circles under eyes 0 1 2 3 18.  Gray, blackish caste to skin 0 1 2 3 19.  Back or leg pains associated with dripping after urination N     Y(5) 20.  Poor skin elasticity, dryness N     Y(3)   Total Points __________   PART VIII (Men Only)

Section A 1.  Frequent or urgent need to urinate 0 1 2 3 2.  Delayed, weak, or interrupted urinary stream 0 1 2 3 3.  Pain or burning upon urination 0 1 2 3 4.  Urge to urinate several times a night 0 1 2 3 5.  Rose colored (bloody) urine 0 1 2 3 6.  Difficulty urinating 0 1 2 3 7.  A sense of bladder fullness 0 1 2 3 8.  Ejaculation causes pain 0 1 2 3 9.  Blood in the semen 0 1 2 3 10.  Lack of sex drive 0 1 2 3 11.  Impotency 0 1 2 3 12.  Pain or fatigue in the legs or back 0 1 2 3 13.  Dripping after urination 0 1 2 3 14.  Increased straining with small amounts of urine passed 0 1 2 3 15.  Anemia N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section B 1.  Itchy patches around inner thigh and groin 0 1 2 3 2.  Itching at night 0 1 2 3 3.  Painful testicles 0 1 2 3 4.  Difficulty attaining and/or maintaining an erection 0 1 2 3 5.  Low sexual drive 0 1 2 3 6.  Premature ejaculation 0 1 2 3 7.  Low energy level or stamina 0 1 2 3 8.  Inflammation of the head of penis N     Y(5) 9.  Genital and/or rectal rash or irritation N     Y(5) 10.  Distorted nail growth N     Y(3) 11.  Loss of pubic or armpit hair N     Y(3) 12.  Infertile N     Y(3) 13.  Low sperm count, low sperm motility N     Y(3) 14.  Unexplained weight gain N     Y(3) 15.  Testicles appear smaller N     Y(3) 16.  Development of breasts or nipple tenderness N     Y(3) 17.  Feeling of heaviness or hardness in testicle N     Y(3) 18.  Sparse beard or slow hair growth N     Y(3) 19.  Decreased body hair N     Y(3) 20.  Fine wrinkling in corner of mouth or around eyes N     Y(3)   Total Points __________   PART IX (Women Only)

Section A 1.  Insomnia 0 1 2 3 2.  Abdominal bloating 0 1 2 3 3.  Breast tenderness, swelling 0 1 2 3 4.  Breast lumps appear 0 1 2 3 5.  Heart palpitations 0 1 2 3 6.  Sweating and flushing 0 1 2 3 7.  Depressed, irritable, nervous 0 1 2 3 8.  Easy to anger, resentful 0 1 2 3 9.  Easily overwhelmed 0 1 2 3 10.  Nausea and/or vomiting 0 1 2 3 11.  Diarrhea or constipation 0 1 2 3 12.  Headache 0 1 2 3 13.  Food cravings, binge eating 0 1 2 3 14.  Back pain 0 1 2 3 15.  Numbness, tingling in hands and feet 0 1 2 3 16.  Clumsiness 0 1 2 3 17.  Feeling hopeless, sad 0 1 2 3 18.  Weight gain, water N     Y(3) 19.  Suicidal N     Y(10)   Total Points __________

Section B

1.  Vaginal dryness, pain 0 1 2 3 2.  Painful intercourse 0 1 2 3 3.  Engorged breasts 0 1 2 3 4.  Milk production (not nursing) 0 1 2 3 5.  Disinterest in sex 0 1 2 3 6.  Blurred vision 0 1 2 3 7.  Headache 0 1 2 3 8.  Acne and/or oily skin 0 1 2 3 9.  Aggressive feelings 0 1 2 3 10.  Overwhelming urges for sexual intercourse 0 1 2 3 11.  Absence of menstrual flow for six or more months N     Y(20) 12.  Occasionally skip periods N     Y(5) 13.  Menstruation began after 16 years of age N     Y(3) 14.  Breasts shrinking N     Y(5) 15.  Thinning pubic and armpit hair N     Y(5) 16.  Unable to get pregnant N     Y(10) 17.  Miscarriage N     Y(3) 18.  Excess facial hair N     Y(5) 19.  Poor sense of smell N     Y(3) 20.  Monthly abdominal pain without bleeding N     Y(5)   Total Points __________

Section C

1.  Painful intercourse 0 1 2 3 2.  Menstrual type pain between menses 0 1 2 3 3.  Irregular time intervals between periods N     Y(5) 4.  Extended menses greater than 32 days N     Y(10) 5.  Shortened menses (less than every 24 days) N     Y(5) 6.  Vaginal bleeding between periods N     Y(10) 7.  Vaginal discharge between periods N     Y(5) 8.  Pain during periods is getting progressively worse N     Y(5)

Section C (continued) 9.  Pain, cramps 0 1 2 3 10.  Unusual fatigue, can’t work 0 1 2 3 11.  Irritable and depressed 0 1 2 3 12.  Constipation and/or diarrhea 0 1 2 3 13.  Lower abdominal pain, bloating 0 1 2 3 14.  Nausea and/or vomiting 0 1 2 3 15.  Lower backache 0 1 2 3 16.  Pelvic and/or rectal pressure 0 1 2 3 17.  Urinary difficulties 0 1 2 3 18.  Frequent urination N     Y(5) 19.  Scanty blood flow N     Y(3) 20.  Heavy blood flow N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section D

1.  Lumps are painful, tender 0 1 2 3 2.  Clear, gray or yellow vaginal discharge 0 1 2 3 3.  Vaginal bleeding after sex or between periods 0 1 2 3 4.  Burning or itching of the external genitalia 0 1 2 3 5.  Urgent, painful urination 0 1 2 3 6.  Lower abdominal or back pain 0 1 2 3 7.  Heavy, watery and bloody vaginal discharge 0 1 2 3 8.  Heavy menstrual flow 0 1 2 3 9.  Pelvic cramps 0 1 2 3 10.  Thin, scant white vaginal discharge 0 1 2 3 11.  Greenish, yellow, or offensive discharge 0 1 2 3 12.  Cheesy white discharge 0 1 2 3 13.  Breast lumps or swelling N     Y(10) 14.  Lumps hurt just before period N     Y(5) 15.  Swelling under armpit N     Y(5) 16.  Change in breast size, shape N     Y(10) 17.  White or slightly bloody vaginal discharge, one week prior to period N     Y(10)   Total Points __________

Section E

1.  Insomnia 0 1 2 3 2.  Abdominal bloating 0 1 2 3 3.  Breast tenderness, swelling 0 1 2 3 4.  Breast lumps appear 0 1 2 3 5.  Heart palpitations 0 1 2 3 6.  Sweating and flushing 0 1 2 3 7.  Depressed, irritable, nervous 0 1 2 3 8.  Easy to anger, resentful 0 1 2 3 9.  Easily overwhelmed 0 1 2 3 10.  Nausea and/or vomiting 0 1 2 3 11.  Diarrhea or constipation 0 1 2 3 12.  Headache 0 1 2 3 13.  Food cravings, binge eating 0 1 2 3 14.  Back pain 0 1 2 3 15.  Numbness, tingling in hands and feet 0 1 2 3 16.  Clumsiness 0 1 2 3 17.  Feeling hopeless, sad 0 1 2 3 18.  Weight gain, water N     Y(3) 19.  Suicidal N     Y(10)   Total Points __________   PART X

Section A 1.  Generalized bone tenderness and achiness 0 1 2 3 2.  Localized bone pain 0 1 2 3 3.  Bone deformity or swelling 0 1 2 3 4.  Shins hurt during or after exercise 0 1 2 3 5.  Low back or hip pain 0 1 2 3 6.  Difficulty sitting straight 0 1 2 3 7.  Limp, walking difficulties 0 1 2 3 8.  Crunching or cracking sounds when moving joints 0 1 2 3 9.  Hands, feet, throat spasms or feel numb 0 1 2 3 10.  Joint pain and stiffness – especially spine, hips, knees 0 1 2 3 11.  Hearing loss, headaches, ringing in ears 0 1 2 3 12.  Cavities N     Y(5) 13.  Tooth loss due to gum disease N     Y(5) 14.  Established bone loss N     Y(10) 15.  Calcium deposits N     Y(5) 16.  Spinal curvature N     Y(10) 17.  Recent loss of height N     Y(10) 18.  Bow legs N     Y(5) 19.  Stooped posture N     Y(5) 20.  Hump at base of neck N     Y(5) 21.  Irregular patches of increased pigmentation N     Y(3) 22.  Unexplained bone fracture N     Y(10)   Total Points __________

Section B

1.  Muscle aches and pains 0 1 2 3 2.  Muscle stiffness, tension 0 1 2 3 3.  Specific points on body feel sore when presses 0 1 2 3 4.  Headaches 0 1 2 3 5.  Fatigue, tired, sluggish 0 1 2 3 6.  Difficulty sleeping 0 1 2 3 7.  Feel unrefreshed upon awakening 0 1 2 3 8.  Difficulty speaking, swallowing 0 1 2 3 9.  Muscles cramp or spasm 0 1 2 3 10.  Muscles twitch or tremble – eyelids, thumb, calf muscle 0 1 2 3 11.  Irresistible urge to move legs 0 1 2 3 12.  Legs move during sleep 0 1 2 3 13.  Unpleasant crawling sensation inside calves, while lying down 0 1 2 3 14.  Numbing, tingling sensation 0 1 2 3 15.  Excessive joint mobility 0 1 2 3 16.  Unable to fully straighten or extend legs and/or arms 0 1 2 3 17.  Upper or lower back pain 0 1 2 3 18.  Loss of muscle strength N     Y(3) 19.  Muscle loss, wasting N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section C

1.  Joint stiffness, soreness, swelling 0 1 2 3 2.  Red, swollen painful joints 0 1 2 3 3.  Joint stiffness improves when resting, worsens with movement 0 1 2 3 4.  Dry mouth 0 1 2 3 5.  Dry painful eyes 0 1 2 3 6.  Joint stiffness worsens with rest, improves with movement 0 1 2 3 7.  Cracking joints 0 1 2 3 8.  Limp 0 1 2 3 9.  Shooting, aching, tingling pain down the back of leg 0 1 2 3

Section C (continued) 10.  Joint pain involves one or a few joints 0 1 2 3 11.  Joints hurt when moving or carrying weight 0 1 2 3 12.  Limited range of motion 0 1 2 3 13.  Difficulty standing up from sitting position 0 1 2 3 14.  Walks slowly 0 1 2 3 15.  Headache 0 1 2 3 16.  Difficulty chewing food or opening mouth 0 1 2 3 17.  Intermittent pain, ache on one side of head spreading to cheek, temple, lower jaw, ear neck and shoulder 0 1 2 3 18.  Numbness, prickling, tingling sensation in the neck, shoulder and arms 0 1 2 3 19.  Injure, strain, sprain easily 0 1 2 3 20.  Discomfort or pain in neck, shoulder or arm 0 1 2 3 21.  Involuntary muscle spasms 0 1 2 3 22.  Deliberate movement with hands are difficult 0 1 2 3 23.  Red painless skin lumps on elbows, knees, toes, ear, nose, back of scalp N     Y(5) 24.  Knobby overgrowths on the joints closest to the fingertips N     Y(5) 25.  Muscle loss around inflamed joint N     Y(10) 26.  Double jointed N     Y(3) 27.  One leg shorter than the other N     Y(5)   Total Points __________

Section D Neurological

1.  Head feels heavy 0 1 2 3 2.  Light headedness/fainting 0 1 2 3 3.  Ringing/buzzing in ears 0 1 2 3 4.  Trembling hands 0 1 2 3 5.  Limbs feel too heavy to hold up 0 1 2 3 6.  Loss of feeling in hands and/or feet (toes) 0 1 2 3 7.  Tingling sensation followed by numbness, or pain begins in hands and feet and spreads toward the center of your body 0 1 2 3 8.  Unsteady gait, lose balance 0 1 2 3 9.  Muscles feel weak 0 1 2 3 10.  Weak grip with spasm and arm weakness 0 1 2 3 11.  Exhaustion on slightest effort 0 1 2 3 12.  Need for 10-12 hours sleep 0 1 2 3 13.  Muscular weakness begins in leg and moves upward 0 1 2 3 14.  Difficulty walking, moving around, handling small objects 0 1 2 3 15.  Nervous, anxious 0 1 2 3 16.  Convulsions 0 1 2 3 17.  Confused, forgetful 0 1 2 3 18.  Slowed or slurred speech 0 1 2 3 19.  Difficulty breathing 0 1 2 3 20.  Blurred vision 0 1 2 3 21.  Eyelids droop 0 1 2 3 22.  Impaired hearing, eyesight, sense of touch smell taste N     Y(10) 23.  Accident prone – trip, stumble, feel clumsy N     Y(5)   Total Points __________   WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING MEDICATIONS ARE YOU TAKING [ ] Antacids
[ ] Cortisone/anti-inflammatory
[ ] Oral contraceptives
[ ] Antibiotic/antifungal
[ ] Heart medication
[ ] Radiation
[ ] Antidepressants
[ ] High blood pressure
[ ] Relaxant/sleeping pills
[ ] Anti-diabetic/insulin
[ ] Hormones
[ ] Thyroid medication
[ ] Asprin / Tylenol
[ ] Laxatives
[ ] Ulcer medication
[ ] Chemotherapy
[ ] Lithium

Other: _______________________________________________________________

Recreational drugs: _____________________________________________________


WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DO YOU EAT, DRINK, OR USE

[ ] Alcohol
[ ] Cigarettes
[ ] Fried foods
[ ] Candy
[ ] Coffee
[ ] Luncheon meats
[ ] Carbonated beverages
[ ] Distilled water
[ ] Margarine
[ ] Chew tobacco
[ ] Fast food restaurants
[ ] Saccharine (Sweet & Low)

Vitamins/minerals (please list): _________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________


WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING APPLY TO YOU

[ ] Are under excessive stress
[ ] Do not exercise regularly
[ ] Salt food without tasting
[ ] Are exposed to chemicals at work
[ ] Are exposed to cigarette smoke
[ ] Diet often

LIST YOUR “TOP” HEALTH SYMPTOM COMPLAINTS:

1. _________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________________________

4. _________________________________________________________________

5. _________________________________________________________________

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS NOT COVERED IN THIS QUESTIONNAIRE?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Seven Inconvenient Truths About the 2009 H1N1 Flu Pandemic


by Dr. Dana Myatt

“Selective reporting” about the H1N1 virus and vaccine make it sound like getting a vaccination for the “pandemic flu” is a no-brainer. Thinking men and women should know the under-reported scientific conclusions and plain vanilla government statistics concerning this year’s “Panic-Demic” before making this seemingly simple but potentially life-threatening decision.

To that end I present these “inconvenient truths” (fully referenced) for your consideration. Please note that it is extremely politically incorrect to question the value of the flu vaccine.

In Health,
Dr. Myatt
 

Seven Inconvenient Truths About the 2009 H1N1 Flu Pandemic

by Dr. Dana Myatt

1.) What is a “Phase Six” Pandemic? (Probably NOT what You Think)

Contrary to popular thought (and most dictionaries), “pandemic” does not mean “large numbers” in WHO / CDC language. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Pandemic Phase Descriptions, “pandemic” refers to distribution, not numbers or severity. Here is the WHO criteria for pandemics:

  • A “Phase 4” pandemic means only that a virus is transmissible between humans.

  • A “Phase 5” pandemic means only that one viral disease has been seen in two countries.

  • A Phase 6 pandemic means only that one viral disease has been seen in three or more countries.

Again, the term “pandemic” does NOT refer to numbers of people affected or severity of the disease. (1)

For perspective, The WHO announced as of 20 September 2009 that there have been 3917 total deaths worldwide from H1N1, on par with world-wide mortality from any seasonal or other flu for this time of year. (2) Malaria kills an average of 3,000 people every dayin southeast Asia. (3)

2.) Is The H1N1 Flu Really a Danger to the U.S.?

Of less than 4,000 flu-related deaths world-wide, only 211 have occurred in the US as of August 2009. (4) This represents a death total lower than from seasonal flu for years 2005 through 2008 in the U.S. (5)

Adding H1N1 and seasonal flu together, flu-related deaths are still lower this year compared to previous “non-pandemic” years.

Not only is the total flu rate lower this year in the U.S., but the H1N1 flu has been much milder than predicted here and abroad. (6-10)

According to the WHO, most H1N1 infections are mild, occurring in numbers comparable to seasonal flues, with fast recovery and mostly without need for medical care. Mortality rates so far have been only a fraction of the number of those reported each year from seasonal flu. WHO also acknowledges that “Large outbreaks of disease have not yet been reported in many countries…” (11)

Harvard researcher Mark Lipsitch, PhD, explained at an Institute of Medicine meeting that on a 1 to 5 scale — with 5 being a 1918-like pandemic — this swine flu pandemic is a 1. Deputy Director of the CDC’s flu division, Daniel Jernigan, MD, concurs. “We are likely to have numbers that look very similar to what Dr. Lipsitch had,” Jernigan said. (12)

3.) Why H1N1-related deaths are actually smaller than reported in the U.S.

As of August 2009, ALL flu-associated deaths in the U.S. are being reported together. H1N1, seasonal flu and “influenza-like illness” (ILI) are added together to give the “flu mortality rate.” Reported illness and death totals, now include “influenza-like illness” (ILI) that in some cases may not be any form of flu at all. (13)

Other reports concede that a portion of reported H1N1 deaths have actually been caused by pneumonia, not the H1N1 virus itself. (14)

Because the new reporting system tallies deaths from all types of flu, the reported numbers of total flu deaths are not all attributable to H1N1. This means the true H1N1 mortality rate is only a portion of the total reported. Remember that deaths from all types of flu added together are lower in the U.S. this year than from the four previous “non pandemic” years before. (5,13)

3.) Flu vaccines provide little or no protection from the flu.

Vaccination is claimed to prevent the spread of influenza, protect individuals from acquiring the disease, and do so to a high degree of efficacy. Unfortunately, the majority of scientific studies do not support these claims. In fact, meta analyses (“master studies”) that look at large numbers of scientific studies and their outcomes, show the opposite. Influenza vaccine is minimally or not at all effective for most age groups. Here is how the numbers break down.

In children under two:

In children under the age of two, influenza vaccines are no more effective than placebo. (15)

One meta analysis evaluating fifty-one published studies with 294,159 observations found “no efficacy” in children under the age of two. (16) The authors conclude that “It was surprising to find only one study of inactivated vaccine in children under two years, given current recommendations to vaccinate healthy children from six months old in the USA and Canada.”

Simply put, the authors question why the U.S. is targeting children under the age of two for vaccination when the studies show the vaccine to be ineffective in this age group.

In children over two:

The same meta analysis found influenza vaccines effective 33% of the time in children over the age of two. (16) Followed to it’s logical conclusion, this means the flu vaccines are ineffective 67% of the time in children over the age of two.

Another study found influenza vaccine ineffective up to age 5. (17)

In healthy adults:

A meta analysis evaluating 25 studies conducted on 59,566 adults age 14-40 found a mere 6% decrease of clinical influenza in those vaccinated. The conclusion: “Universal immunization of healthy adults is not supported by the results of this review.” (18)

The recent update to this study, pooling 38 published studies encompassing 66,248 healthy individuals aged 16 to 65 years, found that “serological flu” (lab numbers) were reduced but actual cases of flu were not reduced. This meta analysis concluded that improvements in overall flu rates in those vaccinated “was extremely modest.” (19)

In seniors:

Seniors over age 70 account for 75% of all flu-related deaths. Since 1980, the vaccination rate in seniors has increased from 15% to 65% but the death rate from flu has not declined. The authors conclude that “the evidence is insufficient to indicate the magnitude of a mortality benefit, if any, that elderly people derive from the vaccination program.” (20)

Contrary to popular belief, studies have found that secondary pneumonia in seniors is not decreased by flu vaccination, and that reduction of mortality through influenza vaccination has been greatly overestimated in this age group. (21,22)

5.) “Fast track” approval of flu vaccines, especially H1N1, leaves safety questions unanswered.

“Fast track” approval means that influenza vaccines do not have to go through the normal regulatory procedures. The H1N1 vaccine approval was especially fast because of the “pandemic” designation. One of the approved 4 vaccines was approved after testing in only 221 people for 21 days. (23) Another was approved after testing on 175 adults for 21 days. (24).

The World Health Organization (WHO) admits that people who get vaccinations will be the “field testers” of their safety. From the WHO website:

“Time constraints mean that clinical data at the time when pandemic vaccines are first administered will inevitably be limited. Further testing of safety and effectiveness will need to take place after administration of the vaccine has begun. (Author’s italics)

… On the positive side, mass vaccination campaigns can generate significant safety data within a few weeks. (Author’s italics) (25)

In other words, we won’t know the safety of these vaccines until we vaccinate millions of people (45 million is the U.S. “target” for October) (26,27); the side effects experienced by those vaccinated will be the “safety data.”

The U.S. Government conferred immunity from prosecution to drug manufacturers of the H1N1 vaccine in July 2009. (28)

6.) Vaccines May Be More Dangerous than the Flu Itself.

In 1976, 200 soldiers at Fort Dix were stricken with the flu, with one reported death. A pandemic was declared and nearly 40 million people in the U.S. received the 1976/H1N1 vaccine before the campaign was stopped due to an increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome, a paralytic autoimmune disease. (29)

More than 500 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome were reported, 25 of which resulted in death. This “pandemic that wasn’t” never spread beyond Fort Dix. (30)

In a recent statement by the The American Academy of Neurology, experts said they don’t expect the 2009 H1N1 vaccine to increase risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome or other autoimmune disease but they acknowledged that this is a concern with any pandemic vaccine. (31)

Mild short-term reactions to the vaccine can include soreness, redness, or swelling at vaccination site, low grade fever, runny nose, headache, chills, tiredness/weakness and body aches and pains. (32) These symptoms are very much like the flu itself.

Life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (a paralytic autoimmune disease) can also occur. (33)

These short-term side effects of influenza vaccination are easier to observe because of their close proximity to vaccination, beginning within minutes to several weeks. Long-term and/or cumulative effects of vaccinations are more difficult to monitor, and questions remain about the long-term safety of vaccines.

For example, the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in adults and autism in children has skyrocketed in the last several decades. These rates are continued to increase. (34,35)

The cause of these increases is not known. Some camps maintain that these neurological disease escalations may be caused by vaccinations, especially since many vaccines still contain mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde and other neurotoxic compounds. (36-39)

The US government, CDC, FDA, and drug manufacturers claim there is no correlation between vaccines and these diseases, (40-43) although many question the quality of evidence used to draw this conclusion. (44,45)

7.) “Herd Immunity” Remains Speculative

“Herd immunity” (community immunity) is the belief that if a portion of society gets vaccinated, weaker members of “the herd” who do not respond satisfactorily to the vaccine (children under two and seniors over 65) will be protected from the flu because those around them have been vaccinated. Much evidence contradicts the concept of “herd immunity.” (46-49)

If healthcare workers get vaccinated, they purportedly decrease the risk of influenza in their high-risk patient, hence the “heavy push” that borders on mandate for health care workers to receive the vaccine. One large meta analysis found “no high quality evidence that vaccinating healthcare workers reduces the incidence of influenza or its complications in the elderly in institutions.” (50)

Conclusions

My purpose in presenting these statistics and studies is to assist the reader in drawing independent conclusions about the true risk of H1N1 flu and advisability of vaccination for same.

We are each responsible for our own “due diligence” when making decisions concerning our health, although many people defer to the media and government for their directives.

Here are the points I see from these studies and statistics:

  1. The safety and effectiveness of H1N1 vaccines has not been proven.
  2. The transmissibility of H1N1 flu is small and the severity mild compared to seasonal flu.
  3. My risk of getting the H1N1 flu is small; my risk of dying from this flu is quite small and no greater than for any seasonal flu.
  4. Flu vaccines confer little if any protection from influenza viruses in my age group.
  5. There is much conflicting “proof” that by getting a vaccination, I help make others around me safer through “herd immunity.”
  6. There are known short-term and possibly unknown long-term side effects from vaccines.

All things considered, I’m going to pass on the H1N1 flu vaccine. I believe there are far safer, better-proven methods to increase my resistance to H1N1 and make sure I have a mild case of it (as most cases are) if I do contract the flu.

References:

1.) WHO Pandemic Phase Descriptions and Main Actions by Phase. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/GIPA3AideMemoire.pdf
2.) WHO Website: Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 – update 67. 20 September 2009. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_09_25/en/index.html
3.) Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance. Researchers say new form of malaria poses threat to humans. Sep 11, 2009.
4.) Michael L. Tapper, MD, Chair. Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza: What You Need to Know About Prevention and Management.Medscape CME; Sept. 29 2009.
5.) Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 2008-2009 Influenza Season Week 37 ending September 19, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly
6.) López-Cervantes M, Venado A, Moreno A, Pacheco-Domínguez RL, Ortega-Pierres G.On the spread of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus in Mexico. J Infect Dev Ctries. 2009 Jun 1;3(5):327-30.
7.) Miller, Mark; Viboud, Cecile; Simonsen, Lone; Olson, Donald R.; Russell, Colin. Mortality and morbidity burden associated with A/H1N1pdm influenza virus: Who is likely to be infected, experience clinical symptoms, or die from the H1N1pdm 2009 pandemic virus? Version 2. PLoS Currents Influenza. 2009 Aug 26 [revised 2009 Sep 2]:RRN1013.
8.) Michaelis M, Doerr HW, Cinatl J Jr. An Influenza A H1N1 Virus Revival – Pandemic H1N1/09 Virus.Infection. 2009 Sep 18. [Epub ahead of print]
9.) Gallaher WR. Towards a sane and rational approach to management of Influenza H1N1 2009. Virol J. 2009 May 7;6:51.
10.) Senanayake SN. A pandemic that’s not bird flu? Pigs might fly. Med J Aust. 2009 Jul 6;191(1):38-40.
11.) World Health Organization website: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/levels_pandemic_alert/en/index.html3
12.) Daniel J. DeNoon. First Doses of H1N1 Vaccine Coming Soon. Medscape Today, September 21, 2009.
13.) “2009 H1N1 Flu Situation Update – September 11, 2009”. CDC. 2009-09-11. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/updates/091109.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
14.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Bacterial coinfections in lung tissue specimens from fatal cases of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) – United States, May-August 2009. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009 Oct 2;58(38):1071-4.
15.) ##K## Smith S, Demicheli V, Di Pietrantonj C, Harnden AR, Jefferson T, Matheson NJ, Rivetti A. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jan 25;(1):CD004879.
16.) ##L## / Jefferson T, Rivetti A, Harnden A, Di Pietrantonj C, Demicheli V. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Apr 16;(2):CD004879.[## no efficacy in children under 2 33]
17.) ##M## Szilagyi PG, Fairbrother G, Griffin MR, Hornung RW, Donauer S, Morrow A, Altaye M, Zhu Y, Ambrose S, Edwards KM, Poehling KA, Lofthus G, Holloway M, Finelli L, Iwane M, Staat MA; New Vaccine Surveillance Network. Influenza vaccine effectiveness among children 6 to 59 months of age during 2 influenza seasons: a case-cohort study. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008 Oct;162(10):943-51.
18.) ##N## Demicheli V, Rivetti D, Deeks JJ, Jefferson TO. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(3):CD001269.
19.) ##O## Jefferson TO, Rivetti D, Di Pietrantonj C, Rivetti A, Demicheli V. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Apr 18;(2):CD001269.
20.) ##P## Simonsen L, Taylor RJ, Viboud C, Miller MA, Jackson LA. Mortality benefits of influenza vaccination in elderly people: an ongoing controversy. Lancet Infect Dis. 2007 Oct;7(10):658-66.
21.) ##Q## Eurich DT, Marrie TJ, Johnstone J, Majumdar SR. Mortality reduction with influenza vaccine in patients with pneumonia outside “flu” season: pleiotropic benefits or residual confounding? Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2008 Sep 1;178(5):527-33. Epub 2008 Jun 12.
22.) ##R## ackson ML, Nelson JC, Weiss NS, Neuzil KM, Barlow W, Jackson LA. Influenza vaccination and risk of community-acquired pneumonia in immunocompetent elderly people: a population-based, nested case-control study. Lancet. 2008 Aug 2;372(9636):398-405.
23.) ##S## Greenberg M, Lai M , Hartel G., et al. Response after One Dose of a Monovalent Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Vaccine — Preliminary Report. New Eng J Med. September 10, 2009.
24.) ##T## Clark T, Pareek M, Hoschler K, Dillon H, et al. Trial of Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent MF59-Adjuvanted Vaccine — Preliminary Report.New Eng J Med. September 10, 2009.
25.) ##U## WHO Website: Safety of pandemic vaccines: Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note 6. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/note s/h1n1_safety_vaccines_20090805/en/index.html
26.) ##V## Daniel J. DeNoon. H1N1 Flu Vaccine Fast-Tracked to September? WebMD Health News, July 17, 2009.
27.) ##W## Daniel J. DeNoon. First Doses of H1N1 Vaccine Coming Soon. Medscape Today, September 21, 2009.
28.) Federal Register. Vol. 74, No. 121. Thursday, June 25, 2009. http:edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-1494 8.pdf
29.) ##Y### Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). General Questions and Answers on Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).September 14, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/gbs_qa.htm
30.) ##Z## United Stated Dept. of Health and Human Services. http://www.hhs.gov/nvpo/pandemics/flu3.htm
31.) Gandey A. Report New Cases of Guillain-Barré After H1N1 Flu Vaccine. Medscape Medical News, September 1, 2009.
32.) ##AB## Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), July 24, 2009 / 58(Early Release);1-52.
33.) ##AC## Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Seasonal Flu Shot Questions & Answers. Accessed Oct. 7, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flushot.htm
34.) Hebert, LE; Scherr, PA; Bienias, JL; et al. “State-specific projections through 2025 of Alzheimer’s disease prevalence.” Neurology 2004; 62:1645.
35.) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. Vital and Health Statistics: Mortality Trends for Alzheimer’s Disease, 1979–91. Series 20: Data From the National Vital Statistics System No. 28. Jan 1996. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_20/sr 20_028.pdf
36.) AF / AFLURIA Manufactured by CSL Limited: Package insert: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182401.pdf
37.) AG / Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine Live, Intranasal: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182406.pdf
38.) Novartis Vaccine (Fluvarin): http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182242.pdf
39.) sanofi pasteur 10 September 2009_v0.3 449/454 Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182404.pdf
40.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Immunization Safety and Autism Thimerosal and Autism Research Agenda. Last updated – January 30, 2009. Accessed online 10-07-09: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/documents/vaccine_studies.pdf
41.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccine Safety: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine. December 23, 2008. Accessed online 10-07-09 http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/updates/mmr_vaccine.htm
42.) Food and Drug Administration. Thimerosal in Vaccines. Website accessed 10-07-09. http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/VaccineSafety/ucm096228.htm#saf
43.) Karen Midthun, M.D. Concerns Regarding a Potential Link Between Vaccines and Autism. FDA News and Events, April 26, 2001. FDA Testimony before the House Committee on Government Reform. Accessed 10-07-09 http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Testimony/ucm115226.htm
44.) ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. Deadly Immunity. Rolling Stone. Posted Jun 20, 2005.
45.) Cal-Oregon Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated Survey. Generation Rescue, PORTLAND, OR, Sep 25. Accessed 10-07-09 http://www.generationrescue.org/survey.html
46.) Glanz JM, McClure DL, Magid DJ, Daley MF, France EK, Salmon DA, Hambidge SJ. Parental refusal of pertussis vaccination is associated with an increased risk of pertussis infection in children. Pediatrics. 2009 Jun;123(6):1446-51.
47.) Cheek JE, Baron R, Atlas H, Wilson DL, Crider RD Jr. Mumps outbreak in a highly vaccinated school population. Evidence for large-scale vaccination failure. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995 Jul;149(7):774-8.
48.) Briss PA, Fehrs LJ, Parker RA, Wright PF, Sannella EC, Hutcheson RH, Schaffner W. Sustained transmission of mumps in a highly vaccinated population: assessment of primary vaccine failure and waning vaccine-induced immunity. J Infect Dis. 1994 Jan;169(1):77-82.
49.) Sutter R.W, Patriarca P, Cochi SL, Pallansch MA, et al. Outbreak of paralytic poliomyelitis in Oman: evidence for widespread transmission among fully vaccinated children. The Lancet, Volume 338, Issue 8769, Pages 715 – 720, 21 September 1991.
50.) Thomas R, Jefferson T, Demicheli V, Rivetti D. Influenza vaccination for healthcare workers who work with the elderly. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 3, 2009.

 

Hay Fever(Seasonal Allergies, Allergic Rhinitis)

Natural Remedies for Pollen and Seasonal Allergies

Hay Fever (also known as seasonal allergy) is caused by an over-reaction of the immune system to harmless airborne particles such as pollen.

Symptoms of Hay fever can include any of the following:

  • stuffy or runny nose and nasal congestion
  • itchy, watery eyes
  • sneezing
  • coughing
  • post nasal drip
  • sinus pain or pressure
  • fatigue

Hay fever is common in the Spring and Fall when airborne pollen counts are highest.

Although hay fever effects some 40 million people annually, not everyone is susceptible to airborne pollens and particulates. So what makes a person vulnerable to seasonal allergies?

Studies have shown that people with inhalant allergies are more likely to have food allergies. A hypo allergenic diet has has shown to help some people with asthma and allergic rhinitis. (1,2,3) Remember that avoidance of a food allergen, even if it does not improve hay fever, would be expected to improve over-all health.

Pharmaceutical anti-allergy drugs often have undesirable side effects. So what can a person do to decrease hay fever symptoms without using drugs? Here are some of the best-proven natural remedies for alleviating seasonal allergies:

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus): Butterbur has been shown in studies to be as effective as drugs at relieving symptoms of hay fever but without adverse side effects (4-8)

One study compared Butterbur to the drug cetirizine (Zyrtec) and found that both relieved symptoms equally well. However, the drug was associated with a higher rate of adverse side effects including drowsiness.(4)

A second study compared butterbur extract with fexofenadine (Allegra). Butterbur was just as effective as fexofenadine at relieving symptoms.(5)

Because butterbur may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids which can cause liver damage, use only extracts which have the pyrrolizidine alkaloids removed. This will be stated on the label.

Symptom improvement is related to dosage, with higher doses producing more symptom relief. Suggested dose for best effect: 1-2 capsule, 3 times per day of an extract standardized to contain 7.5 mg of petasine per capsule. Look for formulas which state that they are pyrrolizidine alkaloid-free.(6)

Grape seed extract — “nature’s anti-histamine.”

Histamine is an irritating substance released from certain white blood cells (mast cells) in response to allergens. Anti-histamines block the histamine receptor and can improve symptoms of sneezing, itchy eyes and nose. Older antihistamines cause drowsiness, newer antihistamines are associated with heart complications. They are also expensive.

Grape seed extract functions as an anti-histamine by stabilizing the mast cell, making it less ‘touchy” about releasing histamine. Grape seed extract has been shown to performs as a natural anti-histamine. (9-11)

The “side effects” of grape seed extract are actually additional benefits, not unwanted side effects. Grape seed has been shown to improve chronic venous insufficiency (12-17), strengthen collagen and blood vessels(18-22),and help prevent cancer and heart disease through multiple mechanisms. (23-41) Grape seed extract is also a potent antioxidant. (27,33-34,42-47)

Many people find grape seed extract effective for hayfever when taken 50-100mg, 3 times per day.

Quercetin is one of the most biologically active flavonoids, widely distributed in the plant kingdom in such species as oak trees (Quercus spp.), onions (Allium cepa) and tea (Camellia sinensis).

Like grape seed extract, quercetin prevents acts as a natural anti-histamine by preventing the release of histamine from mast cells. (48) In fact, quercetin performs this function so well that it is used in medical experiments as a control substance for such activity (49-51). Quercetin is not well-absorbed orally, so higher doses must be taken, especially at the beginning of allergy treatment.

A water-soluble form of quercetin, available as a nasal spray, is a safe and effective alternative to drug nasal sprays. The effects of quercetin nasal spray are felt within several minutes and last up to two hours. Pharmaceutical nasal sprays work by constricting blood vessels. They can have “addictive” effects on the nasal passages, and congestion becomes worse when they are discontinued. Quercetin does not create dependence or have rebound effects upon discontinuation. (52)

References:

1. Speer F. Multiple food allergy. Ann Allerg 1975;34:71–6.
2. Buczylko K, Kowalczyk J, Zeman K, et al. Allergy to food in children with pollinosis. Rocz Akad Med Bialymst 1995;40:568–72.
3. Ogle KA, Bullock JD. Children with allergic rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma treated with elimination diet. Ann Allergy 1977;39:8–11.
4.) Schapowal A, Petasites Study Group. Randomised controlled trial of butterbur and cetirizine for treating seasonal allergic rhinitis. BMJ 2002;324:144–6.
5.) Lee DK, Gray RD, Robb FM, et al. A placebo-controlled evaluation of butterbur and fexofenadine on objective and subjective outcomes in perennial allergic rhinitis. Clin Exp Allergy 2004;34:646–9.
6.) Schapowal A; Petasites Study Group. Butterbur Ze339 for the treatment of intermittent allergic rhinitis: dose-dependent efficacy in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Dec;130(12):1381-6.
7.) Lee DK, Carstairs IJ, Haggart K, Jackson CM, Currie GP, Lipworth BJ. Butterbur, a herbal remedy, attenuates adenosine monophosphate induced nasal responsiveness in seasonal allergic rhinitis. Clin Exp Allergy. 2003 Jul;33(7):882-6.
8.) Käufeler R, Polasek W, Brattström A, Koetter U. Efficacy and safety of butterbur herbal extract Ze 339 in seasonal allergic rhinitis: postmarketing surveillance study.Adv Ther. 2006 Mar-Apr;23(2):373-84.
9.) Iwasaki Y, Matsui T, Arakawa Y. The protective and hormonal effects of proanthocyanidin against gastric mucosal injury in Wistar rats. J Gastroenterol. 2004 Sep;39(9):831-7.
10.) Kawai M, Hirano T, Higa S, Arimitsu J, Maruta M, Kuwahara Y, Ohkawara T, Hagihara K, Yamadori T, Shima Y, Ogata A, Kawase I, Tanaka T. Flavonoids and related compounds as anti-allergic substances. Allergol Int. 2007 Jun;56(2):113-23. Epub 2007 Mar 1.
11.) Sharma SC, Sharma S, Gulati OP. Pycnogenol inhibits the release of histamine from mast cells. Phytother Res. 2003 Jan;17(1):66-9.
12.) Dartenuc JY, Marache P, Choussat H. Resistance Capillaire en Geriatrie Etude d’un Microangioprotecteur. Bordeax Médical 1980;13:903–7 [in French].
13.) Delacroix P. Etude en Double Avengle de l’Endotelon dans l’Insuffisance Veineuse Chronique. Therapeutique, la Revue de Medicine 1981;Sept 27–28:1793–1802 [in French].
14.) Thebaut JF, Thebaut P, Vin F. Study of Endotelon in functional manifestations of peripheral venous insufficiency. Gazette Medicale 1985;92:96–100 [in French].
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16.) Cesarone MR, Belcaro G, Rohdewald P, Pellegrini L, Ledda A, Vinciguerra G, Ricci A, Gizzi G, Ippolito E, Fano F, Dugall M, Acerbi G, Cacchio M, Di Renzo A, Hosoi M, Stuard S, Corsi M.Comparison of Pycnogenol and Daflon in treating chronic venous insufficiency: a prospective, controlled study. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2006 Apr;12(2):205-12.
17.) Koch R. Comparative study of Venostasin and Pycnogenol in chronic venous insufficiency. Phytother Res. 2002 Mar;16 Suppl 1:S1-5.
18.) Schlebusch H, Kern D. Stabilization of collagen by polyphenols. Angiologica 1972;9:248–56 [in German].
19.) Monboisse J, Braquet P, Randoux A, Borel J. Non-enzymatic degradation of acid-soluble calf skin collagen by superoxide ion: protective effect of flavonoids. Biochem Pharmacol 1983;32:53–8.
20.) Lagrue G, Olivier-Martin F, Grillot A. A study of the effects of procyanidol oligomers on capillary resistance in hypertension and in certain nephropathies. Sem Hop 1981;57:1399–401 [in French].
21.) Galley P, Thiollet M. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a new veno-active flavonoid fraction (S 5682) in the treatment of symptomatic capillary fragility. Int Angiol 1993;12:69–72.
22.) Cho HS, Lee MH, Lee JW, No KO, Park SK, Lee HS, Kang S, Cho WG, Park HJ, Oh KW, Hong JT.Anti-wrinkling effects of the mixture of vitamin C, vitamin E, pycnogenol and evening primrose oil, and molecular mechanisms on hairless mouse skin caused by chronic ultraviolet B irradiation. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2007 Oct;23(5):155-62.
23.) Buz’Zard AR, Lau BH.Pycnogenol reduces talc-induced neoplastic transformation in human ovarian cell cultures. Phytother Res. 2007 Jun;21(6):579-86.
24.) Engelbrecht AM, Mattheyse M, Ellis B, Loos B, Thomas M, Smith R, Peters S, Smith C, Myburgh K. Proanthocyanidin from grape seeds inactivates the PI3-kinase/PKB pathway and induces apoptosis in a colon cancer cell line. Cancer Lett. 2007 Dec 8;258(1):144-53. Epub 2007 Oct 17.
25.) Sharma G, Tyagi AK, Singh RP, Chan DC, Agarwal R.Synergistic anti-cancer effects of grape seed extract and conventional cytotoxic agent doxorubicin against human breast carcinoma cells.Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2004 May;85(1):1-12.
26.) Bagchi D, Bagchi M, Stohs S, Ray SD, Sen CK, Preuss HG. Cellular protection with proanthocyanidins derived from grape seeds. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 May;957:260-70.
27.) Zhao J, Wang J, Chen Y, Agarwal R. Anti-tumor-promoting activity of a polyphenolic fraction isolated from grape seeds in the mouse skin two-stage initiation-promotion protocol and identification of procyanidin B5-3′-gallate as the most effective antioxidant constituent. Carcinogenesis. 1999 Sep;20(9):1737-45.
28.) Hu H, Qin YM. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract induced mitochondria-associated apoptosis in human acute myeloid leukaemia 14.3D10 cells. Chin Med J (Engl). 2006 Mar 5;119(5):417-21.
29.) Zhang XY, Li WG, Wu YJ, Bai DC, Liu NF. Proanthocyanidin from grape seeds enhances doxorubicin-induced antitumor effect and reverses drug resistance in doxorubicin-resistant K562/DOX cells. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2005 Mar;83(3):309-18.
30.) Zhang XY, Li WG, Wu YJ, Zheng TZ, Li W, Qu SY, Liu NF.Proanthocyanidin from grape seeds potentiates anti-tumor activity of doxorubicin via immunomodulatory mechanism.Int Immunopharmacol. 2005 Jul;5(7-8):1247-57. Epub 2005 Apr 7.
31.) Agarwal C, Singh RP, Agarwal R. Grape seed extract induces apoptotic death of human prostate carcinoma DU145 cells via caspases activation accompanied by dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release.Carcinogenesis. 2002 Nov;23(11):1869-76.
32.) Kaur M, Agarwal R, Agarwal C. Grape seed extract induces anoikis and caspase-mediated apoptosis in human prostate carcinoma LNCaP cells: possible role of ataxia telangiectasia mutated-p53 activation. Mol Cancer Ther. 2006 May;5(5):1265-74.
33.) Packer L, Rimbach G, Virgili F.Antioxidant activity and biologic properties of a procyanidin-rich extract from pine (Pinus maritima) bark, pycnogenol.Free Radic Biol Med. 1999 Sep;27(5-6):704-24.
34.) Yang HM, Liao MF, Zhu SY, Liao MN, Rohdewald P. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on the effect of Pycnogenol on the climacteric syndrome in peri-menopausal women. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2007;86(8):978-85.
36.) Mendes A, Desgranges C, Chèze C, Vercauteren J, Freslon JL. Vasorelaxant effects of grape polyphenols in rat isolated aorta. Possible involvement of a purinergic pathway. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2003 Dec;17(6):673-81.
37.) Polagruto JA, Gross HB, Kamangar F, Kosuna K, Sun B, Fujii H, Keen CL, Hackman RM.Platelet reactivity in male smokers following the acute consumption of a flavanol-rich grapeseed extract.Platelet reactivity in male smokers following the acute consumption of a flavanol-rich grapeseed extract.
38.) Holt RR, Actis-Goretta L, Momma TY, Keen CL. Dietary flavanols and platelet reactivity.J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2006;47 Suppl 2:S187-96; discussion S206-9.
39.) Zhang FL, Gao HQ, Shen L. Inhibitory effect of GSPE on RAGE expression induced by advanced glycation end products in endothelial cells. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2007 Oct;50(4):434-40.
40.) Edirisinghe I, Burton-Freeman B, Tissa Kappagoda C. Mechanism of the endothelium-dependent relaxation evoked by a grape seed extract. Clin Sci (Lond). 2008 Feb;114(4):331-7.
41.) Ray SD, Patel D, Wong V, Bagchi D. In vivo protection of dna damage associated apoptotic and necrotic cell deaths during acetaminophen-induced nephrotoxicity, amiodarone-induced lung toxicity and doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by a novel IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract.
42.) Hosseini S, Pishnamazi S, Sadrzadeh SM, Farid F, Farid R, Watson RR. Pycnogenol((R)) in the Management of Asthma.J Med Food. 2001 Winter;4(4):201-209.
43.) Carini M, Aldini G, Bombardelli E, Morazzoni P, Maffei Facino R.UVB-induced hemolysis of rat erythrocytes: protective effect of procyanidins from grape seeds. Life Sci. 2000 Sep 1;67(15):1799-814.
44.) Lorenz P, Roychowdhury S, Engelmann M, Wolf G, Horn TF.Oxyresveratrol and resveratrol are potent antioxidants and free radical scavengers: effect on nitrosative and oxidative stress derived from microglial cells.Nitric Oxide. 2003 Sep;9(2):64-76.
45.) Enginar H, Cemek M, Karaca T, Unak P.Effect of grape seed extract on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant activity and peripheral blood lymphocytes in rats exposed to x-radiation. Phytother Res. 2007 Nov;21(11):1029-35.
46.) Dulundu E, Ozel Y, Topaloglu U, Toklu H, Ercan F, Gedik N, Sener G. Grape seed extract reduces oxidative stress and fibrosis in experimental biliary obstruction.J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007 Jun;22(6):885-92.
47.) Du Y, Guo H, Lou H. Grape seed polyphenols protect cardiac cells from apoptosis via induction of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Mar 7;55(5):1695-701. Epub 2007 Feb 13.
48.) Leung, K.B., et.al. Differential effects of anti-allergic compounds on peritoneal mast cells of the rat, mouse and hamster. Agents Actions, 1984;14(3-4): 461-467.
49.) Otsuka, H. et.al. Histochemical and functional characteristics of metachromatic cells in the nasal epithelium in allergic rhinitis: studies of nasal scrapings and their dispersed cells. J. Allergy Clin Immunol, 1995; 96(4):528-536.
50.) Szabo, A. et.al. Mucosal permeability changes during intestinal reperfusion injury. The role of mast cells. Acta Chir Hung, 1997; 36(1-4):334-336.
51.) Barrett, K.E. and D.D. Metcalfe. The histologic and functional characterization of enzymatically dispersed intestinal mast cells of nonhuman primates: effects of secretagogues and anti-allergic drugs on histamine secretion. J Immunol, 1985; 135(3): 2020-2026.
52.) Remberg P, Björk L, Hedner T, Sterner O. Characteristics, clinical effect profile and tolerability of a nasal spray preparation of Artemisia abrotanum L. for allergic rhinitis.Phytomedicine. 2004 Jan;11(1):36-42.

Dr. Myatt’s HealthBeat Newsletter

April 14, 2006

In this issue:

Vitamin-less Vegetables: The New Nutrient Deficiency. Vegetables and some fruits contain nutrients critical to good health. Current government recommendations suggest that a minimum of 5-9 servings should be eaten daily to prevent disease, but many scientists feel this number should be increased to 10-18 servings. Find out why we need to eat so many veggies (it’s a scandal!), and how you can achieve this goal without turning into a wabbit!

Powerful Cancer-fighting Herb that Drug Companies are Rushing to Imitate. You probably have some in your spice cabinet right now. Use more of it, and you can hedge your bet against cancer, arthritis and blood clots.

The Healing Power of Flowers. Humans spend much time and money cultivating flowers. Science has finally cracked the code on our fascination with these delightful gifts of nature. PLUS: it’s not too late to send flowers for Easter. You’ll want to lavish them on friends and family once you read the studies!

Health Freedom Alert: Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy Under Attack. Bio-identical (natural) hormone replacement therapy (nHRT) is far safer than synthetic and horse-urine hormones used in conventional medicine. It has helped thousands if not hundreds of thousands of women and men over the last several decades. Now, the makers of Premarin© and Prempro© (the dangerous, un-natural hormones) has petitioned the FDA to outlaw our right to prescribe these custom-formulated hormones. Act today to preserve this important health freedom!

Wellness Club Website Wins Award. Dr. Myatt’s Wellness Club website was nominated, reviewed, and awarded the “A Better Way Award” for noteworthy contribution to the Natural Health Community. You’ll see us sporting our award logo on the left side of our pages. Interestingly, the logo for the award is a big, red apple—- the same as our Wellness Club logo!

Dr. Myatt and Nurse Mark to Speak in Phoenix. The~Z~Team (Dr. Myatt-Ziemann and Mark Ziemann, R.N.) will be speaking in Phoenix the end of April to both public and medical audiences. The public presentation, titled ADD/ADHD in Children: are there Really Alternatives to Ritalin and Prozac? Is free and open to the public. The second presentation, Nutritional and Botanical Considerations in Cancer Treatment: 2006 Update, will be presented to physicians at the semi-annual AZNMA Medical Conference.

The Shaman’s Lesson of Worth. Think you can’t afford alternative health care? I have people on a daily basis asking me to do pro bono medical consultations. Find out what I learned from an Indian Shaman in my first year of medical practice that makes me say “no” every time to these requests for free services.

Do you have a specific health question? Visit Dr. Myatt’s Wellness Club website and find recommendations for over 100 medical conditions. If you want personalized medical attention, please consider a telephone consultation with Dr. Myatt.

Gallbladder “Attacks” and Gallstones

How to End the Pain and Save Your Gallbladder

Nearly half a million gallbladder surgeries — removal, or cholecystectomy to be precise — are performed each year in the US. Many of the people who give up their gallbladders to such surgery appear to be fine, and the pain of their gallbladder attacks are over. Oddly enough, for many others, gallbladder “attacks” continue even in the absence of a gallbladder – in fact, one authoritative source indicates that Post Cholecystectomy Syndrome (PCS) affects at least 10 to 15% of people who have had their gallbladders removed!

Are the people who have given up their gallbladders really “fine”? And why do others continue to have pain in spite of removal of their gallbladder?

Conventional medical doctors make no attempt to help people “save” their gallbladders when stomach or other symptoms is believed due to gallbladder attacks. In fact, many gallbladders are removed even when scans do not show anything wrong with the gallbladder. Because there is no attempt to preserve this organ in conventional medicine, and because many people feel better after surgical removal of their GB, people mistakenly believe that the gallbladder isn’t important and that living without it makes no difference. Unfortunately, this viewpoint is incorrect and can be downright unhealthy.

Contrary to common belief, the gallbladder isn’t just a “vestigial organ” with little or no importance. One of the primary jobs of the gallbladder is to control the flow of bile which in turn is needed to absorb fats, oils and fat-soluble nutrients. Once the gallbladder is removed, these functions cannot happen normally, at least not without additional “outside help” from supplementation.

Although steps can be taken to prevent nutrient deficiencies if you have already had your gallbladder removed, let’s talk about another important question. How can you get rid of gallbladder “attacks” and keep your gallbladder in the first place? After all, “prevention” is always easier than cure.

The Real Cause of Gallbladder Pain

Gallbladder pain is usually blamed on gallstones, although stones are rarely the cause of intermittent GB discomfort.

Stones of a particular size that get stuck in the bile duct are indeed incredibly painful. If they are not passed quickly, gangrene of the duct and gallbladder can set in with life-threatening complications. This is the only true “surgical emergency” of gallbladder stones.

However, most stones are too large to obstruct the gall duct. Other people have “sand,” which is fine particulate that is too small to obstruct the gall duct. So where does the pain come from?

The real cause — and cure — of gallbladder pain was discovered back in 1968 by a physician named James C. Breneman. Dr. Breneman was chairman of the Food Allergy Committee of the American College of Allergists, or ACA (now called the American College of Allergy and Immunology, or ACAI). Dr. Breneman discovered that attacks of gallbladder pain are caused by food allergies.

In 1968, he put 69 people who suffered from recurrent gallbladder attacks on an elimination diet to determine their food allergies. Six of the subjects already had their gallbladders removed but were still having gallbladder “attacks,” a phenomenon known as “post-cholecystectomy syndrome.” Dr. Breneman found that all 69 people — 100 percent! — were totally symptom-free of gallbladder pain when they avoided their individual food sensitivities, and all 69 had a recurrence of their symptoms when they ate the foods they reintroduced the foods they were allergic to back into their diets.

The most common allergenic foods were found to be eggs (92.8%), pork (63.8%), onions (52.2%), chicken and turkey (34.8%), milk (24.6%), coffee (21.7% ), and oranges (18.8%). Corn, beans, nuts, apples, tomatoes, peas, cabbage, spices, peanuts, fish, and rye accounted for between 1 to 14.5% of gallbladder attacks. 14 of the 69 study participants (over 20 percent) also had gallbladder attacks caused by medications.

How Allergies Cause Gallbladder Attacks Illustration of the biliary system, showing the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and the duodenum with the appendant ducts.

The body’s reaction to allergic substances is to cause swelling (remember how your nose swells if you have seasonal allergies?). When food and medication allergies cause swelling of the gallbladder ducts, bile flow is obstructed. The symptoms of allergy-caused obstruction are the same as a stone being stuck in the duct. (Hence the blame being laid on a “stone” when in fact, swelling of the tissue caused by a food or medicine reaction is the real culprit).

The Cure for Gallbladder Pain

The real treatment for most GB pain isn’t to remove this important organ, but to perform an elimination / challenge diet or food allergy testing and find the offending foods and medications.

The Dangers of Gallbladder Removal

What Can Happen Without a Gallbladder?

Vitamin A Deficiency symptoms include changes in vision (night blindness, dry eyes, macular degeneration), decreased immunity and skin diseases.

Vitamin D Deficiency symptoms include cancer, osteoporosis, dental disease and decreased immune function.

Vitamin K Deficiencies are associated with osteoporosis and atherosclerosis

Vitamin E Deficiency is associated with cancer, heart disease, neurological diseases and a long list of other health problems.

Essential Fatty Acids regulate everything from cardiac function to immunity and inflammation.

The gallbladder stores and then releases bile
in response to fats contained in a meal. Bile is necessary to assist the digestion of fats and fat-soluble vitamins.

When the gallbladder is removed, vitamins A, E, D, K, and essential fatty acids are not absorbed properly. Unfortunately, the symptoms of declining fat-soluble vitamins and essential fats come on slowly and most often, unnoticeably. Health problems can be many and varied, associated with a deficiency of any or all of these fat-soluble vitamins.

Who would guess that removal of the gallbladder, especially without replacement of bile salts (which is NEVER suggested in conventional medicine), could contribute to the premature development of so many and varied health problems, all related to fat soluble nutrient assimilation?

Other Nutrients for Gallbladder Health

Low stomach acid can cause or contribute to the development of gallstones. Correcting a stomach acid deficiency is of primary importance when addressing gallbladder health.

Here is more information about the many symptoms and diseases associated with low stomach acid.

And here is a simple self-test kit to help you determine if you need supplemental betaine hydrochloride:

Magnesium deficiency is extremely common among people who suffer from gallbladder pain and stones (even when the stones are not the actual cause of the pain). And if magnesium deficiency relates to the development of stones, the news gets even worse for those who don’t supplement: 60% of post-GB removal patients suffer from magnesium deficiency and 40% from calcium/magnesium deficiency.

A high-quality daily multiple vitamin/mineral supplement such as Maxi Multi contains a full daily recommended dose of magnesium and calcium. For those taking “one-per day” multiples or no extra supplementation at all, additional magnesium supplementation is highly recommended.

References

  1. Jensen, Steen W.  “Postcholecystectomy Syndrome” Jan 16, 2008 http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/192761-overview
  2. “Fast Stats: Inpatient Surgery, 2002,” U.S. Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov), accessed 8/25/04
  3. Breneman JC “Allergy Elimination as the Most Effective Gallbladder Diet.” Annals of Allergy 1968; 26; 83-89
  4. Breneman, James C. Basics of Food Allergy. Springfield (IL): CC Thomas (pub), 1978.
  5. Tsai CJ, Leitzmann MF, Willett WC, Giovannucci EL. Long-term effect of magnesium consumption on the risk of symptomatic gallstone disease among men. Am J Gastroenterol. 2008 Feb;103(2):375-82. Epub 2007 Dec 12.
  6. Szántay J, Varga D, Porr PJ. Post-cholecystectomy syndrome and magnesium deficit.Acta Physiol Hung. 1992;80(1-4):391-8.

Giardia and Giardiasis

Giardia is an intestinal parasite that can cause upset stomach, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, loose or watery stools (diarrhea), vomiting, bloating, excessive gas, and unpleasant sulfurous burping.

Giardiasis (AKA “Beaver Fever”) is a very widespread illness that can cause long-lasting problems for some people while for other people it seems to be nothing more than a minor and transient annoyance.

While the initial infection is usually fairly easy to eradicate with simple antibiotics, the organism can cause damage to the cells that line the intestine. This can result in altered absorption of nutrients and medications, and also can cause derangements of other important functions of the gut. Nutrient and vitamin deficiencies and other widespread problems can result. Development of lactose intolerance is common and may become permanant.

It is also thought that Giardia infection in some people may precipitate IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) which can further impair digestion and assimilation of nutrients.

If you feel that you may be infected, the place to start is to find out for sure.

You will want to ask your doctor for testing: Immunologic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing is available and provides a 90% or better detection rate.

If you are infected then a course of treatment with a simple and relatively safe antibiotic called metronidazole is usually quite effective.

Whether you are infected or not, and especially after treatment, supportive care for your bowel will be important.

Many of Dr. Myatt’s suggestions from her pages discussing Parasites and Irritable Bowel Syndrome will be very helpful to those suffering from or recovering from giardia infection.

Prevention of giardia infection is straightforward: handwashing before any handling of food is the first line of defense. For those travelling in the wilderness or where water purity and quality are suspect, boiling water for a full minute minimum is the gold standard of didinfection – and chemical purification (usually with iodine) and filtration can also be effective.

Research has shown that the herb Berberine can be effective in the treatment of giariasis and other protozoan infections:

“Based on these findings, it appears that the berberine compounds may be useful as chemotherapeutic agents against the 3 parasites tested. (Giardia lamblia, Trichomonas vaginalis and Entamoeba histolytica)”

Referenced from: Kaneda Y1, Tanaka T, Saw T. Effects of berberine, a plant alkaloid, on the growth of anaerobic protozoa in axenic culture. Tokai J Exp Clin Med. 1990 Nov;15(6):417-23.

For more detailed questions, Dr. Myatt is available for Brief Consultation and can help you to understand your illness and your treatment options.

Gluten and Casein

Story At A Glance:

  • Gluten and casein sensitivities are very common
  • Children are highly susceptible but many adults are affected too
  • Gluten and casein can form peptides with opioid properties
  • Opioids cause a wide range of ill effects
  • Gluten/Gliadin is common in modern grain varieties
  • Casein is common in milk and dairy products
  • Gluten/Gliadin and Casein are “hidden” in many processed foods
  • Gluten/Gliadin and casein have been implicated in a number of diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and infertility as well as attention deficit disorder
  • Avoidance is best for sensitive people
  • Supplementation with digestive enzymes can help
  • Testing for gluten sensitivity and for gliadin/casein toxicity is available

The Modern Poisons In Your Diet

By Nurse Mark

Are You An Opioid Addict? Is your child?

Modern food growing, processing, and manufacturing practices, coupled with commonly impaired digestion is creating a world of opioid addicts – to the great delight of the Big Agriculture and Big Food industries.

Like any drug pusher, for them the name of the game is to make people want more – even if the thing they are pushing is toxic…

Dr. Myatt and I recently returned from a weekend medical conference. Unlike what you may envision medical conferences to be, this was not a weekend of golfing or skiing or laying about on a beach at some drug company’s expense. No, Dr. Myatt and I each paid handsomely for this 3-day educational grind which featured lectures with exciting titles like “Metabolic factors and their effect on mental health” and “The role of food, nutrition and diets in autism and mental health disorders.”

Whew – talk about stuff that could make your eyes glaze over… Except it didn’t. The further we got into all these dry-sounding lectures the more excited Dr. Myatt and I became. Not that any one of these lectures by itself presented an earth-rocking breakthrough, because while they were interesting and informative, they presented information that we are both mostly familiar with and indeed, have written about in HealthBeatNews before.

No, it was not until we were a few lectures into the weekend that some little things began to fall into place. Many of the lecturers were mentioning the same things, in slightly different ways and contexts, over and over again.

You see, the conference was mostly concerned with the treatment of kids with Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, and other mental health issues in younger people – and everything we were hearing was pertinent to kids.

Until… One of the lecturers opined that these kids were “like canaries in the coal mine”, warning us of the toxicity that we have allowed to surround us in our modern world. A sudden realization hit me almost like a physical slap. I leaned over to Dr. Myatt beside me and said “My God – we have adult patients that are having the same problems as these kids – just in an adult way!” She nodded in agreement.

You see, a two year old can’t really control their behavior when they feel unwell – so they act out, or withdraw, or otherwise behave badly when they don’t feel well. Adults can control their behavior and can often just internalize and “power through” their illness – after all, there are bills to pay, jobs to do, adult responsibilities to meet…

Over and over again through the weekend we heard about bowel problems in these kids, wheat and milk allergies, and gluten, gliadin, and casein intolerance and toxicity. Leaky guts and inflammation were talked about again and again.

While the problems of gluten intolerance and milk allergies were talked about over and over, it became clear that two other more sinister substances were going to be even more important to our patients and our readers.

Two little proteins, gliadin and casein, are poised to prove themselves to be some of the nastiest substances in our modern diet.

You see, these two little proteins are not well digested by many of us. And why should they be? We did not evolve eating foods that contained very much of them – it has not been until more modern times that agriculture has allowed us to have foods containing these proteins cheaply and in much greater amounts. Modern agricultural techniques such as hybridization and animal husbandry have given us very specialized crops and animals that produce higher yields at lower costs than ever before. An unfortunate byproduct of that is an increase in the proteins gliadin and casein in our diets.

But wait a minute you are saying – you guys are all about high protein diets, aren’t you? And protein is protein, right?

Yes, but not really.

You see, gliadin and casein are a couple of proteins that are often incompletely broken down by our digestive systems. They can become partially broken down into peptides, or protein fragments. That might not be such a bad thing, except that the peptides from these particular proteins are opioids.

That’s right, opioids. Morphine-like substances with opiate effects on the brain and other body organs.

Let that sink in for a moment. Opioids. Heroin is an opioid.

Gliadorphin (also known as gluteomorphin) and casomorphin have been proven to have opiate drug like effects. And you are ingesting them when you eat grain and dairy products.

You would likely never allow yourself to be drugged with heroin, but you willingly ingest heroin-like substances every time you eat any of a stunningly huge variety of foods.

Not just the obvious foods like bread or pasta or that healthy breakfast cereal or milk or yoghurt or cheese -but foods that you might never suspect to contain wheat or dairy products.

French fries or potato chips should be OK for someone with a gluten / gliadin sensitivity, right? Wrong – they may be dusted with wheat flour during manufacture – to prevent them from sticking together. And casein is such a common food additive that is often found in imitation sausages, infant formula, processed meats, soups, energy bars, drinks, and many other packaged foods – even toothpaste!

So what – how bad can this be, you ask.

Here is an excerpt from one research paper:

  • About 65 seconds after treatment with different doses of b-CM7, rats became restless and ran violently, with teeth chattering and with rapid respiration.
  • Seven minutes later, the rats became inactive with less walking, distancing themselves from the other rat in the same cage, and sitting in, or putting their head against, the corner of the cage. The sound response was reduced and social interaction was absent.
  • One hour later, the rats showed hyperdefensiveness.
  • The above behavioral effects of b-CM7 did not occur when rats were pretreated with naloxone (2 mg/kg, IP).
  • The rats receiving saline did not show any behavioral changes throughout the 2 hour period of observation.
  • b-CM7 also demonstrated analgesic effects, which could be blocked by naloxone.

– b-CM7 is an abbreviation for the protein fragment or peptide called beta-casomorphin-7. It comes from casein – from milk.
– The rats in the study were injected with either b-CM7 or saline water (a form of placebo – as a control).
– The injections were made intra-peritoneally. That is, into the space in the abdomen surrounding the gut.
– Naloxone is a drug that blocks the effect of opiates like heroin and morphine. It is used in the treatment of drug overdose.
– Analgesic is the medical term for “pain reliever” – morphine is an example of an analgesic.

So, the rats that got the b-CM7 became first hyperactive, then withdrawn and sluggish, then behaved very defensively. Doesn’t that sound a lot like the way a heroin user behaves after “shooting up” with a “hit” of that drug?

The peptide that results from gliadin is called gliadorphin-7 (GD-7) and has been shown to have similar, though less dramatic, effects on test animals.

Both these peptides affect areas of the brain that are relevant to schizophrenia and autism. Both have been found to also affect other organs and b-CM7 has been shown to decrease bowel motility – that is, to be constipating – just like morphine or codeine is constipating.

If that’s not enough to worry about…

Casomorphin, and to a lesser extent gliadorphin have further been implicated in a number of illnesses including Type 1 Diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in addition to autism and schizophrenia.

This may be because gluten / gliadin and casein have both been shown to cause inflammatory and immune reactions as well.

While much of the recent research has been done with autism in mind, it is directly applicable to anyone who is concerned about immunity, inflammation, increased TNF-a, and inflammatory cytokines.

In examining this research there can be no question that dietary exposure to gluten and casein results in increased inflammation which can be measured as increased inflammatory cytokynes and elevated TNF-a and disruptions to normal immune response.

The reactions to gluten in sensitive individuals such as those with Celiac disease has been described by gastroenterologists as “tearing holes in the gut.”

Celiac disease, and sub-clinical Celiac disease can have wide-ranging health consequences, including infertility in women. According to one research paper:

“Patients having fertility problems may have subclinical coeliac disease, which can be detected by serological screening tests. Silent coeliac disease should be considered in the case of women with unexplained infertility.”

How did this come to happen?

With casomorphin, a genetic change that occurred in European dairy cattle around a thousand years ago resulted in breeds of cattle that began to produce a form of casein – a protein normally found in all milk – called A1 beta-casein instead of the more benign A2 beta-casein that was previously present in cows milk and is also present in the milk of other species, including humans.

Like all proteins, casein is made up of amino acids, arranged in very specific ways for each protein. Casein is a strand of 209 amino acids and A1 beta-casein protein differs from A2 by just one single amino acid in that strand. Where A2 beta-casein has a proline amino acid in it’s chain, A1 beta-casein has instead the amino acid histidine in that spot.

Most milk today contains a mixture of A1 beta-casein and A2 beta-casein. A1 beta-casein protein is found in the milk of Holstein cows which are by far the most popular breed in North America. A2 beta-casein protein is found in older breeds of cows such as the Guernsey, Asian and African breeds, as well as goats, sheep, camels, horses, and humans.

With gliadorphin, modern agricultural practices have developed strains of wheat that our ancestors would likely not recognize. Amazingly uniform in height and other physical attributes to make for easier mechanized harvesting, and with far higher protein contents than any ancient wheat, our modern wheat strains seem to be an ideal expression of the art of farming. Unfortunately, with that increase in protein came an increase in gliadin content as well.

Agricultural giants like BASF and Monsanto are not likely to ever allow modern farmers to return to ancient seed-stocks, and farmers would not willingly do so either – farming is a tough business and most could not afford to lose the efficiencies that these new strains of grain allow.

Casein production is a multi-billion dollar a year industry as well. The Kerry Group, originally of Ireland, has been buying up food companies all around the world and is one of the world’s larges suppliers of casein. They unlikely to allow anything so mundane as public health to affect their profit picture.

Further complicating this picture is the fact that these additives make modern foods cheaper to produce, and tastier – even addictive. Many people can neither afford to nor would they want to give up their tasty, addictive, and convenient comfort foods.

What can we do?

Unfortunately, there is little that we can do at this time except to advise people to abstain from foods containing these substances – especially those who have shown any symptoms of sensitivity to them. For someone who has experienced any of the ill effects described in this article we would suggest avoiding these foods for a while, and see if those symptoms improve or resolve. Foods can be added back into the diet then and if symptoms return the answer is clear – those foods must be avoided.

There is a milk company on New Zealand that sells A2 milk in New Zealand and in Australia, but there is no source that we are aware of for A2 only cows milk in North America.

For some people, a diet free of these nasty little protein fragments could even be life-saving!

For many people though, a diet completely free of these two problem proteins, gluten and casein, is almost impossible. Even people who are conscious of the problem and work hard to avoid these substances can still fall prey to hidden sources in foods.

Gluten can be present in foods, but not shown on the label except as “natural flavoring” or “stabilizing agents” or “thickeners.” It can also be found in medicines and even in such things as lip balms – as a “binding agent.”

Casein is just as ubiquitous; it is used in so many processed foods that it is almost impossible to avoid. It can be found hiding in foods such as vegetarian cheese substitute and whipped cream toppings and it is even used in toothpaste!

So, what can be done about these dietary land-mines, waiting to explode and destroy the best efforts of the prudent GFCF (Gluten-Free, Casein-Free) dieter?

Digestive enzymes can help.

Digestive enzymes play a critical role in our digestive process – unfortunately, they decline with age and with some medical conditions and some populations may be subject to hereditary deficiencies in some dietary enzymes. These enzymes are required to break foods down into smaller, more useable components – which is the definition of digestion.The enzyme responsible for the breakdown of gluten and casein is a protease called DiPeptidyl Peptidase IV – usually abbreviated as DPP-IV.

Because of the importance of digestive enzymes to good health Dr. Myatt has been recommending them to her patients for many years.

Now more recently as the problems associated with gluten and casein are becoming better known the importance of DPP-IV in digesting these proteins has prompted her to begin recommending the digestive enzyme product Similase GFCF.

Similase GFCF contains a wide range of digestive enzymes to promote the healthy digestion and assimilation of a mixed diet of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and it also has increased DPP-IV enzyme activity to support the digestion of hidden sources of gluten and casein in the diet.

While using a digestive enzyme like Similase GFCF will not allow someone to “eat anything” it can certainly make mealtimes less of a “walk through a minefield” and regular use can actually help to heal damage that has been done by these proteins to the lining of the gut.

Testing is also available.

A Celiac Antibody Panel can be useful to demonstrate (or rule out) gluten allergy or sensitivity.

Celiac disease (CD), also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy or idiopathic sprue, is an hereditary response to gliadin, a protein fraction in wheat. Gluten sensitivity is a non-hereditary response to gluten and shares some similarity of symptoms with celiac disease. Anyone with IBS, chronic diarrhea, gas or other digestive abnormalities of unknown cause should be evaluated for gluten allergy/sensitivity since the condition is far more common than previously thought.

The Celiac Antibody Panel uses drops of blood obtained from finger-stick and the specimen is collected at home and mailed directly to the lab. The test evaluates anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA and immunoglobulins IgG and IgA specific for gliadin. It is considered highly accurate for diagnosing celiac disease and shows gluten sensitivity approximately 50% of the time.

The Gluten/Casein Peptides Test can demonstrate an inability to completely digest gluten (found in wheat, rye barley and oats) and / or casein found in milk can result in the production of neuropeptides called gliadorphin and casomorphin, which can have opiod effects in the body and brain.

This test requires a small amount of first morning urine to evaluate for both gluten and casein peptides.

 

References and resources for additional information and study:

B.Windham (Ed), Autism and Schizophrenia subgroup related to blockage by toxic exposures of enzymes processing gluten and casein. 2008. http://www.flcv.com/autismgc.html

ZHONGJIE SUN, J . ROBERT CADE; University of Florida, USA: A Peptide Found in Schizophrenia and Autism Causes Behavioral Changes in Rats. Autism March 1999 3: 85-95
“The influence of opioids on human brain function has been described (27). Gliadomorphins and casomorphins are not hydrolyzed by proteolytic enzymes, hence, are very stable families of compounds that can produce long-lasting effects on the CNS (89). Casomorphins are detectable in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (90). One member of this family, -casomorphin-7, caused behavioral changes when injected into rats (91).” http://aut.sagepub.com/content/3/1/85.full.pdf

Christine Zioudrou, Richard A. Streaty, and Werner A. Klee. Opioid Peptides Derived from Food Proteins THE EXORPHINS. From the Laboratory of General and Comparative Biochemistry, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Received for publication, October 20, 1978
http://fondation-maladies-degeneratives.org/Articles/a0f14213437ad7df55b7176fcea35bdf.pdf

Review of the potential health impact of β-casomorphins and related peptides. Report of the DATEX Working Group on β-casomorphins. Issued on 29 January 2009
[Nurse Mark Comment: This European government paper is working very, very hard to find that these casomorphins are not worth following up on – “don’t worry, be happy…” But there is a huge amount of information within the paperwhich contradicts that position – and all well referenced.] http://www.bezpecnostpotravin.cz

Brocke: Is Casein Fattening America? Published online 2008
“After all food reconstruction is big business, not necessarily about making food healthier but certainly making it more flavored more appealing and more likely to be highly addictive. It also serves to make food cheaper to produce but at what cost to our health? The current annual sales of Kerry Group is 3.8 billion with operations in over 15 countries. Obviously there is big money in selling casein and food additives to the unsuspecting public.” http://www.scribd.com/doc/8933807/Is-Casein-Fattening-America

Sun Z, Cade R.: Departments of Medicine and Physiology, University of Florida, Peptides. 2003 Feb;24(2):321-3. Findings in normal rats following administration of gliadorphin-7 (GD-7). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=gliadorphin

Zhongjie Sun, J. Robert Cade, Melvin J. Fregly, R. Malcolm Privette, University of Florida, USA, Autism March 1999 vol. 3 no. 1 67-83. β-Casomorphin Induces Fos-Like Immunoreactivity in Discrete Brain Regions Relevant to Schizophrenia and Autism http://aut.sagepub.com/content/3/1/67.short

Defilippi C, Gomez E, Charlin V, Silva C.: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago. Nutrition. 1995 Nov-Dec;11(6):751-4. Inhibition of small intestinal motility by casein: a role of beta casomorphins? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8719134?dopt=Citation

S Friis, E Dabelsteen, H Sjostrom, 0 Noren, S Jarnum: Gut 1992; 33:1487-1492, Gliadin uptake in human enterocytes. Differences between coeliac patients in remission and control individuals. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1379533/pdf/gut00578-0069.pdf

Author/Activist Dan Mahoney website “Fighting Big Food”: http://danmahony.com/bigfood.htm

Bachem Holding AG Online Catalog of chemicals available for sale: “Gliadorphin-7 is an opioid peptide which is formed during digestion of the gliadin component of the gluten protein. Elevated concentrations of gliadorphin-7 due to insufficient proteolysis has been associated with autism, schizophrenia, and celiac disease.” http://shop.bachem.com/ep6sf/peptides-and-biochemicals/opioid-peptides/4057062/prodH6712.html Gliadorphin-7

Beta-Casein website: “This website has been created by A2 Dairy Products Australia Pty Limited as a general information resource on the A1 and A2 beta-casein proteins.” http://www.betacasein.org/?p=home

Meloni GF, Dessole S, Vargiu N, Tomasi PA, Musumeci S. Source: Clinica Pediatrica ‘A. Filia’, Università di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica, Università di Sassari, Sassari, and Ospedale ‘S. Giovanni di Dio’, 07026 Olbia, Italy. Hum Reprod. 1999 Nov;14(11):2759-61. The prevalence of coeliac disease in infertility. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10548618

P Collin, S Vilska, P K Heinonen, 0 Hallstrom, P Pikkarainen Gut 1996; 39: 382-384: Infertility and coeliac disease “Conclusion-Patients having fertility problems may have subclinical coeliacdisease, which can be detected by serological screening tests. Silent coeliac disease should be considered in the case of women with unexplained infertility. http://gut.bmj.com/content/39/3/382.full.pdf

Unlocking Autism Organization, Journal articles regarding autism and gastrointestinal abnormalities: An interesting paper generally concerned with Attention Deficit Disorders btu that provides references to a number of studies demonstrating the inflammatory and immune-disrupting properties of gluten/gliadin and casein. http://www.unlockingautism.org/atf/cf/%7B64d87213-a160-4224-8ed7-702ed372e4b1%7D/DIETARYINTERVENTIONS.PDF

E Triboi, A Abad, A Michelena, J Lloveras, J.L Ollier, C Daniel, Station d’Agronomie INRA, 12 Avenue du Brézet, 63039 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Universitat de Lleida-IRTA, Alcalde Rovira Roure 177, 25198 Lleida, Spain, European Journal of Agronomy DOI:10.1016/S1161-0301(00)00059-9 Environmental effects on the quality of two wheat genotypes: 1. quantitative and qualitative variation of storage proteins Environmental effects on the quality of two wheat genotypes:

Goldenseal

Antimicrobial for the GI Tract

GoldensealGoldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) root has potent antimicrobial properties. Because the active ingredient appears to be an alkaloid, most of these anti-microbial properties remain confined to the GI tract.

Goldenseal has been found to be an effective antimicrobial against:

  • Chlamydia
  • E. coli
  • Salmonella typhi
  • Entamoeba histolytica
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Streptococcus sanguis
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Helicobacter pylori
  • other Gram-positive bacteria and fungi

Some studies suggest that goldenseal may also be effective against viruses, fungi, protozoans and helminths (worms).

Look for goldenseal products with standardized berberine/hydrastine (alkaloid) content as these will have the highest potency.

Because goldenseal is becoming a threatened species, some conscientious formulas contain Goldthread (coptis chinensis) in addition to goldenseal to supplement the berberine content of the formula.

Goldenseal is a special order product – please call.

Please read more about the benefits of Berberine here.

References

1.) Hahn FE, Ciak J. Berberine. Antibiotics 1976;3:577–88.
2.) Kim SH, Lee SJ, Lee JH, Sun WS, Kim JH. Antimicrobial activity of 9-O-acyl- and 9-O-alkylberberrubine derivatives. Planta Med. 2002 Mar;68(3):277-81.
3.) Scazzocchio F, Cometa MF, Tomassini L, Palmery M. Antibacterial activity of Hydrastis canadensis extract and its major isolated alkaloids. Planta Med. 2001 Aug;67(6):561-4.
4.) Mahady GB, Pendland SL, Stoia A, Chadwick LR. In vitro susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to isoquinoline alkaloids from Sanguinaria canadensis and Hydrastis canadensis.Phytother Res. 2003 Mar;17(3):217-21.
5.) [no authors listed]. Berberine. Altern Med Rev. 2000 Apr;5(2):175-7.

Garlic

Powerful Antibiotic and Immune Stimulant

Garlic is a natural antibiotic. Albert Schweitzer used garlic to treat dysentery in Africa. In addition to it’s broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, garlic enhances numerous aspects of immune function. Garlic lowers blood pressure, triglycerides, and platelet stickiness (which can lead to clots and strokes while increasing HDL (the good cholesterol) and fibrinolysis (the breakdown of fibrin clots). Garlic is useful in HIV/AIDS, allergy, atherosclerosis, cancer, candidiasis, cardiac arrhythmias, diabetes type II, high blood pressure and infection.

Alliin, the primary substance of garlic, and alliinase, the activating enzyme, are present in separate chambers of the garlic clove. When garlic is ruptured, alliinase interacts with alliin and converts it to allicin – one of garlic’s most beneficial compounds. However, allicin dissipates quickly during standard processing techniques – including cooking.

Allium sativum – humble garlic – came to ancient man from Central Asia and belongs to the Alliacae plant family. It is used worldwide for it’s indispensable and distinctive flavor in cooking. It also has a vital place in traditional medicine, and as a functional food to enhance physical and mental health.

The benefits of garlic consumption in treating a wide variety of human diseases and disorders have been known for centuries and garlic has found a special position in many cultures as a powerful preventative and therapeutic medicinal agent. The ancient Egyptians in their 3,500-year-old document the Codex Ebers, described it’s use in the treatment of heart disorders, tumors, worms, bites, and other ailments.

In more modern times, garlic is known to inhibit the development of cardiovascular disease and to prevent cancer and other chronic diseases associated with aging.

Over the past few decades the role of garlic in treating cardiovascular disease has received much attention – much of it likely sponsored by drug companies hoping to find a way to cash in on Mother Nature’s genius.

Let’s look at a few of garlic’s better-known effects:

Cholesterol and lipid-lowering effects.

Several studies have indicated that garlic inhibits key enzymes involved in cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis, thus lowering the dreaded “bad cholesterol” levels and promoting overall cardiovascular health. (1, 2, 3, 4)

Inhibition of platelet aggregation – known to most people as “blood thinning.”

Since the 1990s, numerous clinical trials have been done, and all showed that garlic consumption leads to the inhibition of platelet aggregation (5, 6, 7). Performed on both normal, healthy subjects and on subjects with cardiovascular illnesses, the studies showed that no matter what form the garlic was in , whether powdered, oil, or aged extract, the garlic had a positive effect in the inhibition of platelet aggregation (abnormal blood “stickiness”) in both healthy subjects and the subjects with cardiovascular disease.

Lowering blood pressure.

Beginning in the 1990s, studies have been published demonstrating the effects of garlic on blood pressure (6, 8, 9, 10). Again, no matter what form of garlic was used; powdered, oil, extracts, or just garlic in the diet, all the studies showed a reduction in blood pressure.

Reducing oxidative stress.

Garlic beats out Big Pharma on this one – hands down. In fact, Big Pharma really doesn’t have anything to offer that they claim will reduce oxidative stress, even though it is widely known that oxidative stress can lead to the development of cardiovascular disease and certainly worsens existing cardiovascular disease. In study after study normal subjects and patients with hypertension (high blood pressure), hypercholesterolemic (high cholesterol), and tobacco smoking subjects all showed improvements in plasma (blood) antioxidant capacity, lowering of blood pressure and of cholesterol, and reduction in oxidative markers. (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

What else?

Other direct heart and circulation protective effects of garlic in humans that have been reported include:

  • a decrease in unstable angina (chest pain) (16),
  • increased elasticity of blood vessels (17),
  • a decrease in peripheral arterial occlusive disease (blocked arteries) (18),
  • an increase in peripheral blood flow in healthy subjects (19),
  • an inhibiting effect on the progression of coronary calcification (hardening arteries) in patients using statin drugs (20).

Garlic is also well-known for it’s potent antimicrobial effects as well – for example, MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a potentially deadly bacteria that has Big Pharma throwing it’s hands up in defeat – it has become resistant to the “Big Guns” antibiotics. Garlic doesn’t concede defeat however – and it is one of the few effective treatments for this dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Doesn’t garlic make you smell like, well, garlic?

It depends on how you are using it. Fresh garlic cloves will certainly have you smelling like garlic – though that is not necessarily an offensive scent to many people… and other garlic preparations – oils, and extracts especially – can give a garlicky odor to your breath. Enteric garlic like Garlitrin 4000 delivers all the health benefits of fresh garlic, but does so in a special tablet that dissolves only when it reaches the small intestine where it is able to be fully-absorbed, undamaged by stomach acid. Because it dissolves and is absorbed so far along in the digestive tract it causes no garlic odor of the breath.

References:

1. Gebhardt R. Multiple inhibitory effects of garlic extracts on cholesterol biosynthesis in hepatocytes. Lipids. 1993;28:613–9.

2. Liu L, Yeh YY. Water-soluble organosulfur compounds of garlic inhibit fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis in cultured rat hepatocytes. Lipids. 2001;36:395–400.

3. Yeh YY, Liu L. Cholesterol-lowering effects of garlic extracts and organosulfur compounds: human and animal studies. J Nutr. 2001;131:989S–93S.

4. Yeh YY, Yeh SM. Garlic reduces plasma lipids by inhibiting hepatic cholesterol and triacylglycerol synthesis. Lipids. 1994;29:189–93.

5. Rahman K. Garlic and aging: new insights into an old remedy. Ageing Res Rev. 2003;2:39–56.

6. Banerjee SK, Maulik SK. Effect of garlic on cardiovascular disorders: a review. Nutr J. 2002;1:4–14.

7. Steiner M, Li W. Aged garlic extract, a modulator of cardiovascular risk factors: a dose-finding study on the effects of AGE on platelet functions. J Nutr. 2001;131:980S–4S.

8. Turner B, Molgaard C, Marckmann P. Effect of garlic (Allium sativum) powder tablets on serum lipids, blood pressure and arterial stiffness in normo-lipidaemic volunteers: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 2004;92:701–6.

9. Dhawan V, Jain S. Effect of garlic supplementation on oxidised low density lipoproteins and lipid peroxidation in patients of essential hypertension. Mol Cell Biochem. 2004;266:109–15.

10. Durak I, Kavutcu M, Aytac B, Avci A, Devrim E, Ozbek H, Ozturk HS. Effects of garlic extract consumption on blood lipid and oxidant/antioxidant parameters in humans with high blood cholesterol. J Nutr Biochem. 2004;15:373–7.

11. Dhawan V, Jain S. Effect of garlic supplementation on oxidised low density lipoproteins and lipid peroxidation in patients of essential hypertension. Mol Cell Biochem. 2004;266:109–15.

12. Durak I, Kavutcu M, Aytac B, Avci A, Devrim E, Ozbek H, Ozturk HS. Effects of garlic extract consumption on blood lipid and oxidant/antioxidant parameters in humans with high blood cholesterol. J Nutr Biochem. 2004;15:373–7.

13. Munday JS, James KA, Fray LM, Kirkwood SW, Thompson KG. Daily supplementation with aged garlic extract, but not raw garlic protects low density lipoprotein against in vitro oxidation. Atherosclerosis. 1999;143:399–404.

14. Dillion SA, Lowe GM, Billington D, Rahman K. Dietary supplementation with aged garlic extract reduces plasma and urine concentrations of 8-iso-prostagalandin F(2 alpha) in smoking and non-smoking men and women. J Nutr. 2002;132:168–71.

15. Durak I, Aytac B, Atmaca Y, Devrim E, Avci A, Erol C, Oral D. Effects of aged garlic extract consumption on plasma and erythrocyte antioxidant parameters in atherosclerotic patients. Life Sci. 2004;75:1959–66.

16. Li G, Shi Z, Jia H, Ju J, Wang X, Xia Z, Qin L, Ge C, Xu Y, et al. A clinical investigation on garlicin injection for the treatment of unstable angina pectoris and its actions on plasma endothelin and blood sugar levels. J Tradit Chin Med. 2000;20:243–6.

17. Breithaupt-Grogler K, Ling M, Boudoulas H, Belz GG, Heiden M, Wenzel E, Gu LD. Protective effect of chronic garlic intake on elastic properties of aorta in the elderly. Circulation. 1997;96:2649–55.

18. Kiesewetter H, Jung F, Jung EM, Mroweitz C, Koscielny J, Wenzel E. Effect of garlic on platelet aggregation in patients with increased risk of juvenile ischaemic attack. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1993;45:333–6.

19. Anim-Nyame N, Sooranna SR, Johnson MR, Gamble J, Steer PJ. Garlic supplementation increases peripheral blood flow: a role for interleukin-6? J Nutr Biochem. 2004;15:30–6.

20. Budoff MJ, Takasu J, Flores FR, Niihara Y, Lu B, Lau BH, Rosen RT, Amagase H. Inhibiting progression of coronary calcification using Aged Garlic Extract in patients receiving statin therapy: a preliminary study. Prev Med. 2004;39:985–91.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Potent Anti-Inflammatory and Carminitive

Ginger is a potent anti-inflammatory (1-2) , carminative (helps expel gas by improving digestion), intestinal spasmolytic (relaxes intestinal spasms) and anti-motion sickness herb.(2-6) It is also high in antioxidants.(2) Uses of ginger include:

  • motion sickness (dizziness, nausea, vomiting) (2-6)
  • nausea from chemotherapy or anesthesia (6-11)
  • morning sickness (pregnancy-related nausea) (6,12-14)
  • cancer prevention (anti-carcinogenic properties) (2, 15-18)
  • arthritis (osteo and rheumatoid) (19-21)
  • atherosclerosis (2, 22-24)
  • digestive complaints – stimulates digestion, lessens irritation (25-27)

GingerMax®

GingerMax concentrated ginger capsulesGinger Max® concentrated ginger is the most potent standardized ginger available, containing an unprecedented 20% pungent compounds.

Each (one) capsule contains:
 Ginger root extract……………………………………………100 mg
standardized to contain 20% pungent compounds calculated as 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol

REFERENCES

1.) Grzanna R, Lindmark L, Frondoza CG. Ginger–an herbal medicinal product with broad anti-inflammatory actions. J Med Food. 2005 Summer;8(2):125-32.
2.) Ali BH, Blunden G, Tanira MO, Nemmar A. Some phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe): a review of recent research. Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Feb;46(2):409-20. Epub 2007 Sep 18.
3.) Grontved A, Brask T, Kambskard J, Hentzer E. Ginger root against seasickness. Acta Otolaryngol 1988;105:45–9.
4.) Ribenfeld D, Borzone L. Randomized double-blind study comparing ginger (Zintona®) with dimenhydrinate in motion sickness. Healthnotes Rev Complementary Integrative Med 1999;6:98–101.
5.) Careddu P. Motion sickness in children: Results of a double-blind study with ginger (Zintona®) and dimenhydrinate. Healthnotes Rev Complementary Integrative Med 1999;6:102–7.
6.) White B. Ginger: an overview. Am Fam Physician. 2007 Jun 1;75(11):1689-91.
7.) Bone ME, Wilkinson DJ, Young JR, et al. Ginger root—a new antiemetic: The effect of ginger root on postoperative nausea and vomiting after major gynaecological surgery. Anaesthesia 1990;45:669–71.
8.) Levine ME, Gillis MG, Koch SY, Voss AC, Stern RM, Koch KL. Protein and ginger for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced delayed nausea. J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Jun;14(5):545-51.
9.) Pillai AK, Sharma KK, Gupta YK, Bakhshi S. Anti-emetic effect of ginger powder versus placebo as an add-on therapy in children and young adults receiving high emetogenic chemotherapy. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010 Sep 14. [Epub ahead of print]
10.) Phillips S, Ruggier R, Hutchingson SE. Zingiber officinale (ginger)—an antiemetic for day case surgery. Anaesthesia 1993;48:715–7.
11.) Meyer K, Schwartz J, Craer D, Keyes B. Zingiber officinale (ginger) used to prevent 8-Mop associated nausea. Dermatol Nursing 1995;7:242–4.
12.) Langner E, Greifenberg S, Gruenwald J. Ginger: History and use. Adv Ther 1998;15:25–44 [review].
13.) Ozgoli G, Goli M, Simbar M. Effects of ginger capsules on pregnancy, nausea, and vomiting.J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Mar;15(3):243-6.
14.) Willetts KE, Ekangaki A, Eden JA. Effect of a ginger extract on pregnancy-induced nausea: a randomised controlled trial. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2003 Apr;43(2):139-44.
15.) Kundu JK, Na HK, Surh YJ. Ginger-derived phenolic substances with cancer preventive and therapeutic potential. Forum Nutr. 2009;61:182-92. Epub 2009 Apr 7.
16.) Rhode J, Fogoros S, Zick S, Wahl H, Griffith KA, Huang J, Liu JR. Ginger inhibits cell growth and modulates angiogenic factors in ovarian cancer cells. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2007 Dec 20;7:44.
17.) Sang S, Hong J, Wu H, Liu J, Yang CS, Pan MH, Badmaev V, Ho CT. Increased growth inhibitory effects on human cancer cells and anti-inflammatory potency of shogaols from Zingiber officinale relative to gingerols. J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Nov 25;57(22):10645-50.
18.) Surh YJ, Park KK, Chun KS, Lee LJ, Lee E, Lee SS. Anti-tumor-promoting activities of selected pungent phenolic substances present in ginger. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 1999;18(2):131-9.
19.) Chrubasik JE, Roufogalis BD, Chrubasik S. Evidence of effectiveness of herbal antiinflammatory drugs in the treatment of painful osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain. Phytother Res. 2007 Jul;21(7):675-83.
20.) Fouda AM, Berika MY. Evaluation of the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Zingiber officinale rhizomes in rat collagen-induced arthritis. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2009 Mar;104(3):262-71. Epub 2009 Jan 20.
21.) Funk JL, Frye JB, Oyarzo JN, Timmermann BN. Comparative effects of two gingerol-containing Zingiber officinale extracts on experimental rheumatoid arthritis. J Nat Prod. 2009 Mar 27;72(3):403-7.
22.) Bordia A, Verma SK, Srivastava KC. Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L) on blood lipids, blood sugar, and platelet aggregation in patients with coronary artery disease. Prostagland Leukotrienes Essential Fatty Acids 1997;56:379–84.
23.) Nicoll R, Henein MY. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe): a hot remedy for cardiovascular disease? Int J Cardiol. 2009 Jan 24;131(3):408-9. Epub 2007 Nov 26.
24.) Verma SK, Singh J, Khamesra R, Bordia A. Effect of ginger on platelet aggregation in man. Indian J Med Res 1994;98:240–2.
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26.) Yamahara J, Huang QR, Li YH, et al. Gastrointestinal motility enhancing effect of ginger and its active constituents. Chem Pharm Bull 1990;38:430–1.
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