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The Bacon and Egg Cure for High Cholesterol

03/15/07

This Week In HealthBeat News:


This is a repeat of last week’s “urgent announcement.” It is SO important that I WANT TO BE SURE EVERYONE SAW IT. If you already took action, good for you and please go enjoy the other articles from this week’s HealthBeat. (And be sure to pass this information along to friends and family)……

More Proof-Positive That Big Pharma Doesn’t Give a Damn
About Your Health

by Dr. Dana Myatt

Breast cancer rates have not changed significantly in the last 50 years with one notable exception. The rates dropped an unbelievable 7% in just one year when the news about the connection between Premarin (Pregnant Mares Urine) hormone therapy and breast cancer finally broke. This was barely mentioned by the media, then it disappeared. I’m not sure if many people really caught the significance of this, so let’s review it in a nutshell.

In 2001, sales of Premarin and Prempro (conventional hormone replacement therapy for post-menopausal women) exceeded $2 billion. In 2002, the huge Women’s Health Initiative Study showed that both Prempro and Premarin significantly increased women’s risks of breast cancer, heart attacks and dementia. (This information was actually known 20 years ago, even before the Women’s Health Initiatit5ve Study, when I was just a medical student. But the news just “broke” to the general public in the last several years). As a result of the study’s findings about these increased health risks, use of Premarin and Prempro plummeted along with sales. Revenues from these poisons fell to less than $1 million per year ($880,000 to be exact) by 2004. That’s a drop of 99.96% in sales and profits if you need a little help with the math.

Benefits of Natural (Bio-identical) Hormone Replacement Therapy

Many women turned from these deadly Big Pharma hormones to natural, aka bio-identical, hormone replacement therapy which so far appears to be MUCH safer than the drug versions of hormones. The big difference is that natural hormone replacement therapy attempts to duplicate a woman’s hormones (replace the same approximate amounts the exact same hormones a woman has when younger), instead of giving un-natural amounts of only the strongest female horse-hormones, which is what the drug versions do. Here is what we know about the benefits of natural hormone replacement therapy (nHRT):

* Natural HRT has been used in the U.S. for almost 25 years without a single related death or complaint

* Unlike synthetic HRT drugs (typically made from horse urine), bio-identical hormones use the same four main sex hormones that the body makes, and in “physiologic” amounts (amounts similar to what the body makes)

* Unlike “one-size-fits-all” horse hormone prescriptions, natural HRT prescriptions are custom-tailored to individual patients

* Natural HRT still requires a doctor’s prescription and supervision

Because the nHRT duplicates the pattern of natural female hormones, they appear to be far safer than conventional HRT. In fact, there is evidence that nHRT may actually help prevent breast cancer instead of causing it. Many women have found relief from menopausal complaints over the past 25 years with this apparently far-safer form of hormone replacement therapy.

Big Pharma Doesn’t Give a Damn About Your Health

In October of 2005, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, manufacturers of Prempro and Premarin, filed a complaint with the FDA asking that the sale of ALL bio-identical hormones be banned. That’s right —Wyeth, makers of cancer-causing hormones, has petitioned the FDA to outlaw the natural HRT alternatives that are safer, more effective, and cheaper than their dangerous drugs. This should go a long way to preserving the less than one half of one-thousandth the dollars they used to make on these killers. Apparently, Wyeth cares more about protecting the now-miniscule market-share of their line of dismally failing drugs than they do for protecting women’s lives.

Wyeth’s drugs were causing at least 7% of the country’s breast cancers, yet now they want to take away access to the much safer hormone alternative. See how much our lives are worth to Big Pharma?

Why the FDA Sleeps with Big Pharma

Our lives aren’t worth any more to the FDA than they are to Big Pharma. After all, Big Medicine, Big Pharma and their Bed Partner the FDA are about Big Money, not altruistic endeavors. (I hope I’m not popping anyone’s candy-colored bubble here).

The FDA receives “drug user fees,” which totaled over 3 billion dollars in 2004 from pharmaceutical companies for the drugs they sell. The less drugs that Wyeth or any Big Pharma Company sells, the less money goes into the FDA coffers. Natural hormones, made by “compounding pharmacies,” are regulated by the states. The FDA does not receive any money from the sale of natural hormones. No wonder the FDA is just as eager as Wyeth to either outlaw natural hormones OR have compounding pharmacies fall under their (FDA) jurisdiction.

Because the FDA and Big Pharma are bedfellows, an FDA ruling on the matter would have gone in favor of Wyeth last year had it not been for a massive grassroots effort that appeared to put the matter to rest. Now enter the double-dealing “tag on” bill brought to you by our “Also don’t give a damn about the individual” politicians.

Crooked Politicians Aid and Abet The FDA and Big Pharma
(The Sneaky End-Run Around)

Another surprise to some of you, I know, but politicians actually aid and abet this Big Money Machine, not our individual health freedoms or our personal health concerns. Just several days ago, this “tag on” piece of legislation was introduced by Senators Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.), aka “the usual suspects.” It should be noted that Senator Kennedy is # 4 on the list of the top 20 political recipients of Big Pharma money, reporting a total of $221,550 received from the Pharmaceutical Industry in 2006 alone.

“The Safe Drug Compounding Act of 2007,” deftly tacked on the back of a major FDA funding bill, will be voted on the end of this month and will surely pass (so much for our legislators “reigning in” the FDA). What this sneaky “tag” will do is drastically curtail compounding pharmacies and place them under FDA control instead of state control. Expect to kiss your natural (bio-identical) hormone replacement therapy and all other compounded prescriptions
good-bye.

Notice how this “tag” was placed at the last minute (so few people would have time to hear about it, much less respond), and how it was added to a bigger bill that is sure to pass? Evil, dirty, rotten nasty politics. This stinks, but it’s the “modus operandi” of Big Government and other Big Money interests. You and I don’t matter at all to these people except for the money we can put in their collective pockets, and our individual health and freedom be damned.


Take Action Now to Preserve Compounding Pharmacy
and Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy

Remember that I promised to let you know when it was time to take action on an impending health freedom matter? The time is NOW to protect compounding pharmacy and natural hormone replacement therapy.

What You Must Do Today to Protect Your/Our Health Freedom

Since almost no one except HealthBeat readers have even heard about this yet, the opportunity for a grassroots movement to stop this legislation is cutting close. Don’t wait until next week to act. Here is what you need to do if you want to help save compounding
pharmacy and health freedom in general and natural hormone replacement therapy in particular.

You need to write a letter to both your state Senators AND your state Representatives. This letter should be FAXED to their office, not mailed. A fax is far more potent than a phone call (if you can even get through) or an email. It is estimated that each individual fax carries the weight of 13,000 voters (because they figure about one in about 13,000 who care about a particular subject will ever actually contact a representative). Here is what you need to say, and it is short and sweet:

(Please modify this into your own words, but this is the gist of it):
_________________________

Dear Senator BlowHard:

I am vehemently opposed to the proposed “Safe Drug Compounding Act of 2007” and request that you vote “no” on this stealthy tag-on legislation. Leave compounding pharmacy where it belongs, under state jurisdiction. Further, I believe the dysfunctional FDA does
not need more control over drug regulation, they need less.

Please help protect what shred of my health freedom remains by voting “no” on this senseless legislation.

Your Voting Constituent,
Joe Doaks
___________________________

How to locate your representatives:

Locate your representatives by state

Locate your senators by state
_____________________________

Political Action Steps Summary:

1.) Fax your state’s senators and representatives ASAP. If you don’t have a fax machine, http://www.faxzero.com lets you send out 2 free faxes per day. (Hot tip on free faxing courtesy of Steven C.). A fax really is that much more important and worth your time than an email, and a typed or legibly hand-written letter carries a LOT of weight!

2.) Pass this note on to friends, family, anyone who gives a darn about health freedom. (You know, all those people you forward e-mail jokes to). If you have friends who aren’t on e-mail, snail-mail them this information. Encourage them to pass it along to as many people as they can.

Grassroots movements have saved the day on other health freedoms issues in the past decade. We must not underestimate the power of the general citizenry (that’s us!) to slay the dragons that jeopardize our freedom. Since the pen is mightier than the sword, please draw your weapon and let’s see if we can save the day for health freedom once again.

In Pursuit of Health and Freedom,
Dr. Myatt

 

Why Don’t You Bill Insurance?

by Mark Ziemann, R.N.

[Dr. Myatt’s Note: The following commentary is a continuation of Nurse Mark’s Poor, Poor Pitiful Me: Why Some People Will Never Get Well and Would Your Plumber Work This Cheap? from previous weeks’ HealthBeat News. If you haven’t read these articles, you might want to check them out first to see what has gotten my mild-mannered Nurse in such a tizzy. I do believe this is the final installment of Nurse Mark’s indignation! ;-)]

“Why Don’t You Just Bill My Insurance?” This plea usually comes from someone wanting to book an appointment, but who is haggling and chiseling at the cost. “But she is so expensive – I couldn’t possibly afford that much money…” These people almost invariably go elsewhere, usually to their “conventional” doc, who is only too happy to give them a 5 to 10 minute visit, a mandatory drug prescription as a “prize” for visiting, and send them happily on their way. These doctors usually have a bustling office staff devoted to scheduling patients in at ten-minute intervals, and an even busier back-office staff devoted to doing all the preliminary paperwork that goes to the insurance company to generate income for the doctor and his staff. Even with a back-office staff doing much of the prep work, the doctor will still spend several hours each day finishing up his or her part of the insurance paperwork. This really is a major business, and must be run as efficiently as possible if that doctor is to achieve the desired income.

Here is the history behind Dr. Myatt’s decision to “opt out” of the insurance business. As she tells it, it was one of those rare “ah hah” moments in life. Many years ago, while working for a major holistic medical clinic in Phoenix (one that accepted insurance, as most do),
Dr. Myatt came into the office an hour early one morning to plow through the mountain of insurance paperwork that her busy medical practice required. Anyone who does their own income taxes has some idea of what these forms look like, with one notable exception. Each insurance provider has a different form and requirement of what information is needed.

So there sat Dr. Myatt, scratching her head and grinding her way through a mountain of paperwork when in walked one of the clinic nurses, announcing that there was a work-in patient in the ER, here before regular clinic hours with severe breathing difficulty and chest pain. Doctor Myatt was the only physician available (of course she was — it was over an hour before the clinic usually opened)! As The Good Doctor shifted mental gears from paper-pusher to emergency room physician, she found herself for just a moment feeling resentful. After all, how could she get the insurance paperwork completed if she was interrupted with patients? Like a splash of cold water in the face, this thought was immediately replaced with the realization of what the paper-pushing had done to her. Too busy doing insurance paperwork to see a patient? She got up, saw the patient (who was in severe cardiac distress due to a non-functional mitral valve) and decided right then and there that she would never resent seeing a patient for want of more time to fill out insurance forms.
Dr. Myatt “opted out” of insurance and Medicare at that time (it is no longer possible for a physician to “opt out” of Medicare), and has never looked back or regretted her decision. She now spends all of her time on patient care, and her results speak for themselves.

Here at the Wellness Club, we work at a slower pace. We book each patient for a full hour, and visits often run longer. We focus entirely on the patient and on how to make them well, not on how to comply with sometimes-impossible insurance forms.

I recently had a patient (one of our “incurable” success stories) ask me “do you really make any money at this?” and I had to answer honestly. We cover the bills and expenses and we are comfortable, but we are not “rich” and aren’t likely to get rich any time soon unless we hit the lotto.

People measure success by many different markers. Some see success as a big, fancy home (we live in a comfortable but modest straw bale home where we have clean air, clean water, and plenty of outdoors to enjoy). Others measure success by the car they drive (we have an older model van and an older model Saturn wagon). We also have a — you guessed it, older model — RV that allows us to travel to see patients, lecture, and teach. Still other people believe that their success is measured in their 401K’s, retirement pensions and gold-plated medical (sickness) insurance plans. We have no plans to “retire” for as long as we can keep helping people find better health, our “health insurance” is our daily supplement and vitamin regimen (especially Maxi Multis!), clean air, clean water, good food, and modest exercise, and our “retirement plan” is to build a modest home that is completely self-sustainable (no electric company or propane delivery required) and raise our own food.

Dr. Myatt could undoubtedly make more money if we “took insurance.” This would require seeing far more patients for far less time each, and there would be no time for individual “case study,” but it would certainly bring a bigger income.

Would we be “more successful” if we “took” insurance? Not if you calculate success like we do, by the number of people that we have helped. We sleep well at night knowing we are giving our all to each and every patient, and we never find ourselves feeling annoyed that a patient is disturbing our paperwork time. Most importantly, many patients reaffirm our “success” when they thank us for helping them with “incurable” medical problems that conventional medicine has given up on.

Now that’s success in our book!

Cheers,
Nurse Mark

P.S. Here is the information from the “Insurance” page of our website for those who are interested.

How Our Office Handles Insurance

Q: Does Dr. Myatt Accept Medicare or Medicaid?

A: No. Dr. Myatt “opted out” of Medicare years ago. Without a UPN number (universal provider number required by Medicare), there is no way for Medicare to cover Dr. Myatt’s services. Further, Medicare rarely covers the type of progressive, alternative care that Dr. Myatt and other holistic physicians provide.

Q: Does Dr. Myatt accept insurance?

A: No. Services are due and payable on the day they are rendered.

Q: Will Dr. Myatt fill out insurance paperwork if I file a claim myself?

A: Yes. Dr. Myatt will gladly complete any necessary insurance paperwork including writing letters of medical necessity, as required by your insurance company for you to file a claim yourself. However, all time spent completing insurance paperwork or writing such letters is billed at Dr. Myatt’s usual hourly fee of $240. For example, if it takes Dr. Myatt one-half hour to complete insurance paperwork, the patient will be billed $120.

Q: Why does Dr. Myatt charge for filling out insurance paperwork? My other doctor does this for free.

A: Your other doctor spends 5-10 minutes with you and charges for a complete office visit. Dr. Myatt charges for the office visit (typically one hour, the entire time of which is devoted to your care), then spends an average of 2-12 hours in “case study” following your exam or phone consultation. This additional time spent on case study is not charged for but is included in your visit. Very few physicians spend so much time and attention on an individual patient.

Insurance paperwork is incredibly time-consuming. This is valuable time that Dr. Myatt prefers to spend studying the patient’s case in order to get the patient well, not shuffling papers.

When you consider the true amount of time Dr. Myatt spends on an individual case, you will see that her fees are a bargain. When you find yourself recovering from an “incurable” illness, you will further understand why Dr. Myatt’s case-study time is so valuable and why we charge for the non-wellness time spent on paperwork.

Cheers,
Nurse Mark

The Bacon and Egg Cure for High Cholesterol

Is your cholesterol still “too high”? (Above 230, but this depends on what your “good cholesterol,” or HDL levels, are, too).

We get calls and letters literally every day with questions about how to lower high cholesterol. The self-treatment stories we hear include “I only eat good carbohydrates,” or “I almost never eat eggs.” To which we reply, “well no wonder your cholesterol is high!”

You see, what you have probably heard about how to lower cholesterol is completely backwards. If it was correct, you’d see big result in as little as a month. If you’ve been on your cholesterol-avoidance diet for more than a month and haven’t seen dramatic improvements, then you have proof that you are on the wrong track. Clearly, it’s time to try a new approach. Cholesterol levels don’t take that long to change.

I had a telephone follow-up with new patient Kim this week. She’s thrilled because the migraine headaches she originally contacted me about are gone. Not reduced, but completely gone, no drugs needed. As a side-effect, she’s lost 30 pounds and her once-high cholesterol levels have dropped like a rock, back into the normal range for the first time in many years. Her secret? She’s following my advice and having either a Super Shake or bacon and eggs for breakfast, along with following the rest of The Myatt Diet. It wasn’t an easy “sell” to convince her to eat this way, but now she’s an absolute missionary for The Myatt Diet. (You’ll see her testimonial in an upcoming HealthBeat). She also tells me that she’s amazed how her food cravings have completely disappeared, so she’s not missing her former junk food, including “good carbs.”

If you’ve bought into the prevalent but misguided idea that avoiding cholesterol will lower your cholesterol, here’s a hot “biochemical tidbit.” When you lower dietary cholesterol, your liver simply makes more. (Cholesterol comprises 80% of the cell wall of every cell in your body, so it’s a very valuable commodity indeed). Fortunately, your liver knows how to make cholesterol even when you don’t eat it. When you stop eating eggs, your liver detects a “cholesterol famine” and cranks out more of this life-giving fat. Your attempts to outsmart Mother Nature will fail. (You can’t get up early enough to fool Mama Nature)!

Low Cholesterol diets rarely work to lower cholesterol. Eating only “good carbs” rarely works to lower cholesterol. “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.” Stop struggling with your cholesterol levels and go have some bacon eggs for breakfast!  — Dr. Myatt

* Calling All Fellow Gardeners! *

Greenest Envy: Make Your Garden The Talk of The Neighborhood
Grow Bigger Flowers, Greener Lawns, Humongous Produce

I like to garden. It pleases me no end to see my front yard filled with bright splashes of color all season long and bring fresh cuttings indoors for a continual warm-weather treat. And really, can you call those tasteless red things from the grocery store a tomato after you’ve tasted home-grown? A juicy red beefsteak still warm from the vine atop fresh-picked lettuce puts me in salad bliss. Not only is home-grown produce far fresher and more convenient, it can be FAR healthier than store-bought produce grown with synthetic fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides, then sprayed with anti-fungal agents, spoilage retardants and Goddess only knows what else so they’ll “keep” longer on the grocery shelf. The toxic spate of chemicals in produce often offsets the value of “eating green” in the first place! For my money and health, homegrown is better whenever I can pull it off. The problem is, how do you fertilize and keep bugs at bay without those nasty chemicals? Much as I hate to use them, there’s no doubt that many of them are effective at what they do.

Fortunately, I’ve found a marvelous gardening secret: Gardens Alive!

Gardens Alive! offers non-toxic solutions for just about every garden problem you can name. Got pests? They have non-toxic solutions that are effective and affordable. Lawn problems? Their seeds and growth enhancers (again, all non-toxic) will give you the greenest lawn on the block with far less effort. Their fruit, vegetable and flower growth enhancers produce bigger, healthier yields without fail. Kill nasty garden pests without harm to yourself or your pets; have an enviably perfect lawn and harvest eye-popping produce with these not-to-be-missed garden solutions. No more nematodes, blossom end-rot or meager yields for me, no siree! Bye bye deer and birds sharing my harvest (it wouldn’t be so bad if they’d eat the whole leaf or fruit instead of pecking one hole in every leaf, huh?). I even get a jump-start on the season with their ingenious little seed starter kits.

I’ve never seen anything like the array of products offered at Gardens Alive! They even have solutions for helping keep your pets healthy. Best of all, these non-toxic solutions are not only more effective than their synthetic counterparts, they are also less expensive in almost every case.

If you do any gardening at all, you owe it to yourself to take a look at these incredible products. Imagine the pride you’ll feel harvesting state-fair quality produce and flowers, or enjoying a golf-course quality lawn that will be the envy of your entire neighborhood! Please be sure to take “before” and after” pictures of your efforts so we can show them off to other gardening readers.

Here are some of my top recommendations:

Gardens Alive! Organic Garden With Seed Got 4’x4′ of space? You can have a complete organic garden with 10 vegetables, easy and weed-free. This kit R-O-C-K-S! I’m setting one up on my deck this summer and I’ll have organic salads all season long.
Vegetables Alive! Fertilizer  Dramatically increase your yield of lettuce, peas, broccoli, cabbage, beans, cucumbers, melons and more.
Turf Alive! Brand Have a thick, green lawn the looks like a lush golf course without the toxic chemicals. Your neighbors will hate you.
Portabella Mushroom Kit Portabellas have a wonderful texture and flavor, plus they’re loaded with nutrients including vitamin B and potassium. They can be difficult to find at the supermarket (and they’re expensive), but with this kit you can grow your own and enjoy fresh mushrooms in 3-5 weeks.
No Fleas, Please! Stop fleas outdoors AND kill ’em indoors. Non-toxic, inexpensive, effective. Outdoor Flea Control and Indoor Flea Control

AND, Here’s a “starter special” for you:
$20 FREE off your first order at Gardens Alive for Wellness Club Members!

Happy Gardening!
— Dr. Myatt

Laughter is Good Medicine : Best Single’s Ad Ever

This has to be one of the best singles ads ever printed. It is reported to have been listed in the Atlanta Journal.

SINGLE BLACK FEMALE seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I’m a very good girl who LOVES to play. I love long walks in the woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. I’ll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me. Call (404) 875-XXXX and ask for Lucy, I’ll be waiting…. (Click here to see the punch line):

Echinacea (E. angustifolia, purpura)

Natural Immune System Booster

Echinacea - Purple ConeflowerEchinacea is one of the most popular herbs for stimulating and boosting the immune system. It acts as an immune stimulant, immune modulator (balances the immune system), anti-viral and anti-bacterial.

Echinacea, also known as the purple coneflower, is a native American herb with an impressive record of laboratory and clinical research. Echinacea has long been used by North American Plains Indians shamans and today thousands of modern healers use echinacea for treating infectious diseases.  It was often used in modern American medicine in the early 20th Century, and became popular with Europeans, who have used it extensively since the 1930s. Today millions of Europeans use echinacea as a primary therapy for colds, flu’s, infections, and for it’s general immune-boosting effects.

Primary uses of echinacea include:

  • Colds, coughs and flu and other upper respiratory conditions
  • Enlarged lymph glands, sore throat
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Other minor infections
  • May help combat herpes and candida
  • Wounds, skin regeneration and skin infections (external use)
  • Psoriasis, eczema and inflammatory skin conditions (external use)

Echinacea increases the “non-specific” activity of the immune system stimulating the overall activity of the cells responsible for fighting all kinds of infection. Unlike antibiotics, which are directly toxic to bacteria, echinacea makes our own immune cells more efficient in attacking bacteria, viruses and abnormal cells, including cancer cells.

Echinacea facilitates wound healing and reduces the symptoms of and speeds recovery from viral infections. It’s anti-inflammatory effects make it useful externally against inflammatory skin conditions including psoriasis and eczema. It may also increase resistance to candida, bronchitis, herpes, and other infectious conditions.

Hundreds of scientific studies have documented the chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical applications of echinacea. The most consistently proven effect of echinacea is in stimulating phagocytosis, which is to encourage white blood cells and lymphocytes to attack invading organisms.

Specific actions of echinacea include:

  • increases the number and activity of immune system cells, including anti-tumor cells:
  • promotes T-cell activation;
  • stimulates new tissue growth for wound healing;
  • reduces inflammation in arthritis and inflammatory skin conditions;
  • Mild antibiotic action: bacteriostatic, anti-viral, anti-fungal.
  • inhibits the bacterial enzyme hyaluronidase, to help prevent bacterial access to healthy cells.

Specific studies of echinacea include:

  • An extract of echinacea showed an increase of 50%-120% in immune function over a 5 day period (Jurcic, et al. 1989).
  • An extract of echinacea significantly increased the resistance to flu and reduced the symptoms of lymph gland swelling, inflamed nasal passages and headache (Braunig, et al. 1992).
  • Of 4500 patients with inflammatory skin conditions, including psoriasis, 85% were cured with topical applications of echinacea salve (Wacker & Hilbig, 1978).
  • Human white blood cells, stimulated by echinacea extract increased phagocytosis (consumption) of yeast cells by 20-40% compared to controls. (Wagner and Proksch 1985)

Echinacea has an excellent safety record and there is no known toxicity. However, according to the German Kommission E, echinacea should not be used in progressive systemic and auto-immune disorders such as tuberculosis, leicosis, connective tissue disorders, collagenosis and related diseases such as lupus. Further, its use in AIDS or opportunistic infections in AIDS patients is controversial.

It should be noted that echinacea is not appropriate for chronic use: with such long-term use, echinacea appears to lose it’s effectiveness. Maximum periods of continuous use should not exceed 6 – 8 weeks.

Echinacea is not a substitute for other medical interventions in rapidly accelerating infections. If a condition persists or worsens, seek medical advice. Many serious medical conditions are not appropriate for self-diagnosis or self-medication and require the supervision of qualified health care providers.

Additional Reading and References:

  • Echinacea, Nature’s Immune Enhancer by Stephen Foster. Healing Arts Press, 1991.
  • Echinacea, the Immune Herb by Christopher Hobbs. Botanica Press, 1990.
  • Botanical Influences on Illness by Melvyn Werbach and Michael Murray. Third Line Press, 1994. See chapters on Cancer, Candidiasis, Immunodepression, Infection, Wound Healing.
  • Herbal Medicine by Rudolf Weiss. AB Arcanum, 1988.
  • The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2007; 7:473-480 Review Evaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common cold: a meta-analysis http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473309907701603/abstract
  • British Herbal Pharmacopeia, 1992.
  • Kommission E Monographs: Echinacea. Kooperation Phytopharmaka, , Germany.
  • Jurcic, et al. Zeitschrift fur Phytotherapie 10 (2), 1989.
  • Braunig, et al. Zeitschrift fur Phytotherapie 13: 7-13, 1992.
  • Wagner and Proksch 1985 In: Economic and Medicinal Plant Research, Academic Press, Orlando, p.113.
  • Wacker & Hilbig. Planta Medica 33(1): 89-102, 1978.
  • Chone & Mandakis. Deutsch Med. Wschr. 27: p. 1406
  • Luettig, et al. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 81(9): 669-75, 1989.
  • Stimpel, et al. Infect. Immun. 46, 845, 1984;
  • Steinmuller, et al. Int. J. Immunopharmac., Vol. 15, No. 5, pp. 605-614, 1993.

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.

HealthBeat News

The Ten Most Dangerous Foods: Part II

For those of you who have been waiting for the other shoe to drop, here are the “other five” of my top ten list of most unhealthful foods. If you did not get the first half of this list, please refresh your memory by clicking here: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/HealthbeatV8I7.htm

6.) Margarine: no matter what it’s made from, margarine is largely “trans fat.” (Remember, trans fat is “Franken-fat,” the really bad stuff). Even good oils are converted into “trans” when they are made into margarine. There isn’t much “trans fat” in nature; the body is not well equipped to deal with this strange substance. Corn oil margarine has an Omega Ratio of 88.5, but even “good” margarine made with soy margarine has an OR of 12.9 (not to mention an unknown amount of “trans,” which all margarines have.

SUBSTITUTE: Butter, with an Omega Ratio of 1.5, is an absolute health food. I’m not sure how it got a “bad rap,” but it is totally undeserved. Use butter for a bread spread and for low-heat sautéing. DO NOT use margarine of any kind!

7.) Vegetable Oils: Some oils are bad, some are really bad. Corn oil and peanut oil take the prize for having such an unnatural Omega Ratio (82.9 & infinite, respectively), that the body simply does not have the capacity to use it properly. These high Omega-6 oils create inflammation in the body, predisposing to cancer, heart disease and over 60 other disease processes. Other unhealthy vegetable oils include: soy, sunflower, safflower, cotton seed and sesame. Olive oil is neutral, not healthful. Why use this when you can use flax seed oil with a positive health benefit?

SUBSTITUTE: For salad dressings and no-heat uses: Flax oil (Omega ratio: 0.23) is a health food, so is walnut oil (OR: 5.0) and canola oil (OR: 2.18). Be SURE to use organically processed canola (the label will brag about this). Most commercial canola oils are chemically processed and contain too many chemical residues to make them safe.

8.) White Sugar: This pseudo-food contains NOTHING but simple, “empty” calories. It has no fats, hence no Omega Ratio. (That’s the best news about white sugar). White sugar rapidly elevates blood sugar and taxes the pancreas tremendously. Can you say “hypoglycemia, Syndrome X and diabetes”? The calories in sugar have no food value but are stored rapidly as fat. White sugar requires B complex vitamins for its utilization, creating a B vitamin deficiency. Why does this matter? Low B-6, B12 and folate are major causes of depression, heart disease, ovarian cancer (and probably other cancers), and birth defects.

SUBSTITUTE: “brown sugar” and honey are NOT acceptable substitutes. Their nutritional content is only minutely better than refined white sugar. Try stevia (an herb) or artificial sweeteners, especially saccharine and Splenda.

9.) White flour: With an Omega ratio of 17.7 and no redeeming nutritional value except empty calories, white flour teams with white sugar as the top “white trash” foods. All of the B complex vitamin deficiencies occurring with white sugar also happen with white flour. Now think a minute: why is it white? Because it has been BLEACHED. No fiber, no nutrients (except carbohydrate calories), a huge tax on the pancreas, PLUS bleach. What a bargain!

SUBSTITUTE: whole grain flour (which usually has a lot of refined flour), or skip flour products altogether. Soy flour products make the most tastefully and healthfully acceptable products.

10.) Non-Dairy Creamer: Made from “pseudo-edible oils” (see # 7 above), creamers have a lot of trans fats. Why do I call the “Franken-fats”? “Trans” is the REALLY BAD kind of fat; Franken-fats are from Trans-silvania, get it?

SUBSTITUTE: want cream in your coffee? Use cream! Or half-and-half! With an Omega Ratio of 1.55 and no trans fats, the “real deal” is much more healthful than these “Franken-fakes.”

Untitled Document

One Step FOB Test Strip for feces (Revised Jan. 30th, 2001)

Intended Use The one step FOB (Occult Blood) test is a simple one step immuno-chromatographic assay for the rapid, qualitative detection of human occult blood in feces.

Explanation of the Test: The FOB test is designed to detect lower levels of fecal occult blood than standard guaiac tests. The basis of the test is an immuno-chromatographic sandwich capture method, which yields results that appear more specific to human occult blood and are easier to interpret than those of guaiac-based devices. In addition, unlike guaiac assays, the accuracy of the OB test is not affected by interfering substances and does not depend on the status of the patient at the time the specimen is taken.

The Fecal Occult Blood Test employs a unique combination of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to selectively identify occult blood in test samples with a high degree of sensitivity. Elevated levels of human occult blood as low as 25 ng/ml can be detected.

Precautions The One Step FOBtest kit should be stored at room temperature 4-30oC (40-86oF). The test device is sensitive to humidity and as well as to heat. Perform the test immediately after removing the test device from the foil pouch. Do not use it beyond the expiration date.

Warnings 1. For in vitro diagnostic use only. 2. Do not eat or smoke while handling specimens. 3. Wear protective gloves while handling specimens. Wash hands thoroughly afterwards. 4. Avoid splashing or aerosol formation. 5. Clean up spills thoroughly using an appropriate disinfectant. 6. Decontaminate and dispose of all specimens, reaction kits and potentially contaminated materials, as if they were infectious waste, in a biohazard container. 7. Do not use the test kit if the pouch is damaged or the seal is broken.

Specimen preparation 1. Specimen collection should not be performed during or within three days of a menstrual period, or if the patient suffers from bleeding hemorrhoids or blood in the urine, false-positive test results may be obtained. 2. Dietary restrictions are not necessary. 3. Alcohol, aspirin and other medications taken in excess may cause gastrointestinal irritation resulting in occult bleeding. Such substances should be discontinued at least 48 hours prior to testing.

Specimen collection 1. Unscrew the top of the sample collection device and use the sample collection stick to collect stool sample by dipping the stick into 3 different places of the same stool sample. 2. Put the sample collection stick containing the sample back in the sample collection device and screw it tightly. Shake it very well. 3. It is recommended that the above Step 1 to Step 2 to be repeated for three consecutive days.

Procedure of the test 1. Remove the test strip from its foil pouch. 2. After collecting stool samples for three consecutive days, bring the sample collection device to room temperature. Then shake the device several times. 3. Break off the tip of the collection device and squeeze 2 drops of the extracted sample on the sample pad (Figure 1). 4. Interpret test results at 5 to 10 minutes.

Caution: The above interpretation time is based on reading the test results at room temperature of 15 to 30 oC. If your room temperature is significantly lower than 15 oC, then the interpretation time should be properly increased.

Interpretation of the test 1. A color band will appear at the left section of the result window to show that the test is working properly. This band is the Control Band. 2. The right section of the result window indicates the test results. If another color band appears at the right section of the result window, this band is Test Band.

Positive Result: The presence of two color bands (“C” and “T” bands) within the result window no matter, which band appears first indicates a positive result (Figure 2).

Negative Result: The presence of only one purple color (“C”) band within the result window indicates a negative result (Figure 2).

Invalid result: After performing the test and no purple color band is visible within the result window, this result is considered invalid. The directions may not have been followed correctly or the test may have deteriorated. It is recommended that the specimen be re-tested (Figure 2).

Note: Once a positive result has been established (after 10 minutes), the result will not change. However, in order to prevent any incorrect results, the test result should not be interpreted after 10 minutes. Interpreting test results after 10 minutes, the sensitivity of the test will be higher than 25 ng/ml..

Limitations of the test The presence of blood in stools may be other than colorectal bleeding, such as hemorrhoids, blood in urine or stomach irritations. Negative results do not exclude bleeding since it can be intermittent. Colorectal polyps at very early stages may not bleed. Other clinically available tests are required if questionable results are obtained. As with all diagnostic tests, a definitive clinical diagnosis should not be based on the results of a single test, but should only be made by the physician after all clinical and laboratory findings have been evaluated.

References 1. Bahrt KM, Korman LY, and Nashel DJ, “Significance of a Positive Test for Occult Blood in Stools of Patients Taking Anti-inflammatory Drugs,” Arch Intern Med, 1984, 144:2165-6. 2. Blebea J and McPherson RA, “False-Positive Guaiac Testing With Iodine,” Arch Pathol Lab Med, 1985, 109:437-40. 3. Block GE, “Colon Cancer: Diagnosis and Prognosis in the Elderly,” Geriatrics, 1989, 44(5):45-7, 52-3. 4. Doyle AC, “A Study in Scarlet,” Philadelphia, PA: JB Lippincott Co, 1902. 5. Fleischer DE, Goldberg SB, Browning TH, et al, “Detection and Surveillance of Coleorectal Cancer,” JAMA, 1989, 261(4):580-5.

http://www.meditests.com/t-misc2.html

International Orders:

Please Read This Information Before Placing An Order From Outside The USA

Dr. Myatt’s Wellness Club is pleased to provide our products to people all around the world. We have many satisfied international customers, patients, and Wellness Club Members.

Please be aware that every country has different regulations and laws regarding what is allowed to be imported into that country, and those regulations and laws change frequently and often without notice. It is your responsibility to ensure that the items that you order are legal in your location. Failure to do so can result in your order being seized and confiscated by your customs bureau – this is beyond our control.

Some of our products, such as hormones like Melatonin or DHEA may require a prescription from your doctor in order to clear your customs. It is your responsibility to determine this and obtain a prescription if it is required.

Please remember, if you are unable to obtain a vitamin, herb, supplement or other product locally in your country then it is likely that it is not permitted there for some reason.

Unfortunately, credit card fraud has become all-too-common in international orders. Attempts to verify international credit cards are extremely time consuming, expensive, and often futile. This results in increased costs for all of our customers.

In order to reduce our losses from credit card fraud and keep our prices as low as possible, we are no longer able to accept credit cards from international customers. We apologize for this inconvenience.

Yes, we understand that you may be a US Citizen living abroad with a credit card billing address in the US. Unfortunately, a common fraud technique is to order products using a stolen card number for shipment to a foreign country. Please don’t ask – we will not do this.

Further, we will not provide banking information so that you can make a “Bank Transfer” or “Wire Transfer” or any other scheme. Please don’t even ask.

A Suggestion For International Orders:

When we ship an international order we are required to complete and submit customs declaration documents which list the exact contents of the shipment and the exact value of those contents. There are no exceptions.

We cannot list shipments as “gifts” or “samples” – they must be listed as merchandise.

Penalties for false statements on a Customs Declaration Form are severe and we will not risk them – please do not ask us to falsify customs or shipping documents for you so that you may avoid paying customs fees or taxes.

We have been told by customers that international shipments from private individuals may attract less attention from both US Customs and the customs bureau of the receiving country and may undergo less scrutiny.

Our suggestion to international customers wishing to have “special” or “creative” customs declarations:

If you know someone in the United States, have them place the order for you for delivery to their United States address. We will ship promptly and they will usually receive your items in 2 to 3 days.

They may then send your items along to you by whatever manner you wish, with whatever customs declaration information you direct them to submit – they can list your items as anything you choose, at any value that you wish.

Thank you for your understanding

We are happy to fill and ship international orders on the following basis:

  1. Orders will be shipped only after they have been fully paid for, including shipping and handling costs.
  2. We will ship via the most expedient and cost effective method at our discretion. Please do not request specific shipping methods – the courier service or shipper that is popular in your region or country may not be readily available to us here.
  3. Shipping costs will be passed along to you at  as close to actual cost as possible.
  4. We are responsible for ensuring that your shipment arrives safely to your customs, not your final shipping address. We have no control over your customs, and once the package or shipment is in their custody, our responsibility for it ends. We cannot give refunds for items that are denied entry by your customs. Be sure before you order!
  5. To place an order, please email us with your needs. We will calculate the cost, including shipping, and email you with a total.
  6. Payment may be made by:
    a.) International Money Order. Your order will ship once the money order has been fully cleared by our bank. Be aware that in some cases this can take several weeks.
    b.) Western Union (www.westernunion.com) has convenient locations in most countries world wide. They are able to accept payment on-line in many countries, and will forward your Western Union Money Order very quickly to us. We will begin preparing your order upon notification from Western Union that your payment has been initiated, and will ship your order as soon as your payment arrives and has cleared our bank. Please have Western Union payments sent to:Dr. Dana Myatt or Mark Ziemann RN
    P.O. Box 900
    Snowflake
    Arizona 85937
    USA

    Your order will ship once the money order has been cleared by our bank.

  7. Please do not ask us to ship your order to a country or address different from your Western Union account address.

Thank you for your understanding and your cooperation
We look forward to serving you!

Patient Registration

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Dr. Dana Myatt / 2535 N Beech Blvd, Camp Verde, AZ — Phone: 1 – 800 – Dr. Myatt (367 – 9288)
www.DrMyattsWellnessClub.com

When did you last have a complete physical exam?___________________

Diet: Record all food and drink, with appropriate amounts, for three (3) days. Attach an extra sheet if needed.

Day 1
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Environment: Please check any of the following that you are exposed to:

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Drink tap water.

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Stress Index: Please rate each of the following as they currently apply to you.

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Exercise: Check the exercises you do, with how often and how long.
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Habits: Check which substances you use and describe how much.
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Please list below the Main Complaints you have, in ORDER OF IMPORTANCE to you and tell when this complaint began.

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FAMILY HISTORY: Check if your relatives have had any of the following and their relationship to you:

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PAST MEDICAL HISTORY: Please list all serious illnesses, injuries, and surgeries that you have had in the past with the date of the occurrence and the outcome:

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MEDICATIONS: List all prescription and non-prescription medications, nutritional supplements and herbs you are currently taking, including dose.

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INSTRUCTIONS: Check all medical conditions that you currently have or that you have had in the past one year, or that you are currently receiving treatment for.

? alopecia
? ALS
? Alzheimer’s disease
? anemia
? angina
? anxiety
? appendicitis
? arthritis, osteo
? arthritis, rheumatoid
? atherosclerosis
? athlete’s foot
? asthma
? attention deficit disorder
? back pain
? bladder infections
? blood clots
? boils
? bone spurs
? bronchitis
? bruises, bruise easily
? bulimia
? bursitis
? cancer
? Candidiasis
? canker sores
? cardiac arrhythmia
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? carpal tunnel syndrome
? cataracts
? celiac disease
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? chronic fatigue syndrome
? chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
? cold sores
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? congestive heart failure
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? Crohn’s disease
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? diverticulitis
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? ear infections
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? fibrocystic breast disease
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? glaucoma
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? gonorrhea
? gout
? Goodpasture’s disease
? Grave’s disease
? Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
? hay fever
? headaches
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? high blood pressure (hypertension)
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? panic attacks
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? pernicious anemia
? phlebitis
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? premenstrual syndrome
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List below any other medical diagnoses or conditions not listed elsewhere on this form.

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Magnesium Stearate: In Search of The Truth


An interview with  Dr. Dana Myatt, N.M.D.

Biography:
Dr. Myatt is a graduate of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine and has been in multi-disciplinary, full-scope family practice for 23 years. In addition to her nationwide family practice, she frequently speaks at medical and lay conferences across the country on topics in holistic medicine.  She is the founder and CEO of  Dr. Myatt Nutritionals, her own line of nutritional supplements since 1994.

Dr. Myatt is author of “A Physician’s Diary” (A.R.E. Press, 1994) and the upcoming “Ketone Zone Diet” .  She is a member of  The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association, the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.  She is also a certified Advanced Hazmat Life Support provider and instructor.

Magnesium stearate, a common ingredient in many nutritional supplements, has gotten a bad rap from several nutritional supplement companies and online physicians.  One doctor has gone so far as to claim that it forms a deadly “biofilm” in the intestines and suppresses the immune system.  Since magnesium stearate is so widely used in the nutritional industry, we felt it important to carefully examine these claims.

 

After watching this thorough and completely scientifically referenced video by Dr. Dana Myatt on the subject, a nutritional supplement industry reporter named Jill requested an interview to learn the truth about magnesium stearate.

Here is that interview.

Jill: Dr. Myatt, what exactly is magnesium stearate and what is its role in nutritional supplements?

Dr. Myatt:  Magnesium stearate is a simple salt of two common substances, the mineral magnesium and the saturated fat stearic acid.  It is used as a “flow agent” in many nutritional supplements and pharmaceuticals.

Jill: Could you explain a bit more about magnesium stearate?

Dr. Myatt:  Magnesium stearate is a salt that contains two common ingredients, a fatty acid called stearic acid and the mineral magnesium. Together they form magnesium stearate.

Magnesium stearate contains two molecules of stearic acid and one molecule of magnesium.  The molecule is held together by ionic bonds — the definition of a salt — that break apart easily in acid, the condition found in the human stomach.  Though the name may make it sound like a synthetic, space-age molecule, both magnesium and stearic acid are abundantly available in many foods in our diet.  In order to really understand magnesium stearate, let’s look at its two components.

Magnesium is an essential mineral, the major mineral most likely to be deficient in the American diet. (1)  I don’t think anyone would argue the safety of magnesium.

Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid found in many foods including eggs, chicken, grass-fed beef, coconut oil, walnuts, cheese, chocolate , salmon and human breast milk to name just a few. (2)

Both magnesium and stearic acid are not only safe, they are beneficial to human health. Magnesium stearate is simply a salt that combines both of these molecules.

Jill: What is a “flow agent” and why is it used?

Dr. Myatt:  Flow agents help ensure a consistent dose of product in each capsule. Magnesium stearate does this by preventing individual ingredients from sticking to each other and from sticking to the encapsulating machines.  It allows manufacturers to create a consistently homogenous mix, so the amount of active ingredients is the same from capsule to capsule or tablet to tablet.  In other words, the use of magnesium stearate and other flow agents helps ensure consistency and quality control.

Jill: Some companies claim to fame is that they do not use flow agents or other “inert ingredients.” Is that a good thing?

Dr. Myatt: This might sound good to consumers who do not understand the nuances of good supplement manufacturing practices,  so some companies use it as a selling point.

The truth, however, is that companies who don’t use flow agents are more likely to have inconsistent doses of ingredients in each capsule or tablet. This aspect of quality control is so important that the FDA is said to be considering the issue as part of their new GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) guidelines.  If flow agents are added to the GMP’s, all manufacturers may be required to use flow agents to ensure consistency. Flow agents are that important for quality control.

Jill: Do most drugs, vitamins and supplements contain more than just the active ingredient? Can they be made without them?

Dr. Myatt:  Almost all drugs and supplements contain inactive ingredients. These “inactives” serve multiple purposes.  Flow agents, as we discussed, help ensure consistent dosing in each tablet or capsule. Some products contain fillers like cellulose which acts as a binder in tablets and helps fill out the size of tablets or capsules.

Herbs can be encapsulated and additional herb used as filler, so these products may contain only “actives.”

So yes, it is possible to make capsules or tablets without inactive ingredients, but quality control becomes more difficult.  Manufacturing without minute amounts of inactives is possible but drives the price of the supplement up unnecessarily.  There is no proven benefit to manufacturing without magnesium stearate except as a marketing angle.

Jill: One doctor claims that magnesium stearate suppresses immune t-cell function and causes the collapse of cell membrane integrity in helper t-cells.  Is there any scientific support for this?

Dr. Myatt: (laughing) Not unless you’re a mouse. This claim amuses me the most, because the doctor who promotes the idea that magnesium stearate is dangerous also promotes and sells a lot of foods that are high in steric acid, claiming it to be a healthy fat, which it is.

The entire argument is based on the gross misrepresentation of a single mouse study. Here’s the “Cliff notes”:

The entire claim is based on a single study—- that’s right, one study — performed in 1990, using mouse T-cells in a Petrie dish. When mouse T-cells were incubated (read that: “soaked” or bathed) with stearic acid — not magnesium stearate, but stearic acid — there was indeed a collapse of the cell membrane and a loss of T-cell function. (3) This study was never repeated.

But here’s the factoid that magnesium stearate naysayers conveniently “forget” to mention.  Mouse t-cells are known to lack the delta-9 desaturase enzyme that converts stearic acid into oleic acid. This was mentioned right in the same mouse-cell study.  Mouse T-cells can apparently become toxic from high levels of stearic acid, at least in a Petrie dish and at levels far above what could ordinarily be achieved from diet.

Human t-cells have the delta-9 desaturase enzyme that converts stearic acid to oleic acid, so human T-cells don’t develop this same toxic build-up when exposed to stearic acid. (4)

Bottom line: Mice lack an enzyme in their T-calls that humans have, so stearic acid is toxic to mouse T-calls and not to human T-cells. Stated another way: humans are not mice.

Jill: So… stearic acid isn’t bad for humans? What’s the difference between stearic acid and stearate?

Dr. Myatt: Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid and one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in nature.(5) The term “stearate” is used when steric acid is part of a salt (as when stearic acid combines with magnesium to form magnesium stearate). The terms steric acid and stearate can be used interchangeably.

Jill:  But isn’t stearic acid or stearate toxic at some dose?

Dr. Myatt:  Water is toxic if the dose is high enough.

Anybody concerned about the minute amount of stearic acid in supplements should know the following:

  • The daily adult intake of stearic acid from food (US adult) averages about 7,000 mg/day.(6)
  • A person taking 20 vitamin capsules weighing 500 mg each and containing 1% magnesium stearate would take in less than 96 mg of stearic acid per day. Manufacturers typically use 0.25% – 5% magnesium stearate in nutritional formulations.
  • The amount of stearic acid from supplements in the above scenario is 1.3% of the total daily adult intake.
  • Magnesium stearate is considered safe for human consumption at levels below 2,500 mg/kg per day. This equates to 170,000 mg per day as a safe dose for a 150-pound adult.(7) That’s almost 6 ounces of pure magnesium stearate.

Jill: Got it. Magnesium stearate is magnesium plus stearic acid, correct?  Is there something about the two molecules that, once combined, makes it behave differently than the two separate molecules? In other words, is magnesium stearate actually different than magnesium and steric acid?

Dr. Myatt:  No, there is nothing special or different about magnesium stearate. It is a simple salt of magnesium and stearic acid. Here is the chemical “short course”:

Magnesium Stearate = 2 stearic acid + 1 magnesium

This salt disassociates (comes apart) readily in the acidic medium of the human digestive tract.

One claim I’ve seen is that the addition of magnesium stearate to supplements decreases bioavailability. What the studies actually show is that absorption might be slowed somewhat but overall absorption is not decreased. (8,9)

Jill:  Another claim is that magnesium stearate a chalklike substance that gums up your intestines and prevents absorption of your nutrients.  Fact or fiction?

Dr. Myatt: Fiction.

Magnesium stearate is definitely not a chalk. Chalks are soft, stone-like minerals, including things like gypsum (calcium sulfate) CaCO3 (calcium carbonate) and CaO (calcium oxide).  Remember that magnesium stearate is a salt, containing approximately 96% stearic acid, which is a saturated fat. The other 4% is magnesium. Chalks are combinations of minerals, but magnesium stearate is mostly saturated fat.

How could a fat be a chalk? It isn’t, not by any known scientific definition of a chalk.

Even if it were a chalk, you shouldn’t be worried about it gumming up your intestines or “caking the lining.” Why? Because if you did eat chalk, like calcium carbonate, which is a form of calcium used in many nutritional supplements, your digestive system would break it down to its mineral components. Human digestion is truly amazing.

By the way, I used to perform quite a few endoscopies in clinic. This is where you examine the lining of the large intestine with a special scope, looking for polyps. I never once saw anyone with a “caking of the lining” of their intestinal tract.  Tenacious, dry stool sometimes, yes. But “caking” with a chalk-like substance? Never. If this story about “caking the lining” is told by a doctor, it must be one who has never actually visualized the inside of the large intestine.

Jill: OK. No T-cell collapse in humans, no “caking of the lining” of intestines. How about the claim that magnesium stearate stimulates the gut to form a biofilm? And is a biofilm a sludge that would act as a barrier to the absorption of nutrients?

Dr. Myatt: There is not one single scientific reference or study to support this claim.  In fact, if you know what a biofilm is — and I’m going to tell you in just a minute — you’ll see that this entire argument is completely preposterous. It has no basis in any known science.

To clarify for those readers who haven’t seen it, this internet legend, promoted by a well-known doctor, says that a biofilm is basically like the “sludge in your toilet tank,” and that magnesium stearate causes this sludge and prevents nutrient absorption. Just as there is a big difference between a chalk and a fat, a biofilm is not akin to sludge, a.k.a. “soap scum” that you might find in your toilet tank.  By the way, I don’t have soap scum in my toilet tank. But I digress.

A toilet tank film or bathtub ring occurs when hard water, containing calcium or magnesium, reacts with fatty acid in soap to form a so-called “soap scum.” If you live in a hard-water area, you’ll see this as an annoying white film on your shower curtain.

Humans get significant amounts of magnesium, calcium and fatty acids — the ingredients in soap scum —from diet. But we don’t form soap scums in our bodies because of our digestive enzymes and acids. Further, soap scum is not biofilm — not even close.

We learned that soap scum is a mineral (usually calcium or magnesium) plus fatty acids. Humans eat both all day, every day and do not develop a “scum” in their intestines.

Biofilms are layers of bacteria or yeast embedded in the gel-like substance they secrete. They tend to be highly antibiotic-resistant and often fatal.  As to the claim that stearic acid causes biofilms, this is completely without any scientific evidence. In fact, several studies have shown just the opposite — stearic acid actually helps prevent the formation of biofilms. (10,11)

Jill:  Next claim.  Magnesium stearate made from contaminated oils from genetically engineered crops. True?

Dr. Myatt:  OK, let’s talk dirty. Magnesium stearate is most commonly sourced from cottonseed oil or palm oil and it’s true that cotton can be a GMO crop and is typically high in pesticides. But even if the starting cottonseed oil is contaminated, the finished product, stearic acid, is so highly purified that contamination really isn’t an issue. Cottonseed-derived stearic acid is so purified and the final molecule so far-removed from the original source, it doesn’t carry any pesticide residue. We might as well worry about the food-grade additive cellulose, which is also obtained either from wood waste (we call that “sawdust” out here in Arizona) or cotton waste (known as “gin trash,” — the waste cotton remaining in the cotton gin). (12)

Just like taking dirty water and purifying it into something clean and drinkable, purifying cottonseed oil to obtain stearic acid delivers a pure finished product.

And by the way, stearic acid can also be derived from palm oil, which many manufacturers, myself included, use as the source of their stearic acid.

Jill:   Is magnesium stearate often contaminated during processing, as one doctor claims?

Dr. Myatt:  Contamination during the manufacture of supplements or pharmaceuticals can occur anywhere along the entire manufacturing process.   That is why quality supplement manufacturers test raw materials before purchase; after purchase when they are received; after mixing and after encapsulating. Raw materials can occasionally become cross contaminated, and that’s why quality manufacturers employ so many tests and inspections all along the process.

Now, is magnesium stearate one of the substances more likely to be contaminated? Absolutely not. There is one reported instance of a raw materials manufacturer notifying the World Health Organization that several batches of magnesium stearate had been cross contaminated with zeolite (sodium aluminum silicate), calcium hydroxide, and several other substances. The contamination was determined to be due to incomplete cleaning of air milling equipment. This was traced to a single raw materials manufacturer and was an isolated event.  Moreover, WHO found the contaminating substances to be present in such minute amounts that they posed no health risk.  And this was self-reported by the manufacturer of the raw material before it was used in product.(13)

Jill:  Is magnesium stearate going to be removed from supplements by the Codex Committee on Food Additives?

Dr. Myatt:  No. The Codex Committee considered removing magnesium stearate from the acceptable food list, not because of any danger, but because they didn’t see the use for it in food. They were simply trying to trim up their list of allowed food additives.  When food manufacturers pointed out that magnesium stearate is an important and safe anti-caking agent, it was reinstated.  Removing magnesium stearate from Codex for use in nutritional supplements has never been considered as far as I can determine.

Magnesium stearate is currently approved by FDA regulations for use in food and supplements. (14,15)

Jill: Is there room for disagreement in the supplement industry on what is safe and effective?

Dr. Myatt:  (laughing) Is the Pope Catholic?

I don’t always agree with my colleagues in the nutritional supplement industry. Some ingredients and doses based on the scientific literature are arguable. With most issues in medicine, there is no black and white. There is instead, “ten thousand shades of gray.” In many instances, there is evidence on both sides of the question.

But the evidence is not “mixed” on the safety of magnesium stearate. The evidence says that magnesium stearate, a simple salt of magnesium and stearic acid, is a safe and effective flow agent that helps maintain dose consistency, and there really isn’t any evidence to the contrary.  At least I haven’t found any, and I’ve looked long and hard at these claims because I, too, manufacture nutritional supplements and use magnesium stearate as a flow agent.  So I had to know if any of these claims had even a shred of basis in fact. They don’t.

That’s not to say that new evidence won’t emerge, but right now, the damning claims for magnesium stearate are completely without scientific verification or substantiation.

Jill:  Dr. Myatt, you have completely dismantled the “danger claims” of magnesium stearate, all supported with verifiable references.  Why would some companies and doctors make these claims if they have no basis in fact?

Dr. Myatt: There is a lot of competition in the nutritional industry today. Everybody and their brother is selling supplements, or so it seems. Companies must distinguish themselves in order to get a toe-hold in the industry. Think about it.

If 537 other companies are selling a calcium supplement, why should you buy mine? Everybody is looking for a unique selling angle.  “More bioavailable,” “72% more absorbable,” “nano-technology,” and on and on. Some of these claims have merit, but many are just marketing hype.

One “angle” is to claim that magnesium stearate is dangerous, bad, or evil — never mind the proof aspect. To paraphrase the movies, “We don’t need no stinking proof”!  And since the majority of manufactures who use magnesium stearatedo so because it is one of the absolute safest and best flow agents, claiming that it is bad and then making a supplement without it is a marketing strategy, nothing else.  Considering how few people do their “homework” on such claims — witness how these many unsubstantiated claims about magnesium stearate are now accepted “facts” in the minds of many — the technique is probably  fairly effective as a marketing tool.  But in my opinion this is not simply “misrepresentation.” Someone is telling outright lies.

Jill: (laughing) Wow — don’t hold back, Dr. Myatt. Why don’t you tell us what you really think?! Do you have any parting thoughts for our readers?

Dr. Myatt: Don’t believe something just because you read it, heard it or learned it at the University of Google. Check references. See if there is known science or studies to support claims.  Blind sheep can easily be led off a cliff.

Also, use supplements from manufacturers that you have researched and trust.  There are a number of quality manufacturers who are just as concerned with providing pure and health-giving products as they are with their bottom line and who believe that quality is the best way to stay in business.

Jill: Thank you Dr. Myatt for this most informative and, dare I say, entertaining Q & A.

Dr. Myatt: It’s always a pleasure to help set the scientific record straight.

References:

1.) National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements: Magnesium.
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
2.) USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 24
3.) Tebbey PW, Buttke TM. Molecular basis for the immunosuppressive action of stearic acid on T cells. Immunology. 1990 Jul;70(3):379-84.  Full Text article: NCBI
4.) Anel A, Naval J, González B, Uriel J, Piñeiro A. Fatty acid metabolism in human lymphocytes. II. Activation of fatty acid desaturase-elongase systems during blastic transformation. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1990 Jun 14;1044(3):332-9.
5.) Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional
6.) U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. What we eat in America,
NHANES 2001-2002, individuals 2 years and over (excluding breast-fed children).www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/12355000/pdf/Table_1_BIA.pdf., page 5. Accessed 06/28/12
7.) Søndergaard D, Meyer O, Würtzen G. Magnesium stearate given perorally to rats. A short term study.Toxicology. 1980;17(1):51-5.
8.) Alija Uzunović, Edina Vranić; “Effect Of Magnesium Stearate Concentration On Dissolution Properties Of Ranitidine Hydrochloride Coated Tablets”; Bosnian Journal Of Basic Medical Sciences, 2007, 7(3): 279-283
9.)  Natalie D. Eddington, Muhammad Ashraf, Larry L. Augsburger, James L. Leslie, Michael J. Fossler, Lawrence J. Lesko, Vinod P. Shah, Gurvinder Singh Rekhi; “Identification of Formulation and Manufacturing Variables That Influence In Vitro Dissolution and In Vivo Bioavailability of Propranolol Hydrochloride Tablets”; Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, Volume 3, Issue 4 November 1998 , pages 535–547
10.) Soni KA, Jesudhasan P, Cepeda M, Widmer K, Jayaprakasha GK, Patil BS, Hume ME, Pillai SD. Identification of ground beef-derived fatty acid inhibitors of autoinducer-2-based cell signaling. J Food Prot. 2008 Jan;71(1):134-8.
11.) Liaw SJ, Lai HC, Wang WB. Modulation of swarming and virulence by fatty acids through the RsbA protein in Proteus mirabilis. Infect Immun. 2004 Dec;72(12):6836-45.
12.) USDA. Cellulose. www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5066975
13.) World Health Organization Quality of Medicines for Everyone, Contaminated magnesium stearate VG EP excipient manufactured by Ferro, supplied by Signet and used in finished pharmaceutical products, December 22, 2011. http://apps.who.int/prequal/info_press/documents/Mg-Stearate_InformationNote_Dec2011.pdf
14.) Food and Drug Administration, CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, accessed Sept. 10, 2012.
15.) Food and Drug Administration, Select Committee on GRAS Substances (SCOGS) Opinion: Magnesium stearate, accessed Sept. 10, 2012

Inositol Powder 250 grams

 

Supports emotional wellness, behavior and mood

Promotes healthy ovarian function

Inositol is a part of the B-complex family. Myo-inositol is the primary form of inositol found in the central nervous system and plays an important role in cell membrane formation. It serves as part of the phosphatidylinositol second messenger system, supporting serotonin, norepinenephrine and cholinergic receptor function. As a result, inositol may support healthy mood, emotional wellness and behavior, and help lessen occasional nervous tension. Research also shows that myo-inositol helps to support healthy ovulatory activity, ovarian function, and reproductive system function.

Inositol Powder (Myo Inositol form)

Product # N371 (250 grams) $35.20

Enter Quantity Desired and Click “Add To Cart” Button

Inositol (powder) – Supplement Facts – two scoops contain: inositol (as myo-inositol)4.1 g.
Suggested use: 2 scoops, 1–2 times daily, with or between meals, or as directed by a health professional.
servings per container: 61

Myo-inositol in the Treatment of Mood and Behavior Disorder

According to a study performed in Israel (1): “These results suggest that inositol has therapeutic effects in the spectrum of illness responsive to serotonin selective re-uptake inhibitors, including depression, panic and OCD, and is not beneficial in schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s ADDH, autism or ECT-induced cognitive impairment.”

The doses of inositol used in the Israeli studies ranged from 12 to 18 grams of inositol daily with significant improvements noted after 4 to 6 weeks of treatment with inositol.

Myo-inositol in the Treatment of PCOS-related Infertility and Non-PCOS Egg Quality Infertility

Myo-inositol has been widely studied and found effective for PCOS-related causes of infertility and some non-PCOS egg quality improvement. These have all been human studies. In fact, myo-inositiol is one of the better-studied agents for this purpose.

Inositol is part of the vitamin B complex. It occurs as 9 different isomers, but only two of these are of interest in fertility: myo-inositol (MYO) and d-chiro-inositol (DCI)

Both MYO and DCI have been studied and found useful in the treatment of PCOS.(1-14) However, only MI has been show to be present in follicular fluid and only MI was able to improve oocyte and embryo quality (1,2,9,12,15), ovulation induction (6-8,10-11) and hormone balance. (3-5,13) DCI does not have even remotely as much research behind it as MYO. (16) Therefor, for fertility issues with or without PCOS, I recommend the myo-inositol form. Please note that some of these studies used melatonin in combination with myo-inositol (2,11-12). Melatonin alone has also been studied and found useful for improving egg quality. (17-18)

Myo-inositol may also improve other associated risks of PCOS (sugh as high triglycerides and blood sugars) with or without an effect on egg quality. (3,5,7)

Most forms of inositol available in health food stores are probably the myo-inositol form. However, many products do not specify this on the label. I would always want to verify with the manufacturer before using.

A product called “Pregnitude” is available, containing myo-inositol plus folic acid. Several studies used myo-inositol with folic acid and found improved egg quality in PCOS. (9,11)  All pre-pregnant women should already be getting folic acid from their multiple because of it’s importance in preventing spina bifida. This makes the “magic” in Pregnitude the myo-inositol. Pregnitude is individually packaged by 2 gram serving, and that is convenient, but the price is double what what most myo-inositol powders are.

Daily dose of myo-inositol for improving egg quality is 2-4 grams per day. This can be taken as 2 grams, once or twice daily.

Myo-inositol product has a mild sweet taste and can be taken in water, smoothie, Super Shake — whatever makes it easiest.

Egg Quality Protocol, Especially for PCOS Patients (Dr. Myatt’s recommendation based on the studies)

I.) myo-inositol: 2-4 grams per day
II.) melatonin: 3mg per day (take this at bedtime)
III.) folic acid: 400mcg (this amount or more should already be in a good multi-vitamin. Maxi Multi contains 800mcg of the natural form of folic acid, tetra-methyl folate)

References (wellness, behavior, mood)

1.) Levine J., Ministry of Health Mental Health Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva, Israel. Controlled trials of inositol in psychiatry. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 1997 May;7(2):147-55. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9169302

References (fertility, PCOS, egg quality)

1.) Ciotta L, Stracquadanio M, Pagano I, Carbonaro A, Palumbo M, Gulino F. Effects of myo-inositol supplementation on oocyte’s quality in PCOS patients: a double blind trial. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2011 May;15(5):509-14.
2.) Carlomagno G, Nordio M, Chiu TT, Unfer V. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2011 Dec;159(2):267-72. Epub 2011 Aug 10.
Contribution of myo-inositol and melatonin to human reproduction. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21835536
3.) Costantino D, Minozzi G, Minozzi E, Guaraldi C. Metabolic and hormonal effects of myo-inositol in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a double-blind trial. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2009 Mar-Apr;13(2):105-10.
4.) Donà G, Sabbadin C, Fiore C, Bragadin M, Giorgino FL, Ragazzi E, Clari G, Bordin L, Armanini D. Inositol administration reduces oxidative stress in erythrocytes of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.Eur J Endocrinol. 2012 Apr;166(4):703-10. Epub 2012 Jan 5.
5.) Genazzani AD, Lanzoni C, Ricchieri F, Jasonni VM. Myo-inositol administration positively affects hyperinsulinemia and hormonal parameters in overweight patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.Gynecol Endocrinol. 2008 Mar;24(3):139-44
6.) Gerli S, Mignosa M, Di Renzo GC. Effects of inositol on ovarian function and metabolic factors in women with PCOS: a randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2003 Nov-Dec;7(6):151-9.
7.) Gerli S, Papaleo E, Ferrari A, Di Renzo GC. Randomized, double blind placebo-controlled trial: effects of myo-inositol on ovarian function and metabolic factors in women with PCOS. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2007 Sep-Oct;11(5):347-54.
8.) Morgante G, Orvieto R, Di Sabatino A, Musacchio MC, De Leo V. The role of inositol supplementation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, with insulin resistance, undergoing the low-dose gonadotropin ovulation induction regimen.Fertil Steril. 2011 Jun 30;95(8):2642-4. Epub 2011 Feb 5.
9.) Papaleo E, Unfer V, Baillargeon JP, Fusi F, Occhi F, De Santis L. Fertil Steril. 2009 May;91(5):1750-4. Epub 2008 May 7. Myo-inositol may improve oocyte quality in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. A prospective, controlled, randomized trial.
10.) Papaleo E, Unfer V, Baillargeon JP, De Santis L, Fusi F, Brigante C, Marelli G, Cino I, Redaelli A, Ferrari A. Myo-inositol in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a novel method for ovulation induction.Gynecol Endocrinol. 2007 Dec;23(12):700-3. Epub 2007 Oct 10.
11.) Rizzo P, Raffone E, Benedetto V. Effect of the treatment with myo-inositol plus folic acid plus melatonin in comparison with a treatment with myo-inositol plus folic acid on oocyte quality and pregnancy outcome in IVF cycles. A prospective, clinical trial. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2010 Jun;14(6):555-61.
12.) Unfer V, Raffone E, Rizzo P, Buffo S. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2011 Nov;27(11):857-61. Epub 2011 Apr 5. Effect of a supplementation with myo-inositol plus melatonin on oocyte quality in women who failed to conceive in previous in vitro fertilization cycles for poor oocyte quality: a prospective, longitudinal, cohort study.
13.) Unfer V, Carlomagno G, Dante G, Facchinetti F. Effects of myo-inositol in women with PCOS: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2012 Jul;28(7):509-15. doi: 10.3109/09513590.2011.650660. Epub 2012 Feb 1.
14.) Nestler JE, Jakubowicz DJ, Reamer P, Gunn RD, Allan G. Ovulatory and metabolic effects of D-chiro-inositol in the polycystic ovary syndrome. N Engl J Med. 1999 Apr 29;340(17):1314-20.
15.) Galletta M, Grasso S, Vaiarelli A, Roseff SJ. Bye-bye chiro-inositol – myo-inositol: true progress in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome and ovulation induction. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2011 Oct;15(10):1212-4.
16.) Galazis N, Galazi M, Atiomo W. D-Chiro-inositol and its significance in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review.Gynecol Endocrinol. 2011 Apr;27(4):256-62. Epub 2010 Dec 10.
17.) Batioglu AS, Sahin U, Gürlek B, Oztürk N, Unsal E. The efficacy of melatonin administration on oocyte quality. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2012 Feb;28(2):91-3. Epub 2011 Jul 20.
18.) Tamura H, Takasaki A, Miwa I, Taniguchi K, Maekawa R, Asada H, Taketani T, Matsuoka A, Yamagata Y, Shimamura K, Morioka H, Ishikawa H, Reiter RJ, Sugino N. Oxidative stress impairs oocyte quality and melatonin protects oocytes from free radical damage and improves fertilization rate. J Pineal Res. 2008 Apr;44(3):280-7.

HEART DISEASE


(Arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, CHF)

Heart disease is largely caused by diet, lifestyle, and nutrient imbalances. Certain viruses and inflammation can also damage the heart. Fortunately, heart disease is often reversible, even if you have already had surgery and are on medications. Heart disease is serious. It is best to work with an holistic physician who can help you discover the cause of the problem and make specific recommendations for correction. Never stop taking heart medication without the guidance of a physician!

DIET AND LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Follow the Ten Rules of Good Health
  • Practice stress reduction techniques and anger management. People with “hot tempers” are at higher risk for cardiac events.
  • Do NOT SMOKE! Smoking is one of the most damaging habits to the heart and cardiovascular system.
  • Maintain a normal body weight.
  • Exercise regularly. Be sure to consult your doctor if you are over 30, highly deconditioned, or have already-established heart disease. He/she can tell you how much exercise is safe for you to begin with.

PRIMARY SUPPORT

  • Maxi Multi: 3 caps, 3 times per day with meals. This daily “multiple” contains high potency antioxidants. Optimal (not minimal) doses of antioxidants (ACES), magnesium, B complex vitamins, and bioflavonoids are particularly important for the heart. Take additional B complex vitamins if your multiple does not contain optimal doses. B vitamins, (especially B6, B12, and folic acid) lower homocysteine levels, an independent risk for heart disease that many researchers feel is more important than cholesterol levels.
  • Max EPA (fish oil): 1-2 caps, 3 times per day with meals to prevent or reverse inflammation. Take higher doses as directed if your hs-CRP tests are elevated. Flax oil is also beneficial but requires a biochemical conversion in the body, which is deficient in many people, so fish oil is more certain.
  • CoQ10: 50-300mg per day. This powerful antioxidant, produced by the body, diminishes with age. It is especially valuable for all types of heart disease. CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DRUGS deplete CoQ10. (Amounts will depend on the severity of the disease. Lower doses may be used for health maintenance; higher doses in cases of arrhythmia, angina, and atherosclerosis).
  • Magnesium: 2 taps, 3 times per day with meals (Target dose: 500-1500mg per day. Maxi Multi contains 500mg).
  • Grape Seed Extract: 1 cap, 3 times per day with meals. (Target dose: 150-300mg daily). Proanthocyanidins in grape seed extract act as a potent antioxidants and ACE inhibitors. They also help prevent platelet aggregation (blood cells sticking together) and protect blood vessels from damage.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

For High Blood Pressure

For Atherosclerosis

For Arrhythmia

  • Low dose aspirin (81mg): 1 tab per day.
  • L-carnitine: 500-1,000mg, 3 times per day with meals.

For Congestive Heart Failure

CoQ10 and it’s use in CHF (Congestive Heart Failure):

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19966871
“… Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is essential for electron transport within the mitochondria and hence for ATP generation and cellular energy production. We recently demonstrated that plasma levels of CoQ10 are an independent predictor of survival in a cohort of 236 patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) followed for a median of 2.69 years. This is consistent with previous studies which have shown myocardial CoQ10 depletion in CHF, and correlated with the severity of the underlying disorder. Several intervention studies have been undertaken with CoQ10 in CHF, including randomized controlled trials with mostly positive outcomes in relation to improvement in plasma levels of CoQ10. A meta-analysis showed that CoQ10 resulted in an improvement in ejection fraction of 3.7% (95%CI 1.59-5.77) and the mean increase in cardiac output was 0.28 L/minute (95%CI 0.03-0.53). In a subgroup analysis, studies with patients not taking ACE inhibitors found a 6.7% increase in ejection fraction. The ongoing Q-SYMBIO trial will address whether CoQ10 supplementation improves survival in CHF patients. CoQ10 depletion may also be a contributory factor for why statin intervention has not improved outcomes in CHF. There is an emerging evidence base in support of CoQ10 as an adjunctive therapy in CHF.”

http://faculty.washington.edu/ely/coenzq10.html
“…The majority of the clinical studies concerned the treatment of heart disease and were remarkably consistent in their conclusions: that treatment with CoQ10 significantly improved heart muscle function while producing no adverse effects or drug interactions. …”

Dr. Myatt’s Conclusion:
CoQ10 is beneficial for nearly every type of Heart Disease (angina, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction (1-18)

Maxi Marine O3 (Fish Oil) and it’s use in CHF (Congestive Heart Failure):

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8733172
“…Fish oil may decrease cardiac afterload by an antivasopressor action and by reducing blood viscosity, may reduce arrhythmic risk despite supporting the heart’s beta-adrenergic responsiveness, may decrease fibrotic cardiac remodeling by impeding the action of angiotensin II and, in patients with coronary disease, may reduce the risk of atherothrombotic ischemic complications. Since the measures recommended here are nutritional and carry little if any toxic risk, there is no reason why their joint application should not be studied as a comprehensive nutritional therapy for congestive heart failure. …”

References

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17.) Singh RB; Wander GS et al Cardiovasc Drugs Ther, 12(4):347-53 1998 Sep.
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