Ki Center Blog

Seasonal Allergies

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:23:00 GMT

Once again it's allergy season. I can tell because the amount of allergy medicine commercials has increased. The amount of money spent on over the counter medications is almost obscene. And none of these drugs address the cause of your allergies but only mask the symptoms. Wouldn't it be nice if you could actually alleviate the cause instead of just drying up the runny nose? Well, you can.

Dietary fats are important

One of the leading causes of over-sensitization to allergens is the amount of omega 6 fatty acids we consume. These fats are primarily found in vegetable oils. These oils make up a large portion of the ingredients found in processed foods, salad dressings and the like, and as a result are ingested in higher doses than the body can handle. When these omega 6 fats are out of balance, the beneficial omega 3 oils are overwhelmed and can lead to several diseases, hormonal problems, bad hair and skin and seasonal allergies. A significant change in dietary habits can alleviate these problems, make you healthier and help you to live a longer life with less illness.

As difficult as it sounds, reducing, and whenever possible, eliminating processed foods from your diet will be a huge step to correct this yearly ritual. Whenever possible eat whole foods, eat real butter not margarine and use oils such as flax and olive oil in your foods. You may have to take a tablespoon of raw flax oil each day for an extended period of time to balance the omega 6 to omega 3 levels.

Making these simple dietary changes will reduce the amount of omega 6 and linoleic fatty acids intake, and make a profound change in your body's metabolism. In addition, it will reduce the prostaglandin E2 production (which causes allergies) and increase the production of the good stuff helping to prevent these allergies. Getting on the right supplements, using a good quality air purifier and making sure your digestion is on track will be a powerful protocol for allergy health. In the clinic, we use a product from Standard Process called Allerplex with great results during the tough times. At times adding a digestive aid such as Multizyme (also from Standard Process) will greatly reduce a persons inhalant allergy.

Digestion important too

I need to emphasize the role of proper digestion in allergy relief. If you are a chronic antacid user, or suffer from consistent heartburn and digestive ailments, then we need to balance this issue before we can be successful with the allergy. I've noticed that many seasonal allergy sufferers also have a significant food sensitivity history, especially with proteins. I have written articles in the past that address digestive problems so I won't go into details.

If you are one of those who have severe seasonal allergies you may need to eliminate wheat, grains and dairy for a time. Sleep apnea and horrendous snoring can be a symptom of wheat sensitivity. Just because you are not allergic to wheat doesn't mean it is not playing a part in this disorder. Try this; eliminate all wheat and dairy for a week and see how you feel, and if you (and those you love) sleep better.

Water intake

Another player in allergy relief is dehydration. When we consume too much bread and sugars your body uses water to dilute and eliminate these excess sugars. So again we see the connection of a diet of high processed foods (high in sugar) contributing to dis-ease in the body. When the body uses up so much water, dehydration occurs. This then dries up the mucous membranes in your sinuses. This of course results in a reduced protective factor for inhaled allergens, dust, yeast and molds. Add to this the use of allergy medicines which dry you out even more, and it is no wonder dehydration is a part of the allergy puzzle.

Finally, there may be a need for overall liver support. When your body is trying to get rid of toxins (allergens), and your liver is struggling because of overload from poor diet, frequent medications and the like, you may need to give it some help.

Isn't it time to break the cycle? Come see us at the Ki Center and get a comprehensive evaluation for these and many other problems.

A New Model for Health Care

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:11:00 GMT

With so many prescription drugs being pulled off the shelves, most recently the drug Avandia, it would seem that someone somewhere should be raising a flag and asking some hard questions.

Why is this country, with all its wealth and resources, one of the lowest rated for life expectancy? Why is iatrogenic disease (health care caused) the number one cause of death in this country, even above heart disease and diabetes?

I strongly believe that our medical establishment has lost sight of a fundamental truth in health and wellness. You must treat the whole person.

Drugs not always the answer

Using toxic chemicals to drug a person's symptom into submission isn't working for the long term. Side effects from these drugs are the cause of many other problems that are then treated with even more drugs. The cycle continues, and a severe decline in health is seen. For the most part, it is the elderly that suffers I believe, more so than the rest of the population. However, I have noticed an increase in the number of clients that are younger now having the same problems as the elderly. I hope this trend doesn't continue, but unfortunately, unless we as a nation re-examine the national health care system, I believe it will continue.

There is room enough in our health care system for alternative practitioners and allopathic (traditional) practitioners to work together. I have had the opportunity to share my information and findings with a few of my clients physicians. It is refreshing to find a physician open enough to discuss what I find and what course of action I take to correct the imbalances. The treatment is enhanced when qualified alternative practitioners and traditional medicine is combined. The patient benefits, they get better quicker and their health care costs go down as the need for long term medication is eliminated.

Profit over health

Too much emphasis has been put on drugs for everything and nothing but drugs for anything. The profits are too high to stop and the lobbyists are too numerous to ignore. Frankly I think the emphasis is on money and profit and not on the individual. There is a good reason why more people are migrating to holistic practitioners and alternative therapies. People want more choice in their health care. They are becoming more educated about alternatives, and with detailed information available on the internet have more resources to better educate themselves.

Alternative therapies work. Nutritional deficiencies are rampant in this country and no amount of chemistry will change that. Much of the heart disease in this country could be alleviated by simple additions of key phytonutrients to the diet. Balancing the energetic and emotional components of health is a much better choice than toxic, side effect laden drugs for depression. My case files are full of people weaned off of heavy depression medications and now living drug free and happy.

Western medicine does not get it

My concept of an ideal health care system would be one that each person has the ability to choose which type of treatment to participate in. The insurance would cover any qualified practitioner and its components. Allopathic and alternative professionals could and would work together for the good of the patient and holistic (whole body, mind and spirit) care would be the norm.

Most physicians will tell you that vitamins and minerals don't work. They will tell you that studies have shown no significant improvement in conditions when vitamins and minerals were used. And quite frankly, in most cases they are correct. However the use of synthetic, fractionated nutrients will never give you the same results as clinically pure, whole food phytonutrients. There is a huge difference between a vitamin you buy in the local market and a true whole food nutrient that is tested to your body for efficacy and accuracy.

It's about balance

At the Ki Center we practice true clinical bio-chemistry. In addition, we balance the emotions, structure and energetic components of the body. In other words; we treat the whole body. And whenever possible, we will work with your regular doctor and offer the information to him or her and extend the hand of cooperation.

Each modality of health care has its merits. Each has value and can be incredibly beneficial. I will be the first to acknowledge that I cannot help everyone. Some folks are so devastated by illness and disease that strong drugs are the only answer, and are the most appropriate. I cannot however agree that drugs are the only answer to all maladies. I have witnessed many people get better with simple phytonutrient protocols, wean off of prescription drugs and finally have relief from years of discomfort.

Vaccines vs. Natural Immune Building

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:06:00 GMT

I am not a big fan of vaccines. Every year we are bombarded by reports and warnings about potential flu epidemics and scare tactics designed to separate you from your money—at the expense of your own health. I am also very wary of anything the carries the support of the FDA, CDC, WHO, UN, AMA, or any other government agency testifying to the safety and efficacy of drugs.

Creating Panic

Remember the swine flu epidemic of 1976? How about the SARS epidemic from Hong Kong and of course the H5N1 Bird Flu that was going to potentially kill 20% of the population? And of course who can forget (recently) the Swine Flu pandemic (H1N1) that brought most countries to a level 6 medical alert? What do all of these events have in common? They never happened.

What did happen though was that a lot of money was made by organized medicine. In addition, Congress passed legislation that exempted drug makers from being sued by anyone harmed or killed by these vaccines. Stay tuned for more hype and regulatory shell games as there is now a new super bug identified in Japan that is resistant to all forms of antibiotics.

What to do now

So what are we to do? I, like many of my clients, pursue natural immune enhancement that will strengthen the body's ability to mount a normal and powerful defense against viruses, bacteria and microbes. Notice that I said mount a defense not prevent? We will still be exposed to various things that can make us sick. The key is to stop it in its tracks or severely limit the duration and severity of the attack.

Things that can be done now to strengthen the immune system are eating a variety of whole foods, organic when possible, and limit the amount of processed non-foods that have no redeeming nutritional value. Eat the colors of the rainbow. By that I mean to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables that are deeply colored as these foods contain thousands of enzymes, micro and macro nutrients, sterols and fatty acids that combine synergistically, that is, they work together perfectly and are absorbed properly because they are whole foods, not synthetic non-foods. Getting exercise, drinking clean water, getting adequate sleep will support and strengthen your immune system as well.

Powerful natural products

When I need extra help, especially during cold and flu season, I use and recommend to my clients three basic products. They are Congaplex, Immuplex, and Echinacea Premium, all from Standard Process Labs. These are the big guns as they go straight to the heart of immune building.

Congaplex is for systemic infections, fever reduction and stimulates the thymus gland to produce more white blood cells. I have used this product personally with great success--and is generally used short term. Immuplex will also support and enhance the body's immune response. It is primarily used for viral and bacterial infections and can be used as a long term immune system building agent. Echinacea premium on the other hand is made from both Echinacea angustofolia and Echinacea pupurea. Both are needed to be effective and be properly assimilated by the body. When these products are combined, the immune response is impressive--quick and effective, and generally successful within 24-48 hours.

Overuse of drugs

Of course, if you have been diagnosed with a massive bacterial infection of any type, then a course of potent antibiotic may be necessary to get you out of the danger zone. If that is the case, then a follow up of immune building products like I have described, would be of great benefit for the recovery and preventing possible recurrent infections.

Over use of antibiotics has created more resistant strains of bacteria, this is a medical fact. The use of stronger medicines to offset this resistance can and will lead to more serious side effects. Why not use powerful natural products, with proven efficacy, to stave off infections in the first place? Or, if infected, let the body (with help) fight it the way it has been designed to do. The end result will be an immune system stronger than before and much more capable of resisting future infections of all type.

Kinesiology Body Analysis

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:01:00 GMT

Old school is sometimes the best school for achieving results. If anything can be said about the work I do in the clinic it would have to be that we are results driven. I have been doing natural health care now for 11 years and the best and most valuable tool I have is Kinesthetic body analysis. Also known as Applied Kinesiology, or contact reflex analysis, it is a way for me to determine the imbalances that are present in your body at this time. It is highly accurate and using the body's own innate intelligence, can and will find things that even western medicine with all their technology can't find or just plain miss. And mis-diagnosis is a real problem with allopathic medicine.

It works simply by measuring the energy in the body through and indicator muscle as a "circuit breaker" that will trip when there is an imbalance that the body recognizes as detrimental. It will not tell me what the problem is but where the problem or cause is. As an example, the muscle testing will tell me there is a problem with the liver but not exactly what the problem is. But again using the advanced techniques of applied kinesiology, I can then test with specific clinical nutritional products to find what will fix the problem. I may have five different products that will alter the liver function but only one of them may be the exact fit for your particular problem. It takes the guess work out of knowing what specifically will help you. Be it herb or phytonutrient, your body will tell me exactly what it needs to repair.

Not only will the kinesthetic body analysis be able to determine cause and need from a chemical standpoint, but it is perfect for determining structural problems whether they be skeletal or soft tissue related. There have been many examples of people coming to me for a structural problem that has not been helped through chiropractic care or any other care for that matter, that through kinesthetic analysis, determined the specific muscle involvement that may have not been any where near the site of pain.

Old school or technology based diagnostics? Both are appropriate and can be helpful. But what happens if the technology based diagnostics are not available? How will practitioners determine treatment if all they know is blood work, MRI's, CT scans and the like? Ask the body, as it (your body) is the smartest doctor for you there is.

Healthy Pets

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:26:00 GMT

Some of my favorite clients are the four legged variety. At the Ki Center we not only help people achieve health, but animals as well.

Function specific not species specific

All of the techniques and products we use have proven to be effective on dogs, cats, horses and any animal, as what we do to achieve balance is function specific not species specific. By that I mean that the liver functions the same in a human as it does in a dog or cat, and will respond to therapy and treatment in the much the same way. As we do not use drugs or chemicals, but natural whole food products and herbal medicines, the body, be it human or animal, responds predictably and quickly to natural methods of healing.

Good food is important

One of the key factors for health of a pet is the type of food you are feeding them. There is an old phrase in computer repairman have that states, Garbage in garbage out. What this means is if you put bad things in, you will get bad things out as a result. I cannot emphasize enough that poor quality pet food is a primary cause of health problems in our four legged family.

What do you think would happen if all you ate was dry, nutrient deficient cereal for every meal? You certainly wouldn't thrive and be the picture of health. Arthritis, allergies, poor hair quality and lack of energy would probably be the least of the health concerns you would experience. And yet so many pets are fed a dry kibble for every meal, and even more are fed the cheapest brands or whatever is on sale. It is no wonder that our pets suffer with many of the same afflictions that we do, and have such short lives.

Fortunately, as in humans, animals respond quickly and successfully to proper nutrition and the healing protocols that we use at the clinic. There are many quality organic foods available today for pets. They are more expensive of course, but if a healthy happy pet is your goal, I encourage you to look around and do some research. One of the best feeding methods for dogs is the BARF diet. I know this sounds terrible but what it stands for is bones and raw food. Genetically, animals are wired to digest raw natural foods found in nature. Feeding them quality raw foods designed for them, chicken, turkey, vegetables and raw meaty bones will in fact alleviate many of their health problems quite quickly. If a raw diet is not practical, at least consider giving them raw meaty bones as a treat. A good source of this type of food and other organic foods is the Exclusive Pet Food store in Troutdale. The owner is dedicated to pet health and very knowledgeable. Their phone number is (503)491-1111.

Once a pet is on a good diet, we can then evaluate their imbalances using the same testing methods I use on my human clients, and then make recommendations based on the findings. I am happy to report I have seen many a pet return to health in a relatively short time. Follow up with a proper maintenance program and your pet will stay healthy for as long as possible.

I have noticed that pets respond very well to the energy work we do at the clinic. They enjoy the healing touch of Reiki and will calm them down and almost go to sleep during the treatment.

They have feelings too

There are emotional and behavioral problems in animals that are a direct result of emotional trauma. Just look at all the pets abandoned, abused or ignored, and how they respond to humans afterward. Rehabilitating these animals is often time consuming and frustrating. To address emotional problems of all types in our human clients, we have Rapid Eye Therapy as part of our healing protocol. Fortunately, this type of therapy will work for animals as well and is now available at the Ki Center. Call us for more information on this therapy and how it works. The animal doesn't have to be present, which is good, because horses would present a problem in the office.

I would like to emphasize that holistic healing is not exclusively alternative practices, but a combination of traditional medicine and alternative medicine. Both have their strengths and weaknesses and are most effective when combined. Having a good veterinarian that you trust is essential, just as having a good family practitioner is important.

Find the cause-Fix the problem

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 21:14:00 GMT

I frequently mention that chasing symptoms is not the way to help people heal. In order to effectively help a person attain balance in their health, you must find the cause of the illness, correct the imbalance and the symptoms will disappear.

The tool I use the most is applied kinesiology. There are many forms of muscle testing such as touch for health, or contact reflex analysis, which all have their basis in applied kinesiology. It is a very reliable tool that enables me to ask the body where the imbalances are and what will correct the problem. I have observed the accuracy of this method of diagnostics time and again, in people and in animals. I have verified this information with standard western medical diagnostics such as blood tests, x-rays and physician verified diagnosis. What amazes me, and my clients, is that it is done completely without the aid of any technology, and still remains accurate and repeatable.

Finding the cause

When I test a person and find an imbalance, it tells me specifically where the problem is but not what the problem is. Your body can definitively tell me there is an imbalance in a particular gland, organ or body system and using the same testing method, find the nutrient or herb that will strengthen it.

Each and every muscle in the body has a corresponding relationship with acupuncture meridians, or energy pathways of the body, and consequently an association with every gland, organ and body system. As an example: I will have you raise your arm parallel to the floor, ask you to hold your arm steady and press down on the wrist to test for a good lock of the muscle. I then touch a corresponding point on your body that correlates with the liver, test the arm again, and if the muscle is weak and is easily pushed down, then I know we have an imbalance in that organ. I can then have you hold a particular liver glandular nutrient, retest the arm while touching the liver point, and if the arm is then strong, I know we have found what your body needs to heal the imbalance. It is quite a bit like tripping circuit breakers in the body.

This type of muscle testing can be used for behavioral or emotional issues as well. Your emotions play a huge part of the overall physical health of your body. Here is something you can try yourself to prove this, and see just how easy it is to test someone:

Trying it for yourself

Have a partner hold their arm out to their side and parallel to the floor. Using two fingers, press down on the wrist and ask your subject to resist the downward pressure. Feel how the muscle is locked in place. You do not have to use a lot of force; you are looking for a good muscle lock not how strong they are. Now, ask them to think of someone they love or at least have good positive feelings for and retest the arm. You should have a good muscle lock and find the arm resists the downward pressure. Now ask them to think of something negative such as Adolf Hitler and retest the arm. You will find that the negative emotion this brings up will instantly make the arm go weak and be easily pushed down.

The body never lies

This type of testing elicits only a yes or no type of answer. However when you ask the right questions, a simple yes or no can give you a wealth of information. Any negative stimuli will affect the body the same way. A good indicator muscle will go weak when subjected to any negative stimulus whether the stimuli is chemical, structural, emotional or energetic in nature. Let me see western medicine produce a machine that can duplicate those types of test results with the accuracy that your own body can every time. The really amazing thing is that however slight the imbalance, the body will still register it and give you an accurate response. Most diagnostic equipment will only report what it has been programmed to report. And of course being a machine, it can break down and can give false positives.

Your body is such an amazingly intricate work of art that surpasses even the most sophisticated computer ever built. If you know how to ask the right questions, the body can and will tell you all you need to know to regain your health.

If you would like more information on how applied kinesiology can be used, how it was scientifically tested and verified, I recommend the book- "Power vs. Force The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior" by David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:15:00 GMT

As A veteran of two branches of service it is heart wrenching to see our young men and women returning from service with a host of problems created by that very same service. What is even more troubling is the level of care or more accurately the lack of care that these people receive when faced with illusive but very real health care problems.

Emotional Trauma

Gulf War Syndrome and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are but two of the most recognized of these problems. You cannot subject your body to exposure of heavy metals in the form of depleted uranium and toxins from various chemicals being burned and not expect health care concerns. In dealing with these types of issues it is fairly straight forward to recognize the imbalance brought on by this exposure and tailor a program of natural detoxification and support to bring the body back into balance chemically.

Post Traumatic Stress on the other hand can be just as insidious but much more difficult to beat. Recognizing it is easy. I hear from clients how their personalities have changed considerably from who they were before to who they have become once exposed to the types of stress that can cause this disorder. It should be mentioned here that war time stress is just one of the stressors that can cause this debilitating condition. Any stress of a traumatic nature can bring this on.

There is Help

Fortunately at the Ki Center for Holistic Healing we have a tremendous tool for dealing with this and all types of emotionally charged conditions. It is called Rapid Eye Therapy. It is a form of energy work that deals specifically with the emotions and can work miraculously to unlock the stored body memory that can interfere with daily life and health.

Psychotherapy is great at teaching you what triggers your stress and helps you to understand the patterns of the stress but it doesn’t release the body memory which can and will cause physical symptoms as well as emotional problems. Hypnotherapy tends to replace the issues of the disorder with suggestions to mask the symptoms and hopefully create a more stable emotional balance but again does nothing to release the stored body memory.

The Right Tool

Rapid Eye Therapy (RET) addresses not only the emotions but recognizes the association to physical problems brought on by traumatic stress. Instead of reliving the trauma or just being able to understand it from an intellectual point of view it removes it from the body and mind quickly and permanently. Old patterns can be eliminated and new healthier patterns and thoughts can emerge. Remember that thought is energy and your body follows your brain and can manifest physical symptoms as a result of emotional trauma.

Adding Rapid Eye Therapy to our repertoire of healing modalities has given us the opportunity to increase our success or more accurately your success, in achieving balance and overall better health. Fortunately there are resources available to help pay for Rapid Eye Therapy for veterans. The Heartway foundation is an organization set up to assist with financial need and more information on this program can be received by calling the Rapid Eye Institute directly at (503) 399-1181.

As I mentioned earlier the chemical imbalances can be addressed and corrected which will eliminate the physical symptoms and get you on the road to long term recovery. But unless the emotional components to healing are also addressed then complete healing cannot and will not be realized. If you view health as a four legged stool with each leg representing chemical, emotional, structural and energetic balance and you address all four of these areas then complete health is achievable.

Do not trivialize stress as a major hurdle to getting better. It is a serious condition that can quickly destroy your life if not taken care of. Depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, grief and addictions are just a few of the issues that RET has shown to be successful with. I would encourage you to research this information out more thoroughly if you like. A link can be found on the Ki Center web site to the Rapid Eye Institute in Salem for more information.

Beating the Cold and Flu Season

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:02:00 GMT

Once again we come upon the dreaded cold and flu season. We know it’s the season because just like Christmas decorations going up at your favorite store, the drug companies and the media are all warning us of the need to get our flu shots. But once again there is a short supply and only the most at risk are encouraged to seek this drug out before its all gone.

I will not tell you to get a shot or not, that would be your decision. I will however tell you why I will not get one now or in the future nor will my family get this concoction of toxic chemicals to prevent something my body is perfectly capable of taking care of itself.

First of all the heavy metal Mercury is used in the manufacture of these vaccines. Each dose contains approximately 25 micrograms of the substance. Mercury is a brain toxin. It destroys brain cells. The elderly and infants are the two groups most susceptible to damage from this poison and are the two groups most encouraged to get a shot. If you, like me, have mercury amalgam fillings in your teeth and are over the age of 40, then adding more mercury to my system just doesn't seem appropriate or wise.

Secondly, there is no substantiated proof that the shot prevents you from getting the flu. Even the medical review periodicals have stated that no significant prevention is realized with the vaccine. In many cases of reported flu it was caused by the vaccine itself. There are many other reasons why I won't subject myself or my family to these shots but let me illustrate the body's ability to effectively deal with this issue of colds and flu on its own accord.

If your immune system is functioning well and you use wise hygiene practices and engage in a bit of prevention then you probably won't be affected. Even if you are exposed there are natural ways to eliminate the virus from your body with a minimal of discomfort and time actually being sick. I personally have used these protocols to effectively eliminate the symptoms and recover in as little as 48 hours.

On the subject of prevention, the basics of course are to get good rest, eat well and minimize exposure if you can. To augment this I recommend an immune boosting combination of Immuplex, a thymus stimulating nutrient and Echinacea Premium both from Standard Process. The combination of these two products raises your immune system substantially and is capable of preventing most colds and flu. For those of you already taking Echinacea please be aware that a combination of Echinacea Purpurea and Echinacea Angustofolia has proven to be a potent combination far exceeding that of most echinacea products out there just containing purpurea alone. Read your labels and give me a call to get further information on this subject.

Don't forget calcium as an important part of the immune system. In order for your cells to effectively get rid of waste products your white blood cells need calcium to support the chemical process of ingesting foreign bodies. Vitamin C of course is important but I highly recommend the whole food version as opposed to the synthetic form containing ascorbic acid as its only ingredient. Cataplex C from Standard Process Labs contains the whole composition of vitamin C found in nature and is far superior and effective for prevention then ascorbic acid alone.

Finally if you do get the flu or a severe cold please consider that if you cover up the symptoms with over the counter medications you are more than likely going to increase the time you will be sick. Also remember that a fever is a good thing. It is your body's natural way to defend itself. I generally don't get too concerned up to temperature of 103 degrees

To boost the immune system when in the grip of the flu or severe cold I will then recommend a Thymus stimulating nutrient such as Thymex or Congaplex again from Standard Process, along with the Echinacea Premium to eliminate the problem within 24-72 hours. As I said I have personally used this protocol to treat my own rare instance of illness that took hold with such force and virulence that I actually considered going to the hospital. Fortunately I came to my senses early and took care of it myself with great results.

Headaches

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:50:00 GMT

Of all the conditions that people come to see me for, headaches have got to be the most troublesome. So much like a puzzle, and I am not real fond of puzzles, finding the cause can be frustrating and very time consuming. There are many causes of headaches and they can be a single source cause or a combination of imbalances and may change with each occurrence. I know people who have spent thousands of dollars on trying to treat them conventionally and are still afflicted with them on a regular basis.

Finding the Cause

Fortunately the type of muscle testing we do at the clinic can identify the source of the headache at the time, and the general imbalances associated with them. However, because these headaches can be caused by one or more different issues, narrowing them down can be difficult, but not impossible.

Headaches are a symptom of imbalance within the body. They are not in my opinion an illness in and of themselves. Medicating the pain only tends to hide the cause and can create a rebound headache worse than the original. But for anyone who has dealt with this problem, and the sometimes excruciating pain, drugs are the only thing that works to help them feel better.

From an alternative standpoint you must find the basic imbalance in the body that is creating the symptom of a headache. There can be several, and it may take upwards of several months to correct the problem. But patience pays off in the long run, and in the end the headaches have improved if not totally disappeared, and you are much healthier as a result.

Headache Types

Lets discuss some common types of headaches and their patterns.

The Ovarian type: Tends to occur around the menses cycle and can be accompanied by hair trigger mood swings. The Thyroid type: Often a dull headache upon rising and which wears off during the day. The Capillary Fragility type: One of the only types that can wake you out of a sound sleep with a crushing feeling. In this type, look also for signs such as bruising that heals slowly, bleeding gums and GI tract ulcers. The Fatigue type: Typically will start in late afternoon and can be accompanied by exhaustion. The Liver Toxicity type: Nausea and a general sick feeling with a metallic taste in the mouth are signs of this type of headache. The Pituitary type: These are recurring random type of headaches with no distinct pattern, and that is its primary signature. The Gallbladder type: This one resembles the liver toxicity type and can have pain between the shoulder blades or tenderness over the gallbladder. The Environmental Allergy and Sensitivity type: These can be traced to exposure of man made chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and new house syndrome. The Chiropractic type: Caused by a subluxation of vertebrae and usually will be alleviated by spinal manipulation. Recurring headaches of this type may be from ligament weakness and lack of good organic minerals.

There are more types of headaches of course and as I said earlier, you can have one or several of these conditions that can be the cause of the headache. Remember, headaches are a symptom of imbalance, and this must be corrected to get rid of the headaches.

How to treat

When a headache case comes in to the clinic, we start with an extensive history. I will want to know how often the headaches occur, where they start and what kind of intensity they bring with them. I will usually recommend dietary changes to eliminate triggers and specific nutritional supplements to correct the imbalances.

I would like to recommend an outstanding book I use as an informational source that may help you to better understand headaches and their causes, "Alternative Medicines Definitive Guide to Headaches" by Robert Milne and Blake More. You can find this book at many bookstores and of course on Amazon.com.

If you suffer from chronic headaches and have not found any relief, consider an alternative practitioner who is trained in finding the imbalances in your body, and understands the complicated nature of headaches. But please be patient, it will take some time to correct everything that may be causing the trouble.

Cholesterol: Fact vs. Fiction

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:19:00 GMT

Let me take a moment to say thanks to the East County Gazette for allowing me the opportunity to contribute to their publication. In the articles to follow I hope to surprise you, raise questions and possibly even make you angry. Above all what you will get is pertinent, accurate information designed to make you think and hopefully encourage you to check out information for yourself. I will never tell you what to think. You have enough of that already. You are in charge of your health care; do not let anyone convince you otherwise. What you need is good information to make informed decisions. Lets get started.

The Wrong Information

I get so angry at the established medical community scaring their patients senseless with incomplete information about their cholesterol levels. Thousands of unsuspecting intelligent people have been convinced to take liver damaging drugs to artificially reduce their cholesterol numbers. Maybe you remember some 20 years ago that the medical profession informed the public that if your cholesterol was 180-200 then you were sick and needed a pill to correct this life threatening disease. Then a new line of Statin drugs came out which could lower the numbers even more. More recently the number has dropped to even lower levels because of, you guessed it, newer drugs. When you take into account that these drugs gobble up vitamins such as Coenzyme Q-10, Folic Acid, Vitamins B-12, K, D, E and Iron you have a recipe for disaster.

The Facts

Let me give you some facts to help you decide for yourself what you need. Cholesterol is essential for life. Just as the banana peel protects the fruit from damage and oxidation, your cholesterol protects your cells from damage and oxidation. It’s quite a bit like a bullet proof vest for the cell. People have been duped into believing that the lower their cholesterol is the healthier they are. This is not true and frankly the opposite is true. If your total cholesterol numbers get to 125 and lower you are sick and in danger of serious disease and illness. Did you know that when you have damage to a blood vessel or any damage for that matter your body uses cholesterol as a bandage to repair the area? Weaknesses in the blood vessels are patched with cholesterol. So a question remains; is the cholesterol building up in your veins because of fat or repair of weak areas? If your total cholesterol gets too low the cells can be damaged by free radicals, toxins and drug interactions. Cholesterol protects these cells from damage.

Practically every organ in the body manufactures cholesterol. If your eating habits, exercise and life style are relatively good the cholesterol in your system will regulate itself. If you have adequate fat in your diet, and I am talking about good fat, omega 3 and 6, you won’t have the elevated levels that are truly a problem. If your numbers are 280 and above then yes we need to make some changes to allow the body to bring these levels back into balance. Let me say that this is possible without drugs. I have seen it in my clients reductions of 50 points in 30 days or less just by giving the body the tools it needs to regulate the process. And a real shocker for them is when I tell them to increase their intake of dietary fat. Well that just flies in the face of conventional drug profit wisdom doesn't it? Heaven help us all if we start to get healthy without medications!

In fact the older we get the higher the cholesterol numbers should be up to a point. If the body is in balance, in other words if the ratio to HDL and LDL are good, your triglycerides are in normal range and you eat relatively well and get exercise, then a number like 230-245 (if your in your 50s and older) is great! You want that protection around your cells to keep the degeneration and break down of tissues as we get older from running rampant. Cholesterol lowering drugs damage your liver, period. Just because someone has said that you're sick if you have cholesterol above 150 doesn't make it true, especially if that someone has a profit motive for you to buy their drug.

Case History

Medications can be a life saver when needed. But it just makes more sense to try something less invasive and easier on your system first. By the way that client I have that reduced her cholesterol by 50 points; she went from total cholesterol of 295 to 215 in 45 days without drugs. You know what her doctor said? Thats a good start but I think you still need to be on this drug. You decide.

Bring On The Fat

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:24:00 GMT

There seems to be a fair amount of confusion about fat and its importance in the diet. We hear about omega-3, omega-6 fats, but what does it all really mean?

Whats Good

These are defined as essential fatty acids. This means that they are necessary for normal bodily function. But what is most important, is the ratio of these essential fatty acids to each other.

Omega-3 fats are those which can be found in fish oil and flax oil. By far, the most important fat you need for good health is omega-3. Besides being critical to normal hormone production, these fats are brain food. Your brain is composed of 60% fat and without a good intake of omega-3 fats, you could see a decrease in brain function. Everything from mild memory loss to other more serious neurodegenerative diseases can be attributed to this type of nutritional deficiency. Fish oil from salmon, cod, mackerel and other deep cold water fish, are the healthiest and the most potent of the omega-3 fats. Flax oil is a good source as well, however, it is from a plant, and lacks the same potency as compared to fish. It has been estimated that it takes 10 times the flax oil to equal the same benefit from fish oil.

Omega-6 fats are those found in corn, safflower, sunflower, peanut, soy and canola oils. You can find these types of fats in many of the processed foods we eat. Dietary experts have stated that the average American diet consumes 50 times the amount of omega-6 fats as they should. Excess amounts of this fat can cause inflammation in the brain, which is the main culprit of all neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons and ALS. An essential fatty acid, and important to good health, omega-6 should be consumed in moderation, as too much can lead to problems.

Another type of omega-6 fat, one that is more beneficial, can be found in many types of plants in minute amounts but the most prevalent source is evening primrose oil, borage, and black currant seed oil. This is a specialized form of fatty acid high in GLA, (gamma-linoleic-acid), essential for female hormone balance.

Balance of Fats

A healthy and balanced diet will contain more omega-3 than 6. Almost everyone I test during their evaluation is low on essential fatty acids. This will show up as an imbalance and can be the culprit behind many symptoms. I can supplement with fish oil capsules or flax oil to increase the amounts of omega-3. A reduction in the type of fats in many of the cooking oils and processed foods will usually be in order as well.

It should be mentioned that if your gallbladder is not working properly, or you routinely have problems eating fat of any type, we will need to clear that up as well. You can take the best supplements in the world, but if your body cannot metabolize what you take in, then it's a waste of money and will have very little benefit.

Dietary Considerations

Generally speaking, whenever I see someone on a low fat diet, I suspect that it will be synonymous with low nutrition. If they are on a low fat, high protein diet, then I know we will have some work to do in regaining good nutritional balance. What I would like to see is a moderate protein, low carbohydrate and adequate amounts of good fat diet!

Fat (the good kind) is essential for good health. Too much omega-6 fats as found in the oils mentioned earlier, is bad for you. Animal fats from bacon, and marbled meat, and dairy are fine in moderation. At least these are real fats that your body can use and will metabolize. I use real butter and no margarine of any type. Frankly, in my opinion, I don't feel margarine should even be considered as food. If you do not eat fish on a regular basis then I would highly recommend a good fish oil supplement. Standard Process Labs produces an excellent product called Tuna Omega-3, which we carry at the clinic. If you cannot tolerate the fish oil or just can't stand the taste of fish, then I recommend you add flax oil to your diet, 1 tablespoon a day. There are several good brands that I can recommend.

Just remember that good fat is essential to your health. If you have been on a low fat diet and you really haven't seen any improvement, or you feel worse, it may be time for a change to an eating plan that makes sense.

30 Day Investment Yields Lifetime of Results

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:13:00 GMT

Every journey begins with the first step. If you could make positive life style changes for just thirty days, and reap benefits from that investment for the rest of your life, then that would be an investment worth making, don;t you think?

Dietary Mis-information

There is so much hogwash about health and nutrition out there today that finding correct information—not just the current fad diet or wonder product with a wonderful marketing plan, can be an exercise in frustration. Who do you believe? What study is correct? One week we hear that a particular product is toxic, then, the following week we hear it;s beneficial. It;s enough to make your head spin.

Self Repair

There are a few facts I want you to know about your health. First, the body is designed genetically to heal and renew itself constantly. As long as the body has the right tools to work, it will repair itself every second of every day. When we cut our finger, the area heals, new skin is formed and the new skin is perfect. If a bone is broken, new bone forms that is stronger then the old bone, all without pills or drugs.

Secondly, people who eat a Western diet of sugar laden, chemically-altered non-foods suffer high rates of diseases such as diabetes, obesity, coronary artery disease, joint problems, osteoporosis and cancers of all types. In fact, most degenerative diseases, which eat up approximately eighty percent of the annual 4.5 trillion dollar bill spent on health care, can be attributed to this Western diet.

Another interesting and true fact is that people who eat real food, traditional diet, whether it is high fat, high protein or high carbohydrate, will generally not have these health problems. The difference is that they eat real foods instead of overly-processed, chemical concoctions produced by a Western food industry.

So we have a body designed for perfection, and what we do is feed it junk. Unable to heal properly without proper nutrition, it's no wonder our bodies suffer so many maladies. And on top of that, we have an industry designed to make money by convincing you that you are sick and need this drug or that program to feel better. All it takes is money and blind obedience to the experts that want to relieve you of that money and your long term health.

The Western diet is not the cause of our problems, we are. It is our decisions that produce the consequences we suffer from. Instead of choosing real foods in moderation, exercise and a healthy life style, we choose to eat non-foods and take pills to counter the results, all at the expense of our own health.

Your Body is the Key

I am in the business of helping people to heal themselves. I've seen this miracle of genetic engineering produce amazing results in a short period of time. If you can give me thirty days to make changes in your lifestyle, nutritional (chemical) balance, emotional and structural health, I know that you can see dramatic positive results that will be life changing.

I am not a miracle worker or some self-proclaimed healer extraordinaire. I simply understand what balance can do to heal your body. The tools I use are made from organic phyto-nutrients (food). They work quickly and have no side effects. When you combine these tools with understanding of how the body works, and have a method of accessing the innate wisdom of your own body to find the cause of the imbalance, you have a very powerful weapon against illness and disease. The beautiful thing about all of this is your own ability to heal. It;s automatic! Give your body what it needs and it does the work.

I strongly believe that we are in a battle with an industry designed to convince you that you are sick-- there are trillions of dollars at stake, after all. Most of the foods we eat (in a Western diet) are produced cheaply and cause health problems. Furthermore, and in my opinion, the medical industry has a vested interest in having more sick people around to keep the money flowing.

If they (the food and drug industry) are so concerned about our health and prevention, then let’s see some action toward that end. Allow people to use their insurance dollars to see alternative professionals and get second opinions from a holistic perspective. And by all means, give real nutritional and health education to our kids instead of the party line from food and drug industrialists.

Chronic Stress and Anxiety

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:57:00 GMT

These days, chronic stress and anxiety seems to be increasing with more and more prevalence. I can speak from first hand experience as I have been going through some serious issues this past year myself. Fully a third of my new clients are experiencing a marked increase in their stress levels with the associated physical symptoms.

Besides the obvious problems of employment, economics and world problems, there seems to be a general feeling of uncertainty about life in general. We are all feeling it; its just a matter of to what degree.

How it affects you

Long term chronic stress and anxiety will wreak havoc on your immune system, the adrenal glands, and the pancreas. As a result you will have a constant roller coaster ride of adrenalin, high and low blood sugar fluctuations, and other symptoms like the lack of quality sleep. When the blood sugar goes up and down over and over, it can create the same symptoms that diabetics experience. Unfortunately, if you do not address the cause of the stress, whether it is in relationships, your job or whatever, the physical load on your body, gone unchecked, will send you on downward spiral of poor health.

What helps

The protocols I use to stabilize mood and brain chemistry, as well as the blood sugar and support of the adrenal glands, can help tremendously to balance out physical symptoms. As to the cause of the stress, you will need to take a heart felt look at what is working in your life and what is not.

Deep breathing can help more than you know. I've talked about this simple yet effective practice in previous columns. Begin by finding a quiet place that you can have five minutes of uninterrupted space. Start with a deep full breath through the nose, hold for a count of three and exhale through the mouth. Do this for at least five repetitions. You will be amazed at how it can help you to relax. The nice thing about this simple technique is it can be done anywhere, even while driving. I am not saying that this alone will reverse your stress, but it can help. When you combine the nutritional support with this breathing technique, you will at least give your body and mind a fighting chance to cope with all that is troubling you.

Anti-anxiety drugs should be used as a last resort. Not only are the side effects problematic, you can risk the potential for dependence on these drugs as well. In most cases, I can find a nutritional or herbal protocol that will benefit your emotional stress without the use of prescription medications. Or if already taking them, it can help you to begin the weaning process to get off of them.

No amount of nutrition or drugs for that matter, will correct the problem until you address the initial cause. Whether you get into some counseling, psychotherapy or support from friends and family, you must correct the cause or struggle with the stress and anxiety.

Another powerful tool I can recommend is exercise. If you can find the time and motivation for daily aerobic exercise, the benefit from this activity can also add to the healing process. Whether you go to a gym or simply power walk around the neighborhood, the release of endorphins and the use of excess adrenalin will benefit your body chemistry. And of course proper exercise will help to stabilize blood sugar and help you sleep.

Don't wait too long

The worst thing you can do is nothing. And men, this is directed at you more than women. We men have a tendency to compartmentalize our stress and anxiety. It does no good to ignore the problem or just brush it aside for later consideration. It will continue to eat at your emotions, and can ultimately result in damage to the one support system you do have—your family. Most women are innately aware that talking about the emotions and addressing the problem is healthy. It will probably not take away the stress but it can help to deflate the sometimes overwhelming feeling of fear and uncertainty that goes along with chronic stress and anxiety.

The extreme amount of stressors in our society these days are not going to go away quickly. The best advice I can give is to buckle in for a wild ride. Support your body chemistry, get a support system in place and do all you can do, like the breathing and exercise, to help support the bodys needs during this difficult time.

Holistic Nutrition

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:26:00 GMT

I frequently give recommendations on dietary change and balancing your metabolism through the diet. When I talk about holistic nutrition, I am referring to how quickly you metabolize your foods, whether you are more of a para-sympathetic or sympathetic dominant individual and what kind of constitution you have.

The right way to eat

Based on an extensive questionnaire, your profile is established and lists of balancing foods and foods that will create imbalance are provided. This is not a diet. This is a life style change in the way you eat. You would be amazed at the health changes that can take place when you eat according to your body type and profile.

Diet plans such as Adkins, The Zone, South Beach, all have good qualities to them. But when you emphasize one nutrient group--fats, carbohydrates or proteins, I believe you can create an imbalance. For the lucky ones that these diets have produced results for, congratulations. There are many encouraging testimonials of this diet or that diet helping people loose weight. What you dont hear are the many people who have had no luck with any of these diets. It is to these people I write this column.

Determining ones constitution in a dietary profile relies heavily on certain emotional factors. For some, eating is an emotional fix to quiet anger or fear and to medicate hurt feelings. For others, eating means love and attention. It is way of feeling loved. Many have been programmed that eating everything on your plate is a way to get parental approval. My point here is this;Just adjusting the amount of carbohydrates to proteins, or eliminating most fats will only make temporary changes and often will result in rebound weight. Creating a holistic dietary profile and then following the recommendations can result in amazing health benefits.

You are unique. One diet that worked for your neighbor may have the opposite effect on you. An individualized assessment of your dietary needs and constitution, tailors the types of foods, spices and drinks that are most balancing, to you. Again, this is a lifestyle change. Give yourself at least three months to see changes and feel the difference.

The types of foods that are on your lists are largely vegetarian. I personally am not a vegetarian and believe that when it comes to food, your choices are yours alone. I will say that moving your diet to a more vegetarian fare is healthy and beneficial. There is no substitute to eating fresh organic fruits and vegetables raw. The nutrient quality and content that is available in this form is superior to that of canned or overly cooked foods. I limit the amount of red meat I eat. I do eat poultry, fish and good quality vegetable proteins. If however you want to change your eating style to a vegetarian or even vegan style, then that is a good choice as well. The important point is that you know what foods will throw you off, and those that can create balance.

The Drugging of America

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:23:00 GMT

I am not one for conspiracy theories. But if it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck then it must be a duck. Anyone who has followed my column for any length of time is familiar with my views on drugs and vaccines. They can be appropriate but honestly, I believe they do more harm than good.

Government out of Control

Most recently, the CDC has released the 2007-2008 recommended immunization schedules for adults. The schedule includes 11 different types of vaccines including tetanus, HPV, measles mumps and rubella, influenza and herpes zoster (shingles). When you consider the amount of toxic chemicals in these vaccines, it is no wonder that our society is experiencing a dramatic increase in auto-immune types of diseases.

If that is not enough, legislation is being introduced to force parents to immunize their children with a toxic cocktail of drugs during their most formative years. There are documented instances where a parent not choosing to immunize their child has had them taken away and made a ward of the state. Since when have we as a nation given up our right to choose what is best for ourselves and our children?

The HPV immunization for young girls is a perfect example of this type of government control. It (the vaccine) has only been on the market since 2006, with a small percentage of women being immunized. Of those women, 82 serious side effects have already been reported. That of course is only what is reported; many problems do not get reported. This drug is far too new and untested to evaluate the potential for harm over the long term. Frankly it scares me to death that it may be mandatory at some point.

I have had clients that couldn't have their kids in school unless they were medicated for ADD/ADHD. How many stories are out there of adverse side effects for these types of psychiatric drugs? I see more and more physicians, as well as specialists in the field of psychiatry, rallying against the use of powerful drugs for unwarranted conditions. But when you get the pharmaceutical industry, along with their powerful lobbyists and combined support from the insurance industry, you have a recipe for profound abuse of these chemicals.

Any diagnoses of mental conditions carry an insurance code based on a recognized malady. This will qualify the patient to receive re-imbursement from their insurance company, receive a label for their condition, and most likely a drug of some sort to hopefully correct the problem. As an example, here are a few of the new insurance recognized maladies that will be covered by your insurance, along with drug therapy---Mathematics disorder, caffeine disorder, disorder of written expression, telephone scatialogia (I don't even want to know), and malingering! It's no wonder we are nation on Prozac.

The industry is even working on a vaccine for cavities! The CDC has actually defined dental carries (cavities) as an infectious, communicable disease. This is beyond ridiculous! There are many cultures in the world that have no tooth decay whatsoever. And it is a result of eating indigenous foods appropriate for their nutritional type, not processed food and sugar.

In my opinion, and I am in good company on this, nutritional deficiencies are the main cause of most of our disease and illness problems. When you combine a diet devoid of any nutrition from processed foods, toxic chemicals from our environment, an over abundance of toxic drugs and immunizations, what do you expect your body to do? It will revolt and do it's best to get your attention to correct it.

Distorting the facts

We are in the flu shot season now. I have stated before I will not participate in this debacle as there are no statistics to prove efficacy of this drug. What you have heard from the CDC is that in 2005 there were approximately 36,000 people who died of the flu. This is a gross distortion of the facts. There were only 1806 people who died of the flu in that year. The statistics that the CDC sites here is that anyone dying of pneumonia can be classified as having the flu, so when their numbers came out, and rest assured the pharmaceutical industry will grab a hold of this for marketing purposes, it looks as though the flu is a scary problem bordering on an epidemic.

If you are healthy and you have a strong immune system, your body has an amazing capacity to fight off many of the problems we face today. But a continual diet of processed foods, drugs for every little symptom, and subscribing to the fear- based marketing programs that big business throws at us, we will continue on our downward spiral as one of the sickest nations on earth.