Category Archives: Acupuncture

PTSD and NRCT

PTSD and NRCT

PTSD and NRCT may have a strong connection. This is something I have been stating for years since I first became trained in NRCT.

PTSD stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. NRCT stands for Neurologic Relief Center Technique.

CTE - Chronic Traumatic EncephalopathyAn example of one of the causes of PTSD is participating in battles and war. Numerous soldiers return with PTSD and many of them take a long time to get a diagnosis because they are in denial or the military will not come up with the diagnosis of PTSD.

When I first learned of the concussion effects of explosions

Detoxification and Brain Care

Dr. Jay on Chicago TV

I immediately thought of the impact they would have on the meninges. The meninges surround the brain and the spinal cord and are the protective barrier surrounding them like a wet suit on a scuba diver. Explosion concussion waves effect the entire body — the meninges and the nervous system especially. However, all of the muscles and other organs are impacted as well. We are talking about an explosion that does not actually cause some bleeding or loss of limbs. Those, of course, are even more traumatic.

There is a discussion of PTSD and war this week on PBS.

WAR on the BRAIN a series on Public Broadcasting System. You can learn more about that series by going to this link.

I have discussed meningeal compression and NRCT extensively in my two books on the brain. These are also discussed on pages in this website.

Upper Extremity Pain and Numbness: NRCT Treatment at Berkeley Acupuncture, Jay Sordean

Dr. Jay’s Winter Season talk at EBAR BNI: Stress Trauma Toxicity: Acupuncture/NRCT in Berkeley

NRCT – Neurologic Relief Center Technique

Post Concussion Syndrome / Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

NRCT-FAQs Neurologic Relief Center Technique Facts

Alzheimer’s blueberries antioxidants


Alzheimer’s blueberries antioxidants

Dr Jay’s mission is to prevent a million cases of Alzheimer’s. This is why he has written two books on the subject, given numerous community talks on the subject, has appeared as an expert on TV news on this subject, and has a webinar you can register for at www.theredwoodclinic.com/brain-consultation. This article is the latest that supports what he has been saying and teaching for the last decade. Register and participate in his webinar and Alzheimer's blueberries antioxidantsread this article. What do  Alzheimer’s blueberries antioxidants have in common. Read this article and see.

“A Ray of Hope Amid Grim Statistics for Alzheimer’s Disease”.

Alzheimer’s blueberries antioxidant. Few diagnoses incite as much fear and helplessness as one of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). And it’s easy to understand why. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, AD is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, and the fifth-leading cause of death for people over age 65. Moreover, it’s “the only disease among the top 10 causes of death in America that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.” (Although there is promising work that suggests otherwise.) While mortality from many other conditions—such as heart disease, AIDS, and certain forms of cancer—has decreased, mortality from this most dreaded form of neurodegeneration has increased. In fact, the BBC recently reported that dementia, including Alzheimer’s, has overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death in England and Wales.

In 2015, more than 61,000 people died of dementia in England and Wales, accounting for 11.6% of all recorded deaths. Women are afflicted by AD more than men, and this is reflected in the statistics: of the 61,000 deaths from dementia, 41,283 were women (about 67%), compared to 20,403 men (33%). Dementia as a category, including Alzheimer’s, accounted for 15.2% of all female deaths, up from 13.4% in 2014. For men in England and Wales, however, heart disease remained the leading cause of death in 2015. (The most common cause of death overall was all types of cancer, taken as a group.)

The numbers are no less grim in the U.S. More than 5 million people are currently living with AD, with projections for this to reach a staggering 13.8 million people by 2050. Of the 5.4 million Americans with AD, an estimated 5.2 million people are age 65 or older, and about 200,000 are under age 65, having been diagnosed with “early onset” Alzheimer’s. And this doesn’t account for the potentially millions who are undiagnosed but may be living with the signs and symptoms of the condition. Right now, one in nine people age 65 or older has Alzheimer’s, and in the absence of a miracle medical breakthrough, by mid-century, someone in the U.S. will be diagnosed with AD every 33 seconds.

http://blog.designsforhealth.com/blog/a-ray-of-hope-amid-grim-statistics-for-alzheimers-disease

 

Acupuncture Benefits Insurance Coverage


Acupuncture Benefits Insurance Coverage

[Editor’s Note: While Positivity is the Usual Tone for this blog, this article is addressing a more serious trend and so is not upbeat]

Typical Medical Insurance Policy restrictions regarding Acupuncture Benefit and Reimbursement

You are all excited that you found out your insurance plan has acupuncture coverage. You think, “wow, it says I am entitled to 12 visits a year. Or 20 visits a year.” And you are thinking “I am entitled to getting each and every one of them and it is the doctor’s duty to do that for me.”
You are also perhaps feeling that the providers on the list are super happy that they get to work with you because you have insurance.

Well, providers are usually happy to be able to help you with their skills and art. That is for sure.
But in many cases, for the provider, the insurance part of it is not the warm and fuzzy feeling you have.

Why would that be? Please continue reading to the end to better understand why.

When you are not paying their usual and customary fees, in other words, if you are not paying full cash rate out of pocket, there are some things you should seriously consider to make the professional relationship work.

Acupuncture Benefits Insurance CoverageThe elephant in the room, your insurance plan, will always have either a good or bad effect. So it is incumbent upon you to understand the system that is the intermediary in this business transaction.

Think about it. You go in to buy groceries. You pick up what you want. You go to the cashier. You pay out of pocket and you get the groceries. Did the store have to bill a third party to get paid?

Or you go to a financial planner for advice. You go in, you pay in cash, check, credit card, etc., you sit down and talk. You get the advice. You pay then and the financial planner gets paid then. No insurance involved as a middle man.

Let’s say you work at a coffee place. You are a barista. You get paid hourly or as a salary. People come in, order, pay (maybe sometimes with a discount card or coupon), you make what they want, they leave with what they bought. No insurance involved in the middle of that transaction. And you don’t have to bill some intermediary, like and insurance company, to get your pay check.

But that isn’t the way it is for the solo or group medical professional who has agreed to help patients by accepting their medical insurance. It is a totally different situation. You should understand it, especially if you want a good relationship with your provider and if you are thinking of going into that profession as well.

<h2>Acupuncture Benefits Insurance Coverage Basics</h2>

You have a contract (medical insurance) that says the insurance company will pay for some of your treatments in particular situations. This is called a “benefit.” “Benefits” are always limited in scope.

Eligibility means that you can access your plan because you (or someone else) paid your policy premium, so the medical insurance contract is in effect.

You have asked your possible provider to accept insurance payments. Typically that means that you want the provider to be satisfied with the amount that you pay with your copay and the part that the insurance company pays in addition.

So the provider (or paid staff) has to spend time and money to find out two things first. Your eligibility. And if you are eligible, do you have the (examination, evaluation, treatment) benefit?

Now, even if you are eligible and have, say, acupuncture, benefits, that doesn’t mean that your condition is one that the insurance plan agrees can be helped or treated with acupuncture.
This is an area of confusion for most patients.

Once again, just because you have the benefit it doesn’t guarantee that the provider will be paid. It doesn’t mean that the benefit applies to your condition. ALL INSURANCE PLANS specify what types of conditions they think might be impacted by acupuncture, herbs, shiatsu, massage, cupping etc.

MOST plans restrict “relevancy” to certain musculoskeletal problems, chroinic pain, nausea with pregnancy, and perhaps a few other diagnostic categories.

When the provider treats you, he has to provide diagnostic codes on the bill. He has to provide procedure codes. These two together relate to whether the benefit will be paid or not. If the insurance plan decides that they don’t want to pay for a particular benefit because they don’t like that diagnostic code, the provider will not be paid by the insurance company.

And don’t ask the provider to lie about the diagnosis just so you don’t have to pay.  That is jeopardizing the provider’s license.

The provider if under contract, might then be able to send you the bill because they can bill you for anything the insurance plan won’t pay for. Other times, the insurance plan will tell the provider “tough luck. We won’t pay you and you can’t bill the patient.”

How fair is that? Not fair at all, I would propose.

Especially, when the time and cost of dealing with insurance plans is so severe for providers.
1. They have to spend time verifying eligibility and benefits. That could take as much as 1 hour or more. And then there still is no guarantee that the information will be correct.
2. They have to spend time making appointments, corresponding with the patients, actually examining and treating the patients, collecting co-payments, and then billing the insurance company for the balance.
3. Automation hasn’t really made much of a difference in this time issue, especially when the insurance company denies payment.
4. Knowing how to deal with the insurance system itself is a MAJOR expenditure of time and money. The insurance companies don’t ever pay providers for this time required to learn the system and keep up on all of the alerts and newsletters related to changes in the system and contracts.
5. On top of it all, insurance companies, with a few exceptions, have slashed reimbursement rates to participating providers. In most cases it is a 50 -90% reduction in their fee schedule.
6. And then there is the paperwork requirements imposed. Of course, again, no compensation for any of that given to the provider.

How are Acuncturists Paid:   Independent providers aren’t given a salary. They aren’t provided an hourly wage. They have overhead and business expenses that they have to pay before they can take payment for their own expertise and work out of the small amount of money the insurance company gives them for their professional expertise.

 It is likely that your insurance doesn’t even cover the cost of overhead if your doctor bills the insurance company directly.  Some insurances do, most don’t.

Please keep this in mind when you call and ask a provider to make an appointment with you when you have a PPO plan. If the tables were turned, is it you who is doing the favor or the provider doing you the favor?

Granted, there are a few insurance plans that are not stealing from the providers. But there are many more plans that claim that they pay for the treatment, but don’t.  In fact, often the patient pays way more in a copay than the insurance company itself pays.

And YOUR plan might be one of those.  Hopefully, not.  But if it is, extra consideration for your provider might just be just what the doctor ordered.

Safe Water Filtration


Safe Water Filtration

Water is essential for life. Safe water is essential to promote health. Contaminated water can damage health in so many ways. Thus, it is important to make sure that the water you drink is not contaminated. Safe water filtration is the key. No matter where you live. And now more than ever.

I know, you are saying that you have a water filter. I applaud you for making that decision. But is your water filter actually filtering out everything it should, or is the filtering just cosmetic? Quite likely it is failing, because most do not pass muster with NSF standards. In fact, Multipure is the only one that passes for a combination of more than 8 problem ingredients put together. And your water might have all 8 (or more) at once.

Do you live in a place that ever has major national disasters? Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes? A safe water source is vital for emergencies. We even have those at multipure (http://www.multipureusa.com/redwoodclinic)  Multipure Independent Distributor ID: 432075

Winter is the WATER ELEMENT season in Chinese Medicine. So let’s look more in-depth into how to get your water really clean to promote excellent health.

Safe Water Treatment

Susan B. Koemen Donation Version of System

As you know, The Redwood Clinic has promoted the sale and use of Multipure filtration systems for more than 25 years. Because we believe they are doing what all filtration systems should do, and they are backed up by independent laboratory testing of contamination removal.

If you are a quick decision maker, just go to our online store and order your system now.

 

Are you a Safe Water Filtration GEEK? Here are the DETAILS!!

Multipure Drinking Water Systems utilize Multipure’s innovative and proprietary Solid Carbon Block-based filter. This filter employs multiple components and materials to reduce the presence of a wide variety of contaminants in water.

Mechanical Filtration: The water passes through a pre-filter that traps dirt, sand, and particles that affect the taste and overall appearance of the water. After passing through the pre-filter, the water then passes through the Solid Carbon Block, where particles as small as 0.5 microns are physically trapped by the filter. Asbestos, cysts, and particulates are reduced through mechanical filtration at the sub-micron level.

Electrokinetic Adsorption: The pre-filter acquires a positive molecular charge as water passes through it. Since most contaminants exhibit a negative charge in water, the filter fibers electrokinetically attract these negatively-charged particles onto the positively-charged filter surface. Generally, these particles are too small to be trapped by mechanical filtration.

Physiochemical Adsorption: The carbon block filter is a blend of selected activated carbons and other media that reduce aesthetic contaminants and health-related contaminants by adsorbing particles to its surface. Because the carbon block is densely compacted, it provides a longer contact time with the water, and thus, better performance than many other filtration technologies.

Nationally recognized standards established for the drinking water treatment industry confirm that the most effective systems for the removal of both aesthetic and harmful contaminants are those that utilize Solid Carbon Block filters. Multipure is the original developer of Solid Carbon Block technology and has been the leader and innovator in the water treatment industry since 1970. Multipure, and its remarkable Solid Carbon Block filter, is synonymous with superior quality and exceptional innovation. With a Multipure Drinking Water System, you are guaranteed the best.

Multipure Independent Distributor ID: 432075

Adsorption vs. Absorption

Multipure filtration utilizes a process called adsorption. Adsorption differs from the more commonly known absorption; adsorption refers to the transfer of the particles of a gas, liquid, or dissolved solid onto a surface, while absorption refers to the incorporation of a solid, liquid or gas into another solid, liquid, or gas.

The Multipure filter uses adsorption to transfer contaminants onto the filter’s surface and remove it from the water stream. The water itself is temporarily absorbed by the filter material (much like a sponge absorbing water), but the contaminants are adsorbed to the filter surface, creating a layer on the surface as it is removed from the water stream.

Multipure Drinking Water Systems
The innovative Multipure design is certified, registered, and/or listed by:

•  NSF International
•  All states that regulate drinking water treatment devices
o  California Department of Health Services
o  Iowa Department of Public Health
o  State of Wisconsin – Bureau of Building Water Systems, Research & Products Review Unit

ACT NOW AND GET YOUR MULTIPURE WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM

Safe Water Filtration


our website

Multipure Independent Distributor ID: 432075

Multipure Science & Technology

Multipure Drinking Water Systems provide cleaner, more delicious, more healthful water whenever you need it, right at your kitchen sink. Multipure’s exclusive Solid Carbon Block filter reduces a wide range of contaminants of health concern without removing the beneficial minerals in the water. This makes Multipure water ideal for everything from food preparation, to cooking, to drinking.  This is why we consider them safe water filtration systems.

Multipure’s innovative filter technology provides exceptional performance. The proof lies in the products’ certification by NSF International to reduce a wide range of contaminants that affect both the healthfulness and the aesthetics of water. Multipure Drinking Water Systems reduce MTBE, chlorination byproducts, PCBs, chloramine, VOCs, heavy metals, and numerous other contaminants. Multipure Drinking Water Systems consistently meet the high standards and needs of its customers all across the world.

Almost all Multipure Drinking Water Systems include the necessary installation materials, and Multipure filters are economical, long-lasting, and easily maintained. These safe water filtration systems –Multipure– provides a Lifetime Warranty on its system housings, as well as a one-year warranty on all accessories.

Multipure Drinking Water Systems offer superior quality, innovation, and performance, which means customers always get cleaner, tastier, and more healthful water. With a Multipure Drinking Water System, you always have the right drinking water at hand.

What Sets Multipure Apart

Although most companies that sell drinking water systems make devices that can remove chlorine from water, very few of those companies offer drinking water treatment systems that are NSF certified to reduce contaminants under both NSF/ANSI Standard No. 42 (Aesthetics) and NSF/ANSI Standard No. 53 (Health Effects). Multipure is one of the few companies whose products are NSF certified to reduce such a wide array of drinking water contaminants, including such classes as disinfection byproducts or gasoline additives – contaminants that can get into water sources through pollution or leaks.

Multipure is the industry leader because it is a pioneer in drinking water treatment, and it possesses the integrity and credibility due to intensive internal quality assurance confirmed by the rigorous scrutiny of NSF Certification.

Get your water system today for better health!

Multipure Independent Distributor ID: 432075

Brain Healthy Supplements


Brain Healthy Supplements

The thoughtful use of supplements is an essential part of a healthy brain plan. The reason for this is explained in detail in my BRAIN HEALTH webinar Some supplements are so vital to brain health that I recommend them for everybody regardless of brain type. That include particular fatty acids such as DHA. I talk about these things also in my book, Super Brain: Maximize Your Brain Health for a Better Life.

As is well stated by Ron Grisanti, DC, one of my teachers at FMU, other supplements are best geared to specific brain types to help balance those brains. Taking the right supplements for your brain type can give you a jumpstart in your quest to be thinner, smarter, and happier. I have a program that individualizes these to meet your specific situation; details of what the BRAIN HEALTH program covers is discussed in my webinar.
Multivitamin: More than half of Americans do not eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, the minimum required to get the nutrition you need. I recommend that everyone take a good multi-vitamin every day. A great one that contains great servings of phytonutrients is PhytoMulti by Metagenics. You can go here to learn more about the ingredients. You can also log on, open an account, and get discounts on high quality supplements researched for effectiveness.  Call the clinic at 510-849-1176 for additional information and to get an individualized appointment.

Fish oil: Having low levels of omega-3 fatty acids is one of the leading preventable causes of death and has been associated with heart disease, strokes, depression, suicidal behavior, ADD, dementia, and obesity. Fish oil has been found to be good for your heart, your skin, your eyes, your joints, your hair, and your brain. Taking omega-3s has been found to decrease your appetite and your cravings. My recommendation for most adults is to take between 1 to 2 grams of high-quality fish oil a day. One of the most absorbable types is a monoglyeride form, allowing you to take less and still get the same amount of absorption. Information and ordering can be done through The Redwood Clinic.

Vitamin D: Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with depression, Alzheimer’s disease, MS, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and obesity. When you don’t have enough vitamin D, you feel hungry all the time, no matter how much you eat.

Brain & Memory: Brain and Memory Power Boost includes the super-antioxidant N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC), along with phosphatidylserine to maintain the integrity of cell membranes and huperzine A and Acetyl-l-Carnitine (ALC) to enhance acetylcholine availability and vinpocetine and gingko biloba to enhance blood flow. This is a novel combination of powerful antioxidants and nutrients essential in enhancing and protecting brain health. This is the formula we use at the Amen Clinics in our NFL study.

Craving Control: This powerful new nutritional supplement is formulated to support healthy blood sugar and insulin levels while providing antioxidants and nutrients to the body. Our formulation includes N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) and glutamine to reduce cravings, chromium and alpha-lipoic acid to support stable blood sugar levels, and a brain-healthy chocolate designed to boost endorphins. This is the formula we use at the Amen Clinics in our own weight-loss groups.

Sleep: To support healthy sleep, which is critical to brain health and craving control, I have developed a special supplement called Restful Sleep. It contains a combination of nutrients designed to support a calm mind and promote a deep, relaxed, restful night’s sleep. This supplement contains both an immediate-release and time-release dose of melatonin, the calming neurotransmitter GABA, a combination of the essential elements zinc and magnesium, and the herb valerian, which together may produce an overall sedative effect to help support sleep.

Compulsiveness: Serotonin Mood Support is Dr. Amen’s unique formula that contains saffron extract and 5-HTP. It helps to support normal serotonin levels by providing 5-HTP, a direct precursor to serotonin, along with a proprietary extract of saffron, shown clinically to support a normal mood. Vitamin B6 and inositol are included to provide additional synergistic support. Ingredients are provided at clinically tested levels to insure optimal benefit.

Focus and Energy: Formulated without caffeine that makes people jittery, Dr. Amen’s Focus & Energy Optimizer supports both focus and healthy energy levels. It is formulated with green tea and choline to help with focus, along with three powerful adaptogens, which act synergistically to enhance endurance and stamina. The adaptogens ashwaganda, rhodiola, and panax ginseng have been scientifically shown to improve the body’s resistance to stress and support a healthy immune system.

Anxiety: Dr. Amen’s GABA Calming Support contains a combination of inhibitory neurotransmitters vital to quieting an overactive mind. It contains clinically-tested and natural Pharma GABA (gamma-amino-butyric acid) shown to promote relaxation by increasing calming, focused brain waves, while also reducing other brain waves associated with worry. Complimenting this clinically tested and natural substance are vitamin B6, magnesium, and lemon balm, an herb traditionally known for its calming effects.

Stress: Dr. Amen’s newest formulation provides a unique blend of natural ingredients at clinically tested levels to help reduce stress, restore calm and support the body’s natural response to the rigors of everyday life.

Moods: S-Adenosyl-Methionine (SAMe) is involved in the production of several neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine) and helps the brain to function properly. The brain normally manufactures all the SAMe it needs from the amino acid methionine. When a person is depressed, the synthesis of SAMe from methionine is impaired, and SAMe has been shown to have antidepressant qualities. Dr. Amen’s NeuroSAMe supports positive moods, joints and cartilage, and a healthy liver.

For these and other brain and body healthy supplements, click here to visit our TheRedwoodClinic store.

Insurance Eligibility & Benefits

Insurance Eligibility Benefits

Most medical insurance plans are complex. Some private practitioners accept insurance but many don’t. Why wouldn’t someone accept insurance and do the billing for you first?

It doesn’t matter which plan or company it is, dealing with insurance companies and plans takes time. And then there is also no guarantee that the practitioner will be paid by the insurance company. If the benefits are mentioned initially on the computer or telephone, there still is no guarantee that there will be payment made for the services provided.*. Insurance Eligibility and benefits

If the insurance company does not pay, then the practitioner has to spend even more time getting the patient to pay what is owed for services rendered.

But in the beginning, the possibility that a patient’s insurance might cover the treatment for a particular diagnosis is based on whether there is eligibility. In other words, does the patient have a contract with the insurance company they say they do, and when did they become eligible for that coverage?

If the patient is eligible for some coverage due to their contract, the next question is whether the particular service is a benefit. Not all plans cover acupuncture, and even fewer cover functional medicine.

Next, if there is a benefit, does that benefit cover or apply to treatment of a particular diagnosis?

And is that treatment medically necessary?

Now you are beginning to see how complicated the process is.

How many times does a practice have to check on these things? Some plans authorize a number of treatments over a particular time period. Others do it one by one.

But just with respect to checking on one factor, eligibility, what does a major insurance company say themselves regarding how often the provider needs to check with them?

“Patient eligibility and benefits should be verified prior to every scheduled appointment. Eligibility and benefit quotes include membership verification, coverage status and other important information, such as applicable copayment, coinsurance and deductible amounts. It’s strongly recommended that providers ask to see the member’s ID card for current information and photo ID in order to guard against medical identity theft. When services may not be covered, members should be notified that they may be billed directly.”

That takes up a lot of time the provider could better spend learning what else you need during a treatment visit. Any wonder that doctors have so little time to get to know you if the insurance plan calls take up so much staff and doctor time that is not reimburseable?

* Typical Insurance Company Caveat: “Please be advised that a quote of eligibility and benefits is not a guarantee of payment. All benefit payments are subject to eligibility, medical necessity, and the terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and payment leels of the patient’s health benefit plan at the time the services are rendered. Benefit payments are usually not determined based on billed charges and might be significantly less than billed charges. Please not newborn dependents not listed on the membership file may have benefits available. All claims should be filed to the state in which the service was rendered unless otherwise specified under the members contract.”

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Health

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Health

Omega-3 fatty acids are just one kind of fat. There are many (thousands, actually) types of fats. There are many ways that fats are analyzed chemically and classified by biochemists and nutritionists.

Research tells us that different fats either help or hurt your health and body functioning.

For example, rancid fats and trans fats are not good for your body.

We all need fats in our diet to live and flourish. Fats are one of the 3 primary food components, with the other two being proteins and carbohydrates. But you already know that.

The last 10 or so years the fish oils (deep sea) has received a resurgence of attention and popularity in the healthy eating literature and movement.   Part of this is based on the antiinflammatory properties some of the fish oil components have.  The cardiovascular risk reducing effects of Omega-3 fatty acids has become well know.  Largely due to the fact that a leading cause of death in the US is heart attacks and strokes.

You might already be taking omega-3 fatty acids as a supplement or eating portions of fish like salmon more frequently based on this information.

NOT ALL OMEGA-3 SUPPLEMENTS ARE THE SAME.  Not all of them are healthy.  Please watch the video attached to this blog post to learn cutting-edge (and advanced basic) knowledge relevant to optimizing your health.

My purpose is to help as many people as possible to optimize their health so they can fulfill their purposes in life.  We offer this video in that spirit.

Call us at The Redwood Clinic +1-510-849-1176 to order supplements mentioned in the video.

We have numerous other videos at this website and online that complement the content in this video.

Our podcast is also a great way to learn about caring for your health.  www.NaturalSolutionsWithDrJay.com

 

Cancer Metastases – Galectin-3 Anchoring

After 35 years in practice, I have had thousands of patients who were told that there was nothing else that could stop their back pain except pain medication and/or surgery.

Unfortunately, many of these same patients were NOT offered ALL of their options.

The typical option that was not offered, of course, was acupuncture and functional medicine treatment. I can tell you with great satisfaction that many many of these patients finally were relieved of their pain after seeing me for carea.

In fact, you will likely hear the same story from many of my colleagues. The results are absolutely stunning.

The question you may be asking is, “why aren’t more people told about the great benefits of acupuncture treatment for millions of people suffering with back pain?”

Well, I believe the main reason is many traditionally trained medical physicians are simply not aware of the extensive training of doctors like me and the biomechanical science behind acupuncture treatment.

The medical doctors who have referred patients to my office have taken the time to learn what I do and why what I do works. Of course, it is hard to argue with returning patients telling their primary doctor that they are finally out of pain.

Now what in the world does this have to do with cancer or for that matter any disease?

Well, you see, there is another side to healthcare that simply is not being mentioned to the millions of suffering folks in the US and abroad.

If the health condition, may it be arthritis, heart disease, cancer, etc…, can not be improved with drugs or surgery, then one is told that EVERYTHING has been done and the patient has to simply accept the fact that they have to live (or die) with their condition.

How sad but NOT true..

You will see, like many of my articles, the overflowing list of medical references showing that their are respected scientists and researchers proving that the patient has NOT been given ALL of their options.

Today’s article addresses the most feared disease on earth and that is cancer.

What is one to do when chemotherapy no longer works, the cancer is spreading, and the doctor says.. I am sorry but their is NOTHING else we can do for you.

Do you accept it hook, line and sinker?

I hope not..

As Dr. Ron Grisanti, DC has stated, and which also aligns with the scientific literature, most cancer patients do not die from the cancer itself instead from the spreading of the cancer (metastases) to other parts of the body. Basically the body simply gets overwhelmed and begins to shut down.

Don’t misunderstand this. The initial site of tumor growth is significant. Once a cancerous tumor grows too big in an organ it damages and has damaged surrounding tissues.  It has been robbing the normal cells of their nutrition and blood supply.  It pushes against other surrounding organs.  This uncontrolled growth and proliferation of cells is similar to the growth that we each started with.  Our growth in utero, and then natural growth after birth until our body started telling itself to stop growing more.  Just repair and maintain what we do have.

But, the cancer reaches a point, if uncontrolled in one location, has to spread to the rest of the body and try to “attach itself” to a new spot that does not have as much competition.

In other words, when the existing (primary) mass can no longer support any further growth, the cancerous cells have a new mission to seek out a new location and blood supply.  For example, the cancer may start out growing in the prostate, the breast, the colon.  Later it may spread to the liver, bones, brain, lymphatic system.

So when the primary cancer cells begin to spread, they have to have some way to attach themselves to the new location.  Basically, it needs a specific anchor to secure it onto the brain, bone, liver or wherever it has metastasized too. This anchor becomes the “fuel line” for nutrients allowing it to grow and spread even further.

As you are probably wondering this anchor goes by a number of different names. But to keep things simple and to avoid confusing you, I will refer to it by one of its names here, galectin-3.

It is common for oncologists to check a cancer patient’s galectin levels. It is well known that the higher the galectin-3 level goes up, the more aggressive the metastasis will be and unfortunately, the more likely the tumor will become resistant to chemotherapy. For most cancer patients, without a chemotherapy that works, or if surgery is an option or just an adjunct,  this is commonly a “death sentence” and the worst news they can hear.

Now what if their was something that could actually block this anchor from attaching to any organ in the body. And what if it was non-toxic?

Well, there is something that has been found to block the cancer cells’s anchor, galectin-3 and it is called Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP). It’s the white stuff, pulp and fiber of citrus fruits.

In one study of only 29 patients using MCP, at four months 20% of the patients had benefit. You might be saying, “Well, that is only 20%.” But, bear in mind that these folks were told that there was nothing more that could be done for them.

In another study using 15 gms a day of MCP in seven patients with recurrent prostate cancer, four of them showed a 30% increase in the time that it took for the PSA to double, which can be interpreted as slowing down the cancer growth rate.

Please understand that no single nutrient, medication,or surgery is sufficient to address the total package of cancer. In most of the positive case reviews no nutrient/toxicity assays were done!  This is significant.  Why?

Because imbalances in our nutrient status and uncontrolled toxicity significantly contribute to the growth of cancer cells.

Cancer cells grow in a garden — the terrain either assists or dampens the cancer cells from growing.  When we are growing in childhood, many cells in our body are mulitplying rapid to grow parts of the body — bones, muscles, arteries, veins, nervous tissue, other organ tissues.  Again, we liken this rapid multiplication of cells in the body to “controlled” cancer.  Namely, anabolic growth. But it is growth that we want to happen to get bigger and mature.

There are many factors that go into accelerating this growth and controlling it.  Even as adults In other words,

But back to galectin-C and factors which block it’s effects as a cancer cell anchor.

The bottom line is that the real benefit of MCP, the thing that research shows, is that it may be able to buy people more time to get a more thorough nutritional and toxicity work-up to help identify where and how the body’s chemistry is failing.

Just like I mentioned at the beginning of this article, don’t settle for the saying, “that everything has been done.”

That can simply be translated to say that there are no drugs or surgery to help you.

Remember there are tons of the medical peer-reviewed papers stating that there are possible and probable causes of XYZ disease(s) including different types of cancer.

The sad news is you are unlikely to hear about in the traditional medicine world.

So getting rid of the underlying causes is not only important but essential.

If you or a loved one has cancer and if the cancer has spread or become resistant to chemotherapy you have nothing to lose by discussing MCP with your oncologist. Simply show your doctor all of the references that follow this article.

Now I have to admit, I would NOT hang your hat on assuming that taking MCP is the ticket to solving the cancer challenge but like I said above it may afford you more time to look deeper into the possible underlying biochemical glitches which has caused your body to malfunction leading to the cancer diagnosis.

I would find someone who is trained in functional medicine like Dr.. Jay Sordean.  You might also have a comprehensive nutritional test done, such as the Cardiolon Test ordered.  and have a CardioIon Test ordered. This is one of the most comprehensive nutritional test on planet earth. It provides at least 14-20 pages of critical information that could very well save your life.

Returning back to the MCP, I recommend EcoNugenics Modified Citrus Pectin because it has been used in human studies. The dose used is usually 5 gm (5000 mg) three times a day, but as you see, some tripled it. But remember, that dose may be so high because they had never addressed the underlying biochemical and toxic load.

So remember the benefit of MCP is the fact that it was found to block the anchoring galectin-3 attachment of cancer cells so they can’t metastasize. In other words, if the floating cancer cells are unable to adhere to the organs they will not be able to set up house and gain a hold on the blood supply thereby not able to survive and grow.

 

 

 

References:

Zhao Q, et al, Circulating galectin-3 promotes metastasis by modifying MUC1 localization on cancer cell surface, Cancer Res 69; 17:6799-6806, 2009

Wang Y, et al, Calpain activation through galectin-3 inhibition sensitizes prostate cancer cells to cisplatin treatment, Cell Death and Disease, an open access journal (2010) 1, e101;doi: 10. 1038/cddis. 2010. 79

Wang Y, et al, Regulation of prostate cancer progression by galectin-3, Am J Pathol 174:1515-23, 2009

Nomura T, et al, Expression of the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins in cisplatin-resistant prostate cancer cells, Oncol Rep 14:993-7, 2005

Pienta KJ, et al, Inhibition of spontaneous metastasis in the rat prostate cancer model by oral administration of modified citrus pectin, J Nat’l Cancer Inst 87:348-53, 1995

Nangier-Makker P, et al, Inhibition of human cancer cell growth and metastases in nude mice by oral intake of modified citrus pectin, Journal National Cancer Institute, 94:1854-62, 2002

Jackson CL, et al, Pectin induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells: correlation of apoptotic function with pectin structure, Glycobiology 17:805-19, 2007

Monograph. Modified citrus pectin, Altern Med Rev 5:573-5, 2000

Glinsky VV, et al, Modified citrus pectin anti-metastatic properties: one bullet, multiple targets, Carbohydrate Res 2008

Liu HY, et al, Inhibitory effect of modified citrus pectin on liver metastases in a mouse colon cancer model, World J Gastroent 14; 48:7386-91, 2008

Fukumori T, et al, The role of galectin-3 in cancer drug resistance, Drug Resistance Update 10:101-108, 2007

Azemar M, et al, Clinical benefit in patients with advanced solid tumors treated with modified citrus pectin: a prospective pilot study, Clin Med: Oncol 1:73-80, 2007

Peters U, et al, Dietary fiber and colorectal adenoma in a colorectal cancer early detection program, Lancet 361:1491-5, 2003

Shallom-Fuerstein R., et al., Galectin-3 regulates a molecular switch from N-Ras to K-Ras usage in human breast carcinoma cells, Cancer Res 65: 7292-7300, 2005

Strom S, et al, Modified citrus pectin slows PSA doubling time: a pilot clinical trial, International Conference on Diet and Prevention of Cancer, May 28-June 2, Tempere Finland

Guess BW, et al, Modified citrus pectin (MCP) increases the prostate-specific antigen doubling time in men with prostate cancer: a phase II pilot study, Prost Cancer Prost Dis 6:301-4, 2003

Silalahi J, Anticancer and health protective properties of citrus fruitcomponents, Asian Pacif J Clin Nutr, 11:79-84, 2002

Yan J, et al, PectaSol-C Modified Citrus Pectin induces apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation in human and mouse androgen-dependent and-independent prostate cancer cells, Integr Cancer Ther 9; 2:197-203, 2010

Eliaz I, et al, The effect of modified citrus pectin on urinary excretion of toxic elements, Phytother Res 20:859-64, 2006

Rogers Sherry, Total Wellness, Prestige Publishing, November 2011

Zou J, et al, Peptides specific to the galectin-3 carbohydrate recognition domain inhibit metastases-associated cancer cell adhesion, Carcinogenesis 26:309-18, 2005

Johnson KD, et al, Galectin-3 as a potential therapeutic target in tumors arising from malignant endothelium, Neoplasia 9:662-70, 2007

Gunning AP, et al, Recognition of galactan components of pectin by galectin-3, FASEB J, 23:415-24, 2009

 

The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Grisanti and his community. Dr. Grisanti encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. Visit www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com to find practitioners thoroughly trained in functional medicine. Look for practitioners who have successfully completed the Functional Medicine University’s Certification Program (CFMP).  

This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Grisanti is required.

Male Infertility Female Infertility Treatment

 

Male Infertility Female Infertility Treatment in Couples

 Inability to conceive a child is a problem facing many couples.  When this difficulty arises, the relationships suffer in many many ways.  There is also the pressure from family members, parents of the couple – “When are you going to give me grandchildren?”   I hear this from couples I work with all the time.  While the couples themselves may not be wanting children yet, the pressure from relatives can be relentless.  That external demand can take it’s emotional toll.

 Male InfertilityStress responses that result cause hormone imbalances in and of themselves.  Then there is the influence of environmental toxicants that are hormone mimickers and hormone disruptors.  Examples of these and what they can do in the female hormone cycle are discussed in depth in my YouTube videos on the female hormone cycle.

The Facts 

Up to 15 percent of couples are infertile. This means they aren’t able to conceive a child even though they’ve had frequent, unprotected sexual intercourse for a year or longer. In up to half of these couples, male infertility plays a role. 

Male Infertility Treatment

Some of the conditions that contribute to infertility in men are decreased libido, lack of energy, difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection, premature ejaculation, and low sperm count, poor sperm motility, among others.  There are many causes of these conditions.  Stress, environmental factors, nutritional insufficiencies, etc.

  In Chinese medicine, the primary organ responsible for maintaining reproduction capabilities is the kidney; it also stores essence, which is the basis for sperm production. Common syndrome patterns that can give rise to infertility include insufficient kidney yang, kidney yin deficiency of Qi and blood, and constrained liver qi, which causes blood stasis.

From a functional medicine perspective, hormone imbalances, stress-induced drops in hormones, chemical toxicity, hormone mimickers from plastics, overactive sexual activity, prostate conditions, and many other conditions can contribute to the male contribution to infertility.

In this clinic we address all of these factors with acupuncture, NRCT, Chinese herbal formulas, homeopathic remedies, and other nutraceutical supplementation as well as whole foods.

With respect to Chinese herbs, certain formulas have the following explanation:

Therapeutic Actions

  1. Promotes male fertility
  2. Useful for impotence, poor sperm count, and poor sperm motility
  3. Can also be used for yang deficiency individuals as a tonic

Chinese Therapeutic Effects

  1. Warms kidney yang
  2. Relaxes the shen
  3. Tonifies the Qi and blood

Call The Redwood Clinic today to get your appointment to naturally evaluate and address the causes of infertility in both men and women.  510-849-1176

Female Infertility Treatment

Male InfertilityInfertility in women can be due to hormone imbalances that can only be figured out clearly by a comprehensive female hormone panel which we are uniquely qualified to order and interpret.

It could be due to polycystic ovarian syndrome – PCOS.  We have had great success helping women change this condition which stops the menstrual cycle.  They have then become able to get pregnant as a result of regularizing their menstrual cycle.

Call The Redwood Clinic today to get your appointment to naturally evaluate and address the causes of infertility in both men and women.  510-849-1176