Treat or Prevent Depression without Drugs

Dr. Jonathan Wright for many years has pointed out that the three drug categories that conventional medicine uses to treat depression all try to increase the amount of neurotransmitters in the body. They often do not work very well and side effects are not uncommon. A better answer is to measure the amino acids in the urine, and replace the ones that are low. The body then uses these additional amino acids to make more of the deficient neurotransmitters that are needed. Two of the key amino acids that are usually low are tryptophan and phenylalanine. Sounds simple, and it usually works, without side effects. See Jonathan Wright’s Nutrition and Healing, Volume 18, issue 8, October, 2011. www.healthcelebration.com

Blood Viscosity Explains Many of the Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease

Drs. Ralph Holsworth and Jonathan Wright presented a fascinating explanation of how risk factors work in the body. Hypertension, low HDL, high LDL, high triglycerides, diabetes, obesity, age and the male gender all have increased viscosity of the blood. This means the blood is sluggish and clots more easily. These doctors measure blood viscosity with a specialized test in their offices. They have found that blood donation, therapeutic phlebotomy, nattokinase and fish oil can all reduce viscosity and thus lower the risk. See Holistic Primary Care, Spring, 2012, p. 1, 10-11. www.healthcelebration.com

Lavender Outperforms Lorazepam for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Several studies have shown that Lavender improved anxiety symptoms and led to remission at least as well and sometimes better than 0.5 mg of lorazepam. Lavender can be given as an oral supplement or as an essential oil aromatherapy. Other herbs have also shown good calming effects, including Kava, St. John’s Wort, passaflora, valerian, rescue remedy, and hops. The herbal preparations usually do not cause as much drowsiness and are not addicting like the benzodiazepam drugs. See Holistic Primary Care, Spring 2012, p. 1. www.healthcelebration.com

Complementary Treatments for Pain Can be Very Effective

Acupuncture, magnets, lasers, prolotherapy, and the pain neutralization technique developed by Dr. Steve Kaufman all can be as effective as potent drugs and much safer. The annual cost of chronic pain in treatments and lost productivity is $635 billion. We can do much better than drugs and surgery, most of the time. Come and see a complementary physician. International College of Integrative Medicine and the American College of Advancement in Medicine. www.healthcelebration.com

Soup Can be a Great Food, as Long as it is not Canned

A Harvard study showed that patients who ate soup from a can had 1221% higher levels of BPA (biphenol A) than those who ate home-made. This is an important toxin that can mess with your immune system and your endocrine glands. Even organic soup from a can contains high levels of BPA. Thanks to Robert Rowen, who pointed this out, based on a November 2011 study from JAMA. www.healthcelebration.com

Younger Women are At Increasing Risk of Strokes

University of Cincinnati neurologist Brett Kissela reports that more and more women are having strokes at a younger age. The incidence has increased by 6% over the last 20 years. Now nearly one in five people who suffer strokes are under the age of 55. Risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, smoking and inactivity are being blamed. Carotid artery screening programs such as CardioRisk and Lifeline are readily available. I recommend them for all patients 45 y.o. and up. If plaque is starting to develop, aggressive lifestyle changes are in order, and many might consider intravenous chelation therapy for more definitive prevention. See WebMD.com, quoted in The Week, November 2, 2012, p.23. CardioRisk testing is scheduled for March 12, 2013 at Celebration of Health Association, you do not need to be a patient. www.healthcelebration.com

TRIAL TO ASSESS CHELATION THERAPY (TACT) TRIAL RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT-

A late breaking clinical trial assessing chelation therapy (TACT) as a treatment for patients with previous heart attacks showed a significant reduction in subsequent cardiac events, especially the need for cardiac surgery. Intravenous EDTA chelation therapy has been controversial for many years. Numerous studies by proponents of the therapy have shown benefit. Several small clinical trials by cardiovascular surgeons looking at test results have been negative. TACT is the first study to examine solid cardiac events such as death, heart attacks, strokes, the need for cardiac surgery and hospitalization for uncontrolled angina. 170/ patients were given 55,222 infusions at 134 centers in the US and Canada in a randomized, placebo controlled format. The conclusions were that chelation was very safe and that EDTA chelation showed a statistically significant reduction in cardiac events, especially in the need for revascularization surgery (bypass, and angioplasty with stents). Further study was encouraged to confirm the results and to explore the mechanism of action. chelation.me or healthcelebration.com

Two Great Treatments for Herniated Discs in the Low Back

Decompression therapy, which is a very precise form of traction that rehydrates the disc and pulls it back into alignment, can be very effective. At least 20 treatments are required, and the cost can run anywhere from $75 to 200 per treatment. Prolotherapy is a series of injections that stimulates a regrowth and stabilization of the ligaments in the back. This can eliminate inflammation and support the discs just fine. Depending on how many treatments are required, the cost is similar to that of decompression therapy. We have both therapies available in our office and are pleased with both. IDD therapy www.healthcelebration.com