Tuesday, July 15, 2014

More Bad News on Statins

Dr. Tim Marshall in the AAPS journal reports that there are 900 articles in the medical literature about the side effects of this group of drugs.  Out of every 10,000 people on statins, there are 307 extra patients with cataracts, 23 added patients with kidney failure, and 74 additional patients with liver failure.  The incidence of erectile dysfunction is 10X higher in statin users.  Other adverse events include the onset of diabetes, neuropathies, insomnia, memory loss, confusion, autoimmune problems and muscle disorders.  There are reports that there might be an increased risk of cancer and actually an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease in women, young people, and diabetics.  Red yeast rice is just one of several reasonable, natural alternatives.  Check with an integrative doctor.

See the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, vol. 19, No. 2, Summer, 2014, pp. 4245.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Phytoestrogens and Probiotics to Treat Asthma and Allergy?

A Harvard Study reported by Dr. Jessica Savage showed that phytoestrogens derived from flax seeds and soy products in the diet coupled with adequate amounts of probiotic bacteria in the gut can improve asthma and wheezing in both males and females.  This opens a new avenue for treating allergic problems.  More to come for this exciting development.
 
See Family Practice News, 3/15/2014, p. 23.
 

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Do You Have Fibromyalgia?

Previous criteria to make the diagnosis of fibromyalgia have included a detailed listing of how many tender areas you have throughout the body out of a possible 18 points.  Dr. Andrew Gross of Univ. of California SF calls this “a complete waste of time”.  Instead, he has the patient fill out a questionnaire.  The most important factors are widespread pain lasting at least 3 months, fatigue, poor sleep, and no other disease causing the symptoms.  Rather than anti-depressants and pain medications, the usual treatment, I immediately check for yeast imbalance, food allergies, and insufficient digestive factors.  Herbal preparations, low dose naltrexone, amino acids, and Kaufman’s pain neutralization techniques can be very effective treatments without side effects.

 

See Family Practice News, January, 2014, p. 38.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Should You Use Anti-Depressants for PMS?

At a GYN meeting at Univ. of California at SF, Dr. Ellen Haller recommended calcium supplements for PMS, and anti-depressants if the natural approach does not work.  First of all, you want to include a healthy dose of magnesium and probiotics along with calcium.   Sometimes bio-identical hormonal replacement of natural progesterone is needed.  Homeopathic PMS drops can be very effective.  Anti-depressants are rarely needed to get good results.

 See Family Practice News, January, 2014,  p. 34-35.