Because I practice holistic health care from the Functional Medicine, Clinical Nutrition, Anti-Aging and Chiropractic approach, my recommendations focus on strengthening your immune system with the use of nutrition, lifestyle changes and chiropractic support.  Since the focus is strengthening your immune system, these recommendations also apply for cold and infection prevention.

Preventing flu for adults:

Diet

1. Eat a total of 9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.  Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of essential vitamins, minerals and other phyto-nutrients that make your immune system function properly.  If you find having fruits and vegetables in this recommended amount difficult, either make them into smoothies, or take a “green drink”.  Green drinks typically consist of dehydrated concentrated chlorophyll, fruits, vegetables, and beneficial algae. You can purchase them from online vitamin/supplement stores or from your local health food store.
2. Eliminate sugar, including sugary foods and artificially-sweetened foods.  Sugar and artificial sweeteners significantly suppresses your immune system.  During the holiday season, I know this is easier said than done.
3. Avoid foods that have artificial colors and flavorings.  They also suppress your immune system.
4. Have a high-quality protein food, such as cage-free eggs, with your breakfast
5. Never, ever skip breakfast!
6. Drink about 8 glasses of water each day regularly.  Being inadequately hydrated inhibits immune system function.

Sleep and Exercise

1. Get enough sleep and get in bed by 10 pm.  Why?  Melatonin and growth hormones are mainly released during deep sleep at night.  They have a lot of  very powerful properties that make healing and restoration possible.. If you have trouble sleeping or getting enough sleep, I suggest that you consult a doctor trained in functional medicine and clinical nutrition.  He/she can recommend holistic and nutrition-based remedies, such as phosphatidylserine to lower night time cortisol levels to help you sleep or combinations of the amino acids arginine, ornithine, glutamine and lysine to help boost night time growth hormone release.
2. Exercise on a regular basis.   Exercise supports your immune system, and lifts your mood sending potent immune-protecting chemicals to your brain and body.

Nutrition Supplements

1. Get adequate Vitamin D. Get at least 4000 IU daily.  Most adults need this amount for their immune system to  function properly.  What about Vitamin D from sun exposure?  During the winter, even if you exposed your face, arms and legs for less about 15 minutes in direct sun without sunscreen 4 days per week, you’ll need to take additional vitamin D to get the recommended amount.  Note that darker skinned people, such as blacks, and latinos need longer direct sunlight exposure to make enough Vitamin D.  What about milk?  A glass of milk only has 100 IU of Vitamin D.  You’ll need to drink 40 glasses of milk daily to get the recommended amount!  You’ll have to supplement with Vitamin D during winter.
2. Have adequate Vitamin A. 60% of your immune system resides in your digestive tract.  Your digestive tract, and urinary and respiratory tracts have mucosal barriers that require sufficient Vitamin A for your immune system to properly respond to the flu.  You can get vitamin A from many fruits, grass fed and free range eggs and dairy.  2500 to 5000 IU daily with 10,000 IU mixed carotenes is recommended. If pregnant, 4000 IU Vitamin A daily is recommended, but higher amount of mixed carotenes is okay.
3. Use colostrum. This is a very good immune system stimulant. In a nutshell, Immunoglobulin A (IgA) that covers the intestinal lining prevents pathogen attack. Colostrum assists in maintaining IgA at healthy levels.
4. Use mushroom extracts. Various types of mushrooms provide significant immune stimulating effects.  There are mushroom formulations designed for immune system support.
5. Use additional zinc. I recommend 15 mg/day of zinc glycinate with 1.5 mg of copper.
6. Take fish oils which contain Omega-3 fatty acids which are available in capsules or liquid.  I recommend 4-6 grams of Omega-3 fatty acids daily.
7. Replenish your beneficial bacteria (aka probiotics) if you have been on any antibiotics, corticosteroid drugs or creams, or antacids within the last 5 years and have not taken probiotics to replenish your system.  Use a probiotic with 15 to 20 billion of the beneficial bacteria, such as various lactobacillus and bifidobacter strains for a minimum of 2 months.

Homeopathy

Take the homeopathic medicine Influenzinum in 9C, 12C, or 30C dilutions for prevention or if you get the flu.

Chiropractic

Get chiropractic adjustments.  Due to the beneficial effect on your automonic nervous system, chiropractic adjustments support healthy immune system function.

Dealing with flu for adults:

1. Eat vegetable soups or stews with chicken or lamb.
2. Supplement with a green drink for the vitamins and minerals that your system needs.
3. Supplemental selenium helps fight viral infections. 200 mcg is the normal dose.  For short-term use, you can go up to 1,000 mcg.
4. Take higher amounts of Vitamin A, up to 300,000 IU daily (for adult men and non-pregnant women, not children) and children) short term.
5. Take between 10,000 to 20,000 IU Vitamin D daily short term
6. Take higher amounts of Vitamin C. Take as high as you are able to take just before you get runny stools. Typically, it’s between 4000 to 8000 mg.
7. Take mushroom extracts.
8. Use 25-30 mg of zinc glycinate daily in lozenge or capsule form.  To prevent a deficiency, take copper too, if you use over 20 mg of zinc daily for extended periods.  The recommended zinc to copper ratio is 10:1. I recommend a supplement that has both zinc and copper in the recommended ratio.
9. Take the homeopathic medicine Influenzinum as mentioned above.
10. Take Myer’ s Intravenous Cocktails for 3 straight days. This has been used for the last 50 years.  Its a combination of nutrients delivered intravenously (IV), named after John Myers from Maryland, a physician who successfully treated many patients with this.
11. If possible, get chiropractic adjustments a few times while you have the flu.
12. Acupuncture is also beneficial.
13. Consult a functional medicine physician.

Preventing flu and dealing with flu for children:

The above recommendations for adults need to be adjusted in dosages depending on the child’s size and age.

For maintaining proper immune system function, at least 1,000 IU of Vitamin D is recommended for infants and at least 2,000 IU for older children. For short term use in acute infections, you can use up to 6000 IU.

Give 1 to 2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids daily for children under 12 years old.

Children respond very well to chiropractic adjustments.

Do not hesitate to contact me, if you have any questions about preventing flu using effective evidence-based holistic immune system boosters.

Copyright © 2009; Douglas Husbands, DC, CCN. All rights reserved.

http://www.drhusbands.com/blog > Other Health Issues > Preventing Flu

Aspirin is commonly prescribed and recommended by most conventional physicians as a blood thinner for those at risk for heart attack, stroke, or aneurysms. This is due to the anti-coagulant property of aspirin. The typical recommendation is an 81 mg baby aspirin per day to keep platelets from clumping together in the blood (aka, platelet aggregation). Overactive platelet aggregation leads to blood clots, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke and aneurysms.

However, for many years, multiple research studies have shown that aspirin damages the stomach lining (the gastric mucosa) resulting in a constant small amount of slow bleeding. This is referred to as “occult stomach bleeding” because it is often hidden and not readily apparent. One indication this is occurring is through the red blood cell indices from routine blood tests. The red blood cell parameters are typically in the low normal range. Many doctors overlook this because the parameters are still within normal range.

Aspirin use, and other salicylate containing products, have also been associated with the development of Reye’s syndrome, an illness in children that can prove fatal, causing damage to the major organs of the body. In particular, the brain and liver suffer significant damage in Reye’s syndrome. Many recent studies indicate that the risk of Reye’s syndrome increases with the amount of aspirin taken, especially when taken during or after having a cold, flu or chicken pox. Children recovering from a cold, flu or chickenpox should never be given aspirin, according to the vast majority of doctors. Parents with children on aspirin for blood thinning purposes should be advised by the prescribing physician to carefully watch for particular symptoms of Reye’s syndrome. The symptoms of Reye’s syndrome occur in stages. The stages and symptoms are:

Stage I:

• Persistent or continuous vomiting
• Signs of brain dysfunction:
• Listlessness
• Loss of pep and energy
• Drowsiness

Stage II:

• Personality changes:
• Irritability
• Aggressive behavior
• Disorientation:
• Confusion
• Irrational behavior
• Combative
• Delirium, convulsions, coma

The much safer and healthier alternative for decreasing platelet aggragation is the essential fatty acids (EFA) present in fish oil. It decreases platelet aggregation ^{1 2 3} without damaging the gastric mucosal lining, and increasing susceptibility to Reye’s syndrome. Numerous research studies indicate the fatty acids high in fish oil, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) give the desired anti-coagulant effect without the side effects of aspirin.

So why are many doctors not recommending fish oil for blood thinning? There are many reasons, but the primary reason is many are not aware of this.

Besides fish oil’s anti-coagulant property, it is safe and highly beneficial.⁴ It should be a considered option for blood thinning. Being aware of this fact could save you or loved one from further health problems from the side effects of aspirin. It may even be a life-saver.

Dr Husbands is a Chiropractor, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, an Anti-Aging Healthcare Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Doctor. For more information, visit http://www.drhusbands.com.

Copyright © 2009; Douglas Husbands, DC, CCN, ABAAHP. All rights reserved.

References:

I’ve reviewed very strong opinions from those who are for and against using nutrition as a preventive measure and treatment modality for those with cancer.  I’ve noticed that a lot of those who reject or minimize the importance of nutrition in cancer resort to name-calling.  Those who support it tend to focus on the science behind the claims.

Well, for those who’ve been following this blog, you can guess which group I’m in.  The fact that nutrition is a powerful primary factor in the development, prevention, and a necessary component in the treatment of cancer, is strongly supported by many good objective studies in the scientific literature.  Following is a list of a few of my favorite nutrient factors and how they influence cancer, with literature references:

Indole-3-carbinol

• Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is a compound found in high concentrations in the Brassica family vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage and kale.  Studies show that a concentrated dose of about 400 mg/day of I3C inhibits the growth of estrogen receptor-positive and estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells.
  References:
  1. Inhibition of proliferation and modulation of estradiol metabolism: novel mechanisms for breast cancer prevention by the phytochemical indole-3-carbinol Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1997;216:246-52.
  2. Indole-3-carbinol and tamoxifen cooperate to arrest the cell cycle of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Cancer Res 1999;59:1244-51.
• I3C increases the beneficial estrogen metabolites and decreases the harmful estrogen metabolites.  Many research studies show that the pathways by which estrogen is metabolized is an important etiological factor in diseases such as breast cancer, uterine, ovarian, cervical and even head and neck cancers.  To briefly explain: Estradiol undergoes oxidative conversion to estrone.  Estradiol and estrone can undergo hydroxylation by different isoenzymes, either at the 2 or 16 carbon atoms. These different metabolites have opposing effects on estrogen receptors.  The 16-hydroxyestrone metabolites are associated with cancer cell proliferative effects where the 2-hydroxyestrone metabolites are associated with antiproliferative effects on cancer cells.  Research shows statistically significant decreased risk for uterine, ovarian and cervical cancers in women with higher ratios of 2 to 16 hydroxyestrones.   Using I3C, the anti-carcinogenic 2-hydroxyestrones increases and the pro-carcinogenic 16-hydroxyestrones decreases.
  References:
  1. Antiestrogen action of 2-hydroxystrone on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. J Biol Chem 1984;259:4840-45.
  2. A pilot study of urinary estrogen metabolites (16 alpha-OHE1 and 2-OHE1) in postmenopausal women with and without breast cancer.  Environmental Health Perspectives. 1998;106:A126-A127.
  3. Estrogen metabolite ratios and risk assessment of hormone-related cancers. Assay validation and prediction of cervical cancer risk. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1995;768:312-16.
  4. Estrogen metabolism as a risk factor for head and neck cancer. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001;124:241-47.
  5. Dose-ranging study of indole-3-carbinol for breast cancer prevention. J Cell Biochem Suppl 1997;28-29:111-16.
  6. Long-term responses of women to indole-3-carbinol or a high fiber diet. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1994;3:591-5.
• I3C inhibits the ability of human breast cancer cells to metastasize.
  Reference:
  Inhibitory effects of indole-3-carbinol on invasion and migration in human breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2000;63:147-52.

Calcium D-Glucarate

• D-glucaric acid or D-glucarate is a substance produced naturally in small amounts by humans and mammals.  Calcium-D-glucarate is the calcium salt of D-glucarate.  Glucarate is found in many fruits and vegetables with the highest concentrations in oranges, apples, grapefruit and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli in particular).  Calcium-D-glucarate has detoxifying and anti-carcinogenic properties, due to its abilities to induce a phase II detoxification process known as glucuronidation.  Animal studies have shown calcium-D-glucarate alone, and in combination with retinoids (compounds that are chemically related to vitamin A) inhibits breast cancer cell formation by up to 70 percent.
  References:

  1. Effect of calcium glucarate on b-glucuronidase activity and glucarate content of certain vegetables and fruits. Biochem Med Metab Bio 1990;43:83-92.
  2. Calcium glucarate as a chemoprotective agent in breast cancer. Isr J Med Sci 1995;31:101-5.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

• Fatty acids required for maintaining human health which are not produced by the body in sufficient quantities are termed “essential fatty acids” (EFA’s).  The three groups of essential fatty acids, omega-3, omega-6, or omega-9, are all classified as “unsaturated” fatty acids.  These three have differing influences on many essential functions in the body.  Functions such as increasing or decreasing of  inflammation, closing or opening of the blood vessels, immune regulating properties, blood viscosity, and the ability of immune cells to attack cancer cells are a just a few of the functions influenced by EFA’s.  Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are the protective unsaturated essential fatty acids with good literature support for being helpful with cancer prevention.  Research studies have found EPA’s anti-tumor effect related to its suppression of cancer cell growth.  On the other hand, studies indicate that DHA’s anti-cancer effect are due to its ability to induce apoptosis of cancer cells.  Apoptosis is a natural, gentle form of cell death, which does not rupture the cell membrane and does not produce inflammation.  Thus, it does not damage nearby normal cells.  Apoptosis represents and orderly method of removing old damaged cells.
  References:
  1. Effects of fatty acids on invasion through reconstituted basement membrane (“Matrigel”) by a human breast cancer cell line. Cancer Lett 1993;75:137-42.
  2. Possible beneficial effect of fish and fish n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in breast and colorectal cancer. Eur. J. Cancer Prev., 1999;8:213-221.
  3. Dietary supplementation with eicosapentaenoic and Eicosapentaenoic acid inhibits growth of Morris hepatocarcinoma 3924A in rats: effects on proliferation and apoptosis. Int J Cancer. 1998;75:699-705.
  4. Cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells exposed to eicosapentaenoic acid in vitro. Br J Cancer 1996;74:1375-83.

Vitamin D (cholecalciferol)

• Vitamin D in humans is primarily synthesized by the effect of UV-B light exposure from the sun to the skin.  For most fair-skinned people in latitudes equal to Southern California, having about 40% of their skin exposed to sun (without sunscreen) for about 10 minutes/day in the summer to about 20 minutes/day of sun exposure in the winter is adequate to maintain optimum blood 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25OHD) levels.  At latitudes further north, greater time in the sun is required.  Also, those with darker skin require much greater sun exposure to maintain optimal blood 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels.  Recent research points to about 3000 to 4000 IU of vitamin D required to maintain optimal blood vitamin D levels of 40 to 65 ng/mL.  Some mechanisms by which vitamin D decreases breast cancer include:
  • arresting the cell cycle of cancer cells in the first phase
  • promoting apoptosis of cancer cells
  • potentiating responsiveness of breast cancer cells to conventional cytotoxic agents
  References:
  1. The clinical importance of vitamin D (Cholecalciferol): A paradigm shift with implications for all healthcare providers. Alt Therapies Health Med 2004;10:28-37.
  2. Mechanisms implicated in the growth regulatory effects of vitamin D compounds in breast cancer cells. Recent Results Cancer Res. 2003;164:99-110.

Anti-oxidants (used even with concurent conventional cancer therapies)

• Most oncologists are taught in medical school that anti-oxidant supplements should not be used concurrently with conventional cancer therapies because they will interfere with treatment.  However, researchers have recently reviewed the medical literature from 1965 to 2003 regarding antioxidant use with concurrent chemotherapy. Their conclusions: “Since the 1970’s, 280 peer-reviewed in vitro and in vivo studies, including 50 human studies involving 8521 patients, 5081 of whom were given nutrients, have consistently shown that antioxidants do not interfere with therapeutic modalities for cancer. Furthermore, non-prescription antioxidants and other nutrients enhance the killing of therapeutic modalities for cancer, decrease their side effects, and protect normal tissue.  In 15 human studies, 3738 patients who took non-prescription antioxidants and other nutrients actually had increased survival.”
  References:
  1. Antioxidants and other nutrients do not interfere with chemotherapy or radiation therapy and can increase kill and increase survival, part 1. Alt Therapies Health Med 2007;13:22-26.
  2. Antioxidants and other nutrients do not interfere with chemotherapy or radiation therapy and can increase kill and increase survival, part 2. Alt Therapies Health Med 2007;13:40-47.

Incidently, one of the simplest ways to test for oxidative damage of the DNA is to measure urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG).  The higher the level of 8-OHdG found, the more DNA damage is present.  Even in people considered “healthy”, when the intake of mixed antioxidant supplements including vitamin E is increased, it reduces 8-OHdG by 22% compared with those not taking the supplements.

Everything I am saying about vitamin E here, refers to vitamin E in the naturally occuring d-alpha, beta, gamma and delta tocopherol form, including the 4 forms of tocotrienols.

Do you want a clue whether your vitamin supplements are high quality? Check the quality of the vitamin E in them. Lowest quality supplements typically have vitamin E in the form of dl-alpha-tocopherol, which is a synthetic form. The best ones are those with vitamin E in mixed combinations of d-alpha-tocopherol, d-beta-tocopherol, d-gamma-tocopherol, d-delta-tocopherol, and four additional tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta). The ones with combinations of some of these, but not all, are lower quality but better than those containing dl-alpha-tocopherol.

Just remember: the L in DL-Alpha-Tocopherol is for Lousy!

Vitamin E supplements contain varied forms of the vitamin. Not all forms have the same beneficial properties. In fact, from reviewing the research literature, one could come to a reasonable, though erroneous, conclusion that certain forms of vitamin E are associated with a slightly increased risk of all-cause mortality.

When reviewing research studies, the truth can be found in the details of the study.  Some study designs are very flawed.  For instance, a study that came out of the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2004 was widely publicized in popular media.  That study was a meta-analysis of 19 randomized, placebo controlled trials using 400 IU/day of d-alpha-tocopherol and dl-alpha-tocopherol given to the elderly and individuals with chronic diseases.  The study showed that there was a slightly increased risk for all-cause mortality in those taking 400 IU/day of both forms of alpha-tocopherol.  However, those trained in biochemistry and nutrition know that vitamins should not be taken as isolated nutrients, especially antioxidants.   A knowledgeable nutritionist also knows that increased oxidative damage is expected in the elderly and those with chronic disease, therefore, taking an isolated antioxidant would be even more damaging. You need synergistic combinations of nutrients, as they are found in nature from foods.  When you take one isolated antioxidant, it becomes a pro-oxidant.  In other words, it increases oxidative damage.  The oxidative damage is predictably worse with the synthetic form of alpha tocopherol (the dl) because it actually impairs the absorption of the healthy forms of vitamin E, the mixed tocopherols (d-alpha, beta, gamma, and delta).  Many of the mainstream studies are using the dl-form of alpha-tocopherol, because it is cheap and readily available.  These are also the reasons why many vitamin companies use them.  Therefore, when you see headlines such as “Vitamin E Increases Risk of All Cause Mortality”, take that with a significant amount of skepticism.

The bottom line is when using vitamin E, or any type of nutrition supplements, the specific form of the nutrients make all the difference in benefits.  Typically, the vast majority of health information released in popular media are either biased, often favoring “big pharma”, or flawed.  You must check whether the information is based on valid scientific research.  When it comes to nutrition supplements, consult a Certified Cinical Nutritionist (CCN).  CCNs are well-trained in diet, nutrition, and supplements.  Their ability to help people restore and improve their health significantly depends on sound reviews of published research studies on nutrients.

Dr Husbands is a Chiropractor, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, an Anti-Aging Healthcare Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Doctor. For more information, visit http://www.drhusbands.com.

Copyright © 2009; Douglas Husbands, DC, CCN, ABAAHP. All rights reserved.

5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) has abundant research and clinically proven benefits for influencing the processes involved in the following conditions:

• Spina Bifida
• Depression
• Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Breast Cancer
• PMS
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy(BPH)
• Prostate Cancer
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Colorectal Cancer
• Menopausal Symptoms
• Stroke
• Childhood Lymphocytic Leukemia

Drug companies are notorious for sponsoring “studies” showing the inefficacy and “danger” of dietary supplements.  However, when a dietary supplement has been proven effective, they are now selling it, packaged and marketed as a “drug” for a ridicously high price.  This reminds me of a saying, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”.

I compared the price of this “drug” for treating depression with the one from a dietary supplement.  At 7.5 mg per dose, the supplement is about $67 retail, compared to $125.  If you, or a loved one is suffering from depression, consider using the dietary supplement through a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, especially if you do not have prescription insurance coverage.  More importantly, if you haven’t already done so, find out what’s causing your depression so you can work towards treating the root cause.  Many cases of depression are related to other dysfunction(s) of other systems in the body.  When the dysfunction is properly treated, depression will go away.  Thus, you won’t need to take a pill for your depression.

Dr Husbands is a Chiropractor, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, an Anti-Aging Healthcare Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Doctor. For more information, visit http://www.drhusbands.com.

Copyright © 2009; Douglas Husbands, DC, CCN, ABAAHP. All rights reserved.

How Clostridium is Detected

When I analyze the condition of a child with autism, I often order an advanced stool test called the Metametrix GI Effects Stool Analysis.   Metametrix Laboratory uses an advanced technique in which the feces sample is checked for levels of predominant bacteria, pathogenic bacteria, yeasts, parasites, and other protozoa, using DNA probes.  The use of DNA probes significantly increases the sensitivity and accuracy of picking up pathogens.

The Treatment of GI Problems

The data provided by the test allows me to not only diagnose Clostridium overgrowth, but also to evaluate the balance of predominant bacteria and other microbes within the child’s GI tract.  It also tells me if the child has gluten intolerance, fat, protein, or carbohydrate malabsorption and bowel inflammation.  This allows me to evaluate whether the GI tract has an imbalance of microflora and how the GI function is affecting the child’s entire health.  By knowing all this, I then use therapeutic doses of specific probiotic strains customized to the child’s needs to restore the balance of microflora, as a component of significantly improving the autistic symptoms.  I also use dietary modifications appropriate for the child’s age to promote GI healing and proper growth and development.   Essential fatty acids in the form of either therapeutic doses of fish oil or flax seed oil are often used to help decrease inflammation and provide fatty acid support.  I may use herbal combinations of okra, deglycerrhizinated licorice or marshmallow root extract to assist with healing of the gut lining.  In some instances, depending on the child’s age, herbal anti-inflammatories such as curcumin, resveratrol, or boswellia may be used.  By utilizing these comprehensive protocols, improvement is accomplished in the child’s condition.

After the treatment plan has been implemented between 2-3 months, the same test is ordered to determine progress of rebalancing of the GI microflora, and repair of the GI tract.  In many instances, it takes months to fully repair a damaged GI tract lining, depending on whether the child was born via C-section or not, whether the child was/is being breast fed or not, or whether antibiotics have been used and how severely they have disrupted the GI microflora.

The most important aspect is to restore balance of function to the GI tract so that the child has a balanced immune system development, preventing many major diseases such as asthma, allergies of many types, and recurrent infections of the throat, ears and upper respiratory tract.  These are the side benefits of using this Functional Medicine approach towards resolving autism.

Dr Husbands is a Chiropractor, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, an Anti-Aging Healthcare Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Doctor. For more information, visit http://www.drhusbands.com.

Copyright © 2009; Douglas Husbands, DC, CCN, ABAAHP. All rights reserved.

The microorganism Clostridium has been found in much higher levels in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of children with autism.  The 2002 article in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal indicated that autistic children had 9 species of Clostridium not found in children without autism.  The 2004 article in the Applied and Environmental Microbiology journal indicated that biofilms of Clostridium bolteae were 46 times higher in autistic children than non-autistic children.  The 2005 article in the Journal of Medical Microbiology indicated that autistic children had higher levels of Clostridium histolyticum than those without autism.

Based on these articles and other articles found online regarding autism and the digestive system, here are my conclusions and comments:

1. The deterioration of, or insufficient beneficial GI flora in children may be the cause or the major contributing factor for autism.  Note that some suggest that GI problems may be the consequence of autism. instead of the cause.
2. Whether it is the cause or consequence, to significantly improve the health of a child with ASD (autistic spectrum disorder), GI tract repair is a must.

GI tract repair means restoring proper GI function, including re-inoculation of the beneficial GI flora with probiotics.

If your child is suffering from autism, I recommend that you read more about the GI tract and then seek the help of a doctor to facilitate your child’s GI tract repair.  I’ll give you some information to start with below, and then you can do further reading online.

In the second article I cited, I mentioned biofilms.  Biofilms are groupings of either beneficial gastrointestinal tract (GI) bacteria, or harmful pathologic micro-organisms.  They secrete a protective slimy layer on mucous membranes.  Probiotic supplements are typically used to restore biofilms of beneficial GI tract bacteria.  Probiotics have the multiple health-promoting properties I’ve discussed in some of the Gastrointestinal Disorders section of my blog and my newsletter articles.

Properties of Biofilms:

• They gather together in collaborative communities.
• They come from outside of our body and have to get in through various ways either during or after birth.
• They may be either beneficial or disease-causing.
• They protect themselves from our immune system acting on them by encasing themselves in a self-produced “slime”.
• They are distinct from their kind that live outside of the human body.
• They can be clearly seen using an electron microscope.
• They have powerful effects on either the health or disease processes in our bodies.

With my advanced training in gut function restoration through Functional Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, and many experiences in helping patients with restoring gut function, I can assist restoring proper GI function of your child.  Contact me if you have any questions.

In my practice, I use a functional GI test called the Metametrix Gastrointestinal Effects, or GI Effects test for short.  It is a stool test that measures the state of health of your GI tract.  This test is an advanced functional test measuring the DNA of microbes.  This accurately detects disease-causing bacteria, such as Helicobacter pylori.  It also detects and identifies yeasts and parasites.  Furthermore, it identifies your drug or botanical resistance genes so that your doctor or clinical nutritionist can predetermine the drugs or botanicals that will be effective for eradicating any disease-causing bacteria, yeast or parasites.  In addition, it also identifies malabsorption of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.   Finally, it provides the levels of beneficial microflora in the gut, which are very important for proper digestion, absorption and elimination.

Who should get this test?  If you are suffering from some of the health conditions above, you should get this test.  Because of the connection between the Enteric Nervous System and the brain, anyone with anxiety attacks, insomnia, or difficulty concentrating may also be a candidate for this test.  In addition, any male or female with inexplicable hormonal irregularities would want to consider getting this test.

Though I run different types of advanced laboratory tests on my patients to determine the underlying causes of their health concerns, I often find GI dysfunction as a contributing factor of health challenges.  Check out the Gastrointestinal Disorder section of my blog for other posts where I discuss the GI tract function as a key for whole body health.

Dr Husbands is a Chiropractor, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, an Anti-Aging Healthcare Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Doctor. For more information, visit http://www.drhusbands.com.

Copyright © 2009; Douglas Husbands, DC, CCN, ABAAHP. All rights reserved.

I’ve heard statements like these from a lot of women who have contacted me to help lose weight.  Even with proper diet and regular exercise, many women in their late 30’s and older can’t lose weight.  Some have seen various doctors, have had multiple tests, and have been told that there’s nothing wrong.  Worse yet, they may have been given a prescription weight-loss drug, initially lost a lot of weight, but gained it all back (plus more) once they got off the drug.

For many of these women, there are real problems why they can’t lose weight.  Some of the most common problems are:

1. hormonal imbalance – Their hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-thyroid-gonadal axis (HPATG) has been thrown way out of balance.
2. multi-systemic imbalances – For so many years, they have chased symptoms with various drugs, which have caused multi-systemic imbalances.

The bad news is unless these problems are resolved, they really can’t lose weight.  The good news is we can solve these problems.

I’ll review these two problems, and then I’ll provide the highly successful method we’ve used with patients to help lose weight.

HPATG Imbalances

The HPATG axis is a complex group of direct influences and feedback interactions among the adrenal and thyroid glands, the gonads, the hypothalamus, and the pituitary gland.  It is a major component of the neuroendocrine system and regulates many systems in our bodies, such as the immune system, the digestive system, mood and emotions, etc.

The hypothalamus controls sleep-wake cycles, hunger, thirst and body temperature.  It is a part of the brain that links the nervous system to the hormonal system (aka, the endocrine system).  It does this through a direct connection to the pituitary gland.  Think of the pituitary gland as the master gland for the endocrine system.  It sends hormones to all glands of our bodies.

There are specific pituitary hormones targeted for each gland in our bodies.  For instance, the pituitary hormone Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), acts on the adrenal glands, so the target gland for ACTH is the adrenal glands.  The pituitary hormone Thyroid Stimulating Hormone’s (TSH) target gland is the thyroid gland.  The target glands for the two pituitary hormones, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) are the sex glands (or gonads).

The hypothalamus sends a signal to the pituitary to release its hormones to the target glands.  The target glands send feedback to the pituitary.  Likewise, the pituitary gland sends a feedback to the hypothalamus.  This feedback is necessary to balance the release of hormones from the pituitary gland to the target glands.

Many factors can throw the HPATG axis off balance.  If it is thrown off balance frequently enough, or for long enough, significant hormonal imbalances occur which results in significant illness.  When this happens, people, especially women, often gain weight and can’t lose weight.

Multi-system Imbalances

The use of a drug to relieve the side effect of another drug is called symptom-chasing.  Let’s look at an example:

A woman was prescribed a cholesterol-lowering drug.  A few months later, she started having muscle aches and pain with muscle weakness and cramping for no apparent reason. She took over-the-counter painkiller for relief, but it didn’t help much.  She thought that the muscle pain and weakness was due to some stressful time, not getting enough sleep or just getting older.  She lives with the symptoms because they are not so bad.

Obviously, symptom-chasing does not treat the initial problem, but rather compounds the problem.  Many are like this woman.  They chase symptoms for years.  Eventually, some of their body systems become imbalanced, including their HPATG axis.  Their estrogen detoxification mechanisms become inadequate and they gain weight.  Consequently, they can’t lose weight and seek assistance to help lose weight.

Treatment to Correct Imbalances and Help Lose Weight

Using the functional medicine approach, I identify the most problematic origins of the system imbalances, and then provide target therapies that focuses on dietary modifications, customized nutritional supplements, lifestyle modifications and chiropractic manipulation to restore balance to the systems.  First, I conduct a thorough medical, dietary and lifestyle history to identify the most important target(s) in the HPTAG axis imbalance.  Next, I order diagnostic tests to confirm problems I identified.  I look at specific components of the HPATG axis in relation to the patient’s condition.  Since the body works as an interdependent connection of systems, I also look at other body systems.  Often, the gastrointestinal system (GI) is involved with HPATG imbalances.

Estrogens are detoxified, both in males and females, through various detoxification pathways. The predominant pathway could be either the 2-hydroxyestrone (2OH) pathway or 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone (16αOH). The 2OH pathway is the healthy pathway. When this is predominant, there’s a lower incidence of breast or cervical cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. On the other hand, when the 16αOH pathway is predominant, there’s a higher incidence of these cancers in women and men.  Incidentally, the people whose predominant detoxification pathway is the 16αOH pathway are typically those that can’t lose weight and need help to lose weight.

We use an advanced  functional laboratory urine test to determine the levels of 2 or 16 hydroxyestrones and which pathway is predominant.  The estrogen detoxification pathways can be then easily be manipulated to the healthy 2OH pathway through a treatment plan that is tailored to the patient which includes:

• therapeutic dose of nutrition supplement combination of indole-3-carbinol, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids
• other nutrition supplements
• dark-green leafy vegetables
• low glycemic fruit
• limited consumption of sugar and caffeine
• better management of stress
• exercise
• chiropractic adjustments to decrease any neurologic irritation
• improve sleep

When the plan is adhered to and given time to work, proper function of the HPATG axis is achieved and weight loss would occur.

Read some of our patient testimonials.

Dr Husbands is a Chiropractor, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, an Anti-Aging Healthcare Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Doctor. For more information, visit http://www.drhusbands.com.

Copyright © 2009; Douglas Husbands, DC, CCN, ABAAHP. All rights reserved.

Research studies support this, including a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial reported in the Lancet, a leading medical journal. 

The article states that pregnant women and infants who were given a specific strain of probiotics called Lactobacillus GG, had a 50% reduction in asthma, eczema and allergy in the children at 2 years of age.  In this 2-year study, 132 pregnant women were recruited from families with a history of eczema, allergic rhinitis, or asthma.  They were randomly given either placebo capsules or Lactobacillus GG capsules containing 2 billion organisms of Lactobacillus GG.  They took the capsules daily for 2 to 4 weeks before expected delivery.  After delivery, breastfeeding mothers took the capsules, or the capsule contents were mixed with water and given by spoon to their infants.  These infants were examined during the neonatal period, and on study visits to a department of pediatrics at ages 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.  The outcome measure was atopic disease at 2 years.  Since chronic recurring atopic eczema is the main sign of atopic disease in the first years of life, it was the primary study endpoint.

The frequency of atopic eczema was reduced by half in infants given probiotics compared with those on placebo. The reduction in eczema was independent of the manner the infants received the probiotics, either breastfed or spoon-fed.  The authors of the study concluded that:  

Our results suggest that gut microflora have unique, yet largely unexplored, endogenous immunomodulatory properties. These properties might be indispensable in the fight against the increasing frequency of atopic, and possibly other, immunological diseases.

Parents of children, with eczema, allergic rhinitis or asthma, know very well the huge burden these conditions are to both the parents and the children.  Families dealing with these conditions may

1. suffer sleepless nights or interrupted sleep
2. incur the extra expense of special foods for substituting allergenic foods
3. incur the extra expense of prescription or over-the-counter medications and creams
4. buy laundry and other household products for sensitive skin to avoid additional irritants

Some believe that these conditions are genetically passed on to children.  Also, children that were born by c-section or not breastfed have been found severely deficient in beneficial microbes.  Thus, if the parents of children have a history of eczema, allergic rhinitis or asthma, or the children were born by c-section or are not breastfed, it is imperative to inoculate the children with certain strains of supplemental probiotics as early as possible.  A Certified Clinical Nutritionist or Functional Medicine doctor should be consulted for the proper strains and amounts for your child.  Giving a child the wrong strains and/or wrong concentrations could cause more problems than giving them none at all. 

If you need assistance with this, feel free to contact me at (650) 593-4447 to schedule either a phone consultation or in-office appointment. 

At the upcoming 17th Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine held in San Jose, CA on September 10th, I will be teaching on another GI topic.  Its focus is for women.  It is titled: “Optimizing GI Tract Function as a Therapeutic Component of Hormonal Regulation in Women.”