Supplements to consider for specific situations

By now, if you have done your homework, you have eliminated your food allergens, you have filled out your Systems Survey and evaluated your overall health.  Now we need to talk over the second type client that needs supplementation.  (NOTE: There are basically three kinds of people that need supplements. First are those people having multiple symptoms (recognized or unrecognized) that do not yet have a diagnosed health problem. Second are those that are near to or new to a diagnosis of a health problem. Third are those folks that have been on medications for a while for a specific set of health problems.)

That is no way that I can give an exhaustive discussion of supplements and ailments in the context of a blog article. Just be aware that many times there are natural alternatives to the initial stages of health problems. Not everyone responds and no one should venture to treat themselves without keeping their PCP informed and aware.

I have utilized specific supplements for conditions like gallbladder (and lack of a gall bladder), early onset diabetes, arthritis, ulcers, allergies, sinus, poor circulation, loss of energy, ED, bladder problems, etc., the list is endless.

In trying to provide information to my readers I finally decided that I would be unable to provide enough information to any reader in this format. Therefore, if you have specific questions, please e-mail me at doc@docros.com and I will get back with you in a timely fashion. Be as specific with your information as you can.

What Supplements Should I take??

Now that you have discovered your food allergens and eliminated them let's talk supplements.

It seems that most folks have this inner feeling that they should be taking a general all round supplement, most often a multi-vitamin.  Once the decision is made these same folks do not think about supplementation until something happens to their health or a friend tries to sign them up on a business plan selling the greatest "new" supplement that is guaranteed to carry them to financial success.

Some folks recognize the need for more than a multi-vitamin and do their own research (via the Internet) to come up with 10-12 supplements that they are sure is going to restore their fountain of youth.

None of the above scenarios are recommended.

There are basically three kinds of people that need supplements.  First are those people having multiple symptoms (recognized or unrecognized) that do not yet have a diagnosed health problem.  Second   are those that are near to or new to a diagnosis of a health problem.  Third are those folks that have been on medications for a while for a specific set of health problems.

This week we talk about group one.  Shotgun supplementation is no better than shotgun medicine.  You need to get organized and focused.  For my folks (really the only ones I can focus on) I suggest filling out my Systems Survey.  If you are my patient you can stop by the office and pick one up; or you can e-mail your request and I will forward it to you, there is no charge for this service.  If you are not a patient of mine, you can e-mail your request and I will forward the survey to you.  There is no charge for this.  However, for the non patient, for liability reasons, I will give you the results of the survey only, but not a recommendation for the supplements, unless you send me a consent to treat form which I can supply to you.

The Systems Survey will organize the various symptoms you are having into a suggested list of conditions that you may have going on.  This list is not definitive but only a suggestion and is not diagnosing your problems.  However, I have used it for over 35 years to help my patients feel better.There is no guarantee.

Please e-mail for your survey, for informational purposes.  There is no charge.  This is a free service.

Take It Out . . . . Put It Back!!

Last week I discussed how to eliminate your food allergy.  I hope you started then because you would be one week into your elimination.

Briefly, eliminate the suspected food intolerance completely from your diet for 2 weeks. After two weeks reintroduce one food item at a time and watch for reactions over the next 4 days. (I will cover what to look for).  Do this for each food item you suspect.  Your core food allergen/intolerance complicates the healing process by increasing the overall body inflammation.

The main food allergens are wheat (gluten), corn (zein), dairy (casein), soy, chocolate, peanuts, eggs, tomatoes and beef.

THE TEST:

Eliminate the suspected food intolerance completely from the diet for 2 weeks then reintroduce the suspected food and watch for reactions for 4 days (see below). 

Immediate histaminic response (within hours, that night or next day)

•  Red, burning eyes or teary eyes
• Tiredness, sleepiness
•  Headaches
• Mood changes, irritability
• Rashes, hives
• Nausea, cramps, diarrhea
• Difficulty concentrating
• Restlessness, difficulty sleeping

Delayed Immunological response (onset 2-7 days later)

•  Colds & flu
• Tiredness, sleepiness
•  Colored phlegm, inflammation of mucous membranes
• Fever
• Skin itching and irritation and dryness eczema
• Rashes and hives
•  Increase inflammation/pain
•  Achy body
•  Vomiting

Common Severe Allergy Symptoms are the following:

Dairy=skin eczema and respiratory conditions (asthma, etc.)
Wheat=excessive sweating, colitis, bowel irregularity and high blood pressure
Corn=neurological symptoms (like tremors, ticks, shakes seizures)
Soy is a learned food allergen, discontinue 3 months then many people can do limited amounts

Next week:  Determining what needs supplementing and which supplements to take.

Supplementation is a process

Supplementation is a process.  You have to know what your "needs" are before you decide what to take.  Some physicians depend on blood work to determine deficiencies.  In my opinion (and others), by the time a deficiency shows up in blood work the problems created are well advanced.  For example, most cases of arthritis are diagnosed after damage is done to the joints of the body.  If there were a way to determine that there is inflammation in the body that could lead to arthritis before the damage is done, would that be better?

Today, PART ONE of "THE PROCESS".

Determine your core food allergens.

This can be a simple process that you can do at home at no cost to you (no charge).    The majority of food allergies are delayed sensitivity reactions.  The most accurate way for you to determine the delayed sensitivity reaction is to eliminate the foods.

To do this, eliminate the suspected food intolerance completely from your diet for 2 weeks (I will suggest foods to consider).  After two weeks reintroduce one food item at a time and watch for reactions over the next 4 days. (I will cover what to look for).  Do this for each food item you suspect.  Your core food allergen/intolerance complicates the healing process by increasing the overall body inflammation.

The main food allergens are wheat (gluten), corn (zein), dairy (casein), soy, chocolate, peanuts, eggs, tomatoes and beef.  Start now to eliminate these items from your diet for two weeks.

Next week:  What to eliminate and what to expect.






W

Getting Started the Right Way

Several years ago I had a patient that came in after moving from North Carolina to Chattanooga.  I was asked to provide continuity of care based on her previous chiropractor's findings.  During the consultation she revealed that her previous chiropractor had put her on three supplements that were special formulated by the doctor with his own label.

She relates that when she started taking the supplements she felt great.  When asked what she was taking the supplements for she had a vague understanding that it was for pain.  She said that after 3-4 weeks she seemed to be getting less relief and maybe some side effects (nausea, irritability, restlessness, etc,)  I asked that she bring in the bottles.

When the patient returned for her next visit, she brought the three bottles of supplements.  I reviewed the labels.  Each bottle had thirty (30) ingredients most of which were herbs.  I asked for her to leave me the bottles until her next visit.  She agreed saying that because she felt bad she quit taking them anyway.

That evening I made a list showing each the ingredients in each bottle, arranged side by side so the patient could compare apples to apples (that is a nutritional joke).  After all was said and done each bottle was a duplicate of the other two except for one ingredient per bottle.  Except for the different ingredients every thing else was an herbal stimulant or a fiber.  After I showed that to the patient she agreed to let me order one tablet that had all three supplements in it, just to lower her level of herbal stimulation.

Needless to say the shotgun approach is not the recommended course.  Next week: Do It Right.



Needless to say

The Return of Back Scratch

I am back.  I have been gone because I was depending on other people to publish my articles for me.

I am going to allocate a specific time each week to update and publish this blog.  

More and more of my time is spent in counseling and recommending proper nutrition for my patients and their family (and some of their friends).  

With this in mind I am going 
to discuss this weeks - 

"HOT TOPIC"

"INFLAMMATION" !!!

More and more research is showing that the root cause of many of the chronic diseases is inflammation.  This includes cardiovascular, diabetes, cancer, dementia, digestive problems, etc.  By far the most common complaint I see is digestive problems.  I am finding that digestive problems serve as the jump off point for many more serious diseases.

My philosophy is that whole food nutrition provides phytochemicals necessary for the absorption of the nutritional value of the plant involved.  As opposed to a pharmaceutical that is a chemical reproduction or synthesis of one aspect of one nutritional aspect of the whole plant. 

In my opinion, pharmaceutical drugs taken to address diseases do not address the causes of the inflammation.  Most seem to be designed to suppress the inflammation.

The problem is "chronic" inflammation.  Inflammation of itself is your body's best defense against "invasion".    Invasion comes in many forms:

germs

harmful toxins

environmental pollutants

injury

stress, and others.

The body, through its innate intelligence, responds to these invaders by way of the immune system, the vascular system, and the many biochemical reactions which work to remove the offenders and protect tissues from damage.

In the next few weeks I will be explaining these processes and how proper nutrition can assist your body in healing, not just feeling better.

Allergic to Stress

There's a good chance the pollen isn't to blame for your allergies.

We often think that stress affects us only in a psychological or emotional sense, so much so that we overlook the physical effects of stress that can be both progressive and debilitating. But stress can trigger headaches, hair loss, irregular heartbeat, sleep troubles, neck and back pain, asthma and even allergies.

Many recent studies have confirmed what researchers have long believed, that psychological stresses can aggravate allergy symptoms. Gailen D. Marshall, MD, PhD, Director of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, and his colleagues conducted a study that concluded that stress increased the occurrence of asthma and allergies in a group of subjects who were taking their medical school exams.

Your nervous system constantly filters data and decides how your body should react to stressors. In response, your body produces different hormones and neurotransmitters, such as adrenalin, that affect the immune system. When your body is constantly reacting to stress, it creates an imbalance in your body. If it persists, it can have detrimental effects that cause or aggravate certain conditions, including allergies.

This is why regular nervous system checkups are so important. When your spine is working correctly, your central nervous system and immune system operate the way they were designed, improving your ability to withstand stress.

Remember, it’s not the pollen. It’s not the pet dander. And it’s not “allergy season.” It’s about how your body responds to these potential allergens. Antihistamines dampen your body’s response. Chiropractic care increases your body’s ability to accommodate the stress.

Which approach makes more sense to you?