American Journal of
Integrative Medicine
MIND CLUTTER FIND INNER PEACE THE COST OF BEING UNWELL WHAT WILL YOU PAY? TAKE HOLD OF YOUR HEALTH YOU HOLD THE POWER TO DECIDE A Quarterly Publication Powered by Acute Care Triage, Inc.
Spring 2017 Edition
In this issue SPRING 2017 04 Take Hold of Your Health in 2017 06 Practitioner’s Spotlight 08 The Goal for ACT 10 Happy New Year, Mommy! 14 A Season to Slow Down 16 Mind Clutter 18 The Heart of It All 20 Journey to Wellness 22 Where Mother Nature Meets Technology 24 10 Ways to Avoid Getting the Flu 26 To Digest or Not Digest? 28 To Eat or Not Eat Gluten? 30 The Cost of Being Unwell 32 Addiction...is this me? 34 Kickin' It 36 A Grieving World 38 Privilege Buys Addiction 40 Do You Like My New Hat? 42 Hormone Replacement Therapy 46 Topical Analgesics
Meet the team EDITOR Ellen Diamond, M.A.
PRESIDENT & FOUNDER CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER Tracy Wood, CPC, ELI MP, HHA Dan Rye
DESIGNER Vicki Rye
CONTRIBUTORS
Dr. Boyce N. Berkel, MD, PH.D. Frank Camillo, RN
Dr. Mary Jo Ruggieri, PH.D.
Pren'tis Knight President, ZTEK Corporation
Dr. Stephanie B. Nielsen, PHARM.D., CCN
T.S. Wiley
Powered by Acute Care Triage, Inc. 27134-A Paseo Espada, Suite 324, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 www.acutecaretriage.com American Journal of Integrative Medicine, Page 03
Take Hold of Your Health in 2017
We cover a variety of topics in our e-zine, such as themes centering around the holidays, parenting, disease and wellness, mental health and even governmental impact on medicine.
The clinical staff have been credentialed, trained, and certified in online delivery of services. ACT has taken many steps to improve quality control in the mHealth Solutions marketplace.
We are not here to take a political stand on issues, nor are we here to be partisan in any way. We are trying to deliver information. Solid information, as scientifically founded as it can be. We want to share this information, the options that you may or may not have heard about, and show you how to access them, at affordable prices.
We also are highlighting a new affinity partner to our family, ZTEK. ZTEK is a revolutionary product, whose time has come. ZTEK provides consumers a natural and alcohol free purifier line of products for a variety of uses, from hand sanitizer, to baby and pet care. This product has a medical use product for within your clinical practices. For the consumer market, they even have a surface cleanser. This can effectively be used for food preparation areas, diaper changing stations and more. This will protect you and your family from the ridiculous amount of bacteria and viruses we are exposed to that other generic cleaners do not battle, effectively.
We have pulled together some information for you on "Repeal and Replace." This is not a place for party politics, and it will never be. But none of us can ignore the deluge of commercials, news feed posts, and congressional banter we are bombarded with daily. One article in this edition specifically discusses the Affordable Care Act, where we will be left now, without affordable health care. And the stop gaps you can use as strategies to help your family. Many of our readers struggle with addiction, especially at this time of year. Our affiliates can provide people with top-quality health care services that are accessible, confidential, and affordable. Our affiliate, Acute Care Triage, or ACT, provides an integrated mobile health solution with advances in technology. Through new modalities, our partner ACT, delivers mHealth Solutions, behavioral health, preventive medicine, and wellness. ACT’s efficient mHealth Solutions site comes complete a with nurse triage 24/7 hotline designed for collaboration between patients and their providers. ACT gives access to concierge specialists to help you navigate the pitfalls of the new environment, which none of us are ready to undertake alone.
Welcome to the first e-zine or online magazine for 2017 and collaboration from the American Journal of Integrative Medicine. This first issue features several articles from our team, along with a smattering of introductions from our affiliates and providers.
We live in a time when many of us have taken a more active role in our health care. Today, we question a clinician on matters of medications, options, and procedures. With access to the internet, information is available to us instantly from our cell phones, smart devices, and computers. Through ACT, you can expect support, communication and collaboration. It's YOUR health, whether it is mental, dental, vision, alternative health, or physical health. You hold the power for your decision making.
Through ACT, you can expect support, communication, and collaboration. It’s YOUR health, whether it is mental, dental, vision, alternative health, or physical health. You hold the power for your decision making.
In our e-zine, you will find links to a variety of resources. We invite you to connect with our affiliate partner, Quantum Health Products, for the latest and greatest information in health education. Our e-zine will be published quarterly. We have some practical and inspiring articles and videos to help support you through your medical and emotional challenges. So hop on to the partners links, look around, do a little shopping for these amazing products, and leave us a little feedback. If you need to talk to a provider, message us on our Facebook page. We hope you have a healthy, happy 2017!
BY ELLEN DIAMOND, M.A.
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Practitioner’s Spotlight
DR. BOYCE BERKEL
BY ELLEN DIAMOND, M.A. Boyce N. Berkel, MD, PhD is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He trained as a General Surgeon and worked as a full time Emergency Physician for 23 years, during which time he also developed an expertise in Alternative Medicine. In 1981 he earned a Doctorate Degree in Nutrition from Donsbach University School of Nutrition in Huntington Beach, California. Since 1997, Dr. Berkel has worked tirelessly to help, and find solutions for, those afflicted with Neuropathic and other Chronic Pain. The doctor has made very significant progress in short term relief of pain and in the long-term management, reduction, and elimination of pain in his patients, and those in his care. He was associated Dr. Phillpot, the leading researcher in Magnetic Therapy and is Certified in Micro-electric Current Therapy. Dr. Berkel currently works as an Urgent Care Physician in the Florida Hospital CentraCare - Urgent Care System and is the Chief Medical Officer at Acute Care Triage. Dr. Berkel has helped shape the platform and procedures for ACT, and its protocols for a successful and patient centric environment. Through his commitment and dedication, ACT is poised to quickly become a leading force in telehealth in both the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Very early in his involvement with Post Herpetic Neuralgia, Dr. Berkel realized that there were feelings of deep frustration in the Medical Community in managing Neuropathic Pain. These feelings of hopelessness on the part of those suffering, as well as their caregivers, spread quickly as the patient pain increased. Dr. Berkel realized that there had to be a better approach. In 1997, he set out earnestly to find it. Over these many years, he has helped thousands of Post Herpetic Neuralgia and Trigeminal Neuralgia sufferers achieve a better quality of life, and to this day, many have become completely pain free.
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Using this experience, Dr. Berkel has developed an effective, yet easy to follow program that not only gives you immediate relief and improves your quality of life, but sets you on the path to "Getting Well Again." On November 12, 2004 at the 5th National Conference of the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association in Orlando Florida, Dr. Berkel gave a timely presentation on "A New Approach To Post Herpetic Neuralgia - For Getting Well Again." Dr. Berkel was invited to be on a panel of Alternative Medicine experts, to research and plan the development of programs for the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association. Dr. Berkel has developed the topical analgesic "PainBreak," which has brought relief to thousands of Trigeminal Neuralgia, Post Herpetic Neuralgia, Fibromyalgia and other Chronic Pain sufferers. He continues to actively research new products and modalities for managing these problems.
Dr. Berkel realized that there had to be a better approach. DR. BERKEL IS THE COAUTHOR OF: • "Trigeminal Neuralgia A New Approach to Getting Well Again" • "Post Herpetic Neuralgia A New Approach to Getting Well Again" • "No Limits Health- A Sound Mind in A Sound Body" HE IS THE AUTHOR OF: • "How to Prevent Home Accidents and Handle Emergencies Effectively" • "How to Get a Good Night's Sleep and Have a Productive, Pain-free Day" • The soon to be launched 12-week program: "Diabetes - A New Approach to Getting Well Again" Acute Care Triage continues to grow its team of medical practitioners, with Dr. Berkel as its CMO. We welcome Dr. Berkel and all our patients. 2017 is the year to take control of your own healthcare. Whether you choose to embark upon the alternative health path, western medicine, or fitness, we have the staff here to help you. Log in, and ACT now. Be well.
The Goal for ACT
REPEAL AND REPLACE
BY TRACY WOOD, CPC, ELI MP, HHA With the incoming administration, and the changes in Washington, uncertainty is rattling many in the healthcare space. Under the Affordable Care Act, 20 million Americans signed up annually for health insurance, and received a discount on their monthly premiums, based on their annual income. Those who opted to not obtain coverage, were fined, up to $695.00, which was deduced from their federal tax refund. After the November, 2016 election upset, a record enrollment for the final year of the coverage took place. In fact, 26 million people signed up during open enrollment for the insurance period of 2017-2018. This may very well be the final year where they will be able to afford their current programs.
mHealth is the ability to access practitioners or providers via Smart devices, or telephone lines. It allows for shorter wait times, lower costs, and broader accesses. Two weeks into the new year, several amendments were passed, without public oversight, and input. The pre-existing conditions refusal exemption was removed from the act. What will this mean to many? Thus far, that answer is unclear. To hear folks from both sides today – denials and increases that will make it nearly impossible for people with diagnoses from bipolar disorder to cancer survivors. And our Congressional leaders have only begun to chop up this plan. So what’s the answer? To provide affordable access to non-emergent healthcare services to an underserved population. How do we take people out of the newly overburdened ER’s, Urgent Cares, and stop the hemorrhage of bad debt that will raise costs in hospitals, driving insurance rates back to the ridiculous numbers of old? Mobile Health Solutions, or mHealth; mHealth is the ability to access practitioners or providers via Smart devices,
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or telephone lines. It allows for shorter wait times, lower costs, and broader accesses. Acute Care Triage, or ACT, has built a universal mHealth Solution, designed for the Smart phone generation’s way of life. At ACT, our millennial’s delivery model is one that they understand, embrace, and will easily adapt to, increasing their reliance on a single point of use for all of their healthcare services. This is not just for millennials, it is a simple solution for anyone who can use a Smart device, or a telephone. Senate republicans, as of this printing, have no current plan for the 2018 policy year. New polls have shown more Americans, in the high sixty percentiles, are now calling for only portions of the Affordable Care Act to be repealed, and rewritten. The Washington Post revealed a recording of a closeddoor meeting (1/26/17) among GOP Lawmakers, Tom McClintock, Paul Ryan and others, who, it was recorded, are said to be panicking, that they will have Trumpcare, that they own, “Lock, stock, and barrel, and we’ll be judged in the election less than two years away.” Senator Susan Collins of Maine has said if a plan does not get put in place, some 32 million Americans will be left without healthcare, and this administration will, “Have failed the American people.” The Federal Government has cut all mental health benefits from the first proposed plan. This will remove all Veteran’s Administration benefits for soldiers with PTSD, combat readjustment disorder, suicidal ideation and worse. According to the March 13th, Washington Post, premiums will increase 15-20% in the first year. The number of those without coverage is predicted to be 24 million rising to 56 million by 2026, causing the burden to be shouldered by the Er’s and hospitals. Now the new kids on the block will lobby to remove the Federal penalty for not having insurance, they are going to lower the medical deduction credit available to us on our taxes, and the States are going to drop the budgets in Medicaid.
Regardless of what side you fall on, there is much at stake. Serious solutions must be sought by all who function in this space. We looked to ACT to offer tools for our readership. The core of this program starts with a 24/7 nurse triage line. This gives you the ability to have someone there around the clock to help guide, triage, and support you through moments of illness, or questions for homecare. There is an advocacy service in this program. Navigating the pitfalls of today’s healthcare system can be challenging. Sometimes you need a concierge to help you find resources, get second opinions, or just check out a place to have a surgery. Our advocates will do all of this, and more. This is backed up with an online doctor’s portal, allowing for scheduled visits in general practice, mental health, and other areas of practice. Rounding out the offering with alternative and holistic medicine reviews with a professional. Users get membership cards for deep discounts on superior supplements, prescription discount card accepted at over 70, 000 pharmacies, discounts with Humana’s dental network, discounts with Coast to Coast vision, and ancillary products and services, makes ACT, and their partners a revolutionary idea, whose time has come. Today’s new healthcare are uncharted waters. Doing what we can to lessen the blow for patients and their families is our mission. Currently, satisfaction rates with telehealth are topping 90%. The research on emergency room utilization shows, 84% of visits could have been resolved in an online encounter. The times have changed. Embracing these changes, moving to mobile health solutions like www.acutecaretriage.com will save your family time, money, and the exposure to germs in a hospital waiting room.
Doing what we can to lessen the blow for patients and their families is our mission. The healthier of the population, can use catastrophic/major medical plan coverage (available through our partner plans) with an ACT membership to meet the ACA requirement, and avoid the current penalty on your taxes. This is ideal for the millennials, who don’t want the more expensive plans through the big insurance carriers. This is an unpredictable landscape, with amateurs running the show. None of us know what will happen, when, or why. So, buckle up, and be well.
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Happy New Year, Mommy! BY TRACY WOOD, CPC, ELI MP, HHA
Every year, we start seeing the Weight Watcher’s commercials on 12/26. LA Fitness, Jenny Craig, and NutraSystems, with Marie Osmond, it’s relentless. Marie’s big smile comes on the screen, telling us she lost 50 pounds, and she feels great! Give me a break, sister. So, with great enthusiasm, we sit down, and draft out our lists. We vow to lose weight, stop smoking, maybe we even take up a bigger task, like giving up alcohol or drug dependency. There is great value in a New Year’s resolution, but it is often a cycle of failure if you don’t set realistic goals and stick to them. But that is an article for another issue… As parents, beginning the year is an ideal time to take stock in the job we are doing with our kids. We can look at our skills as parents using a virtual “parental mirror,” and decide if we like that reflection. Think about it; if we work on ourselves, we are changing one person. If we mold and shape our child, we can impact the lives of so many others. Those results are exponential. So what are some things we can consider when parenting our children better? Well, I asked my children what I do well, what I can do better, and where I fall short for them. Here is a list of some things that kids need, want, and what we all should consider, when parenting.
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Think about it; if we work on ourselves, we are changing one person. If we mold and shape our child, we can impact the lives of so many others.
LISTEN Take the time to have a conversation with your kids. In the car, turn down the radio, and engage them. They have stuff to say. Listening to your children will provide you with insight into your own relationship with them. The more open they are with you, the less likely they are to go down the wrong path in life. If your children can trust in you, come to you and know you will listen, without judgements, your children will have a bond with you that is unbreakable. They will be less likely to struggle in school, less likely to experiment with drugs or alcohol, its possible, but less likely. • No judgments • Practice patience • Get involved – homework, sports, activities
BE AFFECTIONATE Love, love, love. My kids hug me, kiss me, and are demonstratively affectionate all the time. In fact, we have a unique signal in our home for any of us who need love, or attention, but don’t always know how to ask. We can stand in the middle of the house, make a loud, silly, unique noise, and the whole house comes running to hug the person making the funny noise. Why? It can be hard to admit, “I need you to hug/hold me.” Children, boys and girls alike, of all ages, need physical affection. Having a secret code gives us all that freedom to express our needs without being too vulnerable. So be the loving parent every child needs.
TIME Time is the only thing ever lost in the universe. We are a blessed family. My kids have never really wanted for anything. For Christmas, I ask them for a list of what they want. The list is usually short: nail polish, socks, books, a Barbie. So, I make gift certificates for "mommy and me" days. I make others for nail salon days with mommy, mommy movie night, and family horseback riding day. They use them by getting on my schedule, and blocking out their own special day. They love this, and are always so sad when they run out of their gift certificates. Now when I ask what they want for their birthdays, they say mommy certificates! • Sit down to eat together— phones put away • Family game night • Family movie nights • Walk the dog
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TRUST Be trustworthy as a parent. Your kids must be able to trust, that no matter what they say or do, you will respond predictably. Be true to your word. Single parents and divorced households, this is paramount. Kids have to trust in their parents and their responses. My kids told me they trust me explicitly. That was great to hear. Learning why it was important was interesting. It mattered because they trust that they can come to me with anything, without fear, and always trust my response would be the same. They needed to be able to have an emoji system with me. The kids send a specific emoji and they trust I will come and get them, no questions asked. This allows for me to be the “heavy” in front of their friends, saving them the embarrassment if their friends are doing things they don’t want to be a part of, and they want out. • Be reliable • Provide a stable home
PRAISE Be positive with your kids. When they behave well, say something. What was one of the first words they learned? “NO!” So, when they do things well, say, “YES!” “Great job, nicely done!” “Way to go!” These kids thrive on being told how amazing they are. I have been a softball coach, and I can tell you, in the beginning of the season, I announced to my team that we were going to win the entire season. The other coaches were rather concerned. I knew nothing about softball. I had no skills, I had never played, nor did I know the rules. So the only thing I could offer them was attitude. Every day on the field I taught them positive affirmations. I would never let them get down, even when we struggled. We did win the entire season, took the championship, and the kids learned a valuable lesson—attitude IS everything!!
HANDS OFF I do not believe in physical abuse. I think spanking is just that, abusive. I do not have to put my hands on my kids, except to hug. I can get my kids to behave with setting boundaries, reaffirming those boundaries, and effectively using time outs or taking away privileges. If you set positive, rather than punitive guidelines, you can navigate the intricacies of being a parent. I have always told my children; I will not negotiate with a terrorist. My kids laugh then they usually toe the line. I use humor,, a lot, to get my kids to see the ridiculousness in their behaviors. I use logic, discussion, and yes, I do raise my voice. I am far from perfect, but I do not hit my kids, never have. One thing I am not afraid to do when I should, is to apologize to my kids when I make a bad decision. So own it, when you make a bad parenting decision, apologize to them! They are people, say you are sorry. • Unconditional love
Look, being a parent is not easy. If you do the best you can, remember to apologize when you make a mistake, and keep your hands to yourself, you should produce loving, polite and intelligent adults. If you find yourself needing help with parenting, seek the guidance from a Certified Professional Coach, therapist, or clinician who can provide what you need. Log in and let us know how we can help you: www.acutecaretriage.com I hope these resolutions for positive behaviors as a mom and dad are useful. I pray we helped you break some ground with your kids. Be well!
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There is hope. Bring winter into your life. Be aware of the purpose of winter. Here are some ideas for the weary winter warrior:
A Season to Slow Down REJUVENATING IDEAS FOR THE WEARY WINTER WARRIOR BY DR. MARY JO RUGGIERI, PH.D.
Envision a dark snowy winter evening, a roaring fire in the fireplace and you are covered with a puffy down comforter while reclining in a large cushy chair. While sipping a cup of hot chamomile tea, you are getting a foot massage with warm lavender oil. Early in the day, just before dawn, you wake up slowly while gently stretching and quietly doing a yoga series called Salute to the Sun. You complete your early sadhana (practice) by sitting still, comfortably deep breathing as your mind clutter disappears. Your breakfast, eaten after a warm hot tub, consists of organic oatmeal with raisins, a scoop of vanilla protein powder in yogurt and homemade multigrain toast with fresh whole blueberry jam. After reading the Alternative Medicine Journal and finishing your last cup of organic hazelnut decaf coffee, you slip into your work clothes for a short day of chopping wood for your wood burning stove which heats your house naturally, of course. Getting up just before dawn, retiring before 8 p.m., eating more earth foods that are slow burning and doing long meditations is actually what the good health doctor ordered for the winter season. The human body functions exactly like our seasons. In the winter, the natural tendency for our biological clock is to slow down, hibernate, rest, repair and store up nutrients, allowing time to process past seasons and rejuvenate for new and better growth.
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Bringing silence and stillness into your winter days is not only beneficial for stress reduction but actually very necessary to be in synch with the purpose of winter. Winter colds, head and chest congestion and endless sinus infections are a result of the way we take on winter--working 60 hours per week, getting tense driving on icy and snowy roads, picking the children up after school at 3:15 p.m., running to ballet by 4 p.m. and then home for a late, rushed dinner.
• Relieve winter stress with silence. Silence provides relief from constant stimulation and disoriented mental chatter. • Go to bed earlier than usual and get up slowly in the morning. • Work a flexible schedule, go in later or ask for vacation days then work a four-day week for eight weeks. • Plan one day a week with truly nothing to do. • Get consistent bodywork. In the winter, getting regular lymphatic massages prevents the winter blahs. • Take extra vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E and beta carotene in the winter, besides an herbal immune builder. • Eating less in the winter is actually more, and eating before 6 p.m. is best for winter digestion. • Breathe, breathe, breathe. Remember to breathe deep and expand the lower ribs (to the sides) for a more relaxed breath. • Do your breathing practice for at least 20 minutes each day, especially in winter. (Censor the reaction: “I don’t have that kind of time!”) • Juice organic vegetables daily, carrot juice especially. Add a little celery or other greens. Drink within 30 minutes because the live enzymes which are so healing for the body are best when fresh. This is a remarkable habit to get into for winter. • Rest often in winter. Your immune system requires more rest because your body slows down and is in a state of repair.
• Sweat as often as you can. It helps eliminate toxins from your system and relaxes your muscles. Take a hot bath with one cup of Epsom salt. Soak for 30 minutes, then wrap up in a bathrobe, lie down, cover up and sweat. Take a cool shower after. Steam baths, saunas or hot tubs work well. • Do nasal flushes weekly. Use a neti pot or a dropper, with a saline solution or diluted liquid chlorophyll (gargling with chlorophyll also helps). • Last but not least, drink water. More than 70 percent of the body is water, and the balance of minerals in the body depends upon drinking six to eight glasses every day. No, coffee doesn’t count! Winter can be a blessing in disguise. It offers an opportunity to reflect, to slow down and to be still and heal. The body knows what it needs, but the mind often gets in the way. Yoga teacher Sandra Anderson says in the perfect state of stillness, we transcend our identification with the body. Then we glimpse the true self. May the longtime sun shine upon you.
Winter can be a blessing in disguise. It offers an opportunity to reflect, to slow down and to be still and heal.
Many cultures use the winter season to connect with their families, eating long relaxing meals at home and finishing projects. Slowing down is winter’s message, but Americans have a hard time with being quiet, still or silent. The rush is always on, especially after Thanksgiving. Everyone collapses after the holidays and spends most of January fighting fatigue, burnout, depression and winter colds.
Many cultures use the winter season to connect with their families, eating long relaxing meals at home and finishing projects.
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Mind Clutter
A LITTLE MEDITATION GOES A LONG WAY TOWARD INNER PEACE BY DR. MARY JO RUGGIERI, PH.D. Consciously or unconsciously, we all at some level are seeking peace of mind. Turmoil, confusion and anger present obstacles that affect a person’s inner being. Constant obsessing about details and not being able to quiet the mind creates chaos in our lives. We attract into our lives that which we focus upon. Whatever we give energy to flourishes. One way to alter the outcome of what we will call “mind clutter” is to learn the fine art of clearing space or finding a reasonable distance away from unwanted feelings. The practice of meditation, the “healing silence” as called by some, is the opportunity for us to calm the mind and bring a sense of awareness to our body. In many cultures, meditation is considered an essential part of life. Meditation has been around for centuries. Meditative practices have their roots in many of the far Eastern traditions, such as Buddhism, Indian yoga and Zen meditation. Concentration, essential to all forms of meditation, is basic to such disciplines as tai chi, qigong, karate, aikido and judo. It is the power within!
The potential for rejuvenating and repairing the mind/body during the conscious breathing and meditation process is limitless. How does meditation work? In essence, it trains many parts of the brain to make positive changes in various systems of the body. The brain has the capacity to adjust physical functions such as blood pressure and heart rates, and meditation can restore balance to those functions. Some medical researchers also believe that meditation retrains some of the neurotransmitters in the brain. This concept can be useful when trying to change habits not beneficial to our health. By changing the “key codes” in our brain we learn that if we have a desire for something we want and should not have, we do not have to act out our desire. This would certainly help chocolate addicts-or could be the demise of the dieting industry. Other re-
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search indicates that meditation could well replace some medications that help in areas as panic disorders, anxiety attacks and attention deficit disorders. It’s time to learn more. Transcendental meditation was introduced to North America by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. For those who can remember, recall the transcendental meditation movement during the Beatles years when John Lennon spent time in India learning to meditate with the Maharishi. Transcendental meditation quickly became a popular pastime for the Beatles followers. Meditation should be approached with a willingness to explore and to change some preconceived ideas. For instance, don’t think that you couldn’t possibly sit long enough to meditate or that you can’t sit in a crossed leg position to begin with. To ease your mind, the traditional crossed leg position, called lotus, is not a prerequisite. The only truly known essential for beginning meditation is breathing. Many meditate sitting comfortably, feet firmly on the floor, with the back straight resting against a wall or self-supported with the eyes closed. Conscious breathing begins with slow, easy and long deep breaths. Try it. Systems such as kriya yoga and kundalini yoga believe the breath is the most important part of meditation. The kundalini theory is, “When the breath is long, deep and slow, the mind is constant and one-pointed. When the breath is heavy, quick, and shallow, the mind is scattered. You normally breathe 15 breaths per minute. If you can train yourself to breathe eight breaths per minute, you can have your temper and your projection under control.” Kundalini yoga uses many forms of breathing to change the state of energy. You change your breath, you change your life.
Breath awareness develops meditative skills and creates the capacity for listening to your mind/body. Inhalations and exhalations should be even while using the diaphragm to breathe deeply, relaxing the abdomen. You master breathing when you become constantly aware of your breath even while talking in a group, brushing your teeth or driving your car. Are you aware of your breath as you read this article?
We attract into our lives that which we focus upon. Whatever we give energy to flourishes. As you begin to connect with the “healing silence” within, a state of peace emerges similar to having run a great distance. Meditating brings about a state of consciousness where true healing begins. The potential for rejuvenating and repairing the mind/body during the conscious breathing and meditation process is limitless. Carving out a special time for yourself daily to consciously breathe and meditate should be a priority. Anne Morrow Lindbergh has often said: When assessing the need for quiet and alone time, what matters is that one be, for a time, inwardly attentive. Learning to get in touch with that silence within gives your life a plan. Prioritize yourself— meditate!
To try a conscious breathing meditation, begin by bringing your awareness into your body. Follow your breath in and out, allowing your focus to be directed towards the breath. Become aware of energy and any body sensations. Continue to breathe as you try to identify where in your body you are feeling these sensations.
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When bacteria, viruses, foreign chemicals and environmental pollutants will enter the body, the lymphocytes— the body’s little soldiers—begin preparing for war. But this type of war doesn’t depend upon large defense spending. It is a natural part of our everyday internal healthcare—the physician within. When these soldiers are activated they secrete large quantities of antibodies. These antibodies move into the sites of the virus or bacteria or even cancer cells and begin to engulf and destroy the disease or abnormal cells.
BODYWORK: • Lymphatic massage manually drains the lymphs and helps promote positive movement. • Lymphodema, especially after surgery, should be attended to immediately through bodywork. • Polarity lymphatic balance uses key acupressure points to help the body move fluids and create a good energy flow. • Foot reflexology will stimulate certain lymphatic reflexes.
It doesn’t take much to understand who runs the show in our human biological house. The lymphatic system is a sure bet. It is the only thing that really lets us function and live a normal life in a germ-infested world.
PERSONAL CLEANSING: • Fast regularly—drink green juices or fresh carrot juice which flush the lymphs. • Do a colon cleanse. Work with a holistic health practitioner to set up a system to help cleanse your digestive system. • Sweat. Soaking in hot tubs helps release fluids in lymphs. • Eat good fats--avocados, olive oil, almond oil. • Drink water every hour on the hour.
The body houses hundreds and hundreds of lymph nodes, which are located everywhere imaginable. If we are to keep our lymphatic system functioning, we must be aware of their locations:
The Heart of It All
• Head and neck: Under jaw, behind the ears, back of neck, base of skull, around the eyes, side of the cheek and the floor of the mouth. • Chest: Shoulder area, under armpits, breast or the mammary glands, clavicle or collar bone area, along the upper arm extending into the elbow and all along the sternum. • Stomach: Nodes sit on the stomach, the colon and all major organs like liver and kidneys. • Lower body: Groin area, pelvic girdle and all through the inner thighs. They even go along the spine in many areas.
YOUR BEST DEFENSE IS A PROGRESSIVE OFFENSE: THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
The lymphatic system functions only as well as it is kept in good working order. Surprisingly, the lymphs are easy to care for, especially if you become aware of how they function.
BY DR. MARY JO RUGGIERI, PH.D.
EXERCISE IS A KEY FACTOR: • Walking, biking or any cardiovascular work. Both the cardiovascular and the respiratory system are tied into the lymphatic system. • Get a mini trampoline and jump on it for five to 10 minutes daily. Great for pumping leg lymphs. • Sit-ups and push-ups.
The foundation of all good health lies within the function and operation of an individual’s lymphatic system. Those pesky nodes, when stressed out, will swell in your neck, especially behind the ear, and will make it impossible to swallow.
These nodes provide a filtration system for the body. They contain the all-important T-cells that eventually will fight for your life. It’s a well-known fact that a highly functioning lymphatic system can handle even the toughest invaders in your body—cancer!
The lymphatic system, according to the Lymphatic System Anatomy Workbook, is a series of vessels, structures and organs that collect fluid throughout the body and return it to the main circulation for distribution. The lymphocytes function in the immune process; the fluid draining through the lymphatic system is lymph. The clusters of lymph nodes, almost like a bunch of grapes, are located throughout the lymphatic vessels.
It is important to remember that the immune system is your main defense for healing and long-term immunity to diseases. The immune process and your entire body’s defense mechanism is located in the lymphatic system, a system we hardly pay attention to until it’s in a state of trauma or stops functioning properly.
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SPECIFIC HERBS FOR IMMUNITY: • Echinacea, golden seal, garlic for surface immunity • Ginseng, liquorices, astragaluses for deep immunity The healthcare of the lymphatic system is truly the heart of it all. I remember a yoga teacher once saying, “You have everything you need to do what you want, you have everything you want to do what you need.” It’s simple: Your best defense is a progressive offense.
SELF-HELP TECHNIQUES: • Constantly do self massage—your jawbone, under your eyes, behind your ears, squeeze the muscles under your armpit and along side of your neck. • If a node is swollen or hard to touch, work around the area not on it. • Skin brush. It is good to use a dry vegetable brush daily on your entire body, stroking toward the heart. • Meditate. Stress suppresses immune function.
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Journey to Wellness
MY STORY
In August 8, 1988, we opened our company, First Call Nursing Services. We eventually left the bedside nursing model and continued to nurture our business. Having gained much personal experience during that time, I revisited my mounting questions. But where was I to start in finding the answers? Honestly, I was at first hesitant to consider the holistic world.; it had a such negative reputation back then. Believed to be “Quackery” in nature, alternative medicine was frown upon. Nevertheless, I kept an open mind. I started with reading the daily limp magazine on alternative medicine and natural concepts. A friend gifted me a subscription to “Second Opinion,” a holistic health magazine. I continued to read books and journals in all practices: medicine, nursing, and holistic health, to attempt to quench my thirst on this untapped subject. After delving into the subject, I knew—this is what I was looking for.
BY FRANK CAMILLO, RN
I attended holistic workshops nationwide, conferences on health disparities, symposiums on natural, organic, and alternative modalities. With my background in nursing, pathophysiology, clinical nutrition, and critical thinking, I saw the valuable relationship between the holistic and conventional approach. And there it was! My answer: These worlds exist in accordance with each other not in lieu of each other. Everything out there has positive and negative outcomes, whether conventionally or holistically approached. Life is a mystery but health is a choice. Life is accumulative and so is health. My greatest personal yardstick of health measurement are proven RESULTS: They are incontrovertible; no one can deride them, no one can deny them.
It all started in grade school, back in the Philippines. I remember my father telling me to work hard on myself to be somebody, so that in turn, I could make everyone around me shine. These words from my father resonated, more so throughout the years. My mentor, Jim Rohn, says, “The best gift you can give to someone you love, is the best of your own personal development.” I have always been entrepreneurial since grade school. In my youth, I engaged in many businesses, like shoe shining & tailoring. Growing up, I was already aware of the consequences of smoking and alcohol, which I personally refused to engage in both then and now. I brought this passion with me all the way through college and adulthood. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing at Far Eastern University. I then went to the University of Santo Tomas to pursue my graduate studies. I started my nursing career at The Philippine Heart Center for Asia, where I met the love of my life, Celina.
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We migrated to United States in the spring of 1980, where we initially worked in the ICU at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Chicago. In 1981, we moved to California where we secured positions as RNs in the San Jose Medical Center. We worked in the ICU, caring for critical patients: people with fresh open heart surgeries, craniotomies, acute hemodialysis, complete organ failure, massive trauma, balloon pumps and those with home health needs. It was during this experience, when I started asking questions. Why are people getting sicker and sicker despite efforts to follow “healthy” habits? Why is obesity becoming a pandemic despite advent of “diet foods”? Why are my well looking, fit patients, having massive cardiovascular issues, despite rigid engagement in physical exercise? These were just a few of the things that bothered me. When western medicine didn’t give me the answers I was looking for, I was at an impasse. I shifted my research focus and turned to corporate America instead.
My standard of measurement and statistics are: We have not been clinically seen by any doctor for the last 20 years. I haven’t had a headache in more than 15 years. I have not had the flu in the last 15 years. I have not had the need to take my vitals in the past 4 years. If I catch a cold, rarely if ever, I can expect a 24-hour turnaround. At 61, I play basketball 2-3x a week, 2 hours at a time. I also play tennis almost every day with my wife Celina.
Health is quality of life. It is no longer solely based on numbers and norms, rather, it is someone who: • • • • • • • • • •
Can walk, jog, or run without pain Has good sense of balance, physically and mentally Sleeps like a baby Feels strong and active (not sluggish) Has a good sense of focus, judgement and gratitude Is without medication maintenance Capable of making themselves and others happy Capable of handling stress easily Converts frustrations easily Even with age, has maintained active sexual energy
We cannot alter our years of living, but we surely can add LIFE to our years. Since 2008, Celina and I conduct on a regular basis, what we call “Our Health Sharing.” It’s a 6-8 hour sharing of details of our journey. It covers how we, and others we have helped, experience a better quality of life, and what you can do to impact your own life. This gives us satisfaction knowing that we can contribute to others in our community. We want to impact lives, not only our friends and family, but of all those around us. The mission in pursuing these holistic lifestyles should always be explored and shared. This is a never-ending quest to contribute to the greater good. As what Mark Twain said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born, and the day you found out WHY.” Be healthy! Be happy! Live life! Be free!
I have learned the importance of listening to our bodies. It is a completely new way to look at how we unleash the healing potential that we all possess. Having seen the value of both perspectives, whether conventionally or holistically, I have changed my opinion on the definition of health.
We cannot alter our years of living, but we surely can add LIFE to our years.
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Where Mother Nature Meets Technology
ZTEK, THE SCIENCE OF SILVER
BY STEVEN FOWLER AND KARI MILLER, ZTEK CORPORATION Pren’tis Knight has always been a curious guy. From childhood, he was the type of kid who always wanted to know how things worked, then try to make them work better. This curiosity propelled him to study everything from biology to the culinary arts, areas where he could experiment with different combinations of foods or ingredients or elements. And it was one of these elements that would ultimately lead to the science behind the new natural personal care line ZTEK. Participating in sports ranging from football to combat arts, Knight was on the front lines of the skin and hygiene issues facing the modern athlete, such as rashes, bumps, athlete’s foot, and equipment-induced irritations. A further exploration of body modification arts, such as tattoos, revealed the personal care market was lacking quality products to address these needs. With an esthetician mom, Knight had access to the world of skin care, but
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found nothing that adequately addressed his needs, and certainly no natural products suited to the needs of active, multi-ethnic skin. Necessity is, as they say, the mother of invention. With many personal care offerings created from petroleum-based products, Knight’s first challenge was to find a natural delivery alternative. The answer was found in shea butter, the vitamin E-packed nut fat from the African shea tree with natural healing properties. Next was the question of how to extract the healing elements from plants and infuse them into the skin. Research led to the benefits and aromatherapy of natural oils such as lavender, rosemary and citrus. But it was the search for a way to deliver these healing properties with hygienic benefits that led to his real breakthrough.
“I wanted to create a product that incorporated the extraordinary healing properties found in nature with the most cutting-edge technological advancements,” said Knight. “And I found that magic bullet, so to speak, in silver.” Silver has been used for thousands of years for its healing and antimicrobial properties, and today can be found in products ranging from medical devices to battlefield dressings to skincare products. Researchers have found that silver works by making the cell membrane more permeable and interfering with the cell’s metabolism—in short, letting healing agents in and forcing toxic agents out. It’s this science of silver that led to the discovery of Purify Z (MICROSILVER BG™). Purify Z (MICROSILVER BG™), the proprietary science behind ZTEK, is a pure silver powder consisting of highly porous and micro-sized non-nano particles of medical grade silver. It protects against a broad spectrum of bacteria and helps prevent the contraction and spread of unwanted microorganisms while gently soothing skin with custom botanicals, and is safe for all skin types. Purify Z (MICROSILVER BG™) supports the skin’s natural healing process, by accelerating the destruction of unfriendly bacteria while promoting the breakdown of multi-resistant germs, bacteria and fungi. Pure, long-lasting, and highly effective, Purify Z (MICROSILVER BG™) is the foundation of every ZTEK product. Knight launched ZTEK in 2016 with a commitment to purify, protect and heal the world through global hygienic safety and etiquette. A pioneer in natural personal care products, ZTEK offers a portfolio of products address-
ing the needs of personal care, active lifestyle, tattoo and body modification, and pets. Hypo-allergenic, purifying, and skin conditioning, ZTEK products also offer the aromatherapy and healing benefits of natural lavender, rosemary, and citrus scents. Today, the ZTEK product range addresses every stage of life and every type of activity. From everyday purification needs such as school and work (SkinTEK, SurfaceTEK) to more interactive environments such as the gym or tattoo parlor (KombatTEK, Tattoo & Body ModificationTEK) to even four-legged friends (PawTEK), there is a ZTEK product for every need. ZTEK offers consumers a natural alternative to the harsh, alcohol-based purifiers currently on the market. Whether it’s home, school, office or the gym, we come into contact with many different surfaces in our daily lives—and most germs can live up to 48 hours on hard surfaces. Use ZTEK for wiping down common surfaces like desks, toys or equipment, for treatment of minor cuts and abrasions, before and after food preparation, diaper changing and child care, and for your daily purification needs, especially during cold and flu season. Safe for use around children and pets, ZTEK offers natural, soothing, purifying protection for your day to day life, allowing you to get out there and live life to the fullest.
Because, like you, ZTEK is #AlwayzOn. For more information and to view the entire ZTEK range, visit www.ztek.life.
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10 Ways to Avoid Getting the Flu ARM YOURSELF TO SURVIVE THE SEASON BY DR. STEPHANIE B. NIELSEN, PHARM.D., CCN Now that the holidays are over and the wind chill is minus, we are in full-blown flu season. The interesting thing is that Flu is not a season. The Flu is the inability to adapt to decreased sun exposure, decreased water intake, increased sugar intake, and stress. Now that it is colder and wetter in most parts of the country, people naturally spend more time inside and with other people who may have lower resistance to cold and flu viruses. We are in temperaturecontrolled homes and offices, often they are too warm for us, and we forget to increase our water intake. We have just finished a big flurry of social and family events and given ourselves permission to have all sorts of wonderful treats (i.e., we ate too much sugar). And with all the parties, friends, and end of year deadlines, we have stressed ourselves out financially and socially. No wonder so many people, who are thrilled that the holiday season is finally over, let their guards down and end up sick. Ugh! So how do you prevent this vicious cycle and how can you shorten it if you are already feeling the aftereffects of the holidays? Here are my top ten tips for avoiding and shortening the flu for you and for your family: 1. Wash your hands. As simple as this sounds, it is so true. In fact, each member of your family should have a personal fingernail brush. Wash your hands with warm water and real soap twice a day for 30 seconds, using your finger nail brush. (Singing Happy Birthday 3 times in a row should about get you there.) Your hands can contain over 10 million microbes; therefore it is vital that twice a day you remove them (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/ england/west_midlands/6926078.stm). When you eat, touch your face, and touch other objects, you are transferring and receiving millions of little gifts from your environment. So decrease your likelihood of ingesting the ones you don’t want and scrub twice daily. 2. While you are at the sink, grab yourself a glass of water. How much water you drink a day is critical. You must stay hydrated to keep your body and your protective mu-
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cus membranes in top shape. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water. For example, a person weighing 150 pounds would drink at least 75 ounces of water daily. Thirty-two ounces are in a quart, so a 150 lb. person should drink to 2-3 quarts of water daily. Remember that alcohol, coffee, and some teas will dehydrate you, so it is important to add additional water if you drink them throughout your day. 3. Live food, live body. Real food is the only fuel the body really knows how to use. I begin each day with a glass of dehydrated green food. You can find many brands in the stores that range from cereal grasses (wheat grass, barley grass) to algae like Chlorella. Mixed with water, dilute juice, or in a morning smoothie, they provide vital nutrients to aid your immune system. 4. Decrease sugar. I know you already know this, but it is one of the most important tips for your overall wellness. Every 4 grams of sugar is equal to a teaspoonful. And every teaspoonful of sugar paralyzes your white blood cells, the ones that fight disease, for up to 4 hours (http:// www.fortcollinsnutrition.com/sideeffectsofsugar.html).
5. Rest. If you feel worn out, then you probably are and you need to get into bed early. You will be doing yourself a favor to get some extra rest and allow your body the downtime to repair itself! Most adults need 6-8 hours of sleep to perform at their best. 6. Vitamin D levels. In the past few years we have learned how critical it is to measure your Vitamin D blood levels. We used to believe that levels of 10 or higher were acceptable, but now the standard of care is levels above 30. To truly be healthy and to maximize your chances of avoiding the flu, you will need to get your Vitamin D blood levels between 30 and 50 ng/ml. Higher levels are recommended to combat chronic disease. Work with your healthcare provider to find the best dosing for you. Most adults are finding they need 5,000 IU daily to achieve these levels (http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2010/1/Startling-Findings-About-Vitamin-D-Levels-in-Life-Extension-Members/Page-01). 7. Momma does often know best, and homemade chicken soup can make a difference in how you fight off the flu and how quickly you recover. There are lots of great recipes that do not have to be complicated. The key is making your own bone broth using a real whole chicken (not store-bought broth) and then throwing in whatever veggies you like. 8. Hydrogen peroxide is the world’s only germicidal agent composed of water and oxygen. It is antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial which makes it perfect in thinking about prevention. During the flu season it is wise to place a few drops in each ear for 2-5 minutes once a week. Place the drops in your ear, let the hydrogen peroxide bubble, and then drain it out just as you would after getting out of a shower. Repeat in the opposite ear. You can also add a capful of 3% hydrogen peroxide to your mouthwash to gargle and spit daily.
It is critical to go low glycemic. Eat eggs or leftover dinner for breakfast. Eat soups or stews, and limit alcohol, starches, and sweets. You need your immune system alive and awake, not drugged and sluggish on sugar. 9. Should you get the flu or feel like you are coming down with the flu, my last two ideas may help shorten your symptoms. First is a hydrogen peroxide bath. Hydrogen peroxide is H2O2; so when you add it to a bath, it becomes pure water and free oxygen. Free oxygen is oxygen radical which will be absorbed through your skin and work to support your immune system by oxidizing, or destroying, the flu virus. Adults can use 2 quarts in a full-size tub. Children should use 1 quart. Sit in the tub for 45 minutes to an hour and then towel dry. The free oxygen will also make you feel more fresh and invigorated, but don’t overdo it. Remember number #5. Go rest! 10. Homeopathic Oscillococcinum. Now, that is a mouthful but it is amazing and really works (http://www.scielosp.org/ scielo.php?pid=S0021-25712012000100017&script=sci_ arttext). Oscillococcinum is a homeopathic medicine that can be found at most standard pharmacies. It is safe for all ages to use and has been shown to lessen the severity or the duration of the standard flu symptoms. Follow the directions on the package or try taking one vial a week during flu season as a preventative measure. Flu is not a season but the lack of the ability of your body to adapt to so many sudden changes. I hope you are now armed with all you need to not only survive flu season but to avoid the flu this year and in the future.
Think about this--the average 20 oz. Gatorade has 35 gms of sugar. That is almost 9 teaspoons of sugar which will suppress your body’s natural repair and immune defenses for up to 36 hours. It is critical to go low glycemic. Eat eggs or leftover dinner for breakfast. Eat soups or stews, and limit alcohol, starches, and sweets. You need your immune system alive and awake, not drugged and sluggish on sugar.
Drink half your body weight in ounces of water. For example, a person weighing 150 pounds would drink at least 75 ounces of water daily.
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To Digest or Not Digest?
THAT IS THE QUESTION
BY DR. STEPHANIE B. NIELSEN, PHARM.D., CCN As someone who was ill or sickly as a child, it was common to be taking several prescription drugs to make me “feel” better. However, no matter how many drugs I took, I did not get better. It was not until I was diagnosed with cancer that I took a serious look at my diet and my lifestyle. I was 21 at the time. When I was a pharmacy student at a teaching hospital, a young resident pulled me aside and said in a conspiratorial voice, “You don’t need all this medicine. What you really need to do is change your diet!” I was surprised and a bit shocked and asked how I could do that. He acted offended that I asked him and said, “I don’t know! I am a doctor. Find yourself some little nutritionist or something!” So that is exactly what I did. In fact, I found a very little nutritionist in the town where I worked. She was 80 years old and 90 pounds soaking wet, but she had a 6’5” attitude. She had such a quick mind and began sharing her secrets of how to heal my body naturally. She put me on 143 pills a day and a severely restricted diet. I had digestive issues before, but it did take a while to adjust to swallowing that many vitamins a day. Her system may not have been easy, but you guessed it already. I got well! Yes, I combined both eastern and western medicine, and it worked great. Yes, it changed my life forever. While I finished my pharmacy degree, I began incorporating nutritional healing and alternative medical practices back before it was cool or accepted. The first and most important thing she taught me was that I had massive amounts of yeast and a leaky gut. I had no idea what she meant by that. Then she explained that my skin rashes, allergies, and various other symptoms were due to my gut leaking undigested food particles into my blood stream and resulted in a number of my issues. That was over 30 years ago. Many people today do not realize that if you can’t digest your food properly, that you can’t absorb the nutrients you need to maintain your health. Let me ask you a few questions: Do you have frequent gas or bloating after you eat? Do you have frequent bouts of constipation or diarrhea? Do you take antacids or a prescription so you don’t experience heart burn?
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If you do, then it is highly likely that you are not digesting as well as you could be. So if you are taking vitamins in the form of pills, powders, shakes, drinks, capsules, how much are you truly absorbing? Without running a number of tests, you may not ever really know. Do you take regular medications? Do you know you must space your food or other oral meds to avoid drug interactions? Do you ever want to just throw your hands up? That is why I frequently recommend transdermal delivery supplement patches. That is correct-- your vitamins and other supplements are delivered right through your skin. How I wish I had had these when I needed them. It would have saved me the embarrassment of having a plate full of supplements before, during, and after each meal. As a pharmacist, I have had several clients who had pill fatigue. They were just tired of taking so many different pills! So when I found PatchMD (www.PatchMD.com/ACTriage), I was really excited. I know convenience, price, and efficacy are very important to my clients. I tried a few patches for myself and then began trying them on friends. Everyone came back with such great reviews that I brought them into my clinic.
Many people today do not realize that if you can’t digest your food properly, that you can’t absorb the nutrients you need to maintain your health. The advantage of sticking a patch on your skin and forgetting it is priceless. In addition, you avoid the issues of timing doses, forgotten doses, gagging, or not completely digesting your supplements. You must understand that you are what you absorb. The only real fuel your body can work with is the food that you eat. Therefore, you must absorb these nutrients. Americans tend to be the most overfed, yet undernourished people in the world. One of my favorite sayings is LIVE FOOD, LIVE BODY…DEAD FOOD, DEAD BODY. You must eat to live and you must choose the best quality foods available to you. But with all of that, you still must be able to digest and absorb the nutrients.
Here are my final thoughts on better digestion for you to live a more vibrant and vital life: • Slow down and chew your food. Put your fork down and really chew until the food has been in your mouth 20-30 seconds in most cases. You will eat less, feel fuller, and release more nutrients. • Make sure you have something alive on your plate at every meal. Yes, this means fruits and vegetables. Eat fresh seasonal produce. (HINT: Whatever is on sale at the grocery store is in season!) • If you suffer from regular upset stomachaches, try purchasing a full spectrum digestive enzyme which includes protease, lipase, and amylase, rather than an antacid. Digestive enzymes will help you naturally digest your food rather than just take away the irritation of overeating. • Take a Probiotic. There are several on the market. Look for live cultures and multiple strains, not just a single strain. • Dehydrated powdered green food or chlorophyll tablets are very soothing for indigestion or digestive issues. Dissolve 1 -2 teaspoons in room temperature water, and it will work wonders. • If you think you have digestive issues, consider using alternative vitamin delivery systems that do not depend on digestion. These include creams, sublingual drops, and patches. Your health will be determined by the little choices you make every day. If you are looking for one thing to improve this year, make that focus your digestive health. With a healthy gut on the inside, you will look better and feel better on the outside.
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To Eat or Not Eat Gluten?
THAT IS THE QUESTION
BY DR. STEPHANIE B. NIELSEN, PHARM.D.,CCN GLUTEN SENSITIVITY VS. GLUTEN INTOLERANCE Gluten sensitivity is sometimes mistakenly referred to as gluten intolerance. In 2012, top celiac disease researchers met in Oslo, Norway, to develop a standard way of speaking about celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders. There, researchers determined that gluten sensitivity, not gluten intolerance, is the most accurate way to refer to the condition. Non-Celiac Gluten sensitivity has been coined to describe those individuals who cannot tolerate gluten and experience symptoms like those with celiac disease, yet lack the same antibodies and intestinal damage as seen in celiac disease. With true celiac disease your intestinal villi disappear or (as I like to describe them, as if they melt) decrease in size and efficiency. The Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity patient has the same symptoms without the damage to the villi.
No one ever thought to question that my frequent colds or immune challenges were in direct correlation to the amount of gluten in my diet. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF NON-CELIAC GLUTEN SENSITIVITY? Gluten sensitivity shares many symptoms with celiac disease. However, according to several medical reports individuals with non-celiac gluten sensitivity have a prevalence of extra-intestinal or non-GI symptoms, such as headache, “foggy mind,” joint pain, and numbness in the legs, arms or fingers or auto immune symptoms. Symptoms typically appear hours or days after gluten has been ingested, a response typical for innate immune conditions like non-celiac gluten sensitivity. For me as a silent celiac, I would always appear to have allergies, or I would be the first to get a cold. No one ever thought to question that my frequent colds or immune challenges were in direct correlation to the amount of gluten in my diet.
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OTHER SYMPTOMS OF CELIAC DISEASE AND NON-CELIAC GLUTEN SENSITIVITY • Most common symptoms include: bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, tiredness, and skin rashes • Less common: Pain areas: in the abdomen or joints or numbness Gastrointestinal: fat in stool, heartburn, nausea, or excessive flatulence • Also common: anxiety, cramping, fatigue, mouth ulcer, skin rash, or weight loss, frequent colds, menstrual irregularities or infertility, brain fog, frequent mood swings
HOW CAN I GET TESTED FOR NON-CELIAC GLUTEN SENSITIVITY? Currently, there are no officially recommended methods to test for non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Some doctors offer saliva, blood or stool testing. However, these tests have not been validated and are therefore not accepted. I personally believe that the fecal antibody testing has been some of the most definitive and effective testing I have used. Contact your doctor or practitioner with Acute Care Triage to ask about alternative testing methods that may be able to assist you in determining whether going gluten free is right for you.
IF THE SYMPTOMS ARE SO SIMILAR, HOW IS GLUTEN SENSITIVITY DIFFERENT FROM CELIAC DISEASE? Gluten sensitivity has been clinically recognized as less severe than celiac disease. It is not accompanied by “the enteropathy, elevations in tissue-transglutaminase, endomysium or deamidated gliadin antibodies, and increased mucosal permeability that are characteristic of celiac disease” (Ludvigsson et al, 2012), which is a fancy way of saying the melting of your villi and increasing damage to your other tissues and organs. In other words, people with gluten sensitivity would not test positive for celiac disease based on blood testing, nor do they have the same type of intestinal damage found in individuals with celiac disease. Some individuals may experience minimal intestinal damage, and this goes away with a gluten-free diet. Which is why up some authorities report up to 50% of the people tested for Celiac disease and told they are negative, should not be eating gluten! They may not be a Celiac but they are likely gluten sensitive and should not be eating gluten either.
SO, HOW DO I GET DIAGNOSED? Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is diagnosed primarily by process of food exclusion. Experts recommend that you first get tested for a wheat allergy and for true celiac disease. If both of those are negative, then your doctor may recommend a gluten elimination diet. If symptoms improve on a gluten-free diet, then you likely have non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Research has also shown that gluten sensitivity does not result in the increased intestinal permeability that is characteristic of celiac disease. Increased intestinal permeability permits toxins, bacteria and undigested food proteins to seep through the GI barrier and into the bloodstream, and research suggests that it is an early biological change that comes before the onset of several autoimmune diseases.
There are those of us that have been gluten free for years and we will tell you it has never been easier to become gluten free. Get your self a coach or a buddy to call when you feel weak or alone. The best thing you can remember is how good it will feel to feel good again!
THE QUESTION REMAINS WHETHER TO EAT OR NOT EAT GLUTEN Many of my clients say they don’t believe they could live without bread. With all of the new gluten free items you really don’t have to, but more importantly, there is nothing that tastes as good as feeling good feels. A true gluten free diet trial will need to last 3-6 months. This is a life style change that may seem drastic at first, but it will get easier every day. Keep a journal of how you feel now, and how you feel over the next several months. Only then, will you see if a gluten free life is worth living for you.
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The Cost of Being Unwell BY TRACY WOOD, CPC, ELI MP, HHA In August of 2014, I interviewed an aging man in his 70’s who had less than two years to live. I had great compassion for him and his physical maladies, but I was also trying desperately to find a way to use his story to help others learn from his life and its path. He was born in England in the 40’s. He was a healthy and active young man. He trained relentlessly in his youth as a swimmer, and even made the cut to the British Olympic team at age 16. As his life evolved, he became a father, an engineer, and an American immigrant. After moving his family to the U.S. in 1974, he was still quite a healthy man. He weighed 168 pounds, was nearly 6 feet tall, and had a 34-inch waist. While he smoked, and drank several pints of beer with his mates at the local pub, as most Brits did, he didn’t have any illness to speak of.
Now, he was already severely overweight. He was an insulin dependent diabetic. He had a chronic pulmonary restrictive condition, yet he worked the same schedule he had from the day he moved to America. He didn’t vacation, he took every overtime shift they threw at him, and every weekend they needed his expertise. But this, the immobility, the wheelchair, this was the beginning of a major downward spiral in his health, or so he thought.
not as prevalent as it once was. We collaborate more in our medical decisions. We step out to seek second and third opinions. There are horror stories all over the internet where someone in a coma state wakes up, telling of hearing doctors discussing harvesting their organs. The whole time the patient had a rare infection leaving them powerless until a specific disease specialist finds it and we discover they heard every conversation about cutting them up for parts.
After all, it is about the price of a glass of wine that you ordered to go with your dinner.
Imagine that being you. I am not saying these stories are the norm, I am saying that educating the public and the companies we work for is key in healthcare. I am saying people like my father do not have to die this way. I am saying the boomers should grow stronger, live longer and healthier lives. But why wait until retirement to take care of your health?
He eventually had hip replacement, which led to a silent heart attack while hospitalized for the hip. Not one doctor caught it, while he was in their care. I guess that’s why they still call it practicing medicine. Maybe someday they will get it right. Two major heart surgeries later, he was given a defibrillator and a pace maker. During this recovery, his foot became ulcerated. This foot condition led to a partial amputation. While he tried to keep moving for the next several years, his kidneys would not. During the examination and screening for dialysis, they discovered cancer in his liver. In 2015, he and his wife decided there would be no more fighting. He would go peacefully with no more holes, surgeries, or treatments that are painful and most likely to fail. I asked him what he would have done at the age of 34, if his company had offered him an inexpensive way to screen for diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. I asked “From where you sit today, would you have participated in these programs, Dad?”
He was physically very active at work. He was breathing in a coolant chemical, no longer legal in machine shops, while creating parts for the U.S. space and air programs. He ate lunch from the “roach coach” and he continued to have a pint or two after work at the local British pub.
My father, looking very tired and even defeated, a shadow of the man he was when I was a child, finally responded after some deep reflection, “Yes, Lass, I would.” My dad continued, “Had I have known some of the medical stuff I do now, and if I even felt like I could have asked questions when I got here, I would have done a lot different. I remember one time I was told I was a borderline diabetic. I had no idea what to do. They gave me medicine, I took it. They told me to watch what I eat, but didn't tell me what was good for me or not. We didn’t have the internet for your Mum to look at, like she does now.” My dad’s eyes were downcast; he was tired and struggling for every breath. My dad had a recent diagnosis of liver cancer. He started dialysis within a week and had a life expectancy of about two years.
He worked 12 to 14 hours a day and usually Saturdays until 2002, at the age of 62, when he fell and broke his hip on the shop floor. His freedom, independence and world came crashing down.
Today, in America, we are more empowered with information than my dad’s generation. The “white coat syndrome,” where we fear and revere everything a doctor says, is
In America in the 70’s, there were still cigarette commercials on television, alcohol excess was en vogue, and every night out included gigantic portions of prime rib and baked potatoes. The oozing of excess abound. Restaurants asked, “smoking or non” before you were seated. Yes, he was living the dream—all the red meat he could afford, in the smoking section.
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We know people are living longer, by an average of six years. They require less convalescent care; they are more active. The educational programs, the research and the programs in wellness and prevention have been a key in these outstanding results. I believe if we can prevent disease with early detection, we can save lives. So, as you and your company start the annual roll out for your new benefits, ask the question, “Where is our biometric driven wellness option?” I know my dad would have gladly paid it. After all, it is about the price of a glass of wine that you ordered to go with your dinner. My father died, as a result of his body giving out from the various diseases, on November 9th, 2015. He was only 75 years old. On his life’s path, a doctor trained in wellness and nutrition could have turned his life around at that diabetes diagnosis. At 45, with any of the key pillars in healthcare – early detection – prevention – chronic condition management – education – they could have reversed the diabetes, slowed or even prevented the heart disease, and we never know what would have happened with the presentation of the cancer. Most importantly, his five kids, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren would still have him in their life.
On his life’s path, a doctor trained in wellness and nutrition could have turned his life around at that diabetes diagnosis. With the availability of alternative health, integrative medicine, and a variety of paths to wellness, people do live longer and higher quality lives. It's your health. Master it! And be well!
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Addiction...is this me?
Improve the health of your workforce
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BY TRACY WOOD, CPC, ELI MP, HHA What is addiction? Addiction is a gradual process where we lose our sense of control over a certain THING. Ultimately, we can’t manage without our THING. Whatever IT is. We will make deals with ourselves over IT. We will bargain about IT. We will promise to give IT up SOMEDAY. But soon we begin to tolerate the years of hopelessness, isolation, and shame that comes with our addiction. The pain underlying our addiction leads millions of people toward drugs, alcohol, food and other vices to end our suffering. Addiction is the uncontrollable, compulsive craving, seeking, and use of drugs, other substances, or behaviors. This craving, seeking, and using are what matter most to the addict, more than your loved ones, more than your families. If this describes you—SEEK HELP. Acute Care Triage has qualified clinicians who can help you. Log on today, www.acutecaretriage.com, or call any of the numbers below.
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American Journal of Integrative Medicine, Page 32
Below is a list of the most commonly abused substances and behaviors that people can become addicted to: Adrenaline-producing activities Alcohol Caffeine Cocaine Dangerous behaviors Exercise Food Gambling Heroin Marijuana Methadone Nicotine Opiates Pornography Prescription drugs Self-Injurious behavior Sex and love Shopping Steroids Vicodin or other pain pills Work Does anything on this list resonate with you?
Addiction is the uncontrollable, compulsive craving, seeking, and use of drugs, other substances, or behaviors. This craving, seeking, and using are what matter most to the addict...
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In addition, “Compared to nonsmokers, smoking increases the risk of coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times [and] stroke 2 to 4 times.” Smoking also increases the chances of “men developing lung cancer by 23 times, women developing lung cancer by 13 times, and [anyone] dying from chronic obstructive lung diseases (such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema) by 12 to 13 times.” Those statistics are alarming. But quite honestly, this information is not going to help most people stop their smoking habit.
For some people, smoking may be a means of self-medicating for chronic stress or even for a chemical imbalance.
Kickin' It
HAVE YOU MADE THE COMMITMENT TO QUIT SMOKING YET? IF YOU HAVEN’T, DON’T STOP READING JUST YET. BY TRACY WOOD, CPC, ELI MP, HHA
In this article you will find many resources and ideas to help prepare you and gauge your readiness to quit. Having a strong, self-determined will to quit is possibly the most important and most challenging step on the way to achieving a smoke-free life! I smoked for over 20 years. I too had the habit, the rituals, so I know how hard it is to get ready to quit. To put yourself in that mental place. I worried about all the same things you are worrying about right now. I worried about the weight gain, about the irritability; I worried so much I smoked more to make sure I didn’t get cranky! Well, that doesn’t really make sense does it?
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I set my target quit date, then the next one, then the next, well, you get the picture. I tried the gum. Disgusting! Then I got real with myself. I realized what I was losing. I sat down and I decided to get some leverage. I realized the physical craving for a cigarette only lasted really for 8 seconds. That’s right, 8 SECONDS! No kidding, 8 SECONDS! I can blow past 8 SECONDS!!! OK, so now that I knew that, what else did I need to learn? The filters were intelligently treated by those smart marketing guys in the tobacco industry with fruit juice. Hmmmm. Why would those nice guys do that? To hook me on sugar, of course! OK, so how do I overcome this part without inhaling a small city or three boxes of Twinkies every time I wanted to smoke?
I bought lemon drops. I would suck on one of those little hard candies when my 8-second craving hit. I found it helped me through those few seconds, and I didn’t woof down the box of HoHos. Finally, how would I manage the urge to rip someone’s head off every 5 minutes? For that I had to get more information. What about smoking really relaxed people? Is it the chemicals? Probably not. Look at what is really in cigarettes: arsenic, ammonia, tar, nicotine, and 43 known cancer-causing carcinogens along with 4,000 chemicals.
Most people who smoke have a good idea that chronic tobacco use is bad and even deadly for their health. The real problem is that they have a nicotine addiction. This is something you can’t just change, like the smelly shirt you’re wearing. When you smoke, nicotine reaches the brain within 10 seconds. It immediately stimulates the release of a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is part of the reward center of the brain. When you smoke, these levels are increased and immediately you feel more alert and calm. When those feelings change, you are left feeling the need for more dopamine and a desire to have those feelings return. For some people, smoking may be a means of self-medicating for chronic stress or even for a chemical imbalance. For others, it may have simply started socially. And then it became a bad habit that turned into physical addiction.
I worried about all the same things you are worrying about right now. I worried about the weight gain, about the irritability; I worried so much I smoked more...
So what did I use for the emotional component? AIR! Sounds so basic, right? But I did it in a specific rhythmic format: inhale for 1, hold for 4, exhale for 2. So, if you breathe in for 4 seconds, I would hold my breath for 16 seconds and exhale for 8 seconds. I would take several moments throughout my day to follow this breathing pattern to give my body the deep diaphragmatic breathing it needed. I still do this 14 years later. It helps me relax, take time out, and manage my stress. Smoking is an acquired habit. The needs we filled with the 4,000 chemicals didn’t instantly make us feel good. We forced our bodies to accept those toxins when we first started smoking, we can force our bodies to reject them when we walk away from cigarettes today.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined.” The CDC also reports that smoking causes death in nearly one out of every five people each year in the United States.
There are methods many available for you to choose from to help you effectively kick the habit. You can use medications, behavior modification techniques, coping strategies, interactive motivational support, or coaching, to name a few. If you have just started thinking about trying to quit or have tried several times before, contact one of our trained clinicians to help you start the final journey toward a smoke-free and much healthier you!
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A Grieving World
YOUR GRIEVING WORLD
BY TRACY WOOD, CPC, ELI MP, HHA How many ways can one grieve? The Seven Stages? One book I read referenced seven stages of grief. Another tells us that grief is a process not to be labeled and identified in stages. Grief is a very personal, gut-level emotion. It often gets surrounded and confused with anger, resentment, frustration, and fear. In recent days through Facebook, Twitter, and the global news media, the events in America, post-election, the First 100 Days, and of course, the Women’s March, has sparked, among other things, grief. Our country has exploded with political outrage, frustration, backlash against our leaders, and, it doesn’t show signs of stopping. What started as a rage against the establishment, with bluster from the angry, white majority, has ended with an electoral vote, against the popular majority vote choosing who they believed was a superior President.
As the news spread through social media like wildfire, citizens in the global community voiced their outrage and personal fury. The images on Facebook showed protests, crying reporters, political pundits on video clips, voicing their personal disgust of the election of a man they considered temperamentally unfit, not to mention, experientially ill equipped. Over the next months, the American government started a damage control campaign as the world watched and began calling the American President-elect an illegitimate President. People unfriended one another on Facebook. Families are still torn apart over their choice in candidate, and position on the issues. The ripples from our election are still being felt around the world. Leaders all over the globe continue to take a variety of positions on the current administration and their perceived effect on the world.
Post inauguration, people showed their responses to grief and loss in many different ways. The police, on a heightened alert, responded by being at the ready. They clashed with people sparking outrage, where windows were broken, property was damaged, and arrests were made. The inauguration was a deflated affair. No one of notoriety would perform, or appear. The numbers in attendance were the lowest numbers recorded, causing a volatile response from the incoming press secretary. The embarrassing outbursts, citing complete falsehoods made the new administration look foolish. Those still grieving from the election took to the streets the next day to march, in solidarity in an attempt to now heal, peacefully, and start their recovery process.
Grief is a very personal, gut-level emotion. It often gets surrounded and confused with anger, resentment, frustration, and fear. The view of the world we know today is microscopic, thanks to the internet. What once came in the evening newspaper or in a 30-minute newscast is now in the palm of our hands with our own dark commentary and opinions added with each post, forwarded to our family and friends, and passed down the line. We propagate hate, anger, and pessimism faster than a tornado blows through the Great Plains. People grieve as a community today, publicly, thanks to social media. They share with one click, and in a nanosecond, millions of eyes in all corners of the globe can offer an opinion. When an egregious act or social injustice occur, like the American election (for some), we seem to band together in a fervent fashion and rage against the oppressors of what we believe is good and right in the world. We vow, as one people, to take them on, and we collaborate on a world stage to act together for the greater good. It is in those moments that a healing of sorts begins, and in our minds our grief becomes power. We are finally in the latter stages of grief, and empowered. The stages of grief are being worked with the community at large on a grand scale. We do recover, we do overcome with the singing of the anthems, the holding of hands, the marching, the speaking in public by powerful people, leading the charges, and then the healing begins. But this is for a community of those who grieve together. What about those who grieve alone? Those who have lost a loved one? Those who live with little to no family support after a death?
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Grief is not always sitting in a dark room with a box of tissues. Grief is not always shown by withdrawing from your community and your family. The experience of grief is different for every person. People experience anger, disbelief, sadness, frustration, regret, and a lot of emotions that most of us thought we would never experience on a regular basis. It's what we do with our grief that defines us as human beings. There are many traditional ways to work through grief and loss. These include therapy, life coaching, hypnotherapy, spiritual counseling, and medical intervention with pharmaceuticals. Now, I am not suggesting that people should run out and start seeing a therapist because of their feelings over what has happened in the election or anywhere else in the world. What I am suggesting is that many of us have commonalities. We have a basic human need to be understood. Lack of understanding will result in feelings of resentment, anger, fear, and even grief. There will always be triggers for our grief. Whether it's our individual grief, the grief of our community, or the grief of a nation, people will need positive tools to help themselves heal. Often our grief is triggered by a smell, a song, or even seeing a close friend. If we can find it in ourselves to be vulnerable and share in those moments our grief and our sadness, maybe the resentments and anger that often build will not harden our hearts.
We have a basic human need to be understood. Lack of understanding will result in feelings of resentment, anger, fear, and even grief. With a lack of comprehensive healthcare in this country, people need to reach out for support they can afford. I pray for peace in not only America, but all across our global community. And I pray that when we act on anything, we always try to put ourselves in the shoes of the person across from us.
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Privilege Buys Addiction
EVERY LIFE MATTERS
BY TRACY WOOD, CPC, ELI MP, HHA After the death of Prince (Rogers Nelson), the country, even the world, mourned the loss of a musical genius. We gathered in night clubs, at his Minnesota studio, in the streets of West Hollywood, to celebrate the life and work of a very private, yet public man, that very few had the right to call a friend. While we waited for the final cause of death to be determined, this 57-year old’s death will undoubtedly spark discussion of prescription drug abuse again, among the rich and famous. I knew his death was from prescription drug abuse the minute his death was announced. Within the first 48 hours of his death, the word Percocet came up, and opioids. When toxicology came in, approximately two weeks later, Prince joined the exhaustive list of celebrities who used drugs to manage their emotions, life, and world of privilege, until they made the ultimate mistake: accidental overdose.
Opioid overdose kills an average of 50,000 people a year in America every year, and that number is on the rise. That is an average of 137 people a day. So how do we stop this madness? Are there too many drug dealers with prescription pads? Maybe? We still allow the doctors to keep their license to practice, after they kill a patient. Why? If the same exact drugs were sold on a street corner to Prince, by a black man, he would be charged with a felony, thrown in a jail cell, and he would never be allowed to “work” in his chosen profession again. However, since these MDs have an office, a white lab coat, and an education, we suspend their license for a few months (maybe) and issue them a fine. They never see the inside of a jail cell, let alone a felony conviction. Not until Michael Jackson, did we even try and convict one of these drug dealers for murder or manslaughter.
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The doctor who prescribed the drugs that contributed to the death of Elvis Presley was not charged with a felony until several years after Elvis died, and he was acquitted! Have you ever asked yourself why? What about the dealer Marilyn Monroe had supplying her daily? Heath Ledger? Judy Garland? Anna Nicole Smith? Were they charged, had their licenses suspended, or even brought before their medical boards? You guessed it, NOT ONE OF THEM! So what is the real reason? Did these people’s lives not matter? Of course they did. So why do we sit back and pay tribute in the time of their death, then do nothing to stop the addiction in its path? Privilege. Because they lived a privilege life. Money, fame, celebrity, it buys privilege. Dr. George C. Nichopoulos or “Dr. Nick”, as he was known, said in many interviews that no one said no to Elvis. I think that is true when it comes to many celebrities. We become enamored with celebrity. We see them as their persona, not the person. The persona wants to get high, we let them. We don’t bury the persona, though, do we? It is not a privilege to be a drug addict. If a doctor prescribes it, you are still an addict, and if our doctor is not being responsible, they are your DEALER. If you are obtaining them through other means, you are a criminal, and your enablers, family, personal assistant, handlers, are as well. You are not any better than a heroin junkie on the street. Getting medication through your healthcare system simply means you won’t get arrested picking up your fix, and your insurance will pick up a percentage of the cost. I had a doctor at one time when I was in my twenties. He had put me on Vicodin 5/500. He refilled them for months. I was taking them originally for a car accident, then I refilled them because I liked the feeling. I didn’t think it was a problem, really at first. I mean, my doctor gave them to me, and I didn’t take them every day, right? So it was totally acceptable, wasn’t it? After filling the opioids for nine months, it wasn’t okay anymore. I started relying on taking one the minute I got home from work. When I ran out, I panicked. It was a problem. I would take some from friends, if they had them. I didn’t have pain. I had a problem. I stopped taking them, and changed doctors. One of the interesting things I remember him saying to me when I
went in for one of the many refills was, “I haven’t made any addicts in my 45 years of practice, I don’t plan on making any now.” I thought to myself, "Ummm, you’re an idiot! I don’t need these for pain anymore!" What about all the non-celebrity deaths from the same drugs? Opioid overdose kills an average of 50,000 people a year in America every year, and that number is on the rise. That is an average of 137 people a day. Where does the madness end? To answer that question, I think we must assign accountability. When will the American government ever hold the drug companies responsible for their place in this epidemic? I call it an epidemic, because it is. Every 19 minutes in this country alone, someone dies of an opioid overdose.
Why do we sit back and pay tribute in the time of their death, then do nothing to stop the addiction in its path? This past year, an opioid for minors has been released. Big pharma is about to turn out the next huge generation of addicts and corpses. The FDA approved an extremely addicting narcotic, approved for 12-year-old children. They believe that OxyCotin, 10Mg, is indicated for use for children aged 12-16! Yet they believe the oil from a cannabis plant, without the THC (the chemical that causes the high effect) is dangerous. What idiot runs that department? When will the drug companies stop manufacturing “coffins” for our friends, families and celebrities? When will the doctors stop moonlighting as “morticians?” Where is the personal accountability for the addict, and the enablers? What resources are needed? Therapy, EAP, Employee Assistance Programs with addiction and recovery access, peer coaching platforms, online AA / NA systems. What else can be done to make an impact in this war on prescription drugs? I do not have all the answers, but I know that we at Acute Care Triage, are delivering ubiquitous access to online therapists, life coaching, medical interventions, and holistic options for real solutions to addiction and recovery. If you, or a loved one, are struggling with addiction, please, if you do not get help here, get help somewhere. Every life is worth saving. Every life matters. Log in to register, or call our hotline for a RN, ask to be connected to an addiction counselor, coach or therapist; we can and want to help. Call 855-228-5111 (855-ACT-5111) today— ACT Now!!! Be Well!
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Do I need a new hat? No, you need to stop your hair loss. I noticed recently that it is “cool” again to wear hats more frequently. Well, until I realized that the real reason is increasing hair loss. So what causes hair loss and what can be done about it…..naturally? Dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, is a by-product of testosterone which is a hormone manufactured in your adrenal glands, hair follicles, testicles and prostate gland. Like testosterone, DHT is an androgen hormone, which means it plays a role in the development of male and female sex characteristics. Elevated levels of DHT have been found to contribute to both enlarged prostate and hair loss. DHT can cause hair follicles to regress and die. This results in premature balding.
Nature is a wonderful source of nutrients that can combat the build up of DHT and potentially decrease hair loss. Specifically, DHT shortens the growth cycle of your hair and increases the resting cycle. Over time, hair in these locations grows less and becomes shorter until it simply does not grow anymore. Genes can make certain hair follicles (usually in the front and crown of the head) especially sensitive to this hormone. Certain herbs naturally block DHT synthesis from causing these actions. However, you should always check with your doctor or health care provider to get information about these herbs or any supplements you might use. Nature is a wonderful source of nutrients that can combat the build up of DHT and potentially decrease hair loss.
Do You Like My New Hat? DON'T COVER UP HAIR LOSS, DECREASE IT BY DR. STEPHANIE B. NIELSEN, PHARM.D.,CCN
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PUMPKIN SEED Eating raw pumpkin seeds is an old-fashioned remedy for the prevention of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In Europe, the German E Commission, a regulatory agency like the U.S. Federal Drug Administration, has approved the use of pumpkin seed and pumpkin seed oil for the treatment of prostate disorders. Pumpkin seed oil is available to be consumed like olive oil in salads or on raw or cooked vegetables or in gel capsules. Pumpkin seed oil is a very dark green almost black oil with a nutty flavor that does not taste pumpkin like. According to the “Physicians’ Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines,” the DHT-blocking effects of pumpkin seed stem from the presence of unusual amino acids such as cucurbitin, as well as several plant steroids, particularly delta-7-sterols. SAW PALMETTO Saw palmetto is one of the herbs that block DHT and has been studied extensively. Of particular interest to researchers is the presence of a specific plant sterol found
in beta-sitosterol. The anti-androgen effects of this substance are directly related to the inhibition of an enzyme which the body uses to convert testosterone into DHT. In 2010 there was a study that showed low concentrations of a saw palmetto extract was almost as effective as the drug finasteride, used to counter DHT conversion. Saw palmetto is readily available in capsules. Caution should be used not to over do the use of Saw Palmetto or you could experience impotence. GREEN TEA Research indicates that epigallocatechin-3-Gallate, or EGCG, one of the main active constituents of green tea, also blocks the formation of DHT. The Journal of Nutrition 2003 reported that green tea significantly reduced DHT and testosterone concentration in the blood. Green tea has also been found to increase levels of good hormones and improve blood flow to the skin. Drink a few cups of good quality green tea daily or use concentrated green tea capsules or drops. BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY Hair loss in men and hormones are closely related. Men go through a similar decline and shift in hormones that women go through during menopause. For men, it's called andropause, also known as "the male menopause." Hormones regulate nearly every function in the body, including hair growth. Fluctuating levels of testosterone resulting from stress and poor diet can impact the body's ability to regenerate hair follicles. The connection between hormones and hair loss is definitive. Your hormones can be augmented naturally with bio identical hormone replacement therapy.
While you cannot fight your genes, you can fight the effects of aging and hormonal imbalance. The state-of-the-art testing used by the doctors and practitioners affiliated with Acute Care Triage can assess your testosterone, DHT, thyroid hormones, and cortisol to help you determine if your hair loss is hormonal or genetic. If hormone and/or nutritional levels are imbalanced, natural bio-identical hormone replacement therapy paired with a customized nutrition, and supplement program, can bring the levels back to optimal balance and be effective in combating your hair loss. While you cannot fight your genes, you can fight the effects of aging and hormonal imbalance. Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy with has the possibility to not only stop or prevent hair loss but also may help you re-grow the hair you have already lost.
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Hormone Replacement Therapy DEBATABLE CHOICES BY T. S. WILEY AUTHOR OF SEX, LIES, AND MENOPAUSE, AND LIGHTS OUT
LET’S START AT THE BEGINNING Uncertainty about HRT began when The National Institute of Health (NIH) sponsored the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), a study of more than 161,000 women, designed to address the most common causes of death, disability, and impaired quality of life in postmenopausal women. What was not made clear to women is that the negative results of the study were, for the most part, due to the study group of women being over 65 and, of course, using synthetic hormone therapy drugs such as Permarin and PremPro only. The study started in 1991 and ended midstream in 2002 when WHI investigators found that the possible risks of this Big Pharma therapy exceeded the safety limits established at the beginning of its inception. The government’s response to their ill-conceived trial and abrupt ending was that women should not have any form of HRT ever again. That was not an answer—even they knew it. In 2012, the WHI and 14 other medical organizations released a joint statement reinforcing the benefits of hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms. Obviously, the same premise would apply to Testosterone for men. So, now that they have recanted, many men and women are still looking to relieve the symptoms of menopause and andropause or, in simple English: aging. The well-known diseases of aging—heart disease, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s—are preceded by declining sleep duration,
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eyesight, muscular strength, endurance, weight gain, foot and joint pain, as well as hot flashes, night sweats and losing your keys. Menopause and andropause are not just tedious times in everyone’s lives that you can live through like your ancestors—they are states of being that are, in fact, the beginning of the end. The right hormone replacement choice can not only relieve a myriad of symptoms, but may actually be prophylactic with respect to the far deadlier possibilities. After all, the major watershed moment in aging is the loss of sex hormones. There are many options available, but these Hormone Replacement Therapies (HRT) are very confusing and often outright misleading.
Menopause and andropause are not just tedious times in everyone’s lives that you can live through like your ancestors—they are states of being that are, in fact, the beginning of the end. The goal of hormone replacement therapy is to restore the hormone activity in brains, bones, breasts or prostate and heart that your body is no longer able to produce. The key
to success just might be replacing these hormone levels and responses in the same template—timing and delivery system—as your body used to. None of these therapies, except The Wiley Protocol, acknowledge, let alone address these issues. We refer here to the Standard of Care products provided by Big Pharma companies and the less-than-scientifically-based offerings from the Alternative/Complimentary “Medicine” community, copiously represented on the internet by groups like BodyLogic and HysterSisters, for example. Some therapies take the position that the body can’t distinguish bio-identical hormones from the ones that your body used to produce naturally. These bio-identical hormones are synthesized from yams or soy beans and the plant’s hormone molecules are, in fact, identical to human hormone molecules.
The goal of hormone replacement therapy is to restore the hormone activity in brains, bones, breasts or prostate and heart that your body is no longer able to produce.
THAT’S WHERE THE “NATURAL” APPROACH ENDS, AND WE COME IN. Although research has led to some novel choices that ostensibly provide a safer hormone profile for women to use hormone replacement, we believe that The Wiley Protocol, which is based on the premise that in order for bio-identical hormones to really be natural, they must be biomimetic, or mimic the innate and natural rhythms of reproductive youth. The Wiley Protocol’s dosing systems and manufacturing processes address the scientific aspects missing in other hormone therapies. Below is a discussion of other approaches you may come across in your searches: • • • • • •
Standard of Care Hormones Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy–What Is It? Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) Compounded Pharmaceutical Products Pellet therapy Biomimetic: The “How” of Replacing Hormones
STANDARD OF CARE HORMONES This is a term used to describe the traditional HRT approach. Standard of Care hormones are most often made up of lab-created not-quite-the same hormone molecules that are chemically derived. Some Big Pharma products use bio-identical compounds in their mix, like Climera, Vivelle and CombiPatch, as well as Vagifem, Estrasorb, Estring, Prochieve and Prometrium. Subsequently, while they
may be called “natural,” they differ in molecular structure from naturally occurring hormones. The FDA has approved several substances that have been chemically derived and altered in a laboratory. These types of Estradiol and Progesterone Franken-molecules are the substances known as Standard of Care HRT. The problem is that many of these drug therapies contain hormone-like molecules that are completely foreign to the human body. Premarin is an animal-derived product made from a “natural” mixture of estrogens secreted by a pregnant mare. Beyond animal estrogen, Premarin also contains many lab-created types of estrogen-like substances that are not found in the human body. These faux estrogens are more potent and more persistent at the estrogen receptor site than human “17-beta estradiol,” creating dangerous and unbearable side-effects. These Big Pharma drugs are patented molecules. Legally, it is impossible to patent a natural substance for which a molecular construct already exists in nature such as water, or human hormones. Therefore, the invented molecules found in Standard of Care treatments must be architected to be unique, non-natural forms in order to be able to be patented. NATURAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY— WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? Many men and women are beginning to realize that living without their hormones is miserable and dangerous. But, what if there was a kind of hormone replacement that could actually imitate youthful hormone levels, not just mask a few random symptoms? What if replacing hormones has the potential to alleviate many degenerative diseases associated with aging? After all, history has shown that young individuals aren’t susceptible to osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, glaucoma, cancer, and heart disease to name a few. The main difference between young men and women and older men and women is their reproductive capacity and the attendant hormones associated with reproductive youth. Medicine bears witness that most men and women with normal hormones do not have those diseases.
But, what if there was a kind of hormone replacement that could actually imitate youthful hormone levels, not just mask a few random symptoms? What if replacing hormones has the potential to alleviate many degenerative diseases associated with aging?
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Common sense dictates that natural hormone replacement (not synthetic drugs with hormone-like effects), does not cause cancer. If estrogen and progesterone, or even testosterone caused cancer, all young people would be dead. If logic like that tells us that estrogen doesn’t cause cancer in and of itself, then there must be more to the story. Synthetic drugs with hormone-like effects, however, are not the answer. The solution lies with the kind of hormone, how much, and when it is administered. Currently, many believe that a hormone is natural if it is found in nature or created in a lab and it is chemically suitable to do the job in the body. It is important to note that if the substance or structure is changed in a laboratory, it no longer does the same job that our hormones do. These hormone-like pharmaceutical drugs can trigger a variety of activities at the receptor site. However, Big Pharma hormones differ not only in structure, but in the synergistic actions they have on every mechanism in the body. BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (BHRT) The term bio-identical has become a catch-all phrase for anything that is not from a lab. It is commonly applied to look-alike molecules derived from “natural” plants that are substituted for the hormone molecules we produce in the body. “Natural,” or bio-identical hormones are made by converting natural plant hormone compounds from wild yams and soybeans into chemical molecules identical to those made in the human body for 17-beta estradiol, progesterone, or testosterone. These sources of plant hormones mimic only the “chemical structure” of human hormones. The purveyors of this premise—that the body can’t distinguish created bioidentical hormones from our own—has never been accepted by the Standard of Care unless used in an FDA product. Bio-identical HRT is available in standardized tablets, patches, compounded creams, gels and injectable prescriptions in very low static doses. Taking more than one kind together every day is termed “continuous combined” therapy. Taking one, say estradiol, and adding in progesterone for some part of the cycle is referred to as “sequential” dosing. COMPOUNDED PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) products from compounding pharmacies are made with the same plant-derived raw materials developed for their ability to mimic the hormone molecules found humans used in Big Pharma products. In compounded BHRT, the raw materials known as 17 beta-estradiol, testosterone, cortisol, and progesterone have been FDA approved in the same sense that they are as ingredients in FDA products. These compounded forms are the ones most commonly called BHRT. The HRT made using this methodology provide very little actual hormone in a dose that is static (administering the same amount each day).
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PELLET THERAPY AS BHRT Pellets aren’t really pellets. They are tiny rice-sized “capsulettes” filled with bio-identical hormones in in a watersoluble vinyl polymer called polyvinylpyrrolidone USP. Your physician of choice will cut a slit in your upper buttock to insert these pellets. The amount and how many kinds of pellets are administered at once may vary, and the process is repeated after they ostensibly release their contents into your blood stream and then dissolve. So, you get stabbed, and risk infection every 3-4 months, too. Pellet therapies were used in Europe in the 1930s. Brought to America by Dr. Robert Greenblatt in 1939, the immediate problems identified were those of absorption rates. Cortisol is gone in 27 days, estrogen in 51 days, and testosterone in 61 days alone. Dosing is remarkably inaccurate because of the previous fact and the variability among patient metabolism. Aetna, in their study of pellets for men, concluded six testosterone pellets (450 mg), plus injections of 50 mg a week was adequate to six months-worth of replacement. But that study was done because Aetna is an insurance company and the only FDA-approved testosterone pellet was Testopel, which is now facing a classaction law suit. As for women and pellets, in 1992, Dr. Geno Tutero founded the SottoPelle Center for Hormonal Balance and Wellbeing. He realized progesterone just didn’t work like that and opted for estrogen and testosterone pellets combined with sequential (part of the month) progesterone creams or pills. While Dr. Tutero died in 2015, his legacy lives on though his franchises and though the facilities who knocked off his treatments such as BioTE, Amore Vie, and BodyLogic.
Those environmental cues are reported right down to genes with hormone rhythms—the same hormones that dissipate at midlife. So, the same dose of whatever hormone—even those made by plants—taken everyday, not only doesn’t register as hormone messages in the body (hormones move in wave-like patterns), but causes great harm. Thanks to the same mechanism causing insulin (a hormone) resistance, statically dosed bioidenticals also stop working within about three to five months. Research done by T. S. Wiley shows that it may not, in fact, just be the molecule that matters. The way the hormone is administered and when the hormone molecule is received at the receptor site, as well as the way receptors are provoked may be as important, if not more. After all, the WHI proved that dosing synthetic HRT in a static, low-dose regimen was harmful to woman over 65, particularly with regard to stroke and cardiac events.
It is important to note that if the substance or structure is changed in a laboratory, it no longer does the same job that our hormones do.
The Wiley Protocol’s hormone restoration therapies are distinguished from other BHRT programs because they are biomimetic as well as bio-identical. The Wiley Protocol is based on the premise that “bio-identical” hormones can only be truly and accurately bio-identical if the hormones for replacement not only mimic those found in the body, but mimic the natural biological processes associated with them as well. In other words, natural plant derived hormones can accurately be termed bio-identical only when they are dosed in a biomimetic fashion which must include a natural, cyclical rhythm. The Wiley Protocol uses the natural rhythms found in reproductive youth to establish the proper doses of estradiol and progesterone for women, and DHEA and testosterone for men. The Wiley Protocol is a multi-phasic rhythmic dosing regimen, meaning that the topical creams and their amounts vary throughout the 28-day cycle to restore the hormone levels of a man or woman in their prime. It is this natural, wave-like rhythm of application that is missing from all other bio-identical and synthetic hormone replacement therapies. This approach opens the door for a new look at the possible decline or disappearance of the symptoms and disease-states associated with menopause, andropause, and aging.
In countless blogs and chat sites, women report lasting sciatica pain, persistent infections, growing unwanted hair in unappealing places, acne, hot flashes, sleep loss, and massive abdominal weight gain. The most distressing clinical problem is the inability to adjust the dose or remove the active agent. In fact, on August 26th, 2011, a Dr. Donovitz was sued and brought before the Texas Medical Board in a law suit brought by a patient complaining he failed to perform an intake exam and prescribed testosterone pellets with no laboratory evidence that she needed it. She claimed substantial damage, including but not limited to: hair loss, facial hair and cystic acne. BIOMIMETIC: THE KEY TO RESTORING, NOT REPLACING, HORMONES Chronobiology, the study of the patterns of time and environmental effects on human biological systems, shows us that the patterns in nature control the actions of our genes in every cell of our body. Sun up. Sun down. Every trip around the Sun. All living beings are regulated by biological cycles. These cycles have a rhythm and are commonly called circadian rhythms or referred to as the circadian clock. This ‘clock’ in our cells measures the rhythm of a 24-hour spin of the planet. For 28 days, the moon tracks the repeat of that cycle — and so does the body.
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Topical Analgesics
IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC PAIN BY DR. BOYCE N. BERKEL, MD, PH.D. Pain pills (including narcotics) are commonly prescribed for the treatment of acute and chronic pain, but these often cause side effects, which are sometimes severe. Pain creams (topical analgesics) offer the potential to give the same pain relief provided by the pain pills but with minimal systemic side effects. This article describes the results of a systematic review of the efficacy of pain creams (topical analgesics) in the management of acute and chronic pain conditions. This article is adapted from abstract written for the Mayo Clinic by Charles E. Argoff, MD. Strong evidence was identified for the use of topical diclofenac and topical ibuprofen in the treatment of acute soft tissue injuries or chronic joint-related conditions, such as osteoarthritis. Evidence also supports the use of topical lidocaine in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy. Currently, limited evidence is available to support the use of other topical analgesics in acute and chronic pain. Although potentially effective in providing meaningful pain relief, oral administration of regularly prescribed pain pills frequently results in unwanted side effects, which may prevent their ongoing use and result in you having to stop them altogether.
For example, narcotics (Hydrocodone, Tramadol, Tylenol 3 and others) are associated with a wide variety of side effects that affect your brain and nerves, including potentially fatal depression of your respirations, addiction, itching, nausea, and severe constipation. These side effects often lead to the need for additional medications for relief of the effects. It’s a never-ending cycle of medications going through your liver, gallbladder and gut. Use of oral NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, and others) also can result in serious side effects, including bleeding from your stomach, heart complications (such as hypertension and increased risk for a heart attack, and kidney abnormalities or failure. Salicylates, Aspirin and other similar drugs, pain relief through a mechanism similar to that of other NSAIDs and therefore are associated with similar side effects. Pain Creams were developed, in part, to provide the relief from pain seen with pain pills but without the associated side effects with the pain pills. Application of pain creams produce clinically effective drug concentrations at a local site of injury or inflammation, without resulting in high concentrations of the drug in your system that it increases the likelihood of a reaction.
Various factors influence the penetration and absorption of pain creams, including the types of ingredients included in the formula, and, of course, everybody is different and their skin absorbs differently. With the skin being the largest organ in the human body, using pain creams is nevertheless a potentially valuable strategy in the management of a variety of conditions associated with acute or chronic pain. This includes acute soft tissue injuries, chronic muscle and joint pain, and various nerve pain disorders. The Mayo Clinic therefore did this study just to evaluate and prove the effectiveness of pain creams in acute and chronic pain. Acute pain is defined as the immediate pain you feel as the result of an injury. Chronic pain is defined as pain that has lasted three months or more. Our conclusion is that the available evidence suggests that topical NSAIDs can be recommended for shortterm pain relief in patients with acute soft tissue injuries or chronic joint-related conditions such as osteoarthritis. Topical ibuprofen and topical diclofenac have been widely studied. Topical ibuprofen appears to be comparable in efficacy to oral ibuprofen in the treatment of chronic knee pain or acute soft tissue injuries. Topical diclofenac also has equivalent efficacy with oral diclofenac in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder. Topical lidocaine therapy can be recommended for use in patients with neuropathic pain, particularly PHN and diabetic neuropathy, and controlled trials have consistently found that such treatment can provide effective analgesia. Topical analgesics offer better tolerability than oral therapy. For example, studies comparing topical and oral NSAIDs
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have consistently reported more favorable tolerability profiles for topical agents. In general, topical analgesics are devoid of systemic AEs, notably the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular events that often limit the usefulness of oral preparations of opioids, NSAIDs, and salicylates. Although application site reactions are common with some topical preparations, these generally have been mild, transient, and well tolerated. Topical analgesic therapy using NSAIDs or lidocaine has an important place in the management of acute and chronic pain conditions and warrants further study.
These side effects often lead to the need for additional medications for relief of the effects. It’s a never-ending cycle of medications going through your liver, gallbladder and gut. DID YOU KNOW THAT… Six out of every ten Chronic Pain sufferers who try PainBreak, a new topical analgesic available in the Acute Care Triage portal, are getting relief… now it’s your turn! But will PainBreak work for you? There is only one way to find out… Go to the “Useful Links” menu in your Acute Care Triage healthcare portal. Click on pain management, and research the pain creams for yourself.
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