NEWSLETTER APRIL 2008

MIRACULOUSLY - A DRAMATIC RECOVERY

Health is so precious.  A friend of mine recently developed severe back pain after working at the computer for long hours. He spent his Sunday crawling around his apartment in agony hardly able to move without extreme discomfort.  He iced his back, took natural and pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories, natural and medicinal pain-killers and started telling himself that he might need an operation and wondered how he would be able to work.  Miraculously within 24 hours he made a dramatic recovery and as Monday was a holiday he was able to return to work on Tuesday.  It took a little while for the penny to drop for him.  Slowly he began to reflect how unappreciative he was of his usual functionality and how much he took this for granted.  Gradually a transformation began to take hold.  What he started to tell himself was that every breath he took and every step he made without pain was a blessing.

    Two weeks after this incident he now gets out of bed early in the morning, goes down to the Cliffside near where he lives and stares with awe, wander and appreciation at the sun rising over the ocean just behind the clouds.  Each breath of fresh, clean, life-giving air he takes is savoured with relish.  He is starting to jog again and he tells me that whereas before this was an onerous chore it has now become an act of sheer joy so that could continue endlessly and effortlessly.  His appreciation has even translated to his personal and professional life.  He realised how much of a grouch he was and how much complaining he did.  He vowed never to complain again and made the decision that all he would do is appreciate.  He tells me that the amount of appreciating he can do is never-ending.  He hasn’t stopped thanking people and he tells me it is really starting to come from his heart.  He thanks the bus-driver, tips the man at the department store who serves his salad from behind the counter who nobody has ever tipped and even thanks the young man who provides the routine daily courier service at his place of work.  Every-time someone does something for him in their work capacity he thanks them profusely.  He absolutely refuses to be negative or express displeasure at anyone’s contribution no matter how much it might annoy him. 

  He tells me that magic is starting to happen for him.  The trees look greener, the air smells fresher, the grass looks more vibrant and the sky and the clouds have assumed all sorts of beautiful configurations.  All of this because he has decided to commit to appreciation and never complain.  He has never felt so good about his life or so loving and he is now greeting people everywhere he goes.  When you look at it nothing much has happened to him except for his decision. He hasn’t met the partner of his dreams, hasn’t written a best seller and hasn’t just earned a million dollars.  All he has is his decision.

  One of my patient’s father recently had a stroke.  It came as a real shock as he was travelling reasonably well.  It made me realise how precious health is once again and how preventive health strategies are so important.  Studies show that lowering a substance called homocysteine can help prevent stroke and if you wish to know whether you have elevated homocysteine levels all you need to do is have a blood test.  High dose vitamin B12, B6 and folic acid can lower homocysteine if the blood test shows that your levels are raised.  The dose of B12 has to be high as so many folk are B12 deficient and here we are talking of a dose of at least 1000mcg daily.  Taking 2 Memozeal tablets daily would give you 500mcg worth of B12.

Question & Answer Segment   ------    your queries answered

Question:  I have several large (up to 7cm) fibroids within the uterus I understand these are exacerbated by high oestrogen levels.  Is there any natural way of reducing the oestrogen levels?  What is the general recommended surgical treatment? I am 51 and still have regular 4 wkly periods, with no evidence of menopause.  Any advice would be appreciated.

Answer: You are correct.  Too much oestrogen does stimulate fibroid growth along with progesterone.  Once you have them natural treatment might not cause them to regress.  Surgical management is considered if these cause problems including excision of the fibroids or the uterus.  Maintaining your optimal weight, increasing your consumption of green vegetables, limiting exposure to pesticides and beef and modulating stress effectively would have a positive effect on your hormonal status.

Question:  I have been taking Livial for the last 10 years as a HRT. I have monitored myself with biannual mammograms and annual pepsmear tests. With the latest release on HRT (2008) in San Francisco recently, that there is an adverse effect in relation to breast cancer, I am in a dilemma as to whether to discontinue the use of Livial. Livial has kept me in good spirit, with good skin texture etc and I would like to continue its use if there is no adverse effect.

Answer: I have looked at the research on Livial and to be truthful there are as many negative as there are positive studies with those suggesting no increased risk of breast cancer and others asserting the opposite.  You would need to discuss your options with your physician and if you decide to continue there is an excellent chapter in ‘You have the power’ on breast cancer protection.

Question:  I am currently on Amiodarone 200mg & Asprin 300mg following an attack of Atrial Fibrillation. (Chemo related) Could you suggest any supportive/alternative supplements.

Answer:  While I wouldn’t suggest replacing your medication or at least bringing this to the attention of your doctor supplements that might help include fish oil, magnesium, coenzyme Q10 and the B vitamin group.

Question:  I suffer from hypertension (Inderal and Zampix), underlying anxiety (Efexor-XR 150mg) and a tremor in the jaw and left hand and leg (Cabasar). I want to get off these drugs and red your article on antioxidants and mitochondrial function). Would MitoQ, MitoE or MitoPBN antioxidants be of benefit to me and where can I get them?

Answer:  Unfortunately these supplements aren’t commercially available yet but what might help is having your zinc, iodine and magnesium levels assessed as correcting deficiencies of these might help to treat some of your health problems.

Question:  I have Dupuytren's contractures which have been unsuccessfully treated by an operation. It seems PABA may help soften the tendons, but is unavailable locally. Where can I obtain this treatment?

Answer:  Your compounding pharmacy might be able to formulate this vitamin-like compound for you.  Medications called calcium channel blockers have been used to treat contractures in cream form and topical iodine might also be helpful.