Welcome to the ‘Eternal Health’ November newsletter and I’m really looking forward to meeting some of you at the upcoming launch of ‘You have the power.’  This book is currently purchasable via my clinic and will soon be available online.  It’s wonderful how life sometimes mirrors art.  I saw a delightful couple the other day who were both in the early forties and had consulted with their family doctor curious about the kind of tests they could undergo to assess how healthy their bodies were as they wanted to commence some form of wellness programme. In a rather dismissive fashion their doctor indicated that they needn’t worry as they weren’t sick and there weren’t any tests that they needed to do to find out what was ailing them, as they appeared to be in good shape. 

This is a phenomenon that I encounter repeatedly in my practice and I deal with this in detail in ‘You have the power.’  For the most part if you were to approach your family physician with the desire to commit to some form of wellness programme you will invariably be disappointed.  If you’ve lost your old zip and you desire more energy and vitality sadly your doctor is the last person who will be able to help you with this.  Doctors aren’t wellness specialists. Sickness is their expertise and if you aren’t sick they can’t help you.  There is even a quaint phrase for those who seek this kind of medicine.  You will be branded the ‘worried well’ and will be seen as neurotic.  This is the way an endocrinologist, who is a hormone specialist described such an unfortunate patient, who had requested to commence an anti-aging programme, to a group of doctors including myself.  He thought this was the funniest request he had ever heard.  After all she wasn’t unwell. He wondered why she was bothering him with such an outrageous request.  It took all my self-restraint not to give this patronizing physician a piece of my mind.  The above couple are my ideal patients as I’m so pleased when I’m approached by those who aren’t sick but simply want to be on a preventive health programme so they can optimize their well-being and prevent themselves from becoming sick. Time and again we discover via the ‘Eternal Health’ wellness programme where imbalances lie so that these can be corrected to maximize your energy and help you to prevent the diseases of ageing. In essence this is what the anti-aging programme is all about.

TITBITS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

The ongoing wonders of Gingko

Gingko is a herb which helps to improve memory, treat tinnitus and vertigo and can also delay the progression of Alzheimer’s dementia.  The scientific report contains further information about the benefits of this herb.  Now recent research indicates that gingko can be utilised to help prevent and even possibly treat ovarian cancer.  Women who took ginkgo supplements for six months or longer were shown to have a 60% lower risk of developing ovarian cancer.  Gingko might even have the ability to treat cancer with evidence that that this herb has the capacity to stop ovarian cancer cells from multiplying and growing in the laboratory. Remember gingko is found in Memozeal.

Folate and vitamin B12 can help to prevent dementia

At the World Congress of Neurology which was held this November in Sydney evidence presented by professor Amos Korczyn, head of neurology at Tel Aviv University indicates that maintaining optimal levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid might contribute to the prevention of Alzheimer’s dementia.  In a study on a group of nuns who developed Alzheimer’s disease low levels of folic acid were associated with the development of this disorder.  The scientific report will provide you with the rationale for the benefits of these vitamins which are found in Memozeal.

The importance of hormones

Men might think that they are attracted to women because of their physical features but now a study has revealed that oestrogen levels are much more important.  When a group of men were asked to rate the sexual attractiveness of a group of women those who appeared more feminine and had the highest levels of oestrogen based on their blood tests received the highest ratings indicating the importance of maintaining optimal hormone levels.

CONDITION OF THE WEEK- FIBROMYALGIA

I was listening to one of those talkback radio shows recently and was dismayed to hear the advice given to one of the listeners by the doctor on this show who suggested that she take painkillers for her fibromyalgia.  While this can be a difficult condition to treat simply suggesting painkillers hardly constitutes worthwhile counsel. Fibromyalgia is characterised by the presence of burning or aching pain through precise regions of their body.  The defining diagnostic criterion for this condition is the localisation of more than 11 abnormally tender sites out of 18 clearly demarcated areas.  Unfortunately there are no blood tests or any other diagnostic procedures, which accompany this condition.  Current thinking suggests that the alteration of pain pathways could be the underlying cause and research efforts are being directed to medications that can address this abnormality. 5-hydroxytryptophan a remedy often used for insomnia and the topical application of a capsicum cream containing 0.025% of capsaicin the active component have all been found to be effective in reducing the pain and improving the sleep wake cycle of this difficult condition.  Food allergy, inadequate production of digestive juices, abnormal germs in the bowel, infection, heavy metal toxicity and resistance to the normal action of thyroid hormones are possible causes of fibromyalgia.

  Alternative treatments that might help include the mineral magnesium combined with malic acid, S-adenosylmethionine also known as SAMe and the hormones DHEA, melatonin and growth hormone.

CASE OF THE WEEK- ACHIEVING PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS

Weight loss is difficult enough but keeping it off can be the toughest ask of all.  I was delighted to review one of my male patients who presented to me three years ago weighing 110kilograms and with a blood test indicating that he was pre-diabetic.  This was enough to scare the living daylights out of him and he now weighs a healthy 75 kilograms. Strict adherence to a dietary regimen and exercise programme which is described in ‘You have the power’ and taking natural substances including chromium, cinnamon and alpha lipoic acid which assist with sugar metabolism making the burning of fat easier have facilitated this patient’s success.  Herbal remedies such as the herbs fenugreek, bitter melon and gymnema sylvestre also assist with sugar metabolism.

 Q & A segment

Question: I have Macular Degeneration (dry) in the eye.  Is there any alternative
remedy?

Answer: Taking beta-carotene orally 15 mg, combined with vitamin C 500 mg, vitamin E 400 IU, and elemental zinc 80 mg daily seems to limit the progression of macular degeneration. Taking lutein supplements 10 mg per day for 12 months can improve some symptoms of this disorder. Preliminary clinical research suggests that taking ginkgo leaf extract orally might improve symptoms of macular degeneration and improve distance vision.  Selenium at a dose of 200micrograms daily might also be helpful.

 Question: I have been trying to find a product equivalent of Memozeal in the States.
 Are you aware of one?

Answer:  If you are looking for a remedy to manage tinnitus which is ringing in the ears the presence of vinca minor in Memozeal makes this product relatively unique.  Memozeal is also a memory boosting formulation and there are other products available in the USA which have similar properties.

Question: I just want to know where to purchase Memozeal.  I am wanting it mainly to help tinnitus which I get from a cherry bomb thrown at my ear.  I got ringing also from loud music which has damaged the nerves in my ear.  I also get mild vertigo now and then.

Answer:  You can purchase Memozeal via this site or through my clinic, contact 2-88833655 preceded by the international code for Australia.  In Sydney this product is also available in pharmacies and healthfood outlets.

 Question: I suffer from chronic constipation and I need to take metamucil, coloxyl with senna and occasionally agarol with senokot to keep my bowels moving.  I also suffer from bad breath. I eat lots of fruit and vegetables as well as a high fibre diet with lentils.  What do you suggest?

Answer:  Low thyroid function can lead to constipation and this can be evaluated by your physician.  Bad breath or halitosis can be caused by gum disease, poor dental hygiene, imperfect digestion, food allergy and an imbalance of germs in the bowel to name some of the few primary causes of this condition.  Replacement with beneficial germs might be helpful.  I have also found that it is useful investigating food allergy and digestive disorders.    Inadequate production of stomach acids or digestive enzymes will compromise protein digestion leading to halitosis.  Alfalfa, sage, myrrh and parsley are examples of natural remedies that have been used to treat this disorder.

Question: The Memozeal  I’m taking is making a difference not only with my tinnitus but I’ve managed to reduce my antidepressant medication. Could you suggest anything for insomnia?

Answer:  If your melatonin levels are low taking this hormone together with the herbs valerian and hops can help to overcome insomnia.  Melatonin can be measured by means of salivary hormone assay.