Thursday, April 29, 2010

Asbergers/Autism Sepctrum disorders

Wow, is this a lengthy topic!! Jeff will be doing lectures at some of the Sprouts stores in the greater Phoenix, AZ are the end of May on this topic. Check your local Sprouts stores for date and time if you are interested in attending. He has done a lot of research and has great information. I have asked him to post his lecture notes when they are complete. In the meantime, I do want to share one thing we have come across that seems to be having some success. The supplement is DMG, Dimethyl Glycine.
Dimethyl Glycine is an intermediary product of cell metabolism within the body which is also found in small amounts in the diet and can be obtained in larger supplemental doses. It is a form of vitamin B 15.

Some of the issues that DMG may help with:
DMG may improve the condition of Autism patients
DMG may improve the behavior and mental function of children afflicted with Down's Syndronme
DMG ( 200 mg daily) may reduce the frequency of seizures in epilepsy patients.

Chelation therapy for heavy metals

a number of years ago my mother shared with me the "poor man's chelation therapy". For those who would like to detox heavy metals from their body and don't want to do the IV chelation, here is an easy alternative.

Take a handful of almonds
soak overnight
pop out of skin and put in blender
add 1-2 cloves of garlic
1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
handful of cilantro ( cilantro is a natural chelator)
Mix/ blend together and add more oil as needed to make pesto.

Eat on your favorite crackers as a healthy snack

also vitamins A, C, and E along with Selenium are great chelators.

Carlson Labs has a product called ACES which contains these ingredients.

supplements for stress

A recent article in the April 2010 issue of Energy Times gives ideas on supplements to use for stress. The article by Lisa James in part states:

"The signs of chronic stress, including fatigue, disordered eating and low-level depression are the most common complaints heard by alternative health practitioners. Fortunately, natural medicine offers a number of gentle remedies that provide nourishing support for people under duress.

B-Complex vitamins are among the first nutrients to be depleted in times of stress, especially when someone reacts to pressure by eating nutritionally deficient processed foods. (My note.. Vitamin B 12 is necessary for digestion and is often overlooked) Recent research indicates that vitamin C is a key anti-stress nutrient; this crucial antioxidant helps regulate the release of cortisol, a hormone produced in times of stress. The stress response can be intensified by a lack of magnesium, another nutrient often deficient in people under chronic stress.

One of the most distressing effects of stress is the inability to either fall or stay asleep. and while good sleep habits---butting out the caffeine, getting to bed the same time every night-- are important,supplemental help is available.
Melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep/wake cycle, can promote drowsiness and initiate sleep. Lactium, a milk-based protein, promotes healthy sleep by taking the temsion our of the stress response. And 5-HTP, an amino acid often used as an antidepressant, may be able to help reduce early-morning wakefulness.

Herbs also figure prominently in the fight against stress. Some, such as chamomile, valerian and passionflower, promote relaxation. Others act as adaptogens, substances that help bring the body back into balance by increasing resistance to stress, anxiety and fatigue. Among other actions, adaptogens help increase stamina, boost immune function, sharpen concentration and focus, and promote better mood and an overall sense of well-being. Herbs that fall into the adaptogen category include Korean or red ginseng, China's famous rejuvenating tonic; American ginseng, considered more suitable for younger people than its better known cousin;rhodiola, a Siberian herb with anti-aging properties; and ashwaganda, long used in India for its tonic effects."

Stress surely is an interesting malady. Often we don't think we are "stressing" and yet our sleep may be sketchy, digestion upset, and I find I will start with the strange dreams. Besides considering the things listed above by Lisa James, I have found some of the following tools helpful. According to my husband, Jeff, "stress is the fear of unmet expectations". So don't worry about things.... sounds too easy. It does take work and faith. I have found such things as Emotional Freedom Technique helpful in "letting go" of things I cannot control. Check this technique out on their website, www.emofree.com. This is a great tool. Such things as exercise, positive affirmations, a good walk, yoga and qui gong (spelling?) are helpful. Ultimately, faith and reliance on the Lord will be our biggest strength in times of stress.

A doctor I once worked for would often ask " what is the worst that can happen?" I would go through all types of possible scenarios and then realize that even if the worst thing I could think of did occur, I would still be okay. One way or another. It is a matter of faith and eternal perspective.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Flu in school children and Vit D study

A recent study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition investigated the effect of vitamin D supplementation in preventing influenza A in schoolchildren compared to a placebo. A total of 430 schoolchildren with an average age of 10.2 were randomly assigned to be part of the treatment group or the control group. The treatment group was given three 200 IU vitamin D supplements twice a day, for a total of 1,200 IU of vitamin D per day from December 2008 to March 2009. The placebo group was given identical-looking tablets and also instructed to take 3 tablets twice daily.
After the four month trial, 18.6 % of the children receiving the placebo experienced cases of influenza A, compared to 10.8 % of children taking vitamin D supplements. Another exciting finding in the study was the reduction of asthma attacks in the vitamin D group. For those children who had a previous history of asthma attacks, 12 attacks occurred in children in the placebo group compared to 2 children in the vitamin D supplementation group. It is believed that vitamin D supplementation in children is safe for doses ranging from 200 IU to 2000 IU, and no adverse events were experienced throughout the course of this study.
Carlson Laboratories offers a full line of nutritional supplements and fish oil products, including Ddrops. Baby Ddrops and Carlson for Kids Ddrops are available in 400 IU strengths. Carlson Ddrops are also available in 1,000 IU and 2,000 IU strengths for adults. Ddrops are taste-free, odorless drops that are easily taken with any food or beverage.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

help for respiratory issues

We have been asked recently to share a good protocol for respiratory issues. Here it is:

for adults 300,000 IU's of Vitamin A for 5-7 days. then reduce amount to 100,000 IU's for 5-7 days, then 50,000 thereafter

Vitamin D at 20,000 IU's for 5-7 days then 10,000 IU's a day for 5-7 days.

There is little danger of overdose with Vit D but be mindful of Vit A dosages.
For children adjust these to 1/4.

when our son JD was an infant ( 3-6 months old) he was headed toward pneumonia and our chiropractor recommended Halibut liver A and D at that time. I used it and he never got the pneumonia. Now, you can purchase Vitamins A and D separately and adjust individual dosages as needed. Also a good ole' remedy to help is to cut up half of an onion and put by the bed at night to help keep sinus passages open when sleeping. Always remember not to eat onions from a salad bar or buffet as onions, once they are cut, attract bacteria.

Toxic water

Many people are aware of how toxic tap water can be. One of the ways to reduce exposure is to of course not drink tap water but another way is to add good quality water filters to your sinks, showers or a complete home unit. We have recently purchased the Aquasana shower filter and fell in love with it the first day. Our hair is softer, skin not as dry and we love it.

Removing chlorine from shower water offers very noticeable cosmetic benefits. Chlorine robs our skin and hair of the natural oils that retain moisture and elasticity. Without the harsh effects of chlorine you often experience softer, healthier skin and hair.

Other than the immediate cosmetic effects, shower filtration offers significant health protection and benefits. Inhalation of chlorine with steam and skin absorption while showering have been linked to breast, colon and bladder cancer as well as asthma. Chlorine is a poison, and while its effects are tolerated in order to prevent water borne disease from bacteria, it is well documented and understood that it has dramatic adverse health effects. You can visit www.Aquasna.com for additional info. ( these are unpaid and unsolicited comments regarding Aquasana)