Be Well Blog

Do I Really Need Detoxification?

Pollution As A Way Of Life

Now more than ever, living in the United States means being exposed to thousands of chemicals and environmental pollutants.  Although most pollutants are commercially produced, some occur naturally, and both are on the rise especially in metropolitan areas. Imagine the increased toxic load in the NYC air since 9/11.  Many pollutants are not obvious, like additives in our food and water supplies, and the over-use of antibiotics and other prescription medications. Our overindulgence in food, alcohol, and tobacco also increases our toxic load.

We are so used to living in a toxic world that we don't often stop to recognize the sources or long and short term effects.  Consider this: The Consumer Product Safety Commission has identified 150 chemicals in the home linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer, and psychological abnormalities, the most dangerous coming from common cleaning products that are three times more likely to cause cancer than air pollution.  Ironically, we use most of these products to kill germs in order to keep us and our families well. 

Our bodies are constantly bombarded by pollutants present in our air, water, soil, food, clothing, furniture, carpeting, paints, and the list goes on.  Our exposure to toxins can be internally generated as well. “Natural Pollutants” include stress and sedentary lifestyles, which place a burden on our internal organs. Here's another eye-opening statistic: recent research suggests that 80-90% of visits to primary care physicians are stress related.

TOXIC SYMPTOMS  An overload of toxic exposure can manifest in a number of ways: headaches, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, irritability, depression, mental confusion, fibromyalgia, gas, bloating, heartburn, poor digestion, cardiovascular irregularities, weight gain, flu-like symptoms, or allergic reactions including hives, stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and even food allergies. And these are only some of the more benign results!

In addition to these symptoms, it has been suggested that toxic overload may also contribute to more serious conditions such as autoimmune disease including inflammatory and rheumatoid arthritis, neurological disease such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's disease, liver disease and cancer.

Our bodies are smart and come equipped with tools to filter toxins from our systems.  However, the high levels of heavy metals and poisons that invade our days cannot be discarded fast enough to maintain optimal health.  Simply put, most of the chemicals borne of the modern age and the desire to improve—and add ease to our lifestyles—are making us sick.  Sick and tired. 

THERE IS HOPE  In spite of how horrible this all sounds, there are ways to re-balance, and even “re-generate" your bodies!  In other words, all hope is not lost. This program is going to teach you how to detoxify and get your health and your life back in balance.

What My Family & I Are Doing To Prevent The Flu

Hi Everyone,

This morning I spoke to a patient who recently saw a friend of hers at a party who works in the pharmaceutical industry. When she asked him about the H1N1 vaccine he responded, "In my opinion its a bunch of BS.  We just saw a huge opportunity to make a lot of money."  

After hearing how many families from my daughter's class are getting sick right now, and running into a fellow class parent and friend today who shared her anxiety about the potential effect on her child with asthma, I felt an obligation to write further about this.  (And I've re-written this 3 times already, and decided to spare you my diatribe about special interest groups and mis-information, and just give you the facts). 
 
How much have you heard from the mainstream media about effective ways you can protect yourself and your family from the swine flu, or ANY flu, naturally, without exposing anyone to a vaccine that may turn out to be more toxic than the flu itself?  Not much.  This really disturbs me because there is so much you can do.  And just to be clear, I am sharing what I have found to be really successful for my own family.

Here's what my family and I are doing to prevent/treat swine flu (and any flu), right now:

1. High-dose Vitamin D3*:  (Google it for its anti-viral & asthma-lessening effects!)

Adults: for prevention, 5,000 iu per day; (if coming down with illness, 50,000 iu per day for 3 days, then drop back down to 5,000 iu per day). 

I am exposed to many sick people through my practice (including H1N1), so I take 10,000 iu per day for prevention; & 50,000 iu per day for 3 days, at first signs of illness.

My children, Pia & Chloe, take: 4,000 iu per day for prevention, 10,000 iu for 3 days, in acute illness.

* Many people in Northern climates are D3 deficient!  Blood titres will show levels.  Some scientists believe the yearly flu is a side effect of vitamin D3 deficiency.  If you think of how little we've seen the sun this spring and summer, it ties in with the early incidence of colds and flus this season, perhaps with the added threat of the swine flu.  Think about it,  usually 1/2 hour of sunlight exposure will create 10,000 iu of vitamin D3 through your skin!  These numbers really illustrate how pitiful the RDA is for D3 (only 400 iu per day), especially in the months without a lot of strong sun.  Here's a great site for more information: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/ 

2. Triple Flu Defense: This liquid homeopathic remedy is reformulated every year to be most active against the current flu viruses!  Our whole family takes it using these dosages: prevention = 20 drops 1x week.  When ill, 20 drops 4x day.

3. K-PAX Fuel of Life: Formulated by Jon Kaiser, MD and shown to boost white blood cell activity over 27% even in active AIDS patients, these capsules are one of the strongest natural anti-viral remedies available.  Laura & Evers: dosage for prevention = 4 caps 2x day and when ill, 8 caps 2x day. Pia & Chloe, 1/2 the adult dose.

We also take a number of homeopathic and Anthroposophical remedies if we are ill - which are specific for the person who is ailing. 

It doesn't happen often, but Chloe did became ill with a flu last Friday night.  I am certain it was due to the fact that we were out of Vitamin D and Triple Flu Defense and she had gone without them for a week.  I got home Saturday afternoon with a re-supply of theses remedies, which she began taking right away.  Her fever broke Sunday morning & she went to bed Sunday night about 60% better.

Fear is the worst thing for your and your children's health.  However, prevention begins with forethought, something my daughter's recent illness is a vivid illustration of. 

If you wish to begin providing your family with the same course of preventative, natural remedies that I trust to keep my own family well, contact our office at (203) 708-9299 and order your supply. 

Warmest regards!

Evers

PS. To help you and your family get a NATURAL head start against the flu, we're offering these three products at a 10% discount until the end of November.

The Swine Flu: Cutting Through The Hype

• Doctors and nurses are refusing to be vaccinated because the new vaccine has a strong potential to be more harmful than the flu itself! Read Why.

• Nine reasons why you should not allow your child to get the swine flu vaccine. Plus an important Fox News interview with an Infectious Disease Expert. See it, read it here.

• What's in that flu shot? Facts, stats, and details plus an in-depth interview with Dr. Russell Blaylock. Find it here.

• Our recommendations for boosting your immune system naturally. Here's How.

• Frequently asked questions answered by Dr. C. Evers Whyte about the swine flu and natural prevention methods. Read them here.

 

• Why do we get more colds and flus during autumn and winter?  New ideas for prevention using principles of Eastern medicine.

Integrated Medicine Explained Part II: Homeopathic Medicine

In last month's newsletter we promised to provide you with more specific details about the different practices that contribute to Integrated Medicine.  Our first article, still available on our web site, explores the theories behind mind-body medicine.  This month we will provide you with a better understanding of Homeopathic medicine.  We hope our articles provide insights and information while inspiring deeper investigation, and we welcome your questions or comments.
 

Homeopathic Origins
Known documentation of the core principles of homeopathic medicine dates back as far as writings by Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.).  In 1796 German physician C. F. Samuel Hahnemann developed these principals into a system of medicine that he called "Homeopathy."  His research was so extensive and thorough that it is considered by modern medicine to be the first ever "clinical trials."  What Hippocrates and Hahnemann couldn't know was that their theories were actually based upon advanced science, known to us today as Quantum Physics, which recognizes the interchangeability of matter and energy.

Homeopathic Medicine In Practice
Homeopathic medicine's fundamental healing principles are based upon the "law of similars," otherwise known as "like cures like," and the ability of the body's natural energetic forces to be stimulated to positively affect the body's "matter."  Homeopathy maintains that this vital force has the ability to react and adapt to internal and external causes, and can be empowered to eradicate illnesses through the physical introduction of artificial symptoms similar to those of a given disease

Resolution of an illness occurs when the sick individual is given a small dose of a medicine capable of producing symptoms similar to those of their disease.  The immune system's response is thus energetically enhanced to promote healing and optimal health. 
 

Remedies As A Mirror
One way to better understand how Homeopathic remedies work is to imagine having a virus or disease prevalent enough to have "stunned" or overwhelmed your immune system.  In other words, your ailment is winning the battle, becoming chronic or worse.  Through the introduction of specific Homeopathic remedies your immune system is reawakened.  As if peering into a mirror, your body's physical and energetic self "sees" the symptoms more clearly.  Through this renewed recognition, your immune system is more capable of defending you against the disease itself.
 
Used As Prevention
The same principals of stimulating the immune system apply when using Homeopathic remedies to prevent illness.  Sensing the symptoms, the immune system strengthens its defenses against that illness or virus in advance of external exposure.
 
Different From A Vaccine
It is vital to understand that unlike vaccines, homeopathic remedies do not contain diseases, dangerously toxic heavy metals, or squalene oil adjuvants used by pharmaceuticals to transmit the vaccine into your body.  Homeopathic remedies are water based solutions of greatly diluted natural elements that only replicate symptoms.  You can read more about the dangers of vaccines by clicking on the links contained in this issue's article, "Swine Flu: Cutting Through The Hype" .
 
Recognized And Accepted
The American Institute of Homeopathy describes its medical specialty as a scientific, therapeutic method which embodies a philosophy of understanding people and illness in a holistic context with the goal of promoting optimal health and healing, based upon the FDA recognized Homeopathic Pharmacopœia of the United States.
We agree, which is why Homeopathy is one of the elements of our integrated, holistic, family practice.

Integrative Medicine Explained

By Dr. C. Evers Whyte

What is “Integrated Medicine?”  Ask ten different doctors this question and you might get 10 different answers.  It’s an exciting topic in that new findings are being published every day about how the success of medical outcomes are  improving through integrating different therapies, protocols and even medical paradigms.

My answer is this: Integrated Medicine is a model through which a physician or therapist first looks at a person who is coming for help, asks themselves, “What does this person need to become whole again?” and then uses any and every tool and resource available to facilitate that healing process.  It is more than the combined use of various “conventional” and “alternative” therapies, but aims to access deeper levels of our consciousness.  For example, a hug could be clinically described as, “two persons wrapping their arms around each other and squeezing,” but we all know this explanation lacks the true essence of what a hug is all about!

To begin to understand and appreciate the “process” of Integrated Medicine we first have to appreciate that while our bodies are made of interconnected physical systems–cardiovascular, skeletal, endocrine, nervous, etc, we are more than the sum of these parts.  We are in actual fact, beings composed of integrated and interpenetrating Intelligences: body, mind, soul, and spirit.

To be healthy, we need all these aspects of our beings to be “aligned” and working harmoniously.  If there is dis-harmony, there is dis-ease.  As an Integrated Medical physician, I seek to align and integrate all effective medicinal modalities to heal all the integrated elements, or Intelligences, of your being.

The patient that comes into our office with fatigue and brain-fog may be suffering from iron-deficiency, anemia, or adrenal exhaustion, perhaps hypoglycemia, decreased melatonin production, or the reluctance to go through the natural process of grief at a loved-one’s death after a long illness.  As I work with the patient to find the root of her ailments, we may discover that a number of these diagnoses are correct, perhaps even all of them.  This patient doesn’t have a Prozac deficiency.  She may need a change in

Heart Disease in Women

A Preventable Killer 

Heart disease is the leading killer of women over the age of 25.  It kills nearly twice as many women in the US than all types of cancer combined, including breast cancer.  If you’re surprised by these numbers you’re not alone.  Only 13% of women believe heart disease is a threat to them.  Worse, a recent survey showed that less than half the doctors thought of heart disease as a major threat to women, and less than half the women receiving regular medical care say that their doctors have ever talked to them about reducing their risk of heart disease.

This underestimation, by women and their doctors, of the very real and severe danger of heart disease is a primary contributor to the high death toll because in most cases, with adequate awareness, heart disease is preventable.  This is worth repeating:  the disease that kills more women in the US than all cancers combined is in most cases preventable.

Preventing heart disease depends completely upon first acknowledging its threat and then educating one’s self to the various risk factors which can include high cholesterol, blood pressure, estrogen levels, heredity, diet, and lifestyle.   Does this list seem like too much to manage?  It’s not at all.  Most of the risk factors can be monitored through blood tests and all of the factors can be controlled by better, easy to follow, heart-healthy lifestyle habits. 

It is also important to know that the symptoms of heart disease displayed by women are significantly different than those presented by men.  Because they don’t display the “classic” symptoms of heart disease or a heart attack, women often go undiagnosed, or wait too long to seek medical help while having a heart attack.  Knowing the warning signs is as important as knowing how to prevent the disease to begin with.

At The Center For Health Renewal we strongly believe in empowered patients and advise women to take charge for their health through awareness, early diagnosis, and lifestyle management. 

The Benefits of Acupuncture

 

 

Acupuncture is an ancient form of medicine that’s been used successfully for over 8000 years.  It is based upon the Taoist tradition of observing the flow of energy within and without, where the body is viewed as a network of interrelated energy channels or “meridians.”  Illness and pain are the result of blocked or imbalanced energy currents.  Acupuncture uses hair-thin needles painlessly inserted into specific points on the body to stimulate or unblock the flow of energy and restore one’s natural balance and health.

In the East this energy is called “qi” (pronounced “chee) and is linked to our relation to nature and seasonal changes.  Western science believes acupuncture likely works by stimulating the central nervous system to release chemicals that dull pain, boost the immune system and regulate various body functions.  

However one wishes to view it, thousands of years of use and modern day scientific studies have proven the effectiveness of acupuncture to treat a wide variety of health problems including  pain of all origins, disorders of the neurological, muscular, respiratory, and gastro-intestinal systems.  It’s also used to treat osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, chemotherapy-induced nausea, bladder control, carpel tunnel, anxiety, insomnia, allergies, asthma, high blood, constipation, weight loss, smoking cessation, and more.

Acupuncture can treat so many different maladies because it recognizes that all parts of the body create an integrated, “whole” being.   And unlike conventional pharmaceuticals, there are only beneficial side effects to acupuncture such as sleeping better, having more energy, breathing deeper and many other bonuses.

Like other Integrative Medical Practices, acupuncture believes the body naturally wants to remain healthy and balanced.  Like a ship on the water that rolls with daily sea changes and challenges while remaining upright, the body’s innate design urges it to return to a fully functional, balanced position.  Acupuncture  gently assists the body to heal itself naturally.

Heart Disease In Women: Prevention Is The Best Medicine

Workshop Announcement

Heart disease kills nearly twice as many women in the US than all types of cancer combined, including breast cancer.  This statistic is stunning, especially because in most cases heart disease is completely preventable.  Join us and learn about risk factors, warning signs and easy to live with prevention methods.

WHAT:  An interactive discussion led by Brooke Davidson, D.O. (OB/GYN), with a special interest in preventative medicine.

WHEN:  Thursday, September 24th, 7:30 PM

WHERE:  The Center For Health Renewal, 30 Myano Lane, Suite, 26, Stamford, CT

HOW:  Please call to reserve a seat as space is limited:  (203) 708-9299 or email askdoctorwhyte@gmail.com

A $10 donation is suggested and will be given to The Women’s Heart Health Initiative at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation in New York City. Dress comfortably and bring a friend or two because awareness is lifesaving.  To learn more, visit www.TheCenterForHealthRenewal.com

Post Lyme Disease Syndrome

By Dr. C. Evers Whyte

There’s a very good chance that you’ve never heard of “Post-Lyme Disease Syndrome,” even if you’ve suffered from Lyme disease itself.  Post Lyme Disease Syndrome (PLDS) is as controversial as it is complicated, and many doctors will assert that it simply does not exist.  However, if you have been treated for Lyme disease (LD) and still feel ill, you know, along with a growing group of medical professional, that PLDS is in fact, dreadfully real.  And much like LD, PLDS manifests and presents itself in a variety of ways that can make it difficult to decipher and therefore treat.  Sadly, many Lyme experts believe that the generally-accepted assessment and treatment practices are woefully inadequate.  The good news, however, is that more and more doctors are recognizing the realities of PLDS and better still are having success treating it.  There is hope!

HOW IT ALL STARTS
To truly understand PLDS we need to begin with an understanding of LD’s basic biology and how doctors in the US have been directed to view and treat it.

LD is caused by a strain of spirochete bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi.  Unfortunately, a majority of doctors, contrary to both empirical findings and a large body of research, stubbornly insist that once LD is treated with the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) recommended 21-day course of antibiotics, it should be considered cured.  Therefore, patients still experiencing symptoms are too often dismissed with a diagnosis of psychosomatic post-Lyme rather than an ongoing infection, or a set of very real physical ailments stemming from the Lyme disease and probable co-infection(s). 

There are several studies that refute this outdated protocol for LD treatment.  One in particular suggests that an estimated 30% of Lyme disease patients do not recover at all after being treated with the CDC recommended antibiotic protocol. 

In addition to this, it is unusual to contract only one infection from a tick bite.  Co-infections are rampant: Borrelia; Erlichia; Babesia; Bartonella; Micoplasma; and Rickettsia are all prevalent in the northeast, and most ticks are infected with these disease causing bacteria along with the one that causes Lyme.   Still, many doctors don’t test for these co-infections, or look deeper into the patient’s whole picture for breakdowns in various other bodily systems, triggered by these infections. 

To make matters even worse, doctors are under an enormous amount of pressure to argue against the existence of chronic Lyme infection because the insurance industry doesn’t want to pay for the ongoing treatment necessary to rid these unfortunate souls of the tenacious infection(s).

Valerie Giglio, LMFT Holistic Psychotherapist

Why I Do What I Do

“As a teenager I had the opportunity to work with children suffering with neuro-atypical disorder (autism).  I was struck by the isolation and profound "inner-aloneness" that these neuro-atypical children seemed to experience.  I learned that I may not be able to radically change their symptoms, but I hoped to positively affect their separateness from our world by being willing to meet them within their world.  Through this work I discovered my love for the art of healing.

My work as a therapist is driven in essence by that same desire to alleviate the emotional wounds of separateness and aloneness that are simply part of the human experience.  My intention is to guide clients toward self-empowerment and emotional freedom by helping them identify limiting, fear-based beliefs that keep them from becoming more fully acquainted with their eternal, authentic self.

In my practice we use personal history to shed light on current misconceptions of one’s self and current struggles, but the main focus is on the NOW where all life and healing take place.  Loving and self-care begin only when we change our habits and thoughts in each moment.  My goal is for clients to leave each session with practical tools they can put to work immediately, rather than simply lingering on personal history.

Kim Bass, OTR/L Yoga Therapist

Why I Do What I Do

“The first time I did yoga I cried.  It was exactly what I needed in my life, a therapeutic practice that provided an emotional and physical connection.  I felt more alive, energized and grounded all at the same time.  That was 15 years ago and I still feel the same way. 

However, when I first started I became injured and realized I was doing yoga incorrectly.  Injuries kept coming up but they inspired me to do some research that resulted in an integration of my knowledge as a registered occupational therapist and the yoga I was practicing.  I then embarked upon years of intense yoga-teacher instruction from various mentors who have studied under John Friend, the founder of Anusaura Yoga and “intelligent vinyasa,” which integrates the breath based rhythm and flow of asanas.  I then combined that knowledge with the therapeutic benefits of healthy precision and solid alignment.

Immune-Boosting Broth Recipe

     

When you provide your immune system with extra energy it does a better job of keeping you healthy, and if necessary, fighting through a challenge like the swine flu. 

Here’s a recipe for a great immune-boosting broth (Use Organic ingredients whenever possible):

• 2 cups of  chicken or vegetable broth
• 4 chopped shallots
• 5 chopped shiitake mushrooms
• 2 cloves of chopped fresh garlic
• 2 chopped carrots (unpeeled)
• 2 cups of chopped leafy greens (e.g. kale, Swiss chard, collard or mustard greens)
• Optional: Unpasteurized Miso to taste. (South River Miso Company makes the best I’ve found:  www.southrivermiso.com)

Bring the broth to a boil, and then add the carrots, shallots, garlic and mushrooms. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.  Next, add in the cooking greens, turn the heat off and let sit for 5 minutes.  Finally, mix in the miso and add salt & pepper to taste.  Never boil miso.  (You can also add chicken, fish, tofu, lean beef, etc. to increase protein, if desired).

Besides being good for you its really tasty, too!

FAQ About The Swine Flu

Our medical director, Dr. C. Evers Whyte answers a few questions about flu prevention.  You can ask your own questions in the comment box below.  (If you don't see this box, click on this article's headline and scroll down.)  We truly welcome your questions and hope to be a helpful as possible during this uncertain period.

Q: Does wearing a mask over my nose and mouth really do any good?

A: Yes, especially if you're regularly exposed to someone who's sick and in confined spaces.  Viruses become airborne when someone infected coughs or sneezes.  The mask can help you avoid breathing that in if you're caring for someone with the flu.

Q:  What is a "Probiotic"?

A: Your lymphatic system, a major element of your immune system, and your digestive tract work in conjunction with each other.  This is why eating correctly positively impacts your immune system.  A probiotic is a positive kind of bacteria that keeps your digestive tract working at its most optimum level and thus improves your immune system as well.

Q:  Are the supplements mentioned in the article above safe?

A:  Completely.  We only prescribe products that are clinically researched and proven to be safe and most effective.  We personalize our recommendations according to our patients' health histories and other important information. 

Q:  Can they actually prevent the flu?

A:  Anything you do to energize and strengthen your immune system will equally improve your ability to resist a virus after exposure.  Using supplements that are scientifically designed to boost your immune system on a cellular level will greatly improve your odds of remaining healthy.

Q:  My husband says handwashing with hot water alone gets rid of germs and soap is not necessary.  I say we need soap.  Who's right?

A:  Don't scald yourself!  Hot water alone is only effective if the temperature is over boiling, so use the soap too.

Food Allergies & Cancer

Our workshop/group discussion led by Dr. Doni Wilson was a huge success.

There were many participants and lots of vital information shared about how to identify food allergies and reduce the risk of chronic ailments and cancer.  We'll be posting a summary article about this topic soon.  But in the mean time, I'd like to invite those of you who participated to share your comments about what you learned during the workshop and what it means to you personally using the "Post A Comment" area below.  (If you do not see this option, double click on this article's title then scroll down).  Also, I'd like to invite all our readers to join the discussion as well.  The more we share what we know the more we can improve the health and well being of our Center's community.
Thanks to you all and to Dr. Donni!
Michele Russell
Director Program Development

 

Dr. Donielle Wilson, ND

Naturopathic Family Practice

Why I Do What I Do

Today I met with a patient with an all too familiar story.   For 10 years she’s suffered persistent and worsening symptoms, visiting doctor after doctor, only to be told that everything is “normal.” 

You might ask, “How can it be that a medical professional would send someone home to continue suffering with no further concern, not to mention curiosity, as to what was at the root of her symptoms?”

I believe this occurs for two reasons.  One is that the body is really good at compensating and keeping things "normal" in the blood while the other parts of the body are ailing, which is why blood test results often come back "within the normal range" even when the patient feels terrible.  The second reason is that conventional medical training focuses on the extreme of medical conditions.  This means that for someone whose

C. Evers Whyte, MS, DC, DACBN

Non-Surgical Spine Specialist
Clinical Nutritionist

Why I Do What I Do

In college, I took up martial arts and while I was training, I stepped in some gymnasts’ chalk as I was throwing a kick.  I slipped and flew about 5 ft up in the air before landing flat on my sacrum on the wooden gym floor.  The pain in my low back was intense and continued to worsen until I was taking 25 Advil just to get through the day.  The stronger pain drugs made me sick.  I stopped exercising because of the pain and gained 20 lbs. After visiting 3 chiropractors, an orthopedist, a neurologist, a rheumatologist, and a neurosurgeon I always ended up with the same result:  “We can’t find anything Physically wrong with you.”  Obviously, my pain itself was not enough to convince these physicians that something was indeed seriously wrong.