Unabridged Dictionary of Drug Alternatives and Non-Surgical Solutions

SECOND EDITION

Julian Whitaker, MD IMPORTANT NOTE What You Should Know Before You Read This Report

The information in this report is not intended to take the place of your per- sonal physician.

You should not self-diagnose. Proper medical care is critical for good health. If you have symptoms that are similar to those discussed in this report, please tell your physician.

If you are currently on a prescription medication, you must consult with your doctor before discontinuing any drug. Any abrupt changes in your drug regimen could have significant effects on your health and therefore must be monitored by your physician.

If you wish to try the natural therapies in this report, first discuss them with your physician. Your physician may not know about these treatments, and it will be up to you to educate him or her.

Vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other natural therapies can be extremely effec- tive, but they work best when they are combined with a daily regimen that focuses on diet, exercise, and other lifestyle factors. The Whitaker Wellness Program will guide you; elements of my program are outlined throughout this report.

Note: Julian Whitaker, MD, is a medical doctor with extensive experience in the fields of pre- ventive medicine and natural healing. While recommendations in this manual represent the opinions of Dr. Whitaker based upon his knowledge, experience, and training as to safety and effectiveness, these recommendations have not been reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Whitaker’s recommendations are not intended to replace the advice of your physician, and you are encouraged to seek advice from a competent medical profes- sional for your personal health needs. Dear Reader,

The question I’m most often asked by patients and Health & Healing subscribers is how to reduce or eliminate the number of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs they take. Prescription medications (and some OTC therapies) have a host of negative side effects, and they rarely address the underlying problems and really help you get well.

All too often, conventional physicians address health problems by prescribing pow- erful drugs that create new health concerns—for which the doctor then prescribes even more drugs. This creates a vicious cycle of new ailments and a reliance on medications to alleviate those symptoms.

Fortunately, there are safer, more effective, and far less expensive therapies that not only improve many of today’s most common health conditions, but also prevent them from occurring in the first place. Unfortunately, Big Pharma has such a hold on medicine that these natural therapies are generally ignored by conventional doctors.

I’m not saying you should never take prescription or over-the-counter drugs. There are certainly circumstances when they can save lives. But all too often, prescribing drugs is a knee-jerk response, while safer, natural therapies aren’t even considered. The physi- cians at my clinic use supplements, lifestyle changes, and noninvasive therapies as first- line treatments. They are the basis of the Whitaker Wellness Program, a blueprint for healthy living that I designed to help you take charge of your health.

For more than 35 years, we have been recommending this program of nutritional supplementation, dietary changes, and exercise to help our patients at the Whitaker Well- ness Institute achieve optimal health. These powerful natural therapies have the potential to reverse disease and have enabled thousands to stop taking dangerous prescription medications.

In this report, we’ll take a look at the medications, both prescription and over-the- counter, commonly used to treat Americans’ most common health concerns. We will discuss the downside of some of these medications, and I will provide information on the safe, effective natural alternatives we use at Whitaker Wellness. Most of the supple- ments discussed in this report are available in health food stores, online, or by calling the clinic, and I’ve included a section at the end with additional information on some of the other therapies and natural alternatives I recommend. Please note, new medications come on the market continuously. If you’re unsure about what class your drugs fall into, ask your physician.

One thing to remember as you read: The natural alternatives in this report are unquestionably safer and, in most cases, as effective as prescription drugs, but they are not magic bullets. These approaches may require some time for your body to adjust, so be patient. The effort is worth it.

Best of health to you,

Julian Whitaker, MD Topics Found in This Report

Allergies...... 1 Heart Disease and High Cholesterol...... 28 Anxiety...... 3 Statin Drugs Deplete CoQ10 Levels...... 29 Arthritis and Joint Pain...... 5 Supplements for Lowering Cholesterol.... 30 Help for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hypertension/High Blood Pressure...... 31 Other Autoimmune Disorders ...... 7 Lower Your Blood Pressure With Asthma...... 9 “Whitaker Salt”...... 33 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Hypothyroidism (Low Thyroid (ADHD)...... 11 Function)...... 35 Big Pharma Rips Off Americans...... 11 Symptoms of an Underactive Thyroid..... 35 Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia...... 13 Insomnia...... 37 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Do You Have Sleep Apnea?...... 37 Disease ...... 14 Menopause...... 38 Want to Kick the Habit?...... 15 Men May Also Need Hormone Colds and Flu ...... 16 Replacement Therapy...... 40 Should You Get a Flu Shot?...... 17 Migraine Headaches...... 41 Depression...... 19 Osteoporosis...... 42 The Best-Selling Drugs in America Urinary Tract Infections...... 43 Are Bad News ...... 19 Ulcers...... 44 The Best Weight Loss Program Ever...... 21 In Summary...... 45 Diabetes...... 22 Resources ...... 45 Help for Diabetic Complications...... 23 Referrals and Information...... 45 Erectile Dysfunction ...... 25 Whitaker Wellness Institute Drugs That May Cause Erectile Medical Clinic, Inc...... 46 Dysfunction ...... 25 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)/Heartburn...... 27 Dr. Whitaker’s Unabridged Dictionary of Drug Alternatives and Non-Surgical Solutions

Allergies clemastine (Tavist) fexofenadine (Allegra, Allegra D) One in five Americans suffer with irritating allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, loratadine (Claritin, Claritin D, Alavert) and itchy, watery eyes. Symptoms are often trig- gered by airborne allergens like dander from Prescription Antihistamines household pets, dust, pollen, mold, smoke, or acrivastine (Semprex-D) strong odors. Most people turn to over-the- carbinoxamine (Palgic) counter antihistamines and nasal sprays to alleviate discomfort until they need something cyproheptadine (Periactin) stronger. Conventional doctors prescribe more desloratadine (Clarinex) powerful drugs to mask symptoms, but these fexofenadine/Pseudoephedrine (Allegra D) drugs have significant negative side effects. hydroxyzine (Vistaril) Drugs Commonly Recommended levocetirizine (Xyzal) to Treat Allergies Side Effects May Include: sleepiness, head- aches, dizziness, sour stomach, vision changes, Antihistamines dry mouth/nose, and irritability. More serious side effects, such as heart palpitations, diffi- The drugs most commonly used to treat allergy symptoms are antihistamines. They fall culty breathing, urination difficulties, or trouble into two broad categories: sedating and non- breathing, should be reported to your doctor at sedating. The first category is made up of older once. They could indicate an allergy to the drug antihistamines. These medications do relieve itself or signs of a more serious problem. allergy symptoms; however, they are notorious for causing drowsiness and other side effects. Nasal Sprays The newer antihistamine drugs are marketed as non-sedating but can still cause drowsiness in Your doctor may also recommend a nasal some individuals. Both types of antihistamines spray either alone or in combination with an work the same way. They compete with hista- antihistamine. The most common nasal sprays mine in the body to ward off or mitigate allergic are decongestants and corticosteroids. Decon- reactions—swelling, itching, tearing, etc. gestants restrict the small blood vessels in the nasal passageways thereby reducing swelling Over-the-Counter Antihistamines and nasal secretions. Corticosteroid nasal sprays (sedating) reduce inflammation and swelling. brompheniramine (Dimetane) Over-the-Counter Decongestant chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) Nasal Sprays diphenhydramine (Benadryl) Afrin Over-the-Counter Antihistamines Dristan (non‑sedating) Neo-Synephrine cetirizine (Zyrtec, Zyrtec-D) Sinex 1 Side Effects May Include: temporary burning, allergens like pollens, dust, and microscopic stinging, or dryness in the nose, a runny nose, fibers along with a carbon filter, which sneezing, and rebound swelling if used more removes toxic gases. A UV light to knock than once every 12 hours for more than three out viruses and bacteria is also desirable. days. Most vacuum cleaners don’t trap all the material they collect and actually disperse it Over-the-Counter Coritcosteroid into the air. Make sure your vacuum cleaner Nasal Spray also has a HEPA filter. If you have pet aller- fluticasone propionate (Flonase) gies, but love dogs, consider breeds such as poodles and Portuguese water dogs that triamcinolone acetonide (Nasacort) don’t shed as much dander. Talk to your vet- Side Effects May Include: nasal dryness or erinarian to learn more. irritation, nosebleed, throat irritation, head- 3. Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily ache, nausea, vomiting, cough, and fungal and 12 per day during allergy season. When infections of the throat with long-term use. your body’s water stores are low, histamine production increases in an attempt to pre- Prescription Nasal Sprays serve existing water supplies. These elevated beclomethasone dipropionate (QNasl) histamine levels increase your allergic budesonide (Rhinocort) symptoms. Drinking adequate amounts of water will result in reduced production of ciclesonide (Omnaris, Zetonna) histamine and fewer symptoms. flunisolide (Nasarel) 4. Take a good daily multivitamin and mineral fluticasone furoate (Veramyst) supplement plus targeted nutrients that may mometasone Furoate (Nasonex) improve symptoms. Side Effects May Include: Dryness, burning, or 5. Take the following supplements: stinging in the nasal passage, sneezing, throat • Quercetin and bromelain: Quercetin, irritation, headaches and nosebleed, and infec- a bioflavonoid, combats allergies and tion, holes, or cracks in the nasal passages. inflammation and inhibits the release of Recommendations for Treating histamine and other inflammatory com- pounds. Absorption can be improved Allergies Naturally by combining it with bromelain, an 1. Minimize exposure to airborne allergens. enzyme that is also an excellent anti- The most common offenders are dander inflammatory agent. The suggested dose from household pets, dust, pollen, mold, is 400–500 mg of quercetin and 100–200 smoke, and strong odors. Clean your house mg of bromelain, between meals, two to thoroughly, and remove as many carpets, three times a day. rugs, and upholstered furniture pieces as • N-acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is an amino you can. They are havens for dust and pet acid that has been used in Europe since dander. Pay special attention to the bed- 1963 to treat asthma and allergies. It room. Encase your mattress in allergen- liquefies mucus in air passages and proof plastic, and consider using bedding increases the production of glutathione, made from a special hypoallergenic mate- an antioxidant that neutralizes free radi- rial. Wash sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and cals. I recommend 400–500 mg daily. mattress pads every week. • Stinging nettle, or “itch weed,” actually 2. Install an air purifier in your home. Look blocks the formation of inflammatory for one with a HEPA filter (the kind used compounds in your airways. Take 200– in laboratories and hospitals) to eliminate 400 mg per day, in divided doses. 2 6. Try probiotics. A recent review of several Also see Asthma. published studies revealed that probiot- ics—specifically Lactobacillus and Bifidobac- Anxiety terium—are an effective treatment option for allergies. Study after study showed that Anxiety starts in your brain’s emotional regular use of probiotics not only reduced alarm center, which sends out stress hormones allergy symptoms and their severity but also and other chemical signals to prepare your cut the number of allergy flare-ups. Posi- body for potential danger. Normally, when the tive effects were noted in both children and perceived threat has passed, the brain calms adults. Probiotics are safe, well tolerated, down. Anxiety results when stress hormones and widely available. Use as directed. remain elevated, sending out warning signals far in excess of any immediate danger and 7. Sinupret is another option. One of the top- resulting in a state of constant stimulation. prescribed supplements in Germany, Sinu- pret helps normalize mucus secretion, so The most popular class of meds for treat- it’s useful for both stopped-up and runny ing anxiety is benzodiazepines. Although these noses. It also reduces inflammation in the drugs tone down anxiety, I would never recom- sinuses and bronchioles and has antiviral mend them. There are natural alternatives to and immune-modulating effects. Take as these anti-anxiety medications that are much directed. safer and, in my opinion, are more effective. I 8. To trap pollen and other allergens before strongly recommend you work with your doctor they can enter your system, try applying a and gradually wean yourself off anxiety drugs little petroleum jelly just under and around by using the natural alternatives in this report. the inside of your nostrils. The tiny aller- gen particles stick to the barrier before they Drugs Commonly Recommended have a chance to induce symptoms such as to Treat Anxiety itchy or runny nose, congestion, or nasal irritation. Benzodiazepines 9. For itchy, watering eyes, try homeopathic Benzodiazepines, also known as tranquil- remedies such as Allergy Eye Relief eye izers, reduce anxiety by depressing the central drops by Similasan and Allergy Relief nervous system and have powerful seda- Homeopathic Pollinosan by Bioforce USA. tive, hypnotic, and relaxant effects. They are 10. Irrigate your nasal passages. This safe and associated with sleep disturbances, cognitive inexpensive procedure gently flushes irritat- problems, and gait impairment. In addition to ing substances out of the sinuses. The most dramatically increasing the risk of falls and basic nasal irrigation involves a mixture of fractures, they impair driving ability and are salt and lukewarm water (boil water, stir implicated in thousands of automobile accidents in ¼ teaspoon of salt per eight ounces of annually. water, and cool), held in the cupped palm of your hand and “snorted” up into one nostril Benzodiazepines are especially risky for while blocking off the other. Tip your head older people, who are more sensitive to their back slightly and allow the solution to flow effects and have a harder time eliminating them through the nasal cavity, then out of the from the body. This age group is also more other nostril. This may also be done with prone to adverse side effects, which are all too a bulb syringe, squeeze bottle, or neti pot often chalked up to aging. Furthermore, these (a small, teapot-like device). Repeat a few medications are highly addictive. Even though times in both nostrils over the sink or in the they’re meant for short-term or occasional use, shower, as it can get messy. many people end up taking them for years on

3 end. And let me tell you, once you’re dependent, drugs. For generalized anxiety, I recom- getting off these drugs is no picnic. mend two capsules of Anxiety Control 24, a alprazolam (Xanax) mixture of pure GABA and other relaxation- enhancing agents, taken twice per day. chlordiazepoxide (Librium) Another option is PharmaGABA, a highly clonazepam (Klonopin) bioavailable form of GABA; the suggested clorazepate (Tranxene) dose is 100 mg, one to three times per day. diazepam (Valium) 3. L-theanine, derived from green tea plants, estazolam (Prosom) is another amino acid renowned for its calming effects. It works in two ways. flurazepam (Dalmane) First, it increases alpha-wave activity in the lorazepam (Ativan) brain, which results in relaxation. Second, midazolam (Versed) L-theanine ups your level of GABA, which, oxazepam (Serax) in turn, increases levels of dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters that also pro- quazepam (Doral) mote a calm and relaxed state. I recommend temazepam (Restoril) 200 mg 30–60 minutes before bed taken on triazolam (Halcion) an empty stomach.

Side Effects May Include: sedation, dizzi- 4. Ask your doctor about Dilantin (phenytoin). ness, weakness, unsteadiness, disorientation, This prescription drug has been available drowsiness, depression, nausea, change in for decades for seizure control. It quiets the appetite, headache, sleep disturbance, agita- nervous system and provides effective, safe tion, skin problems, disturbances in vision, relief from anxiety, self-defeating behav- and gastrointestinal problems. Incidence of ior, anger, and phobias. I’ve been prescrib- sedation, unsteadiness, and memory impair- ing Dilantin to patients with a variety of ment increases with age. All benzodiazepines emotional problems for over a decade, with are habit-forming, and it’s easy to become excellent success. The usual dose for anxiety physically and psychologically addicted to these is 100 mg once or twice a day. Some patients drugs. Withdrawal symptoms are similar to report drowsiness. If this occurs, take barbiturate and alcohol withdrawal and include Dilantin only at bedtime. For more informa- convulsions, tremor, abdominal and muscle tion on the clinical uses of Dilantin, read cramps, vomiting, and sweating. A Remarkable Medicine Has Been Overlooked, by financier Jack Dreyfus, whose life was Recommendations for Easing turned around by Dilantin. Anxiety Naturally 5. Get stress/anxiety relief with acupuncture, massage, and other bodywork techniques. 1. Exercise will benefit any type of anxiety, The stimulation of acupuncture points as phobia, or emotional problem. Brisk walking well as the manipulations of various body- or other aerobic exercise is recommended work techniques elicit a relaxation response three to six times a week for 30 to 60 min- in the body. They can actually reduce the utes. Also do some type of strengthening circulating levels of cortisol and other stress exercise such as weightlifting two to three hormones. times a week. Many of my patients swear 6. Reduce anxiety through meditation or deep by yoga for releasing tension and relieving relaxation techniques. In addition to taking anxiety. nutritional supplements and herbal remedies 2. The amino acid gamma-aminobutyric to counteract stress, you can help yourself acid (GABA) naturally stimulates the same relax by performing a simple exercise. For receptor sites as dangerous benzodiazepine five to 10 minutes each morning and five to 4 10 minutes each afternoon (or whenever you Drugs Commonly Recommended feel the need to de-stress), try this: to Treat Arthritis • Sit or lie in a comfortable position. • Close your eyes. Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs • Relax the muscular tension in your (NSAIDs) body, starting with your face and work- ing down to your feet, by imagining NSAIDs, which include ibuprofen, naproxen, your muscles as warm, heavy, and aspirin, as well as Celebrex and other COX-2 comfortable. inhibitors, have many negative side effects. Notorious for causing gastrointestinal ulcer- • Inhale through your nose and exhale ation and bleeding, they are linked with through your mouth. Try inhaling to approximately 20,000 deaths a year from gas- the count of four to keep your breath- trointestinal complications. Furthermore, in ing slow, deep, and regular. When you the long term they actually worsen arthritis by exhale, repeat a comfortable word, accelerating cartilage destruction and blocking phrase or sound, such as “one” or “love.” the body’s mechanism for healing joints and • As you inhale, imagine warm, soothing regenerating cartilage. Even worse, they are air flowing into your body and all of associated with increased risk of serious cardio- your body parts. As you exhale, imagine vascular events such as heart attacks, strokes, stress and tension leaving your body. heart failure, and cardiovascular death. COX-2 7. If anxiety keeps you awake at night, see the inhibitors are supposed to be safer, but they still section on Insomnia. increase risk of bleeding, and one drug in this class, Vioxx, was taken off the market due to Arthritis and Joint Pain concerns about heart attack risk. Arthritis can be a real pain in the neck—or Over-the-counter NSAIDs any other area affected by degeneration of the aspirin (Ascriptin, Bayer, Ecotrin) cartilage that cushions the joints and verte- bral discs. In fact, it’s our number one cause of ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) pain and disability, affecting some 52 million naproxen sodium (Aleve) American adults. Of course it’s important to get a handle on pain, but the most common Prescription NSAIDs treatments for arthritis—pain-relieving medi- celecoxib (Celebrex) cations—do nothing to stem cartilage erosion. diclofenac (Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren-XR, So once the analgesic effects wear off, you’re Zipsor, Zorvolex) back to square one. Occasional use may be war- ranted, but long-term use should be avoided. diflunisal etodolac The program I have used for years to help indomethacin (Indocin) patients with arthritis is designed not only to alleviate the symptoms of osteoarthritis, but ketoprofen (Orudis) also to stimulate joint repair by regenerating ketorolac (Toradol) the cartilage. It is also helpful for rheumatoid nabumetone (Relafen) arthritis and other conditions marked by joint pain and cartilage degeneration. naproxen sodium (Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn) oxaprozin (Daypro) piroxicam (Feldene) salsalate (Disalsate)

5 sulindac (Clinoril) hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Lorcet, tolmetin (Tolectin) Lortab, Norco, Vicodin) hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo) Side Effects May Include: constipation, heart- burn, abdominal pain, nausea, headache, diz- meperidine (Demerol) ziness, drowsiness, itching, skin eruptions, methadone (Dolophine, Methadose) bruising, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), fluid morphine (Avinza, Kadian, MS Contin, Ora- retention, allergic reactions, mouth inflamma- Morph SR) tion or ulcers, sweating, palpitations, liver and oxycodone (OxyContin, Oxyfast, Percocet, kidney problems. All NSAIDs require a label Roxicodone) warning of the increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and stomach bleeding. Studies suggest oxycodone and acetaminophen (Percocet) that not only COX-2 inhibitors but all NSAIDs oxycodone and naloxone (Targiniq ER) increase risk of heart attack by one third. Gas- Side Effects May Include: lightheadedness, trointestinal bleeding, ulceration, and perfora- dizziness, sedation, shortness of breath, nausea, tion can occur at any time, with or without allergic reactions, euphoria, constipation, warning symptoms. NSAIDs are not recom- abdominal pain, itching, and, at higher doses, mended for anyone with advanced kidney respiratory depression, impairment of mental or disease. If you have asthma, use NSAIDs very physical performance, anxiety, fear, and psychic cautiously or not at all. dependence. Do not drive or operate equip- Opioid (Narcotic) Pain Medications ment while taking opioids. Some people become physiologically addicted to opioids, even when Another class of pain medications are opioid used in the prescribed amounts. Overdoses may or narcotic painkillers such as hydrocodone be fatal; symptoms of overdose may include: and oxycodone. These drugs bind to opioid slow/shallow breathing, nausea, vomiting, loss receptors in the central nervous system and of appetite, sweating, stomach/abdominal pain, elsewhere and block pain messages to the brain, slow heartbeat, extreme tiredness, yellowing resulting in reduced sensations of pain. They eyes/skin, dark urine, and loss of consciousness. are generally prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain that does not respond to other pain Recommendations for Treating medications. Arthritis Naturally

All I can say is be very, very careful. It’s 1. Take glucosamine. Joint cartilage under- unbelievably easy to get hooked on these goes a constant process of destruction and medications. We’ve seen a tremendous rise repair. Glucosamine is the body’s primary in the use and abuse of prescription opioids tool for regenerating cartilage. It has been since 2000, when policymakers decreed that extensively studied in over 300 clinical tri- chronic pain was undertreated, and Big Pharma als. In one study comparing glucosamine began heavily promoting prescription painkill- with ibuprofen, the drug was more effective ers. Doctors now write more than 200 million during the first two weeks of the study in scripts per year! We have a serious drug alleviating pain, but by the end of the eight- problem, folks, and it’s fueled not by shady week study period, glucosamine had caught drug dealers but by physicians and pharmaceu- up with and surpassed it. In addition, glu- tical companies. cosamine’s benefits were noted after patients had stopped taking it—further proof that codeine it does much more than just provide tem- codeine and acetaminophen (Tylenol #3) porary pain relief. Take 1,000–1,500 mg of fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora) glucosamine daily in divided doses with hydrocodone (Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Vicodin) meals. As you notice improvements, cut back to 500–1,000 mg. If your symptoms 6 don’t improve, increase your dose to 3,000 mg daily, and cut back later. Help for Rheumatoid Arthritis 2. Add chondroitin sulfate to your regimen. and Other Autoimmune Chondroitin sulfate has the special prop- Disorders erty of attracting and holding water. This is Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune dis- important, as water gives cartilage its resil- ease marked by inflammation and overactivity of iency and cushioning effect. Take 600 mg of the immune system. I want to tell you about two chondroitin sulfate, with meals. This can be effective therapies for this type of arthritis as well increased up to 1,200 mg as symptoms war- as other autoimmune disorders such as lupus, rant or reduced as symptoms improve. scleroderma, and multiple sclerosis.

3. Try MSM for relief from muscular pain. Antibiotic treatment. Autoimmune diseases Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a natu- don’t just spring out of thin air. Something has to rally occurring compound that relieves prompt the immune system to attack healthy tis- inflammation and blocks pain signals that sues. Studies suggest that in many cases it may travel along nonmyelinated nerve fibers. It be a microorganism called mycoplasma. Using also increases blood flow, which delivers antibiotics to eradicate this “bug” has provided needed nutrients to injured tissues. MSM is relief for thousands of rheumatoid arthritis suffer- also one of nature’s best sources of sulfur, ers. The safety and effectiveness of antibiotics for a compound that is crucial to cartilage’s RA and other autoimmune conditions has been ability to attract water and cushion joints. addressed in more than 200 scientific papers. For relief of arthritis and other chronic pain, take 5,000 mg MSM daily, in divided Low-dose naltrexone (LDN). My number doses, with meals. This can be increased one recommendation for autoimmune disorders to 10,000 mg daily for severe pain. MSM is is low-dose naltrexone (LDN). One of the few extremely safe and well-tolerated, although prescription drugs I routinely recommend, LDN some people report minor gastrointestinal has been a godsend for many of my patients suf- discomfort at higher doses. fering with these conditions. It helps normalize the immune response, reduce inflammation, and 4. Try anti-inflammatory botanicals: relieve symptoms, sometimes dramatically. LDN • Turmeric (Curcuma longa), the yellow- requires a prescription and must be obtained orange spice in curry, has perhaps the through a compounding pharmacy. The recom- strongest anti-inflammatory activity of mended dose is 3–4.5 mg at bedtime. If your all of the medicinal herbs. It has even doc isn’t willing to prescribe it, come see us at been compared to NSAIDs in terms of Whitaker Wellness. efficacy. Take 1,500–2,000 mg in divided doses daily. 5. Take high doses of fish oil daily. To address • Boswellia, an extract from the Boswellia inflammation, I recommend essential fatty serrata tree, was an important remedy acids, particularly the omega-3 fatty acids in ancient India. Studies of patients high in EPA, most commonly found in with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid fish oil. These work in a manner similar to arthritis have noted significant improve- NSAIDs, without the harmful side effects. ment with 400–800 mg daily, taken in The recommended dose is four to eight divided doses, with food. 1,000 mg capsules of fish oil daily. • Ginger (Zingiber officinale), the common cooking spice, also mediates prostaglan- 6. OxyRub is a topical cream that has been din pathways and alleviates pain and used for more than 10 years in Europe for inflammation. Get fresh ginger at the the relief of acute and chronic pain. In addi- grocery store and eat a little every day, tion to menthol, a common ingredient in or supplement with 100 mg daily. pain-relieving creams, OxyRub contains 7 “essential oxygen oil.” This specially pro- deep into the tissues, blood vessels absorb cessed oil, which contains superoxide dis- the light’s energy, which stimulates the mutase (SOD, a potent antioxidant), been release of nitric oxide (NO). Though the shown to improve blood flow and oxygen light itself is invisible, its effects are readily delivery to areas of discomfort and to stimu- apparent: enhanced blood flow, improved late the natural healing process. Several sensation, and regeneration of tissues. This clinical trials have demonstrated OxyRub’s painless procedure has restored sensation effectiveness in providing quick and lasting relief for acute and chronic joint pain, back in 93 percent of patients in eight separate and neck ache, arthritis, muscle strains and clinical trials. sprains, activity-related discomfort in ath- 11. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a beneficial letes, and bumps and bruises. To use, rub therapy for anyone with joint pain caused into affected area three or four times a day. by injury, overuse, or arthritis. Platelets are 7. Topical DMSO can be used to dampen pain fragments in the blood that are activated by and inflammation, scavenge free radicals, injury and bleeding. They stick to the lining and speed up healing. Though it’s widely of damaged blood vessels, initiate clot for- used by veterinarians, for some reason it mation, and release growth factors that start hasn’t seemed to catch on with regular doc- the healing cascade. PRP therapy involves tors. Rub it on affected joints once or twice a removing a small amount of a patient’s day. blood, isolating the platelets and plasma, 8. Ketamine is a prescription-only drug, but and injecting them directly into the area of in a topical formulation it works wonders. injury or degeneration—and unleashing the When a pain-relieving drug is mixed into power of platelets to promote the formation a readily absorbed cream and rubbed into of new tendon, ligament, cartilage, muscle, the affected area, the active ingredients pen- and bone tissue. etrate the skin and can provide quick and dramatic relief. Equally important, these 12. Stem cell therapy is an exceptionally prom- drugs are not systemically absorbed to any ising treatment for arthritis. These unique significant degree, and there is little risk of cells have the ability to differentiate, or adverse side effects. change into several cell types and help 9. Prolotherapy, also called reconstructive regenerate and repair diseased or dam- therapy, is a nonsurgical treatment for the aged areas of the body. It’s a pretty simple permanent relief of joint and disc problems. procedure. A few ounces of fat—the rich- It’s based on the premise that, in many est repository of stem cells in adults—are cases, musculoskeletal pain is provoked by removed during a quick liposuction proce- lax ligaments and tendons that cause mis- dure. The fat is separated out, leaving mil- alignment of bones, joints, and muscles. Treatment involves the injection of a slightly lions of concentrated, viable stem cells that irritating solution into the affected joint cap- may be injected directly into the affected sule, causing initial inflammation. As the joint space. The entire process, which is structures heal, they regain strength and done in a doctor’s office under local anesthe- stability. The result is improved function, sia and light sedation, takes no more than increased range of motion, and pain relief. an hour. There’s no downtime, and the only 10. Infrared light therapy delivers pulses of discomfort, if any, is at the injection site. specific wavelengths of light to damaged or Stem cell therapy is also an excellent treat- degenerated tissues via flexible pads placed ment for COPD, Parkinson’s, autoimmune directly over the targeted area. As this diseases, back pain, and other degenerative particular wavelength of light penetrates conditions. 8 Asthma Side Effects May Include: headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, nervous- Breathing is such a natural, unconscious ness, tremor, heart palpitations, hives, and skin activity that you take it for granted—unless rash. you have a chronic respiratory disorder such as asthma. Then it’s another story. Acute asthma Oral Corticosteroids (Used for Severe/ attacks have been likened to “breathing through Acute Attacks) a straw.” This is an apt description because asthma causes the airways (the bronchi and methylprednisolone smaller bronchioles) to inflame and constrict, prednisone resulting in serious breathing difficulties. Side Effects (With Long-Term Use) May Asthma is a serious condition that affects 26 Include: cataracts, thinning bones, muscle million Americans, including almost 10 percent weakness, decreased resistance to infection, of our children. Every year, it is responsible for high blood pressure, and reduced growth in 17 million visits to doctors’ offices or emergency children. rooms, half a million hospitalizations, and nearly 3,500 deaths. Preventive and “rescue” Long-Term Asthma Control Medications medications for acute attacks can be lifesav- ing, but in addition to being a windfall for Big Most of these drugs were designed to be Pharma (see sidebar on page 11), asthma drugs taken daily with the goal being to reduce also have potentially significant adverse effects. inflammation over the long term. Unfortu- nately, using these medications for long periods The good news is, natural therapies have of time is associated with several side effects. been shown to be extremely effective for addressing asthma symptoms. The goal of this Inhaled Corticosteroids natural approach is twofold: First, eliminate the beclomethasone (Qvar) potential causes of asthma, and second, support the body’s natural healing process. budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler) ciclesonide (Alvesco) Drugs Commonly Recommended flunisolide (Aerobid) to Treat Asthma fluticasone (Flovent HFA) mometasone (Asmanex) Quick Relief (Rescue) Medications Side Effects May Include: sore mouth, sore These bronchodilators are the medications throat, hoarseness, cough, spasms of the large prescribed to provide rapid relief during an airways, fungus infection in the mouth (thrush), asthma attack. While they do work quickly, slight reduction in growth, decreased bone these drugs are only effective for approximately thickness in adults, cataracts, and glaucoma. three to six hours, creating dependence for Leukotriene Modifiers (oral) many patients with asthma. Furthermore, they do nothing to prevent future asthma attacks. montelukast (Singulair) Most are delivered via an inhaler or nebulizer. zafirlukast (Accolate) zileuton (Zyflo) Short-Acting Beta Agonists Side Effects May Include: flu-like symptoms, albuterol (ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, nervousness, excitability, headache, stomach- others) ache, nausea, vomiting, and nasal congestion. In levalbuterol (Xopenex) rare cases, these medications have been linked pirbuterol (Maxair) to psychological reactions, such as agitation, 9 aggression, hallucinations, depression, and sui- primary culprits are dairy products, wheat, cidal thinking. Seek medical attention immedi- eggs, citrus, corn, and peanut butter. A ately if any of these side effects occur. modified elimination diet usually isolates the problem food. Studies have shown that Long-Acting Beta Agonists a vegetarian, whole-food, organic diet can help reduce asthma symptoms as well. And formoterol (Foradil, Perforomist) keep in mind, some people with asthma are salmeterol (Serevent) allergic to food additives such as sulfites, Important Note: These medications increase which are regularly used as preservatives in risk of death from asthma and should only be restaurant salad bars, alcoholic beverages, used as additional treatment for people who are and processed foods. also using an inhaled steroid. For details, talk to 3. Nurture your lungs with these vital your doctor and see black-box warnings. nutrients: • Magnesium. Like conventional drugs Combination Inhalers (but without their harmful effects), budesonide-formoterol (Symbicort), magnesium promotes relaxation of the fluticasone-salmeterol (Advair Diskus) smooth bronchial muscles. When your body has a magnesium deficiency, your mometasone-formoterol (Dulera) cells release more histamine, which Side Effects May Include: rapid heartbeat, causes constriction of the bronchioles tremor, nervousness, cough, throat irritation, and triggers an asthma attack. With hoarseness, and in some cases, severe exacerba- each attack, you lose large amounts tion of asthma attacks, and death. of magnesium, which sets up future episodes. Virtually all asthma drugs Recommendations for Treating deplete magnesium. Intravenous mag- Asthma Naturally nesium will stop an asthma attack even when other drugs have failed. Talk to 1. Stay hydrated by drinking 12 eight-ounce your doctor about this. For preventive glasses of water daily. (Children under eight purposes, I recommend supplementing should limit intake to eight glasses daily.) with 500–1,000 mg of magnesium per Water acts as a natural antihistamine, with- day. If your multivitamin doesn’t contain out the side effects of drugs. It inhibits the this much, you’ll need to add a separate body’s release of histamine, which constricts supplement. the tiny tubes of the lungs and can lead to • N-acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is an amino an asthma attack. acid that has been used in Europe since 1963 for the treatment of asthma and 2. Watch out for airborne allergies and food allergies. It liquefies mucus in air pas- allergies. Allergies and asthma go hand in sages and increases the production of hand, especially in children. Know your glutathione, an antioxidant that neutral- triggers. This may take some sleuthing izes free radicals. I recommend 400– because everybody’s are different. For some, 500 mg daily. it’s exercise, weather changes, gastroesopha- geal reflux disease (GERD), dehydration, or • Vitamin B12, which has been shown to even laughter; for others, it’s irritants such control or even eliminate wheezing. The as smoke, strong odors, or air pollution. suggested daily dose is 150 mcg. Flare-ups can also be caused by an allergic • Antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, response, most commonly to airborne pol- and selenium protect your lungs from len, pet dander, dust mites, etc., but food damaging free radicals produced during allergies can also cause exacerbations. The the asthmatic response. What’s more, low 10 Big Pharma Rips Off Americans

Americans pay much, much more for prescription drugs than anyone else in the world, thanks to sweetheart deals between the federal government and Big Pharma. Take a look at the average prices of the best-selling brand-name asthma drugs (three months’ supply of the most popular doses) in US pharmacies compared with the lowest prices for the same drugs ordered online, with a prescription, from reputable pharmacies.

Average US Lowest Annual Drug Savings Pharmacy Online* Savings Advair Diskus $947.97 $149.00 84.28% $3,195.88 Flovent HFA $593.97 $186.00 68.69% $1,631.88 Singulair $626.97 $110.00 82.46% $2,067.88 Symbicort $666.99 $222.00 66.72% $1,779.96

*from PharmacyChecker.com, March 2012; verified drugs, prescription required pharmacychecker.com/news/asthma-drug-price-comparison-table.pdf

levels of vitamin C are an independent risk in patients with asthma. It’s believed that factor for asthma. Get daily amounts of at acupuncture relieves symptoms by help- least 1,000 mg of vitamin C, 200 IU of vita- ing rebalance the flow of energy through min E, and 200 mcg of selenium. the body. 4. Raise your carbon dioxide level. Anytime Also see Allergies. you feel an asthma episode coming on, hold your breath for five to 10 seconds. This causes an increase in levels of carbon diox- Attention Deficit ide (CO2), one of the body’s most powerful Hyperactivity bronchodilators. When CO2 levels are low, the airways constrict, causing shortness of Disorder (ADHD) breath and other symptoms of asthma. Rais- According to a survey from the Centers for ing CO2 in this way relaxes the airways and Disease Control (CDC), 6.4 million children often nips attacks in the bud. Repeat this (ages 4–17) have been diagnosed with ADHD. breath-holding exercise until you’re breath- Two-thirds of these kids are taking danger- ing freely again. ous, addictive, side-effect-riddled prescription drugs like Ritalin and Adderall. Even when 5. Install an air purifier in your home. The these drugs do “work,” there’s a drawback. I’ve most effective purifiers have a HEPA filter spoken to a number of parents who report that (the kind used in laboratories and hospitals) their kids may calm down, but they lose their to eliminate allergens like pollens, dust, and spontaneity and zest for life—even to the point microscopic fibers, along with a carbon filter, of becoming “robotic.” Furthermore, some of which removes toxic gases, and a UV light to these drugs, including Strattera (in a different knock out viruses and bacteria. Make sure class of drugs), have a black box label warning your vacuum cleaner also has a HEPA filter, of changes in mood and behavior and increased as most vacuum cleaners don’t trap all the risk of suicidal thoughts. material they collect and actually disperse allergens into the air. 6. Consider acupuncture. Clinical studies and case histories have confirmed acupuncture’s effectiveness in improving lung function

11 Drugs Commonly Recommended have committed suicide after withdrawal or to Treat ADHD a reduction in their dosage of these drugs. Emotionally unstable patients or those with a Stimulant Drugs history of depression or alcoholism should be carefully monitored because of the potential While no parent would encourage a child for abuse. Psychic dependence and abnormal to take speed or cocaine, the most popular behavior, including psychotic episodes, can prescription meds for ADHD are disturbingly occur. Medical supervision is required during similar to illegal stimulants. And not surpris- withdrawal. ingly, they have similar side effects, including insomnia, anxiety, agitation, irregular heartbeat, Recommendations for Treating high blood pressure, dizziness, headaches, vom- ADHD Naturally iting, decreased appetite, stunted growth, and, in rare cases, psychosis or sudden death. 1. A healthy diet low in sugars, flours, and processed foods is a good beginning. Avoid Like speed and cocaine, ADHD drugs are foods containing chemical additives and also addictive and subject to abuse. In fact, preservatives. they’re among the most-often abused of all pre- scription drugs. Adderall is particularly popular 2. Search for allergies to foods, additives, among high school and college students, who chemicals, and other substances. Undi- use it not only to get high but also to help agnosed allergies may be at the root of them stay focused and awake while studying. hyperactivity. Furthermore, prescription stimulant drugs are 3. Try Pedi-Active. Pedi-Active, by Nature’s remarkably easy to get, either illegally for a few Plus, contains 50 mg each of two brain- bucks or by making a quick visit to a doctor for boosting nutrients, DMAE and phosphati- a diagnosis and prescription. The downside, dylserine (LECI-PS). We’ve had great success of course, as with any addictive drug, is that with this product at the clinic. The recom- things can and often do spiral out of control. mended dose is two tablets, three to four mixed salts amphetamine (Adderall and times daily. Adderall XR) 4. Add the amino acids GABA, glutamine, and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) glycine. Neurotransmitters are specialized dexmethylphenidate (Focalin and chemicals that enable brain cells to com- Focalin XR) municate with each other to orchestrate lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) brain function. Providing your brain with methylphenidate (Concerta, Daytrana, Meta- an abundance of raw materials to make ade- date CD, Methylin, Ritalin) quate amounts of key neurotransmitters— especially those that affect areas of the brain methylphenidate HCl (Quillivant XR) dealing with inhibition and planning—is Side Effects May Include: addiction, decrease key to managing ADHD. The amino acids in normal growth, mood changes, nervousness, GABA, glutamine, and glycine are available insomnia, joint pain, loss of appetite, dizziness, singly in health food stores, but for ease palpitations, headaches, drowsiness, change of use I prefer combination formulas. One in blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, product I recommend, Anxiety Control, con- angina, and abdominal pain. The FDA warns tains these three amino acids, along with the that stimulant drugs can be abused and lead cofactors needed for neurotransmitter syn- to dependency/addiction. They can have a thesis. Another is a powdered formulation of rebound effect as the drug wears off, leading to a wide range of amino acids, vitamins, and increased hyperactivity. Several young people minerals, called Brain Link Complex. 12 5. If medication is required, I recommend benefits until 6 to 12 months after starting Dilantin (phenytoin) over Ritalin any day. drug therapy. Many patients have experienced miraculous finasteride (Proscar) changes with this drug, which has been used safely to control seizures for decades. dutasteride (Avodart, Jalyn) Dilantin calms the central nervous system Side Effects May Include: impotence, infertility, without sedation, immediately increasing decreased libido, decreased volume of ejaculate, one’s ability to concentrate. More than 3,000 ejaculation disorder, breast enlargement, breast studies have shown that Dilantin is effec- tenderness, hypersensitivity reactions such as tive for ADHD, poor concentration, phobias, swelling of the lips and face, and testicular aggression, temper tantrums, depression, pain. These medications should not be used—or anxiety, and other problems. Dilantin is even handled—by women who are or may be available by prescription only. pregnant, as they may cause birth defects in a male fetus. They should be used with caution Benign Prostatic in patients with liver function abnormalities. Hyperplasia Patients with large residual urinary volume and/or severely diminished urinary flow Seventy-five percent of men 50 years and should be monitored carefully for obstructive older have measurable enlargement of their uropathy, and may not be candidates for this prostate gland, a condition called benign drug. prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As the prostate enlarges, it constricts the urethra, blocking the Alpha Blockers passage of urine from the bladder. Urination becomes difficult, the stream is weak, and the Alpha blockers relax the smooth muscles in need to urinate frequently (especially at night) the neck of the bladder and the prostate, which increases. In severe cases, a surgical procedure promotes easier urine flow. Although these called transurethral resection of the prostate medications improve symptoms of BPH, they (TURP), in which the central core of the pros- do not reduce prostate size and thus have no tate gland is removed, may be suggested. Most lasting effects. men, however, are treated with medications. alfuzosin (Uroxatral) These drugs improve urine flow and reduce symptoms, but they can cause a whole new set doxazosin (Cardura) of problems. The good news is that there are a silodosin (Rapaflo) handful of safe, effective natural therapies that tamsulosin (Flomax) suppress the growth of the prostate and restore normal urinary flow—without side effects. terazosin (Hytrin) Side Effects May Include: dizziness, fatigue, Drugs Commonly Recommended hypotension (too low blood pressure), fluid to Treat Prostate Enlargement retention, malaise, drowsiness, palpitations, (BPH) vertigo, weakness, headache, and urinary tract infection. 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors Recommendations for Treating 5-alpha reductase inhibitors block the con- Prostate Enlargement Naturally version of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, the hormone that stimulates the prostate’s 1. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, veg- age-related growth spurt. In addition to rather etables, and zinc-rich foods. Good choices serious side effects, men taking medications include beans, chickpeas, fish, shellfish, and in this class of drugs likely will not notice full pumpkin seeds. 13 2. Start taking saw palmetto extract on a regu- Chronic Obstructive lar basis in your mid-40s (160 mg per day) as a preventive measure. Like the prescription Pulmonary Disease drug Proscar, the herb saw palmetto (Serenoa More than 12 million people in this country repens) blocks the conversion of testosterone have been diagnosed with chronic obstruc- to its problematic cousin, dihydrotestos- tive pulmonary disease (COPD), and an terone—but with none of the drug’s side equal number are affected but haven’t been effects. Dozens of controlled clinical trials diagnosed. This progressive disorder, which have documented its ability to reduce pros- includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and a tate size and restore normal urinary func- handful of other lung diseases, trails only car- tion. If you already have prostate problems, diovascular disease and cancer as our leading I recommend 320 mg daily. Make sure the cause of death and kills 138,000 Americans every year. brand you use contains 85 percent to 95 per- cent fatty acids and plant sterols. In addition to the drugs discussed below, 3. Consider taking the herb pygeum (Pygeum antibiotics are often needed because COPD africanum). European studies of this herb patients are particularly susceptible to infec- tions. I have no problem with any therapy that show it’s as effective as Hytrin or Proscar makes life easier for patients with COPD. But but far safer. I recommend 100–200 mg of a the reality is that the only conventional therapy standardized extract (12–13 percent phytos- ever scientifically shown to alter its long-term terols) daily, divided into two or three doses course and extend survival is oxygen therapy, and taken with meals. which is commonly required as the condition 4. Go-Less® is a combination of soy progresses. Meanwhile, other therapies that isoflavones and pumpkin seed extract that could really help are rarely offered to patients. relaxes the bladder muscles. In one six-week study, Go-Less reduced nighttime urination Drugs Commonly Recommended by 40 percent! Not surprisingly, sleep satis- to Treat COPD faction also improved. The recommended daily dose is 600 mg. Bronchodilators 5. Take a daily high-potency, antioxidant-rich Bronchodilator inhalers are usually pre- vitamin and mineral supplement. scribed to relax the muscles in the airways and make breathing easier in patients with COPD. 6. Take zinc picolinate along with vitamin B6, There are two types: short-acting for emergency which enhances zinc absorption. Start with situations or quick relief and long-acting, which 30 mg of zinc per day, and if you’re experi- are typically used to treat COPD over a longer encing prostate symptoms, boost that up to time period. They are usually taken once or 60 mg. Most multivitamin-mineral formulas twice daily over an extended period, and they contain zinc, so remember that when deter- come as inhalers or nebulizers. Long-acting mining your daily dose. Because zinc may bronchodilators are not effective as emergency interfere with copper absorption, supple- or rescue inhalers as they were designed to ment your intake of zinc with copper, keep- work gradually. ing the ratio at about 15 to 1 (for example, if you take 30 mg of zinc, take 2 mg of copper). Short-Acting Bronchodilators 7. Reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption, albuterol (Vospire ER, Combivent, Duoneb) which contributes to zinc excretion and ipratropium (Atrovent) reduces levels of vitamin B6. levalbuterol (Xopenex) 14 Long-Acting Bronchodilators Want to Kick the Habit? aclidinium (Tudorza) arformoterol (Brovana) Smoking is a biochemical addiction, and breaking that addiction requires serious effort. formoterol (Foradil, Perforomist) Nicotine binds with the neuroreceptors in the indacaterol (Arcapta) brain. As it dissipates, the receptors cry for more. olodaterol (Striverdi Respimat) This is the premise behind the gums and patches containing nicotine. Once cravings have subsided, salmeterol (Serevent) the desire for a cigarette is no more than habit. A tiotropium (Spiriva) habit takes about 21 days to break. Unfortunately, the natural alternative to these conventional Side Effects May Include: dry mouth, blurred smoking cessation treatments that I recom- vision, cough, tremors, runny nose, irritated mended is no longer available. However, there are or scratchy throat, rashes, blurred vision, rapid some other ways to help control cravings while heart rate, diarrhea, and joint and back pain. you are quitting the habit. When the desire for a cigarette strikes, take 500 mg of buffered vitamin Corticosteroids C (take no more than 10,000 mg per day). This can take the edge off cravings. Then do some- Inflammation of the airways makes it thing physical: take a walk, do household chores more difficult to breathe. Inhaled and oral or paperwork, mess around on the computer— corticosteroids are used to curb inflamma- anything to keep your hands and mind busy. tion in the airways and the alveoli, the tiny Expect to feel anxious and edgy during this time. air sacs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are For help, take Anxiety Control, which contains exchanged, increasing airflow to the lungs. soothing amino acids. Two capsules twice a day They come in inhalers, powders, liquids, pills, should help you through this period. and even shots for emergency rescue (mainly prednisolone). Corticosteroids are sometimes prescribed with bronchodilators. Side Effects May Include: weight loss, diar- rhea, cramps, and tremors. Tell your doctor Inhaled Corticosteroids if you have liver problems before taking this medication. budesonide (Pulmicort) fluticasone (Flovent) Recommendations for Treating flunisolide (Aerospan) COPD Naturally mometasone (Asmanex Twisthaler) 1. Stop smoking (see sidebar). Side Effects May Include: headaches, sore 2. Take N-acetyl Cysteine (NAC). This natu- throat, hoarseness, a change in voice, allergic ral substance thins and helps break up the reactions, cold symptoms, thrush (growth of excessive mucus, which is a significant fungus in the mouth and throat). cause of chronic cough and other symp- toms, and inhibits the adherence of bacteria Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibitors in the lungs. NAC is also a precursor to glutathione, the most active antioxidant in Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors help relieve the lungs. By boosting levels of this “mas- inflammation, which can improve air flow. This ter antioxidant,” NAC helps put the brakes drug comes as a pill that you take once daily. It on a key underlying disease process. In a is typically prescribed along with a long-acting 2013 clinical trial, COPD patients ages 50–80 inhaler. took 600 mg of NAC or a placebo twice a roflumilast (Daliresp) day for a year. Compared to those in the 15 placebo group, the study participants who an expectorant to thin and help cough up had taken NAC had half as many exacerba- mucus. It worked then, and it would work tions, shorter stays when hospitalized, fewer now—yet hardly anybody ever uses it. Like hospital readmissions, and improvements in many natural therapies, this once-popular forced expiratory flow. remedy has been eclipsed by newer, costlier drugs. This is a shame, because SSKI is an 3. Try inhaled glutathione. Glutathione is the extremely useful treatment for respiratory most active antioxidant in the lungs, and problems and several other health concerns. studies have confirmed that free radical Drinking three to six drops in water daily damage is a primary player in the devel- helps bring up mucus that builds up in the opment of COPD. Glutathione isn’t well lungs of patients with COPD. It also helps absorbed when taken orally, but when relieve symptoms of allergies and chronic inhaled it goes straight to work. Inhaled sinus infections. glutathione is administered at home via a nebulizer, which turns liquids into tiny 7. Install an air purifier with a HEPA filter in droplets. This “mist” is then inhaled your home and office. Make sure your vac- through a mouthpiece directly into the uum cleaner also has a HEPA filter, as most lungs. We’ve been using this therapy for vacuum cleaners don’t trap all the material well over a decade with predictably positive they collect and actually disperse allergens results. into the air. 4. Take 500–1,000 mg of magnesium per day. 8. Stem Cell Therapy. Stem cells, which are Magnesium opens air passages by relaxing isolated from a patient’s own fat through the smooth muscles of the airways. a minimal liposuction procedure, have the 5. Exercise. Regular exercise is an impor- ability to differentiate into a number of cell tant part of the treatment and prevention types, reduce inflammation, and promote of respiratory problems. Steady, slightly tissue repair throughout the body. Since rapid breathing strengthens your lungs and we adopted this therapy a year and a half encourages what is called “belly” breath- ago and treated nearly 200 patients with ing—when the breath gets deep down in a variety of health challenges, we’ve con- your diaphragm and your belly extends. sistently observed that no matter what the Most of us take shallow breaths, sucking in condition—musculoskeletal, cardiovascu- as we inhale instead of letting the breath lar, neurological, etc.—patients often report fill our lungs. Start a mild walking program improvements in lung function. This makes at least three days a week for 30 minutes a sense. Stems cells are typically administered day. Go at your own pace, and stop if you intravenously (into a vein), and all venous feel pain in your chest. You’ll be surprised blood travels directly to the lungs, where it how quickly your lungs respond by expand- picks up oxygen. Therefore, no matter what ing and strengthening. If you currently have area or organ system the stem cells are tar- serious breathing problems, let your doctor geting, the first place they go to is the lungs. know that you’d like to start exercising regu- larly, and work together to set up a program Colds and Flu that’s best for you. According to nineteenth-century physician 6. Another natural expectorant is saturated Dr. William Osler, “There is just one way to solution of potassium iodide (SSKI). When I treat the common cold—with contempt.” Today, was doing my medical internship at Grady there are thousands of cold remedies on the Memorial Hospital in Atlanta some 30 market, but they are only slightly more success- years ago, I wrote hundreds of prescrip- ful than a healthy dose of contempt at combat- tions for this iodine compound. We used it ing this all-too-common malady. Conventional primarily for patients with lung disease as medicine hasn’t licked the flu, either. Vaccines 16 are not very good at preventing flu, and the pricey prescription antivirals aren’t nearly as Should You Get a Flu Shot? effective as drug companies would have you believe. Doctors, pharmacies, schools, billboards, TV ads, and public health campaigns stress the To make matters worse, many doctors pre- necessity of annual flu shots. So the flu vaccine scribe antibiotics for colds and flu, “just in must be great, right? case.” Big mistake. Antibiotics cannot touch the Wrong. In 2014, scientists reviewed all the viruses responsible for these infections, and studies comparing outcomes in healthy adults they can cause a host of unwanted effects, from and pregnant women who had flu shots with candida overgrowth to the emergence of super those who had received a placebo or no inter- strains of bacteria resistant to antibiotics. vention. This comprehensive review, involving If you do succumb to a cold or flu (and on 90 studies and more than 9 million people, con- any given day, millions of us are fighting a cluded that the vaccine has a “very modest effect” viral infection), a number of natural therapies in reducing flu symptoms and sick days and no will help minimize your discomfort and bolster effect at all on preventing hospitalization or seri- your immune defenses. ous adverse events. For people over age 65, the available evidence was of such poor quality that Drugs Commonly Recommended the researchers couldn’t determine if the vaccine was protective or not. For children, the evidence to Treat Colds and Flu was somewhat stronger, except for the very young—just one study supported its use in kids Antibiotics under age two. Resist the urge to ask for an antibiotic for Yet every man, woman, and child six months a lingering viral illness—and if your doctor and older is urged to get vaccinated. Scientific offers one, just say no. For decades, we’ve wit- rationale and integrity are absent when it comes nessed an alarming rise in drug-resistant bac- to our country’s wholesale infatuation with teria, which now infect 2 million Americans vaccinations. and kill 25,000 annually. But the gravity of this crisis is not sinking in. Harvard research- to colonize the gut and can cause serious prob- ers analyzed the prescribing trends of thou- lems. Replace beneficial bacteria by taking sands of physicians and found that antibiotics probiotic supplements during your antibiotic were given for 60 percent of sore throats and course and for several weeks afterwards. 73 percent of acute bronchitis cases. This is an outrage. Just one in 10 sore throats is caused by Penicillins bacteria (strep), and acute bronchitis is almost always viral, which antibiotics can’t touch. amoxicillin The same goes for sinus infections. Although cephalexin (Keflex) studies show these drugs work no better than cephalosporins placebo, one in five antibiotic prescriptions is for sinusitis. penicillin

If you must take antibiotics for strep or Macrolides another bacterial infection, be sure to complete azithromycin (Zithromax) the entire course. Stopping the drugs in mid- course contributes to antibiotic-resistant bacte- clarithromycin (Biaxin) ria. All antibiotics destroy beneficial bacteria in erythromycin (E-Mycin) the gastrointestinal tract, which allows patho- genic bacteria, yeast, and other microorganisms

17 Fluoroquinolones Side Effects May Include: nausea, vomiting, dizziness, runny or stuffy nose, cough, diar- levofloxacin (Levaquin) rhea, headache, psychiatric disturbances, and ofloxacin (Cipro, Floxin) decreased natural immunity. Sulfonamides Recommendations for Treating co-trimoxazole (Bactrim) Colds and Flu Naturally trimethoprim (Proloprim) 1. Increase your immune system’s chances of Tetracyclines successfully fighting off infections by get- ting plenty of sleep, eating right, exercising doxycycline (Vibramycin) moderately, and taking a good multivitamin tetracycline (Panmycin, Sumycin) that contains at least 1,000 mg of vitamin C daily and 30 mg of zinc. Aminoglycosides 2. Take extra vitamin D (as D3, or cholecalcif- gentamicin (Garamycin) erol). Your body’s natural synthesis of this tobramycin (Tobrex) vitamin, which produces antimicrobial com- pounds called cathelicidins and defensins, Side Effects May Include: nausea, vomiting, plummets during the winter—at the same diarrhea, skin rashes and hives, yeast infections, time infectious diseases surge. Studies show vaginitis. Fluoroquinolones increase risk of ten- solid links between vitamin D blood levels dinitis and tendon rupture. And several antibi- otics taken over a long period can cause serious and risk of influenza, pneumonia, ear infec- problems, including inflammation of the intes- tions, and other viral and bacterial illnesses. tinal tract and liver and kidney problems. Aller- Your best bet is to get your vitamin D blood gies to antibiotic drugs are not uncommon and level tested and take enough to keep that may cause life-threatening allergic reactions; level in the 50–80 ng/mL range. This may symptoms include skin eruptions, itching, and require as much as 5,000–10,000 IU per day. acute swelling of the lips, face, or throat. 3. If you get sick, increase your vitamin C intake to 500 mg every hour or two. Antiviral Drugs Research shows that a high intake of vita- min C strengthens your immune system and Tamiflu, Relenza, and other antiviral drugs may shorten the duration of viral infections. are all the rage. Problem is, they don’t really work. According to a 2014 review, the most that 4. Add echinacea at the first sign of symptoms. can be expected of these drugs is shortening Phytonutrients in this herb increase the of the duration of flu symptoms by half a day. number and motility of macrophages and T There is no evidence they reduce pneumonia, cells. My favorite echinacea preparation is bronchitis, sinusitis, hospital admissions, or a liquid extract, Insure Herbal from Zand, person-to-person spread of the flu. Yet aggres- which also contains goldenseal and other sive marketing and unsubstantiated claims— herbs. Take 2–3 droppers throughout the outright lies, actually—made by drug makers day, straight up or diluted in water. led countries around the world to spend bil- lions stockpiling antivirals in preparation for an 5. Take N-acetyl Cysteine (NAC). This supple- influenza pandemic. Don’t waste your money ment is a precursor to glutathione, the on these worthless drugs. body’s preeminent antioxidant. Italian researchers found that older people who oseltamivir (Tamiflu) took 600 mg of NAC twice a day during the peramivir (Rapivab) fall and winter were significantly less likely zanamivir (Relenza) to develop symptomatic flu. 18 6. Keep your intestinal flora healthy with pro- biotics. The beneficial bacteria that live in The Best-Selling Drugs in your gastrointestinal tract produce impor- America Are Bad News tant B vitamins, aid in the digestion and absorption of food, and crowd out harmful Guess what the top-selling drug (in terms bacteria. This is especially important if you of dollars) in the United States is? It’s not, as I take a course of antibiotics, which knocks assumed, one of the wildly popular and pricey statins or stomach acid medications. The top- off helpful bacteria along with the harmful. grossing medication—with sales exceeding $7 bil- Look for a supplement that contains several lion in 2014—is Abilify, an antipsychotic drug. How billion live and active bacteria, including in the world could a powerful, mind-altering drug strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. originally approved to treat serious mental illnesses 7. Try Streptococcus salivarius (S. salivarius) K12 like schizophrenia (which affects just 1 percent of lozenges. This probiotic safely colonizes the the population) become America’s bestseller? oral cavity and displaces pathogenic organ- For starters, Abilify costs around $800 for a isms. It has been shown to help stave off month’s supply of 30 tablets. In addition, the FDA sore throats, colds, and ear infections. has broadened approved uses to include bipolar 8. Get an intravenous vitamin C drip. During disorder in adults and schizophrenia, bipolar, and the cold and flu season, the IV department autism in children. But the real coup came in 2007, at Whitaker Wellness is filled with patients when the FDA gave Abilify the stamp of approval relaxing in recliners, reading, or chatting as as an “add-on treatment for adults with depression they get their infusions of high-dose vita- when an antidepressant alone is not enough.” min C. High blood levels of this vitamin, Now there’s a market for you. Ten percent of attainable only through IV administration, Americans—and a quarter of women in their 40s actually kills viruses, bacteria, and cancer and 50s—take antidepressants. Once TV, Inter- cells. Most doctors do not offer IV vitamin C net, and print ads began urging them, “Ask your and know little about it. doctor about the option of adding Abilify,” and claiming it “may help with unresolved depressive Depression symptoms as early as 1–2 weeks,” sales took off. Growth has also been spurred by physicians who One in 10 American adults and one in four are increasingly prescribing this drug for unap- women in their 40s and 50s take prescription proved uses such as anxiety, insomnia, ADHD, antidepressants. This appalling statistic is a dis- eating disorders, substance abuse, post-traumatic turbing demonstration of the degree to which stress disorder, and dementia. Big Pharma has penetrated medicine and our society as a whole. Physician mindset, time con- This is nuts! The fact that a drug for a severe straints, and insurance reimbursement policies mental illness like psychosis (loss of contact with favor quick office visits and drug scripts over reality, e.g., hallucinations and delusions) could really helping patients with their problems. And weasel its way through FDA regulatory chan- the American public goes along with it, appar- nels into the medicine cabinets of millions of ently believing those ubiquitous pharmaceutical Americans is a travesty. Abilify is not a “booster ads telling them that popping a pill will cure drug” to make antidepressants work better. It’s whatever ails them. an exceptionally potent medication that alters brain function and comes with a long list of seri- Antidepressants are dangerous drugs and ous side effects: agitation, aggression, movement have a host of unpleasant side effects. Dangers disorders, weight gain, elevated blood sugar and aside, they don’t work very well. A meta- lipids, and black-box warnings of increased risk analysis published in JAMA concluded that of suicidal thoughts in young people and death in only patients with disabling depression have elderly patients with dementia. even the slightest chance of being helped by 19 antidepressants. Yet the overwhelming major- citalopram (Celexa) ity of those who take these drugs—and are escitalopram (Lexapro) exposed to their incapacitating and disastrous fluoxetine (Prozac) side effects—just feel a little blue. fluvoxamine (Luvox) There is no magic bullet for depression. paroxetine (Paxil) Because symptoms are often a normal response sertraline (Zoloft) to life’s challenges, your initial step should be to address those challenges. Psychotherapy is Side Effects May Include: increased risk the first-line treatment for mild to moderate of suicide. Every antidepressant sold in this depression in many countries, and talking to a country is required by the FDA to have a black friend, family member, or spiritual counselor box label warning: “Antidepressants increased may be an acceptable substitute. And there are the risk compared to placebo of suicidal think- many natural therapies for boosting mood and ing and behavior (suicidality) in children, improving quality of life. adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) and Drugs Commonly Recommended other psychiatric disorders.” Other side effects to Treat Depression include violent behavior, loss of libido, erec- tile dysfunction, weight gain, gastrointestinal Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors problems, and headaches, dry mouth, diarrhea, (SSRIs) excess sweating, impotence, sleepiness and insomnia, tremor, and sinus infections. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most popular drugs for depres- Recommendations for Treating sion. These drugs increase the availability of Depression Naturally the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain by blocking its reabsorption by brain cells. Low 1. Exercise. It’s the single most effective mood levels of serotonin are believed to be a major elevator. Many researchers feel that lack of cause of depression, so, in theory, these drugs physical exercise may be one of the major should result in improved mood by making reasons for the increasing incidence of more serotonin available for communication depression today. Exercise increases levels of between nerve cells. In reality, their dangers far dopamine, a neurotransmitter with stimulat- outweigh any potential benefit. ing effects on the brain, as well as levels of endorphins, “feel good” neurotransmitters SSRIs increase risk of suicidal thoughts that create a sense of well-being. In addition, and behaviors, extreme agitation, and acts of physical activity helps decrease anxiety, hos- uncharacteristic violence. Thousands of suicides tility, and other stress-related disorders. and most of the shocking and horrific assaults against innocent students at schools, children 2. Take S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe). SAMe in their homes, and employees at work have (pronounced “Sammy”) helps normalize involved SSRI antidepressants or other psychi- levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepi- atric drugs. They are also notorious for causing nephrine, neurotransmitters believed to play sexual dysfunction, gastrointestinal problems, a role in regulating mood. Approximately 70 headaches, insomnia, and weight gain—a percent of depressed patients who try SAMe quarter of people gain 10 pounds or more while notice improvements in mood within days— taking them. SSRIs are also associated with not weeks, as is the case with most drugs increases in anxiety, nervousness, agitation, and and herbal therapies. The recommended restlessness as well as a zombie-like blunting dose is 200 mg twice a day, before breakfast of emotions and inability to empathize with and before lunch, preferably on an empty others. stomach (at least 30 minutes before or two 20 hours after eating). Some people may need recommend an additional 1,000 mcg daily, if to double this to 400 mg twice a day. needed. 3. Try 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). This nat- 5. Let in the light. Spend time outdoors and let ural treatment for mild to moderate depres- natural sunlight enter your eyes for a few sion is a natural precursor to serotonin. Start minutes each day. (Avoid looking directly with 30–50 mg at bedtime, on an empty into the sun.) Also, consider installing full- stomach. This may safely be increased to spectrum artificial light, which contains as much as 100 mg three times a day over all the wavelengths of natural light, in the several weeks. Most of my patients respond rooms where you spend the most time. Full- well to 50–100 mg per day. spectrum light tubes and bulbs come in varying sizes and strengths, and can be put 4. Boost your levels of B-complex vitamins. in existing fixtures. Depression is a common symptom of vari- ous B vitamin deficiencies, including vita- 6. The prescription drug Dilantin has one mins B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 of the safest records of any medication. (cobalamin), and folic acid. Supplementation Dilantin normalizes the flow of electrical is a must. I recommend 50 mg vitamin B1, impulses in the brain, enhancing mood, 75 mg vitamin B6, 150 mcg vitamin B12, concentration, and mental performance. It’s and 800 mcg folic acid. Vitamin B12 has normally given for seizures but is also used a particularly potent effect on mood so I to treat depression, obsessive or impulsive

The Best Weight Loss Program Ever Thousands of Whitaker Wellness patients and At lunchtime, break your fast and eat normally for newsletter subscribers have lost weight—and kept the rest of the day: plenty of lean protein, a little fruit, and it off—with the mini-fast with exercise. It’s the most lots of vegetables, beans, and other fiber-rich, low-fat, effective weight loss program I’ve seen in my 40 low-glycemic carbohydrates. You don’t have to count years of practicing medicine. Here’s how it works. calories, but you don’t want to pig out at lunch or dinner, either. Fortunately, you’ll find that the discipline required Get up in the morning and drink a glass of water to eat sensibly for two meals a day is far less than the or a cup of coffee or tea. You can use a little creamer discipline required to cut calories at three meals. or low-caloric sweetener like xylitol or stevia, and you can take your supplements if you want. But do not The mini-fast takes advantage of and expands eat breakfast or drink juice. upon the 10–12 hours you normally fast during the night. When you awaken in the morning, your body is Then put on your workout gear and do some beginning to deplete the glycogen in your liver (from aerobic exercise. You can walk briskly, jog, or cycle; the carbohydrates you ate at your evening meal) and is use a treadmill, stair-stepper, mini-trampoline, or starting to rely more on fat for energy. As your glyco- stationary bike; or take an aerobics class or work out gen stores are progressively exhausted, your liver starts with an exercise video at home. The important thing to turn fat into ketones, which the brain and other tis- is that you exercise for 20–45 minutes with moder- sues use as fuel. This fat-burning state is called ketosis. ate effort. (Don’t go overboard and burn yourself out before you get started.) Aerobic exercise is a crucial part of the mini-fast program because it rapidly puts you into ketosis. After you exercise, get on with your day, but con- Overnight fasting is a start, but exercise really kicks tinue fasting until lunch. Drink water, of course, and feel things into high gear. The fuel used during that morn- free to have coffee or tea. Don’t worry about being too ing walk you’re taking in place of eating breakfast hungry to make it through the morning. You may have comes from burning fat, which is exactly what you to try this to believe it, but this fasting/exercise combo want when you’re trying to lose weight. Even better, if seriously dampens your appetite, and the caffeine in you continue fasting after exercising, you will stay in coffee and tea helps to blunt hunger as well. ketosis, reducing fat stores even more.

21 behavior, and anxiety. For severe depres- complications and enhance overall health. sion, I encourage a therapeutic trial of this With this in mind, we’ve treated thousands of extremely safe prescription drug. The rec- patients with type 2 diabetes at Whitaker Well- ommended dose for depression is 100 mg ness, and the first thing we do is stop their per day. oral medications and insulin. Although this is unheard of in conventional medicine—and dis- 7. Test your hormone levels. Depression is a hallmark of hormonal disorders. It’s espe- concerting for most patients, who’ve been told cially likely to occur with hypothyroidism they would be on these meds for life—it works. (an underactive thyroid). Other common It may take a little time, but with diet changes, signs of an underactive thyroid are fatigue, exercise, and supplements such as berberine, hair loss, obesity, edema, infertility, irregu- vanadyl sulfate, and chromium, blood sugar lar menstrual bleeding, fibrocystic disease, control is as good as or better than with drugs chronic fatigue, and reduced immune func- and insulin. tion. (See the Hypothyroidism section for a This approach is also much safer and more way to test your thyroid function at home.) convenient than pills, shots, and constant moni- Estrogen and progesterone imbalances may toring—and conventional doctors would realize also contribute to depression. Required it if they put their prescription pads away, dosages vary from woman to woman. Tes- worked with their patients to adopt lifestyle tosterone replacement has been shown to changes, and got over their ill-informed bias boost feelings of well-being in both men and against nutritional supplements. woman. Note: These suggestions on mood eleva- Drugs Commonly Recommended tion are not meant to take the place of medical to Treat Diabetes therapy for depression. If your depression is severe, seek medical help immediately. If you Biguanides are currently on an antidepressant drug and wish to stop taking it, work with your physician Metformin, which is the generic name for to gradually stop taking this drug and replace it the drugs in this class, lowers blood sugar by with one of the natural therapies I’ve discussed improving insulin sensitivity and enhancing here. Do not stop taking antidepressant drugs the cells’ ability to take in glucose. It is the cold turkey. You need to be weaned off these safest of the oral diabetes drugs and the only medications gradually otherwise serious side one I would ever prescribe. However, as you effects may occur. will see below, I recommend berberine in place of metformin. They both have a similar mecha- Diabetes nism of action, but berberine has other unique benefits. Diabetes is a devastating condition with many serious complications, includ- metformin (Glucophage, Glucophage XR, ing increased risk of heart attack, blindness, Glumetza, Fortamet, Riomet) neuropathy, and amputations of the lower extremities. The bad news is that the US is in Side Effects May Include: vitamin B12 defi- the midst of an epidemic of type 2 diabetes, and ciency, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal the numbers continue to climb. The good news bloating, flatulence, loss of appetite, metal- is that this condition is preventable, treatable, lic taste. These symptoms are severe enough and in many cases reversible—just not with to cause the medication to be discontinued medications or insulin. in about one out of every 20 patients. A rare but potentially fatal side effect of metformin The goal of diabetes treatment isn’t simply is lactic acidosis. Avoid this drug if you have to lower blood sugar but to protect against kidney disease. 22 Sulfonylureas Help for Diabetic Complications Sulfonylureas work by increasing the secre- Diabetes is associated with several secondary tion of insulin by the pancreas. This lowers diseases, and two of the most common involve the blood sugar but often works too well, resulting eyes and the nerves. Diabetic retinopathy is charac- in hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Hypogly- terized by increasing damage to the retina and loss cemia is a serious threat that causes confusion, of vision. Diabetic neuropathy involves inflammation dizziness, falls and accidents, cardiovascular and deterioration of the peripheral nerves, leading disease, coma, and increased risk of death, and to numbness, tingling, pain, infections, and, all too it’s particularly prevalent among older people. often, amputation. This condition is the leading cause A quarter of the adverse drug events that result of amputation of the lower extremities. Despite what in emergency hospitalization of people over conventional medicine may tell you, there are things age 65 are due to hypoglycemia caused by you can do to improve these conditions. oral and injected diabetes drugs. Since 1984, Alpha lipoic acid. This exceptionally powerful sulfonylureas have carried a black box label and versatile antioxidant is both water-soluble and warning that they increase risk of death from fat-soluble and can enter all parts of a cell to neutral- heart attack. These drugs are also notorious ize free radicals. It has been shown in clinical trials to for causing weight gain—the last thing anyone protect and stimulate regeneration of the nerves and to with type 2 diabetes needs. These are danger- improve symptoms in patients with diabetic neuropathy. ous drugs, and I never prescribe them. The recommended dose is 600–1,200 mg per day. chlorpropamide (Diabinese) Sugar dressings. Infected wounds that refuse to heal are the gateway to amputation. Believe it or glimepiride (Amaryl) not, at Whitaker Wellness, we successfully treat these glipizide (Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL) wounds with sugar. Sugar kills virtually all bacteria in glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase the wound by creating an osmotic environment in PresTab) which no microorganisms can survive. It also stimu- tolbutamide (Orinase) lates natural debridement, reduces swelling, and promotes the formation of new tissue and skin with Side Effects May Include: increased risk of minimal scarring. Simply pack the open wound with fatal heart attack, weight gain, nausea, diarrhea, sugar, cover it with a bandage, and change the dress- constipation, stomach pain, drowsiness, head- ing every three or four days. ache, hives, itching, low blood sugar, photosen- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). For sitivity, skin rash and eruptions, and stomach neuropathy and more serious wounds, we also use pain. A study of patients taking sulfonylureas HBOT. HBOT not only controls infection but also found that they had 2.5 times the rate of cardiac delivers oxygen to areas with poor blood supply (such mortality compared to patients treated with diet as limbs affected by diabetic neuropathy) and dramat- alone. These drugs also increase risk of hypo- ically increases levels of circulating stem cells, which glycemia, a potentially fatal complication. stimulate the healing process. Supplements for vision. Several nutrients have Glitazones been demonstrated in clinical trials to support the health of the retina and stave off or slow down degen- A study published in the New England eration of the eyes. Key nutrients include vitamin A, Journal of Medicine in 2007 linked Avandia, a vitamin C, beta-carotene, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, glitazone drug, with a 43 percent increased lycopene, and bilberry. Look for a combination product risk of heart attack and a 60 percent increased that contains 15–30 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxan- risk of cardiovascular death. Regulators in thin. Mirtogenol, a proprietary blend of bilberry and other countries pulled Avandia off the market pycnogenol, has been shown to reduce intraocular years ago, citing safety issues concerning heart pressure and improve blood flow in the eyes. The rec- attacks, strokes, and death. The FDA, in pre- ommended dose of Mirtogenol is 120–240 mg per day. dictable fashion, put the interests of the drug 23 companies above the safety of the American More than 20 different types of insulin are people, and sales are strong in the US. These sold in the United States. Here are a few of the drugs also cause weight gain. A study of more most commonly prescribed: than 4,000 patients recently diagnosed with insulin aspart (Novolog) type 2 diabetes found that those taking Avandia insulin detemir (Levemir) gained an average of 10 pounds over five years, insulin glargine (Lantus) compared to a loss of six pounds among those taking metformin and a gain of three pounds insulin glulisine (Apidra) for those on glyburide. insulin lispro (Humalog) pioglitazone (Actos) Side Effects May Include: substantial weight rosiglitazone (Avandia) gain, potential hypoglycemia, and allergic reac- tions (redness, swelling and itching at injec- rosiglitazone maleate and glimepiride tion site, rash over the entire body, shortness of (Avandaryl) breath, wheezing, reduction in blood pressure, rosiglitazone maleate and metformin fast pulse, and sweating). hydrochloride (Avandamet) Recommendations for Treating Side Effects May Include: weight gain, Diabetes Naturally increased risk of heart attack and stroke, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, 1. The optimal diet for diabetes is based on muscle pain, tooth disorders, edema, and sore low-glycemic carbohydrates, lots of vegeta- throat. Another drug in this class, Rezulin, bles, moderate amounts of lean protein, and was recalled because it caused liver damage in small servings of healthy fats (from nuts and seeds, fish, flaxseed, and olive oil). Avoid some patients. There is potential for these drugs processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and to have the same effect. These drugs can also starchy foods such as bread, potatoes, and cause fluid retention that will worsen or cause white rice. heart failure. The risk is increased in patients who have poor kidney function. 2. Exercise regularly. Exercise lowers your blood sugar levels while you’re active and Insulin increases your body’s overall sensitivity to insulin. A brisk 10-minute walk alone has When oral drugs fail to control blood sugar, been shown to lower blood sugar levels dra- doctors add insulin. About one in four people matically in some people. Executed after a with type 2 diabetes inject insulin every day. meal, it can help prevent the postprandial (after meals) elevation in the blood sugar However, the problem here is not a lack of that is so common in people with diabetes. insulin; it’s a lack of insulin sensitivity brought Exercise also stimulates weight loss, which on by obesity. And what does insulin do? is highly beneficial for most diabetics. I Invariably, routinely, and without exception, it recommend exercising at least four times a causes weight gain! week, for at least 30 minutes each time. Add a couple of muscle-building weight training Insulin is a nutrient storage hormone. It sessions, as this increases insulin sensitivity. ushers not only glucose into the cells but fat as well. Furthermore, when insulin levels are 3. Lose weight with the mini-fast with exercise elevated, as they are in type 2 diabetes, fat (see sidebar on page 21). burning shuts down. I’ve had scores of patients 4. Use berberine. This herbal supplement is, who have put on 50, 75, 100 pounds or more in my opinion, the safest and most effec- after starting on insulin. tive therapy for controlling blood sugar. 24 Several clinical trials have shown the posi- and blood vessels that often occurs with tive effects of berberine for patients with diabetes. Replacing these lost nutrients with type 2 diabetes. In a study published in a potent daily multivitamin and mineral Metabolism, patients with newly diagnosed supplement is essential. diabetes were given 500 mg of either met- 8. Add the trace mineral chromium. This min- formin or berberine three times a day for eral helps transport glucose and other nutri- three months. Berberine came out on top. It ents into cells and facilitates weight loss—a lowered average fasting blood sugar from powerful diabetic treatment by itself. I rec- 190.8 to 124.2, hemoglobin A1C from 9.5 to ommend 200–400 mcg of chromium daily. 7.5 percent, and postprandial (after meals) blood sugar from 356.4 to 199.8. Modest posi- tive effects were also noted on triglycerides. Erectile Dysfunction Berberine is safe and well tolerated, but it Erectile dysfunction (ED) is estimated to may cause transient gastrointestinal upset in affect some 30 million American men, but the some people. The suggested dose is 500 mg, truth is most men will encounter this problem three times a day. at some point in their lives. ED is primarily 5. Put some spice in your life. Adding just a circulatory disorder, and the greatest risk three grams of cinnamon a day (about ¼ factors are age, atherosclerosis, smoking, dia- teaspoon) can help you reduce your blood betes, hypertension, and other cardiovascular sugar level by 10 percent or more. Add cin- diseases. However, it can also be a side effect of namon to your food or take it in supplement some drugs or surgeries such as radical pros- form. The suggested dose is 1,000 mg per tatectomy and transurethral resection of the day, taken in divided doses. prostate (TURP). The good news is that you have many options for enhancing sexual activ- 6. Consider vanadyl sulfate. Vanadyl sulfate is ity, no matter your age or current sexual health. a form of the trace mineral vanadium that And believe it or not, for this particular health has proven extremely effective in reducing concern, I believe the best therapies are pre- the need for insulin in diabetics. In large scription drugs. doses, vanadyl sulfate works remarkably like oral insulin. In animal tests, it has com- Drugs Commonly Recommended pletely eliminated diabetes permanently, to Treat Erectile Dysfunction even after the vanadyl sulfate was stopped. The suggested dose of vanadyl sulfate is PDE5 Inhibitors 100 mg per day. 7. Boost your supply of antioxidants, Male sexual arousal begins in the brain, B-complex vitamins, and minerals. The big- which signals the release of nitric oxide (NO) gest oversight of the conventional approach to treating diabetes is failure to recognize Drugs That May Cause Erectile that diabetes is a nutrient-wasting disease. Dysfunction An elevated blood sugar level overwhelms the kidneys’ ability to reabsorb excess sugar, Prescription medications and over-the-coun- and it spills out in the urine. That’s why dia- ter drugs can cause ED and loss of libido. They betics experience increased urination. Also include blood pressure meds (especially diuretics lost in the urine are important water-soluble and beta-blockers), chemo agents, antidepres- vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins sants, anti-anxiety drugs, antipsychotics, acid- B1, B6, and B12, magnesium, zinc, and chro- reducing drugs, antihistamines, anticholinergic mium, to name a few. This loss contributes drugs, and drugs that block male hormones. If to, and could be the primary reason for, the you are experiencing sexual dysfunction, discuss deterioration of the eyes, kidneys, nerves, your drug regimen with your doctor.

25 in the penis. NO activates an enzyme called 2. Give the amino acid arginine a try. Like the cGMP that causes the arteries in the penis to prescription drug Viagra, arginine increases become engorged with blood, harden, and nitric oxide levels in the blood. My patients compress the veins that drain blood from who are taking arginine for cardiovascular the penis, preventing outflow. After orgasm conditions (it improves overall circulation as another enzyme, PDE5, causes the erection well) often report improvements in erectile to subside. ED occurs when blood flows out function, which likely stems from the boost of the penis as fast as it flows in. PDE5 over- in NO production. Even those who don’t powers cGMP and prevents full erections and have problems with ED note increased dura- orgasms. As the name suggests, this class of tion and firmness of erections. I recommend drugs inhibits the action of PDE5, thus pro- 500–1,000 mg every two hours throughout moting normal erections. There are subtle dif- the day, or 6 grams or more 45 minutes prior ferences among these drugs. For example, the to having sex. Arginine is best absorbed on effects of Cialis last up to 36 hours compared an empty stomach. If you experience stom- to four to six hours for the others. They’re not ach upset when taking it, try it with some for everyone, but most men get decent results. carbohydrate-containing food. Avoid eating avanafil (Stendra) protein at the same time, as this may impair sildenafil citrate (Viagra) absorption. Consult your physician before taking arginine if you take Viagra, nitroglyc- tadalafil (Cialis) erin, or a related drug. vardenafil (Levitra and Staxyn) 3. Try Prelox®. Prelox is a proprietary blend Side Effects May Include: nasal congestion, of L-arginine and Pycnogenol, which headache, flushing, dyspepsia, changes in also boosts NO production. It was shown vision, diarrhea, dizziness, and rash. Rare side in placebo-controlled trials to improve effects include heart attack, sudden cardiac moderate erectile dysfunction. Use death, ventricular arrhythmia, cerebrovascular as directed. hemorrhage, hypertension, urinary tract infec- tion, and priapism (painful erections lasting 4. Testosterone replacement can be an effec- more than six hours). For men who are taking tive sexual stimulant. Testosterone primarily nitrate drugs such as nitroglycerin, all drugs in helps with libido, but also improves perfor- this class can cause a dangerous drop in blood mance in some men. It may be administered pressure and increase in heart rate. If you’re by pill, injection, pellets implanted under taking any drug that reduces blood pressure, the skin, skin patches, cream, or gel. I would have a serious heart condition, experience hypo- steer clear of pills, as they may cause liver tension, or suffer with retinitis pigmentosa, damage. At the Whitaker Wellness Institute, these drugs may be contraindicated. Talk to we offer our patients two types of natu- your doctor. ral testosterone replacement: transdermal agents that are applied to the skin and injec- Recommendations for Treating tions. If you’re interested in this therapy, Erectile Dysfunction Naturally discuss it with your doctor.

1. Clean up your lifestyle. Harvard research- 5. Many natural potency enhancers are over- ers have found that men who eat a good hyped and underperforming. Furthermore, diet, exercise regularly, and maintain their several supplements of this kind have been optimal weight are able to delay age-associ- found to be spiked with drugs. That said, ated erectile dysfunction by about 10 years. herbs such as horny goat weed and maca Among the bad habits that contribute to sex- may be helpful, and they’re certainly worth ual problems are drinking too much alcohol, a try. Buy only from reputable manufactur- overeating (obesity), and smoking. ers; use as directed. 26 Gastroesophageal are linked with increased fracture risk. They can cause rebound effects that make heartburn Reflux Disease (GERD)/ and stomach distress worse when they are dis- Heartburn continued—and studies suggest that more than half of the prescriptions written for these drugs Heartburn is a burn all right. It’s caused are inappropriate. by hydrochloric acid (HCl), which is secreted in the stomach to facilitate digestion. HCl is so dexlansoprazole (Kapidex) caustic it would eat through the stomach itself if esomeprazole (Nexium) not for its thick, protective mucosal lining. The lansoprazole (Prevacid) esophagus, however, has no such protection, and if the muscular valve between the stomach omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid) and esophagus allow stomach acids to seep up, pantoprazole (Protonix) you’re going to feel it. Most of us get occasional rabeprazole (AcipHex) heartburn after overeating, etc., but for people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Side Effects May Include: weight gain, head- it’s a chronic problem. ache, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, edema, increased risk of pneumonia and C. difficile GERD can cause frequent esophageal pain, infections, hyper- and hypotension, flatu- inflammation, and erosion as well as seemingly lence, decreased libido, calcium and B12 defi- unrelated symptoms such as hoarseness, sore ciency, joint pain, muscle cramps, and rebound throat, and chronic cough. Conventional medi- stomach pain. Should be used as a short-term cine goes after it with medications to neutralize treatment only (four to eight weeks, depending or reduce stomach acid. These drugs do provide on condition). PPIs can also interact with a host temporary relief, but at a cost. HCl is required of other medications. for the breakdown of food in the stomach, so they impair digestion and can lead to nutri- H2 Blockers tional deficiencies. Furthermore, stomach dis- comfort, especially in older people, may be due Histamine receptor antagonists (H2 block- to an inadequacy of stomach acid rather than ers) block the action of histamine on parietal an excess, and these drugs only make matters cells in the stomach. This reduces the amount worse. Fortunately, GERD and its many symp- of acid produced and changes the pH (acidity) toms can be remedied with natural therapies of the stomach. H2 blockers can help relieve and lifestyle changes. stomach pain, but they also impair digestion— Drugs Commonly Recommended in particular, the digestion of protein, which requires HCl. They’re meant to be taken for no to Treat GERD more than two weeks, but because several of these meds are now available over the counter, Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) many people taken them indefinitely. Chronic use of these drugs is associated with the over- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) block the production of acid in the stomach. They do growth of H. pylori bacteria, which can infiltrate provide symptomatic relief, but thanks to one the stomach lining to cause ulcers. of the most aggressive marketing campaigns in cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB) history, they are excessively and inappropriately famotidine (Pepcid AC, Pepcid Oral) prescribed—and they have a number of serious side effects. PPIs cause weight gain. They nizatidine capsules (Axid AR, Axid increase risk of pneumonia and of C. difficile Capsules) bacteria-related diarrhea. They interfere with ranitidine (Zantac, Zantac 75, Zantac Effer- the absorption of vitamin B12 and calcium and dose, Zantac injection, and Zantac Syrup) 27 Side Effects May Include: headache, abdominal production of the protective mucosal cells pain, diarrhea, dizziness, weakness, constipa- lining the GI tract. For heartburn, ulcers, tion, nausea, flatulence, indigestion, dry mouth, or any kind of stomach upset, I highly rec- loss of appetite, hives, and urinary problems. ommend this supplement. Take 20 minutes Long-term use may increase risk of decline in before meals for chronic problems or as mental function in later life. needed for occasional heartburn or stomach upset. Recommendations for Treating 5. Soothe your stomach with aloe vera. This Heartburn and GERD Naturally time-honored therapy is beneficial for the entire gastrointestinal tract. There are many 1. Watch your diet. Common trigger foods for aloe products on the market. Concentrates— heartburn include fried foods, spicy items, the stronger, the better—of the whole leaf fatty foods, alcohol, caffeine, and chocolate. are your best value. Buy from a reputable Eat at a moderate pace, and wait at least an manufacturer and take as directed. hour after meals before exercising and at least three hours before lying down. 6. Take digestive enzymes. Enzyme produc- tion also tapers with age, and this too can 2. Lose weight. This measure alone corrects be corrected with supplements containing many cases of chronic heartburn because it enzymes that break down protein (protease), reduces the pressure on your abdomen that carbohydrate (amylase), and fat (lipase)—as contributes to digestive discomfort. (See well as problematic foods like beans (alpha- page 21 for details on an effective weight galactosidase) and dairy (lactase). We keep loss program.) Drink at least 8 to 10 eight- bottles of digestive enzymes on the tables ounce glasses of water per day. Drink one to for our patients to take with meals, and they two glasses half an hour before meals, and routinely report reductions in gas, bloating, upon rising. Take your supplements at meals belching, and post-meal discomfort. with a tall glass of water. 7. Try supplemental glutamine. This amino 3. Try hydrochloric acid supplements. You can acid is especially supportive of the gastroin- assess your need for HCl by taking HCl cap- testinal system and is an excellent therapy sules with meals and observing their effect. for digestive ailments. At the clinic, we use At your next meal, take one HCl capsule. a product called Glutagenics from Metagen- Increase the dose by one capsule with each ics. One teaspoon of this powdered supple- meal until you experience a warm sensation ment contains 3,500 mg glutamine, along in the upper part of your stomach. This is with 50 mg aloe vera and 500 mg DGL. The an indication that you have a slight excess suggested dosage is one teaspoon, mixed in of HCl, and is a signal to cut your HCl dose water, three times a day. by one capsule. Don’t take more than five 8. Don’t forget to take a good daily multivi- capsules under any circumstances. If you tamin. As we’ve discussed, stomach issues take five and feel nothing, continue taking can interfere with nutrient absorption, so it’s five capsules per meal, as this dose can only important to boost your intake of vitamins enhance your digestion. Look in your health and minerals. food store for an HCl product with pepsin such as the HCl with pepsin capsule made by Solaray. Heart Disease and 4. Use deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) High Cholesterol instead of antacids. Unlike antacids, which There are so many classes of drugs used decrease stomach acid secretion, this popu- to treat cardiovascular disease that I couldn’t lar supplement does not disrupt the nor- begin to cover them in this special report. mal digestive process. In fact, it stimulates Therefore, I am going to focus solely on statin 28 drugs, since virtually all patients with heart disease—and millions of healthy people—are Statin Drugs Deplete prescribed these medications. CoQ10 Levels If you’re in your 40s or older, chances are Statin drugs have a very significant side effect your doctor has recommended a statin drug. that few physicians mention to patients. They sig- Current guidelines decree that half of Ameri- nificantly reduce your body’s production of coen- cans in this age group—and 77 percent of those zyme Q10. CoQ10 is integral to the generation of over 60—“need” a cholesterol-lowering medica- energy in the mitochondria of virtually every cell tion. As long as your LDL cholesterol is above in your body. This is especially important for heart the designated level, you’re a candidate. Even if health. People with heart failure have measur- your cholesterol is low but you have diabetes, able deficiencies in CoQ10, and the seriousness obesity, or other risk factors, you’ll walk out of of the disease correlates directly with the degree of CoQ10 deficiency. The incidence of heart fail- the office with a prescription for a statin. It’s ure has exploded in the last 20 years. I consider crazy! These medications are not the miracle CoQ10 deficiencies caused by the exploding use drugs they’re made out to be. Yes, they reduce of statin drugs to be in large part responsible for LDL cholesterol levels, but so what? Contrary this current epidemic. to the exaggerated claims made by drug com- panies and parroted by physicians, statins have minimal effects on risk of heart attacks and atorvastatin (Lipitor) cardiovascular death. If your doctor prescribes a fluvastatin (Lescol, Lescol XL) statin, I implore you to opt for alternative mea- sures for lowering cholesterol and, most impor- lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev) tant, reducing risk of heart disease. pitavastatin (Livalo) Drugs Commonly Recommended pravastatin (Pravachol) to Treat Heart Disease and rosuvastatin (Crestor) High Cholesterol simvastatin (Zocor)

Statin Drugs simvastatin + ezetimibe (Vytorin) Side Effects May Include: muscle pain and Statins are the best-selling drugs in history. It’s easy to get taken in by the glowing statistics weakness, memory loss, global amnesia, liver and over-the-top advertisements, how these damage, sexual dysfunction, headache, nausea, drugs save lives and reduce risk of heart attack vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal and chest pain, by 30–50 percent. But as Mark Twain once said, hypertension, constipation, gastroenteritis, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned insomnia, bronchitis, depression, rash, and lies, and statistics.” In reality, the difference in cough. All drugs in this class deplete levels heart attack rates in patients enrolled in clini- cal trials who took a statin drug compared to of coenzyme Q10, and this has very serious those who took a placebo was about 1 percent. adverse effects. Muscle pain and weakness To summarize the clinical trials involving the affect a large percentage of users, and any unex- use of statins for primary prevention, to prevent plained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness one heart attack, 104 people had to take a statin should be reported immediately. Additionally, drug every day for five years. The other 103 statins are linked with an increased risk of dia- got no benefits—but they were exposed to the drugs’ serious side effects. At least 1 in 10 had betes and cancer. Note: All statin users should muscle damage and 1 in 50 developed diabetes. take 200–300 mg of supplemental CoQ10 daily And no deaths were prevented. to protect against drug-induced deficiencies. 29 they often get worse. Work with your phy- Supplements for Lowering sician to set up a plan for regular activity Cholesterol that’s appropriate for your condition.

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia). The juice of this 3. Take antioxidants. Antioxidants neutralize citrus fruit contains exceptionally large amounts free radicals that are implicated in heart of unique polyphenols that have broad cardiovas- disease and virtually every other ailment cular benefits. Concentrated bergamot extracts of modern life. In addition to damaging lower triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, raise the blood vessels, free radicals also trans- protective HDL, help control blood sugar, and form LDL cholesterol into its oxidized form, improve overall arterial function and cardiovas- which promotes arterial blockages. Sug- cular health. In a placebo-controlled clinical trial, gested daily doses: Italian researchers gave either 500 mg or 1,000 • Vitamin C, 1,000–2,000 mg in divided mg of bergamot extract daily to study volunteers doses. Vitamin C also promotes col- with high cholesterol levels. After one month, the lagen production and strengthens and average LDL in the two groups fell by 37 and 39 restores the elasticity of blood vessels. In percent, respectively, HDL increased by 38 and addition, it helps control lipoprotein (a), 43 percent, and triglycerides, another cardiovas- which is an independent risk factor for cular risk factor, declined by 38 and 42 percent. cardiovascular disease. The suggested dose of bergamot is 500–1,000 of • Vitamin E, a minimum of 200 IU. A standardized extract, taken once or twice a day World Health Organization (WHO) study 20–30 minutes before meals. that included thousands of men and Niacin (vitamin B3). Niacin is a terrific therapy women in 16 different countries found for lowering LDL cholesterol levels while raising that a low level of vitamin E was more levels of protective HDL cholesterol. Even con- than twice as predictive of a heart attack ventional doctors recommend it! Start with 500 than either an elevated cholesterol level mg three times a day with meals. If the flush- or high blood pressure. ing bothers you, take the dose at bedtime so • Vitamin A and beta-carotene, 15,000 IU, the flushing happens while you’re asleep. This mostly as natural beta-carotene. Beta-car- therapy is not recommended for patients with otene, often referred to as “pro-vitamin liver disease, gout, or ulcers. Note: “No-flush” A,” is transformed in the liver to vitamin niacin formulations (inositol hexaniacinate) do not A as needed. lower cholesterol. 4. Make sure your multivitamin provides ample B-complex vitamins. I recommend a Recommendations for Treating multivitamin/mineral supplement that con- tains at least 800 mcg of folic acid, at least Heart Disease and Lowering 75 mg of vitamin B6, and 150 mcg of B12. Cholesterol Naturally B vitamins help detoxify homocysteine, a compound that encourages the formation 1. Base your diet on fresh whole foods such of blood clots and damages arterial walls. as vegetables, beans, legumes, fruit, Greek Hundreds of medical journal articles have yogurt, chicken, and fish. Plant foods are shown the relationship between an elevated good sources of antioxidants, B vitamins, level of homocysteine, low intake of folic and minerals that, as you’ll see below, are acid and vitamins B6 and B12, and increased crucial to protecting your heart and blood incidence of heart disease. vessels. Go easy on high-fat dairy, processed foods, refined sugars, and excess salt. 5. Include omega-3 essential fatty acids, 2–10 1,000 mg capsules of fish oil or 500–1,000 2. Establish a reasonable exercise program. mg of krill oil a day. Omega-3s help nor- When heart patients are completely inactive, malize blood lipids, improve circulation, 30 reduce the risk of blood clots, and smooth ankles to just below the waist. Then, timed out abnormal heart rhythms. Your body with each heartbeat, the cuffs contract, forc- cannot manufacture omega-3 essential fatty ing blood up the extremities, through the acids, which is why it’s so important to eat veins, and back to the heart, thereby increas- salmon and other cold-water fish and to take ing blood flow throughout the body. One high-quality fish or krill oil supplements. treatment session lasts about an hour, and a usual course is 35 treatments, given once 6. Add these supplements, which are geared to or twice a day. In three or four weeks—far heart health. I recommend: less time than it takes to recuperate from a • L-carnitine, 2,000–4,000 mg per day, bypass—chest pain is often eliminated. taken in divided doses. This natural compound, which transports essential 8. A course of EDTA chelation therapy may long-chain fatty acids into the mitochon- also be warranted. EDTA chelation is a pro- dria, where they’re burned for energy, cedure used to remove accumulated miner- has proven cardiovascular benefits. als and heavy metals from the body. When diffused into the body slowly, the protein- • Coenzyme Q10 (preferably the ubiquinol like compound attaches to minerals—partic- form), 200–300 mg daily. Since your heart ularly heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, is your most metabolically active organ, and mercury—and makes them soluble. CoQ10 is naturally more concentrated Both the EDTA and the mineral complex in this organ. Age, disease, and the use are excreted from the body via the urine. By of statin drugs deplete CoQ10 levels, removing these unwanted minerals, EDTA increasing your risk of cardiovascular chelation helps loosen and remove arterial disease and numerous other health con- plaque, thereby restoring the artery wall to a cerns. If you are taking a statin drug, healthier state. When administered properly it is imperative that you supplement by a physician, intravenous EDTA has an with CoQ10. extremely low risk of side effects. • Magnesium, 500–1,000 mg per day. Magnesium relaxes the arteries, helps Also see the section on Hypertension. regulate heart rhythm and blood pres- sure, and increases efficiency of the heart Hypertension/High muscle. Research overwhelmingly dem- onstrates critical links between sufficient Blood Pressure magnesium levels and healthy heart High blood pressure affects roughly 75 function. million Americans. This condition increases risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney 7. Consider Enhanced External Counterpulsa- disease, and those who are labeled with hyper- tion (EECP) for symptomatic heart disease. tension pay higher insurance rates and are fre- This noninvasive therapy dramatically quently subjected to lifelong use of dangerous enhances blood flow to the coronary arter- medications. ies by squeezing blood out of the lower extremities up toward the heart. Because There are many classes of medications used it stimulates the growth of new blood ves- to lower blood pressure, and in some cases sels (collateral circulation) around blocked drugs are necessary. But research suggests that arteries, it’s like a natural bypass. EECP was millions are inappropriately diagnosed with developed at Harvard University as a treat- hypertension. One study found that four in ment for angina, and scores of studies at five blood pressure readings taken in doctors’ major medical centers have shown EECP’s offices are inaccurate! Improper positioning, safety and efficacy. During EECP treatment, talking during testing, uncalibrated equipment, you lie on a bed and pressure cuffs are and white coat hypertension (high blood pres- strapped on your lower extremities from the sure due to the anxiety of being in a doctor’s 31 office) all contribute to faulty readings and kidney and lung problems. The most dangerous over-diagnosis. I am convinced that the lack side effect is acute swelling of the face, tongue, of awareness of this very common and serious lips, vocal cords, and extremities, and medical problem has turned millions of healthy individ- help should be sought immediately. uals into medication-dependent “patients.” Diuretics If you truly do have high blood pressure, you need to understand that hypertension is Diuretics, or water pills, cause an increase often a reflection of the body’s response to in the production of urine. This reduction in diet, stress, excess weight, inactivity, and other fluids reduces pressure in the arteries, and factors that you can control without resorting to because there’s less blood for the heart to medications. pump, it reduces the heart’s workload. Long- term use of diuretics to manage high blood Drugs Commonly Recommended pressure, however, can deplete your body of to Treat Hypertension vital water-soluble nutrients. This can result in cardiac arrhythmias, muscle cramps, and other ACE Inhibitors problems related to mineral imbalances. That’s because diuretics also block the kidneys’ ability Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) to reabsorb minerals and other water-soluble inhibitors block the production of angiotensin, a nutrients, which are excreted from the body in hormone that constricts the arteries. This allows the blood vessels to relax and dilate, thus reduc- the urine. Potassium-sparing diuretics address ing blood pressure against the artery walls. potassium losses, but all drugs in this class ACE inhibitors have been around for decades, can cause deficiencies and imbalances in key and I consider them to be the safest of the anti- nutrients. hypertensive drugs. However, they do disturb There are several types of diuretics. Loop the body’s levels of trace minerals, decreasing diuretics (Lasix and Bumex) are powerful medi- selenium and zinc levels and increasing copper levels. Furthermore, up to 20 percent of people cations that are prescribed for congestive heart who take these drugs develop a persistent dry failure and to rapidly reduce fluid load in emer- cough due to elevated blood levels of a protein gency situations. Potassium-sparing diuretics that causes contraction of smooth muscle and such as Aldactone (spironolactone) are most constriction of the bronchioles. often used in patients with congestive heart failure patients. Neither of these types of diuret- benazepril hydrochloride (Lotensin) ics significantly lower blood pressure, so we captopril (Capoten) will focus on thiazide diuretics. enalapril maleate (Vasotec) fosinopril sodium (Monopril) Thiazide Diuretics lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) amiloride hydrochloride and hydrochloro- moexipril (Univasc) thiazide (Moduretic) perindopril (Aceon) chlorthalidone (Hygroton) quinapril hydrochloride (Accupril) chlorothiazide (Diuril) ramipril (Altace) hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix, Hydrodiuril, trandolapril (Mavik) Microzide) indapamide (Lozol) Side Effects May Include: chronic dry cough, skin rash, loss of taste, fatigue, nausea, vomit- metolazone (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn) ing, chest pain, low blood pressure, difficulty spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide breathing, diarrhea, headache, muscle pain, and (Aldactazide) 32 triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide (Dya- zide, Maxzide) Lower Your Blood Pressure With “Whitaker Salt” Side Effects May Include: mineral imbalances, allergic reactions, rash, hives, arrhythmia, diz- According to a Dutch study in the Archives ziness upon standing, eye pain, vision changes, of Internal Medicine, the effects of eating more severe dehydration, nausea, vomiting, acute potassium are “of similar magnitude to what renal failure, muscle cramps, weakness, and can be achieved by lowering sodium intake.” fatigue. Make sure you’re taking a good mul- The researchers suggested that this could be tivitamin to replace lost nutrients and stay accomplished by eating more potassium-rich hydrated by drinking lots of water. vegetables and fruits and replacing sodium chloride—especially in processed foods, our most Calcium Channel Blockers abundant source of sodium—with potassium salt. We’ve been doing that at Whitaker Wellness Calcium channel blockers lower blood pres- for years. In place of regular salt, we mix three sure by restricting calcium’s entry into the parts potassium chloride (Nu-Salt or Morton’s Salt smooth muscle cells of the arteries and heart. Substitute) with one part sodium chloride. Potas- This has a relaxing effect on artery walls, allow- sium chloride by itself has a metallic taste and ing them to dilate and thus reducing the pres- doesn’t enhance flavor much. However, with this sure. It also makes the heart’s contractions less mixture, which provides a substantial amount of forceful, which reduces heart rate and further potassium, few people can tell the difference. lowers blood pressure. I am not convinced of the safety of this class of drugs. Several studies suggest calcium channel blockers alone or in (too low blood pressure), palpitations, anxiety, combination with diuretics as a treatment for confusion, diarrhea, dry mouth, potential high blood pressure actually increase risk of increased risk of cardiovascular disease, breast death. These meds have also been linked with cancer, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Some an elevated risk of breast cancer in postmeno- calcium channel blockers interact with grape- pausal women and of gastrointestinal bleeding fruit and grapefruit juice. in elderly people. Until this is all sorted out, I recommend looking for options to calcium Beta-Blockers channel blockers. Beta-blockers reduce the effects of epineph- amlodipine besylate (Norvasc, Lotrel) rine and norepinephrine, stress hormones that bepridil (Vascor) stimulate pulse rate and blood pressure. There- diltiazem hydrochloride (Cardizem CD, fore, they slow the heart rate and decrease the Cardizem SR, Dilacor XR, Tiazac) heart’s workload and output of blood, which felodipine (Plendil) lowers blood pressure. Beta-blockers are also used to treat congestive heart failure and to isradipine (DynaCirc, DynaCirc CR) prevent migraines. In addition, some people nicardipine (Cardene SR) take them to reduce performance anxiety. nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia XL) acebutolol (Sectral) nisoldipine (Sular) atenolol (Tenormin) verapamil hydrochloride (Calan SR, betaxolol (Kerlone) Covera-HS, Isoptin SR, Verelan) bisoprolol fumarate (Zebeta) Side Effects May Include: fluid retention in the carteolol hydrochloride (Cartrol) face or extremities, headache, flushing, dizzi- ness, fatigue, weakness, nausea, constipation, hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol (Ziac) rapid heartbeat, rash, impotence, hypotension metoprolol succinate (Toprol-XL) 33 metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor) syndrome, a cluster of conditions that also nadolol (Corgard) includes elevated blood sugar, abdominal obesity, and lipid abnormalities. An under- penbutolol sulfate (Levatol) lying cause of metabolic syndrome—and pindolol (Visken) therefore of hypertension—is insulin resis- propranolol hydrochloride (Inderal) tance. Foods with a high glycemic index sotalol hydrochloride (Betapace AF) contribute to this problem by rapidly driv- ing up blood sugar and insulin. Choosing timolol maleate (Blocadren) foods that are more slowly metabolized Side Effects May Include: insomnia, cold helps avert the devastating effects of insu- hands and feet, weight gain, fatigue, slow lin resistance. Items to go easy on include heartbeat, dizziness, shortness of breath, sun sugar, bread and other baked goods, starchy sensitivity, constipation, erectile dysfunction, grains, and potatoes. loss of libido, depression, and high blood sugar 4. Exercise. Regular physical activity (at least (in people with diabetes). Because beta-blockers 30–45 minutes a day, four or more times reduce heart function, they can precipitate more a week) helps keep blood pressure under severe heart failure in people with reduced control. It also promotes weight loss, which heart function. Be aware that these drugs also is associated with improvements in blood interact with grapefruit juice. pressure. Recommendations for Treating 5. Take a daily multivitamin with robust doses Hypertension Naturally of antioxidants, B-complex vitamins, and especially magnesium. Magnesium relaxes 1. If you are on high blood pressure medica- the arteries and has positive effects on blood tion, talk with your physician about starting pressure and overall cardiovascular health. natural therapies. This may be your biggest The usual dose for anyone with hyperten- hurdle, as many conventional physicians sion is 500–1,000 mg. If you are taking an seem to believe the only treatment for high antihypertensive drug, this is especially blood pressure is drugs. Do not stop any important. As noted above, some of these medication or start new therapies without medications are associated with nutrient your doctor’s supervision. If you need to losses. find a new doctor, see the Resources sec- tion for referring organizations and other 6. Try Balance 3. We’ve had great success at information. the clinic with this blend of Chinese herbs— even in patients with medication-resistant 2. Eat foods that are rich in potassium. Every- hypertension. The suggested dose is 2–4 tab- one knows that excess sodium can increase lets per day. blood pressure, but numerous studies have shown that sodium-to-potassium ratio has 7. Consider other supplements with proven a greater impact than sodium alone. Foods blood pressure-lowering effects. They high in potassium include apricots, avo- include coenzyme Q10 100–300 mg, fish cados, bananas, cantaloupe, citrus fruits, oil 2–6 1,000-mg capsules, garlic 1–2 fresh peaches, prunes, tomatoes, beans, and cloves or the equivalent in supplement form, Low Sodium V8 Juice (an eight-ounce glass vitamin D 2,000–5,000 IU, quercetin 500– provides 900 mg of potassium). I also sug- 750 mg, grape seed extract 150–300 mg, gest you do what we do at Whitaker Well- olive leaf extract 500–1,000 mg, and stevia ness: replace regular salt with “Whitaker extract 750–1,000 mg. Salt” (see sidebar on page 33 for my recipe). 8. Make a conscious choice to manage your 3. Avoid high-glycemic carbohydrates. Hyper- stress level. One stress-reduction tool to tension is part and parcel of metabolic consider is to simply concentrate on your 34 breathing for a few minutes. Slow, deep, rhythmic breathing is a quick way to reduce Symptoms of an Underactive internal stress and naturally bring down Thyroid your blood pressure—and you can do it any- where and at any time. Here’s how: • Weight gain and difficulty losing weight • Dry skin • Make yourself comfortable and close • Depression your eyes, if possible. • Cold hands and feet • Begin by slowing and silently tracking • Colds, allergenic illnesses, and chronic sinusitis your breathing: Inhale-2-3-4. Hold-2-3-4. • Elevated cholesterol or triglycerides Exhale-2-3-4. • Chronic constipation • Repeat two or three times. • Muscle and joint stiffness • Headaches Hypothyroidism • Hair loss (Low Thyroid Function) • Edema • Infertility, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and Eight million Americans—seven times irregular menstruation more women than men—have some sort of • Fibrocystic disease thyroid problem. In most cases, the problem is an underactive thyroid. Hypothyroidism, or 2. Upon awakening, place the thermometer low thyroid function, is an underlying cause of a wide range of complaints such as head- in your armpit for a full 10 minutes (or two aches, fatigue, weight gain, skin and hair prob- minutes for a digital thermometer). Remain lems, chronic infections, allergies, menstrual still and reclined throughout the test. irregularities and infertility, osteoporosis, and 3. Record the temperature, date, and time. Do mood and memory disorders. Laboratory tests this for at least three days. If you are having will pick up significant thyroid deficiencies. symptoms of hypothyroidism and feel you However, the mild hypothyroidism that impairs may benefit from thyroid replacement, share quality of life for many people may not register this information with your physician. on these tests. Therefore, “subclinical hypothy- roidism” generally falls through the cracks. Note: Menstruating women must perform If you suspect low thyroid function despite the test on the second, third, and fourth days of normal blood levels, you can get a pretty good menstruation. Men and postmenopausal women idea of the health of your thyroid gland by the can perform the test at any time. old tried-and-true method of underarm basal (resting) temperature testing. Your body’s basal Drugs Commonly Recommended body temperature reflects your metabolic rate, to Treat Hypothyroidism which in turn is largely determined by thyroid hormones. If yours is consistently under 97.8 Your thyroid gland produces several hor- degrees you may have low thyroid produc- mones, but the two main ones are thyroxine tion. Here’s how to test your body’s basal (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). T3 is the most temperature: active hormone, and when T4 is released by 1. Before going to bed at night, leave a ther- the thyroid gland, the bulk of it is converted mometer within arm’s reach of the bed. If it’s to T3. Most doctors prescribe synthetic thyroid a mercury thermometer, shake it below 95 hormones, the most popular being copycat ver- degrees. (This test is easier with a basal or sions of T4. Synthetic T3 is also available, and digital thermometer, but a regular thermom- one drug, Thyrolar (liotrix), contains both T3 eter will do.) and T4. 35 I’ve never understood the enthusiasm for that natural hormones are difficult to stan- synthetic hormones, especially since natural dardize, but I’ve used this form of thyroid thyroid, which has been around for decades, replacement exclusively and successfully in is widely available. Natural desiccated thyroid my practice for decades. Be persistent, and derived from pork glands (which contain try to educate your doctor. Be patient and thyroid hormones that closely resemble our don’t expect results overnight. After a few own) contains not only T3 and T4 but the full weeks to a few months on natural therapy, gamut of thyroid hormones. I have found that most people notice a significant difference when patients switch from synthetic to natural in their mood, energy level, and overall thyroid, they tend to feel better, have more well-being. energy, and notice improvements in symptoms of hypothyroidism. Furthermore, if a patient 2. I’m often asked about over-the-counter prod- comes to me with complaints consistent with ucts that contain animal thyroid and other low thyroid function but normal blood tests, I glandular tissues. While I’m not averse to do not hesitate to prescribe a six-week thera- OTC products with these ingredients, I pre- peutic trial of low-dose natural thyroid. We fer prescription natural thyroid as discussed then carefully monitor the patient’s well-being above. The dosages can be properly moni- and adjust the dose upward or downward as tored, and it’s safe, inexpensive, and highly needed. effective in restoring thyroid function and improving quality of life. Synthetic Thyroid Hormone Drugs 3. Take nutrients that support thyroid function, levothyroxine (T4) (Synthroid, Levothroid, including: Levoxyl, Tirosint, Unithroid) • Iodine is required by the thyroid gland liothyronine (T3) (Cytomel) to produce hormones, so it’s important to liotrix (T3 and T4) (Thyrolar) get enough of this mineral. To increase your intake, eat iodine-rich seafood Natural Thyroid Hormones (seaweed is especially abundant in this desiccated thyroid or thyroid extract nutrient). Our primary source of iodine (Armour Thyroid, Nature-Throid) is iodized salt, but half the salt sold in this country—including sea salt, kosher Side Effects May Include: allergic reactions salt, and salt used to make pickles and (rash, itching), hair loss, adverse effects of flavor pretzels and nuts—is not iodized. overdose (weight loss, palpitations, nervous- Most multivitamins contain the RDA of ness, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, sweating, iodine (150 mcg), and supplements with tachycardia, increased blood pressure, cardiac kelp or other sources of iodine may have arrhythmias, tremors, headache, insomnia, up to 600 mcg. These may be helpful, but intolerance to heat, fever). Many drugs interact some people do not tolerate supplemen- with these medications. Go over all your pre- tal iodine well. Before you bump up your scription and over-the-counter drugs with your intake significantly, I suggest having physician. Take between meals and not at the your urine iodine level tested. same time you take your nutritional supple- ments, as fiber and certain nutrients may impair • Selenium is another nutrient that sup- absorption and bioavailability. ports the thyroid. A common underlying cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s Recommendations for Treating thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder. Hypothyroidism Naturally Recent studies have shown that 200 mcg of supplemental selenium helps decrease 1. Take natural thyroid hormone. It requires a autoimmune-induced inflammation of prescription, and your doctor may protest the thyroid. 36 Insomnia Do You Have Sleep Apnea? A restful night’s sleep is one of the best Apnea means “no breath,” and obstructive sleep things you can do for your mind, body, and apnea is the periodic cessation of breathing while soul. When you sleep, your brain discharges asleep. It is caused by a partial or complete block- and readies you for the next day’s onslaught of age of the airway by the tissues in the back of the stimuli. Your immune system shifts into high throat. Oxygen levels in the blood drop and carbon gear, and your body’s repair mechanisms get dioxide rises, waking you up just enough to start to work. Poor sleep is associated with a broad breathing. It’s no wonder that people who suffer range of health concerns. In addition to making with this condition get sleepy during the day! you tired and cranky, poor sleep can wreck But that’s just one of many problems associ- your memory and mood, make you fat, raise ated with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is an inde- your blood pressure and blood sugar, stress pendent risk factor for hypertension, coronary your immune system, and increase your risk of artery disease, stroke, heart failure, diabetes, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, and dementia. obesity, memory loss, and mood disturbances. If our patients at Whitaker Wellness have any of Sleeping pills may allow you to fall asleep these symptoms or disorders—or if they snore, more easily, but they will not induce the kind a common sign of this condition—we evaluate them for sleep apnea with a portable monitor to of sleep that nourishes your body and brain as use in the comfort of their home or hotel room. nature intended. In the long term, natural sleep Much less expensive and far more pleasant than agents will serve you far better than prescrip- an overnight test in a sleep lab, this test is widely tion drugs. accepted as a reliable diagnostic tool. It’s shock- ing how many of our patients do have sleep Drugs Commonly Recommended apnea—an estimated 70 percent of those who are to Treat Insomnia tested. But it’s heartening to see how much better they feel once they adapt to CPAP/APAP therapy. Sedative Hypnotics Sleep apnea is a serious condition. If you snore, sleep poorly, or have any of the health challenges eszopiclone (Lunesta) discussed above, get tested! zaleplon (Sonata) zolpidem (Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar, Recommendations for Treating Zolpimist) Insomnia Naturally

Side Effects May Include: daytime drowsi- 1. Melatonin, the hormone of sleep, governs ness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, our natural sleep cycles. As darkness falls, increased risk of falls, diarrhea, confusion, melatonin levels rise, resulting in drowsi- ness that promotes sleep. Artificial light has impaired alertness (as when driving a car), blurred the lines between day and night, memory loss, parasomnias (uncharacteristic and melatonin levels have taken a hit. That’s and sometimes disturbing behaviors that are why I’m such a fan of supplemental melato- not remembered the next day), and rebound nin. Taken at bedtime, it decreases the time insomnia, especially during the last third of the required to fall asleep and produces a deep night. According to the Physician’s Desk Refer- and restful sleep. Melatonin production ence, “Hypnotics should generally be limited to drops as we age, so this may be just what 7 to 10 days of use, and re-evaluation of patient you need to get you back on track. The sug- is recommended if they are to be taken for more gested dose is 1–6 mg (average 3 mg) 30–60 than two to three weeks.” minutes before bedtime. Newer time-release 37 supplements appear to be even more If you complain to your doctor about hot effective. flashes, mood swings, fatigue, or difficulties with sleep or sex, you’ll likely be prescribed 2. L-theanine, an amino acid derived from conventional hormone replacement therapy green tea, is renowned for its calming (HRT). Although all hormone replacement effects. It enhances alpha-wave activity in drugs can ease symptoms, some—especially the brain, which results in relaxation, and conjugated estrogens and synthetic proges- increases levels of gamma amino butyric tins—have serious side effects that offset their acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that calms benefits. The question isn’t whether to replace the brain and helps relieve anxiety. To use, hormones, it’s how to replace them—and take 200 mg of L-theanine, 30–60 minutes the only way to go is bioidentical hormones, before bedtime, preferably on an empty which are identical to those produced by the stomach. human body. Bioidentical hormone replacement 3. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is the most therapy not only alleviates classic menopausal popular sleep aid in Europe. Studies sug- symptoms, but it protects the cardiovascular gest that this herb works as well as pre- system, reduces risk of heart attack, and lessens scription drugs, without the side effects. the likelihood of memory loss and perhaps Like L-theanine, it helps relieve anxiety by Alzheimer’s disease. It also stops the progres- working on GABA pathways, but it also has sion of, and even reverses, osteoporosis. a mild sedative effect that helps you fall asleep more quickly. The usual dose is 500 Drugs Commonly Prescribed to mg 30–60 minutes before bedtime. Treat Menopause 4. If none of these safe, drug-free approaches Estrogen help, I suggest you talk to your doctor about Dilantin. In these stressful times, Estrogen is actually a group of related ruminating, busy minds underlie many steroid hormones, the major forms being a restless night. Low doses of Dilantin, a estradiol, estrone, and estriol. Estradiol is by drug used primarily for seizure disorders, far the strongest and most active. Estrone is tone down the static and help banish the converted in the intestinal tract from estradiol. worrisome thoughts that keep us awake. The Estriol is the weakest, but also the most benign. recommended dose of Dilantin is 100 mg at Some studies point to the possibility that it may bedtime. Dilantin requires a prescription, actually protect against breast cancer. Popular and many physicians are unfamiliar with delivery methods include oral, transdermal this low-dose, non-seizure use. To learn patches, and topical application to various areas more, visit whitakerwellness.com. of the body. The only types of estrogen I rec- ommend are bioidentical estradiol and estriol. Menopause (Estriol is only available from compounding pharmacies and may be difficult to get.) The Strictly speaking, menopause means the only delivery system I recommend is topical date of your final menstrual period. More com- creams and gels. Stay far, far away from conju- monly, however, it refers to the gradual changes gated estrogens. that occur over a decade or more as hormone levels, particularly estrogen, progressively Oral Estrogen (Pills and Tablets) decline. Because estrogen-sensitive tissues are estradiol (Estrace, Femtrace, Gynodiol, present throughout the body—not only in the Vagifem) reproductive organs and breasts but also in the brain, bones, liver, heart, and skin—the hor- conjugated estrogens (Cenestin, Enjuvia, monal changes associated with menopause can Premarin) cause a multitude of uncomfortable symptoms. esterified estrogens (Menest) 38 estropipate (Ogen, Ortho-Est) norgestimate Prefest Topical Estrogen (Creams, Gels, Vaginal Rings) Prempro estradiol (Alora, Climara, Divigel, Elestrin, Side Effects May Include: headache, weight Estrasorb, EstroGel, Evamist, Menostar, gain, breast tenderness or pain, upset stomach, Vivelle) vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, tiredness, mood swings, irritability, excessive worrying, Side Effects May Include: headaches, nausea, runny nose, sneezing, cough, vaginal discharge, vaginal discharge, fluid retention, weight gain, problems urinating, and muscle, joint, or bone breast tenderness, and spotting or darkening pain. Rare but serious side effects may include: of the skin, particularly on the face. Estro- breast lumps, migraine headache, severe diz- gen replacement therapy can also increase ziness or faintness, slow or difficult speech, your risk of stroke, blood clots, gallstones, weakness or numbness of an arm or leg, lack ovarian cancer, dementia, urinary inconti- of coordination or loss of balance, shortness of nence, increased growth of preexisting uterine breath, fast heartbeat, sharp chest pain, cough- fibroids, and worsening of endometriosis. If ing up blood, leg swelling or pain, loss of vision you have a uterus, estrogen should always be or blurred vision, bulging eyes, double vision, taken with progesterone. (See below for more on unexpected vaginal bleeding, seizures, stomach bioidentical estrogen.) pain or swelling, depression, hives, skin rash, itching, difficulty breathing or swallowing, Progesterone hoarseness, swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs. Natural bioidentical progesterone (Prome- (Natural progesterone is much safer; see below trium and compounded hormones) is great. But for more information.) progestins, which are synthetic progesterone wannabes, are awful. Progestin is commonly Recommendations for Treating prescribed with estrogen for treatment of meno- Menopause Naturally pausal symptoms but has many negative side effects. Natural progesterone is much, much 1. The only type of hormone replacement I rec- safer and better tolerated. ommend is bioidentical hormones, which are identical to the hormones produced in the Natural Progesterone human body. Bioidentical estrogen and pro- gesterone not only ease hot flashes and other micronized progesterone (Prometrium) signs and symptoms of menopause, but compounded form of natural progesterone also boost sex drive, improve vaginal tone and dryness, relieve PMS, and help prevent Progestin urinary incontinence. These natural hor- medroxyprogesterone acetate (Provera) mones, which we order from a compound- ing pharmacy, are every bit as effective as Combination Estrogen and Progestin brand-name prescription hormones, yet have far fewer safety issues and side effects. Activella Furthermore, they can be personalized in a Angeliq wide range of dosages and delivery systems Climara so they’re much better tolerated. The prefer- Combipatch able form of estrogen is topical estradiol in transdermal creams that are rubbed into the ethinyl skin. This delivery method not only ensures Femhrt steadier blood levels of the hormone, but Levonorgestrel there’s a reduced risk of blood clots, which 39 with improvements in body composition. Men May Also Need Hormone And when applied directly to the vagina a Replacement Therapy couple of times a week, it effectively relieves vaginal dryness and atrophy. The primary Although menopause gets all the atten- form of progesterone I prescribe is oral tion, men also experience age-related hormone bioidentical micronized natural progester- changes, a condition sometimes referred to as one (although some women prefer topical andropause. And just as falling levels of estrogen creams). Unlike synthetic progestins—which usher in menopausal symptoms, age-related are linked with worsening of cholesterol reductions in testosterone are accompanied by levels and other cardiovascular risk fac- declines in sexual desire and performance, mood, tors, weight gain, loss of libido, and mood cognitive function, bone and muscle mass, and swings—natural progesterone enhances the more. This affects virtually all older men to some positive effects of estrogen and improves degree, yet it is treated in only a small minority. quality of life. Bioidentical hormone replace- There are many misconceptions about ment therapy requires a prescription and testosterone replacement, but when properly some forms must be ordered from a com- administered, this therapy is exceptionally safe. pounding pharmacy. Some men gain a little weight on testosterone, 2. If you prefer not to use hormone replace- but it’s usually associated with increased muscle ment at all, consider phytoestrogens. Phy- mass. In fact, small studies suggest it may help toestrogens are plant-based compounds with with abdominal fat loss. Because testosterone mild estrogenic activity in the human body. does fuel prostate cancer growth, you should Although they are very weak, phytoestro- be screened before starting on this hormone. gens are not only therapeutic when hormone However, it has been definitively proven that the levels are low, as in menopause, but they treatment does not cause prostate cancer. Talk also protect against conditions related to to your doctor about testing your hormone lev- high estrogen exposure, such as breast can- els and supplementing with topical testosterone. cer. This is because they fill estrogen recep- I do not recommend oral testosterone, as it may tor sites, including those in the breasts, and harm the liver, and, according to some research, prevent stronger, potentially harmful estro- injected testosterone is associated with a greater gens from occupying those receptor sites. risk of cardiovascular events, hospitalizations, Herbs that have mild estrogenic activity and deaths. include: Here are just a few benefits of boosting age- • Black cohosh is an herb native to North related testosterone depletion: America that has been used by American • Increased energy and endurance Indians for a number of medicinal pur- poses, including pain relief during men- • Better mood, focus, and motivation struation and childbirth. Extracts of this • Stronger bone density herb have been used extensively in Ger- • More muscle mass and less body fat many as a natural alternative for meno- • Enhanced libido and erectile function pausal symptoms for more than 50 years. Black cohosh is well tolerated and has no • Reduced insulin resistance and inflammation toxicity when used in therapeutic doses. • Improved vascular health, blood lipids, and A good brand is Enzymatic Therapy’s heart function Remifemin. Use as directed. • Dong quai is an herb used in traditional are associated with oral estrogen. Further- Oriental medicine. Although there more, while oral estrogen/progestin tends are few controlled clinical studies on to increase fat and decrease lean body dong quai, its uses are legendary. It’s mass, transdermal estrogen is associated been used for a wide variety of female 40 conditions, including menstrual cramps Side Effects May Include: fatal heart attacks and abnormal periods, pregnancy, child- and arrhythmias, tingling, burning, feeling of birth, and hot flashes and other meno- numbness, tightness, pressure in chest, sore pausal symptoms. It’s safe, and its only throat, abdominal pain, redness at site of injec- documented side effect is increased sen- tion, dizziness, mouth and tongue discomfort, sitivity to the sun in a very few individu- weakness, neck pain, sleepiness, and sweating. als. Extracts vary, so use as directed. People have died from heart attacks and suf- fered cardiac rhythm problems within one hour Migraine Headaches after using an injected form of triptans. In addi- tion, cerebral hemorrhage and stroke have been Migraines can make your life a misery. Just reported and have resulted in some fatalities. ask any of the 14 million Americans who suffer These drugs are not for those with a history of with these excruciating headaches, which are heart attack, hypertension, or angina. In fact, characterized by recurrent pain, usually on doctors are advised not to use them in males one side of the head, and often accompanied over 40, postmenopausal women, or people with by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. a family history of heart disease. Don’t use if Migraines are notoriously difficult to manage. you are taking MAO inhibitors. One reason is because nobody really knows why some people get migraines, although Recommendations for they’re believed to be related to inflammation and dilation of blood vessels in the brain. Preventing Migraines Naturally

I know of no natural cure for a full-blown Note: These recommendations will help migraine, and the suggestions below for pre- prevent headaches, but will not relieve a full- venting these headaches don’t work for every- blown migraine. one. But they have helped many of my patients 1. Identify food allergies and other triggers. and are certainly worth a try. Common culprits include milk, wheat, chocolate, food additives, aspartame, toma- Drugs Commonly Recommended toes, and fish. Chocolate, cheese, beer, and to Treat Migraine Headaches wine may bring on migraines because of compounds called vasoactive amines, Researchers aren’t really sure how Imitrex which causes the blood vessels to expand. and other triptans relieve headaches. They do Eliminating trigger foods may eliminate constrict blood vessels in the brain, but they migraines. Other common triggers are eye- may work by some other mechanism. In any strain, muscle tension, poor posture, and case, although they don’t prevent migraines, inadequate or excessive sleep. In women, the many patients swear by these medicines for onset of a migraine is often associated with relief of painful headaches. They do, however, hormonal changes, such as menstruation, have some potentially serious side effects. ovulation, or the use of birth control pills. That said, it’s understandable why anyone in the throes of an attack would take a drug— 2. Make sure you’re getting 500–1,000 mg of regardless of its side effects—to stop the pain. magnesium daily from your diet and supple- ments. Research has shown that individu- Triptans als who experience frequent migraines are likely to have low levels of magnesium in almotriptan (Axert) the brain. frovatriptan (Frova) 3. Add fish oil capsules to your daily supple- rizatriptan (Maxalt) ment regimen. Omega-3 essential fatty acids sumatriptan (Alsuma, Imitrex, Zecuity) block the production of inflammatory pros- zolmitriptan (Zomig) taglandins while increasing the production 41 of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. They risk factors speed loss and impede natural bone also enhance blood flow by making the repair and rebuilding. blood less sticky. Take 2 capsules of fish oil a day for migraine prevention, or up to 6 The current prescription drugs for treating capsules a day if you are prone to frequent osteoporosis aren’t very impressive. However, migraines. my biggest beef is how Big Pharma and doctors push these meds on people who have no busi- Chrysanthemum parthenium 4. Feverfew ( ) modu- ness taking them. The target market is younger lates the production of prostaglandins and women with osteopenia. Osteopenia is a reduces inflammation, which can contribute “pseudo-disease” that simply describes lower to the onset of migraines. For prevention, bone density than age-matched controls. These take 150 mg of feverfew, daily, for four to six women are healthy, their bone mass is not criti- months. If your symptoms have not gone cally low, they have never had a fracture, nor away after completing a course of feverfew, are they at great risk of having one. Neverthe- it’s probably not going to work for you. less, doctors don’t hesitate to write prescriptions 5. Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) relaxes smooth for expensive drugs that these low-risk women muscles in the blood vessels and inhibits will be taking for the rest of their lives— inflammation. In a German study involv- willingly exposing them to degeneration of the ing 60 migraine sufferers, butterbur extract jawbone, “atypical” fractures of the thigh bone, reduced the frequency of migraine attacks irritation and ulceration of the esophagus, bone by 60 percent compared to placebo. Sixteen and muscle pain, and increased risk of atrial percent of those given butterbur experienced fibrillation, to mention just a few of the adverse no migraines at all during the final eight effects that have surfaced so far. weeks of this 12-week study. 6. Talk to your doctor about taking a low-dose Drugs Commonly Recommended beta-blocker as a preventive. Metoprolol, to Treat Osteoporosis propranolol, and timolol all have proven effectiveness in reducing the number and If you have osteoporosis, it’s likely that severity of migraines. A friend of mine was your doctor has talked to you about Fosamax, started on 100 mg of metoprolol per day for Actonel, Boniva, or Reclast. But the truth is an unrelated condition, and her migraines, bisphosphonates aren’t very effective. Adver- which were occurring about three times a tisements say they reduce the risk of fracture month, disappeared. It’s not for everyone, by 50 percent, but that’s just a statistical spin. and beta-blockers are contraindicated for In a widely cited study, Fosamax decreased the some people, but when it works, it really likelihood of fracture from 2.2 to 1.1 percent. works. (Read more about beta-blockers in Yes, that’s a relative risk reduction of 50 percent. the section on Hypertension.) But in terms of absolute risk reduction—the far more important consideration—it’s only a Osteoporosis 1.1 percent drop. The number needed to treat (NNT) in order to prevent just one fracture is Osteoporosis is a serious condition that affects 10 million Americans over age 50. One 100. The other 99? They’d be better off—a lot in three older women and one in five men will better off—taking a placebo. eventually sustain an osteoporosis-related frac- ture. The most common type, spinal or com- Bisphosphonates pression fractures, may lead to stooping, loss alendronate (Fosamax) of height, and pain; and hip fractures can have ibandronate (Boniva) devastating consequences. While some loss of bone density is a normal part of aging, inactiv- risedronate (Actonel) ity, nutrient deficiencies, and other modifiable zoledronic acid (Reclast) 42 Side Effects May Include: bone, joint, muscle, and back pain, weakness, indigestion, dizzi- Urinary Tract Infections ness, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, degen- eration of the jawbone, “atypical” fractures of Most women will experience the discomfort of the thigh bone, irritation and ulceration of the a urinary tract infection (UTI) at least once in their esophagus, increased risk of atrial fibrillation. lives. UTIs are caused by a migration of bacteria into Oral bisphosphonates are not recommended for the bladder. Although bacteria are usually flushed patients with any abnormalities of the esopha- out with urination, they sometimes anchor to the gus that delay esophageal emptying, those bladder walls and proliferate, leading to telltale symptoms of burning and pain. The good news is unable to stand or sit upright for at least 30 there are proven natural therapies for both prevent- minutes, those with low blood levels of calcium, ing and treating these common infections. or those with severe kidney disease. If you’re prone to UTIs, make sure you drink Recommendations for plenty of water, 10 to 12 glasses per day, to pro- Preventing and Treating mote urination and flush out bacteria. You should Osteoporosis Naturally also make cranberry juice or supplements part of your daily regimen. Cranberry contains compounds 1. Exercise your way to stronger bones. Stress that bind to bacteria and prevent them from attach- or strain on bones stimulates the formation ing to the bladder walls. Be aware that most brands of new bone. Studies show that an exercise of cranberry juice contain a lot of sugar. You can program can increase bone mass by five to find pure cranberry juice in your health food store, 10 percent—and even more in those with but you’ll probably want to dilute it and sweeten it low bone mass to begin with. Although with stevia. In my opinion, it’s easier to take a con- weight-bearing exercise such as brisk walk- centrated cranberry extract. (Look for a brand that ing and jogging is ideal for maintaining contains a standardized extract, such as Cran-Max, bone mass, more strenuous exercise may be and take as directed.) If you come down with a UTI, needed to actually increase bone density. If I recommend D-mannose. This sugar, naturally you’re battling osteoporosis, I recommend found in cranberries and other fruits and berries, at least two sessions of weight training a inhibits bacteria from sticking to the walls of the week. Have an exercise instructor at your bladder. At the first sign of symptoms, mix one tea- local gym show you how to start with small spoon in water and drink every three to four waking weights you can use at home. hours; continue for three days. 2. A healthy diet promotes stronger bones. Standout foods include dairy, leafy greens, requires an array of micronutrients. Cal- sardines, and soy, and recent research sug- cium, of course, is key as are vitamins D, gests omega-3 fatty acids, lycopene in toma- K, and C, magnesium, zinc, boron, silicon, toes, and polyphenols in tea, citrus, olives, and other trace minerals. Daily doses of berries, and grapes also preserve bone bone-building supplements include calcium integrity. Protein is important as well, but 1,000 mg, magnesium 500 mg, vitamin K2 don’t go overboard; aim for 25–30 grams per (preferably as MK-7) 100–150 mg, zinc 30 mg, meal. Whey is a good supplemental protein boron 6 mg, silicon (orthosilicic acid ) 10 mg, source, and a whey-derived supplement and milk basic protein 40 mg (see #2). Vita- called milk basic protein was shown in a six- min D is particularly important. Govern- month study to lower markers of bone loss ment guidelines say that doses lower than and increase bone density. 400 IU (the amount in many multivitamins) 3. Take a high-dose multivitamin plus bone- do little to prevent fractures, and I agree. building supplements. Your bones are Most of my patients require 5,000–10,000 IU vigorous living tissue that are constantly in order to maintain protective blood levels remodeling. In order to do this, your body of 50–80 ng/mL. 43 4. For more significant bone loss, I recommend drugs. The FDA warns that high doses and strontium, a trace mineral routinely used long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in Europe but largely ignored here. Clinical such as Nexium, Prevacid, and Prilosec are trials on strontium’s efficacy and safety are associated with nutrient deficiencies, frac- impressive. In a Belgian study, women with tures, anemia, pneumonia, and Clostridium dif- osteoporosis who had taken strontium for ficile infections. Excessive use of H2 blockers 10 years had continuously increased lumbar (Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid) can also cause prob- bone density, and their incidence of frac- lems, including constipation, diarrhea, alumi- tures was 35–38 percent lower than a control num toxicity, and serious mineral imbalances. group. The usual dose is 681 mg per day. (See the section on GERD to read more about Strontium must be taken on an empty stom- these medications.) ach (at bedtime or two hours after eating) as calcium interferes with its absorption. Drugs Commonly Recommended 5. Consider bioidentical hormone replacement to Treat Ulcers therapy. Estrogen, testosterone, and human growth hormone play crucial roles in bone Triple Therapy health in both men and women, and age- related declines are a well-recognized factor Triple therapy is the standard of care for in bone loss—another reason why bioiden- stomach ulcers, and studies suggest that a tical hormone replacement is a popular two-week course works for 80 to 95 percent of therapy at Whitaker Wellness (see the sec- patients. Because it is effective at eradicating tion on Menopause to learn more). Another H. pylori and healing ulcers, I would not hesi- hormone that facilitates bone remodeling tate to recommend it for my patients. If you do is dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA undergo this treatment, make sure you take does not require a prescription and is sold probiotics during your treatment course and for in health food stores. The suggested dose at least two or three weeks afterwards. is 25 mg per day for women and 50 mg bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) for men. plus the antibiotics tetracycline and metronidazole Ulcers Peptic ulcers—open sores on the lining of Recommendations for Treating the stomach, duodendum (upper small intes- Ulcers Naturally tine), or esophagus—used to be blamed on 1. Get tested for the bacteria H. pylori, espe- stress and spicy foods. We now know they’re cially if you are experiencing signs of acute caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), spiral- bleeding such as black stools, sweating, and shaped bacteria that burrow through the pro- tective mucosa and trigger inflammation and dizziness upon rising. If you test positive, ulcers. Ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, and other begin triple therapy at once. Although I am NSAIDs also play a role because they block against the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, an enzyme that suppresses the production of this is the most appropriate treatment for gastric mucus, making the stomach much more ulcers. While taking the antibiotics, I recom- vulnerable to damage. mend you take a probiotic supplement. 2. Drink a glass or two of water when you Ulcers are treated with a short course of have stomach pain or 30 minutes before antibiotics and acid-reducing drugs. It’s an meals. This dilutes stomach acids and may effective approach, but thanks to antibiotic ease discomfort. resistance, it doesn’t work as well as it used to. Therefore, many patients have recurrences or 3. Take deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL). end up on extended courses of acid-reducing DGL enhances normal defense mechanisms 44 that prevent ulcer formation by increas- some time before you notice results, but I’m con- ing the amount and quality of the mucous vinced that if you stick with the recommended membranes that line the stomach. Treating therapies and make positive lifestyle changes, gastrointestinal problems with DGL has no you will significantly enhance your general side effects. If you have an ulcer, chew three health and well-being. or four tablets 20 minutes before each meal, and at bedtime. For prevention of ulcers and general improvement and maintenance of Resources the gastrointestinal tract, one or two tab- Therapies: EECP, hyperbaric oxygen, chelation, lets two or three times a day (before meals) prolotherapy, IV vitamin C, stem cell therapy, should suffice. and the other clinic-based modalities discussed 4. Take a good daily multivitamin. Zinc is par- in this report are the primary treatments at ticularly important, as it’s been shown to Dr. Whitaker’s clinic. To learn more about protect against NSAIDs’ harsh effects—and becoming a patient at Whitaker Wellness, call to work as well as some drugs in reducing (800) 488-1500 or visit whitakerwellness.com. the size and symptoms of duodenal ulcers. To look for facilities that offer these therapies in The recommended daily dose of zinc is your area: 30 mg. EECP: For information on Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP), call Vasomedical at In Summary (800) 455-3327 or eecp.com. This report should empower you to talk with your doctor about decreasing and possibly Prolotherapy: For a list of names of doctors even eliminating the prescription drugs you skilled in prolotherapy, contact the American presently take. It’s important to remember that Association of Orthopaedic Medicine at natural therapies are not a quick fix. It may take aaomed.org.

Referrals and Information For a referral to an acupuncturist For help finding holistic resources For referrals to physicians who near you: in your area: prescribe bioidentical hormones: American Association of Academy of Integrative Health American Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental & Medicine Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) Medicine aihm.org worldhealth.net aaaomonline.org For compounding pharmacies in For referrals to physicians with For a national directory of your area: expertise in IV and chelation naturopathic physicians who International Academy of therapy, nutritional medicine, and specialize in herbal medicine: bioidentical hormones: Compounding Pharmacists American Association of iacprx.org American College for Naturopathic Physicians Advancement in Medicine naturopathic.org For information on homeopathy: acam.org National Center for Homeopathy nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org

45 Chelation and IV Vitamin C: To find a physi- Dr. Whitaker’s Books and Other cian in your area who offers chelation therapy, Publications visit acam.org. Many ACAM members are also proficient in nutritional medicine and bioidenti- In addition to Health & Healing and numer- cal hormone replacement therapy. ous special reports, Dr. Whitaker has authored or co-authored 13 books, including: Bioidentical Hormone Replacement: To locate a physician with expertise in bioidentical hor- The Mini-Fast Diet mones, contact the American Academy of Anti- The Whitaker Wellness Weight Loss Plan Aging Medicine (A4M) at worldhealth.net. Reversing Diabetes Cookbook Reversing Diabetes Recommended Prescription Drugs: Dilantin, Reversing Heart Disease LDN, topical ketamine, and inhaled glutathione Quick and Easy Recipes for Vibrant Living must be prescribed by a physician. The best Reversing Hypertension way for physicians to learn more about these The Memory Solution drugs is to contact a compounding pharmacy. Shed 10 Years in 10 Weeks For referrals, call the International Academy of The Pain Relief Breakthrough Compounding Pharmacists at (800) 927-4227 or Is Heart Surgery Necessary? visit iacprx.org. Dr. Whitaker’s Guide to Natural Healing Reversing Health Risks

Whitaker Wellness Institute Medical Clinic, Inc. 4321 Birch Street, Newport Beach, CA 92660, Phone: (800) 488-1500 or (949) 851-1550 www.whitakerwellness.com

The Whitaker Wellness Institute Medical Clinic ■ Sophisticated individualized nutritional offers one-, two-, and three-week Back to Health supplementation programs

Programs that provide: ■ Safe, effective natural therapies for a wide range of health conditions, including ■ One-on-one physician consultations hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease ■ Comprehensive medical testing In addition, the clinic offers a full range of ■ Lectures and workshops on the latest in outpatient services, including general physical medical and nutritional research exams and consultations, second opinions to drugs ■ Targeted exercise programs and surgery, medical testing, and unique therapeutic ■ Healthy. gourmet meals modalities such as EDTA chelation, Enhanced ■ Techniques for stress reduction External Counterpulsation (EECP), and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

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