Fwd: DOCTOR YOURSELF Newsletter (Vol. 3, No 17) July 20, 2003

[Guest guest]

" Andrew Saul, PhD "

 

 

DOCTOR YOURSELF Newsletter (Vol. 3, No 17) July 20, 2003

Mon, 14 Jul 2003 19:50:13 -0400

 

 

To for free: dynews- )

 

" Men who achieve greatness do not work more complexly than the average man,

but more simply. " (the Mayo brothers)

 

The DOCTOR YOURSELF NEWSLETTER (Vol. 3, No 17) July 20, 2003

 

" Free of charge, free of advertising, and free of the A.M.A. "

 

Written and copyright 2003 by Andrew Saul, PhD, of

http://www.doctoryourself.com , a free online library of over 350 natural

healing articles with nearly 4,000 scientific references.

 

IT SHOOK ME DEEPLY to see my father have to crawl to the bathroom to vomit.

Dad was only in his mid 50's and was already using a cane to stand up, when

he could stand at all. He had a really bad case of Meniere's Syndrome, a

miserable collection of symptoms including recurrent ringing in the ears,

dizziness, and nausea. Perhaps it proved to be a defining moment for me.

Seeing your father reduced to helplessness is enough to make anyone want to

know more about getting well. When you look this one up, the treatments you

come across, whether pharmaceutical or surgical, are primarily aimed at the

symptoms, because the cause of the illness is pretty much unknown.

 

Enter natural healing.

 

By trial and error, I have found that there are some drugless, scalpel-less

options for Meniere's. While the solutions shed some light on the cause, I

am interested in results. I have seen success with what follows:

 

CHIROPRACTIC or osteopathic adjustment of the upper cervical (neck)

vertebrae is worth trying, first thing.

 

Some 20 years ago, I met a young man so dizzy that he could not read or even

watch TV without having to lie down. Meniere's, aptly described in the Merck

Manual as " prostrating, " certainly is capable of flooring a person. Such was

the case with Lowell, a college dropout. He had a gentle but persistent

series of manipulations which restored his life. He was able to read again,

to return to school, and live again. How so? The practitioner discovered

that his two top neck vertebrae, the atlas and the axis, were practically at

right angles to each other, and to the skull on top of that. This seemingly

impossible state of affairs turned out to be due to a summer job Lowell had

a few years before: he was a sparring partner for boxers in training. He had

almost literally had had his block knocked off.

 

The closest to such an experience my father had was when he was knocked out

of the box, figuratively speaking, while in training to become a New York

Yankee pitcher. Well, he did not quite make it to the farm team. Still, my

Pop twice struck out the guy who would become the Commissioner of Baseball,

and in one game no less.

 

But I digress, as usual.

 

Pa refused to go to a chiropractor until his Meniere's was so bad he could

not take it any more. He'd been on various ineffective medications from

various ineffective physicians, none of whom gave chiropractic the time of

day. But I managed to get him to a D.C. for a visit or two.

 

Pa said it did not help one bit.

 

He then began taking vitamins, notable the B-complex in fairly high doses.

Pa had no praise for that, either.

 

But over a period of months, his specialist-diagnosed Meniere's went away.

 

I had persistent suspicions that the natural approach had helped him.

 

NIACIN

Since then, I have come across references showing that niacin (vitamin B-3)

was used for Meniere's syndrome since the 1940's. In long term therapy,

improvement has been obtained with only 150-250 mg daily (Bicknell and

Prescott, The Vitamins in Medicine, 3rd ed., p 379). This may explain why Pa

's improvement was so gradual, yet in the end, profound.

 

VITAMIN B-12

I think that Meniere's syndrome, and perhaps a number of other

difficult-to-tag neurological problems, could be a manifestation of

untreated, long-term B-12 deficiency. I discuss this, and what to do about

it, at

http://www.doctoryourself.com/nasal.html

 

ASPARTAME

My Dad never drank anything with aspartame in it. However, the late Lendon

H. Smith's newsletter " The Facts " (October 1991) mentions that aspartame

( " Nutrasweet " ) may " trigger or mimic " a Meniere's attack. Dr. Smith

specifically lists nausea, vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus as symptoms

that say, " Stop using aspartame. "

 

OTHER NUTRITIONAL FACTORS:

A low-fat, low-sodium, no alcohol and especially NO SUGAR diet may help a

wide variety of illnesses. Meniere's seems to be closely connected with

chronic low blood sugar, sometimes diagnosed as hypoglycemia or Type II

diabetes). Caffeine may aggravate the condition, as might manganese

deficiency. (Balch and Balch, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, p

239-240)

 

Zinc supplementation and moderate additional amounts of B-6 (pyridoxine) are

also worth a several-month therapeutic trial. (Werbach, M. Textbook of

Nutritional Medicine, p 475-482)

 

HOMEOPATHIC KALI PHOS.

For uncomplicated simple ringing in the ears, dizziness or nausea, a 6X

potency of Kali Phos. may be surprisingly helpful. I have personally used

this remedy for 30 years, as I have a motion sickness problem that my flight

instructor has insisted cannot be matched. If it were not for Kali Phos, I

think I would have thrown up right in the FAA examiner's lap at Batavia

airport.

 

For what it's worth, these can't-hurt-to-try-them approaches may help

someone you love stop crawling, and start living.

 

My Dad, fully recovered from Meniere's, would walk four miles a day for the

rest of his life. His dizziness and nausea were gone for good. His sense of

humor was not, however. If you ever asked my father how his hearing was, he'

d invariably shout back at you:

 

" WHAT? "

 

But he did it smiling, and standing up straight.

 

STILL MORE MAIL ON VEGETARIANISM, MEAT, AND DR. PRICE

 

Yes, the comments keep coming. Lots and lots of them.

 

WESTON PRICE AND ABUNDANT ANIMAL PROTEIN

 

" It is a serious mischaracterization of Dr. Price's research to say that the

peoples he studied consumed lower levels of animal foods than westerners.

Even the most cursory summary of his findings will prove this false. In

Switzerland, the main article of the diet was rich dairy foods: milk,

cheese, butter and cream. They also consumed some meat, and soups made from

bones. In the Outer Hebrides, the main article of diet was seafood, which

supplied something like 60-70 percent of total calories. In the South Seas,

seafood and pig provided the bulk of calories; Native Americans consumed a

variety of animal foods including buffalo, elk, deer, fowl, fish, shellfish

and reptiles; some cultures consumed no plant foods at all, such as the

Eskimos and the cattle herding peoples of Africa. He noted that those groups

who did not have access to plentiful animal foods suffered from tooth decay,

bone problems and were less hardy and robust than their meat-eating

counterparts, even though their diet was " all natural. "

 

" However, these meat-eating cultures did not make the same mistake that we

do in the West, which is to consume protein foods without accompanying fat.

The fatty foods - organ meats, butter, fish livers and their oils, eggs and

fish eggs - as well as the fat itself, were the most prized portions of the

animals, considered sacred foods and especially important for parents-to-be,

pregnant women and growing children. These foods provided very high levels

of what Price called fat-soluble activators (vitamins A and D) in these

traditional diets. Without them, high levels of protein can indeed be toxic,

as the body draws on stores from the liver and eventually becomes depleted.

Consumption of lean meat, skim milk, egg whites and protein powders

represents the fast track to degenerative disease.

 

" As for (Cornell nutrition researcher and Professor) Colin Campbell, he may

claim that plant-based diets in China are associated with lower rates of

disease, but a careful look at the data from his study proves the contrary.

In fact, he found no relationship between disease rates and consumption of

plant-foods. In fact, his data indicate that peoples in the north of China,

who consume milk products and eat more meat, have lower rates of heart

disease. "

 

" Sally Fallon, President

" The Weston A. Price Foundation "

 

http://www.westonaprice.org

 

I would certainly concede that Eskimos probably obtained two-thirds (or even

more) of their caloric intake from animal products. But that is hardly a

model for longevity. The rest of peoples Dr. Price investigated had more

plant food in their diets than Eskimos would, and even traditional Eskimos

ate plant foods. In my last Newsletter

(http://www.doctoryourself.com/news/v3n16.txt) I mentioned Dr. Price's

documenting plant consumption among Eskimos in his book, Nutrition and

Physical Degeneration (p 71). And I will continue to state that the rural

Chinese diet, 20% or less of which is comprised of animal products, is

better for you and me and our kids than an Eskimo diet is.

 

Oats clearly were the main calorie source in residents of the Outer

Hebrides. Dr. Price emphasized how they were grown organically, and why this

was so important (p 55-57). The nutritional value of the cereal rye, eaten

in quantity by the Swiss, is specifically praised by Dr. Price (p 509-510).

He also writes, concerning the Swiss, of the importance of garden vegetables

and the problems with industrially-modified, sugar-laden foods (p 37). Price

certainly advocated fresh milk, and that means raw, unpasteurized milk. I

agree, and raised my kids on it from birth. Of course Dr. Price did not

condemn cereal grains; he condemned processed white-flour cereal grains, and

sugar. Again and again, all throughout his book. I agree with that, too.

 

Price was an organic farming advocate if there ever was one. " Many of the

primitive races studied have continued to thrive on the same soil through

thousands of years. " (p 7)

 

We should do as well.

 

Americans eat an enormous amount of protein, about 120 grams, which is three

times what is necessary for good health. And every junior-high health

student knows that we Yankees eat too much fat. I for one am not going to

recommend that we eat more, or even as much as we do now, of either. The

message of this Newsletter remains, " Meat and fat? Cut down on both. Eat

more vegetables, beans, nuts and fruits. " And the best, cheapest (and, just

to be annoying, vegetarian) source of essential fatty acids is lecithin.

(http://www.doctoryourself.com/lecithin.html)

 

Dr. Price shows, as we all do, an occasional bias. " Several of the tribes

neighboring Ethiopia are agriculturists, " he writes. " They have been

dominated because they posses less courage and resourcefulness. " (p 142)

Perhaps we all are people of our time. A fellow once wrote to a newspaper

that healthy, robust meat-eating peoples were the most fit and,

historically, had gained ascendancy over the rest. The writer used the

mighty Roman army as an example. A professor of history wrote back and said

that, no, Rome's legions actually conquered the world on oatmeal. I have

never forgotten that particular lesson.

 

When I personally visited rural Africa (some thirty-five years after Dr.

Price), I too saw surprisingly healthy people. This was a slight shock to my

Western expectations; my ego expected far less. I also saw what most people

were eating: garden vegetables and whole grains, especially corn on the cob.

In every village there seemed to be a big, rusty 55-gallon drum of boiling

water containing (to my surprise) not a roasting missionary, but rather

steamed corn on the cob.

 

Along the roadside, if you could call that a road, people sometimes sold a

delicacy which looked like a dried, whole woodchuck spreadeagled and nailed

to a board. It's amazing how those little rodenty teeth stick out when the

animal's skin shrinks in the hot sun. I passed on that. I also found bananas

for sale everywhere. Those I ate, and could not get enough of them. Small

though they were, they were right off the tree and sweet as gumdrops. Man,

they were good. I have already written of how delicious West African

groundnut soup is in a previous Newsletter

(http://www.doctoryourself.com/news/v3n9.txt) and the recipe is still

available there.

 

As in China, rural Africans appear to eat what their poverty can bring them,

and that is mostly what they can catch and what they can grow. Practically

speaking, subsistence agriculture is a more sure thing economically than

subsistence hunting is. It supports more people, and it is healthier. In my

own upstate NY neighborhood, backyard gardens continue to provide massive

amounts of fresh, high-fiber, good-eating vegetables and fruits for

practically nothing. I am up to my ears in potatoes, lettuce, cabbage,

tomatoes, beans, zucchini, apples, and raspberries. I guess we could

supplement our diet by hunting the local deer, trapping the stray dogs,

shooting the squirrels, and bagging the neighbor's cats. But I do not think

that would be any way to live. As a biologist, I have seen too many internal

organs of too many critters to want to chow down on them. Weston Price noted

that native peoples eat, as you said, the fat that comes with the meat. That

means viscera, organ meats, brains, and glands. (Nutrition and Physical

Degeneration, p 75)

 

And I forgot my spoon.

 

Nutritious as they are, I shall pass on the guts, thank you. And the muscles

of dead animals are simply not necessary for protein if you eat some dairy,

and/or some fish, and/or lots of legumes and well-chewed, fresh nuts. Yum!

Near-vegetarianism makes sense on all levels. My readers know that I have

never been a vegan; I take the ovo-lacto-vegetarianism, or

" fisho-lacto-vegetarian " stance. This, much more than not, makes me a Weston

Price fan. Dr. Price strongly advocated fish and dairy foods. He also

highlighted the importance of properly grown, unprocessed grains and other

plant produce. I will occasionally join the south-sea islanders in their

love of crabs, but think we can (and should) spare the wild pigs. While we

are at it, let's let the animals of the arctic alone, too. The seals look

better to me alive, and, in an ecological way, aren't we all the walrus? I

will not use cattle blood for food, as do the Masai. They may be taller

because of it (p 134-135), but I did not like the photographs showing how

you get it (p 136).

 

For those seeking still more controversy:

 

A reader sent me this link, with more criticism of the China-Cornell

nutrition studies:

 

http://www.beyondveg.com/billings-t/comp-anat/comp-anat-8e.shtml#china%20pro

 

I wrote to Cornell invited their comment, but to date have not received a

reply.

 

Another Weston Price/Dr Francis Pottenger website is

 

http://www.price-pottenger.org/articles.htm

 

VEGETARIAN ADVENTISTS ARE HEALTHIER

 

A letter from New Zealand:

 

" Please tell your readers to go and examine the cancer incidence and other

statistics of the vegetarian 7th Day Adventists. (Two good starting points

might be

 

http://sdasaints.com/vegetarianlinks.htm and

http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/nutshell.htm ) Adventists have maintained good

health records. The matter speaks for itself. "

 

Evidently it does. Vegetarian health statistics even impress the US Food and

Drug Administration. At their website

 

(http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/895_vegdiet.html) you will find this

statement:

 

" Registered dietitian Johanna Dwyer, of Tufts University Medical School and

the New England Medical Center Hospital, Boston, summarizes these plant food

benefits: " Data are strong that vegetarians are at lesser risk for obesity,

atonic [reduced muscle tone] constipation, lung cancer, and alcoholism.

Evidence is good that risks for hypertension, coronary artery disease, type

II diabetes, and gallstones are lower. " "

 

MODERATION

 

José de Freitas from Portugal writes:

 

" Concerning near-vegetarianism, I should say I entirely agree with you, and

I know hundreds of people who enjoy a near-vegetarian diet, no red meats at

all. But since I am absolutely not a fanatic, I have a number of suggestions

for people who want to move towards a near-vegetarian diet but may need some

help on the way:

 

" If you enjoy occasionally eating meat, be sure to eat it without

carbohydrates (no fries, no pasta, no rice). Instead, accompany it with a

large salad or with green vegetables. This ensures better and faster

digestion. Normally, no more than one serving of red meat a month should be

eaten. The cravings will go away, after awhile.

 

" One of my friends has a two-year-old child who is completely vegetarian

(but eats yogurt and cheese), which frequently freaks out mothers and

fathers who don't have a clue. Yet the kid is really big, healthy, and

hasn't been sick a day in his life!

 

" All the best, and keep up the good work. I immensely enjoy your

information. "

 

Good, practical points. Muito obrigado.

 

STRICT VEGETARIAN, MOSTLY RAW FOODS DIET

 

T. L. writes:

 

" I received your newsletter today along with the following testimony sent

out to those of us on the Hallelujah Acres email list, excerpted from

" Hallelujah Health Tip #293. " They promote an 80% raw diet which is

vegetarian. Their web page can be found at http://www.hacres.com . "

 

" From time to time, a few individuals have attacked the Hallelujah Diet by

saying that it is a dangerous diet long term, because it does not include

any animal products. I have responded to these attacks by saying that 'when

a person who has been on the Diet goes back to consuming animal products,

there will eventually be negative consequences.' The following letter

confirms this response:

 

 

" With the exception of an occasional piece of salmon once every couple of

months, I had been on The Hallelujah Diet for almost four years with great

success. I could run five miles a day, four times a week, work out with

weights and work at the airport as a ramp agent with virtually no fatigue.

But the best thing was, I had a streak of a year and a half without being

sick. Pretty good for a 46-year-old woman who previously used to get sick

three times a year and could barely walk a half-mile before getting tired!

 

" But then in October 2002, I received a newsletter from [people who used to

be on The Hallelujah Diet] extolling the virtues of adding animal products

to their diet. I must admit I was very confused, as their testimonies seemed

to be compelling. I decided I would add animal products for a time and see

what happened.

 

" I started by adding free-range chicken and beef and eggs a few times a

week. The results were a disaster. First off, my energy level dropped

noticeably. Within a few weeks, I could no longer run five miles at the pace

I used to. In fact, I could barely run five miles at all. I scaled my

running back to three miles, and even that was getting hard.

 

" Next thing I noticed was that I was getting hot flashes. I am menopausal

and did get an occasional hot flash while on the Diet, but nothing like when

I started eating animal products. They would sometimes come hourly. But the

worst thing that happened was in January 2003 I got the flu which took

almost three weeks to recover from. Then in March, I got it again! I also

started feeling depressed again, something I never experienced while on the

Diet.

 

" It would seem that my immune system and energy level took a nose-dive

because of eating animal products. So much for eating, 'clean, God-given

meat!' I have learned a valuable lesson: If something isn't broken, don't

try and fix it. "

 

Thanks to all for sharing their comments.

 

 

BREASTFEEDING BENEFITS MOTHER AND BABY

" I gave birth to my second son this January and plan to nurse him for at

least one year, just like I did with my older son who will be 3 in August. I

have found, with my healthy diet and vitamin supplements, that my sons are

such happy and healthy boys. Like your children (as I have read), neither of

my children has ever needed an antibiotic or prescription medicine for

anything. They are rarely sick, never suffer from stomach or digestive

ailments and both generally sleep well. I am sure that this is largely in

part to them being breastfed babies.

 

" It's so good for the mom too. I am sure that I am preaching to the choir

here but you can't beat that bonding you and your baby get from

breastfeeding. Holding your baby close while they eat is one of the best

ways to show your love. Some may argue that Dad may miss out on this, but I

disagree. My husband is a wonderful and loving dad who gives our baby

bottles of expressed milk while I am working part-time and he bathes,

changes and plays with both our sons each and everyday. My sons are as

attached to their father as they are to me and have been since day one. Moms

benefit by losing weight gained during pregnancy faster than those moms who

choose to use formula. Nursing also releases oxytocin into the bloodstream

which gives mom a sense of calm that helps fight the baby blues.

 

" Breast milk is free! All I have to do is eat a healthy diet, take my

vitamins and drink plenty of fresh juice or water to keep a good supply. I

even work outside my home part-time and still manage to find great success

nursing my baby. Sometimes it seems cumbersome to find a discreet place to

express milk at work but the benefit is so worth the time and effort.

Today's breast pumps are more compact, light weight and easy to use.

 

" I wanted to share this with your readers. I know that nursing doesn't

always work out perfectly for every mother, but giving breastfeeding a try

even if just for the early weeks of a baby's life can give a him or her a

great start on a lifetime of good health. If a mother can breastfeed for a

year or more, that's even better.

 

" Thanks again for all your great thoughts, humor, insight, and opportunities

to continue learn to be our best selves.

 

Wendie L. Davis

Batavia, New York

 

 

KICKING CAFFEINE REALLY WORKS

 

A. L. writes:

 

" I want you to know that my entire life has changed since reading the

articles by Ruth Whalen on caffeine allergy

 

(http://www.doctoryourself.com/caffeine_allergy.html and

 

http://www.doctoryourself.com/caffeine2.html). I was diagnosed with bipolar

disorder, but meds didn't seem to help. Desyrel helped me sleep through the

night without the constant nightmares and interrupted sleep I'd had before,

but I still thought about suicide every day. I was still dishearteningly

labile, ready to shriek with laughter or break into sobs at a moment's

notice. I couldn't concentrate, couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with

my life--except end it-- and was just miserable. After reading this article,

I stopped using caffeine, I stopped taking Neurontin, Effexor, Ativan, AND

Desyrel. Since last September, when I quit caffeine, I have not had even the

briefest thought of suicide, nor a nightmare, nor a moment when I have not

felt clear-headed and in control of my emotions. My house is clean (well,

relatively...I still hate to clean house) and uncluttered. I'm working

part-time and am in the process of starting my own vending business. I am a

different person. I'm not weird anymore, having previously been compelled to

talk, to blurt, to shock, characteristics which are the antithesis of social

grace. I'm doing okay, and I thank you for your website. "

 

You're welcome. Glad to hear of your success.

 

B-12 ABSORPTION

 

K. R. writes:

 

 

" Can you explain why the nasal mucosa is a better absorbtion site for

cobalamin (vitamin B-12) than the oral mucosa? "

 

My understanding, limited though it is, is that intranasal B-12 absorption

is different and certainly more effective than absorption via mucosa. " An

alternative to parenteral therapy recently approved by the FDA is intranasal

administration of cyanocobalamin. In Europe, intranasal hydroxocobalamin has

been widely used for years. The intranasal administration of 500 micrograms

of cyanocobalamin weekly attains blood levels that are comparable to those

found with intramuscular injections. "

 

(http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/2001/07_01/dharmarajan.htm)

 

I think a Medline search

 

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi) might bring forward more

information on this topic. I found these, for a start:

 

MORE NOSE NEWS:

 

" Vitamin B12 deficiency may be underestimated in the general population.

High-risk groups for the deficiency syndrome include the elderly, patients

taking ulcer medications over long periods, patients with acquired

immunodeficiency syndrome, vegetarians, patients who have undergone stomach

resection or small bowel resection, or both, and patients with dementia. The

vitamin B12 deficiency syndrome is characterized by five stages, the fifth

of which results in irreversible neuropsychiatric manifestations. . .

Vitamin B12 deficiency is treatable with monthly injections, large doses of

daily oral supplement tablets, or an intranasal gel, which is far better

absorbed than comparable oral supplements. " (Swain R. An update of vitamin

B12 metabolism and deficiency states. J Fam Pract. 1995 Dec;41(6): 595-600.)

 

" Patients . . . are often treated with intramuscular vitamin B12 injections.

Disadvantages are, on a worldwide scale, the frequent need for medical

personnel to administer injections and the sometimes painful way of

application. This study was designed to investigate the feasibility of

intranasal (B-12) and to assess whether intranasal hydroxocobalamin (B-12)

application could be an alternative for intramuscular injection. . . A dose

of 1500 micrograms hydroxocobalamin was applied intranasally at days 0, 14,

and 21. . . All patients showed substantial increase of cobalamin

concentrations 1 hour after intranasal application. In these 6 patients,

there was an eightfold increase of mean baseline cobalamin concentrations.

All patients showed a sustained increase of baseline cobalamin

concentrations 1 week after prior intranasal application of

hydroxocobalamin. No side effects were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Intranasal

application of hydroxocobalamin in cobalamin-deficient patients results in

fast nasal absorption and leads to sustained increase of baseline cobalamin

concentrations. " (Slot WB, Merkus FW, Van Deventer SJ, Tytgat GN. . Slot WB,

Merkus FW, Van Deventer SJ, Tytgat GN. Normalization of plasma vitamin B12

concentration by intranasal hydroxocobalamin in vitamin B12-deficient

patients. Gastroenterology. 1997 Aug;113(2):430-3.)

 

Want to save some money and forget the prescription requirement?

 

MAKE YOU OWN INTRANASAL B-12 PASTETopics like this one sound quacky, so

let's set the matter straight from the start:

 

If you do not like getting shots of B-12, you should be aware that

intranasal absorption is the next best thing. Oral administration of B-12 is

largely ineffective. This goes for so-called sublingual B-12 supplements as

well.

 

VITAMIN B-12, unlike other B vitamins, is stored in muscle and other organs

of the body. A little B-12 goes a long way, what is stored lasts a long

time, and it may take YEARS to deplete your body's reserves. But sooner or

later, usually later (after age 40), not only do poor eating habits catch up

with us, but we also lose the ability to efficiently absorb what B-12 we do

get from food.

 

COBALAMIN is the proper name for vitamin B-12. It is a really huge molecule

(C 63, H 90, O 14, P, Co). The " Co " is for the one cobalt atom at its core.

B-12 is obtained mostly, but not exclusively, by eating animal products such

as dairy and meat. If you therefore think that you have to eat meat to get

your B-12, consider this: Where do grass-and-grain-eating cattle get THEIR

vitamin B-12? From synthesis by microorganisms in their gastrointestinal

tract, that's where. And such synthesis in vegetarian animals is so

tremendous that their milk and flesh is OUR source of B-12. But it all

actually came from their bacteria.

 

 

Yes, B-12 is also synthesized in the human GI tract, but not reliably enough

for most people. Such synthesis as occurs may be enhanced by a good

near-vegetarian diet that favors an internal population of beneficial, B-12

making bacteria. But with our diets, we will need more than they can

provide. Nutritional yeast, fermented soy foods such as tempeh, and sprouts

(according to some sources) are vegetarian sources of dietary B-12.

 

But there still is a physiological hurdle to cross.

 

ABSORPTION of dietary B-12 takes place in the very last part of the small

intestine, right before the colon. Absorption requires a biochemical helper

molecule called " intrinsic factor, " which is a glycoprotein normally

secreted by cells lining your stomach. Strong stomach hydrochloric acid is

also required to split up this huge molecule. (That's why a weak acid like

vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is harmless to B-12, persistent myths to the

contrary).

 

Incidentally, even sublingual (under-the-tongue) B-12 supplements are

probably ineffective because the cobalamin molecule is too large to diffuse

through the mucosa of the mouth.

 

And if your body no longer makes intrinsic factor like it should, you cannot

absorb oral B-12 supplements very well, either.

 

The end result can be pernicious anemia, which is more than the classical

inability to make enough hemoglobin for your red blood cells. Pernicious

anemia also results in a sore mouth and tongue, assorted burning and

tingling sensations (paresthesia), and eventually neurologic damage. I think

Meniere's, and dementia symptoms mistaken for Alzheimer's disease, might be

a manifestation of this. (More on Alzheimer's later in this Newsletter.)

 

While there is a urine test for B-12 deficiency (the " isotope-dilution assay

for urinary methylmalonic acid " ), to get it right it is necessary to measure

the cerebrospinal fluid, not the blood, to get accurate B-12 readings. If

you are not a Spinal Tap fan, consider a simple, non-invasive therapeutic

trial of B-12. This is so inexpensive and safe that it would be difficult to

deny it to anyone. I would suggest your doctor try a 1,000 microgram (mcg)

injection at least once a week. Compared to the US RDA of only about 3 mcg,

that dose may appear rather hefty. But given the miserable nature of Meniere

's, erring on the high side may be preferable to unnecessarily delaying

recovery. And l know of no side effects whatsoever to B-12 overdose.

 

If you do not like the idea of getting shots of B-12, you should be aware

that intra-nasal (that is, by way of the nose) absorption is the next best

thing. It sounds pretty weird, as duly promised at the beginning of this

section, but it is an efficient delivery method for large-sized molecules

whether you like the sound of it or not.

 

Your nose has two choices:

 

1) Buy ready-to-use B-12 gel, which you will occasionally find for sale in a

pharmacy or health food store. Some products come in individual disposable

packets. These are pricey. Some are prescription. They are very, very

pricey.

 

2) Make your own B-12 intra-nasal supplement. It is cheap, easy and best

done behind closed doors. Obtain your doctor's OK before trying this

procedure. Take any B-12 tablet (between 100 to 1,000 mcg) and grind it into

a powder between two tablespoons. Add water, just a few drops at a time, to

make a soft paste. With a " Q-Tip, " it's generic equivalent, or your clean

pinkie finger, gently swab the paste inside your nose up to a comfortable

level. Do not push; use no force whatsoever. The excipients (tableting

ingredients) are more likely to bother your schnoz than the B-12 is. If it

irritates you, try using less, or a different brand of tablet. I'd try this

two times a week for a month or two.

 

Feel free to quit at any time, and get B-12 shots instead. Once in a great

while, doctors (such as " Children's Doctor " Lendon H. Smith, M.D.) will even

teach you how to give yourself your B-12 shots, but that remains a

singularly rare event.

 

ALZHEIMERS DISEASE: SOME ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

 

Supplemental choline has already shown promise in treating Alzheimer's

Disease. In Geriatrics, July 1979, lecithin was employed as a therapy to

combat memory loss. Studies at MIT show increases in both choline and the

vital neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brains of animals after just ONE

lecithin meal. (Today's Living, February, 1982)

http://www.doctoryourself.com/nerves.html

 

It is important to use enough lecithin to have a reasonable hope of success.

You can personally try taking a few tablespoons of lecithin granules (I take

between 4 and 8 twice a week, for I want to remember all my

great-grandchildrens middle names and sweater sizes someday). Notice

anything? You can feel the almost a caffeine-like increase in your

awareness. That is probably the effect of an acetylcholine boost. Think what

this might do for an Alzheimers patient. Lecithin is a very safe substance:

it is difficult to hurt yourself with essential fatty acids and choline. Try

lecithin granules in yogurt, in a fruit smoothie (write for free recipes)

or, if you are really new to all this, on ice cream.

http://doctoryourself.com/lecithin.html

 

" (Research) suggests to me that if everyone were to start on a good

nutritional program supplemented with optimum doses of vitamins and minerals

before age fifty and were to remain on it the incidence of Alzheimer's

disease would drop precipitously. " (Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD)

http://www.doctoryourself.com/hoffer_psychosis.html

 

Hoffer A: A case of Alzheimer's treated with nutrients. J of Orthomolecular

Medicine 8:43-44, 1993.

 

Hoffer, A: Alzheimer's - An Anecdote (letter) Townsend Letter for Doctors

and Patients, No.179, 107-109, 1998

 

Vitamin B-12

B-12 deficiency may be mistaken for, or even cause, Alzheimers disease. B-12

deficiency is easy to come by in the elderly: poor diet; poor intestinal

absorption (due to less intrinsic factor being secreted by the stomach in

the aging body, and possibly due to calcium deficiency); digestive tract

surgery; pharmaceutical interference, notably from Dilantin (phenytoin); and

stress all decrease B-12. It is necessary to measure the cerebrospinal

fluid, not the blood, to get accurate B-12 readings.

 

Carper, Jean (1995) Your food pharmacy (Syndicated column). November 1.

 

Dommisse, John (1990) Organic mania induced by phenytoin. Can J Psychiatry.

35:5, June.

 

Dommisse, John (1991) Subtle vitamin B-12 deficiency and psychiatry: a

largely unnoticed but devastating relationship? Med Hypotheses. 34:131-140

 

Murray, Frank (1991) A B-12 deficiency may cause mental problems. Better

Nutrition for Todays Living, July, p 10-11

 

Even marginal B-12 deficiency over a long time period produces an increased

risk of Alzheimers disease.

 

 

Close to three-quarters of the elderly deficient in B-12 also have AD.

 

Garrison, Jr Robert H. and Somer, Elizabeth (1990) The Nutrition Desk

Reference. New Canaan, CT: Keats, p 211.

 

Many popular dieting plans are B-12 deficient, including the Pritikin,

Scarsdale and Beverly Hills diets, among others. The elderly are often

dieting without intending to, simply because their normal appetite and taste

functions are reduced. Emotional factors such as isolation, grief, and

depression also contribute to their inadequate food intake, and therefore

unhealthfully low B-12 intake. To make matters worse, B-12 deficiency itself

causes further loss of appetite. And these symptoms of B-12 deficiency are

all to reminiscent of diseases such as Alzheimers: ataxia, fatigue, slowness

of thought, apathy, emaciation, degeneration of the spinal cord, dizziness,

moodiness, confusion, agitation, delusions, hallucinations, and psychosis.

 

Injection or intra-nasal administration of B-12 is recommended because oral

absorption is poor. There is no known toxicity for vitamin B-12. A minimum

daily therapeutic dose is probably 100 micrograms, and closer to 1,000 mcg

daily may be more effective. 1,000 mcg sounds like a lot, but it is actually

the same as one milligram, which is about one thousandth of a

quarter-teaspoon.

 

Fisher and Lachance (1985) Nutrition evaluation of published weight reducing

diets. J Amer Dietetic Assn, 85(4) 450-54.

 

Goldberg, Donald (1985) Newsletter. 33, September.

 

ANTIOXIDANT vitamins, such as vitamin E and carotene, may slow down or

prevent AD. Alzheimers patients have abnormally low measurable levels of

these nutrients in their bodies. This could simply be because they don't eat

well, or because the disease increases their nutrient need, or both.

 

Vitamin C, folic acid and niacin, as well as other nutrients, may also play

a major role in combating AD.

 

Balch, J. F. and Balch, P. A. (1990) Prescription for Nutritional Healing.

Garden City Park, NY: Avery Publishing, p 87-90. (Has a very good section on

AD.)

 

Kushnir, S. L.; Ratner, J. T. and Gregoire, P.A. (1987) Multiple nutrients

in the treatment of Alzheimers disease. Amer Geriatrics Soc J,

35(5):476-477, May.

 

CHOLINE

AD patients have a deficiency of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine because

they are deficient in the enzyme, choline acetyltransferase, needed to make

it. This results in curtailed manufacture and presence of acetylcholine in

the brain. But there is a way around this: increasing dietary choline raises

blood and brain levels of acetylcholine. Choline is readily available in

cheap, non-prescription lecithin. A large quantity of choline (from

lecithin) is necessary for clinical results. Lecithin is non-toxic.

 

Alzheimers Disease and neurotransmitters, Lets Live, May 1983, p18.

Little, et al (1985) A double-blind, placebo controlled trial of high dose

lecithin in Alzheimers disease. J Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry,

48: 736-742.

 

Vitamin C and Tyrosine

Increasing the bodys level of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine may also

help AD patients. Norepinepherine is made from the amino acid tyrosine,

which is made from phenylalaine. We get plenty of phenylalanine from protein

our diets if we eat protein foods, but the conversion to tyrosine and

ultimately norepinephrine may not take place if there is a deficiency of

another coenzyme: vitamin C. Vitamin C increases norepinephrine production.

Vitamin C may therefore be of special value in the treatment AD.

 

Aluminum Toxicity

Unintentional aluminum intake may increase the risk of AD as well. Aluminum

cookware, aluminum foil, antacids, douches, buffered aspirin, and even

anti-perspirant deodorants may all contribute to the problem.

 

A single aluminum coffee-pot was shown to have invisibly added over 1600 mcg

aluminum per liter of water. This is 3,200% over the World Health

Organizations set goal of 50 mcg per liter. Aluminum is known to build up in

the bodily tissues of persons with Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease,

and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Aluminum is a known neurotoxin. Aluminum

is also a component of so- called silver amalgam dental fillings. Composite

(white) fillings do not contain aluminum (or mercury, for that matter.) Most

baking powder contains aluminum. Rumford brand baking powder does not,

however. Neither does baking soda, which is a different substance entirely.

(Jackson, J. A.; Riordan, H. D. and Poling, C. M. (1989) Aluminum from a

coffee pot. The Lancet, I (8641) 781-782, April 8.)

 

Artificial kidney dialysis has been known to produce dialysis dementia, a

state of confusion and disorientation caused by excess aluminum in the blood

stream. Animals injected with aluminum compounds will also show develop

nervous system disorders. Conversely, Alzheimers disease can be treated with

metal bonding (chelating) agents, such as desferrioxamine, which remove

aluminum from the bloodstream. In appropriately high doses, vitamin C is

also an effective chelating agent.

 

There have been many studies on the relationship of aluminum toxicity to

Alzheimers disease. A Medline search will promptly uncover a large number of

references on the subject. Some examples include:

 

Martyn, C. N.; Barker, D. J.; Osmond, C.; Harris, E. C.; Edwardson, J.A. and

Lacey, R. F. (1989) Geographical relation between Alzheimers disease and

aluminum in drinking water. Lancet, I (8629): 59-62, Jan 14.

 

McLachlan, D. R.; Kruck, T.P. and Lukiw, W. J. (1991) Would decreased

aluminum ingestion reduce the incidence of Alzheimers disease? Can Med Assn

J, Oct 1.

 

Calcium and Magnesium significantly slow down aluminum absorption, and

that's good. Supplementation with 800 mg of calcium and 400 mg of magnesium

every day may be therapeutic for AD patients. Here are two good

presentations on the subject:

 

Garrison, Jr Robert H. and Somer, Elizabeth (1990) The Nutrition Desk

Reference. New Canaan, CT: Keats, p 78-79; 106; 210-211.

 

Weiner, Michael A. (1990) Aluminum and dietary factors in Alzheimers

disease. J Orthomolecular Med, 5(2):74-78

 

Lead Toxicity

Dooley, Erin E. (2000) Linking lead to Alzheimers Disease. In: Environmental

Health Perspectives 108 (10) October, writes:

 

" Scientists from Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals

presented evidence at the April 2000 annual meeting of the American Academy

of Neurology that people who have held jobs with high levels of lead

exposure have a 3.4 times greater likelihood of developing Alzheimer

disease. "

 

People can be exposed to lead on the job either by breathing in lead dust or

through direct skin contact. Lead has adverse effects on brain development

and function, even at very low levels of exposure. Lead, unfortunately,

permeates our environment because of decades of adding it to gasoline. The

good news is that very high dosage of vitamin C is known to help the body

rapidly excrete lead.

 

I believe that aggressive use of therapeutic nutrition could substantially

reduce the incidence and severity of Alzheimers disease.

 

MASKS OF MADNESS, SCIENCE OF HEALING

 

A documentary on the orthomolecular treatment of schizophrenia. (Produced by

the Canadian Schizophrenic Foundation (http://www.orthomed.org). 49 minutes,

VHS videotape, 1998)

 

The documentary Masks of Madness: Science of Healing chronicles the

experiences of patients and health care professionals who went beyond the

inadequacies of conventional psychiatry to find their answers in

orthomolecular medicine. Hosted by actor Margot Kidder, who herself suffered

from manic depression, we hear how she finally recovered using

orthomolecular medicine. Other former patients participate in a roundtable

discussion of their individual descents into mental illness, their

extraordinary difficulties in getting answers from conventional psychiatry,

and their final recoveries using diet, vitamins and a minimum of

pharmacological intervention.

 

 

Doctors and other health professionals recount their experiences as well.

Abram Hoffer, Patrick Holford, Hugh Riordan, Hyla Cass, Bradford Weeks,

Michael Janson and others recount for us their therapeutic methods, their

professional satisfaction at seeing patients actually recover from the

" incurable, " as well as the political dangers they faced when incorporating

orthomolecular medicine into their psychiatric practices. The major

orthomolecular building blocks to optimal mental health are introduced in an

understandable way with the goal being to demonstrate that yes,

orthomolecular medicine is a real answer for people suffering mental illness

and physicians who long to make real changes in the lives of their patients.

This is a documentary which everyone, including health professionals, will

benefit from watching.

 

(Available from the Canadian Schizophrenia Foundation for $39.95 which

includes shipping and handling. For a printable order form:

 

http://www.orthomed.org/links/masks%20order.pdf)

 

For more information:

 

Canadian Schizophrenia Foundation

16 Florence Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M2N 1E9

Tel. (416) 733-2117

Fax (416) 733-2352

E-mail centre

 

Privacy Statement:

 

We do not sell, and we do not share, our mailing list or your email address

with anyone. We never send out advertisements of any kind. You may notice

that there is no advertising at http://doctoryourself.com and no advertising

in this newsletter. We have no financial connection with the supplement

industry. We do not sell vitamins or other health products, except for Dr.

Saul's books, which help fund these free public services.

 

Persons interested in my book PAPERBACK CLINIC: A Simplified Manual of

Natural Therapeutics, may obtain it directly from me at 8 Van Buren Street,

Holley, NY 14470, USA for $34.00 postpaid in the USA; US $39.00 to Canada,

and US $50.00 airmail to all other countries. I will be happy to autograph

your copy if you so request with your order.

 

FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR ALL to this newsletter are available with a blank

email to

 

dynewsletter-

 

AN IMPORTANT NOTE: This newsletter is not in any way offered as

prescription, diagnosis nor treatment for any disease, illness, infirmity or

physical condition. Any form of self-treatment or alternative health program

necessarily must involve an individual's acceptance of some risk, and no one

should assume otherwise. Persons needing medical care should obtain it from

a physician. Consult your doctor before making any health decision.

 

" DOCTOR YOURSELF " " DoctorYourself.com " and " Doctor Yourself Newsletter " are

service marks of Andrew W. Saul. All rights reserved.

 

Copyright c 2003 and prior years Andrew W. Saul drsaul

Permission to reproduce single copies of this newsletter FOR NON-COMMERCIAL,

PERSONAL USE ONLY is hereby granted providing no alteration of content is

made and authorship credit is given. Additional single copies will be sent

by postal mail to a practitioner or patient, free of charge, upon receipt of

a self addressed envelope with THREE first-class stamps on it (offer good in

the USA only), to Number 8 Van Buren Street, Holley, NY 14470 USA Telephone

(585) 638-5357.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

@

 

Alternative Medicine/Health-Vitamins, Herbs, Aminos, etc.

 

To , e-mail to:

alternative_medicine_forum-

 

Or, go to our group site at:

alternative_medicine_forum

 

 

 

SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!