Natural Therapies: Simple Solutions for Complex Problems

[Guest guest]

Nice article with simple therapies for common health problems...--------------http://www.naturalnews.com/026947_health_MSM_blood.html

One question I'm routinely asked is " If you had to recommend just one

supplement for __________ (fill in the blank), what would it be? " I

could easily spout off a laundry list of safe, natural therapies for

virtually all common health concerns. Narrowing it down to only one

therapy per condition is much more of a challenge, but based on recent

patient and r feedback, here goes.Manage Pain With MSMFor

joint and muscle pain, I've been hearing great things about MSM

(methylsulfonylmethane), a naturally occurring sulfur compound and

close chemical cousin of DMSO-that doesn't have DMSO's obnoxious smell.

MSM relieves pain by

several mechanisms. It's a powerful anti-inflammatory, it blocks the

pain response in nerve fibers, and its sulfur may help with cartilage

regeneration.One of our patients, the mother of a Whitaker

Wellness doctor, was bothered by nagging pain in her neck and

shoulders- until she started taking MSM. Another patient, who is an

actor, used to have such excruciating pain in his knees that he'd have

to take Vicodin before going on stage and was considering arthroscopic

surgery. He reported miraculous results with MSM and no longer requires

painkillers. The suggested daily dose of MSM ranges between 1,200 and

6,000 mg. Start low and increase as needed.How to Get a Good Night's SleepOccasional sleeplessness is a very common concern. I used to recommend melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate your " body clock " ; valerian,

an herb with mild sedative effects; or L-theanine, an amino acid with

profound relaxing properties. Each of these worked for some people, but

not everyone. Then I tried them in combination, and bingo! For the

majority of patients and rs, this combo engenders a good

night's sleep.Tom, a VP at the company that publishes Health

& Healing, shared his story. He was eating right, exercising, and

taking vitamins, but when it came time for bed, despite the fact he was

physically and mentally drained, he still sometimes had trouble falling

or staying asleep. Since he started taking this supplement, however, he

sleeps like a baby.Look for combination sleep products in your health food

store. Suggested doses are 1,000 mcg melatonin, 500 mg valerian

extract, and 200 mg L-theanine 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime.V8 Gives Hypertension the BootExperts predict that an astounding 90 percent of middle-aged Americans will develop hypertension at some point in their lives. This sounds extreme, but I have to admit that many of the patients who come to my clinic have high blood pressure. Fortunately, we are very successful at getting them off drugs with diet changes, exercise, and a handful of supplements. But if I had to select just one thing for high blood pressure it would be Low Sodium V8 Juice.

Low

Sodium V8 has a slight blood-thinning effect, which reduces pressure on

the arteries, and it's loaded with potassium, which balances sodium and helps lower blood

pressure. One of the many patients who has benefited from this therapy

is Ted, an old friend of mine. After struggling with hypertension for

years, Ted took me up on my suggestion to drink 12 ounces of this juice

every day. Much to his surprise, this simple step worked to normalize

his blood pressure.Flaxseed Lowers CholesterolIt seems like

everyone's trying to lower their cholesterol, and millions of Americans

are taking dangerous statin cholesterol-lowering drugs to bring it

down. When a patient walks through the doors of Whitaker Wellness on

one of these drugs, however, we immediately discontinue it and start

them on natural therapies that accomplish the same goal in a much safer

and saner manner. The one I'd recommend you try first is flaxseed.Simply grind up a quarter cup once a day, mix it in water or a smoothie, and drink it. The soluble fiber and omega-3 oils in flax

can dramatically lower cholesterol. One of my staff members tried it

herself, and after three weeks of use her total cholesterol level fell

about 23 points. And Health & Healing r James, whose

initial cholesterol level was 288, saw his numbers drop to 232 after 15

days, and plummet to an incredible 188 after six months.DGL Quells HeartburnPeople are always asking me about digestive problems, and I always recommend the same thing: DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice).

This herb helps boost your natural defenses by enhancing production of

protective mucosal cells that line the entire gastrointestinal tract.

Many of my patients swear by DGL for relieving acid reflux and heartburn. One in particular, Hortense, hasn't had a single episode since beginning her daily DGL regimen.

DGL's suggested dose is two tablets chewed 20 minutes before meals

three times a day. In order for DGL to be effective it must be mixed

with saliva, so only purchase chewable forms. Unlike regular licorice,

DGL does not cause water retention, raise blood pressure, or lower

testosterone levels.See Clearly With NutrientsVision problems plague many people as they get older, and whether it's an inability to read fine print, dry eyes, floaters, or macular degeneration, these impairments interfere significantly with quality of life. That's why for more than a decade I've recommended lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, bilberry, and other nutrients that target eye health.

These

nutrients consistently provide good results-in fact, in just the past

month I've heard from three rs who began using them. One woman

reported that her macular degeneration, a progressive condition that is

the leading cause of blindness in older people, is now under control

and holding steady. Another says they help with her vision and dry

eyes. And a 93-year-old man told me that now his 40-year-old relatives

depend on him to read fine print! Look for vision products that contain

15 mg of lutein, 600 mcg zeaxanthin, 50 mg zinc, and 320 mg bilberry, among other nutrients.Rev Up Energy With Ribose

Lack

of energy is another common problem that can be caused by a number of

things, from low thyroid to sleep apnea to a serious disease. But for

run-of-the-mill fatigue, I vote for ribose. It's a simple sugar

required in the production of ATP, the fuel that runs our cells. Low

stores of ribose mean less ATP can be generated, and that translates

into sapped energy. I've written about ribose for the treatment of

heart failure and fibromyalgia, but it also shores up energy levels in

cells throughout the body, giving you a natural energy boost.One

ribose " success story " is my wife, Connie, who, like the energizer

bunny, just keeps going and going. Even though she works full time,

travels with me, and is always juggling a number of additional

projects, this woman never runs out of steam. Connie says that ribose

noticeably perks her up, and it also improves her endurance while

exercising. I recommend taking 5 g (one heaping teaspoonful) of ribose

mixed in water, tea, or coffee two or three times a day.Say Bye-Bye to BPH With Saw PalmettoWomen

may have to go through menopause, but older men have to deal with

enlarged prostates. This condition, called benign prostatic hyperplasia

(BPH) can be a real inconvenience. My patient Fred wasn't getting

enough sleep because he had to make up to five nighttime trips to the

restroom. Problem was, despite a sense of urgency, he had trouble going

and his urinary flow was little more than a dribble. He tried cutting

back on liquids before bed and concentrating on emptying his bladder,

but nothing worked. Then I told him about saw palmetto.Saw

palmetto works in a fashion similar to the drug Proscar to treat BPH

symptoms- without the side effects of the drug, which include erectile

dysfunction and loss of libido. After two weeks of taking saw palmetto,

Fred noticed improvements. Over the next three months his nighttime

bathroom trips decreased from five to one. The suggested dose is 320 mg

daily taken in divided doses with meals.Magnesium Relaxes MusclesCharley

horses and nocturnal leg cramps plague all of us at some time or

another. These painful muscle spasms are not only inconvenient, they

interfere with sleep and quality of life. The solution? Magnesium,

which relieves cramps by relaxing the muscles. This mineral has been

shown to be extremely effective at reducing the occurrence of nighttime

leg cramps, especially in pregnant women and older individuals.At the clinic we use magnesium

citrate, a highly bioavailable form of magnesium. Look for powdered

magnesium citrate, and take 420 mg in water about 30 minutes before

bedtime. In addition to relaxing your muscles, it may help you sleep

better too. (Some people are sensitive to larger doses of magnesium; if

it causes diarrhea, reduce your dose.)A Unique Product for PsoriasisSkin

problems, though rarely life threatening, cause patients an inordinate

amount of distress- and one of the most distressing is psoriasis.

A former employee of mine who suffered with this condition for 25 years

described not only the pain of her bleeding, weeping lesions but also

told me she felt like a leper during much of her childhood and

adolescence. She tried every treatment imaginable for her psoriasis,

from steroids to fish oil to fasting, to no avail.Then she

discovered an over-the-counter spray called Blue-Cap (formerly

Skin-Cap). It worked like nothing else for this woman, as it has for

many, many others. I want to give you a heads-up about some controversy

over Blue-Cap. The FDA has reported that it contains a prescription

steroid. The product's manufacturer denies this, stating the active

ingredient is zinc pyrithione. It's a murky situation, but it hasn't

deterred users who swear it's the only thing that gives them relief-

including some of my patients who have been using it for years with no

adverse effects.Cranberries for UTIsUrinary tract infections

(UTIs) are not something people like to talk about, but they are

extremely common- and surprisingly easy to prevent. One r told

me she used to have frequent UTIs until she started drinking

unsweetened cranberry juice.

At the first sign of an infection, she drinks one or two glasses a day,

and she says she hasn't had a UTI since she started this preventive

measure.Cranberry juice is one of those " kitchen remedies " that really works. These berries

contain proanthocyanidins and a sugar called d-mannose that prevent E.

coli bacteria from sticking to bladder walls and setting up residence

in your urinary tract. Regular cranberry juice is full of sugar, so I

recommended the unsweetened varieties. They are very tart, but you can

sweeten them with stevia or xylitol. Another option is cranberry

extract supplements, which are sold in health food stores. If you're prone to infections, use cranberry juice or supplements regularly.To Your Health-

I

can't guarantee that these " one-shot wonders " will do it for everyone,

but I can tell you that we've had excellent success over the years with

these tried-and-true therapies.Most of these treatments and supplements are sold in health food

stores. Low Sodium V8 Juice and unsweetened cranberry juice may be

found in grocery stores, and you may have to look for Blue-Cap on the

Internet. All of these products may also be ordered by calling the

Whitaker Wellness Institute at (800) 810-6655.