Guest guest Posted July 15, 2008 Report Share Posted July 15, 2008 Hello David, I have seen one patient with hemochromatosis. He was a lawyer with not-so-good life-style (overwork, overeating) and had serious damp-heat problems. I designed a formula for him, but he never returned. I believe I do have an article by Simon Becker on TCM and hemachromatosis. If I remember well, damp-heat was not amongst the patterns listed. He had severe joint and muscle pains and was feeling very fatigued all the time. So I don't know if his symptoms would have improved as I lost him for follow-up. Thought I'd let you know anyway, best, Tom. ---- davidetoone 10/07/2008 6:23:40 Chinese Medicine hemochromatosis Does anyone have success treating hemochromatosis using herbs and acupuncture? I am seeing someone Friday for the first time with a recent diagnosis. All I know at this point is that the person also has strabismus, spondolithesis and BPH with a CC of low back pain. Many thanks, David Toone, LAc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2008 Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 Tom, I would like to see this article if it is available. I am though, under the current impression that CM, nor any other alterative therapy, is helpful in eliminating the iron from the body - which essentially needs to happen for effective treatment. Therapeutic phlebotomies and a couple of scary drugs seem to be the only solution. This seems like a situation where treating the pattern just may not be enough. However, the absorption of iron (which is the problem) is controlled by a complex array of factors that is poorly understood. Therefore I think it may be possible to change this absorption issue, further preventing an iron buildup. However I have no data that suggests that this is possible. Has anyone come across any research or have any personal experience with this disease? - _____ Chinese Medicine Chinese Medicine On Behalf Of Tom Verhaeghe Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:00 PM Chinese Medicine Fw: Re: hemochromatosis Hello David, I have seen one patient with hemochromatosis. He was a lawyer with not-so-good life-style (overwork, overeating) and had serious damp-heat problems. I designed a formula for him, but he never returned. I believe I do have an article by Simon Becker on TCM and hemachromatosis. If I remember well, damp-heat was not amongst the patterns listed. He had severe joint and muscle pains and was feeling very fatigued all the time. So I don't know if his symptoms would have improved as I lost him for follow-up. Thought I'd let you know anyway, best, Tom. ---- davidetoone 10/07/2008 6:23:40 Traditional_ <Chinese Medicine%40> Chinese_Medicine hemochromatosis Does anyone have success treating hemochromatosis using herbs and acupuncture? I am seeing someone Friday for the first time with a recent diagnosis. All I know at this point is that the person also has strabismus, spondolithesis and BPH with a CC of low back pain. Many thanks, David Toone, LAc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2008 Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 Hello David: I am a liver disease specialist and have a couple of things to say about hemochromatosis. I have treated a number of people with this as the presenting disease and quite a few more with co-infections of HBV and/or HCV. Hemochromatosis is a genetic liver disorder that can cause severe liver damage by too much iron deposits in the liver. From NIDDK <<Hereditary hemochromatosis is mainly caused by a defect in a gene called HFE, which helps regulate the amount of iron absorbed from food. The two known mutations of HFE are C282Y and H63D. C282Y is the most important. In people who inherit C282Y from both parents, the body absorbs too much iron and hemochromatosis can result. Those who inherit the defective gene from only one parent are carriers for the disease but usually do not develop it; however, they still may have higher than average iron absorption. Neither juvenile hemochromatosis nor neonatal hemochromatosis are caused by an HFE defect. Juvenile and neonatal hemochromatosis are caused by a mutation in a gene called hemojuvelin.>> The treatment that is recommended for disorder is phlebotomy and secondarily decreasing iron supplementation (this includes iron-supplemented cereals etc.), vitamin C (causes iron uptake) and red meat consumption. From NIDDK: <<Treatment is simple, inexpensive, and safe. The first step is to rid the body of excess iron. This process is called phlebotomy, which means removing blood the same way it is drawn from donors at blood banks. Based on the severity of the iron overload, a pint of blood will be taken once or twice a week for several months to a year, and occasionally longer. Blood ferritin levels will be tested periodically to monitor iron levels. The goal is to bring blood ferritin levels to the low end of normal and keep them there. Depending on the lab, that means 25 to 50 micrograms of ferritin per liter of serum.Once iron levels return to normal, maintenance therapy begins, which involves giving a pint of blood every 2 to 4 months for life. Some people may need phlebotomies more often. An annual blood ferritin test will help determine how often blood should be removed. Regular follow-up with a specialist is also necessary.If treatment begins before organs are damaged, associated conditions—such as liver disease, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes—can be prevented. The outlook for people who already have these conditions at diagnosis depends on the degree of organ damage. For example, treating hemochromatosis can stop the progression of liver disease in its early stages, which leads to a normal life expectancy. However, if cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, has developed, the person's risk of developing liver cancer increases, even if iron stores are reduced to normal levels.>> In my opinion, Chinese medicine and acupuncture is good adjunctive therapy for symptom relief, not primary therapy for hemochromatosis. Misha R. Cohen, OMD, L.Ac. Specialist V (Integrative Medicine), UCSF Institute for Health & Aging Research/Education Chair, Quan Yin Healing Arts Center Clinic Director, Chicken Soup www.docmisha.com Chinese Medicine , " Tom Verhaeghe " <tom.verhaeghe wrote: > Hello David, > I have seen one patient with hemochromatosis. He was a lawyer with > not-so-good life-style (overwork, overeating) and had serious damp-heat > problems. I designed a formula for him, but he never returned. > I believe I do have an article by Simon Becker on TCM and hemachromatosis. > If I remember well, damp-heat was not amongst the patterns listed. He had > severe joint and muscle pains and was feeling very fatigued all the time. > So I don't know if his symptoms would have improved as I lost him for > follow-up. > Thought I'd let you know anyway, > > best, > > Tom. > > ---- > > davidetoone > 10/07/2008 6:23:40 > Chinese Medicine > hemochromatosis > Does anyone have success treating hemochromatosis using herbs and > acupuncture? I am > seeing someone Friday for the first time with a recent diagnosis. All I know > at this point is > that the person also has strabismus, spondolithesis and BPH with a CC of low > back pain. > Many thanks, > David Toone, LAc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2008 Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 Hi Jason, the article can be viewed online here: http://www.tcm-becker.ch/index cfm?view=30.37 & lan=de & file=Hemochromatosis_and_Chinese_Medicine.pdf best, Tom. ---- 16/07/2008 1:59:53 Chinese Medicine RE: Re: hemochromatosis Tom, I would like to see this article if it is available. I am though, under the current impression that CM, nor any other alterative therapy, is helpful in eliminating the iron from the body - which essentially needs to happen for effective treatment. Therapeutic phlebotomies and a couple of scary drugs seem to be the only solution. This seems like a situation where treating the pattern just may not be enough. However, the absorption of iron (which is the problem) is controlled by a complex array of factors that is poorly understood. Therefore I think it may be possible to change this absorption issue, further preventing an iron buildup. However I have no data that suggests that this is possible. Has anyone come across any research or have any personal experience with this disease? - Recent Activity 4New Members Visit Your Group Meditation and Lovingkindness A Group to share and learn. Health Heartburn or Worse What symptoms are most serious? Ads on Learn more now. Reach customers searching for you.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2008 Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 Hello, I work a lot with the amalgam/mercury issue and use Dr.Christopher's heavy metal detox formula with patients after they have had their amalgams removed. Sometimes (off top of my head 25% of time) it appears to provoke an iron deficiency and we have to ease off the herbs and supplement iron for a short while. One of the dentists I work with uses the same formula and prescribes iron on a just in case basis. Dont know whether it would with hemochromatosis, but might be worth a try stephen > > Hi Jason, > > the article can be viewed online here: http://www.tcm-becker.ch/index > cfm?view=30.37 & lan=de & file=Hemochromatosis_and_Chinese_Medicine.pdf > > best, > > Tom. > ---- > > > 16/07/2008 1:59:53 > Chinese Medicine > RE: Re: hemochromatosis > > Tom, > > I would like to see this article if it is available. I am though, under the > current impression that CM, nor any other alterative therapy, is helpful in > eliminating the iron from the body - which essentially needs to happen for > effective treatment. Therapeutic phlebotomies and a couple of scary drugs > seem to be the only solution. This seems like a situation where treating the > pattern just may not be enough. > > However, the absorption of iron (which is the problem) is controlled by a > complex array of factors that is poorly understood. Therefore I think it may > be possible to change this absorption issue, further preventing an iron > buildup. However I have no data that suggests that this is possible. Has > anyone come across any research or have any personal experience with this > disease? > > - > > Recent Activity > 4New Members > Visit Your Group > Meditation and > Lovingkindness > A Group > to share and learn. > Health > Heartburn or Worse > What symptoms > are most serious? > Ads on > Learn more now. > Reach customers > searching for you.. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2008 Report Share Posted July 16, 2008 Tom, Thanks.. I will check it out. -Jason _____ Chinese Medicine Chinese Medicine On Behalf Of Tom Verhaeghe Wednesday, July 16, 2008 1:09 AM Chinese Medicine RE: Re: hemochromatosis Hi Jason, the article can be viewed online here: http://www.tcm- <http://www.tcm-becker.ch/index> becker.ch/index cfm?view=30.37 & lan=de & file=Hemochromatosis_and_Chinese_Medicine.pdf best, Tom. ---- 16/07/2008 1:59:53 Traditional_ <Chinese Medicine%40> Chinese_Medicine RE: Re: hemochromatosis Tom, I would like to see this article if it is available. I am though, under the current impression that CM, nor any other alterative therapy, is helpful in eliminating the iron from the body - which essentially needs to happen for effective treatment. Therapeutic phlebotomies and a couple of scary drugs seem to be the only solution. This seems like a situation where treating the pattern just may not be enough. However, the absorption of iron (which is the problem) is controlled by a complex array of factors that is poorly understood. Therefore I think it may be possible to change this absorption issue, further preventing an iron buildup. However I have no data that suggests that this is possible. Has anyone come across any research or have any personal experience with this disease? - Recent Activity 4New Members Visit Your Group Meditation and Lovingkindness A Group to share and learn. Health Heartburn or Worse What symptoms are most serious? Ads on Learn more now. Reach customers searching for you.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 Long name, short description: iron overload in the blood. An hereditary disease. Can be serious (as in fatal) if not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. Excess iron deposits in major organs such as liver, kidneys, heart, etc. I was diagnosed about a month ago based on blood tests showing serum ferritin around 1,200. Confirmed by follow-up DNA tests as homozygous hemochromatosis. Currently " donating " a pint of blood each week to divest the excess iron. May take 50 to 200 phlebotomies to get serum ferritin down to a normal level. Don't know how long I've had the overload problem. Just noticed the white moon area of my thumbnails have turned blue. If anyone has experience or knowledge with this condition I'd appreciate any input. Kindest regards, Phil ================================================================================\ ====== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 My husband has this, runs in his family. His brother has it also. He gives blood once every six weeks. From all the research we've done, there is nothing else you can do to really control it. Can't be stopped. We rarely eat red meat but that doesn't seem to make a difference... when he gives blood regularly (and he's gone for long periods without doing so), his coloring is much better and his energy is better. It's amazing: right after he gives blood: blood pressure is down, coloring is good, energy higher. Research IP6 - that is an iron chelator (that may not be the exact thing it does, but it's close). And L-Proline, can't remember why that is good for hemochromatosis but if you read up on that, you'll see why. Hal takes both. But it's the bleedings that do the trick. Can't get any real relief without them. Once you are caught up (and it will take 50-100?), once every 6 weeks should be adequate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 According to Dr. David Williams, this is a common condition with men, especially, and to a lesser degree with post-menopausal women. His treatment is to donate blood frequently... makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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