You don't see them but they sure eat you

First of all, different biting insects can be repelled by different, natural, phyto-”plant-based”-chemicals, in the form of  the specific plants “essential oils”.  So, in order to get the most effective, broad-spectrum, natural repellent, you must combine a few different of these, insect-repelling essential oils.  If you are making large amounts of insect repellent, a good rule of thumb is to mix the repellent so it’s 5-10% natural essential oil – so mix 1 part essential oil with 10-20 parts carrier oil, alcohol or witch hazel.  For a smaller batch use:

• 10-25 drops (total) of essential oils
• 2 tablespoons of a carrier oil, alcohol or witch hazel

The natural essential oils below work well against most biting insects (mosquitoes, flies, ticks, fleas).

1. cinnamon oil (mosquitoes)
2. lemon eucalyptus or regular eucalyptus oil (mosquitoes, ticks, and lice)
3. citronella oil (mosquitoes and biting flies)
4. castor oil (mosquitoes)
5. orange oil (fleas)
6. rose geranium (ticks and lice)

Here is a combination of natural essential oils I recently tried; it worked great.  Essential Oil Mixture: Lemon eucalyptus essential oil (mandatory in any formula), citronella essential oil and orange oil.  Test Location: Puerto Vallarta Beaches and Jungle.  Protected the Family Against: Sand Fleas, Mosquitoes and No-See-Ums.

Safe carrier oils and other liquids include:

1. olive oil
2. sunflower oil
3. any other cooking oil
4. witch hazel – (personal choice)
5. vodka – (a cheap generic brand of alcohol will do)

First of all, if you are presently taking a “statin” class, cholesterol lowering drug you may be doing far more  long-term harm than good.  News Flash – Lipitor and Pravachol in the most comprehensive study to date (18 months 654 patients) found that: yes, both did bring the numbers down (ON PAPER) but in the arteries where it counts (Your LIFE or Your DEATH), Lipitor only reduced the harmful plaque by a fraction of 1% and (GET THIS), Pravachol actually increased the plaque by almost 3% (NICE!).  Your numbers are low, your doctor is happy and you’re happy.   All the while you’re actually increasing your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, heart attack and/or dying.

An ignored fact by the medical establishment:
These drugs block cholesterol production in the body by inhibiting the enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase in the (BIG WORDS REMOVED FOR YOUR PROTECTION) pathway.   This same pathway is also shared by an important body chemical, needed for life, CoQ10 ( also available as a nutritional supplement).  Therefore, one unfortunate consequence of statin drugs is the unintentional inhibition of CoQ10 synthesis.  Thus, in the long run, statin drugs could predispose the user to heart disease, liver failure, heart attack or death, by lowering their CoQ10 status; the very condition that these drugs are intended to prevent.

Another, life or death, ignored fact by the medical establishment:
CoQ10 enzyme is responsible, in the body for nerve growth (Brain, spinal chord, and electricity to the heart).   When the body’s CoQ10 is too low, nerves begin to die and one experiences tingling, numbness, cramps, and even brain damage.  If you are having nerve pain or muscle cramps (calves, feet, toes or heart palpitations)  you must start taking CoQ10 and get off statins, because the nerve damage can become permanent. (Or you may die which ever comes first).

And now another ignored fact by the medical establishment:
Special Warning about Statin Drugs:
There is a slight chance (How often is slight?) of liver damage from Lipitor, “so your doctor may order a simple blood test to check your liver function before you start taking the drug”, again 6 weeks and 12 weeks after you begin therapy or when your dosage is increased, and every 6 months thereafter (Does he/she do that?).  If the tests reveal a problem, you may have to stop using the drug. (Really!)

What! Another ignored fact by the medical establishment:
Drugs like Lipitor have occasionally (Is that more or less than slight?) been known to damage muscle tissue, so be sure to tell your doctor immediately if you notice any unexplained muscle tenderness, weakness, or pain, especially if you also have a fever or feel sick. Your doctor may want to do another simple blood test to check for signs of muscle damage. (That’s nice)

Your kidding? Another ignored fact by the medical establishment:
“The Most Important Fact about This Drug”:
Lipitor is usually prescribed ONLY IF!!! Diet, exercise, and weight loss fail to bring your cholesterol levels under control.  IT’S IMPORTANT!!! to remember that Lipitor is a supplement, not a substitute for those other measures. To get the full benefit of the medication, you need to stick to the diet and exercise program prescribed by your doctor. (Did your doctor give you a diet?  Did you even try the diet?  Did you try exercising for even a day?)

And, the last, but not the least, ignored fact by the medical establishment:
According to Dr. Allen Roses, worldwide vice-president of genetics at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and an academic geneticist from Duke University in North Carolina, “Fewer than half of the patients prescribed some of the most expensive drugs are benefited at all”. “The vast majority of drugs – more than 90 per cent – only work in 30 or 50 per cent of the people.” (So, even if you are taking a medication, you only have a 30-50% chance of it working anyway.  You have better odds in Vegas).

Depending where you get your statistics, Lipitor is the third or sixth most prescribed drug in the world, with lifetime sales around one hundred billion dollars ($100,000,000,000).  That’s just one drug folks.  How sad!  Why are people so afraid of eating right and exercising?  I guess that’s for another post.

By Marucs S. Ettinger DC, BSc.

Mediterranean Diet

Since high blood pressure is, for the majority of those who suffer from it, self created, following this simple plan can reverse the factors that created it.

The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan has been researched and proven to lower blood pressure in only 14 days. Those who will experience the best results are people whose blood pressure was only moderately high, including those with prehypertension(1). For those of you with more severe hypertension and may not be able to eliminate medication, the DASH diet can help to improve your response to medication, and at the same time it will help lower blood pressure. The DASH diet can also aid in lowering cholesterol levels, raise HDL’s and if with a little exercise added in, weight reduction will be seen allow with a reduction in insulin resistance.

Most of you reading this will easily admit that this seems like a very healthy way of eating, but initially when implemented may find it hard to sustain. The truth is that the average American only eats 2 – 3 servings of fruits and vegetables combined each day, so following the DASH diet may involve making a determined effort.

The best part of eating this way is that you will be reducing your chances of developing degenerative diseases, cancers or autoimmune diseases. Also this is a preventive diet against weight gain, obesity and diabetes.

Some helpful tips for lowering your blood pressure and following the DASH diet

1. Eating fewer processed foods, such as snack items, luncheon meats, and canned soups, will reduce the amount of sodium in your diet and help you lower your blood pressure.
2. A diet high in calcium, potassium, and magnesium (fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of this nutrients) may lower your blood pressure.
3. A diet high in sodium may cause high blood pressure.
4. DASH recommends that you eat 8 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables and 3 servings of low-fat dairy products each day.
5. Eating a diet low in both saturated fat and total fat will also help lower your blood pressure. Only 30% (I recommend using olive oil as your fat source) of your total calories should be from fat, with only 7% to 10% of
   your fat calories from saturated fat. Saturated fat is found in meats, cheeses, butter, poultry, snack foods, and other processed foods.
6. In general, vegetarian (Mediterranean diet) diets reduce blood pressure. The DASH diet could easily be a vegetarian diet if legumes were substituted for meat. Vegetarian diets tend to be higher in potassium, magnesium, and calcium, as is the DASH diet. Vegetarian diets also are higher in fiber and unsaturated fat than other diets.
7. Controlling your weight, increasing your physical activity, and reducing sodium in your diet will help reduce your blood pressure even more when combined with the DASH diet. More information here: Mediterranean Diet Helps Prevent Depression.

(1). Prehypertension is considered to be blood pressure readings with a systolic pressure from 120 to 139 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure from 80 to 89 mm Hg. Readings greater than or equal to 140/90 mm Hg are considered hypertension.

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc

If you would like to purchase any of these products, please call us at (714) 639-6360. We can ship anywhere in the US and Canada.

1.  Magnesium

Deficiency: 8 out of 10 clients show clinical signs of magnesium deficiency.  The average American diet only contains 50% to 60% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).  According to Dr. Guosong Liu, half the population of industrialized countries have a magnesium deficit, which increases with aging.

Symptoms: Anxiety, confusion, heart attack, hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD), insomnia, nervousness, muscular irritability (twitches, spasms or cramps), restlessness, Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), weakness, heart palpitations, depression….

Recommended Foods: All green leafy vegetables (ex. Swiss chard and spinach), Seeds (pumpkin or sunflower seeds), Beans (black or navy beans).

Recommended Nutritional Supplements: Magnesium aspartate, glycinate or citrate (400 – 600 mg’s per day) OR Transdermal Magnesium Chloride (1 ounce rubbed over the body, per day).

2.  Zinc

Deficiency: 7 out of 10 clients show clinical signs of deficiency.

Symptoms: Acne, ADD/ADHD, brittle nails, delayed sexual maturity, depression/apathy, diarrhea, eczema, fatigue, growth impairment, hair loss, high cholesterol levels, immune impairment, impotence, irritability, lethargy, loss of appetite, loss of sense of taste, low stomach acid (HCl), male infertility/abnormal sperm, memory impairment, night blindness, paranoia, white spots on nails, poor wound healing, psoriasis….

Recommended Foods: Calf’s liver, beef, mushrooms, spinach, green peas and pumpkin seeds.

Recommended Nutritional Supplements: Zinc Glycinate (50 – 100mg’s per day). Take with food, as zinc supplementation may cause nausea if taken on an empty stomach.

3.  Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)

Deficiency: 10 out of 10 clients show deficiency (99.8% of all of my Labcorp, client blood tests have shown deficiency).

Symptoms: Allergies, auto immune diseases, burning sensation in mouth, cancer, diarrhea, insomnia, myopia, nervousness, osteoporosis, poor calcium utilization, rickets, scalp sweating, weight gain….

Recommended Foods: Cod liver oil, shrimp and eggs.

Recommended Nutritional Supplements: BEST VITAMIN D3 (cholecalciferol) PRODUCT: Liquid Vitamin D Forte by Biotics Research ($20  for 700+ drops. Each drop = 2,000 IU’s). Recommended dosage of emulsified Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) -  (6,000 – 10,000 IU’s per day for adults and 2,000 IU’s for children above the age of five).  Skin exposure to the sun, 15 minutes per day, is another great way to get adequate Vitamin D exposure.  Note: living in southern California, I only take my Vitamin D3 during the months of October through the beginning of June. I surf a lot, and as soon as my wetsuit comes off and I can get 15 minutes+ of direct sunlight, I no longer need the supplement form. In fact, if I kept taking it, I would sunburn within 15 minutes. This is what your body does when the vitamin D3 level is maxed-out.

4.  Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol)

Deficiency: 3/10 Males and 2/10 Females show signs of deficiency.

Symptoms: Neurological disturbances (gait disturbances, poor reflexes, loss of position sense, loss of vibration sense), shortened red blood cell life….

Recommended Foods: Green leafy vegetables (Mustard greens, chard, spinach and turnip greens), almonds and sunflower seeds.

Recommended Nutritional Supplements: d-alpha Tocopherol w/Mixed Tocohperols (400-800 IU’s per day) or Organic Cold Pressed Wheat Germ Oil (1 Tablespoon per day supplies 400IU’s of d-alpha tocopherol).

5. Omega 3 Fatty Acids (ALA, EPA, DHA)

Deficiency: 8/10 show signs of deficiency.

Symptoms: Diarrhea, dry skin and hair, hair loss, acne, eczema, psoriasis, immune weakness, infertility, poor wound healing, premenstrual syndrome, gall stones, liver degeneration, ADD/ADHD and Depression….

Recommended Foods: Flax seed and/or flax seed oil, walnuts, sardines and wild-caught salmon (Important: avoid farm-raised salmon! Eating farm raised salmon vs wild salmon increases your risk of being exposed to PCB’s, dioxin and other toxic pollutants. Farm raised salmon is colored with artificial color and lacks the omega 3 fatty acids of wild caught salmon).

Recommended Nutritional Supplements: Organic, Cold Pressed, Solvent Free – Flax Seed Oil (1 Tablespoon/10 grams per day – Best source of alpha-linolenic acid); Mollecularly Distilled Fish Oil (1 Teaspoon per day – Best source of EPA/DHA).

6. Iodine (potassium iodide)

Deficiency: 6/10 show signs of deficiency and/or therapeutic need.

Symptoms: See – Iodine and the Body & Iodine and Disease

Recommended Foods: Most Kelp or Kombu has about 2500 mcg/gm. Other common seaweeds are much lower; for example, Nori (16 mcg/gm), Wakame (32 mcg/gm), Dulse (72 mcg/gm), Hijiki (629 mcg/gm).

Shellfish is variable, but some typical amounts of iodine are: Prawns (21mcg/100 g), (60mcg/100 g), Mussels (140mcg/100 g), Lobster (100mcg/100 g), Shrimp (100mcg/100 g). For a complete list, pleas go to Iodine in Food.

Recommended Nutritional Supplements: Iodoral – 50mg’s per day for three months, then 12.5mg per day. Do not start on Iodine without first consulting your physician!

4/27/09 – Dr. Marcus Ettinger – Orange, CA

With the swine flu infecting more than 1700 people and claiming over 100 lives in Mexico, sickening people who live nearby in San Diego, and evoking responses from President Barack Obama and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, I am hoping you’ll find this current perspective helpful.  Call me with any questions, concerns, or to make an appointment to get on the latest in preventative nutritional supplementation.  I have specific products for children too. (714) 639-4360

Below, you’ll find some answers to common questions about Swine flu, compiled from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local and state health departments, news reports and myself. At the bottom you’ll also find links to other resources.

What is swine flu?

It’s a respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses that cause regular outbreaks in pigs. People don’t normally get swine flu, but it does happen, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The scary part about this new strain is that it contains pig, bird and human genes, in a combination that has never been observed before anywhere in the world. This is no joke and everyone needs to take preventative measures to insure that this does not become an epidemic.

How is swine flu spread?

Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, the transmission did not continue beyond three people. It’s spread through coughing or sneezing, and sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. (see “what can I do” below for helpful tips)

Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?

No.

Has it been reported in the U.S. before?

Yes.  From 2005 to 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were reported in the U.S., none caused death.  This new strain is very virulent and we need to really stay on top of this with preventative measures. (see below)

What’s the scope of this outbreak

U.S. officials declared a public health emergency on Sunday, much like the government makes when preparing for a hurricane.

At the time of writing this post, a total of 40 cases have been reported in at least five states, according to the Associated Press. Seven of these cases are in California in San Diego and Imperial Counties. No cases have been reported in Orange County, California Department of Public Health spokesman Ken August said today.

What can I do to keep from getting sick?

These suggestions come from CDC’s website and myself:

As of now there is no swine flu vaccine. Any vaccine that may become available will be at least a minimum of 3-4 months down the road. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of virus’ that cause respiratory illnesses’ like influenza. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand-cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. The virus can spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If unavoidable, ware a mask.
• If you get sick with the flu, The CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Wipe down everything that you come in common contact with at the office and at home with rubbing alcohol – phone, door knobs, remote control, steering wheel, computer mouse and keyboard….
• If swine flu cases become identified in Orange County, take precautions to avoid group events in confined spaces.
• There are many nutritional and dietary options that help to boost the immune system and provide anti-viral protection. I will be stocking-up on the most effective products that help support the immune system and help support the body against viral infection. (714) 639-4360

What should I do if I think I am sick?

If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with flu-like symptoms, including fever, prolonged headache, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact myself or another health-care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms.  Myself and other health-care providers will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Rapid breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish tint to the skin
• Prolonged Headache
• Not drinking enough water or fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and a worse cough
• Fever with a skin rash
• In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include: rapid or difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, mental confusion, severe or persistent vomiting.

More on the swine flu:

Stay updated with the CDC

Interactive map: How the swine flu spread around the world

Is swine flu the big one, or the one that fizzles?

My theory has developed over a 20 year period of time and holds credibility as a corollary to the long-standing law in anatomy and physiology known as – Wollf’s law.  Wolff’s law, in short, states that, “bone remodels according to the physical stress placed upon it.”  As an example: a pitcher’s, pitching arm (humerus, radius and ulna) will be denser than his non-pitching arm.  The opposite of this is, if we lived in outer-space our bones would dissolve (osteoporosis) because of the lack of gravity; no weight-bearing load on the bones.  All of the calcium supplementation, estrogen replacement (for women), and Fosimax (medication) in the world would not prevent this process from happening.

My theory takes Wollf’s law to the next level and states, “Our entire body remodels according to the stress placed upon it: invisibly, physically, emotionally and chemically.” All four of these stressors or outside influences/forces, will directly affect the remodeling of every cell, tissue and physiological function of the body.  This means that our inward and outward appearance and physiological state is in direct correlation to the (way, what and/or how) we sleep, eat, drink, act, exercise, think, deal with stress, or are exposed to stress’ or outside forces.

Physical stress makes-up the largest portion of the overall stressors we will be subjected to on a daily basis. The foods we eat and how often, our exercise level or lack of exercise, chronic postures (work, driving and sleep), chemicals, pesticides, excessive alcohol, medicines, drugs and our body’s own waste products, all influence how we remodel.

If we ingest all of the essential nutrients that our body requires, with all other factors aside, our body will remodel properly. The opposite can be said for eating devitalized food, such as fast food, boxed or canned food; as well as being exposed to drugs, medicines, alcohol, pesticides, toxins, etc… Examples: If we increase protein and weight bearing exercise, an increase in muscle mass and strength will be the result. If we increase fats and/or carbohydrates, combined with a lack of physical exercise, an increase in body fat, blood sugar, blood fats and blood pressure will be the result. This is called: diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and hypertension. Exposure to toxins, pesticides, molds, drugs or excessive alcohol, may lead to cancer, ADHD and many other diseases.

Emotional stress placed on the body will have similar effects. If we feel or are exposed to happiness, joy or generosity, all good stress’ will facilitate a positive remodeling (ex. neurotransmitter and hormone production). If we feel or are exposed to anger, expressed or unexpressed resentment, blame or shame, all negative emotions, this will facilitate our body to remodel in a non-optimum way (increased inflammation on decreased endocrine and brain function – Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s).  The negative remodeling can lead to everything we don’t want to have our body experience, such as cancer, autoimmune disease and body degeneration. The positive remodeling will help increase the immune system and overall strength of the body, leading to a longer, healthier and more vibrant life.

Invisible forces (electromagnetic waves [radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays and gamma rays], gravity and ionizing radiation) are constantly present and can affect us as much as the overt chemical, emotional and physical forces do. The invisible forces, most of the time, actually precede and initiate the physical, emotional or chemical stress’ that causes the remodeling of our body’s cells or, more specifically, the cell membranes.

It’s easy to see from this, that everything we do or don’t do, and everything that is done to us, sometimes unknowingly, affects how our body remodels. This means how we look and how we functions.  The point I am trying to make here is that we can at least be “cause” of over a very large part of this and be responsible for what we do on a daily basis (eat, exercise, rest…) and what we allow around us. If we do not learn from this then we can go through life at “effect” like a stick floating down a river, out of control. By ignoring this theory, negative remodeling will be the outcome and all the negative consequences that come with it. The choice is ours.

©06 January 2009 Marcus Ettinger and AdvancedHealing.Com. All rights reserved (no portion of this may be re-printed or used without permission)