I am a holistic psychiatrist who has been purchasing goji powder from your company.  I was wondering what percentage polysaccharides are found in the freeze dried goji powder that your company sells.  I also was wondering about the pros and cons of dried goji berry juice as opposed to the whole berry.

Thank you,

Holistic Doc.

Dear Doc,

It’s 240 mg’s per 6000 mg’s (or, about 1.2 grams per ounce) of goji powder.  There will be less in the juice than the whole fruit powder or whole dried, organic berries.

I hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Dr. Marcus Ettinger

Dear Doc,

I wanted to share with you a couple of specialty products I use in my practice to exchange psychiatric medications for nutraceuticals.

Gabatone by Apex Energetics.  Gabatone has 10mg of Lithium Orotate and other good stuff.  I take one before bed myself and my mild ADD/OCD/Type A personality is way better.  I can actually drive Southern California Freeways in traffic and not want to shoot someone.  I have at least 20+ clients on it and when it went on back order from Apex I had a lot of really pissed off people, so it must be doing something.

Sometimes I use Amoryn.  I mainly have used this, in conjunction with a lot of DHA, zinc 50-100mg’s and Gabatone 1-3, with patients who have come in on Abilify or other antipsychotics.  For these clients I also try to get them in Ketosis (monitoring every day w/keto-sticks).  The brain really utilizes ketone bodies, far better than it utilizes glucose.  Plus, when in ketosis there are no sugar crashes or sugar highs.  I have actually been in ketosis for the last 17 days and have never felt more clear headed in my life. More info on what I am doing here – My Personal Ultra Lite Program

Norival by Ecological Formulas http://www.naturalhealthconsult.com/Monographs/norival.html (for information only).  I use AK and/or CRA to see if this needs to be added.  I only have two clients on this and the swear by it.

Lastly, and what I use most often is L-tryptophan as a serotonin precursor and SAMe as a melatonin precursor.  I feel SAMe works far better than melatonin for sleep issues and calming the brain.

I would love to hear if you have any favorite products that you use in your practice.

Take care,

Marcus

Hi Marcus,

Thanks for the following information.  It was very generous of you to take the time to share what you have learned in your practice.  I took some time to learn about the U lite program.  It  seems to be a  diet that emphasizes the reduction or elimination of fast burning carbohydrates: sugars, breads, and pastas, but keeps the meats and vegetables as sources of nutrients.  I have not done this in my practice, but I do have patients get rid of wheat, dairy and white sugar as much as they can.

With regard to lowering antipsychotic medications, I am still in a learning phase.  I emphasize GABA support as well, in the form of having patients eat GABA rice and use the inhibitory amino acids that Neuroscience makes: TravaCor or TravaCor Jr.  But in addition, I use a lot of L-Taurine.

The new generation antipsychotics block many receptors and subcategories of various classes of receptors, which makes them especially hard to get off of after being on them for several years.  I have started a “step down” approach that seems to make the process easier.  Zyprexa affects 17 different receptors (various Ds and 5HTPs etc.), while Seroquel affects 10 different receptors.  So I have patients take a little Seroquel as I lower their Zyprexa, then when they are only on the Seroquel, I shift them to Haldol (liquid), then off altogether.  Also, I have found that it is critical to wait a period of time (two weeks) before I lower the antipsychotic again.  This allows the number of receptors to be reduced in number after the amount of antipsychotic medication blocking them has been reduced.

In addition, I like using whole food antioxidants such as goji powder, acai powder, and maqui powder (freeze dried).  Most of my patient come with high levels of oxidative stress.

Also, I do a lot of muscle testing for information both for supplements, meds, and energy healing work.  The energy healing work helps a lot too.

With regard to lithium, I am routinely using a product called Li-Zyme Forte or Li-Zyme by Biotics Research.  It seems to be superior to lithium orotate as well as the oligo lithium I was using through Deseret Biologicals (no longer available).

With regard to energy work, I work with patients to help them use EFT, TAT, Emotion Code Technique (by Dr. Bradley Nelson) to heal from traumas.  The release of traumas facilitates the physical healing process and detoxification quite well.

I try to avoid anything that would be too stimulating in those trying to get off sedating meds.  So, I avoid glutamate, aspartate, and histamine amino acids.

Sometimes, I like to refer patients to a good chiropractor or acupuncturist around here.

All the best,

Holistic Doc.

4-15-2010

Dear Doc,

I wanted to share a combo that I have put my 5 year old on that is working great for her attention issues. Maile has an amazing ability to concentrate, as most kids do with so called ADD, on the things she likes, and to a lesser degree on, let’s say, homework.

I am using 1 tsp Molecularly Distilled Fish oil,  ¼ tsp Probiotic Defense Powder, 1 Tbsp Non GMO lecithin Granules, ½ scoop Whey Protein Isolate, 1 drop Liquid Vitamin D Forte (Biotics Research) and 1 scoop Absolute Acai Powder (CAOH). I mix this with a little apple juice, strawberries and Greek yogurt in a blender. Maile really loves the smoothie and her attention span has increased dramatically. Yes, she is still an active 5 year old, but the difference is very noticeable.

Do you have a combo that you like you young patients with ADD or ADHD to be on?

Have a great day!

Marcus

Hi Marcus,

I am happy to hear that your daughter is doing well.

I consider ADD or ADHD as problems that arise from chronic, but early adrenal stress (generally accompanied by a deficient detoxification system), so anything that would cause too much stress will result in a change in attention span as the adrenals kick in with hormones that send the message: “fight or flight.”  I have used everything you have mentioned below regularly, other than the lecithin (though I had used it in the past), but I tend to use liposomal products now which deliver similar supports, I believe, in healing the membranes.

Antioxidant support is very important.  I like using a combination of goji, maqui, and acai powders.  They have slightly different areas of strength it seems, because the muscle testing will indicate a need for all three in some individuals.  Sometimes for those who are getting off stimulants, I will support energy levels with UBQH, Malic acid, and D-Ribose.  Coming off stimulants is hard on appetite.  It goes way up, so I am using Hoodia, but will be trying out a Hoodia, Acai, and Wuyi tea combination to see if it is even stronger.  Also, I try to help detox with foot detox pads and liposomal glutathione (Empirical Labs or Readisorb Glutathione by YES).  Generally these kids have some kind of hypersensitivity reaction to wheat, dairy, and white refined sugar, so I tell them to get off of them.  I provide a great deal of mineral support as well.  Sometimes I must use Organically Bound Minerals by Standard Process, to avoid the copper.  Other times, I can get away with using the ionic liquid minerals called Cell Ready Minerals crangrapefruit flavor by Eniva, as long as I use additional zinc to counter the copper in it.  With regard to essential fatty acids, I generally use Chia seed oil and Black currant seed oil.

Hope this was of some interest.

All the best,

Holistic Doc.

*Ketosis is determined by dipping a ketone stick in to a specimen of morning urine.  The state of ketosis means that I am now burning body and liver fat, and one of the metabolic products of that reaction is a ketone body.  As long as I am in ketosis I will continually be burning fat, which will provide my body and brain the energy it needs to function. Most of the time we will burning glucose (blood-sugar) which comes from the carbohydrates (bread, corn, pasta, potato, rice, sugar…) we eat. The best part it that weight-loss comes from body fat reduction, not water or muscle loss.

Ketone Dip Stick Test

Today I added my first supplement, Spectramin.  Spectramin is a comprehensive multi-mineral supplement.  The main reason for this addition is that the switch from a high-carbohydrate to a low-carbohydrate, “ketogenic” diet is fairly rapid, thus my body may temporarily go through a period of adjustment.  During this adjustment my body may require extra minerals, due to my body’s releasing excess fluids that were stored during high-carbohydrate eating.

In the first week or two of being on the Orange County UltraLite (weight-loss) Program, I expect a great deal of the weight-loss to come from elimination of retained water. Research suggests that the presence of higher than normal levels of insulin in the blood causes excess water retention in the body. This is due to the fact that sodium will be retained by the kidney’s and water will be stored to buffer the excess sodium. This process results in (water-retention, swelling, edema, puffiness) and is a primary cause of high blood pressure. This is why doctors will prescribe diuretics to patients with hypertension. Logically, wouldn’t be smarter to get the insulin levels down by reducing the patients carbohydrate intake?

The initial water loss is only a short-term effect and is entirely separate from the general weight loss produced through the loss in excess body fat.

The Mediterranean Diet consists of low meat intake, moderate intake of alcohol (wine) and dairy products (sheep’s milk products), and high intake of fruits, nuts, vegetables (primarily greens), cereals/grains, and fish (small fish like sardines, high in omega 3′s), and flavoring foods with herbs, spices and natural sea salt. The researchers found dose-response relationships for:

Olive Oil Benefits More Than The Heart

1. fruits and nuts
2. monounsaturated-to-saturated fats ratio
3. legume (beans) intake

The higher the intake of fruits, nuts, monounsaturated fats (olive oil) and beans – The more profound the beneficial results were.

Archives of General Psychiatry 2009;66:1090-1098.

ADDITIONAL: E-mail to Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas MD one of the foremost researchers into the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet.

Dr. Scarmeas,

I just read your study in JAMA, very nice! I have a Integrative medicine practice in southern California for twenty years now and advocate that my clients follow a Mediterranean Diet. I have followed this way of eating for over twenty years and at 45 I have ideal blood markers.

My question is this: what do you feel is the most important aspect (most profound physiological benefits) of the Mediterranean diet?

Is it the red wine (polyphenols, especially resveratrol and its ability to increase NO synthase?)
or
Is it olive oil and omega 3’s from the fish and almonds?
or
Does the diet itself inhibit/reduce inflammatory cytokines, reducing the incidence of cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s?
or
?

I would really appreciate any insight you can share.

Thank you in advance.

Marcus Ettinger

Reply (brief but to the point):

Dear Dr Ettinger.

We are investigating some of it. Currently it is not clear. It may be a combination of all the above – biological synergy. Physical activity seems equally important.

Thank you for your interest.

Note:

Below is a paragraph from my post on The True Cause of Alzheimer’s? The deficiencies that may predispose one to developing this terrible disease can be corrected by following a Mediterranean Diet and engaging in regular exercise, throughout one’s life.

“My thought’s on predisposing/contributing factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease and senile dementia: A severe lack of vitamin D, magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA), fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, exercise, chiropractic adjustments, continual engagement in intellectual activities (chess, crossword puzzles, social interaction…) and prolonged smoking.”

Hi Marcus,

I wanted you to know that this time around I felt better almost immediately, and within 24 hours, I felt better than I have in quite some time.  I so appreciate your healing, caring, and your generosity.

Have a great, rainy day!

Happiness = Good Health

Treatment Protocol: Bio-identical hormone replacement (Phyot-B)*, magnesium and potassium aspartate, and specific atlas (C1) and axis (C2) chiropractic adjustments

Phyto-B is designed to provide hormone support for the those who have reduced estrogen and progesterone levels. Phyto-B is an herbal supplement designed to address declining hormone levels and combat menopausal symptoms. This is done by giving support to the estrogens and progesterone through plant derived products. Phyto-B is prepared by Bezwecken.

Excessive negative stress has become, over the last 25 years, as much a part of our daily lives as eating and sleeping. Excessive negative stress can be physical (chronic illness, lack of exercise, over-exercising, etc.), emotional (losing a job, winning the lottery, etc.), or chemical (bad diet, drugs, medicines, alcohol, pesticides, etc.).

Excessive negative stress is most likely to be the initial predisposing factor in the cause and prolongation of a disease or illness. Again, the greater the exposure and duration to these negative stressors the greater the susceptibility to acute or chronic illness or body dysfunction.

It is also important to note that not all stress is bad or has negative effects on our bodies. Some types of stress are actually beneficial for us and can increase our immune function, overall strength, emotional well being and longevity. The most beneficial form of stress is exercise, especially swimming and weight training. This type of stress can, in moderation, even negate some of the excessive negative stress’ we face.

When our bodies are exposed to any form of negative stress our organ systems innately responds with what is known as the “fight-flight response”. During this stress induced response, many different and potentially damaging physiological reactions occur. During the initial phase, which can last for seconds to years, digestion and absorption of nutrients are greatly reduced; body tissues begin to break down; the immune system is suppressed; our heart begins to overload and the aging process is significantly accelerated. These are but a sampling of what does occur.

Individuals who are exposed to excessive negative stress may also develop a condition known as adrenal exhaustion. This condition occurs when the adrenal glands work beyond their normal capacity thus eventually shutting down (no more Cortisol, a hormone, being produced). Adrenal exhaustion presents with symptoms similar to those found in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia and hypoglycemia (see table 1).

Table 1

An integrative medicine approach for the treatment of adrenal exhaustion or the effects excessive negative stress are identical. First, it’s crucial to reduce or eliminate as many negative stressors (individual stress factors) as possible.

Second, get plenty of rest, at least 8 hours, starting before midnight; engage in regular, but not excessive, exercise; greatly reduce your carbohydrates intake (bread, sweets, pasta, corn and potatoes); increase protein intake; increase fibrous vegetable intake; drink eight glasses of filtered water daily, and perform deep breathing exercises every morning and evening.

Third, nutritional and/or pharmacological support. To determine pharmacological support we must first determine thyroid and adrenal function via blood tests (thyroid panel including both thyroid antibodies and rT3), and (DHEA, cortisol and progesterone) levels. Nutritional support can be in the form of DHEA and/or Pregnenolone (10 – 50 mg daily) and/or glycerrhizin (25 – 100 mg daily – preferably in the morning). These two supplements safely support proper adrenal hormone levels. DMG (vitamin B15) and Siberian Ginseng have both been shown in Russian clinical studies to help regulate the hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal axis. Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is the initial precursor, along with our LDL cholesterol to our adrenal hormones, whole C complex (Ester-C w/bioflavonoids) is an antioxidant for the adrenal and the highest concentration of vitamin C out side of the spinal chord and brain is found in the adrenal; and potassium are essential for proper adrenal gland function. Adrenal glandular preparations (Whole Desiccated Adrenal (short-term), Drenamin and Drenatrophin PMG) from Standard Process Inc. will also help to support the adrenal glands. These are but a few options that I have used to support the stress response of the body.

Additionally, antioxidants and supportive products like: CoQ10, glutathione, NAC, vitamin E, bioflavonoids, alpha lipoic acid, SAMe, Gabatone (Apex Energetics), L-tryptophan, magnesium and MSM, will also help reduce the overall oxidative burden placed on the body by the excessive negative stress.

With the above knowledge the road to well being and health is now a much shorter one.

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

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).  To purchase any of these, call 714-639-4360

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 Gluconate (50 – 100mg’s per day). To purchase, call 714-639-4360

3.  Vitamin D

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 D 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 D during the months of October – 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 if I kept taking it I would sunburn within 15 minutes. This is what your body does when the vitamin D level is sufficient. To purchase call 714-639-4360

4.  Vitamin E

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: Wild-caught salmon (Important: avoid farm-raised salmon because of pollutants, artificial color and lack of EFA’s), flax seed and/or flax seed oil, walnuts and sardines.

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).

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.

My theory has developed over a 20 year period of time and holds credibility as a corollary to  the long-standing law in anatomy/physiology known as – Wollf’s law.  Wolff’s law, in short, states, “Bone remodels according to the physical stress placed upon it.”  As an example: a pitchers, pitching arm (humerus, radius and ulna) will be denser than his non-pitching arm.  The opposite to 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 states, “Our body remodels according to the stress placed upon it: invisibly, physically, emotionally and/or chemically.” All three 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, deal with stress, are exposed to stress(s) or outside forces.

Physically we remodel based on the amount and/or variety of minerals, large and trace; amino acids (protein); vitamins and fats that we ingest.  If we ingest all of the essential nutrients that our body requires, with all other factors aside, our bodies will remodel properly. The opposite can be said for eating devitalized food, such as fast food, boxed or canned food.  Examples: Increase protein and weight bearing exercise and increase muscle mass will result. Increase fats and/or carbohydrates with a lack of physical stress  and an increase in body fat and blood sugar/fats will result.

Emotional stresses and chemical stresses placed on the body will have the similar effects.  Happiness (good stress) and nutritional supplements (only the ones a body may require and benefit from) will facilitate positive remodeling (ex. neurotransmitter and hormone production).  Anger, resentment, blame or shame (negative emotions) or medications (the majority, but not all) are negative stressors and will facilitate the body to remodel in a non-optimum way.  The negative remodeling will lead to everything we don’t want to have our body to experience, and the positive remodeling will lead to a long, healthy, vibrant life.

Invisible forces (magnetism, gravity, ionic…) are constantly present and can affect us as much as overt chemical, emotional and physical forces do.  These forces, most of the time, actually precede and initiate the physical, emotional or chemical stress or influence 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 and everything that is done to us,  sometimes unknowingly, affects how our body remodels.  We can at least be  cause of over a very large part of this and be responsible for what we do (eat, exercise, rest…) and what we allow around us.  Or, we can be the effect and move through life never paying attention to any of these facts.  By ignoring this theory, negative remodeling will be the outcome and all the negative consequences that comes with it.

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

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