The goal I set with each each client is to discover the precise dietary, physiologic and/or structural imbalance that is the root cause of their body problem. The vast majority of today’s body problems are a direct result of long-term aberrations in both diet and lifestyle. With proper identification and correction, the body does exactly what it was designed to do – achieve vibrant and lasting health.

Today’s standard of medical care is to treat all diseases and symptoms with drugs or surgery. The problem here is that prescription drugs don’t correct the underlying cause – the nutritional, biochemical or structural imbalances. In fact, prescription drugs usually create more problems and actually make it harder for the body to heal. Prescription drugs are only designed to treat symptoms, by activating or suppressing reactions in the body. These drugs were never created to do what is truly needed to get ones health back and that’s – rebuild and regenerate tissue and/or function. The simple truth is that a chemical cure is not the answer to a nutritional biochemical or structural imbalances.

As an analytical thinker and compassionate doctor, I find it completely unreasonable that the current medical community chooses to label the vast majority of body problems as ‘diseases’ and to routinely intervene with chemical cures or surgery, as the first treatment option. More often than not, the cure ends up becoming worse than the disease. Patients who choose an alternative medicine approach often respond better to dietary, life-style changes and targeted nutritional supplements than to a plethora of prescription drugs.

I have personally found that most individuals, particularly those taking multiple prescription drugs for chronic conditions, fare better in the long-run when those drugs can be reduced or eliminated. In fact, the majority of chronic body problems such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, low thyroid, high blood pressure and cholesterol can be managed successfully without the use of potentially harmful drugs or un-warranted surgery – if given a chance.

As an alternative and integrative medicine practitioner, I am not against prescription medications, as there are times when it is appropriate to use a medication. In fact, I routinely work with my patient’s medical doctor, in an integrative manner, sharing test results and formulating a plan designed to reduce or illuminate, if possible, their medication.

Alternative medicine, on a gradient scale of treatment options, for most body problems, should be the first choice on the list. The reason being is that if dietary and lifestyle modification, along with targeted nutritional supplementation and exercise can’t handle the problem then there is always the medical option. This sequencing makes more sense because you can’t undo a surgery once performed or completely reverse the damage done by long-term pharmaceutical use.

I hope this has given you some food for thought.

In good health,

Marcus Ettinger BSc, DC

Founded in 1992, Advanced Healing Center of Orange County is an alternative medicine, integrative medicine and chiropractic clinic located in Orange, California. An alternative medicine expert, chiropractor and “21st Century Medical Detective”, Marcus Ettinger BSc, DC has over 21 years experience treating thousands of people, of all ages, with effectiveness, compassion, honesty and personal integrity.

Dr. Marcus Ettinger has extensive training and is a recognized expert in diagnosis, clinical nutrition, vitamin and mineral supplementation, herbal therapies, chiropractic, weight management, and trigger point therapy.

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.

Is ORTHOREXIA  NERVOSA a legitimate medical concern or a result of the over-inflated ego of Dr. Steven Bratman – you be the judge. First a little background: Orthorexia nervosa is a term coined in 1997 by Steven Bratman, a Colorado MD, to denote an eating disorder characterized by an excessive focus on eating healthy foods. In rare cases, this focus may turn into a fixation so extreme that it can lead to severe malnutrition or even death.

Duh! Here’s the scoop: With any action a human can undertake, there will always be someone who will obsess over that action. To create a disease out of feeling passionate about eating REAL food is a little extreme in itself.

The so called experts say, “Orthorexics commonly have rigid rules around eating, even going so far as to: refusing to touch processed sugar, table salt, caffeine, alcohol, wheat, gluten, yeast flavoring enhancers like MSG, soy, corn or dairy products.” Wait it gets better. “This is just the start of their diet restrictions. Any foods that have come into contact with pesticides, herbicides or contain artificial additives are also out.”

OMG! You mean these people are so crazy that they won’t eat MSG, boxed or pre-packaged foods, with a 30 year shelf life. Get these people on Prozac, quick!

Here’s Dr. Bratman again, and he puts it this way, “The defining feature of orthorexia is obsession with eating healthy food and avoiding unhealthy food.” Ouch that’s harsh. “The definition of healthy and unhealthy food varies widely depending on which dietary beliefs the patients have adopted. The usual immediate source of orthorexia is a health food theory, such as raw-foodism, macrobiotics, non-dairy vegetarianism (Ovo vegetarianism and Veganism), Ornish-style very-low-fat diet, or food allergies. Note that, in most cases, the underlying diet is itself reasonably healthy (if unreasonably specific). It’s in the obsessive approach to diet taken by an orthorexic that the disorder lies.”

Un-reasonably specific and Obsessive? (With a thick German accent) “Susan, I need to inform you that your vegan diet is unreasonably specific and an obsession, not based on science but true fantasy. In my professional opinion, eating healthy is not in your best interest. I feel a psychiatric evaluation is in order and may uncover the underlying psychosis causing these delusions.” “Okay doc, can I get out of here now?”

Research suggests an equal numbers of men and women are affected by orthorexia nervosa, and that sufferers tend to be aged over 30, middle-class and well-educated.

That’s another interesting point. Those supposedly affected (suffering) are well-educated and middle-class. This is the group most interested in self-improvement and healthy living. I would have to say that at least 75% of my client base has some degree of this condition. It’s worse than I thought, 7/10 have it.

Deanne Jade, founder of the National Centre for Eating Disorders (UK), has some very important data to share, that  just may save you from death due to eating healthy.  Jade says, “There is a fine line between people who think they are taking care of themselves by manipulating their diet and those who have orthorexia. I see people around me who have no idea they have this disorder. I see it in my practice and I see it among my friends and colleagues.”

Why is she bitching? Jade should consider herself lucky for having so many clients and friends who are as passionate as I am, for eating real, unadulterated food and staying away from dead and devitalized food.

Jade also feels that orthorexia is on the rise because, “modern society has lost its way with food.” Jade also says, “It’s everywhere, from the people who think it’s normal if their friends stop eating entire food groups, to the trainers in the gym who [promote] certain foods to enhance performance, to the proliferation of nutritionists, dietitians and naturopaths [who believe in curing problems through entirely natural methods such as sunlight or massage]. And just look in the bookshops – all the diets that advise eating according to your blood type or metabolic rate. This is all grist for the mill to those looking for proof to confirm or encourage their anxieties around food.”

Please, Mrs. Jade, is it really WRONG if someone wants to stop eating meat, or dairy, or processed foods? Is it also wrong for a personal trainer to recommend whey protein powder to help with gaining muscle mass? I don’t think so. Also, the diet books Jade mentions are just theories and are just one piece of a larger pie. Yes, some may get fixated by the new philosophy just learned, but that’s what we do. As humans we move from one idea to the next until we find one that fits just right. The ones that obsess, well, they’ll just keep on obsessing.

Note: My family and I have been suffering from Orthorexia Nervosa for years. I have to admit that, “I as a holistic practitioner, advocate and promote orthorexia nervosa to my clients and friends.” Please keep a sharp eye out. People suffering from this obsession may display the following signs: Planning tomorrow’s menu today; skipping foods they once enjoyed (unhealthy foods) in order to eat the “right” (healthy) foods; feeling in “total” control when they eat the correct diet. As you can see, this condition may lead to severe antisocial behavior or worse – living longer and healthier.