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Top
Stories 27th
Annual Convention (7/25/08)
Convention
Lecture Legislation Journal
of the American Naturopathic Medical Association (JANMA) Facts |
ANMA Embroidered Polo Shirts, Tote Bags, and Lapel Pins ANMA Photo I.D. Membership Cards Business Considerations - Medically-Based Skin Care Clinics A Call For Validated Research Papers Quantum Repatterning Technique Seminar
To
advertise in the ANMA Monitor or ANMA MONITOR ONLINE
Please take the time to look over our sponsors!
The President's Corner 2006 Will Be A Busy Legislative Year By: Jane Carter for Dr. Curtis Greetings; It appears that 2006 will be a busy legislative year. A number of states
have plans for health care bills and it will be up to ANMA to determine
whether the legislation will be beneficial or detrimental for our
members, and whether ANMA should support or oppose these bills. The following states are considering legislation and need careful
observation: Colorado - HB1170 is a health freedom bill that ANMA remains a little skeptical
on. Many members in CO support this bill so ANMA will not actively
oppose it. Read this bill and let us know what you think. We will watch
and report the progress of this bill. Ohio - Has a health freedom act with over twenty co-sponsors. We will watch
and report the progress of this bill. Florida - Although a few are favoring legislation to license naturopathic
physicians, it is highly unlikely that FL will initiate a naturopathic
bill in view of their terrible past experiences. Texas - In early reports TX
has a health freedom bill. When ANMA is able to view the language we
will announce whether we support or oppose this bill. New York - Must be monitored very carefully. There have been bills under study in
the education committee for quite sometime. ANMA will oppose SB1617 as
written. As long as
naturopathy continues to be a natural non-invasive therapy, it is
possible legislators would be content to leave matters as they are. We
will watch and report the progress of this bill. Virginia - Is a state where ANMA will rely on other natural health care
organizations and schools for their preference. North Carolina
- Is not showing activity or generating much interest. ANMA will be
watchful and notify members if the need arises. Missouri - ANMA opposes SCR23 being considered in MO. We
will watch and report the progress of this bill.
HEADS
UP! The
Way You Are Sleeping May Be Killing You! By:
Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer,
Every one of us has a mysterious double life. For about two thirds of the time we are conscious beings, thinking about
the world within and without, and negotiating our ways through the
obstacles of life. For the other one third of the time we are nearly lifeless lumps of flesh,
unconscious to everything but our own fantasies, as we lie flat in bed
asleep. We all know that sleep is important for health. But for an activity that consumes about 8 hours of everyday
of life, surprisingly little is thought about the act of sleeping, or
the way our culture teaches us to sleep.
Sleep behavior, like all human activities, is defined by our
culture. Sometimes, the practices taught by our culture can impact on the way our
bodies function. As medical
anthropologists, we research ways our cultural practices may be
affecting our health. And
we have found that the way we have been trained to sleep may be one of
the most important causes of various diseases plaguing our society. Of course, when you consider the culture of sleeping, it includes such
isues as the length of time to sleep, and time of day for sleep.
Do you take frequent naps or do you sleep 8 hours straight?
Do you sleep at night or during the day?
Other issues concern sleepwear. Do
you sleep nude, or with pajamas or lingerie?
Do you sleep in your underwear?
Should the sheets be natural fabrics, such as cotton or silk, or
is polyester okay? What
about the detergent and fabric softeners used in the sheets, pillow
case, and pj’s? Should you eat before you sleep? What
is the impact of watching television before sleep?
Should you take sleeping pills to help you sleep? These are some of the culturally defined issues that help determine how we
sleep, all of which may have some potential impact on health.
However, there is one cultural issue that tops the list of
importance, and which may greatly determine your health status.
It has to do with your sleep position.
Are you sleeping on a firm, flat bed, face down, with your nose
and eye compressed against the bed and pillow?
Or are you on your back with your head slightly elevated, as is
the case for many native cultures that use hammocks or other non-flat
surfaces for sleep? The reason we ask this last question is because the circulation to the
head and brain is completely related to your body position when
sleeping. We all have had a time of experiencing dizziness or lightheadedness when
getting out of bed too quickly. This
effect is called orthostatic hypotension, and results from the fact that
blood pressure falls when you lie down, and sudden raising of the head
may temporarily deprive the brain of sufficient blood pressure,
resulting in the dizziness or lightheadedness.
The blood pressure soon rises, increasing the blood supply to the
brain, as you feel normal again. This phenomenon shows that the body’s position, relative to gravity,
influences head and brain circulation.
You can also demonstrate this by doing a head stand, which many
yoga practitioners do daily. Intracranial
pressure rises dramatically, as blood rushes to the head, which becomes
beet red, and the neck veins swell out, as blood pools in the venous
system. But apart from these examples, very little, if anything, is mentioned in
medical physiology textbooks about gravity and its impact on
circulation. Yet, you cannot fully understand brain circulation without
considering gravity. The effect of gravity on brain circulation is purely mechanical, and
relates to the position of the head relative to the pumping heart.
When we are standing up, the head is above the heart, so blood
must pump against the force of gravity -- from the heart to the brain --
lowering the effective pressure with which the arterial blood is
delivered to the brain. Meanwhile,
drainage of blood from the brain to the heart is facilitated by the pull
of gravity. In contrast, when we lie down and are horizontal, the heart and head are
now on the same plane. This
eliminates the effects of gravity on brain circulation.
Blood from the heart pumps powerfully into the head without
gravity’s resistance, increasing intracranial pressure.
And blood returning from the brain to the heart must do so
without gravity’s assistance, causing a back-up of blood in the brain.
Essentially, intracranial pressure increases, and overall brain
circulation diminishes, when you are lying flat compared to standing up.
Of course, the body is intelligent and has mechanisms for controlling
brain pressure under different gravity situations. When the brain gets pressurized from lying down, there are
various pressure receptors in the head and neck designed to lower blood
pressure, thereby preventing too much brain pressure and the possibility
of blowing a blood vessel or creating a cerebral aneurysm.
This is why blood pressure is lower when we are sleeping, and
horizontal. But these brain mechanisms for adjusting pressure have their limits.
As we go through the day in a vertical position, gravity
relentlessly pulls our body’s fluids downwards, which is why many
people have swollen feet and ankles by day’s end.
Once we lie down, the gravity effect is lost, as fluid leaves the
legs and returns to the head. So
despite our brains normal defense mechanisms, throughout the night
intracranial pressure increases and is highest in the morning, after
hours of lying flat, and lowest at the end of the day, after hours of
being vertical. What happens when intracranial pressure is high from long periods of lying
flat? The increased
arterial pressure causes extra cerebral spinal fluid to form in the
brain’s ventricles, increasing intracranial fluid pressure.
The ventricles swell and the cells of the brain become bathed in
excess fluid, essentially causing brain edema.
This edema would lower the available oxygen and sugar for brain
cells. The lack of gravity
assisted drainage from the brain would cause a back-up of blood in the
venous system and collecting sinuses in the brain.
The brain’s circulation would become relatively stagnant, as
the only force moving blood through would be the pushing force of the
arterial pressure (which is greatly reduced after going through the
cerebral circulation) and the sucking force of the heart’s right
atrium. And in
addition to the brain swelling under the pressure, the eyes, ears, face,
sinuses, gums -- the entire head -- will become pressurized and the
tissues congested with fluid! There is one field of medicine that avidly studies this effect of gravity
on physiology. That
sub-specialty is Space Medicine. Astronauts
in space are in a zero-gravity field, and it is known that this causes
blood to shift to the head and brain, causing increased brain pressure
and accompanying migraines, glaucoma, Meniere’s disease, and other
problems associated with a pressurized, congested brain.
To study the negative effects of zero-gravity here on Earth,
these space scientists have people lie down flat!
However, since medicine is so wide a field, with sub-specialists
learning more and more about less and less, there is little exchange of
ideas between space medicine and Earth-bound medicine.
Otherwise, someone would have realized that lying flat is what we
do when we sleep. If it
causes problems for astronauts, then couldn’t it cause problems for
everyone else? We found out about this Space research while we performed our own research
into sleep positions as a possible cause of migraines.
We hypothesized that sleeping
too flat for too long each night could lead to brain pressure and fluid
accumulation (edema) within the brain tissue, with associated hypoxia
and hypoglycemia. The brain cannot function well without proper amounts of
oxygen or sugar, and this condition would be at its worst in the
morning, which is when most migraines occur.
While migraines have been thought of as a pathological phenomenon, it is
also possible that the migraine is the brain’s defense mechanism to
receive new blood along with sugar and oxygen.
After all, the only way the brain can get what it needs is from
the bloodstream, and during a migraine arteries to the head open up and
send blood with force throughout the brain.
Perhaps, we reasoned, the migraine is a type of emergency
“brain flush”, replacing old blood with new.
If so, could we prevent migraines by having migraine sufferers
sleep with their heads slightly elevated? We tested our theory by having about 100 volunteer migraineurs sleep with
the heads of their beds elevated, from 10-30 degrees. Head elevation, we theorized, would improve the brain
circulation by providing some gravity assistance to drainage. Interestingly, we found that Space Medicine researchers
discovered that brain circulation (and heart pumping) is optimal at a
30-degree head of bed elevation.
To our amazement, we found that the majority of the migraineurs in our
study experienced relief by this simple sleep position change!
Many had no new migraines, after being migraine sufferers for 30
or more years! The results
were very fast, within a few days. And there were very interesting side effects, too.
Our volunteers woke up more alert.
Morning sinus congestion was significantly reduced for most
people. Some reported that
they no longer had certain allergies.
Could we have discovered the real purpose and cause of migraines? The implications of these findings were, frankly, astounding to us.
So many diseases are related to increased brain pressure of
“unknown” cause. Sleep
position was never studied as the cause of this increased pressure.
The implications go far
beyond the prevention and treatment of migraines.
Any condition that is related to brain pressure, and that is
usually worse in the morning after a night of horizontal time, can be
potentially related to this gravity and sleep position issue. Keep in mind that the brain is the central nervous system controlling and
modifying all bodily functions. If
certain centers of the brain are congested and pressurized daily by
sleeping too flat for long hours, those centers can malfunction.
Depending on the way a person sleeps, the idiosyncrasies of their brain
circulation, and other variables, different people might experience this
brain pressure differently. For
some, the respiratory centers of the hypothalamus might be particularly
congested, resulting in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (which has been
associated with head and body position while sleeping), sleep apnea, or
even asthma. Sleep apnea
has been shown to be treatable with changes in sleep position. Strokes are clearly associated with brain pressure, and usually occur at
night or in the early morning, while sleeping.
This is when brain pressure is highest. Glaucoma is clearly caused by this mechanism. It is already known that eye pressure increases when the head
is down, and decreases when the head is up.
It is essential to note the head position when taking eye
pressure readings because of this sensitive relationship between
intraocular pressure and head position.
Eye pressure is also highest in the early morning. Elevating
the head while sleeping should be routine for glaucoma treatment and
prevention. Baggy eyes and sinus congestion seem to be related to head pressure.
Just as the brain gets extra pressure when lying down, the head
and face are pressurized, too. People with these problems usually find immediate relief by
sleeping elevated 10-30 degrees. Alzheimer’s disease, we believe, might be the end disease caused by
chronic brain congestion and pressure from flat sleeping.
The cerebral ventricles of the Alzheimer’s brain are expanded,
suggesting a history of ventricular pressure, and generalized lesions
along the ventricles may indicate areas of brain tissue that have
deteriorated from this chronic pressure. Other research has already shown Alzheimer’s is associated
with increased brain pressure, but the cause has been considered
unknown, as is the case with almost all brain pressure problems.
It should be noted that the blood-brain barrier cannot function
properly when pressurized. Excessive
intracranial pressure can cause leaks in this barrier by expanding the
basement membrane, allowing
heavy metals, e.g., aluminum and mercury, as well as viruses and
bacteria, to enter the brain that would have otherwise been excluded.
This may be why heavy metals have been associated with certain
brain problems, such as Alzheimer’s. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is also known to be associated
with congestion of the “impulse center” within the brain that helps
control behavior. We found
several children with ADHD experience profound improvement of self
control by elevating their heads while sleeping. In addition to head position relative to gravity, we also have found side
or belly sleeping can create problems.
For example, we found several cases of carpel tunnel syndrome
related to sleeping on the hands or wrists, and shoulder pain from
sleeping on the side. And
keep in mind that head pressure increases, and drainage diminishes, when
the head is rotated to the side. Sleeping
on the back avoids compression of limbs and internal organs. It is also interesting to note that patients with asymmetrical problems
will typically be worse on the side they sleep on. For example, eye pathology will be worse in the eye on the
side of the face that is slept on most.
Ear infections will be worse on the “down” ear.
You can also tell the side a person sleeps on by observing the
shape of the nose. Apart
from injuries, the nose should be symmetrical, but becomes curved away
from the pillow because of sleeping on the side of the face and pressing
on the nose for hours each night. The
nose will point away from the side that is most slept on.
Men should be told that side sleeping may result in testicular compression
and possible dysfunction. And
women who sleep on their sides or stomachs subject their breasts to
compression and impaired circulation.
Side sleepers may have more breast trouble on the side they sleep
on. We should forewarn the
practitioner, however, that, while the effect of elevating the
head while sleeping will be dramatic and transformative for many
patients and should be considered essential to disease prevention
strategies, the fact is that many people resist changing their sleep
behaviors. They have been
conditioned to sleep a certain way since birth.
And even when they want to change their sleep position, it’s
difficult to ensure compliance when the subject is unconscious!
It takes tremendous will power to alter sleep behavior.
But it is well worth the trouble, as people usually see within a
week of sleeping elevated. We found the best methods for head elevation include using more pillows,
using a foam wedge, placing blocks under the legs of the bed frame at
the head of the bed, or using an adjustable bed.
While the ideal position is with the head from 10-30 degrees
elevated, 10 degrees elevation is fine to start with.
The legs should be slightly elevated, too, and the person should try to stay on his or her back as much
as possible. The ideal
position is one you would be in if leaning back in a recliner
chair. (Recliners would be
fine to use, too, but they usually give poor lower back support.)
Also, be aware that some people will find one degree of elevation
more comfortable than another. People
with low blood pressure may need their heads lower than those with
higher blood pressure. Others
may have some neck and shoulder discomfort from the new position.
However, by experimenting with pillows under the arms, underneath
the buttocks (which prevents sliding down the bed), and under the feet
and legs, the patient should find a comfortable solution. Also, when taking in to effect patient history, realize that neck injuries
and tight neck muscles can impair venous drainage of the brain by
compression of the jugular veins by the tight muscles.
Neck massage and spinal adjustments may help improve overall
brain circulation. We have
had a few case histories where there was little or no improvement from
head elevation, but the subjects had a history of neck injuries.
Of course, there will be times when people feel lightheaded and need to
lie down to get more blood to the head.
It might also be better for people to sleep less at night and to
make up for lost sleep with a nap, or a siesta,
during the day. That
would avoid extremes of high and low brain pressure.
But our culture makes it necessary for most people to do all
their sleeping at once. Sleeping,
after all, is a cultural issue. The
point is to be aware of how you feel, and realize that your body
position relative to gravity may be a key factor affecting health and
disease. We are continuing to research this effect of gravity and sleep position on
health, and encourage practitioners to communicate their patients’
experiences with us. We
also highly encourage you to read our book, Get It Up!
Revealing the Simple Surprising Lifestyle that Causes Migraines,
Alzheimer’s, Stroke, Glaucoma, Sleep Apnea, Impotence, and More! (ISCD
Press, 2001), where we discuss the profound implications of this theory,
including a lengthy list of references about brain pressure and various
diseases and the effect of gravity on brain circulation.
After you see the evidence, you will probably be as amazed as we
are that sleep research has been ignoring this critical aspect of sleep.
Finally, for a brief outline and instructions for head elevation,
you may also want to visit our website, www.SelfStudyCenter.org.
Or contact our Institute at (808) 935-5563. Sleeping too flat each day may be the greatest lifestyle mistake people
are making in our culture. Some
of the worst diseases of our time may be all in our bed!
ANMA Embroidered Polo Shirts, As you may already know, ANMA offers a wide assortment of stylish accessories. Many of you have at least one or even two ANMA embroidered polo shirts. In the past ANMA has offered the polo shirts in a variety of colors, white, black, and navy blue. Now, ANMA is introducing two new colors, BURGUNDY & FOREST GREEN. The polo shirts are of excellent quality (heavy 100% cotton with metal buttons) and look absolutely beautiful. In addition, ANMA has black tote bags with our logo embroidered on the side and lapel pins with optional tie chain. The tote bags and lapel pins cost $15.00 and shipping is provided free of charge (tote bags & lapel pins only). Every order will be processed and mailed as quickly as possible. All orders will be shipped Priority Mail to ensure speedy delivery. ANMA offers its polo shirts for only $28.00 plus shipping. The sizes we have range from small to triple extra large. If you would like a 2xl or 3xl, please add $1.00 and $2.00 respectively. If you have any questions or want to place an order, e-mail me at: webmaster@anma.com or call Julie Morgan at (702) 897-7053 or mail to ANMA, P.O. Box 96273, Las Vegas, NV 89193. NOTE: BE SURE TO ORDER NOW BEFORE THE CONVENTION TO GET THE SIZE AND QUANTITY YOU WANT. THE BURGUNDY AND FOREST GREEN POLOS WILL DEFINITELY BE VERY LIMITED OR EVEN SOLD OUT AFTER THE CONVENTION.
ANMA Photo I.D. Membership Cards
ANMA for the first time, offers a remarkably new Photo I.D. Membership Card. The fresh new card will be in full color (including picture) and double sided. The front side will have the ANMA insignia, photograph, membership type, member I.D. number, and date joined. The back side of the card is bestowed with ANMA’s Code of Ethics. In addition, the Photo I.D. card is laminated for long lasting durability. The new Photo I.D. Membership Card cost is $35.00 and shipping is free of charge. For more information or to place an order, please call 702-897-7053 or e-mail us at webmaster@anma.com.
Business
Considerations Medically-Based Skin Care Clinics
By: Dr. Michelle Palmer, PhD, CTN, CMES Today there are
increased numbers of medically-based skin care clinics across the country
which seems to have taken many people by surprise, not the least of which
are some of the physicians themselves. The dramatic increase of cosmetic
surgery has provided a new source of income for many surgeons but also
increased the complexity of patient care. A dizzying array of media reports
has bombarded the public with information on new technology and techniques
in the cosmetic field. No longer is a
working knowledge about methods to surgically correct sagging jowls, baggy
eyelids and a weak chin adequate. Today’s savvy and results-oriented
patients have questions regarding which moisturizers, vitamin supplements
and sunscreens to use. They want to know about the various non-surgical ways
of maintaining a youthful looking skin and even eliminating fine lines and
wrinkles. More and more women- and many men- are opting for superficial
exfoliation treatments. According to many physicians, today’s cosmetic
surgery offices understand these issues, in addition to providing those
services. From a physician’s perspective, there is no better way to meet
patient expectations, provide the results they are looking for and increase
potential office profits, than by including an esthetic specialist into the
professional office team. For some, this
melding of esthetic with the medical has been seen on the horizon for years
and was together from the start. In fact, many estheticians will admit to
aspiring to work in a physician’s office- especially a cosmetic
surgeon’s office- for numerous reasons. The prestige of working with a
well –educated physician is often foremost on the list, as might be any
benefits that may accrue to staff members, such as reduced costs for
cosmetic surgery or office procedures. An Esthetic
professional is an excellent addition to any cosmetic medical practice:
However, remember esthetic training is not regulated or standardized
nationally, for many physicians the hiring of an esthetic professional may
well be an overwhelming challenge. The physician in charge must look at the
level of advanced training the potential staff member has acquired, in
addition to any prior on-the-job experience they will bring to the table.
The Medical Esthetic Specialist is most desired to advance training and
certification. This ensures less risk for the physician and medical
practice. People frequently
spend more time buying their automobiles than in hiring employees- you
don’t want to waste time and money hiring the wrong person. Yes, the more
training and experience an esthetic professional has accumulated will cost
in additional salary, but it will save the physician in the long run,
avoiding possible liability issues, lost patients and aggravation. The gain
is the complete and successful practice where most patients are repeats and
referrals, and here trust is the basis of this dynamic union. Finding the
right team player, who shares the same focus with the doctor, and who will
work on his or her behalf will take time, but the rewards are great. In finding a good
fit, personalities are important to pair properly. For instance, the more
analytical, research-oriented Medical Esthetic Specialist may find
dermatologists or Plastic Reconstructive Surgeons some of the best matches.
A trendier, fashionable esthetic professional may prefer a cosmetic or
plastic surgeon. In the end, our backgrounds and personalities are the key
to the right fit. The interview is the time to also see if the goals of the
esthetic professional and the physician are well matched. Just as a dental
hygienist is to a dentist and Tonto was to the Lone Ranger, the trained
Medical Esthetic Specialist completes and enhances the Medical practice.
Providing clinical esthetic services in a medical office ensures satisfied
and returning patients. Before embarking on this new venture, the doctors
must ask themselves: “What is the bottom line? What is my goal? Am I
willing to take the time to implement these new procedures into my
practice?” They must be very honest with themselves, asking also “What
is my reason for wanting an esthetic professional in my office?” If the
physician wants simply to increase patient flow, seek an esthetic
professional with good marketing skills. On the other hand, if the physician
has sufficient patients, but needs to provide pre- and post-operative care,
i.e., camouflage concerns for dealing with post-surgical discoloration and
trauma, then they will want to look for a trained Medical Esthetic
Specialist who is experienced with medical procedures and can assist his or
her patients with camouflage techniques. Obviously, finding a nurse who has
esthetic training would be a benefit, as they may be able to relieve some of
the burden of post-treatment care for the physician, such as cleaning
post-laser wounds and removal of stitches. One of the
perceptions that consumers have stated is that because a skin care clinic is
located within a physician’s office, the quality of the treatments and
service is believed to be better. To ensure that this perception becomes
reality, it is important to have the physician involved in the employment or
interview process. This will be the person upon whom the physician is
depending for pre-surgical skin preparation of his or her patients, along
with post-surgical lymphatic drainage, camouflage makeup, patient
handholding and support. Pre-operative laser resurfacing protocols with
microdermabrasion or AHAs can be established and then administered by an
esthetic professional. Post-operative camouflage and acne control can also
be accomplished by the esthetic professional. These services not only free
the physician and staff for other duties, but it provides the patient with
the intangible feeling that the practice cares. The commitment level of the
esthetic professional will be obvious to the patients and can be a great
encouragement, resulting in continued skin care visits, and future cosmetic
surgery procedures for the physician. Additionally, the
physician must be committed to the continuing education of his or her entire
staff. Not only is it imperative to today’s consumers to have their
esthetic clinic provide the “latest and greatest” in technology, but
advanced education is frequently a morale booster, giving a well-timed
“kick” to increase staff referrals and possibly retail sales. The trained medical
esthetic professional is frequently very adept at relating to patients, and
one of the additional benefits to the physician would be in providing
information about the patient to the doctor that he may not have had the
time to be able to coax out of the patient. This personal time with the
patient allows them to possibly open up to the professional, expressing
their concerns that the professional can and should relay back to the
physician, preventing patient conflicts and lost revenue. People will see their
clinical esthetician for products and treatments targeting age management,
and cosmetic surgery support. They will also shop the Internet for price
breaks on products, and information. For this reason, it is important to
maintain a high level of professionalism with any products retailed within
the cosmetic surgery practice. They should be of high quality and
result-oriented, technologically, as well as reasonable in price. Retaining
this retail market is essential for your business growth. Dr. Michelle Palmer,
Board Certified Naturopath holds over twenty-two years experience in Medical
Esthetics and has published over sixty-four articles and been a key-note
speaker at numerous Complimentary Medical Conferences and Meetings
Internationally. For more information in Medicine
Goes Esthetic™ home study manual See book order page on www.Medical-Esthetics.com E-mail: Info@medical-esthetics.com Private office training available or group classes call 561-208-8566
Enzymes vs. The Purple Pill
By: Enzymes, Inc. Technical Services Department While patients may
not visit their ND with a primary complaint of indigestion, have you
questioned patients about the frequency with which they take OTC antacids or
similar prescription drugs? The answer may surprise you. Some sources indicate
that more than 70 million Americans suffer from digestive disorders, with
more than $42 billion spent on products to relieve indigestion. In addition,
almost 50 percent of Americans have heartburn once a month, while 7 percent
have it daily. Gastrointestinal
remedies are abundant, but many simply mask the symptoms rather than attack
the problem. Antacids suppress the body’s acid-producing capabilities,
causing problems with protein digestion and absorption of vitamin B12. In
addition, long-term medication use can not only change GI function, but also
interfere with absorption of many nutrients. For example, some antacids
reduce iron absorption, which ultimately affects the capacity to make red
blood cells. Prolonged antacid use affects calcium stores, leading to
musculoskeletal problems. Plus, many people assume that calcium-containing
antacids supply them with the required calcium, when, in fact, the body
cannot readily use the calcium in most antacids. One major problem
with our modern diet is its lack of enzymes. Cooked or processed foods lose
their natural enzymes that help us digest the food. Digestive enzyme
supplements can help the body effectively digest food. Plant-based enzymes
provide the most benefit because they work earlier in the digestive process,
beginning digestion in the stomach’s more acidic environment. Animal-based
enzymes (like pancreatin), however, start working in the small intestine,
but don’t promote digestion in the stomach, where indigestion originates. Those with simple
occasional heartburn who use over-the-counter medications are ideal
candidates for enzyme therapy. Their symptoms usually
result from food intolerances, occasional overeating, or transient
stress and have no underlying pathology. Patients with chronic problems,
however, require more sophisticated diagnostic measures. A careful, thorough
history and exam can often determine which category your patient falls into.
Ask your patient about symptom severity and duration to help you get a
clearer picture of whether it’s an acute problem or a long-standing
chronic condition (see sidebar.) Those with gastric or
peptic ulcers should avoid products containing protease, which can irritate
open wounds, causing further discomfort. For these patients, specially
formulated products that substitute peptidase or papain for protease may be
a better choice. Some herbal extracts
also aid digestion and, in some cases, promote healing of gastrointestinal
mucosa. Marshmallow extract, for example, contains mucilage polysaccharides,
which help protect the mucosa and have been shown to improve healing of
damaged tissue. Licorice can block prostaglandins—compounds involved in
inflammation—and can help relieve pain and discomfort common with
indigestion. Just like
medications, however, herbs also have contraindications. Pregnant and
lactating women should always consult their healthcare providers before
using herbs. Patients with cardiovascular conditions or on anti-hypertensives
should not use licorice, because its glycyrrhizin component may contribute
to hypertension. Many products used for gastric distress, however, include
deglycyrrhizinized licorice, without the glycyrrhizin component. Licorice may also
reduce potassium levels, so it’s contraindicated to those on diuretics or
stimulant laxatives. Since licorice also exhibits estrogenic activity, women
on hormone therapy and with estrogen-dependent cancers (i.e., breast,
uterine, ovarian) or other conditions affecting the reproductive
organs—like endometriosis or fibroid tumors—should avoid licorice as
well. Because of its
ability to protectively coat the GI tract, marshmallow may interfere with
the absorption of drugs taken orally. Its hypoglycemic properties may also
interfere with diabetic medications or other means of blood sugar control or
alter the results of blood sugar tests. The next time your
patients mention indigestion or their newest prescription for reflux, talk
to them about the natural benefits of digestive enzyme supplements and
herbal extracts. Instead of antacids, they can take enzymes and herbal
products between meals to provide relief, enhance digestion and promote
healing, improving their symptoms and overall health. Enzymes, Inc. has been formulating, marketing, and distributing broad-spectrum, high-potency, enzyme-based nutritional supplements for health care professionals for over two decades. For more information, visit www.enzymesinc.com and call 800.637.7893 Sidebar Diagnosing
Gastrointestinal Problems Before recommending
enzymes or herbal products for your patients problems, rule out the
possibility of serious chronic conditions, such as Crohn’s disease and
ulcerative colitis. These require a complex diagnostic and treatment
approach. The symptoms of most common GI conditions are as follows: Pain on an empty
stomach, usually 2 to 3 hours after eating often indicates ulcers. Pain can
appear in the middle of the night, awakening the patient, but is usually
relieved by eating. Appearance of blood in vomit or the stool usually indicates gastrointestinal bleeding due to ulceration. Coughing or vomiting blood results from bleeding in the upper GI tract. Digested blood—usually from the upper GI tract—appears black or tarry, while bright red blood in the stool indicates bleeding at a more distal location closer to the rectum. Changes in blood pressure or heart rate manifest severe blood loss. Clay-colored or fatty stools can indicate a gallbladder problem. GERD is characterized
clinically by chronic heartburn and upper abdominal pain within an hour
after eating. It is often accompanied by a chronic cough or asthma. Lying
down worsens the pain. The symptoms of
irritable bowel disease vary in severity and extent, but frequent or chronic
diarrhea is the most common symptom. In severe cases, dehydration, weight
loss and anemia can be present as well. A definitive diagnosis of most gastrointestinal conditions is made using endoscopy. Ambulatory pH monitoring is often performed as well with GERD. A barium swallow or enema, followed by a diagnostic x-ray, can determine the presence of ulcerations or lesion in the GI tract, or hiatal hernia, where the upper part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm into the thoracic cavity.
ANMA
25th Annual Convention Reasons To Attend The Naturopathic Convention of The Year!
When you consider your future plans for adding
equipment and skills to improve your business you should plan on attending
the 25th Annual ANMA Convention and Educational Seminar. ANMA’s 24th Annual Convention was a huge success
and will continue to grow. This
year ANMA will have over 100 exhibitors representing every possible natural
modality and the latest innovations in therapies and products to improve
your practice. Last year exhibitors hosted a raffle and provided 100’s of
free gifts for convention attendees. Many
merchants also offered convention discounts on orders placed at the
convention. ANMA never charges extra for educational seminars like: • Low Level Lasers For Naturopathic Doctors • The Role of Modified Citrus Pectin In The Treatment of Cancer • The Sequence of Breast Disease Using Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging • Anti Aging, Anti Alzheimers and many other interesting subjects. The ANMA convention is always well attended and a great place to network with colleagues. Dr. Curtis (president of ANMA) said he loves meeting the members, "it just makes you feel good to be part of the natural healthcare community with so many people who dedicate their life long careers to helping people." If you choose carefully, quality conferences can be some of the most cost-effective learning resources and the ANMA conference is the largest naturopathic convention in the United States with a wealth of information available. Make the right choice and we’ll be looking forward to seeing you next year for an even bigger and better convention.
A Call For Validated Research
Papers ? Are you a Natural Health Care Professional with a Research paper or Article that you would like to publish? ? Are you a Naturopathic or Natural Health Care student with an excellent class project / or thesis? ? Are you an instructor teaching the most current natural healthcare skills? GET ON TARGET FOR 2006 The ANMA Monitor is a widely distributed newsletter to healthcare professionals and naturopathic students. If you would like to submit an article, or know of someone that would be interested, now is the time to do so! You are invited to submit an article or case study to be featured in the ANMA Monitor. Submit your article according to the following standards: The ANMA Monitor is published quarterly by ANMA, P.O. Box 96273, Las Vegas, Nevada 89193 (702) 897-7053. Deadlines for articles and advertisements are November 20, March 20, June 20, and September 20 . Please submit articles on a IBM compatible 3.5" disk or by e-mail to webmaster@anma.com, clearly identified as an article for the ANMA Monitor. The editor reserves the right to edit any portion of an article before publishing. The editor also reserves the right to refuse articles which he deems inappropriate for this publication. We appreciate those who have already sent in articles. Take advantage of this opportunity to be in print!
Made Available to ANMA Members by the ANMA Quantum Repatterning Technique™ Seminar
Presented by Dr. Paul Yanick, Jr. In just a few hours, you’ll be ready to apply breakthrough QRT
techniques in your toughest cases. Learn
why many patients don’t respond to your best treatment efforts.
Discover the key that unlocks the door to the awesome power of innate
healing. Don’t delay! Nutritional
deficiencies, stored toxins and uncompensated stress represent the greatest
challenges to our health. Guarantee your self a seat and learn how to: • Conquer the negative effects of stress with pre- and synbiotic
nutrients that bypass the stress-damaged gut.
Forget digestive enzymes and HCL which only make the digestive system
weaker! • Boost fibroblast (stem cell-like) activity in the connective tissue
and HGH to heal and align the body by strengthening the fascia, muscles,
tendons and visceral tensions • Stop opportunistic infections with pre- and synbiotics to create
super strains of gut microflora that strengthen the immune system (70
percent of immune response) for the ultimate anti-aging effects. • Use healing tools that harness the power of nature.
PLUS learn about “instant cell utilization” nutrients to correct
long-standing nutritional deficiencies in short time and detoxify without
crisis reactions.
The views and opinions expressed in this online newsletter are not necessarily those of the American Naturopathic Medical Association, its officers or its members, nor are they necessarily in accordance or agreement with its policies. ANMA
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