Pacific Health Update

Health Minute: Low Carbohydrate Diet

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 23:21:37 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

Obesity is one our most common and most frustrating health problems . . . and it’s a problem that is getting worse all the time. Probably 40 million Americans fit the medical definition of obesity — being 20% over your recommended weight.

The problem is spiraling out of control. Just in the last 10 years, one authority estimates that an additional 20 million Americans have become obese with an average weight gain of 10 pounds for man and woman. For children it’s even worse with obesity being virtually epidemic.

FAILED DIETS

America has been on a diet for 50 years and has gained 15 pounds! —Author unknown

Amidst this tremendous increase in obesity, Americans have been surrounded for decades by weight loss diets. Most overweight people have been on many, many diets — diets that either didn’t work at all, or diets that in time failed. There’s something wrong with this picture. To declare the obvious: Diets generally don’t work. Studies have shown that of people who lose weight on a diet, 98% gain back the weight within three years.

Ultimately the reason diets fail is that they don’t resolve the root causes of obesity. Let me make one point perfectly clear: Different people have different causes for their obesity. The key is to find out the root causes of your overweight and deal with them accordingly. Possible root causes may include:

Nutrient deficiencies Food Sensitivities

Glandular imbalance Lack of exercise

Overeating Emotional stress . . . and . . .

Carbohydrate Addiction

This article is concerned with that last cause, Carbohydrate Addiction. I would estimate that 60% or more of the obese clients in my practice are indeed carbohydrate addicted, yet hardly any of them have approached weight loss from this perspective. If you are a “carbohydrate addict,” a low carbohydrate diet is a great idea. But if that isn’t particularly your problem, another weight loss approach will make more sense. The following questionnaire, taken from The Carbohydrate Addicts’s Diet by Dr. Rachel F. Heller and Dr. Richard F. Heller, will reveal if you suffer from carbohydrate addiction.

CARBOHYDRATE ADDICT QUESTIONNAIRE

____ I get tired and/or hungry in the midafternoon. (4 pts.)
____ An hour or two after eating a full meal that includes dessert, I want more dessert. (5 pts.)

____ It’s harder for me to control my eating for the rest of the day if I have a carbohydrate breakfast, than if I had only coffee or nothing at all. (3 pts.)
____ Not eating for most of the day makes for easier weight loss than eating several small diet meals. (4 pts.)
____ Once I start eating sweets, starches, or snack foods, I often have a difficult time stopping. (3 pts.)
____ I would rather have an ordinary meal that included dessert than a gourmet meal that did not include dessert. (3 pts.)
____ After finishing a full meal, I sometimes feel as if I could go back and eat the whole meal again. (5 pts.)
____ A meal of only meat and vegetables leaves me feeling unsatisfied. (3 pts.)
____ If I’m feeling down, a snack of cake or cookies makes me feel better. (3 pts.)
____ If potatoes, bread, pasta, or dessert are on the table, I will often skip eating vegetables or salad. (3 pts.)
____ I get a sleepy, almost “drugged” feeling after eating a large meal containing bread or pasta or potatoes and dessert, whereas I feel more energetic after a meal of only meat and salad. (4 pts.)

____ When I am not eating, the sight of other people eating is sometimes irritating to me. (4 pts.)
____ I sometimes have a hard time going to sleep without a bedtime snack. (3 pts.)
____ At times I wake in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep unless I eat something. (3 pts.)
____ Before going to dinner at a friend’s house, I will sometimes eat something in case dinner is delayed. (5 pts.)
____ Now and then I think I am a secret eater. (3 pts.)
____ At a restaurant, I almost always eat too much bread, even before the meal is served. (2 pts.)

Interpretation (total of questions’ point value):

21 or less Doubtful Carbohydrate Addiction

22 – 30 Mild Carbohydrate Addiction

31 – 40 Moderate Carbohydrate Addiction

45 – 60 Severe Carbohydrate Addiction

CARBOHYDRATES, INSULIN & FAT

Understanding insulin explains carbohydrate addiction. In the normal person after the consumption of carbohydrates, an appropriate amount of insulin is secreted to control blood sugar. Serotonin levels rise changing the brain chemistry and producing a feeling of satisfaction. Eventually the blood sugar drops, changing the brain chemistry, reducing the feeling of satisfaction, and therefore again producing hunger.

This process is all messed up in the carbohydrate addict, following this progression:

Too much insulin is produced for the amount of carbohydrate consumed.
The excess insulin decreases the number of insulin receptors, decreasing the removal of insulin and sugar from the blood.

Serotonin levels in the brain do not rise enough to produce a feeling of satisfaction. You continue eating carbohydrates.
More insulin is secreted with each carbohydrate intake.
More and more carbohydrates are consumed without any feeling of satisfaction being produced.

Glucose, with the aid of insulin, is converted to glycogen and triglycerides via the liver. Insulin stimulates fat synthesis. Studies have shown that overweight people have higher insulin levels in the blood than normal individuals. Other studies have found that animals given insulin injections become obese. Thus the key to solving the weight problem of the carbohydrate addict, is reducing carbohydrate intake and the subsequent secretion of insulin. When you reduce insulin, your body burns stored fat.

DIET GUIDELINES

There are two possible approaches for implementing a low carbohydrate diet. One approach, advocated by Dr. Robert Atkins, M.D. in Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, uses the diet for all three meals. The amount of allowable carbohydrates are increased as one moves into maintenance. The other, as advocated by Dr. and Dr. Heller in The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet, allows one “reward meal” per day during which carbohydrates may be eaten.

While either approach can work, I lean more toward the complete avoidance of carbohydrates, at least initially. Both of these low carbohydrate books have some problems from an overall health point-of-view, particularly the Atkins’ Diet, which sees no problem with bacon, other fried foods, shellfish — foods that just can’t be considered healthy. Superimposing good natural food eating guidelines over these low carbohydrate diets makes a lot more sense.

In my view these diet books tend to be complicated and confusing. Let me try to make it really simple with what’s okay, what isn’t, and meal examples:

FOODS TO EAT (Low Carbohydrate)

Chicken

Turkey

Beef

Lamb

Fish

Cheese

Yogurt

Eggs

Tofu

Non-Starchy Vegetables

FOODS TO AVOID (High Carbohydrate)

Breads

Cereals

Pastas

Potatoes

Carrots

Beets

Avocados

Artichokes

Parsnip

Winter Squash

Garbanzo beans

Corn

Peas

Kidney beans

Lima beans

Sugar

Fruits

Fruit juices

Alcohol

Maltodextrin

Dextrose

Fructose

Corn syrup

Dried fruit

GENERAL RULES

Do not eat anything in between meals.
Drink plenty of distilled water daily (body weight in pounds divided by two equals number of ounces of water to consume daily)
If using the “Reward Meal” concept, maximum time limit for this meal is 60 minutes.
You may wish to use a Protein Supplement (in water preferably) as a breakfast substitute.
You may also want to use a psyllium husk fiber supplement to maintain good bowel regularity.

SAMPLE MEALS

Possible Breakfasts

Protein Drink (in water or diluted fruit juice)

Omelets

Scrambled Eggs

Yogurt (plain, perhaps with some frozen berries)

Cottage Cheese

Soy sausage

Possible Lunches

Green Salad with cubes of cheese

Baked or broiled fish

Tuna salad

Chicken salad

Sliced turkey

Beef dishes

Steamed vegetables

Possible Dinners

(1) Same possibilities as lunch if following diet for all three meals.

(2) If using dinner as the “Reward Meal” any foods, including high carbohyrate foods, on our general Suggested Diet may be used. However, all foods must be consumed within 60 minutes.

EXPECTATIONS & COMMITMENT

This, or any other healthy weight loss program requires patience. One to two pounds per week is a good weight loss. Temporary plateaus are common and normal. If you are a carbohydrate addict and you keep the carbohydrates low, it should be relatively easy to keep the weight off.

Now my most important admonition: If you are not absolutely committed to doing this, don’t bother! Most people who are overweight are not really committed to losing it — they have preferences but not convictions. But if you’ve had enough and you commit yourself to this and just do it, I’ll be amazed if it doesn’t work for you. Health change requires lifestyle change.

Better Health Update is published by Pacific Health Center, PO Box 1126, Pinedale, Arizona 85934-1126, Phone (800) 255–4246 providing remote “virtual health screening” appointments anywhere in the world. E-Mail: drkline@pacifichealthcenter.com. Monte Kline, Clinical Nutritionist, Author. Reproduction Prohibited.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this publication is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose illness nor prescribe treatment. Rather, this material is designed to be used in cooperation with your nutritionally-oriented health professional to deal with your personal health problems. Should you use this information on your own, you are prescribing for yourself, which is your constitutional right, but neither the author nor publisher assume responsibility.

Photo by Krista Stucchio on Unsplash

Health Minute: Stress and Health

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 23:12:49 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

It can be argued that the most powerful ingredient for optimum health is the absence of emotional stress. Solomon said in Proverbs 17:22:

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

It is not uncommon to find people who are eating a nutritious diet, taking good nutritional supplements, exercising . . . and yet who are experiencing poor health. Unresolved emotional stress is often the “missing ingredient.”

STRESS STUDIES

The statistics on emotional stress and health are pretty incredible. The Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans found that in 500 consecutive cases of gastro-intestinal illness, 74% were caused by emotional stress. The Yale University Out Patient Medical Dept. found 76% of its cases were related to emotionally induced illness. In his best-selling book, How to Live 365 Days a Year, John Schindler, M.D. said that, “Three out of every four hospital beds are occupied by people with emotionally induced illness,” leading him to conclude that, “Emotional stress is today our Number One cause of ill-health.”

Let me hasten to add that when I talk about an illness being “emotionally induced,” I’m not saying the symptoms are imaginary. The symptoms are very real and very physical. What we’re talking about is the way emotional stress affects the physical body to produce those physical symptoms.

EMOTIONAL STRESS DEPOSITION

So, how does emotional stress get “deposited” in our bodies? To understand this, let’s go back to the Creation. God created us to handle physical stresses. For example, if you eat some tainted food, you will either vomit it out one end or send it out the other end via diarrhea. We have physical exhaust pipes.

But emotional stress is a different matter because our bodies were not created to handle that — we have no emotional exhaust pipes. That’s because there was no emotional stress in the original creation . . . the negative emotions of anger, guilt, fear, anxiety and the like were the result of man’s Fall into sin, which came later. In the Garden there was no need for emotional exhaust pipes.

So what happens if your body doesn’t have a mechanism for getting rid of emotional stress? It gets deposited instead — in some organ, gland, or muscle. Of all the areas in the body, it is the colon, the large intestine, that seems to be the favorite dumping ground. Dr. Schindler said:

The colon, more than any other organ, is a manifestor of the emotions. So much so that a wise doctor in Philadelphia remarked some years ago that “the colon is the mirror of the mind, and when the mind gets tight, the colon gets tight.”

Unfortunately the same part of your body will tend to be affected by the same stress, time and again. Dr. C. S. Lovett, in his book, Jesus Wants You Well, wrote:

Once the brain (unconscious portion) selects an organ of the body as the whipping boy for a particular emotional problem, the choice is entered into the body’s computer system . . . After that, every time those same feelings occur and have to be disposed of, the stress will be directed against the SAME ORGAN . . . Consequently every organ, muscle and gland in the body could end up as a punching bag for a specific emotional problem.

PITUITARY AND ADRENAL HORMONES

Two pituitary hormones get involved in this process — STH (somatotrophic hormone) and ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone). STH mobilizes the body’s defenses against infection, but in the process also produces the symptoms of what we call “sickness” — headache, fever, tiredness, gastro-intestinal upset, etc. Stress research pioneer, Dr. Hans Selye, noted that certain negative emotions also produced the STH hormone . . . particularly emotions like defeat, futility and discouragement. Here’s the point: Emotional stress can make you “feel” the same way as infectious illness because the same pituitary hormone is involved. A small increase in STH over a long period of time may result in diseases such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, lupus and cancer.

Let’s talk about the other pituitary hormone ACTH. ACTH acts on the adrenal glands causing them to produce cortisone. Again this happens in response to physical stresses like injuries and infections. But ACTH is also produced by aggressive , unpleasant emotions. This is where the familiar “fight or flight” response comes in. When you’ve got a bear chasing you out in the woods, your pituitary sends ACTH to the adrenals to get them to pump out the hormones necessary for you to run . . . or, if you decide not to run, to stand and fight. That’s the “fight or flight” response.

The trouble is a lot of people constantly experience the “fight or flight” response due to ongoing low levels of aggressive, unpleasant emotions. When you’re running from that wild animal or stand and fight it, your adrenal hormones do their thing for a few minutes and then it’s over. The exercise and increased circulation dissipate the hormones so they don’t damage you. But when you work in a job or other situation where the stress is ongoing, where you don’t get to run away or physically fight, the ACTH activity on the adrenals does major damage. Common diseases produced by the ACTH hormone activity include peptic ulcers, some diabetes, and heart disease.

ACTH and STH hormones work in opposition to each other. When ACTH production goes up in response to a “fight or flight” situation, or emotional stress, the effects of the STH hormone are shut down, including the defense against infection. Sickness is more likely since the emotional stress is altering your usual immune system response.

“SAD” AND “MAD” DISEASES

We tend to end up with two categories of emotionally induced illness — “sad” diseases and “mad” diseases. The “sad” emotions produce the STH hormone and may result in diseases like arthritis, lupus and cancer. The “mad” diseases produce the ACTH hormone and may result in diseases like ulcers, diabetes, and heart disease. The “sad” diseases eat away on the inside, while the “mad” diseases typically manifest by blowing up on the outside.

Most people can be classified as either predominantly a “sad” personality type or a “mad” personality type. The “sad” type is more introverted, likes solitude, is drained by being around a lot of people, is moody, tends to hold feelings in, can be extremely creative musically or artistically, and outwardly doesn’t show much difference emotionally from one time to another. The “mad” personality type is generally extroverted, likes being around other people, is a social success, comes across as being positive and energetic, and is very outward in expressing their feelings and opinions. Cancer is perhaps the classic “sad” disease and heart disease is the classic “mad” disease.

STRESS CATEGORIES

I want to look at seven common categories of emotional stress, seven of the most common emotional stresses we all experience . . . which in turn may lead to health problems:

Judgment and Guilt — Judgment is basically making negative evaluations of others (or of yourself). It’s an “I’m right, you’re wrong” type of emotion. Judgment results in, or is often associated with, guilt — an emotion of self-condemnation, what has been called the cancer of the conscience. Judgment and guilt have at their root an offense — with judgment, an offense of someone else, and with guilt, an offense you’ve committed that’s eating away at you.
Suppressed Anger — This is where you’re mad or embittered against someone, but you don’t express it. The anger is buried but eating away at you inside. Christians commonly suppress anger, since we feel it’s unspiritual to show anger.
Rejection — You don’t feel approved of or accepted by others. People communicate to you that you’re not OK . . . people like your parents, spouse, children, or so-called “friends.”
Low Self-Esteem — Perhaps one of the most destructive of all emotional stress categories, this is a feeling of personal unworthiness — a negative, unloving attitude toward yourself.
Overwhelmed — Many people are “buried with burden,” surrounded by circumstances that are more than they can handle, making them feel unable to perform to expectations.
Frustration — This is the stress of contrary experiences — the feeling that things just aren’t going to according to plan.
Deep-Rooted Fear — Finances, marriage, children, or job problems can produce this “what will happen if” emotional stress.

NUTRITIONAL ANSWERS TO STRESS

Nutrition, or any other physical treatment is not the answer to the root causes of emotional stress. However, it can help your body cope with emotional stress while you’re working on the root causes. Supplementation that can help at this level includes B-Complex, calcium and magnesium, adrenal glandular, and relaxing herbs like Kava Kava, Valerian, Scullcap, and Passion Flower.

BIBLICAL ANSWERS TO STRESS

As we approach resolving the above seven areas of emotional stress, note that the first four concern your view of other people and yourself, while the last three concern your view of your circumstances. May I submit to you the idea that if you adopt the correct view of yourself, others, and your circumstances, you can resolve virtually any kind of emotional stress? I’ve found two basic principles from the Bible that do just that. The first relates to your view of yourself and others, while the second concerns your view of your circumstances. They are perhaps the two greatest doctrines in all the Bible:

Grace — Grace means “unmerited favor,” getting something that you don’t deserve. The ultimate expression of God’s grace is the Cross of Christ, where the price for sin was paid — not only your sin, but everyone else’s. God judged all sin on the Cross, so there’s no “judging” left to do and no guilt left to feel. When we judge others or have suppressed anger or feel guilty for already confessed sin, we’re in effect, re-crucifying Christ — not believing that what He did was adequate to fully pay the price.
The Cross also relates to rejection and approval need. The only person you have to have the approval of is God, and you’ve already got that based on His grace. If we’re hung up on having to have someone else’s approval, we’re making that person a god in our life — that’s idolatry. The Cross frees us from the need to “perform” for others, since all the ultimately important “performing” was done for us by Christ on the Cross.
What about low self-esteem? The foundation for having a positive self-esteem is seeing yourself the same way God sees you. God sees you through his grace, through the complete penalty already paid for you by Christ. If you really embrace what happened at the Cross, there’s no legitimate basis for having a low self-esteem.

Sovereignty — Understanding the Sovereignty of God releases us from the three remaining stress areas — feeling overwhelmed, frustration and deep-rooted fear. When the Bible says that God is sovereign, it’s saying that He’s in control, that nothing ultimately goes on without his permission. The way I like to put it is to say that He’s behind every circumstance, working as Romans 8:28 says, “all things together for good, to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” Trust Him and be stress-free.

Better Health Update is published by Pacific Health Center, PO Box 1126, Pinedale, Arizona 85934-1126, Phone (800) 255–4246 providing remote “virtual health screening” appointments anywhere in the world. Email: drkline@pacifichealthcenter.com. Monte Kline, Clinical Nutritionist, Author. Reproduction Prohibited.

Photo by LARAM on Unsplash

Health Minute: Doctor-Caused Disease

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 22:53:30 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

One of the most common causes of disease (if not the most common cause) is conventional medical doctors! Sad, but too often true. The medical term coined to describe this problem is iatrogenic disease, from the Greek “iatros” meaning physician and “genesis” meaning origin. Thus we have doctor-caused disease. Specifically, iatrogenic disease is defined as:

Any adverse reaction, either major or minor, to a medical or surgical treatment.

The late Robert Mendelsohn, M.D., while Chairman of the Medical Licensing Committee for the State of Illinois and Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine and Community Health at the University of Illinois School of Medicine, wrote:

. . . the greatest danger to your health is the doctor who practices Modern Medicine. I believe that Modern Medicine’s treatments for disease are seldom effective, and that they’re often more dangerous than the diseases they’re designed to treat . . . I believe that more than 90% of Modern Medicine could disappear from the face of the earth—doctors, hospital, drugs, and equipment—and the effect on our health would be immediate and beneficial.

DOCTORS ON STRIKE

Whenever medical doctors go on strike, a most interesting phenomenon occurs — death rates go down! In 1976 in Bogota, Columbia medical doctors went on strike for 52 days, with only emergency care available. The death rate dropped by 35%. In 1976 in Los Angeles County a similar doctors’ strike resulted in an 18% drop in mortality. As soon as the strike was over, the death rate went back to normal. A 50% decrease in mortality occurred in Israel in 1973 when there was a one month doctor’s strike!

HEALTH CARE CUTBACKS

Since the early 1980’s we’ve heard a lot about the impact of “managed care” and health care cutbacks. Medical doctors and political liberals are screaming that people are dying for lack of services. Actually, just the opposite is true. Since the “downsizing” of conventional medical services in the 1980’s, life expectancy has made a massive jump both in the U. S. and Canada. No drug therapy and surgical technique can be shown to have statistically increased the general life expectancy. No generation has had its life expectancy increased significantly since medical doctors began using chemical treatments. Researchers John and Sonja McKinlay found that medical intervention only accounted for 1 – 3.5% of the increase in the average lifespan in the U. S. since 1900.

DANGEROUS DRUGS

Alternative cancer treatment authority, Dr. Ralph Moss, notes that a 1999 article in The Journal of The American Medical Association stated that prescription drugs kill over 100,000 people per year in U. S. hospitals. The F.D.A. noted that back in 1978 1.5 million Americans were hospitalized as a result of taking medical drugs. One in seven hospital beds is taken up by patients suffering from adverse drug reactions. The General Accounting Office stated that 51.5% of all drugs introduced between 1976 and 1985 had to be relabeled because of serious adverse reactions found after the marketing of these drugs — reactions like heart, liver or kidney failure, birth defects, blood disorders, respiratory arrest, seizures, and blindness.

DRUG COMPANY BRIBERY

Most people are not aware that drugs companies spend thousands of dollars per year on each medical doctor “selling” them on using their particular products. Drug companies hire “detail men” to visit physicians’ offices and give them drug samples. These salesmen, who are not doctors and have no medical or pharmacological training, tell your medical doctor what drugs to use for what problems. Drug companies start this process early by offering medical students gifts, free trips to “conferences,” and free “educational material,” which translated means propaganda on that drug company’s products. In Australia drug companies spend an average of $10,000 per year per physician marketing their products. The result of all of this is a massive overprescribing of drugs.

The drug companies don’t stop with just practicing M.D.s, though, but also direct major dollars toward hospitals, medical schools and supposedly “independent” research institutes. Medical schools, for example, are given grants for clinical trials, pharmaceutical research, or even buildings. These companies have sought to gain massive influence over medical teaching institutions by spreading their money around. Dr. Alan Levin, Adjunct Associate Professor of Immunology and Dermatology at the University of California states:

Pharmaceutical companies, by enlisting the aid of influential academic physicians, have gained control of the practice of medicine in the United States. They now set the standards of practice by hiring investigators to perform studies which establish the efficacy of their products or impugn that of their competitors. . .

HAZARDS OF HOSPITALIZATION

Hospitals are a hotbed of iatrogenic disease. Every year two million people are admitted to hospitals with one health problem and end up with another health problem! According to Dr. Mendelsohn these doctor-caused illnesses kill as many as 20,000 people annually. A study in the Southern Medical Journal reported that one in five patients admitted to a university hospital acquires an iatrogenic disease, and one in thirty of these lead to death. Of these iatrogenic deaths, half are complications of drug therapy and 10% result from improper diagnostic procedures.

Another study of 815 consecutive patients in a university hospital over an eight month period found that 36% had a disease caused by their doctor — in 2% of the cases the iatrogenic disease was believed to be a cause of the patient’s death.

If you project that figure out, assuming 2% of all hospital patients die from an iatrogenic disease, you get 700,000 hospital/doctor-caused deaths per year — one third of all deaths!

HOSPITAL INFECTIONS

In the 1840’s Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis directed a teaching hospital in Vienna, where 75% of the women giving birth were dying of puerperal fever. He observed that doctors went from dissecting cadavers to delivering babies without washing their hands. Dr. Semmelweis made the “radical” policy change of requiring doctors to wash their hands before delivery a baby. An amazing thing happened — the mortality rate drop fifteen-fold. Unfortunately, his arrogant colleagues couldn’t see the connection, so they dismissed him and ostracized him. The rejection ultimately drove Semmelweis to death in an insane asylum — another great moment in the history of iatrogenic disease.

But doctors are enlightened nowadays about sanitation, aren’t they? A 1981 study of washing habits in intensive care units found that only 28% of the doctors washed between patients in a teaching hospital and only 14% washed in the private hospital! Dr. Mendelsohn noted:

. . . the sanitary practices of the medical personnel are often abominable and the hospital itself is probably the most germ-laden facility in town.

Your chances of getting an infection in the hospital are one in 20 with 15,000 people dying annually from hospital-acquired infections.

SURGERY

Dr. Arthur Mannix, Jr. declared in an article in the New York State Journal of Medicine:

Errors in judgment or technique concerning either the anesthesia or the surgery, or a combination of the two, contribute to close to 50% of the deaths in the operating room.

I think what that translates to is that disease is only responsible for 50% of the deaths on the operating table, while doctors are responsible for the other 50% of deaths.

The McCarthy-Widmer study in the New England Journal of Medicine noted the following:

20% of all surgery is unnecessary.
This unnecessary surgery costs consumers over $3 billion per year.
There are 2.4 million unnecessary operations annually.
This unnecessary surgery results in 12,000 unnecessary deaths each year.

Another study showed that when a second specialist was consulted, 18% of the time he disagreed with doing the surgery.

Hysterectomies are the most common operation today with nearly one million done per year. In six New York hospitals 43% of their hysterectomies were found on review to have been unjustified. Women with abnormal bleeding from the uterus or heavy menstrual blood flow were given the operation though other treatments or none at all would probably have worked as well.

PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM DOCTORS

Doctors in general should be treated with about the same degree of trust as used car salesmen.

— Robert Mendelsohn, M.D.

Caveat emptor — “Let the buyer beware.” Don’t assume your doctor knows everything, or that he or she necessarily knows what’s best for you. Use your doctor like your lawyer or CPA — someone to give you counsel with you making the final decision.
Don’t panic with sickness — Sickness is an opportunity to learn about your body’s needs and to seek God’s direction. Remember the story of King Asa in the Old Testament who died because he only sought the physicians instead of first seeking the Lord for his illness (II Chron. 16:12).
Avoid treating symptoms — There would be little iatrogenic disease if people were not so intent on treating symptoms. Instead you must get down to root causes, which usually means lifesytle change.
Don’t “quick fix” pain — Get over the idea that pain is something that has to be immediately eliminated at any cost. That view encourages a lot of symptom treatment and resulting drug iatrogenesis. Pain is a warning that something’s wrong. Again, seek to fix the underlying cause and that will fix the pain.
Seek appropriate health care services — The old saying says: Never ask a barber if you need a haircut. Don’t expect anything but a prescription drug for symptoms when you go to a medical doctor. If you want to deal with underlying causes, go to the appropriate natural medicine doctor. Of course, if you have an emergency situation or some type of acute problem, conventional medicine is best equipped to deal with that.
Stimulate natural healing, don’t sabotage it — Symptom treatments, like the frequent use of antibiotics, destroy your natural immunity, and thus open the door for more iatrogenic problems. Focus on detoxifying, correcting nutrient deficiencies, allergic desensitizing, and exercise to free up your body to heal itself.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Health Minute: Mammograms: Yes or No?

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 22:40:52 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

For many years mammograms have been recommended by conventional medicine for women in their forties and older as a breast cancer screening method. However, there is increasing question among authorities as to the wisdom of doing mammograms for forty-something women, and even for older women unless specific symptoms or history warrants.

As is the case with any challenge of conventional medical viewpoint, one seldom finds open-mindedness or a genuine seeking of the truth. Conventional medicine in America is a religion, if not the religion of the country, and therefore you’re a dangerous “nut” if you don’t dutifully fall in line to get your annual mammogram.

RISK vs. BENEFIT

In our whole discussion there’s ultimately only one issue: Does the potential risk associated with having mammograms outweigh the potential benefit of early discovery of breast cancer? There is not a universal answer to this question. There are many opinions, not to mention individual situations and histories that may make your answer to that question different from the woman next to you. The goal of this article is simply to lay the questions before you so that you can better decide your correct course of action.

CONVENTIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

In spite of a lot of challenging evidence, conventional medicine still recommends that women in their 40’s get mammograms. This is the position of the American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the National Cancer Advisory Board.

However, a group of experts convened by the National Institutes of Health in 1997, reviewing the same studies as the other groups, concluded that mammograms should be optional until age 50. Likewise, the National Cancer Institute has reversed its long-standing recommendation that women under age 50 get mammograms, other than to evaluate suspicious lumps.

CHALLENGING EARLY MAMMOGRAMS

Dr. John Bailar, former editor of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute said in 1976:

There is a body of information that the benefits to women under the age of fifty may not be as great as was thought when the project was started.

A 1993 Swedish study from the famous Karolinska Institute suggested potential danger from exposing the female breast to ionizing radiation. They studied women who received massive radiation therapy for benign breast disease between the 1920’s and 1950’s. Critics will quickly note that these women received much more radiation than given by the modern mammogram, but nevertheless NCI’s Dr. Charles Land noted that it is still wise to assume there is at least a small risk of women developing breast cancer as a result of mammography. Dr. Land believed that for women over 50 or those at high risk, benefits of mammography outweigh the risks — but not for women in their forties.

Dr. Suzanne W. Fletcherof of the American College of Physicians also reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that for women age 40 to 49 there is no survival benefit to obtaining routine mammograms. Her panel’s research did conclude, however, that for women age 50 to 69 mammograms did reduce the risk of dying of breast cancer. They found insufficient evidence to draw conclusions either way for women in their 70’s.

MAMMOGRAM OBJECTIONS

Here are four objections to premenopausal women getting mammograms:

They don’t work — A 1992 Canadian study found that routine mammograms on 25,000 women in their forties missed 40% of the breast cancer that developed. A similar Swedish study found 38% false negatives. Dense healthy breast tissue of younger women can resemble or camouflage tumors.

They don’t improve chances of survival — The Canadian study just mentioned followed 25,000 women who had routine mammograms and 25,000 who did not. The results: Women in both groups developed and died of breast cancer at the same rates. Seven other studies have reported similar findings.
Mammograms may “find” non-existent tumors — A February 1996 study reported in the British Medical Journal found false positives on mammograms to be a significant problem. After a first mammogram 352 women were found positive. Further evaluation required 1112 doctor visits, 397 fine needle biopsies, 187 more mammograms, and 90 biopsies — all costing one-half million dollars, with women in their forties accounting for 41% of the costs. After six months, 64% were eventually found to NOT have cancer!
Just having a mammogram, not to mention having a abnormal mammogram can be very stressful. Besides mental scars, surgery leaves physical scars. All of this takes time and dollars, not to mention being embarrassing.
Mammograms may cause cancer — Modern mammography equipment confers much less radiation than machines originally used back in the 1970’s. However, there is no minimum dose of radiation that has been proven safe with respect to breast cancer. Dr. John Gofman, past Associate Director of Livermore National Laboratory and co-discoverer of Uranium 233, states that, “Every dose, no matter low, confers some risk.” Dr. Gofman estimates that for a 40 year old woman a typical mammograms results in a 1 in 2700 chance of developing breast cancer . . . but the risk is cumulative with each mammogram. So, after ten mammograms your chances are now 1 in 270.

RADIATION-CAUSED BREAST CANCER

Dr. Gofman, as author of four scholarly books on radiation health effects, in 1994 stated:

It is astonishing that past medical exposure to ionizing radiation is barely ever mentioned as a prime explanation for the current high rate of breast cancer. . . Why is this undisputed fact almost never mentioned in public? Why doesn’t the medical community come clean about its past role in the current incidence of breast cancer? There is no logical escape from the conclusion that past medical irradiation of the breast explains a large share of today’s breast-cancer incidence.

MAMMOGRAMS FOR AGE 50+

Most of the authorities that now maintain women in their 40’s should not necessarily get mammograms feel that women in the 50’s still should. Not everyone agrees, though. A Canadian study that found mammograms inappropriate for under age 50 women has also found no reduction in deaths in the 50-55 age group either. The fact of the matter is there is no study showing that mammography reduces breast cancer deaths over that of breast self-examination or physician examination.

According to Dr. John McDougall, developer of the McDougall Diet, the potential benefits of mammograms for women over age 50 is minimal, while the risks are significant. No benefits have been found for mammography of women over age 69.

MAMMOGRAMS AND MARKETING

Please excuse my cynicism, but ultimately mammograms are a marketing tool for conventional cancer therapy. I’m not saying this is necessarily intentional, nor that it’s always a bad idea to have a mammogram, nor that mammograms don’t in some instances save lives. I am saying that the end result of mass screening of the female population with mammograms is “selling” the “products” of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

Mammograms detect possible masses that a physical or self-exam would often not detect. Those possible masses may be cancer, or they may be one of those false positives discussed earlier. Particularly if it were a benign occurrence, it might have gone away on its own — breast cysts often do.

But the mammogram has dramatized and perhaps inflated the problem to the status of requiring a heroic conventional medicine solution — beginning with surgery, and possibly involving radiation or chemotherapy. Dr. McDoughall comments that it’s not so much the radiation of under age 50 women that causes a greater incidence of breast cancer, but rather that having mammograms makes it more likely that you will be treated for breast cancer. And the treatment modalities — surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy — in and of themselves kill.

BREAST CANCER PREVENTION

It’s always amazed me that cancer screening tests like mammography seem to start with the assumption that “cancer just happens,” and that there’s nothing you can do about it — other than try to detect it as soon as possible and then use ridiculous symptom-treating methods to try to cure it.

There’s a lot I don’t understand about cancer, but one thing I’m sure of is that it doesn’t just happen! High animal protein and fats, particularly meats with hormonal residues, should be avoided. For the same reason that Japanese women have little PMS or menopausal problems, we can expect less breast cancer.

Lack of proper exercise appears to have a role in breast cancer, just as in most health problems. And what about stress? That appears to be the usual triggering factor with virtually all types of cancer.

I’ve even run across some reported evidence linking wearing bras to breast cancer incidence . . . and it does make some sense. Bras, particularly the increasingly tighter ones that compress the breasts more, are a fairly recent phenomenon. I would maintain that ongoing compression of the breasts can’t be good, anymore than wearing too tight a shoes. I’m not advocating that women go back to the bra-less hippie 60’s, but I think some consideration should be given to less constricting undergarments.

MAMMOGRAMS — YES OR NO?

As I shared at the beginning, I don’t believe there’s an absolute answer to that question — rather it’s something each woman must decide having looked at the available facts. As a general principle for premenopausal women, though, the evidence would seem to be moving away from regular mammograms, unless you have a special reason — suspicious lumps, family history, etc.

For over age 50 women, the choice isn’t as clear from the point of current scientific evidence. Again, I think you have to ask if there’s a real reason to have a mammogram, rather than just doing this as an annual screening method.

I’m obviously not a woman and thus will never have to make this decision. However, I am a cancer survivor and a cancer radiation treatment survivor. Most of the health problems I’ve had since having cancer have been the result of radiation “therapy.” Thus I am very leery of radiation exposure. I get X-rays rarely — only when I absolutely have to have them. The thought of routine radiation exposure through mammograms, on top of all the other radiation exposure sources we have, is a little scary to me.

Weigh the potential risks versus the potential benefits and make your decision. But also practice even more important preventive measures to insure the best cancer prevention.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Health Minute: Skin Problems

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 22:32:34 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

Skin problems can be a source of constant torture for their victim. Unlike many health problems, skin problems show — making them a constant reminder to ourselves and those who see us. But are skin problems just a matter of cruel fate, or are there reasons for them and solutions? After all, not everyone has skin problems, and not everyone who has skin problems has always had them. Be assured — your skin problems didn’t just happen!

THE NUMBER ONE TREATMENT ERROR

Conventional medicine, like with most other problems, has this one backwards . . . and they’ve successfully spread their confusion to most people. Skin problems are invariably treated externally by conventional medicine and by most people on their own. The question is “What can I put on this [acne, psoriasis, eczema, etc.] to make it go away?” The true answer to that question is, “Probably nothing!”

Skin problems are not problems with the skin! The skin problem is just the symptom of the real problems that are internal. The skin is not only the body’s largest organ of elimination, but it’s also the body’s outward most organ of elimination. Therefore, what’s going on with the skin is typically reflective of what’s going on inside the body.

HERING’S LAW OF CURE

Constantine Hering is regarding as the second greatest name in homeopathic medicine (after its founder, Samuel Hahnemann). Hering established the first homeopathic medical school in the U.S. in 1835, wrote a ten volume Materia Medica that is still in use, and discovered many medications, including nitroglycerin. Hering is perhaps most famous among natural medicine practitioners for his description of how the healing process works — Hering’s Law of Cure:

All cure starts from within out and from the head down and in the reverse order as the symptoms have appeared.

Hering’s Law of Cure is the key to understanding and approaching skin problems. It tells us that what’s going on within precedes what we see on the skin. Our healing approach must focus on the internal problems if we expect the skin to change.

However, let me add that when you work on the internal causes of skin or other problems, the skin may get worse. In fact, you may develop skin problems when you previously had none. Changes in the skin reflect inner detoxification and healing. As the body’s outermost organ of elimination, the skin will often worsen as part of the healing process.

RECKEWEG’S THEORY

Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg, M.D. developed what is called the Theory of Homotoxicology (study of toxins in man). He taught that toxins were at the root of our health problems, and that our bodies can go through six possible phases in their attempt to get rid of toxins. We can either encourage the body’s toxin elimination process or suppress it with symptom-treating drugs. When you suppress toxicity (like rubbing goop on your skin problem) you drive the toxins deeper, creating more serious health problems down the road.

One example Reckeweg gives concerns someone treating psoriasis with coal tar, an accepted conventional medicine treatment. Six months after being treated with carcinogenic coal tar, this person didn’t have psoriasis anymore — they had cancer. Bad trade!

By contrast when you help the body detoxify, the skin problem may get worse before it gets better. Toxin elimination isn’t always pretty. When the problem seems to get worse, most uninformed people bail out and go back to drugs. But if you’re really going to solve your skin problem, you have to understand this process and be patient.

SPECIFIC SKIN PROBLEMS

Acne Vulgaris — This is the common acne associated especially with teenagers. Androgen hormones (particularly testosterone) stimulate increased oil (sebum) secretions resulting in formation of blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. Since women have one-tenth the testosterone of men, they experience less acne.
Acne Rosacea — In this form of acne the blood vessels in the face open up causing the center of the face to become deep red and acne-like cysts to develop. Rosacea produces a W.C. Fields appearance. Rosacea affects one in 500 adults who, more often, are fair-skinned and blush more easily. Three times as many women get rosacea as men, but men get it more severely. Although alcohol can make it worse, people who never drink alcohol still develop rosacea. The conventional medicine view is that it runs in families, is more common in light-skinned people, it can’t be cured, but it can be treated (translation: they can suppress your symptoms and create other health problems).
Dermatitis/Eczema — Dermatitis refers to a recurring inflammatory skin reaction caused either a food or environmental irritant. Eczema is the most common symptom of dermatitis, being characterized by small blisters that weep and crust, scaling, flaking, itching, plus thickening and color changes to the skin. Non-eczema type dermatitis includes seborrheic dermatitis (which includes dandruff), contact dermatitis, and photodermatitis. In the United Kingdom up to one-fifth of all school age children have eczema, and about one in twelve in the adult population.
Psoriasis — Psoriasis most often appears as inflamed skin lesions covered with a silvery white scale (plaque psoriasis). Other types of psoriasis may involve pus-like blisters (pustular psoriasis), severe sloughing of the skin (erythrodermic psoriasis), drop-like dots (guttate psoriasis), and smooth inflamed lesions (inverse psoriasis). Psoriasis affects 6.4 million Americans, about 400 of whom die annually from psoriasis. The all too predictable conventional medicine view is that the cause is unknown, it’s an autoimmune disorder, and it’s probably at least partly genetic. Conventional medicine does acknowledge some “triggering factors” such as systemic infections, injury to the skin, vaccinations, prescription medication reactions, including steroid medications.

CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACHES

Regardless of the specific labeling of the skin problem, the most common conventional medical approach is drugs. In the case of acne and rosacea that usually means antibiotics. In the case of eczema and psoriasis, corticosteroid ointments are likely. Unfortunately both antibiotics and corticosteroids produce Candida albicans yeast overgrowth, and that candidiasis often produces more . . . you guessed it — skin problems! So, are the doctors who perpetrate this idiocy just plain ignorant, or are they trying to generate future business? Probably the former. But, God bless ‘em—if they weren’t out there destroying people’s health with antibiotics, half of my practice would disappear!

ROOT CAUSES

It’s always seemed to me that conventional medicine spends about a millisecond thinking about what causes a problem (other that chanting a mantra that genetics is to blame), only to rush to the prescription pad and give you something to suppress the symptom. As if that wasn’t bad enough, your M.D. (mighty deity) will also tell you that diet and nutritional supplements have no effect whatsoever on your skin problem. [Pause to suppress gag reflex]

Back to reality, here are some of the more common causes of skin problems. Understand that it’s not necessarily just one thing, but more often a combination of causes that’s involved:

Overall Toxicity — As a result of poor diet, poor digestion, chemical exposure, stress, and a host of other causes, most people are pretty toxic. The skin as your largest organ of elimination tends to reflect that.
Junk Food Diet — The Modern American Diet (M.A.D. for short) is a primary cause of skin problems. Refined sugar and flours, fried foods, chocolate, chemical food additives and the like are all highly toxic and often aggravate skin problems.
Food Sensitivities — I seldom see someone with skin problems that doesn’t have a lot of common food sensitivities. Milk, wheat, yeast, citrus and others are common.
Nutrient Deficiencies — A whole host of nutrient deficiencies have been linked with skin problems. Vitamin A, the B-Complex, and zinc are perhaps the most significant. Vitamin B-2 deficiency appears to be a key factor with rosacea. B-6 and biotin deficiency in rats produces symptoms like seborrheic dermatitis. Free fatty acid levels have been found to be abnormal in psoriasis sufferers.
Digestive Deficiencies — Low hydrochloric acid has been linked with rosacea, as has low lipase (fat digesting) enzyme.
Candidiasis — Systemic overgrowth of the Candida albicans yeast organism is observed with various skin problems. Ironically, candidiasis often results from the antibiotics you were given for skin problems!

NATURAL MEDICINE APPROACHES

Natural Food Diet — The general diet we recommend for everyone applies with skin problems. Avoiding refined sugar, refined flour, fried foods, uncultured cow’s milk, caffeine, chocolate, colas, and chemical food additives is essential.
Specific Problem Foods — Other foods to avoid with certain skin problems may include cheese, eggs, animal fats (arachidonic acid produces inflammation), tomatoes, spinach, rhubarb, nuts, or any food you happen to be sensitive to. Individual testing at our clinic is recommended. In the case of rosacea foods that cause flushing should be avoided: hot drinks, spicy foods, or alcohol.
B-Complex — A hypoallergenic B-Complex, or at least a multi with a high amount of B is essential. Extra individual B-2, B-6, Biotin, or other B vitamins may also be appropriate.
Emulsified Vitamin A — Higher doses are tolerated in this form, with some practitioners recommending 100,000 i.u.’s per day for up to three months. Unless you can be tested and monitored, I wouldn’t go above 50,000 i.u.’s per day, though.
Zinc Picolinate — This is probably the best form of zinc. The amount in a multi-mineral may be enough, though sometimes a separate supplement will be indicated by testing.
GLA — Gamma-Linoleic Acid, an omega-6 fatty acid is a natural anti-inflammatory that produces the beneficial effects of steroid drugs without the side effects. It’s also useful for hormonal balancing, which may be involved in certain skin problems. Borage oil, flax oil, or primrose oil may be helpful. EPA fish oil type supplements (a different fatty acid) may also be appropriate.
Acidophilus — A good acidophilus supplement (not “acidophilus milk”) is usually appropriate, especially if candidiasis is indicated by testing. Restoring the digestive tract is essential to dealing with skin problems.
Psyllium/Fiber — A psyllium fiber supplement to cleanse the colon is basic to body detoxification. Less than two good bowel movements per day may adversely affect the skin from toxic back-up.
Vitamin C — In addition to fighting infections, Vitamin C is a natural anti-histamine and thus can reduce allergic reactions.
Quercetin — This bioflavonoid also reduces histamine release and may be useful in some skin problems.
Chromium — This may be helpful particularly with acne.
Vitamin E — Good antioxidant, generally good for skin.
MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) — Otherwise known as biological sulfur, this helps collagen synthesis.
Homeopathic Skin Remedies — Various possibilities exist, with individual testing being necessary.

You don’t need all of the above—testing will tell which.

Photo by Barbara Krysztofiak on Unsplash

Health Minute: Sleep Problems

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 22:21:38 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

A Gallup Poll commissioned by the National Sleep Foundation found that one out of every two people suffers from sleeplessness at some point in their lives. As many as 40 million Americans suffer from serious sleep disorders that affect not only their sleep quality, but their overall health. During the 20th century, the average amount of time asleep has been reduced by 20 percent, and in the past 25 years, we’ve added the equivalent of one month to our average annual work and commute time. We’re working longer and sleeping less.

COST OF SLEEP PROBLEMS

People who get enough sleep find they have greater productivity and attentiveness, making it easier to handle minor problems and irritations. Conversely, sleep problems frequently caused strained relationships at home and work. Sufferers of chronic insomnia are more likely to need healthcare services and specifically to develop psychiatric problems. Every year in America fatigue is blamed for 200,000 car accidents.

In a message to pastors the great English preacher Charles Spurgeon said:

. . . I am emotionally less resilient when I lose sleep. There were early days when I would work without regard to sleep and feel energized and motivated. In the last seven or eight years my threshold for despondency is much lower. For me, adequate sleep is not a matter of staying healthy. It is a matter of staying in the ministry. It is irrational that my future should look bleaker when I get four or five hours sleep several nights in a row. But that is irrelevant. Those are the facts. And I must live within the limits of facts. I commend sufficient sleep to you, for the sake of your proper assessment of God and His promises.

HOW MUCH SLEEP IS ENOUGH?

When it comes to the question of how much sleep one really needs, there may be as many opinions as people. While I can go along with the idea that the amount of sleep needed varies between individuals, I still think there are minimums that apply to virtually anyone. I cannot imagine that six hours of sleep over a prolonged period of time is enough for anyone, though there are some who say even four hours may be enough for some individuals. The same experts will also say, however, that ten hours are not enough for other individuals.

Babies sleep for about 17 hours per day, which reduces to nine to ten hours for older children. I think it’s safe to say that most adults need at least seven to eight hours of sleep per night. Many authorities feel that elderly people need less sleep, but this may be in part related to naps being taken during the day. Other authorities, whom I’m more inclined to agree with, disagree noting that our bodies are less able to sustain sleep than when they were younger. Older people need the sleep — they just have trouble getting it.

YOU NEED MORE SLEEP IF . . .

Instead of debating the ideal or minimum amount of sleep everyone needs, I think it’s more helpful to look at symptoms that indicate that you need more sleep:

Do you have trouble staying awake during boring or monotonous situations (lectures, meetings, church, routine work, driving)?
Do you have difficulty concentrating or remembering facts?
Do you have problems with making decisions?
Are you frequently depressed, irritable or moody?

If any of the above describes you, there’s a good chance you’re not getting enough sleep, even if you’re getting eight or more hours. Conversely, you can experiment with sleeping more hours and see if you feel better.

THE SLEEP PROCESS

Sleep begins with Stage One, a light sleep, wherein your muscles relax and your brain waves are irregular and rapid. In Stage Two sleep the brain waves become larger and are characterized by bursts of electrical activity. Stages Three and Four involve deep sleep, in which large slow brain waves (sometimes called delta waves) are produced.

After an hour or so REM (rapid eye movement) sleep begins. This is the dreaming stage during which your brain waves are similar to the waking state. REM sleep typically occurs several times during the night. About 75% of the night is spent in non-REM sleep and 25% in REM sleep, with the REM periods getting longer and more frequent as the night goes on.

SLEEP DISORDERS

Insomnia — Insomnia is trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. It also affects waking hours with sleepiness or trouble concentrating. Insomnia can be transient (difficulty sleeping for a few nights due to excitement, stress, time zone changes, etc.), short-term (two to three weeks from longer periods of work or home stress), or chronic (ongoing insomnia).
Causes may include stress, stimulant usage, nicotine or other drug usage, psychiatric disorders, unusual hours, inactive behavior, noise or light interference, arthritic or other pain, overuse of sleeping pills, gastric reflux, unstopped brain activity, nutrient deficiencies, and more.

Narcolepsy — Narcolepsy refers to a chronic, frequent, irresistible need to sleep. These “sleep attacks” can happen at anytime without warning and last for anywhere from seconds to a half hour. In narcolepsy the victim goes into a sudden onset of REM sleep. This, of course, is particularly dangerous if you’re driving a car or operating machinery. Other symptoms that may be experienced include cateplexy (loss of muscle function), sleep paralysis (temporary inability to move the body when falling asleep or waking), and hypnagogic hallucinations (vivid, dream-like, frightening experiences when first falling asleep).
About 50,000 Americans have been diagnosed with narcolepsy, though 200,000 are believed to be affected. Conventional medicine says the cause is unknown. Personally, I feel that chronic boredom or need to escape stressful situations must play a role in this problem. I’ve never met a mentally active, goal-oriented, driven, happy person with narcolepsy.

Sleep Apnea — Over 10 million Americans don’t breathe properly when they sleep. This causes an oxygen deficiency, poor sleep, daytime sleepiness, and increased risk of cardiovascular problems. Loud snoring is the primary indicator of a possible sleep apnea problem — 30% of adults snore, but this is only serious for about 5% of them.
There are two types of sleep apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the most common and the most dangerous type. When the muscles of the soft palate relax and sag, the airway is blocked making breathing labored and noisy. Ten to 60 seconds may elapse between loud snores with deep gasps for air as the breathing starts. Most often obstructive sleep apnea is a problem of overweight men.
Central Sleep Apnea relates to the brain signal to breathe being delayed. This is usually a less serious problem that manifests itself with increasing age, with one in four people over age 60 experiencing it.

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) — With this disorder creeping, crawling, tingling or painful sensations occur primarily in the calf, but may affect the whole leg. Symptoms are most common when lying or sitting for a long time and are usually worse at night. Sufferers feel an urge to move the legs and experience some relief from moving, walking or massaging the legs.
Ever heard of “growing pains”? That’s a form of RLS in children, as is some hyperactivity. If your child has “growing pains,” something’s wrong, because growth doesn’t hurt! Mineral deficiencies, especially magnesium, are the most likely causes.

Periodic Leg Movement Disorder (PLMD) — Unlike RLS movements which are voluntary, PLMD movements are involuntary, most often occurring during sleep. It’s estimated that 35% or more of those over 65 experience this disorder. This jerking of the legs during sleep again may be connected with mineral deficiencies, especially magnesium.
Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS) — This is believed to be a “biological clock” disorder related to the body’s circadian rhythm. Someone with DSPS has difficulty falling asleep and waking up because their body clock doesn’t fit with their desired sleep and wake times. It’s like jet lag or time zone travel that is longer lasting.

About half the DSPS sufferers also experience depression. This may stem in part from being different from everyone else. Going to bed earlier and trying to get up earlier usually just fuels their frustration. Sleeping pills don’t help and may make the problem worse.

GENERAL SUGGESTIONS

Avoid caffeine
Avoid alcohol and nicotine.
Exercise regularly, but not too close to bedtime.
Get up at the same time daily regardless of when you went to bed the night before.
Fix bedroom problems with light, noise, heat or cold.
Don’t eat a heavy meal within three hours of bedtime.
Avoid using sleeping pills.
Establish a “winding down” routine for bedtime.
Don’t “try hard” to go to sleep or get frustrated about not going to sleep. Do something till you get tired.

NATURAL MEDICINE APPROACHES

While there are specific natural medicine approaches to help sleep problems, the most important approach, as always, is the fix the basics. Correcting nutrient deficiencies, allergic sensitivities and toxcities in the general sense will help or eliminate many sleep problems. Other possibilities include:

High Magnesium Multi-Mineral — Though sometimes extra chelated magnesium by itself is appropriate, I generally prefer a multi-mineral with extra magnesium. Magnesium is a relaxer, and helps with many sleep problems.
Melatonin — The pineal gland hormone melatonin has gotten a lot of publicity, and rightly so — but it isn’t for everyone. Melatonin governs the body’s time clock in relationship to light and darkness. Therefore it can especially be helpful for sleep problems like Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, jet lag and the like. Some people react to melatonin with feelings of grogginess upon awakening, or vivid, disturbing dreams. Individual testing at the clinic will indicate if you need melatonin.

We are consistently finding that a melatonin-herbal combination tests better and works better than straight melatonin. We also occasionally use melatonin, serotonin, and dopamine homeopathic formulas.

Kava Kava — This Polynesian herb is known for its relaxing properties. It is another possibility.
Other Herbs — Valerian, or combinations with valerian, scullcap, passion flower, hops and other relaxing herbs may help on sleep.
Phosphorylated Serine — This product, otherwise known as Seriphos, can be helpful for people too hyper to go to sleep. It is oriented toward reducing high levels of adrenal hormones in the evening that otherwise interfere with normal sleep.
5-Hydroxy-Tryptophan — This form of tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin and can help with sleep. Foods high in typtophan that might be tried at bedtime include turkey, bananas, figs, dates, yogurt, tuna, whole grain crackers, and nut butter.

Have a good night!

Photo by Alexandra Gorn on Unsplash

Health Minute: Eye Problems

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 22:11:40 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

Virtually everyone has experienced eye problems at some time—itchy eyes, burning, dryness, light sensitive eyes, and the like. However, many people also experience more serious eye diseases like cataracts. glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

Jesus taught that the eyes are the “lamp of the body” (Matt. 5:22). Not only do the eyes reflect what’s going on in someone spiritually, but also what’s going on inside someone physically. Various nutrient deficiencies can affect the eyes, as well as allergic sensitivities and toxicities — just as is the case with any other health problem. However, eye diseases, just as other degenerative conditions, require comprehensive help. They’re not just a matter of popping a magic vitamin pill and instantaneously solving the problems. Input and care from an eye doctor is important, but there are often natural remedies that you can use to help as well.

CATARACTS

When the lens of the eye becomes cloudy or opaque, we refer to it as a cataract, from the Latin word for “waterfall” (the condition being like looking through a waterfall or frosted window). Obviously this causes inability to clearly see both near and distant objects.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the U. S., with over 400,000 Americans developing the condition each year. Over one million cataract surgeries are performed annually at a cost of $3.5 billion. While 18% of those age 65 to 74 have cataracts, over 45% over those age 75 to 85 have them. This has caused most to assume that cataracts are just part of advanced age. But, if that’s true, what about the 55% that don’t get cataracts? In a word the answer is oxidation. The question is whether oxidation is a primary cause of cataracts or a secondary cause.

The transparent structure of the lens is due to organ-specific proteins called crystallins. Under optimal circumstances these proteins should remain clear until around 120 years of age, as was said of Moses at that age:

“Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated.” (Deut. 34:7)

CATARACT CAUSES

Artificial light — Though sunlight has typically been considered a prime cause of cataracts, it appears artificial light damages the lens and retina — particularly infrared light from incandescent lighting.
Refined sugar intake — Excess glucose in the lens causes cataracts. Refined sugar consumption produces alcohol by-products in metabolism which also may collect in the lens and cause deterioration.
Milk intake — Pasteurized milk does not contain the necessary enzymes to metabolize the lactose and galactose sugars from milk. This may likewise result in increased sugar in the lens.
Corticosteroid usage — Prolonged usage of cortisone or prednisone often causes cataracts.
Nutrient deficiencies — Deficiencies of vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, as well as the minerals zinc and selenium all have potential connections with cataract development
For example, one study showed women consuming higher amounts of carotenes and vitamin A had a 39% lower risk of cataracts. Another study showed vitamin E and beta-carotene levels lower in patients requiring cataract surgery. Vitamin C complex is concentrated in the lens at a rate 30 times higher than the blood. When cataracts sufferers have their lenses removed and analyzed, they are significantly lowering in vitamin C content.

Junk food diet — People who don’t have cataracts generally consume a lot more fresh fruits and vegetables, where they get carotenes, vitamin C, B vitamins, minerals and enzymes (if eaten raw). Those eating few fruits and vegetables had four to eight times the risk of cataracts in one study.

MACULAR DEGENERATION

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects about 25% of those over 65, being the leading cause of blindness for this age group. Perhaps 10% of those over 65 have AMD — 3.4 million people. Macular degeneration involves deterioration of the central area of the retina (the macula) resulting in blurry vision.

Dry macular degeneration is the most common, though a less serious form, accounting for about 85% of all cases. Loss of central vision may occur over several years and one or both eyes may be affected. This deterioration of the macula may be from general atrophy, or, occasionally by deposits of drusen, a yellow substances that accumulates under the retina. Common symptoms of dry macular degeneration include blurriness when reading, difficulty seeing distant objects, shape distortion, or a dark spot in the center of an object.

Wet macular degeneration results from abnormal blood vessel growth behind the retina which may bleed causing the retina to separate from the eye. A rapid loss of vision ensues.

While both forms of macular degeneration significantly lower visual acuity, neither form causes complete vision loss. Conventional medicine offers no treatment for dry macular degeneration, though laser surgery may help wet macular degeneration, if caught early enough.

NUTRIENTS FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION

For the eye to function properly a number of nutrients are required — particularly antioxidants. Vitamins C, E, beta-carotene and lutein, plus minerals including zinc, selenium and copper are all found in the macula. Antioxidants do more than just nourish the eye though — they protect against free radicals. Free radicals are basically “oxygen sponges” that have the effect of lowering cellular oxygen and promoting cell degeneration.

An interesting theory postulates that the melanin pigment, which is present in the skin and contributes to eye color, may act as an antioxidant. Therefore people with green or blue eyes and light skin are more susceptible to macular degeneration than people with dark eyes or skin.

People with macular degeneration often have low antioxidant levels in their blood. In one study low levels of lycopene, an antioxidant in tomatoes, correlated with incidence of macular degeneration. Carotenoids including lutein and zeaxanthin (in dark green vegetables like spinach and kale), appear to help prevent macular degeneration. A depression in the center of the macular (foveal part of retina) has a yellow pigment primarily composed of these two antioxidants.

Another important nutrient is zinc, which is highly concentrated in the retina and tissues around the macula. Zinc is involved in many chemical reactions in the retina and also helps protect cells from free radical damage. Some studies suggest that zinc may protect against the early stages of dry macular degeneration, though it doesn’t help the wet form.

GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases with common features such as increased eye pressure, damage to the optic nerve and visual field loss. The most common form is chronic open-angle glaucoma, in which fluid pressure increases within the eye damaging the optic nerve, narrowing the field of vision, and ultimately causing blindness.

That’s the conventional view, at least. Other studies note that one-third to one-half of glaucoma patients actually have normal interocular pressure. Some of these researchers suggest that the increased interocular pressure may be more the effect rather than the cause of glaucoma. Researchers Sonnsjo and Krakau in 1993 suggest that the primary cause of glaucoma may be obstruction of blood flow and nutrition to the neuronal tissues of the optic nerve. If this thesis is correct, it would explain the admitted ineffectiveness of conventional drugs for glaucoma, since those medications are solely oriented toward reducing interocular pressure.

It is estimated that three million Americans have glaucoma, half of them unaware of it. Approximately 80,000 people are totally blind from glaucoma, and another 1,200,000 are blind in one eye, making it the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Symptoms include:

Loss of side vision
Difficulty focusing on close work
Seeing colored rings or halos around lights
Headaches and eye pain
Need to frequently change prescription on glasses
Difficulty adjusting eyes to darkness

A simple office test called tonometry may detect glaucoma by measuring intraocular pressure. The conventional medicine approach revolves around either drugs that limit fluid production, drugs to increase fluid outflow from the eye, or surgery to create a new outflow channel.

NUTRIENTS FOR GLAUCOMA

Since the optic nerve passes through a bed of connective tissue called elastin, nourishment of that tissue is essential. The vitamin C complex (including rutin and other bioflavonoids), vitamin E, manganese, and amino acids are important. Because there is a stress connection frequently with glaucoma, adrenal gland support may be appropriate. B vitamins may also have a significant relationship, with B-6 appearing to be involved in eye pressure.

It’s been observed that the interocular pressure of some glaucoma sufferers dropped with vitamin A supplementation. Fish oils, including omega-3 fatty acids likewise appear to help the eye pressure. Since zinc is involved in vitamin A metabolism, it is also important. Calcium and vitamin D contribute to the correct dehydration of sclera (fibrous tissue covering the white of the eye). Excess fluid here may lead to increased interocular pressure.

Intake of trans fatty acids, such as hydrogenated vegetable oils as in margarine, were shown in a large case-controlled study to be associated with glaucoma. Caffeine increases eye pressure, and alcohol, tobacco, coffee, regular tea, and chocolate all may decrease eye circulation.

EYE REMEDIES

In going through these three eye problems, it becomes fairly apparent that nutritional deficiencies and other effects of the Modern American Diet (M.A.D. for short), are fundamental causes. The same overall healthy diet that is good for health in general is good for the eyes. Elimination of refined sugar, refined, hydrogenated oils, refined grains, caffeine, chocolate, alcohol and the like should prevent a lot of eye problems.

While there are many possible nutritional supplements, the most important word is antioxidants. That includes vitamins A, C, E, bioflavonoids, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, alpha lipoic acid, glutathione, grape seed extract, pycnogenol, di-methylglycine (DMG) and more. A good antioxidant supplement will cover many of these.

In herbal medicine, bilberry and eyebright are the most often used remedies. Bilberry (European blueberry) improves night vision and eyestrain and may also help retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, collagen breakdowns, glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration. It aids the ability of the eyes to focus, helps the eyes to adapt to darkness, strengthens the small capillaries that bring blood to the eyes, improves sharpness of images, and has anti-bacterial and anti-viral activity due to tannin content.

Eyebright is helpful for eyestrain, pink eye, cataracts, conjunctivitis, glaucoma and other eye problems. As is always the case, individual electrodermal testing is recommended to determine which eye remedies are right for you.

Photo by Amanda Dalbjörn on Unsplash

Health Minute: Osteoporosis

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 22:02:04 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

Osteoporosis refers to a loss of bone mass, which in turn leads to increased bone fractures. It affects 15 – 20 million Americans, resulting in over one million bone fractures per year and costing ten billion dollars in hospitalization, acute care, and long-term care expenses. With the rapid aging of our population, the incidence and cost of osteoporosis are expected to rise dramatically. Of women 65 years or older one third have had spinal vertebrae fractures. In extreme old age one in three women and one in six men will have had a hip fracture, the most serious of all osteoporotic fractures. More women die from the complications of these fractures annually than from the combined deaths from cervical and breast cancer. Unfortunately, osteoporosis is usually symptomless until the first fracture is experienced.

Like most conditions, osteoporosis is far easier to prevent than it is to treat. Yet few medical doctors do any osteoporosis screening of susceptible patients. Diet and nutritional supplementation offer help for osteoporosis, as do drug approaches, both for the prevention and the remediation of bone loss.

RISK FACTORS

Though men also get osteoporosis, women have the greater incidence of it due to having less bone mass to begin with. The more dramatic hormonal changes in women also make this condition more common than with men. Some risk factors (for women) include:

Family history of osteoporosis

White or Asian

Small body frame

Postmenopausal

Hysterectomy

Inadequate calcium intake

Excess protein in diet

Inadequate exercise

Smoking

Excessive alcohol consumption

High caffeine intake

Long-term corticosteroid drug usage

Long-term use of anticonvulsants or antacids

Hyperparathyroidsm or thyrotoxicosis

Addison’s Disease or Cushing’s Syndrome

Type I Diabetes

BONE BUILDING AND RESORPTION

Bone tissue is not just a collection of calcium and other crystals. Rather it is living tissue that is constantly rebuilding itself. Two kinds of cells are involved in this process: osteoblasts, which form new bone tissue, and osteoclasts, which break down old or damaged tissue (referred to as resorption). Remedies for osteoporosis can therefore focus on either encouraging osteoblastic activity or suppressing osteoclastic activity.

MENOPAUSE AND BONE LOSS

Bone loss in women begins prior to menopause at ages 35-45, though a significant acceleration of bone loss occurs for about 5-10 years after menopause. From that point on bone loss remains basically stable. Conventional medicine views estrogen deficiency resulting from menopause as the primary cause of postmenopausal osteoporosis, and therefore views synthetic hormone replacement therapy (H.R.T.) as the answer. Unfortunately, all drugs have side-effects.

In 1984 the Consensus Development Conference on Osteoporosis of the Natural Institutes of Health issued a statement that the risk for endometrial cancer increased with the use of estrogen therapy. They justified continued estrogen therapy with the statement:

“Estrogen-associated endometrial cancer is usually manifested at an early stage and is rarely fatal when managed appropriately.”

In other words, “you may get cancer from this treatment, but we can probably keep it from killing you, so don’t worry.”

There is a question, though, as to whether estrogen therapy really helps with osteoporosis. An extensive 14 year study demonstrated no significant difference in hip fracture incidence between women who had estrogen therapy and those who didn’t (“National Institutes of Health, Consensus Conference: Osteoporosis,” Journal of the American Medical Association 252 (1984):799).

The reason for this problem may relate to how estrogen supposedly helps osteoporosis. Estrogen reduces osteoclastic activity, the bone resorption process I spoke of earlier. Thus your hanging on to more old bone, resulting in a higher bone density, but with your bones being more brittle — the quantity goes up but the quality goes down! Fortunately there are other answers.

DIET AND OSTEOPOROSIS

Diet has a significant effect on the development of osteoporosis. Factors include:

Refined Sugar — In recent generations sugar consumption has increased almost astronomically. A couple hundred years ago 10 or so pounds per year was the per capital consumption of this substance, using it as a condiment. Today sugar consumption is closer to 150 pounds per year per person with sugar amounting to nearly 20% of all calories consumed. Since refined sugar has no nutrients, that means a 20% reduction in vitamins and minerals, many of which are key to bone health.

Sugar is also known to deplete the body of calcium. One study showed that administering 25 teaspoons of sugar to healthy people caused a significant increased in the amount of calcium excreted in the urine. Since over 99% of the calcium in the body is in the bones, that urinary excretion is coming from the bones.

Research done by sugar authority, John Yudkin, M.D., indicates that sugar increases the cortisol hormone, which in excess, causes osteoporosis. In effect eating too much sugar, like most Americans do, is like taking a small amount of prescription cortisone daily. The result — thinner bones. Yudkin notes that in a study that hamsters fed a 56% sucrose diet developed osteoporosis, in spite of their having adequate calcium intake.

Refined Grains — Refined grains like white bread, white flour pastas, white rice, and most breakfast cereals do not have the bran and germ portion of the grain — the part where most of the vitamins and minerals are. In addition to this nutrient deficiency aspect, refined grain products quickly turn to sugar, producing the results noted above.
Caffeine — Studies suggest that caffeine intake increases urinary excretion of calcium, and that overall caffeine intake correlates with decreasing calcium retention in the body.
Alcohol — Excess consumption of alcohol is known to correlate with osteoporosis. A study of 96 alcoholic men ages 24 to 62 showed that 47% had osteoporosis.
Protein, Phosphorus, and Sodium Excess — Excessive dietary protein has been shown to cause osteoporosis. Urinary excretion of calcium increases with high protein intake as the body draws calcium out of the bones to buffer the acidic products of digesting protein. High phosphorus tends to go along with high protein. It tends to displace calcium in the body. Similarly, high sodium intake, which often goes along with high meat intake, increases urinary excretion of calcium.
Trace Mineral Deficiencies — Bones are more than just calcium. Other minerals and trace minerals like manganese, vanadium, and boron have a significant role in bone health too. Unfortunately, modern chemical agriculture doesn’t replace these trace minerals, but only synthetically replaces N, P and K — nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Our trace mineral deficient food is yet another cause of osteoporosis.

EXERCISE EFFECT

Lack of exercise significantly contributes to osteoporosis. We learned this from the space program. Astronauts in weightlessness for several weeks showed bone loss on return to earth. Similarly, lack of “weight bearing” exercise, like walking decreases bone density. Conversely, regular (preferably daily) weight bearing exercise can reverse bone loss.

NATURAL HORMONES FOR OSTEOPOROSIS

A number of plant derived hormones are now available which can benefit osteoporosis without carrying the side effects of drugs. Estrogen and progesterone come in cream forms for application on the skin. Since oral hormones may be destroyed by stomach acid, skin absorption makes a lot of sense. I particularly like to use natural progesterone cream. While estrogen slows bone resorption, progesterone increases bone-building. John Lee, M.D. of Sebastapol, California is one of the leading advocates for progesterone therapy. In his study women who on average would have had a 4.5% bone loss over a three year period had a 0% bone loss using a progesterone cream.

DHEA (dehyroepiandrosterone) adrenal hormone is another valuable tool. DHEA can turn into estrogen, and indirectly cause an increase in progesterone. It is believed that DHEA both slows bone resorption and increases bone building.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS

Chelated Multi-Mineral — This is our foundation. Chelated minerals (those combined with an amino acid) have been shown to have a 40% or better assimilation, as compared to often only a 4% assimilation for calcium carbonate — the kind of calcium most people are taking and most doctors are recommending. A multi-mineral with the whole range of minerals and trace minerals essential to bone health is my usual choice.
Microcrystalline Hydroxyapatite Concentrate — Also known as microcrystalline calcium or MCHC, this form of calcium has been shown to not only prevent bone loss, but also restore bone density. It is derived from whole bovine bone, including the complete organic matrix and minerals as found in healthy bone. In one study calcium carbonate reduced the rate of bone loss by one-half, while MCHC nearly stopped it altogether. In another study it actually increased cortical bone thickness by 6.1%.
OstivoneTM (Ipriflavone) — Ipriflavone, an isoflavone, is perhaps the single best non-prescription remedy for osteoporosis. It has shown in studies similar bone density improvements as calcitonin drugs, yet without side-effects. It probably needs at least a year of usage (like the drugs) before reevaluating bone density.
Digestive Aid — Hydrochloric acid and pancreatic enzymes are essential for the digestion and assimilation of the minerals needed for bone. The multi-minerals we usually use include hydrochloric acid to aid assimilation.
Vitamin D — Vitamin D regulates calcium absorption. Vitamin D3 has been shown to significantly increase calcium absorption and reduce bone loss. Again, this is normally included in our multi-mineral and multi-vitamin/mineral products.
Vitamin K — Vitamin K deficiency may be a major contributor to osteoporosis since it is required for osteocalcin production. Osteocalcin is a protein in the bone matrix that binds calcium, thus maintaining healthy bone density.
Manganese — This trace mineral (likewise normally included in our chelated multi-mineral), is essential to the organic matrix upon which calcification takes place in the bone.
Boron — A good osteoporosis-oriented multi-mineral will contain this trace mineral. Boron appears to affect the action of the parathyroid hormone, which in turn affects mineral metabolism. Boron deficiency depresses ionized calcium and calcitonin, and elevates urinary excretion of calcium.

BONE DENSITY TESTING

I highly recommend having a bone density test done, preferably a DEXA scan. It’s considered the most accurate bone density test, and can be prescribed by your medical doctor or chiropractor. I would suggest all women have their first test prior to menopause to establish a baseline, and then monitor every two to three years.

Photo by David Lee on Unsplash

Health Minute: Diabetes

PacificHealthTeam — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 21:12:47 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

Diabetes is becoming an increasingly common degenerative disease, with over five million Americans being treated and another twenty million having glucose intolerance. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Fifteen years after diagnosis a staggering 80% of diabetics have problems with the retina of the eye (diabetic retinopathy). Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults under the age of 74. Diabetes results in 20,000 amputations per year of toes, feet, legs, and fingers from the associated poor circulation. When it comes to heart attacks, diabetics have twice the rate as the general population. Half of all heart attacks and 75% of all strokes may be connected to diabetes. Finally, this disease leads to kidney dialysis for 5000 new patients per year.

When we speak of diabetes, we are normally referring to Diabetes mellitus, which results from either insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas or a blocking of the normal functioning of the insulin hormone. With insufficient insulin the body cannot utilize carbohydrates, which are normally broken down to glucose (blood sugar). This causes a high level of glucose in the blood and a low level of glucose in the tissues where it’s needed.

(The term “diabetes” is also used of an unrelated disease called “diabetes insipidus”. This is a rare disorder caused by pituitary hormone deficiency. It results in the production of large amounts of urine regardless of how little liquid is consumed. This problem is not our topic in this Update.)

TYPE I DIABETES

Diabetes mellitus is divided into two types: Type I, also called “insulin-dependent” or “juvenile onset” diabetes, and Type II, also called “adult onset” diabetes. In Type I the pancreas is not producing adequate insulin. Symptoms of Type I Diabetes include:

Irritability 5. Vomiting
Frequent urination 6. Weakness
Abnormal thirst 7. Fatigue
Nausea 8. Unusual hunger

Other symptoms that may be involved include muscle cramps, impaired vision, skin itching, and poor healing of wounds. Most often Type I diabetes occurs in children or young adults.

INSULIN REACTIONS

Perhaps the most terrifying part of diabetes is insulin reactions, when the body has gotten too much insulin and is therefore going into a hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) state. Particularly the Type I diabetic can have almost instantaneous reactions, going from normal one minutes to unconscious the next.

Warning signs of impending insulin reaction are hunger, dizziness, sweating, confusion, heart palpitations, numbness or tingling of the lips, double vision, trembling, disorientation, unusual actions, and eventual losing of consciousness.

Quick consumption of a highly sugared food or drink quickly reverses these symptoms in most cases.

TYPE II DIABETES

Type II, or “adult onset” diabetes generally occurs later in life, and may be more likely where there is a family history of diabetes. In this type of diabetes the pancreas does produce insulin, but the cells have too few chemical receptors, and the cells starve causing a lack of energy. The primary cause is thought to be obesity. When a cell becomes fat, the chemical receptors on its surface decrease, as does the usage of insulin. Symptoms include:

Blurred vision 6. Fatigue
Itching 7. Skin infections
Unusual thirst 8. Slow healing
Drowsiness 9. Tingling in feet
Obesity

Type II diabetes is usually controlled by diet and oral medication with insulin injections generally not being required.

ROOT CAUSES

Diabetes is largely a disease of so-called “civilization” where most people live on refined sugar, refined grains, low fiber, significant nutrient deficiencies, lack of exercise, and high stress. While this would particularly be true of Type II diabetes, these same lifestyle factors could certainly “wear out” the pancreas, causing the non-production of insulin as found in Type I diabetes.

IS SUGAR THE CAUSE?

Establishment medicine generally rejects the concept that refined sugar intake actually produces diabetes, preferring to blame every problem on “heredity.” Nevertheless, there is abundant evidence. Dr. E. Ziegler of Switzerland found that mortality rates from diabetes in Switzerland over a 20 year period highly correlated with the refined sugar intake. Dr. G. D. Campbell, observed that people of Indian descent in Natal, South Africa had a much higher incidence of diabetes than their relatives still living in India. The only difference? In Natal they were consuming 110 pounds of sugar per person per year, while in India the same people were consuming only 12 – 15 pounds per year. Frederick Banting, M.D., the co-discoverer of insulin said:

In the United States , the incidence of diabetes has increased proportionately with the per capita consumption of cane sugar. One cannot help but conclude that in the heating and recrystallization of the natural sugar-cane something is altered which leaves the refined product a dangerous foodstuff.

Contrary to popular mantras, you are not destined to become diabetic because it “runs in your family.” All that “heredity” means is that you may have a greater tendency toward the develop of a problem like diabetes. If you eat a diabetes-producing diet and practice a diabetes-producing lifestyle, you’re very likely to develop diabetes. But if you are eating properly, you should avoid diabetes, even if there’s a hereditary tendency.

COW’S MILK CONNECTION?

The New England Journal of Medicine reported that many cases of Type I, Juvenile Onset diabetes may be triggered by an infant’s immune response to a protein in cow’s milk. Diabetic children were shown to have seven times more antibodies to milk than non-diabetic children and adults. Apparently the immune system confuses the cow’s milk protein with its own insulin-producing cells and destroys both. It may be years later before diabetes results. Breast-feeding as long as possible reduces the risk of developing diabetes two- to threefold in those genetically predisposed to the disease. While I tell everyone (except baby cows) to avoid cow’s milk, this is especially important with infants, toddlers and even older people with a family history of diabetes.

NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES

Research reported in the Journal of Biochemistry and the Proceedings of the Society of Experimental Biological Medicine back in the 1950’s showed that when vitamin B-6 is not adequate, xanthurenic acid is produced damaging the pancreas and producing diabetes. When B-6 is supplied, the amount of xanthurenic acid is decreased, and, if the pancreas has not been damaged, all diabetic symptoms disappear. Magnesium decreases the need for B-6 and reduces the level of xanthurenic acid even when B-6 is not increased. A letter from a Tennessee physician in Medical Tribune stated that “diabetic retinopathy is due to magnesium deficiency.” It is not surprising that studies have shown diabetics to have significant magnesium deficiencies. Studies in Europe and Japan confirm that diabetics with the lowest magnesium levels have the worst eye damage.

DIETARY SUGGESTIONS

Good Natural Food Diet — The dietary basics I recommend to everyone are also appropriate for diabetes, only with even greater emphasis. Strict avoidance of refined sugar and refined grains is essential. A whole foods diet emphasizing whole grains, legumes, and other vegetables is basic to maintaining proper blood sugar.
Avoid Sensitive Foods — Knowing which foods you’re sensitive to and avoiding them likewise will lower blood sugar in many diabetics.
High Fiber Diet — Dr. James W. Anderson, a diabetes specialist, in his book, Diabetes, a Practical Guide to Healthy Living, notes considerable success treating diabetics with a high fiber diet. He has seen patients on 27 units of insulin daily get by on seven units daily when on a high fiber diet, only to revert back to the higher insulin amount when they abandoned the high fiber diet.
Regular Eating — Diabetics must eat at set times and in set amounts. Overeating will throw off the blood sugar levels. Four or five smaller meals per day are preferable to three regular meals.
Caloric Breakdown — John Anderson, M.D., of the University of Kentucky recommends a diabetic diet deriving 60-75% of the calories from complex carbohydrates, 15-20% from protein, and 10-15% from fat. This diet is also good for arteriosclerosis prevention and treatment—which is critical to diabetes management.
Avoid Cow’s Milk — As referred to earlier, cow’s milk allergic reaction may trigger diabetes in the first place.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS

In addition to a basic, high quality multi-vitamin and multi-mineral, the following supplements may be appropriate (subject to compatibility testing on a given individual):

Chelated Chromium — Chromium is part of the insulin molecule and is essential to maintaining proper blood sugar levels.
Pyridoxal 5’ Phosphate — This is the active form of Vitamin B-6, a typically deficient nutrient in diabetics.
Chelated Magnesium — Though this would be included in your general multi-mineral and multi-vitamin/mineral, a separate magnesium supplement may be appropriate.
Vitamin E — A natural vitamin E (d-alpha, not dl-alpha tocopherol) is good for cardiovascular health and wound healing.
Buffered Vitamin C — Vitamin C reduces the requirement for insulin.
Sublingual Vitamin B-12 or B-12 injections.
Biotin — Intramuscular injections or high oral doses (2000 mcg. three times per day) have been known to reverse diabetic neuropathy.
EPA/GLA — EPA from fish oil and GLA from borage oil provide missing essential fatty acids.
Lipoic Acid — Prevents breaking down of glucose and may reduce need for insulin.
Pancreatic Enzymes — Since the pancreas also produces digestive enzymes, this is likely to be depleted in diabetics.
Pancreas Glandular — A glandular supplement may have a strengthening or regenerating effect on the pancreas.
Fiber Supplement — To supplement fiber in the diet, a psyllium, pectin, guar gum supplement (like our Pro Bulk M) is usually a good idea..
Garlic Supplement — As well as garlic or onions as food help lower blood sugar and are great for the cardiovascular system.
Quercetin — This flavonoid inhibits the enzyme, aldose reductase, which is involved in diabetic cataracts, retinopathy, and neuropathy
Gymnema sylvestre — An Ayurvedic herb that is reported to significantly lower blood sugar levels.

Any of the above supplements may alter your blood sugar levels and thus change your insulin requirements. Use cautiously! Closely monitor your blood sugar and don’t do too many new things at once.

With the right program it’s possible to reduce, or even eliminate the need for insulin, especially with Type II diabetes.

Photo by isens usa on Unsplash

Health Minute: Cholesterol Confusion

PacificHealthTeam — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:03:29 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

Few subjects contain more nonsense per square inch than that of cholesterol. For thirty years America has been on an anti-fat, anti-cholesterol fanatical crusade — the definition of a “fanatic” being one who redoubles his effort after he’s lost sight of his goal. Lest I be misunderstood, let me say that high cholesterol is a problem, but there’s a lot more to it than just avoiding cholesterol in the diet. On the other hand, low cholesterol is also a problem, a subject totally foreign to most medical doctors. And, above all, you need to learn that fat is not your enemy — not categorically at least.

WHAT IS CHOLESTEROL?

Cholesterol is an odorless, soft, waxy substance present throughout the body, including the nervous system, muscle, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. It is essential for the manufacture of hormones, bile acid, and vitamin D. There are two kinds of cholesterol: blood and dietary. Blood cholesterol is manufactured in the liver, and to a lesser extent, absorbed from the food you eat. About 80% of the cholesterol in your body was manufactured in your own liver — not from dietary sources. Dietary cholesterol is present only in foods of animal origin.

CHOLESTEROL GUIDELINES

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has established the following guidelines for diagnosing high blood cholesterol in individuals 20 years of age or older:

Desirable Cholesterol Less than 200

Borderline-High Cholesterol 200 – 239

High Cholesterol 240 or higher

HIGH CHOLESTEROL AND HEART DISEASE

As most people know, high cholesterol is regarded as the primary cause of heart disease. Excess cholesterol results in clogging arteries with plaque. High cholesterol may also be a cause of gallstones, impotence, mental impairment, high blood pressure, colon polyps, and colon cancer. If your blood cholesterol is 240 or greater, you have twice the risk of heart disease as someone with a cholesterol of 200. If in addition to high cholesterol you also have high blood pressure or smoke, the risk of heart disease goes even higher.

HDL & LDL LIPOPROTEINS

Cholesterol travels in the blood in packages called liporoteins, which are basically “transporting detergents” that are formed in the liver. The Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) take the cholesterol from the liver to where it is needed in the body, while the High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) bring the cholesterol back to the liver for processing and removal from the body. When LDL is not effectively removed from the blood, it can build up atherosclerosis deposits in the arteries. Thus, it’s often called the “bad cholesterol.” Conversely, since the HDL does the removing of excess cholesterol, it’s often called the “good cholesterol.”

The amount of HDL is far more significant than the amount of Total Cholesterol in the blood. LDL should be less than 130. Borderline high is 130 – 159, and high is above 160. HDL less than 35 is too low. Ideally HDL should be in the low 50’s.

You can have normal Total Cholesterol and still have a problem because the HDL is too low. A Johns Hopkins study of people with coronary artery disease who all had Total Cholesterol less than 200 found a great difference between those with high HDL and those with low HDL. Of the low HDL group, 75% died from a heart attack or experienced new cardiovascular problems. Less than half the high HDL group had problems.

In short, cholesterol is not that important, while HDL is extremely important.

THE BIG FAT LIE

Contrary to popular opinion (resulting from decades of repeating a lie over and over again), dietary fat intake does NOT cause high cholesterol and increased heart disease. It’s another example of saying, “The Emperor has no clothes!”

“The idea that saturated fats cause heart disease is completely wrong, but the statement has been ‘published’ so many times over the last three or more decades that it is very difficult to convince people otherwise . . .” (Dr. Mary Enig, Consulting Editor to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, President of the Maryland Nutrition Association, and noted lipids researcher)

“The diet-heart hypothesis [that suggests that high intake of saturated fat and cholesterol causes heart disease] has been repeatedly shown to be wrong, and yet, for complicated reasons of pride, profit and prejudice, the hypothesis continues to be exploited by scientists, fund-raising enterprises, food companies and even governmental agencies. The public is being deceived by the greatest health scam of the century.” (Dr. George V. Mann, participating researcher in the Framingham study and author of Coronary Heart Disease: The Dietary Sense and Nonsense, Janus Publishing, 1993.)

“In Framingham, Massachusetts, the more saturated fat one ate, the more cholesterol one ate, the more calories one ate, the lower people’s serum cholesterol . .” (Dr. William Castilli, Director of the Framingham Study, Archives of Internal Medicine, 1992.)

Given the fact that 80% of the body’s cholesterol is made in the liver, a far more important question than dietary fat intake is “How is your body handling the fats you eat?” Digestion is an issue here, as is exercise. People who are very physically active seem to be able to eat a high fat diet with no effect on their cholesterol levels.

LOW CHOLESTEROL DANGERS

Average, uniformed medical or lay opinion is that “your cholesterol can’t be too low.” Baloney! A study in the British Medical Journal linked low blood cholesterol to depression and suicide. Normally cholesterol helps transmit the mood elevating neurotransmitter, serotonin, to the brain. Thus, low cholesterol may equal low serotonin. After childbirth, cholesterol levels tend to drop sharply in the mother. This may be the reason for the post-partum depression so often experienced.

THE BIBLE & FAT

Fat is spoken of both in favorable and unfavorable terms in the Bible. Generally the negative references to fat relate to growing fat from gluttony. The Ceremonial Law required that the fat be offered to the Lord, prompting the dieter’s favorite Bible verse, Leviticus 3:16 “. . . all the fat is the Lord’s.” Since the most valuable parts were given to God, this actually elevates the importance of fat.

In Nehemiah 8:10 as part of the celebration of Ezra’s reading the Law after the rebuilding of the wall, an antidote to the depression the people were feeling was offered:

“Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Mood elevation is likewise tied to fat in Proverbs 15:30:

“. . . good news puts fat on the bones.”

MEDICAL APPROACHES

Big surprise! The conventional medical approach to high cholesterol is primarily drugs, along with “low cholesterol” diets we have previously identified as bogus. The two main types of drugs are HMG CoA reductase inhibitors or “statin” (lovastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin) and bile acid sequestrants (cholestyramine and colestipol). Other drugs sometimes used are fibric acid derivatives (gemfibrozil) and, for post-menopausal women, estrogen replacement therapy.

Possible side-effects from the statins and fibric acid derivatives include stomach upset, gas, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, skin rash, impotence, insomnia, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, muscle cramps, tiredness, and decreased mental alertness. The negatives of estrogen are numerous as well.

NATURAL APPROACHES

Quality Fat Diet — While dietary fat is limited in its true effect on blood cholesterol, I nevertheless suggest lowering animal fat content in favor of healthier vegetable fats. I think this is wise for overall health. Usage of olive oil, coconut oil (in moderation) and raw nuts are recommended. Fried foods should be totally eliminated.
High Fiber Diet — Fiber affects a lowering of cholesterol. Whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables should be in abundance in the diet, while minimizing meats and refined grains.
Avoid Refined Sugar — All refined sugar (sucrose, dextrose, corn syrup, raw sugar, brown sugar, etc.) is bad for cholesterol and heart disease overall.
Avoid Caffeine — Heavy caffeine intake appears to increase cholesterol.
Fiber Supplement — We often use a psyllium/pectin/guar gum fiber supplement for cholesterol lowering, as well as many other problems. These water-soluble fibers bind dietary and biliary cholesterol, thus decreasing their absorption.
Fish Oil Supplement — Fish consumption has been shown to correlate with decreased mortality from cardiovascular disease. The responsible agent is believed to be eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), most often derived from salmon oil. Vegetable oils have considerably less effect on lowering cholesterol.
Niacin — Vitamin B-3 in the form of Nicotinic Acid has been shown to lower cholesterol. The buffered form, niacinamide, is reported to not be as effective. “Flushing” reactions from high doses of niacin can, however, be uncomfortable.
Garlic Supplement — Sulfur compounds in garlic, particularly allicin, inhibit cholesterol synthesis and thus reduce blood cholesterol. Garlic usage likewise improves the HDL to LDL ratio, lowers blood triglycerides and inhibits platelet aggregation.
Aerobic Exercise — This is a must for cholesterol reduction. Walking or other aerobic exercise improves the HDL to LDL ratio. Losing weight can also have a beneficial effect.
Mineral Supplement — Calcium, magnesium and potassium in a chelated multi-mineral are essential for cholesterol reduction and overall cardiovascular health. Animals fed a fatty diet with calcium supplements do not build up cholesterol in the heart or liver, but rather eliminate it out the digestive tract.
Lecithin — This supplement has been recommended for cholesterol lowering for decades. Lecithin is a natural fat emulsifier made from soybeans and high in the B vitamins choline and inositol.
Coenzyme Q10 — This antioxidant improves circulation and can be helpful for cardiovascular and other problems.
Vitamin E (emulsified) — Likewise improves circulation.
Omega 3 Oil Supplements — The unsaturated fatty acids in these oils can reduce LDL’s.

One final important point — you don’t need to take ALL these supplements! These are the “possibilities.” Individual testing at the clinic is always recommended to determine which ones are right for you. Don’t waste money taking supplements that aren’t helping.

I suggest exhausting natural remedies for cholesterol lowering first, and then, and only then turn to drugs, if the results are not adequate.

Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash

Health Minute: Panic Attacks

PacificHealthTeam — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 03:52:03 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

One of the most common, yet least suspected, health problems around is panic attacks. Conservative estimates from the National Institutes of Mental Health find over four million Americans suffer from panic attacks, though this is generally considered a low number given the problem is often never diagnosed. Other researchers state that one in ten Americans has experienced a panic attack (most not knowing it) within the past year and one in four sometime during their life. One study found that the average sufferer went to ten doctors before being diagnosed with the problem — in other words, it generally goes undiagnosed.

SYMPTOMS OF PANIC ATTACK

The American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-IV defines a panic attack as fear or discomfort that arises suddenly and mounts to high intensity in 10 minutes or less, along with several of the following symptoms:

Palpitating or pounding heart

Labored breathing

Sweating

Trembling or shaking

Choking sensation

Chest pain or discomfort

Nausea or dizziness

Feelings of unreality or detachment from self

Numbness or tingling sensations

Chills or hot flushes

Fear of collapsing

Fear of dying or becoming insane

Other indicators might be:

Do you have periods of fear or unexpected discomfort?

Do you constantly worry about having additional attacks?

Do you not do things you used to do out of unexpected fear or discomfort?

Do you worry that escaping a place or situation will be difficult or embarrassing?

Do you worry that help may not be available if you have a panic attack?

Do you avoid certain situations?

Do you have anxiety about having a panic attack in certain situations?

Do you endure certain situations with significant distress?

Do you require a companion to endure certain situations?

Again, you don’t have to have all of these symptoms — any of them may indicate a panic attack problem.

AGORAPHOBIA CONNECTION

Agoraphobia (literally “fear of the marketplace”) is the fear of being alone in public places from which the person thinks escape would be difficult or embarrassing if he were incapacitated. Agoraphobia often develops after suffering panic attacks in public places. Because panic attacks seemingly occur without any warning or provocation, it’s impossible to predict what situation will trigger such a reaction. This unpredictability “trains” the victim to anticipate future panic attacks, and therefore to fear any situation where an attack might occur. Thus, agoraphobics avoid going out in public. Other associated problems may develop such as depression, fatigue, tension, and obsessive disorders.

MISCONCEPTIONS

Most people falsely associate panic attacks with stressful situations. May I say this whole problem would be a lot easier if it were that logical. But it just isn’t. Panic attacks often happen with no particular triggering event, particularly the initial experiencing of a panic attack. They may happen in a place where you are comfortable and relaxed, in a situation you really want to be in. That’s the maddening part.

However, once you have had a panic attack in a particular situation or setting, an expectancy is set up of having the same thing happen again. Often typical “agoraphobic” locations like cars, busses, trains, planes, theaters, church, lines in stores, etc. will be involved.

ROOT CAUSES

There are many ideas about both the physical and mental causes of panic attacks:

Anxiety Stress — Research has been done on U. S. Air Force Academy cadets to see if there’s a relationship between people who psychologically test out as being more anxious and the incidence of panic attacks. Though those with a higher Anxiety Stress Index had more panic attacks and vice-versa, it wasn’t a conclusive predictor. Other researchers promoting “expectancy theory” postulate that panic attacks are largely caused by “fear of fear.” In reality most people only learn to fear panic attacks from already having had one.
Carbon Dioxide Imbalance — The rapid, heavy breathing associated with panic attacks may give a valuable clue. Hyperventilation may cause excessive carbon dioxide to be exhaled. The resultant lowering of CO2 may produce dizziness and heart palpitations and may even cause harder breathing still with more CO2 loss and increased anxiety symptoms.
Ironically too much carbon dioxide may cause similar symptoms. One theory holds that during a panic attack the brain is falsely signaling an oxygen shortage or an increase in carbon dioxide is setting off a “suffocation” alarm.

Lactate Sensitivity — Researchers have found that injection with sodium lactate produces panic symptoms in about 80% of the people prone to panic attacks and in only 20% of the general population. Lactic acid is produced in the muscles from vigorous exercise and indicates oxygen insufficiency.
Adrenal Weakness — I believe the adrenal glands play a significant role in panic attacks. The adrenal glands produce various hormones in response to both physical and emotional stresses. Frankly, in this day and age most people’s adrenals are shot! Too many people live in a constant state of uncomfortable overextension — occupationally, financially, time-wise, even recreation-wise.
My personal experience in having Addison’s Disease since 1991 (failure of the adrenal glands) has taught me a great deal about this. I never had a panic attack before having non-functioning adrenal glands, but I’ve had many since. Someone with Addison’s Disease is an extreme example of how adrenal deficiency would affect panic attacks, but those with just weak adrenals could be correspondingly affected.

Neurotransmitter Imbalance — Another aspect of the adrenal gland connection involves norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which is produced by the adrenal glands. Norepinephrine imbalance affects the body’s natural alarm system. False alarms can also be created by endocrine disease, drug intoxication or withdrawal, epilepsy, and other neurological disorders. Other neurotransmitters that may be involved include serotonin and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
Stimulant Usage — The above neurotransmitters, as well as overall adrenal function, are aggravated by drugs like cocaine, amphetamines, and caffeine. Due to the “drug-like” character of refined sugar, it could also aggravate the problem.
Nutrient Deficiencies — B vitamin deficiencies including B-1, B-3 and B-6 can trigger anxiety. In my experience magnesium is also very key to a relaxed body and nervous system.

DRUG APPROACHES

The conventional medical approach for panic attacks center around anti-anxiety or anti-depressant drugs. While only treating the symptom, drugs are nevertheless valuable and necessary for getting through difficult panic situations and breaking the expectancy that “I’m going to have a panic attack in this situation.”

Alprazolam (Xanax) is the most commonly used drug. It and other benzodiazepine drugs are unfortunately very addictive. Using this drug once in awhile for a problem situation is not a problem, but the continuous taking of it is. Withdrawal is very difficult

Imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, is reported to have similar effectiveness to Xanax, while not being as addictive. However, its side-effects of drowsiness, dry mouth, increased heart-rate, weight-gain and/or dizziness are intolerable to many who try it.

Serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors like Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft have also been used to reduce incidence and severity of panic attacks. Side effects of agitation and increased anxiety have caused over 35% of patients to drop the treatment, though.

PSYCHOTHERAPY APPROACHES

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is often recommended. The approach focuses on the present panic and how to eliminate it. It assumes that people with panic attacks are catastrophically misinterpreting ordinary physical sensations. The aim is to get the patient to reinterpret the sensations and thus short-circuit the panic reaction.

Another therapy called Non-Prescriptive Treatment (NPT) was found to be as effective simply by providing sympathetic listening along with breathing and muscle relaxation exercises. A gradual re-exposure to the previously avoided situations should be implemented to break the “expectancy” aspect of the problem. For example, after experiencing panic attacks on three successive return flights from Hawaii, I got some various therapies and flew again. I broke the pattern on the fourth flight and greatly lessened my expectancy of panic attack when flying.

BREATHING AND MUSCLE RELAXATION

Various books are available on panic attacks that discuss breathing and muscle relaxation. Taking a long slow breath, holding it for two seconds, and exhaling slowly while puckering your lips is recommended. Visualization exercises, as taught on tapes or by a therapist, can also help in a relaxing and retraining way. I definitely recommend getting help from a trained therapist for these approaches.

A related mental distraction exercise is to count backwards from 200 by threes or by fours while breathing appropriately. This technique can be self-administered or directed by someone around the victim to help get them through the panic attack.

NUTRITIONAL APPROACHES

Basic healthy diet — Like all health problems getting off refined sugar, refined grains, food additives, and caffeine beverages is essential.
Avoid sensitive foods — With panic attacks you’re likely to be more sensitive to foods. Testing, avoidance and desensitization are recommended.
B-Complex — Since B vitamin deficiencies can contribute to panic attack, as well as other nervous system problems, this is a key area. The amount of B in a multi may not be enough.
Inositol — The B vitamin Inositol is specifically recommended for panic attacks. There is research indicating it is just as effective as imipramine but without the side-effects.
Adrenal Glandular — Believing that adrenal weakness is a major component in panic attacks, some kind of natural adrenal supplement should be tested.
Vervain — This herb is recommended for usage prior to situations where panic attack is expected.
Minerals — A good multi-mineral, and possibly extra magnesium may be helpful.

The above supplements are “possibilities” only. Individual testing can determine if they are right for you.

Photo by Simran Sood on Unsplash

Health Minute: Health Insurance Hazards

PacificHealthTeam — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 03:45:51 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

Sometimes there’s a topic that makes me so mad at times I can’t see straight — health insurance is one of them. There are few things that work more against your health than your health insurance! I want to explain some of the problems produced by health insurance and discuss various options for optimizing your health with or without health insurance.

WHO DECIDES YOUR HEALTH?

This is the fundamental question: Do you decide your health or does your insurance company? If you find yourself saying things like, “I can’t do that because my insurance won’t pay for it,” you are allowing your insurance company to decide your health . . . and that is absolutely ridiculous! Why would you let a bunch of faceless bureaucrats decide what’s good for your health? They don’t care anything about your health — they don’t even know you! If you are going to be healthy, you must make health decisions independent of insurance considerations. Radical idea, isn’t it?

Most of my adult life I have not had health insurance by choice. I pick out the doctors I want to see, select the tests I want to have run, and pay for them. And overall, I’ve spent a lot less money that way than I would have by paying for insurance premiums. The main point is that I stay in the driver’s seat and direct my own health strategy.

“BUT MY EMPLOYER PAYS FOR IT”

Many people are stuck with health insurance automatically from the company they work for. Therefore, you may not have a choice relative to the alternatives I’m going to discuss. But even here there are still positive decisions you must make in spite of your insurance coverage. It just means that when you are convinced of your need for a health service or product that is not covered by your insurance, you pay for it yourself. That may involve some budgeting or saving, but it’s ultimately a matter of priority. This is what probably 95% of the clients at Pacific Health Center have done, and rightly so.

It’s unjust that you’re paying for insurance and paying for other health services that your insurance doesn’t cover, but nobody said life was fair. It’s analogous to parents who private or home school out of deeply felt conviction, yet still have to pay thousands of dollars in property taxes to support the government schools they neither use or nor believe in.

One point of clarification: A lot of people labor under the mistaken idea that their employer pays for their health insurance. That is untrue. You, as the employee, are still the one paying for it. Your insurance is just part of your compensation—you are being paid less in salary to cover the cost of your insurance benefit. There’s no free lunch. Your employer can just pay you in dollars or pay you in a combination of dollars and benefits—their choice.

THIRD PARTY PROBLEMS

You and your health practitioner are the only parties that should be involved in your health care decisions. Your insurance company shouldn’t be telling either you or your doctor what to do. Nor should your doctor have to go to the insurance company for anything, including payment. If it’s between you and your doctor, who wants a meddling, uncaring third party involved?

For this reason at our clinic we only deal with our clients, not with insurance companies. We have been “hired” by our clients and have no relationship with their insurance company. If our clients have an insurance agreement and want to deal with their insurance company on that — fine, but that’s between them and the insurance company they have “hired.” Remember, if you have insurance, your insurance company works for you, not the other way around. Unfortunately, most people act like they work for their insurance company!

IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH INSURANCE

Lest I give the wrong impression, let me hasten to add that I think the concept of health insurance is great. If fact, the concept of insurance period is great. Insurance of any kind is predicated on the idea of a group of people sharing the risk of an unlikely catastrophic expense. And there can be catastrophic expenses when it comes to your health. Hospitalization can amount to $2000-$3000 per day, surgeries can be in the tens of thousands of dollars, and some drugs can cost $100 a pill.

Just as I think someone’s life, home and car should be insured against catastrophic loss or expense, so I believe the same is true when it comes to your health. The question is, “How is the best way of going about it? and “Does the current insurance method I’m using deliver what I need?”

ROUTINE vs. CATASTROPHIC EXPENSE

Health insurance for most people is not about catastrophic expenses but simply routine services from health practitioners. People have been lured into the concept of their health insurance taking care of everything for them . . . only to be alarmed to find out their insurance company then tells them what they can and cannot do by way of health services.

This would be analogous to my car insurance paying for my tune-ups, car washes and gas, instead of just paying for accidents — i.e. catastrophic events. Can you imagine what car insurance would cost if it did that? And then can you imagine your insurance company telling you which repair shops you could go to for that tune-up, or which gas stations you could buy fuel at? Ridiculous? You bet, but that’s just the way most people’s health insurance works.

Do you know what happens to health insurance premiums when they only cover major expenses, like amounts over $5000 or $10,000? The premiums are but a fraction of regular “covers everything” type of insurance.

WHO YOU’RE PAYING FOR

One issue should significantly bother most Christians — who and what is causing their insurance premiums to be so high. It is estimated that 80% of all health insurance claims are related to lifestyle choices — tobacco, drugs, alcohol, AIDS, gluttony, sexual immorality, etc. If you have regular health insurance, that’s mostly what you’re paying for! What if instead of pooling health expenses with the population at large, you instead pooled them with practicing Christians who are non-smoking, non-drinking, non-homosexual, not overweight etc.? You guessed it: a dramatic reduction in cost, and that’s just what one organization has done.

MEDI-SHARE — AN ALTERNATIVE

If you work for a company where you are forced into their insurance plan, this company will not be of help. But if you have a choice about your insurance, you would be a fool not to do this. The Christian Care Medi-Share Program is a group of Christians that share medical needs including sickness, accidents, hospitalization, and maternity (including home birth and midwifery). It is not an insurance company, but simply a private association of Christians agreeing to share expenses within the organization’s criteria.

They don’t take everybody. You have to be a Bible-believing Christian who regularly attends church, you can’t do drugs, you can’t abuse alcohol, you can’t be HIV positive, and you can’t be extremely overweight — “walking coronaries” are not a very good risk. You also can’t have many pre-existing conditions that make you likely to incur major health expenses.

So, it leaves out a lot of people, but that’s what produces the savings. The members share bills to $5 million. They offer two plans: Covering 100% of expenses over $250 for $85/month for a single, $155/month for a two person family, or $210/month for a family of three or more. A second plan covers 80% of expenses over $911 for $65/month for a single, $95/month for a two person family, and $119/month for a family of three or more. (These price are not current).

If you’re self-employed or otherwise able to choose your insurance, and if you are accepted, this is unbeatable.

STUCK WITH YOUR INSURANCE?

Medi-Share is great for those who qualify, but what do the other 80%+ that are locked in to their health insurance do?

Make your health decisions based upon what kind of services you want and need, not what your insurance company wants for you.
Budget and save for those expenses. That may be nutritional supplements, chiropractic, dental amalgam removal, massage, or coming into Pacific Health Center for testing (Note: a few insurance companies do cover at least part of our services.)
Encourage your employer to offer more alternatives, including funds set aside for your own discretionary health spending.
Encourage your state and national legislators to make Medical Savings Accounts (MSA’s) widely available. This would do more to lower health care costs and expand choice than any other single item.

In this system part of your current premium goes to a “catastrophic policy” covering, say, expenses over $5000, while the rest goes into your Medical Savings Account for you to spend as you please for your health. Liberal politicians, who want the government running health care (the only thing worse than insurance companies running it) hate MSA’s. MSA’s do not provide the paternalistic dependence necessary for their political survival! That’s what the health care debate is all about — who’s in control.

Declare your freedom from health insurance — don’t be in bondage to its dictates. With careful planning, saving and God’s ever-present provisions, you can have the health services you really need, whether your insurance company reimburses or not. It’s a matter of priority. Just as I paid for home schooling in addition to paying taxes for government schools I did not use, so I believe we must with our health. The alternative is self-destruction.

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

Health Minute: Deciding Your Health

PacificHealthTeam — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 03:36:18 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

Let me begin with a warning: This article may prove to be one of the more controversial pieces I’ve written — if it doesn’t offend some people, I’ll be a little surprised. Every once in a while I observe an aspect of health that becomes an internal irritant to me — something I just have to communicate. It’s a little like Popeye the Sailor saying, “That’s all I can stands ‘cause I can’t stands n’more!”

Here’s the root question: How much of your health do YOU decide? Your initial reaction may be to think that you don’t decide your health, that it’s decided for you, that it just happens and you act accordingly. Others may reason that they indirectly decide their health via the lifestyle choices they make — what they eat, whether they exercise, etc. And I could not argue with that view.

But what I’m really talking about is your mental attitude, and how it determines the kind of health problems you have. Do we sometimes create our own illnesses? Do we mentally perpetuate our own illnesses? Is there even a “spiritual bondage” associated with many chronic health problems?

Almost everything I know about this subject has come from observing thousands of clients over 15 years of clinical practice. Most people’s health problems are really pretty straightforward — poor diet, nutrient deficiencies, allergic sensitivities, toxicities, lack of exercise — things that usually fix readily on our programs. But then I observe some people who seem stuck in their health problems for no particular physical reason. My knowledge is very incomplete in this area, but I want to hopefully open your eyes to some blind spots that may be keeping you in your health problems. A lot of people aren’t open to thinking a little deeper about what’s technically called the mind-body connection, but I hope you are and will consider whether your own mental state may be a cause of ongoing health problems.

BENEFITS OF BEING SICK

Now you may think, “Who would want to continue to be sick?” Congratulations! If you think that way, you’re pretty mentally healthy. But not everyone does think that way, even though most wouldn’t admit it. There are all kinds of benefits from being sick — gaining attention, having people feel sorry for you, self-pity, avoidance of threatening situations, a feeling of self-importance, even superiority, a sense of purpose, pride associated with feeling persecuted and more. A lot of it is about insecurity, fear, anger, past emotional wounding, and just plain immaturity.

I have seen many clients whose life focus is on their health problems. Now understand, health is important, but anything you exclusively focus on except Jesus Christ, will make you an unbalanced person. I have seen people who are convinced they can eat virtually nothing, that nearly all nutritional supplements disagree with them, that their house is too toxic to live in, and that they are too allergic to walk in the door of our clinic (some have wanted to be tested in the parking lot).

I often actually discourage some people like this from even beginning a client relationship with us, since I sense a strong mental element in their problem. If someone is fixated on their problem, they’re going to come into conflict with someone like me that’s trying to solve their problem — the last thing they really want. Again this may sound harsh or even ridiculous to you, but understand that if someone has built their life around their health problem, they don’t really want it solved. They just want it catered to.

Am I saying there’s no such thing as highly allergic people, who are very reactive? No, not at all. Their reactions are very real and very physical. My question is how did they get there and what is keeping them in that state. I have taught people for years that cumulative toxicity in many people can reach a point where they become “universal reactors” — allergic to almost everything, or develop an autoimmune disease. Yet I am convinced that some (and perhaps many) people continue in their maladies simply out of love for their illness.

YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR ILLNESS

When I talk about “loving your illness,” we’re getting into intimate terms of relationship. I believe many single people, never married as well as previously married, sometimes fulfill their desire for relationship by having a relationship with their illness. They love their illness, their illness is the purpose and focus of their life, their illness is easier to relate to than the people in their life.

I first thought about this concept after meeting with a client that had moved out of her home, allegedly because of allergic sensitivity. Now I believe that could be totally valid and legitimate. But it just didn’t feel right to me. Most people would be distraught with the situation, but she gave every impression she was enjoying it to the hilt! She sounded proud of the problem.

Others go on a crusade. This sometimes takes the form of lawsuits against employers, contractors, or whoever they’re convinced was responsible for exposing them to some toxin. It could even be another party in a car accident. Again, such a situation is often totally legitimate, but a lot of times it just doesn’t “ring right.” People on a crusade have to maintain their health complaint or lose the basis of their crusade. Such people cannot get well. They have decided their health. Just in case you think I’m hallucinating all of this, how about a biblical example?

“WILT THOU BE MADE WHOLE”

In John 5 we read of the paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda who had been in his sickness for 38 years. Note that the passage doesn’t say he had been sick for 38 years, but that he had been “in” his sickness 38 years. First clue. Next he rationalizes his continued sickness to Jesus with self-pity — he had no one to put him in the water when the angel stirred it; thus he could not get well. Bad choice — don’t rationalize your health problems to Jesus! Seeing right through this guy, Jesus said, “Do you wish to get well?” (“Wilt thou be made whole” in the KJV).

I see in this passage someone not unlike many of my clients. Here’s someone so identified with his health problem, that he’s stuck there, he’s fixated on the problem. Health problems are to be solved, if possible, accepted, if it is not possible to resolve them. But, even when you must resign yourself to having a health problem, you never focus on the health problem, you never make it the thing your life revolves around.

My brother has taught me a lot about this. My brother developed diabetes at the age of 14 and has been on insulin for 45 years. No one ever thought he could live this long. He has multiple amputations, including losing both legs below the knees. He basically has no fingers, and he walks on two artificial legs, and what he is able to do is amazing. He has come close to death more times than I can remember. While attentive to his health, including monitoring his blood sugar several times per day, he doesn’t focus on his disease. He focuses on his life, and somehow he figured out that his disease was not his life.

SELF EXAMINATION

Here are some questions to distinguish between merely a physically caused health problem and a health problem perpetuated by psychological problems:

Does having my health problem give me a sense of meaning or purpose in my life?
Do I like to attention I receive from my family or friends because of my health problem?
Do my health problems limit me from being involved in activities or relationships that I am fearful of?
Have I withdrawn from activities or relationships because of my health problems?
Do I spend a major amount of my time focused on my health problem?
Is it hard for me to imagine my life without my health problem?
Do I avoid challenges of new people or situations, preferring to stay safe in my shell?
Do I think that I’m allergically reactive to most foods — that there’s almost “nothing I can eat”?
Do I think I’m allergically reactive to lots of things in my environment?
Do I think I react to almost all vitamins I take?
Is being in a “support group” for my problem an important part of my life?
Do I have a sense of humor, or am I constantly serious? Do I laugh at life’s circumstances, other people, and, most importantly, at myself?

DECIDING FOR HEALTH

So, if you think your health problems may be caused or perpetuated by your own mental attitude, what do you do? I don’t think there’s a formula, given the wide variety of reasons that may have resulted in a fixation on your health problems, but here are some thoughts:

Accept your health problems as the way things are now, but not the way they will always be.
Look ahead and imagine what your life will be like in five, ten, and twenty years if you remain in bondage to your health problems. Contrast that with what your life will be like if you resolve those problems.
Accept some new challenges with relating to new people, situations, employment, etc.
Develop some definite goals about what you really want to be, what you really want to do.
Get busy on those goals!
Focus more on getting involved in other people’s lives and less on yourself.
Avoid exclusively relating to people like yourself, who may just be facilitating your health fixations.
Follow a good diet and nutritional program, but don’t become obsessive with it. A health-building program is your servant, not your master.
Cultivate your sense of humor. Try to find humor in almost everything. Read cartoon books like Garfield or B.C., watch Marx Brothers movies, M*A*S*H reruns, or whatever tickles your funny bone.

Better Health Update is published by Pacific Health Center, PO Box 1126, Pinedale, Arizona 85934, Phone (800) 255–4246 providing remote “virtual health screening” appointments anywhere in the world. E-Mail: drkline@pacifichealthcenter.com. Monte Kline, Clinical Nutritionist, Author. Reproduction Prohibited.

Photo by Stephanie Hau on Unsplash

Health Minute: High Blood Pressure

PacificHealthTeam — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 03:27:04 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

Suppose you are running a certain volume of water through a 3/4 inch garden hose. You observe a certain pressure of water indicated by the flow of water out the end of the hose. But what if you keep the volume of flowing water constant and change the hose to a 1/2 inch diameter. Does the pressure increase? You bet!

This everyday illustration defines the problem of hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure. Narrower (smaller diameter) arteries mean higher blood pressure. It’s estimated that 40 million Americans have high blood pressure. Bottom line, hypertension means your heart must work harder pumping the blood through your circulatory system. Persistent high blood pressure may lead to heart failure or stroke.

HYPERTENSION DEFINITION

Blood pressure is measured with a blood pressure cuff, or sphygmomanometer. Two readings are determined: the systolic blood pressure measures the pressure when the heart is pumping (heart contracted), while the diastolic pressure measures the pressure when the heart is relaxed. Readings are interpreted as follows:

120/80 Ideal

110/70 – 140/90 Normal range

140/90 – 160/95 Borderline hypertension

Over 160/95 Definite hypertension

Most authorities feel that a single blood pressure reading in your doctor’s office isn’t enough to be sure about your blood pressure. Repeated readings throughout the day are really necessary to see if the pattern holds.

Let me also add that your doctor’s office is the very worst place to measure your blood pressure! Most people are uptight in a doctor’s office, so their blood pressure is high. Often when the same person is repeatedly tested at home, they’re fine. Thus, the best way to test your blood pressure is with your own blood pressure cuff at home. Even the electronic ones are not very expensive and are essential if you have a problem in this area.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SYMPTOMS

Hypertension may be indicated by headache, sweating, rapid pulse, shortness of breath, dizziness, and vision problems. However, the most common symptom of high blood pressure is . . . nothing! It’s often asymptomatic, such that the only way you know is by proper testing.

CAUSES OF HYPERTENSION

Arteriosclerosis — In this condition the blood vessels harden from calcium deposits and thicken, thus increasing the pressure of the blood flow. If the deposits are instead fatty material, the condition is called atherosclerosis, but the net effect is the same.
Obesity — If your body has excess fat, it’s likely to have excess fat in the blood and fatty deposits on the blood vessel walls. The great mass of the fat itself will tend to put extra constriction of the blood vessels. Plus, if your heart has to pump harder to get the blood around, this would also raise the pressure.
Lack of Exercise — Our circulatory system is like a network of freeways, streets and back roads. When we are physically inactive, there isn’t enough circulation to use those back roads, so they get overgrown with vegetation and become impassable. These farthest reaches of the circulation shut down, leaving fewer blood vessels but the same amount of blood — therefore high blood pressure. Regular aerobic exercise, by contrast, keeps using those back roads, and even extends them further — thus lowering the blood pressure.
Emotional Stress — This is undoubtedly one of the greatest causes of hypertension. Type A people, who tend to relentlessly drive themselves toward high achievement, often have high blood pressure. People who are always in a rush to get somewhere or do something, feeling constantly overwhelmed, likewise often have high blood pressure. People in conflict with their spouse, children, relatives, friends, employer, fellow employees, etc. similarly may be producing high blood pressure.
High Sodium/High Fat Diet — Most of the typical American junk food diet is high sodium and high fat. Highly salted foods, fried foods, and red meat would be the more common offenders. Studies have shown that vegetarians generally have lower blood pressure than meat eaters. High sodium intake throws off the potassium levels and results in fluid retention. That in turn puts pressure on the blood vessel walls, increasing the blood pressure.
Stimulant Usage — Coffee, tea, colas, or chocolate act as stimulants, mainly due to their caffeine content. Increasing the heart rate in a closed system obviously increases the pressure.
Sugar Intake — Refined sugar seems to be a cause of almost everything, and, in fact it really is! Richard A. Ahrens, Ph.D., of the University of Maryland published an article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1974 linking refined sugar consumption with increased blood pressure in both rats and humans.
Smoking —Nicotine makes the heart pump faster, thus increasing blood pressure.
Cadmium Toxicity —In addition to being a component of tobacco smoke, the heavy metal cadmium may also come from drinking water or industrial sources.
Noise — This could fall under the stress category above, as well. To your body, noise represents danger. A noisy working, driving, or other environment maintains a “fight or flight” reaction long after any conscious discomfort from the noise has subsided. One study found that Volvo factory workers in Sweden with noise-induced hearing loss had higher blood pressure.

DRUG APPROACHES

Many people take anti-hypertensive drugs for lowering their blood pressure. Generally these drugs flush out sodium and thus have a diuretic effect. The problem is they also tend to flush out potassium, which is essential for the heart and other systems.

ACE inhibitors prevent certain enzymes from constricting blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure. Other types of blood pressure medications are also used. Common side-effects are dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, headaches, gas, dry mouth, fatigue, stomach upset, difficulty breathing, and skin rash. Thus, natural approaches that lower blood pressure become very attractive.

NATURAL APPROACHES TO HYPERTENSION

No Salt Diet — Regular, refined table salt and so-called “sea salt” should be avoiding. Natural Celtic Sea Salt usually helps hypertension due to its trace minerals. It contains all 84 mineral found in ocean water, plus enzymes, and is not adulterated. What is labeled “sea salt” , though made from sea water, is still refined so that it’s 98% sodium and chloride. It may also have additives just like table salt.
Low Fat Diet — Animal fats, red meat, fried foods, or other heated oils should be avoided. White fish and skinned turkey or chicken are preferable.
High Fiber Diet — Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are high fiber foods. Supplemental fiber in the form of psyllium husk or oat bran may also be helpful.
Olive Oil — Daily usage of olive oil, such as on a salad has positive overall cardiovascular effects.
Exercise — Regular exercise improves and expands the circulatory system, reducing blood pressure. Just plain walking would be my favorite. I would avoid extremely strenuous exercises, at least until all cardiovascular indicators are normalized.
Cleansing Diet — A cleansing diet, such as our 7 Day Cleanse, is excellent for general detoxifying of the body and lowering blood pressure.
Check Your Prescriptions — If you are taking prescription drugs, check to make sure increased blood pressure is not a possible side-effect.
Stop Smoking — High blood pressure in a smoker is a wake-up call to action. If you can’t quit on your own, go through a stop smoking program.
Garlic Supplement — Garlic has a wonderful, documented effect of lowering blood pressure. 1-2 capsules or tablets with each meal is usually appropriate.
EPA Supplement — Eicosapentaenoic acid, generally derived from fish oils, has been documented to help high cholesterol, as well as other cardiovascular problems including hypertension.
GLA Supplement — Gamma linoleic acid, as found in borage oil, Evening Primrose oil, and flax seed oil, provides good, healthy fatty acids, for improving the cardiovascular system.
Vitamin E — Vitamin E has long been regarded as a primary nutrient for a healthy cardiovascular system.
Capsicum — Capsicum, or cayenne pepper herb, has a dilating effect on the blood vessels, thus improving circulation and lowering blood pressure.
Niacin — Vitamin B3 or niacin, likewise is known for a dilating effect on the blood vessels, improving both high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Regular niacin causes an uncomfortable “flushing” sensation for up to 30 minutes after taking. I generally use the buffered form of niacin instead — niacinamide.
Coenzyme Q-10 — This vitamin-like anti-oxidant is part of every cell and has been promoted as a remedy for almost any problem you want to name. I primarily use Coenzyme Q-10 for cardiovascular problems. It is known to reduce blood pressure.

In addition to the above supplements, I would always recommend a good multi-vitamin and multi-mineral as the foundation for your more specific nutritional supplementation program.

The above supplements are possibilities. As always, I determine which of the possibilities are the right supplements for a given individual. Testing at the clinic determines which are the appropriate supplements for you.

As one final point, stress reduction is critical for resolving hypertension. There are two divisions here: (1) Learning how to relate to difficult situations you can’t change, so you’re not stressed by them, and (2) Making lifestyle changes to reduce your stress — job, living location, indebtedness, or anything else that’s negotiable.

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Health Minute: Constipation

PacificHealthTeam — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 03:16:50 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

Many people wince at talking about constipation, even though few problems can affect your health more than bowel irregularity. Mark Twain once said something to the effect that sex was one of life’s most overrated pleasures, while bowel regularity was one of life’s most important necessities! Let’s look at what constipation is, why it happens and what to do about it.

DEFINITION OF CONSTIPATION

My dictionary says constipation is “a condition of the bowels marked by defective or difficult evacuation.” But, how often should you evacuate? Medical doctors have a standard, purely idiotic line that goes, “Normal is whatever is normal for you.” Eight year of college and you come up with that kind of nonsense? Try applying that philosophy to the rest of your life — whatever you do is normal (come to think of it, that is the philosophy of much of our contemporary culture teaches).

How about a dose of common sense — you know, that commodity that isn’t very common. If you eat three meals a day (not to mention snacks), does it make sense that you would only eliminate waste once every week, or every three days, or even just once a day? Not really.

Those who study primitive cultures, where people don’t have all the bad dietary habits and stress of modern civilization, find people generally have bowel movements corresponding to the number of meals they eat. Since most people around the world eat twice a day at best, two bowel movements per day is typical.

In my view healthy bowel regularity means two bowel movements per day. Now I don’t just mean two eliminations of something, irregardless of size or consistency. I mean two good, well formed stools. The stools shouldn’t be hard or small round balls. They should be 12 or more inches long, of good diameter, and not loose. The right kind of health and diet habits will produce that type of bowel movement.

Contrast my definition of healthy bowel activity with what the average American experiences: Hardly a week goes by that I don’t see someone in my practice having only one bowel movement every three days. Every couple of months I see someone having only one bowel movement every week. Then occcasionally it’s even longer periods — I’ve seen a number of people averaging only one bowel movement every three weeks! One of those was fatigued and couldn’t figure out why she had no appetite!

CAUSES OF CONSTIPATION

There are both physical and emotional causes of constipation. The primary physical causes include:

Lack of Fiber — Unless you’ve been on another planet for the last 15 years, you’ve probably heard literally thousands of commercials highlighting fiber and bowel regularity . . . so this isn’t a new subject. A more natural food diet is automatically high in fiber with its fruits, vegetables and whole grains. People eating the typical American junk food diet of fast food, sugar and refined grains, don’t get much fiber. Nor do the people of my parents and grandparents generation eating “meat and potatoes.”
In any event, start eating a more natural food diet as defined in my booklet, The Junk Food Withdrawal Manual, or our Client Manual at Pacific Health Center, and you’ll go a long way toward improving your bowel regularity. There are also fiber supplements, which I’ll talk about later.

Lack of Pure Water — Water is the primary cleanser of your body, designed to flush out toxins via the kidneys. Two issues emerge here — quantity and quality of water. Hardly anyone drinks enough water, quantity-wise. A good rule-of-thumb is to divide your body weight in pounds in two and drink that many ounces of pure water per day. That means most people should be drinking two or three quarts daily.
On the purity question hardly anyone drinks pure water either. I have a simple definition of pure water — pure water is nothing but water. It doesn’t have chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, nitrates, pesticides, or other toxic substances in it. But it also does not have calcium, magnesium or other supposedly healthful minerals in it either.

Water washes your body — it’s a solvent. And water is the best solvent when it has no minerals in it. Get your minerals from your food and supplements and keep your water pure for cleansing the body.

Eating Sensitive Foods — Allergically sensitive foods can, among many other things, produce constipation. We often see people’s bowel regularity improve primarily from getting them off of dairy products, wheat or some other food they are reacting to.
Lack of Exercise — Few things have caused more constipation than the increasing amount of time the average person spends sitting — whether at work, in front of a TV, or whatever. We have become a sedentary society. Doing some daily walking is one of the best ways to stimulate normal bowel regularity.
Lack of Time — Many people pursue a morning routine that doesn’t lend itself to a good morning bowel movement. If you wake up in the morning and are out the door on your way to work in a half hour or so, you’re not likely to have good bowel regularity — you just haven’t allowed the time for it.
I never cease to be amazed at the people who tell me they don’t have time in the morning to take an acidophilus capsule upon arising, take homeopathic remedies 15 minutes later, and wait at least another 15 minutes after that before eating. Since most of them are Christians, I’m always wondering when do they read the Bible and pray? When do they exercise? When do they plan out their day? If you’re going to have any kind of a spiritual life or physical life, may I recommend what Jesus did? He went to bed early, and he got up early.
My “morning routine” is two to three hours every morning. It’s been that way virtually all of my adult life, and few things have contributed more to my health than that routine.

Emotional Stress — When you are emotionally stressed, the primary area of your body to “feel” that stress is your digestive tract. Furthermore, within the digestive tract, the primary repository of emotional stress is the colon. When you’re stressed the muscles of the colon tighten up rather than having their normal peristalsis which moves the waste through the colon toward elimination.

The effect of emotional stress on the colon was demonstrated in a abdominal surgery I once read about. A criminal, who had just been caught by the police, was having abdominal surgery under a local anesthetic, so that he was conscious. When the surgeon first had his colon exposed, everything looked normal — just like the textbooks. But then the doctor asked him, “Have you had any trouble with the police lately?” Immediately the colon muscles tensed up, ceasing their previous normal function.

I have often asked chronically constipated people if they tend to hold their feelings in, such as suppressing anger or other emotions. Almost always they say “yes.” People that bury their emotions are more likely to have some kind of intestinal problems, including constipation.

DEALING WITH CONSTIPATION

I believe a number of steps can be taken to eliminate constipation:

Improve your diet — A good natural food diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is essential to good bowel regularity. If you need some guidelines on changing your diet, I recommend my booklet, The Junk Food Withdrawal Manual.
Get off of sensitive foods — If you haven’t already done so, get tested at the clinic to find out what foods you’re sensitive to.
Use a psyllium husk supplement — Most constipated people do well on a fiber supplement, such as those made from psyllium husk. This is a non-digested plant fiber, mixed into juice and drunk, that swells as it goes through your digestive tract, essentially acting like a broom. It absorbs toxins as it gets into cracks and crevices, but it also just provides physical bulk to stimulate more normal bowel regularity. I do not recommend the popular grocery store, drug store brands of psyllium or other fiber products, though, in that they all contain sugar or artificial flavors.
Psyllium can be a problem with some people, particularly people that have been very constipated for a long time. If you have some narrow, constricted areas in the colon, all that psyllium fiber may just pile up there and create a lot of abdominal blockage and pain. So if you get pain or bloating after you start taking psyllium and your bowel movements are not becoming larger and more regular, stop taking the psyllium. An herbal laxative, enemas, or colonic irrigations may be more appropriate, at least temporarily.

Possibly use an herbal laxative — Probably 90% of the time or more we can get good results using our psyllium-herbal combination (Pro Bulk M). But with some people, particularly those that have had many years of constipation, it may also take an herbal laxative to get things going. Generally these are just used temporarily, while psyllium is fine to use indefinitely.
Enemas — Manually flushing out the lower bowel with an enema is very appropriate to relieve constipation, particularly if nothing else is working. While psyllium supplements and herbal laxatives usually suffice, occasionally an enema may be required. Remember, it is essential for your health that you not allow toxic material to build up in the colon from constipation.
Colonic irrigation — Colonics are basically a high tech enema done with a machine by a trained therapist. Unlike enemas, the entire length of the colon can be flushed out. Some practitioners place a major emphasis on colonics for detoxification. I used to recommend a lot of colonics but have since found that in most cases the same job can be done more naturally with internal supplements. At present I only recommend colonics for people with a long history of constipation who do not respond to psyllium and/or herbal laxatives.
Increase pure water intake — I recommend at least two quarts of distilled water per day for most people.
Develop a morning routine — Go to bed earlier and get up earlier. This will give you time to drink a lot of water, exercise, eat a high fiber meal, and most importantly, spend some time with God.

Photo by Meg on Unsplash

Health Minute: Thyroid Problems

PacificHealthTeam — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 03:07:16 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

The thyroid gland is frequently associated with various health complaints. Thy thyroid is a bilobed endocrine gland in the pharynx region at the base of the neck. It primarily produces the hormones thyroxine (referred to on blood tests at T4) and triiodothyronine (referred to on blood tests as T3). The thyroid gland particularly relates to metabolism, and thus may be involved with fatigue, obesity and other problems.

THYROID DISEASES

Hypothyroidism — This refers to deficient activity of the thyroid, under-producing thyroid hormones. It is a very common condition manifesting symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, obesity, painful menses, muscle weakness, dry and scaly skin, yellow-orange coloration to the skin (particularly the palms), hair loss (including eyebrows), frequent infections, constipation, slow speech, intolerance to cold, and drooping, swollen eyelids (myxedema).
Hyperthyroidism — As the name would suggest, this is the opposite of hypothyroidism. In hyperthyroidism the thyroid is over-producing thyroid hormones, creating overactive metabolism. Symptoms include nervousness, irritability, increased perspiration, fatigue, weakness, frequent bowel movements or diarrhea, insomnia, hair and weight loss, nail problems, hand tremors, moist skin, heat intolerance, rapid heart beat, high blood pressure, and malabsorption (due to overactive metabolism). It is generally believed that hyperthyroidism is autoimmune in nature.
One form of hyperthyroidism is Grave’s Disease (named after British physician Robert Graves 1796-1853). Grave’s Disease is generally indicated by goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland) and protruding eyeballs.
Thyroiditis — This refers to inflammation of the thyroid gland. Subacute thyroiditis is believed to be caused by viral infection. Symptoms include sudden onset of a neck pain that may be described as “sore throat,” increasing tenderness in the neck, and low grade fever (100 to 101 degrees). The neck pain often shifts from side to side, ultimately settling in one area, frequently radiating to the jaws and ears. It’s aggravated by swallowing or turning the head and may be confused with dental problems, a regular sore throat, or ear infection. In the early stages hyperthyroidism is common, due to the enlargement of the thyroid.
Subacute thyroiditis produces lassitude and prostration beyond other thyroid disorders. It generally takes several months to subside.
One form of thyroiditis is Hashimoto’s Disease. This is an autoimmune condition in which the body becomes allergic to thyroid hormone, characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid. Many believe this to be the primary cause of primary hypothyroidism. It occurs in women eight to one over men, most often between the ages of 30 and 50. Often there is a family history of thyroid problems, plus people with chromosomal disorders (such as Down Syndrome) are more likely to have Hashimoto’s.
Someone with Hashimoto’s Disease will typically complain of painless enlargement of the thyroid or a feeling of fullness in the throat. About 20% of the patients are hypothyroid when first seen. Other forms of autoimmune disease may be involved as well, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythmatosus, Addison’s disease, hypoparathyroidism, diabetes, and Sjogren’s syndrome.
Silent Thyroiditis occurs most often in women, often in the postpartum period, is characterized by mild thyroid enlargement, a hyperthyroid phase for several weeks to several months, sometimes followed by a temporary hypothyroidism. This may be an autoimmune disorder.
Wilson’s Syndrome — Named after E. Denis Wilson, M.D., this is also known as Multiple Enzyme Dysfunction or MED. When the body is under stress from illness, fasting, corticosteroid drugs, etc., T4 may be deiodinized to Reverse T3 (RT3) instead of to T3. Then, as the T3 levels drop, body temperature may drop below normal, decreasing the function of important enzymes. This can be the cause of thyroid system dysfunction when the more common tests are normal.

THYROID BLOOD TESTS

Conventional medicine determines thyroid problems with various blood tests:

Total Serum Thyroxine (T4) — This is the most common thyroid blood test. Often if your medical doctor says they tested your thyroid, this was the extent of it, even though there are many other possible thyroid tests. This is low if you’re hypothyroid and high if you’re hyperthyroid. Unfortunately, this often tests in the “normal” range when a person has a subclinical thyroid problem.
Total Serum Triiodothyronine (T3) — This is also low if you’re hypothyroid and high if you’re hyperthyroid.
Reverse Triiodothyronine (RT3) — A high level of RT3 suggests Wilson’s Syndrome.
Serum Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) — TSH is a pituitary hormone that stimulates the thyroid to produce thyroxine. This is the best test for demonstrating primary hypothyroidism, as distinguished by an underactive thyroid being caused by pituitary gland function. This is high in primary hypothyroidism (thyroid is the cause) and low or normal in secondary hypothyroidism (pituitary is the cause of the low thyroid).
Free Thyroxine — The Merck Manual states that while this is theoretically the ideal thyroid test, it is difficult to measure, having many technical pitfalls.
Thyroid Hormone Binding Ratio (THBR; T3 Resin Uptake) — This test is designed to get around problems of variation in Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) and measure the unsaturated thyroid hormone-binding sites, rather than the circulating T3 hormone. This is low in untreated hypothyroidism and high in untreated hyperthyroidism.
Free Thyroxine Index — This is the product of the THBR and the T4 and provides an estimate of the concentration of free T4.
Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) — This is used in conjunction with measuring TSH. An injection of TRH should cause a rapid rise in TSH. The rise is exaggerated in primary hypothyroidism. The test is used to distinguish pituitary from hypothalmic hypothyroidism. Someone with a pituitary deficiency causing their hypothyroidism does not release TSH in response to TRH. If a hypothalmic disorder is present, where there is a deficiency of TRH, TSH should release should be normal, though it may be delayed or prolonged.

Radioactive Iodine Uptake (RAI) — This test is not frequently done due to cost and radiation exposure. It is used for diagnosing hyperthyroidism, in which RAI is elevated.

THYROID SELF-TEST

A simple test using axillary basal temperature for determining possible thyroid problems was popularized by the late Broda Barnes, M.D., in his book Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness. The procedure is simple:

Place a thermometer by your bed at night.
Upon wakening place the thermometer under your armpit (try to move around as little as possible in doing this).
Keep it there for 15 minutes, while keeping still and quiet.
A temperature of 97.6 or lower may indicate a hypothyroid condition.
Readings on several different mornings are necessary to determine a definite pattern.

In my experience I’ve found that many people with this low basal temperature do not have an underactive thyroid, but underactive adrenal glands (or other endocrine glands).

CAUSES OF THYROID PROBLEMS

Conventional medicine generally doesn’t approach thyroid problems (or much of anything else) from the perspective of what causes the problem. It’s generally just a matter of diagnosing it and drugging it with synthetic hormones.

It’s admittedly tough to figure out what the root causes of thyroid problems are, but here are some possibilities:

Autoimmune reactions — Most often conventional medicine views autoimmune reactions as causing various thyroid problems. The question they generally don’t ask is, “What causes these autoimmune reactions?”
Iodine deficiency — The mineral iodine is a primary component of thyroxine hormone. Thus, hypothyroid problems can come from iodine deficiency.
L-Tyrosine deficiency — This amino acid is often deficient in hypothyroid people.
Overall nutrient deficiencies — Potentially any nutrient deficiency may contribute to developing any health problem — including thyroid problems.
Food or environmental sensitivities — Reactions to food or environmental substances may lead to the more serious problem of autoimmune reactions. Thus, desensitizing the body to food and environmental substances may reduce autoimmune reactions.
Toxicity — Why does the body all of sudden start attacking itself resulting in autoimmune disorders? The theory that makes the most sense to me is that toxicity sets the body up for autoimmunity. External toxins and internal, self-produced toxins accumulate in our bodies until the proverbial “straw breaks the camel’s back.” When the body finally reacts to its accumulated toxic load, many different health problems may manifest themselves. Autoimmune disorders are one possibility.

NATURAL MEDICINE APPROACHES

What does natural medicine offer for your thyroid problem? Maybe something, and frankly, maybe nothing. In many cases synthetic hormone replacement therapy is the only alternative. With some people natural medicine approaches can either eliminate the need for synthetic hormone replacement therapy or perhaps reduce it.

In many cases it’s helpful to take a natural supplement along with one’s synthetic drug therapy. Understand that whenever you’re taking a synthetic hormone replacement drug, it stops any natural production of that hormone. Taking a natural glandular along with the drug may maintain some stimulation for the gland that’s supposed to be doing the job. Bottom line, don’t beat up on yourself too much if you can’t get free from your drug replacement therapy — just do some natural medicine approaches to compensate for the potential damage done by the synthetic hormones.

Relative to thyroid problems, the following general possibilities exist for supplementation (as always individual testing at the clinic would be necessary to determine which specific supplements are right for you).

Multi-Vitamin Mineral — For any health problem, as well as for overall health, this is the basic supplement for covering the bases. I’m talking about a hypoallergenic, good quality multi, not the kind you get at the drug or discount store.
Thyroid Glandular — A bovine thyroid glandular supplement makes no claims for thyroxine content (though there may be some). Rather it is designed to be more of a nutritional stimulant to the thyroid gland, helping restore it to normal function. I definitely do not recommend taking this kind of supplement without first testing one of the four different products we have at the clinic.
Iodine — An organic iodine supplement such as from kelp or dulse is often beneficial. Most of our thyroid glandulars already include this.
L-Tyrosine — Since low levels of this amino acid are found in many low thyroid people, supplementation may be helpful — at least if this nutrient is deficient. Again, individual testing is important.
Herbs — In addition to kelp herbs that are recommended for thyroid problems include bayberry, black cohosh, and goldenseal.

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Better Health Update is published by Pacific Health Center, PO Box 1126, Pinedale, Arizona 85934-1126, Phone (800) 255-4246 providing remote “virtual health screening” appointments anywhere in the world. E-Mail: drkline@pacifichealthcenter.com. Monte Kline, Clinical Nutritionist, Author. Reproduction Prohibited.

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Health Minute: Prostate Problems

PacificHealthTeam — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 01:22:22 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

Some of the most common health problems with men relate to the prostate gland — note it’s “prostate,” not “prostrate” (verb meaning “bend over”), as about one-fourth of the population insists on mispronouncing it. The only “prostrate” involved is the position one assumes for a “prostate” exam in the doctor’s office! Just help my number one language pet peeve and remember there’s no second “r” in prostate.

The prostate is a doughnut-shaped gland about the size of a walnut which surrounds the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder). It produces most of the milky fluid (semen) which carries the sperm produced by the testicles. During a man’s orgasm, muscles squeeze this fluid from the prostate into the urethra for ejaculation.

PROSTATITIS

Prostatitis refers to inflammation of the prostate, which may be acute or chronic. Typically bacteria from elsewhere in the body has entered the prostate. This may result in a partial or complete blockage of urine flow from the bladder. Such urine retention causes the bladder to become weak, distended, tender and more prone to infection. This infection may also be transmitted up the ureters from the bladder into the kidneys.

Symptoms associated with acute prostatitis include:

Pain between the scrotum and rectum
Fever
Frequent urination with a burning sensation
Blood or pus in the urine

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis include:

Frequent, burning urination
Blood in the urine
Lower back pain
Impotence
Increasingly difficult urination

BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERTROPHY (BPH)

BPH refers to enlargement of the prostate gland. This is non-cancerous, and, according to conventional medical authorities does not lead to prostate cancer. BPH is common in men over age 50, half of all men over age 60 have it, and 80% of all men over age 80 have it.

This enlargement of the prostate presses on the urethra and bladder, potentially causing back up of urine into the kidneys. This in turn may produce infection in the kidneys or bladder. Common symptoms of BPH include:

Frequent urination
Having to get up at night to urinate
Feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder
Starting and stopping when urinating
Strong, sudden need to urinate
Restricted flow during urination
Straining to start urination
Painful or burning urination

PROSTATE CANCER

Prostate cancer is the third most common cancer in men, following cancer of the lungs or colon. It seldom occurs before age 60, and typically is difficult to detect. It often reaches an advanced stage before being diagnosed.

Symptoms of early prostate cancer are similar to those of BPH:

Blood in the urine (or reddish or pink urine)
Difficulty starting urination
Increasing need to get up at night to urinate
Burning sensation during urination

A history of venereal disease or repeated prostatic infections may lead to prostate cancer. Heredity is not believed to be involved.

MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS

Men over 45 should definitely have prostate examination by their medical doctor at least every three years. This consists of two parts:

Digital Exam — Your doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum, while you are bent over (this is the only “prostrate” in “prostate”) to feel the prostate through the wall of the rectum. He’s looking for lumps, abnormal textures, or hardness. For example, in prostate cancer the prostate takes on a wood-like firmness instead of its typical rubbery firm feeling. Unfortunately, the digital exam is limited — you could pass this test and still have a problem.
P.S.A. Blood Test — The PSA (or Prostate Specific Antigen) measures a protein which elevates with aging, prostate enlargement, or prostatic cancer. Though there is disagreement about its effectiveness, PSA is generally considered a good early detection tool, being credited with the great increase in detection of prostate cancer.

CONVENTIONAL MEDICAL TREATMENT

Wait and See — Frequently the conventional medical approach to prostate problems like BPH is just do nothing but monitor the condition, particularly if the patient is not bothered by any symptoms.
Alpha Blocker Drugs — These drugs help relax the prostate muscles and sometimes help on urinary symptoms. Like all drugs, there are possible side effects, like headaches, dizziness, low blood pressure and tiredness. Long-term benefits and risks are unknown.
Finasteride Drug — This drug, brand name Proscar, can cause the prostate to shrink and thus improve urinary symptoms. Reduced sexual libido and performance are side effects.
Balloon Dilation — A catheter is inserted into the penis, through the urethra and into the bladder, where a balloon is inflated on the end. This theoretically stretches the urethra where the enlarged prostate has constricted it, opening it up for urination.
Surgery — There are three kinds of surgery: (1) Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), which is the most common. With an instrument inserted through the penis into the urethra, part of the inside of the prostate is removed. (2) Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP), which is similar to TURP, but only involves one or two incisions in the prostate to relieve pressure on the urethra. (3) Prostatectomy, removal of the prostate.

I don’t know about you, but the only conventional medical treatment that appeals to me is doing nothing! There’s got to be a better way, and I believe natural medicine offers that.

PREVENTION

Let’s face it, like most health problems, it’s a lot easier to prevent prostate disease than to treat it once you already have a problem. While most conventional medical material I read on this subject laments the inevitability of prostate disease in older men, the fact remains that not every man develops prostate problems. Likewise, prostate disease is not equally common in all cultures — Japan has a much lower incidence of prostate disease than America. Dietary prevention should include:

High carotenes — Red-orange fruits and vegetables are high in carotenes and correlate with decreased prostate problems.
Soy products — Soy contains natural isoflavones which help detoxify the “bad” testosterone associated with prostate disease — DHT (dihydrotestosterone).
High fiber diet — Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables have a higher fiber content which promotes bowel regularity, therefore removing pressure from the prostate.
Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds — These appear to have a beneficial effect on preventing prostate problems.

SUPPLEMENTS FOR PROSTATE

Prostate glandular — Bovine glandular prostate supplements are often helpful is nourishing and balancing the genetically similar tissue of the human prostate.
Zinc — Chelated zinc supplements, such as zinc picolinate, has long been regarded as helpful to the prostate. Zinc is necessary to the utilization of carotenes, which appear to have a cancer preventive effect. Zinc, along with Vitamin B-6, regulates the 5 alpha reductase enzyme which converts testosterone to the harmful DHT testosterone.
Essential Oils — Evening Primrose, flax seed oil, or borage oil relate to proper prostaglandin formation. Prostaglandins are ‘messenger hormones” first discovered in the prostate, which are anti-inflammatory and regulate other functions.
Beta Carotene — While it’s important to eat a diet rich in carotenes, supplementation is also important. A good multi-vitamin or prostate formula will usually contain beta carotene.
Saw Palmetto — The berries of this common southeastern U.S. tree (Serenoa repens) inhibit the 5 alpha reductase enzyme from converting testosterone to DHT, prevent the DHT already formed from acting, and reduce inflammation in the prostate. Studies have shown it more effective than the drug Proscar with fewer side effects.
Pygeum africanum — This bark of an African evergreen is widely used in Europe. It likewise seems to work by limiting DHT formation and lowering the pituitary hormone prolactin. It also functions as an antibiotic.
Stinging Nettles — Another herb used in Europe that blocks DHT.

As always, the key to developing an appropriate diet and supplement program is individual testing at the clinic. Some of the above products may be appropriate, while others are not for a given individual.

Photo by Lukas Blazek on Unsplash

Health Minute: Adrenal Problems

PacificHealthTeam — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 01:16:04 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

Some of the most common problems seen in our clinic relate to the adrenal glands. These two tiny glands the size of your thumb sit atop the kidneys, producing a host of life-sustaining hormones. The adrenals consist of two parts — the outer part or cortex, and the inner part, or medulla. The adrenal cortex produces several hormones from cholesterol, the best known being cortisol, aldosterone, and DHEA. The adrenal medulla is best known for producing adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) and noradrenaline (also known as norepinephrine).

FUNCTION OF THE ADRENALS

Let’s step back from the anatomy, though, and talk about what the adrenals really do for you. The adrenals comprise an emergency life support system. They secrete hormones in response to stress — physical stresses like infection, inflammation, injury, and allergic reactions . . . or any kind of emotional stress. They are like a life jacket, but not a boat — a spare tire that keeps you going, but won’t take you cross country.

The adrenals, particularly the medulla relates to the well-known “fight or flight” response, best illustrated in a primitive setting. The adrenals enable a primitive man confronted with a wild animal to either (1) fight for his life, or (2) run like the wind. Civilized man doesn’t occasionally encounter wild animals, though. He just maintains a constant level of “adrenalinization” from daily stresses. While primitive man got rid of his excess adrenaline through the sheer physical exertion necessary for his “wild animal encounter,” civilized man usually has no adrenaline outlet . . . being in effect “poisoned” by his own excess adrenal hormones.

The adrenal cortex maintains the salt and water balance in the cells, thus enabling proper blood pressure. Carbohydrate metabolism, blood sugar regulation, and sex hormone secretions also involve the adrenals. These adrenal hormones are anti-inflammatory, and therefore have a strong relationship to arthritis and allergic reactions.

Adrenal hormones profoundly affect the emotions. Adrenal weakness is characterized by depression, moodiness, irritability and anxiety. They also are pivotal in the body’s response to infection, temperature extremes, and physical trauma.

SYMPTOMS OF ADRENAL DISORDER

Severe fatigue

Nervousness

Depression

Poor memory/concentration

Low blood pressure

P.M.S.

Low blood sugar

Dizziness upon standing

Hard to gain weight

Inflammatory tendencies

Dry or thin skin

Poor resistance

Back/neck/shoulder muscle spasm/pain

Weakness

Irritability

Digestive discomfort

Light-headedness

Insomnia

Excessive hunger

Craving for sweets

Headaches

Hard to build muscle

Low body temperature

Little perspiration

Unexplained hair loss

Increased osteoporosis risk

ADRENAL SELF-TEST

In addition to the above symptoms, there is a simple test used to determine likely low adrenal function using blood pressure. Take your blood pressure sitting down or lying down. Then, with the blood pressure cuff on, stand up quickly and immediately take the blood pressure again. In a normal person the blood pressure should go up. In an adrenal deficient person it will go down (which is what causes the “light-headedness” symptom noted above).

ADRENAL STRESSORS

Ralph Golan, M.D. in his book, Optimal Wellness, notes several common problems or situations that stress the adrenal glands, ultimately setting you up for adrenal dysfunction:

Trigger emotions

Anger

Fear

Worry/Anxiety

Guilt

Too much carbohydrate, too little protein

Severe allergies

Light cycle disruption (graveyard shift)

Excessive exercise

Insufficient sleep

Chronic infections

Temperature extremes

Toxic exposure

Chronic pain

Chronic inflammation

Surgery/trauma/injury

ADRENAL DISORDERS

Adrenal Exhaustion — When your adrenals are stressed by any of the above problems, they move into action by secreting their various hormones, fulfilling their “emergency life support system” role I described earlier. But they aren’t designed to continually bail you out, so they eventually get exhausted from overuse. Fatigue, weakness, and other low adrenal symptoms result.
Overactive Adrenals — In some cases abuse of the adrenals results in overactivity, particularly high adrenal hormones in the evening or at bedtime. In the normal cycle the cortisol output is greatest first thing in the morning, and then heads down from there, being the lowest at midnight. Some people with stressed out adrenals get this cycle out of balance, resulting in high cortisol levels at bedtime. This interferes with sleep, as well as producing hyper” physical and mental symptoms.

Addison’s Disease — When the adrenal cortex fails to produce cortisol and other hormones, you have Addison’s Disease. This is a permanent condition requiring daily hormone replacement therapy, a condition that people died of prior to the synthesizing of hydrocortisone in the early 1950’s. I have had Addison’s Disease since 1991, so this is one I know a great deal about.
Symptoms of Addison’s Disease include fatigue, loss of appetite, dizziness, nausea, fainting, inability to handle stress, depression, and discoloration or darkening of the skin (though I never had this symptom, much to the amazement of several doctors).

Cushing’s Syndrome — This condition stands as the opposite of Addison’s, in that Cushing’s is caused by an overactive adrenal cortex. The “Cushinoid” appearance is characterized by heavy abdomen, face, and buttocks, but thin arms and legs. Other symptoms include muscular weakness and wasting, red marks on the face, increased body hair, and greater susceptibility to illness. It is a rare disorder.

DHEA HORMONE

Much publicity has come in recent years regarding the adrenal hormone, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). It is the body’s most abundant hormone, serving as a precursor to other hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. It does function as an anabolic (tissue building) male hormone. Many properties have been attributed to DHEA, including:

Increases energy

Anti-Inflammatory

Stimulates metabolism

Weight loss

Stimulates bone formation

Osteoporosis preventive

Increases muscle mass

Decreases body fat

Lowers cholesterol

Quicker stress recovery

Reverses negative effects of excess cortisol

I know all this sounds wonderful, and motivates millions to walk into their grocery store and buy DHEA. But, not everybody needs DHEA supplementation. I absolutely don’t recommend taking DHEA unless you’ve had a blood, saliva, or electrodermal test (as we do at the clinic) indicating you are deficient in DHEA. Taking DHEA when you don’t need it may cause headaches, male pattern hair growth in women, female hormonal cycle disturbances, or other side effects. This is a real hormone, not just a vitamin pill, and it needs to be handled cautiously.

ADRENAL HELP

In my experience probably one-third to one-half of our clients have some kind of adrenal problem. You probably identify with many of the symptoms noted earlier. The question is, “What do I do?” A combination of diet, various nutritional supplements, and in the most severe cases, synthetic hormone replacement therapy are the possibilities.

Diet — The same diet that’s good for any kind of health problem applies with adrenal problems. Whole foods, no refined sugar, and no coffee or other caffeine are recommended. It’s also important to avoid sensitive foods, which provoke adrenal response. Testing at the clinic will tell you what to avoid.
Glandular Supplements — Though some natural medicine practitioners disagree, I have found bovine adrenal glandular supplements to work well with most low adrenal clients. These are best understood as a nutritional supplement to the adrenals, rather than having any significant hormonal activity in themselves. I usually find the best results with products that combine the glandular with synergistic vitamins, minerals, or herbs.
Herbal Supplements — Various herbs have hormonal properties that may be beneficial. Licorice root extends the half-life of cortisol, making what cortisol you have last longer. Mexican Wild Yam is also used effectively, though the mechanism of its action is questioned, particularly its ability to turn into DHEA. Siberian Ginseng has steroid activity, and can turn into pregnenalone, cortisol, and DHEA.
Vitamins — Though we usually think of the B-vitamins as the anti-stress vitamins, vitamin C is very important to the adrenals and to enabling the body to cope with stress. Of the B vitamins, it is Pantothenic Acid (B-5) which is most associated with the adrenals. Magnesium is also very important, particularly with the hyper adrenal states which cause excess urinary excretion of magnesium.
Amino Acids — In cases of hyper functioning adrenals, a specific supplement called phosphoralated serine (brand name “Seriphos”) may be helpful. This helps the hypothalamus and pituitary glands to reduce their ACTH hormone output, which is the cause of the adrenals pumping out excessive cortisol. If you’re “wired” at bedtime, and thus have difficulty getting to sleep, this may help.

STRESS MANAGEMENT

The ultimate help for the adrenals comes from de-stressing your life. If you’re not going to suffer from adrenal problems, you need to make some changes. Now I know what everyone says at this point — “But I can’t get out of the stress I’m in.”

The answer to that is, “Baloney!” You just don’t want to make the tough choices required to readjust your lifestyle. You can get more sleep by going to bed earlier. You can rest one day in seven as God prescribes. You can get a different job. You can cut down on activities that make your life overly hectic. You don’t have to do so much! It’s tough, but you can if you really want to.

I will agree that there are some stressful situations you can’t get out of without going against God’s Word — marriage and children come to mind. The real key to stress reduction is not changing your world, but changing yourself. Most situations are only stressful, because of the way you react to them. Learn to react in a non-stressful way.

The key to doing that is seeing that God is sovereign, that He is in ultimate control of everything. So why are you sweating it? He is a perfect Provider and Protector. Relax in Him. It works!

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Health Minute: Menopause

PacificHealthTeam — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 01:07:21 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

Menopause, the cessation of menstruation, often produces a host of aggravating symptoms that sometimes last for years. Like PMS, the victim is not the only sufferer. Spouses, family members, friends and fellow employees also get the privilege of going through menopause with the victim. A few years back at one of my Sick & Tired Seminars, a man came up to my emcee and lamented:

My wife and I have been going through menopause for ten years!

I guess that pretty much sums up menopause from the husband’s point-of-view!

Contrary to popular opinion, difficult menopause need not be a fact of life for all women. There are natural, non-drug approaches that, at the very least, can minimize menopausal discomfort. But before we get to that, let me share some background from the conventional medical perspective on menopause.

The physical and psychological changes occurring at menopause result from decreased production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, combined with increased amounts of gonadotropin hormones produced by the pituitary, plus higher amounts of male hormones (androgens) present in the blood. Rather than decreasing gradually, the hormonal output may start and stop, resulting in menopausal symptoms. Menopause usually occurs between ages 45 and 55, with the average age being about 51.

MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS

Hot Flashes — About 70% of menopausal women experience hot flashes and night sweats. On average women experience these symptoms from two to five years in varying degrees of severity.
Vaginal Dryness — As estrogen levels decrease, the vaginal skin thins and its secretions diminish. The vagina thins and loses elasticity, and more easily develops infections. Intercourse often becomes difficult and painful due to vaginal dryness.
Urethral Syndrome — Shrinkage may also occur with the neck of the bladder and the urethra, resulting in a feeling of needing to empty the bladder more frequently.
Poor Memory and Concentration
Osteoporosis — The bones tend to lose calcium more rapidly during the first two to five years of menopause, though over a period of ten or more years osteoporosis may develop.
Cardiovascular Changes — The hormonal changes of menopause often cause a rise in blood pressure and in blood fats like cholesterol and triglycerides. This can result in fat deposits in the blood vessels (atherosclerosis), coronary heart disease, or stroke.
Emotional Symptoms — Irritability, tearfulness, anxiety, depression and other emotional states commonly accompany menopause. In addition to the obvious cause of lack of estrogen, emotional symptoms may also be related to the sleep deprivation caused by night sweats.

CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH

The A.M.A. Encyclopedia of Medicine notes that hormone replacement therapy (H.R.T.) is given “if symptoms are severe.” However, in my experience, synthetic hormone replacement seems to be recommended to almost all menopausal women by their medical doctors, regardless of symptoms. There are 13 million American women on H.R.T.

The conventional medicine logic is simple: hormones low — add hormones. They never seem to ask the question — “Why are the hormones low?” But more on that later.

Estrogen replacement therapy has been plagued by a number of potentially serious side-effects. Susan Lark, M.D. in her book, The Menopause Self-Help Book, notes that estrogen should not be used by women at high risk of breast or uterine cancer, fibroid tumors of the uterus, endometriosis, liver or gall bladder disease, or depression. Concerns with synthetic estrogen replacement are:

Breast Cancer — Does estrogen replacement therapy cause breast cancer? Well, there have been contradictory studies on this. Most conventional doctors feel that, while there is not a definite connection, there is increased risk if you have a strong family history of breast cancer, have pre-existing breast disease, or if you develop breast lumps while on estrogen therapy. My feeling is that if there may be a connection, why not err on the side of caution?
Cancer of the Uterus — Originally conventional doctors used estrogen by itself for menopause and found a five-fold increase in the rate of uterine cancer. For many years it was combined with progestin (PremproTM) to supposedly protect against this. In July 2002 a federal eight year study of 16,000 women was halted after just five years due to conclusive proof that Prempro raised the risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer. The heart attack rate was 29% higher, the stroke rate was 41% higher, and the risk of invasive breast cancer was 26% higher. The medical world is reeling over this finding.
Uterine Fibroids & Endometriosis — Fibroid tumors are stimulated by estrogen and normally shrink after menopause. Therefore, if you already have a fibroid problem, maintaining high estrogen via synthetic hormones after menopause, is contraindicated.
Endometriosis occurs when the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, grows outside the uterus, implanting in the pelvis, resulting in pain and adhesions. Endometrial growth can be stimulated by estrogen in hormone replacement therapy.

Liver and Gall Bladder Disease — Among other things, the liver is responsible for breaking down estrogen. Therefore, if you have liver disease, you don’t want to increase the estrogen levels, adding further burden upon the liver. Estrogen replacement therapy also increases risk of gall bladder disease in susceptible women. Susceptibility is increased by obesity, high fat diet, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, or Native American ethnicity.
Depression — While some women find that H.R.T. improves their mood, others find estrogen and progestins to produce depression.
Heart Disease & High Blood Pressure — With the new federal study previously cited, H.R.T. is not likely to continue to be presented as a heart disease preventive.

Beyond these specific concerns on hormone replacement therapy, my overall concern is that you should not just treat symptoms! Let’s look at some underlying causes of menopausal problems.

CAUSES OF MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS

Nutrient Deficiencies — Just as with PMS, proper nutrient levels are needed to have proper hormone balance. Deficiencies of especially magnesium, vitamin B-6, vitamin E can be a significant cause of menopausal symptoms.
Problem Foods — Menopausal symptoms are typically aggravated by dairy products, refined sugar, caffeine (including chocolate) and meat.
Lack of Exercise — This affects most health problems, of course. Regular walking, for example, stimulates balance in the body overall, while having a calming effect.
Adrenal Weakness — Estrogen production is not just a function of the ovaries. The adrenals are one of the body’s secondary sources for estrogen and other hormones. My theory is that as the ovaries slow down their estrogen production, the adrenals are still there to maintain some hormone levels. But many, if not most, people have so exhausted their adrenals with overextended lifestyles and incorrect handling of stress. Adrenal weakness usually shows up in our testing on clients with menopausal problems.

DIETARY APPROACH

The same general dietary advice that applies to health in general applies to menopause, though there are some additional foods that may be helpful:

Avoid refined sugar — James Balch, M.D. in Prescription for Natural Healing, says hot flashes are primarily caused by sugar, dairy products and meat. Refined sugar disturbs the blood sugar and adrenal function, which in turn may affect hormonal balance.
Avoid dairy products — With the exception of yogurt (which has other benefits), dairy products tend to produce magnesium deficiency through their high calcium content. Hormonal residues from the cows may also upset a woman’s hormonal balance.
Avoid caffeine — Coffee, regular tea, colas, and chocolate should be avoided for general health, but are particularly bad for female hormonal problems. Caffeine stimulates the adrenals to do their “fight or flight” response. Continually stimulated adrenals become weak and less likely to help with the estrogen and progesterone needs at menopause.
Avoid Meat — With the exception of fish, beef and poultry (of course, I tell everyone to never eat pork) have the same hormonal residue problem as dairy products. Fatty acids have a lot to do with hormones, and the fatty acids derived from meat (arachindonic acid) are generally negative toward the body, as compared to those from vegetable sources (gamma linoleic acid)
“Phytoestrogen” — Many plants contain natural estrogen and progesterone substances. Studies on Japanese women, where the diet is high in phytoestrogens (and lower in meat, dairy and sugar) show their bodies having 100 to 1000 times the plant estrogens as the average Western woman. Japanese menopausal women generally do not have hot flashes as a result. Foods that contain phytoestrogens include apples, carrots, yams, green beans, peas, potatoes, red beans, brown rice, whole wheat, rye, sesame, and soy products.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS

After you have a good dietary foundation, then supplements are appropriate for enhancement. The following are typically used:

Multi-Vitamin-Mineral — Often I will use a special multi oriented toward female hormone issues. Such a product will have extra magnesium, B-6, and herbs for hormonal balancing.
Multi-Mineral — Almost always a separate chelated multi-mineral with a high magnesium content is necessary. This should include osteoporosis preventing ingredients like boron, manganese, equisetum herb, etc.
Ovarian Glandular — Ovarian glandular supplements are often helpful for balancing out low estrogen situations.
Female Herbal Combinations — Various combinations are available for hot flashes and menopausal symptoms in general. Common herbs used include Dong Quai, Mexican Wild Yam, Blessed Thistle, Black Cohosh, Red Raspberry, Damiana, and others.
Homeopathic Formulas — At our clinics we also use various homeopathic formulas designed for menopausal symptoms. This is often helpful in conjunction with the other supplements.
Vitamin E — Some women seem to particularly respond to extra Vitamin E with hot flash and other symptoms. If we find you testing deficient to Vitamin E, you may need a supplement.
Natural Estrogen and Progesterone Creams — We now have available both natural estrogen and progesterone from plant sources in the form of creams that are rubbed into the skin. The reason for this method of administration is that these hormones tend to be destroyed in the digestive tract when consumed orally. Absorption through the skin, of course, bypasses the digestion.

In some cases the creams will be helpful when used intravaginally for vaginal dryness.

Just one final word about supplements — testing. The above are just the “possibilities.” What you need, what will work for you can only best be determined by individual electrodermal testing at the clinic. With the right diet and supplement program, you should be able to go through the change of life with minimal discomfort.

Photo by Vladislav Muslakov on Unsplash

Health Minute: Digestive Problems

PacificHealthTeam — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:03:03 GMT

Health Minute Audio Summary:

Digestion is the foundation of our lives and health. This process of breaking down our food into its constituent nutrients and getting those nutrients absorbed by the cells is critical to our health. Likewise, poor digestion, as evidenced by various digestive problems, is the root cause of many health problems. Flatulence (intestinal gas), heartburn, burping, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, constipation and various other digestive problems, are some of the most frequent complaints I hear from my clients.

You do not have to suffer from digestive problems. There are answers as we understand and cooperate with the digestive process God built into our bodies. Let’s look at how our digestion works and the causes of most digestive disturbances.

A TRIP THROUGH YOUR DIGESTIVE TRACT

The textbook explanation of the digestive process is pretty boring, so let me try to give you the highlights without putting you to sleep. Most people think of their digestive tract as their stomach, small intestine and large intestine. Actually, the beginning of your digestive tract is your mouth. Digestion begins with chewing and mixing food with saliva in the mouth. The six salivary glands produce the saliva that breaks down the starches in food, making it ready for the action of later digestive secretions.
Here we have the beginning of our digestive problems — hardly anyone adequately chews their food. This puts a greater burden on the later digestive processes, setting you up for not only indigestion, but poor assimilation. The idea of chewing food is to liquefy it, such that it can almost drain down your esophagus.
The stomach is of course the next step in digestion. Gastric juice in the stomach includes hydrochloric acid, pepsin, rennin, and lipase. Hydrochloric acid, contrary to popular belief, doesn’t really digest anything. It merely lowers the pH of the gastric juice to activate the enzyme pepsin, which breaks down protein. Rennin separates milk into liquid and solid portions, and lipase works on fat.
However, the greatest part of the digestive process takes place in the small intestine. While the stomach is a very acidic area of digestion, the small intestine is very alkaline. The predigested food from the stomach is released gradually into the small intestine where three digestive fluids act on it: pancreatic fluid, intestinal juice and bile. Various enzymes in pancreatic fluid begin the process of breaking down proteins, starches, sugars and fats. The intestinal juice is secreted by the small intestine itself and continues the digestive process with more enzymes. Bile from the liver (stored in the gall bladder) emulsifies fats.
If things go according to design, the large intestine or colon, basically removes water (and electrolyte minerals) from the digested food, forming the feces for elimination.

DIGESTIVE INTERFERENCE

All is well when the digestion goes according to the above design. For the average person this is usually not the case. Here are the typical interfering factors:

Poor Mastication — Most people don’t chew their food thoroughly, thus starting off the digestive process poorly. Eating “on the run”, fast food, and the general rush everyone’s in destroys digestion.
Enzyme Deficiency — As we age we tend to experience diminished enzyme and hydrochloric acid secretions. But a lot of this deficiency is simply a function of years of abusing our digestive system. We do that basically by eating too much in general, eating too much of hard to digest foods like meat, eating too quickly, and eating under stress instead of relaxed. Enzymes are the chemicals that make digestion work. Without them, indigestion and/or digestive diseases are guaranteed.
Dysbiosis —Dysbiosis refers to having too much “bad bacteria” in the digestive tract. A good functioning digestive tract requires the right kind of bacterial chemistry in your guts. Thanks to modern antibiotic drugs, few people have this good bacteria balance.
Candida albicans — The common yeast organism, Candida albicans, thrives in the absence of the beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, and can then produce gas, bloating, and other digestive symptoms.
Food sensitivities — Reactions to common foods like dairy products, wheat, corn, baker’s yeast and others is one of the main causes of indigestion. Virtually everyone has at least some degree of food sensitivities, though they probably don’t have medically diagnosed “allergies.” While the term “allergy” refers to an antibody, immune system type reaction, a “sensitivity” is more of a digestive tract reaction. Indigestion symptoms greatly improve with (1) temporarily avoiding the sensitive foods, and (2) homeopathically desensitizing them so they can be added back into the diet.
6. Poor food combinations — Different foods digest differently. They are digested in different places for different lengths of time in different mediums. Protein initially digests for several hours in the stomach in a very acid medium, while starches digest primarily in the small intestine in a very alkaline medium. So what happens when you eat proteins and starches together? Digestion is at the very least, less efficient. Proteins and vegetables digest well together, as do starches and vegetables. Fruits are best by themselves, due to their rapid digestion, and starches and proteins are best kept separate.
Emotional stress — I don’t know if there’s a greater cause to indigestion symptoms than emotional stress. When you’re stressed the primary area of your body to feel this stress is the digestive tract, particularly the colon. The worst thing you can do for your digestion is to eat while you’re stressed or rushed. When you’re stressed your nervous system is in the “fight or flight” mode, and the digestion more or less shuts down. Anything you eat in that aggravated state will either just sit there in your stomach undigested, or pass through the digestive tract undigested and become diarrhea.

DIGESTIVE DISEASES

There are a number of all too common digestive diseases that can result from the above digestive interferences.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome — IBS is characterized by irregular muscular contractions in the colon which may interfere with elimination and produce constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, mucous in stools, and flatulence.
Colitis — This refers to inflammation of the mucous membranes of the colon in which small pouches may be formed. The more severe form of this is ulcerative colitis, in which the colon becomes lined with ulcers.
Diverticulitis —Again we have the inflammation of the mucous membranes with more of an emphasis on the formation of pockets, or diverticula in the wall of the colon. Waste matter becomes trapped in these pockets, creating infection or inflammation. Diverticulitis is largely the result of chronic constipation.
Crohn’s Disease — This is characterized by long-lasting inflammation of sections of the digestive tract, usually the small intestine in which scar tissue is formed. These sections of intestine become non-functional, and in extreme cases, require surgical removal. Crohn’s symptoms include diarrhea, cramping, pain, malabsorption, anemia, and loss of energy, appetite and weight.

Most of these digestive diseases are caused, or at least aggravated by lack of fiber in the diet, food sensitivities, constipation, enzyme deficiency and emotional stress.

CONSTIPATION & DIARRHEA

Constipation (which I’ll define as less than one good bowel movement per day) results from inadequate fiber in the diet, lack of pure water, lack of exercise and often, emotional stress. It is often the forerunner to other digestive problems. Proper diet, psyllium fiber products, and herbal laxatives can usually correct this.

Diarrhea can result from food sensitivity reactions, candidiasis, bowel pathogenic organisms like giardia or E. coli, or very often from emotional stress.
Getting off the sensitive foods, correcting candidiasis, homeopathic formulas for intestinal pathogens, homeopathic diarrhea remedies, and stress reduction are helpful. Psyllium is also a diarrhea remedy, interestingly enough, and was originally used that way rather than for constipation

STEPS TO BETTER DIGESTION

Slow down — Slow down your eating, and you probably need to slow down your life in general. Take time to eat and digest properly. Chew your food thoroughly, preferably until it’s pretty much liquified. Taking time to chew your food also gives time for “sensors” in your mouth to “phone in” the order to your stomach and intestines as to what kind of enzymes are going to be needed. Swallowing food too quickly leaves your stomach and intestines unprepared for what’s coming — kind of like a guest showing up at your door unexpected.
Avoid sensitive foods and get desensitized — This requires testing to tell for sure which foods you’re reacting to. Normally getting you off of your sensitive foods will spell an immediate improvement in digestive distress.
Correct Candidiasis —Overgrowth of Candida albicans yeast will aggravate, if not actually cause, many digestive symptoms. Again, testing such as our Electro-Dermal Testing is required to confirm this and determine appropriate remedies.
Digestive Enzyme — A good digestive enzyme is fundamental to improving most digestive symptoms. I usually suggest a two-stage enzyme, where the first part helps stomach digestion and the second part works in the small intestine. Electro-Dermal Testing determines which enzyme is best for you.
Psyllium Husk — Most digestive problems are helped by this fiber bulking agent. I do not recommend the Metameucil brand or other drug store/supermarket brands of psyllium due to their sugar or artificial flavoring. Psyllium has a cleansing/detoxifying effect on the colon, as well as providing bulk for better elimination. With IBS, colitis, diverticulitis and Crohn’s, psyllium is often helpful, but must be used cautiously starting with just a small amount. While the fiber can help heal these conditions, too much will cause irritation.

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Better Health Update is published by Pacific Health Center, PO Box 1126, Pinedale, AZ 85934-1126, Phone (800) 255-4246, providing remote virtual health screening appointments anywhere in the world . E-Mail: drkline@pacifichealthcenter.com. Monte Kline, Clinical Nutritionist, Author. Reproduction Prohibited.

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