Detoxifying for Health

The skin is the largest organ of the body and one of the best ways to detoxify the body is through the skin. At Alternatives, we know that detoxifying the body leads to the elimination of free radicals, toxins, and potential carcinogens, restoring the health of our cells.

We offer Premier Research’s Medi-Body Pack here at the clinic as a way to detoxify the body through the skin. The Quantum-State Clay and Moor Mud Pack has been used for thousands of years in many cultures to help increase circulation, boost the immune system, ease muscle tension and rejuvenate cells, organs and glands.  It helps rapidly clear the body of toxic bioaccumulation and return to ideal cellular quality by initiating the “thermal effect”: an increased, deep intrinsic cellular cleansing effect.

The Medi-Body Pack can be applied to any area of the body, including the breasts. In fact, we often recommend it for women who have had abnormal thermograms, mammograms or even those who have or have had breast cancer.

I apply the volcanic clay topically to the skin here at Alternatives (or, you can use it at home). When applying it to a patient, I can see tension leave the body as the clay gets gently massaged into their skin. When finished, patients are relaxed and in a peaceful state. I then recommend using our infrared sauna session afterwards to help with the detoxification process. 

I believe one of the best parts of working at Alternatives is that not only do I get to pamper our patients, but I also get to be a part of restoring their health and lifting their spirits.  I am honored to serve in this capacity and I look forward to seeing you on your path to wellness!

Our Environment and Cancer

It is Fall 2014 - the leaves are starting to turn as we all prepare to hunker down for colder weather to come.  We also start seeing those pink ribbons to remind us that it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  It is challenging sometimes to know what to share with you all in a way that I don't put down regular mainstream medicine.  I certainly get disenchanted with the lack of results that we sometimes see with the chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery options.  I also get frustrated with the tremendous resistance there is to looking at environmental factors that are greatly influencing our health.  We are told that there isn't enough data to absolutely link this-, that- or the other- substance to cancer.  It seems like common sense to me that environment MUST be playing a role.  

The incidence of cancer now is 2 out of 3 people in the United States.  This cannot be explained by genetics alone!  If environment, therefore, plays a role, why wouldn't we look at the environment and start to make changes? Environment includes food, air, and water quality, the quality of our relationship with ourselves, each other, and with God.  Common sense also tells us that if chemicals in our food, water, and air are ubiquitous, and we cannot fully get away from them, we may be accumulating them in our body.  

When a study is done, it may only focus on one substance to determine if it is cancer causing; in small amounts, it may not be.  But, what about exposure in small amounts over time, day after day, to many different chemicals?  The hundreds of chemicals we are exposed to every day, day after day, year after year certainly begin to accumulate.   And don't forget about epigenetics, which has shown (in mice, and a small study in humans) that chemicals we are exposed to can be passed down to future generations on our DNA!  So, do we need more research, yes!  But where is the funding?

If chemicals are accumulating in the body, what organ systems may need help so that our body can be optimally able to rid itself of toxins? The primary organs responsible for removing toxins are the liver, kidney, colon, and skin.  This is where I focus when I am assessing someone for cancer risk and overall wellness maintenance.  The good news is that there is a lot we can do to give our body what it needs to heal.  

A word about hormone replacement therapy for women.  Once again, the data is showing strongly that when you follow a God-given rhythm and use a bio-identical molecule, you turn on the p53 gene on day 12 and 21.  The p53 gene is very anti-cancer.  It tells cells that are abnormal to either repair themselves or die.  Static dosing of hormones, where you get the same dose every day, or you use pellets, DOES NOT PROVIDE THIS PROTECTION.  Rhythmic dosing really is worth the effort!

So keep up the good work!  Keep working at loving yourself by nurturing your body.  Find what nurtures your soul and make time for it.  Keep striving to improve your relationships through better communication.  Keep learning how to communicate optimally and lovingly.  Honor your own emotions and learn to become extremely honest with yourself on how you are feeling, and why you are feeling it.  What button is getting pushed and why does it bother you?  The environment for a human includes our family, our job, the workplace, our spouse and friends.  Be gentle with yourself and treat yourself like you would a sweet little child.  You are a sweet child of God.

Breast Cancer and Inflammation

Inflammation and Breast Cancer

Scientists have found that women with high levels of two markers of inflammation, C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A, were 2-3 times more likely to die early or have their cancer return than women with lower levels.  

Another important characteristic of chronic inflammation is its relationship to angiogenesis - the development of new blood vessels.  The COX and LOX enzymes promote inflammation and hormone-like chemicals from these enzymes that play a major role in producing new blood vessels.  While this is a normal process, it can get hijacked by tumors, which are too small to detect and build a blood supply to feed the tumor’s growing needs.  Research has shown that compounds that block inflammation also inhibit angiogenesis, which is good!

Of course, life-style factors play a role in contributing to chronic inflammation: 

1.) Diet: The foods we consume are either "pro-inflammatory" or "anti-inflammatory".  Packaged foods that are processed and have high sugar content, as well as trans fats, are among the most potent pro-inflammatory foods. Vegetables and the correct fats are some of the most anti-inflammatory foods.

2.) Weight: Keeping your weight in check is important because visceral fat (the fat located deep in the abdominal area) is more metabolically active than other types of fat, secreting large amounts of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines.  The hormone insulin itself is pro-inflammatory, so you need to keep your fasting glucose and insulin levels down.

3)Sleep: Sleep deprivation will increase your levels of inflammation. Losing sleep for even part of one night can trigger the key cellular pathway that produces tissue-damaging inflammation. 

4.) Exercise: Lack of exercise or over exercise both can also lead to an impaired immune system and inflammation.

At Alternatives, we perform tests that help us monitor inflammation levels.  

1. A high sensitivity C-reactive protein test is an easy way to monitor the body's level of inflammation. Monitoring these levels every 3 months, especially if you have a history of cancer, is a good way to see if your lifestyle is keeping inflammation in check.  

1. The fibrinogen test, which is a marker for blood clotting, rises when you get inflamed.   Bringing levels into the normal range (between 215 and 300) helps blood flow more smoothly.

Inflammation and Breast Cancer

Inflammation and Breast Cancer

Scientists have found that women with high levels of two markers of inflammation, C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A, were 2-3 times more likely to die early or have their cancer return than women with lower levels.  

Another important characteristic of chronic inflammation is its relationship to angiogenesis - the development of new blood vessels.  The COX and LOX enzymes promote inflammation and hormone-like chemicals from these enzymes that play a major role in producing new blood vessels.  While this is a normal process, it can get hijacked by tumors, which are too small to detect and build a blood supply to feed the tumor’s growing needs.  Research has shown that compounds that block inflammation also inhibit angiogenesis, which is good!

Of course, life-style factors play a role in contributing to chronic inflammation: 

1.) Diet: The foods we consume are either "pro-inflammatory" or "anti-inflammatory".  Packaged foods that are processed and have high sugar content, as well as trans fats, are among the most potent pro-inflammatory foods. Vegetables and the correct fats are some of the most anti-inflammatory foods.

2.) Weight: Keeping your weight in check is important because visceral fat (the fat located deep in the abdominal area) is more metabolically active than other types of fat, secreting large amounts of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines.  The hormone insulin itself is pro-inflammatory, so you need to keep your fasting glucose and insulin levels down.

3)Sleep: Sleep deprivation will increase your levels of inflammation. Losing sleep for even part of one night can trigger the key cellular pathway that produces tissue-damaging inflammation. 

4.) Exercise: Lack of exercise or over exercise both can also lead to an impaired immune system and inflammation.

At Alternatives, we perform tests that help us monitor inflammation levels.  

1. A high sensitivity C-reactive protein test is an easy way to monitor the body's level of inflammation. Monitoring these levels every 3 months, especially if you have a history of cancer, is a good way to see if your lifestyle is keeping inflammation in check.  

1. The fibrinogen test, which is a marker for blood clotting, rises when you get inflamed.   Bringing levels into the normal range (between 215 and 300) helps blood flow more smoothly.