Natural Wa y to Health Dr. David Brownstein’s Achieving & Maintaining Your Optimal Health October 2010 Vol. 3, Issue 10 T The Secrets to Fighting Arthritis rue or false: Arthritis is a chronic disease without a cure that will only get worse as time goes on. The surprising answer is “false.” In fact, there is a cure for arthritis. In this month’s issue of Natural Way to Health, I’ll show you why a holistic medical approach is the most effective way to prevent and treat arthritis, and why you must avoid conventional drug therapies that are toxic and prone to serious adverse effects. The word “arthritis” comes from the Greek roots arthron (joint) and itis (inflammation). It is a broad category that can refer to the symptoms of many different diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and Lyme disease). It can occur either as an acute condition or as a chronic illness. The impact of arthritis on the population is staggering: In the United States alone, 46 million adults suffer from some form of arthritis. An estimated 27 million adults have osteoarthritis (also called degenerative joint disease), and 1.3 million are estimated to have rheumatoid arthritis (chronic inflammation of the body’s synovial joints). Problems With Conventional Treatment Conventional medicine currently has no consensus on what causes arthritis. The logical question is: If you don’t understand the cause of an illness, how can you effectively treat it? Because conventional medicine does not understand the cause of many chronic illnesses (e.g., arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, etc.), the long-term conventional therapies presently in use are ineffective and can often be toxic. For over five decades, non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been the primary treatment for arthritic disorders. If this medication fails, more powerful steroids or other drugs, such as chemotherapeutic agents, are employed. In my experience, the results of these drug therapies are dismal. They may temporarily alleviate the symptoms of arthritic disorders, but they do little to halt or reverse the progression of the illness. In addition, NSAIDs and the newer drug therapies do not provide the body with what it needs to heal In This Issue . . . 4 An Arthritis Success Story.......................................2 Over 50 percent of adults 65 and older are reported to have arthritis. But it’s not just adults suffering from this debilitating disease: Nearly 300,000 children have arthritis. 4 Problems With ‘Newer’ Arthritis Meds....................2 By the year 2020, 60 million Americans, or 18 percent of the population, will be suffering from some form of arthritis. It is already the leading cause of disability in the U.S., resulting in more than 5 million hospitalizations per year. 4 Antibiotics and Arthritis.........................................5 4 Treating Tomoka the Gorilla...................................3 4 Case History: Peroxide Beats Pneumonia................4 4 In the News: Nitrates and Thyroid Cancer..............6 4 Bad Diet Promotes Arthritis....................................7 4 Ask Dr. Brownstein.................................................8 Arthritis Success Story: Back on the Bicycle Patty was in generally good health until age 38, when, “All of the sudden I started to get pains in my hands and feet,” she told me. “Next, I began to have swelling and redness in my joints. I went to a rheumatologist and he told me I had rheumatoid arthritis. I was devastated. I went from being healthy to feeling miserable, literally overnight.” I saw Patty for the first time two years after her arthritis symptoms began. She came into my office that first visit in a wheelchair; her fingers were curled, swollen, red, and painful. Patty was clearly miserable. She told me her goal was to one day get out of that wheelchair and ride a bicycle again. Lab tests came up positive for a bacterium called mycoplasma, which has been shown to cause rheumatoid arthritis in both humans and animals. I placed Patty on a low-dose antibiotic regimen (minocycline), and a nutritional program designed to optimize her own immune system response. Although she suffered through Herxheimer reactions (a temporary worsening of arthritis symptoms), Patty made steady progress. Approximately two years later, Patty was out of the wheelchair, and she hasn’t returned to it. Three years after that, Patty came into my office with a big smile and showed me a picture of herself riding a bike. “I told you that was my goal,” she happily claimed. I use that picture now when I lecture about arthritis. Five years later, Patty is still on low-dose antibiotics and a holistic treatment regimen, and is doing well. itself. In fact, because of the toxicity of these agents, the opposite often occurs: NSAIDs can actually inhibit healing and weaken the immune system. Prolonged use of NSAIDs is, indeed, harmful. It’s estimated that over 16,500 patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis die annually from the toxic effects of these drugs (a total that is similar to the number of annual U.S. deaths from AIDS). Furthermore, studies have shown that the prolonged use of NSAIDs inhibits cartilage formation in arthritic patients, and actually worsens arthritic conditions. NSAIDs are also known to decrease blood flow to the kidneys. It is a dirty little secret in medicine that long-term use of NSAIDs is actually a leading cause of kidney failure. And it is well known that prolonged use of steroids (in large, pharmacologic doses) and chemotherapeutic agents will eventually suppress the immune system and make the body more susceptible to illness. What About ‘Newer’ Medications? A newer category of arthritis medications are called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). These drugs are advertised to reduce the rate of damage to bone and cartilage that is found with NSAIDs. Examples include methotrexate, Humira, Imuran, and Enbrel. Each of these prescription medications works by poisoning enzymes or inhibiting certain inflammatory proteins in the body. However, these inflammatory enzymes and proteins are not the cause of the illness; rather, their increased production is the consequence of the illness. DMARDs have clear immune-suppressing properties. Needless to say, they have been associated with horrendous side effects, including fatal blood Dr. David Brownstein’s Natural Way to Health is a publication of Newsmax Media, Inc., and Newsmax.com. It is published monthly at a charge of $49.00 per year and is offered online and in print through Newsmax.com. Our editorial offices are located at 560 Village Boulevard, Ste. 120, West Palm Beach, Florida 33409. The owner, publisher, and editor are not responsible for errors and omissions. Rights of reproduction and distribution of this newsletter are reserved. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution of information contained herein, including storage in retrieval systems or posting on the Internet, is expressly forbidden without the consent of Newsmax Media. For permission, contact the publisher at: PO Box 20989, West Palm Beach, Florida 33416. CEO Christopher Ruddy Health Publisher Travis Davis Author David Brownstein, M.D. Contributing Editor Greg Brown Production/Art Director Elizabeth Dole To contact Dr. David Brownstein’s Natural Way to Health send e-mail to: [email protected]/Customer Service contact 1-800-485-4350 or naturalway@newsmax. com. Send e-mail address changes to [email protected] © 2010 Newsmax Media, all rights reserved. Please note that this advice is generic and not specific to any individual. You should consult with your doctor before undertaking any medical or nutritional course of action. Page 2 October 2010 disorders (leukemia and lymphoma), serious infections (tuberculosis and other bacterial and viral illnesses), cancer, liver injury, demyelination of the central nervous system, and cardiac failure. Do these drugs have a place in the treatment of arthritic disorders? The answer is “yes.” DMARDs can cause immediate, powerful reduction of inflammation and pain for some arthritis sufferers. However, the drugs are overprescribed, and, if used, should be used for the shortest course possible. I’ve found little need for these drugs. Arthritis does not occur due to the lack of NSAIDs, DMARDs, or chemotherapy, which only cover the symptoms. There is a better way to treat these chronic conditions. My experience has shown that arthritis is a result of nutritional deficiencies, including a poor diet, as well as poor immune system functioning resulting in bacterial, viral, yeast, and parasitic infections that are known to cause arthritis. Correcting nutrient imbalances and cleaning up the diet, as well as treating underlying bacterial infections, can effectively treat arthritis without the need for DMARDs or NSAIDs. By following the recommendations outlined here and in my book, Overcoming Arthritis, you can treat this disease without resorting to these harmful drugs. Infections and Arthritis The search for a bacterial cause for certain types of arthritis has been going on for over 60 years. Medical literature is replete with reports describing how infectious agents cause chronic illnesses, including arthritis. Among the illnesses that have been associated with an infectious process are: • Rheumatoid arthritis • Scleroderma • Fibromyalgia • Vasculitis • Hashimoto’s disease • Graves’ disease • Polymyalgia rheumatica • Polymyositis • Psoriatic arthritis • Juvenile arthritis • Sjogren’s syndrome • Lupus • Multiple sclerosis October 2010 • Crohn’s disease • Ulcerative colitis Indeed, numerous bacteria, viruses, and fungi, including chlamydia and candida, have been implicated in various forms of arthritis. And there are many other infectious agents that have also been shown to cause arthritis. Mycoplasma, a bacterium, has been suggested as a causative factor for arthritis in animals and humans for well over 60 years. Mycoplasma was first isolated in humans by Dr. Louis Dienes in 1932. In 1938, Dr. Albert Sabin was able to isolate mycoplasma in arthritic mice. However, the most famous animal case of mycoplasma-induced arthritis occurred in a gorilla named Tomoka. Tomoka the Gorilla In 1939, Dr. Thomas McPherson Brown published a study in which he had successfully isolated the mycoplasma bacterium from the joints of rheumatic patients. Mycoplasma is very difficult to isolate and grow. In fact, it took Dr. Brown over three months and hundreds of experiments before he was able to isolate the bacterium. Dr. Brown felt that the commonly used arthritic medications (at that time steroids and NSAIDs) were not treating the underlying cause of arthritis. He believed the underlying cause was an infection. Continued on page 5 David Brownstein, M.D., is a boardcertified family physician and one of the foremost practitioners of holistic medicine. Dr. Brownstein has lectured internationally to physicians and others about his success with natural hormones and nutritional therapies in his practice. His books include Drugs That Don’t Work and Natural Therapies That Do!; Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It; Salt Your Way To Health; The Miracle of Natural Hormones; Overcoming Arthritis; Overcoming Thyroid Disorders; The Guide to a Gluten-Free Diet; The Guide to Healthy Eating; and The Guide to a Dairy-Free Diet. He is the medical director of the Center for Holistic Medicine in West Bloomfield, Mich., where he lives with his wife, Allison, and their teenage daughters, Hailey and Jessica. For more information about Dr. Brownstein, please go to www.drbrownstein.com. Page 3 Dr. B’s Case History of the Month Hydrogen Peroxide IV Beats Pneumonia Infection In each issue, I will share with you the story of one of my patients and how sometimes simple alternative approaches can solve major health problems. Names and some details have been changed for privacy’s sake, but the problems and their resolutions are real. — Dr. David Brownstein Sue, 62, had invasive, stage-4 breast cancer. She was diagnosed four years ago, and was treated with both conventional and holistic therapies. She was doing relatively well until about three months ago, when she developed a cough. At the time, she was prescribed the antibiotic Zithromax. Shortly thereafter, the symptoms progressed to producing greenish sputum and running a fever. Sue went to an urgent care center, where a chest X-ray showed right-side pneumonia. She was then prescribed Avelox, a potent antibiotic that is effective for treating a wide range of bacteria. After seven days on Avelox, Sue called me. “I am not doing any better,” she said. “I can barely walk to my car. I am short of breath after taking about 10 steps. I am really worried about this.” When I examined her, Sue had decreased breath sounds on the right side. This indicated fluid in her right lung. I suggested that she go to the emergency room to get another chest X-ray, have her oxygenation status measured, and receive intravenous antibiotics. Sue declined. “They’ll just give me more antibiotics, and I do not do well with them. In fact, I feel worse with the antibiotics. I feel like I am dying,” she tearfully said. ‘This Stuff Is Amazing’ One of the best therapies for pneumonia is intravenous treatment with hydrogen peroxide, an antimicrobial agent that has been used as an antiseptic and antibacterial for over 70 years. Most of us have used hydrogen peroxide on cuts. It has also been shown to stop bleeding from small wounds. I told Sue about hydrogen peroxide IV therapy, which I have used for over 15 years. At my office, I utilize over 20 different nutritional IV therapies, and by a wide margin, intravenous hydrogen peroxide provides the most satisfying results for infections. Peroxide IVs were first used at the beginning of the 20th century by British physician Dr. T. H. Oliver, who treated a group of 25 patients from India who were Page 4 critically ill with pneumonia. Dr. Oliver’s patients had a mortality rate of just 48 percent, which compared favorably with the standard mortality rate of 80 percent for pneumonia in that era and region. Positive results with intravenous hydrogen peroxide were further reported by Dr. William Koch in Detroit. In the 1960s, intravenous hydrogen peroxide was briefly studied for its ability to remove plaque in arteries and its usefulness in treating cancer. However, during World War II, intravenous hydrogen peroxide received a bad reputation when the Nazis used high concentrations to experiment on prisoners. Since then, the conventional medical community has been adamantly opposed to hydrogen peroxide therapies. The peroxide commonly found in most drugstores is a 3 percent solution. Highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide is 35 percent; that solution can be toxic. However, 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, when properly diluted, is a safe and effective therapy for a host of illnesses. It is particularly effective for treating lung issues, like pneumonia, and bowel problems such as irritable bowel syndrome and gastroenteritis. With any intravenous therapy, there is a risk of bleeding, infection, phlebitis, and blood clots. The same holds true with hydrogen peroxide. Over the years, I estimate that well over 20,000 hydrogen peroxide IVs have been administered in my office — and I have not seen one adverse effect. I ordered a peroxide IV for Sue, and she called me the very next day. “I am feeling so much better,” she said. “My breathing is better. Even my bowels feel better. This stuff is amazing. Can I do it again?” I advised Sue to see how she did over the next couple of days. If her symptoms did not continue to improve, I told her to get another IV. Sue ended up receiving one further hydrogen peroxide IV. After the second, she felt like she had made a “complete recovery.” Sue’s case is not unique. I’ve seen patients with everything from simple viral infections to serious pneumonia to Lyme disease improve with intravenous hydrogen peroxide therapy. In my opinion, this therapy is at least as effective as antibiotic therapies — without the side effects. Many patients suffering from chronic infections feel their condition significantly improved with the use of intravenous hydrogen peroxide therapy. October 2010 Special Advertiser Supplement Are Antioxidants the Fountain of Youth We’ve Been Searching For? Learn How to Avoid the Hype and Not Waste Your Money I f you are one of the 8 in 10 Americans who fail to get the recommended “5 a day” of fruits and vegetables, you may be needlessly increasing your risk for accelerated aging, heart disease, cancer and other health problems. Actually, many experts agree that you need closer to 10 servings per day of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to get the full spectrum of the antioxidants required for optimal health and longevity. Know How Antioxidants Protect You These days, it seems that everything from soda to cereal is enhanced with antioxidants. But don’t get caught up in the mass market hype. Rarely do these products provide the quantity or variety of antioxidants required to ensure protection against the cell-destroyers known as free radicals. If too many free radicals build up in your system, they can interfere with the way your cells function, causing a cascade of damage that accelerates aging and leads to disease. Scientists now know that the “miracle” of antioxidants is that they are our last line of defense against damage by free radicals, and in turn, can keep you healthy and youthful. Experts Agree We Are Drastically Lacking Exposure to pollution, toxins and processed foods, which bombard the body with free radicals, has become an unavoidable part of life. Unfortunately, most of us do not consume the right amount, or the right types of the antioxidants we need for protection. This is due, in part, to the fact that produce today is much lower in nutritional value as a result of soil depletion and genetic modification. Also, the most popular fruits, such as bananas and apples, tend to be lower in antioxidants to begin with. Experts agree that to get maximum protection, you need to consume large amounts of what are known as “superfruits.” These powerful free radical-fighters are found in highest concentration in deeply hued blue, purple and red fruits, such as blueberries, cherries, açai berries, goji berries and pomegranate. authority on anti-aging, the best plan of action is to take a high quality dietary supplement that contains concentrated extracts of several different red, blue and purple superfruits. To ensure that you are getting effective dosages of the most beneficial compounds, choose a product that is made in the USA with standardized extracts and tested for purity and potency. Avoid “antioxidant-infused” juice blends, which are typically high in calories and low in actual antioxidant value. Helping Thousands Live Better and Longer Stop Aging Now has developed a breakthrough product called SuperFruit Fusion™. This synergistic blend of 12 powerful ingredients, including standardized extracts of açai berry, goji berry, blueberry, pomegranate and more, is the most comprehensive superfruit formula ever. According to leading experts, SuperFruit Fusion™ provides free radical-fighting benefits equivalent to 10 servings of superfruits in just two small capsules per day. At just $13.99 per bottle, it’s far more economical than purchasing fresh produce and separate extracts. Ensuring a long, healthy life has never been easier, or more affordable! www.StopAgingNow.com/superfruit2 What the Antioxidants in Superfruits Can Do 3 Fortify DNA & cellular health q 3 Support optimal immune health q 3 3 q Enhance cognitive function q Protect cardiovascular system 3 Diminish the signs of aging q 3 Boost energy & vitality q The Best Way to Protect Yourself There are an estimated 8,000 types of harmful free radicals, and you need to consume a wide range of antioxidants to effectively combat them. This is difficult, even for those who eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. According to The Stop Aging Now Institute, a leading These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Continued from page 3 After isolating mycoplasma in the joints of rheumatoid patients, Dr. Brown embarked on a 40-year mission of successfully using small doses of antibiotics to treat different arthritic conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. His book, The Road Back, describes his experience diagnosing and treating mycoplasma infections in arthritic patients. In the mid-1960s, Tomoka, a 5-year-old gorilla at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., developed a case of rheumatoid arthritis. He exhibited signs of extreme pain and would spend his days sitting in a corner rubbing his joints. More than 20 different conventional arthritic treatments used in humans had failed with Tomoka. He failed to grow and there were plans to euthanize him. After all other options had been exhausted, Dr. Brown was called in to evaluate Tomoka. He commented, “It soon became clear that we were seeing the first model of human rheumatoid arthritis ever encountered in an animal.” Tomoka was found to be infected with a strain of mycoplasma. Interestingly, the gorilla had the same strain of bacterium that his handler (who was also a patient of Dr. Brown) was suffering from. Holistic Arthritis Treatments Many arthritic patients have common food allergies such as dairy and gluten. Also, many arthritic patients need to avoid nightshade plants such as tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Nutritional supplementation is important. Most arthritic patients have multiple nutritional deficiencies, including lowered levels of vitamins A, B6, B12, and C. Glucosamine sulfate can help. Ensuring adequate levels of minerals such as magnesium and selenium is also important. Finally, detoxification should be part of any arthritic patient’s holistic plan. Most arthritic patients need detoxification from heavy metals such as mercury. All of these treatments are explained more thoroughly in my book, Overcoming Arthritis. have an infectious cause, and that patients will respond positively (often dramatically) to low-dose antibiotic therapy and natural therapies that allow the immune system to control infectious agents. Many research studies have been published supporting the use of antibiotics in the treatment of arthritic disorders. I chronicle many of these in my book. The positive responses I’ve seen in the majority of arthritic patients convince me that an infectious etiology is one of the main causes of arthritis. Dr. Brown treated Tomoka with IV tetracycline (the same treatment he was giving to his human patients), and the gorilla gradually improved, gaining full weight and strength. Within three years of receiving treatments, Tomoka resumed a normal, healthy life. And through the next 20 years there was no recurrence of his disease. Antibiotics and Arthritis Since the treatment of Tomoka, gorillas around the country have been treated in a similar fashion with remarkable results. In the past, I have advocated minimizing use of antibiotics. You may now be asking yourself: “How come you advise using antibiotics to treat arthritis?” Based upon my clinical experience, I agree with Dr. Brown’s conclusion that many forms of arthritis Antibiotics are, in fact, over-used in our society. They are misused in the treatment of viral infections, ear infections, sinus infections, upper respiratory infections, and a host of other illnesses. The overuse of antibiotics can lead to drug-resistant bacteria and yeast overgrowth, among other problems. Exclusive to Current Subscribers Current subscribers have instant access to any and every past edition of Dr. Brownstein’s Natural Way to Health. Simply go here: drbrownstein.newsmax.com Check your e-mail inbox for this month’s password. (Please remember to use lowercase letters.) October 2010 However, antibiotics have their place in medicine. If you have pneumonia or bacterial meningitis, antibiotics are appropriate and can be a life-saving treatment. Continued on page 7 Page 5 In the News: Reading Between the Medical Headlines Where’s the Beef? An article in The American Journal of Cardiology estimates that the use of a statin drug can mitigate the increase in heart attack risk from eating a fast food meal. The authors state, “The risk reduction associated with the daily consumption of most statins, with the exception of pravastatin, is more powerful than the risk increase caused by the daily extra fat intake associated with a 7-oz. hamburger with cheese and a small milkshake.” The authors of the study go on to suggest that statins should be given out as free condiments (like ketchup and salt) at fast food restaurants. Now I have seen everything! This is one of the most ridiculous articles ever written. The stretching and twisting of the statistics in this article are mindnumbing and silly. With articles like this, how can The American Journal of Cardiology ever be taken seriously? The best that statins have been shown to do is (possibly) decrease the risk of a non-fatal heart attack by 1 percent after 2-3 years of use. Am I a fan of fast food restaurants? No. However, if it is a choice between a Quarter Pounder and a statin, I say take the Quarter Pounder, hold the pickles. Nitrates and Thyroid Cancer Researchers have found an increased risk of thyroid cancer associated with higher average nitrate levels in public water supplies. They found that there is a 2.6 times greater risk of thyroid cancer when people consume water exceeding 5mg/L of nitrate for at least five years. The highest quartile of nitrate ingestion was Page 6 found to have a nearly 300 percent greater increase risk of developing thyroid cancer, and a 20 percent increased risk of developing hypothyroidism (Epidemiology, May 2010). All thyroid disorders, including thyroid cancer and hypothyroidism, have been increasing at epidemic rates over the last 30 years. In fact, thyroid cancer is the most common My neighbors ‘don’t like my yellow lawn, but lawn chemicals are not good for the environment or your family. ’ malignancy of the glandular system. Unfortunately, I have diagnosed many people with thyroid cancer. How do nitrates cause thyroid cancer? Nitrates inhibit thyroid uptake of iodine by inhibiting the iodine transporting molecule, NIS. Nitrate is a common contaminant of drinking water. It is now commonly found in many public water supplies due to increasing nitrate application for farming and fertilizing. Nearly every brand of fertilizer sold in the United States contains high concentrations of nitrate. Nitrates also occur naturally in green, leafy vegetables, and nitrate fertilizers have been shown to increase nitrate levels in vegetables. This study should be a wake-up call for everyone. Using pesticides and fertilizers in order to have a “perfect” lawn has negative consequences. These chemicals will end up in our water supply; and using nitrates to green the lawn may actually be causing the thyroid epidemic we are currently experiencing. What can you do? Stop putting toxic chemicals on your lawn, for one thing. My neighbors don’t like my lawn (yellow in the summer and not really green even in rainy times). But remember, it is not good for the environment or your family to use lawn chemicals. What else can you do? Make sure that you have adequate iodine levels. Also ensure that you supplement with vitamin C, which prevents nitrosation — the binding of nitrogen to organic compounds, which can cause the formation of carcinogenic substances. B Vitamins and Depression A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found an association between B vitamin deficiencies and depression. Researchers found higher total intakes of vitamins B6 and B12 were associated with a decreased likelihood of developing depression for up to 12 years. Each 10 additional milligrams of B6 and B12 were associated with 2 percent lower odds of depressive symptoms per year. In this study, vitamins B6 and B12 were found to be beneficial in preventing depression. SSRI’s do not prevent depression, and, for the vast majority of patients, are poor-performing drugs for treating depression. The single best therapy for depression is exercise. Combining exercise with B vitamins is an even better prescription for preventing and treating depression. October 2010 Continued from page 5 In the case of a mycoplasma infection, my experience has shown that low-dose, long-term antibiotic therapy can lower bacteria levels and allow the immune system to heal injured tissue. Mycoplasma is a unique form of bacteria that does not have a cell wall. Therefore, it has to live inside other cells. And it can live quietly in a host cell for a long period of time before becoming active. Antibiotics, on the other hand, do not work inside cells. Therefore, a mycoplasma infection may require the use of long-term, low-dose antibiotics designed to inhibit the replication of the organism. Using these antibiotics in low doses while simultaneously supporting the immune system with appropriate nutrients is a safe and effective way to treat these infectious processes. I’ve rarely see bacterial resistance, yeast overgrowth, or other antibioticassociated problems develop with this treatment. Which antibiotics are the most effective for treating arthritic disorders? It depends on what organism you are treating for. Mycoplasma responds well to the tetracycline family. An average dose of 100 mg of Minocin, twice daily, three days per week, works well in the majority of patients. If people are very ill, I often add in 250 mg of Zithromax two days per week (on the off days from Minocin). These doses are safe and effective for treating mycoplasma and other cell-wall deficient organisms. When using antibiotics for any condition, I recommend a good probiotic product in conjunction to protect the body’s native flora. Herxheimer Reactions There is one problem that is more common when treating arthritis with antibiotics. When you use antibiotics to treat an infection, toxins are released into the body as the organism is killed. If the detoxification and immune system pathways of the body cannot keep up with the pace of removing these new toxins, the patient can become ill. This is known as the Herxheimer reaction. Symptoms of Herxheimer reaction include chills, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and muscle cramps. To avoid a Herxheimer reaction, I give patients natural agents that help detoxification pathways and October 2010 the immune system function optimally. This is one reason why a holistic approach is the most effective way to treat chronic disorders such as arthritis. Rather than relying on a single therapy, holistic medicine draws on many therapies that not only treat the underlying cause(s) of an illness, but also optimize immune system functioning. Despite what conventional medicine tells us, a diagnosis of arthritis is not a prediction for a life of misery. I have seen many patients significantly improve or be cured using the holistic principals outlined here. So if you have arthritis, don’t give up; educate yourself about safe and effective treatments that can result in true healing. Bad Diet Promotes Arthritis There is no question that diet plays a large role in the development and continuation of arthritic symptoms. The standard American diet, full of refined foods, is a pro-inflammatory regimen. Inflammation is what causes the redness, warmth, swelling, and joint destruction associated with arthritis. Eating pro-inflammatory foods will not only create the environment for arthritis to begin, it will fuel the illness once developed. What are these pro-inflammatory foods? Refined sugar, salt, oil, and flour. Unfortunately, these are staples of most packaged foods and much restaurant fare — and nearly all fast food. The first step in any holistic plan is to clean up the diet. Eliminate refined foods. Eat a whole-food diet including unrefined sugar, salt, oil, and flour, and as much organic produce as possible. Also, drink adequate amounts of water. How much water? Take your weight (in pounds), and divide by two. The resulting number is the amount of water, in ounces, you should ingest daily. It is impossible to overcome arthritis in a dehydrated condition. Over the last 17 years, I have seen many arthritic patients significantly improve their condition just by re-hydrating. In fact, some have completely recovered from arthritis simply by maintaining proper hydration. Page 7 Ask Dr. Brownstein Dear Readers, I will try to answer as many questions as I can. However, because of the volume of questions, I cannot answer each letter personally. Please include your full name, city, and state when submitting. If you have a question for me, please e-mail it to: [email protected]. Dear Dr. Brownstein, For years, I have had issues with high triglycerides and low HDL levels. When my triglycerides recently went very high (481 mg/dL), my physician was determined to put me on statins. However, when this was tried in the past, I quickly developed muscle pain and stopped medication. For this reason, I do not want go back on them, and have been trying to fix my condition by diet. In the past, a diet low in refined carbohydrates has positively impacted my lipid panel and weight. I don’t have the time to research every food, so I just elect to not eat anything from a box, bag, or can. I also eliminate bread and potatoes. One change that accompanies this diet is that the chronically dry and scaly skin patches on my elbows go away. Does this mean I have a food allergy? Or is there another explanation for this beneficial change? — Peter J., Stamford, Conn. You’ve hit the nail right on the head: You can fix this with diet. Statins are not the answer unless you have a statin-deficiency syndrome. However, statin-deficiency syndrome doesn’t exist. Statins are not needed here; diet changes are. My book, The Guide to Healthy Eating, details the importance of eating a diet with whole foods and eliminating processed foods. There is no question that a diet low in refined carbohydrates (breads, pastas, and cereals) and higher in good, healthy sources of protein and fat can benefit nearly any condition, including abnormal lipid levels. The clearing of skin lesions by cleaning up the diet is common, and to be expected. Don’t forget to drink adequate amounts of water — half your body weight in pounds. The resultant number is the amount of water, in ounces, to drink per day. Dear Dr. Brownstein, In the past, you have suggested using niacin to control triglyceride levels, but warned that people should avoid the “no flush” form of niacin. Can you tell me what will happen if the regular type of niacin is taken? What dosage is best to try? — Katie M. , St. Louis, Mo. Taking niacin with food can help control triglyceride levels. Half an aspirin 30 minutes before niacin can minimize a flushing reaction. The flushing reaction from niacin (red face, warm skin) is a benign condition that lasts about 20 minutes, and usually abates after a couple of weeks of regular usage. There have been a few reports of liver damage with no-flush or sustained-release niacin. Therefore, you should be careful with the form of niacin you are using. Furthermore, the no-flush form of niacin does not have the best lipid-lowering effects of all forms of niacin. I have found niacin doses of 250-500 mg/day to be effective for most patients, though some may need more. To your good health, Please note: All information presented in Dr. David Brownstein’s Natural Way to Health is for informational purposes only. It is not specific medical advice for any individual. All answers to reader questions are provided for informational purposes only. All information presented in Dr. David Brownstein’s Natural Way to Health should not be construed as medical consultation or instruction. You should take no action solely on the basis of this publication’s contents. Readers are advised to consult a health professional about any issue regarding their health and well-being. While the information found in Dr. David Brownstein’s Natural Way to Health is believed to be sensible and accurate based on the author’s best judgment, readers who fail to seek counsel from appropriate health professionals assume risk of any potential ill effects. The opinions expressed in Dr. David Brownstein’s Natural Way to Health do not necessarily reflect those of Newsmax Media. Page 8 October 2010
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