In our holistic medical approach we go beyond the symptoms to find underlying causes of illness. Symptoms are often a manifestation of deeper imbalances in the body that need correcting before the symptoms can clear permanently. Some examples of the barriers to health that cause outward symptoms include:

Allergies

Often linked to immune system dysfunction that stems from inflammation in the body from airborne allergens. Food allergies can be linked to undesirable bacteria or yeast, or insufficient digestion. Allergies have been linked to food additives, low DHEA levels (an important adrenal hormone) and vaccinations given to children.

Arthritis

Associated with pH imbalances, mostly acidosis in the body, which result from improper mineral balance. Inability to efficiently absorb minerals due to insufficient digestive enzyme production. Rheumatoid type may be linked to genetic factors, food allergies, and intestinal permeability or microorganism imbalance. Treatments include correcting digestion, pH imbalance, infectious agents and inflammation.

Autoimmune Conditions

Have been associated with infections of viruses or parasites. Often correlated to cross reactivity of food allergens, which leads to systemic inflammatory responses. Inflammatory responses lead to overburden of liver detoxification systems, depleting liver detoxification chemicals such as glutathione. Treatment includes identifying problem foods, restoring bacterial balance to intestinal tract, and reducing inflammation with botanical medicines.

Cardiovascular Conditions

Healthy vascular tissue is dependent on the presence of vitamins and other antioxidants. For example thiamin, magnesium and Coenzyme Q10 deficiencies have been correlated with cardiomyopathies. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals that cause damage to blood vessels, improving blood supply and energy to the heart. Maldigestion or poor diet also contributes to lack of nutrient-rich blood.

Cholesterol

High cholesterol levels in some individuals may stem from a genetic, familial trait. In others the liver stops processing the LDL lipoprotein adequately and improving liver function may help. Cholesterol levels are found to elevate when thyroid hormone is low and when free radical levels are high. Cholesterol is used in the body as an antioxidant, quenching free radical damage, therefore improving antioxidant levels may minimize need for cholesterol synthesis. Treatment includes improving liver function and enhancing antioxidant levels.

Chronic Fatigue / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

Many use the term Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to describe long term lethargy, but CFS is often due a viral infection, often Epstein Barr virus, which causes mononucleosis. Chronic Fatigue is often caused by an endocrine imbalance involving the adrenal glands and/or thyroid. Chronic Fatigue is usually improved with vitamin therapy and dietary changes. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is treated with similar therapies in conjunction with antiviral medicines.

Depression

A major problem in the United States, more than 48 million people are treated each year. Theories include psycho-emotional causes such as “learned helplessness” and pessimism. Therapies that help this type include Cognitive Therapy, EMDR, Neural Linguistic Therapies etc. Chemical theories include low serotonin, low dopamine, nutrient deficiencies, drug effects, heavy metal toxicity, hypothyroidism, sleep dysfunction and adrenal dysfunction from stress. Treatments depend on the cause(s), then implementing the correct therapies such as hormone supplementation, correcting nutrient deficiencies, heavy metal detoxification etc.

Diabetes

Adult onset caused by years of eating refined carbohydrates, which eventually leads to insulin resistance: inability of cells to properly respond to insulin. Obesity often plays a role. Lacks of certain nutrients prevent proper response of body to insulin. Heavy metals play possible role. Treatment includes balancing diet, improving insulin function through herbal medicines, balancing overall endocrine functions.

Fertility

Similar to chronic fatigue, it is a complex, multifactorial condition involving central nervous system depletion, which leads to neurotransmitter and endocrine imbalance. Lack of proper digestion or “leaky gut syndrome” from presence of yeast or parasites, which leads to systemic inflammation, maldigestion and food allergy responses. Treatment is varied and may include hormone balancing, food allergy elimination, pH balancing, adrenal and other endocrine gland support, eradicating undesirable bacteria and yeast.

Hypothyroidism

Often caused by heavy metal toxicity, which inhibits normal hormone production, cross reactivity of immune chemicals and nutrient deficiencies. Stress on the central nervous system also causes miscommunication of endocrine organs. Lack of certain nutrients cause diminished thyroid hormone production by inhibiting enzyme function or decreasing precursor availability. Treatment depends on cause and can include giving hormone dietary precursors, stress reduction and balancing all endocrine glands affected.

Irritable or Inflammatory Bowel Syndromes

Multifactorial condition caused by “dysbiosis,” or imbalance, of undesirable bacteria, parasites or yeast. Factors may include food sensitivities and stress, which cause gastrointestinal immunity depletion, and possible lack of digestive enzyme production. Treated with dietary changes, natural anti-inflammatories and beneficial bacteria.

Menstrual Problems

Painful menses, irregular menses, uterine fibroids and endometriosis are often related to food sensitivities and inflammatory byproducts produced in the digestive tract. These cause reproductive organ weakness and result in an imbalance of reproductive hormones. Treatments include correcting inflammation through diet and botanical medicines.

Menopausal Symptoms

Women in the United States are more likely to develop symptoms of menopause than women in other countries, suggesting dietary and cultural influences. It is important to avoid substances that cause heat and dryness in the body such as coffee, antihistamines, diuretics, alcohol, and hot and spicy foods, and to stay as hydrated as possible. Often related to endocrine system stress, especially involving adrenal organ weakness or imbalance of endocrine gland communication. Relieved by certain foods, fatty acids, vitamins and herbal medicines that support adrenal function.

Painful Conditions

Disturbances in the integrity of tendons and muscles are often caused by lack of nutrients involved in tissue synthesis and repair such as vitamin C, zinc and selenium. Pro-inflammatory chemicals are often formed from immune reactions that inhibit tissue strength. Chronic pain conditions are sometimes related to adrenal dysfunction. Chronic pain may also arise from mechanical imbalances and may be treated by correcting leg length discrepancy, structural reintegration or visceral manipulation.

Poor Memory

Stress is often the cause of short-term changes in memory. Reduced circulation to the brain is caused by lack of antioxidants and damage to blood vessels from free radical damage. Diminished nerve cell health is caused by lack of dietary nerve cell structural precursors. Treatment includes improving brain circulation, provided nutrients for nerve cell health.

Prostate Enlargement

Largely the result of hormonal changes such as elevation of estrogen and testosterone in the prostate. Shown to be correlated to lack of certain nutrients such as zinc, vitamin D or essential fatty acids. Reduced by detoxifying the body of impurities and following an anti-inflammatory diet.

Respiratory Problems

Increasing in children and adults each year believed to be due to pollution. Respiratory irritants often cause a depletion of antioxidants produced in the lungs. Lack of nutritional precursors for these antioxidants contribute to their depletion.