Not too long ago I wrote a BLOG POST on the difference between local health problems and systemic health problems.  For those of you dealing with TENDINOSIS, understanding the difference between the two is critical.  In fact, in many ways, Systemic Tendinosis and Local Tendinosis are two totally different problems that require two totally different approaches to treatment.  This blog post is in response to this email that I got just a couple of days ago.  Since I get a lot of similar emails, this post will allow me to simply send people a link in response to similar questions.

The problem is that this person is looking for a simple / mechanical / local solution (TISSUE REMODELING) to a complex systemic problem.  When a person has multiple-site Tendinosis (or MULTIPLE-SITE FASCIAL ADHESIONS for that matter) found on both sides of the body at several different locations, their problem is almost 100% certain to be systemic.  This means that there is undoubtedly an underlying problem that is affecting the whole body (as opposed to several local overuse or sprain / strain type of situations).  In my experience, these are usually caused by a drug reaction (ANTIBIOTICS and STATINS seem to be the biggest culprits) or an AUTOIMMUNE REACTION to one's own Connective Tissues.  Typically, you'll find that GLUTEN and LEAKY GUT SYNDROME are involved in the equation in some form or fashion.  The first thing that is critical to understand with Systemic Tendinosis is that Tissue Remodeling is not going to help.  In fact, it may make your problem worse.

Yeah; we help tons of people with local Tendinosis with a very minimal amount of treatment and expense (see HERE, or HERE).  But trying to break down tendinous adhesions that are the result of a systemic problem will simply result in more pain and dysfunction.  The key to solving Systemic Tendinosis is to figure out what is the underlying cause of the INFLAMMATION that is driving the problem.  I get it; Tendinosis is not an "Inflammatory" problem.  But if you have Systemic Inflammation coursing through your system, you are much more likely to have a wide variety of health problems, including bilateral, multiple-site Tendinosis. 

Some of the things that I recommend for dealing with Systemic Tendinosis (as well as most SYSTEMIC HEALTH PROBLEMS) are simple, common-sense sorts of interventions that will be the foundation for just about any customized treatment protocol.  Here is a short list.

• Do a Gluten Free Elimination Diet:   The GLUTEN-FREE ELIMINATION DIET is a big deal because GLUTEN and GLUTEN CROSS REACTORS are a huge driver of Systemic, Inflammatory, and Autoimmune processes.  There is a reason that you are hearing about Gluten every time you turn on the TV or open a magazine.
  

 

• Control your Blood Sugar and Eliminate Potentially Reactive Foods in the Process:  One of the biggest reasons that I promote a PALEO DIET for most of my patients has to do with the fact that the diet is extremely non-reactive.  The great side effect of this way of eating is that it will totally control your blood sugar levels in the process.  UNCONTROLLED BLOOD SUGAR --- even in individuals who have 'normal' blood sugar readings (HERE) ---- is a leading cause of sickness and disease here in America.
  

 

• Drink Water and only Water:  This goes without saying.  I don't mind someone having some green tea, but if you are drinking SODA or other SUGARED drinks and trying to overcome Systemic Tendinosis, you are probably fighting a losing battle.  And on top of this, the average American is dehydrated to at least some degree.
  

 

• Fix your Gut:  GUT HEALTH is a critical part of healing any chronic problem.  There is an old axiom in natural medicine that says, "Heal the Gut; Heal the Body".  On many different levels and for many different problems, this statement is 100% accurate.
  

 

• Cold Laser Therapy:  I have a lot of different modalities (ultrasound, Russian stim, electrical stimulators, TENS, etc, etc) that sit in the basement of my office gathering dust.  The one and only modality I regularly use these days (for the past several years) is COLD LASER THERAPY.
  

 

• Take the Proper Supplements:  Although there are several supplements that could go here, I will mention a couple; LIGAPLEX.  Ligaplex by Standard Process has been around for a very long time, and actually provides people with the raw materials to heal and regenerate injured Connective Tissues.  Despite tendinosis itself not being considered to be "Inflammatory, the body is often in an inflammatory state.  Take PFGO.  Bear in mind that in the case of Autoimmune-driven Tendinosis, there might be several nutritional supplements to take.
  

There are certainly other things that could be put on the list, but this will provide people with a starting point.  If you have questions or concerns, be sure to read THIS POST.

Doctor Elizabeth Thomas and her team from the University of Colorado School of Medicine recently presented a yet-to-be published study to the annual meeting of the Endocrinology Society stating that women who skipped breakfast had a poor metabolic response to their lunch.  Her team concluded that when women skipped breakfast, they had larger 'spikes' of blood sugar and Insulin during later meals. According to her study, as many as one in five Americans skip breakfast, which, as she showed, sets people up for both TYPE II DIABETES and increased BMI (Body Mass Index --- weight gain). 

Some of the findings mentioned by Dr. Thomas' team concerning previous studies as related to the problems associated with not eating breakfast included....

• Impaired insulin sensitivity

• Increase food consumption later in the day

• Increased hunger

• Diminished ability to feel 'full'

• Poor lipid profiles (high cholesterol, high triglycerides, etc)
  

Bear in mind, however, that I am beginning to realize that at least for some people, skipping breakfast is the single best thing they could do for themselves (HERE).

What I am not going to do in this post is give you a long list of things that can potentially cause PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME.  Over the course of many previous posts, I have essentially done that several times over (HERE).    What I am going to do is make this even more simple and break it down into two categories (these are assuming that your pain is not the result of a systemic disease process such as THIS). 

• There are those people dealing with Piriformis Syndrome that will, unfortunately, require surgery to attain any degree of lasting relief. 
  

• There are those who will be able to find relief from their problem without surgery. 

Fortunately, the vast majority of you who suffer with Piriformis Syndrome will not have to undergo surgery in order to find relief.  In fact, Piriformis Release Surgery is the last place you want to start (along with the endless MRI's, NCV's, CT's, EMG's, etc, that accompany it).  Why?  Just look around the internet, read the Piriformis Syndrome Message Boards, and check out what the Piriformis Syndrome Support Groups are saying.  Yeah; I get it ---- there are people who respond favorably to Piriformis Surgery.   But there are many who do not.  And once you have had a surgery, you cannot un-have it. 

The thing to remember is that even though the Piriformis Muscle is the place where the SCIATIC NERVE actually gets pinched / irritated / compressed / impinged, stretched, it is frequently not the primary source of said irritation. Allow me to explain.  Pelvic Distortion (SUBLUXATION) is a common cause of Piriformis Syndrome, and can occur almost anywhere ---- not just at the site of pain.  Many times, these patients will tell me that even though Chiropractic Adjustments are the only thing that helps them, they have to go back continually because they will not hold an adjustment more than a couple of days (or even a couple of hours).  This is because many times the cause of the Pelvic Distortion is relentless FACIAL ADHESIONS or TENDINOSIS.  They get adjusted but the Scar Tissue is constantly pulling the joint.  Again, these restrictions are often found in areas that are fairly distant from the point of pain.

HERE is an example of what I am talking about.  This is why sometimes I end up spending one hour, two hours, or even longer with these patients, trying to figure out where the primary Adhesions are. Some of these cases are like trying to solve a crazy three dimensional jigsaw puzzle.  Do I help everyone that comes to see me?  Certainly not.  However, if your particular case of Piriformis Syndrome can be helped without surgery, there is a good chance that I can figure it out for you (HERE and HERE).  I have many videos of patients who, before they came to see me, dealt with Piriformis Syndrome for decades.  You can see a few of them HERE or HERE.

According to doctors Olfson and Marcus of Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons (Department of Psychiatry), "Antidepressants have recently become the most commonly prescribed class of medication in the United States" (August 2009 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry).   By far, the most popular of this class of drugs are the SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors).    To see how these drugs work, go HERE.  

Not too long ago, I wrote a post about the relationship between OBESITY, DEPRESSION, AND LOSS OF LIBIDO.  As typical, I suggested a LOW CARB OR PALEO DIET as part of the solution to this problem.  Not surprisingly, I had a few people email me links to the research by Dr. Richard Wurtman of MIT who has produced forty years worth of studies on sleep, mood, nutrition, and their relationship to neurotransmitters.   He has studies showing that Serotonin (the 'feel-good' neurotransmitter whose lack is thought to be a huge factor in developing Depression), is released due to the ingestion of dietary carbohydrates.  His wife is Dr. Judith Wurtman (also of MIT) who has published a book on the topic called The Serotonin Power Diet.  As you might imagine, she advocates a higher carb / low fat, lower protein approach to eating in order to boost mood.   There are many similar books on the market.   We have Potatoes Not Prozac and Natural Prozac by Dr. Joel C. Robertson (he advocates a higher carb approach).  But there are also books advocating a low carb approach such as Dr. Michael J. Norden's (Psychiatrist) Beyond Prozac.  What is the truth?  Our goal today is to sift the evidence and see what we find.

One of the big reasons that I am such an advocate of Paleo-type eating is that it is a highly non-reactive diet (HERE).  This is critical for those dealing with things like LEAKY GUT SYNDROME, AUTOIMMUNITY, HASHIMOTO'S THYROID DISEASE, FIBROMYALGIA, and a host of others.  I am personally very carb-sensitive --- particularly when it comes to grains.  In my clinic, I see lots of others who struggle with the same problem.  In fact, it is my opinion that grain sensitivity has become the new norm.   Just be aware that Paleo does not mean "Carb Free".   However, also be aware that a KETOGENIC DIET (virtually no carbohydrates) can often be a lifesaver for people struggling with seizure disorders or other Neurological / Psychiatric problems, including Depression.

Although there a lot of different theories floating around as to the cause(s) of DEPRESSION, the truth is that no one really knows.  My guess is that there are lots of potential causes of Depression.   There are a few things that we know for sure about Depression.  One is that it is considered to be an Inflammatory Disease.  If you are struggling with Depression but do not really understand INFLAMMATION, you need to read the link.  It will help you understand that you will be hard-pressed to control any of the Inflammatory Diseases (including Depression) with drugs alone.  In that same vein, I will soon show you why drugs are rarely if ever a long-term solution to Depression.  Another factor in Depression is lack of sunlight.  There are numerous studies on this topic, and helping yourself is not as difficult as you might suspect --- even if you live in the Arctic Circle (they make special lamps for this).  Probably the biggest factor in Depression, although it is not as well understood as many would have you believe, is the relationship / interplay between your body's various neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry nerve impulses across nerve synapses.  Interestingly enough, nerves (for instance, the SCIATIC NERVE) do not transmit impulses over their entire length in one long shot.  The impulses go from nerve cell to nerve cell, neuron to neuron via neurotransmitters.   There are tiny gaps between each nerve cell, which the neurotransmitter must cross.  These are called "synapses".  When discussing this topic, you will see the terms pre-synaptic (before the synapse) and post-synaptic (on the opposite side of the synapse, or after the synapse).   As the nerve impulse reaches the area of the synapse, the pre-synaptic vesicle releases its neurotransmitter across the synapse, where the proper receptor for that specific chemical senses it.  If the threshold is met, the nerve impulse continues on its way to the next synapse.  Think of these synapses as taking a plane ride, which, instead of being a direct flight, is made by taking tens of thousands of different connecting flights.

Although there are many others, a few of the more common neurotransmitters include things like.....

• GABA

• Acetylcholine

• Epinephrine (Adrenaline)

• Nor-epinephrine (Nor-adrenaline)

• Serotonin

• Dopamine

When any of these neurotransmitters get depleted or out of balance in relationship to each other, bad things start to happen.  It can affect your mood, your sleep habits, your ability to think logically, your sex drive, your ambition, as well as a host of others.  Today we will spend some time touching on the relationship between the amount of carbohydrates one chooses to eat or not eat, neurotransmitters, and Depression.

I'll admit it.  Sometimes I get wrapped up in "scientific facts" and miss the forest for the trees.  I did this with LOW FAT / FAT FREE eating back in the late 80's and early 90's.  I have been recently guilty of following the pack and referring to Serotonin as a "feel good" neurotransmitter.  While this is probably true on some level, when it comes to the human body, nothing is ever quite as simple as it seems.  It is all about achieving a natural balance.  Even though the current hype tells us that in order to defeat Depression, we need to increase Serotonin production (or inhibit its reuptake) in one way or another, is this really the case?

There is a growing body of evidence that seems to show that Dopamine is probably more associated with well being and feeling good than is Serotonin.  While there are a whole host of drugs that modulate specific areas of the brain or neurotransmitter function, it can be done naturally as well via DIET / EXERCISE, SLEEP, touch, SEX, certain emotions, and even sunlight.  It is important to remember that Serotonin (particularly 'excess' Serotonin) should probably not be thought of as a 'feel good' hormone.  In fact, there are many who believe that the nature of Serotonin might actually be 180 degrees opposite of what we have learned.  Part of the problem is that Serotonin is known to upregulate the steroid hormones --- including the glucocorticoids; namely CORTISOL --- your body's primary stress hormone (think adrenal glands here).

From the early 1980's (Fuller in 1981, Petraglia in 1984, Stark in 1985, Potter in 1985, Lesieur in 1985, Frances in 1987; Manier in 1987, etc), we have known that SSRI-like medications can stimulate the body's adenergenic system (adrenaline or nor-adrenaline) to the point that Cortisol levels are doubled.  If you have even a cursory understanding of what Cortisol does to the body, this should at least make you apprehensive about SSRI's.  Yes, they may very well make you feel "good".  I have never told patients that Cortisone will not make them feel better --- at least for the short-term.  However, I do tell them that the side-effects of this medication are numerous, brutal, and frequently permanent (HERE).  It all begs the question as to what happens to endogenous Cortisol production in a person who is taking daily doses of Serotonin-boosting substances?  It's simple.  Among other things, they kick in the adrenal glands, potentially moving patients towards a state of SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE.  While this certainly gives them a seeming 'boost' of energy, it is frying their system and dumping in Cortisol.

Thus, Serotonin --- particularly increased levels ---- is not necessarily the mood panacea that it has been made out to be.  As you are beginning to see, Serotonin is actually a component of the body's response to stress.  Take it to the next logical step.  Since higher levels of Serotonin increase Cortisol levels, and high Cortisol levels are associated with weight gain --- particularly BELLY FAT, is it any wonder that SSRI's are themselves associated with weight gain (as are most Psych Drugs).  So much so that Dr. Judith Wurtman, author of The Serotonin Power Diet, wrote an article for the Huffington Post almost exactly three years ago called, "10 Tips to Prevent Weight Gain on Antidepressants". 

The thing that is critical to grasp is that SSRI's cover the effects of Depression by providing a prolonged boost of stimulation via the adenergic system.  And when you want to get off of that SSRI, it's going to be tough because the Serotonin System has been down-regulated ---- part of the reason that the statistics for SSRI use are so shockingly high.  Creating an artificial imbalance in your neurotransmitters may for a short time make you feel better, but in the long run it will cause problems and create a dependence.  Anytime you have what the body believes to be 'enough' of a certain substance in the body, it will down-regulate it.  Let me give you an example of down-regulation from the world of hardcore Strength Training / Bodybuilding.

In the pursuit of bigger, stronger muscles, many individuals have taken Anabolic Steroids (synthetic forms of Testosterone or GH).  How does the body respond to this surge in male androgenic hormones?  Men (and women) get cranky ('roid rage'), aggressive, and horny (that is what testosterone does for both men and women ---- but it also causes PCOS, in which case it actually diminishes sex drive).  As you might have already guessed, this can be a potentially dangerous combination.   But there is obvious evidence that the system, while being artificially pumped up, is actually being down-regulated and suppressed.  One of the common male side effects of taking steroids is testicular atrophy (shrinkage).  Think about why this might be true.  Oversimplified; since there is an over-abundance of testosterone in the body,  it says to itself, "hey; I don't need any more of this stuff".  Thus, it down-regulates testosterone production in the testicles.   In the case of Anabolic Steroids, this can be so dramatic that the testicles dramatically atrophy / shrink / shrivel.   Since shriveled testes don't make much testosterone, the bodybuilder will either go back on the steroids, or try and take a substance (a popular one is human chorionic gonadotropin --- does anyone remember the hCG diet?) to 're-start' their own endogenous production.

Now imagine that this downregulation is going on with the Serotonin System.  As the SSRI's inhibit the post-synaptic reuptake of Serotonin (see the first link in this post), the body sees this as an abundance (or over-abundance as the case may be) of the neurotransmitter.  What do you think this does?  Of course, the body begins to down-regulate the production of Serotonin ----- of which about 95% occurs in the Gut.  The actual medical term for this is Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Discontinuation Syndrome.  The symptoms include things described as electric shock-like sensations ("brain zaps," "brain shocks," "brain shivers," "brain pulse-waves," "head shocks," "pulses," "flickers," or "cranial zings" are a few of the names for these), as well as dizziness, sweating, nausea, insomnia, tremors, confusion, nightmares, and vertigo.  Many people also get symptoms which look suspiciously like Depression.

First off, everyone is different.  What works for me might not work for you.  Secondly, I am simply providing information.  The contents of this post are not meant to diagnose or treat diseases of any kind.  If you feel you have an actual disease, please seek medical attention immediately. 

How do we balance neurotransmitters?  How do we prevent receptor desensitization on the post-synaptic membrane?  And how do we prevent Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Discontinuation Syndrome?  The first thing to understand that taking SSRI's is highly likely to down-regulate innate Serotonin production via receptor desensitization.  The key is to get the system rebooted and working again after going off these drugs (or making it work more effectively even if you have never taken SSRI's).  If, in fact, your body is not making enough Serotonin, the first question you must ask is why.  I believe that there are two chief reasons......

• INFLAMMATION:  Interestingly enough, numerous "psychiatric" (brain) issues have INFLAMMATION at their root.  If you do not understand Inflammation, it is imperative that you click on the link and take just a couple of minutes to learn. Knowing how to address Inflammation will help you with almost any disease process you can imagine --- including Depression.
  

• POOR GUT HEALTH:  As I just told you, the vast majority of the Serotonin in your body is manufactured in your Gut (about 95%).  POOR GUT HEALTH, DYSBIOSIS, ANTIBIOTICS, DRUGS OF ALL SORTS (both prescription and non-prescription), food sensitivities such as GLUTEN, as well as a host of others, can upset the body's balance and cause a wide variety of problems, including LEAKY GUT SYNDROME (which almost always ends up as some sort of AUTOIMMUNE ISSUE).  Although your doctor will not talk to you about Leaky Gut, it is very real, backed by over 10,000 peer-reviewed medical studies, and is a full-blown epidemic here in America.  Be aware that the medical community usually calls it Increased Intestinal Permeability.
  

The way I recommend that most of my patients deal with these two problems is to eat a LOW CARB / PALEO DIET.  Not only is this diet extremely non-reactive, it provides ample protein ---- something which people who follow a VEGAN DIET can be hard-pressed to do.

If Serotonin needs to be boosted, it can be boosted naturally, while essentially remaining on a Low Carb diet.  The goal is to make sure that there is ample Serotonin at the post-synaptic receptor without having so much that the desensitization process and subsequent down-regulation of the system occurs.  Be aware that certain foods have the capability of accomplishing this.  Insulin not only removes sugar from the bloodstream, it removes amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) as well --- that is, it removes all but Tryptophan.   Tryptophan is the amino acid that is said to make you "sleepy" (Tryptophan is the precursor to Serotonin, which is the precursor to Melatonin).  This is why a glass of warm milk is said to be beneficial in helping people sleep. 

The secret to using Tryptophan as a booster of Serotonin is to use it purposefully and at the right time.  Simply giving in to a CARB ADDICTION because it temporarily gives you an energy and mood boost via the adrenals, does not fall into this category.  Since we know that a high carb diets have the ability to increase Serotonin levels, using this knowledge strategiclly could help us to boost Serotonin levels at the proper time.  Just make sure that you eat your carbs at the same time you eat Tryptophan.  Another popular Serotonin booster is the supplement 5-HTP --- a precursor of Serotonin.

This debate over Serotonin is essentially the repackaged debate between the Vegans and the Paleo Adherents.  Suffice it to say that Dr. Wurtman's is not the final voice on this subject.  Dr. Emily Deans' Evolutionary Psychiatry website has tons of information (often using Wurtman's own studies) which shows that everything is not what it always seems as far as high carbs and Serotonin is concerned.  Some of her articles on the subject include Carbs and Serotonin, A Connection After All?;  Do Carbs Keep You Sane?; and More About Sunlight, Food, And Serotonin. 

Dean, however, is not the only voice crying out from the wilderness.  When doing the research for this post, I quickly realized the overwhelming amount of evidence stacking up against the status quo ideas on the subject.  There is tons of information out there saying that high carb is not the best solution to boosting mood and aiding those with Depression.  In fact, if you were paying attention, you realize that many, if not most of these people, are questioning whether you really want to boost Serotonin in the first place.  Regardless, eating Low Carb, does not mean 'No Carb' (although KETOGENIC DIETS have been proven to be quite effective for large numbers of people dealing with Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases).

The thing about carbohydrates is that they are not all created equal --- far from it (HERE).  What carbohydrates do I recommend while eating a Low Carb Diet (by the way, in the same way that there about a jillion different versions of Vegans, there are about the same numbers of variations on what constitutes a Paleo Diet)? 

• Firstly, remember that if you are eating carbs to boost your mood without eating foods that are high in Tryptophan, you are getting that boost purely from your adrenals.  This is dangerous and will lead to ADRENAL FATIGUE / FIBROMYALGIA.  Proof of this is the way that your heart races after eating a ton of sugar.  This is purely an adrenal response.  Overstimulate your adrenals and you end up with all sorts of problems.  And unfortunately, when you start throwing one area of the ENDOCRINE SYSTEM out of whack, others are sure to follow.
  

 

• Secondly, DO NOT eat your carbs in the form of sugary junk.  This should go without saying, but many people will use any excuse to get their hands on some junk carbs --- especially those who are seriously ADDICTED. 

 

• Thirdly, make sure that the carbohydrates you are eating are high in glucose and not fructose.  There are a bundle of studies showing that glucose is not nearly the problem that fructose is ---- particularly HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP.  This means that you may need to stay away from certain fruits. 
  

 

• Fourthly, GRAIN-BASED CARBS are one of the worst ways to boost carbohydrate intake.  My chief source of carbohydrate is Sweet Potato.  There are a few others that are fine.  I also do some rice (a mixture of brown and wild, long grain).

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If you have not heard of the Executive Order that Obama signed along with several hundred others (this one on January 9th of this year) called The White River National Blueways, you need to educate yourself. This is a big deal, because the government botches just about everything they put their hand to (the Affordable Care Act is a great example).  Contact your legislators (both state and federal) about this huge land grab against the people of Missouri and Arkansas.  1/6th of Missouri counties are affected, and 1/3rd of Arkansas counties are affected by this Executive Order.   Here are a few of the highlights taken directly from the Order.   Note that the words in red are taken directly from the Strategic Plan for the Ozark Blueways.

• Establish 180 ft wide vegetative buffers along ALL surface water:   Note that this says, all surface water.  Do you live in one of the affected counties and have a pond / lake, creek, or spring on your property?  If so, you will need to do some serious fencing.  And what if you actually live within 180 feet of said surface water?  I guess it doesn't matter much as long as you don't love your home.

• Recruit the National Park Service and USDA Forest Service:  This part of the plan has over half a million acres being put into the Blueway to be managed by several federal organizations.  The plan talks repeatedly about "direct land acquisition".

• Develop Conservation plans for 75% of the farms in the designated watersheds:   This means that you no longer control or manage your farm --- the government does. You think you'll be able to get anything done or make a living on your farm?  Think again.

• Complete restoration of 90,000 acres of farmland to desired condition for wildlife: Stop and think about this for a moment.  We have 1 in 6 Americans on food stamps (HERE), and a supposed hunger problem.  So, the solution is to take nearly 100,000 acres out of production so that snakes and birds can live more comfortably?  That way you can pay extra high prices at the grocery store for Brazilian beef.

• Recruit Farm Bureau offices in both states to the Blueway managing body:   Lets get as many governmental organizations in on this as is possible since our bureaucracy is not nearly big enough already. 

• Control encroachment of human activities into the existing floodplain:  What does this really mean? Of course you already know/  It means more rules and regulations, more government intervention and control, and more of your tax dollars flushed down the toilet.  Oh, do you like to hunt, fish, or spend time on the rivers (HERE)?   Large numbers of those who are pushing this agenda want to see these things outlawed as they harm the environment.

• Initiate the increase of annual, seasonal flooding of agricultural lands for wildlife habitat by 10%:  Just what we all need ---- MORE flooding.   Are you kidding me?  Who thinks this stuff up? Oh yeah; those who hide behind the "Green" label, and Washington bureaucrats, who, even though they don't live here, think they know what is best for you, your land, your business, and your family.

• Setback levees to restore historic floodplain habitat:  Flooding will be dramatically increased because levees will either be moved or taken out. 

• Complete reduction of on-farm, consumptive water use by 15%:   More rules and regulations, still more government control, and more permits and inspections that you will have to pay for either directly or via tax dollars.

• Complete approval of Cache River National Wildlife Refuge boundry by 102,000 acres. Complete approval of White River NWR expansion area boundry by 125,000 acres:   This is over a quarter million acres of expansion!  More taxes, more governmental control and still another expansion of government! 

Folks; the bullet points above are just a small taste of what Ozarkers are in for if we don't stop the implementation of Obama's plan.  Our country is 17 trillion dollars in debt and teetering on the brink of insolvency (even though the average person may not have realized this yet).  The last thing we need is more government bureaucrats controlling our lives and our business.   If you live in the Ozarks but don’t know about Blueways, you’ll need to be at the meeting of the PRC (Property Rights Congress) in Mountain Grove, on Thursday, June 27th at the Hayloft Restaurant (7:00 pm to 9:00 pm).

In a Canadian study that was published just days ago in the Annals of Internal Medicine (Statin Toxicity From Macrolide Antibiotic Coprescription: A Population-Based Cohort Study), nearly 150,000 older individuals were observed for interactions between their ANTIBIOTICS and STATIN DRUGS.  As you can see from the links, both of these classes of drugs are extremely dangerous when taken by themselves (particularly the FLUOROQUINOLONE ANTIBIOTICS), however, when taken in tandem, the combination proved deadly for a significantly greater number of individuals than those not taking the drugs at all.  Once you understand the relationship between GUT HEALTH, CHOLESTEROL, and one's overall health, you can't be too surprised.

Although the number one side effect of statin drugs in this study was RHABDOMYOLYSIS (something I discussed concerning statin drugs just the other day -- HERE), the study showed that when combined with CERTAIN ANTIBIOTICS, the risk was increased for statin toxicity in the form of kidney damage, hospitalization, and yes, even death. 

Seriously people; if you want to nip both infections and high cholesterol in the bud, understanding THIS CONCEPT (strict control of sugar and carbs) is the best way to do it (HERE is a great example).  Oh; for the record, things were actually worse than the study actually concluded because the authors admitted that, "The absolute risk increase for rhabdomyolysis may be underestimated because the codes used to identify it were insensitive."  Just remember that statins are cruddy drugs not just because of their myriad of nasty side effects, but because they don't get to the root of the reason you have high cholesterol in the first place --- RUNAWAY INFLAMMATION.

For those of you struggling with your health, it's your lucky day.  Make sure and read THIS POST about what it will take to turn your life and health around.  Then find someone to partner with and hold you accountable and get started today!

I have written over and over and over again about the farce that is EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE.   This post's example of 'doublespeak' looks like it came straight from Orwell's 1984.    EBM is one of those feel-good names that purposefully sounds all warm and fuzzy.  But as I have shown you time and again, the reality is something totally different --- something that at times is actually sinister.  Evil might be a better word.   Is it any wonder that the public is losing faith in the system?

The problem of fraudulent research was so pervasive back in my youth that world renowned pediatrician, DR. ROBERT MENDELSOHN, had a chapter on the subject (The Devil's Priests) in his 1979 offering Confessions of a Medical Heretic.   Dr. Mark Studin recently stated in the American Chiropractor that, "Evidence-Based Medicine is NOT the trend.  A perversion of Evidence-Based Medicine has become the trend and is here for the foreseeable future".  We now have yet another study verifying this fact, and throwing a newly-discovered load of feces our faces.

"Invisible and abandoned".  That is how the latest issue of one of the oldest and most prestigious medical journals on the planet ---- the British Medical Journal (BMJ) ---- described what is taking place in today's medical research.  As I have shown you, it is really nothing new.  And it is certainly not much different than the revelations made by the New England Journal of Medicine 15 years ago that virtually 100% of the peer-reviewed scientific research on pharmaceuticals (drugs) is tainted by serious and usually multiple FINANCIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.  That problem was (and still is) so wide-spread that The Journal said that it was impossible to find research that was not conflicted.  Now they simply list the conflicts (many studies have slews).   Now the impetus is shifting to studies that are considered "INVISIBLE & ABANDONED".  But what does this mean?  Allow me to explain.

Let's say that I am working at Mountain View University's Pfizer Research Center, doing a project on a new drug for AUTOIMMUNITY.  The research does not quite turn out the way all involved (the university, the researchers, the drug company, the ad agency, the manufacturing facility, the shareholders, etc, etc,) hoped it would.  So instead of publishing the results of the study, which would publicly reveal its failure, it is simply buried and forgotten.  Let me give you an example of the way that unpublished studies work using Wi Golf. 

Although my family are not big TV watchers or video gamers, we do have a Wi.  When we got it several years ago, it did not take me long to get fairly decent at Wi Golf (this despite the fact that I play golf about once every other year).  My best score for 9 holes was 10 under par, which put me at the level of "Pro".  The problem is, sometimes (more often than not) I would shoot a crappy round.  I soon discovered that if I were having a cruddy round, I could simply 'reset' the machine before I putted the ball into the cup on the ninth hole.  This way the poor score was not counted or calculated against my average.  So instead of an average that reflected my good rounds and my bad rounds, my average made me look like an enhanced version of Tiger Woods on PED's.  It also happens to be how I am the reigning world record holder in consecutively made free throws (over 40,000 --- HERE).

Due to Sunshine Laws and the Freedom of Information Act, a group of scientists led by Dr Peter Doshi of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, recently looked through nearly 200,000 pages of abandoned studies.  His group published their results in the latest issue of the British Medical Journal ("Restoring Invisible and Abandoned Trials: A Call for People to Publish the Findings").  What did the findings reveal?  Only what you already knew.  That companies with huge names (PFIZER, GLAXOSMITHKLINE, Roche, and others) have altered, doctored, or left out results of trials for popular drugs like Tamiflu, Neurontin, Seroquel, Paxil, Plavix, and numerous others, for decades.

The efforts of these doctors might be paying off.  Under the aptly named Restoring Invisible and Abandoned Trials act (aka, the RIAT Act ----- this is not a law, but private individuals using the threat of disclosure to get companies to do their own disclosure), the tide might start to turn.  The RIAT Act is being publicly supported by both BMJ and PLoS Medicine.  In a recent editorial, the editors of these two medical journals said, "public confidence in the credibility of medical research is at a low ebb.....   [this has to do with the fact that there is a] crisis of hidden or misrepresented information."  Am I holding my breath in the hopes that this makes any sort of difference in the very near future?  I certainly am not.  Why my pessimism on the topic?   Just listen to a quote by Dr. David Eddy, former professor of Health Policy and Management at Duke University, as told a medical conference in Manchester, England and published in BMJ (Where is the Wisdom) --- back in October of 1991.

Despite the fact that American physicians and doctor groups continue to decry home births, much (if not most) of the rest of the world must surely wonder what all the fuss is about.  A recent study of 150,000 Dutch women who were classified as "low risk" was published in the current issue of one of the oldest medical journals on the planet; the British Medical Journal.  The results?  Low risk women who had given birth previously and planned a home birth, had half the number of serious complications as did women of the same group who had a planned their delivery to be in a hospital setting.  For those of you who decided against home births because they are "dangerous" re-read that last sentence.

For women who were having their first child, the rate of serious complication was 1 per 1,000 higher in the home birth group than in the hospital group.  When you put all of this together, it is probably why the rate of home births in Denmark is almost 50% higher than hospital births (in America, home births are less than 1% of all births).  Could things ever work like this here in America?  Not as long as groups like the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics have official policies against home births.  In fact, the AAP's policy statement against home births says this about home births, "Obstacles are pervasive and systemic and include wide variation in state laws and regulations, lack of appropriately trained and willing providers, and lack of supporting systems to ensure the availability of specialty consultation and timely transport to a hospital".  All of these "obstacles" to home births could be easily changed if the medical community wanted to change them.  The truth is, there is not much money in a home birth.

And although C-sections can be potentially life saving surgeries, they were probably the chief reason that the risk factor was actually higher for hospital births than home births in this study (HERE).  In fact, the study's authors went as far as actually stating in BMJ that, "It is important to limit the use of caesarean section because of its association with various adverse outcomes at the current birth, and the risk of uterine scar rupture during the next pregnancy and birth." 

My suggestion in this matter is simple.  If you are a healthy woman who takes care of herself, talk to a competent midwife about the potential for a home birth.  Our midwife had done over 1,000 home births when our daughter was born over 13 years ago.  Is there potential for things to go wrong?  Certainly.  But as you see in this study, with a competent mid-wife, home births for healthy women are actually quite safe and should not automatically be treated as a pathological condition requiring all sorts of medical intervention.

Because there are such a wide variety of ways that it occurs, every patient I treat with PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME is a learning experience.  It is like figuring out a complex, 3-dimensional puzzle.  Just last week I saw a gentleman from Utah who had been dealing with progressively worsening Piriformis Syndrome (bilateral) for about a decade.  Having spent tens of thousands of dollars on his problem, he was reluctant to get on a plane and come to Southern Missouri on what he thought might be a wild goose chase.  However, it appears to be paying off.

His case was interesting in that, he had FASCIAL ADHESIONS in his GROIN / HIP FLEXORS bilaterally, his buttocks, his THORACOLUMBAR FASCIA, his HAMSTRINGS, and his perinium.  It was crazy.  If the results hold up like I am hoping they will, you'll be watching a video of him in a couple of weeks.

I have often seen "disease" referred to as the body being in a state of dis-ease.  I think that on many levels, this is correct.   For instance, genetics, which was not too long ago the be-all-end-all of explaining sickness and disease, is falling out of favor and being replaced with EPIGENETICS.  Not that genes do not play a part in developing health problems, but the truth is, it is getting tougher to blame anyone other than yourself for your health.  A prime example...........

We now know that practically all diseases are related to each other, either directly or indirectly.  In my UNCONTROLLED BLOOD SUGAR post, we saw that improperly regulated blood sugar is being causally tied to almost every health issue under the sun --- even in the absence of outright DIABETES.  Furthermore, we know that gluten is heavily-linked to autoimmunity (HERE).  We also know that Depression is linked to both obesity and diminished libido (HERE).  Now we see a couple of brand new studies saying that Depression is tied to chronic or acute infections and autoimmunity, and that people with Autoimmune Diseases such as Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS ---- a form of PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY) do not live as long as the general population.  Let's spend a couple minutes looking at these studies, and what they mean to us here in the real world.

The latest issue of JAMA Psychiatry published a study done at Aarhus University in Denmark (Autoimmune Diseases and Severe Infections as Risk Factors for Mood Disorders: A Nationwide Study), that looked at all 3.56 million people born in that country between 1945 and1996.  The study showed that people who were hospitalized because of an Autoimmune Disease (the list is fairly crazy --- HERE), have a 45% greater chance of being diagnosed with DEPRESSION or some other mood disorder later in life.  Take it a step further; if you were hospitalized for an infection of some sort, your chances of developing Depression increase by over 60%.  And if you were hospitalized for both?  Your chances of developing Depression or other mood disorders soared by 235%.

The study hypothesized that INFLAMMATION caused Depression by altering the way that NEUROTRANSMITTERS worked in the body, subsequently causing the NEUROENDOCRINE SYSTEM to malfunction.  Although they are surely correct, my guess is that it also has a lot to do with the fact that people with infections are given ANTIBIOTICS, which, while being a potential life saver, are simultaneously a huge Immune System destroyer HERE.  This is probably why there is a ton of research showing that PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE FISH OIL is beneficial to such a wide variety of Inflammatory health issues --- including things like ADD / ADHD, Schizophrenia, and yes, Depression.  The study also talked about the way that Inflammation leads to fatigue (CHRONIC FATIGUE / FIBROMYALGIA) and insomnia (SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE).  In the words of Scooby Do's Velma, "Jinkies"!

This is a big deal because not surprisingly, lots of Autoimmune Diseases are not only heavily associated with a loss of quality of life, but also with an early death.  Some of these killers are obvious (Lupus for instance).  But some are not only not obvious; people are often not even aware that they are dealing with an Autoimmune Disease.  In a study published in this month's issue of Neurology (Prospective Study of Restless Legs Syndrome and Mortality Among Men), we learn that men with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) were nearly 40% more likely to be dead within 8 years of their initial diagnosis than were men without RLS.  And this is after factoring out things like age and other chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, etc, etc.  BTW, the study said that RLS affects between 5% and 10% of the population (VALUABLE INFO ON RLS AND OTHER FORMS OF PN). Possibly even more shocking is that between 1 in 5 and 1 in 2 Americans have some form of Autoimmune Disease.

If you are dealing with known Autoimmunity, or Chronic Health Issues, please study and learn what you will need to do to take care of these problems.  One thing I can assure you of ---- If you are not willing to step outside of the "box" that you have been living and treating in, you will never find the solution you are after.  And because Autoimmune Diseases tend to travel in packs like wolves, you are likely to end up with a half dozen of them.  You may benefit from reading about the UNIVERSAL CAUSES AND UNIVERSAL SOLUTIONS of most forms of sickness and disease.

I answer a lot of emails each and every day.  Most of the questions people pose are things that I cannot answer without significantly more information --- things along the lines of "I have problem X.  Who can you refer me to in city Y?" or "I have this pain in my side, can you tell me what it is?"  Sometimes, however, I get questions that I can answer by sending them a few links.  I recently spoke to a person from a large city in the South who was interested in coming to see me for Chronic Pain (PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME).  Although I truly love helping our OUT OF STATE AND INTERNATIONAL patients, my goal is to save you a trip to see me if at all possible (HERE).

In this particular situation, the individual was having not only bilateral buttock pains, but multiple sites of what they interpreted as FASCIAL ADHESIONS / TENDINOSIS ---- all bilaterally.  Any time a patient is having pain at multiple sites, on both sides of the body (HERE or HERE), it raises a big red flag.  If someone is having pain in their buttock and leg, it sounds like it could very well be Piriformis Syndrome.  However, if this same person is having buttock / leg pain bilaterally, plus having pain in their wrists, knees, ankles, etc, it is highly unlikely that the problem is a true Piriformis Syndrome.   It is probably some sort of systemic health problem.

Because AUTOIMMUNITY is so prevalent in today's society, this person is very likely having some sort of Autoimmune reaction to their own connective tissues (to see how that usually works, look at THESE POSTS).  How would one go about determining if this is possibly the case?  Although you could simply get tested for a wide variety of different things, the simplest and cheapest way to evaluate the situation would probably involve going on a GLUTEN FREE ELIMINATION DIET.  This way you cover not only Gluten, but the Gluten Cross Reactors as well.  If you do this three or four-week diet the right way, you will not only confirm or eliminate Gluten and the Gluten Cross-Reactors as potential reactive agents, you will also CONTROL YOUR BLOOD SUGAR --- critical even if you have not been diagnosed with DIABETES (yet).  Just b

Be aware that there are other things that could potentially be sabotaging your health as well, like severe LEAKY GUT SYNDROME (the diet should make a huge difference on this problem), rampant SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION, PARASITES (yeah, they're way more common than you might have guessed), heavy metal toxicity, DYSBIOSIS, POOR STOMACH ACID, along with a ton of others.

The bottom line is that if you come to see me, I want to do everything in my power to make sure that your visit(s) here are as fruitful as possible.  This is why I may insist that you try something else before you make a trip.  It's in your best interest.  For a better idea of what to to about a systemic issue, be sure and take a look at THIS POST.

One of the last times I spent significant time with my FATHER IN LAW before he passed away, we hung out and watched a television program on the Shroud of Turin while the ladies went shopping.  In this program, scientists, doing some cutting-edge work with 3-D graphics, came up with a 3-D caricature of what Jesus (or whomever's image is on the Shroud) looked like.  Was the program scientific?  I don't know that you could say it was.  But it certainly was interesting.  Flash forward a few months.

Just the other day I read that the Mars Rover (at a cost of over 2.5 billion taxpayer dollars), as well as scientists here on earth studying meteorites, have discovered that clay from the Red Planet has (and I quote) "links to the origins of life".  How did these scientists make this amazing determination?   The clay had higher than expected levels of Boron.  Since Boron is one of the numerous elements that is found in genetic material (namely RNA), this should somehow be taken to mean that at one time, Mars contained life.  Is this any more "scientific" than the program on the Shroud?  Certainly not.  In fact, the whole thing wreaks of "religion" --- a word that most evolutionary biologists / scientists truly despise. 

Science and religion are funny things.  One of those pesky little truths is that much of what passes for "science" is actually religion. EVOLUTION is one great example of this.  I would contend that it takes just as much faith to believe in evolution as it does to believe in creation ---- or in some sort of "Intelligent Design".  This is not to pick on those who believe in evolution, but case in point ----- discussions on Science do not typically become heated; discussions on religion can and often do.

If you want to see an interesting one minute clip of the renowned evolutionary scientists, Dr. Michael Ruse, trying to convince Ben Stein of evolution in the movie Expelled, just click HERE.  Yes, Boron is necessary for the formation of RNA.  But finding Boron in Martian clay is a far cry from finding any sort of evidence of functional RNA, past or present.  It is not enough to simply have all the components present --- the components are here in abundance, but even with all our technolgy we can't synthesize molecules remotely this complex in the lab.  The components have to fit together in a very specific (and complex) manner so that they can perform very specific (and complex) functions.  In the same way that missing one of the five components of a mousetrap renders it 100% useless, missing one component of RNA renders it useless as well --- and RNA is infinitely more complex than a mousetrap.

When scientists actually find a Martian amoeba or the skeleton of a little green man, I'll pay a bit more attention.  Until then, I'll continue to wonder what's going on with my tax dollars.

My kids are all good soccer players.  In fact, they have been playing soccer since they were about three years old.  Although I grew up playing football, I have been coaching soccer since the early 1990's (nope; didn't have a clue when I started).  One of the very first columns I ever wrote for our local newspaper (probably in 1992) concerned a study showing that soccer "headers" (using your head to contact the soccer ball) were being linked to Degenerative Arthritis in the necks of professional soccer players.  Because we now know that Degenerative Arthritis is caused, at least to a large degree, by abnormal joint motion, it is not a reach to theorize that it is linked to LOSS OF PROPRIOCEPTION, SUBLUXATION, and FASCIAL ADHESIONS as well.   In fact, it has been thought that heading the soccer ball is like repeated miniature WHIPLASH INJURIES whose effects accumulate over time (HERE).   Via TBI, this can lead to AUTOIMMUNITY.  Now we are hit with another study that may be even worse.

If you are even a casual sports fan, you know that other than Tony Parker's hamstring, concussions (TBI --- Traumatic Brain Injuries) are currently the number one discussed SPORTS INJURY.  A brand new study from New York's Albert Einstien's School of Medicine ("Soccer Heading Is Associated with White Matter Microstructural and Cognitive Abnormalities"), is shedding some new light on this topic. 

The study, from the medical journal Radiology, suggested that soccer players who repeatedly "head" the soccer ball, end up with significant amounts of brain trauma that cannot be explained away by repeated concussions.  According to the study's conclusions, "Heading is associated with abnormal white matter microstructure and with poorer neurocognitive performance. This relationship is not explained by a history of concussion".  These findings are consistent with patients who have undergone MTBI (Mild Traumatic Brain Injury), which is why I do not allow headers on the youth soccer teams I have coached.

If you have ever done any sort of butchering, you are quite aware of the thin, tough, white, cellophane-like membrane that surrounds and adheres to meat.  This tissue is called FASCIA and it is one of the most amazing tissues in the body.  It also happens to be a big part of the reason so many people have CHRONIC PAIN SYNDROMES.  If you or someone you love is suffering with musculoskeletal pain, take just a few minutes to read some of our PAST POSTS on Fascia.

Several years ago, a group of research scientists, led by Dr. Rob Dunn of  NC State University, began something his team called "The Bellybutton Project".

As crazy as it sounds, the results of their study revealed over two thousand different species of bacteria living in the navel.  Most of these were rare --- being found in less than 10% of the study's participants.  However, the more common species were shared by  more than seventy percent of the participants.  Interestingly enough, there were no "universal" bacteria species that was shared by everyone.  Belly buttons provide a unique place to study these bacteria because it is a relatively undisturbed part of the body and contains older skin that has not been sloughed off yet.

Really; why does it matter?  This is a great question in an age of public monies being used to study everything from the asinine to the absurd.  In case you have not been a regular reader of my blog, bacteria are one of the largest necessities to good health (HERE).  And we continue to mess up the microbial balance.  How are we doing this?  Through crappy diet, BEING OVERLY CLEAN, and consuming way too many Antibiotics.  For a great example of what I am talking about, just thumb through some of our older blog posts under ANTIBIOTICS.  Our blog posts on GUT HEALTH are also a great place to shed some light on the subject. You will find some overlap in these two categories.

The list above contains the ingredients found in a Twinkie.  A Twinkie contains added GLUTEN, several different EXCITOTOXINS, TRANS FATS, SUGAR, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SOY, and a wide variety of nasty chemicals.  Not exactly what I would call health food, and certainly not what one should be eating when fighting any sort of INFLAMMATORY ILLNESS ---- including CANCER (Dr. Otto Warburg showed us why when he won 1931's Nobel Prize for Medicine ---- HERE).  But believe it or not, this is exactly the kinds of foods that people are being told to eat by their doctors. 

When a dear friend of ours was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer several years ago, she was told by her cancer doctor (I am loosely quoting here), "I don't really care what you eat; just make sure you don't lose any weight.  If it takes Twinkies to do that, it's fine."  I am not making this up. When I suggested a couple of WHOLE FOOD NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS, she balked.  Her doctor had told her that under no circumstances was she to take any sort of Nutritional Supplement --- it might "react" with the chemo.  I have seen this same scenario play out dozens of times over the years --- including Friday, when a patient told me of a recently deceased spouse who spent the last five years of her life and 2 million dollars in misery, without any sort of nutritional guidance whatsoever.  ZERO. That, my friends, is criminal.

It does not bother me that people treat cancer with conventional methods.  I get it --- sometimes drastic situations call for drastic measures.  What is troubling is that far too many people use oncologists who believe that treating cancer is SOLELY A MEDICAL ENDEAVOR (chemo / radiation).  How much better could the results be for their patients if physicians understood some of the foundational principles of health and disease (HERE)?  This is especially important in light of new information about using the same diet for cancer that is being used to treat neurological conditions, including epilepsy ---- the KETOGENIC DIET.  But then again, once you realize that SUGAR FEEDS CANCER, it only makes sense.

I am going to simplify your life by showing you how you can get in your best all-time shape, while spending a fraction of the amount of gym time (even if your "gym time" is not being spent in a gym). 

• IT'S ALL ABOUT DIET:  Far too many people want to read all about the latest "workout secrets" in Men's Health or Cosmo, while ignoring their diets.  Sorry, it does not work that way.  Especially once you're on the back side of thirty.  If you are not eating some form of LOW CARB DIET, you are setting yourself up for future problems, and sabotaging your efforts in the process.  Take just a moment to learn why CONTROLLING YOUR BLOOD SUGAR while getting ample high quality protein is not only the best way to eat to get in great physical shape, it is the best way to eat if you are interested in defeating CHRONIC PAIN and / or CHRONIC ILLNESS as well.

• BACK OFF OF THE CARDIO:  I realize that this will upset some of my regular readers.  Before you start throwing rocks and bottles, just listen to me for a moment.  Cardio Training is not nearly as effective as helping you lose weight or get in shape as is Strength Training.  I think that some Cardio Training is great (especially when you combine it with your Strength Training --- Crossfit style or in the form of Intervals).  But a little goes a very long way.  Instead of getting mad at me, read the last decade's worth of research on the topic and use it to your advantage.  Short workouts are all that is required to get in great shape.  Learn the hows and the whys HERE --- especially if you are a woman.

 

• HARDER, FASTER, HEAVIER, SHORTER:  I am not necessarily advocating that you start training for the the World's Strongest Man / Woman competition.  In fact, I don't train nearly as heavy as I used to.  But the fact remains that far too many people (especially women), don't lift hard and heavy enough if they are even lifting at all.  I will not belabor this point, but ask you to click on the link above.  Let me give you an example of an intense Cardio / Resistance workout that can be done in your own home in less than 10 minutes.  Do a set of 10 KETTLEBELL SWINGS followed by 10 Burpees.  Immediately follow it with 9 Kettlebell Swings and 9 Burpees.  Immediately follow it with 8, 7, 6............  Make sure you have a trash can near by if you are not used to working out like this.

 

• DEAL WITH UNDERLYING CHRONIC ILLNESS:  If you are finding it all but impossible to make any headway with your efforts, you may be one of the millions of Americans dealing with some sort of Chronic Illness.  HERE is a great starting point as far as figuring out what may be going on. 
  

The primary idea when you work out should be how much can you get done in the shortest period of time, at the highest intensity.  Why not work out smarter?  Contrary to popular belief, if you go about things the right way, huge changes can be made in a very short amount of time (HERE).

It's not news that STATIN DRUGS cause muscle pain.  In fact muscle pain is their number one side effect.  However, it's critical for you understand that referring to what is going on simply as "muscle pain" is missing the bigger picture.  The 'trust us' side-effect warnings for Statin Drugs refers to this muscle pain as Rhabdomyolysis ----- a problem that most people have never heard of.  Let's take a minute and break it down into bite-sized chunks that are easy to understand.

Rhabdo means "with stripes", Myo means "muscle", and Lysis means "rupture".  So, in a nutshell, Rhabdomyolysis infers that striped muscle (skeletal muscles --- i.e. biceps, triceps, quadriceps, gluteus, etc, etc) are actually breaking apart at the cellular level and releasing their contents into the extracellular fluid, which eventually make their way to the blood stream.  The chief breakdown product of Rhabdomyolysis is something called 'myoglobin'.  Myoglobin is an oxygen-carrying protein in the muscle that is analogous to hemoglobin, an oxygen-carrying protein found in the blood. 

How do you know whether or not you have Rhabdomyolysis?  One of the classic findings is going to be dark or "Coke-colored" urine.  But it is usually found via blood test long before the urine ever gets to that point.  The main symptom is pain.  Because muscle tissue is actually being broken and destroyed at the cellular level, people suffering with this problem are going to have muscle / joint pain, weakness, point tenderness, and even swelling of the affected muscles.  This means that patients / doctors can easily be fooled as I have several times over the years. 

Rhabdomyolysis can look just like artrhritis, a Rotator Cuff Problem, FIBROMYALGIA, a knee problem, or any number of other painful conditions.  This is why I always find out whether or not someone is on Statin Drugs (or for that matter, other drugs) before I do anything else.  By the way, certain other things like HYPOTHYROIDISM, DIABETES, AUTOIMMUNE CONDITIONS, CERTAIN ANTIBIOTICS, ANTI-DEPRESSION DRUGS, HARDCORE WORKOUTS, and drug or alcohol abuse can all contribute to the development of this problem as well.

A study was published in this month's issue of JAMA Internal Medicine (Statins and Musculoskeletal Conditions, Arthropathies, and Injuries) showing some extremely disturbing evidence.  Dr. Ishak Mansi and his team of researchers, working out of the The North Texas Health Care System (Dallas' huge VA), showed that musculoskeletal adverse events and diseases are significantly higher in those taking Statins than in those not taking Statins (study size was over 46,000 individuals). 

The study concluded that, "Musculoskeletal conditions, arthropathies [Arthritis], injuries, and pain are more common among statin users than among similar nonusers."  They went even further and clarified the term "muscluloskeletal conditions".   They included, "all musculoskeletal diseases, arthropathies [Arthritis] and related diseases, injury-related diseases (dislocation, sprain, strain) and drug-associated musculoskeletal pain".   Stop and think about this for a moment.  Not only are injuries to the MUSCLES, FASCIA, TENDONS, and LIGAMENTS significantly greater in those taking Statins, but so are the diseases affecting these tissues (not to mention bones), as well as adverse side effects of a wide variety of drugs. 

Interestingly enough, the main reason that this study was done in the first place was to "prove" that Statin Drugs had anti-inflammatory powers that could actually help people with arthritis and musculoskeletal pain.  Probably why one of the authors disclosed associations with AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Elan, Forest, Ortho-McNeil Janssen, and PFIZER.  It would be safe to say that these companies are now in full "Damage Control Mode".  Fortunately for us, it is getting harder for Big Pharma to BURY STUDIES LIKE THIS.  To learn more about CHOLESTEROL, just click on the link.

Did you catch that?  What an amazing conclusion from last week's issue of PLOS One.  The thing is, it's not new information --- not by a long shot.  For the past two-plus decades we have been seeing a move in the scientific literature away from slogging cardio, toward High Intensity / Low Duration resistance-based training as the superior form of exercise.  Think about it for a moment.  If you count those who are "SKINNY FAT", more than 3 of every 4 Americans are either OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE, and it is creating a national health crisis, the magnitude of which no amount of money can take care of.  Folks; this study should give you hope!  Use it to your advantage. 

Simply dealing with this LARGELY MISUNDERSTOOD HEALTH PROBLEM will improve your overall health (and weight) by leaps and bounds --- and the study showed that this form of exercise does just that.   Listen to this sentence from the study's Abstract, and let it sink into your brain.  "A growing body of evidence suggests that exercise training with low-volume but high-intensity may be a time-efficient means to achieve health benefits."  These people were on a treadmill for a 10 minute "warmup" at 70% of their max heart rate.  They then kicked the intensity to 90% for one minute, followed by three minutes at 70% and a five minute "cool down".   Add it up.  That is 19 minutes, with only a single minute of what we would truly call "high intensity" exercise.

I get it.  You don't have the time to do do the entire hour to hour and a half of P-90X or "Insanity".  You don't have the money for a gym membership.  You don't have room in your house for a bunch of bulky gym equipment.  The thing is, these individuals saw huge changes in only 10 weeks, while exercising for less than 20 minutes three times a week --- walking / jogging / running.  No one, and I do mean no one can tell me that they do not have 19 minutes, three times a week.  All you have to do is crank your heart rate up.  You can accomplish this in any number of ways.  But if you really want to boost your results, try doing the same amount of time with some modified RESISTANCE TRAINING.  I promise that your results will be even better! 

One of my favorite success stories of High Intensity / Low Duration exercise is TRACY REFKIND'S crazy body transformation that took place over a period of about three months.  All she did was perform Kettlebell Swings two or three times a week for an average of 20 minutes or so (in "interval" fashion, of course).  Coupled with a LOW CARB DIET, she lost 100 lbs in 100 days and now runs a Kettlebell Fitness Studio. 

If you are CHRONICALLY ILL or dealing with CHRONIC PAIN SYNDROMES, you will not be able to jump right in and go.  But do something.  The health benefits of just a little bit of exercise are too good to pass up.  Not to mention, I have never one time heard a person say that they started exercising and feel worse.  You can do this.  Simply make a plan and stick to it.  Oh; just one more thing.  If you have great results, let me know so that I can share them with everyone.

A couple days ago I saw a patient whom I helped with a number of different health problems, including a severe and unrelenting case of ELBOW TENDINOSIS.   A number of months ago, he had wanted to know how to go about LOSING SOME WEIGHT and getting healthier in the process.  As always, I suggested eating a diet based on WHOLE FOODS.    While on vacation earlier in the year, he started reading IT STARTS WITH FOOD (it has an average 5-star rating from its 537 reviewers on Amazon), and was so intrigued by the concepts that he started following its principles halfway through his vacation.

As of Friday, he and his wife had lost a combined 50 or 60 pounds over the past few months, but that is not what he was most excited about.  By eating no processed foods and cutting out SUGAR AND JUNK CARBS from his diet (including high glycemic fruits), this person totally and 100% cleared up a decades-long case of sinus congestion.  That's right; a case of chronic sinus congestion that had become so severe that his inability to breathe had actually left him claustrophobic was now completely gone.

Sinuses are cavities in the body, or in our specific discussion, SKULL, that are interconnected to each other.  Their purpose is two-fold.  Firstly, they add moisture to the air that we breathe (at rest, you should be breathing primarily through your nose), and they amplify sound, making hearing easier and clearer.   The sinuses are listed below and seen in the picture above.

• The largest is the Maxillary Sinus, which is found below the eyes (dark green).

• The Frontal Sinuses (pink) is found just above the medial portion of the eyes.

• The Ethmoid and Sphenod Sinus are found in the area of the nose (purple and yellow). 

• There is also a large sinus at the area of the Mastoid Process (lighter green).

There are two chief issues that we will discuss today concerning why people become congested.  You have probably heard the term Sinusitis before (sometimes referred to as "Chronic Sinusitis").  The name indicates an INFLAMMATION (itis) of the mucous lining of the sinus.  In order to understand this problem better, you'll need to understand what Inflammation is by clicking on the link.  Although most people think they know, the majority truly have not idea what it is or what causes it.  It is critical to find out what is driving the inflammatory process in your body if you want any chance of defeating them. 

Secondly, I want to discuss Sinus Infections.  Sinus Infections cause an increased production of mucous from the mucous membranes that make up the lining of the sinus cavities.  Between the swelling of these membranes (remember that Inflammation causes swelling), and the increased production of mucous, it can become difficult or even impossible to breathe thru your nose.  This begs the question, how would you know you have an infection or inflammation, and does it really matter (HERE)?

According to an article called Upper Respiratory Infections, found in a 2010 issue of The American Journal of Medicine, there are about 24 million cases of bacterial Sinus Infections each year in the US, and are a primary reason doctors prescribe Antibiotics (about 20% of the antibiotics prescribed in America are for sinuses).  If you go to the doctor with a sinus problem, you will be treated with Antibiotics. But should doctors be prescribing Antibiotics for UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS?   It should be becoming obvious to you that they should not --- especially in light of conflicting information --- one of the main problems with EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE. 

According to a recent report by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, less than 10% (and maybe as little as 2%) of the Sinus Infections in America are bacterial.  Most --- the vast majority --- are viral. But the problem is that if you go to your doctor, they will almost certainly treat you with Antibiotics.  If you value your family's health, it is imperative to understand why Antibiotics put so many people into a health-tailspin (HERE); even people who think they haven't taken many.

It's real simple. 80% of your body's Immune System is found in the Gut --- mostly in the form of bacteria (GUT HEALTH).  Antibiotics kill bacteria --- all bacteria, and especially the good ones.  I will not belabor this point, but suffice it to say that ANTIBIOTICS are one of the top three biggest destroyers of health in the US because they are Immune System destroyers instead of the Immune System boosters they are made out to be (HERE).  Once you start taking them, it far more likely that you will end up in a vicious cycle of illness -----> antibiotics -----> weakened immune system ------> antibiotcs ------> repeat.

This is the section where I could suggest Netti Pots, nutritional supplements like CONGAPLEX, CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS, etc, etc, etc.  Although these things and others help many people, I want to give you my number one way to stop Chronic Sinus Congestion dead in its tracks.  You need to go Low Carb.  I cannot tell you the numbers of patients whom over the years went on LOW CARB DIETS for their weight, and in the process, fixed their chronic sinus problems.  Forget the expensive tests and DANGEROUS DRUGS.  Try this simple little trick first.  You wouldn't start with antibiotics for your child's ear infections (HERE) would you?   So why would you start with antibiotics for a sinus 'infection'?

If you go back to previous posts, you'll see that I have written extensively about UNCONTROLLED BLOOD SUGAR'S relationship to almost every health condition you can imagine --- even in the absence of DIABETES.  Once you realize that sugar and high glycemic carbs feed infections (HERE and HERE), you'll begin to grasp how important this step really is in solving chronic sinus problems.

In just a matter of a few days after my patient went off processed foods and cut the sugar and starchy carbs from his diet, he could breathe normally again --- for the first time in 25 or thirty years.  Like all other matters of health, it really is up to you.  Would you rather eat the junk and continually struggle with sinus and other health issues?  Or would you rather eat a clean healthy diet devoid of junk, and enjoy life to the fullest? 

Everyone knows what a scab it.  They're those 'crusty' wound coverings that act as nature's band aid, keeping the wound covered while preventing it from leaking fluids and the various components the body uses to repair itself.  Eventually, fibrous cells with muscle-like qualities grip the edges of the scab and begin to contract.  This causes the scab to shrink and eventually fall off.  But what happens to the tissue underneath?

Collagen (pic above), the most abundant protein in your body, has waves in it.  When tension is put on healing Connective Tissues, the waves allow it to stretch and elast.  As far as the healing process of the tissue underneath the scab, the COLLAGEN FIBERS are (or should be) aligned along these same lines of mechanical stress and tension (HERE), which allows for significantly more stretching and elasticity. 

When one ends up with SCAR TISSUE, there is potential for problems ---- big problems.  This is because Scar Tissue (often referred to as "Fibrosis") has some very specific characteristics that are in direct opposition to those of normal tissue.  In a nutshell, Scar Tissue is different from normal tissue because it is....

• WEAKER:  Most pathology text books will tell you that Scar Tissue is at best, no more than 70% as strong as normal tissue, and in most cases, probably more like 60%.  This means that Scar Tissue is much easier to re-injure.  The re-injury subsequently heals with more Scar Tissue.

• LESS ELASTIC:  This is a no-brainer.  A second grader looking at the side-by-side pictures at the top of the page can see that Scar Tissue is less elastic than normal tissue.  And be aware that during its healing process, Scar Tissue will 'shrink' ---- kind of like a scab.  All of this can present a huge problem because even if the tissue itself is not painful, loss of (or abnormal) joint motion is the known cause of DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS --- often erroneously referred to as DJD.  This is why restoring joint motion --- even in the absence of pain --- is such a big deal not only for helping you now, but as far as saving you a ton of grief down the road is concerned.
  

• MORE PAIN-SENSITIVE:  Many people with Scar Tissue (whether seen or unseen) end up in CHRONIC PAIN because Scar Tissue is potentially far more pain-sensitive than normal tissue.
  

• LESS VASCULAR:  Although Scar Tissue is living tissue with a blood supply, the blood supply is not as good or as organized as it is in normal tissue.  This is particularly important to understand in the event that Scar Tissue forms in tissues that are poorly vascularized in the first place (SPINAL DISCS, LIGAMENTS, TENDONS, etc).
  

Scar Tissue is often created after SURGERIES, CAR ACCIDENTS, SPORTS INJURIES, etc.  But sometimes stuff just 'happens' and you never know why or when.  A prime example of this is seen in Fascial Adhesions.  If scarring gets into the FASCIA, you can have a real problem on your hands.  Fascia is the most pain-sensitive tissue in the body, yet does not image well with even our most advanced imaging techniques such as MRI.  This sets people up for the PERFECT STORM of Chronic Pain and dysfunction.  Below you can see the progression of a surgical scar. 

What can you really do about Scar Tissue?  In a perfect world, you would simply prevent it.  Unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world.  So, once it is there, there are some things you can do to help deal with Scar Tissue such as avoiding INFLAMMATION, eating a WHOLE FOOD-BASED DIET, EXERCISING intelligently, getting periodic CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS, COLD LASER THERAPY, SPINAL DECOMPRESSION, etc, etc, etc.  However, nothing; and I do mean 'nothing' works as well as SCAR TISSUE REMODELING.  Rather than me talk about how devastating Scar Tissue can be, I would rather let a couple of my patients speak.  These videos were both shot yesterday and both cases involved the THORACOLUMBAR FASCIA (click this link for 15 second videos showing the difference between Scar Tissue and normal tissue).