By camborw on October 8, 2008
Our children seemingly have chronic exposure to pesticides from the womb to the grave. Over a lifetime, with approximately 4.5 billion pounds of chemicals applied annually to crops, buildings and lawns in the United States, is it any wonder chronic illness in on the rise? Reports of 50% intake of pesticide exposure occur within the first five years of life.
Additionally, some tests indicate vulnerability to pesticide up to three months before pregnancy and the first month after conception. As if this isn’t enough, many pesticides detoxify through mother’s milk either as pesticides or their metabolites because the milks fat content causes the solubility of the toxin. The developing brain and central nervous system have pronounced vulnerability to neurotoxicants such as lead, mercury, alcohol, other than pesticides and causes reason for concern.
While the overall use of pesticides decreased 17.2 % from 1979 to 1997, that has little affect on children 6 years and younger who are much more susceptible to pesticide toxicity because they eat more, drink more and breathe more per body weight. Children are physiologically different than adults because they grow rapidly requiring more energy Their activities of ground playing and water activities put them at greater risk for heavier exposure to pesticides in water, soil, and air.
Multiple pesticides may be present at the same time in mother’s milk and consequences may include altered social skills, decreased intelligence, and reproductive difficulties or failures. Thyroid function in pregnant women is a critical determinate in IQ and some persistent pesticides such as polychlorinated biphenols and dioxins disrupt thyroid function. In animal models studies have shown a variety of pesticies such as DDT/DDE, mirex, aldrin, dieldrin, atrazine, dieldrin, atrazine, hexachlorocyclobexane, toxaphene, alachlor, chlordane, vincloxolin and chlorphyrifos can interfere with estrogen androgen and thyroid receptors during critical periods of development. Additionally, pesticides can affect neurotransmitter metabolism and electrophysiological actions.
It’s important that we learn how to protect our kids and because certain pesticides such as DDT and DDE have a half-life of about 150 years in aquatic environments, seafood may be one of the easiest exposures to avoid. Getting a child use to a good distilled fish oil high is DHA early in life is probably one of the best things you could do as it mobilizes many pesticide toxins out of the body but is also great for brain development, skin and liver function.
Today there are sophisticated tests for pesticide residue of all kinds, which require a simple blood draw shipped to the laboratory.
http://es.epa.gov/ncer/childrenscenters/pesticides.html
Center for Environmental Medicine
Posted in Allergy, Child health, Chronic & Acquired Diseases, Neurotoxicity, Pesticides
By camborw on October 1, 2008
The plastics industries insists that their products used in cooking and storage poses no risk to humans, yet a study by a Swedish and Danish team found a strong correlation between levels of phthalates and allergy symptoms in children. Phthalates are the chemicals commonly used to soften plastic.
Research funded by the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning, found higher levels of butyl benzyl phthalate in children suffering from a compared group of healthy ones. They found a link between concentrations of butyl benzyl phthalate and the tendency to suffer from rhinitis (funny nose and eyes) and eczema. Another phthalate was linked to asthma.
Source: The Environmental Physician, Summer 2004
In Center for Environmental Medicine we commonly tests these levels in patients who show persistent symptoms of toxicity. The test is a simple collection of urine after a diet restricted preparation for two days. Typically this test is not covered by insurance but by paying the fee directly to the laboratory, you can get a reduced price that is affordable.
It takes 10 days for the test results and are then are reviewed with the doctor. When levels are high, which is often, the following steps are taken.
1] Restriction of exposure. Absolutely no cooking in plastic containers, baggies, etc.
2] Nutritional supplements specific to the patient’s needs.
3] Retesting.
Posted in Allergy
By camborw on September 22, 2008
Alzheimer’s Disease is an age related health issue that concerns everyone over the age of fifty. If it doesn’t, it should. More than half of nursing home beds are occupied by Alzheimer’s Disease patients AND Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the Number 4 Killer of Americans, causing over 100,000 deaths each year in the USA alone.
As the science of Anti-Aging evolves, a pro-active approach to this identity thief is on the horizon in contrast to medications available to slow the process of early onset. These medications, as you will see, are not always effective.
Bill Deagle, MD has a presentation on the web regarding the dementing brain and disease predisposition. You can locate it easily by typing in his name and Feb 15th 2006 update. Here and elsewhere are stated possible genetic associations of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). For example, of the three common ApoE genotypes*, ApoE4 may increase the risk of developing sporadic and late-onset familial Alzheimer Disease (AD). Other associated risk with gene dose is accumulation of senile plaques in the brain and reduction of the enzyme needed to make acetylcholine. ApoE is critical in the modulation of cholesterol and phospholipid transport between cells of different types and requires the enzyme activity of choline acetyltransferase. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter associated with good memory.
Some studies strongly support the concept that ApoE4 plays a crucial role in the cholinergic dysfunction associated with AD and therefore may be a prognostic indicator of poor response to therapy with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors sometimes used in early intervention of these patients.
In contrast to allopathic medicine, the field of environmental medicine looks at root causes of disease. The premise that occupational dangers and chronic exposure to heavy metals and toxin exposure is at the core of beliefs for Alzheimer’s Disease as it is for many others. One of the chief issues with heavy metals is they inhibit or disrupt enzyme activity. Aluminum has been the center of study for allopathic and environmental medicine related to AD for many years but rather than treat it with a drug to inhibit symptoms, environmental medicine works at removing the cause. At Center for Environmental Medicine, we look at the patient’s body burden of heavy metals with chelators designed for the purpose of detoxifying metals.
Additionally, recent research has suggested organophosphate and chlorinated pesticides play an important role in the inhibition of enzyme activity which can contribute to this disease and others. Testing of these pesticides results in therapies to help reduce levels and symptoms, often using natural agents to bind and emulsify for elimination.
* apolipoprotein E genotype testing is used in risk factors for heart disease
Center for Environmental Medicine
Posted in Chronic & Acquired Diseases, General
By camborw on February 11, 2008
Loss of brain cells with aging is a normal process of aging, but the loss of neuritis and dendrites disrupts neural communications and cell cross talk. This can result in physiological and behavioral impairment as well as major decline in brain cell performance and degenerative disease. Until recently, it was not believed the brain could regenerate.
We know now that brain cells can replace themselves and regrow their neural communications networks under certain circumstances. This is true of neuritis and dendrites when given the proper ingredients. Neuritis and dendrites are the long filament or root like terminal branches that are extensions of the brain cells themselves.
Certain supplements help to rebuild the neural communications network. Acetyl carnatine arginate was discovered in 1991 and later found to mimic the effect of nerve growth factor and cause neurite outgrowth. Acetyl-l-carnatine increases the effect of nerve growth factor on the outgrowth of neurites 100 times greater than when just nerve growth factor is present. It also was found to be highly synergestic in the production of neurotransmitters GABA, glutamate, somatrostatin and other brain peptides.
Taking both types of carnatine provides a profound synergistic action. Carnatine arginate and acetyl-l-carnatine and can result in an outgrowth of 3.5 times more than when using acetyl-l-carnatine alone. Use of carnatine arginate protects against beta myeloid plaque found in old brains and associated with Alzheimer’s whole acetyl-l-carnatine prevents a number of structural changes in various areas of the brain. Acetyl-l-carnatine helps within days of supplementation to increase serotonin and dopamine output, thereby, having an effect on emotional behaviors. It has also been shown to help in improved pain.
Another brain regenerating nutrient is uridine monophosphate which is seen in early development stages but was found in 1960 to be essential in the adult brain. Again, uridine monophosphate increases neurite and dendrite growth. Phosphatidylcholine is dependent upon uridine as the dietary source of cytidine which is a building block for phospholipids synthesis of phosphatidylcholine. Phosphatidylcholine is an important precursor for acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter associated with memory.
Gotu Kola has been traditionally used for nervous disorders such as senility and epilepsy. Uses include as a brain tonic for memory, and for overstressed people to prevent breakdowns. It is also known for improving circulation in patients with phlebitis and peripheral neuropathy. The preferred form is hydro-alcoholic extract. Again, research has shown neurite branching and outgrowth from the human cells.
Source: Vitamin Research News-March 2008; refer to article for multiple research sites.
www.cemmed.com
www.healthwatchcentral.com
See article on this site: Antioxidants – The Powerful Trio – Fighting Diabetes ALC
Posted in Anti-Aging Therapy, Anxiety-Depression-Mood, Phosphatidylcholine
By Ed on January 16, 2008
Dr. Hatlestad completed medical school at Southern Illinois University in 1990 and residency at the University of Minnesota in 1993. He accomplished a Masters Degree in Nutritional Science from the University of Illinois prior to his medical training. He offers a broad background in both conventional and alternative medicine; bringing a fresh approach to patients who are discouraged with conventional medicine or desire a holistic perspective to their health care. Dr. Hatlestad specializes in Family Practice, is skilled in bioidentical hormone management, acupuncture, nutritional and botanical therapies, chelation, energy medicine and various injections therapies. He has also been involved in several clinical research studies including the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy with the National Institute of Health. Recent endeavors of research, study and patient implementation include Low Dose Antigen Therapy and Cell Membrane Therapy. He utilizes a wide variety of diagnostic labs to help formulate the most effective treatment for his patients.
Dr. Hatlestad states, ” For me, Integrative Medicine draws on the best aspects of different medical traditions and innovative practices to provide new ways of thinking about Health and Disease. This includes taking advantage of the best of what conventional medicine has to offer. I enjoy helping patients transcend a common understanding of their illness to achieve a new level of responsibility for their health; finding treatment plans that align with their agendas and empowering them a partner toward optimal wellness.”
Dr. Hatlestad takes an active interest in his three children, mountain biking, mountaineering, snowboarding, running, windsurfing, kayaking, cooking and jazz. He practices Aikido regularly.
Posted in Staff
By Ed on January 15, 2008
Dr. Kapadia completed medical school at Jefferson Medical College in 2005, and residency in family and community medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in 2008. Dr. Kapadia incorporates both conventional and alternative treatment modalities in patient care. She brings her background in functional medicine and applied kinesiology to the center to offer patients an individualized approach to their health. She enjoys the full spectrum of family medicine and enjoys working with a wide variety of patients, including those individuals suffering from complex illnesses such as chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, IBS and migraine headaches to name a few.
She is passionate about her work and is excited to be joining the Center for Environmental Medicine. Specialties include cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal/digestive disorders, chelation therapy, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, functional medicine, IV therapies, nutrition, women’s health, and yeast syndrome. Some of the treatment modalities that will be offered include: nutritional therapies, functional medicine laboratory assessments, food/environmental allergy testing and treatment, applied kinesiology testing, hormone evaluation and IV therapies.
Dr. Kapadia co-authored a book that was recently published. It reviews the overall function of different organ systems in the body from a holistic perspective and then goes on to discuss the “root causes” of illness as well as steps that can be taken to prevent as well as resolve various health imbalances. It can be a helpful and quick read to review some of the factors that contribute to health/illness. It can be found at the following websites:
www.bodyrestorationanownersmanual.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Body-Restoration-owners-manual ebook/dp/B0050653C4/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1305212415&sr=8-5
In her spare time, Dr. Kapadia enjoys bikram yoga, hiking, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
I would like to offer hope to those who have lost it, and let them know that, regardless of your “diagnosis,” it is possible for your body to restore itself with effort, time and perseverance.
“My own personal health challenges motivated me to seek alternative solutions to allopathic medicine. Starting over a decade ago, I began to suffer from severe headaches/migraines, food sensitivities and allergies, among other symptoms. After seeing some of the best specialists that traditional medicine could offer, I had at times lost hope for recovery and a normal life. For several years, my quality of life was severely affected, and my daily activities consisted of just trying to “get through the day.” It became difficult to make plans as I had no idea how I would feel from one day to the next, and when the next severe headache would strike.
I was fortunate enough to gain exposure to integrative medicine through a physician that became one of my mentors in medical school. As I sat in with him, and other practitioners in our community, I learned of new concepts such as dysbiosis and toxicity. I soon realized how my diet, my history of recurrent courses of antibiotics, living in a moldy apartment, and exposure to heavy metals were all contributing to my symptoms. In a quest to heal myself and to look for a better way to treat patients, I read and studied everything I could find related to these concepts.
As I started to see more of my own patients in my residency training, I realized that quite a few of them were likely suffering from the same sorts of root causes as I was. I was no longer satisfied to hand out a prescription for each different symptom that they described. My goals for patients changed from making symptoms tolerable with medication to figuring out the cause of symptoms so they could be addressed, resulting in an automatic improvement in symptoms and overall well-being.
I have seen how making lifestyle changes and discovering the causes of symptoms can result in significant improvement in the long-run. I have learned the importance of treating my mind/body/spirit with care, including the food I eat, the environment and people that I surround myself with and the thoughts that go through my mind. While staying balanced and healthy in our world today is quite a challenge, setting the intention to make this a priority is crucial to all of us.
Wishing you good health and happiness,”
Ami Kapadia MD
Posted in Staff
By Ed on January 16, 2007
Trained in Environmental Ecology, chelation, and certified in nutrition and phlebotomy, Cambor works as the Center’s Business Administrator and assists the doctors in IV administration, allergy testing, patient instruction and care. She is a skilled phlebotomist and allergy technician. Allergy treatments frequently result in complete recovery of the patient suffering from life-long allergies. This clinic has been successful in providing results and hope to many patients when other efforts have failed. Treatment is available for foods, chemicals, environmental inhalants such as mold, dust, pollen, animal dander, and excipients such as dyes and other common substances through PN and LDA.
In her spare time, Cambor and her husband employ a great deal of energy raising their teenage grand daughter. She also enjoys vacationing in Mexico, cooking, the study of ancient Jewish history as well as nutrition, gardening and visiting with friends.
Posted in Staff
