HAIR LOSS:

This condition has got to be one of the most challenging conditions to address… and one of the most of which those marketeer predators heavily prey on as well.  You will come across a wide variety of so called, fixes for especially, balding.  After all; hair is one’s glory and so we don’t want to mess with that, now do we?  The question is; what works and what doesn’t work?  First of all; attempting to aid a condition of, ‘thin hair’ as in, ‘split ends’ etc is a much different query than treating a condition involving serious hair loss.  Thin hair and brittle nails is often, but not always, the result of a mineral imbalance, and can usually be remedied by simply supplementing with Silica.  Hair loss involves that ever so intricate Endocrine System.  That’s where a schwack of hormones are out of balance, and treating such a condition involves treating the entire body.

The common denominator of balding seems to boil down to a hormonal imbalance, specifically, the conversion of Testosterone into Dehydrotestoerone, DHT.  The presence of a one enzyme in particular known as 5 Alpha Reductace, 5AR is the bad boy that causes both balding in both, men and women as well as enlarged Prostate in men.  However; my experience with attempting to address an Endocrine system issue is not going to amount to much unless one addresses the entire body, namely the liver function… which really reacts to what is… or to what is not going on within the GI Tract (Gastro-intestinal tract).  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Endocrine System’ for detailed information on this.

Meanwhile; learn to appreciate who you’re staring at in that mirror and maybe then others will do likewise.  Bald does not spell ugly, contrary to the advertising will make you believe… ugh!

HEADACHES:

Ugh… headaches can be such a pain… and the worst of it is to figure out what’s causing the dang thing.  The potential causes of headaches are manifold, to say the least.  Some of the most common causes are; eye strain, sinus congestion, hormonal imbalance, muscle/skeletal tension and/or nervous system stress, viral, bacterial or parasitical infections… low or high blood pressure and allergies.  Ugh… I’m feel a headache brewing just listing them all… hmm… oh yeah… and I forgot to mention; stress is also a biggy on that ‘no wish list,’ as well.  Once a potential culprit has been isolated than specific agents and/or protocol can be accessed to remedy the situation.

Nonetheless; it often boils down to one of two things; an excessive blood flow to the brain or a lack of blood flow to the brain.  If the cause of a headache should be the result of an excessive blood flow to the brain then one could apply an agent that will relax and/or dilate… expand the blood vessels in the head.  A substance such as; nicotine, caffeine or perhaps, chocolate, could very well make a big difference, as these substances tend to constrict blood vessels.

Oftentimes, eye strain is a suspect, in which case, a warm and wet black tea bag can be applied directly to the eyes for several minutes to usher in some major relief.  I personally found this remedy effective when working as a welder’s helper.  I sometimes experienced a throbbing pain in behind my eyes from exposure to the welding flash.  I wore protective eye covering to avert damage from the intense flash; however, i often got caught between welds.  Subsequently, i spent many a time lying on a couch with teabags on my eyes.

The following is a simple and effective home remedy to at least, relieve the pain caused by all head aches; soak your feet in a container of hot water while holding a cold cloth to the head or neck area. The hot water will dilate the blood vessels in the feet and legs, drawing blood away from the head while the cold cloth will constrict the vessels in the head.  How could such a protocol calm down a headache?  The inflamed nerves in the head are relieved by the reduction of excessive blood flow in that area.   If this technique should fail to bring relief, then reverse the protocol; apply cold water to the feet and a warm to hot compress to the head.  If both techniques should fail to bring relief, then try sitting on your head.  Okay… I’m just kidding… but you might try rubbing a slice of lime on the aching section of your head.  Believe it or not; I’m not kidding now, for it really is a legitimate home remedy, although a hokie one, for sure.  I don’t know how it works but apparently… it does.  Hey, you’re only going to be out half of a lime if it doesn’t work, right?

Sinuses are sometimes responsible for head aches.  If this be the cause, there are several natural approaches one can consider.  Herbs such as Garlic, Cayenne and Ginger to name a few are effective in dealing with sinus congestion.  I personally like Golden Seal simply because it can be applied directly to any inflammation or infection without raising hell in an already hellish condition.  I’ve snorted Golden Seal directly into my nostrils without any sort of negative reaction.  ‘Snorting’ is a technique well known by illicit drug users, especially; cocaine, by the way.  They’d conveniently tightly roll up a dollar bill to act as a make shift straw, stick one end into a nostril and abruptly sniff the powder.  The effect was instant; the nose offers ready access to the brain.  Nasal injection is nothing new; it is an effective protocol for drug delivery, dating back to ancient Egyptian history.  Hmm… you might now be questioning the application of the invasive nasal swab being applied to test for the so called; new/bad kid on the block virus called; Covid-19.  Ah… but that’s an entirely different story; information on that can be found in section entitled; ‘Covid Circus.’  Some have dared to snort cayenne solution directly into the nostrils to alleviate the headache… a pretty bold/daring exploit, i might add.  The head ache apparently disappeared; however, mega other pains/discomfort presented in the process.  I personally do not recommend this remedy for obvious reasons… the cure is much worse than the disease… 10,000 purse snatchers… and/or pesky bears can’t be wrong.  One nasal therapy i do particularly appreciate is a nose spray called; X-Lear.  This may, or may not be an instant fix for your head ache; however, it definitely clears the nasal cavity of excess mucous, which is there because of inflammation.  Can you see the connection?

***Refer to the section entitled, ‘Immune System,‘ for more detailed information on sinus congestion… especially the cold/flu remedy… a tea consisting of Garlic, Cayenne, Ginger, Honey and Lemon.  Some have dared to snort cayenne solution directly into the nostrils to alleviate the headache.  The head ache apparently disappeared alright… but the repercussions of doing so were pretty excessive, to say the least.  I personally do not recommend this remedy for obvious reasons… the cure is much worse than the disease… 10,000 purse snatchers… or pesky bears can’t be wrong.

Several Anti-inflammatory agents… specifically, nerve and muscle calming agents, can be very effective for obvious reasons; White Willow Bark, Feverfew, Butterbur, Devils Claw, Devil’s Club, Valerian, Passion Flower, MSM, Lemon Balm and Hops, to name some of the more popular ones.

Supplements for Hormonal headaches:

Migraine Headaches can often be the result of hormone imbalance… ugh!  This involves a very complicated department of your body, namely, ‘The Endocrine System.’   ***Refer to section entitled; ‘Endocrine System,’ for detailed information in that complex department.  Bear in mind; there is no magic pill able to instantly balance hormones… that i am aware of anyway; it requires a multi-directional approach.  The section entitled, ‘Digestive System,’ is a great place to start in getting your health/life back.

However; if you are willing to experiment a little rather than read a lot, then i will offer a few effective agents to address hormone related headaches.  Vit B2 (Riboflavin) has been reported to deliver relief for hormone related migraine sufferers.  I’m really not sure why/how this agent works but many customers have informed me that it does indeed do the job.  Niacin; another member of the B Vitamin family has also been reported as effective.  You’ll want to be using the regular, ‘flush‘ Niacin not the ‘non-flush’ for this particular application, anyway.  I’d suggest starting with 100 mg; you can increase the dosage as your body adjusts to the hot flush… don’t worry; the flush us just a minor/temporary discomfort, well worth the benefits.  The flushing is an indication that furniture in your liver is being rearranged… in a good way.  All roads lead to the liver and so you can expect a connection… especially to hormone activity in particular.

HEAD ACHE, BACK AND NECK PAIN, SCIATICA:

Head aches and migraines are often the result of a structural/nerve issue.  I’ve had mega customers come into the store requesting a pill to alleviate severe nerve and/or muscular pain.  I have to admit to them that they are wasting their hard earned money with such a high ended expectation.  This is not to say that there aren’t natural agents able to address neural/muscular inflammation; however, i’ve yet to find one that can compare to pharmaceutical agents such as; morphine.  Howbeit; you might wanna consider going to the root cause of such.  Oftentimes, the fix would be a structural adjustment (Chiropractic) or a massage.  This is/was the case with my wife; she experienced headaches from time to time due to an automobile accident.  A simple chiropractic adjustment, one of which we will be discussing in detail always alleviated the issue.

How would you know if you are a structural/headache candidate?  Conduct the following simple experiment.  Have a friend visually inspect your stature when standing approximately 10 feet away from you.  You can do this experiment alone if you don’t have a friend… hmm… although you might wanna investigate the ‘no friend’ issue first; your health might depend on that more so than the head ache.  In that case, your friend will end up being a mirror.  Either way ensure that your feet are tight together and your arms are somewhat relaxed by your side.  You’re looking for level shoulder heights; the right and left side should be level/equal in height and not one lower than the other.  Don’t be shocked/dismayed if you should notice one shoulder significantly lower than the other side; you’ll be hard pressed to find somebody who is not.  We’ve all had our falls and/or carried a heavy load and felt a back ache at one time or other and so it just stands to reason that we’ll be structurally compromised over time.  Some may not notice it while others may be chronically pain ridden because of the fact… hence why your head might very well be aching.

The fix; get your head back on straight.

There is one particular type of chiropractic therapy that i can personally endorse… to testify as being effective; it’s a procedure/technique known as, Upper Cervical Chiropractics (NUCCA).  The NUCCA technique involves a manipulation of one specific vertebra located at the top of the neck and base of the skull, namely the upper cervical vertabra.  This particular vertabra is considered to be the axis of our stature and where all of the nerves from the head to the torso of your body pass through; it’s no wonder, you are experiencing head aches, vertigo, back and/or sciatic pain etc; ‘you hafta get your head back on straight’ in order to obtain some lasting relief.  Nucca is a very gentle, safe and accurate procedure, requiring a preliminary x-ray of one section of the spinal column in order to establish an accurate adjustment… not ‘a hit and sometimes miss’ procedure by any means.  I’ve been enjoying the benefits of NUCCA for approximately 40 years now, no thanks to numerous concussions i’ve experienced over the years; including a train/truck collision.

Supplements for pain relief:

Some of the mainline aids revolving around inflammation throughout the body are; White Willow Bark, Yucca, Devils Claw, Arnica (Absolute Arnica, a topical ointment by Vogel is the ‘best in the west, in my opinion).  This agent is also an excellent aid to instantly arrest leg/muscle cramps as well… emphasis on, ‘instantly!’  Boswelia, Formula 7 (by Sisu), Sierrasil, Tumeric, Joint Force (by Mega foods), Scullcap, Leaf Source (humic/fulvic acids), Zeolite (extract from lava), Magnesium, MSM, DMSO (for external use), Zyflamend (by New Chapters), Bromelain, Turmeric or Curcumin, one of the main constituents of Turmeric and Wobenzyme, a propitiatory blend of enzymes are extremely effective in aiding when inflammation is at the door.  Serratic Peptidace is a synthesized version of the silk worm enzyme, which has been recognized for its unique ability to dissolve the cocoon, which separated the caterpillar stage from the adult moth.  Inflamed tissue resembles the tissue of that cocoon in many ways; therefore, it could very well be your ticket to, ‘relief.’  Note that this particular enzyme has been marketed under many different names, and so do some homework regarding that factor.  What about collagen; it has been purported to address pain resulting from degenerative bone and joints?  Ingesting collagen is no guarantee that your body… your joints in particular are gonna get the goods.  What happens at a cellular level is where the rubber meets the road.  Collagen is essentially a protein, which is indeed a reputable building material; however, the body must be able to read and utilize it as such.  This normal body function tends to be compromised as we age… and that we do.  Wrinkles, cellulite and aching joints are evidence of this.  But… hey… don’t panic; there is some legit science out there that can help us in this endeavor.  One example is a supplement called; Biosil.  I’m sure there are more; you’ll just have to research to find them.

HEMORRHOIDS, NOSE BLEEDS AND VARICOSE VEINS:

These three conditions have a one common denominator that is worth addressing; compromised vein walls.  Furthermore; why those Websterites had to add the letter ‘h’ smack in the middle of the word, hemorr h oids, is beyond me… it’s a pain in the ass… you never get to pronounce the dang ‘h’ anyway.  Nevertheless, hemorrhoids is a symptom of a disease better known as, assteroids or assolitis… a disease that uptight and irritable people often get.  Okay… so enough ha-ha… let’s get down to some help.  Veins are the roadways which carry blood back to the heart.  These paths or tributaries first pass through your amazing liver for filtering before going back to the pumping station, the heart.

There are two factors to consider when dealing with this query, the first and most important being that the blood flow destined back to the heart is not flowing fast enough.  This suggests the possibility of a congested liver; after all, the liver is the main filtering station en-route.  Of course, such congestion spells more pressure within the veins than the walls of such can contain.  Furthermore; some veins run very close to the surface of the skin and therefore lack the supporting tissue; consequently, something has got to give. The most eligible veins for this syndrome are located in the anal canal hence why you may have a bad case of, Hemorrhoids.  Varicose veins are often the result of the same problem and for the same reason.

Nose bleeds more so indicate compromised vein walls. Something you may want to consider is that if the vein walls are weak in this area then what do you supposed might be the over all conditions of the veins throughout the entire body.  were Such a a ) and along the legs, although can appear most anywhere if the conditions are such.  Thi

have little muscle tissue surrounding and supporting them.Furthermore; if those vein walls should happen to be compromised as well, then the vein wall tends to balloon with pools of stagnant blood… a smorg for a vampire… or a mosquito, I suppose… although a curse for you.

THE FIX:

Digestive and liver aids will certainly apply here.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Digestion’ for more exhaustive info on this subject.  First of all; let’s get out of the ‘pain-in-the-ass’ mode cause nobody likes pain.  One or many of the following herbs can be made into a tea as a poultice for direct application over the inflamed area.  A paper towel can be soaked with the concoction and then gently stuffed up into the inflamed rectum.  A menstrual pad can be placed over top of the wet paper towel to prevent staining.  Some effective agents to consider are; Comfrey Root or Leaf, Horse Chestnut… but people can use it too… Butchers Broom... and you had always thought that butchers only used knives… Witch Hazel… I’d bet ya didn’t know that Hazel was a witch… Black Cohosh Root, White Willow Bark,  Black Walnut, Wormwood and Aloe Vera.

Of course the condition of the vein walls should be addressed as well in this particular query.  You may as well go to work on the entire cardio vascular system while you’re at it, for more than likely, these roadways will be compromised as well. ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Heart Health‘ for detailed info on this.  A condensed protocol to help in this department would be; Enzymes… and plenty of them, Vit-C… preferably from a natural source such as berries, which are going to contain another essential vein/artery building ingredient… Bio-flavonoids.  Some other gems to consider are; Hesperidin, Curcumin (extract fromTurmeric), Garlic, Ginger, Rosemary, Butchers Broom and/or Horse Chestnut, to name but a few… Ginger and Rosemary, meaning, the herbs… not your girlfriends.

A Chinese herbal formula called Yunnan Paiyao is an effective Chinese herbal combination to arrest excessive bleeding.   Another Chinese herb known as, Dan Shen has been purported to dissolve blood clots; good thing to know in case of an anyeurism or blood clot, I would think.  Hmm… you wouldn’t have to be Chinese in order for either of these to work for you.

NOSE BLEEDS:

Chronic nose bleeds are an indication of compromised, vein walls and have shown significant improvement with one or several herbal agents such as; Butchers Broom, Horse Chestnut and Cayenne Pepper.  The Bio-flavonoids, and natural occurring Vit-C, common to all Berries, will apply in this department as well… in a very biiiiggg way… both vein/artery repair and maintenance.  The same protocol can also effectively address the condition known as, Rosaceous (red rash/eruptions on the face cheeks).  An assortment of berries can be purchased in a concentrated powder, liquid or capsule form if you want to really go to work on these challenges.

***Cayenne Pepper is a very effective agent, especially with the smaller blood tributaries, although I would never suggest snorting or to stuff up the nose like a friend of mine once chose to do; it may successfully clot a breached vein in the nose but the trauma of it would be nothing short of, unbearable.  Hmm… 1 million pesky bears… or purse snatchers can’t be wrong.

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME;

Refer to section; Constipation/Crohn’s.

KIDNEY/URINARY/GALL STONES:

Stones belong on the ground and not in the body.  Gall stones in particular can be either cholesterol or calcium in constitution. There is a difference.  Cholesterol stones can be a nuisance whereas calcium stones can be downright life threatening, especially if they were to block a bile duct upon exit.  Cholesterol composed Gall stones are the result of a digestive imbalance, especially the liver department and so attention to one’s diet as well as colon/liver detox programs would be beneficial.  Calcium stones on the other hand are often the result of an acid/alkaline PH imbalance where calcium in particular is deposited in any of these organs and then continues to increase in size.  I don’t mean to alarm you but it stands to reason that if you are encountering calcium stones then there is a strong possibility of a similar deposit going on within your arteries.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Heart and Cholesterol,’ for more information on arterial plaque.

THE FIX:

Supplementation with Probiotics, Digestive enzymes and Greens would be wise as would a program/diet that is conducive to an alkaline PH.  Berries/Fruit and Vit-C (Ascorbic acid) are effective for vein/artery and muscle support.  I’d discourage calcium supplementation for sure but rather would consider a natural source of zinc, magnesium, Vit D3 and K2 due to their ability to balance and distribute excess calcium throughout the body… delivering such to where it should be… and removing it from where it should not be.  Herbs such as; Gravel Root and Chanca Piedra (Amazon herb), have a history of successfully dissolving mineral stone accumulations. Quality, energized drinking water would also be an asset. ***Refer to section entitled, ‘The Mystery Of Water.’

MEMORY:

Hmm… now… where was I?  Oh Yeah… memory… one of many syndromes involved in brain function; in other word; brain malfunction.  In order to get to the bottom of this, we need to scrutinize vital associated functions such as; the Cardio-Vascular (blood/oxygen delivery), Endocrine System (glands and hormones), and the Digestive System (absorption of nutrients and elimination of toxins).

First of all; Blood circulation to the brain is… well… a no-brainer… to be considering when memory is compromised.  After all; if there’s little blood circulation to the brain then adequate oxygen and nutrients are just not going to get there.  Furthermore; toxins are not going to be effectively lifted and eliminated from the area as well.  Secondly; deficiency and/or a metabolic imbalance; the brain may be deprived of essential raw materials required for smooth functioning… and thirdly; we could be dealing with neural deterioration within the brain.

THE FIX:

Blood Circulation:  First things first; the brain is a rather tightly guarded area of the body.  It’s guarded by a barrier, the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) to be specific; subsequently… or… consequently… depends what it is that you’re trying to get in there… or to keep out of there, we have to consider the effectiveness of this firewall feature… more on that, later.  Aside from this BBB feature, we also must include the simple dynamics revolving around blood flood, namely the arteries and veins; if… we could ensure that the roadways (arteries) to the brain are clear and open for travel, then we’d have a pretty good chance of getting some serious road construction done… or better said… road constriction, for one of the causes of memory are just that; constriction, as in plaque… the calcified material that blocks arteries.  The good news is that there are such agents available, agents that are able to open those roadways.  One is called; Nitric Oxide (NO).  NO is what the body uses to repair and rejuvenate damaged tissue and cells.  Furthermore, if NO is abundant in our body then it will act as a muscle relaxer/dilator.  Guess what your artery walls are made of?  They consist of muscle… smooth muscle, which makes them candidates to benefit from NO.  The benefits of opening these passages are obvious; blood circulation, along with plenty of oxygen and other much needed nutrients will then be available to reach well into even the smallest of tributaries within the brain.  Furthermore, toxins… debris which your body would rather be rid of, can finally be effectively removed.

Where does one acquire this, NO?  Well… NO, like Collagen and hormones is not a specific agent of which you can actually import into the body but rather something that is produced by the body.  In other words, it is a result of a combination of activity, including the ingestion of specific foods and/or supplements.   The problem is; that the older we get, the harder it is for the body to process NO in abundance and so we older ducks have to work ‘smarter and not harder’ to get this stuff freed up.  The most prominent button pusher for NO is L-Arginine and L-Citrulline, Amino Acids (components of protein).  Supplementing with L-Arginine, L-Citrulline and/or foods, rich in these particular amino acids has yielded some significant benefits with both Cardio-Vascular challenges as well as Sexual-Dysfunction for this very reason.   Some natural sources of NO are Beet root, nuts and seeds, red wine and dark chocolate to mention but a few.  An agent called, Neo-40 (lozenges) has a pretty impressive track record of instantly releasing NO.  One lozenge per day can make a significant difference in one’s  overall cardio health, which will reflect in the memory department as well as in the sexual department… a bonus for those challenged with erectile dysfunction.

Some other effective agents known for their properties of vascular dilation is, Dan Shen (Chinese herb), Cayenne and/or Ginkgo Biloba.  Ginkgo Biloba is also of benefit to the sexual department as well as the brain; it can put the ‘ginkgo back into your biloba,’ so to speak.

Meanwhile; back to the brain; blood flow (oxygen) is a must, needless to say; however, there are other essential agents needed there for smooth operation.  It could possibly even be a deficiency of something as simple as water (dehydration).  Some people habitually consume barely a glass of water a day; this is not sufficient for hydration by any means.  I consume a couple of liters per day and sometimes more depending on the environment and other circumstances.  Your brain also requires glucose.  Most everybody in North America is getting plenty of sugar  in their daily diet, i’m sure… but is it actually being absorbed by the brain?  Compromised memory is sometimes the result of Diabetes; type 111 Diabetes, they call it, whereby the receptors in the brain are unable to unlock the glucose.  The fix; Coconut oil (MCT fats).  This simple agent alone has gained some recent favorable publicity in its ability to restore memory, brain fog, Dementia and Alzheimer’s diseases.   How/why does it work?  Apparently, MCT (medium chain triglycerides) offers the brain essential ketones that can substitute for glucose and therefore; improve brain function.

Aside from oxygen, water and glucose, the brain requires vitamins, minerals, amino acids and EFA Fats, to name but a few.  Consider supplementing with Vit-C and Bioflavonoids, both of which can be found in berries… all berries.   ***Note; all Vit-C is not created equal; the synthetic version of Vit-C (ascorbic acid) that most people are familiar with is not true Vit-C; it is no match for the natural occurring Vit-C matrix found in berries and fruit.

Another essential for brain function (memory) is fat.  Your brain is made of predominantly fat and so if somebody ever calls you a ‘fat head;’ consider it a compliment.  Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) is what you’re looking for… specifically an agent known as, DHA (Docosahexaeonic Acid); this the magic connection to the combination lock regarding neural transmission and memory.  Ugh… try saying that word; ‘Docosahexaeonic’ three times real fast!  Nonetheless; DHA is nourishment to the brain as well as the nervous and circulatory system, and therefore, worth considering.  Hmm… if somebody calls you, ‘a fat head,’ consider it a compliment.  Another agent to consider for neural transmission is, PS (Phosphatidylserine)… dare you to say that one real fast three times, as well.  They’d be real winners in a game of scrabble if nothing else.  Nonetheless; PS is one of many of the Vit-B family, a fat soluble vitamin able to support neural function.  I personally like to keep vitamins and minerals in particualr in their natural packages as much as possible and so i would recommend that one also supplement with foods or supplements containing a variety and abundance of natural occurring B vitamins, such as; Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, Nutritional Yeast, Spiralina, to name but a few.

What about what your brain doesn’t need, such as; environmental carcinogens… pesticides and schwacks of other ‘difficult to pronounce’ chemicals as well as heavy metals, such as; mercury, aluminum, lead, arsenic and cyanide, to name but a few.  Each one of these is a recognized/registered neuro-toxin and therefore; a probable suspect negatively affecting neural function such as; memory.  The purpose/function of the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) is to quarantine these carcinogens from entering the brain; however, somehow, some way, they manage to get deposited there.  Babies are especially vulnerable; they are not born with this protective barrier; it develops over time.  Consequently; they receive loads of these neuro toxins in vaccines before such is in place… poor kids.

Agents, effective in dismantling and/or removing potential nerve and brain function antagonists to consider are; Enzymes, Zeolite, Chlorella, Diatomaceous Earth, Bentonite Clay and Activated Charcoal, to name a few.  These particular agents contain properties that enable them to eventually dismantle and/or eliminate environmental carcinogens and heavy metals in particular.

***Refer to sections entitled, ‘Enzymes‘ ‘Greens‘ and Gare’s Hall of Fame‘ for more info on Zeolite, Chlorella, Diatomaceous Earth, Bentonite Clay and Activated Charcoal.

Lastly; there is a bigger gun available that is able to remove plaque from the arterial pathways; a therapy called, Chelation Therapy.  Chelation therapy is a protocol whereby a solution called, EDTA is intravenously fed into the blood stream for approximately one hour intervals over a period of several months. This therapy is effective regardless of what the medical profession may say.  Still, there are some medical practitioners and many Naturopathic Practitioners who do offer this service.

MUSCLE CRAMPS:

The causes of leg and muscle cramps are manifold.  It can be a reaction from Pharmaceutical agents and/or a vitamin/mineral deficiency.  Bear in mind that a deficiency does not always mean that you’re not getting your daily quota of such, for oftentimes the output exceeds the input as in the case of dehydration, excessive sweating, strenuous exercise or it can be caused by a metabolic imbalance.  Don’t let the word, ‘metabolic’ scare you, it’s really just a term to describe your wonderful body’s balancing act, acting and reacting on electrical impulses and exchanging chemicals to keep things up and running on an even keel. I usually suggest that one begin their search for a fix by simply supplementing with one of four agents.  Any one or more of the following elements are known to affect muscle and nerve function; calcium, magnesium, potassium and Vitamin C, being the most common.  Any one of these would be a good agent to consider supplementing with.  I’d suggest trying one at a time for a period of about 2 ish weeks and pay attention to the results.  Apple Cider Vinegar is a good source of both potassium and Vit-C, and therefore would be a good place to start with, and is quite affordable as well.  If you’ve been challenging your body with excessive exercise and/or excessive sweating then you are a prime candidate for an, ‘electrolyte formula.’ 

It’s a tad complicated to wrap my brain around it all let alone attempt to explain all of the dynamics behind why this would be; suffice to say this; the body requires raw materials to perform specific duties, the main one being to convert food into energy.  If the raw materials are not available to perform this then all sorts of malfunctions are inevitable; it’s a beg, borrow or steal scenario… anything to keep us up and running.

A byproduct of excessive demand on the muscles is lactate acid; sometimes your body cannot eliminate so much lactic acid and so will attempt to neutralize it… buffer (balance) the excessive acidity.  It’ll be looking for a surplus of alkaline minerals first and foremost, such as; calcium, magnesium and potassium, being the two most prominent to do this.  Furthermore; let the games begin; sweat tastes salty; this indicates that your body is excreting sodium when working hard… if more sodium should be excreted than that imported, then your potassium levels would be presenting a deficit… ugh… your muscles are cramping.

More often than not, supplementing with one mineral can often make the difference of getting through the night cramp free, but not always.  Sometimes, we’re deficient in a vitamin, Vit-C for example.  A Vit-C supplement could make all the difference.  You’ve heard of scurvy, haven’t you?  This is a deficiency disease that affects the muscles to the degree that they begin to disintegrate.  On a milder scale, such a deficiency could easily cause a disturbance in the muscles resembling that of cramping.  I’m not referring to the, so called, ‘Vit-C’ on the shelves at your Natural Health Store, for that is a misnomer.  It should be called what it is, ‘a synthesized replica of one aspect only of the entire Vit-C package’ that is naturally found in fruits, berries and vegetables, namely, ‘ascorbic acid.’   Aside from the fact that this agent appears to have benefits, it cannot avert scurvy, simply because it is lacking many of the essential and supportive co-factors that the body requires to feed and balance muscles tissue, and then some.  Some natural and complete sources of Vit-C to consider are; Camu, Amla or Rosehip berries and/or Pycnogenol… any and all berries qualify for that matter… 1,000,000 bears can’t be wrong.   

Some miscellaneous aids reported to have averted muscle cramps to consider are; Cramp Bark and/or Scullcap.  A Homeopathic combo of Magnesia Phosphorica 6x or Hylands Leg Cramp formula have yieled favourable results for some… Arnica Gel… Absolute Arnica by Vogel, is truly amazing in that it can instantly tame a muscle cramp within just a few minutes, which can hardly be classified as a serious disruption in one’s sleep.  I used to keep a tube of this brand inverted on my dresser for a quick and blind, ‘reach-for-n-dab’ when plagued with muscle cramps.  I hardly solicit this agent much anymore because I managed to resolve the cause of mine.  I now supplement with a mineral complex containing a natural sourced, calcium and magnesium, along with potassium, boron, zinc and Vit-D and K-2.  Needless to say; the plot thickens as I endeavour to get to the bottom of the the query; why am I deficient in these dang minerals to begin with… or why, when and where did they disappear to if I ever was getting a sufficient quota of them?

OSTEOPOROSIS:

Refer to section entitled, ‘Vitamin and Calcium Myth‘ for a more detailed coverage of this subject.

MINERALS:

We may as well start with a controversial one; CALCIUM…OR…BUST!

The doctor informed me that I have border line Osteoporosis and advised me to supplement with calcium.  What’s the best kind of calcium and how much should I be taking each day?

Over the past several years I’ve witnessed a significant increase in customer requests for calcium supplements, in particular.  Apparently, we’re experiencing an Osteoporosis epidemic… apparently.  I suppose the million dollar question… er… I mean… the trillion dollar question is; is reduced bone density and/or bone strength as bigggg of an issue as it’s purported to be?  Well, first of all; you’d have to wonder what plumb line the medical establishment is using to to establish this; in other words what are they comparing to.  The technology to measure bone density wasn’t available prior to 1994 and so they couldn’t be comparing today’s generation with past generations.  Hopefully they’re not comparing the bone density of a 50 year old to that of a 20 year old cause that just wouldn’t be fair, now would it?  Hmm… we may never get to the bottom of that one; however, I find it interesting that back when my Gramma was alive, a few inches shorter than when she was mid-aged and was now shuffling along like… well… like, most grannies eventually do, her condition was simply referred to as, old age… today; it’s called, Osteoporosis.

Regardless of how it all started, the relevant question is; just how serious of a health threat is this new found disease called; Osteoporosis?  Statistics reveal cardio-vascular related issues to be the #1 leading cause of death with women in North America, followed by cancer, breast cancer being the most prominent; Osteoporosis is not even on the scale.  Hmm… and the plot thickens when we read yet other statistics revealing that high bone density in mid aged women has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer by… get this… 200 to 300%.  Like… hey… wow… I didn’t make those numbers up, it can be found in several prominent medical journals… go figure.

The bottom line is that if we are indeed in the midst of an epidemic of bone disintegration, then we need to find out why, in order to figure out how to address it.   First of all; there is a difference between bone density and bone strength.  Take a spider’s web for example; it has zippo for density and yet it is incredibly strong.  Glass is extremely dense but far more fragile than wood in that wood contains more tensile strength, and therefore, able to flex and bend under extreme pressure rather than… snap.  Of course each type of wood is going to also vary in their density and tensile strength as well.  More relevant to our subject of bone health though, is cement; where too much, or too little of specific ingredient in a mix can seriously compromise the integrity of a cement foundation.  This where I perceive at least some connections to be found in our query.

Let’s scratch our pointed little heads here and try to figure this all out.  We can call this work; ‘The T-Bone Conundrum.’  There could be manifold reasons as to why bone health may be compromised; however, I’d render it down to one of the following three issues, each of which can be likened to a construction project, I suppose…

One; deficiency of calcium and/or other raw materials.

Two; absorption/distribution of calcium and/or raw materials.

Three; metabolic malfunction.

DEFICIENCY:

Let’s look at the deficiency concept first. The question stands; are we deficient in calcium?  You’d have to wonder why it is that a cow, packing such a humongous skeletal structure and eats only vegetation is not challenged by bone disintegration, and yet people, with a much smaller skeletal structure, and exposed to such a manifold diet, require calcium supplements in order to avert bone disintegration (Osteoporosis)?

I may as well get this off my chest right off the bat, regardless of whether or not it might put my job on the line; suggesting that somebody ingest 1500mg of calcium per day, is criminal.  I say this for several reasons, the main one being that; the average body requires only approximately 350mg of calcium per day, and assuming that one might be getting much of that, if not all of it in their diet to begin with, you really should be scrutinizing what your body might be doing with what it does not  require.

While it’s common knowledge that today’s fast and furious farming techniques are challenging the nutrients in the soil, you’d think that our livestock would also be equally negatively affected, as well… wouldn’t you?  You are thinking, aren’t you?  Good… to add to that thought then is the fact that our typical, North American diet is quite manifold. Subsequently, we have access to a smorgasbord of food choices from all over the world, and so one would expect sufficient nutrients, minerals included to be available from such a menu.

While we’re on the subject of cows; something that often pops up when customers are inquiring about a calcium supplement is the comment that they don’t drink much milk, and therefore, feel the need for calcium supplementation.  This is a prime example of advertising, or better said… manipulative marketing.

First of all; there is an incredible variety of plant sources that far surpass milk for calcium.  Secondly; the detriments of consuming cow’s milk far outweighs any benefits.  There’s a very good reason why the enzyme required to digest milk disappears from our body approximately around the age of five.  This is because we do not require the white stuff anymore past our major growth stage in life.  Human beings are the only mammal that continues to drink milk for so long after being weaned.  Thirdly; cow’s milk today is much different than the cow’s milk of yesterday.  There’s far too much science and not enough natural going on with this product anymore.  Ugh… am I popular with the dairy industry yet?

Some of the more prominent calcium sources that can be accessed from plants, many of which grow in your garden are; kale, spinach, broccoli, collard greens and alfalfa to mention some of the more common ones.  Furthermore, alfalfa has the ability to send its roots down pretty deep into the soil and so I’d expect it to find a good supply of calcium.  Seeds and nuts are also very good sources of calcium… and for those non vegetarians out there, a vast supply of calcium is available from animal products, as well.  Hopefully, you can see why I am a tad skeptical about the ‘calcium deficiency’ theory.

While we’re on the topic of deficiency, we also have to recognize the fact that our bones are made up of more than just calcium, there are other raw materials involved in bone building and maintenance.  The list keeps growing as the white coats play around in their labs, but these are some of the more popular players of the bone building team; minerals such as; Magnesium, Phosphorous, Boron, Strontium… and vitamins such as; Vitamin D-3 and a new comer known as; Vit-K2.  

It appears to be common knowledge that calcium and magnesium are pretty good pals on the bone building team, and even the role that Vit-D plays in bone building has managed to rank pretty high on the roster, but how about this new kid on the block; Vit-K2.  Recent studies have exposed yet another co-factor involved in calcium distribution and osteoporosis; they called their new discovery; Vitamin K-2.  Science tends to that sort of thing; make up names for the results of their experiments.  I suppose it’s much like the arrival of a newborn baby.  I mean; you’re gonna have to name it, right?  I’m really not sure how they come up with these names.  I wonder who gets the final say.  I’ll bet that they do it as a contest of sorts, where each white coat submits a name, drops it into a hat, and at the end of the experiment they throw a big party and announce the winner of the contest… what-d-ya think?  Regardless; Vit-K-2 is the name of this new co-factor.  It has demonstrated a unique ability to team up with Vit D-3 and facilitate calcium absorption/distribution… even to the point of clearing out excessive plaque build up in the arteries, as well… bonus.  Just one last note on deficiency and our cement mixture theory; your body does not require a lot of any one particular item, be it a vitamin or a mineral, but rather, a little of each of them.

***Refer to section on ‘Vitamins,’ specifically; Vit-D3 for more info on Vit-K2. 

ABSORPTION/DISTRIBUTION OF CALCIUM AND/OR RAW MATERIALS:

The availability of raw materials required for bone health is one thing, their absorption and utilization by the body is another.  The body has rules that it follows and you can be sure that our Maker has equipped it to operate within the perimeter of those rules. It begins with recognition; anything that enters the body’s domain must have an identifiable signature in order to be absorbed and utilized.  Not only does such have to be authentic but it must also be delivered in the format and order required or else the project will be seriously delayed… or even jeopardized… ugh!  Nature never supplies vitamins, minerals or any body building block as a lone entity, rather it always delivers such in a neat lil package.  When you introduce one lone agent into the body, your wonderfully balanced body is going to be naturally searching for its relatives and if none can be found the it will be discarded.

Furthermore, an excess of one raw material, in this case; a mineral, can create a deficiency of another, the reason being that individual minerals can compete for similar receptor sites throughout the body, creating a rather chaotic rendition of molecular musical chairs, so to speak.   And of course, whenever you have chaos in the body you can expect security, the Immune cops to show up.  Now our building project is not only delayed, but it can jeopardized… and even, sabotaged.

METABOLIC MALFUNCTION:

This is where we move onto the third possibility for our bone disintegration epidemic; metabolic malfunction.  Minerals are not the only agents that can act like pirates, stealing similar receptor sites; environmental, carcinogenic agents can do the same.  Probably the best example of this is xenoestrogens.  “What are xenoestrogens?” You ask.  Ugh, I was hoping you wouldn’t ask that question, now I have to spell that dang big word more than once.   Xenoestrogens are chemicals that are known to mimic estrogen, many of which are found in plastics, and I’m sure you are aware of how plastic has become the leading choice for food and water packaging in particular.  Nonetheless; when these estrogen mimickers set up house throughout the body, you can just imagine the hormonal circus that can result.  I suspect this to be one of the reasons, if not the main reason for the prostate and breast cancer epidemic we’re seeing today.

The following environmental carcinogens are especially detrimental to thyroid health; Bromine, Fluoride, Chlorine and/or radio-active Iodine.  These agents can harbour in the iodine receptors located throughout the body if the real deal iodine is not present.  I perceive this to be part of the reason for why there are so many thyroid issues today.  Ah … but that’s an entirely different subject; refer to section entitled; ‘Endocrine System‘ for more detailed information on thyroid.

Some other clowns that can mess up our body’s mineral reserves and bone maintenance program are; Aluminum, Mercury, Arsenic and Lead.  I’m sure that you are aware that mercury and aluminum, in particular are still biggg players in vaccines, and even though their presence is down played due to their minute quantities, you’ll need to do some serious personal research on the subject regarding the truth on this.  And, don’t be naive to think that the biased Pharmaceutical Corporations are looking our for you, either.  The facts are; what may not result in an immediate threat to one person, may instantly shut down another person’s immune system… even to death.  Furthermore; that so called; minute and harmless dose of mercury and aluminum is not the only introduction of these reputable, neuro-toxins that your kid will be ingesting.  Begin by doing the math; tally up how many tiny doses of this crap your kid is scheduled to receive before the age of five-ish.  Of course, don’t forget to calculate the many other sources for both; mercury and aluminum he/she will be getting from the environment, such as; dental and the sea food chain, as well.  ***Refer to section entitled; ‘Immune System,’ for detailed information on vaccine safety and effectiveness.

How about Pharmaceutical agents; can they mess with our mineral balance and bone maintenance?  I’d say so.  For one thing, these agents are synthetic formulations; in other words, they are foreign entities, which means that they will not have a legitimate signature and therefore will not recognized by our body cells.  Not only are these agents not recognized and absorbed but they are not easily discarded as would be a lone entity.  You’d have to wonder how the body deals with such entities.  Furthermore, we need to understand that all Pharmaceutical agents are designed to alter normal body functions in some way shape or form; therefore, one can expect some degree of an imbalance to result.  This is why there’s always a lonnnng list of potential ‘contraindications,’ (side effects) listed on the packaging of such agents.  Take antibiotics for example; although there might be instances where these may be a necessary ‘reach-for’… and can even downright save a life, at the same time, they are seriously counterproductive in that they create mega collateral damage in their wake.  Not only do they interfere with the uptake of minerals, such as; zinc, chromium and calcium, they also seriously disturb the Eco balance within the intestinal tract… seriously.  And depending on how much, or how often they are applied, one’s body can be rendered defenseless and vulnerable to many more negative disease syndromes, in some cases far worst than you began with.   And so you see; our building project is not only jeopardized by lack of appropriate materials but also sabotaged by foreign entities.

The plot thickens as we limp on to another possible reason as to why our bones might be creaking.  This one we have far more control over and can do something about. Let’s assume that we are indeed getting our daily quota of related construction materials and in the format required for building strong bones, aside from our fore mentioned saboteurs, what might be some other reasons why the job isn’t getting done?

We really need to scrutinize life style.  You’d have to admit that our life style today is quite stressful and sedentary.  Howbeit; bones, like muscles, require resistance/challenge in order to remain strong and flexible.  The adage stands; ‘use it… or lose it.’  Add a schwack of stress to that menu and your poor body has to perform yet more magic to keep the show on the road.  And here’s yet one more clown to add to the circus ‘gone bad;’ diet.  I’m sure that many of you are already aware of the fact that our food chain has been hijacked, and that we are no longer getting the ‘real meal deal’ at all… even though they continue to advertise that we are.  Suffice it to say that our compromised food chain is yet one more straw added to our camel’s poor aching back, negatively affecting the body’s mineral reserves and balance… more on that later.

PH BALANCE:

I’d first like to bring your attention to something that I believe to be more directly involved in our ‘compromised bone structure’ query; ‘PH balance.’  What is PH balance?  Exhaustive insight into this subject would require an entire book all on its own and so we’ll just touch on the subject to expose its potential involvement here.  How about we do the simplified version to avoid hurting anybody’s brain.  PH is the measurement of whether something is acidic or alkaline in characteristic.  Numbers, ranging from between 0 to 14 are applied to determine this.  For example; 7 is considered to be  neutral PH; therefore, any substance with a reading of less than 7 would be considered acidic, and that with a reading of over 7, would be alkaline, each depending on far away from the center line (7) it might register… got it!

That’s the end of your crash course on PH… back to the bone building saga… our body is in constant balancing act of maintaining a blood PH of 7.4.  It will do whatever it takes to maintain this; we can only assist it or hinder it in doing so.  Absolutely every thing that enters our body, and even that which surrounds us, both seen and unseen forces, will affect our Ph balance in some way.  Let’s pick on a food for example; lemons are pretty acidic, right?  I mean just watch your face pucker up when sucking on one… ugh!  However, the result of ingesting this acidic gem is an alkaline response created by your ever so wonderful body… neat huh?  Like I said; it’s automatic.  What you might not be aware of is the fact that even thinking about certain foods can trigger a PH buffering response.  I’m sure you will have experienced a mouth watering incident or two in your life.  Howbeit; this is why PH test strips can be misleading.  They are not an absolute indicator of your over all PH, but rather an indicator of what your wonderful body might be doing at the moment you wet that test strip.  In essence it is a measurement of the PH of the interstitial fluids (saliva) not your blood or cellular PH, which as mentioned, does not change.  A more accurate test would be to check your urine PH the first thing in the morning.  It should read approximately 7.4 ish and up; however, this too is merely an indication of your body’s wonderful balancing act from the day before.  If it is constantly registering in the light green scale of below 7.4 then you really should consider making some diet and life style adjustments in order to avert deeper health repercussions.

I suppose the relevant question to this PH balance act to our bone health is; what resources does the body have to perform this magic?  In other words; where/how would your body access alkalinity to buffer the acidic lemon you just ingested?  Now, you might be surprised to hear this but the body really has plenty of resources to draw from when it comes to dealing with acidity; however, it has far less resources to deal with excessive alkalinity.  Breathing is our first and most effective PH balancer.  The heavy breathing induced by strenuous activity is an indication of this magic act in action, where an exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide occurs, resulting in a PH balance from acidic to alkaline.  Conversely, breathing excessively into a paper bag, a process better known as hyperventilation will create an alkaline response in the body… ugh… a serious alkaline response.  You don’t wanna be doing that too often, otherwise, you won’t have enough brain cells left to get through the rest of this book.  Anyway, the next avenue for PH balance would be your kidneys and/or pancreas… and on goes the show.

Now, I’m no scientist, but I’d expect there to be mega other programs of balancing PH available to the body; however, some would be much more practical, meaning that it would create less collateral damage than by others.  I  do have a hunch, better known as a theory; howbeit… my theory!  Hey… it’s my book right?  First of all, allow me to set the stage; the following is a list of minerals classified as alkaline in nature; calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, iron and manganese.  Furthermore; over 90% of your calcium reserves and 50% of your magnesium can be found in the bones.  My hunch… er… theory is this; is it possible that your body may be reaching into these reserves to buffer a constant and/or out of control PH swing to the acidic scale?

I’m aware of the fact that there is controversy as to whether or not the body would resort to such a process, but I wouldn’t be too quick to write it off as being impossible.  Allow me to introduce a health term known as; catabolism.  What is catabolism?  The term, ‘Catabolic’ means to break down; it is the opposite of anabolic, meaning to build up.   Suffice it say that the body is in the anabolic business… in a state of perpetual renovation.  I can’t say that I’ve ever been on the verge of starvation before, although I have been extremely hungry, having not eaten much for long periods of time.  The result of the consumption of body fat and then later, muscle will begin wasting.  According to my perspective, my body had resorted to the survival instinct of, catabolism.  I suppose catabolism can be likened to cannibalism only it’s not your friend that’s having you for supper… rather it’s your own body consuming itself.  Hmm… how’s that for a good friend?  My point is this; if this can happen with our fat and muscle tissue then I’d suspect the same can happen with bone tissue.  In the case of chronic/perpetual acidity to the point of the body’s fine balancing act being threatened, the body may leach the alkaline calcium and/or magnesium from our skeletal structure’s mineral supplies in an attempt to buffer a chronic and/or excessive acidic environment occurring within our cells.  What-do-ya-think; is this possible?

DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH: 

If this it is indeed a possibility, then perhaps we should take a closer look at a what may cause such a state; chronic and excessive interstitial acidity.  It’s no secret that we’re up against a pretty mean and heartless giant here in North America.  Hmm… if I keep using the term; ‘it’s no secret,’ I may change the heading of this section to read; ‘true confession of an osteopediac‘… what-do-ya-think?  Seriously though, not only is the food we eat below par nutritiously in that it is deficient of enzymes, vitamins and minerals, but it is also inundated with mega chemicals, yet more acid producing, saboteurs to our bone maintenance project.  The following is just a short list of some of the most obvious culprits; food additives, such as; food colouring, artificial flavouring and of course; hormones, refined sugars, excessive sodium, MSG, processed vegetable fats, GMO veggies and grains.  If I had to choose just one bad-to-the-bone clown out of all of today’s menu of poisons responsible for bone deterioration, it’d be soda drinks.  Not only are many of these loaded with sugar, caffeine or artificial sweeteners, they also contain Phosphorous, a lone mineral which your body will be seeking to balance… hmm… like, Calcium, perhaps?

Either way you look at it, the fore mentioned suspects can raise hell within our bodies, especially in one’s GI Tract (Gastro-Intestinal Tract).  And, of course, to add insult to injury, whenever any agent presents a threat to the body, your wonderful immune system will be sure to get involved.  This spells war, resulting in a battlefield of inflammation… and inflammation spells mucous and/or plaque (mineral accumulation).  In this case, the walls of our Gastro-intestinal Tract (GI Tract) will be heavily coated with mucous and plaque, and guess where the absorption of essential nutrients (minerals) occurs… or rather… is supposed to occur?  It happens through the walls of the GI Tract… catch the connection?

Hate to inform you of yet more challenges; however we need to be aware of the dangers if we’re ever going to win this war.  This next giant is a tad more difficult to beat but not impossible.  I’m referring to EMF (Electrical, Magnetic Frequencies) toxicity.  This unseen force is now prevalent across the globe like never before in all of history.  These energies are continuously bombarding our body like… 24/7.  It’s like I said everything affects our PH, even what we are environmentally exposed to.  You may not feel the immediate negative impact on your health, but rest assured; your wonderful balancing body is feeling its impact… and is attempting to adjust to it like; 24/7.  All functions of our body are electrical in  nature and EMF interferes with this natural occurring electrical conductivity and polarity occurring within our body biggg time.  It’s no wonder that we’re seeing so many mood and behaviour syndromes today, such as; lack of energy, low libido, insomnia and/or hormone imbalances.

HORMONES:

And now comes the last but not the least of our woes to sound bone health; hormones.  Ugh… perhaps we should call them horrible moans, for they can be just that. Nonetheless, there are two main principals in particular that are common to our body that we must keep in focus in understanding this subject… or anything to do with our health; maintaining balance (Homeostasis) and that of perpetual renovation.   We’ve already covered the balance concept with PH etc, now, let’s look at the perpetual renovation concept.  Our body is constantly tearing down the old and building with new… our skeletal system is no exception.  Normally, old bone is continuously being torn down and discarded to make way for new bone… normally.  However for this to happen, several things have to be in place.

As it is with any construction project, not only does building require mega workers and raw materials, but it also requires direction, or better said; instruction.  In any construction project, you’ll see mega workers, wearing yellow hard hats… and one, or just a few supervisors.  These will often be wearing white hard hats.  There’ll always be more yellow hats (workers) than white hats (supervisors), unless of course, it’s a government project; in that case it’s often the other way around, hence why they always seem to go waaaayyyy over budget all the time… ugh… but that’s another story.  We’ve already discussed the workers and raw materials needed, for the most part, anyway; let’s look at the management department; the white hats.  Where do we find those white hats, the one’s responsible for drawing up and dispatching the blueprints for our bone reno project, in particular?  More specifically, what is it that actually signals the body to first; tear down old bone, and to dispatch the calcium and associated minerals to the construction site and make the new bone all happen?

Allow me to introduce you to Mr. Endocrine.  Hmm… how would you like a name like that?  Never mind you don’t have to answer that; the Endocrine system (glandular system) is the department of the body, where many of both; the yellow and white hats, workmen and supervisors, actually… hang their hats.  Hmm… I’m impressed, Gare, you actually made up what appears to be a fairly simple description of a verrrryy complicated process; let’s hope you won’t disappoint your readers and will keep this normally complicated subject… simple.  Hmm… thanks for that vote of confidence!   Dang… am I talking to myself again?  Here we go… the Endocrine system is composed of mega sensors, glands and organs that are in a state of perpetual interaction with one other… a pretty sociable bunch, even though; still, a very complicated bunch, I’d say.  It’s much like an intricate test station, equipped with very sensitive antennas and sophisticated, communication technology.  Fact… the Endocrine system operates on both electrical impulses and chemical exchanges.  Furthermore; conditions occurring both; on the inside, as well as from the outside of the body are perpetually being monitored, and the body is adjusting accordingly.

The main function of the Endocrine system is to produce, store and/or dispatch chemicals; these are better known as hormones and neurotransmitters.  These chemicals relay electrical signals throughout the body that essentially initiate specific responses.  The most obvious display of this interaction is the flood of Adrenalin that instantly empowers someone to to run like hell when in a life threatening situation.  Howbeit; in this case, we’re snooping out the relationship between Endocrine function and the bone renovation process, a movie much more boring than that of King Kong versus Godzilla, I might add.   Hormones are certainly a factor to be reckoned with regarding our query.  It’s no secret that people are feeling the woes of a once finely tuned orchestra, sounding more like a room of day care center toddlers high on sugar, beating on schwack of pots and pans.  I meet mega people of all ages coming into the store seeking reprieve from their emotional woes ranging from; insomnia all of the way to life threatening PMS… for the husband, anyway.  Perhaps it should be called; Mentalpause.  This is not allude blame for much of it is totally out of one’s control.  Howbeit; even Dementia and Alzheimers can be dragged into this circus ring… all of it to do with Endocrine malfunction to some degree.

How does this all relate to Osteoporosis?  Well, my suspicion is that our Osteoporosis epidemic today may also be the result of an Endocrine malfunction to varying degrees.  Testosterone and Estrogen in particular, are hormones that appear to have much to do with the bone building process.  Needless to say, a balance between Testosterone and Estrogen will undergo constant adjustment throughout our entire lives, from puberty right on through to Menopause for the female, and Andropause for the male.  Bearing in mind all of the fore mentioned factors involving health and balance, one must also factor in some of our ‘not so friendly,’ environmental hormone antagonists/saboteurs to the equation… including today’s technical revolution, resulting in EMF (Electrical, magnetic frequency).  Any or all of these are undoubtedly, seriously interfering with the electrically sensitive Endocrine system.  Add a schwack of chemical (carcinogenic) toxicity and the fore mentioned; hormone disrupters and excessive estrogen prevalent in our environment and it is no wonder that we’re soooo messed up.

I know, that’s a lot of baddd news, especially when there’s not a whole lot that we can do about the environment of which we’re stuck in, other than possibly, minimize our exposure to such; however, we should focus on changing what we can and accepting what we cannot change.  At least we’ll have some sort of peace of mind regarding the entire affair, and as fore mentioned; stress is one of the main contenders in our game of bone health maintenance.

I’d encourage you to read on… and hopefully you’ll gain some insight into how to get back to the top rung of the food chain.

THE FIX:

Go out and buy a truckload of Tums and then you’ll be good to go!  Ugh… of course, you know I’m not serious… you do… don’t you?  Ok, so lets get to work and make a plan.  In light of the fore mentioned suspects of degenerative bone health, how can we best help our body win this war?  Hopefully you’re not going to go out and buy a shwack of Tums and that you’re beyond the opinion that tossing back shwacks of calcium to the menu is going to fix your weakened bones.

First of all, the easy part; pay attention to your diet, especially the quality of foods you ingest.  Seek out quality foods and/or supplement if you must. Furthermore; learn to manage your life style in such a manner so as to include, work, play, rest… and pray.  In other words, seek out coping strategies to maintain balance in your every day activities in this challenging world that we live in today. This may involve simple and obvious activities such as; exercise, walking… or taking time out to just rest and mindlessly play… or it may involve self discipline to abstain from harmful activities, such as substance abuse and tuning into the news, much of which we have little or no control of anyway.

We’ve already addressed some of the supplements, such as; calcium and magnesium, natural sourced, of course, and Vit D-3, and K-2, and so what else can help our body to maintain this so valuable department of affairs?  Well, you can scroll to the section entitled; ‘Digestion… and Endocrine System’ for detailed suggestions on how to change the program, but in a nutshell; your body requires real true blue natural ingredients, minus as many environmental additives as possible.  You can find some of this in your local, corporate garden, namely; the big fluorescent lit grocery store closest to your home, but you will have to carefully read the labels and ultimately choose the best over the rest. This can be challenging if you’re stuck in the northern hemisphere like I am, but never impossible.  You can grow your own sprouts and prepare your own fermented veggies, gathered from a summer garden or natural market.  Dried fruits, nuts and seed can be soaked daily as well… and as for life style; get off your ass and do something… something extra… anything extra is a good place to start; ‘use it… or lose it!  As for the EMF constantly challenging the electrical activity going on in your body; scrutinize when you can and when you cannot get away from it.  I turn off the WIFI each evening.  Furthermore, there are products available that have been proven to counter-balance those ugly EMF frequencies so prevalent out there.  Hey… just walk bare foot on the grass or beach when it’s warm and possible… it all helps.

Regarding diet; boycott those dang carbonated soft drinks for sure!!!  Avoiding fast foods would be the next step in the right direction, for they specialize in making things taste good but don’t give a dam about your health.

PARASITES:

First of all; we all have these hitch hikers throughout our body to some degree, regardless of how clean and/or pretty you might consider yourself to be.  Secondly; Parasites might be low on the food chain but they’re not stupid, meaning that they are not going to just lay around while you introduce some toxic agent and/or deadly protocol to their survival; rather, they have their evasive, survival tactics as well as any living organism, therefore, we have to work smarter… not harder to win this war.

Colonic irrigation and/or colonic bathing is a very safe and effective treatment for this; however, it’s not at all practical when dealing with young children… and of course, children are so often vulnerable to these Parasite infestation thanks to their loving pets.  Furthermore; children are often not able to… nor are they particularly fond of… ingesting pills or substances that taste yucky; therefore, we have to be creative with our protocol.  I often suggest smoothies with kids simply because you can easily disguise the taste of substances.

Regardless of one’s age, some agents to anti- parasite agents to consider are; Wormwood (Ivermectin), Quassia, Black Walnut, Cloves, Garlic, Olive Leaf, Oregano, Aloe Vera, Cayenne, Caprylic Acid and Turmeric.  Bear in mind the, ‘work smarter and not harder’ approach; consider alternating agents rather than applying the ‘same-ol’ over and over again.  This approach weakens parasites and their egg laying, biiiig time.  Diatomaceous earth is an indispensable agent that serves to seriously compromise parasites.  Ensure that you’re using, ‘food grade’ diatomaceous earth as there are two forms of the stuff available.

You may come across a substance known as, ‘Chlorine Dioxide.’  Another name for this was, ‘MMS‘ introduced by an elderly fella who experimented in depth with this stuff.  It is an excellent agent for keeping parasites etc at a minimum, along with offering many other benefits.  I will forewarn you though, that you are going to be inundated with a very contrary opinion regarding this stuff.  This information originates from are so called, ‘health watch dogs,’ namely, FDA or Health Canada.  The problem is that their contradictory information is… false.  How do I know this?  First of all; Chlorine Dioxide has been around for a very long period of time.  It’s used today in packaging/preserving processed meats as well as sterilizing surgical instruments and in water purification.  What-d-ya think… is it safe and/or effective in killing parasites?  Secondly; I have had extensive experience with this stuff and know many others who have and have yet to see any serious harm done.  Furthermore; I exceeded the recommended dosage to the tune of… ten-plus times… and guess what… I am still alive and well to share this with you… you’re welcome.  I will however suggest some rules if you should decide to use it… as if you’re even going to be able to find it; nevertheless, I started with 2 drops, 3 times a day… and quite frankly, found that to be the most effective protocol.  There is a specific protocol necessary to activate the Chlorine Dioxide, which you’re just going to have to find out on your very own.

PROSTATE:

Ladies are out of bounds here… ah… okay, we’ll allow you in… as long as you’re accompanying a man.  The prostate gland can be a challenge to the man much as PMS and Menopause can be to a woman.  This gland is fine when we’re younger and sexually active but as we age, it can get downright mean and ugly.    Hmm… kinda like a lot of men do when they get older… not me, though!  Nevertheless; a condition known as, Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) is the official name given to this bad boy, the symptoms being, urinating frequently and in little volume. What often happens is that the prostate gland becomes swollen and constricts the urethra and bladder, compromising urination.  If not dealt with then it can often become malignant, meaning cancerous.  This condition requires a few strategies, although can often be kept at a minimum, simply by supplementing with agents such as; Beta Sitosterol, Saw Palmetto, Nettle, Selenium, Lycopene, Pumpkin Seeds, Zinc and/or Small flowered Willow Herb.  Sorry to inform you fellas; excessive beer and caffeine are known antagonists of the prostate.   But… hey… you can still watch the hockey game… just not too much of that either, for excessive sitting can also irritate the dang thing… ugh!  If you’re not squeamish, you can insert a dab of Vicks Vapor Rub up into the anus.  It has to be Vicks and not some knock off concoction; Vicks is a proprietary blend, containing turpentine, a real interesting helpful agent all 0n its own.  You can insert a maxi pad to protect your clothing.  “Honey; where have all my pads suddenly disappeared to?” asks Alice.  I have not personally tried this; however, it does come highly recommended and is apparently a viable fix.  It’s worth the effort in my opinion; certainly beats an invasive surgery or radiation treatment.

The prostate is a pretty sealed up tomb of sorts, and so you might wanna consider the following; Nitric Oxide (NO) is a gas that relaxes and dilates arteries.  Subsequently; when these blood pathways are in such a state, then plenty of oxygen and nutrients can be delivered into organs such as the prostate, kidneys, bladder etc.  Furthermore, toxins residing in these organs can then be accessed and drawn and eliminated from the body… bonus.  Where do you find this gas?  Well… you’re not going to find it for sale per-se, but their are some pretty good sources of specific foods and/or agents that are known to release NO such as; L-Arginine, L-Citrulline (Amino Acids, components of protein), nuts and seed, beetroot, red wine, dark pure chocolate.  A lozenge called, Neo-40 is a very effective supplement, proven to instantly release NO into the bloodstream.

BPH is often the result of a hormone imbalance.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Endocrine System‘ for detailed info regarding estrogen and testosterone.  Plenty of sex (ejaculations) is of benefit in prostate maintenance.  This can be challenging, especially if the man or his mate is experiencing low sexual libido… or perhaps, erectile dysfunction to begin with. ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Endocrine System’ (Libido) for help in this department.  There are several agents effective in balancing hormones for both male and female; Progesterone cream (topical), Indole Carbinol or DIM (supplements containing a concentration of cruciferous vegetables such as; broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts and kale).  These agents are known to distribute and/or balance excessive estrogen deposits.  Saw Palmetto and/or Nettle are two major aids, able to discourage the bad type of testosterone known as, Dihydrotestosterone.  What makes it bad?  This is the Testosterone that goes to the bar too often on Saturday nites instead of staying at home with his honey; seriously though; rather… it’s the type that tends to cause balding as well as an enlarged prostate.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Cancer‘ if the prostate is a malignant prognosis.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS:

I was victim  of this so ravaging disease and so i do have some personal experience to offer.  Bear in mind; what works for one may not for another.  It was not 1 magic pill that changed my prognosis but rather  the result of several agents and protocols.  It took me from constant and intense pain, at times, requiring crutches and various joint braces to a relatively pain free life for going on 15ish years now.

The most prominent protocol was my decision to address and adjust my mindset/attitude.  I’d deem that to have been the real game changer in my recovery.  To elaborate; i made a choice to change my stinkin-thinkin attitude.  I fell prey to despair… a distant cousin to disease… just prior to my painful RA syndrome.  Although my faith in God remained intact, my faith in humanity had seriously disintegrated.  And really, whose wouldn’t have; the news at the time (2005) was loudly resonating diabolical atrocities, the most prominent being a mother strapping a bomb to her own child, subjecting him to a gruesome death along with countless innocent men, women and children… all in the name of God.  I mean’ how could a mother do such an unnatural deed?  Albeit; i was overwhelmed by the rampant display of cruelty, abuse and neglect happening on a worldwide scale; or so it appeared to be, anyway.  Consequently; i became seriously disappointed in humanity.  In hind sight, i perceive that it negatively affected my own Spirit, resulting in a diseased mindset, triggering a mode of self destruction of the very organism that God’s built in immune system was designed to protect, defend and maintain.  Be careful what you think and choose to believe; agreement is a powerful force; it can make you or break you.

The fix to make a long story short; i opted to trust that Almighty God was indeed in control; i was but a spectator, better said; a witness of His mercy and purposes.  I chose to forgive; to separate the wrongs being done from those doing them.   Choosing to absolve somebody of their wrong doesn’t mean that you’re gonna suddenly love them all to pieces… or even like them for that matter; rather that you simply release them of any liability for their bad choices.  I chose to do so because God forgave me of all of my wrongs; “Freely i have received; freely i give.” Matt 10;8 (Bible).ight think all of that to be a schwack of irrelevant spiritual fluff… and not applicable to your RA health query at all; however anger/resentment is a recognized, age-ol trigger for joint inflammation.  I’d go so far as to say; if you don’t address that issue first and foremost, then you’re  so wasting your time and money expecting resolve from some pill, be it Pharmaceutical or natural.

***If you care to venture deeper down that rabbit hole feel free to scroll to section entitled; ‘Remedy for a wounded spirit;‘ my own personal epiphany of what we call… religion.

THE MAGIC PILL:

I tried everything, both natural and Pharmaceutical agents, including cortisone, antibiotics, gold injections etc, but to no avail.  However; i want to focus on the natural agents that i applied; afterall, this is a natural health blog and all.  Nevertheless; more important than my personal agents/protocol is for you to understand ‘why‘ i chose them; that will open up a much bigger menu for your inquiry.

Ahhh… yes… that ‘magic pill’; that… just one a day special pill… the one that will make all my aches and pains instantly disappear and dissolve all of my extra fat… the one that will also make my bank account balance, my car to never break down and my dog to never bark or run away again… ugh… oh… and hopefully it can also make my spouse temporarily disappear from time to time, as well.  Hmm… i could sell a schwack of those pills, for sure.

Seriously though; too often we’re mesmerized by that super-duper, magic bullet cure that perhaps, DR. Doz or some other charismatic personality may have advertised, only to dead end, seriously discouraged.  This mentality can easily lead to despair and skepticism; nobody wins that game.  It’s not the promoter’s fault; it’s us, failing to comprehend the reasoning behind why such and such an agent could possibly help with our health query.  In other words; we opt to buy the fish rather than learn how to fish for ourselves.

A disease; especially a condition such as Arthritis, is not like a head ache or stomach ache, which often just goes away sooner or later all on its own, but rather; it is the result of a chronic syndrome that had been brewing deep down for quite some time before manifesting as mega aches and pains.  Therefore; expecting one or two natural health supplements to instantly turn your aching ship around is an unreasonable expectation, in my opinion.

However; my personal regime is as follows.   Probiotics, Fiber/drawing agents and Enzymes was… and… still is my daily ‘reach for.’  Probiotics serve to introduce a signature of a hierarchy of microbes known to constitute a healthy, balanced GI Tact eco system.  This is vital for sound immune health amongst other benefits.  Probiotics also serve to dismantle and neutralize mega toxins throughout the Gastro-Intestinal Tract (GI Tract).  Fiber/drawing agents feed the probiotic microbes as well as serve to draw and assist the body in eliminating unwanted debris as well as excess sugar, hormones etc from the body.  Enzymes are the worker bees, serving to unlock nutrients from your food as well as dissolve/dismantle back log of even mega garbage.  There is no limit other than one’s budget to the quantity of enzymes ingested; the more the better.  I was taking up to 50ish per day at one point in time and so it is certainly not a dangerous agent.

THE MYSTERY OF WATER:

The quality of water one ingests plays a vital role in the big picture of restoring your health; after all, we’re made up of approximately 70 ish% of the stuff.  This is a loaded subject; however i’ll give you a brief rendition of it here.

***Refer to section entitled; ‘The Mystery of Water‘ for detailed info on the subject.

You may not detect the difference with your physical senses, but not all water is the same.   The problem is that science, as advanced as it may seem lacks the technology, the discernment and/or the interest to detect that differences; consequently, they’ll simply dismiss all such claims as bogus.

Meanwhile; the scientific facts are that water is capable of reflecting a specific structure, for want of a better word.  This will depend on its environment.  If you were to analyze the characteristics of a drop of water that freshly fell to the ground as precipitation and compare it to the water that comes out of your faucet, there would be a notable difference.

Water that freshly falls to the ground as precipitation contains little to no minerals; however, when it comes out of your faucets, it is chock full of minerals.  How’d that happen?  The water that freshly fell to the ground as precipitation was energized (structured) and therefore; able to accumulate mega minerals along its journey downward to your home.  You may not detect the structure/energy with your physical senses but your body certainly can.  There are many devices available on the market today able to purify and recondition your water; research and shop wisely as there are also a lot of useless gadgets out there as well, i’m sorry to admit.

Speaking of frequency; there are mega frequency inducing devices available that can offer some serious reprieve for, not just RA but most any disease.  I accessed one such device and still use it daily for going on 15 years now.

Moral of the story; seek and find a source of structured, unpolluted water; drink the best… forget the rest.  Amega Worlwide offers a variety of quality frequency devices.  I still have their water system, wand and pendant.  I do recommend them.  Beware of cheap knockoff substitutes that lay claim to being similar or better; Amega products are patented; therefore, you know what you’re getting.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Alternative Health Therapies‘ for more info on ‘frequency technology‘ to the rescue.’

IMMUNE CHAOS:

The disease of RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) revolves around immune malfunction.  The white coats can’t explain that part of it and so they’ll just label it one of many; ‘auto-immune diseases.’  However; what exactly is an auto immune disease?  To answer that, we need to wrap our brains around what has been called; the immune system?  This too is a loaded subject and so here’s a brief rendition.

***Refer to section entitled; ‘Immune Function‘ for detailed info on that subject.

Suffice it to say that we are wonderfully made; our body is constantly attempting to balance and remain upright; however, as it is with any sea worthy vessel, a so called; perfect storm can be overwhelming.  Rather than labelling RA and other chronic syndromes as; ‘auto-immune diseases,’ i choose to call it an ‘immune malfunction.’  Normally our God designed immune function serves to protect us from self destruction, but sometimes the signals get scrambled; interbody miscommunication, perhaps, resulting in a good cop gone bad, so to speak.  Such is the case with encephalitic shock reaction, when a bee sting becomes instantly inflamed, resulting in a shutdown of vital breath.  Needless to say; breathing is essential to survival; you’d expect the body to be aware of the fact; and yet, the airway can instantly become totally obstructed, often resulting in death to the poor soul.

The trillion dollar question is; how’d that happen; how could a God designed immune function become so radically confused so as to destroy the very organism that it was designed to protect; hence why i opt to define it as; an immune malfunction.  This is the main reason why i condemn the; so called science of; artificial immunization; our immune department is much too complex to be messing with it.  That’s an entirely different subject; best not go there or none of us will get any sleep.

In my particular case of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) blood tests apparently revealed the presence of specific antibodies; however, it neglected to answer why it occurred; what caused my immune department to react so radically?  It was suggested that these particular antibodies were apparently, significant of a radical immune attack of my joints, specifically; the synovial cells of the joints.  Regardless; similar to the bee sting, inflammation scenario, some sort of defense activity was evitable; howbeit… why… and what could i do about it?  How could i change the seemingly destructive program to minimize the collateral damage going on so as to not end up hobbling around in perpetual pain all day long and eventually looking like a twisted pretzel as so many do?

It was not a cut and dried, straight forward prognosis or resolve; i had no lab and/or extensive knowledge of human anatomy to ascertain the root of my diseased state; however, i did have a Mighty God at the helm, Who endowed me with some common sense/intuition; that would have to do.  It was a whole lot more than Pharmaceutical medicine had to offer; a regime of toxic chemicals with serious side effects to merely alleviate the discomfort associated with the disease.

My own personal research initially pointed to a microbe as being the sole cause of the vicious immune reaction that my body was seeking to annihilate… in a rather ruthless fashion… similar to the bee sting causing ampholytic shock syndrome.  Secondly; there was the possibility of a toxic substance harboured in my joints; i had enough exposure to the likes of that throughout my life.  Lastly; i attributed my demise to be the result of years of compromised diet and lifestyle.  Like many, i too had my bad habits.  Overall; excessive uric acid residue and acidic PH became a common denominator.  With all of the suspects in mind, i went to work to avert the assault and avert anymore collateral damage.

Along with the aforementioned regime of Probiotics, Enzymes and Fiber, i incorporated an agent called Zeolite.  Zeolite is extracted from rich mineral volcanic beds.  Its benefits are manifold; first of all; it is seriously alkaline in nature; a real plus for an overall acidic PH, needless to say.  Secondly; it has an amazing ability to draw… and hold onto toxins such as; radioactive debris and heavy metals, in particular; to eventually carry such clean out of the body.  I was ingesting a ridiculous high dosage of of this stuff three times a day… and did so for approximately a year and so it certainly isn’t toxic.

The next agent i incorporated into my regime was a controversial one; well… controversial with Big Pharma, anyway; Chlorine Dioxide (CD), also known as MMS, short for Miracle Mineral Solution.  It is an antioxidant, a proven agent, able to oxygenate the intestines and dismantle/destroy carcinogenic substances.  I suppose you might be curious as to why Big Pharma might be against it.  Well, Health Canada, our rather dozy… or to put it bluntly… corrupt… Government Health watch dog considers CD to be harmful; they have gone to great lengths in an attempt to quash its distribution and use for anything other than water purification.  However; when you consider the statistics; that over 10,000 deaths per year in Canada have been attributed to the most benign Pharmaceutical agent, namely; Aspirin, but zero deaths caused by CD, it should flip some lights on back stage of Health Canada’s claims regarding its ludicrous stand on this substance.

Heck, if you took the time to read the label on commercial tooth pastes containing fluoride, you’d be petrified to even put the crap in your mouth let alone trust your kids to brush their teeth with it daily without supervision.  Go ahead and read it for yourself; the warning on all commercial toothpaste containers with fluoride states; contact poison control if you should ingest more than a pea sized dose of the stuff.  What-do-ya-think is little Johnny following your instructions and not putting more on his toothbrush?  If you’d ever raised kids, you’d realize the potential of them swallowing a schwack of such a sweet tasting substance… and not just once; howbeit, we/they survived… go figure.  You can be sure that not one parent ever called 911 to report a poison ingested.

Albeit; that’ a different rabbit trail.  I can personally testify to both; the safety and efficacy of CD.  It has many applications; yes… it is a renowned water purifier first and foremost and can be accessed from outdoor retail outlets for such use.  Secondly, it was commonly used as a preservative in packaged cold meats and is still being used for sterilizing surgical instruments.  CD is a mild antioxidant with an amazing track record for cleaning up infection… life threatening microbial infestation is serious competition for pharmaceutical corporate production.  You don’t have to be a sharp detective to see through that smokescreen.

The long and short of CD is that it generates oxygen, which seriously discourages specific microbial activity… the rabble rousers within our GI Tract that tend to raise hell with our health.   CD has been proven to be effective against malaria and many other infectious diseases.  Childhood behavioral conditions such as autism and ADHD have also revealed significant improvement with the use of CD as well… go figure.   It’s my guess that buttons in the kids brain were being pushed due to gut microbial imbalance and a daily regime of CD restored and maintained law and order down under.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Gares Hall of Fame‘ for more detailed information on Chlorine Dioxide.

The next gem i applied… and still do is an agent called; Transfer Factor (TF).  TF is one of many components present in Colostrum (Mothers’ milk).  It’s the prime agent responsible for relaying vital immune information from mother to infant.  All mammals share the same blueprint; TF is extracted from cow’s milk.

***Refer to section entitled; ‘Gare’s Hall of Fame‘ for more detailed information on Transfer Factor.

Meanwhile; the inflammatory aspect of RA requires attention; afterall, nobody likes pain.  The conundrum is to address the issue in a way so as to not counteract the body’s efforts of healing.  You’ll come across the term; anti inflammatory agents in the natural health market.  Bear in mind; what works for one may not do a thing for another as i was about to find out.  I experimented with just about every anti-inflammatory agent on the market, both natural and Pharmaceutical and will admit that i noticed little difference with the lot of them… go figure.  The reason was according to my opinion, is that; in my case, the RA was like a raging, out of control fire burning within my joints… and anti inflammatory agents were like a squirt gun.  A greater effort/strategy was required in order to douse the out of control fires… and that required out of the box artillery and of course; time.  Again; it wasn’t just my body that was out of balance/diseased; it was my mind and spirit as well; i was in serious need of regeneration/renewal in that department, as mentioned.

In the earlier stages of my affliction, i was ingesting 2 caps of Celebrex per day; that was and still is a seriously aggressive and controversial Pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory, incidentally.  Still;  i experienced no noticeable relief.  However; after my aforementioned spiritual epiphany and attitude adjustment, things started to change.  As mentioned; i decided to wean off all of the pharmaceutical agents.  I did so a little at a time over a few months; too radical of a change is not a wise move according to my experiences as a natural health advocate.  And so i managed to abandon a regime of Celebrex, antibiotics, gold injections and cortisone creams; slowly but surely, my intense pain was significantly reduced… a subtle but noticeable and welcoming change, i might add.

Once the fires were relatively under control, i was able to mange with Turmeric.  Bear in mind not all turmeric is created equal; you get what you pay for.  Something to know about turmeric is that the liver cannot readily process and utilize it and so consider shopping for some science with this one.  Overall; i would suggest a trial and error experiment with different anti-inflammatory agents in order to find a constructive key to a so destructive lock.  Again; ‘what works for one is not necessarily gonna work for another.’  I’ll list some of the bigger hitters on the market for you to experiment with; MSM, Turmeric, Boswellia, White Willow Bark, Serrapeptase, Yucca, Recovery, Wobenzyme, any and all enzymes and/or Zyflammend, to name but a few.

Celery juice is another very effective arthritic fix due to its ability to neutralize excessive uric acid.  Uric acid is the result of inefficient digestion; proteins in particular.  Our wonderful balancing body, in an effort to maintain PH will attempt to eliminate, rather than contaminate the cells.  The joints tend to feel the brunt of this exercise.  Gout is a health issue related to excessive uric acid as well.  It presents as spurs in the bloodstream and when deposited in the joints; ouch!  It’ll often find its way into the big toe joint first for some strange reason.  Ensure that it you are juicing organic celery; you don’t want to be ingesting more crap than necessary.  Half a glass twice a day should keep both gout and RA at bay.

CONCLUSION:

It’s been a long and difficult journey, and as much as i wished that it never happened, it turned out to be one of the most important and positive change rooms of my entire life.  I am rewriting this 15ish years after the fact and i am grateful to report that i no longer writhe in daily, agonizing pain… life is again good from my new perspective.  I am again back to enjoying my guitar on a daily basis and able to do much of what i could before falling prey to the cruel disease.  I’m confident that God is not finished with me yet; my broken body and distraught mind remain under His ‘divine construction.  He’s the One Who made me; therefore, He otta know how to fix me.

Spiritually speaking; my daily prayer has become; thank you for healing my broken body from head to toe… i speak health to my aching joints and related organs/functions.  My personal stand is; how dare anything… be it a political or religious power, a microbe or any environmental toxin… rise up against the purposes of God… that being His creation… my body.  “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.”  “If I consume any deadly thing, it shall not harm me.”  I’m sure you would agree that there are mega environmental carcinogens surrounding us like never before.  Howbeit; I believe there to be One greater than all of this and that is where i decided to place my bet.

And so if you are up against the ropes with some sort of health issue, regardless of what it be, i’d suggest that you access your Spirit for healing… first and foremost.  Look into a mirror… directly into your own eyes.  Now, challenge yourself to rise up above your circumstances, whatever they may be.  Begin your day by forgiving yourself along will all of those who may have abused you… God knows there are plenty of those out there, right?  Remind yourself that God’s not keeping score, and therefore; neither should you.  Acknowledge that yesterday is gone and that today is a new day, a day chock full of opportunities to make a positive difference in your own life and in that of somebody else’s, as well.  Choose to live this particular day in appreciation for the gift of life.  Choose to care and share your life with whomever you may come in contact with that day.  And when you turn around and walk away from that mirror, know that God heard you and will surely be working toward a resolution to your cause, whatever it may be.

Moral of the story: Despair/Surrender is an invitation for Divine intervention.

SHINGLES:

Your skin is the mirror image of the liver; therefore, aside from an outward altercation, resulting in bruising or abrasion, or perhaps contact with a carcinogen of sorts, a manifestation on the skin suggests that there’s something going on much deeper within the body.  I suspect the liver.  I always hated that as a meal… yuk!

Shingles can vary from a few spots and rashes… to open lesions on the skin.  It is an extremely painful infection for sure and the intense itch and/or pain can drive you crazy… even more so than being stuck in the house with a schwack of teen-agers… on a rainy day.

Common opinion suggests Shingles to be the result of viral activity; Herpes Zoster (Chicken Pox); however, this is not settled science.  The thought of Herpe… or anything sneaking under your apartment door and crawling under your skin while sleeping one dark and stormy night would make for a great sci-fi thriller; however, we’re talking about the real world here… let’s investigate.  What caused the rash and itch?  As a holistic advocate, I again bring you to the common denominator of something called, ‘Homeostasis‘… a word used to describe the wonderful balancing act performed by our body.  When the ecosystem within our GI Tract and/or immune function becomes overwhelmed, then an ugly manifestation of some sort is bound to present… in this case… it’s a syndrome called Shingles.

We already covered much of this stuff, but to reiterate; there are literally, millions of microbes residing within our body.  To suspect one of these to be the lone cause of your distress is reaching pretty farrrr, or so I’d say. The microbial world within us act as janitors for the most part; they clean up garbage that will inevitably result from day to day life.  When there’s little to no mess, they normally resume their status as relatively… benign/dormant.  However, if that mess should become too biggg… or if it should carry on for… too lonnng, then the circus can get out-a-control… bring on the clowns!

My point is this; our Immune system functions on mind, body and spirit balance, and if any of these departments should experience serious challenge then the result will be… compromised terrain… or… disease.  Shingles in my opinion is just that; the result of compromised terrain.  In this case the skin and nerve departments are involved; however, the liver is closely associated with the skin as mentioned… and therefore; I’d be offering some help in that department, as well.

The fix;

Know when to hold… know when to fold… know when to walk away… and know when to run.  I so luv that song; it speaks volumes.  The bottom line is; learn how to… let-go!  I won’t leave you hangin there; what I mean is; find a place… a happy place; somewhere/somehow where you can… get away and… relaxxxx.  Stress and Shingles go hand in glove according to my research; it’s like the ol saying; I have one nerve left and you are getting on it.  The suplemental protocol for Shingles is pretty much the same as with any… and all inflammatory conditions; a combination of a microbial managing agent and an effective immune enhancer/modulator.  A list of potentially effective agents and protocol will be covered at the end of this section.  There are many effective skin salves also available to assist in the itch/pain department as well, although don’t expect such to deal with the root of the problem.  Some effective nerve calming agents are; Valerian, Passion Flower, Saint John’s Wort, Lemon Balm, to name but a few.  Some of these are available in salves and others in capsule or tinctures.  Regardless of which you choose, the idea is to soothe and not irritate the infected skin.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Gares Hall of Fame,’ for detailed information on ‘DMSO.’  This unique agent can be a real helper when you understand the dynamics behind it.  Add 50% DMSO to 50% pure water to one or more of the aforementioned, nerve soothing agents and apply it topically; you’ll instantly feel a difference.  You can add DMSO to the following; Olive Leaf extract, Golden Seal, Oregano and/or Tea Tree Oil.  These agents are historically reputable for moderating painful inflammation.

Microbe managing agents can establish peace and order within the GI Tract in particular; sometimes a necessary strategy.  Microbes tend to multiply rapidly especially when the food is plenty as is the case with compromised terrain (diseased tissue); consequently, they have no manners when it comes to sharing the territory and so sometimes you just have to cull the herd… flock… or whatever they call a schwack of microbial entities.  Some of the more common agents to consider are as follows; Golden Seal, Olive Leaf extract, Grapefruit Seed extract, Garlic and Chlorine Dioxide to mention but a few.  ***Refer to section entitled; ‘Gare’s Hall of Fame‘ for detailed information on Chlorine Dioxide; it’s one of my favorites.

Your immune department as well may be in need of assistance.  Bear in mind; the immune system is not a separate agency in that it acts all on its own; rather, it is woven and involved in every part of the body.  Some agents to consider are; Probiotics, Rhodiola, Ginseng, Ashwagandha, Shisandra, Bee Pollen, Mushrooms (many to choose from).  ***Caution when using both; bee pollen and mushrooms; not everybody is compatible with these agents; I’d hate to see you react; try a bit on your tongue and see how it goes.  Plant Sterols (Beta-Sitosterol), Pine Pollen, Spirulina, Chlorella, Ambrotose, MSM (a derivative of DMSO) and Transfer Factor.  Last but not least; pay attention to your liver; as mentioned, it is the mirror image of the skin.  ***Refer to section entitled; ‘Miscellaneous Health Ailments‘…scroll to ‘Detox‘ for detailed information on this subject.  Lastly; I’d suggest one supplement with Magnesium and L-Lysine (amino acid); you can’t rule out deficiency.

***Refer to section entitled; ‘Gare’s Hall of Fame‘ for detailed information on MSM and Transfer Factor.

A serious regime of Vit-C (Ascorbic acid) has apparently shown to seriously benefit immune activity, although I cannot see how.  I am not personally a fan of Ascorbic Acid; what is erroneously called; Vit-C; however, I will share it regardless of my convictions.  Who knows; I might be wrong and therefore; it’d be to the demise of my readers to withhold such information.  A few facts that I will share regarding Vit-C is this; first of all; it is not Vit-C as advertised, but rather, a synthetic replica of… one… and only one part of the matrix that is found in natural occurring, Vit-C.  It’s called; Ascorbic Acid, its ingredients being; corn starch (most likely from GMO corn), sulphuric acid and acetone… go figure.  Secondly; ascorbic acid is very unstable; therefore, challenging for cellular absorption and utilization.  If you do believe in the stuff then here are a few tips for better assimilation/absorption.  One particular method boasting the deliverance of mega usable grams… versus milligrams of Ascorbic acid into the body, is a process known as, Liposamol Vit-C.  This is a process, whereby Ascorbic acid is ultrasonically blended with Lecithin.  The idea is that the Lecithin traps the Ascorbic acid and acts as a vehicle to transport the Ascorbic acid through the gut wall directly into the blood stream… and eventually to the cells… hmm… work smarter… not harder!  You’re going to have to do your own research regarding Vit-C (Ascorbic Acid); meanwhile, I’d be reaching for the natural occurring Vit-C as it is found in nature’s package… that from fruits and berries in particular.  It’ll be sure to contain all of the factors and co-factors, necessary to deliver a more stable Vit-C directly to the cells of the body.  Some natural sources of Vit-C to consider are; Amla Berry, Camu Berry, Rosehip, Acerola Berry… hey any… or all berries, will contain a schwack of Vit-C in them.  Vit-D has also demonstrated immune and nerve agents, each of which is involved in disease.  Vit-D, unlike Vit-C can readily be found from natural sources.

SLEEP:  

What do you have for sleep?

This question seems to come up fairly regularly in the Natural Health Store these days.  It appears as if we’ve ventured far from the saying, ‘to sleep soundly like a babe’ as insomnia seems to be an epidemic in today’s world.   I believe a big part of the cause of sleeplessness/restlessness is anxiety.  One can understand why, when you consider the world that we’re living in today.  Our world has changed in a very biiiig way and in a very short period of time; we’ve gone from the simple life of isolated communities, to that of fast and furious international relationship.  Awareness and instant communication is overwhelming as the entire world has become our back yard now.  Needless to say, what’s going on around us is not, ‘love, peace and groovy’ but rather; life threatening… and sooo out of our control.  Perhaps a baby may still be able to still sleep soundly in light of all of this… but not so easy for many of us.

THE FIX;

As fore mentioned; we are made up of, mind, body and spirit and each part will be playing an integral role in our health; therefore; regarding this particular query, I’d suspect the spirit department to offer the most input into solving the problem.  An honest review of one’s Spiritual infrastructure, would be the best place to go for help here, even more so than physical health aids.  The bottom line is to, first of all; learn to recognize what you actually do have control over, and then of course, change/adjust those things that may be working against your peace of mind and/or balance of body so that such no longer has power to take you out.  Secondly; surrender the things that you know that you do not have control over to your Creator.  You may want to pray for wisdom to know the difference.  How are you going to know whether or not you adequately dealt with these unseen elements?   You will sleep like a baby again.  “He promises sleep to His beloved.” Psalm 127:2. 

Physically speaking; first of all, we need to establish whether we’re having trouble… getting to sleep (mind racing)… or… remaining asleep?  They can be two different problems involving different solutions.  Either way; Id be suspecting your liver to be involved… for all roads lead there.

Supplements for ‘getting to sleep’:

That’s the easiest query.  If your mind is busy when ya lay your head on that pillow then you really should be looking for help to slow the merry-go-round down.  A few effective remedies to wind your brain, nerves and muscles down… like… way dowwwwn are: Valerian, Passion Flower, Lemon Balm, Hops, Calms Forte, Rescue Remedy, L-Theanine (amino acid).  A product called EMP by True Hope is a wonderful agent for not just anxiety and sleep but also for memory, anger all of the way to dysfunctional state of bi-polar and/or severe schizophrenia.  I’ve  heard countless testimonies regarding its effectiveness.  Prayer, meditative, deep breathing and stretching exercises can be a major help as well. Contrary to what you may have thought, alcohol is not the answer.  It might get you to sleep, but unless you are absolutely hammered and pass out, you’ll be stirring all night long as your blood sugar and insulin department will surely be at major play.

Supplements for ‘remaining asleep’:

When you find yourself wide-awake again after only a bit of sleep then… congratulations, at least you found yourself.  I know, you’re probably tired and not in the mood for joking but; nevertheless, a hormone imbalance is so often the cause of sleep interruption/deprivation.  If you were to scroll back to the hormone question of this manual and review the information already covered in detail there, it should assist you in securing an appropriate hormone-balancing agent/protocol.

Remember… all roads lead to the liver; therefore, I strongly encourage the basic holistic health approach already mentioned at least five hundred times… who… me… I don’t EXAGGERATE!  The program consists of; Probiotics, Digestive Enzymes, Fiber/Bulking agents, EFA Oils and Greens/Berries… hey… try rehearsing that particular protocol instead of counting sheep to get to sleep… it may do the job.

Some other natural supplements that have lulled many an insomniac’s horizontally disturbed carcasses off into la la land for the entire night are Magnesium or a Calcium/Magnesium combo.  NGH, or it’s cousin, HGH has come in fairly high on the ‘good-night’s sleep’ list as well… and again… EMP scores high on that scale as well.

Moral of the story: “For so He gives his beloved sleep.” (Bible Quote)… Bon Nuit!

SNORING:

Now that we got you sleeping; ugh… somebody’s snoring… what-d-ya have for that?  A shotgun… nah… ya probably love him/her too much, right?  In that case it’s not really called snoring… it’s called purring.  You won’t have to get your nose out of joint to solve this one.  A product called Snore-no-more apparently works wonders for many; apparently resulting in a quiet and deep sleep rather than rattling all night like a hot air popcorn maker.  I have not had personal experience with this agent, only customer reports, regarding it.  Snore-no-More is a product containing, Marjoram oil, and you just have to take a big sniff of the stuff before going to bed, and then leave the jar open all night in order to clear the airways.  I dunno… perhaps a schwack of little marjoram fairies are released to perform a dance all around in your nose throughout the night, only to fly back into the jar before dawn.  Regardless of how it works, it’s safe and worth a try, I’d say.   Another effective aid and one of which I have had plenty of personal experience with, is a nasal spray called X-Lear.  It’s a product consisting of saline, Xylitol and grapefruit seed extract.  I’d suggest 3 dosages per day for about a month and then every other day afterward for maintenance.  Before you’ve used up one bottle of this wonderful stuff, you’ll experience a clear sinus cavity… for maybe some people’s first time in their entire lives.  Due to the fact that the nasal cavity is a wide opened door to the outside world, there are bound to be mega potential immune triggers entering there on a daily basis, hence why the mucous is often so prevalent; it’s just your body’s way of protecting itself from such.  Keeping your nose clean is something everybody should be doing regardless of whether or not you snore.  Having said that; snoring can easily evolve into a much more serious condition known as, Sleep Apnea, a syndrome whereby one will stop breathing entirely for extended periods of time.  In this scenario, more than just clear sinuses may be necessary to correct the condition, for we may be dealing with a structural issue, where the jaw falls in such a manner so as to compromise the airways into the lungs.  Needless to say, unlike fish, we do need oxygen; therefore, such a condition can cause other health issues.  There are mouth appliances available that are purported to remedy this condition and so one needs to experiment in order to resolve it… bon nuit!

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Gares Hall of Fame,‘ for more info on X-Lear.

STOMACH ULCERS:

One of the main causes for stomach ulcers is a bacteria infection known as; H-Pylori.  This particular micro-organism is present in most all of us but doesn’t often get the opportunity to raise its ugly little head and do the damage that it does to many.  Its home is the stomach lining and it will remain dormant there as long as the PH environment in the stomach is within a reasonable range.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Acid-Reflux’ for mega info already thoroughly explained in this department. The fix is twofold; we need to assist the body in healing the stomach lining as well as restore the PH in the stomach.  As fore mentioned with Acid-Reflux (GERD) the cause if this conditions boils down to the lack of Hydrachloric acid in the stomach.  The stomach is built to tolerate extremely acidic conditions and it is that way for a several reasons.  First and foremost; intense acid is required to digest the food that you just ate and secondly; it acts as a first line of defense against any harmful bacteria that will inevitably finds their way into our mouths.  Most animals, especially in the wild, have intense hydrachloric acid, hence why they can eat rotten meat without harm.

Here’s what happens; if this acid is constantly weak in concentration as is the case with prescribed ant-acid medication or as is the case with the elderly and/or poor food choices then the PH domain in the stomach switches to that of alkaline.  Consequently, dormant and/or normally, harmless bacteria that thrive in an alkaline environment will then rise up and set up house.  H-Pylori, the lil guy responsible for stomach ulcers, and Candida are just a few examples of this.  These guys are normally quite low on the food chain in a healthy functioning GI Tract.  However, if the eco-system within this tract should get out of balance, both H-Pylori and candida will grow in leaps and bounds, out of control, and before you know it; ouch, my tummy hurts!  Have I got your attention now?

The fix: Probiotics are an absolute must in this condition in particular as it is a proactive approach rather than antibiotics which is counterproductive in the long run.  Furthermore; I prefer probiotics in a liquid or powder form and dissolved in the mouth before swallowing.  Simply open the capsules and swish the powder in your mouth for several minutes before swallowing.  Enteric coated probiotics are really not a good choice in this case for obvious reasons… well… obvious to me, anyway.  They will be passing right on through the inflamed stomach where you need their help the most.

A tea consisting of; Slippery Elm Bark, Licorice Root along with a dab of Manuka Honey will offer noticeable relief from the immediate inflammation.  Slippery Elm lines inflamed tissue, licorice serves to rebuild tissue and the manuka honey is a natural antibiotic to discourage our irritable guest’s reproduction program.  The following is a list of soothing agents, any of which can also be added to your cup of tea as well; Ginger, Fennel, Anise, Peppermint.

Other natural antibiotics to consider are; Golden Seal, Olive Leaf, Activated Charcoal, Grapefruit Seed, Turmeric.  These agents are rather yucky tasting and so will not mix very well in your cup of soothing tea.  These can be ingested in tincture or capsule format.

Here’s one for you budgetarians out there; raw potato.  That’s right; potato, only raw, not cooked is an age ol fix for stomach and intestinal issues.  Grate a raw potato… organic preferably… and squeeze the juice from it, complete with peeling.  Avoid potatoes with the green spots and sprouts, those are aliens.  Seriously though; they’re not going to kill you or anything, it is just an indication that they contain a higher concentration of a chemical that if consumed too much can be counter-productive.  Potatoes are rich in natural occurring vitamins, minerals, (Potassium), Vit-C (natural Vit-c) and are rich in enzymes and a mucilage that soothes internal inflamed tissue.  Raw potato and/or the juice from such can also be effective topically to treat external infections and inflamed tissue, as well.  This includes gout and rheumatoid arthritic inflamed areas.  In this application, raw potato would be applied as a poultice to draw out excessive uric acid, common to these two conditions.

Comfrey tea is another age ol aid for stomach and intestinal inflammation.  The same rules apply with comfrey as with potatoes, for the root contains similar alkaloids, which in high doses can be counter productive if not harmful, emphasis on high doses.  Comfrey leaf and/or root makes for a great poultice for infected tissue.

Mastic Gum is another agent touted to seriously help with stomach ulcers, although it’s not a budget item like our fore mentioned garden wonders.

While we’re helping the body to restore the damaged stomach wall, we need to also address the PH issue that caused the problem in the first place.  Supplements to consider for this are; Hydrachloric Acid (Betaine HCL).  Of course, I’d be introducing this sparingly at the beginning, for obvious reasons.  Furthermore; if you are already on Pharmaceutical, ant-acids then you’re going to have to decide which way you want to go, again… for obvious reasons; one stops acid and the other creates acid.  Do your own homework on this choice.  I did and it worked for me.   The other aids to be looking at are; Probiotics along with Digestive Enzymes, although I would be using mild enzymes at the beginning until you gain some ground on the acute inflammation taking place.  We don’t want to add gasoline to an already raging fire.  You might wanna lay low on strong protein (Protease) enzyme formulations for a spell, such as those with; Trypsin and Chymotripsan.   This is a trial and error effort for what bothers some will not another.  I wish I could give you a simple ABC protocol when it comes to PH balancing but it so much depends on where one is at to begin with.  One thing is for sure; natural agent will give you miles of warning before any harm is done, unlike Pharmaceutical agents.

STOP SMOKING:

Just QUIT!  Well… that’s what I did anyway.  I went from smoking a pack a day to zero like… right now.  I was motivated.  I felt pain in my lungs whenever I hiked in the woods or indulged in strenuous activity and well… it was just not how I wanted to live; therefore, I chose life over smoking.  Nevertheless; there are several supplements available to assist you in this soooo addictive habit.  Detoxifiers as well as nerve calming and mind settling agents are the focus here.  Some detoxifying agents are; Alfalfa, Plantain, Zeolite and Lobelia accompanied with plenty of water to flush the nicotine from the cells.  Bentonite Clay and/or Psyllium Husks are also valuable agents due to their ability to draw out and hold on to the discarded toxins.  Herbal Cigarettes should be seriously considered as a temporary substitute for nicotine cigarettes.  I say that because the hand to mouth habit is a biiiiggg part of the addiction; probably more so than the nicotine, believe it or not.  The herbal cigarettes can then easily be weaned from once the nicotine part of the addiction is distant in the rear view mirror.  If you don’t want the herbal cigs then pick some sort of hand to mouth substitute, such as; sunflower seeds, licorice sticks, chewing gum… or suck on a dam baby soother if you must… after all, you wanna quit, right?  It’s much easier to replace a habit then to annihilate a habit.

Here’s a ‘no-fail’ deal offer… but you must be absolutely serious about quitting, otherwise; it may cost you your life… but then I suppose your smoking habit is already doing that and so you really have nothing to lose in the end.  Here’s the deal; we’ll hire a sniper… that’s right, a sure shot sniper… and if he should spot you with a cigarette in your mouth then it’ll be lights out… in more ways than one.  Of course you’re gonna want to communicate the fact that you’re smoking herbal cigs with your sniper beforehand… I mean… he’s gotta know the difference, right?  Otherwise, it could be a clear cut case of mistaken identity.  If you’re serious enough about quitting considering that scenario then you’ll have no problem quitting at all because I believe serious commitment and consistency to be the major players in butting out for good.

TINNITUS (ringing in the ears):

There are many possible causes for this condition.  It can be the result of physical structure and/or trauma, (head neck and/or ear injury), infection, allergies, high blood pressure or nervous system disorder, to name but a few.  I have personally been challenged with this bothersome syndrome… and continue to deal with it from time to time.  It began when I was in a serious train/truck collision, involving both head trauma as well as an explosion… ugh!  Consequently, the ringing started in one ear and then soon both sides were ringing… and loudly so too.  This syndrome continued for several years but is hardly noticeable anymore… and many times not even present at all… bonus.  How’d I fix it?  Well… now that’s the problem; there was no one agent or therapy that changed the situation; rather, it was the result of a combination of agents/therapies… better known as a holistic approach.  I’ve learned to deal with any… or all imbalances/diseases or whatever you wanna call them this way.  I do so because I’ve learned that my body is a much better doctor than I thought myself to be and as long as I supply it with the right ingredients and work with it, then it rewards me with sound health.

Nonetheless; let’s investigate… if allergy is suspected… here are some suggestions; if the left ear is affected then foods to avoid are; the rice allergy group, blueberries, grapes, strawberries, wine, cinnamon, watermelon and pumpkin.  One can supplement with Manganese (yucca herb is a good natural source), B-6, Arginine (amino acid).  If the right ear is affected then one should avoid wheat products as it could indicate a wheat allergy.  Try supplementing with Magnesium, Histidine (amino acid), MSM.

***Refer to sections entitled ‘Heart/circulation,’ Immune system,’ (Cold/flu) and ‘Aches and Pains’ for more detailed info regarding some of these issues.  You’re gonna have to be patient for this health query… and don’t be sold a magic pill as I’ve seen advertised… especially when you cannot zero in on the most probable cause.

VERTIGO:

Vertigo is a syndrome whereby the entire world is spinning around and you are sitting still… rip off… you don’t get to travel but you end up with travel sickness.  The reason for the merry-go-round syndrome has everything to do with the balance chamber within the inner ear; however, the actual causes of this department to be affected are much like migraine headaches; it’s manifold.  It can be an infection (ear or sinuses) (viral, bacterial, parasite), structural, the result of an injury to the head or neck, a cardio-vascular issue, nerve inflammation/degeneration, allergy, hormonal and/or Pharmaceutical agents, to mention a few of the biggies.

THE FIX:

Unless one is pretty sure what the cause is, it’s best to seriously research the fore mentioned menu of potential causes and be willing to chip away at them one at a time.  I’d begin with the sinuses as this area involves the ear chambers.  Many opt for sinus flushing but there is an easier way to ensure the sinuses are clean.  I strongly recommend a product called X-Lear; it consists of Xylitol, Grapefruit Seed extract and saline.  A couple of sprays into each nostril while lying own at bedtime and again upon waking is a pretty sure shot in clearing sinuses.  Its claim to fame is mainly the Xylitol, which is a type of sugar.  The sinuses can harbour some pretty nasty microbes, each of which has one thing in common; they luuuvvv sugar, and will be sure to crawl out of their hiding places to partake in it.  Trick-or-treat, the difference lies in the type of sugar you’ll be offering them.  Xylitol is considered to be an incomplete sugar; it’s one brick short of a full load to keep it simple.  The good news is that Pathogens cannot digest this type of sugar and consequently… for the Pathogen, anyway, they are unable to function anymore when they do indulge.  In a very short time, you’ll be breathing clearly through your nose again… bonus for snoring syndrome.  Nonetheless, clearing the sinuses with this method could very well be doubling up on the trouble shooting protocol; you will have not only cleared the sinuses of congestion but will have also possibly incapacitated Pathogens that might be responsible for the inflamed inner ear.

Secondly, I’d recommend an ear cleanse.  Be careful when doing this as it’s easy to damage the ear drum by shoving instruments into the ear.  Rather, I’d be dropping a concoction consisting of Golden Seal and/or Colloidal Silver mixed with a few drops of DMSO into each ear.

How to do; mix 1/4 tspn of golden seal powder into 1/4 cup of hot water; let it sit for 15 ish mins then pour it into a small dropper bottle.  Add several drops of colloidal silver and several drops of DMSO to the bottle.  Now, gently inject several drops of the solution into one ear at a time while lying on your side for about five ish mins.  The DMSO is a very unique agent, able to penetrate the skin unlike anything I have ever witnessed.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Gares Hall of Fame’ for detailed info on DMSO and Golden Seal… also section entitled, ‘Miscellaneous Health Issues… Ear’ for detailed info on ear care.

Thirdly, I’d be scrutinizing the structure aspect; have you had a head or perhaps, an upper neck injury?  There is one disc at the top of the neck known as the upper cervicle disc; all of your nerves will pass through the center of this one disc.  If the disc has shifted then the nerves can easily become inflamed causing an entire host of negative health issues to surface, such as sciatic pain, where you feel like a knife was just inserted into your leg.  Howbeit, a simple test to reveal if this disc might have shifted is to stand tall with feet together and hands at your sides; you can stand in front of a mirror or ask a friend to scrutinize our shoulder blades and your head.  If you notice that one of your shoulder blades is lower than the other side or that the your face (chin) is tilted more to one side, then you will have sustained a neck injury at one time.   You can research NUCCA, a form of chiropractic adjustment that specifically deals with this one disc.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Pain’ for detailed info and a photograph of this syndrome under ‘Back Injury.’

Fourth, allergies are definitely a suspect in Vertigo.  Getting down to isolating a potential trigger is one aspect of the investigation, balancing one’s immune function can be more complicated.  Immune function is not one organ or even one function, rather it involves every cell of the body and so if one was to attempt to fix it, then you’d have to be willing to adjust your diet and life style.  However, there are agents available that can make a big difference here.

***Refer to section entitled, ‘Immune System’ for detailed information this subject.

***Refer to section entiled, “Gares Hall of Fame’… ‘Transfer Factor’ for information on a pretty impressive immune system modulater.

Fourthly, Cardio-Vascular imbalance is another potential cause of Vertigo as is Cardio Pharmaceutical medication, specifically blood pressure controlling agents.  This subject too has already been covered in great depth.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Cardio-Vascular’ for detailed info on this subject.

Fifth, hormonal inbalance can be affecting this part of the body in several ways.  This subject has been covered in depth.  ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Hormones’ for detailed information on this subject.

Lastly, neuro-inflammation can be at the root of the problem.  Several nerve agents to consider are; nerve calming agents such as; Valerian Root, Passion Flower, Lemon Balm, St Johns Wort, Scullcap, Magnesium.  A few agents reputable in positively affecting nerve function are; Lions Mane, Phosphatydylserine (PS), Choline, EFA oils and Pycnoginol to name but a few.

VISION:

Challenged eyesight can also be the result of many different conditions.  Head/eye trauma, neural break down or malfunction, macro degeneration and cataracts are some of the more common causes.   Lutein is probably the biggest hitter for macro-degeneration.  Bilberry, Blueberry, Eyebright, Occhi Belli, Ginkgo Biloba and Bioflavanoids are all effective in dealing with diminishing eyesight.  A combination of Vit-C and Lysine contained in a product called, Medi-C has been proven to clear arterial plaque from the blood supplying arteries in the retina of the eyes.  There is special eyeglasses available on the market that have demonstrated some pretty impressive results.  Your eyes are forced to focus through these mega tiny holes, which apparently strengthens your vision.  Just one hour a day of wearing these glasses throughout various activities such as; reading, computer, TV is all that is required to reap the rewards.  I wouldn’t recommend wearing them while driving for obvious reasons… or when going on a date… unless of course it happens to be a blind date.

WARTS… TOE NAIL FUNGUS:

I know; you’ve probably been told that your wart was the result of handling toads, right?  I really doubt it; nonetheless, there are effective remedies for this nuisance.  Warts and toe nail fungus are really the tip of the iceberg, and so if one is going to fix the problem then you’re going to have to get down to the root of the problem.  In essence, you’re dealing with an infection…a fungal infection.  I’ve personally been assaulted with both of these hitch hikers… and that is just what they are… hitch hikers.

THE FIX:

Topical protocol; some agent to consider for topical application are; Tea Tree Oil, Oregano Oil, Turmeric, Thyme Oil, Iodine and Golden Seal Root… oh… and/or Listerine or Vicks Vapour Rub… go figure!  Any agent containing camphor oil such as Eucalyptus, Peppermint or Spearmint oils may accomplish the same results.  Castor Oil combined with Turmeric apparently works well as a topical application for warts. The problem with topical applications is absorption; as fore mentioned, what you see on the skin is just a manifestation of a root system below.

You can try soaking the infected area with any of the fore mentioned agents or you can even wrap the infected area to facilitate longer exposure of the agent; however, I have a better suggestion.. DMSO.  DMSO is a transdermal Genie; just a few drops of this amazing solution added to any of the fore mentioned will penetrate deep into the root system of the problem.   ***Refer to section entitled, ‘Gares Hall of Fame‘ for more info on DMSO.

Internal Protocol; in essence, you’re dealing with a Pathogenic invasion, which suggests that something has got to be out of balance.  I’d suggest that you assist the body in re-balancing the Microbiome (ecosystem) within the GI Tract and stop feeding the renegade microbes that wanna hang their ugly hat in various parts of your body.  This is where probiotics can come to the rescue.  ***Refer to sections entitled, ‘Digestion’ and/or ‘Probiotics etc‘ for detailed information on this agent.

Dare to go deeper?  Evict the dang thing!  You read that right… speak to it… tell the darn parasitical growth to scram.  I coached a dozen kids once through a simple program of pulling rank and taking authority over the body… in this case… speaking death/termination to a wart.  What were the results?  In all cases, the warts disappeared, never to return again, some sooner than others… go figure!  How would something like that work, you might wonder.  Well… there are spiritual laws out there that are as real and in force as physical laws, and whether or not you choose to accept the fact is not going to render you unaffected by them no more than denying gravity will exempt you from having an apple fall on your pointed little head.  There is power in your words… be careful what you allow to come out of your mouth!