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Cyrex Array #2-#5

Cyrex Array #2-#5

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Cyrex Array 2: Intestinal Antigenic Permeability Screen

A test that identifies how gluten is robbing you of gut health

 

 

Arkansas Nutrition and Natural Healing

Dr. Roger Trubey, Dr.PH, MPH, and Doctor of Integrative Medicine 362 Unger Trail, Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653

Call 501-538-4944

Gluten causes inflammation in the gut, which can eventually lead to intestinal permeability, or “leaky gut.” Leaky gut allows undigested food particles, bacteria, and other pathogens to escape into the bloodstream where they can trigger allergies, sensitivities, and inflammation in other parts of the body.  This test pinpoints which of these is causing leaky gut so your practitioner knows what to specifically target for faster and more efficient gut repair.

We evaluate:

  • Actomyosin IgA                           Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) IgG
  • Occludin/Zonulin IgG                 Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) IgA
  • Occludin/Zonulin IgA                 Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) IgM
  • Occludin/Zonulin IgM

Array 2 is an antibody assessment of the intestinal barrier integrity and bacterial endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides), tight-junction proteins (occludin, zonulin) and cell cytoskeleton (actomyosin) and identifies both transcellular (through the cells) and paracellular (between the cells) routes of intestinal barrier penetration (leaky gut) by large molecules with a capacity to challenge the immune system.
Gluten causes inflammation in the gut, which can eventually lead to intestinal permeability, or “leaky gut.” Leaky gut allows undigested food particles, bacteria, and other pathogens to escape into the bloodstream where they can trigger allergies, sensitivities, and inflammation in other parts of the body. This is a main reason why people come back sensitive to many foods.  Several different mechanisms cause leaky gut:

  • Breakdown of cells
  • Loosening of the junctures of the gut lining
  • Bacterial, Viral or Parasite infection

This test pinpoints which of these is causing leaky gut so your practitioner knows what to specifically target for faster and more efficient gut repair.    Price: $295.00

Paracellular penetration of Antigens

Transcellular penetration of Antigens

TRANSCELLULAR & PARACELLULAR ROUTES OF INTESTINAL BARRIER PENETRATION:

Cyrex Array #2-#5Cyrex Array 3: Wheat/Gluten Proteome Sensitivity and Autoimmunity

More than one wheat protein can cause Gluten Sensitivity – Cyrex Labs tests for multiple peptides of gluten
Being Gluten Sensitive isn’t as black-and-white as once thought.  Actually, gluten is a misnomer – “gliadin” is the portion of wheat that triggers an immune response in people (since “gluten” is commonly used I will stick with that term).  It also has been discovered that wheat is made up of more than 100 different components that can cause a reaction, not just one (gliadin).
Array # 3 test for the following:

Wheat IgG                                          Wheat IgA                                                         Wheat Germ Agglutinin IgG
Wheat Germ Agglutinin IgA             Native + Deamidated Alpha-Gliadin-33-mer IgG
Native + Deamidated Alpha-Gliadin-33-mer IgA                                                     Alpha-Gliadin-17-mer IgG
Alpha-Gliadin-17-mer IgA                 Gamma-Gliadin-15-mer IgG                         Gamma-Gliadin-15-mer IgA
Omega-Gliadin-17-mer IgG               Omega-Gliadin-17-mer IgA                           Glutenin-21-mer IgG
Glutenin-21-mer IgA                           Gluteomorphin+Prodynorphin IgG           Gluteomorphin+Prodynorphin IgA
Gliadin-Transglutaminase IgG           Gliadin-Transglutaminase IgA                    Transglutaminase-2 IgG
Transglutaminase-2 IgA                      Transglutaminase-3 IgG                               Transglutaminase-3 IgA
Transglutaminase-6 IgG                      Transglutaminase-6 IgA

 

Being Gluten Sensitive isn’t as black-and-white as once thought.  Actually, gluten is a misnomer – “gliadin” is the portion of wheat that triggers an immune response in people (since “gluten” is commonly used I will stick with that term).  It also has been discovered that wheat is made up of more than 100 different components that can cause a reaction, not just one (gliadin).
Until now testing for Gluten Sensitivity has only been against one of those components, alpha gliadin. Through extensive research Cyrex pinpointed the twelve components of wheat that most often provoke an immune response.

This new test greatly expands the parameters of gluten sensitivity testing, catching those who may have previously tested negative because they don’t react to the alpha gliadin. A ‘false negative’ occurs when the test results says a condition is not present, when in reality there is a problem.  Many forms of standard testing for celiac disease or gluten sensitivity do not include the right markers or enough of the right markers.  Using Cyrex Array 3 allows for more accurate results with fewer ‘false negatives’.

The test is recommended for individuals who have:

  • Non-responsive intestinal complaints including irritable bowel syndrome and colitis
  • Chronic, multiple system complaints, including chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia
  • Depression, any type of auto-immunity, neurological conditions including ADHD and Parkinson’s
  • Chronic anemia  and skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema and psoriasis and canker sores
  • Headaches and migraines, and hormonal problems including infertility and PMS
  • other illusive complaints and conditions for which no answers are given

 

Opioid testing

Array 3 screens for antibodies to the opioids produced from wheat called Gluteomorphins and Prodynorphins.  Gluten can have a drug-like opiate effect on an individual.  Antibodies to gluteomorphin and prodynorphin can indicate that gluten is affecting your brain.  Some people have enzymes in their digestive tract that break gluten down into opioids that act like heroin or morphine.  Embarking on a gluten-free diet can cause terrible withdrawal symptoms in these people.  One practitioner tells of a patient whose withdrawal symptoms were so severe she went to the emergency room.
Another problem with opioids is they disrupt brain function by attaching to receptor sites normally meant for neurotransmitters.  Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that help dictate our personality, moods, behavior, bodily function, and more.
This opioid effect on neurotransmitter receptors explains why gluten plays a role in so many cases of ADD/ADHD, autism, or behavioral problems in children; or brain fog, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, anorexia and migraines in adults.  When one mother put her autistic son on a gluten-free diet, he began eating the binding out of books as he was so desperate for his gluten-opioid “fix.”

Lectins

Array 3 also includes testing for antibodies to the wheat lectin Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA).  WGAs are lectins or carbohydrate-binding proteins with a capacity to bind to many cells and tissue antigens.  Lectins can bind to cells involved in the immune system and induce toxic damage, inflammation and autoimmunity.

Enzymes

Array 3 includes testing for antibodies to enzymes:  Tissue Transglutaminases -2, -3 and -6 and Gliadin-Tranglutaminase Complex.  Transglutaminases are a family of enzymes that form protein polymers, like scaffolding, which are vital in the formation of barriers and stable structures such as gut tissue.  Antibodies may appear in serum before the clinical onset of symptoms.

Gliadin-Transglutaminase IgG can assist with diagnosing Celiac Disease.

Tissue Transglutaminase-2 (tTG2) is commonly recognized for being an effective diagnostic test for celiac disease.  Transglutaminase is an enzyme in the digestive tract targeted in an autoimmune attack triggered by gluten. tTG2 antibodies indicate gluten is attacking gut tissue through an autoimmune attack.

Tissue Transglutaminase-3 (tTG3) is express mainly in the epidermis (skin disorders) and to a lesser extent in the placenta and the brain.

Tissue Transglutaminase-6 (tTG6) is expressed in neural tissue.  tTG6 may be involved in the pathogenesis of gluten reactivity-related neurological dysfunction.
Price: $425.00

 

Cyrex Array 4: Gluten-Associated Sensitivity and Cross-Reactive Foods

In cross-reactivity, the body may mistake another food for gluten and react accordingly.  Array 4 tests for 24 different foods that may be causing cross-reactivity or are newly introduced to the diet or over-consumed favorites.
One of the most frustrating scenarios for both the practitioner and the patient is when a gluten-free diet fails to have any effect on a person who seems so clearly gluten sensitive. Newer research shows this may be due to cross-reactivity.  In cross-reactivity, the body mistakes another food for gluten and reacts accordingly.  Array 4 tests for 24 different foods that may be causing cross-reactivity or are newly introduced to the diet or over-consumed favorites.   Array #4 Tests for the following Foods:

 

  • Rye, Barley, Spelt, Polish Wheat IgG + IgA Combined
  • Cow’s Milk IgG + IgA Combined
  • Alpha-Casein & Beta-Casein IgG + IgA Combined
  • Casomorphin IgG + IgA Combined
  • Milk Butyrophilin IgG + IgA Combined
  • Whey Protein IgG + IgA Combined
  • Chocolate (Milk) IgG + IgA Combined
  • Oats IgG + IgA Combined
  • Yeast IgG + IgA Combined
  • Coffee IgG + IgA Combined
  • Sesame IgG + IgA Combined
  • Buckwheat IgG + IgA Combined
  • Sorghum IgG + IgA Combined
  • Millet IgG + IgA Combined
  • Hemp IgG + IgA Combined
  • Amaranth IgG + IgA Combined
  • Quinoa IgG + IgA Combined
  • Tapioca IgG + IgA Combined
  • Teff IgG + IgA Combined
  • Soy IgG + IgA Combined
  • Egg IgG + IgA Combined
  • Corn IgG + IgA Combined
  • Rice IgG + IgA Combined
  • Potato IgG + IgA Combined

 

One of the most frustrating scenarios for both the practitioner and the patient is when a gluten-free diet fails to have any effect on a person who seems so clearly gluten sensitive. Newer research shows this may be due to cross-reactivity.  In cross-reactivity, the body mistakes another food for gluten and reacts accordingly.  Array 4 tests for 24 different foods that may be causing cross-reactivity or are newly introduced to the diet or over-consumed favorites.
Dairy – Cross-reactivity is common with dairy as its structure so closely resembles that of gluten.  In fact 50% of people who are sensitive to gluten are also sensitive to dairy.  This panel has great clinical significance as it can explain why people still react even after giving up gluten and dairy.     Price: $325.00

The test is recommended for individuals who:

  • Have non-celiac Gluten sensitivity or celiac disease
  • Are experiencing limited improvements or are non-responsive on a gluten-free diet
  • Have gut dysbiosis, which appears to be resistant to standard therapy
  • Suspect that other foods may be involved in causing them to feel unwell
  • Were found to have significant “leaky gut” problems on the Array #2, Intestinal Antigenic Permeability Screen

 

Cyrex Array #2-#5

Cyrex Array 5: Systemic Autoimmune Reactivity Screen

Which parts of the body are affected by a gluten-sensitivity?

People typically shrug off the possibility of gluten sensitivity by saying, “I don’t have any digestive problems.”  Little do they know that gluten produces digestive symptoms in only a minority of people (1 out of 8).  For the majority, gluten can damage other tissue or organs like the brain, the heart, the skin or the respiratory tract.

Array #5 tests for the following ongoing damage to the following tissues and organs:

 

  • Parietal Cell + ATPase IgG + IgA Combined
  • Intrinsic Factor IgG + IgA Combined
  • ASCA + ANCA IgG + IgA Combined
  • Tropomyosin IgG + IgA Combined
  • Thyroglobulin IgG + IgA Combined
  • Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) IgG + IgA Combined
  • 21 Hydroxylase (Adrenal Cortex) IgG + IgA Combined
  • Myocardial Peptide IgG + IgA Combined
  • Alpha-Myosin IgG + IgA Combined
  • Phospholipid IgG + IgA Combined
  • Platelet Glycoprotein IgG + IgA Combined
  • Ovary/Testis* IgG + IgA Combined
  • Fibulin IgG + IgA Combined
  • Collagen Complex IgG + IgA Combined
  • Arthritic Peptide IgG + IgA Combined
  • Osteocyte IgG + IgA Combined
  • Cytochrome P450 (Hepatocyte)
  • IgG + IgA Combined
  • Insulin + Islet Cell Antigen
  • IgG + IgA Combined
  • Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase 65 (GAD 65)
  • IgG + IgA Combined
  • Myelin Basic Protein IgG + IgA Combined
  • Asialoganglioside IgG + IgA Combined
  • Alpha + Beta Tubulin IgG + IgA Combined
  • Cerebellar IgG + IgA Combined
  • Synapsin IgG + IgA Combined

 

People typically shrug off the possibility of gluten sensitivity by saying, “I don’t have any digestive problems.”  Little do they know that gluten produces digestive symptoms in only a minority of people (1 out of 8).  For the majority, gluten can damage the brain, the heart, the skin, the respiratory tract or the joints.

Cyrex Array 5 can be useful for Patients who:

  • Have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, as they commonly develop additional autoimmune conditions
  • With chronic increased intestinal permeability, which is the gateway for environmentally-induced autoimmune disorders
  • Chronic increased intestinal  permeability (Array #2), which is the gateway for  environmentally-induced autoimmune disorders

The Cyrex Array 5 is an economical and effective way to assess possible tissue damage to multiple organs of the body and will help you assess predictive antibodies.  Elevated numbers of antibodies, known as Predictive Antibodies, are measurable up to ten years before the clinical onset of the disease. Identification of pathogenesis at this stage allows for the possible arrest or even reversal of disease progression.

 Array 5 – Systemic Autoimmune Reactivity Screen™ looks at multiple tissues commonly targeted by auto-antibodies, including heart, thyroid, joint, gut, brain, liver, thyroid, ovaries, bone and more.     Price: $675.00

Gluten Sensitivity Disease

Gluten Sensitivity Disease

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The Following Diseases Have Been Directly Associated with Gluten Sensitivity.

Those diagnosed with these conditions may benefit tremendously by being genetically tested for gluten sensitivity.

 

Arkansas Nutrition and Natural Healing

Dr. Roger Trubey, Dr.PH, MPH, and Doctor of Integrative Medicine 362 Unger Trail, Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653

Call 501-538-4944

The following is a list of very common manifestations. Below is a more detailed list:

• Asthma
• Hypothyroid
• Ezcema
• Psoriasis
• Autism
• ADD/ADHD
• Colic
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Infertility
• Chronic Constipation
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Osteoporosis
• High Cholesterol
• Non alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic Fatigue syndrome

• Angina Pectoris (chest pain/pressure)
• Anorexia
• Immunoglobulinopathies
• Antiphospholipid syndrome
• Anxiety
• Apathy
• Apthous ulcers and canker sores
• Aortic Vasculitis
• Arthritis
• Juvenile rheumatoid
• Enteropathic
• Psoriatic
• rheumatoid

• Abdominal pain and distention
• Spontaneous abortion
• Addison’s Disease
• ADHD
• Alopecia (hair loss)
• Anemia (can be caused by the following nutrient deficiencies)
• Iron deficiency
• Folate deficiency
• B-12 deficiency
• B-6 deficiency
• Vitamin C deficiency
• Vitamin E deficiency
• Copper deficiency
• Ataxia
• Atherosclerosis
• Autism and other learning disorders
• Cholangitis (gall bladder)
• Dermatitis Herpetiformis
• Autoimmune hepatitis
• Polyglandular syndrome

• Thyroiditis (hypothyroidism)
• Bitot’s spots
• Blepharitis
• Abnormal blurry vision
• Bone pain
• Bone fractures
• Cachexia
• Bronchiectasis
• Bronchoalveolitis
• Adenocarcinoma of the intestine
• Small cell esophageal cancer
• Melanoma
• Asthma
• Cardiomegaly
• Cardiomyopathy
• Cataracts
• Cerebral perfusion abnormalities
• Cheilosis
• Chorea
• Coagulation abnormalities
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Chronic constipation
• Coronary artery disease
• Diarrhea
• Lymphoma
• Cutaneous vasculitis
• Cystic fibrosis
• Delayed puberty
• Failure to thrive
• Dementia
• Depression
• Dermatomyositis
• Diabetes Mellitus type I (shares the same HLA genes as Celiac disease)
• Down syndrome
• Dysmenorrhea
• Dysgeusia
• Duodenal erosions
• Edema
• Eczema
• Dysphagia
• Epilepsy
• Spontaneous nose bleeds
• Erythema nodosum
• CFS
• Growth retardation
• Mental retardation
• Secondary food allergy response
• Blood in the stool
• Gastric bloating
• Grave’s disease
• Bleeding gums
• Hair loss
• Heartburn
• H. pylori infection
• Hives
• NAFL
• Malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies
• Infertility
• Hypogonadism
• Hypoglycemia
• Hypospenism
• Thrombocytopenia

• Impotence
• Osteoporosis
• Insomnia
• IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
• Keratomalacia
• Lactose intolerance
• Loss of smell
• Non Hodgkin lymphoma
• Early menopause
• Migraine headache
• Multiple sclerosis
• Muscle wasting
• Myopathy
• Obesity
• Osteomalacia
• Osteopenia
• Parathyroid carcinoma
• Pancreatic insufficiency
• Polymyositis
• PMS
• Biliary cirrhosis
• Psoriasis
• Dermatitis
• Sjogren’s syndrome
• Short stature
• Scleroderma
• Steatorrhea
• Spina bifida
• SLE
• Tremors
• Parkinson’s disease
• Glossitis

• Vitiligo
• Vomiting
• Vaginitis
• UTI

Dangerous Mycotoxins – what you need to know

Dangerous Mycotoxins – what you need to know

New Articles

Dangerous Mycotoxins – what you need to know

Arkansas Nutrition and Natural Healing

Dr. Roger Trubey, Dr.PH, MPH, and Doctor of Integrative Medicine 362 Unger Trail, Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653

Call 501-538-4944

 

During the last couple of decades, practitioners in the field of Natural or Functional medicine are seeing more and more patients with a complex set of symptoms that never seem to lead to a good diagnosis of anything specific – just a random set of possibilities.  Conventional doctors, equally puzzled, just continue to prescribe one drug after another for symptomatic relief, but never of course, getting to any of the underlying causes.

And for many patients those underlying factors could well be from several potential sources.  I find it rather common to see, chronic, low-level, “flying under the radar” viral and bacterial pathogens, chemical toxins, food sensitivities, gastrointestinal dysfunctions and nearly always genetic abnormalities with specific variants or mutations in critical genes and gene pathways.  Conventional medicine rarely looks for these primal or root dysfunctions and then dismisses many a patient as a hypochondriac.

Some individuals feel they are having an optimal lifestyle – eating organic, healthy foods, exercising, managing stress, and getting their 8 hours of sleep, yet they still have a lot of nagging symptoms and their doctor visits are not producing any answers or improvement. The fatigue remains along with those recurring headaches and nasal issues.  There are others but with the memory problems they can’t remember them all.

But there is another intrinsic cause, often overlooked even by practitioners in Functional Medicine – that being patients dealing with mold/mycotoxin illness.  And it is true… it can be difficult to recognize as it will masquerade as many other illnesses, with lots of vague symptoms and nothing specific.  Mold and mycotoxin illness can range from flu-like feelings that do not go away to serious illness and a nightmare type of fatigue with brain fog that makes everyday tasks nearly impossible.  It is even more challenging when you consider that conventional medicine doesn’t really believe that mold exposure is a problem at all.   But first, what are molds and mycotoxins anyway?

Nasty Mold – Hazardous Mycotoxins

Molds are multiple types of fungi that grow in filaments and reproduce by forming tiny spores that sprout and fly away but are invisible to the naked eye. Mold grows in damp, warm, and humid locations, inside and outside.  But obviously can grow in your refrigerator as well.

mold

We have all seen mold on bread or an orange that took too long for us to consume.  But that is not what is most concerning.  The real problem is mold that we cannot see.  And some individuals can be exposed to serious levels of mold without realizing it.  It can be hiding inside walls, around water pipes that have leaked, around bathtubs that overflowed or in our air conditioning systems.

 

I once had a patient who came to see me with a variety of strange symptoms that to me was suspicious of mold/mycotoxin illness.  Because it began shortly after moving into an older home, I suggested she have it checked for a source of mold.

She indicated it was thoroughly investigated by a home inspector as a part of the sale.  I strongly encouraged her to have it re-examined.  She did and the inspector almost missed it.  But when he opened the duct directly above her bed it looked something like this:

Dangerous Mycotoxins – what you need to know

She had lived there for two years, breathing toxic mold for 8 hours/night.  But here’s the problem.  While we may either remove ourselves from the mold or remove the mold contamination from our homes, the mycotoxins produced by the mold remain in us indefinitely until we have them cleared from our body.  Unfortunately, that is not done by just taking a nice little supplement because it is a more complex task, often taking several months.   But, when this is the problem they are dealing with, removal of mycotoxins in our body is critical if one is to ever get well,.

 

And here is something else that few individuals realize.  It has been estimated that 25% of the world crops are contaminated from mold and fungal growth.  From orange juice to most coffee to peanuts and legumes and very, very commonly in nearly all grains and cereals.  Fungal and mold contamination is the most commonly occurring natural contaminate in our foods.  And yes, even many organic foods.

Dr. Amy Myers, a very experienced mold/mycotoxin practitioner, describes mycotoxins this way: “Mycotoxins are very toxic compounds given off by certain types of mold. Molds are all around us and the vast majority of them are not dangerous. However, there are some molds that produce gas-like substances called mycotoxins. These are very similar to a volatile organic compound (VOC).”

Dangerous Mycotoxins – what you need to know

Some individuals are more sensitive to mold and mycotoxin exposure than others.  It has to do with their genetic predisposition.  Individuals with variants or mutations to the HLA-DR gene, and other genes that control inflammation are not able to successfully rid their body of these mycotoxins.  It may be as high as ¼ of the population that are at risk due to these gene variants.  It is not a problem for them if exposure does not take place, but if it does, they can be seriously affected.

And yes, it is also true that one could be affected even without those variants in the HLA-DR gene.  Just having a good deal of inflammation in one’s body with a genetically compromised ability to counteract that inflammation and poor detoxification in our intestine, liver and kidneys can set us up for trouble as well.

Symptoms of Mycotoxin illness

The most common symptom of mycotoxin illness is fatigue, but secondarily, headache. However, individuals will have other symptoms specific to their genetics and biochemical makeup. Here is what to look for:

 

Immune Symptoms

 

  • Fatigue or Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Fibromyalgia/Joint pain
  • Fever

 

Respiratory Symptoms

 

  • Nasal symptoms/sinusitis
  • Chronic cough/ throat irritation
  • Weak voice or wheezing
  • Asthma/allergies
  • Air hunger/chest discomfort

 

Neurological Symptoms

 

  • Memory problems
  • Headaches
  • Slurring of speech
  • Insomnia
  • Lightheaded
  • Brain fog/spaciness
  • Depression/anxiety
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Focus issues/ADD-ADHD
  • Symptoms of Lyme disease

 

 

Skin Symptoms

 

  • Rash
  • Heat or cold intolerance
  • Numbness
  • Skin slushing
  • Eczema

 

Digestive Symptoms

 

  • Bloating
  • Food sensitivities
  • Leaky gut
  • Recurrent yeast infections

 

Eye Symptoms

 

  • Watery eyes
  • Visual changes

 

Musculoskeletal Symptoms

 

  • Spasms
  • Joint pain
  • Coordination problems
  • Weakness

 

Seeing this list of symptoms might give you an understanding of why mycotoxin illness is considered the great masquerader and look terribly similar to Lyme, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Autoimmune diseases.

It is also sadly true that many a breast implant, when removed, has serious mold contamination growing on those implants inside women’s bodies, contaminating them with these dangerous mycotoxins.  The truly tragic factor – it rarely ever discovered until one undergoes explant surgery.  But by then the damage has been done.  And because either mold growth or chemical contamination takes years to develop, most women and their doctors fail to link present-day symptoms with a many year’s earlier implant surgery

Other symptoms are also possible.  As many will experience flu-like illness or a general ill feeling with things just not being right in the brain.  Long-term exposure, these dangerous mycotoxins can damage the immune system, the liver, kidney, hormonal balance, skin, and brain.  As you can see, they can have a serious and powerful effect on human health

Dr. Daniel Amen, a Psychiatrist, has this to say about the effect of mycotoxins on the brain: “…it damages people’s brain and if damages their brain, they look like they have ADD.  The look depressed.  They’re having trouble of getting along, being successful.”

Indeed, the effect on the brain can be serious.  Notice what another highly qualified mold/mycotoxin physician, Dr. Jill Carnahan, has to say of the effect of mycotoxins on the brain.

  • T-2 toxin – Known for inducing neuronal cell death in both fetal and adult brains.
  • Macrocyclic trichothecenes – Causes neuronal cell death and inflammation in the olfactory system.
  • Fumonisin B1 (FB1) – Causes neuronal degeneration in the cerebral cortex and disrupts ceramide synthesis (and important lipid in the brain).
  • Ochratochin A (OTA) – Induces acute depletion of striatal dopamine, which has shown to cause cell death in the hippocampus, substantia nigra, and striatum (different parts of the brain).

I suspect that for some individuals, long-term exposure to mycotoxins may be a major factor in their dementia and Alzheimer’s disease – although, clearly not excluding a number of other factors.  But mycotoxins love the brain as a place to call home

You see, mycotoxins have a serious impact on your mitochondria, our cells engine, that create the energy for the cell to function, including brain cells.  Because mitochondria are in nearly every cell of your body, mycotoxin damage to those powerplants will affect the function of nearly every organ and system of our body – fatigue being the obvious one.  But the damage will produce free radicals that act like cellular rust producing inflammation everywhere, eventually leading toward autoimmune-type diseases.

 

Now for some good news

The good news is that it is entirely possible to clear your body and your environment of mycotoxins and to prevent toxic mold from growing out of control in your home and mycotoxins in your body.  But the first step is to see if you have been exposed to mold and are experiencing mycotoxin illness.

I have had patients tell me that they do not recall any mold exposure previously.  But when test results come back and it shows elevated antibodies to specific mycotoxins, they are surprised to see that.  When I review possible sources of exposure with them, invariably we will discover the likely source.

For one patient it was working in a musty gymnasium that had a leaky roof.  For another it was a house she rented that was also not adequately sealed from rainwater.  But there are a myriad of other sources and the first and foremost treatment is to either remove oneself from the source or remove the source, and completely clear up all damaged and contaminated material – usually destroying and replacing it, and having it done professionally.

But for many individuals they may have long ago removed themselves from a mold contaminated building, but their health issues remain because they didn’t know that they took their mycotoxins with them, and no one has helped them to clean up their internal damage along with those persistent mycotoxins.

Testing

Testing for mycotoxins can be done via blood or urine.  Because our food supply, such as nuts, cereals, and rice are contaminated by mold, but even meat, fruits, nuts, wine, beer, coffee as well, for that reason, mycotoxins can be found in the urine in parts per billion in healthy people.  So, the preferred method of testing is blood IgG and IgE as this gives me the indication of what your body perceives as threats

 

Blood tests for mycotoxins have been used for the last 20 years and are highly accurate.  The specificity and sensitivity of blood serum testing for the presence of antibodies to mycotoxins in the blood are extremely high.  The test I use is for IgG and IgE antibodies for 12 mycotoxins for a total of 24 test results. These include Mycotoxins from:

 

  • Penicillium (mycophenolic acid)
  • Alternaria
  • Aspergillus (gliotoxin)
  • Stachybotrys
  • Cladosporium
  • Aspergillus auto-toxin
  • Aspergillus/Penicillium neurotoxic mycotoxin
  • Ochratoxin
  • Satratoxin
  • T-2 Toxin
  • Vomitoxin
  • Verrucarin and verrucarol

 

So, if you find your symptom picture matching several the symptoms above and you have not found a solution, give some thought to mycotoxin illness as something you should consider and then get tested.

 

And as usual, these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products mentioned in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.   The information in this article is not intended to replace any recommendations or relationship with your physician.

Dr. Trubey’s patients with digestive conditions routinely obtain relief from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic gastritis, and chronic diarrhea. Call for an appointment – 501-538-4944.

 

Those Amazing Peptides – Are they the missing component to improve your Health?

Those Amazing Peptides – Are they the missing component to improve your Health?

New Articles

Those Amazing Peptides – Are they the missing component to improve your Health?

Arkansas Nutrition and Natural Healing

Dr. Roger Trubey, Dr.PH, MPH, and Doctor of Integrative Medicine 362 Unger Trail, Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653

Call 501-538-4944

 

What are Peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids.  Amino Acids are the natural building blocks of proteins.  Our bodies use these peptides as signaling molecules for biological pathways to initiate activity in those pathways.  The use of peptides as a supplement will help stimulate these same functions and in the same way that naturally occurring peptides will have in those target areas

Our body is completely familiar with peptides as it uses them for many biological functions.  Their effects are specific and generally without side-effects as they are naturally found throughout our body and their metabolic pathways are already in place.

Supplemental peptides are bio-identical, having the exact structure of peptides already created by our own body, but sometimes due to diet indiscretions or genetics, they are in inadequate amounts for necessary optimal function.  Supplementation bridges this gap, promoting optimal function.

 

Those Amazing Peptides – Are they the missing component to improve your Health?

 

The body uses a vast array of highly specific signaling peptides to regulate different functions of tissues throughout the body. Thus, peptide therapy offers the potential to achieve specific responses of select tissues rather than less precise and broad effects of hormone therapy or trying to achieve a desired effect by altering physiologic processes with medications.

 

In addition, many commonly used peptides have been found to have no side effects even when given at doses 1000 times the usual dose, which is unheard of with any medication.

 

Peptides control and modulate most systems in your body, including hormone production, immune function, the sleep cycle, the production of inflammatory mediators, DNA replication, cell division and renewal, cancer cell destruction and apoptosis, libido and sexual arousal, weight loss, lean muscle gain, mitochondrial function, cognitive function, mood, energy and other metabolic activities, tissue healing and specific biological functioning of the brain, skin, eyes, urinary and reproductive systems, aging and longevity, and many more.

  • Peptides regulate most every known process and system in the body
  • Peptide therapies generally have tissue-specific effects while hormones have less precise with broad effects
  • Shown to be extremely safe
  • Most peptides are the same as naturally produced in the body but a few are synthetically produced

 

 

The categories of Peptides and where they work

 

  • Immune & thymic modulating peptides
  • Brain peptides
  • Sleep supporting peptides
  • Growth hormone secretagogue peptides
  • Antimicrobial peptides
  • Rejuvenation & pain reducing peptides
  • Mitochondrial & energy enhancing peptides
  • Melanotropic (melanin/tanning) peptides

 

 

Thymic peptides

Our thymus gland is intimately involved in immune activation.  The function of the thymus cannot be overstated.  Yet its function begins to slowly decrease throughout our 20s and 30s and reaches its lowest level of activity in our early 40s – about the time we start to see the onset of chronic degenerative diseases in many individuals.  Thymic function stays at

About 10% of our peak production (early in life) for the remainder of our lives.  This results in some unfortunate consequences for us, including:

 

  • Increased susceptibility to infections
  • Inadequate immune response to vaccinations
  • Increased cancer risk
  • Increased cardiovascular disease
  • Increased autoimmune and degenerative diseases

 

Using thymic peptides practitioners have found that these marvelous peptides will:

  • Modulate the immune response to produce a balanced immune system, particularly reducing any inflammatory proinflammatory cytokines or enhancing them as needed individually
  • Providing significant repair, restoring, and healing activity
  • Improving the function of the mitochondria with increased ATP or energy production
  • They directly support cellular function and induce normal gene function
  • Stimulation of wound healing, and proper stem cell function and proliferation
  • Stimulation of white blood cell activity and the removal of toxins and waste material from the cell
  • They work to support and maintain a healthy GI mucosa and blood brain barrier. This works to protect against a leaky gut and a leaky brain – keeping unwanted toxic material out of the blood and the brain
  • Calms excessive inflammation in the brain from overactive microglial cells and binding or blocking neurotoxins, endotoxins and electromagnetic toxins
  • They improve Natural Killer cell production – critical to our immune system

One of those Thymic peptides being used by clinicians, Thymosin Beta 4 Fragment, is composed of only 4 amino acids; yet that little peptide fights excess clotting (often seen in chronic disease), is anti-inflammatory, supports cellular healing and stimulates the production of blood vessels.  But it’s wide-ranging activity is also known to do the following:

 

  • Lowers inflammation
  • Gut repair
  • Induces autophagy
  • Calms muscle spasm/ cardiac injury
  • Improved muscle tone
  • Increased exchange of substances between cells
  • Encourages tissue repair
  • Stretches connective tissue
  • Helps maintain flexibility
  • Reduced inflammation of tissue in joints
  • Encourages the growth of new blood cells
  • Increased endurance and strength
  • Promotes hair growth

 

  • Protects and supports liver
  • Antiviral/ kills Lyme cysts – herpes
  • Skin repair/healing
  • Balances immune-regulatory system
  • Prevents the formation of adhesions and fibrous bands in muscles, tendons, and ligaments
  • promotes cardiomyocyte migration, survival, and repair, and the pathway it regulates may be a new therapeutic target in the setting of acute myocardial damage.

 

 

In addition, doctors have found it helpful as a restorative and regenerative therapy for neurological injury and degenerative diseases.  That would include a great number of these health problems

Of further interest is that in animal studies, the use of thymic and pineal gland peptides was found to increase the maximum lifespan in those animals when compared to control animals.  In addition, they were found to have stronger immune systems with reduced rates of cancer

 

Sleep peptides

One lifestyle habit of so many in the western world is not giving themselves adequate time to sleep – cutting the time of sleep sometimes on both ends.  For others it is just a problem with insomnia – they would like to sleep but can’t.  And yet one of the most important needs for our health is adequate sleep, 7-9 hours daily.  So, it may not be surprising then that a couple of the sleep peptides are having a profound impact on the individuals using them.  The benefits improve the levels of neurotransmitters as well as melatonin and the benefits that naturally come with improved deep sleep.  These include:

  • Increase in pineal gland synthesis of serotonin and melatonin
  • Increases in telomere length (increase in telomere length equates to longer life)
  • Reduced ageing of the reproductive system and increases fertility in older female rats
  • Improves T4 to T3 conversion of thyroid hormones (inactive to active)
  • Improves glucose tolerance and decreases insulin resistance
  • Slows aging and increases longevity
  • Protects against senescent cells (cells that are no longer dividing) and cancer
  • Activates gene expression and protein synthesis in specific tissues

One physician suggested that these may be “one of the best anti-aging substances we know of”, and here is why.

 

These two peptides were investigated over a 6–8 year period in 266 elderly patients and were only treated in the first two to three years of the study.  The results showed convincingly of their ability to normalize basic functions of the human organism.  The effects seemed to be protracted long after their use was discontinued, resulting in a 2-2.4 fold decrease in acute respiratory disease incidence, reduced incidence of clinical manifestations of ischemic heart disease, hypertension, deforming osteoarthritis and osteoporosis as compared to controls.

 

A separate group of patients was treated with peptides annually for the entire 6 years and their mortality rate was ¼ that of the control group

The Delta Sleep Inducing Peptide (DSIP) is a neuropeptide discovered by the Swiss during the 1970’s. DSIP has been found in various areas throughout the body such as the hypothalamus and the pituitary glands.

This is a really interesting compound which mainly aids in helping sleep disorders. However, it’s still being studied nearly 40 years after its initial discovery.  The most common use for DSIP is as a sleep aid which allows for deeper sleep. However, this isn’t some over the counter supplement like melatonin or some herbal tea. This peptide is on a whole other level.

Most users report having a massive improvement in memory function throughout the day.  This is likely because the 3rd and 4th stages of sleep is where our brain begins to do the most repair work. This is also the critical time when the brain sifts through our experiences through the day and ‘cleans out the hard drive’ to decide what to keep and discard from our memories of that day. DSIP is often paired with another peptide to gain the maximum sleep effect

Having the proper quality of sleep allows for proper healing and repair for our brain. This peptide has been shown to allow those suffering from poor sleep to perform cognitive tasks much better.

Also, keep in mind that much of our growth hormone is released by the pituitary gland during sleep. So, one could theorize an increase in GH output and healing due to these deeper sleep patterns.

Remember, while the growth hormone is essential for the growth of children. In adults it is involved in the repair functions of the body.  In addition, it is during our deep sleep that the cleansing of brain toxins take place.

So, with the use of these peptides and improved sleep, one might expect to see:

  • Deceases cortisol levels
  • Stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH)
  • Increases the release of Grow Hormone
  • Releasing Hormone (GHRH)
  • Normalizes blood pressure
  • Studies in mice have suggested that it could have antioxidant effects
  • Shown to have anti-carcinogenic properties by reducing tumor sizes in mice
  • People with major depressive disorders were shown to have significantly lower levels of DSIP.
  • This suggest that DSIP could help with depression.
  • Experiments suggest that DSIP could be helpful in treating alcohol and opiate dependency.
  • Research is being carried out to use DSIP as a treatment for sleeping disorders such as narcolepsy and insomnia.

Not everyone will benefit from this peptide and studies have found this to be true.  Thus, it may be that when combined with other modalities a more positive experience may be realized.  So, some practitioners combine DISP with Epitalon or another peptide, CJC, an analogue of growth hormone.

 

Body Protection Compound peptide

One of the most commonly used peptides used by Functional doctors is the Body Protection Compound.  This jewel of a peptide, of only 15 amino acids, seems to make every other natural healing modality just work better.

 

It was originally discovered and isolated from human gastric juice and strangely, is resistant to breaking apart even in the gastric juice.  It is known to have a wide range of healing modalities, including supporting the production of nitric oxide modulating neurotransmitter levels, and having positive effects toward the intestinal microbiome, the gut-brain axis and protecting against leaky gut.   However, the benefits may extend to include, gastritis/GERD, gastric ulcers, SIBO and food intolerances.

 

In addition, this BPC peptide improves cardiovascular function and is protective against the toxic effects of EMFs.  The medical literature indicates it having benefits in:

 

  • Heart failure
  • Hypotension or hypertension
  • Post heart attack cardiac damage
  • Arrhythmias and vascular repair

 

In the nervous system practitioners and researchers have found it beneficial in the treatment of central and peripheral nervous system pathologies, including:

 

  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Peripheral nerve damage

 

  • Mood disorders including anxiety and depression

 

The Body Protection Compound assists the body in the repair of tendons, muscles, intestines, and bones – all of the areas where so many individuals are dealing with chronic symptoms and not seeming to improve.  If you have a hard time with wound healing, we can certainly call on this peptide for assistance and expect to be helped.

Brain peptides

Many practitioners are finding that our brain is benefited with nutritional supplements called Neuotrophins or nootropics.  Nootropics are compounds or supplements that enhance cognitive performance.  Some docs use this term for so-called smart drugs.

 

The identification of new compounds with neurotrophic properties is becoming a new strategy for the prevention and/or treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.  One of these peptides, Cerebrolysin, is currently approved for use in 44 countries as a treatment for dementia and stroke.  Research studies and its use in medical practice has revealed:

  • It is indeed a neurotropic with repair properties
  • Penetrates the blood brain barrier and is neuroprotective
  • Stimulates both the central and peripheral nerve growth factors
  • Has been found to be very helpful in autism and Asperger’s syndrome at very low doses
  • It has been found beneficial for traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s, and stroke patients

 

Other nootropic peptides have also been found to have similar activities, but will also

  • Shield neurons from neurotoxins, inflammation and injury
  • Protect against stress effects and depression
  • Seems to benefit learning and memory function
  • Interact with and support a balanced neurotransmitter function
  • Works to regenerate neurological damage in Parkinson’s, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and toxin induced brain dysfunction

 

 

Many functional health practitioners are seen an increasing number of patients having symptoms of mast cell activation.

Mast cell activation is an immunological condition in which mast cells, a type of white blood cell, inappropriately and excessively release chemical mediators, resulting in a wide range of chronic symptoms, which can be as severe as anaphylaxis or near-anaphylaxis attacks, but more likely include flushing, itching, diarrhea, shortness of breath, brain fog, skin lesions, joint swelling hives and many others.

 

Primary organ system involved include cardiovascular, dermatological, gastrointestinal, neurological and respiratory systems.  Because of their nature it can cause a lot of anxiety and panic in individuals affected.

 

Several of the peptides have immune modulating activity and will calm down excessive stimulation of these cells.  Even one of the Melanocortins, KPV, and one of the rejuvenating/pain peptides are potent immune modulators, reducing inflammation and inhibiting this mast cell activation, while promoting a healing response.

 

Beyond the mast cell activity reduction, they tend to stimulate weight loss, reduce insulin and leptin resistance.  But they go even deeper in their activity, enhancing restful sleep and gut health, lowering depression, while lessening risk of elevated blood sugar

 

More on KPV

This relatively newer tripeptide is an alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone. New research on hormones in this class have shown immunomodulating and anti-inflammatory effects of these peptides. KPV has a multitude of uses on the auto-immune side as well as the anti-inflammatory side

KPV works very well as a topical cream for things such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. In an oral form, it can help with ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and Crohn’s disease, but also for:

 

  • Cystic acne
  • Acne in general
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Eczema
  • Psoriasis
  • Mold
  • Lyme
  • Potential help with multiple sclerosis
  • inflammatory skin and eye conditions
  • allergic asthma
  • arthritis
  • decreases Mast cell activation

 

  

Peptides for sexual health

One area of health that some are reluctant to discuss but is a problem in a huge percentage of adults of both sexes, is that of dysfunctional sexual health.  It can be a problem not just in the geriatric population but is now being seen in young adults as well.

Turning to the PDES inhibitor drugs like Viagra or Cialis is helpful only for some men but not for women.  The most common complaints are of erectile dysfunction and loss of libido.  In fact, in the older pool of premenopausal women, approximately 6 million suffer from hypoactive sexual desire.  But if I were making a guess on this, my bet would be that that figure is much, much higher.  And for that group of women the melanocortin peptide PT-141, should be given a try.

 

With close to 20 million males affected by ED, this peptide is well worth a trial run.  Many men report a dramatic improvement to their ED.

 

The PT-141 peptide has been helpful to both men and women and works by activating your dopamine hormone to enhance sexual performance and motivation.  Unlike Cialis or Viagra, which works on the nitric oxide level in the vascular system, this peptide acts on the nervous system, via activation of the neurons in the hypothalamus to increase sexual desire, with a rather high rate of success in both males and females, providing users the following:

 

  • Increase in libido levels
  • Elevated degrees of sexual gratification
  • Enhanced vigor and sexual desire
  • Strengthened penile erections
  • Skin tanning
  • Mood enhancement
  • Possible improvement in neuropathy

 

 

While side effects of peptides are rare, this peptide can have the effect of causing mild headaches or nausea in about 5-10% of users.  Sometimes flushing can occur as well.  Of course tanning of the skin may be preferred by some but not others

More on Nootropics

Selank and Semax are both nootropics (cognitive enhancer) that were developed in Russia. In some cases, they can be used for similar purposes.  Selank is an anxiolytic peptide that minimizes the harsh effects of stress and it is known to have fewer side effects when compared to Semax.

Selank and Semax are both potentially amazing cognitive enhancers. Semax is more potent in enhancing cognition and depression. Selank, on the other hand, shows better results when used for anti-anxiety purposes.

 

Selank is an anxiolytic peptide, which helps combat stress and anxiety.  A study with a randomized controlled trial of 62 patients found out that those who took Selank had fewer symptoms of anxiety. One promising caveat observed in the same study is the greater decrease in those participants with pre-existing anxiety disorders.

This similar effect was observed in another randomized controlled trial with 60 anxiety and phobia patients.

May Improve Learning Ability

One study in mice showed Selank’s capability to improve learning ability within three days. The subjects treated with the peptide learned quicker on an electrical test.

 

May Help with Brain Damage Recovery

Researchers found Selank to restore the brain activity of mice with toxin-induced brain damage to normal levels.

 

May Help with Blood Pressure Management and Increase Brain Blood Flow

Selank decreased the blood pressure of sedated cat subjects by about 30% for 3 minutes in one study. It also increased the cats’ brain blood flow by about 24% for up to 10 minutes.

 

May Help with Weight Loss

Researchers found that when treated with Selank, high-fat-fed mice gained 35% less weight.

 

Helps Reduce Stress

Stress can be caused by a lot of different things, and the body reacts to it in various ways, as well. For instance, some bodies respond to stress by increasing the production of liver enzymes.  One study conducted on rats showed that Selank reduced liver enzyme production.

May Help with Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by muscular rigidity, slow and imprecise movement, and tremors. Clinical trials found significant results, such as:

 

  • Improved mood
  • Decreased tremors
  • Better sleep quality
  • Decreased tearfulness
  • Lively reflexes

 

Although it contains a stabilizing protein sequence, Selank’s half-life is only two minutes—after 10 minutes, it becomes completely untraceable in the bloodstream. This opens the question of whether the peptide can really have long-lasting effects.  However, doctors using it still find it to benefit patients using it.

Semax has undergone extensive study in Russia and is on the Russian List of Vital & Essential Drugs approved by the Russian Federation government on December 7, 2011. Medical uses for Semax include treatment of stroke, transient ischemic attack, memory and cognitive disorders, peptic ulcers, optic nerve disease, and to boost the immune system.

  • Increased brain BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor) levels and memory
  • one small-scale Russian study in healthy male users, Semax was reported to increase memory and attention during “extreme” or “highly-demanding” tasks. However, the details of this study are not available in English, and so the size and overall significance of these reported effects remain unknown
  • The memory effect may in part be due to mechanisms such as improved brain circulation and increased resistance to oxidative stress.
  • Some research also suggests that BDNF levels can influence mood, and that low levels of BDNF in the brain may be involved in the development of psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety.
  • Neuroprotective/cardioprotective activity
  • it may help partially protect the brain from various types of stress and damage, such as from oxidative stress, inflammation, or possibly even adverse cardiovascular events, such as strokes.
  • In rats, Semax has been reported to protect the heart from damage after a stroke or heart attack. This study also reported that the drug may have prevented the excessive growth (hypertrophy) of the heart caused by elevated blood pressure (hypertension), which the authors propose may suggest a protective effect on the risk of additional future cardiovascular events
  • Enkephalins are compounds which are believed to be involved in reducing pain (e.g. by stimulating the brain’s opioid system). Early finding has led some researchers to suggest that Semax may have some potential as a pain reliever by inhibiting the breakdown of enkephalins, although much more research would be needed
  • Semax has been reported to have a number of effects that may potentially be helpful in the treatment of ADHD, such as increasing attention and memory, as well as increasing the levels of a variety of neurotransmitters that are often reported to be lower in patients with ADHD (such as dopamine) .
  • Based on these early findings, some researchers have proposed evaluating Semax as a treatment for ADHD. In fact, some anecdotal evidence suggests that Semax is already occasionally used in Russia for this purpose (even though this medical application has not been officially approved)
  • Affecting the expression of certain genes related to the immune and vascular systems

Cerebrolysin – CerebroPep is by far one of the most well-studied peptides for treating neurodegenerative diseases, let alone as a medical treatment option.  With cognitive decline on the rise, while manifesting in many different types of diseases, it is more imperative than ever to fully optimize our brain health.

A mixture of free L-amino acids and neuropeptides, CerebroPep also contains nerve growth factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).   The low-weight neuropeptides are no larger than 10,000 Daltons, which explains why Cerebrolysin can effectively penetrate the blood-brain barrier and directly exert its effects on the brain

Cerebrolysin contains natural neuropeptides that stimulate protein synthesis and neuron growth, support their functions, and help them to communicate with each other.

The peptide restores damaged neurons and slows down neuron damage while protecting them from the onset of unwanted symptoms, which explains Cerebrolysin’s ability to simultaneously tackle multiple domains of neurodegeneration

  • Effective for Cognitive Recovery From Strokes
  • Help speed Up Recovery from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
  • Improves Measures of Cognitive Function in Dementia Patients
  • Can give adjunctive support in Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Might Be a Worthwhile Therapeutic Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
  • May Be Effective in Treating ADD / ADHD
  • Shows Potential For helping Parkinson’s Disease patients improve function
  • May Address Disease complications of Diabetes (cardiovascular disease, organ damage (eyes, kidney, etc.), diabetic neuropathy and impaired mental health.
  • Could Improve Mental Functioning in Autistic Children
  • Demonstrates Cognition-Enhancing Properties

 

Practitioners in the functional medicine community are using quite a variety of peptides in their practice.  I have only presented a few in this article… but you get the picture that they are immensely helpful.  Some report that it has been so helpful that they did not know how they practiced without them previously and that they would never want to not have them available for patient care.

Please Note:

It should be understood that not everyone will experience the benefits associated with the peptides above.  Generally, side-effects are mild and not common, even rare.  So, most individuals will likely have no side-effects at all.

In addition, these peptides are not to be a substitute for sound medical advice and treatment from your PCP.  They are not a treatment for disease but will support the efforts of your body to heal itself.  Your body does all the healing.  Any supportive supplement or peptide will help the body in its efforts but in the end, it is your immune and other systems, given the nutrients that it needs, that actually heals.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products mentioned in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.   The information in this article is not intended to replace any recommendations or relationship with your physician.

 

 

Dr. Trubey’s patients with digestive conditions routinely obtain relief from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic gastritis, and chronic diarrhea. Call for an appointment – 501-538-4944.

 

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Chronic Inflammation

A substantial body of scientific information is now linking chronic inflammation to almost all chronic degenerative diseases.  These include the leading killers, cancer, heart disease and stroke as well as diabetes, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and a multitude of others.  In fact many diseases like benign prostatic hypertrophy, are essentially inflammatory by nature and should be treated with an anti-inflammatory diet and natural anti-inflammatory therapeutics.

Inflammation is a normal body process; even the body itself will even produce some of these toxic chemicals to kill pathogens.  But when we take in or produce toxins the body will attempt to rid itself of these. The excretion process through urine, sweat, tears, and cough are some of the ways the body rids itself of toxins.  When this process is inadequate or is overwhelmed with excess toxins, the body will attempt to “burn” out the toxins with inflammation.  When this process is insufficient, the toxins become entrenched in the tissues, the inflammation continues and the process ends in a chronic degenerative disease.

Any inflammation is a message that something is wrong.  And this inflammation that leads to all these diseases is initiated primarily by two sources – microbes, and our typically rotten diets.  In some cases the initiating event is a trauma of some type, emotional or physical, including surgery.  Even chronic allergic reactions may act as a trigger but this usually leads to a microbial infection. Any trauma, surgery or allergic response will cause an increase in white blood cells at the site of tissue damage.  These macrophages in turn produce several pro-inflammatory messenger chemicals called cytokines.  If the inflammatory trigger or the microbial infection continues, or if the body is unable to get the inflammatory response called off, cytokine production continues.  This will result in cellular/tissue destruction, which, by the way, leads to more macrophage production.  If the body loses this battle to “dial down” this inflammation, this cycle continues. The resulting tissue destruction can be extensive and sometimes permanent.

    The Typical Inflammatory Cytokines

  • C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
  • Interleukin 6 (IL6)
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-a)
  • Interleukin – 1 and 8
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox 2)

Elevated levels of CRP or IL6 dramatically increase one’s risk for heart attack, diabetes or cancer.  Consider the huge over-emphasis conventional medicine has placed on cholesterol levels and realize then the disconnect in the fact that half of all heart attacks occur to people with normal cholesterol. And serious killer plaque is found in people with arteries that are not blocked.

Inflammation Provocateurs
In most every chronic degenerative or autoimmune disease a chronic virus, parasite, bacteria, or similar microbe is present.  When the genome project was completed it was found that 1/3 of our genes are viral genes.  These viral genes can be expressed with a chemical insult.  Considering that the average American body is contaminated with 300 – 500 different chemicals, it is not too difficult to see how easy it would be for the expression of a virus and the onset of an inflammatory response.  In this case the virus is not coming from outside to within but originates from within.  The role of infection in heart disease is well documented in the scientific literature, but likewise with arthritis and a host of others.  Unless these pathogens are eliminated or in the case of viruses, the chemical provocateurs excreted, they will continue to act as an inflammatory mediator and continue to promote the inflammatory cycle described above. These really must be tracked down and eliminated and the sources for re-entry greatly reduced.

Changing Our Diets
While pathogens or traumas via the inflammatory response are indeed involved in most all chronic diseases, the most pervasive factor under girding this is the Standard American Diet (SAD).  Our SAD diets are typically loaded with inflammatory fats, processed foods and really junk foods.  Consider that the number one source of calories in the American diet is soft drinks.  This used to be white flour/bread, so we are not making any progress whatsoever.  The consumption of doughnuts, pastries, potato/corn chips, burgers, cookies, candy and the like are indeed, well designed to produce inflammation in our bodies.

So what in our diets has to change?  We have to decrease the excess consumption of pro-inflammatory omega 6 fats (oils from corn, soy, safflower, etc) along with the omission of all trans fats and hydrogenated fats (found in margarine, mayonnaise, crackers, cookies, chips, and in fact almost all processed food).  We also have to increase anti-inflammatory omega 3 fats (cold-water fish/fish oil, and to a minor extent flax) that are way under-consumed compared to the omega 6 oils.Any liquid oil that is exposed to heat, light or air will begin to oxidize and become partially rancid, unfit for consumption. Since every cell of our body has a lipid (fatty) membrane, these damaged fats, along with the excess undamaged omega 6 fats, will become a part of the cellular structure where they will participant in the inflammatory cascade.

Remember, inflammation is not necessarily bad in and of itself.  It becomes a problem when it becomes like an accelerator in a car that gets stuck and the brakes (omega 3 fats) are inadequate.  When the balance of the omega 6:3 ratio shifts excessively in the omega 6 direction, we create an inflammatory pump just waiting for a trigger to flip the “switch”.

Here is an example of how we do this.  Beef used to come from animals that were almost exclusively grass-fed (exactly what they were designed to eat).  Now, the epitome of a great steak is one from corn-fed beef.  But when we consume corn-fed beef instead of grass-fed beef, we change the omega 6:3 ratio from 1:1 in grass-fed beef to 16:1 in corn-fed beef-a dramatic increase in the pro-inflammatory direction.  The same shift occurs in chickens and their eggs when we cage them as opposed to free-range hens and eggs.  Some estimate that we consume as much as twenty times the amount of omega 6 fats as we should, compared to the amount of omega 3 fats.

Dietary Recommendations –  Eat Whole, Natural foods
The following dietary/supplement guidelines are contraindicated if you are on a blood thinner such as coumadin and are not to supplant the specific advice of your physician.

  • Use only red meats such as grass-fed beef or buffalo but never in excess.  Omit all processed meats such as bacon, sausage, deli meats etc.
  • Use eggs, chickens and turkeys for consumption that have been allowed free-range.  Not generally found at commercial grocery stores where eggs are at least 1 month old.
  • Protein from wild Alaskan salmon, halibut or other cold-water fish is encouraged; but use only wild, uncontaminated sources.  Most fish today, including fresh water fish, are contaminated with mercury, PCBs or dioxin.  Farm-raised salmon (about 2/3 of the US market) should never be used.
  • Omit all refined carbohydrates and high glycemic foods from white flour, white sugar, white rice, etc.  These foods are nutritionally depleted and convert to sugar rapidly (high glycemic).  Other high glycemic and problem foods include potatoes, breakfast cereals, muffins, crackers, cookies, etc.  One anti-aging specialist finds that high glycemic foods may be responsible for 50% of skin aging caused by sugar molecules reacting with collagen and releasing cell damaging free radicals that will induce an inflammatory chain of events.
  • Reduce significantly all deep/fried foods and food requiring high temperatures including, French fries, corn/potato chips, burgers, fried chicken, pizza, doughnuts.  Fried foods and foods held at high temperatures will produce Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) whereby a sugar molecule binds to a cell protein.  The damaged proteins accumulate and will stimulate the production of inflammatory cytokines.  In addition the fats in some of these foods may be more than 1/3 trans fats.
  • Eliminate beverages containing refined sugars, high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners (including Splenda and Aspartame or NutraSweet).  These include sodas, most bottled teas, diet sodas and most fruit juices.  All of these will encourage the inflammatory process.
  • Do consume 4 -6 servings of anti-inflammatory, green or yellow vegetables daily.
  • Fruits can be an excellent source of anti-oxidants especially highly colored ones.  The best fruits to consider that are low glycemic and anti-oxidant rich are cherries, berries, apples, pears and red grapes.
  • Nuts, seeds and legumes are low glycemic and most nuts and some seeds have some healthy fats including some omega 3s.
  • The best cooking oils are olive, coconut, and grape seed oil.  Do not use oils from soy, corn, sunflower, safflower etc.

 

Anti-inflammatory Supplements to Consider

    • Always use digestive enzymes to adequately digest your food.  Plant-based enzymes before meals are preferred.  Most individuals with autoimmune or other chronic disease will benefit from potassium-activated hydrochloric acid to fully digest food, support the stomach and immune system and decrease intestinal inflammation.

 

    • probiotic (friendly bacteria) naturally assists the enzymes in improving gut health and controlling intestinal inflammation.

 

    • Omega 3 fish oils are an essential component of any anti-inflammatory program.  Fish oils in the range of 2-3000 mg/day (or higher in some cases) have been found to significantly suppress inflammatory cytokine production.  Be sure the total consumed is for the combined amount of EPA and DHA only, not the total amount of fatty acids in the capsule or liquid.  And be sure it is free of toxic contaminants as well.

 

    • Gamma Linolenic acid (GLA), 250 – 350 mg of GLA/day can also promote a reduction in inflammation.  Sources of these include, Borage oil, Black Current Seed oil, or Evening Primrose oil (preferred).

 

    • Proteolytic enzymes from natural (plant or animal) sources can have a significant benefit in pain syndromes and inflammation reduction.  They can improve blood flow and breakdown immune complexes (inflammation) in auto-immunity.  Possible sources include:  Bromalin (pineapple source), 1200-2400mg/day; Marcozyme or Wobenzyme (multiple enzymes of plant/animal sources), 4 –12 tablets/day on empty stomach; Nattokinase (best for cardiovascular and plant source), 100 – 200 mg/day; Serratiopeptidase (from silk moth) 10 – 30 mg/day.

 

    • Anti-inflammatory herbs can be of significant help in alleviating inflammation.

 

      • Turmeric (best choice all-around/active component is curcumin) 600 – 1200 mg/day
      • Ginger root 300 – 600/day
      • Garlic – in capsules use the allicin equivalent to 1 ½ cloves/day
      • Boswellia Serrata, 500 – 900 mg/day
      • Devils Claw, Cats Claw, Green tea and Cayenne pepper – consider these also
    • Anti-oxidant support may have considerable impact on CRP and other cytokines and will decrease inflammation

 

      • Vitamin C, 1-2 gm daily with higher doses in some cases
      • Vitamin E (including D-alpha and D-gamma Tocopherol) 400 – 800 IU with higher doses in some cases
      • Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) 500 –1200 mg/day or best DHLA Nano-Plex (a reduced form of live-source ALA) ¼ – ½ tsp 2X/day.  DHLA can significantly reduce lipid peroxides, the destructive promoters of chronic degenerative, inflammatory diseases.

 

    •  
    • General Recommendations

 

    •  Get adequate sleep.  Sleep deprivation will increase inflammatory cytokines and cortisol significantly
    • Use as much organic food as possible.  Pesticides, herbicides, act as inflammatory toxins
    • Be cautious about what you put on your skin – what you apply to your skin you eat!  Would you eat Deep Woods Off?  How pure are your cosmetics?  Does your antiperspirant contain aluminum?
    • Be cautious about what you spray or smell such as spray paints, insect spray, week killers, perfumes, etc. the list is endless.  We live in a rather toxic world.
    • Reduce your weight if necessary.  Fat cells are a significant source of inflammatory cytokines.
    • Reduce stress/anxiety as it will directly lead to increase the inflammatory process

Adrenal and Sex Hormone Assessment

Adrenal and Sex Hormone Assessment

Natural Health Services

Adrenal and Sex Hormone Assessment

Arkansas Nutrition and Natural Healing

Dr. Roger Trubey, Dr.PH, MPH, and Doctor of Integrative Medicine 362 Unger Trail, Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653

Call 501-538-4944

Hormones exert a powerful influence over all physical, intellectual and emotional behavior. Problems with weight, memory, sleep, digestion, blood pressure, high cholesterol, cravings, addictions, sexual dysfunctions, and problems associated with the immune system, are all influenced by the endocrine system. Endocrine problems lead to a wide spectrum of symptoms that in most cases can be reversed using natural methods.

A primary marker of the aging process in both men and women is a reduction in normal hormone levels which is responsible in large part for infertility, decreased energy and muscle strength, loss of libido, depression, mood swings, inability to cope, and an increase in the symptoms of PMS and menopause.  Research has shown that the use of natural hormone replacement can provide benefits for both men and women.

Estrogen dominance is a primary cause of almost all female health problems, including fibrocystic breast disease, PMS, mood swings, excessive bleeding, endometriosis, fibroids, infertility, and ovarian cysts. Perimenopause is the time when hormone levels begin to shift in preparation for menopause. It is not so much the decrease in hormones that produces the uncomfortable symptoms associated with perimenopause, but rather the changing ratio between estrogen and progesterone. Chronic or episodic depression, severe mood swings, and anxiety are frequent manifestations of these midlife fluctuations.

But estrogen can also be found deficient in the female body as well.  Signs of estrogen deficiency include: hot flashes, night sweats, dry eyes, vaginal dryness, sagging breasts and loss of breast fullness, mental fogginess, depression, changes in mood, decreased sense of sensuality and sexuality.

Progesterone is another female “sex” hormone, produced in the ovaries, that prepares the uterus for a fertilized egg. Its sudden withdrawal causes the uterus to shed its lining if pregnancy does not occur. While estrogen is high (during days 7-14 of the menstrual cycle), progesterone is at its lowest level. Its levels climb to a peak between days 14 – 24, and then dramatically drop off again just before the start of menstruation. Ideally, women should have five to ten times more progesterone than estrogen in the blood and 40 to 150 times more in the saliva. The lower the ratio of progesterone to estrogen, the higher the risk of health problems. Progesterone has the unique ability to change its structural form to become other hormones, allowing it to be converted and utilized by the body to the point of depletion.

Testosterone is responsible for much more than defining sexual characteristics in men or influencing sex drive. Testosterone is essential for life since it helps to regulate basic metabolism. Testosterone also facilitates protein synthesis and the building of body and bone tissues. Testosterone is produced by small groups of specialized cells within the testicles and is also secreted, to a lesser extent, by the ovaries. The production of testosterone is triggered by luteinizing hormone (LH), produced in the pituitary gland. In the absence of LH, testosterone production ceases. With age, blood levels of testosterone slowly decrease. Research conducted by the National Institute of Health has shown a 2% reduction per year from age 30 to age 70.

Endocrine problems may be the result of stress. Simply put, stress is the sum total of all mental and physical input over a given period of time. The marker used to measure stress is the adrenal steroid hormone, cortisol. Stress, whether physical or emotional in origin, provokes a response by the adrenal glands. Many hormonal imbalances are the direct result of adrenal insufficiency. When the adrenal glands become exhausted due to overwork, adequate levels of the stress hormones, DHEA and cortisol cannot be produced, this in turn plays a major role in the usage, or the misappropriation of all the other steroid hormones.  In other words with undue, long-term stress the body will use sex hormones to make stress hormones.  This is never an efficient system and was only designed by the creator for emergencies.  The trouble is that when this process continues for long periods of time, a maladaption takes place that depletes both progesterone and testosterone leading to estrogen dominance and all the problems associated with that in both men and women.

The adrenal glands produce two primary hormones, DHEA and cortisol. Both are considered the major shock absorber hormones in the body. They buffer us to stress and the negative impact it can have on both mental and physical function. Long-term stress can have a serious impact on the adrenal glands and cause them to shrink and reduce production. This causes cellular damage, which sets off a chain reaction affecting all parts of the body, as well as accelerating the aging process.

The adrenal glands hold the key to the hierarchy of hormones. It is necessary to establish the proper foundation first which means you must determine the cause of the hormonal dysfunction and treat the cause first. Our research has shown that to cause a positive hormonal change you must normalize adrenal activity first. It is the mainspring in the hormonal mechanism. When the adrenals malfunction, all other associated systems will as well. The symptoms associated with adrenal dysfunction are diverse and can involve the digestive, circulatory, respiratory, as well as the brain and nervous systems. In addition, the adrenals can impact the growth and repair of bones, muscles, hair and nails.

 

Knowing your adrenal and sex hormone levels is an important first step in assessing where your hormones may be out of balance and determining whether your current natural hormone regimen is working for you. If you are wondering whether certain symptoms may be due to a hormone imbalance, this is a quick, easy, and accurate way to find out.

There are three primary ways of assessing hormone levels – blood, saliva and urine. While each some advantages and disadvantages, it is my opinion that overall the best method is urine. But some testing will combine the saliva and urine and some parameters are only assessed via blood.

Saliva testing – While the free cortisol pattern in saliva has clinical value, there is a significant missing piece to surveying a patient’s HPA-Axis function with saliva testing – measuring metabolized cortisol. To properly characterize a patient’s cortisol status, free and metabolized cortisol should be measured to avoid misleading results when cortisol clearance is abnormally high or low. Likewise with sex hormones, measuring estrogen and androgen metabolites gives a fuller picture for more precise clinical diagnosis of hormonal imbalances and HRT monitoring.

Serum testing – While the most universally accepted testing method (due to the availability of FDA-cleared analyzers that are reliable and inexpensive), serum testing is lacking in some areas. Adrenal hormones cannot be effectively tested in serum because free cortisol cannot be tested throughout the day. There is also a lack of extensive metabolite testing (especially for cortisol and estrogens).

24-Hour Urine Testing – There are two primary drawbacks to urine testing of hormones. First, the collection is cumbersome, and as many as 40% of those who collect, do so in error. Secondly, dysfunction in the diurnal pattern of cortisol cannot be ascertained from a 24-hour collection. The daily free cortisol pattern was formerly only available with salivary testing.

The Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH) offers some distinct advantages.

· This advanced hormone testing was developed to improve on the available hormone testing options. DUTCH offers the most extensive profile of sex and adrenal hormones along with their metabolites. Additionally, the daily (diurnal) pattern of free cortisol is included along with melatonin. This unique combination of clinical information is not available by any other method.

· Effective HRT Monitoring: DUTCH testing was specifically made to be optimally effective for most forms of hormone replacement therapy. Unique methods are used for improved monitoring of oral progesterone and vaginal hormones.

· The Easiest Patient Collection: Patients collect just four or five dried urine samples over a 24-hour period. Dried specimen shipments are convenient worldwide. Dried samples are stable for several weeks.

· Analytical and Clinical Validation: Precision Analytical testing methods go through a rigorous validation process to verify accuracy, precision, recovery, linearity, etc.

In a separate test the lab providing the DUTCH assessment also combines the regular DUTCH urine assessment with saliva testing as a means of assessing a Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR). CAR is the natural rise in cortisol that is seen 30 to 40 minutes after awakening followed by a noticeable drop by 60 minutes. This activity is influenced by brain activity (hypothalamus/pituitary) and by adrenal function. Stress of all types will have a major influence on the CAR response.

Lower than normal CAR is often seen in individuals with:

· A high amount of psychosocial burnout

· Chronic fatigue

· PTSD

· Seasonal affective disorder (during winter)

· Nightshift work schedules

· Sleep apnea

· Short sleep cycles

· Chronic inflammation

· Adrenal insufficiency

· Lack of morning sunlight exposure

· Hippocampal damage or atrophy

· Amnesia (due to temporal lobe damage)

 

Factors associated with an elevated CAR include:

· Immediate access to light upon awakening

· Depression

· Ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle

· Sleep issues

· Older age

· Ongoing job-related and perceived stress (CAR is significantly higher on work days)

 

Hormone testing provides clues about menstrual irregularities, infertility, erectile dysfunction, endometriosis and osteoporosis. A hormone test can determine some of the reasons for hot flashes, night sweats, decreased libido, as well as monitor bio-identical and natural hormone therapy. In addition The DUTCH assessment also provides you a number of other very important clinical health parameters including:

· Methylation activity on hormones

· Vitamin B6 and B12 markers

· Glutathione marker

· Neurotransmitter metabolites

· Melatonin levels

· 8-OHdG Oxidative stress level

· Phase I and II detox function

 

Saliva contains the free fraction of the hormones which reflects the bioactive tissue levels. Free Fractions in saliva correlate more closely with clinical symptoms than total blood serum hormone levels (which mostly reflect the bound fraction). But dried urine testing has been shown to be extremely well correlated with saliva levels while at the same time providing us with many additional parameters that are unavailable with either saliva or blood.

Adrenal and sex hormone assessment is an accurate and simple way for you to know your current status of both the adrenals and sex hormones giving you information you will find highly valuable to improving your overall health.

 

Call Dr. Trubey at 501-538-4944 and make an appointment for a comprehensive health evaluation today.

Toxic Metal Evaluation

Toxic Metal Evaluation

More Nutritional Articles

 

Toxic Metal Evaluation

 

Arkansas Nutrition and Natural Healing

Dr. Roger Trubey, Dr.PH, MPH, and Doctor of Integrative Medicine 362 Unger Trail, Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653

Call 501-538-4944

Urine heavy metal analysis is an invaluable tool for the assessment of retention of toxic metals in the body.  Toxic metals in the body do not have any useful physiological function, adversely affect nearly every organ system and disrupt the homeostasis of nutrient elements.

Blood levels of toxic minerals are unreliable indicators of the actual body burden.  They are trapped within the tissues of the body where they replace nutritional minerals in critical areas and poison cellular function.   The body has a difficult time excreting these toxic metals and over time can accumulate to higher and higher levels.  Individuals will vary in their ability to eliminate these metals and will also vary in their individual sensitivity to the toxic effects of these metals.  Due to this variability of sensitivity and excretion capacity, it is difficult to predict how individuals will be affected when exposed to heavy metals and whether it is a factor in the symptoms and dysfunction of each patient.  What we do know is that it is very common to find toxic metals like lead, aluminum, mercury, barium, cadmium and arsenic, among others, when testing.

Most conventional physicians do not accept the concept of chronic metal toxicity as a cause of chronic degenerative disease.  While they recognize and accept acute poisoning by toxic metals, they fail to appreciate how many of their patients are severely burdened with a buildup of toxic metals over time and the role they play in their patient’s health problems.  Acute poisoning by metals and chronic exposure will present very different symptom pictures.

When acutely poisoned, a person will have the metal present in the blood and urine.  However the body will rapidly distribute the toxic metals into safer areas in the tissues and they will no longer be detectable in either blood or urine.  When acutely poisoned with toxic metals, an individual is critically ill and needs chelation treatments immediately.  When poisoned more slowly over time, an individual can become chronically ill and often has just as much need to remove these metals to improve their health as well.

When evaluating for heavy metal toxicity, patients use a rectal suppository of EDTA and a few capsules of DMSA taken orally.  Both EDTA and DMSA are chelators that have a strong affinity for toxic metals and bind them with sufficient strength to adequately remove them from the tissues and induce their elimination mostly through the urine but to a smaller extent through the stool.  An overnight urine collection is then sent to the laboratory for evaluation of the various metals.  Both chelators have a long history of safe and effective use in the removal of toxic metals. If there is a need for additional chelators to clear out heavy metals we are not without alternatives. These can be in addition to or in place of the above. NDF is an excellent binder of metals and even a good Vitamin C and Glutathione are excellent binders and removers of metals, although generally a bit slower. Lypospheric Vitamin C and Lipospheric Glutathione I would highly recommend. Glutathione is the powerful intracellular antioxidant absolutely critical for good health. For most individuals the problem is that toxic metals are coming in faster than the body is able to get rid of them.

 

Call Dr. Trubey at 501-538-4944 for an examination. Comprehensive health evaluation to include metal toxic poisoning testing.

Nutritional Therapy

Nutritional Therapy

Vitamin, Mineral and Nutrient Assessment

Arkansas Nutrition and Natural Healing

Dr. Roger Trubey, Dr.PH, MPH, and Doctor of Integrative Medicine 362 Unger Trail, Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653

Call 501-538-4944

Overwhelming scientific evidence confirms that vitamin and mineral deficiencies are associated with disease processes and the overall condition of one’s health. Vitamin, mineral and antioxidant deficiencies have been shown to suppress immune function and contribute to chronic degenerative processes such as arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This body of research has been reaffirmed by the Journal of the American Medical Association (June 19, 2002-Vol 287, No 23).

I use the Micronutrient testing provided by SpectraCell Laboratories.  This patented process resulted from 18 years of research at the University of Texas. The micronutrient tests measures how vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are actually functioning within your white blood cells. These tests allow me to provide an objective nutritional assessment for a broad variety of clinical conditions including arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular risk, diabetes, various immunological disorders, metabolic disorders and micronutrient deficiencies. Through SpectraCell we can also assess one’s Lipoprotein Particle Profile, a specialized profile of homocysteine, lipids and proteins to assess cardiovascular risk. .

Before the introduction of intracellular testing, many diagnosis and risk assessments were based on clinical observation and measurements of static levels of certain nutrients in serum. Static serum levels are commonly not representative indicators for assessing cell metabolism and utilization.  A functional evaluation of nutrients, like that offered by Spectracell, offers a unique means to scientifically assess the intracellular requirements of our nutrients that play an important role in our overall health and wellness. These tests measure the biochemical function of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants, providing a powerful clinical assessment tool that provides you with very specific information regarding any deficiency of nutrients that you may have.  This assessment of your vitamins, minerals and other nutrients is designed to provide you with the most objective nutritional analysis available. .

The test also provides each patient a total antioxidant evaluation (SPECTROX™), which assesses the ability of cells to resist damage caused by free radicals and other forms of oxidative stress. Due to the considerable number of cellular antioxidants with extensive interactions, redundancies, repair and recharging capabilities, measuring total function is the most accurate and clinically useful way to assess your body’s capacity to resist oxidative damage.  Given that we are continually exposed to a huge variety of oxidants – toxic metals, chemicals, pesticides, biological agents etc – our need to protect ourselves from this onslaught is critical.  This part of the test will evaluate exactly how well your body is able to do just that..

Nutritional Therapy

The Nutrients tested in the Vitamin, Mineral and Nutrient Assessment:

VITAMINS

Vitamin A
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B2
Vitamin B3
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B12
Biotin
Folate
Pantothenate
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin K

MINERALS

Calcium
Magnesium
Zinc
Copper

Amino Acids

Asparagine
Glutamine
Serine

Antioxidants

Alpha Lipoic Acid
Coenzyme Q10
Cysteine
Glutathione
Selenium
Vitamin E

Spectrox™

for Total Antioxidant Function

Carbohydrate Metabolism

Chromium
Fructose Sensitivity
Glucose-Insulin Metabolism

Fatty Acids

Oleic Acid

Metabolites

Choline
Inositol
Carnitine

 

To be sure, there are other means of assessing ones nutrient status. But the above is the most objective assessment means available.

Call Dr. Trubey today at 501-538-4944 to test whether Vitamin Mineral Deficiency is suppressing your immune function and contributing to a poor health condition.

Advanced Allergy Therapeutics

Advanced Allergy Therapeutics

Natural Health Services

Advanced Allergy Therapeutics

Arkansas Nutrition and Natural Healing

Dr. Roger Trubey, Dr.PH, MPH, and Doctor of Integrative Medicine 362 Unger Trail, Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653

Call 501-538-4944

Advanced Allergy Therapeutics (AAT) offers a unique and highly effective approach in treating the many symptoms associated with allergies and sensitivities. AAT is a precision-based therapy that treats the organ systems involved in an overreaction. AAT does not treat the immune system; instead, the therapy focuses on inappropriate reactions to a harmless substance in relation to the organs systems to produce rapid, long-term results for the relief of associated symptoms. AAT merges 21st century science with 3,000-year-old traditional acupuncture and modern naturopathic principles in offering an effective alternative in the treatment of symptoms associated with allergies and sensitivities.

  • Non-invasive
  • No needles
  • No herbal remedies
  • No supplements
  • No avoidance
  • Just results!

UNDERSTANDING ALLERGIES AND SENSITIVITIES

Allergies and sensitivities are caused by an inappropriate reaction to harmless substances.

The word “allergy” comes from the Greek allos, meaning “other”. It was first used in 1906 to refer to an “altered reaction” in the body’s immune system.

A “true allergy” is a reaction triggered by the immune system, however there are a vast number of symptoms or conditions caused by sensitivities that may or may not involve the immune system. With reactions involving food, a large percentage of the population believes they have allergies, yet fewer than 2% actually have true allergies. In fact, many suffer from undiagnosed food sensitivities or intolerances. The majority of patients who seek the AAT treatment do not have true allergies; their symptoms are likely to be caused by sensitivities with no immune involvement. Since there are few options for the treatment of sensitivities, other than avoidance, AAT provides a highly effective alternative. Symptoms caused by true allergies, however, also respond well to the treatment as the organs systems involved in the reaction are also addressed.

The use of the word “allergy” has become a generic term used by the public to describe allergies, sensitivities and intolerances.

WHAT IS AAT?

Advanced Allergy Therapeutics (AAT) is a clinically proven treatment that is highly effective in relieving the many symptoms associated with allergies and sensitivities. It is a therapeutic approach that was developed from over 16 years of clinical research. The AAT treatment does not rely on the use of medications, herbal remedies or supplements. The treatment is safe, painless and available to all ages including infants.

Advanced Allergy Therapeutics works directly with the relationship between the major organ systems and inappropriate reactions to harmless substances. While the immune system is responsible for initiating an immune reaction in the case of true allergies, it is the health and state of the organ systems that often determines the type of symptoms that may arise. With both sensitivities and allergies, symptoms typically stem from the organ system affected. For example, one patient may have a reaction to soybean by getting rashes while another patient may react with sinus congestion, heartburn or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The symptoms in each of these cases represent a different organ system involved. By treating the organ system(s) involved in a reaction, the body is able to respond more appropriately.

During treatment, gentle pressure is used on points that correspond with the organ systems involved in a reaction. The degree of stress on the organ systems caused by an allergen or offending agent is proportional to the degree of the negative reaction. While the stimulation is applied, a subtle representation of the offending substance is introduced to the surface of the skin. The stimulation reduces the stress on the effected organ system, allowing for a more appropriate response.

All holistic fields of medicine are aligned in the approach to treat the whole body. They share the understanding that health conditions may develop as a result of interference in proper functioning caused by various forms of stress or other factors. Reducing the stress or interference allows for optimal health. When the specific organ system is supported and stress is reduced, the whole body is able to respond more appropriately.

AAT does not diagnose allergies, sensitivities or intolerances.

AAT does not test for allergies or sensitivities. The AAT system simply assesses what may be causing a stress to the body.

AAT does not cure allergies, nor does the therapy treat the immune system. AAT is a highly effective treatment that provides long-term relief from symptoms associated with allergies or sensitivities.

 

AAT does not treat cases of anaphylaxis or life threatening symptoms. Strict avoidance is always advised in these cases.

SYMPTOMS TREATED

A sensitivity or inappropriate reaction may cause symptoms from any organ system in the body. Some systems are prone to reacting to certain families of allergies or substances, such as the respiratory system reacting to pollen. However, a substance may affect any organ system, which could cause a multitude of symptoms varying from case to case. For example, a reaction to wheat may cause hives in one person, digestive issues in another, fatigue, wheezing or Acid Reflux all in different patients. AAT addresses the specific organ systems affected by the allergen or offending substance.

Digestive System

Symptoms include reflux, heartburn, abdominal and intestinal pain, cramping, gas, bloating, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, primarily caused by reactions to food or other ingestants.

Respiratory System

Symptoms include sneezing, congestion, runny nose, wheezing, shortness of breath, coughs, postnasal drip, skin conditions, rashes and itchy, watery eyes. Reactions may be associated with pollens, dust, food, chemicals and animals (including dog and cat dander and bird feathers), air-borne substances and contactants.

Dermatological

Symptoms may include red, itchy, or scaly skin rashes, blisters with oozing and crusting, dry leathery patches or hives. The main cause of dermatological reactions can be a reaction to food but can also be caused by plants, contactants and chemicals.

Headaches and Migraines

May be caused by reactions to food such as chocolate and caffeine, airborne irritants such as pollens and chemicals including household cleaners, perfumes and vehicle fumes.

Tiredness and Fatigue

Many reactions result in lethargy and feelings of fatigue. Tiredness can also occur at certain times of the day, such as in the afternoon after eating.

Multiple Systems

Symptoms may affect multiple systems in the body, resulting in headaches, irritability, hyperactivity, mood swings, fatigue, tachycardia, or inflammation.

General

Chemicals – household cleaners, perfumes, building materials, washing detergent, pesticides

Occupational sensitivities such as latex or building materials such as paints, glues, carpets, woods or varnishes

Animals

Heat, cold and humidity/dampness

Symptoms associated with an allergy or sensitivity can contribute to common conditions such as: asthma, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However not all cases involve allergies or sensitivities.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is primarily caused by sensitivities and affects approximately 15% of the population. Common symptoms include diarrhea, constipation, and bloating and abdominal pain.

Skin conditions, such as eczema, dermatitis and hives are commonly associated with the symptoms of an allergy or sensitivity.

PLEASE BE ADVISED

AAT cannot guarantee any results. While AAT may be highly effective in the relief of many symptoms associated with allergies or sensitivities, some cases do not respond.

AAT does not treat cases of anaphylaxis or life threatening symptoms. Strict avoidance is always advised.

COMMON ALLEGENS OR OFFENDING AGENTS

Contactants
Inhalants
Ingestants
Shell Fish
Red and White Wine, Beer
Chemicals, Latex
Fruit – Berries, citrus etc Food Components
Perfumes
Airborne Irritants
Herbal Remedies
Eggs
Dust, Dust Mites
Barometric pressure
Nutritional supplements
Nightshade foods
Seasonal allergens Environmental allergens
Grains
Animal Dander
Woods, Metals
Dairy foods
Fabrics, Upholstery
Plastics
Stinging Insects
Coffee and Chocolate
Detergents, Softeners
Sunlight

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How soon will I see results?

Many cases respond quickly to the treatment and achieve long-term results within the first few treatments. However, each case is different and some patients require additional treatment.

What are the most common symptoms addressed in the clinic?

I have added more symptoms – since we are taking out the conditions above.
Bloating, cramping, reflux, heartburn, gas, diarrhea, nausea, runny nose, sneezing, congestion, post-nasal drip, itchy watery eyes, coughs, wheezing, shortness of breath, red, scaly or itchy rashes, blisters with oozing and crusting, dry leathery skin areas, hives, itchy skin, hyperactivity, mood swings, headaches, fatigue, tiredness, chemical sensitivities, reactions to the sun, any negative reaction to harmless substances.

How many sessions are needed?

The number of sessions required depends on the number of items causing a reaction. For example, a patient who reacts to five families of substances (dairy, wheat, corn, animal dander and pollen) may require between 5 to 12 sessions to relieve the symptoms or resolve a condition.

Is there an age restriction for the treatments?

No. All ages may be treated, including infants.

How long do I have to wait before I can have contact with the items that were addressed in my session?

Following a session, a patient should avoid the substance that was treated for 2 hours, if possible. Depending on the item addressed, avoidance is not always possible. It is recommended that the patient not have excessive contact with the item until the following day.

How much does it cost and what is included?

The Initial Session is $145, which includes an assessment and one treatment.

Follow-Up treatments are $85.

Can I have more than one treatment in a day?

Yes. Two treatments can be completed in one day. However, there must be at least 2 hours between sessions.

How long are the sessions?

The Initial Session takes approximately 60 minutes and includes an assessment and one treatment. Follow-Up Sessions take 15 to 60 minutes and include one treatment.

Do you take health insurance for the treatments?

No. We do not take health insurance.

How do I make an appointment?

You can make an appointment by calling the clinic directly at 501-538-4944. You do not need a doctor’s referral.

Do I need to do anything before my appointment?

Patients should arrive 20 minutes prior to the Initial Session to complete the necessary forms unless you have previously completed them.

Please do not smoke or wear perfume or fragrances prior to coming in to the clinic. This is a courtesy to other patients who may be sensitive to those substances.

Please bring any allergy tests from medical doctors to the Initial Session.

Prescription or over-the-counter medications will not affect the treatment.

Patients who have other therapies (massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, etc) scheduled on the same day as the AAT treatment should schedule those therapies PRIOR to the AAT treatment, if possible.

If experiencing an acute stage of illness including an elevated temperature, the patient should contact the clinic to reschedule the appointment.

The Arkansas Center for Nutrition and Natural Healing and Total Health Services DO NOT treat anaphylaxis or any life-threatening symptoms. Strict avoidance is always advised.

Do I need to stop taking any of my medications before the treatment?

No, patients do not need to stop taking medication that has been prescribed by a medical doctor without his/her authorization. You may continue taking over the counter medication to control current symptoms, as this will not affect the treatment.

Are any traditional medical allergy tests offered in the clinic?

We do not offer any conventional allergy testing. Patients are encouraged to bring in allergy tests from their physicians.

Are there any guarantees that my symptoms will be relieved?

Unfortunately, we can offer no guarantees; however, the majority of our patients respond favorably to the AAT treatment on a long-term basis. We cannot guarantee that new symptoms will not develop in the future.

Can food intolerance be treated?

No. A food intolerance is different from an allergy or sensitivity in that there may be an enzyme deficiency, which inhibits the body from properly digesting the substance. Such cases are not affected by the treatment.

Can you treat for anaphylactic symptoms?

No. We do not treat conditions involving anaphylactic reactions. However, patients with an anaphylactic reaction may be treated for other sensitivities that are not life threatening.

 

Call Dr. Trubey at 501-538-4944 for availability of appointment.

 

Organic Acid Analysis

Organic Acid Analysis

Organic Acid Analysis

 

Arkansas Nutrition and Natural Healing

Dr. Roger Trubey, Dr.PH, MPH, and Doctor of Integrative Medicine 362 Unger Trail, Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653

Call 501-538-4944

The Organic acid analysis provides a metabolic “snapshot” into what the body is discarding through the urine.  These small organic acid molecules are byproducts of human cellular activity, food digestion and gut flora activity.  They provide to us markers of nutritional deficiencies, specific detoxification needs or disturbed metabolic pathways.  When excessive yeast or bacteria are present their metabolites clue us into to their excess so appropriate changes can be made.   Because the organic acid analysis provides us this window into human cellular activity, from it we can determine:

  • Cellular energy production
  • Metabolic toxicity
  • Detoxification needs and problems
  • Functional vitamin, mineral and other nutrient deficiencies
  • Amino acid deficiencies
  • Neurotransmitter problems
  • intestinal flora imbalances
  • Environmental pollutants

The usefulness of this unique profile, one rarely used in conventional medicine, is that it provides insight into so many areas of the human physiology.  It has implications for the practitioner into many problem areas, including but certainly not limited to:

  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Multiple chemical sensitivity
  • Intestinal distress
  • Joint pain
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Inflammatory conditions
  • Headaches
  • Early ageing
  • Vitamin and nutrient deficiencies
  • Environmental toxicities
  • ADD/ADHD

These small organic molecules in a healthy individual appear in only very small amounts.  But when we have disturbances in vitamin, mineral and hormone metabolism, energy shifts, or the integrity of the intestinal wall is compromised and muscle function is disturbed, these compounds can increase significantly, signaling where a problem is at.  Sometimes in individuals with chronic illness, autoimmune disorders or allergic illness we may find a number of abnormal organic acids being produced in rather high quantities.   The reasons behind these increases are quite varied, but may come from antibiotic use, excessive consumption of carbohydrates, immune deficiencies, genetic factors and toxin accumulation
Once abnormalities are detected there is a variety of treatment options available to improve one’s health and return to feeling well.  As such, the organic acid analysis is an extremely useful screening and assessment tool for a variety of very common health problems.