Healthy by Nature radio show this week: Alfred Johnson, DO will be in the studio for the main purpose of answering your questions about health. Because it is October, to get started, I’ll ask him about the use of thermography as compared to mammography and for advice on breast health from the perspective of his practice (which includes environmental medicine). Call the live show with questions at 1-800-281-8255. Click here to find podcasts, show archives and how to listen nationwide.

Alternate breast cancer donation option
I’m a teensy bit upset with some of the major charities that raise boatloads of money for breast cancer. The bulk of what is left after salaries and fundraising expenses seems to be used to fund more of the same type of conventional research studies that the “war on cancer” has been doing for 40 years. On second thought, I’m a lot upset. I believe more support needs to go to proving alternative treatments and prevention factors, to less damaging screening methods (like thermography) and for goodness sake, to educate women about what we already know is preventive. Keep-A-Breast.org provides a pocket guide to prevention at this link. They appreciate donations and seem to use them productively.
 
Concussion
Trent’s email asked: My son (15 yrs old) suffered a mild concussion while playing football. Are there herbs, vitamins/minerals to assist with the recovery? I hope that there are some holistic treatments we can implement.

The quick answer I gave Trent on the fly included the following: The herb Ginkgo improves circulation to the brain. (Nature’s Way Ginkgold is the most researched.)  This is the best brain formula I know of: LINK

Any of us could sustain a concussion, so it is good to know what to do. I found a good discussion about them on the website of a previous Healthy by Nature guest, Laurie Steelsmith, ND. LINK. It suggests complete brain rest for a week…without even TV stimulation. Interestingly, the article also mentions feeding the patient 50% of their usual calorie intake within 24 hours. The feeding should include a higher-than-usual amount of protein and high protein intake should continue  for a couple of weeks. Antioxidants are stressed as is fish oil. (Gingko is an antioxidant.) Drinking lots of water is recommended to make sure the brain is fully hydrated. The article mentioned a homeopathic, Arnica Montana. I always recommend that for injury and wish I’d thought of it for Trent’s son. I have to also wonder if hyperbaric oxygen might help as it seems helpful for stroke victims. Hmm, let’s ask Dr. Johnson on Saturday.

Obviously, prevention of concussions is the best strategy. If I had a youngster these days I’d be heavily promoting the debate club as an extracurricular activity. Hopefully, better equipment and vigilant attention from coaches will help prevent these worrisome head injuries.
 
Answers from Dr. Gonzalez
Two questions came in for Nick Gonzalez, MD too late for us to deal with on air. (See “Last week” below for links to his interview and books.) Dr. Gonzalez kindly answered them by email.

Mary in Waxahachie, TX asked what other conditions he found enzyme therapy useful for.
 
Dr. Gonzalez’s Answer: “We use our therapy to treat a host of problems, from chronic fatigue and chronic Lyme to multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases.  We also design preventive programs.  Enzymes in addition to their anti-cancer effect, reduce inflammation and restore normal immune function.”

Tom in Dallas, TX asked if Dr. Gonzalez knew of the work of Dr. Emanuel Revici.

Dr. Gonzalez’s Answer: “Revici, who died at age 105 or so, used to have an office in the building right next to my office, on East 36 Street.  I have heard many mixed reports about him, but I have no personal experience with his results so really can’t comment intelligently or accurately.  I do know physicians who worked with him.  They uniformly tell me he was very secretive, that he himself thought he deserved the Nobel Prize, didn’t want his work stolen, so after he died, no one seems to know what he was actually doing with patients.  His treatment may literally have died with him.  I did know two physicians who worked with him in his office, who both died quite young and unexpectedly from  fatal heart attacks, one in his late 30’s.  I thought that kind of odd.”
Last Week
 The legendary Nicholas Gonzalez, MD has been investigating nutritional approaches to cancer and other degenerative diseases since 1981, and has been in practice in New York since 1987. His team uses individualized aggressive nutritional protocols to work with many types of cancer, and with other illnesses such as allergies, autoimmune disorders and chronic fatigue. We discussed his highly regarded book, What Went Wrong: The Truth Behind the Clinical Trial of the Enzyme Treatment of Cancer. His other book is One Man Alone: An Investigation of Nutrition, Cancer, and William Donald Kelley.

Please help spread the good word-forward this newsletter to friends and family.
My first book : Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec & Other Acid Blockers. Subtitle: What to Use to Relieve Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and Gastric Ailments.

My latest book: Aloe Vera-Modern Science Sheds Light on an Ancient Herbal Remedy

The information contained in this newsletter has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The contents are for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.

Copyright 2012 Martie Whittekin, CCN