Reflexology

An ancient art that is known to increase health, reduce pain and help diminish anxiety associated with cancer.

When a certified reflexologist came to our Center, I was eager to try it out. Throughout my career I became aware that points on the feet were somehow connected to the various parts of the body and could help with the healing process. I came to understand that it was practiced as an ancient medical art in Egypt, India, Greece and the Orient. It resembles massage in the sense that the practitioner uses their hands to exert pressure at specific points and areas in the feet. These reflex points are connected both physiologically and energetically to the organs, glands, and tissues throughout the body. When practiced skillfully, reflexology may help to reduce pain, promote relaxation, and reduce stress by affecting the nerves, blood flow and energy of the entire body.

I decided to give reflexology a try and, I really enjoyed my first session. I relaxed and felt a profound sense of well-being. After the session, I felt like I was floating on my feet and the sense of well-being persisted into the next day.

More recently, I was fascinated to discover one of the more specific and tangible uses for reflexology in regards to health. I read in an alternative medicine journal that reflexology can help cancer patients with some of their symptoms. In some clinical studies, cancer patients reported a significant decrease in pain and anxiety after receiving reflexology. For example, in one study concerning people in which the cancer has spread (metastatic), the partners of one group were taught reflexology where the partners of the 2^nd group read to patients. After30 minutes of treatments, the anxiety in the reflexology group decreased by 62% compared to the reading group’s 23% reduction. The pain was measured to decrease by 34% versus the reading group’s 2% reduction.

When cancer spreads, pain becomes a major issue. Powerful drugs are used to give relief and comfort, yet at the same time, they cause a lowering of consciousness. Unfortunately, this is precisely the time when family, friends and the patient are looking for meaningful communication. My suggestion is that instead of using pharmaceuticals to reduce pain, one might want to try and temper that outlet of relief with something more natural like reflexology. I want to pass this information on so you can think about recommending reflexology as a helpful tool in attempting to manage their pain and anxiety.

To your good health,

Jerry Gore M.D.

Executive Medical Director, Center for Holistic Medicine

240 Saunders Rd. Riverwoods/Deerfield

847-236-1701

www.holistic-medicine.com

Jerry Gore, M.D.

Are you looking to reduce the serious diseases of our time with less costly, natural, and deeply healing methods?

Are you looking to reduce your use of medications and medical procedures and replace them with self empowering, natural techniques, education and natural remedies?

Are you looking for a sense of wellness, and health that you remember as a birthright?

Are you looking for a way to raise healthy, mentally focused children with strong immune systems who become less reliant on antibiotics and stimulant medication?

Hi,  I’m Jerry Gore MD, and I want to personally welcome you to the Center that  I and my wife Carol have created and nurtured because we desired the above for ourselves and our children.

I practice general medicine and holistic psychiatry. I use nutrition, supplements, homeopathic remedies, stress reduction techniques, counseling and draw on knowledge of Ayurveda, wisdom from the East to promote physical health, peace of mind, and clarity of consciousness in all my patients.

I treat everyone from little children with earaches, women in menopause, men with prostate issues people in pain, to those presenting with ADHD, anxiety, depression (see our brochure)I have programs for wellness, and  ageing gracefully, as well as prevention and treatment  for diabetes, heart disease and cancer. I bring stress reduction workshops to our corporate neighbors, as well as lecturing in our community on a variety of topics ranging from a dietary discussion about good and bad fats to an introductory course on meditation.

How do I do all this?  With a little help from my friends. I am blessed to have experienced practitioners trained in Chiropractic, Napraprapathy, and Acupuncture. We have a board certified Nutritionist, a board certified Internist, a graduate of homeopathic medical school, a Feldenkrais practitioner, and a Massage and Shiatsu therapist. We have Yoga classes and a Weight Loss/Physical therapy/training, program. Please review all their brochures. Everyone is available to answer any questions and staff is available to schedule appointments today.  Enjoy the lectures and food.

Give us the chance and we will bring you there!

Sincerely

Jerry Gore, M.D., Director

Let’s take a closer look at saturated fats.

As I write this I’m still astonished that the much-maligned saturated fats (coconut oil, butter, palm kernel oil, flesh fats) are so helpful in a variety of situations and the polyunsaturated vegetable oils (safflower, sunflower, walnut, corn oil, soybean oil, cottonseed, peanut, and canola) are not so good.

Saturated fats and heart disease

In a study published in the Journal of clinical epidemiology, Dr. Fife reports that all the research on saturated fats and polyunsaturated fats that related to heart disease showed they found no positive correlation between saturated fat consumption and heart disease and in later studies the conclusions were that saturated fat may indeed be protective!

Along these lines, consider this: Barry Groves in his book Natural Health and Weight Loss reports that the traditional Inuit (Eskimo) diet as studied in the 1950s was a very low carbohydrate/ high fat diet which included whale, salmon, some berries, and some digested stomach content from these animals’ stomachs. On this diet, Inuit blood cholesterol levels were very high but triglycerides were low and the Inuit people had no obesity, coronary heart disease, diabetes and no cancer- I repeat-high cholesterol but no heart disease! This correlates with what Dr. Barry Sears, author of The Zone reports in his book The Anti-Inflammation Zone. He asserts that focusing on the triglyceride/high density lipoprotein ratio (TG/HDL) rather than following cholesterol levels is important and concludes that the TG/HDL ratio is very predictive in forecasting heart disease, diabetes, and diseases of inflammation. According to Dr. Sears, a 2001 study found that those who had a low TG/HDL ratio, even if they smoked, were sedentary, had high LDL (bad) cholesterol, or hypertension-had half the risk of developing heart disease than those with a high TG/HDL ratio who had no other risk factors for heart disease.” Further, he reports that Harvard Medical School studies showed that patients with a high TG/HDL ratio can be up to 16 times more likely to suffer a heart attack than those with a low TG/HDL ratio!

Saturated fats and cancer

Dr. Fife continues that Researchers looked for a link between saturated fat and cancer and found that saturated fat had a protective effect against cancer rather than a causative one when compared with other oils. “Polyunsaturated oils were identified as causing cancer and the higher the degree of unsaturation the greater the risk.”

Saturated fats and stroke

Dr. Fife adds that saturated fats help to prevent strokes in both humans and animals. Studies from Japan in the1980s found a relationship between increased dietary fat and a decrease in death from ischemic stroke in humans. Also, in a 20 year study at Harvard Medical School, involving middle aged men that participated in the Framingham Heart Study, the conclusion was that saturated fat lowers the rate of stroke and that the highest incidence of stroke was associated with the most polyunsaturated fat intake.

All these authors report that saturated fats have the following benefits:

1. Our cell membranes are largely made up of fats. They require the right fats to maintain the integrity and stiffness of the cell or else they soften and begin to “leak”. Since 50% of every cell membrane is saturated fat, cholesterol and other saturated fats are necessary for optimal functioning.

2.  Saturated fats support the immune system. An example is lauric acid. This fatty acid is found in coconut oil (and mother’s milk) and is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral.

3.  Saturated fats help calcium absorption hence avoiding osteoporosis.

4.  Saturated fats help protect the liver from toxic effects of alcohol, drugs and toxins.

5.  Saturated fats have positive effects in many health categories such as improving energy, weight loss, cancer prevention, reducing inflammation, skin health as well as beneficial effects on the heart (fat is its primary energy source,) lungs (surfactant), kidneys (cellular communication) and hormones (cholesterol is the precursor molecule ending up in the production of progesterone, cortisol, Dhea, estrogen and testosterone.)

What are these surprisingly good fats?

1. Coconut oil and non-hydrogenated palm kernel oil up to 99% saturated/monounsaturated, 1-3% polyunsaturated.

* It’s well known that the populations in Polynesia and Asia who live on coconut products and oils do not suffer from heart disease, cancer, and degenerative diseases. Dr. Enig reports that coconut oil helps weight loss because it contains medium chain fatty acids that are metabolized differently and suggests taking 1 Tbs. 10 minutes before eating your meal. There are whole books on the subject and I suggest you do some reading on them. Since trying coconut oil, I use it for cooking or for melting it on rice, or on breads with a little sea salt for   a terrific tasting healthy snack.

2.  Butter and clarified butter (ghee)-94%saturated/monounsaturated (butter is4% unsaturated)

For years, I have been using ghee for frying at any temperature because of its great taste and because it oxidizes less during the heating process due to its high degree of saturation. It is easy to make at home. Take 4-8 sticks of unsalted, organic butter preferably from a grass fed cow and bring them to a minimal boil and let it simmer. The hissing sound is the sound of the water boiling out. Once the hissing sound stops the ghee is finished. Be careful not to burn it by overcooking it. After cooling a bit, skim off the milky portion on the surface. Pour off the liquid golden oil (this is the ghee) into an earthenware or metal container. The milk solids on the bottom may be discarded or eaten separately. The Ghee will solidify at room temperature and may be kept in or outside the fridge. (We keep it in)

3. Olive and Sesame oil. Olive oil has 91% saturated/monounsaturated (mostly monounsaturated), 9% polyunsaturated.

I use it for low temperature frying and in all my salads. It helps prevent cancer and tastes great. Research that looked at more than 60,000 women in Sweden from age 40-76 years found that over the course of about 4 years, those who ate the largest proportion of oil from monounsaturates suffered the lowest risk of breast cancer. “According to the researchers, if two women ate the some amount of total fat calories the one who ate 10 more grams of monounsaturated fat per day cut her chance of breast cancer in half - 50%! This amounts to 1 T. of olive oil.

4. Flesh sources such as beef /lamb/pork approx. 95% saturated/monounsaturated, 3-5% polyunsaturated.

Please note that this compares to our human body fat (97% saturated/monounsaturated with 3% polyunsaturated fat. No, I’m not suggesting we eat human fat! I am suggesting that those who live on grass fed, free range animals products all over the world in various countries and cultures do very well (living long lives, able bodied etc.) because they consume such small amounts of polyunsaturated oils, and the saturated fats in their diets help protect the unsaturated fats from free radical oxidation. But be careful and note that if you consume regular flesh, fowl, or poultry that is not “grass fed”, you actually consume an animal that was probably raised on soy and corn and its oils are more “vegetable” like and therefore more unsaturated and more likely to result in the oxidative-free radical damaging process that we are trying to avoid.

IN SUMMARY

Even as I write this Im still amazed that everything we have been taught through the years does not hold up to the ancient wisdom of the food traditions over the world. Excitedly, I asked around, both at home and at work.  Here is what they said:

1. A patient’s relatives in Poland who stuck with grass fed chicken, milk eggs and fats had no problems with cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, etc.

2. Our consultant internist’s eyes lit up as he described how his family, back in Iran, went for the fattest parts of the sheep they could find and all were healthy.

3. Our friend’s 92 year old grandmother who lives in the mountains of Romania and tends to her cows and chickens, is able bodied and independent and living on the the high saturated fatty foods of her grass fed animals. She states that when the people leave the mountains and go to the cities, they eat differently (processed, hydrogenated, vegetable oils sugar etc) and come down with diabetes, heart disease, cancer etc.

 Therefore, I recommend everything in moderation. Please take a close look at your diet and consider removing the unhealthy fats in your life by doing the following:

- Cook with a stable oil that will not oxidize during the heating process such as olive or coconut oil or ghee. The polyunsaturated oils will likely become oxidized during cooking or exposure to open air and then oxidize any foodstuffs that they come into contact with.

- Read labels carefully. When you find polyunsaturated oils such as safflower or sunflower or canola or cottonseed oil added to bars or chips think of these oils contaminating the neighboring foods by beginning the oxidation process thus bringing us down the road to inflammatory diseases such as heart disease, cancer and age related degenerative changes.

- Consider the evidence that cholesterol is not the villain and is needed since it’s necessary for vitamin d, hormone synthesis, bile formation, and cell membrane structure and discuss this with you doctor.

- Consider the evidence that high triglycerides may be a more accurate predictor for heart disease (caused by sugar intake!) and ask your doctor to study your triglyceride/hdl ratio with you.

- Read, research, experiment with your diet and enjoy the process!

References

Dr. Bruce Fife author of Eat Fat, Look Thin

Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon author Eat Fat, Lose Weight

Dr. Barry Sears author The Anti-Inflammation Zone

Dr. Barry Groves author Natural health and Weight Loss

                         

Acupuncture:

Acupuncture is another powerful energy medicine.  Traditional Acupuncture is based on ancient Chinese theories of the flow of energy called  ‘Chi’ as it courses through the energy pathways called meridians.  Meridians cover the body somewhat like the nerves and the blood vessels do but are said to have a functional-energetic anatomy rather than a physical presence. The theory states that these meridians provide the chi (life force) to the various tissues and organs of the body allowing them to function properly. If the energy flow is blocked or impeded (stagnant) or in excess in a particular meridian, this imbalance may create disharmony or disease in the organs affected by that meridian. How does the practitioner know which one to treat? The acupuncturist will make a diagnosis and treatment plan based upon a history of the symptoms of the patient including a pulse and tongue examination or the use of an electric devise. Based upon these findings, the practitioner uses fine filament- like needles to insert in specific points (called acupuncture points) located in the appropriate meridian to correct the energy flow.  Alternatively, the practitioner may use their fingertips to apply sustained pressure at these points. This is called acupressure. If the energy is blocked or stagnant the treatment will allow the energy to flow properly again. If the energy is excessive, the treatment will reduce the energy to a proper amount. In this way, acupuncture regulates the flow of energy to the body by restoring balance. I have seen acupuncture help in acute situations including the pain associated with injuries, sprains, strains, headaches colds and sinus infections, as will as chronic conditions such as chronic fatigue, chronic migraine headaches, arthritis, insomnia or the effects of stress.

Why do I need to take supplements? 

Doesn't our food contain all the vitamins I need?  

Do they really work?

My Medical Doctor says that vitamins are a waste of money.

By Dr. Richard Bisceglie, DN, CNS

I have been asked these questions many times before. There is a lot of information and misinformation out there regarding our nutritional health. This becomes apparent when it come to supplementation. I would like to address a few of the key issues related to this.

We need supplements for a variety of reasons under varying circumstances. The foods we eat have been processed, sprayed with chemicals, given growth hormones and antibiotics and if that is not enough, pickup up environmental pollutants along the way. Many individuals have extra demands placed on their bodies because of specific conditions (i.e., pain syndromes, degenerative joint disease, cardiovascular, auto immune conditions, allergies, obesity). Even our water may contain several substances that we do not want to ingest; chlorine, estrogen, and other long chemical names. Are you beginning to see why our nutritional needs may not be met simply through our food?

Patients often come in and tell me that their doctor told them that they didn’t need vitamins. Please remember most medical doctors get very little in the form of supplemental training and how they may apply it to medical conditions. Specialized training is needed to fully appreciate the complexities of nutritional medicine. Even the medicines we are taking have side effects. Medication in many cases is life saving. However, supplementation may be indicated to help with the side effects. Many compromise our liver function. Some increase muscle and joint pain, even more effect our digestion. If we are not digesting and absorbing the foods we do eat, we further leave our bodies vulnerable to disease and dysfunction and yes…even weight gain.

To complicate matters even more, the supplement industry is unregulated or self regulated. That is a double edge sword. It leaves the door open for unscrupulous manufactures to distribute inferior product. They may not even be aware of key factors like where the batch material is obtained and the quality control procedures. Does the company do clinical trials, research?  However, this self regulation gives us more freedom when recommending a supplementation protocol. We cannot make claims that any supplement “cures” anything. We can however, say that certain compounds have been shown to help with particular conditions.

Health care professionals have the serious responsibility to evaluate products and apply our rigid standards to ensure efficacy and not allow the patient to waste their money on products that do not work!  To fully understand how these nutrients effect the body, one needs to understand disease processes and the additional demand that is placed on systems to help repair and restore to health. Beware of individuals who claim to be this or that kind of specialist and not licensed to dispense medical or nutritional information and how it may apply to any conditions.

Don’t settle for less!

Dr. Bisceglie is a state licensed board certified doctor of Naprapathic Medicine and a national board certified nutritional specialist.  He has conducted many seminars on nutrition and physical medicine.

Dr. Bisceglie has also published peer-reviewed clinical articles in Journal of the American Naprapathic Association, and the Alternative Network directory.

If you have any further questions or would like to speak with the doctor, please contact  Dr. Bisceglie at the Center for Holistic Medicine in Riverwoods at 847-236-1701.

Dear friends,

Congratulations! We have survived 2009.

Do you remember earlier in the year looking down into the blackness of the abyss and being afraid?  At that time, rather than dwelling on the news, we reminded ourselves to look deeply within and determine what was really important to us. We reminded ourselves that we were unique souls that have unique lives waiting to fulfill the destiny that we came here to do. We re-examined our health, our relationships, and our work lives with the promise to pursue what was real, what had meaning and do the best we could. We immediately felt better because when we make a commitment to improve our lives, even using baby steps, one at a time, we immediately create a few feet of solid ground, a holy spot, a little sanctuary of integrity and truth that allows us to feel grounded in the world of flux around us.

Our center committed to this kind of change last year. After an intensive group process where we confronted some difficult truths, we opened up our creativity and heartfelt desires and reformulated and rearticulated our vision and mission in an attempt to embrace our unique destiny. We are transforming ourselves into team that works together in a holistic center for medicine, wellness, education and transformation. Our entire staff, both administrative and clinical, is remolding itself as a team to deliver more excellent treatment options,  more educational opportunities, and the desire to help you change your life in a positive direction, ie. treatment, education and transformation

How are we doing this?   

Build a treatment team

Firstly and thankfully, we are retaining and attracting experienced and mature practitioners in many fields. Witness the brand new addition of our new acupuncturist, Valerie Merner and RN wellness educator Linda Kramer and read about them in this newsletter. In the past year we have added TAT ™, with Dan Levin, reflexology and energy healing with Elsa Du Plessis, chiropractic and food allergy testing with Dr. Christy Matuziak, as well as welcoming back Amishi Natani P.A. to her homeopathic, general medicine practice after the birth of her first child.  All of our practitioners are available to you either directly or as a referral from your provider.

Education

We are meeting bi weekly and updating our knowledge of nutrition, supplements, remedies, energy medicines, psychological techniques and helping each other change in an upwards direction. This is reflected in our website education initiatives. Please use our website and read the articles that we make available to you there and in the clinic. And please take advantage of the classes offered at the clinic. Many hearts in our clinic reside in education and helping you take charge of your own health and life.

Transformation

We are evolving souls. Let us help you. For some, it will be the treatment to lessen pain. For others, it will be diagnosing and correcting a vitamin d deficiency. Others will need an energy boost and still others, will need instruction in stress reduction or support in tackling a difficult marriage.

In conclusion, welcome to the Center for Holistic Medicine team of 2010, where we celebrate the evolution of the human spirit by offering the tools, expertise and guidance for treatment, education and personal transformation using medicine, health and wellness as the vehicle.

To your health (and drop me  a line)

Jerry Gore M.D.

Linda Kramer RN, BSN, MS, HN-BC  Women’s Wellness Practitioner

1/28:  Achieving Optimal Wellness (1-2:30 pm or 7:30-9 pm) 

Fee:  $25

Achieving optimal health and true well-being requires an inner harmony that results from the integrated, congruent functioning of the body, mind, emotions and spirit.  We are not helpless victims of genetics or environmental toxins, doomed to suffer ill-fated diseases.  It is possible to create optimal health by utilizing the principles rooted in medicine’s new frontier:  psychoneuroimmunology (PNI).  PNI provides a scientific foundation for the Body-Mind-Spirit connection. Learn to integrate this expanded approach into your life and maximize your health.

2/4 (1-2:30pm and 7:30-9pm):  Menopause:  Navigating the Transition with Grace and Ease

Fee:  $25

Do you experience mood swings, weight gain, fatigue, decreased libido, hot flashes, sleep disturbance and fuzzy thinking?   In this workshop we explore how the common symptoms of midlife hormonal upheaval invite a rebirth of the self into the second half of life.  Accept the invitation – listen within to the whispers of your heart and the wisdom of your soul.  Courageously pursue your passions as you enter the second half of life with a renewed sense of purpose and power.

2/11/10 (1-2:30 pm or 7:30-9 pm) Restful Sleep

Fee: $25

Are you tired of being tired? Do you toss and turn struggling to fall asleep at night? If so, you may be among the growing number of adult Americans who are aging more rapidly as a result of inadequate sleep.  Lack of sound sleep also increases your risk for diabetes, depression, anxiety and weight gain. Restful sleep requires a delicate balance between the body’s systems, hormones and neurotransmitters (brain chemical messengers). Apply the information offered in this session to decrease health risks and start waking up in the morning feeling well-rested, energetic and enthusiastic.

http://www.holistic-medicine.com/category/education/class-and-lecture/class-and-lecture-registration/

A testimonial.  “I came to Joe for relief of chronic neck and shoulder pain.  I had tried many things for help:  I tried physical therapy under the treatment of a physiologist only to have the pain return after treatment ended.  I tried massage therapy that allowed temporary relief of symptoms that always returned, sometimes within the week. 

It was only after Joe treated my son that I thought Myofascial release could help me.   It was very clear from our first meeting that this was going to be a different experience.  Joe spent a lot of time listening with intensity and understanding of my personal trauma that I have never before experienced from any other human being – practitioner or lay person.  The way he explained with utmost clarity how the trauma was unfinished and remained in my body causing the pain was totally fascinating to me and nothing anyone had ever thought of to try to help.  While he made no promises, it all totally made sense.  The depth of his knowledge and the totally informed answers were incredibly reassuring to me.  He not only thoroughly knew his craft, but his extensive knowledge of the systems of the human body was incredible.

After the first session with Joe I experienced physical as well as emotional release for the next two days.  Lucky for me, Joe was available by phone to help me through this time.  This, after spending an extra hour helping me in his office without charging me for his extra time.  I find his level of commitment to the patient’s healing overwhelmingly sincere and altruistic.  He is totally and selflessly motivated to helping his patients.

In a mere matter of a month, my chronic neck and shoulder pain that had been interrupting my daily life for over 9 years was completely gone.   It was so astounding to me that he could accomplish quite clearly and simply what the western medical community could not.  That he could figure out the root cause of the pain and work seemingly with little effort at understanding it and helping me work through it is nothing short of amazing.   

Thanks to Joe for helping my first born  

 My 9 year old son was born with a birth defect that required multiple corrective surgeries, ongoing medical treatment and a steady flow of pharmaceuticals to maintain health.  I brought him to Dr. Gore’s office to see how the multitude of specialists might be able to improve his health and his life situation.  It was under these circumstances that we met Joe.  He was charged with the task of helping my son work through the trauma of over 14 surgeries and promoting good health and well being.  A large task indeed!

My son has received excellent medical care from specialists in western medicine, for which I am truly grateful.  In fact, my son would not be alive today if not for the swift, highly professional and specialized care he has received in his 9 years.  However, I believed that he needed more than the medical community could offer him.  For instance, after an occurrence when my son was in extreme pain, his specialist told me there was no way to relieve the pain if it should occur again.  This was not an acceptable answer for me as would be true of any mother watching her child scream in pain. 

The solutions for his rare medical condition were limited at best.  In addition, he was having minor symptoms as a result of this early trauma in his life that were not issues that the specialists could attend too, nor did they seem to be of any importance to them.  These symptoms did however have significant impact on our daily lives – stomach aches, problems concentrating in school, lack of ability to handle his responsibilities.  I just knew there had to be better answers then I was getting from these highly trained specialists. 

Joe had incredible empathy and an innate understanding of my son and his circumstances.  Joe spoke to my son in such an incredibly respectful and understanding way and instantly made my son at ease and completely comfortable with this new and somewhat unorthodox procedure.  While my son never complained about all the medical procedures he had to endure, there was something special about coming to see Joe.  My son actually gave a holler of joy every time I told him we were going.  Not only did Joe respect him and everything he had to say, he actually looked him straight in the eyes and told him how incredibly he was handling his unique physical situation.  He even told him how special he was to have been given this challenge.  What an amazing gift of words for a 9 year old boy and how fortunate I am as a mother to be able to give that gift to my son. 

The way Joe interacted with my son helped me to see my own son in a new way, with a new light shining on him and his situation.  Joe has given us the incredible gift of health, well being, support and incredible words.  I feel by bringing my son to Joe that I am giving my son a gift of new ways to think of himself, new ways to live a full and healthy life, and a new friend that understands and respects him. 

Joe’s skills are not just limited to physical treatment.  While he is working his magic with his hands, he often gives helpful advice on dealing with life, friends, siblings, and homework.  You just can’t buy better health care than that with your insurance dollars.  And, I know for a fact that western medicine cannot help in this way either. 

While there are many professional people in Dr. Gore’s office that have helped and respected my son, Joe has an incredibly special way of relating to him that goes far beyond the physical help of his hands and Myofascial release.  It is like getting a complete tune up every time we see Joe.  My son and I always walk out of there feeling emotionally rejuvenated, able to handle all that comes our way, able to get on with our next tasks knowing that it is all going to be OK. 

Thanks to Joe!”

by M. H.

Natural, bio-identical horomone replacement therapy and horomone balancing for women of all ages.

Jerry Gore, M.D. and staff are diagnosing and treating women and improving their horomonal systems using saliva testing, nutrition, herbs and bio-identical horomones when appropriate. If you or someone you know is suffering from PMS, Menopause, or interested in learning more, please call Jerry Gore, M.D. today at 847-236-1701.

Medicine in the News:

Natural Flu Prevention and Treatment

Jerry Gore, M.D.

We have all been inundated by the media lately regarding Swine Flu. As a proactive approach, I’d like to share with you some historical information as well as answer the most frequently asked questions. The Chicago Tribune headlined a story in early March stating that as Flu season hits high gear, this year’s most common strain has developed resistance to the drug Tamiflu, a 100% resistance in the united states.   

First, take a deep breath and relax – holistic medicine can help!

Second, remember, no self help is a substitute for a qualified health care practitioner’s evaluation. Try the methods only as an aid or during the first 12-24 hours. If there is no relief then consult a physician.

Historical data on Homeopathic treatment on flu epidemics: Taken from National Center of Homeopathy:

Perhaps the most recent use of homeopathy in a major epidemic was during the Influenza Pandemic of 1918. The Journal of the American Institute for Homeopathy, May, 1921, had a long article about the use of homeopathy in the flu epidemic. Dr. T A McCann, from Dayton, Ohio reported that 24,000 cases of flu treated allopathically had a mortality rate of 28.2% while 26,000 cases of flu treated homeopathically had a mortality rate of 1.05%. This last figure was supported by Dean W.A. Pearson of Philadelphia (Hahnemann College) who collected 26,795 cases of flu treated with homeopathy with the above result.

The most common remedy used was Gelsemium, with occasional cases needing Bryonia and Eupatorium reported. Dr. Herbert A. Roberts from Derby, CT, said that 30 physicians in Connecticut responded to his request for data. They reported 6,602 cases with 55 deaths, which is less than 1%. Dr. Roberts was working as a physician on a troop ship during WWI. He had 81 cases of flu on the way over to Europe. He reported, “All recovered and were landed. Every man received homeopathic treatment. One ship lost 31 on the way.”

Please be aware that a natural approach exists to flu prevention and treatment. Here are some ideas for boosting your immune system and avoiding some common problems associated with fall/winter illness:

DIET:
Avoid mucous producing foods (sinusitis, asthma, flu, bronchitis, ear infections, etc.), such as milk and cheese, beef and pork, wheat, bananas, refined sugar and corn oil. Use more of beans, peas, chicken(dark part), rye, spelt, buckwheat millet, apples, pears, molasses, olive oil, sesame oil, and spices (turmeric, cumin and garlic). Apples, pears and raw vegetables actually help to reduce mucus.

VITAMINS:
Vitamin C helps stimulate your natural killer cells that mop us viruses.  Vitamin A also has “anti-viral” activity and Zinc has a reputation for healing “colds”. Making and drinking a pitcher of freshly juiced vegetable and/or fruit juice every day gives you the antioxidants you need to help boost your immune system. Taking large doses of Vitamin C (up to 10,000mg daily, as your body tolerates) can boost the immune system.  
 
SUPPLEMENTS:
Echinacea - take a dose or two when you feel that cold or flu just coming on. Add Goldenseal to it if the mucous turns from clear to yellow. Rosemarin supplements, Echinacea angustifolia tincture (5 drops in water, 3 times daily during infection, or 1 time daily for up to 2 weeks to help boost immune system then take 1-2 week break), Astragalus and certain other medicinal herbs, and Oscillococcinum (standard protocol for administration is 3 doses daily for three days) are likely to confer some protection as well. Ginger, taken as a tea, will warm up your innards.  Garlic has anti-bacterial properties-add it to your food.
 
REMEDIES:
Km-6x (Kali-mur) is a common tissue salt and can help prevent what’s “going around”.  It is also indicated for conditions with clear mucous, such as a drippy nose, or cough with whitish expectoration.  Aconite 30c taken at the first hint of something coming on can sometimes stop it in its tracks.  Gelsemium 30c  is recommended for the flu characterized by a droopy energy, heavy eyelids, fatigue, etc.  Bryonia  for slow, hot and dry chills all over, the least amount of movement makes it worse, cough causing headache. Eupatorium Perfoliatum for shivering, painful so that bones feel broken, bursting headache, movement makes it worse. Mercurisus Solubis for chills, thick, acrid, smelly, yellow-green discharge, thirst, alternate between hot and cold like a human thermometer, if a sore throat is present it’s accompanied by salivation, and a bad taste or bad breath.

STRESS REDUCTION: 
Chronic stress reduces our ability to fight off viruses and bacteria.  Take 5 minutes for relaxation during the day by breathing or some gentle exercising, or formal relaxation program.  Make a habit of it so it will grow with your expanding life style.
 
ATTITUDE:
Winter has the properties of COLD and DARK.  Balance this by adding HEAT and LIGHT to your life; elements of transformation and change.  Choose a class, lecture, hobby, and a field of study.  Work on improving a relationship or changing a habit.  Call a loved one-love is light and warmth.  

Q: Is there anything homeopathy can to do prevent the (swine) flu?

A. Homeopathic immunization uses two main methods – the nosode (a remedy made from the microbe itself) and the genus epidemicus (a remedy that matches the symptoms of an epidemic).

No nosode has yet been made from this virus, and no genus epidemicus been established. However, the US Navy (that just happened to be in Mexico) found that the new virus contains DNA of Influenza Type A and Type B, Asian Influenza, Swine Flu, and Avian flu. We have a recent nosode for Influenza Mix, which is the closest match and likely to be effective. The standard protocol for administration is 3 doses daily for three days.

Q: Is there anything else one can do to protect oneself?

A. Making and drinking a pitcher of freshly juiced vegetable and/or fruit juice every day gives you the antioxidants you need to help boost your immune system. Taking large doses of Vitamin C (up to 10,000mg daily, as your body tolerates) can boost the immune system. Rosemarin supplements, Echinacea angustifolia tincture (5 drops in water, 3 times daily during infection, or 1 time daily for up to 2 weeks to help boost immune system then take 1-2 week break), Astragalus and certain other medicinal herbs, and Oscillococcinum (standard protocol for administration is 3 doses daily for three days) are likely to confer some protection as well.

Q: If I get sick what should I take?

A. Homeopathic treatment is likely to be an effective treatment for any new flu-like illness. Homeopathic hospitals had a less than 1% mortality rate during the last major real pandemic -1918 Spanish Flu epidemic, while conventional hospitals had between 30 and 60% mortality rates. For additional statistics on homeopathic treatment and the 1918 epidemic visit: http://www.naturalnews.com/026148.html .

As always, homeopathic treatment must be individualized. Since there are many homeopathic remedies for the flu, we recommend you contact us for a consultation, should you develop symptoms or are interested in preventative measures.

Call today to schedule your consultation and don’t let the media cause you to panic!

847-236-1701

Some information provided by Homeopathic Associates and The Homeopathic College

The information contained in this mailing is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat, prescribe or diagnose any disease, ailment or infirmity. If symptoms develop, please contact your physician or emergency medical help.