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

What is Homeopathy?

by Jerry Gore, M.D.

Introduction

Homeopathy is a system of medical therapeutics developed by German physician Dr. Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843). The medicines (remedies) are prepared from natural substances such as plants, minerals, and animal tissues and are prepared and recognized in accordance with the US Food and Drug Administration. They are non-toxic, used in extremely low doses, and are safely used with infants, children, and adults. Homeopathy is practiced in England (widely practiced, recognized, and paid for by health insurance plans), France (30%of the population has used remedies and 6 medical schools offer courses), Germany (60%of all orthodox physicians use remedies), India (government sponsored homeopathic hospitals and medical collages), Latin America as well as becoming more popular in the United States.

 How does it work?

1. Remedies are made through a process of diluting and shakeing. For example, a piece of red onion (allium cepa) may be diluted with distilled water and alcohol by taking one part onion and 99 parts of alcohol and water thus giving us a 1C potency (1/100^th). This is commonly given in a 30C potency meaning that this dilution has been repeated 30 times resulting in a remedy that has the “energy”of the onion without actually having any onion left in the dose. Therefore homeopathy is called an “energy medicine”.

2. The remedy (in this case allium cepia) is then prescribed for allergic symptoms, hay fever, etc., characterized by a burning, watery discharge from the eyes; just as if the person was exposed to an onion! This is called “like cures like” meaning that if a substance (the onion) can cause symptoms in a healthy person (burning, tears) then it can stimulate self healing of the same symptoms in a sick person (allergy, flu, etc.). Another example would be the herb chamomile. When diluted into a remedy and given to a healthy person, the person develops symptoms of irritability and impatience. Therefore, when given to a child with an ear infection and irritability, or a teething baby with swollen gums showing a restless, whiney snappish irritability (sound familiar?), self healing is stimulated and the child becomes cured.

 What does homeopathy treat?

Pregnancy:

Nausea of pregnancy

Aches and pains associated with carrying the baby

Toning uterine tissues to make delivery easier

Nursing mothers:

Breast infections

Children:

Teething made easy

Ear infections

Side effects from vaccinations

Eczema and allergies

Asthma

ADD/ADHD type problems

Emotional problems

Women’s health:

Cystitis

Yeast

 Fibroids

 PMS/PMDD

 Infertility

 Pre and post menopausal symptoms

 Osteoporosis

Men’s health:

Prostate difficulties

Infertility

Adult (both sexes):

Colds

Sinusitis

Irritable bowel

Fatigue

Skin problems

 Headaches

 Hypertension

 Heart problems

 Arthritis

Insect bites

 Injuries

 Recovery from accidents or surgeries

 Anxiety

 Depression

 Grief

 Transitions in life

and more…

Elderly:

Joint pain, memory loss

What does the doctor do?

 Study the symptoms

The doctor will ask for all your physical and emotional symptoms and try to individualize, i.e. what makes these symptoms unique to you. For example, a 35-year-old woman complains of a sore throat and cough. She is under stress of children, car pooling, school needs, etc. and has been feeling anxious lately (physical and emotional history). The Doctor now finds out what is unique to her: the sore throat is right sided, feels burning, and is better from hot drinks.  Her anxiety is worse from the disorder in her life (others thrive on disorder). This history points to a specific remedy that fits her unique set of symptoms (arsenicum). One dose, consisting of 5 pellets melted on the tongue, and her sore throat and anxiety disappeared. (Remember- a remedy to fit your unique symptoms).

 Study the person

People can be said to have different constitutions. For example, 2 men desire help for their headaches. Mr. A has the following characteristics that are unique to him: he is warm (kicks the covers off at night), messy (but knows where everything is) forgetful and spacey (misplaced the keys), collects things (may be a packrat) and likes to talk (argue, speeches, etc.) and often has red itchy rashes on his skin. Mr. B. has a different constitution. He is serious, holds on to old hurts, feels worse after being consoled, craves salty foods and suffers with hangnails, cracked lips, and eye problems. Mr. A. received a dose of the remedy Sulphur. Not only did his headache go away, but he cleaned his house, threw away old “stuff” and found his memory improved. Mr. B received Nat. Mur. (sodium ) as a remedy. His headache improved, his disposition became lighter, he and stopped craving chips (salt). Therefore, by studying the person, we look for their individuality and give the remedy that fits their constitution thus enabling the self healing to take place. Remember a remedy is specific to your unique constitution. 

 Study the remedy

After studying the symptoms and or studying the person’s constitution, the doctor is now ready to choose a remedy that best fits the person. We do this by looking up these symptoms or constitutional characteristics in books loaded with information about remedies. For example, the books tell us that a right sided sore throat made better by hot drinks is the remedy Arsenicum, as mentioned above. But a left sided sore throat made worse by hot drinks is Lachesis (made from snake venom!). There are hundreds of remedies to choose from and each remedy has several pages of information about how it affects the entire body and mental functioning of the person. Through a combination of the doctor’s experience, our knowledge of the remedies, and the patient’s ability to notice their symptoms, a remedy is then selected for the person

 Following the progress                    

We are able to tell if a person is going in the right direction in their health care. We use the following rules:

• Relief from the physical symptoms
• Improvement in energy
• Improvement in mental functioning (balance, focus)
• A restored sense of purpose or meaning in life         

Case example: A 28 year old woman complained of PMS symptoms including swollen ankles, stomach upset, insomnia, fatigue and irritability. After studying the symptoms, the person, and the remedies, we selected Nux Vomica and gave her 5 pellets on the tongue once each night for a week. An ideal response would be to see healing on all the levels i.e., the swelling becomes less, her energy picks up, and she feels calmer and more whole. Beware of treatments that bring relief of physical symptoms while the person becomes worse on the energy level (”I just don’t feel right”) and/or  worse on the mental level (depressed, confused) or on the spiritual level(relationships, work, life choices, lose their sense of rightness).

Case example: A 72 year old woman complained of joint pain. A history showed that the pain was better from motion and warmth and worse from rest. She was also unsure about where to live and some important decisions to make. Anti-inflammatory medication had helped with the pain but left her feeling tired. She was beginning to feel discouraged (physical symptoms better, energy and mind worse). A remedy immediately came to mind that usually helps the pain in joints that is worse from rest and better from motion and warmth. But would it help or hurt her ability to feel, think and make decisions. With the whole person in mind, we selected a remedy that helps with arthritis and discouragement. After one dose of a middle potency, she returned and stated, “I feel my life is in order. I’m beginning to think through things properly and making progress on my living situation and thank you, my hip and knee are slowly but surely improving.”

Side effects

There are few side effects with remedies. That’s because they are diluted as they are prepared (described above) so that only the “energy” of the substance is given to the person. If an incorrect remedy is given over and over to a person, it is possible for that person to develop symptoms, so be sure to follow the advice of a practitioner that is well trained and experienced in homeopathic medical practice.

Cost

In most cases, homeopathic tissue salts and remedies are relatively inexpensive when compared to traditional pharmaceuticals.

Summary

Homeopathy is a system of medical therapeutics using natural substances in very small doses. It is known and practiced throughout the world. It’s becoming increasingly popular in the United States as  articles appear in national magazines, new research studies are funded, new training programs and societies emerge and hospitals embrace holistic medical programs

Why the renewed interest? As a practicing physician, I find the ideal medicine would be safe, cost effective, and useful in the incredible variety of situations as described above. It would work on all the levels (the physical, energetic and mental) needed in the daily practice of general medicine. The medicine would be flexible enough to span the age gap from infancy to elderly and the power should be adjustable so that a weaker or stronger potency can be individualized. Homeopathy fits this picture and gives me a powerful tool in treating the whole person!

Please accept this as a brief introductory explanation about the art and science of homeopathy. I’ll be glad to answer any questions you may have.

Jerry Gore, M.D.

Director Center for Holistic Medicine

Riverwoods/Deerfield

Holistic Psychiatry

Biography and Introduction

Jerry Gore M.D.

Dr. Gore is as graduate of Northwestern University’s Institute of Psychiatry Dr. Gore is currently the Director of the Center for Holistic Medicine in Riverwoods-Deerfield, where he has practiced Holistic General Medicine and Psychiatry. For 25 years, he has practiced the integration of physical, energetic, mental and spiritual therapeutics-all in the same treatment program for a given individual or wellness package as applied to a person’s health or a corporate need.

Your health program may involve what best fits your needs such as:

1) Nutrition and Supplementation; There are many situations which may improve with natural foods or supplements such as vitamins or amino acids. We are currently using urine tests to guide us in choosing such therapies and are having good results with the treatment of anxiety, depression, and fatigue. We also use standard blood work to make sure we are not overlooking a thyroid problem, anemia, or Vitamin D deficiency etc.

2) Energy Medicine: such as homeopathy and flower essences. We also have seasoned acupuncturists on site (see articles for an explanation of these therapies)

3) Stress Reduction Techniques: there are many types of awareness exercises for relaxing the body and calming and focusing the mind, including breathing and meditation techniques.

4) Counseling and Psychotherapy: Dr Gore draws from his training and experience with analytic and gestalt therapies as well as being influenced through the eastern Yogic, and Hebraic traditions in order to help individuals or couples improve their  health, happiness, and sense of well being.

5) Spirituality: There are practical ways of connecting to the higher part of oneself, such as being able to tap into your intuition and inner guidance, or feeling fulfilled in your daily activities  and  realizing your unique purpose in life. We may use the modalities of therapy, contemplation, and meditation to bring this about.

Call for information or to schedule a session

847-236-1701

Health, Weight Loss and Fats: Surprise! It’s Not What You Think

by Jerry Gore, M.D.
Part One

 
One of our terrific patients recently referred me to some reading material about healthy weight loss ideas. We discussed the idea that a person could lose weight by eating more fats, not less! As unbelievable as it sounds, it’s true. By staying off refined sugars, and keeping carbs to a reasonable level and eating healthy, organic, grass fed saturated fats, a person can lose weight and enjoy the process and feel satisfied (not depressed or deprived) and look forward to their meals. “But fats and cholesterol” our minds scream out and “what about weight gain, and heart disease.” Well, surprise! It’s not what you think!

First, the idea that fat and cholesterol can be good actually comes about from scientific studies.

Surprise # 1: Dr. Bruce Fife in his book “Eat Fat Look Thin” points out that in the 60-year period from 1910 to 1970, heart disease went from being rare to the number one killer it is today. Take note during that time:

• The use of animal fat and butter decreased markedly.  
• The intake of cholesterol stayed approximately the same.  
• The use of vegetable oils in the form of margarine, shortening, and processed oil increased 400%!

How is it possible that we did not increase our cholesterol intake (actually up 1%) all those years and heart disease goes from nil to the number 1 killer? “Uh Oh” you say. What about vegetable oil i.e., the use of corn oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, soy oil, margarine, shortening etc. up by 400%! This makes total sense when you consider that the chemical structure of the unsaturated vegetable oil allows it to take in unstable oxygen (termed oxidation). This is what happens when a cut apple turns brown - do you really want to eat the brown part? Of course not because you can see it’s oxidized and you instinctively know that something in it is not right. When this happens to polyunsaturated vegetable oil, this rancid, brown-like oxidized fat now affects all the food it touches - breaking down cell membranes and affecting the DNA in the cells - and does the same thing to your cells when you swallow this now-oxidized food…leading to heart disease, cancer and symptoms of aging.

Surprise #2:  The famous and often quoted Framington Mass heart study, sponsored by the government, studied over 5000 people over a 40 year period and found:

• Almost one half the people with heart attacks had low cholesterol and that people whose cholesterol had decreased, had a higher risk of dying! 
• A 1989 study published in the renowned medical journal “Lancet” stated that women with a very low cholesterol level had 5 times the death rate of those women who had “normal” cholesterol.

So what’s going on? As it turns out, cholesterol is very important to our normal functioning.
According to Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon who wrote “Eat Fat Lose Fat”, the cholesterol molecule:

• Helps make up the structure of our cell membranes and saturated fats help to keep these membranes sturdy and actually make up 50% of the membrane.
• Is the precursor for sex hormones, stress hormones, and DHEA.
• Allows the formation of vitamin D and helps bone, nerve and muscle tissue. 
• Form bile salts to help digest fats.
• Is rich in mothers’ milk.
• Acts as an antioxidant to protect us from oxidation induced cancer and heart disease.

Dr. Fife says it’s not the unoxidized cholesterol that is the problem; it’s the oxidation (browning) free radical activity caused by vegetable oils and other factors such as overcooking, leaving food out in the air too long, powdered milk and cheeses, etc., and highly processed meats like bologna, salami, etc. that allows oxygen to harm the food.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS:

• I would not recommend cooking with vegetable oils such as canola, peanut, safflower, corn, and soy.  
• I would not use hydrogenated vegetable oils or margarine in any form.
• I would recommend cooking with olive oil at low temperatures or coconut, sesame oil or clarified butter at regular temperatures because they are more saturated and less likely to become oxidized.Once we are no longer worried about unoxidized cholesterol, then we can move on to discuss the beneficial effects of saturated fats from grass fed animals like milk, butter, cream, eggs cheese (yum), chicken and beef including where to find them and how to use them. (Part two)         

Stay tuned for future info from me or Dr. Bisceglie, our nutritionist.

To your health,
J. Gore, M.D.

For more information click here: http://www.holistic-medicine.com/2009/06/26/take-control-of-your-health-with-firstline-therapy-%e2%84%a2/

Many couples, struggling with a diagnosis of Infertility, have considered the option of Alternative, Integrative, Holistic or Complementary Medicine. These all mean the same and will be used interchangeably in this article. Many of the treatments that are included within Holistic Medicine have been standard medical care in other parts of the world for centuries, if not millennia. Recently they have found their way into standard Western Medicine as practiced in the United States. Scientific research on these therapies is currently underway, supported by the Office of Alternative Medicine which is part of the National Institute of Health. In fact, training in aspects of Integrative Medicine has become a part of the curriculum at prestigious Medical Schools such as Harvard. The most well known spokesman in he field, DR Andrew Wheil, now has a Residency Program in Integrative Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Arizona in Tucson.

Couples pursuing these treatment options may seek the help of Medical Doctors who indicate a specialization in Alternative, Integrative, Holistic or Complimentary Medicine. There are also individuals who, though not Medical Doctors, and not licensed, have received extensive raining in a specific field included in Alternative Medicine such as homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine or naturopathic Medicine. As with all health practitioners, it is important to ask questions so that you feel comfortable that this trained professional understands you problem and is qualified, i.e., fully trained, experienced and knowledgeable in offering treatment.

In the U.S. it is estimated that as many as 15% of all couples have difficulty conceiving. About 1/3 of the difficulty is due to men, 1/3 is due to both men and women, and 1/3 is due to women. We have tried to organize treatment information from a Holistic perspective. Some of the following information was taken from Murray and Pizzorono’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Other Sources include Nutritional Influences on Illness by Melvyn Werbach, and The Yoga of Herbs by Frawley and Lad. A list of references including these and other primary sources is found at the end of this article.

Lifestyle Considerations - For Men

Something is affecting sperm count and quality these days. How do we know? Statistics tell us that men now supply approximately 40% of sperm per ejaculate as compared to 1940s levels! Is there anything we can do in a natural way to improve this situation? Yes there is. Keep the scrotal sac cool. The temperature of the scrotal sac is higher in infertile men. As temperatures climb above 96 degrees, sperm production can be inhibited or stopped. Be careful to wear breathable and loose fitting underwear, preferably cotton boxer shorts. Avoid synthetic and tight fitting material. Jogging, and use of exercise equipment such as the treadmill, rowing, and cross-country machines may raise scrotal temperature. Avoid hot tubs and whirlpools.

Dietary considerations - for Men

1. Avoid Estrogen

Estrogen can have a negative effect on the development of the male reproductive tract, semen volume, and sperm count. Therefore, it is important to reduce or eliminate excess estrogen or estrogen-like chemicals in your body. Avoid all dairy products where cows have been fed hormones. The drop in sperm counts since the 1940s parallels a rise in the consumption of dairy products.

Chemicals, such as PCBs, dioxin, etc. are weakly estrogenic and degenerate very slowly, they “hang around” for years in our environment. Avoid the use of toxic substances such as fertilizers, cleaners. Also avoid all fatty animal products where chemicals may be stored up without being degraded. Try to eat foods that are not high on the food chain. Animals high on the food chain would be fish or mammals that have consumed many smaller animals that could be full of the wrong chemicals

A diet high in fiber (whole grain breads and pastas, fruits, vegetables) helps to remove these estrogens by preventing their reabsorbtion during digestion. Beans and peas (legumes) can also help, they are a great source of “isoflavones”, plant chemicals that act to block estrogen receptor sites and prevent the stronger estrogens from having an impact. Sources of isoflavones are also recommended for a cancer prevention diet because, by taking up residence on the estrogen receptor sites, they block the effects of the stronger estrogens that stimulate cell growth.

2. Avoid Heavy Metals

Sperm are affected by lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury. There are many sources of exposure to these heavy metals such as deep-sea fish, cigarette smoke, and water from old pipes. There is a simple test that can screen for these metals using a few hair clippings from the nape of the neck. If toxic levels of heavy metals are discovered, natural therapies consisting of supplements and a change of diet can be administered to help remove these minerals

3. Avoid Free Radicals

We have all heard that free radicals (the hungry and unstable oxygen in our bodies) can cause cancer, heart disease, and increase the aging process. Now we have discovered that free radicals can damage sperm via impaired motility and loss of viability. What causes free radicals?

Cigarette smoke

Sunlight

Unsaturated oils (corn oil may be the worst)

Heating oils to too high a temperature when cooking

Foods left out of the refrigerator (oxidation causes butter to turn a slight yellow and cut apples to turn brown)

What can be done? Avoid smoking or passive inhalation of any toxic fumes. Cover exposed skin when outside but allow the normal amount of sun on your face, hands, and in your eyes. Cook with olive oil, sesame oil, or clarified butter. They all are very stable when heated. Avoid use of hydrogenated oils, or unsaturated oils (read the labels on those chips, etc.) and supplement your diet with anti oxidant vitamins: beta carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and selenium.

Dietary considerations - for Women

1.Weight

Weighing too much or too little is associated with primary infertility in about 6% of women

2. Caffeine and Alcohol

Both can impair female fertility. Excessive alcohol causes prolactin to rise and too much or too little prolactin is associated with infertility. Caffeine causes a decrease in serum prolactin. Caffeinated soft drinks may also reduce the chance of conception.

3. Avoid Heavy Metals.

Just as with men, lead, cadmium, or mercury can impair fertility by affecting sex hormones. Testing and treatment is available (see #2 under Dietary Consideration for men)

Vitamins and Minerals-for Men

As with the anti oxidant vitamins beta-carotene, C, E and selenium, mentioned above, there is an important function for zinc, as it aids in sperm formation and motility. In one study, men who had been infertile for 5 years took a zinc supplement for 50 days. During the study, testosterone levels increased, and many of the wives became pregnant. Zinc is found in whole grains, pumpkin seeds, nuts, and legumes. Zinc supplements can be found in the form of lozenges and capsules taken with food. Other supplements that are recommended include vitamins B12, arginine, and carnitine.

Vitamins and Minerals - For Women

Deficiencies of folic acid, vitamin B12, or iron may contribute to infertility in women. In one study (lacking a placebo controlled group), 14 women, ages 23 to 31, had PMS and had been infertile for 18 months to 7 years. They were given vitamin B6 for 6 months for relief of their PMS symptoms, and 12 of the 14, 86%, were able to conceive.

Botanicals

Plants from all over the world are often used successfully as medicines to help with a wide assortment of health problems. From China, we have Panax ginseng, which has a long history of use as a “male tonic.” Pygeum africanum, a plant commonly used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy, will help when low prostatic secretion plays a role in infertility. Chayavan Prash, an herbal from India containing pepper, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and other ingredients is commonly used as a general tonic and for male sexual debility. Shatavari (asparagus racemosus) translated as “who possess a hundred husbands” is considered to be the main ayurvedic rejuvenative for women. It is said to nourish and cleanse the female reproductive organs as well as supply female hormones. Chasteberry (vitex) is a Mediterranean plant that works by stimulating the body’s natural production of progesterone and normalizing the balance between estrogen and progesterone. In one study, 48 women diagnosed with infertility between the ages of 23 and 39 were given 40 drops of Chasteberry once a day for 3 months. During the study, 25 women normalized their progesterone levels and 7 women became pregnant.

Energy Medicine

1. Homeopathy

Homeopathic remedies are natural medicines made from plants, minerals, and animal tissues. The plant, etc., is diluted in its preparation so that there may be little or no plant material left in the remedy. Therefore, the remedy represents the “energy” of the plant and side effects are few to none. Remedies are administered with tiny pellets on the tongue and can be given to the individual based upon their symptoms (infertility, miscarriage) or upon a person’s constitution (size, personality, habits etc.). Some examples for men would include, Thuja (arbor vita) for a history of a sexually transmitted disease and Lycopodium (club moss) for impotence. For women some examples are: Caulophyllum (blue cohosh) for lack of uterine tone i.e., the uterus cannot hold the baby resulting in chronic miscarriages in the early months), Calcaria Carbonica (carbonate of lime) for women who are overworked full of worries, anxious, and suffer from PMS, swelling, cramps, and chills, Natrum Mur (chloride of sodium) for dryness, genital herpes, amenorrhea, and physical problems which are caused by emotional difficulties, and Ovarian Tissue Salt (ovarian animal tissue prepared as a dilute remedy) which acts as a tonic for ovarian function and helps to regularize the menstrual cycle.

2. Flower Essences

The flowers of plants may be prepared in a similar way to homeopathic remedies so that the “essence” of the plant is harnessed in a medicinal way. An example is Pomegranate. Its use is described as a treatment for imbalance, i.e., women who are “ambivalent or confused about the focus of feminine creativity, home or career, creative or procreative, those who attempt to balance both possibilities may feel drained and the psychological tension may be profound resulting in physical illness especially in the female organs.” This flower essence helps to promote an awareness of the feminine self in such a way that a woman can see “her right destiny and choices”. (Kaminski, Flower Essence Repertor

3. Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been used for thousands of years to treat the entire range of gynecological problems including infertility. These work by helping energy to flow through their proper channels (meridians) that brings balance and harmony to the organs that use this energy. For example, the kidney energy flowing through its meridian affects the lower part of the body including reproduction. By strengthening the kidney energy and by bringing balance to this organ, a woman is more likely to become pregnant. An example involves a 41-year-old woman who had had three pregnancies. One resulted in a stillborn; one in a baby born deformed that died shortly after birth, and one in a miscarriage. The woman began acupuncture about a month before becoming pregnant for the fourth time; she received acupuncture treatments twice a week during the first trimester and weekly during the rest of her pregnancy. She did not take any medications during her pregnancy and, thankfully, gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine other factors that are believed to be related to infertility include overwork or exposure to cold and damp while menstruating, as well as diets that include cold food and drink, greasy food, and excess dairy.

Stress Reduction/Relaxation Therapies

1. Emotions and Infertility The relationship between stress and infertility is well documented, and, as Dr V. Jane Kattapong has noted, “each may fuel the other.” She describes a possible mechanism of action in which strong emotions such as anxiety or depression may result in elevated levels of prolactin which “may be associated with low secretory-phase progesterone concentrations and early luteal regression.” Alice Domar, Ph.D. has found that women diagnosed with infertility experience levels of anxiety and depression similar to women diagnosed with life threatening illnesses such as Cancer, heart disease or HIV positive status. Her Mind/Body Program for Infertility at New England Deaconess Hospital has demonstrated success in several areas. She reports that women participating in her program experienced significant decreases in levels of anxiety, depression and fatigue. In addition, her most recent research indicates a 45% pregnancy rate among women who have completed her Mind/Body Program as compared with an 8% pregnancy rate among matched control subjects. While we are waiting for these results to be confirmed by additional research, it does appear that this kind of program may contain the answer for some couples.

2. The Relaxation Response

DR Domar’s program, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, includes 10 weekly meetings during which participants learn different stress reduction techniques as well as receiving information on nutrition and other topics within a supportive group context. However, people can learn and master stress reduction techniques on their own and have been doing so for thousands of years. The basis of all forms of Stress Reduction is the creation of an internal experience. Harvard’s DR Herbert Benson has named this the Relaxation Response and has correlated it with physiological indicators such as reduction in heart rate, blood pressure and muscular tension. Individuals who have had this experience describe the sensations as feeling “calm”, “centered”, and “whole”.

3. Stress Reduction Techniques

The key to all methods of stress reduction is to be wholly and completely present in the experience without having your mind racing about, focused on plans for the future, or misgivings about the past. Some people find that regular prayer or walking in a quiet natural setting creates that sense of peacefulness. Others get involved in artistic or creative activities in order to accomplish feelings of calm and timelessness. DR Domar’s program includes training in meditation, yoga, body awareness and diaphragmatic breathing. Descriptions can be found in her book, Healing Mind, Healthy Woman. Another Psychologist who has worked in the field of infertility, Aline Zolbrod, Ph.D., in her book, Men, Women and Infertility, describes the stress reduction techniques including imagery that she uses in treatment. Other procedures useful in invoking the Relaxation Response include Autogenics, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, and Biofeedback. Books written with the intention of introducing stress reduction and relaxation techniques to a general audience include Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Full Catastrophe Living, Joan Borysenko’s Minding the Body, Mending the Mind, and Herb Benson’s The Relaxation Response.

4. Practicing Stress Reduction

The objective, as you explore these techniques, is to find the one that works for you. For best results you would make a commitment to practice the technique 20-40 minutes each day; but, when life gets hectic, just do the best you can. Even 5 minutes a day is enough to begin the habit of relaxation that you will enjoy for the rest of your life. If, after a week or two, you do not experience a sense of calm or stillness for at least part of the time during your practice, try another technique. Experience has shown that ‘everything works for someone, but nothing works for everyone.’ Your goal is to keep experimenting until you find the technique that works for you and then make that a part of your life.

5. Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise

One of the simplest and most basic of all relaxation techniques is Diaphragmatic Breathing. It requires no special equipment and can be practiced anywhere, even in a crowded office, without calling undue attention to yourself. The diaphragm is the muscle that separates your lungs from the organs in your abdomen. If you are breathing diaphragmatically, your belly/diaphragm enlarges, inflates, as you breathe in and deflates as you breathe out. If you are having difficulty determining whether you are breathing diaphragmatically, lie on your back, on the floor, with a medium sized hard cover book balanced on your midsection. If you are breathing diaphragmatically, you will see the book rising as you inhale and falling as you exhale. Once you know what it feels like to breathe diaphragmatically, practice this for 15-20 minutes each day. Practice diaphragmatic breathing lying on the floor or sitting in a chair, back straight but not stiff, hands in your lap or resting on the arms of the chair, eyes closed or focused softly at a spot 18″-24″ in front of you. As you breathe, you can focus your attention on the sensation in your belly as it inflates with the inhalation and deflates with the exhalation. You may experiment with thinking of a word or phrase during each out breath, such as “one”, or “peace”, or a religious word/phrase. Do not struggle with intrusive thoughts, notice them, then let them drift away. After you have finished your practice, notice how your body feels. Realize that you have, within your own power, the ability to create this sensation whenever you need it.

Summary

Many couples are struggling with a diagnosis of Infertility. Holistic Medicine can provide options and possibilities for treatment that some have been searching for. We have stressed the importance of carefully choosing an experienced and qualified practitioner in the field. We have attempted, in this article, to review some of the options available to you including; changes in lifestyle and diet, use of vitamins and minerals, and introduced the reader to the fields of herbal medicine, homeopathic medicine, flower essences, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and stress reduction/relaxation techniques. We look forward to answering any questions that you may have or providing you with other assistance in your search for options.

Esther Kaplan, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist. Her specialties include Women’s Wellness and Holistic Health Psychology. She has a private practice in Evanston and in Elmhurst, Illinois, where she provides both Individual and Couple’s Therapy as well as training in Stress Reduction and Relaxation.

Jerry Gore, M.D., is the Director of the Center for Holistic Medicine, 240 Saunders Road in Riverwoods/Deerfield, Illinois (847/236 1701). The center provides Holistic General Medicine that includes treatment by M.D.s, as well as by specialists trained in Nutrition, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Homeopathy, Massage, Yoga, and Feldenkrais. Counseling, classes, lectures, and training are also available. For additional information, please call (847) 236-1701

References

Benson, H. (1975). The Relaxation Response. New York: William Morrow.

Borysenko, J. (1987). Minding the Body, Mending the Mind. Reading, MA Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.

Domar, A., Clapp, D., Slawsby, E., Dusex, J., Kessel, B., & Freizinger, M. (2000). Impact of group psychological interventions on pregnancy rates in infertile women. Fertility and Sterility, 73, 805-811.

Domar, A., Seibel, M., & Benson, H. (1990). The Mind/Body Program for Infertility: a new behavioral treatment approach for women with infertility. Fertility and Sterility, 53, 246-249.

Frawley, D., Lad, V. (1986). The Yoga of Herbs. Santa Fe, NM: Lotus Press.

Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. New York: Delacorte.

Kaminski, P., & Katz, R. (1994) Flower Essence Repertory. Nevada City, CA: Flower Essence Society

Kattapong, VJ.(2000). Mind-body medicine as treatment for female infertility. Alternative Medicine Alert, 79-82.

Murray, M., & Pizzorono, J. (1998). Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Prima House.

Werbach, M. (1993). Nutritional Influences on Illness. Tarzana, CA:Third Line Press.

Zoldbrod, A. (1993) Men, Women, and Infertility: Intervention and Treatment Strategies. New York: Maxwell Macmillan International.

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