The Causes of Chronic Illness - Pathogens

First things first.  What is a pathogen?  A pathogen is a generic term for anything that can cause disease.  Pathogens are often sub categorized as viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and prions.  Each of these subcategories of pathogens have been known to cause disease in humans.  Many pathogens are well documented, have known means of identification, and have known means of treatment.  However, for every well-known pathogen, there are many more unknown pathogens with unknown symptoms and outcomes.

Two case-in-points: Lyme Disease and Hantavirus.

Lyme Disease wasn't identified until the early 1970s when an affluent community in Connecticut experienced a wide-reaching epidemic of unknown and debilitating illness (preliminarily identified as rheumatoid arthritis).  The episode garnered the interest of researchers and universities and resources were devoted to finding the cause.  It wasn't until 1982 (almost a decade) until the bacteria that caused the unknown illness was identified.  The reason it took so long was because the bacteria, a spirochete, was really good at hiding in the body and very difficult to find via conventional diagnostic tools.  Click here for an article on the discovery of Lyme's Disease by the Connecticut Department of Public Health.  Hantavirus, a respiratory illness, was first identified by the modern medical community in the early 1990s after several fatalities from an unknown illness in the four corners region of the southwest spurred interest in the disease.  Click here for an article on the discovery of the disease by the CDC.  Hantavirus and Lyme Disease existed before they were documented by the modern scientific community; however, if you would have visited a doctor with these diseases prior to identification they would have been misdiagnosed and you would not have received effective treatment.

Both Lyme Disease and Hantavirus have devastating outcomes - debilitating chronic disease and/or death, which is one of the reasons why they garnered so much attention from the medical community.  Imagine with me, if you will, a scenario where the outcome of an budding but unknown disease or diseases is mild and generic chronic illness.  Would anyone be interested in or put money towards finding out the source of this illness?  Fortunately, the answer to that question is yes.  There are doctors and institutions looking for a pathogenic source for chronic illness (click here to read a few blogs on the subject).  Okay, now imagine with me that this pathogenic source is extremely good at hiding in the body, similar to Lyme disease.  Will it (or they) ever be found?  Good question - only knowable if someone finds one or more pathogens that can be associated with mild chronic symptoms.  The bottom line is that one (or multiple) currently unknown pathogens could be responsible for one or more chronic diseases.

Allergen-Free Recipe - Yam Candy

I cannot recall where I first ran across a version of this recipe for roasted yams - but I do know that it made a huge impression on my taste buds.  Simple ingredients, huge flavor.  You won't be able to stop eating them.


2 Yams
1/4 c. Olive Oil
Salt






(1) Heat oven to 400 degrees F.

(2) Peel yams and cube into 1/2" cubes.

(3) Mix yam cubes with olive oil and salt in a bowl.  Lay out on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 20 - 25 minutes until the yams have one side that is caramelized. 

The Limitations of Western Medicine - Side Effects

In 2013 I went to see my doctor for an annual physical.  This was my first time seeing Dr. Michaels for a physical and he went through the standard procedures before asking Is there anything else that is bothering you?  This is a standard question - one that I have heard at virtually every physical, and I always answer it the same way.  Aside from my chronic health issues, nothing.  Instead of casting my answer aside, Dr. Michaels dug deeper, which was completely atypical from most of the other doctors I had seen.  The result of that deeper investigation led to a number of treatments that I follow to this day - including eliminating dairy from my diet - and one that as well-intentioned as it was caused my health to plummet to new lows.  That treatment was for a prescription for Flexeril, a muscle relaxant sometimes prescribed to Fibromyalgia patients.

If a doctor prescribes a drug for a particular ailment, you can be assured that the drug has undergone numerous years of studies to document, among other things, (1) the effectiveness for a particular ailment and (2) the side effects of the drug.  The prescribing doctor is not assuring that the drug will cure your ailment; rather he is making a judgement call that the potential benefits of a particular drug outweigh the potential complications.  

On the whole, prescription drugs are extraordinarily useful in treating illness.  I have taken many prescription drugs where the benefits dramatically outweighed the complications.  However, in certain instances for certain ailments, the side effects of drugs may prove more harmful than good.  In my case, while Flexeril did help me sleep better and feel more energetic during the day, my days were filled with unending anxiousness, nervousness, nausea, and digestive discomfort that forced me to miss important business meetings, collapse while mountain biking, and to deplane from a flight to a good friend's wedding.  On the whole, the side effects of Flexeril added a new dimension to my chronic issues that was worse than anything else I had experienced.  And it took seven months to identify that the Flexeril was the cause.  I have been Flexeril free and side-effect free since June.  And since then, many of the symptoms that I discussed with Dr. Michaels at my physical have been eliminated or minimized through experimentation with alternative therapies.

If you are taking any prescription drugs read the label - understand what the potential side effects are.  If you observe any of the side effects or an increase in your current symptoms, make sure to discuss them with your doctor.

Recommendation (Restaurant) - Juice Nation

Juice Nation is a juice and organic foods shop in the City of Solana Beach, right on Highway 101 and just a block from the beach.  While looking for good places to get a green smoothie, I happened upon Juice Nation and couldn't be happier that I did.  Delicious smoothies.  Organic.  For anyone with nut allergies or intolerance, make sure to ask for a substitute for their smoothie base (a nut milk made in-house).

Click here for the link to the Juice Nation website.

If You Are Suffering... From Tailbone Pain

Tailbone pain can be quite debilitating (as I can attest) and can impact focus at work and sleep, which can further impact your ability to function.  Click here to read my experience with tailbone pain.  Effectively dealing with tailbone pain requires knowledge that many physician's do not have and may not suspect.  So first things first... 

FIRST THINGS FIRST, TRY SELF REHAB

Some obvious ailments can cause tailbone pain - such as a fall that bruises the tailbone or a temporary muscle sprain.  The Mayo Clinic suggest several causes and treatments for tailbone pain prior to consulting a doctor.  Click here to read what the Mayo Clinic has to say on dealing with tailbone pain.  However, the Mayo Clinic's self rehab list omits several prominent causes for tailbone pain that should be included in your search for relief.

OTHER CAUSES OF TAILBONE PAIN

Two additional causes that I have come across (both defined by western medicine) are misaligned joints and referred pain.  The specific misaligned joint is the sacrum, which is the section of spine directly adjacent to the tailbone.  Referred pain in the tailbone can come through two different locations that I am aware of.  Location number one is in the spine itself and is caused when bulging discs impinge the nerve that connects to the tailbone.  Location number two is from a trigger point in the gluteus maximus. 

RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

The following alternative therapies can likely help with tailbone pain.

1. Trigger Point Therapy - One trigger point in the gluteus maximus (Trigger Point 3) is known to cause tailbone pain.  Trigger Point Therapy can help eliminate the muscle tension in the gluteus maximus that is causing the referred pain.  Check out Clair Davies book, The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook. 
2. Stretching - Stretching may help loosen joints or muscles that are contributing to misaligned joints or other mechanical issues that lead to tailbone pain. 
3. Strength Training - Imbalanced muscles (when opposing muscle groups are not equally strong) can cause stress on joints or muscle attachments, which can lead to tailbone pain.  Strengthening the weak muscles can correct this imbalance and eliminate the offending stress.
4. Chiropractics - Tailbone pain can be caused by a misaligned sacrum or bulging disks. 
5. Inversion Therapy - Inversion therapy involves the use of an inversion table, which allows one to flip upside down.  This therapy will help relieve pressure on bulging discs in the spine.  If the cause of tailbone pain is related to these discs, inversion should help
6. Acupuncture -  Acupuncture promotes blood flow, which can help reduce inflammation in muscles that may be leading to the tailbone pain. 
7. Vitamins, Minerals, & Other Supplements - If you have muscle tension or increased inflammation due to vitamin, mineral, or other deficiencies, identifying these deficiencies and correcting them through supplements can augment efforts to eliminate tailbone pain.

WHAT WORKED FOR ME

While conventional stretching, strengthening, and chiropractics temporarily relieved my tailbone pain, I found a long-term solution in unconventional stretching and trigger point therapy.  The unconventional stretching that I eventually stumbled on was sustained daily squatting.  I'm assuming the reason this helped was that is provided long term relief was due to the lengthening of the spine and stretching of my hip muscles.  To assist with these efforts, trigger point therapy helped identify several trigger points in my hips that facilitated tight muscles and one specific trigger point (identified above) in my gluteus maximus that required loosening.

Trigger Point Therapy - Fumbling in the Dark (Part II)

In my quest for effective alternative treatments I often feel like a blind man in a forest searching for the right tree - never knowing when or where I'll find the next tree and always having to investigate to find out if the tree is worthy of consideration.

So it was that I was surfing the web when I came across the website of Dr. Ben King, an acupuncturist and chiropractor in the Toronto area.  One of his posts recommended a book called The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Clair Davies for treating myofascial pain.  I usually don't buy books the first time I see them but for some reason I opted to pull the trigger.  Just under 12 bucks and a week or so later, the book arrived to my doorstep.

It sat on a table, unopened for a few weeks while I remained busy with work. One Friday I finally picked it up, began reading, and began fumbling, literally, through the folds of unseen and sometimes hidden muscle.  The book contained diagrams that helped identify muscle groups, the trigger points in each muscle group, and the areas of the body impacted by those trigger points.  While looking at the diagrams, I probed the area searching for the specified muscle.  In some cases, like the bicep, I had no issues identifying the muscle.  However, other muscles, like the scalenes and the psoas, were much more difficult to locate.  When I found a muscle, the next step was to identify any trigger points.  This step was considerably easier than I anticipated.  When pushed, the trigger points caused pain to shoot into the area diagrammed by the book.  In some cases the pain emanated over a foot away from the area I probed.  Pushing on my scalenes (on the side of the neck, attaching to vertebrae and ribs) shot pain to my upper back and down my arm.  Pushing on my pecs shot pain into my shoulder.  Each time I pushed on a trigger point, pain showed up exactly where the book diagrammed.

It took two days to catalog all of my muscles with trigger points - a total that came to over forty.  The next question was what to do about my investigations. 

To read more about my experiments with trigger point therapy, click the following links:

Dr. Travell, the White House Physician of JFK (Part I)
Fumbling in the Dark (Part II)
Oh the Pain (Part III)
Relief (Part IV)

Recommendation (Book) - The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook

On a whim, I picked up The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook, by Clair Davies to give trigger point therapy a try for my chronically tight muscles.  After reading through the first few introductory chapters it was clear that Clair's observations, experience, and training, correlated well with my own observations.

As soon as I dug into the technical chapters, which help a novice identify muscle groups, trigger points, and their referred areas, I was converted into a believer.  I am relatively early in my exploration of trigger point therapy but am amazed by the short-term results and very optimistic that with continued effort they will become long-term results.  Without hesitation, if you have muscle aches, headaches, or other chronic muscle and myofascial issues, The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook is worth your attention.

On Herbs - Ginger

Ginger or Ginger Root is a rhizome best known in America in its use in soft drinks and Christmas cookies and cakes.  Fresh ginger is used in many Asian cuisines, offering a spicy and intricate flavoring to many dishes - the most prominent of which is curry.  I grew up eating a variety of ginger-themed products, mostly the cookies, cakes, and sodas and was routinely advised to drink ginger ale if my stomach was upset.  Ginger is advocated by many alternative traditions, including Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, and has gained authentication as a valid therapy in western medicine. Ginger is a Group A herb for certain uses including an upset stomach and and a Group B herb for a wide variety of other uses.  For more on group classifications see the On Herbs post by clicking here. 

The Science

The science is in - Ginger has been documented as helpful with nausea according to the NCCAM and has also been approved for treatment for motion sickness by Germany's Commission E (Germany's equivalent to the US Food & Drug Administration).  This gives credence to the long-held tradition to drink ginger ales for an upset stomach.  However, I will note that virtually all commercially available ginger ales now contain no ginger (or ginger in such small quantities) that they are unlikely to be more than placebo. 

Additional Potential Uses

Ginger is also believed to aid in digestion, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and joint and muscle pain.

My Personal Experience

I've been using ginger for a long time to ease nausea and reduce inflammation.  Ginger teas have helped immensely with nausea in the past. 

Preparations

Ginger Tea
Orange Ginger Smoothie

Click here for the alternative road recipe page, which will include recipes for all preparations listed.

Additional Resources

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a Natural Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) that talks about the science on Ginger.  Click here to read what the NIH NCCAM has to say on the subject.

The University of Maryland discusses the science and current studies on Ginger.  Click here to read what the University of Maryland has to say on the subject.

Allergen-Free Recipe - Ginger Tea

True ginger tea has a nice peppery bite, which is full on in this basic version of ginger tea.

1 Nub of Ginger, Approx. 1/2" Long
1 c. Water

(1) Mince Ginger.

(2) Boil Water.

(3) Combine and allow to steep for 5 - 10 minutes.

Allergen-Free Recipe - Orange Ginger Smoothie

This orange ginger smoothie is a great way to get a large dose of ginger for the day.  It has the bite of fresh ginger but also a mild sweetness and surprising creaminess.

1 Orange
1 Nub of Ginger, Approx. 1/2" Long
1 Date
1 c. Spinach
1 c. Coconut Water
1/4 c. Ice

(1) Put all ingredients into a high power blender.  Blend until thoroughly mixed.

The Depths of Illness - Tailbone Pain

I can't remember when the pain started only that it was excruciating.  My tailbone felt as if a red hot clamp was slowly being tightened around it by some invisible force.  The pain fluctuated throughout the day - usually better in the morning than at night

It did not help that I had a desk job and spent eight plus hours a day sitting.  I tried sitting on a wedge pillow, to no effect.  I got rid of my usual work chair in favor of a large exercise ball, to no effect.  The pain limited my focus, caused anxiety, and by the end of the day I constantly shifted in my chair, sweaty, weary.  I talked work into buying me a stand-up desk.  Standing all day helped a little, but my knees began to ache, then my lower back.  I returned to sitting.

While the days remained difficult, the nights became restless.  As the pain got worse, I lay in bed, awake, unable to sleep due to the pain.  Shifting positions did not help.  Heat did not help.  Ice helped, numbed the nerves, but fixed nothing and did not help with sleep.  I finally figured out that if I laid on a tennis ball in exactly the right spot on my tailbone, the pain would relent to a mildly more tolerable pressure, allowing me to fall asleep before utter exhaustion was required to finish the job.    

During this time, I regularly visited an osteopath for manipulations and advice.  The manipulations did not help.  Eventually, he ordered an MRI of my back, which showed bulging discs.  Could be referred pain from the bulging disc, he said.  He ordered a second MRI of my pelvis for concurrent pain in my right hip.  That MRI was inconclusive.  He suggested stretching and jacuzzi therapy. Stretching and jacuzzi therapy didn't help. He also referred me to a back specialist.   Could be referred pain from the bulging disc, the back specialist said and offered a steroid injection.  But the injection only helps in 50% of cases and is only temporary, he added.  My take away - the pain only comes from the bulging disc in about 50% of the cases.  I refused the injection at the time, preferring to find and fix the actual cause of the pain.

            

If You Are Suffering From... Chronic Headaches

Chronic headaches...what a nightmare.  Headaches can range from low grade (buzzing in one's head) to severe (migraines) - each with different but ultimately negative impacts to daily life.

FIRST THINGS FIRST, GO SEE YOUR DOCTOR

Some very serious conditions can cause chronic headaches.  Click here to read what the Mayo Clinic has to say on chronic headaches (including some alternative medicine recommendations).  If your doctor rules out the known serious conditions that can cause chronic headaches, alternative medicine can likely help.

"UNKNOWN" CAUSES OF CHRONIC HEADACHES

The theory that I find most plausible for the causes of "unknown" chronic headaches is chronic inflammation (that either leads to or accentuates a physical imbalance - e.g. muscle tension- or chemical imbalance) due to one or more of the following: (1) dietary sources of inflammation, (2) nutrient deficiency, (3) chemical exposure.  Diet and nutrient deficiency are fairly easy to test.  Chemical exposure, however, is a much more tricky subject.  Chemical exposure can come from a variety of sources, including hygiene products, food (primarily preservatives, herbicides, and pesticides), water (municipal water is fairly well regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency- unless a company spills chemicals into your water supply as happened recently in Charleston, WV - so I would be more suspicious of well water, especially if you live near any form of industry and possibly agriculture), the environment (including materials used in your home such as lead based solder or drywall with formaldehyde), and the air (such as carbon monoxide infiltrating your home from a garage or faulty furnace, radon in your basement, and air pollution from industry). 

RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

The following alternative therapies can likely help with chronic headaches.  My belief is that health is not sustainable without dietary change.

1. Trigger Point Therapy - Several known trigger points cause or accentuate headaches.  Trigger Point Therapy can help eliminate any muscle tension that is causing or accentuating the headaches. 
2. Elimination Diet - Performing an elimination diet, as prescribed herein, performs two functions including eliminating all common food allergens/irritants from your diet and increasing your nutrient intake (if done properly).  These two functions help address both dietary sources of inflammation and nutrient deficiency.  Click here to find guidance on performing an elimination diet. 
3. Herbs - Herbs, specifically butterbur has been scientifically proven to be beneficial in migraines.  Click here to find additional information and guidance on the use of butterbur.
4. Vitamins, Minerals, & Other Supplements - If you have muscle tension or increased inflammation due to vitamin, mineral, or other deficiencies, identifying these deficiencies and correcting them through supplements can augment efforts to eliminate chronic headaches.
5. Acupuncture -  Acupuncture promotes blood flow, which can help reduce inflammation and may help with chronic headaches.
6. Product Elimination Trial - Modern hygiene products are full of chemicals that may promote inflammation in your body.  By identifying sources of inflammation from these products, you can reduce their contribution to any headaches.

Trigger Point Therapy - Dr. Travell, The White House Physician of JFK (Part I)

John F. Kennedy, America's 35th president, had a sordid health history.  Throughout his life, Kennedy suffered from abdominal pain, colitis (swelling of the large intestine), severe back pain, and Addison's Disease - ailments that caused severe and chronic pain throughout his life1.  While he was president, Kennedy consulted with a number of physicians and at various times was on upwards of twelve medications to deal with these ailments - all under the supervision of Janet G. Travell, MD, whom he appointed as White House physician, the first female to hold that post and the first citizen to hold the post in 40 years.

While there were a number of physician's attending to JFK during his presidency, Dr. Travell assisted JFK with his back pain, offering renewed hope for a life without crutches if not entirely without back pain2. And aside from her stint as White House physician, Dr. Travell's rofessional pursuits largely revolved around diagnosis and management of myofascial pain syndromes due to trigger points.  Travell went on to write a compendium of her life's work on trigger points and myofascial pain with Dr. David G. Simons in a two volume series titled Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual. 

So what exactly are trigger points?  You may be familiar with the term "knot" as it relates to muscles.  Trigger points are nothing more than small knots, muscle tissue in constant tension. The result of a constantly tense muscle is restricted circulation, nerve impingement, and tension on adjacent connective tissue that can cause muscle weakness, muscle tightness, and pain, often "referred" pain (pain in a different location than the causal trigger point), which is why massaging the area that hurts will not relieve the pain.

Since the progressive tightening of my muscles in 2006, one of my main searches has been for a therapy to reverse the process.  Various therapies have been suggested in that cause - some that I believe are pieces of the puzzle but none that proved effective in and of themselves (at least how they were applied in my circumstance).  After reviewing the literature, Trigger Point Therapy appeared to me be sound, if little known, science.  So, I bought a book and began to experiment... 

To read more about my experiments with trigger point therapy, click the following links:

Dr. Travell, the White House Physician of JFK (Part I)
Fumbling in the Dark (Part II)
Oh the Pain (Part III)
Relief (Part IV)

To read more about JFD's chronic health troubles or Dr. Janet Travell, click the following links:

1 - The Medical Ordeals of JFK, The Atlantic, 2002. 
2 - Janet G. Travell, MD, A Daughter's Recollection, Virginia P. Wilson, 2003.

Quote of the Day - Presents

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called a "present" - Anonymous (though I first heard it from Oogway, in the movie Kung Fu Panda)

Allergen-Free Recipe - Slow Roasted Pork Carnitas

I started exploring Mexican cuisine through the tv shows and books of Rick Bayless (a prominent chef from Chicago) right before giving up nightshades and corn.  Needless to say, my continued exposure to Mexican cuisine is very modified, but the slow roasted pork carnitas recipe remains unmodified.  Click the following link to be taken to the original Rick Bayless recipe.  You will not be disappointed.

Slow Roasted Carnitas, courtesy of Rick Bayless

Allergen-Free Recipe - Lime and Persimmon Smoothie

Just before Adelaide turned 2, we flew to Denver for a mini vacation with a good friend, Brent.  The entire trip, I craved green smoothie but had a tough time finding a juice or smoothie bar.  Finally, while cruising around Boulder one day, Ingrid and Brent were looking for a snack and found a little shop (I think it was a yogurt shop) that also sold smoothies.  They got me one - a green-focused smoothie featuring lime, spinach, granny smith apple, and avocado.  Since then, I've been working on a recipe to recreate that smoothie and finally found the right blend of ingredients.

1 Lime
1 Persimmon
2 Dates, pitted
2 c. Coconut Water (or more for desired consistency)
1/2 c. Ice
1 c. Spinach
1/2 Granny Smith Apple, stem and seeds removed
1 Avocado, seed and skin removed





(1) Cut lime in half.  Add 1/2 lime, including the rind, to the blender.  Add the juice of the remaining lime half and the remaining ingredients.  Blend in high power blender until thoroughly incorporated.

Note that this smoothie has some bitter notes from the lime rind.  If think the bitter notes add some character to the smoothie, but if you prefer no bitterness, try using the zest and juice of the lime.  Also, a banana will work in lieu of the persimmon (we get persimmons as part of our CSA and use them frequently in place of bananas).

The Original Lime Smoothie in Boulder, CO

A Tale of Chiropractors - Misaligned Joints and Muscular Issues (Part III)

I should clarify - Dr. Berkoff did not suggest that he could fix my chronic health issues in a month,  just the back issues.  During my second appointment we got to work.  The generic diagnosis for my back troubles boiled down to four issues, three of which I'll discuss in this post: (1) certain muscle groups were too weak, (2) certain muscle groups were too tight, and (3) certain joints were subuluxated (a fancy term for misaligned).  The treatment was a variant to one I had been hearing for years over my sports and hiking careers - stretch, strengthen, and wear the right footwear. Dr. Berkoff's approach included theraband strengthening exercises, bamboo stick stretching, therapeutic ultrasound, and chiropractic adjustments as briefly discussed below.

Theraband Strengthening Exercises

A theraband is a large rubber band used in physical therapy.  It either attaches to a fixed object, like a door or a wall, or to another part of your body for use in resistance training (i.e. strength training).  As a strength training exercise, resistance training using therabands or other elastic band is a widely used and well-documented practice.

Bamboo Stick Stretching Exercises

Bamboo stick stretching is exactly what it sounds like - stretching while using the aid of a large bamboo stick.  Instead of going into exhaustive narrative on how to do bamboo stick stretching, see the below videos put together by Dr. Berkoff.





Though I was unfamiliar with bamboo stretching when I met Dr. Berkoff, I have come to see it as another useful stretching tool.

Therapeutic Ultrasound

Therapeutic Ultrasound is the application of sound waves to soft tissue (muscle, tendon, ligament) for therapeutic purposes.  The proponents of therapeutic ultrasound argue that it increases blood flow to the site, reduces pain, and massages ligaments and tendons.  And there are many proponents of therapeutic ultrasound.  However, literature posted on both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) cast some doubt as to the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound.

Click here to read the article posted on the APTA website discussing the debate on Therapeutic Ultrasound

Chiropractic Adjustments

Chiropractic adjustments are  manipulations of the spine to correct subluxated joints and are sound science for fixing back-related issues.

At the end of the first month using these therapies, my original back issue was slightly but not completely better and the the pain did not go away; it seemed to transition into an adjacent area - into my tail bone.  "I don't know, doc," I said during one of our chats.  "I feel like everything is related to my tight muscles - and I don't feel like I'm getting any more limber with the stretching exercises."  After considering my feedback, Dr. Berkoff acknowledged and switched tactics, emphasized stress relief in our further sessions.


Over the year that I've been consulting with Dr. Berkoff, he has become a most trusted source for advice.  If you're looking for help with a variety of issues, I highly recommend his services.  Visit Dr. Berkoff's Website here for more information.

For more on my experiences with chiropractors click the following links:

A Tale of Chiropractors - A Mixed Beginning (Part I)
A Tale of Chiropractors - Meeting Dr. Berkoff (Part II)
A Tale of Chiropractors - Misaligned Joints (Part III)
A Tale of Chiropractors - Stress (Part IV)

Oxygen Therapy - Massaging the Truth (Part IV)

After my initially ecstatic but ultimately short and unhelpful experience with meditative breathing with oxygen, I went back to the drawing board.  If my theory that certain muscle groups were under-oxygenated was correct, then targeting blood flow to those muscles while breathing oxygen was a logical next step.  My weapon of choice... a foam roller.

I set up my oxygen generator to use while performing self-massage on a foam roller, targeting tight hips, quadriceps, and my IT (iliotibial) band.  After the very first treatment, I felt a difference - an ache in the hips, quads, and IT band on the right side of my body that wasn't usual after a session with the foam roller.  My left side felt normal.  I immediately (whether correctly or not) attributed the disparity between to the relative tightness of the muscles in each leg.  The muscles in my right quad have been tight for years, whereas the muscles in my left quad have been relatively limber.  What did it mean?  I don't know.  I wanted to believe that my right leg muscles were finally getting the oxygen that they needed to repair and relax.  

The aches and soreness lasted for two or three days.  After a few more days, I tried massaging with oxygen again, targeting the same muscle groups, with much the same result.  Achy right leg muscles, three day recovery.  I kept up with this routine for a few more weeks.  However, nothing changed.  I observed no relief in muscle tightness attributable to the addition of oxygen or any other effect from the oxygen therapy.

The massage experiment was a relatively short trial, with interesting observations but no conclusions.  After a month of these interesting but inconclusive observations, I was eager to move on to the next promising experiment...exercising with oxygen.

Click the links below to read other posts in the Oxygen Therapy Series:

Oxygen Therapy - A Plausible Theory (Part I)
Oxygen Therapy - Finding an Oxygen Source (Part II)
Oxygen Therapy - Trials and Tribulations (Part III)
Oxygen Therapy - Massaging the Truth (Part IV)
Oxygen Therapy - Cardio for a Day (Part V)
Oxygen Therapy - Strength Training (Part VI)

The Limitations of Western Medicine - The Human Element (It's All About Attitude)

The human element is often thought of in terms of the creativity, spirit, or life that humans can breathe into a variety of subjects.  It is also often though of in terms of humans propensity to make errors or the limitations due to physical or mental limitations.  While both definitions of the human element exist in the western medical system, the latter is all to prevalent in one sense or another.  The human element includes a number of different factors.  In this post, I'll attempt to describe how a physician's attitude can impact their execution of western medicine.  Note that human elements are equally valid for alternative practitioners.

It's All About Attitude

When Adelaide was born she could have been diagnosed as colicky.  She slept, ate, or cried.  When my father, a pediatrician, first visited, he suggested that we go to see our pediatrician and prepped us for the visit.  "Colic is usually a bad diagnosis on the physician's part," he said.  "There are three or four things that typically cause a baby to be colicky..."  He told us to have our pediatrician look into her ears and into her throat (for signs of infection) and to ask about diet.  When we went to see our pediatrician, we asked him to look at Adelaide's ears, to look in her throat, and we asked for suggestions to ease her colic through Ingrid's diet.  Instead of doing as we had asked, our pediatrician told us that babies this young don't get ear infections or sore throats and that diet wouldn't help.  He told us that colicky babies get better around age three months and that we should just carry on until then.  I did just tell you that my father is a pediatrician, right, I wanted to ask him.  And I know what you are telling me is complete bull.  I didn't say anything.  Ingrid and I thanked him, left, and never returned.

The dismissive and disinterested stance of this pediatrician is one example of how western medicine is limited by the attitude of the practitioner.  As my father put it, "if someone is in distress and there's something the physician can do about it he should do it."  Unfortunately, there are western practitioners who, for one reason or another, don't take this same stance.  So even if western medicine clearly understands and can treat a problem, as was ultimately true in my daughter's case, our former pediatrician was unwilling to help. 

I have had a number of doctors look at my health history, look at my current history, and then tell me "I don't know what's wrong with you, but you're not dying."  Some doctors, good ones, would suggest possible harmless treatments (such as diet) or colleagues (including alternative practitioners) that might be able to help.  Others would tell me that there was nothing to be done or that I was getting old and that I should learn to live with my symptoms.  Guess which doctors I've found more helpful?

Fortunately, a physician's attitude is one limitation that is possible to bypass.  A good doctor will not be dismissive or disinterested.  They will work with you or make referrals or suggestions that can help you reach your health goals.  If you are seeing a practitioner who is not working with you or has reached the edge of their abilities, it's time to make a change.

Quote of the Day - The Wrong Place

In the past few weeks, I've run across or am trying to start quotes that have really made me think, smile, or laugh.  I'm usually considering the quotes in a framework of health, so instead of keeping them to myself, I've decided to start a new blog series called Quote of the Day.  Some days will have quotes, some won't.  I'll start off with what I think is an original quote:

If you're looking for something in the wrong place, you'll never find it. - Adam Hoch

Allergen-Free Recipe - Strawberry Apricot Smoothie

A completely original and very tasty smoothie...

1 Banana

½. C. frozen strawberries

2 c. water (or coconut water)

2 c. kale (or spinach)

2 tbls. Flax seed

6 dried apricots

3 dried plums (or dates)


(1) Combine all ingredients in a high-power blender.  Blend until incorporated and smooth.

In Real Time - Modified Grain Brain Diet

This is me.  Not the best photo, but the best of the most recent photos of myself - taken by my daughter, Adelaide, during her first experience with my iphone camera (she is three and wanted to snap a picture of me next to some rocks in our neighborhood). 

I am 6'-3", 212 lbs.  This puts my body mass index (BMI) at 26.5, which is considered overweight.  I've never been one to take much stock in a BMI as I am fairly dense, meaning I have above average muscle mass - largely due to years of hiking, biking, rock climbing, and other miscellaneous activities.  However, a few years ago my doctor told me that the statistics didn't care if a high BMI was due to above average muscle mass or higher body fat - a high BMI correlated with a shorter lifespan and reduced quality of life.

After pondering that for a little while, I decided that it made sense.  More body mass, whether from fat or muscle, at a minimum required the heart to work harder, to pump blood to more tissues.  When an organ works harder than it otherwise needs to, it tends to wear out more quickly.  Just like when the liver of someone who consumes a lot of alcohol wears out more quickly than the liver of someone with low alcohol intake.  A second obvious ramification of more weight is mechanical - meaning more force is being applied to joints (knee joints, hip joints, etc.) during movement as simple as walking.  More force on each joint will wear out the joint faster than than if less force were applied, leading to bad knees, ankles, and hips. Without expounding further, the bottom line is that reducing body mass has several advantages.  

Within the past year I've lost close to twenty pounds, primarily through diet (as at the time I was too nauseated to exercise).  I started out experimenting with the Grain Brain diet, the one advocated by Dr. Perlmutter, attempting to get rid of my debilitating nausea.  The nausea stayed (I later figured out that the nausea was caused by medication, Cyclobenzaprine - aka Flexeril - which my doctor recommended as a Western approach to my chronic health issues; I'll post more on that later).  However, on the Grain Brain diet, which I modified heavily due to my nut, egg, and dairy limitations, I consistently lost weight.  And it stayed off.  My goal is to lose the remaining fat, maybe another ten or twenty pounds.  

Today is day four of my diet - a grain-free, allergen-free (see the elimination diet post to see what I consider allergenic), refined carbohydrate-free diet.  All recipes currently on my blog are on the diet.  The good news is that I can eat as much as I want and exercise need not exceed walking (though the longer the better).  To date, I've lost three pounds - hardly worth writing home about - but a good beginning.   

Allergen-Free Recipe - Candied Pumpkin Seed, Pear, & Spinach Salad

Get ready for a sweet and salty salad that is designed to offset a savory meal.  If  its too sweet for your tastes, add more spinach or some goat cheese (if you can eat goat cheese).

4 c. Baby Spinach Leaves
1 Pear (Red, D'Anjou, or your favorite)
1/4 c. Dried Cherries (Optional)
1/2 c. Candied Pumpkin Seeds (click here for the recipe)
6 tbls. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tbls. Balsamic Vinegar

(1) Add all ingredients to a salad bowl.  Mix and serve.

Click here to see the entire 2014 Allergen-Free Thanksgiving Menu.  

Allergen-Free Recipe - Candied Pumpkin Seeds

I love candied nuts during the holidays.  This recipe provides a good substitute that can be used in a variety of dishes or enjoyed as is.  

1 tbls. Coconut Oil
1/2 c. Pumpkin Seeds
2 tbls. Light Brown Sugar
Salt





(1) Heat coconut oil over medium heat.  Add pumpkin seeds and toast for approx. 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until light brown.

(2) Add the light brown sugar and cook for another minute, until the sugar is dissolved.  Take off heat immediately and spread on a sheet of wax paper to cool.

Note:  Watch this dish carefully, as it is very easy to burn both the pumpkin seeds and sugar.  Stirring will help immensely.

Allergen-Free Recipe - Roasted Brussels Sprouts

I was a late comer to Brussels sprouts but now pile them on the plate when available.  Roasting provides an extra dimension to the sprout that will keep you coming back to this recipe during sprout season.

1 lb. Brussels Sprouts
1/2 Red Onion, Diced
1/4 c. Olive Oil, Extra Virgin
Lemon Juice
Salt
Pepper

(1) Heat oven to 400 degrees F.

(2) Clean and trim Brussels sprouts.  Cut in half or in quarters so that each piece is approximately the same size.  Par boil Brussels sprouts for approximately 5 minutes.  Remove from water and set in a strainer or colander to allow to cool.

(3) Once cool, mix Brussels sprouts with diced onion, olive oil, salt, and pepper and place on a single row on a baking sheet.  Place in oven and bake for 20 to 30 minutes until the sprout is golden brown on one side.

(4) After removing from the oven, squeeze the juice of 1/2 lemon over the sprouts and toss.


  Click here to see the entire 2014 Allergen-Free Thanksgiving Menu. 

Allergen-Free Recipe - Butternut Squash with Pumpkin Seeds

Butternut squash is one of those vegetables that I wished I like more.  And this recipe, adapted from Plenty More by Yotam Ottolenghi, does the trick.  Butternut squash mixed with pumpkin seeds, spices and a little bit of sweetness makes for an amazing combination.  And a substantial one.  The first night we had this dish, it served as the main dish - no meat needed.
 

1 1/2 tbls. butter substitute (my favorite is Earth Balance, soy free)
1 tbls. Olive Oil
1 Red Onion, Thinly Sliced
5 Small Butternut Squashes (or 1 Large)
4 tbls. Pumpkin Seeds
1/2 tsp. Ground Cumin
1/2 tsp. Ground Coriander
1/4 tsp. Ground Turmeric
1/4 tsp. Ground Cardamom
1 Cinnamon Stick
1 tbls. Coconut Palm Sugar (or regular sugar)
1 c. Chicken Stock (or other stock)

(1) Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

(2) Slice onion and fry in a large saute pan with the olive oil and butter substitute over medium heat until translucent and soft. 

(3) Peel and remove the seeds from the butternut squash.  Cut into 1/2" Chunks.  Add to the saute pan, increase the heat to medium high, and cook, stirring frequently, until the squash  shows signs of caramelization.  Add the chicken stock to deglaze the pan and immediately remove from the heat.

(4) Add all of the remaining ingredients and stir to thoroughly incorporate.  Pour onto a baking sheet and spread the squash into a single layer.  Bake in the oven for 15 - 30 minutes (depending on the ultimate size of the butternut squash) until the squash is tender.  Remove from the oven, allow to cool, and enjoy.

Click here to see the entire 2014 Allergen-Free Thanksgiving Menu. 

On Herbs - Butterbur

Butterbur, also known as purple butterbur or sweet coltsfoot, is a perennial shrub in the daisy family, typically grown in swampy or marshy areas.  It has a thick rhizome and large stems and leaves that look similar to Rhubarb.  Butterbur in raw form contains harmful chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which can cause liver damage and can result in serious illness. Only butterbur products that have been processed to remove PAs and are labeled or certified as PA-free should be considered for use in alternative medicine.  Butterbur is a Group A herb.  For more on group classifications see the On Herbs post by clicking here. 

The Science

The science is in - butterbur has been documented as "just as effective as a commonly used oral antihistamine[s]" with allergy symptoms such as itch eyes according to the National Institutes of Health.  Additionally, butterbur is scientifically recognized as being helpful with migraine headaches by both the National Institutes of Health and by Commission E (Germany's equivalent to the FDA).  Germany's Commission E also recognizes butterbur as an antispasmodic, helpful with urinary tract spasms, particularly due to kidney stones.

Additional Potential Uses

The National Institutes of Health lists the following as traditional uses of butterbur (though not scientifically validated):  pain, headache, cough, fever, and gastrointestinal and urinary tract conditions, allergic skin reactions, and asthma.

My Personal Experience

My headaches disappeared when I eliminated all irritants from my diet and I do not typically have allergies, so I have not had the need to try butterbur.  However, as the science appears validated by several institutions, I do not hesitate to recommend butterbur for the prescribed ailments. 

Preparations

Butterbur in its raw state contains chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). PAs can cause liver damage and can result in serious illness. Only butterbur products that have been processed to remove PAs and are labeled or certified as PA-free should be used.

Additional Resources

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a Natural Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) that talks about the science on butterbur.  Click here to read what the NIH NCCAM has to say on the subject.

The American Botanical Council, which has translated Germany's Commission E reports on herbs, has a few articles on the science of butterbur.  Click here to read an article on butterbur as it relates to migraines.  

Allergen-Free Recipe - Basic Roasted Turkey w/ Giblet Gravy

Going allergen-free often means going back to basics, but it doesn't mean going without flavor.  This roasted turkey recipe is simple but incredibly flavorful and eliminates all of the major allergens associated with roasted turkey and gravy.  The allergen-free thickener that I prefer in the gravy is arrowroot starch.  Perfect texture, no taste.  If you're in a pinch, though corn starch will also do. 

1 Turkey w/ Giblets
6 Small Carrots
1 Stalk Celery, Trimmings Only
2 Large Onions
8 c. Water
4 tbls. Arrowroot Starch (or Corn Starch)
Salt
Pepper

(1) Heat oven to 325 degrees F.

(2) Unwrap Turkey.  Remove giblets and neck and place in a large sauce pan or stock pot and set aside.  Do not include the liver in the sauce pan.  Rinse turkey under cold water, pat dry, and then place in a large roasting pan.  I support my roasting rack on top of tin foil so that the skin on the bottom of the turkey can crisp.  Season the turkey with salt and pepper inside the cavity and on the outside skin.

(3) Place turkey in oven and cook until the thigh reaches a minimum temperature of 165 degrees F.  The time this will take will depend largely on the size of your turkey.  If the turkey skin is starting to brown too much, add a foil tent over the turkey. 

(4) In the meantime, remove skin from the onions, wash the carrots and celery, and cut into large chunks.  Add these to the sauce pan or stock pot with the turkey giblets.  Add the water and bring up to a boil over high heat.  Once the stock has reached a boil reduce the heat and allow to simmer until the liquid reduces by approximately half.  This almost always takes 1 hr 45 min. for me.  Once reduced, turn off the heat, strain out the vegetables and giblets, pour the stock back in the sauce pan or stock pot and set aside to cool.  Once cool tot he touch pick the meat from the turkey neck and cut up the giblets and add back to the stock.

(5) Once the turkey has reached 165 degrees F, remove from oven.  Set turkey on a carving rack and allow to cool.  Pour the fat and juices from the bottom of the roasting pan into the sauce pan or stock pot, place over high heat, and bring to a boil.

(6) Thicken the gravy using 1 tbls. Arrowroot Starch per cup of liquid remaining (so if you followed the recipe to this point it will be about 4 tbls.). To thicken, put approx. 1/2 c. stock into a bowl, add the arrowroot starch and mix until all arrowroot starch is incorporated (no lumps).  If you do manage to get lumps, use an immersion blender, put in a blender, or run through a strainer to eliminate any lumps.  Pour the mixture back into the boiling stock while whisking.  Bring the gravy back to a boil, adjust the seasoning, and turn off the heat.

Click here to see the entire 2014 Allergen-Free Thanksgiving Menu.

If you can't find arrowroot starch in your local store, try amazon...

Allergen-Free Recipe - Cranberry Sauce w/ Apricots and Strawberries

This recipe puts my smoothie experience to good alternate use.  If you're looking for a sugar-free, flavorful, and well-balanced cranberry sauce, try this one.


1 c. Frozen Strawberries
1 Orange
6 Dried Apricots
1 Apple
3 Large Dates
8 oz. (1/2 lb.) Fresh or Frozen Cranberries
1 Cinnamon Stick

(1) Microwave strawberries until soft.  Add strawberries, orange, apricots, apple, and dates to a blender and blend until smooth.

(2) Put strawberry mixture, cranberries, and cinnamon stick into a sauce pan and turn heat on to low.  Allow to simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 - 30 minutes or until the cranberries are soft.

Click here to see the entire 2014 Allergen-Free Thanksgiving Menu.

Allergen-Free Recipe - Faux Mashed Potatoes (Sweet Potato and Cauliflower)

Mashed potatoes were one of my favorite holiday dishes growing up.  Needless to say, the day that I put nightshades (i.e. potatoes) and dairy on my do not eat list was a sad day.  Ingrid and I experimented with replacements for a long time.  We started with cauliflower mash - the then healthy substitute for mashed potatoes - but found the result too watery and ultimately unsatisfying.  We then tried sweet potato and yam mashes, which had the right consistency but were too sweet.  Ultimately we combined cauliflower and sweet potato into a amazingly satisfying dish that I prefer to mashed potatoes (a close second is Jerusalem artichoke mash, but Jerusalem artichokes are a tad expensive). 

Faux Mashed Potatoes w/ Chive Garnish

1 Large Sweet Potato
1 Head Cauliflower
3 tbls. Butter Substitute
6 tbls. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2/3 c. Chicken Stock
Salt
Pepper
Chives (Optional)

(1) Cook sweet potato in boiling water until soft.  Steam cauliflower until soft.  I do this at the same time in a large sauce pan fitted with a strainer.  Once both are soft, put into a strainer and allow to cool until they stop steaming (this is important to allow the veg to lose more moisture).

(2) Once the sweet potato and cauliflower have stopped steaming, put them back into the sauce pan and add the butter substitute, olive oil, and chicken stock.  Hand mash (either with a special masher or a fork), put in a blender to mix, or use an immersion blender to mash to desired consistency.

(3) Season with salt and pepper, mix to incorporate, garnish with chives if desired, and enjoy.

Click here to see the entire 2014 Allergen-Free Thanksgiving Menu.

Allergen-Free Thanksgiving

Since I began experimenting with dietary sources of inflammation, my mother and mother-in-law tried incredibly hard to provide allergen-free alternatives for me during the holidays.  But with my changing list of excluded foods, it was impossible for them to keep up.  I either didn't eat the items they specifically made for me (and appeared ungracious) or I indulged and felt ill - not an easy choice.  To help anyone in the same circumstance and in honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I have decided to devote a number of upcoming blogs to allergen-free recipes using classic Thanksgiving ingredients.  Each recipe is entirely free the seven common food allergens and food allergens suspected by the alternative medical community.  Below is the preliminary allergen-free Thanksgiving menu.  If I can get to more dishes in the coming weeks, I'll update this post as the menu expands.  Happy cooking!

 

ALLERGEN-FREE THANKSGIVING MENU - 2014

MAIN

Roasted Turkey w/ Giblet Gravy

 

 

 

SIDES

Cranberry Sauce w/ Apricots and Strawberries






Faux Mashed Potatoes (Cauliflower and Sweet Potato)









Butternut Squash w/ Pumpkin Seeds








Sauteed Green Beans w/ Garlic

 

 

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

 

 

 

 

SALAD

Candied Pumpkin Seed, Pear, and Spinach Salad

 

 

 

DESSERT

Apple Crumble

Allergen-Free Recipe - Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic

I used this recipe with almost any kind of fresh bean or pea.  Once you learn how to get the garlic to the perfect doneness, you'll be hooked.

2 c. Green Beans, Trimmed
2 tbls. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tbls. Butter Substitute
6 cloves Garlic
Salt






(1) Heat olive in a large pan on medium heat.  Trim green beans and cut into 2" lengths.  Slice garlic cloves.

(2) When oil is to temp, add green beans and stir frequently until the exterior is slightly browned.  Add the garlic and toss.  The key to this recipe to to cook the garlic just long enough so that it is lightly browned but not burnt (burnt garlic is bitter).

(3)  Just before turning off the heat, add the butter substitute and salt. 

Click here to see the entire 2014 Allergen-Free Thanksgiving Menu. 

Success Stories

In addition to my own success with alternative medicine, I regularly offer my support to others who are struggling.  However, my own experience of resisting alternative medicine due to an unyielding faith in western medicine parallels many of those I encounter.  So until recently, I haven't had any takers.  And my first convert was hard won.  After two years of chronic headaches and a year and a half of seeing a neurologist - trying different drugs and therapies - without results, a friend that I spoke to on an almost daily basis finally took me up on my offer.  Within three days of starting my recommendations, beginning with an elimination diet, my friend's headaches were gone.  And with the addition of acupuncture, her energy levels and quality of life dramatically improved.

I am going to start a new series on the blog titled Success Stories to share stories of those who have found relief from alternative medicine.  My goal is to have the stories told by those who had the experience.  Occasionally, I may document the story on behalf of the person with experience - however, my goal is to largely stay out of it (other than sharing my own experience).  In these efforts, I invite anyone who wants to share their story to get in touch with me, regardless of whether the advice you got was from me or somewhere else.