Besides acupuncture one of the big components of my practice is food hypersensitivities which can cause a myriad of symptoms that then drive up our health care costs because doctors are treating the symptoms with medication rather than the identifying the cause. Food hypersensitivities are caused by immune system dysregulation where there is an inappropriate response to foods we eat that then in turn cause an inflammatory response. This inflammatory response is the root of almost all modern diseases and ‘syndromes’.

“There are no studies that show GMOs are harmful to human health.”     This is a common statement made by the self-intere$t pro-GMO movement and parroted by our government.  However there are no studies of reasonable length (> 10 years) that show they are safe.   There is a plethora of compelling data showing that GMOs are a serious threat to our health.  Monsanto, Dow chemical and BASF must be stopped from using this technology in our food supply.  Else we will  have a lot of food that causes inflammatory reactions and is harmful to eat.   The effects may not be noticed in a year or several years, but over the course of a couple of decades they will definitely present themselves as they are already.

There is unequivocal evidence that the genetically modified foods that are in our food supply are contributing to the increase in inflammatory diseases we see today. This is especially true of intestinal diseases, asthma, allergies, and likely contributes in some way to the autism spectrum of diseases. I will go out on a stretch and say I wouldn’t be surprised that in 10 or 15 years we find that all these new tick vector diseases and widespread insect diseases are in part because of the GMO crops that lay out in fields for animals,birds and insects to eat causing mutant genes to be expressed.

Jeffrey Smith the direction of the Institute for Responsible Technology has made a stellar film about GMOs. It is available free for the next week. Please take an hour to view it. GMOs in our food supply must be stopped.

Please watch www.GeneticRouletteMovie.com

Yours In Health,

George Mandler

Licensed Acupuncturist

Licensed Dietitian

Whether you love kale, or hate kale or never tried kale I find that a well made kale salad is akin to say…ice cream.   OK a kale salad doesn’t taste like ice cream, but almost everyone loves good ice cream (even if it is unrequited love causing GI distress)…and almost everyone loves a good kale salad.   (For those that really love kale and ice cream here is a kale ice cream recipe.)

The raw kale salad variations are endless  Here are some of our variation of the 3 recipes below:

• Pomegranates mixed in and on top around the December holidays to give it a seasonally festive look.
• Avocado and pumpkin seeds w/pumpkin seed oil
• Apples and walnuts for Autumn Read the rest of this entry

LATE SUMMER EARLY FALL MEANS ANOTHER
SEASONAL CHANGE IS UPON US

We are now approaching Vata Season (season of Air and ether).
Officially starts October 1 but the energies are building now.

Vata – air/ether is responsible for all energy and movement in the body. Catabolism. The heat principle of Pitta and the heavy principle of Kapha cannot do anything without the force of Vata.

Vata is considered nuclear energy, vibration, and is associated with sense of hearing, responsible for the breath, governs the hollow organs, abdomen and thorax. Air = electrical energy (the electron moves because of the air element), pulsations of the heart, movement of the muscles, contraction of the heart, breathing, movement through the intestines and is responsible for elimination. The flow of thought and desire are derived from Vata. The air and ether element of Vata gives us freedom, peace, expansion of consciousness and is responsible for love and compassion, but when out of balance it will create feelings of separation, isolation, emptiness, insecurity, fear, and anxiety.

Vata physical imbalances will show up as sciatica, arthritis, loss of memory, emaciation, breathlessness, tremors, hyperactivity, restlessness, sleep disorders, many forms of digestive disorders especially constipation and abdominal distention.
Vata is intimately related to our vital life force, the play of intelligence, and the communication between the cells.
This time of the year it can further exacerbate Pitta disorders such as heartburn, diarrhea, dysentery, hives, rash, acne, bleeding disorders, fevers, inflammatory diseases, burning eyes, colitis, and Pitta emotions such as envy, criticism, hatred, jealousy, and OCD. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you need to pacify Pitta by doing a cleanse using bitters and purgatives. Consider donating blood this month (this lowers the fire in the blood and stimulates immune function). Pay special attention to the foods available this time of year, early apples, and corn on the cob are a good example of the foods that will aid the body in lowing the excess heat which is responsible for the above symptoms.

One of the best things to have is a high powered blender such as the Vitamix blender (expensive and not so easy to clean) or a NutriBullet (much easier to clean and handle) and make a drink every day using a combination of leafy greens, vegetables, fruits and what Nutribullet calls power blast foods (in Ayurveda we call this Rasayanas). See article below.

We will be heading intoVATA SEASON soon, so call 978-298-5753 to book your
seasonal evaluation and get a personalized end of the season cleanse to take home and follow.
This upcoming season is a great time for Pancha Karma.

For more comprehensive seasonal information and Vata Diet go to www.integrativeayurveda.com and look under Seasonal Newsletter. This is changed each Season.

Poison Ivy – Still time for this nasty weed. For prevention take Rhus Tox 200CK before venturing out in the garden (code RHU13). If you happen to get it, then get Poison Ivy #39 (code POISO) and/or Poison Ivy/Oak tabs by Hyland (code H11301). Check your local health food store for All Terrains Poison Ivy/Oak bar for topical relief.

Acute Allergy Relief (Rag weed, Skunk cabbage, and golden rod time) – Guna Allergy Treat (code ALL34), dosage is 10 drops as needed. And/or Histamin Tablets by Heel (code HIST6), dosage is 1 tablet disolved under tongue as needed. Both are Homeopathic.
Allergy Prevention – Guna Allergy Prevent (code ALL34), 20 drops twice a day.

Indigestion/Heartburn – Avipattikar powder is the best Ayurvedic remedy for this. 1/2 teas in warm water after meals. Contact the off ice for this remedy or buy it by the pound from Emersons (code AVIPA).

FLU TIME AGAIN
Guna Flu (code is FLU) is the best natural alternative to the flu shot.
One vial under tongue every week as a preventative. If you feel the onset of flu symptoms take three vials a day for 3 days. If that doesn’t get rid of it by then.

Another option for immune compromise, especially if one has a lot of inflammation going on in addition to a high level of reactivity to foods and chemicals your choice should be Guna React (code is REACT) and CitoMix by Guna (code is CITOM). Dosage, 4 pellets of each 2-3 times a day. These can be taken together.

All Products with codes are available through Emerson Ecologics 800-654-4432 or www.emersonecologics.com

NUTRIBULLET  CONCEPT
This is a new powerful small blender that is available on line, at Walmart, and Target. The concept is great and at this point I have over 100 patients using this daily and everyone of them feel more energy and a reduction of symtoms.
This is not a juicer or a regular blender. It falls into the category of the VitaMix Blender (maybe not quite as strong).
One of the biggest problems I see clinically is GI issues and lack of ability to absorb nutrients. Does your tongue have scolloped edges? Then you are not benefiting nutritionally from what you are eating.
One of the quickest way to heal the gut is to have 1-2
drinks a day using the Nutribullet concept.
The concept is: 50% green leafy veggies, 50% fruit and top it off with powerful, nutrient dence foods such as Nuts, Seeds, Goji berries, Herbs, Herbal Formulas etc.
The blender then blends it down to a liquid. This liquid is now predigested and will heal the gut and give you an injection of powerful nutrients and enzymes. For more information see this video on youtube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVJ2i-owUCY

The Wonders of Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera – My favorite for internal use is Aloe-Ace (code ALOEA), this is a concentrate of the Leaf, sap and rind. When taken internally, aloe vera juice aids digestion and absorption of nutrients, helps control bloodsugar, increases energy production, promotes cardiovascular health, improves liver function, and boosts the immune system. Add a 1/4 teaspoon to your Nutribullet drink or add the 4 oz bottle of Aloe Ace to a gallon of pure water and keep it on hand in fridge. Especially good after meals if one has digestive problems (1/4 cup of mixture).

For external use the juice from the plant is great.

INTEGRATIVE HEALTH and WELLNESS
CENTER
Office of Linda Reynolds Ph.D, D.Ay.,
Connie Jackson MD,  George Mandler CNS, LDN, LicAc,  Joy Mandler AOBTA, LMT.

A full service Wellness Center that offers:
Homotoxicology, Physiological Regulating Medicine, Anti-Aging Medicine, Bio-Identical Hormone replacement, Nutrition, Acupuncture, Shiatsu, Doula, Foot reflexology, Yoga Therapy, PSE,  and Ayurveda, (full service Pancha Karma clinic in Stow only).

132 Great Rd. (route 117)
Suite 201
Stow. MA  & 129 Main St. West Harwich
978-298-5753
www.integrativeayurveda.com
www.iwellnesscenter.com

There are several products that we use during the cold season to support regulation of our immune system as well as ones we use when we come down with a cold.

This is one product that I like to use to support the immune system’s first line of defense or the innate immune response.  PureDefense containes EpiCor® which is a yeast containing various bioactive metabolites. (This product is safe for yeast sensitive individuals such as those with Candida.)   These nutrient metabolites are produced in a specialized fermentation process and enhance immune cell production. It also contains NAC (n-acetyl-l-cysteine) which promotes endogenous glutathione production for antioxidant protection and provides lung defense mechanisms for healthy respiratory function.  In addition Vitamin D, elderberry, Vitamin C and Zinc are in the product. I find that PureDefense is especially good if someone has a tendency for loose bowels.  If someone has constipation it can make it worse.  So discrimination of pattern is needed.

You can order PureDefense and other supplements through Emerson Ecologics at 15% off retail.

Astragalus (huáng qí (Astragali Radix), 黃耆 ) is a great herb to use if you catch a lot of colds. According to Chinese Medicine, huáng qí “tonifies the Spleen, Stomach, Qi and Blood, and benefits the Wei Qi” (immune system). Research has shown it to increase endurance and immunity. This herb is recognized for increasing the body’s resistance and is now considered one of the world’s greatest immune tonics.
In Chinese Medicine it is said that if one already has a cold then astragalus should not be used as it can prolong a cold. The truth to that has been debated, however for most people except thin people with a lot of heat (red tongue, feels hot) it can be used safely during the winter.
Quality is important. I carry MediHerb “Astragalus Complex” in the office. You can also get astragalus from other reputable companies.

 

There is a famous Chinese Formula called “Jade Windscreen” that contains Astragalus root as well as White atractylodes rhizome (bai zhu, 白朮), and Siler root (fang feng, 防风). It is said to boost the “Wei Qi” or what we may call the innate immune system. I’ll often use this for patients if they get a lot of colds but also tend to have a damp constitution or condition. (overweight, loose bowels, tends to have white mucous secretions, sneezing). But if someone has more of a dry constitution (feels dry, dry bowels, dry skin, feels hot) then this formula will not be appropriate.

ColdQuell is a product I carry in the office.

It is useful for colds where there is a ‘heat’ condition such as sore throat, feels dry, fever, or thirst. In terms of disease diagnosis, this formula is for common cold and epidemic influenza with possible bronchitis and especially in women as opposed to men, and even more especially perimenstrually.

It is great for the beginning stages of a cold where you feel the throat is ‘scratchy’.  If you catch it early enough it can stop a cold from taking hold.

Dr Linda loves the GUNA flu product as a homeopathic for the flu season. GUNA-FLU is a combination medicine for the prevention and treatment of influenza and cold syndromes. It is considered the homeopathic form of the anti-influenza vaccination The homeopharmacological structure of Guna-Flu is extremely intriguing with two primary ingredient components: • Immunostimulation component • Symptomatic ingredients component 1. Immunostimulating components: Anas barbariae hepatis et cordis extractum and Influenzinum act selectively on the specific immunity by stimulating cytotoxic T lymphocytes and NK cells (responsible for cytolysis of cells infected by the virus); and Asclepias vincetoxicum, which stimulates an excitation of the aspecific immunity, via an increase of lysozyme and interferon-gamma.. 2. Symptomatic ingredients core components: Aconitum napellus is the remedy for acute sudden feverish states. Belladonna is the remedy for inflammation, especially in the vasal phase in which it acts by decreasing congestion. Echinacea angustifolia acts by way of inflammatory process immunomodulation. Cuprum metallicum reduces the symptomatology characteristic of the influenzal syndrome, and as a trace element, it provides an anti-pyretic and anti-inflammatory action.

You can order GUNA Flu and other supplements through Emerson Ecologics at 15% off retail.

Ivan Oransky, executive editor of Reuters Health, delivered a clever TEDMED 2012 talk on pre-disease states. He sums up one of the main problems with our healthcare system – the over-treatment of potentially non-medical conditions that offer little return on investment. Here is Dr Oransky’s blog.

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Season of Cleansing

In New England the season of Earth and water goes from February 1 to June 1.

The element of water and earth predominate this season and are responsible for the body’s structure, and provides the “glue” or cohesion that holds the cells together. When these elements are in balance our joints are lubricated, skin is moist, immunity and vitality are strong. The expressive emotions of love, calmness and forgiveness flow easily. When the elements of water and earth (Kapha) are out of balance it leads to emotions such as attachment, possessiveness, greed, depression and physical symptoms such as congestive disorders, excess mucus, sinus related problems (are you doing your nedi pot?), allergies, sluggishness, dull aches, water retention, and pains, acceleration of arthritic conditions, especially osteoarthritis, fibrocystic changes and digestive related problems. Read the rest of this entry

In case you haven’t seen Food Matters it is available for free viewing until October 8th.

See:  http://foodmatters.tv/screeningevent2

Don’t let Monsanto’s erratic genes in your food! Tell USDA 2 reject GMO drought corn http://t.co/Ji69SsU @food_democracy

It has been known for years that those plastic containers we all used as a kid are full of chemicals known as endocrine disruptors or xenohormones. Did you ever put that Tupperware of pasta and sauce in the microwave? I did as a kid. Yum those bite fulls of chemicals.  Then the Tupperware would get a bit bent out of shape, but no big deal it must be safe.    Here is a very definitive article that came out yesterday on Phthalates and BPA in plastic causing hypothyroidism.

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There is a study making headlines today that we do not need more than 600IU of vitamin D per day. You probably have seen the headlines. What is ridiculous is that this study only looked at bone health as a marker and ignored the thousands of other metabolic functions that vitamin D plays. Ignore the headlines – take your vitamin D and get it measured properly!

I’ll let the experts reply to this article, but I cut and pasted below a response to this study from the Vitamin D Council.

(Do get your vitamin D levels checked, but when you do make sure you do not take any in supplementation form for at least 2-3 days prior to the blood draw.  Also it is the 25(OH)D level that is important although in some people the ratio of D2:D3 may be important such as some autoimmune diseases)

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After 13 year of silence, the quasi governmental agency, the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), today recommended that a three-pound premature infant take virtually the same amount of vitamin D as a 300 pound pregnant woman. While that 400 IU/day dose is close to adequate for infants, 600 IU/day in pregnant women will do nothing to help the three childhood epidemics most closely associated with gestational and early childhood vitamin D deficiencies: asthma, auto-immune disorders, and, as recently reported in the largest pediatric journal in the world, autism. Professor Bruce Hollis of the Medical University of South Carolina has shown pregnant and lactating women need at least 5,000 IU/day, not 600.

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