Thyroid Mystery Solved: Hashimoto's and Hypothyroidism Revealed

The Case:  Amelia is 39 and dealing with heavy periods. She was also experiencing extreme PMS including headaches, bloating, and uncomfortable breast tenderness. It got so bad, she started to plan meetings, social gatherings and vacations around her cycle. The only solutions doctors offered was to take the birth control pill but a previous blood clot made that a risky proposition. The Investigation Every menstruating woman experiences her period differently but it was hard to hear about what Amelia was going through. I completely understood her predicament and resistance to start taking the pill again after having suffered a blood clot the last time she was on it. I knew there was still hope and that there had to be something else going on that we could address that would help make her periods more bearable. My first hunch was to look more closely at her hormones.    Joining me to discuss this case is Dr. Anu Arasu. She’s the founder of London Bioidentical Hormones clinic and was one of the first doctors in the UK to train in functional medicine.     What’s Actually Happening with Hormones During the Menstrual Cycle? Having your period is the result of cyclical release of hormones. In the first day of your period, both estrogen and progesterone will be low. At the end of the period (about 7 days later), the estrogen begins to rise. In an ideal world, we would then get a LH (luteinizing hormone) surge. This triggers ovulation (and the peak of our estrogen cycle). If ovulation does not result in a pregnancy, then the corpus luteum breaks down and produces progesterone. Soon, both estrogen and progesterone levels drop triggering a bleed.    What is a Heavy Period? It’s tricky to quantify what is a heavy menstrual flow and what is “normal” and a lot of women don’t know where they fall on the spectrum. It is difficult because we often only have ourselves to compare it to. Dr. Arasu says that if your menstrual flow is affecting your quality of life then it might be outside of ‘normal’. For example, if it stops you from doing things, going to work, socializing - or in Amelia’s case be able to go on vacation. Or, if there has been a dramatic change, then it is worth speaking to someone to find out what’s going on and what can be done about it.    Potential Causes of Painful Periods or Heavy Menstrual Flow There are a variety of things that can affect the menstrual cycle. Heavy periods could be caused by endometriosis or fibroids. Heavy periods can also be the result of not having a regular menstrual cycle (which could be caused by hormone changes or Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Hormone imbalance can also result in heavier periods. And, some women are just naturally prone to heavy periods.    Testing for Hormone Imbalance If pathologies like endometriosis, PCOS, and fibroids have been ruled out, a hormone test might provide a clearer picture of what’s going on. Dr. Arasu suggests doing both a urine test and a blood test to get the full picture of what’s going on. The DUTCH test (a type of urine test) is recommended because in addition to showing hormone levels, it also gauges metabolization efficiencies. However, this test will not reveal the follicle stimulating hormone levels which can indicate if someone is premenopausal. She also uses daily saliva tests to track what is going on over a period of time with regards to your progesterone and estrogen levels throughout the month.    Estrogen Dominance Estrogen dominance happens when estrogen and progesterone are not balanced. This can be determined through the DUTCH test which looks at all of the potent estrogens. Specifically, experts will be looking at estradiol, estriol, and estrone - the total estrogenicity.    Estrogen Clearance Metabolization of hormones is another important piece of the puzzle. If these dominant estrogens are not being metabolized, this can cause issues with the gut (which lead to other issues). A gut test will confirm this, particularly if there are anomalies with levels of beta-glucuronidase (which converts and clears estrogen).   The Gut Estrogen Connection Dr. Arasu explains the new research into the gut microbiome that has identified genes involved in the production of estrogen. This emerging research (and one we’ll be watching) that looks at estrobolome (a type of gut microbes) and the role it plays in estrogen clearance. The more we understand about this relationship, the better will be able to control estrogen imbalance (like estrogen dominance) through diet.    Diet to Reduce Heavy Periods If the heavy periods are being caused by estrogen dominance, then dietary and lifestyle adjustments may help to reduce the severity of these menstrual cycles. Here are a few shifts that will aid in estrogen clearance (and support hormonal balance): Eat more dark green leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables Eat lots of vegetables or follow a vegetarian diet  Get adequate fiber (constipation may cause the circulation of partially metabolized oestrogen) Avoid using plastics or cosmetics that may contain xenoestrogens Minimize or cut out alcohol Get sufficient exercise Reduce Stress Hormone Support from Bioidentical Hormones Bioidentical hormone treatment may not be the first place to start in treating estrogen dominance. She starts with the above, as well as looking at the gut and supporting estrogen clearance with supplements like calcium gluconate and DIM. If the suggested lifestyle and diet changes don’t work, Dr. Arasu says bioidentical can do a great job in rebalancing the hormonal system.    The Difference Between Bioidentical Hormones and Synthetic Hormones Hormone replacement therapy has raised questions of safety, so it’s important to point out the difference between synthetic hormones and bioidentical hormones. Synthetic hormones are not identical to the body's own hormone structure as well they may bind to the wrong hormone receptors. Synthetic hormones may also cause side effects like irritability, acne and insomnia. It’s also important to note that synthetic progesterone (which is often what is prescribed to counter estrogen dominance) has been found to increase the risk of breast cancer. On the other hand, bioidentical hormones are identical in structure to the body’s own and therefore will bind with the correct hormone receptors and act exactly as the natural hormone does. However, bioidentical hormone therapy is not without risk, as we explain in this episode of the podcast.    Mystery Solved One of the first things we did in attempting to solve Amelia’s health mystery was to do a DUTCH test on the 21st day of her cycle. Her results showed that she had elevated estrone and estradiol while her progesterone was low. Her levels of 4 hydroxy (the bad hydroxy) levels were way off too meaning she wasn’t metabolizing estrogen properly.  The clues were adding up.  We also noted that Amelia had been on the birth control pill for many years when she was younger, and also reported that she is often constipated (two more contributing factor to estrogen dominance).  The final clue was found in the gut. I ran a GI Map stool test where I found some dysbiosis (overgrowth of bacteria and yeast) and as I wa...

10 Okt 201930min

The Case:  Lisa is 32, dealing with fatigue, brain fog and general unwellness Countless doctors have told her that nothing is wrong She also mentioned she has slight discomfort in her lower jaw that has been around since a root canal years ago Her dentist also told her that he could find nothing wrong   The Investigation Lisa has had a lot of dental work for someone so young. It seemed impossible to me that her health mystery wasn’t related in some way to her dental work. Dentists are trained to look at teeth and take X-rays and if they don’t see anything out of the ordinary, there isn’t much more they can do. I knew we had to dig deeper to get to the root of this mystery.  Joining on the show to discuss Lisa’s case is Dr. Christine Shaffner. She’s a board certified Naturopathic physician and the Clinic Director of Sophia Health Institute in Woodinville, Washington.  The Oral Health Connection Dr. Schaffner started off by explaining that interference fields are often found in the mouth and these can be barriers to healing. There is a neurological connection between our teeth and our brain and nervous system because during embryonic development, they are all developed from the same tissue. The American Heart Association and conventional cardiologists link oral health to heart health because of different microbes or bacteria that can affect cardiovascular inflammation and can lead to heart disease. From a Qi perspective, every tooth sits on an acupuncture meridian so there’s an organ relationship with each tooth. Damage to a tooth can create stress in the associated organ, which can lead to other illnesses.  Cavities and Root Canals Dr. Schaffner also talked about how our oral health is related to our cranial nerves and to our lymphatic system. It is possible for non-bio-compatable materials in our mouths (and teeth) could potentially cause issues for the brain and drain into our lymph nodes and cause a variety of health issues.  Wisdom Teeth  The wisdom teeth sit on the heart, small intestine, circulation and also endocrine meridien. Issues with the wisdom teeth can show up as chronic digestive issues or poor circulation. Even if the wisdom teeth have been removed, there can still be a build up, a cavitation (empty space) or hidden infection that can cause chronic issues.  Mouth Pain  Sometimes these hidden focal infections in the mouth can lead to mild mouth pain. These symptoms are often ignored. However, Dr. Schaffner says that these could be the key clue to bigger health issues like chronic digestive issues.  Why Your Dentist Won’t Understand This kind of thinking is too much of a paradigm shift for dentists. The conventional approach is to inspect visually and look at X-Rays. If microbes or minor infections are present, they likely won’t be detected unless it causes a visible infection. The idea that a minor infection in a cavitation or old root canal could be the cause of health issues is too much of a paradigm shift for most dentists.  Amalgam Fillings and Gold Fillings Amalgam fillings are a combination of different metals including mercury (which is a neurotoxin). The American Dental Association says these are safe. Dr. Schaffner explained that over time, certain conditions in the mouth can release mercury vapor which we unknowingly inhale. Gold fillings that oppose mercury fillings present a different concern because they can cause electro galvanism which produces electrical disturbances in the body as well as speed up the dissolution of mercury in the mouth.  Testing for Filling Sensitivities One of the common metals used in root canals is titanium however some people have a sensitivity issue with this metal. Dr. Schaffner says you can test for hypersensitivity using the Melisa Test. Sensitivity to metals in your fillings could affect your immune system making it hypersensitive.   Assessing the Problem It’s not realistic and likely not necessary for every person who has health issues to have their fillings removed. In fact, it poses its own dangers. Here are a few things you can do to determine if your dental work is causing health issues: Send used dental floss to be tested for bacteria and viruses through a lab called DNA Connections.  Do a heavy metal test to reveal the level of heavy metal burden in your body. If it comes back high for mercury, your fillings might be the cause.  Take a look at a dental organ chart that shows the connection between certain teeth and organs based on acupuncture meridians. See if your health issues line up with problem teeth.  Find a biological dentist who is open to these ideas to discuss your concerns.   Mystery Solved Despite my suspicions that Lisa’s issues were connected to her oral health, I knew that we had to start by calming her system down and ruling out other potential contributing factors. I referred her to a biological dentist who understood the functional medicine approach. They discovered that Lisa did in fact have a cavitation and there was an infection in the root canal.  Test revealed that Lisa also had deficiencies in her B vitamins, her liver was not functioning optimally and she had a lot of free radicals. We continued the elimination diet while supporting her liver with N-Acetyl Cysteine and liquid glutathione and I put lisa on a Methylated B vitamin called B Supreme. We also used a broad spectrum antioxidant called Ultimate Antioxidant Full Spectrum, high dose of vitamin C (about 5000 mg per day in her case) and 100 mg of Coenzyme Q10 in the form of Ubiquinol. This is called the reduced form of CoQ10 which has the ability to quench more free radicals vs the ubiquinone form which is the oxidized form and not as effective.  Happy ending Lisa started to feel stronger and less sensitive to things a few months after the dental procedures, diet changes and supplements. Six months later, she reported that she had a lot less sensitivity to her environment, had much more energy, and felt like she was back to her old self. Eliminating Health Mysteries For Lisa we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could hidden oral health issues be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?    Listen to the Body Electric Summit for Free Thanks to my guest Dr. Christine Shaffner. I was particularly excited about our conversation around the upcoming Body Electric Summit. If you were intrigued by energy meridians and the role they play in our overall health, then I encourage you to sign up. It starts Oct. 7th and if you sign up in advance - it’s FREE!  Click here to sign up.    Resources Mentioned

3 Okt 201939min

The Investigation Last week we unravelled the mystery of finding underlying issues with the thyroid. We specifically looked at how blood tests should be read to give a clearer picture of the thyroid function. I got a whole bunch of emails thanking me for the clear explanation but also asking me how they can get the correct tests and what they can do about their numbers. In this episode, I share a few strategies for getting the right tests done to get the full picture of what your thyroid is doing. I include options that will hopefully help you find someone locally who can help (and who is covered by insurance).  Once you have your numbers, that’s another story. The truth is, every case is different; their symptoms are unique to them. It’s important to look at all levels to determine what is happening and what pathways are driving it. To give you a sense of how different each situation can be, I wanted to share a few of my past clients’ stories with you.  Click play to hear about  Cindy, Cara, Melody and Erin and their struggles with underactive thyroid glands.    Case #1 - Cindy:  Cindy’s TSH was deemed fine by her doctor despite being low at .5 (optimal range is 1.8-3) She was cold all the time, had trouble losing weight, and felt unwell all the time. Further tests revealed that T4 was low at 4.5 (normal range is 6-12) and her T3 was low at 68 (the optimal range is 100-150). I suspected that the problem was further ‘upstream’ from the thyroid in the pituitary gland. We supported pituitary function with supplements and within 3 weeks, she was feeling better. It took 6 months to see her levels move back into optimal range, but we did that without treating the thyroid at all.    Case #2 - Cara:  Cara’s TSH was elevated at 6.5 (the optimal range is 1.8-3), her Total T4 was 5.5 (ideal is 6-12) and her T3 was 75 (ideal is 100-150). Note that her TSH is high while her T3 and T4 are low.  She was often tired, experiencing bad PMS and constipation. She was negative for the Hashimoto’s antibodies.  She needed proper thyroid support but wanted a more natural option so she opted for dessicated thyroid extracts or DTE.  After 6 weeks, all of her levels were back in the normal range. And, her very next menstrual cycle was balanced and devoid of those extreme PMS symptoms.  Case #3 - Melody:  Melody was already taking Synthroid, a medication to support her thyroid function.  Thanks to the medication, her TSH and her T4 were right where they should be.  However, she felt tired and often foggy and wondered if it might have to do with her thyroid.  Further tests revealed that her T3 was very, very low at 70 (optimal is between 100 - 150) and her free T3 was also low at 2.4 (ideal range is 3 - 4).    I could see immediately that she wasn’t converting her T4 into T3. We knew that the solution was going to involve the liver. She did a liver cleanse and also took supplements to support the conversion of T4 to T3. After 6 weeks of liver support and supplements, Melody had increased energy and improved mental clarity. Test revealed that total T3 was now back in range at 100 and her free T3 was also back in range at 3.1. Her T4 and TSH maintained their healthy levels.    Case #4 - Erin:  Erin’s TSH, T3 and T4 were all in the optimal range and she did not have Hashimoto’s. She was seeing classic hypothyroid symptoms like coarser, frizzier hair, thinning of the eyebrows, difficulty sleeping, and brain fog.  She also didn’t feel well and wondered if it had to do with her high stress levels. There was one thyroid test that was missing from her workup that I wanted to run - the reverse T3. Sure enough, it was at 29 when the reference range is 8-24 (optimally it should be under 17). Stress (and the cortisol associated with it) can cause reverse T3 to rise.  Helping Erin’s thyroid issue started with stress management techniques including meditation. She also took a natural supplement to lower her cortisol. Erin noticed he symptoms decreasing almost right away and within 2 months her reverse T3 had gone from 29 to 15!   Mysteries Solved As you can see from these four cases, thyroid was behind all of their health mysteries but solving each one was vastly different. If your thyroid numbers are out of line, make sure you thoroughly investigate what can be at play. It could be a version of hypothyroidism, a thyroid conversion issue, something to do with the pituitary function or a high reverse T3 pattern. The answers (and treatments) are out there and there is hope!   Next Steps  If you have symptoms of a thyroid condition but your lab tests say otherwise, it may be time to look a little deeper to make sure all the labs were run and interpreted properly . I put some links to labs below but I do encourage you to work with a healthcare professional who is willing to help you dig deeper. Your health and well being are worth it.     Eliminating Health Mysteries For Cara, Cindy, Melody, and Erin we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help them regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life? Please share this episode with them so they can feel better too.    Links: Resources Mentioned: PS 150  Thyraxis PT  ThyroCNV  Thyroxal   Ferrochel Iron  LABS https://yourlabwork.com/innatopiler/   Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode -  Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts.  Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com   Related Podcast Episodes: EPISODE #027 Solving the Thyroid Mystery w/ Inna Topiler EPISODE #023 The Case of Bloating, Gas, and Irregular Bowel Movements

26 Sep 201924min

The Case:  This episode, we’re not looking at just one case, we’re looking at many.  More than 12% of the population will develop a thyroid condition in their lifetime. Thyroid symptoms vary but may affect energy levels, weight, and mood. Women are more likely to suffer from a thyroid condition.   The Investigation There’s so much confusion around the thyroid. Symptoms can often be explained away as other things - like poor sleep, poor diet, poor exercise habits. The sad part is, these easy explanations can be a part of the missed symptoms.  And, conventional medicine tends to diagnose thyroid issues using only one test. This means that many people, including those with Hashimoto’s may be misdiagnosed or not have the full picture.  In order to truly understand the thyroid and solve thyroid issues, you need the whole picture and you need to get to the root of the problem.    Thyroid  Expert Over the years, I’ve become very  familiar with this issue because of the countless clients who come into my office complaining of symptoms I know are related to their thyroid but they tell me that their doctor has told them that their levels are normal. I also know all about it because I personally went through it too. I went through the frustration of being told my thyroid was fine. I went through the doctor’s failing to diagnose my Hashimoto’s. And, I went through years of not properly treating this condition.    Hypothyroidism 101 In this episode, I’m demystifying hypothyroidism and giving you everything you need to know about having an underactive thyroid gland. Many people think that thyroid issues only affect your energy levels. In fact, the thyroid impacts everything in the body including your hair, skin, digestion, brain, and bones. The thyroid can also affect your fertility and how well your organs functions - especially your liver. Thyroid hormones are needed for every cell in your body - so we should never underestimate how it can impact our wellbeing if it’s not functioning properly.      Symptoms of an Underactive Thyroid The most common symptom, and the one most people think of is fatigue or a general lack of energy. There are many other potential symptoms of an underactive thyroid including dry skin, brittle nails, thinning hair, sensitivity to cold, constipation, brain fog, irregular menstrual periods, weight gain, hoarseness of the voice, muscle aches and cramps, low blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, fertility challenges, and sleep irregularities. There are other symptoms too but these are the most common. However, not all hypothyroid patients will experience all of these symptoms. In fact, it’s common for them to have a variety of symptoms that could change over time.    Misdiagnosis of Hypothyroidism Many people who have hypothyroidism are misdiagnosed or a diagnosis is just plain missed. This happens because doctors have a strict set of guidelines for diagnosis (which is different depending on where you live). Doctors who have patients that don’t fall into the guidelines, will often rule out a thyroid issue without doing any further testing. There are a number of additional tests that should be run, but these don’t fit into the conventional approach to diagnosing thyroid conditions. I go into detail as to why and how this happens in this episode.    Understanding TSH Anyone who has ever had their thyroid tested has to try to make sense of a hormone called TSH. This is often where confusion sets in. In this episode, I explain all the T’s involved in thyroid function including the TRH (the activation signal from your brain to your pituitary gland), TSH (the signal from your pituitary  to your thyroid) and the T3 and T4 that the thyroid makes in response. T3 is the active hormone that is needed by the body and can be absorbed and used by your cells while T4 is called a pro hormone which has to be converted to T3 in order to be used. A lot can go wrong with the production and absorption of these two hormones and signals can get crossed - triggering the thyroid to stop or slow down production.    Get the Right Tests for Hypothyroidism Conventional blood tests for hypothyroidism only looks at the TSH level. This can result in misleading information. The result is that up to 50% of patients with hypothyroidism are misdiagnosed or given treatment plans that don’t address the real issues. That’s usually when they end up at my office. We have to look at the whole picture.    Here is what I recommend patients get tested (either through their family doctor or alternative health practitioner):  TSH Total T4 Total T3 Free T4 Free T3 REVERSE T3 Thyroid Antibodies    Assessing Your Lab Results So often, a doctor will tell you that your test results are ‘normal’. That means that according to their guidelines, they fall into the normal range. You may have subclinical hypothyroidism but you won’t hear it from them. It’s important that you see your results. Here are the optimal ranges you should be in:      TSH     1.8- 3.0 though if you are on thyroid medication, this should be even a bit lower, from around .8 to 2 Total T4   6.0-12.0 Total T3    100-150 Free T4      1.0-1.5 Free T3    3.0-4.0 REVERSE T3  Less than 17 Thyroid Antibodies  Undetectable or as low as possible    Be Your Own Health Advocate My aim is for the information in this episode to empower you to take control of your health. Use it to ask the right questions, get the right tests, and understand the results. You can’t fully diagnose or manage hypothyroidism if you don’t have the whole picture.    Eliminating Health Mysteries If the symptoms we talked about in this episode feel familiar, make sure you dig deep enough to solve your own health mystery.  If these symptoms or medical frustrations sound like someone you know, make sure you share this episode with them.    Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.   Never miss an episode -  Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find o...

19 Sep 201918min

The Case:  Natalie is 40 but feels like she’s 80 most days She was experiencing fatigue, aches and pains, poor sleep, and depression. After several doctor visits she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, given medication and told to expect things to get worse. An estimated 4 million Americans are diagnosed with fibromyalgia. While symptoms can be present much earlier, most diagnoses are between the age of 35 - 45. And, women are much more likely to suffer from this condition.   The Investigation This health mystery is a little different from most of my cases. Natalie already had a diagnosis and was already treating her condition. When she came to me, she hoped there was a better way. She didn’t want to accept that she would have to take medication for the rest of her life or that she should just get used to the idea of getting worse. She wanted to know if there was any hope of her feeling better despite her fibromyalgia diagnosis.  I knew we had to connect all the pieces of the puzzle to find the true underlying cause of her condition. Joining me on the show today to discuss Natalie’s case is fibromyalgia expert, Dr. Rodger Murphree. He is a board certified chiropractic physician, nutritional specialist, and author of 5 books including “Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.”   Conventional Fibromyalgia Diagnosis Unfortunately, a lot of doctors don’t recognize Fibromyalgia. They see this long list of symptoms and they label the patient as a hypochondriac or someone who is lazy, crazy or depressed. Often, patients will have to see many doctors and go through a battery of tests to eliminate all known conditions before they actually get a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. This can take years since so many doctors don’t recognize the syndrome.   Doctors who understand Fibromyalgia (and who are willing to give a diagnosis) often don’t really know how to help the patients because there’s no prescription, no drug-based therapy that will solve all of the issues. As a result, most doctors will tell patients to treat the symptoms and ‘learn to live with it.’   What is Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a syndrome made up of a group of symptoms. This collection of symptoms often includes achy, sometimes disabling pain, fatigue, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, irritable bowel, low moods and brain fog. When a combination of these symptoms are present and there is no other medical explanation, it’s likely to be Fibromyalgia. There is a sort of Fibromyalgia spectrum so not all Fibromyalgia patients are going to have the same experience or combination of symptoms. Dr. Murphree says that true fibromyalgia involves central sensitivity pain syndrome where the pain threshold becomes very low. Essentially, pain is magnified. Other senses may also be heightened such as sensitivity to bright lights and loud noises. Stress can also become magnified.    Stress and Fibromyalgia Up to 70% of Fibromyalgia patients say that stress was a trigger for their symptoms. It’s no surprise because stress is a trigger for most inflammatory reactions, which is the driver of most illnesses. In Fibromyalgia, we see a loss of plasticity to stress, or an inability to rebound from stress. This places the patient into a chronic state of stress that often shows up as pain and an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. The stress causes more and more symptoms which causes the patient more stress and it becomes a vicious cycle.    Diagnosing Fibromyalgia Dr. Murphree looks at sleep when considering a Fibromyalgia diagnosis. He says that almost all patients who he suspects of having Fibromyalgia have pain and sleep issues. Many of the other symptoms that are commonly associated with Fibromyalgia, like IBS, low mood, and brain fog stem from the lack of quality sleep over time.    Treating Fibromyalgia Naturally Dr. Murphree says that he encourages his patients to shift their mindset away from the idea that drugs are the answer. He’s seen many patients who discover, after years of medicating, that drugs don’t help Fibromyalgia. All they do is poorly mask the symptoms without actually fixing the issue and they leave you vulnerable to side effects. It may seem impossible, but he says the only hope for patients is to get healthy.    Sleep is Critical for Healing Fibromyalgia Getting sufficient restorative sleep is step one in Dr. Murphree’s strategy for treating Fibromyalgia. Regular restorative sleep can decrease the amount of inflammatory chemicals your body release. A lack of deep sleep causes the metabolism to slow down which causes lethargy, weight gain and heightened pain sensitivity. It also causes brain fog and a decreased ability to deal with stress. For patients struggling with sleep, Dr. Murphree suggests temporarily taking melatonin to restore their sleep cycle.    Serotonin for Fibromyalgia Many of us know it as the happy hormone. Having healthy serotonin levels is critical in treating fibromyalgia. Serotonin increases your pain threshold, it improves digestion, and it decreases anxiety. Conventional medicine recognizes the importance of serotonin for Fibromyalgia patients. Unfortunately, the typical conventional solution is to prescribe anti-depressant medication like Celexa, Paxil or Cymbalta. The problem with this approach is that these drugs don’t increase the production of serotonin (which is what is needed) they only serve to maintain serotonin levels, or hang on to the existing serotonin in the brain. It doesn’t help to fix the problem. The natural approach to encouraging serotonin release is with a healthy diet - specifically where you are getting enough of the amino acid, tryptophan. Tryptophan, when combined with certain B vitamins, magnesium and vitamin C turns into serotonin. Additionally, patients may supplement with  5 HydroxyTryptophan (5HTP) to further support serotonin production. However, deep, restorative sleep is still a critical part of this treatment plan. Dr. Murphree outlines his recommended protocol at the 18 minute mark of this podcast.    Does 5HTP Work for Fibromyalgia Dr. Murphree has been working with patients with Fibromyalgia for decades and this is the protocol he’s seen to be most effective. Some patients have concerns because they are on antidepressant medication (which is contraindicated). He’s worked with many of these patients and has seen successes. However a very small percentage do report feeling nauseated or having headaches. It’s important to work with someone experienced with Fibromyalgia (like Dr. Murphree) if this is a concern for you.    Natural Stress Reduction One of the biggest challenges that patients with Fibromyalgia face is reducing stress - often the trigger of the Fibromyalgia in the first place. Dr. Murphree has been working hard to find natural ways to support the adrenal glands (which are responsible for the body’s stress response). He recommends adrenal glandulars. However, he cautions people to make sure that they get the cortex only type because most adrenal glandulars have both cortex and adrenaline. Too much adrenaline can cause adrenal fatigue.    Final Step in Fibromyalgia Recovery In addition to sleep, adrenal and serotonin support, the final step patients need to take is adjusting their lifestyle. A healthy diet is key as is regular exercise. Creating a mindfulness practice (like intentional breath work, meditation or journaling) is also important in resetting and managing the body’s stress response.    Cannabis for...

12 Sep 201950min

The Case:  Erica is 37 and was experiencing fast and loud heart palpitations without provocation. These episodes became more frequent causing Erica to fear the worst. She saw several cardiologists who insisted that nothing was wrong.  A racing heart or heart palpitations are described in many ways. Some might say, ‘my heart is beating out of my chest,’ or ‘my heart skipped a beat’. It can also be described as being able to feel your heartbeat in your ears, or like it’s banging against your rib cage. You might even feel like you can’t catch your breath.  However you describe it, it’s scary. We get used to not really noticing our heartbeat - to just knowing that it’s in there, doing its job. So, when we suddenly feel it, we worry that something must be wrong. In some cases, heart palpitations can be a sign of a more serious issue so Erica was right to see her doctor and a cardiologist first.  However, when she came to me with no answers from those specialists, I knew we had to dig a little deeper to get to the root cause of these frightening and erratic heart palpitations.    The Investigation The heart is very responsive to other types of stimulation. When you see a cardiologist, they generally don’t have a lot of time to look into these other causes. Understandably, they focus on major issues or events that are life threatening and if those are not the cause, they may dismiss your concerns as ‘nothing’. But, that doesn’t stop them from happening or make you feel any better about it when it does happen.  Luckily, some cardiologists go beyond the ‘it’s not a heart attack’ diagnosis to get curious about what’s actually going on. One such cardiologist is Dr Christopher Kelly. He practices at the North Carolina Heart and Vascular (part of UNC Health) and is the co-author of the book, Am I Dying?!: A Complete Guide to Your Symptoms--and What to Do Next. I was thrilled to invite him in to discuss Erica’s case.    Could it be a Heart Condition? We know in Erica’s case it wasn’t but how likely for a fairly healthy 37 year old to have a heart condition? Dr. Kelly says that without a pre-existing condition (that you may have been born with) it’s unusual to see heart disease in people under 50. However, he’s seeing a trend where the average age of his patience is getting younger. He attributes this to the American lifestyle which is making people sicker, sooner.    What are Heart Palpitations?  Dr. Kelly describes heart palpitations as an extra beat or a skipped beat,  a racing heartbeat, or your heart beating hard enough that you notice it. Generally this is without explanation. For example, we know that when we are working out or running, we are going to feel our heart beat faster. Or, if we have a scare or we’re understandably nervous, then we know why our heart might be racing. However, heart palpitations can seem to come out of nowhere and for no apparent reason. This is why they are so disconcerting.    How Common are Heart Palpitations? Having a spontaneous, unprovoked heart palpitation occasionally is very common. However, when it seems to be happening regularly, without explanation, this is not common and should have you seeking professional help. The first thing you want to do is rule out that these heart palpitations are not related to heart disease.   What Causes Heart Palpitations? When a heart condition is ruled out, there are several other places that we can look to find a cause for heart palpitations. The heart is very sensitive to a lot of inputs. One of the inputs to the heart is adrenaline which is the fight or flight hormone. We release adrenaline when we are scared, nervous, or excited but we can also release it when we are stressed or experiencing anxiety. In some cases, we may not be fully aware that we are in a state of stress or anxiety but the adrenaline is released anyway which is what can cause the seemingly unexplained heart palpitations.    Heart Palpitations May Be a Side Effect Certain medications may cause heart palpitations. For example, some decongestants (cold or flu medications) actually contain adrenaline stimulants. Likewise, certain medications used to treat attention deficit disorder (like Adderall and Ritalin) also stimulate the heart.    Does Coffee Cause Heart Palpitations? Coffee and many teas contain caffeine which does stimulate the heart. Excess caffeine intake can cause heart palpitations. So, what is considered too much coffee? That depends on the individual as some people are more sensitive than others to the stimulant. Each person is going to discover their limits when they drink so much caffeine that it causes their heart to race.   Heart Palpitations When Pregnant When a woman becomes pregnant, in addition to having to supply blood to her own body, the heart has to pump blood to the placenta and the fetus. This can cause the heart to work overtime and this can cause the heart to race or skip a beat.    When Heart Palpitations Mean Something Bigger There are other conditions that can cause heart palpitations. One condition is anemia. This causes heart palpitations because in this state, there is a low number of red blood cells in your body. When your body is not making a normal amount of blood, your heart has to work harder to pump the blood in order to deliver enough oxygen to the rest of your body.  Hyperthyroidism is another condition that can cause the heart to race. The thyroid gland controls your metabolism. When it is overactive, it can overstimulate the metabolic process which can cause heart palpitations. This same thing can occur for people who are treating an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) especially if it is caused by Hashimoto’s disease because then thyroid production tends to fluctuate.    Tracking Heart Activity One of the best ways to determine the root cause of heart palpitations (if it has been ruled out as a heart condition by a doctor) is to track when you have episodes.  Keeping a diary involves writing down things like the time that it started, what you were doing (or thinking about), and how long it lasted. This can reveal a pattern and the cause. If possible, also include your pulse rate in the diary and note any irregularities in the rhythm. If you don’t have a smartwatch or fitbit that tracks your pulse, Dr. Kelly explains how to do this manually in the podcast.   Worsening Symptoms If left unaddressed, heart palpitations can become more frequent or become more intense (some people say that their racing heart is so forceful it actually hurts). For some people, heart palpitations interrupt the flow of blood so much that it can affect the blood pressure and cause light-headedness or even loss of consciousness. If this is the case, it’s not something to be ignored. Look at eliminating potential causes (including caffeine and stress) and speak to your doctor about what may be causing heart palpitations as a side effect. Be sure to bring your heart diary to your doctor appointment!   Treating Heart Palpitations The treatment for erratic heart palpitations depends entirely on the cause of the palpitations. If through journaling you can see that your heart palpitations are related to stress, worry, or anxiety then one of the key things you can do to treat your racing heart is to take deep breaths...

5 Sep 201933min

The Case:  Valerie is 39 and she manages her stress with meditation and a bedtime routine. She falls asleep with ease but she wakes up every night and struggles to get back to sleep She tried to further reduce her stress, added supplements and medication to help her sleep issues but nothing worked. Waking up frequently throughout the night is a form of insomnia - the most common sleep disorder in America. Insomnia in the short-term can be dangerous because it increases your chance of falling asleep unexpectedly including at work, while watching children, or when driving. When insomnia becomes chronic, it can lead to sleep deprivation which, in turn, may lead to serious health concerns including metabolic disorders, hypoxemia, and pain conditions.  Valerie knew that she didn’t just want to learn to live with it (as so many women do). She wanted to get to the root cause of the problem so that she could sleep better, and function better during the day.    The Investigation My immediate suspicion was that Valerie’s diet might be a contributing factor in her sleep issue. I noticed that she ate a lot of processed foods, so it made sense to make this the first stop in our investigation. I ran some tests which confirmed my suspicions - Valerie had a higher amount of certain toxins in her body. I also noted that she carried a few genes that slowed down her ability to get rid of toxins. It was a double whammy and we were officially on the case.  Valerie’s liver was struggling to rid her body of the toxins so this was the first thing we needed to address. It was time for a detox.  Wendy Myers is one of the countries leading authorities in detoxification. She’s a functional diagnostic nutritionist,  NES Bioenergetix Practitioner, and is the creator of the Myers Detox Protocol. She’s also the #1 bestselling author of Limitless Energy: How to Detox Toxic Metals to End Exhaustion and Chronic Fatigue.  She joins me on the show to talk about Valerie’s case and how a low-functioning liver can contribute to waking up multiple times in the night.    Your Liver’s Role in Sleep Wendy says, “the liver is the seed of sleep… When your liver is not functioning optimally because it's overloaded with having to break down and export so many toxins that we have in our environment, it can affect sleep.” In her experience, waking up in the middle of the night, usually around 2 - 3 am, is a telltale sign of the liver struggling.    Why the Liver Struggles The liver has a really important job to do in the body. First it has to break down what we eat and drink (which is an even bigger job if we are eating too much sugar, refined grains, processed foods, or saturated fats). Then, it has to deal with the toxins that enter the body in various forms. It’s estimated that our environment contains 80,000 - 100,000 chemicals and dozens of heavy metals. If we combine an unhealthy diet with exposure to chemicals and heavy metals, the liver is going to struggle to process the toxins and get them out of the body.    How We’re Exposed to Toxins Daily It’s almost impossible to avoid being exposed to toxins in our modern world. Here are some of the most common ways we’re exposed to toxins daily:  Water: Water is a common source of toxins for many of us (even filtered water can still contain some trace metals, chemicals, medications, parasites, radiation and other contaminants). Even when drinking highly filtered water, you can still be exposed by bathing in the unfiltered water.  Air: Our indoor air (at home and our place of work) may contain chemicals from the cleaning products and air fresheners. Outside, the air has toxins from pollution (both car exhaust and manufacturing). Food: Not only do we have to worry about the pesticides used on our foods but also the fertilizers that were in the soil the food was grown in. Cadmium is commonly used in fertilizer. Soil may also be tainted with leaded gas and other toxins.  Beauty Products: Many of the things we use everyday (shampoo, soap, skin cream, makeup) contain toxic ingredients. The skin processes these differently than if they were ingested - these toxins don’t have the benefit of being filtered and exported by the liver.  Start by Avoiding Toxins The first step in detoxification is to decrease exposure to toxins. There’s no point in cleansing the liver if it is still having to deal with daily inundation of toxins. While it may seem like an impossible task, given how bombarded we are with toxins, it is possible to decrease your exposure.  Drink well filtered water.  Select primarily organic produce.  Reduce (or eliminate) processed foods.  Use clean beauty products (make sure they’re really clean and not green-washed).    Get Tested for Heavy Metals and Toxins In order to properly fix the problem, you need to see the whole picture. There are certain heavy metals you want to test for. Mercury is the most likely culprit causing sleep disorders. Mercury toxicity can come from a variety of sources, including shellfish, large migratory fish (like Tuna), the old fillings in your teeth, even the air we breathe so it’s an important one to be tested for.    Traditional Liver Tests May Not Tell the Whole Story Understanding the strain your liver is under, isn’t always fully revealed through the liver test a traditional doctor might do. These tests are useful in confirming that there is an issue with the liver, but it doesn’t point to which function the liver is struggling to perform. There are two phases of function for the liver. First it must process or detox the toxins and then it must expel or excrete them. If you don’t know which of these functions need support, then you can’t properly treat the issue.    Tests for Liver Health Wendy likes to use genetic testing for solving questions about the liver. While the test itself is not going to tell you what’s going on right now, the data can be input to diagnostic apps like (Sterling’s App) to understand whether you might have the genes that could result in your liver needing more support. Other tests for liver function include testing hair, urine, or stool.    How to do a Liver Cleanse There are two approaches to the liver cleanse, but both start with decreasing exposure. After that, you can work with a health practitioner who can conduct tests so that the cleanse can be laser focused on specific toxins. Wendy says that there is the option of doing a ‘shotgun’ approach where you do a general cleanse targeting most likely culprits. Most liver cleanses involve a dietary shift, specific supplements for liver flushing and gallbladder flushing, and may also include a daily coffee enema. Finally, it’s good to sweat. Sweat helps carry toxins out but not all sweat is created equal. When you're sweating due to exercise you're in sympathetic mode (fight or flight mode) and you need to be in parasympathetic mode of rest, relaxation, digestive state in order to detox. Infrared saunas are good for this.    Detox reactions while Cleansing Some people experience detox reactions when doing a liver cleanse. This may be because they don’t generate enough bile to assist in the excretion of the toxins or because the body is overcome with the process of the detox. Sometimes, the body may release one toxin first which can r...

29 Aug 201944min

The Case:  Dana is 35 and has horrible digestion issues. She experienced bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, and inconsistent bowel movements. She was diagnosed with IBS and told it would be a life-long issue. All she could do was treat the symptoms with a battery of over the counter drugs. It’s estimated that 10 - 15% of the population suffers from IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. According to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders, it’s the most common GI issue and is more prevalent in women than in men.    The Investigation While Dana came to me with the IBS diagnosis in hand, we quickly determined that treating the symptoms (as is most often the recommendation from doctors) was not how she wanted to live her life.  I was convinced that if we could get to the root cause of this issue, we could rid her of the vicious cycle of medications she was on. We could finally put an end to her taking Immodium one day and fiber supplements the next.  What is IBS  IBS stands for irritable bowel syndrome and the term is quite literal. The symptoms can range greatly from patient to patient and may include any combination of gas, bloating, stomach pain, urgency, diarrhea, constipation. However, some may experience certain symptoms one day and then wake up the next day with the opposite symptoms. IBS tends to be a ‘catch-all’ diagnosis for doctors and often doctors will diagnose IBS when they can’t find any other cause for the symptoms.  Understanding the Digestive System Getting to the root cause of IBS symptoms is a matter of looking at the whole body and looking for where things are out of balance. To do that, we need to understand what’s happening in the digestive system. When we chew food, our saliva (which has enzymes in it) starts the digestive process.  The food makes its way to the stomach where it should encounter hydrochloric acid which further breaks down the food and also acts as an antiseptic, killing off pathogens or bacteria that may have been tagging along on our food.  The food then moves to the small intestine where it encounters enzymes created by the pancreas to further break down the food. Fats get broken down a little differently. In order for that to happen, the liver has to process bile (which is stored in the gallbladder) that when released and combined with the enzymes, emulsifies fats.  The Balance of Good and Bad Gut Bacteria We have good and bad bacteria that live in our intestines which is called our microbiome. This balance can be disrupted by a number of things that reduce the good bacteria including eating sugar, exposure to stressors or environmental toxins, and antibiotics. Medications like NSAIDs (like Advil) or steroids can also destroy some of the good bacteria.  It’s really common to have the microbiome out of balance because these destroyers of good bacteria are so pervasive. When the good bacteria are depleted, we can experience an overgrowth of yeast (which is a fungal overgrowth).  What is Dysbiosis and How Does it Cause Leaky Gut and Food Sensitivities? When we have too much of the bad bacteria in our gut (and not enough of the good), we experience something called Dysbiosis. This is just a fancy word for our gut bacteria not living in harmony together. When we are in dysbiosis, and we don’t digest our foods completely, as this undigested food enters the intestines, it might be carrying bacteria that can ferment the food in the intestines. Dysbiosis can also trigger the immune system (which is really smart and recognizes the overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut) to attack the bad bacteria. The bad bacteria responds by forming ‘biofilm’ in the intestines but that can harden over time and as the bad bugs try and protect themselves further from your immune system, they can dig themselves deeper and deeper into the intestinal lining and can “poke through” the very thin epithelial lining of the intestines causing what’s known as ‘leaky gut’. Food can then leave the intestines (through the holes) where it doesn’t belong. The immune system sees that the food and knows it doesn’t belong and treats it like an invader and forms an antibody against it. The next time that we eat that food, the body treats it like a foe and not a friend because of the antibodies that were produced and that is how we develop food sensitivities.  IBS Symptoms and Dysbiosis Dysbiosis, ill-digested food, and leaky gut can all create the symptoms often associated with IBS. When food is not broken down properly, it can sit in the system for too long and as it gets fermented by the bacteria, it causes gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea. Inflammation can also occur and wreak additional havoc with the digestive system. Plus, the leaky gut can cause new food sensitivities that further mimic the symptoms of IBS. Testing for IBS Conventional tests for IBS include an endoscopies and colonoscopies. These are invasive tests that can reveal serious health concerns but when it comes to an IBS diagnosis, they tend to answer the ‘what’ but not the ‘why’. It may reveal inflammation but it won’t identify the cause of that inflammation. When we look at if from a more functional approach, we can do a variety of tests that look into why things are not working the way they are supposed to.  In Dana’s case, we looked at a DNA-based stool test. This helped us identify all of the different bacteria and yeasts in her intestines. This test revealed many different clues that lead us to look at the pancreas and a leaky gut.  Mystery Solved The results from the stool test allow us to create a plan for restoring her digestive health. We didn’t identify any specific foods as sensitivities opting instead to remove the most common offenders including  gluten, dairy, soy, corn and sugar. We also introduced a combination of antimicrobial herbs to kill off the yeast and bacteria. This herbal combination was custom created to be both antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic. This option was gentle on the good bacteria and easy on the system. I also put Dana on a supplement to support her enzymatic production and bile flow back to a sufficient level.  Happy Ending Dana experienced some temporary ‘die off’ symptoms but she started to notice an improvement in her digestion after 4 weeks into the new protocol and after completing the “killing off” process, the bloating subsided and she returned to regular bowel movements. To further support her recovery, we added in a probiotic to reset the microbiome. The final step was to heal the leaky gut, with an L-glutamine powder for a few months. Once everything was back to normal, we did a food sensitivity test to determine which of the suspect foods she could reintroduce.  Eliminating Health Mysteries For Dana we were able to get to the root of what was causing her IBS symptoms and, much to her surprise, get her back to living a symptom-free life without medications. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with IBS or is experiencing IBS symptoms, it’s so important to figure out where the breakdowns are happening and correct them. You don’t need to suffer through these symptoms.    Links: Suggested Products: Citramesia FC Cidal Betaine HCl

22 Aug 201925min