Protea Medical Center

Kombucha Tasting coming up

2010-12-13T12:43:00.000-08:00

Dr. McCarthy and Westerly have been cooking up some ideas for Kombucha. Using traditional western herbology and eastern kombucha fermentations we are creating interesting formulas.
Please feel free to come by January 11th from 6pm to 8pm for a kombucha brewing class and a tasting of what we have created.
RSVP as seating is limited.
480-557-9095
info@protealife.com

Women’s Wellness Exams At Protea

2010-08-30T21:58:00.000-07:00

Of all the things you need to get done during the work week, finding time for a wellness exam can easily fall to the bottom of the list. An annual wellness exam is a crucial part of maintaining health, and here at Protea we want to give you every opportunity to keep yourself healthy.

Starting in September, we will devote one Saturday every month to Women’s Wellness Exams.

During your one hour appointment, you will receive a comprehensive screening physical examination, breast and pelvic exam (including Pap Smear), and have ample time to discuss any women’s health related questions or concerns you may have, including family planning, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, fertility, menstruation problems, abnormal pap smears, etc.

Is it time for annual blood work? We can stream-line your day and complete the blood draw here (no waiting in line at the lab).

At Protea Medical Center, our doctors and staff strive to make healthy living obtainable and affordable. The Saturday Wellness clinics are filling up fast, book your appointment today!

Saturday, September 18th
Saturday, October 23rd
Saturday, November 20th
Hours: 10 am - 4 pm

Protea Medical Center
1949 W Ray Rd, Ste 10
(SE corner of Ray/Dobson)

The Protea Elixir Bar Menu

2010-08-23T00:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a few of the new Elixirs we are serving at the Protea Elixir Bar. All Elixirs are served cool with mineral water and a drop or two of stevia.

Mellow Gold

In Chinese medicine, the quality of water means “quietness:” a quality somewhat lacking in our fast paced world. The Mellow Gold tonic is designed specifically for the body’s Kidney function, as it gives grounded energy to those who need it the most. “Kidney function” refers to the quality of gentle reflectiveness combined with the body’s dynamic responsiveness. In the Chinese tradition, the kidneys are referred to as “the mansion of fire and water” and the “root of life.” When kidney function is depleted, energy must be restored and the root of life rejuvenated.

This tonic will gently yet effectively unfold both the yin power of contentedness and quiet as well as the yang qualities of movement, activity, and transformation. It is excellent for those suffering from low back pain, sore legs, and ailments arising from weak physical support. Mentally and psychologically, it helps to reconnect a person with the root of life while also combating malaise, nervousness and anxiety.

This tonic is ideal for fear accompanied by withdrawal or the desire to escape. If you suffer from rootlessness, have difficulty sitting still, struggle with finding contentment in silence, or feel shaky or jumpy in certain situations, Mellow Gold will help restore your contented quietness.

On a spiritual level, Mellow Gold is ideal for those who search but never arrive at a place of solid faith. It helps deliver the courage needed to surrender in order to find spiritual peace and tranquility.

The Root of Life

Like Mellow Gold, the Root of Life tonic stimulates kidney essence. This formula restores movement to the body or, in Chinese terminology, the fire within water. The Root of Life restores balance when the body and spirit feel sluggish, inactive, and lifeless.

The Root of Life gives quickening power to those unable to move forward or even stand up. By propelling root energy, the Root of Life contributes to vitality, vigor and movement. This potent formula brings out Yang qualities of invigoration and animation necessary to break through restriction and immobility.

Problems arise from being too quiet, inactive, weak, or slow, and the Root of Life will stabilize your balance so you can move. Physically, the tonic treats symptoms such as sexual apathy and fatigue, weak or sore back and knees, and any condition involving immobile fluids in the body.

When fear overcomes the daily activities of life, the Root of Life formula is the ideal choice. Fear can come in many forms: a paralysis of movement, confusion, indecision, or a difficulty to know or express wants or desires. Psychic tiredness or laziness are also presentations of fear. If you suffer from a weak will, this tonic restores the right balance you need to assert yourself and claim your beliefs.

TheWanderer

The Wanderer tonic is the ideal remedy for people with an intense capacity for benevolence, virtuousness and love of life, but who are stalemated on a physical, emotional, or spiritual level. According to Chinese medicine, one’s energy is affected when the Qi and blood aren’t flowing smoothly, as indicated when a person gets stuck on a minor detail or misses the whole picture.

The Wanderer is used to calm down an overly rigid energy, as often seen in people who are natural born leaders. By moving towards a gentle, smooth and soothing activity, the tonic will unleash the smooth flow of energy in one’s life.

Physically, the tonic can help those suffering from headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and gynecological issues, as well as digestive problems. On a psychological level, it helps decrease feelings of separation from one’s environment, as well as enhances one’s ability to see clear pathways through tough situations. It is a crucial remedy for edginess, agitation, and anxiety as well as anger, negativity and belligerence.

Spiritually, the Tonic can break through obstacles that keep people from recognizing the oneness that connects Heaven and Earth and all creation. Relaxed Wanderer enables people to recognize and find peace with the harmonious cooperation of the elements - a necessary revelation for a peaceful and balanced life.

Gracious Power

Gracious Power is Protea’s version of a famous Chinese formula designed to help people who excel at the Liver’s assertive dimension, but have difficulty in accessing its deeper soft interior. This tonic helps people who easily push outward learn how to let down their guard and allow for an inward receptivity.

Physically, Gracious Power treats conditions that affect Liver qi blockage, such as chronic cough, menstrual problems, hypertension, hernia disorders, and cirrhosis. Psychologically, it is designed for people who have difficulty feeling relaxed or rested, and who are often irritated. For those who are driven to succeed but cannot easily go with the flow of life, Gracious Power can strengthen these qualities while balancing them out with soft qualities of receptiveness and flexibility.

Gracious Power gives assertiveness the space to take a break, and quiet the voices of self-criticism, discontent, workaholism, or poor self-esteem. Additionally, it can turn feeling of uneasiness and restlessness into softer feelings of appreciation, self-contentment, satisfaction, and relaxation.

Chronic Fatigue

2010-07-18T22:13:00.000-07:00

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition of prolonged and severe tiredness or weariness (fatigue) that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other conditions. To be diagnosed with this condition, your tiredness must be severe enough to decrease your ability to participate in ordinary activities by 50 percent.

Symptoms of fatigue can be accompanied by sore throat, low-grade fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache, muscle and joint pain, digestive discomfort, emotional distress, depression, insomnia, and loss of concentration. Chronic fatigue can be caused by chronic physical and/or psychological conditions. The frequency of individuals suffering from CFS is thought to be about 11.5 percent of the population.

At Protea we investigate all possible causes. Research shows strong connections between CFS and infectious diseases such as Epstein-Barr virus. Other possible infectious causes include: human herpes virus-6, Inoue–Melnich virus, brucella, borrelia burgdorferi, Giardia lamblia, cytomegalovirus, entero virus, retro virus and many others.

We also know that reduced immune function plays an important role in CFS. Low natural killer cell (NK)activity has been documented. NK cells play an important role in viral immunity. Lowered NK cell activity allows viruses to inhabit the human body for long periods. This type of chronic infection inhibits healthy cell function. Other signs of reduced immune function that may indicate chronic infection includes: reduced lymphocyte response, interferon abnormalities, increased cytokine levels in serum, T-cell ratio abnormalities, multiple chemical sensitivities.

Some non-immune based causes of CFS include:
- Undiagnosed hypothyroidism
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Food allergies or sensitivities
- Oral birth control pills
- Chronic stress
- Anemia
And more.

Our approach includes a detailed history of your case, all past and current lab work, and research. While we are dedicated to using the most natural means to restore you to health, we will do everything in our scope of practice to bring about resolution of your symptoms.
info@protealife.com

Does hCG Cause Cancer?

2010-06-03T15:24:00.000-07:00

The answer to this question is No.

The rest of this post is full of research and citations. If you are like me and enjoy the pithy stuff of science, read on.....

I am frequently asked if hCG causes cancer. This is an important and valid question. For hCG as it relates to cancer, studies show that hCG kills breast cancer cells. Link Here. This was seen in not only one but five different human breast cancer cell lines.

Further research shows that women who have used hCG for weight loss had reduced risks for breast cancer. Link Here. Those women in the study not exposed to hCG had increased risks for breast cancer. It is known that women who have never been pregnant are at a greater risk for breast cancer.

It has been theorized by cancer reaserchers that hCG prevents the development of breast cancer. The American Association of Cancer Research has shown research that the hCG receptor on breast tissue reduces carcinogenesis Link Here.

The National Cancer Institute has begun a study Link Here to investigate actually using hCG for treating breast cancer, as well as preventing it. The fact this study is taking place on humans shows the safety of hCG exposure to women with breast cancer, and also those who have elevated breast cancer risks.

hCG does not positively impact breast cancer alone. For Prostate Cancer, hCG has been shown to increase tumor cell death, when combined with radiation and lovastatin Link Here .

hCG has been shown to inhibit Kaposi sarcoma associated angiogenesis and tumor growth. It has also been shown to reduce transmission of HIV. Link Here.

As to ovarian cancer, in the International Journal of Cancer, hCG has been shown to inhibit cisplatin induced apoptosis. Link Here The article goes on to detail how hCG does not cause Ovarian Cancer. If you are taking Cisplatin, hCG is not a viable option.

Colorectal Cancer has an important relationship with hCG. hCG does not cause colorectal cancer. In lab tests Colorectal cancer can occasionally secrete hCG. This is due to the nature of cancer. Simply, cancer occurs when cells differentiate to be something they are not. In the case of hCG secreting colorectal cancer, they begin to act as gonadotropin producing cells.

While hCG does not cause colorectal cancer, It is not advisable to take hCG if you have colorectal cancer. Research shows when administering hCG at high doses to Colorectal cancer cells, there is an increased risk of cancer proliferation.

In truth it is not advisable to take hCG if you have any cancer that secretes hCG. This includes certain cases of adenocarcinoma from Barrett's esophagitis, Lung cancer, testicular cancer etc. If you have an active case of any cancer that secretes hCG, you should not take hCG.

I hope that the above has successfully shed some light on the issue of hCG and its correlation to cancer.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
www.protealife.com
info@protealife.com

Where is Dr. McCarthy?

2010-05-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

Dr. McCarthy Sets up a Shot Clinic every Saturday from 11-3 at a local Sprouts Farmers Market. Here is the May and June Schedule:

Saturday, May 22

11am-3pm ∙ Dobson & Ray Google Map

Saturday, May 29

11am-3pm ∙ 28^th Street & Indian School Google Map

Saturday, June 12
11am-3pm •Alma School & Queen Creek Google Map

Sunday, June 13
11am-3pm • Dobson & Ray Google Map

Saturday, June 26
11am-3pm • 28^th Street & Indian School Google Map

All Nutritional Shots are from $10 - $35.

Check our Facebook Page for updates and discounts!

Our Menu:

Specials of the House

Glutathione (3cc) $25
The most powerful antioxidant available.

SlimShot (2cc) $20

The weight loss phenomenon! Containing Lipotropic compounds which catalyze the breakdown of fat during metabolism.

SlimShot(E) (3cc) $35

Our SlimShot just gets better! We add L-Carnitine to the SlimShot for (E)nhancing weight loss.

DetoxShot (3cc) $25

The liver relies on Methylation to do its job, while B-12, MIC* and folic acid play an essential role in clearing toxins.

FemShot(3cc) $30

This shot marries B-6, MIC* and B12 to enhance the healthy metabolism of estrogen in a woman’s body.

HappyShot (3cc) $25

Research proves the value of high dose folate in the treatment of depression.

B-Strong (3cc) $30

For the ultimate boost! B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, B-6 and B-12.

Standards

B12 As cyancocobalmin (1cc) $10

B12 As Methylcobalmin (1cc) $20

Engystol A homeopathic formula for immune stimulation (1.5cc) $20

Spascupreel A homeopathic formula for joint and back pain (1.5cc) $20

Ubichinon A homeopathic formula to enhance metabolism (2cc) $20

Folic Acid (1cc) $20

B-Complex (B-1, B-2, B-3 , B-5, B-6 in 1cc) $10

Glutathione Is The Most Important Thing In Life!

2010-05-13T12:39:00.000-07:00

Glutathione is the most important thing your body makes.

Glutathione has many functions:

It is the major antioxidant produced by the cells, it clears free radicals and prevents oxidative damage When you take antioxidants like vitamins C and E you are taking them to increase Glutathione.

Glutathione detoxifies carcinogens, and toxins like both organic and inorganic.

It is essential for the immune system to do its job. It manages the immune system's response to a problem, ensuring you do not over-react to the problem (inflammation/allergy) or under react to a problem (cancer)

We use Glutathione when treating cancer, allergy, alzheimer's, autism, autoimmune diseases, and many others. We also use Glutathione to prevent disease, we inject it regularly to promote wellness. In athletes it reduces recovery time and enhances performance and stamina. A recent study in the Townsend Letter showed Glutathione enhanced cycling performance by 7% in one month. Link here for the study

Are you low in Glutathione? A simple $50 test will let us know, a $25 painless injection will increase it and enhance your wellness in a very real way.

480-557-9095

Protea Medical Center on Facebook

Increasing Athletic Performance With IV Nutrition

2010-04-18T01:34:00.000-07:00

At Protea Medical Center we provide IV and nutritional support for athletes. Whether you are new to jogging or training for Ironman, we help you achieve your goals of improved performance and reduced recovery time.

In 2003 the Townsend Letter published an article on the use of intravenous (IV) glutathione for endurance athletes. What was remarkable was the success rate of the intervention. Using glutathione (a profound antioxidant that is only available from intravenous delivery) the average cyclist was able to increase their performance by over 7% in one month.

Glutathione is a compound formed of three amino acids: L-Cysteine, Glycine, and L-Glutamic Acid. When an individual tries to consume this compound orally, stomach acid cleaves the bonds between the aminos rendering the compound inert.

As seen in the 2001 issue of "The International Journal of Sport Nutrition, Exercise, and Metabolism. Athletes frequently diminish their Glutathione during training an during events. In their study, they explored the antioxidant status and oxidative stress in elite alpine ski racers. It was found that low levels of glutathione slowed workout recovery dramatically.

The author performed an experimental trial with 1,000mg of glutathione injected intravenously once a week for 4 weeks. the subject's speed improved by over 7%!

At Protea our athletic support IV includes:

1,000mg glutathione
1,000mg of vitamin C (optional)
2ml of 100mg/ml high potency b-complex (optional)
500mg magnesium (optional)
200mcg selenium (optional)
15mg zinc (optional)

This is prepared in a 50ml bag of 9% saline and provided in a safe intravenous format over the course of 15 minutes to 1/2 hour. The optional nutrients are part of a more comprehensive protocol designed to enhance the naturally occurring antioxidants in the athletes body.

The basic glutathione IV is $35. The enhanced version is $50. We do offer a series discount, if you would like to pre-pay 4 IVs in advance we will give you a 10% discount.

If you are an athlete looking to increase your performance naturally, please give us a call. 480-557-9095

www.ProteaLife.com

Andropause / Male Hormone Replacement

2010-03-16T18:09:00.000-07:00

Andropause, or “Late Onset Hypogonadism,” occurs in men around the ages of 35-45. Symptoms include low testosterone, muscle weakness, erectile dysfunction, poor memory and depression. Therapy is directed towards restoring normal testosterone levels with bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, and restoring natural testosterone production.

As the American population lives longer now than ever, a rise in cases of low testosterone is inevitable. Testosterone naturally decreases as we age. What makes this so complex is the role of the environment. The news media is full of stories regarding the problems of plastics on normal hormone production. A troubling study was published in Envronmental Health Perspectives that showed boys who were exposed to plastics in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit had dramatically reduced testosterone. Link 1 Link 2

With the elevated exposure of plastics and the increased longevity of our population, low testosterone has become a common condition, but is often underdiagnosed and under-treated. The indication of testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) treatment requires the presence of low testosterone levels and symptoms and signs of hypogonadism. Reports indicate that TRT produces a wide range of benefits for men with hypogonadism that include improvement in libido and sexual function, bone density, muscle mass, body composition, mood, red blood cell counts, cognition, quality of life and cardiovascular disease.

There has been concern that testosterone replacement causes prostate cancer; however, this concern has no meical evidence to support it. Link 3

Our approach at Protea includes complete lab work, including testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estrogen, prostate specific antigen, fasting lipids, follicle stimulating hormone and leutinizing hormone. We order imaging studies to get to the bottom of why you may be producing low testosterone, and then treat it in an individualized way specific to your needs.

Dr. McCarthy can be reached at 480-557-9095

Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

2010-03-08T23:10:00.000-08:00

Pellet Therapy has been available for decades. The use of pellets guarantees a steady stream of hormones for 3-6 months. Other methods of delivery (pills, creams, troches, shots) are often absorbed irregularly causing a hormonal roller coaster.

Bio-identical hormone replacement using pellets helps to:

Improve mental wellbeing and reduce hormone related "mood swings"
Reduce risks of some types of cancer
Enhance vitality
Increase bone density
Increase mental focus
Decrease body fat
Promote healthy cholesterol levels
Restore or increase libido
Eliminate the common signs of menopause.

Bio-identical hormone pellets have been in use across Europe since the mid 1930's to restore and enhance hormone balance. The concept of using bio-identical hormone pellets painlessly inserted under the skin has only recently caught on here in America.

Research has supported the safety and effectiveness of bio-identical hormone pellets in treating menopause, peri-menopause and andropause in men (low testosterone).

At Protea we use only bio-identical hormones, this means nothing synthetic (no horse urine). Our approach is to first run labs and get a complete read of your hormone levels. We then put together a customized protocol that provides you with the exact levels of hormones you need. And finally to confirm our levels we run a second set of labs to ensure you are on target.

Dr. Brendan McCarthy has been trained in the most recent techniques and methods of using bio-identical hormone pellets. At Protea we utilize state of the art compounded estrogen, testosterone and progesterone in pellet form. These three hormones when applied correctly and in the proper doses restore wellness and vitality.

Call today for a consult with Dr. Brendan McCarthy. 480-557-9095

Email: info@protealife.com

The Protea hCG Weight Loss Difference

2010-03-08T22:20:00.000-08:00

The Protea Protocol is born from experience. The thousands of successful clients we have treated stand as a testament to the effectiveness of our plan.

There are many clinics offering hCG for weight loss. However, not all hCG protocols are made equal. We created a quick checklist for people in the market for an hCG weight loss clinic. This list was developed to help you ask the right questions when you shop around for the best fit for your needs.

Price:

We charge $595. This is all inclusive with no added fees later.

This includes the following medication: 10 ml of hCG at 1,000iu/ml concentration, a minimum of 6 SlimShot injections (see below) and all medical supplies required for a successful 35 day protocol.

The 10m vial provides 35 or so daily injections containing 200iu of hCG. Our experience finds this dose is the best.

Service:

Weekly visits with a Physician. You are evaluated weekly for weight loss, body fat loss, and body mass index reduction. We also evaluate for muscle retention and general hydration.

You receive weekly SlimShot injections (B12, Methionine, Inositol, and Choline) in order to enhance your weight loss success, and support your liver's ability to clear the fat it is metabolizing.

Support:

While hCG is remarkably effective, nothing is foolproof. We are available 7 days a week. If you should encounter a roadblock, help is provided in less than 24 hours. The last thing we want is you not to succeed!

If you are not losing according to plan we will provide you with guidance on line to help right away. We also schedule you for an appointment within 24 hours of your trouble. If we need to, we will provide you with additional SlimShots or the enhanced SlimShot(E). We do whatever it takes to get you results.
Added visits and added SlimShots are not billed separately, they are considered part of the original $595.

Continuity:

We provide all our clients with a long term diet plan to ensure permanent results. If a patient finds themselves gaining weight, we are available to help support and correct any dietary causes. We are also available to order all necessary lab work to evaluate for a possible endocrine cause.

Experience:

We have seen thousands of people succeed on this plan. Our experience has allowed us to perfect the diet plan, and customize for to our patients.

Our patients do not consume only 500kcal. They average 800-1100 calories a day. 50% of all calories are carbohydrate, 30% is protein and 20% is fat. Even with this generous diet, our patients lose 20-30 pounds in a month.

At Protea we believe that if you have a weight problem, you should try hCG. We don't mind if you find another clinic; we just want you to have the same success out patients have had.

Feel free to call 480-557-9095
Or email

Happy Hour at Protea

2010-02-01T00:20:00.000-08:00

Finally: a happy hour that is good for you! Four days a week Protea Medical Center provides intramuscular injections of healthy nutrients to promote metabolism, health and wellness.

Happy Hour at Protea is from 4-6 Monday through Thursday. All Shots are administered by a licensed professional. While appointments are not required, they are recommended.

Our Menu:

Specials of the House

Glutathione (3cc) $25
The most powerful antioxidant available.

SlimShot (2cc) $20

The weight loss phenomenon! Containing Lipotropic compounds which catalyze the breakdown of fat during metabolism.

SlimShot(E) (3cc) $35

Our SlimShot just gets better! We add L-Carnitine to the SlimShot for (E)nhancing weight loss.

DetoxShot (3cc) $25

The liver relies on Methylation to do its job, while B-12, MIC* and folic acid play an essential role in clearing toxins.

FemShot(3cc) $30

This shot marries B-6, MIC* and B12 to enhance the healthy metabolism of estrogen in a woman’s body.

HappyShot (3cc) $25

Research proves the value of high dose folate in the treatment of depression.

B-Strong (3cc) $30

For the ultimate boost! B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, B-6 and B-12.

Standards

B12 As cyancocobalmin (1cc) $10

B12 As Methylcobalmin (1cc) $20

Engystol A homeopathic formula for immune stimulation (1.5cc) $20

Spascupreel A homeopathic formula for joint and back pain (1.5cc) $20

Ubichinon A homeopathic formula to enhance metabolism (2cc) $20

Folic Acid (1cc) $20

B-Complex (B-1, B-2, B-3 , B-5, B-6 in 1cc) $10

Autism

2009-11-25T13:27:00.000-08:00

Autism can be a heart wrenching diagnosis to hear from your Doctor. As a parent of an Autistic son I know the heartache a parent feels with a newly diagnosed autistic child. As a parent I also understand the desperation to find effective therapeutics.

At Protea we keep it very simple. There are three areas we treat:

Heavy metals
Intestinal health
Food sensitivities and allergies

We use a provoked heavy metal test to evaluate levels of toxic heavy metals. If there are metals present in the lab we will discuss options for their elimination.

We test intestinal wellness with a comprehensive digestive stool analysis. Often children and adults with autism have significant intestinal health problems. These issues of digestion can contribute to autism.

We diagnose and eliminate potential food triggers. There are many, many different labs that try to diagnose food allergy. At Protea we use the gold standard elimination challenge diet to discover foods that may be triggering autistic symptoms.

As a father of an Autistic son I understand the financial burden associated with treating Autism. My prices are as follows:

Initial visit: $150
Follow up visits $60
Heavy metal lab: $75
Comprehensive digestion stool analysis: $250
Food allergy testing is free, we only charge the normal office visit fee.

We strictly follow established treatment protocols when treating your child. We also use the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (or ATEC) to evaluate the success of our treatments.

While there is no known cure for Autism, I have seen significant improvement in symptoms using these simple yet effective therapies.

My hCG Weight Loss Journey

2009-11-17T20:48:00.000-08:00

For three years, I had heard rumors about hCG and thought it must be too good to be true. In fact, I advised against it when patients asked my opinion. I have great regret that it took so long for me to research, understand and ultimately experience this incredible protocol for myself. After medical school and starting my practice, I found myself 35 pounds over my ideal weight, and medically diagnosed as obese. I competed in several olympic distance triathalons and began a calorie restricted diet. I regained my hobby of cycling and competed in two endurance races of over 50 miles. Despite all of these changes, I only lost five to ten pounds. I began to see myself at this weight for the rest of my life.

One day I was inspired to look back at Dr. Simeon’s research on hCG and weight loss, conducted over 60 years ago. An associate prescribed the hCG protocol and set me up with a rudimentary program so I could find out for myself if this really worked. I was astonished to find that after the first week, I had lost seven pounds - exactly what all the hype had been talking about. At the end of 35 days, I had lost 35 pounds, and felt more healthy, at home in my own skin, and vibrant than I had in 20 years. Needless to say, I was converted.

From this point forward, I was converted and began to formulate a more comprehensive protocol to use in my practice. NOthing gives me greater joy than to see people’s lives and self-esteem transformed through a simple, safe procedure administered in my practice.

A patient testimonial:

2009-11-17T20:47:00.000-08:00

I was one of those patients that tried to get Brendan interested in hCG as early as when he was a resident at Southwest Naturopathic Clinic and we spent many hours together detoxing the long term metals and toxins that were threatening my mobility and long term health. Because I trust Brendan’s medical judgment I followed his advise, we worked through my many medical issues, one of which is obesity, compounded by long term, untreated gluten intolerance, resulting in many complex auto immune diseases. During the past 3 years, together with Brendan’s constant guidance, he has treated my very complex issues and improved my overall health by 190 degrees. My long term anemia is, for the first time in 40 years, in the normal range. My weight has gone down from 250 to 188 lbs. Although I lost half of the weight, about 30 pounds over the past year with the elimination of gluten from my diet, it was a very slow process. Brendan invited me to be part of the first test group and I have lost another 30 pounds on the protocols that Brendan has designed for me. I have not weighed under 200 pounds since my daughter was born in 1968, and have weighed as much as 367lbs. At 61 years of age I am in better health than I have been in 40 years. I wish to express to Brendan my gratitude for his never faltering enthusiasm for researching, and continually opening up new doors for me. Constantly working to improve my life and my level of health. He deserves every success and his weight loss looks great on him!
Diane M Caruso, Broker
602-787-9444
Fax 602-680-4663

Contemplating the action of progesterone on neural tissue

2009-11-17T20:45:00.001-08:00

There has been a recent explosion of research looking into the positive impact progesterone has on people suffering from traumatic brain injury. In my practice I have had success using nutrients geared towards generating neural growth factors in damaged neural tissue.

The use of acetyl L-carnitine, Coenzyme Q-10 and Alpha Lipoic acid has been shown to restore neural function and enhance mental capacity. When neural growth factors are released it has the effect of re-growing damaged neural tissue.

Progesterone treatments, as seen in the recent research, show effect only when the progesterone is used immediately after the injury. This limits its use to acute treatment. For those who have chronic neural damage, the use of nutrients remains the most effective means of restoring wellness.

Estrogen Dominance

2009-11-17T20:39:00.000-08:00

Estrogen dominance is a condition where there is a relative excess of estrogen compared to progesterone.

Symptoms include:
1- Premenstrual anxiety
2- Breast swelling and pain
3- Irregular menstruation with excessive or deficient flow
4- Increased sensitivity to pain
5- Increased sugar cravings
6- Depression
And more.

What is occurring is estrogen is hyper-priming the tissue without the temperance of progesterone. As the body ages, the ovaries produce less progesterone. The adrenal glands make up for this by making progesterone instead of cortisol.

When there is stress, exposure to allergenic food or sickness, the adrenal glands will stop making so much progesterone and preferentially make cortisol instead. Stress of any kind can induce estrogen dominance.

In neural tissue, estrogen blocks the production of seratonin and melatonin. This causes depression, anxiety, sugar cravings, insomnia and a general sense of malaise. Estrogen also reduces the output of endorphins, enhancing the perception of pain.

My approach to estrogen dominance includes enhancing the liver's ability to process and eliminate excess estrogen, promote natural progesterone production and enhance proper hormone metabolism.

I have developed a nutrient mixture dedicated to restoring hormone balance. It includes Vitamin B-6, B-12, Methionine, Inositol and Choline. The nutrient is delivered as an injection administered in our office 2 times a week.

We call this the FemShot, call today 480-557-9095 to come in and try it out.

Take the Androgen Deficiency In The Aging Male Quiz:

2009-11-17T20:37:00.000-08:00

Do you have a decrease in libido (sex drive)?
Do you have a lack of energy?
Do you have a decrease in strength and/or endurance?
Have you lost height?
Have you noticed a decreased enjoyment of life?
Are you sad and/or grumpy?
Are your erections less strong?
Have you noticed a recent deterioration in your ability to play sports?
Are you falling asleep after dinner?
Has there been a recent deterioration in your work performance?

If you answered several of these correct then you may have lowered testosterone. Labwork can help to diagnose and understand the cause of testosterone deficiency.
480-557-9095

Non Surgical Weight Loss Stays Off!

2009-01-20T22:34:00.000-08:00

Recently in the International Journal of Obesity, it was shown people who lost weight through lifestyle changes were as likely to keep the weight off as those who receive weight loss surgery. Overall weight loss was around 123lbs in both groups. while both groups did gain weight over the first year they both maintained a weight loss of 30lbs over 5 years.

Further the study concluded those who lost weight with exercise and diet had a lower risk of depression and suicide than the surgery group. Suicide rates as published in the New England Journal of Medicine for surgical weight loss patients is 58% higher than in the normal population.

One of the biggest differences between the groups is the use of diet and exercise by the lifestyle group and the lack by the surgical group.

Sources:
International Journal of Obesity January 2009
New England Journal of Medicine August 2007

Ear Infections.

2009-01-12T23:35:00.000-08:00

Otitis Media (OM) can be a source of stress in a family. Affecting 2/3 of children below the age of 5 OM is extremely common. Symptoms of OM include:

Headache,
Ear tugging in children
Earache
Itching or other discomfort in the ear or ear canal
Drainage from the ear
Hearing loss
Hearing phenomenon such as buzzing
Fever/chills
Irritability
Malaise(feeling of general illness)
Vomiting
Diarrhea

OM is when the inner ear becomes infected. It begins with the eustacian tube no longer equalizing the pressure between the inner ear and the outside world. At this point if the immune system is weak and the inner ear is colonized with pathogenic bacteria, the bacteria can spawn and cause infection.

Common treatment includes antibiotics, antihistamines and pain relievers. In more severe cases the use of surgical removal of the tonsils, or the implantation of tubes in the ear drum (Myringotomy) to allow drainage of the inner ear and normalization of pressure (possibly relieving pain). The use of myringotomy replacing the tonsillectomy as the treatment of choice.

Myringotomy is very common with over a million procedures done in a year. By way of contrast there around 600,000 tonsillectomies performed in a year in America. The success rate for improvement post surgery of symptoms is only around 50%. In addition to this The Journal of the American Medical Association in 1994 stated that myringotomy was appropriate in only 42% of all cases it reviewed.

This means that 58% of all myringotomies at the time of publication were unnecessary.

Currently the prescription of antibiotics is the treatment of choice for OM. This is in spite of a 1997 study published in the British Medicine Journal that recommended against the use of antibiotics in OM.
the study found:

Frequently OM is self limiting, and there is no proven benefit to the use of antibiotics in OM.
The use of antibiotics does not shorten the course of OM, it does not prevent re occurrence of OM and it does not lessen symptoms of OM.
While mastoiditis (infection of the mastoid- a section of bone behind the ear) is a concern, there is no evidence that the use of antibiotics prevents mastoid infection.

While we feel better using antibiotics in children with OM it is not always the correct treatment. There are times OM requires antibiotics, and I have written antibiotics in those cases. The use of antibiotics though, must be secondary to seeking the cause.

The cause:
90% of children with OM have some allergy, either to food or to the environment. This allergy causes inflammation of the eustacian tube, thereby closing it and causing the cascade as seen earlier. Elimination of the allergic reaction is the single best approach to OM.

Allergy to food often begins in the first year of life. Common causes include:

If a child is weaned too early. Cited here
When the mother consumes common allergens during breast feeding
When a child is pre-maturely introduced to foods, especially common allergens

Common allergens from most to least common:

Cows milk
Wheat
Egg
Peanut
Soy
Corn
Tomato
Chicken
Apple

Allergy list cited here, and here.

Through the elimination of the most common allergens we see the best cure rates (around 90%)

If your child has chronic ear infections, it is worth your time to consult with a naturopathic doctor to review the possibility of food allergy as a possible cause.

Osteoporosis

2009-01-12T22:03:00.000-08:00

The risk factors for developing osteoporosis are largely genetic. If your mother had osteoporosis, chances are you will have issues with maintaining your bone density as well. Like many of the diseases I write about, the amount of people that suffer osteoporosis has been increasing over the years.

If your Mother had osteoporosis and your grandmother had osteopenia (mild bone loss) but your great grandmother was fine what does that mean?

It could mean we have better ways of detecting and diagnosing bone density. It could mean since we live longer there is a greater period of time for you to develop osteoporosis. Or it could be something a little closer to home, such as our lifestyle.

We know for a fact that bone density relies strongly on several factors.

Increased intake of calcium and magnesium. Calcium provides the structure, while magnesium allows a certain amount of "give". This helps to make strong bones (calcium) that are not brittle (magnesium)
Regular exercise including light weight lifting. 3 hours a week of exercise is shown to maintain bone density and in some cases reverse bone density loss.
Minerals such as boron and silicon. Boron helps to activate vitamin D, and Silicon improves the cross linking of collagen allowing for a stronger bone matrix.
Vitamin D to maintain bone density. Vitamin D assists in the absorption of calcium from the diet. it also promotes the storage of calcium in bone.
A diet rich in alkaline foods, such as leafy greens. The higher our diet is in acidic foods, the more our body will spill calcium into the kidneys to be lost in urination. an alkaline diet promotes the maintenance of bone integrity.

Nutrition and exercise plays a massive role in bone density. Studies exploring the standard American diet (SAD) show that over 50% of Americans fail to eat even one serving of vegetables a day. Without the intake of the essential co-factors as listed above bone density is lost. While supplementing with nutrients and vitamins is very helpful it can not take the place of a healthy diet.

In my practice it is important to first restore health via diet, and exercise. once the corner stones are in place we can add in nutrients like a calcium magnesium supplement along with Vitamin D. Through lab work and dexa scans we can monitor bone density ans measure our success. and at the same time significantly improve health.

The Role Of Vitamin D In Pain

2009-01-07T08:15:00.000-08:00

According to a 2006 National Center for Health Statistics Report: 76.5 million Americans have some form of musculo-skeletal pain (statistics here). That is fully 1/4 of the population. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculo-Skeletal and Skin Diseases advocates taking time off and over the counter pain relievers. (report here)

While this strategy is easy to follow it is not clinically effective. Treating musculo-skeletal pain in the clinic can be very frustrating. Common modalities used are electric stimulation to ease muscle spasm, acupuncture, spinal manipulation, topical creams and herbs such as turmeric and ginger to reduce inflammation. But the darling of any protocol involving musculo-skeletal pain is the ever underestimated Vitamin D.

We all think of Vitamin D as the nutrient added to milk to enhance bone growth in children and to prevent rickets. Often overlooked is the role Vitamin D plays in Cancer, diabetes, obesity, schizophrenia, autoimmune diseases and Most definitely musculo-skeletal pain.

Research shows the epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency is widespread with 40% of the population showing deficiency upon random blood testing. 76% of all pregnant mothers are severely vitamin D deficient. This may account for the increase in type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and arthritis we see in the general population.(reported here)

in the December 2003 Mayo Clinic Proceedings, there was an interesting Study on the incidence of musculo-skeletal pain and low vitamin D. They found that 92% of patients complaining of musculo-skeletal pain had lowered vitamin D levels. And 100% of the patients with darker skin pigmentation had low Vitamin D. (here)

How is this possible? How does vitamin D deficiency cause pain? Published in the same edition of the journal of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, the means by which vitamin D causes pain is detailed (here):

Low Vitamin D causes us to absorb less calcium from our diet
The Parathyroid gland draws calcium from bone to maintain correct levels of blood calcium
The Parathyroid gland increases the urinary loss of phosphorus.
Without phosphorus the body makes an un-mineralized type of collagen to surround bone.
Un-mineralized collagen swells when hydrated. This swelling presses against pain receptors in the joint causing the symptoms of musculo-skeletal pain.

The impact of vitamin D in my treatment of low back pain has been nothing short of amazing. Patients who tried everything from injection therapy to back surgery have had complete resolution of symptoms with vitamin D supplementation.

Is It Right For You?
Vitamin D is a Fat Soluble vitamin meaning it must be taken with caution. Overdosing vitamin D via sunlight exposure is impossible, but through oral supplements it is very possible and dangerous. In order to establish a correct diagnosis of low vitamin D I order a simple blood test. The test is covered by insurance and is very accurate. The test lets us plan on how long and how much Vitamin D would be effective.

If you feel you may have a vitamin D deficiency I strongly recommend you see your physician (preferably a Naturopath) and get tested. Vitamin D is inexpensive, and very available. One of the brands I prefer is Metabolic Maintenance. It is prescription grade and one of the best prices on the market-Metabolic Maintenance Vitamin D-3, 2000 IU - 120 Capsules

You Are Eating A Colorie Restricted Diet and Still Cant Loose Weight

2009-01-06T14:13:00.000-08:00

Diet is a critical component to good health. We all know "junk foods" reduce our wellness, raise our weight and have a significant impact on our long-term health. But what if it wasn't just junk food? What if it was something we thought of as being healthy?

A large part of the success I have in practice is the simple elimination of potentially allergenic foods from my patients diet. Thyroids begin to work, blood pressure medications are reduced, type 2 diabetes resolves.

Our immune system runs on protein. It looks for specific proteins that don't belong and reacts to them. Often the protein is thought of as being benign and a part of our diet.
Symptoms of a food sensitivity can be pretty significant:

* Autoimmune diseases of any kind, thyroid, diabetes myasthenia gravis, etc

* Respiratory symptoms like snoring, asthma, chronic cough and ear infection

* Neurological symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, depression and dementia

* Skin issues like acne, psoriasis, dandruff, eczema and rosacea

* Malabsorption symptoms like poor energy, chronic fatigue, difficulty concentrating, vitamin and mineral deficiency symptoms

* Metabolism problems like weight gain, weight loss, moodiness, chills, addictions

* Gastric symptoms such as Irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, gastro esophageal reflux, ulcers
* Genital reproductive disorders include infertility, chronic miscarriage, genital thrush.

-

If food intolerance is not treated, and suppressed by over-the-counter (or worse- prescription) medications, specific diseases may occur, including:

* Atherosclerosis

* Bowel cancer

* Anemia

* Osteoporosis

* Celiac disease

* Chron's disease

* Multiple sclerosis

* Rheumatoid arthritis

* High blood pressure

* Graves disease

* Hashimoto's thyroiditis

* Sjogren's Syndrome

-And many others

How do you figure out if a food is causing you all this discomfort? Sometimes it is a simple act of looking at your diet and evaluating it for excessive amounts of any one kind of food. Once you pick the food out you eliminate it from your diet for 2 weeks. If you see symptoms disappear then you know you have solved the mystery.

When do you need a visit with me? When your symptoms are complex and you are unsure where to begin. I put together a customized hypoallergenic diet and set a time table for elimination and re-introduction.

The best part of doing this dietary protocol on my patients is the results and rate of cure. After we have found the food that is causing symptoms and removed it, the patient experiences an almost miraculous turn around in health.

Folic Acid For Depression

2009-01-06T12:29:00.000-08:00

According to the Journal of Affective Disorders, 1/3 of depressive patients have an outright Folic Acid deficiency. Folic Acid plays a role in the production of the neurotransmitters Dopamine, Seratonin, Epinephrine and Norepinephrine

Patients that have low success with common anti-depressants tend to have low blood levels of Folic Acid. The addition of Folic Acid to these patients tends to cause the anti-depressant to work or more commonly causes the patients symptoms of depression to fade.

Folic Acid when combined with pharmaceuticals is shown to reduce the depth and length of depressive states in major depressive disorder far more efficiently than pharmaceuticals alone.

Folic Acid deficiency is associated with diseases like: Neural Tube Defects, Cardiovascular Disease and Depression. While the advent of using pre-natal vitamins has lowered the incidents of Neural Tube Defects, the same cant be said for Depression and Cardiovascular Disease.

Folic Acid is found in leafy green vegetables, beans, legumes, citrus fruit, yeast and liver. With the Standard American Diet being so deficient in leafy green vegetables and nutrient dense foods, It is no wonder we have such a high percentage of the population experiencing Folic Acid deficiency induced diseases.
A common hurdle to eating leafy greens is knowing how to cook them

The current RDA for Folic Acid is around 400mcg (more for pregnancy and lactation). The therapeutic doses of Folic Acid for depression is much higher.

Should you take high levels of Folic acid? Not without a Doctors care and definitly not if you have a history of convulsions or are taking anti-convulsive medications. Knowing how much to dose depends upon symptoms, how much you have in your blood (can be found in a simple blood test) and most importantly the dose will depend on the kind of Folic Acid you are using.

The cost of Folic Acid as a supplement is relatively inexpensive, while the positive effect can be far reaching. If you have Depression or Dysthmia (low grade depression) consult with your Physician (preferably Naturopathic) on what dose and what form of Folic Acid would be to your benefit.
The version of Folic acid that has some of the best absorption and is supported in the research is Thorne Research 5-MTHF (5-Methyltetrahydrofolate) 60 Capsules