Welcome to 2012!

Where oh where did 2011 go? It seems like it arrived one day and then was nearly over the next. Despite being so seemingly quick, 2011 was a pretty good year. We were very fortunate to have two excellent physicians, Dr. Retz and Dr. Purcell, join our office and both are now accepting new patients. We also continued to receive great feedback from our patients regarding the level of care they received at the clinic. Everyone at the clinic appreciates this feedback because we all aim to offer our patients with the highest quality medical care available. We will continue to do our best to help keep you healthy and happy in 2012.

The beginning of a new year is always a time of resolutions, and undoubtedly many people have vowed that this will be their year to get active and healthy. We feel the same way, and because we not only talk the talk, but walk the walk, several of us have committed to an 8-mile obstacle course race, named the Spartan Race. Dr. DiCampli, Dr. Marchese, Dr. Retz, Dr. Psenka, and our medic Mark Powell have all signed up. If you see one of these brave people make sure to cheer them on!

We have some events happening at the clinic in the next two months which may be helpful in reaching those resolution goals. On January 19th at 6:00pm Dr. Marchese will be hosting a talk on her famous 21 day detox. This is an excellent chance to come and learn the best way to go on a detox from an expert in the field.

Dr. Purcell author of the cookbook Feed Your Cells, is hosting a talk on February 15th. Dr. Purcell will be discussing how to prepare meals that will nourish your body and prevent disease. Below is a short article by Dr. Purcell explaining her thoughts on cellular nutrition.

If losing some weight and toning up your muscles in on your agenda for 2012, then our newest program at LMHC is for you. We have come up with a personalized diet and exercise program which teaches people how to eat for health and how to exercise safely and efficiently. Our program provides dietary guidance based on each person's individual metabolic needs. Learning how much to eat and when to eat is just as important as learning what to eat. It is just as important to know how to exercise correctly. Knowing how to exercise to achieve specific results without causing harm or excessive strain can make or break a new exercise routine. Weekly check-ins and in office exercise sessions help to keep participants on track. If dropping some weight, gaining strength, improving self esteem, and learning how to maintain these things far into the future, then this is the program you want to choose. Need one more reason to sign up? This six week program is 30% off until February 1. Call the office today to get started.

Feeding Your Cells

By Dr. Andrea Purcell

Have you ever thought about eating as feeding your cells?

Well that’s exactly what we are doing every single time we eat. When we eat we provide our body with healthy fats, clean proteins, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and minimal sugars. This allows for our bodies to run efficiently, cleanly, converting the food to energy, and eliminating the waste products.

Medical nutrition is the foundation of natural integrative medicine.

What we eat can either bring us closer to health or closer to disease based on what we choose.

Prevention through nutrition is incredibly powerful for decreasing inflammation in the body, hormone balancing and proper body weight control.

Being an advocate of natural medicine is so satisfying because when people regain their health, they have better, more fulfilling lives.

For years I have been assisting my patients with food plans, shopping lists, nutrition and dietary advice, and for years my patients have been asking me to recommend cookbooks for them.

The problem I encountered with most cookbooks is that they are slanted in a particular direction, for example, many of the recipes in vegetarian cookbooks rely heavily on dairy and refined carbohydrates. Today many gluten free cookbooks are gluten free but contain unhealthy sugar, oils, and more refined carbohydrates. As you can see this led to frustration for both my patients and myself.

After 10 years of private practice I decided to write my own cookbook. It is a gluten free guide to healthy eating.

It contains simple whole food recipes, and it gives easy kitchen tips for food preparation.

It is geared towards everyday people who want to use food to prevent disease. The focus is foods that are nourishing and anti-inflammatory. The goal is to help feed your body at a cellular level. Eating this way decreases body inflammation and promotes health.

So go ahead and start Feeding Your Cells, your body will thank you!

November's Healthy News You Can Use

Greetings Health Seekers!

November is always a welcome time of year in Arizona. The summer heat has faded and it's once again possible to venture outside into the desert. Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and the time to start thinking about those New Year's resolutions is coming up fast. No doubt many people will decide that 2012 will be their year for health. Whether the goal is to eat healthier, lose weight, decrease stress, or get in shape we want you to know that our office is here to help.

We always seem to have a lot of things happening at Longevity Medical, and this month is no different. In the coming weeks we will begin offering a new physician supervised weight loss and exercise program. Our new program will teach people not only how to eat correctly but also provide a personalized exercise prescription complete with one-on-one physical training. Join Dr. Psenka on December 14th for a free introductory lecture. If losing weight and adopting a more healthy lifestyle is one of your goals for 2012, then you don't want to miss this talk.

We are also pleased to announce that Dr. Andrea Purcell, ND will be joining our practice in January 2012. Dr. Purcell is a graduate of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and will be coming to us from a successful private practice in Orange County, California. Dr. Purcell has many interests in medicine including the use of ozone therapy, botanical medicine, prolozone, homeopathy, and women's medicine. Dr. Purcell has also recently published a cookbook titled "Feed Your Cells," which has many delicious recipes for healthy eating. Learn more about Dr. Purcell by reading her biography.

We're also very excited that Dr. Purcell, like Dr. Retz who is already practicing at our office, ambos hablan español con fluidez.

However, not everything about November is turkey and gravy....November also has the distinction of being Diabetes Awareness Month. In the US today there are roughly 26 million Americans who have diabetes, and there are another 79 million others who are at high risk for developing type II diabetes. Alarmingly, every 17 seconds another person is diagnosed. The most astonishing thing about diabetes is that this disease is largely PREVENTABLE. So, with the season of eating right around the corner, here is a quick calculation to determine how many calories your body really needs.

• Step One: Convert your weight to kilograms by dividing by 2.2
• Step Two: Men and women between 31 and 60 years old should then multiply their weight in kilograms by 0.0484 then add 3.6535.
• Step Three: Multiple the total from step two by 240. This gives your basal metabolic rate (BMR)
• Step Four: Adjust for daily activity level. Multiple the BMR by 1.1 for mild daily activity, 1.3 for moderate daily activity, and by 1.5 for strenuous daily activity.

The number generated in step four is an activity adjusted BMR. For most people this represents the number of calories needed daily to maintain their weight. Eat less than this to promote weight loss, or more to gain weight. Just don't forget to exercise too! to learn more about starting a personalized diet and exercise program be sure to attend our free lecture on December 14th.

Our resident detox doc, Dr. Marianne Marchese, has written an article this month on detoxification for Women's Health. Dr. Marchese will also be hosting a free lecture on detoxification and the best ways to implement a 21-day cleanse on January 19th at 6:00pm.

Detoxification for Women's Health by Marianne Marchese, ND

Chemicals in the environment can disrupt the normal activity of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and other hormones in women. These chemicals are known as “hormone” or “endocrine disrupting compounds”. Women are exposed to hormone disrupting compounds every day, often without knowing it. The exposure to chemicals is coming from numerous sources including;

1. Pesticides on found on fruits and vegetables

2. Non-organic meat and dairy products tainted with dioxins

3. Fish that have high levels of mercury and pesticides

4. Bisphenol-A and phthalates in plastic beverage bottles, tablecloths, shower curtains, and plastic food wrappings, and plastic food storage containers

5. Unfiltered well water and city water

6. Household cleaning products, cosmetics, perfumes, dry cleaning, carpet, and vinyl floors

7. Furniture air fresheners, mattresses, and shampoos

Studies have shown that low-dose daily exposure to these chemicals can affect women’s health. These chemicals affect the hormonal system leading to such conditions as infertility, fibroids, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, thyroid disease and more.

Chemicals that build up in the body will start to affect a woman’s health if they are not removed. The basic principle behind detoxification is to remove the toxins stored in your body. This is done by releasing chemicals from fat tissue, organs and extracellular spaces that have been stored for years. Once they are released, they will re-enter the blood stream and will be metabolized through the liver. This is where it is critical to support liver phase-one and phase-two detoxification pathways. Next, the organs of elimination need to be supported to get the toxic byproducts produced from the liver out of the body.

The four steps in detoxification include mobilizing stored toxins, supporting liver metabolism, elimination from the body, and avoid re-exposure to chemicals in the environment. The first part of detoxification involves getting the stored toxins to be released back into the blood stream. Dr. Marchese explains detoxification in depth in her best-selling book “8 Weeks to women’s Wellness” The book is available at Naturopathic Family Care or online at Amazon.

Dr. Marchese will be giving a free lecture on this topic and talking people through a 21 day cleanse Thursday Jan 19th 2012 at 6pm at Naturopathic Family Care.

Naturopathic News October 2011

Welcome to the October 2011 edition of our Naturopathic News. There are many things happening at the clinic this month, and lots of opportunities for healthy learning and living.

We are very pleased to announce that Dr. Michelle Retz, ND will be joining our practice this month. Dr. Retz has many medical interests, including metabolic disorders such as diabetes, and Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture. If you would like to learn more about Dr. Retz you can read her biography by clicking here. She has also written a great article on colds and flus which is below.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Dr. Psenka has written an article covering some new research regarding a non-toxic treatment for hot flashes that can be safely used by women with breast cancer. Additionally, we have posted a lecture on preventing breast cancer that was presented at the Wellness Community last year by Dr. Psenka. He will also be presenting this lecture at our office at 6:30 on October 27th. This presentation is full of useful information about the best method for beating breast cancer- preventing it. If you can't make the presentation it can also be viewed here.

Every now and then we like to let our readers know about another Arizona business that we like. There has been quite a bit of research done lately suggesting that it is not just the exposure to environmental toxins that causes disease, but the timing of exposure as well. It appears that exposures during childhood may "set the stage" for future health problems. The potential to prevent children from experiencing future health problems was the driving force behind a new preschool that has moved into our neighborhood. Natural Choice Academy is Phoenix's first all-natural preschool. The school provides only filtered water, and serves organic foods planted by the kids and grown on site. The preschool was also built using only the least toxic materials available, from VOC-free paints, to organic bedding for all the cots and cribs. This is a great concept and kudos to the owners for making it happen!

Have you "liked us" on Facebook? You should. Last week we offered one hour massages for $40. Who knows what sort of special we'll post next week.....

Colds and Flus

by Michelle Retz, ND

We are quickly approaching cold and flu season. One of the questions I am most frequently asked is, “Starve a cold and feed a fever, or feed a cold and starve a fever?” The answer is…, “Starve both!” Ironic as it may seem, a cold is NOT an illness, it’s a cleansing, detoxification process. A cold or flu is simply an acute presentation of an internal disease state, or a short-term state of toxins building up in the body.

Why do so many colds and flus occur in the fall and winter, in comparison to the warmer times of the year? There are several factors that contribute to this process. Simply getting a chill from the change in weather can cause a cold. Chills cause the blood vessels to constrict, making toxins less likely to be released through the skin. As the skin is the largest detox organ in our bodies, when it shuts off, toxins (from bacteria and viruses, as well as the environment) naturally build up. If the other detox organs, such as the liver and digestive system, can’t pick up the slack, they continue to circulate and be reabsorbed. If your vitality, or ability to heal, is low, say from overwork, poor diet, lack of sleep, stress or anxiety, nutrient deficiencies, lack of hygiene, lack of fresh air or sunlight, or lack of exercise, toxins are more likely to build up.

So is a fever a good or bad thing? A fever is a sign that the body’s vital force, its ability to heal itself, is working very hard to kill whatever bug or toxin is in the system. Bacteria and viruses love to live at 98.6 degrees, but they can’t survive at 100-103 degrees. So the body increases its temperature to kill the invader. The entire process of creating a fever to kill a bug may be a very unenjoyable situation, but perfect in its application. The trouble is, we are taught that fevers are a sign of increasing illness and an indication that we are losing the battle against the bug. NOT SO! Think about it…why would our bodies make us feel achy, lose our appetite, and want to do nothing more than lay around and sleep? So they can expend every ounce of energy getting rid of the illness. Your body is trying to stop you in your tracks so that it can solely focus on one thing, getting well.

Studies show that fevers are a good thing, and actually INCREASE survival. And suppressing fevers with Tylenol or Ibuprofen increases the time we are sick, and our chances of becoming severely ill, or even dying. There are some common fears surrounding fevers, like,”My child’s brain will boil,” or a fever seems dangerous, like the body doesn’t know what it’s doing. In truth, brains do not “boil” unless a fever gets above 106°F. There are safe ranges of fevers, and temperatures at which we should naturally begin to worry. A good, safe fever that will kill an infection is usually 102-103°F. However, I will caution you that a fever is no indication of how bad an illness is when it comes to little ones and the elderly. Toddlers will get an ear infection, have a fever of 105°F, and be up and running around. Adults usually make fevers around 100-103°F. Seniors may not make a fever, even if they are seriously ill. But in general, for good long-term health, it’s a good thing to get sick, cleanse, and spike a fever once a year. At the very least, it lets us know that we are healthy enough to get sick, and that our immune systems are healthy enough to fight infection.

How do we set ourselves up to be sick? Diet is a big one. During the summer we eat cold, sugary foods like ice cream, but in general we snack, eat hot dogs, and drink soda. Sugar is a #1 contributor to decreasing your immune system. Even 1 tablespoon of sugar can decrease your immune system for 8 hours! In the summer it’s hot, so it’s much easier for the body to stay at 98.6 degrees. But when fall comes, the body has to work harder to stay at that temperature. Anything that stands in its way of doing so must be eliminated, like toxins from bugs. So we usually get sick around the time that fall begins, it’s the body’s housecleanin g party. This simple, quick cleansing process helps the body to be better prepared to face the winter.

So we recognize this cleansing process as short-term illness, the common cold or flu. Toxins that build up start to interfere with the body’s normal function, which weakens the immune system. The body is clogged up! A bacteria or virus takes advantage of this situation, and comfortably settles into our system, creating an immune reaction, stimulating our bodies to get rid of it. This “cleansing” to us looks like a cough, runny nose, vomiting, or even diarrhea. We feel achy, fatigued, and lose our appetite. How could that possibly be beneficial? Your body doesn’t want you to spend energy on anything else other than fighting the bug. Your muscles become sore, you feel tired, and you don’t want to eat, because being active and eating foo d takes energy away from fighting an infection. And your body is doing everything it can to tell you to rest and fast, so that it can focus on ridding itself of this bug.

Even with our good intentions to be healthy, what are we doing wrong? Typically the things we’ve been taught to treat ourselves during illness actually go against the body’s ability to heal itself. Any over-the-counter medicines that suppress symptoms you have are suppressing your body’s ability to heal itself. Yes, you will feel better in the short-term, but your illness will last much longer than if you had just allowed your body the chance to fight the bug and heal itself, in the best way it knows how. Decongestants, antitussives , anti-diarrheals, drugs that reduce fevers, all prevent the body from getting rid of toxins from bacteria and vir uses. So you feel better sooner, and the bugs get to hang around longer, driving the illness deeper inside the body. Instead of your cold or flu lasting one week, it could last 3-6 weeks. And instead of having a simple head cold, you may wind up bronchitis or pneumonia.Suppression of the natural healing process leads to decreased immune factors, and a lack of excretion of infectious toxins, causing them to build up and damage more organ systems.

What will help your immune syste m fight harder? How can you get better faster? The best things to do when you’re not feeling w ell are common sense things we already know. And they are actually the most benefical, and effective. If you’re not hungry, don’t eat! Fluids, like water and teas, are important to keep us hydrated. If you begin to have an appetite, eat clean, and light: vegetable broths and soups, lightly cooked or steamed vegetables, white meats like turkey and chicken, brown rice, and avoid sugar, soda, alcohol, and caffeine. If you are achy, tired, or sleepy, REST! Your immune system is actually increased by 10 times if you simply lay down, even if you don’t sleep! So ignore our society’s standard that we must always go, go, go, no matter what is happening in our lives, and allow your self 2-3 days to pause, heal, and recoop. You will be healthy much faster if you do. Additi onally, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, nutrient supplementation and IV’s can be very beneficial, so please consult your naturopath to assist you in any way possible. Honor the process, and the wisdom your body was given to do the incredible things it does. As complex as we are, it’s amazing that we don’t break down at every second! So thank your body for ONLY having a cold or flu, in order to keep you as healthy as you can be, so you can continue to be your best.

Magnesium & Hot Flashes

By Jake Psenka, ND

Hot flashes are one of the most common and irritating conditions experienced by women. They are often experienced by women going through menopause and also frequently encountered as an unpleasant side effect of breast cancer therapy. Anti-estrogen drugs such as Arimidex and Tamoxifen are notable promoters of hot flashes.

The ideal treatment for hot flashes would be one that:

a) Was effective at decreasing both the frequency and intensity of the hot flash

b) Didn’t interfere with other drugs

c) Was safe and didn’t cause more problems that it was fixing.

Unfortunately, very few effective treatments are available which decrease both the frequency and severity of hot flashes. Occasionally SSRI drugs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are used to control hot flashes. However, concerns exist about these medications interfering with the metabolism and effectiveness of anti-estrogen drugs including Tamoxifen. The SSRI drugs, which are mostly used to treat depression, also come with some less than exciting side effects of their own. Botanical medicines such as black cohosh (cimicifuga racemosa) are frequently used however there are some doctors have voiced concerns about the use of this plant in cancer patients. While botanical medicines are much less likely to have unpleasant side effect than drug therapy, they do not seem to provide reliable relief from hot flashes in all patients.

A study published recently in Supportive Cancer Care described magnesium oxide as a potentially effective treatment for hot flashes. Magnesium seems to be an ideal candidate, it’s very safe, doesn’t interfere with anti-estrogen therapies, and according to the study is relatively effective. This study used magnesium oxide at either 400mg or 800mg doses per day for 4-weeks in breast cancer patients. Both the frequency and severity of hot flashes were measured. Severity was assessed using a “hot flash score,” which was defined as frequency x severity.

The frequency of hot flashes decreased by 41%. There was also a 50% reduction in the hot flash score compared to baseline. Study participants reported improvements in sweating, distress, and fatigue. Two women reported experiencing headaches, and another two reported grade-1 diarrhea (diarrhea is graded 1-4 with 4 being the worst). Considering the effectiveness and excellent safety profile of magnesium, the authors concluded that this treatment was worthy of additional study.

A magnesium dosage of 800mg is considered to be an optimal intake by many healthcare professionals. It is also interesting to note that magnesium levels have been found to be decreasing rapidly over the past 100 years. Inadequate intake of foods containing magnesium is likely to be responsible for this. It is also important to point out that many drugs can induce a magnesium deficiency including antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, corticosteroids, and laxatives. Alcohol is another potent promoter of magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium is a very safe mineral, with diarrhea being the most frequently encountered side effect. Dosages of 800mg may produce loose stool in some people, with others being able to tolerate much higher dosages. This potential side effect can also make magnesium effective in some cases of constipation.

Remember, it is important to remember that when taking magnesium is it important to supplement with calcium as well. This is especially true for those who are post-menopausal, and those who have previously been treated with chemotherapy or radiation and are thus at increased risk for osteoporosis.

Reference: Support Cancer Care, 2011, 19:859-863.

August - National Immunization Awareness Month

Our patients often come to us with questions about our stance on immunizations. The answer is that immunization choices are best made by the parents and what they believe are the best for their children. Our job are health care providers is to educate our patients so that they can make an informed decisions on what is best for their children.

To learn more about immunizations we invite you all to attend a free informational discussion hosted by Dr. Jesika DiCampli on Wednesday, August 24th 6pm at NFC.

In this edition of the NFC Newsletter:

Dr. DiCampli discusses possible adverse reactions to vaccines

Dr. Phranq Tamburri writes on the latest and cutting edge testing for prostate cancer risk assessment

And. . .

A Good Bye and Tribute to Dr. Konrad Kail by Dr. Shahrzad Orona
A pioneer and giant in the world of natural medicine, Dr. Konrad Kail died July 18, 2011, after a two and a half year battle with brain cancer.

To his patients, Dr. Kail was an invaluable asset. His combination of research and care combined with his background in conventional medicine and his innovation in natural remedies. Among his chief contributions were the NEAT allergy protocol and thyroflex device, which simplified and advanced treatment of often overlooked imbalances.

To his colleagues, Dr. Kail was a leader. Beginning his practice in the 1980s, when natural medicine was on the fringe of treatment in Arizona, Dr. Kail boldly established a clinic where eventually dozens of doctors would heal patients and hundreds of students would learn
his practices and discoveries.

Unlike many, Dr. Kail was unafraid to share medical knowledge and generously volunteered his findings and methods. On the myriad natural health boards he served, Dr. Kail patiently earned respect to accompany the fondness he engendered in fellow doctors.

And to his faith in natural medicine, Dr. Kail remained steadfast. He treated himself with conventional and natural methods, prolonging and enriching his last years to spend them with his beloved wife, Petie, with whom he built his medical legacy and beautiful life.

Could your child have an Allergic reaction to the aluminum in vaccines? by Dr. Jesika DiCampli

According to the European Journal of Pediatrics, there were cases of persistent pruritic nodules (intensely itchy lumps) at injection site reported after the use of several Aluminum adsorbed vaccines (DT/aP/polio+Hib) during vaccine trials in the 1990s (645 cases/76,000 recipients). Of these reactions, 77% were associated with aluminum allergy. Some children were skin tested for aluminum and all had positive reactions indicating delayed hypersensitivity to Aluminum. The median time between vaccination and onset of symptoms was 1 month, and symptoms can persist for up to 7 years.

The condition is important to recognize, as the child may suffer considerably. Future vaccinations with Aluminum containing vaccines may cause aggravation of the symptoms/allergy. Even though the incidence of itching nodules and aluminum allergy after administration of certain vaccines is probably low, research to replace aluminum containing vaccines seems appropriate.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16044278


Do you know the Arizona state vaccine requirements?
http://www.nvic.org/Vaccine-Laws/state-vaccine-requirements/arizona.aspx

Come to Dr. DiCampli’s Talk on Vaccines to become more informed….


Latest News in Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment by Dr. Phranq Tamburri

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/medical/cancer/story/2011/08/Urine-test-may-help-predict-prostate-cancer-risk/49790014/1

A new non-invasive test has been reported for the early detection and current staging of prostate cancer. It is a urine test called testing for genetic molecular by-products TMPRSS2: ERG and PCA3. Now, despite the cumbersome title, this test is really an enhancement of a fairly modern but obscure prostate cancer test that Longevity Medical Health Center has pioneered since 2007. The test referred to is the PCA3 test; this is the second part of the new test mentioned above. You see, the PCA3 urine test has been used in Europe for years as an advanced screening tool that had been found much superior to a simple PSA screen. Recent research has found the PCA3 molecular urine test to be between 65-75% accurate in predicting cancer of the prostate. In the challenge of determining true prostate cancer risk, these are welcome odds. However, they could still be improved. This is the exciting news reported last week in the journal “Science Translational Medicine”. As stated earlier the discovery is not only a new ‘brother’ to the PCA3 called the ERG urine test but a new use for integrating both tests. Since each test is related to subtle differences in prostate cancer risk, the real excitement in this discovery was that linking these 2 tests together could greatly potentate the cancer risk assessment. Unfortunately the ERG test is not yet available although the rare PCA3 test is. Longevity Medical Health Center and Prostate Second Opinions can perform the PCA3 test while giving our patients the first opportunity for the dual urine test once it is released. Please contact our staff or Dr. Tamburri for more information on receiving the PCA3 test.

July News!!!

Naturopathic Family Care and Longevity Medical Health Center is now offering sauna therapy. We are running speacials on sauna and massage packages through the end of July. Call the office for pricing and to schedule your sauna and massage appointment today!
(602) 493-2273

Coming up this July, Dr. Marianne Marchese, leader in Naturopathic Women's Health and Phoenix Magazine's Top Doctor for 2010, will be hosting one of her most popular and highly attended talks,


Flashes! and Sweats! and Dryness! Oh my!
She will be discussing everything you need to know about Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause and Herbs.

Join us for this free health lecture at Naturoapthic Family Care.

Please RSVP for this event

Menopause and Bio-identical Hormones
By Marianne Marchese, ND
Author of 8 Weeks to Women’s Wellness: The Detoxification Plan for Breast Cancer, Endometriosis, Infertility and Other Women’s Health Conditions.
Menopause is a time of transition in a woman’s life. No two women enter into menopause the same and thus can not address the issues that arise with a one-size-fits-all treatment approach. Menopause is a normal part of the aging process that affects women in their 40’s and 50’s. The definition of menopause is the cessation of the menstrual cycle. It is not a disease condition, although is often thought of and treated as a disease. A woman becomes postmenopausal after going an entire year without a menstrual cycle. However, a woman may experience signs and symptoms of menopause years before the menstrual cycle actually stops.

Typical symptoms of menopause:
*Hot flashes
*Night sweats
*Insomnia
*Low libido
*Mood swings
*Vaginal dryness and pain with intercourse
*Hair falling out
*Joint pain
*Decreased memory and concentration


There are several treatment options available to women and as women become more educated about these options they often ask their physician which treatment is best for them. Most often it depends on a woman’s individual risk factors for breast cancer, heart attack, stroke and osteoporosis. Treatment options include bio-identical hormone therapy, botanical/herbal medicine, homeopathy, diet and nutrition, and nutritional supplements. Sometimes the best approach for managing symptoms is a combination or one or more treatments. Some physicians are not trained in all the possible treatment options and may not understand that some herbs interact with medications. A naturopathic physician is probably the best trained in all options available to women. www.naturopathic.org

What are bio-identical hormones?
For decades, women in the U.S. have been prescribed hormones for menopause. In 2001 all that changed with the release of the first large double-blind placebo controlled study on the use of hormones in post-menopausal women. This study was called The Women’s Health Initiative and showed that hormones use had a slight increase in breast cancer risk, stroke and heart attack. [1] However, this study was done using synthetic hormones. A very specific yet commonly prescribed formula of estrogens from horse urine, and synthetic progestins. This study was not done using bio-identical hormones which are very different.

Bioidentical hormones are compounds that have exactly the same chemical and molecular structure as human hormones. In contrast, non-bioidentical, or synthetic, hormones are structurally different from the hormones a woman’s ovary makes. [2] Bio-identical hormones are made both by conventional pharmaceutical companies and compounding pharmacies. The bio-identical hormones made by conventional pharmaceutical companies come with limitations in dosages, and control of additives and fillers. Compounding pharmacies can formulate estrogen plus progesterone pills and creams, estrogen only pills and creams, and can add other bio-identical hormones such as testosterone and DHEA as determined by the physician. The compounded hormones come with unlimited dosing options and the ability to titrate the dose up and down depending on how a woman responds. [2] It allows for more individualization of hormone therapy.

Are bio-identical hormones safer and more effective?
In theory yes they are. But in reality we are just beginning to see research that includes the use of bio-identical hormones. Remember, synthetic hormones were the main choice for hormone therapy in menopause for decades. After the publication of the Women’s health Initiative study, more and more women turned to bio-identical hormones and thus the research has followed. A recent study showed that a combination of bio-identical estradiol, estriol and progesterone has positive effects on symptoms and less risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease. [3] However, a study from 2009 showed an increase risk of ovarian cancer from the use of hormones in menopause regardless of the type of hormone used, (synthetic verses bio-identical), duration of use, or route of administration. [4]

Bio-identical formulas
A woman’s ovary in her younger years mostly produces estradiol (E2), progesterone and testosterone. Estriol (E3) is converted in the body from estriol. Estrone (E1) is the dominant hormone in menopause being converted from another hormone in a woman’s adipose tissue or fat. Most physicians no longer add Estrone to bio-identical hormones due to the slight increase risk of breast cancer from Estrone metabolites. So a formula typically consists of the two estrogens; estradiol and estriol. If a woman has a uterus she MUST have progesterone added to the formula to protect the uterus. Often times a doctor will add testosterone and DHEA as well. Keep in mind that bio-identical testosterone converts to estradiol thus increases the amount of estradiol and possible breast cancer risk. Bio-identical hormones formulation and prescribing can be confusing a woman should seek out a practitioner that has experience and training in order to formulate a product that is right for you.

Who is not a candidate for hormones?
*Personal or family history of breast cancer
*Personal history of ovarian or uterine cancer
*Known clotting disorder or history of blood clots
*Personal history of stroke or TIA (mini-stroke)
*Personal history of heart attack or high risk for heart disease

If you are not a good candidate for bio-identical hormones there are still plenty of options for treating the symptoms of menopause. These include herbal medicines, nutrients, amino acids, bio-flaviniods, homeopathic remedies, and of course diet and nutrition. The goal is to decrease the symptoms of menopause without causing any harmful side effects. At the same time protecting a woman from disease conditions common after menopause, such as osteoporosis, should be included in a comprehensive individualized treatment approach. Learn more at www.drmarchese.com


References
1. Rossouw JE, et al. Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: principal results From the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2002;288(3):321-33.
2. Sood R, et al. Counseling Postmenopausal Women about Bioidentical Hormones: Ten Discussion Points for Practicing Physicians. JABFM. 2011;24:202-210.
3. Holtorf K. The bioidentical hormone debate: are bioidentical hormones (estradiol, estriol, and progesterone) safer or more efficacious than commonly used synthetic versions in hormone replacement therapy? Postgrad Med. 2009 Jan;121(1):73-85.
4. Mørch LS, et al. Hormone therapy and ovarian cancer. JAMA. 2009 Jul 15;302(3):298-305.

Take a Hike for Prostate Cancer
by Dr Psenka

A great study was published this June in the journal Cancer Research. This study looked at the relationship between exercise and the progression of prostate cancer. Previous research has already reported that vigorous activity reduces the risk of prostate cancer related mortality by 61%. There were 1455 men included in this new investigation, all of whom had biopsy-proven, non-metastatic prostate cancer. These men were given questionnaires covering the participants’ physical activity patterns. After a two-year time period the researchers found that the rate of prostate cancer progression was 57% lower among men who walked briskly 3 or more hours per week.

That’s worth repeating: A 57% reduction in prostate cancer progression from walking three hours per week!

This is just one more study showing that there are positive effects that can be had by incorporating exercise into a cancer treatment plan. Imagine a cancer therapy that could boost your immune system, inhibit cancer progression, and significantly reduce stress levels. Now imagine that this therapy didn’t cost anything. That’s exercise. No matter what a person’s exercise ability may be, there is always a way to begin receiving the many benefits of exercise.

New Massage Therapist Joins the Team!

We are pleased to announce that licensed massage therapist and certified medical assistant Jacinta Tsosie has joined the office. Jacinta uses a variety of massage therapies including deep tissue,

Shiatsu, Swedish massage, trigger point therapy, and sports massage. Read more about Jacinta here.

Don't miss our great introductory massage special throughout the months of June and July. Call the office today for details and scheduling.

Bad Bugs Begone!

Recently on the news there were reports of an E. Coli outbreak in Germany that caused illness in an estimated 30,000 people. German officials fingered inadequately washed produce such as sprouts, cucumbers, and lettuce as the source of the bacteria. I also recently diagnosed a gastrointestinal parasite infection in a otherwise healthy patient. One of the possible ways this infection may have occurred was from not washing produce well. In light of both of these events I thought I would pass on an old vegetable and fruit washing tip that's easy, works great, and takes a minimal amount of effort.

Step 1: Fill up your sink with room temperature water.

Step 2: Add one cup of hydrogen peroxide.

Step 3: Add your produce.

Step 4: Let it soak for 10-20 minutes.

Step 5: Rinse and eat (a minimum of 4-5 servings per day)

Sauna Therapy Now Available at the Clinic!

We are excited to tell you that we are now offering sauna therapy to our patients. Saunas are an excellent way to address a variety of health problems. Saunas offer a relaxing and safe approach for promoting detoxification of a number of environmental toxins. Our new state of the art sauna uses infra-red carbon heaters to deliver a powerful and precise heat. The heaters in our sauna are the only heaters to have been researched and found beneficial for human health. In addition to providing heat, our sauna also has optional chromotherapy built in

Chromotherapy, aka. color therapy, uses specialized color-emitting lights to positively effect health.

While sauna therapy has been mainly used to treat toxicity issues, there are several common health problems that can be successfully helped with sauna use. Medical research supports the use of sauna therapy for congestive heart failure, hypertension, and chronic pain. Sauna therapy has been shown to increase quality of life in patients with type-II diabetes and to provide benefits people with asthma or chronic bronchitis. Several studies have found sauna therapy to be effective in alleviating rheumatic pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. Sauna therapy has also been studied as an adjunct to chemotherapy as a way to improve the functioning of the immune system.

Sauna therapy is very safe and even enjoyable to receive. We are offering sauna and massage packages, as well as special detoxification IV's with can be paired with sauna use.

For more information about sauna therapy see our sauna page on the 4wecare.com website.

Are Your Allergies Making You Crazy?!?

Now that spring is here, at last we can step outside and take some time to enjoy the sunshine and the warmer longer days.

However for many people this is not the case. For asthma and allergy sufferers spring can be a difficult time, as they struggle to control their symptoms.

In this edition of the NFC Newsletter Dr. Jesika DiCampli discusses the link between allergies and nervous system function in children and we also have some great information on how to beat asthma and allergies with Austin Air filters.






Helping to Fight Asthma

Today a staggering 24 million Americans suffer from asthma and nearly half of those are children.

It is generally thought the main factors that contribute to asthma are a combination of genetics and our environment.

Environmental factors include dust mites, pollution, pet dander, molds, tobacco smoke and chemicals.

Medications such as inhalers and steroids are used in part, to treat the condition. However sufferers must also avoid these environmental triggers, which is not always easy to do. By using effective air filtration and eliminating indoor pollutants, people can enjoy cleaner air and greatly reduce the risk of an asthma attack.

The filters used in Austin Air cleaners contain True Medical Grade HEPA and activated carbon, which is by far the most effective method of air filtration available. It is this filter technology, together with a unique 360 degree air intake design, that guarantees clean air is delivered faster and more efficiently than any other air cleaner on the market.

To learn more about Austin Air filters, the different types and cost, please contact our office 602-493-2273


FOOD ALLERGY, ADDITIVES, AND ADHD
Dr. Jesika DiCampli

This month the FDA has started investigating food dyes and children’s behavior. The age old question is can these additive dyes cause hyperactivity and behavioral issues? Some say yes and some say no. The Center for Science in the Public Interest wants the FDA to ban eight artificial food dyes particularly Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6, which make up 90 percent of the food dyes on the market. http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/food-dyes-rainbow-of-risks.pdf
Their stance is based on a 2004 meta-analysis. Many of the studies concluded that there, indeed, was a cause-and-effect relationship between food dyes and hyperactivity. The authors stated that dyes “promote hyperactivity in hyperactive children, as measured on behavioral rating scales” and that “society should engage in a broader discussion about whether the aesthetic and commercial rationale for the use of [artificial food colorings] is justified”.

Two recent studies sponsored by the British government on cross-sections of British children found that mixtures of four dyes (and a food preservative, sodium benzoate) impaired the behavior of even non-hyperactive children (Bateman, Warner et al. 2004; McCann, Barrett et al. 2007). As a result, the British government told the food and restaurant industries to eliminate the dyes tested by the end of 2009, and the Europe- an Parliament passed a law that will require a warning notice on all foods that contain one or more of the dyes tested after July 20, 2010. The notice states that the dyed food “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children” (Parliament accessed February 20, 2010).

So why are we having such a difficult time warning/banning these substances in the U.S.? Maybe because it is more cost effective to use the artificial dyes than natural forms. Many companies that distribute to both England and U.S. have been recommended to use natural forms of dyes in England but will not do the same for U.S. unless required.

To learn more about how Additives, dyes, and other food sensitivities could be affecting your child come to Dr. DiCampli’s discussion
Are Your Allergies Making You Crazy?!? on Wed May 18th