IMMUNOLOGY TODAY: January 2019

To stop and heal from any severe or chronic disease requires the addressing of the underlying issues of stress, infection, toxin or nutritional deficiency to create a movement towards health. Using a variety of immuno-active agents, nutritional supplements and detoxifiers we endeavor to reconstitute the immune system to re-engage in the healing process of any Disease- let it be immune deficiency, auto-immune diseases, allergies, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or immune dysfunctions such as cancer.

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Common Allergies Should Not Be Common

Originally published in CREATIONS MAGAZINE : (www.creationsmagazine.com)
by Jesse A. Stoff, M.D., M.D.H., F.A.A.F.P.

By definition, an allergic reaction is defined as a hyper-reactivity toward normally non-immunogenic substances. In English that means that, for any one of a number of reasons, your body is reacting abnormally against something that it shouldn’t with an immunological response, usually because the immune system has sustained some damage.

This time of year many people are suffering with upper respiratory tract allergies with the usual; coughing, sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and the like. Just because it is a common problem for people to have, that doesn’t make it normal nor does it mean that YOU have to be one of the sufferers. At least one out of every 5 Americans suffers from some form of allergies. Common causes of allergy symptoms vary by age group. Children tend to have more food allergies and adults more respiratory tract allergies and both groups get eczema pretty evenly. Of course children can and do get respiratory tract allergies, including asthma, which can be life threatening, but they often have food allergy issues under them and digestive problems under that which make them more reactive.

Anything that undermines your immune system can make allergies worse and predispose you to the development of new ones. The immune system’s complexity rivals that of the central nervous system and is responsible for determining what is threatening us and then protecting us from it. In order for it to do its job it needs good biochemical support, via absorbed nutrients from our digestive tract, and then basically we need to get out of the way and let it do its job.

When my daughter, Summer, gets a small cut on her finger and applies a Band-Aid, she does so with the full expectation that when the Band-Aid is removed a couple of days later, the cut will have been “magically” healed. She is usually rewarded by her faith in her immune system’s healing capacity.

On a macroscopic level, healing appears to us as a miracle or as magic because of all the little elements that go into the repair of the damaged tissue. The removal of foreign material and destruction of harmful bacteria all happens in a microscopic world that is not directly accessible to our unaided eye.

Left to its own devices, the body tends towards health. When someone doesn’t heal well or keeps getting sick or develops new allergies the reason lies in one or more of the five areas that affect the integrity of our immune system:

The first of these is NUTRITION. Nutrition supplies the basic biochemical building blocks that provide the infrastructure for our immune system to function properly. Just eating a broad diet doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get what your immune system needs because there are issues of the quality of the food and the efficiency of the digestive system to be reckoned with.

INFECTION is the second area that affects the functioning of our immune system. Viruses that directly attack immune function like EBV, CMV and HIV will have long term consequences on our ability to protect ourselves from future infections. EBV and CMV are common. More than 96 percent of the population have been exposed to them at some point. Imbalances in the micro-organisms in our digestive tract will also have a profound affect on our immune system.

As a consequence of industrialization, TOXINS now abound throughout our environment. A casual perusal of http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov will give you some small idea of how big and prevalent the problem is. That’s why it is important to limit your exposure to toxins wherever you can such as choosing to eat as much organic food as possible and drinking plenty of pure water, fluoride not included.

TRAUMA is the next agent of immunological suppression. The only form of trauma that can directly hurt our immune system is that which comes from the exposure to radiation. This not only brings to mind Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and Fukushima but also commercial flight. When you are cruising at 35,000 feet, you are above much of the atmosphere that protects us from ionizing radiation. Studies have shown that air flight personnel have a higher incidence of severe and chronic diseases because of this.

The fifth horseman of immunological apocalypse is STRESS. The term stress was coined by Dr. Hans Selye more than 70 years ago. According to Selye, “disease is an attack on any particular aspect of your body or mind that creates a distressed physiology.” Stress is an individual’s non-specific response to any stimulus, conscious or unconscious, physical or physiological. It is such an integral component of our existence that Selye has stated that, “Complete freedom from stress is death.” There are two categories of stress: eustress (characterized by happiness and enjoyment) and distress (characterized by anguish, tension and worry). During distress the adrenal glands secrete the steroid hormone cortisol to excess, and without the normal cycling that usually occurs, thus suppressing immune function. In the course of “normal” life we all have elements of most of the issues that can adversely affect our immune system and thus predispose us to allergies. Things that you can do to minimize this impact include; eating a diet of predominantly organic foods, drinking 8 glasses of clean water per day and get good and adequate sleep. Beyond that, allergy testing can uncover triggers. A clinical nutritionist can further help you with appropriate supplement and nutritional support. Based on your history and physical findings, lab tests can determine the best way to proceed both by answering the question of why your immune system isn’t protecting you as it should and what medical disorders you have now that should be directly addressed. Together this integrated approach can help you to “live long and prosper”.
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Jesse A. Stoff is a highly-credentialed medical expert studying all medical remedies in pursuit of resolving the most challenging health issues of our time. In many circles, he is recognized for his 35+ years of dedicated work in immunology and advanced clinical research in modern CANCER treatments. He has spoken worldwide in some of the most sought-after medical conferences about his experiences and analyses on the study of human disease. His integrative practice (INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE OF NY, Westbury, NY) has been continually providing all patients with the many comprehensive clinical options and modalities available- including "ONCO-IMMUNOLOGY", the science of battling cancer cells and reversing pre-cancerous conditions through a complete prevention program that has earned him great success in this field. For more information, visit: www.DrJesseStoff.com

COPYRIGHT INFO: This article is produced and written by Dr. Jesse. A. Stoff for public use while holding all rights (c) to all elements, images and content herein. All distribution, sharing or re-posting of this article is only with the express permission from Dr. Stoff and Integrative Medicine of NY (www.Imofny.com). 265 Post Ave. Suite 380 Westbury, NY 11590 | 516.759.4200 | www.StoffImmunology.com. / the Stoff Institute for Medical Research (SIMR) exclusively for private distribution at the Integrative Medicine of NY ©2018- All Rights Reserved.

DISCLAIMER: All information provided in this article is intended as general public information and is not intended to treat or cure any disease or disorder. Dr. Jesse A. Stoff, Integrative medicine of NY, nor any individual or practitioner associated with the publishing of this article is not liable for any damages resulting from the use of the information on this article. As a visitor of this blogsite, you acknowledge and agree that any reliance on or use by you of any information available on this Internet web site shall be entirely at your own risk. In no event shall the owner or operator be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential or exemplary damages arising from the use or the performance of this Internet web site, even if the owner or operator has been advised of the possibility of such damages. While every attempt has been made to verify the information on this website, neither the owners, distributors, agents, publishers or their affiliates assume any responsibility or liability for any error, inaccuracies, omissions in the same, or related to results from use of these materials. No party is liable for any direct, incidental, consequential, indirect, or punitive damages arising out of your access to, or use of this blogsite and the contents herein.

Frankenfood: Gambling with Our Lives

Originally published in CREATIONS MAGAZINE : (www.creationsmagazine.com)
by Jesse A. Stoff, M.D., M.D.H., F.A.A.F.P.

We and our plant food sources have co-existed and co-evolved over the last umpteen millennia. During the last few millennia things started to change as humans began to develop methods of agriculture to ensure and even out the flow of crops and thus lessen our dependence on herds of roaming game and the chance encounter with the odd carrot, potato or apple.

In the 1800’s, Gregor Johann Mendel the Austrian scientist and Augustinian friar played with pea plants in his garden, cross pollinating them and recording the results; Lord William George Spencer Cavendish the founder of the Royal Orchid society, relished in creating new orchid flowers. In 1982 Monsanto scientists became the first to genetically modify a plant cell, with the laudable goal of making the plants more disease resistant, grow bigger and faster and take a bite out of world hunger.

Then through a process of mergers and spin-offs between 1997 and 2002, Monsanto made the transition from chemical giant, making pesticides by the train load, to biotech giant. Unfortunately, the term “disease resistant plants” is but a euphemism for; “contains and makes its own pesticides”. When bugs chow down on this now genetically modified (GM) plant (often referred to as a genetically modified organism, GMO), the toxin from the plant splits open their stomach and kills them dead. The idea that we consume that same toxic pesticide in every bite may not be an appetizing idea, but is it something worse? The biotech companies insist that the pesticide, called Bt-toxin, has a history of safe use, which it does. Organic farmers, for example, have used solutions containing the natural form of Bt-toxin—produced from Bacillus thuringiensis (hence Bt) bacteria—as a method of natural insect control. The problem occurs when you take a bacterial toxin, that usually breaks down quickly and is normally non-toxic, to us creative humans, and genetically engineer it into the DNA structure of what used to be corn, but is now often referred to as Frankenfood. Frankenfood is created when you mix genes from different types of organisms (in this case plants and bacteria) together, hope for the best and test it out by feeding it to the world. Sure bugs are smart enough to stay away from it, but what’s it doing to us or the livestock that we feed it to? And is this “progress”?

Well, there are at least three issues of safety related to these GM plants. The first issue has to do with active Bt-toxin in our system, is that “safe”? According to John M. Burns, in a paper apparently published by Monsanto but no longer available on their website entitled “13-Week Dietary Subchronic Comparison Study with MON 863 Corn in Rats Preceded by a 1-Week Baseline Food Consumption Determination with PMI Certified Rodent Diet #5002,” December 17, 2002, he reportedly showed that by feeding rats Bt-Corn for only 1 week, lesions (areas of damage) could be seen on their liver. Several other articles then followed with similar findings … safe?

The second issue is, that when you change the genetics of something you change the types of proteins that it makes, which is the whole idea behind changing the genetics to start with. You’re trying to make something new and hopefully “better”. As it turns out there have been several large-scale reports that the new proteins that are made in GM corn, for example, are highly allergenic, which means that they can trigger bad allergic reactions. Moreover, there are reports that suggest that that these new GMO proteins, which we have not had the benefit of co-evolving with, can highly sensitize some people to all kinds of new and unrelated allergies … better?

The third, and most “interesting” GMO issue is this; when you change the genetics you change the (RNA and MicroRNA) molecules that transmute the DNA genetic code information into structural and functional proteins. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is made up of a chain of components called nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of a nucleobase, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate group. Some RNA molecules play an active role in cells by catalyzing biological reactions, sensing and communicating responses to cellular signals or controlling gene expression. Controlling gene expression means affecting how and what proteins are made including those that turn genes on and off including the genes related to various diseases. Very short RNA sequences of approximately 22 nucleotides in length were first discovered in the early 1990s and are called MicroRNAs.

Research shows that these tiny molecules from common plant crops, such as rice and cabbage, can be found in the blood and tissues of humans and other plant-eating mammals, according to a study published in Cell Research, and ARE STILL ACTIVE! You really are what you eat! One microRNA in particular, MIR168a, which is highly concentrated in rice, was found to inhibit a protein that helps removes low-density lipoprotein (LDL, the bad cholesterol) from the blood thus increasing the incidence of atherosclerotic heart disease. This suggests that MicroRNAs can not only influence gene expression across kingdoms but can also impact proteins that affect disease processes. Since these MicroRNAs can affect our ability to heal and respond to various diseases, what other abilities of ours can these things affect?

To help you identify these Frankenfoods, there is now an iPhone app to help you shop wisely and avoid most known GMO foods called: http://itunes.apple.com/app/ shopnogmo/id393454798?mt=8

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Colds and Flu — Achoo!

Originally published in CREATIONS MAGAZINE : (www.creationsmagazine.com)

by Colleen A. Murtha, R.N., A.N.P. Jesse A. Stoff, M.D., M.D.H., F.A.A.F.P. • Riverhead, NY

With the arrival of colder weather, you may have noticed that more of your friends and family are falling ill with colds. However, freezing your buns off doesn’t cause a cold, being cold is a form of stress, thermal stress, on our system.

Stress is one of the five processes that lead to immune suppression and with immune suppression comes an increased risk of all sorts of illnesses. The other four immuno-suppressive processes are: poor nutrition, infection, toxins and trauma. Essentially, stress occurs when we are in some way expending energy faster than we can regenerate it at that moment. Sensing this imbalance the body kicks in with a number of mechanisms to compensate and protect us, all too often robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Colds and flues are caused by different viruses. The usual suspects for the common cold are -- rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). On the other hand, influenza is caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses), and are divided into three types, designated A, B, and C. Influenza types A and B are responsible for epidemics, some of which have been devastating in their toll of morbidity and mortality upon humanity.

It's helpful to know the difference between the flu and a cold as the symptoms can be quite similar. A cold is a much milder respiratory illness than the flu. While cold symptoms can make you feel bad for a few days, flu symptoms can make you feel miserable for a few days to even weeks. The flu can also result in serious health problems such as secondary infections like pneumonia and subsequent hospitalizations, or worse. The "Spanish flu" pandemic of 1918 killed 3% of the world’s population and that was before the fast paced age that we now live in where infections can spread at jet speeds. The drugs that we have available now are little better than what was available then, as they work best, when they work at all, only in the earliest stages of the illness. Research has shown that when we get a flu that the infection can penetrate to a much deeper level than the common cold does causing a huge lopsided response by the immune system resulting in what’s called a cytokine storm. Cytokines are small messenger molecules that are released by cells of the immune system to co-ordinate an immune counter attack. If they are released suddenly and in an uncoordinated way they can cause a high fever, extreme fatigue and nausea. In some cases the excessive immune reaction can be fatal, thus it is important to know the difference in symptoms between a cold and the flu so that you can start appropriate treatment as soon as possible.

SYMPTOM COLD FLU
Sore Throat Usually Sometimes
Cough Mild
Usually, and may be severe
Nasal congestion and sneezing Usually Sometimes
Severe exhaustion and fatigue Rarely Usually, can last for 2 weeks or more
Nausea and vomiting Not usually Often occurs
Headache Not usually Often
Fever Not usually Usually, 100-102 degrees

Achiness Mild Often, and may be severe. Treatment is mostly supportive common sense; bed rest, fluids, chicken soup really does help because it also acts as a mild mucus liquefier. In cases of a high fever, chest congestion, severe achiness and fatigue see your friendly nurse practitioner or family physician. Otherwise, for both colds and flues we recommend:

- Bio En'R-G'y C (http://www.longevityplus.com) 1 tsp in juice or water 3 times per day

- Zinc, Elderberry Lozenge (http://www.quantumhealth.com) dissolve one in your mouth every 3-4 hours while symptomatic

- Vitamin A 100,000 IU (Bio-Ae-Mulsion Forte) (http://www.bioticsresearch.com/) per day for a week, or until symptoms subside

- Black elderberry Extract (Sambucol) (www.sambucolusa.com) 2 tsp 4 times per day

- Fresh Ginger Root (organic from the health food store) tea, several cups per day, allow to steep for at least ½ hour

- Oscillococcinum (http://www.oscillo.com/) comes in small granules, take 6 of them three times per day

- If the flu is suspected then be sure to add; CytoEss (www.jigsawhealth.com) 1 capsule 3 times per day, as it is a true immune modulator and will help balance the immune counter attack.

Fever, under 102, or so, isn’t a bad thing. Amongst other things, it causes a release of communication molecules that can have a long term, healthy, immune stimulating effect. There have been many, well documented, cases of people who have had a severe or chronic disease, including cancer, that went into remission after an acute illness that was accompanied by a fever. So, “enjoy” your cold and be well.

Colleen A. Murtha, R.N., A.N.P. is the assistant director of the PACU at New York Hospital Queens. Jesse A. Stoff, MD, MDH, FAAFP is a licensed Medical Doctor, a Certified Naturopathic Physician, a Certified Acupuncturist, and a licensed Homeopathic Physician. He has authored/co-authored dozens of articles and 8 books including co-authoring the bestsellers Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Hidden Epidemic and The Prostate Miracle. He can be reached at the East End Wellness Center, Riverhead, N.Y. 631-591-2288 (www.eastendwellnesscenter.com) or by email, heleneburgess1@yahoo.com.

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Anti Aging: Regenerative Medicine, Age Management: What's the Bottom Line?

Originally published in CREATIONS MAGAZINE : (www.creationsmagazine.com)
by Jesse A. Stoff, M.D., M.D.H., F.A.A.F.P.

These terms are all the rage these days. Professional medical organizations have incorporated these terms into their name and truckloads of books have been penned in their honor. Age management isn’t about the wrinkle count or the latest dose of Botox or Juvederm; it’s about what’s inside that counts and the place that counts the most is your Liver.

Your liver is the largest of your internal organs and plays a decisive role in keeping you above ground and functioning at your best. It performs numerous functions that are critical to the proper synthesis of proteins. After your stomach acid and pancreatic enzymes have disassembled the proteins that you ate into their component amino acids, they are absorbed and circulate through your blood stream and arrive at your liver. There, a battalion of enzymes, along with key co-factors like the B vitamins and Magnesium, re-engineer the amino acids into many of the key proteins needed by your body. Magnesium is essential in the production of energy and performs a critical role in the activation of four of the nine enzymes in the Krebs Cycle. This cycle is at the very center of all cellular metabolism involving protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism and is critical for helping with a fatty liver. Magnesium that is amino chelated, works better than Magnesium oxide to help in these functions. A strong liver is the key for repairing damage that has accumulated over time and for maintaining youthful energy and stamina. The flip side of liver function is that of detoxification.

Your liver is a large cleansing organ and it filters out different harmful chemicals – pesticides, drugs and hormones, and all other things that your blood cannot use. It also breaks down the toxic substances that are a by-product of metabolism. After a considerable period of time there is an accumulation of junk. Whether it’s due to less-than-optimal bile flow or an overload of environmental pollutants and free radicals, suboptimal liver function can be a drag on your entire system, leaving you tired, in need of detoxification, overweight and oversensitive to any number of dietary or chemical insults. The body then tries to deal with the accumulation of toxins secondarily through an immune response of inflammation. This can lead to eczema and predisposes to all sorts of allergic reactions that, too, are inflammatory. Like begets like.

Allergies are often the result of an overloaded toxic state within the liver. If the quantity of a substance entering the bloodstream is too great for the liver to process quickly, the immune system recognizes the molecules as being foreign and produces antibodies against them in an effort to destroy what wasn’t eliminated through detoxification. Through the filtering process, the liver plays a substantial role in reducing the effect an established or potential allergen will have on the body.

There are many ways to help the liver detoxify itself. First, and perhaps foremost, is diet. Avoiding artificial coloring, flavoring, preservatives, acetaminophen and pesticides is a no-brainer. Foods that tend to increase the production of mucus also tend to put a big stress on the liver. They’ll also increase the risk of secondary respiratory tract infections by triggering the over production of mucus in the lungs and sinuses. Dairy products and wheat are on the top of the list and may be followed by eggs, soy and corn. Avoiding these foods, or at least rotating through them, is helpful for most people. To help the liver deal with the toxins more efficiently you MUST first make sure that you are well hydrated. In general, drinking ½ oz of water per pound of body weight per day is a good starting point. Next, there is a derivative of the amino acid Cysteine, called N-acetylcysteine or N-acetyl- L-cysteine (abbreviated NAC), which is a very good mucus liquefier and is a wonderful liver detoxifier. Taken in sufficient quantity three times per day it goes a long way in reducing liver toxicity and the manifestation of food and respiratory tract allergies.

Research shows that, the botanical, Milk Thistle’s (Silymarin) hepatoprotective effects occur by its affect on the liver cell membrane so as to physically block the entrance of toxins into the cells. It also has potent anti-oxidant properties by combining with and neutralizing free radicals and increasing the intracellular concentration of glutathione. Milk thistle offers the additional benefit of stimulating the production of bile, which plays an essential role in emulsifying and solubilizing certain chemicals allowing for efficient excretion. Artichoke plays a similar role, with a number of studies demonstrating this botanical’s ability to support ample bile flow. Other nutrients that assist with bile production, such as dandelion root, beet root, phosphatidylcholine, taurine, betaine, inositol, pancreatic lipase, alphalipoic acid and vitamin C, in addition to silymarin, can also help to ease the burden shouldered by an overworked liver.

Supporting your liver’s ability to repair damage to your body, while detoxifying you from western civilization, is a wise investment in your quality and quantity of life.

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War on Cancer – Or Us?

Originally published in CREATIONS MAGAZINE : (www.creationsmagazine.com)
by Jesse A. Stoff, M.D., M.D.H., F.A.A.F.P.

December 23, 1971: a date that will live in mediocrity.

President Richard Nixon sat down to sign the National Cancer Act, and launched what became known as the war on cancer, when he said; ”more people each year die of cancer in the United States than all of the Americans who lost their lives in World War II. This shows us what is at stake. It tells us why I sent a message to the Congress the first of this year, which provided for a national commitment for the conquest of cancer, to attempt to find a cure”. Now, more than 40 years after the “war” was declared on cancer, the National Cancer Institute has spent well over $90 billion on research and treatment and still 23% of the adult US population will die of the disease, a statistic that has remained essentially unchanged. What’s worse is that a higher percentage will succumb in my area, Long Island, NY, which is classified as a cancer cluster. Not good results at all!

It’s little wonder that we have these awful statistics since our air and water is polluted and our genetically modified “McFood” is held to together by “pink slime”. Cancer is an all too common disease that affects our whole system; it can only occur if MANY things have gone astray. Our body includes many amazing interconnected organs and systems with redundant and back-up systems to minimize our risk of getting sick, but given enough stress, toxin exposure, nutritional deficiencies and time for them to degrade our defenses, bad things can happen. Cancer cells frequently occur in our body, which is within the range of what is considered to be “normal”. One of the important functions of our immune system is to search for and destroy these wayward fragments of humanity so that they don’t have a chance to accumulate and cause big problems. When the war on cancer was launched, the field of Onco-immunology, the science of restoring immune function to destroy the cancer, had not yet been birthed. When the war on cancer was launched it was, and is still considered by most practitioners in the field, to be a war, in that the only question that was asked was “how do we kill the cancer”?

Killing the cancer has resulted in chemotherapy, surgery and radiation as the mainstays of the arsenal, with only an after thought for the innate immune defenses of the body or the quality of life of the individual thus afflicted. Large-scale studies show that simply augmenting nutrition, with the right supplements, will increase the quantity of life while stress reduction techniques will improve its quality. Now, coupling these basic modalities with the awesome potential and power of the immune system allows us to ask the more appropriate, and clinically useful, question of “why”. With new questions comes new answers and renewed HOPE.

Why did the surveillance function of the immune system fail to recognize the threat? Why didn’t the Natural Killer Cells destroy the cancer cells when they were identified? Why is the vitamin D level low? Why is his/her Mercury level high? Why doesn’t he/she get fevers? Why don’t we use low dose, potentiated, minimally toxic chemotherapy instead of the sub-lethal doses conventionally used? Why doesn’t he/she sleep well? Why, why, why??? “Why” is wonderful, because, therein lies HOPE. When we only ask “how do we kill it” and the answer all but destroys the poor soul with the disease, and not all of the cancer cells, there is no place left to go. But, when we ask “why”, the possibilities for treatment are only limited by the practitioner’s insight, experience, and creativity. Therein lies the major difference between the limitations of what is currently considered to be conventional medicine and the real possibility of hope offered by an integrative approach for the treatment of someone with cancer.

New questions. New options. New Hope.

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The Apocalypse of Cancer

Originally published in CREATIONS MAGAZINE : (www.creationsmagazine.com)
by Jesse A. Stoff, M.D., M.D.H., F.A.A.F.P.

In 1497 the German artist Albrecht Durer created his famous woodcut, “The Apocalypse, the Four Horsemen”. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are described in the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible’s New Testament. It describes a “’book”, or “scroll’, in God’s right hand that is sealed with seven seals. When the first four seals are breached, four beings ride out on white, red, black, and pale horses and visit the Last Judgment upon mankind.

Our society is suffering an unprecedented scourge, in biblical proportions, of severe and chronic diseases, whereby over 50% of us will die from these illnesses. Medically, there are four biochemical processes that are common to and, at least, promote all known severe and chronic diseases as well as accelerating the aging and wrinkle process. They are; Glycation, Methylation, Oxidation, and Inflammation.

Glycation occurs when sugar binds to protein or fat molecules, in a haphazard way, impairing their ability to function. These glycated molecules accelerate diabetes, heart disease and cancer. As you might guess, diet plays a leading role in glycation. A diet high in refined sugar will, over time, increase the levels of protein and fat molecules that are bound to sugar. This causes the molecules to bend a little bit interfering with their ability to function thus slowing down the ability of our body to repair itself. This is one reason why people with full-fledged diabetes heal so slowly.

Methylation is a biochemical process whereby a methyl group (— CH3 ) is attached to another molecule. These new molecules regulate the expression of genes in our DNA and are damaged most by heavy metal toxins. If the Methylation process is too high, it can suppress the suppressor genes that stop cancer. If the levels are too low then oncogenes, genes that can trigger a cancer, are activated. Here the B vitamins play a crucial role and are to be found in whole, unprocessed foods, beans and molasses, to name a few sources. One measure of the Methylation process is the level of the amino acid Homocysteine in the blood. High levels of Homocysteine correlate with a significantly increased risk for cardio-vascular heart disease.

Oxidation reactions are commonly associated with the formation of oxides from oxygen molecules, and are a necessary process for us to get oxygen into the cells of our body. When this process goes astray from toxin exposure, it can lead to abnormal oxides in the blood – an example of this is lipid (fat) peroxidation. If the levels of lipid peroxides, a blood test, are too low in the blood, then some very important reactions of the immune system, like the activity of our natural killer cells that protect us from cancer, will fail to function. If the level of lipid peroxides are too high, as is usually the case, then that represents a state of toxicity that will promote many different diseases, the worst of which is cancer. Fat soluble antioxidants, Vitamins; A, D, E and K can, along with fish oil, reduce the level of lipid peroxides and help the immune system to function more effectively.

Inflammation, like the other processes, is a very sharp double-edged sword. Local inflammation is a normal, healthy response to things like splinters, trauma and infection and is necessary for the healing process. The immune system destroys cancer through a local process of inflammation. However, left unchecked, a chronic, systemic inflammatory response from toxins, infection, or stress will fuel many severe and chronic diseases including arthritis, heart disease and cancer. Diet again plays a leading role. A diet high in non-organic meat, sugar, alcohol, cigarettes, non-organic dairy and wheat all promote inflammation. The problem has even attracted the attention of many famous celebrities. Oprah has a list of pro-inflammatory foods to avoid on her website, (http://www.oprah.com/health/ Dr-Perricones-List-of-Pro-Inflammatory- Foods). How’s that for a shift in social consciousness! Systemic inflammation can also be measured with blood tests like a hs-CRP and ESR to name just two of the many available.

In varying degrees, these four processes are present to excess in all severe or chronic diseases but are most clearly evident in cancer. We must address these four issues as part of an effective management and treatment program for patients with cancer. In this regard lifestyle and diet take center stage as a starting place to correct these biochemical processes. The usual suspects; sleep, exercise, stress avoidance, a diet of organic foods, clean water and lots of it, while avoiding as many chemicals, toxins and heavy metals as is possible is the order of the day. Blood tests are, essentially, a way of “asking” to what extent these processes are perpetuating the disease and then point the way to the necessary therapeutic interventions. Taken together with all of the other information from biopsies, scans, prior treatment etc., we can then weave together an individualized treatment plan that maximizes the probability for a successful outcome.

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What to do When you Can’t Stomach It

Originally published in CREATIONS MAGAZINE : (www.creationsmagazine.com)

Digestive problems can occur for numerous reasons and many a book has been penned about them. These problems may occur from physiological changes, infections, inflammatory processes or more severe pathology.

As usual, any problem that is new, severe, of rapid onset or accompanied by pain or blood in the stool should be checked out by your physician. Fortunately, most problems are of a functional nature.

As we age, many things commonly happen to our digestive tract as our physiology changes. Things tend to slow down as our muscle mass and muscle tone decreases, so we need more roughage/fiber and water to compensate for these changes and keep things rolling along. Also, as we age, our stomach’s production of hydrochloric acid decreases as does our production of digestive enzymes by our pancreas. As a result we can develop symptoms of gas, bloating and indigestion as the good bacteria in our digestive tract are thrown out of balance by their changing environment. If we don’t digest our food well, it tends to putrefy and this will lead to a variety of systemic symptoms ranging from fatigue to achiness and headaches to say the least!

To add fuel to the fire, as our production of hydrochloric acid and enzymes decreases, it makes us more susceptible to infections. Over time the accumulated assaults of innumerable tiny and sometimes not so tiny infections in the digestive tract can cause damage to what are referred to as the “tight junctions,” so that incompletely digested molecules of food are absorbed into our blood stream. This will then lead to the development of inflammatory reactions including food allergies and even some auto-immune problems, which will only make these symptoms worse. Food allergies are an all too common problem. The undigested food molecules are seen by our immune system as foreign and so an immune response is generated against them. The allergy pathway is different than for respiratory allergens and results in atypical antibodies being produced. If you have been traveling “off the map” then parasite infections become more likely. There are many single cell and tiny parasites out there – we’re not necessarily talking about spaghetti size creatures, although for our more adventurous readers, that may be a possibility too.

So let’s get started in fixing these things. First, to address the slowing down issue – which allows food to putrefy and produce gas – eat more fiber, drink more fluids and exercise. As we exercise – fast walking, bicycling or swimming being among the best – it not only helps our muscle tone, bone density and svelte appearance, but it also stimulates our gut to move more regularly, hopefully at least twice per day. To compensate for our decreased production of hydrochloric acid, the natural supplement Betaine HCL right before meals can be very helpful. Betaine HCL is a dietary supplement that is used as a digestive aid. It is a delivery form of hydrochloric acid, the substance that creates the acid environment in the stomach. Betaine HCL is made up of betaine, a substance from beet sugar, bound to hydrochloric acid. By binding the HCL to betaine, the substance becomes stable and can be swallowed without damaging the esophagus. Once in the stomach, betaine HCL is cleaved (separated). The HCL creates a more acid environment, while the betaine moves on to be absorbed in the small intestine. The more accessible HCL helps with the breakdown of proteins into absorbable amino acids.

Digestive enzymes are proteins that catalyze (i.e., increase the rates of) chemical reactions. They provide the means for the body to assimilate foods and to incorporate its nutrients into the many different bodily systems in which they are required. When a food needs to be broken down into its constituent parts so that it can be easily absorbed, it is the digestive enzymes which are responsible for this process. Taking a supplement like Similase BV after meals can support our decreased production of digestive enzymes.

To minimize the effects of inflammation and infection, making sure that we have plenty of good microbes in our digestive tract is of vital importance. Lactobacillus Acidophilus is the most commonly referenced good digestive tract microorganism and is classified as a Probiotic. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that positively alter the balance of intestinal microflora to improve digestion and decrease inflammation. These organisms account for up to ten percent of the entire bacterial population in the intestinal tract. Lactobacillus Acidophilus is also found within the inner linings of the mouth and vagina. Many recent studies point to the beneficial properties of Lactobacillus Acidophilus. These microorganisms have been shown to benefit digestion, immunological functioning, and to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in the body. In a large study in Europe it was clearly demonstrated that in sufficient quantities Acidophilus can displace a pathogenic bacteria called Clostridium difficile which is known to produce an immuno-suppressive toxin. By overgrowing its habitat and stealing its nutrients the Acidophilus can “push” the bad bacteria out of the digestive tract thus not only improving your digestion, but your general immune function as well.

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Immunology — The Bridge Between Two Worlds

Originally published in CREATIONS MAGAZINE : (www.creationsmagazine.com)
by Jesse A. Stoff, M.D., M.D.H., F.A.A.F.P.

ALL severe or chronic diseases have to a greater or lesser degree an element of immune dysfunction that is central to the disease process. The immune system is one of our primary and most critical systems and, amongst other things, helps to regulate our internal environment.

It exerts its control by virtue of circulating components capable of acting at sites far removed from their points of origin. Its complexity rivals that of the nervous system, and in fact the similarities between the two are quite real. Cells of the immune system and the nervous system have many hormone receptor sites in common. It is no accident of nature that the thymus gland, the bone marrow, and the lymph nodes – all major centers of immune activity – are bundled in ropes of nerves.

The brain is known to transmit both electrical and chemical signals along nerves to stimulate and amplify and modify the immune responses. As the signals stream out from the brain, they often pass warnings from the immune centers flying in the opposite direction. The immune system is not merely a tool manipulated by the brain; it is a sensory organ as well. It transmits chemical messages about bacteria, fungi, viruses, bits of dead tissue, and cancer cells. The wonder of it all is that such organization is possible, with the use of only a few distinct cell types whose members are widely scattered throughout the body.

The immune system operates according to three directives:
1. Recognize that which is foreign and sound the alarm soon enough to thwart the invader.
2. Respond to the alarm with enough of a counter attack to effectively neutralize the invader quickly.
3. Remember what happened so that if the same situation were to arise again an effective response could be generated faster.

These immunologic directives are accomplished with but a handful of cells. One cell type is called a macrophage and is like a little PAC man crawling around inside of us looking for something foreign to chomp down on. In doing so, it sends out a biochemical alarm as it recognizes something alien. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of macrophage activity, or the activity of any of the immune system cells, is their ability to distinguish “self” from “non-self.” Through the integrity of the immune system we remain separate from our environment. This inner image of “selfness” or uniqueness carries through to each defensive cell as it works to eliminate cancer cells that arise daily, or virus particles as they penetrate from the outside world. The mechanisms by which this image of self is transmitted and carried out are still largely unknown. We do know the mechanisms exist, and more importantly, that they are subject to change. Macrophages do not bump against a bacterium or other source of food by chance. They migrate from distant corners of the body, zero in on targets that they “know” are alien, and then destroy them.

The B and T lymphocytes are a family of cells that co-operate together to respond and produce antibodies and to direct most of the counter-attack by the immune system. They do so magnificently well if they are healthy and in one piece. Both B and T cells are produced in the bone marrow. T cells undergo differentiation as they mature to become the “brains” of the immune system. The differentiation or “training” process is apparently quite strenuous, as more than half of the T cells will die and be absorbed by other amoeboid cells before they can reenter the circulatory system. As the cells differentiate, new proteins can be detected on their surfaces, which is a result of a shift in their genetic expression. These proteins are related to the specialized function of the mature lymphocyte. Once stimulated and directed by the T cells, thousands upon thousands of B cells start making just one kind of antibody, one tailor-made for a specific target. Other B cells may transform into what are called memory cells. Their job is to forever keep a sort of antibody blueprint in wide circulation. If the offending organism should reappear, antibodies will not be far behind as they fulfill the third immunologic directive which is to remember.

During their lifetime, the cells of the immune system, based upon their experiences and exposures can change their cell surface antigens and their role in the immune response. More than any other organ or system in our body, the immune system is a dynamic system that can change. Like many other cells in our body, the cells of the immune system can be changed from the outside by drugs – Prednisone, Methotrexate, Humira, Remicade, and Plaquenil can suppress the immune system and thus, at least temporarily, help with certain inflammatory diseases, but they don’t heal or redirect the immune response.

However, from the inside many more options become possible. On the surface of the cells of the immune system are receptors for all of the same hormones that work in and on the nervous system. It’s not just GABA, Adrenalin, Serotonin, Thyroid, Testosterone and DHEA that can affect the functioning of our immune system. While we can’t feel the ebb and flow of our immune function, as our consciousness changes so does our immunologic activity. As well documented by Dr. Steven Locke, ANY prolonged change in our consciousness will cause a change in our immune function, more than in any other organ system in our body.

The Immune System maintains the boundary between what is the “essence” of each of us from the dangers of the world both, from within and outside of ourselves. If we feed, support and protect our immune system, while maintaining a sense of balance and equanimity, our immune system will take care of us. Be well.

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Boil and Bubble, Toil and Trouble

Originally published in CREATIONS MAGAZINE : (www.creationsmagazine.com)
by Jesse A. Stoff, M.D., M.D.H., F.A.A.F.P.

When my daughter, Summer, gets a small cut on her finger and applies a Band-Aid, she does so with the full expectation that when the Band-Aid is removed a couple of days later, the cut will have been “magically” healed. She is usually rewarded by her faith in her immune system’s healing capacity.

On a macroscopic level, healing appears to us as a miracle or as magic because of all the little elements that go into the repair of the damaged tissue. The removal of foreign material and destruction of harmful bacteria all happens in a microscopic world that is not directly accessible to our unaided eye.

On a microscopic level, local cellular injury by the splinter calls in the troops of the immune system to attack the intruder and through a process of inflammation, sanitize it, push it out of the body and start the process of repair. Once the threat is eliminated the immune response stands down but maintains a constant vigilance for the next threat … or, at least it’s supposed to. Sometimes, as a result of an infection by a virus, mycoplasma or similar critter or from exposure to a toxin, the immune system doesn’t stand down and instead gets stuck in a chronic cycle of inflammation.

There are many blood tests that measure the inflammatory response, but one common test is the hs-CRP which is a good non-specific measurement of inflammation, but as it turns out is also a good risk factor for a heart attack or stroke.

Chronic inflammation is a self perpetuating cycle of immune response that persists even when the trigger is removed. It takes a lot of nutrients and the right set of circumstances to break the cycle. Once set in motion, something as simple and common as allergies or elevated levels of stress will continue to feed it.

The term stress was coined by Dr. Hans Selye more than 70 years ago. According to Selye, “dis-ease is an attack on any particular aspect of your body or mind that creates a distressed physiology.” Stress is an individual’s non-specific response to any stimulus, conscious or unconscious, physical or physiological. It is such an integral component of our existence that Selye has stated that, “Complete freedom from stress is death.” There are two categories of stress: eustress (characterized by happiness and enjoyment) and distress (characterized by anguish, tension and worry). During distress the adrenal glands secrete the steroid hormone cortisol to excess and without the normal cycling that usually occurs, which will then suppress immune function and its ability to correctly modulate itself thus perpetuating the cycle of stress.

When you respond to something that you are allergic to, there is a release of histamine as a result of the interaction of the IgE antibodies with Mast cells. Histamine is a pro-inflammatory molecule and can easily perpetuate chronic inflammation. Once the inflammatory response is initiated all sorts of chronic diseases may follow. The medical journals are rich with articles, almost weekly, on the association of everything, from Astrocytoma cancer to Zygomycosis, with chronic inflammation. More common diseases such as diabetes and heart disease are leading the pack of illnesses where chronic inflammation perpetuates and exacerbates the condition. Inflammation destabilizes cholesterol deposits in the coronary arteries, leading to heart attacks and strokes. It chews up nerve cells in the brains of Alzheimer’s victims. It may even foster the proliferation of abnormal cells and facilitate their transformation into cancer.

To physicians, the whole notion that chronic inflammation can contribute to so many diverse illnesses is intriguing because of the accessibility of this potentially common pathway. It also causes us to rethink the role that common things like allergies and stress have in severe and chronic diseases. All of a sudden, the use of meditation and vitamin C as part of a cancer treatment program doesn’t seem so much of a stretch.

Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to reduce your levels of excessive inflammatory molecules that may be circulating around in your bloodstream. Let’s start by not making things worse. Allergies can be identified with the right blood tests or intra-dermal skin testing and then addressed with anti-histamines, progressive neutralization or avoidance. Diet can have a significant impact for or against inflammation. Once again, the usual suspects are implicated in promoting excessive levels of inflammation. Sugar is a potent pro-inflammatory molecule. Before the days of Insulin to treat diabetes, Aspirin , the grand-daddy of anti-inflammatory molecules, was used in high doses because it did indeed drop blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, the resulting ringing in the ears, headaches and dizziness limited its usefulness. Oxidized fats also stimulate the inflammatory response. Levels of oxidized LDL are a good marker for cardio-vascular risk.

Molecules that are anti-inflammatory are usually also good anti-oxidants. Again, our usual friends can come to our rescue; vitamin C, carotenes, Curcumin, fish oil, certain enzymes, vitamin E and CoQ10 to name but a few. Lipoic acid can regenerate many oxidized molecules, re-activating their antioxidant properties. From a dietary perspective fruits and fresh vegetables are an important part of the solution. Fresh fruit is loaded with antioxidants. Recent research is focusing on dark colored berries, Blue Berries and Acai to name but two leading contenders for the title of “Top Berry”. An organic diet of moderation and fresh produce can be very helpful for most chronic illnesses.

Left to its own devices, the body tends towards health. In most cases we have but to get out of the way.

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