IMMUNOLOGY TODAY

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

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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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.

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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Thursday, December 20, 2018

S.A.D.- SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (aka- the Winter Blues)

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

Old man winter has arrived. With him he brought his bag of tricks, snow, ice, nor’easters and cold, short days. Try as you might, you can’t compensate for long nights with more coffee, and many people wind up feeling SAD about it.

In 1985 a number of folksy descriptions of dysfunction, such as the winter blues, hibernation reaction and winter depression were researched and renamed Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. It is believed that affected people react adversely to the decreasing amounts of sunlight and the colder temperatures as the fall and winter progress. It is important to note that although seasonal affective disorder usually presents in the fall and winter there are those unlucky individuals who suffer from this condition during other times of the year. As the length of the day changes, some peoples’ production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, and other brain hormones don’t adjust themselves appropriately. They have an over production of melatonin. As a result, a variety of troubling symptoms may occur.

SAD can potentially affect anybody but, in general, there are patterns of people at higher risk for developing it. SAD more typically affects women, older teens and young adults, people who live farther away from the equator and people with a family history of the disorder.

There is no specific diagnostic test for the disorder. Rather, it is characterized by a cluster of symptoms, which may include tiredness, fatigue, depression, crying spells, irritability, trouble concentrating, body aches, loss of sex drive, poor sleep, decreased activity level, and overeating, especially of carbohydrates, with associated weight gain. When the condition presents in the summer, the symptoms are more commonly insomnia, poor appetite and weight loss, in addition to irritability, difficulty concentrating and crying spells. In severe instances, seasonal affective disorder can be associated with thoughts of suicide.

If this sounds like you, I’m sorry, but the good news is that there are things that you can do about it short of moving to Miami – although for some people that may not be a bad idea. Anyway, phototherapy, a big word that essentially means replacing your regular light bulbs with full spectrum “daylight” bulbs or buying a light box and sitting in front of it for half an hour a day. Replacing your light bulbs is cheaper and you get the added benefit of happy houseplants. The light should be of adequate intensity, 10,000 lux (lux is a measurement of light intensity). At 10,000 lux, the amount of time required in front of the light is 30 minutes. If the light is 5,000 lux, then the amount of time will be 60 minutes. You need to have your eyes open, so that the light can reach the retina in the back of your eye. You do not have to look directly at the light. You can read, knit, web surf, etc.
Other things that are helpful include getting your vitamin D level checked and supplementing if it is low, taking a natural vitamin B complex “50” with meals 3 times per day and adding an amino chelated magnesium supplement like magnesium orotate 500 mg once per day in the morning can be very helpful.

Since SAD is more of a dysfunction than pathology, many people respond quickly to acupuncture finding it safe and helpful. Some Homeopathic medicines help stabilize the neurotransmitters. Supplements with the amino acid tyrosine can also be useful as they can help increase the levels of catecholamine brain hormones and balance the effect of melatonin. In more dire cases, various drugs may be temporarily helpful ranging from anti depressants like Zoloft or Prozac to neuro stimulants like Provigil.

In any case you don’t have to suffer in silence – get help and get happy! Be well.

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Monday, September 18, 2017

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER

by: Dr. Jesse A. Stoff

There are several different divisions of clinical immunology- one of them is ONCO-immunology (which is the treatment of cancer through the strengthening of the immune system). The type of patients I work with most are patients with severe and chronic diseases and are mostly cancer patients. Cancer by definition is an immune deficiency disease because if the immune system is functioning normally, it will protect us from getting cancer of any sort, regardless of what the stresses are. What happens for most people is as a result of things such as poor nutrition, infections, toxins, traumas, stresses, et cetera, in other words daily life here on Long Island, their body gets a little bit toxed-out, the immune system starts to dip in terms of its ability to surveil and protect us from abnormal cells.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER (contd.)
Long Island has been identified throughout the media as a cluster for autoimmune diseases & autoimmune thyroid diseases, specifically Hashimoto's thyroiditis. There have been a number of studies that actually look at the relationship between thyroid disease and cancer. And the direct relationship comes from the fact that the thyroid hormone is critical in stimulating the activity of certain cells that protect us from these abnormal cells. Certain cells called 'natural killer cells' and cytotoxic lymphocytes require thyroid hormone in its unadulterated form, in other words, not being attacked by antibodies, and not being too deficient in order to activate and to protect us from these abnormal cells. So there's a direct connection between thyroid problems and cancer problems.

PRIORITY 1: WATER FILTRATION
I recommend for all my patients as a starting point that they get a water purifier and that they only drink either good quality bottled water, preferably in a glass bottle, or that they use a good filter. There are several good ones on the market, but you have to make sure to check the filter regularly, to make sure that it's still working adequately for your needs. All the water you drink should be either filtered or bottled. If it comes from the tap it has to be bathing, that's another story and that's a bigger problem, and for that you're gonna need a whole house filter. The first thing you need to do is to stop putting more toxins into your system. So you wanna have clean water. Clean water is critical from the point of view of detoxification and from the point of view of allowing the enzymes to get from point A to point B in as quickly a manner as they need to do.consists of chemicals that were dumped there years ago by the aerospace industry, Grumman and the like, when they were building aircraft here and the space shuttle here and the lunar lander here and all sorts of things, and they just dumped these chemicals into the aquifer. Unfortunately, at Long Island, we only have one aquifer for the entire island. So a news daily showed this plume underneath Bethpage and they showed lines around it like a bullseye showing where the plume would be in five years, in 10 years. And in 15 years from now, it's gonna be all the way out to Montauk Point.

filtered, and you use that for drinking and for cooking purposes. For showering and bathing, that's another story and that's a bigger problem, and for that you're gonna need a whole house filter. The first thing you need to do is to stop putting toxins into your system-- and take in more clean water. Clean water is critical from the point of view of detoxification and allowing the enzymes to get from point A to point B in as quickly a manner as they need to do.

GO ORGANIC!
So next on our list, once we have the water situation covered, is to look at the kind of food that you're eating. I recommend that you eat organic food as much as possible. Here on Long Island, we have lots of good sources for organic food. Out east, there are whole farms, that grow organic produce. Places like Whole Foods and Wild By Nature, which have good organic produce tend to be more expensive but they have usually a bigger selection. Also, if you're going to eat protein in the form of eggs, beef, pork, what have you, they should be organic as well. Take the extra initiative and a little Google-searching to find a good butcher in your area or health food stores. Your diet should be as organic as possible-- keep things as clean as possible!

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DR. JESSE A. STOFF is an internationally renowned physician with extensive credentials in clinical immunology and holistic medicine. A graduate of New York Medical College, he pursued extensive post-doctoral training including a fellow- ship at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital in London, England. He has authored/co-authored countless articles and 8 books including co-authoring the bestseller "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Hidden Epidemic" and The Prostate Miracle.

This article is produced and written by the writing team at IMMUNOLOGY TODAY- The Official Newsletter of Integrative Medicine of N.Y. of Westbury NY-- Edited and co-published by Dr. Jesse A. Stoff exclusively for the purposes of this blogpost (Immunology Today) and rejuvenatesoliutions.com The publisher(s) hold 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 (formerly Linchitz Medical Wellness). 265 Post Ave. Suite 380 Westbury, NY 11590 | 516.759.4200 | www.StoffImmunology.com. Rejuvenate! is a registered trademark of Intermedia Communications Ltd. All written content in this newsletter is produced by the Stoff Institute for Medical Research (SIMR) exclusively for private distribution at the Integrative Medicine of NY ©2016- All Rights Reserved.

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