Are you suffering from chronic, unexplained pain?

If you are struggling with joint pain, muscle pain, urogenital pain, headaches, burning feet, and/or general, unexplained inflammation, you may be suffering from oxalate toxicity. Oxalates are a crystalline substance found in plants, that can accumulate in our tissues, causing pain and dysfunction. Our bodies also metabolically produce oxalates. If we consume foods that are high in oxalates, and/or we have a compromised digestive system, we may run into problems.

In the latter half of the 19th century, oxalate poisoning was a well known condition, that seemed to worsen during the spring and summer months when high oxalate foods were in abundance. Unfortunately, that knowledge has been forgotten, and the only medical acknowledgement of oxalate issues is in patients with chronic kidney stones. Furthermore, the current health food movement has promoted the use of some extremely high oxalate foods as staples in large quantities, e.g. spinach smoothies and almond flour baked goods.

There are many lists available with information regarding oxalate levels in foods. Unfortunately, there are many discrepancies, which can create confusion. A good place to start is reading through this abbreviated list of exceptionally high and very high oxalate foods, which are mostly agreed upon. 

Exceptionally high oxalate foods: spinach, beet greens, Swiss chard, soy, rhubarb, almonds, plantains, buckwheat, amaranth, sesame seeds, cashews, peanuts, chocolate, and carob. 

Very high oxalate foods: beets, potatoes, sweet potatoes, blackberries, figs, kiwi, adzuki beans, black beans, pinto beans, white beans (cannellini, navy, great northern, etc.), quinoa, teff, most nuts, chia seed, hemp seed, poppy seed, and green and black tea.

Decreasing oxalates in the diet

If you eat foods that are listed above, and you have pain symptoms, you may want to consider decreasing or avoiding consumption of these foods. If you notice a change in your symptoms, then you have your first answer.

It is important to exercise caution when reducing oxalates, however. If reduced too abruptly, after a few days of feeling better, you may start to experience oxalate dumping side effects. These symptoms are very similar to over consumption of high oxalate foods, i.e. pain, inflammation, headache, etc. 

Compromising factors

There are many factors that can set someone up for struggling with oxalates more than others. These include:

• Antibiotic use: antibiotics can kill off the natural gut flora that help to break down oxalates.

• Yeast overgrowth: Yeast produces oxalates and converts collagen (the main structural protein in connective tissue) to oxalates.

• B vitamin deficiency: Certain deficiencies can cause the body to produce more oxalates.

• Magnesium and calcium deficiency: These minerals bind to oxalates and carry them out through the stool.

• Fat malabsorption: If fat isn’t being fully digested, it binds with calcium, leaving the oxalates unbound, and free to be reabsorbed.

• Hyper-permeable gut (Leaky Gut): This allows the oxalates to get into the blood stream, and increase their absorption.

Beyond the diet

A low oxalate diet is the primary and most complicated part of treating oxalate toxicity. That said, it is also important to reduce the body’s production and absorption of oxalates. This is accomplished with strategic use of supplements.

The long haul

There is nothing fast about the oxalate detoxification process. It can take 2-3 years to fully get on top of the condition. It also requires strict diet management.

As with everything, each person is unique. Some may experience extreme symptoms, while others only mild symptoms, and some, none at all. You may be a person who only needs to avoid spinach, almonds, and cashews, while others have to be extremely strict. No matter what, it is helpful to better understand what your body tolerates and what it doesn’t, and adjust your diet the best you can.

If you suspect that you may be struggling with oxalate overload, and want to explore your options further, I would be happy to work with you. I have a special interest in this topic, as it has proven to be the key to the majority of my health complaints. It is an ongoing process, but I am happy to say that I continue to see improvement over time. 

What has changed? What have we learned?

After a year of living under the dark cloud that is the coronavirus pandemic, we’re still struggling with uncertainty and trying to maintain hope. In spite of increased vaccination rates, the infection rates continue to be high. Being vaccinated does protect us from severe expression of the disease, but not as much against contracting or spreading the disease. This means we still need to be vigilant with safety practices and avoid exposure as much as possible. 

During the past year, most of us have tended to turn inward and develop new ways of living and being. For some, the solitude has been a relief, while others have struggled with isolation. Those of us who found comfort in our seclusion are feeling a bit anxious as society around us starts to reawaken. It feels awkward and rushed, somehow. At the same time, we are all craving the hugs and the face-to-face connections that we have been deprived of. 

Many of us have been asking ourselves and each other: What has changed permanently? What have we learned? What will go back to what it was like before? Many have enjoyed the flexibility of working from home, while others feel separated from their coworkers. We have developed new technologies for communicating with others from anywhere in the world, both for work and learning opportunities and personal connection. Some of these technologies may continue to be useful when things return to “normal.”

What has changed at Red Clover Clinic?

For the time being, we continue to uphold the protocols that we implemented at the start of the pandemic. We screen everyone who comes through the door; clean all contact surfaces after every client; schedule slightly longer appointment times, for the most part; and, of course, we require masks. 

The thing I have appreciated the most during the past year, is the extra time with my clients. It has allowed room for sharing ideas, venting, mutual support, and problem-solving. In time, we may be able to relax our protocols a bit. The thing I miss the most is having table warmers and sheets on the treatment tables. The paper just seems so cold, loud, and wasteful!

What have we learned at Red Clover Clinic?

I’m grateful for the work of Dr. Frank Springob, the brain behind Morphogenic Field Technique (MFT). At the start of the pandemic, he jumped into gear and developed test kits that have been extremely helpful during this time. I’m starting to see more and more people who are struggling with the after-effects of COVID. I’m grateful to have more MFT tools to assess and treat “long hauler” symptoms. In my limited experience so far, it seems that these tools are effective, but it does take time for the long haulers to fully recover. 

Dr. Springob also developed ways of testing the after-effects of the COVID vaccines. These symptoms have been so far much easier to address. One clinical pearl that I have found to be very effective at moderating the intense immune reactions following a COVID vaccination is Echinacea Premium by MediHerb. You may not be able to fully avoid the symptoms, but they should be a lot milder and shorter in duration by taking the herb.

Whether or not you choose to get vaccinated, it is very important to continue to support your immune system, and live as healthfully as possible. A healthy diet, exercise, and good sleep are the most important things we do everyday. Supplements and herbs are a bonus. If you need help developing or tweaking your routine, let me know.

I think it is important that we all give some thought to what we are grateful for and what we want, as individuals and as a society, as we reorganize, reintegrate, and return to the world. We can choose to be mindful, compassionate, and gentle as we move through the process. 

Keep your blood sugar balanced

This article was selected from our archive of newsletters. Blood sugar is always an important topic to revisit. It's easy to get off track with sugar consumption, and it's nice to have a reminder to check in with yourself, your health, and your habits.

The general public has become more aware of the fact that high-sugar foods are bad for their health. There still seems to be a disconnect, however, between knowing that sugar is bad for health and understanding that most blood sugar-related diseases, such as type II diabetes and hypoglycemia, occur as a result of a high-sugar diet. This means that you can avoid these diseases by getting the sugar out of your diet and managing your blood sugar.

Another aspect of high-sugar diets that isn’t part of common awareness is that the first step to managing any kind of hormonal disruption is to manage blood sugar. Yes, those of you suffering from insomnia, mood changes, PMS, hot flashes, night sweats, etc. can benefit greatly by managing your blood sugar!

Below are strategies for managing your blood sugar and some detailed information about how your body processes sugar.

Understanding the physiology of blood sugar regulation

It all starts with the pancreas, which secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon. Insulin is secreted during digestion to move carbohydrates/sugar from the blood into the cells, so that the cells can produce energy. Excess energy is stored as glycogen in the liver for future energy needs. The pancreas secrets glucagon between meals to convert the stored glycogen back into blood sugar so that the cells have a constant fuel supply. Yes, carbohydrates are necessary, but only in managed quantities.

Insulin and glucagon work together to keep the blood sugar levels stable throughout the day. If one’s blood sugar strays too far above or below the set point, the body shifts into a stressed state and engages the adrenals to secrete cortisol and adrenaline. You can imagine that this might show up as anxiety, a rapid heart rate, or a hot flash.

Cortisol is necessary to keep the liver receptive to signals by glucagon to release glucose back into the bloodstream. If someone has lived in a state of constant stress, their adrenals may grow tired and not produce enough cortisol to do their job. This can lead to hypoglycemic crashes not long after a meal. The crashes can manifest as light- headedness, nausea, or panic if the person doesn’t quickly consume a glass of juice or eat some crackers.

When someone consumes large quantities of sugar/carbohydrates, the liver can store only so much glycogen before it begins to store the extra carbohydrates as fat. The habit of eating a lot of sugar/carbohydrates leads to weight gain and obesity.

A hormone that counteracts insulin and its propensity for fat storage is human growth hormone. Exercise and fasting trigger the pituitary to release HGH, promoting tissue growth and repair. This is the important link between exercise and blood sugar management. It also contributes to our understanding that a lack of human growth hormone may play a role in wound-healing issues in diabetics.

When blood sugar management goes awry, other endocrine glands will compensate. For example, as shown in the image below, taken from Life Without Bread, by Wolfgang Lutz and Christian Allan, high blood sugar can cause a relative increase in insulin and a relative decrease in sex hormones and growth hormones. In the second scenario, the relative increase in insulin causes a relative increase in thyroid hormone secretions. Either result is an example of metabolic dysregulation, which leads to unwanted symptoms.

Understanding the numbers

Measuring blood sugar is a simple thing to do with an inexpensive glucose meter, found at a drugstore or on Amazon. You can also learn what your blood sugar level is if you get lab tests done at your doctor’s office.

A good fasting blood sugar in a healthy person is between 75 and 85. After a meal, it shouldn’t exceed 110, and in a very healthy person, it won’t ever get to 100. Insulin and glucagon keep your numbers in a fairly tight range when you are healthy. 140 is considered to be borderline diabetic. In a diabetic person, blood sugar level may go as high as 200, which is a bit scary, as peripheral nerve damage begins when blood sugar exceeds 120. Retinal damage begins to occur when blood sugar exceeds 140.

If you measure your blood sugar at home following a meal, you can begin to see which foods affect you the most and then avoid them. It is an empowering way to take control of your health. When you decrease your intake of carbohydrates/sugar, you will see changes very quickly in your blood sugar numbers, and you will be able to get control of the cascade of symptoms that occur with high blood sugar readings.

What else can you do?

• Avoid hypoglycemia (low blood sugar episodes) by eating something at least every 3-1/2 hours. Remember to bring snacks with you so you don’t get stuck without food.

• Eat complex rather than refined carbohydrates, and eat them in small quantities (e.g. 1/2 cup of brown rice, quinoa, sweet potato, fruit).

• Don’t consume caffeine before eating breakfast. Caffeine seems to decrease insulin sensitivity and increase cortisol release. High cortisol over long periods tends to produce glucose, i.e., raise blood sugar.

• Eat a protein-rich breakfast.

• Oops…eat too many carbs? Go for a brisk walk. This will allow your body to use the excess glucose, rather than secreting insulin to get the glucose into the cells and store it.

• And, finally…avoid sweets as much as possible! The more you follow the above guidelines, the easier it will be to thwart sugar cravings.

Take control of your health!

By making these simple, but crucial, changes to your diet, you will make huge strides in managing your blood sugar. Even type II diabetics can make major changes in their blood sugar by diet alone in a relatively short period of time.

Healing the body by addressing the mind and spirit

There are many factors that affect our health: physical, environmental, social, emotional. To fully understand and heal a condition, we must untangle and address all of these factors. For example, even if a case of back pain was caused by an overt injury, there may be an emotion or a pain memory that, left unaddressed, prevents the original injury from healing. 

The power of German auricular medicine is its ability to address all aspects of the mind, body, and spirit. To explore this idea further, we must revisit the concept of focus activity. A “focus” is a stubborn and hidden blockage to healing, caused by either a body/brain memory of a particular stress or trauma or from a physical or emotional wound that is concealed within the body. The body becomes consumed with healing these blockages and can’t attend to healing other day-to-day issues.

Once we have identified the focus point (we do this by scanning the ears with particular tools, until we feel a change in the pulse) we must dig deeper, to see if there is an emotional component to the blockage that is preventing the focus from healing. We can scan for emotional points or we can look for past traumas. You can look back to the June/July 2020 edition of the Red Clover Clinic Newsletter, where I discussed treating traumas of the soul.

Many emotions are mapped out on the ear. There is an interesting correlation in auricular medicine between organs and emotions that often relates to Chinese medicine theory. In Chinese medicine, the heart is associated with joy, the liver with anger, the spleen with worry, the kidney with fear, and the lung with sadness and grief. On the ear, for example, the anger and rage points relate to the sympathetic chain (the nervous system connection to the organs) of the liver and gallbladder. Another interesting example is that the bullying and violence point is the same point as the pancreas.

In cases where the organ point relates to an emotion, it is important to distinguish if there is an actual organ problem, or if it is purely emotional. Not every physical issue has an associated emotion, and not every emotional blockage is associated with a physical issue; however, the connection comes up frequently. We must remember that traumatic experience exists on a spectrum. The extent of the trauma is dependent on the perception of the threat by the individual, as well as the individual’s stability and constitutional strength.

All of us have a mind, body, and a spirit/soul, and to heal and maintain health, we must address all of these aspects of ourselves. By treating only the physical aspect of back pain, the condition may remain more chronic. If we treat the emotion underlying the pain along with the back pain itself, and any other blockages that may prevent healing, we have the hope of actually healing the condition more successfully.

High tech or high stress?

Are you suffering from symptoms like increased heart rate, palpitations, anxiety, and disrupted sleep? If so, do you wear an Apple watch? This might seem like a strange question to ask, but twice in the past year, I have come across this scenario, and by removing the watch, the symptoms either went away, or dissipated significantly.

Of course, many people wear Apple watches and don’t have these symptoms. But it's possible some may be experiencing different symptoms, or the symptoms named above to a lesser degree, and would never dream that their watch could be the culprit.

Many people wear their watch 24/7, because it tracks their steps and their sleep…all in the name of promoting health. I recently heard of someone who suggested an Apple watch for elderly people, because they can call 911 if they fall. These are all important functions, but we also have to consider that the watches may have counterbalancing negative side effects on our health.  

In addition to smart watches, we have many sources of electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) in our modern lives: cell phones, wi-fi routers, tablets, cordless phones, clock radios, computers, TVs, smart meters, Fitbits, Bluetooth products, etc. The items that seem to cause the biggest amount of stress on our bodies are those that send and receive data. Putting cell phones, Apple watches, and tablets in airplane mode can reduce EMF radiation significantly. 

Another theory I have as to why the Apple watch had such a specific symptom profile in these two people is that it wraps around the wrist. It crosses six of the twelve acupuncture meridians, two of which, the heart and the pericardium meridians, directly affect heart function. The heart, furthermore, is an electrical organ, so it is more vulnerable to electrical signals. This is just a theory, but I do find the correlation fascinating. 

I have seen other people who are sensitive to EMFs, myself included, experience disrupted sleep and fatigue. It is the increased heart rate and palpitations, particular to these two cases with the Apple watch, that caught my attention.

You might be wondering how we determined that the Apple watch was the cause of the symptoms in the two cases. Acting on a hunch, I did my usual muscle testing. I tested each person with and without the watch. I noted how it affected their energy fields and their organs. In both cases, the muscle testing results were completely different, depending on whether the watch was on their body or not. The energy field increased in size, and the organs tested much stronger when the watch was several feet away from their body. 

What’s the moral of this story? I think it’s important to have awareness that objects that bring us convenience, and sometimes even safety, come at a cost. If we are experiencing symptoms, we should educate ourselves to find out if EMFs could be the cause. This article is a good place to start: Apple Watch EMF Radiation - A Complete Guide. If we already know we are sensitive to EMFs, then we might choose to forgo the Apple watch, or keep it in airplane mode whenever possible, and take it off at night.

Do you think your Apple watch could be interfering with your health? If so, feel free to bring it up next time you come in, and we can do some testing. 

Are you suffering from pandemic fatigue?

Back in January, I wrote an article called Why do we get sick? At the time, we were experiencing a bad flu season, but I had no idea that we were about to enter into a worldwide pandemic. I thought it might be useful to revisit the reasons we do or do not get sick as we approach the fall, another flu season, and a possible worsening of COVID-19 spread.

No matter what type of contagion we are trying to avoid, those who are healthiest avoid getting sick or get milder cases of illness. They also recover faster and more completely. Of course, there are always exceptions. What has been frightening during this pandemic is that there have been a handful of cases of young, strong and seemingly healthy people dying as a result of COVID-19. They may be young and appear healthy, but it is important to remember that we do not know their complete health histories. They may have an unhealthy diet or poor lifestyle habits that haven’t yet manifested in obvious ways. Or, they may simply be the unfortunate exception.

There is so much we don’t know about this virus, and in spite of pandemic-fatigue, we have to persevere and exercise caution with how we go about our daily lives. We must continue physical distancing, wash our hands frequently, and wear a mask when we’re in indoor public spaces. Even more importantly, in my opinion, we have to take good care of ourselves. The more we implement and maintain healthy habits, the more likely we will stay healthy, or at least healthier. 

It is important to eat a varied, fresh and healthy diet. Avoid sugar and processed foods. Avoid environmental toxins as much as possible. Get regular exercise. Get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Stay in touch with friends and family, if not in person, then via Zoom or phone calls. Finally, manage stress as much as possible. 

Now that natural healthcare clinics have the appropriate safety measures in place, it is also helpful to get regular care to manage stress, boost the immune system and balance the body. Nutritional support, acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, craniosacral therapy, etc. are all effective at supporting health and preventing disease.

This isn’t a time to stick our heads in the sand, or to binge eat while binge watching Netflix. We need to stay engaged and make our physical and mental health a priority. If you are in need of some support, feel free to give us a call.

Treating traumas of the soul

One of the things that kept me busy during the pandemic shutdown was an online German auricular acupuncture course on identifying and treating soul trauma. Soul trauma refers to psychological wounds and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Most of us have experienced some form of shock, trauma, injury, or abuse in our lives. There may even be an event that we are not conscious of, such as birth trauma, that is still having an effect on our whole being. 

The assessment

As with all German auricular acupuncture methods, I use the pulse to find the points that need treatment. This method uses several different flower essences to help identify, and in some cases treat, the trauma. 

The process begins by scanning a portion of the back of the head along the Governing Vessel, one of the energy pathways in Chinese medicine. If there is an active pulse reading, we can pinpoint a certain age range of when the trauma happened. The client is then asked to think back to that age, and try to remember if there was a traumatic event that they experienced. Most of the time, the client has an immediate recognition of the trauma. 

Next, the active area must be scanned with a few different flower essences, to determine which one will be useful to treat the trauma. There will be a point on the ear that corresponds with the selected flower essence that will also be treated. Again, the pulse is used to find a resonance between the flower essence and the points.

The treatment

The treatment is composed of three parts.

1. The recall and acknowledgement of the traumatic event. 

2. The flower essence that resonated with the point on the timeline can be taken internally, daily, for up to a few weeks.

3. The point on the ear that is associated with the flower essence can be treated with a semi-permanent needle, a regular acupuncture needle and/or laser treatment with the frequency associated with the flower essence. 

The area on the timeline will need to be checked on subsequent visits. The point may be cleared, or it will require further treatment. Sometimes a new area will show up. If multiple points show up, the trauma that happened earliest in life is the one that is addressed first. Often it will clear the subsequent traumas. 

In light of the traumatic events surrounding the murder of George Floyd that have happened here in Minnesota in the past few weeks, I found the timing of this new-to-me method to be quite relevant and well-timed. Many of my clients are showing up still in shock and experiencing anxiety. By addressing the older traumatic events, I’m hoping that they will be more able to process these new traumas in real time, so they don’t suffer a lasting effect. 

Working with my clients at this level has been a gift. I feel like they have allowed me a glimpse into their lives, and we have been able to process these deep traumatic experiences together.

Remote Nutrition Testing

Physical distancing, necessary due to the pandemic crisis, has had a huge impact on how we live our daily lives. People are working, learning, and socializing over internet platforms like Zoom and FaceTime. Telehealth is becoming the norm. For a hands-on practitioner, this presents some obvious challenges. 

Actual acupuncture treatment is impossible. Muscle testing, however, is another story. At first I was skeptical about how not having an arm to push on would work, but after attending an online seminar about remote testing with Dr. Frank Springob, the founder of Morphogenic Field Technique, and experimenting over the past couple of weeks, I am pleasantly surprised with how well it works. 

I’m pleased to announce, therefore, that while we’re still closed for face-to-face sessions, I will be offering virtual nutrition consultations two or three days per week. Once we reopen, there will also be the possibility of remote sessions for those who are still self-isolating. 

How does it work?

The concept of remote testing is based on the Quantum Entanglement Theory , which states: 

“Quantum entanglement is the phenomenon whereby a pair of particles are generated in such a way that the individual quantum states of each are indefinite until measured, and the act of measuring one determines the result of measuring the other, even when at a great distance from each other.” 

We can apply this theory to two humans who are in different places and who agree to test and be tested (i.e., are entangled). I can then use my energy field and body to hold the space for the client. By reading the weight of my own arm, I can feel the result of the muscle test. I have to admit that I’m truly grateful that I have several years of muscle testing under my belt. This has developed my sensitivity so that I can trust the reading of my own arm.

Nutrition testing during the time of COVID-19

Another benefit of the seminar I attended was obtaining a test vial that helps to identify the presence of viral energy and oxidative stress in a person’s energy field. In his research and testing over the past several weeks, Dr. Springob noticed that COVID-19 seems to create a lot of free radical damage in the body, especially in the lungs. Oxidative stress, a result of free radical damage, is a primary sign of aging. Although everyone is at risk of contracting COVID-19, it is the aged that are most vulnerable. Using this vial helps me to identify the issue of oxidative stress, as well as find the right solution for the individual. It is an important piece of helping people increase their vitality and decrease their oxidative stress, putting them in a stronger position if they are exposed to any virus. 

How to schedule a remote session

If you are in need of testing, please email me at info@redcloverclinic.com. If texting or calling works better for you, please call: 651-600-6181. I will be arranging the days based on demand. The testing can be done via FaceTime, Zoom, or telephone. The video option is nice, but not necessary.

If you end up needing supplements after your session, the pickup time will be scheduled at the end of my testing day, so that I can meet you down at the south entrance of the building. 

Calming ear massage

As I have written about in past newsletters, the ear contains a map of the whole body. In other words, treating the ear can have an effect on the entire body. The area where the lower portion of the ear meets the cheek has an effect on the vagus nerve, which impacts the parasympathetic nervous system, which rules rest and digestion. 

By gently stimulating the vagus reflex area, you can exert a calming effect on your body. This is useful on a regular basis, but especially if you’re feeling stress and anxiety. 

Anchor your thumb in the notch behind the lobe of your ear. Place your index finger on the front of your ear at the tragus (the triangular shaped flap extending over the ear canal). With light to moderate pressure, slide your index finger straight downwards to the edge of the ear lobe. Repeat this multiple times, until you feel a sense of relaxation. You should feel your breath slow and deepen, and your shoulders drop gently. Both sides can be treated at once. 

A global pandemic is no retreat

What a strange few weeks we have experienced. It has taken me over two weeks to feel settled enough to even write anything meaningful. I have spoken with many friends, clients, and fellow practitioners, who have been experiencing similar patterns of anxiety, lack of focus, and frustration. It seems that the new and unknown territory we’re wading through causes us to experience a feeling of chaos. The thing is, isn’t the future always unknown? Certainly, our usual, day-to-day lives have a routine and familiarity to them that helps to keep us grounded, and more able to cope with the unexpected. 

As I’m finding new routines, I’m starting to feel a bit more productive. As a small business owner, the learning curve has been steep, figuring out when to close, how long to close, understanding the disaster relief programs, how to stay in touch with clients, planning for new practice procedures when we go back to the clinic, furthering my education on immune support during this pandemic, and more. The large number of emails, phone calls, text messages, and webinars has been supportive and informative, but also distracting and overwhelming. It’s hard to stay focused, when there is always another thing to pay attention to. I’m the type of person who craves a quiet retreat. One would think that physical distancing would create such an opportunity, but in my experience, a global pandemic is no retreat!

That said, I have enjoyed sleeping a bit longer in the mornings, eating more regular meals, and taking more moments here and there to think. As many of you know, I am a crafts person of all things wooly. This time period has made me somewhat more productive, but not necessarily more creative. I have found that the action of doing something repetitive in nature has a calming effect on my nervous system. 

This doesn’t seem to be a time to achieve big things–rather, we need to find joy in all of our small accomplishments: a clean closet, a healthy meal, a fresh-baked loaf of bread, a pot of chicken stock, a repotted plant, a completed craft project.

Wishing all of you good health and safety during this difficult time.

How to support your immune system, during the time of COVID-19

• Create a daily routine

• Maintain consistent meal times

• Keep bed and wake-up times consistent

• Get daily exercise

• Avoid sticky foods, such as gluten, dairy, and sweets

• Emphasize hydrating foods, such as soups, stews, and porridges

• Eat more warming foods, and limit cold foods

• Eat mindfully

• Breathe in fresh air whenever possible

• Meditate

As always…the best preventive medicine is made up of healthy habits and nutritious food!

Supportive symptom management of COVID-19

A few days ago, I watched a webinar put on by Janice Hadlock, an acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine professor. She shared a technique that appears to greatly calm the symptoms of COVID-19. It is a simple, self-applied procedure that you can learn here.

What is chronic stress?

I’m sure you get a feeling in your body when thinking about chronic stress. You know what it feels like, but what is it exactly? To better understand stress and its effect on the body, first we must understand something about our nervous system.

The autonomic nervous system

The autonomic nervous system is in charge of all of the automatic functions of our body, such as heart rate, blood pressure, sleep, digestion, and hormonal regulation. It is located in the brain stem and spinal cord.

The autonomic nervous system is divided into two parts: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic portion is sometimes thought of as the “fight or flight” system, but I like to simply think about it as the more active, quick response portion of the autonomic system. The parasympathetic portion can be thought of as the “rest and digest” system.

In our busy, fast-paced world, we spend a lot of time stimulating our sympathetic nervous system. We never shut it off, which takes us out of the much-needed parasympathetic state, where we can rest and recover our energy.

The effects of chronic stress

Chronic stress is when “the stress response becomes more damaging than the stressor itself,” says Robert Sapolsky, professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford University. Sapolsky is featured in a 2008 National Geographic special called “Stress: Portrait of a Killer.” You can watch this short intro video to get a good explanation of the sympathetic nervous system. Thefull, hour-long show is quite interesting as well, and is accessible on YouTube.

Over time, sustained stress levels lead to anxiety, depression, insomnia, increased risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke, a compromised immune system, weight gain, digestive disorders, increased pain, headaches, reproductive issues, addiction, and premature aging. It’s not a pretty picture. What can you do?

Stress management

It is becoming more and more difficult to manage chronic stress, but here are some general guidelines:

Do for yourself

• Get enough rest and sleep, set yourself a bedtime and stick to it

• Exercise daily or when you are able to

• Eat a healthy diet or vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins and minerals

• Avoid stimulants, sugar and processed food

• Moderate screen time

• Get acupuncture and/or massage

Do for others

• Connect with others

• Care for others

• Take part in community

Just be

• Meditate

• Spend time in nature

• Be positive

• Know your purpose

One last thing to review is the Red Clover Clinic Newsletter article from last fall “Avoiding the straw that broke the camel’s back,” which discusses the use of adaptogenic herbs to help manage chronic stress.

Why do we get sick?

According to recent news reports, this has been a particularly bad flu season. When we come down with the flu, what is to blame, the virus, our immune systems, or a combination of both?

Two opposing theories that date back to the late 19th century are still espoused today: germ theory vs. terrain theory. Louis Pasteur, the primary scientist behind germ theory, would say the virus is to blame. He focused on the pathogen (virus, bacteria, fungus, parasite). He believed that to fight an illness, you must treat the symptoms. This is the basis of thought in allopathic medicine.

Claude Bernard and Pierre Antoine Bechamp, the scientists who established the terrain theory, would point to the immune system or the general health of the body. The idea is that we don’t get sick because germs are present; rather, germs can thrive because  our bodies are weakened, stressed, and malnourished. Complementary medicine lives more in this sphere.

As with all things in life, nothing is black and white. There are aspects of both of these theories that should be considered. That said, it is my belief that we should live by the premise of terrain theory, and add some cautions we have learned from germ theory.

How to prevent illness

Recognizing the fact that germs are everywhere, we need to take responsibility for our own health by eating well, avoiding toxins as much as possible, sleeping enough, exercising enough, and managing stress. The healthier we are, the less likely we are to get sick. We also have to accept the fact that it is normal to catch a cold occasionally, and when that happens, we should rest and support our body to heal itself.

Rarely are we ever in such perfect condition that we are completely immune from picking up a bug. This is where germ theory comes in. No matter how healthy you are, or how well you take care of yourself, take precautions when you are exposed to sick people. Wash your hands; wear a mask; and avoid exposure to sickness if you can.

If you can’t help but be exposed to illness, take extra good care of yourself. Rest more, take immune-boosting herbs and supplements, eat especially well, and avoid sugar as much as possible. Sugar has an immediate deleterious effect on the immune system.

How to treat illness

These disease prevention approaches work very well most of the time. Still, there are times when medical intervention is necessary. There is no need to be a hero and avoid medication at all costs. In more typical mild-to-moderate cases of the flu, there are many natural treatments that are effective, with little or no side effects. My favorite approach is to do Nutrition Response Testing/Morphogenic Field Technique to find out what the best supplement or herb is to treat the specific case.

Reasons to consider going natural whenever possible include:

• There are herbs that are especially effective at treating all types of microbial infections. Antibiotics only treat bacterial infections, not viral or fungal infections.

• Side effects are much less likely with herbal and nutritional supplements than with pharmaceutical medications.

• As witnessed over the past couple of decades, overuse of antibiotics and vaccines has contributed to the development of super bugs. Responsible use is recommended.

If you need the pharmaceuticals, you need them. Just remember they aren’t a replacement for taking responsibility for your health by nurturing a sound and resilient terrain.

Avoiding the straw that broke the camel’s back

Stress is part of life. We live in a fast-paced world, we place high demands on ourselves, and we have constant challenges with work, family, finances, politics--you name it! Typically we feel “stressed” when we don’t feel we have the energetic resources to match the obstacle we’re faced with.

There are many ways to manage our lives to decrease stress. We might compromise income for a less stressful job, for example. We can also try to live a healthier lifestyle, so that we can improve our body’s ability to cope with stress. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly are a great start. Practicing yoga or meditating can also help to put the world on pause for a moment. 

It is very important to build stress management tools into our daily lives, because there is no magic bullet to give us endless energy and help us keep our cool no matter the circumstance. We are humans, not robots. That said, there is a category of herbs called adaptogens, that can support us during times of stress. 

These herbs are known as adaptogens because they help to adjust the body’s stress response, much like a thermostat adjusts the temperature. There are many herbs in this category with a variety of specific effects, but they all help the body to better handle stress. Eleuthero (a.k.a. Siberian ginseng), ashwagandha, rhodiola, licorice, ginseng, holy basil, cordyceps, reishi, and maitake are all examples of these subtle, yet powerful herbs. 

Much of the early research on adaptogens was done in the Soviet Union to help astronauts and Olympic athletes better cope with stress, thereby increasing stamina and improving performance. Many studies were also performed in China and Korea, most notably on the effects of ginseng.  

In my practice, I don’t put everybody on adaptogens at all times, but I definitely find that my clients benefit from their use during higher stress times, hormonal transitions, and seasonal changes, among other reasons. They have the effect of normalizing energy, improving sleep and mood, strengthening immunity, and balancing hormones. All in all, they help the body to function better. My favorites include eleuthero, ashwagandha, rhodiola (more on those below), licorice, and medicinal mushroom blends. 

If you’re in good health, but feel like one more thing might take you down, exploring the world of adaptogenic herbs might help. They may even give you enough energy to make it to a yoga class and cook a healthy meal.

My three top adaptogen picks

Eleuthero

Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng, left) is perfect for someone who is overstressed, not sleeping enough, not getting enough exercise, and is eating too much unhealthy foods. It strengthens the immune system, decreases inflammation and improves physical and cognitive performance.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is great for nervous exhaustion. It is calming, it improves sleep, and it reduces anxiety. It is also anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic.

Rhodiola

Rhodiola is a rejuvenating tonic. It improves energy and cognitive function. It is especially helpful in treating depression and anxiety.

Understanding vitamins: synthetic vitamins vs. whole food concentrates

I find myself explaining the difference between synthetic and whole food concentrate supplements almost every day. For this reason, I decided to dig back into the Red Clover Clinic Newsletter archive and republish this article with fresh information. I hope it will clear up any confusion on the subject.

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To achieve optimal health, my nutrition practice recommends a good, organic diet with supplementation from whole food concentrates, herbs, and homeopathic remedies. I am often asked to muscle-test the various vitamins that people are taking to see if the body likes them. Whether inexpensive vitamins from Target or very expensive ones from the local coop, these vitamins are synthetic. In almost every instance, synthetic vitamins don’t test well. They actually stress the body over time.

What’s the difference between synthetic vitamins and whole food concentrates?

Vitamin complexes were first identified in food in the early part of the 20th century. As the science of vitaminology developed, scientists identified, then isolated, what they thought was the active component in each vitamin complex. They then concentrated the individual component into a high potency pill. If some is good, more is better…right?

Nutrient isolates are produced in the same manner as pharmaceutical drugs. Furthermore, since the middle of the 20th century, these vitamins have been produced from chemicals, cheap oils, coal tar, corn starch, and petroleum.

There is a type of supplement that can be labeled a “whole food supplement” that is better than what is described above but still isn’t the same as a whole food concentrate. These are vitamins that have been cultured in yeast. To make this type of product, minerals and synthetic vitamins are “fed” to yeast. The yeast are then processed to form the supplement. The idea is that a cultured (pre-digested) product is more bioavailable. These supplements tend to have a lower potency than full synthetic vitamins, which makes them a little closer to what nature intended.

The best supplement choice, however, is whole food concentrates which, as the term implies, are concentrated whole foods. Why are they better than synthetic vitamins? They contain complete vitamin complexes as they are found in nature. They still have all of the cofactors (the individual parts of the complex) that act as catalysts, which makes them more absorbable and thus effective. The idea is that if you give the body the basic nutritional building blocks, it will be able to sustain normal function, healthy growth, and tissue repair. Standard Process is one of very few companies that produces a complete line of true whole-food supplements.

How do synthetic vitamins cause harm to the body?

Since synthetic vitamins are isolates, and lack the cofactors that the body needs to absorb them, the body’s stores of these cofactors are depleted. In other words, taking an isolate in a high potency causes relative deficiencies within the vitamin complex. Someone may initially feel improvement by taking a synthetic vitamin, but after a while, as the cofactors are depleted, they begin to feel worse. In fact, they may begin to experience symptoms of a deficiency of the very same vitamin they are taking. Furthermore, high-potency vitamins place stress on the organs of elimination (kidneys, liver, and bowels), just as any drug does. Ultimately, this will cause harm to the body.

How can you tell whether a supplement is synthetic or a whole food concentrate?

The best way to learn about a supplement is to read the label. Look below for a comparison of two labels. On the left you see a standard vitamin C label. It states that the C is in the form of ascorbic acid, which is an isolate, not the whole vitamin complex. You will also notice that each tablet contains 1000 mg of ascorbic acid, which is 1,667% of the recommended daily value. One small orange contains 51 mg of vitamin C. So one tablet of this supplement provides the equivalent of almost 20 oranges. I don’t think Mother Nature intended for someone to eat that many oranges in one sitting!

The whole food concentrate C complex label is very different, and possibly a bit confusing. One serving (3 tablets) provides you with 25% of the recommended daily value. The big actors in this supplement, the source of the vitamin C, are listed on the bottom half of the label. You’ll notice many different foods listed, all high in the C complex. They are in their whole food form, which is easy for the body to recognize and assimilate. More is not always better; it is the form that really counts.

When you can, eat whole foods. When you can’t, eat whole food concentrates. Bottom line: eat food, not chemicals!

In pursuit of a golden thumb

At the end of May, I traveled to Toronto for an advanced training in German auricular medicine, taught by Dr. Frank Bahr. He has been the principal developer and innovator of the German style of auricular medicine, and I feel grateful that he made the trip across the Atlantic to share his knowledge.

Developing a “golden thumb”

Dr. Bahr made it clear that skilled practitioners need to develop a “golden thumb.” If you have experienced an auricular acupuncture treatment from me, you may recall that I monitor your pulse with my thumb throughout the session. With my thumb, I am constantly feeling for the VAS (vascular autonomic signal) while scanning the ear with a tool in my other hand. When there is a resonance to a certain point in the ear, the pulse becomes more sharp and accentuated. This is how your body guides me on what to treat and how to treat it. It takes a lot of practice and experience to become attuned to the VAS.

New territory in German auricular medicine

This training was different from others in that it was structured to help us think outside the box. We learned a number of approaches to getting information from the body, how to address what we find, as well as how to start thinking on our own to develop new approaches.

Dr. Bahr has researched different forms of energy healing, including Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and homeopathy. He discussed how to employ several concepts form each in auricular medicine. In some cases, it helped us to see the connection between emotions and specific organs and in other cases, how to determine constitutional weakness and how to support the body so it can maintain homeostasis.

The power of laser frequencies

One of Dr. Bahr’s innovations is the use of the low-level laser in auricular medicine for diagnosis and treatment. He and other skilled practitioners have discovered particular frequencies that can be programmed into the laser that resonate with certain tissues (joints, vertebrae, teeth, organs) and energies (meridians, chakras, emotions). These frequencies add to the precision and broaden the scope of what can be done with auricular medicine.

To use the laser diagnostically, the laser is programmed with a specific frequency and put on the body. Then certain points on the ears, or the ears in general, are scanned, while monitoring the pulse. This method will accentuate the points that are related to the frequency and diminish all other points. In other words, the practitioner is able to gather a lot more information about the active points and can determine their significance to the treatment.

The laser can be used in treatment to clear negative energy out of a point, much like an acupuncture needle. Most often, the person being treated has enough vital force to start healing following the regulating effect of the acupuncture or laser treatment. However, if the client’s body is very weak and deficient, it may not be able to respond to the treatment. It needs to be replenished with some positive, healing energy. The laser, programed with a specific frequency, has the ability to do this.

For more information on the basics of low-level laser therapy, see my article: Let their be “laser” light!

Why German auricular medicine?

German auricular medicine is a good therapy option for almost anyone, particularly those who suffer from stubborn pain and conditions, and those who haven’t felt the same since having a surgery, injury, or trauma. I also find it to be quite useful in balancing emotions, hormones, and stress.

One of my teachers, Muriel Agnes, states it succinctly in her book Auricular Medicine: Window to the Brain (Blurb, 2018, p. 1):

“The ear, the auricle, is a window to the brain, showing us a dynamic, current reflection of what is happening in the whole brain, making the structures and functions of the person visible and accessible to the trained practitioner.”

For more information about the basics of German auricular medicine, see my article: What is unique about German auricular acupuncture?

Gardening for health

I woke up early a few Saturdays ago to an episode of the Splendid Table radio show. The show featured an interview with Chef Dan Barber of the Row 7 seed company, which describes itself as “a seed company grounded in the notion that deliciousness might just change the world.” I’m always inspired when flavorful food intersects with high-quality nutrition.

Over the past many decades, seeds have been developed to prioritize yield, shelf life, and uniformity at the expense of flavor and nutrition. The people behind Row 7 decided to change that and focus on breeding seeds that produce the most flavorful vegetables. Interestingly, the vegetables with the best, most complex flavor, also have the highest nutrient content. Nature always knows best!

Most of us are also aware that we get better nutrition from vegetables that have been harvested locally, prepared and eaten as close to the harvest date as possible. The more vegetables sit, the more the nutrients in them break down. You get much better nutrition from something you harvested in your back yard the same day as you eat it, than from something that has been driven across the country and left in the produce aisle for a week, then in your refrigerator for another week. Of course, if you can’t grow your own food, CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) baskets, farmer’s markets, and local produce from your coop are all good compromises.

The other variable, of course, is how the vegetables are grown. Are they organic? Are they non-GMO? Herbicides and pesticides are used heavily on most commercial crops, especially GMO crops. The biggest concern for our health is the exposure to these toxic chemicals via the residue left behind on these vegetables. This article about the “dirty dozen” is helpful to understand how these harmful chemicals affect our bodies. Growing your own food and buying organic as much as you can is the best way to avoid these toxic chemicals.

I was having a planning discussion about this issue of the newsletter with my editor, Laura Weber, who also happens to be the editor of Minnesota History, the magazine published by the Minnesota Historical Society. When I mentioned the story of Row 7 and that gardening season is upon us, she shared the article Homecroft City: The “Duluth Idea” in the Progressive Conservation Movement, by Eric Boime, which is in the current (Spring 2019) issue of Minnesota History.

The article is an interesting glimpse into Duluth’s history during the early 20th century. George Maxwell, a lobbyist, began The American Homecroft Society to encourage people to grow their own food on land adjacent to their homes (a homecroft), to ensure that they have enough to eat, to save money, and to cope with the effects of industrialization. He selected Duluth, which was already promoting homecrofts, as the model homecroft city and moved the national headquarters there.

“Maxwell proffered homecrofts as the antidote to major crises confronting urban America. In addition to mending industrial workers’ severed relationship with nature, homes that incorporated spaces for production, to Maxwell’s mind, granted working-class families autonomy and supplemental income in a volatile market.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the homecroft movement, and what happened to it, I recommend reading the article. In addition to learning more about Duluth’s history, I walked away from the article being reminded how empowering gardening can be not only for your finances, but for your health. It gives you control over what you’re growing and eating, it improves your nutrition, it reconnects you with nature, and it is a good source of gentle exercise.

It appears that this long, challenging winter is finally over, and it’s safe to plan your garden. I suggest making room for some seeds from Row 7. if you do, please let me know how it goes!

What’s keeping you up at night?

Good, sound sleep can be one of life’s greatest pleasures. However, when you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, the hours spent trying to sleep can be incredibly frustrating.

I have many tools to help people experience improved sleep, but I find that order to get the most out of acupuncture or Nutrition Response Testing treatment, the various factors that influence sleep should be considered and addressed first. These factors include bedroom environment, evening routine, diet, and stress management.

Bedroom environment

To create the perfect environment for sleep, one must consider the Goldilocks principle: everything must be “just right” for an individual to sleep well. The bed should be comfortable and the room temperature shouldn’t be too cool or too warm. The temperature should be on the cooler side (60-73 F, depending on the season) to bring about sleepiness and help maintain a comfortable body temperature throughout the night. The room should be as dark as possible. Blackout shades or an eye mask are useful Avoid lighted alarm clocks and nightlights. Quiet is also important. Earplugs and white noise machines come in very handy.

Finally, a lesser-known environmental factor is exposure to electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs). We are surrounded by EMFs from things like cell phones, wi-fi routers, microwaves, smart meters, television, computer screens, fitness tracking devices, smart watches, cordless telephones, and power lines. EMFs that are given off can cause disorder in our nervous systems. Some people are more sensitive than others to these frequencies.

If you sleep with your phone by the bed, your smartwatch/Fitbit on your wrist or you leave your wi-fi router on during the night, your sleep may well be affected. The simplest thing to do is to keep electronics out of the bedroom or at least turned off. Also, switch off the wi-fi router at bedtime when nobody should be using it anyway. You can also invest in a few EMF protection products like harmonizing stickers for your devices, anti-radiation laptop mat, blanket, etc., that can absorb EMF radiation surrounding you to reduce its side effects on your body.

For those who are super-sensitive, there are devices that can help protect your body from these harmful frequencies. The one that has helped me the most is the Vivobase Home and the Vivobase Mobile. It was an investment, but now I wouldn’t be without it.

Evening routine

Sleep is regulated by circadian rhythms, and just as the phrase implies, a consistent sleep rhythm is important. Do your best to go to bed at the same time every night, and allow for 8 hours of sleep. There are people who need less sleep, but be sure to give yourself enough time to get the amount of sleep you need. Science also shows that it is best if you can get to bed before midnight to achieve the most restful sleep.

It is important to limit nighttime screen time. The blue light given off by electronics can interfere with your circadian rhythm, and depress production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.

Avoid eating late meals, because a full belly can interfere with good sleep, as well as cause acid reflux. It is also important to avoid high-carbohydrate snacks late at night. The spike in blood sugar increases energy, making it difficult to fall asleep. It can also cause you to wake up hungry during the night. Nighttime snacks should include some protein and/or complex carbohydrates to help keep the blood sugar at a constant level.

Exercise late in the evening can also disrupt a normal sleep cycle. Morning is the best time for intense exercise. Soothing activities like restorative or yin yoga, stretching, or meditation is better suited for the evening and help prepare for sleep.

Diet

We already discussed blood sugar levels at night, but sometimes it is important to consider your blood sugar stability throughout the day. If your body struggles to maintain a good balance, then you may consider giving up sugar and high-carbohydrate foods altogether. Believe it or not, this can have a huge impact on the quality of sleep. If insulin production is abnormally high, the regulation of all hormones in the body will be off. Hormone balance is key to quality sleep.

Caffeine is another thing that we consume that can affect sleep. Caffeinated tea and coffee should be avoided after noon. Caution should also be extended to chocolate. Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others, but it is important to test this schedule, because you might be more sensitive than you think. Complete avoidance may be helpful with caffeine as well, because caffeine triggers cortisol production, which, like insulin, affects hormone balance.

Alcohol can hijack sleep. It makes us feel sleepy, but it affects the quality of sleep, not to mention blood sugar. Try unwinding with a cup of chamomile tea rather than a cocktail, and see what happens.

Stress management

Stress is part of life, but when it’s out of control, it can wreak havoc with our health. If you are under excess stress, it is imperative that you find a way to manage it in general, but especially before bed. Avoid doing work before bed. Try taking a warm bath or meditating in the evening to relax the body and mind. Drink some calming herbal tea (teas that include chamomile, peppermint, passionflower, linden blossom, lemon balm, valerian and/or lavender) or use calming essential oils (lavender, sandalwood, cedar, geranium, ylang ylang, to name a few) to help prepare yourself for sleep. Even positive things like creative thinking and planning right before bed can cause energy to increase, thereby disrupting sleep.

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when trying to improve your sleep. If you’ve addressed most of these issues and still can’t sleep, I would love to work with you. There are many more factors that we may need to address to get you the sleep you need. 

If your heath is complicated by a condition such as sleep apnea, acid reflux, anxiety, depression, pain, restless leg syndrome, asthma, or the need for medications, it may require the joint effort of my services and your medical doctor.

The magic of minerals – Part 3

In the past two issues of the Red Clover Clinic Newsletter, I presented information about how common mineral dysregulation is and what effect it has on our health. In this installment of the series, I will lay down some basic principles of the Root Cause Protocol, designed by Morley Robbins.

The Root Cause Protocol is a list of steps to follow, with the purpose of balancing minerals and reducing inflammation. The primary mission is to manage iron levels and iron storage in order to reduce iron’s inflammatory effects on the body. I encourage you to reread the first and second installments of this series of articles, for more background information on why you would follow this protocol.

Phase 0

Phase 0 is a list of “STOPS.” There are several supplements to be avoided, such as iron, vitamin D, zinc, and calcium, as discussed in the second installment of this series.

Phase 0 also includes avoiding things that I regularly recommend avoiding, like high-fructose corn syrup; highly refined, commercial oils; and high-carbohydrate and processed foods. I strongly believe that everyone would be healthier if they avoided consuming highly refined, processed foods.

Phases 1-3

Phases 1-3 include many “STARTS.” The recommendations included in these phases are about adding certain foods and/or supplements to your diet, such as whole foods, trace mineral drops, whole-food vitamin C, cod liver oil, bee pollen, and others. All of these foods/supplements support basic nutrition and help to manage iron’s inflammatory effects.

Phase X

Phase X is a list of a few “STARTS,” things to do outside the realm of diet and dietary supplements. The two most important ones are donating blood and getting enough sunlight. Donating blood helps to guide iron out of the tissues, where it causes inflammation, and back into the blood.

Getting sunlight is the safest way to get vitamin D. As mentioned in the previous installment, taking vitamin D supplements can increase the storage of iron in the tissues. That’s why vitamin D supplements are also listed as a “STOP” in Phase 0.

By putting these phases into action, you can get your minerals balanced and decrease inflammation in your body. To learn more about this program and the science behind it, you can sign up for The Root Cause Protocol mailing list. They will send you a very complete instruction manual free of charge.

I have been incorporating much of this information and some of the recommended products into my Nutrition Response Testing work. So far, I have been pleased with the outcomes.

The magic of minerals – Part 2

The last issue of the newsletter was an introduction to the impact of minerals and mineral dysregulation on our health. To summarize, most of us are deficient in magnesium, due to stress, diet, environmental factors and aging, and iron accumulates in the tissues with age and other factors, causing inflammation. This interferes with energy production. Finally, we learned about basic mineral balancing and the importance of keeping magnesium, copper, calcium, and iron in balance.

The biochemistry of mineral balancing

This issue is devoted to the biochemistry of restoring proper mineral balance and the potential problems of supplementing with the minerals calcium, vitamin D, iron, and zinc. Let’s begin by reviewing the diagram from the last issue.

It is of primary importance to understand that minerals are a tightly regulated system, as  illustrated above. When you supplement with one mineral, you affect the status of another. This is true even of the mineral most of us are deficient in, magnesium. It is important, therefore, to understand the effects of the supplements you are taking, and know how to support the whole body, to prevent mineral dysregulation. With only some exceptions, foods are the best and safest forms of supplementation. 

Magnesium

Magnesium is the mineral of motion and energy. It is responsible for keeping the enzymatic functions of the body working, including the production and use of ATP (the energy carrier in our cells). Taking too much vitamin D, calcium, iron, and zinc interferes with magnesium absorption and retention. Magnesium supplementation lowers sodium, which causes a loss of potassium. This can cause the adrenal glands to “crash.” Restoring electrolytes in such a situation is critical, especially in cases of adrenal stress and fatigue.

Copper

Copper helps to carry warmth to the hands and feet. It aids in oxidizing iron in the body, and supporting the mitochondria in making energy. Copper needs to be paired with the enzyme ceruloplasmin to function and to guarantee that iron does what it should in the body. Too much iron breaks down the ability of copper and ceruloplasmin to keep the iron in check.

Calcium

Think of calcium as being the cement of the body. It is great when it is in our bones, but we don’t want it to deposit in our joints, muscles, kidneys and arteries. Magnesium helps to control calcium levels, and when magnesium is depleted, the calcium can deposit anywhere in the body. Taking an excess of vitamin D can also lead to calcium deposits in the body. Think osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis and kidney stones. Osteoporosis is actually more of an iron problem than a calcium problem, so taking calcium supplements to treat it is not addressing the root cause, and definitely doesn’t ensure that the calcium will be absorbed into the bones.

Iron

Iron in nature rusts. If we store too much iron, our tissues feel like they’re rusting, and we develop pain, creaky joints and inflammation. Of course we need iron, as it carries oxygen in our blood so that cells can produce energy. Too much iron, however, is detrimental to our health, and we tend to hang onto iron as we age. As discussed in the previous newsletter, we have become toxic in iron, due to fortification of our foods, high fructose corn syrup and GMO foods.

Common misinterpretations of blood tests and taking the wrong supplements

Are you taking vitamin D, iron or zinc supplements? You may want to rethink it. It is important to ask why the levels are low and fix the root problem. By supplementing these nutrients, you may be making the problem worse.

Vitamin D

If you supplement with vitamin D, it will compete with the retinol (vitamin A, which is a fat soluble nutrient from animal products) stored in the liver, and cause the iron storage to increase, ultimately causing more inflammation. Excess unbound iron will lead not only to magnesium deficiency and inflammation, but also low storage of vitamin D. Taking vitamin D will also lead to a calcium problem (as mentioned above), irritate the immune system, and ultimately deplete magnesium.

It has become common to have vitamin D levels tested when going to the doctor. The typical blood test for vitamin D is: Vitamin D 25-Hydroxy Blood Test. It tests the storage of vitamin D. This test frequently comes back low, and high doses of vitamin D are prescribed. In some cases, the prescription fails to increase the value of the storage vitamin D levels, and more is prescribed. It is important to also test the active vitamin D with this test: Vitamin D 1,25 Dihydroxy (Calcitriol) Blood Test. The ratio of these two tests is more important than one number alone. The active result should never be more than two times the storage result. By balancing iron and magnesium, the storage vitamin D value will typically come into the normal range.

Iron

It is common to be diagnosed with low hemoglobin (iron deficiency anemia) and/or low ferritin levels in your blood. The typical recommendation is to take iron supplements. The problem is that it is important to determine whether the anemia is due to a functional issue or if it is a true iron deficiency (most commonly due to blood loss). If you have low copper, you will have low functional iron, which is an anemia of chronic inflammation. The iron needs to be taken from the tissues and into the blood by balancing the minerals; taking iron supplements will only make the problem worse. Increasing magnesium, copper, and retinol in the diet should shift the iron out of the tissues, and increase the values of the hemoglobin and ferritin blood tests.

Zinc

Low zinc levels in the blood indicate an iron problem, as zinc competes with iron. If zinc is low, iron is high. If you supplement with zinc, it exacerbates the imbalance. Too much zinc can also cause a copper deficiency, which we saw above further contributes to iron issues. By handling the iron problem, the zinc levels should improve naturally.

How to balance minerals safely

In Part 3 of this article (January 2019), we’ll discuss the basic protocol of restoring mineral balance, primarily through food-based supplementation and avoiding problematic foods and supplements.

The magic of minerals – Part 1

Like many health practitioners, I learn a lot through exploring my own health and various treatments. My most recent health-related adventure has been all about minerals. I have always been taught that most of us are deficient in magnesium. I also knew through personal experience that taking too much magnesium can send you running to the bathroom! I also had the experience of a magnesium supplement causing acid reflux. The whole thing has been frustrating, and other than eating certain foods and topical applications, I wasn’t sure how to remedy the situation of deficient magnesium.

A couple of months ago I came across an interview with Morley Robbins, who is known as the “The Magnesium Man.” He examined peer-reviewed scientific literature from around the world and determined that magnesium deficiency is epidemic. The issue is more complicated than simply supplementing magnesium. Rather, due to conditions of modern life, we are also suffering from a deficiency in bio-available copper, which leads to an excess of unbound iron in the body. This excess of iron causes systemic inflammation.

Could all disease be caused by mineral dysregulation?

Morley makes the statement “There is no such thing as medical disease. There is only metabolic dysfunction, due to mineral dysregulation.” This may sound like a strong claim, but I do think there is a lot of truth to it. His claim is based on the fact that our energy, which is produced in our cells, is dependent on vital minerals and nutrients. If we are lacking in nutrients, our bodies can’t heal themselves. In other words, we need to balance our minerals in order to fix all other imbalances.

A lightbulb that went on for me when studying this information is the connection between minerals and connective tissue, and the fact that the gut is made up of connective tissue. Many of us are suffering from leaky gut issues and food sensitivities. See the July/August 2016 issue of the Red Clover Clinic Newsletter for more information about leaky gut.

It is such a struggle to heal a leaky gut. Merely avoiding certain foods to decrease inflammation and supplementing with pre- and pro-biotics to support the microbiome doesn’t seem to be the ultimate fix. The tissue in the gut won’t heal without restoring proper mineral regulation.

Why are we so deficient in magnesium?

There are many reasons we are so deficient in magnesium, but one of the biggest factors is stress. As soon as our bodies experience stress, we start losing magnesium. The modern world is so full of stress that our need for magnesium is huge. Often we experience stress as self-perpetuating. If we take a magnesium supplement or a bath with magnesium chloride or epsom salts, we are often able to experience some relaxation and rest, ultimately breaking the stress cycle.

Other factors that cause magnesium deficiency are:

• mineral depletion in the soil leading to mineral deficient foods

• fortification of calcium and iron in food

• fluoride in our water

• consumption of processed food, coffee, sugar, alcohol, and medications

Another thing we need to consider is that magnesium status drops as we go through life, and this trajectory accelerates as we get older.

Why is magnesium so important?

Magnesium is involved in over 300 different processes, including the production and use of ATP (the energy carrier in our cells). ATP doesn’t work without magnesium. Generally speaking, magnesium keeps enzymatic functions in the body working.

How does iron cause our bodies to rust?

Iron accumulates as we go through life. It is the mineral that ages us. It triggers further loss of magnesium, affects the mitochondria, and stops production of ATP. It causes the body to “rust,” signified in the breakdown of tissues, leading to pain and inflammation. Pathogens feed on iron, which is often why people struggle with chronic immune issues.

How did we become toxic in iron?

• 1941–Iron fortification of food began, mostly in wheat and wheat products.

• 1971–The amount of iron added to food increased by 50%, in spite of opposition by scientists.

• 1980s–Introduction of high fructose corn syrup – lowers copper and increases iron

• 1990s–Introduction of GMO foods – lowers copper and increases iron

Basic mineral balancing

Magnesium, copper, iron, and calcium need to remain in proper balance for normal metabolic function. (See image below.) Unfortunately, the modern diet, environment, and lifestyle, tend to decrease magnesium and copper, and increase iron and calcium stores. This imbalance leads to aging, from aches and pains to disease. As we go through life, magnesium and copper decrease and iron and calcium increase.  We should focus on restoring proper mineral balance rather than simply treating the symptoms of inflammation and disease.

How is this new information affecting my practice?

As I listened to the Morley Robbins interview, I knew that I had stumbled across something very important that would be helpful, not only to my health, but to the health of my clients. I quickly found someone I could work with who was trained by Morley and have made the decision to take his training the next time it is available. In the meantime, I have begun to add various parts of his protocol into my Nutrition Response Testing sessions, and have begun to see good results in the areas of immune and endocrine issues, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, inflammation, and other conditions. It can take time to get the minerals balanced out, but once they are, symptoms can begin to improve quickly.

More information to come

In Part 2 of this article (November 2018), we’ll delve a little deeper into the biochemistry behind restoring proper mineral balance in our bodies. If you’re currently supplementing with vitamin D, iron, and/or zinc, take heed; the second installment will be of special interest to you. In Part 3 (January 2019), we’ll discuss the basic protocol of restoring mineral balance.

Is there a bug in your software?

Do you ever have the feeling that the program in charge of the automatic functions in your body has a bug in it? Does your heart race for no reason? Is your digestion off kilter? Do you have trouble sleeping? It can sometimes be tricky to get to the bottom of these deep-seated issues, but there may be a way to begin debugging your software.

The autonomic nervous system

First we must understand a little bit more about our nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that is in charge of all of the automatic functions mentioned above, and many more. It is located in the brain stem and spinal cord.

The autonomic nervous system is divided into two parts: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic portion is sometimes thought of as the “fight or flight” system, but I like to simply think about it as the more active, quick response portion of the autonomic system. The parasympathetic portion can be thought of as the “rest and digest” system.

In our busy, fast-paced world, we spend a lot of time stimulating our sympathetic nervous system. This takes us out of the much-needed parasympathetic state, where we can rest and recover our energy. If we don’t rest enough, we are bugging our system unintentionally.

The cranial nerves help us perceive the world…friend or foe?

The twelve cranial nerves, originating mostly in the brain stem, are involved in many important functions, including bringing information from the sensory organs (the eyes, ears, nose and tongue) to the brain; autonomic functions such as breathing, digestion and heart rate; and controlling muscles and reflexes.

We perceive the world through our senses and cranial nerves. The cranial nerves’ programming makes them always alert to danger. An incoming danger signal is viewed as a threat, and reflexes are triggered to save our life.

If our nervous system thinks we are in danger, we can’t sleep, we can’t digest, and it feels like our heart is going to jump out of our chest. When our nervous system is in balance, the reflexes are ready, but not engaged. If we are caught in sympathetic mode or trauma, the reflexes are locked on, and we feel we are always in a state of danger.

Things that can cause us to be locked in sympathetic mode

There are many experiences during a normal lifetime that can get us stuck in sympathetic mode. Sometimes it happens at the very beginning, during birth. A C-section birth or the use of Pitocin can cause stress to the infant’s nervous system. Not being breast-fed or a premature birth can also be a cause of stress. Stress this early on can interrupt normal autonomic functioning and development. The ramifications can be life-long.

Later in life, things like surgeries, car accidents, injuries, trauma, and orthodontic work can cause disruptions in our nervous system, leaving us with high anxiety, unable to sleep, disrupted digestion, dizziness, visual disturbances, tight muscles and fascia, inability to swallow, shortness of breath, inability to learn and focus. And the list goes on.

What to do?

A great place to start is with the breath.

I recently attended a seminar with Lois Laney, the founder of Restorative Breathing. We studied her breathing technique and learned, among other approaches,  a dynamic functional cranial nerve assessment to wake up and balance the cranial nerves. Each technique is designed to bring about and restore optimal autonomic nervous system function.

Check out Laney’s introductory video on how to breathe.

Once you get the basic breathing down, add humming and swallowing. Inhale silently. As you exhale, hum. At the end of your exhale, swallow. Then repeat. The humming and swallowing bring you into parasympathetic mode and stabilize your cranial nerves.

If you’ve been in the office recently, you’ve probably experienced several other unusual tactics to balance the nervous system. If you haven’t been in, you’ll have to come in and see for yourself 😉  These are all very simple, yet powerful, treatments. It takes a minimum of 90 to 120 days to reprogram the nervous system, so it does require dedication. Are you ready to debug your software and change your life?