Natural medicine
doesn't work for everyone, although it does
for most. It definitely worked for Bernard Kleiman, MD, an elderly
Baltimore physician, medical colleague of my father, chief of otolaryngology
at a local hospital, and past president of the Baltimore County Medical
Society. After hearing a presentation on nutritional medicine that
I gave at the annual meeting of the Baltimore County Medical Society,
Dr. Kleiman consulted me for his own medical problems.
He called me "Alan"; I called him "Dr. Kleiman." He
was a member of the Maryland Board of Physician Quality Assurance (the Board
that can take doctors' licenses away); I was excited about the prospect
of helping him. After a string of successful nutritional interventions, I asked
Dr. Kleiman if he would write a letter about his experiences in my office.
I reasoned that a statement of support from a physician so highly respected
in the conventional medical community might be of value if the Board ever attempted
to discipline me for "deviating from the standard of care." The
Board never did, but Dr. Kleiman's letter remains as a testament to the
effectiveness of natural medicine.
Dr. Kleiman succumbed to ALS about three years after
he wrote this letter, more than seven years after the onset of his
neurological symptoms.
September 13, 1990
To whom it may concern:
I first consulted Dr. Gaby on August 10, 1987. At that time, I was
a 73-year-old man with a one-year history of a left foot drop increasing
progressively in severity, and several areas of progressive muscle
atrophy. I also had a one-year history of worsening fatigue, which
had become overwhelming. Standard diagnostic tests had failed to find
a cause of this fatigue. A neurologist diagnosed my condition as amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS). This diagnosis was confirmed by several other
neurologists, although two additional neurologists questioned that
diagnosis.
On my first visit with Dr. Gaby, he raised the possibility of drug-induced
autoimmune peripheral neuropathy, since I had been taking procainamide for
the treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation. This possibility had not been
considered by any of the specialists I had seen. However, my ANA titer was
found to be greater than 1:10,000, an unusually high level.
Dr. Gaby administered a series of weekly, intravenous nutrient injections designed
to keep me in sinus rhythm, so that I might be able to discontinue procainamide.
The injections consisted of magnesium chloride, B-complex vitamins, and vitamin
C. He informed me that magnesium was the primary active substance and that
the other components were synergists. Within 24 hours after the first injection,
I noticed an unexpected and dramatic resolution of my overwhelming fatigue.
This benefit has persisted for nearly three years now, while I have continued
to receive weekly nutrient injections. On several occasions, when I was unable
to receive an injection for a few weeks, the severe fatigue returned, only
to resolve completely after I received another injection. I am strongly convinced
this is not a placebo effect.
A number of weeks after beginning the injections, I successfully discontinued
procainamide without developing a recurrence of atrial fibrillation. On three
occasions during the ensuing three years, I did revert to atrial fibrillation.
On each of these occasions, I went to Dr. Gaby, who administered an intravenous
injection as described above. Each time, the atrial fibrillation resolved;
twice, in a matter of a few minutes and, once, after a few hours.
On April 16, 1989, I presented with a case of persistent pharyngitis, diagnosed
by one of my otolaryngology associates. The severity of the pharyngitis was
such that I was ready to receive an intramuscular injection of penicillin,
which, in my experience would resolve the condition after 48 hours or so. Instead,
Dr. Gaby administered 4.5 grams of vitamin C (sodium ascorbate) intravenously
along with my usual injection. I was quite amazed to find that my pharyngitis
had disappeared after only five hours.
On June 4, 1990, I complained of spasms in the calf muscles. This had actually
been a problem for a number of years, affecting me on most days, but becoming
more severe recently. Dr. Gaby prescribed oral treatment with potassium magnesium
aspartate, even though previous serum electrolytes had been normal. He explained
that intracellular potassium and magnesium levels are frequently low in elderly
or chronically ill individuals, even though serum levels may be normal. He
explained further that when potassium and magnesium are bound to aspartate,
transport of these minerals into the cell is facilitated. Whatever the mechanism,
I was surprised and gratified to find my spasms had disappeared in less than
36 hours. I have continued to take potassium magnesium aspartate, and the spasms
have not recurred.
When I first consulted Dr. Gaby, I knew he had an unusual approach to medical
care, emphasizing, when possible, the therapeutic use of nutrients and other
biochemicals. I had heard him lecture on two occasions, and he seemed to have
some very interesting ideas. He has shown me his collection of scientific papers
related to nutritional therapy, which he states now numbers more than 21,000
articles. In my numerous discussions with him, I have been impressed with his
knowledge of this vast body of literature, most of which is unknown to physicians
who practice conventional medicine.
My neurologists are now fairly convinced that I do have ALS. They inform me
that the overwhelming majority of patients with my condition do not survive
as long as I have. Although my gait has deteriorated, the rate of deterioration
has been quite slow. Dr. Gaby has recommended various nutrients designed to
enhance the integrity of the tissues of the central nervous system. I may never
know whether these nutrients have slowed the progression of my illness, but
I can certainly not rule out that possibility.
Some physicians are opposed to the type of medicine practiced by Dr. Gaby.
I am convinced that the only reason these physicians reject this treatment
approach is that they are unfamiliar with it or do not understand the medical
literature on which it is based. Dr. Gaby's treatments have consistently
helped me more than anything that conventional medicine has to offer. I have
experienced no side effects from any of these treatments.
Sincerely,
Bernard Kleiman, MD
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