We are living during an exciting
time in the evolution of medical practice. Building upon our medical
school understanding of heart disease,
drug therapeutics, and surgical interventions, we can now add a vast
armamentarium of relatively non-toxic therapies to prevent and reverse
our country's number one killer: heart disease. Our medical world
is made more difficult by insurance providers who restrict access to
integrative medical care and by legislators and regulatory boards,
who are becoming more responsive to the popular demand for complimentary
care and yet are still unsure of what these practices mean in terms
of patient safety and efficacy. It is now more important than ever
to reach out to the medical community and promote a healthy dialog.
Medical practitioners should all attend each other's conventions
and become more integrative for humanity's sake.
A lot has happened in cardiovascular health since my first experience
with EDTA chelation in 1976. After going to an American Academy of
Medical Preventics
convention – now called, the American College for Advancement in Medicine
(ACAM) – and rubbing shoulders with the pioneering greats of Garry and
Ross Gordon, Harold Harper, Robert Vance, Ed McDonaugh, and others, I went
home, underwent a proper work-up for chelation by another AAMPS doctor, and
began a series of intravenous (IV) chelations. I immediately felt sensations
in my head as if I had more blood flow, and I noticed a big improvement in
my memory. Names, phone numbers, scientific articles and their authors' names
jumped into my mind much more quickly. As time rolled on, I learned about heavy
metals and their relationship to disease. Certainly the 13 large, mercury amalgam
fillings (placed in my teeth when I was a college freshman) that out-gassed
mercury with every sip of hot liquid and every bite of food weren't helping
my brain. Memories of my grandfather in four-point restraints in the state
mental hospital during the last years of his life — swearing violence
to the staff and his grandchildren, whom he'd taught to hunt and fish — filled
me with worries about my genetic heritage of senile dementia. I soon learned
that I was reversing the aging and disease process with chelation by removing
the metals that led to arteriosclerosis. This was a revolutionary, evolutionary
process, and it was just the beginning.
Thirty years later, after performing many thousands of chelation treatments,
my respect for chelation therapy has only grown. Chelation therapy is clearly
an indispensable part of a comprehensive vascular treatment program. The increase
in our understanding of the importance of identifying and treating other sources
of inflammation, toxicity, and infection that effect vascular disease has been
dazzling. Treatments that support the vascular system health have emerged from
a myriad of disciplines, including herbal therapy, homeopathy, nutrition, enzyme
therapy, dental detoxification, Chinese medicine, neural therapy, isopathic
therapy, far infrared sauna therapy, oxidative therapies, intravenous phospholipid
exchange, new surgical approaches, umbilical cord blood stem cell therapy,
RNA therapy, extracorporeal counterpulsation therapy (ECCP), Laser Energetic
Detoxification, EMF avoidance and Bau Biology cleanup, bioidentical hormone
replacement therapy, blood rheology assessment, blood clotting assessment,
genetic assessment, neurotransmitter assessment, exercise program supervision,
cranial/sacral therapy, chiropractic therapy, mental/emotional detoxification,
drug therapy and drug detoxification, organic diet counseling, toxic foods
and products-avoidance counseling, water purification counseling, and many
more.
Chelation History
Chelation therapy can be traced back to 1938, when a German chemist, identified
as F. Munz, first synthesized ethylene diamine tetraacidic acid (EDTA). Herr
Munz was working for Hochst, Farbwerke, Frankfort, a member company of the
I.G. Farbenindustrie. He developed EDTA for the purpose of removing calcium
from the water in textile plants so their mordant dyes wouldn't stain
when contacting hard water. Martin Rubin, et al, first used EDTA in the United
States in 1950 for the treatment of patients with lead toxicity, who had
been working in a battery factory in Michigan. When treating a patient with
lead poisoning, who, coincidentally, also had coronary artery disease and
angina pectoris, Norman E. Clarke observed that the patient's symptoms
of angina pectoris disappeared. In standard medical school curricula, EDTA
is still the agent of choice in lead and other heavy metals poisoning as
well as in the treatment of hypercalcemia. Norman E. Clarke, MD, conducted
the first trials using intravenous EDTA for vascular disease in Detroit.
He achieved good results, which he published in 1956 in the American
Journal of Medical Science. He later published the results of 283 more patients in
1960.1-2 Like many medical innovators, he encountered resistance from the
medical establishment over EDTA. Nevertheless, dozens of physicians were
convinced of the efficacy of treating cardiovascular disease (CVD) with chelation.
They spent years refining safe dosage protocols and established the aforementioned
American Academy of Medical Preventics in 1973.
Human Studies in Chelation Therapy
Since that time many landmark studies have been published that provide data
supporting the safety and benefits of using chelation therapy in humans.
In 1993, Drs. L. Terry Chappell and John P. Stahl published their excellent
paper of the meta-analysis of 22,765 patients who had taken EDTA chelation
therapy. They had to leave out several highly positive papers because of
the design of the study, and yet they found a .88 highly positive correlation
coefficient. Eighty-seven percent of the patients included in the meta-analysis
demonstrated clinical improvement by objective testing.3
Majid Ali, et. al, showed improved myocardial perfusion in a study of 26 patients
with advanced ischemic heart disease, and a 91% overall improvement in their
symptoms after chelation therapy with nutritional supplements and dietary counseling.4
C.J. Rudolph and E.W. McDonaugh, along with Emanuel Cheraskin, measured improvements
in carotid artery stenosis by ultrasound measurements of 30 patients before
and after 30 chelations. Patients with mild disease had an intra-arterial diameter
increase of 20.9 % +/- 2.3%. Those with greater than 33% stenosis averaged
35.0% +/-4.3 % decreased obstruction. Applying Poiseuille's Law of fluid
dynamics, this improvement leads to an average of 620% improvement in blood
flow. No side effects from the treatments were evident at follow up.5
Claus Hancke and Knute Flytlie published a retrospective study of EDTA chelation
in 470 patients and found through mostly objective measures an 80% to 91% improvement,
depending on the parameter. Of 92 patients referred for surgical intervention,
only ten required surgery after or during their chelation therapy. Of 65 patients
referred for bypass, 58 did not require it after chelation therapy. In the
claudication group, 24 of 27 patients scheduled for amputation were spared
following chelation therapy. Of 207 patients using nitroglycerine, 189 reduced
their consumption with most able to discontinue it altogether. Angina improved
in 91% of patients and claudication patients walking distance improved an average
of 88%. Some of these patients could walk several miles without pain. No morbidity
or serious side effects due to the treatment were reported.6
In 1985, Efrain Olszewer, MD, and James Carter, MD, published a study in Medical
Hypotheses of 2870 patients in Sao Paulo, Brazil treated with 81,000 chelations
for their coronary artery disease. They found marked improvement in 76.89%
of patients, with 16.58% having good improvement and 3.79% moderate improvement.
Only 2.5% of patients were unchanged and .1% became worse, with associations
of heart failure.7
H. Richard Casdorph and Charles Farr, both MD-PhD's, published a little
gem in 1983 that concerned four patients with gangrenous extremities scheduled
for amputation. All four cases were resolved without amputation after chelation
therapy. Two patients were diagnosed diabetics and suffered small vessel disease,
and one patient was post-occlusion of a femoral-popliteal bypass graft.8 I
will say that saving an extremity from amputation for the first time has a
profound impact on the doctor as well as the patient.
For the convenience of the reader, I have collected these previous articles
in their entirety and 15 other important articles on EDTA chelation therapy
in humans. These articles contain more history, mechanisms of action, and extensive,
invaluable bibliographies. These are available from my office and soon will
be on my website.3-23 It is important to note one double-blind study done
by Sloth-Nielsen and others, Danish cardiovascular surgeons, on peripheral
vascular disease. This study shows a negative outcome of chelation therapy.29.
Two rebuttals30-31 of this study were published noting that 29 of the patients
studied were smokers (and most continued to smoke), and magnesium EDTA was
not used. The patients were also given iron tablets, which would decrease the
anti-oxidant value of the therapy. The outcome data also appeared to had been
unfairly manipulated.
Causes of Vascular Disease
With proper counseling and treatment, we should be able to avoid vascular problems.
We inherit heavy metals from our mothers and fathers and absorb them from
the air we breathe and the foods and drugs we consume. We can minimize this
damage by avoiding exposures and using the appropriate chelation substances
such as EDTA, DMPS, DMSA, penicilliamine, and other non-drug chelators preventatively.
The environmental and lifestyle causes of vascular disease are myriad and
require a multifaceted approach for optimum prevention and treatment. Nutritionally
depleted and toxic foods, including excessive sugar, refined foods and trans
fat; tobacco, alcohol, and other stimulants; as well as undiagnosed food
sensitivities, obesity, and unrelenting stress all prematurely age our vascular
system. As the immune system becomes suppressed, the body makes more vulnerable
plaque that can become infected with Chlamydia and viruses and are very dangerous
in heart disease. The production of cellular energy at the mitochondrial
level is subject to the same stressors, especially blockades from environmental
toxins such as volatile organic hydrocarbons, plastics, heavy metals, pesticides,
and PCBs, along with deficiencies of important micronutrients such as magnesium,
CoEnzyme Q10, Lipoic Acid, L-carnitine. and ribose. The cardiac muscle contains
25 times more mitochrondria per cell than skeletal muscles and normally manufactures
ten or twelve pounds of ATP per day. As ATP levels fall, so does heart health
especially in those with congestive heart failure. Steven Sinatra in his
book, The Sinatra Solution, gives an excellent review of mitochondrial dysfunction
and how CoQ10 reduces LDL oxidation in heart disease.24
Far Infrared Sauna
A great toxicity primer is Detoxify or Die by Sherry Rogers, MD.25 At first
I thought the title was a little dramatic but after a couple of years of
experience with Far Infrared (FIR) saunas, I think it is right on. She makes
the point that we are all toxic, containing hundreds of pollutants, many
of which are extremely damaging to the cardiovascular system. She mentions
a couple of studies from the Mayo Clinic that cite improvement in congestive
heart failure (CHF) patients following FIR sauna therapy to sweat out environmental
toxins. That got my attention because I have lost a number of wonderful patients
over the years to end-stage CHF, despite the best efforts of local cardiologists
and myself. Regular sauna is contraindicated in CHF patients, but low temperature
(90o to 140o F), FIR sauna, gradually employed, is well tolerated and life-saving.
This year I have had two tough CHF patients remarkably improve following
FIR sauna therapy. Everyone needs to sweat out their environmental toxins,
especially the phthalates found in our plastic food and beverage packaging,
because they concentrate in the heart and thyroid and are not subject to
removal by any other means. FIR sauna has also proven effective in eliminating
heavy metals, and Dr. Rogers also reminds us that CHF patients have vastly
more mercury in the heart than healthy young individuals and that cadmium
is a particularly virulent cardio toxin.
Homeopathy and Herbs
Constitutional homeopathy is very helpful in vascular disease, especially for
those with emotionally broken hearts. Acute remedies with special focus on
the heart and vascular system can be very impressive. Remember Hawthorne
Berry (Crataegus) and Cactus for chest pain, and Crotalus (Rattlesnake venom)
for chest pains and bleeding problems. Herbal tinctures of Crataegus can
be used for heart support as well as for angina and arrhythmias. Cayenne
pepper is used for angina, stroke, bleeding, and hypertension. Peppermint
oil is also wonderful for fainting, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
Neural Therapy
Neural therapy from Germany utilizes procaine, a local anesthetic, for many
therapeutic needs. Injecting procaine intradermally in wheals over acupuncture
points on the chest and neck, and over vertebral dermatomes that enervate
the heart and tender scapular points, can relieve chest pain. Injecting scars,
especially midline heart surgery scars, can relieve heart pain instantly
and sometimes permanently. German Biological Dentistry relates the teeth
to different body organs and structures. Injecting procaine next to the heart-related
teeth (wisdom teeth, retro molar areas, and canines) with procaine has immediately
relieved heart pain and improved congestive heart failure in a few minutes.
Relief of distant pain by procaine injections is called the Hunecke Lightening
Reaction. Procaine injections are also diagnostic in that they show which
teeth may have chronic infections. Bone infections under the teeth can have
profound influence on distant structures, like the heart, as well as promote
cancer by suppressing P53 and P21 proteins. A new diagnostic instrument called
the Cavitat, an FDA-approved, ultrasound diagnostic device,
can demonstrate these areas of soft or missing bone usually infected with
bacteria and fungi that form many bacterial toxins. The NewTom cat scan of
the maxilla, mandible, and sinuses can also pinpoint hidden infections. Digital
X-rays and digital Panorex X-rays are helpful, but can miss some bone infections.
Dental Detoxification
Dental toxicity is almost always involved with chronic illness, and vascular
disease is no exception. Periodontal disease, frequently the result of nutritional
deficiencies, including subclinical scurvy (vitamin C deficiency), and niacin,
B3, and CoQ10 deficiencies is known to cause vascular disease. Infected gum
tissue has been well documented to shed bacteria, that can attach to heart
valves, into the blood. Mercury vapor escaping from amalgam fillings, aggravated
by electro-galvanism from neighboring metal restorations, can attack any
nerve tissue in the body, and will also attach to inflamed tissue such as
the heart and vessels. Likewise, the above-mentioned bone cavitations can
cause inflammation of the vascular endothelium through the release of pathogens
and other inflammatory factors that then attract mercury and other metals
to the vascular endothelium. These infections can raise the C-reactive protein
levels in my experience. Having the amalgams replaced with ceramic, porcelain.
or gold restorations is worthwhile if done safely following IABDM (International
Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine) or IAOMT (International Academy
of Oral Medicine and Toxicology) protocols. Some patients cannot tolerate
any metal restorations. After performing hundreds of DMPS (dimercaptopropanesulphonate)
challenge tests, everyone, in my experience, has mercury toxicity. Whether
or not this causes clinical symptoms varies from individual to individual,
depending on the strength of their detoxification mechanisms. It is ideal
to have a vitamin C IV going during amalgam removal or, as they do in German
biological medicine clinics, a selenium IV. Since both are rarely available
in most communities, it is important to have a drip as soon possible after
amalgam replacement to minimize changing addresses of the mercury in the
body. Using buffered vitamin C, GMS-Ribose buffered C, or Liposomal vitamin
C is also very helpful to achieve higher plasma levels of vitamin C.
Phosphatidylcholine
Phosphatidylcholine makes up the bulk of cell membranes in young individuals.
Young cell membranes contain six parts phosphatidylcholine to one part cholesterol/sphingomeyelin
and, with aging, these ratios reverse. All our body's business is done
crossing cell membranes — getting nutrients in and toxins out — and
this process depends on the health and integrity of membranes. Free radicals,
and other toxic processes associated with aging, damage the cell membranes.
This is especially true of the linings of our arteries. Studies in Switzerland
and Germany are supportive of using intravenous phosphatidylcholine, especially
when combined with EDTA Chelation therapy, to restore vascular cellular membrane
integrity.
Enzyme Therapy
Digestive and proteolytic enzyme therapy is important in vascular disease prevention
and treatment. Pancreatic enzymes, lipases, proteases, trypsin, chemotrypsin,
as well as bromelain and papain and Aspergillis sp. plant enzymes, all help
reduce inflammation in the body and the vascular system. Serropeptase has
been touted to digest plaque and nattokinase – derived from a ferment
of soy and lumbrokinase – from earthworms digest fibrin. Lumbrokinase
seems especially effective in reducing fibrin levels and the viscosity of
blood. Urokinase, of course, is famous as a clot buster when used after heart
attack and stroke.
Oxidative Therapies
Oxidative therapies, intravenous ozone, intravenous peroxide, and hyperbaric
oxygen all have long histories of utility in vascular disease. Intravenous
ozone infused in saline, and peroxide in saline with magnesium and manganese
following IBOM (International Bioxidative Medical Association) protocols,
change the red cell membranes and allow more oxygen to be released into the
tissues, as well as pump up the immune system by stimulating white blood
cells' production of cytokines and lymphokines. Peroxide also reduces
inflammation by killing viruses and bacteria that can live in infected plaque.
Since most pathogens are anaerobic or partially anaerobic, hyperbaric oxygen
therapy can also reduce inflammation, as well as enhance a number of other
healing mechanisms, including rehabilitation after strokes.
Nutritional Support
Nutritional support for vascular disease is steadily improving. The anti-inflammatory
effects of the EPA/DHA omega-3, -6 and -9 fatty acids are now known to protect
against vascular disease. Several brands of "burpless" fish oils
now exist, derived from deep sea fish that have had their fish proteins distilled
off to avoid the fish burps and aftertaste that has deterred many patients
over the years. Oils rich in omega-6, such as primrose, borage, and currant
oils, have been shown to be efficient at reducing platelet aggregation.
Vitamin C, so critical for the connective tissue matrix of arteries and veins,
is available in many new, more easily tolerated, forms. Buffered C, Tapioca
C, Cassava C, and vitamin C combined with ribose and methyl sulfonyl methane
provide better oral absorption and less intolerance than regular corn-based
vitamin C. Tocotrienols, the other half of the vitamin E family, have proven
their utility in lowering cholesterol levels along with Policosanol, derived
from the wax of sugar cane. Significant positive data exists to indicate that
the introduction of ribose, the central five-carbon sugar in the ATP molecule
and the backbone of DNA and RNA, helps patients undergoing bypass surgery to
recover from the stunning and hibernation due to poor energy metabolism in
the heart muscle. Ribose is also effective in treating congestive heart failure
and improving performance in elite athletes.
The greater bioavailability of CoQ10 suspensions helps all the body's
mitochondria, but especially the mitochondria-rich myocardium. Vitamins K1
and K2 not only help normalize clotting, but also move calcium in the body
out of arterial plaque and joints into the bones and blood where it is needed.
Magnesium malate seems to improve magnesium absorption and give greater anti-spasmodic
protection for the vascular system, as well as provide a calming effect on
the nervous system to help prevent sympathetic dominance.
Oral EDTA chelation has always been a helpful adjunct to intravenous chelation.
Now oral EDTA chelation is available in a phosphatidylcholine, liposomal matrix
that increases its oral absorption. This product is especially recommended
for our patients who don't have good veins. Rectal suppositories of EDTA
are also a cost-effective and practical alternative to IV EDTA.
Bringing to light the homocysteine problem and its relationship to vascular
disease and sticky blood is another milestone for cardiovascular health. This
is a particular genetic "SNIP" – actually "SNP," for
single nucleotide polymorphism — that causes abnormal amounts of homocysteine
to be made from cysteine in about 28% of patients and can be treated by adequate
supplementation of folic acid, lysine, B6, and trimethylglycine. New glutathione
preparations available for oral use, as well as the intravenous preparations,
are of great help in removing toxic metals in vascular disease and in many
neurological conditions. Elucidation of the role of nitric oxide (NO) in vascular
endothelial health and as a vasodilator coupled with the importance of arginine,
time-release arginine, and citruline and EDTA in boosting NO levels is another
great advance. Vitamin D deficiency is also rampant in the population and is
related to vascular disease as well as osteoporosis and joint disease. Don't
forget green tea, which has many uses in CVD. A nice review, providing many
references for many of the above cardiovascular related nutrients, may be found
in Sherry Rogers' book, The High Blood Pressure Hoax.26
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Of the many advances in cardiovascular health in the last 30 years, perhaps
none is more important as bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Our hormones
are important controllers of our vascular system. Hypothyroidism abounds,
especially with borderline low blood levels. Hypothroidism is related to
high cholesterol levels, low blood pressure, fatigue, and poor absorption
of important heart nutrients like magnesium and chromium. Natural desiccated
thyroid replacement therapy also helps with weight loss, mood, and constipation.
Adrenal support with DHEA, 7-keto DHEA, pregnenelone, and adrenal cortex
preparations keeps blood sugar steady, helps keep the body out of sympathetic
dominance, and provides mild anabolic support to the heart. Progesterone
is greatly protective for women in estrogen dominance, not only to avoid
cancer but to prevent heart disease as well. Too much estrogen reduces oxygen
utilization and creates hypoglycemia and weight gain. Testosterone is a big
heart helper in both sexes. A greater relationship to cardiac events exists
in patients over 70 who have low testosterone levels than with those who
have high cholesterol levels. In this regard, I find it troubling to recall
that none of the statin drugs have been studied longer than 12 weeks and
that greatly inhibiting cholesterol synthesis also may cause a reduction
in testosterone and other steroid hormone levels when taken over the long
term.
A Case That Makes It All Worthwhile
This year we have had many greatly improved cardiovascular patients, but the
progress of one in particular, whom we shall call Rocky, has been very heart-warming.
Rocky is a 67-year-old retired Pan Am employee from Belgium. He was working
as a security officer in a local casino when he collapsed in late July 2004.
He was rushed to the hospital with shortness of breath. His electrocardiogram
showed an old posterior wall infarct and rapid atrial fibrillation. A dual
isotope myocardial perfusion study revealed a severe inferior wall defect
from apex to base; a severe lateral wall defect from apex to base; a severe
apical defect; and a moderate anterior wall defect. The mid-lateral wall
was infracted. The left ventricle was massively dilated. There was akinesis
of the inferior wall and significant hypokinesis of the anterolateral wall.
Contraction was asynchronous. Ejection fraction was less than 10%. Angiography
showed severe three vessel disease, a 70% occlusion of the left main, a subtotal
occlusion of a large obtuse marginal artery, 70% stenosis of a diagonal,
50% stenosis of the left anterior descending and an occluded right with a
posterior descending that filled by collaterals. He was hypertensive with
kidney failure, liver failure, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, ischemic cardiomyopathy,
and congestive heart failure. With this presentation, the cardiovascular
surgeon declined to do coronary bypass surgery and he was referred for medical
management and cardioversion. He was discharged on enalapril, Coumadin, magnesium
oxide, Sustane, Potassium chloride, Vistaril, Metoprolol, Aldactone, Lasix,
amiodarone, Zocor, and testosterone gel.
In mid-September 2004, he appeared in my office, interested in chelation therapy
and an integrative approach to his heart disease. After signing all the appropriate
informed consent documents for each of the subsequent therapies, we began his
treatment. His initial laboratory results showed a homocysteine of 27.4, C
reactive protein 7.3, glucose 211, uric acid 10.9, creatinine 2.7, BUN 67,
GGT 97, and triglycerides 330. He was on oxygen at night and was having weight
fluctuations of several pounds per day from water retention related to his
CHF. Rocky is a cheerful, highly motivated, and compliant person and began
our program with enthusiasm. His physical exam was remarkable in that his heart
sounds were very diminished to inaudible; he had mild ankle edema; and he had
several mercury amalgam dental fillings. He gradually started far infrared
saunas at 1000 for five minutes and worked up to 30 minutes at 1300 with no
adverse effects. The saunas always made him feel better as he began to sweat
out his toxic load of plastics, chemicals, and metals. On average, he went
three to five times per week for nine months and then slowed down on the frequency
of saunas as he felt better. After saunas, he took a detox cocktail of electrolytes,
glutathione, vitamin C, and enzymes. He was able to sweat immediately, in contrast
to some older patients who can't sweat for months. He began a nutritional
supplement program with multiple heart supportive nutrients with oral chelation,
CoQ10 at 100 mg four times per day with vitamin E, mixed tocopherols, acetyl
L carnitine, Cretaegus tincture (Hawthorne berry), desiccated thyroid, adrenal
support, testosterone cream, B12, folic acid, Bucco herbal tonic for the kidneys,
chromium, vanadium, Gemnema silvestre for his blood sugar, peppermint oil drops
for any shortness of breath, Nattokinase, vitamin K after Coumadin withdrawal,
deodorized fish oil, primrose oil, B6, Lysine, time-release arginine, ribose
with magnesium malate, proteolytic enzymes, and DMSA and chlorella for mercury
detox after amalgam removal.
After several weeks of nutrient repletion, Rocky started chelation therapy
with a low dose of disodium, magnesium EDTA to begin. His BUN and creatinine
fell steadily to within normal limits during his therapy. He quickly was able
to tolerate the full three grams of EDTA and completed 30 weekly chelation
treatments and subsequently has had four more monthly treatments. Likewise,
he completed 30 weekly intravenous infusions of phosphatidylcholine and four
more monthly maintenance treatments. His diet counseling of a moderate protein,
low simple carbohydrate, high-fiber diet paid off with a 35-pound weight loss
from 225 to 190 lbs. Homocysteine is down to 16.1 (still working on this),
C reactive protein is 1.68, glucose 91, uric acid 7.5, triglycerides 166, cholesterol
181, LDL 101, HDL 47, GGT 31, BUN 26, and creatinine 1.4.
In addition to the above treatments, we also used Laser Energetic Detoxification
(LED), as taught by Lee Cowden, MD. LED is the application of low-power laser
light modulated through homeopathic preparations of toxins, allergens, organs,
hormones, and neurotransmitters to acupuncture points. Rocky was treated for
sulfanilamide, Bactrim, and Septra (found in meats which putatively block sulfur
metabolism in the whole body), 23 different mercury salts, cadmium Diazenon,
DDT-DDE, insulin, pancreas, benzene, xylene, toluene, Dioxin, HGH, PCBs, Heptachlor,
testosterone, formaldehyde-formic acid, petroleum, Atrazine, carbon tetrachloride,
methyl ethyl ketone, glucagon, leptin, liver, and heart.
Repeat perfusion study in May 2005 showed an ejection fraction of 45% with
good improvement in the left ventricular size. Many of the hypokinetic areas
remained, but the study was of poor quality. Rocky has been working out with
a personal trainer, rowing and lifting weights. He can walk several flights
of stairs with no dyspnea and works ten hours per day, seven days per week
as a checker in a large grocery chain (against medical advice) as a favor to
a relative who manages the store. He has no chest pain or other vascular symptoms
and is very happy with his newly found energy and endurance. He tires a little
at the end of the day but, in general, says that he has never felt better in
his life. He is off all medication except metoprolol and metformin, his nutrients,
and hormones. His blood pressure is normal, and now you can actually hear his
heart in normal sinus rhythm with a stethoscope and, as Rocky would say, "That's
a good thing."
Moving Forward
Over the past 30 years, we have witnessed a huge burst of knowledge and treatments
that have revolutionized our understanding of CVD. These treatments and scientific
understanding of the basis of vascular disease are a great blessing for our
patients and for us. The times are changing, and the safe harbors for integrative
doctors are increasing. The Homeopathic Medical Boards in Nevada and Arizona
have been in existence for over twenty years and have regulated homeopathic
and integrative therapies successfully. An Investigational Review Board (IRB),
created by the legislature in the State of Nevada to study and document alternative
therapies, provides a great opportunity to gather the much-needed data to
help support the safety and importance of integrative therapies. The California
Business and Professions Code sec 2500 acknowledges the significant interest
of physicians and patients alike in integrative approaches and holistic-based
alternatives within the practice of medicine and charges the boards to establish
specific policies, review statutes, and recommend modifications of law, to
assure California consumers that the quality of medicine is the most advanced
and innovative it can be, both in terms of preserving the health of California
residents and providing effective diagnosis and treatment of illness for
the residents of that state. With this in mind, it is time to expand our
research and teach these advances to the next generation of physicians and
healers.
Correspondence
Michael Gerber, MD, HMD, MD(H)
President, Nevada Homeopathic and Integrative Medical Association
Gerber Medical Clinic, Inc.
3670 Grant Drive
Reno, Nevada, 89509
Drmichael@gerbermedical.com
www.GerberMedical.com
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