The Health of Your Gut Helps Determine Your Overall Health

Noted UK Professor Jeremy Nicholson has come to the conclusion " ... almost every sort of disease has a gut bug."

Dr. Nicholson’s focus has been on deciphering the roles of different pro-biotic strains, of which there are many, and their relationship to how they signal areas outside the gut. It's been discovered that our friendly intestinal bacteria go beyond even their important role of digestion.

If spread out on a flat surface the inner linings of our GI tract would cover a tennis court. The friendly bacteria that colonize this vast inner surface produce the acids necessary to breakdown and assimilate nutrients into our blood. These acids transport our food's nutrients through the gut linings so that our cells can recognize and utilize them correctly.

Most digestion and absorption takes place in the small intestine and is regulated by pancreatic enzymes (digestive) and bile. The pancreas aids in digestion by releasing proteolytic enzymes, which help break down proteins into amino acids. Natural digestive enzymes are found in raw fruits and vegetables. Processed foods are usually devoid of digestive enzymes. Over consumption of these processed foods can lead to digestive enzyme deficiencies. This may then lead to malabsorption and or intestinal permeability syndrome (bloating, gas, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, and intestinal inflammation). To ensure proper digestion, absorption and elimination, I recommend taking pancreatic enzymes with each meal.

Foods nor supplements  get absorbed sufficiently without substantial healthy intestinal flora. Healthy gut flora actually creates Vitamins K2 and the B vitamins daily to maintain proper levels of those nutrients. Healthy gut flora also signal appropriate reactions to pollutants and pathogens that trigger immune system activity. This activity includes T-cell actions. Many knowledgeable scientists have ascertained that approximately eighty percent of our immune system depends on the GI tract's friendly bacteria.

Probiotics

The human intestines are inhabited by billions of beneficial bacteria. These bacteria, which are mostly located in the colon, aid in digestion by fermenting substances that were not digested in the small intestine and by breaking down any remaining nutrients. A healthy intestinal tract contains some 2-3 lb. of bacteria and other microorganisms, such as yeast, that normally don’t cause ay health problems. However, when the intestinal tract is repetitively exposed to toxic substances (antibiotics, steroids, NSAIDs, etc.), these microorganisms begin to proliferate and create an imbalance in the bowel flora. Harmful organisms like yeast and some normally dormant bacteria, begin to overtake the good bacteria. This is known as intestinal dysbiosis.

IBS and small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth may share similar symptoms. One study showed that 78% IBS participants had small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth. To aid in digestion and prevent intestinal dysbiosis, patients with IBS should take probiotics (Lactobacillus and Biidobacterium) on a daily basis.

For a more thorough explanation of gut health and “Leaky Gut” please visit my website http://drrodgermurphree.com/intestinal-permeability/

Do You Know What Your Drug Does?

Most of the material you’re about to read comes right out of the Physicians Desk Reference, the bible for prescription drugs. You’re usually given this information when you purchase your prescription drug.

Do you know anyone who actually reads his or her prescription inserts? Unfortunately, due to the never-ending promotion of “a drug for every ailment” campaign, we’ve become jaded to the potential side effects of various prescription medications. The commercials sound something like this; “Do you suffer from wanting to spend time alone? If so, you may be suffering from ‘I’m too shy’ disease. Ask your doctor about the latest psychedelic pill for shyness disorder.” Then, in happy, positive, inflected, mind-numbing fashion comes, “In clinical trials, this drug had the following minor side effects: headaches, diarrhea, nausea, cough, bladder infections, depression, suicidal thoughts, colitis, fever blisters, weakened immune system, and hair loss.”

Drugs can and do save lives. However, relying solely on drug therapy for symptom management can be risky, even deadly. Most drugs don’t cure anything. They merely mask the symptoms. This isn’t all bad and we shouldn’t throw the baby out with the bath water. However, the public at large is being lulled into a false belief that drugs, particularly cardio drugs, are a safe (and only) option to managing high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“Today’s standard, AMA-approved medicine is rooted in treating symptoms, rather than causes. Its dependence on drugs and surgery is ruinously expensive to patients, insurance companies, and society as a whole.”

—Derrick Lonsdale, MD, “Why I Left Orthodox Medicine

Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers include the drugs Diltiazem (Cardizem CD, Cardizem SR, Dilacor XR), Nifedipine (Procardia XL), and Verapamil (Calan, Calan SR, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Verelan).

Calcium channel blockers slow the rate at which calcium passes to the contractile fibers of heart muscle and into the vessel walls, a sequence that relaxes the vessels. Relaxed vessels allow the blood to flow more easily, thereby reducing blood pressure. Calcium channel blockers are used to treat chest pain (angina), high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and irregular heart beats (arrythmias).

In 1995, the Public Citizen’s Health Research Group filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration to add a warning to the labeling of all calcium channel blockers. This action was in light of observational studies, which revealed that calcium channel blockers increase the risk of heart attack and death.¹

Calcium channel blockers were put on the market without proper testing, according to Dr. Kurt Ferver, Wake Forest School of Medicine. For those who take them, there is not only an increase in strokes, but a five-fold increase in the risk of heart attacks.²

The National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute has warned doctors not to use short-acting Procardia, if at all. The warning comes from 16 studies involving over 8,000 patients. The risk of dying is 1.06 times greater than average when a dose of 30 to 50 milligrams a day is used. However, the risk jumps to 3.0, or three times the average, when 80 milligrams a day is recommended. The maximum dose listed for Procardia is 180 mg a day.

Death is a pretty scary side effect

Why in the world are doctors still using calcium channel blockers for individuals with moderately elevated high blood pressure? Especially when there are safer and more effective drugs to choose from.

One study shows that those taking a calcium channel blocker are 60% more likely to have a heart attack than those taking a diuretic or beta blocker.³

Common Side Effects associated with calcium channel blockers are fatigue, flushing, swelling of the abdomen, ankles, or feet, and heartburn. Less common side effects are changes in heart rate, tachycardia or bradycardia (slow heart rate), shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, numbness in hands and feet, gastrointestinal bleeding, chest pains, jaundice, and fainting.⁵

Calcium channel blockers may increase the risk of developing breast cancer.⁶ Reports have demonstrated an increased risk of cancer among users of Verapamil, but it is too early to conclude that calcium channel blockers are associated with cancer.⁷

Beta Blockers

Beta blockers “block” the effects of adrenaline (and norepinephrine) on a cell’s beta-receptors. This slows the nerve impulses that stimulate the heart. Therefore, the heart does not work as hard. Beta blockers are generally prescribed to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), congestive heart failure (CHF), abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), and chest pain (angina). Beta blockers are sometimes used in heart attack patients to prevent future attacks. Commonly prescribed beta blockers include: Atenolol (Tenoretic, Tenormin), Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), Nadolol (Corgard), and Propranolol (Inderal).

Beta blockers have several potential side effects, including congestive heart failure, shortness of breath, heart block, fatigue, lethargy, drowsiness, depression, insomnia, headaches, dizziness, tingling in the hands and feet, wheezing, bronchospasm, increased severity of asthma or chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, decreased sex drive, muscle fatigue, reduced HDL (good cholesterol), and increased LDL and triglycerides.⁸

I’m going to guess that if you knew a drug could cause heart death (congestive heart failure), you wouldn’t take it.

I’d surely say, “No thanks doc. I think I’ll pass on that drug.”

Does every female in America suffer from a beta blocker deficiency? There are periods in my practice where every new female patient is on a beta blocker.

Beta blockers must be the drug du jour since anyone with slight mitral valve prolapse, high blood pressure, or migraine headaches is placed on these drugs. Beta blockers can be very valuable for a minority of patients.

However, the majority of patients who take beta blockers don’t need them and suffer all sorts of health-robbing side effects. Depression, poor sleep (depletes the natural sleep hormone melatonin) severe fatigue, and breathing problems (bronchitis, Asthma, etc.) are common side effects in those taking beta blockers. Patients taking these medications often report that they just don’t have any energy.

I remember a recent patient who was on at least three medications to control her beta blocker side effects. She was taking Lexapro, an antidepressant, Ambien to help her sleep, and was using a bronchial inhaler for asthma. Once she discontinued her medications with the help of her family doctor and substituted nutritional supplements I recommended, her mitral valve prolapse and blood pressure returned to normal. The fatigue, depression, and breathing problems are slowly disappearing now that she is off her beta-blocking medication.  There are a number of safe and effective natural approaches to reverse mitral valve prolapse. I share these can’t miss protocols in chapter 9 of my book Heart Disease What Your Doctor Won't Tell You.

Here's one of the most important health tips I could ever share-research your medications, be an informed consumer!

Prevention-A Heck of a Bargain

In 2010 Americans spent over $2 trillion dollars, or 17% of the gross national product on medical care- the majority of which went to treat chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, both of which are preventable and certainly reversible.

Rather than focusing on prevention, our "health-care system" is primarily a disease-care system.

The unspoken message has generally been to ignore prevention, wait until it’s broken, and then seek out the “magic bullet,” or latest, greatest, usually most expensive, drug to cover up the symptom(s). Or if that doesn’t work, simply cut it out.

This expensive approach, one that is threatening the welfare of a growing number of American households, will cause some 54 million Americans to go without health insurance this year alone.

Spending money on expensive medical procedures is often worthless as well as foolish.

Take for example the data provided by the American Heart Association showing that 1.3 million coronary angioplasty procedures were performed in 2006 at an average cost of $48,399 each. And in the same year 448,000 coronary bypass operations were performed at a cost of $99,743 each.

Americans spent more than $100 billion in 2006 for these two procedures alone.

Yet a randomized controlled trial published in April 2007 in The New England Journal of Medicine found that angioplasties and stent-therapy don’t prolong life or even prevent heart attacks in stable patients (i.e., in 95% of those who receive them).

Coronary bypass surgery prolongs life in less than 3% of patients who receive it. In spite of the studies, and there are several which show that bypass and stent therapy are ineffective, physicians, insurance companies, and the public at large, all continue to robustly support these expensive and dangerous procedures.

When it comes to our health we should heed the words of the great philosopher, Virgil, who said, “The greatest wealth is health.”

Save Money and Live Longer With Healthy Habits

If you really want to save some money, invest in prevention- a healthy diet, exercise, proven nutritional therapies, and proactive health habits.

Research continues to show that those who eat antioxidant-rich foods reap health-enhancing, disease preventing benefits. Antioxidants are intimately involved in the prevention of cellular damage -- the common pathway for cancer, aging, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and a number of other diseases.

Radicals and Disease

Our bodies are made up of cells. Our cells are composed of molecules. Molecules are nothing more than positive and negative charged atoms-protons and electrons.

Oxidation is a chemical reaction at the molecular level that changes the body’s protons and electrons, which in turn produces something called free radicals.

Free radicals are created through internal external sources. External sources include stress, alcoholic beverages, unhealthy foods, cigarette smoke, toxins, and pollutants.

Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Once formed these highly reactive radicals can start a chain reaction, like falling dominoes. Their chief danger comes from the damage they create when they react with important cellular components. Free radicals damage our cells and cause numerous disease processes and accelerated aging. Fortunately, antioxidants can prevent this. They stop free radicals from initiating disease reactions in our bodies.

Evidence continues to show that most of the degenerative diseases that afflict humanity have their origin in deleterious free radical reactions. These diseases include atherosclerosis, cancer, inflammatory joint disease, asthma, diabetes, senile dementia, premature ageing, and degenerative eye disease. 

If you want to prevent of these diseases, rather than treating their symptoms with expensive medical therapies, antioxidants are the way to go.

Lowering Cholesterol Isn’t The Answer

Sally Fallon, the president of the Weston A. Price Foundation, and Mary Enig, Ph.D, an expert in lipid biochemistry, call high cholesterol "an invented disease, a 'problem' that emerged when health professionals learned how to measure cholesterol levels in the blood."

Cholesterol is a potent antioxidant. Its job is to help reduce inflammation and free radical oxidative damage.

The body makes 85% of our daily cholesterol-reducing dietary intake only causes the body to make more. The more stress a person is under the more cholesterol the body produces.

If you have increased levels of cholesterol, it is at least in part because of increased stress and inflammation in your body. The cholesterol is there to do a job: help your body to heal and repair.

Conventional medicine of course advocates the use of dangerous cholesterol lowering drugs as the way to reduce your risk of heart attacks.

This approach demonstrates the idea that conventional medicine is missing the forest for the trees.

What is actually needed is to address whatever is causing your body damage, NAMELY STRESS, which leads to inflammation and increased cholesterol. Cholesterol isn’t the villain of heart disease only a small player in the process.

Noted researcher Dr. Rosedale so rightly points out:

"If excessive damage is occurring such that it is necessary to distribute extra cholesterol through the bloodstream, it would not seem very wise to merely lower the cholesterol and forget about why it is there in the first place.

It would seem much smarter to reduce the extra need for the cholesterol -- the excessive damage that is occurring, the reason for the chronic inflammation."

I totally agree and in my book “Heart Disease What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You,” outline study after study that demonstrates the fallacy of treating high cholesterol with dangerous statin drugs.

Here’s what the drug companies don’t won’t you to know-

Using Drugs to Lower Cholesterol Is Potentially Dangerous

One meta-analysis of over 41,000 patient records found that people who take statin drugs to lower their cholesterol as much as possible may have a higher risk of cancer, while other studies have linked low cholesterol to Parkinson's disease, mood disorders, low libido, and problems with poor memory and mental clarity issues.

But The Question Is-Are Cholesterol Drugs Even Effective?

Most cholesterol lowering drugs can effectively lower your cholesterol numbers, but are they actually making you any healthier, and do they help prevent heart disease?

Have you ever heard of the statistic known as NNT, or number needed to treat?

NNT answers the question: How many people have to take a particular drug to avoid one incidence of a medical issue (such as a heart attack)?

For example, if a drug had an NNT of 50 for heart attacks, then 50 people have to take the drug in order to prevent one heart attack.

According to Lipitor's own Web site, Lipitor is clinically proven to lower bad cholesterol 39-60 percent, depending on the dose.

BusinessWeek did an excellent story and found the REAL numbers right on Pfizer's own newspaper ad for Lipitor.

Upon first glance, the ad boasts that Lipitor reduces heart attacks by 36 percent. But there is an asterisk. And when you follow the asterisk, you find the following in much smaller type:

"That means in a large clinical study, 3% of patients taking a sugar pill or placebo had a heart attack compared to 2% of patients taking Lipitor."

What this means is that for every 100 people who took the drug over 3.3 years, three people on placebos, and two people on Lipitor, had heart attacks. That means that taking Lipitor resulted in just one fewer heart attack per 100 people.

The NNT, in this case, is 100. One hundred people have to take Lipitor for more than three years to prevent one heart attack.

If you want to learn the truth about reducing your risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and or strokes then get a copy of my book “Heart Disease What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You.”  I site medical studies from the Lancet, British Medical Journal, AMA, and other prestigious journals, which clearly show that using cholesterol drugs to lower cholesterol is a dangerous and ineffective approach-one that can cost you your life.

Don’t fall victim to the medical myths of heart disease get a copy of my book and help protect yourself and your loved one’s by following my clear and simple advice for reducing and reversing your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Learn how you can take an inexpensive over he counter supplement to lower your risk of heart attack and stroke by 41%. Find out how you can lower your blood pressure by an average of 10-20 points by simply adding 3 things to your daily diet.

Do you have mitral valve prolapse? If so read how you can reduce or eliminate your potentially dangerous drugs and control your MVP with the right combination of diet and supplements.

My Book Heart Disease What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You gives you the information you need to avoid the dangerous medical myths.

Don’t delay get my book today it may save your life.

Order online here http://drrodgermurphree.com/heart-disease-what-your-doctor-wont-tell-you/

Or -Available at Amazon.com or ask for it at your favorite bookstore.

Common Prescription Drugs Shown to Work Only 14% of Time

Common Prescription Drugs Shown to Work Only 14% of Time

Americans now spend over $250 billion a year on prescription drugs- more than do all the people in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom combined!

Studies show that drugs as a whole, work for as few as 25% of those who take them. And our growing reliance on these ever more expensive “me too drugs” is creating huge profits for drug companies while ordinary Americans are struggling to pay their health insurance premiums. Between 1998 and 2002, the FDA approved 415 new drugs.

Only 14% of these newly approved drugs were actually uniquely different or innovative in their design.

The other 86% were old drug formulas masquerading as new innovative therapies. 

For example, there are six cholesterol-lowering statins on the market right now, five SSRI anti-depressant drugs, and at least nine ACE inhibitors to treat high blood pressure.

The Medicare prescription drug benefit only made matters worse for health care consumers.

The plan prohibited Medicare from negotiating drug prices, even though those prices continue to rise much faster than inflation.

Representative Billy Tauzin, the Louisiana Republican and former chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee (which oversees the drug industry) co- sponsored the drug bill, was rewarded with a high-paying job as chief executive of the pharmaceutical industry's trade association. Go figure.

Notice the cost and profit margin for the following drugs and see some of the over the counter bargains that often work as well.

Celebrex:  100 mg

Consumer price (100 tablets): $130

Cost of general active ingredients: $ 0 .60

Percent markup: 21,712%

Over the counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDS like Advil cost $15 for 200, 200mg capsules- a prescription strength dose would be 800mg up to 3 times a day. A bargain.

Claritin: 10mg

Consumer Price (100 tablets): $215  

Cost of general active ingredients: $0 .71

Percent markup: 30,306%

The over the counter antihistamine Zyrtec sells for $14 a month.

Sinupret® by Bionorica, has been the #1 most widely recommended, scientifically tested nasal and sinus support formula in Germany for children for more than 70 years and retails for less than $25.

I recommend Sinupret to my patients with seasonal allergies and it works like a charm.

Lipitor: 20mg

Consumer Price (100 tablets): $272

Cost of general active ingredients: $5.80

Percent markup: 4,696%

Zocor: 40mg

Consumer price (100 tablets): $350. 27

Cost of general active ingredients: $8.  63

Percent markup: 4,059%

The natural over the counter lipid lowering herbal, gugulipid, 

reduces total cholesterol by 24%, triglycerides by 23%, and raises HDL by 16 percent.

A month supply of gugulipid costs around $25.

I recommend gugulipid for my patients extremely elevated cholesterol levels.

Paxil: 20mg

Consumer price (100 tablets): $220

Cost of general active ingredients: $7.60

Percent markup: 2,898%

Prozac: 20mg

Consumer price (100 tablets): $247

Cost of general active ingredients: $0 .11

Percent markup: 224,973%

Zoloft: 50mg

Consumer price: $206

Cost of general active ingredients: $1.75

Percent markup: 11,821%

There are over 100 peer-reviewed studies showing that S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) is a safe and effective antidepressant. It increases the action of several neurotransmitters including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

A review of 23 randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled studies involving 1,757 people with mild to moderate depression shows that the herb St. John’s Wort is as effective as prescription antidepressants.

And studies comparing the over the counter, amino acid 5HTP, to SSRI’s  and older antidepressants have consistently shown that 5HTP is as good, if not better, than the prescription antidepressant drugs.

Prevacid: 30mg

Consumer price (100 tablets): $44

Cost of general active ingredients: $1 .01

Percent markup: 34,136%

Prilosec: 20mg

Consumer price (100 tablets): $360

Cost of general active ingredients $0 .52

Percent markup: 69,417%

Over the counter Zantac costs $14 a month.

Even better, consider using natural over the counter digestive enzymes $15-$26 a month.

But drugs have to be expensive, right? All that money is needed for

research and development. Right?

Don’t believe it! Only about 14% of Fortune 500 drug-company

revenues are applied toward research and development, while over 30% is devoted toward marketing.

Truth health doesn't come from a drug. No one has a drug deficiency.

If your a health care bargain shopper drug therapy is best avoided when possible.

What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You About IBS How You Can Reverse IBS In As Few As 2 Weeks

An estimated 40 million Americans suffer with

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Some experts, recognizing that many go undiagnosed, suggest that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects approximately 10–20% of the general population. Irritable bowel

syndrome is characterized by a group of symptoms in which abdominal

pain or discomfort is associated with a change in bowel pattern, such

as loose or more frequent bowel movements or diarrhea, and/or hard or

less frequent bowel movements or constipation.

We know that gender plays a clear role, as more than 80 percent of IBS patients are

women between 20 and 55 years old.

The criteria for diagnosing IBS is based on the newly modified Rome

criteria (Rome II criteria) as the presence for at least 12 weeks (not

necessarily consecutive) in the preceding 12 months of abdominal

discomfort or pain that cannot be explained by a structural or

biochemical abnormality and that has at least two of following three

features:

(1) pain is relieved with defecation, and its onset is associated (2)

with a change in the frequency of bowel movements (diarrhea or

constipation) or (3) with a change in the form of the stool (loose,

watery, or pellet-like).

Some people with the disorder have constipation (IBS-C). Some have

diarrhea (IBS-D). And some alternate back and forth between

constipation and diarrhea (IBS-A).

IBS symptoms result from what appears to be a disturbance in the

interaction between the gut or intestines, the brain, and the

autonomic nervous system that alters regulation of bowel motility

(motor function) or sensory function.

Research has shown that the cause of IBS is related to neuroendocrine-

immune system dysfunction (brain and stomach hormones). This

connection is largely mediated by the neurotransmitter or brain hormone known as serotonin. The

brain and gut are connected through the neuroreceptors (hormone docking stations)

for serotonin, 5-hydroxytriptamine-3 (5-HT3) and 5-hydroxytriptamine-4 (5-HT4).

These serotonin receptors regulate the perception of intestinal pain

and the GI motility (contractions that move food through the

intestinal tract). Therefore serotonin controls how fast or how slow

food moves through the intestinal tract. In fact, there are more

serotonin receptors in the intestinal tract than there are in the

brain. Ninety percent of serotonin receptors are in the intestinal

tract.

Research suggests that IBS patients have extra sensitive pain

receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, which may be related to low

levels of serotonin. Decreased levels of serotonin may help explain

why people with IBS are likely to be anxious or depressed. Studies

show that 54–94% of IBS patients meet the diagnostic criteria for

depression, anxiety, or panic disorder.

Restoring optimal levels of serotonin has been the focus of

traditional drug therapy. Zelnorm, a 5-HT4 receptor agonist, was once

hailed as “the drug” for IBS-c (IBS with frequent constipation), has

recently pulled from the market for its association with heart attacks

and stroke. The percentage of patients taking Zelnorm that had serious

and life-threatening side effects was 10 times higher than the

percentage of patients taking a placebo.

Even before this drug was recalled cardiovascular risks, many experts

warned that this drug was dangerous for its other potential side

effects including severe liver impairment, severe kidney impairment,

bowel obstruction, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, headaches,

abdominal adhesions, gallbladder disease, and back pain.

Lotrinex (Alosetron), a 5-HT3 agonist, is prescribed for IBS-d. Within

8 months of being on the market, reports of ischemic colitis (a life

endangering situation in which the blood supply to the intestines is

blocked) began to grow each day. Lotrinex was responsible for at least

four deaths, probably many more. Many who took the drug reported

severe abdominal pain from constipation.

The drug was taken off the market. It is now back and available with

strict prescribing guidelines. An editorial in The British Medical

Journal suggests that as many as 2 million Americans will be eligible

for the drug under the new guidelines. According to previous reported

side effects, this would result in 2,000 cases of severe constipation,

almost 6,000 cases of ischemic colitis, 11,000 surgical interventions,

and at least 324 deaths.

Antispasmodics (Levsin, Levsinex, Bentyl, Donnatal, etc.) are

routinely prescribed for the treatment of IBS symptoms. Potential side

effects include bloating; blurred vision; clumsiness; constipation;

decreased sweating; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; excessive

daytime drowsiness ("hangover effect"); feeling of a whirling motion;

headache; light-headedness; nausea; nervousness; rash; hives;

difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth,

face, lips, or tongue agitation; confusion; diarrhea; difficulty

focusing eyes; disorientation; exaggerated feeling of well-being;

excitement; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; hallucinations;

loss of coordination; loss of taste; memory loss; muscle pain;

pounding in the chest; severe or persistent trouble sleeping; trouble

urinating; unusual weakness; very slow breathing; vision changes;

vomiting.

Using potentially dangerous drugs to reduce

symptoms, while ignoring natural and often more effective approaches

is typical of what is wrong with “cookbook” (symptom-focused)

medicine.

        Reversing IBS With Nutritional Therapy

I find that IBS usually disappears rather quickly once my patient’s

correct their poor eating habits (increase fiber, reduce simple

sugars, caffeine and junk foods), uncover any hidden allergies when

present, including gluten intolerance (Celiac disease), boost optimal

stress coping chemicals (serotonin, magnesium, B-vitamins, etc.),

restore bowel ecology (probiotics), and take the right digestive enzymes with

their meals.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

5HTP

To boost serotonin levels I recommend patients take, the amino acid

responsible for making serotonin, known as 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP).

5HTP along with the right vitamins and minerals, is responsible for making serotonin.

Patients should take 300-400mg a day with food.

Digestive enzymes

Most digestion and absorption takes place in the small intestine and

is regulated by pancreatic enzymes (digestive) and bile. The pancreas

aids in digestion by releasing proteolytic enzymes, which help break

down proteins into amino acids. Natural digestive enzymes are found in

raw fruits and vegetables. Processed foods are usually devoid of

digestive enzymes.

Over consumption of these processed foods can lead to digestive enzyme

deficiencies. This may then lead to malabsorption and or intestinal

permeability syndrome (bloating, gas, indigestion, diarrhea,

constipation, and intestinal inflammation). To ensure proper digestion

and absorption, I recommend taking pancreatic enzymes with each meal.

For stubborn IBS symptoms, I recommend using a high dose, pharmaceutical grade, pure 8X (100% stronger than most over the counter digestive enzymes).

Magnesium

I always recommend people take a good optimal daily allowance

multivitamin/mineral formula. Patients with IBS have depleted their

stress-coping chemicals (serotonin, magnesium, and vitamins) and this not only leads to IBS but also

prevents them from overcoming IBS.

It is a vicious cycle that can only be

broken by taking adequate amounts of essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients I’ve already mentioned above.

The mineral magnesium, which is involved in over 300 bodily processes,

is particularly important for reversing the symptoms of IBS-c and IBS-A.

Magnesium helps relax the smooth muscle of the colon (natural

laxative) allowing normal bowel movements. While a diet high in

nutritious fiber is important, magnesium is even more important. A

magnesium deficiency not only causes constipation but can also lead to

heart disease, mitral valve prolapse (MVP), depression, anxiety,

chronic muscle pain, headaches, migraines, fatigue, and many other

unwanted health conditions. Those with IBS-c may need up to 1,000mg of

magnesium each day. While those with IBS-d, may need less than 500mg.

I recommend patients begin with 500mg of magnesium a day, preferably taken in a multivitamin formula.

Probiotics

The human intestines are inhabited by billions of beneficial bacteria.

These bacteria, which are mostly located in the colon, aid in

digestion by fermenting substances that were not digested in the small

intestine and by breaking down any remaining nutrients.A healthy

intestinal tract contains some 2-3 lb. of bacteria and other

microorganisms, such as yeast, that normally don’t cause ay health

problems.

However, when the intestinal tract is repetitively exposed to toxic

substances (antibiotics, steroids, NSAIDs, etc.), these microorganisms

begin to proliferate and create an imbalance in the bowel flora.

Harmful organisms like yeast and some normally dormant bacteria, begin

to overtake the good bacteria. This is known as intestinal dysbiosis.

IBS and small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth may share similar

symptoms. One study showed that 78% IBS participants had

small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth. To aid in digestion and prevent

intestinal dysbiosis, patients with IBS should take probiotics

(Lactobacillus and Biidobacterium) on a daily basis.

I recommend taking a high dose (9 billion strong), pure, enteric coated probiotic formula once a day on an empty stomach for 2-3 months.

This approach isn’t guaranteed to solve every case of IBS. However, in

the majority of my patients, their IBS symptoms are usually gone within two weeks.

I've developed a IBS Formula, called The Healthy Bowel Formula. You can read more about this formula in my online store or call the clinic 205-879-2383.

http://store.drmurphreestore.com/hebosu.html

Treating and Beating Anxiety

Benzodiazepines have numerous side effects, including poor sleep, seizures, mania, depression, suicide, ringing in the ears, amnesia, dizziness, anxiety, disorientation, low blood pressure, nausea, fluid retention, sexual dysfunction (decreased desire and performance), weakness, somnolence (prolonged drowsiness or a trance-like condition that may continue for a number of days), headaches and tardive dyskinesia. A mind boggling 40% of adults, 60 or older experience drug-induced tics or tardive dyskinesia (tremors or uncontrollable shakes) from taking a benzodiazepine drug. Sadly, for many, these tremors are permanent. Over 61,000 older adults have developed Parkinson’s disease from using antipsychotic drugs (benzodiazepines and antidepressants).  The crippling side effects and addictive nature of these drugs has been known for at least 40 years, yet doctors continue prescribe them at an ever-increasing rate. Surveys show that over 5.6 million adults over the age of 65 are now taking benzodiazepines.

A mouth dropping 50% of all women 60 and older will be prescribed a benzodiazepine drug. And since addiction often occurs within 2 to 4 weeks of starting these drugs, the majority of folks are now dependant on these drugs. Tolerance to the hypnotic (sleep) effects of these drugs may occur within one week.

Symptoms of tolerance are identical to drug withdrawal symptoms and may include anxiety, panic, severe insomnia, muscle pain and stiffness, depression, suicidal thoughts, rage, heart and lung problems, and agoraphobia (extreme fear of public or crowded spaces). Tragically, only 10 to 30% are able to successfully stop taking these drugs, most are addicted for life.

Neurotransmitters and Essential Nutrients Our patients and the public at large should know that the neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) come from the vitamins, minerals and amino acids contained in our foods. A deficiency in any of these nutrients can cause an assortment of health related illnesses, especially mood and sleep disorders.

Inhibitory or relaxing neurotransmitters include serotonin and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA). The neurotransmitter serotonin is produced from the amino acid 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP). GABA is mainly produced from the amino acid glutamine.  GABA, 5HTP, and L-Theanine Both GABA and 5HTP, have a calming effect on the brain. Benzodiazepines work by increasing the effectiveness of GABA. But, as we’ve learned these drugs have potentially lethal side effects.

Instead of using a GABA additive loaded with potentially dangerous side effects, why not use an over-the-counter GABA or 5HTP supplement to reduce anxiety, stress, or help with sleep? Both work rather quickly, have few side effects, and can be found at the local health food store. Usually only a small dose of GABA is needed, 500–1,000 mg. taken twice daily on an empty stomach. The brain doesn’t readily absorb GABA, but another amino acid known as L-theanine, can boost GABA levels.

I often recommend L-theanine, an amino acid found in green tea. It has a calming effect on the brain. For anxiety related disorders the usual dose is 50-100mg taken on an empty stomach, two to three times daily. Research with human volunteers has demonstrated that L-theanine creates its relaxing effect in approximately 30 to 40 minutes after ingestion.

Supplementing with the supplement 5-hydroxytrryptophan (5HTP), a form of the amino acid tryptophan, helps raise serotonin levels. Studies show that 5HTP is as effective in normalizing moods as antidepressant drugs. 5HTP also boosts melatonin levels by 200 percent. The recommended dose is 100mg three times a day.
Amino acid therapy offers a safe and effective way to reduce anxiety-without the numerous side effects associated with benzodiazepines.