Spring 2008 Newsletter - Nutritional Therapy Association

the
Nutritional
T h e r a p i s t
Spring 2008
The Nutritional Therapy Practitioner’s
Guide to Supporting Dry Eye Syndrome
What’s inside…
Page 4
Materia Medica Part 6-Calendula
Officinale
by Tracy Bosnian, CH, NTP
Page 6
Organic & Toxin-Free Solutions for
Skin Disorders
by Dana Luchini, ME, NTP
Page 8
Reclaiming Our Most Ancient
Hormone: How Hiding from the Sun
Hurts Your Health
by Diane Wisenberg, BS, NTP
Page 10
Nutritionally Speaking: Nutrient-Rich
Infusions
by Yaakov Levine, NTP
Page 15
Sea Vegetables-The Traditional
Mineral Supplement
by Bob Quinn, L.Ac, DAOM
By Kat Carroll, NTP
and reviewed by Donald A. Carroll, OD, NTP
Dry eye syndrome (DES) is the most
common complaint to eye doctors. If
you’ve ever experienced dry eyes,
especially while trying to wear contact lenses, it is very distracting, aggravating, and a real nuisance.
The typical symptoms of DES include dryness, irritation, grittiness,
burning, and difficulty reading for
extended periods of time. Strangely
enough, excessive tearing and watering are also indicative of DES. In extreme cases, light sensitivity, pain
and diminished vision can result.
DES is particularly common among
peri and postmenopausal women;
there is a gender bias and a hormonal
aspect to this syndrome.
How empowering would it be to
have the proverbial “three easy steps
to end dry eye” to offer your clients?
How much more so if those steps
avoided the use of any artificial tears,
drugs like corticosteriods, or surgical
procedures such as punctal plugs that
prevent tear drainage from the punctum?
don’t reach the core of the problem.
Only restoration of proper structure
and function to the tear film will
provide a permanent resolution to
DES. After repletion, diet and lifestyle have been assessed and addressed, only then should we
consider using remedial means to alleviate dry eye such as topical lubricant eye drops, corticosteroid eye
drops, oral anti-inflammatory drugs
or surgical methods like insertion of
punctual plugs.
DES is best addressed first by nutritional therapy, supplementation and
lifestyle education; particularly as
there is a strong correlation between
DES and systemic inflammatory
processes such as diabetes and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid
arthritis.
In our experience at Medical Vision
Center and Nutritional Visions Natural Health Center in Morton, Washington, the patients who take a
diligent, disciplined and educated
Continued on page... 2
None of the above is permanent, and
medical solutions
1
The NTP’s Guide to Supporting Dry Eye Syndrome.. Cont)
Continued from page... 1
course of action to rectify their DES
show remarkable success in eradicating the root of the dysfunction
and thus effectively resolve their
symptoms. We can’t treat the eye naturally without raising the general
level of health in the rest of the body;
patients like this added perk.
We will discuss a few strategies the
Nutritional Therapy Practitioner can
employ as part of the total body care
NTP’s provide that will restore structure and function to the eye. First let’s
look at the different characteristics of
DES, common causes and the ocular
layers that make up the tear film.
There are two types of dry eye:
Aqueous (water) insufficiency which causes a decrease in tear production
Tears that simply evaporate
too fast.
Dry eyes can result from:
Aging
Being in a peri-menopausal
or post-menopausal status
Deficiencies in fatty acids and
vitamins and minerals
Long-term contact lens wear
As a side effect of many medications
LASIK or cataract surgery
Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and systemic inflammatory diseases
Environmental impacts affecting
DES:
Dry office environment
Wind
Irritation from smoke or
smoking
Staring at the computer without blinking
Marcie Larsen, BA
Operations Coordinator
Yaakov Levine, NTP
The Nutritional Therapist is mailed
quarterly to all current members of the
Nutritional Therapy Association, Inc.
PO Box 354
The tears are made up of three different layers: mucin or mucus layer, aqueous or water layer, and lipid
or fat layer.
Olympia, WA 98507
Phone: 800-918-9798
Fax: 360-528-2564
Email: [email protected]
Continued on page 12...
Website: www.nutritionaltherapy.com
Disclaimer
Statements made in this newsletter have
not been evaluated by the Food and
Drug Administration. These products
or protocols are not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease or be used as a substitute for
appropriate care of a qualified
healthcare professional.
The ideas and options of contributing
authors do not necessarily reflect those
of the Nutritional Therapy Association,
Inc.
2
Bio-D-Mulsion™ and the Importance of Micro-emulsification
Biotics Research Corporation’s, vitamin D is micro-emulsified to enhance absorption and
utilization, which is particularly important for those with malabsorption conditions. Independent
clinical experience suggests the micro-emulsion form of vitamin D provides significant improvements in serum levels of
25-OH-vitamin D following supplementation. Each drop of Bio-D-Mulsion™ supplies 400 IU of vitamin D3, while each drop of
Bio-D-Mulsion Forte™ supplies 2,000 IU of vitamin D3.
With an increased knowledge of the importance of maintaining adequate vitamin D levels, many clinicians recommend
supplementation and annual screening for 25-OH-vitamin D levels, especially for patients at risk for deficiency as well as
those who may benefit from supplementation.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Watch for our Upcoming Seminars
Sponsored by Biotics Research NW
May 13-15, 2008
July 25-27, 2008
Intensive CRA® Mentoring by Dr.
Primary Care for Women
Dick Versendaal & Mary Jane Mack, Portland, OR
Ph.D.
Issaquah, WA
Foundations of Functional Nutrition
Part I of II
May 17, 2008
Biotics Product Review Seminar
Portland, OR
Vancouver, WA
September 23-25, 2008
May 31-June 1, 2008
Intensive CRA® Mentoring by Dr.
Nutritional Reflex Technique (N.R.T.) Dick Versendaal & Mary Jane Mack,
Seattle, WA
Ph.D.
Issaquah, WA
September 27-28, 2008
Contact Reflex Analysis® Seminar
Seattle, WA
October 11-12, 2008
Foundations of Functional Nutrition
Part I of II
Seattle, WA
October 18-19, 2008
Dr. Abbas Qutab
Portland, OR
Call Biotics NW for more information at 800-636-6913 PO Box 7027 Olympia, WA 98507 www.bioticsnw.com
3
Materia Medica
Part 6
By Tracy Bosnian, CH, NTP
Habitat: Calendula likes a sunny
position and tolerates all but
waterlogged soils.
It’s the time of the year when we start
to see the first flowers of spring
popping up their heads. They look so
beautiful, as they raise their lovely
faces to bask in the sunlight. My
favorite flower, the one that lets me
know the sunny weather is really
coming, is Calendula. It is one of
those plants that I could not live
without. It graces my kitchen as well
as my toolbox of medicinal herbs.
The uses for this invaluable plant will
not begin to fit into the space I have
for this article, so I encourage you to
do more research on your own. Not
to mention planting a big patch of it
in your yard.
Botanical Name: Calendula
officinale. Please do not confuse this
plant with the common garden
Marigold (tagetes patula) they are very
different plants and have different
uses.
Common Names: Calendula, Pot
Marigold, English Marigold, Poor
Man’s Saffron, Holigold, Herb of the
Sun.
Family: Compositae/ Asteraceae/
Sunflower/ Daisy
Botanical description: It is
technically an annual, but in our
climate of the PNW it often reseeds
itself making you think it is a
perennial. It has alternate leaves that
are lace-shaped. The flowers are ray
flowers and can range in color from
yellow-gold to deep orange, with
dark brown centers. Calendula can
grow up to 28 inches tall.
4
Cultivation: Seeds can be sown
indoors in February or outdoors in
early spring. You can plant it in the
autumn to over-winter and make
pushy plants the following year.
Harvest/Part used: Flowers, leaves
and stems.
Toxicity: None, but remember do not
confuse with French Marigold
(tagetes patula)
Constituents: Primary constituents
are calendulin and faradiol ester,
along with volatile/essential oils,
resins, flavonoids (triterpenes),
mucilage, saponins, Vitamin A
precursors (carotenes and carotinoid
pigments), phosphorus, and steroidal
compounds.
Preparation: Calendula can be made
into liquid extracts, dried for tea. It
can also be made into an oil that
looks like you captured the sun!
Calendula oil can be used for
compresses, poultices, suppositories,
salves, creams and lotions. The juice
extracted from it and added with a
small amount of alcohol makes an
amazing succus (used for wound
healing). Remember it can also be
used in salads, and dishes that call
for saffron.
Actions and Therapeutic uses:
Calendula is one of my favorite first
aide remedies. It works on all kind
of skin issues. Unlike Arnica, it can
be placed directly on the wound. I
have seen it do amazing things;
when my mother was passing away,
she developed bedsores. No matter
how often we turned her the bones
just wore the skin away. My sister
and I both had a different idea on
what we should use on the sores, she
used something that took a
prescription and I used some
Calendula salve that I had made
(recipe to follow). The bedsores that I
used the Calendula salve on went
away 3 days quicker than the one my
sister used her prescription salve on!
As a vaginal douche (infusion) it will
help with vaginitis, cervicitis, vaginal
abrasions, erosion of the os,
leucorrhea. Used as a sitz bath it is
excellent for a lacerated perineum.
The extract can be taken internally for
fevers, menopausal problems, chronic
ulcers, stagnant liver and gallbladder
problems. The infusion can be used
as a mouthwash for mouth ulcers and
gum disease. The extract works
wonders for inflamed lymph nodes
and sluggish digestion. I have used it
for cases of the flu because of its antiviral effects; you can use it as either
an extract or a tea. A well diluted
mixture of distilled water and 5 drops
of the extract make an excellent eye
compress for conjunctivitis.
Calendula suppositories have been
used for vaginal yeast infections,
genital sores and other vaginal
irritations. In China, the ointment of
calendula is a popular topical
treatment for hemorrhoids.
Dosage: Infusion: One cup 3 times
per day (Hoffman). For acute
symptoms drink 1 cup of tea per hour
until problem is gone (Tierra).
Extract: 1 – 4 mls three times per day
(Hoffman). 10 – 30 drops (Tierra).
Contra-Indications: Pregnancy (R.
Mabey) due to its uterine stimulating
properties.
Sources of information:
Felter, Harvey Wickes MD The
Eclectic Materia Medica 1922
Hoffmann, David The New Holistic
Herbal 1990
Lust, John The Herb Book 1974
Mabey, Richard The New Age
Herbalist 1988
Soule, Deb The Roots of Healing
1995
Tierra, Lesley The Herbs of Life 1992
Weiss, Rudolf Fritz MD Herbal
Medicine 1960
Recipe: Calendula Oil & Salve
If using fresh flowers from your yard:
Carefully pick the flowers on a
warm sunny morning after the dew is
dried from the petals. Just using the
ray flowers will give you and oil that
is bright and vibrant.
Very carefully pick the golden
petals from the green base of the
plant and lay them out to wilt in a
brown paper bag for at least 24 hours,
but no longer than 48.
Place the petal into a wide mouthcanning jar, filling it to about ½ - ¾
full with the oil of your choice. I like
to use almond oil, it shows off the
color of calendula and you have the
most beautiful yellow oil.
Cover the jar with a piece of cheese
cloth and secure it to the jar with a
rubber band, this allows any
moisture that is still in the plant to
escape and not turn your oil moldy.
It also keeps out any little bugs or
ants that might want to dive in.
Place the jar in a sunny window, if
you see any condensation in the jar,
carefully remove the cheesecloth and
wipe away the condensation.
Depending on the sunshine will
determine how long it can take to
make your oil. It usually takes about
3 – 4 weeks.
You can also do a much quicker
version using dried calendula
blossoms and a slow cooker. When
buying dried Calendula make sure
that the flowers are still bright
gold/yellow, if they are a pale color
do not use them, they will not make a
good medicinal oil.
Again using a wide mouth-canning
jar fill it ¾ full with the dried
calendula blossoms and cover with
oil.
In the bottom of the slow cooker
place the rings from the top of
canning jar lids and fill the crock-pot
2/3 full with water.
Set your jar filled with oil and
flowers into the crock-pot, making
sure that the water does not get into
the jar. Also do not put the cover on
the crock-pot, this will let water get
into your oil and ruin it. Let it cook
on low for 24 hours.
When making either the fresh or the
dried oil you strain it the same way.
Line a large strainer with a double
layer of cheesecloth; secure the
cheesecloth to the strainer with cloths
pins.
Place the strainer over a bowl big
enough to hold the oil. Carefully
pour the oil and flowers into the
strainer. I usually just turn the jar
completely upside down and let it
drip.
Remove the jar and the cloths pins,
gather up the edges of the cheese
cloth and give the cloth a good
squeeze to get all the oil out of the
flowers.
Pour the oil into a clean DRY jar
with a tight fitting lid. You now have
a jar of calendula oil just waiting to
make a salve with.
To make the salve: you will need to
have some small containers ready.
One of my favorite places to get small
amounts of jars is Mt Rose Herbs;
their web address is
www.mountainroseherbs.com you
can buy one-ounce salve jars for 85
cents per piece.
You need a double boiler. For every
one cup of calendula oil you will
need 1/4 cup of grated beeswax (you
can also get this at Mt Rose). Place the
oil into the top of the double boiler
along with the beeswax. Heat it
slowly until the beeswax has melted.
I use an old chopstick to stir with. Do
not heat the oil to boiling. If you
want to add fragrance and more
healing power to your salve, to each
jar add 4 – 5 drops of lavender
essential oil. While the oil is still hot,
quickly pour the oil into the jars. Let
cool before putting the lids on the
jars.
There you go! You have just made an
amazing salve.
A word to the wise: it is easy to make
to much salve the first time.
Remember that one-cup of oil will
make 8 one-ounce jars of salve.
Image Provided by
© Photographs by Robin Charters
As an herbalist and a master
gardener,Robin brings us images of
her botanical photography
expressing the beauty and mystery of
nature.
To order prints or for more
information please contact Robin
Charters at:
Orenda Gardens, LLC
206-842-2383
Email: [email protected]
Bainbridge Island, WA
5
While working as a Comfort Therapist in Hospice at St. Joseph Medical
Center in Tacoma, WA. with cancer
patients nearly 15 years ago, I noticed
the skin disorders that many of the
patients were afflicted with such as
rashes, a-topic dermatitis, eczema
and psoriasis. I watched week after
week as these patients applied everything from over the counter lotions to
medicated prescriptions but never
did I see any real healing of their
skin. At that time I taught positive
imagery to these patients for relaxation, stress, pain control, sleep, and
many other afflictions as a Certified
Hypnotherapist; as well as the fact
that I was also an Esthetician (skin
care) at my own Salon & Spa and
later worked with plastic surgeons as
a Medical Esthetician. I had suffered
myself from rashes, dermatitis and
eczema on and off over the years and
had watched my Grandmother agonize over severe eczema on her
hands. Her eczema was so extreme
that her physicians wrote her up in
medical journals as she was given radiation treatments and anesthetic injections to deaden the pain on top of
all the topical medications she applied daily. As she aged she had lost
most sensation in her fingers, her
hands were deformed, scabbed and
raw but “bless her heart” she never
complained.
I started to wonder that if I was a
“skin care specialist”, how could I
possibly help others if I could not
help myself or my family? By this
time, I would scratch the tops of my
legs until they bled, my underarms
itched horribly after shaving, my
scalp was dry, itchy and scaly and
occasionally in between my fingers I
would get red little itchy bumps that
drove my crazy! It finally dawned on
me that perhaps I should research the
ingredients in the lotions and creams
6
that we were applying to our skin.
And what I found shocked me! The
ingredients that are standard in most
skin care formulations are petroleum
plastics, perfumes, parabens, and
many others that can be hormonal
disrupting and cancer causing!
Harmful petroleum ingredients can
plasticize and “constipate” your skin,
making germs more likely to get in
and toxins less likely to get out of
your body. As your body’s largest
organ, your skin is your most important immune defense barrier as well
as your largest organ for eliminating
waste but it is not an impenetrable
shield. Skin absorption is the number
one form of chemical absorption and
contamination.
And believe it or not ever since 1938
when the FDA granted self-regulation to the cosmetics industry- such
products can be marketed without
government approval of ingredients,
regardless of what tests show. Most
of the 25,000 chemicals used, have
not been tested for long-term toxic
effects. In a typical day, you may be
exposed to over 200 different chemicals, many of which are suspected of
causing cancer or disrupting your
hormones. Yes, it is trace amounts
but the accumulative affects could be
devastating for people suffering serious illnesses, cancer, disease and immune disorders. It can also be
potentially harmful to babies and
pregnant Mothers as well. EPA tests
conclude that ingredients in shampoos, dyes, and other personal care
products “may be playing havoc with
hormones that control reproduction
and development.” Medical research,
including Brunnell University, Tufts
University, Boston Research Center,
and Centers of Disease Control has
found these chemicals absorb
through the skin and often remain in
fat tissue for indefinite periods of
time. These chemicals are present in
our personal care, oral care and
household cleaning products. Constant daily exposure slowly weakens
the immune system causing longer
recovery time from surgery, stress
and illness. And contribute to allergies, respiratory ailments, hormone
disruption, memory lapse, nervous
system disorders, birth defects, sterility and cancer as well as skin irritations, itching, inflammation and the
appearance of acne, brown spots,
saggy skin, Rosacea, wrinkles and
fine lines to name a few. Perhaps the
most dramatic recent example is that
parabens
(a chemical used as a preservative in
many personal care products) was
found in breast tumors.
Needless to say, I developed a line of
facial, hair and body products without the use of any of the “toxic” ingredients and a miraculous thing
started to occur, most everyone I
shared them with would call me with
incredible testimonies as to how their
skin disorders were going away after
years of suffering. And within about
a month my own skin problems were
greatly improved!
And now with the passing of the
“California Safe Cosmetics Act of
2005”, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
and the state of California, requiring
any company that sells personal care
products to disclose to DHS
(Department of Health Services) any
ingredient deemed to be a carcinogenic or reproductive toxin; only confirms that we must be proactive
about the choices we make for our
own health and the health and wellness of our families. I
recommend reading your product
labels and choose products free of
any toxic, poisonous or carcinogenic
ingredients.
By this time I was thirsty for even
more knowledge after working with
a Naturopathic Physician and wanting to provide internal nutritional
support for healthy-aging skin as
well as the external solutions I had
found. I decided to go back to college
and become a Nutritional Therapy
Practitioner. I was now equipped to
offer the internal answers to skin disorders as well. And what I have
found is that about 90% of people
suffering from acne, rashes, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, alopecia, etc.,
all have possible food allergies and
two definite deficiencies. One is that
they are zinc deficient. Zinc is in all
our cells to help us to heal and very
important in aiding digestion but it
takes zinc to absorb zinc so you need
to ingest aqueous (liquid) zinc, which
will easily get your zinc levels back to
normal. I also found that aqueous
zinc is very healing when used topically as well. About 25% of people
who have impairment in taste and or
smell are suffering from an outright
zinc deficiency.
The second deficiency is EFAs
(Essential Fatty Acids) like fish and
flax oil. The body cannot make EFAs
therefore they must be obtained from
the diet or through supplementation.
EFAs help to maintain cell membrane
function, regulate pain, inflammation
and swelling; mediate immune response and promote healthy skin,
among a number of other benefits as
well. In addition EFAs are essential
for a healthy pregnancy and promote
normal fetal development.
ries. In fact, we feel so strongly about
our mission that we have set-up The
Sandra Moroni Endowment Fund
for Comfort Therapies at several
hospitals. Through the purchase of
any of our products, a percentage of
our net proceeds will be donated to
provide alternative therapies including: naturopathy, massage, counseling, skin & body care and other
comfort therapies that promote healing & relaxation and decrease stress;
free of charge for cancer patients who
lack the ability to pay for those services. Our goal is to expand this foundation to include cancer patients
from every major hospital in the
country.
Several years ago I teamed up with
Beth Niemi who was also in the
health and beauty industry as a medical skin care specialist, licensed massage therapist and as an
administrator of a Plastic Surgery
Center. She became interested in organic products after learning about
the toxic ingredients and possible
long term effects of chemicals used in
the treatments and products in the
medical skin care industry. Today,
we are the Co-Founders of HealthyAging Organics, Inc., we are both
proud to be a part of a company that
provides healthy eco-friendly alternatives for products, apparel, and accessories for you, your loved ones and
the environment.
Dana Luchini, ME, NTP co-founder of
Healthy Aging Organic, Inc.
800-599-4256
www.tuttabellaorganics.com
After working with cancer patients
we made a commitment to provide
families with Purely Green & Organic, Toxin-Free Products and Accesso-
COLLECTION
Introducing the latest organic and toxin-free skin care lines and
eco-friendly, fashion forward accessories to provide individuals with purely green &
organic products and accessories!
BEAUTIFUL FACE
BEAUTIFUL BABY
BEAUTIFUL MOM
www.TuttaBellaOrganics.com 1.800.599.4256 •
[email protected]
BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS
Baby
Please
visit
Skin Care & Body Products • Diaper Bags • Bibs • Blankets
T-Shirts • Maternity V-Shirts • Pet Carriers • Pet
our
website
Purely
to
view
Green
the
&
Tutta
Bella
Organic
Collection
distributed
Products
and
Collars
by:
•
Healthy
Pet
Aging
Leads
Organics,
Inc
Accessories
7
By Diane Wisenberg, BS, NTP
Living in darkness is not our genetic
heritage. Until recent times covering
our skin was to protect ourselves
form the cold – not the sun. Our
transportation evolved from horses to
cars preventing the rays of the sun
from reaching us. It has only been in
the last 30 years that we began using
sunscreens and avoiding the sun
altogether.
The most potent steroid hormone in
the human body is Vitamin D. When
you are deficient in Vitamin D the
genes designed to protect your health
can’t work properly. Our physiology
is as closely linked to the sun as
plants. Plants use sunlight to
photosynthesize chlorophyll. Our
body uses a similar process to photo
synthesize Vitamin D. Sunlight and
Vitamin D touch virtually every
aspect of your bio chemistry and
physiology. Following is just a small
number of the vital roles that Vitamin
D plays in your health: Regulates and
assists in calcium absorption, energy
metabolism, muscle strength and
coordination, reduces C-reactive
protein and other markers of
inflammation, brain development,
insulin production stimulation, helps
the heart to beat properly and
prevents IBS.
When it comes to your bones calcium
and Vitamin D have a symbiotic
relationship. If either is missing, the
other can’t do its job. Not only does
8
calcium have a vital role in bone
health it also helps the central
nervous system transmit nerve
impulses, helps the muscles to
contract, influences the secretion of
insulin by the pancreas and regulate
the immune system. You get calcium
from the food you eat, or from
supplements. But your body needs
Vitamin D in order to absorb calcium
and phosphorous from the intestinal
tract. No matter how much calcium
you ingest, without Vitamin D your
body cannot absorb it from the small
intestine.
Research shows that calcium and
Vitamin D deficiency in combination
puts you at risk for a wide array of
chronic diseases. Studies suggest that
90% of the population is deficient in
one, the other, or both. Vitamin D
helps prevent osteoporoses. When
your body is short of calcium it pulls
it from your bones. This leads to
osteoporosis. Here is how it works.
If there is not enough calcium in your
diet or not enough Vitamin D to
facilitate the absorption, then Vitamin
D and the parathyroid hormone will
work together to pull this mineral
from the bones. The result is
osteoporosis.
You have Vitamin D receptors all
throughout your body and scientists
have found that there are also
Vitamin D receptors sites throughout
all the organs. Activated Vitamin D
is one of the most potent regulators of
cell growth in both normal and
cancerous cells. The more activated
Vitamin D your body can create the
better. In fact, billions of cells use
Vitamin D to respond to a wide
variety of diseases and help the body
heal. It is one of the most potent
powerful nutrients you can give to
your body. (Dr. John Cannell’s article
“The Secrets of Vitamin D
Production”).
If you are not getting out in the sun
for 15-20 minutes almost daily and
not eating appropriate Vitamin D rich
foods or taking supplements, you are
at high risk for a deficiency. The best
way to know if you are deficient is to
have a yearly measurement of 25hydroxyvitamin D as part of your
annual physical exam. The test you
should ask for is a 25-hydroxyvitamin
D test. This test measures levels of
calcidiol in your blood.
Optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D values
are:
50-60 ng/mlor or 125-160 nmol/l
Also, when looking at your results
you may see seasonal variations.
Your levels will likely be lower in the
winter than in the summer.
You Don’t Need to Burn to Get Your
Vitamin D
Here are some basic guidelines to
responsible sun exposure:
1. Fair-skinned, 10-20 minutes of
high summer sun will produce
adequate Vitamin D levels. Skin with
a moderate amount of pigmentation,
20-40 minutes. Those with the
darkest skin may need up to two
hours to meet daily Vitamin D
requirements.
2. If you are going to be in the sun
longer than what you need for
Vitamin D, take measures to cover
you most sensitive skin – usually your
face, shoulders, and the back of your
legs.
3. Natural Sunscreens – Sunscreens
with zinc oxide as the active
ingredient go on thick, but they are
safe and effective. Zinc oxide protects
against both UV-A and UV-B rays,
and zinc oxide remains stable even
when exposed to UV radiation unlike
the active ingredients found in most
sunscreens.
4. Give some thought to how much
exposure you are going to get, and act
accordingly.
ESSENTIAL
INFORMATION
For patients and
health care
practitioners.
This one hormone can dramatically
reduce the chances of developing a
chronic disease…and if your levels
are low Biotics makes a wonderful,
easy to take supplement called Bio-DMulsion Forte. I would recommend 2
drops per day. If you or someone
you know is severely deficient I
would suggest starting on 5 drops a
day for 30 days then reduce to 2
drops a day.
Diane Weisenberg, BS, NTP
Diane is an educator, researcher, and
a spirited and passionate forager of
whole foods, health and nutrition.
As a Practice Manager for a Holistic
Veterinary Clinic she is also involved
in small animal nutrition. My Motto:
Stay curious and get to know the
body you were gifted with.
My Vitamin D level in May of 2007
was 29. Sometime around OctoberNovember I started taking 2-3 drops
a day of Bio-D-Mulsion Forte. I also
made sure I increased my Cod Liver
Oil during December and January. I
had my Vitamin D level checked on
February 12, 2008 and it is 65.
PUBLISHED BY THE
PRICE-POTTENGER NUTRITION FOUNDATION™
NEW EXPANDED EDITION
FIFTY-SIX NEW PHOTOS
ENHANCED PHOTO QUALITY
EXPANDED TEXT
The perfect gift for
family or friends!
PRICE-POTTENGER
NUTRITION FOUNDATION™
Preserving the work of
Weston A. Price DDS and
other health pioneers. Providing
access to accurate information
on nutrition. Founded in 1952.
ORDER TODAY
619-462-7600
1-800-366-3748 (in US)
QUANTITY PRICING AVAILABLE
PPNF™ YOUR SOURCE FOR BOOKS, AUDIO & VISUAL
CALL FOR RESOURCE CATALOG OR VISIT
www.ppnf.org
9
By Yaakov Levine, NTP
I often enjoy a cup of tea while at
work, reading, or as a dessert. My
favorite these days is a blend of holy
basil, chamomile and rose essence
which is flavorful, aromatic, and
soothing. Herbal teas, which are
steeped for 2-5 minutes offer us many
benefits. They are colorful, and tasty
and may contain various plant
(phyto)chemicals that promote health
and longevity.
important minerals we must have
them in our foods. Unfortunately
much of the soil used to grow our
vegetables on an industrial level is
depleted of minerals, and if the
minerals are not in the soil they will
not be in our food. Herbal infusions
are a great way to supplement the
minerals in your diet. Are you
experiencing leg cramps at night, or
not getting as much out of your
workout as you’d like? Drink
nutritious herbal infusions
throughout the day, and you will feel
more energy, vitality.
10
Any herbs that do not contain many
volatile oils, resins, or alkaloids are
good choices for nutritious infusions.
Three of my favorites are nettles,
One of my favorite nutritious herbs is
mineral rich stinging nettles (Urtica
dioica). According to herbalist Susun
Weed, an overnight infusion of
As a nutritional therapist I am always
looking for the nutritional value of
what I eat and drink. I have found
that herbal infusions are the most
nutritious form of tea. As opposed to
a tea which is steeped for 2-5
minutes, an infusion is steeped for at
least four hours and in my case
overnight. Since the minerals and
other nutrients are made more
accessible by drying, dried herbs are
the best choice.
Minerals, which support the health of
our bones and tissues, make up 4% of
our bodies. Minerals are classified as
Macro minerals (large), such as
calcium, magnesium, and Micro
minerals (small), including iron and
chromium. These and other minerals
act as cofactors for enzyme reaction,
help maintain our pH, and support
healthy nerve conduction. Since our
bodies cannot produce these
I make my infusions at night before I
go to sleep. I use one quart mason
jars, in which I will put 2-4
tablespoons or more of dried herb, fill
to the top with boiling water, then
close tightly and let sit overnight. In
the morning I strain the infusion,
squeezing the liquid out of the plant,
and then enjoy throughout the day.
Trifolium pretense-Red Clover
Urtica dioica-Stinging Nettles
nettles will yield 500mg. of calcium
per cup. She found that if you steep
the nettles for 2-5 minutes, you only
end up with 5-10mg. of calcium per
cup. Nettles are also a source of iron,
and silicon which supports healthier
skin and hair.
oatstraw, and red clover. Nettles are
rich in minerals, and helps nourish
the adrenals, kidneys, blood vessels,
skin, and hair. Oatstraw (Avena
sativa) is a great longevity tonic, and
supports the nervous system. Red
Clover (Trifolium pretense) blossoms
are a great blood purifier, increase
blood flow, and contain isoflavones
that help improve your “good”
cholesterol.
Infusions generally taste great! You
can add honey or cream if you’d like,
and I sometimes will add a small
amount (tsp) of mint to my infusion
mixture. As the weather gets warmer
try some iced Red Clover infusion
with a touch of mint. I do suggest
you try the herbs one at a time to get
to know them before blending.
Some other nutritious choices for
infusion are: linden flower (Tillia
americana), which has anti-flu
properties, soothes the lungs and
digestive system, and supports
cardiovascular function, and comfrey
leaf which supports healing of skin,
bones, mucus membranes, and skin,
A note about Comfrey: while the
roots of wild comfrey, (Symphytum
officionale) contain pyrrolizidine
alkaloids, that can cause liver
congestion, the leaves of cultivated
Images Provided by
comfrey, (symphytum uplandia) are
free of this constituent.
© Photographs by Robin Charters
A great source of dried bulk herbs is
Mountain Rose Herbs in Pleasant
Hill, OR.
(www.mountainroseherbs.com).
They are one of the largest suppliers
of organic bulk herbs in the country
and are known for their consistent
quality. If you would like addition
information regarding herbal
infusions, contact me at: (541) 8952427 or
[email protected]. To
learn about the many uses of herbs as
medicine, food, and body care join
me at the Breitenbush Herbal
Conference Sept 4-7, 2008. For more
information check out our website:
www.breitenbushherbalconference.
net
As an herbalist and a master
gardener,Robin brings us images of
her botanical photography
expressing the beauty and mystery of
nature.
With the love of tending a garden
and as a grower of medicinal herbs
and food, she observes daily the
mystery of tiny seeds coming into
life, watching them grow and bloom,
then become food, medicine or
pleasure for the senses. Enjoy!
To order prints or for more
information please contact Robin
Charters at:
Orenda Gardens, LLC
206-842-2383
Email: [email protected]
Bainbridge Island, WA
real nutrition for real people.
Food is meant to nourish our bodies. Food is meant to grow
in a particular, natural way in order to do so. This is where
you and your nutrition become what they were Meant To Be.
Purchase food and learn more at:
meanttobefoods.com
Nutrientsdense foods are available for delivery:
beef bone broth, organic grass fed beef jerky,
cultured vegetables, soaked and dried nuts and more.
Thanks to all who came, tasted and
enjoyed at the NTA Conference!
11
The NTP’s Guide to Supporting Dry Eye Syndrome (cont)
Continued from page... 2
The mucin layer which touches the
cornea nourishes the front of the eye.
This layer serves as an anchor for the
tear film helping it adhere to the eye
and keeps the eye moist.
Aqueous from the lacrimal gland
forms the middle layer of tear film
incorporating the water soluble components of the tear film. It provides
moisture, oxygen and nutrients to the
cornea.
he lipid layer is produced by the
Meibomiam glands of the eyelids. It
is our front line of defense against
evaporation, infection, solar radiation
and injury to the outside of the ocular
surface. It creates a smooth surface
for light to pass through the eye. It
also keeps the tears from evaporating
maintaining the structural integrity of
the tear film, and provides a smooth
tear film over the cornea when we
blink.
Each of the three layers is driven by
nutrition. Each has varying concentrations of vitamins and minerals
which promote proper structure and
function of each of the segments. Educated Nutritional Therapy Practitioners understand how to restore
and/or maintain structural integrity
in order to influence function at each
level of the tear film. Repletion of nutrients that saturate ocular tissues is
vital for influencing structure and
creating proper function. As a result
vision is improved and contact lens
wearers find a more comfortable fit.
The concept of repletion cannot be
overemphasized. On the ocular terrain, the cornea is two thirds of the
refractive power of the eye. We must
nourish all the layers that make up
tear film. If the refracting surface
doesn’t have integrity, good vision is
12
not likely even with glasses or contact
lenses.
Each of the three layers has special
requirements to do their individual
jobs:
The mucin layer requires Vitamin
A in (the form of retinol) which plays
a central role in the development of
the mucin of the tear film. Vitamin A
deficiency is a cause of Goblet cell atrophy and loss of the important innermost lubricating mucin layer.
The lacrimal gland’s secretions are
promoted by micronutrients like zinc,
magnesium and Vitamin C, B6 and
niacin. Amazingly, the lacrimal gland
has hormone receptors in it and tear
film is influenced by hormonal fluctuations.
The oily layer needs essential fatty
acids, both Omega 3 from flax, fish
oils and algae, and Omega 6 in the
form of evening primrose oil, borage
oil or black currant seed oil in order
to create structural integrity in its
segment of the three part layer that
makes up the ocular terrain. Inflammatory cells take up GLA, convert it
to DGLA, which in turn is a potent
inhibitor of arachadonic acid (AA)
conversion into inflammatory messengers.
Zinc is a major player in construction
of a healthy corneal surface having
the highest concentration in the entire body in the cornea of the eye.
As we know, many are deficient in
zinc. We can administer the Zinc
Challenge test as one measure in assessing the integrity of the cornea.
Maintaining healthy terrain on the
ocular surface is more important than
we realize.
If DES goes untreated, it can cause fluctuations in vision, and the cornea can
become scratched, scarred and ulcerated.
Zinc sufficiency is a good place to
start. There is Comprehensive Metabolic Profile testing available to determine where to focus repletion efforts
most effectively.
Bioindividuality is key when considering treatment options for DES;
strategies become complex when we
factor in:
Smoking which disrupts the way
carotenoids are used in the eye and
the smoke itself being an irritant exacerbating DES
Inflammatory, allergenic and/or
nutritionally deficient dietary pattern
Gallbladder surgery and subsequent diminished fat processing
Gender bias to DES with predilection to peri and post-menopausal
women
DES occurring secondary to systemic illnesses such as Diabetes or
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
DES as a result of prescription and
over-the-counter drug use.
DES in post surgery (Lasik, PRK
and Cataract) patients
Reducing systemic inflammation
becomes the number one therapy for
treating DES which has an inflammatory component.
We teach a modified Mediterranean
diet, removing gluten, dairy and
known sensitivities to reduce inflammation. The Hale Project reported in
JAMA in 2004, confirming the success
of the MeDi diet and lifestyle (non
smoking, moderate exercise and
whole foods, largely plant based diet)
in reducing mortality and morbidity
from all causes after ten years adherence to the MeDi in individuals aged
70-90. What a successful lifestyle
program! What is good for the body
is good for the eyes.
Initially a healthy inflammatory reaction serves purposes of tissue isolation and protection from further
injury so that the body can initiate a
healing response. However, an inflammatory response that does not
turn itself off upsets the balance in
our body. Through the modified MeDi, our goal is to limit systemic inflammation by calming inflammation
signals. One particular Medical Food
we prescribe employs selective kinase
response modulation to calm inflammation systemically which has a positive impact on supporting proper tear
film layers as well as the whole system.
Combined with the MeDi, currently
the most effective treatment for DES
we’ve used is a combination of
Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, a
blend of A, D, E, C and the cofactors
B6, Biotin, magnesium and zinc.
Getting the materials to the “jobsite”
is only half the picture. Transporting
them to their optimal location is the
rest of the goal. Adding digestive enzymes assures proper digestion and
assimilation.
Gender bias and DES:
In a March 2007 study out of Bologna, Italy researchers determined that
“subjective symptoms, tear production and stability, surface dryness
and inflammation were significantly
related to hormonal fluctuations in
the menstrual cycle in perimenopausal women. In particular, the impairment of these functions appeared
to be related to the estrogen peak occurring during the follicular phase,
especially in patients with dry eye.”
Hormone balancing is an often overlooked aspect of repletion. Both peri
and post menopausal women report
an increased incidence of dry eye. Recall that there are hormone receptors
in the lacrimal glands which respond
to support. We also know that DES is
correlated with hormone replacement
therapy (HRT) use in postmenopausal women. Now that synthetic
HRT has fallen out of favor, we can
impact dry eye by aiming to regulate
estrogen, progesterone, DHEA and
testosterone naturally. I would encourage everyone to read Douglas
Hall, M.D’s. excellent article entitled
Nutritional Influences on Estrogen
Metabolism: A Summary to master
this important and often overlooked
aspect of repletion. It is available on
my website www.nutritionalvisions.com.
The concept of macro and micro nutrient deficiency secondary to systemic disease and its impact on
DES is fascinating to consider. DES
can accompany systemic diseases like
diabetes and RA. DES is acerbated by
prescription and OTC drugs and can
also emerge as the result of multiple
micronutrient deficiencies that occur
as a result of their use. The resulting
deficiencies can manifest as ocular
disease, visual dysfunction or ocular
conditions such as DES.
Those with diabetes have a higher
incidence of DES and are a great example of being aware that certain dis-
ease states will require repletion over
and above a healthy population. Diabetics typically have about 30% less
circulating Vitamin C than non diabetic individuals and less magnesium
as well. They are already experiencing greater oxidative stress due to the
disease process, and are compromised in vitamins and minerals unless they are supplementing or
consistently eating exceptionally
well.
Again, we see the effect of deficiencies or a “cascade effect” associated
with systemic disease (one disease
leading to another disease, condition
or syndrome); an Indian study reported in 2006, Ophthalmic Epidemiology finds “Patients with RA in the
Indian population have a significantly higher prevalence and severity
of dry eye when compared to ageand sex-matched controls.” We can
assume these findings would cross
ethnic boundaries. If we are in a proinflammatory state, we may develop
other conditions.
Studies reporting on nutrition and
supplementation impact on DES are
encouraging and growing in number.
One 2006 study found that flax
seed oil worked to reduce DES
equally as well as the oral anti-inflammatory drug Doxycycline prescribed for severe dry eye. Colin C.K.
Chan. MD speculated in the publication that the reason may be due to its
anti-inflammatory, lipid modifying
properties. He presented his ideas at
the annual meeting of the American
Society of Cataract and Refractive
Surgery; mainstream exposure to nutritional therapies is occurring with
more acceptance.
Often correcting existing imbalances between Omega 3 and Omega 6
from animal fat or vegetable oils will
alleviate dry eye. Typically, GLA
should be taken in an equal ratio to
Continued on page... 14
13
The NTP’s Guide to Supporting Dry Eye Syndrome (cont)
Continued from page... 13
EPA-DHA, in a background of flax
oil. Studies report that Omega 3 and
Omega 6 fatty acids in combination
results in increased PGE1 which both
stimulates aqueous tear secretion and
reduces the production of PGE2
which acts as an inflammatory agent.
(Wu D, Maydani M, Leka L., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition)
K.A.Trivedi and colleagues at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA
report, “Women with higher dietary
intake of Omega 3 fatty acid were at
decreased risk of developing DES”.
An interesting study appeared in
the March 2008 issue of Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008 that has the potential to augment dry eye therapy in
RA patients. Results concluded that a
“gluten-free vegan diet in RA induces
changes that are potentially atheroprotective and anti-inflammatory, including decreased LDL and oxLDL
levels and raised anti-PC IgM and
IgA levels.”
“The anti-inflammatory properties
of the fatty acid GLA have long been
known. Recent studies report that
oral administration of GLA and LA
leads to a significant increase in tear
concentrations of anti-inflammatory
prostaglandin E1 and reduces the
symptoms of dry eye. The aim of this
study was to evaluate the effects of
GLA and LA on tear production, tear
fluorescein clearance, dry eye symptoms, and the ocular surface after
PRK .
The researchers concluded that oral
precursors of prostaglandin E1, GLA
and LA, could be helpful in increasing tear production and clearance after PRK”. Arch Opthal 2002 (PRK is a
surgical procedure for the correction
of vision, much like Lasik)
We have much at our disposal today
in the form of research, healthy dietary options and supplements that
can resolve even tough issues like
Dry Eye Syndrome.
For information on product lines we
have found effective for treating and
supporting DES, email
[email protected]
If you would like a copy of the nationwide teleseminar we did December 2007 on Nutritional Solutions for
Eye Care, particularly ones that are
untreatable with drugs or surgery
like macular degeneration, please
send a request and $5 (to cover shipping and the $1 CD charge) to Medical Vision Center and Nutritional
Visions Natural Health Center, P.O.
Box AC, Morton, WA 98356.
MEDICAL
CENTER & NUTRITIONAL VISIONS
& NATURAL HEALTH CENTER
Donald A. Carroll, O.D., NTP
Optometric Physician
Kat Carroll, NTP, CPO
Functional Medicine Approach
for Ocular Health
Retinal Thickness Analyzer for Early Detection and
Management of Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration,
Diabetic Retinopathy & Macular Edema
Option of Natural Therapies for Most Eye Conditions
Cataract and Lasik Surgery Co-Management
Dry Eye Detection & Natural Treatment Options
Designer Eyewear & Maui Jim Sunwear
Contact Lenses- All Designs Phone consults available
Unlock Vibrant Well-being, Longevity,
& Radiant Beauty
Modified Mediterranean Diet & Medical Foods
Education & Cooking
Anti-Aging and Life Extension Therapies
Total Body Detoxification Therapies:
Far Infrared & Turkish Steam Saunas
Support for IBS, Crohn’s, Dysbiosis, GERD, Candida
Natural Hormone Therapies, Detox, & Balancing
100% Natural, Chirally Correct Skincare from Inside Out
Nutritional Therapy for Eye Diseases & Conditions
Register at www.nutritionalvisions.com for free e-newsletter & research library
Coaching & Consulting Packages available by phone or e-mail [email protected]
~ ask for Nutritional Therapy for Eyes CD info!
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-3pm Office email: [email protected]
240 West Main Street/ P.O. Box AC, Morton WA 98356 (360) 496-5140
Fax: (360) 496-6039
14
Sea Vegetables – The Traditional Mineral Supplement
by Bob Quinn, L.Ac., DAOM
In the 1930’s and 40’s a brilliant
nutritional pioneer, Dr. Weston Price,
visited diverse native groups around
the globe to try to find the common
dietary thread connecting their diets—
diets that were supporting
populations that enjoyed a level of
health we in the modern day can only
dream about. Price, a Cleveland area
dentist, had launched his project out
of concern for the rapidly
deteriorating health of his patients,
particularly the young. The insights
in his book, Diet and Physical
Degeneration, are far-ranging and
deserve a thorough reading. In this
article I look at his work on minerals,
but it should be noted that his
investigations turned up other
important common factors in these
diets that are beyond the scope of our
discussion here.
Price discovered upon analysis of the
foods consumed by these native
groups that they were found to
contain at least four times and up to
ten times the macro-mineral content of
the standard diet of the day in
America. Linger there for a moment
with that number. What kind of house
can you build if you have only a
quarter of the necessary materials?
Remember this was in the 1930’s and
40s, and the soils in which our food is
grown have since then been further
depleted of their minerals, and we
have grown used to the consumption
of highly processed foods. The very
processing that makes foods fast and
convenient to prepare devitalizes
them and reduces their mineral
content. We are in sad shape in North
America if these native diets are taken
as a measure of what is needed to
sustain health, but I believe that to be
the unfortunate truth of the matter.
If Dr. Price had known to analyze
the trace mineral levels, I suspect he
would have found a similar story.
Only in relatively recent years has
information about the key role of
trace elements come into focus in the
scientific community. Despite the
exceedingly small amounts of these
elements that our bodies require,
they are nonetheless crucial for
health. Many serve as key catalysts
in essential processes in our bodies.
When we deplete these trace
elements in our soil, the plants
growing there are weaker and
susceptible to disease. It is no
different in our bodies.
For those who, upon hearing this, try
to find solace in the fact that they eat
organically grown foods, I have bad
news. According to the USDA charts
found in Paul Bergner’s The Healing
Power of Minerals, commercially
grown foods in the 1960s had a
significantly higher mineral content
compared to organic produce of the
early 1990s. And both pale in
comparison to the mineral content of
foods from the 1930s. Not a pretty
picture. Clearly, simply resorting to
an all-organic diet is not going to
provide minerals in sufficient
quantities to match the native diets
that Dr. Price researched.
If insufficient minerals are in the soil,
where can we go to find adequate
amounts for our health
maintenance? Dr. Price noted the
great efforts natives in the Andes
Mountains made to obtain seaweed
and other treasures of the sea, a sea
that was two hundred miles away.
The second group he visited lived on
small islands off the coast of
Scotland, and their diet was built
around oats, cod, and other seafoods,
including sea vegetables. What was it
that these native groups recognized
in these foods? In a word: Minerals
(They have other valuable qualities as
well, but it is beyond the scope of this
article to explore them.). The most
nutritious land plants grown in the
very best soil are all quite mineraldeficient if we use sea vegetables as
the standard. All the commonly
consumed sea vegetables are virtual
treasure troves of mineral nutrition.
It is worthy of at least a brief mention
here that Dr. Price observed
significant damage from the inclusion
of even small amounts of modern
foods, what he called the displacing
foods of modern commerce, in the native
diets he studied. If even slightly less
than a fifth of the food came from
modern sources (he was referring to
commercial oils, white flour, white
sugar), the children born to those
people would have diminished
health evidenced as crowded teeth,
narrower faces, cavities, less energy
and so on. He took nearly 20,000
pictures on his journeys and the
difference between the children on a
pure native diet and those with
partial inclusion of modern foods is
clear for anyone to see. So, it is
important not only to include sea
vegetables in the diet, but to also
eliminate, or at least to severely limit,
Continued on page 16...
15
Sea Vegetables – The Traditional Mineral Supplement (cont)
Continued from page... 15
the consumption of these displacing
foods of modern commerce.
The Japanese have the only modern
diet that has retained a significant
role for seaweed in its cuisine.
Statistics tell us that they are doing
something right—the Japanese live
longer than any other modern
people, and this despite a highly
stressful work life that undoubtedly
has negative health consequences.
Some researchers have speculated
that it is perhaps the greater soy
consumption in Japan that explains
their longevity, but a serious look at
Price’s work leads one to suspect it is
more likely the added minerals and
other nutritional factors in the
seaweed and other seafoods.
How much seaweed should one
consume? According to Dr. Ryan
Drum, a noted seaweed expert in the
Western herbal community, a good
ballpark number is 3-5 grams per day
of dried seaweed. This is roughly a
kilogram per year per person. Eating
a variety of seaweeds is the ideal.
However, if one is not accustomed to
having sea vegetables in the diet, it is
advised to start with just a gram a
day for a time before slowly
increasing it. With its high iodine
content sea vegetables generally have
a positive impact on thyroid function,
but it is best to proceed with caution.
If negative changes are noted, the
seaweed consumption should be
discontinued.
Because of the epidemic of
hypothyroidism in modern life,
particularly among middle-aged
women, I thought I might mention
one brown algae, Fucus vesiculosus
(common name: bladderwrack),
known to have a positive impact on
the thyroid. This seaweed grows
16
abundantly throughout the temperate
zones and can be easily harvested off
the rocks where it attaches itself. It is
easily identified through its small,
heart-shaped bladders. These
bladders contain a mucilaginous
substance that is high in essential
fatty acids. Although it would be a
terrible diet, humans can exist for a
long time on nothing but dried Fucus
and water. Fucus contains a
compound called DIT
(diiotothyronine) that our bodies can
use to easily construct a T4 molecule;
no other sea vegetable is known to
contain this substance. Unfortunately,
bladderwrack is not especially tasty,
even for die-hard seaweed fans, so
that taking it in capsules becomes the
recommended route for hypothyroid
patients. A number of companies
produce Fucus capsules and most
natural food stores carry them. I
generally start people at 1 gram per
day of the dried bladderwrack and
move it slowly up to 3 grams per day.
If someone has been on thyroid
hormone medication for a long time,
you will not likely wean them off, but
if you do, they will require daily use
of Fucus just as they do their
medicine. As with any supplement or
special food, if there are adverse
reactions, the patient should be
advised to discontinue use
immediately. It is a food and very
safe, but idiosyncratic reactions are
always possible.
When harvesting one’s own seaweed,
a practice I highly recommend, a few
key pointers are worth mentioning:
First, find out if there is a nearby
municipal sewage outfall or septic
system. Seaweeds are like thirsty
sponges for any ambient minerals
that pass by their neighborhood, and
whether or not the substances picked
up are healthy for humans is not a
concern of theirs. Be clear: People
have died from eating contaminated
sea vegetables. Second, do not
harvest plants washed up on a sandy
beach; it is far better to harvest from
the rocks at water’s edge. It is
impossible to remove all the sand
that the mucilaginous coating on the
seaweed will pick up from the beach.
A certain broken tooth awaits any
who avoid this warning. Third, do
not rinse your harvest in fresh water;
seawater rinsing is better. Fourth, dry
the seaweed as soon after harvest as
possible and then seal it in moistureproof containers. Fifth, never put
your harvest in plastic trash bags.
These bags are coated with a toxic
chemical that ensures anything put in
them will become de facto rubbish.
Instead, use plastic produce bags
from the supermarket or a food-grade
plastic bucket.
For many modern people including
seaweed in the diet is an unpalatable
option. They should be reminded that
tastes do change and encouraged to
start with just a small amount; some
sea vegetables have a stronger taste
than others. For those who are
hopelessly fussy about their food, the
option of using powdered seaweed in
capsules should be explored. Toasted
nori is usually an easy stretch for the
typical North American palate. Many
Americans have an easy time starting
with dulse (Palmaria palmata), a red
algae with a mild and quite agreeable
flavor. (Irish cattle and horses have
been observed eating dulse from the
rocks on beaches.) It does not need to
be cooked and is easily cut with
scissors into salads.
A brief personal story about dulse
might be of interest here. In 1977 I
hitchhiked around Ireland for a
month while on semester break from
university in Germany. In one tiny
Irish coastal community I observed
children on their bicycles going into a
corner grocery and emerging with
little paper sacks filled with paperthin maroonish-purple strips that
they greedily pushed into their
mouths. I wandered into the store to
see what they were eating, imagining
I would find a homegrown type of
candy. Instead I discovered they were
eating dulse. I was astounded that
nutritious seaweed had replaced
candy for these children. The bags
were selling for five pence, so I
bought one and thus started my love
affair with this delicious sea
vegetable. As it turns out elderly men
in this community harvested and
dried the dulse and sold it as a way
of making a little money.
My final word is to not
underestimate what improvements in
health are possible for your patients if
you help them increase their intake of
minerals by eating sea vegetables
regularly. Practitioners should realize
though that the health benefits from
seaweed consumption do not show
up overnight. We need to counsel our
clients to have patience as their
bodies learn to utilize the added
nutrition. It will be worth the wait.
Bob Quinn practices meridian therapy,
herbal medicine, Sotai, and Thai massage
in Portland, OR and supervises in the
clinic of the Oregon College of Oriental
Medicine.
In Memoriam
Dr. George Goodhart passed away at his home on March 5th, 2008 at the age of 89. Early in his career as a
Chiropractor Dr. Goodhart discovered the relationship between muscle function and health which eventually
lead to a unique testing method referred to as Applied Kinesiology (AK) on which the College of Applied
Kinesiology (ICAK) was founded. Dr. Goodhart’s dedication to holistic health and wellness was recognized by
his Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 by Standard Process.
NTA
In
the
Alumni
Greater
Seattle
area
Interested in connecting
with other NTP’s?
Contact
Carol
Johnson
at
[email protected] Or
Birgitte Antonsen at
[email protected]
Networking
Sharing
Teaching
Learning
Fun
We will facilitate getting
together and are interested in your
ideas to build an active
Alumni group in our area.
Limited Supply
Balancing Body Chemistry with Nutrition
Software & Manual
Dr. Harry Eidenier, PhD, is widely considered the Grandfather
of Blood Chemistry and a pioneer in his field for establishing
the Functional ranges for blood work. His software allows the
practitioner to enter blood chemistry data and generate reports
detailing a protocol. Dr. Eidenier’s software and reference
materials are important tools for any practitioner.
$275
NTA
We at NTA would like to thank all of our
contributing authors and advertisers. Thank
you for taking the time and effort to help
inform, educate, inspire and delight all of us in
the NTA community.
NTA is pleased to announce our new Referral Reward Program
exclusively for NTPs with current NTA member status.
As of January 2008, NTPs who refer new students to the
Nutritional Therapist Training Program will receive a $100 cash
award for each student who enrolls based on their referral.
If you would like to submit a Book Review,
Article or Favorite Recipe, please contact the
NTA office at (800) 918-9798. Ad space is also
available, please call for rates.
17
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the 1st Annual NTA Conference!
There were so many excellent speakers to choose from and I came away with lots of valuable information as well as new
ideas for my own personal growth! It was wonderful to meet the NTA staff and make connections with more of my
fellow NTPs and other nutrition-minded practitioners. I could really feel the strength of our growing community and the
power in our numbers. We really are changing the world one person at a time, and together, we are quite a force.
The banquet and entertainment on Saturday night was an absolute blast and the band was so much fun to dance to! The
vendors were very educational and it was fun to see the how those, who were graduates, have utilized their nutrition
careers.
Thanks again for all your hard work in providing this wonderful event! I will definitely be there again next year.
Bev Hartsfield, NTP, Portland, OR
Julia Ross, MA, MFT-Carbohydrate Addition
(w/ Conference Welcome by Gray Graham, NTP)
Jerry Brunetti-Sustainable Agriculture
Jerry Brunetti-Food as Medicine
Dr. Daniel Chong-The Truth About Cholesterol
Dr. Paul Varnas-Nutritional Counseling: Going Beyond Clinical Results
Julia Ross, MA, MFT-Amino Acid Therapy: Issues in Assessment & Treatment
Bob Quinn, L.Ac, DAOM-Sea Vegetables: The Real Mineral Supplements
Colleen Dunseth, CCHT, NTP-Hormones: The Beauty & Tragedy. A Nutritional Primer
*NTA members receive a 10% discount on DVDs. Please note that shipping and handling charges do apply.
18
“The sessions were extremely informative. I found that I attended talks on
topics that were new to me…fascinating. I learned ways to replenish the
soil in my garden, learned some new perspectives on hormones and
absolutely loved everything that Jerry Brunetti had to offer. He was
GRAND! I also loved the relaxation station. That was a brilliant idea. The
entire conference was time and money well spent – a great value.”
Melissa Stambaugh, NTP
Certified Healing Foods SpecialistTM (CHFS)
2008 Training Program - Maine & California
Become an expert at preparing Cultured and Whole Foods Cuisine with hands-on training.
Start a Healing Foods cottage industry in your area - support local farms and create jobs!
Begin a new career in the Healing Arts as a CHFS, Master CHFS, and future CHFS instructor!
Educate and train others through lectures, workshops, demos and tastings.
Discover better health for you, your family and your clients through therapeutic nutrition.
Based on teachings of Weston A. Price, DDS, Dr. Elson Haas,
Dr. Ann Wigmore and Dr. Francis Pottenger, Jr.
www.immunitrition.com
Sign up today!
877-773-9229
EFA-Sirt Supreme™
supplies a unique, highly concentrated essential fatty acid
blend, providing a extremely effective relative combination of EPA, DHA and GLA, with all natural mixed
tocopherols, specially formulated to be high in g(gamma)-Tocopherol.
Why do your patients need EFA-Sirt Supreme™?
The unique composition of EFA-Sirt Supreme™ provides a balance of key nutrients that current research
has shown to support healthy cardiovascular function.
A large amount of supportive scientific research shows that the consumption of Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Omega-3 fatty acids (FA) have been shown to affect platelet aggregation, blood viscosity, plasma levels of fibrinogen, PF4
and beta-thromboglobulin and capillary flow. These effects are believed to be functions of membrane fluidity. Omega-3
fatty acids support healthy blood lipid profiles, normal healthy blood pressure, stimulate Nitric Oxide (NO) and support
healthy, normal blood sugar and insulin levels. Omega-3 fatty acids help to suppress ACE, TGA beta, SREBP and function as
PPAR agonists. Additionally, Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation increases FA oxidation, which research suggests helps to
decrease adipose tissue and serves to improve endothelial function.
Call Biotics Research NW, Inc. for additional information at:
800-636-6913 or visit www.bioticsnw.com
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
19
Schedule of Events*
Keep checking our website for updated information
throughout the summer!!
12:00pm-6:30pm
8:00pm-9:30pm
Saturday:
Opening Ceremony
Keynote 1 & 2
Breakout Session 1
Breakout Session 2
Banquet
9:00am-9:30am
9:45am-1:00pm
2:30pm-3:45pm
4:00pm-5:15pm
6:30pm
Sunday:
Keynote 1 & 2
9:00am-12:30pm
Keynote 3
2:00pm-3:30pm
Closing Ceremony
3:45pm-4:30pm
*Schedule subject to change.
PO Box 354
Olympia, WA 98507
(800) 918-9798
www.nutritionaltherapy.com
The Conference will open Friday afternoon with an
intensive keynote address as well as a screening of a
relevant film. Speakers will present on various topics
surrounding nutrition and mental health.
Friday:
Keynote Part 1 & 2
Movie
ew! Ele
ctron
Email
i
c
P
D
F versi
nta@n
on
utri
to
t
h
e
o
nline N tionaltherap of the News
le tte
y.co
u tr
i
t
i
o
n
a
l Thera m to subscri r available.
p
i
s
t
n
ewslet be
te r.
N
NTA
20