Test Your Well Water!

Well Water: Safe or Unsafe?

People are very proud of their well water.  When you hear someone say, "we're on well water", the pride and maybe slight pity for people on city water is evident in their facial expression and the lack of need to say more.  I almost never hear people go on about their water--about test results, about the way it tastes. Just simply "We're on well water," with a smile, as if that answers all my questions about their health.

Over the years, I have asked people to test their well water because they were having unanswerable health problems.  The tests revealed elevated levels of arsenic, sulphur, iron, aluminum, copper, and lead.  These can all lead to health problems. Arsenic can cause eczema and cancer, sulphur can cause skin irritation and rectal itching, iron can accumulate in the liver causing multiple deleterious effects including liver failure, aluminum is associated with Alzheimers and other neurological issues, copper causes neurological issues and displaces zinc, lead can cause low IQ in children, other neurodevelopmental problems, stunted growth, fatigue and brain fog.

One patient came to me with many neurological symptoms and exhaustion.  Although her diagnoses were many, one of them was lyme disease.  They live on acreage and she sees ticks around all the time.  She went to a lyme specialist for 3 years with little positive effect on her symptoms.  She returned to our clinic to deal with other diagnoses, as the lyme treatments had been exhausted.  During the three years she had been gone, she had been experiencing serious brain fog and muscle contractions which almost seemed seizure like at night in bed. Her arms would contract up and her hands would go into fists while her legs had charley horses and her face contorted into twitches and grimaces.  When she came back to me, I asked her to get her well water checked.  She didn't want to because she thought the well water had not changed since they had it tested 4 years prior.  I asked her to send me the old results but advised on getting new ones.

The results astounded me.  The well was contaminated with three metals.  Aluminum and lead were in the elevated range and copper was above the EPA critical amount.  There was even a warning with an exclamation point on the test result showing that the copper level was unacceptable for human consumption.  Yet she had been drinking this water the entire four years since the test and for many years before that! The only time she had felt better during her lyme treatment was when she moved to Seattle to do 3 months of hyperbaric oxygen treatments.  Obviously, she was not drinking her well water during this time. Copper toxicity causes brain fog, muscle cramps, facial twitches and grimaces and seizure like contractions of the upper limbs specifically with the thumbs contracted in and hands clenched in a fist.  Clearly lyme disease was not the only source of her neurological problems.

Even if you do not use chemicals on your land, the heavy metals could be in your aquifer from a prior resident, nearby manufacturing plant, or a close neighboring farm.

Here is how contaminants get into your well water.  The above picture is only showing a few sources of contamination on the average farm.  Bacteria and pharmaceuticals can come from septic, bacteria from livestock, diesel fuel used to leak lead but now still can leak sulphur into the water table. Because of environmental laws, lead was removed in 1995. Diesel fuel still has elevated sulphur which new laws have been enacted to reduce.

In addition, fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides can make it in to the water table and therefore the private well.  Copper is used as a fungicide on many crops including grains, apples, peaches, blueberries, raspberries and many others. It also reduces algae formation, so it is used directly on standing water sources such as ponds.  However, household water copper contamination usually comes from deteriorating copper pipes.  Any home that has copper piping throughout can have copper contamination in the water, especially if the pH of the water is acidic (below pH of 7).  In fact, this patient's water was very acidic at 5.4 pH.  The water test had that noted as well.  I do not know where the water was drawn from for the water test. If it was drawn from the indoor taps, the copper could be coming from pipes. If it was drawn directly from the well, then the patient's copper consumption can be much higher than the well water test suggests, if they have copper piping.

Normally, the required tests for well water only check for bacteria.  Many times you have to ask for your well water to be checked for minerals and heavy metals or you will never know your well is contaminated. Most counties offer an extended water test panel for an additional $100-$200 above the normal bacteria count test.  It is definitely worth it. Test your well water!

Best Gluten Free Oat Waffle recipe

Last night at Chucks Produce an enticing aroma filled the education kitchen and drifted through the cracks in the doorway, into the produce section and met the stacks of red ripe local strawberries:  Fresh baked waffles!  The lucky few who came (as well as a few who came for the class that met right after) got to have hot waffles with ripe local strawberries and homemade whipped cream. Best of all--the waffles were gluten free!

I love this waffles recipe because it is simple: no tapioca flour, no xanthan gum, no potato starch.  Just oat flour. I like oats because they are high in fiber, high in silica (feeds the bones, hair, skin and nails), and it's easy on the GI tract.  These waffles taste great--most people like them better than regular waffles!

To get a truly authentic waffle texture (not grainy, fluffy) use Bob's Red Mill oat flour and buttermilk.  Bob's Red Mill oat flour is finely ground.  HOWEVER, the Bob's oat flour is NOT guaranteed gluten free. It is made from regular oats in the regular facility.  To make completely gluten free oat flour, simply get the Bob's Red Mill gluten free oats and grind them in a coffee grinder set to the espresso or fine setting. The result will not be as fine as the factory ground oats, but in the waffle recipe, it does not matter.  If you have a Vitamix, you will be able to make a more finely ground flour.

We used almond milk in case there was someone present who could not have dairy. Of course, the whipped cream is dairy, but you could substitute Cool Whip if desired (even though it's not a healthy substitution). In addition the recipe uses honey or maple syrup rather than sugar and coconut oil rather than vegetable oil.  This recipe is a healthy option for breakfast or dessert.  Keep this on hand for a quick dessert when berries are in season.  It only takes about 10 minutes to make a batch of waffles!

Oat Waffle recipe

Preheat waffle iron

1 1/2 cups oat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder (aluminum free is recommended)
1/8 tsp salt
3 heaping tablespoons ground flax seeds (this is optional, but gives more fiber and essential fatty acids to the recipe)

Mix the above dry ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl. Then add:

1 cup milk (buttermilk or almond milk or other milk substitute)
2 eggs
2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
2 tablespoons honey or real maple syrup

Mix batter until well incorporated. Don't worry about overmixing. It doesn't matter in a waffle recipe.  Pour into waffle iron (don't overfill).  Wait until steam has subsided, that is when waffles are done.

Top with freshly sliced ripe strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and top with whipped cream.  Yum!

Easy Vegan Gluten free Main dishes

I taught a class last night at Chuck's Produce on easy vegan main dishes.  I didn't have the recipes printed out, so they are written below.  These dishes are made from items that you can keep on your shelf for a quick easy meal anytime.  I made quinoa as a side dish, but you can make rice or potatoes if desired.

Quinoa: cook similar to rice.  I like to make it with vegetable or chicken broth instead of water.  I put about 1, 3/4 stock to 1 cup quinoa.  Most quinoa is pre-rinsed but if it isn't, rinse the quinoa first. This removes the bitter saponins.  Heat on high until it simmers, then turn down to low and cover until all the liquid is absorbed into the quinoa.  Usually it will cook about as quickly as white rice.

Garbanzo beans and arugula:

1 can of garbanzo beans
1/2 yellow or white onion, chopped
Cumin: whole or ground 1/4-1/2 tsp depending on your taste
Coriander: whole or ground 1/8-1/4 tsp depending on your taste
Curry: 1/4 to 1/2 tsp
3 cups of fresh arugula (you can also use spinach or a blend of the two)
olive oil: about 1 tablespoons

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and add onions. When onions just start to get soft, add all the spices.  You can adjust the spices to your liking.  When onions are soft and spices have warmed, add the garbanzo beans (make sure you have drained them first).  Saute, stirring often until beans are warmed through. Turn off heat and toss the arugula on top of the beans and put a lid on the pan. Leave until argula is somewhat wilted.  Serve over quinoa or rice.  Feeds 3 to 4 people.


White beans

1 can of white beans, drained
1/2 yellow or white onion finely chopped
1 carrot finely chopped
2 stalks of celery finely chopped
1-2 garlic cloves finely chopped
vegetable stock
olive oil
Herbs de Provence or thyme
juice of 1/2 lemon

Heat skillet to medium and add olive oil.  Add onions, carrots, celery and sautee until soft. Add beans, garlic and 1/3 cup stock. simmer until beans are warm. Serve with GF bread, GF pasta, or quinoa and a side salad.

Thanks to everyone who came and made the evening friendly and fun!

Oxalic acid--What is it and how does it affect your health?

Oxalic acid is a crystalline organic substance found naturally in many plants and foods.  The oxalic acid and the oxalate crystals that it forms can irritate the tissues of the body or even form stones. Here are some organs that can be affected by oxalates:

kidneys:  kidney stones can form from oxalates and are called oxalate stones.  This typically occurs in people who are eating foods high in oxalates and not drinking enough water.

bladder: intestitial cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) can be caused by oxalates/oxalic acid.  The symptoms are similar to a bladder infection (urgent need to urinate, urinating often, bladder or pelvic pain) but without the presence of bacteria in the urine.

lungs: low lung function and even asthmatic type symptoms can be attributed to oxalic acid.  it was found that levels of oxalic acid is often high in the bronchi of people with certain pulmonary conditions
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4051310

What food are high in oxalates?

Spinach: if you steam or otherwise cook spinach and other greens, the oxalic acid dissolves and does not create problems. The trouble happens when people are eating alot of raw spinach, other raw greens.  This can especially happen when people put fresh greens in their smoothies or drink juiced greens.  I do not recommend doing green smoothies. Many of my patients who do these end up being sensitive to oxalates--especially children.  An adult friend of mine did get oxalate kidney stones. He ate spinach salad every dinner and did not drink any water--he preferred soda and beer.  If he had drank alot of water, he may have avoided the stones.

Beet greens  (remember to cook them)
Collard greens (cooking them breaks down the oxalic acid)
Parsley
Chives
Cassava
Amaranth
Radish
Carrots
Beans, dried
Rhubarb
Wheat bran
Strawberries
Almonds (some sources state)
sesame (some sources state)


Remember, these foods are not dangerous, but they do contain high levels of oxalic acid. If not cooked or if consumed in large quantities, the crystals could cause trouble in the body.  A study was done to determine the effect of cooking on removing oxalates from food:

J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Apr 20;53(8):3027-30.

Effect of different cooking methods on vegetable oxalate content.

Chai W, Liebman M.

Source

Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (Nutrition), Department 3354, University of Wyoming, 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA.

Abstract

Approximately 75% of all kidney stones are composed primarily of calcium oxalate, and hyperoxaluria is a primary risk factor for this disorder. Nine types of raw and cooked vegetables were analyzed for oxalate using an enzymatic method. There was a high proportion of water-soluble oxalate in most of the tested raw vegetables. Boiling markedly reduced soluble oxalate content by 30-87% and was more effective than steaming (5-53%) and baking (used only for potatoes, no oxalate loss). An assessment of the oxalate content of cooking water used for boiling and steaming revealed an approximately 100% recovery of oxalate losses. The losses of insoluble oxalate during cooking varied greatly, ranging from 0 to 74%. Because soluble sources of oxalate appear to be better absorbed than insoluble sources, employing cooking methods that significantly reduce soluble oxalate may be an effective strategy for decreasing oxaluria in individuals predisposed to the development of kidney stones.

Other sources of oxalates:

Bacteria: bacteria produce oxalic acid when digesting carbohydrates.  This could be one of the factors contributing to IBS.  Most people with IBS do better on a low carb diet.  Could they be sensitive to oxalic acid?

Aspgergillus (pictured above): this is a fungus that can wreak havoc on the respiratory system.  Many people get chronic sinusitis, bronchitis, or asthma from overexposure to aspergillus.  Aspergillus creates oxalic acid.  High amounts of oxalic acid were found in the bronchiol lavages of people with aspergillosus lung infections.

Here in our office, allergy to oxalic acid sometimes comes up in muscle testing.  Oxalic acid sensitivity cannot be tested by blood allergy tests.  I have had several patients with interstitial cystitis show as sensitive to oxalic acid. Children who test sensitive have been given green smoothies--homemade smoothies with raw kale and spinach in them.

So remember, cook spinach and tough greens before eating them.  If you insist on eating them raw, drink lots of water daily.

If you would like to get tested for sensitivities, call the office at 360-573-2273

Of Mice and Mold

Mice...cute furry little creatures.

Aspergillus...a tiny white mold that happens to grow on compost piles and decaying leaves.

What do these two items have in common?  

1.  When they invade homes in large numbers, they can expose people to respiratory problems such as asthma, pneumonia, sinusitis, and even cause death.  

2.  Both are more prevalent in rainy weather, now upon us in the northwest.

Many people don't know they have either of these inhabitants in their home.  Mice can hide in walls and scurry around at night while people are sleeping for years before anyone sees a mouse or mouse dropping. One night I was up at midnight, sitting in our living room when I saw something scurry from under the couch to under the TV cabinet.  We left mouse traps out every night after that and caught (and killed) 1-2 mice a night for two weeks straight.  We did have a cat at the time who simply watched the mice scurry past.  After looking for entry points, we found that the mice generally lived in warm places--the wall behind the stove (where they had chewed a hole) and the walls surrounding the heater (where we found more holes).

Telltale signs of a mouse infestation are scratching in the walls, dark rice sized feces here and there, and chewed holes in interior walls and at the base of siding on exterior walls.  Mice are especially attracted to cat food left out, bird seed, and other unsecured food items.  They can also be drawn to homes during wet weather simply to get out of the rain.  

What is the problem with having mice other than they are icky when uninvited?  They can cause serious illness.  Read the article in the link below:

http://www.aanma.org/2009/05/a-cautionary-tail/

I have a patient right now that has had such severe allergic reactions, she has had to be on high doses of prednisone for months.  She is worse at home.  She revealed that they have had a huge mouse problem in the past.  According to the above article, even if live mice have been killed, their feces, urine and decaying bodies can create allergic reactions that are life threatening.

How about mold?  Did you know that mycotoxins from mold can pass through dry wall and cause allergic reactions and respiratory disease even when you can't see the mold?  For anyone dealing with chronic asthma, allergies, or pneumonia, you need to have your house checked for mold.  If you already know of a place where mold tends to accumulate (such as your bathroom ceiling) you need to rip out that drywall and do a full renovation including having a plumber check for leaks.  Don't think you can just keep wiping the mold away.  Cleaning mold covered areas with bleach only lets the mold release more mycotoxins!  Read the article below about an unfortunately fatal case of inhaled mold.

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2008/jun/13/medicalresearch

As you can see, it is easy to be exposed to mold.  Being vigilant outdoors is as important as indoors.  If you have a compost or are raking up a pile of soaking decaying leaves, be careful not to breath in any clouds of dust that are released.  Tell your children to avoid the white mold spores if they are doing leaf raking as a chore.

If you decide to do a renovation, get a mold remediation specialist to do the job. check out the gear they have to wear when dealing with mold:

And you've been living in the house without all this protection!

For more info on aspergillus, go to the link below

http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/

I don't mean to scare you, but I do want you to consider your home environment.  If your home has either of these infestations, no amount of drugs or natural treatment options will help you get over all of the symptoms caused by living in a house that is infested.  Although mice can be cute and aspergillus can look pretty under a microscope, they should not be welcome guests in your home!

Poison Oak, Wonderful Poison Ivy

Poison ivy, poison oak, Rhus toxicodendron.  I love them.  Why? Because they make such a wonderful medicine!  I hope they never becomes eradicated because then we would lose a very useful tool in treating back pain, joint pain, arrhythmia, restless legs and anxiety. Although these plants Toxicodendron pubenscens and toxicondendron diversilobum are no longer officially placed in the Rhus genus, we still call the homeopathic medicine made from them "Rhus toxicodendron".

Case 1: 35yo male came into the clinic for chronic back pain.  He had had this pain since his late teens and had been using chiropractic to treat it. He needed adjustments at least twice a month.  X-rays and MRI imaging done in his twenties and then repeated recently showed no physical pathology.  The patient was also otherwise very healthy, very fit, and ate plenty of organic meat and vegetables with very little sugar or processed foods in the diet.

I asked what made the pain better and what made it worse. It was worse when he was just sitting around and really worse in the morning when he tried to get out of bed.  When laying in bed, he would toss and turn due to being uncomfortable.  After he walked around, he felt better and generally felt fine when he was active.  Sometimes he put a hot pack on it.  Also he had restless legs at night. As soon as he put his feet up to watch TV in the evenings, his legs would get restless.

Classic Rhus tox!  I wanted to ask him if he had ever had poison oak. I knew he was a hunter, so it was likely.  I also wanted to ask if he liked cold milk, a small but interesting detail in people who need Rhus tox.  i didn't ask these questions because I didn't want to lead his answers.  I told him that the treatment would be simple--homeopathic poison oak.

"Oh, I'm deathly allergic to poison oak!" he said. "I get it at least once a year and end up in the hospital sometimes.  I had to take steroids to make it go away on a couple of occasions.  Even when I put my hunting gear back on months after using it, the gear will give me poison oak again."

Ah-ha! So he had had poison oak and had suppressed it with steroids.  When skin symptoms are suppressed, we see the pathology be driven inward.  We see this in kids when their eczema is suppressed with cortisone cream--they get asthma.  With poison oak, you can get back and joint pain, and restlessness.

"Aren't you going to check food allergies or other things?" he asked.  He had heard that when you go to a naturopath, this is what would happen.  I told him I didn't think he had any food allergies but I would check them if he wanted.

"Oh, he'll kill you if you take away his milk!" his wife stated. Ah-ha! He craved milk. I  told him how people who need Rhus tox often crave cold milk.

"Really? Because I put ice in my milk!" he exclaimed.  He was convinced.  He went home with a few doses of Rhus tox 200c.

We followed up three weeks later.  He reported that the Rhus tox had worked very well for the back pain.  It was better than Ibuprofen or anything else he had tried.  He had gone to the store to get more Rhus tox homeopathic and had used it with decreasing frequency over the last two weeks, only as needed for symptoms.  He had been to the chiropractor once and the chiropractor remarked on how much looser his back was.

Case 2: 29yo female with arrhythmia.  Her arrhythmia had been bad enough in the past to actually stop her heart. She had been put on beta-blockers to prevent this but even with the beta blockers, she would have terrible arrhythmia every evening where she felt like she was going to die.  Because of other symptoms and personality traits I thought about Rhus tox. I asked about anxiety and specifically anxiety about her children.

"Yes!" she said. I feel like I just want to sit with my children at home with a gun to protect them from anything that could come in from outside. I know it sounds crazy, but I just feel like they are in danger."  Classic Rhus tox.

I gave her two doses of Rhus tox 200c to take the first one in the early evening or afternoon before the arrhythmia usually starts. Take the second one in case arrythmia occurs.  She called back two days later.

"I can't believe it," she said. "I was waiting and waiting for the arrhythmia to start, fully dreading it and believing it would happen, but then it didn't.  Every hour I expected it, but then finally went bed without any palpitations at all. This is amazing!"

So you see that poison oak and ivy can be very useful and we should not eradicate it.  I often use Rhus tox (and Rhododendrun homeopathic) with lyme disease patients. Maybe there is some wisdom in nature that supplies the medicine we need for the maladies we contract right in the same place we contract them.

So instead of hating poison oak the next time you are hiking or hunting, respect and appreciate it....from a safe distance.

Poinsetta plants and migraines--is there a connection?

A lady came in this week with longstanding migraines--on and off for five years.  And the migraine she had the day she came into the office had been present for over 2 weeks straight despite several heavy duty migraine medications.

I asked about what makes the migraines worse, and she stated that when she eats a banana, she gets a migraine.  Banana is a known cross reaction for people with a latex allergy.  She had not noticed a latex allergy before but she does  not work with medical gloves or any obvious latex where people would usually notice such an allergy. We tested latex allergy and she was positive.  Other sensitivities to a few food and environmental items also came up on testing.

Towards the end of the visit I asked if she had noticed any more migraines around Christmas time or near pointsetta plants.  Then she revealed that she grows pointsetta plants year round and has some right now in her home (In June)!  They are in bloom and one of them is stationed in front of the air intake vent for their airconditioning system.

Here is an article about latex allergy and pointsettas from: Georgia Regents University
http://news.georgiahealth.edu/archives/137

Anyone with a known latex allergy or who gets reactions from bananas should consider avoiding pointsetta plants....or at least trying to notice if they feel worse around them.  Also consider getting the allergy treated with an accupressure technique called NAET that I do in my office.  Call 360-573-2273 for more info.

Melatonin, babies, and breastmilk

Some call it baby's "witching hour" but most of us know it can last much longer than an hour-- from 4p.m. to 9p.m. is usually the time frame. The most intense symptoms usually come around 7p.m. when you are trying to eat dinner or relax with the family. Suddenly crying, screaming, flailing arms and kicking legs are the baby's favorite thing to do; they have to do it as if driven by some malicious demon.   Your baby cries, screams, and generally fusses unconsolably despite attempts to soothe him or her with feeding, rocking, bouncing up and down, and even desperate drives in the car.

New research suggests that the problem may be low melatonin.  Is it just coincidence that the evening 'colic' magically disappears at around 9-12 weeks of age, just at the same time the pineal gland increases it's endogenous melatonin production to near adult levels?

The truth is melatonin is much more than a sleep hormone.  It can release beta endorphins, and therefore act as an analgesic--relieving pain.  It is an anti-oxidant, stimulating and balancing glutathione production, our most important reducer of free radicals in the body.  Much research has shown that melatonin is useful in treating cancer, possibly due to it's anti-oxidant capacity.  Melatonin stimulates prolactin (the milk producing hormone).  Therefore moms that have low milk supply might be passing on milk that is low in melatonin.

Melatonin is found in breast milk in significant amounts in the evening and night hours whereas daytime levels in breast milk are undetectable.  This could explain why a breastfed baby would calm down later in the evening when mom's melatonin production kicks in. Parents who insist on letting their child cry it out for 10-12 hours during the night when they want the baby to sleep could be depriving them of melatonin rich breastmilk.  A formula fed baby obviously would also get less melatonin, and parents using pumped breastmilk could be giving their babies inconsistent amounts of melatonin, depending on when the breastmilk was pumped.

Most parents who come in to my office are hesitant to give their kids melatonin.  The say their fear stems from melatonin being a hormone and the general thought in our minds is that we should not be giving our kids hormones (think hormones in cow milk, hormones in beef, steroid hormones--generally regarded as unsafe). However, a "hormone" is just a substance produced by the body that has a regulatory effect on an organ.  Certain hormones have negative feedback loops, meaning when levels are high, endogenous (self) production drops.  However, in the case of melatonin, we know that babies naturally get it through breast milk. Therefore, oral supplementation is a natural process. Also we know that when people take melatonin for jet lag, they do not become addicted to it, rather it aids the body in getting into a new pattern.  Since melatonin levels will be low in the daytime, there is no constant high amount that would cause an negative feedback loop to kick in.  Melatonin has a cycle and therefore endogenous production will kick in at the time when pineal gland production matures.

Parents of preemies know that this pineal maturation may take longer for their babies.  Actually, when measured by the date of conception, preemie babies start producing their own melatonin at the same time as full term babies.  However, since a preemie might have been born 8 weeks early, instead of quieting down at 10 weeks old, they quiet down at 18 weeks old--2 months more of evening 'witching hours' for those parents.  This is especially true if these babies are formula fed and have been exposed to high amounts of artificial lighting in the NICU.  (Light breaks down melatonin production; that is why our melatonin production is down in the daytime.)

Not every child responds well to melatonin--there are some people who, due to genetics, get revved up by melatonin.  But in general, parents who try melatonin to help their kids get to sleep or stay asleep consider it a God send and only discontinue it because they fear they are getting their kids addicted.

This need not be a fear.  However, if endogenous melatonin production doesn't seem to kick in, their are other avenues to investigate.  Melatonin is made from serotonin, our happy, stress relieving neurotransmitter. Serotonin is made from 5HTP which is made from tryptophan, a protein in our food (high amount in turkey meat).   Therefore, if tryptophan is low in the diet, if there is inadequate nutrient absorption, or if our enzymes making these important conversions are not present, melatonin will be low.  Supplementing with these amino acids is a good way of increasing melatonin.  Fixing digestive issues is also important.

However, for newborns, the pineal gland just isn't mature enough to produce melatonin.  Since melatonin supplementation does not limit the maturation of the gland, it is completely safe to give melatonin to babies and small children.  We already know that is it not only safe but beneficial to supplement adult cancer patients with melatonin.  So don't be afraid the melatonin, just because it is labeled a "hormone".

How much is safe?  Generally, melatonin is given in 0.5 to 3 mg dosages, one dose at bedtime.  Melatonin comes in drops which makes it easy to give to babies and easy to adjust the dose.  In our office, a 1 ounce bottle of melatonin contains 300 drops at 1mg per 5 drops, providing many nights of peaceful slumber.  It is my belief that anyone at any age that needs help with sleep could benefit in many ways from supplementation of melatonin.

P.S. due to the unusually high number of emails I've received regarding this post, I've decided to add a caveat: I cannot diagnose or treat your child through email.  I have already suggested in the above text dosages of melatonin to give and other problems that may be causing night time waking and fussiness including but not limited to: environmental problems, inadequate calorie intake, inadequate absorption of nutrients, other problems in the digestive tract, and genetic issues that cause neurotransmitter imbalances. Please consult a doctor, preferably a naturopathic doctor for problems with baby fussiness and waking that do not resolve with normal interventions.  I would not recommend using melatonin during the daytime.  A normal baby without pain or other issues will be generally happy and content during the daytime with normal care and attention from their primary caregiver.  Also, for some reason I cannot view comments on the page.  so if you want to ask a question, please give your email address so that I can answer it.

Vitamin D--time to start supplementing to reduce winter colds

We will soon be on the shady side of the world here in North America as we move into Fall and Winter.  What that means for nearly everyone is less natural vitamin D production in the body.  Vitamin D is normally produced when sunlight hits the skin and changes cholesterol into vitamin D precursors which then get activated in the kidneys and sent out into the circulation to help in all of the processes where vitamin D is necessary.

What are those processes, you ask? Good question.  New research has shed light on the importance of maintaining healthy vitamin D status in all ages.  A recent Harvard affiliated study published this year in the scientific journal Pediatrics stated that supplementing children with vitamin D during the winter decreased the  incidence of respiratory infections by half!  All of the children in the study had low vitamin D status at the beginning of the study and even the children who were still lower than optimal in vitamin D but whose vitamin D had increased through supplementation fared better than the children who had not been given vitamin D at all.

In the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine researchers this year gave their results on vitamin D effects on damage to the lungs caused by tobacco smoke.  In study subjects who had adequate levels of vitamin D, the damaging effects of tobacco smoke such as decreased respiratory function were reduced.  Subjects low in vitamin D had twice the decline in respiratory function.  It is important to remember that all subjects experienced decline in lung function due to smoking--smoking tobacco is never a good idea. However, smokers who had adequate vitamin D levels declined in lung function at a much slower rate.

Even non-smokers can benefit from vitamin D.  The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences this year printed a study assessing possible vitamin D effects on mobility in people in their 70s.  It was found that those who had low vitamin D status throughout a span of 6 years had a 30% higher incidence of decline in mobility (mobility being defined as the ability to walk half a mile, climb 10 steps and perform daily activities without help).  Wow! a simple supplement can help protect an older person's ability to care for themselves?  Although the direct effects of vitamin D on mobility are not known, it is postulated that since vitamin D is important for muscle function, protecting adequate levels of vitamin D kept people strong and active, which then protected mobility.

There are several reasons vitamin D levels decrease in winter. The obvious reason is we are not wearing bathing suit, shorts and short sleeves outside; therefore, less of our skin is exposed to the sun.  Also the hours of sunlight per day are decreased and mainly fill the hours when we are indoors at work or school.  Furthermore, since the sun is actually near the equator rather than directly overhead during the winter, the sun's rays must pass through more earth atmosphere before reaching our skin, similar to putting a lampshade over a lightbulb.  Then there is the obvious effect of more days of rain and cloudy weather on sunlight.

Luckily, vitamin D is easy to supplement.  In our office, we carry liquid vitamin D drops that can be dropped directly into the mouth or added to food (without your child knowing the difference!).  At 1200 drops per bottle, one bottle will supplement a family of four at a dosage of 2,000iu per day (2 drops) for 6 months!  If you'd like more information, call 360-573-2273

Is it a cold or is it mercury exposure?

Mercury.  In a thermometer it looks so benign.  In fact people were so convinced it was benign that kids used to play with the mercury from broken thermometers, rolling the balls of quicksilver in their hands.  But now we know better.

A patient in Colorado contacted me today. She had been sick since having some dental work done.  Even though the symptoms were of a typical bad sore throat and cold, she was convinced that it all started after her dental work a couple of weeks ago.  Her children (who were normally the sources of colds in the family) were not sick and no one had caught a cold from her as well.  She went back to the dentist and they took X-rays to make sure there were no abcesses in the gums.  There were not.  Because she did not have a root canal (she had three fillings done), it was not likely to be an abcess.  More likely was the possibility of mercury exposure. 

"What type of fillings were they?" I asked.  They were white.

"Were they new cavities or replacements for silver fillings?"  One was new, and two were replacements for silver amalgam fillings which the dentist removed that day.

"Did he use a rubbery dam in your mouth to prevent you from swallowing anything during the procedure?"  No, he had not.  She knew what I was talking about because had gone to another dentist before that had used a dental dam on her.

"Was there any type of fan or air suction near your mouth or face at the time of the procedure?" No. There was not.

Then I asked about her cold symptoms.  It had started as a sore throat that came on almost immediately after going to the dentist.  Then her sinuses plugged up with thick mucous. The mucous is excoriating--makes her nose red when she blows her nose.  Classic mercury symptoms.

The homeopathic remedy Mercurius identifies symptoms that can be created from a mercury toxicity, both acute and chronic:

• colds with thick excoriating mucous
• sore throat, can feel raw, burning.  
• When swallowing, feels a stitching pain going to the ears, esp. Right sided
• lose of voice
• large tongue (you can see the indents of teeth on the sides of the tongue)
• sensitivity to hot and cold (human thermometer)
• bad breath
• headaches with sinus congestion, feels like a band around the head
• sneezing
• nostrils raw, ulcerated
• earaches, worse at night
• excessive salivation, drooling
• gum inflammation including receding, bleeding, and swelling
• acne that discharges pus and leaves a scar
• abdominal pains, especially right sided
• urination: frequent urging to void the bladder
• pain with urination, at the start of urination, burning in the urethra
• cough with yellow mucous
• stitching pains in the lungs
• weakness and bone pain in the extremities, sensitive to cold
• tremors
• slow, lingering fever with night sweats
• Mental symptoms: hurried to get through tasks, irritable, introverted, closed, precocious, suspicious, impulse to scream, impulse to hit, withdrawn and depressed, suicidal.

You may think the mental emotional symptoms are a stretch, but in actuality, dentists have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession. Scientific studies have looked into this statistic and have seen that rates are still high even when correcting for divorce rates and other variables.  See this scientific study:

Suicide Risk Among Dentists: A Multivariate Analysis

The silver amalgam (silver amalgam sounds nicer than mercury amalgam) contains a toxic amount of mercury.      Dentists and dental hygenists have to treat the amalgam filling substance as a toxin: wearing gloves and masks when working with dental amalgam.  Yet they say it is safe to then put into your mouth where it will stay for years!  If you shouldn't touch it at all, how can it be safe to put in your mouth were it will be expose to soft tissues, saliva, the large blood vessels under the tongue, enzymes, acidic foods, hot beverages and more?!  Furthermore, many dentists "polish" old silver fillings when you get your teeth cleaned.  Why do they polish them? to make them nice and shiny again.  Why do they look dark rather than nice and shiny? Because chemical reactions have occurred to the amalgam fillings in your mouth.  That means that the amalgam is not inert, it wants to react with fluids and tissues around it, potentially (and probably) releasing atoms of mercury into your body.  When the dental hygenist polishes your fillings, they are again exposing mercury that wants to react to your tissues.  Always request that the dentist NOT polish your fillings if you have them.

What to do if you do have mercury toxicity:  The patient above was put on a gentle detox protocol that includes vitamins, minerals, and foods that aid the detox pathways in your body, fiber to bind the toxins when they are leaving the body, herbs to support the liver, and homeopathic mercurius pellets for the symptoms of her cold and sore throat.

If the above symptoms are very familiar to you and you are wondering if you have a chronic mercury toxicity, you can get a urine heavy metal test done for $60.  If you are in the Vacounver, WA area, call the office at 360-573-2273 or in Longview and the surrounding area 360-353-3822.  If you are not located in the Northwest, go to www.naturopathic.org to find a naturopathic doctor near you.

Gene Sequencing

Gene sequencing is the hot topic these days.  Can genes predict disease? Can prediction help prevention of disease?  Would gene sequencing affect couple's reproductive decisions?  Will gene sequencing affect the ability to acquire health insurance and life insurance?

Health insurance and life insurance questions aside, having genetic testing does affect treatment plans here in my office.  Many genetic tests can be done for far less than the $1000 complete gene sequencing which has been the major topic of discussion in the news.

MTHFR
The MTHFR test which tests two genes that affect methylation of folic acid to provide folate to the body has been useful in patients with chronic fatigue, detoxification problems, fibromyalgia, depression, schizophrenia, cardiovascular disease and sensory integration disorders. Folate is needed for the mitochondria of the cells to replicate DNA and RNA.  In addition, it is needed to make ATP for the energy cycle, which fuels the detox cycle and the neurotransmitter and hormone cycles.  The effects of having any or all of these pathways low functioning are many. In addition, this test is vital to anyone who is about to start chemotherapy.  The presence of these genetic mutations can predict unfavorable results (even death) from chemotherapy.  This $150 test can tell you if you carry on or two gene mutations and how likely you are to pass these on to your children.  For more information about the MTHFR genetic mutation, see my post on the topic at http://drsherylwagner.blogspot.com/2012/06/mtfhr-genetic-mutations-is-it-cause-of.html

DETOX GENOMICS
There are more genes associated with detoxification than just the MTHFR genes.  A detox genetic test will provide information about eight different genes affecting the detoxification of aromatic hydrocarbons (exhaust fumes), nicotine, medications, alcohol, and hormones.  Certainly we have general protocols concerning diet and lifestyle that aid in the detox cycle of the body, however, the genetic test can show us where extra help is needed.  Luckily, the extra help is simply targeted supplements and very specific dietary practices.  This test is $448.

NEURO GENOMICS
One aspect of gene sequencing which of particular interest lately is the possibility that genes, or genetic mutations to be more precise, can cause autism.  For that we have a neurological genetic test that will check seven genes for mutations. These genes affect both methylation and detoxification.  Since autism is a spectrum, this test would be important for anyone with neurological disorders: autism, sensory integration disorder, tics/tourrettes, learning difficulties, carpal tunnel or any other neurologic dysfunction.  This test is $336.

IMMUNE DISORDERS
Why do some people get asthma and eczema or autoimmune conditions while others (even in the same family) do not?  The immune genetic test will show SNPs or specific DNA sequences the affect the levels of 6 cytokines which cause inflammation in the body.  When these SNPs are present, a person's body produces much more inflammation than the person standing next to them in the same environment.  Finding out which SNPs are present will determine your propensity to getting chronic viral infections, cancer, asthma and other allergic conditions, and autoimmune disease.  Targeted diet, lifestyle and supplemental regimens (herbal and vitamn/mineral) can reduce the rate at which these SNPs are expressed and the level of inflammation in the body

CARDIO
Have high blood pressure in the family that will just not come down?  Strong family history of cardiovascular disease?  We have a genetic test specifically for genes that affect these conditions. Your genes can tell you what lifestyle factors will be most important for you concerning your heart, what targeted high dose nutrients will be beneficial and whether or not statin drugs or hypertensive medications will even work for you.  This test is by far the most bang for your buck as you get 15 genes tested for $504.  The methylation tests are included in this profile.  Well worth it for anyone with high blood pressure, family history of heart disease or anyone who smokes, drinks alcohol, or people who are about to start taking medication or chemotherapy.

INFLAMMATION
We've all heard by now that all chronic disease is caused by inflammation.  Did you know that 6 genes can determine what type of lifestyle practices and targeted supplementation would be most beneficial for you?  No wonder why  people get different results when taking fish oil or tumeric or many of the other anti-inflammatory helpers in our natural medicine cabinet.  Knowing your genetic makeup makes long term supplement regimens easy.  When you decrease inflammation, you decrease muscle and joint pain, cardiovascular disase, immune system problems, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue and more.  This test is $440 and includes one of the genes for methylation (MTHFR). In addition, it gives current inflammation marker values for hs-CRP, Homocysteine, and fibrinogen.

Getting these tests done is easy for our patients.  To schedule an appointment or find out more about the services offered at our clinic, call 360-573-2273

Patient Results

A patient that was in the office yesterday suggested that I post stories from patients who have gotten great results with their treatment plans. This would encourage people that are in at the start or middle of a treatment plan, or help people come in (she's had a hard time convincing her friends to go ahead and make an appointment).  So  here are two stories, just from yesterday and today of patients who have had great results from their treatment plans:

the first patient works in a beauty salon as a nail technician.  She had recently started getting red swollen rashes on her face.  In addition she had numbness and tingling sensations in her hands. She also felt tired in the mornings and on days off but managed to rally on workdays, having good energy throughout the day when needed. In addition to being around hair chemicals, laquers and nail polish thinners daily, she was in the process of renovating her kitchen, stripping and sanding her cupboards herself.  She was taking no medications or supplements at the time.

I tested her for environmental sensitivities and she was sensitive to solvents, turpentine, mold, dust, and spices.  Certainly these could cause an allergic skin reaction and a buildup of toxins could explain the neuropathy (numbness and tingling) in her hands.  The numbness could also have been a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome (which is usually caused by lack of B vitamins) or a pinched nerve in the neck.

I did an NAET allergy treatment for solvents, put her on a supplement that aids the detoxification of solvents from the body, a high dose B complex, and gave her a homeopathic remedy that matched the stinging, hot, red rashes.  I instructed her to come in for more allergy elimination treatments and a follow up.  I didn't hear from her for six months.

She came in yesterday saying that the reason she hadn't been back was that her symptoms were resolved!  The homeopathic had worked immediately for the rash so she had come in to the office to purchase more of it.  Her numbness and tingling were gone and when I mentioned the fatigue, she didn't even remember that it had been a complaint in the first place.  The reason she came back was she had a similar rash on her neck that had been on her face before.  I reminded her of the allergies we had not treated and we embarked on finishing the treatment plan.

Patient number two had originally come in for neck pain that was chronic for years.  She needed chiropractic adjustments monthly and massages weekly in order to keep the pain and tension down to a manageable level.  She was tired of maintaining this regimen and asked what I could do for longer term results or at least give her some advice on what she could do at home.  She had already done NAET allergy treatments in the past for hayfever and felt that her allergies were well under control.  She has a lot of work stress with long hours and knows that some of her neck tension comes from this but some from an unknown chronic problem.

Although she didn't want to explore allergies, some symptoms prompted me to think of metals.  We tested her and she was sensitive to metals. She was wearing a lot of metal jewelry--several earrings, a necklace, bracelets and a metal watch.  She also had a few amalgam fillings in her mouth which we discussed.  Her symptoms matched a certain homeopathic remedy often given for neck tension and pain.  We did an NAET treatment for metals and I gave her a dose of the homeopathic pellets. I instructed her to refrain from wearing metal jewelry for the time being and to do more metal treatments at home. I didn't hear from her for a month.

She called today to order more of the homeopathic. It had worked incredibly overnight.  She had awaken the day after our visit without any neck pain or tension at all.  She used a second dose of the homeopathic I gave her a week or so later and felt that it really released the tension and pain immediately.  She was pleased that homeopathic medicine is so inexpensive and without side effects and can be taken at home as often as needed.  She had been really afraid that going to a naturopathic doctor would mean embarking on a really expensive and lengthy treatment plan.

I had to update this blogpost a few hours later to include another great patient result today.  The third patient is an 11 year old girl diagnosed with autoimmune iritis and idiopathic juvenile arthritis.  She also had headaches daily.  She had been put on a strong dosage of steroids, methotrexate, and an experimental medicine.  It took a year to find this drug cocktail to make the iritis calm down. Every time they tried to cut back on the steroids, her iritis came back.  Mom really wanted her to come off of the steroids since it was causing weight gain, stretch marks, and fatigue.

On the first visit, we found allergies to gluten, casein, DNA, pollen, and flowers. The gluten was most likely to be causing the headaches and autoimmune condition.  I put her on a gluten free dairy free diet.   I suggested tapering off the steroids after being on the diet for 2 weeks.  They came back after three weeks to get an NAET allergy treatment for casein so she could add dairy back into her diet.

At the return visit at 4 weeks, the girl had no headaches and no iritis even though they had completely discontinued steroids.  Their M.D. insisted she stay on the experimental drug since she was in a study which paid for the drug, and he decreased the methotrexate by 20%.  We talked about tapering off methotrexate and started NAET treatments for DNA.

Now ideally, for all of these patients the first visits would be the start of a health journey in which we address various symptoms, health concerns, and lifestyle factors as quickly as possible and end up with a much healthier patient in the end. Many times when the initial complaints the patient came in for are remedied, as in the patients above, they don't come back for a long time.  It's important to remember all of your health concerns and stick with a doctor, being sure to come in for follow ups so they know how you're doing and can prevent as well as treat other illnesses that arise.  Even so, the above cases are very encouraging that naturopathic medical care really works, sometimes even with the very first treatment plan.

If you're still not sure if naturopathic medicine is right for you, come in for a free 15 minute consult where you can ask more questions about the services offered, whether your insurance covers our visits, and more.  360-573-2273.  Go to www.drsherylwagner.com    for more information.

Latex Allergy and Reaction Triggers

Latex Allergy

Many people know they are sensitive to latex. Others don't know why they get rashes, scaly skin, or itchiness.  This is because some allergic reactions can happen 12 to 36 hours after exposure to latex (or other allergens).  Latex allergies can be:
delayed
immediate
anaphylactic

Symptoms can include redness, itchy skin, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, itchy watery eyes, swelling, itchy throat, swelling of the mouth, tongue or throat, wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, vomiting, diarrhea, and sudden pale skin.  The more life threatening symptoms happen right away, giving away the allergy, but the rash and itchiness can occur hours later.  I have also seen tics stimulated by allergy to latex.

People often do not realise they have been exposed to latex.  Common sources of latex exposure are medical gloves, condoms, balloons, Bandaids, rubber balls such as basketballs, athletic shoes, carpeting, rubber bands, disposable diapers, swim goggles, motorcycle and bicycle hand grips, and some soft sided above ground pools.

Not all latex is natural latex. Many latex paints and memory foam mattresses are not natural latex and will not cause an allergic reaction.  However some are.  Some car interiors have latex in the dash covers, floor mats and in carpet backing.

Foods can also stimulate a latex allergic reaction.  Some food proteins cross react with latex antibodies.  Foods with high incidence of causing allergic reactions in latex sensitive people are: bananas, avocado, chestnut and kiwi.  A smaller incidence of this has been noted with apple, carrot, celery, papaya, potato, tomato, and melons.

If your or your child's symptoms seem difficult to predict, it may be a latex allergy with hidden sources of latex exposure as well as cross reactivity to foods which stimulate a latex response.  Luckily, in our office, we can test for allergy to latex as well as to foods.  In addition we can do an allergy treatment (no shots!) to decrease and eliminate the allergy.  Call today! 360-573-2273

NAET

NAET

Just got back from the annual NAET Symposium.  NAET practitioners from all over the world attended, hailing from Europe, India, Japan, and Australia.  NAET, short for Nambudripads Allergy Elimination Technique, was created by Dr. Devi Nambudripad in 1983.  She used to be allergic to most foods and discovered that a simple accupressure treatment could clear an allergy.  She has trained people in this technique for over 20 years.  Over 12,000 practitioners have learned to do NAET worldwide. Many practitioners at the symposium gave talks on patient cases or how they are using NAET in their practices.  All of us have seen allergic responses such as hayfever and skin conditions completely eliminated by NAET.  However, two doctors had particularly interesting presentations.

One doctor from India uses NAET with HIV positive orphans.  Normally babies born HIV positive suffer from poor growth, chronic illness and repeated infections.  With NAET, Sister Naina has brought the children out of sickness and into wellness.  Despite their HIV status remaining, the children are healthy, grow well, and do not even get the colds and coughs that non-HIV positive children get.  This is without anti-viral medication. What a success!

You can donate to the non-profit organization supporting the treatment of these orphans by clicking the link below:
http://www.naet-europe.com/en/naet-association.html

Children in developed countries are suffering from an different epidemic: autism.  Another presenter gave his report on a scientific study he recently published regarding the treatment of autistic children with NAET.  The study had a treatment group and a control group.  23 out of 29 autistic children treated with NAET recovered enough to be mainstreamed into regular classes at school.  Here is an interview shown on Fox News about that study:



NAET can be used for almost any disease.  Many symptoms we don't consider to be allergic responses stem from sensitivities to foods, chemicals, substances, and even emotions and other people.  The week of the conference, I had been experiencing muscle tightness in my neck on the right side and neck pain.  On day four of my trip, we moved to a hotel for the conference, an accupuncturist in the vendor area that day gave me a treatment in my neck which completely released the muscle tension and resolved the pain.  The same day I also started to use the pens provided by the hotel.  My neck felt better the entire day and into the next.  Halfway through the next day, I lost my hotel pen, which happened to be all plastic, so I reached into my purse for the pen I had been using--a pen with both plastic and metal on the outside.

After taking notes with my pen for about an hour, I began to experience a return of my neck pain.  Also the muscles along the thumb and forefinger were crampy and sore.  Could this be an allergy to the pen?  I had my neighbor, another NAET practioner, test me and sure enough, I was allergic (or sensitive) to the metal on the pen.  I switched back to an all plastic pen and the soreness in my hand as well as the neck pain disappeared.  Now I need to get treated with NAET for sensitivity to metals.  I can't begin to think how many massages, accupuncture treatments or chiropractic visits I may have had if I kept using that pen! It would also be a good idea to check sensitivities to jewelry I wear--perhaps some of my necklaces or earings have been creating neck pain by local contact with the metal to which I'm allergic.

To find out more about NAET, read "Say Goodbye to Illness" by Dr. Nampudripad.  This book is available at our office or on Amazon.com.  Or if you're ready to get tested and treated, call our office at 360-573-2273.  For more locations and information, go to www.drsherylwagner.com.    If you are not in the Northwest near either of my offices, go to www.NAET.com to find a practitioner in your area.

Easy Gluten Free Crepes, Chocolate Banana or Blueberry

Some people think you have to have a special mix to make gluten free desserts or at least a bunch of different flours.  Not the case! I make these gluten free crepes all the time--for breakfast or dessert.  They are quick enough to make in the morning or after a meal--no planning necessary. The only "GF" product you need is brown rice flour.  I made them almost dairy free as well by using almond milk, but you can use any kind of milk you like.  Cow milk does make them a bit more "crepe-y"--more pliable, but most people won't know the difference no matter what milk you use.  They do have butter, so they are not truly dairy free.
To make crepes for two people, all you need is:

• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup brown rice flour or sorghum flour
• 1 egg
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1-2 teaspoons butter (if you are using a non-stick pan, 1 tsp should be enough)
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips (optional substitute: Nutella)
• one banana 

Put 1/2 cup milk into a 2 cup measuring cup

Add 1/2 cup brown rice flour and 1/8 tsp salt

Add one egg and mix well

Add one Tablespoon of butter, melted.  If using a non-stick pan, you can cut butter in half.  I used an iron skillet.  Mix into batter well.

As you pour the batter into the pan, tilt the pan around so the small amount of batter you add will cover the bottom of the pan, making a thin crepe

When an edge is cooked enough to be pulled up, pick it up with your fingers and flip it over.  Cook only for about 10 seconds before taking it out of the pan. Set aside while you make the rest of the crepes.  Also in the meantime...

put some chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl and cook on high for 1 minute.

Stir until they are all melted.  Keep stirring, they will melt.  I don't know why people use double boilers anymore, microwaves are great for melting chocolate.

Assemble crepes.  Chocolate in the middle of the crepe, sliced bananas over that, then roll and turn over.

Top with chocolate and/or powdered sugar.  I didn't have any powdered sugar today.  

Here's a pic of sorghum crepes with blueberries on top.  I've found that sorghum flour works better with almond milk while brown rice flour works better with soymilk or regular milk.  To make the blueberry topping, put a cup of frozen blueberries, a splash of water,1 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 tsp cornstarch in a saucepan. Turn on medium high until it starts to boil, then turn down and simmer just until blueberries are warm and juice thickens.

I know some of you will say--this is full of sweet stuff, it can't be healthy!  Come on now, I know you eat sweet stuff all the time:  granola bars, cereal, juice, cookies, candy.  This dessert actually has no sugar beyond what is in the chocolate and the bananas.  Just because a person is gluten free, that doesn't mean they never get to eat dessert!  Here is a sneak peak at my upcoming cake episode on Eat Here Now, my gluten free cooking show...

Gluten Free Pineapple Upside Down Cake!

It's half gone because it's that good.  I made it last night.  Tune in soon!

Hidden effects of Mold

Got fatigue? Got Spring and Fall allergies? Got night sweats? Mold could be the source of your problem.

Two patients came to me this week, both with fatigue, both who had already made great lifestyle changes--special diets, more sleep, eliminated caffeine, taking beneficial supplements. Their fatigue would not go away, in fact, it was getting worse. They thought maybe it was hormones or low iron. However, testing for food and environmental sensitivities revealed that mold was their biggest problem.

 Mold is a big problem in the northwest. We think of mold as only being in old homes or damp enclosed spaces such as a basement. However out here one can see mold growing right on tree trunks along nature paths. Window sills are tough to keep mold free--even vinyl double-paned windows accumulate black mold during the winter months. Bathrooms and laundry rooms can easily breed mold in hidden places due to the high humidity when in use. Proper surface choices, including the right kinds of paint, wallpaper, grout, etc. as well as getting a renovation job done to code can make a big difference in whether or not these rooms have a problem later. Buying a house that has been renovated by the previous owner rather than a certified contractor may be a high risk.

 If you've bought a foreclosed house, mold could be an issue no matter how old the house was or what the estimated value of the home is. Moisture evaporates from homes with the aid of heating, air conditioning, and doors and windows opening on a regular basis. None of these things happen in foreclosed homes, sometimes for years.

Mold can cause longterm or short term problems. Some people will get hayfever such as sneezing and burning eyes from mold. Others will get skin conditions. Children often get asthma and adults may contract other types of long term respiratory problems from entering a house with a high mold count. This very thing has happened to countless people who have tried to rescue their homes in Louisiana post Katrina. Many people I've met have unexplainable fatigue, nausea, and headaches.

Taking allergy medicine or even getting allergies treated will not solve the problem if your house is infested with mold. In addition to creating an allergic response, molds can give off mycotoxins and microbial volatile organic compounds. Effects of mold in the northwest are often seen in the Spring and Fall when it is both wet enough to spread mold and warm enough for the mold to release spores. If your allergies or other health problems get worse in Spring, consider a mold problem.

Everyone should take these precautions in their homes:
1. Check window sills monthly for mold and clean them with a bleach solution
2. Make sure exhaust vents for clothes dryers are hooked up and free of lint plugs.
3. check under sinks for dripping pipes
4. Check shower and tub stalls for soft walls or cracked or missing caulking.
5. Occasionally check walls behind furniture such as bookcases or chests of drawers.
6. When trouble areas are found, remove all layers of damaged material to check subfloors and drywall for mold.
7. Check houseplants for mold on the soil.
8. find out if your refrigerator has a drain tray. This should be checked and emptied.
9. Check the air in the house with mold check kits (available at Home Depot). Do this before and after repairs and renovations.
10. Get the crawl space below your house checked for pools of water during the wet season.
11. make sure the outside of your house is in good condition including the roof, siding, rain gutters, and any roof additions such as skylights. Make sure the land next to your house slopes away from the foundation and that there are no sprinklers hitting the house directly and no plants prefering wet soil up against the house. 12. Do repairs correctly. This may require hiring a professional.