We specialize in a variety of injections that assist the body in healing injuries or regenerating tissue.  Arthritis can be reversed in some cases while most patients with even advanced arthritis can find relief from pain along with improved mobility.  Injured or inflamed tendons, ligaments or muscles respond very well to injection therapies.  The various injections we provide are a great non-surgical option, and a much healthier alternative to the standard, ultimately harmful steroid injections. Prolotherapy Prolotherapy is derived from the Latin word “proli” which means to regenerate or rebuild.  The traditional technique involves injecting a natural substance directly into the injured tissue in order to produce an inflammatory response which is then followed by a natural healing phase.  This is a very successful, and affordable procedure, but

The term “Kaizen” (改善) is a Japanese term meaning “change for the better”. It embodies the philosophy of continuous, incremental improvement, focusing on making small, ongoing changes to processes to enhance efficiency, quality, and productivity. This can apply to work processes, personal habits, or any area of life where improvement is desired. Applying the Kaizen philosophy to health involves making small, sustainable improvements in daily routines, which collectively build better habits and lead to meaningful, long-term health improvements. Here are ways to employ Kaizen in improving health: Start with Small Steps in Exercise Begin with a short daily walk, such as 5–10 minutes, and gradually increase the time or intensity.  Small increments prevent burnout and make the habit easier to maintain.  Try adding mini exercises throughout the day—like

What if I told you that years before someone found out they had cancer, we could draw their blood and find tumor cells shed from the primary tumor?  And, after the primary tumor is removed with no surrounding cancer cells found on microscopic exam, no cancer cells found in nearby lymph nodes, no serum markers positive for the cancer and normal imaging studies, we could still draw blood and find tumor cells?  One would be “tumor free” but not “cancer free”.  These are called “circulating tumor cells” or CTCs and to understand cancer treatment and what true remission means, you need to know about them. How Cancer Starts Video Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) Circulating tumor cells are cancer cells which have broken away from the primary tumor and

Would you like to increase muscle mass, lose weight, build stronger bones, lower your risk for heart disease and diabetes, improve your immune system and preserve memory?  Two adrenal hormones are able to do all of this, but with normal aging the production of these health-promoting powerhouses naturally declines. I’m referring to pregnenolone and DHEA (de-hydro-epi-androsterone).  Made directly from cholesterol these steroid hormones are primarily created by the adrenal glands.  Reaching their peak levels about age 30 they then decline about 1-2% each year in men and women.  Even under ideal conditions about half of people have levels below optimum by age 50 and by age 60 it is rare to find someone who has a healthy blood level of these hormones. Pregnenolone Pregnenolone is known for its

Picking the Right Product Now we are down to picking a specific product.  In this series we reviewed how to check labels for reputable products, what mineral forms to avoid, and a few general points about the type of vitamin ingredients.  We also focused on the role of oxidation and inflammation causing or contributing to multiple diseases and aspects of aging, as well as the importance of glutathione and methylation. Let’s start by choosing a broad spectrum multi-vitamin that includes all the necessary vitamins and minerals, anti-oxidants, and plant nutrients, with a specific list of ingredients. This should include nutrients that support the health of heart, bone, brain, liver, and eyes. It should also provide support for methylation and defense against oxidation and inflammation. There are many variations

Control of Oxidation Because we live on planet earth we oxidize. Much like a piece of rusting metal the process of oxidation slowly damages our DNA and cellular functions. Oxidation is arguably the driving force behind the degenerative diseases of aging including heart disease, cancer and dementia, as well as being implicit in autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. Even depression, autism and schizophrenia are known to have links to oxidation. Essentially we age due to oxidation. Mostly, the body generates oxidation in the process of producing energy. Cellular respiration is the process by which we convert nutrients into water and carbon dioxide, in the presence of oxygen, releasing energy. This energy production occurs deep in our cells in the mitochondria, the “generators” of cellular energy. Along the

Do we need Supplements? On June 19, 2002, the Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA) contained a scientific review article titled “Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults“, which addressed the debate regarding the use of vitamin supplements and the prevention of chronic disease in adults. After reviewing the body of evidence on this controversial subject, the researchers advised their medical colleagues that “the use of vitamin supplements is a prudent intervention in the fight against many chronic degenerative diseases.” The researchers stated that vitamin deficiency syndromes such as scurvy and beriberi are uncommon in Western societies. However, suboptimal intake of some vitamins, even above levels causing classic vitamin deficiency, is a risk factor for chronic diseases. This scenario is common in the general population, especially the

The humble fungi, with its visible fruit called the mushroom, holds some of nature’s most potent weapons. Used by the plant to protect it from invaders these natural compounds have been used for thousands of years to help fight cancer, boost the immune system, support kidney and liver function, and lower blood pressure. Recent research is uncovering the specific properties that make the mushroom such a medical miracle. In the 1980s scientists at Harvard University made the discovery that compounds within mushrooms were able to stimulate cells in the immune system. Since then there have been many studies uncovering more details of how mushroom supplements work and how effective they are in treating various illnesses. Different mushrooms from around the world seem to have slightly different benefits and

A massage is something you might think of as a special occasion when you get to relax and unwind for an hour.  But the benefits of massage therapy go much deeper than just body and mind relaxation.  Massage therapy is a holistic option for many people living with chronic health conditions, such as pain, or simple everyday stress. It promotes wellness in your body, improves blood flow, and removes harmful toxins. What is massage therapy? Massage therapy is a type of treatment a licensed massage therapist performs to promote relaxation and wellness in the body. The therapist utilizes various techniques to manipulate tissues and muscles during a massage. Massage therapy aims to provide the patient with a quiet environment where they can relax, relieve stress, and promote physical

The “USDA Organic” label is familiar to most shoppers, yet there is confusion about the definition of organic. And while many people purchase organic foods, others feel they can’t afford it. Still others think it doesn’t matter and is not worth the extra cost. While I do recommend organic foods, there are pitfalls in the buying process. It helps to better understand what organic really means and for which foods it really matters. What Does Organic Mean? Organic usually means free of most synthetic chemical inputs (e.g. fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, hormones, and food additives), genetically modified organisms, and irradiation. The producer must keep detailed, written production and sales records, maintain strict physical separation of organic products from non-certified products, and undergo periodic on-site inspections. The definition varies

“Before you heal someone, ask him if he’s willing to give up the things that made him sick.” —Hippocrates Health, like so many things, does not rely on a secret key that suddenly unlocks the pathway to success. We can’t have instant success, instant loyalty or trust, instant weight loss, or instant health.  Success starts with a desire, a vision, and a plan.  Success happens due to effort and perseverance.  Great health is achieved with everyday decisions that will compound over time to produce results. Attitude Attitude means being determined to make the everyday decisions that add up to great health. It is just as easy to do the right things, as it is to not do the right things. Eating that greasy cheeseburger and fries with a super-size soda is a choice – one that

What disease can destroy the lining of the gut without you even knowing?  What disease is present in about 1 in 133 people, yet only diagnosed in about 3% of those who have it?  Celiac disease… What is Celiac Disease? Wheat and other grains are made up mostly of starch.  About 10-15% of wheat is made of gluten (gliadin), which is the protein portion.  Other grains have similar proteins, such as barley (hordeins) and rye (secalins).  These proteins are not entirely broken down by our stomach acid and can cause an intense immune reaction, an allergic reaction of sorts, with resulting inflammation in the small intestine. A person can react to the wheat (wheat intolerance), the gluten portion (gluten intolerance) or to gluten after it is modified to

Blame it on our genes — the blueprint for life that we inherit without having any say in the matter. We have been led to believe that you can’t change your genes, and thus we are destined to inherit certain traits. It turns out this is not entirely true. We can’t change the blueprint, but we do have enormous control over which parts of the plan get implemented. It’s In Our Genes The genome is the sum total of all our genes, which layout the plans for building and maintaining every aspect of life. There are over 20,000 genes within the human genome and those genes are made up of strings of information encoded in the DNA double helix. Individual genes code for the production of various proteins,

Burnout is a special kind of stress, best defined as being exhausted and just losing interest in what you do. The physical and mental effects may lead to cynicism, depression, and fatigue that can affect one’s health and happiness, as well as relationships and job performance. Avoiding burnout is more than not working long hours or having a difficult job. Staying in “balance” is the key. What is balance anyhow? Balance is when different elements are present in relative proportions. Balance is what keeps us upright when we slip. Balance is also a state of physical, emotional and mental stability. Finding ways to achieve and maintain balance in our lives is the key to avoiding burnout and having a healthy happy life in general. Patients, and friends, ask

With a little bit of sun, I turn pink right away, while my wife goes right to a golden brown.  My Scottish skin type apparently doesn’t react the same way that her Italian skin does.  Why the different reactions, and how does the sun brown, burn, and age the skin? Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun cause direct damage to the DNA in the skin cells, leading to cell death and inflammation.  This can occur in the superficial layer of skin, or epidermis, as a first-degree burn.  If the damage goes deeper, into the dermis, it becomes a second-degree burn. Sun damage triggers the body to go into repair and prevention mode, cleaning up the inflammation and oxidative damage, repairing breaks in the DNA, and turning on the

Floxed refers to the devastating effects of a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones (FQs) and may include symptoms of extreme fatigue, tendon rupture, joint and muscle pains, nerve pains, and nervous system disturbances. The symptoms may resolve after stopping the FQs, persist for years, or wax and wane as time goes by.  I’ve witnessed the symptoms appear immediately when starting the FQs, or worse yet the symptoms can also appear long after the FQs are taken or only after multiple rounds of FQs, thus making the diagnoses of FQ side effects tricky. The offending FQ medicines include ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifoxacin (Factive),  levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and ofloxacin (Floxin).  There are subtle differences in the side effect profiles, but for sake of this article we’ll lump them together as