Have you ever had the experience of a inquisitive child, wondering endlessly why everything is the way it is…?
“Momma, why is the grass green?” You come up with something amazing about chlorophyll causing the green color.
“Why?” You remember the term photosynthesis, and half make up how chlorophyll makes energy from light…
“Why?” Getting a little frustrated, you explain that that is just the way it works.
One more… “Why?” Why is that the way that it works?
I have been thinking about the distinction between what I do, and call Functional Medicine…and what you are accustomed to, what I call Mainstream Medicine.
The effective difference is that Functional Medicine CAN locate the underlying cause of chronic conditions, where Mainstream Medicine admits that it lacks the understanding of why most chronic diseases occur in the first place.
Is the diagnostic process so much different? I have contended that it is…and I may be wrong. The difference truly lies in the “One More Why.”
For instance…both sciences agree that Diabetes is low insulin production due to damage of the pancreas, or a “resistance” to the insulin that you produce. Mainstream Medicine says, “that is just the way it works.” Functional Medicine simply asks (one more) “Why?” And then digs deeper into how insulin is produced and interacts with muscle cells and other cells to produce energy.
What we find, in asking that one more why, is a multitude of possibilities. Perhaps the patient is stressed out, and surges of the hormone cortisol have caused insulin resistance. Perhaps the patient is infected with a bacteria, yeast, or even parasite, that has caused an immune imbalance resulting in an autoimmune destruction of the pancreas. Perhaps the little glucose converting energy factories, called mitochondria have been damaged as a result of mercury or lead exposure. Perhaps the patient is slightly deficient in the trace mineral chromium, or vanadium, or magnesium. Perhaps the patient suffers from heartburn, also known as reflux, and has been prescribed an antacid, which prevents absorption of zinc, which is another essential trace mineral for blood glucose control…and the heartburn is caused from an erosion in the stomach from taking pain pills to treat knee pain, and the knee pain is caused by a fallen arch in the foot, and the fallen arch is caused by overtraining in cross country running.
Is the patient’s diabetes then a compensation for the need for rest and treatment of the muscles of the foot? I would say so, at least in an indirect fashion.
And, of course, the diabetes could be a result of eating too many trans fats and processed carbohydrates, along with a lack of nutritionally sound food such as protein and vegetables.
The exciting prospect of this “One More Why,” is that the next answer is the solution to the problem. We can correct and imbalanced diet and nutrient deficiencies, as long as the patient is willing. We can correct stress hormones, infections, toxicity, even stomach erosions and foot muscle imbalances.
We can actually find and correct the underlying dysfunctions for chronic disease, leading to a resolution and an end of treatment.
If we stop at, “That is just the way it works,” we are stuck…not completely…you can still take the medications that help control blood glucose, but you will always be a diabetic, and you will always depend on the medications.
I realize that some people will take charge themselves and change their diet, possibly even to the point of no longer “qualifying” for diabetes…they asked the “one more why” themselves. I also know of people who eat and exercise “perfectly” and continue to struggle with blood glucose control, along with low energy and other symptoms…they asked the “one more why,” but didn’t have the diagnostic know how to really get to the bottom of it.
This can be expanded to nearly every condition: High blood pressure is caused by fluid retention and/or narrowed or constricted blood vessels…WHY? Neuropathy is caused by damage to the nerves in the feet and hands…WHY (are they damaged)? Heart attacks are caused by clogged arteries…WHY (are they clogged)? Autoimmune diseases are caused by the immune system attacking your tissues…WHY (does the immune system attack)?
Functional Medicine asks and answers that “one more why” for many chronic conditions such as these. Functional Medicine doesn’t accept that “that is just the way it works (let’s manage the problem with medication).” Functional Medicine has the unique tools (natural medicine) that work on the “one more why,” so we are eager to ask, eager to correct the underlying problem, and open minded enough to consider your immune system, your foot, your medications you take, your diet, your nutritional intake, your stress levels, and your digestion, circulation, hormones, and even your brain.
If you have read my book, this is just another aspect of the process I describe…Starting with asking how we can move toward health…diagnosing the process (one more why), observing the interactions of different systems and functions of the body, and honoring adaptations, such as the foot example. Which all results in a new expectation…not “owning” a disease or condition…rather, expecting that you CAN heal, that you can move past this problem, just like any other. Perhaps freedom…or independence.
That is the result of “One More Why!”
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
I have lived life fully…I have a disease named after me!
The first quote in my book, from an excited patient, thanks me for not being a specialist. She says, “These days, with everyone being a specialist, no one seems to be connecting the dots. Thanks for caring for the whole person…”
In a medical world where a doctors greatest success and acknowledgement is having a disease named after them, we have a shortage on treating the basics. No, I really haven’t had a disease named after me, and I think it would be a dubious honor.
In my world, I actually find more joy and satisfaction in finding solutions, than new problems to name.
And this…is my second solution to America’s health care crises. Find solutions, not problems.
In my book, in chapter 2, I discuss the concept of functional diagnostics versus pathology diagnosis. I bet the majority of people reading this recognize the term pathology… “take this down to pathology…” “here is the pathology report…” and probably have no idea what I am talking about when I say functional.
Functional Diagnostics is the quest for the solution…Medical Diagnosis is the quest for pathology (the problem). Pathology is merely a tissue change associated with a disease…bone spurs, degenerated disc, tumor, clot, bleed, fatty deposits in arteries, tissue death (called necrosis), broken bone, abnormal cells that can be identified visually…if I light a match and hold it to your skin, do you want to identify the scorched flesh, or the idiot holding a match to your arm?
Identification of pathology is quite effective in acute care… “the femur is protruding from the thigh, several arteries are severed…scalpel…” but is of little use in chronic disease.
In fact, many, if not most, chronic diseases lack pathological findings. What is the pathology report for fibromyalgia, neuropathy, dizziness, Raynaud’s disease (Hi Dr. Raynaud!), diabetes, fatigue…often there is nothing. “We don’t know why this condition exists, it is most probably genetic.”
While I love to blame my parents for all my problems, it doesn’t do me any good. And, I am kidding if you didn’t catch that. It is true, that parents love to pass on their flaws, and they all have them, so we all have flaws. I like to look at "our flaws" as our weakest link, and what should we do with the weakest link…I would say, either support it, or don’t stress it.
So if your mom and grandmother both had breast cancer, don’t take synthetic hormones. If your family has diabetes, watch the sugar, and support the process of sugar metabolism (which is completely nutritional...no drugs required).
Functional Diagnostics not only reveals the process for healing, but also the process for wellness. So, we’ve talked enough about what it isn’t…what is it??
We said it is the search for solutions. It considers pathology, but asks why is there pathology. This concept, although foreign, is actually less complex than pathology.
Let’s say you are constipated…that’s always fun to talk about. It could be a massive tumor in your colon, you swallowed a tennis ball, stuck a baseball bat up your bottom…and what does the medical doctor do…barium study and colonoscopy. “Nope, no tumor, no tennis ball, no baseball bat, why don’t you drink some water, if that doesn’t work, try this laxative.”
A functional diagnostician would begin with big picture…how does one poop? Do you eat food? Ok, then... the next consideration is nervous system tone. If you have ever been driving, looking desperately for the next gas station to relieve yourself…and suddenly someone cuts you off, narrowly missing your bumper…hmmm, no more poop! The urge is gone…and unless it was tooooo close, the poop is NOT gone. Where did it go? The nervous system, in stress, decreases bowel movement…literally shuts it down, eliminating the urge, stopping traffic wherever it happens to be (even knocking on the door).
What would cause stress that would affect your intestines in that fashion, without the near miss or near death? This is functional diagnosis! It could be inflammation in the intestines, which could be infection, or food sensitivity, or nutrient deficiency, or over acidity, or over alkalinity (the opposite of acidity), or toxicity, or hormone imbalance, or, on the odd chance, it could be a tumor. We don’t miss that by diagnosing functionally, because it disrupts function!
You are now one step closer to health, simply, by focusing on the solution, not the problem!
In a medical world where a doctors greatest success and acknowledgement is having a disease named after them, we have a shortage on treating the basics. No, I really haven’t had a disease named after me, and I think it would be a dubious honor.
In my world, I actually find more joy and satisfaction in finding solutions, than new problems to name.
And this…is my second solution to America’s health care crises. Find solutions, not problems.
In my book, in chapter 2, I discuss the concept of functional diagnostics versus pathology diagnosis. I bet the majority of people reading this recognize the term pathology… “take this down to pathology…” “here is the pathology report…” and probably have no idea what I am talking about when I say functional.
Functional Diagnostics is the quest for the solution…Medical Diagnosis is the quest for pathology (the problem). Pathology is merely a tissue change associated with a disease…bone spurs, degenerated disc, tumor, clot, bleed, fatty deposits in arteries, tissue death (called necrosis), broken bone, abnormal cells that can be identified visually…if I light a match and hold it to your skin, do you want to identify the scorched flesh, or the idiot holding a match to your arm?
Identification of pathology is quite effective in acute care… “the femur is protruding from the thigh, several arteries are severed…scalpel…” but is of little use in chronic disease.
In fact, many, if not most, chronic diseases lack pathological findings. What is the pathology report for fibromyalgia, neuropathy, dizziness, Raynaud’s disease (Hi Dr. Raynaud!), diabetes, fatigue…often there is nothing. “We don’t know why this condition exists, it is most probably genetic.”
While I love to blame my parents for all my problems, it doesn’t do me any good. And, I am kidding if you didn’t catch that. It is true, that parents love to pass on their flaws, and they all have them, so we all have flaws. I like to look at "our flaws" as our weakest link, and what should we do with the weakest link…I would say, either support it, or don’t stress it.
So if your mom and grandmother both had breast cancer, don’t take synthetic hormones. If your family has diabetes, watch the sugar, and support the process of sugar metabolism (which is completely nutritional...no drugs required).
Functional Diagnostics not only reveals the process for healing, but also the process for wellness. So, we’ve talked enough about what it isn’t…what is it??
We said it is the search for solutions. It considers pathology, but asks why is there pathology. This concept, although foreign, is actually less complex than pathology.
Let’s say you are constipated…that’s always fun to talk about. It could be a massive tumor in your colon, you swallowed a tennis ball, stuck a baseball bat up your bottom…and what does the medical doctor do…barium study and colonoscopy. “Nope, no tumor, no tennis ball, no baseball bat, why don’t you drink some water, if that doesn’t work, try this laxative.”
A functional diagnostician would begin with big picture…how does one poop? Do you eat food? Ok, then... the next consideration is nervous system tone. If you have ever been driving, looking desperately for the next gas station to relieve yourself…and suddenly someone cuts you off, narrowly missing your bumper…hmmm, no more poop! The urge is gone…and unless it was tooooo close, the poop is NOT gone. Where did it go? The nervous system, in stress, decreases bowel movement…literally shuts it down, eliminating the urge, stopping traffic wherever it happens to be (even knocking on the door).
What would cause stress that would affect your intestines in that fashion, without the near miss or near death? This is functional diagnosis! It could be inflammation in the intestines, which could be infection, or food sensitivity, or nutrient deficiency, or over acidity, or over alkalinity (the opposite of acidity), or toxicity, or hormone imbalance, or, on the odd chance, it could be a tumor. We don’t miss that by diagnosing functionally, because it disrupts function!
You are now one step closer to health, simply, by focusing on the solution, not the problem!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The Intention of Health
The questions we ask ourselves are immensely important. There is a little “nut” (seriously, it looks like an almond) in our brain, called the thalamus, that “tunes in” to the questions we are asking. I liken it to a radio station that picks up whatever channel we are listening to, and of course, we don’t hear the channels you aren’t listening to.
Yeah, so…? Well, the reason this is so important, is if you ask over and over, “what’s wrong with me?”…you will literally find what is wrong with you, because it picks up all information entering the brain that has to do with what is wrong with you. So you might want to be careful of the questions you ask…
Why don’t people like me? Why does this always happen to me? Why am I sick? Why do I always screw thing up? Why are all my relationships failing?
You will find more and more whys, that you really don’t want to find. It’s basic neurology. It’s hardwired into your brain…and your brain is your experience.
How about a simple rewording…How do I always run into friendly people? Why do I always come up with the solution I am looking for? How can I achieve better and better health?
Your “nut” will tune into whatever question you are asking, and find the answer.
How does this relate to health, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic conditions? Medicine was developed through acute care, and the questioning process of acute care is, “what is wrong and how do we manage it?” Great…that process has saved millions of lives.
Now, enter the age of chronic disease. We don’t die of acute infections like in days gone by. Sanitation played a huge part, including doctors washing their hands after cadaver lab (which was ridiculed as an idea when first introduced!), as well as the invention of antibiotics.
Now, people die of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes (along with its many complications). Diseases of aging…diseases of lifestyle…diseases of stress and sugar.
These diseases all require treatment…but the treatment can no longer be management of symptoms. Well it can be, and our (Full) assisted living facilities and nursing homes are good evidence of the use of management type treatments. These folks often are taking over 10 different medications to manage heartburn, thin their blood, decrease their blood pressure, manage their blood sugar, pain, sleep, anxiety, depression…you get the picture.
The problem lies in the acute care questioning. “What’s the problem and how do we manage it?”
Are you ready…here is the solution to America’s health care crisis. Instead of that question, doctors must begin asking, “How do we return (restore) HEALTH?” Same circumstances…heart disease, cancer, diabetes…but different question.
There are doctors out there asking this question. They don’t go by the “medical playbook,” which refers to the protocols established by the (acute care based) American Medical Association. And they don’t treat acute cases...they treat chronic conditions. They keep people out of the nursing homes, by finding a solution that restores health, wherever possible. (and, although you don’t know it, your expectations of what can be accomplished are based on the acute care model, not the chronic care model I am suggesting)
One simple question…one different question…that changes the way we see things. And that includes the patient and the doctor. Think about it, if you never ask the question, you will never find it. Neurology and that nut in your brain guarantees it. If you do ask the question (How do we restore health?), neurology guarantees that you see everything after that question differently.
Einstein first posed this concept, with his question, “Do you live in a hostile, or a friendly universe?”…the world changes with your answer.
Makes you think, doesn’t it?
Yeah, so…? Well, the reason this is so important, is if you ask over and over, “what’s wrong with me?”…you will literally find what is wrong with you, because it picks up all information entering the brain that has to do with what is wrong with you. So you might want to be careful of the questions you ask…
Why don’t people like me? Why does this always happen to me? Why am I sick? Why do I always screw thing up? Why are all my relationships failing?
You will find more and more whys, that you really don’t want to find. It’s basic neurology. It’s hardwired into your brain…and your brain is your experience.
How about a simple rewording…How do I always run into friendly people? Why do I always come up with the solution I am looking for? How can I achieve better and better health?
Your “nut” will tune into whatever question you are asking, and find the answer.
How does this relate to health, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic conditions? Medicine was developed through acute care, and the questioning process of acute care is, “what is wrong and how do we manage it?” Great…that process has saved millions of lives.
Now, enter the age of chronic disease. We don’t die of acute infections like in days gone by. Sanitation played a huge part, including doctors washing their hands after cadaver lab (which was ridiculed as an idea when first introduced!), as well as the invention of antibiotics.
Now, people die of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes (along with its many complications). Diseases of aging…diseases of lifestyle…diseases of stress and sugar.
These diseases all require treatment…but the treatment can no longer be management of symptoms. Well it can be, and our (Full) assisted living facilities and nursing homes are good evidence of the use of management type treatments. These folks often are taking over 10 different medications to manage heartburn, thin their blood, decrease their blood pressure, manage their blood sugar, pain, sleep, anxiety, depression…you get the picture.
The problem lies in the acute care questioning. “What’s the problem and how do we manage it?”
Are you ready…here is the solution to America’s health care crisis. Instead of that question, doctors must begin asking, “How do we return (restore) HEALTH?” Same circumstances…heart disease, cancer, diabetes…but different question.
There are doctors out there asking this question. They don’t go by the “medical playbook,” which refers to the protocols established by the (acute care based) American Medical Association. And they don’t treat acute cases...they treat chronic conditions. They keep people out of the nursing homes, by finding a solution that restores health, wherever possible. (and, although you don’t know it, your expectations of what can be accomplished are based on the acute care model, not the chronic care model I am suggesting)
One simple question…one different question…that changes the way we see things. And that includes the patient and the doctor. Think about it, if you never ask the question, you will never find it. Neurology and that nut in your brain guarantees it. If you do ask the question (How do we restore health?), neurology guarantees that you see everything after that question differently.
Einstein first posed this concept, with his question, “Do you live in a hostile, or a friendly universe?”…the world changes with your answer.
Makes you think, doesn’t it?
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Generalized Medicine for Peripheral Neuropathy
What the heck is generalized medicine? In short, it is the ability to diagnose multiple systems, such as the hormones and digestive system, regardless of the presenting symptom. It is an awareness of what any shift in body chemistry can do to all other functions.
A shift in the hormone cortisol can and will affect your heart, brain, joints, liver, thyroid, etc. But, in specialized medicine, if you have joint pain, you probably will never make it to the endocrine (hormone) specialist, because you have an orthopedic problem. Hmmm.
Let’s look at your condition as seen by specialist medicine…
Peripheral Neuropathy…you belong to the neurology specialty.
What Causes Peripheral Neuropathy? (By WEBMD)
Many things can cause peripheral neuropathies so it is often difficult to know the cause. Neuropathies occur by one of three methods:
Acquired neuropathies are caused by environmental factors such as toxins, trauma, illness, or infection. Known causes of acquired neuropathies include:
Diabetes - responsible for many cases of peripheral neuropathy
Several rare inherited diseases
Alcoholism
Poor nutrition or vitamin deficiency
Herniated discs in the back
Certain kinds of cancer
Conditions where nerves are mistakenly attacked by the body’s own immune system or damaged by an overaggressive response to injury
Certain medications
Kidney or thyroid disease
Infections such as Lyme disease, shingles, or AIDS
Idiopathic neuropathies are from an unknown cause. As many as one-third of all neuropathies are classified in this way.
That’s the causes…here are the treatments:
Pain relievers. Mild symptoms may be relieved by over-the-counter pain medications. For more severe symptoms, your doctor may recommend prescription painkillers. Drugs containing opiates, such as codeine, can lead to dependence, constipation or sedation, so these drugs are generally prescribed only when other treatments fail.
Anti-seizure medications. Drugs such as gabapentin (Neurontin), topiramate (Topamax), pregabalin (Lyrica), carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin) were originally developed to treat epilepsy. However, doctors often also prescribe them for nerve pain. Side effects may include drowsiness and dizziness.
Antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressant medications, such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline (Pamelor), were originally developed to treat depression. However, they have been found to help relieve pain by interfering with chemical processes in your brain and spinal cord that cause you to feel pain. The serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor duloxetine (Cymbalta) also has proved effective for peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes. Side effects may include nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, decreased appetite and constipation.
Ok, you already know this if you have peripheral neuropathy. But, do you see the disconnect here? They even talk about potential causes, but all the treatments are symptom based. Epilepsy drugs? Antidepressants? Pain meds??
I talk about the five metabolic causes of PN: Anemia, allergy, high cortisol, high insulin, and energy (ATP) production impairment. Throw in a physical cause we are all guilty of…lack of body stimulation through movement, and the net result is PN.
To correct peripheral neuropathy, you have to be a hormone doctor, immune doctor, hematologist, and nutritionist. You have to be a generalist!
A study that confirms our need for hormonal help…
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 76, 554-558 “Overall, these results suggest that diabetic neuropathy is associated with a specific and persistent increase in the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal axis. (high cortisol)” National Library of Medicine
And how do we treat that?
“The results suggest that chronic oral administration of phosphatidylserine may counteract stress-induced activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in man”. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1992;42(4):385-8.
For the non-researchers…this is research stating that high cortisol can cause peripheral neuropathy, AND, another study stating that the nutrient phosphatidyl serine can lower cortisol.
But, if you don’t have high cortisol this supplement will do next to nothing.
That’s science…diagnose the cause, treat the cause, resolve the problem.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Todd Stone
A shift in the hormone cortisol can and will affect your heart, brain, joints, liver, thyroid, etc. But, in specialized medicine, if you have joint pain, you probably will never make it to the endocrine (hormone) specialist, because you have an orthopedic problem. Hmmm.
Let’s look at your condition as seen by specialist medicine…
Peripheral Neuropathy…you belong to the neurology specialty.
What Causes Peripheral Neuropathy? (By WEBMD)
Many things can cause peripheral neuropathies so it is often difficult to know the cause. Neuropathies occur by one of three methods:
Acquired neuropathies are caused by environmental factors such as toxins, trauma, illness, or infection. Known causes of acquired neuropathies include:
Diabetes - responsible for many cases of peripheral neuropathy
Several rare inherited diseases
Alcoholism
Poor nutrition or vitamin deficiency
Herniated discs in the back
Certain kinds of cancer
Conditions where nerves are mistakenly attacked by the body’s own immune system or damaged by an overaggressive response to injury
Certain medications
Kidney or thyroid disease
Infections such as Lyme disease, shingles, or AIDS
Idiopathic neuropathies are from an unknown cause. As many as one-third of all neuropathies are classified in this way.
That’s the causes…here are the treatments:
Pain relievers. Mild symptoms may be relieved by over-the-counter pain medications. For more severe symptoms, your doctor may recommend prescription painkillers. Drugs containing opiates, such as codeine, can lead to dependence, constipation or sedation, so these drugs are generally prescribed only when other treatments fail.
Anti-seizure medications. Drugs such as gabapentin (Neurontin), topiramate (Topamax), pregabalin (Lyrica), carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin) were originally developed to treat epilepsy. However, doctors often also prescribe them for nerve pain. Side effects may include drowsiness and dizziness.
Antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressant medications, such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline (Pamelor), were originally developed to treat depression. However, they have been found to help relieve pain by interfering with chemical processes in your brain and spinal cord that cause you to feel pain. The serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor duloxetine (Cymbalta) also has proved effective for peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes. Side effects may include nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, decreased appetite and constipation.
Ok, you already know this if you have peripheral neuropathy. But, do you see the disconnect here? They even talk about potential causes, but all the treatments are symptom based. Epilepsy drugs? Antidepressants? Pain meds??
I talk about the five metabolic causes of PN: Anemia, allergy, high cortisol, high insulin, and energy (ATP) production impairment. Throw in a physical cause we are all guilty of…lack of body stimulation through movement, and the net result is PN.
To correct peripheral neuropathy, you have to be a hormone doctor, immune doctor, hematologist, and nutritionist. You have to be a generalist!
A study that confirms our need for hormonal help…
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 76, 554-558 “Overall, these results suggest that diabetic neuropathy is associated with a specific and persistent increase in the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal axis. (high cortisol)” National Library of Medicine
And how do we treat that?
“The results suggest that chronic oral administration of phosphatidylserine may counteract stress-induced activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in man”. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1992;42(4):385-8.
For the non-researchers…this is research stating that high cortisol can cause peripheral neuropathy, AND, another study stating that the nutrient phosphatidyl serine can lower cortisol.
But, if you don’t have high cortisol this supplement will do next to nothing.
That’s science…diagnose the cause, treat the cause, resolve the problem.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Todd Stone
Generalized Medicine?
Do you ever wonder why medicine is so specialized? The assumption is that you are getting a higher level of care when you see a specialist. They “specialize” in my problem!
What do you suppose that these doctors are taught in Medical school that the rest of them aren’t? Is there a special book?
This may run counter to everything you know about medicine…If I had a health problem, something chronic and serious…I would want the doctor who could see the BIG picture of how all my parts and pieces work together…I would want a generalist.
You probably have heard the saying, “A specialist is someone who knows more and more about less and less, until finally they know everything about nothing.”
Yup, for me, I would find a generalist. Why, you may ask? (Good question!)
While I am not a medical doctor, and practice medicine as a generalist (my bias revealed!), I had to study all the same conditions and diagnostic procedures that are the focus of medical school. In fact, at one point, I resolved to study the entire Merck Manual of Medicine (over 1600 pages long). It didn’t take me long to start skimming though…and then finally, I put the book down in disgust.
What I realized was the people we place in high regard and trust with our most valuable possession (that’s arguably our health), admittedly do not know what causes the vast majority of the conditions in this book (which is updated yearly to include all known diseases and conditions). They don’t know. They say so right in this book.
I am not satisfied until I know why something happens. I believe there is a reason for everything. This book, which is one of the most highly regarded texts in medicine, simply says “I don’t know” and then focuses the remaining waste of ink on the list of drugs that might suppress the symptoms of whatever problem they are discussing.
FROM WEBMD: (My comments in italics)
Essential Hypertension
In as many as 95% of reported high blood pressure cases in the United States, the underlying cause cannot be determined. This type of high blood pressure is called essential hypertension.
Secondary Hypertension
When a direct cause for high blood pressure can be identified, the condition is described as secondary hypertension. Among the known causes of secondary hypertension, kidney disease ranks highest.
Ok, so at least they know what causes 5% of the cases…
What Causes Chronic Kidney Disease?
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD). (Wait, I thought that kidney disease caused high blood pressure?? Let’s see what causes Diabetes)
Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
While not everyone with type 2 diabetes is overweight, obesity and lack of physical activity are two of the most common causes of this form of diabetes. (So lifestyle causes some of the 5% of total cases of high blood pressure)
Unless you have Type 1 Diabetes…
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's own immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (called beta cells). Normally, the body's immune system fights off foreign invaders like viruses or bacteria. But for unknown reasons, in people with type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks various cells in the body.
So…we don’t know why people have hypertension, but in a small percentage it is caused by kidney disease, which is caused by hypertension or diabetes. We still don’t know what causes hypertension, but it causes kidney disease, or does kidney disease cause hypertension…anyway…some people are just obese and don’t exercise, and that causes hypertension…unless it is type 1 diabetes, which we can’t figure out. If only we had a pill to help people lose weight, exercise, and eat right…in any event, I have a pill that blocks high blood pressure, so who really cares!
HOW DOES A GENERALIST DIAGNOSE AND TREAT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
Here is the short list of REAL CAUSES of High Blood Pressure:
1. Low Testosterone (most often secondary to high insulin)
2. High Cortisol
3. Bacterial Infection
4. Viral Infection
5. Toxic exposure (lead, mercury)
6. Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency
7. Magnesium Deficiency
8. Antioxidant Vitamin Deficiency
These can all be tested by a lab…they can all be treated.
Don’t take my word for it, if you are a true skeptic, read this study:
Kawano Y, Matsuoka H, Takishita S, Omae T. Effects of magnesium supplementation in hypertensive patients:assessment by office, home, and ambulatory blood pressures. Hypertension. 1998;32:260-265.
“In the present study, supplementation with Magnesium for 8 weeks significantly lowered BP, with increases in serum Mg concentration…”
This is a study from the National Library of Medicine. This study was performed by scientific method. Controlled and blinded.
My one complaint…the one thing I would do differently as a researcher, would be to actually measure serum or red blood cell Magnesium levels first, see who was low as a baseline, and treat only those that tested low. That is functional medicine. Pharmaceutical medicine takes a group with a symptom (high blood pressure) and gives them magnesium to see if it controls the symptom. The study would have shown much better results if they actually treated only those low in magnesium.
Good example of the thought process of medicine, though. They aren’t so interested in cause, such as a simple test of magnesium levels, they are only interested in symptom suppression.
Do you see why a generalist might be a good thing? When confronted with a simple thing like high blood pressure, you really need to assess your immune system, nutrient status, hormones, and possibly even toxic exposures…IF you want to truly resolve your high blood pressure…or you can just take the high blood pressure pill for the rest of your life. Your choice.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Todd Stone
What do you suppose that these doctors are taught in Medical school that the rest of them aren’t? Is there a special book?
This may run counter to everything you know about medicine…If I had a health problem, something chronic and serious…I would want the doctor who could see the BIG picture of how all my parts and pieces work together…I would want a generalist.
You probably have heard the saying, “A specialist is someone who knows more and more about less and less, until finally they know everything about nothing.”
Yup, for me, I would find a generalist. Why, you may ask? (Good question!)
While I am not a medical doctor, and practice medicine as a generalist (my bias revealed!), I had to study all the same conditions and diagnostic procedures that are the focus of medical school. In fact, at one point, I resolved to study the entire Merck Manual of Medicine (over 1600 pages long). It didn’t take me long to start skimming though…and then finally, I put the book down in disgust.
What I realized was the people we place in high regard and trust with our most valuable possession (that’s arguably our health), admittedly do not know what causes the vast majority of the conditions in this book (which is updated yearly to include all known diseases and conditions). They don’t know. They say so right in this book.
I am not satisfied until I know why something happens. I believe there is a reason for everything. This book, which is one of the most highly regarded texts in medicine, simply says “I don’t know” and then focuses the remaining waste of ink on the list of drugs that might suppress the symptoms of whatever problem they are discussing.
FROM WEBMD: (My comments in italics)
Essential Hypertension
In as many as 95% of reported high blood pressure cases in the United States, the underlying cause cannot be determined. This type of high blood pressure is called essential hypertension.
Secondary Hypertension
When a direct cause for high blood pressure can be identified, the condition is described as secondary hypertension. Among the known causes of secondary hypertension, kidney disease ranks highest.
Ok, so at least they know what causes 5% of the cases…
What Causes Chronic Kidney Disease?
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD). (Wait, I thought that kidney disease caused high blood pressure?? Let’s see what causes Diabetes)
Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
While not everyone with type 2 diabetes is overweight, obesity and lack of physical activity are two of the most common causes of this form of diabetes. (So lifestyle causes some of the 5% of total cases of high blood pressure)
Unless you have Type 1 Diabetes…
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's own immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (called beta cells). Normally, the body's immune system fights off foreign invaders like viruses or bacteria. But for unknown reasons, in people with type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks various cells in the body.
So…we don’t know why people have hypertension, but in a small percentage it is caused by kidney disease, which is caused by hypertension or diabetes. We still don’t know what causes hypertension, but it causes kidney disease, or does kidney disease cause hypertension…anyway…some people are just obese and don’t exercise, and that causes hypertension…unless it is type 1 diabetes, which we can’t figure out. If only we had a pill to help people lose weight, exercise, and eat right…in any event, I have a pill that blocks high blood pressure, so who really cares!
HOW DOES A GENERALIST DIAGNOSE AND TREAT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
Here is the short list of REAL CAUSES of High Blood Pressure:
1. Low Testosterone (most often secondary to high insulin)
2. High Cortisol
3. Bacterial Infection
4. Viral Infection
5. Toxic exposure (lead, mercury)
6. Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency
7. Magnesium Deficiency
8. Antioxidant Vitamin Deficiency
These can all be tested by a lab…they can all be treated.
Don’t take my word for it, if you are a true skeptic, read this study:
Kawano Y, Matsuoka H, Takishita S, Omae T. Effects of magnesium supplementation in hypertensive patients:assessment by office, home, and ambulatory blood pressures. Hypertension. 1998;32:260-265.
“In the present study, supplementation with Magnesium for 8 weeks significantly lowered BP, with increases in serum Mg concentration…”
This is a study from the National Library of Medicine. This study was performed by scientific method. Controlled and blinded.
My one complaint…the one thing I would do differently as a researcher, would be to actually measure serum or red blood cell Magnesium levels first, see who was low as a baseline, and treat only those that tested low. That is functional medicine. Pharmaceutical medicine takes a group with a symptom (high blood pressure) and gives them magnesium to see if it controls the symptom. The study would have shown much better results if they actually treated only those low in magnesium.
Good example of the thought process of medicine, though. They aren’t so interested in cause, such as a simple test of magnesium levels, they are only interested in symptom suppression.
Do you see why a generalist might be a good thing? When confronted with a simple thing like high blood pressure, you really need to assess your immune system, nutrient status, hormones, and possibly even toxic exposures…IF you want to truly resolve your high blood pressure…or you can just take the high blood pressure pill for the rest of your life. Your choice.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Todd Stone
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)