Eclectic Dentistry

Demystifying Medicine

Besides minerals, raw green vegetables provide important enzymes and antioxidants necessary to quench inflammation. Fiber and water promote proper elimination and bowel health. Exercise! Use it or lose it! Less than a thousand calories eaten per day, or lack of exercise produces a sleepy thyroid.

Small and frequent meals keep mineral rich foods passing through the small intestines where they are absorbed. If there are no minerals in the gut, the stressed body becomes catabolic and robs minerals from the muscles, bones and teeth. There can be no more significant stressor than inadequate minerals for cellular function. The hormonal stress response to low minerals includes beta-adrenergic stimulation with functional parathyroid elevation. Proof positive is that beta-blockers and calcium-channel blockers are among the most commonly prescribed drugs.

Take supplements: (with a full glass of water)    Before bed.  

                                                                     If skipping a meal.

                                                                     If eating an empty calorie meal.

                                                                     Before and after alcoholic intake.

Use small amounts of blended multi-minerals several times a day, roughly equaling the daily requirement. Chelated (such as Metagenic’s Multi-Min Chelates or Biotic’s Multi-min) are best if you are sedentary, over 35, or have diarrhea or constipation. Nutricology’s or Allergy Research Group’s capsulated multi-mins work well for teens. Eniva’s cell-ready liquid minerals are excellent for children, or for those who are tired of swallowing pills.

Diuretics cause mineral loss!

Distilled water

Coffee and teas (may reduce absorption 40-80%)

Sodas (carbonic & phosphoric acids)

Alcohol

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Excessive urination

High animal protein

High simple sugars

Megadose Vitamin C

Sweating

Large amounts of single mineral supplements can be counterproductive. Taking a daily dose of minerals all at once is not nearly as beneficial as small frequent doses of multi-minerals taken with water throughout the day!

The smell of rot is what we are talking about. That unmistakable smell of putrefaction associated with rotten eggs, decomposing abscesses, periodontal diseases, sinus and lung infections, rotting undigested fecal matter, or spoiled fish. Putrefaction is the rotten egg smell of scavenging bacteria digesting and decomposing structural sulfur-bonds in proteins. An inflammatory crisis has occurred. Significant numbers of immune cells are dying. Dead tissue invites the electro magnetically attracted ever-present anaerobes to proliferate. The reducing capacity of the body is being exceeded by an explosive oxidant cascade.

When triggered by immune messengers, a host of white cells undergoes a thousand-fold metabolic increase called the "respiratory burst." Stress-mediated catabolism dominates anabolic repair. Oxidative destruction of fatty acid structures overwhelms antioxidant-buffering capacity. The stage is set for degeneration and premature aging.

Sometimes the source of odor is a thick coating on top of the tongue. Sugar disables protein-digesting enzymes produced by the pancreas and puts our patrols of cleansing gobbler white blood cells to sleep. (It is our most damaging late night societal habit to eat sweet desserts right after our major protein consumption). Stress also diminishes pancreatic enzyme production, leading to coated tongue. Inadequate protein digestion promotes this exuberant bacterial growth. Nothing uses up more enzymes than digesting red meat. Tongue scraping (be gentle at first) will diminish the accumulation. The tongue naturally stays clean by reducing metabolic sugar insults from high glycemic foods, managing stress, sleeping better, seeing sunrises and sunsets, boosting antioxidants or digestive enzymes.

When that swamp smell emanates from the breath, the body's major synthesizer of prostaglandins is in inflammatory crisis. The lungs are the major endocrine organ. The brain, just a heartbeat away, is also in inflammatory crisis. The brain has the highest concentration of oxidatively vulnerable unsaturated fatty acids and an even higher metabolism than the lungs.

A popular drug-awareness infomercial, depicting frying eggs, sermonizes: "This is what happens to your brain, when you are on drugs." When one has bad breath or smelly tongue or gums, the brain is frying and thought processing is fuzzy. Bad breath is immune and metabolic crisis. The unsaturated fatty acids that sheathe and insulate neurons are undergoing meltdown. Thinking is clouded. Many prescription drugs also push oxidative overload, just as many lifestyles promote oxidative stress.

In our daily rhythms, the early morning hours cortisol dominates, presenting the highest metabolic challenge of stress, growth, and hormone repair. That is why protein is so important for breakfast. We wake at our alkaline peak, with our lowest serum levels of ionized calcium and magnesium. Along with "morning breath," we see increased irritability, clenching or grinding of the teeth, sore jaw muscles, tender jaw joints, headache and migraine, sinusitis, heart attacks and stroke, leg cramps, and inflammatory "woke up on the wrong side of the bed" behavior. The afternoon from 3-7 PM presents us with a similar alkaline challenge.

Bedtime is an ideal time to stoke body reservoirs with antioxidants and the major and minor minerals to quiet early morning symptoms. Noon time for biggest meal. High glycemic foods or excessive calories in the evening disable nighttime cellular scavenging and repair. Remember to drink a full glass of mineral-rich water upon arising. The body craves pure water, fresh vegetables and fruits, along with minerals, antioxidants and B vitamins. Bay berry (myrtica cerifera) (one teaspoonful per day) was used by the eclectics in the middle 1800's to remove offensive breath, cure bleeding and mouth ulcers. Antibacterial toothpastes may contain tea tree oil, neem, eucalyptus or other essential oils. Parsley will diminish the smell of garlic. Peppermint tea combats halitosis and is a digestive aid. Fennel or cardamom seeds can be chewed as a breath freshener. Tooth and Gum Tonic or Toothpaste contains long-acting effective essential oils and healing herbs.

Bleeding gums are the first signs of breakdown of the physical fibrous barrier collagen, connoting vitamin C insufficiency, leading to cardiovascular disease and cancer. That is premature aging.

The calcified plaque (tartar) attached to the teeth above the gum line is of similar composition to bone. Stress response creates catabolic state, dissolving bone to free up metabolically needed magnesium. Sluggish white blood cells allow plaque to form in the arteries, or on the teeth and gums. Resultant free calcium in the serum deposits in arterial plaque, and is excreted in urine and saliva. Bacteria form the nidus for kidney stones, or calculus on the teeth, thus creating their own mausoleum. Bacterial molecular markers are an immune irritant, covered by calculus. Chronic inflammatory response is typically seen around calculus, but not necessarily loss of barrier. Breakdown of the gingival sealing collar occurs when catabolism exceeds anabolism, and cellular immunity becomes exhausted.

Low magnesium availability or excess phosphorous prompts the parathyroid with generalized beta-adrenergic stress response and dissolution of bone. Magnesium is utilized, and excess calcium is excreted in urine and in saliva, accumulating on the teeth. Tartar is leaking bones accumulating on the teeth. Low levels of magnesium occur when we burn the candle at both ends, eat less than four cups per day of deep green vegetables, or consume diuretics, such as soda pop, alcohol or caffeine. Processed foods are rich in phosphorous, diminishing useful calcium and magnesium. Emotional stress, metabolic stress and resultant acidosis of exercising beyond ‘conversation capacity’, significant sugar or high animal protein intake also create high pulses of calcium excretion.

Another kind of calculus seems to form under the gum line. This calcium barrier is the normal end-stage to the inflammatory process. This inflammatory process is likely a protective immune response to remaining embryologic traces of root-surface antigenic enamel. Depending on total body titer of toxic triggers (modified by ones individually inherited detoxification pathways), local production of eicosanoids creates an alkalinity that encourages calcium crystal formation. Calcium deposits are seen in other joints subjected to inflammatory stress. Although we try to remove this subgingival calculus, we are always imperfect in our efforts. After surgical intervention, the body often covers antigenic enamel traces with sheets of immunologically acceptable sub gingival calculus.

Bleeding gums attract scavenging bacteria. The bacterial digestion of blood creates unpleasant oral odors. Bleeding gums connote scurvy and compromised ability to make collagen, the primary structural protein of the body. Bleeding gums increase the risk of spreading disease. Let your lifestyle allow your immune system to eliminate the local bacterial plaque, which triggers oozing gums. High vitamin C levels in the blood are more closely correlated with clean mouth than tooth brushing.

Vitamin K is formed by gut bacteria, which are often eliminated by antibiotics. Vitamin K is found in green leafy vegetables, alfalfa, egg yolks, sea weeds (kelp) and cod liver oil. For excessive calculus, osteoporosis and bleeding gums try 50-100 mcgs up to 5 10mg of menadione (vitamin K). Bilberry, grape seed extract, gotu kola, propolis (honey) dandelion and gingko are also helpful. Nibble greens all day long.

Reduce tartar formation by reducing stress. Balance calcium supplements with extra magnesium and appropriate ratios of the other minerals. Reduce excessive animal protein and processed foods. Reduce plaque and calculus through exercise, seeing sunrises and sunsets, diminishing stress, avoiding addictive foods, and boosting antioxidant nutrients. Avoid high glycemic crisped, baked, browned boxed breakfast cereals, crackers, and breads, French fries, baked potatoes, cooked carrots, cookies, cakes, pastries and sherbet. Drink plenty of water; increase vegetables, fruits, and sprouts. The herb red root (California lilac) remedies menstrual hemorrhage, nosebleeds, hemorrhoids, varicosities, old ulcers and capillary ruptures. Red root also enhances electrical repelling of blood proteins, encouraging lymphatic drainage and cyst reduction. Lymphagogue Compound from Wise Woman Herbals is based on red root, echinacea, burdock, stillangia, pokeroot, Baptisa, and prickly ash. Combine red root with milk thistle, ocotillo, or vervain for connective tissue swelling.

The tissues that anchor the teeth to the jaws are key to survival. If one's teeth begin to fail, it is time to become aware. Listen to what your body is telling you. Similar disease is also occurring in other organ systems. Those aches and pains, those irritable and inflammatory emotional responses are part of this too. Periodontal diseases are largely autoimmune disorders, with most damage caused by failure of cellular immunity (TH1) and one's own uncontrolled inflammatory response (TH2).

Cells can't "see," but they use a sensory system similar to Braille to identify friend or foe (antigen). A controlled autoimmune inflammatory process first causes eruption of the teeth. Enamel triggers an antigenic response, just as the markers of certain bacteria or foods trigger the antigenic inflammatory response. Inside the jawbone, a protective cyst always surrounds the enamel. The boundary of the cyst is created by the controls of the inflammatory process. When a tooth first enters the mouth, the enamel is squeezed from the body just as a boil or a pimple is erupted. The root surface of teeth has a bony covering called cementum, which is well accepted by the immune system unless marked by antigens. Many teeth form with traces of antigenic ectodermal enamel on root surfaces. When toxicity causes antioxidant-buffering mechanisms to become exhausted, inflammation begins near marked root surfaces.

Inflammation is controlled in the same way as a "bumper car" at the fair, with both the accelerator and the brake functioning at all times. If the brakes fail, the "friendly fire" of inflammatory chemistry can liquefy bone, joint tissues, or teeth in short order. Inflammation creates a heightened state of critical demand for nutrients necessary to quench oxidative reactions. Lack of magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, vitamin E, tocotrienols, sulfur-containing amino acids, or vitamin C can allow rapid liquefaction of membranes, destroying the structural integrity of the cells. Coenzyme Q 10, at 30-200mg per day will enhance energy, tighten gums, shrink pockets, as well as reduce elevated blood pressure.

The classical odors of a poorly drained swamp are created in one's mouth when damaged dead tissues attract scavenging putrefactive families of anaerobic bacteria. Only when pus pockets in the gums are disturbed does one become aware of their odor. The same disabled cellular immunity and uncontrolled inflammatory response often exists in the sinuses and in the lungs, creating personal and social awareness of those offensive odors. The same heightened inflammatory response may express itself as plaque, arthritis, asthma, skin conditions, headache, trigger points, high blood pressure, cellulite or irritability and fatigue. Disabled cellular immunity and uncontrolled inflammatory processes increase risk of the major killers, heart disease, stroke and cancer. If parts of one’s body are rotting, change is desirable.

Pophyromonas gingivalis (a common cause of gum disease) may promote arterial disease. Eleven hundred men were followed at the Boston VA Outpatient Clinic with varying levels of gum disease for twenty-five years. The ones with bad gums had almost double the heart attack rate and three times the stroke rate. Women with bad gums deliver babies with low birth weights. Bacterial infections connote compromised barriers at all of our borders.

Elevated homocysteine is a most significant risk factor for heart disease and stroke, as well as all other inflammatory diseases. One theory is that the homocysteine itself injures the artery wall, but also cogent is that elevated plasma homocysteine indicates disordered glutathione metabolism. Glutathione represents five major systems of detoxification and reduction of excessive inflammatory oxidation. First vitamin C is used fighting inflammation, then glutathione. When glutathione is depleted, we build toxins, bloating and proliferative hormones and decompose. Cold-processed whey protein effectively boosts glutathione. NAC (n-acetyl cysteine) is a bioavailable precursor to glutathione. Vitamin E, selenium, lipoic acid, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, SAMe, and/or betaine hydrochloride recycle glutathione and reduce harmful homocysteine.

Plaque does not accumulate in the mouth of a healthy animal. If flossing is necessary to prevent gingival bleeding or swamp odors, an increased risk to all inflammatory disease is present, including heart disease, and cancer. If one is in top shape, flossing is for food fibers.

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The TMJs (temporomandibular joints), the jaw joints, are a focal point for stress. Pain may originate within an inflamed joint capsule, from trigger points within associated musculature, or from migrainous vascular spasms in the blood vessels that traverse the area. Besides obvious emotional stress, the most common cause of clenching or gritting teeth that creates symptoms in joints and muscles is due to weakened cellular immunity allowing parasites. Gut dysbiosis, an unfavorable mix of bacteria in the bowels is an internal stress we cannot get away from. Parasites reflect weak cellular immunity and interfere with proper digestion and restful sleep. Colostrum extracts often help, along with beneficial bacteria, as does Citricidal grapefruit seed extract, or artemsia.

The use of the teeth for noxious rubbing, gnashing, clenching, or grinding is called bruxism. This "unnecessary" use of the jaws is also called parafunction. Parafunction tooth symptoms may be mild, ranging from small wear facets on the teeth to more severe with teeth nubbins worn down to the gums. Overdeveloped masseter muscles (chipmunk cheeks) connote inefficient energy production due to toxic mitochondria. Accentuated by the demands of stress and lack of dopamine (adrenal exhaustion), bruxism expresses a basic oral need to seek supportive nutrients. Farm animals are given mineral supplements when they exhibit odd biting behavior. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors suppress dopamine while boosting serotonin, causing bruxism. Restorative dentistry or orthognathic surgery can only improve mechanics, and will fail if bruxing continues. Most therapies succeed if the patient stops bruxing. Controlling stress, and establishing positive mineral balance is the key to quieting hyperfunction.

Clenching during the night may create jaw joint tenderness and sore muscles upon awakening. Early morning symptoms are an important sign that resilience is being lost. The early morning hours are a high demand time. The peak flows of stress, growth, and repair hormones occur in the early morning before awakening. If toxicity is high or mineral reserves are low, symptoms occur at this time. When mineral reservoirs are low, resultant stress mechanisms create an essential extra irritability. Taking a multi-mineral supplement before bed with water generally quiets morning symptoms.

If the multi-mineral supplement before bed does not help, try chelated minerals. Check that magnesium is equal to, or greater than the amount of calcium. Thousand-milligram doses of calcium supplements tend to induce relative magnesium or zinc deficiencies, creating symptoms of irritability and inflammation. Vitamin B6 deficiency also induces functional deficits in magnesium and zinc. Alcohol intake induces bruxism in some people. Alcohol's detoxication requires magnesium.

Anxiety, depressive, neurotic, or psychotic behaviors are the result of inflammatory brain chemistry, which may be caused by excessive coffee and cigarette smoking, heightened immune response or by counter productive thought processes. Orofacial pain sometimes reflects the patient's need to discuss something too deep and difficult to vocalize. Counseling may be indicated to help cope with loss of one's health, or hypnotic therapy might reveal the source of deeply seated social conflict that cannot be safely expressed verbally.

Inflammatory pain of the jaw joints has not been strongly associated with any specific orthopedic or occlusal relationships, just bruxism. Other inflammatory diseases indicate risk, such as tooth decay, periodontal disease, allergies, inflammatory bowel, low back pain, and asthma. Migraine is associated with TMJ, angina, and low thyroid function. Autoimmune collagen diseases, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid and lupus or endocrine imbalance, also increase risk to inflammation in the TMJs.

Glucosamine in substantial doses in any of its three forms helps feed and repair cartilage. Both glucosamine and lysine act as collagenase inhibitors, slowing the catabolic breakdown of joints. Chondroitin sulfate may reduce autoimmune breakdown of cartilage by the immune mechanism of oral tolerance. Soups boiled overnight with bones and cartilage provide similar help. The folic acid metabolite, SAMe in doses of 400-1600 mg/day tends to help with arthritis and depression. An orally absorbable form of hyaluronic acid called synovoderma from Allergy Research has had salutary effects. MSM and NAC provide sulfur to help detoxification and repair.

Trauma induces jaw joint inflammation. Common traumas are whiplash, oral sexual play, intubation for anesthesia, tonsillectomy, excessive yawning during ‘all-nighters,’ extensive dental work, wisdom tooth removal, or just being punched. Child or spouse abuse often presents as TMJ or facial pain. If trauma is not seen as a primary causative factor, TMJ symptoms become a risk factor for other uncontrolled inflammatory responses, such as coronary vessel spasm. Control sugar, limit inflammatory triggers or replenish disabled antioxidant systems to reduce risk.

If facial pain is debilitating, look to environmental toxicity. Airborne pollutants may be involved, but the most common triggers are foods. If severe symptoms occur in early morning, look to food reactions from favorite nighttime meals or snacks. Associated symptoms might be sinus or sleep apnea, nighttime terrors, leg cramps, toe or finger locking, or a debilitating head, neck, or back ache. Sensitized trigger points are tweaked by immune-antibody complexes created by reactions to favorite foods.

The nutritional approach to facial pain has seven basic parts:

1)     Drink plenty of water. Reduce diuretics.

2)     Eat tons of greens and pigmented berries.

3)     Use low-dose multi-minerals morning and night.

4)     Identify and eliminate your trigger (bad information) foods.

5)     Limit use of commercially fried foods, pasta, pastries and baked goods, supermarket beef, chicken, and milk  products.

6)     Boost use of seaweed, cold water fish, canola, flaxseed, sesame, safflower, walnut, olive, hemp, and avocado oils.

7)     Supplement with quenching doses of antioxidants & enzymes.

The bioflavinoids of deodorized garlic, ginger, curcurmin, Hawthorne or the silymarin in milk thistle are specific blockers of the lipoxygenase enzymes that cause the spasm and hyperalgesia of migrainous pain. See the page "COMBATING UNCONTROLLED INFLAMMATION" for more details.

Bite appliance therapy orthopedically reduces stress in the jaw joints and their musculature. Wearing a bite appliance often quiets hyperactive musculature. Bite appliances can dissipate harmful forces and reduce wear on the teeth. They can also brace the jaw by repositioning the meniscus and allowing injured joint parts to rest and heal. In patients with underdeveloped mandibles, passive eruption bonding or appliances significantly reduce long term dysfunctional symptoms.

If eyes, ear canals, or cheekbones are substantially asymmetrical; or chronic sinusitis, tinnitis, or difficulty in clearing the ears is part of the clinical picture, consider intranasal balloon therapy. Tiny balloons can unleash locked cranial sutures by torquing the sphenoid bones internally from three distinct angles. Significant cranial remodeling and improvements in symmetry occur for 2-4 months after a series of balloon treatments. Balloons driven by a blood-pressure bulb can push against the sphenoid bones from inside the nasal passages, literally fluffing out the skull. Eustachian tube function is improved enhancing balance and hearing, often eliminating tinnitus. Clear breathing is enhanced, reducing snoring. The balloon technique has variously been called endonasal technique, the Stober technique, and lately neurocranial reconstruction, by Dean Howell, N.D. of Tonasket, Washington, 98855. This is a powerful, dramatic technique. It does what Dr. Upledger’s highly recommended much gentler cranio-sacral adjustments most often do, but in fewer visits. Naturopathic techniques for mobilizing cranial sutures should be considered to correct birthing trauma. "You can never use all the abilities you inherited, until you release the pressures on your brain coming from your skull." Dr. Howell can be reached at 888-252-0411 for referrals of doctors trained in this incredible technique. His website is at http//www.drdeanhowell.com. When skull shape is distorted, different brain centers experience excess or diminished cerebro-spinal fluid, impacting functions such as speech, muscle coordination, or emotions. Much emotional release can occur during these often challenging visits. Old blockages can be quickly shed with this technique. Stephen Berman, D.C. described the technique in the Journal of Craniomandibular Practice, July 1991, Vol. 9, No. 3.

Of the factors that perpetuate pain, none is more depressing or demotivating than awakening tired with low energy states created by adrenal exhaustion and slow metabolism.

The chief chemical currency of energy in the body is adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Magnesium helps convert ATP to ADP, releasing a phosphate bond. The adsorption-binding constant for ADP is 100,000 times weaker on myosin, a primary structural protein of the cell. Loss of ATP from the binding site causes a conformational change in protein shape, initiating work. Every day our mitochondria produce about half our body weight in ATP. Toxicity or any other glitch in the production of ATP creates an energy shortage, causing fatigue and irritability. The energy released by ATP gives each of our cells its electrical potential. Efficient energy production gives cells a strong charge, a pulsing glimmer of electrochemical energy.

Shortages of calcium, magnesium, ATP, creatine phosphate or water, cause potassium to leak from its preferential adsorption sites; diminishing the electrical charge of the cell. Cells with lowered electrical potential are more easily triggered, more irritable. Optimal magnesium intake begs consumption of four cups per day of deep green vegetables. Minimally 400mg of magnesium is required for daily energy release requirements. Lack of magnesium, copper, iron, coenzyme Q10, carnitine, niacin, riboflavin, biotin, or lipoic acid may cause problems in the production of ATP.

Slow metabolism creates diminished immunity, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, apathy, poor wound healing, compromised digestion, constipation, brittle nails, poor skin, coarse dry hair, weak bones, and flabby muscles. The most common cause is lack of exercise. The normal response to lack of exercise is low thyroid function. This functional hypothyroidism creates a lowered metabolism. The blood tests for thyroid hormone will likely be in normal ranges. But it is the thyroid receptors within each cell's membranes that are the primary regulators of thyroid activity, and receptors are not tested. If the thyroid receptor is sluggish, due to lack of adrenal hormones, starvation diets, being sedentary, or too little selenium, even plentiful circulating thyroid hormone will have little effect on the cell. The thyroid sets the level of metabolic activity of the body. Pain, postural hypotension, easy sweating or salt cravings connote adrenal exhaustion that will not allow thyroid hormone to work. If blood pressure is low or normal, enjoy your salt. Virus may trigger ‘autoimmune’ destruction of the thyroid now measured by thyroid antibody tests. Selenium (200-400mcg/day), niacinamide (1-3gms/day), and NAC (n-acetyl cysteine at 1-2gms/day) slow, stop, or reverse autoimmune destruction of the thyroid, and many other tissues.

Basal metabolic rate can be observed with a thermometer. Body temperature upon awakening and without moving about is one way to check basal metabolic rate. Waken 10 minutes early and barely move to record the armpit temperature for 10 "snooze-button" minutes. Average two mornings. Below 97.8 degrees connotes low adrenal or thyroid function. Women with an active menstrual cycle record their low temperature days the second, third, or fourth days of menstruation (temperature is highest in the middle of the cycle at ovulation). Check temperature between 4-6 PM to check diurnal rhythm. It should rise to 98.2-98.6 degrees late afternoon. Saliva samples four times over 24 hours can provide an adrenal stress index relating cortisol and DHEA to low metabolism.

Key raw materials for thyroid function are the amino acid tyrosine and the minerals iodine, zinc, copper, chromium, and selenium. Lack of any of these interferes with the production of thyroid hormone or the efficiency of its receptor. Ask about the zinc taste test. A bitter disgusting taste suggests zinc adequacy, and a pleasant or mildly discernable taste indicates need for zinc. A self-test for iodine: simply paint a 2% tincture of iodine (available at drugstore or supermarket) the size of a silver dollar on tummy or thigh. If a smudge of the stain lasts a full 24 hours, iodine levels are adequate. A body thirsty for iodine will suck it up quickly. Keep applying (or supplementing) iodine until some of the stain lasts a full 24 hours. Adequate iodine discourages mucus and cyst formation, and keeps estrogen in its benign form.

Taking kelp along with l-tyrosine promotes the natural production of thyroid hormone. Low thyroid function diminishes digestive efficiency and cellular immunity, allowing a coated tongue. Poor digestion creates a chronic catabolic stress response because required nutrients must be internally cannibalized.

Twenty minutes of sunshine, exercise, or even a cold shower will boost thyroid activity for the following eight to ten hours. Two half-hour sessions, morning and evening, create almost twice the thyroid burn of one continuous hour of exercise. Schedule an activity such as walking that generates light perspiration and deep breathing (so you can still maintain conversation) for twenty minutes twice per day.

Anemias are a common cause of lowered energy production. Most anemias are seen in rapidly growing youngsters, in menstruating women, and in both sexes with GI malabsorption problems, bleeding ulcers or hemorrhoids. Apathy, diminished mental acuity, lack of appetite (paradoxically often considered desirable), headache, muscle and joint aches, and, classically, fatigue, are common symptoms. Pale mouth tissues, balding tongue, magenta tongue, strawberry tongue, or cracking at the corners of the mouth may all be physical clues to different anemias. Iron, copper, and a cluster of B vitamins are important for red cell production and for oxygen transport. The efficient aerobic production of energy can be compromised by lack of key nutrients long before there is an actual reduction in the number of oxygen carrying red cells. Testing for serum homocysteine elevations is the current best indicator of B12 and folate status. Elevated homocysteine creates chronically inflamed endothelium, also compromising, energy exchange and nutrient transfer.

Inositol hexaphosphate (phytic acid) aids the efficient release of oxygen from hemoglobin. A plant based diet is rich in phytic acid.

Stress causes magnesium depletion, which allows wasting of potassium. Potassium shortage creates loss of mental alertness, difficulty with decisions and insecurity about memory. Mental and muscle fatigue develop and endurance declines. Sensitivity to cold develops. Twitches or cramps might develop. We become irritable and have difficulty sleeping well and may develop joint soreness. Paprika, kelp, apple cider vinegar, honey, cream of tartar, grapes, apples and cranberries are rich sources of potassium.

The miraculous green molecule chlorophyll is our best source of magnesium. Chlorophyll traps the energy of the photons of the sun and converts it into useful food for us. Our bodies convert chlorophyll to hemoglobin by removing its central magnesium and replacing it with iron, changing its vibration level from green to red. The hemoglobin of our red cells is photoactive, similar to chlorophyll. We are photoactive beings. Juicing and eating greens is the most effective way to build blood.

Sunrises and sunsets are required to set body clocks. Ultraviolet light (countered by darkness) is required by photoresponsive cells in the eye to trigger pineal production of melatonin, which regulates the primitive brain stem, the pituitary, the thymus, and the thyroid. One-third to twenty mgs of melatonin either at dusk or one half hour before bed promotes a deep restful sleep and is a powerful antioxidant. Twenty minutes of sunlight helps convert cholesterol into vitamin D, a steroid hormone with anti-inflammatory activity. Vitamin D is better known for its bone-enhancing qualities.

If evening snacks are high in carbohydrates blood sugar will be driven-up. Insulin-driven decline of blood sugar triggers a cortisol response at night when cortisol is programmed to be low. Nighttime cortisol alters the sleep cycle. The "Packmen" of the immune system, the white blood cells that engulf bacteria and cellular waste, mostly sleep during the day sequestered in the spleen. If cortisol levels are high, white cells stay asleep all night, and nighttime repair does not take place. During the day these phagocytes do their best repair and clean-up work only when blood sugar levels are 75-85 mg% or lower and they become quite sluggish at blood levels of 120-130 mg%. Ineffective cellular immunity sets us up for plaque accumulation, vascular problems and cancer. Avoid high glycemic foods.

Chronic pain may be an expression of biochemical uniqueness. Many chronic pain patients respond negatively to a common food additive, an amino acid called monosodium glutamate (MSG). MSG is also known as hydrolyzed vegetable protein. MSG is used as a flavor enhancer (Accent tm) in America. Up to 30% of Caucasians have difficulty metabolizing MSG. In Asia, pungent MSG has the status of a primary flavor, along with sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. The essence of this flavor is hydrolyzed vegetable protein (MSG). Only one percent of Asians have trouble metabolizing MSG.

MSG sensitivity defines a biochemical weakness in phosphorylating dietary vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) into its active coenzyme form P-5-P (pyridoxal-5-phosphate). Many chronic pain patients have adequate amounts of pyridoxine in the diet, normal levels in the serum, but may have a deficit in vitamin B6 function. Phosphorylated B6 is necessary to transport magnesium and zinc into the cell. The underlying cause of irritability and inflammatory symptoms of zinc or magnesium deficiency may be poor B6 function. Activated B6 is necessary to produce serotonin, the brain chemical of sleep and optimism. Depression and sleep disorders are common in chronic pain patients. In basic energy production, phosphorylated B6 is necessary, along with vitamin C and lysine, to produce CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10). Along with copper and iron, CoQ10 is critically necessary to channel energy production in the cristae of our mitochondria.

Adrenal exhaustion is associated with normal thyroid blood tests, but reduced thyroid function, pain, bloat, flab and low systemic levels of the catecholamine adrenal medulary hormones. Also reduced are the desirable brain chemicals of alertness and sexual drive, the catecholamines: epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Besides providing brain energy, one function is to control muscular or motor activity, reducing bruxism. The catecholamines are inactivated by oxidative processes. Chronic inflammation stresses the reserves of the antioxidant buffers and increases oxidative load. Inflammatory overload literally depresses and demotivates by breaking down catecholamines, creating the malaise of illness. The liberal use of antioxidants prolongs the life of the catecholamines and promotes desirable brain chemistry, reducing hyperactive muscles.

The fatigue of illness reflects the diversion of energy used to fuel the immune process. In response to the stress of illness, production of white cells increases up to a thousand fold. These triggered immune cells then undergo a respiratory burst, increasing consumption of oxygen another thousand fold. That's turning up the heat by a factor of one million. Oxidative inflammatory processes dismantle muscle and bone so that new cells can be created, part of the two catabolic and anabolic tidal flows each day. The pumps that keep the electrical charge of the cell primed are exquisitely sensitive to oxidative damage. Damaged pumps diminish the electrical potential of the cell, making us both more vulnerable and irritable.

The typical American diet provides insufficient essential fatty acids, and rarely provides enough antioxidants to effectively cope with the modern onslaught of oxidant stress. Popular low-fat diets paradoxically make us fat and create deficiencies of the polyunsaturated essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins, increasing inflammatory pain. If inflammation is present, balance fat ratios. Then add antioxidants to quench the painful oxidant cascade, with fewer negative effects, than currently available patented pharmaceuticals.

The other major weakness of the low fat diet: the diet generally becomes too high in insulin-triggering carbohydrates to compensate. Advertised, hybridized, civilized caramelized, crisped, fried, dried, browned, baked, boxed and bagged carbohydrates exponentially and informationally create increased glycemic response, spiking of insulin and blockade of the anti-inflammatory prostaglandins 1's. The insulin-driven rapid decline of blood sugar triggers the catabolic cortisol stress response. Phagocytosis (cellular immunity) becomes sluggish. Proliferative estrogen dominates over progesterone and metabolically ineffective reverse thyroxin predominates. Metabolic syndrome X with insulin resistance, cysts and increased inflammatory pain with increased risk to tooth decay, periodontal disease, TMJ, mood swings, and sexual dysfunction, matures into adult-onset diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

Patients often come to dentists when they have sinusitis. Symptoms include toothache, headache, jaw ache, TMJ, earache, facial pain, loss of smell, tenderness over cheekbones or forehead, or cranial pressure. Sometimes all of the above. Sinusitis triggers heightened immune response and can accentuate periodontal disease or inflammatory symptoms elsewhere in the body. Left untreated, sinusitis can lead to asthma, bronchitis, osteitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis or pneumonia. Sinusitis is an inflammatory process caused by viral, bacterial, and often fungal infections due to compromised cellular immunity with heightened compensatory allergic reactions. TH1 (natural killer cells & phagocytes) activity is disabled with stress (no sleep, excess sugar or protein). TH2 (humoral or chemical allergy phenomena) rises to compensate for disabled or sluggish gobbler cells.

During colds, sinuses can become blocked with excess thickened mucus. Usually the mucus clears in three to five days, but for one person in twenty the mucus and sinus linings of a sealed space become chronically infected and inflamed. More than fifty percent of acute sinusitis cases are caused by bacteria, which often create greenish or yellowish mucus response. The clear discharge of allergic sinusitis may be triggered by irritant fumes and smells, hay fever and food allergies, classically to dairy products. Chronic sinusitis may signal salivary IgA immune deficiency, with yeast taking over. A simple saliva test can quantify production of this most significant immunoglobulin.

Antihistamines slow the runny allergic nose. They dry the air passages. Drying is fine for short-term rhinitis. However, drying thickens mucus and can further block sinuses or eustachian tubes. Sinusitis begs for additional moisture to thin thickened mucus. Humidifiers and saltwater sprays can provide moisture. Use one-quarter teaspoon of salt in four ounces of water. A quarter teaspoonful of baking soda can also be added as a mucolytic and for alkalinity. Pour the lightly salted water into the palm of your hand. Suck the solution up your nose as you move your head upright to draw the mucus into the throat. The neti pot is specially designed to irrigate the sinuses.

It is best to not forcefully blow the nose. This action forces mucus into the eustachian tubes or back into the sinus spaces. Instead, draw the phlegm to the back of the throat by sniffing and, collect and expectorate. Reduce stress. Stress makes mucus thicker. Do not stifle (but shield) sneezes.

Prescription decongestants such as pseudoephedrine reduce swelling by constricting blood vessels. Besides making many people jittery or boosting high blood pressure, the pseudoepheds have a rebound effect, with symptoms worsening when the spray wears off. Avoid classic mucus inducers: cow's milk, soymilk and wheat. Drink water, soups, and teas. Add vitamin C powders to your water. Try echinacea tea. Lemon juice with added horseradish makes an effective cocktail.

The inflammatory pain of sinusitis (or cystitis) is associated with loss of organic acid buffers (pH) and oxidative alkaline (redox) crisis. The balance of acid and base is off, and oxidation-reduction as well! Take antioxidants to quench the fire and try shifting the pH to neutral, relieving the pain, by taking one teaspoonful of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water each hour for seven doses. Asthma and hay fever also exhibit excessive alkalinity through the urine. Diluted unsweetened cherry or cranberry juice, sauerkraut, spearmint, raspberry leaf and buchu are acidifying. Try a hot bath or shower without soap (alkaline), but with vinegar, or bathe with 2 cups of Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate).

Larger doses of garlic, such as 1000 mg of Kyolic every 3-4 waking hours are a useful natural antibiotic. Oil of oregano or olive leaf extract are powerful alternatives. Beneficial bacteria, such as acidophilus, ingested orally can minimize the gastrointestinal upset and lactobacillus applied via a nasal saltwater spray can kill yeast and help establish beneficial bacterial flora in the gut and in the airways. Probiotics tone the immune system, boosting natural killer cell activity. Bromelain and quercitin or pancreatic (proteolytic) enzymes can aid penetration of antibiotics and the dissolution of the thickened mucus. Try several tablets one half to two hours before meals.

NAC (n-acetyl cysteine) in timed-release form is an effective mucolytic at 500 mgs twice per day. IGA+ precursor from Ecological is a broader formula. Other clinical uses range from smoker's hack to cancer and cataracts, for mercury and other heavy metals toxicity, for protection from alcohol, aspirin, or phenacetin abuse to detoxication of a wide range of pollutants, for patients with the ammonia smell of kidney failure (uremia), for baldness, psoriasis, asthma, and cystic fibrosis. The parent molecule, cysteine, is better tolerated by some. NAC is the essential sulfur-containing amino acid modified for easier absorption. Sulfur containing amino acids are necessary for restoring those very important glutathione antioxidant-buffering enzymes. Cysteine is plentiful in egg yolks, red peppers, animal muscle protein, garlic, onion, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. Selenium, zinc, magnesium, and even vanadium help recycle glutathione. These minerals should be provided in your multimineral. The B vitamin methyl donors and natural vitamin E help recycle glutathione. Lipoic acid also recycles glutathione, at 100 - 900 mg/day.

An extract of rye grass, called Oralmat has balancing biological response modifiers that are remarkably effective against sinus, asthma, hay fever, cough, and even PMS. Just three drops under the tongue often reverses symptoms quickly. Many agents boost TH1 activity, indirectly reducing TH2 dominance. Oralmat is the only agent I know that directly lowers TH2 dominance.

Vitamin C supplementation adjusted to bowel tolerance acts as an antiviral and maximizes the action of antibiotics. Garlic and onion extracts are antiviral, antibacterial, and decongestant in action. Combine six chopped white onions and one half-cup honey in a double boiler. Simmer two hours and strain. The warmed extract can be taken at regular intervals.

Chicken soup, which is rich in cysteine, helps to thin mucus. Chicken soup can also contain the antioxidant extracts of its vegetable bouquet. Adding garlic, onions, ginger, pepper, and hot spices such as horseradish, mustard, curries or hot chilies really help to fight congestion. Hot salsa works even better than menthol cough drops. Try a sprinkling of cayenne or ten to twenty drops of Tabasco sauce in a glass of warm water and drink or gargle.

Bee pollen increases immunity, speeds healing, and increases antihistaminic activity especially for allergic or hay fever types. Honey also contains propolis and homeopathic levels of local pollens for oral tolerance in 1-3 teaspoonful doses. Honey and apple cider vinegar are a Vermont hay fever remedy, two teaspoonfuls of each in water twice per day. Chewing the honeycomb will keep the nose clear and dry. For wetness of the eyes and seeping sinuses, take one teaspoonful of apple cider vinegar and one drop of Lugol's potassium iodide to a glass of water each meal for two weeks. Try the ‘silver dollar’ iodine test.

Asian mushrooms, especially shiitake, combat viruses. Shiitake, three ounces of fresh or one-third ounce of dry, significantly reduces cholesterol. Beta-3-glucans may be one of the most active polysaccharides in increasing cellular immunity. Lentinan, part of the shiitake, is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent that potentiates immunity. In Asia mushrooms are used to treat cancers and leukemia.

During inflammation, the body requires increased B vitamins: Pyridoxal-5-phosphate (5 - 20 mg) for the MSG sensitive; extra pantothenic acid, 100 mg three times per day with meals enhances peristalsis, aiding elimination. Apply the general principles of combating inflammation.

Unless pregnant or taking birth control pills, take vitamin A, 50,000-100,000 units per day, systemically or topically, for two weeks. Pharmaceutical grade cod liver oil, several tablespoonfuls per day for a few days is effective. Natural vitamin E 400-800iu per day to balance A. Vitamin E is soothing topically.

Herbs are also beneficial in treating sinusitis: anise and horehound, brigham tea, echinacea, fenugreek, goldenseal root, lobelia, marshmallow, mullein, red clover, and rose hips. For a sore throat, clogged eustachian tubes and sinuses, gargle and swallow 1/4 cup of sage tea and follow with a menthol lozenge or eucalyptus tea or desert lavender tea. Fresh vegetable juices are helpful. Good combinations are: carrot and spinach; carrot, beet and cucumber; carrot, celery, endive and parsley.

Euphobrium, a homeopathic from BHI at 10 drops, three times per day for three months has been reported to make nasal polyps disappear.

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HERPES VIRUSES

The vast majority of us are colonized by our family's varieties of the herpes virus by the time we are six months old. Herpes and other viruses may also accompany vaccinations or gamma-globulin injections. When we recover, the virus (masked to mimic our molecular markers) settles in the nerves, even in the spinal connections. When natural killer cell activity (TH1) declines the herpes awakens. A bad copy of intracellular adhesion molecules, herpes creates those prodromal tingles or itches that predict vesicles of fluid laden with virus. These vesicles ulcerate in moist mucosa or harden, crust and crack on dry skin. We focus on the skin lesions, but there is neural inflammation to the spinal ganglia, even to the brain. Herpes is a chronic disease of the nerves, which periodically blossoms on the surface.

America is experiencing a herpes epidemic as we disable cellular immunity. This partly relates to disruption of sleep cycles by the electric light, mercury and viral contamination of vaccines and other blood products, and the liberal use of patent and recreational drugs, and the increasing load of lead from the last 2,000 years of civilization. The negative synergy of mercury, cadmium and others. Steroids and aspirin-like drugs suppress immunity. Competitive flora destruction by antibiotics provides a niche. The dry mouth of Sjogren's syndrome and other autoimmune diseases stems from the herpetic involvement of a gland. A flood of lymphocytes attracted by virus dries up the salivary glands, the lachrymals, or the thyroid or adrenals. Functionally the gland becomes a chronically inflamed lymph node. Destruction created by rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases has similar virally attracted clusters of lymphocytes.

Nerves run alongside and into the intimae of arteries. The nerve endings inside arteries respond to the communication of membrane chemistry between the intimal lining and the membranes of the mobile cells of the immune system. Muscle spasm or tension headaches are created in the arterioles feeding the muscle fiber, not in the muscle. If leukotrienes are produced in large arteries ultimate pain and spasm are felt, as in migraine, angina, stroke or heart attack. Cytomegalovirus (CMV), another herpes variant implicated in autoimmune destruction of the pancreas, adrenals, and thyroids, typically triggers the tumor-like growth of the smooth muscle lining of artery that is the hallmark of atherosclerosis. A viral ulcer on the inside of arteries is all too plausible an explanation for the injury that excites the cholesterol clog and the inflammatory pain and spasm of angina. CMV infection quintuples odds of closure of reamed-out angioplasty arteries.

Toothache, jaw ache, migraine headache, dizziness or Meniere's disease, tinnitus, trigeminal neuralgia, Tic douloureux, and Bell's palsy are nerve syndromes triggered by herpes. Alzheimer’s disease, largely a disease of brain toxicity, is four times higher in herpes infected brains. Chickenpox and its painful later in life return from dormancy, shingles are both herpes zoster. This new understanding that chicken pox returns in another form destroys the basic premise of the vaccination industry. Yet more and earlier vaccinations are recommended by a self-regulated and government protected industry. Periodontal bacteria infected with herpes-6 or Epstein-Barr are 6-30 times more pathogenic. Risk of shingles increases with Hodgkin’s disease and other cancers, anti-cancer drugs, stress, and immune deficiency. Herpes itself increases risk of cancer and is found in practically all cancerous tumors. Another herpes variant, Epstein-Barr, the maven of mononucleosis, is characterized by its unrelenting aching fatigue. Fatigue is the result of lost energy due to energy-intensive production of inflammation and RNAase, required to fight virus. The immune system's anti-viral RNA efforts also compromise manufacture of our own memory RNA, draping mental fog over the fatigue.

Selenium markedly reduces risk to heart disease and cancer. Heavy metals compete with selenium at enzyme binding sites. Lead, cadmium, mercury, and aluminum additively block selenium’s key role in recycling glutathione. A recent JAMA study showed that supplementation with 200mcg of selenium per day reduced risk to internal cancers by fifty percent and reduced risk to heart disease. This level has no known risk. Selenium in trace amounts acts as birth control for many kinds of virus, including HIV. Zinc oxide ointment is topically antiviral, and may be taken orally up to 100mg per day.

The pain of facial neuralgia is often associated with alkalinity. Try a teaspoonful of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water hourly. Three grams of ascorbic acid every two to three hours will acidify urine. Check your urine pH. See pH section. Shingles is a very painful rash caused by the reactivation of the herpes virus. A capsaicin cream, Zostrix provides some relief. The most popular folk remedy is apple cider vinegar four times during the waking hours and up to three times at night. The homeopathic remedy Rhus tox 6c taken sublingually can be effective. A combination homeopathic, HRPS Drops, from Professional Health Products improves resistance and relieves symptoms.

The FDA approved drug acyclovir interferes with virus expression, but does not kill. The FDA has also approved a similar topical antiviral cream called Denavir that speeds healing, reducing the duration of pain. These patent drugs do not cure and are best used in conjunction with other changes. Swishing and swallowing one teaspoonful of milk of magnesia up to six times per day may soothe mouth ulcers. Orabase-B with 20% benzocaine might numb mouth ulcers long enough for a meal. Hydrogen peroxide rinses such as Peroxyl may be soothing and reduce bacterial infection of herpetic mouth ulcers. Oral paste from Wise Woman Herbals is like tar, but very effective.

Arginine is the building block of herpes viruses. Chocolate, nuts, peanuts, peas, gelatin (Jell-o), seeds, cereal grains, and raisins are all rich in arginine. A box of chocolate covered nuts can easily awaken dormant herpes. Wheat, wheat germ or gluten is often associated with outbreaks of mouth ulcers. Substituting the amino acid lysine slows the herpes virus. Lysine is relatively high in avocados, beans and soybeans, chicken soup, turkey, duck, wild game, ricotta, cottage cheese, potatoes, and brewers yeast. Supplemental l-lysine, 500 mg, two to ten tablets per day has proven to be beneficial during a herpes outbreak. One tablet per day is taken as a preventive. Lysine is also available in an excellent topical cream. Lysine also reduces calcium loss in the urine making for stronger bone, and reducing risk to kidney stones. In pilot studies lysine helped reverse cardiovascular disease. The lysine metabolite carnitine helps burn fats and promote stamina. Another metabolite, caproic acid, enhances the fluidity of blood.

Vitamin C (5-20gms) adjusted to bowel tolerance along with bioflavinoids (3-5gms). Kyolic aged garlic capsules: 1,000mg three times per day with meals. Vitamin B12 (1, 000mcg) in the sublingual form or 500mcg intramuscularly daily. Vitamin A 25,000-100,000units per day, systemically or topically, for two weeks. If pregnant or taking birth control pills, limit vitamin A to 10,000 units. Natural vitamin E 400-1200IU per day, topically too. Try a vitamin E stick with sunscreen, available at most drug stores. Propolis salve is antiviral and anti-inflammatory. Propolis is useful internally also at 500-1500mg.

Goldenseal, garlic, Echinacea, myrrh, and red clover are herbal treatments for herpes that boost natural killer cell activity (TH1). Eclectic Institute makes a preparation called Opti-biotic that contains these herbs. They also compound a botanical extract of lomatium and ligusticum, which is useful for chronic viral problems. A tronadora-echinacea combination combats herpes and adenoviruses. Tronadora is also known as yellow elder, yellow trumpet or Palo de Arco. Extracts of the olive leaf (prolive) have proved to be potent antivirals. Acidophilus capsules, colostrum products, other beneficial bacteria, along with favorable substrate such as the fructo-oligosaccharides richly present in artichoke flour promote healthy gut flora.

Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6 or phytic acid) is a mineral-binding antioxidant found plentifully in whole grains and legumes. An important regulator in mammalian cells, it enhances oxygen release and availability. It enhances natural killer cell activity synergistically with the glucans found in Asian mushrooms. Asian mushrooms, especially shiitake, combat viruses. Shiitake, three ounces of fresh or one-third ounce of dry mushroom, significantly reduces cholesterol. Lentinan, part of the shiitake is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent that potentiates immunity. In the Orient it is used to treat breast cancer and leukemia. Maitake extract may be even more potent. MGN3 also has excellent studies.

Seaweed from the red-green alga family (dumontaceae) has been shown to block herpes activity. Red Alaskan Dulse is available as a therapeutic product, Herp-Plex III, from DNA Laboratories West, PO Box 8354, Santa Rosa, CA 95407-1354, (800) 332-7713. Seaweed is also a rich source of the omega-3 fatty acids needed to sheathe and repair inflamed nerves.

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CANDIDIASIS - YEAST INFECTIONS - THRUSH - MONILIA

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A FUNGUS AMONG US

Most of us have small numbers of forms of the fungus family Candida albicans living benignly in the mouth, sinuses, intestinal tube, rectum, or vaginal tract. Problems are due to overgrowth due to diminished cellular immunity (TH1) and compensating heightened allergies (TH2). Yeast overgrowth may create episodes of foul burping, bloating, flatulence, acid indigestion, psychosis, loose abnormal stools, rectal itching, hemorrhoids, or even varicose veins. The corners of the mouth may get angry, reddened and cracked. Mucus membranes can be red, irritated and inflamed or covered with white patches, sometimes stained other colors. Candida patches may be fixed or detachable. Skin may range from subtle to unbearable itch and mild red irritations to thickened ‘yeasty’ skin.

Blossoming and overgrowth of yeast is an important wake-up call! Pay attention! Important immune functions are out of tune. Perhaps it is those birth control pills. Perhaps it is bagels, sugar pastry or alcohol binges. Cellular immunity is most often compromised by broad-spectrum antibiotics; cortisone-like drugs; diabetes; antidepressants and other medications that cause dry mouth. Low iron or folic acid, or any other glitch in energy production encourages yeast. Yeast thrives in the acidic environment created by inefficient energy production. Stress creates acidity. A diet high in animal protein, soda pop, sugar, alcohol or grains creates acidity and makes macrophages sluggish. Most vegetables are alkalizers and enhance redox and pH buffering capacity.

The Candida infection may stay on the surface as the yeast form or due to poor barrier function, may penetrate within the body in its interlacing mycelial fungal form. Superficial infections respond well to temporary cessation of sugar and alcohol in the diet. Dr. Balch says, "avoid aged cheeses, alcohol, chocolate, dried fruits, fermented foods, all grains containing gluten (wheat, oats, barley, rye, buckwheat), breads and pastas, white potatoes, ham, honey, nut butters, pickles, raw mushrooms, soy sauce, sprouts, vinegars, sugar, and yeast." Eat mostly green vegetables with some animal protein.

Killing candida often provokes unpleasant allergic response to its damaged parts, creating misery. Unless we have effectively boosted natural killer cell activity, the yeast explosively grows back as soon as we give in to the sugar temptation. Saccharomyces boulardii is beneficial yeast that kills candida and clostridia. Establishing this yeast from France maintains an internal chemical factory to control candida overgrowth.