4. Blood pressure.
Elevations of blood pressure often require reliance on prescription medications to achieve optimal control. Sometimes the side effects can be rather substantial, and frequently the side effect profile can be sufficiently challenging. At a previous ICIM conference, Dr. Terry Chappell had mentioned a particular product, called, “BP Nat Relief”, from Natural Relief Inc, which he had found to work very well with patients. I too, have subsequently found this product to work predictably well and, in two years, have not observed any side effects to date. Interestingly, even though this is an herbal product, it has worked as effectively, if not more effectively, than most prescription blood pressure drugs. One of the active ingredients in this Ayervedic formula is Rauwolfia Serpentina, or “Indian Snake Root”. It contains an alkaloid called rerserpine, which is well known to have stabilizing effects on blood pressure. I have also found that it can be used as an adjunctive therapy to help wean patients from their prescription blood pressure medication, as the root causes are addressed.
5. Carb and sugar cravings.
This is a pretty common problem for a lot of people in our society. On occasion, I sometimes jokingly refer to it as a condition which a rehabilitation program would be a requisite. However, humor aside, it is very important to minimize the high levels of sugar and sweets. A few years ago one of my colleagues, Dr. Charles Turner, who practices in Lafayette, Indiana, had shared with me that therapeutic doses of chromium are often very helpful. Chromium is a co-factor for insulin potentiation and the trick is to use for a few weeks a fairly substantial dose of about 4000 micrograms. In some cases, doses of high 6000 micrograms have been essential, but that’s not generally true. Generally, we would actually start at the higher dose lowering gradually over time to a more maintenance dose. This protocol can be repeated if the carbohydrate cravings increase, but otherwise it is rare that I have not seen this strategy to work well in most cases. While the doses are certainly higher than usual, the duration of treatment needed is self-limited. Additionally, I will note that I have checked chromium levels on many of these patients and I have never seen any example where the measured levels have exceeded normal serum ranges.
6. Sinus function/chronic sinus infections.
This is one particular issue that plagues a lot of individuals and an unfortunate challenge is that the treatment chronic sinus infections using oral antibiotics often have limited or transient success. In part this is because antibiotics do not penetrate to the sinus cavities effectively. Secondly, is not maintained for long enough to totally eradicate the infections. And third, many chronic sinus infections are a mixture of divergent types of microorganisms, and can include fungal organisms as well. I have found that using a topical gel, with antibiotics and antifungals, to be significantly helpful. I would usually add X-Clear nasal spray adjunctively. This product contains xylitol which helps irrigate and dislodge adherent bacterial organisms. I found this particularly helpful even in the context of those who have failed most other kinds of therapies.
– Dr. Guyer
