|
|
|
|
David Brownstein, M.D.
David Brownstein, M.D., is a board-certified family physician and one of the foremost practitioners of holistic medicine and editor of Dr. David Brownstein’s Natural Way to Health newsletter.
|
Are There Natural Alternatives to Armour Thyroid?
There is an alternative, natural desiccated thyroid hormone available. Two desiccated thyroid products, known as Westhroid or Nature-Throid, come from the same source as Armour Thyroid.
|
Can Statins Cause Heart Failure?
Researchers found that after taking Lipitor for six months, 66 percent of people developed heart problems similar to those suffered by many congestive heart patients.
|
How Can I Avoid Stomach Woes From Taking Vitamin C?
For those who have stomach issues with any dose of vitamin C, I recommend trying a slow-release form. More often than not, it will not cause diarrhea in sensitive individuals.
|
Should I Have Mercury Fillings Replaced?
Mercury fillings are referred to commonly as amalgam. Amalgam is not safe. It is a toxic item that should never be placed in any living being’s mouth.
|
Do I Need a Bone Density Test?
Big Pharma would have us believe that almost every woman over 50 years of age needs a bone density test and the majority need to be treated for bone loss. However, there is little scientific evidence showing this regimen will result in a lower fracture risk.
|
Will Lowering My Cholesterol Help Me Live Longer?
In a large study of subjects taking the statin drug Prevachol, the death rate between the Prevachol group and the control group was almost the same. Other studies have shown that low cholesterol levels actually raised the overall risk of dying.
|
How Can I Keep My Bones Strong?
Perhaps the most important single thing is to maintain a neutral pH. Our body functions best when the pH is around 7.2, but the average processed American diet tends to make bodies more acidic with an average pH of 6.5.
|
Controlling High Triglycerides
Niacin deficiency has been shown to correlate with high triglyceride levels. I have used niacin successfully for years to help control triglyceride levels.
|
How Can I Stop Osteoarthritis Pain?
The first item on the list is to clean up your diet and eliminate foods that promote inflammation. Inflammation-provoking foods include those made from refined products such as refined sugar, salt, flour, and oils. It is best to avoid the “whites” — white sugar, flour, and salt.
|
How Should I Take My Daily Quota of Salt?
You can put the salt directly into the water and drink it. However, that is not the only way to get adequate amounts of unrefined salt in your diet. You also can put it on your food or just eat it during the day.
|
How Effective is IV Iron Therapy?
Although iron IVs can be extremely beneficial, I use oral iron supplements much more frequently. Let me provide you with a few tricks to help your body absorb iron better.
|
Can I Switch From Synthroid to Armour Thyroid?
Yes, you can switch from one thyroid medication to another. My experience has shown that each patient has a unique biochemical individuality.
|
Hormone Replacement Therapy and PSA Levels
If you do not have prostate cancer, there is no contraindication to using bioidentical hormones. If you use hormones, you should follow up with your doctor for routine examinations.
|
Will Drinking Alkaline Water Hinder Nutrient Absorption?
The best way to optimize your pH is to eat a healthy diet. It is especially important not to drink alkaline water with your meals, as this will impair your stomach’s natural digestive ability.
|
Getting Off of Proton-Pump Inhibitors
Many people on proton-pump inhibiters, such as AcipHex and Prilosec, have a difficult time trying to come off these medications. For those with excess abdominal weight, the easiest solution is to lose the excess weight.
|
Is Liver a Good Source of Vitamin B12?
Eating good sources of liver (from organically raised, free-range animals) is an adequate source of absorbable vitamin B12. However, you need to be careful about liver supplements and eating liver.
|
Natural Remedies for Depression
Common causes of depression are nutritional deficits, including magnesium deficiency, vitamin B-12 deficiency, and amino-acid deficiency. One of the best nutritional therapies for depression is to eat a healthier diet, free of white sugar, flour, and salt.
|
Stimulating Normal Thyroid Function
The thyroid gland requires adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals to produce thyroid hormone as well as to activate thyroid hormone. The most crucial items for optimizing thyroid function are selenium, iodine, magnesium, vitamin A, and the B vitamins.
|
Heartburn and Hiatal Hernia
I suggest finding a good chiropractor who can perform a visceral manipulation technique that helps to place the stomach back into its normal position.
|
Does Bromine in Swimming Pools Carry Health Risks?
There are no studies that show that swimming in a brominated pool carries the same risk as ingesting bromine. However there is no known therapeutic value of bromine. In fact, bromine exposure has been shown to competitively inhibit iodine in the body.
|
Which Water Filter Do You Use?
I have installed a United Standard Hydro Quad that processes water for my whole house not only to improve the ascetics of my water but also to help reduce contaminants from my showers and bath water. It’s processed further with an Ultra-Micron drinking water system, an eight-stage filtering and purification system incorporating reverse osmosis membrane technology.
|
Statin Side Effects
Pravastatin (Pravachol) belongs to a class of drugs known as statins. Statins work by poisoning an enzyme necessary to produce cholesterol. There are no studies that show that using statin drugs will clear your clogged arteries or improve longevity for women.
|
Salt and Bone Density
Eating refined salt, which is devoid of minerals, can cause a loss of bone. That’s because eating refined salt results in a lowered blood pH, the measure of acidity and alkalinity of the body.
|
Damage from Statins
An elevated cholesterol level is not a diagnosis of a “statin deficiency syndrome.” If elevated cholesterol levels are a problem, then a comprehensive search for why cholesterol levels are elevated needs to be undertaken. Once you figure out the reason your cholesterol levels are elevated, then you can formulate a treatment plan.
|
Different Forms of Iodine
Kelp can be a good source of iodine plus other phytonutrients. However, kelp also can present some problems. I analyzed a kelp supplement from a leading manufacturer and found it was contaminated with extremely high levels of arsenic.
|
Iodine Fears
Why is he afraid of iodine? Tell him it is not a scary product at all! My partners and I have found iodine therapy a wonderful treatment for those with liver disease.
|
Sublingual Vitamin B12
I recommend B12-2000 from Biotics Research, which is a sublingual product (it dissolves under the tongue.) I recommend only an oral version of vitamin B12 for people younger than 25 and those with an extreme fear of injections.
|
Alternatives to Artificial Sweeteners
The media touts artificial sweeteners as safe for diabetics to use. The most common artificial sweeteners are Splenda and NutraSweet. Yet there are clear research studies showing that neither of these items prevents or reverses diabetes. Furthermore, many other studies show that the ingestion of these items actually may cause problems with blood-sugar regulation.
|
Dairy Allergies
My estimates are that more than 60 percent of my patients are allergic to dairy. Dairy allergies can have many, varied symptoms.
|
Negative Effects of Ibuprofen
The adverse effects of the long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are well known in medicine. These include an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney failure, heart disease, diarrhea, hypertension, headaches, dizziness, and irritable bowel syndrome.
|
Natural Treatments for Depression
There is no doubt in my mind that the epidemic of depression is caused, in large part, by eating a poor diet and making poor lifestyle choices. Drinking too much alcohol results in a host of nutritional problems, such as B-vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Reducing alcohol consumption and correcting nutrient deficits can help one suffering with depression.
|
Help for Breast Pain
The most common cause of breast pain is fibrocystic breast disease. It was once thought that this illness was benign. Newer research, however, has shown that fibrocystic breast disease is a precursor to breast cancer. My experience has shown that the most common cause of fibrocystic breast disease is iodine deficiency.
|
Do We Really Need Vitamin Supplements?
My experience has been clear: The standard American diet is woefully lacking in basic nutrients. It is not hard to identify nutrient deficiencies in the vast majority of my patients. In fact, those with chronic illnesses usually have lower nutrient levels compared to patients not experiencing a chronic illness.
|
Stimulating Thyroid Function
The thyroid gland requires adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals to produce thyroid hormone as well as to activate thyroid hormone. I recommend working with a holistic healthcare practitioner who is skilled in the use of natural items.
|
Help for Depression
The first step in treating depression is to look for an underlying cause. This includes a thorough analysis of the hormonal system. The relationship between hypothyroidism and depression has been known for more than a century. I have seen many patients with depression who have been mistreated with antidepressant medications when they should have been treated for hypothyroidism. Also, common causes of depression are nutritional deficits.
|
Finding a Holistic Doctor
It is not easy. There are not that many doctors out there who have interest, knowledge, and experience in holistic medicine. Many doctors advertise a holistic practice but do not actually practice holistic medicine.
|
Colonoscopy Concerns
There are risks to having a colonoscopy which include a perforation in the bowel wall, as well as developing an infection.
There is a new "virtual colonoscopy" available.
|
Help for Vitiligo
Vitiligo is not an easy problem to treat with either conventional or holistic medicine. However, there are a few holistic treatments that are effective. I have found that many vitiligo patients are B-vitamin deficient.
|
Treating Leg Cramps
Unfortunately, leg cramps are a common (and painful) problem. My clinical experience has found that the vast majority of individuals suffering from leg cramps are salt and magnesium deficient.
|
Are Artificial Sweeteners Harmful?
As a general rule, I would suggest that you avoid ingesting anything labeled "artificial." As for the artificial sweeteners, this list includes aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Equal Spoonful, and Equal Measure, now called Equal Granular), as well as sucralose (Splenda) and saccharin (Sweet'N Low).
|
