cam
NOW LIVE AND ONLINE WWW.CAM-MAG.COM
The magazine for
complementary and
alternative medicine
professionals
FEBRUARY 2013
£6
Mitochondrial
nutrition: the key to
chronic disease?
Reclaiming
Cholesterol:
why a low-fat
diet and statins
may cause
Alzheimer's
CFS/ME
breakthrough:
how CAM
practitioners got
the research done
You are “when”
you eat: the secret
of nutrient timing
PLUS March CFS Conference – last chance to book
■ Learning Zone – your CPD
special ■ Identifying fungal infections ■ Arnica’s surprising ‘secret’ ■ News & Research
in THiS iSSUE
@CAMmagUK
www.cam-mag.com
The magazine for complementary
and alternative medicine professionals
contents
This anti-cholesterol
madness has to stop
It’s worse than we thought.
We knew that the anti-cholesterol hysteria had got completely out of
hand in terms of heart disease. For the 11 years of CAM’s existence we’ve
been plugging away in support of the cholesterol sceptics, hoping that
orthodox medicine would eventually see sense. But now it’s time to really
push for an urgent re-think.
That’s because according to an impeccable piece of logical, sciencebased thinking from MIT scientist Dr Stephanie Seneff, cholesterol – or
rather, artificially-lowered cholesterol – stands accused of being a key
player in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
As far as conventional medical science goes, Alzheimer’s is neither
preventable nor reversible. Mind you, they said much the same about
cancer, AIDs and MS (multiple sclerosis) and got that wrong. But Dr Seneff
thinks otherwise. One of the key facts is that the brain needs cholesterol.
Part of her hypothesis is that, in certain circumstances, high cholesterol
PROTECTS the brain.
When you stir in the fact that a proportion of people with Alzheimer’s
have a particular variant in a gene that codes for the cholesteroltransporting apolipoproteins, then we are cued up for a nightmare
scenario.
This is my interpretation, not Dr Seneff’s (see page 16 for more from her),
but if I have read this correctly, this is potentially what’s going on: someone
turns up in a doctor’s clinic with high cholesterol; if they have other factors
considered to put them at high risk for heart disease, they are more than
likely (these days) to be prescribed a statin. Statins block the production of
cholesterol. They may also be put on a low-fat diet. However if that individual
has the APOE-4 mutation, it may be that the high cholesterol is actually an
attempt by the body-brain to protect itself (the brain at least). The genetic
test for APOE exists, but is hardly in regular use.
So…the patient is exchanging a doubtful method of protection against
heart disease for an increased likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s. In
a susceptible individual, it may not be too much of an exaggeration to
state that the combination of a statin or other aggressive cholesterollowering intervention, along with a low-fat, cholesterol-avoiding diet
could virtually guarantee that person will develop Alzheimer’s. Or
another neurogenerative, “incurable”, “non-preventable” disease. Why is
Alzheimer’s relentlessly on the increase?
CAM will be making a big noise about this throughout 2013. Stay tuned!
Simon martin, Editor
n CAM’s exciting collaboration with BANT kicks off with a sizzling
Chronic Fatigue conference: you need to book now for this first of the
series (see page 4).
now livE And onlinE www.cAm-mAg.com
editor’snote
FEBRUARY 2013
32
38
cover story
32 Mitochondrial nutrition: the key to chronic disease?
features
16 Reclaiming Cholesterol: why a low-fat diet and statins
may cause Alzheimer’s
22 Fungal infections: can they be identified with non-linear
systems?
26 CFS/ME breakthrough: how CAM practitioners got the
research done
38
Learning Zone – your CPD special
•InflammationNation
•PizzornoforUK
•Fourdaysonguthealth
•Gettingthemitochondriaright
48 GetuptodateonCFStreatment:CAMandBANT
collaborate on conference series
regulars
4 News
•CAMConferenceseriesstartsnextmonth
•Herbaltreatmentsrecommendedasan
alternativetoHRT
•GPsforcedtopractise‘defensively’
10 Functional medicine masterclass: You are “when”
you eat:
12 CAM coaching: with Mark Shields
14 JoinusforSportsNutritionLive!
50 Listings
54
Research update
•Eyehealthresearchreview
•Arnicaprotectsmitochondria
•Cholesterolsecretioninfluencesgutmicrobiata
CAM news
new speakers, new sponsors rev up the CAMbAnT Conference series – it starts next month
“Fresh” from his breakthrough
research coup – publication
in BMJ Open of a study on
the integrated treatment of
chronic fatigue – CAM Award
winner Alex Howard, head of
the Optimum Health Clinic, will
give the keynote address at
the March CAM Conference in
collaboration with BANT on
CAM Conferences 2013
• Chronic Fatigue/Mood:
saturday 9 March
• Digestive Disorders:
saturday 22 June
• Female Health:
saturday 9 november
All at the Cavendish Conference
Centre, London.
CAM Conference
sponsors
Platinum sponsor: nutri
Advanced
Silver Sponsor: Higher Nature
bronze sponsors:
• Bio-Kult
• Bionutri
• Pharma Nord
Chronic Fatigue and Mood.
It’s the first of three combined
CAM and BANT (the British
Association for Applied Nutrition
and Nutritional Therapy)
conferences, with others
to follow in June (Digestive
Disorders) and November
(Female Health).
The research imperative
– get involved!
Alex, who is interviewed in this
issue, has strong views on the
need for more CAM practitioners
to get involved in research. It will
not only safeguard the future
existence of complementary
and alternative medicine but,
he says, “If we step up and
do quality research, we open
up this whole new source of
funding for treatment via the
NHS and that will be gamechanging for everyone.”
Also signed for March are Prof
Basant Puri and Niki Gratrix.
Prof Puri, a medical doctor
and clinical research fellow,
was formerly head of the Lipid
Neuroscience Group at Imperial
College, London, and is the
author of more than 130 peerreviewed medical and scientific
papers and over 30 books.
Niki is a well-known nutritional
therapist and researcher, who is
currently designing a protocol
with Dr Todd Ovokaitys (as
featured in CAM, November
2012) specifically for chronic
fatigue, which will take account
of the applications of quantum
physics, nutrition and health. She
is a former CAM Award winner
with Alex Howard for their
pioneering work at the Optimum
Health Clinic.
The CAM-BANT conferences
are supported by Key Sponsors.
The Platinum Sponsor for all
three conferences is Nutri
Advanced. Other sponsors are
Higher Nature, Bio-Kult, Bionutri
“nutri Advanced have decided to become Platinum sponsors of this year’s
CAM Conferences because we want to be a part of the national drive for
improved health and well-being.
“Functional Medicine is now widely acknowledged to play a genuine role in
keeping people healthy, reducing the likelihood of chronic disease and helping
us to increase our years of good health, giving us a better quality of life as we
age. education is the only way we’re going to learn about the full potential of
Functional Medicine.
“nutri Advanced knows that the practitioners that attend these events are the
ones who are going to drive Functional Medicine forward, reinventing how they
practise, creating better treatment protocols for their patients and inspiring
the next generation of complementary practitioners. It’s a privilege to be a part
of it.” – Ken eddie, Managing Director of nutri Advanced, adds: “education is
at the heart of everything we do here at nutri Advanced, so we are delighted
to be working with the CAM Conferences team on this year’s conference
programme.”
cam
is published for qualified
practitioners of complementary and alternative
ISSN 1475-9403
medicine
eDITOr: sIMOn MArTIn BSc (Hons) e: [email protected]
“bionutri has
traditionally always
supported the bAnT
agm, so we are
especially delighted
to be a co-sponsor
of the series of three
CAM Conferences
in 2013 that support
professional nutrition
practice.” – robert Joy,
Managing Director,
bionutri.
Meet these companies
exhibiting at CAM
Conferences
A2 Milk; bioLab; Genova
Diagnostics europe; Green
People; Igennus; MArAP
HandelsgesmbH; ME Recovery
Association; Mycology
research Laboratories;
nutri-Link; revital; The
Chrysalis effect; The natural
Dispensary; Vital Health
new sports nutrition
conference
Silver Sponsors Higher
nature are helping us break
new ground in May, with
their backing for sports
nutrition Live! This oneday conference, also at
the Cavendish Centre, is
organised by CAM’s sister
publication Functional
sports nutrition. see page
14, this issue for full details.
www.cam-mag.com
COnTrIbUTInG eDITOr: MIKE ASH, BSc (Hons), DO, ND, F DipION sUb eDITOr: AMY ROBINSON e: [email protected]
t: 01279 810077 GrOUP COMMerCIAL MAnAGer RUTH GILMOUR e: [email protected] t: 01279 810084
senIOr sALes eXeCUTIVe ABIGAIL MORRIS e: [email protected] t: 01279 810093 sALes eXeCUTIVe NATALIE.MITCHELL
Published by Target Publishing Ltd,
e: [email protected] t: 01279 810071 PrODUCTIOn DANIELLA RANDAZZO e: [email protected]
The Old Dairy, Hudsons Farm,
t: 01279 810097 DesIGn CLARE HOLLAND ADMInIsTrATIOn/DIsTrIbUTIOn AMY ROBINSON e: [email protected]
Fieldgate Lane, Ugley Green, Bishops
t: 01279 810077 ACCOUnTs LORRAINE EvANS e: [email protected] t: 01279 810092
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MAnAGInG DIreCTOr DAvID CANN e: [email protected] t: 01279 816300
e: [email protected] www.targetpublishing.com
Some material may be speculative and/or not in agreement with current medical practice. Information in CAM is provided for professional education and debate and is not intended to be used by non-medically qualified readers as a
substitute for, or basis of, medical treatment. Copyright of articles remains with individual authors. All rights reserved. No article may be reproduced in any form, printed or electronically, without wriiten consent of the author and
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4
cam
FebrUArY 2013
CAM news
and Pharma Nord.
With internationally-recognised
speakers from the forefront of nutritional
research, the three CAM Conferences
will again bring first-class days of
education and networking designed for
all practitioners using nutrition in their
practices.
n Network with more than 200
professionals in the field of nutrition.
n Meet 15 of the industry’s leading
product manufacturers.
n Four CPD hours for each event.
n Four internationally-recognised.
speakers at the forefront of education.
n Bonus sessions on building a successful
practice with business coach Mark
Shields, co-author of “The CAM Coach”.
Places start from £65+VAT, with
significant discounts for members of
BANT and for booking your place at more
than one conference.
This year’s BANT annual meeting
is taking place before the first CAM
Conference in March. Admission to the
BANT meeting is free for BANT members.
• Book now online at www.camconferences.com or phone 01279 810080.
• For sponsorship opportunities phone 01279 816300 or email
[email protected]
Herbal treatments may be
recommended as an alternative to HRT
Herbal and “complementary”
medicines could be
recommended as an
alternative to hormone
replacement therapy
Tong:
(HRT) for treating
recommends
herbal
postmenopausal symptoms
treatments in
HRT review.
says a new review in the
orthodox journal The Obstetrician and
Gynaecologist (TOG).
In the review, Iris Tong, MD, Director
of Women’s Primary Care at the
Women’s Medicine Collaborative, The
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown
University, Rhode Island, states that as
many as 50-75% of postmenopausal
women use herbal options to treat hot
flushes, and soy, red clover and black
cohosh have been the most investigated.
Previous research has shown that soy,
naturally rich in phyto-oestrogens, can
reduce hot flush symptoms from 20-55%;
red clover, a legume also containing
oestrogen, and black cohosh, a plant
originating from the eastern United States
and Canada, have also been reported to
ease postmenopausal symptoms.
Dr Tong recommends these herbal
treatments as there are no significant
adverse side-effects associated with them,
as long as they are used in women who
do not have a personal history of breast
cancer, are not at high risk for breast
cancer, and are not taking tamoxifen.
“Up to 75% of women use herbal and
complementary medicines to treat their
postmenopausal symptoms”, she says.
“Therefore, it is vitally important for
healthcare providers to be aware of and
informed about the non-pharmacological
www.cam-mag.com
therapies available for women who are
experiencing postmenopausal symptoms
and who are looking for an alternative
to HRT.”
One of the most common menopausal
symptoms is hot flushes; approximately
two-thirds of postmenopausal women will
experience them, and 20% of women can
experience them for up to 15 years, states
the review. Oestrogen deficiency can also
lead to longer-term health issues such as
cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
HRT is the most effective treatment of hot
flushes, improving symptoms in 80-90%
of women, says the review. However,
Tong notes that there are possible health
risks associated with HRT, such as links
to breast cancer, blood clots, stroke, and
cardiovascular problems.
Due to these possible risks, other
treatment options that may be equally
effective, such as behaviour modification
and herbal and complementary
medicines, should be considered.
The review drew a supportive, if
somewhat lukewarm, editorial comment
from TOG’s Editor-in-Chief, Jason Waugh,
who said: “Postmenopausal symptoms
can be very distressing and it is
important to review the advantages and
limitations of the non-pharmacological
treatments available as well as the
pharmacological ones. Even simple
behaviour modification can make a
difference to postmenopausal symptoms,
including keeping the room temperature
cool, wearing layered clothing, relaxation
techniques and smoking cessation.”
* Tong IL. Nonpharmacological treatment of
postmenopausal symptoms. Obst Gyn 2013, 15 (1): 19.
➞
cam
febrUArY 2013
5
CAM NEWS
GPs forced to practise ‘defensively’
What’s Hot?
Keep on top of the trends
in supplements and natural
remedies with Revital’s monthly
guide to what’s selling well with
practitioners and their clients.
In the second month of the New Year, fitness and
maintaining a healthy lifestyle seem to be the key
goals of many customers. Rather than having
them take the traditional body-building and sports
nutrition supplements, we have been suggesting
a number of natural supplements that are suitable
for all and will help achieve those health and
fitness goals.
Pulsin’ Pea Protein Isolate: A high quality
hypoallergenic protein powder containing a
balanced supply of amino acids, good digestive
quality and a protein level of 85%. It is the perfect
alternative for people wishing to avoid dairy and
soya-based proteins due to food allergy and
intolerance, and is also gluten and GM free. Pea
protein is a very versatile ingredient that can be
mixed with both sweet and savoury foods with a
serving size of 10-20g.
Creative Nature Hawaiian Spirulina Powder:
Spirulina is a blue-green micro algae that
harvests the energy of the sun, growing a
treasury of bioavailable nutrients. It was the first
photosynthetic lifeform on earth 3.6 billion years
ago and it produced the oxygen in our atmosphere
that has allowed all higher life forms to evolve.
Creative Nature’s Spirulina is also one of the
richest sources of arginine, an amino acid which
promotes the release of growth hormones which
stimulate the body’s own regenerative processes.
Viridian Sports Electrolyte Fix: Sourced from
the Great Salt Lake, Utah. Electrolytes sodium,
chloride, magnesium and potassium are
involved in balancing the fluid throughout the
body, including the volume of fluid within the
blood. Water movement is controlled by the
concentration of electrolytes on either side of the
cell membranes. Exercise increases fluid loss
through sweat, causing electrolyte imbalances.
The addition of an electrolyte mixture to plain
water decreases the overall fluid levels required for
optimal hydration in comparison to plain water.
• www.revital.co.uk
6
cam
FEBRUARY 2013
It’s not just CAM practitioners feeling
challenged by the current legislative
climate; a survey by the doctors’ weekly
magazine Pulse reveals that two-thirds
of GPs have become more defensive
in the way they practise medicine over
the past year, with the vast majority
citing fear of litigation as the reason.
Almost three-quarters said they had
altered their practice because they
were afraid of legal action from patients,
while a quarter blamed concerns over
regulatory action.
The new survey adds to concerns
that the NHS is at a tipping point;
another survey, collating responses
from 2,700 GPs in South West England
and said to be the largest ever poll
of GPs, revealed that half of GPs are
considering quitting general practice
and two-thirds say their practice
will struggle to remain viable due to
the Government’s planned contract
changes.
Pulse commented that the survey
“delivers a stark warning that practices
are struggling with rising workload
over the past few years, and that the
changes due to be imposed on them
from April will mark a watershed for the
profession. Some 84% of respondents
said their current practice workload
is not sustainable, and 48% said it was
‘dangerously unsustainable’.”
GPs are increasingly being expected
to handle more and more complex
cases within their practices, without
referring to hospitals.
Pulse’s survey of 229 GPs found 65%
believe they are practising medicine
more defensively compared to this
time last year, with the GPC saying this
could be due to the increasing amounts
of complex clinical work shifted from
hospitals into primary care.
The British Medical Association
has launched an investigation into the
psychological effects of complaints
on doctors, after evidence of rising
complaints from patients and managers.
Last year, the Medical Defence Union
found there had been an 18% increase
in claims handled for GPs in 2011 and
the defence body said it expected this
to increase further. The same year, GMC
complaints rose by 23%, with half of
complaints made against GPs.
Pulse quoted the MDU’s Dr Emma
Cuzner, who said: “Many patients now
have an expectation that most things
are curable and they will get better. We
are also often asked whether [patients]
are in general more litigious, and I think
there is an element of that as well.”
The most likely reason for an alleged
negligence claim against a GP was
a delay in diagnosis, she said, and
the MDU has warned GPs to ensure
they have communicated clearly with
patients and kept adequate records.
This is good advice for all CAM
practitioners as well.
* “Two thirds of GPs practising more defensively
amid fears of ‘compensation culture’”, by Sofia Lind.
Pulse, Jan 21.
Nelsons donate
ambulance
As part of their annual bursary
programme, Nelsons, the
UK’s largest manufacturer of
homeopathic medicines and
natural healthcare products,
have donated a new customised
ambulance to the Royal Hospital
for Neuro-Disability.
The Hospital works with adults
affected by severe neurological
disability through specialist
long-term care and rehabilitation.
Robert Wilson, Chairman of
Nelsons, says “Nelsons and the
Royal Hospital have both been
providing high quality healthcare
for over 150 years and, as their
neighbour, it is our pleasure to
contribute to their fantastic work
and hopefully make a palliative
difference to their patients.”
WWW.CAM-MAG.COM
CAM news
Researchers find more than 700
species of bacteria in breast milk
Spanish researchers have traced the
bacterial microbiota map in breast milk
and found more than they bargained for:
more than 700 species.
Breast milk received from the mother
is one of the factors determining how
the bacterial flora will develop in the
newborn baby. However the composition
and the biological role of these bacteria
in infants remain unknown.
“This is one of the first studies to
document such diversity using the
pyrosequencing technique (a large scale
DNA sequencing determination technique)
on colostrum samples on the one hand,
and breast milk on the other, the latter
being collected after one and six months of
breastfeeding,” explain the coauthors.
The most common bacterial genera
in the colostrum samples were
Weissella, Leuconostoc, Staphylococcus,
Streptococcus and Lactococcus. In the
fluid developed between the first and
sixth month of breastfeeding, bacteria
typical of the oral cavity were observed,
such as Veillonella, Leptotrichia and
Prevotella.
The heavier the mother, the fewer the
bacteria, and the study also revealed that
the milk of overweight mothers contains
a lesser diversity of species.
Given that the bacteria present
in breast milk constitute one of
initial instances of contact with
microorganisms that colonise the infant’s
digestive system, the researchers are
now working to determine if their role
is metabolic (it helps the breast-fed
baby to digest the milk) or immune (it
helps to distinguish beneficial or foreign
organisms).
* Cabrera-Rubio R et al. The human milk microbiome
changes over lactation and is shaped by maternal
weight and mode of delivery. Am J Clin Nutr 2012, 96
(3): 544.
Prostate cancer lifetime risk trebles in
25 years
Latest figures from Cancer Research UK
show that the lifetime risk of prostate
cancer will rise from 5% (1 in 20) for boys
born in 1990 to just over 14% (1 in 7) for
boys born in 2015.
PSA testing has rapidly boosted
the number of men being diagnosed
– around 41,000 men per year are
diagnosed with prostate cancer in the
UK, up from around 15,000 per year 25
years ago. Higher numbers of prostate
cancer cases are also due to more men
living to an older age, when the disease is
most likely to develop.
Cancer Research UK is attempting
to put a positive spin on the situation
by stating that, “The good news is that
death rates from prostate cancer in the
UK are 18% cent lower than they were
20 years ago”. It says this is likely to be
due to improved treatments and earlier
diagnosis. However the actual statistics
show little improvement: in 1989-1991,
29 out of 100,000 men died from prostate
cancer, while now the figure is 24.
Around 10,700 men die each year from
prostate cancer in the UK.
One death an hour
Meanwhile, Prostate Cancer UK has hit
out at the lack of research funding for
prostate cancer.
The charity says that while prostate
cancer will be the UK’s most common
cancer by 2030, it is only 20th in the
league table of research funding.
Launching a new awareness campaign,
Owen Sharp, the charity’s chief executive,
said: “Prostate cancer is simply not on the
radar in the UK. Even though it kills one
man every hour – that’s 10,000 men each
year – most men and women don’t know
enough about it.”
Breast cancer – the most common
female cancer, which has a similar death
rate to prostate cancer – received more
than double the annual research spend.
Leukaemia gets the most research funding.
* www.cancerresearchuk.org;
http://prostatecanceruk.org
CAM’s contributors
Our thanks this month to:
n Naturopath Ben Brown, ND, science writer, lecturer at BCNH UK: www.timeforwellness.org n Heilpraktiker
Jörg Hentschel, scientific advisor to the Cell Symbiosis Therapy ® Academy: www.cst-academy.co.uk n
Alex Howard, founder of the Optimum Health Clinic, and Dr Meg Arroll, PhD, Director of Research: www.
FreedomFromME.co.uk n Natalie Lamb, NT, Dip CNM, mBANT, BA (Hons), Technical Advisor at Probiotics
International Ltd (Protexin): www.protexin.com n Naturopath and Heilpraktiker Dr Heinz Reinwald, expert in
the use of the Oberon® NLS diagnostic system: www.metavital.eu n MIT scientist and cholesterol researcher
Dr Stephanie Seneff, PhD: http://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff n Mark Shields, NLP CAM Coach and managing
director of Life Practice UK, specialists in Personal and Business Coaching: www.lifepractice.co.uk and
www.thecamcoach.com n Mike Wakeman, MSc Nutritional Medicine, BSc Pharm, MRPS, independent consultant
to BioCare Ltd: www.biocare.co.uk
www.CAM-MAg.CoM
➞
cam
febrUArY 2013
7
CAM news
camChat
natalie Lamb, nT, Dip CnM,
mbAnT, bA (Hons), Technical
Advisor at Probiotics
International Ltd (Protexin):
www.protexin.com
‘‘
Now deep in the heart of winter I
have been questioning my remaining
vitamin D stores. During our limited
sunny days this summer I was
conscious to try and get adequate
sun exposure on bare skin, while
encouraging others to do the same.
Luckily I seem to have escaped the
winter blues increasingly evident in
those around me this month.
The area of the “microbiome-gutbrain axis” is of growing fascination.
The more I come across papers
discussing a wide range of health
conditions, I am beginning to
realise the enormity of its influence.
As we know, depression and low
mood is linked with imbalances
in neurotransmitters such as
low serotonin or GABA. Fewer
people understand that many
neurotransmitter receptors are
located in the gut’s brain (the enteric
nervous system) and that signals
are communicated to the brain via
the vagus nerve, giving us even
more reason to support this complex
system in ourselves and our clients.
Recent studies have revealed that
dysbiosis and inflammation, among
other factors, are likely to be involved
in the pathogenesis of mood disorders,
and that anxiety and depression often
occur simultaneously with functional
bowel disorders. Probiotics are often
used to alter gut microbiota in this
area. It is of little surprise that in a
recent study a multi-strain probiotic
containing Lactobacillus helveticus
and Bifidobacterium longum showed
beneficial psychological effects in
healthy human volunteers. Animal
studies using L. rhamnosus showed
probiotics to have similar effects to
antidepressants.
I for one will continue to support
my GIT and mood during the winter
months by taking my daily probiotic
and enjoying my new-found love for
fermented foods such as raw milk kefir
and mixed vegetable sauerkrauts.
‘‘
* Bravo JA et al. Ingestion of Lactobacillus strain
regulates emotional behavior and central GABA
receptor expression in a mouse via the vagus nerve.
Proc Natl Acad Sci 2011, 108 (38): 16050-5.
Logan AC, Katzman M. Major depressive disorder: probiotics
may be an adjuvant therapy. Med Hypotheses 2005. 64 (3): 533-8.
Fehér J et al. [Role of gastrointestinal inflammations in
the development and treatment of depression]. [Article in
Hungarian]. Orv Hetil 2011, 152 (37): 1477-85.
Messaoudi M et al. Assessment of psychotropic-like properties
of a probiotic formulation (Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and
Bifidobacterium longum R0175) in rats and human subjects. Brit
J Nutr 2011. 105 (5):755-64.
8
cam
febrUArY 2013
Candida educator erica white
finally ‘fully’ retires
Ten years ago we published
an interview with Erica
White about her forthcoming
research project into Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome. Four years
later we published the results
and a follow-up interview, and
a few months after that we
reported that she had retired
from clinical practice – but that,
together with her husband
Robin, she had launched an
online facility for personalised
nutritional reports, www.
Taking over: emma Cockrell.
nutritionhelp.com. Later that
same year, 2006, we reported
that Erica had been honoured
by BANT with an Honorary
Fellowship. Now aged 77, Erica
announces that she is “fully”
retiring – we’ll see.
Meanwhile Nutritionhelp will
continue, with Erica handing
over to the next generation –
her daughter, Emma Cockrell,
Dip NT, mBANT.
Since enrolling at ION in
1988 at the age of 53, Erica
has had an extraordinary
career in nutritional therapy.
After qualifying, she quickly
established an extremely busy
practice in her home, but
later took on clinic premises
with ten – yes ten – members
of staff. She became a tutor,
lecturer and governor at
the Institute for Optimum
Nutrition, as well as lecturing
frequently for the College of
Naturopathic Medicine in
England and Ireland, and being
retiring? Amazon no.1 erica white.
an invited speaker in various
parts of Scotland, France,
Switzerland and Dubai. She
was also regularly seen giving
a masterclass or a seminar in
Brighton, Olympia and Excel.
best book
Her writing reached even more
people, both in articles and in
her books. For 13 years, since
being published by Thorsons,
the Beat Candida Cookbook
has fairly consistently held its
place at No. 1 in the Amazon
‘stick with the tried and tested’
We asked Erica, as someone who has seen
it all when it comes to Candida treatment,
whether things have moved on….
“The short answer is: ‘unfortunately not’! Yes,
there are always new ideas about antifungals
and probiotics coming up, but my heart
sinks more often than I can say because
practitioners tend to jump on anything new
without actually putting the tried and tested
approaches into full and proper use.
“In particular I often hear practitioners claim
that there’s no need to follow a strict diet, that
fruit may be eaten etc – when I know from
all my years of experience that Candida is so
extremely opportunistic and aggressive that
anything less than a full-on strategic approach
simply will not work.
“I make no apologies for having taken such
a firm stance on this – and Emma takes an
equally firm line – because we have so much
encouraging feedback from clients whose
lives have been completely turned around
by following my four-point plan. I know that
many nutritional therapists can say the same,
but the real proof of the pudding (sugar-free,
of course!) is whether the client is still in good
health a year or two years later.
“One thing I would say is that it has become
increasingly clear that very many people will not
be able to progress in their fight against Candida
if their adrenals have been affected by long-term
stress, because this leads to a persistent output
of their body’s sugar stores, thus keeping their
already-overgrown yeasts extremely happy. The
Adrenal Stress Index lab test is an invaluable
tool in this situation, allowing appropriate
nutritional therapy to regulate the output of
stress hormones. This very often is found to be
a necessary sideways step before the candida
fight itself can progress.”
* erica has another website, totally candida-based: www.
candidainfopack.com
www.CAM-MAg.CoM
CAM NEWS
ratings for “Special Diets”.
In 2011, Erica found herself stretched
to the limits by having to make changes
necessitated by EU legislation. For
several months, she spent 15-hour days
at her computer, constructing alternative
wording throughout the text that is used
in Nutritionhelp reports, in order to meet
with EU requirements. At the end of it all,
she felt ready to hand over the baton to
someone considerably younger.
For the past six years, Erica has been
ably assisted by someone she calls “an
exemplary PA” – her daughter Emma.
Before Emma herself trained in nutrition,
she was part of the “Encourager” team
provided for those online clients who
requested contact with someone who
had been through a Nutritionhelp
programme themselves.
Erica and husband Robin both
continue as directors of Nutritionhelp but
in background roles.
* www.nutritionhelp.com
camBooks
Textbook of Natural
Medicine, 4th Edition
By naturopathic physicians Michael
Murray and Joseph Pizzorno
The essential textbook of natural medicine
from two leaders in the field, both
faculty members at Bastyr University,
the birthplace of modern naturopathic
medicine as a valid primary care
profession in the US.
It is a massive, thoroughly updated, fully-referenced, near 2000-page
“book” – now in one volume instead of two. Well, less of a book than a
combination of reference and instruction manual for anyone wanting to
practise using a full-range of both evidence-based and empirical “natural”
approaches. Or, as the publishers put it:
“…offers more than just alternative medicine. It promotes an integrated
practice that can utilise natural medicine, traditional Western medicine,
or a combination of both in a comprehensive, scientific treatment plan.
Based on a combination of philosophy and clinical studies, Textbook of
Natural Medicine helps you provide health care that identifies and controls
the underlying causes of disease, is supportive of the body’s own healing
processes, and is considerate of each patient’s unique biochemistry.
Internationally known authors Joseph Pizzorno and Michael Murray include
detailed pharmacologic information on herbs and supplements, plus
evidence-based coverage of diseases and conditions to help you make
accurate diagnoses and provide effective therapy.”
New chapters are included on female infertility, medicinal mushrooms,
natural products and quality control, pregnancy health and primary
prevention and Vitamin K; while new appendices include a supplier
certification questionnaire and cervical escharotics treatment.
Tabs in the “Specific Health Problems” section separate more than 70
alphabetised diseases/conditions.
For a separate fee you can get electronic access, making it easy and quick
to search topics, medicines, herbs and supplements, as well as diseases and
conditions.
* Textbook of Natural Medicine, 4th Edition, by Michael Murray, ND, & Joseph
Pizzorno, ND. (Churchill Livingstone). 1944 pages, £161. Available from
www.nutricentrebooks.com, 25% discount for practitioners.
WWW.CAM-MAG.COM
cam
FEBRUARY 2013
9
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE n masterclass
You are “when” you eat: is
health and longevity down
to nutrient timing?
Much of nutritional science and practice revolves around the adage “you are what you
eat”, but relatively little attention has been paid to the importance of “when” you eat.
Naturopath Ben Brown reviews the evidence suggesting that nutrient timing may be
vitally important.
W
hen you consider that it has been
known for more than 40 years that
the timing of a single daily meal
can make the difference between weight
loss and weight gain, it is surprising how
little attention it gets. When you eat matters,
and beyond body weight regulation there
may be important implications for nutritional
interventions, health and longevity too.
Much of what we know about nutrient timing
can be attributed to the pioneering work of
the now 93-year-old Prof Franz Halberg,
one of the founding fathers of the science
of chronobiology. Halberg had already been
investigating the importance of chronobiology
– the study of biological rhythms – when he
first observed a link between nutrient timing
and health. He was studying breast cancer
prone mice and found that the time of feeding
greatly affected white blood cell (eosinophil)
levels. This led to a series of experiments in
animals and humans exploring the relationship
between biological rhythms, nutrient timing
and health effects spanning over 60 years. (1)
who skip breakfast and those who eat most
of their calories at night, such as in NightEating Syndrome, tend to have a higher body
mass index, for example (2,3). The finding
that calories consumed at different times
can have different effects on body weight is
being revisited in recent studies of Intermittent
Fasting and Caloric Restriction.
While it is known that natural daily biological
variations in metabolism and hormones such
as insulin and cortisol might influence our
response to meal timing, the reverse is also
true - your meals can change your biological
clock (4). Halberg had found that the reason
for his observations was more likely due to the
Calories are bigger in the evening
Image 1: Timing of calories determines weight
loss or weight gain.
Halberg was able to demonstrate in animal and
human studies that weight loss, or weight gain
is influenced by the timing of a meal despite
identical calorie intake. In 1976 he published
results of a study showing that a single daily
meal of approximately 2000 calories resulted
in weight loss when consumed at breakfast,
whereas if consumed at dinner body weight
increased (see image 1, right).
This discovery remains important today
when most studies of body weight regulation
focus on how many calories people consume
(or expend), not when they consume them.
However there is increasing evidence that
meal timing is related to weight gain; people
10
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FEBRUARY 2013
Image 2: Relationship between circadian rhythms
and carbohydrate metabolism.
influence of food timing on the biologic clock,
than it was the biological clock’s influence
of utilisation of calories in food (5). It seems
meal timing can regulate your metabolism by
keeping your clock in time.
Lunchtime longevity
One of the best-studied nutritional influences
on longevity is caloric restriction, which has
been shown to increase longevity in several
species. Evidence in humans is scant, but
short-term trials indicate that a 20% reduction
in calories over two to six years is associated
with reduced body weight, blood pressure,
blood cholesterol, blood glucose and body
temperature, which all may be associated
with longevity. In addition, the long-lived
and remarkably healthy Japanese people of
Okinawa consume 40% fewer calories than the
Americans, and women in the United States
on average consume 25% fewer calories than
men and live five years longer. (6)
Although caloric restriction can increase
longevity, the mechanisms by which it works
are still being explored. Halberg conducted
extensive experimentation into the metabolic
effects of caloric restriction and arrived at the
notion that the increase in lifespan seen with
reduced dietary energy intake may be in part
due to changes in metabolism associated with
biological rhythms.
Experimental studies have found that
restricting feeding times can have a profound
effect on several metabolic functions. Body
temperature, heart rate, cortisol secretion,
gastrointestinal motility and activity of digestive
enzymes can all be influenced by changes in
meal timing and are also under control of the
biological clock. (7)
Caloric restriction has consequentially been
proposed to extend lifespan by “appropriately
www.CAM-MAg.COM
masterclass n functional medicine
resetting and synchronizing a variety of
hormonal, biochemical, and physiological
functions”. (7) A nutritional intervention
designed to influence your biological clock
such as a naturally low-calorie Okinawan style
diet or intermittent fasting could plausibly be
used to reduce the risk of age-related chronic
disease and extend lifespan.
Timing of supplements
An interesting implication of the science of
nutrient timing that has been only recently
considered is the interaction between your
biological rhythms and the timing of nutritional
supplements. In pharmaceutical research it is
well known that certain drugs are best given at
a particular time of day to either increase their
effects or reduce toxicity. And chronological
changes in metabolism have been observed
for various nutrients such as carbohydrate (see
image 2), protein and amino acids such as
Key points
• When you eat, not only what you eat,
determines your health and longevity.
• Calories eaten at breakfast are not the
same as dinner.
• Biological rhythms are controlled by
meal timing.
• Lower calorie intake may extend lifespan
by influencing the biological clock.
• Administering nutrients at different times
may have different effects.
www.cam-mag.com
tryptophan and tyrosine. (1).
Timing of medication administration was
an area of investigation for Halberg, who
found that administering treatment in relation
to biological rhythms could double two-year
survival time in cancer patients. And he also
recently explored the effects of various timings
of Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) administration
on blood pressure, which is perhaps the only
study to consider an interaction between
chronobiology and nutritional supplementation.
Halberg and colleagues investigated the
effects of varying daily administration times
(3.5, 7, 10.5, 14, 17.5 hours after awakening or
bedtime) of 100mg of CoQ10. Blood pressure
typically follows a circadian pattern and they
found that CoQ10 interacts with the natural
daily rhythm of blood pressure variation.
The optimal blood pressure-lowering effects
were related to the chronological time of
administration, with greatest effect observed
in the evening or around 14 hours after
awakening. (8)
These results are preliminary but highlight
the need to consider nutrient timing in future
nutraceutical research. Greater, null or even
negative effects of nutrients could conceivably
depend on time of nutrient administration.
Time to rethink nutrition
The importance of Halberg’s extensive body of
work has been relatively underappreciated in
the science of nutrition. But when you eat can
affect various biological functions, influence
chronic disease development and impact
longevity, making it a very important aspect
of nutritional science that deserves serious
consideration. cam
References
1. Cornelissen G. When you eat matters: 60 years
of Franz Halberg’s nutrition chronomics. Open
Nutraceuticals J 2012, 5(1):16-44.
2. Ma Y et al. Association between eating patterns
and obesity in a free-living US adult population. Am
J Epidemiol 2003, 158:85–92.
3. Colles SL et al. Night eating syndrome and
nocturnal snacking: association with obesity, binge
eating and psychological distress. Int J Obes (Lond)
2007, 31:1722–1730.
4. Froy O, Miskin R. The interrelations among
feeding, circadian rhythms and ageing. Prog
Neurobiol 2007, Jun;82(3):142-50.
5. Nelson W, Halberg F. Meal-timing, circadian
rhythms and life span of mice. J Nutr 1986,
Nov;116(11):2244-53.
6. Everitt AV, Le Couteur DG. Life extension by
calorie restriction in humans. Ann N Y Acad Sci
2007, Oct;1114:428-33.
7. Froy O, Miskin R. Effect of feeding regimens
on circadian rhythms: implications for aging and
longevity. Aging 2010, Dec 11;2(1):7-27.
8. Halberg F et al. Timing Nutriceuticals? Open
Nutraceuticals J 2011, Jan 1;3:100-111.
About the author
Ben Brown, ND, is a science
writer, lecturer at BCNH UK
College of Nutrition and Health,
and is involved in continuing
professional education within the
integrative medicine field: www.
timeforwellness.org, [email protected].
cam
febrUArY 2013
11
FEATURE n CAM COACHING
Researching your profitable
practice
In his coaching series for
CAM practitioners dedicated
to “the difference that
makes the difference”, NLP
CAM Coach mark Shields
explains the importance
of research to build your
profitable practice.
I
t is of paramount importance to do your
research and analysis before making any
firm decisions about the location, services
and marketing strategies of your practice.
When conducting this research you need
to have a clear vision of what your practice is
going to look like and the type of clients you
are hoping to attract.
The areas of all research should focus
around the Big 5 focus areas. They are:
1. The Client
2. The Service
3. The Practitioner
4. Market size
5. The Competition
Everything you do in relation to the Big 5
has to be what I call “the difference that
makes the difference”. Your proposition
has to be better than all of the competition
around you. In my opinion you have to
offer a service to your client that is second
to none.
Visiting potential practice rooms, finding
the right location, researching competitors
and formulating your own business vision and
model are not only an enlightening experience,
but great fun as well.
However you have to get this right if you are
going to form the foundations of a successful
future business.
With the power of the Internet there is very
little we can’t find out, so what you might think
initially would take weeks to research, in reality
can just take a day or two.
When conducting research The SLEPT
model is as good as any to use as a
framework for business analysis.
SLEPT simply breaks down the different
and important areas of research to:
12
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FEBRUARY 2013
S ocial
L egislative
E conomic
P olitical
T echnology
It looks and analyses each area in turn,
providing you with current, objective facts
and figures about the most important and
relevant impacts your business may face
going forward. Often most of us wouldn’t have
the business skills or knowledge to even think
about these five areas of potential impact,
let alone research and plan around them.
SLEPT enables us to research confidently
outside the world of the clinic or practice and
look objectively at high impact factors that
will influence the success or failure of our
business.
Let’s look at this in more depth.
qualifications and professional registration
meet the requirements of the day.
Economic
Research the current and ongoing economic
situation and how this may impact on your
business moving forward. For example,
there has been a rise in work-related stress
conditions; mental health disorders are on the
increase as well, therefore the demands and
opportunities for practitioners are increasing.
Political
Changes in government influence can directly
influence and effect the business sector; this
can mean more opportunity. For example, the
(then) new coalition government launched a
new initiative to support entrepreneurs and
new business start-ups.
Social
Technology
Research how our market is growing and look
for any trends that may help or assist with our
business development.
For example, we know that between 2007
and 2009 the CAM market increased by
18% and it is still on the up, a lot of it down
to public awareness and regulatory change.
This confirms this is a good time to enter this
market.
As technology progresses and develops we
can reach more people more quickly and can
establish a national presence within months.
With the right knowledge and marketing
skills you can reach your target audience
via Google, social media, and data-based
marketing campaigns in the first few months of
setting up. cam
Legislation
The rules and regulations are always changing
and evolving as the world of complementary
medicine and talking therapies moves further
and further towards potentially full regulation
in the future. Research the implications of
current legislation and the future impact it may
have on your business. Ensure your training,
About the author
mark Shields, Life Coach, author,
media expert and motivational
speaker, is director of The Life
Practice (www.lifepractice.co.uk;
01462 451473) and co-author
with CAM editor Simon Martin of the new book
The CAM Coach. For more info on CAM coach
workshops or to buy the book visit www.
thecamcoach.com
www.cAm-mAg.com
CAM EdUCAtion
Higher nature sponsor our new
Functional Sports nutrition conference
CAM’s sister magazine
Functional Sports
Nutrition (FSN) is the
prime mover behind
Sports Nutrition Live!
The one-day conference
on May 11 will be
FSn editor ian Craig
sponsored by Higher
heads our May 11 sports
Nature.
nutrition conference.
The day will be
headed by FSN editor Ian Craig, MSc,
an exercise physiologist, nutritional
therapist, NLP practitioner and a coach.
Ian is the module leader of the Centre for
Nutrition Education’s Competitive Athlete
postgraduate course and a lecturer at
Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
FSN was launched by CAM editor
Simon Martin to reinvent the field of sports
nutrition, which for years has focused on
little more than protein powders, sports
drinks and high-carb “energy” bars. FSN
has successfully introduced “real” nutrition
and functional medicine approaches to
professionals involved in advising sports
people.
Higher Nature has recently launched a
science-based range of sports nutrition
products aimed to help athletes of all
levels in three critical areas: preparation,
performance and protection.
HN’s Michelle Berry says: “Higher Nature
has a long and outstanding reputation
as a pioneer in nutritional solutions and
is dedicated to nurturing nutritional
knowledge no matter what level or area of
interest. With the recent launch of Performax
Sports and the ever-growing interest in
sports nutrition, there’s no better time or
partner than Target Publishing to announce
their new Sports Nutrition Live! conference.”
The conference is not only aimed at CAM
practitioners who have “sporty” clients, but
also fitness and exercise professionals who
want to expand their nutritional knowledge.
David Cann, MD of organisers Target
Publishing commented: “With the launch of
Functional Sports Nutrition magazine two
Sports nutrition Live
wHEn: Saturday May 11
wHERE: Cavendish Conference Centre,
London
Book now: www.sportsnutritionlive.com
years ago, we set out to develop the sports
nutrition market with a CAM slant; the
Sports Nutrition Live! conference will again
break new ground for CAM practitioners,
and we’re delighted that Higher Nature
share the vision and are joining us to make
this possible.”
As with all Target Publishing events, the
conference will seek CPD accreditation
from BANT (British Association for Applied
Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy), the
Naturopathic Nutrition Association and
the Federation of Nutritional Therapy
Practitioners for four hours of CPD.
* to book your place log on to www.
sportsnutritionlive.com or telephone the
visitor hotline on 01279 810080. Email:
[email protected]
nutri Advanced and the CAM Coach join forces to boost
practitioner success
Nutri Advanced managing director Ken
Eddie has been pushing CAM practitioners
for years to get more business-orientated
and build successful practices; well 2013
is the year. Ken is partnering with CAM’s
own NLP and business development
coach Mark Shields, from the Life Practice
UK, to bring a new focus for practitioners
via a series of Webinars, Seminars and
Workshops specifically designed to help
CAM practitioners improve the performance
of their own practices.
It’s yet another breakthrough initiative
for Nutri Advanced, matching new
branding, new products and a boosting of
their practitioner education programme by
bringing in worldwide experts such
as Dr Joe Pizzorno (see Learning Zone
14
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FEBRUARY 2013
story this issue). Mark Shields, CAM
Magazine’s NLP CAM Coach columnist and
co-author with editor Simon Martin of the
new book The CAM Coach, is confident
that the new partnership will make a
fundamental difference in helping CAM
practitioners achieve greater success in
2013.
Mark says, “I’m delighted to be involved in
the new partnership with Nutri Advanced.
I believe together we can add value to
practitioners throughout the UK. I find it
very concerning that more than two-thirds
of CAM students graduating from university
fail to go into private practice and of those
that do, 50% fail in their first year. I believe
this new partnership will help address this
problem and help practitioners adopt a set
of new skills via new educational events we
have planned.”
Free March webinar
Events will include a free webinar in March,
a seminar in London in May, and a series
of coaching workshops personally hosted
by Mark Shields throughout the summer.
The events will be based on The CAM
Coach book and will focus on the guiding
principles revealed in the book, emphasising
the practical steps practitioners need to take
to set up and enjoy a successful practice.
* Full details, dates, venues and entry criteria will be shortly
announced by nutri Advanced: www.nutri-online1.co.uk
* the CAM Coach: www.thecamcoach.com
More CPd in our special
Learning Zone feature, page 38
www.CAM-MAg.CoM
PRODUCT SHOWCASES
Supergest
The Gel:
Cleanmarine® Krill Oil
Igennus Healthcare
Nutrition’s E-EPA 90
A practitioner’s favourite.
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cellulose. Supergest also
contains the herbs fenugreek,
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digestion.An ideal supplement
during periods of everyday
stress, convalescence, poor
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Supergest is suitable for
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The omega-3s in Cleanmarine Krill Oil are in
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In November 2012 an article about ‘The Gel’, Beth Gagnon’s
extraordinary skin rejuvenation and healing product
appeared. The story of the birth of The Gel in Beth’s kitchen
in 1984, and its formulation inspiration: cesium salts and
homeopathic remedies that activate the enzyme acetyl
cholinesterase (as does acupuncture), to stimulate the
body’s immune system, is compelling. In 2013 Beth would
like to bring our readers into the story. The Gel wins
devotees the old fashioned way: by working. Healing skin
after burns, wounds and surgery, it impresses conventional
medical practitioners. Beth sells
The Gel personally and would
like to share her evidence and
experience more widely. If you
have your own testimonial
about The Gel, or want to find
out more, call Beth on 44 (0)
207 224 2332 or email post@
gagnontherapies.com
Elevated cholesterol levels are a significant risk factor
for developing heart disease or stroke, but research
shows that cholesterol levels can be lowered naturally,
with a daily dose of 2g EPA. E-EPA 90 contains
prescription-strength marine EPA at 90% concentration,
offering a natural alternative to statins, with unrivalled
efficacy. Igennus Healthcare
Nutrition’s scientifically
formulated and patented fatty
acid supplements support a
range of inflammatory conditions.
Accredited CPD training is
offered, along with an Affiliated
Practitioner scheme and patientdirect ordering system. To
request an information pack and
samples, call 01223 421434 or
email [email protected]
Vital Greens Competition!
Vital Greens gives healthcare professionals a simple and effective solution to addressing key
areas without resorting to a long list of supplements. Designed in Australia by naturopaths Shane
Sullivan and Stephen Sprada,Vital Greens provides nutrients to support healing and recovery
in areas that practitioners see on a daily basis – digestion, immunity, detoxification, adrenal
dysfunction and reduced nutritional status. Packed with 76 ingredients, providing a synergistic
blend of alkalising greens, superfoods, antioxidants, herbs, vitamins and minerals and probiotics making it a true ‘all-in-one’ product.Vital Greens also tastes good which really helps compliance.
Vital Health Europe invites you to register at www.vitalhealtheurope.com/practitioners so you can
benefit from a range of affiliate tools to refer clients and place trade orders. Three practitioners
who sign up during the month of February will win a free Vital Greens 120g!
Just mention the CAM magazine offer when you send through your certification
details to be entered into the draw.
WWW.CAM-MAG.COM
cam
FEBRUARY 2013
15
FEaTuRE n RECLAIMING CHOLESTEROL
aPoE-4: the clue to why a
low-fat diet and statins may
cause alzheimer’s
When MIT scientist Dr Stephanie Seneff, PhD, decided to review the research on
Alzheimer’s, she was surprised to find that conventional wisdom had chosen to ignore
the fact that cholesterol – and sometimes high cholesterol – is vital for brain function.
In fact high cholesterol levels may be a protective mechanism as the brain seeks proper
nutrition. She has since gone on to posit that heart disease is a cholesterol DEFICIENCY
disease (along with sulphate deficiency). In this first extract from her original online essay
(since the forerunner to two journal articles co-authored with two other independent
researchers), she explains the basic science of cholesterol metabolism.
A
lzheimer’s is a devastating disease
whose incidence is clearly on the rise.
Fortunately, a significant number of
research dollars are currently being spent to
try to understand what causes Alzheimer’s.
ApoE-4, a particular allele of the apolipoprotein
apoE, is a known risk factor. Since apoE plays
a critical role in the transport of cholesterol and
fats to the brain, it can be hypothesised that
insufficient fat and cholesterol in the brain play
a critical role in the disease process.
In a remarkable recent study, it was found
that Alzheimer’s patients have only 1/6 of
the concentration of free fatty acids in the
cerebrospinal fluid compared to individuals
without Alzheimer’s. In parallel, it is becoming
very clear that cholesterol is pervasive in
the brain, and that it plays a critical role both
in nerve transport in the synapse and in
maintaining the health of the myelin sheath
coating nerve fibers. An extremely high-fat
(ketogenic) diet has been found to improve
cognitive ability in Alzheimer’s patients. These
and other observations described below lead
me to conclude that both a low-fat diet and
statin drug treatment increase susceptibility to
Alzheimer’s.
cholesterol vital
Researchers are only recently discovering that
both fat and cholesterol are severely deficient
in the Alzheimer’s brain. It turns out that fat and
cholesterol are both vital nutrients in the brain.
The brain contains only 2% of the body’s mass,
16
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FEBRuaRy 2013
but 25% of the total cholesterol. Cholesterol is
essential both in transmitting nerve signals and
in fighting off infections.
A crucial piece of the puzzle is a genetic
marker that predisposes people to Alzheimer’s,
termed “apoE-4”. ApoE plays a central role
in the transport of fats and cholesterol. There
are currently five known distinct variants of
apoE (properly termed “alleles”), with the
ones labelled “2”, “3” and “4” being the most
prevalent. ApoE-2 has been shown to afford
some protection against Alzheimer’s; apoE-3 is
the most common “default” allele, and apoE-4,
present in 13-15% of the population, is the
allele that is associated with increased risk
to Alzheimer’s. A person with apoE-4 allele
inherited from both their mother and their
father has up to a 20-fold increased likelihood
of developing Alzheimer’s disease. However
only about 5% of the people with Alzheimer’s
actually have the apoE-4 allele, so clearly there
is something else going on for the rest of them.
Nonetheless, understanding apoE’s many
roles in the body was a key step leading to my
proposed low-fat/statin theory.
Most cell types can use either fats or
glucose (a simple sugar derived from
carbohydrates) as a fuel source to satisfy
their energy needs. However, the brain is the
one huge exception to this rule. All cells in
the brain, both the neurons and the glial cells,
are unable to utilise fats for fuel. This is likely
because fats are too precious to the brain.
The myelin sheath requires a constant supply
of high quality fat to insulate and protect the
enclosed axons. Since the brain needs its fats
to survive long-term, it is paramount to protect
them from oxidation (by exposure to oxygen)
and from attack by invasive microbes.
Fats come in all kinds of shapes and sizes.
One dimension is the degree of saturation,
which concerns how many double bonds
they possess, with saturated fats possessing
none, monounsaturated fats having only one,
and polyunsaturated fats having two or more.
Oxygen breaks the double bond and leaves
the fat oxidised, which is problematic for the
brain. Polyunsaturated fats are thus the most
vulnerable to oxygen exposure, because of
multiple double bonds.
cholesterol and lipid
management 101
In addition to some knowledge about the brain
[covered in the second extract, in next month’s
CAM], you will also need to know something
about the processes that deliver fats and
cholesterol to all the tissues of the body, with a
special focus on the brain.
www.cam-mag.com
RECLAIMING CHOLESTEROL n feature
Fats are digested in the intestine and
released into the bloodstream in the form of
a relatively large ball with a protective protein
coat, called a chylomicron. The chylomicron
can directly provide fuel to many cell types,
but it may also be sent to the liver where the
contained fats are sorted out and redistributed
into much smaller particles, which also contain
substantial amounts of cholesterol. These
particles are called “lipoproteins” (henceforth,
LPP’s), because they contain protein in the
spherical shell and lipids (fats) in the interior.
If you’ve had your cholesterol measured,
you’ve probably heard of LDL (low density
LPP) and HDL (high density LPP). If you think
these are two different kinds of cholesterol, you
would be mistaken. They are just two different
kinds of containers for cholesterol and fats
that serve different roles in the body. There
are actually several other LPP’s, for example,
VLDL (very-low) and IDL (intermediate), as
shown in the accompanying diagram. In this
essay I will refer to these collectively as the
XDL’s. As if this weren’t confusing enough,
there is also another unique XDL that is found
only in the cerebrospinal fluid and that supplies
the nutritional needs of the brain and nervous
www.cam-mag.com
system. This one doesn’t seem to have a name
yet, but I will call it “B-HDL”, because it is like
HDL in terms of its size, and “B” is for “brain”.
(1)
An important point about all the XDL’s is that
they contain distinctly different compositions,
and each is targeted (programmed) for
specific tissues. A set of proteins called
“apolipoproteins” or, equivalently, “apoproteins”
(“apo’s” for short) figure strongly in controlling
who gets what. As you can see from the
schematic of the chylomicron shown here, it
contains a rainbow of different apo’s for every
conceivable application.
But the XDLs are far more specific, with
HDL containing “A,” LDL containing “B,” VLDL
containing “B” and “C,” and IDL containing
only “E.” The apo’s have special binding
properties that allow the lipid contents to be
transported across cell membranes so that the
cell can gain access to the fats and cholesterol
contained inside.
The only apo that is of concern to us in the
context of this essay is apoE. ApoE is very
important to our story because of its known link
with Alzheimer’s disease. ApoE is a protein,
ie a sequence of amino acids, and its specific
composition is dictated by a corresponding
DNA sequence on a protein-coding gene.
Certain alterations in the DNA code lead
to defects in the ability of the transcribed
protein to perform its biological roles. ApoE-4,
the allele associated with increased risk of
Alzheimer’s, is presumably unable to perform
its tasks as efficiently as the other alleles. By
understanding what apoE does, we can better
infer how the consequences of doing it poorly
might impact the brain, and then observe
experimentally whether the features of the
Alzheimer’s brain are consistent with the roles
played by apoE.
A strong clue about apoE’s roles can be
deduced from where it is found. As I mentioned
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FEaTuRE n RECLAIMING CHOLESTEROL
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above, it is the only apo in both B-HDL in the
cerebrospinal fluid and IDL in the blood serum.
Only selected cell types can synthesise it, the
two most significant of which for our purposes
are the liver and the astrocytes in the brain.
Thus the astrocytes provide the linkage
between the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid.
They can usher lipids and cholesterol across
the blood-brain barrier, via the special key
which is apoE.
It turns out that, although apoE is not found
in LDL, it does bind to LDL, and this means
that astrocytes can unlock the key to LDL in
the same way that they can gain access to
IDL, and hence the cholesterol and fatty acid
contents of LDL are accessible to astrocytes as
well, as long as apoE is functioning properly.
The astrocytes reshape and repackage the
lipids and release them into the cerebrospinal
fluid, both as B-HDL and simply as free fatty
acids, available for uptake by all parts of the
brain and nervous system. (1)
How long are your fats?
One of the critical reshaping steps is to convert
the fats into types that are more attractive
to the brain. To understand this process
you need to know about another dimension
of fats besides their degree of saturation,
which is their total length. Fats have a chain
of linked carbon atoms as their spine, and
the total number of carbons in a particular
fat characterises it as short, medium-length,
or long. The brain works best when the
constituent fats are long, and, indeed, the
astrocytes are able to take in short chain fats
and reorganize them to make longer chain
fats. (2)
Key points
n The management of the distribution
of fats and cholesterol to the cells of the
body is a complex process, carefully
orchestrated to assure that they will have
a safe journey to their destination.
n Dangers lurk in the bloodstream,
mostly in the form of oxygen and invasive
microbes.
n The body considers cholesterol to be
precious cargo, and it is very careful to
conserve it, by recycling it from the gut
back to the liver, to be appropriately
distributed among the XDL’s that will
deliver both cholesterol and fats to the
tissues that depend upon them.
n Most especially these are the brain and
nervous system.
18
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FEBRuaRy 2013
A final dimension of fats that plays a role
is where the first double bond is located in
a polyunsaturated fat, which distinguishes
omega-3 from omega-6 fats (position 3;
position 6). Omega-3 fats are very common
in the brain. Certain ones of the omega-3 and
omega-6 fats are essential fatty acids, in that
the human body is unable to synthesize them,
and therefore depends upon their supply from
the diet. This is why it is claimed that fish
“makes you smart”: because cold water fish is
the best source of essential omega-3 fats.
to enter the digestive system as part of the
bile, which is produced by the gall bladder to
help digest ingested fats. But the body is very
careful to conserve cholesterol, so that 90%
of it will be recycled from the gut back into the
bloodstream, contained in the chylomicron that
began our story about fats.
n Next month: Cholesterol, Inflammation,
Chronic infections and Amyloid plaque: what
is really going on in Alzheimer’s and other
neurodegenerative diseases?
The original “APOE-4: The Clue to Why Low Fat Diet
and Statins may Cause Alzheimer’s” by Stephanie
Seneff is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution 3.0 United States License, which permits
“remixing”. Extracts have been used with her
permission.
References
Now I want to return to the subject of the
XDL’s. It is a dangerous journey from the liver
to the brain, as both oxygen and microbes
are found in abundance in the bloodstream.
The XDL’s protective shell contains both
LPP’s and unesterified cholesterol, as well
as the signature apo that controls which cells
can receive the contents, as shown in the
schematic (above).
The internal contents are esterified
cholesterol and fatty acids, along with
certain antioxidants that are conveniently
being transported to the cells packaged in
the same cargo ship. Esterification is a
technique to render the fats and cholesterol
inert, which helps protect them from
oxidation. (3)
Having the antioxidants (such as vitamin
E and Coenzyme Q10) along for the ride is
also convenient, as they too protect against
oxidation. The cholesterol contained in the
shell, however, is intentionally not esterified,
which means that it is active. One of its roles
there is to guard against invasive bacteria and
viruses. (4)
Cholesterol is the first line of defence
against these microbes, as it will alert the white
blood cells to attack whenever it encounters
dangerous pathogens. It has also been
proposed that the cholesterol in the XDL’s shell
itself acts as an antioxidant. (5)
Body conserves cholesterol
HDL’s are mostly depleted of the lipid and
cholesterol content, and they are tasked with
returning the empty shell back to the liver.
Once there, cholesterol will be recommisioned
1. DeMattos RB et al. Purification and
characterization of astrocyte-secreted apolipoprotein
E and J-containing lipoproteins from wild-type and
human apoE transgenic mice. Neurochem Int 2001,
39 (5-6): 415-25.
2. Innis SM and Dyer RA. Brain astrocyte synthesis
of docosahexaenoic acid from n-3 fatty acids is
limited at the elongation of docosapentaenoic acid.
J Lipid Res 2002, 43: 1529-36.
3. Vohl M-C et al. A Novel Lecithin-Cholesterol
Acyltransferase Antioxidant Activity Prevents the
Formation of Oxidized Lipids during Lipoprotein
Oxidation. Biochemistry 1999, 38 (19): 5976-81.
4. Wilson RF et al. Hypocholesterolemia in Sepsis
and Critically Ill or Injured Patients. Critical Care
2003, 7: 413-4.
5. Smith LL, Another cholesterol hypothesis:
cholesterol as antioxidant. Free Radic Biol Med
1991, 11 (1): 47-61.
about the
author
Dr Stephanie Seneff is a
Senior Research Scientist
in the Computer Science
and Artificial Intelligence
Laboratory at MIT. She has
a BS degree in Biophysics and MS, EE and
PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering and
Computer Science from MIT. Her research
interests have encompassed many aspects of
the development of computer conversational
systems, including speech recognition,
natural language parsing, discourse and
dialogue modelling, language generation,
and information summarisation. She has
published more than 170 refereed articles on
these subjects, and has been invited to give
keynote speeches at several international
conferences. In the last few years, Dr Seneff
has been shifting her research interests back
towards biology, reflecting her undergraduate
degree. She is concentrating mainly on the
relationship between nutrition and health.
She is first author on three publications in
2011 in medical journals, relating excess
carbohydrate consumption with metabolic
syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease and autism. She
has been a main speaker for the Weston Price
Foundation.
* http://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff
www.cam-mag.com
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FEaTuRE n RECLAIMING CHOLESTEROL
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Nutritional
influences on
cholesterol:
the research
From CoQ10 to probiotics, BioCare’s mike wakeman, MSc Nutritional Medicine, BSc
Pharm, MRPS, reviews recent research on cholesterol and lipid nutrition.
coQ10 positively influences LDL
oxidation
This was an intervention study: patients were
randomly assigned to the placebo group or
one of two coenzyme Q10-supplemented
groups – 60 mg/day or 150 mg/day.
Intervention was administered for 12 weeks.
Patients’ blood samples were analysed
every four weeks for plasma coenzyme Q10
concentrations, malondialdehyde (MDA),
and antioxidant enzyme (catalase [CAT],
superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione
peroxidase) activity. MDA is a highly reactive
compound used as a marker of free radical
activity, particularly lipid peroxidation.
The MDA levels were significantly lower
than baseline in the Q10-150mg group at
week four and week eight.
With respect to antioxidant enzyme
activity, subjects in the Q10-150 group had
significantly higher CAT and SOD activity than
the placebo group at week 12. The plasma
coenzyme Q10 concentration was significantly
correlated with MDA levels and CAT and SOD
activity. The ratio of plasma coenzyme Q10 to
total cholesterol was significantly correlated
with SOD activity. The ratio of plasma
coenzyme Q10 to LDL cholesterol
was significantly correlated with CAT and
SOD. (1)
N6:N3 ratios a better predictor of
cHD than LDL cholesterol
This study used the new Purdie assay to
quantify the levels of omega-3 and omega-6
polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in mol/L
and the ratio of n6:n3 in total cholesterol (TC),
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, (HDL-C)
and low density lipoprotein cholesterol
(LDL-C) fractions.
20
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FEBRuaRy 2013
The findings of this study imply that, for
males, more focus should be on the ratios of
n6:n3 PUFAs in the non-HDL-C fraction and
that the use of the n6:n3 ratio of PUFAs in
serum is a better predictor of coronary heart
disease than estimating LDL-C. (2)
Phytosterols lower LDL cholesterol
and triglycerides without dietary
change
In a randomised placebo-controlled design,
108 patients with metabolic syndrome were
assigned to consume either 4g phytosterols
per day, or placebo.
After two months supplementation with
phytosterols – given as two plant sterolenriched yogurt mini drinks – a significant
reduction in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol,
small and dense LDL (sdLDL) levels, as well
as apoB and triglycerides concentrations were
observed in the intervention group compared
to the control group.
In addition, phytosterol supplementation
lowered serum total cholesterol by 15.9%,
LDL-cholesterol by 20.3% and triglyceride
levels by 19.1%. Although the patients kept
their habitual Westernised-type diet. No
differences were observed in HDL cholesterol,
apoA1, glucose, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen
levels and blood pressure. (3)
Polymorphisms alter folic acid
effects on lipid metabolism and
homocysteine
It is well known that serum homocysteine
(tHcy) levels show inter-individual variation
and are determined by nutritional factors, such
as B-vitamin intake and age. However, it is
now known that genetic influences, such as
the genotype of the methylenetetrahydrofolate
reductase (C677T MTHFR) gene also play a
part, but little is known about the effects of folic
acid supplementation on tHcy concentration
and lipid metabolism in general elderly
populations with different C677T MTHFR
genotypes.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the
impact of short-term folic acid supplementation
on homocysteine. (4) In it, the ratio of
HDL to total cholesterol before folic acid
supplementation was dependent on the
MTHFR genotype, and the T-allele carriers
had lower values for this parameter than did
the CC homozygous subjects. The study
proved that lipid metabolism, obesity, and
waist to hip ratio and hence response to folic
acid supplementation may be influenced by
the C677T MTHFR polymorphism.
How probiotics can influence
cholesterol levels
In recent years some progress has been made
by use of molecular biology methods to study
the mechanism of probiotics, gastrointestinal
tolerance and regulation of host cholesterol
metabolism. Several theories of how probiotics
remove host cholesterol have been put
forward. (5)
They are mainly: 1) Assimilation – when
cultivated in the presence of bile salts, bacteria
metabolise cholesterol from the culture; 2)
Coprecipitation – under acidic conditions,
the deconjugated bile salts co-sediment with
cholesterol; 3) Adsorption and incorporation
– in this case, cholesterol is adsorbed by or
incorporated to the growing cells surface and
4) Reduction of the cholesterol absorption by
host – a large number of studies imply these
mechanisms work together to lower the level
of host cholesterol.
www.cam-mag.com
RECLAIMING CHOLESTEROL n feature
Systematic review demonstrates
probiotics effective in lowering
cholesterol
A systematic literature search was conducted of
studies that investigated the efficacy of probiotics
on the plasma lipid profile of subjects. (6)
13 trials were included, covering 485
participants with high, borderline high and
normal cholesterol levels. The pooled mean
net change in total cholesterol for those treated
with probiotics compared to controls was -6.40
mg/ dl; low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
-4.90 mg/dl; and in high-density lipoprotein
(HDL) cholesterol -0.11 mg/dl; with change in
triglycerides -3.95 mg/ dl.
These results indicate that a diet rich in
probiotics decreases total cholesterol and
LDL cholesterol concentration in plasma for
participants with high, borderline high and normal
cholesterol levels.
Freiburg scientists discover
cholesterol boosts the memory
of the immune system
T
he immune system becomes
acquainted with a pathogen during
an initial infection and understands
that it must be combated. When T cell
receptors come across the same pathogen
a second time, they are much more
sensitive to it – it takes fewer pathogens
to activate the immune system and our
response is that much faster. German
scientists have now discovered that
the memory of the immune system is
dependent on cholesterol.
Immunobiologist Prof Wolfgang Schamel
from the University of Freiburg’s Institute
pathogen binds to a receptor from a cluster,
all of the receptors within the cluster are
activated at once. This makes the immune
system more sensitive.
Now the Freiburg researchers under
Schamel and Prof Rolf Schubert of the
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
have succeeded in demonstrating how
a cell forms these receptor clusters. The
critical factors for success were Schamel’s
research on T cell receptors and Schubert’s
expertise in the production of liposomes.
The researchers isolated the receptors
and reconstructed them in a synthetic
References
1. Bor-Jen Lee et al. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation
reduces oxidative stress and increases antioxidant
enzyme activity in patients with coronary artery
disease. Nutrition 2012, 28, 250–5.
2. M Muriuki et al. Quantification of the major n3,n6
PUFAs using the Purdie assay and their ratios in
different cholesterol types and the effects of gender and
cholesterol on PUFA levels. Trends Anal Chem 2012,
31: 157-64.
3. Sialvera TE et al. Phytosterols supplementation
decreases plasma small and dense LDL levels in
metabolic syndrome patients on a westernized type
diet. Nutr, Met, Cardiovasc Dis 2012, 12, 843-8.
4. Chmurzynska A et al. Elderly women: Homocysteine
reduction by short-term folic acid supplementation
resulting in increased glucose concentrations
and affecting lipid metabolism (C677T MTHFR
polymorphism). Nutrition 2013, pub online Jan 7.
5. G Li et al. Intestinal Probiotics: Interactions with Bile
Salts and Reduction of Cholesterol. Proc Envir Sci
2012, 12, 1180–6.
6. Z. Guo et al. Influence of consumption of probiotics
on the plasma lipid profile: A meta-analysis of
randomised controlled trials. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc
Dis 2011, 21 (11): 844-50.
About the author
Mike Wakeman, MSc Nutritional
Medicine, BSc Pharm, MRPS, is
an independent consultant to
BioCare Ltd. Originally trained
as a pharmacist, with a BSc
in pharmacy and a Master’s
in pharmaceutical analysis,
Mike Wakeman started working with Prof David
Horrobin in 1983 and as managing director of
Efamol and their natural medicines listed company
Scotia Pharmaceuticals was involved in some of
the key research into the clinical applications of
essential fatty acids. Mike then trained in nutritional
therapy and was one of the first graduates in the
UK to receive a Masters in Nutritional Medicine
from Surrey University. He has acted widely as a
consultant to natural products companies around
the world and presented at numerous international
conferences.
www.cam-mag.com
In a naive cell (left), the receptors (blue) on the membrane are arranged individually. Pathogens
(yellow) must bind to many receptors in order to activate the immune defence. In a memory cell
(right), the receptors are joined together by cholesterol (red). When a pathogen binds one receptor of
a cluster, all of the receptors within the cluster are activated. (Credit: © Schamel)
of Biology and colleagues have succeeded
in demonstrating for the first time how the
memory of the immune system actually
functions.
The first step in the discovery was to
find out why membrane receptors on
memory cells become more sensitive. In
2011, Schamel’s research group and a
team led by Prof Balbino Alarcon from the
Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain,
found the answer to this fundamental
question. In a publication in the journal
Immunity, they showed that the increased
sensitivity is caused by a clustering of
the T cell receptors. In a cell that has not
yet met a pathogen – a naïve cell – the
receptors are arranged individually on the
cell membrane, each fending for itself. A
large number of receptors thus needs to be
confronted by a large number of pathogens
in order for the immune system to react. In
a so-called memory cell, which remembers
the pathogen, the receptors are arranged
in groups on the membrane. When a
membrane. After one and a half years of
work, they achieved a breakthrough: they
discovered that the composition of the
lipids of a membrane is responsible for the
clustering of the receptors.
It turns out that the lipid composition
of a naive cell is different from that of a
memory cell. Cholesterol is the key factor.
It is present in higher concentrations in a
memory cell. This higher concentration
of cholesterol leads to the aggregation of
receptors, because the cholesterol joins
them together like glue.
* Molnar E et al. Cholesterol and
Sphingomyelin Drive Ligand-independent
T-cell Antigen Receptor Nanoclustering.
J Biol Chem 2012, 287.
* Kumar R et al. Increased Sensitivity of AntigenExperienced T Cells through the Enrichment of
Oligomeric T Cell Receptor Complexes. Immunity
2011, 35 (3): 375.
* CAM comment: It is ironic to remember that
the effectiveness of vaccines depends on the
memory of the human immune system being
fully functional. Could yet another unwanted
side-effect of cholesterol-lowering drugs be
unresponsiveness to vaccination?
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FEBRuaRy 2013
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FEATURE ■ DIAGNOSTICS
Fungal infections: can c
am
they be identified with futur
e
non-linear systems?
w.cam-mag.c
o
ww
Celebr
the
ing 10 Y
at
m
rs2002-2012
ea
The new Oberon non-linear assessment system caused a minor sensation at camexpo
2012, with its apparent ability to not only track dysfunction in the body but represent
it graphically. In an introduction to the practical use of such systems, Heilpraktiker
Dr Heinz Reinwald explains how he has used it in his Bayreuth clinic and describes
some of the difficulties encountered when practitioners attempt to interpret non-linear
analyses with linear thinking.
T
he naturopathic consideration of
mycoses, particularly when based on the
bacterial cyclogeny theory of Professor
Günther Enderlein (1872–1968), has caused
controversy within the conventional medical
community. It challenges two dogmas at
once: the dogma of the sterility of blood and
the dogma of monomorphism. In Enderlein’s
pleomorphism, micro-organisms do not
have a single fixed form, but can change
from a non-pathogenic form to a so-called
culminant, a pathogenic form such as a
fungus. Modern energy- and information-based
assessment systems such as those offered
by non-linear systems (NLS) analysis are
now reviving interest in pleomorphism, (1,2,3)
[CAM: Enderlein’s theories were based on
a lifetime of observation using darkfield/”live
blood” microscopy, which until now has
remained the premier, although relatively
inaccessible, method of tracking pleomorphic
microbes. Naturopathic interventions based
on pleomorphism notably use interventions
based on altering the biological terrain so that
microbes morph back into non-pathogenic
forms.]
According to prevailing conventional
medical opinion, fungal infections are
solely introduced into an organism from the
environment via spores (airborne germs).
Pleomorphism takes the view that there
are also parasitic forms which have lived in
symbiosis with the human organism for millions
of years and carry out crucial tasks in the
immune system as non-pathogenic parasites
22
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FEBRUARY 2013
– a view which some renowned biologists,
drawing on the results of genetic analysis, now
regard as fact. (4)
Fungi can be found in human (and animal)
organisms under normal conditions of life.
Many obligate fungi hence live as systemically
necessary parasites in unlimited symbiosis
with our organisms, given intact immune
systems. Such microorganisms, also called
“symbionts”, normally support the body’s own
defence mechanism and hence are not at all
damaging in themselves. However, as soon as
negative external or internal conditions weaken
the immune system or the surrounding milieu
worsens (through, for example, heavy metal
exposure, disruption of acid-base balance,
oxygen deficiency in tissues), uninhibited and
targeted development of the fungi can occur.
This type of growth activity can also arise
if exogenous fungal spores such as those of
Aspergillus fumigatus penetrate and thus ignite
a territorial war with the “native” Aspergillus
niger. The fungal forms then develop upward
in multiple stages from their non-pathogenic
form to their pathogenic form. In this phase
these fungi, which have become pathogenic
symbionts, produce their own toxins. They can
flood the body with endotoxins or mycotoxins,
eg the lactic acid of Mucor racemosus, the
citric acid and enzymatic calcium activity
of Aspergillus niger, or the aflatoxins of
Aspergillus flavus, and can lead to problems
ranging from simple malaise to severe chronic
disease.
Blood containing no fungi at all is
becoming rarer
Overly acidified bodies filled with excessive
waste products, overweight people, diabetics,
stressed big city dwellers and people suffering
from fatigue due to sickness or old age usually
exhibit an increased fungal load. The fact that
such fungal infection is becoming increasingly
common is due to our polluted environment,
poor diet and numerous other aspects of
modern living. Once in the organism fungi are
very difficult to affect; they must be tackled with
dietary and milieu therapy measures as well as
the corresponding treatment with isopathic
preparations to stop and curb pathological
fungal growth, and with targeted diversion of
fungal toxins (detoxification).
Fig. 1: Simplified classification of premycotic systases (left) and Aspergillus (right). (Graphic: Mycohaem
laboratory, Switzerland.)
WWW.CAM-MAG.COM
DIAGNOSTICS ■ FEATURE
Diagnosis of mycoses or premycotic
“systases” [an Enderleinian description of
a complex structure found in the blood] as
fungal precursors in the organism is generally
extremely difficult.
The sampling and breeding of cultures of the
pathogen are lengthy and cumbersome.
Because the whole thing usually occurs
behind the blinds of monomorphism,
meaningful results pertinent to regulatory
medicine can hardly be expected. However,
darkfield microscopy, which can show very
good diagnostic blood results in the early
stages of a heightened immune response
and greater pathogenic development,
reaches its limits when it comes to mycoses
because while darkfield microscopy exhibits
advantages over bright field (for example, in
the visualisation of colloidal and di-ecothecites,
or “symplasts”, according to Enderlein), it also
possesses weaknesses in the identification of
premycotic systases or mycoses. Premycotic
systases are understood as being, among
other things, mycoidal development forms
such as the bacterial phase of Aspergillus
niger (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) or Mucor
racemosus (Leptotrichia buccalis).
The Swiss blood researcher Bruno Haefeli,
who worked with Enderlein in Enderlein’s last
years, recognised this early on and forged new
paths.
Haefeli developed an erythrocyte diagnostic
method and a fungal staining technology for
phase contrast microscopy; this technology
was improved in a Swiss laboratory and the
fungal diagnosis considerably simplified. (5,
6) With the help of this advanced laboratory
diagnostic method, targeted classification of
the extent of fungal infection in the blood can
be shown. Such image-based classification
forms an outstanding basis for achieving
patient compliance with preventive therapy.
As shown in the pictures here, it is possible
to differentiate the fungal type and the level of
attack using the respective fungal precursors
or premycotic systases as markers.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate this classification
in the form of a model and in the blood via
stain-based diagnostic determination of Mucor
levels.
However this blood diagnosis method is
not well-known nor in widespread use. Only a
few special laboratories possess the required
know-how, although Bruno Haefeli and Jost
WWW.CAM-MAG.COM
Fig. 2: Mucor in 1st, 2nd and 3rd stages (from top to
bottom). (Images courtesy Mycohaem laboratory,
Switzerland.)
Fig. 3: Expert system “Entropy”, with the thorax as
an example.
Dumrese published extensive work pertaining
to this. (7)
With this mycosis diagnosis method,
however, information-based medical
analysis using nonlinear systems can
perform outstanding results. Rapid, flexible,
multi-organ, noninvasive NLS analysis
can supplement diagnostic laboratory
investigations very well.
I myself work with the Oberon Nilas MV
PathFinder. Unlike the predecessor model
(Oberon Hunter), here the individual fungal
forms are supplied as vibrational patterns
and new group lists useful for differential
diagnosis, eg “isopathic remedies”, to name
just one, have been added. With their help,
premycotic systases and mycoses can be
suggested indirectly when the system identifies
a recommended isopathic remedy, for example
for a Mucor or Aspergillus infection. The
prescribed remedy can also be compared with
the measured spectral similarities of vibrational
patterns of fungi and an Enderlein-based
therapy can be formulated directly. However
at least basic knowledge of the nomenclature
and therapeutic forms used by Enderlein, as
well as a certain confidence in interpretation of
measurement results from non-linear systems
are required for this. I will go into these
problems and the interpretation of such results
in detail in the following paragraphs.
However, first a few preliminary explanations
regarding interpretation of the measurement
results obtained from the two expert systems
“Entropy” and “Curve analysis” used in the
Oberon system are required.
Entropy, with its energy points from 1 to 6,
indicates the stage of disorder of the measured
biological system. It is represented by an
energy distribution pattern with details being
provided by spectral analysis (see left side of
Fig.3; spectral analysis not shown). The Curve
analysis, in contrast, compares the healthy
vibrational pattern from the list of organic
preparations with the concrete measurement
results obtained for the living system, ie the
patient.
The most commonly occurring error lies
in the interpretation of the displayed spectral
similarities and the concentration on results
with a high statistical significance, because
therapists often unconsciously approach nonlinear analysis with a linear way of thinking.
Accordingly, the higher the spectral similarity
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FEBRUARY 2013
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23
FEaTuRE n diagnostics
Fig. 4: Candida in a 39-year-old female
patient. (Screen shot in German from
Dr Reinwald’s original screening.)
Eye, unkeratinised squamous
epithelium, cell membrane of
unkeratinised squamous epithelium.
The results at the “eyeball” (Augapfel)
level already show an indication of
an increase in eosinophils, pointing
to parasitic loading, which then
also appears as a concrete result
with a high spectral similarity in the
pathomorphology. The group list “loads”
indicates a considerable histamine
reaction as well as diverse toxic
loads. Via the group list “allopathy”,
conventional medical symptomatic
medications can be read, yielding a
very coherent overall assessment, with
symptoms such as itching of the eye
particularly being present.
(Prednisolone is a cortisone
preparation; Dexamethasone an
anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid, and
Claritine is an antihistamine.)
→
24
of the measurement to the reference tissue,
the higher the probability (≥ 68% or ≥ 95%) of
the identification.
With that, the practitioner believes that he
or she has the “safest” solution to identified
acute processes. However this is precisely
the point at which both the difficulties and the
possibilities of the system with regard to finding
hidden processes arise.
The NLS device I use is capable
of measuring subtle, non-manifested
pathomorphological processes at the cellular
level as well as gross pathological processes
at the cellular level, of course as well as coarse
processes at the level of the cell assembly.
Whereas the first two measurement levels are
usually without symptoms for the patient, the
latter is manifested organically and usually
has associated symptoms. However and
actually much more importantly: even lower
mathematical probabilities, ie with fewer
spectral similarities to the reference tissue
(≤ 68%), can be of great relevance and
suggestive that hidden processes - especially
in regard to various stages of disease – may
be involved. In other words, a statistical
significance with a spectral similarity of 0.187
and p < 0.05 (probability ≥ 95%) stands out,
but does not have to be viewed as an absolute
indicator of a real significance. If p > 0.05 or
the spectral similarity value is > 0.750, ie if
certain correlations exhibit a low statistical
relevance (≤ 68%), a high real relationship can
still exist.
Not all cases of rheumatoid arthritis are
manifested in the same way; not every person
with rheumatism has an acute episode and
not every premycotic systasis is already in
the third or higher stage, close to mycosis or
pronounced fungemia.
Let me illustrate this with a clear example
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FEBRuaRy 2013
of a patient with qualitative and quantitative
azoospermia [no viable sperm present in
ejaculate].
The disease was present as a clinical
finding and was proven in diagnostic laboratory
investigations in various routine semen
analyses carried out by the treating urologist.
My NLS analysis and the measurement of the
ultrastructure reference tissues “testicles” and
“sperm” yielded a reference value azoospermia
for the measured reference tissue “‘sperm” of
4.205: ie the disease azoospermia was indicated
with a statistical significance of p > 0.05.
In consideration of the given clinical
findings it can be concluded that fertility
was significantly impaired (already due to
the poor quality, ie mobility, of the sperm),
but the sperm count was still approximately
4.7 million (versus 20 million for normal
production, although this says nothing about
the quality). Hence one can speak of second
stage azoospermia in this case. This is clinical
routine in conventional medicine, but still must
be discovered and interpreted in an empirical
medicine sense in NLS analyses.
For our mycosis diagnoses various levels of
interpretation arise:
1. Acute processes with considerable
statistical significance, ie p < 0.05 and spectral
similarity between 0.001 and 0.750, which we
can specify with third or higher-degree loading.
The differentiation between subtle and gross
and between cell and cell assembly should be
kept in mind here.
2. Subacute, latent processes with a low
statistical significance of p > 0.05 and a
mathematical probability of > 0.750 to < ∞,
corresponding to a load of second to first
degree down to no load.
The simple example shown here (Fig. 4)
was likewise measured with the predecessor
model, Oberon Hunter: the system carried
out the analysis independently, starting from
the eye via the ultrastructural analysis into
the conjunctival tissue and the cell membrane
and showed a dominant pathomorphological
allergy with a spectral value of 0.193 as well
as, for microorganisms, a Candida load with
a spectral similarity of 0.683. The statistical
significance was very high in this case, lying at
p < 0.05, i.e. ≥ 95% mathematical probability
for the allergy and ≥ 68% probability in the
case of Candida.
The significance of the Candida finding
rose with increasing depth into the
tissue ultrastructure. The parameters for
“biochemical homeostasis” supported the
finding through strongly increased eosinophils,
here likewise ≥ 95%.
In the area of “allergens”, increased
histamine and ethylene glycol loads were
yielded (≥ 95%). Upon questioning, the
39-year-old female patient confirmed frequent
itching in the affected eye. cam
© Heinz Reinwald 2013. All rights reserved.
Translated from German, originally published in
Co·Med (Kulmbach, Bavaria), 2010.
References
1. Krämer E. “Leben und Werk von Prof Dr. phil.
Enderlein (1872-1968)”, Reichl-Verlag Goar, 2006.
2. Enderlein, G. Bakterien-Cyclogenie. Prolegomena
zu Untersuchungen über Bau, geschlechtliche und
ungeschlechtliche Fortpflanzung und Entwicklung
der Bakterien (2nd edition), Semmelweis-Verlag,
1981.
3. Enderlein, G. Akmon. Bausteine zur
Vollgesundheit und Akmosophie (Vols. 1-3), Ibica
Verlag 1955-1959.
4. Margulis L et al. Spirochete round bodies,
Syphilis, Lyme Disease & AIDS: Resurgence of ‘the
great imitator’? Symbiosis 2009, 47: 51-58.
5. Haefeli B. Die Blut-Mykose. Handbuch für Theorie
und Praxis. Die ERY-Methode als neuzeitliche
Blut-Diagnostik innerhalb der genetischen Einheit:
‘Protit-Sporangiose-Myceliämie-HämatomykoseSklermykose’, Medinca-Verlag CH-Zug, 1987.
6. Haefeli, Bruno: Krebs muss nicht unser
unabwendbares Schicksal sein! Medinca-Verlag,
no date.
7. Dumrese J and Haefeli B. Pleomorphimus.
Blutsymbionten, Blutparasiten, Blutpilze. Unter
besonderer Berücksichtigung der Enderleinschen
Cyclogenie und der diagnostischen Methoden nach
Haefeli, Haug-Verlag 1996.
about the
author
Heinz Reinwald studied
in Erlangen-Nuremberg
and Mexico City. He is a
naturopath with a practice
in Bayreuth, Germany,
and specialises in isopathic miasmatic
regulatory medicine and microenergy therapy,
detoxification and development of individual
metabolic diets. He is also an entrepreneur
with a therapist partner network. He is
an expert in the use of the Oberon ® NLS
diagnostic system (www.metavital.eu)
* www.drreinwald.de
www.cam-mag.com
FEaTuRE n CHRONIC FATIGUE/ME
Breakthrough:
how the research
got done
BMJ Open, a British Medical Journal publication,
recently published the results of study on the integrated
psychology and nutrition approach to chronic fatigue
syndrome developed at the Optimum Health Clinic in
London. It is a breakthrough for CAM approaches, but how
on earth was it achieved? CAM editor Simon martin
spoke to study authors alex Howard, founder of the OHC,
and Dr meg arroll, PhD.
CAM: The study is described as a
“preliminary prospective study”; what
exactly does that mean and does it lead
inevitably to a full-on randomised, doubleblind, controlled study – is that even
possible?
Meg Arroll: A preliminary prospective study
is the first step in investigating a given
intervention, in this instance the OHC approach.
Preliminary = first, prospective = more than one
time point tested, as opposed to cross-sectional
in research terminology. Of course this study
would not lead “inevitably” to an RCT and if
the findings were not promising then there
would not be the justification do to an RCT. It
is normal practice to do a smaller, pilot study
when considering a research question so that
the funds and time can be warranted (RCTs
necessitate a great deal of resources).
Yes, this is possible. To conduct the RCT
we will need to replicate this study but improve
on the methodology; for example, make the
treatments free to participants to limit bias,
include an appropriate control group, followup at not just three months but at six and 12
months at a minimum, and have a team of
researchers dedicated to every stage of the
process. Ideally, this would be carried out in a
different setting and we are aiming to do our
RCT in an NHS hospital.
CAM: I am continually being told that
it is next to impossible to research the
individualised, complex treatments typical
26
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of CAM approaches. So let’s deal with that
first. What made you think it could be done
and how did you go about it?
Alex Howard: I guess my belief in all of our
ability to do the “impossible” goes right back
to my own personal experience of ME/CFS in
the 1990s. In those days there were really only
two perspectives on ME/CFS: first, that there
was nothing wrong with you and you were just
making it all up; or second, you were seriously
chronically ill, and you had to learn to live with
it as there was no effective treatment.
Apart from the absurdity of the obvious
contradiction, it also struck me early on that
both were a dark shadow of our current system
of modern medicine. They were drowned in
the arrogance of two core principles: 1 – “We
understand everything there is to know about
medicine so if we can’t see what is wrong with
you there is nothing wrong”; and 2 – “If we
can’t ‘cure’ you then no one can.”
With my own personal journey, these
attitudes were not just a professional
inconvenience, they were fundamentally in
danger of ruining my life. So, two years into
being virtually housebound and watching
my life slip away, I was basically helped to
realise that if I wanted my life to change, I
was going to have to do something about it.
That was the catalyst for a five-year journey
of basically trying everything I could to find a
way back to health, on the other side of which
it wasn’t just my health that had undergone a
transformation.
Having recovered my health and still
in my early 20s, I decided to set up what
went on to become The Optimum Health
Clinic. Once again, people were telling me
it was “impossible”, and I think it is fair to
say that some of my earlier patients were
a little bemused to discover that this overenthusiastic kid wasn’t actually working in the
clinic office, he was their practitioner!
So, when it came to the recognition five or
so years later that the critical next step was
doing credible scientific research, I’d learnt
to rather enjoy a challenge and doing the
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CHRONIC FATIGUE/ME n feature
“impossible” didn’t feel quite so impossible.
I’d also learnt a great deal about patience and
“playing the long game”. Over the years of
OHC we’ve witnessed various practitioners,
treatments etc claim to be the “miracle cure”,
and each time they would come and go with
initial excitement, followed by inevitable mass
disappointment. By sticking to the age-old
philosophy of constant hard work and neverending improvement, we’ve managed to
not only build a leading integrative protocol,
but also a huge amount of goodwill with our
patients we work with and the communities we
www.cam-mag.com
exist in. This patience, attention to detail and
hard work was critical in putting together the
quality of study needed to be published in a
journal such as the BMJ Open.
In terms of how we went about it, setting
the study up actually wasn’t all that complex.
We took advice from various parties, some
of us already had degrees with heavy
research components (I personally had a
BSc in psychology) and we were extremely
patient and thorough at each stage. However
collecting the data was one thing. Actually
doing something with it was rather another
story! It wasn’t until Meg joined OHC in 2011
that we really got some momentum. She
originally came along to a talk I gave back in
2010, and after rather directly putting me on
the spot in front of an ME support group with
some difficult questions that I struggled to
answer, I realised she had a skillset we rather
desperately needed!
MA: Firstly, there are no “impossibles” in
research; with experience and creativity,
all challenges can be overcome. The study
may not look anything like it did in the
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FEATURE n CHRONIC FATIGUE/ME
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initial conception stage but with very careful
planning, clearly operationalised research
questions, adequate time and funding – along
with some very hard work – research on even
the most complex areas can be achieved.
However this study was by no means
easy, especially as I was not involved in the
planning or data collection stage, but with a
high knowledge of data analysis, I can make
the most out of a data set and this is what
we managed to do in the end! (In fact, this is
the most common enquiry at my own private
research organisation Simply Research, where
individuals and organisations have a data set
but not the expertise to analyse it properly/
make sense of the data.)
CAM: The study’s conclusions also state
quite clearly that ME/CFS is a “complex and
multisystem disorder”, so you were not only
seeking to evaluate complex treatments
tailored to individuals, but also dealing with
an extremely complex condition, one that
doesn’t really “stand still” and present with
a simple list of symptoms. How did you get
round the two problems of 1) making sure
that participants did have ME/CFS, and 2)
selecting a realistic outcome measurement?
MA: ME/CFS is indeed a complex disorder
and the goal-posts move continually with new
case definitions. As this was an initial study
with limited funding, we relied on self-report
for diagnosis (this was one of the limitations
of the study and in future we will have every
participant in our research independently
medically diagnosed). However participants
also completed a questionnaire based on the
Fukuda et al (1994) case criteria which is the
most widely used definition in research at this
time (again, in future we will use this and the
newer Canadian criteria from Carruthers et
al, 2003). Alex and his advisors selected a
range of additional, standardised measures
to investigate a number of constructs in this
condition, including functional ability (the
36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, Ware
and Sherbourne, 1992), numerous types of
fatigue (the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory,
Smets et al, 1995) and locus of control (the
Multidimensional Health Locus of Control
Scales, Wallston, Wallston and DeVellis, 1978).
These measures are well-validated and have
been used extensively in ME/CFS research.
CAM: The other factor always being
thrown out as a reason we in CAM cannot
do “proper” research is that it is too
expensive. I hear this all the time. Well... is
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“My best guesstimate is that in five years it will
be virtually impossible to practise with any kind
of effectiveness.We will have fewer products, be
gagged from saying almost anything about what
we do, and as a result we are going to have fewer
people coming into the profession. If we step up
and do quality research, we open up this whole
new source of funding for treatment via the NHS
and that will be game-changing for everyone. I
know it all sounds a bit dramatic, but I really do
think that now is the time: we either stand up and
fight for what we believe in, or we will look back
from a very bleak future and curse ourselves that
we didn’t do anything while we had the chance.”
it? And how did you fund your research?
AH: This topic is not only personally
fascinating, but also critical to the future of
CAM. My response to this question is always,
“Expensive compared to what?” I think we in
the CAM world have a very serious problem
at the moment of a victim mindset, coupled
with a dangerous amount of complacency.
We want to be taken seriously by the medical
world, practitioners want to earn a real living
out of their professions, but then practitioners
complain about an organisation such as BANT
putting up their membership fee so as to invest
in being part of the solution to these issues. To
put it in perspective, private medical doctors
face membership body costs and practice
insurance close to £10,000 a year, practitioners
for aren’t happy to pay a few hundred pounds!
I know I’m in danger of having a bit of a rant
here, but I’m deeply passionate about the
future of integrative medicine, and I think we all
need to play our part responsibly in making this
happen. This means making bold moves and
it means all of us being willing to step up in our
own way.
When it came to funding this study, I took on
some fairly major battles on several fronts to
make the finance available, and to personally
guarantee it, because I honestly believed
it was the right thing to do. We were also
incredibly careful with how we used the budget.
We called in a lot of favours and all those
involved gave a lot of their own time to make
it possible.
I remember years ago reading somewhere
that if you have a big enough “Why?” then the
“How?” will take care of itself, and I think this is
a great example of that. But, if we look at the
other side of this, the kudos this study gives
us as an organisation is worth every penny
and more. As I say, if we are serious about
the future of CAM, then I think we ultimately
have to work together as a community to make
studies like this the norm rather than such big
headline news in our industry.
CAM: I know this took something like six
years to get off the ground – you were
working on it with Niki Gratrix, former
Director of Nutrition at OHC, when you won
the CAM Award for Outstanding Practice
in 2009 – why does it take so long? Can
you give us some idea of what you went
through organisationally?
AH: Well, the original idea was conceived in
2006, when we were still going through early
growing pains of drowning in enquiries and
simultaneously trying to build practitioner
teams that could match the standards of the
founding practitioners. Our problem in those
days was I think quite unique to the CAM
world: we were actually growing too quickly!
In deciding to do research, we knew that
we were still in the process of developing an
worthwhile protocol, but frankly we got totally
sick of being constantly asked where the
evidence was for our results. We were aware
that other practitioners and organisations
would effectively make up a number like 95%
success rate, but apart from being clearly
unachievable, this just seemed totally in the
face of what traditional medicine does (if a
doctor did this, they would be up in front of the
GMC in a heartbeat). Ultimately, if we want to
be respected in the same ways, we have to
play by the same rules. So, plain and simple,
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30
we needed to do research.
Over the next three years or so we primarily
focused on building and developing the
practitioner teams, ie being able to replicate
on a wider scale the quality of work of three
individuals. During this process we also
invested heavily in infrastructure, systems and
processes, along with a considerable amount
of internal training and support systems and
processes. We also worked to put together
an online treatment option for those unable
to afford face-to-face treatment and an online
community website to help with the isolation
experienced by those with ME/CFS. It was in
this era of OHC that we felt very privileged to
win the CAM Award for how we navigated this
developmental stage.
In 2009, Niki and I finally got round
to designing the study with the help
of Dr Thomas Ros, who designed the
questionnaires and chose the various
measures. We then collected data over around
a 12-month period. This data then effectively
sat around doing nothing until Meg joined us in
2011. From that point it was actually relatively
quick to analyse the data, write it up, and
submit it to the BMJ Open, the first and only
journal we submitted to. It was a further seven
months from then to publication, which is
actually quite quick in academic publishing!
Ironically, we did the most complex work
in the shortest time period, simply because
we had the dedicated resources to do so
at this point. It would have been an entirely
different story if Meg had been involved from
the start. To give you an idea, in 2012 we did
a similar study to the one published in the
BMJ Open on our online programme www.
SecretsToRecovery.com, in conjunction with
an MSc student at the University of East
London. We expect that study to take around
two years from inception to publication, which
is probably closer to what this study would
have done if we had the resources available
we now have.
However my feeling is that in future we
need to explore ways as a community to
collaborate on research and make the process
easier. At OHC we are fortunate enough
to now have our own internal research
department, and in the near future we will be
making some major announcement about the
evolution of this. But there are other models
that can work for organisations at an earlier
developmental stage.
One area that I’m aware is contentious in
the nutrition world is supplement commission.
For some practitioners this is a critical part
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FEBRuaRy 2013
of their income and I completely respect
that. For other practitioners their model is
a little different. In either case, I would be
very excited to see practitioners donating all,
or even a percentage of, their supplement
income directly to support research. If we had
a central research fund as a community, and
we collaborated with students at colleges such
as the University of Westminster and other
clinics like OHC (perhaps with fewer internal
resources) working on the coal face, I think we
could get a lot done.
I think our biggest challenge at the moment
is that ultimately there is very little research
to support CAM. There are many studies
around specific nutrients, and the beginnings
of studies on certain products. What we have
almost no research on is the use of CAM for
working with actual medical conditions, ie
high quality and robust studies showing that
nutritional therapy can be used to effectively
treat X condition. This is part of the reason
why we have such a fight on our hands with
issues like the medical directive, ASA etc. If we
are genuinely confident that nutritional therapy
can be effective for certain conditions, then
actually doing the research could in reality
change everything.
In fact, from my point of view the situation
goes further than this. While on one hand
we have considerable threats as an industry,
we also have some amazing opportunities.
For example, the recent changes to the
NHS actually mean that if a credible case for
effective treatment can be put together, NHS
funding can be applied for via “any qualified
provider”. My leadership of OHC at this point in
time is to put us right at the front of the queue
for this, and I truly hope we are not alone in
doing so. Many traditional treatments (such as
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) didn’t start off
as so, but because they got a research base
in place, they are now funded as the norm.
And if you observe research funding, the vast
majority goes into replication: ie if you do a
few really good studies, it is easier to apply
for further funding. But you have to get the
ball rolling, and as a community I honestly
think we have to be responsible for doing that
ourselves.
If I put my business hat on for a minute
(which doesn’t always fit quite as comfortably
as some of my other hats!) the case is also
simple. If the nutrition world stays as it is, my
best guesstimate is that in five years it will be
virtually impossible to practise with any kind
of effectiveness. We will have fewer products,
be gagged from saying almost anything about
what we do, and as a result we are going to
have fewer people coming into the profession.
If we step up and do quality research, we
open up this whole new source of funding for
treatment via the NHS and that will be gamechanging for everyone. I know it all sounds a
bit dramatic, but I really do think that now is
the time: we either stand up and fight for what
we believe in, or we will look back from a very
bleak future and curse ourselves that we didn’t
do anything while we had the chance. And
from where I stand, the number one weapon in
that fight is research. cam
About the research
As fully reported in CAM December 2012, the study
was published in BMJ Open.
It concluded: “This study provides early evidence
that psychological, nutritional and combined
techniques for the treatment of ME/CFS may
influence symptomatology, fatigue, function and
perceived control. However, these results must be
viewed with caution as the allocation to groups was
not randomised, there was no control group and the
study suffered from high drop-out rates.”
*Arroll MA and Howard A. A preliminary
prospective study of nutritional, psychological and
combined therapies for myalgic encephalomyelitis/
chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in a private
care setting. BMJ Open 2012, 2 (6): e001079.
BMJ Open is an online journal and you can
access the full paper at http://bmjopen.bmj.com/
content/2/6/e001079.full
About the researchers
Megan Arroll, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD., FHEA, C.Psychol, C.Sci., AF BPsS, is an experienced
researcher who has worked at the OHC as Director of Research since June 2011. Meg
has studied ME/CFS since beginning her PhD, which investigated sub-grouping utilising
both quantitative and qualitative methods; the topic is very close to her heart as she was
diagnosed with the disorder at 14 years of age. In addition to her work with the OHC, she
runs an independent research organisation, Simply Research, and has worked in the fields of education
and technology, although most extensively health research. www.simplyresearch.co.uk
Alex Howard is Founder and CEO of The Optimum Health Clinic, one of the world’s
leading integrative medicine clinics, with patients in more than 35 countries. Alex
founded OHC after his own life-changing experience of ME/CFS, which inspired his
first book, WHY ME? My Journey from ME to Health and Happiness. In 2009 the clinic
team won CAM magazine’s Outstanding Practice Award for its integrative and innovative
approach. Alex is also creator of Secrets to Recovery, an online support programme for
ME/CFS with more than 1,000 members, along with a number of other online coaching
programmes. Alex will be giving the keynote at the CAM Conference on March 9.
* www.FreedomFromME.co.uk
www.cAm-mAg.com
FEaTuRE n CST
mitochondrial dysfunction
– the key factor underlying
chronic disease?
A new therapeutic approach from Germany focuses on understanding how our
mitochondria are “programmed”, helping to restore them (and patients) to health.
Heilpraktiker Jörg Hentschel, an experienced Cell Symbiosis Therapy® practitioner and
scientific advisor to the CST Academy in Germany, explains.
A
t the Third World Congress on
Targeting Mitochondria in Berlin in
November last year, 123 scientists
from all over the world met to present the
latest research on mitochondria. One of the
central topics covered was mitochondrial
dysfunction in chronic disease.
Except for mature erythrocytes,
mitochondria are in every cell of our body.
They are well-known as the power plants
where most of a cell’s ATP is produced. The
average cell has approximately 1,500 of
them, and neurons often have up to 4,500;
mitochondria account for around 70% of the
weight of our heart.
Prof Norman Booth from the University of
Oxford was among those presenting in Berlin,
previewing his new article (written with Dr
Sarah Myhill and Dr John McLaren Howard),
“Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction in the
treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) – a
clinical audit”, published on January 1 in
the International Journal of Clinical and
Experimental Medicine. ATP production in
patients suffering from ME/CFS correlates
with illness severity (measured in the form
of neutrophils isolated from venous blood).
Their paper concludes (as did their previous
studies in January 2009 and June 2012), that
all patients had measurable mitochondrial
dysfunction, and that it was possible to
elevate mitochondrial performance and ATP
production via tailored therapy that included
eating an evolutionarily correct Stone Age diet,
taking specific nutritional supplements, and
getting the right balance between work, rest
and good-quality sleep.
Similarly, a 2012 book by Prof Enno
Freye from the University of Dusseldorf
entitled, “Acquired Mitochondriopathy: A New
Paradigm in Western Medicine Explaining
Chronic Diseases” elucidates the scientific
connection between chronic disorders such as
From: “Cell Symbiosis Therapy®, a Revolutionary New Approach to Chronic Disease” (eBook, R. Meyer).
32
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FEBRuaRy 2013
rheumatism, cancer, ME/CFS, cardiac disease
and allergies, and mitochondrial performance
as well as the NO/ONOO- cycle (nitrosative
stress) from a biochemical perspective.
(Nitrosative stress is oxidative stress derived
from reactive nitrogen oxide species. It is
mediated primarily by peroxynitrite (ONOO−)
and nitroxyl (NO-).)
These recent publications confirm the
theses of Dr Heinrich Kremer, who in the
1990s had already postulated that the origins
of chronic disease lay in mitochondrial
imbalance. His book, “The Silent Revolution
in Cancer and AIDS Medicine” was published
in 2000 in German, and in 2008 in English
(Xlibris Corporation).
cell symbiosis
To understand the importance of these
ubiquitous organelles, Dr Kremer explains that
we have to start by looking at the symbiosis
from which our cells evolved. Evolutionary
biologists have established that around
2.1 billion years ago, unicellular organisms
without nuclei from the realms of the archaea
engulfed bacteria (most likely proteobacteria/
cyanobacteria) to create a new cell type called
a protista, with the archaea serving as the
host and forming a nucelus.The archaea had
been able to produce energy (ATP) completely
anaerobically, generating methane as a byproduct. But after the first Ice Age, when the
entire Earth was covered by ice, oxygen levels
in the atmosphere began to rise exponentially,
while methane and carbon dioxide levels
fell: the archaea were at an evolutionary
disadvantage. Proteobacteria had an electron
transport chain that was capable of producing
ATP from oxygen. The symbiosis served both
of them.
The archaea were able to survive, while
the proteobacteria (the predecessors of our
mitochondria) most likely found they could take
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CST n FEatuRE
advantage of the archaea’s non-respiratory
mode of energy production to survive in
atmospheres where the oxygen concentration
was still too low. “All known eukaryotic cells
contain mitochondria, or related organelles,
which play central roles in energy conversion.
These mitochondria retain common features
with bacterial cells, including a small genome
and a mitochondrial translation system, which
reveal beyond a doubt that they originated
from a specific bacterial group, the alphaproteobacteria.” (1)
our dual genome
Our mitochondria still have their own genome
(mtDNA). Generally it is accepted that 60%
of the genome of the human cell nucleus
originates from the archaea, while around 40%
stems from proteobacteria. (2) “Many features
of mitochondria, including their shapes and
overall structures, reflect their bacterial origin.
Particularly convincing is the fact that they
retain some of their original DNA. This mtDNA
still exhibits clear bacterial features.” (3)
The generation of ATP using oxygen
produces a lot of oxygen radicals, and these
would damage the DNA of the cell nucleus
as it is not covered by a protective envelope
during replication. The downregulation of
aerobic energy production during mitosis
was thus a perfect protective strategy, using
the archaea’s (albeit inefficient) alternative
energy generation mechanism. This switching
from one form of energy generation to the
other is an ancient programme that our cells
still carry within them: high-efficiency energy
generation within the mitochondria, producing
36 ATP from one molecule of glucose (and a
great deal more from fats), and the extramitochondrial “back-up system” (in the cytosol)
using glycolysis during mitosis.
Evolutionary biolologists have hypothesised
that all eukaryotes (cells with a nucleus),
including human beings, owe their existence
to this cell symbiosis, as DNA replication
and thus cell division would not otherwise
have been possible – nor the higher energy
demands of more advanced organisms.
the “a genome” and “B genome”
Dr Kremer has also deduced from over 20
years of literature research in the field that the
“bacterial” (mitochondrial) genome is likely
to be responsible for differentiated cellular
activity, driven aerobically, while the archaeal
genome is responsible for cell division and
repair. Numerous studies have proven
that the mitochondria are downregulated
during cell division and repair to minimise
oxidative stress: “It appears that progression
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Microfilaments, mitochondria, and nuclei in fibroblast cells.
through the [cell] cycle is supported by nonrespiratory modes of energy generation. In
fact, very recent findings in cells of mammals
indicate that cyclin D1, which is involved in
the phosphorylation and inactivation of the
retinoblastoma protein, marking the entry of
cells into the S phase of the cycle, inhibits
mitochondrial function and represses the
activity of NRF-1, a nuclear factor that masters
the transcriptional expression of nuclearencoded mitochondrial genes.” (4) James
Lake and Maria Rivera in their groundbreaking
article “The Ring of Life” provide evidence
for a genome fusion origin of eukaryotes that
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FEaTuRE n CST
From: “Cell Symbiosis Therapy®, a Revolutionary New Approach to Chronic Disease” (eBook, R. Meyer).
→ would appear to provide substantial evidence
for this “division of labour” in cells, explaining
that “informational genes … are most closely
related to archaeal genes, whereas operational
genes (... involved in cellular metabolic
processes such as amino acid biosynthesis,
cell envelope and lipid synthesis and so on),
are most closely related to eubacterial genes.”
(5) For simplicity’s sake Dr Kremer has termed
the mitochondrial genome the “B genome”
(for “bacteria”), and the archaeal genome “A
genome” (for “archaeum”).
when the “a genome” switch
becomes locked in
But what does this have to do with health and
disease? Why establish an entire therapy on
this symbiosis?
The key is that the cell should normally
switch back to dominance of the mitochondrial
genome (the “B genome”) immediately after
mitosis: the “B genome” should be driving
cell activity for the majority of the time. (6)
However, numerous factors can cause the
delicate mitochondria to dysfunction. They
may lack sufficient co-factors along the
electron transport chain (ETC), of which each
mitochondrion has thousands, as electron
microscope images have shown. Mitochondrial
membranes may become blocked, so that the
translocator proteins that cover a large share
of their surface are unable to allow the correct
nutrients in or ferry the products (and waste)
out. (7) They may lack antioxidants to quench
the reactive oxygen species (ROS) being
generated during oxidative phosphorylation,
glutathione being the most important.
For multiple reasons, the mitochondria
may be downregulated to protect cellular
components from being destroyed by ROS, or
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FEBRuaRy 2013
be disabled altogether. The “back-up system”
will then take over: the ancient programme that
is really only supposed to be activated during
cell division and repair – energy production
via glycolysis in the cytosol, driven by the
archaeal genome (the “A genome”). This
extra-mitochondrial pathway can only produce
two molecules of ATP from one molecule of
glucose, rather than the 36 that the electron
transport chain within the mitochondria
produces (together with the two – net – from
glycolysis). It is programmed for cell repair and
proliferation, and when our cell programmes
are switched to this “A genome” long term, it
will do exactly that – with consequences that
can manifest themselves in many different
kinds of chronic disease depending on genetic
weaknesses and the exogenous (epigenetic)
factors to which the individual is exposed.
mitochondrial aTP as an
information carrier
This switch to long-term dominance of the
“A genome” has even more deleterious
consequences from another perspective on
the function of ATP that Dr Kremer has spent
many years researching. He has long held that
cytosolic (glycolytically produced) ATP has a
very different function to mitochondrial ATP.
Why produce ATP along an electron transport
chain (ETC) with five different complexes
using an extremely convoluted method, if the
outcome is exactly the same as the relatively
simple enzymatic production of ATP in the
cystosol? In glycolysis (in the cytosol), ATP is
formed purely enzymatically, and the proton
gradients built in the electron transport chain
are not required to produce it. No connection
has been found between the electron transport
chain and higher enzyme production.
So what is its purpose? As Jeremy Berg et
al write on the ETC in their definitive textbook
“Biochemistry” under the heading “Electrons
can be transferred between groups that are
not in contact”: “This question [of electron
transfer] is intriguing because these groups are
frequently buried in the interior of a protein in
fixed positions and are therefore not directly in
contact with one another. Electrons can move
through space, even through a vacuum ….” (8)
Dr Kremer has held for many years (and
substantiation is accumulating fast, as will
be discussed later), that mitochondrial ATP
production is not based on chemical energy
release, but instead rests on the absorption of
photons. The proton gradient of ATP explains
the thermodynamic development of heat,
but not the function of mitochondrial ATP. His
explanation is that when each pair of electrons
is fed into the enzyme complexes in the inner
mitochondrial membrane, the electrons are
greatly accelerated by over 1014 (something
backed by science, as in Berg’s textbook). But
why would this be happening? He believes it is
to transfer information.
According to the basic laws of physics,
a current of hugely accelerated electrons
creates an electromagnetic field. The carriers
of electromagnetic field energy are complex
superimposed quantum states that can transfer
information in the form of light quantum waves
(photons) in accordance with the laws of
quantum physics. In contrast to electrically
charged electrons and protons, which have
a mass, photons do not have a resting mass
or a charge. In their coded quantum states,
these photons can exchange quantum energy
with electrons and protons. This takes place in
the electron transfer chain, Dr Kremer posits,
via the excitation of electrons in molecules
that absorb photons: light-sensor molecules
that are present in all single- and multicellular
organisms, and that are present in the ETC in
the form of adenine (and also other molecules).
Mitochondrial ATP would, by this interpretation,
be a very sophisticated information carrier.
The dual role of aTP
Studies are already discovering much about
the dual role of ATP. Prof Geoffrey Burnstock,
President of the Autonomic Neuroscience
Centre at the Royal Free and University
College Medical School, London, has been
investigating ATP as a signalling molecule for
many years. “The double life of ATP”, published
in Scientific American in 2009 with Professor
Baljit Khakh, describes how, “The molecule
ATP, famous as an essential energy source
inside cells, also carries critical messages
between cells. That dual role is suggesting
fresh ideas for fighting human diseases.” (9)
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CST n feature
Studies are also beginning to uncover
the light induction of electron transfer within
organisms (albeit small ones so far), for
example: “Light- induced electron transfer
and ATP synthesis in a carotene synthesizing
insect”. (10) It was mentioned above that
adenine could well be functioning as one of
the light-sensor molecules in mammals. What
could the quality of adenine be that makes it
capable of this?
When one looks at nature, the molecules
of many key substances in food, our immune
system and hormonal system are equipped
with alternating double bonds. These can build
up electromagnetic fields that can absorb
and emit photons. Plant substances from
the groups of the polyphenols and isoprenes
have light-absorbing properties. Curcumin, for
example, absorbs light in the violet spectral
range of visible light (at 415 nm). The base
adenine ring molecule in ATP is capable of
absorbing light quanta at near to ultra-violet
levels of 277 nm. (11) The adenine molecule
is a very characteristic photon-absorbing
ring molecule with typical alternating double
bonds, and is the “A” in ATP – that molecule of
which we produce our body’s entire weight (on
average) every day, with athletes sometimes
generating up to a ton.
The adenine molecule – biochemically
designated a base – is not just a component
of the ATP nucleotide, but also of numerous
coenzymes in the mitochondria, cytoplasm
and cell nucleus. It is also one of the four
nucleotides that form the huge DNA molecule
in the cell nucleus, and thus all genes. The
three other nucleotides, which have a similar
structure, also have photon-absorbing
properties, and differ in functional terms
only in respect of their somewhat lower
photon-absorption intensity with the identical
wavelength of 260 nm in the near UV range.
(11) The same applies to the large variety of
RNA-nucleotide sequences within and outside
the cell nucleus. It would therefore appear that
the entire process of genetic expression and
the metabolic processes dependent on it are
photon-regulated.
only generates two ATP from one glucose
molecule instead of 36 (and even less if one
makes the same calculation using fats). This
explains fatigue, whether in CFS/ME or any of
the multiple fatiguing conditions that arise in
chronic illness. But secondly, derived from the
key postulate of Dr Kremer’s outlined above,
one can imagine the devastation caused
by long-term disablement of mitochondrial
ATP in its function as a signal transmitter
for differentiated cellular activity. And this
is something that will inevitably happen in
chronic inflammation, for example, because
inflammation causes cell turnover: the need
for cellular repair as a result means that the “A
genome” is switched on. If this continues longterm, the natural concomitant (according to
the CST concept) is downregulation of the “B
genome”, ie a shutdown of energy production
along the ETC (because the mitochondria
are disabled). This means that chronic
inflammation is also eventually accompanied
by the symptoms of fatigue (lower ATP
production) and loss of differentiated cell
function/“informed” cell signalling.
Switching off inflammation/the
NO/ONOO- cycle
A key component of the therapeutic concept
is preventing inflammation and reducing
nitrosative stress. The oldest immune reaction
of unicellular organisms is the elimination of
pathogens via nitric oxide, which is produced
naturally throughout the body via the various
types of nitric oxide synthase – iNOS, nNOS
and eNOS. (12, 13)
The mitochondria that originate from
proteobacteria use this gas in their defence
against intracellular pathogens (viruses, and
certain types of bacteria and fungi), while at
the same time activating Th1 immune cells (via
cytokines). As this gas is highly diffusible, it
can penetrate the membranes of cells and the
mitochondria. It is a powerful radical, and has
to be detoxified via the glutathione transferase
system of the mitochondria just like exogenous
toxins or the ROS emitted along the ETC.
If this system is overstretched, the
nitric oxide (NO) binds with O2− to form
peroxynitrite (ONOO−), an extremely
dangerous radical. Constant inflammation
leads to breakdown of the detoxification
system, meaning that a great deal of ONOO−
and other radicals are formed.
The extracellular immune response – Th2
– is upregulated in response, explaining
many autoimmune reactions and allergies.
(14) If the NO system is constantly activated,
the upregulation of IL6, IL17 and TNF
alpha (for example) leads to overload of the
mitochondria, which become damaged/forced
to downregulate their activity. This reduced
activity of the mitochondria is reflected in every
physiological activity of the body (whether our
immune cells, endothelium, the epithelial cells
of our villi, or our axons – every cell of the
body except mature erythrocytes is powered
by mitochondria), leading to a vicious cycle.
Food intolerances are one of the greatest
sources of inflammation, particularly the
formation of IgG 1 – 3, which can result in
chronic inflammation if they continuously
irritate the mucosal membranes, leading to
histamine overproduction, dysbiosis and
gut permeability. This in turn leads to the
production of nitric oxide, overloads our
detoxification systems, attacks healthy tissue
– whether joints, connective tissue or mucosa
– and results in nitrosative stress.
Disorders linked to mitochondrial
dysfunction
Disorders that have been associated with
mitochondrial dysfunction and treated
→
The NO/ONOO- cycle, kind
permission of Professor Martin Pall.
What happens when this
mitochondrial ATP is disabled?
But to return again to the significance of this
in health and disease: if the ATP formed
within the mitochondria is disabled when
mitochondria become dysfunctional (for
the myriad reasons touched on above), we
are left with only cytosolic ATP. Firstly, this
naturally leads to a huge energy deficit: we
are only able to generate 1/18th of the energy
of “high-performance” ATP production in the
mitochondria, because this cytosolic pathway
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FEaTuRE n CST
→
successfully using the CST concept include
(15):
n Hypertension
n Diabetes
n Cancer
n Virus and fungal infections
n Orthopaedic disorders
n Age-related diseases/premature ageing
n Depression, psychoses
n Allergies
n Fatigue-related syndromes, burnout
syndrome
n Intestinal disorders
n Circulatory disorders (heart attacks, strokes,
arteriosclerosis)
n Organ degeneration
n Elevated cholesterol
n Hormone disorders
n Immune disorders
n Autoimmune disorders
n ADHD
n Obesity
The therapeutic implications
Dr Kremer and a group of German doctors and
complementary therapists have developed
a diagnostic and therapeutic concept from
these insights that incorporates both these
evolutionary interpretations of cellular and
mitochondrial metabolic processes as well
as the light-absorbing emitting properties of
nutrients and natural substances, termed Cell
Symbiosis Therapy® (CST). Around 4,000
therapists are now working with CST across
Europe.
CST considers it of prime importance
in chronic disease to repair defects in
mitochondrial function in order to restore innermitochondrial energy production as fast as
possible, and to encourage mitogenesis (the
production of new mitochondria). Assuming
that our mitochondria are programmed to
work with light-sensor molecules as indicated
earlier, the most natural and efficient way
of doing this is to feed them appropriate
exogenous polyphenols, flavonoids and
isoprenes that will serve this function, as well
as removing barriers to uptake. This is very
similar to the Institute for Functional Medicine’s
wonderfully apt message, “What should I add?
What should I remove?” but tailored to the
mitochondria as being (very often) the heart of
the problem.
Diagnostics are key to establish exactly
where the cause lies. Are heavy metals
causing the blockage? Is an intestinal
issue preventing uptake of nutrients and
cofactors? Is heme synthesis disrupted by
nitrosative stress, or is it downregulation of
the mitochondria themselves that is causing
the symptoms of anaemia? (Since four of the
eight steps of heme synthesis take place in
the mitochondria, including the very first, to
α-aminolevulinic acid, it is an almost inevitable
consequence of mitochondrial dysfunction that
heme production will be disrupted).
In the event of severe chronic disease,
CST also suggests the use of IV therapy
with specific amino acids, vitamins and trace
elements tailored to the patient’s needs, to
activate the generation of new mitochondria.
Tailored laboratory diagnostics
Specific laboratory diagnostics have been
developed to establish whether the patient
is suffering from mitochondrial dysfunction,
and then to track their recovery. Markers
include the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
isoenzymes 1-5, and M2PK (in blood). Lactate
dehydrogenase is a cytoplasmic enzyme
present in almost all tissues that catalyses the
oxidation of lactate to pyruvate. Isoenzymes
4-5 are active during foetal development,
while the mitochondria are inactive (the
oxygen radicals along the ETC would damage
the foetus’ genes during development); if
LDH isoenzymes 4-5 are upregulated, this
suggests a reversion to non-mitochondrial
energy production using the glycolytic
pathway. This will generally be accompanied
by downregulation of some or all of the “adult”
isoenzymes 1-3. M2PK (pyruvate kinase
isoenzyme type M2) in serum shows the
levels of pyruvate that are being released (this
is the enzyme that breaks down glucose to
pyruvate and lactate). The higher this is, the
greater the switch to the “A-genome” (extramitochondrial ATP production via glycolysis). A
3-nitrotyrosine assay can be used to measure
nitrosative stress (nitrotyrosine is an indicator
of cell damage and inflammation as well as
of the production of NO). Even mitogenesis
can be measured (via PGC 1-α: an increase
indicates elevated mitogenesis).
The largest laboratory-documented multipractice study is currently ongoing in Germany
among around 4,000 therapists practising
CST. They are building a database of protocols
for specific conditions, often with sworn
affidavits from their patients as evidence,
using verifiable and replicable test methods
from specified laboratories.
Mitochondrial functionality is at the heart of
CST therapy, whether case-taking, diagnostics
or the therapeutic concept. Results of the
case studies to date show that even cases
considered hopeless have often responded.
Viewing the mitochondria as the key target can
open up entirely new horizons in the approach
to chronic disease. cam
* The CST Academy is holding a free introductory
seminar on Saturday February 16 at the Rembrandt
Hotel in London, and a half-day workshop with case
studies on February 17. It will also be running a
Foundation Course in CST on April 27 and 28: www.
cst-academy.co.uk
about the
author
Jörg Hentschel, a Germantrained naturopath, has had
his own clinic since 1996,
and has been a fully certified
Cell Symbiosis Therapist
since 2004. He works at the Cell Symbiosis
Therapy Academy as a clinical and scientific
advisor, and regularly gives talks on CST
throughout Germany.
References
1. Koonin EV. The Two Empires and Three Domains
of Life in the Postgenomic Age. Nature Education
2010, 3(9):27
2. Godde JS. Breaking through a phylogenetic
impasse: a pair of associated archaea might
have played host in the endosymbiotic origin of
eukaryotes. Cell Biosci 2012, Aug 22;2(1):29.
3. Rich P, Marechal A. Essays in Biochemistry:
Mitochondrial Function. London, UK: Portland Press
Limited 2010.
4. Martínez-Diez M et al. Biogenesis and Dynamics
of Mitochondria during the Cell Cycle: Significance
of 3′UTRs. PLoS ONE 2006, 1(1): e107.
5. Rivera MC, Lake JA. The ring of life provides
evidence for a genome fusion origin of eukaryotes.
Nature 2004, Sep 9;431(7005):152-5.
6. Alvarez-Ponce D, McInerney JO. The human
36
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FEBRuaRy 2013
genome retains relics of its prokaryotic ancestry:
human genes of archaebacterial and eubacterial
origin exhibit remarkable differences. Genome Biol
Evol, July 27, 2011.
7. Habib SJH. Biogenesis and function of
mitochondrial outer membrane proteins 2006,
dissertation, Ludwig-Maximilians University of
Munich.
8. Berg JM et al. Biochemistry. 7th Edition 2011.
New York, NY: W.H.Freeman & Co.
9. Khakh BS, Burnstock G, The double life of ATP.
Sci Am. 2009 Dec; 301(6):84-90, 92.
10. Valmalette JC et al. Light-induced electron
transfer and ATP synthesis in a carotene
synthesizing insect. Scientific Reports 2012, 2 : 579.
11. Kremer H. The Secret of Cancer: Short-Circuit
in the Photon Switch. Townsend Newsletter, August/
September 2007.
12. Bogdan C. Nitric oxide and the immune
response. Nat. Immunol. 2001, 2(10):
907 – 16.
13. Olson KR et al. Evolutionary and comparative
aspects of nitric oxide, carbon monoxide and
hydrogen sulfide. Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2012,
15;184(2):117-29.
14. Singh V, Agrewala JN. Regulatory role of proTh1 and pro-Th2 cytokines in modulating the activity
of Th1 and Th2 cells when B cell and macrophages
are used as antigen presenting cells. BMC
Immunology 2006. 7: 17.
15. Freye E. Acquired Mitochondriopathy: A New
Paradigm in Western Medicine Explaining Chronic
Diseases. 1st Edition 2012. Heidelberg, Germany:
Springer.
www.cam-mag.com
the
Learning Zone
Inside: inflammation nation
Pizzorno for UK Four days on gut health getting
the mitochondria right Be a professional homeopath What’s your Control Pause?
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LEARNING ZONE
... UPDATE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Are you part of the
Inflammation
Nation?
Narrowly missing the deluge of snow that swept the
country in January, practitioners gathered in Cardiff for
the first of BioCare’s New Year seminars: Inflammation Nation.
A
lessandro Ferretti is an
independent nutritional
therapist who provides
training, coaching and
clinical supervision to other therapists
and delivers BioCare’s education
programme. In this detailed seminar
he outlines that allergies and autoimmune diseases are on the rise in
nearly every country in the developed
world and explores why. One particular
key concept that is discussed in detail is
the role of gut immunity and secretory
IgA. Critical to this development is
exposure to mother’s microflora,
factors delivered in breast milk, and
probiotic status. Development of
immune tolerance of both dietary and
environmental antigens is critical to
reducing risk of allergy. Alessandro
highlights the latest research in allergy
and probiotics and the groundbreaking new evidence that certain
probiotic combinations can have a
dramatic effect in reducing allergy.
Alessandro then turns his attention
to the complexities of cell-mediated
immunity and the role of cytokines,
prostaglandins, T-Reg cells and how
their activity can be modulated using
flavonoids, essential fats and other
nutrients. Practical examples are
backed by evidence, such as the key
role Vitamin D supplementation plays
in restoring immune homeostasis
in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
patients through its inhibitory
effects on dendritic cell maturation
and activation. Finally, and perhaps
most critically, Alessandro turns his
attention to the concept of “diabesity”,
linking the phenomena of metabolic
syndrome and insulin resistance to the
inflammation epidemic.
Keeping up-to-date
Last year BioCare® hosted more than
2,000 delegates at its educational
The New Year programme
Inflammation Nation with Alessandro Ferretti kicked off in January and
continues in February and March. The day is completely free.
• Berkshire – CNELM College Wokingham: Wed 6 Feb, 10-4.30pm
• Dublin – Clarion Liffey, Liffey Valley: Mon 11 Feb, 10-4.30pm
• Galway – Carlton Hotel: Tue 12 Feb, 10-4.30pm
• Cork – Silver Springs Hotel, Wed 13 Feb, 10-4.30pm
• London – ICO Conference Centre, Mon 25 Feb, 10-4.30pm
• Sussex – University of Sussex, Brighton: Thur 28 Feb, 10-4.30pm
• Manchester – Manchester Conference Centre: Fri 15 Mar, 10-4.30pm
• York – Northern College of Acupuncture: Wed 20 Mar, 10-4.30pm
• Edinburgh – Apex International Hotel: Thu 28 Mar, 10-4.30pm
40
cam LEARNING ZONE
seminars at numerous venues
throughout the UK and Ireland. This
year the objectives remain the same,
as Chris Newbold, Head of Clinical
Nutrition at BioCare®, explains:“As a
practitioner I know how expensive
it can be to keep up-to-date. My
objective is to ensure the seminars
are widely available, mostly free and
delivered by independent experts who
regularly work with clients themselves.
I also want to ensure they are
detailed and research based, but also
very practical and offering definite
protocols that can be used with real
patients. We also want to ensure
we offer something a little different
as so much content these days is
functionally based, so I’m keen to draw
in other perspectives as provided by
people like naturopath Roderick Lane
and Dr Sarah Myhill.”
Rod Lane, ND, has been practising
natural medicine for the last 27 years,
specialising in endocrine issues and
fertility. Rod’s interest in natural
medicine came about via studying
martial arts and Chinese medicine,
then nutrition, clinical nutrition
and naturopathy as an integrated
therapeutic approach. Sarah Myhill is a
medical doctor specializing in chronic
fatigue, who has fought for the right
to keep her nutrition-based approach
available to patients.
As well as the educational events,
BioCare® provides extensive clinical
Gut Masterclass with
Roderick Lane, ND
By popular demand Roderick
Lane examines the complex
area of gut health, offering a
vast amount of practical tips
for supporting your clients.
You don’t have to have Rod’s
experience as he’s going to
reveal his secrets, gathered over
decades, in this 2½-hour session.
• London – CNM, Riding House
Street: Mon 21 Jan, 6-9pm
• Manchester – Manchester
Conference Centre: Fri 8 Feb,
1-4pm
• Birmingham – BioCare®, Kings
Norton: Thu 28 Feb, 1-4pm
• Bristol – Penny Brohn Cancer
Care Centre: Thu 14 Mar, 1-4pm
* Details and booking: education@
biocare.co.uk, 0121 433 8774.
support through its clinical nutrition
advice line, online training materials
(Clinical Protocols, Videocasts and
Clinical Notes) and detailed product
information for practitioners. All of
these materials can be accessed by
logging in as a practitioner at www.
biocare.com. Email customerservice@
biocare.co.uk if you do not have a
log-in password. If you can’t get to
a scheduled seminar, get together
a group of practitioners or students
and BioCare will come to you.
* Details and booking: education@biocare.
co.uk, 0121 433 8774.
...
LEARNING ZONE
... UPDATE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Nutri Advanced backs CAM
conferences, brings in Pizzorno,
ramps up education
Nutri has a new name – Nutri Advanced – a new look for its products, and is ramping up its education
programme in a big way for 2013.
N
utri Advanced is the
Platinum Sponsor, the
lead backer, for the 2013
series of CAM conferences,
organised in collaboration with
BANT (the British Association for
Applied Nutrition and Nutritional
Therapy).
Already pioneers in functional
medicine education with an annual
conference featuring Dr Jeff Bland
and/or other speakers from the
Institute for Functional Medicine,
Nutri Advanced have another coup
in signing naturopathic physician
Dr Joe Pizzorno, ND, for 2013.
Textbook
Dr Pizzorno is one of the founding
fathers of naturopathic medicine
in the US, being the first president
of Bastyr University, and has
literally written the textbook on
naturopathic treatments, being a
the Seattle/King County Board of
Health and in 1996 was a founding
board member of the American
Herbal Pharmacopoeia. In 2001 he
joined the Scientific Review Board
of the Cancer Treatment Research
Foundation and the Institute for
Functional Medicine board of
directors. In 2002 he became the
founding editor of Integrative
Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal.
Founding president of Bastyr University,
naturopathic physician Joe Pizzorno, ND,
joins the Nutri Advanced education team.
co-author of the comprehensive
and internationally-acclaimed
Textbook of Natural Medicine
and its companion books, Natural
Medicine Instructions for Patients
and the Handbook of Natural
Medicine. He is one of the world’s
leading authorities on sciencebased natural/integrative medicine.
From 1996 to 2002 he served on
CAM Conferences 2013
• CHRoNIC FATIGuE/MooD – Saturday 9 March
• DIGESTIvE DISoRDERS – Saturday 22 June
• FEMALE HEALTH – Saturday 9 November
All at the Cavendish Conference Centre, London.
*Book now online at www.camconferences.com
42
cam LEARNING ZONE
Weight loss
Nutri Advanced is also introducing
Dr Scott Rigden, MD, an
internationally renowned expert
in weight loss and weight loss
management, chronic fatigue
syndrome and fibromyalgia. Dr
Rigden is a board certified specialist
in Bariatrics and has published,
researched and taught extensively
throughout the United States in
the field of weight loss, metabolic
syndrome and obesity. He also
specialises in helping resistant
weight problems, the so-called
“hopeless cases”.
His book, The Ultimate
Metabolism Diet describes how
metabolic syndrome, carbohydrate
sensitivity, hormone imbalances,
food allergies and impaired
liver detoxification can all affect
metabolism and therefore the
ability to lose weight and keep
it off.
Next seminars
• Intro to Flower Formulas with
Diana Mossop: Tues 19th March,
6pm-9pm
• Intro to Superfit Formulas with
Diana Mossop: Tues 16th April,
6pm-9pm
• Bristol – Metabolic Foods
workshop with Sarah Gill: Wed
17th April, 6pm-8pm
• Manchester – Metabolic Foods
workshop: Tues 23rd April, 6pm8pm
• Edinburgh – Metabolic Foods
workshop: Tues 30th April,
6pm-8pm
• Brighton – Metabolic Foods
Workshop: Wed 8th May,
6pm-8pm
• London – Metabolic Foods
Workshop: Thurs 9th May, 6pm-8pm
Webinars
• Hormone Imbalance: Case Studies
& practical applications, with Jo
Gamble, Wed 13th Feb, 10am11am
• Allergies & Atopy, with Kara
Fitzgerald, Wed 27th March,
2pm-3pm
• Metabolic Syndrome and
Metabolism, with Dr Scott Rigden,
Wed 10th April, 5pm-6pm
• Hormonal Imbalances and
Metabolism, with Dr Scott Rigden,
Mon 4th Nov, 4pm-5pm
* Contact: www.nutri.co.uk, Freephone 0800
212 742
...
LEARNING ZONE
... UPDATE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Institute for Functional Medicine presents
four days on gut health
In a first for the UK, Mike Ash and his team at Nutri-Link education are
bringing one of the IFM’s advanced training modules to London in April.
T
his will be a 2.5-day
extravaganza on “Restoring
Gastrointestinal Equilibrium”,
and as something of a warmup and revision exercise, Nutri-Link and
Doctors Data are combining to run a
one-day workshop in March, which will
explore some of the evolving events in
microbiology, mucosal immunity and
functional medicine.
Mike Ash writes:“Around the
world, more and more countries
are confronted with rising rates of
obesity and chronic diseases. Globally,
four chronic diseases now account
for three of every five deaths: heart
disease, common cancers, respiratory
disease, and diabetes. Although
thought to be associated with higher
standards of living, they now affect
more poor people than wealthy ones.
Dietary energy consumption
is rising while physical activity is
declining; contents, quality and
quantities of diets have changed
along with healthiness of available
food. Simultaneous transitions in key
risk factors indicate that the causative
circumstances differ markedly from
those even 25 years ago. Diet and
physical activity now, remarkably,
account for 40% and 10% of deaths
from these diseases, with tobacco
exposure accounting for 17%.
One physical area of connection
with choice of food is the
gastrointestinal tract. While regarded
by many as simply a long wet tube
designed to tolerate anything and
everything placed in it, it is quietly
establishing a global rebellion
at being abused, and as such is
demonstrating its discontent through
a myriad of local and systemic
illnesses.
44
cam LEARNING ZONE
The changed actions of our lives
appear to be acting in concert to
create an emergent property of
ill-health. How do we make sense of
the changes and alter approaches
established in a different time to
secure our well-being in the new one?
Mucosal immunity
As practitioners, we will either have
a passing interest or a key focus on
the GI tract and how it relates to the
clients and patients we see. The last
few years have seen a significant
growth in interest in the mucosal
immune system and its relationship
to commensal bacteria, viruses and
other organisms. In part this is driven
by the human microbiome project,
and also because the incidence of
functional gastrointestinal problems
is increasing in the population
while results from conventional
pharmaceutical focused strategies are
often indifferent.
For many years the concept of the
GI tract as a primary organ of health
was dismissed by conventional
researchers and clinicians as being
folklorist. Proposals such as “dysbiosis”
and “leaky gut” were dismissed as
fanciful or inaccurate explanations.
The manipulation of the microbiome
and in turn communicating
meaningful immune messages to the
myriad receptors present in the GI
tract was seen as the primary role of
drugs, not food, food concentrates or
endogenous bacteria.
Today, while by no means
mainstream, practitioners find their
long-held beliefs being reinforced
and expanded through prestigious
journals such as Science and Nature.
Clinicians find their primary care
journals are taking seriously the
role of symbiosis and that food
accordingly may actually be one of
the most significant first and on-going
treatment strategies. Behaviourally
induced and maintained, chronic
diseases are increasingly understood
to be related not simply to quantity of
food but also quality of food and food
combinations.”
Speakers will present substantive
evidence of these evolving trends
and how they impact on clinical
decisions, describing where evidence
is preliminary, novel, or of greater
substantiation. The day will have a
strong clinical bias and provide a
welcome opportunity for questions
and answers.
Speakers and topics at
“Gastrointestinal Function and Health”
– Saturday 23rd March, at the Royal
Society of Medicine are:
• David Quig – Laboratory
Assessment of the Gastrointestinal
(GI) Microbiome, Susceptibility
Testing and GI Integrity; and
State of the Science: Current and
Future Methodologies in Clinical
Microbiology and why you need to
know this for clinical life.
• Michael Ash – Evolving
Relationships: Dysbiosis in Infectious
and Non Infectious Chronic Disease,
and the impact of loss of symbiosis
on energy generating systems via
induction of the inflammasome.
• Antony Haynes – Compelling Cases,
a review of clinical outcomes from a
gastro-centric perspective, real life
experiences explored and explained.
* To learn more visit www.nleducation.co.uk
Education by the Institute for Functional
Medicine (IFM)
Continuing the theme of the
gastrointestinal tract and its impact
on local and systemic health, the IFM
is bringing their very first advanced
practice module from the USA to the
UK.This intensive 2.5 days training,
accompanied by 4 webinars, will
help all practitioners and clinicians
interested in getting the very best out
of their digestion-focused therapies.
At its core, this programme is
about practical applications. Too
often we have heard the question,
“Functional medicine makes sense,
but how can I clinically apply it?”
The IFM faculty has spent years
synthesising information and
gaining clinical experience in the
area of gut dysfunction. The result
is a programme whose content is
organised and presented in a clear,
concise format – from conceptual
understanding to scientific rationale,
to treatment modalities. They have
coupled practical steps in clarifying
underlying imbalances with offering
specific treatment approaches. The
aim is to make the complex and
numerous connections between
gut dysfunction and overall health
and disease – between knowing
the information and applying
the information – clear and
understandable.
The course is part of the functional
medicine certification requirements,
but open to all qualified
practitioners.
* Details: “Restoring Gastrointestinal
Equilibrium” is on April 25-28: www.
apm-uk.org
LEARNING ZONE
... UPDATE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Become a professional
homeopath
Adding homeopathy to your range
of skills has never been easier with
the flexible part-time study options
offered by The Homeopathic College
of East Anglia.
The vibrant professional college
was established in 2002 within
a beautifully restored building
conveniently situated in the centre of
Norwich, with easy access via train/
car or by air.
The College believes that good
nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are
fundamental to a healthy body. So,
unusually for a homeopathic school, it
combines homeopathy with teaching
on nutrition as well as herbal remedies,
supplements and an introduction
to a range of other complementary
therapies.“This ensures our graduates
are best placed to provide an excellent
health care service for their patients”,
says the College.
The course is based on ten
weekends a year.
* www.homeopathic-college.com, 01603 665173.
CST:getting the
mitochondria right
Cell Symbiosis Therapy ®,
introduced in this issue of CAM,
is a mitochondrial approach to
naturopathic treatment that
examines the evolutionary
programming underlying our
cellular activity in health and
disease.
The therapy that has emerged
from this unique understanding
has been used in Germany for many
years with great success and is now
coming to the UK. The Cell Symbiosis
Therapy Academy is holding an
introductory seminar on February
16 and a half-day workshop on
February 17, which will provide an
introduction to the evolutionary
biology behind the approach, and an
overview of CST therapy.
A full-scale Foundation Course will
be run on April 27- 28 in London;
this is the first in a series of three
in-depth courses that provide full,
hands-on training to practitioners
who wish to offer this therapy to
their clients (the two that follow
are an Advanced Course, and an
Intensive Course).
* www.cst-academy.co.uk
What’s your Control Pause?
One of the most technically accurate
and indicative measure of health is a
simple breath holding manoeuvre.
This simple measure is the basis of
the Buteyko method, developed by the
Russian physiologist, Prof Konstantin
Pavlovich Buteyko. He discovered
that people who suffer with chronic
ailments invariably hyperventilate.
This disturbs the organism and results
in diverse defensive mechanisms,
changes in behaviour and symptoms
which are then labelled as chronic
diseases such as allergies, anxiety,
asthma, bronchitis, chronic fatigue,
depression, diabetes, emphysema,
migraine, headaches, gut disorders
46
cam LEARNING ZONE
and PMT, to name a few. He set the
optimal norm for breathing at 3-4
litres per minute.
Prof Buteyko’s Control Pause
measures the sensitivity of the
respiratory centre, thus providing a
precise indication of our breathing
pattern, which plays a critical role
in determining physical and mental
health.
Learn Buteyko Limited teaches the
Classical Buteyko Method and offers
precise instruction on how to measure
their Control Pause. Instruction only
takes about 10 minutes and can be
done in person or over the phone. It is
a service provided free of charge and
without any obligation. “We hope to
get the message across that if you keep
your control pause at 35+ seconds you
can avoid a lifetime of chronic health
issues and perform better throughout
your life”, says Buteyko Practitioner
Martha Roe.
* www.learnbuteyko.co.uk
BOOK ONLINE AT WWW.CAMCONFERENCES.COM
ESSENTIAL EDUCATION FOR PR
Next year’s CAM Conferences will, once again, bring a first-class day of education and
networking that is designed exclusively for nutritional therapists.
Register today and enjoy at each conference:
• 15 of the industry’s leading product manufacturers
• Four internationally-recognised speakers at the forefront of education
• Four CPD hours
“Education is at the heart of everything we do here at Nutri Advanced, so we are delighted to be
working with CAM on this year’s conference programme.“
Ken Eddie, Managing Director, Nutri Advanced
• Chronic Fatigue - SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2013, Cavendish Conference Centre, London
• Digestive Disorders - SATURDAY 22 JUNE 2013, Cavendish Conference Centre, London
• Female Health - SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2013, Cavendish Conference Centre, London
Places are extremely limited, so guarantee yours today. Telephone 01279 810080 or book
online at www.camconferences.com. Places start from £65+VAT, with substantial
discounts for members of nutritional associations.
For sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities telephone 01279 816300 or email
[email protected].
Sponsors and exhibitors include*: Nutri Advanced, Bio-Kult, Bionutri, Genova
Diagnostics, Green People, Igennus, Pharma Nord, Revital, The Natural Dispensary and
Vital Health.
*correct at time of print
BOOK ONLINE AT WWW.CAMCONFERENCES.COM
BOOK ONLINE AT WWW.CAMCONFERENCES.COM
ACTITIONERS AND STUDENTS
BOOK ONE CONFERENCE
CPD
ITED
C
C
A RED
• Four CPD hours
• FREE tea, coffee, herbal tea and
refreshments (worth £20)
• FREE healthy buffet lunch
(worth £40)
• FREE delegate pack including
colour handouts
• FREE goody bag (worth £60)
• FREE post-show downloads of
the event (worth £50)
Free product worth - £170
Niki will cover issues with diagnosis – the difference between fatigue and depressive disorders, the different
types of fatigue and stages of illness. She will cover the latest theories and focus of the research in the area
of fatigue including the Kindling and Oxidative Stress Theory based on a psychoneuroimmunological model,
genetic polymorphisms, patent foramen ovale (PFO) , pyrroluria and porphyria, energy depleting personality types
and emotional trauma. Niki will then speak about the latest research and practical applications of physics and
quantum physics including earthing, the work of Dr Todd Ovokaitys and applications of laser technology. Lastly
she will cover the need for a wider model of health beyond functional medicine model including discussion of
Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory, evolutionary biology and “diseases of meaning.”
Alex Howard
‘Psychology and ME/CFS: Not all in the mind...’
BOOK TWO CONFERENCES
• 12 CPD hours
• FREE tea, coffee, herbal tea and
refreshments
• FREE healthy buffet lunch
• FREE delegate pack including
detailed, colour handouts
• FREE goody bag (worth £60)
• FREE post-show downloads of
the event (worth £50)
• FREE issues of CAM magazine
(worth £18)
• Multiple conference booking
discount (worth £40)
Free product worth - £228
Saturday 9 March 2013, 11.30 - 17.15, Cavendish
Conference Centre, London
Niki Gratix
‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME, Systems Biology and Diseases of Meaning’
• Eight CPD hours
• FREE tea, coffee, herbal tea and
refreshments (worth £20)
• FREE healthy buffet lunch (worth
£40)
• FREE delegate pack including
colour handouts
• FREE goody bag (worth £60)
• FREE post-show downloads of
the event (worth £50)
• Multiple conference booking
discount (worth £15)
Free product worth - £185
BOOK THREE CONFERENCES
‘Chronic Fatigue/Mood’
In this interactive session, Alex Howard will explore the role of psychology in ME/CFS, held in the context of a
wider integrative framework. Joined by Dr Megan Arroll, Alex and Megan will also discuss some of the recent
research conducted at The Optimum Health Clinic and suggestions for the future of the area based upon this.
Alex will begin by sharing his own personal journey with ME/CFS, along with exploring some short exercises with
the audience to give them a “felt” sense of the psychological experience of ME/CFS. Alex will then explain the
role of cognitive and emotional factors in this complex group of illnesses. This will include an exploration of the
“Maladaptive Stress Response,” and treatment approaches for working with this pioneered at OHC, along with
the various psychological subtypes and predisposing factors from a psychological perspective as understood by
this integral approach.
Alex and Meg will go on to discuss recent research published by the OHC team in the British Medical Journal
Open, and how this relates to nutritional therapists working with ME/CFS. Finally, they will share their thoughts
for the future of ME/CFS both in terms of treatment and research, along with some of the exciting possibilities
this holds for the wider CAM community.
Dr Basant Puri
‘Clinical Lessons from Brain Imaging...What it tells us we need to focus on’
This lecture will consider recent evidence from brain imaging studies in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue
syndrome (CFS) to establish whether or not this disorder is associated with biochemical changes and/or with
structural brain changes. The results of a recent study by my group will be presented. The aim of this study was to
investigate the possibility of structural brain changes by conducting the largest voxel-based morphometry study
to date in CFS. High-resolution structural 3-T cerebral MRI scanning was carried out in 26 CFS patients and 26
age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Voxel-wise generalised linear modelling was applied to the processed
data.
• BANT AGM - SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2013, 9.30 - 11.30, Cavendish Conference Centre, London.
• Digestive Disorders - SATURDAY 22 JUNE 2013, 9.30 - 17.15, Cavendish Conference Centre, London.
• Female Health - SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2013, 9.30 - 17.15, Cavendish Conference Centre, London.
For more information, and to book your place, log on
to www.camconferences.com or telephone
01279 810080.
TWO EASY WAYS TO GUARANTEE YOUR PLACE
• TELEPHONE 01279 810080
• ONLINE WWW.CAMCONFERENCES.COM
BOOK ONLINE AT WWW.CAMCONFERENCES.COM
PRODUCTS
A-Z Nutritional Health
Solutions
THE REALLY HEALTHY
COMPANY LTD
1 Larch Court, Royal Oak Yard
156-170 Bermondsey Street
London SE1 3GB
Tel: 020 8480 1000
Email: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
www.healthy.co.uk
profile RHC started in 1995 as a
green food company. Our founder
was the first to introduce organic
Klamath Blue Green Algae into
Europe, and since then we have
thoughtfully expanded our range
to only include superlative quality
nutritional supplements including:
AlphaGuard Plus antioxidant complex;
AlphaCurumin ultra-absorbable
curcumin extract; AlphaProst
Plus prostate complex; Biobran
MGN-3, one of the most effective
immunomodulators available; Klamin
algae extract for brain function and
mood; ProKnox low-molecular weight
antioxidant; NKCP Nattokinase for
maintaining healthy blood circulation;
and all the food supplements used
in the Pfeifer and Prostate Breast
Protocols. Please contact us for our
practitioner catalogue and practitioner
discounts.
HERBAL REMEDIES
HELIOS HOMEOPATHY LTD
97 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells,
Kent TN1 2QR
Tel: 01892 537254
8 New Row, Covent Garden
London WC2N 4LJ
Tel 0207 379 7434
www.helios.co.uk
profile Established in 1986 Helios is
renowned for making quality remedies by
hand to traditional methods. Whilst the
business we founded 25 years ago has
grown to serve practitioners, patients and
the public around the world, we have never
lost touch with our passion for healing and
our founding principles – “to create a new
source of potent, accurate and effective
remedies to bring profound healing
and relief of suffering”. We offer a fast
responsive service to our customers and
all our remedies and products are backed
by friendly, expert advice from our team of
qualified homeopaths.
50
cam FEBRUARY
2013
NUTRITIONAL
SUPPLEMENTS
ALOERIDE® EXTRA STRONG,
BEST
ALOE VERA FOR YOUR
PRACTICE
tel: 01858 464550
www.aloeride.com/CAM.html
profile Aloeride® Extra Strong is
the aloe vera of choice for you as
a dedicated CAM practitioner.
Hugely effective, Soil
Association certified organic, taste
free, child friendly, hypoallergenic
and with a proven exemplary quantity
of working constituents including a
unique spectrum of beta-linked
polysaccharides. Each pack contains
28 blister-foiled vegicapsules and
equates to 2.4 litres of original aloe
vera juice.
Your clientele enjoys discount offers
whilst you as a registered practitioner
enjoy excellent commissions and sales
support.
HEALTHAID LTD
HealthAid House, Marlborough Hill,
Harrow Middlesex HA1 1UD
Tel: 0208 4263400
Fax: 0208 4263450
Email: [email protected]
www.HealthAid.co.uk
profile HealthAid is one of UK’s
premier manufacturers of nutritionally
balanced supplements. The range
comprises of vitamin, mineral, herbs,
essential aromatherapy oils and natural
bodycare products. Established in 1982
with an extensive product portfolio of
over 450 products offering nutritional
solutions to meet the demands of
a contemporary lifestyle. HealthAid
is dedicated to supplying products
of the finest quality that have been
comprehensively researched, using
unique and innovative formulations,
which contain high grade quality
material, produced to GMP standards,
supported by across-the-board
distribution network, with experienced
sales, marketing and technical
expertise.Call 0208 4263400 for an
information pack
NUTRI (IMPORTS &
EXPORTS) LTD
Meridian House, Botany Business Park,
Macclesfield Road, Whaley Bridge,
High Peak SK23 7DQ
Tel: 0800 212 742
Fax: 0800 371 731
Email: [email protected]
www.nutri.co.uk
profile Nutri has been providing
effective nutritional supplements and
exceptional service to health care
professionals for over 30 years. Our
range of over 200 products has been
developed over many years to meet the
needs of the busy practitioner. Included
in our range is the UK’s finest omega-3
fish oil, Eskimo-3. In independent tests
Eskimo-3 has been shown to be among
the cleanest and freshest oils on the
market, and the product has recently been
awarded Friend of the Sea certification in
recognition of it’s sustainability. We also
work closely with Metagenics, the world’s
largest manufacturer of practitioner
supplements. Metagenics employs a
team of over 30 scientists and doctors
in their product development team, led
by one of the world’s leading authorities
in nutritional medicine, Dr Jeffrey Bland
PhD. Nutri are the leaders in the area
of practitioner education and provide a
comprehensive educational programme
with live seminars, instant expert webinars
and practitioner training. This is all backed
up by our renowned friendly customer
service and our freephone help line. Call
us to receive your free practitioner pack.
SEAGREENS® INGREDIENTS
AND CONSUMER
PRODUCTS
Warren Virgate, West Sussex RH13 6PD
Tel: 01444-400403 Fax 01444-400493
Email: [email protected]
Information service 0845-0640040
Email [email protected]
www.seagreens.co.uk
profile ‘Best VMS Product’ – CAM 2012;
‘Best Organic Product’ – Healthy Living
2011; ‘Highly Commended’ – Free From
Awards 2011; ‘Best New Product’ – CAM
2011; “Best kelp product in UK” - Mail
on Sunday, April 2010. Seagreens® has
pioneered human food quality seaweed
(Patent pending) in Europe since 1998, its
Outer Hebridean production awarded for
sustainability by Scottish Environmental
Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage and
the Crown Estate.MANUFACTURERS like
Artisan Bread, Bart, Clearspring, Pukka
and Viridian use Seagreens ingredients
for nutrition, weight management, free
from, special diets, salt replacement and
preservation supported by 5 years’ original
scientific research. PRACTITIONERS use
Seagreens’ capsules and granules in colon
health and digestion, immune and metabolic
disorders, special diets, detoxification
and as a foundation of preventive health.
CONSUMERS find Seagreens® organic
food and nutrition products an easy way to
balance the family’s daily micronutrients.
VITABIOTICS LTD
1 Apsley Way, London, NW2 7HF
Tel: 020 8955 2600
Fax: 020 8955 2601
Email: customerservices@vitabiotics.
com
www.vitabiotics.com
Profile: Vitabiotics has manufactured
innovative health care products for over
40 years and has developed a unique
range of leading products at the forefront
of scientific developments in nutrition.
Our team of expert pharmacists and
nutritionists have developed the UK’s
No.1 range of supplements for every
stage of life. Designed to provide
optimum efficacy by supporting
the human body in its own natural
processes, each product is developed
using the latest research available, and
produced to the highest pharmaceutical
standards. Vitabiotics not only relies
on data on the individual nutrient
ingredients, but also conducts its own
gold standard published double blind
clinical trials on the product formulations
themselves. The range currently includes
9 brand leaders: Wellwoman, Wellman,
Pregnacare, Osteocare, Visionace,
Cardioace, Perfectil, Menopace and
Neurozan. The company’s portfolio also
includes drinks and topical products.
Vitabiotics - the Science of health
living.
PRACTITIONER SUPPLIES
1880 Life Ltd
Head Office - 4 & 5 Charvey Business Park
Rathnew, Co. Wicklow
Tel: 0404 60303
UK Office – Charnwood science Centre, High
Street, Syston, Leicester LE7 1GQ
Tel: 0845 089 6470
[email protected]
www.1880life.com
profile 1880 Life is a practitioner
focussed company offering innovative,
research based, patented and effective
products. Our team of experts ensure
free high quality training (CPD Hours
certified by BANT) and technical
support is always available. 1880 Life
are the exclusive distributors into the
practitioner marketplace for leading
brands such as Salvestrols, the exciting
new phytonutrients and the results of
2 decades of laboratory and clinical
research. Cleanmarine Krill oil which is
the fist Omega 3 oil in Europe certified
to the Marine Stewardship Council’s
standard for sustainability and Udo’s
Choice brand which includes the leading
Omega 3 & 6 seed oil blend and Udo’s
choice range of Hi Potency probiotics.
LIVE ONLINE AT WWW.CAM-MAG.COM ■
HEALTH INTERLINK LTD
BIOCARE®
Lakeside, 180 Lifford Lane,
Kings Norton, Birmingham,
West Midlands B30 3NU
Tel: 0121 433 3727
Fax: 0121 433 8705
Email: [email protected]
www.biocare.co.uk
profile BioCare® - the leading
producer of innovative and high
quality nutritional supplements in
the UK. The BioCare® range offers
over 220 products formulated
using unique manufacturing
processes such as emulsification,
micellisation, microencapsulation
and freeze-drying to maximise
nutrient integrity, absorption and
bio-availability. BioCare® supplements
are the preferred choice of nutrition
practitioners, health professionals and
retailers with a professional interest
in nutrition. Formulations are based
on current medical, scientific and
nutritional research backed up by many
years experience in naturopathic and
nutritional practice. BioCare® has an
ongoing commitment to education and
holds regular practitioner seminars
around the UK and in the Republic of
Ireland.
BIO-PATHICA LTD
PO Box 217, Ashford, Kent TN23 6ZU
Telephone: 01233 636678
Email: [email protected]
www.biopathica.com
profile Formed in 1996, Bio
Pathica Ltd are Sole Distributors and
Importers for The Anti Homotoxic
Remedies manufactured by HEEL
GmbH in Baden Baden Germany.
They also import and solely distribute
synergistic products such as Probiotics
from WASA Medicals in Sweden
- Spirulina, Chlorella and a range
of Natural Skincare Products from
Sanatur in Germany. In addition
they use a manufacturing pharmacy
to have homoeopathic products
manufactured on an individual basis.
All of these products can be effectively
used by professionals in all fields
of Medicine, Veterinary and Dental
Practice. The business is run with
Customer Service and Satisfaction
as its main objective. Supplies are
generally despatched within 24hrs
of receiving an order. The supply of
products is limited to Practitioners
and Professionals only. In association
with Bio Pathica - The International
Academy for Homotoxicology offer
a free online Introductory Course in
Homotoxicology. For more course
details visit www.iah-online.com
CYTOPLAN LIMITED
Unit 8 Hanley Workshops,
Hanley Road, Hanley Swan,
Worcestershire WR8 0DX
Tel: 01684 310099
Fax: 01684 312000
www.cytoplan.co.uk
profile Cytoplan – An exclusive
practitioner-dedicated company
specialising in a unique range of
food-based products which are
exceptionally bio-effective. The founding
principle of Cytoplan is to base
product development on the increasing
awareness through science that “nature
know best”. This means we seek to
create natural products that optimise
support for the many body systems,
as we believe completely in the body’s
wonderful self healing ability when
properly supported. We are currently
working with scientists and Doctors
in the development of wholefood,
phytonutrient and detox formulae at
the cutting edge of the most recent
scientific research. Cytoplan products
are conceived by common sense,
grounded in science and proven with
results. Our products are for those
who are serious about health, trust that
nature holds the key to real health and
want a company they can believe in.
HADLEY WOOD HEALTHCARE
LTD
28 Crescent West
Hadley Wood
Barnet
Herts. EN4 0EJ
Tel: 0208 449 1113
Fax: 0208 449 2113
Email: [email protected]
www.hhcproducts.co.uk
profile Supplying practitioners
with specialist products has been our
mission for over 20 years. During this
time we have introduced high quality
product ranges from well known
brands such as Acidophilus Pearls,
Enzymatic Therapy, Natures Way, ITI,
Natural Factors as well as specialist
products like Dr Shamsuddin’s IP6
with Inositol formula, Phytogen,
ST-Repair and Organic Red Yeast.
We actively support the individual
practitioner and small independent
business through our no minimum
order policy and friendly one to one
telephone support and product advice
service where needed. If you are
looking for a fresh range for clinic or
business let’s chat. Please call and talk
to one of our practitioner and trade
account team today!
Interlink House, Unit B, Asfordby Business
Park, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
LE14 3JL
Tel: 01664 810011 / 0845 2604424
Fax: 01664 810012
Email: [email protected]
www.hi-prosport.com
www.health-interlink.com
profile Importers and distributors
of the highest quality nutritional and
herbal formulations since 1994. Our
aim has always been to provide our
clients with the purest most innovative
and bio-available products available.
We are the UK distributor for Thorne
Research Inc. the most respected
manufacturer of truly pure nutritional
and herbal formulations in the world Jarrow Formulas who have developed
an exceptional variety of economically
priced quality products - Garden of
Life specialising in complete whole
food nutrition. Our pricing policy,
discount structure, practitioner
preference and loyalty schemes and
patient direct prescription service are
second to none. Our bespoke test kit
service for Applied Kinesiologists is
extremely popular and continues to
expand daily. Nutritional suppliers to
Leicester Tigers Rugby Team, Wigan
Warriors RLFC and many award
winning teams and Olympic Athletes.
CLASSIFIED
LAMBERTS HEALTHCARE
LTD
1 Lamberts Road,
Tunbridge Wells,
Kent TN2 3EH
Tel: 01892 554313
Fax: 01892 515863
Email: [email protected]
www.lambertshealthcare.co.uk
profile Lamberts® has been supplying
nutritional and herbal supplements for
practitioners in the nutrition industry for
over 25 years. We are the leading experts
in nutrition, producing the highest quality
products in some of the most modern and
technically advanced factories in Europe.
These operate to stringent pharmaceutical
standards of Good Manufacturing
Practice (GMP) and are approved by the
UK Department of Health, Medicines
Control Agency. Lamberts® philosophy
of healthcare is all about ‘sound’ science
– we only develop products that are at the
relevant potency, based on an in-depth
understanding of the latest nutritional
research. And we have a range of over
150 products including vitamins, minerals,
amino acids, digestive aids, essential fatty
acids and herbs, as well as specialist
formulas. We also provide training and
support to many practitioners, including
one-to-one training and seminars which
are recognised for CPD hours by the
British Association for Applied Nutrition
& Nutritional Therapy (BANT) and the
Naturopathic Nutrition Association (NNA).
For further information or to receive a
practitioner pack, please call us on 01892
554313.
Higher Nature
Burwash Common,
East Sussex, TN19 7LX
Orders: Freephone 0808 178 8614
Nutritional Advice: 0870 066 4458
Fax: 0870 066 4010
Email: [email protected]
www.highernature.co.uk/
practitioner
profile Higher Nature is an
innovative, UK company with a long,
outstanding reputation as pioneers in
nutritional solutions. With an extensive
range of supplements, beauty
products and healthy organic foods,
all developed for optimum health,
we are renown for quality, integrity,
innovation, service and excellence. All
of our products are formulated by an
experienced team of nutrition experts.
Our True Food, Premium Naturals and
Omega Excellence ranges are some
of the most advanced formulations
available. Alongside our new online
CPD accredited education academy,
why not register for free at www.
nutripeople.com to advertise your
nutrition practice and receive all the
latest research.
PHARMA NORD (UK) LTD
Telford Court,
Morpeth, NE61 2DB
FREEPHONE: 0800 591756
Fax: 01670 534903
Email: [email protected]
profile Pharma Nord is one of Europe’s
largest manufacturers of preventive dietary
supplements and herbal remedies. The
company develops, manufactures and
markets scientifically well founded dietary
supplements based on optimal bio-availability,
safety and documentation.
Pharma Nord’s research database contains
more than 8,000 scientific studies - including
a large number of studies conducted with
Pharma Nord’s own preparations. The
database is the cornerstone of product
development and the entire product range
without exception are manufactured in
accordance with the current GMP guidelines
(Good Manufacturing Practice). All of our
products are blister packed to ensure the
active ingredients are not exposed to the
atmosphere and maintain 100% of their
efficacy over time. We offer technical support
and training via our team of experts which
includes BANT accredited nutritionists. Our
excellent customer service team are available
to answer your calls and queries, Mon-Fri,
9am-5pm and if you order before 2pm we
will guarantee shipment that same day.
cam FEBRUARY
2013
51
CLASSIFIED ■ LIVE ONLINE AT WWW.CAM-MAG.COM
BIOENERGETIC SYSTEMS
SERVICES
ASSOCIATIONS
Rio Trading Company Ltd
Unit 2, Centenary Estate, Hughes Road,
Brighton. BN2 4AW
Tel: 01273 570987
Fax: 01273 691226
Email: [email protected]
www.riohealth.co.uk
profile Rio Trading Company
has specialised in South American
botanicals for over 25 years. The Rio
Amazon range brings you a selection
of high quality, whole-plant botanicals
and extracts including Pau d’Arco
(Lapacho), Graviola, Quebra Pedra,
and the renowned Rio Rosa Mosqueta
rosehip oil. We are the UK distributor
for Nutramedix, including the Cowden
Support Program, Dr Hagiwara’s
Green Magma Organic Barley Grass
Juice Powder, and Womega. Register
with us as a practitioner for access to
detailed product information. Details
can be found on our website at www.
riohealth.co.uk.
THE NATURAL DISPENSARY
LTD
profile The Natural Dispensary is an
independent Nutritional Supplement
Mail Order Company, dedicated to
Practitioners and their Clients. With
over 6000 Practitioner prescribed
products under one roof, our aim is to
provide an efficient One Stop Service.
As a registered Practitioner, you can
benefit from favourable Practitioner
prices and only one account to
manage. Both you and your Clients can
save time and effort, as well as postage
and packaging, by buying different
brands of supplements from only one
distributor. Registration and ordering
are available via website, telephone, fax
or email and delivery is direct to your
Clinic or Clients. Please get in touch,
we are here to help.
NUTRIVITAL HEALTH LIMITED
Worcester House,
4 Dragon Street,
Petersfield
Hampshire GU31 4JD
Tel: 01730 233414
[email protected]
www.nutrivital.co.uk
profile UK supplier of the ASYRA
Pro health screening device - probably
the best bioenergetic testing device on
the market today. More info at: www.
asyra.co.uk
Provider of SCENAR technology: the
remarkable pain relief and acclerated
healing technology from Russia, and
associated training courses. See www.
scenarworld.co.uk
The NutriVital range of high-purity
nutritional, herbal and homeopathic
products, providing a complete
solution range for practitioners. See.
www.nutrivital.co.uk/shop
Our range of practitioner solutions has
been refined over 16 years running our
own clinical practice, now operating in
Hampshire and London.
We are committed to enhancing
your clinical success, whatever your
discipline and level of experience.
VIRIDIAN NUTRITION LTD
PROBIOTICS
profile The Viridian Nutrition
multi-award-winning range of 180+
vitamins, herbs, tinctures, ointments,
amino acids, specialty nutrients and
nutritional oils includes 50+ certified
organic products. Purity: 100% active
ingredients, excipient-free.
Charity: Major charity support
programme. £120,000 donated since
1999 to children’s & environmental
charities. Environment: Recycling
programme, organic initiatives & green
business practices. With experienced
& committed sales, marketing
& technical expertise, Viridian is
dedicated to the future development
& security of the nutritional products
sector. Call 01327 878050 for an
information pack.
BIO-KULT PROBIOTICS
(PROTEXIN)
26 Church Street, Stroud, Gloucestershire
GL5 1JL
Tel : 01453 757792
Fax : 01453 751402
Email: [email protected]
www.naturaldispensary.co.uk
BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR
APPLIED NUTRITION AND
NUTRITIONAL THERAPY
27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3XX
Tel: 0870 606 1284
www.bant.org.uk
profile The British Association
for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional
Therapy. The largest non-profit body
representing Nutritional Therapy (NT).
This highly regarded professional body
welcomes members who seek to provide
the highest level of practice. Membership
benefits:
•Transparent organisation
•Competitive BANT insurance scheme
•Code of Ethics and Practice. •Easy
access online directory, free web listing.
•Online CPD modules. •BANT Seminars.
•BANT recognised CPD events, jobs and
classifieds. •Regular
E-blasts on important professional
information. •Regular newsletters.
•Regional support groups. •Free
downloads of pertinent seminars.
•Online access to Natural Medicines
Comprehensive Database. •BANT council
working closely with official regulatory
bodies. If you are serious about
nutritional therapy join us today.
SOLGAR VITAMINS LTD
Solgar Vitamins, Aldbury,
Tring, Herts HP23 5PT
Tel: 01442 890355
Fax: 01442 890366
www.solgar.co.uk
profile Since 1947 in the USA, Solgar
has been dedicated to the research and
manufacture of nutritional supplements
to the highest standards. As a result the
Solgar gold label is recognised as the
ultimate symbol of quality worldwide.
With in-house research laboratories, a
state-of- the-art manufacturing facility
in Leonia, New Jersey, in-house quality
control procedures, Solgar’s customers
can be confident that their supplements
are of the highest quality and potency
available. Solgar vitamins award-winning
range of more than 450 vitamins,
minerals, herbs, amino acids and
specialist food supplements is backed by
comprehensive, distribution, customer
care, sales, technical and strategic
marketing support.
52
cam FEBRUARY
2013
31 Alvis Way, Royal Oak, Daventry,
Northamptonshire NN11 8PG
Tel: 01327 878050
Fax: 01327 878335
Email: [email protected]
www.viridian-nutrition.com
Lopen Head, Somerset, TA13 5JH
Tel: 01460 243230
Fax:01460 249543
Email: [email protected]
www.bio-kult.com
profile Bio-Kult and Bio-Kult
Candéa are manufactured by probiotic
specialists Protexin. Bio-Kult is a unique,
multi-strain probiotic with 14 strains of
beneficial bacteria, expertly formulated
to help maintain healthy digestive and
immune systems.
Bio-Kult Candéa is a probiotic
supplement with grapefruit seed
extract and garlic - taken daily it can
help strengthen the body’s natural
defenses against Candida. Protexin
is dedicated to ongoing research
and development and has 20 years
experience of manufacturing a broad
range of probiotic supplements. BioKult is available to the public through
health food stores; health practitioners can contact Protexin directly.
CThA - COMPLEMENTARY
THERAPISTS ASSOCIATION
598-608 Chiswick High Road, 2nd Floor
Chiswick Gate, London, W4 5RT
Tel: 0845 202 2941
Fax: 0844 779 8898
Email: [email protected]
www.ctha.com
profile The Complementary
Therapists Association (CThA) is the
leading organisation representing
Complementary Therapists in UK and
Ireland.
As CThA members Therapists
receive a quarterly Magazine, with
the latest information on Exhibitions
and Seminars. Free membership of
the UK’s largest online directory of
Complementary and Beauty Therapists,
www.embodyforyou.com
Members have access to Local Groups
& Forums giving then the opportunity
to meet with like minded Professionals.
Access to Discounted Rates on
Insurance.
LIVE ONLINE AT WWW.CAM-MAG.COM ■
CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
EDUCATIONAL TRUST
78 York Street, London W1H 1DP
Tel/fax: 07000 785778
Email: [email protected]
www.cranio.co.uk
Course Director: Michael Kern D.O.,
R.C.S.T., N.D. author of ‘Wisdom In
The Body – The Craniosacral Approach
To Essential Health’.
profile The Craniosacral Therapy
Educational Trust has been providing
practitioner trainings in Craniosacral
Therapy since 1989 and is established
as a school of excellence offering
in-depth courses in a clear and
accessible way. This two-year part time
training is presented by a team of highly
experienced teachers in a supportive
and creative environment. An emphasis
is placed on developing practical skills
that work with the essential factors
that govern our health, and supporting
our innate capacity for health. Courses
start each Autumn and are fully
accredited by the Craniosacral Therapy
Association and the International
Affiliation of Biodynamic Trainings.
Also, regular introductory weekends next dates:16/17 February 2013. Plus
‘Living Anatomy’ - an experiential eightweekend foundation course in Anatomy
and Physiology starting each January.
INDEPENDENT
PROFESSIONAL
THERAPISTS
INTERNATIONAL
PO Box 106, Retford DN22 1WN
Tel: 01777 700383/703177
Fax: 01777 869429
Email: [email protected]
www.iptiuk.com
profile IPTI is an association
that has been providing insurance
cover for therapists since 1982.
Membership and insurance is available
for practitioners of Alternative/
Complementary Therapies, Beauty
Therapists, Hairdressers and Fitness
Professionals. The IPTI policy
includes Malpractice & Professional
Liability, Public Liability and Products
Liability all in one package, at a very
competitive price. The policy can offer
cover up to £5 million indemnity and
can also cover for working abroad. The
teaching of workshops and practitioner
level courses is also covered under
the policy. Students may also join IPTI
and all members receive copies of our
chatty and informative newsletter.
.
CLASSIFIED
DISTRIBUTOR
INSURANCE
KINETIC NATURAL PRODUCTS
DISTRIBUTOR
258 Belsize Road, London, NW6 4BT
Contact: Alexander Barani
Tel: +44 (0)845 072 5825
Fax: +44 (0)845 072 5826
Email: [email protected]
www.kinetic4health.co.uk
profile Kinetic supplies ethical
and specialised herbal and dietary
supplement brands to the natural
products industry. Leading dietary
supplements and herbal brands
include; Natures Answer, pioneers in
standardised and non-standardised
alcohol-free and low-alcohol liquid
herbal extracts, liquid nutritional
supplements, and superfoods and oral
care products; Renew life, specialist
products for digestive care and
detoxification; Emergen-C from Alcer
No1 selling effervescent vitamin C
supplement, Terra Nova, holistic yet
scientifically based enhanced nutritional
supplements; Nutiva the No 1 leading
organic & coconut food brand and
Organic Food Bar “probably the best raw
bar on the market”.
Holistic Insurance Services
181a Watling Street West
Towcester, Northants
NN12 6BX
Tel: 01327 354249
Fax: 0845 2222237
Email: [email protected]
www.holisticinsurance.co.uk
HIS was formed 10 years ago to
provide insurance for complementary
therapists. We insure over 20,000
therapists from a variety of disciplines.
We offer a comprehensive package
of insurance including malpractice,
professional indemnity, public and
products liability insurance with a
long standing and secure insurer. We
aim to process applications within
24 hours of receipt. Our clients also
have access to a 24 hour legal advice,
counselling and health and wellbeing
helpline.
Contact us on 0845 222 2236 or info@
holisticinsurance.co.uk
CHINESE MEDICINE
TOXICOLOGY
NAP4EU LTD
THE BELMONT
HYPNOTHERAPY CENTRE
Belmont Centre, 46 Belmont Road,
Ramsgate, Kent, CT11 7QG
Tel: 01843 587929
Email: [email protected]
www.belmont-centre.co.uk
profile There are many misconceptions
about hypnosis, however, there is nothing
magical or mystical about the practice
of hypnosis. Hypnosis is a natural state,
achieved in deep levels of relaxation, during
which it is possible to communicate directly
with the subconscious mind. When people
are in this hypnotic state, it is possible to
instruct the subconscious to bring about the
behavioral changes needed, whether it is to
quit smoking or to source why you are feeling
the way you are. All who train with Jean
Murton and her students learn to deal with
their own problems as well as gaining the skill
and confidence to help others to over come
any psychosomatic issue that have reduced
or even destroyed the quality of their lives. For
more information call 01843 587929 or visit
www.belmont-centre.co.uk or email
[email protected]
Condensed courses designed to offer
professional qualifications; schedule sessions
which are arranged to accommodate your
existing commitments.
THE CHINESE MEDICAL
INSTITUTE AND REGISTER
101-105 Camden High Street, London,
NW1 7JN
Tel: 0207 388 6704
Email: [email protected]
www.cmir.org.uk
profile Established in 1994, we
offer high-quality, interactive Chinese
medicine and acupuncture
postgraduate courses to healthcare
professionals.
FOUNDATION COURSES: CHINESE
MEDICINE & SYNDROME
ACUPUNCTURE (September 2012)
Discover the world of Chinese medicine
and syndrome acupuncture as taught in
China! Students are introduced to the
fundamental Chinese medical theories
and diagnostic methods, as well asthe
60 most commonly used acupuncture
points. Includes patient case studies
and hands on clinical tuition.
Call 0207 388 6704 or email courses@
acumedic.com to find out more.
14 North Parade, Penzance, Cornwall TR18
4SL
Tel: 01259 743 255
Fax: 01259 743 002
[email protected]
www.right4eu.com
profile NAP4EU Limited is the EU
distributor of products manufactured in
the USA by North American Pharmacal
Inc. These products are created by
Dr. Peter D’Adamo N.D. who is the
author of ‘The Blood Type Diet’, ‘The
Genotype Diet’ and other publications on
Nutrigenomics. NAP4EU sells diagnostic
test kits, a variety of educational
materials and the worlds first truly
individualised food supplements
and cosmetics. We are all unique
biochemical individuals and we need to
profile our nutrition accordingly in order
to optimise the health potential inherent
in our genetic makeup. Blood type is a
valuable genetic marker, and functions
as the gateway to our immune system
and metabolic needs. Nutrition is the
ultimate epigenetic tool with which we
can influence which genes we choose
to turn on, and which we choose to
turn off.
NEW VISTAS HEALTHCARE
LTD
Plassey Park, Limerick.
Phone: 00353-61-334455
Fax: 00353-61-331515
Email: [email protected]
www.newvistashealthcare.com
profile Bioregulatory medicine
is the branch of healthcare required
for the world of today, the paradigm
change which has been heralded over
the past quarter century. New Vistas
is at the forefront of this change
providing a range of products and
services which meet the needs of the
community to prevent the ongoing
development of diseases.
Homoeopathic combination remedies,
detoxification and organ remedies to
provide optimum health. Specialised
herbal remedies, nutritional supplements
and superfoods complement the
homoeopathic strategy.
Detailed training and backup service is
available for CAM providers.
cam FEBRUARY
2013
53
CAM RESEARCH
EYE HEALTH
MICROBIOLOGY
The cost of macular degeneration and the role of diet
Host cholesterol secretion
likely to influence gut
microbiota
Biocare’s Mike Wakeman, MSc Nutritional
Medicine, BSc Pharm, MRPS, reviews recent
research.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
is the leading cause of blindness in the
elderly worldwide. Observational studies
indicate that maintaining adequate levels of
omega-3 fatty acids (ie with two servings/
week of fish) or a low glycaemic index diet
may be particularly beneficial for early
AMD and that higher levels of carotenoids
may be protective, most probably, against
neovascular AMD. This comprehensive
summary in Molecular Aspects of Medicine
provides essential information about the
value of nutrients with regard to diminishing
risk for onset or progress of AMD and can
serve as a guide until data from ongoing
intervention trials are available. (1)
How lutein and zeaxanthin
work
Supplementation with lutein or zeaxanthin
resulted in accumulation of lutein or
zeaxanthin in the cells of the retinal pigment
epithelium ( RPE). The concentrations of
lutein and zeaxanthin in the cells were
two-to-14 fold of that detected in the growth
medium, indicating that RPE cells actively
take up lutein or zeaxanthin.(2) These data
indicate that lutein or zeaxanthin modulates
inflammatory responses in cultured RPE
cells in response to photooxidation.
Lutein improves visual
performance of drivers
The aim of this one-year, double-blind,
placebo-controlled study was to examine the
effect of 20mg daily lutein supplementation
on visual function in healthy drivers with
long-term light exposure. The authors
observed significant increases in contrast
sensitivity and glare sensitivity, especially
on mesopic condition and concluded
daily supplementation increases macular
pigmentation density levels and this may
benefit driving at night and other spatial
discrimination tasks carried out under low
illumination. (3)
Vitamin D prevents age-related
visual decline
Vitamin D3 administration for only six
weeks in aged mice significantly impacts on
this ageing process. Treated mice showed
54
cam
FEBRUARY 2013
significant reductions in retinal inflammation
and levels of amyloid beta accumulation.
They also had significant reductions in
retinal macrophage numbers and marked
shifts in their morphology. These changes
were reflected in a significant improvement
in visual function, revealing that vitamin D3
is a route to avoiding the pace of age-related
visual decline. (4)
The role of medication in dry
eye disease
Oral polypharmacy is the most common
cause of dry mouth, but has not been
investigated as a cause of dry eye syndrome
(DES). Topical ocular polypharmacy has
been shown to cause DES. Information on
drugs that likely cause or aggravate DES
and the controversial role of preservatives
in topical ocular medications are examined.
(5) Systemic or topical ocular medications
and preservatives used in topical ocular
drugs may cause dry eye through the drug’s
therapeutic action, ocular surface effects,
or preservatives, and the effects probably
are additive. Long-term use of topical ocular
medications, especially those containing
preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride
may play an important role in DES.
For more than half a century, researchers
have known that the bacteria that colonise the
gastrointestinal tract of mammals influence their
hosts’ cholesterol metabolism. Now, Jens Walter and
colleagues of the University of Nebraska show that
changes in cholesterol metabolism induced by diet
can alter the gut flora.
In the study, plant sterol esters added to the
diets of hamsters inhibited several bacterial
taxa, from the families Coriobacteriacea and
Erysipelotrichaceae, says Walter. But the immediate
effect of the plant sterols was to physically block
cholesterol absorption by the intestine. That
decreased cholesterol levels in the liver and the
plasma, prompting the hamster’s body to respond by
synthesising more cholesterol. That, in turn, boosted
cholesterol excretion into the gut, and that extra
cholesterol was the direct inhibitor of those bacterial
families.
“The abundance of these bacterial taxa and the
levels of cholesterol in the faecal samples followed
a mathematical model of bacterial inhibition,” says
Walter.
* Martinez I et al. Diet-induced alterations of host cholesterol
metabolism are likely to affect gut microbiota composition in
hamsters. App Environ Microbiol 2012, online Jan 2013.
How Omega-3s can be of benefit
Omega-3 and -6 EFAs need to be consumed
together within a reasonable ratio to be
effective. Omega-3 EFAs also demonstrate
anti-inflammatory action in the lacrimal
gland, preventing apoptosis of the secretory
epithelial cells. Supplementation clears
meibomitis, allowing a thinner, more elastic
lipid layer to protect the tear film and cornea.
Evidence suggests that supplementation
with omega-3 EFA may be beneficial in the
treatment and prevention of DES. (7)
HOMEOPATHY
1. Weikel K et al. Nutritional modulation of age-related
macular degeneration Mol Asp Med 2012, 33, 318–75.
2. Bian Q et al. Lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation
reduces photooxidative damage and modulates the
expression of inflammation-related genes in retinal
pigment epithelial cells. Free Rad Biol Med 2012, 53,
1298–1307.
3. Yao Y et al. Lutein Supplementation Improves Visual
Performance in Chinese Drivers: 1-year Randomized,
Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Nutrition,
2013, in press
4. Lee V et al. Vitamin D rejuvenates aging eyes by
reducing inflammation, clearing amyloid beta and
improving visual function. Neurobiol Aging 2012, 33,
2382–89.
5. Fraunfelder F et al. The Role of Medications in
Causing Dry Eye. J Ophthalmol 2012, 2012:285851.
6. Roncone M et al. Essential fatty acids for dry eye: a
review. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2010, 33, 49–54.
poisonous pesticide chemical antimycin-A, an
Arnica protects mitochondria
In an unusual finding of the benefits of homeopathic
Arnica, Brazilian scientists have found that it
protects mitochondria from oxidative stress.
The researchers gave adult male Wistar rats either
Arnica montana 6cH, 12cH, 30cH or succussed 30%
ethanol (control) for 21 days.
When given the known oxidant stressors, the
electron transport chain inhibitor, homeopathic
Arnica inhibited lipid peroxidation of the
mitochondrial membranes. Animals receiving Arnica
30cH had a significant decrease in mitochondrial O2
consumption compared to control animals, said the
researchers.
Familiar indications for homeopathic Arnica
montana are trauma, muscle fatigue, injuries,
sprains, bruises and the like.
* De Camargo RA et al. Effect of the oral administration
homeopathic Arnica montana on mitochondrial oxidative stress.
Homeopathy 2013, 102 (1):49-53.
www.CAM-MAg.CoM