Author Archives: Dr. Jay Sordean

Functional Medicine: What it is and Why do you want it?

Functional Medicine: Just exactly what is it? How is it different from conventional medicine? Why might you want to work with a functional medicine practitioner like Jay Sordean? This video explains it in full detail as Dr. Jay narrates and describes some of the distinguishing characteristics of this and how it differs from conventional medicine.

Dr. Jay has been studying and practicing functional medicine for the past 30 years. Learn about this medicine, focused on functional capacity in the body, in ways you may never have thought about it.

Additional resources can be heard at http://www.NaturalSolutionsWithDrJay.com

Learn about how the functioning of the body degenerates and how that leads to malfunction, disease, and THEN symptoms.

Water is an important part of your body’s functioning. What happens to your function when your water is toxic? Click on this link to learn more: http://www.theredwoodclinic.com/toxins-in-water/

Stress, trauma and toxicity are 3 of the most important causes of degenerating health. These each lead to decreased vitality and organ function, increasing inflammation and causing the body to have to work harder to repair damaged tissues. Call the office at 510-849-1176 to find out what we can do to help you regain your health.

Active for Alzheimer’s Co-Chairs: Marie Balfour and Tierney Henderson

Marie Balfour and Tierney Henderson

Active for Alzheimer’s Tierney Henderson and Marie Balfour Interview with Dr. Jay Sordean

Active for Alzheimer’s is a new group to Dr. Jay Sordean. So go and listen to this new podcast (and video as well) at http://www.NaturalSolutionsWithDrJay.com. Here he interviews two UC Berkeley student leaders of Active for Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Jay speaks with co-chairs Tierney Henderson and Marie Balfour about their group’s important volunteer activities on and off campus. UC Berkeley student club Active for Alzheimer’s (a chapter of The Youth Movement Against Alzheimer’s) is led by co-chairs, Tierney Henderson and Marie Balfour. With both personal and academic experience with Alzheimer’s disease, they realize that most young people have difficulty understanding and connecting with diseases that primarily affect the elderly. In this interview, they detail their club’s efforts to bridge this cognitive gap by connecting UC Berkeley students with opportunities to learn about and work toward the Alzheimer’s cause. They are currently raising funds for an undergraduate scholarship fund for Alzheimer’s research labs, as they hope to incentivize more talented young people to enter research careers in Alzheimer’s. You can donate to this worthy cause at http://www.gofundme.com/the_youth_mov.

On a personal note, Dr. Jay was struck by the fact that both UC Berkeley students are passionate about helping spread the word to youth about the seriousness of Alzheimer’s and how research support and training needs to start at the undergraduate level. He wants to support their efforts as they have created a scholarship fund to support this; you can donate to this worthy cause at http://www.gofundme.com/the_youth_movement. This is in alignment with his mission to help prevent a million cases of Alzheimer’s.

Active for Alzheimer’s at Berkeley Information

You can learn about their group, “Active for Alzheimer’s at Berkeley” at http://www.theyouthmovement.org .

Please share this blog with everyone you know who has an interest in Alzheimer’s.

Natural Solutions with Dr. Jay – New Posts

There are several new posts at our podcasting blog, Natural Solutions with Dr. Jay. Please go there and check them out! www.NaturalSolutionsWithDrJay.com

A recent post about Active for Alzheimers is both a podcast and video.

Hyperactivity & Attention Deficit Disorder: Do We Have Options?

Guest Author: Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O.,D.A.C.B.N., MS

Attention-deficit disorder affects a startling 17 million people and seems to be gaining ground every year.

As a parent of child suffering with this disorder.. what are you to do?? Attention-deficit disorder is the most frequently diagnosed childhood psychiatric condition in America. In the past most medical journals described this disorder as minimal brain damage, hyperactive child syndrome & minimal cerebral dysfunction.

The common symptoms include brief attention span, poor concentration, difficulty keeping track of things, making careless mistakes, impatience, difficulty waiting or taking turns, blurting out answers when not asked, impulsiveness, hyperactivity, failure to finish things off, lack of perseverance & poor organizing. These characteristics are frequently associated with difficulties in school, in both learning and behavior. Task that require concentration are nearly impossible causing frustration, irritability, agitation and often recklessness.

There are three types of ADHD: Inattentive, predominately hyperactivity and combined type. Girls are more prevalent to exhibit the symptom of inattentiveness, whereby boys tend to be more hyperactive. As a child with undiagnosed ADHD becomes a teenager, he/she may become involved in drugs and crime and will commonly drop out of school. In adulthood the predominant features are failure to complete tasks, disorganization, difficulty paying attention and difficulty beginning tasks.

Conventional Medical Treatment

The conventional medical treatment for ADHD is almost always pharmaceutical drugs such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) or or the amphetamine Adderall. A review in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry notes that two antidepressants — bupropion and venlafaxine — are now being used as an alternative. “Talk therapy” is often recommended in conjunction with prescription medication for ADHD.

Alternative Medical Treatment:

The causes of ADHD are many and it would serve your child well for the parents to investigate the possible underlying factors that could very-well be causing the condition.

The Functional Medicine Approach looks at the triggers of ADHD. People with ADHD often have impaired digestion, environmental and food sensitivities, nutritional insufficiencies, heavy metal toxicities, fatty acid and amino acid imbalances, sensitivity to food additives and sucrose (sugar). Some studies indicate a possible genetic predisposition. Children with ADHD usually have histories of more ear infections (otitis media) than other children with learning problems.

It is unfortunate that many people who have children suffering with ADHD are not informed of all the options. I must agree that prescription medications such as Ritalin and Adderall can make a significant impact on the symptoms of ADHD. A child who once was inattentive is now focused and doing well in school. Who can ask for anything better?!! But, are you being told everything? What are the long-term health risk for your child?

Studies done on children taking Ritalin using a PET scan revealed that although the children had a reduction in their symptoms the PET scan was highly abnormal.

Most physicians are trained to treat ADHD with amphetamine-like drugs. But nutritionally oriented physicians have known for a long time that food allergy is a primary cause. The first major scientific study to show the link between food allergy and hyperactivity appeared in a 1985 issue of Lancet, a prestigious international medical journal. Dr. J. Egger, head of a pediatric university hospital in Munich, and Dr. J Soothill, London, England, studied the effect of food on 76 hyperactive children. 79% had clear improvement in their mental activity, emotions and behavior and 28 became completely normal. To prove their findings, the researchers reintroduced the allergenic foods to the children and their hyperactive symptoms returned.

The following have been linked to ADD:
•Food sensitivities
•Heavy metal toxicity especially lead has been linked to attention deficit and learning problems. Dr. H.L. Needlemen of the University of Pittsburgh Medical School has conducted scores of studies over the last 20 years clearly establishing the link between lead levels in children and specific hyperactive and attention deficit behavior traits. Follow-up studies indicate that these effects often persist into adulthood.
•Fatty acid deficiency
•Amino acid imbalances
•Methylation dysfunction
•Intestinal dysbiosis
•to name a few

Dr. Grisanti’s Comment:

I would have to say that I have not met a parent who did not want the best for their child. The parent who is struggling with what to do to help their child, faces a major dilemma. Should you medicate your child or take the road less traveled and identify the underlying cause of your child’s problem. Realize you have two sides of this sensitive issue. On one hand you have your family physician who insist that pharmaceutical drugs is the only way to go and offers no real alternative. And on the other hand, the volumes of medical research is quite over-whelming in favor of looking for the root cause(s) of your child’s condition.

Dr. Jay Sordean’s Comment:

Hyperactivity & Attention Deficit Disorder

Thank you to Dr. Grisanti for his well thought out and presented article. As a functional medicine professional, I am able to do these same evaluations and treatment strategies in my office. Please contact us at 510-849-1176 about setting up an appointment.

As a functional diagnostic medicine practitioner, I have studied functional medicine principles and practices with the top practitioners around the world. A leading curriculum on the subject is available to licensed professionals. The enrollment is at limited times, but if you don’t get in this time, you can reserve a spot for the future.

Fore information on Dr. Grisanti’s Program at the Functional Medicine University, click here.

The original of this article, used by permission, is found at:
http://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/1124.cfm

CTE -Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

CTE -Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy — is a disease of the brain. Of course, “Encephal” refers to the brain, “-opathy” means a disease.
In short, CTE -Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, is a damage to the brain that has occurred over a long period of time (chronic) due to multiple injuries to the head, skull, and rest of the body that the head is attached to. While there is a focus on the head and brain, it is often forgotten that the rest of the body (like the spinal cord, back, neck and shoulders) also are involved.

CTE -Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Alzheimer’s: A comparison

Note surgical scar on back of neck

A recent article from Scientific American has a nice review of CTE. It doesn’t talk about meningeal compression and torqueing, which is a flaw in the article. Nevertheless, it is a good article that I recommend you read if you want lots of details and comparisons to Alzheimer’s and dementia. In part, it
states, “The outward symptoms of CTE will sound familiar to anyone who has experience with Alzheimer’s disease: Memory problems, disorientation and difficulty concentrating are the earliest signs. As the condition progresses, people begin to show poor judgment, erratic behavior, significant memory loss and some degree of Parkinson’s disease (impaired speech, difficulty with motor skills, slow movement and a loss of balance). In its more advanced stages, tremors, full-blown Parkinsonism, a staggering gait, deafness and dementia mark CTE.”

Details about meningeal compression can be found in my two books; to order either of the bestselling books by Dr. Jay Sordean, go to:
http://www.OutsmartingDementia.com and http://www.SuperBrain-TheBook.com
Or go directly and by at Amazon: Super Brain: http://www.createspace.com/5585723 and http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TFOP926 Outsmarting the Dementia Epidemic https://www.createspace.com/5585869 and http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TFS5PBC

TAGS: NRCT, Neurologic Relief Center Technique, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Memory Care, Memory Enhancement, Jay Sordean, Super Brain, Outsmarting the Dementia Epidemic, BRAIN HEALTH Program

#BRAINHEALTHTalk #Dementia #Alzheimers #NRCT #NRC #meningeal-compression #PeytonManning

BRAIN HEALTH TALKS in our community

BRAIN HEALTH TALKS in Lakeside Park and Berkeley Chinese Church

Dr. Jay’s BRAIN HEALTH talks have recently been well attended at Lakeside Park and Berkeley Chinese Church. The Berkeley Chinese Church talk was held Tuesday, March 1, 2016 in the morning. The title was “Maximize Your BRAIN HEALTH” and covered ways to enhance your brain health, why they work, and what you need to do to evaluate your current status and

Berkeley Chinese Church 1953

improve your brain health for a lifetime of clarity.

BRAIN HEALTH It is not simple — there are many parts to the puzzle, especially if your parent(s) and grandparent(s) died with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Genetics is a component but the environment has a large part in triggering the degenerative process. It is this “changeable” environment that we are addressing here.

BRAIN HEALTH Talk Resources

If you want to know what you missed by not attending the talks, please sign up for an encore webinar presentation here. Please share this link with family and friends as well — they need to know this as much as you do.

If you would like to hear INTERVIEWS that Dr. Jay Sordean did with other experts on brain health, please go to the podcast http://www.NaturalSolutionsWithDrJay.com and look up these podcast interviews. You will learn many significant and fascinating things.

Dr. Jay’s two bestselling books are also great ways to learn about dementia, Alzheimer’s, and how to avoid them. To order either of the bestselling books by Dr. Jay Sordean, go to:
http://www.OutsmartingDementia.com and http://www.SuperBrain-TheBook.com
Or go directly and by at Amazon: Super Brain: http://www.createspace.com/5585723 and http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TFOP926 Outsmarting the Dementia Epidemic https://www.createspace.com/5585869 and http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TFS5PBC

TAGS: NRCT, Neurologic Relief Center Technique, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Memory Care, Memory Enhancement, Marcia Peoples, Anne Sanabria, Jay Sordean, Super Brain, Outsmarting the Dementia Epidemic, BRAIN HEALTH Program, Lakeside Park

#LakesidePark #BRAINHEALTHTalk #BerkeleyChineseChurch #Alzheimers

Sather Health Lecture Part 10:”Language of Healting(tm)” Qi and Blood 2 26 14

Sather Health Lecture

Dr. Jay Sordean was an invited guest speaker at the University of California at Berkeley at their Sather Health Lecture Series. In this segment of the talk Dr. Jay Sordean has Esther Slaman walk the Cal Students through the way that we explain to patients how Function, malfunction, disease and symptoms all fit together.

Mitochondrial Disease

Mitochondrial Disease and Dysfunction

What is so crucial about mitochondrial disease and dysfunction? Well, you may remember that the mitochondria are organelles in your cells. They make the energy packets that store and release electrical power so you can make proteins, hormones, move, talk, breathe, circulate blood, and think. Mitochondria have a counterpart in the plant world. The chloroplast. The organelle in plant cells that take carbon dioxide and water, capture energy from the sun, and pack that energy in sugar molecules. Those sugar molecules are one of the three types of food that the mitochondria then burn to create heat and energy packets.

Of course, this reminds us of how important the plant world is for our survival. The picture below by Cody Serfass shows this interrelationship beautifully.

posted Dec 22, 2014, 8:30 AM by Cody Serfass

But, as much as we need the mitochondria to work right, it can either start to not work right or be so damaged as to not work at all. It is kind of like an internal combustion engine. There has to be fuel, the burning of the fuel has to be controlled, and the energy has to be converted into a useful form. So, just like taking your car to the mechanic to figure out why the horsepower dropped, you need an expert on mitochondrial function to figure out what might be going on if you are starting to lack power. Call The Redwood Clinic for help with this.

Mitochondrial Disease and Dysfunction Diagnosis

Definitive diagnosis of mitochondrial disease and dysfunction requires a knowledge of many steps in the process. Figuring out where in the process things aren’t working may require doing organic chemical analysis. It tells us if the steps in the process of energy production are happening as they are supposed to. Sort of like seeing if the engine is burning cleanly or producing extra pollution.

Mitochondrial Disease and Dysfunction and Aging

Aging is related to inflammation. Inflammation damages tissues, nerves, blood sugar balance, brain tissues, and other tissues and organs. Inflammation can damage mitochondria and degeneration of mitochondria effects all parts of the body.

The prolongation of mitochondrial health seems also associated with life span. Why is that? Caloric reduction is a major factor related to longevity. When you reduce calories and fast on occassion, your damaged mitochondria will be broken down so only healthy ones remain behind. Having only well functioning mitochondria is like having a race event with only the best running cars working. The broken down cars then don’t create wrecks and roadblocks on the race course.

Mitochondrial Disease and Dysfunction and Your Heart

The failing heart is a muscle running out of fuel, and the fuel of the heart comes from mitochondrial activity. Without adequate intake of nutrients you will have mitochondrial deterioration, according the Bruce Ames. With the high prevalence of death from heart attacks in this country it is wise to have your mitochondria checked at The Redwood Clinic to see if they might be a source of potential early mortality.

Mitochondrial Disease and Dysfunction and Bipolar Depression

Build up of acids from the energy cycle, when it is not working right, leads to higher acidity, and that is related to bipolar depression.

Mitochondrial Disease and Dysfunction and Obesity

Stomach, Small Intestine, and Large Intestine

African Americans may have an especially susceptible mitochondria that have less ability to produce heat and thus have higher levels of diabetes and prostate cancer.

Also having too much “white fat” (devoid of mitochondria) puts you more at risk for obesity and cardiovascular disease than having enough brown fat which contains lots of mitochondria that can convert the fat into energy.

Mitochondrial Disease, Dysfunction, and what to do about it

In addition to getting your mitochondrial function checked out, there are many things you can do to help support your mitochondria. Periodic exposure to cold helps your metabolism and the functioning of your energy production system — the mitochondria. While it is not for me, you could really shock your system (and stimulate your mitochondria) by joining a “polar bear club.” Taking a cold shower in the morning can also help.

Exercise helps optimize thyroid function, and thyroid hormones enhance metabolism and speed mitochondrial activity to create more energy and resultant heat.

Mitochondrial Disease and Atrazine

Atrazine is a widely used weed killer predominantly for corn. Atrazine is a mitochondrial damager — avoiding foods with atrazine is a great idea. That may mean that you have to avoid packaged manufactured “foodstuffs” if made from non-organic corn. Other studies show that Atrazine use tends to correlate with the incidence of obesity. And again, most manufactured foods are made with some kind of corn.

Herbicides work on chloroplasts and chloroplasts are like mitochondria. When you poison the mitochondria you can’t burn fat anymore. And fats, carbohydrates and proteins are what we burn for fuel.

Chronic use of alcohol can damage mitochondrial DNA through oxidative stress. Then if the liver isn’t working, you can’t clear toxins and then you age quickly.

Certain combination and single drugs can damage your mitochondria. Go to www.mitoaction.org to see which drugs are not good for your mitochondria. Drugs that damage your mitochondria include statins, antibiotics, and beta-blockers. The bacteriocidal antibiotics, quinolones, aminoglycosieds and beta lactams, are the most damaging to mitochondria. Certain things might help to support your body when taking those drugs, such as the right probiotics and NAC. Also, if possible, use the bacteriostatic antibiotics versus the bacteriocidal antibiotics.

Methyl mercury has a damaging effects on mitochondria in the brain especially. An underlying mitochondrial disorder may be a reason why vaccine-induced autism is real, as mentioned in US Federal Court.

A damage to your body due to your doctors prescriptions is called inatrogenica imperfecta by Dr. LePine. Medicine-induced disease due to bad drug combinations is quite prevalent.

Panic attacks can come from a high pH in the brain. Eg. you panic when your CO2 level increases from, for example, holding your breath a long time underwater. Due to pH drop. (Meaning that you are becoming more acidic — remember the pH scale is small numbers acid, 8 is neutral, and larger numbers are basic). Aerobic exercise may help you deal with it build up of lactic acid which is the product of the energy production without oxygen.

Mitochondrial Disease and Charles Darwin

Darwin’s illness throughout life may have been due to mitochondrial problem and a mitochondrial DNA -related problem.

In this case, arginine and citrulline may have positive benefits.

Mitochondrial Disease and Autism

Autism or other types of delayed developmental conditions may be helped by understanding the mitochondrial gene sequence as well.

Understaning the need to get oxygen into the brain and then into the mitochondria is discussed in Dr. Jay’s bestselling book, Super Brain: Maximize Your Brain Health for a Better Life. Order online at this link.

Medical research increasingly recognizes mitochondrial dysfunction as a major factor in the pathology of numerous human diseases, including diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and ischemia reperfusion injury. So consider getting you “powerhouse” checked out at The Redwood Clinic before you “check out” for good. 510-849-1176

Fibromyalgia Diagnosis

Fibromyalgia. A label for a myriad of symptoms, syndromes and conditions that have to be teased out to really find the underlying causes. I have been working with patients with diagnoses of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome, etc. etc. for more than 25 years. So how about fibromyalgia diagnosis done properly?

I am at my third seminar touching upon this in the last 6 months. To find out if there is anything else new on the subject, to keep me on the cutting edge of understanding fibromyalgia. Because very few doctors have even close to enough training in it. And the diagnoses are really wrong so often, even by the experts (one study showed 60% incorrect diagnosis).

Fibromyalgia Diagnosis and Mitochondria

One continuous thread in the fabric is the role of mitochondria and mitochrondrial dysregulation or sub-functioning. The mitochondria are the energy power-houses of our cells and body. Without enough energy you will feel achy and having pain in all parts of the body. I have numerous lectures on this subject on my youtube channel you can watch. None of these yet discuss mitochondria. Stay tuned for that aspect.

Fibromyalgia Diagnosis and Meningeal Compression

On the other hand, the role of meningeal compression and torqueing is something I have spoken on extensively. This also is a key factor and understanding underlying causes in each individual presenting with fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia Diagnosis and What else?

The list of involved “diagnoses” includes: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Organic depression/anxiety, Multiple bursitis/tendonitis sites, Connective tissue disorders, Stealth infections (Lyme and co-infections, viral), Endocrine (hormone) myopathies, dysglycemia (blood sugar problems), Anemia, Multiple sclerosis, occult malignancy, GI (gastrointestinal dysbiosis and Toxicity.

You can get more individualized assessment by calling The Redwood Clinic at 510-849-1176

Hypnotherapy and Health

What do you think of when you hear the word “hypnotherapy?” Excitement? Enthusiasm? Relaxation? Concern? Well, some people are afraid that hypnotherapy or guided imagery will make you lose control. That you will be under the influence of someone or something else. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have heard that there are a few individuals in religious circles who warn that is it somehow “evil” — well there is absolutely no basis for labeling it in that way. Read further to see why.

Granted, extreme applications (of understanding how the mind can work) are used to manipulate others by cults and in harsh interrogation methods by the CIA, FBI, police, Mossad, M-1, KGB, and elsewhere. But that is a vastly different situation. For health improvement and stress reduction, hypnotherapy and guided imagery are extremely benevolent and non-directive. It is a matter merely of offering suggestions — giving your higher powers an opportunity to choose another way that can be helpful.

Hypnotherapy and Positive Reinforcement

This aspect of healing and health maintenance can be a very positive addition to your “medicine cabinet.” In fact, ALL TOP OLYMPIC ATHLETES and successful CEOs routinely use this for peak performance. Essentially it is positive self-talk. And can you deny that you speak to yourself, inside your head, many times a day? It is a normal aspect of your brain function, and making sure that the words are supportive and positive is key. (Of course, if there are many voices in your head telling you to murder and kill, that could be a sign of serious mental illness. This is NOT what we are talking about here.)

Patients’ Experience of Hypnotherapy at The Redwood Clinic

Are we just talking theory here? Is there any proof of this? Well, at The Redwood Clinic we have been using this in conjunction with acupuncture and other approaches for the past 25 years or more. This is because it is safe, quick, and effective. Our patients, by in large, love it and look forward to it at their visits. Of course, some people don’t choose to do it and that is fine too. But of those who do utilize this adjunctive tool, 100% are excited about it and find that it is really a positive influence in their health.

Hypnotheray and Kaiser Health Care

Kaiser Foundation Health Care is a conservative organization. They require some solid evidence before they will pay for or use some method. Well, they encourage the use of hypnotherapy and guided imagery, as do Harvard, Stanford, the Mayo Clinic, and almost all of the major medical schools and centers in the U.S. Why? Because it is safe and effective.

What does Kaiser specifically say about it? “Your mind and body are connected. Guided imagery programs engage your mind, body, and spirit to help you:

reduce stress
focus on healthy changes
promote healing”

Kaiser has a specific place that “produces our gentle, but powerful, guided imagery programs. Kaiser Permanente doesn’t provide transcripts for these programs because the reading voice — its softness and pace — is key to their success.” That organization is called Healthy Journeys.

Areas that Kaiser Promotes Hypnotherapy

What hypnotherapy/guided imagery audios do they provide direct access to all Kaiser members?

Related to “Health Conditions and concerns”: allergies, coping with cancer, cancer chemotherapy, cancer radiation therapy, fibromyalgia and fatigue, headaches, healthy heart, immune system health, menopause, pain, pregnancy and childbirth, and surgery.
Related to “Emotional Wellness:” anger and forgiveness, grief, panic attacks and anxiety, self-confidence, and stress.
Related to “Living Healthily:” relaxation and wellness, sleep, stop smoking, and weight loss.

Kaiser has been providing these self-access resources since at least 2012. At The Redwood Clinic we have been using these since at least 1990. Always on the cutting edge of what we can do to help you wholistically.

We will also have some podcasts on this subject on our podcast channel: http://www.NaturalSolutionsWithDrJay.com