Category Archives: Fertility

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

Lead in Water — Still a danger

Lead in water? Still a danger in the U.S.

You might think that your water is safe. Well, as we have been saying for the past 30 years, you have to filter your water at the tap, preferably with a Multipure filter (order one at www.multipureusa.com/redwoodclinic). That is because there is lots of stuff in your water that is not good for your health. That includes heavy metals such as lead. It can come from solder. It can come from medications. It can come from industrial sources. It can come from airborne lead that falls into the water treatment plants.

The reality of lead in water came home to roost in Flint, Michigan. According to an alert from MOVE-ON, this is the story.

“In April 2014, state officials switched the source of Flint’s drinking water to the Flint River to save money.

Almost immediately after the switch, residents noticed changes in the smell, color, and taste of the water coming out of their taps. Tests showed high levels of bacteria that forced the city to issue advisories calling for residents to boil their tap water.2

Michigan Gov. Snyder and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality were aware of the high levels of lead in Flint’s drinking water for months, but they kept telling residents that the water was safe to drink.3 Lead poisoning is incredibly serious, especially to children, causing lower IQs, long-term learning disabilities, and behavioral problems.4

Last October, Flint’s drinking water source was finally switched back to the same source as Detroit. But Flint’s pipes are now permanently damaged and continue to leach lead into Flint’s drinking water.

Only when the U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation into how Michigan has handled the crisis in Flint did Gov. Snyder finally issue a state of emergency.”

If it can happen in Flint, it can happen anywhere. Even in your town. And the only control you have is at your tap.
And lead is just the tip of the iceberg.

If you know of someone in Flint please have them read this post and have, or help them, buy a Multipure water filtration system.

Susan B. Koemen Donation Version of System

1. “Michigan Knew Last Year That Flint’s Water Might Be Poisoned But Decided Not to Tell Anyone,” Slate, January 11, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/694?t=6&akid=161078.26972093.6_KV9U

2. “Michigan’s Failure to Protect Flint,” The New York Times, January 15, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/693?t=8&akid=161078.26972093.6_KV9U

3. “Michigan Knew Last Year That Flint’s Water Might Be Poisoned But Decided Not to Tell Anyone,” Slate, January 11, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/694?t=10&akid=161078.26972093.6_KV9U

4. “Generation of Flint kids with lead in blood may not see effects for years,” MLive, January 14, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/695?t=12&akid=161078.26972093.6_KV9U

Periodic Table of the Elements – Hair Mineral Analysis

Periodic Table of the Elements: Hair Mineral Analysis

Do you remember the Periodic Table of the Elements from middle school and thereafter? Perhaps you loved it or perhaps you never really understood it. Well, either way, it is a fascinating way to understand the nature and relationships of the different chemical elements that make up the chemical aspects of the Earth and our own body.

In this video I point out various minerals and other elements of most relevance to understanding Hair Mineral Analysis. I do not go into all of the elements, nor all of the heavy metals. The latter is discussed more in other videos http://www.TheRedwoodClinic.com/removing-toxins.

After watching these, if you want to get a hair mineral analysis with explanation please contact The Redwood Clinic at +1-510-849-1176.

Hair mineral Analysis You tube videos

The Periodic Table and Minerals: https://youtu.be/BIGl8I0V_4E

Calcium – Hair Mineral Analysis Element

Calcium – Hair Mineral Analysis and Body Functioning

Calcium is an important element and mineral test in the hair mineral analysis testing. Calcium plays a significant role in your body and cells, often paired up with Magnesium. It is stored in the bones and used everywhere, muscles, nerves, and cell membranes. Doctors look at the amounts of Calcium in your blood during the comprehensive blood testing. This hair deposition of Calcium gives additional and significant information about your body that the blood Calcium levels do not.

Diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, cardiovascular illness, obesity, cognitive decline — are just a few of the many conditions, malfunctions, or diseases that do not develop symptoms often until they are progressed quite a long time and Calcium may play a key role. Functioning has to drop to around 40% for symptoms to be obvious — up until a drop of function by 60% we know about dysfunction by things other than symptoms. Hair Mineral Analysis focuses on particular minerals –macro, micro, trace and heavy metals found stored in your hair. Understanding the relationships among the different minerals found can tell us a lot about how your body is functioning. Not only your body, but your emotions and hormones.

After watching this, if you want to get a hair mineral analysis with explanation please contact The Redwood Clinic at +1-510-849-1176.

Hair mineral Analysis You tube videos

Calcium: https://youtu.be/YecrOenJTZE

Heavy Metal Toxicity | Heavy Metal Test | Heavy Metal Detoxification Capacity

Removing Toxicity – Heavy Metal Toxicity and Chemicals in General

Heavy metals in your body can damage the nervous system and other tissues and cellular components. This is called heavy metal toxicity. Lead, mercury, and aluminum are 3 examples of commonly found heavy metals in the body. Even in the bodies of infants.

You know that lead is not good for human development. It causes heavy metal toxicity. It

Sculpture called Liquid Mercury

was removed from paints and gasoline as a result. Mercury is not to be played with in a bare hand or other parts of the skin. Mercury thermometers are rarely found anymore and were replaced by alcohol and digital thermometers because of the toxic potential of mercury.

How well does your body clear out the heavy metals that got into your body? There are several methods to test not only the presence of heavy metals but how well your body is clearing them out. This video explains one of the several methods we use because of their efficacy, accuracy, simplicity, and cost. https://youtu.be/WrDpB0t4Eno

MERCURY as an Example of Heavy Metal Toxicity

Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature. In its pure form (often called metallic or elemental), mercury is a shiny, silver-white, odorless liquid.

Liquid Mercury

According to Medscape, Mercury in any form is poisonous, with mercury toxicity most commonly affecting the neurologic, gastrointestinal (GI) and renal organ systems. Poisoning can result from mercury vapor inhalation, mercury ingestion, mercury injection, and absorption of mercury through the skin.

Pouring Mercury

Mercury has 3 forms: (1) elemental mercury, (2) inorganic salts, and (3) organic compounds. Perhaps the most deadly form of mercury is methylmercury. Only 2-10% of the ingested mercury is absorbed from the gut, and ingested elemental mercury is not absorbed at all; however, 90% of any methylmercury ingested is absorbed into the bloodstream from the GI tract. (http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1175560-overview)

Water Purification

Avoiding the ingestion of damaging chemicals and heavy metals is as important as removing them from inside the body. Using a water purification for water that you drink, cook with, and even shower with is an important part of a healthy life-style nowadays. Given that there are 100,000 new chemicals in the environment that your body was never exposed to before, keeping them out of the body (unless you specifically want to ingest them) avoids having to clean them out later. Cleaning them out later takes energy and resources that could be used for more important things, like enjoying time with family, chatting, and relaxing in your favorite hobby. I suggest the Multipure filter as a good choice to at least start out with. Don’t use something that only claims to make the water taste better. It will taste better but not remove the toxins that will damage you and your family’s and children’s health.

To learn more about how to protect your brain from chemicals, please sign up for my video series as well. And read “Super Brain: Maximize Your Brain Health for a Better Life.”

Memory, Alzheimer’s and Pesticides?

Are Pesticides Causing Memory Issues and Alzheimer’s?

Scientific America is weighing in on this question based on research reported by the Journal of the American Medical Association Neurology.

At Scientific American suggests that “saying that any pesticide causes Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is going too far. But evidence from a small study reported in JAMA Neurology suggests there could be a connection.” But the question still remains, “Are pesticides causing memory issues and Alzheimer’s?”

The JAMA Neurology study looked at pesticide levels in the blood of people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and those who didn’t have it. They looked for blood levels of DDE (a major byproduct of the pesticide DDT). The levels of DDE in the AD subjects were almost FOUR TIMES HIGHER than in the controls. FOUR TIMES HIGHER.

This comes as no great surprise to those of us who have been looking at this chemical toxicity issue already for decades. And, I go into detail about this connection, as ONLY 1 of MANY, in my books. Learn more by going to http://www.OutsmartingDementia.com and http://www.SuperBrain-TheBook.com.

#Alzheimer #SuperBrain #obesity #pesticides

Scientific American states that there are still minute levels of DDE, a pesticide, in the US environment in spite of DDT having been banned in this country after Rachel Carson’s wide-spread alerting of the public in her seminal book, Silent Spring.

There are still countries that permit the use of DDT pesticide in agriculture, and thus residues are most likely to be found fruits and vegetables imported from there. The pesticide has also been found in seafood, particularly farmed fatty fish, such as salmon, and shellfish imported from other countries. DDE and DDT do not break down quickly, so that is one reason why they are so persistent even after being banned.

Scientific American advises that to reduce your exposure, wash produce thoroughly, throw away the outer leaves of leafy vegetables such as cabbage and trim the fat from meat and fat and skin from poultry and fish. If you eat sport-caught fish, check your state’s advisories for which types to avoid. If you don’t avoid it you may be susceptible to its ill effects and memory loss and Alzheimer’s.

Because trace amounts of pesticides (and other bad chemicals) can be in the water you drink from the tap, it is essential that you filter your drinking and cooking water with an effective water filtration system like the ones we recommend at http://www.multipureusa.com/redwoodclinic. Buy one and use it to save the lives of yourself and your children.

The Scientific American article can be found at Memory on May 25, 2015

BRAIN BALANCE: ADHD, Autism, ADD, Dyslexia, and DEMENTIA PREVENTION

BRAIN BALANCE: ADHD, Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and DEMENTIA PREVENTION

When a patient comes into The Redwood Clinic for a health consultation, that person usually has concerns about particular symptoms or conditions. Often they have been many other places for solutions and didn’t get the help they wanted. If the symptoms were the only things being looked at then the underlying cause may have been missed. So that is what we do – search for the underlying cause of the symptom.

What do the following have in common?

Acid Reflux
Erectile dysfunction
High blood pressure
Increased cholesterol
Allergies, food or otherwise
Dry eyes and mouth,
Sleep problems
Depression
Memory problems
Autoimmune Disorders

Any and all of them can be observed with, and could be due to unequal brain development. In other words, the two sides of the brain need to be fairly well matched in development of those symptoms can occur.

Today, as you can tell, I am focusing on the brain and how the brain functions.

In acupuncture, the brain and brain stem are associated with water and winter. Ergo one reason why I am talking about this now.

I am also doing prepublication publicity of my book, Super Brain – Maximize your Brain Health For a Better Life.

Stress Trauma and Toxicity are 3 primary causes of most conditions and effect the brain function. Any anomalies in the functioning that we tested can come from any of those 3.
At the same time, neurological developmental problems can cause many problems as well.

Right and Left Brain Dominance issues

In a recent lecture I gave to professionals at BNI, I had them perform a series of tasks and had them write down the answers. All of them have to do with hemispherical dominance. In general, our brains have two sides with functioning divided up so that similar functions are close together.

However, the two sides have to work together like a team and in time.

Ever flown in an airplane with two or more engines? What if the engines were not tuned well to be going at the same speed? Then you would be going in circles.

The same with our brains.

Non-verbal communication

80% of communication is said to be non-verbal. The right side of the brain is the non-verbal, big picture,emotional side. Did you think I was happy, puzzled or perplexed, and sad?

When the right side of the brain doesn’t develop properly, inability to read social and emotional non-verbal cues is the result. Up to age 2 is when the right side of the brain is really developing.

If it isn’t developing well, problems can occur. Language verbal skills are delayed because the non-verbal side is weak. When language verbal skills are weak, socialization and social interaction skills are delayed. Autism spectrum disorder occurs.

Cross Dominance

Do you have a dominant hand on one side and a dominant foot on the other? This may indicate a developmental inequality of the brain.

OTHER SYMPTOMS

What else can be observed and developed with unequal brain development?

Acid Reflux
Erectile dysfunction
Hypertension
Increased cholesterol
Allergies, food or otherwise
Dry eyes and mouth,
Sleep problems
Depression

If you are experiencing any of these things and are not sure of the root cause, you owe it to yourself to call The Redwood Clinic to get checked out. Be aware that most insurance plans that cover acupuncture treatments DO NOT PAY for comprehensive evaluations required to really figure out the cause. It is like AAA Roadside Assistance. Great for a flat tire or a dead battery. But they WON’T pay for a replacement tire, a new battery, or a tune up of your engine. BECAUSE you didn’t pay them for that. Same thing with medical insurance. You get what you pay for.

Call today for an appointment 510-849-1176. “Take the Natural Path to Optimal Health.” Get further information about neurological solutions like NRCT as well.

Acupuncture to Support Fertility

Fertility

Can infertility be helped naturally? Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are ancient, time-tested techniques that improve fertility rates and support a woman’s whole body, unlocking unlimited potential for health, healing and childbearing. These treatments are safe and natural and date back over 2,000 years.

Studies reported by The American Pregnancy Association suggest that the most effective fertility treatments involve a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and traditional medical interventions. However, conception does sometimes occur without traditional medical interventions when acupuncture and herbal medicines are used alone.

Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York reviewed recent studies and concluded that acupuncture helps to:

Increase blood flow to the uterus, which improves the chances of an ovum implanting on the uterine wall.
Reduce anxiety and stress. The hormones that are secreted during stressful situations can significantly decrease fertility.
Normalize hormone and endocrine systems that regulate ovulation, especially in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
Positively affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which plays a key role in fertility.
Regulate menstrual cycle.

In a 2007 study, researchers found that acupuncture may improve the quality of life in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). It was also found that women receiving acupuncture reported significantly less abdominal pain, other pain, nausea, and stress two hours after oocyte aspiration (egg collection) compared to women receiving conventional analgesia.

In 2008, the British Medical Journal published research which concluded that acupuncture can be offered as a significant, clinically relevant adjunct to IVF, relaxing the uterus and increasing blood flow for the successful implantation of an embryo within the uterine lining.

The Concept of Rebalancing the Reproduction Flow.

According to the theories of acupuncture and TCM, infertility is caused by an imbalance of Qi (pronounced “chee”) and blood affecting the healthy functioning of one or more of the organ systems. When Qi, also known as our vital energy, and blood are circulating freely throughout the body, every cell, tissue and organ is properly nourished and can function well. Acupuncture and TCM can raise the fertility potential of women by effecting the quality, quantity, balance and flow of Qi and blood (keep in mind that the organs described reflect Chinese medical theories and philosophies).

Kidney Organ System. The release of an ovum is controlled by the kidneys. The kidneys also create a substance called Jing Qi, which is required in order to have a healthy body, mind, and pregnancy. If an imbalance exists within the kidneys, Jing Qi may be inadequate in supply and may be a cause for infertility. Chinese herbal medicine, along with acupuncture, can nourish and support Jing Qi and overall kidney health.

Spleen Organ System. An adequate supply of blood is required by a woman’s body to sustain a normal menstrual cycle, a growing fetus, and a healthy pregnancy. Disharmony within the spleen can result in an inadequate supply and imbalance of blood. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can build and nourish blood in order to promote a healthy flow of blood to the uterus.

Liver Organ System. In order to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy, it is important to have a free flow of Qi and blood throughout the body. The liver is in charge of facilitating this function. When it is out of balance, areas of the body will not receive the required supply of Qi and blood. This imbalance can lead to depression, anxiety, stress and increased possibility of infertility.

Acupuncture and TCM provide a safe, effective, drug-free, and natural approach to treating infertility and enjoying a healthy pregnancy. Here are a few reasons to try acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine:

An acupuncturist does not treat just symptoms and signs, but instead activates the body’s natural healing potential by treatingthe root causes that have lead to the problem or disease.
Acupuncture and TCM are completely natural. No drugs are ever used. Invasive procedures and drug therapies that are used in the Western treatment of infertility can cause undesirable side effects and accumulated toxicity in the body.

Acupuncture and TCM can be used to strengthen, support, and balance overall health and well-being, therefore can increase the effectiveness of other procedures.

The Redwood Clinic, Berkeley Acupuncture & Natural Medicine

Take the Natural Path to Optimal Health.™