DIY Doctoring: The Free, Tell-All Thyroid Test

I recently had a patient come to me with severe chills, hair loss, and a host of other symptoms. After asking several questions and making some observations, I decided the thyroid gland should be considered. She quickly told me that her medical doctor had done a thyroid test within the last month and it was fine. Lab tests were ‘unremarkable’ in regards to TSH, T4, and T3. However; my clinical 'suspicion' screamed, “Check the thyroid!”

Why worry about the thyroid if the blood tests all came back normal? Simply put, the blood test doesn't reveal the whole picture. We can have normal levels of TSH, T3 & T4, but it says nothing about our ability to take it from the blood to the cell and allow it to attach to the appropriate receptor site. Also some chemicals are actually toxins that take the best seats at the orchestra, keeping us from really ‘using’ thyroid hormone. The sneaky thing is, these toxins are are chemically very similar to iodine (critical for the synthesis of thyroid hormone).

So if you’re experiencing hair loss, weight gain, feel cold frequently, have feelings of malaise or depression, poor morning energy, and the list goes on...this message is especially for you! Read on...

Here's a test called the Barnes Thyroid Test you can do at home. All you DIY divas take heed! For next-to-nothing, you can ‘diagnose’ your thyroid as under-functioning, or functioning well but not taking up the hormone to the receptor sites:
1. Buy a glass thermometer. (much preferred over a digital thermometer for our purposes)
2. Put it next to your bed.
3. Measure body temperature immediately upon waking, under your arm (even before going to the bathroom.)
4. Leave thermometer under your arm for 10 minutes and get a reading.
5. Repeat Step #3 for 5 mornings in a row.
6. Add all 5 readings together and divide by 5.
7. Call Dr. Tompkins at 417.336.2620 if your temperature is outside the 98.2-98.8 range.

By the way, the patient mentioned in the first paragraph has no more chills and is experiencing much better health since we’ve addressed this issue using specific supplementation and a thyroid glandular to help her get on top of her thyroid issues. In closing, your natural, God-given thyroid CAN be restored and is much preferred over a synthetic thyroid given in pill form.

Re-trac-ing: Going from Bad to Good and then Bad to Good, for Good!

Thank you Facebook followers for taking a stab at the natural health definition of Retracing (aka Healing Reaction). Here is the "clinical" definition:

"Healing reactions are temporary symptoms that occur only on deep healing regimens in which the body retraces or goes back and heals old infections, wounds, injuries, or other imbalances from the past. Many are related to eliminating toxic substances, healing chronic infections, or metabolic shifts that take place as a body heals and its vitality increases."
(drlwilson.com)

Dr. Wayne's interpretation:
Retracing - When you go the wrong way down the wrong road, getting on the right road involves turning around and seeing some of the same scenery you saw going the wrong way. The only difference is, you're going the right way this time. The good news is that when you are healing and headed the right way, it happens quicker.

Detoxification can cause a well-known healing phenomenon that can be unpleasant for a short period. Things like skin eruptions, diarrhea, headaches, even throwing up can occur. The trick is to manage it and remember you're headed the right way. In musculoskeletal correction, the fascia, muscles tendons and ligaments (soft tissue) all hold a memory for trauma. It's not uncommon to feel muscle soreness while the body is clearing lymph backup in the tissues and 'letting go of old incorrect positions.' We chiropractor's can suffer through this phenomenon with patients as he/she can often assume that the chiropractor or other natural health practitioner is making them worse or not helping.

The same scenario occurs in acupunture. Dr. Wayne treated a diabetic losing feeling because of a greatly compromised vascular system. His health was headed the wrong direction and he went from feeling normal, to feeling tingling, pins and needles, and finally numbness.
After an initial round of acupuncture which put a stop to the trend, he went from feeling numbness (neuropathy), to feeling pins and needles to feeling normal again.

"How can pain be good?" you question.
Especially if you weren't in any notable pain, discomfort before you started treatment? Because the body will hold things in a state of status quo and mask over problems with pain feedback mechanisms to not 'rock the boat.' When we heal, it's like peeling an onion taking off one layer at a time. When the body has a chance and it's relieved of one thing...it will handle the next highest priority.

Think about this...you eat junk for years and eating a cheeseburger and fries doesn't bother you. Then you do a detox and turn back to your old ways again and eat junk again. This time you feel gross and disgusting. Why? You didn't feel gross and disgusting before the dtox? Do you notice trash in a garbage dump? No...you're surrounded by it. But a gum wrapper on a manicured golf course is very noticeable and so out of place. The same with your body.

Get your Dose of D: Play in the Sun this Summer

Dr. Wayne and Angie spent the day Tuesday with family out on a rented pontoon boat(Thanks Baxter Boat Dock...love all you Pollards!). Aaah...4 hours out on beautiful Table Rock Lake, just what the Doctor ordered for Dr. Wayne!

Needless to say, we got a bit sun kissed. In other words, we got our dose of D. We didn't put on a whole lot of suncreen because we wanted to get all the benefits of the sun:

Supports cardiovascular health

Promotes optimal cholesterol levels

Enhances your muscle strength

Helps produce optimal blood pressure levels

Helps maintain a healthy immune system

Supports healthy kidney function

Promotes healthy teeth

Helps keep your bones strong and healthy

Please understand -- this list of important benefits represents a tiny fraction of the ways vitamin D keeps you healthy and fit. And, although you can get vitamin D from natural food sources, experts agree on one thing. Natural sunlight is by far the best way to get Vitamin D. (mercola.com)

Many people slather suncreen on before they even step outdoors. Stop!

As you may know, wearing a sunscreen on your uncovered skin blocks your body's production of vitamin D. In fact, sunscreens reduce vitamin D production by as much as 97.5 to 99.9%. And interfering with your body's production of vitamin D by 97.5 to 99.9% may have dire health consequences.

Dr. Mercola's advice on run-of-the-mill sunscreen that is in your beach bag:

Dump it in the trash now.
Yes, that's right. Toss your sunscreen in the trash if it contains any of these questionable chemicals:


Para amino benzoic acid...

Octyl salicyclate...

Avobenzone...

Oxybenzone...

Cinoxate...

Padimate O...

Dioxybenzone...

Phenylbenzimidazole...

Homosalate...

Sulisobenzone...

Menthyl anthranilate...

Trolamine salicyclate...

Octocrylene...

Don't worry, we've got your covered. We bought a boat-load of Mercola's natural suncreen to protect you when your sun exposure is extensive this summer. Come on in and grab some and save 15% and you'll save on shipping costs if you were to buy direct from mercola.com.

The Gift that Keeps Giving: Hydration

Dr. Wayne would like to reward a few committed patients a special gift as the temperatures start climbing into the 90s. This gift, proper hydration, is going to keeping giving to you:
Increased energy
Detoxification
Weight management
Mental clarity
Help with Hypertension

"Did you say Help with Hypertension?" you perk up.
Many people who are being prescribed blood pressure medication could avoid it if they just starting drinking adequate water. Here’s why. High blood pressure means the pressure against your artery walls is too high either when the heart is pumping (the top #) or when it’s at rest (the bottom #). Drinking water causes the arteries to vasodilate….this means they stretch open to make a bigger carrying vessel. If you have a 1” diameter tube, the pressure against the walls of that tube are less than if you are trying to carry the same amount of fluid (blood) down a tube with only a 1/2” diameter.

Feeling tired & depleted?
“But Dr….I drink lots of cold ice tea…doesn’t that count?” you inquire. No it doesn’t. Actually tea has caffeine in it which depletes your body of water making you require more than if you hadn’t had any tea at all. We call caffeinated beverages, “diuretics” because they make us lose water. Instead of reaching for ice tea, or a coke or even coffee, try grabbing a big drink of water. It will leave you feeling more energized without stressing out your adrenal glands (the gland which helps you adapt to stress) and causing your heart to race.

How much do I need?
The simple equation is ½ your body weight in oz. of water per day. For easy math, let’s say you weigh 200 pounds. Take your weight, divide by 2, and that’s the amount of water you need in oz. In this case it would be 100 oz. Yes that’s a lot and you’re probably not getting nearly enough. If you’re just starting out making friends with water, try 2/3 of this amount. (Take half your body weight, then multiply that # by 0.66). Believe me; your body will thank you.

We've got the equipment you need to stay hydrated. We have 22 oz. glass water bottles for sale. See www.lifefactory.com. Don't face the heat without one!

Stomach Acid: It's a Good Thing

Standard Treatment for Acid Reflux: A bad dream

One night I had a dream that terrified me. I woke up in a cold sweat not believing what had just happened. I was greatly relieved that it was just a dream. The dream was about a treatment that would relieve patients’ symptoms, but in so doing would actually worsen the root problem. The good part of my dream was that I was making money ‘hand over fist’ using this wrong treatment AND I was unaware of what was the root cause. Phew…what a nightmare.

Sound far out? It’s really not a nightmare. It happens all the time when people take acid reflux medications like Prilosec, Zantac, Prevacid, Pepsid, Nexium or other proton pump inhibitors.

First of all, let’s get one thing clear. The stomach must be acidic! Unlike the majority of our bodies which requires and prefers a more alkaline environment, our stomach pH needs to be around 2 on a 1-14 scale with 7 being neutral and 14 being the extreme alkaline. As we age and consume the SAD (Standard American Diet), our stomach becomes less acidic. The result is that we never fully digest our food, don’t kill parasites, break down proteins, or ultimately get the GOOD out of our food.


How reflux works

Our esophagus is the path which food takes from our mouths to our stomachs. A valve at the bottom of the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) must open for food to enter the stomach. It also must close to keep food and stomach acids from washing up into the esophagus. When it doesn’t close properly, stomach acids wash up into the esophagus and create heartburn (otherwise known as acid reflux or GERD -gastro-esophageal reflux disease). This valve is pH driven. It will not close properly unless the stomach is sufficiently acidic. An antacid doesn’t stop contents from washing up into the esophagus, it just makes everything less acidic so it doesn’t hurt!

How would you like a plumber to wipe up your kitchen floor without fixing the leaky pipe? He would proceed to tell you that as long as you repeated this mopping regimen once a day, everything would be fine!

Dr. Wayne’s Treatment Protocol

1. Correcting acidity usually involves taking a product such as Zypan from Standard Process (not just a food enzyme) for a period of time.

2. “Pulling down” a hiatal hernia when the stomach has actually started to invaginate up into the esophagus. (above the LES)

3. Nutritional counseling to avoid foods that lower stomach acidity like simple carbs, processed foods etc.

Do-it-Yourself Remedies

1. If you’re overweight, losing weight helps immensely. (Stay tuned for future posts on weight loss)

2. If you have issues at night after lying down, try elevating the head of your bed several inches.

3. Avoid eating right before you go to bed as this puts more pressure against the valve, forcing it open.

4. Refrain from drinking liquids with meals. We often tend to “wash down” food with liquid instead of properly chewing food. Also, too much liquid with meals dilutes the necessary stomach acids.

Get Cultured: Why you Should Take Probiotics

Constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel, celiac disease, you name it. The “ins & outs” of digesting, assimilating, and eliminating are a challenge and are 'a lot to absorb'(no pun intended) for even the best doctor. All kidding aside, these processes must be addressed in order for a patient to truly be healthy with an abundance of vim, vigor and vitality. After all, your digestive tract is the pipeline which nutrients and cellular building blocks must follow in order to promote health in your amazing body. Too often we get a ‘road closed’, a bridge out, or a drainage problem with one of these major conduits!

One of the easiest and most effective ways to greatly improve the entire digestive process is through the use of probiotics. These good bacteria have fancy names like lactobacillus, acidophilus, and bifidum to name just a few, and they have a remarkable role as ‘healthy bacteria’ that promote good flora in our intestines. Yes, our bodies need bacteria. The key is to have more good bacteria than bad. If this balance is upset, we get a condition known as ‘dysbiosis.’ Dysbiosis creates an environment for poor intestinal health and suppressed immunity. If you’ve suffered with the likes of constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel, or even canker sores and acid reflux, chances are you would greatly benefit from probiotics.

"But I eat yogurt and get good bacteria from that," you say. Yes but no. While Dr. Wayne prefers whole foods as the primary source for vitamins and minerals, probiotics are a bit of an exception. He suggests not using yogurt or some other dairy source for your probiotic needs since the processes of pasteurization and homogenization alter the chemical makeup of these products and ultimately create a different set of digestive health concerns for patients including food sensitivities. Also the number of cultures of active bacteria are considerably lower in foods like yogurt than in the pill form. Dr. Wayne’s first choice for probiotics is Ortho Molecular Products, “Ortho Biotic.” In addition to lactobacillus and other bacteria traditionally found in probiotics, it also has saccharomyces boulardii which will kill clostridium difficile, a potentially lethal infection. His second choice does not contain s. boulardii but continues to be an effective product called “Probiotic Advantage” formulated through Dr. Williams. Both products are available through Tompkins Wellness Center.

Join us next week for more talk on your digestion!

Politics and Potassium: Do you Know the Facts?

The other day a patient told me an MD found that her potassium level was low and raised her potassium prescription level. I encouraged her to eat a banana every day since it’s often easier to assimilate the minerals and vitamins we require from foods rather than in pill or capsule form. She informed me that potatoes were higher in potassium than bananas were! I humbly told her that I had just learned something new and decided to research the mineral myself. Sure enough…she was right! 1 medium banana has 440 mg of potassium while 1 medium potato has782 mg of potassium! But to my great surprise…a different food altogether has much higher levels of potassium than either potatoes or bananas …and more than both added together! Avocadoes take first place at 1360 mg of potassium. Bring on the guacamole!

I wonder how many other people would have considered bananas as the food of choice for potassium? Or oranges for vitamin C? Or milk for calcium? By the way, 1 medium orange has only 50 mg of vitamin C while raw broccoli yields 132 mg of vitamin C! Need calcium? One cup of skim & 2% milk has only 300 mg of calcium, while a cup of cooked turnip greens has 492 mg. Topping the list is 3 oz. of Gruyere cheese at 860 mg of calcium. (These numbers were taken from tables in Medical Nutrition by Marz, copyright 1999)

Our perception of what’s healthy is so often skewed by trendy advertising campaigns such as, “Drink milk…strong bones,” Even political persuasions that place grains at the bottom of our food pyramid.

Case in point. My wife and I were working out at the gym the other day at lunch and noticed that the corn growers are fighting back to all the negative exposure that has resulted from research on the ill effects of high-fructose corn syrup. They are fighting back with glossy commercials to make it not seem so bad. Take a look:
http://www.cornsugar.com/video-gallery/


Here’s the lesson: take time to read blogs like this, sites we are linked to, and reliable sources on nutrition to get the undiluted truth. Ask yourself the question, “who wrote this and what’s their motivation?” Becoming a critical reader and thinker doesn’t mean you’re a critical person, it just means that you don’t swallow the first bait that’s thrown your way.