Loose Skin
Dr. Tim O’Shea,
I lost a lot of weight. I have loose skin. It was recommended that I take a systemic enzyme. I am also considering taking the collagen supplement you recommend. I have been told that systemic enzymes somehow eat foreign protein. Is this true and will they cancel each other out?
~ Sean
DR. TIM O’SHEA: For some collagen products that’s true, but the one that I sell at thedoctorwithin.com (Hydrolyzed Collagen Protein Hydrate) one is completely bioavailable. You must do it for two months every day to see the good effect. For more information check out thedoctorwithin.com/collagen.
Something in Common with Francis
Dear Raymond Francis,
I’ve read your book, Never Be Sick Again, and was astonished by how similar our stories are. I too had my immune system collapse, and suffered from many environmental sensitivities (though not as severe as yours). Through diet and naturopathic medicine I have recovered much of my health. One thing I discovered was a severe sensitivity to gluten. Do you believe that I can reverse my inability to digest gluten when I completely restore my health?
~ Carol
RAYMOND FRANCIS ANSWERS: It is impossible to predict if gluten sensitivity can be reversed in a particular person. Whether this can happen depends on too many individual factors, including genetic makeup. That being said, I have observed numerous people overcome gluten sensitivity by rebuilding their immunity, and very importantly, rebuilding the integrity of their gut tissue. Damaged gut tissue and leaky gut are a sure-fire prescription for food allergies. Repairing gut tissue with diet, stress reduction, and supplements will often make food allergies and gluten sensitivity go away. At the very least, as you improve your health, your sensitivity will be reduced, and it will take exposure to higher amounts of the allergen to get a reaction.
Receding Gums
I have a problem with receding gums. My dentist says I need to have surgery. Is there a way I can fix this with naturopathic medicine?
~ Sara
DR. SHILLINGTON ANSWERS: Absolutely! My “Tooth & Gum” Formula works wonders in this area. Below is a success story for you to read. The stuff IS AMAZING!!!
All the best,
Doc (Ian Shillington)
Success Story: When I moved to Clearwater in October 1997, I had advanced periodontal disease. Very deep pockets existed in all of my teeth and I had been told by 3 dentists that I would lose all of my upper teeth and at least 4 of my lower teeth. In December, my friend Valorie gave me the Tooth & Gum formula to use on my gums. At the time I had a very deep and painful abscess in my upper gums extending into my sinus cavity. I swished one dropperful of Tooth and Gum formula around in my mouth and within 20 minutes the pain (that large doses of pain medication would not handle) was gone! I used the formula in this manner for the next couple of days along with Echinacea and the abscess was gone within 3 days. Daily over the next couple of months, I diluted the tooth and gum formula and used the water-pick. This was all in an effort to save some of the lower teeth. I still expected to lose all of the upper teeth and at least 4 of the lower ones.
When I went to the dentist in April 1998 to have a final evaluation and get the necessary teeth extracted, we discovered that all the pockets in the lower teeth had shrunk from 7, 8 and 9 mm back to the depth of about 3½ mm and I was able to keep all of my bottom teeth. Additionally I was able to keep 4 teeth on the top, save myself $1500, and now eat the raw veggies which I love. I was astounded!! So was my dentist. In a nutshell this tooth and gum product tightened my gums, restored the bone loss and returned the above mentioned teeth and surrounding gums to a healthy state. All the best,
Mary O – WA
Fingernails
A few years ago I noticed ridges in my fingernails from root to tip. Then my thumbnails thickened. They break in chunks. What causes this, and what can I do to reverse it?
~ Janie
RYAN HARRISON, MA: Many women spend a good deal of time and money on their nails. Unfortunately, cosmetic care isn’t necessarily the best way to keep your nails healthy. In fact, nail polish itself can actually remove the natural fat found in nails, leading to brittleness.
Keratin is the component responsible for a nail’s firmness and if a person is experiencing nail brittleness or splitting, a deficiency of keratin is typically the underlying cause. This deficiency can be caused by malnutrition, malabsorption, or a metabolic defect such as low stomach acid. Your body will synthesize keratin, but you need to be sure you’re giving it the nutrients it needs to do so. These include calcium, molybdenum, sulfur, and zinc. Increase your intake of whole grains, organic dairy products, legumes, and toxin-free fish to ensure you’re getting these nutrients. Get an extra nail-healthy boost of the vitamin biotin from brewer’s yeast, saltwater fish and soybeans, as well.
Another way to increase your nail-enhancing mineral intake is to make and drink a tea made from nettle leaves, horsetail herb, chamomile, and yarrow flowers. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tbsp of a mixture of these herbs. Let it steep for 15 minutes and then drink 1 cup up to 3 times, daily. Finally, be sure that you are caring for your nails in an appropriate manner. Filing your nails is gentler than clipping, but don’t exert too much pressure when filing. And never push back your cuticles with a hard or sharp object, which may cause the nail to develop grooves or break off faster. Instead, oil or soak your cuticles and push them back gently with your fingertips.
Sensitive Teeth
I have very sensitive teeth. I can’t eat cold foods at all. What’s wrong with my teeth and what can I do? I take calcium supplements, and I do eat veggies and drink milk. Can I still be low on calcium?
~ Patricia
RYAN HARRISON, MA: Sensitive teeth can have several causes. Most commonly, as a person’s gum line recedes, the roots of teeth can end up exposed. These roots can be very sensitive to hot and/or cold or to pressure. Another cause is the exposure of a tooth’s root when the tooth’s enamel is broken, cracked, or chipped. Finally, as with many other health issues, there can also be an emotional or psychological component; the pain manifests in the teeth, but really starts somewhere else.
For teeth that are sensitive due to receding gums or pores in the tooth itself, most dentists prescribe a toothpaste that contains potassium nitrate, which fills pores and helps numb the pain. Unfortunately, like many other components of standard dental care, potassium nitrate is a toxic chemical. Its MSDS registration lists it as “harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin” and states that it “causes irritation to skin, eyes and [the] respiratory tract.” Is this really something you want to put in your mouth, where chemicals are quickly and easily absorbed through oral membranes?
More natural approaches to calming sensitive teeth include herbal, nutritional, and energetic recommendations. As far as herbs go, you might find a blend of nervine (nerve-calming) herbs to be very helpful. Capsules containing equal parts of herbs such as lavender, hops, valerian, chamomile, and skullcap, when taken regularly, can help decrease pain and soothe irritated nerves. Be careful, however, in your dosage and usage of these herbs. They can also have sedative effects. Check with a knowledgeable herbalist before starting any herbal regimen.
There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that tooth enamel can be “rebuilt” – a process referred to as “remineralization” – if the proper steps are followed. In large part, this requires adherence to some dietary instructions that reduce the acidity of saliva while also introducing foods and/or supplements high in calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D.
Additionally, some essential oils such as myrrh, clove, and goldenseal may be used to help cleanse the mouth and safely reduce pain. Speak with a qualified naturopath to determine what would work best for you.
Finally, I would suggest that your first step be approaching the issue from a psychological angle. While it may seem strange, it’s well proven that a person’s state of mind can affect her physical wellbeing. And though we are making great strides in understanding the mind’s relationship with the body, it’s still pretty hard to tell when a physical ailment is (or isn’t) caused by some kind of mental/emotional stressor. There’s a very powerful, efficient, and surprisingly simple energetic technique that helps alleviate a host of physical conditions by removing mental/emotional charges called EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques). It has an impressive track record for calming the body and mind and reversing even deep-seated complaints, sometimes within minutes. A professional EFT practitioner will be able to help you explore this possibility.
Email your questions to questions [at] organicmail.net. Questions may be edited for clarity or length.
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