Toxicity Can Do You In

A young man recently visited me from a coastal town for help with lower back pain. What was unusual about his case is that his pain started after he was bitten by a black widow spider. What is not the least bit unusual is that back pain started with toxicity. Chemical poisons are among the three top causes of nervous system dysfunction and disease. The other two are mechanical stress (lifting something too heavy, physical injuries, etc.) and emotional stress.

Most of the rest of this newsletter will get into some detail about toxins and their effect on your health--and even your longevity. I'll also talk about some holiday and other schedule changes, as well as a note about road construction and how to get to the office on time in spite of it.

Toxins, in brief

There are two main type of toxins: exogenous (from the outside); and endogenous, or of internal original. If someone is bitten by a spider, gets food poisoning from a buffet, or is exposed to formaldehyde from new carpeting--that's exogenous toxicity. There are nutritional and structural approaches that I can use to reset the system and help the body deal with the toxic overload.

Endogenous toxicity can come from incomplete digestion of food, and from the incomplete elimination of waste. This type is responsible for the gradual development of many of the chronic degenerative diseases that shorten most peoples' lives and add to the crisis--personal and national--of health care costs. We're talking about cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity here.

Very happy to announce that I'll be taking a very advanced seminar on December 18 and 19 with the learned Dr. Bruce Bond. He will be covering:

• HORMONE BALANCING - The biochemistry and physiology of the endocrine glands will be covered in detail, including the role and effects on metabolism issues, inflammation,hypertension and obesity.
• EFFECTIVE WEIGHT LOSS - Anyone can lose weight on a 500 cal/day diet but It is not a long term healthy solution.
• PROPER DETOXIFICATION - Most "detox" programs only push a select pathway and seldom support and nourish all the pathways of detoxification.
• METABOLIC SYNDROME - Managing insulin, glucagon, cortisol and lipids: in Diabetes, elevated cholesterol, C-peptide, and Hemoglobin A1C.
• OTHER TOPICS - The function and physiology of the immune system, renal system, and respiratory systems with nutritional support to facilitate cellular function.

Why I Recommend and Value Colon Hydrotherapy

My good friend Thia McKann has practiced the gentle healing art of colon hydrotherapy for many years, and recently I have been enjoying the benefits of her experience and insight. The colon, or large intestine, is not merely a passive sewer pipe. This vital internal organ has a multiple functions in human health. It can be negatively impacted by everything from diet, water intake (or lack thereof), medications, allergies and emotional material we are processing.

Many pain syndromes, including chronic headache and migraine, joint pains and back pains respond well to cleansing the colon with clean water fed through a safe gravity system while the abdomen is massaged to help the colon release toxic fecal material and mucus.

People with carbohydrate indigestion, diarrhea, constipation gas, bloating, hemorrhoids, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, diverticulitis, colitis, parasites, skin conditions such as psoriasis, shingles, and eczema or the inability to lose weight have dramatic turnarounds after a course of this therapy.

Some clients who also experience big health improvements have suffered from immune system issues manifesting as lupus, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis, cancer, chronic fatigue, Epstein-Barre, candida, infections, colds or influenza. The body can do so much more self-healing with fewer toxins present.

General mental fogginess and lack of clarity can also lift as this powerful detoxification method is employed. Thia, who also runs The Path of Tea, can be reached for appointments at (713) 252-4473.

Can Disease Begin in the Mouth?

I also have a great dentist, Dr. Kathy Frazar. She and her partner, Dr. Tom Hedge, have consistently ranked among the top dentists in the Houston area. They are committed to helping their patients have beautiful smiles, and they and their staff also want to protect their patients from troubles that can start in the mouth and travel to other parts of the body, including the heart.

Having lost a wife to cardiovascular disease and going through a close call with my youngest son, I am especially sensitive to doing whatever I can to prevent others from damaging the heart and blood vessels when some lifestyle choices could make the difference.

Some credible research suggests that thickening of the artery walls can be a response to inflammation, some of which can come from infections. Fat deposits along with this artery wall inflammation leads to the development of an atheroma, or plaque.

When there are gum infections, bacteria can enter the blood stream through gum pockets. The bacteria then travel to areas remote from the mouth, including the heart. The heart arteries can become less elastic, and the diameter of these vessels can decrease, affecting blood flow. When small clots form, the situation can become deadly--leading to potential heart attack or stroke.

Inflammation from dental and other infections can also cause low birth of newborn babies and premature birth. It has also been implicated in obesity (including childhood and adolescent obesity) and diabetes.

Drs. Frazar and Hedge practice in Bellaire, Texas and can be reached at 713-668-7137.

My Personal Orientation Toward Health--Yours and Mine

I see taking care of ourselves as a holy responsibility. In future newsletters, I plan to talk about advances in other healing arts disciplines as well as my own. Why? Because while I am always on a quest for more answers about how I can keep myself and my patients healthy and happy, I recognize that many people don't regularly interact with practitioners of these other healing who have practiced with the same dedication that I have. It does "take a village", rather than an individual working alone, to make this a better world.

Schedule Changes

This coming Wednesday, November 10, I will be seeing patients in the afternoon as well as the morning because of a trip out of town on Friday the 12th. The staff will be here and will be making appointments for me throughout the week. Please call between 8:30 and 5:00.

In November, the office will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on November 25 and 26. I will work Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday that week.

During the Christmas and New Years Season, we'll be closed on December 23, 24, and 31. That Christmas week, I will see patients on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. On the week of the 31st, I may add hours on Wednesday afternoon, but will not work that Monday. The receptionists will know which additional hours and days I will be working so that they can schedule you and any out-of-town family and friends.

Construction Traffic Patterns

Kirby Drive near my office has a lot of construction going on at the moment. It could be a long moment. Lake Street (the street onto which you exit our parking garage) may be a good alternative way to get to my office from Richmond Avenue. Whether you decide to try that approach to our office or are okay with just taking a little longer, would you leave your home or office several extra minutes early to avoid keeping patients arriving after you from annoying added wait times? Bring a nice book, video came or PDA and help lower your own stress level and mine. Please?

Missed Apppointment and Late-Cancelled Appointment Policy Reminder

Missed appointments represent a cost to our office and to other patients who could have been seen in the time set aside for you. Cancellations are requested 24 hours prior to the appointment. We reserve the right to charge $75 per missed or late-cancelled appointment. Excessive abuse of scheduled appointments may result in discharge from the practice.

Nice wording? I got it from the policy in a dermatologist's office that I visited recently. That's how it works: We need to respect each other's time. Thanks for cooperating.

May we be healthy and happy together!

Stuart C. Marmorstein, D.C., D.B.C.S.