Posts tagged cancer
DO OUR GENES CAUSE US TO CONTRACT CERTAIN DISEASES?
May 11th
Again and again, for quite a few years now, I have heard from people from the public, talked to doctors and heard about from T.V. how certain genes determine whether or not we will contract certain diseases or not. In fact, even in graduate school I was taught that certain findings were positive for certain diseases such as a reverse A/G ratio for Multiple Myeloma and a positive ANA test for Lupus and also genes which might show the increased likelihood of inheriting a specific disease such as the ones I just mentioned or Rheumatoid Arthritis or Diabetes or other diseases. However, these ideas are not revealed by the research.
Dr. Bruce Lipton M.D., the world reknown epigeneticist who taught medical students molecular biology for over 20 years sheds some light on this subject in his book, The Biology of Belief. This excerpt is taken directly from his book, p.40
[We now know that the environmentally influenced fine-tuning described above can be passed from generation to generation. A landmark Duke University study published in the August 1, 2003 issue of Molecular and Cellular Biology found that an enriched environment can even override genetic mutation in mice. (Waterland and Jirtle, 2003). In the study, scientists looked at the effect of dietary supplements on pregnant mice with abnormal “agouti” gene. Agouti mice have yellow coats and are extremely obese, which predisposes them to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.
In the experiment, one group of yellow, obese, agouti mothers received methl-group-rich supplements available in health food stores: folic acid, vitamin B12, betaine, and choline. Methyl-rich supplements were chosen because a number of studies have shown that the methyl chemical group is involved with epigenetic modifications. When methyl groups attach to a gene’s DNA, it changes the binding characteristics of regulatory chromosomal proteins. If the proteins bind too tightly to the gene, the protein sleeve cannot be removed and the gene cannot be read. Methylating DNA can silence or modify gene activity.
This time the headlines “Diet Trumps Genes” were accurate. The mothers who got the methyl-group-rich supplements produced standard, lean, brown mice, even though their offspring had the same agouti gene as their mothers. The agouti mothers who didn’t get the supplements produced yellow pups, which ate much more than the brown pups. The yellow pups wound up weighing almost twice as much as their lean, “pseudo-agouti” counterparts.
…..Though the two mice are genetically identical, they are radically different in appearance: one mouse is lean and brown and the other mouse is obese and yellow…..the obese mouse is diabetic while its genetically IDENTICAL counterpart is healthy. [this is also true] in a variety of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. In fact, only 5 percent of cancer and cardiovascular patients can attribute their disease to heredity. (Willet, 2002). While the media made a big hoopla over the discovery of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancer genes, they failed to emphasize that ninety-five percent of breast cancers are not due to inherited genes. The malignancies in a significant number of cancer patients are derived from environmentally induced epigenetic alterations and not defective genes. (Kling, 2003; Jones, 2001; Seppa, 2000; Balin, 1997)
…..The…evidence has become so compelling that some brave scientists are even invoking the “L” word for Jean Baptiste de Lamarck, the much scorned evolutionist, who believed that traits acquired as a result of environmental influence could be passed on. Philosopher Eva Jablonka and biologist Marion Lamb wrote in their 1995 book Epigenetic Inheritance and Evolution – The Lmarchian Dimension “In recent years, molecular biology has shown that the genome is far more fluid and responseive to the environment than previously supposed. It has also shown that information can be transmitted to descendants in ways other than through the base sequence of DNA.” (Jablonka and Lamb 1995).
We’re back to where we started – the environment. In my own work in the laboratory, I saw over and over the impact a changed environment had on the cells I was studying. But it was only at the end of my research career, at Stanford, that the message fully sank in. I saw that endothelial cells, which are the blood vessel-lining cells I was studying, changed their structure and function depending on their environment. When, for example, I added inflammatory chemicals to the tissue culture, the cells rapidly became the equivalent of macrophages, the scavengers of the immune system. What was also exciting to me was that the cells transformed even when I destroyed their DNA with gamma rays. These endothelial cells were “functionally enucleated,” yet they completely changed their biological behavior in response to inflammatory agents, just as they had when their nuclei were intact. These cells were clearly showing some “intelligent” control in the absence of their genes. (Lipton, 1991)
Twenty years after my mentor Irv Konigsberg’s advice to first consider the environment when your cells are ailing, I finally got it. DNA does not control biology, and the nucleus itself is not the brain of the cell. Just like you and me, cells are shaped by where they live. In other words, it’s the environment, stupid.]
I hope that you have found this EMPOWERING and helpful. What this means is that YOU CONTROL YOUR DESTINY! YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH! YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE! You are better than your genes. And, with the appropriate structural, chemical and emotional therapies, you can CHANGE your genes and the way in which they express themselves as well.
Healthcare Snafu: The Wise Words of Dr. Phillip Maffetone
Mar 29th
This entire article was taken from Dr. Phillip Maffetone’s website www.philmaffetone.com. Dr. Maphetone is an Applied Kinesiologist who has trained more Olympic Athletes than any other person in history that I am aware of. In the past, Dr. Maphetone was a competitive runner as well. He is the author of the book “In Fitness and In Health” as well as nummerous other publications.
Who’s Left Behind?
Apparently, there’s a new health insurance program in the U.S. I know this because of all the emails I’m getting, which I read with interest. However, I don’t read, watch or listen to the news – the media can’t report objectively on this item (like most others), and they leave out key issues.
The key issue left out of the continuing health care discussions – not only by the media but by almost all involved – is the question of who’s really left behind. This question is not addressed by making sure most people have insurance – it actually makes it worse. Just as serious a problem is who’s not left behind.
The majority of people are quite unhealthy. And, most diseases – and deaths – are preventable. Who is responsible for this dilemma? Certainly the government allows companies to make and sell products that are unhealthy, thanks to lobbyists, and both share in the responsibility. A few large corporate conglomerates make trillions of dollars selling junk food that contributes to illness and death. And retailers participate by selling these items. Effective billion-dollar advertising campaigns get consumers, including children, to consume these products. Many of these foods are cunningly disguised as being healthy. Whole Foods is an example; like most health food stores, most of the items they sell are unhealthy, often organic, junk foods.
So who’s left behind in this so-called new health insurance overhaul? The same people who were left behind before, plus all those who now will be covered by health insurance. Why? Because these and other programs further take away the individual’s responsibility for their own health.
Those who are not left behind are the few people, insured or not (many of whom are members of this website), who take serious the responsibility for their own health. While I’ve been promoting this issue my whole career, other health care professions, authors and individuals also contribute by directly and indirectly influencing others in positive ways. But these influences are insignificant compared to what government (and the lobbyists) and big business (who spend trillions of dollars) do to convince people to participate in unhealthy activities.
Who’s not really left behind? The companies who benefit most by making money from an aging, sick population. Including those who directly contribute to chronic illness – especially companies that make and sell unhealthy food products – like the cigarette companies have done for decades.
Despite new insurance regulation, three ongoing problems continue to hold up a failed health care system.
Disease Care
First, most people don’t really use health care. Instead, they rely on disease care. The current system waits for disease to appear, then uses expensive drugs and therapies to treat the disease. The fact is, most diseases are preventable – from cancer and heart disease to Alzheimer’s and all those mechanical injuries of the back, knee, hip and other areas surgically treated with artificial joints and other surgeries. Treating end-result symptoms and ignoring the causes of disease is the real epidemic.
Who Dictates Care?
More than ever, the new program will encourage millions more people to rely on others to dictate their health needs. This includes the government who has numerous programs (Medicare, Medicaid and others), insurance companies (who dictate which doctors and what therapies you can and can not have) and others, including employers who dangle insurance policies (that you pay for directly or indirectly).
In addition, lobbyists for the insurance industry, pharmaceutical companies and other product and service sectors in “health” care keep making it easy to be covered by insurance, get prescriptions and buy the latest over-the-counter drugs.
I’m not opposed to drugs or surgery, or even insurance. I’m opposed to how they are used and abused. This includes using expensive, high-risk remedies as a first approach to treating common disorders that typically respond to more conservative, much less expensive but high quality care that usually comes with little or no side effects.
Am I Covered for That?
Too often, patients are willing to take a drug, have a surgical procedure or even participate in a radical experimental therapy before other more conservative and even effective options are available – because their insurance will cover it.
Here’s a common scenario. Bob goes to his doctor because of chronic knee pain. The doctor recommends surgery; after all, Bob chose his own therapy by picking a surgeon from the list of health care professionals covered by his insurance. The doctor comforts Bob with the fact that he’s covered for the procedure. Bob consults me for a second opinion, and after assessing his problem I recommend more conservative therapy for his minor problem. But his insurance won’t cover it. Bob chooses surgery at 10 to 20 times the cost, but has no out-of-pocket expense. I’ve experienced this type of scenario many times in my years of private practice.
Who’s Responsible for My Health?
Are most people willing to take care of themselves? That’s a difficult question to ask, and unfortunately, most people are not even willing to ponder the answer. Certainly, some people are not only willing but are succeeding in taking care of themselves, by eating well, exercising, controlling stress and toxins, and other features associated with being responsible for their own health. This is the real meaning of prevention (screening for disease is not).
Only when we’re taking responsibility for our own health can we truly prevent illness and disease, and develop and maintain a higher quality of life until we die.
In being responsible, we most easily avoid being trapped by insurance companies and government programs willing to cut us open when it’s not really necessary, by food giants selling us foods that slowly kill us, and force us to visit doctors we don’t necessarily want to see (while avoiding those we prefer).
Our health is in our hands, but too many have let go while grasping for the illusion of health care. The new insurance overhaul just ties their hands even more. There’s no free lunch, although the insurance environment offers one that promotes heart disease, cancer and other debilitating illness.
Buy your own lunch – choose your food wisely. That’s what I do.
CONFUSION?
Mar 29th
The Most Difficult Health Challenge You Will Ever Face
Over the years of helping people with their health, by far there is one health challenge that ALL of my patients have in common that has proven more challenging for me to help them with and for them to receive help with than any other challenge. This is not a disease listed in the Physician’s Desk Reference or even in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Psychiatry, or any pathology or physiology or endocrinology or biochemistry textbook. Like other health concerns, while there is a structural, chemical and emotional component to this health challenge, it is mainly emotional in nature.
Psychologists traditionally call this health challenge “resistance” and Applied Kinesiologists tend to use the terms Umbilical Reversal or Psychological Reversal. While these are three entirely separate findings being discussed, they all have a number of things in common. The psychologically reversed patient attracts into their life the exact opposite of what they would consciously like to have. Psychological Reversal is based on the work of Roger Callahan, the Psychologist and Applied Kinesiologist. The Umbilically Reversed patient also attracts the exact opposite of what they are wanting in their lives, but on a much deeper level than the Psychologically Reversed patient. If there is a positive finding for Umbilical Reversal, the patient’s entire belief system is reversed, neurologically disorganized, or switched. (Fortunately, there are a number of papers that have been published which review this finding. Dr. John Diamond M.D. is the one who first identified Umbilical Reversal. Please refer to Dr. Diamond’s The Collected Papers of John Diamond, M.D. Vol. II and also The Fitness of Human Nature by Timothy D. Francis, D.C. as well as, The Use of the Splint Orthodontic Myofunctional Appliance (SOMA) to correct Cranial, Neck Distortions, Pelvic Imbalances, Tempormandibular Joint Dysfunction, Mental Illness / Brain Misprocessing and Umbilical Reversal by Dr. Darrick Sahara, D.C..
Umbilical Reversal is an important part of our culture. We have all heard of and probably known attractive young women who are attracted to “Bad Boys” who treat them poorly and even abuse them. This is not really the type of relationship that these women consciously want, but because they are reversed, this is whom they attract and stay with for a period of time even after being abused. Most of us have heard the expression, “It is the people that you help the most that appreciate you the least.” This is often true because people who are very reversed and sick need a lot of help from others but their core values are reversed and so they have very little appreciation for the good things in their lives.
Allow me to give you a few examples of how Umbilical Reversal presents itself in clinical practice. An important part of the more advanced Applied Kinesiology training allows the Kinesiologist to identify and treat Umbilical Reversal early on in the treatment process. This process of identifying a patient with Umbilical Reversal is begun by identifying if there are any obvious psychological reversals present. Muscle testing is used by the Applied Kinesiologist in order to determine bone alignment, emotional balance, and even chemical imbalance. This is invaluable because muscles relate directly to bones, joints, emotions and nutrients (chemicals). To simplify, when a muscle has normal function, the muscle fibers will lock when a force is applied. When a muscle has abnormal function, the muscle fibers will not lock properly when a force is applied. When a person is congruent with a statement that they make out loud, normally functioning muscles continue to function normally. When a person is consciously or unconsciously incongruent with a statement that they make out loud, then a properly functioning muscle fails to function properly and becomes weak. When I say that they muscle becomes weak I mean that the muscle fibers do not lock properly when a force is applied. To identify the Psychological Reversal, the patient is asked to say a number of statements. The following are some of these statements: “I want to get well and stay well;” “I want to have a good life;” “Life is good;” “I deeply and profoundly love myself with all of my faults and shortcomings;” “I am in charge of my life;” “I really, really love myself;” “I want to be pain free;” etc…. If they patient weakens to any of these statements then they are Psychologically Reversed. If you find this hard to believe or do not understand what is being written here after re-reading the above text 4 to 5 times then it is likely that you are Psychologically Reversed. This is not bad or good – it is simply the nature of things. For the Umbilically reversed patient, certain phrases and statements are of particular importance. Because we are in a Christian-Judeo country, the majority of people believe in God, a God, a Higher Power or that there is some life form or organized intelligence in the universe that is greater than themselves. With this in mind, the patient is asked to repeat the statement, “God is good.” If they do not believe in God then this statement is irrelevant and they are not asked to say it. Other statements that will suffice are: “I am good, love is good, clean air is good, pure water is good,” etc. The patient that shows positively for Umbilical Reversal will weaken to a positive test statement such as one of these above. The same person will strengthen to a negative or destructive life statement. Here are some negative or destructive life statements: “God is bad, I am bad, love id bad, clean air is bad, pure water is bad,” etc. It is as if the patient’s most basic belief systems necessary for growth and survival are reversed.
A little bit more than a year ago I had this one couple come in, a man and his wife, and they both had severe Umbilical Reversal as well as Psychological Reversal. The lady, Ellen, had been going to the bathroom doing number 2 only about once every 5 days for more than 25 years. She had a Thyroid condition called Graves disease. The man, had blood sugar imbalances that were so severe that he had been previously diagnosed as borderline pre-diabetic. I was able to help Ellen with her health quite a bit during the first 3 or 4 visits to the point where she was having a daily bowell movement. The Psychological Reversal technique requires that the patient say a positive statement and the opposite negative statement as described above. If a strong indicator muscle gets weak with a positive statement and/or stays strong with a negative statement then this is a positive finding for Psychological Reversal. I would ask Ellen to say such statements as “life is good” which would cause her muscles to weaken. Then I would have her say such statements as “life sucks” which would cause her muscles to become strong. Then I would have her say statements like “rape is bad” which would cause her muscles to weaken. Then I would have her say statements such as “rape is good” which would cause her muscles to strengthen. I explained to her the relationship between the muscles staying strong and her being unconsciously CONGRUENT (or o.k. with) with the statement that allowed her muscles to stay strong. I further explained that if she says “rape is good” and her muscles stay strong then on a subconscious level she believes that rape is good. No matter how many times I went over this with her or how clearly I explained it to her, she just did not understand it. In fact, she even refused to say the negative statements soon. Her husband was convinced that he was perfectly healthy and that his blood sugar was of no major concern. In spite of feeling major improvements after just a couple of visits, he decided that the visits were too expensive for him. We are talking about a fellow who lives in a 2.5 million dollar home in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the United States and who makes over $150,000 per year just in passive income. Interestingly, prior to his wife coming in for care he was encouraging me to charge as much as possible per visit because he claimed that it would be a good write off for some reason (I am not sure how this would work.) Here we see a reversal of core values. Health comes secondary and is not worth much money. Ellen was so confused that she could not even say the negative statement in spite of there being a doctor there to guide her.
I would like to share with you another example of someone who came in just recently. We will call this person Sally. Sally was having a great deal of trouble with a recent death of a family member and the inability to lose weight over many years. I talked with Sally a great deal explaining my therapies that they should be very effective for her but that they would require a number of lifestyle changes which she may find challenging to integrate. I also shared with her the great successes of a few of my patients who came in and had followed the lifestyle changes I gave them and improved with the treatments. I specifically shared about some patients who lost weight in spite of not needing to restrict calories. Sally decided to get started with the therapies. She was diagnosed as having severe depression and numerous mental and emotional disorders not to mention previous cancer and other serious health concerns. I knew that I would be able to help her if and only if she would follow the lifestyle changes I were to give her and needed referrals. At the end of the first visit I referred her out to a psychologist for several visits and prescribed some nutrients. Additionally, I made a special exception for her (which I never do) by lowering my fee. She had started care at the same time that I had had a fee increase and so this was warranted. Her response was amazing. Learning that a psychologist would be helpful, she immediately began to cry and acuse me of tricking her. When I handed her a sheet of paper that had a 3 week dietary plan on it she accused me of having told her that my health care recommendations do not include any dietary changes. She paid the reduced fee; she refused to get the nutrients that would be needed for her improvement, and left. Needless to say, after having been scolded and reprimanded, I was not feeling very upbeat. I called her a few days later to refer her out to another health care provider in the area who specializes in female hormonal imbalances. She then called me back right away and explained that she wanted me to give her another chance and that she was sorry and that she would pick up the nutrients that I recommended and use them as prescribed. Unfortunately, I gave in and agreed to continue to have her under my care. Of course, this was a big mistake.
On her next visit, Sally came in and claimed that her energy levels had improved in addition to her mood but that her weight had actually increased a couple of pounds. She did not follow the diet that I gave her but only made two of the dietary changes that I recommended. I explained that this probably had a lot to do with her gaining weight as well as her general chronic condition. She started to then accuse me of tricking her saying that I recommended only two small dietary changes rather than those on two sheets of paper that I had given her. I wasn’t sure how to respond to this – I believe that I apologized for any misunderstanding and told her that we should continue with the treatment for the day. The treatment began and was going quite well. She was relatively easy to adjust and all of the adjustments were quite smooth. Then, I began a therapy protocol for the pelvis and in the middle of the treatment she explained to me that she did not think that the therapy was helping. I had never had a patient who had been so misguided as to think that I would provide a therapy that was not effective – especially when I am documented to be one of the world’s leading experts in my particular field. I found this shocking and was not sure what to do. I told her that we could stop if she would like and that I was not sure why she thought that the therapy was ineffective. I also proceeded to explain the therapy in detail so that she would better understand it. She did not listen to me at all. Instead, she began to yell and accuse me of overcharging her and telling me that my therapies were ineffective. She quickly walked to the door without paying. This type of behavior is common in people with severe blood sugar disturbances. I went outside to remind her of her bill and she refused to pay. At this time, her bill is in collections. In both the example of Sally and Ellen, both ladies had considerable improvements in their health quickly and yet, they really did not want to get well and stay well on a deep, unconscious level. Sally had improved her digestion and bowell movements in ways that she had not experienced in more than 30 years and Ellen improved her energy levels and mood a great deal in just one visit. These are good examples of serious cases of both Psychological Reversal and also Umbilical Reversal.
Here are a few questions for you that might help spread some more light on this subject as it may pertain to you.
- Have you gone to more than 5 or 6 different health care providers for the same health concern?
- Do you suffer from a chronic health condition?
- Have you ever suffered from cancer in the past?
- Are you diabetic or do you have known blood sugar handling difficulties?
- Do you suffer from a Thyroid condition, a Heart Condition, chronic digestive disturbances, or chronic bladder and/or kidney infections?
- Has anyone in your family ever suffered from a heart condition? If your grandparents did, then they count.
- Have you or anyone in your family ever needed to use an anti-depressant?
- Have you or anyone in your family ever suffered from more than 4 wrist, ankle or knee or foot or hand injuries?
- Have you ever had trouble speaking or lost your speech?
- Have you ever been divorced?
- Has anyone in your family suffered from alcoholism?
- Have any family members or relatives committed suicide?
- Have any family members been diagnosed with ADHD, ADD, schizophrenia, lupus, or dyslexia?
- Have you ever had any type of learning disorder or has anyone in your family ever had any type of learning disorder?
- Have you been vaccinated as a child? And as an adult?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are likely to suffer from Psychological Reversal and/or Umbilical Reversal. All of the above conditions or conditions in the family are extremely common umong umbilically reversed and psychologically reversed people. Luckily, there is a treatment for these conditions and the treatment is very effective and long lasting. It might be wise to seek treatment soon to set your life in the correct direction.
This post should have proved EXTREMELY helpful for anyone suffering from a chronic health ailment. If it has not, please let me know why.
Doctor Ilya
