report on stroke rehabPreview
Open in TheBrain

Step 1 Testing and Detect

<p>Rule out other causes. Mayo clinic evaluate.

Step 1 : DETECT

*

A1) Dr. Myhill's recommendations

*

Useful medical tests for investigating the patient who presents with chronic fatigue

*

One of the things I really dislike about the Medical Profession is their power over patients. The main two ways in which they use that power is firstly by controlling the availability of tests and secondly through the power of prescription. My website allows patients to order any test they see fit. The test result comes to me as the referring practitioner; I can interpret it and write to their GP with recommendations (copy to patient). Secondly, nearly all my treatments do not require prescription drugs and so are available to all. I can also recommend a local ecologically trained physician who can advise further if necessary.

*

There is no simple test currently available to diagnose CFS because CFS is not a diagnosis – it is a symptom. Blood tests merely serve to exclude other diagnoses. Doctors can sometimes be very naughty – they do the routine tests which all come back as normal and the doctors then turn round and tell their patient that nothing is wrong with them. I believe that the reason so many medical tests are negative in the case of CFS patients is because doctors are looking in the wrong place. The pathology is inside cells, i.e. in mitochondria. Although cells (and therefore organs) look fine, they do not function properly. It is a bit like having a car with a flat battery – an MRI scan of a car would come back completely normal – but you try and start it and nothing would work!

*

However, I now believe CFS is very often a symptom of mitochondrial failure. This means when other causes have been excluded (lack of sleep, allergy, hormonal problems etc) we now have a definitive test which can tell us how disabled the CFS sufferer is, where the biochemical lesion lies and what has to be put in place to correct it. Having said that, various routine blood tests have a place in investigating a patient with fatigue and so let’s review them first.

*

Firstly exclude macroscopical pathology

*

Most patients, by the time they get to see me, have had all the routine tests done. These tests just test for macroscopic pathology such as major organ failure (anaemia, heart disease, cancer, liver failure, kidney failure and some gut problems). They do not test for minor organ failures (such as partial thyroid gland failure, partial adrenal gland failure, mild liver damage, poor ability to detox). None of these tests look for poor function of the brain or brain damage, nutritional tests are often absent or limited, hormone tests are usually incomplete and there are virtually no tests of micropathological function.

*

Having said that, there are often mild abnormalities in standard tests which have not been picked up on by the GP or consultant, but which are clinically important for the CFS sufferer. Results are given by a figure and there should also be a reference range next to this figure – that tells you if you are inside or outside the reference range. This reference range often varies from one lab to another.

*

The basic tests that most doctors do for their patients with chronic fatigue are:

*

▪ Haematology (full blood count – red cells, white cells and platelets)

*

▪ Inflammation in the blood – ESR, C reactive protein, plasma viscosity.

*

▪ Biochemistry (liver and kidney function)

*

▪ Blood sugar level

*

▪ Urine testing (for infection or kidney damage)

*

▪ Faecal occult bloods (looking for bleeding from the gut)

*

▪ Thyroid stimulating hormone (only looks for primary thyroid failure – most thyroid problems in CFS are secondary to poor pituitary function)

*

▪ Ferritin (iron), B12, folic acid and calcium

*

▪ Perhaps a serum magnesium – which is a completely useless test! This is because serum levels are maintained at the expense of levels inside cells. A serum magnesium is just an ITU (Intensive Therapy Unit) test!

*

▪ Autoantibody tests for autoimmunity.

*

The mild abnormalities I always look for in CFS in the above tests are:

*

▪ Low or low normal white cell count – can be a sign of poor immune function which most commonly is secondary to nutritional deficiencies, such as low zinc, low magnesium, low B vitamins, low essential fatty acids.

*

▪ Low or low normal platelet count – can be a sign of toxic stress

*

▪ Low MCV (mean corpuscular volume) suggesting iron or copper deficiency. Low iron is suggestive of HYPOCHLORHYDRIA, in which case other mineral deficiencies are also likely.

*

▪ High MCV suggesting B12, folic acid or HYPOTHYROIDISM

*

▪ A high blood sugar or a low blood sugar suggests there may be a tendency to HYPOGLYCAEMIA (a pre-diabetic tendency). A normal blood sugar tells you very little! Normal ranges of blood glucose have been changed because so many people now have carbohydrate intolerance. A normal blood sugar should be between 4-6mmol/l. High blood sugar is now associated with toxic stress because chemicals cause insulin resistance.

*

▪ Low potassium. Potassium varies according to diet! Low potassium means there is a lack of vegetables in the diet. Bananas may be rich in potassium but they are high glycaemic index, so beware!

*

▪ High normal bilirubin – may be Gilbert’s syndrome suggesting poor ability to detoxify.

*

▪ High normal or abnormal liver enzymes – suggesting liver damage, usually from chemicals, or poor nutritional status.

*

▪ High urea or creatinine suggesting dehydration

*

▪ Low urea or creatinine suggesting low protein diet

*

▪ Low glomerular filtration rate suggesting poor kidney function – could be due to allergy or toxic damage but may indicated poor mitochondrial function.

*

▪ A TSH tells you very little about thyroid status! It is essential to see the actual level of thyroid hormones in the blood.

*

▪ Low levels of B12 can be due to HYPOCHLORHYDRIA or MALABSORPTION

*

▪ High uric acid can point to poor ANTIOXIDANT status. See GOUT.

*

▪ Raised cholesterol could mean low levels of vitamin D or hypothyroidism.

*

▪ Low levels of calcium likely to mean low levels of vitamin D.

*

  1. Mitochondrial function profile (p. 17 ) – this is a batch of tests to identify the mitochondrial problem. This test has important implication for treatment; this test includes:

*

· ATP profiles – looks at levels of ATP, how well energy is released from ATP, the rate of production of ATP from ADP and movement of ATP and ADP across mitochondrial membranes (translocator protein function - could be blocked by toxins or pH changes). Also gives us an objective measure of the level of disability.

*

· Plasma cell-free DNA – a measurement of cell damage and antioxidant status in CFS

*

· Red cell NAD levels – a measure of the efficiency of Kreb’s citric acid cycle. Levels can be corrected with niacinamide 500mgs daily and acetyl L carnitine.

*

· Co-enzyme Q10 levels – the most important antioxidant inside mitochondria. In CFS levels are nearly always deficient

*

· Superoxide dismutase – three types measured, indicates levels of zinc, copper and manganese, also gene studies to give an indication of toxic damage. SODase is a major antioxidant in all cells.

*

· Red cell magnesium – done as part of the ATP profile or can be done separately.

*

· Glutathione and glutathione peroxidase (also indicates selenium status).

*

▪ Microrespirometry - looks in detail at ADP to ATP conversion (see sample result on p. 20

*

▪ Further investigation of poor translocator protein function Translocator protein studies (p.21)

*

▪ Cardiolipin studies looks at the structure of mitochondrial membranes (p. 22 )

*

▪ Calcium studies – calcium levels inside cells often too high.

*

▪ Adrenal stress profile – salivary levels of cortisol and DHEA over 24 hours

*

▪ Salivary Melatonin levels – it is common to get poor melatonin production and therefore poor sleep in CFS. This is a further reflection of the inadequate HPA axis in CFS.

*

▪ Lactate dehydrogenase studies – if there is evidence of cell damage, this indicates where the damage is coming from eg liver or muscle.

*

▪ Red cell Carbonic anhydrase – indicates hyperventilation

*

▪ Gut fermentation test – to look for evidence of fermentation by bacteria or yeast. Irritable bowel syndrome may be caused by food allergy or gut dysbiosis. Low levels of short chain fatty acids can mean insufficient probiotics in the gut.

*

▪ Salivary VEGF test for hypochlorhydria – if there are symptoms of poor digestion or “too much acid”.

*

▪ Urine hydrogen sulphide test – some people ferment food to produce hydrogen sulphide and this can inhibit mitochondrial function. See HYDROGEN SULPHIDE AND CFS, FERMENTATION IN THE GUT AND CFS

*

▪ Parasitology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine – detects worms, amoebae, giardia, blastocystis hominis.

*

▪ Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis – ability to digest and gut flora. Parasitology can also be done as part of this test.

*

▪ Short chain polypeptides – if the result is abnormal, it suggests leaky gut syndrome.

*

▪ Early morning Short chain fatty acids and/or tests of Fructose intolerance – indicate a tendency to HYPOGLYCAEMIA

*

Looking for toxic stress

*

▪ Fat biopsy for pesticides and/or for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A fat biopsy is very easy to do – easier than a blood test! A green needle and 10ml syringe is used – the green needle is pushed into buttock fat, suction applied with the syringe, then needle withdrawn. The amount of fat inside the bore of the needle is sufficient to do the test.

*

▪ Sauna sweat test.

*

▪ Kelmer test (urine test) for mercury load – anybody with mercury fillings will have mercury on board – the question is how much? How hard does one have to work to get rid?

*

▪ Translocator protein studies.

*

▪ DNA adducts – looks to see if toxins have stuck onto DNA – if so, this is a pre-cancerous condition. This is a useful test to work out how much damage has been done to the body as a result of toxic stress and therefore how much work has to be put into a detox regime. If abnormal then it should be repeated following a detox regime to make sure there are improvements.

*

Looking for sensitivity to chemicals

*

▪ Lymphocyte sensitivity test for chemicals, heavy metals, silicones, VOCs. This is helpful if you suspect that you are reacting to one/some/all of those substances, in other words you are sensitive to them. I often use this where there is a silicone implant to help decide if it should be removed. Where there is sensitivity, there will be toxicity, and vice versa. Indeed, multiple chemical sensitivity is usually triggered by toxicity.

*

More recently John McLaren-Howard has developed similar tests to diagnose electrical sensitivity.

*

Evidence of damage to cells

*

▪ Plasma cell-free DNA – this is nearly always abnormal in CFS and can be for any one of the following reasons:

*

· There is poor antioxidant status (see Co-enzyme Q10, SODase),

*

· There is ongoing toxic stress (such as from pesticides, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals etc),

*

· There is immune activation (as for example in acute infection),

*

· There is very poor mitochondrial function (see mitochondrial function) score but the patient is forced to do some muscular activity just in order to live.

*

· The patient is not pacing well – i.e. pushing too hard and this is resulting in cell damage. However some people who are very disabled have no choice – just the energy required to exist will cause tissue damage. So people with the worst mitochondrial function score often have high cell free DNAs even though they are doing almost nothing.

*

This can be investigated further with LDH studies, which tells us where the damage is coming from.

*

Tests not worth doing either because the result is worthless or the test is unreliable

*

▪ Tests for food allergy – at best these are 70% accurate.

*

▪ B12 – occasionally picks up pernicious anaemia, but regardless of the level I almost routinely prescribe injections to improve fatigue syndromes. B12 provides “instant” antioxidant cover. It has no toxicity. I like to see blood levels above 2000 (at this levels many GPs recommend stopping treatment!).

*

▪ Hair analysis – does not reliably detect heavy metal toxicity and can be very misleading with trace elements. Useless for allergies.

*

There is no point doing the tests I list below before starting nutritional supplements. This is because deficiencies are pandemic!

*

▪ B vitamin profile

*

▪ Red cell Magnesium

*

▪ Essential fatty acids

*

▪ Vitamins A, C and E

*

▪ Vitamin D3 levels (a bit expensive!)

*

There is no point doing a test unless it has implications for management – either one needs the test to make the diagnosis or to determine management options. Always ask this question when requesting a test or it is money wasted!

*

Tests ask very specific questions – there are literally hundreds of tests available, it is a case of picking the right one dependent on the symptoms and signs. If your doctor does not ask the right questions with his tests, then the results will not be relevant to recovery.

*

Where there are symptoms pertaining to a specific area such as the gut, tests need to be done to exclude ulcer disease, gall bladder disease, cancer and so on.

*

My general principle for tests of nutritional status is that I always advise sufferers to continue with their usual nutritional supplement programme when doing a test of nutritional status. This way I can assess if the current nutritional regime is adequate or not. I simply need to know what the patient is taking when interpreting such tests of nutritional status.

*

In CFS the problem is micro-pathology (intracellular, immune and biochemical problems), i.e. problems inside cells and on cell membranes. This is why standard medical tests do not come up with abnormalities.

*

A vital test in chronic fatigue syndrome

*

The central problem of chronic fatigue syndrome is mitochondrial failure resulting in poor production of ATP. ATP is the currency of energy in the body and if the production of this is impaired then all cellular processes will go slow. It is not good enough to measure absolute levels of ATP in cells since this will simply reflect how well rested the sufferer is. The perfect test is to measure the rate at which ATP is recycled in cells and this test has now been developed by the brilliant medical biochemist Dr John McLaren-Howard. He calls it “ATP profiles”. It is a test of mitochondrial function.

*

Not only does this test measure the rate at which ATP is made, it also looks at where the problem lies. Part A measures levels of ATP in the cell. Release of energy from ATP is a magnesium dependent process and the first part of the test studies this aspect (I refer to this aspect of the test as Part A– this corresponds to the labels in Figure 3 below).

*

The third possibility is that the protein which transports ATP and ADP across mitochondrial membranes is impaired and this is also measured (Part C).

*

Fuel

*

*

Part C– crossing mitochondrial membrane Part A – ATPlevels

*

ATP

*

NAD

*

Magnesium

*

Energy

*

*

*

*

*

The joy of the ATP profiles test is that we now have an objective test of chronic fatigue syndrome which clearly shows this illness has a physical basis. This test clearly shows that cognitive behaviour therapy, graded exercise and anti-depressants are irrelevant in addressing the root cause of this illness.

*

To get the full picture I recommend combining this test with measuring levels of the front line anti- oxidants Co-enzyme Q10, Superoxide dismutase (SODase), and glutathione peroxidase together with NAD (a functional test of vit B3 levels) and L-carnitine. See ANTIOXIDANTS.

*

Cell-free DNA is very useful because it measures tissue damage. When cells are damaged and die, they release their contents into the blood stream – cell-free DNA measures the extent of this damage. I believe this equates to how ill one feels – or malaise. The levels which come back are similar to those from patients recovering from major infections, trauma, surgery or chemotherapy – so this test puts CFS firmly in the realms of major organic pathology. Where there is tissue damage, the immune system is activated for healing and repair – this requires energy and can produce distressing symptoms such as PAIN and INFLAMMATION.

*

SODase is an important antioxidant which mops up the free radicals produced in all the inefficient chemical reactions in the cells. Dr McLaren-Howard also looks at the genes which code for the different types of SODase! It is common to find blockage or polymorphisms typical of toxic stress. See INFLAMMATION.

*

Dr McLaren-Howard has recently developed a serum L-carnitine test and made it available in September 2009. I have now included it in the Mitochondrial Function Profile.

*

Therefore, the cost of the Mitochondrial function profile, which will now include the mitochondrial function studies (ATP profiles), levels of Co-enzyme Q10, glutathione peroxidase, zinc copper SODase, manganese SODase and extracellular SODase together with NAD levels, cell- free DNA and L-carnitine is £225, plus £70 for the letter of interpretation to the GP.

*

John McLaren-Howard now has specialist equipment to refine these tests further, particularly in respect of oxidative phosphorylation. See Practical Details p. 123 should you wish to order this test

*

Many patients I see get well with my standard work up with respect to vitamins and minerals, diet, pacing and sleep, i.e. the foundations of recovery. All these things must be put in place to repair and prevent ongoing damage to mitochondria so allowing them to recover. For mitochondria to recover they need all the essential vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and amino acids to manufacture the cellular machinery to restore normal function. The mitochondrial function tests then allow us to identify lesions which can be corrected by attention to nutritional supplements, improving antioxidant status, detoxing, hyperventilation or whatever. CFS sufferers have limited reserves of physical, mental and emotional energy and this test allows us to direct those energies into the most fruitful line of approach. (see p. 24 for the interpretation of the mitochondrial function test results)

*

Examples of some test results

*

ATP profiles

*

This patient has low levels of ATP (1), low magnesium (2), poor conversion of ADP to ATP (3) with blockage of the active sites (4) together with poor translocator protein function (5) – no wonder there is severe fatigue!

*

A closer look at oxidative phosphorylation with micro-respirometry studies chart

*

A closer look at translocator protein studies chart

*

Cardiolipin Studies – a closer look at mitochondrial membranes chart

*

Anti-oxidant studies chart

*

A2) Thyroid and Adrenals

*

A lab test for identifying adrenal fatigue is a saliva test. It’s important to take samples of the saliva at different times of the day in order to establish the true cortisol rhythm and DHEA levels. Samples are taken in the morning (6am-8am), midday (12pm-1pm), late afternoon (4pm-5pm) and nighttime (10pm-midnight). Cortisol should be at the highest in the morning and the lowest at night.

*

Taking your body temperature when you wake up in the morning and finding that your temperature is below 97.8 degrees Fahrenheit can help to detect adrenal and/or thyroid problems

*

Please note that adrenal fatigue (exhaustion) has three different stages before it reaches failure. People in stage one of adrenal fatigue have a high amount of cortisol overall and at least one cortisol reading that is higher than it should be. An overall high count and a spike at an inappropriate time of the day indicates there is a problem. Cortisol must be kept under control because it eats muscle when at an excessively high level.

*

Stage two of adrenal fatigue is commonly misdiagnosed and can even go undiagnosed entirely. This primarily happens because a person’s total cortisol level is normal in stage two! The key indicators in this stage are the DHEA level and a low level of cortisol in the morning, midday, or afternoon. The trouble with properly identifying adrenal fatigue in stage two is that cortisol levels are often normal at night and the overall reading usually averages in the normal range as well. Again, cortisol should be at the highest in the morning and lowest at night. If a client is experiencing low cortisol levels when it should be at its peak, there is a problem.

*

Stage three of adrenal fatigue is the easiest to identify. The DHEA level is low and most cortisol levels are borderline low or low throughout the day. And of course, the total cortisol level is low as well. Low nighttime cortisol is a major marker for late stage three adrenal fatigue.

*

There are some tests that can be taken at home which tell you if adrenal fatigue is part of your problem. For example, go into an indoor room that is away from the natural sunlight (a room with no windows or, at the very least, with the shades lowered) with a small flashlight. Shine the light at a 45-degree angle towards your eye and you will see your pupil shrink (the pupil is the black center of your eye). The light of the flashlight will cause the pupil to shrink and it should remain constricted while the light is being pointed at your eye. You likely have adrenal problems if you see your pupil pulsing (alternating between being bigger and smaller). While this simple test shouldn’t replace an actual diagnosis, it does point to what could be the source of your issues and it would be something to further investigate with a health professional.

*

Another test is I recommend involves an electronic blood pressure cuff (the Omron® blood pressure cuff can be purchased online for around $50-60). Place the blood pressure cuff on your arm as you normally would when measuring your blood pressure but lay down on your back for 5-10 minutes before taking the measurement. Have someone write down what the measurement is. Then stand up as fast as you can, take your blood pressure again, and write down that number. You are looking for the difference in blood pressure numbers between lying down and standing. This is called an orthostatic measurement.

*

To illustrate, let’s say someone’s measurement is 120/80 when laying down and jumps to 130/85 immediately after standing. That’s good! The body naturally increases blood pressure when standing because gravity places more demands on our bodies. It is normal and healthy to see both the systolic rate (the top number) and the diastolic rate (the bottom number) increase 5-10 mmHg when going from laying down to standing. What if the rate doesn’t go up? For example, let’s say a person’s lying down blood pressure rate is 120/80 but it goes down to 110/80 immediately after standing. That’s bad. When this occurs, I often find the person has adrenal dysfunction and toxicity issues. Similarly, people who become light headed or dizzy when rising from a lying or sitting position also tend to have adrenal dysfunction and toxicity issues.

*

Conventional practitioners generally determine if a patient has thyroid problems by testing their TSH level. What I find interesting is that TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is not even manufactured by the thyroid! It’s actually manufactured by the pituitary gland and is meant to communicate with the thyroid. Low TSH indicates hyperthyroidism (overactive) and high TSH suggests hypothyroidism (low functioning).

*

Conventional testing says that “normal” values for TSH are typically .5 to 5 µ/mL. I believe that is too big of a range. I would not use the conventional bell curve that is used to determine the “normal range.” Instead, I recommend all practitioners and those who suspect they have thyroid dysfunction to use the optimal values that are between 1.8 and 3 µ/mL. The bell curve used to show the “normal” range is established by sick people! Think about it: who has their TSH tested? People who are displaying symptoms of having a dysfunctioning thyroid! To be on the edges of what is considered normal in that group is not optimal.

*

Like I said earlier, TSH communicates and works with the thyroid. The pituitary gland in the brain releases TSH which then stimulates the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland then produces its T4 hormone (and a small amount of T3), which is then converted to the T3 hormone primarily in the liver. T3 is the active form of the thyroid hormone and is the most important.

*

To take it to another level, there is a difference between Total T4 and Total T3 vs. Free T4 and Free T3. The body’s cells can only use the free forms of the hormone and Free T3 is the most important. Your body uses proteins to transport T4 & T3 hormones in the blood stream. Your body breaks up the proteins and allows the T3 to be absorbed at the cellular level (which makes it Free T3).

*

T4 is converted to T3 primarily in the liver and this is typically a problem for most people with hypothyroidism. During times of stress the body converts T4 into Reverse T3 (RT3) instead of T3. This is a normal process that typically is very short lived. When the body is under extreme physical, chemical and/or emotional stress this conversion of T4 into Reverse T3 becomes chronic and is very dangerous.

*

The leading cause of hypothyroidism is caused by an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto’s Disease, which was the first to be recognized as an autoimmune condition in 1912. Hashimoto’s Disease causes the body to attack its own thyroid gland tissues. Testing thyroid antibody levels (TPO and TG) reveal this problem. The most common symptom of the disease is feeling worse even with thyroid replacement hormone treatment. Another symptom is when lab tests show both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid levels at different times.58 When diagnosing a client with potential thyroid problems I always recommend a complete thyroid panel that includes at least: TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3 and Thyroid Antibodies. Depending on what is found in the lab tests, there are different protocols we could follow to heal the thyroid.

*

Most doctors don’t run Reverse T3 or Antibody testing because their treatment would be the same regardless of the results. They typically give a prescription synthroid (or generic Levothyroxine), which is a T4 hormone replacement. If the patient is seeing an alternative medicine practitioner they will typically be switched to Armour thyroid, which is a bio-identical T3/T4 hormone from pigs, not just T4. A recent issue that has emerged is that the manufacturers of Armour thyroid are reducing their production costs by adding gluten as a filler. If you need a bio-identical T3/T4 hormone, I recommend that you find a compound pharmacy to specifically make it for you and eliminate the gluten filler because research has shown a correlation between gluten intolerance and Hashimoto’s

*

A3) Heavy Metals

*

Conventional testing for heavy metals consists of drawing blood to see what’s in the blood stream. The problem is that heavy metals will only appear in the bloodstream if there was an acute exposure within the last week. For example, if you broke a thermometer and had your blood tested two days later, mercury would likely be found in your bloodstream. This kind of testing is not accurate for determining the effects of a lifetime chronic metals. The target of heavy metals is not the blood stream. That means that if you grew up in a home with leaded pipes but were not exposed to lead in the last week, a standard blood test for lead would come up negative but there would still be lead stored up in your body (and specifically your bones). Standard blood tests miss the heavy metals that are being stored in your body. of exposure or exposure to heavy

*

Hair analysis is another testing method that practitioners use. However, while hair analysis has some accuracy for minerals, it is not useful for detecting heavy metals. Also, some practitioners muscle test for heavy metals. I caution against this type of testing for heavy metals. I am not against muscle testing in general, but it is not useful regarding heavy metals. For instance, mercury has a high affinity for brain tissue (specifically the hypothalamus and pituitary gland). When someone is muscle testing they are challenging the nervous system, including the brain. Since mercury is a neurotoxin that targets the brain, the accuracy of muscle testing would be impacted by any mercury present in the brain at the time of testing. I think of mercury as the heavy metal of deception. My wife had a blood test and a hair analysis for heavy metals that came back negative. She was also muscle tested and heavy metals were shown to not be a major issue. Those results were inaccurate and it caused more suffering until someone told us how to properly test for heavy metals.

*

The best test that is currently available is a heavy metal urine challenge test. When being given this test, you take a true heavy metal chelator like DMPS, DMSA, or EDTA and your urine is then collected to be analyzed. The chelator pulls heavy metals out of the body through the liver, kidneys, and urine. In this test, the urine is sent in and inspected for the presence and amount of twenty different heavy metals. There are very specific instructions needed for this test to make sure it is performed correctly and to ensure that it doesn’t cause the individual any harm. Go to a trusted health professional with experience in testing and treating heavy metal toxicity to have this test properly administered.

*

A4) The Digestive Tract (Digestion Testing)

*

A5) Biotoxins (Lyme and mold)

*

Years ago, the C4a biotoxin marker test was great because the National Jewish Laboratory was used to process the C4a results. Today, other laboratories often handle the analyzing of the samples for this test and their results are not as clinically accurate. The National Jewish Laboratory had a normal range of less than 2,800 while the new testing states that levels are normal when they are less than 700. That is a huge shift and I don’t believe it is backed up by science. In fact, it just muddies the water and makes properly identifying biotoxic illness more difficult. Also, the C4a is a general biotoxin marker, so it does not specify between mold or Lyme disease. As I previously mentioned, the VCS test (Visual Contrast Sensitivity) can indicate biotoxin levels and is therefore more accurate and useful.

*

6i) Exposure to mold

*

An exposure to mold incurred while inhabiting a residence thirteen years ago. Ongoing exposure in carpets. Ongoing exposure in food. My condition initially began immediately after cleaning a garage. I also took many naps using a moldy pillow. Lymes usually is existing and going on with parsites, molds and other biofilms, leaky gut, etc. http://www.helladelicious.com/diy/2012/06/biofilms-parasites-mold-and-electromagnetic-frequencies/

*

The Truth about Mold

*

While it is easy to grasp the concept of toxins in our food and water, you may be less aware of another factor in your environment that can have serious repercussions for your health and wellness: molds.

*

Molds are a form of fungus, usually microscopic, that live and reproduce on organic matter such as plants or animals. While the word “mold” tends to have a negative connotation, it actually describes a diverse group of organisms, some beneficial and some harmful. Most of us are aware that mold plays a critical role in our ecosystem. When living things die, mold sets in and makes them biodegradable. Without it, our land and oceans would be bursting with all of the dead plants and animals from years gone by. Mold works in a miraculous way to get rid of filth.

*

Mold consumption impacts the diet aspect of the Complete Healing Formula™. That’s not to say that all molds are bad for you. Some of them are actually beneficial. Many delicious and healthy cheeses owe their existence to healthy molds. The species Penicillium roqueforti is the key mold that gives Gorgonzola, Stilton, and the aptly named Roquefort cheeses their distinct flavors and appearances. Beyond these three, many other cheeses likewise require other safe, edible kinds of molds in the mix to craft their appealing flavors.

*

But not all molds are beneficial to your dietary balance. On the contrary, we also encounter several toxic and dangerous forms of mold in our daily lives. Your food pantry, your bread, your fruit basket, the rind of your orange, and the walls of your kitchen themselves are just a few places where these toxic molds can grow—with dangerous and sometimes even life-threatening repercussions for your health.

*

Estimates suggest that there are anywhere from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of mold species. Covering them all in this chapter is simply impossible. Fortunately, it’s also unnecessary. The most valuable things to understand are why certain molds are dangerous and how you can identify them.

*

Some molds are visible; others are invisible. Some are helpful; others are extremely dangerous. Regardless of the mold, however, most require certain conditions to spread and thrive. Once you know those conditions, you can avoid them and work toward greater balance in your diet.

*

The next few pages will explain how molds form, cover the different types of molds that can adversely affect your health, and show you how to manage mold consumption in your diet.

*

The Dangers of Mold

*

What are molds, how do they spread, and why are they harmful to our overall health? Molds are composed of pervasive roots—specifically, from stalks rising out of those roots that are capped off with spores. We can see these spores with the naked eye. The spores are what give molds their individual appearances and colors, and they are also the source of the molds’ dangerous effects.

*

Mold spores spread through the environment through the air. Certain molds, such as those found in some buildings, give off spores that cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems. The presence of mold in a home is rightly a cause for grave concern. Until the molds are eliminated, and their spores cleared from the atmosphere, the environment is toxic.

*

Many molds have a more pervasive and dangerous effect on our health than simple allergies. Several types of molds produce “mycotoxins,” which, as their name suggests, are extremely toxic. Worse, many molds have extremely intricate root systems, which allow mycotoxins to penetrate far deeper into a substance than the visible spores lead us to believe. Each grain, fruit, tea and coffee plant, herb, and vegetable has its molds— and, odds are, you’re eating them.

*

Aflatoxin is one of the more pervasive and toxic molds out there. This is no surprise given the conditions in which it thrives best. Aflatoxin is found primarily on corn and peanuts, both of which are staples of the modern American diet.

*

This mold is recognized by the USDA as a cancer-causing poison. So it comes as no surprise that Dr. Hulda Clark’s research uncovered aflatoxin in virtually all of her cancer patients. Aflatoxin also appeared in all of Dr. Clark’s cases of hepatitis and cirrhosis. This mold attacks the body’s immune system, leaving the gates of our defenses wide open to pathogens.

*

Aflatoxin is not easily cleared from the body because it weakens and kills portions of the liver—the organ that is meant to detoxify our systems. Large doses or continued exposure to this mold will harm your health through its detrimental effects on the liver. That said, it can take weeks for aflatoxin’s effects to be realized, and it is both tasteless and scentless. So how can you know if your food is moldy?

*

In addition to thriving on corn and peanuts, aflatoxin is also found in your cereal, bread, pasta, nuts, maple syrup, orange juice, and other foods. The good news is that it is not found in dairy, fresh-washed produce, or water. Goods produced in bakeries that are left open to air also don’t contain aflatoxin, and the same is true for products made with carefully screened, deseeded wheat.

*

In short, given the common American diet, the possibility that you are consuming foods riddled with aflatoxin is very likely unless you take the proper steps to avoid this moldy invader. Dr. Clark advises preparing your own food, testing the foods you can’t prepare yourself, treating foods for molds whenever you can, and getting rid of the rest of it. One of the most important things to understand is that you can’t kill molds through the basic heating or reheating of food. Foods containing aflatoxin must be boiled for several minutes—at a temperature much higher than the boiling point—or else be baked at an even higher temperature in order to kill this mold. So if your food can’t be heated to an elevated temperature, this method will not kill the aflatoxin.

*

Some industrial research journals suggest treating food ingredients with hydrogen peroxide or metabisulfite, a reducing agent. While the introduction of these chemicals may kill the mold, however, that’s not their only effect. They also damage the nutritional value of your food—not to mention its flavor.

*

The only natural way to ensure that your food isn’t infested with aflatoxin, as Dr. Clark suggests, is through the use of vitamin C. Be advised that you should use whole-food vitamin C for this, not ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is not true vitamin C, but rather a chemical compound, as I will discuss later in this book. Only real vitamin C will have the purifying effect on your food that Dr. Clark identifies.

*

When baking your own bread, Dr. Clark advises adding a bit of vitamin C to the dough to keep it free of mold for a longer time. In both powdered and liquid forms, vitamin C is an easy way to quickly ensure the safety of your food. Still, be sure to consume the bread quickly, or slice and freeze it to prevent the resurgence of the aflatoxin.

*

Purchasing commercially available bread is dangerous, since vitamin C can’t be added before baking, and you can’t be sure how long the bread has been sitting on the shelves in a store or bakery since it was made. Other foods are also easy to treat with vitamin C. Rice and pasta can be cleansed of aflatoxin simply be adding vitamin C during or immediately after cooking.

*

Vinegar can be detoxified as well simply by adding some vitamin C before refrigerating it. You can even rid honey of mold if you heat it slightly and add a few tablespoons of vitamin C to the container.

*

Some foods, like nuts, need a slightly different treatment. Simply sprinkling vitamin C on nuts or corn will not remove the aflatoxin from these foods because they have already been penetrated by molds. Nuts have to be washed and covered with water that has been mixed with vitamin C powder. After five minutes, the vitamin C has detoxed the nuts and they can be dried in the oven using low heat.

*

Interestingly, many cultures traditionally treat corn in a way that naturally clears it of aflatoxin. The process that these cultures use is called “nixtamalization,” which involves soaking and cooking corn in a limewater solution. This alkalizes the corn, and the presence of vitamin C in the limewater rids it of aflatoxin.

*

Avoid the harmful effects of aflatoxin by steering clear of the common foods where this mold appears whenever you can, to ensure it doesn’t enter your system. However, keep in mind that, because the foods on which aflatoxin thrives are so common, a preventative treatment cleanse is also necessary to avoid ingesting this cancer-causing organism. I’ll talk more about cleanses in chapter 15.

*

Zearalenone

*

Zearalenone, or “zear” is another common and dangerous mold to avoid. Like its cousin aflatoxin, zear is often found in commercial cereal grains and processed foods such as popcorn, corn chips, and brown rice. Zear can lower your immunity, just as aflatoxin does. It furthermore keeps your body from being able to detoxify benzene, which Dr. Clark says is

*

common in AIDS sufferers. In addition, this mold is linked with estrogendependent

*

diseases, including breast cancer.

*

Another mycotoxin, zear is an anabolic and estrogenic metabolite. The mold appears as extra estrogen in animals’ bodies. Many animal studies have shown this mold to have negative impacts on reproductive health, such as infertility and in-utero death.

*

But such negative effects are not limited to animals. Even beyond breast cancer, Dr. Clark found in her research that zear speeds up the maturing process in females, and could cause PMS, ovarian cysts, and infertility. In males, even small amounts of zear ingested daily could dramatically affect maturation. Whether the toxin stimulates additional estrogen to develop or functions just like estrogen is not yet clear.

*

High heat is not effective when it comes to purging foods of zear. If your immunity is compromised or you experience any of the other effects noted above, Dr. Clark advises going off moldy food suspects that may contain zear right away.

*

Ergot

*

Ergot is a mold whose effects are unusual and felt very fast. It is immune to heat and highly toxic to children. At any age, however, erratic behavior can be a consequence of ingesting ergot. Irrational thoughts, surreal ideas, and unusual emotions are significant red flags. Those who are commonly sick may also be experiencing high levels of this toxin. According to Dr. Clark, the effects of ergot also include paranoia, hearing voices, and even seizures.

*

If you notice any of these erratic behaviors in yourself or someone you are close to, it would be a good idea to make dietary changes to reduce your intake of ergot. For example, erratic behavior in children is often written off as allergies, when in truth ergot toxicity could be to blame. If you find your child behaving like “Jekyll and Hyde,” Dr. Clark suggests eliminating cold cereals, nuts and nut butters, store-bought baked goods, soy, honey, and syrups for three weeks.

*

Replace those foods with hot cereals, home-baked goods, potatoes, and honey with added vitamin C. Because alcohol together with ergot is more toxic than each is on its own, alcohol heightens the negative effects of ergot. It appears that alcohol also drives ergot deeper into the tissues. Dr. Clark has found ergot and aflatoxin in beer and wine, and suggests that perhaps some inebriated behaviors are the result of this mold and alcohol combination.

*

If you intend to consume foods that may contain ergot, Dr. Clark notes that you can detoxify this dangerous mold easily in about ten minutes using Vitamin C. She also notes that honey should be detoxified right away before consumption.

*

Other Molds to Avoid

*

Aflatoxin, zearalenone, and ergot are only a few of the toxic molds we need to reduce or eliminate in our diets. There are several other molds to be aware of as well.

*

Cytochalasin B

*

Cytochalasin B, or “cyto B,” is another fungus that lowers immunity, which it does by impeding cell division. For example, portions of the liver that are dead are unable to regenerate as they normally would in the event of a toxic encounter. Cyto B it is found mainly in pasta.

*

Kojic Acid

*

Kojic acid prevents the body from being able to detoxify wood alcohol, which results in damage to the pancreas, pancreatic fluke infestation, and even diabetes. Dr. Clark advises against eating potato skins and points out that this mold is also found in regular coffee.

*

T-2 Toxin

*

Dr. Clark has found T-2 toxin in every case of high blood pressure and kidney disease. She notes that it is found in dried peas and beans, but that this dangerous mold can be detoxified by adding vitamin C to the soaking water for these foods for five minutes. She adds that you should discard the imperfect peas and beans first, as an extra safety measure.

*

Sorghum Molds

*

Sorghum molds are found in sorghum and millet. Elderly people are more susceptible to these mold toxins, which cause hemorrhaging and appetite loss, and make it hard to swallow. Dr. Clark advises against buying sorghum syrup, and says that you should rinse millet in water with vitamin C or add vitamin C to the water before cooking.

*

Patulin

*

Patulin is the major fruit mold toxin. It is dangerous because the mold that produces it can grow in patches in your intestine. According to Dr. Clark, E. coli and shigella can permeate the colon wall and begin to invade your body, spreading to areas of injury and tumor sites.

*

Patulin is found in many common fruits when they are bruised. Those with bowel disease or cancer should not consume fresh fruit besides bananas and lemons for a few weeks. After that, all fruit should be carefully inspected for bruising, and Dr. Clark warns to be thorough in the inspection: even a single soft grape can reinfect you.

*

Mold and Your Diet

*

The following are foods Dr. Clark says should be carefully considered prior to consumption:

*

• Crackers: Children should not be fed crackers ever as they are notoriously moldy. Make your own treats in the oven.

*

• Dried fruits: These are highly moldy and should be soaked in vitamin C water and refrigerated or frozen. Overripe fruit should not be baked or preserved.

*

• Peanut butter: Nut butters bought in a store can’t be detoxified, so you should make your own.

*

• Tea: Tea sold in bags is very moldy, so it is better to buy tea in bulk. Store tea in the double plastic bag it comes in, which will also prevent antiseptics in the bag itself. When using fresh herbs, only half as much is required to make tea, which should be done using a sterile

*

bamboo strainer.

*

• Maple syrup: Pure maple syrup contains aflatoxin and other molds that you can often see. The aflatoxin can be removed with vitamin C, but the other molds need to be exposed to high heat too. You can bring the syrup to a near boil in its original jar without the lid and

*

then refrigerate.

*

• Hot cereal: It is easy to spot the mold here and remove all of the dark shriveled pieces. By adding salt and honey while cooking, you can detoxify your hot cereal grains further. Grains shouldn’t sit in your cupboard for more than six months, and should not be refrigerated

*

(only frozen) if not kept in the cupboard.

*

Against the Grains

*

According to Dr. Clark, our grain consumption should be very limited. Many molds in pastas, breads, and cold cereals can’t be seen or smelled. Potatoes are a preferable option, as you eat them just the way they were harvested. When grains are processed, it opens them to a variety of molds. Potatoes should be scrubbed prior to eating, and all eyes should be removed.

*

Coexisting with Mold

*

Mold could be called a necessary evil. While it is vital to the balance of the environment, if not carefully monitored, it can make us very sick in a variety of ways. It is not complicated to co-exist with mold, but it does require diligence on our parts to make sure that what we put into our bodies is as safe as it can be.

*

Keep in mind that you don’t have to go to extremes with this all at once. The first step is knowledge and awareness. Once you have that, you can start taking small steps to reduce your exposure to molds, then build on it over time. This is only one part of the bigger picture when it comes to managing excesses, deficiencies, and stagnations in your diet.

*

Now you’re aware of the serious threats that toxic and moldy foods pose to our dietary balance, and how they can undermine the Wellness Model of Health™. But there is one more culprit when it comes to sabotaging health through diet: inflammatory foods. The next chapter will take you through everything you need to know about these foods, and show you how you can eliminate them from your diet to promote greater wellness.

*

Chapter Review

*

•

Toxic foods harm our white blood cells and weaken our immune systems.

*

• Five common immunosuppressants you should try to avoid most in foods are: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), benzene, asbestos, azo dyes, and heavy metals.

*

• Molds are a form of fungus, usually microscopic, that live and reproduce on organic matter such as plants or animals.

*

• Some forms of mold are toxic and dangerous, and can be found in common foods we eat.

*

• Mold spores spread through the environment through the air.

*

• Some foods that commonly contain mold include: crackers, dried fruits, peanut butter, tea, maple syrup, and hot cereal, as well as pastas, breads, cold cereals, grains, and potatoes.

*

ElectroCleanse

*

Developed by the Dr. Clark Research Association, the ElectroCleanse is a powerful tool that can aid you in the recovery of many major medical disorders. Find out more at www.losethebackpain.com/productreviews/electrocleanse.html.

*

Dr. Clark Research Association You can learn more about the tools available to clear toxins from your system from the Dr. Clark Research Association at www.drclark.com.

*

Clark Therapy by Ignacio Chamorro Balda

*

You can get even more information about the tools and methods that have arisen from Dr. Clark’s work in the book Clark Therapy by Ignacio Chamorro Balda.

*

Lyme Disease Testing (see Appendix Lymes)

*

A6) Vitamin D K1 and K2 deficiency

*

Micronutrient test available through a laboratory called SpectraCell that measures 33 vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in your body. I am a fan of this test because it measures the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants inside your cells. As I mentioned earlier, I recommend that clients take the Vitamin D3 test (technically called 25-hydroxy Vitamin D). This testing measures the amount of Vitamin D3 that is floating in your bloodstream. However, it does not measure how much Vitamin D3 is inside of your cells. So why would I run a Vitamin D3 test along with a micronutrient test when the micronutrient test looks at the amount of Vitamin D3 that is inside of the cell? I’ve found that clients, especially clients w h o h a v e v e r y s e v e r e symptoms, have a Vitamin D3 level within the recommended 60-100 ng/mL range because they have been supplementing with Vitamin D3, but their micronutrient level is low. Clinically, this indicates that there is inflammation at the cellular level and the Vitamin D3 is not able to get into the cell at an optimum level. This is why knowing both numbers is so important! Treating someone with a Vitamin D deficiency is very different than treating someone with a generalized cellular inflammatory problem. Vitamin K2 is also extremely important and has a close relationship with Vitamin D3. While there is currently no standard blood test for Vitamin K2, the micronutrient test does test for Vitamin K2!

*

Tests to analyze the following: Vitamins Minerals Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2, Biotin, Folate, Pantothenate Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper

*

Amino Acids Asparagine, Glutamine, Serine

*

Antioxidants

*

Carbohydrate Metabolism Fatty Acids Alpha Lipoic Acid, Coenzyme Q10, Cysteine, Glutathione, Selenium, Vitamin E, Total Antioxidant Function, Chromium, Fructose Sensitivity, GlucoseInsulin Metabolism, Oleic Acid

*

Metabolites Choline, Inositol, Carnitine

*

Biotoxin Testing

*

A7) Cardiovascular Testing (Good and Bad Cholesterol)

*

A8) Male & Female Sex Hormone Testing

*

A9) Allergy Testing

*

A10) Methylation Testing

*

A8) Male & Female Sex Hormone Testing

*

A9) Allergy Testing

*

A10) Methylation Testing,&nbsp;

*

A11) Hair Testing

From: 'Hair Mineral Analysis' https://www.utopiasilver.com/hair-mineral-analysis/?wpam_id=7

• A mineral analysis is a test which measures the mineral content of your hair.

• Mineral content of the hair reflects the mineral content and condition of the body’s tissue.

• If a mineral deficiency, excess, or imbalance exists in the hair, it usually indicates the same within the body.

• For example: If your hair reveals an calcium level above normal, then your calcium level within the body may be elevated also.

• This can often be caused by either a consumption of too much of the wrong kinds of calcium or consumption of even the right kind of calcium but not in the proper ratio of magnesium.

• In this case, a strong tendency exists for a build up in the arteries resulting in Arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries due to calcium plaque buildup), in the joints causing Arthritis, and in the muscle tissue causing stiff and sore muscles.

<strong >Why do a Hair Mineral Analysis?</strong>

• Hair mineral analysis is a wise investment for almost everyone as it can prevent you from spending money on supplements you may not need. It allows you to target your deficiencies without blindly scatter-shooting.

• Mineral deficiencies and imbalances, frequently lead to metabolic dysfunctions before any symptoms become manifest.

• If you can predict such a dysfunction by a mineral analysis, it may be correctable before it develops into a full blown health problem and even death.

• Hair analysis opens up a whole new vista for the solving of your own particular problem by recognizing your biochemical individuality.

• An analysis also helps to save money spend on supplements, because you are able to more narrowly target what your body actually needs rather than scatter-shooting with supplements you may not need.

The procedure is easy:

• It simply takes a small snippet of hair about 1-1/2” long from the base of the hairline at the back of the neck.

• We then ship it to a laboratory specializing in mineral analysis and the test is performed for the essential minerals Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Chromium, Selenium, Phosphorus, Nickel, Cobalt, Molybdenum, Lithium, and Boron. It also tests for the toxic metals Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Arsenic, and Aluminum.

• The results are then returned to Dr. Ken and he will contact you for a comprehensive consultation with recommendations that should aid in correcting the problem areas.</p>