Lyme Disease A 48 year old accountant was diagnosed with Lyme disease 4 months earlier during a hospitalization, with symptoms of confusion, memory loss and fatigue. He remembered a tick bite with a rash on the leg. A head CT scan was negative. A 6 week course of antibiotic doxycycline (a tetracycline) was given by the primary care physician, after a brief course of IV antibiotics. His symptoms improved but returned after the doxycycline was stopped. Serologic testing failed to detect Lyme co-infections. Patient consulted several other conventional and alternative health practitioners with little benefit. Because of continued symptoms, patient sought our advice. At this point a multifaceted approach was initiated by “Lyme literate” physician Dr. Arthur Gertler, using IV colloidal silver infusions and a 3 component herbal formula for Lyme disease (LD Support). Vitamin C infusions were added to energize the immune system. Multiple supplements were added for immune, liver, energy and anti-oxidant support with an anti-inflammatory diet. Herxheimer reactions (die off reaction to bacterial breakdown products) were managed, and disappeared. By 2 months symptoms cleared with return of normal energy and mental function. He was able to return to work. Four months later, treatment was stopped, when an advanced serologic test for Lyme disease was negative. Yeast Overgrowth A 37 year old housewife complained of chronic fatigue, headaches, mood swings, brain fog and sugar craving intermittently for 2 years, during which time she gained 20 lbs. Diet was high in refined sugar. Previously, she had been given antibiotics for treatment of urinary tract infections with vaginal discharge. A serologic test for candida (yeast) was positive 8 months earlier. The patient was seen by Dr. Gertler after a 3 month course of Diflucan given by her physician provided only partial improvement. At this time a comprehensive holistic program for eradication of candida (yeast) was begun focusing on low carbohydrate diet without refined sugar, and elimination of risk factors (antibiotics). An anti-candida herbal formulation, probiotics, and herbs for liver and adrenal support were started. Multivitamins, minerals and supplements for energy support were added. Electrodermal testing confirmed yeast overgrowth and showed a “congested liver” and weakened immune system. Homeopathic remedies were identified to treat these deficiencies to promote more rapid clearance of the candida. Whole body vibration was introduced twice weekly as a tool to accelerate healing, to promote higher energy levels and afford a measure of detoxification. Symptoms gradually improved after 3 months of this combined approach. Energy levels returned to normal with a sense of well being. By 7 months carbohydrate craving stopped and she tolerated an increase in dietary carbohydrate with limited refined sugars. She was felt to have cleared the candida (yeast) at this point. Because of continued susceptibility, probiotics and some dietary restriction were continued. Heart Disease A 76-year-old gentleman, with a six-week history of angina chest pain, began a course of Chelation Therapy infusions on a weekly basis for the treatment of heart disease. Recommendations for lifestyle and dietary changes were made along with the addition of vitamins and antioxidants. After 14 infusions, he became aware of early signs of improvement in cardiac function earmarked by improvement in energy and less fatigue while at work in a restaurant. He was able to climb stairs more easily. At 20 treatments, there was further improvement, with complete disappearance of the angina chest pain. More modest gamins continued for the next few months while he continued to be free of angina. His cardiologist was able to reduce his heart medications. He continued the use of supplements and dietary recommendations, and as a result of the stabilization of his cardiac condition, his cardiologist recommended resumption of his exercise program of walking two miles a day. Arthritis A 56-year-old office worker suffering from painful arthritis of her lumbar spine and right great tow, underwent a series of IonCleanse footbath treatments to treat the arthritis through the removal of toxic metals from the body. Toxic metals are felt to be a potent source of free radicals which may cause inflammation of the joints. There was a history of lumbar disc surgery. After 15 treatments, she noted improvement in back pain and less pain climbing stairs. There was a greater sense of well-being and significant improvement in energy. A program of anti-inflammatory herbs was started, including fermented turmeric, Boswellia, Omega 3 fish oil, and glucosamine. Anti-inflammatory dietary therapy was begun. A stool pathogen found on culture indicated that a state of imbalance existed in the bacterial populations of her intestine which was felt to be contributing to the inflammatory arthritis condition. Eradication of the overgrowth was effected by using a series of herbs (Oregon grape extract, goldenseal) for a two-month course along with dietary therapy. An intestinal permeability study revealed the presence of leaky gut syndrome (porous intestinal lining) felt to be yet another contributing factor in the arthritis. The leaky gut syndrome was felt to gradually heal as a result of eradicating the intestinal pathogen and using dietary therapy. This eliminated a major causative factor driving her arthritis. After three months of the multifaceted approach involving dietary therapy, footbath and herbs, she improved to the point of being able to resume an exercise program at a health club without exacerbating arthritis symptoms. Irritable Bowel Syndrome A 38-year-old pharmaceutical representative was seen for treatment of longstanding symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in association with fibromyalgia, which was now in remission. IBS symptoms consisted of periods of diarrhea, constipation and abdominal cramping, often disturbing a busy work schedule. In search of therapeutic options other than the conventional treatment with Metamucil and a high-fiber diet, food allergy testing was performed showing a low-grade reaction to dairy, wheat and several spices. Upon elimination of these, she noted partial improvement in symptoms of diarrhea and cramping within three weeks. High potency plant-based digestive enzymes were given along with betaine to restore stomach acid. The combination of these two natural agents provided more symptomatic relief, but periods of urgent diarrhea were still present. Once 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HTP) was added to the regimen, more complete control of symptoms was achieved resulting in formed stools and only infrequent periods of non-urgent diarrhea. The use of 5-HTP, as a serotonin precursor, likely restored gastrointestinal serotonin levels to a more healthy range, resulting in a more balanced functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and a return to normal peristalsis. Endometriosis and fibromyalgia A 35-year-old hairdresser diagnosed with fibromyalgia and endometriosis of 10 years duration was partially disabled because of low abdominal pain, low back pain and pain in the neck, shoulders and wrists. She required narcotic medication daily. For approximately two months, she underwent a course of weekly SCENAR and Quantum Touch sessions. Subsequently she was able to stop narcotic medication because of a longlasting reduction in pain and was able to work full time for the first time in several years. Neck pain and thyroid nodule A 39-year-old receptionist complained of chronic neck pain of three years duration. She was also diagnosed with a benign thyroid nodule. Following a single session of both Quantum Touch and SCENAR, the neck pain disappeared. Upon routine follow-up with her endocrinologist one week later, the thyroid nodule was no longer detectable, which her doctor felt was remarkable and likely due to the holistic intervention. Bioidentical Hormones A 52-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer and ovarian cyst was placed on 30 mg progesterone cream for treatment of symptoms of menopause consisting of fatigue, mood swings, hot flashes, panic attacks, insomnia and osteoporosis.  Saliva, urine and blood spot testing showed low progesterone and estriol.  After progressive increases in the dose of progesterone cream failed to completely contain her menopausal symptoms, low dose estriol cream and oral DHEA were added.  Six weeks later menopausal symptoms had almost completely disappeared however, urine and saliva testing showed a suboptimal pattern of estrogen metabolism.  Both DIM (di-indolylmethane) and Myo-min were recommended to correct this.  Dietary recommendations were made to address the signs of estrogen dominance.  Three months later estrogen metabolism displayed a normal pattern on further testing and patient was advised to return in six months, then yearly, to monitor hormone levels.