SLEEP!!

The immune system has two major jobs to do daily. It defends the body while we are awake and repairs it while we sleep.  This is one of the only reasons we sleep.  Forty five minutes after we fall asleep and enter REM state the immune system switches from its daytime role of defending the body and begins the repair process.  However, this process is easily disrupted.

Stress = Adrenaline + Cortisol

Stress may come in many forms.  Weather it be career, home, family or relationships, responsibilities, etc.  However, it is not always the inability to cope with the psychological effects of stress, but the body's physiological reaction to it.  Typically expressed in type "A" personalities who's "can do" attitude encourages them to undertake more than there bodies can handle. 

Even though the causes of stress can be totally non-specific in terms of our daily lives the effect on the endocrine system triggers the same fight or flight reaction as if we were thrown in front of a speeding train.  Whatever the trigger, the reaction from anxiety, stress, anger or surprise causes the adrenal glands to release adrenaline.  Adrenaline in turn triggers the release of cortisol.  They work together as a tag team for you cannot have one with out the other. 

Chronically elevated cortisol lowers serotonin, the brain's largest chemical representing eighty percent by volume of its forty chemicals. Headaches, memory, attention span and most importantly sleep is affected. 

Without serotonin it cannot signal the penial gland to release melatonin.  Now the ability the fall asleep, stay asleep or even feel like you have slept are out the door.  Since you did not get enough sleep or enter REM the immune system which repairs use during sleep never took place and the body begins the next day with more adrenaline to get our body through the day and the cycle begins. 

Ingrediants for night time:

L-THEANINE -  Theanine acts as a precursor to dopamine in the brain. Dopamine plays a vital role by inhibiting the brain's ability to access adrenaline.  By preventing the brain form accessing adrenaline, cortisol release is inhibited. 

Theanine not only inhibits cortisol, it rewards you by stimulating relaxing alpha waves in the brain and shuts the brain down at night. This helps the brain from hitting the pillow trying to tackle tomorrow's problems.

 

GABA (GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID) - is a non-essential amino acid that acts as a inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA helps promote relaxation by blocking stress-related messages from reaching receptor sites in the central nervous system inhibiting excitatory mediators that cause the nerve cells of the brain to fire.  GABA reduces feelings of anxiousness, and is helpful in the treatment of disorders linked to emotional stress, such as reduced sex drive, hypertension and sleeplessness. 

ASHWAGANDHA  - is a herb known for its powerful adaptogenic properties. This means that it helps the body, as well as the mind adapt to stress.  It's role in the reduction of stress is due to it's soothing of the entire nervous system.  Ashwagandha acts to calm the mind and promote sound, restful sleep.

VALERIAN ROOT (Valeriana Officinalis) EXTRACT - is a herb that is primarily used for sleeping problems.  There are a variety of different active compounds in Valerian Root responsible for the sedative-like properties. Some of the compounds increase GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) a chemical in the brain that produces a naturally calming effect. Valerian Root is also used in the treatment of anxiety, depression and chronic fatigue syndrome.

PASSION FLOWER (Passiflora Incarnata) EXTRACT - is used to treat pain, insomnia, and nervous restlessness.This herb is often combined with other calming herbs to treat insomnia, tension, and other health problems related to anxiety and nervousness.  Recent research has concluded that it is useful for insomnia, fatigue, spasms, and nervous tension.  Studies have even found that Passion Flower Extract reduces locomotor activity and prolongs sleeping as well as indicates that this herb has pain reliving and anti-inflammatory abilities as well as its' sedative effects. It is extremely soothing and possesses the ability to calm the central nervous system and also lower high blood pressure.

Sincerely,

 

Richard Helfrich
Health Spectrum at The River
71-800 Hwy.111,A149

Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

(760) 340-5935, http://www.richardhelfrich.com/or http://www.healthspectrumpalmdesert.com/

Introduction to the Clinical Use of Iodine.

By Richard Helfrich

A few years ago, I read research concerning "Iodine Supplementation Markedly Increases Urinary Excretion of Fluoride and Bromide". This research described an iodine loading test and its value at assessing whole body sufficiency for iodine.

The research described the detoxification effects of the toxic halogens, bromide and fluoride when iodine is in an optimal excretion range. Intrigued at the idea of not only measuring iodine excretion levels but also bromide and fluoride levels started me on a journey of researching and learning about iodine deficiency and the importance of detoxing halides.

INTRODUCTION TO IODINE

Iodine deficiency is often synonymous with thyroid conditions particularly with the development of goiters. The research is clear that iodine deficiency can lead to cysts and nodules of the thyroid gland.

David Marine reported the benefits of treating school-aged children with iodine/iodide (Lugol's solution) nearly 70 years ago. Marine looked at two groups: a control group and a treatment group, which received 9mg/day of iodine/iodide. The iodine/iodide treatment group had a 0.2% incidence of goiter while the control group had a 22% goiter-a 110x difference.

This was the first U.S. iodine study showing the decline of goiter formation with the use of iodine. Shortly after this study, iodized salt was introduced which was a great success in eliminating goiter in the U.S.

BROMIDE TOXICITY

Testing iodine excretion levels, I was amazed at the prevalence of iodine deficiency. Why have iodine levels fallen 50% in the last 30 years? What has changed so dramatically over the last 30 years in our environment to cause this dramatic drop. It is well known that the toxic halides, fluoride and bromide, having a similar structure as iodine, compete for the iodine receptors of the thyroid inhibiting iodine absorption.

After testing 95% of the results were iodine deficient. I have noticed those people with chronic illnesses, from autoimmune disorders to cancer; often have lower iodine levels as compared to relatively healthy patients.

An additive that is found in the citrus flavored type sodas or drinks and power drinks is the additive Brominated Vegetable Oil or BVO. The real kicker in all this is that BVO has actually been banned in over 100 countries, and even the FDA considers this additive as unsafe, yet, so far, no measures have been taken to ban it's usage in this country.

Brominated Vegetable Oil, has as it's composition the element of bromine in which, believe it or not, the vapors of bromine are considered both corrosive and toxic. The chemical bromine is used for a number of products, from one of the chemicals that treat surfaces for light-sensitive photographic printing papers, as an additive for gasoline, to agricultural fumigants. At one time, bromine was even used to make sedatives, but then the FDA banned its usage around 1975, as it was found to trigger a whole host of psychiatric disorders.

Why is BVO used in certain drinks? Brominated Vegetable Oil are used in citrus type drinks to stabilize the citrus oils to prevent them from separating, giving them a more unified appearance. One can always tell that Brominated Vegetable Oil has been added even if not included on the ingredient label, the drinks will have a rather murky, cloudy look to them, rather than clear. Many drinks containing BVO, do not include it on their labels!

THYROID FUNCTION

Twenty percent of the body's iodine is parked in the thyroid and acts as the spark plug for thyroid function.  With most peoples Iodine levels testing well below 90 (90 being the minimum desired excretion level) and bromides well over 10 (under 10 is considered optimal) it's no wonder so many today suffer with thyroid related illnesses. In fact it is increasingly common to find the average person on some type of thyroid medication.

Because of the elevated levels of toxic halides (bromides) in the environment and in the food supply, iodine levels have not only fallen but bromides have increased ten fold which now compete for the iodine receptor sites on the thyroid. Without iodine the thyroid does not know whether to wind it's butt or scratch it's watch.  Studies show that with iodine loading, the body and particularly the thyroid adapts becoming saturated with iodine while at the same time detoxifying the toxic halides bromide and fluoride.

Using doses of iodine (12.5 - 50mg/day), positive results have emerged, Goiters and Nodules of the thyroid shrank. Cysts on the ovaries became smaller and began to disappear. People reported increased energy. Metabolism was increased as evidenced by having new success in losing weight. Libido improved in men and women. People suffering with brain fog reported a clearing of their foggy feelings. Most importantly, those with chronic illnesses that were having a difficult time improving began to notice many of their symptoms resolving.

BREAST HEALTH

Breast tissue is the second largest storage site for iodine next to the thyroid gland. The relationship between breast illness and iodine deficiency has been reported for over 100 years.

Iodine concentrates in the breast and is secreted from the breast. Normal breast architecture will not develop when there is iodine deficiency present. Diseased breast tissue has been shown to take up more iodine compared to healthy breast tissue. The higher uptake in the abnormal breasts indicates a greater deficiency of iodine is present as compared to normal breasts.

Iodine/iodide supplementation can improve fibrocystic breasts in women with fibrocystic breast disease. In addition those with breast cancer also improve. Nodules and fibrous changes of the breasts significantly improve in a short time period.

You can order (inside California requires prescription) the Iodine loading combination test that includes bromide and fluoride levels. Hakala Labs (hakalalabs.com) provides the urine collection kit which they mail you with instructions, you return to them and results follow in 4-5 days.

Sincerely,

Richard Helfrich
Health Spectrum at The River
71-800 Hwy.111,A149

Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

(760) 340-5935, http://www.richardhelfrich.com/or http://www.healthspectrumpalmdesert.com/

BENZENE - Toxic To Bone Marrow

Benzene is a ubiquitous component of the petrochemical era. Present in crude petroleum, benzene is produced from the combustion of fossil fuels. It has been known to cause toxicity to human bone marrow since the late nineteenth century, at high levels destroying the bone marrow machinery responsible for the production of mature red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. When severe, this is a frequently fatal condition known as aplastic anemia. Lesser levels of benzene exposure result in sufficient bone marrow destruction to cause partial decrements in the levels of circulating blood cells, a condition known as pancytopenia.

Benzene is also a known cause of acute myelogenous leukemia, the adult form of acute leukemia, and a more than probable cause of other forms of blood and bone marrow cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and acute lymphatic leukemia, the childhood form of acute leukemia. There are recent indications that sub populations vary in their susceptibility to benzene toxicity based upon their metabolic capabilities.

In the latter half of the twentieth century there was a dramatic decline in the allowable levels of benzene at the workplace. To protect workers from this known human carcinogen, the United States permissible standard progressively decreased from 100 parts per million (ppm) to 1 ppm on an eight-hour time-weighted average. There was a corresponding fall in shorter term exposure limits, and an increase in requirements for industrial hygiene monitoring and in the use of respirators and other personal protective equipment. Even more stringent standards have been proposed.

At high concentrations, well above 100 ppm, benzene is also a central nervous system anesthetic-like agent. This effect is due to its solubility in lipids and its other physicochemical characteristics, and it is predictable based upon what is known about analogous compounds such as toluene and xylene. In contrast, the bone marrow toxicity of benzene is a result of its metabolism and this toxicity does not occur with toluene, xylene, and other related compounds that are metabolized differently. In fact, at high concentrations toluene is known to protect against the bone marrow toxicity of benzene because it occupies the metabolic machinery that otherwise would produce toxic benzene metabolites. However, concentrations in the general environment are too low to produce this result. For benzene, outdoor environmental exposure is usually in the 1 to 5 parts per billion (ppb) range in the United States. Benzene levels from natural sources are negligible in comparison.

For most nonsmoking individuals in the general population, it is indoor exposure that is the most dominant source of benzene, often reflecting the storage of gasoline or of benzene-containing consumer products within the home. Gasoline in the United States contains about 1 to 2 percent benzene, and higher levels are present elsewhere. Cigarette smokers inhale benzene directly in tobacco smoke, causing contamination of indoor air with benzene that is then inhaled by nonsmokers. Drinking water supplies are sometimes contaminated with benzene, most frequently from leaking underground petroleum storage tanks. This can also lead to inhalation of benzene through off gassing from contaminated water during cooking or showering. Skin absorption can occur in those working with products that contain benzene, as well as during the refueling of automobiles with gasoline.

As with other cancer-causing agents, it is unclear what level of exposure, if any, can be considered completely safe, or what level might be certain to cause cancer. As benzene is a component of gasoline, a useful solvent, and an organic building block in many chemical reactions, it cannot simply be banned. However, there have been many actions taken to decrease the extent to which the general population is exposed to benzene from gasoline and from industrial effluents.

Sincerely,

 

Richard Helfrich
Health Spectrum at The River
71-800 Hwy.111,A149

Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

(760) 340-5935, http://www.richardhelfrich.com/or http://www.healthspectrumpalmdesert.com/

 

QUERCETIN & BROMELAIN

(Anti-Inflammatory  and Anti-Histamine)

-Take on empty stomach as an anti-inflammatory / anti-histamine

-May be taken with food as a digestive aid


QUERCETIN is a unique bioflavonoid derived from plant sources. In human cell culture studies, quercetin has been shown to inhibit histamine release. Bromelain is a pineapple-derived enzyme that improves quercetin absorption. Magnesium ascorbate has been added to detoxify histamine. Studies have also shown quercetin and bromelain to have anti-inflammatory properties.

* Quercetin prevents the formation of allergic, inflammatory mediators like histamine, serotonin and PGE2 (negative eicosanoids) which sensitize pain receptors. 

* Quercetin acts in the same way as aspirin but without knocking out the positive eicosanoids that promote positive immune response (natural killer cell) activity that aspirin inhibits.

* Quercetin is a potent inhibitor of histamine thereby providing relief to chronic asthma suffers by stabilizing the membrane of basophiles and mast cells. 

BROMELAIN is a potent digestive enzyme derived from pineapple, and it breaks proteins into smaller peptides for better assimilation.  It is an excellent anti-inflammatory for sports injuries, respiratory tract diseases, bronchitis, pneumonia and viral disease.

* Bromelain acts the same way as the protein-splitting activity of hydrochloric acid and begins the breakdown of minerals and trace elements and allows them to act as the coenzymes necessary for the intake of other vitamins and minerals. 

* Bromelain is an excellent anti-inflammatory with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, and all types of injuries affected by inflammation, swelling and pain. 

Sincerely,

Richard Helfrich
Health Spectrum at The River
71-800 Hwy.111,A149

Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

(760) 340-5935, http://www.richardhelfrich.com/or http://www.healthspectrumpalmdesert.com/