When most people have acid reflux, they typically turn to over-the-counter or prescription antacids. These block the production of irritating stomach acids and stop stomach and chest pain. But they’re a poor solution — especially the popular Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs), which include Prilosec, Nexium, and Prevacid. PPIs may relieve your heartburn and other symptoms, but they have side effects you want to avoid.

Some of the side effects from PPIs are merely uncomfortable and annoying, like headaches, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea. Others are more serious, like pneumonia, arthritis, kidney inflammation, osteoporosis, and hip fractures. Don’t exchange one health problem for another.

Fortunately, you don’t have to. I’ve just learned about a simple, effective, inexpensive solution to acid reflux. This solution can completely take the place of PPIs. And it’s readily available.

While this solution is great for heartburn, it's not for poor digestion. For poor digestion, I used to recommend digestive enzymes. But I don't even recommend digestive enzymes any more. They're a Band-Aid approach. Instead, I use — and take — Integrative Digestive Formula. It actually repairs a malfunctioning digestive system with warming herbs and nutrients. Heartburn is a different problem — and requires a different solution. And I've got an amazing treatment for it.

I doubt that you’ve heard about this solution before. That’s because the first case study of its kind on this novel remedy was just published recently. It’s a single case study, but one that was well researched by my colleague, Melvyn Werbach, MD. You may recognize his name. Dr. Werbach is the author of Nutritional Influences on Illness (Third Line Press, 1993), Case Studies in Natural Medicine (Third Line Press, 2002), and other nutritional textbooks. Everything he writes is backed by scientific studies. This solution to acid reflux is no exception.

How he discovered the solution to heartburn

This quest for a natural answer to GERD began when Dr. Werbach looked for a non-drug solution to heartburn for one of his long-time patients. He knew that PPIs worked, but their side effects were unacceptable. They block the production of stomach acids, which reduced the absorption and utilization of calcium and magnesium. While they may protect you from GERD, PPIs raise your risk for both a broken hip and pneumonia by perhaps 50%.

There are several possible causes for GERD, including a relaxed LES (lower esophageal sphincter) muscle and irritation from stomach acids backing up into the esophagus. The solution Dr. Werbach found helps reduce this painful irritation. It does this by repairing the esophageal lining and protecting the GI mucosa, preventing future irritation.

Your esophagus is a long tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. Food and beverages travel down this tube when you eat or drink. Your LES is the gatekeeper that guards your stomach. It opens and closes to allow food and beverages to move into your stomach and keep traveling down your intestines. But when your LES is too relaxed, stomach contents — including bile and stomach acids — can back up and cause irritation and pain.

Begin by eliminating any foods known to trigger GERD. Then repair any irritation and soothe the esophageal lining.

Soothing your painful esophagus

Dr. Werbach found studies that eliminated the need for PPIs. He scoured the scientific literature and found a Brazilian study that compared a formula of several dietary supplements with omeprazole (a PPI) to repair the irritated esophageal lining and eliminate the need for PPIs. All patients taking the dietary supplement had complete relief of their symptoms at the end of 40 days of treatment, while only two-thirds of patients on PPIs experienced this regression. Next, when the researchers gave those who didn’t respond to the PPIs this formula for 40 days, their GERD symptoms also disappeared!

Dr. Werbach then tested this natural formula, as well as its individual nutrients, on his GERD patient and found that just one of its substances could control GERD!

You’ve heard about this nutrient before, but not for this application. In fact, you may have already used it for insomnia or jet lag. If you have, you didn’t take enough to stop heart- burn. The nutrient Dr. Werbach found that eliminated the need for PPIs, documented in his case study, is none other than melatonin.
You may know that melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland that helps regulate your sleep cycle. But it does much more. It also plays an important role in supporting the immune system and regulating aging. Few people know that 90% of melatonin is made in the intestines!

This hormone is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. And many studies show that it prevents damage from gastric ulcers and helps them heal quickly. While it may reduce the secretion of stomach acids, it doesn’t interfere with the absorption of important minerals like calcium and magnesium. In fact, melatonin reduces the excretion of calcium and increases low levels of zinc.

The amount of melatonin that reduced GERD in both the Brazilian study and Dr. Werbach’s case study was 6 mg per day taken at night. When Dr. Werbach reduced this amount to 3 mg per day, the symptoms returned. The amount of melatonin you need to get similar results could vary. That’s why I suggest you discuss this article with your doctor and ask him to help you figure out how much you need.

The safest way to try this therapy

If you presently take a PPI for GERD, don’t stop. Even if you’re tempted to do so. Instead, add 6 mg of melatonin at night for 40 days – the amount of time used in both of the above-mentioned studies. Then stop taking your PPI under your doctor’s direction. If you don’t develop symptoms, continue taking melatonin nightly. If the heartburn returns, resume taking your PPI and check with your doctor about how long to take both the PPI and melatonin before trying again to stop the PPI. You may only need to take the PPI for one day, Dr. Werbach found. If you’re not taking a PPI, simply try taking the 6 mg of melatonin alone.

How long do you need to take melatonin to eliminate GERD? No one knows. It may be possible to stop taking melatonin after

six months or a year. Or it could take longer. Then again, since melatonin protects the lining of the intestines, it may be best to keep taking it — unless a change of diet and lifestyle reduces your irritation and pain.

For now, take it daily. It’s inexpensive and readily available. Dr. Werbach’s study patient thought she had taken her melatonin every day when, in reality, she didn’t take it on one occasion. That night, her pain resumed. Once she started taking the melatonin again, the problem disappeared again.

One final note

Melatonin stimulates the immune system, which is good news for most people.
But if you have an autoimmune disease like Lupus, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, etc, don’t take melatonin. And since it can affect female hormone levels, don’t use it if you’re pregnant or nursing.

Konturek, S.J., et al. “Melatonin in gastroprotection against stress-induced acute gastric lesions and in healing of chronic gastric ulcers,” J Physiol Pharmacol, November 2006.

Pereira Rde, S. “Regression of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms using dietary supplementation with melatonin, vitamins and amino acids: comparison with omeprazole,” J Pineal Res, October 2006.

Pierpaoli, W. and W. Regelson. “Pineal control of aging: effect of melatonin and pineal grafting on aging mice,” Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, January 1994.

Werbach, Melvyn R, MD, “Melatonin for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease”, Alternative Therapies, July/Aug 2008.

www.healthscout.com.

New Scanner That Could Replace Mammograms Still Has Problems. I Have a Better Solution

There’s a new diagnostic scanner on the horizon designed to eventually replace mammograms. Radiologists are excited about its potential to diagnose breast cancer without squeezing a woman’s breast and causing pain. But if your doctor ever suggests it to you, I hope you’ll say, “No thank you!” You see, if you avoid mammograms because you don’t want to expose yourself to radiation, this new test is no better. In fact, it could be worse.

The scanner is the second generation in a line of expensive scanners that are supposed to give doctors more accurate information about breast cancer without the pain associated with mammograms. My suggestion: Wait for the third or fourth generation. Or look for a safer test. Let me tell you why.

This series of diagnostic devices began with a cone beam breast CT scanner where you lie on your stomach with one breast hanging through a hole. The scanner rotates around your breast and a computer collects the data into a 3-D image. The problem is that this CT breast scan blasts you with almost the same amount of radiation as a mammogram. And no amount of radiation is safe.

This second generation device combines a CT scan with a PET scan. PET stands for positron emission tomography. It’s an imaging technique where the doctor injects a radioactive isotope into you. You wait about an hour for the isotope to become concentrated in your breast tissue. And then it scans your breast. Your exposure to radiation is nearly as high as a mammogram with an added disadvantage.

We all know that it’s important to detect signs of cancer as early as possible. Mammograms are able to detect tiny calcium clusters that are often an early warning sign of impending breast cancer. The problem is this PET/CT scan can’t see these clusters. That’s because the amount of radiation used in this new scanner results in a poorer contrast.

So, which do you want? Radiation with pain and the ability to detect calcium clusters (mammogram)? Or radiation with no pain and poorer images of calcium clusters (PET/CT)?

One reason some doctors like this new PET/CT imaging device is that they intend to use it to follow the progression of cancer as well as the response to chemotherapy and other therapies. The problem is each scan increases your exposure to radiation. And if it can’t see calcium clusters clearly, how can this new device measure the effects of any treatments? Sounds like a way to get more use out of an expensive scanner.

Another option

Fortunately, you have another choice — one I doubt your doctor has mentioned. It can detect early signs of breast cancer and there’s no pain or radiation. I first talked about this diagnostic tool way back in 2002 and it’s still highly under-used. I’m talking about breast thermography, or digital infrared imaging (DII).

If you remember, DII takes a picture of your breasts. It identifies and measures the changes in heat in your body and translates it into images. A healthy breast is cool because not a lot of blood flows through it. But even before cells become malignant, new blood vessels are formed. This increased blood flow shows up on a thermogram as heat. These extra blood vessels are needed to feed hungry cancer cells.

The heat changes in breast tissues are very slight, but thermography can detect them. It has another advantage as well. It can detect inflammation, fibrocystic breasts, and benign tumors, as well as cancerous and pre-cancerous tissues. Of course, doctors also can use thermography to follow any therapy — again without any radiation or compression.

And there’s an added advantage. They help make mammography more accurate. This is because mammograms look at the anatomy — concentrating on shadows that identify cellular changes. Thermography, on the other hand, looks at the physiology — identifying heat and cellular changes that occur before and during the presence of tumors. It doesn’t find slow-growing tumors (mammography does) or the rare tumors not fed by blood vessels. So if you want the most complete examination, get both. Unless you want to avoid radiation.

No one diagnostic test is completely accurate. But thermography has no exposure to radiation, which could be a significant plus — especially if you’ve been exposed to radiation in the past.

For more information on breast thermography, go to my website or my most recent book, 456 Most Powerful Healing Secrets (call 800-728-2288 to order). You can find a listing of thermography centers in both locations as well.

“Dedicated Breast CT Imaging of the Breast,” July 29, 2008, the 50th annual meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Lindfors, K.K., et al. “Dedicated breast CT: Initial clinical experience,” Radiology, March 2008.

www.sciencedaily.com

If Your Memory Formula Doesn’t Contain this Herb, Get One That Does

Everything slows down with age. Your brain is no exception. Few effects of aging
are as disturbing as the loss of cognition — especially when it progresses. Fortunately, if you’re experiencing a loss of memory at any age, there could be a simple solution. You may just need to take the right brain-supporting supplements.

One respected herb is popular in Ayurvedic medicine. This is a system of medicine that originated in India. This herb may hold the key to a better memory. I’ve been hearing a lot about it from supplement manufacturers and herbalists based on its safety and effectiveness. In fact, I predict you’ll be hearing a lot more about it in the future.

Scientific studies support its use to improve cognition. In fact, this herb may be more effective than ginkgo biloba. It can even enhance ginkgo’s activity when you take the two herbs together. It’s easier to absorb than glutathione (see last January’s issue). And it’s inexpensive. Ayurvedic medicine uses this herb, Bacopa monniera, or water hyssop, as a nerve tonic.

Bacopa grows in marshes throughout India and many Asian countries. Indian traditional medicine has used it for more than 3,000 years. It’s one of a handful of plants that rejuvenates the memory. What’s more, Bacopa is also an adaptogen that reduces physical and mental stress.

Scientific studies found Bacopa improved memory by reducing aluminum. It also blocks and destroys free radicals. This is exactly what current research from a pharmaceutical company found.

The research I read on Bacopa impressed me so much that I insisted we include it in the memory supplement I formulated. The scientific community is just now beginning to recognize this herb as an important brain nutrient. Some herbalists predict it will be the next hot nutrient to hit the market. I agree.

What’s so special about Bacopa? It has a wide range of activities that enhance cognition and a healthy brain. For one, it reduces a type of plaque in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. It protects the brain from damage caused by aluminum toxicity. And it reduces inflammation — the core cause for many chronic illnesses.

Reduces plaque in the brain

One of the signs of Alzheimer’s disease is the formation of plaque in the brain. A study published in Phytotherapy Research (October 2007) found that Bacopa extract reduced this type of plaque. It also reduces toxic metals and free radicals. Anavex Life Sciences Corp (www.anavex.com) recently conducted a study that came to a similar conclusion. The true cause of Alzheimer’s, they say, is oxidative stress. Plaque, they found, is the result of excessive free radicals, not the cause.

One advantage of using botanicals is that they have a variety of effects. Pharmaceutical drugs, on the other hand, may have one or two actions. This means that before Anavex Corp realized that plaque was secondary
to oxidative stress, Bacopa was already addressing both.

Reduces aluminum

Although aluminum is one of the most abundant minerals on the planet, it has no function in living cells and is toxic to the brain. Your body deposits excess aluminum in bones and the central nervous system. Large quantities alter the function of the blood-brain barrier, allowing plaque to get into the brain.

Researchers have long associated heavy metal toxicity with declining memory. Bacopa reduced heavy metals as well as free radicals. A hair analysis can measure your levels of aluminum and other heavy metals. Your doctor can order a test kit from Doctor’s Data (800-323-2784). I’ve found the heavy metal analysis is a very accurate test. It’s covered by Medicare and many other insurance companies.

This adaptogen reduces inflammation

You’ve heard me say this before: Inflammation is at the foundation of most chronic illnesses. This includes brain dysfunction. Many herbs, including Bacopa, have strong anti-inflammatory activity. Reducing inflammation is just one effect from this adaptogen. If you remember, an adaptogen regulates and balances various body functions.

If you’re already taking a memory formula, you may want to make sure it contains this herb. If it doesn’t, switch to one that does or add extra Bacopa to your
supplement regime. My Advanced Memory Formula contains 120 mg of Bacopa each day, along with ginkgo and other memory-enhancing nutrients. You can order it by calling 800-728-2288 or visiting the website (www.advancedbionutritionals.com).

Most studies found 300-400 mg per day of a standardized extract taken for three months is effective. But be patient and remember that everyone is a little different. You may need more or less of it. And it could take longer than three months for you to see results. Give Bacopa at least a four-month trial. And the amount found in my memory formula could be all you need. Let me know what works best for you.

Calabrese, C., et al. “Effects of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in the elderly: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial,” J Altern Complement Med, July 8, 2008.

Dhanasekaran, M., et al. “Neuroprotective mechanisms of Ayurvedic antidementia botanical Bacopa monniera,” Phytotherapy Research, October 2007.

Jyoti, A., et al. “Bacopa monniera prevents from aluminum neurotoxicity in the cerebral cortex of rat brain,” J Ethnopharmacol, April 20 2007.

NUTRITION DETECTIVE

Yet Another Use for My Favorite Mineral

It looks like we’re not going to run out of reasons to emphasize the importance of my favorite mineral: magnesium. It was once under-appreciated and largely ignored. But magnesium has certainly made the news in the past few years. It’s the first nutrient to give someone after a heart attack. It relieves constipation, lowers blood pressure, and relaxes muscles. And it reduces your risk for heart disease and diabetes. Now we can add another application: muscle strength.
In the first study of its kind, researchers randomly selected nearly 1,500 older men and women to evaluate the effects of magnesium on muscle strength. This two-year study tested a number of muscles, including grip, lower leg strength, and the ability to extend their knees repeatedly. The researchers took into account many variables. These include the density of muscles and the difference between muscle strength in men vs. women. Then they looked at the blood magnesium levels of the participants.

They found that serum magnesium levels greatly influenced muscle strength. Those with the highest magnesium levels had much greater muscle strength.
If you find it difficult to stand up, or if you feel weaker after exercising than you once did, look to magnesium for a solution. As I’ve pointed out before, we use up more magnesium when we’re under stress. A lack of stomach acids (or taking antacids) slows down your body’s ability to use magnesium. And we tend to eat fewer foods high in this mineral (beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, dark green veggies). And too many of us take too many supplements that emphasize calcium over magnesium. That’s exactly the opposite of what your body most likely needs. So you can see why you may need to take some magnesium supplements.

Give magnesium a three-month trial. Try taking magnesium to bowel tolerance (until your stools are soft but not too soft). Use any magnesium except poorly absorbed magnesium oxide. And let me know how magnesium helped you regain muscle strength.

Dominguez, L.J., et al. “Magnesium and muscle performance in older persons: the InCHIANTI study,” Amer Journ Clin Nutr, August 2006.

LETTERS

Q: My oncologists say I need a course of radiation to help treat my breast cancer. I know that radiation is very damaging. Is there anything I can take to lower my risk of this damage? — FKN, e-mail

A: First, remember that no amount of radiation is safe. So make sure that radiation is an appropriate treatment for you. Get a second opinion from a doctor who doesn’t necessarily share all of your doctor’s thoughts on treatment options.
That said, radiation and chemotherapy do have their place for some women. If you use them, make sure you always use other therapies that reduce their side effects. One such therapy is the supplement Modified Citrus Pectin. This is an oral chelator that removes heavy metals and reduces radiation side effects. PectaSol Chelation Complex, which contains Modified Citrus Pectin, is the supplement I suggest you take after radiation treatments.

Another natural nutrient that protects against radiation exposure is resveratrol. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine are currently studying this nutrient as a protection against a nuclear emergency. You may want to take resveratrol twice a day for one month after your course of radiation.
You can find both Advanced Resveratrol Formula and PectaSol Chelation Complex through Advanced Bionutritionals (800-728-2288 or www.advancedbionutritionals.com). Resveratrol is also available in many health food stores. But be sure to take the trans-resveratrol form, which is much better absorbed than the cheaper cis-resveratrol.

University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences (2008, September 24). Plant Antioxidant May Protect Against Radiation Exposure. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 25, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com.

Q: Ever since I started taking hormones, I’ve been having heartburn. Is this just a coincidence, or is there a connection? By the way, I take only bio-identical hormones. — CAB, e-mail

A: It’s not a coincidence. A group of researchers analyzed data from more than 50,000 postmenopausal women who participated in The Nurse’s Study. They found 12,000 women who had heartburn, or acid reflux, at least once a week.
Then they compared the women who used to take hormones with those who were taking them currently. They found an increased risk for heartburn in women who took estrogen alone or estrogen with progesterone. It didn’t matter what kinds of hormones they took — synthetic or bio-identical.

A common cause of heartburn is a malfunctioning valve called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Scientists have noticed that LES pressure decreases when a woman is pregnant and also when she takes oral contraceptives — changing her hormone balance. It’s possible your heartburn is the result of an LES that lacks tone.

You didn’t mention anything about your weight — probably because you’re unaware of this connection with heartburn. But postmenopausal use of hormones can cause heartburn in women who are overweight.

If you need to lose weight, this could be a good reason to modify your diet and exercise regimen. Between this information and the article in this issue on heartburn, you should be pain-free quickly.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/portals/public.html.