A Hopeful Solution to a ‘Grim Reaper’

“It is impossible to escape the grim news about Alzheimer’s disease,” so says Dr. Dale Bredesen, The End of Alzheimer’s. “There is no reliable way to prevent it, and the disease has for decades beaten the world’s best neuroscientists. Despite the billions and billions of dollars spent by governmental agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology wizards to invent and test drugs for Alzheimer’s, 99.6 percent of what we have come up with have been abysmal failures.”

A sad commentary, because we fear Alzheimer’s as we fear no other disease. Why?

● It is the only one of the ten most common causes of death for which there is no cure.

● It is not only fatal, Alzheimer’s is worse than fatal, robbing its victims of their very humanity and capacity for independence.

Here, finally, is the good news. The Buck Institute, University of Southern California has science evidence-based research indicating a 90% prevention and reversal of cognitive impairment. Better yet, these studies (now called the ReCODE Program) have helped hundreds of patients, over a period of seven years.

Patients in the study talk about the blessing of getting their lives back. One patient reported that he has allowed himself to think about the future again when he talks to his grandchildren. Another said her memory is better than it had been in thirty years. One musician’s wife said her husband returned to playing his guitar. The daughter of another said her mother, who had been disappearing slowly, is once again part of the family.

At The Renewal Point, we see many patients with mild to moderate cognitive loss or a strong family history for Alzheimer’s. It’s a scary proposition. “What will happen to me?” “Will I get Alzheimer’s?” “Is there anything that can be done?”

Thankfully, medical research now offers a solution. Running the appropriate lab tests recommended by Dr. Bredesen is the start.

1. Genetics – Sensitive Alzheimer’s risk genes such as APOE4, MTHFR, and COMT can be down-regulated.
2. Hormone Panels – Natural Hormone Balancing is known to lower cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s risk.
3. NutrEval – Correcting nutrient deficiencies to slow down and rebuild the brain.
4. Inflammatory Markers – Inflammation in the brain causes the neurons to burn out quickly. Inflammation can be squelched, if we know where to put the fire out.
5. Toxins Profile – Toxins such as mercury, lead, PCB’s, and mycotoxins get lodged in the brain and contribute to cognitive decline. Once toxins are detected, natural and traditional therapies can be implemented.

With over 15 years’ experience in toxin elimination, brain health, and hormone balancing, as well as a Board Certification in Integrative Medicine, and a Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine, Dr. Watts has designed a Brain Health Program that has helped thousands of patients. If you, or someone you know, have been experiencing symptoms of cognitive decline, we recommend that you schedule an appointment or come to our upcoming seminar ~ we can help!  To schedule an appointment or RSVP to our upcoming seminar, you can call us at (941)926-4905, email us at info@therenewalpoint.com, or visit our website TheRenewalPoint.com.

References:

1. The End of Alzheimer’s. Dr. Dale Bredesen. Copyright © Bredesen Publishing, LLC 2017.

At The Renewal Point, we have been inundated with patients trying to wean off psychotropic medication. We know it can be a frustrating endeavor. Consider the difficulty Ms. Robin H. encountered. (Taken from a story that recently appeared in the New York Times.)

Robin, a 54-year-old mother of four who lives near Concord, N.H., began taking the antidepressant Paxil 21 years ago for severe premenstrual syndrome upon the recommendation of her gynecologist. “He said, ‘Oh, this little pill is going to change your life,’” Robin said. “Well, did it ever.” The drug blunted her PMS symptoms, but also caused her to gain 40 pounds in nine months. Quitting was nearly impossible – at first. “My doctor tapered me too quickly,” she said.

She succeeded in her last attempt, in 2015, by tapering over months to 10 milligrams, then five, down from 20 milligrams and “finally all the way down to particles of dust,” after which she was bedridden for three weeks with severe dizziness, nausea and crying spells.

“Had I been told the risks of trying to come off this drug, I never would have started it,” Robin said. “A year and a half after stopping I’m still having problems. I’m not me right now; I don’t have the creativity, the energy. She – Robin – is gone.”

Long-term use of antidepressants is surging in the United States. The New York Times article goes on to say that these drugs have helped millions of people ease depression and anxiety, and are widely regarded as milestones in psychiatric treatment. But the rise in long-term use is also the result of an unanticipated and growing problem.

Many, perhaps most, people stop the medications without significant trouble. But antidepressants are not harmless; they commonly cause emotional numbing, weight gain, and sexual problems like a lack of desire or erectile dysfunction. Long-term users report in interviews a creeping unease that is hard to measure: daily dosage leaves them doubting their own resilience, they say.

Patients who try to stop taking the drugs often say they cannot. In a recent survey of 250 long-term users of psychiatric drugs, most commonly antidepressants, about half who wound down their prescriptions rated the withdrawal as severe. Nearly half who tried to quit could not do so because of these symptoms.

In our medical practice at The Renewal Point, we take an integrated approach to help our patients achieve emotional well-being. We find this approach to be the best way to manage weaning off psychotropic medication.

• Hormone Balancing: Rebalancing Gonadal, Thyroid, and Adrenal imbalances make it easier to get back on an optimal emotional track.
• Genetics: Certain genes can affect our psychological well-being. When detected, these genes can often be “turned on or off.”
• Nutrient Deficiency: Vitamin, mineral, and nutrient deficiencies contribute to emotional instability.
• Neurotransmitter Imbalances: Imbalances in neurotransmitters such as Serotonin, Dopamine, or Norepinephrine can intensify anxiety, depression, sleep problems, fatigue, etc. Rebalancing is key.
• Lifestyle: Diet, exercise, alcohol, drugs, fun, counseling, and social engagement enter into the wellness formula as well.

If you are interested in trying an integrative approach, we can help! Dr. Watts, MD, ND, MSNM and Helena, ARNP, MSN, are experts in Bio-identical and NeuroAdrenal (Brain) Hormone Balancing.  With over 25 years experience in hormone balancing, a Board Certification in Integrative Medicine,  a Post-doctoral Certification in Metabolic Endocrinology, and a Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine, Dr. Watts has put together a Brain and Hormone Balancing Program that has helped thousands of patients renew their love and vigor for life.  To schedule an appointment, ask questions, or get more information, you can call us at 941-926-4905, email us at info@therenewalpoint.com, or visit our website at TheRenewalPoint.com. 

Why your sex life matters and what you can do about it!

Consider this common scenario…

A 61 year old patient expresses concern about “mild vaginal dryness but nothing that bothers me.  What bothers me is that I’m not able to have an orgasm and it is frustrating to me and my husband.” A physical exam reveals significant clitoral retraction.  (Since the clitoris is the female sexual appendage ~ equivalent to the male penis ~ it is a vital part of stimulation).  She was given a care plan consisting of vaginal exercises and hormonal vaginal cream to apply nightly for 2 months in order to increase secretion and thicken tissue.  She was reassessed after 2 months and was pleased with her increased stimulation and ability to orgasm during intercourse.

FEMALE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION…

This is an extremely common scenario, but it definitely doesn’t stop there…  other common problems include painful intercourse, low libido, low/absent sexual arousal, and aversion to sex.  These are all forms of Female Sexual Dysfunction (the female version of Erectile Dysfunction) and while 48.2% of women suffer from one of these problems, 23.2% suffer from two or more.  The great news is that we can address almost all of these issues successfully!

While the ability to have pleasure through sex and orgasm is plenty enough reason to fix the problem, female sexual dysfunction is also linked to a number of other problems that warrant attention…quality of life, relationship health, and intimacy.

THE HONEYMOON EFFECT…

“Think back on the most spectacular love affair of your life-the Big One that toppled you head over heels. For most, it was a time of heartfelt bliss, robust health, and abundant energy. Life was so beautiful that you couldn’t wait to bound out of bed in the morning to experience more Heaven on Earth. It was the Honeymoon Effect that was to last forever. Unfortunately for most, the Honeymoon Effect is frequently short-lived. Imagine what your planetary experience would be like if you could maintain the Honeymoon Effect throughout your whole life” says Bruce Lipton, Ph.D.

Well, the great news is that now you probably can!  But having a plan to keep the ‘love juices’ flowing is first and foremost…

LET’S MAKE A PLAN…

In the scenario at the beginning, a simple plan of hormonal cream and exercises fixed the problem. Sometimes trigger point injections are the key.  And, then, some cases are more complex ~ with combination therapies consisting of creams, injections, counseling and/or surgery.  Many times, the treatment can be fully completed in the office, other times, we work in conjunction with a counselor and/or specialty surgeon. 

Above all, the main thing that I want women to remember is that YOU AREN’T ALONE ~ whatever the problem may be, WE ARE HERE TO HELP and all patient care is completed privately and confidentially.

If you are experiencing any of the issues above, or any others that you are concerned about, I encourage you to call our office, come to our upcoming seminar, email us, or contact us through our website TheRenewalPoint.com.  You don’t have to suffer in silence. 

Source: Helena Williams, ARNP, MS. Helena is a Board Certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner at The Renewal Point. With an extensive background in integrative medicine, Helena works together with her patients to create a holistic and individualized approach, in order to bring them to an optimal quality of life.

References:

Yale School of Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Cleveland Clinic

Doctors report shocking increase in cases of toxic exposure. Here’s why and how to keep these nasty culprits from wrecking your health.

As author Chris Kresser writes, “Toxins from our environment are ubiquitous and almost impossible to avoid. But, if you are taking steps to limit your exposure, should you be worried about the low levels that are still undoubtedly in our system?”

As a physician and health doctor, I could not agree more. If you eat food, drink water, breathe air or apply cosmetics to your body, you are exposing yourself to toxins. Common exposures include:

• Health and beauty aids
• Pesticides and herbicides
• Industrial pollutants
• Molds
• Preservatives
• Fuels and solvents
• Plastics and cookware

There is no denying it. The Environmental Working Group reports that the average person carries 91 toxic chemicals in his or her body. Worse yet, a growing body of research indicates that chronic low doses of many toxins can be very harmful. Here are a few examples:

Low levels of Mercury, Lead, and Aluminum are linked to an increase in Alzheimer’s risk.

Bisphenol A (BPA), plastics, Polychlorinated Bisphenols (PCB’s), dioxins, and some pesticides are endocrine disruptors causing hormonal havoc, i.e. increased breast cancer risk and decreased fertility rate.

Industrial chemicals are known to cause and increase frequency of neurodevelopmental diseases and disabilities in children, including autism, attention-deficit disorder (A.D.D.), dyslexia, and cognitive impairment.

In particular, women are more susceptible to toxins than men. Researchers at the Institute for Health and Consumer Protection discovered a significant sex related difference in the way women detox through their livers, making them overall more sensitive.

What to do?

1. Limit toxins within your control, i.e., cookware, foods, cosmetics, indoor mold growth, plastics (food containers, etc.), household pesticides.
2. Improve nutrition.
3. Boost gut and liver health through supplementation, i.e., milk thistle, probiotics, etc.
4. Genetics and Epigenetics ~ Run genetics testing. Everyone’s body is unique in the ability to clear out toxins or not.

SOURCE: At The Renewal Point, we always begin with testing. This allows us to determine the type and amount of toxin present so that we are targeting the problem with the correct therapy. We also work together with our patients to help deter – mine where the environmental toxin could be coming from — home, work, food, etc. With over 15 years of experience in toxin elimination and a Board Certification in Integrative Medicine, Dr. Watts has helped hundreds of patients overcome toxic burden.

References:

1. C. Exley, T. Vickers. Elevated brain aluminum and early onset Alzheimer’s disease in an individual occupationally exposed to aluminum: a case report. Exley and Vickers Journal of Medical Case Reports 2014, 8:41 www.jmedicalcasereports.com/content/8/1/41.

2. Philippe Grandjean, Phillip J. Landrigan. Neurobehavioural effects of developmental toxicity. www.thelancet.com/neurology Vol 13 March 2014.

3. Milena Mennecozzi, Brigitte Landesmann, Taina Palosaari, Georgina Harris, Maurice Whelan. Sex Differences in Liver Toxicity—Do Female and Male Human Primary Hepatocytes React Differently to Toxicants In Vitro? Pub Med: PLoS One. 2015; 10(4): e0122786. Published online 2015 Apr 7. doi:  10.1371/journal.pone.0122786.

4. Vahter M, Akesson A, Lidén C, Ceccatelli S, Berglund M. Gender differences in the disposition and toxicity of metals. Pub Med: Environ Res. 2007 May;104(1):85-95. Epub 2006 Sep 22.

5. E. J. Calabrese. Editorial: Sex Differences in Susceptibility to Toxic Industrial Chemicals. British Journal of Industrial Medicine Vol. 43, No. 9 (Sep., 1986), pp. 577-579.

“Cognitive decline is largely a matter of three fundamental threats to our brain”: So says Dr. Dale Bredesen in his best-selling book, The End of Alzheimer’s.

1. Inflammation

2. Shortage of brain boosting nutrients such as natural hormones

3. Toxins

To further emphasize the importance of this, the NIH website now lists thirty thousand articles on the dangers of toxins in the brain.

Heavy metals like mercury, arsenic, cadmium and lead are neurotoxins (kills brain tissue), and most of us do not know we have been exposed to them.

Remember, the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland? His character was based on a “madness” dating from early felt making in hat manufacturing during the 18th Century. The symptoms of Mad Hatters disease included memory loss, depression, insomnia, tremors, irritability, and extreme social phobias. Although few of us make felt hats these days, let alone use mercury, we are nevertheless exposed when we eat fish (typically the larger ones). The other source is the inorganic mercury in dental fillings.

More importantly, mercury, arsenic, lead and cadmium can induce the signature pathologies of Alzheimer’s disease – amyloid beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.Chronic exposure to these metals have also been associated with loss of executive functions (including problem-solving, planning, organizational ability, higher forms of thinking, reduced mental acuity and deterioration of verbal skills as well as depression.

The good news is, at The Renewal Point we can check for heavy metal toxicity and clear it from the body and brain. There are several ways to check for heavy metals in your system. Mercury, for instance, is often measured in your blood, but since mercury sits in deposits in the bone, brain, and other tissue, blood tests are not very sensitive indicators. The standard is to collect urine, typically over six hours following the administration of a chelating agent (that is a chemical that grabs out the mercury tightly and pulls it out of the tissues).

With over 15 years’ experience in Toxin Elimination, a Board Certification in Integrative Medicine, and a Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine, Dr. Watts has designed a Toxin Elimination Program that has helped thousands of patients. If you have been experiencing any of the symptoms talked about in this article, we recommend that you schedule an appointment or come to one of our upcoming seminars ~ we can help!  To schedule an appointment or RSVP to our upcoming seminar, you can call us at (941)926-4905, email us at info@therenewalpoint.com, or visit our website TheRenewalPoint.com.

References:

1. Bondy, SC, Campbell A.  Water Quality and Brain Function.  Int J Environ Res Public Health.

   2017 Dec 21;15(1). pii: E2. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010002.

2. Carocci, A, Rovito, N, Sinicropi, MS, Genchi, G. Mercury toxicity and neurodegenerative

   Effects. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol. 2014;229:1-18. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-03777-6_1.

3. Santos, LE, Ferreir, ST. Crosstalk between endoplasmic reticulum stress and brain in-     

   flammation in Alzheimer’s disease. Neuropharmacology. 2017 Nov 10. pii: S0028-

   3908(17)30525-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroharm.2017.11.016.

4. Andrade, MV, Aschner, M, Marreilha, Dos Santos, AP. Neurotoxicity of Metal Mixtures. Adv

   Neurobiol. 2017;18-227-265. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-60189-2_12.

5. Dr. Dale Bredesen. The End of Alzheimer’s. The First Programme to Prevent and Reverse the   

   Cognitive Decline of Dementia. Copyright © Bredesen Publishing, LLC 2017.

 A must-read breakthrough…

Sounds too good to be true, but that is exactly what researchers at the medical center of the esteemed University degli Studi, Naples, Italy, found and reported this year in a large, peer reviewed study.

“In a woman’s life, menopause is characterized by significant physiological changes often associated with an increase in body mass and obesity associated sickness.”

Numerous studies have described the effect of hormone deficiencies in aging, energy run down, and obesity in menopausal women.  The aim of this study was to determine whether obese, but otherwise healthy menopausal women, who underwent hormone replacement therapy could lose weight without changing their diet or sedentary life style.

In the group treated with natural, bio-Identical hormones, a significant drop in free fat mass was found without the addition of exercise or calorie restriction.  However, what researchers also found was that it was most important what type of hormone replacement therapy was used.  In a study by O’Sullivan et al, the participants taking synthetic, drug hormone therapy actually gained weight!

The results are important because they have a practical implication for prevention and/or treatment of obesity, as well as its associated illnesses.

If you have suffered the agony of calorie deprivation (dieting), but have failed to achieve any kind of fat reduction, this article pertains to you.  While eating less addresses some of the underlying causes of weight gain, the high failure rate of dieting is partially attributable to the severe alteration in hormone levels that occur as part of normal aging.  It’s no wonder that without correcting these imbalances, losing weight can be extremely frustrating, if not impossible.

Let a quick, but comprehensive blood test we offer at The Renewal Point reveal whether you have imbalances.  If we find any, we are then able to determine the exact type and amount of bio-identical hormones that are right for you!

Before concluding, I want to point out that while this article addresses just how effective bio-identical hormones can be on their own, at The Renewal Point, we always recommend additional lifestyle changes, such as a healthy nutrition and exercise.  After treating thousands of patients, we have found that the combination of Bio-identical Hormone Balancing, Nutrition, Physical Conditioning, and Toxin Elimination are the Four Cornerstones of Health.

Women often put themselves last on their list of priorities, but I encourage you to make your own health and happiness one of your New Year’s Resolutions this year ~ you deserve it!

Renew Your Hormones, Renew Your Life!

Visit our website at www.therenewalpoint.com ,call 941-926-4905, or come to one of our upcoming seminars for more information. 

References:

Monda et al. Frontiers in Physiology. 2017; 8: 773 “Role of Sex Hormones in the Control of Vegetative and Metabolic Functions of Middle-Aged Women.”

O’Sullivan et al. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1998; 102;1035-1040 “The route of estrogen replacement therapy confers divergent effects on substrate oxidation and body composition in postmenopausal women.”

Are you looking to…

• Get your game back?
• Get your figure back?
• Gain balance, stability, and joint health?
• Recover from injury?
• Get relief from back, neck, and shoulder pain?
• Increase good cholesterol and cardiorespiratory fitness?
• Improve physical performance (golf, sports competition, etc)?

If you answered yes to ANY ONE of these, then the CKC Fitness program, utilizing the Luedeka Body Weight Trainer, is just what you are looking for!

We use a researched, tested, and novel approach to fitness, developed by David Luedeka, MS, DPT. From the person recovering from a major fall to the professional athlete looking to increase their skills, our fitness program can help!

You will be tested to find out where imbalances, injuries, and weaknesses lie and then our Medical Fitness Professional will design an individualized program to be executed on the Luedeka Body Weight Trainer at The Renewal Point.

Want to get your game back and improve physical performance?

The Luedeka Body Weight Trainer provides assistance until you can do resistance. This means that whether you are just starting out in a workout routine or are a seasoned athlete, this fitness program will meet you where you are to help you strengthen and tone your muscles.

Want your figure back?

Strength and conditioning is proven to be one of the keys to long term weight loss. The Luedeka Body Weight Trainer maximizes metabolic conditioning (fat burn) through the use of individualized variations in exercise type, intensity, and amount.

Living with balance or joint problems?

You’re not alone! Almost everyone has differences between the right and left side, causing issues ranging from mild back pain to a serious fall. The Luedeka Body Weight Trainer will assist you in doing proper single leg functional exercises so that you can develop balanced strength and stability in your muscles and joints.

Recovering from injury?

The Luedeka Body Weight Trainer uses a closed chain training system with progressive resisted exercise to ensure proper form and equalized strength between the upper and lower body ~ allowing for safe recovery, joint stabilization, and prevention of further injury.

Need pain relief in your back, neck, or shoulders?

The functional and closed chain system of the Luedeka Body Weight Trainer helps ensure that stress (load) is placed exactly where it is needed, and never where it isn’t…allowing for functional movement and joint stabilization, which are both essential components for pain relief.

Looking for better heart health and increased metabolism?

Workouts on the Luedeka Body Weight Trainer maximize metabolic conditioning which helps increase good cholesterol and overall cardiorespiratory fitness.

Highlights of the CKC Fitness Program:

• Create balanced strength and mobility without injury
• Create improvements in power and speed
• Recover from injury
• Engage in overspeed training for all movements
• Participate in challenging, metabolic revving workouts for fat burn and conditioning
• Use gravity to protect from injury
• Increase good cholesterol and cardiorespiratory fitness
• Maintain or recover joint health

For more information or to schedule an appointment, you can call us at 941-926-4905 or email us at info@therenewalpoint.com. 

With numerous hurricanes having recently brought deadly winds and floodwaters, we are now left with a crisis on numerous levels.  For many, getting the basics of food, water, and dry shelter from more flooding is still a major concern; electricity remains to be a problem and could continue to be for quite some time; the elderly, young children, and those with special medical needs remain to be at high risk; and, the task of rebuilding is physically, emotionally, and financially overwhelming, to say the least. 

Unfortunately there is another, more hidden, health risk looming in the future for everyone whose property was touched by the floodwaters…Black Mold.  And, in fact, this hidden risk has the potential to cause more harm to more people than the actual hurricane itself.  While dealing with immediate crisis and emergency situation needs to be the first priority, I urge everyone to make sure that they seriously consider whether they or family or friends could be affected by deadly black mold.

As you probably know, around the house and, indeed, around virtually any property for that matter, mold is a fairly common sight. Now, we know that black mold is bad for our health, but many people don’t realize just how harmful it can really be. Every day, people up and down the country are exposed to black mold and it, along with other similar forms of fungus, is responsible for countless chronic illnesses and disease symptoms, which we’ll be covering in more detail a little later on.

Black mold is such a problem that, recently, the CDC actually held its very first fungal disease awareness event. They also echoed what we have been saying for years, which is that, if you are suffering with an unknown illness or condition, with no obvious causes or triggers….please consider the possibility of it being caused by a fungal disease such as black mold. You see, the issue is that problems brought on by fungus, and fungal diseases, are often not diagnosed instantly because the symptoms are similar to those associated with other, more common, ailments.  As the CDC now says, “Think Fungus,” if you find yourself not getting any better with treatment and be sure to consult your doctor or integrative medicine specialist and raise your concerns over the possibility of a fungal infection.

What exactly is black mold? – Black mold goes by scientific names such as stachybotrys, aspergillus, and fusarium and, as mentioned in the intro, it is unfortunately very common in homes, even without the hurricane floodwaters. This form of mold thrives on materials where there are naturally high levels of cellulose present: wood, cardboard, hay, straw, wicker, fibreboard, and so on. Mold also thrives in locations that are warm, with high levels of moisture, which is why your bathroom, especially around the shower, probably has traces of at least some black mold, even if it isn’t visible to the naked eye. There are other forms of mold, but as you can probably guess, this particular form of mold is distinguishable because it is dark black in color. Sometimes it can take on a green tinge and will also emit an unpleasant odour which can be musty, similar to mildew.

Black mold poisoning and what to do about it – Black mold poisoning is far more common than a lot of people realize, and there are a number of common symptoms to be on the lookout for. These include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Rashes
• Tickly cough
• Allergenic symptoms

Integrative, holistic medical experts can help people suffering from black mold poisoning; and, the thing to remember, is that the severity of the symptoms will all depend on the amount of mold spores that you have inhaled and your state of health previous to the black mold exposure. If you suspect that you, or somebody you know, may be suffering from black mold poisoning, you should consult an expert. They can use ELISA urine testing to determine the presence of mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, tricothecenes, and ochratoxins.

Other, more chronic, symptoms – One of the main issues regarding black mold poisoning is that there are certain misconceptions, even within the medical community, that the condition is purely allergenic. Therefore, many of the current tests out there will not test for the more aggressive mycotoxins found in individuals who have been more heavily exposed to higher traces of black mold. This is why it pays to adopt a more holistic outlook as high exposure can lead to very serious illnesses. Though the spores are not visible to the naked eye, once ingested, the spores can cause a whole variety of serious symptoms. This is known as mycotoxicosis and can cause things like:

• Difficulty breathing
• Asthma attacks
• Fibromyalgia
• Hypersensitivity
• IBS
• Memory loss
• Vision problems
• Brain fog
• Headache
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Hyper sensitivities
• Hair loss
• Weight changes
• Increased risk of cancer
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Seizure
• Ringing in the ears
• Flushing of the face
• Fertility problems
• Irregular heart beat
• And even death in more severe cases

Roger and Maggie’s story – Two patients who recently benefitted hugely from an integrative, naturopathic treatment plan were Roger and Maggie. Both in their fifties, this couple were the epitome of health: They ate organic, they exercised several times each week, took health supplements, drank filtered water, and really took care of themselves. They should have been in peak physical shape but for some reason they both began finding themselves being tired, lethargic, dealing with headaches, and generally feeling unwell.

They saw a doctor who couldn’t diagnose any clear problems and chalked their symptoms down to a mild cold virus, prescribed antibiotics and told them to come back in a couple of weeks if they felt no better. Weeks later, they felt worse but unfortunately the doctor had no idea what was going on, as all of their lab tests were perfectly fine.

Eventually, they mentioned their health issues to a friend, who happened to notice a musty odor in their home and advised them to speak to an integrative medicine expert and consider the possibility of black mold poisoning.  An ELISA test was performed and, presto, a diagnosis was finally made.

Further research into their environment revealed the problem in the AC ducts…water was condensing around improperly sized/fitted AC ducts, leading to the growth of mold spores.  So, not only were there localized spores around the ducts and in the walls and ceiling, but when the AC was switched on, the spores were actually being circulated throughout their home. Their bodies were riddled with toxins causing all types of ailments. This particular strain of mold is potentially very deadly; it actually produces a toxin which has been used by the military for chemical warfare purposes, to produce ‘yellow rain’.

Roger and Maggie were treated and, thankfully, they both recovered. They were incredibly fortunate as the doctor actually told them that the amounts of black mold spores found in their bodies were normally found during autopsies. Fortunately their healthy lifestyle may have been enough to keep them alive long enough to seek help, as people in poorer health would likely have lost their lives weeks ago.

We are here to help!

At The Renewal Point, we truly understand just how frustrating it can be to have symptoms with an unexplained root cause.  Furthermore, merely treating the symptoms (depression, cough, brain fog, etc) is not only pointless, but actually deadly because the root cause, such as mycotoxicosis in the body and black mold spores in the house, still remain.  We feel that it’s important to take a look at what could be behind the symptoms and make sure that we are targeting the problem at its source.

We are so relieved that the CDC is helping to bring awareness to this issue ~ too many people have suffered and died from black mold poisoning and it’s time to put an end to it.  Whether your house was damaged by floodwaters, you have the symptoms mentioned above, or you “Think Fungus” for any other reason, then we urge you to come to The Renewal Point, or find another expert in mold poisoning.  Determining the presence of mycotoxins and immediately beginning treatment could be your lifesaver!

To schedule an appointment, ask questions, or get more information, you can call us at 941-926-4905, email us at info@therenewalpoint.com, or visit our website at TheRenewalPoint.com. 

About Dr. Watts

With a Board Certification in Integrative Medicine and over 15 years of experience using integrative, holistic, and functional therapies, Dr. Watts has put together an Integrative Medicine Program that has helped thousands of patients,  including hundreds of those suffering from black mold.  He has over 35 years experience in surgery and family medicine and holds a post-doctoral certification in Metabolic Endocrinology and  a Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine.    For more information on his credentials or to see his complete CV, please follow this link: https://www.therenewalpoint.com/sites/default/files/Dr.%20Watts%20CV081017.pdf

Tears flooded down her cheeks cascading onto her blouse. I reached out and handed her a box of Kleenex and waited, “Tell me what’s going on.” 

The room was quiet for a moment. 

“It’s my weight,” More tears. “And, I’m doing everything right; everything I know to do. I exercise almost every day; eat whole foods, no gluten or sugar.“ 

As I listened intently, eventually the real culprits began to surface: a troubled marriage, a stressful job, poor sleep, menopausal symptoms, tired all the time and high-strung. Her two children had grown and left home which only added to more feelings of loneliness. 

Modern-day life with its ‘pedal to the metal’ stressors can play havoc on our bodies. And, Martha is not alone in her struggles. At The Renewal Point, we hear stories such as hers every day. 

Are you doing everything right, but still struggle to lose weight? 

A lot of people think the weight loss formula is so simple, “Eat less and exercise more.” In many cases, especially in younger people, this formula may work quite well. However, when it comes to burning more calories than you consume, this so called weight loss equation applies only to perfectly balanced hormone specimens; people who have their cortisol, thyroid, insulin, estrogen and testosterone in optimal balance. (Remember being 20 years old?) 

After years of medical practice, working with thousands of women and men, I have found that until you get your hormones in balance, trimming the waistline will be as difficult as stopping a freight train with your little finger! 

Cortisol 

When too high or too low, you lose muscle and gain fat around the belly. 

Thyroid 

Low thyroid causes a sluggish metabolism along with depression, fatigue, brain fog, and weight gain. Hormone medical experts believe your thyroid numbers should be in optimal range, not just the traditional normal range. 

Insulin 

Insulin is a hormone that stores fat. When your cells become numb to insulin you lay down fat, especially around your belly. 

Estrogen 

Yale researchers recently found that low estrogen levels stimulate appetite (much like leptin, a hormone released by fat that pushes your “hunger button”). 

Testosterone 

Low testosterone levels cause you to gain fat around the middle, arms and legs… and less able to remodel your musculature, even though you may be training like an Olympic athlete. 

When all of these hormones are working in harmony, you will find that weight loss is more like it was when you were in your 20s!  But, I do have a word of caution…getting your hormones initially balanced is only half the battle ~ the other half is keeping them balanced, as they continue to change throughout your life. 

Dr. Watts, MD, ND, MSNM, Helena Williams, ARNP, MSN, and Angie Lenchinsky, CNM, ARNP are experts in Bio-identical Hormone Balancing and Weight Loss.  With over 25 years experience in hormone balancing, a Board Certification in Integrative Medicine, a Post-doctoral Certification in Metabolic Endocrinology, and a Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine, Dr. Watts has put together a Hormone Balancing and Weight Loss Program that has helped thousands of patients lose weight and keep it off!   

If you have been dieting and exercising with little to no result, we recommend that you come see us ~ Renew Your Hormones, Renew Your Life! To schedule an appointment, ask questions, or get more information, you can call us at 941-926-4905 or email us at info@therenewalpoint.com.   

References: 

1. Gold, MS. “Hypothyroidism and depression. Evidence from complete thyroid function evaluation.” Journal of the American Medical Association. (1981) 

2. Wartofsky, L, Dickey, RA. “The evidence for a narrower thyrotropin reference range is compelling.” Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. (2005) 

3. Gao Q, Mezei, G. “Sex hormones, appetite and eating behavior in women.” 

4. Sara Gottfried, MD. The Hormone Cure. (Scribner, 2014) 

 In a breakthrough decision, the American Board of Physician Specialties has recently established a new Board Certification in Integrative Medicine for medical doctors. Why has this new breakthrough in practicing medicine come about and what does it mean for you and your family?  Read on to discover the answer.

Here in the US, we’re constantly searching for that ever-elusive miracle cure for various health ailments. Per capita, we are spending more than double for healthcare, yet, at the same time, experts have found that life expectancies here in the US are significantly lower than those found in other first world countries.

One of the main issues we have with healthcare, here in the US, is the fact that we have gotten into the habit of thinking that drugs and surgeries are the end all be all. In reality, there is no magic pill. Practitioners and patients alike are now seeing that a whole body (holistic) approach to health is an important component to effective care.  Integrative medicine, which combines standard and holistic approaches is growing in popularity by the day, and can be used to treat a wide variety of ailments. Here’s a more detailed look at integrative medicine.

What is integrative medicine? – Though the term ‘integrative medicine’ is very broad, it primarily works by taking into account all aspects of the patient’s lifestyle, personal circumstances, size, shape, gender, and genetic makeup. It then places an emphasis on building and establishing a relationship between the practitioner and the patient.  Integrative medicine allows the practitioner to see each patient as a living, breathing person. The philosophy of integrative medicine is not a new concept; in fact, it can be traced back to the times of Aristotle. Long before we had high tech computers and scanners, Aristotle was simply able to observe and reflect upon the human condition. One of the very first holistic physicians in the world, Aristotle believed that each person he saw was made up of a combination of spiritual and physical properties, with no separation between the spirit, mind, and body. Sadly, over time, that philosophy had been lost, though not entirely.

The resurgence of integrative medicine – Over the last decade or so, the general public began seeing the limitations of Western medicine. As people are beginning to realize this, they are showing a keen interest in functional naturopathic treatments and therapies which place an emphasis on holistic treatments. Before we had pills, drugs, and surgical procedures, medicine was very much based upon a much more spiritual and natural approach, involving nutrition, botanical and herbal treatments, meditation, massage, and manipulation. These treatments are now once again being discovered, which is why integrative medicine is seeing such a resurgence as of late.

Why is integrative medicine so effective? – As mentioned, integrative medicine works by combining modern, standard medicine with holistic approaches, where patients are seen as individuals, rather than diseases and conditions. It places an emphasis on their individuality and uniqueness. Just because a drug or treatment works for one person, does not mean that the same drugs or treatments will work for another. Integrative medicine stresses the importance of using evidence to understand how best to integrate natural and standard therapies to treat various ailments and health conditions of individual patients.

Integrative medicine does not reject conventional medicine, but at the same time it does not accept it as the be-all and end-all of medical treatment. Integrative treatments are designed to provide the patient with the least-invasive and most effective methods of dealing with whichever ailments they happen to be suffering with.

The key components that make up integrative medicine are as follows:

• Integrative medicine emphasizes relationships between patient and practitioner
• Integrative medicine implements complementary methods for the prevention and treatment of various health ailments
• Integrative medicine removes barriers which could restrict the body’s natural healing processes
• Integrative medicine uses less invasive, more natural interventions whenever possible
• Integrative medicine engages mind, body, and spirit in order to facilitate healing
• Integrative medicine places an emphasis on the fact that healing can always be possible, even if curing is not

Integrative Medicine and patient practitioner relationships – Integrative medicine is about so much more than simply curing a symptom. Instead, it involves a much larger mission as it calls for restoration of the whole person with a focus on health and healing. One key way in which it is able to achieve exactly this, is that it works on the provider-patient relationship. Many of the greatest healers that the world has ever seen, including Aristotle and Hippocrates, would often talk about the fact that the job of a health practitioner was to cure and heal whenever possible, and to support always. To help show just how powerful and effective integrative medicine can be, we’ll now take a look at a couple of fairly recent success stories involving integrative medicine:

Samuel – Samuel, a six year old boy, sadly suffered from severe seizures, often on a daily basis. He saw specialist after specialist, neurologist after neurologist, and none of them could get to the bottom of what was causing his seizures, nor could they treat him. He was placed on medication, he underwent MRIs, and EEGs, and life for the poor boy was anything but enjoyable. He was taken out of school and away from his friends, so not only did his health suffer, but so too did his education. His speech and basic motor functions were severely affected, and his parents sadly began losing hope. His mother was disappointed in the healthcare that Samuel had received, as each session was less than 10 minutes, and he was simply seen, seemingly, as quickly as possible so that the next patient could be seen, and so on. His condition worsened and his mother grew very concerned. Eventually his mother visited an integrative medicine specialist, who took a hair analysis and noticed a high lead toxicity. A lead detoxification was carried out and his seizures began to decrease and become less and less frequent. Eventually he came off all seizure medication and was placed back in school and he began to lead a normal, healthy, and happy life.

Martha – Martha was another patient who suffered from anxiety, stress, depression, and weight issues. She was prescribed diet pills yet her weight increased, which made her more and more miserable. A doctor recommended she visit a psychiatrist, who prescribed anti-depressants that only made her feel worse. Martha also visited a holistic expert who sat down with her and got to know the real her, rather than simply seeing her as another case of depression. The therapist found that some of the root causes of her depression were a stressful job, a troubled marriage, the menopause, and loneliness stemming from empty nest syndrome. All of these factors combined together to lead to hormonal imbalances, which resulted in her weight gain, and mental health issues. Once the cause of these issues was discovered, necessary treatments were prescribed, which helped get her back on the right track and helped improve her overall quality of life.

Jonathan – A mother was greatly disturbed about her 26 year old son. He had just graduated with a masters degree and had come home for the summer, yet he grew quickly incapable of normal speech.  She had taken him from ER to ER and quick care centers.  He was to the point of constant fatigue and sleeping all day long.  Sleep, balance, confusion, and speech problems persisted.  EEGs, MRIs, x-rays, tons of lab tests….none of these revealed his problem.  The mother was relentless in trying to find the root cause.  A simple integrative urine test found mold toxicity to be the root cause.  He was placed in integrative therapies for detoxification and black mold was found and removed from his room/house.  After mold detoxification, Jonathan was completely improved.

These 3 stories are all very common and a day-to-day look into the ‘patients of integrative medicine’.  By taking an integrative, holistic approach, we are looking for the most effective, safest route possible in order to knock out the root causes and get people back on the road to enjoying life!  We enjoy working with other specialists and physicians, and do so on a daily basis.

If you have been dealing with problems that you can’t seem to find the answer to, or you are wanting to prevent conditions that might be creeping up on you, we recommend that you schedule an appointment ~ we can help!  To schedule an appointment, ask questions, or get more information, you can call us at 941-926-4905, visit our website www.TheRenewalPoint.com, or come to one of our upcoming seminars https://www.therenewalpoint.com/calendar.

About Dr. Watts: With a Board Certification in Integrative Medicine and over 15 years of experience using integrative, holistic, metablic, and functional therapies, Dr. Watts has put together an Integrative Medicine Program that has helped thousands of patients.  He has over 35 years experience in surgery and family medicine and holds a post-doctoral certification in Metabolic Endocrinology and  a Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine.