Category: Integrative Cancer Support

Brief History The predecessor of naturopathy may have been the great Jewish philosopher Maimonides (1135-1204) who, in contrast to many of his medical colleagues, downplayed the importance of drugs and surgery and argued that diet, exercise, and mental outlook were the keys to vibrant health. A court physician to the royal family in Cairo, Egypt, his book Preservation of Youth, espoused completely natural methods. Written for a dissolute young prince who suffered everything from depression to indigestion he warned, “overeating is like a deadly poison to any constitution and the principle cause of all diseases.”    The German Christoph Wilhelm Hufeland (1762-1836), who served as royal physician to the King of Prussia, is regarded as one of the founders of holistic medicine. A prolific author and proponent of “Nature Cure,” which consisted of hydrotherapy (cleansing the colon with a water flush), air and light baths, vegetarian diet and herbal remedies, Hufeland was also a great fan of mineral springs and “Water Cure” (popularized by Sebastian Kneipp). His most successful written work, The Art of Prolonging Human Life (1796), became one the most widely read books on preventive medicine and was the first natural health best seller. Hufeland coined the phrase...

We have all heard it so many times, exercise is good for the heart, keeps you slim, and makes you feel good. But I find that people forget just how good exercise is at slowing down aging. Have you ever wondered if your intense exercise program was shortening your life? Could raising your metabolic rate over time lead to accelerated aging? According to the medical literature…apparently not. In fact most of the research indicates that sports such as XC skiing, bicycling and running extend life span.  There are over thirteen thousand papers in the medical literature on exercise therapy. It is one of the most powerful tools we have for changing physiology and modifying disease progression. I have found that people don’t exercise regularly enough and get lazy in the winter or summer depending on his/her preferred sport. Taking too much time off can be a disaster for your conditioning as well as your waistline. In this article I will discuss how exercise can slow down aging and keep you living a longer and healthier life.   Exercise Increases Antioxidant Defense Enzymes A leading theory in the study of how we age is the “free radical theory.”  The upshot of...

Each patient's cancer has a specific genetic and molecular signature that may dramatically affect how it will respond to different treatments. These test are availible through our clinic in Boulder, CO. Tumor cell analysis N-of-One www.n-of-one.com (biopsy specimen needed). Caris Diagnostics http://www.carislifesciences.com/ (biopsy specimen needed).These may help determine any specific signaling molecules evident on the surface or interior of the cancer cell. This can then lead towards the appropriate targeting agents, agents that are targeted directly at the mutation or the finding. This can be very valuable in the naturopathic setting as well however many “small molecules” or targeting agents are only available under clinical trial but we have developed methodologies to interface with such if necessary. It may be reimbursable via Medicare or just covered expense Chemo sensitivity testing on Circulating tumor cells Ok if you are open to chemotherapy based on the results.... also known as the Greek test. The only lab that does this complete job is RGCC Gen-Lab in Athens, Greece. http://www.rgcc-genlab.com. We have sent there before and have had good results when our patients undergo the chemotherapies that the test suggests.

Dr. Sasha Fluss, ND at NatureMed Clinic in Boulder/Denver As we come out of the holiday season filled with indulging and rich foods many people are interested in a Detox as we move into spring and warmer weather. What is Detox? Detoxification is all about optimizing your “emunctory organs”. E-munc-tory-what’s? Your emunctory organs are your excretory organs, the areas of your body that are used to excrete waste products and toxins. These include: Gastrointestinal tract: toxins and wastes are removed through your GI tract. Having healthy, regular easy to pass bowel movements is essential to ensure good elimination. Once a day is great up to after every meal for optimal elimination. While there may be multiple reasons for your constipation, in general, ensuring adequate hydration and fiber intake (such as that found in fruits and veggies, legumes and whole grains) is key. Liver: The liver is our main detoxification organ. It utilizes a series of enzyme pathways known as Phase 1 and Phase 2 to break down toxins and then make them soluble so that they can be eliminated by the body. Medication, alcohol, hormones and all chemicals involved in metabolic pathways in your body. Kidneys: Your kidneys are also...

Dr Sasha Fluss, ND at NatureMed Boulder/Denver   Its January, the holiday buzz has faded, replaced with new years resolutions and those few extra pounds that seem to have appeared. Now that the dinners and parties are over many people are looking for a way to cleanse and lose weight after over indulging during the holidays. Diets and weightloss supplements are everywhere but by far the biggest buzz word in the last while has been the Paleo Craze. Even Whole Foods seems to have jumped on the band wagon (they now serve Paleo Coffee and a whole host of Paleo friendly foods in their hot bar). So What is this Paleo thing? And Should you be a Part of it? The Paleo diet essentially follows what our Paleolithic ancestors ate on the premise that our genes have changed very little since these times. Our digestive systems are not evolved to digest modern foods introduced during the advent of farming 10,000 years ago. The diet supports health with the premise that: refined and processed foods such as flours, sugars and unhealthy fats are at the root of chronic inflammatory diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer....