1 Nutritional the Therapist Spring 2008 What’s inside… Page 4 Page 6 Page 8 Materia Medica Part 6-Calendula Officinale by Tracy Bosnian, CH, NTP Organic & Toxin-Free Solutions for Skin Disorders by Dana Luchini, ME, NTP Reclaiming Our Most Ancient Hormone: How Hiding from the Sun Hurts Your Health by Diane Wisenberg, BS, NTP Dry eye syndrome (DES) is the most common complaint to eye doctors. If you’ve ever experienced dry eyes, especially while trying to wear con- tact lenses, it is very distracting, ag- gravating, and a real nuisance. The typical symptoms of DES in- clude dryness, irritation, grittiness, burning, and difficulty reading for extended periods of time. Strangely enough, excessive tearing and water- ing are also indicative of DES. In ex- treme cases, light sensitivity, pain and diminished vision can result. DES is particularly common among peri and postmenopausal women; there is a gender bias and a hormonal aspect to this syndrome. How empowering would it be to have the proverbial “three easy steps to end dry eye” to offer your clients? How much more so if those steps avoided the use of any artificial tears, drugs like corticosteriods, or surgical procedures such as punctal plugs that prevent tear drainage from the punc- tum? None of the above is permanent, and medical solutions don’t reach the core of the problem. Only restoration of proper structure and function to the tear film will provide a permanent resolution to DES. After repletion, diet and life- style have been assessed and ad- dressed, only then should we consider using remedial means to al- leviate dry eye such as topical lubri- cant eye drops, corticosteroid eye drops, oral anti-inflammatory drugs or surgical methods like insertion of punctual plugs. DES is best addressed first by nutri- tional therapy, supplementation and lifestyle education; particularly as there is a strong correlation between DES and systemic inflammatory processes such as diabetes and auto- immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. In our experience at Medical Vision Center and Nutritional Visions Natu- ral Health Center in Morton, Wash- ington, the patients who take a diligent, disciplined and educated The Nutritional Therapy Practitioner’s Guide to Supporting Dry Eye Syndrome By Kat Carroll, NTP and reviewed by Donald A. Carroll, OD, NTP Continued on page... 2 Page 10 Nutritionally Speaking: Nutrient-Rich Infusions by Yaakov Levine, NTP Page 15 Sea Vegetables-The Traditional Mineral Supplement by Bob Quinn, L.Ac, DAOM
Transcript
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Nutritionalthe
T h e r a p i s tSpring 2008
What’s inside…P a g e 4
P a g e 6
P a g e 8
Materia Medica Part 6-CalendulaOfficinaleby Tracy Bosnian, CH, NTP
Organic & Toxin-Free Solutions forSkin Disordersby Dana Luchini, ME, NTP
Reclaiming Our Most AncientHormone: How Hiding from the SunHurts Your Healthby Diane Wisenberg, BS, NTP
Dry eye syndrome (DES) is the mostcommon complaint to eye doctors. Ifyou’ve ever experienced dry eyes,especially while trying to wear con-tact lenses, it is very distracting, ag-gravating, and a real nuisance.
The typical symptoms of DES in-clude dryness, irritation, grittiness,burning, and difficulty reading forextended periods of time. Strangelyenough, excessive tearing and water-ing are also indicative of DES. In ex-treme cases, light sensitivity, painand diminished vision can result.DES is particularly common amongperi and postmenopausal women;there is a gender bias and a hormonalaspect to this syndrome.How empowering would it be tohave the proverbial “three easy stepsto end dry eye” to offer your clients?How much more so if those stepsavoided the use of any artificial tears,drugs like corticosteriods, or surgicalprocedures such as punctal plugs thatprevent tear drainage from the punc-tum?
None of the above is permanent, andmedical solutions
don’t reach the core of the problem.Only restoration of proper structureand function to the tear film willprovide a permanent resolution toDES. After repletion, diet and life-style have been assessed and ad-dressed, only then should weconsider using remedial means to al-leviate dry eye such as topical lubri-cant eye drops, corticosteroid eyedrops, oral anti-inflammatory drugsor surgical methods like insertion ofpunctual plugs.
DES is best addressed first by nutri-tional therapy, supplementation andlifestyle education; particularly asthere is a strong correlation betweenDES and systemic inflammatoryprocesses such as diabetes and auto-immune diseases like rheumatoidarthritis.
In our experience at Medical VisionCenter and Nutritional Visions Natu-ral Health Center in Morton, Wash-ington, the patients who take adiligent, disciplined and educated
The Nutritional Therapy Practitioner’sGuide to Supporting Dry Eye Syndrome
By Kat Carroll, NTP and reviewed by Donald A. Carroll, OD, NTP
Sea Vegetables-The TraditionalMineral Supplementby Bob Quinn, L.Ac, DAOM
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course of action to rectify their DESshow remarkable success in eradi-cating the root of the dysfunctionand thus effectively resolve theirsymptoms. We can’t treat the eye nat-urally without raising the generallevel of health in the rest of the body;patients like this added perk.
We will discuss a few strategies theNutritional Therapy Practitioner canemploy as part of the total body careNTP’s provide that will restore struc-ture and function to the eye. First let’slook at the different characteristics ofDES, common causes and the ocularlayers that make up the tear film.
There are two types of dry eye:
Aqueous (water) insuffi-ciency which causes a de-crease in tear productionTears that simply evaporatetoo fast.
Dry eyes can result from:AgingBeing in a peri-menopausalor post-menopausal statusDeficiencies in fatty acids andvitamins and mineralsLong-term contact lens wearAs a side effect of many med-ications LASIK or cataract surgery Diabetes, rheumatoid arthri-tis (RA), and systemic in-flammatory diseases
Environmental impacts affectingDES:
Dry office environmentWindIrritation from smoke orsmokingStaring at the computer with-out blinking
The tears are made up of three dif-ferent layers: mucin or mucus lay-er, aqueous or water layer, and lipidor fat layer.
The NTP’s Guide to Supporting Dry Eye Syndrome.. Cont)Continued from page... 1
Continued on page 12...
Yaakov Levine, NTP
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Mate r i a Med i c a Part 6By Tracy Bosnian, CH, NTP
It’s the time of the year when we startto see the first flowers of springpopping up their heads. They look sobeautiful, as they raise their lovelyfaces to bask in the sunlight. Myfavorite flower, the one that lets meknow the sunny weather is reallycoming, is Calendula. It is one ofthose plants that I could not livewithout. It graces my kitchen as wellas my toolbox of medicinal herbs.The uses for this invaluable plant willnot begin to fit into the space I havefor this article, so I encourage you todo more research on your own. Notto mention planting a big patch of itin your yard.
Botanical Name: Calendulaofficinale. Please do not confuse thisplant with the common gardenMarigold (tagetes patula) they are verydifferent plants and have differentuses.
Common Names: Calendula, PotMarigold, English Marigold, PoorMan’s Saffron, Holigold, Herb of theSun.
Family: Compositae/ Asteraceae/Sunflower/ Daisy
Botanical description: It istechnically an annual, but in ourclimate of the PNW it often reseedsitself making you think it is aperennial. It has alternate leaves thatare lace-shaped. The flowers are rayflowers and can range in color fromyellow-gold to deep orange, withdark brown centers. Calendula cangrow up to 28 inches tall.
Habitat: Calendula likes a sunnyposition and tolerates all butwaterlogged soils.
Cultivation: Seeds can be sownindoors in February or outdoors inearly spring. You can plant it in theautumn to over-winter and makepushy plants the following year.
Harvest/Part used: Flowers, leavesand stems.
Toxicity: None, but remember do notconfuse with French Marigold(tagetes patula)
Constituents: Primary constituentsare calendulin and faradiol ester,along with volatile/essential oils,resins, flavonoids (triterpenes),mucilage, saponins, Vitamin Aprecursors (carotenes and carotinoidpigments), phosphorus, and steroidalcompounds.
Preparation: Calendula can be madeinto liquid extracts, dried for tea. Itcan also be made into an oil thatlooks like you captured the sun!Calendula oil can be used forcompresses, poultices, suppositories,salves, creams and lotions. The juiceextracted from it and added with asmall amount of alcohol makes anamazing succus (used for woundhealing). Remember it can also beused in salads, and dishes that callfor saffron.
Actions and Therapeutic uses:Calendula is one of my favorite firstaide remedies. It works on all kindof skin issues. Unlike Arnica, it canbe placed directly on the wound. Ihave seen it do amazing things;when my mother was passing away,
she developed bedsores. No matterhow often we turned her the bonesjust wore the skin away. My sisterand I both had a different idea onwhat we should use on the sores, sheused something that took aprescription and I used someCalendula salve that I had made(recipe to follow). The bedsores that Iused the Calendula salve on wentaway 3 days quicker than the one mysister used her prescription salve on!As a vaginal douche (infusion) it willhelp with vaginitis, cervicitis, vaginalabrasions, erosion of the os,leucorrhea. Used as a sitz bath it isexcellent for a lacerated perineum.The extract can be taken internally forfevers, menopausal problems, chroniculcers, stagnant liver and gallbladderproblems. The infusion can be usedas a mouthwash for mouth ulcers andgum disease. The extract workswonders for inflamed lymph nodesand sluggish digestion. I have used itfor cases of the flu because of its anti-viral effects; you can use it as eitheran extract or a tea. A well dilutedmixture of distilled water and 5 dropsof the extract make an excellent eyecompress for conjunctivitis.Calendula suppositories have beenused for vaginal yeast infections,genital sores and other vaginalirritations. In China, the ointment ofcalendula is a popular topicaltreatment for hemorrhoids.
Dosage: Infusion: One cup 3 timesper day (Hoffman). For acutesymptoms drink 1 cup of tea per houruntil problem is gone (Tierra).Extract: 1 – 4 mls three times per day(Hoffman). 10 – 30 drops (Tierra).
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Contra-Indications: Pregnancy (R.Mabey) due to its uterine stimulatingproperties.
Sources of information:
Felter, Harvey Wickes MD TheEclectic Materia Medica 1922Hoffmann, David The New HolisticHerbal 1990Lust, John The Herb Book 1974Mabey, Richard The New AgeHerbalist 1988Soule, Deb The Roots of Healing1995Tierra, Lesley The Herbs of Life 1992Weiss, Rudolf Fritz MD HerbalMedicine 1960
Recipe: Calendula Oil & Salve
If using fresh flowers from your yard:
Carefully pick the flowers on awarm sunny morning after the dew isdried from the petals. Just using theray flowers will give you and oil thatis bright and vibrant.
Very carefully pick the goldenpetals from the green base of theplant and lay them out to wilt in abrown paper bag for at least 24 hours,but no longer than 48.
Place the petal into a wide mouth-canning jar, filling it to about ½ - ¾full with the oil of your choice. I liketo use almond oil, it shows off thecolor of calendula and you have themost beautiful yellow oil.
Cover the jar with a piece of cheesecloth and secure it to the jar with arubber band, this allows anymoisture that is still in the plant toescape and not turn your oil moldy.It also keeps out any little bugs orants that might want to dive in.
Place the jar in a sunny window, ifyou see any condensation in the jar,carefully remove the cheesecloth and
wipe away the condensation.Depending on the sunshine willdetermine how long it can take tomake your oil. It usually takes about3 – 4 weeks.
You can also do a much quickerversion using dried calendulablossoms and a slow cooker. Whenbuying dried Calendula make surethat the flowers are still brightgold/yellow, if they are a pale colordo not use them, they will not make agood medicinal oil.
Again using a wide mouth-canningjar fill it ¾ full with the driedcalendula blossoms and cover withoil.
In the bottom of the slow cookerplace the rings from the top ofcanning jar lids and fill the crock-pot2/3 full with water.
Set your jar filled with oil andflowers into the crock-pot, makingsure that the water does not get intothe jar. Also do not put the cover onthe crock-pot, this will let water getinto your oil and ruin it. Let it cookon low for 24 hours.
When making either the fresh or thedried oil you strain it the same way.
Line a large strainer with a doublelayer of cheesecloth; secure thecheesecloth to the strainer with clothspins.
Place the strainer over a bowl bigenough to hold the oil. Carefullypour the oil and flowers into thestrainer. I usually just turn the jarcompletely upside down and let itdrip.
Remove the jar and the cloths pins,gather up the edges of the cheesecloth and give the cloth a goodsqueeze to get all the oil out of theflowers.
Pour the oil into a clean DRY jarwith a tight fitting lid. You now have
a jar of calendula oil just waiting tomake a salve with.
To make the salve: you will need tohave some small containers ready.One of my favorite places to get smallamounts of jars is Mt Rose Herbs;their web address iswww.mountainroseherbs.com youcan buy one-ounce salve jars for 85cents per piece.
You need a double boiler. For everyone cup of calendula oil you willneed 1/4 cup of grated beeswax (youcan also get this at Mt Rose). Place theoil into the top of the double boileralong with the beeswax. Heat itslowly until the beeswax has melted.I use an old chopstick to stir with. Donot heat the oil to boiling. If youwant to add fragrance and morehealing power to your salve, to eachjar add 4 – 5 drops of lavenderessential oil. While the oil is still hot,quickly pour the oil into the jars. Letcool before putting the lids on thejars.
There you go! You have just made anamazing salve.
A word to the wise: it is easy to maketo much salve the first time.Remember that one-cup of oil willmake 8 one-ounce jars of salve.
While working as a Comfort Thera-pist in Hospice at St. Joseph MedicalCenter in Tacoma, WA. with cancerpatients nearly 15 years ago, I noticedthe skin disorders that many of thepatients were afflicted with such asrashes, a-topic dermatitis, eczemaand psoriasis. I watched week afterweek as these patients applied every-thing from over the counter lotions tomedicated prescriptions but neverdid I see any real healing of theirskin. At that time I taught positiveimagery to these patients for relax-ation, stress, pain control, sleep, andmany other afflictions as a CertifiedHypnotherapist; as well as the factthat I was also an Esthetician (skincare) at my own Salon & Spa andlater worked with plastic surgeons asa Medical Esthetician. I had sufferedmyself from rashes, dermatitis andeczema on and off over the years andhad watched my Grandmother ago-nize over severe eczema on herhands. Her eczema was so extremethat her physicians wrote her up inmedical journals as she was given ra-diation treatments and anesthetic in-jections to deaden the pain on top ofall the topical medications she ap-plied daily. As she aged she had lostmost sensation in her fingers, herhands were deformed, scabbed andraw but “bless her heart” she nevercomplained.
I started to wonder that if I was a“skin care specialist”, how could Ipossibly help others if I could nothelp myself or my family? By thistime, I would scratch the tops of mylegs until they bled, my underarmsitched horribly after shaving, myscalp was dry, itchy and scaly andoccasionally in between my fingers Iwould get red little itchy bumps thatdrove my crazy! It finally dawned onme that perhaps I should research theingredients in the lotions and creams
that we were applying to our skin.And what I found shocked me! Theingredients that are standard in mostskin care formulations are petroleumplastics, perfumes, parabens, andmany others that can be hormonaldisrupting and cancer causing!Harmful petroleum ingredients canplasticize and “constipate” your skin,making germs more likely to get inand toxins less likely to get out ofyour body. As your body’s largestorgan, your skin is your most impor-tant immune defense barrier as wellas your largest organ for eliminatingwaste but it is not an impenetrableshield. Skin absorption is the numberone form of chemical absorption andcontamination.
And believe it or not ever since 1938when the FDA granted self-regula-tion to the cosmetics industry- suchproducts can be marketed withoutgovernment approval of ingredients,regardless of what tests show. Mostof the 25,000 chemicals used, havenot been tested for long-term toxiceffects. In a typical day, you may beexposed to over 200 different chemi-cals, many of which are suspected ofcausing cancer or disrupting yourhormones. Yes, it is trace amountsbut the accumulative affects could bedevastating for people suffering seri-ous illnesses, cancer, disease and im-mune disorders. It can also bepotentially harmful to babies andpregnant Mothers as well. EPA testsconclude that ingredients in sham-poos, dyes, and other personal careproducts “may be playing havoc withhormones that control reproductionand development.” Medical research,including Brunnell University, TuftsUniversity, Boston Research Center,and Centers of Disease Control hasfound these chemicals absorbthrough the skin and often remain in
fat tissue for indefinite periods oftime. These chemicals are present inour personal care, oral care andhousehold cleaning products. Con-stant daily exposure slowly weakensthe immune system causing longerrecovery time from surgery, stressand illness. And contribute to aller-gies, respiratory ailments, hormonedisruption, memory lapse, nervoussystem disorders, birth defects, steril-ity and cancer as well as skin irrita-tions, itching, inflammation and theappearance of acne, brown spots,saggy skin, Rosacea, wrinkles andfine lines to name a few. Perhaps themost dramatic recent example is thatparabens(a chemical used as a preservative inmany personal care products) wasfound in breast tumors.
Needless to say, I developed a line offacial, hair and body products with-out the use of any of the “toxic” in-gredients and a miraculous thingstarted to occur, most everyone Ishared them with would call me withincredible testimonies as to how theirskin disorders were going away afteryears of suffering. And within abouta month my own skin problems weregreatly improved!
And now with the passing of the“California Safe Cosmetics Act of2005”, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
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and the state of California, requiringany company that sells personal careproducts to disclose to DHS(Department of Health Services) anyingredient deemed to be a carcino-genic or reproductive toxin; only con-firms that we must be proactiveabout the choices we make for ourown health and the health and well-ness of our families. Irecommend reading your productlabels and choose products free ofany toxic, poisonous or carcinogenicingredients.
By this time I was thirsty for evenmore knowledge after working witha Naturopathic Physician and want-ing to provide internal nutritionalsupport for healthy-aging skin aswell as the external solutions I hadfound. I decided to go back to collegeand become a Nutritional TherapyPractitioner. I was now equipped tooffer the internal answers to skin dis-orders as well. And what I havefound is that about 90% of peoplesuffering from acne, rashes, dermati-tis, eczema, psoriasis, alopecia, etc.,all have possible food allergies andtwo definite deficiencies. One is thatthey are zinc deficient. Zinc is in allour cells to help us to heal and veryimportant in aiding digestion but ittakes zinc to absorb zinc so you needto ingest aqueous (liquid) zinc, whichwill easily get your zinc levels back tonormal. I also found that aqueouszinc is very healing when used topi-cally as well. About 25% of peoplewho have impairment in taste and orsmell are suffering from an outrightzinc deficiency.
The second deficiency is EFAs(Essential Fatty Acids) like fish andflax oil. The body cannot make EFAstherefore they must be obtained fromthe diet or through supplementation.EFAs help to maintain cell membranefunction, regulate pain, inflammationand swelling; mediate immune re-sponse and promote healthy skin,among a number of other benefits aswell. In addition EFAs are essential
for a healthy pregnancy and promotenormal fetal development.
Several years ago I teamed up withBeth Niemi who was also in thehealth and beauty industry as a medi-cal skin care specialist, licensed mas-sage therapist and as anadministrator of a Plastic SurgeryCenter. She became interested in or-ganic products after learning aboutthe toxic ingredients and possiblelong term effects of chemicals used inthe treatments and products in themedical skin care industry. Today,we are the Co-Founders of Healthy-Aging Organics, Inc., we are bothproud to be a part of a company thatprovides healthy eco-friendly alterna-tives for products, apparel, and acces-sories for you, your loved ones andthe environment.
After working with cancer patientswe made a commitment to providefamilies with Purely Green & Organ-ic, Toxin-Free Products and Accesso-
ries. In fact, we feel so strongly aboutour mission that we have set-up TheSandra Moroni Endowment Fundfor Comfort Therapies at severalhospitals. Through the purchase ofany of our products, a percentage ofour net proceeds will be donated toprovide alternative therapies includ-ing: naturopathy, massage, counsel-ing, skin & body care and othercomfort therapies that promote heal-ing & relaxation and decrease stress;free of charge for cancer patients wholack the ability to pay for those ser-vices. Our goal is to expand this foun-dation to include cancer patientsfrom every major hospital in thecountry.
Dana Luchini, ME, NTP co-founder ofHealthy Aging Organic, Inc.
800-599-4256www.tuttabellaorganics.com
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Living in darkness is not our geneticheritage. Until recent times coveringour skin was to protect ourselvesform the cold – not the sun. Ourtransportation evolved from horses tocars preventing the rays of the sunfrom reaching us. It has only been inthe last 30 years that we began usingsunscreens and avoiding the sunaltogether.
The most potent steroid hormone inthe human body is Vitamin D. Whenyou are deficient in Vitamin D thegenes designed to protect your healthcan’t work properly. Our physiologyis as closely linked to the sun asplants. Plants use sunlight tophotosynthesize chlorophyll. Ourbody uses a similar process to photosynthesize Vitamin D. Sunlight andVitamin D touch virtually everyaspect of your bio chemistry andphysiology. Following is just a smallnumber of the vital roles that VitaminD plays in your health: Regulates andassists in calcium absorption, energymetabolism, muscle strength andcoordination, reduces C-reactiveprotein and other markers ofinflammation, brain development,insulin production stimulation, helpsthe heart to beat properly andprevents IBS.
When it comes to your bones calciumand Vitamin D have a symbioticrelationship. If either is missing, theother can’t do its job. Not only does
calcium have a vital role in bonehealth it also helps the centralnervous system transmit nerveimpulses, helps the muscles tocontract, influences the secretion ofinsulin by the pancreas and regulatethe immune system. You get calciumfrom the food you eat, or fromsupplements. But your body needsVitamin D in order to absorb calciumand phosphorous from the intestinaltract. No matter how much calciumyou ingest, without Vitamin D yourbody cannot absorb it from the smallintestine.
Research shows that calcium andVitamin D deficiency in combinationputs you at risk for a wide array ofchronic diseases. Studies suggest that90% of the population is deficient inone, the other, or both. Vitamin Dhelps prevent osteoporoses. Whenyour body is short of calcium it pullsit from your bones. This leads toosteoporosis. Here is how it works.If there is not enough calcium in yourdiet or not enough Vitamin D tofacilitate the absorption, then VitaminD and the parathyroid hormone willwork together to pull this mineralfrom the bones. The result isosteoporosis.
You have Vitamin D receptors allthroughout your body and scientistshave found that there are alsoVitamin D receptors sites throughoutall the organs. Activated Vitamin Dis one of the most potent regulators ofcell growth in both normal andcancerous cells. The more activatedVitamin D your body can create thebetter. In fact, billions of cells useVitamin D to respond to a wide
variety of diseases and help the bodyheal. It is one of the most potentpowerful nutrients you can give toyour body. (Dr. John Cannell’s article“The Secrets of Vitamin DProduction”).
If you are not getting out in the sunfor 15-20 minutes almost daily andnot eating appropriate Vitamin D richfoods or taking supplements, you areat high risk for a deficiency. The bestway to know if you are deficient is tohave a yearly measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D as part of yourannual physical exam. The test youshould ask for is a 25-hydroxyvitaminD test. This test measures levels ofcalcidiol in your blood.
Optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D valuesare:50-60 ng/mlor or 125-160 nmol/l
Also, when looking at your resultsyou may see seasonal variations.Your levels will likely be lower in thewinter than in the summer.
You Don’t Need to Burn to Get YourVitamin D
Here are some basic guidelines toresponsible sun exposure:
1. Fair-skinned, 10-20 minutes ofhigh summer sun will produceadequate Vitamin D levels. Skin witha moderate amount of pigmentation,20-40 minutes. Those with thedarkest skin may need up to twohours to meet daily Vitamin Drequirements.
By Diane Wisenberg, BS, NTP
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2. If you are going to be in the sunlonger than what you need forVitamin D, take measures to coveryou most sensitive skin – usually yourface, shoulders, and the back of yourlegs.
3. Natural Sunscreens – Sunscreenswith zinc oxide as the activeingredient go on thick, but they aresafe and effective. Zinc oxide protectsagainst both UV-A and UV-B rays,and zinc oxide remains stable evenwhen exposed to UV radiation unlikethe active ingredients found in mostsunscreens.
4. Give some thought to how muchexposure you are going to get, and actaccordingly.
This one hormone can dramaticallyreduce the chances of developing achronic disease…and if your levelsare low Biotics makes a wonderful,easy to take supplement called Bio-D-Mulsion Forte. I would recommend 2drops per day. If you or someoneyou know is severely deficient Iwould suggest starting on 5 drops aday for 30 days then reduce to 2drops a day.
My Vitamin D level in May of 2007was 29. Sometime around October-November I started taking 2-3 dropsa day of Bio-D-Mulsion Forte. I alsomade sure I increased my Cod LiverOil during December and January. Ihad my Vitamin D level checked onFebruary 12, 2008 and it is 65.
Diane Weisenberg, BS, NTPDiane is an educator, researcher, anda spirited and passionate forager ofwhole foods, health and nutrition.As a Practice Manager for a HolisticVeterinary Clinic she is also involvedin small animal nutrition. My Motto:Stay curious and get to know thebody you were gifted with.
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I often enjoy a cup of tea while atwork, reading, or as a dessert. Myfavorite these days is a blend of holybasil, chamomile and rose essencewhich is flavorful, aromatic, andsoothing. Herbal teas, which aresteeped for 2-5 minutes offer us manybenefits. They are colorful, and tastyand may contain various plant(phyto)chemicals that promote healthand longevity.
As a nutritional therapist I am alwayslooking for the nutritional value ofwhat I eat and drink. I have foundthat herbal infusions are the mostnutritious form of tea. As opposed toa tea which is steeped for 2-5minutes, an infusion is steeped for atleast four hours and in my caseovernight. Since the minerals andother nutrients are made moreaccessible by drying, dried herbs arethe best choice.
Minerals, which support the health ofour bones and tissues, make up 4% ofour bodies. Minerals are classified asMacro minerals (large), such ascalcium, magnesium, and Microminerals (small), including iron andchromium. These and other mineralsact as cofactors for enzyme reaction,help maintain our pH, and supporthealthy nerve conduction. Since ourbodies cannot produce these
important minerals we must havethem in our foods. Unfortunatelymuch of the soil used to grow ourvegetables on an industrial level isdepleted of minerals, and if theminerals are not in the soil they willnot be in our food. Herbal infusionsare a great way to supplement theminerals in your diet. Are youexperiencing leg cramps at night, ornot getting as much out of yourworkout as you’d like? Drinknutritious herbal infusionsthroughout the day, and you will feelmore energy, vitality.
One of my favorite nutritious herbs ismineral rich stinging nettles (Urticadioica). According to herbalist SusunWeed, an overnight infusion of
nettles will yield 500mg. of calciumper cup. She found that if you steepthe nettles for 2-5 minutes, you onlyend up with 5-10mg. of calcium percup. Nettles are also a source of iron,and silicon which supports healthierskin and hair.
I make my infusions at night before Igo to sleep. I use one quart masonjars, in which I will put 2-4tablespoons or more of dried herb, fillto the top with boiling water, thenclose tightly and let sit overnight. Inthe morning I strain the infusion,squeezing the liquid out of the plant,and then enjoy throughout the day.
Any herbs that do not contain manyvolatile oils, resins, or alkaloids aregood choices for nutritious infusions.Three of my favorites are nettles,
oatstraw, and red clover. Nettles arerich in minerals, and helps nourishthe adrenals, kidneys, blood vessels,skin, and hair. Oatstraw (Avenasativa) is a great longevity tonic, andsupports the nervous system. RedClover (Trifolium pretense) blossomsare a great blood purifier, increaseblood flow, and contain isoflavonesthat help improve your “good”cholesterol.
By Yaakov Levine, NTP
Urtica dioica-Stinging Nettles
Trifolium pretense-Red Clover
11
Infusions generally taste great! Youcan add honey or cream if you’d like,and I sometimes will add a smallamount (tsp) of mint to my infusionmixture. As the weather gets warmertry some iced Red Clover infusionwith a touch of mint. I do suggestyou try the herbs one at a time to getto know them before blending.
Some other nutritious choices forinfusion are: linden flower (Tilliaamericana), which has anti-fluproperties, soothes the lungs anddigestive system, and supportscardiovascular function, and comfreyleaf which supports healing of skin,bones, mucus membranes, and skin,
A note about Comfrey: while theroots of wild comfrey, (Symphytumofficionale) contain pyrrolizidinealkaloids, that can cause livercongestion, the leaves of cultivated
real nutrition for real people.
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comfrey, (symphytum uplandia) arefree of this constituent.
A great source of dried bulk herbs isMountain Rose Herbs in PleasantHill, OR.(www.mountainroseherbs.com).They are one of the largest suppliersof organic bulk herbs in the countryand are known for their consistentquality. If you would like additioninformation regarding herbalinfusions, contact me at: (541) 895-2427 [email protected]. Tolearn about the many uses of herbs asmedicine, food, and body care joinme at the Breitenbush HerbalConference Sept 4-7, 2008. For moreinformation check out our website:www.breitenbushherbalconference.net
The mucin layer which touches thecornea nourishes the front of the eye.This layer serves as an anchor for thetear film helping it adhere to the eyeand keeps the eye moist.
Aqueous from the lacrimal glandforms the middle layer of tear filmincorporating the water soluble com-ponents of the tear film. It providesmoisture, oxygen and nutrients to thecornea.
he lipid layer is produced by theMeibomiam glands of the eyelids. Itis our front line of defense againstevaporation, infection, solar radiationand injury to the outside of the ocularsurface. It creates a smooth surfacefor light to pass through the eye. Italso keeps the tears from evaporatingmaintaining the structural integrity ofthe tear film, and provides a smoothtear film over the cornea when weblink.
Each of the three layers is driven bynutrition. Each has varying concen-trations of vitamins and mineralswhich promote proper structure andfunction of each of the segments. Ed-ucated Nutritional Therapy Practitio-ners understand how to restoreand/or maintain structural integrityin order to influence function at eachlevel of the tear film. Repletion of nu-trients that saturate ocular tissues isvital for influencing structure andcreating proper function. As a resultvision is improved and contact lenswearers find a more comfortable fit.
The concept of repletion cannot beoveremphasized. On the ocular ter-rain, the cornea is two thirds of therefractive power of the eye. We mustnourish all the layers that make uptear film. If the refracting surfacedoesn’t have integrity, good vision is
not likely even with glasses or contactlenses.
Each of the three layers has specialrequirements to do their individualjobs:
The mucin layer requires VitaminA in (the form of retinol) which playsa central role in the development ofthe mucin of the tear film. Vitamin Adeficiency is a cause of Goblet cell at-rophy and loss of the important in-nermost lubricating mucin layer.
The lacrimal gland’s secretions arepromoted by micronutrients like zinc,magnesium and Vitamin C, B6 andniacin. Amazingly, the lacrimal glandhas hormone receptors in it and tearfilm is influenced by hormonal fluc-tuations.
The oily layer needs essential fattyacids, both Omega 3 from flax, fishoils and algae, and Omega 6 in theform of evening primrose oil, borageoil or black currant seed oil in orderto create structural integrity in itssegment of the three part layer thatmakes up the ocular terrain. Inflam-matory cells take up GLA, convert itto DGLA, which in turn is a potentinhibitor of arachadonic acid (AA)conversion into inflammatory mes-sengers.
Zinc is a major player in constructionof a healthy corneal surface havingthe highest concentration in the en-tire body in the cornea of the eye.As we know, many are deficient inzinc. We can administer the ZincChallenge test as one measure in as-sessing the integrity of the cornea.Maintaining healthy terrain on theocular surface is more important thanwe realize.If DES goes untreated, it can cause fluc-
tuations in vision, and the cornea canbecome scratched, scarred and ulcerated.
Zinc sufficiency is a good place tostart. There is Comprehensive Meta-bolic Profile testing available to deter-mine where to focus repletion effortsmost effectively.
Bioindividuality is key when consid-ering treatment options for DES;strategies become complex when wefactor in:
Smoking which disrupts the waycarotenoids are used in the eye andthe smoke itself being an irritant ex-acerbating DES
Gallbladder surgery and subse-quent diminished fat processing
Gender bias to DES with predilec-tion to peri and post-menopausalwomen
DES occurring secondary to sys-temic illnesses such as Diabetes orRheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
DES as a result of prescription andover-the-counter drug use.
DES in post surgery (Lasik, PRKand Cataract) patients
Reducing systemic inflammationbecomes the number one therapy fortreating DES which has an inflam-matory component.
Continued from page... 2
The NTP’s Guide to Supporting Dry Eye Syndrome (cont)
13
We teach a modified Mediterraneandiet, removing gluten, dairy andknown sensitivities to reduce inflam-mation. The Hale Project reported inJAMA in 2004, confirming the successof the MeDi diet and lifestyle (nonsmoking, moderate exercise andwhole foods, largely plant based diet)in reducing mortality and morbidityfrom all causes after ten years adher-ence to the MeDi in individuals aged70-90. What a successful lifestyleprogram! What is good for the bodyis good for the eyes.
Initially a healthy inflammatory reac-tion serves purposes of tissue isola-tion and protection from furtherinjury so that the body can initiate ahealing response. However, an in-flammatory response that does notturn itself off upsets the balance inour body. Through the modified Me-Di, our goal is to limit systemic in-flammation by calming inflammationsignals. One particular Medical Foodwe prescribe employs selective kinaseresponse modulation to calm inflam-mation systemically which has a posi-tive impact on supporting proper tearfilm layers as well as the whole sys-tem.
Combined with the MeDi, currentlythe most effective treatment for DESwe’ve used is a combination ofOmega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, ablend of A, D, E, C and the cofactorsB6, Biotin, magnesium and zinc.Getting the materials to the “jobsite”is only half the picture. Transportingthem to their optimal location is therest of the goal. Adding digestive en-zymes assures proper digestion andassimilation.
Gender bias and DES:In a March 2007 study out of Bolo-gna, Italy researchers determined that“subjective symptoms, tear produc-tion and stability, surface drynessand inflammation were significantlyrelated to hormonal fluctuations inthe menstrual cycle in perimeno-pausal women. In particular, the im-pairment of these functions appearedto be related to the estrogen peak oc-curring during the follicular phase,especially in patients with dry eye.”
Hormone balancing is an often over-looked aspect of repletion. Both periand post menopausal women reportan increased incidence of dry eye. Re-call that there are hormone receptorsin the lacrimal glands which respondto support. We also know that DES iscorrelated with hormone replacementtherapy (HRT) use in postmeno-pausal women. Now that syntheticHRT has fallen out of favor, we canimpact dry eye by aiming to regulateestrogen, progesterone, DHEA andtestosterone naturally. I would en-courage everyone to read DouglasHall, M.D’s. excellent article entitledNutritional Influences on EstrogenMetabolism: A Summary to masterthis important and often overlookedaspect of repletion. It is available onmy website -www.nutritionalvisions.com.
The concept of macro and micro nu-trient deficiency secondary to sys-temic disease and its impact onDES is fascinating to consider. DEScan accompany systemic diseases likediabetes and RA. DES is acerbated byprescription and OTC drugs and canalso emerge as the result of multiplemicronutrient deficiencies that occuras a result of their use. The resultingdeficiencies can manifest as oculardisease, visual dysfunction or ocularconditions such as DES.
Those with diabetes have a higherincidence of DES and are a great ex-ample of being aware that certain dis-
ease states will require repletion overand above a healthy population. Dia-betics typically have about 30% lesscirculating Vitamin C than non dia-betic individuals and less magnesiumas well. They are already experienc-ing greater oxidative stress due to thedisease process, and are compro-mised in vitamins and minerals un-less they are supplementing orconsistently eating exceptionallywell.
Again, we see the effect of deficien-cies or a “cascade effect” associatedwith systemic disease (one diseaseleading to another disease, conditionor syndrome); an Indian study re-ported in 2006, Ophthalmic Epidemi-ology finds “Patients with RA in theIndian population have a signifi-cantly higher prevalence and severityof dry eye when compared to age-and sex-matched controls.” We canassume these findings would crossethnic boundaries. If we are in a pro-inflammatory state, we may developother conditions.
Studies reporting on nutrition andsupplementation impact on DES areencouraging and growing in number.
One 2006 study found that flaxseed oil worked to reduce DESequally as well as the oral anti-in-flammatory drug Doxycycline pre-scribed for severe dry eye. Colin C.K.Chan. MD speculated in the publica-tion that the reason may be due to itsanti-inflammatory, lipid modifyingproperties. He presented his ideas atthe annual meeting of the AmericanSociety of Cataract and RefractiveSurgery; mainstream exposure to nu-tritional therapies is occurring withmore acceptance.
Often correcting existing imbal-ances between Omega 3 and Omega 6from animal fat or vegetable oils willalleviate dry eye. Typically, GLAshould be taken in an equal ratio to
Continued on page... 14
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MEDICAL CENTER & NUTRITIONAL VISIONS& NATURAL HEALTH CENTER
Donald A. Carroll, O.D., NTPOptometric Physician Kat Carroll, NTP, CPO
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Modified Mediterranean Diet & Medical FoodsEducation & Cooking
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Register at www.nutritionalvisions.com for free e-newsletter & research libraryCoaching & Consulting Packages available by phone or e-mail [email protected]
Continued from page... 13
EPA-DHA, in a background of flaxoil. Studies report that Omega 3 andOmega 6 fatty acids in combinationresults in increased PGE1 which bothstimulates aqueous tear secretion andreduces the production of PGE2which acts as an inflammatory agent.(Wu D, Maydani M, Leka L., Ameri-can Journal of Clinical Nutrition)
K.A.Trivedi and colleagues at Har-vard Medical School in Boston, MAreport, “Women with higher dietaryintake of Omega 3 fatty acid were atdecreased risk of developing DES”.
An interesting study appeared inthe March 2008 issue of Arthritis Re-search & Therapy 2008 that has the po-tential to augment dry eye therapy inRA patients. Results concluded that a“gluten-free vegan diet in RA induces
surgical procedure for the correctionof vision, much like Lasik)
We have much at our disposal todayin the form of research, healthy di-etary options and supplements thatcan resolve even tough issues likeDry Eye Syndrome.
For information on product lines wehave found effective for treating andsupporting DES, [email protected]
If you would like a copy of the na-tionwide teleseminar we did Decem-ber 2007 on Nutritional Solutions forEye Care, particularly ones that areuntreatable with drugs or surgerylike macular degeneration, pleasesend a request and $5 (to cover ship-ping and the $1 CD charge) to Medi-cal Vision Center and NutritionalVisions Natural Health Center, P.O.Box AC, Morton, WA 98356.
changes that are potentially athero-protective and anti-inflammatory, in-cluding decreased LDL and oxLDLlevels and raised anti-PC IgM andIgA levels.”
“The anti-inflammatory propertiesof the fatty acid GLA have long beenknown. Recent studies report thatoral administration of GLA and LAleads to a significant increase in tearconcentrations of anti-inflammatoryprostaglandin E1 and reduces thesymptoms of dry eye. The aim of thisstudy was to evaluate the effects ofGLA and LA on tear production, tearfluorescein clearance, dry eye symp-toms, and the ocular surface afterPRK .
The researchers concluded that oralprecursors of prostaglandin E1, GLAand LA, could be helpful in increas-ing tear production and clearance af-ter PRK”. Arch Opthal 2002 (PRK is a
The NTP’s Guide to Supporting Dry Eye Syndrome (cont)
15
In the 1930’s and 40’s a brilliantnutritional pioneer, Dr. Weston Price,visited diverse native groups aroundthe globe to try to find the commondietary thread connecting their diets—diets that were supportingpopulations that enjoyed a level ofhealth we in the modern day can onlydream about. Price, a Cleveland areadentist, had launched his project outof concern for the rapidlydeteriorating health of his patients,particularly the young. The insightsin his book, Diet and PhysicalDegeneration, are far-ranging anddeserve a thorough reading. In thisarticle I look at his work on minerals,but it should be noted that hisinvestigations turned up otherimportant common factors in thesediets that are beyond the scope of ourdiscussion here.
Price discovered upon analysis of thefoods consumed by these nativegroups that they were found tocontain at least four times and up toten times the macro-mineral content ofthe standard diet of the day inAmerica. Linger there for a momentwith that number. What kind of housecan you build if you have only aquarter of the necessary materials?Remember this was in the 1930’s and40s, and the soils in which our food isgrown have since then been furtherdepleted of their minerals, and wehave grown used to the consumptionof highly processed foods. The veryprocessing that makes foods fast andconvenient to prepare devitalizesthem and reduces their mineralcontent. We are in sad shape in NorthAmerica if these native diets are takenas a measure of what is needed tosustain health, but I believe that to bethe unfortunate truth of the matter.
If Dr. Price had known to analyzethe trace mineral levels, I suspect hewould have found a similar story.Only in relatively recent years hasinformation about the key role oftrace elements come into focus in thescientific community. Despite theexceedingly small amounts of theseelements that our bodies require,they are nonetheless crucial forhealth. Many serve as key catalystsin essential processes in our bodies.When we deplete these traceelements in our soil, the plantsgrowing there are weaker andsusceptible to disease. It is nodifferent in our bodies.
For those who, upon hearing this, tryto find solace in the fact that they eatorganically grown foods, I have badnews. According to the USDA chartsfound in Paul Bergner’s The HealingPower of Minerals, commerciallygrown foods in the 1960s had asignificantly higher mineral contentcompared to organic produce of theearly 1990s. And both pale incomparison to the mineral content offoods from the 1930s. Not a prettypicture. Clearly, simply resorting toan all-organic diet is not going toprovide minerals in sufficientquantities to match the native dietsthat Dr. Price researched.
If insufficient minerals are in the soil,where can we go to find adequateamounts for our healthmaintenance? Dr. Price noted thegreat efforts natives in the AndesMountains made to obtain seaweedand other treasures of the sea, a seathat was two hundred miles away.The second group he visited lived onsmall islands off the coast ofScotland, and their diet was built
around oats, cod, and other seafoods,including sea vegetables. What was itthat these native groups recognizedin these foods? In a word: Minerals(They have other valuable qualities aswell, but it is beyond the scope of thisarticle to explore them.). The mostnutritious land plants grown in thevery best soil are all quite mineral-deficient if we use sea vegetables asthe standard. All the commonlyconsumed sea vegetables are virtualtreasure troves of mineral nutrition.
It is worthy of at least a brief mentionhere that Dr. Price observedsignificant damage from the inclusionof even small amounts of modernfoods, what he called the displacingfoods of modern commerce, in the nativediets he studied. If even slightly lessthan a fifth of the food came frommodern sources (he was referring tocommercial oils, white flour, whitesugar), the children born to thosepeople would have diminishedhealth evidenced as crowded teeth,narrower faces, cavities, less energyand so on. He took nearly 20,000pictures on his journeys and thedifference between the children on apure native diet and those withpartial inclusion of modern foods isclear for anyone to see. So, it isimportant not only to include seavegetables in the diet, but to alsoeliminate, or at least to severely limit,
Continued on page 16...
Sea Vegetables – The Traditional Mineral Supplementby Bob Quinn, L.Ac., DAOM
16
the consumption of these displacingfoods of modern commerce.
The Japanese have the only moderndiet that has retained a significantrole for seaweed in its cuisine.Statistics tell us that they are doingsomething right—the Japanese livelonger than any other modernpeople, and this despite a highlystressful work life that undoubtedlyhas negative health consequences.Some researchers have speculatedthat it is perhaps the greater soyconsumption in Japan that explainstheir longevity, but a serious look atPrice’s work leads one to suspect it ismore likely the added minerals andother nutritional factors in theseaweed and other seafoods.
How much seaweed should oneconsume? According to Dr. RyanDrum, a noted seaweed expert in theWestern herbal community, a goodballpark number is 3-5 grams per dayof dried seaweed. This is roughly akilogram per year per person. Eatinga variety of seaweeds is the ideal.However, if one is not accustomed tohaving sea vegetables in the diet, it isadvised to start with just a gram aday for a time before slowlyincreasing it. With its high iodinecontent sea vegetables generally havea positive impact on thyroid function,but it is best to proceed with caution.If negative changes are noted, theseaweed consumption should bediscontinued.
Because of the epidemic ofhypothyroidism in modern life,particularly among middle-agedwomen, I thought I might mentionone brown algae, Fucus vesiculosus(common name: bladderwrack),known to have a positive impact onthe thyroid. This seaweed grows
abundantly throughout the temperatezones and can be easily harvested offthe rocks where it attaches itself. It iseasily identified through its small,heart-shaped bladders. Thesebladders contain a mucilaginoussubstance that is high in essentialfatty acids. Although it would be aterrible diet, humans can exist for along time on nothing but dried Fucusand water. Fucus contains acompound called DIT(diiotothyronine) that our bodies canuse to easily construct a T4 molecule;no other sea vegetable is known tocontain this substance. Unfortunately,bladderwrack is not especially tasty,even for die-hard seaweed fans, sothat taking it in capsules becomes therecommended route for hypothyroidpatients. A number of companiesproduce Fucus capsules and mostnatural food stores carry them. Igenerally start people at 1 gram perday of the dried bladderwrack andmove it slowly up to 3 grams per day.If someone has been on thyroidhormone medication for a long time,you will not likely wean them off, butif you do, they will require daily useof Fucus just as they do theirmedicine. As with any supplement orspecial food, if there are adversereactions, the patient should beadvised to discontinue useimmediately. It is a food and verysafe, but idiosyncratic reactions arealways possible.
When harvesting one’s own seaweed,a practice I highly recommend, a fewkey pointers are worth mentioning:First, find out if there is a nearbymunicipal sewage outfall or septicsystem. Seaweeds are like thirstysponges for any ambient mineralsthat pass by their neighborhood, andwhether or not the substances pickedup are healthy for humans is not aconcern of theirs. Be clear: Peoplehave died from eating contaminated
sea vegetables. Second, do notharvest plants washed up on a sandybeach; it is far better to harvest fromthe rocks at water’s edge. It isimpossible to remove all the sandthat the mucilaginous coating on theseaweed will pick up from the beach.A certain broken tooth awaits anywho avoid this warning. Third, donot rinse your harvest in fresh water;seawater rinsing is better. Fourth, drythe seaweed as soon after harvest aspossible and then seal it in moisture-proof containers. Fifth, never putyour harvest in plastic trash bags.These bags are coated with a toxicchemical that ensures anything put inthem will become de facto rubbish.Instead, use plastic produce bagsfrom the supermarket or a food-gradeplastic bucket.
For many modern people includingseaweed in the diet is an unpalatableoption. They should be reminded thattastes do change and encouraged tostart with just a small amount; somesea vegetables have a stronger tastethan others. For those who arehopelessly fussy about their food, theoption of using powdered seaweed incapsules should be explored. Toastednori is usually an easy stretch for thetypical North American palate. ManyAmericans have an easy time startingwith dulse (Palmaria palmata), a redalgae with a mild and quite agreeableflavor. (Irish cattle and horses havebeen observed eating dulse from therocks on beaches.) It does not need tobe cooked and is easily cut withscissors into salads.
A brief personal story about dulsemight be of interest here. In 1977 Ihitchhiked around Ireland for amonth while on semester break fromuniversity in Germany. In one tinyIrish coastal community I observedchildren on their bicycles going into acorner grocery and emerging with
Sea Vegetables – The Traditional Mineral Supplement (cont)
Continued from page... 15
17
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Dr. Harry Eidenier, PhD, is widely considered the Grandfatherof Blood Chemistry and a pioneer in his field for establishing
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little paper sacks filled with paper-thin maroonish-purple strips thatthey greedily pushed into theirmouths. I wandered into the store tosee what they were eating, imaginingI would find a homegrown type ofcandy. Instead I discovered they wereeating dulse. I was astounded thatnutritious seaweed had replacedcandy for these children. The bagswere selling for five pence, so Ibought one and thus started my love
affair with this delicious seavegetable. As it turns out elderly menin this community harvested anddried the dulse and sold it as a wayof making a little money.
My final word is to notunderestimate what improvements inhealth are possible for your patients ifyou help them increase their intake ofminerals by eating sea vegetablesregularly. Practitioners should realize
though that the health benefits fromseaweed consumption do not showup overnight. We need to counsel ourclients to have patience as theirbodies learn to utilize the addednutrition. It will be worth the wait.
Bob Quinn practices meridian therapy,herbal medicine, Sotai, and Thai massagein Portland, OR and supervises in theclinic of the Oregon College of OrientalMedicine.
In MemoriamDr. George Goodhart passed away at his home on March 5th, 2008 at the age of 89. Early in his career as aChiropractor Dr. Goodhart discovered the relationship between muscle function and health which eventuallylead to a unique testing method referred to as Applied Kinesiology (AK) on which the College of AppliedKinesiology (ICAK) was founded. Dr. Goodhart’s dedication to holistic health and wellness was recognized byhis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 by Standard Process.
We will facilitate gettingtogether and are interested in yourideas to build an activeAlumni group in our area.
Networking Sharing Teaching Learning Fun
NTA Alumni
In the Greater Seattle area
We at NTA would like to thank all of ourcontributing authors and advertisers. Thankyou for taking the time and effort to help
inform, educate, inspire and delight all of us inthe NTA community.
If you would like to submit a Book Review,Article or Favorite Recipe, please contact the
NTA office at (800) 918-9798. Ad space is alsoavailable, please call for rates.
NTA is pleased to announce our new Referral Reward Programexclusively for NTPs with current NTA member status.
As of January 2008, NTPs who refer new students to theNutritional Therapist Training Program will receive a $100 cash
award for each student who enrolls based on their referral.
NTA
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Julia Ross, MA, MFT-Carbohydrate Addition Jerry Brunetti-Food as Medicine (w/ Conference Welcome by Gray Graham, NTP) Jerry Brunetti-Sustainable Agriculture Dr. Daniel Chong-The Truth About Cholesterol
Dr. Paul Varnas-Nutritional Counseling: Going Beyond Clinical Results
Julia Ross, MA, MFT-Amino Acid Therapy: Issues in Assessment & Treatment
Bob Quinn, L.Ac, DAOM-Sea Vegetables: The Real Mineral Supplements
Colleen Dunseth, CCHT, NTP-Hormones: The Beauty & Tragedy. A Nutritional Primer
*NTA members receive a 10% discount on DVDs. Please note that shipping and handling charges do apply.
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the 1st Annual NTA Conference!There were so many excellent speakers to choose from and I came away with lots of valuable information as well as newideas for my own personal growth! It was wonderful to meet the NTA staff and make connections with more of myfellow NTPs and other nutrition-minded practitioners. I could really feel the strength of our growing community and thepower in our numbers. We really are changing the world one person at a time, and together, we are quite a force.The banquet and entertainment on Saturday night was an absolute blast and the band was so much fun to dance to! Thevendors were very educational and it was fun to see the how those, who were graduates, have utilized their nutritioncareers.Thanks again for all your hard work in providing this wonderful event! I will definitely be there again next year.Bev Hartsfield, NTP, Portland, OR
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“The sessions were extremely informative. I found that I attended talks ontopics that were new to me…fascinating. I learned ways to replenish thesoil in my garden, learned some new perspectives on hormones andabsolutely loved everything that Jerry Brunetti had to offer. He wasGRAND! I also loved the relaxation station. That was a brilliant idea. Theentire conference was time and money well spent – a great value.”Melissa Stambaugh, NTP
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The Conference will open Friday afternoon with anintensive keynote address as well as a screening of arelevant film. Speakers will present on various topics
surrounding nutrition and mental health.
Keep checking our website for updated informationthroughout the summer!!
Schedule of Events*
Friday:Keynote Part 1 & 2 12:00pm-6:30pmMovie 8:00pm-9:30pm
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