By Dr. George Springer

Q: Which part of the human body requires a massive 40% of the nutrients you take in, to function properly?

A: The brain!

Today’s health-conscious consumers are very aware of the important role the right nutrition plays in maintaining a healthy body, but less known is the important role that good nutrition plays in mental, as well as, physical health. The brain requires nutrients just like your heart, lungs or muscles.

There’s a proven link between diet, heart disease, stroke and cognitive decline. The vascular system is like a tree, there is one main network with different branches. If you clog your arteries you are at risk of vascular dementia.
Results of a recent large study of people living in the Stroke Belt (a region in Southeastern U.S. where health officials have found a higher incidence of strokes) shows that those who more closely followed the Mediterranean diet were less likely to develop a decline in their thinking and memory skills.

The Mediterranean diet is high in antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids like omega-3, which may have a positive effect on the heart and the brain. Healthy individuals who follow the diet have a 19 percent reduced risk of cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer’s Disease.

Eating To Forget

If you read the ingredients on any packet of food and you can’t pronounce some of them, the chances are the food is bad for your brain – and the rest of your body. Poor food choices mean poor cognitive functioning. Eating high amounts of saturated fat can raise the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood, which can then stick to your arteries and turn on inflammatory genes which are a major cause of vascular dementia. Brain neurons become inflammed, and like an unattended fire, the inflammation can slowly spread and lead to serious metabolic breakdown, with vast implications for long-term brain health.

Some key foods to avoid include:

Fast Food – Fatty foods which contain a lot of trans fats, can damage the hypothalamus region of the brain and leave it inflamed, which in turn can lead to brain shrinkage.

Salty Food – are hard on the brain. People with a high daily sodium intake and low exercise perform poorer on cognitive tests than those with low sodium intake and active lifestyle.

Processed Foods – Artificial food additives, like preservatives and food dyes, have been shown in studies to affect cognitive function. MSG, for example, used to flavor foods, was found in studies to destroy nerve cells in the brain.

Fried Foods – Researchers from Spain found that compounds released from common cooking oils raised the risk of neurologic degenerative disease like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Foods with Pesticide Residue – Prolonged pesticide exposure has been found to lead to a loss of neurons which in turn allows neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s to develop.

Brain Boosters

The Mediterranean diet mentioned above is rich in olive oil, fruits and vegetable, beans, nuts, and fish, while it’s low in foods containing saturated fats, like meat and dairy foods. Some of the key food choices for maintaining a healthy brain are:

Oily fish

Fish like salmon, trout, herring, mackerel and sardines are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for a healthy mind. One of the main omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil is DHA, which makes up about 40% of brain cell membranes. In a 2006 study, researchers at Tufts University found that people who ate fish 3 times a week had the highest level of DHA in their blood, reducing their risk of Alzheimer’s by 39%.

Berries and Currants

Evidence accumulated at Tufts University suggests that the consumption of blueberries may be effective in improving or delaying short term memory loss. Vitamin C has long been thought to have the power to increase mental agility. and one of the best sources of this vital vitamin are blackcurrants.

Tomatoes

There is good evidence to suggest that lycopene, a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes, could help protect against the kind of free radical damage to cells which occurs in the development of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s.

B Vitamins

Certain B vitamins – B6, B12 and folic acid – are known to reduce levels of homocysteine in the blood. Elevated levels of homocysteine are associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

Pumpkin Seeds

Just a handful of pumpkin seeds a day is all you need to get your recommended daily amount of zinc, vital for enhancing memory and thinking skills.

Broccoli

A great source of vitamin K, which is known to enhance cognitive function and improve brainpower.

Nuts

Vitamin E is believed to improve cognitive function and nuts are a great source along with leafy green vegetables, asparagus, olives, seeds, eggs, brown rice and whole grains.

Supplements

If your diet is unbalanced for whatever reason, you may want to consider a multivitamin and mineral complex and an omega-3 fatty acid supplement to help make up a few of the essentials. If you are considering taking a supplement it is best to discuss this with a doctor or qualified healthcare professional.

Water

Most people are aware that the cells in the body need regular hydration and the brain is no exception. Three-quarters of the brain is water, and its cells need it to thrive. Boost your brain power by drinking 6-8 glasses of good quality water per day.

It is important to assist the body in defending itself against cognitive disease through nutritional support. An in-depth evaluation and specific lab tests can highlight potential deficiencies, which may be corrected with the right herbs, vitamins, and other supplements.

Dr. George Springer has practiced alternative medicine, nutrition, acupuncture, and chiropractic manipulation for over years. He treats all forms of chronic disease, provides functional laboratory evaluation for patients with specific individual nutrition recommendations, treats patients with chronic pain, chronic fatigue and neuro-musculoskeletal problems.

By Dr. George Springer

History

Although discovery of the art of homeopathy is generally credited to Hippocrates, in 1899 a pharmacist named Knufman claimed that the first application of homeopathy actually occurred in the case of the Greek king, Telephos. In Greek mythology, Telephos was hurt during the Trojan war by the spear of Achilles. Supposedly, he was only cured after Apollo advised to treat the wound with some rust from Achilles’ spear. Probably not very sound clinical practice, but this example does reflect the principle of treating “like with like”, the basis of homeopathy which indeed does date back to Hippocrates.
After laying fairly dormant for hundreds of years, homeopathy was given the kiss of life 200 years ago by German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann, who recognized that many of the harsh medical treatments of his day (the use of poisons such as arsenic, for example) lead to side-effects which were as damaging as the ailment itself.
He experimented on healthy volunteers and found that by giving smaller and smaller medicinal doses, in addition to reducing toxicity, the medicines were actually more effective. He also observed that the symptoms caused by toxic medicines were very similar to those of the diseases they were being used to treat e.g. the toxic effects of mercury were almost the same as the symptoms of syphilis, the disease it was supposedly curing. This lead to the re-discovery of the “like with like” principle.

Resurgence

The term homeopathy comes from the Greek words homeo, meaning similar, and pathos, meaning suffering or disease. Homeopathy has been practiced in the United States since the early 19th century and in the early 1900s there were 22 homeopathic medical schools in the US, including Boston University and Stanford.
Homeopathy, also known as homeopathic medicine, treats the patient with a highly diluted substance which aims at triggering the body’s natural system of healing and is used for wellness and protection as well as treating many different diseases and conditions.

Homeopathic remedies are based on these principles:

● Like cures like – meaning if the symptoms of your flu’ are similar to those of salmonella poisoning, then salmonella would be the homeopathic remedy.
● Minimal dose – the remedy is taken in an extremely dilute form. The designation of X, D or C followed by a number indicates the level of dilution that has been performed.

Popularity

Homeopathy has grown in popularity in the US by 25-50% per year throughout the last decade. As more and more people look for alternatives to conventional medicine and prescription drugs, many are finding homeopathic remedies. This widely-used system of medicine is used in most countries of the world and has many famous exponents from Mark Twain to Gandhi, through 11 US Presidents to Paul McCartney who is quoted as saying, “I can’t live without homeopathy”.
Homeopathy is extremely effective, is safe, natural, works in harmony with the immune system and it treats all the symptoms as one, which means it addresses the cause and not the illness.

Treatment Using Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a natural fit with alternative medicine practitioners who subscribe to getting to the root cause of a problem rather than masking its symptoms.

It is important that a doctor listen to the unique circumstances affecting their patient and the resulting symptoms. A preliminary functional evaluation should be done to determine all of the issues that are contributing to a person’s problem. Laboratory tests oftentimes should be ordered to gather more information so the issues can be identified.

Depending on your individual circumstances, it could be beneficial that a personalized program utilizing natural supplementation, allergy elimination, and in many cases, homeopathy be used to help your problems. It is possible to customize homeopathic remedies with the particular allergens, toxins or microorganisms contributing to a person’s particular health issues so be sure to ask your doctor about that.

Dr. George Springer has practiced alternative medicine, nutrition, acupuncture, and chiropractic manipulation for over 30 years. Over the years he has helped a large number of people regain normal health,using all-natural solutions.

By Dr. George Springer

In the past decade there has been a staggering increase in childhood autism and ADD/ADHD. It is now estimated that 1 in 88 children have autism spectrum disorders and that 3%-7% of school children are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism (or ASD) is a wide-spectrum disorder, meaning no two people will have exactly the same symptoms. Autism typically presents itself during the first three years of a person’s life, and is a disorder characterized by impaired development, social interaction and communication. It is usually parents who first notice “something strange” about their young child’s behavior. He or she does not seem to go into communication when spoken to. They appear to be in their own world. They may seem indifferent to what’s going on, may talk to people in an odd, repetitive way, paying little attention to their responses. Some autistic children also behave in a challenging way, screaming or biting and kicking other people, perhaps because they are anxious and frightened.

Although we tend to think of autism as a disorder in children, it is not something that one “grows out of”. Since it is often overlooked by physicians when treating adult patients with behavioral problems, there are likely thousands of adults living with undiagnosed autism.

ADD/ADHD

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder of childhood, and is diagnosed much more often in boys than in girls. The symptom complex includes poor sustained attention, learning disabilities, and hyperactive behavior, causing problems at home, school and in relationships.
Like autism, the symptoms of ADD/ADHD may begin in childhood and will often continue into adulthood, where common symptoms may include chronic lateness, angry outbursts, marital difficulties, reckless driving and a marked lack of organization.

The Common Denominator

Clinical and laboratory evaluation reveal that children with ADD/ADHD and Autism have a high body burden of environmental toxins, food allergies, and significant nutritional deficiencies that lead to inflammatory damage in the developing nervous system. At the same time, nearly all of these children show inflammatory change in their gastrointestinal tract that increases their sensitivity to many common foods and so called “leaky gut.” Most show yeast and bacterial overgrowth, deficiencies of good bacterial flora and seems to contribute to an almost pathologic preference for unhealthy foods in these children.

The Solution

Many of the children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD or autism are prescribed dangerous pharmaceutical drugs such as Ritalin, Paxil, Resperdal, etc., many of which have not been approved for use in children. They do not cure, but only attempt to mask and in the process delay the diagnosis of the true cause of the condition. Dr. George Springer has over 30 years experience in utilizing natural solutions to correct these problems in children. In his practice he has found that every child seen with ADD, ADHD or autism has a significant problem with their digestive system, whether they are symptomatic of it or not.

Also, many of these children appear to have a detoxification system that is slow in removing heavy metals from their bodies. The toxin levels accumulate and cause injury to the brain and other systems, resulting in the problems we see in autism- spectrum children.

Diet can play a key role. A diet high in carbs and sugar not only feeds mold and yeast but also stimulates epinephrine from the adrenal glands, which increase neurological activity. Also, because of the digestive issues, there is often a problem with protein metabolism which has a direct effect on neurotransmitters since most of these brain “chemicals” are literally made from proteins.

It is important that a doctor listen to the unique circumstances affecting your child. There should be a preliminary functional evaluation to determine all of the issues that are contributing to your child’s problem. Laboratory tests oftentimes should be ordered to gather more information so the issues can be identified.

A personalized program utilizing natural supplementation, allergy elimination, homeopathy and diet is key to correcting your child’s problems. The wholistic approach helps identify all of the factors which may be contributing to the problem, and then natural solutions to can be used to help correct them.

Dr. George Springer has practiced alternative medicine, nutrition, acupuncture, and chiropractic manipulation for over 30 years. As the father of 5 sons, he is concerned to see the increasing number of children being diagnosed with autism, ADD/ADHD and hyperactivity. Over the years he has helped a large number of these children regain normal activity using all-natural solutions.

By Dr. George Springer

When people think of hormones, they often link them to the female cycle. A popular view is that hormones get switched on in early teenage years, get turned off at menopause and cause all kinds of trouble in-between. Moody, temperamental teenage girls are often described as having “raging hormones”. Young women in the 20s and 30s often complain of crankiness around the time of their periods – “it’s my hormones”, and we all know the story of the 50-something menopausal woman who is doing battle with hot flashes, weight gain and mood swings. Once again, it’s all down to the dreaded hormones – it’s a female thing and it’s linked to the reproductive cycle.

But is it? And why don’t men have issues with hormones? Well they do. Men will, in later years, experience andropause: a less commonly-known phenomena in which men around age 35, like women, experience a slow and steady decrease in their dominant sex hormone (testosterone) which can lead to physical and emotional problems if left un-checked.

Different Types of Hormones

However, what many people do not realize is that not all hormones are linked directly to sex and reproduction. The thyroid gland also produces hormones and so do the adrenal glands. These both have to be in balance with the sex hormones and all three need to be in balance within themselves.

The Sex Hormones

In women, sex hormones naturally fluctuate throughout a lifecycle, starting with puberty and usually ending with menopause. If hormones are out of balance, these transitions can be quite uncomfortable, and may even lead to more serious hormonally related health problems. Common symptoms of hormone imbalance are irritability, weight gain, PMS, mood swings, night sweats and low libido.

The levels of the sex hormone in men – testosterone, decline with advancing age which causes a change in the ratio of estrogen to testosterone in the body. A point is reached when the levels of testosterone become so low that estrogen finally begins to dominate – this phase in a man’s life is often referred to as Andropause or The Male Menopause.

Symptoms of estrogen dominance include: enlarged prostate, urinary problems, low sex drive, impotence, diabetes, allergies, depression, fatigue, foggy thinking, increased risk of stroke, infertility, rapid increase in weight and osteoporosis to name a few.

Thyroid Hormones

On a global scale, a staggering 200 million people have problems with their thyroid glands, with over 50 percent remaining undiagnosed. When it functions as it should, the thyroid will produce hormones called T3 and T4 at a 20% – 80% ratio. An under-production of these hormones will slow down the body’s metabolism, causing Hypothyroidism.

When the thyroid produces an excess of T3 and T4 it speeds up the body’s metabolism causing Hyperthyroidism and, if the mild condition is left untreated it can lead to a number of complications.

A lack of proper thyroid hormone levels has been implicated in everything from bad PMS to irregular cycles, low libido, polycystic ovaries, fatigue, weight gain, constipation, fuzzy thinking, low blood pressure, fluid retention, infertility, depression, high heart rate and high blood pressure.

Adrenal Hormones

The adrenal glands sit atop the kidneys to monitor our response to stress by releasing adrenaline, which makes us more alert and focused, and cortisol, which converts protein to energy and releases our stored sugar, glycogen, so our bodies have the fuel needed to respond quickly.
In today’s society, people are inundated with stress that doesn’t let up. And when chronic stress forces the adrenal glands to respond continually without any recovery time, two things can happen: either the adrenals start overproducing cortisol, which can lead to insomnia, anxiety, and the “tired and wired” feeling, or they become depleted to the point that cortisol production can’t keep up with demand, which can cause fatigue, depression, fuzzy thinking, weight gain, cravings, and mood swings.

Striking the Right Balance

The interactions between the thyroid hormone, the adrenal hormone and the sex hormone plays a role in virtually every process in our body. For optimal health, proper hormone balance between the three is crucial. When your hormones are in balance, you feel good, look good, and have abundant sustainable energy. When your hormones are out of balance, you may experience a wide range of symptoms that can affect mood and energy, and may also lead to more serious conditions like the development of uterine fibroid tumors, fibrocystic breasts, hormone positive cancers, thyroid dysfunction or Type II diabetes, among others.

How To Treat Hormone Imbalance

If you suspect hormone imbalance may be a contributing factor to a health issue, there are a number of tests which provide you with a full analysis of your sex, thyroid and adrenal hormone levels.

To measure the sex hormones there is a 24-hour saliva test that measures levels of estrogen, progesterone, cortisol and testosterone.

Thyroid hormones are measured by a comprehensive thyroid profile, in the form of a blood test. The test results will give precise measurements of Free T3 and T4 and their ratios to each other, as well as other key factor indicators of thyroid health.

Adrenal hormones are also measured by a saliva test which includes a complete adrenal (cortisol and DHEA) profile with the hormone evaluation.

If the results indicate that a person’s hormones are out of balance then they should be checked for deficiencies in essential nutrients which are required for hormone production. Many times this will correct the problem without the need for prescription hormones. Often, with some other specialized testing it can also be determined that even if the hormone levels are normal a person’s body may not be using the hormones correctly at the cell level. This is essential to restoring optimum function of the hormone system.

Dr. George Springer has practiced alternative medicine, nutrition, acupuncture, and chiropractic manipulation for over 30 years. He treats all forms of chronic disease, provides functional laboratory evaluation for patients with specific individual nutrition recommendations, treats patients with chronic pain, chronic fatigue and neuro-musculoskeletal problems.

By Dr. George Springer

● A recent nationwide survey found that 1 in every 2 U.S. citizens test positive to one or more allergies.
● Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic disease (fatigue, chronic sinus congestion, migraines, stomach problems, arthritis, skin problems, etc.) in the United States, costing $18 billion annually.
● In addition to foods, one can also experience allergic reactions to fabrics, nutritional supplements, plant and animal substances, chemicals, metals, and medications.

What is an Allergy?

The word allergy comes from a Greek word meaning altered energy. When we experience an unusual re-action to substances in our environment, we can either have a specific immune reaction called an allergy or other systemic reactions, which we call sensitivities.

Many people with allergies reach for over-the-counter medication to suppress their symptoms. After all, who wants to be sneezing all day if the pollen is high, when a daily dose of an anti-histamine will make the problem “go away”. What those people do not realize is that all they are doing is managing their symptoms, while beneath the surface a fire is burning, which could set them up for serious long-term health problems.

From Allergy to Inflammation

When an allergic reaction occurs in someone’s body, their immune system tries to fight it, and this battle causes an inflammatory response which may not be evident to the person. If the source of the allergy is not handled and is merely suppressed, it won’t go away and so the immune system continues fighting. This sets the body up for long-term inflammation, which can lead down the pathway to serious health conditions.

From Inflammation to Chronic Illness

Inflammation comes from the Latin word inflammo meaning “I ignite, set alight”, and can be classified as either acute or chronic.
Acute inflammation is the short-term immune response our bodies mount in cases of trauma, infection or exposure to a foreign microorganism. Our immune systems react by identifying the infectious or dangerous substance, determining which cells are non-threatening and which are threatening, assessing the level of the threat, mounting a response, and repairing any resulting damage.

Chronic inflammation arises when this response is not completely turned off or extinguished. It acts like a slow-burning fire, continuing to stimulate pro-inflammatory immune cells when they may not be needed. Like an unattended fire, chronic inflammation can slowly spread and lead to serious metabolic breakdown, with vast implications for long-term health.
When an allergy exists, either hidden or visible, and the root cause of it is not handled, the body will be constantly on the defensive. When that situation exists, the body’s overall health can be compromised. Firstly, inflammation takes a lot of a body’s energy and resources. Second, having a constant, low-grade flow of powerful inflammatory markers in the blood stream can cause damage with time. To make matters worse, the immune system’s hyperactivity can self-perpetuate and quickly spiral into disease.

You may have heard that disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and eczema stem from inflammation. But chronic inflammation has now been connected to a host of modern diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, asthma, coronary artery disease and diabetes.

From Chronic Illness to Good Health

It is important to find the root cause of a health issues, not just cover it up. If you are aware you have an allergic reaction to something, it can and should be handled. However, a person with chronic symptoms has allergies that are present, but hidden, so there is no knowledge of them. By careful evaluation, it can be determined if the allergy-inflammation double-act is the root cause of a health condition, and if it is, it can and should be eliminated.

Dr. George Springer has practiced alternative medicine, nutrition, acupuncture, and chiropractic manipulation for over 30 years. He treats all forms of chronic disease, provides functional laboratory evaluation for patients with specific individual nutrition recommendations, treats patients with chronic pain, chronic fatigue and neuro-musculoskeletal problems.

By George E. Springer, Jr. D.C., N.M.D., D.C.B.C.N.

 Did you know:

● an estimated 27 million Americans have Thyroid disease?

● more than half are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed?

● thyroid problems in women occur seven times more often than

in men?

● thyroid problems can be triggered by things as simple as your

drinking water or  swimming in your pool?

On a global scale, a staggering 200 million people have problems with their thyroid glands, with over 50 percent remaining undiagnosed. In the US alone, the instance of thyroid disease is running close to epidemic levels and equally as worrying is the number of un-diagnosed or mis-diagnosed cases. So just what is responsible for these runaway statistics?

The Thyroid Gland – So Small, Yet So Vital

Most people would locate their thyroid gland in the neck area, and many know it is somehow linked to weight-gain or weight-loss. How many times have you heard an over-weight person say “I have thyroid problems”? Well, what does that really mean?

The thyroid gland sits wrapped around the windpipe behind and below the Adam’s Apple area. This small bowtie-shaped gland produces several hormones in both men and women, the two most important being triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones help convert oxygen and calories into energy, making the thyroid the master gland of metabolism. The hormones are also essential for the proper functioning of all our organs, including our heart, musculoskeletal system and brain.

Hypo or Hyper?

The two most common forms of thyroid disease are Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism and as their names suggest, they are at opposite end of the scale.

When it functions as it should, the thyroid will produce T3 and T4 at a 20% – 80% ratio. An under-production of these hormones will slow down the body’s metabolism, causing Hypothyroidism. Common symptoms of this condition are weight-gain despite eating sensibly, feeling cold, fatigue, depression and possibly increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Hyperthyroidism occurs when an excess of T3 and T4 speeds up the body’s metabolism and, if the mild condition is left untreated it can lead to complications such as severe weight-loss despite a healthy appetite, nervousness, accelerated heart rate and insomnia.

Causes of Hypothyroidism

– Autoimmune thyroiditis, where the body’s own immune system attacks the thyroid gland, is the major cause of hypothyroidism.

– A lack of iodine in the body. Iodine is necessary for the production of thyroid hormones, and iodine deficiency due to inadequate intake can lead to problems.

– This is also true for a deficiency of protein in the body and a deficiency of magnesium and zinc .

– Heavy metal poisoning (as with mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium) of the thyroid can also lead to hypothyroidism; chemicals and pesticides can also be a factor.

– Root canal teeth can leak toxins into the body and enter the thyroid gland, producing malfunction.

– Babies can be born without a thyroid gland, or with one that is not properly functioning.

– Surgical removal of the thyroid gland or treatment with radioactive iodine, often for hyperthyroidism, can also lead to hypothyroidism.

Causes of Hyperthyroidism

– In 70% of people with hyperthyroidism, the cause is a genetic disorder called Graves’ disease. Graves’ disease may be secondary to dental infections, root canals or mercury fillings.

– Lumps or nodules in the thyroid may gradually grow and increase in activity also leading to an overproduction of thyroid hormones.

– Thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland), where the thyroid gland leaks thyroid hormones into the blood.

– Overmedication with triiodothyronine (T3) and/or levothyroxine (T4) may also cause hyperthyroidism.

 Why This Epidemic?

Thyroid disease is one of the silent epidemics of our time. The shocking fact is that nearly half of all women and a quarter of all men in the US will die with evidence of an inflamed thyroid.

As with many of today’s illnesses, the increased incidence of thyroid disease can be linked to an over-burden of toxins caused by pollution through air, water and food. If you have a concern about your thyroid, you may want to note the following potential causes of problems:

Iodine – deficiency is one cause of hypothyroidism. However, studies are also showing that in the case of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, the highest prevalence occurs in countries with the highest intake of iodine, such as the US and Japan.  So, although iodine supplementation should be implemented to prevent and treat iodine-deficiency disorders, supplementation should be maintained at a safe level. 

Soy – high soy consumers and users of isoflavone supplements can be at risk of thyroid disorders since soy isoflavones can damage thyroid function. This is actually a rare occurrence.

Smoking – has a negative impact on thyroid function and can cause a 3- to 5- fold increase in the risk of all types of thyroid disease.

Tap water – Standard water-treatment plants cannot remove the chemical perchlorate from the water supply. According to one researcher, “There is a statistical association between low-level contamination with ammonium perchlorate and elevated or abnormal thyroid function.” Also, chlorine content in the water can displace the much-needed iodine.

Fluoride – is an enzyme poison which accumulates in the body. Since the body can only eliminate 50% of its total fluoride intake, this build-up can cause harm to the thyroid by blocking the use of iodine.

Pesticides – such as sumithrin (Anvil) and resmethrin (Scourge), are coming under considerable criticism for their adverse chronic effects on the thyroid.

Family history – of thyroid disease is a warning signal. Also a family history of depression, autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue or weight issues can signify thyroid problems.

Radiation and X-Rays – are known to cause damage to the thyroid and technicians should always cover the patient’s throat.

Stress – is a factor in almost every kind of disease and can affect the thyroid.

Pregnancy – It is estimated that between 5-10% of all pregnancies will result in PPT (Postpartum Thyroiditis).

Menopause – hormonal changes during this period of a woman’s life can wreak havoc on her thyroid.

Why This Misdiagnosis?

The statistic that more than 50 per cent of thyroid disorders remain un-diagnosed is alarming. Why is this? One problem is that because symptoms of hypothyroidism often vary from person to person and are non-specific, the correct diagnosis can easily be missed. Many cases remain undiagnosed because some practitioners and the patients themselves, mistake the symptoms of hypothyroidism for depression, obesity or menopause.

Hyperthyroidism tends to run in families, occurring most often in young women. It is often misdiagnosed as an eating disorder, anxiety or stress.

Thyroid Treatment

The thyroid affects all the other hormones in the body and its proper regulation is essential to good hormonal balance and health.  With the disturbing increase in thyroid disease, we suggest that an annual screening of thyroid function be done. This would include blood tests that check on thyroid hormone levels and body iodine levels.

When a patient is suspected to have a thyroid disorder, a comprehensive thyroid profile is ordered, in the form of a blood test. The test results will give precise measurements of Free T3 and T4 and their ratios to each other. If the results indicate that for example, the patient’s T3 level is too low, then the patient will be checked for deficiencies in essential nutrients which are required for hormone production. Many times this will correct the thyroid without the need for prescription hormones.

Getting the correct diagnosis and treatment of thyroid problems has made a difference to a lot of people’s lives and it could do the same for you!

Success Story

 “For 13 years I have had thyroid and health issues that nobody seemed to be able to help me with. It was one test after another with negative results and still no-one seemed to know what, if anything, could be done.

Then I decided to try treatment with Dr. Springer. I can now report that my life and health issues are turning in a positive direction and I am losing weight when I never could before. I feel so much better, especially because they give me answers to the questions that could not be answered in the past. Thank you.” Christy N.

By George E. Springer, Jr. D.C., N.M.D., D.C.B.C.N.

Do you have:

● Silver (amalgam) fillings?
● Fatigue?
● Loss of memory?
● Tremors?
● Unexplained symptoms?
● Chronic illness?
● Heavy fish consumption?
● Thimerasol vaccinations?
● Lead paint exposure?
● Handling toxic materials?

If you have any of the above and are experiencing symptoms such as lack of energy, poor circulation, weight-gain, high blood pressure or unexplained aches and pains, the answer to your health riddle may be Heavy Metal Toxicity.

The Role of Heavy Metals

Many of today’s diseases and health problems are linked to an over-burden of toxins in the body. We live in a polluted environment where our food, air and water are contaminated with hundreds of heavy metals that easily pass into our digestive tract to invade us.

Leading the charge in the toxic army are the Heavy Metals, which comprise; lead, mercury, aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bismuth, bromine, cadmium, nickel, thallium, tin and uranium.
Mercury is probably one of the best-known and one of the worst environmental poisons. It can come from: leaking amalgam/silver fillings, which are about 50% mercury, heavy fish consumption, residues from volcanic ash and coal burning.

It’s been over 30 years since the government banned lead from paint, and started to phase it out of gasoline but it seems like almost every day there is a news report about a product containing un-safe levels of lead, from children’s toys to lipsticks. Compared to several hundred years ago, the lead level in our bones is hundreds of times higher than it was at that time.

Of course, all of this just adds to the toxic burden and does nothing to handle the underlying problem – toxic contamination.

A “Silent” Condition

Undetected for years, many people are victims of a serious accumulation of Heavy Metals, the effects of which may only become apparent when a general debilitation of health begins to occur. This “silent” condition mimics many other illnesses, often making it hard to detect. Heavy Metals don’t actually hurt and have no obvious symptoms but the neurological destruction they can cause can result in very serious illness.

Fecal and urine analysis can be done to establish the heavy metal toxicity levels present in a patient’s body. If a complete detoxification is required, the liver, lymph system and digestive system of the patient is evaluated to ensure they are in good enough condition to support the detox process.

Heavy Metal Detoxification

The Heavy Metal Detoxifcation protocol involves a cutting-edge protocol which eliminates from the body almost totally via the bile-bowel route which is the natural way the body detoxifies heavy metals. Urine levels remain low and the kidneys are not stressed by the detoxification program.

Heavy Metal Detoxification is not a one-time, quick-fix process and it can’t undo neurological damage caused by Heavy Metals but it can help to reduce any further damage. Patients overloaded with Heavy Metals must use a small dose and gradually increase as they begin to feel better.

Patient Testimonial

“I was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia which affected the nerves in my face and left me in constant excruciating pain. I had previously been told that my only options were to either take pain meds for the rest of my life or have surgery. Under Dr Springer’s guidance, I started following a detoxification program and over time my condition improved by at least 70%.” GD

By George E. Springer, Jr.  D.C., N.M.D., D.C.B.C.N.

Do you lack the energy you once used to have? Is that extra cup of coffee just not hitting the spot? Are you starting to experience mysterious aches and pains? If you answer “yes”, then like millions of Americans you may be suffering from a very prevalent modern malaise – Fatigue.

The annoying thing about fatigue is that it’s hidden. It doesn’t usually show up on our annual physical results – it’s not like high blood pressure. Unless we are confronted with really debilitating symptoms, most of us are great at covering up our feelings of fatigue. We learn to cope with it; we blame it on stress, late nights, not enough exercise, bad relationships, poor food choices, lack of sleep. There always a good excuse for feeling tired and run down.

Fatigue comes in many forms, but the three biggest hitters on the ball-park of weariness are Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia and Adrenal Fatigue.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition of prolonged and severe tiredness or weariness (fatigue) that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other conditions. The majority of CFS cases start suddenly, usually preceded by a flu-like illness severe stress.

Symptoms

● A new onset of unexplained, persistent fatigue or tiredness, unrelated to exertion and not relieved by bed rest, that causes a significant reduction in previous activity levels.

● Fatigue that is severe enough to restrict activity.

Other symptoms – 4 or more lasting 6 months or longer
Post-exertional fatigue, un-refreshing sleep, impaired memory or concentration, headaches, different from previous headaches in quality, severity, or pattern, joint pain, lymph node tenderness in the neck or armpit, muscle weakness, all over or multiple locations, and a prolonged sore throat.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia produces widespread pain, achiness, disturbed sleep, and overall exhaustion. People with fibromyalgia have pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons—the soft fibrous tissues of the body. Fibromyalgia is a very real, painful, and sometimes debilitating health condition.

Symptoms:

Pain – Deep muscular aching, throbbing, or intense burning. Quite often, the pain and stiffness are worse in the morning
Fatigue – Patients may feel as if their bodies are completely drained of energy.
Memory and Concentration – Difficulty concentrating and retaining new information.
Sleep Disorders – Trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, and an un-refreshing quality of sleep.
Exercise Difficulties – Moderate intensity exercise can make the pain of fibromyalgia worse.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome – 40-70% of firbomyalgia patients report constipation, diarrhea, frequent abdominal pain and bloating, abdominal gas, and nausea.
Chronic Headaches – Recurrent migraine or tension headaches are experienced by 50-70% of fibromyalgia patients and occur at least twice a week.
Jaw Pain – jaw-related face and head pain affects one-quarter of fibromyalgia patients.

Adrenal Fatigue

People with Adrenal Fatigue report feeling tired for no reason, they struggle to keep up with daily life, feel stressed all the time and very often crave salty or sweet snacks. Adrenal Fatigue is often triggered by life events such as crises at work or home, emotional trauma, major surgery, sudden change in financial status and drug and alcohol abuse.

Symptoms

● Weight gain
● Fuzzy thinking
● Weight gain
● Depression
● Mood swings
● Difficulty in getting out of bed in the morning
● Reliance on caffeine to keep going
● Decreased sex drive

We have treated many people with different forms of fatigue successfully. The key is to find the underlying influences that have disabled the body’s energy producing systems. This is rarely just one thing, but more usually a number of subtle imbalances that combine to create problems.

We endeavor to discover the real cause of the condition a person has. We are not treating with band-aids to cover up symptoms, but to rehabilitate the body to rightful health. We can’t promise that we do it every time, but you will find no office that works harder to help you regain your energy and pain free life.

Getting the correct diagnosis and treatment of fatigue problems has made a difference to a lot of people’s lives and it could do the same for you!

Testimonial

“Shortly after going through menopause in my early fifties, I developed a nagging lack of energy. I resigned myself to the hard fact that I would never feel the energy of my youth again. I was growing old.  However, I turned to Dr. George Springer. Thanks to his wise evaluation and the regimen of natural supplements he prescribed for me, after only four months, I feel that my aging process has reversed itself! I have so much energy that I can once again keep a fast-paced and energetic schedule all day long (no naps needed). I truly feel that I have regained the fifteen years I lost after menopause.” A.S

By George E. Springer, Jr.  D.C., N.M.D., D.C.B.C.N.

So, you are saying to yourself, “Enough is enough!  I want to be able to have more control over my health.  Why can’t I get answers instead of another prescription?  I want to get to the actual CAUSE behind my issues and not just keep chasing symptoms. There has to be some way of getting my health back using natural solutions.”

Having practiced integrative/natural medicine for some 30 years, I understand your frustration.  I have increasingly heard these kinds of thoughts and ideas being expressed about what you want for yourself and your family’s health.  Your dissatisfaction with most methods of treatment has resulted in your desire for new approaches to health care and your thirst for knowledge has led you to become more determined about finding ways to help yourself.

However, with so many options available, how do you begin putting the pieces together?

If I asked you how to go about assembling a jigsaw puzzle, you would likely have a strategy of matching colors or using the straight edge pieces of the border to get things started. Of course, even as it comes together you need to have all the pieces otherwise the picture would be incomplete.

Resolving your health issues is similar. For example, while detoxifying your body from everyday exposure to chemicals and toxins is beneficial, some people come to me feeling awful from a detox program they were trying.  Usually they began the process before their body was able to detoxify efficiently. Others are exasperated because, although their research revealed that enzymes and probiotics would be the answer to their intestinal problems, they are still suffering. They simply may be missing some of the other pieces their body needs to complete the picture of their digestive health.

It is essential to emphasize that it is just as important to correct health issues in their proper sequence as it is to have all the pieces.

Throughout many years of observing the results of patient treatment, I have repeatedly found there are four key areas in the body that are vital for regaining or optimizing health which need to be addressed in the following order:

1. Digestive system

2. Lifestyle/Metabolism

3. pH and toxicity

4. Energy Integration

The digestive system is critical for good health and is the entry point for correcting imbalances in many people. Obviously, the proper processing of the food we eat is essential if we are trying to rebuild the body. However, the digestive system also houses 70-80% of the immune system in its associated lymphatic structures. So, food allergies and other imbalances in the digestive system can directly cause or contribute to a host of conditions ranging from everyday allergies to more chronic problems such as IBS, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and Lupus. If that isn’t enough, some 80% of the nervous system’s serotonin is stored in the digestive system. Serotonin is known as the “happy” neurotransmitter and deficiencies caused by digestive imbalances contribute directly to anxiety and depression. So, it is not hard to see why balancing the digestive system is a key place to start.

Once the digestive system is working correctly, it makes sense that moving on to step #2 and implementing dietary and other lifestyle changes will have a better opportunity to be effective for weight loss or generating more energy since you are now getting more nutrients out of the food you are eating. And, this is the appropriate place to mention how subsequent steps can also impact on the previous step. For example, if you balance your digestive system but then continue eating a high level of processed foods or sugar, it won’t be long before your intestinal health reverts back to its imbalanced state.

Each step leads you into the next, and in turn, it supports the previous step in the process.

With digestive balance and lifestyle changes in place, you are already progressing into correcting your body’s pH and reducing toxicity.  A digestive system that is free of “bad” micro-organisms certainly reduces your toxic load and a diet high in fruits and vegetables goes a long way toward alkalizing your body. At the same time, a good functioning digestive system makes it much easier for toxins to be removed from your body, reducing many of the adverse symptoms that can accompany a detoxification program.

Implementing the first three steps causes the health barriers to be either greatly reduced or eliminated, causing your body’s “energy” to run into fewer obstacles and to flow much easier and cleaner throughout your entire system.  As a result, you are more grounded, centered and in touch with your environment with a higher vitality.

So…now that you have the sequences to follow, you still need to be able to discover all of the correct pieces of the puzzle to complete the whole picture of each step.  Any pieces that are missing stick out like a sore thumb, limiting your outcome.

For example, you may be taking enzymes and probiotics for your digestion but still experience more gas, bloating and problems with bowel movements than you would like.  Your digestive puzzle is not complete until you learn you also have food allergies as a primary problem.  Other individuals may find they have an overgrowth of bad bacteria and need something additional to help them get rid of their uninvited guests.

This frames an important point.  One size does not fit everyone!  Everyone does not have food allergies or yeast or bacteria or enzyme deficiencies.  So, your digestive puzzle may look completely different from your friend’s picture.  And, to add another slight twist, YOUR body’s metabolism may require a totally different nutritional supplement than your friend needs to balance the same type of issue in their digestion.  What works to eliminate your yeast may fail miserably for someone else, creating some potential confusion in the process until you simply understand this “one size does not fit everyone” concept.

Fortunately, there are muscle testing procedures you can learn to help you not only uncover your own missing health pieces, but also to determine which specific supplements work best with your individual metabolism.  During my 30 years of clinical practice, I have found these procedures to be an invaluable tool in helping me with the most difficult of cases.

In closing, following the steps in the correct sequence and learning to uncover the unique pieces of the puzzle will allow you to reclaim your health.

Dr. Springer has practiced functional/natural medicine for 30 years and is the co-founder of Personal Health Connections which delivers a series of hands-on training workshops to empower you with the skills and knowledge to take back your health.  You can learn more by calling 727-244-5630.