SSSEEECCCRRREEETTTSSS TTTOOO AAA LLLOOONNNGGG HHHEEEAAALLLTTTHHHYYY LLLIIIFFFEEE NNNaaatttuuurrraaalll SSStttrrraaattteeegggiiieeesss FFFooorrr OOOppptttiiimmmuuummm HHHeeeaaalllttthhh Using Herbs, Vitamins, and Food to Treat What Ails You By Dr. Bertrand Babinet, PhD., LAc. June 2010 © Bertrand Babinet - Proprietary NATURAL STRATEGIES FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH Table of Contents Introduction 6  The Ripple Effect of Poor Health 6  The Simple Nature of Good Health 7  The Significance of Inflammation 8  Creating the Opportunity for Healing 9  Chapter One: The Energy System and How to Maintain It 12  The Chinese Model 12  The Indian Model 15  The Greek System 17  Inner Ecology 18  Outer Ecology 19  Chapter Two: The Physiological Terrain 20  The Four Pillars of Health: The Foundation for a Vibrant Terrain 20  Emotional Terrain 22  The Power of Homeostasis and its Relationship to the Terrain 25  Chapter Three: Understanding Inflammation and How to Treat It 27  The Many Causes of Inflammation 33  Inflamed or Irritated Digestive Tracts 34  Chapter Four: Adrenal Glands – the Cornerstone of Health 38  Cortisol 38  The Many Manifestations of Adrenal Dysfunction 38  Testing for Adrenal Dysfunctions 41  Treating Adrenal Imbalances 42  Chapter Five: Sugar Metabolism, Diabetes and Obesity 45  Glucose and the Glycemic Index 45  Hypoglycemia 49  Hyperglycemia AND Diabetes 51  Insulin Resistance 53  The Good News about Fat 55  Hormonal Influences of fat cells 58  June 20110 © Bertrand Babinet-Proprietary Page 2 NATURAL STRATEGIES FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH Cortisol and Insulin 59  Chapter Six: Weight Management and the Integrative Diet and Exercise Program 61  How Do People Gain Weight? 61  Worst Calorie Choices For Difficult Weight Loss 64  Weight Control through Integrated Food and Exercise Management (IFEM) 67  Chapter Seven: The Impact of Candida Overgrowth on the Physiological Terrain 72  Controlling Candida 72  Testing for Candida 74  Possible Side Effects of Treatments 77  ProBiotic Treatment 78  Candida and Diet 79  Chapter Eight: Who Says Heavy Metals are Unhealthy? Burying Our Collective Head in the Sand 81  The Devastating Effects and Sources of Heavy Metal Toxicity 81  The Five Most Toxic Heavy Metals 84  Chemical Toxicity: Why the War on Cancer is Being Lost 90  Chelation as a Therapy for Clearing Metals and Chemicals 91  Chapter Nine: The Liver, Kidney and Lymphatic System 93  The Liver - Filtering Out the Bad Stuff 93  The Kidneys – The Other Major Filter 97  The Lymphatic System – The Sewage Treatment Plant of the Body 99  Chapter Ten: Naturally Maintaining Cardio-Vascular Health 101  The Markers of Cardio-Vascular Diseases 102  The Relative Importance of Thyroid and Homocysteine 107  Less Common but Significant Tests 108  Lifestyle Changes 111  Keeping Your Heart Healthy 112  Chapter Eleven: A Feeling in the Gut: The Key to Healthy Living 114  The Small Intestine 114  The Large Intestine and Dysbiosis 119  June 20110 © Bertrand Babinet-Proprietary Page 3 NATURAL STRATEGIES FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH Parasites 121  Chapter Twelve: Allergies and Physical Reactivity – When the Body Gets Upset about Nothing 125  Causes and Treatments of Allergies and Physical Reactivity 125  Clearing Out The Reaction 127  Chapter Thirteen: Opportunistic Infections 130  Mycoplasm 130  Other Chronic Systemic Infections 133  Stealth Virus 136  Nano Bacteria and Other Minuscule Micro-Organisms 136  H-Pylori 137  Chapter Fourteen: Understanding and Interpreting Blood Tests 138  Usual Clinical Range Versus Functional Range 138  Basic Nutrients 142  Sodium 142  Blood Functions 145  Immune Response 147  Organ Functions 150  Chapter Fifteen: Remedies for the Physical and Psychological Impact of Aging 158  Natural Remedies for the Aging Process 159  Spotting Age-Related Symptoms 160  Cardio Vascular System 161  Chapter Sixteen: How Persistent Psychological Stress Affects the Body, Mind and Emotions 175  Adrenaline’s Big Bang 175  How to Deal with Stress 177  Stress Management: Using Symbols to Calm 179  Chapter Seventeen: 90 Days to Optimal Health 183  Ten Steps to Overall Wellness 183  Implementing the 90-Day Plan to Achieve Radiant Health 185  90 Days to Optimal Health Plan 186  June 20110 © Bertrand Babinet-Proprietary Page 4 NATURAL STRATEGIES FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH Chapter Eighteen: Conclusion 193  Appendix: References 196  June 20110 © Bertrand Babinet-Proprietary Page 5 NATURAL STRATEGIES FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH INTRODUCTION With every passing generation, there are more and more insights and scientific breakthroughs that promise longer, healthier lives. This is heartening because most people imagine getting older in good health with the opportunity for enjoying retirement and spending more time with friends and family, away from the hustle of a busy life. Yet, if we believe the current statistics on health, even in the light of cutting-edge discoveries, many of us are going to fall prey to some form of degenerative condition such as arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer, to name a few. Being diagnosed with any of these conditions can radically change lifestyles and spoil our retirement plans. Unfortunately, many will not have to wait until an advanced age to experience some of these challenges. They may affect us while we are quite young and create disturbing obstacles in all aspects of life. Roberta, my wife of 40 years and business partner, is an example of this. In 1998 she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and we were both in shock. I am an acupuncturist and a Doctor in Human Development. Roberta counsels people and is an effective life coach. We both experienced excellent health and a strong spiritual practice throughout our lives. When the diagnosis occurred, we had been in practice for more than 20 years, and I thought we knew a great deal about health and well being. We had created a comprehensive system of healing based on the premise that a healthy mind lined up with a spiritual perspective produces and maintains a healthy body. Our oversight was that we disregarded the negative impact that disturbances in the environment and certain genetic predispositions can have on both cells and the most basic physiological functions. Thank God Roberta has enjoyed great health for the past several years and leads a very active, creative life. Still, her diagnosis was a rude awakening. It led me to extensive research into what constitutes a healthy physical body, and how we can ensure and maintain good health. The exploration that I embarked upon led to a range of discoveries that I am sharing with you in this book. THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF POOR HEALTH I live by this principle: take care of yourself so you can assist in taking care of others. Providing your body with its basic needs on an ongoing basis is an essential part of contributing to the health of communities and our world. Conversely, attending to the health of the planet is an essential aspect of taking care of ourselves and our health. The two are inextricably linked. June 20110 © Bertrand Babinet-Proprietary Page 6 NATURAL STRATEGIES FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH When a significant portion of the general population is in poor health, all aspects of society are affected. One good example of the impact of poor health on society is obesity. The increasing dependence on fast food loaded with hydrogenised fat, refined flour and various forms of sugar has brought about an epidemic of obesity throughout the U.S. This has caused problems, not only with adults, but also with children. Until recently, Type II diabetes was a condition found only among adults. These days, however, there are a startling number of teenagers and even younger children who experience it. The recent increase in obesity and its physiological consequences are adding billions of dollars to the national health bill. The money that is being directed at the treatment of pathologies could be better spent improving the quality of our environment, which directly impacts our bodies and quality of life. Clearly, by taking care of ourselves through proper nutrition, sleep, relaxation, supplementation and exercise, we reach far beyond our individual physical and emotional health. Indeed, being healthy actually penetrates the physical and social ecology of the entire family of man, as well as our planet. THE SIMPLE NATURE OF GOOD HEALTH Healthy people have a much higher quality of life. They have high energy, so they do more. On average, healthy people earn more money. They save money by not spending it on health services. They have a better relationship with themselves and others. Less time is wasted in disease-related downtime. Because they have more energy and feel good, the lives of healthy people are easier and more rewarding. Much of the chronic pain to which people have become accustomed naturally disappears when they restore the health of their basic functions. Because healthy people feel good and usually look good, it is amazing how a simple change in health can immediately translate into new social and professional opportunities. Contrary to what many people believe, good health is not complicated; it is a natural state of being. One reason it may seem complex is because when we’re sick and go to medical doctors, they often express themselves in unfamiliar language at a time when we feel vulnerable. Recent research indicates that more than 60% of patients leave their doctor’s office without a clear understanding of what the doctor found or what the patient is supposed to do. In addition, there is a generally held assumption that if we are not diagnosed with a disease, we must be healthy. This misconception reinforces the belief that healthy people fall ill in the same way that a car crash can happen to a good driver. Surely you’ve known someone whom you thought was a perfect example of good health, only to learn that he or she was diagnosed with catastrophic illness. This June 20110 © Bertrand Babinet-Proprietary Page 7 NATURAL STRATEGIES FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH was the case with Roberta, whom we thought was in excellent health. The truth is, however, that situations like these indicate that something had been neglected for a long time and suddenly came to a head. After her diagnosis, Roberta and I both decided to follow her doctors’ advice and pursue the traditional medical protocol. But that’s not all we did. At the same time that she was receiving “emergency medical” treatments to destroy the cancer cells, we stayed true to our intuition and paid special attention to the variables that sustained her health and well-being. This was a proactive approach to shoring up all of the components of her existing good health that would reinforce an overall healthy atmosphere within her body. We call this approach attending to the physiological terrain. This approach is both simple in methodology and dramatic in impact. There is a significant difference between this approach and the traditional perspective of western medicine. Medical doctors aren’t trained to see the physiological terrain. They are trained to eradicate germs, surgically remove abnormalities, and repair broken bones due to life-threatening accidents. Medical doctors assess the body in relation to pathologies, diagnose diseases and treat them with pharmaceutical products or costly operations. Recognizing the difference between an MD’s approach and ours is not to suggest that we do not need both of them. These two approaches can be quite complementary and it would be to everyone’s advantage if they worked cooperatively. That said, in this book you will learn that our approach illuminates the fact that we have many more choices about how to manage, regain and maintain our health than you may have heard about in the doctor’s office. This approach also keeps little things from turning into a crisis. Ultimately, my intention with this book is to provide you with access to a variety of options and a wider range of treatments than you may have been exposed to before. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF INFLAMMATION What the medical establishment is discovering now, and which most people in the natural health field have known for centuries, is that inflammation can actually contribute to the cause of pathologies, chronic fatigue and degenerative diseases. In the February 23, 2004 edition of Time Magazine, there appeared an article entitled “The Fires Within.” It explored the major impact of inflammation on the body, including the chain reaction created by it. The author concluded by suggesting that the new medical approach to this issue is to increase the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Celebrex. I would be very careful about following these solutions. As you will see later, these drugs have serious side effects and while they may indeed reduce inflammation, they do nothing June 20110 © Bertrand Babinet-Proprietary Page 8 NATURAL STRATEGIES FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH to address the causes that create the problem of chronic inflammation. They simply palliate some of these effects. In this book, and in plain language, we will explain answers to these questions:  What is inflammation?  Why should I be concerned about it?  What are the main sources of inflammation?  What are the natural approaches I can use to eliminate inflammation from my body and restore a healthy and fully functioning body? We will also examine many other issues that may be interfering with your quality of life as you get older, and we’ll provide suggestions about what you can do through natural means to restore your health and enjoy vitality throughout life. Not long ago I had the opportunity to hear Ray Kurzweil, a leading authority on technological development, speak. He showed graphically that the speed of evolution of new technologies will resolve within 20 years all of the major health issues that are presently the main cause of death: cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and neuro-degenerative disorders. What we want to offer you here is a chance to optimize your health so that you will benefit from that medical revolution. This book provides you with simple effective strategies to address the day to day challenges that contribute to these issues. We do not necessarily want you to live forever, but we want you to live healthy and happy until your last breath. CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HEALING In essence, this book is designed to restore faith in the body’s ability to take care of itself. In it, you will learn how to assist with this task. We examine the basic functions of the body, what in our environment and lifestyle has the most profound negative impact, and how to restore a healthy physiological terrain. We also explore what we need to do on an on-going basis to maintain optimal functionality of the body while also understanding how to age gracefully. Nature is filled with healthy resources designed to assist with this task. Our research is drawn from time-tested traditions and knowledge from all continents regarding the medicinal applications and purpose of flowers, plants, minerals, food and spices. These are all natural properties that exist in our environment. We tap into the treasure chest of natural healing agents that can assist in identifying exactly what can help address your unique health challenges. June 20110 © Bertrand Babinet-Proprietary Page 9 NATURAL STRATEGIES FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH The treatments we recommend include the following.  Homeopathy: Homeopathy was created in the late 1700 by the German physician, Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (1755 - 1843). He evolved the notion that “like cures like.” He first identified the symptoms produced by certain substances and then used those substances in infinitesimal dilution to treat the original problem or a similar pathological presentation. Upon doing so, there was an amelioration or eradication of the imbalance. Since then, homeopathy has developed to include combination remedies and strategies that deal with allergies, toxicity and other modern day challenges. Various dilutions work with different aspects of health ranging from the physical to the psychological and even spiritual causes of disease. A homeopathic approach to medicine is a specialty taught in medical school in Europe, India, South America and the Middle East, but it is still considered nonsense by most MD’s in the U.S. I have personally used homeopathy for myself, my family and in my practice with incredible results. If you’ve never tried a homeopathic remedy, you’re in for a pleasant, safe and promising surprise.  Specific Natural Remedies: Throughout the book, you will be guided to web sites where you can purchase herbal, mineral or vitamin supplements that I have found to be effective.  Eating and exercise programs that boost your overall well being. It is a well known fact that employing good food and fitness into your life promotes good health. We will remind you that it’s never too late to get started—and it can be fun.  A 90-day program for overall wellness that also addresses your psychological and spiritual needs. Even though this book equips you to recognize the imbalances within your system so that you can treat them accordingly, you may be more comfortable working with a health-care practitioner. You may also need their assistance in obtaining certain kinds of tests and products that can only be accessed through a licensed practitioner. Since MDs do not have an eye for natural medicine, they typically are not the best to work with. Instead, seek a Naturopathic Doctor (ND), a chiropractor, an acupuncturist, a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), a nutritionist or a homeopath. It is unlikely that every doctor you consult will use the kind of treatment strategies that I mention in this book. However, they are likely to steer you in the right direction. June 20110 © Bertrand Babinet-Proprietary Page 10