Showing posts with label inflammation. Show all posts

Boosting your immune system, the next steps.

( Original written 8/17/2020 compiled from previous writings) Ready for video.

So if you look at the regular advice for improving your immune system you will have a now pretty obvious list of things like; stop smoking, eat more fruits and vegetables, get more sleep, exercise regularly, avoid or reduce alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, wash your hands, and cook your meat… wow. Some of the most vanilla advice ever.

What can you really do to improve beyond all that?

The basics are, well, basic. Almost everyone knows some of that… but what next?

Doing those things listed above is pretty much the advice touted by every trite site and doctor since forever… well not really, most of these things were considered benign to full quackery only a couple decades ago. Vitamins have been seen as not at all helpful to downright harmful (But the supplement market is worth billions and you had better believe that every pharmaceutical and medical corporation is in on it). I once worked for a pharmacist. Not one of his clients were prescribed vitamins or any other supplements. He once told me, “if you want expensive urine, take vitamins. They are worth nothing.” That was a while ago, now it is a large part of any pharmacy, just go look for yourself. Supplements are not researched like pharmaceuticals (prescription medications) because there is little to gain in trying to research, produce and market something that every person can get in the produce aisle of any market. An old saying in chiropractic was that prescriptions were written in Latin so that the general public could not read what was needed. If they could, they would go to the back yard and pick it for themselves…

I have been meaning to list this for a long time. This pandemic has changed my focus to more mundane things and have just recently began to get the notes all set up. All of this is what I tell patients every day… Most people are pretty confused about what to do other than the very simple ‘eat better’. Most of the time I don’t even know what they mean… I have been in practice as a chiropractor and acupuncturist for over 20 years, I have spent even more time studying herbs, supplements and foods as therapies. I often prescribe and suggest foods, water, air, supplements, relaxation and movement for every patient, whether they have a sprained ankle or insomnia… from abdominal pain to zinc deficiency, these things can help and often show quick results. None of these interfere with any medical or prescription that I know of. You may have t]

Here are seven things that were not mentioned that you can do today to keep yourself and family healthier. Improve the immune response and fight off infections before they get to you…

Water. Yea another easy one, but super essential. Did you know EVERY chemical reaction in the body requires water? From making a protein, metabolizing carbohydrates, getting your medicines to where they need to be, storing and releasing fats, making neurotransmitters and hormones and yes, you guessed it, making and maintaining white blood cells and your lymph system, THE transport system for much of your immunity stuff.

Drink about 1 ounce per kilogram. Take your weight, divide by 2 and that is about how many ounces (Minimum) you need. You must take more if you are taking supplements or any medications as they take LOTS of water to metabolize.
No ice… In acupuncture theory we talk a lot about heat and cold. It takes effort and energy to keep you at the right temperature (which is best for you and your friendly bacterial residents) When you drink cold water, it first has to be warmed to body temperature to be absorbed. Try this, only drink cold water for a couple days, then change to ambient temperature water and you will notice a difference in skin tone, urine color and volume and energy level…

Air. Are we going even more vanilla? Nope, this one was not related in any of the articles I reviewed.

Breathing is THE main way to release carbon dioxide (which is acidic) and bring in oxygen. Oxygen is used in every metabolic process you have, it is even a big component of our bodies, we are in fact about 65% oxygen by mass.
Breathe slow and deep, this changes the actual chemistry of your body and will make it work more efficiently. It is relaxing and can help you release stored toxins as well as alkalize your body, an essential and factual necessity of a normally running body. Even your blood is a bit alkaline (7.35 to 7.45 on the 1-14 potential of hydrogen scale) and must stay that way or you could go into a coma!
Moisture and particulates: having a humidifier also helps get air moving too. Not only in you but on you. Circulating air is good air. Still air is stale air… it can harbor and promote molds and other irritants.
You release a lot of toxins from the body with breathing. Don’t believe me? Did you know if you rub garlic on your feet, it will come out from your breath? It does. (that is an old remedy for colds… I would rather eat garlic though…) Garlic has lots of sulfur which is used in the immune response and also is a part of many antibiotic drugs (sulfa drugs).

Your microbiome! My what? Run out the bad guys with enough good guys. Your body is covered, infused with and totally inhabited with bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites… Gross right? Well, these are some good guys sometimes. One of the most friendly of our inhabitants is lactobacillus and other bacilli (a type and shape of bacteria, found pretty much everywhere) If you have a good balance and good relationship with these little fellas, it is much harder for other ‘bugs’ to inhabit your space. Your immune system has grown to know and understand these good guys that actually help you metabolize some substances, detoxify you from others and make some vitamins for you.

The best practice is to get outside and start gardening. The natural bacteria in the soil is very happy in and of us and it helps us a lot.
The next best thing you can do is to eat fermented foods, pickles, kimchi, sauerkraut, and even one of my favorites, Natto. Are best.
Taking a pre or probiotic. Prebiotics are concentrated ‘good bacteria’ that will help bring you more good guys. Now, not so long a go it was considered stupid to take such things as they would be destroyed by stomach acid. But the stomach does not release acid all the time, it depends on what is there and other reasons related to digestion. Once considered a dumb thing is now so accepted, people are advocating fecal transplants… yes you read right, putting poop from a ‘healthy’ person into an ‘unhealthy’ person… go figure… Remember this is from the group of ‘scientists’ that tried to originally debunk handwashing…(See my post on Ignaz Semmelweis)

Strategic supplementation: Taking the one-a-day is fine. When there is something going around it is also good to take some helpers…

Zinc and other minerals. Your body makes antibodies and runs on minerals to help make neurotransmitters that help you find out what is going on in and around your body as well as hormones to tell organs and glands how to work. Some minerals also slow down the process of ‘bad guys’ reproducing or help in the mediation (control) of fevers and normal actions you need…
Vitamin C, ah, the tried, true and amazing panacea. Well, no. But research all points to Vit. C as being essential (which means your body needs it but cannot make it, so it has to be supplemented… see how that works?) in maintaining the cell membranes, keeping what is good inside and what is bad outside. It also helps maintain mucus membranes. Those are super essential in protection.
Amino Acids. These are the building blocks of every protein. Proteins are not only neurotransmitters, but also enzymes, hormones, and antibodies… Get a good variation of them over time. Your body will know what to do. For foods, try ‘the three sisters’; rice, beans and corn. That has all the amino acids you would need to build any protein. A great one to help with fighting off viruses is lysine.
Don’t forget the fats. Yes they are good for you, and help with much of your body’s normal functions. Eat well and you should be fine. Getting some from oily fish like mackerel is one of the best though… it stinks, but it helps… You can buy supplements at the store.
What I do: We take vitamin C, minerals like calcium and magnesium, zinc, and vitamin D3…

Movement; not just outside but inside too…

Not only stretching and exercise which moves blood, air, other fluids helps with digestion and maintains your metabolism and other chemicals in normal levels, but it also helps release dopamine and serotonin, those are your ‘feel good’ chemicals which have a huge part in your immune response.
Getting some sun. One of the oldest and most effective therapies is 'heliotherapy’ or just getting some fresh air. In the late 1800s and early 1900s sanitariums or sanitoriums and solariums were more common. Someone with TB (tuberculosis) would be sent to a spa like this with plenty of clean air, good food and sun. if you cannot get out like you know you should, supplement with some vitamin D3… you are deficient, trust me… it helps. VItamin D helps with mineral uptake as well as immune function, not only that but the main chemical of D3 (ergocalciferol-D2, cholecalciferol-D3, alfacalcidol) are also important in immunity function and production of hormones.
Yoga, Taichi, walking… whatever… just do something. Get up and walk around and move your arms. When I was in Southern California I would attend a temple that was near a park. If you got there early enough you could see hundreds of older people doing all sorts of tai chi like exercising. Some would be standing in one place and doing chi gong, some would walk backwards, some pat their heads, some swing their arms about. It was all to make the chi (life energy) and the fluids move...

Really relax: Four ways you can do this now!

Guided sleep meditations: I have used them for years with great success. Look up these: (Stephen Halpern’s Trip to the beach) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JyoHcF5oQ4

Here is Swami Kriyananda, and the Land of Mystery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJuuJxP4V-o

Those are but two of many you can find all over the place.

Acupuncture: one of the best ways I know to not only relax but to stimulate the chi (life energy) and to mediate (help and control) your natural immune response of inflammation.
Meditation; Just sitting and breathing, observing has shown to help all sorts of ailments.
Supplement with all sorts of vices… I am talking CBDs or cannabinoids which can make you much more relaxed. I do not like them for myself but others swear by them. THC (at least in Colorado where it is legal) also shows some promise when used in a limited way to promote sleep, relaxation and calm. Also, now hear me out… alcohol. A nightcap to ‘take the edge off’ is useful in my opinion. Of course, all of these in less than moderation is good…

Your lines of defence…back to basic physiology and biology for some of you. There are three basic lines of defence. We can improve all of these with the steps above.

Your first line of defence is all around you. It is your largest organ and one of the least understood but most abused. Your skin. The skin has plenty to offer in the forms of defence. Sweat, a normal and important function of the skin releases some chemicals that are toxic to other bacteria, fungi, and viruses. It has even some attributes similar to wasp venom and skunk spray. The skin also helps keep good stuff in and bad stuff out with a protein it makes called keratin. Not only that, but it can be a bid indicator of your general health. Tone, color, texture, moisture, integrity (i.e. no holes or scratches) and thickness all play a role in protecting you.
Mucus membranes… all the holes going in and out of you… yes all of them. Whether digestive, respiratory, reproductive or sensory, holes are lined with mucous membranes. Mucus is an amazing defence that may be acidic or alkaline, thick or thin. This is by design and helps keep all sorts of bad guys out of us. Some areas even make a chemical called ‘lysozyme’ that can destroy many bacteria, viruses and molds… I always think of it as the ‘Lysol’ of the body. To keep it healthy, make sure water and minerals are well balanced and abundant.

OK, I get it, that is A LOT of information for some pretty simple things to do to improve your immune system. This will keep you healthier, help you fight off disease and live better. I have no idea why improving your immune system is not promoted more… well, yes I do. Profits.

The orange juice council spends thousands to get people to drink more orange juice, but the pharmaceutical companies spend millions telling people that drinking juice does nothing and they spend millions more telling you to take their concoction which was made from oranges in the first place…

I have always wanted to “KISS” keep it simple silly, when it came to health and wellbeing. I think that too much fussing around with technology and chemistry do not help as much as being closer to nature and folk remedies. Of course, there is a time and a place for medicine, surgery, technology and modern diagnostics, but trying some simple and safe things in the meantime can not only help the process to health along, but also may even help you avoid costly and sometimes harmful surgery, pharmaceuticals and procedures that limit your own ability to fend for yourself.

References:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system

https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2020/mar/5-ways-to-boost-your-immune-system/

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/strengthen-your-immune-system-with-simple-strategies/

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/boosting-your-immune-system.html

https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2020/boosting-immune-response.html

https://ib.bioninja.com.au/standard-level/topic-6-human-physiology/63-defence-against-infectio/lines-of-defense.html

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lysine-benefits#section4

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3750756/#:~:text=Both%20oral%20and%20parenteral%20feeding,to%20optimizing%20the%20immune%20functions

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4272512/

https://aminoacidstudies.org/immune-system/

https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/natural-remedies-6009109

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3358962/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/garden/104757851/ancient-medicine-the-herbs--cures-we-still-use-today

Acupuncture for ankle sprains.

Acupuncture for a sprained ankle

To review, a sprain is when a ligament (those cartilage bands that hold each bone to another) becomes injured. Well, technically torn… There are different grades of tear or sprain. From very mild to a complete ‘avulsion’ (that is when a ligament is torn apart, or pulled apart) when it has been completely torn in two.

A tendon, is the attachment of the muscle to the bone, and many times those are injured as well. It is a reflex of the area that is injured to tighten to naturally splint the area. This is why you would have tightness of the shin and calf muscles when you sprain an ankle.

Most ankle sprains are what are called inversion sprains, they are when you roll an ankle on a hole or rock or something. This can tear a set of ligaments on the outside of the ankle called the deltoid ligaments or the talo-calcaneal or talo-navicular ligaments. Of course, there are many ways t

o injure the ankle and many structures that can become damaged, but these are the most common that I have seen.

To make sure it is not a fracture is also very useful. The gold standard of course is an x-ray of the ankle, but palpation (feeling) and mobilization (by a professional, skilled practitioner) is useful. Another way to do this is with a tuning fork, which I did a video on my channel ‘Thenaturalbodyworks’ on YouTube.

RICE and self-care: The sprain tears the ligament, this causes bleeding because you have also torn blood vessels. That is where that wonderful bruise under your ankle bone is from. Also in the area is a whole system of inflammation which would include; warming up or heat, redness and bruising, pain and soreness, and swelling. All of this is normal for an injury and it is trying to help you. The body is trying to stabilize the area as well as increase action of the white blood cells and repair cells. The pain is to keep you from injuring it again. The idea is to rest and let it heal. This is the crux of the typical treatment of ‘R.I.C.E’ or Rest, Ice packs which help with pain and out of control swelling that can further damage tissues, Compression, to keep it from swelling more and to support the ankle if you have to move at all, and Elevation to reduce throbbing and pooling of blood in the lower area.

Contrast bath: I only have people use ice for the first couple days maximum. Once the bruising starts to show and change color is the time to bring in some intermittent heat. This all of course depends on what it looks like. I have patients use ice for ten minutes, nothing for ten minutes then some mild heat for ten… then repeat. It is called contrast and it gets the fluids and blood to wash out quicker.

So here is my formula for self care.
1. Contrast bath of the foot. Heat will increase the blood flow moving toxins and debris out of the area and letting new materials as well as fresh blood and glucose to promote the healing. Ice will compress the area, reduce the flow and slow down the metabolism. The body wants increased metabolism to bring new materials there, just like when you have heat. So the cold kind of helps blood flush out of the area, and promotes a more vigorous healing process. Not too much of each though. I usually suggest 10 minutes of ice followed by a ten minute rest and then ten minutes of heat followed again by a ten minute rest before repeating. Time of each really depends on what you have available and how much swelling there is. Minimum of three cycles like this about three times a day. Or you could go longer and more if there is more swelling.
2. Alignment of the ankle... You NEED to have the joint of the foot in the right orientation in order for the muscles to relax and re-balance as well as for the ligaments to heal in the proper length. Now, how do you ensure there is proper alignment? First of all go to the next step then I will tell you...
3. Movement in the pain free zone. Use this as soon as possible. Usually the very next day. Begin to move the ankle in all directions without weight bearing.
4. Weight bearing exercises; Use basic standing at first, start to walk. Bare footed so that the bones can begin to align where they should. If that is not possible after a couple days, you may have crushed some bone. Best to get it checked out. Get an x-ray and you will know immediately. Go to a chiropractor, have them check it out. Especially look for ones that do extremity adjusting. They will know what to do. If you cannot get to an x-ray, use a tuning fork like I show in my video. (Link) Finding a fracture with a tuning fork.
Having weight bearing started you can start to really strengthen the ligaments by standing on your heels, toes as well as the outer blade of your foot. I will show you in a video later.
.

Acupuncture: As for acupuncture it can and should be used on acute (immediate injuries, that are less than a few days old) to sub-acute (from a few days to a couple weeks) then for chronic injuries, those that have lasted over a couple weeks. Each part is unique and take different care programs which I will not go into here. The points used are general on the meridians that cross the ankle, the liver, bladder, kidney, spleen, gallbladder and stomach. WOW so many! But knowing which ligament is sprained and which points to use is essential and what an experienced acupuncture practitioner would use.

Electrical Acupuncture uses small needles to be placed in specific areas to enhance the healing capabilities and actions of the body. There are also (as shown in the picture) electrical therapy that can speed up the process even more. Electrical acupuncture can help with swelling, congestion in the area, muscle spasm and pain. I prefer to use it rather than take all kinds of over the counter medications because the medications go all over the body, when we really want the action in the ankle.

Treatment could take from 20 to 40 minutes depending on what else is going on. Home care as above is essential. For acupuncture, I have patients come in daily for three days then every other day for a week or two. Then we go to rehabilitating the ankle.

Rehabilitation is a part of the total healing of the ankle and begins with simple movement in the pain free ranges. Doing the alphabet in the air with the big toe as a pointer is useful. It helps regain some range of motion, reduce swelling and scar tissue buildup and begins to loosen the muscles. Later, weight bearing and special exercises like walking on the tip toes or heels or outer edge of the ankle is helpful and will strengthen the ankle again and prevent more injuries. Finally I do and suggest manipulations of the ankle, knee, hip and lower back to make sure it is all aligned properly and has a good range of motion that will allow you to adapt better and completely heal without weakness of the ankles or other areas which will predispose to other injuries.

Frequently these injuries become very stubbornly chronic and some have to wear a brace to help the weakened muscles, tendons and ligaments. They should be getting routine adjustments and follow up treatments to help them adapt and understand the new limitation. No sprain is ever 100% healed, there will be scar tissue no matter what you do, and the idea is to reduce it as much as possible and strengthen and build adaptability in the rest of the body.

Finally we have to also look at the emotional component of an injury if we hope to be holistic about it. The ankles and feet are our foundation, our connection with the Earth itself. In acupuncture philosophy the human is the in-between of the Earth and the Heavens. It is important to consider. Other ideas related to the ankle are the ability to stand up for one’s self, standing steady, pushing off, stepping forward, stepping up, and holding your ground. Simply put, ‘standing on your own two feet’ is a common idea. Although many ankle injuries are simply a miss-hap, a lack of attention or an accident. When they are continual or chronic we have to look elsewhere. Following the ‘kinetic chain’ from the spine all the way to the foot is essential and can really open up some good possibilities of healing other areas of the body and mind.

Trying to treat just the ankle is short changing the patient and not looking at the person as a whole process of being. The body is not like a car, you cannot easily just replace parts and have it work exactly the same. It does not work like that, never has, never will. Think holistically, look at the whole person. It does not have to be an exhaustive exploration of all the physical alignments, strengths and weaknesses, chemical insufficiency and emotional components, but it helps to keep that idea of the whole person in the mind with any issue.

Dr. Sean H. Thompson is a chiropractor and acupuncturist in Parker Colorado. He has been treating ankle injuries for over 20 years and presents his work and findings both online and in person. https://www.youtube.com/c/thenaturalbodyworks

http://www.thenaturalbodyworks.comhttp://www.thenaturalbodyworks.com

Cupping for detoxification, some facts to think about.

Cupping for detoxification and healing.
Cupping is an amazing and very old technique to help the body detoxify and heal. It has its origins in Asia as long as a thousand years ago and is still used today because it is so safe and effective. You can also find this and similar techniques being used in Poland, Russia and Finland.

When toxins and cell waste cannot be removed through the natural processes of lymph drainage and blood flow the body becomes fatigued and can become ill. Some people will only feel tired or sluggish when they have an overabundance of waste fluid stuck in the skin and underlying muscles and tissues.

We call this stagnation; the holding of those fluids that must be removed and cleared out for the cells to work correctly. This can happen because of an old injury, an old muscle tear, car accident, fall, or any form of chronic disease.

With the cupping we lift the skin and force the fluids into different areas, this does two things. First, it sets into motion a cascade of healing that jumpstarts the body to clean the area, and two, it helps release those toxins to get back into the correct circulation where they can be cleared and clean.
What Cupping is good for…
-Chronic issues of pain, fatigue, or disability
- History of prescription or recreational drug use
-Too much protein in the diet
-Parasite or candida infection
-Exposure to environmental toxins, mold, pollen, chemicals etc.
-Past traumatic events that tend to rear up now and again.
-That feeling of being stagnant or ‘stuck’ in life, relationships, career etc…

When the kidneys, liver and lungs cannot process these issues and become over worked, the body will naturally put the toxins ‘in storage’ so they can get to them later. This usually will be in the underlying fat of the skin, or in muscles. The cupping action is that of a vacuum. It pulls the tissue and therefore the fluids through the different compartments and, over time will stimulate the body to clear it out.
Cupping is quicker than acupuncture, massage or even chiropractic at getting toxins to release and be processed.
Cupping can also help you determine the extent of an issue…
-Demonstrates the severity of the congestion (see below)
-Demonstrates the location of the most congestion and stagnation.
- Can stimulate the liver, kidney, lungs and skin to work more efficiently.
Cupping details.
Does it hurt? It can feel uncomfortable, especially if the tissue is over congested and tight or you are dehydrated. So drinkplenty of good water before and after a session.

How long will those marks last? That depends on how deep the stagnation and how ‘healthy’ your system really is. Usually the marks last a couple days. Sometimes, with deep set stagnation that is chronic, a yellowish mark may remain for a couple weeks. This is an indication that much more work needs to be done.
What should I do about the marks? Nothing, they are a natural and very expected result of good cupping. Keep them covered and warm, as the ‘opening’ of that area will release a lot of energy and heat. You can be more susceptible to chills and further trouble if they are left uncovered, especially for the first day or so. Also, the marks are more ‘open’ than the rest of the skin, be mindful of what you put on your skin. Natural and medicated oils will be more potent.
When you make an appointment simply plan to be in the office about 40 minutes. This gives us time to evaluate, do the treatment, re-evaluate and suggest home/self-care. Drink water or eat before coming for the treatment, you will relax even more and avoid uncomfortable nausea and dizziness which occasionally occur.
Who should NOT have cupping?
-Open skin, lesions, rashes, inflamed skin
-Sun burned skin… that just hurts…
- Dehydration
-Bleeding disorders, hemophilia, thrombocytopenia (platelet issues)
-Certain medications: Coumadin, Warfarin, blood thinners etc..
After cupping it is common to feel coolness or a light feeling. Your energy will go up or down depending on how your body reacts to the cupping treatment. Best plan is to schedule 4 or 5 treatments over a month period to cleanse the entire area and facilitate healing in the most efficient way for you.
See you soon!!

Dr. Sean at Natural BodyWorks in Parker Colorado is a holistic healer, chiropractor, acupuncturist and dry needle practitioner. He produces these videos to help patients and friends live better more comfortable lives. A little levity and education go a long way in his opinion. All information is original, and opinion of Dr. Sean Thompson for educational purposes only. Any background music or visuals are incidental and not copyrighted. Comments and questions are welcomed, and will be responded to as soon as possible. Dr. Sean runs The Natural BodyWorks in Parker Colorado, has been practicing for over 20 years and is available daily at his office. Thanks!

Website: https://www.thenaturalbodyworks.com

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Email: frontdesk@thenaturalbodyworks.com

Phone: 720- 325 9886

Address: 12539 N. Highway 83, Unit B

Parker Colorado 80134

Here is the text for the Gall Bladder cleanse, you can also see it on my blog https://drseanthompson.wordpress.com/...

The information in these videos are for education only, there is no intent to diagnose, treat or render an opinion. Any incidental diagrams, drawings, music, video, or other recording are used under the copyright fair use for education and or satire. Use your own brain, go see a qualified provider if there is any question…

Not responsible for you, you are.

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Enzymes for inflammation

Enzymes for inflammation

Many people know and understand that enzymes are useful in weight loss as well as for digestion. However, there is a little known super benefit of some enzymes. They can help with inflammation including arthritis, sinusitis, and ...

First of all we have to understand what we are talking about. Enzymes are actually proteins made by certain cell organs called organelles. More specifically they are made by a little cell organ called the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum merely means it appears rough under a microscope and that it is inside the plasma or gel that makes the cell matrix. The 'reticulum' part means the same as a reticulated python, you know those big snakes? They do not commonly coil but instead just fold up, reticulated. Anyway, that little organelle (little organ) makes proteins for a living depending on what the nucleus of the cell determines based on the DNA of the cell. It could be a hormone, a neurotransmitter, a lipid fat, a carbohydrate or even an enzyme.

Enzymes are proteins. Well, most of them are, the enzymes we are talking about here are. There are at least 50,000 kinds of enzymes that make all your metabolic actions run smoothly. In fact, you cannot live without enzymes. Most are what are called catalysts. Catalysts are things that speed up a reaction. Think of gasoline as a catalyst to a fire. It speeds ups a reaction that is already occurring.

Most of us know enzymes are used to help digest food. It is pretty well accepted that your enzymes for digestion start to decrease in quality and quantity after about age 35. This is why some foods will bother you more after 35, especially foods eaten late. I used to have an 'iron stomach' could eat a hearty meal at ten at night then sleep like a baby. Now, if I eat heavy red meats after 7:00 p.m. I will be up half the night with some sort of gastric distress.

Interesting fact. Pepsi, derived in part from the word pepsin which is an enzyme your pancreas makes to help you digest proteins once was a digestive elixir. Enzymes have been known for a long time to help digestion. Pepsi has been on the market since 1898! To help a condition called dyspepsia. (basically indigestion, or not digesting well).

Basically, enzymes are proteins, they may help you in many chemical functions of your body including digestion. Here I will show you how they can help with inflammation.

Now that we understand a little more about enzymes, we can now look at inflammation.
Inflammation is a natural process your body goes through constantly. Whenever there is an injury to the body the infammatory process begins. It is controlled by certain white blood cells that help you maintain a good chemical balance in your body.

Inflammation on a bigger scale has four main signs we can see. If you get poked by a thorn there is a reaction... actually there are four reactions going on. In Latin we learned them as Rubor, Calor, Dolor and Edema. In plain English that is Redness, Heat, Pain and Swelling, respectively.

When there is an injury like a poke from a thorn, white blood cells called Mast Cells, they make and release heparin which reduces blood clotting so things can get to where they need to and histamine which attracts other cells called Macrophages (big eaters) to help in the clean up of an injury and damage.

Enzymes help this process along and help in the cleanup and repair of the tissues that were damaged. Some enzymes help those macrophages eat faster or more so they can do more work, some help with repair and others can slow down other process we want to hold for a bit. These are generally the proteolytic enzymes.

I had been prescribing patients enzymes for digestion for years before I really looked into the inflammation process and how enzymes can help. In the 1990's it was still kind of considered a bunch of hooey that nutritional supplements can do much. There are still some that think that way, but now with more studies and experience (empirical evidence) we are starting to see more acceptance of what works and why. I was speaking with some friends about their dog which was having problems with some food allergies and fur and skin troubles. This dog was a big guy and was pretty old so he was showing some slowing down because of arthritis. They had started giving him enzymes for digestion originally and then noticed that he was doing better on all fronts in just a couple weeks. They were giving the enzymes as treats, because they were chew-able. I too was giving my dogs some enzymes commonly for digestion mostly because they liked the smell and taste. When ever I was taking them they begged me for them.

Here is a list of some of the most useful enzymes for inflammation.
Protease (breaks up proteins), Papain (from Papaya, good for proteins), Bromelain (from pineapple, a big anti inflammation helper), Amylase (for carbohydrates and sugars), Amylogucosidase ( ), Celluase (helps with cellulose, the cell walls of plants), Invertase (Changes sucrose to a more usable sugar for cells), Pectinase (helps break down pectin that is in apples and most fruits ), Lactinase (works on Lactose which is a sugar common in dairy ), and Lipase (for lipids and fats). These main ones not only help you with basic digestion of what you eat, but also help with many processes that can help individual cells. Some help with reducing the swelling (edema) or maybe increasing blood flow (remember heparin and histamine from the Mast cells?)

Ok, so now we know more about enzymes and what they can do as well as what inflammation is. Now what? Well, I have worked with a company called Xymogen to produce a product just for inflammation AND digestion. I call it 'Inflamma-Zyme' It has all the enzymes I mentioned and more!

I have been getting patients that have had surgeries on it, improving their healing times. I have prescribed it for people that have chronic muscle tension and even fibromyalgia with really good success. I don't push supplements at my office. I do offer them and so far, almost everybody comes back and buys more. Because it works for them.

You don't have to buy my supplement, but I would appreciate it. You could also simply clean up your diet and add foods that naturally have those enzymes or the building blocks of the enzymes.

So think of these questions if you are considering starting enzymes-
Are you over 35 and have noticed digestion just 'aint' what it used to be?
Do you feel bloated? (That is a sign of inflammation)
Do you have arthritis? Sinusitis? Fibromyalgia?
Even Ileitis, colitis, gastritis, hepatitis... (Notice the pattern? Pretty much any word that ends in 'itis' is an inflammation process.
Do you have chronic muscle pains in the back or shoulders? or pretty much anywhere.
Do you get dyspepsia?

Now, if you answered yes to at least two of those I think your are a great candidate, but don't think it is a panacea (a medicine that cures everything) because it is not. The body and each condition is very unique and needs a real good look to really be understood. Enzymes like these can help, but they may only be a small part of a much bigger set of supplements and even medicines you may need to get your body back to its best functioning.

If you want the enzymes that I have from my office you can come on in and pick up a bottle, or contact me via email and we can make sure you get a bottle or two my mail. They are $23.00 + Shipping and handling which will depend on where you live. You will get a bottle of 60 vegetarian caps from my very own label: Dr. Sean's Formulas!

Dr. Sean H. Thompson at Natural BodyWorks in Parker Colorado is a holistic healer, chiropractor, acupuncturist and dry needle practitioner. He produces these videos to help patients and friends live better more comfortable lives. A little levity and education go a long way in his opinion. All information is original, and opinion of Dr. Sean Thompson for educational purposes only. Any background music or visuals are incidental and not copyrighted. Comments and questions are welcomed, and will be responded to as soon as possible. Dr. Sean runs The Natural BodyWorks in Parker Colorado, has been practicing for over 20 years and is available daily at his office. Thanks!