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Oxalate Sensitivity

by Mila McManus, MD

Oxalate sensitivity could be linked to underlying yeast or candida overgrowth. Oxalate, also called oxalic acid, is an organic compound found in many plant foods. For most people, oxalates pose little to no problem, but for some individuals with high oxalate levels and oxalate sensitivity, it can lead to numerous health issues.

Common signs and symptoms of high oxalate levels include muscle aches and pains, fatigue, brain fog, strange rashes, kidney stones, chronic UTIs, frequently cloudy or hazy urine, vulvar pain in women, gastrointestinal problems or irritable bowel syndrome, gum issues, sore eyes, or poor vision, and histamine intolerance.

The composition of your gut microbiota is directly related to the amount of oxalate levels found in your urine. Candida albicans is the most common yeast in the human gastrointestinal system. While it is uncertain which one causes the other, candida overgrowth has been found in the presence of high oxalates in the gut. Addressing high levels of yeast and candida can help reduce oxalate levels. Oxalates are measured in urine, and high levels are referred to as hyperoxaluria.

In a healthy person, approximately 90% of the oxalate delivered from plant foods in the diet is excreted through the stool and urine. The human body can also produce oxalate on its own by converting Vitamin C during metabolism if oxalate levels are too low. For individuals with oxalate sensitivity, oxalic acid is not excreted efficiently and remains in the cells, where it wreaks havoc, leading to oxidative damage, depletion of glutathione, compromises the immune system, and forms crystals that cause pain and injury. The result is the formation of oxalate crystal deposits in blood vessels, bones, and various body organs. Kidney stones and joint pain are two such examples created by oxalate deposits in these areas.

Initially, treating for high oxalate would include an elimination diet while simultaneously reducing yeast and fungal populations in the body. Foods high in oxalate include beans, beer, beetroot, berries, chocolate, coffee, cranberries, dark green vegetables [especially spinach], nuts, oranges, potato, rhubarb, soybeans, soy milk, sweet potato, black tea, tofu, and wheat bran. The two-pronged treatment protocol includes removing these foods while targeting the yeast and fungal populations, both of which, in turn, reduce the oxalate load and sensitivity. When the gut microbiome is balanced and healthy again, many of these healthy whole foods can be returned to the diet.

There are also supplements that can help reduce oxalates and the related symptoms of oxalate sensitivity. Optimizing gut bacteria with a high-quality, multi-strain probiotic helps break down oxalate in the gut. Calcium citrate binds with oxalates to form larger molecules that pass through the digestive tract without being absorbed. There are several oxalate competitors, including sulfur, bicarbonate, chloride, and Biotin. These can crowd out the oxalate and stop it from having such an impact at the cellular level. Vitamin B6 helps facilitate the urinary excretion of oxalate. Drinking plenty of water helps to eliminate oxalates, as does activated charcoal, which acts as a binding agent.

If you think you, or someone you love, may have oxalate sensitivity, consider meeting with one of our providers for a personalized protocol that addresses the root causes and leads to restored health and wellness.

Stay informed. Be Well.

References:

https://advancedfunctionalmedicine.com.au/oxalates-and-candida-overgrowth/

By Mila McManus MD|2025-06-13T10:17:45-05:00June 18th, 2025|Articles, General|

by Mila McManus, MD

Ryan Sternagel presents a good case that the foundations of health are cost-free and lists the things we can do that make a real difference. — The Foundations of Health are Free

It’s not uncommon for me to hear people complain that functional medicine and holistic health, without the favor of insurance companies, is just simply too expensive. While I recognize there is some truth in that statement, it is equally true to say that the foundations of a health and wellness lifestyle are FREE! I ran across an article recently written by Ryan Sternagel from The Anti-Cancer Revolution that included his list of the choices we can make and the things we can do for good health that are FREE and make a real difference. I’m providing them below because I couldn’t have said it better myself, and I preach these things to my patients regularly!

So, I quote Ryan:

But the bottom line is, there’s a LOT you can do that costs little to no money that all adds up to a MASSIVE impact, so much so that it could very well do the job in and of itself for a whole lot of cases.

Warning: the following list is a collaboration between me and ChatGPT, so some of it might not sound like my voice at times, but every item is coming from me. 🙂

Do something every day for your mind-body connection. Prayer, meditation, breathwork, tai chi, yoga, guided visualization – whatever calls to you. The point is to do something consistently to lower stress, discharge negative energy, and bring in positive energy.
Get outside in nature as much as you can, ideally with bare feet on the ground. Sunshine, fresh air, and earth beneath your feet – these are some of the most ancient medicines we have.
Sprout your own food. Start with broccoli and a few other seeds. Watch our Ultimate Sprouting Kit Guide on YouTube. Eat them by the handful or on everything and juice the rest. You can grow multiple jars of nutrient-dense food for mere pennies.
Move your body daily. Mix in muscle-building (resistance bands are low-impact, high reward) and cardio. It doesn’t have to be fancy – just consistent. Your mitochondria and lymph system depend on it.
Eat massive amounts of vegetables. Steam or pressure cook for maximum digestibility with minimum nutrient loss. Pile on the culinary herbs (rosemary, thyme, turmeric, etc.) for flavor and added medicine.
Avoid toxicants like your life depends on it. Because it does. Choose organic when possible, filter your water, stop using synthetic cleaning products, and skip the conventional air fresheners and personal care products – swap in truly natural versions and simplify where you can.
Surround yourself with life-giving, high-vibration elements. Plants, crystals, nature imagery, music that lifts your mood, people that inspire you, objects that bring you peace – everything in your environment matters. Make your space one that supports healing on every level.
Breathe intentionally. Just a few minutes of deep nasal breathing a few times a day, especially slow exhales, can shift your nervous system into healing mode.
Support your circadian rhythm with light hygiene. Get natural sunlight on your skin and into your eyes every morning (no sunglasses, no windows). Avoid bright overhead lights and screens after sunset. Use incandescent bulbs during the day and red lights after the sun goes down.
Sleep like it’s your job. Cool, dark room. No screens before bed. Same bedtime every night. Sleep is when your body heals – don’t cut it short.
Cold and heat exposure (DIY style). Finish your shower cold or soak in a hot bath. No fancy equipment needed. Both activate powerful repair and detox responses.
Laugh, love, and connect. Relationships, laughter, affection, and purpose – these affect biology as much as food. Hug often. Say the thing you need to say. Watch something funny. Joy is therapy.
Hydrate intentionally. Drink plenty of clean water (add minerals if you have them), and drink it away from meals. Dehydration slows detox and weakens cellular signaling.
Eliminate all self-induced exposure to EMF. Hardwiring your internet connections to your router using a few Ethernet cables can be done in a few hours. Short of that, only turn on Wi-Fi when you’re actually using the internet (don’t just turn it off at night). Put your cell phone on airplane mode anytime you are not using it.
Give your digestion a break. Don’t eat constantly. Stop a few hours before bed. Try a 12-hour overnight fast – free and effective cellular repair.
Feed your soul and mind. Journal. Watch something inspiring. Learn something new every day. A growing mind builds a resilient body.

THERE! NEXT TIME YOU’RE THINKING, “How can I afford all of this stuff?”…. Consult this FREE list and make sure you’re doing ALL of it because if you’re not, you’re leaving something you could be doing for no money at all on the table…

And again, some of the people I talk to who have healed from very serious cases, even when I really grill them on everything they did, I can’t get much more out of them than this foundational, free-type of stuff… It really can make that big of a difference.

Reference:

Sternagel, Ryan. The Anti-Cancer Revolution , info@anticancerrevolution.com, published Sat, May 24, 2025. Subject: Holistic health is hard to afford.+

By Mila McManus MD|2025-06-11T04:27:44-05:00June 10th, 2025|Articles, General|

by Mila McManus, MD

Salicylate sensitivity is a real issue for some people and can cause adverse reactions in those who cannot tolerate it.

A common challenge in our practice is identifying the source of sensitivities or intolerances. While dairy, gluten, and eggs are more common sensitivities, salicylate sensitivity is a real issue for some people and can cause adverse reactions in those who cannot tolerate it.

Salicylates (sặ∙lis∙y∙late) are a group of chemicals derived from salicylic acid. They are found naturally in some fruits, vegetables, spices, tea, wine, vinegar, honey, olives, and pickles, to name a few. Synthetic forms are used in manufacturing products such as toothpaste, perfumes, shampoos and conditioners, mouthwash, lotion, and medications such as aspirin and Pepto Bismol. Compared to foods, more potent amounts of salicylates are found in medications, which is why salicylate intolerance is most commonly linked to medications.

People with salicylate sensitivity cannot properly metabolize and excrete salicylates. One possible cause is the overproduction of leukotrienes, inflammatory mediators linked to a variety of conditions, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, anaphylaxis, rheumatoid arthritis, and interstitial lung disease. The build-up of leukotrienes in the body leads to the related symptoms of salicylate intolerance. Another likely cause is a sulfur deficiency. Often, a patient will avoid sulfur (e.g., garlic, onions, and sulfa drugs) to avoid reactions that will only create another deficiency. One deficiency can lead to another deficiency and reactions.

Diagnosis of salicylate intolerance is difficult. The most common symptoms can parade as an environmental allergy, with a stuffy nose and asthma. Or it could look like a sinus infection and inflammation, with nasal and sinus polyps. Yet others experience digestive issues, including diarrhea, gas, abdominal pain, and colitis. Some patients have all of these symptoms constantly coming and going. Many of the symptoms overlap with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). There are no laboratory tests to diagnose it; however, healthcare professionals will use provocation as one standard test, which involves administering a small amount of salicylic acid and monitoring for symptoms. A trial elimination diet is another method.

The amount of salicylates that trigger a reaction can vary by individual. Some people experience symptoms after exposure to a small amount of these chemicals, while others can tolerate larger amounts before reacting. Extremely salicylate-sensitive people must avoid as many products, medications, and high-salicylate foods as possible. Unfortunately, a low salicylate diet can be restrictive and cause nutrient deficiencies. It is important to use a food and symptom diary and be monitored by a healthcare professional.

The bottom line is that salicylate sensitivity is worth exploring with a trial elimination diet when a patient doesn’t improve within two to three months in our program.

Be Well.

References

Htps://www.healthline.com/nutrition/salicylate-sensitivity

By Mila McManus MD|2025-05-24T15:58:05-05:00June 1st, 2025|Articles, General|

by Mila McManus, MD

Akkermansia is a unique probiotic that takes up 5% of the gut microbiome and thrives when we eat plenty of vegetables, nuts, and seeds. — Feed your Akkermansia by eating fiber!

Akkermansia is one of many favorable gut flora found in the gut microbiome. The gut flora (a.k.a. probiotics or good bacteria) are the natural bacterial barrier that lines the entire digestive tract and protects us from invasive, pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms such as yeast, opportunistic bad bacteria, and parasites. They also act as a barrier against the chemicals and toxins we swallow daily. Think of probiotics as the military force that protects your body from the outside world. Akkermansia is ideally populated at about 5 percent of the total bowel flora force and has unique characteristics and job duties. Let’s meet Akkermansia.

A unique characteristic of Akkermansia gut flora populations is that they require proper balance—not too few and not too many. This species helps to promote healthy intestinal mucus by promoting mucus production. Akkermansia are fed, and thrive on, pre-biotic fibers eaten by the human host (that’s you and me). Suppose Akkermansia does not have pre-biotic fibers to eat. In that case, another unique characteristic is that it will survive by consuming your mucosal lining, disintegrating the gut’s mucus lining, leading to intestinal inflammation, increased permeability, and endotoxemia – thus, the importance of balance. One of the pitfalls of a low-fiber Standard American Diet (SAD), or a carnivore, keto, or strict low-carb diet, is missing these important pre-biotic-fibers in plant foods. This leads to the overgrowth of Akkermansia which, in turn, can harm the gut.

We can prevent overgrowth, however! By consuming plentiful pre-biotic fibers, we help to feed Akkermansia and maintain the right population balance. While the balance is not so delicate that it needs to be carefully monitored, we can strike a healthy balance by including foods and supplements that cultivate the species, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and the supplement berberine, all of which exerts substantial benefits including:

Improves insulin responses
Increases butyrate production (protects gut barrier, modulates immune responses)
Reduces blood sugar
Reduces triglycerides
Prevents fatty liver
Strengthens the intestinal barrier and reduces inflammation there
Reduces endotoxemia (fancy word for toxins in the blood stream due to compromised gut barrier)

Feed your Akkermansia for a healthy gut. Starve your Akkermansia, and it will eat your gut! Eat your vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds! Be Well.

Akkermansia is available at The Woodlands Institute for Health and Wellness

References:

Davis, William. (2022). Super Gut. Hachette Books

PendulumLife.com/HCP

By Mila McManus MD|2025-05-20T07:32:25-05:00May 21st, 2025|Articles, General|

by Mila McManus, MD

Scientific literature strongly links gut microorganism populations and disease, and supports probiotics for optimizing routine gut care. — Probiotics optimize routine gut care

What is a Probiotic?

Probiotics, the name used for the supplemental form of favorable microflora, are essential to optimizing routine gut care for overall health and immune function. Consider your probiotics the military force that defends your body’s borders. They are most densely populated in the digestive tract and all mucosal membranes, like the nose, throat, vaginal, and urinary linings, as well as on your skin. They are your military force protecting you from germy pathogens (colds, flu, food poisoning, viruses, etc.), parasites (roundworms, tapeworms, protozoa, etc.), and toxins (chemicals, heavy metals etc.). Like any military force, having the right population trained and cared for to maintain protected health is important. Over the years, research has added to our perspective and understanding of the gut biome regarding probiotics, and we want to share our newest protocol for optimizing routine gut care.

Why Should I Take a Daily Probiotic?

Scientific literature is exploding, linking the microorganisms in our gut, which we call probiotics, to disease and overall health. Where there are digestive issues, obesity, food allergies, even heart disease and cancer, there are decreased healthy bacteria in the gut. This strongly suggests the importance of optimizing routine gut care by supplementing with probiotics and eating fermented foods to help strengthen the microbiome, which is 70% of the immune system, thus reducing overall disease.

The need for daily supplementation is magnified by the constant barrage of gut insults from our environment:

Stress
Electromagnetic forces
Emulsifying agents and food chemicals in processed food
Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, acesulfame, sucralose, and saccharine
Prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, stomach acid-suppressing drugs, antibiotics, birth control pills, and statin cholesterol drugs.
Excessive sugar, processed breads, and pasta in the diet
Herbicides, pesticides, and antibiotics in foods and genetically modified foods
Chlorine, fluoride, and microplastics found in water
Wheat gluten with glyphosate
Excessive alcohol consumption
Highly processed food diets low in fiber
Carnivore, ketogenic, or otherwise low-carb diets that fail to include plant-rich sources of fiber

Picking a Quality Probiotic

Essential to optimal routine gut care is choosing the right probiotic supplement. With so many flooding the marketplace, here’s what you need to know to choose the best ones.

A good probiotic will have at least four or more different species of beneficial bacteria and should include members from the lactobacilli and bifidobacteria species or families. The most valuable and commonly seen species include Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus salivarius, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Streptococcus thermophilus. Many probiotics also include FOS, or Fructooligosaccharides, which are considered prebiotics because they provide food and nourishment for probiotics. FOS may or may not be present, and it is not necessarily essential but can be helpful.
A good probiotic should have a concentrated number of bacteria. It takes large doses to see improvement and restore gut bacteria. Your gut is optimal when the microflora population is over 100 trillion. For most people, we recommend a probiotic providing between 20 to 70 billion cfu (colony-forming units) per dose for most people. At a minimum, adults should take at least 15-20 billion cfu daily. Babies up to 12 months can have 1-2 billion; toddlers from 1 to 2 years can have 2-4 billion; children from 2-4 years can have 4-8 billion; children from 4-10 years can have 8-12 billion and from 12 to 16 years, an appropriate minimum dose is 12-15 billion per day.

What is an Optimal Probiotic Protocol?

Our current protocol involves a multipronged approach to probiotic supplementation paired with a healthy diet rich in plant fibers. Our optimal gut care protocol involves a rotational process through the year of supplementing with a broad-spectrum probiotic (described above) for 3-6 months, followed by a focus on a singular probiotic such as S. boulardii or Akkermansia based on your medical provider’s recommendation, and finally a cycle of sporebiotics, which don’t colonize but promote the growth of all good bacteria, which leads to an increased diversity in the gut. Then, repeat the cycle.

A Precautionary Word

It is important to build up to the suggested minimum guidelines provided above slowly. Remember, these favorable bacteria get busy killing unwanted pathogens in the gut, so taking too much probiotic too quickly can result in unpleasant die-off symptoms (fatigue, itchy skin, irritability, just to name a few), which can be uncomfortable. A slow, small-step approach is the safest way to start taking probiotics. However, it is also interesting to note that it appears that overdosing is not likely, if not impossible. Don’t let the unpleasant die-off symptoms stop you from taking the probiotics. You can always open a capsule and dump half of the contents for the first several doses. Also, hydrating well and using a little baking soda in water can help reduce the symptoms, and within several days to a week, the symptoms normally resolve. The symptoms are an indication that you needed probiotics!

At TWIHW, we offer a wide variety of high quality probiotics, single species, and sporebiotics in capsule and powder formulations to meet your needs. Talk to your medical provider about the best rotational options for your unique needs.

Optimize your routine gut care. Cycle your probiotics. Build immunity. Be Well.

By Mila McManus MD|2025-05-13T07:43:47-05:00May 15th, 2025|Articles, General|

Compliments of The Woodlands Institute for Health & Wellness

Instructions: Simply combine the ingredients in a jar and shake or whisk until blended. The Pepita Cilantro Dressing is blended using a food processor.

Tip: Purchase olive oil in small batches, stored in a dark bottle from Cobram Estate, California, Texas, or Australia. These have the most reliable quality and production standards.

Chef Lyle’s Basic Vinaigrette

1/3 – ½ cup olive oil
2-3 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 clove fresh garlic or 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder (or more-adjust to your liking)
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more-adjust to your liking)
1/8 teaspoon pepper (or more-adjust to your liking)
1/8 teaspoon salt (or more-adjust to your liking)

NatashasKitchen.com – Creamy Italian Dressing

½ cup olive oil
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
¼ cup Pecorino Romano Sheep Cheese, finely grated
1 tablespoon avocado oil based mayonnaise
1 teaspoon granulated sugar, or 5-7 drops of stevia
1 garlic clove, finely pressed or 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder
½ teaspoon of dried oregano
½ teaspoon of parsley
½ teaspoon of basil
¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
½ teaspoon of black pepper

Mira’s Classic Vinaigrette – from Mira Dessey, The Ingredient Guru

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon of vinegar (your choice of type)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon salt
Fresh (or dried) chopped herbs of choice: basil, cilantro, dill, rosemary, tarragon

Greek Salad Dressing from Downshiftology

1/3 cup of red wine vinegar
1 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
½ cup olive oil

Caesar Salad Dressing from Once Upon a Chef with Jenn Segal

2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon anchovy paste
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup mayonnaise (avocado oil based)
½ cup freshly grated parmesan or pecorino Romano cheese
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Pepita Cilantro Dressing (blend in a blender or processor)

1 bunch of organic cilantro, thick stems removed
1/3 cup of pepita seeds (pumpkin seeds) raw
¼ cup fresh lime juice
¼ cup cold filtered water
½ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons smooth Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon salt

By Mila McManus MD|2025-05-07T05:44:01-05:00May 8th, 2025|General|

by Mila McManus, MD

With rare exceptions, salad dressing on a salad bar, restaurant menu, or the grocery store's dressing aisle is a toxic ingredient nightmare.

The nightmare begins when we have healthful intentions to eat a bowl of fresh salad and then top it off with a sabotaging salad dressing. Unfortunately, with rare exceptions, salad dressings on a salad bar, restaurant menu, or at the grocery store are a nightmare!

The number one offending ingredient in salad dressing is damaged seed oils. Most large producers of the most popular brands use inflammatory, damaged seed oils such as soybean, canola, or tainted blends that are unknown to the shopper. Damaged oils damage our cells and lead to toxicity and illness. They cannot nourish tissues, make new cells, repair, or detoxify the body. Rather, they are waste that must be stored or removed from the body, overtaxing the detoxification pathways. They are often stored as fat, and they can disturb the proper balance of HDL and LDL cholesterols in the body.

Salad dressings contain other concerning ingredients as well. The most common are genetically modified items, chemicals, and high-allergen ingredients. Specific examples include corn starch, gluten, monosodium glutamate (MSG), yeast extract, natamycin (mold inhibitor), Propylene glycol alginate, Polysorbate 60, and high fructose corn sugar. Sugar-free versions contain artificial sweeteners known to destroy the gut biome or cause cancer.

Fortunately, several companies are now building their reputations on clean salad dressing ingredients that are gluten-free, often organic, low in carbohydrate sugars, and do not contain genetically modified ingredients. Look for these brands:

Bragg Organic Dressing & Marinade
California Olive Ranch
Primal Kitchen
Sir Kensington
Chosen Foods
Simply Organic Dressing packets

Perhaps the most cost-friendly solution is making your own salad dressing at home. Here are six diverse recipes to make your salad a delicious, nutrient powerhouse.

Skip the Nightmare. Eat real. Be well.

By Mila McManus MD|2025-05-07T05:37:41-05:00May 8th, 2025|Articles, General|

By Mila McManus, MD

Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) is a useful prescription drug because it does not mask symptoms but rather regulates the immune system.

It’s been a while since we posted an article about this, so I wanted to revisit it. LDN is a great example of a surprisingly useful prescription drug for three reasons. First, LDN does not mask symptoms, unlike most prescription drugs. Second, it regulates a dysregulated immune system and reduces inflammation. Third, LDN has no known side effects other than transient effects on sleep and vivid dreams.

Since inflammation and immune dysregulation are at the root of many diseases, especially autoimmunity, clinicians are using it for a whole range of conditions involving inflammation and immune dysregulation, including Hashimoto’s, Grave’s, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, MS, ALS, alopecia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and neurogenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. LDN is also used as a complementary medicine by functional specialists for cancer and HIV/AIDS, as well as for post-radiation salivary gland destruction, chronic allergic rhinitis, nerve damage, autism, shingles, weight management, infertility, and migraines.

A Little Background on LDN

The original commercial prescription use of Naltrexone was approved by the FDA in 1984 in a 50mg dose and was used for helping opiate addicts get off illegal and prescription drugs by blocking opiate receptors. It’s also used to reverse opiate overdose (e.g., heroin, morphine). Since then, many doctors have pioneered the use of Naltrexone at very low doses, thus the name Low-Dose Naltrexone, or LDN. One of the first was Bernard Bihari, MD, a physician in New York City who was interested in treating cancer and AIDS patients. He discovered that low doses, between 3 and 4.5 mg, had very beneficial effects on the immune system. Over the last 25 years, there have been increasingly more clinical trials with favorable results. Additionally, clinical and anecdotal experience is showing improvements for a wide variety of conditions. Studies with LDN have been especially encouraging for treating Crohn’s, with over a 70% remission rate and even complete mucosal healing as evidenced by colonoscopy in some cases.

Mechanisms of LDN

So far, two main mechanisms of LDN have been identified. First, LDN modulates the immune system by helping the T regulatory cells balance immune function without suppressing the body’s ability to regenerate and repair. T regulatory cells are responsible for turning inflammation on and off in the body. Patients with overactive immune systems (such as asthma, allergies, and autoimmune conditions) have immune systems that get “stuck in overdrive.” LDN helps to get the system balanced again.

Second, LDN reduces inflammation in the central nervous system, which is thought to play a significant role in fibromyalgia, other forms of chronic pain, and depression. In the central nervous system, receptors are found on certain brain cells called microglia. These cells can become chronically activated, resulting in neurotoxicity, which causes a cascade of symptoms that are associated with chronic pain, fatigue, mood disorders, and cognitive problems. LDN reduces inflammation and quiets the microglia, which slows or stops the cascade of symptoms.

Other Important Advantages

Another important advantage is that LDN is safe for almost everyone. People who regularly use opioid drugs or narcotic pain medication should not take LDN (however, there is a newer FDA-approved morphine that has a VERY low dose of LDN combined with it). LDN is not addictive and can be stopped abruptly without harm or withdrawal.

While most conventional healthcare practitioners are unfamiliar with LDN, it’s gained popularity in functional medicine. At TWIHW, we’ve been prescribing LDN for several years for all sorts of health issues. Because it’s specially compounded, it’s not covered by insurance. Dosing is very personalized for each patient. In our practice, the dose varies from 0.5mg per day to 4.5mg twice daily. Depending on the purpose or need, it can be formulated into capsules, sublingual drops, topical creams, nasal sprays, and eye drops.

Is LDN right for you? Be sure to ask your medical provider during your next visit!

Resources:

https://www.ldnscience.org/patients/qa/how-does-low-dose-naltrexone-work

http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/

Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) as a Treatment for Autoimmune Disease

https://www.ldnresearchtrust.org/what-is-ldn

By Mila McManus MD|2025-04-30T14:48:22-05:00May 1st, 2025|Articles, General|

by Mila McManus, MD

Research is revealing the substantial ravages sugar has on coronary arteries, driving heart disease and stroke.

Research is revealing the substantial ravages sugar has on coronary arteries. Over the last decade, the obesity and diabetes epidemics have propelled an especially large number of research studies across the globe to determine the cause. One consistent outcome across them was not all that surprising: Sugar is a driver of all lifestyle diseases, not just obesity and diabetes! It is also what is driving coronary artery disease and stroke, as well as ADD/ADHD, Cancer, and Auto-immune diseases. Cholesterol medications won’t protect your health from the effects of sugar and other damaging dietary choices. Sorry.

Just a century ago, people consumed about 15 grams of sugar per day, mostly from pure cane sugar. Today, the typical person consumes a whopping 73 grams of sugar per day, mostly in foods sweetened with the cheaper corn-derived fructose sugar. It’s no wonder that our arteries are deteriorating. A more subtle source of sugar intake comes from refined grains in the Standard American Diet (SAD).

A direct relationship is being established between sugar, particularly fructose, and coronary artery disease. Specifically, the findings include:

Sugar can increase your systolic blood pressure.
Sugar can cause hardening of the arteries.
Sugar increases triglyceride levels, increasing the risk for heart disease.
Sugar and grains break down into glucose, elevating insulin, the hormone that tells the body to store deep belly, visceral fat, which releases proteins and hormones that lead to inflammation and damage to arteries. [Click HERE to read more about how glucose and insulin work in the human body]

It comes down to the fact that sugar and refined grains are inflammatory foods that ravage our coronary arteries and destroy cellular structures, leading us to today’s most common reasons for death, all of which are degenerative diseases. The most common causes of death today include heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and now obesity. Choosing health means choosing a better lifestyle. A better lifestyle must include a drastic reduction in sugar intake and a substantial increase in whole plant organic foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and animal sources of protein and fat.

Be nice to your arteries. Stop the sugar. Be Well.

Reference:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar

https://www.scripps.org/news_items/7679-how-does-sugar-affect-your-heart-health

By Mila McManus MD|2025-04-24T04:32:55-05:00April 24th, 2025|Articles, General|

OHBA is offering a free online course for organic gardening and farming taught by master gardeners, Fred and Barbie Billings.

Some of you may know that Dr. Mila McManus is a board member of OHBA (Organic Horticulture Benefits Alliance).

OHBA recently sponsored an event with Fred and Barbie Billings, master gardeners on a mission to teach organic gardening and farming to the world. Fred and Barbie travel the world to help communities in need, and they are currently in the process of translating their free online course into many different languages. Their company, Garden for Life, is a movement of hearts that believes that wise stewardship of the soil and soul is foundational to a healthy life. Together, we can help protect the planet, our loved ones, and ourselves.

If you have wanted to start growing your own organic foods on a tiny or large scale but have no idea where to start, Garden for Life offers a FREE 14-week online organic gardening course! Simply head to their website to get started.

And please consider a small (or large) donation to support their efforts. (You’ll find a ‘Donate’ button at top right of their homepage)

Thank you, and enjoy!

By Mila McManus MD|2025-04-16T14:11:26-05:00April 17th, 2025|Articles, General|

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