Supplement of the Month
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Supplement of the Month

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Supplement of the Month

Tru Niagen

In a nut shell, Tru Niagen may improve mitochondrial function (and therefore energy), may repair DNA damage, may improve sleep and brain function, may aid weight loss by speeding up metabolism, and protects the body from oxidative stress.

The following is taken from Tru Niagen’s website:

NAD (or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a vital resource found in all living cells. It plays a key role in a cell’s ability to accept and donate electrons, an important aspect of energy production at the cellular level. The human body requires it for basic life functions such as sleeping, eating, and breathing. NAD declines with age and as a result of metabolic stressors, including excessive electromagnetic radiation, over-eating, or drinking alcohol.

In 2004, Dr. Charles Brenner discovered that nicotinamide riboside (NR) could increase levels of a vital cellular resource. This resource is a central regulator in energy metabolism and is believed to play an important role in healthy human aging. Based on Dr. Brenner’s patents and the established techniques of our parent company ChromaDex, NR was exclusively licensed and developed as NIAGEN^®.

One capsule of Tru Niagen Pro® contains 500mg of NIAGEN®, a patented and FDA safety-notified form of vitamin B3 known as nicotinamide riboside (NR). Tru Niagen® is formulated without nuts or gluten. It contains no caffeine, no animal byproducts, and no artificial colors or flavors.

Tru Niagen® will start increasing NAD levels shortly after you take it and will continue to maintain those elevated NAD levels with regular supplementation. It may take some time to feel the benefits of increased NAD (promoting cellular repair, increasing cellular energy, etc.), but ultimately Tru Niagen® is helping your cells remain energized and resilient in the face of everyday stresses.*

Tru Niagen® is safe when used as directed. Its sole active ingredient Niagen® has been studied in multiple published human clinical trials and no adverse events have been attributed to its use. Niagen® has twice been successfully reviewed under FDA’s new dietary ingredient (NDI) notification program and has also been successfully notified to the FDA as generally recognized as safe (GRAS).

Over 150 scientific articles have been published on our key ingredient, nicotinamide riboside, and its benefits since its discovery as an NAD booster in 2004. The number of nicotinamide riboside studies coming out each year is steadily increasing as scientists continue to uncover the potential of this remarkable nutrient.

Available at TWIHW

References:

https://www.truniagen.com/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nicotinamide-riboside#bottom-line

By Mila McManus MD|2020-07-07T09:58:27-05:00July 8th, 2020|Articles, General|

By Mila McManus, M.D.

Recently, several of my staff members and I participated in a five day educational summit about the health crisis that is emerging as a result of electropollution and the magnitude of the 5G implementation around the world.

Electropollution, also known as electromagnetic radiation, or EMF, has increased exponentially over the years and includes these sources:

Wireless Devices – cell phones, iPads, laptops, baby monitors, cell towers, smart watches
High Frequency Voltage Transients (HFVT’s) – electrical appliances and equipment of every kind (e.g. microwaves and refrigerators), fluorescent light bulbs, AC/DC power mode converters, rectangular black boxes on power cords, televisions, computers, printer/copier/fax machines, dimmer switches, SMART Meters, and cordless phone base stations.

Magda Havas, PhD, explains that all of our neurological and chemical transactions in the body are electrically charged on every cell membrane. We are, in effect, electromagnetically sensitive beings, responsive (to a certain degree) to anything in the environment with a charge. Most of us use a lot of energy to maintain homeostasis but when we are no longer able, we begin to have symptoms. Electromagnetic radiation causes significant oxidative stress and disables the mitochondria, the powerhouses in our cells. Our bodies need and require extremely low frequencies (0.1 to 32000 Hertz, or HZ) to thrive. These frequencies are recharged when we are in direct contact with nature, walking in the woods or on a beach. They can also be restored and brought to homeostasis using PEMF therapies in these frequency ranges, which describes the ONDAMED energy therapy we have available at our facility.

There are several concerns with the dramatic increase in electromagnetic exposure. First of all, this radiation is a form of man-made energy, unnatural to the earth and living things. Man has captured energy, and altered the natural wave pattern of energy into a pulsing pattern with an extraordinarily high frequency. Like processed food and man-made chemicals, this is an artificial form of the real thing.

Secondly, with the implementation of 5G, these frequencies will be brought much closer to our homes and work spaces. These incredibly powerful 600-700 megahertz frequencies, according to Trevor Marshall, MD, appear to produce about 100 times more radiation than exposure from 4G cell towers. Dr. Marshall believes that the chronic impact of the pulsing waves will lead to a host of issues, mainly autoimmune, chronic fatigue, and other conditions that are idiopathic in nature. For some who are more sensitive, they will experience symptoms from these frequencies instantaneously, while others will develop chronic issues over 10 to 20 years. There continues to be a growing and significant body of published scientific and anecdotal evidence that supports a correlation between these higher levels of electromagnetic radiation and various negative biological health effects, including cancer, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, ADD/ADHD, autism, and a number of neurological disorders.

Despite the fact that government and corporate entities have been informed of these health concerns, they appear to be highly motivated to move forward. Given that 1 out of every 2 Americans already has a chronic disease, we should all be concerned about our future. [1]

Because we have become accustomed to the conveniences and benefits of technology, and also because we are exposed from so many sources, we may feel powerless; however, there are many things you can do to make a difference to protect and defend yourself and your family. Much like exercise, any effort is better than no effort at all. Here is a list. Pick one and start practicing it, and then swing back and tackle another. Our health, and the health of our children, depends on a defensive strategy.

Here Are Ways to Protect Yourself and Your Family [3]

Consider regular treatment with healing energy waves that balance and strengthen your own cellular ability to cope with higher frequencies. Our office offers this Energy Medicine therapy.
Put your phone in airplane mode when you are carrying it or sleeping near it.
Distance yourself from your technology whenever possible. Exposure drops exponentially with distance.
Avoid using your phone when the signal is weak, as this actually increases EMF exposure by orders of magnitude.
When using your cell phone, use the speaker phone and hold the phone away from you (at least 3 feet is ideal when feasible).
Consider a Faraday bag for your cell phone. faradaybag.com
Look into Swiss Shield fabric for walls, beds, and clothing as well as EMF blocking paint for walls.
Decrease your time on or near the cell phone as much as possible.
Explore the use of VoIP software phones that can be used while connected to the internet via a wired connection.
Connect your desktop/laptop to the internet via a wired Ethernet connection and keep it in airplane mode as much as possible.
Avoid using wireless keyboards, trackballs, mice, game systems, printers, and portable house phones, opting for wired versions.
If you must use Wi-Fi, shut if off when not in use, especially at night when sleeping. Ideally work toward hardwiring your house so you can eliminate Wi-Fi all together. There are USB Ethernet adapters for notebooks that allow connection to the internet with a wired connection.
Shut off electricity to the bedroom at night. This reduces electrical fields from the wires in your walls unless there is an adjoining room next to it. In this case, a meter will help determine the severity of the electrical fields and if you need to shut off electricity in both rooms.
Instead of using alarm on phone, use a battery powered alarm clock, ideally one without any light. Talking clocks for the visually impaired work well.
Replace your microwave oven with a steam convection oven, which will heat your food quickly and far more safely.
Avoid “smart” appliances and thermostats that depend on wireless signaling. This includes “smart” televisions. Consider replacing the TV with a large computer monitor instead, as this will not emit Wi-Fi signals.
Refuse smart meters as long as you can or add a shield to an existing smart meter.
Consider moving your baby’s bed into your room instead of using a wireless baby monitor. Alternatively, used a hard-wired monitor.
Replace CFL and LED bulbs with incandescent bulbs. Ideally remove all fluorescent lights from the house. Fluorescent lighting emits unhealthy light and transfers a current to the body just being close to them.
Do not use light bulbs you can control from your cell phone as they emit radio frequency just like a Wi-Fi router.
There is a liquid supplement made with rosemary, propolis and coriander that allegedly protects the body from EMF. It is promoted by Dr. Klinghardt, a well known and respected functional MD. Visit https://kiscience.com/product/ray-wave/.
Consider blue-blockers to protect your eyes. See https://www.nourishmeorganics or com.au/products/mitohq-mito-shades.
If you feel you are EMF sensitive, Dr. Klinghardt recommends https://www.littletreegroup.com/ as a good resource for protection.

Here are some additional resources:

https://www.emf-harmony.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions-answers

http://electromagnetichealth.org/electromagnetic-health-blog/summary-and-audio/

www.blushield-us.com

https://emfields-solutions.com/

Book: How To Break Up With Your Cell Phone, By Catherine Price

References:

[1] https://www.drbenlynch.com/chronic-disease/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DrBenLynch+%28Dr+Ben+Lynch%29

[3] https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/11/14/heart-tumors-from-cellphone-radiation.aspx?utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&ut

Havas, M., PhD. (2020, June 15). 5G Concerns and Harm. Speech presented at 5G Crisis – Awareness & Accountability. On Line Video Summit

Klinghardt, D., MD. (2020, June 14). Best Protection from EMF’s and 5G,Speech presented at 5G Crisis- Awareness & Accountability. On Line Video Summit

By Mila McManus MD|2023-02-09T14:46:18-05:00July 8th, 2020|Articles, General|

$100 Off now thru June 30, 2020

GX Sciences* is proud to introduce the most comprehensive nutrigenomics test available to validate your specific nutritional supplement needs. The scientific study of individualized genetics and nutrition is known as nutritional genomics or “nutrigenomics”. Nutrigenomic testing accurately identifies each patient’s genetic protein variations to identify sites of metabolic weakness. These key proteins are involved in enzyme conversion, nutritional delivery and signaling pathways in the cell. Our expert physicians have designed a genetic panel that evaluates 55 of the most common, research backed, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that can affect a patient’s ability to regain and maintain their metabolic functionality. Abnormalities in specific polymorphisms can negatively affect many physiological and metabolic processes. Overcoming these metabolic weaknesses with the right supplements allows each patient to overcome their genetic weaknesses (SNPs) and maintain optimal health.

“As a practicing physician, the ability to test your individual, unique genetic footprint takes a lot of the guesswork out with regard to customizing a treatment regimen that gets you the best results”, says Mila McManus, MD. “We all have some minor genetic variants, mutations called SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) and 75% of all people have significant variations in the most important nutritional metabolism pathways that affect how we function.” For instance, MTHFR mutation affects how our bodies activate and utilize B vitamins. This in turn affects how well a person detoxifies, makes and clears hormones and neurotransmitters. This means a person would be more likely to have mood disorders, insomnia, cancer, heart disease, etc. Two other common SNPs are the GAD and COMT. These can cause lifelong anxiety. The good news, and the reason to want to know, is that there are work-arounds for a variety of SNPs.

GX Sciences differs from 23&me in that it tests for many more relevant mutations and offers recommendations to address them.

You can pick up a saliva kit at our office, or we can ship a kit to you. Price for the comprehensive panel is regularly $499; however, GX Sciences is offering $100 discount through June 2020! Turnaround time for results is typically 3 weeks.

*Gx Sciences maintains your genetic information privately. They never have and never will sell, give away, trade or use personal information in any way other than to ship your package, call you about a shipment or offer you special discounting. No e-mail addresses are sold, traded, etc.! This has been a long standing company policy that will remain unchanged.

By Mila McManus MD|2020-06-03T10:27:45-05:00June 5th, 2020|Articles, General|

The good news about doing a genomic test and finding out what SNPs you have is that, in most cases, there are a number of supplements that can support and help the body work around those mutations. Magnesium, Lithium Orotate, and L-theanine are three good examples.

For those who discover they have SNPs (mutations) on the GAD gene, two options for alleviating related symptoms (e.g., anxiety, insomnia) would be to use L-theanine and/or magnesium. You should consult your medical provider for the best supplementation options for your genetic SNPs. Click on the links below to read more about L-theanine and magnesium.

https://woodlandswellnessmd.com/l-theanine.html/

https://woodlandswellnessmd.com/supplement-month-magnesium.html/

Another common mutation that is found in people with anxiety, ADD/ADHD, and/or insomnia is on the COMT gene. Lithium orotate is one of several supplements which can support and assist the body to work around this mutation. Click here to learn more about Lithium Orotate.

https://woodlandswellnessmd.com/supplement-of-the-month-lithium-orotate.html/

We recommend nutrigenomic testing to determine your genetic profile, and consultation with your medical provider to discuss the best supplementation options for you. For testing and consultation, contact our office today at 281-298-6742.

By Mila McManus MD|2020-06-05T06:39:40-05:00June 5th, 2020|Articles, General|

COMT, MAO, and GAD, Oh MY!
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COMT, MAO, and GAD, Oh MY!

Articles, General

COMT, MAO, and GAD, Oh MY!

By Brad Mullens, SNP Specialist

You’re lying in bed and it’s after midnight. Your brain will not shut off and you’re anxious about not getting a good night’s sleep again or worried about what tomorrow may bring. You have taken your melatonin, gotten plenty of exercise that day, and are eating healthy. You ask yourself, what am I doing wrong? Is this a hormone related issue? Did I have too much caffeine? Questions and thoughts pepper you brain and you are so tired of feeling the anxiety, sleep deprivation and the worry about what else may be going on.

Genetic testing of key genes can give your doctor the clues to help you create a workaround for genetic mutations otherwise known as SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms). A SNP is a small mutation of a gene that creates weaknesses in the structure and function of proteins or enzymes, which, in turn, causes them to not work properly at the cellular level.

When you understand the “why” behind the annoying symptoms above that typically involve several genes like the MAO-A&B, COMT, and GAD1, you will be empowered with knowledge that you are not alone and that there are solutions to the problems. These SNPs affect the turnover of neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin which can lead to difficulty regulating mood, behavior, stress level, focus, and sleep patterns. These mutations also lead to buildup of glutamate, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter, and lower levels of GABA, which is inhibitory (think ‘calming’), and this leads to imbalances with several systems in the body. When specially trained healthcare providers can see your genetic makeup, treatment plans can be more precise and more personalized. By recommending natural ingredients that bind to specific receptors on certain cells, amazing improvements with mood, sleep, energy levels, and focus can result.

If you’re a patient at The Woodlands Institute for Health and Wellness, talk to your provider there about genomic testing. If you are not yet a patient there and don’t have a healthcare provider who offers this test, you can visit www.snpspecialist.com for more information on how to get tested.

In good health!

Brad Mullens

By Mila McManus MD|2020-07-07T09:51:13-05:00June 5th, 2020|Articles, General|

By Mila McManus, MD

One of the most interesting questions that medical personnel are asking during this viral event is “Why do some people get the infection and never have symptoms while others get critically ill or die from it?” One clear pattern continues to surface: those with compromised immune health and multiple health issues have been at greatest risk for poor outcomes.

Now, more than ever before, we see the value of taking care of our health so that we are able to mount a protective response to external threats such as viruses, parasites, bacteria, and toxicants. Reflected in the reports regarding fatalities from the Coronavirus is the clear message that those who were, and continue to be at greatest risk, are those who suffer from chronic disease, such as obesity, diabetes, auto-immune disorders, cardio-vascular disease, and otherwise compromised immune systems. Overall health matters more than ever in these uncertain times. While we cannot control what’s in the environment, we have at least some control over our body’s ability to cope with environmental assaults.

Protect: First line minimum considerations for good health include a number of foundational lifestyle choices. Because our food, even at its best, does not offer all of the nutrition we need, supplementing with a multi vitamin and a probiotic is first line for everyone. A healthy diet is important, and first and foremost, eliminating sugar is critical, as sugar suppresses immune function. Stress also suppresses immune function. Deep breathing exercises, meditation, and removing unnecessary stressors are important for good immune and overall health. Quality and quantity of sleep is also foundational since it’s when we sleep that the body performs major maintenance, healing, detoxification, and resetting. And finally, washing hands frequently, and keeping them off your face, remains tried and true.

Prevent and Prevail: The minimum, however, may not be quite enough. Especially if you are already compromised, have more exposures (healthcare workers, teachers, frequent travelers) and/or simply want to be more vigilant (and we recommend that!), there is more you can do. Combinations of the following are also excellent protections to build immunity and prevent infection.

Choose to regularly visit a wellness physician (aka functional medicine specialist) to prevent illness and address issues at the root cause. (We appreciate your referrals to The Woodlands Institute for Health & Wellness!)
Improve nutrition, sticking to whole, real food that stabilizes blood sugar.
Take care of your mental health, manage stress and deal with emotional baggage.
ONDAMED Energy Therapy and InfraRed Saunas are excellent immune defense therapies.
Essential Oils – OnGuard, Tea Tree (Melaleuca), and Eucalyptus are just three good air and hand sanitizers, can be diffused, used on dryer balls and in cleaning solutions.
Additional Supplements
- Immune Strengthening: Wholemune, Viracid, Transfer Factor Multi-Immune
- Vitamin C – oral and Mega Dose IV therapy
- Zinc – 25mg daily (twice daily for 2 weeks with acute exposure or if ill)
- Vitamin D – at least 2000iu daily. If potential viral exposure, then 25,000iu daily for 3 days.
- Silver Biotic – oral liquid and topical gel. Excellent hand sanitizer and a natural anti-microbial.
- L-lysine – 1000mg twice a day
- Quercetin Bromelain Forte -Combination of quercetin, bromelain and vitamin C. Immune boosting and antiviral properties, as well as antihistamine properties.
- Protease – work up to 1 capsule 3 X a day between meals (2 hours away from food). This can cause upset stomach or diarrhea, so start with 1 capsule and increase daily as tolerated. If you take any blood thinners, consult with your doctor, or pick other options listed here.

If you or someone you know needs help getting well and staying well, visit The Woodlands Institute for Health & Wellness so that next time a virus floats through town (and it will), you will be ready to protect, prevent and prevail!

By Mila McManus MD|2020-05-01T06:13:41-05:00May 1st, 2020|Articles, Ask Dr McManus, General|

Supplement of the Month: Glutathione

Glutathione is the body’s master antioxidant and is found in virtually every cell of the human body. It is an extremely important cell protectant. This heavy lifter bolsters antioxidant action, promotes detoxification and fortifies the immune system. As the formation of free radicals exceeds the body’s ability to neutralize and eliminate them, oxidative stress occurs. A primary function of glutathione is to alleviate this oxidative stress. Food sources of glutathione are few and oxidative stress and depletion can outpace the body’s need for it.

Glutathione is most prevalent in the main detox organs of the human body which are the liver, lungs and kidneys. Glutathione can become depleted as the body neutralizes the oxidizing effects of battling viruses, bacteria, heavy metal toxicity, radiation, certain medications, and even the normal process of aging. A correlation has been made between increased vulnerability to infection (chronically ill) and glutathione depletion. Glutathione can bind to toxins, heavy metals, solvents and pesticides and help the body to excrete these substances through urine or bile. It also protects the lungs against airborne pollutants and the intestinal lining from absorption of industrial chemicals.

Especially for glutathione, liposomal preparations are important. Liposomes are delivery vehicles for transporting substances into the body effectively by facilitating absorption both in the mouth, skin and digestive tract.

At TWIHW, we offer three glutathione products. One is Essential Pro Liposomal Glutathione Softgels, which are taken orally. We also offer Researched Nutritionals Tri-Fortify Liposomal Glutathione sublingual gel which comes in two flavors and is placed under the tongue. Finally, we also can dose glutathione through IV preparations.

By Mila McManus MD|2020-04-12T09:40:00-05:00April 14th, 2020|Articles, General|

By Mila McManus M.D.

The three most common excuses given for the inability to lose weight are thyroid malfunction, eating too many calories, and inadequate exercise. Everyone knows that. Right? Not so fast. In fact, we wish we had a nickel for every time someone has said, “No matter what I do, what I eat, how much I exercise, I can’t lose weight!”. Truth be told, there are many variables that can prevent weight loss even when it seems like the diet and exercise are more than adequate. Our stressful and toxic world contributes more than you might realize, along with important lifestyle habits. There may also be other physiological reasons. For most people, there are several variables at play.

Here is a list of considerations when you are at your weight loss wit’s end.

Inflammation affects metabolism. Inflammation stems from various factors, but one, in particular, is a food sensitivity. You may not realize, for instance, the eggs, almonds, or wheat in your diet are sabotaging your efforts because of an underlying food sensitivity. Another source of inflammation is alcohol. (Of course, the calories from alcohol don’t help either.)
Poor sleep quality and sleep deprivation cause an increase in ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite, as well as cause a decrease in leptin, a hormone that tells you when to stop eating.
Thyroid function may be low despite normal lab results. Test yourself here for low thyroid symptoms. Your thyroid ratios may be suboptimal because your body can’t adequately convert inactive thyroid (T4) to active thyroid (T3) due to vitamin deficiencies, stress, poor gut health, or heavy metals. In addition, infection and inflammation increase Reverse T3 (RT3) which blocks thyroid function at the cellular level.
Guessing at caloric needs and exercise needs without knowing your own biological, physiological needs can sabotage your efforts. Consider having a metabolic test to determine your accurate resting metabolic rate, caloric needs for weight loss and for weight maintenance. It is easy and affordable. Ask for a Metacheck appointment.
Trying to exercise your way to weight loss is pretty fruitless when not examining your diet. Dietary adjustments will be a much faster route to weight loss compared to trying to overcompensate with exercise. Pregnancy Hormone Protocol or Weight Loss Protocol are good places to start your weight loss journey.
Doing the wrong types of exercise is a recipe for long term disaster. Muscle mass contributes greatly to your metabolic rate. If you are trying to jog off your behind and belly fat, you may find that strength training to increase muscle mass is more effective at burning calories, toning every area of the body, and getting faster results.
Hormonal Imbalances for both men and women can greatly impact the ability to lose weight. For example, imbalances of sex hormones (e.g., testosterone, estrogen, progesterone) can impact thyroid function which, in turn, affects metabolism. Have you heard of estrogen dominance? Men can struggle with this as well if testosterone is declining while exposure to estrogenic plastics, chemicals, or soy causes increased estrogen levels.
Poor gut health (even with absence of any obvious gastrointestinal symptoms) caused by medications, poor diet, antibiotics, and artificial sweeteners, to name a few, will often affect weight. Good gut health is mission-critical for weight loss.
Lectins, which are in many healthy foods, can cause weight gain and inhibit weight loss. Read about lectins here, and read about which foods contain the most lectins here.
Nutritional deficiencies affect metabolism. Are you deficient in iodine, selenium, vitamin D, or iron perhaps? Deficiencies here will affect your thyroid function. There are a number of tests available to help identify nutritional deficiencies.

Medications can affect your metabolism, including birth control pills, antidepressants, and beta-blockers. Even Zyrtec and Allegra, common allergy medications, can cause weight gain.

Toxins may be sabotaging your efforts, too. Today, our toxin exposure is significantly higher than it was just fifty years ago. Additionally, some of us don’t eliminate toxins as well as others do. A good detox program may be helpful! Read our article on toxin testing and search our site for detox recipes that will help you get rid of harmful toxins. PEMF Therapy and IR Sauna are two additional detoxifying options available at our office.

Inadequate hydration can slow your metabolism.

Unaddressed emotional trauma can affect eating habits and have neurohormonal effects that contribute to weight gain.

Emotional eating habits are a common problem, such as binge eating chips or cookies when sad or stressed, or celebrating good times with cake and champagne.

Not eating enough calories can be disastrous on your metabolism. Starving yourself, or eating a normal number of calories, and then following with excessive exercise or exertion, can cause reduced muscle mass and, therefore, slowing of metabolic rate.

Eating too late at night can affect weight, mainly because studies show that late eaters tend to make poorer food choices and eat more calories.

Eating too quickly will tend to cause you to eat more calories because you’re shoveling in more food during the interval between intake of food and getting the signal from your brain that you are full.

Excessive fruit intake can affect weight because the sugar in fruit, fructose, more easily stores as fat than other types of carbs.
Stress-yes, stress. Its effects are evil in every way.

Ready to do something about it? Here are ways to get started:

Read Highway to Health, A Nutritional Roadmap, by Mila McManus MD, available in our office and on Amazon. This book includes everything you need to know about nutrition and lifestyle to maintain a healthy weight. The 2nd edition was published in December 2019.
Call 281-298-6742 to learn how we can help you start losing weight today with one of our medically monitored weight loss programs. Pregnancy Hormone Protocol or Weight Loss Protocol are good places to start your weight loss journey.
Use our website to find healthy recipes that are sure to spice up your taste buds and make you feel better.
Follow the links in this article to test yourself and learn more.

References:

The Plant Paradox by Dr Gundry

www.medicalnewstoday.com

www.epocrates.com

Why Isn’t my Brain Working? by Dr. Kharrazian

Adrenal Fatigue by Dr. James Wilson

By Mila McManus MD|2025-04-07T07:19:23-05:00March 5th, 2020|Articles, Ask Dr McManus, General, Recommended Reading|

By Mila McManus MD

Integrative (i.e., Alternative, Complementary, and Supportive) Cancer Therapies — *Photo courtesy Medical News Today*

According to cancer.gov website, 38.4% of people will have a cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives. That’s over 1 of every 3 people. Fear is a natural tendency. The saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” always brings to mind cancer first. If you do get (or have) a diagnosis of cancer, you should know that there are a lot of integrative (i.e., alternative, complementary, and supportive) therapies to consider exploring.

Some of what I’m presenting in this article are therapies I have had some experience with and/or offer at TWIHW. Others I’ve learned from colleagues, research, conferences, and patients. I make NO claims about the effectiveness of any of these therapies, and this list is, by no means, exhaustive. Furthermore, you can assume that most, if not all, of the items listed below are not formally FDA-approved. Also, I want to point out that “unproven” is not synonymous with “ineffective”. Medical school focuses heavily of teaching us how to manage diseases with FDA-approved pharmaceutical drugs. We aren’t trained on using nutrition, for example, to manage disease or treat illness. Training us to use diet, vitamins, and other natural substances is a conflict of interest to Big Pharma’s bottom line.

I never encourage patients to choose conventional over alternative therapies or vice versa. It is important TWIHW patients know their available options. TWIHW will support patients’ decisions whichever treatments they choose. Most of the time, my patients will choose some form of conventional treatments–surgery, chemo, and/or radiation. We aim to support their healing and mitigate their side effects using complementary therapies like these:

Mega doses of intravenous vitamin C
- In 2019, I attended the IV C Academy at the Riordan Clinic in Kansas. Dr. Hugh Riordan received a patent in 1997 for the treatment of cancer with IV Vitamin C. You can read more about the benefits of mega dose vitamin C here.
- To learn more about how vitamin C fights other diseases, I highly recommend Dr. Thomas Levy’s book Curing the Incurable.

Essiac tea is a blend of herbs that supports detoxification pathways and supports immune function.

Fucoidan is a component of seaweed that has demonstrated the potential for anti-cancer effects, immune modulation, inflammation control, cardiovascular support, and stem cell activation.

Protocel is a non-toxic liquid formula that interferes with the metabolism (energy production) and cell membrane integrity of cancer cells, without harming normal, non-cancerous cells in the body.

Nutritional interventions are foundational to healing. For most patients with cancer, the resounding consensus among the experts in the integrative oncology field is to eat a raw vegan diet. We understand that this is no easy feat. We can help with transitioning to this lifestyle. A good place to start is with Dr Lodi’s recipe book called “Stop Making Cancer”.

ONDAMED (biofeedback with PEMF) is an energy medicine device. It applies frequencies (‘signals’) to the body that jump start healing processes.

Emotional healing (a necessary part of healing from any chronic disease)
- Various forms of talk therapy
- Emotional Freedom Technique
- The Healing Code
- Tai chi, prayer, meditation, yoga

CBD/Hemp oil

InfraRed Sauna

Ozone therapy

Exercise -many studies show that an exercise program may help cancer patients live longer and have a better quality of life. Exercise causes your body to release cancer fighting substances. Get moving!

Essential Oils –in particular, frankincense, peppermint, and lavender for possible cancer benefit

CC cream -Information on this website is quite intriguing.

Melatonin -This is a link to a one-hour video presentation by Dr. Shallenberger discussing all the many ways that melatonin fights cancer.

Therapeutic Peptides –particularly thymosin alpha-1 (known as “Immune” in the linked article)

Low dose naltrexone (aka LDN)

RGCC lab in Greece, offers cutting edge testing and integrative therapies for all types of cancer and has facilities globally.
- RGCC lab testing includes a vast blood panel that:
  - 1) detects the number of circulating tumor cells
  - 2) tests cancer cells for sensitivity/resistance to natural substances (e.g. turmeric, vitamin C) and conventional chemotherapeutic agents
  - 3) monitors a known cancer
  - 4) screens for cancer
- Simply having a clear scan and normal tumor markers does NOT mean you don’t have cancer stem cells in your body waiting to wreak havoc.
- The lab can make cancer vaccines and a therapy called SOT (supportive oligonucleotide therapy).
  - Cancer Vaccines, aka ATA (autologous tumor antigen), are made up of antigens used by the body’s immune cells to determine what cells should be attacked or left alone.
    - Specific antigens are found on cancer cells in the patient’s blood, administered back to the patient intravenously or subcutaneously (under the skin).
      - This stimulates the immune system to attack the specific cancer cells in the body without harming the body’s normal cells.
    - ATA is administered over 9 weeks, i.e. once a week for 3 weeks, then off for 3 weeks, and then once a week for another 3 weeks.
    - If needed, the protocol can be repeated 3 months after the last injection.
  - SOT treatment effectively silences the genes within cancer cells that are allowing the cancer cells to live. Your chromosomes contain genes which are strings of nucleotides. These nucleotides are ‘read’ by RNA. The RNA is then translated into proteins and this is how genes are expressed.
    - SOT is called ‘anti-sense’ which means it creates a string of nucleotides which bind to the RNA, rendering it ineffective, and therefore it cannot be translated into proteins. This will cause cell death (aka apoptosis) of circulating tumor cells and cancer stem cells in primary and metastatic tumors.
    - Because it causes massive tumor cell destruction which can cause a potentially life-threatening condition called “tumor lysis syndrome”, there are some restrictions for using this treatment.
    - For example, if a patient has wide spread cancer, or a large tumor burden, in highly vascular areas such as liver or lungs, that person may not be a candidate for SOT until the tumor burden can be reduced by, e.g., the vaccine treatment, other alternative therapies, or conventional chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiation.
    - SOT is administered intravenously as a one-time dose, every 4 to 6 months.
    - The SOT remains active in the body for 24-28 weeks. Maximum dose is 3 full doses (or 6 half doses) for every 12 months.
    - And even if a patient is unable to get his or her cancer cell count to zero, SOT can be used for years to control cancer.

Other nutrients, herbs, and options to explore include mistletoe, turmeric, vitamin D, hyperbaric oxygen, helleborus, acupuncture, quercetin, repurposed pharmaceutical drugs, PolyMVA, and proteolytic enzymes.

And the list goes on…

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, it is my professional opinion to have an Oncologist and a Functional Medicine Specialist to partner with on the cancer fighting journey.

As you can see, there is a lot of information out there and it can be time-consuming, confusing, and overwhelming. Remember, nothing is going to help 100% of people, 100% of the time. If you’d like more information, call our office at 281-298-6742 to schedule an appointment.

References:

Cancer.gov

RGCC lab

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-treatment/art-20047246

The
Metabolic Approach to Cancer by Dr. Nasha Winters

What Your
Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer by Dr. John Lee.

Knockout by Suzanne Somers

By Mila McManus MD|2025-06-15T22:18:32-05:00March 4th, 2020|Articles, General, Recommended Reading|

Infrared Sauna has been found to have several specific benefits for anyone trying to prevent or treat cancer. ¹

The gentle increase in body temperature creates a form of whole-body hyperthermia that cancer cells struggle to tolerate. Cancer cells are much more sensitive to heat and become impaired when subjected to it, even to the extent of killing them. According to the National Cancer Institute, research has shown that high temperatures can damage and kill cancer cells.

IR Sauna also improves circulation which helps to deliver essential nutrients and oxygen to cells in the body.

IR Sauna also promotes waste removal from the cellular infrastructure. Toxicity is a primary cause of cancer. Heavy metals, chemicals, and pesticides enter the body through food, water, and air. IR sauna, by creating a higher body temperature and forcing circulation to increase, helps to remove lead, copper, mercury, arsenic, and cyanide from the body as well as balance the body’s pH by neutralizing excessively acidic body chemistry.

IR Sauna increases immune response too. When cancer cells are exposed to higher internal temperatures, proteins are produced on the surface of the cancer cells which mark them clearly for attack by the immune system’s natural killer cells and macrophages.

Relaxation is a surprising benefit of IR sauna and an important anti-cancer strategy. Heat inhibits the sympathetic nervous system, our fight or flight response system which, when activated, strongly inhibits our digestion, immune function, and sleep, and thus, our healing ability. In our stressful world where often we can be afraid, over-anxious or adhering to a fast-paced schedule, we can remain in this response system for excessive amounts of time much to our health’s detriment. IR sauna promotes the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system where rest, digestion, and healing take place. This favorable impact on the nervous system can also help to improve appetite, as well as reduce pain and depression in cancer patients.

¹beatcancer.org/blog-post/6 ways saunas help fight cancer

By Mila McManus MD|2020-02-05T11:26:11-05:00February 2nd, 2020|Articles, General|

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