P: 281-298-6742 | F: 281-419-1373|info@TWIHW.com

“Doing Awesome!”

Doing Awesome!

A. is doing awesome! Tomorrow is actually day 6.  Being off the probiotic was hard on her but she’s doing much better now.  Tell Dr. McManus that she is a blessing from heaven because since the Wednesday night after her appointment A. has been falling asleep at night so quickly and staying asleep!!!!!  I feel like a new person and she is feeling great too.  Hug Dr. M for me.  I think the Hemp oil is really helping her.
-E.

By |2020-09-14T16:27:34-05:00March 14th, 2019|General, Testimonials|

Methylene-Tetra-Hydro-huh?

By Dyvette Warren, PA-C

Edited by Mila McManus MD

MTHFR

Beginning in the womb, and throughout your life, your personal health and happiness, mental capabilities, and propensity for disease are heavily influenced by genetic as well as non-genetic factors, including DNA mutations, nutrition, exposure to microorganisms and toxins, stress, and other environmental conditions.

If you suffer with, or have a history of, migraines, depression, insomnia, anxiety, Alzheimer’s, chemical sensitivities, arthritis, pain, IBS(irritable bowel syndrome), heart disease, stroke, DVT(deep venous thrombosis, ie: blood clot), pulmonary embolism(blood clot in the lungs), side effects with hormones (e.g., birth control pills), miscarriages, autism, birth defects, failure to thrive, anemia, epilepsy, psychosis, ADD/ADHD, seizures, or take prescription medication, particularly those for cancer and autoimmune disorders, we highly recommend that you get tested for an MTHFR gene mutation. This is a piece of the healthcare puzzle that can be treated.

What does the MTHFR gene do?

MTHFR gene provides instruction for making an enzyme called methyl tetrahydrofolate reductase. This enzyme helps amino acids form proteins and influences detoxification efficiency and production of neurotransmitters. A mutated MTHFR gene produces defective enzymes that may perform only 20% – 70% as well as the non-mutated version, depending on the type of mutation.

You ability to effectively break down toxins and eliminate heavy metals, including copper, will be limited. High copper levels deplete zinc levels which can be related to ADHD, depression, headaches, acne, frequent colds, worsening thyroid function, sensitive skin, easy bruising, adrenal stress and more. High copper levels also make it difficult to raise iron levels. Supplementing with Vitamin C and Zinc can help to detoxify and reduce copper levels. Consult with your functional medicine specialist before starting supplements.

A high homocysteine level may develop with an MTHFR mutation, thereby increasing your risk for heart disease, blood clots, stroke, elevated blood pressure, dementia, psychosis, and seizures. A thorough history, along with MTHFR testing, is recommended if you have a high homocysteine level or a history of any of the above listed diseases.

With MTHFR mutation, homocysteine has a difficult time converting to glutathione, the body’s main detoxifier and antioxidant. This contributes to a buildup of toxins and heavy metals in the body.

Also with MTHFR mutation, your body will have reduced capability of converting the inactive forms of folate (folic acid) and B12(cobalamin) into active forms called methyl-folate and methyl-cobalamin.

The Journal of Molecular Psychiatry states that, “Schizophrenia-like syndromes, Bipolar disorder, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia have all been associated with one or more of the mutations of the MTHFR gene”.

It is likely that MTHFR DNA variation may affect the response to many different medications that affect brain function. Long term use of methotrexate, for example, is associated with elevated homocysteine levels and methotrexate toxicity in patients with MTHFR mutation. We recommend knowing your MTHFR status prior to starting any type of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy neurotoxicity is highly associated with MTHFR mutation. Proper supplementation and future treatment options will need to be discussed with your functional medicine specialist and oncologist once your MTHFR status is known.

Treatment

Although you can’t change this defective gene, you can help it do its job more effectively.

Repairing your digestive system, including optimizing your gut flora (ie blend of microbes in your gut), should be the first step in improving your health.

Methyl-cobalamin and methyl-folate are additional treatment which will be used by your body for detoxing. You may need to start with a low dose to avoid detox effects such as fatigue, muscle pain, headache, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, achiness, etc. Always consult with a functional medicine specialist prior to starting therapy. Click here to read about Active B-Complex by Prothera.

Avoid toxins, including those absorbed through the skin. Look at household cleaning supplies and wear gloves when using chemicals for cleaning. Check your lotions, soaps and deodorants. Use aluminum free deodorants, and use soaps and lotions with the fewest ingredients. We are now offering Pure & Simple Bar soap at our TWIHW facility and it’s just that! You can also visit http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ which is a database where you can discover what toxic chemicals are in your cosmetics, lotions, and sunscreen products.

Eat healthfully and organic when possible, avoid processed food, don’t smoke, and limit alcohol intake. These measures will help to decrease toxins in the body and will leave the methylation cycle free for other important functions.

There are more than 40 different MTHFR mutations that can be passed down from your mother and/or father. Only two of these are known to be particularly problematic: C677T and A1298C. You might also hear the words homozygous and heterozygous when discussing MTHFR mutations. Homozygous means that you inherited a mutation from your mother AND your father and, therefore, have both copies of the defective gene. Heterozygous means that you inherited the mutation from either your mother or your father and, therefore, have only one copy of the defective gene. If you already know that you have an MTHFR gene mutation, consider having your children’s status tested.

MTHFR testing is offered several ways at our facility (prices are subject to change):

  • Saliva test kit that you do yourself at home and mail into the lab. This test is $125 and tests for C677T and the A1298C mutations as well as for another mutation called COMT which is also associated with mood disorders and dementia.
  • Add-on test at Spectracell Laboratories when ordering a nutrient analysis. The add-on price is $40 and tests for C677T and A1298C.
  • MTHFR can also be ordered through Quest lab who will attempt to bill your insurance; however, we’ve found that many insurance companies will not cover the test and this would result in Quest billing you, the patient, ~$400.

 

References:
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/mthfr/
http://mthfr.net/mthfr-research/2012/01/27/
BMS Neurology, Effect of MTHFR
US National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health
Genetics Home Reference, Your Guide to Understanding Genetic Conditions
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
American Heart Association
Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery
Holisticprimarycare.net
New England Journal of Medicine
Journal of Human Genetics
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By |2017-03-01T17:36:12-05:00November 4th, 2015|Articles, General|

Fibromyalgia, Insomnia, and Migraines

Praises and gratitude for Dr. McManus and her staff! I’ve been seeing them for 2-3 years now and can only rave about the outstanding job they do @ TWIHW! There’s such a Positive Energy in their facility from the moment you walk in the door – everyone’s smiling, friendly, competent AND they actually see you on time… The list goes on and on!

My health has improved so much with their innovative treatments (I’ve seen many doctors for over 20 years without similar results) – I used to have 2-3 migraines per week, and have now had only 2 in the last 7 months! In addition, my decades long insomnia issues are improving; not only have I been able to cut my sleep medication by more than half, the number of hours of good sleep has doubled (as measured by my FitBit, + finally feeling refreshed in the mornings instead of that awful fatigue).

Fibromyalgia pain has also diminished under Dr. McManus’s care & my food sensitivities continue to improve – what more can I say? I look forward to my appointments with Dr. McManus – both to see everybody (they’re like a cool family) and to share how much better I’m doing! Truly they are some of God’s helpers here on Earth – what a Blessing!!! Eternal gratitude – Thanks you guys!!!

From Marti R.

By |2015-06-22T16:58:31-05:00June 22nd, 2015|General|

Sleep-Enhancing Supplements

Achieving quality sleep is fundamental to our level of health and wellness. While we realize there are exceptions to every rule and circumstances to consider, we do advise against prescription or over the counter sleep aids as a routine solution to insomnia. Rather, we want to explore the root causes of the problem and correct those areas whenever possible. Because there are many reasons for a reduction in serotonin/melatonin production related to aging, stress, digestive and lifestyle factors, we often use a variety of natural supplements to support imbalances and deficiencies that can disrupt sleep. It is important to remember, too, that supplementation needs to be consistent and given time to correct imbalances and deficiencies. This often requires a little more patience. With guidance and support from your healthcare provider, we recommend any of the following sleep-enhancing supplements, alone or in combination, to aid in improving sleep quality:

  • 5- HTP
  • L-Theanine
  • Magnesium
  • Melatonin
  • Stress Support Formula

These sleep-enhancing supplements are available at The Woodlands Institute.

Warning: Please consult a health care professional before using these products.

 

 

 

 

 

By |2014-10-01T05:55:18-05:00September 27th, 2014|Articles, General|

Insomnia-Causes and Treatment Options

Causes of Insomnia and Treatment Options to Help You Sleep

By Mila McManus MD

This article isn’t about obvious causes of insomnia, such as heartburn or chronic pain.  Its focus is on some causes of insomnia about which you may not realize, and some suggested treatment options.

Potential causes of insomnia:

  • Hormonal imbalance or deficiencies despite normal lab results. Symptoms matter as well. Click here to test yourself for hormonal imbalance and deficiencies, such as low thyroid, estrogen dominance, and low T.
  • Adrenal fatigue (another form of hormonal imbalance). Click here to test yourself for adrenal fatigue
  • Poor sleep hygiene (e.g. working in bed, watching TV in bed, trying to sleep with a nearby light on)
  • Shift work-if you work sometimes during the day and sometimes during the night time hours, this will cause disruption of your circadian rhythm (internal clock)
  • Certain medications, prescription or over-the-counter (e.g. ADD medications, decongestants, diet pills)
  • Neurotransmitter imbalance-these are chemicals in the brain. There are tests available to check for this
  • Stress (it makes everything worse, doesn’t it!)
  • Ambient temperature, mainly temperatures above 70 degrees, can affect your quality of sleep
  • Alcohol-while it may help you fall asleep, it affects your ability to stay asleep
  • Caffeine-some people are very sensitive and don’t realize that having a soda, iced tea, or coffee with lunch can affect their ability to get to sleep at night

Treatment options

  • Get your hormones balanced and optimized. Call 281-298-6742 today for help.
  • Avoid napping during the day-it confuses your internal clock
  • Turn off the TV, turn off your cell phone, and turn off ALL the lights
  • Avoid caffeine after 10am
  • Talk to your doctor about which medications you are taking may be affecting your sleep. Call 281-298-6742 or click here for us to contact you to learn about how we can help treat the underlying reasons why you need certain medications so that you aren’t dependent on them.
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Manage your stress! We all have stressors, but we don’t all react the same way to stressors. It may be impossible to rid yourself of stressors, so work on managing the stress. Some options would be meditation, deep breathing exercises, EFT, massages, yoga, bubble baths.

 

 

 

 

 

By |2014-10-01T05:54:19-05:00July 9th, 2014|Articles, General|