Dr. Steen's February 2016 Newsletter
“Bring a Friend” Valentine Special… for the month of February, if you bring a new patient with you on your next visit, you get both visits for a combined cost of only $50.00!
Lingering cough… can sometimes persist for months after having a cold; I’ve had one myself for a bit now. One of my brilliant patients suggested I try alfalfa tablets, and I think they are helping. So I decided to research alfalfa (Latin name medicago sativa).
Alfalfa originated in Asia and its name comes from Arabic, meaning “father of all foods”. It’s a member of the pea family and can be consumed as seeds, sprouts, or leaves. Tea or capsules are typically consumed for medicinal purposes. The plant is now also grown in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Its root structure can reach up to sixty feet, which is thought to be the reason it can soak up so many nutrients
Nutritionally, alfalfa provides vitamins A, C, E, K4, C, B1 (Thiamin), B6 (pyridoxine), biotin, folic acid, and carotene. It has minerals calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and iron. It is high in protein (especially when dried), containing eight different amino acids.
People have claimed various health benefits including relief from symptoms of asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, upset stomach, bad breath, head aches (even migraines), skin conditions, hormone imbalances, and high blood pressure. Alfalfa detoxifies and purifies the blood, liver, and bowels. It also helps the kidneys and helps prevent urinary tract infections, and is widely used for diuretic purposes. It helps increase urine flow, which aids the prostate.
Alfalfa is a natural, chemical-free laxative that won’t irritate the bowels. Regular use can prevent toxin buildup in the bowels and block cholesterol absorption in the gut. It has been used to treat gout, is said to prevent strokes, strengthen bones, and decrease blood sugar levels, remedy kidney stones, auto-immune disorders, and glandular problems. One obscure source said it heals whooping cough and is part of a treatment for baldness (juiced with carrot and lettuce juice).
Cautions in consuming alfalfa are for the very elderly, very young and immune compromised individuals. Alfalfa sprouts may potentially have bacterial contamination WHEN consumed as sprouts. Dried alfalfa leaves do not cause serious health effects. Also, some varieties contain a substance that can affect hormones that reactivate systemic lupus erythematosus (in two cases). This effect on hormones is also why pregnant women should not take alfalfa. It can interfere with the medications taken for bleeding disorders, especially thrombocyte-penic purpura, and will interfere with warfarin.
To consume alfalfa, dried leaves can be made into tea (bland), or added to soups, salads, and casseroles (mild flavor). Sprouts can be added to sandwiches and salads. Often it is purchased as a capsule or tablet. Some consume 5000 mg. a day to relieve arthritis pain. We sell two Standard Process products that are mostly alfalfa, Green Food and Organically Bound Minerals.
Aside from testimonials, a nutritional analysis easily verifies the potential for alfalfa to have positive effects. The nutrients it has would also renew the adrenal and cardiovascular systems. There is little money to be made by the pharmaceutical companies; surely that’s why you don’t hear about it much.
Intestinal ‘Gut Health’…Micro biomes affect all aspects of well-being. In 2014, the #1 science story was how thirty-five billion intestinal microbes affect individual health. It was previously thought that our health was mostly pre-destined by genetics. Now it is known of all the DNA material in our body, about ninety percent comes from trillions of organisms that live in our bodies, especially in the gut. While alternative health practitioners were espousing this fact for decades; AMA professionals ignored it for decades. Neglecting intestinal health can cause not only chronic gut pain, diarrhea, constipation, colitis, and eventually colon cancer, but also obesity, depression, diabetes, brain dysfunction, anxiety, heart disease, auto-immune diseases, autism, and more. The facts were clear enough, that in 2014, it was called ‘a discovery of the year’. These micro-organisms that live in and on us have an unseen powerful influence on our health.
Here’s a sampling of all the connections being made: mice lacking in gut bacteria behave differently, engaging in more high risk behavior. Autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities are helped by establishing normal gut flora. Diabetic gut microflora and biome differs from non-diabetic. The first twenty days of life are critical for appropriate maturation of an infant’s immune system, and it is estimated that 80% of the immune system is actually located IN the gut. The gut is now being called a “second brain”, the enteric nervous system (ENS). Neurogastroenterology is studying how the digestive system can affect cognitive thinking and memory. Nervousness in the gut is an example of how the brain and gut signal each other back and forth. Obesity is affected by bacterium in the large intestine which influences activity of brown fat burning. Brown fat burns calories quickly before they can be stored as fat. It exists in small deposits in the neck and elsewhere while white fat is stored in the waist and buttocks.
To maintain the health of the gut flora and encourage better microbiomes, eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, one third eaten raw. Eat plenty of fiber, and avoid sugar and grains. Add fermented foods like sauerkraut, pickled cucumbers, picked garlic, pickled beets, pickled radish, pickled corn relish, Natto, kombucha, yogurt, kefir, kefir wafers, salsa, homemade chutney, mayonnaise and sour cream. These inexpensive foods contain substantially more pro-biotics with a natural and more diverse variety than a supplement.
These foods help replenish the microbes and make the gut a ‘friendly’ environment in which to live. Fermented foods are chelators, which are highly potent detoxifiers that can draw out toxins, even heavy metals. Supplements like turmeric and omega-3 fatty acids decrease inflammation, while B6 seems to decrease the risk of colon cancer. Taking a pill of probiotics and ignoring gut environment is not going to get the job done. Avoid antibiotics as much as possible. Other things you can do is grow a garden, don’t use antibacterial cleaners, and get a pet dog (ownership has shown to decrease respiratory problems, while cats still need to be studied).
Some people often do “cleanses” during the winter. Colon “cleanses” can include laxatives, teas, powders, supplements, or enemas. Some do colonic irrigation; also known as colon hydrotherapy and sometimes coffee is used. I have done some of these and usually when it’s over I feel literally “all pooped out”. Gentle cleanses that use herbal foods, alfalfa, fermented foods, beets, or lemon water are less dramatic in results, but also less draining. Chinese medicine warns about fasting in winter months because it can lower the immune system in a time prone to sickness. If you have a more serious gut problem, there is such a thing as a fecal implant. They say it is as easy as an enema. You’ll have to call around until you find someone who can help you with that. Naturopaths often know where you can get this life-saving implant.
February Fundraiser… will be on Saturday, the 27th from 9am until 1pm. Come in and receive a chiropractic adjustment or meridian balancing treatment in exchange for a donation of your choice. Proceeds from this month’s fundraiser will benefit Help the Needy. ♥ Happy Valentine’s Day ♥