LifeCare Chiropractic

The Best Chiropractic Care in Mesa, Arizona

Natural Pain Relief

MY DAD HAD LOW BACK PAIN, SO I GUESS I’LL GET IT

by

It is not an uncommon belief for a person to think that, because one or both of their parents suffered from low back pain that they, too, will suffer from low back pain.  While genetics may play a role, it is nowhere near the most critical one.

This particular study on twins finds that genetics only play about a 11-13% role for patients who have both low back pain and lumbar disc degeneration.  This means that there are other factors at play in the risk for developing low back pain.

In general, the better we take care of ourselves, the lower our risk of developing disc degeneration.  This means adopting a lifestyle that avoids diabetes, exercising and maintaining flexibility through things like yoga.

You see, the discs of our spine do not have their own blood supply. Rather, they are fed nutrients through smaller blood vessels.  So what happens if plague begins to form on these important blood vessels bringing nutrients to the disc?  You guessed it–reduced nutrient delivery and the disc cannot keep up with physiological demands so it begins to break down.

So, protecting your heart will also protect these important blood vessels which will, in turn, protect the discs of your spine.  Certainly other factors like imbalance, poor posture and past trauma play a role as well, but I do not feel that the role is as great as protecting the blood vessels that feed nutrients to our discs.

The lucky thing is that an anti-diabetic lifestyle just so happens to also be an anti-heart disease / pro blood vessel health lifestyle.  See how nicely that works out?  Just when you thought you were going to have to pick a disease you wanted to avoid with lifestyle..

DID YOU INJURE YOUR NECK AT WORK?

by

Ever injured your neck in a car accident or at work?  Here in AZ, many patient are sent by their employers to occupational medical clinics.  The first option here is usually some medications and a “watch and wait” approach.  So what’s wrong with that?

Well, if you understand injuries and the way that the soft tissues of the body work, then you know that this is probably one of the worst approaches to take.  The anti-inflamatories usually used actually interfere with the healing process and the inactivity that is recommended allows the fascia at the heart of the injury tightens up.  With time (and no treatment), these tight areas become permanent.

Alterations in the fascia’s ability to slide affects the muscles.  The muscles then aren’t able to move properly and support the joints they are associated with.  Then the joints lose movement and become painful and send pathological signals up to the brain.  Quite the mess.

So, back to the original question; what’s wrong with anti-inflamatories and rest immediately after an injury?  It creates an ideal situation to make the problem chronic.

Which brings us to this study, which further supports this concept, finding that in those who had a work related neck injury, they had almost 2 1/2 times the risk of having “troublesome” neck pain 6 or 12 months later.  By this time the injury is much more difficult to treat to resolution.

The bottom line is that it is never a good idea to limit movement after an injury (provided a fracture or more serious injury has not occurred) and that, if possible, you should seek care sooner rather than later.  And make sure you find a provider who is going to work on both the muscles, fascia AND the joints to make sure that injury has the greatest likelihood of being put behind you.

Read more…

I CAN’T SEE A CHIROPRACTOR–I’VE HAD SURGERY!

by

This is certainly a phrase I’ve heard many times in the community.  Usually someone stating that there is nothing that chiropractic can do to help them because they’ve already had surgery.

Obviously, seeing a chiropractor BEFORE the surgery in the hopes of avoiding the surgery altogether is the preferred method, but should you miss that opportunity, fret not.  Somehow, when patients unfamiliar with chiropractic care envision a treatment session in a patient who has had surgery or maybe has osteoporosis, it involves the chiropractor jumping off from the desk to deliver a ninja-like adjustment.

I know that in our office, with the heavy soft tissue approach, we have been able to provide significant relief to those patients who have had surgery and who thought that there was nothing that could be done to help with their pain levels.

While this study is a case series and involved lumbar surgeries (the best response being those with the more invasive surgeries), we have seen both neck, ankle, wrist, shoulder, knee and low back surgeries that did not resolve the complaint but responded well to care in our office.

So, next time you hear someone say that they can’t see a chiropractor because they’ve had surgery, point out this study.

Read more…

DID YOU HAVE AN MRI FOR LOW BACK PAIN?

by

There are definitely times when knowing less is a good thing.  It occasionally happens where a patient who has signs and symptoms of a disc herniation presents to our office.

Based on an exam and the history given by the patient, disc involvement (bulge, herniation, rupture, etc…) can be diagnosed and treatment started.  A full blown disc bulge may take several days to start to show a response, but the outcomes are usually very good.

Sometimes, it is not a disc problem that is causing the patients’ low back and leg pain.  Sclerotogenous referral from the hip (I really love the word “sclerotogenous”–makes me sound smart) or involvement of the fascia is also notorious for causing leg pain.

Sometimes, it may take a few days to be able to tell the difference.  Certainly an MRI would be helpful, right?  Not so fast…

You see, there is a large chunk of the population that has disc abnormalities on MRI (we can argue about the percentages, but let’s just agree that not all disc abnormalities on MRI cause problems).  We have also seen that MRIs done before and some time after a patient has a disc bulge don’t change much, even though the pain may be gone.

This particular study contributes to what any chiropractor can probably tell you.  MRIs increase the risk of having surgery.  Sounds strange…I mean–how could having an MRI affect your back?

It’s the mindset and the potential diagnosis of a disc problem, even if the disc problem is not what is causing a patient’s pain.

In this study, when the primary care doctor or orthopedic doctor had a financial incentive to order an MRI (usually because the unit was installed in their clinic) the number of MRI for low back pain went up.  In addition, in the orthopedic surgeon’s office, the number of patients getting surgery went up 34%. 

Just something to consider the next time you THINK you need an MRI… 

Read more…

BUT CHIROPRACTORS WANT YOU TO COME BACK IN FOREVER…

by

As a chiropractor, I obviously have an opinion on this one.  My profession has had a tendency to get dirt flung at it in the past.  We’ve always been treated as the red headed stepchild of healthcare despite very strong evidence that we are damn good at treating patients effectively and saving money while doing it.

But what about those chiropractors that want you to come back endlessly week after week after month after month, even after the pain’s gone?

Personally, in our office I always explain to patients that, so long as they avoid gravity, stress and computers they’ll probably be just fine going forward.  After all, chiropractic care is an intervention–I’m doing something to the patient that they can’t do themselves.  I do not believe that, in a perfect world, we should need any type of intervention.  But, given the reality of our lifestyles, however, my biased opinion is that some degree of regular care is good.

That may mean weekly for those with decades of musculoskeletal “baggage” from decades of improperly treated pain.  Or every month or every few months for the average person.  This has always seemed to work out well, although this has been limited to my own experiences and opinion.

Now this particular study adds some evidential weight to my personal experiences.  This looked at patients with chronic low back pain.  Basically, the participants in this study who were seen for an initial course of chiropractic care but were seen every other week after the initial trial of care did better after 10 months than those who did not receive the regular care.

Maybe we’re not so crazy after all… 

Read more…

THE “WAR ON DRUGS” WAS LOOKING AT THE WRONG DRUGS

by

In 1971, President Nixon declared a war on drugs.  Unfortunately for our country, that war was limited to illicit drugs.  For the next several decades, drug overdose deaths were largely attributable to these drugs.  However, beginning just after this century, these statistics began to take a scary turn.

In this recent report from the CDC’s report looking at data in Florida from 2003-2009, the numbers of drug overdose deaths increased 61%.   NONE of this increase was from cocaine or heroin.

 The death rate for prescription drugs increased 84.2%, with the greatest increase from oxycodone (264.6%), followed by alprazolam (233.8%) and methadone (79.2%).

By 2009, the number of deaths involving prescription drugs was four times the number involving illicit drugs.  Four times.  Were exactly is the “war on drugs” when it comes to prescription medications?  Glaringly absent.

Notice that these drugs are primarily used for pain control.  While some cases may be for intractable pain from situations like cancer, pancreatitis or kidney stones, I frequently see patients coming into my office on Oxycodone for a condition that would’ve been gone had they seen a chiropractor first.

So long as mainstream medical providers like PCPs, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons and physiatrists are seen as the first point of entry for musculoskeletal complaints, the risk of getting drugs prescribed and aggressive procedures performed will remain high.  In general, for at least one of the larger insurers in the US, chiropractors provide about a 30% cost savings when they are seen first.

Other studies confirm that imaging, surgery and, most importantly for this study, pain medication use are much lower under chiropractic care.

Read more…

HAD A SPINAL FUSION? WAS THIS MATERIAL USED?

by

I would have to say that in all but the most astute, few dug deep enough into their surgical procedure of fusion to find out how the surgeon was going to help the bones fuse together.  As a chiropractor, obviously the idea of fusion scares the heck out of me and I fear that far to few of spinal fusion patients have undergone a solid course of chiropractic care.

Back in 2002, the FDA approved the use of a type of cement in spinal surgeries.  This cement, called recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2), was designed to cause your body to produce more bone to allow a faster and more complete fusion between the vertebrae that we being fused. 

Sounds great, right?  Unfortunately, in most of the studies conducted on this compound (the manufacturer was Medtronic and the product was called Infuse (R)) they left a little something out.  Adverse effects.

Of 13 studies done by Medtronic, not a single one reported adverse effects related to the use of this compound.  In this particular study, the authors took a new look at the data and found an adverse effects in 10 to 50% of the patients that received the compound.  Additionally, there were very strong financial ties between the researchers of these studies and Medtronic.  The authors of this current study call the original research “biased and corrupt.”

Wow.  I have had a select few patients in my office who, quite frankly, we tried everything possible to keep them from having surgery and we not successful.  I see a need in the right time and place for spinal fusion when EVERYTHING else has failed.

But what about the patients that were steered into spinal fusion far too soon (it is well documented that those who see a surgeon or primary care doctor first instead of a chiropactor, are more likely to have surgery)?  And what if these patients had a surgery that used this compound and they were in the percentage that experienced adverse effects?

All too often in medical research the story is the same.  The data is manipulated to favor the funding biotech or pharmaceutical company.  The doctor or surgeon places false benefit on the product leading to recommendation to patients.  It is ultimately the patient that may pay for this transgression.

The bottom line is that we need to always, always, always do our due diligence with anything being done to our bodies if it was not in the original plan by Mother Nature.

Read More….

September 25, 2000 Research Update

by

 

I cannot take credit for this summary. It is an excellent review of the relationship between the gastrointestinal tract and chronic disease.

James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiropractic.com
www.lifecarechiropractic.com

From Nutri-West Marcia White
8-22-00

Dear Doctor, We are becoming more concerned about all of the E-Coli problems we read about in the news. We just heard of a small child in Colorado who is not expected to live because the E-coli was not diagnosed soon enough. This time of year is especially bad, picnics, etc., where food is not handled properly.

A couple of years ago, I read an article that said cinnamon can kill E-coli. Since that time I have made sure that we always have a shaker of cinnamon on the table and use it on fruit, oatmeal, cereals and toast. I also use it when making hamburgers and meat loaf. You can use a few shakes without tasting it in the food

You might want to pass this on to patients, especially those with small children-and tell them wash hands, wash hands, wash hands.

Marcia

NUTRI-NOTES

By Dr. Lynn Toohey

“The immunological mechanisms of rheumatoid arthritis probably begin when antigens cross an excessively permeable intestinal mucosa” Carli P et al. Presse Med 1995;24:606-610.

Inside this issue: Leaky Gut is a major environmental factor in autoimmune disease.

If you combine genetic susceptibility with the right dietary antigens (and possibly viruses which interact in the process), and then you throw in a leaky gut as another factor, the increased intestinal permeability can allow for the translocation of these antigens into the circulation where they can activate autoimmune diseases! Read about how all of this happens, and how to address it inside this issue of Nutri-Notes. Leaky gut connection to RA

The following abstract comes from an article recently accepted for publication in the British Journal of nutrition by the editor of the Nutri-Notes (Lynn Toohey). At the time this newsletter went to press, the article was scheduled for publication around February or March of 2000. The article will be available for a limited time on the following web site: http://nutrition.cabweb.org/BJN/bjnhome.asp

The citation for the article is currently:

Cordain, L. Toohey, L, Smith MJ and Hickey MS. Modulation of Immune Function by Dietary Lectins in Rheumatoid Arthritis. British Journal of nutrition 2000;83:000-000.

ABSTRACT:

Despite the almost universal clinical observation that inflammation of the gut is frequently associated with inflammation of the joints and vice versa, the nature of this relationship remains elusive. In the present review, we provide evidence for how the interaction of dietary lectins with enterocytes and lymphocytes may facilitate the translocation of both dietary and gut-derived pathogenic antigens to peripheral tissues, which in turn causes persistent peripheral antigenic stimulation. In genetically susceptible individuals, this antigenic stimulation may ultimately result in the expression of overt rheumatoid arthritis (RA) via molecular mimicry, a process whereby foreign peptides, similar in structure to endogenous peptides, may cause antibodies or T-lymphocytes to cross-react with both foreign and endogenous peptides and thereby break immunological tolerance. By eliminating dietary elements, particularly lectins, which adversely influence both enterocyte and lymphocyte structure and function, it is proposed that the peripheral antigenic stimulus (both pathogenic and dietary) will be reduced and thereby result in a dimunition of disease symptoms in certain patients with RA.

A note from the editor: This review article presents support for the hypothesis that explains the complex role of genetics, pathogenic organisms, food components, and intestinal permeability (leaky gut) in the development of RA. These factors can all interact and play a role in autoimmune disease. See inside the newsletter for more detail.

Modulation of Immune Function by Dietary Lectins in Rheumatoid Arthritis… by Lynn Toohey, editor of Nutri-Notes This review article (abstract on page 1) reflects the extensive work of a research team at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. I was honored to be a part of this publication, which delves into trying to pinpoint immune activation in rheumatoid arthritis. research in molecular mimicry is in its infancy, however it is gaining credence as a viable theory, as evidenced by the recent appearance in the New England Journal of Medicine of an article entitled, “Mechanisms of Disease: Molecular Mimicry and Autoimmunity” (Albert LJ & Inman RD, 2000;341(27):2068-2074). The New England Journal article ponders how foreign antigens such as viruses can activate immune responses (in genetically susceptible people) against human tissue by exhibiting similarities with human protein (see page 3 for a more detailed description of the molecular mimicry process). In our article, however, we ponder how actual dietary constituents found in common foods can trigger the molecular mimicry process and result in the attack on self-tissue. Genetics of course will play a major role in how an individual manages an immune response, and will determine to some extent how an individual is going to respond to simple common foods. But if you combine the genetic susceptibility with the right dietary antigens (and possibly viruses which interact in the process), and then you throw in a leaky gut, the increased intestinal permeability can allow for the translocation of these antigens into the circulation where they can activate autoimmune diseases.

Molecular Mimicry and Autoimmunity – the mechanism

The recent review article from the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) entitled, “Mechanisms of Disease: Molecular Mimicry and Autoimmunity” (Albert LJ & Inman RD, 2000;341(27):2068-2074), explains the concept of 2-way molecular mimicry. That is, substances from outside the body, like bacteria, viruses, can share similar protein sequences with human tissue. When these substances activate the immune system (in genetically susceptible people), antibodies are formed to attack the foreign substances, or antigens. The problem is that the antibodies also recognize the protein sequences in the self or human tissue that are similar to the foreign protein in the bacteria or virus. This is called cross reactivity. As an example of molecular mimicry and cross reactivity, the NEJM cites the case of MS. “In the case of MS, it has been hypothesized that the disease is initiated by an infection early in life by a virus that shares antigenic structures with the host’s central nervous system tissue. The host’s antiviral immune response cross-reacts with central nervous system self-antigens, such as myelin basic protein (MBP), leading to demyelination. Subsequent viral infections are thought to cause exacerbations of the disease by reactivating the immune response against viral antigens and autoantigens.” As a further example of this, the May-June 1997 Nutri-Notes newsletter contained a front page story on “Molecular Mimicry and the MS connection”. It explained how they have discovered that the ubiquitous Epstein Barr virus (EBV), associated with so many diseases, contained a protein sequence that was amazingly similar to one of the protein sequences in MBP. The myelin protein is in the myelin sheath surrounding nerves, and is one of the areas that comes under attack when there is an autoimmune reaction. researchers found that antibodies made to attack MBP in the blood of MS patients cross reacted with EBV. This means that the antibodies, which are supposed to be specific for one thing, were specific for not only a foreign antigen (EBV), but for human tissue (MBP) as well.

Molecular Mimicry, Rheumatoid Arthritis, food antigens, and the role of the leaky gut:

There is ample evidence that the same kind of molecular mimicry suspected in MS could be at play in RA, with the major difference being the self tissue that gets attacked. Whereas in MS it is myelin basic protein, in RA it is suspected to be collagen tissue. Not only can certain undigested food particles cause a problem by mimicking human self-proteins, such as collagen, but the lectins found in some foods, such as lectins, can increase intestinal permeability and allow these mimicking proteins into systemic circulation. Mimicking proteins include bovine serum albumin (BSA) from cow’s milk, which contains a protein sequence similar to human collagen, and glycine-rich protein (found in grains and legumes), which contains a protein sequence similar to cytokeratins (connective tissue). People with hereditary predispositions for autoimmune disease are the ones who are particularly susceptible to food interactions with the immune system. Particular lectins to watch are wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) from wheat and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) from kidney beans. Other lectin-containing foods include lentils, peas, jack beans, and peanuts. Lectin activity has been demonstrated in rye, barley, oats, and maize (Liener, The Lectins. Orlando, Fla. Academic Press. 1986:527-552) and even rice (Tsuda, M Purification and characterization of a lectin from rice bran. J Biochem. 1979;86:1451-1461). Although soybeans contain some lectins, the good powdered soy formulas have been hydrolyzed and contain the healthful isoflavones but not the soy lectins. For this reason, soy powder can make an excellent base for health drinks for the autoimmune person. Take-home message concerning RA and molecular mimicry: An individual must have the genetic predisposition for autoimmune disease coupled with exposure to antigenic material, whether it be bacteria, virus, or food. However, one of the most important factors is the leaky gut, because it is the intestinal permeability which allows antigens into systemic circulation. Building a strong gut immune barrier can protect against autoimmune attack, and this is why it is one of the first steps to consider in a protocol.

Why the gut barrier is so important:

Implicit in the message to heal the leaky gut is the fact that a healthy intestinal barrier does NOT allow this process of antigen translocation to occur. Excerpts from the arthritis article highlight this. For instance… “From a functional perspective, in healthy subjects the contents of the gut lumen lie outside the body and contain a toxic or antigenic load from which the body needs to be protected”. We sometimes forget that the gut does more than digest our food. It is an immune barrier that protects us from foreign attack.

Protection is supplied by a number of mechanisms including: 1. The intestinal mucosa (physical barrier) 2. Intestinal secretions (such as secretory IgA antibodies) 3. Intramural lymphocytes (white blood cells)

Take home message: The gut is an immune barrier, and when it fails to do its job, autoimmune reactions can develop. It is clearly important to build and strengthen that immune barrier. The important immune barrier of the gut deserves a total formula of nutrition:

Nutri-West presents: TOTAL LEAKY GUT (product #2703) Formulated for and researched by Dr. John Brimhall Each tablet contains: vitamin C (sago). 25 mg, vitamin E Succinate 10 i.u., Zinc (as chelate) 500 mcg, L-Glutamine 150 mg, N-Acetyl Glucosamine 75 mg, Lipoic Acid 2 mg, Lactobacillus Acidophilus 1 million units, Lactobacillus Bifidus 1 million units, Cats Claw (bark) 15 mg, Ginkgo Biloba Extract (bark) 2 mg, Ginkgo Biloba (herb) 50 mg, Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (root) 50 mg, Jerusalem Artichoke (bark) 25 mg, Slippery Elm (bark) 100 mg. Suggested Usage; 1 tablet 3 x day or as directed

Healing the Leaky Gut:

One of the take home messages of this newsletter has been that if the leaky gut is healed to become a barrier to potential antigens and human tissue-mimicking amino acid sequences, it can become a strong asset in the fight against autoimmune disease.

The intestinal lining can provide a barrier to autoimmune triggers, or it can become “leaky” and promote autoimmune disease. The microvilli are the individual cells which make up the lining. Mimicking food particles, dietary lectins, and viral and bacterial antigens can all be triggers for autoimmune disease that “leak” through a lining which is no longer strong, and invade the system.

Glutamine is the main fuel that the intestinal cells need for maintenance and repair. Glutamine reinforces the immune system, and there is considerable evidence that glutamine can enhance the barrier function of the gut against viral, bacterial, and food antigen invaders (Hall JC et al. Br J Surg 1996 Mar;83(3):305-312).

NAG (N-acetyl glucosamine), aside from being able to heal the extracellular tissue surrounding intestinal cells, has the unique ability to decrease the binding of some lectins to the intestinal lining, which can cause inflammation (Int J Parasitol. 1991 Dec; 21(8):941-4). NAG is one of the few nutrients with the ability to bind to the powerful wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) lectin. NAG also increases the quantity and quality of mucus (J Helminthol. 1993;67(3):179-88). It is well known as an arthritis nutrient, and is even listed as an antiarthritic in the Merck index (Merck Index, 11th ed. 1989 Merck and Co. Inc. Rahway, NJ p. 4353).

vitamins C and E, lipoic acid, zinc and ginkgo biloba are all antioxidants which protect the lining from free radical damage. Additionally, vitamin C and lipoic acid bind heavy metals which can cause disease when deposited in the tissues instead of being detoxified in the liver. vitamin E maintains the integrity of all lipid cell membranes. Ginkgo biloba also increases circulation in the smaller vessels and capillaries, which increases nutrient delivery and tissue healing. The New England Journal of Medicine notes that zinc is involved in clearance of infection, increased levels of brush-border enzymes, regeneration of epithelial tissue, and improved absorption of water and electrolytes (NEJMedicine. Sept. 28, 1995. 333(13):839-844).

DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) increases the integrity of the mucosal cells – it increases the life span of the intestinal cells, improves the quality of protective substances, and improves blood supply of nutrients (Glick L. Lancet ii:817, 1982).

Cat’s claw is an interesting herb from Peru that has been researched lately for its, “remarkable ability to cleanse the entire intestinal tract and help those suffering from different stomach and bowel disorders”, including leaky gut and intestinal flora imbalance (Dr. Brent Davis, DC Wellness Advocate Feb 1995;5(1):1-4).

The role of enzymes, detox and probiotics

Enzymes: As we have seen, undigested food particles which cross a leaky gut can become antigens that can stimulate the immune system. Healing a leaky gut is part of the answer but another key is addressing the incomplete digestion of the food particles in question. Amino acids are not antigenic; it is only longer protein sequences which are antigenic, and they can only activate the immune system when they have not been properly broken down. This happens sometimes due to a lack of hydrochloric acid and pancreatic enzymes. This is described in the arthritis article… “Clearly implicit in this model is the ability of intraepithelial pathogens and intact proteins to escape enzymatic digestion and to cross the gastrointestinal barrier and enter peripheral circulation”.

Ideally, food should be broken down to assure that macromolecules do not enter the system. Plant enzymes work in a wide pH range, increasing their effectiveness along the GI tract.

Nutri-West Presents: TOTAL ENZYMES (product #2404) Plant based enzymes Formulated for and Rese arched by Dr.

John Brimhall Each 360 mg capsule contains: Amylase 4,500 DU, Protease 15,000 HUT, Lipase 65 LU, Invertase 0.25 IAU, Malt Diastase 150 DP°, Lactase 200 LacU, Cellulase 60 CU, in base of pure Beet Root fiber. Suggested Usage: 1 capsule with meals

Detox: Removing toxic assaults on the system can improve the immune system’s ability to handle antigenic material. Additionally, all foreign antigens must be cleared from the body, and detoxing helps facilitate this process. The liver removes antibody-antigen complexes that have been formed from immune activation. This is also described in the arthritis article… “The primary intestinal barrier is supported by the liver, through which all enterically (from the intestines) derived substances must pass before entering the peripheral circulation”.

Nutri-West Presents: TOTAL SYSTEMIC D-TOX (Product #2705) Each tablet contains: vitamin A (palmitate) 333 i.u., vitamin B-1 3.33 mg, vitamin B-2 3.33 mg, Niacin 4.17 mg, vitamin B-12 8.33 mcg, vitamin C (sago palm) 125 mg, vitamin E (succinate) 33.33 i.u., D-Calcium Pantothenate (Pantothenic Acid) 7.66 mg, Folic Acid 50mcg , Biotin 33.33 mcg, Calcium (as aspartate, gluconate) 3.6 mg, Magnesium (as glycinate, citrate, aspartate) 10.6 mg, Selenium (as methionine) 20 mcg, Chromium (as chelate) 8.3 mcg, Manganese (as aspartate)83.33 mcg, Zinc (as chelate) 666mcg, Molybdenum (Citrate) 8.33 mcg, also contains: Beta Carotene 1250 units, Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate 3.33 mg, Choline Bitartrate 8.16 mg, Inositol 8.33mg, N-Acetyl Cysteine 5mg, L-Glutathione 3.33 mg, Propolis 8.33 mg, Co Enzyme Q-10 1.06 mg, Quercetin 4.17 mg, L-Glutamine 33.33 mg, Glucaronic Acid 830 mcg, L-Taurine 8.33 mg, L-Glycine 8.33 mg, L-Ornithine 3.33 mg, L-Methionine 8.33 mg, L-Glutamic Acid 3.33 mg, L-Arginine 3.33 mg, L-Lysine 3.33 mg, L-Tyrosine 3.33 mg, Milk Thistle (leaf, seed) 8.33 mg, Silymarin (leaf) 830 mcg, Beet (root) 8.33 mg, Turmeric Powder (herb) (Curcumin) 830 mcg, Yellow Dock (root) 4.17 mg, Chlorophyll 1.67 mg, Asparagus (shoots) 2.5 mg, Broccoli (tops, stem) 2.5 mg, Dandelion (root) 4.17 mg, Mullein (leaf) 4.17 mg, Siberian Ginseng (root) 5 mg. Suggested Usage: 1 capsule 3 x day or as directed

Probiotics: “Patients with RA have also been shown to maintain a high frequency of small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth” (Henriksson et al. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 1993;52:503-510, as noted in the arthritis article, page 2). It is pointed out in the arthritis article that there are three circumstances that can cause a translocation of bacteria from the intestines to sites such as the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, kidney and blood – these include 1. disruption of the intestinal equilibrium (bacterial overgrowth), 2. deficiencies in host defenses, and 3. increased permeability of the intestinal barrier. Probiotics guard against all three of these situations that promote transference of arthritis-causing bacteria from the intestines to other parts of the body. Additionally, friendly bacteria especially counteract candida, which can spread long mycelial arms right through the intestinal lining and perforate it, permitting wide-open entry to microorganisms and toxins.

All but one of the remaining children experienced only minor reactions, including fever, local reactions, and/or lethargy, during the 7 days following immunization.