Featuring Madiha Saeed MD, Director of Education, and Heather Tallman-Ruhm MD, Medical Director, both of the Documenting Hope Project.
We talked about:
- Dr. Heather is reading The Survival Paradox: Reversing the Hidden Cause of Aging and Chronic Disease, which talks about gallectin-3, the “Chicken Little of the inflammatory response”. A high total load triggers gallectin-3, which can lead to inflammaging. Homotoxicology can help.
- Dr. Madiha is reading Chris Beat Cancer: A Comprehensive Plan for Healing Naturally, Beat Cancer Kitchen: Deliciously Simple Plant-Based Anticancer Recipes, and The Joy of Well-Being: A Practical Guide to a Happy, Healthy, and Long Life.
- A child has intestinal dysbiosis, high oxalates, Sensory Processing Disorder, keratosis/skin rash, gas and potentially SIBO (Small Intestined Bacterial Overgrowth). Mom has done a lot, and naturopath is recommending herbal remedies, which mom is hesitant to try.
- Dr. Madiha: Think about why SIBO is there to begin with. She personally has had SIBO, and stress was the biggest factor. Chronic stress can lower levels of HCl stomach acid, which can be a causal factor in SIBO.
- Dr. Heather: Jonathan Wright’s book Why Stomach Acid Is Good for You: Natural Relief from Heartburn, Indigestion, Reflux and GERD is helpful for understanding this. Also look at methylation of B vitamins. A parasympathetic state (“rest and digest”) encourages motility; gargling, singing, humming and buzzing can help induce this state. The probiotic yeast S. boulardii can help escort pathogens out of the body. She doesn’t use a lot of herbal anti-microbials. If there’s heavy-metal toxicity, there’s often pathogen overgrowth. Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP) can move metals out. Always start low and slow with new supplements.
- Beth: The vagus nerve is in play.
- Dr. Madiha: Try the baking soda test. This simple home test can help identify low levels of stomach acid, which is important for proper digestion and assimilation of protein, vitamin B12 and magnesium. Although it is not conclusive, it is a helpful starting point. To perform the test, dissolve ¼ teaspoon of baking soda into four ounces of water, then drink on an empty stomach before breakfast or at least two hours after eating. Upon ingestion, the sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) mixed with the hydrochloric acid in the stomach produces carbon dioxide gas, which comes out in the form of a burp. Any burping after two to three minutes could indicate low stomach acid.
- Dr. Madiha: Try the motility test. To perform this test, also known as “the beet test”, a child would eat either a quarter cup of raw, unpickled beets or a half cup of cooked beets. Alternatively, a capsule of activated charcoal could be ingested. If beets are eaten, they should lend a red color to poop, while charcoal would color poop gray or blackish. The typical time for food to pass through the gastrointestinal system is 12-24 hours; anything longer than that indicates constipation.
- Dr. Heather: Mouth breathing can be an issue.
- Dr. Madiha: Fermented foods, vinegars and certain probiotics can make things worse.
- Soil-based probiotics such as Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus subtilis can help.
- A food-sensitivity test can help.
- Betaine HCl can help with low stomach acid.
- Dr. Heather: Liver congestion can contribute. Acupuncture can help.
- What are the doctors’ personal favorites for personal care and cleaning products?
- Branch Basics: Get 15% off with code documentinghope
- Whole Foods products
- Just Naturals products
The information in these calls and recordings is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please see our Disclaimer.