Dear Colleagues
I hope you enjoyed the holidays! It is a long newsletter so we will get right into it.
NEW PRODUCTS
1. New Thorne Test kit One of my goals in helping Thorne Research (1-800-228-1966) was to update the test kit. We wanted one that was easily portable and had most of the products used in an AK practice but not all of Thornes almost 300 products as we felt it was too cumbersome. We are happy with what our team designed. The kit has 101 different products with room for you to add nine more as new products come out or if we missed one of your favorites (ask them for a sample of it). Very important is the fact that as formulas are modified we will send you new test vials to replace the old ones (this was not previously done). We know that no kit will please everyone but we elicited input from field doctors who utilize AK and used their input in our decisions. We also tried to utilize as non toxic a foam as we could get and make a snug fit where the vials will not fall out easily but can easily be taken out. The kit will cost the doctor $69.95.
2. Wild Greens Supreme (Mid American Marketing/Supreme Nutrition Products (1-800-922-1744) Wild Greens Supreme™ has been a long time in the making (approximately three years). The goal was to create a high quality green food product that consistently tested well (strengthening a weak indicator muscle) "in the clear" on a vast majority of patients. The herbs needed to be nutritive without being overtly medicinal so they could be consumed daily and nourish the body with a therapeutic dose of nutraceuticals and phytochemicals. They also needed to retain their nutritional integrity over time. Many samples were tested and we almost gave up many times as virtually nothing met the criteria.
Finally, a viable source was found that passed muster. The resulting product is a combination of five herbs that are harvested in the wild (no hybrids), immediately frozen, and then freeze-dried just prior to packaging. Freeze-drying retards the degradation of the plant's constituents allowing the vital nutrients to maintain much longer than air-dried plants.
The contents are a blend of nettle, chickweed, Siberian lettuce, dandelion leaf, and couchgrass.
Noticeably absent are the cereal grasses (e.g. wheat and barley grass juice), various algaes (spirulina, chlorella, blue green algae, etc.), and legume foliage (e.g. alfalfa). Almost every other "greens" product on the market contains at least one of these, if not more. We didn't want to include the grass juice from gluten containing grains to avoid the possibility of a reaction from gluten (gliadin) sensitive individuals. We excluded the algae because of the risk of excitotoxins and toxic metals and possibly other factors. I have been testing various algaes for approximately twenty years and have yet to find one that tests well on the majority of patients I see. There is some doubt as to whether alfalfa is a suitable food for human consumption. Though it has a good nutritional profile, it is best suited for the digestive system of a horse, and even then it can be easily overdone. Cancer pioneer Max Gerson has found that alfalfa as certain other legume grasses or sprouts can encourage or aggravate auto-immune conditions which are becoming more and more common in the civilized world.
Wild Greens is rich in minerals, both macro and trace. The minerals are far more bioavailable than what is found in most supplements due to the fact that plants convert the inorganic form of the minerals (rock dust) into an ionic form that is easily assimilated. The greens contain ample electrolyte minerals (calcium, magnesium, sodium, & potassium) to supply the body with alkalizing material to help maintain the proper pH of the blood and other body fluids.
Also in significant amounts are vitamins A, C, & K; fiber, and free form amino acids. Not to be overlooked are the phytonutrients such as flavonoids that also play important roles.
One of the best features of greens is their chlorophyll content. Chlorophyll is a remarkable molecule responsible for photosynthesis - the ability of a plant to convert sunlight into carbohydrates for its own use. In the human body, chlorophyll promotes tissue regeneration and oxygenation, aids in detoxification, and is antimicrobial. Supplied as part of a whole plant product as opposed to an isolated component, we feel it is far more effective.
You've probably read or heard the quote from Hippocrates; "Let your foods be your medicine and let your medicine be your foods". This is a foundational principle in human health, but we need to have high quality food - something that is becoming increasingly difficult in our modern world. We made Wild Greens Supreme™ to help fill that need.
As to some of the individual constituents nettles is known for its ability to help hay fever, arthritis, benign prostatic hypertrophy and to be an effective anti-inflammatory. Dandelion greens have a high nutrient profile are anti-inflammatory, and hepato-protective. Siberian lettuce, couch grass and chickweed also have strong nutrient profiles and will help in detoxification and overall health. There is no product like this on the market and due to the wild crafting and freeze drying it will never be mass marketed to the public. We are extremely happy to make this available to our customers.
As a general health promoting supplement/food, we recommend two level teaspoons daily mixed in 4 oz. of water or juice, taken once daily. Better yet, add it to your smoothie (I mix it in pineapple or carrot juice along with Takesumi and Camu Supreme). On extremely toxic individuals, twice daily is preferred. From an applied kinesiological standpoint it will often negate various microbes, chemicals and metals on testing, and can be used as a great complement to the other more targeted antimicrobials and chelating agents available, but typically not as a stand alone product for these conditions (though it can be a stand alone product for health enhancement).
Wild Greens Supreme should be an extremely healthful addition to everyone's diet.
3. PharmaGABA 250 (Thorne Research 1-800-228-1966)
Thorne now also has PharmaGABA in a 250mg cap (before it was only 100mg). We test it on every patient that has high anxiety, insomnia or a difficulty relaxing. It can help in these conditions without sacrificing mental clarity. Sometimes you need to perform muscle the test with the eyes closed or while the patient is focusing on something stressful to find the need. Recommended dose is one or two caps daily. For this type patient also try Thornes 5-HTP or L-Tryptophan or Supreme Nutrition’s Ashwagandha Supreme.
4. I rewrote Clinical indications of Thorne Research Products. It has some of the newer products and adds some clinical AK tidbits throughout the booklet that can help with patient assessment. It is on my website and also can be requested from Thorne when you order.
Physicians should feel free to call me to discuss problem patients, products etc. I have seen wonderful results with our protocols and we make many referrals monthly to those using them. I want anyone who has taken a class or bought a DVD to understand the procedures fully so do not hesitate to call or email if you need help. If unavailable I can usually get back to physicians within 24-48 hours.
In conjunction with Thorne we hope to teach this year in Denver and Dallas. We will announce these as dates are decided.
MATERIAL AVAILABLE FROM DR. MICHAEL LEBOWITZ
1.DVD: Treating the Complex Patient 2010:This DVD seminar, approximately 3 1/2 hours long will teach the physician a simple to apply, effective protocol to treat patients with chronic fatigue, allergies, chemical sensitivities, intestinal dysbiosis, (fungal, bacterial, parasitic, spirochete, and viral infections), food sensitivities, food toxin intolerance, altered intestinal permeability, toxic metal problems, endocrine dysfunction, nutritional imbalances, chronic pain and subluxations, fibromyalgia, etc. Knowledge of basic muscle testing is helpful. The DVD set is suited for both the novice and the advanced practitioners in our work. A complete set of advanced notes accompanies the DVD. This DVD supersedes our previous ones and was taped at our office. Price is only $180ppd. You can send a check or go to our website if you wish to use a credit card. Dr. Lebowitz is available to answer questions about the procedures after you watch the seminar, or to consult with on difficult patients.
2. Clinical Indications of Thorne Research Products: This handout, has both academic and clinical observations on over 100 products I use in my office. The majority of the products I carry are by Thorne Research. Reasons are given for the use of each. Information particularly pertinent to the AK practitioner is scattered throughout This handout is free. Also see it on our website www.michaellebowitzdc.com
3. Clinical Indications of Supreme Nutrition Products can also be downloaded from our website or obtained by calling Mid American Marketing 1-800-922-1744.
4. Personal Seminars with Dr. Lebowitz: Dr. Lebowitz teaches seminars to one or two doctors at a time in his home/office in Grand Junction, CO. It is approximately 4 miles from the airport serviced by United, Delta and Continental Airlines. Seminars run from 9:00-4:00. These classes are tailored to meet your individual needs and can be as basic or advanced as you would like. Treatment for you and/or your family can be included in the teaching. Lunch is provided and this is a great place to vacation all times of the year with nearby attractions in both Colorado and Utah. Colorado continuing education hours can be provided. Best days are Sundays, Mondays or Wednesdays. Call to schedule exact dates. Cost is $300.
5.Test Kits for Dr. Lebowitz protocol. Call AK Test Kits at 1-888-323-0625 or see our website http://www.michaellebowitzdc.com for more details. Info is also available on CD-Rom. These new kits will greatly simplify and speed up your testing making you more efficient and accurate in patient assessment. These are “diagnostic kits”. Supplement kits are ordered directly from Thorne (1-800-228-1966) and Supreme Nutrition (1-800-922-1744).