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| Number 50, August 2013 |
Pacific Naturopathic Newsletter2570 W. El Camino Real � Suite 111 � Mountain View, CA 94040 � (650) 917-1121
www.PacificNaturopathic.com
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Misinformation and Disinformation * * * Your Health is at Stake!
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Greetings!
This is one of the most important and timely relevant newsletters we've put out in a while.
One of the most challenging and maddening issues we deal with as doctors is the misinformation generated by health scams and sensationalistic tabloid journalism. Self-serving hawkers of merchandise and services have developed increasingly sophisticated approaches to peddling their wares to an increasingly health-conscious public. Remember this: if you have a health condition like cancer, it is human nature to clutch at straws. And there is no shortage of people quite willing to cash in on your desperation.
Media outlets are also frustrating. Rather than pointing out the good and the positive of many advances in health care, seem to think that "investigative journalism" means digging up dirt, even if there is none, and reporting seriously on flawed studies that challenge common sense.
As naturopathic doctors, we are fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to offer our unique services. Internet health information surfers are discovering that just because there's a web site dedicated to a product or service, it doesn't mean that the product is viable or the service is useful. It is all frustrating and confusing to the average health consumer. So our patients turn to us to help them cut through the chaff and provide reality checks. In this regard, Nicole Noceto, staff member par excellence, offers a thoughtful insight into the evolving roles of doctor and patient in her first article for this publication. We hope she will continue to write for us.
In this issue of Pacific Naturopathic Newsletter, Dr. Connie examines media credibility and how we come to believe what we believe, and vents her thoughts on the recent study implicating fish oil supplements with prostate cancer. Dr Marcel offers suggestions on how to search for valid health information on the Internet, and Dr. Corrine corrects some misconceptions on thyroid function. Jane Hernandez banishes the woo-woo from hypnotherapy and EFT by bringing to light a few of the excellent studies proving their efficacy.
Our monthly column on breast thermography is especially important this issue as it presents the reason thermography has not gone more mainstream (basically, lack of understanding).
Finally, we highlight this month another photo from a typical day (today!) at Pacific Naturopathic's Hawaii vacation rental. And if you are thinking of booking but are delaying for one thing or another, do book soon, as many of the end-of-year time slots will soon be gone. Please note that as an incentive to readers of this newsletter, you can book at the "old rates" only until the end of the year.
Dr. Connie and Dr. Marcel
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Schedule an Appointment:
| Pacific Naturopathic
2570 W. El Camino Real
Suite 111
Mountain View, CA 94040
650-917-1121
www.PacificNaturopathic.com
The clinic is open M-F 9am-5pm. The clinic is closed for lunch daily from 12:00 to 1:30 PM
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Dr. Connie's Musings...
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One of Dr. Connie's favorite places to Muse is in the gardens at Pacific Naturopathic Retreat in Hawaii
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On Information, Misinformation and Disinformation * * * We live in an age in which we have easy access to all manner of information. Google just about anything that enters your mind, and you'll find pages of related links, and often contradictory perspectives, generally written as though the perspective has some grounding in fact. We tend to assume that information that agrees with our own individual perspective, or our cultural perspective, is factual. In fact, very little of the information we assume to be true comes from any personal experience of the truth of it. We trust what we consider to be reliable sources, i.e. those sources that filter information in a manner that is agreeable to us, and is generally agreed upon by a group of people we belong to or respect. This filtering of information is unavoidable and omnipresent, and is frustrating to those who seek the truth. This applies to the field of medicine just as much as it applies to society as a whole. I often describe medicine as a belief system, with conventional and complementary practitioners offering competing ideologies or worldviews. As an example, conventional medicine and the pervading culture see high cholesterol as the cause of heart disease, and see the solution as treating with expensive, lifelong treatment with drugs that lower cholesterol. Complementary medicine sees diet, inflammation, liver and thyroid distress as the cause of the high cholesterol, and treats with therapies that promote healthy lifestyle, decrease inflammation and normalize body function. Factually incorrect conclusions can be drawn from just about any body of data. These incorrect conclusions are misinformation. The studies that support the view of cholesterol as causing heart disease have been widely debunked, though medicine and society as a whole stand by a viewpoint that does not acknowledge the debunking. Your individual understanding of cholesterol and heart disease depends on whose analysis you trust. Disinformation is not only factually incorrect, but also intentionally incorrect. Disinformation often serves the purpose of supporting an ideological cause, as is seen in politics. In medicine, disinformation is most often spread in both conventional and complementary circles by sources with an economic incentive. Thus we have shareholders in pharmaceutical companies which market particular products (think statins here as an example) sitting on boards that recommend the appropriate use of that product. We see studies on the lack of efficacy of St John's wort for depression, written by those with economic interest in the sales of SSRIs. And so on. Recently, we've been treated to a spate of articles warning of the dangers of individual vitamins and multi vitamins and other natural supplements. These, by the very individuals who market and review pharmaceuticals in the increasingly pervasive television advertisements that warn in whispers of side effects ranging from nausea to death. I find myself questioning the research savvy and gullibility of the medical reporters who offer up questionable and biased findings to the American public. My article in this month's newsletter addresses the conclusion, recently presented in the press as truth, that supplementation with fish oil promotes prostate cancer. * * *
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How to Deal With Misinformation On the Internet
 Dr. Connie and I began our formal naturopathic medical journey in 1985. It seems incredible that is was 28 years ago. In 1985, there was no Internet and computers were in their infancy. In fact, Dr. Connie took class notes on the first laptop ever seen in our medical school. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word "doctor" not as healer or caregiver, but as "teacher." Our task back in the 1980s was to develop the patience and skills to explain complex medical concepts in clear and understandable language, allowing our patients to make informed decisions and have better control of their lives. That role has not changed, but it has expanded to include explaining, modifying and debunking information obtained by our patients on the Internet. Patients and their family members are increasingly using the Internet as a major source of advice regarding their illnesses, treatment options, dietary advice and disease prevention. We like this as it offers an opportunity for our patients to educate themselves and ask focused questions during their office visits with us. However, since many guidelines are written for clinical professionals, they often contain medical jargon that cannot be easily understood by people looking for practical advice. Furthermore, there is a website supporting every bizarre theory or magical cure-all treatment for every condition known to humans. If someone has an opinion or is trying to sell health-related information, products and services, all they have to do is present what they are offering as Gospel truth online. For example, one of my patients a couple of weeks ago came to see me with on-line information he found that his cancer was caused by a parasite. However, if he purchased a $75 electrical device called the "Zapper" he could kill this parasite and cure his cancer. Because the Zapper was endorsed by an author who has written several books on parasites and health, there was an air of legitimacy to the author's claim. My patient was convinced that he had stumbled upon a medical institution-suppressed approach to his cure. I looked at the website and quickly saw that the case for the Zapper was built on medical half-truths, false premises and questionable testimonials. But to most laypersons' understanding, it appeared to offer a viable approach to dealing with cancer, complete with photos of the offending parasites. Furthermore, the web site was densely infused by other products the author was hawking. No, capitalism is not a crime, but profiting from emotionally vulnerable cancer patients by presenting questionable information has profound moral implications. It is fascinating to us how the public latches on to negative media presentations. As Dr. Connie says above, the media has mostly ignored hundreds of excellent fish oil studies and chooses to emphasize one extremely flawed study about the connection between fish oil and prostate cancer. Is this socially responsible journalism? It appears to us that journalism has reached a low point in its sensationalistic, tabloid approach to reporting the truth, choosing instead to emphasize negative events. We do encourage you to use the Internet to research health issues. We offer the following guidelines for your research: 1) Begin your research with as few preconceptions as possible. Eliminate obvious scams, but keep an open mind to any and all possibilities. Write down questions as they arise. 2) Be wary of any site that is selling something. However, sometimes the sales pitches may contain a modicum of truth and raise viable questions. Write your questions down immediately. 3) Check the source of the information - who is sponsoring the page. Remember that ".com" Web sites are for-profit, ".edu" are educational sites and ".gov" are from the government. Many disease specific Web sites or medical association Web sites are ".org". Get to know a few sites and bookmark them so you can go back easily. 4) Make sure that the information on the page is scientifically verifiable. 5) Confirm web-based medical information with a reputable source - such as you naturopathic doctor. Bring us the list of questions you have developed. Truly, our only agenda item is that you regain and maintain vibrant health in the safest, most efficacious manner possible. Happy surfing! Find out more about Dr. Marcel's work with men at: |
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Intravenous Nutritional Protocols
at Pacific Naturopathic
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Many disease states compromise the human gut's ability to adequately absorb nutrients like amino acids, minerals, and vitamins.
* Neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, ALS, and Multiple Sclerosis have been shown to greatly benefit from IV antioxidant protocols that help heal the inflammation in the brain often found with these diseases.
* Chronic fatigue states such as Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Brain Fog have mitochondrial energy deficits shown to be helped when specific natural supplements are given intravenously.
* Many immune system and detoxification functions can be improved with IV protocols.
* A number of cancers are very responsive to IV nutritional therapies which can be used to help treat cancer as well as to improve tolerance of conventional cancer treatments.
* Some treatments involve 1-3 hour drips and others are 30 minute treatments, depending on the nutrient mix and concentration being infused.
To name a few:
IV Glutathione
IV Alpha Lipoic Acid
IV Vit C
Amino Acid infusions
Vitamin and Mineral drips
Myers' Cocktail
Other Protocols for Energy and Immune System Function
We have a dedicated Infusion room that is relaxing and peaceful for all these therapies.
Dr. Marcel Hernandez has been trained in IV therapeutic protocols and will be offering treatments for those patients for whom treatments are appropriate and safe.
Phone now to get on the list for treatment consideration. 650-917-1121. An initial 30-minute consultation and current blood test is required for existing patients. A 90-minute first office call and blood test is required for new patients. Space is limited to four people receiving treatments a day.
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There's Something Fishy Here * * *
Connie Hernandez, N.D. 
As many readers are aware, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published an article in July supporting the idea that there is an association between fish oil consumption and risk of prostate cancer. Medical reporters jumped on the bandwagon and our phone rang with concerned patients thinking their fish oil was putting them at great risk. (Never mind for the moment the more worrisome reports that the most common conventional medications given for BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy) while lowering the risk of prostate cancer in general, increase the risk of aggressive, life threatening prostate cancers.) The study upon which the article was based was a retrospective study of a trial that was not designed to answer the question as to whether fish oil was detrimental or associated in any way with prostate cancer. The retrospective evaluation looked at elevated omega 3 levels in men with prostate cancer at a single point in time on a single blood test. The plasma omega 3 level, the indicator used, has significant variability, day to day, and does not reflect longterm consumption. Statistically speaking, results were based on a difference of 0.2% in the omega 3 blood level of the inaccurate measure. In addition, the statistical model used is more accurately used to evaluate the effect a precise amount of a specific drug taken at the same known time every day. A better index would be the omega 3 index which measures EPA and DHA in red blood cells, and more accurately reflects intake and tissue status. The study looked neither at dietary intake of fish nor at omega 3 supplementation. There are additional problems with the study. Smoking, alcohol intake, and obesity are risk factors for prostate cancer, as is having a first degree relative with prostate cancer. There were high percentages of patients in this study with these confounding risk factors. There's much more to critique in this study, but on the basis of just what I've noted, I have to conclude that it would be ill advised to stop eating fish or to discontinue omega 3 supplements on the basis of this study, particularly given the innumerable studies detailing the health benefits of omega 3 supplementation. Fish oil is anti inflammatory, heart healthy, mood stabilizing, blood thinning, and more. In fact, the results of the study upon which the article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute was based directly conflict with other studies which were actually designed to analyze the effect of fish oil on prostate cancer risk, and which conclude that omega 3 fatty acids provide a protective benefit. Recent meta analyses report a reduction in late stage or fatal prostate cancer with fish oil consumption, as well as a lowered risk of breast cancer. * * * Find out more about Dr. Connie's consulting services at: |
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Misconceptions About the Thyroid
Hypothyroidism is a fairly common condition, with symptoms including fatigue, feeling cold, having weight gain or difficulty losing weight even with exercise, depression, palpitations or slow heart rate, constipation, high cholesterol, hair loss, and more.
Many people often have symptoms of hypothyroidism that are not being diagnosed by their medical doctors. Why is this the case? Medical doctors often look only at TSH levels, a hormone secreted by your pituitary gland that tells your thyroid gland to release thyroid hormone.
TSH levels may often be in the "normal" range even though people's thyroids are underperforming, leaving people with typical hypothyroid symptoms. People can then fall through the cracks, remaining untreated as they continue to suffer with symptoms. As time goes by without a diagnosis, the adrenals try to take on the slack left by a low functioning thyroid, and they start becoming drained as well. Imbalanced adrenals can lead to symptoms including anxiety, fear, difficulty coping, sleep problems, and not waking up feeling refreshed.
As the thyroid and adrenals malfunction, this eventually leads to an imbalance in sex hormones as well, and irregularities in menses, sex drive, or fertility can also occur. These symptoms can all stem from a low thyroid issue from the beginning that went undiagnosed due to TSH levels all being in the normal range.
If you are suffering from symptoms of feeling constantly tired, have weight issues, an intolerance to cold, and possibly digestive and/or irregularities in your menstrual cycle, you may have a hypothyroid condition that is going undiagnosed. As naturopathic doctors, we can order the correct lab work to check the status of your thyroid more thoroughly, as well as look at your adrenals and sex hormones to determine if these systems are off as well. In so doing, we can get a clearer picture of what is going on and can help support your thyroid and other systems with natural treatments. We can thus assist you in bringing your thyroid and body back into balance, and help you to regain your energy, health, and vitality.
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For more information about craniosacral therapy and reiki, please visit HERE
To make an appointment with Dr. Corrine Wang or for a free 15 minute consultation, please call (650) 917-1121.
Find out more about Dr. Corrine's
detox and craniosacral packages
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Re-evaluating Your Role As A Patient
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Nicole Noceto
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The doctor-patient relationship is one that I have felt compelled to think more deeply about. My perspective on the subject has been influenced by my being a patient of various doctors and healers, but also being the office assistant at Pacific Naturopathic, observing and interacting with patients of our clinic.
Think for a moment, why did you select your practitioner of choice? For most of us, the answer is probably because "we heard they were good." We choose doctors based on their success with other patients, or perhaps based on the likelihood that our doctor and we will get along, or work well together. What I have come to observe is that being a "good" patient is AS important, if not more so, than our impression of our "good" doctors. Let me explain what I mean...
Somewhere in our recent history (probably around the time pharmaceutical companies gained traction within our medical system), the meaning of 'patient' and 'doctor' changed, pretty dramatically. First, consider this: the word 'doctor' is derived from the Latin verb, docēre, which means 'to teach.' Now, think about your history of interactions with medical professionals...have they been people you would call teachers? Did you feel empowered, encouraged, or enlightened over the course of working with those practitioners? Lots of us would, sadly, say no. Patients have become dependent upon doctors to fix their ailments, without taking much responsibility themselves. Perhaps what is more disturbing, is that patients have come to expect the 'quick- fix' which exists today only because of pharmaceuticals. Thus, conventional doctors (and the patients they serve) have been streamlined into this quick-fix system of assessing a symptom and prescribing a pill with little regard for the fact that true healing relies on evaluation of the big picture, the whole story.
My take on this trend is that patients have stopped being learners, subsequently; conventional practitioners have stopped being teachers, further reinforcing the patients' lack of desire to learn about their own well-being. In my opinion, this sort of negative feedback loop has fostered the nature of the system that we call 'conventional medicine.' While I, as many others, have been utterly disappointed with conventional medical treatment, I don't (entirely) blame the system for its lack of positive results.
I believe that it is within us (as patients and as practitioners) to realize our roles in maintaining wellness. The way I see it, there is no such thing as 'being' healthy. Rather, maintaining optimal health is an ever-ongoing process that takes really hard work, especially on the patients' end. As patients (especially those without any medical training) it is so important to want to be educated on what it takes to maintain health. Realizing your own potential to take charge of feeling well is not only effective, but also empowering! Cooking for ourselves, exploring our passions/hobbies/interests, setting aside time to relax, stretch, and exercise, are just a few examples of taking charge. Of course, seeking out medical professionals who want to teach us is tremendously useful, which brings me to discussing the value of Naturopathy...
As many of you now know, your session with a Naturopath is vastly different from your experience with most conventional doctors. What I find most profound about utilizing the expertise of a naturopath is that patients (whether consciously, or not) assume nearly full responsibility for their health. The naturopathic doctor is not necessarily your decision-maker, but your guide, or teacher. The patient and doctor have equally large roles along the course of their journey together, with the ultimate efficacy of treatment depending upon the effort of the patient. This is where being a "good" patient really comes into play.
During your next health-related appointment, exercise your ability to listen, learn, and evaluate. Feel inspired by the many options that you have to change your world for the better. In thinking of yourself as a life-long student, your mind will be excited and you will get to know yourself better and better each day. Becoming in tune with the desires and needs of your body is a most healthful adjustment that takes patience with oneself, willingness, and mindfulness. Try it out; your health is depending on YOU!
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Hypnotherapy and EFT: Are These Woo-Woo Techniques?
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Jane Hernandez, CCHT
Some might think that, under hypnosis, they will lose control and be made to bark like a dog or do things against their will like in "The Manchurian Candidate". The truth is that hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation, where the unconscious mind is engaged while the conscious mind is standing by. The hypnotherapist can then talk directly to the client's unconscious mind and make suggestions which can influence the condition the patient is suffering from. A client in trance is conscious the whole time and usually is able to recall everything that happened. Hypnotherapy can be used for many challenges and there is new scientific research being done all the time.
EFT (Emotinal Freedom Technique) parallels acupuncture, except that needles are not used. Instead, certain meridian points are stimulated by tapping with the fingertips while the client verbally addresses the issue they wish to resolve. In this way an important link is established between mind and body. To some, it might seem strange that tapping on points on the head and trunk would lead to anything. But when you think about it, why not try something that can ease your anxiety or pain in a few minutes? EFT is relatively new (20years) but there are already millions of people using it around the world.
Check out some of the science that explains the positive results.
Hypnosis Most Effective For Smoking Cessation Says Largest Study Ever: 3 Times as Effective as Patch and 15 Times as Effective as Willpower.
Hypnosis is the most effective way of giving up smoking, according to the largest ever scientific comparison of ways of breaking the habit. A meta-analysis, statistically combining results of more than 600 studies of 72,000 people from America and Europe to compare various methods of quitting. On average, hypnosis was over three times as effective as nicotine replacement methods and 15 times as effective as trying to quit alone.
(University of Iowa, Journal of Applied Psychology, (Also New Scientist, October 10, 1992.))
Bruce Bochy, manager of the SF Giants baseball team undertook 3 hours of hypnotherapy to control a lifetime of tobacco chewing and was able to quit the habit. Could it be that's he's gone woo woo?
Many people are struggling with weight problems and the disappointment of fad diets. But many of the root causes are emotional and hypnotherapy is a very effective way to uncover those issues and address them on a deep level.
Hypnosis can more than double the effects of traditional weight loss approaches.
An analysis of five weight loss studies reported in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 1996 showed that the "... weight loss reported in the five studies indicates that hypnosis can more than double the effects" of traditional weight loss approaches.
(University of Connecticut, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 1996 (Vol. 64, No. 3, pgs 517-519))
In 1 Hour EFT Decreased Stress (Cortisol Levels) 24%!
A study in which 83 participants were separated into three groups. One group was guided through an hour-long EFT session, the second group received an hour of talk therapy, while the third, the control group, received no treatment. The group that did an hour of EFT demonstrated a 24 percent decrease in cortisol levels (stress hormone), while the other two groups showed no real change. The EFT group also exhibited lower levels of psychological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and others, as measured by the Symptom Assessment-45 (SA-45), a standard psychological assessment tool.
(Citation (APA Style): Church, D., & Brooks, A. J. (2010). The effect of a brief EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) self-intervention on anxiety, depression, pain and cravings in healthcare workers. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal, Oct/Nov, 40-44.)
Reduced Anxiety in Dental Patients Using EFT
Adult patients awaiting dental treatment were screened for self-reported anxiety using an 11 point scale. Thirty people in the higher half of the range (average 8.03) received a 10 minute intervention consisting of a 4 minute EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) explanation and 6 minute treatment. All patients reported a decrease in subjective anxiety with an avarage post-treatment score of 3.03. These results are consistent with other published reports of EFTs efficacy for anxiety. They suggest that even a very brief EFT intervention can reduce anxiety.
(Citation (APA Style): Temple, G. P., & Mollon, P. (2011). Reducing anxiety in dental patients using EFT: A pilot study. Energy Psychology: Theory, Research, & Treatment, 3(2), 53-56.)
Check out Oprah and Dr. Oz for their interest in hypnotherapy and EFT. They sure got past any ideas these techniques were woo-woo.
If you have any additional questions about these techniques I would be happy to offer a phone consultation.
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Jane sees clients at Pacific Naturopathic in Mountain View on Thursdays and at her private practice in Oakland on other days.
Schedule an appointment with Jane Hernandez, CCHT
Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist,
EFT (Tapping) and Matrix Reimprinting Practitioner
by phoning 510-676-1460,
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Grandma Crumshow's Old World Spaghetti Sauce
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Grandma Crumshow lived next door with her son and daughter-in-law in our New York City apartment building when I was a child. She was born in Italy, probably in the 1870s, so who knows how long this recipe has been around? My mother had been married only a short time and was still learning to cook, so she learned to make this sauce from Grandma Crumshow and taught us how to make it. My mother never measured recipe amounts (and neither do I), so I have tried to guesstimate amounts for the benefit of folks who would like to try a rich, authentic, Italian homemade spaghetti sauce. -- Marcel
6-8 large, juicy tomatoes, chopped coarsely (I've made the recipe with Romas, cherry tomatoes - whatever I had)
2 medium onions, diced
5 cloves of garlic, chopped fine
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon dried oregano (or a medium size bunch of fresh)
1 teaspoon basil (or a medium size bunch of fresh)
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
1. Saut� the onions in olive oil in a large stainless steel saucepan over medium heat until they are transparent, stirring every 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to saut�, stirring every 15-20 seconds. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes.
2. Add the chopped tomatoes, continuing to cook uncovered over medium heat, stirring every 5 minutes or so. As the water evaporates, stir more frequently, making sure tomatoes are not sticking to the bottom. Towards the end of the process, you will have to stir every 15 seconds or so as the sauce thickens. The tomatoes are done when you can scrape the bottom in the middle of the saucepan and the sauce gap doesn't close, like the Red Sea parting for the Israelites.
3. Add water to desired sauce thickness, add rest of ingredients, and stir until well blended.
4. Cover, reduce heat to simmer, and continue to cook the sauce for 2 or 3 hours, stirring every 20 minutes or so.
5. Yum Yum.
(Note: the turmeric is my addition, and it adds color and depth.)
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Breast Thermography
at Pacific Naturopathic
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Misinformation Blocks Early Detection
of Physiologic Changes in Breast Tissues
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Thermography is noninvasive and offers therapeutically useful information
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Many conventional practitioners are either disinterested in or actively opposed to breast thermography.
Their opposition is based on a certain amount of misinformation. The most common criticism I hear is that breast thermography cannot diagnose breast cancer. The statement is based on the assumption that we use thermography to diagnose breast cancer. However,
we do not use thermograms to diagnose breast cancer, nor do conventional practitioners use mammograms to diagnose breast cancer. The only currently accurate diagnostic for breast cancer is breast biopsy.
Breast thermograms evaluate the extent of estrogen exposure on sensitive breast tissues, and track physiologic changes in temperature and vasculature that may indicate inflammation or tumor growth. From these changes, we derive a "TH" or thermal risk rating number for each breast. These numbers guide our recommendations. We may recommend anatomic imaging to clarify unclear findings. Or we may recommend a protocol to promote breast health.
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The cost to you of breast thermography is $225.
Find out more about thermography at Pacific Naturopathic at:
Thermography at Pacific Naturopathic
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Rapid Pain Relief With Elijah Free Elijah Free, MH, CMI, CMT  |
Elijah Free's approach to helping his patients deal with physical pain has been described as bordering on miraculous. Elijah is also a Master Herbalist who designs and produces all of his own herbal products for his healing practice. He is an herbal product designer for Ridgecrest Herb Co. Elijah also holds a patent for his herbal fibromyalgia formula.
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To contact Elijah, please either call the clinic at 650-917-1121 or e-mail at [email protected]. To learn more about the healing work of Elijah Free, please go to his web sites: |
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Dr. Vivek Shanbhag
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Dr. Vivek Shanbhag, ND, MD(Ayu), BAMS, CYEd.
Licensed Naturopathic Doctor, Ayurvedic Practitioner & Professor
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For more than 30 years, Dr. Shanbhag has successfully run various Ayurveda & Naturopathy institutions in US & India. His work continues to be appreciated by various Ayurvedic & Naturopathic institutions. We are fortunate to have his expertise available at Pacific Naturopathic.
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To contact Dr. Shanbhag for more information
or to make and appointment:
[email protected]
408.876.0636
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Services Provided at
Pacific Naturopathic
It has occurred to us that we offer so many therapies and approaches to health that it would be good to list them in concise form.
For information, please contact us at 650-917-1121.
* Naturopathic Consultations For All Health Conditions
* Intravenous (I.V.) Nutrition Therapy
* Breast Thermography
* Rapid Pain Relief
* Tongue and Fingernail Analysis
* Craniosacral Therapy
* Adjunctive Cancer Therapy
* Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
* Men's Health
* Women's Health
* Vitamin B12 Shots
* Flower Essence Therapy
* LaStone Massage
* Earth Friend Herb Company Products
For the following services, please contact each individual provider:
* Transformational Medicine (Shanti Rubenstone, MD, 650-209-5813)
* Ayurvedic Medicine (Vivek Shanbhag, ND, MD (Ayu), 408-876-0636)
* Ayurvedic Nutrition & Diet Therapy (Gayathri Shanbhag, MS, 408-876-0636)
* Foot Reflexology (Nancy Schuet, CNRT, 408-891-4759)
* Clinical Hypnotherapy, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Matrix Reimprinting (Jane Hernandez, CCHT, 510-676-1460)
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Only
$25
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Pacific Naturopathic now offers Vitamin B12/folic acid injections
* Helps with fatigue, depression, brain fog, memory problems, numbness and tingling in hands and feet and many other conditions.
* 5 minute appointment necessary. Please phone 650-917-1121.
* Available to established patients only.
* Only natural methylcobalamin used.
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Initial Visit:
$50!
follow-up visits $25
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TONGUE AND
FINGERNAIL ANALYSIS
Receive a written analysis, photos and recommendations
Establish a baseline for future evaluation
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New Offerings at
Pacific Naturopathic
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In our ongoing efforts to serve our patients with the latest, most effective natural health approaches, we are delighted to share our excitement about or latest offerings with our readers...
Intravenous Nutritional Therapy
 This is a major addition not only to our services, but to our ability to secure dramatic, positive results with safe, effective therapies.
Here's how it works. We will need to see a comprehensive blood test not older than three months. If you have a recent blood test, you will need to have one more lab test, a G6PD, to rule out a genetic condition that is a contraindication for IV therapy. If you do not have a recent comprehensive blood test, we can order it for you.
Next, you will need a short office visit before onset of treatments to determine if I.V. therapy is safe and appropriate for your needs. Your unique personal protocol will be discussed with Pacific Naturopathic doctors and you can start IV therapy the same day as the office visit.
We offer a comfortable, quiet, peaceful atmosphere where you may read, work on your computer, listen to music or watch movies (with earphones), or just sit back and relax or nap. There is minimal discomfort. You will be able to drive yourself to and from the appointment without any difficulty.
At first, we will only be able to accommodate a maximum of four people a day for treatments. If you feel you may be helped with I.V. therapy, or would like to just explore the possibilities please phone to reserve your space soon.
Click here for detailed information about IV nutritional therapy offered at Pacific Naturopathic.
Boston Heart Diagnostics has offered Pacific Naturopathic doctors an amazing deal on their Cardiac Risk Assessment blood test, at no out-of pocket cost to you!
Yes, what you read is true. Standard blood lipid panels (cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL) are not predictive of cardiovascular disease. The test we are offering includes proprietary advanced risk tests, and a comprehensive offering of lipid, lipoprotein, apolipoprotein, cardiometabolic, liver, kidney and genetic tests -- four pages of test results, plus a 54-page narrative discussing your results. And best of all, except for a $35 administrative fee, there is no cost to you! How is this possible? What's the catch? Click here to read about this extraordinary test.
Note: You must be an established patient at Pacific Naturopathic and have health insurance for this special program. You must also have a diagnosable condition, like high cholesterol, cardiac abnormalities or a strong family history of heart disease for us to be able to order this test. Other low-cost options are available for those who do not have insurance. Unfortunately, we are unable to order this test for Medicare patients. The government does not yet allow naturopathic doctors to bill Medicare. A 60-minute return office call is required to discuss your results. The cost of the return office call is $180.
We are delighted to have found a far infrared sauna at a price most of us can afford.
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Dr. Connie enjoys the sauna between patients
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We have long owned two far infrared saunas -- one at our home here in the Bay Area and one at our Hawaii retreat. They are both big, bulky wooden structures that dominate the space they are in.
We have reached an arrangement with the manufacturer to distribute a high tech, state of the art portable far infrared sauna for a very reasonable price -- just $995 plus tax. Shipping is free!
Like to try one before you invest? Easy...we have one in our office specifically for you to try out at no cost. Just give a call, 917-1121, to make sure the room is free.
There are many reasons why a sauna is one of the best investments you can make for your health. Click here to read about why we think this is a deal just too good to pass up.
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Today's (8/15/13) Photo at
Pacific Naturopathic Hawaii!
Taken From the Deck of Your Guest Home
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Openings Beginning in September
This is an unretouched photo showing the depths of greens and blues at Pacific Naturopathic's Hawaii vacation rental. No wonder our guests describe their stays as transformational and healing!
If you are thinking of booking, do so before the end of the year and you will receive our "old" rate of $150/night (the rate is now $160/night). This offer is only available to subscribers of this newsletter. Book soon, as people are already inquiring about end of the year dates.
Pacific Naturopathic in Hawaii is also always available for meditation retreats, health retreats, honeymoons, getaways or as a base for exploring the island.
Pacific Naturopathic's Hawaii Vacation Rental
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Searching for a Meaningful Gift For a Friend or Loved One?
Give the Gift of Health!
Gift Certificates For All Practitioners and Services Available at Pacific Naturopathic
Looking for a conscious, meaningful, caring gift for a birthday or special occasion? A gift certificate to a Pacific Naturopathic practitioner lets a special person know you really care about their well-being. Gift certificates for all practitioners and modalities offered at Pacific Naturopathic are available by phoning our front desk at 650-917-1121, or just stopping by. |
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A Little About us...
At Pacific Naturopathic, we offer evidence-based, integrated approaches to most acute and chronic health concerns. Bone health, breast health, men's health and prostate care, hormonal balance for both women and men, elimination of all types of bodily pain -- both mechanical and metabolic -- acute and chronic, autoimmunity, cancer, cardiovascular health, inflammation, digestion, pediatrics, and metabolic cleansing are particular areas of interest to our practitioners. To encourage patient participation, we offer both guided self-help protocols and comprehensive doctor assisted protocols. Our patients tell us they particularly appreciate our doctors, practitioners, and staff for our caring attitudes and commitment to service. Please phone 650-917-1121 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
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