|
In the mid-1990s, we (Dr. Marcel and Dr. Connie) worked for a health insurance company helping guide their medical insurance programs. After discovering that the company was run by accountants and lawyers who influenced medical coverage decisions based on profit and loss, we left and entered into private practice. There is a lot of good that can be said about the medical system in the United States. There is also much that just doesn't serve people in need of care.
In this issue of the newsletter,
we welcome our friend Lisette Narragon, a lay homeopath, to our team of writers. We have known Lisette for more than 25 years and have watched with joy as she developed her homeopathic prescription skills and her dedication to her practice.
The homeopathic approach to healing is entirely energetic, and offers a much-needed addition to the services offered through other channels in our clinic. To schedule with Lisette or learn more about how she works, please see the contact information offered in her article, later in this newsletter.
As usual, this month Dr. Connie begins by musing about the state of health care in America, pointing out some of the challenges we face as licensed naturopathic doctors trying to work within the system; Lisette follows with a perfect illustration of how homeopathy works to alleviate hay fever; Dr. Marcel then offers a perspective on some complementary approaches to health care that might rile a few feathers; Anandini, our resident acupuncture writer and eye care specialist, talks about glasses that protect your eyes while viewing computer screens; Dr. Connie then presents a discussion on considerations in health care and Jane H. presents an eye-opening discussion of the mental/emotional component in illnesses.
NEW IN OUR BOUTIQUE! Ashwaganda Paste from Sita at "From Hawaii With Love."
Sita also makes the very popular turmeric paste we have for several years offered our patients.
Pacific Naturopathic Boutique: We have expanded the small retail section in our clinic waiting area to include hard-to-find natural products.
Products we offer in our little boutique are mostly not available locally and come from some exotic locations, like Hawaii! Please scroll down for product descriptions.
NEXT MYERS COCKTAIL SATURDAY, May 18 Details below. Also in this newsletter is a question/answer format article on the Myers cocktail. Yes, yes, nobody likes needles and the thought of an IV is not motivational to many people, but the reality is that the Myers infusion is so much easier than the thought of it. Dr. Marcel is happy to answer telephone questions about the Myers cocktail with anyone interested in it. Our patients who have discovered the Myers keep coming back for more, and are glad they did.
May all beings be healthy and happy!
Dr. Connie, Dr. Marcel, Dr. Sage, Jane H. and your health care team
at Pacific Naturopathic and the
Hernandez Center for Adjunctive Cancer Care
|
|
NEXT MYERS COCKTAIL PARTY:
THIS SATURDAY, May 18
|
Our Saturday Myers Cocktail Parties have been huge successes with a room full of chatting, happy guests. I.V. patients love interacting and learning from each other while receiving their I.V. therapies. This being so,
Please join us for our next
Myer's Cocktail party:
Saturday, May 18,
between 8:00 AM and 12:00 Noon.
Just for fun, our Saturday parties feature chit-chat with the doctors and other patients.
Rates for Myers Cocktails will be discounted on April 27 only! Usually $145; Saturday, May 18, $125 (addition of glutathione is $50 extra).
(Note: Myers Cocktail Parties are open to all patients who have previously
received I.V. therapies with us or from a referring doctor. Patients new to us and/or new to I.V. therapies will need a prior 30 minute safety and orientation consult with one of our doctors. Schedule in advance for prioritized service or just feel free to show up. Other IV therapies are available as well at early start times and are discounted 10 percent.)
Want to find out about the Myers Cocktail?
Read Dr. Alan Gaby's excellent monograph
HERE
|
Dr. Connie Muses on
"Health Care" in America
by Connie Hernandez, ND
|
|
|
 |
| Dr. Connie doing yoga against the fog and fumes of Mt. Fuji |
|
It is often said that the health care system in America is one of the costliest and least efficient of all the developed countries. There are a number of reasons why this is so.
In the first place, we do not have a health care system. We have a system that attempts to prevent disease through vaccinations and through lip service to lifestyle change, and to manage identifiable medical conditions. For the most part, medical systems provide, and insurance covers, the pharmacologic management and surgical or radiologic treatment of conditions diagnosable by conventional imaging and laboratory testing. The standard ranges on the conventional lab tests include the 5thto the 95thpercentile of the not necessarily well general population. If you fall within that range, you're fine. If you don't, you're not. (Never mind that you may feel extremely unwell. You can rarely be helped in this system, other than with pain meds, if you are not diagnosable.)
Click
HERE to read entire article
Find out more about Dr. Connie's work
HERE
|
|
NEW:
Ionic Detoxification
Foot Baths in Our Office!
|
|
For years we resisted this form of therapy thinking it too woo-woo for our patients. Then the manufacturer showed us before and after heavy metal testing results performed on foot bath patients. We were impressed!
|
|
|
|
| Dr. Connie experiences ionic foot bath at a conference |
|
How long are the sessions?
Sessions last 30 to 45 minutes. Patients can just sit and relax, read or doze during the session.
What will a person experience?
Nothing except a warm water foot soak during treatment. Afterward, people may experience a pleasant tingling sensation in the feet. Most people also experience a deep relaxation effect and for some, better sleep. Often people experience more energy and alertness and a clearing of brain fog.
How often should a person receive treatment?
Any detoxification program has a cumulative effect with repeated treatments. However, each individual session provides benefits. We offer discount packages for people who desire sustained positive effects. Ideally, people should receive three treatments a week separated by one or two days.
What times are available for treatment?
Any time the office is open.
How much do treatments cost?
Single Session: $50
6 Session Package: $255 ($42.50 per treatment, a 15% discount)
12 Session Package: $480 ($40 per treatment, a 20% discount)
* Package purchases must be paid at the time of scheduling.
For a deeper discussion of the science behind the foot bath, click
HERE
|
|
|
Homeopathy...
Suffering From Hay Fever?
-Natural treatment for Allergies -
|
According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies. Many of these people seek out conventional allergy treatments: drugs such as Claritin, Allegra, Zyrtec, Sudafed, Benadryl, etc. which simply mask the symptoms but do nothing to change the underlying sensitivity or cause of the allergy.
Alternatively,
homeopathic treatment is effective in treating allergies because it focuses on reducing your hypersensitivity
, the root cause of allergies.
To a homeopath, the presence of allergic symptoms means there is an imbalance in the body producing this hypersensitivity to the environment. This imbalance is what homeopathic treatment seeks to improve. Once the sensitivity is reduced and the body is balanced, you gradually become free from the allergy symptoms altogether.
For entire article, click HERE
To contact Lisette or to make an appointment:
|
|
The Treatment Boundaries
of Complementary Medical Care
by Marcel Hernandez, ND
|
I know I'm going to get some pushback from this column. After being in the naturopathic medical world for more than 30 years, one of the things we've learned is that complementary practitioners often give medical advice outside of their realm of knowledge and legal boundaries.
To list a some examples:
-- a patient who was told by their nutritionist that they had a thyroid condition. All lab values indicated a perfectly functioning thyroid with no clinical thyroid dysfunction symptoms.
-- a patient who visited a "medical intuitive" and were told they had liver disease, although all her signs and symptoms and lab tests were negative for any liver conditions.
-- a chiropractor who prescribed hundreds of dollars of supplements for conditions indicated by muscle testing, conditions that in reality did not exist.
Let's take a look at some complementary providers and the scope of their practices.
|
|
Infrared Sauna Sale
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Connie relaxing in a
portable infrared sauna
|
|
Infrared saunas are used by clinics specializing in detoxification to help the body rid itself of environmental toxins.
The Relax FIR Sauna sells online for upwards of $1195 plus tax and shipping. Through an arrangement with the manufacturer, we are able to offer these portable saunas for $1000 including tax and shipping. Let us know if you are interested. 650-961-1660
To learn the multiple benefits of infrared sauna,
|
|
Acupuncture...
Protect Your Precious Eyesight
Anandini Wadera, L.Ac.
|
When you combine an ex-Silicon Valley gal and a health nut, you get a person like me who wears Gunnar glasses while working on my computer.
Now, these are very unflattering, yellow lensed glasses to protect my eyes during screen time. A friend of mine found them hideously amusing until
I told her we blink about 22 times a minute normally, and in front of a screen, we blink about 7 times a minute. That's a huge drop! One that contributes to chronic dry eyes, itchy irritated eyes, and a higher instance of pink eye, all the while blue light exposure from our screens thins the retina and increases chances of tears. And I plan to see as long as possible- what would life be without being able to watch Game of Thrones!
Joking aside, preventive eye health remains an unmanaged area of health, resulting in chronic diseases like AMD, Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma and Dry Eye Syndrome. You can help keep your eyes healthy by protecting them during screen time with a pair of gorgeous yellow lenses, eating antioxidant rich foods and using fewer LED lights.
(You can order a pair of Gunnar Optiks on Amazon)
To schedule with Anandini, please contact her directly at
Visit Anandini's web site: http://anandiniwadera.com
|
Recommended by
Dr. Connie and Dr. Marcel...
For Sale in our clinic...
|
Expanded Unique Healthy Product Section in Our Clinic:
Perfect for Gifts and Self-Care
We are absolutely
delighted to offer a selection of unique healthy products,
most of which are not available anywhere else in the Bay Area.
For a complete list of special products available in our little boutique, click
HERE
|
|
Considerations in Health Care
by Dr. Connie Hernandez
|
When choosing between medical and health care systems and navigating within those systems, it is important to be clear about what you believe, what you need, and how you would like to be treated.
If, due to financial constraints, your primary need is to be sure that your service will be reimbursed by insurance, you will be limited to whatever is offered by your insurance plan. Generally, that will be conventional medicine (although complementary services may sometimes be partially reimbursed). Some conventional diagnostics and treatments may require pre authorization by your insurance company.
Another aspect to your choice has to do with your belief in the system or treatment you choose.
Read rest of article HERE
|
|
Myers Cocktail: Questions and Answers
- Safe, Powerful Effective -
The Myers Cocktail has been around for 40 years and is the most popular IV cocktail in our clinic. Read this detailed
information sheet and you will see why.
Want to learn more about the Myers Cocktail? Alan Gaby, MD, has written the definitive, easy-to-read
MONOGRAPH
about it.
Please phone 650-961-1660 for more information.
|
There Is an Emotional Component
in 85% of All Illnesses
|
This is an official conclusion from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
Our bodies are chemical factories and science has demonstrated that your thoughts and beliefs affect these chemicals and affect the systems of your body - digestive, endocrine, nervous, hormone secretion and energy. And then directly impact your immune system.
I'm sure you can relate to the high levels of stress and negative emotions that we all live with now. This is a huge strain on your health.
So, what can be done about the stress and anxiety which can lead to disease and illness?
To read the full article, click
HERE
For more information about Jane and her work
click here.
|
|
About food:
|
This the basics of this scrumptious Mediterranean diet-inspired dip was first introduced to us by our long time friend and gourmet chef, Gwen Herrington.
It is incredibly easy to make and can be used as a dip, a sandwich spread or a sauce for any food. Although it can last as long as a week in the fridge, we will be surprised if it lasts more than three days.
ingredients
- One 14-ounce can artichoke hearts in water, drained
- 1 pound chévre goat cheese, parmesan or feta cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 8 garlic cloves, roasted (or lightly pan-fried)
- 1 tablespoon parsley
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Dash of cayenne pepper (optional*)
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped chives (as garnish, not in food processor)
Put everything in a food processor and blend until smooth. Put in a container with a tightly-fitted lid, sprinkle with a light layer of olive oil. Sprinkle with chives.
ENJOY!
|
|
Breast Thermography at
Pacific Naturopathic
- there is a time for conventional breast screening -
|
Many Pacific Naturopathic patients are understandably opposed to undergoing mammograms. While we do not generally advise yearly screening mammograms, there are situations in which we do advise conventional screening.
Our patients know that conventional imaging and breast thermograms provide complementary information, and that, when thermograms indicate a high risk, we advise more conventional imaging.
We also advise more frequent conventional screening for women with a personal history of breast cancer, with BRCA genes, with certain family histories. Ultrasounds will let you know whether an identified lump is solid or cystic. 3-D mammograms (tomosynthesis) and MRIs are the most sensitive imaging. Know that imaging can lead to early diagnosis, and early diagnosis and treatment does indeed save lives.
Breast thermography is offered on most Wednesdays at Pacific Naturopathic.
****
Pacific Naturopathic
here.
|
|
Pacific Naturopathic Hawaii:
Check Future Openings
(then click on "Availability")
|
|
|
| Sunset from the View House lanai. |
Finding yourself in need of a quiet space in which you might restore your outer self through communion with nature, and re-experience the peace and calmness of your deep inner Self?
No matter what health care or medical system you choose, your chances of success improve when you dedicate time to relaxing, reflecting, and caring for yourself. Pacific Naturopathic Retreat Center is a perfect environment to do so.
Whether you spend your time hiking Big Island trails, swimming at island beaches, indulging in fresh island produce, or just relaxing in the sauna, in the hot tub, or on the deck of the View House, you will be better in many ways for it.
Check out the calendar to see if there's a vacancy that meets your needs. Remember that Southwest Airlines is initiating flights to the islands. You may find special introductory fares this spring and summer.
* * *
Isn't it time you treated yourself to a magical experience?
Come, enjoy, rejuvenate and reinvent yourself.
|
Medical Humor:
A Break From
"Matters of Consequence"
|
|
|
|
The Hernandez Center for Adjunctive Cancer Care
|
|
News and Commentary on Cancer Topics
* * * * *
|
What We Offer
at the
Hernandez Center
for Adjunctive Cancer Care
|
There is light in the darkness
Our cancer patients often ask us to give them an estimate of the effectiveness of therapy at the Hernandez Center for Adjunctive Cancer Care. We respond that
our entire focus is on helping our patients stay healthy, upbeat and positive.
The truth is that the botanical and nutritional therapies we offer
(including
intravenous vitamin C), although 'adjunctive' in nature, have powerful documented actions in decreasing inflammation, reducing tumor load and attacking cancer stem cells.
Our mind/body approaches are focused on transformation of experience. And our bodywork approaches help reduce muscular pain, resolve lymph drainage problems and relieve stress.
The hope we offer is not that of a miraculous cure,
although we are definitely open to miracles,
but the hope of a life lived to the fullest in dignity
and understanding, for however long that may be.
|
|
Immunotherapy -- A Promising New Approach to Cancer Treatment
|
Immunotherapy is the act of targeting the immune system rather than the tumor - and the results to date are fairly astounding.
Named as Science Magazine's Breakthrough of the Year in 2013, columnist Jennifer Couzin-Frankel wrote, "
Immunotherapy marks an entirely different way of treating cancer - by targeting the immune system, not the tumor itself. Oncologists, a grounded-in-reality bunch, say a corner has been turned and we won't be going back."
By ramping up your own natural defense system to fight for you, you can increase your chances of beating cancer. Working with your body instead of against it is absolutely imperative when combating disease.
|
Mistletoe Extract -- Used Successfully in Europe
for Many Years in Cancer Therapy
By Charlene Bollinger
|
-
Mistletoe, also known as Viscum, All-heal, and Birdlime, is a semi-parasitic plant that has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times. Various mistletoe preparations have been used for cancer therapy since 1917. Today, they are the most frequently used as complementary therapies in tumor treatment.
Mistletoe's effects on cancer have been researched in over 100 clinical trials.
Mistletoe extracts directly prevent cancer cell growth while stimulating the immune system to fight cancer. Studies show that
mistletoe improves symptoms as well as quality of life and general wellbeing in patients afflicted with multiple types of cancers. Simultaneously,
mistletoe reduces the side effects of conventional cancer treatments and may help patients survive the harsh side effects of chemo and radiation. Helixor is a cold extract made from fresh mistletoe, obtained from fir, pine and apple trees. Some physicians administer Helixor mistletoe enemas to patients with rectal tumors.
|
How to Use Coffee Enemas
to Detoxify & Heal from Cancer
By Dr. David Jockers DC, MS, CSCS
|
Coffee enemas are one of the most effective ways to clean the body of harmful toxins and dead cells that build up in the colon.
Coffee enemas are also used by individuals to improve energy levels (both physically and emotionally), prevent bloating, improve mood, and
reduce toxicity
of the whole body by prompting liver cleansing and tissue repair.
One added benefit of coffee enemas is that they promote the production of glutathione by the liver. A powerful antioxidant defense system, glutathione protects cellular damage to DNA and stimulates the removal of toxic waste out of cells.
FOR REST OF ARTICLE, CLICK
HERE
|
|
Other I.V. Therapies Offered at Pacific Naturopathic and the Hernandez Center
--I.V. therapy is not just for cancer patients--
|
Many people have already heard about intravenous vitamin C as a complementary cancer therapy to help stimulate the immune system as well as being directly cytotoxic to cancer cells. This is the most common therapy we use at the Hernandez Center for our cancer patients.
But intravenous therapy is not just for cancer patients.
More than half of our IV patients come for various
"cocktails" to help them ward off infections and optimize their health. We offer a number of individualized versions of the famous "Myers Cocktail." Read about the Myers Cocktail HERE
Other cocktails we offer promote brain health, assist the liver in its detoxification efforts, relieve the symptoms of chronic fatigue, help reduce stress, bring rapid relief from sinusitis, colds and flus, address immune system disorders, slow the progression of macular degeneration, reduce chronic pain and fibromyalgia and many other conditions.
Who Would Benefit from IV Vitamin Therapies?
Although anyone could benefit from IV therapy, people with the following health concerns especially benefit from IV therapies:
- Advanced Aging
- Allergies
- ALS
- Alzheimer's disease
- Asthma
- Atherosclerosis
- Autoimmune disorders
- Before and after surgery
- Cancer treatment
- Cancer prevention
- Chron's Disease
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
- Chronic Pain
- Colds and Flus, both preventive and acute treatment
- Congestive heart failure
- Dementia
- Depression/Anxiety
- Detoxification
- Enhanced athletic performance
- Environmental toxicity
- Fatigue or lethargy
- Fatty Liver
- Fibromyalgia
- Gastritis
- General health maintenance
- Hangover recovery
- Heart disease
- Heavy metal toxicity
- High blood pressure
- Immune system disorders
- Inflammatory conditions
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Insomnia
- Joint Replacement candidates
- Liver detoxification
- Low functioning immune systems
- Lyme disease
- Macular degeneration
- Malabsorption syndrome
- Migraine headaches
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson's disease
- Peripheral vascular disease
- PMS
- Post Stroke
- Post trauma/post surgical wound healing
- Prior to important events, meetings or travel
- Respiratory infections
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Serotonin increase in the brain
- Sinusitis
- Times when one cannot afford to be tired or Ill
- Ulcerative colitis
- Ulcers
- Viral infections
- And More...
Check out our IV web site at www.IntravenousTherapies.com
For more information or to set up an appointment, please contact us at the Hernandez Center at (650) 917-1121. A lot more information can be found at www.IntravenousTherapies.com
|
|
Inspiration
|
|
|
Pacific Naturopathic
and
The Hernandez Center
for Adjunctive Cancer Care
1580 W. El Camino Real, Suite 7
Mountain View, CA 94040
650-961-1660 (v)
|
|
|
|
