Health Disorders... What is your body trying to say?

There are many health disorders today that are not only debilitating but can be degenerative as well. Common disorders that you may think are hereditary or age related, may just be signs of an imbalance in your body. A fairly common problem, I see often are Digestive disorders.

Digestive Disorders

Digestive disorders are often thought of as "common" problems and its "just part of of getting older," or so my patients tell me. Disorders such as colon cancer, peptic ulcers, gastric reflux, indigestion, IBS, diverticulitis, and many more fall into this category. Maybe another way to look at the problem, is to view the disorder as a symptom of an imbalance and not the cause to be treated.

For example: You have seen the commercials on TV, where some one has indigestion and "simply" takes a buffer, or antacid pill to calm the symptoms. Over time, its common to see this person needing more and more antacid pills, before too long, more symptoms arise, more health concerns, such as intestinal problems. Not to mention that as we get older, our HCL in our stomach weakens causing a difficulty in digesting certain foods. Taking the antacid tablets further disrupt the acid balance in the stomach. Of course, leading to more problems. The reason for this type of downward spiral in this individual's health, is not age, it was more from treating a symptom, but not dealing with the imbalance.

If our friend here, smokes, drinks 10 cups of coffee a day, eats fast food for lunch (super sized of course), skips breakfast, and takes an over the counter NSAID (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), his problem will not go away with a couple of antacid tabs. The indigestion in this case, is due more to lifestyle, and the indigestion is only a symptom of it. If he takes drugs to make the symptoms go away, but does not change anything else, his health issues will continue to grow.

It may seem overly simplistic, but I see it almost on a daily basis. Digestive disorders may also lead to problems with cholesterol, allergies, osteoporosis and possibly even fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, gout, fatigue and high cholesterol could also fall under this category. I know you may not think of these as being a digestive disorder, and you are right. They are not. However, they can manifest as a result of an imbalance in the digestive system.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) stresses the importance of keeping balance. A small imbalance, such as being oxidized (see Cholesterol Levels), is much easier to correct and reverse, than arteriosclerosis. Unfortunately many small imbalances, such as oxidation, or an imbalance of the intestinal flora, may show no signs, and therefore goes undetected until you manifest with a more serious disorder. Check ups, and a healthy wellness plan can help in this area.

Health Disorders and Arthritis

There are over 100 different types of arthritis in western medicine. In TCM, arthritis is called "Bi Syndrome" and is classified according to how the pain manifests. Not all bi syndrome is treated the same, and improper treatment could result in you having an increase in pain or degeneration.

Arthritis is usually thought of as being part of the aging process. This may be a result of the aging process, but that doesn't mean it needs to be. I like the TCM approach to this particular health disorder, because its easy to explain, and with a few simple adjustments, many patients feel relief.

Arthritis may be common, but not all pain is created equal. For instance you would not treat a joint that is inflamed, red, and painful the same way you would treat a joint that is painful, changes with weather, and worse with inactivity. They are different, with different origins.

The problem with just blindly treating the pain, is, the pain is there for a reason. You have done something, or are doing something to cause pain. If you sprained your ankle, but ignored it, your gait may change causing you to step more on the inside or outside of your foot. check the bottom of your shoes and see if you have funny wear patterns. This may not see like a big deal, but it causes more pressure either on the inside or outside of your knee, and then you hip, and possibly your back. This is fairly common, and can be corrected by a chiropractor or orthopedic physician.

The story doesn't end there though. This scenario may lead to join degeneration or arthritic build up, but you may be doing things to speed this process up. If you eat foods you are allergic to, but do not know you are, or eat a lot of processed foods, use NSAID's, antibiotics, are stressed, use sugar substitutes, you may be causing your body to become more inflamed. This in turn will result in a faster break down of your joints.

This is one reason to test biological markers that indicate possible inflammation. Do not wait until the inflammation causes tissue break down. Using data from your urinalysis we can determine the level of inflammation in your body, and help you adjust your diet, lifestyle, and when needed, prescribe herbal supplements to aide your body in regaining balance.

Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia

Chronic fatigue or CFS, and fibromyalgia are not just difficult for the you the patient, but also for those around you as well as your physician. For a long time, it was thought that fibromyalgia was psychosomatic and should be treated as such. Many physicians still believe this. Not only is this disorder difficult to treat, but it comes with so many complications that you feel as if you are falling apart! To make matters worse, you appear "normal" from the outside.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine have shown promise in treatment of these disorders. Possibly because of the balancing effect acupuncture seems to have on the body. New research shows promise in helping to identify and regain your body's balance. Peroxynitrite and nitric oxide (NOS) may be at the root of both of these, as well as many other, health disorders. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia both respond well to reducing NOS levels. As part of your urinalysis this is something we test for, and address.

Regardless of which ever health disorder you may be concerned with, prevention, is key, and as such, maintaining balance is much easier than correcting damage.

Modern medicine is truly amazing, and can address many of today's health disorders, but as many doctors will tell you, prescription drugs have side effects. Sometimes they are needed, but keeping your body in balance with diet, exercise, and supplements, is a healthier way to go. Many medications that are considered safe today, are often found to be unsafe tomorrow. Taking one medication often leads to more health disorders, and more medications. This is not to say that you should not use medications, but you should also seek to correct any imbalances that may have lead to your health disorder in the first place. Start looking at your health disorders for what they are, your body's cry for help, pointing at an underlying imbalance that needs attention. Removing the symptoms, but leaving the imbalance will often lead to more serious health disorders later.