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So far James Whittlesey Novato Chiropractor has created 117 blog entries.
14 05, 2018

NSAIDs — The Dangers and the Alternatives for Pain Relief

2018-10-29T23:20:26-07:00By |Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on NSAIDs — The Dangers and the Alternatives for Pain Relief

According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 50 million American adults have chronic pain or severe pain. The conventional medical model teaches us to reach first for medication to relieve pain, with ibuprofen and other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) at the top of the list. However, with research mounting to show NSAIDs have a notable list of dangers, it makes sense instead to look for the root causes of pain.

Many people turn to NSAIDs for relief from pain and inflammation. Common NSAIDs are ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve). Celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren) are prescription NSAIDs. Aspirin is an NSAID, but it does not pose the same risks for stroke and heart attack.

Ibuprofen is metabolized by the liver, and can cause lesions, liver failure, or jaundice over time. The FDA has even warned against NSAIDs because they increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

NSAIDs promote leaky gut

Another reason to avoid NSAIDs is their tendency to promote leaky gut.

In leaky gut, the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged and overly porous, allowing undigested food, bacteria, yeast, and other pathogens into the bloodstream. This triggers inflammation and pain throughout the […]

7 05, 2018

Functional Medicine vs Standard Blood Tests

2018-05-07T20:01:48-07:00By |Categories: Functional Medicine|Comments Off on Functional Medicine vs Standard Blood Tests

Have you ever had obvious  symptoms, but your lab tests came back normal? Many patients, the majority of them women, are told that it’s simply just stress, aging, or depression. The problem is most doctors rely on lab ranges on blood test.  Functional ranges used in functional medicine provide many  more clues that explain what is going on in your body and why you are having symptoms.

The lab ranges on a blood test look for diseases, while functional medicine ranges look for patterns and markers that spot trends toward disease that can still be reversed or halted. For instance, the lab ranges for diabetes are quite high, but a functional range can let you know that your blood sugar is in the danger zone well before you need pharmaceutical treatment and have caused considerable inflammatory damage to your body.

In another example, many people with clear and obvious symptoms of  low thyroid function are told they are fine for years, while autoimmune destruction of the thyroid gland continues unchecked.

Functional blood ranges can help you stop the progression toward disease

Functional medicine addresses the underlying physiological mechanisms causing symptoms. In conventional medicine, a condition must […]

3 04, 2018

Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome “Syndrome X”

2018-04-03T19:31:34-07:00By |Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome “Syndrome X”

Sounds like something pretty scary. Well it is— kind of. Metabolic syndrome or Syndrome X is the new “epidemic” in the modern world now. Insulin resistance is one of the most problems I see in my practice. Metabolic syndrome is really pre-diabetes. It is characterized by elevated blood glucose (>100), elevated triglycerides, LDL, decreased HDL, high blood pressure and a belly size that is bigger than the waist (You don’t have to be overweight to have metabolic syndrome.). High Blood Sugar Can Cause Many Deadly DiseasesInsulin resistance is the primary cause of metabolic syndrome. This means that insulin receptor sites on the cells no longer recognize insulin. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that acts like a key that unlocks the lock on the cell and allows glucose (blood sugar) to enter the cell and be turned into energy. Glucose (our blood sugar) comes from the break down of all carbohydrates. Carbohydrates include: (complex) all grains, bread, pasta, potatoes, (simple) sugars including fruit juice and honey etc. Some carbohydrates break down and turn into glucose faster than others. When glucose floods our system too fast or in too great of […]

29 03, 2018

Microcurrent Facial Rejuvenation

2018-03-29T01:51:24-07:00By |Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Microcurrent Facial Rejuvenation

Did you know that Micro-Current Facial Rejuvenation is one of the most revolutionary and non-invasive, facial rejuvenation treatments available today?

The combination of these technique stimulates the facial area to tighten and tone, giving the contour of your face a visible face lift and decrease the signs of aging!

What results might you expect from Microcurrent Facial Rejuvenation?

  • A reduction of fine lines…..they may even disappear
  • A leveling of deeper lines.
  • Fading of age spots
  • Lifting of saggy muscles and jowls
  • Relaxes muscle tone
  • Increases circulation, therefore oxygenates the skin
  • Increases collagen production
  • Tightens the pores, and brightens the eyes
  • Keeps acne skin under control
  • Nourshes the skin, giving you a healthy complexion with a natural glow
  • Moisturizes the skin from inside, and gives rosy cheeks to people with dull, tired looking skin

An image of correction of wrinkles – half face

The impressive results  can be clearly seen in this test subject. Only twelve weekly treatment sessions show remarkable rejuvenation and softening of the skin d facial features.

I use the Acutron Mentor device which uses 2 probes with cotton tips that glide over the specific acupuncture points and muscles of you face. […]

24 03, 2018

Study Confirms Autoimmune Paleo (AIP) Diet Works

2018-03-24T00:22:04-07:00By |Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Study Confirms Autoimmune Paleo (AIP) Diet Works

A recent study confirmed what functional medicine has long since known — the Autoimmune Paleo  diet (AIP) is highly successful for managing chronic health disorders. The first-of-its-kind study showed the majority of participants quickly achieved and maintained remission of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis on the Autoimmune Paleo diet. A number of participants were even able to discontinue drug therapies.

Many people follow the Autoimmune Paleo diet to manage not just Crohn’s but also chronic pain, Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, irritable bowel syndrome, skin rashes such as eczema or psoriasis, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, brain-based disorders, diabetes, autoimmune disease in general, and other chronic health problems.

People are surprised to find that not only do their symptoms fade but also they enjoy more energy, better sleep, weight loss, increased libido, less stress, and a general overall improvement of their well being.

A primary reason the diet is so effective is because it helps repair leaky gut, a condition in which the lining of the gut becomes inflamed and porous, allowing inflammatory compounds into the bloodstream. This creates inflammation throughout the body and brain and leads to a wide array of chronic gut, metabolic, and […]

8 03, 2018

Spore Probiotics: The latest Innovation in Probiotics

2018-03-08T06:19:43-08:00By |Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Spore Probiotics: The latest Innovation in Probiotics

As we continue to learn how important healthy gut bacteria is for the brain and immune system, interest in cultivating a rich and diverse “gut microbiome” grows. One important tool in this quest are spore-based probiotic supplements. Spore is derived from the word “seed,” and spore-based probiotics are a hardy delivery system that germinate in the small intestine and help you colonize your gut with more healthy bacteria.

Modern humans face many challenges to developing and maintaining healthy gut bacteria. In fact, studies of primitive people who live much like our hunter gatherer ancestors did show their guts have about 50 percent more diversity in gut bacteria than the average American. Researchers are finding this lack of microbiome diversity plays a role in many chronic health and brain disorders, including depression and autoimmunity.

Low-fiber, junk food diets, antibiotic overuse, chlorinated water, heavy environmental toxin

7 02, 2018

Could You Be Developing an Autoimmune Disease?

2018-02-07T01:14:49-08:00By |Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Could You Be Developing an Autoimmune Disease?

You could be developing an autoimmune disease, one of the most common diseases today, and are not aware of it. This is because autoimmune diseases sometimes start off as “silent” autoimmunity. This means your immune system is attacking tissue in your body, but the damage isn’t bad enough to cause symptoms yet.

Autoimmune disease is more common than cancer and heart disease combined, and that’s just the diagnosed cases. Many, if not most, cases of autoimmunity are happening without a diagnosis.

This is because medicine does not screen for autoimmunity until symptoms are advanced and severe enough for a diagnosis and treatment with steroids, chemotherapy drugs, or surgery.

Autoimmunity: The disease for the modern era

Autoimmunity can affect any tissue in the body or brain. It occurs when the immune system attacks and damages tissue as if it were a foreign invader.

Common autoimmune diseases include Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, Graves’ disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, and psoriasis. More than 80 different autoimmune diseases have been identified so far.

Autoimmune disease affects 1 in 5 people, the majority of them women. It is believed women are more commonly affected because of their hormonal complexity. Although […]

20 01, 2018

The Instant Pot: A Great Tool for Functional Medicine Diets

2018-02-07T01:19:01-08:00By |Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on The Instant Pot: A Great Tool for Functional Medicine Diets

The great thing about  functional medicine is it puts your health journey in your hands. The curse of functional medicine is that, compared to popping a pill, eating healthy takes more time, which makes it difficult. The Instant Pot, a relatively new kitchen appliance that is simple to use, makes it easy to stick to a whole foods diet, and takes a lot of stress out of cooking when your schedule is hectic.

What makes the Instant Pot a good functional medicine tool?

The Instant Pot’s success is in its multiple features and that it produces consistent results. The Instant Pot sautés, foolproof pressure cooks, slow cooks, makes yogurt, functions as a rice cooker, and quickly makes bone broths.

It is good for big batch meals that will create nutritious leftovers for a few days.

Here are some ways the Instant Pot can help you save time in the kitchen without sacrificing nutrition:

Cooks frozen meats. How many times have you forgotten to put the meat out to thaw for dinner? You can put your frozen meat in the Instant Pot and still have stew for dinner.

 Cuts down on dishwashing. The Instant Pot allows you to do […]

20 12, 2017

Using Antacids for Acid Reflux Raises Stomach Cancer Risk; Instead Address the Root Cause

2017-12-20T21:49:48-08:00By |Categories: Functional Medicine|Comments Off on Using Antacids for Acid Reflux Raises Stomach Cancer Risk; Instead Address the Root Cause

A recent study found regular use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for acid reflux raises (or GERD) the risk of stomach cancer. PPI users (Prilosec, Prevacid etc.) in the study had twice the risk for stomach cancer compared to those who used H2-receptor acid reducing drugs (Tagamet, Pepcid).

About 20 percent of Americans suffer with acid reflux and heartburn. Most people attribute acid reflux to excess stomach acid. However, the problem is too little stomach acid. How does low stomach acid cause acid reflux?

The stomach is highly acidic by design so that it can quickly break down foods and kill bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens. Good stomach acidity also helps absorb minerals and signal the rest of the digestive tract to release the right hormones, enzymes, and emulsifiers. Sufficient stomach acid is an important first step in ensuring overall digestion runs smoothly and that you are less susceptible to heartburn, indigestion, belching, gas, food allergies, bacterial infection, and abdominal pain.
What causes low stomach acid?

Common factors that cause low stomach acid include stress, bacterial infection, poor diet, and nutritional deficiencies. However, an H. pylori infection, which is linked to stomach ulcers, is the most […]

20 12, 2017

Counting carbs? Carbohydrate density matters most

2017-12-20T00:13:09-08:00By |Categories: Functional Medicine|Comments Off on Counting carbs? Carbohydrate density matters most

If you are counting carbs to stabilize your blood sugar, lower inflammation, balance hormones, or lose weight, experts say looking at carbohydrate density is a more important strategy. Carbohydrate density measures how many carbohydrates are present per 100 grams of food. Low carb density foods don’t raise your risk of chronic disease.

Research shows eliminating dense carbohydrates from your diet improves health, prevents disease, and can even improve periodontal disease.


While many diets focus on how many calories or how many grams of carbohydrates you should eat per day, the carb density diet instead focuses on how many grams of carbohydrates are in a food once you subtract the fiber.
Ideally, you only want to eat foods under 23 percent carb density. More importantly, avoid carb dense foods.
Foods with low carb density include meats, vegetables, fruits, and whole nuts.

High density carbs include flours, sugars, breads, chips, rice cakes, granola bars, French fries, popcorn, and other fast and processed foods.
In a nutshell, if it has been processed, it’s going to be more carb dense.
Carb density in foods

Foods with low carb density contain the carbohydrates within cell walls. In these foods, carb density won’t go much beyond […]

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