The concept of the tree trunk and it's branches is one I use all of the time draw an analogy to better understand the model for illness in the gut and how that is the core root for chronic illness of most kinds. This is repeatedly useful as it helps to illustrate the concept of how an imbalanced gut can lead to different types of symptoms and/or other chronic conditions. If the trunk is unhealthy-there may be limbs rich with green leaves, while other limbs may have leaves that look sick, while some limbs may have no leaves at all. In a case like this, does it make sense to put fertilizer or medicine on the limb? Probably not. But this is essentially what is happening in a lot of cases where medical caregivers are addressing symptoms but in my humble opinion not really understanding what is driving it to happen. In my opinion, this is one area where test results may be confusing and lead the treatment plan in the wrong direction.
For example for as many times as we see high TSH meaning Hypothyroid function---we also see patients being prescribed thyroid medication. But....in chronic inflmmatory conditions iwe find that using thyroid medication for this problem only succeeds in driving the inflammation into a heightened state. Why? The reason is because the thyroid is not hypofuncitoning due to the thyroid being the primary problem. It is rather a secondary problem to the inflammation itself. If you administer medication-it only pushes an organ that is already stressed which then creates more inflammation and more pain. I had someone call me last week who went by all of the markers her MD found to be off and after three weeks of following the protoco that Dr prescribed her pain levels were exponentially worse. Thyroid was one.
We are not saying of course that there are not exceptions to that rule-of course there are situations where the thryoid could be a part of the primary problem. However, these problems definitely need to be taken into the context of the person's condition. And, this is where different caregivers could do better working together as a team-offering equally valuable insight to the patient.
Another subject that came up with this patient was the number of supplements that she had added to her protocol that she said were benign-as they were simply to help her digestion/gut. There is not such thing as benign. Anything you put in your mouth or on your body will have an effect. Those substances must be strictly balanced when inflammation is high. That strictness may be loosened up step by step as the inflammation is lower and lower. One substance that she viewed as benign was an enzymatic formula which, is a very very strong supplement. When using enzymes one must consider it relevance and if it is determined to be relevant how to balance it out so that the body does not respond with greater inflammation. Another one that came up this week was sachromayces boulardii-this is a substance that I am personally not a fan of after having tirelessly revisited it over the last 20 years.
I think the real issue is- there is a where, a when, and in whom when it comes to everything. And the focus of good treatment is a blanced one. Revisiting the concept of Compensation-it is easier to understand how the body will swing in response to what is going on with it both in sickness and in health. So giving it an avenue that is balanced to follow toward the ultimate goal of health is paramount to actually being able to arrive at that destination.
Dr. M & B
