Tori Hudson, N.D.Professor, National College of Naturopathic Medicine and Bastyr University; Medical Director, A Woman's Time; Director of Research and Development, Vitanica.
Environmental Medicine Products from Vitanica
Vitanica’s Environmental Medicine line provides the supplements necessary to assist your patient during cleansing from environmental toxins. These products are designed to mobilize toxins, to increase the body’s ability to metabolize them and then to restore a woman’s normal hormonal balance. These five products are specifically designed to work in synergy with each other during a patient’s comprehensive cleansing protocol. The Environmental Medicine line is suitable for men, with the exclusion of Fem Rebalance.Over the past several decades there has been a steady rise in women’s health concerns. Endocrine conditions such as breast cancer, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, miscarriage, infertility, thyroid dysfunction and menstrual irregularities have escalated. There also has been a rise in neurological conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity and hypothyroidism, which predominately affect women, as well as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, depression and anxiety. The increased frequency of these problems is puzzling. Improved diagnosis may account for some of the increase, but it cannot fully explain the extent and significance of the impact these diseases are having on our health as a society. This same half-century has seen the advent of the large-scale production, use and disposal of manmade chemicals into our environment. Studies now show that human exposure to chemicals in our environment such as pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, heavy metals and manufacturing by-products can have disrupting effects on the body system.
An endocrine disruptor is any substance that alters normal hormone levels or activity in the body. They are often referred to as hormone disruptors. Synthetic chemicals can disturb the normal activity of estrogens, androgens thyroid and other hormones. They do so by binding directly to hormone receptors, activating it and causing the chain of events as if the hormone itself were binding to the receptor. The toxic chemical may also bind and occupy the receptor, blocking normal hormonal activity, or it may interfere with proteins that regulate the activity of hormones.
We are exposed to endocrine or neurological disrupting compounds in our everyday life, often without knowing we are being exposed. Pesticide residues can be found on fruits and vegetables sitting in the store. Animal products are tainted with dioxins and dioxin-like compounds and often have hormones and antibiotics added to them. Select fish have high levels of mercury and pesticides. The plastic containers that food and condiments are stored in can leach out harmful chemicals. Hormone disrupting compounds can be found in both well water and city water, providing yet another means of exposure. Toxic compounds are also inhaled or absorbed through the skin by contact with most household items.
The most common endocrine (hormone) and neurological disrupting compounds are dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, bisphenol-A, phthalates, pesticides and formaldehyde. All have been shown to cause adverse health effects. Dioxins are a byproduct of industrial incineration and combustion. They are produced by manufacturing of chlorine-containing products such as pesticides, wood preservatives and the bleaching of paper. Dioxins persist in the environment for years and accumulate in the fat of farm animals that consume contaminated feed or water. Dioxins decrease thyroid hormones, testosterone and have both estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects. In several studies, dioxins are linked to endometriosis in women. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) are used as coolants, lubricants, insulation for electrical equipment, in paints, plastics, dyes, wood and rubber. PCB’s accumulate in human fat, the food chain and are found in rivers and lakes. PCB’s weaken the immune system, affect neurological development and behave like estrogen. Bisphenol-A is a compound found in plastics. It is used in the manufacturing of compact disks, plastic bottles, the lining of metal food cans, and dental sealants. It leaches out of plastics and into food and the environment. Bisphenol-A has estrogen-like effects on estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cells, decreases sperm count and increases prostate size. Phthalates are additives to plastics to make them strong, soft and flexible. It is used in carpet backing, paints, glues, insect repellants, hair spray and nail polish. Phthalates have hormone disrupting effects and can suppress ovulation, estradiol production and contribute to polycystic ovarian syndrome. Harmful pesticides such as DDT and its metabolite DDE have been banned in this country but their effects still linger in our environment, accumulated in adipose tissue and in the food chain. DDT has estrogenic effects and anti-androgen effects as well as effects on cognition. Formaldehyde is another common compound used in homes in the 1970’s as a form of insulation. The fumes caused depression, fatigue, poor memory, headaches, asthma, coughing, skin rashes and more. Formaldehyde is now used in shampoos, conditioners, cosmetics, construction materials, cleaning supplies, carpet, paper products, plastics and more. Formaldehyde has been linked to reduced fertility, spontaneous abortion and endometriosis. Various heavy metals can be considered endocrine disruptors and are linked to many women’s health conditions. Low levels of lead exposure may increase the risk of spontaneous abortion. There is also a link between mercury and lead exposure and reduced fertility. Arsenic has also recently been classified as an endocrine disruptor.
A health practitioner treating women’s health conditions should consider exposure to environmental toxins as a cause for illness. The patient’s history of exposure and patient testing will reveal any metals or chemicals known to cause adverse health effects. The method of cleansing or detoxifying a patient will vary but usually involve educating the patient on how to avoid toxins in their everyday life followed by a detoxification–type diet, hydrotherapy to circulate and promote excretion of toxins through perspiration, colon hydrotherapy to promote the excretion of toxic bile from the gallbladder and liver into the bowel where it can be eliminated and supplementation with vitamins, minerals, amino acids and herbs to assist the body in removing the toxins.
Protocol
For patients with endocrine conditions such as breast cancer, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, miscarriage, infertility, thyroid dysfunction and menstrual irregularities:During the period of cleansing, the patient will take Endocrine Disrupter Relief, a combination of amino acids antioxidants and nutrients to support detoxification pathways of water and fat soluble toxins and heavy metals. Concurrently, the patient will take Hepafem to promote the liver’s secretion and elimination of toxic bile and Women’s Detox Cofactors which provides the necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to support the patient’s metabolic processes. At the conclusion of the cleansing process, the female patient will take Fem Rebalance to rebalance the internal hormonal environment.
For patients with neurological conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, hypothyroidism, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, depression and anxiety:
During the period of cleansing, the patient will take Neuro Disrupter Relief, a combination of amino acids, antioxidants, essential fatty acids and nutrients to support detoxification pathways of toxins and heavy metals. It also provides protection in the prevention of neurological damage caused by toxins. Concurrently, the patient will take Hepafem to promote the liver’s secretion and elimination of toxic bile and Women’s Detox Cofactors which provides the necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to support the patient’s metabolic processes.