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Dr. Galloway – Now Save Money on Supplements

Hello,  I wanted to let you know that as a special promotion I have made arrangements with Emerson Ecologics to offer my patients and their family/friends a 15% discount on all products purchased in November 2010.

If you buy any supplements, why not save money on them?  Plus, it is easy to have them shipped right to your office or home front door.

Example:

Similase GFCF – A great digestive enzyme specifically designed to assist with gluten and casein digestion — for those times when you indulge in the ice creams and pizzas!

Price today:  $25.00 for 120 capsules
Price in November:  $21.25 for 120 capsules

ProEPA (Lemon Flavor) – A tremendous source of Essential Fatty Acids for heart health and so much more!

Price today:    $49.95 for 120 gel caps
Price in November:  $42.46 for 120 gel caps

Emerson Ecologics provides you with nearly every supplement you can think of.  You can shop from the full Emerson website ….BUT…you can only get the savings by going through my website.

HOW DO I GET THESE SAVINGS?

Step One
Go to www.GallowayNaturalHealth.com and click on About Us.  Then, click on Resources/Shop.  Then, click on the link contained within the first paragraph on that page that says “buy products”.

Step Two
You will be taken to the Emerson Ecologics Sign In page where you can sign up to get a password and to be able to shop at their online store.  To get your discount you will need to enter the password for my practice, which is the word –     austin

Step Three
Shop anytime during November and you will get your discount on the actual item.  Shipping and any taxes that may apply are not discounted.

NOVEMBER $35 SUPPLEMENT REVIEWS WITH DR. GALLOWAY

Note….in the month of November, if you would like to have your current supplements reviewed on the phone with Dr. Galloway, please call 512-423-9813 and we’ll set an appointment for a supplement review – for only $35.

If you have been on your supplement program for more than 6 months, you may need a tune up.

Note:  This is not a return office call.  We won’t be addressing new medical conditions, or providing any treatment protocols.  This is a review of supplements to “fine tune” what you are currently taking for maximum success.  Many patients find that they are actually taking too many supplements.  We may find ways to save you money in the long run.

From time to time if I notice studies that have bearing on women’s health I be glad to send you a head’s up. I read a really nice article today written by Dr. Aminah Keats, ND, FABNO who is the director of naturopathic medicine at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia.  The article was presented in the journal Naturopathic Doctor News and Review.  Here are a few salient points.

Breast Cancer is a disease that many women face.  The National Cancer Institute, a component of the National Institutes of Health, estimates that, based on current rates, 12.7 percent of women born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their lives.  That is sometimes indicated as 1 in 8 women. 

As women progress from standard treatment (chemo/radiation) into a “post-cancer” phase they will likely be faced with a decision to start Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs).  The AIs have become the new gold standard for first line endocrine treatment in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer.  They prevent the peripheral conversion of androstenedione into estrogen.  In postmenopausal women this is the primary source of estrogen.

Phase III trials show that AIs are more effective and better tolerated than tamoxifen as first –line management of metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women.  Tamoxifen is still considered the best for prevention of breast cancer in high risk groups.  Tamoxifen is no longer considered the standard of care in hormone receptor-positive disease, especially among menopausal women.

The problem with Aromatase Inhibitors is that they cause significant joint pain and bone loss for a large number of women. 

Bisphosphonates (medications which address bone loss) are successful at preventing AI-associated bone loss.    Integrative Medicine would also recommend Calcium with Vitamin D supplementation along with weight bearing exercise as a means of sustaining bone health.

Joint pain tends to be the side effect that limits a woman’s ability to continue taking the AIs.  Women report that although they would like to continue treatment, they cannot withstand the joint pain.  It is here that Naturopathic Medicine has a great deal to offer.  NSAIDs, as you may be aware, can have fairly serious side effects to the GI tract, and in some cases can be problematic for heart health. 

Three more natural choices rise as very good alternatives to NSAIDs:  Acupuncture, Fish Oil and an herb from the East Indian tradition called Boswellia serrata.

In a 2010 study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (Crew, KD, Capodice JL, et al. J Clin Oncol 2010; 28(7): 1154-1160.) researchers found in a randomized, controlled, blinded study comparing true acupuncture with “sham” acupuncture that postmenopausal women with AI-induced joint pain has significantly lower pain scores after 6 weeks if they received true acupuncture.

Fish oil showed great results for patients with joint pain, as well.  In a 2006 study published in  the journal Surgical Neurology (Maroon JC, Bost JW. Surg Neurol 2006; 65(4):326-331) patients were given 1200-2400 mg of omega – 3 fatty acids daily.  After an average of 75 days 59% discontinued their prescription NSAID for pain.  60 percent stated that their overall pain had improved.

An extract of the Boswellia serrata plant, 5-loxin, was studied for the treatment of osteoarthritis in the knee in a double blind, randomized placebo controlled study.  The 5-loxin reduced pain and improved physical functioning significantly in the patient with OA.  They researchers concluded that the effect might be due to the reduction in proinflammatory modulators – stopping the inflammation pathway before is could start.

I thought this was interesting information and might offer some ideas for women that have side effects from their necessary anti-cancer treatments.  It is nice to see what clinical trials are out there that may be relevant to women in cancer recovery.

There was more to the article, and if you’d like a copy, let me know, drop me an email at DrJ@GallowayNaturalHealth.com

Meditation on the Subway

I travel a lot and I have time to think when I am sitting, and waiting to get where I am going.

In this world where stress and timelines seem to be in the driver’s seat of our life experiences, it occurs to me that we have to find ways to find centeredness and mindfulness “on the go”.

Stress goes hand in hand with cancer.  Why do I say this?  What do the studies show?  What is it about your biology that leads you from chronic stress to cancer?  How can you find release from stress in the midst, in the very center of LIFE?

So…Stress and Cancer…this is what we DO know:

1. Stress dampens certain portions of the immune system that are surveillance “police” within your system that find and act to destroy cancerous cells.
2. Stress encourages the over-production of Cortisol.  Cortisol acts to slow inflammatory responses by the body.  When we have a cell that is cancerous we actually NEED inflammation to kill off the rogue cells.  Chronically high levels of cortisol prevent the destruction of cancerous cells.
3. Stress creates internal tensions that can create truly toxic beliefs about your self, your family and the community at large.

How do we deal with this?  Our lives are busy.  Our lives are full of expectations and responsibilities.

I have not entirely found a way to get out of my responsibilities, have you?

Since I cannot stop the pace I am going on most days, then I would like to suggest that there are steps one can take to find ways to “de-stress” while you live your life.

Be where you are.  Often my stress is due to forward or backwards “projection”.  Do you find that you are not “present” right now, where you are?  Are you thinking about regrets?  Or, are you worried about what will happen tomorrow?  When you feel stressed, take ten seconds to mentally “come back to now”.  Breathe intentionally –note your breath coming in and out.  Become aware of the fact that right now, you are alive, you are breathing, and you are okay.  Be present as much as possible today.
Meditate “on the subway” of your life.  I spend a lot of time in New York City and I take the F Train from Brooklyn to Manhattan.  The trip is around 35 minutes or so.  Sometimes I read, but, just as often I actually meditate.  Meditate on the subway??  Yes, actually, I find it quite rewarding.  I mean, I suppose anyone could meditate in a totally quiet, peaceful yoga studio in the woods next to a gently bubbling creek…right?  But what about the rest of your life?  What about the people that really don’t have the luxury of going to the yoga studio because they are working two jobs?

Meditation shouldn’t be a class-oriented privilege.  Just because your life is not filled with hours that you can relax and “go to meditate” somewhere doesn’t mean that you, too can’t bring meditation into your life in a meaningful way.  Here is how I do it:

1. No matter what is going on around you, take a 2-minute-“vacation”.  I owe this thought to E. Martene Craig, a wonderful musical director and friend. Close your eyes, if you can, breathe in and out several times, really pay attention to the breath coming into your lungs and then how the air goes back out.  Direct your thoughts to a place or time when you really were relaxed, or having a wonderful time.  Be in that place for a minute, then come back and keep going in your day.
2. On “the subway” I use the same techniques you will hear in yoga class.  Focus on your breathing, in and out, let your mind be blank — don’t concentrate on anything.  When a thought or a sound comes into your mind, notice that you have a thought, then let it go with no judgement on yourself.  Return to your breath awareness and your mental freedom.  On the subway there are constant noises, movements and a cacophony of interruptions.  I breathe, I let my mind go in and out of focus and I find that when I arrive at my destination I have a greater capacity for life, for work, for openness to the world around me.
3. When you can, DO find an exercise class, or yoga teacher, or attend church and sing and worship, or go for a walk in a park.  Busy lives are enriched and made more efficacious when there are breaks and pauses.

Be well.  Breathe. Be PRESENT. Do good work.  Repeat.

Can I work with you to help you be cancer-free?  Contact me and let’s see what is going on in your life.

Wow…where did the time go!? It is already into January. I hope your holidays were filled with happy times with those you enjoy.

If you are like me, you may have over-indulged during the holidays.

I hope you will join me as I clean up my act. I’m going to do a month-long detox program and I’d like you to join me. We will meet as a group on three Saturday mornings (from 10-11 a.m. on Jan 24, 31 and Feb 7). I will teach you a bit about safe detoxification and cleansing and will provide you with a whole body detox kit to help you be a “less toxic” you in 2009.

If that sounds like something you could use, give me a call. All three sessions and the detox kit are only $145. This is a discount of over 1/2 the cost.

Here’s to a healthy, vibrant 2009! Let’s get started!

Jeanne Galloway, ND

I will be talking at Central Family Practice on Tuesday night, December 9th, 2008 on FIVE NATURAL TREATMENTS EVERY CANCER PATIENT SHOULD KNOW ABOUT.

If you or a loved one is dealing with cancer…this talk is for you

Where:  Central Family Practice – 801 W. 34th Street #102, Austin, TX  78705

When:  Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Who:  Cancer patients and friends/family; Cancer care providers interested in natural therapies

What:  Dr. Galloway, ND will discuss natural treatments and their safe use during cancer treatment.

How:  $10 optional entry fee at door.  You can just come to the event, or if you wish to get more info, please call 512-695-2342.

Natural Treatments can help a cancer patient:

• improve digestion and absorption of necessary nutrients

• reduce chemo and radiation side effects and actually improve the cancer killing effect of these standard treatments

• improve immune function

• improve quality of life

• get better sleep

• reduce chances of cancer growth and metastasis

Also…if you can’t come to this special event, but want the information, please call Jeanne Galloway at 695-2342 and we’ll talk.

Have a great, healthy day!

Jeanne

Often, a complaint by patients currently undergoing treatment is that they are suffering from insomnia.  Insomnia, or restless sleeping has two broad categories:  problems with sleep onset or with sleep maintenance.  If you have trouble getting to sleep you probably have a different set of problems versus the person who goes to sleep well, but wakes frequently in the night.

Of all the issues facing patients, sleep can be the hardest to treat, even without cancer meds on board.

A few possibilities from the natural perspective include:

1. Exercise — studies have shown that mild to moderate exercise earlier in the day can improve sleep quality later.
2. Blood sugar maintenance — if your blood sugar drops too low in the night it can cause you to wake.  To prevent this, you may want to have small snack an hour before bed with protein and carbs.  For example, a “Nut Thins” cracker with a little hummus, or goat cheese;  or an apple and almond butter.
3. Improving your “sleep hygiene” — keep the room completely dark or wear eye cover; remove electronic equipment that may be near your bed or near your head; make sure your pets don’t sleep with you…they may be waking you; reduce activity an hour before bed – try to read calming material, or listen to calming music, take a warm bath with lavender oil.
4. Caffeine and alcohol can induce insomnia.  So, no caffeine after 4 pm and no more than one drink in the evenings.
5. Try yoga…a study at MD Anderson in Houston found that women undergoing radiation therapy had less insomnia if they participated in yoga classes.
6. Eating a well balanced diet can help by providing adequate proteins to help form serotonin and other neurotransmitters necessary for healthy levels of sleep.  Good fats such as avocados, fish oils, nut butters can help by providing essential fatty acids that generate healthy brain activity.  Eating whole grains and fresh veggies and fruit provide carbohydrates that provide fuel for your brain.  If you can, avoid sugary foods and those with many chemical additives…these can add to the unhealthy stimulation of your brain and trouble your sleep.

Spend time relaxing.  Spend time with those you love.  Breathe.  Live to your fullest.  Get a good night’s sleep.  Call your naturopathic physician for other ideas that can help you get the sleep you need.

L-Carnitine, a supplement that is commonly sold in the U.S. to increase energy and to help build muscles in weight lifters has been shown to decrease fatigue in cancer patients treated with chemo agents Cisplatin and Ifosfamide.  50 patients received 4 grams of L-Carnitine a day for seven days.  At the end of this time 45 of these patients reported less fatigue.  The effect of just seven days of L-Carnitine lasted in these patients until their next round of chemo. (Grazino, et al., British Journal of Cancer, 2002.)

Studies have shown that many advanced cancer patients are actually deficient in L-Carnitine.  (Cruciani, et al, Journal of Pain Symptom Management, 2006)

L-Carnitine can help reduce sleeplessness, fatigue and depression in cancer patients.

The recommended dose is 4 grams a day.

As with all the content on my blog I am hoping to be very clear.  Nothing written here is to be taken as a prescription, or a promise of cure.  These studies provide clues to how L-Carnitine may help the cancer patient, however, you must work directly with a medical school trained Naturopathic Physician or other medical practitioner before using any herbal or other supplemental program, especially if you are on chemo or radiation.  You are welcome to contact me for additional info.

ND’s from around the nation converged upon Washington DC in May to talk with Senators and Representatives about some issues of great importance to the wellness and healthcare of our nation.

One issue of great importance is the need to shift our current medical system from a disease based model to a wellness based system.

MDs primarily are looking for diseases. Of course, this is useful, but how much better if every American were being evaluated for their wellness status?

NDs are the only doctoral-level medical specialists that are trained to listen to patients, put together a comprehensive view of their current wellness and develop a plan that allows the patient to take charge of their health by creating an environment that improves body, mind and spirit.

NDs put forth a proposal in DC to support what is called a ‘concurrent resolution’ that says we need to move the nation’s medical focus toward wellness. More insurance plans will not solve our crisis. More doctors will not necessarily solve our dilemma. Having doctors that listen, who work to discover the underlying cause of disease, and who then focus on wellness for patients is the key to making a system that truly promotes a healthier America.

Get on the phone and contact your representative today and tell them that you want them to work with the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) to work toward a healthier America. You can also email or call me to get involved.

Be WELL!

One of the biggest tips I give people who are looking for good ways to add years to their life and more spring to their step is to try out an ancient grain called “quinoa”. It is from Central America and is pronounced “keen-nwah”.

This grain has been used for centuries by our neighbors in Central and South America, but just in the last 10 years or so has this important source of protein become more prevalent in the marketplace in the United States.

Quinoa is a grain that is unique because, unlike rice or beans, it is consider a complete protein. All the amino acids that are necessary for you to survive are contained within this one little grain. If you just eat rice or just eat beans you do not get the same full protein mix. That is why so many cultures mix rice with beans…by mixing them or serving them together you get a full protein.

Quinoa ranks high in my book of recommendations because it is easy to make, full of nutrients and tastes great. You cook it exactly the same way you cook rice. I make mine in a rice cooker, sometimes I even put 1/2 rice and 1/2 quinoa in the cooker.

Kids love it because it is round with a tiny little band that encircles it…many children call it “eating the rings of Saturn” because the grain, when cooked looks like a miniature version of the planet Saturn!

Most health food stores can show you where they stock quinoa, and even some chain grocery stores are beginning to carry it in their “healthy food” section or in the grain section.

Look for great recipes on line and experiment with this great grain! If you find a good recipe, email it to me.

Do Naturopathic Doctors have a role to play in the care of Breast Cancer patients?

I am asked on occasion to talk at large gatherings. Sometimes this public speaking happens among people who already have a great deal of information about natural medicine and how it helps provide holistic medicine for a wide variety of medical conditions. Other times I may be at a corporate speaking engagement where the audience has limited knowledge of naturopathic medicine and holistic strategies for wellness.At both kinds of events, since I often speak on integrative breast cancer care, I am asked how a natural doctor can impact such a serious disease as cancer.

I am so glad to be able to answer with great enthusiasm that the naturopathic physician is able to provide support for women with breast cancer in several key ways:

First, overturning breast cancer requires a rigorous immune system. Naturopathic medicine is very good at helping to promote a stronger “cancer surveillance system” so that cancer cells can more easily be killed off by the body’s own defense system.

Second, treating breast cancer with oncological tools such as surgery, chemo and radiation have great successes in cancer treatment, but also do a great job at damaging healthy tissues. Medical-school trained Naturopathic Physicians can help reduce side effects from standard oncological treatments with herbs and nutrients that do not interfere with your chemo/radiation. Thirdly, cachexia, or muscle wasting is a major problem with cancer patients.

Naturopathic physicians are ideal in this capacity as they are required in their four year medical school experience to take many, many hours of diet and nutrition courses. Most medical schools require NO diet and nutrition classes for the MDs that graduate. This is remarkably bad for patient wellness as the general practitioner is likely to be the only care giver most people will be able to see. It has been proven over and over that if a physician encourages a lifestyle change the patient is more likely to do it than if anyone else in their life tells them the same info. MDs need to catch up and learn about nutrition’s importance in patient care.

There are so many techniques that Naturopathic Physicians are specialized in using that can help the cancer patient live a healthier, more productive, cancer free life. If you know of someone who is facing a cancer diagnosis, contact me. Let’s talk about options.