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Important Steps of Healing Process

Picture by Food Revolution Network

As we can hear from doctors, scientists and health experts, any problem connected to health is caused by inflammation and from the immune system strengths and capabilities to fight invaders.

One of the most mentioned and proved cause of today’s diseases is due to stress and toxins exposure or to microbes like bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa and other types; therefore, it is so important to find the root cause or causes because sometime there are more than one reasons. The approaches are different, the expertise is different, some principles and believes are different, but substantially all scientists and specialists convene to same conclusions for the most.

For some it is more a matter of the conjunction of more causes and essentially triggered from stress, poor sleep, diet, exercise, and lifestyle exposures; for others is due to leaky gut, or SIBO, or other causes, but all the reasons bring to inflammation and progressively to degeneration and diseases.

Most of all is due to progress and technologies advancing, food processing escalating always more due to demand of growing populations, industries’ releases of gas and pollutants, vehicles’ s gas emissions and more, and mainly to the toxins in the surrounding environment today and in the products that we use, for cleaning, for personal hygiene, and for aesthetical purpose.

Every conclusion or consideration in regard of any type of health’s issues underlines the importance of eating healthy, stay away from toxins and get rid of bad bugs in our body because this way we heal or “repair” any leaky digestive tract and “rebuild” our microbiota or intestinal flora and so each microbiome in our body. Especially important thing because, “unfortunately,” all is direct from the right balance of microbes in our microbiota, each of them with specific function. If there is overgrowth of bad bacteria or other germs there will be more toxins in the body and by-products like endotoxins also known as LPS, or lipopolysaccharides- for example- from the cell coat of Gram-negative bacteria that with leaky gut can travel through our body’s system and spread all over in body causing all the type of problems.

First step therefore for any type of disease is “removing” as the experts call; removing toxins, or microbes or wrong foods and wrong choices, and removing can mainly happen through detoxification, or cleanse, and avoidance of exposure, or elimination diets in case of foods.

Detoxification

Detoxification can be realized in different ways, there are light detoxification that can just be accomplished through right choices of foods and/or with light types of binders, as elements that binds toxins, or that remove even bacteria or other germs, and there are strong detoxifications in case of more serious problems as for example in case of poison from drugs or intoxication from foods, but I am  not discussing about these last ones in this case.

Let us look in specific at the different type of foods that can help to eliminate toxic compounds from our body and binder elements, as suggested from specialists.

One of the first food, pretty much mentioned that comes to my mind and helps to bind toxins is cilantro, it seems that cilantro can bind also heavy metals, artichokes are very good detoxifier, in Italy are eaten on regular basis, they are known as clean food that helps especially with liver problems, their detoxifier properties are due to nutrients that help support bile production in liver but they also contain inulin, very important prebiotic fiber present in many pre and probiotics today.

Chlorella e spirulina are green superfood, antioxidants, usually in complex for cleans or in prebiotics formula, green tea is considered a superfood for the presence of catechins that neutralize free radicals and therefore another particularly good antioxidant and, in certain ways, detoxicant, and any green juice or smoothie is of course a detoxifier, as well known.

Other beneficial foods for this purpose are beets, beets help with elimination of toxins, but they have multiple benefits, for their content in betaine beets support proper digestion and inflammation, and also support liver function; additionally, they are good source of nitrates to improve circulation.

Broccoli, as sulfuric compounds contain a substance that- as N-acetyl-cysteine- is the precursors of glutathione, the best body’s detoxifier and antioxidant, while sauerkrauts, as fermented cabbage are also rich in sulforaphane which helps to detoxify besides their content in probiotics for gut health although fermented foods are not recommended for SIBO, or small intestine bacterial overgrowth, and which can be another reason or root cause of health problems and that needs to be addressed with other tools of elimination.

Activated charcoal is a particularly good binder, not just to absorb gas caused from IBS or SIBO problems, but it can bind toxins in general and is also used as purifier, another binder that moves particles out is called Iberogast.

SIBO, or small intestine bacteria overgrowth, seems to be one of the causes of IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, the therapies suggested from naturopaths usually include herbal remedies and elemental diets which are supposed to be sort of physiologic solutions including essential micro and macronutrients, very difficult to sustain, and therefore they also suggest antibiotics therapy in alternative, and which differs based on the type of gas product from bacteria.

Herbal remedies usually include a variety of spices and herbs, the most powerful and utilized are oregano and thyme, or wormwood, or berberine, but there are more, combinations can include different of them; these are utilized for any kind of microorganisms, also for fungi and protozoa.

A naturopath from one of the summits where I learned part of these things, Christa Orecchio, was mentioning a combination of oregano and pesto to get rid of candida overgrowth, she was also mentioning that yeast seems to develop in association with heavy metals, and so getting rid of the yeast a person gets also rid of heavy metals, or vice versa; she also was suggesting the use of bentonite clay, a sort of past that seems to derive from volcanic ash and that must be mixed with water for removing difficult biofilms.

Biofilms are another huge problem connected to this type of issues, I have been talking about this in a previous blog, a doctor specialized with this type of studies and research, Dr. Paul Anderson, and who specifically is involved with oncology research, has developed a specific product for biofilms based on bismuth, a-lipoic acid and black cumin, or nigella sativa, but there are other products that combine bismuth instead with thiol.

In any case there is to be careful with the use of these products and always consult a provider to instruct with the steps of the process that requires few weeks and does not guarantee a total resolution, the biofilms are difficult to remove, and they reform, especially with chronic conditions.

When finally, the systems get rid of the bad stuff, toxins and/ or microorganisms it is possible to repair the damage and rebuild the GI tract and the intestinal flora with appropriate pre and probiotics and healing elements as for example those in bone broth, and so recommended from all naturopaths, or apple sauce, but from real apples cooked on stove.

Healing elements for GI are well known and in different combination now on the market, the most recommended is glutamine, but also DGL, marshmallow, slippery elm, and zinc carnosine, then there are things like alginic acid, anise, chamomiles and all those elements that helps to soothe and heal the gastric mucosa and the lining of the intestinal wall.

In regard of repairing the damage, I would like to mention the benefits and importance of bromelain and of other digestive enzymes, as much as of turmeric, or curcumin, and of the omega’s, to cool down the inflammation and so the fight response from the immune system that reacting to the invaders create inflammation; if its reaction resolves quick it is a good thing and helps the body healing, but if keeps going with time and becomes chronic will be causing collateral damage and so  disease.

Thanks for Reading

Mariarosaria Malham

Sources:

Healing SIBO masterclass, Shivana Sarna and Dr. Allison Siebecker

Gut Health workbook, by Christa Orecchio, Food Matters Institute

Biofilms: What Have We Learned from the Research? NDNR, by Dr. Paul S. Anderson, NMD

Gut Health masterclass, Institute of Functional Medicine

If you want to become a Functional Medicine Coach, please check out this link:

https://ua175.isrefer.com/go/overview/MARIAROSARIA/

Areas of Interest, Roles and Responsibilities and Performance

Medical Laboratory Science embraces a variety of disciplines like, Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation, Microbiology, Immunology and much more; all of these are performed in a clinical or medical laboratory setting.

Medical Laboratory Scientists can be defined as detectives of Health Care System with a wide knowledge and expertise. Laboratory Scientists perform lab tests on body fluids and tissues to support in the diagnosis of diseases and management of health.

The practice includes collection and processing of specimens, performance of a broad range of analytical procedures, quality control and reporting of tests results.

The key role of a Laboratory Scientist is to perform qualitative and quantitative screening tests and procedures on samples from human body, as saliva, blood, urine, feces, and body’s tissues for support in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

The laboratory plays a special role and support in the health care system in diverse ways, confirming or ruling out a diagnosis, detecting an infection, or any abnormal marker’s value for a diagnosis of a disease.

The increase demand on laboratory in the last years has led to the introduction of more specialized and sophisticated procedures as automation and computerization.

The information that comes from results of blood analysis or of other type of specimen are crucial for the addressing of a disease and right steps to take for a physician.

Medical Laboratory Scientists, Technicians and Technologists work in different areas like: Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation, Urine Analysis, Toxicology, Immunology, Microbiology, Blood Bank and more.

Brief description of each of these areas and main performances at glance.

Clinical Chemistry analyzes substances in blood that may help in diagnosis of variety of diseases like cardiovascular, diabetes, liver, and kidney diseases.

The markers researched in this area are for example, glucose cholesterol and triglycerides, for metabolic function, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, urea and creatinine for renal function, transaminase enzymes like ALT, AST, GGT, for liver function, ALP and amylase for pancreatic function, electrolytes and inflammatory markers like CRP, ESR and Fibrinogen as for most of the diseases, and many more and specific parameters.

Generally, the methods utilize chemical reactions through the combinations of samples with chemical reagents operated with devices in automation as the Beckman coulters (the most common) to calculate the concentration of variety of substances and metabolites, or electrolytes.

Hematology is based on the study of blood cells characteristics like number and size, and which are executed with specific cells counters detectors, and morphology and pigmentation with the use of microscope for the detection of an acute infection and/or the diverse types of anemia, lymphoma, or leukemia. The most common method of stain for the observation under microscope is the Giemsa-Wright, and which, if well performed, gives a good separation of the parts of the blood cells, like nucleus, cytoplasm, and organelles, thanks to the differentiated coloration.

Neutrophils in a blood smear

Coagulation analyzes blood for blood clots factors and markers for prevention and diagnosis of bleeding or clotting problems and/or to monitor anticoagulant therapy in patients with heart attack or strokes.

Urine analysis involves chemical and cellular analysis of urine performed with chemical strips or dipsticks which are chemical reagents that when in contact with urine react changing color, the color resulting is then compared with a reference scale where colors are associate to a different pH, this is then followed by observation under microscope for the detection of various metabolic disease and infections of urinary tract.

Yeast cells in patient with urinary tract infection

Toxicology is the science that identify toxic substances and drugs in body fluids, and it is performed with different techniques, most utilized are immunoassay screens, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

Immunology examines the degree of immunity o resistance to diseases through the presence of specific immunoglobulins for chronic and acute infections, IgG, or IgA for chronic and IgM for acute infections. Serology which is a branch of immunology consist in the research of antibodies or antigens for the detection of bacterial and viral infections and it is executed with immunoassay like, for example, the ELISA method (Enzyme-Linked-Immuno-Sorbent-Assay)

Microbiology is the science that identify pathogenic microorganisms   like virus, bacteria, fungi, and parasites responsible of diseases and determines the susceptibility of these pathogens to therapeutic treatments like antibiotics, antiviral and antifungal.

The specimens coming from different areas of the of the body are cultivated in specific cultures or incubated, usually in broth cultures, or specific cultures where inhibiting agents or other substances are added for enhancing the growth of a bacteria among others inhibiting at the same time the rest eventually present in the sample. Successively they are characterized and typed for the different chemical and metabolic characteristics and properties, then processed for antibiotic resistance.

There are different methods to identify the antibiotic resistance, or susceptibility, but a typical method used is the Kirby-Bauer which relies on the inhibition of bacterial growth thanks to the disc diffusion technique measured under standard conditions.

With the disc diffusion technique or method, antibiotics impregnated filter paper disc are placed   on specific agar plates inoculated with the bacteria to be tested. If the bacteria are sensitive to the antibiotic they cannot grow in the zone around the antibiotic, or zone of inhibition while resistant bacteria will. (“Testing antibiotic resistance – Microbiology Nuts & Bolts”) The measure of the diameter of the zone will give the value of the minimum inhibitory concentration or MIC.

Blood Bank involves the determination of blood types performed as agglutination tests, where cells clump together forming a sort of cloth, through the utilization of controls of reference, positive and negative, as for the most tests in laboratory, and the preparation of blood products for transfusion.

Upon on the Board of Registry of the American Society of Clinical Pathology, today’s laboratory uses different complexes, precision instruments and a variety of automated and electronic equipment.

The success of a laboratory’s professional begins with the dedication to the profession and willing to help others.

Laboratorians must produce accurate and reliable tests results, have interest in science and sense of responsibility for affecting human lives.

More on ethics and responsibilities of Laboratory Scientists:

They must exhibit loyalty, honesty, and respect in work environment, adhere to the disclosure roles about client privacy as HIPAA regulations, showing patience, empathy, and consideration towards patients, promoting health care, prevent and control of diseases. They must follow safety procedure as those in HOSHA regulations, demonstrate a correct use of equipment during work time, wearing proper lab-ware, exhibit proper behavior and professional appearance. Especially important also is the correct use of reagents and laboratory’s supplies, reliability, and flexibility towards terms of employment.

This job requires huge sense of responsibility, attention, clarity, and scrupulosity.

This has been my job for a period, and I have always liked and performed following all these roles, but more than everything with sense of conscience, responsibility and scrupulosity, the most important things when dealing with human lives.

Thanks for Reading

Mariarosaria Malham

Sources:

Biologydiscussion.com

Microbiology Nuts & Bolts

Board of Registry Guide, ASCP

Benefits and Properties

While in visit of my family in Italy and vacationing, I have had the opportunity to stop by one of the most famous and old centers for thermal therapy nearby Naples, the city where I come from.

The name of the center is “Stufe di Nerone” from the name of the famous Roman Imperator, and is in the area of Pozzuoli, along the “Flegrea Coast”

The complex is beautiful, with different amenities and is located in an area with plenty of different types of plants and trees.

In this period people can enjoy lot of sunshine and heat while lying to the sun or bathing in the fresh water of regular pools, or in the warm water of the thermal pools, or detoxifying with the steam of original saunas, or with the mud therapy.

The place is pretty quiet and well-regulated despite of the chaos of these areas.

Following the style of the antique Romans adapted to the modern technologies they have created a place for benefits and pleasure, utilizing the philosophy of the total well-being, the cure of the body and mind as for the antique roman and oriental tradition.

The thermal waters thanks to the organ electric characteristics offer a re-mineralization of the body and pleasant sensation of the skin also thanks to the elimination of impurities if combined with the deep sweating in natural saunas. Besides the tone and anti-inflammatory properties, they have particular benefits and are suggested for variety of symptomatology and conditions like: osteo-arthritis, rheumatism, respiratory’ s diseases, oral flogosis, acne and more.

The thermal pools are composed of water salso-bromo-iodic with temperature of 35 C~ 95 F, the swim combined to water exercise provides additional benefits as relax and muscle tone, and cells regeneration.

The saunas are natural, and the source of heat comes from the under thermal waters heated by vulcanological activity of the “Flegrei Campi”, the temperature reached is around 54 C~ 129.2 F

It’s an environment with high saturation of steam and mineral salt.

The therapeutic action depends on the thermal warm waters and steam that allows the fluidification of mucus solving problems like rhinitis and sinus congestions, not recommended for people with asthma.

The “Stufe” so as they are called consent a conspicuous sweating allowing the hydric turnover and a better circulatory function.

The mineralization coming from these waters is also high beneficial for the treatment of osteopathy, rheumatisms, gout, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoporosis, muscles strains and myopathy.

The nasal inhalations or “aerosol” are a typical therapy of the thermal centers for the cure of the respiratory system and are performed with the waters salso-bromo-iodic-alkaline-terrose of the natural sources.

The mud therapy if correctly applied can be useful as preventive treatment for the cure of some pathologies; normally is indicated for muscular strains, rheumatisms, carpal tunnel, osteoarthrosis and more, not though during the acute stage of a disease.

The mud is composed from a solid component, the argillan, and from the mineral waters, and undergo a process of maturation that can last from 6-12 months.

Its application generates an increase of the local body’s temperature resulting in vasodilation and stimulation of the metabolic activities of the skin and activation of diaphoresis and of the body’s temperature in general.

The mud therapy exercises in general different type of actions: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, myorelaxant, and of stimulus on different type of metabolic processes like, hydro-saline turnover, blood pressure decrease, increase of lipolysis, stimulation of the axis hypothalamus-hypophysis- suprarenal with liberation of ACTH and mobilization of opioid peptides like beta-endorphins.

Contraindications

The mud therapy cannot be used with an acute inflammatory process. Also is not recommended for people with venous insufficiency, cardiovascular problems, renal insufficiency, or hepatic dysfunction.

Thermal Therapies are a real “toccasana”,a touch of wellbeing, one can find relief for inflammation of any type, relax, purification and detoxification, and rejuvenation of skin and other body’s tissues.

I suggest anyone interested to visit this type of centers in any location they may be found.

Thanks for Reading

Mariarosaria M.

Source, Referral and Pictures:

https://www.termestufedinerone.it

If in need of treatments for rehabilitation, please visit:

Treatment

N-acetylcysteine or NAC is a precursor of the amino acid L-cysteine used by our body to make glutathione. Glutathione or GSH, is the most powerful antioxidant in the body to fight free radical damage, the cause of oxidative stress and so of inflammation, diseases, and aging.

Our body’s ability to produce glutathione declines with age and this is why it is more important to supply either with NAC than with GSH as we get older, or with foods containing sulfuric compounds as cruciferous vegetables like: broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, garlic, onions and so on.

The most important thing they both do is to detoxify the liver which is
one of the primary organs implied with the detoxification pathway and of vital importance for removing environmental toxins.

We are exposed to low levels of toxins every day through the air we breathe the water we drink, the food contaminated, the chemical in the variety of products we use, and to all the other compounds we come in contact during the day.

Also well know now is the fact that NAC is administered intravenously to treat acetaminophen overdose and to protect liver from toxins.

Other significant role of glutathione and so of N-acetylcysteine is to support the immune system function through the detoxification process.

Variety of studies demonstrate that reduced GSH levels are linked to immune system disorders.

Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant produced in the cells of the body; it is the most abundant antioxidant in the body and is composed primarily of glutamine, glycine, and cysteine. It is essential for optimal cellular function and protects the cells from oxidative damage, helping to slow down the aging process and monitoring diseases. It is fundamental for many aspects of health like cardiovascular, immune, brain, skin, eyes, detoxification and liver health and energy production.

Glutathione exists in two different forms, reduced, and oxidized. The reduced is the active form that provides the antioxidant benefits, the oxidized is inactive and needs to be converted into the reduced.

Both, NAC AND GSH, play different important roles in human health, and both seem to be of an indispensable support for the flu or influenza and COVID-19 infection so as for  other diseases, lessening the severity of the attacks and the duration.

NAC supports the health of the lungs and is normally present in high amounts in lung tissues, it has been used in patients to maintain healthy lung function and as mucolytic to thin and reduce the amount of mucus produced during inflammatory respiratory episodes as with COVID-19 where they both, NAC and GSH are needed for immune and lung support, and for decrease the inflammation in general thanks to the antioxidant properties to reduce the damage caused from the free radicals produced by the viral infection.

NAC so as GSH support eye function thanks to the antioxidant properties, especially in regard of cataract and macular degeneration which are both linked to oxidative damage, same as for cancer, they both protect from oxidative damage and so from cancer development and from all neurodegenerative diseases due to oxidative damage as Alzheimer, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson, and others.

NAC has also the ability to support heart health through the body’s response to oxidative stress and the production of nitric oxide, essential for a healthy blood flow, and by reducing the levels of homocysteine (HCY), dangerous metabolite and cardiovascular marker, and by preventing oxidation and building up of LDL cholesterol.

One more important function of NAC is with mental health in helping to regulate glutamate levels in the brain; glutamate is the most important neurotransmitter in brain, its levels are important to support a positive mood and healthy mental state; in addition, glutamate engages in learning, behavior, and memory function.

Excess of glutamate and depletion of glutathione can cause brain damage contributing to mental health conditions as bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorders or OCD.

NAC may help decrease symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression, minimizing the effects of social withdraw, apathy and reduced attention span; it can also help decreasing withdrawn symptoms and preventing relapses in people with drugs additions, nicotine addiction and cravings.

Thanks For Reading

Mariarosaria M.

Sources:

Seeking Health.com

Healthline.com

Picture by Science ABC

If you would like to become a Functional Medicine Coach these are the links that will lead you to the Institute of Functional Medicine

https://ua175.isrefer.com/go/Home/MARIAROSARIA/

https://ua175.isrefer.com/go/FDN250/MARIAROSARIA