1. How to make your medications “Safer”-Learn about our “Know and Show” program and be a part of it.
2. New Years Resolution for losing some weight-See last year’s results and our new program for 2012.
3. Yoga for Back Pain-Yes, it works and we have programs for you.

As always, we thank you for allowing us to be part of your health care team. Have a happy and healthy New Year.

What is so important about Medication Lists? Everything. Know it and Show it. That is what we are urging every patient to do at Arthritis Health.At the end of every visit to Arthritis Health, you receive a printed list of the medications and supplements you will be taking. We think it is so important that we carefully review your list with you at the beginning of each visit and record any changes that may have occurred since your last visit and then update any changes that are prescribed during your visit on that day.Why do we do this? Because the greatest risks in modern medicine are medication and supplement errors – taking too much, taking too little, mixing medications and/or supplements that should not and do not go together, or not understanding how to take the prescribed products.

We know that we are rarely the only providers writing prescriptions and offering you recommendations for supplements. With multiple health care providers attending to you, the chance for errors with medication and supplements multiply. The Institute of Medicine estimates that over 1.5 million medications error occur each year.

This report in 2006 made important recommendations to reduce these errors. They suggested:
•Improving the Patient-Provider Partnership
•New and Improved Drug Information Resources
•Electronic Prescribing and Other IT Solutions

To address these recommendations, Arthritis Health practiced the following with our patients.

1. Improving the Patient-Provider Partnership

We have adopted their recommendations with our Know & Show program. It is simple – Know what is on your list of medications and supplements. Show it to all of your providers at every subsequent visit. Record any changes on the Arthritis Health printed list. Bring it to us at the next visit.

2. New and Improved Drug Information Resources

Obtain answers to your medication questions from reputable sources including your providers at Arthritis Health and two excellent websites:

•Arthritis Foundation Website (www.arthritis.org)
•Medline Plus (www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html)

3. Electronic Prescribing and Other IT Solutions

We have started e-prescribing by sending your prescriptions electronically to your pharmacy of choice. Refills are also handled by e-prescribing. This is another reason why we ask you to contact your pharmacy when you need to obtain a refill. Please do not contact our office directly. It is far more efficient and safer to contact the pharmacy directly so e-prescribing can be utilized. Electronic prescribing is safer because it eliminates problems with handwriting legibility and, when combined with decision-support tools, automatically alerts your providers to possible interactions, allergies, and other potential problems.

Know & Show – This is our effort to reduce medication and supplement errors. It is a partnership with your health and safety as our collective goal.

Last year we ran a Detox & Cleanse special for the New Year which was very successful. Every patient that participated lost weight (average of 10 pounds), improved their cholesterol numbers (10-30% lower total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides), and had a dramatic reduction in numerous health complaints (subjective symptom improvement by >50%). Because of its success, Dr. Wilkinson will offer the program again. Whether you are worried about the post holiday blahs, want to lose a few extra inches in the New Year, or just want to feel better, this program can offer tremendous benefits.

The 4-week program focuses on dietary change and detoxification. You will meet with Dr. Wilkinson at the start of the program for a health assessment and review of a Whole Foods Eating and Detoxification Plan. During your visit you will also get a requisition for lab work to be done at the start and end of the program as well as a complete Medical Symptom Questionnaire to establish your baseline symptoms.

After your initial visit you are ready to start the program to see, and better yet, feel the changes begin. Everyone responds differently, but common improvements are a reduction in pain, a feeling of lightness, loss of brain fog, more energy, and of course weight loss. Throughout the 4 weeks you will have access to Dr. Wilkinson to help you through the program. At the end of the program you will have another office visit with Dr. Wilkinson to compare your progress in physical exam, lab work, and symptom assessment. In total, the 4-week program includes:

•Office visits with naturopathic physician Dr. Wilkinson at the start and end of the program.
•4-week Detoxification Protocol
•30 day Supply of the Detoxification Protein Powder (Full Retail Value of $195)
•Review of baseline and 4-week labwork (cost of labwork through your own insurance)
•A copy of The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book (Full Retail Value of $16.95)
•One-on-one phone support with Dr. Wilkinson during the program

Total price for the program is $345. If you want the support of a spouse or friend, we will offer a $50 savings for each of you! $295 per person for a great start to the New Year. What a Value!!! Everyone that has completed this program has benefited. If you have never been to a naturopathic physician, this is also a great way to experience a different way to think about health. Call Arthritis Health to schedule your appointment today.
Come on . . . What is holding you back?

30 days to feeling better, more energy, and a slimmer you!!

HEALTH OF THE BACK AND YOGA
Yoga is one of the most popular forms of fitness in the United States. Now, there is exciting new research from the United Kingdom showing that yoga helps chronic back pain sufferers. This study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, compared yoga and usual care for low back pain. The yoga program consisted of weekly 75-minute classes gradually progressing over 3 months. Participants in the yoga group were introduced to the foundational elements of yoga adapted for back pain including asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing), and relaxation techniques. This trial found that the yoga group had better back function, that is, better confidence in performing normal activities. This change occurred over a relatively short time of 3 months.

But that was not all. The increased back function persisted beyond the time of the study into 6 and 12 months. Many participants of the yoga program continued this important intervention in their daily life. The summary of this important research was that yoga is a safe and effective activity that doctors can consider recommending for patients with a history of low back pain. Findings from the medical literature also suggest that complementary exercises such as yoga demonstrate considerable promise in the management of osteoarthritis, a related condition to back pain.

WHAT OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS CAN REGULAR YOGA ACHIEVE?
In just the previous year, several scientific studies have been published demonstrating the many advantages of yoga. Even short term yoga (15 days) has beneficial effects on cardiovascular functions irrespective of age, sex, and body mass index in healthy individuals.

Regular and continuous yoga exercise has been shown to be an important method of improving serum lipid concentrations (increase in good-cholesterol), reducing adipose (fat) tissue, and decreasing blood pressure. Regular yoga may help reduce the amount of medications you take. Yoga practitioners have been shown less likely than non-practitioners to use medication for controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, mood disorders, inflammation, and pain. Science also shows that yoga helps improve mental focus and attention span, as well as emotional intelligence (EQ).

WHAT ARTHRITIS HEALTH OFFERS
Arthritis Health has been offering a variety of yoga programs in the safe secure environment of the clinic premises. Dr. Howard leads a back yoga class every week focused on the common health issue of lower and upper back pain. There are also experienced teachers leading other yoga sessions throughout the week. The advantages of taking yoga classes in Arthritis Health is that an individualized program can be developed for you and your needs. Furthermore, it is adaptable and progressive as you get stronger. Every session can be your day of new discoveries. You also have an opportunity to discover a related mind-body technique of Tai Chi. The current Yoga Schedule is availalble on our website here.

Reference:
Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Trial. Tilbrook HE et al. Ann Intern Med. 2011 Nov 1;155(9):569-78

Yoga Nidra, a deep relaxing and restorative yoga will begin at our movement studio at Arthritis Health on November 7^th thru December 19^th, 2011. The classes will be held Mondays and Wednesdays 5-6 pm. The classes will be offered in a 12 session block to be attended twice a week for $100.00.  No class on Wednesday, November 23rd before Thanksgiving.
 

We are offering free introductory classes November 7^th and 9^th to everyone wishing to experience this series.

Kim Howard, RYT, a 500 hour registered yoga teacher, will be offering these one hour classes that are gentle and require no prior yoga experience.

 Yoga Nidra permits the development of an incredible calmness, quietness and clarity. It is a technique of yoga that brings greater awareness and focus through a guided relaxation.

 Some of amazing benefits include:             

Reduces stress and pain

Induces the healing response

Lowers blood pressure

Minimizes anxiety

Alleviates cravings

Improves the quality of your sleep

Releases negative mental tendencies

A new higher dose flu shot is available at Arthritis Health this season and is recommended by Dr. Howard for anyone over 65 years old, or those patients with immune disorders or taking immune suppressing medications. The details of this new vaccination and the reasons for this recommendation are a follows:

What?
Fluzone High Dose is a new influenza vaccine designed specifically for people 65 years and older. It contains 4 times the amount of antigen (the part of the vaccine that prompts the body to make antibodies) contained in the regular flu shots. The additional antigen is intended to create a stronger immune response (more antibodies) in the person getting the vaccine.

Why?
Human immune defenses become weaker with age, which places older people at greater risk of severe illness from influenza. Also, ageing decreases the body’s ability to have a good immune response after getting influenza vaccine. A higher dose of antigen in the vaccine is supposed to give older people a better immune response and therefore better protection against flu.

Data from clinical trials comparing regular Fluzone to Fluzone High Dose among persons aged 65 years and older indicate that a stronger immune response occurs after vaccination with Fluzone High Dose. Whether or not the improved immune response leads to greater protection against influenza after vaccination is not yet known. An ongoing study designed to determine the effectiveness of Fluzone High Dose in preventing illness from influenza compared to Fluzone is expected to be completed in 2014-2015.

Safety
The safety profile of Fluzone High Dose vaccine is similar to that of regular flu vaccines although adverse events were reported slightly more frequently with Fluzone High Dose. The most common adverse events were mild and temporary and included pain, redness and swelling at the injection site and headache, muscle aches, fevers and malaise. Most people had minimal or no adverse events after receiving the Fluzone High Dose.

Recommendations
Dr. Howard strongly recommends a flu vaccination as the first and most important step in protecting against the flu. The CDC ( Centers for Disease Control) is not expressing a preference of one vaccine to another at this time. Dr. Howard recommends the high dose vaccine especially for those over 65 with immune disorders or anyone who is taking immunosuppressive mediations (steroids, chemotherapy, synthetic immunosuppressant (such as methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenylate, cyclophosphamide) and biologic immunosuppressant ( Enbrel, Remicade, Humira, Orencia, Actremra, Rituximab)

More information can be found about Fluzone High Dose at
www/fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/Approvedproducts/ucm112854.htm
Fluzone.com

Dr. Howard and Dr. Wilkinson have recently authored a chapter in the newest edition of “The Sjogren’s Book”, 4th edition. The book is released through the national advocacy group, The Sjorgen’s Syndrome Foundation and is the authoritative text on Sjogren’s.

Sjogren’s Syndrome is an autoimmune disease affecting 1 in 70 Americans. Even though Sjogrens’s primarily affects the mucous secreting glands leading to dry eyes and mouth, there is significant symptom similarity with other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and chronic fatigue.

The book is written by over 60 contributors, all experts in their field, and is a complete guide to Sjogren’s. It covers everything from the history of Sjogren’s, pathology of the disease, medical diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle strategies to cope with the disease.

Drs. Howard and Wilkinson contributed to the book with their chapter titled Complementary and Alternative Therapies of Sjogren’s Syndrome. This chapter explains many of the therapies used with patients at Arthritis Health such as anti-inflammatory diets, supplementation, the role of gastro-intestinal health in autoimmune disease, and the tremendous benefits of exercise therapy on quality of life and disease management.

If you or someone you know has Sjogren’s or you would like to learn more about the disease, this book is a great resource. The book is available through the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation here.

A La Prochaine, Matt & Audrey
Bienvenue Amanda Herron C-PA

There will be a shifitng of the guard at Arthritis Health this autumn and we wanted to inform you of the changes.

Matt Mustain, C-PA left Arthritis Health at the end of August and Audrey Bressor, C-ANP will leave at the end of September. Both are leaving for different, but excellent and compelling reasons.

Matt and his wife will be moving to the Isle of Mann. His wife is returning home to her roots in the British Isles and Matt is moving with her. He will be dearly missed. Matt has been my right hand man for over 6 years. I have enjoyed our cooperative work together. Matt has always been ready to help any patient in need whether it be a 6 am consult at the hospital or an urgent patient visit squeezed in during lunch or at the end of the day.
Audrey has two beautiful children entering their teens and she wants to be at home more. To control her schedule in a more flexible fashion, she is changing her nurse practitioner duties to the nursing home environment starting in October. She has worked with me for over 16 years and we have come to rely on one another.

Truly, a finer team has not existed between three professionals providing the best rheumatic care. We have been voted Top Doc every year and I know it is because of the fine collaboration between Matt, Audrey, our office staff, and me. We personally do not say goodbye to them but as the French say, A La Prochaine – meaning – Until Next Time!.

John F. Kennedy commented “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.”(1963). To the future, we welcome with a hearty “Bienvenue”, Amanda Herron, C-PA our new physician assistant. She is from Oregon and trained at Oregon State University (Yes, she is a Beaver) and Touro University in California. She was a collegiate athlete, star student, and is seeing patients along side Dr. Howard. We welcome her to Phoenix and know she will find a kind home at Arthritis Health.

The change is predicated on new data showing the lack of adequate protection is not due to an attenuation (lessening) of protective antibodies over time following a flu vaccine, but rather that older people may not mount as protective a response to the standard flu vaccine as younger individuals.

Dr. Howard recommends complying with the updated recommendation of receiving the flu vaccine as early as possible in this flu season and to consider a second shot in January / February for those with higher risk: Those with an immune disorder, on immunosuppressive medications, and over the age of 65.

We will be also offering in October for those who desire the new High Dose Flu shot. This provides three times the immune response as compared to the standard flu vaccine. It has not been shown to reduce the risk from the flu more than the standard flu vaccine because this is under study this season. The high dose flu vaccine is recommended for those people who are at higher risk from the flu as mentioned above – People with an immune disorder, on immunosuppressive medications, and who are over the age of 65.Amongst your physicians at Arthritis Health, there are differences of opinion on this recommendation. From a public health standpoint Dr. Howard strongly supports mandatory vaccination. However, from a naturopathic perspective of natural immune support and individualized care, Dr. Wilkinson and Dr. Axelrod do not support universal vaccination. Without getting into vaccine controversies such as efficacy, possible rare side effects and the known preservative contaminants like the mercury containing thimerasol in some flu vaccine preparations, we do have areas of agreement and recommendations we would like to share.

Whether or not you take the flu vaccine, we urge you to take the following proactive steps to maximize your natural resistance to the flu as well as sickness in general. These include:

•Wash Your Hands – Remembering hand hygiene before you eat, after being in public, and especially after shaking hands is probably the most effective preventative behavior you can practice. In addition, avoiding contact of your own hands to mouth, eyes, and other mucous membranes is further protection.
•Eat a Whole Food Plant Based Diet – The evidence of the life long benefit of a diet based on minimally processed whole foods is irrefutable. Daily consumption of a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables provide your body with loads of immune boosting antioxidants, phytonutrients, and vitamins.
•Drink Plenty of Water – The rule of thumb is to drink ½ your body weight in ounces per day. (i.e., If you weigh 150 lbs, drink ~ 75 ounces or ten 8 oz. glasses.) Adequate hydration provides numerous benefits. First, it keeps mucous membranes moist which minimizes penetrance of viruses and bacteria into the tissues lining your airways. Second, it thins mucous so that pathogens can be easily expelled. Third, it allows filtration of waste through frequent urination.
•Take Vitamin D – Vitamin D, known for its role in calcium absorption and bone health, also plays a significant role in immune function. Taking 2,000 IU of Vitamin D-3 (cholecalciferol) may provide the needed amount to promote greater immune integrity.
•Avoid Sweets – Sugars and uncontrolled blood glucose wreak havoc on normal immune function. In fact, studies have shown that a dose of sugar can reduce activity of your immune fighting white blood cells. Therefore, make special effort to avoid sugary sodas, candies, pastries, and other processed foods.
•Get Your Rest – Adequate sleep of 7-9 hours per night is necessary for optimal health in general, but also for adequate production of the immune enhancing hormone, melatonin.
•Take Additional Immune Support when Necessary – At the first sign of illness we recommend a combination of supplementation such as high dose oral vitamin C, botanicals, or a berry extract concentrate. These all work to naturally boost immune function. In extreme cases, we often recommend various types of IV therapies.

In summary, as physicians at Arthritis Health we believe in multiple approaches to promote health. Using a combination of treatments is our ultimate strategy to support your body’s immune function.

Tai chi is characterized by soft, slow flowing movements that emphasize force and balance with precisely executed movements. Benefits include an improvement of balance, core strength, physical confidence and a sense of well being.

Krista Hom, a certified Tai chi leader will introduce the principles and practice of this movement exercise program. Out of shape, or an Olympian, this class is designer for all levels. Single classes tickets ($12) and multi-class packages (10 classes for $100) are available.

We also offer a special monthly package for $90/month to attend unlimited Yoga and Tai Chi classes each month at Arthritis Heatlh. Visit the Arthritis Health website or call Jill at our office for more details

Summer is here with another promise to yourself to lose those extra pounds. It may actually be easier than you think and could dramatically improve the years and quality of your life.

Research indicates that being overweight promotes inflammation and is related to an increase in inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP, TNF and insulin), as well as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Cardiovascular disease is a major risk factor for many patients with autoimmune disease due to the ongoing presence of chronic inflammation. Weight loss and elimination of certain pro-inflammatory foods can help reverse this vicious cycle.

Two years ago, I finally found a Weight and Health Management Program, which I believe has significant health benefits and potential for long-term success in weight loss. This program, which is being offered at Arthritis Health, teaches you how to eat real foods in proper balance to get your body into a special fat burning state. In fact, you will know using a simple test every day if you are burning fat. This is important, as you want your body to burn fat, while protecting your muscle mass (your calorie burning engine), crucial to keeping your weight off over time. Nutritional packets are included to help decrease hunger and improve results. In addition, pro-inflammatory foods are avoided and patients report improvement in joint pain, fatigue, allergies, headaches, asthma, blood glucose levels, and many other conditions, while not being hungry.

BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM:

1. Decrease inflammation and pain.

2. Ensure the weight lost is fat loss, while protecting the body’s muscle mass.

3. Lose fat while eating normal foods, so that people get educated about the “good, the bad and the ugly” of food so they do not go back to bad eating habits.

4. Pinpoint food reactions that can cause inflammation and bring back the lost weight.

5. Pinpoint conditions that if not addressed can prevent weight loss.

6. Restore nutrients that can assist in weight loss while maintaining muscle mass.

7. No food cravings or hunger while you are on the program.

8. Reduce high cholesterol, diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors.

OUR RESULTS:

It may sound too good to be true, but here are some of the results from patients at Arthritis Health:

Age                     Weeks                   Weight Loss

75 yo                     7                                 25 lb

64 yo                     7                                  15 lb

47 yo                   16                                 52 lb

52 yo                    33                                80 lb

HOW TO GET STARTED:

The program is done in 4-week increments. When properly followed, the average weight loss ranges between 2-5 pounds per week. The amount of time on this nutritional plan depends on your desired weight loss. For instance, many patients will stay on the diet for a three-month period and lose 25-30 pounds. The program includes an initial consultation to get you started and weekly visits to make sure your are successful. Ketone sticks to measure fat burning and nutritional packets to decrease hunger and food cravings are also included. This program helps you get it off and keep it off.

Please visit www.ultralite.us for more information, or call Arthritis Health to schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation to see if the program is right for you. If you are ready to start losing weight today, schedule your first appointment so you can begin to reach your goal weight and feel better now.

Cold Laser Therapy, also known as Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) uses the energy found in light to stimulate tissue healing. When laser light is absorbed through the skin it triggers two primary cellular reactions. First, it stimulates mitochondria to increase production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the biochemical energy source for all cellular activity. Second, it stimulates production of cellular messengers (e.g., cytokines, prostaglandins, and endorphins) that regulate inflammation, pain, and cellular repair.

Because of these mechanisms, Cold Laser is an ideal therapy for all types of acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions including – osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, tennis/golfers elbow, wound healing, plantar fasciitis, TMJ, rotator cuff and shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, neuropathy, bursitis, sciatica, fracture healing, sprains, soft tissue injuries, neck pain, plus many others.

Cold Laser Therapy is useful for all types of musculoskeletal conditions.

Treatment with Cold Laser is a simple in-office procedure. It is non-invasive, completely pain-free, and with essentially no side-effects. Depending on the condition treated, the laser is applied with skin contact to a local area or to multiple sites on the body. Total treatment time lasts less than 10 minutes. Many people notice improvement after just one treatment, but initial treatment is typically 1-2 times per week for several weeks.

Cold Laser Therapy is offered by Dr. Keith Wilkinson on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A single treatment costs $35, however most people will have more lasting benefit with a series of treatments over several weeks. To provide this new therapy to our patients we are offering a discounted package of 6 treatments (2 per week for 3 weeks) for $150.

Introductory Package – 6 Treatments for $150

If you have any questions, please give us a call or next time you are at the office pick up one of our Cold Laser brochures.

From a naturopathic perspective, the body functions as a logical organism that responds in a direct cause and effect relationship to its environment. In the case of auto-immunity and its symptoms, the immune system (the effect) is responding to something that appears to be “foreign” (the cause) in the body. Unfortunately, in the process of trying to remove the foreign substance, the body destroys its own tissue and auto-immunity develops.

From a conventional medicine perspective, much of the treatment focuses on minimizing the symptoms of pain and inflammation using non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin, steroidal anti-inflammatories such as prednisone, and in more severe cases disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that inhibit immune function such as methotrexate and plaquenil. Because these drugs can provide quick pain relief and slow disease progression, they are a necessary tool in the treatment of auto-immunity. However, in order to understand the cause and effect relationship in the genesis of auto-immune conditions, naturopathic medicine is also a necessary tool. Because of its broad focus on diet, lifestyle, environmental exposure, physical and emotional stress, etc., naturopathic medicine can take a more “upstream” approach to try to understand what may be triggering the body’s auto-immune reaction and the necessary steps to restore health. The following are some general naturopathic approaches to working with auto-immunity.

As we approach the winter season, the public is once again faced with the decision of taking the flu vaccine. Even though the flurry of concern last year regarding the “epidemic” of H1N1 and Swine Flu has subsided, this year’s CDC recommendation has expanded from specific at risk groups to universal vaccination for all people aged 6 months and older. Amongst your physicians at Arthritis Health, there are differences of opinion on this recommendation. From a public health standpoint Dr. Howard strongly supports mandatory vaccination. However, from a naturopathic perspective of natural immune support and individualized care, Dr. Wilkinson does not support universal vaccination. Without getting into vaccine controversies such as efficacy, possible rare side effects and the known preservative contaminants like the mercury containing thimerasol in some flu vaccine preparations, we do have areas of agreement and recommendations we would like to share.

First, disease prevention should always be foremost in any health program. Therefore, the flu vaccine is never the only action you should take to protect yourself from the flu.

Second, whether or not you take the flu vaccine, we urge you to take the following proactive steps to maximize your natural resistance to the flu as well as sickness in general. These include:

• Wash Your Hands – Remembering hand hygiene before you eat, after being in public, and especially after shaking hands is probably the most effective preventative behavior you can practice. In addition, avoiding contact of your own hands to mouth, eyes, and other mucous membranes is further protection.
• Eat a Whole Food Plant Based Diet – The evidence of the life long benefit of a diet based on minimally processed whole foods is irrefutable. Daily consumption of a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables provide your body with loads of immune boosting antioxidants, phytonutrients, and vitamins.
• Drink Plenty of Water – The rule of thumb is to drink ½ your body weight in ounces per day. (i.e., If you weigh 150 lbs, drink ~ 75 ounces or ten 8 oz. glasses.) Adequate hydration provides numerous benefits. First, it keeps mucous membranes moist which minimizes penetrance of viruses and bacteria into the tissues lining your airways. Second, it thins mucous so that pathogens can be easily expelled. Third, it allows filtration of waste through frequent urination.
• Take Vitamin D – Vitamin D, known for its role in calcium absorption and bone health, also plays a significant role in immune function. Taking 2,000 IU of Vitamin D-3 (cholecalciferol) may provide the needed amount to promote greater immune integrity.
• Avoid Sweets – Sugars and uncontrolled blood glucose wreak havoc on normal immune function. In fact, studies have shown that a dose of sugar can reduce activity of your immune fighting white blood cells. Therefore, make special effort to avoid sugary sodas, candies, pastries, and other processed foods.
• Get Your Rest – Adequate sleep of 7-9 hours per night is necessary for optimal health in general, but also for adequate production of the immune enhancing hormone, melatonin.
• Take Additional Immune Support when Necessary – At the first sign of illness we recommend a combination of supplementation such as high dose oral vitamin C, botanicals, or a berry extract concentrate. These all work to naturally boost immune function. In extreme cases, we often recommend various types of IV therapies.

In summary, as physicians at Arthritis Health we believe in multiple approaches to promote health. Using a combination of treatments is our ultimate strategy to support your body’s immune function.

If you have questions or would like to get started as an active participant in your health, please give us a call.

Are you worried about the post holiday blahs and the few extra inches in the New Year? If so, we have a solution for you.

In January, Dr. Wilkinson, is offering a special 4-week program focused on dietary change and detoxification. Meet with Dr. Wilkinson at the start of the program for a health assessment and review of a Whole Food Eating and Detoxification Plan. During your visit you will also get a requisition for lab work to be done at the start and end of the program as well as a complete Medical Symptom Questionnaire to establish your baseline symptoms.

After your initial visit you are ready to start the program to see and better yet, feel the changes begin. Everyone responds differently, but common improvements are a reduction in pain, a feeling of lightness, loss of brain fog, more energy, and of course weight loss. Throughout the 4 weeks you will have access to Dr. Wilkinson to help you through the program. At the end of the program you will have another office visit with Dr. Wilkinson to compare your progress in physical exam, lab work, and symptom assessment. In total the 4-week program includes:
Office visits with naturopathic physician Dr. Wilkinson at the start and end of the program.
4-week Detoxification Protocol
30 day Supply of the Detoxification Protein Powder (Full Retail Value of $186)
Review of baseline and 4-week labwork (cost of labwork through your own insurance)
A copy of The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book (Full Retail Value of $16.95)
One-on-one phone support with Dr. Wilkinson during the program
Total price for the program is $300. If you want the support of a spouse or friend, we will offer a $50 savings – each! $250 for a great start to the New Year. What a Value!!! Everyone that has completed this program has lost weight, reduced symptoms, and had improvement in lab results. If you have never been to a naturopathic physician, this is also a great way to experience a different way to think about health. Call Arthritis Health to schedule your appointment today. Offer expires 1/14/11.

Come on . . . What is holding you back?
30 days to feeling better, more energy, and a slimmer you!!

Several months ago I gave a review of a great book that discussed the benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet. I recently found a book on a different topic but equally as good. Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? – When my Lab Tests are Normal, provides a great introduction into the complexities of comprehensive thyroid care.

The thyroid is a small gland located in the neck area which releases thyroid hormone. The thyroid is often called “the master gland” because it controls the metabolic rate for essentially every cell in the body. If one does not secrete enough thyroid hormone, they will have hypothyroid symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, poor memory, depression, or cold hands/feet. If the thyroid secretes too much thyroid hormone, one can have hyperthyroid symptoms such as anxiety, heart palpitations, weight loss, or tachycardia. Hypothyroidism is much more common than hyperthyroid and the conventional approach to treatment is thyroid hormone medication such as Synthroid or Armour Thyroid. These medications may provide symptomatic relief, but unfortunately do little to address the underlying cause. This idea of “understanding the cause” is what makes this book so interesting.

Rather than just taking additional hormone to make up for a slow functioning thyroid, this book discusses a variety of issues that could be at the root of thyroid dysfunction. It can be quite a complex web of interaction, but includes areas such as blood sugar control, adrenal hormones, gastro-intestinal function, environmental exposure, as well as a more complete work-up of thyroid lab testing. Of particular importance to people with auto-immune conditions is a specific thyroid condition called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Even though Hashimoto’s is an auto-immune disease, it is often addressed by conventional medicine as only a hypothyroid condition and treated with prescription thyroid medication. As this book explains, Hashimoto’s is an auto-immune disease and must be treated as such.

Fortunately, as a naturopathic physician the approach discussed in this book is exactly how I assess any patient coming in with symptoms suggesting poor thyroid function. If you are currently on thyroid medication without relief or are experiencing undiagnosed symptoms similar to those mentioned above but with “normal” labwork, perhaps a comprehensive approach as outlined in this book is worth considering. To find out more, or to begin a comprehensive thyroid evaluation, please give me a call.

Thanks,
Dr. Keith Wilkinson, NMD

This summer, a novel medication, denosumab (Prolia) was approved by the FDA for treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Denosumab inhibits bone resorption, the dissolving of bone, by an entirely different mechanism than the treatments that have been previously available such as the bisphosphonates (Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva and Reclast).

Given by a subcutaneous injection once every 6 months, denosumab has been shown to improve bone density and markedly reduce the risk for fracture especially in the spine and hips. Side effects were uncommon. Skin rashes and skin infection were reported most frequently. Full details are available from our office or you can link to a patient medication guide here.

In addition to the usual measures of adequate calcium intake, vitamin D replacement, weight bearing exercise and avoiding or minimizing certain foods (sodas, high protein diets) medications (steroids and some antiseizure agents) and other lifestyle activities (cigarettes and alcohol), denosumab offers another option in the treatment of people with high risk of osteoporotic fractures.

In the July 2010 Consumer Reports (CR) an article appeared – “Alert: Protein Drinks”. As discussed in the article, CR tested 15 commonly available protein powders for the presence of the heavy metals cadmium, arsenic, lead, and mercury. Unfortunately, their testing found 12 of the products had low to moderate levels of one or more of these metals. Even more worrisome, if three of these products were consumed 3 or more times per day, one would exceed maximum daily intake limits for several of these metals as set by U.S. Pharmocopeia guidelines.

As a naturopathic physician I am fully aware of the importance of supplement quality. In fact the article included a statement from Pieter Cohen, internist and author of a recent New England Journal of Medicine article on contaminants in dietary supplements, stating “Most consumers and even many doctors don’t realize that in this country we’re left to simply trust the manufacturer to decide what level of quality and safety they’ll provide.” This is all true and why we at Arthritis Health take several issues into account when choosing supplements to recommend for you.

First, is nutrient quantity. Every treatment protocol we recommend requires nutrients at a level sufficient to achieve the medicinal benefit desired. This can only be achieved if we are certain that the quantity in the capsule or serving matches the label claim on the bottle. Second, is nutrient quality. Just as with any product, there is a range of ingredients available to supplement manufacturers. By using products that are standardized to specific ingredients and in forms that are the most bio-available, you can be certain you are getting the most effective supplement. Finally, is supplement purity. In addition, to the heavy metals mentioned above, many supplements contain fillers, binders, shellacs, artificial colorings, or other ingredients that may help the company manufacture the supplement, but have little role in improving health. At Arthritis Health with our focus on auto-immunity, this is especially important. Impurities in a supplement can be additional triggers for the immune system which can contribute to the auto-immune process.

Supplement Quantity, Quality, and Purity Matter.

To satisfy these concerns, Arthritis Health carries only physician grade supplements. This means nearly all of our manufacturers use blinded third party testing to make sure label claims for quantity and quality of nutrient are met as well as being free of contaminants. Additionally, essentially all the supplements we carry are hypo-allergic with no wheat, gluten, eggs, dairy, or preservatives as well as free from binders, fillers, coatings and other artificial ingredients.

The adage of “You get what you pay for” is often very true in the supplements you buy. Accordingly, this is why we stock our medicinary and recommend specific products as part of your treatment plan.

First, is information about the upcoming 2010 Arthritis Walk. This is a national event put on by the Arthritis Foundation and you have an opportunity to support this great fundraising activity. We are strong supporters of the Arthritis Foundation and its mission to find the cures for arthritis.

Next, is an article about a great book describing the benefits of an Anti-Inflammatory Diet along with some great recipes. Food has a tremendous impact on health and this book supports what we provide through comprehensive naturopathic care at Arthritis Health.

Third, is a patient case using Prolotherapy. Prolotherapy is a unique injection technique offered by Dr. Wilkinson to address many types of chronic joint pain. Dr. Wilkinson recently worked with a patient that had a great response to prolo and her case is presented in this article.

Finally, is an announcement for a new yoga class at Arthritis Health starting February 11th every Thursday from 4:00 – 5:00 pm.

Once again, we thank you for being our patient and subscribing to our e-newsletter. Whether you are a regular or have not been in for a while and would like to restart treatment, we look forward to seeing you.

Happy New Year,

Your AH Staff

JOIN OUR TEAM AND WALK WITH US !!!

Arthritis Health is walking for the Arthritis Foundation in the Arthritis Walk 2010. Our team is called the AMBULATORS and we want to help be the TERMINATORS of all kinds of arthritis.

You can join our team to walk with us or make a donation to support our team. The walk takes place at the Phoenix Zoo. All family members of an official walker on our team have free entry to the zoo for the entire day if desired. It’s a lot of fun!!

Commitment: All team members raise $100 or more. There is help on the web site to raise the funds. Did you know that over 96% of all money raised goes to the mission of the Arthritis Foundation – Research for a cure, programs, and public health initiatives.

When: May 8th at 8:00 am
Where: Phoenix Zoo
Why: To Stomp Out Arthritis

The Walk: 1½ mile walk in the Phoenix Zoo – admission is free to all walkers and family members.

Mrs. L is an 89 yo patient that came to me several months ago complaining of severe right knee pain. Her pain was from osteoarthritis (OA) which is a non-inflammatory form of arthritis that can be common in older patients. She had tried OTC pain medications (Tylenol and Ibuprofen) and even a series of hyaluronic acid injections into the joint (i.e., SynVisc or OrthoVisc), but had minimal benefit. When she came to me the pain was quite severe and prevented her from doing her normal activities.

During the visit I performed a physical exam of her knee and determined there was excessive movement to the joint as well as tenderness to palpation. This movement and tenderness are often signs of joint pain associated with looseness or laxity to ligaments that support the joint structure. To address this I recommended a joint injection treatment called Prolotherapy. Prolotherapy works to address the underlying problem by stimulating the body’s own ability to tighten and strengthen lax ligaments. She was open to try and we started her first treatment that day. Prolotherapy typically requires several treatments 2-4 weeks apart so I sent her away with plans for another treatment several weeks later.

On follow-up she came back and stated her joint pain had reduced significantly. Her husband commented that she didn’t require OTC pain medication like she had in the past. I was pleased with the progress and completed another round of treatment.

She came in for her next follow-up and reported a wonderful response to her last treatment. “My knee is as close to perfect as it can get. I don’t have any pain.” Her husband was equally impressed stating, “Her complete elimination of pain is almost a miracle.” Of course I was pleased in her response to treatment, but not surprised. Many patients respond very well to prolotherapy and this was a textbook case. I did one more treatment for a total of 3 series of injections and told her to follow-up in 6 to 9 months for a possible “tune-up” to her healed knee.

Prolotherapy is a great treatment option for all types of non-inflammatory joint pain. To learn more about this treatment option offered by Dr. Wilkinson, take a look at information on the Arthritis Health website, here.

For those of you that have worked with me as a patient you know your treatment plans nearly always start with a strong emphasis diet. Whether it is an auto-immune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or other condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, dietary causes of inflammation play a major role in the disease. By educating my patients about the benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet most of you have been able to make significant improvements in your health through often simple dietary changes. This education process takes time and diligence as I work with my patients. Recently, I came across a book titled The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book that is loaded with great information supporting what I teach my patients.

The book is divided into two sections. The primary section contains the recipes organized into categories such as Breakfasts, Salads, Entrees, Soups, etc. The wonderful aspect of these recipes is that they are all based on minimally processed whole foods ingredients and preparation techniques that are anti-inflammatory. Additionally, time saving tips and interesting tid-bits about many ingredients are provided with the recipes. I have tried many of these recipes and essentially all of them can be a great part of an anti-inflammatory treatment plan.

The second section is the introductory material provided in the first five chapters. In addition to being a good writer, the author Jessica K. Black, happens to be a naturopathic physician like me. With this background, Dr. Black is able to provide an in-depth explanation of the benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet that is not available in most culinary books. Chapters such as Inflammation: What is the Big Deal?, The Importance of Diet, Certain Foods that Contribute to Inflammation, and Mitigating the Effects of Toxic Overload, are all complementary to what I teach my patients and are a great adjunct to help you understand why dietary changes are so important. The first chapter “Modern Health Paradigms” sets all of this in place by explaining the differences in thought between the conventional medical care model and naturopathic medicine. It provides a great explanation of why diet and treating the causes of disease are what make naturopathic medicine such an effective approach to helping patients.

If you are interested in the book, Arthritis Health has them in the office and is offering them below list price for only $15.00. If you haven’t worked with Dr. Wilkinson before, but would like to begin addressing the causes of disease with comprehensive naturopathic care including an anti-inflammatory diet, please contact the office at 480 609-4200 to schedule your appointment.

Yoga Nidra, a deep relaxing and restorative yoga will begin at our Arthritis Health studio every Thursday. The first class starts February 11th, 2010 at 4:00 pm. Kim Howard, a certified yoga in instructor, will be offering these one hour classes. This style of yoga is gentle and requires no prior yoga experience.

Yoga Nidra permits the development of an incredible calmness, quietness, and clarity. It is a technique of yoga that brings greater awareness and clarity through guided relaxation.

Some of the amazing benefits include:

- Reduces stress and pain
- Induces the healing response
- Lowers blood pressure
- Minimizes anxiety
- Alleviates cravings
- Improves quality of sleep
- Releases negative mental tendencies

Come Join Us. Your First Yoga Class is Free!!!

To see a full listing of yoga classes offered at Arthritis Health, click here.