Published July 10, 2004 in the North Island Weekender
This article appearing in Acumen 2004 by Dr. Groopman, speaks to the strength of the placebo effect as well as the strength of the practitioner/patient encounter. Many studies have proven the effect of the molecules of emotion upon neurochemistry. In fact placebo can play a very powerful therapeutic effect, upwards of 50%, in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and menopausal hot flushes. This biology of hope, this belief that extends from the patient, to the practitioner and back again is crucial to the healing experience. If the biology of hope is despair on the part of either the patient or the practitioner this makes for a difficult healing environment. High placebo responders, those who with a belief of hope, will create a milieu of molecules in their nervous system that will help normalize the function of the neuroendrocine/immune system and give them optimal defense against disease and help with the reparative processes of the body.
How do we instill this biology of hope? It is by educating the patient and practitioner in ways of healing that are cost effective, have lowered adverse drug reactions, and are also efficacious. Enter functional or naturopathic medicine or the practice of optimizing the functioning of the body using diet, lifestyle, natural therapeutics and nutrients.
The polypill is being suggested by researchers such as Dr. Wald (British Medical Journal Vol 326, page 125, 2003). They suggest that if people 55 years of age or older take a “Preventive Cocktail” or polypill containing 6 agents, that statistically they would live an additional 11 years of disease free life over the average life expectancy. These 6 agents include the following pharmaceutical agents: 1. a statin drug; 2. folic acid (the strongest of the B6, B12 folic acid trilogy that lowers homocysteine in the blood), 3. a diazide; 4. a betablocker; 5.an ace inhibitor (3,4,and 5 control blood pressure and taken at ½ the usual therapeutic dose) and 6. a anti-platelet adhesion drug such as a baby aspirin.
Taking this concept into the functional or naturopathic world we break these down into mechanisms to understand what these drugs are doing in the body and then ask ourselves what diet, lifestyle or natural therapy could we use instead with the identical outcome and call it a “Nutritional Insurance Policy” instead.
1. Statin drugs lower inflammation in the body as well as lower blood lipids with the aim of lowering the incidence of heart attack. A recent study showed that taking a multivitamin every day lowered the incidence of heart attack. Talk about cost effective! Most diseases of aging such as cardiovascular disease, dementia, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinsons Disease and arthritis are related to inflammation in the body. Inflammation and blood lipids can be lowered using essential fatty acids containing EPA and DHA, and spices such as tumeric. Inflammation can also be lowered by controlling glycation. (See 3,4, 5 for explanation). The Anti-inflammatory Diet is low in sugar, alcohol, red meats, chemicals and is high in fruits, vegetables, white meat, salmon, sardines and whole beans.
2. Folic acid lowers homocysteine which not only reduces heart disease risk, but risk to diabetes, Alzheimer’s and osteoporosis. It is easily supplemented these days and the sublingual form is the best absorbed.
3, 4, 5. These drugs are used to lower blood pressure. To optimize kidney function and therefore help with blood pressure control it is important to control inflammation in the body as well as lower glycated end products. These are measured in the blood as hemoglobin A1C and optimal levels should be 5-6 rather than over 6. These are protein or lipids that have reacted with sugar and they contribute to premature aging of all organ functions. The resulting “crusting” of these foods are absorbed and can contribute to aging of the kidney, the brain and are implicated in the complications of diabetes: damage to the eyes, circulation, and neuropathies. Lowering sugar in the diet as well as avoiding foods that have been glycated such as meringue pie or barbecuing meat with sauces containing sugars will slow this aging process.
6. Anti-platelet adhesion or blood thinning therapy can be obtained using essential fats, vitamin E, vitamin C and gingko.
The polypill idea will be much more expensive and have more adverse drug reactions than following a “Nutritional Insurance Policy”. This is the biology of hope, giving you information that you can use to help you live 11 years longer and disease free at that!
Dr.
Pincott has been practicing naturopathic medicine since 1985 and is currently
practicing in Campbell River. She can be reached at (250) 286-3655 or www.DrPincott.com