Herbalist and Herbs/Shiatsu Therapy

09/25/2025

Hello All

This is the fourth article/video on the subject PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING THE SURGERY, CHEMO AND RADIATION PATIENT

21.Cancer is a thinking, opportunistic adversary. Everything it does is calculated and fits into a larger
strategy. Cancer is also a metabolic disease that takes over different systems and changes how they
work in order to attain its goal. The cell’s energy metabolism is a good example.

11. Short t Term Side Effects of Radiation: Treatment is usually for 4-6 weeks 5 x a week
A. Fatigue Takes 2-3 weeks of treatment before sets in
B. Skin Reactions;
C. Hair loss if head or neck area hit.
D. Nausea /Vomiting
E. Head/neck sore throat, difficulty in swallowing
F. Depending on where it hits in digestive tract; Mucositis, Enteritis, Proctitis
G. Low Blood count (White, Red, Platelets)
H. Dry mouth
G. Any area that radiation touches needs protection

25. Many of these same side effects of radiation also are part of chemotherapy’s side effects and they
will be addressed when chemo is addressed. Right now I want to cover 2 long term and very damaging
down sides of Radiation. Tissue Fibrosis and Stem Cell response. The third large problem is the Radiation
itself inducing cancer. If we control the first 2, recurrence will be minimized and if recurrence does
happen, the cancers are much less aggressive.

26. As mentioned, the type of long term damage Radiation induces is very unforgiving in the area of
Fibrosis. Fibrotic tissue is damaged tissue and the complete damaging effects may take a few years
before full fruition. Presently there is a drug to help named Trental (it is given with Vit E). It
works quite well but is hard on the gut in terms of nausea and vomiting. It is given to patients for up to 1
1 year. One of the main drivers of fibrosis is TGFb1. Trental neutralizes that growth factor.
Along with the use of this I would still be using a Natural Medicine protocol to avoid fibrosis and reduce
nausea. Without help, radiation helps create and promote solid tumors of the Lung, Bladder, Pancreas
and Colon.
Radiation on the prostate can induce Bladder cancer as a long term side effect. Radiation
increases CTC (Circulating Tumor cells) and pushes the growth factor TGB1 which is often elevated in a
metastasising cancers and the development of fibrotic tissue. It tends to make stem cells less stable
(these are the cells responsible for recurrence of cancer)

27. Natural Medicine to reduce or mitigate Fibrosis

If markers TGFb1, Gal 3, and Fibrinogen are elevated, chances are fibrosis is in progress.
Cancer, Radiation and Chemo thicken blood by inducing the production of excess fibrin. The system
that cancer takes over in this case is designed for wound healing and is known as the Fibrinolytic
System. There are two major growth factors that will induce this blood thickening scenario and they are
Hif1 and VEGf. The first leads to the second because HiF1 is upstream from Vegf. Both growth factors
are amplified/upregulated by the cancer. If we go a step further upstream from these growth factors we
can see that they are both controlled by the Tumor suppressor gene Pten. Because of the important
areas that PTEN covers, it is considered one of the main protectors of normal cells. Pten is mutated in
50% of all cancers and a mutated Pten begins to promote cancer instead of suppressing it via Hif1 and
Vegf (there are more pieces to this cascade and more ways a Pten mutation favors the cancer). This
happens when both copies of the Pten gene have been mutated, that is when Pten moves from being a
Tumor Suppressor gene( protecting the cell) to become an Oncogene (Promotes cancer cells) One other marker to check is D-Dimer( to determine blood viscosity). D-Dimer is the result of plasmin breaking down the excess fibrin and producing D-Dimer as a result. The greater the amount the more pronounced the problem.


TREATMENT to help reduce fibrosis
A. Normalize Blood LDH and Urine PH. Potassium and Sodium Bicarbonate, Quercetin, Green Drinks, Cider
Vinegar ( PH 7-7.5) Alkaline diets
B. Proteolytic enzymes ( Bromelain, Nattokinase, Serrapeptase, Lumbrokinase) and Essential Fatty acids.
C. Move Blood and Lymph. Chinese have a group of herbs called Blood Vitilizers and in the West we have
Lymphatics. We need to keep fluids moving.TCM Chinese think Cancer is a disease of stagnation and
inflamation.
D. Blood Vit: D**g Qui, Red Peony Root, Chinese Sage (Salvia Miltiorrhiza),Myrhh, Tienchi, Corydalyis
E. Lymphatics: Red Root, Colonsonia, Polk, Safflower Stamen
F. Increase oxygen exchange to tissue: Ginko, Saffron, Hawthorn, Gotu Kola, Green drinks (Vegetable
based juices and Green powder Shakes)
G. Arginine/Citruline , Agmatine Sulfate ( Dialate Arteries via nitric oxide)
H. Applying Adaptogens and Tonics. Ginseng, Shizandra,Aswaganda, Holy Basil
I. Phenolic Compounds to reduce inflammation Turmeric, Green Tea Extract,Ginko, Hawthorn

When setting up protocols, we are choosing from the herbs and supplements that fit best, which does
not have to include everything listed. However dosages of the chosen herbs and supplements are
higher than most people think. i.e. Essential fatty acids are excellent modulators of inflammation (Cox
and Loxs pathways) and to be effective in that way we need to take 3 caps 2x a day or 2 caps 3x a day( those caps
need the to contain the right amount of DHA, EPA ect. To take it a little further, in order for the essential
fatty acids to work we need adequate amounts of B6, B12, Folic Acid, Zinc and Magnesium, which are
fundamental nutrients that many patients are low on. Once again the importance of blood testing for
the patient’s general health and trying to bring it up to a optimum level so that treatments can be
effective.

Following is a short list of Medicinal Plants

List of Adaptogens List of Tonics List of Phenolic Compounds

American Ginseng D**g Qui Green Tea
Siberian Ginseng Astragalus Amla
Panax Ginseng Rehmanhia Hawthorn
Aswaganda Codonopsis Ginko
Deer Horn Asparagus RT Japanese Knotweed
Shizandra Bacopa Rose Hips
Rhodiola He Shu Wu Tumeric
Rapunthcum Reishi Rooibois
Mumie (shilijit) Avena Elderberry

15. Keeping a person on this protocol, before, during and for a while after radiation is a necessary step
to preventing fibrosis . Keeping an eye on the markers that would indicate that fibrosis is
starting/accelerating is wise. These markers are Fibrinogen, TGB1, Gal 3.

16. Reducing resistance to Radiation follows a similar path as preventing fibrosis. Normalize the
aberrations found in the bloodstream like Insulin Resistance, excess copper; Sensitize the Cancer cells
to radiation with supplements and plant medicines like: Resveratrol, Ginko, Green Tea extract, Curcumin
(phenolic compounds), along with Adaptogens like American Ginseng, Siberian Ginseng, Aswaganda.
Supplements like Carotinoids, OPC’s and Arginine are very helpful as well. Keeping the blood and lymph
moving , increasing oxygen exchange and normalizing blood PH.
These plants help reduce Cancer cell resistance by reducing the internal defensive mechanisms of the
cancer cell as well. Some of these defensive mechanisms are things like Heat Shock Protein, Multi Drug
resistance proteins, P-Glycoprotein pump. Another results of this approach is that these programs can
selectively reduce the cancer cells Glutathione levels (primary antioxidant). If we reduce the cancer
cells repair mechanisms and anti oxidant system than if the chemo or radiation hits the cancer cell, it
cannot recover and will die. Interestingly, these natural compounds do not do these same things to
normal cells (the plant medicines are selective and cover lots of bases ). In fact they strengthen a normal
cells resistance to the damaging effects of Chemo and Radiation by up regulating their protective
capacities.

Harry Chrissakis, Herbalist, Natural Medicine
HerbalistandHerbs.com
530-933-8244

09/19/2025

06/19/2025

Hello All
this is the third Video in the series PROTECTING AND STRENGHTENING THE SURGERY,CHEMO AND RADIATION PATIENT

06/19/2025

ISSUE 3: PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING THE SURGERY CHEMO AND RADIATION PATIENT

The following is a quote from the former director of the NIH, Dr. Vincent DeVita (Dr. DeVita is also editor and chief of The Cancer Journal and author of The Death of Cancer) on the current direction of cancer treatment in the U.S.
“At this date, we are not limited by the Science; we are limited by our ability to make good of the information and treatments we already have. Too often, lives are tragically ended not by Cancer, but by the bureaucracy that came with the nation’s investment in the war on cancer, by review boards, by the FDA, and by doctors who won’t stand by their own patients or are afraid to take a chance”
15. In order for Chemo and Radiation to be most effective, the Cancer must be relatively active (rapid cell division). A Ki67 test (which is part of a biopsy report) needs to be above 15% for chemo and radiation to work well. Ki 67 measures how fast the cells are dividing. It is only present in cells that are cycling into cell division, producing a daughter cell. Another testing method, to see how active the cancer is or has become (and to measure possible metastasis as well) is a SUV (Standard Uptake value) on a Pet Scan.
16. RADIATION. Widely used up until the late 40s, Radiation applied to diseased conditions became popular in the 1920s. Oncology as a separate medical field began in 1972. Two types of Radiation used in Cancer are External beam and BrachyTherapy. External beam being most common.
17. Length of Radiotherapy is usually 4-6 weeks; 5 days a week
18. Radiation’s success is dependent upon 2 things; First: That the cells being hit are rapidly dividing
cells (biopsy/ pathology test looking at Ki67 > 15% or S Phase, both of which indicate the rate of division
of the cancer cells. Both radiation and chemo are designed to damage fast dividing cells.
Second: That the Cancer cell is using oxidation-reduction in its energy metabolism. That is because
Radiation induces severe oxidative damage in the cell that causes it to die. Radiation directly damages
DNA and ionizes the liquid portion of the cell causing severe oxidative damage. Radiation has a
particularly damaging effect on cell lipids which are a big part of the cell’s walls as well as the
membrane that surrounds the Nucleus (where the DNA is) and the membrane that encapsulates the Mitochondria (makes the ATP for the cell). However Radiation may only succeed if the cancer cell is still using oxygen in one of its energy cycles
Part of cancer’s evolutionary plan is to mutate to the point where the cancer cell no longer uses oxygen as part of its energy cycle. This is true of most cancers with some exceptions (ovarian cancer, melanomas and early stage prostate cancers). At this point the cancer cell will only use glucose (Glycolytic pathway) as its energy source. An obvious difference between normal cells and cancer cells is that normal cells use 30% glucose and 70% oxygen as fuel and cancer cells use 70% glucose and 30% oxygen, moving towards using glucose exclusively. If there is no oxygen available (due to this Cancer induced metabolic change known as the Warburg effect) damage to
the cancer cell will be minimal to non-existent. Only normal cells will be hurt. Both radiation/chemo are
designed to damage fast dividing cells. Many normal cells have a relative fast dividing rate; Bone
Marrow, Te**es, Ovaries, Skin, Gut Lining, hair cells are also rapidly dividing cells and because of this get
caught in the crossfire. That crossfire damage can be extreme. Once tissue damage reaches fibrosis
there can be no recovery of that tissue. It becomes a burden to the body. The environment that cancer
prefers is low to no oxygen (anaerobic), with an acidic blood PH (LDH + Urine PH test) and to move
towards using glucose as its only energy source.
Cancer also prefers thickened, slow moving blood (Hypercoagulation). If these things are in place there
is a good chance that the cancer will be radio resistant.

We can test in advance to see if this is the case.
If Ca 9 (Carbonic Anhydrase 9) is elevated, Radio- resistance is likely. When Ca 9 is elevated EGFR, HER2, VEGF and MUC1 (growth factors that are 10 times higher in cancer patients) are also elevated. These are all growth factors that the cancer is controlling and using to further its evolution as well as contributing to multi drug/radio resistance. Elevated Ca9 is also indicative of micro vessel density within a tumor, which in turn means it is more resistant. To reduce Multi Drug Resistance as well as Radio Resistance the following 5 principles need to be implemented. Reduce Inflammation, Reduce Hyper-coagulation, Reduce Oxidative damage, Normalize Blood P.H. and Increase Blood Flow and Oxygenation of tissue.
To measure areas of blood quality that add to resistance, we would be looking at the following
tests. Blood thickening (hyper coagulation) can be measured through Fibrinogen, D-dimer,PAI1, Hif1.
Chemo and Radiation as well as the cancer itself all push toward hyper coagulation (Thalidomide and
Platinum based drugs are the worst). Due to this fact many cancer patients die as a result of throwing a
clot (second leading cause of death in cancer patients, first leading cause is Cachexia, which is a form of
auto digestion). This is completely avoidable. The tests just mentioned, done before getting chemo or
radiation can help avoid patients dying from throwing a clot. To measure Blood Acidity we would look at
LDH (Lactate dehydrogenase and Urine PH). If LDH is very high treating any cancer patient aggressively
(with chemo or radiation) is dangerous as the detox (cancer cell die off) could overwhelm the patient.
For measuring Inflammation in general, use a CRP, Fasting insulin, Homocystiene and Sed Rate.
Measuring over all oxidative load on the body with the tests; HbA1c, Glutathione Peroxidase, and Beta
Glucuronidation

19. As an example of how capable cancer really is; If the immune cells called Neutrophils are above 3.5 times greater than Lymphocytes in a cancer patient, it is showing that the cancer is advancing by capturing, altering (deadening parts of the Neutrophil that can harm the cancer while accentuating the parts that can serve the cancer) as well as multiplying the Neutrophils (front line immune cells, which when captured by the cancer become known as Tans, Tumor Associated Neutrophils) to use for its own purpose. At the same time the cancer is suppressing Lymphocyte production, because the Lymphocyte population poses a threat to the cancer. Cancer can develop the ability to capture immune cells and then deaden the parts of that immune cell that could be threatening to the cancer and accentuate parts of the same cell that it can use for its criminal enterprise. Some tumors have up to 50% of their weight consisting of captured immune cells. That ratio of Neutrophils to Lymphocytes can be seen on a simple CBC/Chem/Lipid/Metabolic test (which are common front line tests a Dr. gives to their patients). Checking this ratio post chemo can also act as an important diagnostic indicator of whether the chemo is being effective or not. If it is working (checking after 3 sessions) that ratio will approach normalcy (below 3.5:1). Cancer has a wide plan and relative continuous testing can help us see which way this opportunistic disorder is trying to move to gain further access.

20. An example of the combination of Fu Zheng therapy, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), combined with Modern Oncology (from one of my teachers in Natural Medicine Donnie Yance) are the following paragraphs. This is one example of the many possibilities of combining herbs/natural medicine with chemo/radiation.
Stagnation of blood in a tumor has been confirmed as a significant factor in tumor development not only in the TCM model, but also in the western allopathic model.17, 18, 19 The microcirculation within a tumor is distorted, and there are regions within the tumor where the blood flow is sluggish. The impaired blood circulation leads to areas of poor oxygenation in the tumor. Cancer cells thrive in this hypoxic state, which promotes glycolysis and angiogenesis(the use of glucose as fuel exclusively, and the growth of veinous and arterial structures to feed the cancer cell ). Cells that survive in a low oxygen tension environment also are found to be more resistant to radiotherapy and some types of chemotherapy.20, 21
The therapeutic approach to this situation requires agents that move blood and regulate platelet aggregation. The use of anticoagulants, such as heparin, coumadin (warfarin), and even aspirin as an adjunctive treatment to chemotherapy has been shown not only to prevent blood clots, but also prevent the development of blood-borne metastases in animal laboratory studies and to improve the survival of cancer patients in clinical studies.22 There are many herbal agents that can aid in this situation, either replacing certain drugs entirely or augmenting the drug action, thus requiring less medication and therefore reducing the risk of side effects from the drugs. In a 1998 clinical trial, 90 patients received combined herbal and radiation treatment compared with 98 patients who were randomized to receive radiation treatment alone. Herbs included Astragalus membranaceous, Paeonia rubra, Ligusticum lucidum, and Angelica sinensis. The combined treatment group showed a statistically significant increase in local tumor control and overall five-year survival as compared with the group treated with radiation alone (p < 0.05). The rate of local recurrence in the intervention group was halved from 29 percent in those receiving radiation alone to 14 percent in the group receiving the herbs as well. The five-year disease-free survival was increased from 37 percent in the control group to 53 percent in the group receiving the herbs. It is postulated that this herbal formula may have improved tumor microcirculation and increased tumor blood flow, leading to an improvement in the oxygen tension inside the tumor.23
Interestingly, there also is a clear correspondence with the TCM model of cancer predisposition being associated.

Harry Chrissakis Herbalist, Natural Medicine
HerbalistandHerbs.com
530-933-8244

04/07/2025

Hello All

This is the second video to accompany the article PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING THE SURGERY,CHEMO, AND RADIATION PATIENT

10. Testing to determine the general health of the patient is first. Testing for things like Glucose, Fasting Insulin, HBa1c, CRP, Albumen Levels, Homocysteine, NMR, Vit D, Zinc, Magnesium, Comprehensive Hormone and Comprehensive Thyroid profiles, Copper/Iron levels ect. Many of the tests just mentioned are not done on any kind of a regular basis and a number of them that are not done at all. Often the Dr.s will not pay attention to something as basic as elevated glucose levels. With this elevated glucose you will often find excess insulin as a response to it. The excess insulin has even more negative impact than the excess glucose. The fact that it is general knowledge that excess glucose/insulin in the blood stream feeds the cancer process directly as well as indirectly would behoove us to take it seriously. A healthy glucose level is between 85-95.. It is not uncommon for me to see a cancer patient with glucose levels @ 110+ and insulin levels at 14- 18 (range is 0-24). Although it is within normal limits, this level of Insulin and Glucose are still too high for a cancer patient. If these basic numbers on the list of tests mentioned are skewed they can easily contribute to both short and long term side effects as well as add to the possibility of developing Multi-Drug Resistance to Chemo/Rad. The skewed areas helped to create cancer/are a result of the cancer process and also feed the cancer processes. I.E Inflammation, Oxidative damage, Hyper-coagulation ect.
11. We suffer from some degree of imagination when we think that Western Medicine has a drug for everything. The following are areas have no drugs to mitigate them and are strong drivers of the cancer process. Insulin Like Growth Factor 1 and 2, Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor, Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1. Plant medicines can and do cover these very important areas in the treatment of chronic disease often modulating these skewed areas and moving them towards normalcy in the multiple areas they affect.
12. As well as testing for the patient’s general health we need to look at the cancer cells Phenotype as well as the cancer’s epigenetic/ local environment to see how the cancer is capitalizing on underlying health problems and or creating new opportunities for itself. Tests for Genetic Mutations and Molecular Profiles of the cancer, for a variety of growth factors, their receptors and the amplification/multiplication of those receptors , for SNPs (Functional mutations).Blood tests for things like Fibrinogen, D-Dimer,PAi1 ( Blood hyper-coagulation),VEGF, MMP 2 and 9 (Invasion, metastasis, and Cancer growing new blood vessels to feed itself), LDH and Urine P.H ((Blood Hyper Acidity), Ill 6 and 8, k, Cox and Lox, TNFA ( inflammatory markers) Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratios (cancer owning part of the immune system), Copper loading to grow new vessels to feed itself (Ceruloplasmin: 90% of all cancers have elevated Ceruloplasmin), or Iron loading (Ferritin) for cell division. Biopsy and pathology reports yield important information on how fast the cancer cells are dividing (test Ki67), if the cancer cells are hormone sensitive, the shape and number of the cancer chromosome and in some cases specific growth factors (Her2). Post surgical live tumor testing can and will yield a wealth of information on which drug may be the most effective for their particular cancer. This is an excellent test that is rarely run. Both Live tumor and Molecular Profiling tests will not be done without the patients request and will often be out of pocket (relatively expensive but well worth it). This information is invaluable especially if the patient will need Chemo or Radiation
Germline cancers (genetic mutations handed down from our parents) only constitute 5-10% of cancer cases. The majority of the rest happen as a result of lifestyle. Those same germ line mutations may never become cancer or help produce cancer. Our bodies have developed ways to keep the damaged cells inactive (Methylation). Braca 1 or 2 normally function as tumor suppressor genes. If they are mutated it does not mean cancerous or that it is promoting cancer, but it does mean they have been compromised and are not functioning normally and yes, could lead to cancer development. It takes about 10 consecutive mutations to create a cancer cell from a mutation. Knowing that you have these mutations means playing strong defence. That strong defense for a breast cancer patient, does not mean double mastectomy. Braca 1 and or Braca 2 mutations occur in 1% of the population and may never become cancerous or cancer drivers. Having these mutations increases the statistical possibility that a woman may get ovarian or breast cancer, but it does not mean those women will develop those cancers (further testing is necessary). If it were so than the number of breast and ovarian cancer cases would be much higher. As it stands now, cases of breast and ovarian cancers that have been Braca 1 and 2 positive also have somatic mutations creating and contributing to those cancers. Somatic mutations occur within our lifetime, they are not handed down from our parents. This definitely says something about lifestyle and environment being major influences in cancer development. Gene functioning is influenced through diet, lifestyle, systemic inflammation, exercise, mind set, ect. These influences affect a cell’s microenvironment. The effect of the microenvironment that surrounds the cell is large in how cells function and how Genes get turned on or off. Phenotype of a cancer cell is determined by the genetic potential of that cancer cell meeting the microenvironment. The microenvironment changes how the genes work, which in turn determines how the cell is going to act.
In terms of developing treatment protocols, Phenotype is more valuable than Genotype. Genotype tells us of the various mutations in a tumor (can be 10 different cancer cell lines simultaneously), how abnormal chromosomes are and the epigenetic environment (very important info). This information shows possibility of direction, while Phenotype shows what it is actually doing in real time through studying Growth rate, Invasiveness, Metastasis and Immuno- response. What the cell is actually doing.

13. As cancers can be virally based (HPV inducing Cervical Cancer, Cytomegalovirus inducing Brain Cancer, Epstein Barr inducing Nasopharyngeal cancers) patients need to be screened. If they test positive, those viruses must be worked with, because if left untreated they are still enhancing the cancer and weakening the body’s defenses. Often this is not done so the virus continues to support the cancer. Testing for toxic metals is also a great Idea, as well as setting up base lines on cancer markers that relate to the type of cancer, like CEA,Ca 15-3 and CA 27-29 for Breast cancer
14. It is obvious that these very toxic therapies need to be combined with Natural Medicine that is designed to: Reduce side effect, maintain proper blood counts, potentiate the effectiveness of the Chemo/Radiation, reduce Multi Drug Resistance, clear the body of dead cancer cells, reduce fatigue (Number 1 complaint of Cancer patients), strengthen the Immune System, as well as make the Cancer more sensitive to both chemo and radiation. It is very important that once a chemo regime is started that the patient can make it through. Stopping short due to complications of side effect will only strengthen the cancer. Chinese have been combining Oncology (Radiation and Chemo) and herbal medicine for decades now with good results. Called Fu Zheng therapy

Harry Chrissakis, Herbalist,Natural Medicine
HerbalistandHerbs.com 530-933-8244

09/20/2024

Please Come and check us out

09/07/2024

Hello All

I am sending out 2 articles. First one I have sent out previously, the second one is new and expands on it.

Thanks
Harry

NEUROLOGICAL DECLINE, ALZHEIMER’S, AND PARKINSON’S
DISEASE : The Thread That Binds
By Harry Chrissakis, Herbalist, Practitioner of Natural medicine
It is actually more than a thread and it reaches further and wider than neurological disorders. This is about finding the crossover connection between these brain disorders. Many of the same pathological processes are part of many diseases, which is a premise of Natural Medicine. A unified theory of disease has as its basis a living, fluid, moving and dynamic model. It is only through
this kind of model that we can discover the basic problem/problems of a disorder and hopefully eliminate it. The blood stream never lies, but its information can be applied to a static model (pharmaceutical) or a living model (Natural Medicine). Looked at from the perspective of continuity and connectedness, proper blood testing can show a large amount of useful and applicable data. It can show the direction our body is taking and it can show it like nothing else can. Western Medicine knows a lot, it simply forgot how to connect the dots and the pharmaceutical companies have worked very hard to help create that amnesia.
That these neurological disorders share a similar basis can be seen through testing. Many of the aberrations that show up in the blood test have been going on for a very long time (decades). Damage is slow, constant and almost imperceptible by the patient. This is another reason that regular front line blood testing is a necessity. All have free radical oxidative damage and low level continuous inflammation in their bloodstream and Brain, which can be measured by CRP, Homocysteine, ILL 6 and 8 levels. All have damage to the area of the cell that produces energy for the cell: the Mitochondria. Many, if not all, have endocrine decline, and multiple deficiencies including Vit D, folic acid, B12, and B6 (all critical to proper brain function). A common finding is Insulin Resistance or its full blown complement Diabetes (combined numbers in the U.S. equal about 130 Million Americans, or roughly 1/3 of the U.S. population). Excess insulin and glucose damage the brain (as well as many other bodily things). You get both excess insulin and glucose if you have either Insulin Resistance or Diabetes. Pathological stress response (relatively continuous stress response without proper recovery) damages the brain through the excessive production of cortisol (a stress response hormone). All modern chronic diseases have pathological stress response and a nervous system that is in need of help as major components. Both these elements play a major role in creating the disorders and in accelerating them.
It is a very common finding in people with neurological disorders that their thyroid has been under functioning, probably for years or even decades. Thyroid function is critical in maintaining metabolic rate of the cell and the metabolic rate of brain cell function. Full Thyroid Panels are necessary. Dr. often only test for TSH and one or 2 other markers (maybe). There are 5 more markers that comprise a comprehensive Thyroid Panel.
Metal toxicity induced neural damage has been well established. More common offending agents are copper, iron, mercury, all of which can be removed from our system through the use of Natural Medicine. A person suffering from cognitive disorder may have many of the above stated difficulties at once. Actually, as a practitioner, you can almost count on it, because these problems are so common. Some difference between Parkinson’s and the other neurological problems are as follows: Low cholesterol level (too low is no good either). Low levels of the neurotransmitter Dopamine, which has a lot to do with motor function and s*x drive; Excess iron loading in the cells (oxidative nightmare); Low Testosterone in men (majority of Parkinson’s patients are male)
Many of the other influences are the same as the ones mentioned above that are common to cognitive impairment. Some differences in Alzheimer’s are plaque and fibrous tangles in brain tissue and abnormalities in at least 5 different neurotransmitters
In working with this type of profile some of the first things that need to be done is to slow or stop oxidative damage and inflammation. Deficiencies have to be tested for and brought up to normal levels. The endocrine system needs to be brought back into balance (inclusive of Thyroid). Toxic excess must be cleared or minimized. Blood sugar imbalances have to be worked with. Stress response needs to be modified along with proper feeding of the nervous system. All this needs to be accompanied by a deep feeding of the neuro-endocrine system through the use of highly concentrated nutritional agents as well as supplements and high ratio extracts of Tonic/Adaptogenic herbs. All the various problems that go into creating mental impairment, can be tested for and can be greatly improved through the use of Natural Medicine. Stage of degeneration is of paramount importance. From the time a cognitive disorder begins to show, there is about a 10 year period to slow or even reverse problems.

Mild Cognitive Dysfunction onto Dementia: Catching It Early Before Things Disappear
By Harry Chrissakis Herbalist and Practitioner of Natural Medicine
The slow unraveling of a well organized brain is consistent with our modern neurological diseases. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are the 2 leading causes of Dementia. Statistics are staggering and projections for the growth of these 2 disorders worldwide is impressive. Whether it is Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, it is a long slow burn that eventually leads to the loss of mental faculties and destruction of the nervous systems among other things. Post 65 years old is general onset, so it is a problem of Seniors. From onset to fully blown disorder is roughly 10 years. This 10 year period is critical and so is the need to recognize problems early. Properly treated (within this window of opportunity), we can slow the progress of the disorder way down. If we can catch it early enough, a lot of good can be done with the use of Natural Medicine alone.
There are no really effective treatments in Standard Practice Medicine for these disorders. Treatments for Parkinson’s is supportive/symptomatic at best and will get a short term positive response (1-5 years) with the very poor downside of having those same drugs destroying anything useful neurologically that was there when the treatments began.
By the time a Parkinson’s patient arrives at a Doctor’s office there has already been about 50% or more neurological damage done from the disease. The treatment for Parkinson’s is a combination of the drugs L-Dopa and Carbidopa. L-Dopa is highly oxidative and along with the destructive elements of the disease will( in 4-5 year’s time) have damaged any remaining useful neurological structures that were left. Resistance is built fast so dosage must be upped to get effect. Carbi –Dopa is given because it inhibits an enzyme that would otherwise release the L-dopa directly into the bloodstream before it has gotten to the Brain. That is a bad scene. The problem with the Carbidopa is that the same enzyme it inhibits takes part in the production of serotonin, which is another neurotransmitter that we need. In short, after those drugs have run their course, the patient is in much worse shape than when they began treatment and they are left with 0 options.
Treatments for Alzheimer’s is wrapped around 2 drug categories. Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonist. The first drug stops the enzyme Cholinesterase from breaking down Acetylcholine. The shortage or lack of Acetylcholine is one of the main players in inducing Alzheimer’s symptoms. The problem is the drugs in this category are only effective for 3-12 months. In comparative autopsy studies of the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, those that took the Cholinesterase inhibitors had more degeneration in their brain tissue showing that the drugs offered no neuro-protection and actually accelerated the oxidative damage. NMDA inhibitors prevent the binding of Glutimate to the NMDA receptor. Excess Glutimate is toxic to the Brain. The main drug used is Menatine. Its average term of effectiveness is 6-12 months. Once again, after this short window of drug application the patient is left with no options via Standard Practice Medicine.
The etiology of these disorders (Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s) are similar and complex and the expression of each disorder is different. Multiple similar factors underlie these disorders. Insulin Resistance, Pathological Stress Response, Environmental Pollutants, Endocrine Deficiencies (Adrenal,Thyroidal,Steroidal), Chronic low level inflammation with ongoing oxidative damage (Inflammaging), Recessive Viral Infections ( Epstein Barr, HPV, Herpes), Head Injuries, Poor Dietary Choices, extended periods of high or low blood pressure, swing shift workers(disturbed circadian rhythms)and sleep disorders. The long term use of specific drugs such as Proton Pump Inhibitors (acid flux), Benzodiazepines (sleep aid) and SSRI (for Depression)have been shown to have the downside of helping to induce early Dementia . These are commonly used drugs. Proton Pump Inhibitors are black boxed with the contraindication that they are not be used for more the 2 weeks and the reality is that people stay on them for many years. Many of these listed problems also exist as the some of the foundations of other modern disorders. Many of the mentioned preexisting disorders can be can be normalized with Natural Medicine.
Part of my approach is the use of extensive testing. The information gained is invaluable. In order to gain a comprehensive profile of a person and their disorder, a lot more information is needed than is usually garnered. There are at least 4 inflammatory markers that need to be tested for; CRP, ESR, Fasting Insulin and Homocystiene (Interleukin 6 and 8 as well as TNFa would also be useful esp. in more advanced disease)), and at least 2 oxidative markers HbA1C and Glutathione Peroxidase that need to be looked at. That is just the beginning, because we also need to look at the general profile of their health as well. The details and the individual nuances matter a lot. One person has insulin resistance and another one does not. Those are already 2 different treatment plans. There are many online Labs that do excellent work.
A marker for Alzheimer’s is named Apolipoprotein E 4. This particular Apolipoprotein is a cholesterol transporting agent for the brain and as the brain is a fatty acid structure, that makes it pretty important. ApoE4 is also involved in the repair of neurons and the clearance from the brain of damaged Amyloid proteins. Amyloid Plaques are made from these proteins and that is what shows up in the Brain as irreversibly damaged tissue in the case of Alzheimer’s. This test is done to see if there is damage to that particular gene site that makes ApoE4. Damaged gene sites of APOe4 are relatively common, occurring in 10-15% of the U.S. population.There are 2 copies to each of our genes. If one is damaged than the percentage of possibility of getting Alzheimer’s goes up. If both copies are damaged than that possibility goes way up (fifteen times more likely to get Alzheimer’s). Somewhere around 60-80% of Alzheimer’s has a genetic component to it. This is a great test for Early Stage Cognitive Difficulty due to early onset of Alzheimer’s, and is also used as a predictor of Heart Attack and Stroke. Another good base line test to establish how well nerves can regenerate and participate in the necessary process of Brain Plasticity (remodeling) is Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor Test (BDNF is often used to determine Congestive Heart Failure and other cardio issues). Low levels of BDNF are seen in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Disease. Some early stage symptoms of early cognitive damage are as follows: Short term memory loss; Difficulty communicating thoughts; Easily agitated with sharp mood swings; Here are a few others from A.I.
• Frequent Memory Loss: Forgetting recently learned information, important dates, or events and asking for the same information repeatedly.
• Difficulty with Familiar Tasks: Struggling to complete tasks that were once familiar, such as cooking a meal or driving to a known location.
• Confusion with Time and Place: Losing track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time. Sometimes forgetting where they are or how they got there.
• Problems with Words: Difficulty following or joining a conversation, stopping in the middle of a conversation, or repeating themselves

Here is some of Natural Medicine’s general approach to Cognitive Difficulties/Dementia.

1. Reduce Inflammation and Oxidative damage systemically and in the Brain in particular
2. Calm Nervous System
3. Balance Stress response
4. Improve General Health
5. Increase Circulation in the Brain as well as increase uptake of glucose and oxygen in the Brain
6. Increase ATP production through strengthening and balancing Mitochondrial function (cell’s energy factory)
7. Support Kidney Energy (Chinese Herbal Medicine)
8. Normalize digestive flora (Microbiome)
I am going to pull apart number 7 and 8 to give a window into this general approach
In Chinese medicine the Kidneys rule the Spinal Cord and Brain. Working with Adaptogenic Herbs/Tonics (Ginseng, Aswaganda, ect) and Phenolic compounds (Curcumin , Amla, ect) we can strengthen and normalize many Kidney as well as Brain functions through the proper use of these herbs. As the kidney function also includes hearing, using these types of herbs may improve hearing as well as strengthen the lower back and knees. These herbs are often used to improve libido as well, due to their effect on the Steriodal (Cholesterol) based s*x hormones and the Nuro-Endocrine (HPAT axis) system as well
It is often surprising to find out how much of our neurotransmitters are made by the flora in our gut. The Microbiome consists of over 2000 different organisims, that hopefully are living in harmony. These critters produce 40% of our neurotransmitters which include Norepinephrine, Serotonin, Gaba, Oxytosin, Glutimate, Acetylcholine, and Tyrosine. When this Microbiome film gets damaged through poor diet, pharma drugs, food poisoning ,excessive worry, it dosen’t always come back to normal. What it originally produced that did fit, no longer does, and what unwanted material it kept out from being absorbed into our bloodstream is now getting in. It is often the case that both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s patients are constipated due to gut flora dysbiosis. One of the cornerstones of improvement is to work this area (Microbiome) and get it back in order. As an aside; Amyloids are part of the Microbiome. They help it stick together. Ameloid Placking is part of the damage that Alzheimer’s produces in the brain. Is there a direct relationship between that Amyloid in their gut and the unwanted amount in the Brain? I am saying yes. And it is due, at least in part, to this disorientation of the Microbiome. So this is a big deal in terms of treatment. When working with the gut it is not just about Pro and Prebiotics and or diet, (all of which are very important). It is also about calming the nervous system and normalizing stress response as well as getting people to sleep well. These are some of the basic principles of Natural Medicine that often transcend disease title. They are basic principles of health.
A lot of pain can be avoided if the general public would blood test yearly (post 40) and in a more comprehensive way than is usually given by an annual checkup. It is not hard to do and does not have to be super expensive. It is well worth the dollar spent. If we can catch things in blood tests early enough and normalize them, than many of the factors that go into creating chronic disease can be mitigated inclusive of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
Harry Chrissakis
Herbalist and Practitioner of Natural Medicine
HerbalistandHerbs.com
530-933-8244