Since 2016, irritable bowel syndrome has been defined by a grouping of primary symptoms and no longer requires invasive testing for diagnosis. Abdominal pain related to bowel movements or relieved by having a bowel movement is the primary symptom of this functional gastrointestinal disorder. Through expanding appreciation of functional gastrointestinal disorders and the increasing understanding of gastrointestinal tract-brain interactions, a growing body of research is discussing the symptom overlap between IBS and histamine intolerance, as well as other issues of histamine metabolism and related neuroimmune regulation in the pathophysiology of IBS. Visceral hypersensitivity, exacerbated by increased histamine levels, may disrupt the intricate signaling between the central nervous system and enteric nervous system. This case report illustrates the use of supplemental diamine oxidase combined with trigger food avoidance to nearly completely abate IBS symptoms in a 46-year-old Japanese American female.
Background:Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) usage is common among cancer survivors, but comprehensive information on their use is limited. Objective:To provide a detailed description of CAM use in cancer survivors before they participated in a multimodal lifestyle intervention. Methods/Design:A cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 104 cancer survivors (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer), and a subgroup of 46 breast cancer participants, aged ≥18 years. Participants completed online questionnaires on CAM utilization before participating in the intervention. Data were summarized using mean ± standard deviation and median [interquartile range (IQR)] for continuous variables, and frequencies for categorical measures. Setting:The United States, Australia, Canada, Kuwait, New Zealand, and South Africa. Primary Outcome Measures:Prevalence of CAM use. Results:Participants were predominantly women (89%), Non-Hispanic White (79%), and US residents (88%). Median age (IQR) was 56 (50-65) years, and 44% had breast cancer. The majority of the participants (94%) used CAM with modality-specific use as follows: mind-body medicine, 85%; biologically-based approaches, 67%; whole medical systems, 48%; manipulative and body-based techniques, 31%; and energy healing practices, 29%. Eighty participants (77%) used both conventional treatments and CAM. Relaxation techniques were the most common mind-body interventions (78%). Dietary supplements were the main biologically-based approaches used (66%). Acupuncture was the predominant whole medical intervention employed (47%). Chiropractic manipulation was the most utilized manipulative and body-based practice (18%), and Reiki, the major energy medicine (27%). On average, participants reported using 3.1 ± 1.6 types of CAM therapies (range: 1-6). Breast cancer participants had comparable characteristics and CAM usage. Conclusion:This study provides a comprehensive description of CAM use in cancer survivors before participating in a multimodal lifestyle intervention. The approaches were complementary rather than an alternative to conventional medicine.
Iron deficiency is one of the most prevalent micronutrient disorders worldwide and disproportionately affects women across the lifespan. While its hematologic consequences are well recognized, the broader endocrine and metabolic implications of iron status remain underappreciated in routine clinical care. Iron is a critical cofactor in thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism and plays a central role in hepatic detoxification pathways, mitochondrial energetics, and hormone regulation. Disruptions in iron homeostasis may therefore contribute to thyroid dysfunction, impaired detoxification capacity, and symptom patterns that overlap with hypothyroidism, particularly in women with increased physiologic demands such as menstruation, pregnancy, and perimenopause. This narrative review examines the interconnected roles of iron in thyroid physiology and detoxification systems, with a focus on clinical implications for women's health. We discuss mechanisms linking iron deficiency to altered thyroid hormone production, hepatic cytochrome P450 activity, estrogen metabolism, and mitochondrial function. Diagnostic challenges, including the interpretation of ferritin and iron indices in thyroid patients, are reviewed alongside evidence-informed therapeutic strategies. A systems-based clinical framework is proposed to guide screening, evaluation, and management of iron deficiency in women with thyroid disorders. Recognizing iron as a central regulator at the intersection of thyroid and detox pathways may improve patient outcomes and inform more comprehensive approaches to endocrine care.
Background:Cancer cells exhibit metabolic reprogramming often driven by aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Recent evidence suggests antiparasitic drugs can inhibit this pathway. Acupuncture Meridian Assessment (AMA), a modification of electroacupuncture according to Voll, measures electrical conductance at acupuncture points to guide therapeutic interventions. Objective:To evaluate clinical outcomes of AMA-guided antiparasitic and antifungal therapy in patients with advanced cancer. Methods:Six patients with stage IV cancers (breast, lung, prostate, glioblastoma, and multiple myeloma) underwent AMA evaluation between 2011 and 2022. Treatment protocols included combinations of ivermectin, mebendazole, praziquantel, niclosamide, and antifungals, selected based on AMA readings. Primary outcomes were overall survival and disease progression. Dental infections were addressed concurrently. Results:All six patients demonstrated prolonged survival, exceeding the expected conventional prognosis. The breast cancer patient achieved complete remission (30+ months disease-free). The multiple myeloma patient has been surviving 14 years with normalized biomarkers. The lung cancer patient has been surviving 10 years post-diagnosis with negative imaging. Both glioblastoma patients showed tumor regression with extended survival, although one glioblastoma patient died from a fall with head injury in 2025 after submitting this article. The prostate cancer patient is surviving and has achieved a PSA reduction from 32 to 0.3. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions:AMA-guided antiparasitic therapy showed promising outcomes in this small case series. These preliminary results warrant further study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this integrative approach.
Thyroid disorders, particularly autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, are frequently associated with persistent systemic symptoms despite biochemical normalization with standard hormone replacement, prompting investigation into adjunctive strategies that target immune, metabolic, and neuroendocrine contributors to thyroid dysfunction. Peptide-based therapeutics are an emerging area of research in regenerative and endocrine medicine, with experimental studies demonstrating effects on immune signaling, inflammatory regulation, tissue repair, and cellular stress responses. This review examines the mechanistic rationale for peptide interventions relevant to thyroid biology and summarizes the current state of evidence for selected peptides, including thymosin alpha-1, thymosin beta-4, BPC-157, and growth hormone secretagogues. Available data consist primarily of preclinical investigations, mechanistic studies, and early exploratory clinical reports rather than large, randomized trials focused on thyroid-specific outcomes. Safety profiles vary across peptide classes, and clinical use remains largely investigational in the context of thyroid disease. This review presents potential biologic pathways linking peptide activity to immune and metabolic aspects of thyroid disorders, as well as regulatory and ethical considerations surrounding emerging peptide applications. Substantial evidence gaps persist, and well-designed thyroid-focused clinical trials are needed to clarify safety, efficacy, and appropriate clinical roles. Peptide therapeutics, therefore, represent a developing research domain whose relevance to thyroid care remains to be established through rigorous investigation.
Introduction:Ménière's Disease (MD) typically presents with the classic triad of symptoms of vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss. MD significantly impacts a patient's quality of life and their ability to carry out basic daily functions. This case report describes how electroacupuncture and Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) were used concurrently to assist a patient suffering from MD to achieve substantial recovery and improve her subjective quality of life. Case Presentation:A 62-year-old female patient was diagnosed with MD by her otolaryngologist in July 2020. She received pharmaceutical therapies, including oral prednisone and round window membrane dexamethasone infusion. Her vertigo symptoms initially improved but deteriorated gradually since the initial treatment. She came to the Meridian Integrative Medicine (MIM) acupuncture clinic in October 2021, with chief complaints of vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss. At that time, the patient had been suffering from severe vertigo attacks averaging two to three attacks per week with progressively worsening hearing disorders. The patient had a total of 28 vertigo attacks during the two months before coming to MIM for treatment. After 9 sessions of electroacupuncture and LLLT treatments in 2 months, the patient's episodic vertigo attacks were eliminated. Discussion:Treating MD with acupuncture and LLLT can help reduce or eliminate the severity and frequency of episodic vertigo attacks, relieve the severity of tinnitus symptoms, and improve the patient's quality of life.
The role of diet and mineral supplementation in modulating autonomic balance was commonly studied in the early 20th century, but is rarely discussed today. This paper reviews historical findings by academic researchers, such as Hans Eppinger, Leo Hess, André-Charles Guillaume, S.G. Zondek, and Francis Pottenger, connecting their discoveries to the dentist William Donald Kelley's dietary model and treatment methods, with further refinements by Nicholas Gonzalez and the author. The central hypothesis is that dietary composition and mineral supplementation-particularly of calcium, magnesium, and potassium-affect sympathetic and parasympathetic tone, thereby influencing disease susceptibility. Calcium and acid-forming diets stimulate sympathetic activity, whereas magnesium, potassium, and alkalinizing diets support parasympathetic function. Early physiologic research and modern studies on heart rate variability, electrolyte balance, and immune activation suggest that an imbalance in autonomic tone may underlie various forms of ill health. Research in this area declined following World War II, but renewed investigation into autonomic individuality may explain conflicting outcomes of dietary intake and mineral supplementation. This integrative model proposes that tailoring diet and mineral supplementation to restore autonomic balance can optimize physiological function, offering a biologically grounded approach to personalized health.
Background:Current literature details the use of intravenous vitamin C to improve leukopenia; however, the use of oral vitamin C to improve leukopenia has been underexplored. Objective:This case study aimed to evaluate whether supplemental oral vitamin C could elevate leukocyte values in a 67-year-old African American male. Case Report:The patient had leukopenia for over 30 years, which prompted additional medical evaluation over the years. This evaluation included two bone marrow biopsies, both of which yielded normal findings. Although the individual was not traumatized by the medical concern and extensive testing for his neutropenia, he wanted to explore whether vitamin C could address his leukopenia. Over the course of one year, the individual took 5000-7000 mg of vitamin C daily in powdered and liposomal forms. Findings:5000 - 7000 mg of vitamin C successfully increased white blood cell count (near the standard normal limits) and absolute neutrophil count in the African American male patient. Conclusion:This case report details the use of supplemental oral vitamin C as a single intervention to improve leukopenia and neutropenia. However, more research is needed to determine if smaller doses could yield similar results.
