By Dr. Matsen
In this last section of general supplements used in of the Eating Alive Program, I’ll discuss some of the remedies that I often prescribe to help with hormonal problems, to establish a healthy environment in the intestine, and to help remove yeast and metals from the body.
When the liver has a build-up of peroxides, they may interfere with the breakdown of steroid hormones. Because women also have testosterone (6 percent of the amount that men have) and men also have estrogens (20 percent of the amount that women have), poor liver function can wreak havoc with the hormones in both sexes.
The ideal way for your liver to break down estrogens is through what’s known as the C-2 pathway, in which the end-products are mild hormones. The alternative breakdown pathway—which is more commonly used when there is a build-up of peroxides in the liver—is known as the C-16 pathway. This pathway breaks down estrogens into products such as 16alpha-hydroxyestrone, which can aggravate the reproductive organs. The 16alpha pathway creates nasty hormones that can:
- cause irregular periods; menstrual cramping; PMS; fibroids; ovarian cysts; fibrocystic breast disease; endometriosis; and unexplained infertility
- cause breast cancer, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer
- contribute to prostate enlargement and prostate cancer
- contribute to lung cancer, colon cancer, and lupus
- cause hair loss.
Indol-3-Carbinol (I-3-C) is the active sulfur compound extracted from broccoli that helps the liver break down hormones through the C-2 pathway instead of the 16alpha pathway. This product helps prevent and even reverse 16alpha hormone problems such as PMS, menstrual cramps, fibroids, endometriosis, and cancers of the cervix, breast, ovaries, and uterus.
A product that works similarly for men is Prostaphil-2, which is rye pollen. Studies that have been done on rye pollen over the last 50 years in Sweden show that it aids the breakdown of hormones and improves urinary and prostate function.
Another product that has shown excellent results with stubborn prostate problems as well as enhancing memory is Total E. This product contains all eight molecules of the vitamin E complex, especially gamma tocopherol, which has been shown to be the vitamin E molecule that’s most protective of brain function, and indirectly the prostate. Taking Total E with 200 micrograms of selenium makes it even more effective.
To slow down the “bad guys” in the gut, it’s a good idea to add more “good guys” to inhibit the bad ones. I recommend acidophilus, bacteria that make lactic acid, primarily in the large intestine, which strongly inhibits the growth of yeast.
After a week or two of following the Eating Alive Program and taking the appropriate supplements, the ileocecal valve is usually strengthened so that it remains closed when it should be–this prevents more bacteria and yeast from entering the small intestine. The liver and kidneys are usually now strong enough to handle killing off the bacteria and yeast that are already present in the small intestine. At this point I usually prescribe Latero-Flora, which doubles as both a killer of intestinal yeast and bacteria, unlike many products that kill only yeast. Latero-Flora is dried bacteria that remain dormant until activated by moisture. For this reason it’s best to store it in a dry cupboard rather than the fridge so that it will stay good for years.
While the dose recommended on the bottle of Latero-Flora is 1 scoop (teaspoon) per day, this dose would also kill off yeast in the large intestine which is not the goal of the Eating Alive Program. Since the acidophilus bacteria by now control yeast in the large intestine, our goal should be to just kill the bacteria and yeast that are in the small intestine. This takes a much lower dose of Latero-Flora and 1/8 to ¼ teaspoon every 3 days for a month or so is generally adequate.
Typically patients experience about a 30 to 40 percent improvement in the first week or two of following the Eating Alive Program, followed by another 40 percent or so improvement after a month of taking Latero-Flora. The remaining improvement comes from elimination of heavy metals from the body, which usually starts about five to six weeks into the program.
DMSA, though developed as a metal remover for young children, often gives slower but more remarkable results in adults than the stronger DMPS. This undoubtedly is due to its ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and thus remove metals from the brain.
The best remedy for removing metals from the body that I’ve seen so far, far surpassing DMPS, is Metal Free®. In fact, Metal Free® is what I used to reverse Dupuytren’s contracture on the tendons of my palms and sebaceous cysts on my scalp after spending $1,200 on DMPS treatments for over a year without any noticeable improvement. Removing metals from the body should only be done under the guidance of a qualified health practitioner so these remedies are not available in health food stores.
The one problem with Metal Free® was that it was so strong that some patients had trouble taking more than one or two sprays per week. Recently I’ve seen that taking Cilantro Drops after the Metal Free® or DMSA has dramatically reduced this problem. The Metal Free® and DMSA “stir up” the metals and then the Cilantro Drops quickly neutralize most of the metals so that they can be eliminated with fewer side effects.