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March/April 2016 BTBHA MAGAZINE | 02 BTBHA.COM CONTENTS HEALTH + SCIENCE + EDUCATION + NUTRITION 04 FROM THE DESK OF DR. MEAGHAN KIRSCHLING 10 SUPPLEMENT OF THE MONTH: LITHIUM A small dose of a supplement called Lithium Orotate might be exactly what you are missing in your supplement lineup. 6 SUPPLEMENTING FOR IMMUNE BALANCE 14 12 WHAT ARE SNPS? LEARN ABOUT SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISMS 11 HASHIMOTO'S THYROIDITIS CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST OF THE MONTH Dr. Meaghan and Wendy had the pleasure of sitting down and talking to THE Suzanne Somers. Check it out and listen to all the great health and wellness information she has to share LEARN ABOUT OUR NEWEST COURSE Epigenetics is a huge component of health and wellness. In this new class, we discuss how to master your epigenetic and methylation processes. Visit us at btbha.com 3432 DENMARK AVE, EAGAN, MN 55123 952-255-9689 [email protected] WWW.BTBHA.COM 03 MARCH/APRIL 2016 | 14 There are so many individuals experiencing low thyroid function. This excerpt from Dr. Meaghan Kirschling's blog explores many of the different aspects of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Autoimmune From the desk of Dr. Meaghan Kirschling. Happy Almost Sprint Everyone!!! What an exciting time of year when the snow starts to melt, the ground starts to unfreeze and the days start to become longer. Maybe I like this time of a year a little bit more because the Minnesota lakes are starting to unfreeze which means spring (and summer!!) is right around the corner. I have always loved transition seasons because they are a time of change and those times of change bring palpable excitement with them. 100 I am even more excited because this month is Autoimmune Awareness Month for BTBHA. Autoimmune is such a complex issue that affects so many people. The NIH, National Institute of Health, predicts that 23.5 million Americans are suffering from an autoimmune disease. And I know from clinical experience that there are way more out there that have autoimmune responses going on that are not being diagnosed and treated properly. We are really just starting to understand the complete sophistication of the immune system and how it can be so greatly affected by genetics, environmental toxins, dietary choices, and gut health. So we have a lot of topics to address with podcasts, blogs, and guest speakers this month. 094 Our goal this month is to tackle many of the issues and education topics that are necessary to arm all of our followers and listeners with what they need to know. Whether you feel that you are dealing with an autoimmune concern that has not been diagnosed or you want to understand more about what causes autoimmunity, this month should be jam packed with great information. And all that information starts to come your way right now with this publication. Thanks everyone for following BTBHA. We really appreciate all of you and hope that this month is full of great information and healthy transformations! DR. MEAGHAN KIRSCHLING TOP PODCAST EPISODES IN THE LAST MONTH Editor-in-Chief BTBHA MAGAZINE | 04 www.btbha.com EDUCATE GLOBALLY, TREAT LOCALLY BTBHA Th1 Supplementing For Immune Balance When dealing with an autoimmune or chronic disease, it’s essential to look at how the immune system works. HOW DOES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WORK? The immune system is separated into two parts: Th1 response and Th2 response. Immune balance is about making sure that one of these portions is not out of whack and that both Th1 and Th2 are working together in a controlled manner to fight off any invaders. PAGE 6 When we talk about immune issues, it is important to remember that we are talking about an antigen causing the response. Antigens can be bacteria, mold, parasite, virus, allergy, chemical or heavy metal. If this response is ineffective, the Th2 system will kick in and create antibodies against the antigen. This is how our body was initially designed to keep us healthy. In most cases this works, and the antigen will be destroyed. Th1 and Th2 cells are responsible for different aspects of the immune cascade. Th1 cells are pro-inflammatory, and Th2 are anti-inflammatory. The Th1 response is geared towards releasing numerous inflammatory mechanisms in order to kill off any invaders. The Th2 response stimulates B cells which help generate antibodies to help with the long-term battles. However, if we are dealing with something such as a food allergy or a heavy metal that cannot be killed, then the immune system is firing without productivity. If the body is confused about what is the exact problem, the overactive immune system will start to attack healthy tissue. Due to the improper response of the immune system, sometimes the immune system gets out of balance. This causes the Th1 response or the Th2 response to become dominant. The first immune response is the Th1, which is the “police force” that will attempt to get rid of the invader. If your immune system is out of balance and becomes confused to the point that it starts to attack your own body, we then have AN AUTOIMMUNE RESPONSE. In an autoimmune condition, there is an imbalance in the immune system. One side of the immune system, either Th1 or Th2, is either overactive or dominant. This leads to both an increase in symptoms and a waxing and waning of symptoms which is common in autoimmune. This is because the immune system will fight until it finally becomes fatigued and will take a break. Usually the result of the “moment of seize fire” will feel like a relief and your symptoms will diminish. In autoimmune disorders, the discomfort and pain are actual as a result of the immune system at war and the intermittent decreases are due to a fatigued immune system. Ironically, as your body starts to recover, the immune response kicks in again followed by the symptoms and pain returning. It’s a vicious cycle, and it can be very confusing to determine what is causing the pain. BALANCING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM I find this to be a common problem with people who come to me after years of dealing with Lyme Disease or autoimmune issues. Many people are being prescribed the wrong type of immune stimulant, and they are empowering their body to attack themselves. The key is that immune stimulants are different and are designed to stimulate in a particular manner. The supplements that designed to stimulate Th1 may be opposite of what the body needs. There is a tremendous lack of information in this area. I have found very few natural practitioners are taking immune balance into consideration. When I was given this information during my struggle with late-stage Lyme Disease, I experienced an enormous relief by stopping the supplements that were doing me harm. Issue 27 | 234 Page 8 Commonly the western medicine approach is to shut down the immune system using steroids. In my opinion, this is one of the most harmful responses that can be taken! For example, in the case of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), most patients will be given steroids which will indeed provide them with a relief of their symptoms since it shuts down the autoimmune attack. However, if the root of the MS is Lyme diseases, the steroids have now enabled the bacteria to thrive. The result will be that the patient indeed progresses down the typical MS journey just as the doctors predicted. The vulnerable patient may accept this diagnosis and all the horrible effects that come along with MS. I suggest a different approach, which looks for the root cause and balancing the immune system instead of shutting it down. In dealing with any disease, we always need to search for the cause. In some cases, there are more than one antigens. This may involve a detox diet and testing for allergies. It may involve destroying the bacteria or mold overgrowth. It could also involve chelating the heavy metals out of the body. While we are addressing the antigens, we need to determine if the body is in a Th1 dominant mode or a Th2 dominant mode. This can be done through an elimination process. Interestingly, we commonly see those with Lyme Disease in a Th1 dominant mode vs. cancer which is frequently Th2 dominant. This leads to the conclusion that immune stimulants such as Beta Glucan or other mushrooms might be excellent for cancer but be very harmful to someone with Lyme Disease. Of course, the number one response should be to remove the antigen. For example, if you take a look at the list, a Th1 dominant person will want to AVOID all the stimulants on the Th1 list and ADD some on the Th2 list so they can balance out the immune system. Most importantly people can shift between Th1 and Th2 so it can be tough for the most fragile individuals to control excessive reactions. In this case, you may want to avoid all immune stimulants for some time. IMMUNE SYSTEM SECTION www.btbha.com | 9 LIST OF COMMON STIMULANTS: Th1 Stimulants Th2 Stimulants • Vit C • Resveratrol • Astragalus • Pycnogenol (apples) • Garlic • Curcumin (turmeric) • Licorice root • Genistein • Reishi • Quercetin • Beta-Glucan • Green tea • Lemon Balm (Melissa) • Lycopene • Noni • Pine bark • Ginseng • White Willow Bark • Golden Seal Some important immune system stabilizers that everyone needs are Vitamin D, glutathione, and Omega 3 fish oils. It’s also important to ensure you have a healthy gut flora by taking a good prebiotic and probiotic. As you can see, the immune system is an extremely sophisticated response, but this is meant to help lay out the basics. This knowledge, however, can alleviate a lot of symptoms so that a genuine root of disease can be found. Supplementing for Immune Balance • Medicinal mushrooms Julie Roberts • Cat’s Claw OriginalRX.org • Samento • Pau D Arco • Grape Seed Extract • Chlorella www.btbha.com | 10 HASHIMOTO’S THYROIDITIS It has been theorized that there are approximately 27 million people with thyroid conditions in the United States, both low and high thyroid function, and up to half of them have not been diagnosed. And women have a much higher risk for thyroid dysfunction. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a common autoimmune disorder also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis or chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. Hypothyroidism occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone or when your body fails to use thyroid hormone efficiently. There are many types of hypothyroidism, but Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common. In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, we see an underactive thyroid (hypothyroid) with an overactive abnormal immune (autoimmune) response. WHAT GOES WRONG WITH HASHIMOTO’S THYROIDITIS? Why does the body attack the thyroid gland in an autoimmune condition? It is important to realize that Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is not just about supporting the thyroid but also treating the underlying cause of the autoimmune concern. Therefore, it must be addressed that it is not just a thyroid condition but also an inflammatory autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease occurs when the body and the immune system attack its tissues. The immune cells, lymphocytes, and antibodies are produced against tissue in your body. In this case, it is against the thyroid or the thyroid enzymes responsible for converting thyroid hormone. www.btbha.com | 11 TRIGGERS FOR AUTOIMMUNE RESPONSE 1. Hormone imbalances including pregnancy and post-pregnancy 2. Nutrient deficiencies 3. Certain drugs 4. Immune imbalances Th1 Dominance 5. Digestive inflammation and imbalance 6. Trauma 7. Environmental toxins such as heavy metals, chemical irritants, and mold exposure 8. Viruses and bacterial infections such as Epstein-Barr Virus or Lyme Disease 9. Stress including both emotional oxidative stress 10. Impaired biotransformation/detoxification Antibodies are formed due to the immune system being stimulated by one of the above triggers. Naturally, for a comprehensive approach to be taken with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, we need to focus on: 1. Addressing and reducing triggers 2. Eliminating intestinal inflammation 3. Supporting the body and providing nutrient support 4. Improving the function of the thyroid www.btbha.com | 12 LIFESTYLE CHANGES AND SUPPLEMENTATIONS THAT HELP WITH HASHIMOTO'S Importance of going completely gluten-free I take all of my thyroid patients off of gluten immediately. Why? Research. Research now connects celiac and gluten sensitivity to thyroid disease. When the body reacts to gluten and other proteins, then an autoimmune process is triggered. Since about 70% of the immune system is in the gut, when the body starts to view proteins that we are eating as foreign and a threat, then the immune system goes into overdrive. There is not the only destruction of villi of the small intestine and tissue of the digestive system, but it also triggers responses in other tissue. The thyroid is a common secondary tissue since it is extremely biologically active. When the immune system goes specifically after the tissue and enzymes of the thyroid and antibodies are present, then either a deficiency (hypothyroidism) or an excess of hormones (hyperthyroidism) can occur. This wrecks havoc on the body's metabolism. A growing amount of research now suggests that when people with celiac disease and an autoimmune thyroid disease go gluten-free, then there is an increased potential to improve thyroid function by reducing autoimmune reactions in the body. This can lead to both an improvement in thyroid hormones and a decrease in antibodies. Research also suggests that when people with celiac disease and autoimmune thyroid disease adopt a gluten-free diet, not only do their celiac-related antibody levels improve, but their thyroid antibody levels also decrease. A 2010 study in Journal of Pediatrics found that 11 of 15 children with celiac disease who had elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone levels at diagnosis with celiac disease saw thyroid numbers normalize after 12 to 18 months on a glutenfree diet. Gluten grain also is high in phytates, also known as phytic acid. These bind up nutrients that can cause additional stress on the body and with the thyroid. They are known to bind to certain minerals including iron, zinc, manganese, and calcium. No matter if you are sensitive to gluten or not, the phytates bind essential vitamins and minerals that feed the body, especially the metabolically active thyroid. This patient population, though, needs to be completely gluten-free. Many clinicians report that eating a gluten-free diet helps to improve thyroid markers in both celiac and gluten sensitive patients. Need to Limit or Avoid Other Foods • Sugar and coffee are two of the biggest culprits to thyroid exhaustion. • Cruciferous vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, kale, bok choy, cabbage. These vegetables are goitrogens and can increase the size and concern of the thyroid gland. • Any food sensitivities that you might have. The most common are dairy, gluten, refined sugar and soy. Foods That Support the Thyroid • Organic eggs • Omega-3 fatty acids • Fish • Poultry • Steamed Vegetables Also, need to look into Inflammation of the Gut and Food Sensitivities. Environmental Exposures Hormonal Concerns Managing Stress Visit btbha.com for the full article under "Blogs" www.btbha.com | 13 Exciting Updates We have added a new course This course explores the topic of epigenetics and methylation. We are learning more and more about how our genes affect our health. With this information, we are also starting to realize how we can control the destiny of our health and wellness by interpreting this data. The problem is that this information can be cumbersome and tedious. This course is meant to break it down in a way that anyone can understand. Whether you are looking to learn this information for yourself or you are a functional medicine doctor that wants to know more, this course is perfect. Check It Out Suzanne Somers Dr. Meaghan and Wendy sat down and talked to Suzanne Somers about various topics regarding health and wellness. This is such a great podcast and Suzanne has so much knowledge to share. Here are some of the topics we discuss in the podcast: What environmental factors are leading to so many people being so sick What is hormone therapy and who would benefit from it What clinical trends are we seeing with health, especially the aging population How can you live a more fuller and healthy life How did Suzanne become so passionate about health and wellness and BHRT How to use her network of Forever Health to find a local practitioner www.btbha.com | 14 Check It Out