Welcome to the TAHOMA CLINIC (425) 264-0059

Tahoma Talk, Tuesdays at the Tahoma Clinic, Renton, WA

We are seeking participants for our Bursitis Study

Natural Medicine, Optimal Wellness

Formerly "The Patient's Book of Natural Healing"

by Jonathan V. Wright M.D., and Alan Gaby, M.D.

Originally printed by Prima Publishing, 1999
Reprinted as “Natural Medicine, Optimal Wellness” by Vital Health Publishing, 2006

(Published in March 2000 issue of Alternative Medicine Review)

 IMAGINE BEING ABLE to sit in on actual holistic medical consultations, and then being provided with a detailed analysis of the medical advice you heard so that you gained a complete understanding of the scientific evidence supporting the treatment protocols prescribed. While such a scenario is far from likely, reading The Patient's Book of Natural Healing will enable you to take advantage of the next best thing. Written by Drs. Gaby and Wright, two of the world's foremost alternative medicine practitioners, this book conveys what no other health book before it ever has-actual patient conversations between Wright and his patients regarding over 50 common diseases, followed by Gaby's commentary on the science behind Wright's recommendations.

As Gaby and Wright make clear right from the start of the book's introduction, they are imminently qualified to dispense the wealth of information this comprehensive volume contains. Both of them began to research and incorporate natural methods of healing in their medical practices in the early '70s, after realizing that the drug and surgery protocols that they learned in medical school were often dangerous, ineffective, and expensive. Since that time, they have treated more than 70,000 patients using the methods outlined in their book, as well as compiling and reviewing over 30,000 scientific papers on the subject. In addition, they have spent the past two decades teaching natural medicine to more than 3,000 M.D.S, nurses, chiropractors, naturopaths, and other health practitioners, making them two of the most recognized and acclaimed experts in the alternative medical field.

The book's first chapter focuses on the fundamentals of natural medicine, providing an overview of what constitutes a healthy diet, as well as what foods should be avoided (refined carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, dairy products, caffeine, alcohol, additives) and why. The role of nutritional supplements and the importance of pure drinking water are also discussed, as are environmental pollutants and the effect they can have on health. Subsequent chapters discuss the importance of proper digestion and absorption, food allergies, and the emerging role that natural hormone therapy is playing in improving health. As with the rest of the book, this information is presented alongside of the most recent scientific findings, making it impossible for critics of natural medicine to dismiss it as being merely theoretical or anecdotal.

After the foundation that the opening chapters provide, the rest of the book centers on detailed treatments programs for a wide variety of illnesses, ranging from asthma, arthritis, migraine, and premenstrual syndrome, to heart disease, colitis, ulcers, ear infection, chronic fatigue syndrome, prostate conditions, and age-related memory loss and depression. Each of these chapters recounts an office visit between Wright and one of this patients suffering from the condition in question, followed by Gaby's commentary and review of supporting scientific literature. The following summary of the chapter devoted to eliminating ulcerative colitis provide an example of the book's full scope.

Jim Olson, age 37 years, came to Dr. Wright suffering from chronic ulcerative colitis, a condition he had struggled with for eight years. Olson's previous physician had told him that there was nothing to be done beyond prescribing prednisone and sulfasalazine, neither of which provided Olson with much relief. As Wright questions him, Olson reveals that he has "always had a tendency to bowel trouble," and that as a child he suffered from frequent stomachaches. Further questioning reveals that, in addition to bleeding and diarrhea, Olson also has mucus in his stools and that he suffers from heartburn, indigestion, and fatigue. In addition, we learn that colitis afflicted his grandfather, and that his father and two brothers suffer from hay fever and sinusitis.

After completing Olson's health history, Wright proceeds to examine him, finding that overall Olson is "generally normal," aside from mild abdominal tenderness and excessive gas. He therefore recommended that Olson be screened for food allergies and sensitivity, and that he eliminate all foods for which he tests positive for at least several months. In addition, he instructs Olson to completely eliminate all milk and dairy products, explaining that nearly all of his patients with ulcerative colitis are allergic to dairy products, and that usually allergies play a role in sinus conditions. Olson is also prohibited from eating sugars, white flour, food chemicals, and hydrogenated vegetable oils. A stomach function test is also ordered since, Wright explains, a large majority of ulcerative cases have abnormal levels of stomach acid and pepsin production. Vitamin and mineral assays are also ordered to determine nutrient imbalances and to screen for sensitivity.

While Olson awaits his test results, Wright recommends that he supplement with zinc picolinate and vitamin A, in order to accelerate the healing of Olson's ulcers and normalize the cell lining of his gastrointestinal tract. Vitamin E and vitamin C with flavonoids are also recommended, as is a general multivitamin/mineral supplement. Wright also suggests the use of enemas containing butyrate, a natural fatty that acts as a primary energy sources for the cells that line the colon. Finally, he asks that Olson have a blood test to determine his DHEA levels, suspecting that they might be low.

The tests Wright ordered confirmed his suspicions. Olson was found to be sensitive to 37foods, to have deficient stomach function, and low blood levels of DHEA. Within six months of following Wright's protocol, Olson was completely free of symptoms, and able to reduce his prednisone intake and discontinue using sulfasalazine. Three years later, following a complete conventional medical exam, he was told by his primary physician that he'd had a "spontaneous remission," and there was no sign of ulcerative colitis or any other form of colon disease. The chapter the concludes with Gaby's commentary, including an overview of what ulcerative colitis is and the factors that can cause it. Recent studies demonstrating the link between food and other allergies, nutritional deficiencies, and low DHEA levels to the disease are also provided, as is research regarding the role butyrate can play in healing colitis, along with the appropriate scientific references.

The author's consultation/commentary approach to their subject not only provides readers with an explanation of how the natural healing methods of alternative medicine work, but also the comfort and assurance that only a consultation with a trusted physician can offer. As a result, they have created a welcome resource for anyone interested in learning about both the art and the science behind alternative medicine.

To purchase this wonderful book please visit www.tahomadispensary.com or call 1-888-893-6878.