WHY METHYLATION

More and more of my patients are becoming familiar with the term methylation. This is usually secondary to someone running an abreviated genetics test looking at the 3 most common methylation mutations; comt, 1298 and 677, looking for a reason that may be causing depression, etc. Why is methylation important? Methylation is required for:

1. energy (CoQ10, carnitine, creatine and atp via the krebs cycle.

2. Bile production

3. Nerves (myelination (insulates the nerves)

4. Building and maintaining cell membranes

5. Generating and degrading neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine.

6. Generating purines for new DNA and RNA

7. Generating SAMe (depression)

8. Performing Phase II liver conjugation of heavy metals, hydroxyestradiols, norepi, epi, histamine, etc.

9. Neurological healing

10. Addressing inflammation

11. Memory

12. Sleep

7 signs you may need methylation support: (Methylfolate and methyl B12/Methyl B complex by Ortho)

1. brain fog after eating

2. Redfaced after excercising

3. Low energy

4. MTHFR mutation or high homocysteine

5. Stress

6. Increased estrogen

7. Trouble falling asleep.

8. Genetic predisposition which can be triggered by live viral vaccines, severe infections, environmental toxins, dietary, allergies, trauma, surgery, emotional and growth

9. Depression; An article from the American Journal of Psychiatry ran a double blind study (the best)

10. Other risk factors include; Elderly, vegetarians, GI disorders, bariatric surgery patients, eating disorders, Pregnant women with hyperemesis

11. Depression: Many of my patients present with depression and are frequently on psychotropics (antidepressants). We live in a high stress environment and combined with daily stressors no surprise. The other cause (very common, i.e. up to 70% of people have an MTHFR homozygous mutation (thanks mom and dad) is genetics. (There is a wonderful genetics test looking at all potential mutations not just methylation). A study in the American Journal of psychiatry concluded that, L-methylfolate (in Methyl B complex by Ortho) "may constitute an effective, safe, and well tolerated treatment strategy for patients with major depressive disorder who have a partial or no response to SSRIs."

PEA (palmitoylethanolamide)THE OTHER CBD

What is PEA?

PEA is an endogenous (manufactured by the body) endocannabinoid (very similar to CBD and can be used on conjunction). It is a fatty acid amide and found in many foods. Nobel prize winner Levi-Montalcini identified PEA as a naturally occurring molecule, describing its value in treating chronic infections and pain. Following its discovery hundreds of scientific studies have been carried out to show that it is very effective and safe to use (no side effects and no drug interactions (unlike CBD).

What does PEA do in our body?

PEA, while natural to the body, frequently does not meet the body's needs when presented with chronic pain, inflammation, depression/anxiety, etc. Supplementing the body's shortage can have a significant, positive impsct opn the above mentioned pathologies. Like CBD, PEA is an agonist (stimulates) very specific receptors that mediate pain and inflammation.

Specific conditions with evidence of benefits of PEA

1. Neuroinflammation (neuropathic pain)

2. Fibromyalgia

3. Muscular cramps (night time cramping)

4. Traumatic brain injury

5. Mast cell activation syndrome

6. Anxiety and depression

7. Rheumatoid arthritis

8. Colds/flu

9. Ostoarthritis

10. Chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

11. Back pain

12. Endometriosis

13. Multiple sclerosis

14. Migraines

15. Parkinsons

16. Vulvadynia

17. Chemo induced neuropathy

18. Decrease blood pressure

How do I take PEA?

The PEA That I recommend comes in powder form. Each scoop (scoop provided) is 600mg. Most of the clinical studies suggewst 600mg 1 to 2 times a day. Each dose can be mixed with food of choice (no taste and the fattier the food the better) or preferably mix the dose with a teaspoon of oil (coconut, olive, mct oil (medium chain triglyceride ), avacado, fish, etc. This enhances absorption and increases blood levels.

For additional supplement information contact Amy Ferris 940-372-4596

$45.00 for 36 grams (once daily dosing=60 days.)

Alzheimers

An estimated 5.8 million Americans 65 and older are living with "alzheimers" (AD) disease (alzheimers is, unfortunately, a catch all term for any number of cognitive dysfunction pathologies). AD is the fifth leading cause of death in Americans over the age of 65 and an estimated cost for caring for folks with AD is $305 billion dollars. Presently, there is no cure within conventional/allopathic medicine. The drugs used only temporarily improve symptoms with numerous side effects. Historically, the primary cause of AD was thought to be the deposition of beta amyloid (amyloid plaques) with subsequent "tangles" and associated inflammation and, in fact, may certainly be a cause. However, we also know that the hippocampus, a part of the brain associated with memory and emotion, when chronically exposed to toxins/oxidative stress (in conjunction with inadequate nonrapid eye sleep during which the toxins are removed) can have a dramatic impact on cognitive function thu suggesting another, if not the primary, cause of AD. Along comes the endocannabinoid system (CBD and PEA (natural to the body) in this case. Several studies have demonstrated that CBD and PEA can reduce oxidative stress (ONEcbd has a combo CBD/astaxanthine specific for oxidative stress), inflammation and the formation of amyloid plaques. This results in a reduction of dementia related symptoms. A recent study in Neuroscisne (/11/20) suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) improves blood flow to the hippocampus with the potential of addressing a range of conditions associated with altered memory, including AD, schizophrenia and PTSD.