i have your book and im so trying to follow along but i wish i could just come see you personally and you could help me out. im 34 and gaining weight fast. ive been eating less!! its all in my gutt. i went to an iridologist and she has me on enzymes, minerals, adrenal support and thyroid support. just feel like my stomach is getting bigger. help!!!!

Finally someone who has the guts to really tell it like it is!!! So many people have commented lately on their doctor scheduling all kinds of tests and then not having any idea why you're in the office for a follow up. Pretty scary when we are trusting them to help take care of us! Time for them to really start catering to the patient instead of the pharmacies and big insurance. Looking forward to calling a doctor nearby and already planning on forwarding the list to some family members who need a little extra help!

It took 4 different specialists and telling me to just lose weight and I'd feel better (and a sinus surgery) to finally find out that the root of all of my problems for almost 3 years was the deadly MRSA bacteria living in my body!!!! I actually may have had it longer but the debilitating migraines, severe fatigue, chronic fibromyalgia symptoms, "hot flashes" (fever), night sweats, and various typical premenopausal symptoms as well as the chronic, recurring sinus infections and overall general poor health were pretty much just pushed back to me as being kind of in my head or that I had a low tolerance to pain.

After developing plurasy this winter, I decided to take things into my own hands. The years of antibiotics (plus 5 weeks of serious IV antibiotics for the MRSA) took a toll on the health of my body's own defense system. So I went on an all vegan, plus gluten and dairy free diet. I went to herbal nutritionists to assist me with herbs that would rid my body of yeasts and improve my healthy bacteria and I tried to eat as many of my fruits and veggies in their raw/natural state as possible to get the most nutritional benefit from them. In two weeks I was like a new person.

Dr. Hyman is so on the mark here. If you do not get someone that helps you find the root of your problems, there is no way that any of the drugs they give you will make you feel better long term. Keep looking for the right practitioner. It's well worth the search for your health and happiness.

Have you been frustrated working with doctors who only treated the symptoms of your "disease" rather than giving you a treatment customized to your own body's needs?

In answer to this, YES!

A couple years ago, I woke up one morning violently ill, not even able to keep water down. Light bothered me, sound bothered me, and movement of any kind on my part was debillitating.

My husband took me to the ER, where I kept on getting sick while waiting. They finally put me in a room, which I had to have completely dark. I had the pleasure of a spinal tap that day, as well as a CT scan, and then a trip to the local university hospital, where I work.

Once at the university hospital, I once again needed the lights out and total darkness. I was in so much pain I could barely move or talk. I was eventually admitted with what they considered migraines. They kept me highly medicated over night, which helped me be able to sleep a bit, at least.

The next day, during medical rounds, the attending physician came in, looked at me, asked me some questions, (had I ever had migraines in the past, etc), looked to the medical students who were there and basically told them I was faking, wasn't really ill, and should be discharged. He then wrote up my discharge papers and they let me go within the next 2 hours.

By the time I got home, I was throwing up again and could barely function. I have eventually had an angiogram, but they never truly figured out what was "wrong" with me. I haven't had anything like that happen since (and I hope I never will), but it would have been nice to have some idea what was going on with me and especially nice to have the doctor actually listen to what I said!

Thank you so much for being bold enough to tell it like it is. For many years I have refused to see doctors unless I absolutely had to. I totally believe that how healthy you are and what diseases you are succeptable to are based on your diet and your genes. But getting the word out and having people believe you is another story. That is why I was so excited when a friend of mine introduced me to a wonderful company called Market America. They are so right on track with getting people healthy not only through adding supplements to your diet because we aren't getting all the nutrients that our bodies need from the foods we eat now days. But we also have a great tool called the DNA gene SNP analysis which you do a life style questionnaire and take two swabs from the inside of your cheeck and send it off to the lab and they send you back a wonderful report that includes 19 genes that are affected by you diet and lifestyle. It tells you what genes are functioning properly and what ones are not and it gives recommendations as to how you can change you eating habits to help reduce those defficiencies and it also gives supplement recommendations which takes the guess work out of what supplements you really should be taking according to what you your own genes have to say. And your genes never change so this information is good for a lifetime. Thank you so much for speaking out on this matter. Please feel free to check out the DNA gene snp for yourself at www.healthgarden.org and let me know what you think.

"Or, have you been frustrated working with doctors who only treated the symptoms of your "disease" rather than giving you a treatment customized to your own body's needs?"--I have only been frustrated by doctors' refusal to recognize when I've found my own solution! Chronic inner ear problems gave me periodic bouts of unbearable dizziness, until my karate instructor suggested ginkgo leaf--voila! I know it works because twice I've had to stop taking it to prepare for surgery, and my dizziness returned.

Love your feedback and have recommended you to many friends/family. Do you have any suggestions for perimenopausal symptoms? I'm 43, have a 2yr old and am starting to get very serious night sweats. They keep me up at night not my toddler! I'm in Canada, any alternative Doctor that specializes in hormonal therapy would be preferred.
Grace

If we assume the premise that we need to treat the patient or the underlying cause of the patient's disease, is accurate; then we need to treat the underlying cause of allopathic medicine's misconceptions of disease by getting at the root or cause as well .. their education; the schools and programs they attend. They only know what they're taught. The medical colleges and schools can provide more rounded and fully developed programs if we, as consumers, demand that our health care include non traditional alternatives.

It would be nice to be able to search out the best doctors to treat you on a variety of medical conditions. However most of us are on HMO stuck with the decisions of a primary care doctor, though even good, is ruled by the insurance company. And who can afford to not be on HMO???? not me....

I have learned alot from reading items that I receive in my email from you. I have a thyroid problem (Hypothyroid)I feel better but still do not feel great. I don't think taking thyroid medication is all I need, but Doctors, seem to think because levels are within range I am okay. I just don't bother any longer I take my medication and try and eat the right foods. Your articles do help and I will buy the book.

I have had a persistent cough for three years now. The first internist wrote a prescription for cough medicine telling me the muscles have become conditioned to coughing. I took it for three days and stopped as the cough did not. The next internist took a chest x-ray and tested for asthma. Both were negative and he suggested I see an eye, ear, throat specialist. After reading your book I sought out an alternative specialist recommended to me by a friend she goes to. He gave me tablets that tasted like licorice and said to chew 6 of these a day. They tasted horrible and so I stopped at day 2 and the cough kept on. He did tell me to also go to an eye, ear, throat specialist and I did and he put the tube through my nose down my throat to check for cancer. It was negative and he too believed I suffered from esophogeal reflex and suggested I take Prilosec. Since I dont like drugs of any kind and since I wasnt dying, I did not take the Prilosec. This past week I went into horrible coughing spells. For 36 hours straight I coughed and tried to stop with Robitussun but couldnt. I called the internist and his partner on call prescribed a nasal spray and an antibiotic and suggested I also take Sudafed. I am on day five of the antibiotic and still cough like crazy. Yesterday I called the alternative man back and he suggested I do the Prilosec for 14 days and then call him and let him know if it worked. I am at the end of my wits after four doctors, various medicines and still coughing. How do I find someone reliable who can deal with this esophogeal reflex and recommend appropriate products. I am going to go for a complete blood workup and wondered which doctor to trust with this. Any suggestions would very much be appreciated.

Finally....a Doctor that GETS it! I'm normally not a big fan of Doctors, but this Doc is beginning to impress me. I hope that HE and others like him are the future of medicine!

I have congenital hypothyroidism which was diagnosed at age 11. I am now 36, so I have been taking thyroid hormone for 25 years. It seemed to be under control until I started reaching my late 20's. I began to gain weight and my symptoms flared. Now I have developed fibromyalgia, which I have been dealing with for about 10+ years.

My current doctor was treating me with Synthroid but I felt that after 23 years of still having symptoms that I wanted to try something else, so I finally got her to agree to put me on Armour thyroid. My symptoms were better, and I finally got to a level where I felt very comfortable and had more energy than ever before.

Unfortunately, this level was too high by medical standards. It was suppressing my TSH,
which they felt was a risk. I tried to explain my view that they should treat the individual and that if I did not have any symptoms associated with the risk that they should consider monitoring me closely. They refused, so I had to try to go to a specialist.

The specialist has agreed with the doctor, and offered new tests, all of which were
found to be normal. So, they gave up. My levels were normal, so they gave me a 9 month prescription for Armour Thyroid. I have never been given that long of a period without a full panel of
thyroid tests, so I am really frustrated with the new doctor as well.

Right now I am self-medicating with the higher dose. I am a lot better, but not fully healthy. I don't have any hypothyroid symptoms, though.

Any advice would be more than welcome, and thank you for your encouraging newsletters.

I have your book, and have read it. You don't seriously believe that people on fixed income, or low income can afford all the tests necessary to get to the root cause(s)of their illness do you???

Carla--I too have had a chronic cough for almost a year now! I have done the same things you have. I just went to a SECOND ENT last week and they used the scope only to tell me that nothing is wrong. Then why do I cough at night and all through my lectues? I also took a month of reflux medicine, even though I have no symptoms of reflux--and the ENT confirmed that it does not appear reflux is a problem. It is SO FRUSTRATING. I recently found that a chronic cough can also be an indication of HYPOTYROIDISM! I looked over the list and it appears that Hypothyroidism may be my problem. So I made an appointment with an endocrinologist. They wanted to know my diagnosis even before they would give me an apointment! I have already had the standard thyroid test, and it is in the normal range--but even the endocrinology association websites say that severe thyroid problems are easy to spot, but mild to moderate thyoid problems are actually very difficult to diagnose. So how am I supposed to have a diagnosis before the fact? I finally convinced them to see me anyway. We'll see how it goes. I live in a rural area--I already have to go to the next town for a doctor--and there really isn't much to choose from. If this does not work I am not sure what I will do next. I wish there were more people qualified to practice this kind of medicine. I have also tried the naturepath route and that can be frustrating. He didn't have the medical background to interpret or authrorize tests so what resulted was a lot of very expensive guesswork. You really need a combined approach! Maybe by the time my kids are older more doctors will be more open minded!

I would like to congratulate you. You are really an intelligent doctor and
you are able to see beyond, where few doctors can.

I really love the e-mails I`m receiving about ultrametabolism.

I'm a physicaltherapy and acupuncturist and I know many physicians that treat only the "disease". Usually doctors look at you and see only what you are feeling now. Without taking care of what is causing it, without
looking under the hood. Sometimes, doctors even treat you as a human
being, but as a "disease" like this patient is that obese with irritable bowel
syndrome, or that is the patient with knee arthritis, or that is the patient with back problems...

Unfortunatelly, I have been frustrated working with doctors who only treated the symptoms of acute problems rather than giving a treatment customized to a person own body's needs.

Regards,

Leticia.

You mention looking into your patients genes more deeply. Could you elaborate on what kind of tests these are? I have had the food allergy testing by a functional medicine doctor, but he is not interested in doing gene investigation with patients. I shared your book with my family doc, and she is very excited about it, but does not have background in functional med. Also, you mention a test for finding out a metabolic rate while exercising. Can you give insight on the names and possible sources of these tests?
Thanks

Dr. Hyman,
I just read today's (09/13/2006) message and am a bit dismayed. It was shrill in tone, which surprises me because I have not experienced this from you at this point. I should add that I have been a loyal adherent to your recommended diet (I did phase 1 for a month in fact, and now due to a few small changes, I would have to say that I am a Phase 2 proponent). I am just puzzled as to why you would want to alienate the medical community when I think it is completely unnecessary! You sound like you have a big axe to grind. You set up strawman arguments (distorting your opponents viewpoint and then debunking the distortion) that serve no good purpose in furthering your mission (which is an excellent one). For instance, it is simply inaccurate to suggest to lay people that doctors are regularly ignoring metabolic or hormonal origins to depression! I am sure that are some completely obtuse or incompetent physicians out there, but they are surely not representative of the field of medicine that treats depression. Making such dramatic statements will surely win you followers of the daytime television population. But I beg you not to compromise your credibility in the medical community in order to become a businessman! I am sure it is frustrating to get you message out on the level of your medical colleagues -- and you may never get the credit due to you in your lifetime! The obesity battle is long from being won. But preserve your integrity in the eyes of those who truly know the value of your message. Thanks so much for your previous blogs.
Yours sincerely,
Leah Greenwood, Ph.D.
Board Certified in Rehabilitation Psychology

Dr.Hymann is right, the average Medical professional in the US knows nothing about nutrition or Functional Medicine.They know how to make assumptions and push prescription meds.

I suffered needlessly for a number of years because of inadequate care from rushed physicians who didn't take the time to ask the right questions, who didn't run the right tests and who didn't listen to my symptoms. I ended up in the ER with a pulse rate of 139+ beats per minute thinking I was having a heart attack. I was put through a torment of heart tests to be told my heart was fine. I had had a choking feeling for months and kept telling the Doc there was something wrong with my thyroid, nobody listened because my TSH was "normal". What I had was a severe case of hyperthyroidism because of three toxic tumors in my thyroid. My experience proved to me that my instincts are on target, I no longer politely listen and accept a doctor's word, I ask questions, challenge what I believe to be poor advice and I research until I am fully prepared to represent myself.

I hope Dr.Hymann shakes up the medical profession and the general public. He's right, his plan works and I'm living proof of it. I was told I would gain weight and be sluggish after a thyroidectomy. That might be true if you eat a typical US diet of junk food and empty calories, it's not if you follow the UltraMetabolism plan. I have no thyroid tissue at all, I take Armour everyday and I use a lot of vitamin and herbal supplements, I don't eat red meat, dairy or refined foods, no white potatos either. I eat fresh vegetables, fruits, turkey, chicken, fish, high fiber beans/lentils and nuts. I feel great, I look better than I have in ten years and I know I'm on the right track.

You don't have to have thousands of dollars of tests to know the UltraMetabolism Plan works, you know it works because of how you feel and how your body responds. You can buy the book for a very reasonable price, do the food plan and listen to your body. What do you have to lose? Love handles, big butt, double chins, upper arm wobble and a down attitude, that's what! I say: Go for it!

I have been diagnosed with hypothryoidism, which ofcourse they prescribed synthroid, and depression. I am currently taking effexor, and trazadone. Something makes me quite forgetful, but I am not sure if it is the medicine, or stress, or something else. Recently the Dr. said my thyroid is not functioning, so he upped my synthroid dose. I have purchased Ultrametabolism. I am so frustrated with having to take all of these medicines. I also have a chronic stomach problem. Pain after eating, almost all the time. I am not over weight, although I am happier about 5 lbs. less, but by no means am I overweight. The Doctors that I have been to are not practicing the kind of Medicine you speak of. Is it possible for me to be a long distance patient, where the blood is drawn here, and the results sent to you?
Oh, in as to Dr. Leah Greenwood's comments about depression- obviously she has never been on the other side. I was treated by a shrink for a couple of years, and all he was concerned about was keeping you coming. I know many others who have also had problems with doctors concerning depression. It is far more prevalent than the "good" doctors that she speaks of.
Thanks for all you are doing Dr. Hyman!

"You may have to search for a doctor who can think differently and address the causes of disease."

There is a profession that has been doing just this for over 200 years - Naturopathic Physicians. In 13 states, we are licensed as physicians and have the priviledges and responsibilities as doctors. In most other states there are Naturopathic Physicians who have practices as well.
Please know that a listing of Naturopathic Physicians is on www.naturopathic.org
Also check your local phone book.

Thank you, Dr. Hyman, for starting to think like a Naturopathic Physician. Education which informs the public of their options is very important. And . . . each person is free to choose which option fits at any moment.

Naturopathic Physicians are trained to look at symptoms and do Naturopathic physical exam, so that tests are confirmatory and not always mandatory. This lends itself to affordable healthcare. Functional medicine which understands the physiology of the body is taught in Naturopathic Medical schools. In addition, mental, emotional, and spirital influences are considered. You are more than your physiology.

Hooray! More options! Check it out!
Dr. Cheryl

Thank you doctor for your wonderful book. I have been waiting for someone like you to come along and lead people and doctors to change the way they look at health care. I have had melasma for over 12 years. I have been to many doctors and NONE of them have ever been able to help me. The fact is that they do not even care because they do not see it as a problem with my health they see it as an inconvenience. I have even turned to many alternative books and no one understands why people suffer from this problem. I know if they do not understand Melasma then they can never offer a cure. I hope that you continue in your quest to educate other doctors so that they begin to help cure disease and not just treat the symptoms with drugs! I would also love to see HMO’s offer alternative medicine because right now there is no choice but to pay for it out of your own pocket. Keep up the good work and thank you!!

My 14 year old son has lost 19 pounds in the last few months with no real change in appetite or food consumption. Our pediatrician says this is not normal, but couldn't find anything through a first round of screening tests. Through some amazing circumstances we heard of Celiac Disease and our dr agreed to test for it. Blood test came back showing gluten intolerence, but the follow-up biopsy did not show Celiac. The gastro dr did find acid reflux and just wants to put son on Prilosec. I'm not comfortable with the results--the gastro doc sees no need to limit son's gluten consumption. We see our pediatrician tomorrow. I'm thinking I might should seek out one of the doctors listed on your sight, but there isn't one in our state.

The questions posed in this article are very relevant to my recent experience regarding western doctors approaches to my health condition.

Four years ago (at 56 years of age) I suffered a very bad fall when I fell backwards, hitting the back of my head against a tiny brick wall. This resulted in my body going into a downward spiral.

Subsequent to this event I suffered post-concussion and post-viral syndrome simultaneously. It was many months before I could return to work and even then I was not at all well but forced myself to get moving again. At the time the presence of Mycoplasma pneumonia was diagnosed and confirmed by blood tests. Over the next few years I suffered many bouts of this form of pneumonia and was told that I would probably by plagued by these recurring bouts for the rest of my days. What was clear from the blood tests was that the presence of this disease in my body was not abating which meant at the least provocation (such as a cold) the mycoplasma pneumonia and accompanying debilitation would surface again.

While I tried many times to seek help both from traditional doctors and alternative practioners here in the west, I could not find help in building my immune system. In fact no one considered this aspect, leaving my body for time to heal it. However time was not healing my body. The crisis point for me was the last time I went to a doctor before leaving again to return to live and work in China, this particular doctor (after yet another set of blood tests) vowed he held the cure for me and gave me such a strong course of antibiotics that while it cured the symptoms of the severe chest infection it left my immune system in a worse state than before.

So in returning to China and the presence of city pollution I actually got worse, ending up with a severe case of oral lichen plannus and gingivitis. This proved to be a blessing in disguise as it was to lead to the cure. In finding a Chinese dental surgeon who specialized in curing oral lichen plannus my underlying problem of an imbalance of my immune system was addressed. This doctor prescribed an injection of SiqiKang every two days (36 injections in total)and also vitamins A, B, and C. Later as this oral lichen plannus abated she also prescribed Oryzanol tablets to help right the body imbalances I was experiencing and a special toothpaste to help the gingivitis symptoms.

Her treatment was to prove remarkably effective. Today I don't get anything more than the occasional cold, where before I could have a fresh cold and sore throat about every ten days. These symptoms always threatened a return of the mycoplasma pneumonia (although I continually experienced the weakness of the mycoplasma pneumonia).

So while I am happy to report good health, more importantly I feel in control of my health now, something I had tried to gain earlier without success. What has also been very helpful to me is that this dental surgeon in diagnosing and prescribing medication has explained clearly her diagnosis, why she was suggesting I take the particular medicines and what effects she predicted it would have on my body. And my body did respond to the medication in the way she predicted. Another benefit I have found from this approach to restoring health and well-being is that I now have a much clearer picture of how my body works and responds.

For me it is clear I was helped by the use of Chinese medicine because they understand and treat the body in wholistic terms, and I am now fully convinced of value and sense of this approach. So as I read this particular article I found myself saying yes, yes, yes, yes, true, true, true to the statements in the article because they are true for me. To find the truth of these statements has involved a dramatic and difficult journey to bring myself back to good health.

Thank you Mark for this and your other valuable articles and the wonderful work you are doing towards changing western medical thinking, approaches, and practices. Many people and their quality of life will be blessed by your work.

I am so frustrated....I have read your book...it makes perfect sense to me!! How do I get the medical society to acknowledge this info as pertinent? I am 58 yrs old and trying to get long term insurance and no one will "listen" to my mis-diagnosis and the potential of "preventive care"!! I loved your book and went out and bought all of the groceries to make my "diet" perfect! The hardest part for me is the social gatherings, including dinner, where I am included and there is nothing (or little) there that I can eat!!

Greetings, I and 375 (c) others have been diagnosed with Mal de Debarquement Syndrome, a persistent imbalance/rocking after a motion experience such as that of a boat, plane, train, paddlewheeler, other, and the therapies of head movements don't work. Some are treating their symptoms, while others say nee. We don't know why we continue to experience the motion experience well past the actual event. I am, Jo G. Schneider

I am 33yrs old, have always exercised and eaten what I considered a good diet--compared to a lot of Americans anyway. Two years ago I went to the doctor for a regular check-up and had my cholesterol checked mainly because my Father kept bugging me to do it because his was extremely high (around 400). I have to say I was shocked and in tears to find that my total cholesterol was 295! How could this be, I don't eat fast food or a lot of meat and fried foods? My doctor said that I should try changing my diet and if that didn't work he could give me a Statin. The other diagnosis was that I was hypothyroid and he gave me a prescription for synthroid. I modified my diet, making sure to eat very little saturated fat, and no trans fats, I ate oatmeal and lots of fruits and vegetables. There was not much improvement on my thyroid status or my cholesterol and from the research I had done I discovered that being hypothyroid was like number 3 on the list of reasons why people have high cholesterol. I went to see an endocrinologist for my thyroid and he told me not to worry about the cholesterol, that as soon as we got the thyroid in range then the cholesterol numbers would come down. Well, every 3 months my tsh,t3, and t4 were checked and every time my thyroid hormone prescription increased until finally the thyroid numbers were all in range. I thought that I would lose wieght and feel energetic and that my cholesterol would all come down at this point. But none of the above were the result. I tried eating the my pyramid way and various other diets to feel better, lower my cholesterol and lose weight. I would have some short term successes that always ended up in failures. Anyway I came across your detox in a box and decided to do it. I did it for two weeks and in that time I also came across this book ultrametabolism and read it throughout my detox which lasted 2 weeks. When I came off the detox I added foods back in slowly, one at a time. It has been about 6 weeks now and I have lost about 10lbs and am maintaining my weight. My cholesterol is lower than I have ever seen it get (219) and my triglycerides are in low range of normal and HDL is high and my ratio is good (3.5). So, I am excited about this and at the same time wonder what else I can do? I have not added back any milk products because I am lactose intolerant and I haven't added back flour, sugar or refined grain products. I was also tested for Celiac disease and my tests came back normal but I am afraid to eat bread and pasta anyway because I find it so addicting and because I don't want the bloating and gas that I seemed to experience quite often with milk and flour. I plan to keep eating the way I am (Lots of vegetables, fruit, brown rice, beans, quinoa, and fish)and continue to workout (run, walk, yoga) and see if with more time my cholesterol numbers improve some more. If you have any suggestions I would be happy to hear them, and I want to thank you for researching and sharing with everyone the valuable things you have discovered in really treating your patients and not just masking the symptoms with drugs. Good health to you--Namaste :-)

i am a46 year old women,very frustrated with doctors,went to the er 4 times in the last two weeks.the docs just say they dont know what is wrong.ive had chest xrays,2catscans,ekg,breathing treatments,lots of blood work.it started out as jaw pain and chest pain.they said i had broncitus,but had no cough.next they said i had acid reflux.now they say hormones.im not having chest pain,acid reflux,or any other symtom,the only thing now is retaining massive amounts of fluid inmy whole body,hands are real itchy and red,i look like im 9 months pregnant,legs and ankles swollen alot.if you have any idea what is wrong please let me know,they say heart,lungs,liver,kidneys,gallblader,thyroid,diebetes,protien,ensimes are all good.im lost i dont know what to do.

Please help me! I have been diagnosed with CHF and have recently had two stents put in my heart. However, the medications made me extremely dizzy and not able to function very well mentally and physically. I have taken myself off of a couple of medications and lowered the dosage on others by muscle testing myself (kesesiolgy). I can at least function now. I am using many alternatives as well but my blood pressure is still too high (189 over 79). I also have type 11 Diabetes. which I got after having had Lymes disease. I have also had Malaria from when I lived in Pakistan as a teenager. However, I no longer have any of these diseases now. But, I think the damages to my body has caused the present problems. I am 58 yrs. old but appear younger. I don't know if I really need to fix the diabetes first (or pancrease) and then the bloodpressure or vise versa. I would love to be checked out by you with whatever tests you have. Do you have suggestions? Can you please help me? I live in Hawaii but, am willing to go to you.

Sincerely,

Naomi Pedersen

I am surprised that at no stage in your comments have you mentioned one of the most important components of a person's health - their emotions. Emotions stored in the Cellular memory are one of the major reasons for dis-ease.
Two examples:
One client "diagnosed" with gluten, lactose and fructose intolerances - cured herself when she realised that if she allowed herself to express her anger she was able to eat whatever she chooses to eat.
Another client "diagnosed" with irritable bowel recovered when she realised that she was angry with her father because he was unable to respond to her mother when she had a heart attack.
Elizabeth Kubler Ross identified depression as a stage in the grief process. As such, no two cases of depression are the same because no two people go through grief the same, or for the same reason.
When are we going to recognise that if we treat the truth in what is really happening with people, then most can be healed.
I'm not discounting the environmental effects of disease - just take the use of steroids in the food production chain as an example, this is never identified in the obesity cycle. Are the drugs prescribed for one purpose actually causing another?
Yes, treat the depression with B12 or another other vitamin, AND treat the underlying reason so that the person becomes completely free of the depression.
(Check out www.thejourney.com) for more information.

four years ago i had a severe asthma attack and my doctor recommended taking prednisone ... the drug stopped the symptoms of my asthma, but i also gained 30 pounds in three weeks as a "side effect" of taking the drug. my doctor told me the 30 pounds would "melt off" as soon as the drug wore off. i did not. six months later i had another attack and this time i gained 25 pounds in three weeks. this weight, too, i did not lose. when i had another attack in four months, i refused to take the prednisone ... why would i want to gain 80 pounds in under a year's time?
he asked me what i wanted to do, and i suggested that since my asthma was allergy induced, woudn't it make more sense to take something for my allergy instead of something for my asthma?
so i took claritin for the allegy and my asthma cleared up within HOURS with no extra weight gain! i remain 55 lbs. overweight with no loss in sight, a reminder of the prednisone. why didn't my doctor (a harvard graduate!!) treat my allergy instead of my asthma? because he was treating the symptom instead of the cause ... the very point of this ultrametabolism posting.

I have been seeing my endo EVERY 3 MONTHS for the past 3 years! Suffering from hypothyroidism, insulin intolerence, depression & weight gain. I am SO frustrated because I feel like we're going over the same territory and playing games with drugs to treat the symptoms but we're missing the cause. I am only 37 and have already had a hysterectomy and I am at the end of my rope. I see my endo again on 9/18/06 and I am hoping to give her some insite into Dr. Hyman's methods. If there is no improvement...I plan on finding a new Dr. Any suggestions?

a few docs here tout they are holistic but it's the same ole same old. i use chiros, acupuncture do alot of self care & eat good always doing better w/food choices also i take no drugs
it takes more than 10mins to connect to a patient
i find teachers like caroline myss helpful because she helps you to ask YOURSELF curical questions to find where you lose power. thanks for your site.

I think most people don't understand that they are responsible for their own health and think going to a doctor can fix whatever is wrong with them. I also agree that there is much confusion over how to take care of yourself, espacially related to diet. Your book really puts together and discusses all the information that's out there and details how your body works and how food affects it.

Thank-you for putting all of the information together so it makes sense.

My only question to you is do you believe that animal protein feeds tumors and cancers, but not plant protein as T. Colin Campbell states in his book "The China Study?"

Where are all the 'new' doctors that think and treat the way you do? I have been to doctors who have taken your 6 day seminar and they are treating patients the same old ineffective ways. I went to one of these 'functional/integrative' doctors and after telling him that my hair was falling out, I had no sex drive and that I wanted help with the supplements I was taking and future hormonal issues, he orders a few tests and asks me what I want him to do??? Have you been listening? He told me later my thyroid was ok and my cholesterol was a bit high. See me in six months. Hello....where is the integrative/functional part. Just putting a waterfall in the lobby is not enough. I knew so much more than him. I guess I truly have to take care of myself and when I win the lottery I'm go see you Mark Hyman. Most doctors are arrogant, ineffective, patronizing, ignorant and terrible listeners. I'm totally frustrated.

I have been having digestive problems and my doctor has been sending me for all kinds of tests to determine what---. By getting on the internet and doing my own research I have been dropping foods that I suspect I may be sensitive or allergic to. It has helped immensely so far! She (my doctor) has asked me to still get certain tests she has recommended and I will--though I find them to be stressful. I will possibly try adding one food at a time back in about a month but do not feel they are all essential to my nutrition. Thank goodness for my computer. By the way, some of the foods are, coffee, peanut butter, eggs, chocolate, beer, all fiber (need my veggies)Thank goodness I feel health returning.

I agree with all you just wrote and am glad to know that doctors are being trained in "functional medicine". I'm blessed with good health and the only health care I have much experience with is from using birth control pills therefore annual exams and some minor problems with UTI's etc. These cleared up when my husband had one too and when we went to a doctor he talked to both of us and advised about voiding before and after sex to clear the tracts. This has worked tremendously over the years. Prior to this no one ever gave any advice, just charge an arm and leg for doctor visit and antibiotics. So, that was a time a doctor really helped. Please continue your education, by example, of patients and peers.....the health care field must change direction and can then truly affect society....but will they still make enough money?

I have had doctors who tried to address issues deeper than the presenting condition. In most cases, the limitations of their training and scope of practice were painfully clear. In one case, a doctor suggested that my mix of stress-related symptoms might best be addressed by a mental health practitioner. But what I heard him say was "It is all in your head." I became angry and insisted that he treat my physical symptoms. I ultimately did pursue the mental health route with great success. As a massage therapist, I have learned that many of my clients don't want to get rid of their aches and pains because it feels so good to have them worked on and paid attention to. Sometimes I feel like a drug dealer. I'm not sure how to address this within my scope of practice...

How about writing a book to help Type II diabetics identify the diet, exercise and lifestyle changes they need to make in order to get off of insulin and diabetic medications? This does not seem to be a goal of medical doctors who want medication to be an essential part of treatment so that patients will have to keep coming in for office visits to get prescriptions. I am 52 years old and have been a Type II diabetic for 17 years. I finally stopped eating red meat this year and have lost 30lbs and my insulin needs have gone from 30 units of Lantus and 20 units of Humalog to 15 units of Lantus and 10 units of Humalog. My goal is to get off these medications completely but it would be great to have a resource other than trial and error. Any suggestions?

I went to one of the functional medicine doctors that you recommend. His bio and the center that he works at look amazing on paper. I have a lot of anxiety and I know that stress is a major cause of it, but I went to the dr and asked him to check everything and to see if there is a physical reason for my anxiety. He didn't even do blood tests. Just asked me when my last physical was and asked what my other doctor said. Then he attempted to teach me how to breathe correctly. Half an hour later I left with a piece of paper that said that I need to do yoga and breathe deep. I was so dissapointed! I know a lot of anxiety is related to your thoughts and thinking, but I believe it's because there is an inbalance somewhere that's causing these thoughts. I wanted him to get to that inbalance and tell me if I'm lacking any vitamis, minerals or if there is something else wrong, but I was really disappointed. In the end it's really up to me to heal, but the least these doctors can do is provide some guidance!

I enjoyed the book, but this "new era" of medicine has been "emerging" for all of my 50 years on the planet. Presciption for Nutritional Healing and countless other books, authors, and resources been espousing these same theories for decades.

I think one of the things this generation of "interested" people is missing is the pollution in our lives and the over-population of our land.

There are too many people living on too little land.

Remember the book "Zero Population Growth" that was mandatory high school reading in the early 70's?

Well, guess what? We didn't follow any of it. We keep popping bigger families out and buying bigger houses with less time to take care of either one in a hands-on fashion.

We're living in filthy air, showering with filthy water yet think because our expensive, expansive homes surrounded by green grass are beautiful, all is well.

Not! Our lungs are sucking seriously polluted air, our water supplies (even if we consume 100% of the best-quality bottled water)are full gunk seeping through our every pore, and we care more about the price of crude oil in Iraq then we do our own environment.

And when was the last time we heard the oval office launch a war on cancer? A war on diabetes? A war on heart disease?

There is no "new era" of healthcare and we all know it.

There's only another book to buy espousing some good facts that we already knew but find it difficult to simultaneously find both the time and the money to actualize.

There have been books about macrobiotics, raw food, unprocessed whole foods, organic foods, chemical-free foods, pesticide-free nutrition, preventative healthcare,allergies, etc. coming down the pike forever!!! My mother was reading them forty years ago!!!!!

New? Not all all.

The only thing relatively new is our country's widespread disinterest in the quality of our environment and affordable, preventative healthcare.

None of my doctors or specialist care what the root of the problem is as long as there is a new drug on the market that they are pushing. The don't even suggest changing my diet. I am a diabetic, allergy asthma and arthritis and a lot of muscle knots. Recently my blood pressure when up from normal (think because my jaw was out of place and a lot of stress from work) my doctor want to try several blood pressure medicines with out even trying to cut back on salt or stress. I have read both of you books and I started Ultra-Metabolism this week. The book is easy to read and realistic.

Although I am considered basically healthy by doctors...I have fought weight, fatigue, allergies, depression, lack of sleep and edema for years....and doctors have had no answers. I take BP meds and have an extra prescription for the water retension...my BP is good...but the edema still plagues me. I watch salt like a hawk. Still no response from doctors....they say nothing is wrong. Then why can't I eliminate the weight? Why can't I stop the edema? Why can't I sleep? Why can't I feel better? I read your Ultrametabolism book and identified some of my issues..inflamation being only one. I started taking the supplements suggested a little over a month ago...and actually began adding food back to my diet.....I haven't lost weight yet..but I am SLEEPING. I haven't been able to put more than 2-3 hours of sleep together in a night in a couple of years. I actually sleep 5-7 hours now. It is incredible. I hit a bad schedule..and skipped my supplements for a couple of days and the sleeplessness returned...I won't do that again!! I am so grateful for your book and your continued outflow of information. I keep it by my bedside and re-read sections trying to make this knowledge a permanent part of my memory and actions. I've gifted copies to a couple of friends who desperately need this information... although they are just starting to realize it! What's the sum-total of this? Tell us more! I am gobbling up this information and getting down to root causes....in a way my body easily assimilates and responds to. I wish you were in Atlanta GA...I would be driving your office insane for an appointment.

I have had high blood pressure since I was 20. They told me it was genetic and put me on medication. I now have kidney issues but they seem to think it is nothing. They thought it was my ovaries but it is not. Now they have no idea what my problem is but just tell me to not drink soda and drink cranberry juice. I have pain in my lower back daily but just learn to deal. They administer every test but find nothing. I am going to buy your book and hope that I find something there! I just wish I could find someone closer to help me out!

Hi, I'm frustrated with lots of foods, mainly yogurt. Hard to find something good for my kids that they'll eat.
I've been VERY HAPPY with Mona Vie. It has the acai berry (Amazon)plus 18 other fruits. www.monavie.com/nina

My 22 year old daughter has been sick for almost 8 years with a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. We have exhausted all varities of treatment options; some of which seemed to work for short periods of time and then the symptoms would return. She is unable to work or go to school and spends most days in bed. When she is able to get up,the act of showering and dressing usually forces her back to bed out of sheer exhaustion. We are looking for any type of help and we feel desperate at this point. Can you help?

I have been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and there is no cure or medicine for this illness.
The only treatment I am following is Vitamine C, Vitamine B12, Antioxidants, Probiotics, etc
I keep of having relapses and remissions, but no real improvement, this is touching me now emotionally, and I get overstressed and anxious about it.
Do you have any tips?
Thanks
Carlos
http://pochoams.blogspot.com

I applaud your work and pray for your success. I am in Nurse Practitioner, Margaret Porter's sister. I have been using this approach with people and myself for many years. My belief is illness goes beyond all this to spiritual/karmic causes and it is through addressing these that one gets well. I welcome any correspondence you can offer.

I work for one of the physicians that is referred by your resource list. He is having terrific results with patients using the principles of Functional Medicine. What I feel needs to happen is a paradigm shift in the way that people approach prioritizing health care expense. I hear heart breaking stories about declining health. These are people that my doctor can help. However, once they understand that they have to pay out of pocket and submit paperwork for potential reimbursement they put on the brakes. It seems that people are only interested in the care that their insurance companies deem neccessary. We so appreciate your efforts in bringing the possibilities to light through your writing and marketing efforts. When people begin to understand that Functional Medicine doctors will spend the time and make the effort to finding the solution, it is then that we hope their eyes begin to open.

Thank you!
Shannon

Are you familiar with ideas of Dr. William Campbell Douglass? Some are similar with yours execept the water and some others issues.