A New Medical Paradigm from Ancient Traditions.

Welcome to Paradigm B.

By Tom Staverosky

"You are what you eat". This is a saying with which we are all familiar. However a more appropriate phrase would be "you are what you digest, absorb, and assimilate". In this article we will examine the latest information on why digestive function is so critical and how to improve it. While this will be beneficial and informative for those of you who suffer standard digestive problems like colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation or diarrhea, it also has fascinating implications for those who are looking to improve immune function, mental clarity, energy levels, and indeed general quality of life.

The digestive system is the cornerstone of our vitality, and it is pretty clear that digestive dysfunction is a rampant problem. All we have to do is walk down the aisles of our favorite pharmacy or health food store to see the vast array of products designed to treat various digestive system problems. Most of you can simply go to your own kitchen cupboard or bathroom cabinet to find several products for the digestive system.

We often consider digestive problems to be an annoyance, a discomfort that needs to be tolerated.  However, when we look at any of the ancient healing traditions we learn that digestive dysfunction was considered the root of most chronic disease. An excellent example is classic naturopathic philosophy which states that disease is caused by the breakdown of normal function in one of three areas: either the body is not getting something that it needs, the body is not eliminating something it cannot use, or the vitality is low. All three of these reasons are directly tied to digestive function.

We all realize that as we get older our systems do not work as well as they did in the past. Perhaps it is our own experience that shows us most clearly the wisdom of the simplistic statement reflected in classic naturopathic philosophy.  As we age it becomes increasingly important that we make sure the body is getting what it needs and that it is eliminating what it cannot use.

It is essential to realize why such a simplistic philosophy contains such deep wisdom. The first thing we need to understand is how limited the knowledge is that forms the basis for most medical treatment.  While this may seem shocking, it becomes rather apparent when we search the Internet to learn the cause of any chronic disease.  What we find is an extensive amount of reading about the symptoms of any particular condition, but very little discussion about the root cause.  Indeed most chronic conditions are described as incurable diseases of unknown cause.

It is almost as if we should consider examining two separate medical systems or paradigms. In system A, the one we are all familiar with, we are not sure what causes disease so we focus on the treatment of symptoms with pharmaceutical drugs, herbs, specific vitamin and mineral therapies, and other various treatments available from our doctors, pharmacies, and health food stores. One can argue the various pros and cons of pharmaceutical versus natural treatments but the reality is treating symptoms is treating symptoms.  For example, there is no natural product that is as dramatically effective in relieving a migraine headache as Imitrex and many heartburn sufferers claim that natural remedies are not nearly as effective as the various pharmaceutical acid blockers in relieving their discomfort.  On the other hand, many irritable bowel sufferers claim that nothing they ever got from the doctor or pharmacy was as effective as peppermint oil. Many of us have learned that the prompt use of echinacea, goldenseal, and propolis will lessen the symptoms of the common cold more effectively than anything available from a pharmaceutical company. What is important to realize is that in each of these examples none of the various products, natural or pharmaceutical, focused on the treatment of symptoms, actually offers the hope of recovering from the disease.

In system or paradigm B the treatment of disease is based on the belief that the body is perfectly capable of healing itself and is constantly trying to do so.  In other words the human organism is a complex system of balancing and counterbalancing mechanisms all trying to maintain health and wellness in spite of the level of abuse we may inflict on that organism.  This system honors the inherent wisdom of the body and realizes that if disease is present then there must be some obstacle to the cure. This paradigm ignores the various symptoms that may manifest and focuses instead on helping the body to work better, helping the body do what it is trying to do.

Paradigm B requires that we look at the systems within the body and do what it takes to maximize their operation.  Within this system there is no function in the body more important than digestive function.  Does the brain have the neurotransmitters and neuropeptides it needs to keep us alert, thinking clearly, and happy?  Do our muscles have the nutrients they need to allow us to maintain an active life?  Does our bloodstream contain the elements essential to effect repair when we are injured? All of these questions, and many more, are answered by three things: 1. What are we eating and drinking, 2. How effectively is our digestive system getting the proper nutrients in their proper form into our body, and 3. How well is our filtering system, principally liver and kidney, eliminating toxins and waste products from our body.

Most of us have direct experience with the value and the limitations of system/paradigm A. It is also likely that you have an intuitive sense of the wisdom of system/paradigm B. However paradigm B raises some obvious questions and concerns.  In truth it sounds a little too simplistic. The medical literature is filled with study after study confirming the effectiveness of system A. On almost a daily basis we can read an article in the newspaper or see a report on the television about the latest scientific study showing the effects of some drug, or herb, or supplement on a particular disease. It is reasonable to ask where are the corresponding studies on the effects of system B?  Where is the literature to support the value of paradigm B?

The good news is the evidence supporting a paradigm that honors the wisdom of the body is fascinating, compelling, and long-standing. As mentioned in the beginning of this article all of the ancient healing traditions honor the wisdom of the body. Their various treatment protocols are all focused on bringing balance to the human organism.

There are two gold standards in scientific research. The first is the double-blind placebo-controlled study.  It is the most widely known, widely respected, and widely used vehicle for medical research. By its very nature it is best suited for testing the effect of a particular drug or natural supplement on a particular symptom of a disease.  The research conducted with this gold standard provides support and credibility to paradigm A. There is however, a second gold standard of scientific research.

That gold standard is the clinical observations of a trained scientist or doctor.  Thomas Edison did not do a double-blind placebo-controlled study to invent a light bulb.  He invented a light bulb by the process of trial and error and careful observation. Most of our understanding of the human body and how it works is the result of the clinical observations of outstanding doctors and scientists.  The first antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered by clinical observation.

Take the time to study medicine from the perspective of what works and what does not work and why and you will realize that the doctors who consistently get sick people well are guided day by day and patient by patient by the principles reflected in paradigm B. Their clinical observations have convinced them that the only way to consistently return sick people to health is to focus on returning underlying dysfunction back to normal. Their attention is on helping the body help itself rather than the treatment of symptoms.  They have come to realize that until the digestive system and the liver/kidney system are working well most patients do not recover from chronic disease.

There is a small but growing body of scientific literature to support the possibilities offered by paradigm B. Various probiotics, the beneficial bacteria that live in our digestive system and help us digest and absorb our food, have been shown in scientific studies to have a beneficial effect on a variety of diseases.  An excellent review of that research can be found in Dr. Kelly Karpa's book, Bacteria for Breakfast: Probiotics for Good Health. 

Perhaps the most fascinating research is being conducted by Michael Gershon, M.D. at Columbia University.  Dr. Gershon is the recognized father of neurogastroenterology. Those of you familiar with your medical terminology will recognize neurogastroenterology as a combination of the science of the digestive system and the science of the brain.  Dr. Gershon and his collaborators have discovered substantial amounts of neurological tissue in our digestive system.  Furthermore they have come to realize that this nerve tissue functions to run the digestive system independent of direction from the head brain.  In his book, The Second Brain, Dr. Gershon suggests that the continuing study of the enteric nervous system, or gut brain, will lead to new treatments for digestive problems and neurological conditions.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Dr. Gershon's work is that it shows that major systems within the body are interconnected.  No longer can the gastroenterologist and the neurologist pretend their systems are not interrelated. This is totally supportive of paradigm B which argues that all the systems within the body are interacting to create balance and health within the human organism.  It is entirely possible that for the first time we are witnessing the true merging of modern medical research with ancient healing traditions.

With all of this background in mind we are led to one main question. What is the best way to improve digestive function and liver/kidney function in our efforts to make sure our bodies are best able to do what they are designed to do? 

We invite you to take a close look at the work our company is doing. ForeverWell has been applying the philosophies of Paradigm B to the treatment of migraine headaches. While the focus of our work is on migraine, the reports we have received from the doctors who use our products as well as numerous reports from our customers indicate success with a wide variety of gastrointestinal and neurological problems.

The truth is many migraine sufferers also suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, acid reflux, or other digestive problems.  The typical response from these customers is that their digestive problems resolved first followed by improvement in their migraine headaches. Similar reports have been received from migraine sufferers who also experience depression, anxiety, mental fog, or other neurological conditions.

This work opens exciting possibilities for the treatment of any chronic disease. As mentioned above, it is clear that as we age normal function begins to deteriorate and anything we can do to help essential functions of the body to work better can greatly improve our quality of life.  Indeed it becomes likely that supplemental support of proper digestive function and liver and kidney function are more important than taking a daily vitamin and mineral supplement.

A close look at our product design strategy and how we selected the ingredients for both our digestive improvement product, ForeverWell Foundation Formula, and our liver and kidney support product, ForeverWell Renew Formula will shed some light on our effort to reflect the wisdom of Paradigm B.

What we really love about our Foundation Formula is that it is a combination of two whole foods and we believe the body responds better to whole food nutritional support than to individual nutrient or mineral components.  We use a predigested fish protein concentrate that has a high level of small chain peptides.  Small chain peptides have been shown in critical care research to be essential to the health of our intestines. The other ingredient in Foundation Formula is from a company in Australia.  They combine a blend of organic grasses with sea vegetables which they ferment with a combination of 14 probiotics. In addition to the peptides, probiotics, and natural plant enzymes, this product provides an amazing array of trace minerals, vitamins, and micronutrients essential to a healthy digestive system.

Renew Formula is the other side of the same coin.  A healthy digestive system requires well functioning liver and kidneys. The research points to a variety of vitamins and minerals and herbs that help support proper liver and kidney function.  Rather than select several of the most widely studied nutrients or herbs, we designed a synergistic combination of 21 different ingredients all of which have been shown to support proper liver and kidney function.  We believe this synergistic combination is more food-like in its presentation and therefore more easily utilized by the body. Additionally, the result is a gentle yet effective product that is very easily tolerated.

Our work has led us to have a profound appreciation for the wisdom of the human body.  While our focus has been on the treatment of migraine sufferers the reports we receive from our customers reinforce our essential philosophy.  We believe that the best hope for recovery from chronic disease including but not limited to migraine is to help the body help itself. Many of our customers report a variety of improvements in addition to relief of their headaches. Increased energy levels, better sleep patterns, lifting of depression, and elimination of digestive problems are probably the most common additional comments we hear from our migraine and doctor customers.

It is frustrating to realize how many fine doctors who practice alternative medicine techniques are still focused on the treatment of symptoms. It is as if they have forgotten the basic tenants of the traditional healing methods that form the basis of natural healing philosophies. We hope that our work will inspire many consumers and healthcare practitioners to honor the wisdom of the human body. Truly the body is capable of healing itself and is constantly trying to do so. The very best thing we can do to improve quality of life and recover from chronic disease is to work with the body and focus on removing obstacles to the cure.

We are committed to shining the light of understanding on our work and how it reflects classic healing traditions. When we take the time to explain to one of our customers the philosophy that is guiding our work, this belief that the body is capable of healing itself and is constantly trying to do so, they really get it. This simplistic philosophy speaks to their intuitive knowledge as to how the body works. Migraine sufferers in particular are all too aware of the limitations of treating symptoms and they welcome the opportunity to consider a new way of treating the disease. They also appreciate that they can continue to use symptomatic treatment, as their pain requires, while our products continue to help their bodies work better.

We encourage customers to take a three to six month attitude toward using our products, as this is the time frame where we generally see our best results. Interestingly, most customers begin to notice some improvement within the first 30 days. We always tell our customers that their bodies will tell them how long they need to keep using our products.  We encourage them after three to six months to stop taking our products and see how they're doing. Some do fine without it and others find they feel better staying on a maintenance dose of one-half or one-third of the recommended dosage.  We also try to inspire them to look at the other things in their lives that help bring balance to the body.  Exercise, what they choose to eat and drink, relaxation and stress reduction techniques and the value of gratitude can all have a balancing influence on the human organism.

So there you have it, Paradigm A or Paradigm B, treat the symptoms, or treat the body, the choice is yours.  Both systems have their value and are appropriate depending on the circumstances. The challenge we all face in our efforts to maintain and enhance our quality of life as we get older is to try and understand what works and what does not work and why.  There are so many products, so many stories, and so many treatment options we often don't know which way to turn and who to believe. 

We trust this article provides you with a path to clarity and a guiding philosophy that will help you make decisions about your health and wellness.  If in reading this article you have begun to believe that most of your treatment choices have been focused on your symptoms then perhaps a three to six month commitment to the ForeverWell program is exactly what you need. Welcome to Paradigm B.