Wed, 28 Feb 2024 23:43:45 -0800WeeblyWed, 28 Feb 2024 21:57:26 GMThttp://drjohnabriggs.com/blog/independance-you-will-rely-on-something-make-it-jesus    I wrote this article last year and feel the message is ever so critical today. We’re losing our freedoms and are being invaded at the welcome of a corrupt administration. Our votes are more important now than ever.
    Freedom which costs little or nothing is rarely worth fighting for. When I served in Vietnam, I realized the cost as so many failed to make it home. Because of this, my love for our country and our flag exceeds that of so many who have never experienced tyranny.
    Our founding fathers were willing to give their lives to protect and preserve freedom. Today, so many have had everything they desired handed to them. For this cause, many are willing to sacrifice the freedoms they have for a fairy tale.
    This morning I am writing this while waiting for the Independence Day parade down main street. I think of all the freedoms we enjoy and the sacrifices which gave us this freedom.     There are many kinds of bondage and slavery we can be subject to. If we consider the bondage a diabetic endures, that’s just one area of bondage. How about the drug addict who is enslaved to drugs, or the alcoholic in bondage to their habit.
    When my wife and I were out golfing over the weekend we were paired with a couple young men (I can call them young because I was the oldest one in our foursome), and as always, the conversation went to the issue of health.    
    The one said his mother had been on a whole load of pharmaceutical drugs, and every time she had a reaction to one of them, she was put on another to cover the symptoms of the first. This woman was far from free in many ways. For one, it was costing a fortune, and secondly she was getting sicker and sicker.
    Thank God for a son who inspired her to begin to change her diet, seek alternate choices, and wean down from all those drugs. He noted she’s now on only one medication and actually feeling human again. This woman has tasted freedom, but it cost her. She had to make changes and seek a healthier lifestyle.
    Often we see where the degree of sacrifice to obtain freedom influences our tenacity to keep it. This is why so many veterans will gladly stand and reverence out flag when it passes, even if they have to get up out of a wheelchair. The greater the sacrifice the greater the love of freedom.
    It’s frustrating to see where we only dedicate one day to our freedom from European tyranny and yet can dedicate a whole month to sexual perversion and immorality. My saying this may irritate some, but the majority of my readers will say “Amen”.
    When I get patients in my office, I realize they are interested in achieving freedom in their health, or understanding how to keep the freedoms they have already received. My goal is to assist everyone in living the abundant, overflowing life Jesus paid for.
    Freedom comes in many appearances. We need to be free from chemical dependance as in pharmaceuticals. Free from mental and emotional bondage. (My neighbor took his life just a couple months ago due to the mental demons from combat). And we have to be free from Spiritual bondage.
    For many, the difference between mental/emotional, and spiritual bondage sounds the same, but they are two totally different areas. This is one of the reasons I believe health care needs to address these areas. If not, tragedies like that of my neighbor occur. In a way, being a compassionate and caring doctor means I have to not just address the physical ailments, but to pastor my patients at the same time.
    Getting free entails understanding where you’re in bondage. An alcoholic won’t seek help until he understands he has a problem. In cases like this, until that happens, they will not hear anything a caring person says. Those caught up in the LBGTQ+ bondage, will not seek help until they realize they have a problem. Usually that comes too late as the suicide rate in this population is extremely high. Here is where the spiritual health is poor.
    Getting free, Spirit, Soul, and Body requires sacrifice. Spending time in God’s word involves giving of your time. Getting physically healthy involves avoiding those tasty toxins, getting adequate rest, staying properly hydrated, breathing good clean, (smoke free) air, and getting adequate exercise and activity.
    Many times, getting and staying free means rejecting many of the things that have ruled our lives forever. That can be a real battle. Winning that battle is something to celebrate.
    He that the Son sets free is free indeed!!!  Remember the one who give you true freedom.
]]>Wed, 28 Feb 2024 21:43:02 GMThttp://drjohnabriggs.com/blog/guard-your-heart    Conditions of the heart seem to be on the rise. This fits both with physical as well as emotional. The issues we face today of people outraged over wars in our world as well as heartless destruction of the unborn and the mutilation of kids, calling it gender affirming care, are all conditions of the heart.
    If true love ruled our world, none of these issues would be present. Unfortunately that isn’t the case. When it comes to the blood pump in our bodies, there’s been increasing challenges and an emphasis on heart diseases.
    Our hearts never get a break. It’s the hardest working organ in your body. Other muscles get to relax while we sleep, but the heart keeps on working whether we’re awake or asleep. Even in a coma, the heart continues to move life giving oxygen and nutrition throughout our bodies.
    Because of this, worn out heart cells are replaced more frequently than others except for stomach cells, which live in a very hostile environment. These cells are renewed daily.
    Because heart cells are made new every 30 days, the need for appropriate materials to restore and build new cells is much greater than other cells in the body.     
    For this very reason, heart weakness tends to be the most specific indicator of a nutritional deficiency in the body.
    Dr Royal Lee realized that if the function of the heart could be monitored by the sounds of the heart, he could observe the effects of nutrition on the heart, and in turn, the entire body. As a very successful inventor, he created a machine called the Endocardiograph. He began selling it to physicians in 1937. This machine amplified and recorded both audible and inaudible heart sounds.
    By identifying disruptions in the normal rate, rhythm, and tone of the heart, he was able to see improvements in these areas after giving the appropriate nutrition. These changes often came within minutes of giving the proper nutrients.
    Over the years, these machines became scarce, as many of the old docs who used them passed away without passing on the wisdom. Teaching on use of the Endocardiograph had pretty much vanished. Years later an updated version was created called the Acoustic Cardiograph. With this being created, there was renewed teaching available on how to identify nutritional deficiencies and treat them observing heart sounds. I acquired one of these years ago and used it till the emergence of the newer Heart sound recorder, which has taken this technology to a whole new level.
    When deficiencies go unaddressed over long periods, it’s assumed there will be degenerative changes like enlargement of the heart, coronary sclerosis, valvular damage, and many others as the machine (heart) is overloaded. In these cases, the person will be more susceptible than normal to infections, colds, and relapses of chronic conditions, and reduced vitality.
    An interesting note is that when Dr Royal Lee created the Endocardiograph, his primary nutritional support was Catalyn, the product he developed in 1929. He found that in 1933, fifty out of one hundred people had a heart, being deprived of certain necessary materials. With this, he noted that addressing these deficiencies, the person would be able to work harder, think clearer, and live longer.
    Now, mind you, that was 1933. With the denaturing of foods, the use of petrochemical fertilizers, pesticides, and food storage which depletes nutrition, fifty out of one hundred would be pretty good today. Unfortunately, we’re seeing a major health crisis which chemicals can’t fix. The lame attempts of synthetic vitamins will never match nutrition from real foods. Devitalized foods will never replace the real thing. And now we see drugs trying to correct the results of starvation.
    So what’s a person to do in today’s world? Not everyone can plant and tend a garden. Having the space and healthy soil is a challenge. Most of us find ourselves challenged with even having enough time to grow healthy food. Having a community with people producing healthy foods can be a real health saver. I have a farmer where I obtain health beef and my chickens give me good free range eggs. I plant a small garden, but I can’t produce enough food for a year.
    Because of all of this, just adding six Catalyn daily has the potential of laying a good sound foundation. Because of other nutrients being stripped from our systems due to added sugars, preservatives, and bad fats, I have to look at what other elements are required. Living where there’s not enough UV rays of the sun to create vitamin D in my system all year is why I insist getting my Cod Liver oil in daily. With the stress factors encountered while still working, I make sure to get my Cataplex B daily along with any others the heart sound recorder shows to be missing.
    We don’t have to allow our heart and organs to go without. A good place to start is to take six Catalyn every day. You can order direct from Standard Process at my website. drjohnabriggs.com
]]>Wed, 28 Feb 2024 21:36:53 GMThttp://drjohnabriggs.com/blog/feed-your-endocrine-glands    Thyroid deficiency is one of the most common of conditions and often either missed, ignored, or improperly treated.
    levothyroxine was isolated in 1914 by Dr Kendall before the FDA existed. It’s assumed he had a patent and had a licensing agreement with Squibb Laboratories at that time. Squibb sold levothyroxine to treat patients with hypothyroidism in 1916 or 1917, even before the FDA existed. When the FDA was created, levothyroxine was grandfathered in.
    In the 1950s, a British pharmaceutical company developed a method to make synthetic thyroxine no longer extracted from pigs. The FDA accepted it because they already had grandfathered in the natural product extracted from pigs. The FDA never asked for safety testing or effectiveness of the synthetic levothyroxine.
    Since that time the discussion of which works best in the patient has continued. Many say the natural extracted from pigs can’t be counted on as there’s no consistent levels of both T3 and T4. Then there’s the concern that synthetic fails to fully restore function.
    With the use of synthetic T3 which is much more powerful than T4, but with a shorter half life there’s the concern of over driving the heart and creating palpitations and tachycardia. These two issues need to be considered when doing any supplementing with thyroid, either natural or synthetic.
    In desiccated thyroid extract, we have 4 molecules of T4 to 1 of T3. Our thyroid contains a different ratio. It's like 14 to 1. There's an idea that perhaps the desiccated thyroid extract could give a little bit too much T3. If a patient takes, let's say, 100 mg of desiccated thyroid extract, T3 levels will increase. 3 hours later there will be a T3 peak. Experts think there’s insufficient data on safety for these peaks of T3. A concern is if a patient takes desiccated thyroid extract for life, could these peaks of T3 be a problem with the heart or bone? This has been a historical concern.
    There were 20 randomized clinical trials comparing synthetic (T4 and T3) combination therapy with natural thyroid, and the effectiveness and safety was identical. There were no more adverse reactions in the combination therapy as opposed to desiccated thyroid.
    There were two clinical trials using desiccated thyroid extract, and they didn't find more adverse reactions as compared with synthetic thyroid. There was a commercially sponsored, multicenter clinical trial with desiccated thyroid extract published at the American Thyroid Association meeting last year, showing again there were no more adverse reactions with desiccated thyroid extract.
    With all this information, I’ve seen over the years patients who responded better with the synthetic and those who did better on the natural thyroid in the form of Armour or NP thyroid over the Synthroid.
    In all of this, the main question needs to be asked, why do we need to replace the function of one of our endocrine glands? What would cause this organ to fail in suppling what our body needs? Why would any organ of our body not do what it’s designed to do?
    The answer is usually as obvious as the nose on our face. If you starve your dog, it will fail to fetch when you tell it to. Our body has specific nutritional requirements. When those basics are ignored and the organ is left to starve, production and function will drop off.
    When the thyroid is starved of nutrition, which includes iodine, it might just enlarge in an attempt to create a big enough factory to make levothyroxine. This is called a goiter. Iodine is the primary mineral which comprises thyroxine and triiodothyronine. When this is withheld from the diet your thyroid cannot keep up with production.
    Years ago, iodine was added to salt since so much of the nation was suffering from goiter. Unfortunately due to cardiovascular reasons, doctors began to limit sodium intake, cutting out the salt, resulting in lowered thyroid output. Adding to that, many fail to eat sea food and miss iodine which is there.
    Because Japan relies heavily on the ocean for their food, the iodine intake of most Japanese is far higher than here in the USA. That being said, obesity in Japan is much lower than here. Another issue is that of iodine requirements elsewhere in the body.
    Breast tissue requires iodine, and it’s been seen that the larger the mammary glands, the greater the iodine need. Because of this, it’s seen that larger breasted women tend to suffer from thyroid deficiencies more often unless they include adequate iodine in their diets.
    The incidence of breast cancer in Japanese women, eating a traditional high seafood diet is much lower than those not getting adequate iodine in the diet.
]]>Wed, 24 May 2023 17:15:51 GMThttp://drjohnabriggs.com/blog/the-boy-scout-motto-be-prepared    With what appears to be a total intent to destroy our way of life, what can we as individuals do to maintain our freedom, prosperity, and health?
    Entities like the World Health Organization (which is the farthest thing from actually being there for our health and welfare), are already planning for the next pandemic. Seeing the cheesier cat grin on Bill Gates face when talking about it suggests he’s in it for gain. He made billions on Covid, it’s no wonder he’s thrilled at the prospect of more death and destruction.
    Since we don’t have major leverage in dealing with what’s coming down the pike, getting our house in order is something we can actually be proactive at.
    I’m not a Mormon, but the idea of having a well stocked pantry with non-perishables isn’t a bad idea. If you have the room to do so, gradually stocking up on food every week can be a real life saver.
    Having a back-up of your nutritional supports, especially if they’re critical for neurological or cardiovascular support would make sense. Should the country go through draconian measures as before, shutting down businesses, having back-ups in all these areas makes good sense.
    Having a generator and some gas to run it can help keep your freezer and refrigerator running for a while. Investing in some of these things over time can put you in a safer place should the “you know what” hit the fan.
    When considering your own health and your families health during times of contagious illnesses, one of the first areas to take care of is probably the last you may think of. The majority of your immune system resides in your gut. When your digestion and elimination are compromised, you’re more vulnerable to disease.
    Constipation creates a hostile environment within your body. At times like this, it doesn’t take much to fall ill to many diseases. The proper bacteria in your intestines acts to create critical elements necessary to digest and absorb vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fats. When this balance is upset, the rogue bacteria generated here actually creates toxic elements which then stress your liver, which is a major defender against illness.
    Since the liver is a foundational organ involved in immunity, combined with the spleen, thymus, and bone marrow, creating or absorbing toxins from the intestines into the liver compromises your bodies ability to defend against disease. Most liver challenges originate from the intestines.
    There are lymphatic organs in the small intestine called Peyer's patches. These are round, thickened areas of tissue located in the mucosa of the intestinal lining. Inside of the patch are a cluster of lymph nodules, filled with white blood cells. The surface epithelium of Peyer's patches is overlaid with specialized cells called M cells. When the internal health of the intestine is compromised, this part of your lymphatic system can become paralyzed.
    Maintaining health here involves all the basics of good nutrition. Adequate clean, non chlorinated water, foods with soluble fiber, adequate stomach acid, and chewing your food completely is foundational. Not eating when stressed is also very important in maintaining good intestinal health.
    To keep your digestive health secure, consider the need for adequate vitamin A. Your mucous membranes along with all your skin cells requires adequate levels of vitamin A. At the end of the 19th century, researchers found that if they restricted foods rich in vitamin A from animals they quickly developed sinus and ear infections. We all know the eyes require vitamin A as well to make rhodopsin, which drives the rods and cones in the retina.
    So, how do we stockpile vitamin A that won’t go bad? One of my favorite sources of vitamin A just happens to be good old Cod Liver Oil. This has been known for it’s immune protection for many years, but unfortunately many have dismissed it, due to not liking the taste. Thankfully, I’ve been getting a very good source of cod liver oil from Standard Process which is in perles. This form prevents it from going rancid. It’s available to order through my website. I take three daily to help with my vision, immunity, and for good brain function.
    This cod liver oil has vitamin D as well which is an important element to assist calcium uptake and to fight against viruses. Our ancestors knew the importance of using cod liver oil to protect against disease long ago. Unfortunately people haven’t listened to our patriarchs and matriarchs when it comes to staying healthy.
    If you want to stock up on the right elements like Immuplex, which supports the liver, spleen, thymus, long bones, vitamin C and D, and cod liver oil, you can do so by logging in to my web page and ordering on line. Sometimes we get a run on things here.  https://drjohnabriggs.com ​
]]>Wed, 24 May 2023 17:08:07 GMThttp://drjohnabriggs.com/blog/shingles-belong-on-your-roof-not-your-back    One of the most painful conditions I’ve ever treated is that of shingles. This viral attack on the nerves and skin which results in inflamed patches of skin is a direct result of the chicken pox virus. This virus settles into the dorsal root ganglia of your spine, and resides there till conditions are ripe to erupt.
    Many people suffer this condition repeatedly through their lives. To many, their relief is found in the use of L-Lysine. The reason this works is found in the action of this essential amino acid and it’s role in calcium metabolism. The outbreak is one way the person can be made aware of what’s actually happening in their calcium utilization.
    The role of ionizable calcium in the control and elimination of viral attacks is essential, and L-Lysine is instrumental in the bodies ability to use calcium. L-Lysine helps to assure absorption of calcium, which is critical for among other things, bone growth.
    L-Lysine helps in the formation of collagen, the protein which makes up the matrix of bone, cartilage, and other connective tissues. This conversion is mediated and regulated by real vitamin C as found in nature, not in high potency ascorbic acid formulations. This is something I wrote on last week.
    Since L-Lysine is one of the eight essential amino acids, it has to be consumed. The body can’t make it. Since this is found in all high protein foods like chicken, fish, beef, eggs, cottage cheese, liver, beans, and milk, vegans and vegetarians, who fail to obtain good raw proteins for their diet have greater problems with deficiencies of this amino acid. I have nothing against vegetarianism, but I do have a problem with nutritional deficiencies caused by fad diets, which leave out essential nutrients required to maintain healthy function.
    Maintaining proper utilization of L-Lysine requires complementary minerals like chromium, zinc, iodine, sodium, and of course calcium. Interestingly enough, the herb comfrey is rich in L-Lysine. For this reason the term “bone knit” for this herb is explanatory as to the action of creating the matrix within which the body can install the calcium to strengthen and repair bones. Unfortunately this herb which has been used for centuries has been black listed by the FDA. Could this be because it works?
    Shingles show up in many forms as the herpes virus. This can range from the cold sores that plague people to the genital herpes seen as a contagious sexually transmitted venereal disease. Flare ups can come from many potential causes. Excessive vitamin D from exposure to UV B rays without adequate vitamin F to maintain calcium in the tissues opens the door to outbreaks.
    Interestingly enough, lack of L-Lysine can lead to feelings of helplessness, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, anemia, and depression. These emotional stressors deplete stores of this amino acid, eventually exposing the tissues to this virus, which remains under control when nutritional adequacy is maintained.
    The herb St John’s wort, also known as Hypericum, is used to increase and preserve levels of serotonin. This is the neurotransmitter involved in calming and relaxing the system. Besides it’s role in calming the system, Hypericum has anti-viral activity against what’s known a envelope viruses, of which the herpes virus is.
    So we see many areas which can trigger the outbreaks of this virus. Adequate vitamin D is required to insure calcium absorption. A good source of ionizable calcium is required to defeat all viruses. A rich source of polyunsaturated fats (vitamin F) needs to be consumed to insure tissue calcium. Proteins not denatured by overheating to provide all the amino acids like L-Lysine and Methionine, as the latter is depleted by excessive supplementation of L-Lysine. Methionine is very specific to healthy liver function and the yolk of eggs is a good source. (One of the reasons I add raw eggs to my morning smoothie).
    L-Lysine assists in dealing with hypoglycemia. It’s essential for the binding of co-enzymes Pyridoxal Phosphate, Lipoic Acid and Biotin to enzymes. A lack of this amino acid can cause destruction of the electric current carrying fibers which over time can impact muscular integrity. This can go to every extreme including cardiovascular function.
    When treating a person for herpes infections, I’m looking at systemic function which has been compromised. This is why just taking a vaccination to deal with shingles is like turning up the radio in your car hoping that because you’re not hearing the bad noises from your failing engine, all is working correctly. Your complete nutrition is critical to prolonged health.
]]>Wed, 24 May 2023 17:04:54 GMThttp://drjohnabriggs.com/blog/calcium-the-1-mineral    More on the importance of calcium for optimal health. Calcium is the dominant mineral in our bodies, making up much of the strength of our skeleton. Without it, you couldn’t stand up and walk. Besides that, the contraction of muscles is mediated by calcium.
    The ability of your white blood cells to defend you from infections and disease is highly dependent on bioavailable calcium. Many of the calcium supplements available are in forms which aren’t easily digested and assimilated into the tissues.
    For this reason, many who are taking the big box brands of calcium are throwing away their resources and actually creating harm to their bodies.
    A cataract is calcification of the lens of the eye. So, why do these issues arise? We see that calcium must be held in suspension so it can reach the locations needed. This is accomplished by the mineral phosphorous. An imbalance between these two minerals can create problems.
    Your bones have a perfect balance of both calcium and phosphorous. This is critical to maintain the living aspect of your bones. This applies to your teeth as well. Too much phosphorous and the teeth begin to dissolve and deteriorate. This is a huge challenge created by soda pop, high in phosphoric acid.
    The proper balance between calcium and phosphorus is regulated by the parathyroid glands found on the back of your thyroid. These little glands help regulate the balance of calcium and phosphorous in various situations, involving bone growth in childhood and in the repair of fractures. Damage to these little glands can result in challenges regulating serum calcium, muscle contraction, tissue repair, blood pressure, along with many other critical functions our our system.
    This is just one example of how one very small gland or organ can affect the entire body. Your bones depend highly on proper function from this gland, and messing with it’s neighbor, the thyroid can greatly impact metabolic function. Not just the rate of your metabolism.
    A man’s prostate depends on having plenty of calcium in it. To achieve it, this organ is one of the richest in polyunsaturated fatty acids. When these fatty acids are lacking from the system, the prostate loses calcium and begins to swell up. The problem may not be realized until it swells to the point of restricting the flow of urine.
    The need for these polyunsaturated fatty acids in our diet goes far under stated. These fatty acids known as vitamin F are responsible for delivering calcium into the tissues. This is critical in many areas, not just when dealing with conditions of benign prostatic hypertrophy (enlarged prostate), but in dealing with muscle cramps (charley horses), Immune deficiencies, cardiac weakness and irregular heart beats.
    This is a nutritional element I rely on constantly in my office with amazing results. I have a dear friend who was dealing with prostate challenges where the only way to pass urine was to be catheterized. The use of vitamin F and calcium lactate has given him back his freedom. Now I hear he’s shared the information with five other men suffering swollen prostates who are now experiencing relief. The ability to touch lives and improve them without even seeing the patient is a blessing.
    The issue of appropriate calcium, which is easily absorbed and assimilated is huge. All too often we see people taking supplements with calcium carbonate in them. This is limestone. Not digestible or assimilable to any real extent in our bodies. I’ve found that calcium lactate is truly what our bodies desire and can use without dumping excess into the joints, or kidneys, resulting in stones created there or in the liver and gallbladder doing the same.
    Absorbing minerals, especially calcium and iron requires a healthy stomach, which creates an adequate amount of hydrochloric acid. When this is interfered with, absorption is impaired. This is a major reason why acid blockers have the waring of osteoporosis. If you can’t put money back in the bank, you eventually go broke. Your bones are the calcium reserve for all muscular function and your immune back up. When calcium levels in the system go low, your bones have to release calcium reserves to run on. Eventually bone structure becomes compromised and the bones collapse.
    When I evaluate the strength of heart contractions I have to take into account what’s available in the way of calcium. Elevated blood pressure can be a direct result of not being able to access calcium into arterial muscles so they can relax. Both calcium and it’s assistant, vitamin F can be essential in assisting a person to fully relax and enjoy life. This includes the ability to sleep restfully.
    Vitamin D is essential, but without both calcium and vitamin F you may be missing out.
]]>Wed, 24 May 2023 17:02:26 GMThttp://drjohnabriggs.com/blog/a-d-in-school-is-bad-no-d-in-you-is-worse    So, what do breast cancer, prostate cancer, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, cervical cancer, and pancreatic cancer all have in common? Lack of sun exposure!
    Multiple studies have shown the incidence of these conditions occur during months with little sunshine, and latitudes where there’s reduced sun exposure. Even skin cancer, which many slather up with sun screen to avoid, can be related to reduced levels of vitamin D and it’s helper, vitamin F.
    Knowing how important vitamin D is for protection from so many cancers and damaging conditions, it can be dangerous without the rest of the story, so keep reading.
    Vitamin D in it’s activated form is responsible for the uptake of calcium into circulation. UV-B rays from the sun converts cholesterol in the skin into cholecalciferol. This is the parent form of vitamin D. This is converted in the liver into calcidiol, which is in turn converted into calcitriol in the kidneys. This is the active form of vitamin D, and ounce for ounce is the most powerful chemical substance in our bodies.
    This form of vitamin D is responsible for maintaining the one percent of your bodies calcium which is available in the blood. If this calcium is unable to enter the cellular structure, overuse of vitamin D can actually do harm. This is where the medical establishment says you can get too much vitamin D.     
    So, how do we protect ourselves if we get too much vitamin D? This is where the need for the polyunsaturated fatty acids are critical. Dr Royal Lee back in the 30’s described what we call vitamin F, which is responsible for delivery of ionized calcium into the cellular structure. Just as too little vitamin D can create damage, too little vitamin F is equally damaging, as without it too much vitamin D from either supplementation or from extreme sun exposure can pull the calcium out of the tissues.
    I’ve relied on Cataplex F now for many years to deal with toxic sun exposure, often seen as rashes and hives from being out in the sun, as well as for issues like prostatic hypertrophy and prostate cancer often seen in areas of increased sun exposure, where the consumption of these polyunsaturated fats are either not consumed or not absorbed.
    If the blood loads up with calcium from sun exposure or over consumption of vitamin D and there’s no vitamin F to deliver it into the tissues, blood can become thick, elevating blood pressure. Tissue calcium deficiency can result in muscle cramps and spasms, narrowing blood vessels.
    In areas with increased sun exposure and deficiencies of vitamin F, there’s greater incidence of HPV virus issues and cervical cancer. Just as vitamin D deficiencies can lead to this, low levels of vitamin F can be just as big an issue.
    Another issue seen with low vitamin F is that of flare ups of herpes viruses. Shingles can often occur more during the summer months when vitamin F is lacking and sun exposure increases vitamin D levels. Cold sores are also increased in these times.
    I’ve referred to the immune triad in the past, which is ionizable calcium (calcium lactate), Cataplex F, and vitamin C. These are critical in fighting any infection in the body. Although critical, if we fail to pick up calcium into the blood with vitamin D, all is for naught.
    When I see highly elevated serum calcium on a blood test, I have to determine the source. If the person is deficient in vitamin D to absorb the calcium from the gut, the parathyroid glands can secrete parathormone, which increases the uptake of calcium from the bones in order to keep systems of the body running like the heart. When this happens, the 99% of your calcium supply in the bones is tapped in order to live.
    This condition of elevated parathormone will eventually lead to osteoporosis unless adequate levels of vitamin D is consumed. Just as plants photosynthesize, mammals use the sun to irradiate the cholesterol in our skin to make vitamin D. Animals have fur which protects them from the rays of the sun, and the fur has cholesterol in it that is converted to vitamin D. When the animal licks it’s fur, it’s orally getting the cholecalciferol from the fur and then converts it in the liver and kidneys.
    Often times, lower body pain and fibromyalgia are a byproduct of vitamin D deficiency. The muscle pain experienced by those on cholesterol blocking drugs can be due to interfering with the transmission of cholesterol to the tissues or due to the damaging of the liver’s ability to convert the cholecalciferol into calcidiol.
    Depression during the dark days of winter can be greatly due to reduction of vitamin D. For this, I fully rely on the cod liver oil from Standard Process which has not been pasteurized, as those cod liver oils have no vitamin D, or are fortified with synthetic vitamin D.  https://drjohnabriggs.com ​
]]>Wed, 24 May 2023 16:59:33 GMThttp://drjohnabriggs.com/blog/asthma    My last article focused on the gestational impact on the health of our next generations. Nutritional deficiencies during the pregnancy impacts multiple systems. Today I want to focus on the condition of asthma, which continues to increase in number.
    The gestational development of the lungs relies heavily on the presence of two major vitamins. One of which is water soluble and one that is fat soluble. These are vitamin C and vitamin A. To focus on just these would be rather short sighted as all of the nutrients are critical in development of healthy tissue.
    Vitamin A is required to create squamous cells. These make up the outer lining of our skin. When I say this, most would think of that we can see. These cells line the mucous membranes of our mouth, sinuses, throat, intestines, stomach, and our lungs.
    It’s a known fact that children deprived of vitamin A suffer more sinus and ear infections. This critical vitamin is also required for your eyesight. When animals were deprived of foods rich in vitamin A, they developed ear infections, sinus infections, and visual impairments.
    During the development of the fetus, this nutrient is required to lay down the foundation for proper creation of healthy mucous membranes. When deprived, children become more prone to upper respiratory infections and asthma.
    Naturally occurring vitamin C as found in food, with all the components of vitamin C (not just ascorbic acid), provides the foundation of collagen which makes up the backing of these squamous cells. Collagen is the glue which holds our cells together. Deprivation of these nutrients during pregnancy can lead to way too many weaknesses in our children. Spending a little more on nutrition during pregnancy can save a tremendous amount of money and headaches in the future.
    Another aspect of asthma which is often ignored is the mental/emotional component. During an asthma attack, there’s a stiffening of the alveolar cell walls, causing entrapment of carbon dioxide and exclusion of oxygen. Inhalers contain neurological blockers which short circuit this process allowing relaxation of these cell walls. This allows CO2 to be released and oxygen to be absorbed.
    We’re told the rigidity of these cell walls comes from exposure to dust, pollen, and other airborne contaminates. When these aren’t present, we have to consider other elements which begin this process.
    Most asthmatic events occur during times of increased stress. The findings of a Johns Hopkins University Research Team in 1996 showed the root of most asthma attacks to be fear, stress, and anxiety. Asthma has been one of the fastest growing childhood diseases in America, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
    During times of stress, fear, and anxiety the hypothalamus initiates release of a hormone called ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone). This stress hormone docks at receptors in the alveoli, resulting in these tissues stiffening.
    When the person is dealing with uncertainty, fear, and insecurity, there can be over stimulation of the hypothalamus resulting in elevation of ACTH and then asthma.
    With a growing number of fatherless homes, divorce, financial challenges, and the elements of questioning one’s identity, the number of asthma cases are only going to increase. Even in the womb, the person is aware of being wanted or rejected. This can then show up later in life.
    Nutrition is one foundational approach where the support of vital nutrients for the health of the lungs and nervous system must be considered. Healthy adrenal glands should be maintained. The use of herbs like Withania can help to reduce the stress hormone cortisol. It’s also is useful in calming the individual with the hopes of reducing ACTH release. Although this isn’t an herb listed in my herbal compendium for asthma, it’s metabolic function can be instrumental in preventing the neurological cascade resulting in this condition.
    The most successful treatment of this condition involves getting involved with the person and dealing with their fears and anxiety. What one author concluded was that the greatest trigger is the fear of abandonment resulting in insecurities. This can be seen when the parents of a child argue and the child imagines them separating, leaving that child abandoned.
    These fears, if not addressed, can follow the person for years, even after circumstances have been resolved. We’re dynamical affected by what we eat, but even greater by what’s eating at us.
           When we can wrap our heads around how much God loves us and that He will never leave or abandon us, we can overcome those fears and insecurities. Even in a world gone crazy.   ​
]]>Wed, 24 May 2023 16:55:35 GMThttp://drjohnabriggs.com/blog/vis-medicatrix-naturae    Vis Medicatrix Naturae (literally "the healing power of nature", and also known as natura medica) is the Latin rendering of the Greek Νόσων φύσεις ἰητροί ("Nature is the physician(s) of diseases"), a phrase attributed to Hippocrates. This phrase sums up one of the guiding principles of Hippocratic medicine, which is that organisms left alone can often heal themselves.
    We’re living in an age where this principle has been either forgotten or ignored. We see where everything labeled a disease process requires chemical intervention. We have drugs for pretty much every ailment imaginable, and even for those the medical establishment has been dreaming up.
    We see where symptoms  are now given disease names so drugs can be prescribed for those particular diseases. Often times, the symptoms are just pointing to deficiencies, which if addressed go away. Us physicians need to be better detectives to identify the underlying issues, and address them instead of just grabbing the labeled drug to erase the symptoms.
    Having spent a couple weeks away from the office and basking in the wonderful healing warmth of Hawaii, I got to see much of the healing aspects of nature along with the often challenging aspects of creation. Seeing the volcanic action creating and enlarging the island, I also saw how nature eventually establishes change and restoration in the midst of what looks totally destructive.
    Should you get the opportunity to visit the islands, consider downloading the app “Shakaguy” to your phone. This will pair with your GPS and you get a guided tour of the island as you drive around. Along with this you’ll get history and amazing information about the islands and how they’re changing. Seeing how vegetation eventually changes the hard, rugged lava, is inspirational when I consider the role of organic foods to change the sometimes damaged terrain of our bodies.
    Returning to reality here in the wet northwest wasn’t all that inviting, but this is where I’ve been called to aid the health and wellbeing of my patients. I’d love to have taken the Hawaiians up on staying and practicing there, but the grass on the other hill isn’t always as green as it looks.
    During our stay, the access to fresh fruits from local farms was abundant and delicious. We started every day with these tropical fruits and I’ve got to say, digestion was the best it’s ever been. Unfortunately, what we have available here isn’t quite the same. It has inspired me to include more of these fruits in my diet anyway on a regular basis.
    Now back to the issues of our bodies healing themselves. I just returned to my office after a phone conversation with an investigator for the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine, since they have accused me of wrong doing in creating a medical exemption for a teacher with major health challenges who didn’t want to participate in the Covid experiment and didn’t want to lose her source of income.
    It’s sad when the very foundation of wholistic medicine comes under attack for protecting the health and welfare of people who hold to the truths of medicine. The foundation of the Hippocratic oath is to do no harm. Last week I spent time with a retired Navy pilot who had to go through open heart surgery because the day after his Covid shot his mitral valve was severely damaged requiring he go in for emergency surgery. This is far from being an isolated case.
    I learned a long time ago how our body creates a defense against disease. How we obtain natural immunity without intervention in the form of immunizations. When challenged by viruses or bacteria, the healthy body will initiate a response to neutralize the invader, then create a defense against any future attacks. I’ve never taken a flu shot and have never experienced the flu during the 37 years of practice here in Clatskanie.
    When we nourish our bodies with all the essential nutrients, protection from disease is what our immune systems automatically does. Unfortunately, foods provided in many circumstances either lack these nutrients or contain elements which burden the body’s clearance abilities.
    Case in point is the dominance of ear infections, sinus infections, tubes in our kids ears and the dependance on antibiotics to deal with these bacterial infections. In most of these cases these individuals are lacking adequate vitamin A. This is important. What if the person is using drugs which either displace the vitamin A or prevent absorption? This is often the case.
    To add to this, the lack of vitamin A is where skin conditions flourish. This includes acne as well as affecting tissues of the lungs, resulting in asthma, or even the intestinal lining resulting in leaky gut issues, candida, and small intestine bacterial overgrowth. Instead of providing what the body needs to address and heal them, antibiotics are often resorted to, prolonging the conditions.
]]>Wed, 24 May 2023 16:50:05 GMThttp://drjohnabriggs.com/blog/dysphoria    We’re seeing a tragic epidemic in society today where we’ve been catering to an unhappy generation of coddled people, enabling the destruction of humanity.
    I was shocked and saddened to see a continuing education seminar for gender affirming in our profession. Being fully educated in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pathology, obstetrics, neurology, psychology, gynecology, along with many other health sciences, the thought of lying to a patient about their true gender as a means of making them feel better isn’t within my understanding of being truthful and helpful to my patients.
    I’m not a homophobe, but the idea of promoting unhealthy lifestyles to satisfy unhappiness goes against protecting people from their destructive actions. The suicide rate among these people prove that following this destructive lifestyle isn’t helping their happiness at all.
    If a person has a drinking problem which is destroying their health and relationships, to not address this with a patient isn’t just wrong, it’s unethical. My license to practice medicine requires continuing education in the subject of ethics. Unfortunately I see where my profession has embraced the lie instead of continuing to stand on truth.
    The mind, body connection is something which needs to be understood and addressed properly. Since the thoughts we have are directed to the hypothalamus as a means of regulating our endocrine (hormone function) and autonomic nervous system, it’s easy to see where messed up thinking can play a major role in physical function.
    During our formative years, our understanding of good, bad, happy, and unhappy is constantly being developed. When children are growing up, it’s important how they’re educated on these elements. When children are influenced that for some reason they should be unhappy about their environment or how they were created, we can see fluctuations in the areas of both hormonal balance or neurologic regulation.
    Stigmatization of people can create even more challenges. Thankfully in my youth, growing up in a family of eight siblings, playing with both my brothers and sisters, whether it was with Tonka trucks or dolls, there was never any question about my gender. A family friend had two sons. One was more of a jock and loved sports and the other was a gifted musician. The father praised the athletic son and called the musical son a girl. Eventually the musician adopted a homosexual lifestyle and died of Aids. This tragedy could have been avoided by a father who caused the child to be ashamed of his love for music and related this to not being manly.
    I love to encourage people in the gifts they possess. The greatest emotion I’ve seen which plays part in their growth and health is the feeling of being loved and appreciated. The epidemic of transgender dysphoria is fueled by a need to fit in. I can understand this as when I went through boot camp and away from my loving family, I needed to find where I fit in. That’s when I got connected to the rodeo crowd and began to ride (quite poorly) with them. Thankfully I didn’t alter myself other than eating dirt on a regular basis.
    The surgical castration of our children and the use of hormone therapies reserved for criminal rapists goes totally against my moral and ethical beliefs. By saying this, I open myself up to criticism for sure. My intent is not to offend, although many are looking for a reason to be offended. I just believe that far too many have been silent for far too long. When will we take a stand agains this?
    The governor of Washington state has a bill on his desk that passed the house and senate and would allow a child that isn’t happy with their birth gender to be taken from parents, housed by the state and given irreparable genital surgery at the expense of taxpayers. This is total insanity in my estimation. As a physician, fully educated in physical function, it boggles my mind to think that a surgeon would ever consider performing such mutilation of a child.
    Yesterday I held a violin one of my patients brought to me so I could look at it. It had been passed down from generations. It was in rough shape, and to some, could have been considered worthless. It was missing the bridge and strings. Sometimes we look at people that way. Not worth saving or caring for. I shined a light into the violin and read what was written inside. “Stradivarius”. How much this violin is actually worth is unknown, but just because it showed years of wear, never harmed the actual value.
    Loving people has nothing to do with outward appearances, look inside, that’s where the real treasure lives. Learn to be happy with how God made you. You are unique and wonderful.
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