The RFI team is back from the Florida Chiropractic Association’s Annual Conference — where thousands of chiropractors, doctors, clinical nutritionists, and like-minded medical professionals gathered from all over the country. This year’s event was held at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, FL from August 26th-August 29th.
Event highlights include an intriguing medical device called Asyra: a bioenergetics system that evaluates patients for allergies, pathogens, toxins, emotional factors, structural issues, metabolic issues, and much more. For example, in a recent double-blind study conducted by E. Alan Jeppsen, M.D., and Steven G. Osguthorpe, N.D., of the University of Utah Alternative Medicine Department, the Asyra yielded a 97 percent correlation with blood chemistry using a clinical pool of 1,800 patients.
Another event highlight was Standard Process speaker and RFI Board Member, Dr. Lynn Lafferty. Her lecture on How to Balance Your Hormones Without a Prescription was truly engaging and was a real crowd favorite. The program examined saliva testing of cortisol over 1 day to establish circadian rhythm. Using this analysis, Dr. Lafferty explained how to balance insulin and sex hormones without a prescription for chemical or bio-identical hormones, insulin or other prescription sugar-balancing drug. Dr. Lafferty also examined and spoke about the role of hormones in sleep, weight, and mood disorders.
As previously announced, New York Times Best Selling Author, Daniel G. Amen, M.D. will be presenting the research and findings of his book: “Change Your Brain, Change Your Body.”
Don’t miss out on the chance to take your practice to the next level … Early registration is going on until September 27th – take advantage of the $200 in savings now.
Location: Nova Southeastern University Health Professions Division 3200 S. University Dr., Davie, FL (Fort Lauderdale area)
Early Bird Registration Specials (prices good through Sept. 27, 2010): $599 for All Medical Professionals (CME credits available) $149 for Life Extension Members (non-medical professionals only)
Full Tuition Registration (prices effective after Sept. 27, 2010): $799 for All Medical Professionals (CME credits available) $199 for Life Extension Members (non-medical professionals only)
Get Up To Speed: Purchase the 2009 6-Disc DVD Box-Set, complete with all lecturer’s pdf slideshow documents! Cost is $99 plus shipping. Click here to order now.
In this video, Dr. Robert Fishman explains the importance of maintaining balancing within the endocrine system and why it is necessary to treat this system as a whole vs treating symptoms individually. As a nutritional counselor, Dr. Fishman applies this insightful reasoning to effectively manage and treat hormonal imbalances in his patients using BHRT, or Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy.
*THE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED OR APPROVED BY THE US FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA). THESE PRODUCTS ARE NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.
The reason I am explaining this story is because of an alarming fact: 90% of the compounding pharmacies in this country dispense creams and they have no idea what harm they are doing to their patients. The majority of these patients will eventually stop taking bio-identical hormones and will walk-away with the impression that BHRT is not effective — when in fact, these patients are just not receiving the proper method of dosing.
When I first started with bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) over 20 years ago, I originally invented a transdermal cream base called Viaderm FMG (Patented & Trademarked 2003). At the time, this was the best transdermal cream I had ever come across, so I started dispensing bio-identical hormones within this cream base. But after two to four years of my patients being on the cream, I noticed a phenomenon occur: The majority of my patients came back to me complaining they were experiencing the same hormonal imbalance symptoms that brought them to me in the first place. So, I had to reason out why this was occurring after so many years of success with BHRT. It was obvious the symptoms were returning because the endocrine system was out of balance once again: but why?
Coincidentally, at the same time this was happening, I had a patient that came to me and who’s saliva test yielded these results:
It is key to note the progesterone levels of this patient, indicated by the flat line at the top of the graph.
So, I decided to re-test all of the patients who were having sudden problems with the BHRT cream. All of the saliva tests came back identical to this patients chart, with the progesterone clearly elevated and not cycling the way it should. I have approximately 500 charts that look the exact same way. At last, I had figured out the imbalance. I deduced that the creams were getting into the muscle and fat cells of these patients; thereby releasing the hormones slowly into the body. At the same time, the women were increasing their own dosage to try to alleviate their symptoms.
You will notice the same elevated progesterone level in this patient's chart. The reason that this patient's progesterone is elevated is due to the way in which the body absorbs BHRT creams. This is why I am an advocate of sublingual dosing.
After much more deliberation on what would make a better way to dose my patients, the idea of using sublingual lozenges came to me. Sublingual delivery is the most superior dosing method, because it is the most immediate method of absorption into the human body and once the sublinguals are absorbed, they go directly to the cells where they are needed. Sublingual delivery allows the practitioner to control the dosage per day, making it easier for the practitioner to alleviate the symptoms of all women, at any age in which hormones play a major part of their life, even in cases of fertility problems and puberty.
The RFI team is recently back from the Florida Pharmacy Association’s 120th Annual Convention and Meeting at the Marcos Island Marriot Resort Golf Club & Spa. The convention was held June 30th-July 4th and featured classes for CME’s, an exhibit hall full of vendors and a chance for us to promote our mission here at the Robert Fishman Institute for Training & Research. This year, we partnered with Standard Process, a whole food supplement line.
Some of my personal highlights are the fact that we signed up 50 pharmacists for our upcoming “Yes … You Can Think Outside the Box” conference. All of our recently registered attendees have expressed how much they are looking forward to meeting and learning from the keynote speaker, Daniel Amen, who is headlining the February 19th and 20th, 2011 event. If you haven’t heard of the upcoming conference, click here for all the details. You won’t want to miss out on all the revolutionary medical information that will be presented.
The ice cream social was also one of my favorite activities during this year’s convention, with past Florida Pharmacy Association president’s serving up scoops of Haagen-Dazs. Sometimes it’s ok to cheat on our healthy diets for the sake of some good-ol’-fashioned fun!
-Lisa Feiler, R.N.
(from left to right) Dr. Robert Fishman, Dr. Lynn Lafferty, Dr. Henry Lewis (Dean of Pharmacy at FAMU), and Lisa Feiler, R.N at the 120th Annual Florida Pharmacy Association's Convention
Vendors Stefanie & Alan at The Robert Fishman Institute & Standard Process booth at the 120th Annual Florida Pharmacy Association's Convention
The Robert Fishman Institute and Standard Process joint-booth at the 120th Annual Florida Pharmacy Association's Convention
One of the vital steps in properly assessing a patient’s hormone status is through testing. Testing the levels of progesterone, estrogens, and testosterone over a 30-day period is crucial; in order to get a visual picture of what exactly is going on with the patient’s cycle. But, how do you know which testing method to use?
Here at The Robert Fishman Institute for Training & Research, we are advocates of saliva over blood testing. The simple reason being is that a serum, or blood, test only offers a snapshot of these hormones on the day you are tested. Therefore, this does not give a complete picture of what is going on inside of your body. Saliva testing, on the other hand, allows for a much more in-depth study of what these hormones are actually doing over a 30-day cycle, because 11 samples of saliva are tested over a period of 30 days. These saliva samples measure the unbound biologically active hormone levels, while serum only measures the protein bound biologically inactive hormone levels in the body. The Robert Fishman Institute believes that serum levels make it impossible to truly understand and manage hormone levels in all cycling women. And all women cycle, all of their lives, no exception.
Here is a sample chart taken from the infamous gynecologist Dr. Leon Speroff, depicting what a normal 30-day cycle should look like
The 11 saliva tests are sent out to a diagnostics lab and will come back with results that allow a medical professional to interpret the various markers and levels of the unbound hormones, which begin to compose a line chart, much like this one:
Here is a sample chart taken from a women suffering from a hormonal imbalance.
The below referenced article is taken from the Labrix Hormone Resource Center’s website and is used to further substantiate this reasoning …
Why Use Saliva?
Saliva testing is an easy and noninvasive way of assessing your patient’s hormone status and balancing needs and is proving to be the most reliable medium for measuring hormone levels.
Appreciating the reliability of saliva testing is based on understanding the difference between steroid hormones in saliva and serum. This difference is based on whether or not the hormones are bound to proteins in the medium used for testing. The majority of hormones exist in one of two forms: free (5%) or protein bound (95%). It is only the free hormones that are biologically active, or bio-available, and available for delivery to receptors in the body. Those which are protein bound do not fit those receptors and are considered non-bioavailable. When blood is filtered through the salivary glands, the bound hormone components are too large to pass through the cell membranes. Only the unbound hormones pass through and into the saliva. What is measured in the saliva is the bioavailable hormone, the clinically relevant portion which will be delivered to the receptors in the tissues of the body.
Salivary hormone levels are expected to be much lower than serum levels, as only the unbound hormones are being measured. When health care providers measure serum hormone levels and prescribe hormone replacement therapy based on those results, patients are often overdosed. If the patients are then tested using saliva, the results are extraordinarily high, and confusion results from a lack of correlation between the two methods.
Saliva Measures the “Unbound” Biologically Active or Free Hormone Levels in the Body:
When blood is filtered through the salivary glands, the bound hormone components are too large to pass through the cell membranes of the salivary glands. Only the unbound hormones pass through and into the saliva. What is measured in the saliva is considered the “free”, or bioavailable hormone, that which will be delivered to the receptors in the tissues of the body.
Serum Measures the “Protein Bound” Biologically Inactive Hormone Levels in the Body:
In order for steroid hormones to be detected in serum, they must be bound to circulating proteins. In this bound state, they are unable to fit into receptors in the body, and therefore will not be delivered to tissues. They are considered inactive, or non-bioavailable.
Only Saliva Testing Measures Topically Dosed Hormones:
The discrepancy between free and protein bound hormones becomes especially important when monitoring topical, or transdermal, hormone therapy. Studies show that this method of delivery results in increased tissue hormone levels (thus measurable in saliva), but no parallel increase in serum levels. Therefore, serum testing cannot be used to monitor topical hormone therapy.
In this video, Dr. Robert Fishman explains the building blocks of a healthy cell and the disease states that occur when the brain doesn’t have enough essential fatty acids (Omega’s 3, 6 and 9) and cholesterol needed in order to make healthy cells. You will find out how disease states like Autism, ADD, ADHD, bipolar, heart disease, diabetes, infection, viruses and others are all directly related to damaged cell walls. Additionally, he will discuss the all-natural treatment methods he uses to reverse these disease states and help the body start making new, healthy cells once again.
*THE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED OR APPROVED BY THE US FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA). THESE PRODUCTS ARE NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.
One topic that is currently hot in the news right now is the importance of elevating and maintaining appropriate levels of vitamin D. So, I thought I’d share some facts about this wonder Vitamin …
Vitamin D exists in two forms: Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) – naturally found in animals
Our skin makes Vitamin D3 upon exposure to UVB light
Vitamin D levels are evaluated in the serum using serum 25(OH)D levels.
The new standard considers the lowest acceptable level to be 40 ng/mL.
In 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended giving infants 400iu/day.
Vitamin D is essential in the absorption of calcium.
All studies, in virtually all countries, show that human beings have inadequate vitamin D levels.
If you are interested in learning more about this topic, I would highly recommend purchasing the 6-Disc DVD Box Set from last year’s “Yes … We Can Think Outside the Box” seminar. Presenter Dr. Scott Fogle spends over an hour talking about the importance of Vitamin D, he shares with you all the new research published by the Vitamin D Council, as well as some very interesting facts. For example, did you know wearing sunscreen over 8 SPF actually blocks your bodies ability to absorb Vitamin D3 into the skin? But, by spending 15 minutes in the sunshine, without SPF, will actually make up to 10,000 IU’s of Vitamin D3 daily. He also explains the proper blood testing techniques used to calculate the levels of Vitamin D in the body, which is a crucial before recommending Vitamin D supplementation to your patients. Too much Vitamin D can cause calcium in the blood, which leads to kidney stones, vomiting, and muscle weakness.
The 2009 “Yes … We Can Think Outside the Box” Conference on Science-Based Medicine is available for purchase. Presented by The Robert Fishman Institute for Training & Research and sponsored by Life Extension, For Longer Life – this 6-Disk DVD Set features the keynote speakers from last year’s symposium and comes with 2 Bonus CD’s filled with all of the presentors slideshow files.
Now’s your chance to catch up on what you missed. Plus, enjoy the benefit of sharing this valuable information with others! Cost is only $99.99 plus $5.95 shipping and handling. To purchase CLICK HERE.
Here’s a sampling of what the DVD set has to offer:
The Robert Fishman Institute for Training & Research is pleased to announce it’s upcoming conference on science-based medicine to be held on February 19 & 20, 2011 at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, FL. The second annual “Yes, We Can … Think Outside The Box” symposium will be full of the latest health & wellness information and will feature world-renowned keynote speakers. Implement the next generation of scientific medical innovation into your practice and save $200 by registering before September 27th. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Topics include:
• What to do when your patients want to get off prescriptions
• The gut-brain connection
• Weight Loss: New findings on losing it and keeping it off
• Optimal Sexual Health: Amazing new findings
• Your Hormones: More than you think
• Alternative approaches for cancer patients
• Neurotransmitters: A new way to look at psychiatric diseases
• Pancreas Fatigue: Predicting & treating before diabetes begins
• Practical use of supplements & nutrition in your practice
Early bird registration discounts have now been extended through September 27th, 2010. Click here to sign up and save $200 on your registration. Don’t miss out on two full days of “Outside the Box” information presented by the sources that are leading the wellness revolution. Special travel discounts and arrangements have been provided by our platinum sponsor: Life Extension, For Longer Life.
Check out a quick preview of last year’s conference. The 6-Disc DVD Set is available for purchase, complete with 2 CD’s filled with all of the presenters slideshows. Click HERE for more info.
Robert Fishman Institute for Training & Research; Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy; Genomics: A Key to Personalized and Individualized Medicine; Endocrinology; Clinical Nutrition; personal consultations and CME training for medical professionals. Science Based Medicine.
