Conditions
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a leading cause in disability as it a very common occurrence which causes joints to degenerate throughout the body of affected patients.
This disease is a leading cause of disability as it a very common occurrence which causes joints to degenerate throughout the body of affected patients. It is a very progressive disease which is characterised by structural damage which leads to reduced functionality of joint. In the USA alone this disease affects over 20 million people! Osteoarthritis(OA) normally targets the load- and stress-bearing joints first, such as the hips, knees and lumbar spine, but it can become a problem in any freely moving joint.
Pain is not the first tell-tale sign of Osteoarthritis as the cartilage that is affected does not have any free nerve endings to signal to the brain there is damage occurring. Because pain, and a reason for concern, is only identified very late as the disease progresses, this is a leading contributing factor for OA to only start receiving treatment very late, and therefore not having very successful reverse rates. The reason for poor healing rates is that destroyed cartilage in adults has very low repair capacity since blood flow to the areas is very limited.
The risk factors to look out for when wanting to prevent the onset of OA include keeping your weight under control (obesity puts a lot of extra strain on joints), preventing constant exposure to high-impact sports and joint trauma. Being aware of a family history of OA, advanced ageing and female gender can lead to early detection through performing the regular test.
The protective cartilage between joints erodes, which results in the raw surfaces of the adjacent bones coming into contact, leading to gradual bone erosion as these bones scratch, bump and grind together during everyday movement. The knock on effect results in the destruction or deformation of most of the structures of the affected joint, which can decrease mobility as this situation if often accompanied by long-lasting inflammation (and potential pain).
What often happens is that after a bone is destroyed due to OA there are bone growth spurs next to existing joint margins. It is believed that these "outgrowths" can assist in stabilising the joints, but it is also associated with increased pain levels. The reason for the pain, which various greatly between patients, is that these newly grown bone margins rub against other bones, nerves and or soft tissues, causing patients to deal with mild to severe pain with any form of movement.
Typically any pain experienced with OA will be worse when the patient performs any physical activity, however as the disease becomes worse a patient might even experience pain when in resting position. Stiffness tends to be a bigger problem early in the mornings but often alleviated shortly after waking. Unfortunately, after any prolonged period of inactivity, there can be stiffness in the joints. As a result, in cases of advanced OA, patients often report both physical and psychosocial disability, which is contributing to the fact that (along with cardiovascular disease, OA causes more cases of disability among elderly patients.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease. The majority of focus for treatment is to alleviate the symptoms of pain and to maintain a level of joint function for patients struggling with Osteoarthritis.
Physical activity and exercise and other non-invasive forms of physiotherapy can help maintain mobility. There are various advantages and significant health benefits for OA patients including preventing obesity and reducing body weight, conserving physical function, and contributing to normal joint health. Make sure your exercise program contains both elements of muscle strengthening and range-of-motion movements for joints which are affected by OA - this will help a great deal for improving the joint mobility and function. Similarly, aerobic activity can also be incorporated for specifically, reduction in knee OA symptoms. For patients who can`t, or won`t, partake strict exercise we recommend 30 minutes of brisk walking every day, at least 3 times per week. Even very mild physical activity can improve OA symptoms and improve the patients` quality of life.
Pharmacologic Treatment and Other Therapies
Paracetamol tends to be the first-line pharmacologic therapy for treatment of osteoarthritis(OA). If this treatment does not work, there are alternative treatments to use, depending on the patient specific profile. Factor influencing this choice is usually treatment success, and normally the use of one (or a combination of) the following options:
OA is managed with a combination of prescription medications and nutraceuticals. The treatment package will be patient specific to address the individual needs.
One can positively influence the symptoms of OA by supplementing your diet with targeted nutrients which fight against cartilage degradation, consistent with this disease. The upside of treating OA with nutritional products is that there are very limited if any, side effects. This might be a contributing factor to why 20% of patients prefer alternative treatment methods above conventional medication.
Nutritional alternatives for Joint Structure Support:
Glucosamine– Glucosamine is a component which helps to trap water in the matrix of joint cartilage, which results in increased flexibility and resilience so the joint can function properly. In addition, researchers believe that glucosamine may assist in the repairing of damaged cartilage by stimulating synthesis of chondrocytes which also plays a crucial role in maintaining joint lubrication.
When compared to placebo, it is found that glucosamine sulfate is superior for relieving the severity of OA symptoms, making it more tolerable for patients. It is recommended that treatment should be for at least 8 weeks before a test for efficacy is conducted, due to the fact that cartilage takes such a long time to synthetise.
Chondroitin-this is a structural component similar to glucosamine, which is believed to help in the management of OA symptoms due to its ability to maintain viscosity in joints, stimulate cartilage repair, and reduce cartilage destruction. Chondroitin has been shown to improve hand pain and stiffness in OA patients, and other clinical trials have shown that chondroitin may have structure-modifying effects on OA of the fingers, as well as the knee. This treatment also has a slow response, thus requires 2-3 weeks for the therapeutic response.
Hyaluronic acid(HA)-HA is secreted by chondrocytes and used as a basic building block for cartilage synthesis. It is believed that HA is useful in the management of OA because it interferes with pain mediators and decreases the production of key enzymes which are responsible for digesting and destroying healthy cartilage tissue which attributes to painful OA.
MSM Sulphur Compounds-Compounds that contain Sulphur, such as Methylsulfonylmethane(MSM), are commonly present in various fruits, vegetables, grains, and also in the human body. It is believed that these Sulphur containing compounds may reduce pain in affected joints and inhibit the deteriorating changes of OA. This is done by the Sulphur stabilising the affected cell membranes and attacking damaging free radicals that can lead to inflammation and subsequent pain. In clinical trials, MSM was found capable of reducing both the pain and swelling in patients suffering from OA. Using MSM does not have any significant side effects and is generally well tolerated. The treatment with MSM can also have significant, improvement for knee joints, to improve functionality and lessen the pain if taken for a minimum of 12 weeks.
Anti-inflammatory Nutrients:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids-This nutrient is most commonly recommended for patients who consume a typical Western diet, which is high in pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids. If one's diet includes high levels of Omega-6 fatty acids, this nutrient can be linked to causing bone destructions in OA patients, but by supplementing with Omega-3 fatty acids this can be combatted, as Omega-3 can reduce certain harmful proteins present in OA patients. For even better results it is recommended that Omega-3 fatty acids are combined with glucosamine to reduce stiffness levels in the mornings.
Krill-This is an important food source, high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which is shrimp-like crustacean found in cold water. For OA patients that struggle with inflammation, it is important to supplement with 300mg of krill oil on a daily basis. After a month’s use, it will reduce pain by 30%, stiffness by 20% and improve the functionality of affected joints by up to 23%!
Undenatured Type-II Collagen–Recent discoveries have revealed that gradual destruction of joints in OA leads to the exposure of joint collagen, which triggers an immune response that launches an autoimmune-like inflammatory attack on the joint. UC-II functions as a "switch" to turn off this immune response. It does so by inducing what immunologists call specific oral tolerance–the desensitisation of the immune response to specific agents via an orally administered intervention.
Curcumin-Is a plant phenolic compound which has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant characteristics. It has been researched and found that Curcumin might be a viable alternative to NSAIDs and can be a good complimenting treatment to other OA medications. The reason for Curcumin`s effectiveness when treating OA patients might be due to its ability to weaken nuclear factor kappa B signalling, which will reduce the production of inflammatory mediators and restrict cartilage destruction. As this is a chronic disease the use of Curcumin will be recommended as a long-term complementary management supplement for OA symptoms.
Herbs such as Ginger, Boswellia and Korean Angelica all improve symptoms of OA.
Vitamin D 3-Vitamin D is a pro-hormone kind of an essential hormone called 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D, which is also known as calcitriol. After Vitamin D has been converted into calcitriol, it has the ability to inhibit inflammation by adapting some of the genes responsible for producing pro-inflammatory mediators.
Evidence suggests that patients with OA have a decreased level of vitamin D 3 in their blood when compared to healthy patients; this was especially true of younger osteoarthritis patients (younger than 60). Health Renewal recommends that routine vitamin D 3 deficiency tests are performed for all patients with pain complaints. If vitamin D levels are found to be low, supplementation of Vitamin D3 may improve pain levels experienced. Blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 should be kept between 50 and 80 ng/mL for optimal health.
Antioxidants- It is vital to include ample antioxidants in the daily diet to prevent the negative of the effect of destructive free-radicals in the body. The oxidative stress caused by these free-radical scavengers can cause inflammation and pain in joints. Some anti-oxidants to consider include Vitamin C and astaxanthin.
Green Tea Extracts: Green Tea contains the vital element Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is the major and most active biological component. This component was shown (in an in vitro study) to protect human chondrocytes from inflammatory damage and hence an important supplement for any OA patient to consider.
A multi-gene DNA test can routinely be added to assessment of:
It includes analysis of variation in clinically useful genes that may contribute to:
Some of these abnormalities contribute to the development of type II diabetes, obesity and hypertension. Oxidative stress, detoxification of carcinogens and oestrogen exposure are also important considerations in this context.
This pathology supported genetic test is performed in conjunction with assessment of any food allergy or intolerances known to be associated with many chronic disorders. The results of the genetic test are combined with clinical indicators and lifestyle factors to identify a combination of risk factors that may lead to disease development or progression if left untreated.
For all health conditions, the nutraceuticals are individually tailored by the Health Renewal Doctor. The doctor will decide- based on your history, physical examination and blood tests what would be the best for you and your specific needs and/or deficiencies. It cannot be over-emphasized that one must not self-medicate. Self-Medicating is done when a person takes prescription medication or nutraceuticals on their own without a doctor's supervision and/or consent. By not having a physical examination and blood testing done by a qualified and practising integrative medical practitioner, you could be not treating vital deficiencies or conditions such as elevated blood pressure, high sugar level, high stress levels (that can lead to adrenal burnout ) and high blood clotting factors that could lead to heart attacks and stroke. In addition, the aggressive program of dietary supplementation should not be launched without the supervision of a qualified physician. Several of the nutrients suggested in this protocol may have adverse effects. There is no single supplement prescribed to clients as there is no magic bullet that can support all the essential nutrients that one's body needs. Today's food is not functional and we need to supplement in order to maintain optimal bodily functions and nutrition.
Make an appointment to consult with your Health Renewal Doctor who is an integrative doctor and he or she will assist you in determining your risk factors and how best to prevent any problems or conditions that you may be susceptible to. The importance of early management of any condition cannot be overstated. Once certain conditions set in and damage to organs occurs, complete recovery may be difficult to attain. Best results for prevention and longevity is early detection of a possible problem combined with conventional treatments, nutritional supplements and a healthy diet and lifestyle.
The initial medical consultation at Health Renewal will be approximately 45 minutes. As this is a prolonged medical consultation, the initial consultation fee will be R 975 on arrival (for non-loyalty programme members) you will have to complete an in-depth questionnaire before the consultation so please arrive 20 minutes before the time. During the 45 minute consultation, your Health Renewal doctor will obtain a FULL medical history from you to determine your personal risk. A physical examination will be done after which the Doctor will decide which blood tests need to be requested from your local pathology laboratory. If you have a medical aid, these should be able to be claimed as well.
Once your blood results are received, they will then be analysed by your Health Renewal doctor who will begin working on a unique prescription plan for you with the compounding pharmacy. At your pre-scheduled second appointment 2 weeks later, the results and examination findings will be discussed with you. This will determine what abnormalities or deficiencies exist and you will be advised on your treatment options. These options may range from prescription medications, nutraceuticals, bio-identical hormonal creams or tablets or alternatively to having bio-identical implants or pellets inserted.
In office treatments such as carboxytherapy may also be recommended for certain conditions such as hair loss, erectile dysfunction ED, menopause or PMS. If you need to lose weight our Body Renewal Medical Weight loss program may be recommended. All these recommendations will be summarised on a sheet or print out which you can take home with you. The nutraceuticals offered at Health Renewal are of superior quality (Solgar) and are not rancid nor contain Hg (mercury ) or PCB'S (which is very important for Omega 3 Essential fatty acids EFA's). They are also free of gluten, preservatives, wheat, dairy, soy, yeast, sugar, artificial flavour, sweetener and colour. We have a great professional team made up of doctors, trained and registered nurses and therapists to support you at any time.
1. You are kindly requested to bring any supplements that you are currently taking, along to your consultation. The doctor can check the ingredients in this and take into account when prescribing a treatment plan for you.
2. Also, if you have had any blood work done in the past 6 months, please bring the results along to the consultation. Should you not be in possession of the hard copies, please request these results from the lab you visited. Usually, your ID number is sufficient.
Depending on the exact prescription given, you may be required to return to the doctor within 1-4 months’ time, in order to ensure optimum hormone levels are achieved. This will be determined by a repeat blood test and may be requested by your Health Renewal doctor.
You should ensure that you are current with your gynaecological visits/breast exams/mammograms (for female patients) and prostate exams (for male patients) as recommended by your GP/gynaecologist.
After your initial visit to a Health Renewal Doctor, you should follow-up with him or her 2 weeks after having had your blood investigations done. Depending on the results of the blood investigation, one could expect to follow up with your doctor every 3 months to assess progress on your new treatment protocol.
The importance of early management of any condition cannot be overstated. Once certain conditions set in and damage to organs occurs, complete recovery may be difficult to attain. Best results for prevention and longevity is early detection of a possible problem combined with conventional treatments, nutritional supplements and a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Lifestyle modification and exercise
The Fitness and Arthritis in Seniors Trial found that both aerobic and resistance exercise were beneficial for patients with knee OA. Partaking in a combination of pool exercises, biking, swimming, and aerobic dance can all be recommended. Strength training can help prevent the atrophy that comes when joint loading is not occurring regularly. Flexibility can counterbalance the limitations on the range of motion and flexibility that OA imposes. There is some evidence that tai chi and yoga can also be beneficial in OA.
Weight Loss
Because increased weight increases the risk of OA, not to mention the risks of developing multiple other chronic diseases, patients who are overweight or obese should be encouraged to lose weight. Body Renewal Medical Weight loss program diet is a medical weight loss solution which uses hCG off-label to safely reduce weight, especially dangerous abdominal fat. If the program is strictly adhered to, 10 to 12 kilogramme, s of resistant fat can be safely lost in 4 to 6 weeks.
Nutrition
Evidence remains limited as far as the direct links between diet and osteoarthritis. While an anti-inflammatory diet is reasonable to consider, most of the evidence of benefit is inferred from knowledge of how various food components influence inflammation in vitro. The anti-inflammatory diet is safe, healthy, and likely to prevent the development of other chronic diseases; therefore it is worth recommending to patients.
Manipulative Therapies
Research regarding the effects of manipulative therapies on OA has only recently begun to emerge. A 2006 study of Swedish massage in 68 patients with OA of the knee found statistically significant improvements in pain, range of motion, and function. A study involving 252 patients receiving 20 sessions of chiropractic manipulation for OA of the lower back showed that manipulation was superior to heat therapy alone.
The Anti-Inflammatory Diet is an overall list of foods that affect inflammation:
This diet requires patients to eat more foods that are:
Foods that are high in anti-oxidants:
When dieting to improve the symptoms of OA:
Here are ten quotes from great thinkers to challenge, motivate and inspire us to exercise, eat right and live healthier lives: Health and intellect are the two blessings of life.
This disease is a leading cause of disability as it a very common occurrence which causes joints to degenerate throughout the body of affected patients. It is a very progressive disease which is characterised by structural damage which leads to reduced functionality of joint. In the USA alone this disease affects over 20 million people! Osteoarthritis(OA) normally targets the load- and stress-bearing joints first, such as the hips, knees and lumbar spine, but it can become a problem in any freely moving joint.
Pain is not the first tell-tale sign of Osteoarthritis as the cartilage that is affected does not have any free nerve endings to signal to the brain there is damage occurring. Because pain, and a reason for concern, is only identified very late as the disease progresses, this is a leading contributing factor for OA to only start receiving treatment very late, and therefore not having very successful reverse rates. The reason for poor healing rates is that destroyed cartilage in adults has very low repair capacity since blood flow to the areas is very limited.
The risk factors to look out for when wanting to prevent the onset of OA include keeping your weight under control (obesity puts a lot of extra strain on joints), preventing constant exposure to high-impact sports and joint trauma. Being aware of a family history of OA, advanced ageing and female gender can lead to early detection through performing the regular test.
The protective cartilage between joints erodes, which results in the raw surfaces of the adjacent bones coming into contact, leading to gradual bone erosion as these bones scratch, bump and grind together during everyday movement. The knock on effect results in the destruction or deformation of most of the structures of the affected joint, which can decrease mobility as this situation if often accompanied by long-lasting inflammation (and potential pain).
What often happens is that after a bone is destroyed due to OA there are bone growth spurs next to existing joint margins. It is believed that these "outgrowths" can assist in stabilising the joints, but it is also associated with increased pain levels. The reason for the pain, which various greatly between patients, is that these newly grown bone margins rub against other bones, nerves and or soft tissues, causing patients to deal with mild to severe pain with any form of movement.
Typically any pain experienced with OA will be worse when the patient performs any physical activity, however as the disease becomes worse a patient might even experience pain when in resting position. Stiffness tends to be a bigger problem early in the mornings but often alleviated shortly after waking. Unfortunately, after any prolonged period of inactivity, there can be stiffness in the joints. As a result, in cases of advanced OA, patients often report both physical and psychosocial disability, which is contributing to the fact that (along with cardiovascular disease, OA causes more cases of disability among elderly patients.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease. The majority of focus for treatment is to alleviate the symptoms of pain and to maintain a level of joint function for patients struggling with Osteoarthritis.
Physical activity and exercise and other non-invasive forms of physiotherapy can help maintain mobility. There are various advantages and significant health benefits for OA patients including preventing obesity and reducing body weight, conserving physical function, and contributing to normal joint health. Make sure your exercise program contains both elements of muscle strengthening and range-of-motion movements for joints which are affected by OA - this will help a great deal for improving the joint mobility and function. Similarly, aerobic activity can also be incorporated for specifically, reduction in knee OA symptoms. For patients who can`t, or won`t, partake strict exercise we recommend 30 minutes of brisk walking every day, at least 3 times per week. Even very mild physical activity can improve OA symptoms and improve the patients` quality of life.
Pharmacologic Treatment and Other Therapies
Paracetamol tends to be the first-line pharmacologic therapy for treatment of osteoarthritis(OA). If this treatment does not work, there are alternative treatments to use, depending on the patient specific profile. Factor influencing this choice is usually treatment success, and normally the use of one (or a combination of) the following options:
OA is managed with a combination of prescription medications and nutraceuticals. The treatment package will be patient specific to address the individual needs.
One can positively influence the symptoms of OA by supplementing your diet with targeted nutrients which fight against cartilage degradation, consistent with this disease. The upside of treating OA with nutritional products is that there are very limited if any, side effects. This might be a contributing factor to why 20% of patients prefer alternative treatment methods above conventional medication.
Nutritional alternatives for Joint Structure Support:
Glucosamine– Glucosamine is a component which helps to trap water in the matrix of joint cartilage, which results in increased flexibility and resilience so the joint can function properly. In addition, researchers believe that glucosamine may assist in the repairing of damaged cartilage by stimulating synthesis of chondrocytes which also plays a crucial role in maintaining joint lubrication.
When compared to placebo, it is found that glucosamine sulfate is superior for relieving the severity of OA symptoms, making it more tolerable for patients. It is recommended that treatment should be for at least 8 weeks before a test for efficacy is conducted, due to the fact that cartilage takes such a long time to synthetise.
Chondroitin-this is a structural component similar to glucosamine, which is believed to help in the management of OA symptoms due to its ability to maintain viscosity in joints, stimulate cartilage repair, and reduce cartilage destruction. Chondroitin has been shown to improve hand pain and stiffness in OA patients, and other clinical trials have shown that chondroitin may have structure-modifying effects on OA of the fingers, as well as the knee. This treatment also has a slow response, thus requires 2-3 weeks for the therapeutic response.
Hyaluronic acid(HA)-HA is secreted by chondrocytes and used as a basic building block for cartilage synthesis. It is believed that HA is useful in the management of OA because it interferes with pain mediators and decreases the production of key enzymes which are responsible for digesting and destroying healthy cartilage tissue which attributes to painful OA.
MSM Sulphur Compounds-Compounds that contain Sulphur, such as Methylsulfonylmethane(MSM), are commonly present in various fruits, vegetables, grains, and also in the human body. It is believed that these Sulphur containing compounds may reduce pain in affected joints and inhibit the deteriorating changes of OA. This is done by the Sulphur stabilising the affected cell membranes and attacking damaging free radicals that can lead to inflammation and subsequent pain. In clinical trials, MSM was found capable of reducing both the pain and swelling in patients suffering from OA. Using MSM does not have any significant side effects and is generally well tolerated. The treatment with MSM can also have significant, improvement for knee joints, to improve functionality and lessen the pain if taken for a minimum of 12 weeks.
Anti-inflammatory Nutrients:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids-This nutrient is most commonly recommended for patients who consume a typical Western diet, which is high in pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids. If one's diet includes high levels of Omega-6 fatty acids, this nutrient can be linked to causing bone destructions in OA patients, but by supplementing with Omega-3 fatty acids this can be combatted, as Omega-3 can reduce certain harmful proteins present in OA patients. For even better results it is recommended that Omega-3 fatty acids are combined with glucosamine to reduce stiffness levels in the mornings.
Krill-This is an important food source, high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which is shrimp-like crustacean found in cold water. For OA patients that struggle with inflammation, it is important to supplement with 300mg of krill oil on a daily basis. After a month’s use, it will reduce pain by 30%, stiffness by 20% and improve the functionality of affected joints by up to 23%!
Undenatured Type-II Collagen–Recent discoveries have revealed that gradual destruction of joints in OA leads to the exposure of joint collagen, which triggers an immune response that launches an autoimmune-like inflammatory attack on the joint. UC-II functions as a "switch" to turn off this immune response. It does so by inducing what immunologists call specific oral tolerance–the desensitisation of the immune response to specific agents via an orally administered intervention.
Curcumin-Is a plant phenolic compound which has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant characteristics. It has been researched and found that Curcumin might be a viable alternative to NSAIDs and can be a good complimenting treatment to other OA medications. The reason for Curcumin`s effectiveness when treating OA patients might be due to its ability to weaken nuclear factor kappa B signalling, which will reduce the production of inflammatory mediators and restrict cartilage destruction. As this is a chronic disease the use of Curcumin will be recommended as a long-term complementary management supplement for OA symptoms.
Herbs such as Ginger, Boswellia and Korean Angelica all improve symptoms of OA.
Vitamin D 3-Vitamin D is a pro-hormone kind of an essential hormone called 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D, which is also known as calcitriol. After Vitamin D has been converted into calcitriol, it has the ability to inhibit inflammation by adapting some of the genes responsible for producing pro-inflammatory mediators.
Evidence suggests that patients with OA have a decreased level of vitamin D 3 in their blood when compared to healthy patients; this was especially true of younger osteoarthritis patients (younger than 60). Health Renewal recommends that routine vitamin D 3 deficiency tests are performed for all patients with pain complaints. If vitamin D levels are found to be low, supplementation of Vitamin D3 may improve pain levels experienced. Blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 should be kept between 50 and 80 ng/mL for optimal health.
Antioxidants- It is vital to include ample antioxidants in the daily diet to prevent the negative of the effect of destructive free-radicals in the body. The oxidative stress caused by these free-radical scavengers can cause inflammation and pain in joints. Some anti-oxidants to consider include Vitamin C and astaxanthin.
Green Tea Extracts: Green Tea contains the vital element Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is the major and most active biological component. This component was shown (in an in vitro study) to protect human chondrocytes from inflammatory damage and hence an important supplement for any OA patient to consider.
A multi-gene DNA test can routinely be added to assessment of:
It includes analysis of variation in clinically useful genes that may contribute to:
Some of these abnormalities contribute to the development of type II diabetes, obesity and hypertension. Oxidative stress, detoxification of carcinogens and oestrogen exposure are also important considerations in this context.
This pathology supported genetic test is performed in conjunction with assessment of any food allergy or intolerances known to be associated with many chronic disorders. The results of the genetic test are combined with clinical indicators and lifestyle factors to identify a combination of risk factors that may lead to disease development or progression if left untreated.
For all health conditions, the nutraceuticals are individually tailored by the Health Renewal Doctor. The doctor will decide- based on your history, physical examination and blood tests what would be the best for you and your specific needs and/or deficiencies. It cannot be over-emphasized that one must not self-medicate. Self-Medicating is done when a person takes prescription medication or nutraceuticals on their own without a doctor's supervision and/or consent. By not having a physical examination and blood testing done by a qualified and practising integrative medical practitioner, you could be not treating vital deficiencies or conditions such as elevated blood pressure, high sugar level, high stress levels (that can lead to adrenal burnout ) and high blood clotting factors that could lead to heart attacks and stroke. In addition, the aggressive program of dietary supplementation should not be launched without the supervision of a qualified physician. Several of the nutrients suggested in this protocol may have adverse effects. There is no single supplement prescribed to clients as there is no magic bullet that can support all the essential nutrients that one's body needs. Today's food is not functional and we need to supplement in order to maintain optimal bodily functions and nutrition.
Make an appointment to consult with your Health Renewal Doctor who is an integrative doctor and he or she will assist you in determining your risk factors and how best to prevent any problems or conditions that you may be susceptible to. The importance of early management of any condition cannot be overstated. Once certain conditions set in and damage to organs occurs, complete recovery may be difficult to attain. Best results for prevention and longevity is early detection of a possible problem combined with conventional treatments, nutritional supplements and a healthy diet and lifestyle.
The initial medical consultation at Health Renewal will be approximately 45 minutes. As this is a prolonged medical consultation, the initial consultation fee will be R 975 on arrival (for non-loyalty programme members) you will have to complete an in-depth questionnaire before the consultation so please arrive 20 minutes before the time. During the 45 minute consultation, your Health Renewal doctor will obtain a FULL medical history from you to determine your personal risk. A physical examination will be done after which the Doctor will decide which blood tests need to be requested from your local pathology laboratory. If you have a medical aid, these should be able to be claimed as well.
Once your blood results are received, they will then be analysed by your Health Renewal doctor who will begin working on a unique prescription plan for you with the compounding pharmacy. At your pre-scheduled second appointment 2 weeks later, the results and examination findings will be discussed with you. This will determine what abnormalities or deficiencies exist and you will be advised on your treatment options. These options may range from prescription medications, nutraceuticals, bio-identical hormonal creams or tablets or alternatively to having bio-identical implants or pellets inserted.
In office treatments such as carboxytherapy may also be recommended for certain conditions such as hair loss, erectile dysfunction ED, menopause or PMS. If you need to lose weight our Body Renewal Medical Weight loss program may be recommended. All these recommendations will be summarised on a sheet or print out which you can take home with you. The nutraceuticals offered at Health Renewal are of superior quality (Solgar) and are not rancid nor contain Hg (mercury ) or PCB'S (which is very important for Omega 3 Essential fatty acids EFA's). They are also free of gluten, preservatives, wheat, dairy, soy, yeast, sugar, artificial flavour, sweetener and colour. We have a great professional team made up of doctors, trained and registered nurses and therapists to support you at any time.
1. You are kindly requested to bring any supplements that you are currently taking, along to your consultation. The doctor can check the ingredients in this and take into account when prescribing a treatment plan for you.
2. Also, if you have had any blood work done in the past 6 months, please bring the results along to the consultation. Should you not be in possession of the hard copies, please request these results from the lab you visited. Usually, your ID number is sufficient.
Depending on the exact prescription given, you may be required to return to the doctor within 1-4 months’ time, in order to ensure optimum hormone levels are achieved. This will be determined by a repeat blood test and may be requested by your Health Renewal doctor.
You should ensure that you are current with your gynaecological visits/breast exams/mammograms (for female patients) and prostate exams (for male patients) as recommended by your GP/gynaecologist.
After your initial visit to a Health Renewal Doctor, you should follow-up with him or her 2 weeks after having had your blood investigations done. Depending on the results of the blood investigation, one could expect to follow up with your doctor every 3 months to assess progress on your new treatment protocol.
The importance of early management of any condition cannot be overstated. Once certain conditions set in and damage to organs occurs, complete recovery may be difficult to attain. Best results for prevention and longevity is early detection of a possible problem combined with conventional treatments, nutritional supplements and a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Lifestyle modification and exercise
The Fitness and Arthritis in Seniors Trial found that both aerobic and resistance exercise were beneficial for patients with knee OA. Partaking in a combination of pool exercises, biking, swimming, and aerobic dance can all be recommended. Strength training can help prevent the atrophy that comes when joint loading is not occurring regularly. Flexibility can counterbalance the limitations on the range of motion and flexibility that OA imposes. There is some evidence that tai chi and yoga can also be beneficial in OA.
Weight Loss
Because increased weight increases the risk of OA, not to mention the risks of developing multiple other chronic diseases, patients who are overweight or obese should be encouraged to lose weight. Body Renewal Medical Weight loss program diet is a medical weight loss solution which uses hCG off-label to safely reduce weight, especially dangerous abdominal fat. If the program is strictly adhered to, 10 to 12 kilogramme, s of resistant fat can be safely lost in 4 to 6 weeks.
Nutrition
Evidence remains limited as far as the direct links between diet and osteoarthritis. While an anti-inflammatory diet is reasonable to consider, most of the evidence of benefit is inferred from knowledge of how various food components influence inflammation in vitro. The anti-inflammatory diet is safe, healthy, and likely to prevent the development of other chronic diseases; therefore it is worth recommending to patients.
Manipulative Therapies
Research regarding the effects of manipulative therapies on OA has only recently begun to emerge. A 2006 study of Swedish massage in 68 patients with OA of the knee found statistically significant improvements in pain, range of motion, and function. A study involving 252 patients receiving 20 sessions of chiropractic manipulation for OA of the lower back showed that manipulation was superior to heat therapy alone.
The Anti-Inflammatory Diet is an overall list of foods that affect inflammation:
This diet requires patients to eat more foods that are:
Foods that are high in anti-oxidants:
When dieting to improve the symptoms of OA:
Here are ten quotes from great thinkers to challenge, motivate and inspire us to exercise, eat right and live healthier lives: Health and intellect are the two blessings of life.
