In late September, Dr. Greenberg packed his bags and spent a week in Paris to train in mesotherapy.  Although mesotherapy is a recognized medical specialty in France, Dr. Greenberg is one of only a few recognized physicians in the United States to use this novel technique.  Mesotherapy is a technique of painlessly injecting vitamins, minerals, homeopathics, vaccines and medications under the surface of the skin into a location known as the mesothelial (or middle) tissues.  This procedure is valuable in that only small amounts of solution are needed to achieve the desired effect.  Also, because the solution is placed directly into the problematic area, side effects, allergies, and drug interactions are minimized.

Mesotherapy has a wide variety of uses, predicated upon what solutions are chosen for the individual patient. Its varied uses include treating cellulite, removing fat and lose weight, toning the skin, fighting infection, controlling anxiety, relieving muscle spasms and arthritis pain, regrowing hair and helping people stop smoking. How can one technique treat so many problems?  Because each solution is specifically formulated to each patient’s individual problem.

For example, many patients desire and need to lose weight.  A mesotherapy solution is devised to block signals of fat uptake, trigger fat release, increase circulation, and burn energy.  The effect is almost immediate, as the release of heat (stored energy and calories) is felt in the treated area.  With treatments performed on a weekly basis, significant weight loss is apparent after just a few months, and can be continued until the desired weight loss is achieved.  One of our patients lost half an inch off his waistline after just three treatment sessions.

We will keep you up to date on our latest treatments and developments using this innovative technique.  For more information visit the mesotherapy link of the www.drmagaziner.com Web site or visit www.mesotherapymd.com.  Over time, we will be adding "before and after" pictures of selected patients who have received mesotherapy.   If you have specific questions about this technique, you can always call our hotline, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 5 to 6 P.M. at 856-424-0707.
 

BACK TO TOP

Is Diet a Factor in Misbehavior and Aggression?

The diet of today’s typical teenager consists largely of  junk food devoid of essential vitamins, fatty acids, and minerals but high in fats and sugars.  This has led to an enormous increase in such health problems among teenagers as obesity, high cholesterol, and attention deficit disorder.  Additionally, we have also experienced a rise in juvenile offenses and misdemeanors. 

A study in the British Journal of Psychiatry sought to examine the effect of correcting vitamin and fatty acid deficiency in a difficult population, young adult prisoners.  In this randomized, double-blind study of 231 such subjects, multivitamin and Omega-3 fatty acid supplements were given to one group and a placebo to another. While the supplements contained vitamins and minerals such as selenium, zinc, and magnesium, they did so only to provide the minimum recommended dietary intake (RDI) level.

Those subjects taking supplements of vitamins and fatty acids for at least 21 days had a 35% reduction in the number of disciplinary offenses compared with a pre-supplementation baseline whereas the placebo group did not.  The largest reduction of offenses seen in the actively treated group was in relation to the more serious incidents, including violence.

Interestingly enough, the standard prison diet already contained the minimum RDI of many nutrients, but did not contain fatty acids.  This may indicate that RDI  amounts are substandard and need to be increased to more optimal levels.   Correction of vitamin and fatty acid deficiency has a positive effect on behavior, but there are many other factors such as food allergies, yeast overgrowth, and hypoglycemia that may also contribute to symptoms of misbehavior and inattention.   Evaluation and treatment of such conditions can have a significant impact on behavioral problems, without the use of dangerous medication.

BACK TO TOP

Study Links Mercury in Seafood to Infertility

Infertility, the inability to become pregnant, can be an emotionally devastating experience. Infertility affects about one in six couples, with the male being the source of the deficiency in about 40 percent of such cases. Traditional evaluations for infertility include searching for anatomical problems, hormonal problems, and sperm abnormalities.  A recent study in Fertility Sterility suggests that a workup for mercury toxicity may perhaps prove beneficial in select couples.

Researchers compared mercury levels in fertile and infertile Hong Kong couples. The results indicated a significantly greater percentage of infertile couples had elevated blood mercury concentrations compared to their fertile counterparts.  Although there are multiple sources of mercury exposure, the researchers suspected that the higher mercury levels were due to the level of seafood consumption. They recorded how much seafood the couples consumed and found that those eating more seafood tended to have higher amounts of mercury in their blood. Contamination of the marine waters around Hong Kong with heavy metals is common, and seafood contaminated with mercury is a possible source of excessive mercury exposure.

The exact mechanisms of how mercury may contribute to infertility are not completely clear; however in men, mercury might disrupt sperm membrane permeability. How mercury affects female fertility is less clear, although it could induce cell and genetic damage and may contribute to hormonal imbalances.

Mercury toxicity is much more prevalent than originally thought.  While the researchers in this study relied on blood levels, we believe that the only accurate way to detect the body’s burden of mercury is to perform a provocative urine challenge.  In this test, an agent that removes or chelates mercury from the body, such as DMPS, is given, and then the urine is collected and analyzed by a laboratory for concentrations of this toxic metal.  Often mercury toxicity can be missed if this test is not performed.   In addition to infertility, mercury toxicity is thought to contribute to heart disease, hypertension, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, fatigue, fibromyalgia, and nerve damage, among other illnesses.

BACK TO TOP

Parkinson’s disease is a syndrome comprised of a pill-rolling tremor, slow movements, stiffness, a shuffling gait, and a loss of facial expression.  Parkinson’s is thought to occur due to the degeneration of nerves producing the brain chemical dopamine.  The body relies on dopamine, a neurotransmitter, for many of the brain’s processing functions.

In a placebo-controlled study of 80 Parkinson’s patients, coenzyme-Q10, otherwise known as CoQ10, was given in doses of 300 mg, 600 mg, and 1200 mg.  CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant theorized to reduce the nerve degeneration that causes Parkinson’s.  CoQ10, a natural compound made by the body, is known to enhance function of a cell’s mitochondria, the area responsible for cellular energy production.   CoQ10 supplementation may enhance treatment of a variety of ailments ranging from heart disease and heart failure to muscle diseases, male infertility and cancer.

After 16 months of supplementation, the 23 patients on the highest daily dose of 1200 mg exhibited 44 percent less decline in mental function, movement and ability to perform daily living tasks than the placebo group.  What must be noted is the type of CoQ10 used in the study-- a chewable maple-flavored wafer.  This is the form of CoQ10 originally researched at Harvard University to have the greatest adsorption.  Today, the market is flooded with pitches from doctors and vitamin companies pushing everything from CoQ10 gel to capsules to powder.  Initially appearing more economical than the wafer, these lesser forms of CoQ10 are poorly absorbed by the body. Therefore, caveat emptor – buy the best and most reliable form of CoQ10. 

BACK TO TOP

Organic foods, while premium in cost, have proven in numerous studies to be second to none in quality.  Organic foods are produced without hormones, antibiotics, artificial fertilizers, gene manipulation, and pesticides.   Until recently, however, the production of organic foods lacked federal legislation to verify if and how much of a food’s content was actually organic, leaving consumers with no guarantees.

Foods that are from 95 percent to 100 percent organic will now be labeled as such and may carry a green U. S. Department of Agriculture organic seal.  USDA-approved agents must certify farmers and food processors in order for their meat, grain, fruit and vegetable products to carry the labels.  Products that are at least 70 percent organic may be labeled as "made with organic ingredients'' or "contains organic ingredients''  but will carry no USDA seal.  These new standards will help the consumer decide on the best products to purchase.

We strongly believe that organic foods are worth the extra cost and need to be supported.  The production of organic foods is beneficial both for us and our environment.  Consumption of  conventionally grown foods increases your risk of cancer, antibiotic resistance, allergy, and hormonal problems  So ask yourself: Is the small price difference worth that risk for you and your children?
 

BACK TO TOP