Excerpted from the book Compiled Notes on Clinical Nutritional Products
by Walter H. Schmitt, Jr., D.C.
Listen to Dr. Schmitt's Interview on this subject. Part 1 Part 2
(Requires Microsoft Windows Media Player version 6
or later. Get it here:
if you don't have it). The nutrients chosen for this section are basically the same
ones that I try to keep in the medicine chests of my own family members. These nutrients are not to be used in place
of consulting the doctor. But rather,
they provide nutritional alternatives for minor health problems for which self-medicating
with over-the-counter medications is common procedure. Often, the nutritional products
mentioned can offer relief which is similar to the more commonly used, but less
natural medications. In some cases, the
medications will work more rapidly or more effectively. In other cases, nutrients supply the body
with just what it needs without any of the possible side effects of the
medications. The amounts suggested here are for
adults. In children, calculate amounts
by the child's weight compared to an adult of the same sex. Use 120 pounds for a female and 150 pounds
for a male. In other words, a girl who
weighs 60 pounds would take half the amount of an adult. A boy of 50 pounds would take one-third
the amount of an adult. All nutrients discussed should be tasted
when taken, NOT JUST SWALLOWED.
REMEMBER, these tablets and capsules are actually FOODS, and like all
foods are intended to be tasted. If
they cannot be chewed,
one should at least suck on them for 20 to 30 seconds prior to swallowing. The effect of tasting the nutrients
increases their effectiveness many times over just swallowing them. VITAMIN A AND C
COMBINATIONS: These are the nutrients which we use up
rapidly when we are sick. Any cold
or flu
would warrant extra amounts of A and
C. In acute symptoms, taking these nutrients
hourly seems to help. In lesser
severity or in the recovery stages, taking them three to six times per day is
recommended. In sore throats, sucking
these tablets until they dissolve often gives good relief. A and C combinations
have also been useful in cystitis
(bladder infections).
THYMUS TISSUE: Thymus
tissue is important in nearly every infection. The
thymus gland is the center of the immune system. It is especially important in any infection
that lasts longer than a week, or for people who
get repeated infections throughout the year.
Sucking THYMUS also helps sore throats
many times. As with A and
C combinations, one THYMUS per hour in acute infections, six a day during
recovery, is a good regimen. THYMUS
seems to be particularly helpful in getting over the chronic cough
which often lingers after a chest cold
or bronchitis.
The thymus gland gets run down in people
who have chronic allergies. These allergies are often unsuspected. Continued need for thymus would indicate a
need to consult the doctor about the possibility of allergies to such things as
foods, yeast, or molds. The thymus
gland also gets run down from stress. That is
why many people get sick
after very stressful periods. We use
THYMUS at a rate of three times a day under these circumstances to help prevent
infections. BLACK CURRANT SEED OIL
(BCSO): BCSO
can be used when aspirin
or similar medications might otherwise be used, except in infections. In other words, if aspirin, or acetaminophen,
or ibuprofen
helps, most likely so will BCSO. All of
these substances affect the production of hormones called prostaglandins
(PG) which are frequently out of balance resulting in numerous symptoms. Aspirin and the other medications work by
blocking the production of these PG hormones.
BCSO, on the other hand, works to bring the imbalanced PG back into
balance. Certain headaches,
muscle
aches, hangovers,
some premenstrual
symptoms, menstrual
cramps (see CALCIUM
LACTATE), and other painful
or swelling symptoms can often be helped by one or two BCSO
perles. Dry, flaky skin
is often a sign of fat
imbalance which BCSO may help. Two or
three perles per day can be used for chronic problems, but if continued use is
necessary, the doctor should be consulted for advice on other nutritional
measures to improve your fat metabolism. When BCSO works for you, you will not
want to go back to using aspirin
or the others. NATURAL
ANTI-HISTAMINES: NATURAL ANTI-HISTAMINES
are useful in allergic reactions including food allergies,
skin
contact allergies, and some bug bites. In contact allergies and bug bites, NATURAL
ANTI-HISTAMINES are not as strong as over-the-counter anti-histamines. However, typical anti-histamine side effects
such as drowsiness
are usually not experienced with NATURAL ANTI-HISTAMINES. Use three tablets daily or up to one per
hour depending on symptoms. A NATURAL ANTI-HISTAMINE is particularly
useful in modifying the mental symptoms of
food allergy. If you get sleepy,
headachy,
foggy
headed, or have difficulty reading
or concentrating
after a meal, you are very likely experiencing symptoms of food allergy. Sucking on a NATURAL ANTI-HISTAMINE tablet
until it dissolves will often make a great change in these food allergy type
symptoms. If these symptoms persist,
the doctor who is up to date on identifying food allergies should be consulted. ALOE VERA OINTMENT or
FAT SOLUBLE CHLOROPHYLL OINTMENT: ALOE
VERA OINTMENT is a natural substance which can be applied topically to
all sorts of skin
problems, especially burns. FAT SOLUBLE CHLOROPHYLL
OINTMENT is the absolute best thing for burns but it is EXTREMELY STAINING and will permanently ruin anything it
touches. If the area can not be
thoroughly covered, or contact with anything which can not be permanently
stained is unavoidable, use ALOE rather than CHLOROPHYLL. Although a number of products contain aloe
vera extracts, it is recommended to keep an aloe vera plant growing around the
house, and break off a piece and apply the fresh juice when needed. For sunburn
see below under CALCIUM LACTATE, VITAMIN F, HYDROCHLORIC ACID, and WHEAT GERM
OIL. CALCIUM LACTATE: This type of calcium
is used when one needs increased levels of available calcium in the blood
(rather than for preventing osteoporosis
for which we recommend veal
bone derived calcium in higher amounts.)
Conditions in which CALCIUM LACTATE is used include symptoms arising
from excess sun
exposure, itchy
skin
conditions such as hives,
and muscle
cramps,
stiffness,
and/or soreness
such as occurs after exercise. Many
women have achieved considerable relief from menstrual
cramps by taking up to one CALCIUM LACTATE every 15 minutes at the onset of
cramps and one per hour after they begin to subside. CALCIUM LACTATE is usually used in conjunction with VITAMIN
F and HYDROCHLORIC
ACID. (See below.) VITAMIN F (ESSENTIAL
FATTY ACIDS - EFA): VITAMIN F is the general name given to
all the essential fatty acids. VITAMIN
F helps to open the cell
doors for calcium to get into our cells, especially in soft tissues like the skin,
lips
and tongue,
and muscles. Vitamin D and
VITAMIN F are exact opposites in respect to calcium. Many symptoms of too much sun
(i.e., excess vitamin D) are really symptoms of VITAMIN F deficiency and low
cellular calcium. Many women have been helped with hot flashes by
taking a VITAMIN F product containing a little iodine for at least three to
four weeks. HYDROCHLORIC ACID: HYDROCHLORIC
ACID is normally made by the stomach. HYDROCHLORIC ACID is available as products
such as betaine hydrochloride or glutamic acid hydrochloride. When calcium
is needed, its absorption can be enhanced by acidifying the intestinal
tract with HYDROCHLORIC ACID. Also,
many digestive symptoms such as bloating
immediately after meals or pruritus ani (itchy
rectum)
indicate a need for more HYDROCHLORIC ACID.
HYDROCHLORIC ACID is usually given with CALCIUM LACTATE and
VITAMIN F in the presence of tissue calcium
deficiency symptoms as described below, but it can be eliminated if excess
stomach acid production is a problem. HYDROCHLORIC ACID can be taken to help alleviate hay fever
symptoms in many people. When hay
fever symptoms flare up, take at least one tablet with each meal or as often as
one tablet per hour if no digestive symptoms (e.g., burning) occur. Because it is an acid, HYDROCHLORIC ACID
should NOT be chewed,
and if sucked upon, only briefly, to avoid corrosion of the enamel of the teeth. NOTE: About half of the
people who have heartburn
or symptoms of excess stomach
acidity
actually produce too much stomach acid. The other half of people with so-called
"acid indigestion" actually require more HYDROCHLORIC
ACID as discussed above. SYMPTOMS INDICATING A
POSSIBLE NEED FOR CALCIUM
LACTATE, VITAMIN F,
AND HYDROCHLORIC
ACID (TISSUE CALCIUM
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS): These three substances are used together,
at a rate of approximately 6 CALCIUM
LACTATE, 3 to 6 VITAMIN F, and 3 HYDROCHLORIC ACID per day in the following
common conditions: 1. Excess sun
exposure symptoms (any) 2. Canker sores 3. Cold sores
including oral herpes simplex, lip, cheek,
and tongue
sores and ulcers 4. Genital
herpes simplex 5. Sore muscles
after exercise 6. Hives 7. General itchy
skin 8. Pruritus ani
(itchy rectum)
WHEAT GERM OIL (WGO): Wheat germ oil
contains natural sources of vitamin E
which is an important antioxidant
for our bodies. It can be used by
people who sunburn
easily at about three WGO capsules per day for several days prior to exposure
to sun to aid in preventing burning. It
does not allow you to overdo it, however. If a sunburn
does occur, one should puncture WGO capsules with a pin and rub the oil over
the areas of burn as soon after exposure as possible. WGO can be used on other types of burns also. Often, a "cooling" of the
"hot" skin will be noticed within minutes of application. Several applications may be necessary in bad
sunburns. Temporary oral use of WGO up
to one per hour is also helpful in alleviating some of the symptoms of sunburn
or other burns. WGO also contains natural hormone precursors and
has been found useful in times of hormone
imbalance, such as in skin
problems of adolescence and menstrual
irregularities. RAW VEAL BONE: RAW VEAL
BONE products, especially those also containing manganese,
are valuable in decreasing pain
and increasing healing in sprains
and fractures. Amounts of up to one every fifteen minutes,
continually being sucked upon, have helped decrease the pain following acute
injuries in many people. Amounts of
six times a day are useful in aiding bone and ligament
healing after the initial acute phase is over.