Lauren Brown Appointed Editor
of Townsend Letter

Low Back Pain:
Biological Immunity Analysis®
by Gary Martin, DSc, PhD
Online publication only

Reversing Bacteria-Induced Vitamin D Receptor Dysfunction to Treat Chronic Disease: Why Vitamin D Supplementation Can Be Immunosuppressive, Potentially Leading to Pathogen Increase
by J.C. Waterhouse, PhD
Online publication only

Letter from the Publisher

Townsend Letter Honored with ACAM Legacy Award

Growth Hormone Secretagogues in Perspective
by Stephen Holt, MD
The debates continue on whether HGH therapy should be used as a routine anti-aging strategy. Here, Dr. Holt goes into a deeper discussion of the latest alternatives to injection, including GHRP-2 and amino acid formulas, and calls for a reappraisal of current federal regulations.

IgG Allergy Testing
by Lauren Russel, ND, and Leah Alvarado-Paz, ND
Food allergies, unlike other common allergies, do not seem to be directly mediated by Immunoglobulin G (IgG). However, despite the absence of a link, testing serum IgG when food allergies are suspected results in clear assessments and a highly useful path to determining effective treatments.

Micronutrients, Immune Function, and Women's Health
by Jonathan Stein, PhD
Many chronic diseases are associated with nutritional deficiencies. The author advocates diagnostic testing to ensure that one's individual nutritional needs are being met. In a sample case using micronutrient analysis, he examines test results for 995 women. They indicated that nutritional deficiencies, more than age, seem to determine how well a woman's lymphocytes grow and function, and thus help her meet health challenges.

Urinary Neurotransmitter Analysis as a Biomarker for Psychiatric Disorders
by Amnon Kahane, MD
Psychiatric disorders are often diagnosed and treated based solely on clinical symptoms, a sometimes hit-or-miss method of assessing treatment efficacy. Because urinary neurotransmitters can act as effective biomarkers, analysis of neurotransmitters such as glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), histamine, glycine, and taurine can offer a non-invasive, inexpensive, and timely gauge for objectively monitoring therapeutic options.

Blood Metal Analysis to Biomonitor and Diagnose Acute Vs. Chronic Metal Intoxication
by E. Blaurock-Busch, PhD
New technology can detect minute amounts of toxic metals, which can help physicians intervene early to treat or even prevent disease. First the degree of toxicity must be defined to help choose the best method; acute exposure levels are treated differently than chronic levels. And chronic exposure is more prevalent than we might want to admit. The author suggests that we might all do well to have blood metals checked.

Functional Lab Tests to Evaluate Immune Competencies in Chronic Illness and Chronic Infection: Part 3
by Russell Jaffe, MD, PhD
In this "update of functional, predictive, sensitive, and specific lab tests," noted innovator Dr. Russell Jaffe describes integrative ways to assess, defend, repair, and treat the immune system.

Urinary Neurotransmitters: Testing to Optimize Treatment Based Upon a Clinical Diagnosis
by Ingrid Kohlstadt, MD, MPH, FACN
Urine neurotransmitter testing can be a constructive tool to obtain the best possible outcome, guiding choices for both first-line and adjunct treatment approaches for various neurotransmitter imbalances, including depression, Parkinson, obesity, ADHD, and sleep disorders.

The Role of the Clinical Laboratory in Integrative and Functional Medicine
by J. Alexander Bralley, PhD
It can be hard to tell what a patient's nutritional deficiencies are by studying symptoms alone. Laboratory tests can help clinicians target therapy based on individual biochemistry. Giving a case history, Dr. Bralley discusses which test he thinks the most useful.

The Best Heavy Metal Chelator: Rise ... for Sentencing
by Savely Yurkovsky, MD
In a heavy-hitting indictment of a wide variety of chelators, the author offers a clear-eyed look at the benefits and dangers of commonly used approaches as well as the necessity for an effective diagnostic tool for heavy metal toxicity. To fill the need for safe, effective chelation, he proposes a therapy combining bioresonance testing (BRT) and a well-honed homeopathic remedy system.

Inhalation Insulin and Oral and Nasal Insulin Sprays for Diabetics: Panacea or Evolving Future Health Disaster: Part II
by T.R. Shantha, MD, PhD, FACA, and Jessica G. Shantha
Given the dangers of inhalation insulin, companies are looking for other alternatives to injections. Here the authors discuss in detail the effects of oral and nasal spray insulin, concluding that they are also of questionable safety and should be used with great caution.
(Part I is also online.)

The Collapsing Health Care System
by Alan R. Gaby, MD

. . . the regular features, commentary and opinions we can count on each month from our distinguished columnists.