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The Natural Family Health Clinic and Chelation Centre, Unit 8B 5350 Highway 97, Okanagan, BC (2026)

05/07/2025

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01/30/2024

Hawthorn, the Heart-Healthy Herb

Botanical medicine encompasses the judicious use of proven medicinal plants to treat ill health and disease. It is an ancient practice that spans all of humanity throughout all of our history. It is as old as humanity itself. In fact, even animals will consume certain plants for their medicinal qualities, as astute farmers and nature observers well-know. Our planet is abundant in plants that support our health and well-being in a synergistic, harmonic manner that is hard to describe purely by objective means in the laboratory setting. History, along with newer scientific analysis, tells us that these plants offer powerful medicine that has been documented throughout the centuries in written and oral testimony, passed on from generation to generation. This tried-and-true method changed fairly recently when modern medicine eclipsed the use of mother natures’ offerings by presenting an alternative that appeared to be even more therapeutic, (and in some instances has been), the manufacture of chemically-based factory-made medicine. Much of this new medicine is derived from the plant world, but then reduced to single constituents which are replicated in a factory. This degrades and diminishes the holistic nature of the plant which has synergistic components that act together to both enhance the biological effects and prevent side effects that often are an expected outcome when using reduced single chemicals.

As is the way with us humans, we become set in our ways and entrenched in a particular point of view that pits us against one another. As though there is only one way, one answer. The truth is, we are complex beings in a complex environment that is ever changing. Synergy and combining the best of all worlds is in the interest of all of us. Listening to one another, trying to understand all points of view, and blending various knowledge sources, leads to better outcomes in life as in medicine.

One of the most potent and effective botanical remedies I have had the pleasure of learning about and utilizing clinically is Hawthorn (Craetagus oxycantha). The Hawthorn plant is a spiny tree or shrub native to Europe and exported worldwide. We often use this plant ornamentally because of its gorgeous berries and flowers. The beauty extends beyond that which appeals to the eye however. The medicinal qualities of this plant are equally as beautiful. The organ which benefits the most from Hawthorn is the heart. When taken as indicated, this botanical herb has the ability to measurably and noticeably improve symptoms of poor heart function such as shortness of breath with exertion, palpitations, anginal chest pain, poor energy, and high blood pressure. It acts as a heart tonic and ionotropic agent, improving the strength of heart contractions and regulating the rate and rhythm of the heart. Some studies indicate it strengthens collagen which is the most abundant protein in the body and is responsible for maintaining tissue integrity, including blood vessel health. Thus, it aids in preventing atherosclerosis, or plaquing in the arteries which can occur when the blood vessel lining becomes weak and inflamed.

Hawthorn can by used in conjunction with mainstream medicine or alone. It is not meant to replace prescription cardiac medication, but to enhance it. That said, even herbs can have toxic effects and patients should be informed, guided, and monitored when pursuing any health protocol. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Seek the care of a regulated health professional when considering a new protocol.

07/04/2023

Advanced Regenerative Pain Management: Beyond Pills

Regenerative therapies are aimed at repairing damage to joint and soft tissue structures such as tendon tears, ligament sprains, cartilage degeneration, and muscle strains. A variety of injection therapies directed at the site of injury have been developed and evaluated for safety and efficacy. These include Prolotherapy, Prolozone therapy, Neural therapy, Peri-neural injections, and Hyaluronic acid joint injections.

Depending on the injury or degenerative condition, one or more of these therapies may be indicated. The main therapies applied at the Natural Family Health Clinic are Prolozone, Peri-neural therapy, and Hyaluronic acid injections due to a long history of effectiveness and a high degree of tolerance to these therapies (they are minimally painful to the patient).

Prolozone is an injectable pain management therapy developed by Dr. Frank Shallenberger, a renowned anti-aging Doctor and “the father” of modern ozone therapy in North America. Prolozone is effective for all forms of musculo-skeletal and joint pain including chronic neck, back, knee, hip, and shoulder pain, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and rotator cuff injuries. According to Dr. Shallenberger, because prolozone corrects the underlying pathology of the disorder, there is a 75% chance the chronic pain will be resolved completely. Research supports this conclusion.
Prolozone involves the targeted injection of a homeopathic/procaine/vitamin-mineral healing solution followed by ozone. Ozone is an oxygen gas produced by an ozone generator that effectively oxygenates tissues, both sterilizing them and enhancing the oxygen utilization of the tissue. It is the most highly active form of oxygen in the universe and provides energy to our cells. This oxygenation is very healing as well as neutralizing to the pain in an area. Poor circulation often leads to poor oxygen concentration in and around joints. Ozone increases oxygen levels considerably leading to joint and tissue regeneration. Generally, 3-5 Prolozone treatments are required to completely resolve pain, injuries, and stimulate regeneration of worn-out joints. These occur at a schedule of once every 2 weeks to once a month. This therapy is extremely safe, well supported by over 50 years of research, and most often is well tolerated. It is often administered to patients waiting for joint replacements and can prevent the need for urgent surgery.

Dr. John Lyftogt from New Zealand has developed an elegant, minimally invasive, and extremely effective pain management technique using a simple glucose solution. This technique, coined Peri-neural injection therapy (PIT), employs tiny injections of a 5% Dextrose (glucose) solution just under the skin at specific sites which correspond to nerve impingement sites. Often these sites also correspond to acupuncture points. By bathing the nerves with fluid and energy they can repair and function optimally. And, it has been discovered, that when the nerves are functioning optimally, the joint, muscle, ligament, tendon, bursa, and fascia tissues are also able to heal and regenerate efficiently.

These injections are not deep or painful; often the patient feels only minimal discomfort. Pain relief can be immediate and long lasting. Generally, 4-6 treatments at one per week are required to completely resolve chronic pain, however, every person is unique and the response is therefore variable. Research shows that 80-90% of all pain is responsive to glucose.

How can such as simple technique be so effective? The principal mechanism of action of the 5% Dextrose solution is to block the receptor in the nerve (TRPV-1 or Capsaicin receptor) which is the body’s main regulator of pain and inflammation. Resetting the receptors in the nerves allows for healing to deeper structures (joint cartilage for example). Therefore, not only is this therapy pain relieving but it is also regenerative.

Hyaluronic Acid Knee Injections:

Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in your knee joint to provide cushioning and lubrication. With osteoarthritis, the amount of this fluid can decrease, and the fluid can become thinner. For this reason, doctors may recommend an injection of hyaluronic acid, especially when steroid injections and other therapies do not provide significant relief. For injection purposes, hyaluronic acid is administered weekly for 3-5 weeks and generally provides long-term relief from knee pain. This treatment regimen can be repeated in 6 months if needed.

Hyaluronic acid injections, also known as viscosupplementation, are mostly used to treat osteoarthritis but have been used to treat knees affected by rheumatoid arthritis as well. The benefits appear to last for about five to six months. Different versions of this kind of treatment exist and some require multiple injections over several weeks. Treatment can be repeated after a six-month waiting period.
Beyond just providing extra cushion and lubrication, the injection may also work by:
-Anti-inflammatory mechanisms
-Promote partial joint healing
-Decreasing nerve sensitivity in the joint
-Shock absorber effect

If you are suffering from pain, are tired of taking pain killers, and want to improve the ability of your body to do the things you love without suffering, contact our clinic to find out which therapies are best suited to your personal needs.
You can reach the Natural Family Health Clinic at 250-497-6681 or at www.drtamarabrowne.ca

Prolozone References

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Peri-Neural Injection Therapy references

Beco J, Mouchel J. Perineural dextrose injections in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms and dyspareunia induced by obturator neuralgia. Med Hypotheses. 2020 Nov;144:109991. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109991. Epub 2020 Jun 11. PMID: 32570164.
Chen LC, Ho TY, Shen YP, Su YC, Li TY, Tsai CK, Wu YT. Perineural Dextrose and Corticosteroid Injections for Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow: A Randomized Double-blind Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2020 Aug;101(8):1296-1303. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2020.03.016. Epub 2020 Apr 20. PMID: 32325164.
Li TY, Chen SR, Shen YP, Chang CY, Su YC, Chen LC, Wu YT. Long-term outcome after perineural injection with 5% dextrose for carpal tunnel syndrome: a retrospective follow-up study. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Feb 1;60(2):881-887. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa361. PMID: 32856082.
Wu YT, Wu CH, Lin JA, Su DC, Hung CY, Lam SKH. Efficacy of 5% Dextrose Water Injection for Peripheral Entrapment Neuropathy: A Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Nov 16;22(22):12358. doi: 10.3390/ijms222212358. PMID: 34830240; PMCID: PMC8621462.
Wu YT, Chen YP, Lam KHS, Reeves KD, Lin JA, Kuo CY. Mechanism of Glucose Water as a Neural Injection: A Perspective on Neuroinflammation. Life (Basel). 2022 Jun 2;12(6):832. doi: 10.3390/life12060832. PMID: 35743863; PMCID: PMC9225069.

Hyaluronic Acid References:

Altman R, Hackel J, Niazi F, Shaw P, Nicholls M. Efficacy and safety of repeated courses of hyaluronic acid injections for knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2018 Oct;48(2):168-175. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2018.01.009. Epub 2018 Jan 31. PMID: 29496227.
Belk JW, Houck DA, Littlefield CP, Kraeutler MJ, Potyk AG, Mei-Dan O, Dragoo JL, Frank RM, McCarty EC. Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid for Hip Osteoarthritis Yields Similarly Beneficial Short-Term Clinical Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Level I and II Randomized Controlled Trials. Arthroscopy. 2022 Jun;38(6):2035-2046. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2021.11.005. Epub 2021 Nov 14. PMID: 34785294.
Belk JW, Kraeutler MJ, Houck DA, Goodrich JA, Dragoo JL, McCarty EC. Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Am J Sports Med. 2021 Jan;49(1):249-260. doi: 10.1177/0363546520909397. Epub 2020 Apr 17. PMID: 32302218.
Di Martino A, Di Matteo B, Papio T, Tentoni F, Selleri F, Cenacchi A, Kon E, Filardo G. Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid Injections for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: Results at 5 Years of a Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Sports Med. 2019 Feb;47(2):347-354. doi: 10.1177/0363546518814532. Epub 2018 Dec 13. PMID: 30545242.
Gilat R, Haunschild ED, Knapik DM, Evuarherhe A Jr, Parvaresh KC, Cole BJ. Hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma for the management of knee osteoarthritis. Int Orthop. 2021 Feb;45(2):345-354. doi: 10.1007/s00264-020-04801-9. Epub 2020 Sep 15. PMID: 32935198.
Raeissadat SA, Ghazi Hosseini P, Bahrami MH, Salman Roghani R, Fathi M, Gharooee Ahangar A, Darvish M. The comparison effects of intra-articular injection of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Plasma Rich in Growth Factor (PRGF), Hyaluronic Acid (HA), and ozone in knee osteoarthritis; a one year randomized clinical trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021 Feb 3;22(1):134. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04017-x. PMID: 33536010; PMCID: PMC7860007.
Tang JZ, Nie MJ, Zhao JZ, Zhang GC, Zhang Q, Wang B. Platelet-rich plasma versus hyaluronic acid in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res. 2020 Sep 11;15(1):403. doi: 10.1186/s13018-020-01919-9. PMID: 32912243; PMCID: PMC7488405.

05/17/2023

Dr. Ann Grimwood, ND, and Dr. Rebecca Handford ND, oversee a naturopathic clinic at the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective where they offer care to some of Vancouver’s most marginalized populations. “Health equity is an issue for a lot of our patients, and many are coming to see us as a last hope because there’s a lack of services they can utilize.
We’ve been able to offer care to help bridge these gaps.” To learn more about the work Ann and Rebecca are doing to support their community, visit: http://bitly.ws/Exir.

05/17/2023

MEDICAL OZONE THERAPIES AND YOUR HEALTH

Ozone is a safe super-oxygenated compound that is natural, inexpensive, and has the potential to improve many of our modern-day health problems. Therapeutic ozone is mainly used as a general health tonic and antiseptic, thus, improving overall health and functioning of the body. By enhancing biochemical and mitochondrial efficiency leading to improved oxygen utilization in general, the downstream effect is most often improvement in many chronic health conditions, which perhaps, have not fully improved with other therapies. This article is not to be taken as medical advice, but rather as information to help individuals improve their understanding of one of the most effective science-based natural health enhancers.

The medical use of ozone to treat a variety of acute and chronic illnesses has been occurring in integrated medical clinics and has been scientifically studied for over 100 years. This safe, effective therapy is used extensively in many countries but is relatively new to North America where it has, unfortunately, been largely ignored.
Ozone is a gas (O3, which is O2 the oxygen gas we breath, with an added oxygen atom). This makes it an energized form of oxygen. It was first used therapeutically during World War I to disinfect wounds. It was later discovered that it could kill viruses, yeasts, bacteria, and parasites. This makes ozone a useful adjunct in dentistry, as a disinfectant in the oral cavity. More recent research shows that often ozone is a potent pain reliever, boosts the immune system, and improves overall circulation. In stroke recovery, for instance, major ozonated autohemotherapy (an intravenous form of ozone therapy) administered during the early stage of acute cerebral infarction significantly increased the clinical National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and the Modified Rankin Scale scores, shortened the central motor conduction time, and increased the motor-evoked potential amplitude of the upper limbs in motor-evoked potential, suggesting that this treatment can improve motor function. Thus, early ozone therapy may be an effective treatment for patients with acute cerebral infarction (stroke), and aid in prevention of long-term disability. Another proven circulatory benefit is with the use of ozone in Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). PAD is a condition associated with aging and consists of poor blood flow to the legs and feet. It is a major cause of debility in aging patients. Ozone therapy has been shown to significantly improve this condition, including healing foot and leg ulcerations. Another chronic disease which research has established a clear benefit in is AMD, or Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Studies show that 2/3’s of patients suffering from vision loss due to dry macular degeneration regained enough vision with ozone therapy to regain self-sufficiency.

The five biological properties of Ozone that provide therapeutic benefit are the following:

1. Immune regulator: When the immune system is overactive in auto-immune conditions Ozone will calm it down, and when it is underactive in such conditions as cancer, heart disease, and chronic infections, Ozone will act to stimulate it. This occurs because of the enhanced oxygen utilization in the mitochondria of cells, enabling optimal metabolic functioning. In white blood cells which regulate the immune system, Ozone enables optimal and effective cytokine production which translates to a healthy immune function.

2. Increased Oxygen Uptake: Ozone stimulates the enzyme DPG (diphosphoglycerate) which enables the release of oxygen from hemoglobin so that the oxygen can be utilized by cells. In the absence of active DPG (which is common in Diabetics), cells become starved of oxygen, even when optimal oxygen levels are in the body.

3. Improves circulation: Poor circulation and blood flow dynamics are a common effect of chronic inflammatory conditions, Diabetes, Heart disease, and Cancer. Ozone improves the flow characteristics of blood so that it can more easily pe*****te tissues and deliver oxygen to cells.

4. Increases Antioxidant protection more than any other therapy: Ozone stimulates antioxidant buffering systems throughout the body so that cells are protected from oxidative damage. This is a powerful effect that enables cells to regain health, vigor, and healthy functioning.

5. Mitochondrial Stimulant: The mitochondria are the energy producers in every cell of our bodies. The fundamental underlying cause behind chronic degenerative disease is decreased mitochondrial energy production. Ozone can correct this problem by promoting efficient oxygen utilization, and thus, energy production in the mitochondria.

Prolozone is an ozone therapy technique developed to inject ozone directly into painful and/or worn-out joints, ligaments, and muscles. It has the capacity to simulate repair mechanisms in degenerative joints and relieve pain safely, often preventing the need for joint replacement therapy.

Millions of people have benefitted from the use of ozone therapies worldwide. It is estimated that 40,000 physicians in 45 countries use ozone treatments. These therapies have an extremely good safety record proving to have one of the lowest levels of side effects for any medical therapy.

REFERENCES:
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• Andreula CF, Simonetti L, De Santis F, Agati R, Ricci R, Leonardi M. Minimally invasive oxygen-ozone therapy for lumbar disk herniation. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2003 May;24(5):996-1000.

• Bocci V, et al. (2015). Validity of oxygen-ozone therapy as integrated medication form in chronic inflammatory diseases.
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• Bocci V, Luzzi E, Corradeschi F, Paulesu L, Di Stefano A. Studies on the biological effects of ozone: 3. An attempt to define conditions for optimal induction of cytokines. Lymphokine Cytokine Res. 1993 Apr;12(2):121-6.

• Borrelli E, Bocci V. Visual improvement following ozonetherapy in dry age related macular degeneration; a review. Med Hypothesis Discov Innov Ophthalmol. 2013 Summer;2(2):47-51. PMID: 24600642; PMCID: PMC3939750.
• Elvis AM, et al. (2011). Ozone therapy: A clinical review. DOI:10.4103/0976-9668.82319
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10.1016/j.ejphar.2008.11.060
• Geng Y, Wang W, Ma Q, Peng LQ, Liang ZH. [Ozone therapy combined with sulfasalazine delivered via a colon therapy system for treatment of ulcerative colitis]. Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2010 Dec;30(12):2683-5. Chinese. PMID: 21177179.
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10.1016/j.jdent.2009.02.004
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10.1016/j.sjdr.2016.06.005
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10.17116/hirurgia2015263-69
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10.1155/2014/273475

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