Dr. Marcus Ettinger - Our "Goji Garden" Ningxia, China

Question: Hello, I was wondering where your goji berries are grown. Thank you for your time.

Answer: Teague,

Our USDA certified, organic goji berries are grown in our “Goji Garden” in Northwest China. In case the next questions are, “why not Tibet?” Never has a goji berry come from Tibet – too cold and dry to support goji berries. “But I heard some come from Mongolia and Tibet.” Sorry, but not true – it’s an urban myth.

What in particular were you looking for or wanted to hear from me. I’m just curious because I get that question a lot.

Please check out these pages from one of our trips. Page 1 , 2, 3, 4 and 5

Sincerely,

Dr. Marcus Ettinger

Response Back: Thanks for your response,

Actually, I was looking for some goji berries that do not come from China (if they exist at all). I have read and seen a lot of reports about foods from China containing the USDA seal. Apparently, there is a lot of corruption in the system, a lot of foods with that seal are certified by 2nd or 3rd party inspectors that sometimes get paid off when the food is not organic. I’m not suggesting that this is the case with your berries. I am just saying that I am concerned.

I got a different brand of goji that is certified USDA and I swear I taste chemicals on them, while other people wrote reviews saying that this brand I bought caused intense nausea and diarrhea.

Thanks again.

My Response: Teague,

We use an FDA certified laboratory to have all of our berries tested. This is a mandatory process for us. Each batch that enters the country has to be tested for dyes, additives, lead, chemicals, fungus/mold, animal feces and artificial sugars. Our products are as clean as it gets.

Dr. Marcus Ettinger

Question:

Could you please advise if there are any synthetic versions of vitamins in Kidamins? could you also comment on another liquid multi I have purchased which uses a synthetic form of vitamin E as they (the supplier/manufacturer) state that the natural version is too unstable in a liquid formula????

Kind regards,

Rob Brady
Australia

Answer: Rob,

The only way to get a natural source of a vitamin would be to buy a food based supplement. Most likely it will be a tablet and only one or a few vitamins will be included. A label would look like this:

Cataplex C – Standard Process – $13.00

Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 3 Tablets

Calories    4
Vitamin C    17 mg    25%
Calcium    30 mg    4%

Three tablets supply approximately: 225 mg veal bone PMG™ extract, 80 mg bovine adrenal, and 40 mg buckwheat leaf juice.

Proprietary Blend: 595 mg
Veal bone PMG™ extract, bovine adrenal, dried buckwheat (leaf) juice, buckwheat (seed), nutritional yeast, dried alfalfa (whole plant) juice, alfalfa flour, mushroom, magnesium citrate, bovine bone, defatted wheat (germ), calcium acid phosphate, echinacea (root), carrot (root), veal bone, soybean lecithin, mixed tocopherols (soy), and rice (bran).
Other Ingredients: Calcium lactate, honey, acerola (berry), camu camu (berry), manioc (root), calcium stearate, and arabic gum.

My 6 year old daughter takes Kidamins (Kidamins YouTube Video) and the quality of the product is of the highest standards. I am an alternative medicine practitioner of 22  years and have no problem giving it to her. I do give her other products, some of them being food based.

It would be impossible to make a 100% broad-spectrum, high-potency, whole-food based supplement. The key is to have a good diet and supplement what may be missing with this product. It’s safe and effective.

I hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger BS, Sc

Question:

I am a renal dietitian in western Massachusetts and have a patient who takes your liquid B vitamins.  I noticed several minerals included in the ingredients and was wondering if these are in trace amounts, or not.  For instance, potassium and phosphorus are included, and renal patients need to limit their intake of these minerals.  Any info you may have on this would be helpful.

Thank you.

Emily Lewis, MS, RD

Answer: Emily,

The amount of minerals in our Liquid Complete B Formula is in TRACE quantities. I totally understand that you want to limit supplemental forms of certain minerals, but it’s the form and total amount that matters the most. As you know, a person would die (or not do well) without adequate daily potassium and other minerals. The RDA for potassium, for instance, is 3.3 grams per day, really should be 4.0 grams/day. That would be 33, 99 mg potassium (gluconate or citrate) caps/day. The issue with a doctor… restricting a particular mineral should be based on, not going above or beyond the RDA values. If a clients diet is one of fast-food or void of fruits and vegetables, supplemental minerals should be prescribed, even if the client is on dialysis. Just my professional opinion.

I usually run a routine blood chemistry to determine the blood levels of these minerals: potassium, calcium, sodium, chloride and magnesium, as they are added back, to mimic plasma concentrations, during dialysis. If these minerals are low or not in, what I call the functional range (a narrower bell-curve range than is used by Quest, LabCorp….), I will supplement until a stable range has been achieved on follow-up  blood tests.

I hope this helps and sorry for the drawn out answer.

Since you do this every day and I don’t, if you have data that will help me in my practice on this matter, can you e-mail me back.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger BS, DC

Question: Dr. Ettinger,

I am 52 yrs old and have already gone through menopause. I get very confused about what supplements I should be taking. I am not on any hormones and only take a multivitamin. I have an extra 20 pounds I’d like to lose but am very sensitive to anything diet.

Any suggestions?

Thank you,

Gina

Answer: Gina,

Thank you for the question. This shows me you are ready for a positive change in your life.

CaliTrim (lipotropic formula*) 1/3x day, Liquid CoQ10 (1/2 Tbsp 2x/day) and Liquid B Complex (1 tsp/day), combined with starch reduction (anything made from wheat, corn, rice, potato, rye, oat….) will help you to reduce weight gradually and naturally. STARCH REDUCTION IS VERY IMPORTANT! If you can get in 30 minutes or fast-pace walking 3 or 4 times per week, you will lose the weight even faster. Plus, you will have more energy; you heart and lungs will be healthier; you will lower your risk of developing most diseases; your sleep will be improved and more than likely, your attitude toward life and living will rise to new levels. It’s a win-win-win opportunity.

The links go directly to the products. Please e-mail me back in a few weeks to give me an update on all the areas that have been improved.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger BSc, DC

*Lipotropic compounds are those which help catalyse the breakdown of fat during metabolism in the body.

Choline is the major lipotrope in mammals and other known lipotropes are important only insofar as they contribute to the synthesis of choline. (Barak, 1973)

A lipotropic nutrient is one that promotes or encourages the export of fat from the liver. Lipotropics are necessary for the maintenance of a healthy liver as well as burning the exported fat for additional energy. Without lipotropics such as choline and inositol, fats and bile can become trapped in the liver, causing severe problems such as cirrhosis and blocking fat metabolism. Choline is essential for fat metabolism. Choline functions as a methyl donor and it is required for proper liver function. Like inositol, choline is a lipotropic. Inositol exerts lipotropic effects as well. An “unofficial” member of the B vitamins, inositol has even been shown to relieve depression and panic attacks. Methionine, an essential amino acid, is the major lipotropic compound in humans. When estrogen levels are high, the body requires more methionine. Estrogens reduce bile flow through the liver and increase bile cholesterol levels. Methionine helps deactivate estrogens.

Methionine levels also affect the amount of sulfur-containing compounds, such as glutathione, in the liver. Glutathione and other sulfur-containing peptides (small proteins) play a critical role in defending against toxic compounds. When higher levels of toxic compounds are present, more methionine is needed.

Choline assists detoxification reactions in the liver. Although choline can be synthesized from methionine or serine, recent evidence indicates that choline is an essential nutrient.

Betaine hydrochloride is a powerful lipotropic and increases gastric acid.[1]

References:

1.  “Betaine Hydrochloride Information on Healthline”. Retrieved 2008-04-24. “Betaine in human nutrition.”. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15321791. Retrieved 2009-10-11.

I wonder what do you offer to treat hair loss. Do you have a specific line of products or just products to enhance general well being ?

Your advice will be greatly appreciated .

Viva

Viva,

I have personally researched this area for years and there is no effective, natural substance for hair loss. Propecia (medication) and Minoxidil (topical) is the still the gold-standard. I wish there was a natural product to offer but there isn’t one, as I would be using it too. Also, please don’t buy into any natural product scams that claim they can reverse or stop hair loss, as they are just scams.

One thing I would recommend is Liquid Power Multi-V. The best approach to hair loss prevention, and disease prevention for that matter, is to make sure that you’re getting all of your needed vitamins, minerals and antioxidant, daily. Liquid Power Multi-V will make sure you get it.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger BS, DC

Answer: Robert,

CoQ10 plays a crucial part in your body’s energy production. It’s found in every one of your mitochondrial cells; they are responsible for converting fats and sugars into ATP… which is your body’s main source of energy. In fact, 95% of your body’s energy is said to come from this source. However when natural CoQ10 levels are inadequate, even the basic metabolic functions of these cells are impaired.

For adults, the typical recommended supplemental dosage is reportedly around 30mg to 200mg daily. Younger, healthy adults tend to be on the lower end of that range.

½ + ¼ teaspoon or our Liquid CoQ10 Formula will give you 30mg’s. Now, this is just my two cents on the subject of dosage: After 22 years of practicing holistic medicine, I have found that the therapeutic dose of CoQ10 starts at around 120mg’s per day (1/2 Tbsp 2x/day). In some of my patients I’m going as high as 1000mg’s per day to achieve our desired result.

Let me know your thoughts on this.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger BSc, DC

Answer: Barb,

I have exactly what you need. CaliTrim, 2 tablets 3x/day! This may sound too simple but it’s what I’ve been using in my practice, with predictable results. The combination of nutrients in CaliTrim will support proper fat, cholesterol and sugar metabolism.

This is very important too: reduce the amount of starch (anything made from wheat, corn, oat, potato, rice, rye….) in your diet to just one serving per day. Switch to beans/legumes as a replacement.

The therapeutic dose of CoQ10 is 120mg’s per day and is best absorbed/metabolized with certain nutrient synergists. Our Liquid CoQ10 Formula has all of that in ½ Tbsp 2x/day. Please think about raising your CoQ10 dosage.

Please e-mail me back when you get your next test results in case there is any fine tuning that needs to be done. Here’s to lower numbers.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger BSc, DC

David

Answer: David,

The dose of the  our protein isolate would be once per day unless you are using it as a meal replacement (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Note: It is important to have five to nine daily servings of green, red, and yellow vegetables, fruits, or juices that are rich in antioxidants and other important nutrients. Some research suggests that antioxidant foods or supplements (such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C, CoQ10 (our CoQ10 has the C and E in it!) and Resveratrol) may help inhibit the formation of the dense cells that trigger a sickle-cell crisis. I would also take Liquid Complete B complex (1 teaspoon 2x/day) to help with better cell differentiation.

Let me know what you think of this idea. Take care.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger BSc, DC

Hello Dr. Ettinger,

I suffer from blepharitis and I’m wondering if I can apply tamanu oil on my eyelids.  I came across some info on the internet that it can be used for conjunctivitis (I assume it’s because of its anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-fungal properties).  If so, should it be applied undiluted or diluted (with a Q-tip)?

I also suffer from long-standing hyperpigmentation (uneven patches/streaks on my cheeks) on my cheeks and old acne scars which are more like shallow, irregular craters. Will tamanu oil help in filling in the indentations?

Thank you in advance.

Mary Smith

Mary,

Application of the undiluted tamanu oil w/a Q-tip should be okay. As far as hyperpigmentation goes, it’s most likely not going to work. My wife has melasma and we have tried everything, nothing seems to work. She does use it as a moisturizer and it works very well for that.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger BSc, DC

Dear Dr. Ettinger,

Thank you for your reply.  I will tread cautiously when applying (initially diluted) tamanu oil on my eyelids.

Yes, hyperpigmentation/melasma is extremely difficult to overcome.  You didn’t say if, in your practice, you’ve encountered success with tamanu oil in filling in shallow acne scars (one of the benefits of tamanu oil is that it helps with acne scars, but I’m not sure which kind – raised, rolling, etc.).   Would appreciate a quick feedback with regard to that, at your convenience.  Thanks.

Regards,

Mary Sue

Mary,

Deep pits caused by acne vulgaris are hard to resolve, even with chemical peels or laser. Collagen regeneration will help to reduce the depth and plump-up the area, and works best for mild scaring. Everyone’s chemistry is different and what works for one may not work for another. Our Tamanu oil is not expensive and will have some positive impact on your skin. It’s worth a try.

Another option is more expensive, but will yield the best results: Use the oil for a while along with a .5% retinol product 1-2x/wk, and get the skin very healthy. Now the expensive part: You will have to save about $3,000 for Fraxel (less down time), or CO2 or erbium laser (more down time)

Let me know where you live and I can refer you to a reputable cosmetic/laser dermatologist (if interested). Please e-mail me in a couple of months and give me an update.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger BSc, DC

Dear Dr. Ettinger,

Thank you for your tips.  I don’t have deep cystic acne scars (fortunately), but do have what I describe as shallow, irregular craters (with several medium-sized indentations).  It was because of that that I went for a peel many, many years ago that resulted in my hyperpigmentation due to sun exposure.  You might say that I traded one skin problem for another (and I still have acne scars!).  It was obviously a potent peel and I was NEVER cautioned by the derm to avoid the sun or use sunblock which wasn’t a household word back then.

I tried various treatments after that fiasco – HQ, Retin-A, Obagi (which resulted in rebound hyperpigmentation when stopped), microdermabrasion (the first two were fine, but the third increased the size of my already darkened areas on my cheeks), Cosmelan II 5 years ago(again, initially I was overjoyed but after a week to 10 days’ use brought forth not only darker patches but streaks as well) and more recently about a year ago the Wonderbar, the negative results of which I’m still recovering from.  My skin has yo-yo-ed between getting worse and better all these years.  Funnily enough, the times when my hyperpigmentation was at its lighter phase were when I stopped doing “treatments” and used natural/organic skin products.  For almost the last two months, I’ve been using rosehip seed oil on my face and it seems to have helped lightened my hyperpigmentation  – not that I haven’t used rosehip oil in the past – but perhaps I didn’t give it enough time back then.   Also the brand or the type may have made a difference.  As you know, rose hip oil is rich in natural retinoic acid – perhaps that’s what helping with both my skin issues.

The fact that I am oriental also complicates matters.  I cannot risk having laser or aggressive exfoliating treatments whether it’s for acne scars or hyperpigmentation/melasma.  Although mine is not melasma per se, one derm and one esthetician did term it as such.  (One very reputable laser I went to see advised me against the laser precisely because of my being Asian.  Of course, laser technology has considerably improved since the ‘80s, but I cannot take that risk).  I’ve often wondered if the peel I had ages ago went too deep because the pigmentation has never completely faded, but the fact that my skin has experienced lighter phases has given me hope for further recovery.

In the meantime, I will patiently keep on using what nature has to offer.  I find that switching from chemical sunscreens to physical ones has also helped.  That said, I’m still looking for the ‘perfect’ sunblock.

Thanks again.

Regards,

Mary

P.S.  In your opinion, is it okay to apply tamanu oil over the rosehip oil, or is that overkill? (Will one counter the other, or worse still, will they “clash”?)

Mary,

The Tamanu will be perfectly okay to use in conjunction with Rosehip oil. Since Rosehip oil can irritate skin I would use one of the oils at night and one in the morning. It’s a personal choice which rotation you want to use.

As far as sun block goes, I like SkinCeuticals Physical UV Defense SPF 30. I sold/used it in my MedSpa that I owned for 3 years. For my Asian patients, I used Tri-Luma to lighten hyperpigmentation. SkinCeuticals Phyto + is a natural alternative to Tri-Luma.

You may also want to get yourself a sun-protection hat. Coolibar is what I carried.

I hope this additional information is helpful.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger BSc, DC