100% Organic Mangosteen Juice

Question: Dear Dr. Ettinger,

I am a white female, 62 years old, and was diagnosed with fibromylgia 30 years ago, and RA l0 years ago.  Standard treatment for the RA has led to current Enbrel, along with methotrexate and Celebrex.  Savella for the fibromylgia.  Fatigue, over exertion and infections will trigger a flair.  Am still self-employed, and stay active, but find that weekends are spent doing light housekeeping and resting up for the week ahead.

Recently reduced my daily predisone from 20 mg. to 1.25mg.

Of course, would love to not be dependent on medications.

How does Mangosteen help people with RA and fibromylgia? Why does it work it the cases where it has been effective?  Obviously will check with my Rheumatologist to make sure it does interfere with any current medications.

Thank you for your time and knowledge.

Judith A

Answer: Judith,

FYI: All antioxidants are anti-inflammatory but not all anti-inflammatories are antioxidants.

The exciting aspect of the mangosteen fruit is the high level of xanthones, which have potent anti-inflammatory properties. People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis joint pain and fibromyalgia gain relief from anti-inflammatory medications. Some of the medications contain steroids and some do not. The xanthones are a non steroidal anti-inflammatory substance.

Mangosteen is a fruit/food and will not react with meds, as far as I know. Your MD should not discourage you from taking any and all antioxidants. If he/she does, ask to see ‘why’ in writing. I have treated many patients over the years with what you have now. If you would like to begin a natural approach to your body problem, please take a look at this link – here and visit my website.  I can design a personalized protocol for you.

Absolute Mangosteen at 1oz, two times per day will add a nice level of antioxidants back to your body. There are many more wonderful, natural products that can help but I would need to know more about you and your condition to make an intelligent decision.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ettinger

PS. Here is a question put to Dr. Brent Bauer, MD

Can it relieve arthritis pain? Can drinking mangosteen juice reduce arthritis inflammation and pain?

Answer: It might. A number of laboratory and animal studies suggest that mangosteen has significant anti-inflammatory effects. And a few small-scale studies in humans indicate that the juice helps reduce blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). CRP is a substance associated with inflammation, which may be caused by widespread infection or disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

But the studies that found this reduction in CRP were not conducted with people who have arthritis. And not everybody who has arthritis has an elevation in CRP. So at this point, while the data appears promising, it is still too early to say for sure what role mangosteen juice has in treating arthritis symptoms.

Mangosteen is a tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia. Despite its name, mangosteen is not related to the mango. The mangosteen fruit is the size and shape of a tangerine, with a thick, dark rind and creamy flesh. Mangosteen is marketed as a supplement, both as a juice and in capsule form.

organic sea buckthorn oil

Question: Dear Dr. Ettinger,

Are there any reactions with medications such as blood pressure, diabetes, or cholesterol or other vitamins that I should be aware of before taking any of this sea buckthorn? I also take vitamin C, vitamin E and fish oil.

Answer: Linda,

You will be fine with the addition of our organic sea buckthorn oil!

It sounds like you would also benefit from our CaliTrim. It is very safe, effective and I use it in my practice to help support my patients with sugar and cholesterol problems. It can be taken with cholesterol and/or diabetic medication. It may even help you get off of some of them.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ettinger

Dr. Ettinger,

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

Question: I am a 64 yo female. I walk and exercise regularly for a good year and a half. My cholesterol just read at 299. My HDL are fairly high. I have been on fish oil caps, a good multi, CoQ10, 50mg’s during that time. I have just recently added green tea extract caps x 2 per day. Up til now I have been drinking 3 cups green tea daily. Test show some plaque. My doctor wants me on statins,which I have tried but get muscle discomfort. What should I try now? Thank you for your reply. Barb

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

Question: Hey Dr Ettinger, can you please tell me how many times a day I should use  your Whey Protein Gold Isolate Plus and would that dose be different if I had sickle cell anemia? Thanks ahead for your time.

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



Question: This product (Pure Organic Sea Buckthorn Oil) was recommended to me for dry eyes. Does it help this condition, and if so, how?  Thank you.

Emma Reid

Answer: Emma,

Research has shown that Sea Buckthorn Oil may help relieve symptoms of “dry eye syndrome”. Sea buckthorn is rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants.

In one study, researchers recruited 100 adults with symptoms of “dry eye syndrome”, a condition that occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough to tears to stay properly lubricated. For three months, participants took two grams of sea buckthorn oil or a placebo each day. By the study’s end, those who’d taken sea buckthorn oil showed a reduction in several dry eye symptoms (including redness and burning).

In my practice I have found that increasing one’s intake of essential fatty acids has helped ease dry eye symptoms. I like a combination of Pure Organic Sea Buckthorn Oil and our Ultra Omega 3-6-9.

Please let me know how this works out for you. Give it at least 3 months, and make sure you also drink your 8 glasses of water each day.

Sincerely,

Dr. Marcus Ettinger

Seasonal and Swine Flu (H1N1) Preparedness – A Natural Approach
by Dr. Marcus Ettinger

To make a long story short – My family and I are not going to be vaccinated for the “seasonal flu” or “H1N1 Flu virus”. We are taking my Proactive Nutritional Protocol (see below).  In 21 years as a holistic practitioner, I have never taken a sick day. I’ve had a runny nose and a scratchy throat but that’s it. In that same time span, I’ve been sneezed on and coughed on by hundreds of patients with the flu, pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis and colds. The point is – I know what to do to stay well. Visit my website and blog for more wellness information.

With the flu season moving into high gear, I am not worried or scared about the seasonal or Swine Flu – I am getting prepared, but not scared. My family and I are taking proactive, preventative steps that I know will enable our innate immune system to defend itself against the bacteria’s and viruses we will be exposed to. I am not saying that by taking these preventative steps, my family and I will be immune super-beings, capable of eating Swine Flu tacos for dinner. What I am saying is, with 100% confidence, we will possess the capability to defend ourselves, since all will be well within our bodies. At a minimum we will possess the capability to minimize the effects/symptoms after exposure to a contagion (bacteria/virus). The key here is to minimize the impact.

My Proactive Nutritional Protocol: Power Vitamin D3 Liquid or Power Vitamin D3 Softgels, Probiotic Flora-Health (multi-strain probiotic) and Power C w/rutin (These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.)

I personally take 6,000 IU’s of  our vitamin D3, 1 capsule of our Probiotic Flora-Health and 2-4 capsules of our Power-C daily.

Source: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Eczema is a chronic skin condition, characterized by dry, red, flaky patches of skin.  Eczema appears most commonly on the face, neck, elbows, wrists, knees, behind the ears, and on the scalp. During acute episodes, the patches become oozing, inflamed, and itchy.  There are currently two recognized classifications of dermatitis: atopic and contact.  Contact dermatitis is typically aggravated by direct skin contact with allergens, such as chemicals, wool, lanolin, soap, or cosmetics.  Atopic eczema is usually triggered by inhaled or ingested allergens, such as certain foods, pollen, dust, or animal dander.  Some literature discusses a third classification, "dysregulatory microbial eczemas."  This category refers to eczema caused by the introduction of microflora into the horny layer of the skin, and a breakdown in the epidermis, resulting in inflammation.

Food allergies appear to play a significant role in atopic dermatitis.  The presence of severe eczema has been associated with an increased tendency to produce food-specific IgE antibodies.  Although the subject is debated, maternal antigen exposure during pregnancy and lactation may increase the chance of eczema in infancy.  Studies have confirmed that women who avoid antigens during pregnancy and lactation, and exclusively breast feed have reduced occurrence of infants with atopic eczema.

Antioxidant nutrients help support the immune system especially when the body is under stress, thereby, reducing the risk of many illnesses including cancer, cardiovascular disease and other chronic degenerative diseases.  It is not advisable to take large amounts of one or two antioxidants while excluding the rest.  For optimal protection, a nutritional supplement program should include multiple antioxidants.  The primary antioxidants are vitamins A, C, E, beta-carotene, selenium, coenzyme Q10, and lipoic acid.  Also, there are other powerful antioxidant sources such as selenium, grape seed extract, and green tea.  There are many other nutrients that also function as antioxidants.

AA case-control, population-based study was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition to investigate the link between antioxidant nutrient intake and the risk of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children.  The researchers enrolled 180 children with atopic dermatitis and 242 without AD all being five years old.  Their diets were assessed by using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and fasting blood samples were used to analyze fat-soluble vitamins such as retinol, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and vitamin C.  The results were a reduction of AD by 56 percent in children with the highest intake of beta-carotene in comparison to children with the lowest intake.  There was a similar association with vitamin E at 67 percent, folic acid at 63 percent and iron at 61 percent reduction in AD risk.  Highest levels of alpha-tocopherol were associated with a 36 percent reduced risk of AD and retinol was at 26 percent lower risk.  The researchers stated “These findings suggest that higher antioxidant nutritional status reduces the risk of AD and that such risk-reduction effects depend on nutrient type.”

1. Oh SY, Chung J, Kim MK, et al. Antioxidant nutrient intakes and corresponding biomarkers associated with the risk of atopic dermatitis in young children. Eur J Clin Nutr. Jan 2010.

We offer several antioxidant rich supplements, but here are two to choose from:

Kidamins™: Liquid Multi Vitamins for Children age 1 through 12!

Liquid Power Multi-V™: Complex Multi Vitamins for the whole family.

Being troubled by eczema myself – I have found that Noni Juice, Tamanu Oil and Seabuckthorn Oil are quite helpful when my eczema flairs up!

CAOH