Plant enzyme treatment for Fibromyalgia by Dr. Jenefer Huntoon, Naturopathic Physician, Seattle, WA www.DrHuntoon.com
I have observed dynamic success in treating numerous patients with Fibromyalgia using plant enzyme therapy. Plant enzymes improve health in two primary ways. The first is use of enzymes as an aid to proper digestion. The second is use of enzymes to accomplish a therapeutic goal, such as reducing inflammation, removing toxins, and dramatically reducing bacteria, yeast, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Fibromyalgia is often a result of any or all of the following: toxicity, inflammation, and infection. So plant enzymes solve these problems in safe, non-toxic ways.
Plant enzymes are found in all raw fruits and vegetables. They are necessary for the digestion of fat, carbohydrates, protein, and fiber. Undigested food results in particles that act like poisons in the body. These particles can cause inflammation which over time leads to musculoskeletal pain. Plant enzymes are also important for absorption of nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals. People who are deficient in certain nutrients are vulnerable to musculoskeletal pain characteristic of Fibromyalgia. For example, enzymes are necessary for proper digestion of Vitamin C COMPLEX. If a person is not digesting and absorbing in Vitamin C COMPLEX, the joints become weak, because Vitamin C COMPLEX in needed for healthy connective tissue. Weak connective tissue makes a person prone to viruses, and viruses cause muscle and joint pain. For this reason, we use natural vitamin and mineral complexes to help reduce inflammation, and we use a natural Vitamin C COMPLEX formula to strengthen connective tissue so viruses can’t invade. The complete Vitamin C COMPLEX is not available in the health food store.
One of the enzyme formulas we use is high in amylase (which digests carbohydrate) and improves joint flexibility. We also use a high protease formula (which digests protein) to reduce uric acid. High blood uric acid (due to undigested protein) causes joint pain. This painful condition feels like having pieces of fiberglass in the blood. So digesting the undigested protein (or fiberglass) helps reduce inflammation.
Protein is essential for making immunoglobulins, which are necessary for a strong immune system. Protein is also necessary to make hormones. Those who fail to digest proteins properly also suffer from a lowered immune system and from hormonal imbalances. We also use the enzyme cellulase (which digests fiber) to bind with environmental toxins and pull them out of the tissues. These toxins may include lead, mercury, cadmium, aluminum, preservatives, pesticides, etc. Hair mineral analysis testing helps to identify these toxic metals.
Optimal digestion of carbohydrate, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals is very important to improvement for Fibromyalgia symptoms, which include inflammation, musculoskeletal pain, stiffness, and suppressed immune function.
Since each patient is biochemically unique, I don't use the same treatment for every Fibromyalgia patient. Extensive testing is used to evaluate each person’s unique body chemistry and to treat the CAUSE of the imbalance. Some patients feel better after a few days of treatment, and others take a month or so to start seeing results. Typically, Fibromyalgia patients feel better within one to three weeks on our program, but there are many variables. One Fibromyalgia patient felt better immediately after receiving a structural alignment treatment. She continued structural alignment treatments for six weeks, and she took enzymes as recommended. Now she’s feeling better than ever! She is able to go back to work, exercise, and enjoy all sorts of activities she couldn’t participate in before. Her type of Fibromyalgia was more of a spinal problem than an enzyme or nutritional problem. Each Fibromyalgia case is different. We must identify the CAUSE and solve it.
A natural foods diet is important for everyone, but especially for Fibromyalgia patients. A patient can take all the right remedies, but changing the diet is essential to improving one’s health. We recommend eating organic, whole foods instead of white flour and processed foods. In other words, if you are going to eat rice, select brown rice over white rice. And, if you eat bread, eat sprouted wheat or sprouted multi-grain bread instead of white bread.
Excess sugar in the diet contributes to Fibromyalgia. Sugar is addictive and depletes the body because it offers no nutritive value. We do have remedies to help reduce the craving for sweets, but patients benefit more from a nutritious diet. Sugar lowers the immune system, and allows Candida yeast to grow out of control. Candida yeast occurs normally in the body, but sugar in the diet feeds Candida. It takes over and causes a lowered immune system and musculoskeletal pain. Most people don’t realize the sugar in fruit juice is almost as bad as table sugar for feeding Candida yeast. People need to limit fruit to perhaps two servings a day, and to load up on vegetables. As a replacement for sugar, we recommend Stevia, which is an herbal sweetener. It tastes sweet, can be taken by diabetics, and helps a person lose the craving for sweets.
Medications and herbal treatments can be used to kill Candida yeast, but these remedies by themselves don’t necessarily solve the problem. Pharmaceuticals are often used to get rid of yeast. They kill the yeast, but the yeast can grow back as an even stronger strain if the patient doesn’t also change his or her diet. A low sugar diet is extremely crucial in treating Candida, but there are also a number of herbs, botanicals, and enzymes that will help get the yeast under control.
We utilize specific plant enzyme formulas that are very effective in counteracting yeast. In particular, we use concentrated protease, the protein digesting enzyme. This is a powerful formula and cannot be taken by people with a sensitive stomach. It’s not available over the counter.
Fibromyalgia as well as many other chronic degenerative diseases is a result of toxicity and lowered immunity due to a diet high in processed foods. Structural imbalances also play a role in Fibromyalgia. Diet is the key to maintaining optimal health. Eat whole, organic fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds whenever possible. Since it can be challenging in our society to eat a diet of the recommended 75% raw foods (which contain plant enzymes), it helps to add a plant enzyme formula. Plant enzymes predigest food, reducing the need for the body to produce hydrochloric acid and pancreatic enzymes. Plant enzymes are useful in preventing chronic degenerative disease and slowing the aging process. We have been able to greatly reduce the number of vitamin and mineral supplements people need by increasing digestion and assimilation with plant enzymes.
We are able to reduce underlying CAUSES of Fibromyalgia by using high potency enzymes to digest Candida yeast, viruses, bacteria, fungal infections, and parasites. When spinal misalignment is the cause of Fibromyalgia, we have methods to balance the spine. We have seen numerous patients who were originally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and are now living healthy, productive lives as a result of our therapies.
REFERENCES
(a) “The effect of heat processed foods and metabolized vitamin D milk on the dentofacial structures of experimental animals, “Dr. Francis Pottenger, Jr., M.D., VOL. 32 no.8, p. 467-485, August, 1946.
(b) “The influence of food on the blood formula of man,” Dr. Paul Kouchakoff, First International Congress of Microbiology, Paris, 1930.
(c) “Enzyme Nutrition, The Food Enzyme Concept,” Dr. Edward Howell, Avery Publishing, 1985.
(d) Food Enzymes: The Missing Link to Radiant Health, Humbert Santillo, M.H., N.D.
(e) “Enzymes: The Key to Health”, Howard F. Loomis, Jr., D.C. 1999.
(f) Excerpts from: Huntoon, Jenefer S., N.D., Eating, Longevity and Immunity Enzymes: The Missing Link., Well Being Journal Vol. 14 No. 5. Sept./Oct. 2005
Dr. Jenefer Scripps Huntoon has been a practicing Naturopathic physician in Seattle, Washington since graduating from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1975. Prior to that time she worked as a nutritional consultant while attending Naturopathic Medical School. She also holds an Internal Health Specialist certificate from Logan College. .
In addition to family practice, Dr. Huntoon also specializes in treating Fibromyalgia, nutritional imbalances, gastrointestinal disorders and musculoskeletal problems.
Dr. Huntoon enjoys a wide range of outdoor activities including hiking and inline skating.
