NeuroInflammation attheSource+ RegenerateYourBrain
IsaacEliaz,MD
INTEGRATIVE PHYSICIAN | BEST-SELLING AUTHOR
Isaac Eliaz, MD, MS, LAc is a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine with more than 30 years of experience as a physician and researcher. He has partnered with some of the nation’s leading research institutes, including Harvard and Columbia Universities. As an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of cancer and other complex diseases, Dr. Eliaz embraces a whole-person approach to healing. He is the author of The Survival Paradox, as well as the owner and formulator of EcoNugenics, a line of science-backed supplements. He is also the founder and medical director of Amitabha Medical Clinic & Healing Center in Santa Rosa, Calif.
“I’ve learned to let go of our current medical system’s dogmatic paradigms, both conventional and alternative. People often say I think ‘outside the box,’ to which I reply, there was never a box to begin with.”
— Isaac Eliaz, MD, MS, LAc
Thise-bookisChaptersCH1+2+9 from sellilngbook,TheSurvivalParadox:Revers CauseOfAgingAndChronicDisease
PART ONE HOW THE SURVIVAL RESPONSE AFFECTS OUR HEALTH
CHAPTER ONE
WHAT IS THE SURVIVAL PARADOX?
RebeccafirstcametoseemeatAmitabhaMedicalClinicin2011.Shewas seventy,withstage4lungcancerthathadmetastasizedtoherbones.Shehadno familyandlivedalone;hercompanionthatdaywasastone-facedchauffeur waitinginacaroutsidetheclinic.Withtearsinhereyes,shetoldmeshehad justbeendiagnosed.Handsshaking,sheshowedmethePETscanreport highlightingthemultipletumorsthroughoutherbody.Basedonwhatthe oncologistsaid,sheunderstoodthatherlifecouldcometoanendverysoon.
“Idon’twanttodie,”shesaid.“I’mnotreadytogo.”Everycellinherbody wasreelingwithanxietyandfear.Herrestlessnesswaspalpableintheair.
Asanintegrativephysicianwhotreatscancer,I’dhadthisconversationmany times.Ihandedheratissueandshewipedhertears.“IwilldoanythingIcanto overcomethiscancer,”shesaidfirmly.Iacknowledgedherfiercedetermination, herresolve.Afterall,determinationiswhat’sneededfirstandforemostto overcomeadeadlydisease,right?
Withheranxietysopalpable,Iwonderedhowthisfearmustbeaffectingher. Notjustonthelevelofheremotionsorqualityoflife;Iwonderedhowitwas affectingthecancercells.Willthisfear-baseddeterminationnottodiehelpher overcomeherdisease?Orwillitcausehertobecomesickerandshortenherlife? Heranxietywassoprominentthatitinfusedhersurroundings,affectingher abilitytotakeadeepbreath.Itwasconstantsuffering,anditwasclearshewas in“survivalmode.”
Beinginsurvivalmodemeantthathersympatheticnervoussystem hormones,thedriversofherinnatebiochemicalresponsepatterns,weredialed allthewayup.Heradrenaline,noradrenaline,andcortisolwereelevated,and herinsulinwasspiking.Herimmuneresponsewasbeingsuppressed,andher metabolic function was altered. Ultimately, it meant that many of the compoundssheexcretedinanefforttosurvivewouldverylikelynourishher cancerandallowittogrowandsurviveaswell.
Survivalmodeisoftenastateofstressandpanic.Thebodyfeelsrushedand doesn’tslowdown,andallcells,whethernormalorcancerous,fightharderto survive.Thus,Rebecca’sanxietyandfearofdyingcould“feed”thecancerous cells.Herbestchanceatbeatingthecancerandlivingalongerlifewastoshift awayfromsurvivalmodeandmoveintoastateofgreaterrelaxation,withless reactivityonthecellular,emotional,andpsychologicallevels.
Basedonresearchandmyyearsofworkwithpatients,onethinghasbecome clear: when facing a life-threatening or debilitating illness, the natural biochemicalstressresponse,ourinnatefight-or-flightmechanismsthatare drivenbyourinstincttosurvivearefundamentallyatoddswithourabilityto healandthrive.Thissurvivaldrive,rootedinoursympatheticnervoussystem andexpressedbyourbiochemicalalertsystem,isnotgoingtosaveus.Infact,it canharmus.
Howdoesthisphysiologicalresponsesystemturnagainstussodramatically, fuelingdiseaseprocessesandprematureaging?Andmoreimportantly,whatcan wedoaboutit?
Thegoodnewsis,wecandoalot.Andwecandoitinawaythatisactually simplerthananyonefacingacomplexhealthcondition—patientorprovider— mighthaveimagined.
We’llcontinuetodiscussthedetailsofRebecca’streatmentandoutcomesin thenextchapter.Iwitnessedsomethingincredibleinhercase,aswellasin manyothers.SomethingthatBruceLipton,DeepakChopra,andmanyothers havewrittenabout,andwhattheyogisandmysticshavebeensayingfor millennia: the mind can influence the body to heal spontaneously and completely.Themindcandeliverthebodyfromthebrinkofdeathanddisease tovitalityandlongevity.
THE CATCH-22 OF “POSITIVE THINKING”
Publishedevidenceonthemind-bodyconnectionissignificantandgrowing rapidly,andbasedonmypersonalandclinicalexperience,theresultscanbe exponential.Itspoweriswithinusallthetime,andit’sabsolutelyavailablefor ustouse.
So,whydoesn’titalwayswork?
Ifmind-bodymedicineistheclinicallystudiedgoldstandard“alternative” deemedthesafestandmostbeneficialtreatmentandincreasinglyadoptedand appliedinclinicalsettingsaroundtheworld,itstandstoreasonthatmanymore peoplewouldbeabletomeditateor“positivelythink”theirdiseaseinto remission.
It’stheultimatecatch-22:whensomeoneisfacingalife-threateningdisease, askingthemtorelax,changetheirthoughtpatterns,andfocusonhappy, healingenergyismucheasiersaidthandone.It’slikeaskingsomeonewhose houseisonfiretostaycalm,thinkpositively,anddeeplyinhalethesmokefrom theirburninghome.
We’rebuiltforsurvival.Wedon’tjustwantbutintrinsicallyneedto overcomediseaseandtoheal.I’vecometofind,basedonextensivepublished researchandyearsofclinicalobservation,thatthissurvivaldriveistheone majorblockagestandinginthewayofwould-besuccesses.
Inanerawhenwetendtolookforquickfixesandsymptomsuppressors, we’rereallyjustsuppressingourhealingcapacity.Wedon’ttakethetimeto stop,slowdown,andlookwithin.Theideathatwedon’thavetime—thatwe must rush, and must compete with everyone, including ourselves—is detrimentaltoourhealthandwell-being.
WhatRebeccaneededaboveallelsewastoslowthissympatheticnervous systemresponse,butshecouldn’t.Herhousewasburningdown,and shecouldn’ttakeadeepbreathinthemidstofwhatappearedtobealifethreateningsituation.
Whenweexperienceasenseofrestlessness,notfeelingsafe,ornottrusting ourenvironmentandcommunity,itcantranslateallthewaydowntothe cellularlevel.Whenwefeelunsafeandbelieveweneedtosurviveonourown, itchangesthemetabolismandfunctionofourcells—theyreceivesignalsfrom theirenvironmentthatthereisalackofoxygen.Theformaltermforlackof oxygenishypoxia,andthehypoxiccellcan’tbreatheornaturallyrelax.(In cancerhowever,thecellsbehavethiswayeveninthepresenceofoxygen, whichwe’lldiscussindetaillaterinthebook.)
Tobeginthehealingprocess,weneedtomoveahypoxiccelltoaplace whereitfeelsitcanbreathe,createanormalmetabolism,andreturntonormal mitochondrialfunction.Todothis,thecellandthepersonmustshiftawayfrom astateofsurvivaltowardastateofrelaxation.Toachievesuchachange,the personasawholemustexperiencesafetyandbalanceallthewaytothecellular level.Thesurvivalalarmhastobeturnedoff!
So,howdidRebeccaandIbeginaddressinghercancer?Howwassheableto takeadeepbreath?Weworkeddirectlyonherbiochemistry.Wedidn’tjust circumventherfearandanxiety—wetransformedit.Weusedcertainnatural compoundstoquietthealarmsystem,normalizethecell,andfightthecancer.
Wecombinedthosecompoundswithmeditation,breathingexercises,regular acupuncture,andhealingsessionswithdifferentmodalities,includinghands-on osteopathic,craniosacral,sound,andvisualizationtherapies.Mostimportantly, we surrounded her with unconditional love and affection, a sense of community,andanenvironmentthatheldherwithoutjudgment—wecreateda worldwhereshefeltsafeandloved.
A DEEPER HEART-BODY CONNECTION
Themind-bodyconnectionisamazing,andit’snotaone-waystreet.Emotions, thoughts, and subconscious responses clearly affect our biochemistry, our physiology,andoursubjectiveandobjectiveexperiencesofhealthanddisease. Atthesametime,ourbiochemistrysharplyaffectsouremotionsandour thoughts.Itaffectswhoweareatthecore.
Meditationandothermind-bodypracticescanundoubtedlygiveusthe quantumedgeinhealing.Theyworknotonlybecausetheycancalmour anxiety,reduceinflammation,andreverseourbiochemicaldiseaseprocesses— theyalsoworkbecausetheymeltourrigidityandrelaxourfixations.They dissolvetheliteralboundariesbetweenthepersonandthedisease,allowingthe person to reach and engage the tumor, the atherosclerotic plaque, the burrowingLymespirochete,oranyotheropportunisticinfection.
However,mind-bodymethodslikemeditationcanonlyunleashourinnate healingpotentialwhenwefigureouthowtotrulyengageourhearts.Inthis regard,amoreaccuratetermforthistypeofhealingis“heart-bodymedicine” ratherthan“mind-bodymedicine.”Itisheartfulnessratherthanmindfulness.I callthis“openheartmedicine.”
Thebasicphysiologyofourheartandthefundamentalmechanicsofthisvital organfunctioninawaythatactuallyallowsandsupports“miracle”healing—an unexpectedpositiveoutcomethatdefiesprobability.
Ultimately,wehavetogetthroughthethinveneerof“positivethinking”and penetratethedeeperlayersofourdefenses.Ourinstinctualfearsandanxieties, whilepartofourinnatesurvivaldrive,obstructourhealingcapacityby triggeringbiochemicalchangesinourbodythatcreateliteralphysicalbarriers. Thesebarriersaremadeofdifferentcomponentsthatneedtobetreated.For example,therecanbehyperviscosity,whichisthicknessofthebloodthat hamperscirculationandtheabilitytodeliveroxygentothetissue;fibrosis, whichisthescarringorhardeningoftissuesandorgans;biofilmstructures, whichformprotectiveshieldsaroundtumorsandpathogens;andmore.Andall ofthiswilltranslateintochangesincommunicationsbetweenthecellandits environment.Thiscauseschangesinsidethecellsandaffectstheirfunction.
So,whatisthekeytoshiftingusfromsurvivaltoharmony?Fromdiseaseto longevity?Whatisthismetabolicsurvivalalarmthatmustbeturnedoff?
Researchershaveidentifiedonemasterproteinproducedbythebody,which isattheheadwatersofourbiochemicalalarmsystem.Thisproteindictatesour biochemicalandphysiologicalresponsetostress,illness,andinjury.
Themorestresswe’reunder,themoreourbodieswillviewlifeasabattle, leadingtoongoingconflictandfrictionwithin.Productionofthissurvival proteinwillrampupinanefforttoresolvetheconflictingdialoguebetweenthe bodyandtheoutsideworldandbetweendifferentsystemsandcellswithinthe body.Hereiswherewecanseetheparadoxofthissurvivalproteininaction.
Themolecularendresultofthisreactivedefensestrategyiscontraction, isolation,andoftendisease.Thesearesurvivalresponses,whicharedrivenby self-preservationbutunfortunatelyleadtoinflammationandfibrosis.These responsesalsoleadtodegenerationatthecellularlevel,organsystemlevel,and atthelevelofourwell-beingandlongevity.Theyhaltthecooperationbetween ourtrillionsofcellsthatwouldotherwiseseamlesslycommunicatewitheach otherinthemiracleoflife.Thebodyhasaninnatecapacitytohealitself—when thesurvivalresponsedoesn’tstandinitsway.
THE ARCHITECT OF THE SURVIVAL RESPONSE: GALECTIN-3
CH 1
Nowthatyouknowwhatthesurvivalparadoxis,let’smeetitsmolecular architect.
Ifyou’veneverheardofgalectin-3,youaren’talone.Despitethefactthat therearethousandsofpaperspublishedaboutitsroleindrivingeverythingfrom cancertoheartandkidneyfailureandmuchmore,thevastmajorityofpeople— includingmosthealthcarepractitioners—haveneverheardofiteither!But you’reabouttohearalotaboutit.
Therearedifferenttypesofgalectins,butthemoststudied(yetlittle-known) one is galectin-3, a fascinating carbohydrate-binding protein. On close examination,itplaysanimportantroleinthebalancebetweenhealthand disease. It is the core component and initiator of our self-preservation mechanism.Icallit“thesurvivalprotein.”Let’sdefineexactlywhatitisand whatitdoesinsidethehumanbody.
CHAPTER TWO
THE OPERATION OF GALECTIN-3
Wheninjury,illness,orotherstressorsoccur,ourinnatesurvivalresponse triggerstheproductionandactivityofgalectin-3.Intheseinstances,galectin-3 initiatesacascadeofprocessesthatarenecessaryforinjuryrepair.Howeverif thealarmfailstoturnoffafterthethreatsubsides,galectin-3getsoutofcontrol and can seriously harm us.
Whengalectin-3activitycontinuesuncontrollably,iteffectively“goes rogue,”drivinginflammationandfibrosisratherthanhealing.This,inturn,can leadtonumerousdiseaseprocesses.What’smore,pathogenssuchasdifferent infectiousagentsandtumorscanhijackgalectin-3anduseitfortheirown survival.Thisisakeyissuethatcanbetreatedstrategically,andwe’llfurther explorethisconceptthroughoutthenextchapters.
Galectin-3isproducedor expressed indifferenttypesofcells.Inparticular, galectin-3isexpressedinimmunecells,inepithelialcells(theonesthatcoat certaintissuessuchasthoseoftheintestinesandlungs),inendothelialcells(the inner-liningcellsofthebloodvessels),andinsensoryneurons,amongothers.
Weunderstandthatgalectin-3canbebeneficialorharmful,buthowcanone proteinharmandbenefitusatthesametime?Togainabetterinsightintothis paradox—oursurvivalparadox—let’stakeajourneytogetherintothestructure ofthisprotein.
Galectin-3hasachimerastructure,meaningthat different structures from various sources come togethertocreateit(achimericcharacteryoumight befamiliarwithisFrankenstein:hewascreatedfrom manydifferentparts).Whengalectin-3isactivated, itcanbindtoothergalectin-3proteinsandother carbohydratestoformcomplexstructures.Uptofive individual galectin-3 proteins can stick together, creatingfive-sidedstructurescalled pentamers.
Whengalectin-3formspentamers,thesecanattachtoothergalectin-3 pentamers,toothercarbohydrates(sugars),andtocell-surfacereceptors,where thesestructurescanthenmediatecellreactionsandcontroltheinteraction betweenthecellandtheenvironment.Soundscomplicated?Itisabit.Butdon’t worry,we’llbreakitdown.
Oursurvivalprotein,galectin-3,isactivatedwhenweexperienceasudden threat,beitphysical,emotional,mental,orpsychological.It’salsoactivatedin casesofinjury,infection,cancer,orotherillnesses.Whengalectin-3isactivated, itturnsonmultiplepathwaysthatinitiateinflammationandtheprocessof fibrosis,andsuchscartissuebuild-upcanleadtohardeninganddysfunctionof tissuesandorgansystems.Furthermore,itcanalsooverexpressitselfinspecific areasofthebody,forexample,inthejoints,cardiovascularsystem,orthebrain. Andwhatistrulyamazingisthatitcanexertverydifferenteffectsatdifferent sitesbasedonwhatit’sboundto.
GALECTIN-3 EXPRESSION IN MODERN LIFE
Tobetterunderstandthecomplexityofgalectin-3,let’srelateittothebigger picture:ourmodern-dayexistence.Weliveinaworldwherepeoplecontinue tobecomemoreisolated.Whenpeoplearelessconnectedtoeachotherandto theearth,allbecomeweaker.Weexploitandabuseournaturalresources,and weseetheeffectsofrapidclimatechange.Globalwarmingisaninflammatory processontheplanetarylevel.
Atthehumanlevel,ourinternalandexternalsenseofpeaceisdwindling,and ourattentionspansareridiculouslyshort.Wecannolongerwaitforweeks, days,orevenhourstogiveorreceivearesponse—wecanonlytoleratewaiting formilliseconds,andwefeeltheneedtoreactimmediatelytoeverystimulus.
Mostofuslivehigh-stresslifestylesinundatedwithelectronicandotherforms ofstimulation.Idon’tthinkit’sanexaggerationtosaythatourmodernsociety isinastateofoverwhelm.
Thecontinualbarrageofstimulifromeverydirection,theonslaughtof environmentaltoxins,theongoingmental,physical,andemotionalstresswe’ve grownaccustomedto—thesedisturbancesthrowusintosurvivalmodewhere oursystemsareonconstanthighalert,likeanalarmthatneverturnsoff.
Theresult?Unhealthygalectin-3expression,andwithit,progressivedamage tovitalorgansandsystemsoverthelong-term.This,inturn,fuelsmore galectin-3production,formingaperpetuallyclosedloopsystemthatisproving tobeperhapsthesinglegreatestthreattoourhealthandlongevity.
Theconditionofouralarmsystemanditsresponsetostressorsofdifferent originsdependsupontheconditionofmultipleothersystems.It’sinfluencedby theneurological,circulatory,andmetabolicsystems,aswellasmitochondrial function(ourenergyproductionsystem).Ourdietandlifestyleaffectittoo. Regardlessofthenature,origin,orlocationofthestressor,theresponse— galectin-3—hasanextraordinaryinfluenceonourbody’salertsystemand, subsequently,ourentirespectrumofhealthandlongevity.
Forouralarmsystemtoworkcorrectly,ourinflammatory,immune,and otherbiochemicalresponsesmustbecarefullyregulated.Whenthealarmsystem isworkingwell,itcanresolveslow-comingissueslikecancer,aging,orjoint pain.Itcanalsorampupquicklyandaddressimmediatethreatslikecuts, infections,bruises,emotionalstress,andotherdangers.Thenitcanwinddown justasrapidlyaftertheproblemhaspassed.
Let’scompareahealthyinflammatoryresponsetoanunhealthyoneby thinkingaboutwhathappenswhenweturnonlights.Turningonasingle switchdoesn’ttakemuchenergy.Inthiscase,“turningononelight”alertsthe bodyofanissue,illuminatingtheneedforrepair.Whenthishappenswithinthe body,it’sanentirelynormal,acuteinflammatoryresponse,andwhenthe problemisgone,thelightturnsoff.
However,thetroublebeginswhenaswitchisturnedonandcan’tbeturned off.It’sasthoughacircuithasmalfunctioned.Whentheswitchstayson,it triggersacascade,causingmultiplelightstoswitchon.Thisisthestartof chronicinflammation,andthebodygoesintocrisismode.Atthatpoint,the bodyhasachoice:resolvetheproblemorkeepturningonmorelights.Ifthe bodychoosestokeepswitchingonlights,thiswilleventuallyleadtoamuch biggercrisis.
Anotherproblemwiththeselightsisthattheycanbeturnedoninisolation, awayfromthebody’sradar,meaningthebodywillbeunawarethattheselights areevenon.Justliketheselights,galectin-3canbeactivatedinanisolated microenvironmentwhereitgraduallycausesdamage.Insomecases,bythetime thedamageisdetected,itmaybetoolatetohealorreverseit.Apersonmay wakeuponedaytodiscover“sudden”kidneyfailure,wheninfact,thedamage occurredslowlyovertime—theywerejustunawareofit.
The Risks of Isolation Formations
Isolationisafundamentalsurvivalstrategy.Itisinitiatedanddrivenbygalectin3.Aswediscussedearlier,galectin-3usesmultiplepentamersboundtoeach otherindifferentwaystocreatelatticeformations(orcoatingsorbiofilms). Theseformationscreatepocketsofisolationaroundareasofdamage,infection, andtoxicbuild-up,amongothers.Withinthesemicroenvironmentscreatedby galectin-3,diseasescandevelopundetectedandremainprotectedfromdrug treatmentsandothertherapeuticagents.
Frequentharmfulvisitorswithinthebody—likebacteria,viruses,fungi, parasites,otherinfectiousagents,andcancercells—haveasimilarisolation strategy.Theycanhijackgalectin-3tocreateashieldaroundthemselves(a latticeformation)sotheyareundetectedbytheimmunesystemandcaneven evadetherapeuticagents.Galectin-3canalsoisolatevariousthreatsthataretoo difficultforthebodytodealwith,suchastoxinsandheavymetals.
Youcanimaginethatonapsychologicallevel,wegothroughasimilar process,buryingemotionsandtraumasthataretoodifficultforustodealwith. Evenifthesetraumasarenotatthesurfaceofourawarenessorconsciousness, theycanstillhaveapsychologicalandphysiologicaleffectonus.Youmight havehadanexperiencewhilegoingthroughadetoxprocesswhereanemotion ormemorysurfacesallofasudden.Wherewasthisemotionallthistime?Itwas likelyburiedinamicroenvironmentthatwasnotaccessibletous.Asweopen orrevealourphysiologicalmicroenvironmentsandreleasetoxins,wecanalso openpsychologicalmicroenvironmentsreleasingburiedemotions.
Evenifanisolatedareaisnotspecificallycreatedinordertohidean infectiousagentorcancercell,themicroenvironmentscreatedbythegalectin-3 latticeformationsarestillwalledofffromourcirculation,andthesealtered environmentscanoftenbecomeveryinflamedandhypoxicduetoalackof oxygen.
Hypoxia also shifts our cellular energy production pathway from normal mitochondrialfunctionto anaerobic glycolysis,whichisahighlyinefficientway toproduceenergy;itresultsinthebuildupoflacticacidandotherinflammatory metabolicby-products.Thiscanleadtofurtherhypoxia,whichproduces additionalinflammationandgalectin-3expression,causingthehardeningor dysfunctionoftissues,organs,andbloodvessels.
THE PROS AND CONS OF GALECTIN-3
Despitethepotentialharmitcando,galectin-3servesafewimportantpurposes withinthebody.Ithelpsintranuclearcelldevelopmentandextracellularinjury repairandsurvival.However,whenthebodyisincrisisandthereisan upregulationofgalectin-3production,itcanhavedetrimentalconsequences.
Duetocomplexbiochemicalstructuresandgenetictendencieswithineach person,thereisnostandard,predictableresponsewhenitcomestogalectin-3. Thisproteincanbeatdifferentlevelsindifferentpeopleandtriggerdifferent responses,eveniftheyhavethesamecondition.Forexample,somepeople’s bodiesare“hypervigilant,”alwaysonthealert,andtheyrespondtoastimulusor triggerwithoverinflammation.Otherpeoplemaynothaveagood“survival sense,”andtheylacktheabilitytofightandcreatetheproperinflammation. Instead,theyhaveatendencytoshutdownandendupwithsuppressed immunityoranincreaseinfibrosis.
Furthermore,thereisanadaptiveresponsewithgalectin-3,meaningthe reactionisamplifiedduetopreviousphysical,emotional,orpsychological trauma.Inanadaptiveresponse,oursystemhasbeenconditionedtorespondto specifictriggersinaparticularway.Inotherwords,itrepeatsthepatternsitis accustomedto,allthewaytothelevelofourcellularmemory.
Healing without Consequence
Forourbodiestohealproperly,weoftenneedtoremovethestimulantsthat causetheinflammatoryprocesstoperpetuallycontinue.It’snosecretthataswe getolder,ittakesmoreandmoreefforttodothingsthatoncetooknoeffortat all.Whenweareyoungandagile,ourbodiesaremoreefficientandlesstoxic; theyareflexibleandhaveahighcapacityforchange,growth,andrepair.We canmountarobustinflammatoryresponsetoshutaproblemdownwithout consequence.Likethemetaphorofabirdflyingintheskywithoutleavingany trace,orlikewritingonwater,wecanoftensolveaproblemwithoutleavinga trace.
However,asweage,ourbodieslosethatagility,andwearemoreapttocarry ourissueswithus.Forexample,ifaninjuryoccurstotheskininutero,the woundcanhealwithoutatrace,butasweage,thewoundhealingprocessslows andcausesincreasedscarring.Aswetraveltheroadoflife,ourbodiesdisplay theevidenceofourphysical,emotional,psychological,andspiritualtraumas— theynolongerhealwithease.
Themetaphorsforabirdflyingwithoutleavingatraceandwritingonwater comefromBuddhistphilosophy.Theyservetoillustratethenatureofthoughts andexperiencesasarisingandvanishing—anexampleofimpermanence.Thisis whatinflammationshouldbe:itshouldbeanacuteresponsethatoccursand thendisappears.Itshouldturnoffwithoutatraceandwithoutlingering consequences.Thisiswhathappenswhenwehavearobustimmunesystemand whengalectin-3worksappropriately.Andwhenitdoesn’t,thedamagebegins.
The Solution: Blocking Unhealthy Expression of Galectin-3
I’dliketotakeamomenttoemphasizeacriticalpointandtheprimaryreasonI wrotethisbook:wecanabsolutelyinterruptthiscycleofdestructionandhalt— orevenreverse—thesefundamentaldiseaseprocesses.How?Bydeactivating unhealthygalectin-3.
Whenweblockgalectin-3frombinding,wecanbreakuplatticeformations and reach the isolated pockets and areas of the body, including tumor microenvironments.Abnormaltissuesandcells,eventumorouscancercells,can becomenormalonceagain,which,needlesstosay,hastremendousimplications for our health and longevity. By blocking unhealthy galectin-3, we can dismantle its harmful effects and render it inactive, decreasing unhealthy inflammationintheprocess.Thismakesblockinggalectin-3oneofthemost importanttherapeuticstrategiesfortreatingavastarrayofconditions.
REBECCA’S STORY (CONTINUED)
Let’srevisitRebecca’sstorysinceithelpsillustratehowgalectin-3candirectly influencesurvival,health,anddisease.
WhenRebeccacametoseemein2011,itwasthefirstyearwewereableto testgalectin-3levelsintheblood.Thankstoasimplenewserumassaythatwas recentlyapprovedbytheFDAandisnowreadilyavailable,shewasoneofthe veryfirstpatientsinmypracticetohavegalectin-3levelstested.
Rebecca’sinitiallevelswereskyhigh,andtheby-productsofhersympathetic nervous system response to her crisis were elevated, as well as other proinflammatory,procancerousmarkers.Akeystrategyinhertreatmentplan wastotargetgalectin-3usingvariousprovenmethods.Weusedherlevelsasa markertogaugeherprogressthroughout.
Theresultswereunmistakable:whenRebeccawasdoingwell,hergalectin-3 levelswerelower,andwhenshewasinacrisis,herlevelswerehigher.For Rebecca,thismarkerservedasanimportantindicatorastowhenthecancerwas aggressiveandwhenitwas“quiet.”
Thishelpedusfine-tunehertreatmentsandstayonestepaheadofthecancer. (Note,however,thatduetoitscomplexbiochemistry,galectin-3cancause damageevenatlowlevels.Itisthereforeimportanttoaddressgalectin-3 regardlessofitslevels.MoreinformationcanbefoundinAppendixA.)
Rebeccataughtussomethingveryimportant:sheexemplifiedtheintimate connectionbetweenouremotionsandourhealth.WhenRebecca’sanxiety increased,hercancergotworse.Herpresentationwassopronouncedand immediatethatitwaseasytoseewhenheranxietywasworsening.Butwhen shewasabletorelax,quiettheanxiety,andbemorespacious,hersymptomsgot better. The way Rebecca responded as a person was the way her body responded as well. When her survival crisis decreased, and she became comfortablethinkingaboutlife,death,andimpermanence,itaffectedtheway thecancerfunctioned.Thecancerfeltlessthreatenedanddecreaseditsown survivalresponse.
Doesitsoundnew-ageyandfluffywhenItalkaboutchangesinthebehavior ofcancer?Really,it’snot.I’mreferringtochangesinthelevelsofgrowth factorsthatdrivetheaggressivenessofcancer,factorslikedownstreamproteins thatareregulatedbyoursurvivalprotein,galectin-3.Suchdownstreamproteins areimpactedbysignalingmolecules—whichthemselvesareimpactedbyour emotionalstate.
Rebeccawasabletocalmhersystemthroughregularmeditation,deep breathing,acupuncture,participationinmymeditationandhealingretreatsand workshops,andthroughtheuseofgalectin-3blockers.Thesehelpedtomitigate the initial survival process and significantly reduce the growth and aggressivenessofhercancer.
Rebecca’scancerdidnotcompletelyrespondtochemoandradiation,butit subsidedthroughthesehealingmethods.Herscansbecamenormal,indicating thathercancerhadgoneintoremission.ButRebeccadidmorethanjust incorporate these healing methods intohertreatment—she alsodeveloped communityandfriendshipswithotherpatientsinourcenter. 5
Thesefriendscheeredheronthroughoutherjourney,andthestoicdriverwho broughthertoherfirstappointmentwasnolongerneeded,asshebegan participatinginlivelycarpoolstotheclinic.Shewentfrombeinghighlycritical ofnonconventionalapproachesandbitteraboutherdiagnosisandfateto embracingherprocessandwelcominghertreatments.
Rebecca’stransformationsprofoundlyaffectedherphysiologyandallowed hertooutliveherprognosisconsiderably.Oneday,herlaughrangthroughthe clinicfromtheIVroom,remindingmeofthehealingpowerofjoy.Hercancer eventuallyreturned,butevenwithresiduallungcancer,shelivedsevenmore yearswithabetterqualityoflifethanshehadexperiencedindecades.Shesaid, “Isaac,Ifeelalivelikeneverbefore.”Shediedpeacefullyinherhome,ina meditativestate,surroundedbyfriends.Herlifewascelebratedbythemany peoplewhoweredeeplytouchedandinspiredbyherjourney.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES
Onthisjourneyofexploringtheroleofgalectin-3inhealthanddisease,we havediscoveredthebasicmetabolicandbiochemicalpathwaysthataffectmany conditions.Now,it’stimeforustoexaminethebigregulator—thesystemthat givesuscognition,function,andcontrolofourbody:thenervoussystem.First, Iwillprovideaprimeronthebasicfunctionofthissystemsoyoucanbetter understandlaterwhenweinvestigatepotentialproblemsthatariseinthesystem aswellaseffortstosolvethoseproblems.
Thenervoussystemisdividedintotwoparts:the central nervous system (CNS),whichconsistsofthebrainandspinalcord,andthe peripheral nervous system (PNS),whichconsistsofthenervesoutsidethebrainandspinalcord.We canclassifythePNSnervesintotwodifferentcategories: efferent nerves(which sendsignalsfromthenervoussystemouttothebody,givingusmotor movement)and afferent nerves(whichsendsignalsfromthebodytothenervous system,providingsensoryinput).
Ifyoulookatapictureofthespinalcord,youmightnoticethatitlookslikea butterfly.Locatedatthefrontarethe anterior horns ontheleftandright.
Thesereceivesignalsfromthemotorcortexinthebrainandsendthemoutto thebody,therebyactivatingmotormovement.Forexample,theanteriorhorns signalyoutovoluntarilycontractorstraightenyourarm.
Theotherpartofthespinalcord,knownasthe posterior horn,isresponsible forsensoryexperience.Let’susepressureandheatasexamples.Ifyouapply pressuretoyourhand,theafferentnervesreceivetheinputthroughthe posteriorhornandsenditthroughthespinalcordtothebrain.Thebrainthen producesasensoryresponse,andwewillfeelasensationofpressure.Likewise,a similarprocesswillhappenwithothersensations.
However,whentheposteriorhornreceivesinformationaboutextremeheat, suchastouchingahotpan,italsofacilitatesanimmediatemotorreactionfor youtowithdrawyourhandfromthepan—withoutfirsttravelingtothebrain. Fromthis,wecangatherthatcertainsensationsareprocessedthroughthebrain, andothersdon’thaveenoughtimetotravelallthewaythroughthesystem.
Theonesthatdon’ttakethefulljourneyarecommonlyknownas reflexes thesecomethroughtheposteriorhornandimmediatelystimulatetheanterior horn. Reflexes are actually quite primitive; they reflect our immediate, nonvoluntarysurvivalresponse.
Asisthecasewithreflexes,thesurvivalresponseisbuiltintothenervoussystem. Thenervoussystemisanextremelycomplexsystem.Nowthatyouknowhow someofthebasiccircuitsinthenervoussystemfunction,let’sinvestigatewhat happenswhenthesefunctionsdegenerate.
WHAT EXACTLY IS NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE?
Ourdiscussionofneurodegenerativediseasesinthischapterwillreferto conditionsofthenervoussystemthatdevelopovertimeaswe“degenerate” withage,orduetoothercircumstancesthatcanspeedupthedegenerative process,includingarangeofconditionsthataffecttheneuronsofthehuman brain,suchasParkinson’s,Alzheimer’s,ALS,andothers.
Neurodegenerativeconditionshavesomeunmistakablesimilarities.They usuallyproduceoxidativestresswithahighlevelofreactiveoxygenspecies(an oxygen-containingmoleculethatishighlyreactiveandcancausesignificant damagetocellstructures).Theinflammatoryprocessesthatresultfromthe immuneresponsecandegradethebloodsupplytothebrain,causingdamageto thisorgan.Whenthisoccurs,thebrain,whichconsumesalargeportionofour dailyoxygen,hastofindanalternateenergysource,which,aswe’vediscussed, resultsinoxidativestressandinflammation.Thisprocesscanleadtothe progressivedegenerationandeventualdeathofbrainandnervecells.
Further,thenervoussystemcanbeaffectedbyacutefactors,suchas infections, generalized inflammation, or exposure to toxins, which create chronicresponsessimilartothatofneurodegenerativediseases.
Atemporary,inflammatoryimmuneresponseinthebrainaffectstheCNSand cancauseneurologicaldisorders.Itisofutmostimportancetotreatandheal thesetopreventlong-termdamage.(Onceaninfectiongoestothebrain,itcan causeshort-orlong-termdamage,withexamplesbeingBorreliainLyme disease,Babesiainbabesiosis,andotherparasitic,fungal,orbacterialinfections.) Althoughtheinitialimmuneresponsetoinfectionsisacute,itisnotuncommon toseetheimmuneresponsebecomingchronic,andthechronicresponseinturn producessymptomsthataresimilartothatofaneurodegenerativedisease.
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GALECTIN-3’S CONNECTION TO NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES
So,what’stheconnectionbetweengalectin-3andneurodegenerativediseases? Let’swalkthroughthealarmandinjury-repairprocessinthenervoussystemto illustratethis.
Thecellsthatareinchargeofcleaningupdamageinthebrainarecalledthe microglia.Theyarethebackboneofinjuryrepairinthenervoussystem. Microgliaassumeresponsibilityas“damagesensors”fortheneurologicalsystem. TheyareusuallyinarestingstateinthenormaladultCNS,butwhenwe experienceinjury,trauma,disease,orinfectionintheCNS,theybecomeactive. Themicrogliaguidetherepairprocessinthebrain,andactivatingthemcanbe beneficialbecausethey“cleanup”themess.However, undergalectin-3’s influence, the microglia can cause neuroinflammation. They become neurotoxic,causingdangerousupregulationofproinflammatorycytokines.
Astrocytes areanotherimportantgroupofcellsinthenervoussystem.They formthe“skeleton”ofthenervoussystemandhelpinsystemrepairandcleanup aswell.
Microgliaandastrocytesworktogether.Theyarebothabletoexpresshigh levelsofgalectin-3inresponsetoinjury,justlikeinflammatorymacrophagesdo intherestofthebodyandthecirculation.Asaresult,galectin-3drivesthe injury response and creates the expected long-term consequences— inflammationandfibrosis,oranervoussystem“scar.”Anervoussystemscaris differentfromascarinthebody.Itiscomposedofreactiveastrocytesthatbreak awayfromtheinflammatorycore.Theformationofthis glial scar isenhanced byinflammatorycytokinesthataredrivenbygalectin-3.
Differentneurodegenerativediseaseswillcreatesuchnonfunctionaltissue inthecentralnervoussystem.Forexample,inAlzheimer’sdisease,stickyclumps called amyloid plaques willform.Galectin-3ispresentindramaticallyhigher concentrationsintheamyloidplaquescomparedtotheconcentrationsin normalCNStissue.Researchersfoundthatgalectin-3washighlyupregulatedin thebrainsofAlzheimer’sdiseasepatients,showingthatgalectin-3drivesthe formationofnonfunctionalbraintissue.
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Wemustalsoconsidertheblood-brainbarrier,whichisofutmost importancebecauseitprotectsthebrain,determiningwhatpenetratesintothe brainandwhatiskeptout.Galectin-3canweakentheblood-brainbarrier, allowingpathogensandtoxinstoenterthebrain,whichiswhywemust minimizegalectin-3topreventbraindamage.
Let’slookatblood-brainbarrierpermeability.Undertheinfluenceof galectin-3,microgliasecreteinflammatorycytokines.Theseturntheastrocytes neurotoxic. Theneurotoxicastrocytescancauseabreakdownofthebloodbrainbarrier,meaninginfectionsandbacteriacaneasilypenetrateintothe brain.Butmoreimportantly,theseneurotoxicastrocytestakepartinthe neurodegenerativeprocessandareinvolvedinmultipleneurodegenerative diseases.Inaddition,someoftheligandsthatcanbedeliveredtotheinjurysite bygalectin-3canenhancedamagefromtheneurotoxicastrocytes.
So,attheendoftheday,whydothesemultipledegenerativeprocesses occur?Thebrainisattemptingtorepairitself,butthiscanhavedetrimental results.
Itcanleavebehindscartissueinthebrain,anabnormalfoldingoraccumulation of proteins, and a dysfunction in the CNS tissue. These are yet other manifestationsofthesurvivalparadox.
THE GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION
Tofullyunderstandtheroleofneuroinflammatorydisease,wemustconsider theastonishingconnectionbetweenthebrainandthegut.Amainfunctionof thebrainistoreceiveandprocessinput.Forexample,whenwetrytolearn contentbyreadingit,thatcontentgetsputintothebrain.Thenthebrain decideshowtostoreit.Itdigeststheinformation,filesit,andmakesitavailable throughtheprocessofrecall,whichisamazing.Recallallowsustoclearlyand vividlyrememberaneventfromyearsagoasifitjusthappened.
Howisthispossible?Becausethebrain recreates the memory,anditdoesthis timeandtimeagain.Inthissense,thebrainissimilartothedigestivesystem:it receivesmentalinput,breaksitdown,digestsit,andsendsitasmessagesvia neurotransmitters and neuropeptides throughout the body where the informationisutilizedfordifferentpurposes.
Andhereisanamazingdetail.Thegutcontainsandexcretesmore neurotransmittersthanthebrain,andmodernmedicinehasallowedusto discover the strong, logical gut-brain connection. This connection is an importantonethathasgreatinfluenceonthebodyandthefunctionofthe nervous system. One example of the strength of this connection is the relationshipbetweenthevagusnerve(whichextendsfromthebrainstemtothe digestivetract)andParkinson’sdisease.Someresearchevenindicatesthat Parkinson’sdiseasemaybegininthegastrointestinaltract,travelingtothebrain throughthevagusnerve.
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TREATMENTS FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES
Foralongtime,wethoughtthatneuronsneverdividedorrepairedthemselves againafteracertainnumberofyears,butwe’vediscoveredthatthisisnottrue. Thismeansthatpeoplecanrecoverfromnervoussystemissues,andpeoplewith degenerativediseasescantheoreticallyreversethem!
Themostpromisingnewfindingintheareaofbrainregenerationcame aboutfromresearchthatwasconductedatYaleUniversityin2018.Researchers discoveredthatthebrainsofadultmonkeyscontinuedtoproducenewneurons. Therewasalsoevidencethatoldermenandwomeningoodhealthcould generateasmanynewbraincellsaspeoplewhoweremuchyounger!
Tohealneurodegenerativediseases,wewanttostoporpreventtheabnormal inflammatoryprocessandoxidativestress.Wecanturntoananti-inflammatory dietandsupplements,justlikewehaveforotherconditionspreviouslydiscussed inthisbook.Wewanttouseherbsthathelpregulatethenervoussystem’s metabolicprocesses.Oneofthemostimportantnaturalcompoundswecantake ishonokiolfrom Magnolia officinalis.Honokiolpenetratestheblood-brain barrier and can normalize and regulate intracellular, metabolic, and mitochondrialfunction.
Itisalsoimportanttorecognizetheinfluenceofthegutandmicrobiomeon thebrainandnervoussystem. Wecansupportmicrobiomehealthbygiving prebioticsandprobiotics,withprebioticsbeingespeciallyimpactfulbecause theyprovidenecessarynourishmentforhealthyprobioticgrowth.Wealsowant tohaveappropriatefiberintakeandaddressanyinfectionsinthegut.Wecan provideneurotransmittersupportwithdifferentBvitaminssuchasB12,B6,B1, B2,tyrosine,threonine,phosphatidylserine,andcertainmedicinalmushrooms likecordycepsandreishi.Wecanalsouseherbslikeginkgobiloba.
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Ifapatienthasneurodegenerativeissuesduetoaweakantioxidantsystemor deficienciesinvitalcomponentsoftheantioxidantsystem,theycanveryoften beproperlycounteractedsimplybytakingantioxidants.Forthesepatients,we can administer specific intravenous treatments, including intravenous glutathione(oursystemicmasterantioxidant),toproducesignificantbenefits. ThisisalsowhereIwillincorporatetherapeuticapheresisasameanstoreduce theuncontrolledoxidativestressandinflammation.
Thebrainisanorgan.However,likeamuscle,itneedsexercise.Physical exercisebenefitsthebrainonnumerousfronts,andIrecommendexercisesthat requirecoordinationsuchasballroomdancing,tango,andTaiChi,aswellas mentalexercises,likedoingpuzzles.Evenmildexerciseforameretenminutes hasbeendemonstratedtoimproveneurocognitivefunction.Supportingthe gut-brainconnectionthroughexercisesthatengagethevagusnerve—especially slow,deepbreathing—canhelpboththegutandthebrain.
Inmyclinicalexperience,patientswithseveredementiaandAlzheimer’s whoimplementthesesolutionsstabilizeorimprovesignificantly.Iwantto makeitclearthatimplementationdoesn’tmeanthateveryneurodegenerative diseasewillbereversed,butanythingispossible.Weknowthatpeoplewith neurodegenerativediseasesdohavethepotentialtohealandlivelonger,witha betterqualityoflife.
ANDY’S STORY
AndyAubinwasadearpatientthatItreatedformanyyears.Hewasseventy yearsoldwhenhecametoseemeforlocalizedprostatecancerthatwas accompaniedbyadvancedParkinson’sdisease.Wewerejustbeginninghis treatmentwhenhewashospitalizedwitharupturedcolonduetoanewly diagnosedstage4metastaticcoloncancerthathadmetastasizedtotheliver.
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Heunderwentemergencysurgerythatincludedtheremovalofpartofhis colon,someofthetumorsfromhisliver,andacolostomy.
Afterthesurgery,hewasgiventhefirstdoseofthefollow-upchemotherapy regimen,andhehadaseverereactiontothechemotherapy.HisParkinson’s diseasedeteriorateddramatically,andhewentintoastateofextremephysical rigidity.Hewaspracticallyunabletomove.
Andyknewthatonemoredoseofchemotherapycouldbeadeathsentence forhim,sohedecidedtorelyonthenonconventionalpartofintegrative medicine,ashecouldnolongerundergoconventionalcancertreatments.
Treatingstage4coloncancerandprostatecancerwhileaddressingasevere neurodegenerativediseaseisnexttoimpossible.It’softenthecasethata treatmentthatcankillcancerwillworsentheneurodegenerativedisease.But Andyhadfaithonhisside.Hehadfaithinhispowertoheal,faithinthe treatmentsweofferedhim,andhehadfaithinme.Healsohadunwavering discipline.
Andybegantreatmentbelievingthathecouldovercomeandhealfromhis diseases.HistreatmentsincludedhighdosesofMCP,multiplesupplementsand herbs,differentIVregimens,acupunctureandhealingsessionswithme,and lifestylechanges.Overtime,Andy’scancerdisappeared.Andinthehealing process,hisParkinson’sremarkablyimprovedaswell.
Inavideofilmed twelve years after he first came to the clinic,Andy,whowas eighty-twoatthetimeandstillworkingonhisfarm,isshownbreak-dancing with his wife. He’s also shown moving a computer mouse, a refined coordinationmovementthatistypicallyimpossibleforParkinson’spatientsto perform.
Andyovercameanincurableneurodegenerativedisease while overcoming two cancers at the same time.Thirteenyearsafterhisfirstvisittotheclinic,hediedat theageofeighty-three,forreasonsunrelatedtoParkinson’sorthecancers.He livedafullandhappylifethroughthemiracleofregenerationandhealing.His storywassoamazingthatitwasdocumentedbyaninternationaltelevision healthprogram.ThevideocanbeviewedonSurvivalParadox.com.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE
It’simportanttorememberthatneurodegenerativediseasesaremultifactorial. They are driven by genetic and epigenetic influences, by environmental influencessuchasheavymetalandneurotoxinspresentintheenvironmentand inourfoods,andbylifestyleanddietaryhabits.Whenweaddressthese multifactorialissues,wecancreatebeneficialchange.Whilesometimesthese changesmaybemild,atothertimes,theycanbedramatic.Apersoncaneven overcomelong-term,brain-relatedsymptomsthataretheresultofdeepgenetic orepigenetictraitsyouwouldnotexpecttochange.
Ihadsuchapatient.Thispatienthadanexceptionalmemoryfordetails,but forsomereason,hecouldn’trememberpeople’snames.Itwasinteresting because his mother and siblings had the same issue. Was it a genetic predisposition? Was it an epigenetic influence stemming from a multigenerationaltrendofnotrememberingthenamesofothers?Orwasit perhapsduetothefactthatthefamilylivedfortyyardsawayfromtallpower linesformanyyears?
Regardlessofthecause,addressingtheoutcomesofincreasedoxidativestress inthebraincanhelp.ThispatientstartedtakingfifteengramsofMCPperday, supportedhiscirculationwithbotanicalformulas,andunderwentaseriesof monthlytherapeuticapheresistreatmentsintheclinic.Andwhilehehasn’t becomeachampioninrememberingthenamesofeverysinglepersonhemeets, he’sclearlyimproved,overcominganissuehe’shadforoverthirtyyears.
IcantellyouthisstorybecauseIknowthispatientverywell. This patient was me!
Thenervoussystemisanincrediblysophisticatedcommunicationhub. Malfunctionsofthissystemareliteralmanifestationsofthedangersassociated withbreakdownsinconnectivity.
SURVIVAL PARADOX APPENDIXES
THERAPEUTIC GUIDELINES
NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE
Toaddressneurodegenerativedisease,thefocusisonreducingthechronic inflammationandoxidativestressthatcanbesodamagingtothenervous system.Wealsowanttosupportthemetabolicfunctionsofthenervoussystem andsupportoptimalneurotransmitterfunction.
Supplements and Formulas
Primary Support
ModifiedCitrusPectin:7.5grams,2times/day
Anti-Inflammatory Support
TibetanHerbalPadmaFormula
Honokiol
Curcumin
Boswellia
Mitochondrial and Metabolic Support
Honokiol
Alpha-lipoicacid
Carnitineandacetyl-L-carnitine
Co-EnzymeQ-10
Medicinalmushrooms:cordycepsandmaitake(Grifolafrondosa)
VitaminD3
Neurotransmitter Support:
Honokiol
NAD+(nicotinamideadeninedinucleotide)
VitaminsB1,B2,B6,andB12
L-theanine
Phosphatidylserine
Gingko
Botanical/POS(pecticoligosaccharide)EnhancedProbioticFormula (ecoProbiotic)
Phosphatidylcholine
Liposomalglutathione
Low Glycemic Anti-Inflammatory Diet Diet
Alzheimer’sissometimescalled“Type3Diabetes”becauseofitslinkto unhealthyglucosemetabolism.Adietthat’slowinglucose(includingnatural formsofglucose)andlowinfoodsthatspikeglucoseandinsuliniscriticalto reduce damaging glucose spikes that impact neurological function. (The GlycemicIndexChartinAppendixCgivesexamplesofnumericvaluesfor foodsbasedonhowmuchtheyraisebloodglucose.Thelowerthenumber,the better.)