Expert: Imran R. - 9/12/2006

Question
Dear Imran:
I am one of the experts on this site as well, in the Legal Advice category.

Anyway, here's our situation:
My wife gets attacks about once per month or once every two months.  She gets extreme nausea and vomiting for a few hours, usually in the mornings and becomes bedridden.  After a few hours, she is relatively ok, and can continue her day, with just minor stomach pain.
She has had every test we can think of.  She had a GI series, a colonoscopy, has seen a neurologist, and a rheumatologist. (She has a positive ANA test, which may indicate some sort of auto-immune disorder, but none have been diagnosed).  All these tests have revealed nothing.  I have done some research on my own and discovered something called Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome, which sounds a lot like what she suffers from.
Now, she still suffers from these attacks, but modern medicine is out of answers.  We're ready to consider alternative therapies.  I have briefly spoken to a naturalist who has his own mission (not entirely sure what that means) in LA, but he has a closed practice.  Any advice you can give us would be greatly appreciated.  I should mention that she is on birth control pills and is a fairly heavy marijuana smoker.  She really does not take the best care of herself in terms of nutrition and exercise, and has a lot of stress.  However, i know plenty of people who dont look after themselves and they are fine.
Thanks very much in advance

Answer
Dear Edward,

Thank you for your letter.

Forgive the delay, i have been away from my office. I logged in to check emails online and found your question waiting so i will answer you tonight.

After having reviewed her symptoms i believe the vomiting is caused by a combination of birth control pills and the marijuana.

BCP's are really quite dangerous. One of the many side effects, is vomiting. Besides the high risk of developing tumours, blood clotting, breast cancer, osteoporosis and strokes, vomiting is one of the side effects. It does not however affect all women the same way, but combined with marijuana the possibility seems very strong towards the development of a chronic dis-ease.

I would advise she stops marijuana and the birth control pills permanently. Marijuana itself has a list of side effects, some that are long term and permanent, related to nervous and brain degeneration. Meditation is to be practiced in place. One is to use brain sync tapes such as the ones found here below and these will help re-balance both hemispheres of the brain as well as help in the regeneration of emotional and nervous health.

Website:  http://www.brainsync.com/default.asp

The anti-nuclear antibody test gives indication of an auto immune imbalance however does not point to a specific illness. Though i would still recommend a natural nutritional supplement to support the immune system. If we are dealing with an autoimmune illness, the immune system and good nutrition are the best starting points towards healing.

The one i personally recommend is called fruta-vida.
Website: www.tryfrutavida.com/main  

You will find product testimonials here: www.frutavidastories.com

This supplement is actually an all in one product. Besides providing immune related health and balance, it also nourishes and balances the hormonal system, nervous system, brain and heart functions. It contains a high level of anti-oxidants which play key roles in dissolving free radicals in the body. The dosage i recommend is 1 ounce twice daily.

Combined with a good diet, the fruta vida supplies the building blocks the body needs in order to heal itself.
This should solve her problem.

My Dietary Recommendations:

Cut out all soy products except fermented soy.
Miso, tempeh and soy-sauce are healthy. [fermented]

Soy contains goitrogens which depress thyroid function. It also contains phytic acid which hinders the bodies' ability to absorb proteins, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc. In general it is an enzyme inhibitor.

Make sure to avoid all artificial sweeteners:
splenda, sucralose, aspartame, nutra-sweet, equal, acesulfame potassium.

Splenda/sucralose have become very popular these days and are just as bad, if not worse than aspartame. These sweeteners are all very toxic and are found in store bought vitamins, protein powders, anything sugar-free, gum, chocolate, soda... etc.

Please read labels carefully and cut out all artificial sweeteners. This is very important.

Both soy and artificial sweeteners weaken the immune system. And the immune system is one of the keys to healing illness. Therefore the more we can support immune related health the better.

Cut out all margarine and hydrogenated fats. Cut out canola, rapeseed and soybean oils. These are very unhealthy. Replace with butter, ghee, unrefined coconut oil, sesame oil, and virgin olive oil.  

7 glasses of water per day is a good idea to help flush out toxins from the body. Warm or room temperature water, never cold. Never drink tap water. It must be filtered.

Avoid drinking distilled water. It leads to mineral depletion and hair loss.

This concludes the protocol.
Please email me if you have any other questions at all.

Best wishes,

Imran