Dr Jacob Teitelbaum and his Multi-Pronged Treatment Strategy for CFS, Fibromyalgia and Thyroid Disease (Part 1)

I first heard about Dr Jacob Teitelbaum, the specialist in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalitis (CFS/ME), fibromyalgia and thyroid disease, through Mary Shomon’s website. When I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and began doing my research, it soon became clear to me how important it is to use high-quality supplements when you have thyroid disease or another autoimmune disease. This is because many such illnesses cause nutritional deficiencies, for instance as a result of malabsorption. This may well be due to Leaky Gut Syndrome, which many believe to be a key trigger for autoimmune diseases.

Mary personally recommends Dr T’s End Fatigue Daily Energy Enfusion (which is available in both the US and Europe – NL: http://bit.ly/gTQrf0; UK: http://bit.ly/ggKmr8), a high-quality multivitamin which is geared towards those with conditions such as hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia and CFS/ME. I decided to give it a try and I must say that my nutrient levels have significantly improved as a result. Two other friends have also had good experiences with it. I prefer the citrus flavour and l like that it comes as a powder (which now also includes the B vitamins – these used to come as a separate capsule) that you can make into a drink because many of us have absorption problems and so fare much better when we take a multivitamin in liquid form.

Dr T’s site states that the powder replaces the equivalent of 25 – 35 tablets a day, although I have found that I need to take an extra Vitamin D supplement (I take a gel capsule by Nature’s Bounty) because my Vitamin D was so rock-bottom when I started Dr T’s multivitamin that I needed a little extra help. I suspect this may be the same for many of us – Vitamin D is so important for fighting cancer, balancing our hormones and so many other things.

One thing I should mention is that Dr T’s multivitamin contains a small amount of iodine (daily dose of ½ – 1 scoop = 100 – 200 mcg), so for those who are steering clear of iodine, this might not be suitable for you. I did however email the manufacturer and asked if their product is suitable for those with Hashimoto’s because some Hashi’s patients find that iodine can cause a flare-up in their antibodies. However, this is not the case for everyone and I personally have never had this problem. I was told: “The Energy Revitalization System does contain iodine, but not very much of it, so you should be fine taking it. As with any medication, if you don’t like how it makes you feel (or if you think it’s causing a Hashimoto’s flare), then either cut the dose in half or stop taking it for a while. Most of our customers that have Hashimoto’s are fine taking the Energy Revitalization System”.

I found the website’s customer service to be so friendly that I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask if I could possibly interview Dr Teitelbaum. By this time, I had read quite a bit about his work and techniques, particularly the SHINE protocol (more on this below). Dr T agreed to an interview and I called him at his home. I’d like to thank him for being so very generous with his time. It became apparent to me through talking to him how eager he is to help others and in fact he is one of those doctors who can truly relate because he himself was forced to drop out of medical school as he was the victim of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It seems that this illness spurred him on to research and help others to get well and improve their quality of life. Sometimes illness encourages you to do extraordinary things with your life.

Before I publish the interview (which I’ll post on Friday), I’d like to first publish an article courtesy of Dr Teitelbaum himself about his treatment protocol and recommendations for patients with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and related illnesses such as thyroid disease. Most of the products mentioned in this article are available from the Supplements section on Dr Teitelbaum’s website. I have also added a couple of my own experiences with the SHINE protocol in square brackets. Check back on Friday to read my interview with Dr T!

Effective Treatment For Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia and Muscle Pain –You can go “From Fatigued to Fantastic!”

 

by Jacob Teitelbaum M.D.

 

 

The new edition of the bestselling book From Fatigued to Fantastic! is out, and it is –Fantastic! For those of you with fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and/or fibromyalgia (FMS), the book will take you through a step by step program and show you how to get well NOW. In addition, at www.Vitality101.com you can do a detailed educational questionnaire (the “short form” program is free) that will tailor a treatment protocol to your specific case and sign up for a free e-mail newsletter that will keep you up to date on the newest developments and research!

Ready to Get Well NOW?

Our study titled “Effective Treatment of CFS and Fibromyalgia” (Journal of CFS-see full text at www.Vitality101.com) showed that over 90 percent of patients improved with treatment, with an average improvement in quality of life of 90 percent. Many patients no longer even qualified for the diagnosis of CFS or fibromyalgia after treatment! In support of our work, an editorial in the Journal of the American Academy of Pain Management (the largest multidisciplinary society of pain specialists in United States) noted “the comprehensive and aggressive metabolic approach to treatment detailed in the Teitelbaum study are all highly successful approaches and make fibromyalgia a very treatment responsive disorder.  The study by Dr. Teitelbaum et al. and years of clinical experience make this approach an excellent and powerfully effective part of the standard of practice for treatment of people who suffer from fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome”.

What is causing these syndromes?

CFS/FMS acts as a “circuit breaker”, with the hypothalamus decreasing its function to protect the individual in the face of what is perceived to be an overwhelming stress (just like blowing a fuse/circuit breaker in a house). This center controls sleep, hormones, temperature, and blood flow/blood pressure/sweating. In addition, if your muscles do not have enough energy, they will get stuck in the shortened position and you’ll be in pain (think rigor mortis).  This “Energy Crisis” can be caused by any of a number of infections, stresses, or injuries.

To Get Well, Think “SHINE”!

These are the 5 key areas that need to be treated for your ‘circuit breaker to turn back on’ and for fatigue and pain to resolve:

1—Sleep. Because the hypothalamic “circuit breaker” that is offline controls sleep, most patients need a mix of natural and prescription sleep treatments.  For you to get well and pain free it is critical that you take enough of the correct natural & prescription sleep treatments to get 8 to 9 hours sleep at night! I prefer to start with natural therapies.  An excellent one (which I developed –‘Revitalizing Sleep Formula’ by Enzymatic Therapies — 100 percent of my royalties for all products I develop are donated to charity) includes theanine, Jamaican Dogwood, wild lettuce, valerian, passionflower, and hops. Take 1 – 4 capsules 1 hour before bedtime. If the correct ones are used, prescription sleep aids are also appropriate in this setting. [Sarah: if I need extra sleep, I like to take 3 mg melatonin, a hormone that is naturally produced by our body’s pineal gland. Some people report that this also works well for jetlag by naturally balancing our body clock. However, I should mention that some people with active autoimmune disease might experience flares in their symptoms or even wake up groggy. As with any supplement, use with caution and as everyone is an individual, everyone will have different experiences. My antibodies are not active and melatonin has worked fine for me without any problems whatsoever].

2–Hormonal deficiencies.  The hypothalamus is the main control center, via the pituitary, for most of the glands in the body.  Most of the normal ranges for our blood tests were not developed in the context of hypothalamic suppression or these syndromes.  Because of this (and for a number of other reasons) it is usually necessary to treat with natural thyroid [Sarah: i.e. Natural Desiccated Thyroid such as Armour Thyroid], adrenal (e.g.-glandulars such as Adrenal Stress End & DHEA), and ovarian and testicular hormones — despite normal blood tests!  These hormones have been found to be reasonably safe when used in low doses.

 

3—Infections.  Many studies have shown immune system dysfunction in FMS/CFS, which can result in many unusual infections. These include viral infections (we are seeing dramatic benefits by treating HHV 6 and CMV viral infections), parasites and other bowel infections, and most importantly fungal/candida infections.

[Sarah: when I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s I was simultaneously diagnosed with chronic Epstein-Barr virus, which seems to be a common trigger for thyroid disease. It can also be caused by the impaired immune system that is a symptom of hypothyroidism. My doctor treated me with Immunovir and I instinctively knew when the virus had gone because it was as if a veil had been lifted. I felt like I had lived in a fog all that time and once the virus departed things drastically improved. Of course, there are several other antivirals available. Another one I recently read about in this context is olive leaf extract. That said, I have also been told by my thyroid doctor that as those with thyroid disease balance their hormones, they might find that their body is more able to fight off infections such as Epstein-Barr due to the strengthening of their immune system.

In addition, Dr T is also referring to infections such as candida. In his book “From Fatigued to Fantastic”, Dr T “recommends that almost all of my CFS/FMS patients use Diflucan 200 milligrams a day for six to twelve weeks”. A high-quality probiotic is also a good recommendation, not only because of the Leaky Gut Syndrome I mentioned above, but also because it helps build up the good bacteria in your intestines, making you less prone to fungus].

4–Nutritional supplementation.  Widespread nutritional deficiencies are common, and require dozens of nutrients. As people are tired of being part of the “Handful Club” (taking handfuls of supplement tablets each day), I developed a product that contains 50 key nutrients in 1 capsule and ½-1 scoop of powder taken daily (as a good tasting drink). Called the “Energy Revitalization System” by Enzymatic Therapy, it replaces well over 35 supplement tablets with 1 drink. A new nutrient discovery called Ribose is also revolutionizing how CFS/FMS and even heart disease are being treated.

5—Exercise as able. Do not push to where you crash the next day. You will find your ability to walk increases after 10 weeks of being on the other treatments. At that point you can increase your walking by up to a minute each day.

Ribose (Corvalen)-An Exciting New Discovery!

 

 

Corvalen (D-Ribose by Bioenergy Labs) is an outstanding new nutrient (a special sugar-even OK for those who need to avoid sugar!) for those of you who want a powerful energy boost! In addition to its role in making DNA and RNA, those of you familiar with biochemistry remember Ribose as the key building block for making energy. In fact, the main energy molecules (like “Energy dollars”) in your body (ATP, FADH, etc.) are made of ribose plus B vitamins/phosphate. That makes these energy molecules similar to the paper that money is printed on- kind of like being able to print your own energy currency!

Corvalen has many uses, including treating heart muscle weakness (Congestive Heart Failure). We were so impressed with this product that our research center recently completed a study which was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Two thirds of CFS/Fibromyalgia patients improved, with an average increase in quality of life of 30%- outstanding for a single nutrient! A second study (of 257 CFS/FMS patients at 53 medical centers) has recently been submitted for publication. Take 1 scoop 3 times a day for 3 – 6 weeks, then decrease to a scoop twice a day, but lower the dose if you get hyper from being too energized. The use of Ribose (Corvalen) is a major step forward in treating fatigue with the average CFS/FMS patient in the studies having an average ~60% improvement in energy after 2-3 weeks. In our studies, pain, sleep, and “brain fog’ also improved.

There are many other treatments available as well.  Our free patented “Online Physician” can analyze your labs(if you have them available) and symptoms to determine what is causing your CFS/Fibromyalgia, and tailor a treatment protocol to your case, with natural alternatives offered for all prescriptions. See http://www.endfatigue.com/treatment_options/Online_program.html to do the free “short online symptom analysis program”.

In addition, there is an exciting new development. The Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers (see www.FibroAndFatigue.com ) has opened up a chain of clinics throughout the US that see patients from all over the world.

My newest book, “Beat Sugar Addiction NOW” also can show you how to eliminate the causes of your sugar cravings, and this can also help you recover.

 

At this time, you now have all the tools you need to get well!  We wish you all of God’s blessings and our best wishes in your healing!

Jacob E Teitelbaum MD

Jacob Teitelbaum MD is Medical Director of the national Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers

(www.fibroandfatigue.com ) and author of the popular free iPhone application “Cures A-Z.”

Senior author of the landmark studies “Effective Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia — a Placebo-controlled Study” and “Effective Treatment of CFS & Fibromyalgia with D-Ribose.” Author of the best-selling book From Fatigued to Fantastic! (3rd revised edition, Avery/Penguin Group) and Pain Free 1-2-3—A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now (McGraw- Hill). His newest book is Beat Sugar Addiction NOW! (Fairwinds Press; March 2010). Dr. Teitelbaum does frequent media appearances including Good Morning America, CNN, Fox News Channel, the Dr Oz Show and Oprah & Friends. He lives in Kona, Hawaii. Web site: www.Vitality101.com

For Part 2 of this article, please click here