Naturopathic Doctors Look Bad After California Woman Dies From Turmeric Injection
By Britt Marie Hermes
“I cover medical pseudoscience as an ex-naturopath.”
March 27, 2017

A San Diego woman, Jade Erick, 30, recently died of cardiopulmonary arrest after receiving an intravenous injection of turmeric, a common spice in Indian food. Until the medical examiner’s investigation of Erick’s death is complete, the identity of the person who injected the herbal solution into her body will not be known. But local naturopathic doctors have rallied to defend this esoteric medical treatment.

Kristine Reese, N.D., and Hadas Hilewitz, N.D., claimed that intravenous turmeric can be effective for certain conditions but made it clear they don’t offer it themselves. Mark Stengler, N.D., told ABC 10 News that he knows of doctors in the area who give turmeric intravenously, but also does not do it himself.

Reliable evidence for using turmeric for any medical condition is scanty at best. There have been preliminary studies on intravenous turmeric in combination with conventional chemotherapy, but no firm conclusions can be drawn. In other words, intravenous turmeric poses unnecessary risks.

Naturopathic doctors frequently offer treatments that have not been fully vetted for safety or effectiveness, and many therapies used in naturopathic practice have been disproved by rigorous trials. This is likely the result of naturopathic education blurring the line between treatments backed by good evidence and practices using “natural” substances that turn profits.

I searched for doctors in the San Diego area offering intravenous turmeric, which goes by curcumin after the main chemical constituent in the plant’s root, and found three clinics advertising its use that staff or are run by naturopathic doctors. A one-hour IV infusion of turmeric costs $200, which would also require an initial visit to establish care at a price between $200 and $400 at Livv Natural Health.

In the days since Jade Erick’s death, one of these naturopathic doctors, Kim Kelly, N.D., at a different clinic, has purged his website and Facebook page of advertisements for intravenous turmeric. But based on a now archived blog post for his website and a promotional piece in the San Diego edition of Natural Awakenings, he began offering intravenous turmeric in September 2016.

In the blog post on intravenous turmeric, Kelly writes that numerous clinical trials have been completed showing positive effects on a variety of serious health conditions, including cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and blood disorders. He explicitly writes, “The safety, tolerability and nontoxicity of curcumin at high doses have been well established by human clinical trials.” His assessment is absolutely false.

Kelly and the other naturopathic doctors advertising intravenous turmeric did not respond to interview requests for this article.

Friends of Jade Erick report she was being treated for eczema. I reached out to Dr. Jeanette Jacknin, M.D., who is board certified in dermatology and runs a “holistic” clinic in the San Diego area. She told me that she is not familiar with the use of intravenous turmeric for eczema and that this treatment does not make sense for any dermatology patient.

Jade Erick’s death should not be seen as an isolated incident at the hands of a rogue practitioner. Naturopathic doctors across California advertise intravenous therapies with dangerous substances, including hydrogen peroxide, ultraviolet light and ozone gas. And their descriptions of these substances delivered directly into the blood raise serious concerns about their medical training and ability to serve as state-licensed doctors.

On his website, Kim Kelly, N.D., erroneously claims, “When H2O2 [hydrogen peroxide] runs through your veins, the oxygen surrounds the disease, causing its cells to suffocate and die.” With more twisted logic, he argues that hydrogen peroxide delivered into the body will give white blood cells a “boost” by replenishing their own oxidative compounds used to fight infections. According to Kelly, “H2O2 is considered a food, so it is natural and it is also effective.”

Putting hydrogen peroxide into the blood stream is not safe or effective for any medical condition. Patients have died receiving this treatment. In 2004, Dr. James Shortt, M.D., lost his medical license in South Carolina and settled a wrongful death lawsuit after one of his patients died from intravenous hydrogen peroxide. Physicians in other states have faced similar disciplinary actions for giving intravenous hydrogen peroxide.

Californian naturopathic doctors are also pushing a variety of invasive treatments using ozone gas. The FDA describes ozone as “a toxic gas with no known useful medical application.” But California naturopathic doctors claim that there are hundreds of studies validating its use to treat a dizzying array of disparate health conditions.

Take, for example, Sonja Fung, N.D. and Brian Myers, N.D. in La Quinta, who cite on their website a long list of biomolecular pathways in their justification for how ozone gas reduces inflammation and increases “cellular energy,” which they say treats conditions ranging from vascular diseases of the brain to Ebola. These naturopathic doctors appear to have strung together biochemical terminology lifted from the abstract of a dubious article in a seemingly predatory medical journal.

Further web searches returned dozens of naturopathic clinics in California offering ozone therapy. This includes Mark Stengler, N.D., who spoke on television after Jade Erick’s death and defended intravenous turmeric as “experimental.” He does give ozone and hydrogen peroxide intravenously, according to advertisements on his website.

The naturopathic profession’s endemic relationship to dangerous and medically unnecessary therapies seems to go ignored by the California Naturopathic Medicine Committee, the agency charged with regulating the practice of naturopathy in the state. A would-be crackdown on naturopathic doctors might be at odds with the state’s professional organization and livelihoods of its members.

The California Naturopathic Doctors Association, the state’s professional organization, has promoted continuing education credits in the category of pharmacology for a course titled “Clinical Applications of Medical Ozone Therapy,” which the California Naturopathic Medicine Committee has approved for naturopathic doctors to maintain their licenses. This scenario is further complicated by the fact that hydrogen peroxide and ozone gas are not substances legally permitted to be used by California naturopathic doctors, and the FDA has ruled that purchasing ozone generators for medical use is illegal.

The notion that naturopathic doctors are practicing safely and competently will likely come under intense scrutiny as the profession’s regulatory committee grapples with obvious cases of harmful quackery. Jade Erick’s death from an intravenous injection with a preparation of an Indian spice could become a lightning rod issue for those seeking to rollback naturopathic laws, especially if additional adverse events are uncovered.

The California law that grants the licensure of naturopathic doctors is set to expire at the end of 2017. An effort to extend the charter will undoubtedly involve a debate between advocates for patient safety and believers in “natural” medicine.

Many thanks to my friend Evergrey for finding the above article.

This reminds me of a blog post I made back in 2010 after another friend showed me a study in which curcumin was injected to mice with surgically-induced endometriosis. The study showed that the curcumin was effective in reducing inflammation in the MMP-9 gene protein. Per the study, “Curcumin at a dose of 16, 32 and 48mg/kg b.w. showed a gradual decrease (over 21 days) in secreted MMP-9 activity by 50%, 70% and 80% respectively.”

So my friend used this info of a study of mice being injected with curcumin… to go out and buy me 2 pounds of powdered turmeric and double-zero pill capsules, and harassed me relentlessly to take 2 pills a day filled with powdered turmeric. Not having any relief from doctors or surgeries, I decided to give it a try. The side effects were immediate in the form of intense indigestion, followed by my hands breaking out with eczema. When I noted these effects to my friend, he dismissed them and got upset with me!!! I stopped taking the pills. Then he went to a health-food store and purchased turmeric pills for me. Again I had the same side effects. Over the years, he grew more extreme in his efforts to ‘treat’ my condition, to the point where I had to cut him out of my life. He’s no different than these naturopath doctors. Only I didn’t have to pay him any money to do the same damage.
I like turmeric. I cook with turmeric. I’m not going to take it intravenously or in pill capsule format to treat my condition.

Omega fatty acid balance can alter immunity and gene expression
By Nick Zagorski
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Appearing in the June 5, 2009 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC)

For the past century, changes in the Western diet have altered the consumption of omega-6 fatty acids (w6, found in meat and vegetable oils) compared with omega-3 fatty acids (w3, found in flax and fish oil). Many studies seem to indicate this shift has brought about an increased risk of inflammation (associated with autoimmunity and allergy), and now using a controlled diet study with human volunteers, researchers may have teased out a biological basis for these reported changes.

Anthropological evidence suggests that human ancestors maintained a 2:1 w6/w3 ratio for much of history, but in Western countries today the ratio has spiked to as high as 10:1. Since these omega fatty acids can be converted into inflammatory molecules, this dietary change is believed to also disrupt the proper balance of pro- and anti- inflammatory agents, resulting in increased systemic inflammation and a higher incidence of problems including asthma, allergies, diabetes, and arthritis.

Floyd Chilton and colleagues wanted to examine whether theses fatty acids might have other effects, and developed a dietary intervention strategy in which 27 healthy humans were fed a controlled diet mimicking the w6/w3 ratios of early humans over 5 weeks. They then looked at the gene levels of immune signals and cytokines (protein immune messengers), that impact autoimmunity and allergy in blood cells and found that many key signaling genes that promote inflammation were markedly reduced compared to a normal diet, including a signaling gene for a protein called PI3K, a critical early step in autoimmune and allergic inflammation responses.

This study demonstrates, for the first time in humans, that large changes in gene expression are likely an important mechanism by which these omega fatty acids exert their potent clinical effects.

###

From the article: Effect of dietary fatty acids on inflammatory gene expression in healthy humans, by Kelly L. Weaver, Priscilla Ivester, MIchael C. Seeds, L. Douglas Case, Jonathan Arm and Floyd H. Chilton
Article Link: http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/abstract/M109.004861

Corresponding Author: (Ski) Floyd H. Chilton, III, Ph.D., Director, Wake Forest and Brigham and Women’s Center for Botanical Lipids, Winston-Salem, NC; Tel: 336.713.7105, email: schilton@wfubmc.edu

Chinese Herb May Help Treat Cancer
Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Herbal Remedy May Help Combat Endometriosis and Cancer

The Chinese herb Prunella vulgaris (PV) may prove an effective treatment for women with endometriosis and certain types of cancer because of its anti-estrogen properties, according to research published in the November 5 issue of the journal, Biology of Reproduction.

Although the female hormone, estrogen is crucial to reproduction, it can have some negative side effects, fueling the abnormal cell growth that occurs in diseases such as endometriosis and cancer. To treat these diseases, doctors have turned to tamoxifen and other anti-estrogen medications, but these drugs can have significant side effects.

In their search for an alternative to anti-estrogen medications, researchers in Greenville, South Carolina focused their attention on several possible herbal remedies. “We had 20 herbs in the lab that included Prunella vulgaris,” says Bruce Lessey, MD, PhD, vice chair of Research, and director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Greenville Hospital System. PV is found in Europe and Asia and is often used to treat painful periods. “There had been one study previously suggesting that a related herb, Prunella stica, had anti-estrogen properties. So we screened the herbs, and this one really jumped out.”

When Dr. Lessey and his colleagues tested the herb on endometrial cancer cells, they discovered that it significantly reduced the cancer cells’ growth. In mice implanted with human endometriosis, PV also reduced the number of abnormal endometrial tissue growths. The herb was just as potent as a synthetic anti-estrogen drug used in the study. The only side effect researchers have noted in ongoing human studies of PV has been an increase in headaches in some women.

There were concerns that, because of its anti-estrogen properties, PV might negatively impact fertility. Yet PV had virtually no effect on the fertility of female mice tested in the study. In fact, the researchers say the herb might actually improve the odds of conception in women who are struggling with infertility due to endometriosis, because it blocks the harmful actions of estrogen that can interfere with embryo attachment and implantation.

The benefits and low risks of PV make it a promising therapy for diseases like endometriosis and cancer. “My interest in the herb is the fact that we can block the action of estrogen and do it in a way that has very few side effects,” Dr. Lessey says. “So this might be beneficial as an adjunct treatment for patients who have had breast cancer or endometrial cancer to help prevent a recurrence.”

“I think PV will find a place, because women will accept it because it’s herbal and therefore natural, and probably they’ll have greater access to it,” he adds. PV, also known as ‘Self Heal,’ is readily available in health food stores as a dried herb that can be made into a tea.

Upcoming studies will help clarify what role PV might have in treating endometriosis and cancer. “It really does not seem to be at all harmful, and because it seems to be a potent anti-estrogen, it deserves future research,” Dr. Lessey says.

If you are interested in using PV you should consult with your healthcare provider.

Source:
Collins NH, Lessey EC, DuSell CD, McDonnell Dp, Fowler L, Palomino WA, Illera MJ, YuX, Mo B, Houwing AM, Lessey BA. Characterization of anti-estrogenic activity of the Chinese Herb, Prunella vulgaris, using In Vitro and In Vivo (Mouse Xenograft) Models. Biol Reprod. 2008 Nov 5. [Epub ahead of print]

Alternative Therapy for Adhesion and Endometriosis Pain Examined in New Book ‘Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain’
In an upcoming book, “Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain,” researchers examine a non-surgical therapy to treat adhesion and endometriosis pain.

Gainesville, FL (PRWEB) November 19, 2008 — Endometriosis is a painful and debilitating condition for millions of women and girls, robbing them of their quality of life. While the cause of endometriosis is unknown, some pioneering studies about a non-surgical treatment are now bringing hope for some women.

In an upcoming book, Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain, gynecologist Richard King, MD and a physical therapy team examine a manual physical therapy (Wurn Technique®) that has decreased or eliminated pain associated with endometriosis for many women.

The Wurn Technique® was originally created to treat the adhesions co-author and physical therapist Belinda Wurn developed after pelvic surgery and radiation therapy following a diagnosis of cervical cancer. “I had double-over pain,” she said. “I could not work or stand up straight. It hurt to sit and even to breathe; the pain was unrelenting.”

After the Wurn Technique resolved Belinda’s pain, she was able to return to work. She and her husband, massage therapist Larry Wurn began treating other conditions related to adhesions. They soon learned that adhesions and endometriosis pain were intimately related.

Adhesions associated with endometriosis can cause pain anywhere in the body (abdomen, pelvis, low back). Dysfunctions such as poor digestion, irritable bowel, and infertility may also result from the adhesions and endometriosis. “We believe that the pull of adhesions on pain-sensitive structures is what causes the severe, debilitating pain in many women with endometriosis,” said Larry Wurn. “In fact, adhesions are frequently found in and near sites of endometrial implants.”

Women with endometrial implants often report a great deal of pain, which may occur

• before and during menstruation (dysmenorrhea),
• with ovulation,
• with sex (dyspareunia),
• with urination, bowel movements, diarrhea, or constipation.

While physicians do not know the exact cause of endometriosis pain, they often recognize an intimate relationship between endometriosis and adhesions; when they find endometriosis, they often find adhesions nearby.

The Wurns have published several studies on the Wurn Technique in peer-reviewed medical journals. Studies in ‘Medscape General Medicine’ (2004) and ‘Fertility and Sterility’ (2006) showed that the therapy improved fertility and decreased or eliminated endometriosis and intercourse pain in most participants. In a study from ‘Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine’ (2008) the therapy opened blocked fallopian tubes in women who had been diagnosed infertile. Many had natural pregnancies after their tube(s) opened, and some have had second natural pregnancies – indicating that the results of therapy lasted for years in some women.

‘Miracle Moms, Better Sex, Less Pain’ will be published this winter. The table of contents is available at the Clear Passage Therapies blog to spur discussions with their readers on important topics. A free e-book excerpt from the book will be available in December at http://www.clearpassage.com.

What I find hilarious about this is that the Wurn Technique® is nothing more than re-applied Chi Nei Tsang – for five times the cost of Chi Nei Tsang treatment. It looks like the same torso manipulation technique. I really do not like it when people say they’ve found a secret, or they’ve discovered something wonderful, then repackage what they’ve ‘found’ and charge more to profit off of someone’s misfortune. A Chi Nei Tsang practitioner will charge around $100 for a treatment. I have sent off a questionnaire to the Clear Passage people and await their reply with price quote for treatment using the same style as Chi Nei Tsang.

December, 2008 Update: I received a package in the mail, saying there is an ‘Initial Evaluation’ fee of nearly $300, and then you have to cover your own airfare out to Florida, cover your own lodging for a week, and then on top of all that, it’s $5,000 for one week’s worth of “treatments” which they claim are “shown in published studies and abstracts to decrease endometriosis pain and symptoms.” Of the published studies in question, only ONE has anything to do with decreasing endometriosis pain, and that study involved exactly 18 women – hardly a good sampling of the millions of women world-wide, or even nation-wide who suffer from endometriosis. Buyer beware, as they say. This is NOT covered by health insurance!

Treating endometriosis pain with a manual pelvic physical therapy
L.J. Wurn, B.F. Wurn, C.R. King, A.S. Roscow, E.S. Scharf, J.J. Shuster et al.
Fertility and Sterility Vol. 86, Issue 3, Supplement, Page S262
September 2006
Eighteen patients with endometriosis confirmed via laparoscopy or laparotomy and reporting pain with intercourse, ovulation, pre-menstruation, and/or menstruation received a series of manual pelvic physical therapy sessions designed to address restricted soft tissue mobility due to micro-adhesions and adhesions. The primary outcome measures were post-test vs. pretest scores on various pain scales (i.e., each patient acted as her own control).
Follow-up tests six weeks after the last therapy session showed improvements in all areas, with the greatest pain decreases during menstruation and intercourse – typically the most painful times. Sixty-one percent (61%) of the women reported decreased pain with menstruation and sixty-nine percent (69%) reported lower to totally eliminated pain with intercourse. Thirty-nine percent (39%) experienced decreased pre-menstrual pain and fifty percent (50%) reported decreased pain with ovulation.
The Wilcoxon Sign-Rank Test (2-sided) showed a statistically significant improvement in sexual intercourse pain (dyspareunia) and in the total difference at all three phases of the cycle, including pre-menstruation, menstruation and ovulation (P = 0.014). Decreased menstrual pain was significant (P = 0.008), and decreased sexual intercourse pain was also significant (P = 0.001).