SERVICES
Chiropractic Care
At the Life Balance Medical Center, we have expertise in identifying the underlying cause of your health issue. Our primary objective is to facilitate the synchronization of your spine and other bodily functions. In order to achieve this, we will devise a tailored treatment plan to enhance your overall physical well-being.
Our top priority is to restore your health in the shortest possible time. We will assess your progress after each session, to ensure that every visit is a step forward. Regardless of the cause of your injury, we will employ safe and comfortable techniques to aid in your recovery.
Chiropractic Care in Roscoe
Greetings! We are delighted to have you at Life Balance Medical Center located in Roscoe. Our topmost priority is to identify the fundamental reasons behind our patients’ health concerns. Given the significant amount of stress that we all face on a daily basis, it is vital to discover effective methods to help our bodies tackle it directly and with ease. Thank you for choosing us and we look forward to working with you!
Finding Balance
Our mission is centered around restoring balance to your body, and we are committed to achieving this goal through all that we do. We recognize that many individuals are unfamiliar with the concept of holistic body balance, which is why we provide educational resources on the different stressors that can negatively impact your overall well-being, including physical, chemical, and emotional stress. By addressing these stressors, we can help bring your body back into balance.
Whether you’re struggling with chronic joint pain, frequent headaches, or excess weight, stress is likely a major contributing factor. Rather than waiting for illness to strike, it’s crucial to prioritize your body’s efficiency and proactively work to prevent sickness.
At our center, we offer a variety of services to support your journey towards optimal health. We believe that it’s never too late to make positive changes and take charge of your well-being. Let’s start a conversation about how we can assist you on this path. We look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your best possible health. Here’s to a bright and healthy future!
- Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Sciatica
- Headaches
- Shoulder pain
- Vertigo
- Bulging Disc
- Stenosis
- Degenerative Joint Disease
- Arthritis
- And much more
WEIGHT LOSS
FREQUENCY SPECIFIC MICROCURRENT
HOW WE DO IT…
To use Frequency Specific Microcurrent, sensors will be placed on specific areas of your body and the machine will be programmed with tailored frequencies to target the problematic areas and tissues. The current used is so small that it cannot be felt, but it is powerful enough to cause a cellular change. The machine will be set to run through a specific sequence of frequencies, which are customized to your particular needs. This allows the therapy to effectively address the specific issues in your body and promote healing.Frequency Specific Microcurrent
In 1995, Dr. Carolyn McMakin created Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) by using frequencies that she received from an osteopath in Canada. The osteopath had an old machine from the 1920s. Dr. McMakin established treatment protocols for myofascial pain in 1996 and presented her research data at the American Back Society meeting in 1997. She published a paper on the treatment of chronic resistant myofascial pain in 1998, among other published FSM papers. Her textbook, “Frequency Specific Microcurrent in Pain Management,” was recently published by Elsevier. In 1997, Dr. McMakin started teaching FSM to determine if its effects were reproducible. By June 1997, it was apparent that they were, and her seminars have grown to become a three-day intensive class that teaches frequency protocols, pain generators’ differential diagnosis, and neurological conditions. The frequencies used in FSM were developed in the early 1900s and were used with unconventional-looking electronic equipment that fell out of use in the 1940s. Microcurrent, a physical therapy modality powered by batteries, was introduced in Europe and the USA in the 1980s. Microcurrent devices emit frequencies and current in millionths of an amp, and research studies have shown that they can increase ATP production in cells by up to 500%. Regenerate response For more information or to request an appointment, give us a call at (815) 623-0444Laser Therapy
An Epidemic of Pain
THE SCIENCE OF PBMT
- Expedited healing times
- Tissue strengthening
- Increased blood flow and lymphatic drainage
- Enhanced immune response
- Reduced anxiety and depression
- Improved sleep patterns
DON’T JUST TREAT THE SYMPTOMS... TREAT THE CAUSE!
- Post-Injury Pain
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Joint Pain
- Muscle Spasms
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Fibromyalgia
- Bursitis
- Connective Tissue Injuries
- Tendinitis
- Sprains and Strains
- Sports Injuries
- Arthritis
- Back and Neck Pain
- Muscular Injuries
- Vertebral Injuries
- Countless other conditions
Ozone Therapy
What are the health benefits of ozone therapy?
ear (auricular insufflation)
In order to understand how ozone therapy can benefit your health, we need to first look at the mechanisms behind ozone therapy and how it works within your body.
- Improves oxygenation
Ozone therapy helps to improve oxygen utilization in the body. Ozone molecules release oxygen into tissues to enhance circulation, cellular metabolism, and energy production. This is especially important as your cells influence every aspect of your health. - Modulates your immune system
Recent studies (1) have shown that ozone therapy can help regulate your immune system, which can be beneficial in cases where the immune system is either overactive as in autoimmune diseases or compromised as in chronic infections. - Lowers inflammation
Chronic inflammation is the root cause of most of our modern day health problems. Everything from weight gain, heart disease, autoimmune conditions, and even cancer can be traced back to out-of-control inflammation. Ozone therapy has been shown to help lower inflammation (2) in a variety of different conditions by down-regulating pro-inflammatory compounds. - Enhances antioxidant activity
Ozone therapy has been shown to enhance antioxidant activity (3) in your body to help protect cells from oxidative stress (4) and damage. - Fights infections
Ozone has potent antimicrobial properties (5) and is used in some cases for treating (6) infections, even when antibiotic resistance is present.
Can help with
- Lung health
Initial research suggests that ozone therapy’s anti-inflammatory properties can help mitigate chronic airway inflammation to significantly improve lung diseases like asthma. (8) - Immune function In a study published in the Journal of Ozone Therapy, (9) researchers found that ozone therapy both improved immune function and reduced the viral load in patients with HIV and AIDS over a 2-year period. While more research is needed in this area, this study shows great promise for managing this chronic, life-long disease with ozone therapy.
- Wound healing Ozone therapy has been linked to its ability to speed up wound healing due to its role in enhancing oxygenation, stimulating antioxidant enzymes, and fighting inflammation which all work together to promote tissue regeneration. One study (10) showed that ozone therapy was even able to help improve the healing rate of diabetic foot ulcers – a wound that has a notoriously difficult time healing
PULSED HARMONIX
PULSED ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD (PEMF)
In the 21st Century, people and animals are continually exposed to damaging electromagnetic fields (EMF), limiting their exposure to Earth’s vital pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF). Pulsed Harmonix’s TruePulse A2000 releases a series of carefully-timed pulses that closely resemble earth’s naturally occuring PEMFs, revitalizing body tissue at the cellular level.
PULSED ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD THERAPY (PEMFT)
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMFT) is recognized around the world for its remarkable healing abilities in both humans and animals. PEMFT uses a gentle electrical current to direct a series of magnetic pulses through damaged tissue, inducing tiny electrical signals that stimulate cellular repair.
How the A2000 Works:
The A2000 pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) device produces a magnetic field in its applicator coils that varies over time, pulsing like a heartbeat to provide a therapeutic effect.
The Magnetic Field:
The A2000s applicator coil produces the magnetic current behind each pulse, a microprocessor times the current, and the user adjusts the intensity via the control panel.
Current & the Magnetic Field:
The magnetic field is proportional to the current in the applicator wire: a zero current results in zero fields, and a high current produces a high magnetic field; double the current, and you double the field.
Adjusting Intensity:
To adjust the intensity of each pulse, select the intensity “Increase” or “Decrease”buttons on the A2000 control panel.
The energy needed to drive each pulse accumulates at a constant rate, and the energy of each pulse is proportional to the time between pulses, i.e., the longer the time between pulses, the stronger the pulse.
The Gentle “Clicking” Sound:
The peak current in each pulse causes the coil wires to slap together creating a light ticking sound. These pulses are brief, lasting 1 to 2 thousandth of a second, regardless of intensity.
Binding the Coils
By design, only the applicator’s coil has a strong directed magnetic field; the twisted leads do not have a significant field since they are close together and the flow of current is opposite in each lead, canceling the magnetic field. The coil’s field strength is proportional to the number of wire turns forming the coil, e.g., double the turns and you double the field, all-else being equal.
Heat Production:
During pulsing operation, the higher the pulse current, the higher the heat produced in the copper wire: double the current and four times as much heating energy goes into the applicator. The longer the pulsing, the warmer the applicator coil will get. It never gets hot but it warms to the touch. This can be soothing heat for the application area, similar to a heating pad.
Optimal Intensity:
When using PEMF therapy for the first time, it is important to begin at a low level, as every person responds differently. Initial users are encouraged to use the default Level 3 Intensity for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening for three days before increasing the strength and duration of sessions. Duration and intensity determine how much magnetic energy users absorb, e.g., double the length time or the intensity and you double the energy absorption. In fact, there is a 50 to 1 difference in the peak pulse energy between the Level 1 and the Level 15 intensity, e.g., the Intensity is approximately double for each two steps up in intensity.
Session Duration:
Most users easily tolerate up to an hour of treatment. High intensities have a pronounced impact on inflammation, and the histamine response to injury. Higher intensities also allow for shorter sessions. For a given outcome, higher intensity often enables a shortening of the session time.
Dual Usage:
When two people are using the same device, higher intensities, e.g. three steps higher,
will evenly distribute the shared energy. This is accomplished by utilizing the dual applicator.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields—A Countermeasure for Bone Loss and Muscle Atrophy
“Currently, there is a critical need to develop effective countermeasures for bone loss and muscle atrophy to enable future human space exploration to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Progressive muscle atrophy can lead to weakness, fatigue, the inability to perform efficiently assigned tasks, and compromised emergency egress operations. Bone loss causes increased risk of bone fracture and kidney stones, which can also negatively affect mission objectives and success….” – Space Life Sciences
For more information or to request an appointment, give us a call at (815) 623-0444
REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
If surgery is not a viable choice for alleviating pain, or if previous treatments have proven ineffective, regenerative medicine techniques may offer a solution. Life Balance Medical Center, located in Roscoe, IL and staffed by leading pain-relief specialists, can assess your suitability for this approach. Regenerative medicine is a comprehensive alternative treatment that can benefit those who suffer from chronic pain in their knees, shoulders, arthritis, and many other conditions. You can book a consultation for regenerative medicine either online or by phone.
What is regenerative medicine?
Life Balance Medical Center employs regenerative medicine, which employs Human Cellular Tissue Products (HCTPs) to facilitate the body’s self-healing. HCTPs, containing powerful elements such as hyaluronic acid, mesenchymal stem cells, growth factors, cytokines, and exosomes, are supplied to patients to promote regenerative healing.
The growth factors in the HCTPs are able to stimulate cell growth in the injected area, which can lead to the formation of new tissues in the following weeks. As a result, damaged or injured areas may be treated without the need for surgery.
Which areas can be treated with regenerative medicine?
The use of amniotic allograft treatments in regenerative medicine is advantageous for the treatment of numerous bone and soft tissue conditions, such as arthritis. Injections of these treatments can help facilitate healing in the following areas:
- Knees
- Shoulders
- Hips
- Elbows
- Ankles
- Wrists
How long does regenerative medicine take to work?
Since regenerative medicine stimulates the production of new tissues within the body, it may take some time for the treatment to take effect. The time frame for improvement varies from patient to patient, with some individuals experiencing a significant reduction in pain levels within two months, while others report improvement in just a few weeks. The rate at which the body responds to the treatment will determine the extent and duration of the improvement.
Will I need more than one treatment with regenerative medicine?
The likelihood of undergoing repeat treatment would depend on the severity of your injury and the pace of your recovery. If you don’t observe noticeable progress after several months, or if there isn’t a substantial improvement in your condition, your doctor may recommend additional treatment to augment healthy tissue growth. During your consultation and assessment appointment, your doctor can provide you with further details on what to expect.
Do the regenerative medicine injections hurt?
Since they are administered through injections, you may experience some stinging, but it typically subsides within a few seconds. While some patients report a transient burning sensation, the discomfort is brief and fades quickly.
HALO
WHAT IS BIOPHOTONIC THERAPY?
It is the combination of 2 sciences: Physics and Chemistry
The creation of the Nobel Prize-winning Blue Light LED Diodes in physics made it feasible to control photons with a specific frequency that can serve as a delivery system for harmonic information.
Advanced knowledge of chemistry enabled the combination of hundreds of botanical extracts, medicinal mushrooms, Chinese herbs, and other synthetic compounds into stable, long-lasting solutions.
Bio-Photonics integrates the positive effects of light therapy with the healing properties of botanicals, herbs, and synthetic compounds to address various health conditions.
Bio-photonics is an emerging field of scientific exploration that employs light and other forms of radiant energy to observe, detect, and manipulate biological materials, revealing the inner workings of cells and tissues in living organisms.
HOW DOES HALO SYSTEM WORK?
Botanical extracts are contained within vials or tubes that the photon (light) passes through, picking up the botanicals’ harmonic vibrations. This photon then serves as a delivery system for the botanical energies, transmitting them into the body. The body responds as if the botanicals were physically present.
Almost 20 years ago, Michael Thomas, an inventor, master chemist, and botanist, postulated that passing photons through vials of botanical solutions would enable light to absorb the healing information of the botanicals and deliver them to the body’s tissues and/or drinking water.
The body assimilates Bio-Photonic Therapy energies like a plant absorbing sunlight.
These harmonic energies then enter the body through what Michael Thomas believes are divine sources. The body instinctively knows how to utilize these energies and initiates self-healing responses.
Photonic/botanical harmonic energies increase cellular communication. The body knows how to employ these energies and distribute them for optimal healing. Light and botanicals are not curative. Instead, the body’s innate ability to self-heal is the miracle; it employs supplied energies from every conceivable source to assist in the healing process.
BENEFITS OF HALO SYSTEMS
Supports the body in regulating the immune system. Promotes Longevity and General Wellness. Supports the body in management of pain and inflammation. Assists in stress reduction and promotes a calming sensation that can be immediate and can last 6-12 hours. A feeling of renewed vigor and vitality lasting for days. Flushes out the dead pathogens. Supports emotional, mental and neurological well-being.
IONIC FOOT DETOX
Ionic detox foot bath systems for single users offer a way to naturally reap the benefits of negative ions. The process works by using electrolysis to break water down into its components, including the hydrogen anion which is key for its detoxifying effects. Excessive free radicals, which are unstable chemicals formed in the body during normal metabolism or exposure to toxins, can cause cells to age prematurely and even lead to certain diseases like cancer. Free radicals are positively charged and reactive, and can cause a chain reaction of damage to cells. By introducing negative hydrogen ions into the body through ionic detox, they act as antioxidants and neutralize free radicals. This process allows the body’s natural detoxification process to work more effectively and eliminates toxins through urination, defecation, and perspiration. In summary, ionic detox is a natural way to support the body’s detoxification process and neutralize harmful free radicals.
Ionic detox has been known to:
- Remove toxins, free radicals and body waste products that can cause health problems (In an Aug. ’04 study by Carlos A. Lopez-Moreno, MD, there was a significant deposit of urea, creatinine and glucose in the foot basin in 12 patients with chronic illnesses.)
- In a 2008 study by Center for Research Strategies,31 participants underwent ionic detox two times per week for 12 weeks. The amount of aluminum and arsenic in their blood was measured before and after the 12 weeks. The average blood aluminum level decreased by 46% from 79.8 ppb (parts per billion) to 43.1 ppb. The average blood arsenic level decreased 24% from 4.6 ppb to 3.5 ppb.
- In a 2002 study by Doctor’s Data in St. Charles, IL, there was an average increase in toxic metals found in the foot basin from nine independent sessions. Here is a list of metals that increased in concentration: Copper: 905%, Aluminum 339%, Lead 233%, Iron 174%, Manganese 140%, Antimony 128%, Cadmium 119%
- Raise pH levels. Approximately 95% of people experience a state of acidity in which their blood pH is lower than 7.45, indicating an excess of hydrogen ions. This makes an ideal breeding ground for worms, parasites, microorganisms and other critters that lower body function and cause disease.
- Inactivate viruses, bacteria, yeast and fungus
- Relieve pain and tension including headaches
- Purify the blood and lymph
- Increase peripheral circulation
- Stimulate and balance the immune system
- Enhance nutrient absorption
- Reduce inflammation and unwanted fluid retention
- Help clear up skin
- Assist in weight loss
- Slow down aging and improve body flexibility
- Quicken recovery time from disease or injury
- Increase oxygen in the body
- Rejuvenate and energize your whole body
- Improve sleep
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
Functional medicine is a healthcare approach that is tailored to an individual’s specific needs and considers all aspects of their health in order to prevent, manage, and treat complex chronic diseases. It combines different models of healthcare, including integrative, holistic, conventional, and naturopathic, to provide a comprehensive and effective approach to healthcare that addresses the underlying causes of disease. This approach is considered to be one of the most advanced and complete forms of healthcare available in the 21st century.
The concept of “functional medicine” is a recent development, which has emerged as research has identified a range of modifiable factors that impact our daily health risks. The medical community has come to understand that imbalances or deficiencies in essential fats, minerals, nutrients, or chemicals can disrupt the body’s biological systems, resulting in the onset of disease.
The allopathic approach of using pharmaceutical drugs to treat or suppress symptoms in every patient is failing. This is why the patient trend is moving towards more alternative approaches to health. The added dimension of functional medicine allows us to dive deeper into the body’s multiple complexities within our natural world. It is necessary to take into account the mind, body and spirit connection to fully assess a patient’s health no matter what form of care you are utilizing. Functional medicine is often confused with terms like holistic, integrative, and natural medicine. Many use these terms interchangeably, but they are quite different.
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a contemporary medical approach that focuses on the interplay between an individual’s genetics, environment, and lifestyle to diagnose and treat ailments. It represents an advancement in healthcare that caters to the needs of the current era. The underlying objective is to change the perspective of medical practice from merely treating diseases to treating individuals who have them. Functional medicine considers the holistic needs of a person and not just a specific set of symptoms. While symptom alleviation is a short-term solution, identifying the underlying cause of the symptoms is the key to optimal health outcomes for patients. Functional medicine practitioners invest time in understanding their patients by examining their medical history, listening to their health concerns, and assessing the interplay between genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. This approach aids in the management of chronic illnesses and long-term health issues. Essentially, functional medicine provides tailored support for each individual to achieve optimal health and wellness.
Why Do We Need Functional Medicine?
The prevalence of complex and chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, and mental health issues is on the rise in our society. However, the acute care typically provided by physicians only targets the patient’s immediate complaint, without necessarily addressing the root cause of the problem. This approach relies heavily on treatments such as drugs or surgery that offer temporary relief.
Regrettably, this method of care lacks the necessary framework and resources to prevent and manage illnesses effectively. It often overlooks the unique genetic makeup and lifestyle factors of each individual, and further research is needed to demonstrate its effectiveness. Moreover, many physicians are not sufficiently equipped to evaluate the underlying causes of chronic diseases or provide nutrition, diet, and exercise support to their patients to prevent illnesses.
How is Functional Medicine Different?
Functional medicine seeks to comprehend the root causes, prevention, and treatment of chronic ailments. A significant characteristic of this approach is the emphasis on the patient’s needs. Rather than simply treating illnesses, functional medicine concentrates on patient-centered care and promoting overall health. To achieve this, functional medicine practitioners adopt an innovative approach, exploring the patient’s medical history, physiology, lifestyle, and genetic makeup while also taking into account both internal (mind, body, and spirit) and external (physical and social environment) factors that affect optimal health.
This medical approach also delves into the underlying cause of the patient’s condition, seeking to determine the “why” behind their complaint. In this regard, it often requires extensive examination and treatments that aim to improve the functioning of the body and its organs.
Digestive Health
FOCUS ON HEALTHY FUNCTION – BODY SYSTEMS, METABOLIC PRIORITY SEQUENCE, AND MACRONUTRIENTS
Dr. Arn is a certified Enzyme Practitioner offering Loomis Enzymes® through Life Balance Medical Center. If you don’t yet know why you want to talk to her about getting yourself on enzymes, read on! These premium quality enzymes help with a myriad of issues and have proven especially beneficial to our clients issues.
ENZYMES: ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS
Food is fuel for living. It contains essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals to keep our bodies healthy and strong. However, some nutrients in raw food have not yet been widely recognized as essential to health and wellness: enzymes.
Countries in Europe and Asia, for example, are far ahead of the United States in recognizing the value of adding enzymes to not only daily dietary intake but also injury and surgery recovery regimens.1 In the United States, nutritional references recommend eating at least five to six servings of fresh fruits and vegetables each day to maintain health. What do fresh fruits and vegetables contain that canned or processed fruits and vegetables do not? Enzymes.
Enzymes are very large and complex protein molecules. They are very specific to what they will break down or digest. Besides moisture, they require three things to become active: the proper temperature, the proper pH (acid or alkaline), and the right substrate (or material) to break down. For example, protease—the enzyme that breaks down protein—will only work on protein, not carbohydrate.
Enzymes run the biochemical reactions in living things including humans, animals, and plants. This means that enzymes do the “work” in the body whereas vitamins and minerals, also known as coenzymes, are only building blocks. What isn’t commonly understood is how important enzymes are to digestion and to the concept of staying healthy.
Enzymes are a natural part of vegetables, fruits, grains, and other raw food. Enzymes ripen then slowly “digest” raw food. For those of us who cannot live on a farm or close to an agricultural center, our food is generally purchased at grocery stores or supermarkets where food needs to stay fresh and look appealing. Moreover, our present-day society requires food to have extended shelf life as food is shipped from country to country, coast to coast. Food enzymes may be important, but they pose a very difficult problem for the food industry. Whether food is canned, pasteurized, genetically engineered, cooked, or packaged, enzymes must be systematically removed from our food supply for economic and practical reasons. Have you ever wondered how scientists are able to genetically engineer tomatoes to stay fresher longer? The enzyme content of the tomato is reduced or slowed so it does not digest itself as quickly. We are taught that a tomato rots; in reality, it is being digested or broken down by its own enzymes.
While it is regrettable that our food supply must be so radically altered, it is clearly necessary. But, if we fortify our foods with lost nutrients like vitamins and minerals, why not replace the enzymes? No other nutritional supplement can be substituted. Supplemental enzymes are not destroyed in the stomach, as many skeptics, who do not fully understand the digestive process, claim.
- Numerous references exist. Please refer to the clinical studies references.
- “Complete Guide to Home Canning”, Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 539, USDA, Reviewed 1994.
- Orally administered enzymes are fast becoming part of medical protocols. Refer to the clinical studies references for more information.
Digestion
Digestion is largely taken for granted by just about everybody. You may assume that what you put into your mouth is going to be digested. But, digestion doesn’t just happen: it is a complicated process that is extremely important and should not be overlooked as a root cause for many health problems. When digestion does not occur the way it should, symptoms such as gas, bloating, and pain may result.
Digestion, or hydrolysis, is the process of breaking up food “into simpler chemical compounds by means of hydrolyzing enzymes or chemical action….”4 In other words, digestion breaks up food into small units so the body can use the nutrients for energy or growth and repair. More to the point, hydrochloric acid does not digest food; enzymes do.5 If hydrochloric acid cannot be adequately produced, as may be the case with older adults, 6 enzymes do not activate.
The normal digestive process begins in the mouth. While you chew food, your salivary glands secrete digestive enzymes that begin to work immediately. You can demonstrate this enzyme action for yourself by thoroughly chewing a piece of bread. After a short time, the bread will begin to taste sweet as the sugar-digesting enzymes in the saliva liberate the sugar in the bread. If raw food is eaten, the naturally occurring enzymes in that food will also participate. If the food enzymes have been denatured or destroyed through a food processing method, only the enzymes in the saliva are available to begin digestion. Even after being chewed, some food pieces are still too large to pass through the wall of the stomach and intestines. They must be broken down into much smaller pieces.
Contrary to the popular conception of a bubbling cauldron of acid, your stomach is nearly empty when you first begin to eat. When you swallow food, the stomach begins to produce the acid and enzymes needed for digestion. This window of time, while the body gathers hydrochloric acid in the stomach, can last for up to one hour. In the meantime, the salivary enzymes and food enzymes are continuing to work at breaking down the ingested food.
As hydrochloric acid gathers in the stomach, it becomes an acidic environment. This acidity is ideal for the activation of the protein-digesting enzyme, pepsinogen, which upon activation becomes pepsin. These protein-digesting enzymes begin working while the food and salivary enzymes are deactivated, since this environment is not optimal for certain enzymes to work. Moreover, these enzymes—supplemental and naturally occurring—are not destroyed.7 Based on the amount and type of food you have eaten, the body produces the exact amount of enzymes needed to continue digesting the food.8
After the food leaves the stomach, it enters the upper part of the small intestine, called the duodenum. It is here that the liver (and gallbladder, if you still have yours) adds bile to the mix, making the intestinal environment alkaline. Bile does not contain enzymes and does no digestive work. However, it is responsible for degreasing food. In other words, bile acts as a detergent and breaks down any fats or oils that are coating the food. This step is necessary so that the enzymes from the pancreas can reach the food and finish digestion.
The enzymes that work in an alkaline environment are activated, such as supplemental pancreatic enzymes (derived from animals). The body has done most of the work by this time; therefore, supplemental pancreatic enzymes do not necessarily help with digestion before this point. The digested food particles now pass through the intestinal wall to be assimilated by the body. The indigestible portions of the food, such as insoluble fiber, are pushed into the colon for elimination. When one step of the process does not happen, the subsequent digestive actions are affected. For instance, if you take antacids, you are reducing your body’s ability to produce hydrochloric acid and, therefore, your ability to digest protein, which now has no way of being thoroughly broken down. Protein digestion must begin in the acidic environment of the stomach.
4. Stedman’s Medical Dictionary.
5. Guyton, pp. 833-844.
6. Sharp and Fister; Sandstrom and Abrahamsson; and Krasinski, Russell, and Samloff. See the clinical studies references.
7. Ambrus, Lassman, and DeMarchi; Rothman, Liebow, and Isenman. See the clinical studies references.
8. Boivin et al. See the clinical studies references.
Enzyme Activity
Enzymes are measured by the amount of work they do. This is referred to as an enzyme’s activity. The United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) outlines the standard units to measure the activity for most enzymes in the Food Chemical Codex (FCC). However, there are enzymes which are not defined in this publication: Proteolytic enzymes measured in DPP-IV units and proprietary enzymes are just two examples.
There is a vast amount of information available advising that an enzyme product should be labeled with these units and you should purchase the one that has the most activity. Many companies market their products in this manner, which is exactly how vitamin and mineral supplements are marketed. Unlike vitamin and mineral supplements, there is no recommended daily allowance for enzymes, nor is there a complete reference for maximum daily intake of each enzyme. Enzymes can have a profound impact on your body’s chemistry and taking mega-doses of an enzyme is rarely a good choice.
Loomis Enzymes® does not market products in this fashion. While Loomis agrees with very little the competitors espouse, they do agree that enzymes should be purchased by their activity and the activity should be measured as prescribed by the FCC (if listed). Loomis products are backed by significant clinical work, perfecting the activity level of each enzyme used. Loomis believes the information and research accumulated in this time is proprietary and protects it by listing enzymes in a “Proprietary Blend” with a cumulative weight. This method of labeling products is authorized by the FDA in CFR 21 101.36, Nutrition labeling of dietary supplements.
Loomis Enzymes® sources, formulates, tests, and manufactures enzymes by activity. If an enzyme is listed in the FCC, Loomis requires the activity to be measured in the unit it prescribes. Several Loomis products are the strongest available, while formulas with botanicals may only use enough enzymes to assimilate those botanicals. Many Loomis products have been on the market for over 20 years and have an unblemished safety record. Loomis stands behind all their products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Using Herbs with Enzymes
WHY USE HERBS AND WHOLE FOOD COMPLEXES WITH ENZYMES?
The herbs are analyzed for protein, carbohydrates, fats, and fiber, and appropriate enzymes are added to the encapsulation to ensure proper assimilation. Nutrients are then delivered, past an incompetent digestive system, and the body is nourished. This is the original concept on which Dr. Loomis founded Enzyme Formulations®, Inc.
Whole herbs and even certain foods were used long ago for their healing properties, before active ingredients were thought to be the answer to “what ails you.” High-potency herbal supplements, extracts, and vitamins and minerals are really concentrated chemical compounds, needing to be detoxified by the body just like any drug. When your diet is lacking in raw foods and fresh fruits and vegetables, take enzymes to supplement your nutritional needs and assist in digesting your diet. Above all else, however, exercise and a good diet consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein are important to leading a healthy lifestyle.
In developing a product line using herbs, we must blend theory not only with physiology and biochemistry but also with common sense. Theoretically, the fresh plant, straight from the garden or field, would seem to have the most effective and pure applicability to human health. Such a plant would be unspoiled by any processing and intact in its contents.
Many medicinal plants are best in the fresh state, especially the culinary herbs. The aromatic oils and oleoresins are actively present, and any water-soluble vitamin loss is minimized. But, the use of drying renders some plants, which would otherwise be far too active to use at all, tame and safe. It is a basic principle of botany that the drying of plants reduces alkaloid activity, reducing this content further the longer the drying proceeds.
Any assumption about the action of a plant that relies solely on the basis of the action of a constituent should be resisted. It should always be recalled that the action of the whole plant is more than the action of its parts. We look at constituents for the following reasons:
- to provide possible explanations for the already perceived action of the whole plant;
- to point to possible actions, beneficial or harmful, that might have been missed because of the context of traditional use (cardiac benefits and certain long-term toxic effects, for example, may both have escaped notice in the past);
- to find any evidence for the particular therapeutic approach traditionally applied to the use of herbal remedies–particularly for the claim that they provoke recuperative responses;
- to illustrate the full diversity of plant pharmacology.
Herbal Properties
“High in calcium,” “low in sodium,” “potassium-rich,” “lacking copper balance”: the elements are named in their free state, not in their actual combinations with each other. It is necessary to learn a little basic physiology to appreciate this method of categorizing plant contents. All the chemistry of foods, fluids, etc. ingested daily goes through a rearrangement in various parts of the digestive apparatus and with associated organs like the liver and pancreas. What goes in as a food or plant rich in certain compounds will emerge for distribution through the blood after a game of chemical musical chairs.
Therefore, when an herb is labeled “rich in calcium,” there will be a predominance of calcium compounds available for breakdown by the liver, for example, into other calcium compounds. During this activity, the free ions of calcium cross the floor to dance with another chemical partner. The whole process introduces a calcium-rich environment as this changeover is taking place. Any calcium compounds needed by the body will be eagerly combined.
So an herb rich in calcium will be expected to provide nutrients for bones, teeth, nails, hair, and nerve fibers if the digestive tract can assimilate them out of the food. When you read of a plant which improves the health and function of bones, teeth, nails, and so on, you would expect to find it rich in calcium, the mineral most needed for these body parts to function well.
