Sports Psychology

HEALING FROM THE INSIDE OUT - ACUTE INJURIES
by Dr. Ritchi Morris, D.Sci, .Ph.D., D.N. ,C.N.C., M.D.H., F.C.H.

INTRODUCTION

In Part I, the concept of "healing from the inside out" operating in concert with the external or structural healing modalities was introduced. it was emphasized that the most essential ingredients in any healing strategy are the natural nutrients and/or supplements from the realms of naturopathy, Herbology, homeopathy and/or Ayurveda.

The purpose of this installment is to outline the nutritional supplemental strategies which address healing acute injuries. The dietary measures which create an internal ecological health conducive to rapid and complete recovery are reiterated first. Then, the various vitamins which play key roles in tissue repair and the process by which they accomplish such recuperation are explored.

IMPORTANCE OF DIET IN HEALING ACUTE INJURIES

A healthy gut (digestive track) is essential, both to provide good absorption of the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, and to support the normal intestinal bacteria that manufacture many of the vitamins. An unprocessed, natural diet of fresh vegetables, whole grains, fish and lean meats will protect most people from creating an internal environment which does not promote good health.

A myriad of research has demonstrated that traumas to the body (as well as to the emotional/psychological realm) deplete the body's reserves of even its minimal amounts of nutrients. There is a growing body of scientific literature which documents the central role that certain nutrients play in assisting the body's healing process. Dr. Bucci, Director of Research for Biotics Corporation, has provided in his many articles the type of dietary regime akin to the one recommended below for prevention and cure of acute injuries. For our purposes here a reiteration of the consumption strategies which incorporate the afore-mentioned data by many nutritional experts is set forth.

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MORRIS' DAILY DOZEN

There are consumption strategies which will incorporate the aforementioned data and help one's body achieve the most efficient prevention of and/or healing of injuries. Dietary guidelines espoused below encompass all of these factors germane to healing effectively.

FIRST of all, and most importantly, FRESH, RAW - increase the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, raw and uncooked, if at all possible at all times. A viable alternative is the steaming of the fruits and vegetables ever so slightly.

SECOND , reduce red meat consumption. Replace these red meats and poultry with deep sea fish or wild game. Even slow cooked wild game is acceptable.

THIRD , substitute all prepared and canned foods with sprouts, greens, and other forms of starches (tubers, rices, legumes, peas, and/or seaweed's).

FOURTH , non-dairy products (soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, potato milk, etc) should be substituted for the high fat containing dairy products. Eggs are allowed as long as they're not fried or basted in saturated oils or fats.

FIFTH , broiling, boiling or stir frying of your foods should replace frying, pan frying or sautéing.

SIXTH , eliminate saturated oils and fats. Replace these with monounsaturated fats and sparring use of extra virgin olive oil. Also, sesame seed oil, cold pressed canola and/or avocado oils may be substituted for saturated olive oils.

SEVENTH , in concert with #6, eliminate all greasy foods, fried foods, fatty meats, refined foods, refined sugars, lard, shortenings, salt, caffeine, alcohol, partially hydrogenated oils, high fat condiments (such as sour cream, creamy salad dressings, butter, margarine), dairy products and cooking foods with saturated fats and/or oils.

EIGHTH , the percentage of consumption of carbohydrates, protein and lipids should be: 70-75% complex carbohydrates, 15-20% of your calories from protein, 5-10% calories from fats.

NINTH , flush, flush, flush . It is imperative that the body is kept flushed daily. Therefore, one must drink a minimum of 8-10 glasses of pure, filtered water daily in order to aid the breakdown of and elimination of the by-products of dietary intake.

TENTH , combine foods properly. Different substances/nutrients are broken down in different chambers of the digestive track.

Therefore, if certain substances are delayed in the incorrect track there are not digestive juices to properly break them down and they will ferment. The following combinations are suggested: Primary proteins (nuts, seeds, lecithin, etc.) combine well with vegetables and combine fair with sub-acid fruits; secondary proteins (peanuts, eggs, fish) are only combined well with vegetables.

They do not digest well even with fruits or other primary proteins; starches digest well only with other starches; fats combine effectively only with vegetables; sweet fruits (bananas, figs, dates, or dried fruits) digest well with fats, starches and sub-acid fruits; sub-acid fruits (all the berries except strawberries, apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes) combine well only with primary proteins; and lastly, melons - eat them alone or leave them alone. When combined with the other forms of food mentioned above, they ferment and cause bloating and gastric distress.

ELEVENTH , the order in which foods are consumed should be the following; a glass of liquid, preferably water (8-12 ounces) should be consumed 5-15 minutes before eating any solids, including soups. This should be followed by a fresh, raw combination (a carrot, an apple, and a salad of green, leafy vegetables), then the main protein or starch or fruit should be eaten. Never eat fruit as a dessert or after any meal. It will ferment in the digestive track. And

TWELFTH , consume sufficient amount of calories daily in order to supply the body with the energy it needs for prevention and/or healing. The approximate formula would be 1500-2000 calories per day per 150 lbs. of body weight.

IMPORTANCE OF VITAMINS IN HEALING ACUTE INJURIES

(See Table I) Most acute injuries involve some form of extreme stress -whether a tear, break or strain - to the connective tissue in the area of bodily insult. Such injuries usually include:

Strains, sprains, deep bruises or hematoma, dislocations and/or fractures. Although the particular nutrients, which are endemic to a particular injury, will vary slightly, there is one procedure which should be initiated immediately upon receiving the trauma regardless of its type: This is called the RICE principal.

This method entails the immediate REST for the area of insult to prevent further damage.
The next step is to apply ICE to the area of insult in order to prevent engorgement of blood from rushing to the region and causing swelling and also bringing too much calcium and other nutrients that will cause complications from an overage. By applying pressure via a wrap or bandage, etc., COMPRESSION should be achieved.

This will both control the swelling and support the injury. The last phase is to EXTEND or ELEVATE the area gently and passively to prevent adhesions, stiffness, etc. as much as possible (this applies only to those injuries that can be obviously elevated).

Richard T. Giordano , a widely renowned sports physical therapist and trainer in Tarrytown, NY, states: "Instant RICE; not slow-cooked RICE! That is, the more instantaneously the RICE principle can be invoked, the higher the chances are that the injury can be dealt with effectively and successfully." Giordano states emphatically that the many athletes and other patients that they have treated for acute injuries have responded best when the RICE principle was applied within the first hour and continued throughout the first 48-72 hours. He also stated, "Generally, remember that ice is nice, heat can't be beat, but rest is best!" Here we see the importance of the interplay between external/structural healing techniques and inner healing methodologies.

The two vitamins of most importance in the instance of acute trauma are Vitamin C and Vitamin B15 (Pangamic Acid). The latter will be discussed in detail below. In reference to Vitamin C it is the natural complex of Vitamin C which must include Bio-flavonoids, Hesperidin, Rutin, and Vitamin C complex from a natural source (not Ascorbic Acid). The most potent and complete source is sago palm followed by rose hips.

DO NOT USE

The ascorbic acid form of vitamin c as sold in your inexpensive or discount brands because the body does not process it well, it does not chelate heavy metals and it is a chemical reproduction of the vitamin c structure. Indeed, there is some research which shows that ascorbic acid actually attracts heavy metal poisons!!!

Vitamin C has several properties which rank it as the "best friend" of acute injuries and their prevention. Its main feature is the role it plays in helping the body's enzymes to create the connective tissue matrixeses that are of primary importance in recuperation.

Secondly, data provided by James Webster, in his book Vitamin C,
The Protective Vitamin , documents that Vitamin C has an anti-inflammatory effect by detoxifying histamines.

Thirdly, it is one of the most powerful antioxidants. As such, it blocks the effects of heavy metal toxicity upon tissue recuperation, vis a vis, chelation thereby preventing the toxic substances from complicating and/or impeding tissue regeneration. Since very large doses are necessary for healing (according to Dr. Linus Pauling's research, he recommends up to 20,000 mgs. or 20 grams per day just for maintenance and prevention), the most desirable form is a buffered one so as to prevent hyperacidity of the G.I./ digestive track. There are several well-made buffered formulas from sago palm, which are designed for high dosage consumption without such complications.

There is a supplementary role for all the antioxidants based upon the aforementioned need for chelation. Data offered by Dr. Pavo Airola in his many books over the years has demonstrated that acute injury produces toxic byproducts from the destroyed tissue. Also, the region of insult actually attracts toxic substances to it due to the heat created by the trauma. There-fore, ample doses of the known antioxidant substances such as Vitamins A, D, E, and Selenium are indicated. Since the recom-mended dosages for Vitamin A are high. I suggest Beta-Carotene in place of the Vitamin A itself as the body processes Beta-Carotene into Vitamin A naturally without risk of an overdose.

Another negative byproduct of trauma is the interruption of fluid balance in the given region of the injury. This can result in the loss of amounts of water soluble vitamins such as Vitamin C and the Vitamin B Complex. As stated above, the most important B vitamin is Pangamic Acid or Vitamin B15. Isolated from apricot pits in 1959 by Dr. E. T. Krebs, he assigned it to the 15th place in the Vitamin B series. However, there seems to have been a misnomer because it has not been proved an essential dietary requirements, the absence of which would lead to a deficiency or disease officially. Despite its ambiguous nutritional status, Pangamic acid has been widely studied and accepted in many countries outside of the United States especially in the Soviet Union as a necessary food factor with important physiological and psychological actions.

In their book, Life Extension, Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw cored the healing capacities of Pangamic acid to a multitude of ailments, especially physical traumas of acute and chronic nature. The Russians have studied B15 most intensively and have reported it useful in treating a wide variety of stressful and traumatic situations such as alcoholism and other substance addictions, autism, mental illnesses, minimal forms of brain damage, senility, aging, Alzheimer's Disease, heart disease, diabetes, liver disease and other organ poisoning and acute athletic injuries.

The Russians, administering 50 mg. tablets of B15 twice a day to serious acute injuries for periods of 20-30 days, found the majority of cases to respond in a superior way to any other treatment they used. American researchers, treating autism and learning disorders in children, gave them 50-100 mgs. three times daily and reported no side effects at these high levels. Pangamic Acid from all studies around the world appears to be quite non-toxic. The lethal dose for a 150 lb. human is estimated to be 2.2 lbs. in a single administration. Finally, B15 has been shown to accomplish its superior healing action via the oxygenation process. By vastly improving the circula-tion of the overall system and effectively and completely oxygenating the blood, Pangamic acid acts quickly and completely to carry the vital nutrients within itself as well as those of the other compounds to the area of insult.

SUMMARY

The focusing herein has been of maximizing the body's capacity to recuperate from acute injuries involved. There are several components involved: A. Dietary; B. Vitamins; C; Minerals (minerals will be discussed in detail in the next installment -Part Il-B). The interplay between these variables determines the speed and extent of successful tissue recovery.

The recommended dietary measures are calculated to create the balance internal ecology which is conducive to the optimal transportation and assimilation of the vitamins and minerals (as well as herbs, micronutrients and homeopathics which will be discussed Part III) necessary for healing.
These dietary protocols must be reasonable and calculated to promote prevention and/or healing. The quality of the proteins, carbohydrates and lipids must be high and they must be natural so that the body can process and assimilate them as completely and effectively as possible.

By following the principles of "Morris' Daily Dozen" one can insure such quality, especially from carbohydrates. In this same way, the quality of vitamin and mineral compounds which one consumes must also be high and natural. In concert with my underlying principle of "caveat emptor," [let the buyer beware] you, the consumer - must be careful to insure that you obtain the finest quality supplements possible. Price and/or convenience should not be factors when it pertains to healing acute injuries or any injuries for that matter.

The process by which the appropriate vitamins and minerals are absorbed is of paramount importance. Proper compounds must be supplied in order to meet the metabolic needs of specific acute traumas. In conjunction with this the proper minerals must be supplied in order to insure transportation of the indicated vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc. across cell membranes and into the nuclei where they can accomplish the healing.

The next two installments will discuss the application of the appropriate minerals, herbs, micronutrients and homeopathic remedies for healing acute injuries.

There are several companies that produce top quality vitamins and minerals and combinations thereof. Remember, many inferior forms of these substances are being sold and are presumed to be good quality just because they are being sold by "big name companies" or "famous athletes." If you decide to know the best and most efficient sources of these substances or have any further questions about this particular segment of this series please feel free to contact:

Dr. Morris at Vital Quests, P.O. Box 75, Ardsley, New York 10502.
PLEASE INCLUDE A STAMPED SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOP WITH YOUR REQUEST - OTHERWISE YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE AN ANSWER.

TABLE I

Vitamin/Mineral/Amino Acid Supplement Protocol for Acute Injury Healing*

*Remember: The quality of the nutrient substance is of the utmost importance

Vitamin B1 (Pangamic Acid)
Vitamin C buffered form) - the complex with Hesperidin, Rutin, Bio-flavonoid Complex - 6-8000 mg..

Antioxidant Mixture (Co-Enzyme Q-10 (20-4Omg/d.); SOD (15,000 M.F.U.); Catalase and Glutathione (15, 000 BSU), Peroxidase

Vitamin A - 2,500-5,000 u., preferably in Beta-Carotene form Vitamin B Complex
B1 - 200 mg
B2 - 100 mg
B3 (Niacin) - 50-80 mg
B5 - 500-700 mg
B6 - 50 mg
B1,- 100-250 mg./bid - must be sublingual form
Folic Acid - 800-1,000 mg
Biotin - 400-500 mcg Vitamin D3 - 500-800 i.u.
Vitamin E - 800-1,000 i.u.

Minerals

Calcium 1,000 mg. (Aspartate & Orotate complex)
Magnesium 1,000* mg'. (Aspartate & Orotate complex)
Manganese 50-75 mg. (Aspartate complex)
Zinc 20-40 mg. (Picolinate)
Copper 3-6 mg. (Amino acid chelate)
Selenium 200-300 mcg (Organic form in amino acid complex and kelp)
Potassium 150-200 mcg (Aspartate complex)
Chromium 200-3 00 mcg. (Organically bound trivalent Chromium GTF)
Boron 2-5 mg. (Aspartate/Citrate complex)
(No Iron)

Other Healing Agents

Purified Chondroitin Sulfate - 1-2 g. (with meals)
Proteolytic Enzymes - 10 tabs 4 x per day (empty stomach)

Amino Acids

L-Cysteine - 300-400 mg.
DL-Methiomine - 100 mg.
Brolelain - 50-100 zig. (Quercetin)

*Traditionally, researchers have recommended CA:Mag. in a 2:1 ratio.
Hc~ever, Drs. Hans Nieper and Marvin Kaplan of Philadelphia, PA contend that even proportions are the most effective.

Next article:
THE TRUTH ABOUT ""ANABOLIC STEROID REPLACERS", CHROMIUM PICOLINATE