Just a quick message to advise that the Purehealthshop.co.uk site is having a poorly currently and is down. I have reported it to the server company and they are trying to sort it out asap. Sorry for any inconvenience.
If you wish to order tests, ebooks, factsheets etc, just email me micki@purehealthclinic.co.uk and I can send a Paypal button to you by email instead.
Thanks for your patience – and to Carolyn who alerted me!
Flippin’ technology – great when it works, maddening when it doesn’t!
We haven’t often talked about skin disorders related to gluten, have we? I saw this today about the main skin disorder associated with gluten sensitivity: dermatitis herpetiformis (often shortened to DH), and thought it might be useful for some of you. It’s a mainstream introduction from Medscape:
Here’s a picture of what it looks like – sort of raised red blisters really, although it does vary so always get a proper diagnosis; there are many types of dermatitis.
See here also for a good summary of gluten skin disorders. Sometimes, skin problems can be the only manifestation of gluten sensitivity. In fact, my first ever gluten-sensitive had DH and it refused to go on a traditional gluten free diet. That was years before I made the decision to treat gluten sensitivity with a grain free rather than gliadin free diet. Wish I’d known then for her sake!
As you can tell, I am catching up with stuff I haven’t been able to do with my Adrenal Plan writing hat on!
Hot on the heels of the new NeuroHormone tests, I have also changed the Vitamin B12 and Anaemia tests, which I know again that some of you have been waiting for me to do!
Why have I changed them?
Well, I have been coming across quite a few people who test fine on serum B12, but who quite clearly have B12 deficiency symptoms and who go on to improve on a B12 supplement trial.
Of course, I had to look into it. And, as Providence or someone or other would have it, TDL labs was also doing the same thing and had just introduced a new Active B12 test. Basically, like the red blood cell mineral tests, this looks for the metabolic levels of B12 rather than what is just in your blood. Here is some info on that for you (bit techy, but you get the point):
What is Active B-12?
Three carrier proteins are involved in the transport of Vitamin B12 around the body – Intrinsic Factor (IF), transcobalamin (TC) and haptocorrin (HC).When transcobalamin and haptocorrin bind Vitamin B12 the resulting complexes are known as holotranscobalamin (HoloTC) and holohaptocorrin (HoloHC).
Holotranscobalamin represents only 10-30% of the Vitamin B12 circulating in the blood but is the ONLY form of Vitamin B12 that is taken up and used by cells of the body, hence it’s other name… ACTIVE-B12.
Only transcobalamin transports Vitamin B12 from its site of absorption in the ileum to tissues and cells. The vitamin is then internalised as the Active-B12 (vitamin B12 bound to transcobalamin) complex via a specific receptor-mediated uptake. This process delivers Vitamin B12 into the cells of the body and provides the vitamin as an essential co-enzyme for vital cellular functions such as DNA synthesis..
The remaining 70-90% of circulating Vitamin B12 is bound to haptocorrin, the function of which is unknown.
Because up to 90% of circulating Vitamin B12 is bound tohaptocorrin and is therefore biologically unavailable for most cells, the traditional Total B12 test can give a misleading representation of the patient’s Vitamin B12status. Active-B12, the part of Vitamin B12 bound to transcobalamin (TC), is the portion that delivers Vitamin B12 to the tissues of the body.
Also, Active-B12 has a shorter circulating half-life compared to holohaptocorrin so the earliest change that occurs on entering negative vitamin B12 balance is very likely to be a decrease in Active-B12 concentration
So, a no-brainer then to change to measuring active B12. You can see the new Vitamin B12 test here for more info.
I also wanted to extend the anaemia test to include the new active B12, but also red cell folate instead, again, of the usual serum type, and a few other indices too, including ESR for inflammation since high levels in the body can lead to misleading iron results. It’s all very technical, y’know; I don’t just make this stuff up 
Anyway, I think the new anaemia test is much improved on the last one but I can still do the previous Genova one if you need to do comparisons, so just ask. I’ve taken it off the shop site so I don’t confuse with having two anaemia tests.
OK, see the new Active B12 test here and the new Anaemia test with active B12 and red cell folate here.
Blimey, doing those hormone, neurotransmitters, adrenal, cortisol, B12 and anaemia test changes has taken me all day and I am shattered now! Hope they help you; am rather pleased with myself 
Just a quickie as I know some of you have been asking about this and you may not have noticed it in my last post:
we can now do single cortisol samples!!
Sometimes you need to see what your cortisol is doing at specific times of the day or night. You can do single saliva samples instead of or in addition to the normal adrenal stress test if you want to test at times not included in normal testing or you are keeping your eye on a specific time of day.
Sometimes, people want to test their cortisol levels when they are having a specific set of symptoms to see if they are caused or exacerbated by a cortisol rise or drop, and that’s what this test is for.
Order one or several as needed. You will get the number of vials ordered and can then take your samples and send them off as you need to, either all together if taken on the same day, or one at a time if taken on different days.
So, if you want to see what your cortisol is up to at 3am, now you can . Rather you than me up at that time, but I know some of you are up then, feeling less than brilliant and have been wanting to test cortisol when you want to and not when the normal lab tests say you must.
I asked, I got. I take a bow….
As I was writing the Adrenal Plan (TGF one on its way, promise), I noted the massive link between brain neurotransmitters, adrenals and hormones. You can measure all of those separately, but I have found a way of doing them all together for you.
The test will assess your hormonal status, adrenal function and neurotransmitter balance.
The difference with this test that I haven’t seen before is the addition of the neurotransmitters to the usual hormone-only panels. It enables you to assess how the HPA axis function may be contributing to symptoms such as mood swings, fatigue, and pain. [HPA = hypothalamus - pituitary - adrenal axis.]
It is for both men and women and is especially useful if you have any of these symptoms:
So, there are two tests, one for both men and women, and a second with more women-only info:
This measures the six main neurotransmitters (urine):
Serotonin, GABA, Dopamine, Epinephrine (Adrenaline), Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline) and Glutamate
the main sex hormones (one day sample, saliva):
Oestradiol (E2)
Progesterone
Testosterone
and the usual Adrenal Hormones (saliva):
DHEA
4 Cortisols
NeuroHormone Complete Test (for women only)
This measures all of that but also includes much more oestrogen info for women since it gives us three different oestrogens and the ratios between those and progesterone. This is especially useful to assess oestrogen dominance and consequent risk of oestrogen-sensitive disorders like breast cancer or endometriosis etc.
Click on each test to read more. These are brand new to the UK and will make life easier for those wanting to get a really good look at their neurotransmitter, adrenal and hormone status.
As you can probably tell, hormone testing is a veritable minefield and you can do tons of different combinations. I have listed those new ones because they do the main bits of most systems – if we could get thyroid in, we’d have it pretty much covered!
To help, here are the key hormone tests for you in an easy list. As always, ask me and I will advise what would be best for you, depending on what you want to know:
Neurotransmitter Tests
You can do more neurotransmitters here,
Adrenal Tests
The usual adrenal status here and the comprehensive one that includes SIgA here. Neither of these are suitable for under 14s, but I now have a lab who will do children as they have the correct reference ranges. I haven’t listed it to save any confusion, but do ask if you need that.
If you need single cortisol tests (ie. you want to see if your cortisol is high or low at a certain time of day/night/when symptoms occur/not when the normal test samples are done), I have convinced a lab to help us and you can now do that too.
Female Hormone Tests
a full month female hormone status test here and there is also a female hormone full month including adrenals here and an assessment of oestrogen dominance on its own here.
If all you need is a snapshot of your hormones, there is a one day oestrogen/progesterone test here.
If you are menopausal, here is one of my favourite tests because it checks normal hormone levels but also oestrogen dominance for future cancer risk and bone markers for osteoporosis risk. I can check FSH and LH status if you need to confirm your menopausal status so do ask, but I haven’t listed it as this is easily done by your doctors.
Male Hormone Tests
For men, I have just listed single saliva testosterone and you can also have a male hormone panel which includes adrenal status and testosterone.
Thyroid Tests
For thyroid, you can do the full thyroid screen here. I usually do the blood rather than urine because I often find antibodies and reverse T3 come up, which just don’t show in urine tests. However, there is a useful combined urine thyroid and adrenal test here.
Don’t even get me started on fertility testing; I’ll cover that one another time!
Hope that helps – it will certainly help me when I am asked ‘Do you do hormone testing?’. I can just point you to this blog post and say ‘which hormones??!’
Many of you will recall that ARG’s MultiViMin without copper and iron was found to have corn-derived Vitamin C in it instead of the cassava-derived Vitamin C it was meant to have. I discovered this after a few of us started reacting suddenly.
We have been waiting patiently and I diarised to chase the issue monthly since we found out. I am pleased to say that ARG advised me last week that they now have some stock of cassava back in.
I have checked with Natural Dispensary and they have ordered some in for us. Please make sure that you ask for and get sent
Allergy ResearchGgroup MultiViMin without copper and iron lot number 0313076, expiry date 04/15.
Any other lot number will be corny.
You can call ND or send them an email or message with your order, but DO check you get the right stuff as it is very easy for them to pick and send the wrong one.
ARG also advised it is really difficult to get the cassava C and…
it may be as late as August before we can get the cassava source c in stock again.
Please stock up and do advise me if you get a different lot number in future so we can see it has changed and I can check it out again. That’s the only way I will find out, no doubt.
Dr Osborne’s Multi
I also know some of you are waiting for me to try Dr O’s new supposedly TGF-safe multi. I have had it sitting on my desk for almost 3 weeks now and have been waiting for them to confirm safety since the label contains ascorbyl palmitate but the website doesn’t. I have chased several times but they are not the best at answering questions, as we have discovered before, and this makes me feel nervous. I wonder if anyone wants to try it instead of me – I’ll send you a few if you like! I have checked everything else out and it does look like it should be fine, so fingers still crossed.
Just to let you know, an interview I gave about histamine intolerance has just been published on the Low Histamine Chef blog so go and take a peek if you like.
I can no way be called an expert on histamine issues and I have a long way to go with learning about it, but I gave my take on it anyway. Hope it is of some help. Useful site to visit anyway if you suffer with or suspect histamine problems.
Interestingly, the lab who does the DAO histamine test for us has been teasing me that they have some more research/info on histamine and the gut to share with us soon. They are having a conference in Germany next week so I hope to find out more then. Look forward to it!
I recently came across this great summary of the most common skin disorders related to gluten illness when I was presented with what I thought looked like dermatitis herpetiformis, the skin condition most associated with coeliac disease. I was sending the person a gallery of lovely photos so she could have a look and see if she recognised it before seeing her GP.
In fact, did you know you can have just the skin manifestation of coeliac disease and no other symptoms present and you are still classed as coeliac…?
The skin conditions discussed include:
Eczema
There are lots of links to each condition and photos that could help you identify them. If you spy something familiar, go and talk to your health professional.
Truly #Gluten Free: Progress Report: May 13
SO sorry: it has been ages since my last confession. Well, update anyway. I last did a proper progress report in February, then told you the good news about my adrenals in March, then here we are in May! My only excuse is busyness: Spring is traditionally my busiest time of year clinic-wise.
Anyway, lots to report on for you, so here goes if you are interested (I find doing this actually helps give me a written progress record so I do it anyway
)…
In Feb, I had dropped to 24 – the elusive under 25 score (remember 0 is good, over 200, where I was originally, is baaad). Sadly, it didn’t last and March increased to 33 and carried on increasing in April to a very displeasing
The reason: the ubiquitous gum problem, which began again right on the 1st March and is still going on (grr), hence the higher scores recently. It’s been at a low level most of the time but has caused sinus pain and headaches on and off as well as the usual not being able to eat very much (this is great for my figure at least!).
Dental Test
In a bid to get to the bottom of it, I had a dental swab test done by a lab in Germany. Why oh why these tests are not done in the UK beats me when they are de rigeur in Germany. Suffice to say, it was really worthwhile having done and I will be adding it to the test menu as soon as I can get it sorted.
Basically, the test looks for any sign of bacteria – things you expect to be there in periodontal disease/mouth problems – as well as nastier types, super (resistant) infections and fungal problems. Mine came back showing some normal and nasty bacteria (15 types in all) but thankfully no super strains and no fungals. At least I now know what I am dealing with.
I was really pleased too that the lab had also given a suggested treatment strategy and recommended both antibiotic and naturopathic regimens. We had a right laugh trying to get the German translations worked out, but are getting there gradually.
I am currently working out TGF safe versions of the things recommended and a German company that the lab refers you to has already made me some essential oil suppositories and mouth treatment to add on top of the suggested antibiotics so I can blast it with both types of prescription at the same time. I think I have even found a safe antibiotic; I will let you know. I am determined to beat it as I really think it is at the heart now of my continued sensitivity. I notice a definite increase in sensitivity after each episode.
I don’t think, though, that it is all caused by the bacterial infection. I think the mouth problem is a combination of infection and gluten damage. We know that gum tissue – a mucosal tissue – is a target for gluten damage and inflammation and I reckon there is a vicious circle going on whereby the gum is attacked, becomes more permeable, reacts to substances, lowers the immunity and bacteria have a field day.
So, treatment involves knocking out the bacteria and repairing the mucosal barrier as usual. Part of that will involve Vitamin C, which I don’t seem to be able to tolerate, even the cassava ones, which may in fact be the whole reason for having the mouth problem in the first place, or at least exacerbating it. Just today I have got some pure squeezed acerola cherry juice to try instead as it is extremely high in Vitamin C and people use it as a Vitamin C supplement at a couple of tablespoons a day. We’ll see: another new thing to try, arrggh…! Will let you know.
Painkillers
Good news here in that I have found a possible OK painkiller we don’t have to stick up our bums
. About a year ago, when the mouth infection was causing excruciating jaw bone pain, I presented myself at my GP’s on a Saturday morning and she was so shocked at the state of me (I was shaking with the pain and about to pass out), she gave me some morphine and some Co-Codamol.
When it had calmed down and I came down off the morphine (!), I went to the pharmacy to get the Co-Codamol. It was corny so I asked for the Rx to be changed to an effervescent version which I thought would be less problematic, if not perfect. Thankfully, I never had to use them.
A few weeks ago, though, that pain returned and, in desperation, I got them out and took one. Within four minutes, the pain had subsided enough to cope with and I gingerly waited for the migraine to start. It never did! Apart from having an upset stomach, feeling spaced out (not used to strong drugs) and actually having nightmares that night, they have been fine. Halleflippinlujah. I don’t want to have to use them, but actually knowing there is something there if I am in unbearable pain is SUCH a relief. Also, it means I can take some if I am out or away somewhere without having to lie on my right side for 45 minutes to keep the bum drug in long enough to work! Too much information there again…?! (I say it though only as it is useful for others to learn these things, promise.)
Anyway, they are Co-Codamol 30/500mg Effervescent Tablets. They contain 500mg paracetamol with 30mg of codeine. Click on the link to see the full patient leaflet. You will see it does contain citric acid and sorbitol so I would have expected my normal grainy reaction, but not so far – and you know how hyper-sensitive I am! You may not be the same, so please consider carefully.
Migraines 1 down, 1 to go
Some more good news is that I seem to have cracked the monthly period migraine. I am SO pleased with this. As you may recall, I tend to get two main migraines a month: one related to my period and one where I have reacted to something. Obviously they can be more often than that but that’s my average nowadays. They last 2 days as opposed to the 5 days they used to, thank goodness.
I ordered some customised cloth pads (with much trepidation and after much research) and used them from March onward instead of the usual sanitary wear. Result: no absorption of corn from the usual stuff and no period migraine for the last 3 months! I will do a special post on the pads etc shortly as there might be a bit too much info here for our male readers maybe! Suffice to say, they are cuter and much easier to use than I imagined, but I’ll leave it there…
Skin and Creams
One of my on and off sensitivity reactions in sore skin – like eczema but I’ve never had it diagnosed. It comes and goes but, for the life of me, I haven’t yet worked out what it is. At the beginning of the year, I think I mentioned that I was feeling ‘buggy’, just not myself: low grade headaches, aching etc. At the same time, my skin started being more consistently sore.
I worked out that I was feeling OK when I got up in the morning, but by mid morning, I was feeling rubbish again. I put it down to breakfast, but lots of changes made no difference, so I turned to what else I was doing every morning. The first thing I checked out was my moisturising cream from NHR. I have used this happily for years.
Just to be sure, I looked up the ingredients on line and – whoa – the ingredients list on the website and those on my label were totally different! The new ingredients list contained alcohol and other possibly grain-derived ingredients that weren’t there before. I stopped it immediately and within 3 days felt tons better.
I called NHR to ask what was going on. They explained that they had changed the formulation a few months ago but had not yet had new labels in and were working through their old ones. I had had a new order in and started using it just before the malaise started. To say I was annoyed would be a massive understatement. I felt let down by a company I have held in good regard and recommended for years. I complained in writing to discourage such a stupid, ignorant labelling practice and to save others falling into the same trap.
Anyway, the upshot is that I am now trying to find a good cream replacement. I am clearly reacting to sunflower via my skin now, and probably using it for weeks on end didn’t help. If I absorb an allergen via my skin, I get much milder reactions than if I ate or drank it, but they are still reactions and I suspect the skin soreness is part of that. Just in case, I have switched to very pure skincare stuff and am planning to confirm the sunflower issue shortly (some pure sunflower oil arrived this morning for just such a trial!). I hope it’s not that – have you ever noticed how sunflower is in everything when you start looking?!
A lot of my time is now going on testing skincare and toiletry items – is this causing the gum reactions? Maybe. Definitely had a reaction to beeswax on my skin. Why, I wondered? Then I read that in bad Winters, beekeepers have to give extra feed to their bees and that is often fructose derived from corn. This isn’t the case in the UK mostly, apparently, but I have yet to find any UK beeswax to test this theory out. The one I used was from Neals Yard and is Argentinian, I believe.
Adrenals
Adrenal results came back in April as I said, and I was so pleased to see they are now normal. This has really taken some doing – about two years post grain removal, I reckon it has taken to get them to recover. They were so flat, I was actually shocked when I looked again at my results from 3 years ago. No wonder I had chronic fatigue. You can read more about the adrenal results here, if you like.
So, in essence: some good, some not so good progress. Migraines and adrenals much improved. Gums and skin not so good. That said, in naturopathic terms, we were always taught to look for healing going from within to without. In other words, as deeper problems in organs, glands, cells etc improve, you often get a more surface problem pop up or worsen – and that’s skin. So, let’s hope I can take the changes as a good sign of healing. I just wish it would hurry up
.
Bared my soul again for you there in case it sparks a lightbulb moment for any of you. I hope you are all inching, or preferably leaping, forward too.
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