Testosterone and the Modern Man by Antonio Peirce

Andropause: scourge of all that is male. Want to stop it, halt it and throw it back into whatever pit it crawled out of? Are you tired of being tired? Hate the gut? Would you like your libido back, would you like it to stay?  Would you like to regain your masculine power and feel the prowess and vitality you used to? We are modern man, and modern man must counter-balance a sometimes debilitating modern culture with modern design. Engineering your lifestyle a little and offsetting naturally declining hormone levels with Testosterone Replacement Therapy can keep you feeling like you were 25 until your 80, after that, maybe 26.

The decline of natural testosterone hinges partly on nature and largely on culture and environment. Here are a few nearly universal basics:

• Over-indulgence of rich, fatty foods and sugars boosts estrogens and slows blood flow.
• Overuse of plastics and the collateral inhalation of solvents tends to boost estrogen levels.
• Toxin build-up may hamper the body’s ability to lose weight and cause depression, preventing testosterone production and increasing estrogen.
• A stationary lifestyle does not place a demand on the body to produce testosterone, so it doesn’t.

In general, a diet rich in protein and vegetables with a moderate, low glycemic intake of carbohydrates and some healthy fats (olive oil, fish-oil, coconut oil, nut butters) is ideal for most men. Carbohydrates are an energy source. If you do not perform physical labor of some kind throughout the day, you are not burning tons of energy and thereby should not eat tons of carbohydrates. Eating your carbs early in the day is best, as that gives you all day to burn them. A meal of vegetables and protein is ideal in the evening.

Avoiding plastics and estrogen encouraging fumes is essential. Microwave dinners and sun heated water bottles are two main culprits you can easily put an end to. No more microwave dinners and purchase a metal or glass water bottle. Be sure to work in a well ventilated area when using paint, automobile products (lubricants, cleaners and sealants), and when working with chemicals of any kind around the house (particularly pesticides, herbicides, bleaches, etc.).

Toxins slow the body’s functions down and significantly hamper testosterone production. Should you feel that you have an inordinate toxin build-up in your system a good detox is in order. Saunas, plenty of greens, castor-oil liver-packs, exercise, and some detoxifying supplementation would be very helpful. Other considerations you and your Bodhi Physician may discuss might include heavy metals chelating and/or a custom detox based on your specific needs.

Exercise is key to maintaining natural testosterone levels, whether supplementing your Testosterone or not. Men must exercise. There is no way around it. Remaining stationary causes weight gain, which increases fat, which encourages estrogen, which lowers total testosterone, which causes weight gain. It is a vicious cycle. End it with exercise, preferably resistance exercise at least 3 days per week to increase lean muscle mass and maintain a healthy heart and steady blood pressure. This encourages natural Testosterone production, increases your body’s ability to detox and keeps you in good shape to enjoy the benefits of greater Testosterone and vitality. Commit to exercising 45 minutes a day at least three times a week. Make it a permanent addition to your lifestyle. Weight lifting, resistance bands (Life-Line, Bowflex, etc.), calisthenics (push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups and jacks, though we aren’t talking 10 of each and your good), or any combination of the three will all work. Remember, change up the routine every three months and keep it difficult. If it isn’t hard, it is not telling your body to produce more muscle and thereby testosterone, enjoy the challenge, enjoy the benefits. This will also continue burn calories throughout your day at work and at home as your body works to acclimate.

These are necessities in any man’s life, so how do you take it step, or a leap or a bound further. How do you take advantage of all that is modern? How do you optimize? You come into Bodhi, and discuss your particular lifestyle, health concerns and goals for the future with your Bodhi Physician. In addition to what you and your physician discuss, you get your Total and Free Testosterone levels measured via blood test. Should your levels come back sub-optimal, your physician will likely recommend Testosterone Replacement in conjunction with supplementation to build and maintain your optimized body and prevent conversion or binding of your Testosterone to estrogens. A step further than this might include the addition of IV Therapy. IV Therapy delivers therapeutic doses of vitamins, minerals and amino acids directly into your blood stream, guaranteeing absorption. Different ratios of these things generate different effects in the body. Elimination of toxins, reversal of various diseases, accelerated healing, rejuvenation of energy and vitality, increased ability to gain and maintain muscle mass are just a few uses IV therapy can be employed towards.

Not sure? Come in for a complimentary 15 minute consult with a Bodhi Physician to see if you feel comfortable at Bodhi and discuss what we can do for you and how we would do it. We look forward to meeting you and optimizing your path to vitality and wellness.

Integrative medicine.   You may have been presented with this idea before, but what is integrative medicine?  Ponder for one moment what this type of medicine involves?  Who can it help?  Am I someone who should consider being treated by an integrative physician?  What kind of doctor practices integratively?  Finally, the question on every person’s mind: can it help me?

Before this questions can be answered one must understand how the non-integrative or “conventional doctor” practices.  “Conventional” physicians are trained in two modalities, drugs and surgery.  Therefore, when you visit a “conventional” physician one can expect to be treated for their particular condition with one or both of these approaches.  Once an individual receives a diagnosis, the treatment is already decided. If a suitable diagnosis cannot be established, the “watch and wait” technique is employed while the person’s illness grows.  The truth is that the vast majority of “conventional” physicians never deviate from the accepted, mundane treatment no matter how ineffective, toxic, or inefficient the therapy may be.  The result is that all illnesses are treated as if they were acute diseases.  However, most diseases that plague man are chronic and long term.  The result is an inevitable downward spiral of disease that continually worsens and worsens.  We are no strangers to this phenomenon.  We have all bore witness to the continual deterioration of those who have solely relied on conventional medicine for their health care.  “Conventional” medicine simply means treating the symptoms and not the cause.

Integrative medicine is a way of delivering medicine that combines conventional medicine and alternative medicine.  Alternative meaning that the physician thinks outside of the box and utilizes the biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, nutrition, he/she was originally educated as the foundation for treating chronic disease.  Since these basic sciences are the origin of illness itself, an educated and diverse physician with knowledge in these realms can deliver treatments that target the cause of the disease.  An integrative physician will use all the tools necessary to restore and optimize a person’s health including nutrition, biochemistry, plant pharmacology, acupuncture, homeopathy, detox, diet, colonics, infrared sauna, chiropractic medicine, massage, IV therapies, hydrotherapy, injections, drugs, and surgery.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of conventional medical schools completely ignores the fact that nutrition plays a role in disease and therefore do not require these courses for their medical students.  Without this critical information, their medical students graduate unable to practice integrative medicine unless they seek and complete additional medical training in these integrative areas – which many do.

It is in your best interest to seek an integrative physician no matter what the diagnosis or prognosis. Integrative physicians and practitioners include NMD’s, (Naturopathic Medical Doctors) MD’s, DO’s, DC’s, (Chiropractors), L.Ac (Acupuncturists) and Homeopaths.   It is never too late to feel better and reverse illness.  It is your life.  You must in essence become your own advocate for health.  The first step is finding a skilled integrative practitioner and making an appointment to begin the process.  Understand one thing.  There are no absolutes in life.  For example: If you leave two hours early for work there is no guarantee that you won’t be late.  Maybe the road got shut down, you got lost, there was an accident, etc.  Medicine is the same way.  Conventional physicians deal in absolutes, which rarely ever are the only options.  You always have another option.

Dr John D Williamson NMD

Dr. John Williamson provides integrative medical care to his patients at Bodhi Body Integrative Medical Centers in Chandler and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Balanced Hormones: Imagine the Possibilities…

Hormonal balance is our normal state. Menopausal symptoms are caused by hormonal imbalances and changes, not necessarily estrogen loss.  About 80% of women today experience symptoms of hormonal imbalance because of the extraordinary demands made on their bodies and the inadequate support provided related to diet, lifestyle, and genetic factors. Fortunately, nearly all women can find relief from the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause by restoring that balance naturally, without drugs.

Natural Therapies
Bioidentical hormones can work wonders, but they aren’t necessarily the first place to turn when hormonal imbalance is a problem. The majority of women can rebalance their hormones without the use of drugs or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy in any form.  Most women can find relief through a natural approach that combines nutritional supplements, gentle endocrine support, and dietary and lifestyle changes as well as effective stress management and reduction techniques.

Naturopathic therapies available at Bodhi Body Integrative Medical Centers include the use of botanicals, neurotransmitter support, nutritional supplementation, homeopathy, acupuncture, yoga, hypnotherapy, and nutritional IV therapy.

How Bodhi Body approaches each patient
At Bodhi Body Integrative Medical Centers, an individualized approach beginning with salivary or serum blood laboratory tests of hormone levels is the best starting point. If warranted, a precise dosage of bioidentical estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, and/or DHEA is prescribed and is prepared at a registered compounding pharmacy. Each patient is then monitored carefully through regular follow-up hormone panels to ensure relief at the lowest possible dosage.

Bioidentical Hormones
There are many different forms of bioidentical hormone replacement therapies that work in different ways, and each woman responds according to her unique physiology.  Bioidentical hormones are manufactured in the lab to have the same molecular structure as the hormones made by your own body. The great appeal of bioidentical hormones is that they are natural so our bodies can metabolize them as they were designed to do, minimizing side effects.  Bodhi Body can help determine if hormone replacement is right for you.

At Bodhi Body we take a natural, comprehensive, science-based approach to treating all patients.  If you would like more information regarding the details on our menopause or perimenopause treatments email us at info@bodhi-body.com or call us at 480-237-2410 to schedule a consultation.

Chronic Stress and Adrenal Fatigue

Stress kills. The long term effects of high levels of adrenal hormones like adrenaline and cortisol have on the body can result in cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, high blood pressure and even heart attacks and strokes.  Fatigue, thyroid problems, memory loss, depression and anxiety can also be linked to stress.

Research has shown that animals under stress up-regulate the enzymes they use to make vitamin C, which protects tissues from damage.  Humans cannot make vitamin C, and so must either eat it, or supplement. Low levels of vitamin C are related to low levels of antioxidants available in the body, and low levels of antioxidants mean high levels of oxidative stress, which can lead to many cancers and chronic disease.  B vitamins are also significantly depleted under stress, and are necessary for liver function to detox and cleanse the body, as well as producing hormones, neurotransmitters, and energy in every one of your cells. If you are deficient in certain vitamins, minerals and amino acids, your body may start showing uncomfortable symptoms.

Chronic Fatigue research has shown viral infections to be responsible for some cases of extreme fatigue.  Heavy metals, thyroid dysfunction, improper digestion and absorption of food, as well as other infections can all play a role in the body’s inability to use it’s energy correctly, or efficiently.

If you are fatigued, depressed, anxious, having trouble sleeping, or unable to lose weight, you may have stress related complications.

Testing offered by Bodhi-Body:
Salivary Stress Hormones, Spectracell Intracellular Analysis, Whole Blood Elements, Chronic Viral Panel, Lyme’s Disease testing, Thyroid Panel, Heavy Metal Analysis

Treatments and Therapies offered at Bodhi Body:
Nutritional IV therapy, oral nutrient supplementation, heavy metal detox, far infrared sauna, massage therapy, constitutional hydrotherapy, colon hydrotherapy and so much more.

If you would like more information on how to replenish your body at Bodhi Body, please email us at info@bodhi-body.com or call us at 480-237-2410 to schedule a consultation.

Men’s Health at Bodhi Body

The way you live out your life is a reflection of how you age. All too often we see people live too short and die too long.  Meaning, just as we reach our peak, many of us men begin our decline. The typical male tends to show the first signs of aging soon after reaching full maturity around age 22.

The good news is that the underlying causes for disease and premature aging are, for the most part, completely under our control. According to Ben Douglas, Ph.D., professor of anatomy at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson and author of AgeLess:  Living Younger Longer, “Just like other members of the animal kingdom, our bodies are designed to last roughly five times the age of when we reach our sexual maturity.  And with proper care, we should.”   It’s no secret that men need to pay more attention to their bodies.

One major factor working against men is that they don’t seek medical attention as often as women. This explains why the life-expectancy gap between men and women has decreased. There are also health conditions that only affect men, such as prostate cancer and steadily declining testosterone. Many of the major health risks that men face, like colon cancer or heart disease, can be successfully treated with early diagnosis.  Screening tests can help determine if you are at risk.

At Bodhi Body we can assess your current state of health, treat existing conditions, prepare your body to prevent future illness and restore your body to its optimal levels. But, we can’t do it without the participation of the patient. Keep one step ahead of aging and meet with our physicians today.

Men’s Health at Bodhi Bodhi includes

• Comprehensive diagnostic testing
  
• Hormone testing and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT)
• Treating erectile dysfunction
• Weight loss, weight management and whole body nutrition
  
• Prostate health
• Heart health
• Treating chronic fatigue and chronic pain
• Comprehensive detox

Call today to schedule your appointment with one of our physicians.  480-237-2410
Ladies, if you schedule a New Patient Consultation for the man in your life, you will receive $50 on your account at Bodhi Body to be used for any service or product as a thank you!.

Aesthetic Services Offered at Bodhi Body

Feeling healthy and a  sense of true well-being sometimes includes positive feelings about our appearance.  Over the last year, Bodhi Body has helped hundreds of our patients have more energy, experience less anxiety and enjoy better, restful sleep, lose excess weight, balance hormones, and remove heavy metals and other toxins from their bodies..

We are now taking another step to provide a complete circle of care by offering aesthetics to our services.

Botox -$9 per unit includes free B12 shot

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to improve the look of moderate-to-severe frown lines between the brows in people 18 to 65 years of age for a short period of time (temporary).BOTOX® Cosmetic is administered by a healthcare professional as a simple, nonsurgical treatment that is injected directly into the muscles between the brows. It works by blocking nerve impulses to the injected muscles. This reduces muscle activity that causes moderate to severe lines to form between the brows. Results last 3-4 months.

Juvederm – $700

Juvederm is a gel implant that includes hyaluronic acid, a natural complex sugar that bolsters skin elasticity, providing a smooth and supple appearance. It is biocompatible, supplementing the body’s natural hyaluronic acid, which age has depleted.The transparent Juvederm gel is injected with a syringe into the mid- to deep dermis of your face. The dermis is the subsurface skin layer that contains connective tissue, nerve endings, sweat and oil glands, and blood vessels.Juvederm improves your appearance by lifting and adding volume to the wrinkles and folds in the treatment area. After six to nine months, the biocompatible compound is naturally absorbed into the body. Results last 6 to 9 months.

Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture – $65 per session

Facial rejuvination acupuncture can help with the reduction or erasure of fine lines and the softening of deeper ones. Additionally, patients may experience the firming of jowls and a reduction in the size of under-eye bags. It is not unusual for clients to report enhanced skin tone, increased energy and eyes that sparkle. A course of ten treatments is standard, with periodic follow-up visits as needed.

Selphyl- $950 –

A Revolution in Rejuvenation…
SELPHYL® is a patented system for the safe and rapid preparation of Platelet Rich Fibrin Matrix (PRFM), a proven technology that dermatologists and plastic surgeons are using to correct the effects of skin aging. The physician collects a small volume of blood from the patient and through a patented process, separates and concentrates the patients own platelets and fibrin into a matrix. The resulting PRFM can be applied to a treatment area of the face or body to stimulate cell proliferation which promotes the increase of volume and rejuvenation of the skin through a process of targeted tissue re-generation.
Because Nothing Is More Natural Than You…

The PRFM that is prepared with SELPHYL® is autologous, meaning it uses your natural biology. Platelets are known to contain factors which your body uses to trigger cell migration and proliferation to rejuvenate and increase skin volume. You can’t turn back the clock, but you can re-wind it naturally with the SELPHYL® System.

Natural, Lasting Effects…
As soon as SELPHYL® prepared PRFM is administered, growth factors are released into the skin through a sustained mechanism. In vitro studies have shown that platelet growth factors are released for up to 7 days, supporting collagen production and dermal matrix reconstruction. It is thought that SELPHYL® treats a root cause of skin aging by triggering the production of new cells and collagen.
Pronounced effects occur approximately three weeks after the administration of SELPHYL®. Patients have enjoyed visible improvement and regeneration with long lasting effects.

Fast and Easy…
SELPHYL® is administered by our physician in a procedure that takes approximately 20 minutes. Desired results may be achieved in just one visit. However, only your physician will determine the best treatment approach. Together, you and your physician may decide if SELPHYL® prepared PRFM is right for you, especially if you desire a natural solution to looking younger! Results last 12 months or more. For more information please visit http://www.selphyl.com/.

As always, Bodhi Body will support your treatments with nutritional IV therapies, detox therapies and other therapeutic modalities, that, when combined with these aesthetic offerings, will make you look AND feel great!

Call Bodhi Body today to find out more information about these services and to schedule your appointment. 888-271-8877

“Hormone replacement is restoration. Restoration stops the deterioration”, comes from the book “Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness” by Suzanne Somers.  If you haven’t read this book, you should consider reading it soon.  In her book, Suzanne discusses what she believes to be the critical steps each adult person must take to head off aging at the pass and actually restore our bodies to optimal health.  One of the key tenants of course is bio identical hormone restoration.  Others include restful sleep, proper diet and nutritional supplements, regular exercise and stress management.  Our doctors have advanced training in hormone restoration for men and for women.

At Bodhi Body we look at all these factors and more to help you achieve your health goals.  But the first step is up to you. Make an appointment today for a complete assessment with one of our physicians at 888-271-8877 or email us at info@bodhi-body.com

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging –

Digital Infrared Digital Thermography (DITI) is a procedure that uses ultra-sensitive infrared cameras and sophisticated computers to detect, analyze and produce high-resolution diagnostic images of temperature and vascular changes. The procedure is both comfortable and safe using no radiation or compression.

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging

Early detection is key to avoid having a medical nightmare on your hands later. For example, studies have clearly shown that the smaller the size of the breast cancer when detected, the better the chance of effective intervention and long-term survival.  Mammograms compress the breasts tightly, which could lead to a lethal spread of any existing malignant cells. They expose your body to radiation that can be 1,000 times greater than that from a chest x-ray. This makes you unnecessarily vulnerable to further risks of radiation-induced cancer.

By carefully examining changes in the temperature and blood vessels of the breasts, signs of possible cancer or pre-cancerous cell growth may be detected years prior to being discovered using any other procedure. This provides for the earliest detection of cancer possible. Due to breast thermography’s extreme sensitivity, these temperature variations and vascular changes may be among the earliest signs of breast cancer and/or a pre-cancerous state of the breast.

A clinical thermographer, a technician who specializes in the procedure, will be on hand to discuss the benefits of breast thermography; how it works, and how it can detect signs of breast cancer without radiation and years ahead of a traditional mammogram, at the seminar tonight at 5:30pm  Please RSVP to 888-271-8877 or RSVP at RSVP@bodhi-body.com

Health care is changing in America.

Insurance companies are increasing fees, employers are cutting benefits and some small businesses are having to cancel coverage all together due to rising costs.  Patients are paying more out of pocket for fewer covered services and most insurance plans don’t cover essential preventative therapies – even though we know that most chronic disease can be prevented.  So, where does that leave us?
Bodhi Body supports a patient’s right and privilege to take charge of their own health by becoming Patient Activists! With a small investment of time and money, the team at Bodhi Body will help you lay the groundwork for optimal health now and in the future.  We focusing on balancing the body and optimizing function so that you feel your best and prevent disease. We do this through body detoxification, hormone optimization for men and women, nutritional support and stress management.  Its all part of our TRUE Health Plan.  $195 per month provides you with unlimited physician care and attention plus three, feel-good, disease-preventing therapies.  Its almost too good to be true!

TONIGHT: Join us for the B12 and M.I.C Shot Clinic. B12, a fantastic general support shot increases energy, stamina, memory and weight loss. Methionine, Inositol, Choline (M.I.C.) facilitates the body’s ability to loose unwanted weight and realign itself in its new formation. Shots will be administered for $10 and $15, respectively. Full event schedule here!

Please RSVP at 888-271-8877 or email rsvp@bodhi-body.com.

The Bodhi Body Restorative Therapy Detox Program

A complete, physician-designed and supervised intensive cleansing program to help restore your energy and improve your overall health. This intensive program is very beneficial for those without any health problems who want to optimize their health and for those suffering from chronic disease. It is also ideal for women who plan to conceive to ensure that the expectant mother starts out with a “clean slate” prior to conceiving, since the baby is like a magnet for toxins.

What does the Program Include?
7 to 30 Day Detoxification Diet: A whole foods, clean diet, which eliminates all the processed and junk foods. This allows your digestive tract to rest and promotes the removal of toxins and wastes from your body by not consuming additional toxins such as artificial colorings, artificial flavorings, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, pesticides, herbicides, etc.

Detox Support Supplements: Includes specific supplementation to facilitate and support your body’s detoxification pathways, optimizing your removal of harmful toxins.

Additional Detox Support Therapies
Bodhi Detox IV Therapy
Provides nutrients and antioxidants to enhance the detox pathways of the liver

Far Infrared Sauna Therapy
Promotes lipolysis or fat breakdown, allowing toxins to be released from the fat stores into the blood where they can be removed via sweating. Unlike your traditional sauna, far infrared sauna penetrates to the cellular level, facilitating the diffusion of toxins out of the cell and the diffusion of nutrients into the cells.

Colon Hydrotherapy
Removes toxins from the colon so they are not reabsorbed into the circulation

Constitutional Hydrotherapy
Speeds detox via the liver and skin while also boosting immune system functioning

Massage Therapy
Promotes removal of toxins from the muscles and increases circulation through the body

Acupuncture
Stimulation of digestion and balancing of the Qi in the body allows for more effective detoxification

These therapies can be added onto your Detox Program to maximize your results, allowing you to build your detox program around your specific needs.

To learn more about this program, please visit our website or call us to schedule an appointment today. 888-271-8877

Where has the time gone?

It seems like just yesterday I was 35 and full of energy and enthusiasm.  Sleeping was not a problem and I was able to handle the stress that life dolled out.  Where did these extra 20 lbs come from and who is that person staring at me in the mirror?
Do these questions sound familiar?

Time continues to march on and our bodies eventually start to show the signs of premature aging.  But it is possible to stop the signs of aging (inside and out) in their tracks and even regain some ground.  The answer is in restoring the body through detoxification, nutritional supplementation, stress management and hormone restoration for men and women. We also offer aesthetics including anti-aging facials and natural dermal fillers so that we look as good on the outside as we feel on the inside. 
This is what we do at Bodhi Body.

We focus on balancing the body and optimizing function so that you feel your best and prevent disease. Its all part of our TRUE Health Plan.  $195 per month provides you with unlimited physician care and attention plus three, feel-good, disease-preventing therapies.  Its almost too good to be true!

TONIGHT:

Bodhi Body welcomes you to an educational seminar explaining the process and practice of Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy or (BHRT) for men and women.  Producing near unbelievable results in a matter of weeks, BHRT is science’s brightest beacon in the cutting edge industry of Anti-Aging Medicine. Join us TONIGHT to learn all about BHRT and how you can optimize your health!

Free to all.  Lecture begins at 6pm.

Full event schedule here!

Please RSVP at 888-271-8877 or email rsvp@bodhi-body.com.

Gastric Bypass Surgery:

Post-Operative Care with IV Nutrient Therapy and Injection Nutrient Therapy

To Flu Shot or Not to Flu Shot?