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Spring Health Hacks: Aligning Nutrition, Light, and Circadian Rhythms for Optimal Well-Being

May 2, 2025bebando Medical Articles

Kevin Ng, MD

As we transition from winter to spring, our bodies undergo a natural shift, responding to longer daylight hours and seasonal changes in food availability. This period offers a unique opportunity to optimize our health by harnessing the power of morning sunlight, strategic nutrition, and circadian rhythm alignment. Here’s how you can make the most of this seasonal transition.

The Power of Morning Sunlight for Circadian Harmony

During winter, many of us fail to receive adequate sunlight, causing issues such as plummeting vitamin D levels and corresponding immune struggles, including increased cold and flu rates, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), weight gain, and low energy . Some rely on short getaways to sun filled destinations or sun lamps to mitigate SAD and maintain circadian rhythm balance. However, as spring arrives, natural morning sunlight becomes essential in regulating sleep, energy levels, and overall well-being. Early morning light exposure signals the brain to regulate melatonin and cortisol production. Research has shown that morning sunlight plays a direct role in reinforcing a healthy sleep-wake cycle and maintaining stable energy throughout the day .

Morning sunlight offers additional benefits beyond circadian regulation. This early-day exposure provides a natural form of red-light therapy, influencing mitochondrial function, reducing inflammation, and stimulating collagen production . Incorporating a habit of direct morning light without sunglasses can enhance mood, improve sleep quality, and support metabolic health .

Full-Spectrum Light and Its Role in Wellness

Full-spectrum lighting, which mimics natural sunlight, has been associated with improved cognitive function and mood. Studies suggest that classrooms and workspaces equipped with full-spectrum lighting contribute to better performance and reduced absenteeism . For those who spend long hours indoors, integrating full-spectrum light sources can bridge the gap between indoor and outdoor light exposure, promoting a healthier circadian rhythm and reducing eye strain.

Moderate UV exposure from sunlight plays a role in immune modulation through vitamin D synthesis and neurotransmitter regulation, particularly in the production of serotonin and dopamine . These neurotransmitters are vital for mood stability and mental clarity, reinforcing the importance of regular outdoor activity.

Nutritional Strategies for Seasonal Adaptation

As daylight hours increase, so does the variety of fresh, nutrient-dense foods available. Aligning dietary choices with seasonal shifts helps the body transition smoothly into spring. The seasonal food lists nearly double from winter to spring in the Northeast to include: arugula, asparagus, beet, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, cherries, fava beans, fiddleheads, garlic scapes, kale, lettuce, mushrooms, nettles, parsley, parsnip, peas, pea greens, radish, ramps, rhubarb, spinach, and strawberries .

Key Nutrients to Focus On for Allergies:

Quercetin: A bioflavonoid with natural antihistamine properties, quercetin helps mitigate seasonal allergies by stabilizing mast cells and reducing histamine release. Found in apples, onions, and berries, this compound may be particularly beneficial during spring allergy season . However, individuals with genetic variations such as COMT SNPs should consult a healthcare provider before significantly increasing intake.
Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA): Sourced from borage oil, evening primrose oil, and black currant seed oil, GLA has potent anti-inflammatory effects that may help alleviate atopic conditions, which often flare up in response to seasonal allergens .

The Light-Food Connection: Synchronizing Energy Systems

The body’s ability to process nutrients is closely linked to the light environment. Emerging research suggests that circadian rhythms influence digestion, metabolism, and hormonal balance . To optimize this interplay:

Eating the full rainbow of colors in phytonutrients: Each color represents different phytochemicals and nutrients that provide unique health benefits, including improved vision, decreased inflammation, reduced risk of chronic diseases, and a strengthened immune system.
Leverage Morning Sunlight for Metabolic Activation: Morning exposure to blue-rich sunlight enhances insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial function, making it an excellent time for nutrient-dense breakfasts .
Reduce Artificial Light at Night: Excessive blue light exposure in the evening can suppress melatonin production, disrupting sleep and metabolic regulation. Using amber-tinted glasses or dimming indoor lighting after sunset can mitigate these effects .

Embracing Seasonal Shifts for Holistic Health

The transition from winter to spring is a time of renewal, both in nature and within our bodies. By integrating morning sunlight, prioritizing full-spectrum nutrition, and aligning daily routines with circadian rhythms, we can harness the season’s energy for optimal health.

Simple practices—like stepping outside for morning light, incorporating a full spectrum of phytonutrient-rich foods, and adjusting meal timing—can profoundly impact sleep, metabolism, and overall vitality. As the days grow longer, embracing these natural health hacks can make the shift into spring not just smoother but truly rejuvenating. Stay tuned as we dive in deeper to the quantum biology details with our Basic Health Series!

References

Holick, M. F. (2007). Vitamin D deficiency. New England Journal of Medicine, 357(3), 266–281. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra070553
Cajochen, C., Münch, M., Kobialka, S., Kräuchi, K., Steiner, R., Oelhafen, P., … & Wirz-Justice, A. (2005). High sensitivity of human melatonin, alertness, thermoregulation, and heart rate to short wavelength light. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 90(3), 1311–1316. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2004-0957
Hamblin, M. R. (2017). Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophysics, 4(3), 337–361. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5523874/
Wright, K. P., McHill, A. W., Birks, B. R., Griffin, B. R., Rusterholz, T., & Chinoy, E. D. (2013). Entrainment of the human circadian clock to the natural light-dark cycle. Current Biology, 23(16), 1554–1558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2013.06.039
Fisk, W. J., & Rosenfeld, A. H. (2000). Health benefits and costs of low-energy lighting. Energy and Buildings, 34(5), 537–548.
Lambert, G. W., Reid, C., Kaye, D. M., Jennings, G. L., & Esler, M. D. (2002). Effect of sunlight and season on serotonin turnover in the brain. The Lancet, 360(9348), 1840–1842. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12480364/
Seasonal Food Guide. Retrieved from https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/
Mlček, J., Juríková, T., Škrovánková, S., & Sochor, J. (2016). Quercetin and its anti-allergic immune response. Molecules, 21(5), 623. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21050623
Das, U. N. (2006). Gamma-linolenic acid: An anti-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acid. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 7(6), 531–534. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17168669/
Longo, V. D., & Panda, S. (2016). Fasting, circadian rhythms, and time-restricted feeding in healthy lifespan. Cell Metabolism, 23(6), 1048–1059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2016.06.001
Eat the rainbow for good health. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/eat-the-rainbow-for-good-health/
Mason, I. C., Qian, J., Adler, G. K., & Scheer, F. A. J. L. (2020). Impact of circadian disruption on glucose metabolism: Implications for type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia, 63(3), 462–472. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31915891/
Shechter, A., Kim, E. W., St-Onge, M. P., & Westwood, A. J. (2018). Blocking nocturnal blue light for insomnia: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 96, 196–202. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022395617308592

“The Difficult Child”

September 10, 2024bebando Educational Videos Medical Articles Patient Stories Usefull info Links

By: Dr. M. Kyu Chung

Children who have extreme behavior such as tantrums, melt downs, when seen by a psychiatrist get categorized as having a psychiatric condition such as Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) or Pathologic Demand Avoidance (PDA). The problem with these diagnoses is that there is no attempt at looking for a physical cause for their conditions. They then are treated with either behavioral therapy and/or medications. Also, for every child who is severe enough to be given these diagnoses, there are many more that have lesser degrees of symptoms who are assumed to be somehow a part of their personality or just simply a very moody difficult child.

We at the Chung Institute of Integrative Medicine have found an effective solution for many children with these symptoms. We believe the problem is due to physical reversable abnormalities in the brain due to inflammation. The inflammation can be from abnormal reactions to foods, Lyme disease, other tick-borne illnesses, inflammation from bacteria, viruses, mold, parasites or vaccines. This inflammation then can be treated and reversed with simple Low Dose Immunotherapy (LDI) and/or with avoidance of the offending item.

Many parents have kids who are “difficult” and during ages two and three are presumed to have a case of bad “terrible two’s”. We have found that many of these children have a physical cause for their behavior that can be reversed.

Case examples from the Chung Institute:

Case 1: Child with extreme mood swings

A four-year-old boy was brought to the office for assessment of severe mood swings, tantrums and meltdowns that lasted for many hours. This had begun with general irritability as an infant and progressively got worse as he got older. He exhibited rigid behavior and the mother thought that he fit the diagnosis of “Pathologic Demand Avoidance” disorder. He refused hygiene activities, going to school, and had little desire to walk, jump, or play.

Autonomic Response Testing (ART) revealed that his brain had evidence of inflammation. A sample taken from deep inside his nasal passage with a thin nasal swab tested abnormal on ART and suggested that this was likely a source of his brain inflammation. We made a Low Dose Immunotherapy (LDI) solution from this swab and began having him take it once weekly.

At his two month follow up visit, his mother noted marked improvement of his behavior and mood. He was “happier”, no longer angry, no more sensory issues, no more issues with hygiene. He went to school without difficulty and appeared much happier.

4 month follow up: Marked continued improvement. The mother now says he is a loving pleasant child. see video testimonial.

Case 2: Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder/Intermittent Explosive Disorder (DMDD/ IED) due to gluten intolerance:

We have seen several children whom we detected severe gluten intolerance via ART whose chronic labile anger resolved completely with the elimination of gluten

See here for video case report.

Case of the month: Speech delay in 22-month-old

August 15, 2024webadmin Educational Videos Medical Articles Patient Stories Usefull info Links

A look at healing through lead detoxification

By: M. Kyu Chung MD

A 22-month-old boy presented to the office with severe eczema and speech delay. His mother noted that he barely spoke 9 words while his peers of the same age spoke two-word sentences.

He had severe eczema on his face and body.

History was pertinent that they lived in a house built before 1978.

Physical exam: revealed a slender toddler with moderately severe facial eczema.

Autonomic response testing (ART) revealed lead and nickel sensitivity.

He was treated with oral EDTA chelation and a low nickel diet. The video is a testimonial to his healing:

Over the past 20 years we have seen numerous patients with various neurological conditions recover and regain their function following chelation. In addition to this case, we have seen reversal of attention deficit disorder (ADD), and peripheral neuropathy when those individuals tested positive for lead before treatment.

Discussion:

Currently lead toxicity is poorly understood and poorly managed in conventional medicine. Most physicians do not understand how to best diagnose chronic lead toxicity. Even when lead toxicity is diagnosed or suspected, most experts do not realize that neurological damage from lead can be largely reversed.

There are misconceptions regarding lead toxicity.

Misconception #1: To test for lead toxicity, one should obtain serum lead levels.

The current method of diagnosing lead toxicity is by testing the blood for elevated lead (serum lead level). Unfortunately, when one has been exposed to lead contaminated food, water, or air (contaminated dust) the lead levels drop to normal levels within a brief period of time. Some of it is naturally excreted but some of it becomes deposited in your body in the extravascular compartment such as your organs, bone, and nervous system. When this happens, the lead does not remain in the blood and will not be detected through a serum blood test even though the lead may be causing health problems. ,

Misconception #2: Once neurological damage occurs from lead toxicity, little can be done to reverse the damage other than behavior enrichment programs.

EDTA chelation therapy has been shown to be effective at removing lead from the body, reducing symptoms of toxicity. Studies have shown that chelation therapy lowers blood lead levels and can improve verbal ability, memory and motor speed. We have found this to be true, not only in the video case presented above, but in many of our patients who were symptomatic of lead exposure.

Information for patients:

Any lead exposure is considered dangerous, so minimize risk of exposure.

To Decrease potential exposure to lead:

Consider having your home inspected by a lead inspector if your home was built before 1978 (to find lead inspectors please see: https://www.epa.gov/lead)
Consider having your water checked periodically
Renovate safely (For tips, suggestions and to find qualified contractors: https://www.epa.gov/lead)
Check products for lead including ceramic cookware, drinkware, and toys (please check out the Lead Safe Mama website for a wealth of information: Lead Safe Mama – Environmental Activist, Filmmaker, & Mother of Four Sons (tamararubin.com)

Message to physicians:

Having instructed medical students for the past 40 years, I am very aware that students are rarely taught about heavy metal toxins or other toxins. Just because you have never been taught or heard of treatments for heavy metal toxins does not mean that effective treatment does not exist. Since there is no toxicology physician specialty or training in traditional medicine, you must learn about heavy metal toxins on your own through conferences outside your own specialty.

The most common alternative method of diagnosing heavy metal toxicity is by performing a provocation heavy metal testing. This is a method by which one administers a set dosage of a chelating agent and measures the lead that is excreted from the urine. A chelating agent will attract and bind to the lead that is in the tissues and will get excreted out to the urine.

Pros to provocation testing:

Can detect heavy metals that are found outside the blood.
Gives an objective quantitative number that one can use to follow as treatment progresses.

Cons to provocation testing:

Sometime does not correlate with patient clinical status. E.g., individuals may have minimal symptoms and have elevated levels, or some individuals may have severe symptoms with minimal elevations.
Usually takes a specialized lab and takes up to 14 days to receive the results. Doctor’s Data does this testing.

At the Chung Institute we use a muscle testing method called Autonomic Response Testing (ART) developed by Dietrich Klinghardt, MD. We have found this testing to be the most clinically useful test. We often use provocation test following ART and have found them to show consistent results.

Pros to ART:

Can detect heavy metals that are found outside the blood.
We can obtain information as to whether that the toxin is in the area of disturbance. For example, an adult may show high levels in the feet and not in the head.
Results of the testing are immediate.

Cons to ART:

No objective number to follow or show to the patient.
Conventional medicine and even some Integrative Medicine practitioners do not recognize this method.
It is a skill that requires practice after taking course work to be able to trust the testing.

You can take coursework on ART through Dietrich Klinghardt, MD (What is A.R.T.? – Klinghardt Institute)

Those practitioners who are serious about learning how we manage this method are welcome to take a short preceptorship at our office.

Contact:

Brigid Bandomer: bbandomer@wonsookchungfoundation.org

Or Carolann Wileczek: cwileczek@gmail.com

1 professional, C. C. medical. (n.d.). Lead poisoning: Causes, symptoms, testing & prevention. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11312-lead-poisoning

2 Sanders, T., Liu, Y., Buchner, V., & Tchounwou, P. B. (2009). Neurotoxic effects and biomarkers of lead exposure: A Review. Reviews on Environmental Health, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh.2009.24.1.15

3 Barbosa, F., Tanus-Santos, J. E., Gerlach, R. F., & Parsons, P. J. (2005). A critical review of biomarkers used for monitoring human exposure to lead: Advantages, limitations, and future needs. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113(12), 1669–1674. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.7917

4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Lead exposure symptoms and complications. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/symptoms-complications/index.html

5 World Health Organization. (n.d.). Lead poisoning. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health

6 Fulgenzi, A., Vietti, D., & Ferrero, M. E. (2020). EDTA chelation therapy in the treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases: An update. Biomedicines, 8(8), 269. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines8080269

7 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). About childhood lead poisoning prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/about/index.html

8 Register for Webinars. Doctor’s Data Doctor’s Data Specialty Testing Clinical Laboratory | Doctor’s Data doctorsdata.com. (n.d.). https://www.doctorsdata.com/

9 What is A.R.T.? – klinghardt institute. Klinghardt Institute – Welcome to the Klinghardt Institute. (2024a, June 23). https://klinghardtinstitute.com/what-is-art/

WHERE IS MY PERIOD?

July 1, 2024webadmin Educational Videos Medical Articles Patient Stories Usefull info Links

By Dr. Tracy Brobyn

We women live a substantial chunk of our lives at the mercy of biological cycling. Why am I late? Did I remember to throw a tampon in my purse? And finally, the dreaded….do my teenage daughter and I have our periods at the same time and if so, will the men in the house survive it? In truth, all humans live through cycles whether it’s the seasons or the gravitational pull on our Earth from the moon. However, as women, biological cycling becomes so much a part of our lives that it can only be described as both miraculous as well as irritating. That’s why, when our cycles stop for any prolonged period, it sets off a major alarm in our brains and in the absence of pregnancy or menopause, it should.

What is often overlooked, is that our menstrual cycles are connected to our psyche, energy and any other challenges our body must face at any given time. That means if we aren’t getting enough sleep, we are under significant stress, we are either ill or not getting enough calories; our brains may decide it’s not a good time to get pregnant and shut down our cycles temporarily. Temporary loss of cycling in response to such stressors is a normal biological process. But what if we lose our cycles for longer periods of time, also known as amenorrhea. Why does this sometimes happen and what can we do about it?

Menstrual cycling is a result of the delicate dance between the brain and the ovaries with hormones acting as the messengers between the two. This dance can be disrupted by many factors but one of the most prevalent in our technological 21^st century is toxins. Toxins range from heavy metals in our air and water, to pesticides/weed killers in our food to any number of hormonal disruptors in the general environment such as the so-called “forever chemicals” known as perflurorocarbons. Add to that list plastics including BPA. Perflurorocarbons are particularly interesting because not only do they disrupt menstruation, but menstruation itself acts as a detox mechanism for these chemicals. Amenorrhea is therefore not only a consequence of these chemicals but adds insult to injury by reducing the body’s ability to eliminate them.

Detoxification can be a powerful mechanism to re-establish communication between the brain and the ovaries. In our practice, we use natural detox mechanisms such as cilantro (like the parsley) or chlorella (the active ingredient found in seaweed) to clean out the body’s systems. We may use chelating medication if there is a need for it. Ionic foot baths can also play a role in detoxification. Patients can help themselves detox through additional means such as Epsom salt baths and saunas.

Most detox mechanisms, including medication, bind to toxins. The body then eliminates the bound toxin through sweat, stool or urine but stool is the most important mechanism. That means the patient needs to have regular bowel movements to successfully detox. Maintaining a normal GI tract filled with healthy and helpful bacteria now becomes critical to re-establish menstrual cycling. Looking at food sensitivities (for example, gluten intolerance) is an important factor in maximizing GI health and subsequent fertility. Additionally, menstrual function is highly reliant on good sleeping habits so that also becomes a large focus on the treatment of any patient who presents with these issues.

Once communication has been restored, the body needs energy to set the network back in motion. Acupuncture, with its ability to be directed at specific regions of the body, acts nicely in this capacity. . Energy blockage to the body’s hormonal circuitry can also be jump started through an injection process known as neural therapy. One particularly important focus of this therapy is the pituitary gland, which acts as the conductor of this amazing network of communication . This multifactorial approach to cycle dysfunction emphasizes the role all body systems play in our overall health, of which reproduction is just one part. If you are having menstrual issues, irregular cycles or even no cycles, consider using the holistic approach we take at The Chung Institute. In most cases, we can get her back!

Excited to share this video of one of Dr. Brobyn’s patients who successfully had her period restored!

1. Zhou, W., et al., Plasma Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Concentration and Menstrual Cycle Characteristics in Preconception Women. Environ Health Perspect, 2017. 125(6): p. 067012.

2. Lum, K.J., et al., Perfluoroalkyl Chemicals, Menstrual Cycle Length, and Fecundity: Findings from a Prospective Pregnancy Study. Epidemiology, 2017. 28(1): p. 90-98.

3. Lyngsø, J., et al., Menstrual cycle characteristics in fertile women from Greenland, Poland and Ukraine exposed to perfluorinated chemicals: a cross-sectional study. Hum Reprod, 2014. 29(2): p. 359-67.

4. McClam, M., et al., Associations between exposure to cadmium, lead, mercury and mixtures and women’s infertility and long-term amenorrhea. Arch Public Health, 2023. 81(1): p. 161.

5. Piazza, M.J. and A.A. Urbanetz, Environmental toxins and the impact of other endocrine disrupting chemicals in women’s reproductive health. JBRA Assist Reprod, 2019. 23(2): p. 154-164.

6. Wong F, M.M., Mueller JF, Cousins IT. , Enhanced elimination of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid by menstruating women: evidence from population-based pharmacokinetic modeling. . Environ Sci Technol. , 2014. 48: p. 8807-14.

7. Corrie, L., et al., Combination therapy of curcumin and fecal microbiota transplant: Potential treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Med Hypotheses, 2021. 154: p. 110644.

8. Notaristefano, G., et al., Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea: gut microbiota composition and the effects of exogenous estrogen administration. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 2024. 326(2): p. E166-e177.

9. Stazi, A.V. and A. Mantovani, A risk factor for female fertility and pregnancy: celiac disease. Gynecol Endocrinol, 2000. 14(6): p. 454-63.

10. Mumtaz, A., et al., Diagnostic dilemma of celiac disease presenting with weight loss and secondary amenorrhea: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore), 2022. 101(42): p. e31350.

11. Mamouni, S.E., et al., P159 Reproductive disorders in celiac disease. Gut, 2023. 72(Suppl 2): p. A138-A138.

12. Lateef, O.M. and M.O. Akintubosun, Sleep and Reproductive Health. J Circadian Rhythms, 2020. 18: p. 1.

13. Yaqian, Y., et al., Successful spontaneous pregnancy with acupuncture after premature ovarian failure. World Journal of Acupuncture – Moxibustion, 2018. 28(2): p. 137-140.

14. Luo, Y., et al., Auricular acupuncture for premature ovarian insufficiency: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine, 2020. 99(39): p. e22212.

15. Zhou, K., et al., Electroacupuncture modulates reproductive hormone levels in patients with primary ovarian insufficiency: results from a prospective observational study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2013. 2013: p. 657234.

16. Lim, C.E.D., et al., Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2019. 7(7): p. Cd007689.

17. Jedel, E., et al., Impact of electro-acupuncture and physical exercise on hyperandrogenism and oligo/amenorrhea in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 2011. 300(1): p. E37-45.

18. Brobyn TL, C.M.a.L.P., Neural Therapy: An Overlooked Game Changer for Patients Suffering Chronic Pain? J Pain Relief, 2015. 4(3).

Treatment of TMJ, jaw clenching, teeth grinding.

July 1, 2024bebando Educational Videos Medical Articles Patient Stories

Written by M. Kyu Chung, MD

Jaw clenching, teeth grinding and subsequent TMJ pain is often a difficult clinical condition that is poorly managed. We at the Chung Institute have found an unexpected simple solution to this condition. This treatment often is cleared with only one simple tiny injection of a local anesthetic.

Individuals sometimes complain of chronic tendency to clench their teeth or grind their teeth at night. This chronic behavior results in damage to the teeth either by wearing down the surfaces of the molars or even cracking their teeth or injuring the roots. It can result in chronic spasm and tightness and shortening of the masseter muscle (chewing muscle). This shortening of the muscle impairs the jawbone from gliding forward properly when they open their mouths and puts considerable pressure on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) causing it to make clicking noises as wells chronic irritation to the joint resulting in arthritis and pain in the joint. It also can prevent full opening of the mouth.

Chronic clenching can also cause the jaw muscle to become too large and give the person a square jaw appearance.

The current standard methods of treatment do not address the cause but try to ameliorate some of the symptoms. Here are some of them.

Dental splints or night guards. These do nothing to prevent the clenching but may help prevent the wear and tear on the surfaces of the teeth. Some custom night guards can be quite expensive.
Trigger point injections to the masseter muscles. This can temporarily relax and lengthen the shortened muscle for up to a month or so. This is the method we employed for many years, but it rarely “cured” the problem of grinding and subsequent recurrence of the symptoms.
Botox injections to the masseter muscles. We have employed this method with what we thought was great success. The recurrence rate occurred less frequently, but patients still required repeat treatment 2 to 3 times a year.
- Pros: it shrunk the size of the masseter muscle and narrowed the appearance of the widened jaw so women who had a square jaw liked the appearance of a narrow appearance of the jaw.
- Cons: it required a fair amount of botox and hence would be costly. (We charged $500; most dermatologists charged much more). It still did not address the cause and therefore required periodic retreatments.

Breakthrough in treatment:

We came across this treatment by accident. We have found that injecting the tongue frenulum with simple novocaine or lidocaine instantly caused a reflexive long lasting relaxation of the masseter muscle. But more surprisingly, the treated patients found that they no longer grinded their teeth. Furthermore, only a third of the patients required a retreatment due to a recurrence.

We have treated over fifty consecutive patients with greater than 95% success. These successful patients no longer needed night guards. More than 50% required only a single treatment.

Additionally, many patients also noticed that their chronic neck tightness disappeared as well.

There is no conventional explanation for why this works. In acupuncture theory the point where the frenulum attaches, is where the stomach point is located on the surface of the tongue. A branch of the stomach channel runs right over the region of the masseter muscle. Hence, a disturbance in the stomach channel could likely disturb the masseter muscle. In neural therapy, irritating nerve foci from abnormal scars can cause severe myofascial dysfunction. The frenulum acts in a similar fashion but without a previous history of scar or injury.

If you are someone who suffers from chronic jaw clenching, and/or restricted range of motion of the jaw, pain in the TMJ (Temporomandibular joint), you may have an abnormal tongue frenulum which may be causing this problem. Many years of suffering from this condition can often be resolved with this surprising nearly painless simple procedure.

Conclusion:

We have found that more than 90% of the patients who complain of jaw clenching, jaw tightness, jaw pain has an abnormal ART testing of their frenulum and a simple tiny injection of a local anesthetic results in either out right cure or long-lasting relief. See video example.

Note to medical practitioners:

For those rare doctors who know how to perform ART (Autonomic Response Testing)

Palpate the patient masseter muscle and test for “blocked regulation” (almost all patients with problems with TMJ and/or jaw clenching will show abnormal blocked regulation in the masseter muscle)
Have patient lift her/his tongue up high and test for “blocked regulation”. Most of the time you will find them to have blocked regulation.
Simultaneously touch the masseter muscle while having patient lift tongue up and the patient will likely reverse back to normal open regulation.
You have demonstrated the “two pointing phenomena” and injecting the frenulum will very likely result in eliminating the tightness in the masseter muscle and the patient will note disappearance of tenderness of the muscle as well as improved range of motions of the jaw. If the patient also has chronic neck tightness, some, or all of that will also improve.

If you are a dentist:

Palpate the masseter muscle and confirm that it is tender
Have patient open the mouth as wide as possible and confirm loss of range of motion
Empirically treat the frenulum with an anesthetic gel and wait a few minutes
You should notice improvement of the tenderness of the masseter muscle and improved jaw opening range of motion. You now have confirmed the causal relationship of the frenulum to the jaw muscle, and you can inject the frenulum where it attaches to the tongue with 1% lidocaine without epinephrine for a more lasting result.
You will likely find that they no longer need their night guard.

If you are a physician who doesn’t know how to perform ART:

Palpate the masseter muscle and confirm that it is tender
Have patient open the mouth as wide as possible and confirm loss of range of motion
Inject 1/3 cc of 1%lidocaine without epinephrine to the attachment site of the tongue frenulum. (This such a low-risk procedure with such a high chance of a positive result, even if you do not know ART, it is worth treating the frenulum empirically)
Confirm that the masseter muscle is no longer tender and that the patient can open his/her mouth wider and more easily.

For those practitioners who would like to learn this procedure contact our office for a preceptorship.

M. Kyu Chung, MD

Director, Chung Institute of Integrative Medicine,

Clinical Professor, Cooper Medical School

Contact: either Carolann: 856-222-4766

Or email Brigid Bandomer: bbandomer@wonsookchungfoundation.org or 609-760-3793

Won Sook Chung Foundation sponsored vitamin D study published in Nutrients!

January 5, 2023bebando Medical Articles

We are pleased to announce our study has been published in the journal Nutrients: Nutrients | Free Full-Text | Vitamin D3 Supplementation at 5000 IU Daily for the Prevention of Influenza-like Illness in Healthcare Workers: A Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial (mdpi.com). At moments like this, when a goal is attained, it might be appropriate to reflect on the path to this moment.

In January of 2020, the doctors at Chung Institute of Integrative Medicine started discussing plans for treating a new virus that was beginning to make its way around the world. Chung Institute has made a local name for itself by providing treatment options that traditional doctors are not able to offer. Like many integrative medical practices, providing patient support for viral and post-viral illness is an area of treatment with a relatively standard plan of care. By mid-March 2020, the first version of Cold, Flu and Covid-19 Recommendations – CHUNG INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE was posted to our blog.

The doctors at Chung Institute felt compelled to share their knowledge of virus management with the larger, local community. There were many discussions on how to best support the community, especially healthcare workers, in the fight against Covid-19. After weeks of discussion and debate about which intervention might have the most impact on the community, it was decided oral vitamin D supplementation would be the simplest and possibly most effective way to help prevent a viral infection. Could vitamin D help boost the immune system enough to prevent infection? It was hypothesized vitamin D supplementation might be the intervention that would and so, our study came to being.

That idea was conceived almost three years ago. Since then, there have been countless hours of development, design, data collection, analysis and documentation. The information in our article provides more support for vitamin D supplementation to prevent respiratory infections.