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Root Cause. Real Results.

June 15, 2025bebandoNewsUncategorizedUsefull info Links

Why Functional Medicine Matters Now More Than Ever

Dr. Kevin Q. Ng

Functional Medicine Is Having a Moment — And Patients Are Taking Notice

Functional Medicine is no longer a fringe idea — it’s becoming a cultural force. Across headlines, podcasts, and policy discussions, we’re witnessing a significant shift in how people perceive health.

From calls to ban ultra-processed foods and restrict harmful pesticides to bipartisan pushes for nutrition-based healthcare reform, the public appetite for root-cause care is rising.  Functional medicine practitioners are at the forefront of this conversation.

On social media, Gary Brecka‘s podcast, The Ultimate Human, has gained substantial popularity ranking #1 on Spotify worldwide for health and wellness, reflecting the growing interest in functional health topics. Meanwhile, Dr. Mark Hyman, a leading Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)-certified physician, educates over 3 million followers on Instagram about nutrition, longevity, and systems-based medicine

Perhaps most strikingly, Dr. Casey Means, an IFM-trained physician, was recently nominated for U.S. Surgeon General, highlighting the increasing recognition of functional medicine at the highest levels of healthcare policy.

And patients are responding.

At the Chung Institute of Integrative Medicine (CIIM), we’ve been honored to serve individuals who have traveled across the country seeking answers to their most complex and persistent health concerns. A common sentiment we hear:

“I wish there were a provider like you near me… someone who could explain the why behind my symptoms, address the cause before they become dangerous and guide my healing — without it costing an arm and a leg.”

That’s precisely why I chose to integrate IFM style care into our work at CIIM — to meet that need while complementing the holistic mindset we already offer as integrative medicine specialists.

For some patients, Functional Medicine provides a familiar, evidence-based bridge — especially if they feel uncertain about starting with acupuncture, regenerative injections, or bioenergetic testing. Others prefer to blend both worlds: merging concrete labs and outcome-based protocols with holistic therapies for a truly personalized path to wellness.

In either case, the goal remains the same: real answers, lasting results, and a healing process that finally makes sense.

What Is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine is a science-based, systems-oriented approach to healing. Rather than asking, “What drug matches this disease?”, it asks, “What’s driving this dysfunction — and how can we correct it at the source?”

It looks upstream, investigating how genetics, environment, nutrition, mindset, toxins, infections, and lifestyle patterns interact to create disease or protect against it. Instead of compartmentalizing symptoms, it connects the dots across the entire system.

As Gary Brecka aptly stated: “If a tree has a diseased leaf, a botanist doesn’t medicate the leaf — they test  the soil.”

Functional Medicine operates on the same principle. It delves beneath the surface.

This model is:

    • Personalized – tailored to your unique biochemistry and history

    • Participatory – involving you as a true partner, not a passive patient

    • Proactive – focused on prevention, resilience, and lifelong health

It’s the approach I now bring to my practice — one that prioritizes balance, function, and long-term restoration rather than short-term symptom suppression.

How It Differs from Conventional Care

Conventional medicine excels in emergencies, surgeries, trauma care, and acute infections. I continue to practice in that realm as a hospital-based infectious disease specialist. However, when it comes to chronic symptoms, unexplained fatigue, autoimmune flares, or the vague “everything is off, but my labs are normal” scenario — the toolbox often focuses on managing symptoms, not resolving them. 

We choose a different path:

    • Instead of isolated diagnoses, we explore interconnected systems.

    • Instead of suppressing symptoms, we uncover the roots.

    • Instead of settling for “It’s just your age,” we ask, “What’s changeable?”

It’s care for the complex, the chronic, and the curious.

Why CIIM, and Why Now

After years of treating complex infections and chronic illnesses in hospital systems, I observed a recurring pattern: patients with persistent symptoms — fatigue, brain fog, gut issues, immune dysfunction, yet no one was addressing the deeper questions. 

What drew me in wasn’t a trend. It was a shift in mindset. A move toward root-cause care: medicine that seeks to understand not just what’s wrong, but why it’s happening and how to restore balance across the body’s systems.

At the Chung Institute, we’ve long embodied this philosophy through integrative modalities like acupuncture, bioenergetic testing, photobiomodulation, and regenerative therapies. My role is to build on that foundation with tools from functional diagnostics, systems biology, and emerging fields like quantum biology — including circadian alignment, mitochondrial health, and nervous system regulation.

I also incorporate artificial intelligence-driven tools to help personalize nutrition planning, track lab trends, and empower patients with clear, actionable insights.

This synergy of tradition and technology allows us to create care plans that are both deeply individualized and deeply human — blending intuition with information, and structure with soul.

For some patients, this approach provides a more familiar entry point, especially if energetic medicine or injectables feel new. For others, it’s the structured clarity they’ve been craving: a way to see what’s happening, track what’s improving, and feel like an active participant in their recovery.

This isn’t one-size-fits-all care.

It’s adaptive, integrative, and outcome-oriented — designed to meet you wherever you are and guide you toward what’s possible.

Who I Help

If you’ve been told “your labs are normal”, but you still feel off…

If you’re managing multiple diagnoses, but none of them explain the whole picture…

Or if you’re proactive, health-literate, and ready for a smarter path forward…

You’re the kind of patient this model was built for.

I work with individuals who are:

    • Navigating chronic symptoms or complex conditions like autoimmunity, fatigue, gut issues, and infections

    • Struggling with food/environmental sensitivities, hormonal imbalances, or brain fog

    • Seeking preventive care or optimization — energy, clarity, performance, and longevity

    • Curious about combining data-driven diagnostics with a whole-person approach

🧭 What to Expect

In our visits, we’ll look for patterns, not just problems and work together to uncover what your symptoms are truly indicating.

We may use targeted diagnostics such as:

    • Genetic testing</strong> to assess methylation and detox capacity

    • Microbiome or stool testing to identify dysbiosis or hidden pathogens

    • Hormone or immune panels, if symptoms suggest dysfunction

    • Peptide therapy protocols or IV therapies, when appropriate for cellular repair or resilience

But not every patient needs every test.

In the same way conventional medicine can default to “a pill for every ill,” functional medicine can fall into the trap of “a test for every theory” or “a supplement for every symptom.”

That’s where experience matters.

I help patients prioritize what will move the needle and avoid spending on tests or treatments that won’t meaningfully change our plan. Sometimes, we can use therapeutic trials as diagnostic tools, or clinical history to guide next steps without unnecessary cost.

Similarly, we’ll build supplement plans that are:

    • Rooted in evidence and targeted to your case

    • Designed for impact, not overwhelm

    • Reviewed regularly to simplify over time

The goal isn’t to throw everything at your symptoms.

It’s to understand them and respond with precision, not excess.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Medicine is evolving, and so is our responsibility to treat the whole person.

If this approach resonates with you — if you’re tired of symptom chasing and ready to get to the root — I’d be honored to help.

I currently offer telemedicine consultations for patients located in New Jersey, with plans to expand access to additional states in the near future. Whether you’re managing a complex condition, seeking optimization, or simply want a second opinion that truly sees the whole picture — this model of care is designed for you.</p>

You don’t need more noise. You need a clear path — grounded in science, aligned with your goals, and led by someone who listens.

Let’s find that path together.

References:

  1. Institute for Functional Medicine. “What is Functional Medicine?” https://www.ifm.org/functional-medicine
  2. Spotify. “The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka.” https://open.spotify.com/show/5Faf5ecAnYW7AzGdblqd6R
  3. Instagram. “Dr. Mark Hyman.” https://www.instagram.com/drmarkhyman
  4. CBS News. “Dr. Casey Means, Trump’s new surgeon general nominee, is RFK Jr. ally and MAHA advocate.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-casey-means-surgeon-general-nominee/


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“The Difficult Child”

September 10, 2024bebandoEducational VideosMedical ArticlesPatient StoriesUsefull 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.

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

August 15, 2024webadminEducational VideosMedical ArticlesPatient StoriesUsefull 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:

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/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WHERE IS MY PERIOD?

July 1, 2024webadminEducational VideosMedical ArticlesPatient StoriesUsefull 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 21st 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).

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Minimizing the impact of colds and viruses

November 26, 2023bebandoEducational VideosUncategorizedUsefull info Links

Our recommendations were last written in 2020. We have since simplified our recommendations, but you can still read the original post.

Everyday health optimizers:

We recommend spending time outside. Just a few minutes several times throughout the day can be beneficial. See the sunrise and sunset. Daily movement: walking, playing, strength training, yard work, housework, fitness classes. You pick, just move. Eat real food. Really, we mean it. Eat your fruits, vegetables and protein. Get a good night’s sleep. EVERY NIGHT. Spend time away from your computers and phones. When you must work on screens, take a break for 10-20 minutes every 2 hours. Avoid screens whenever possible after sunset and turn off your Wi-Fi at night.

If none of the above are part of your current lifestyle, choose just one action item from the list above and invest the time to implement just one new healthy habit. Developing healthy habits takes time and patience but will be worth the investment.

Regular Supplementation:

Our study on vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of respiratory infections showed that supplementing with vitamin D does decrease the risk of respiratory infections.

We believe that when supplementing with vitamin D, magnesium and vitamin K2 should be included. For more information, please read: Important Nutrients to Make Sure You Are Getting Along with Vitamin D – GrassrootsHealth.

Steps to consider after exposure or if symptoms develop:

If you are exposed to a virus or spend time in a large group, consider a nasal spray or neti-pot and gargle with Listerine or a hydrogen peroxide mouthwash. This may help reduce the quantity of virus in the airway. (read, read)

Vitamin C for immune system support. Increase your vitamin C to 1 gram every ½ hour to every 1 hour. Continue until you reach bowel tolerance i.e. you begin having nausea, loose stools or diarrhea. Add up the total dose that you took (4 to 12 pills depending on the individual) then take that dose every 4 to 6 hours (adjust to lower dose if bowel intolerance).  Example: if you took 4000 mg in 2 hours before getting loose stool, you can try taking this dose every 4 to 6 hours (1000 mg every 6 hours). There is almost no upper limit as long as you adjust the dose down if you develop stomach symptoms.

Consider making Korsakov dilution:

Basic virus management suggestions: Wash your hands regularly. Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing. Avoid spending time with people when you’re sick, please. Rest. Drink warm fluids, sit under the covers and also, if you’re feeling up to it, spend a few minutes a few times a day in the fresh air. If you develop a fever, allow it to break naturally. Avoid fever-reducing medicines which have been shown through studies to extend duration of illness.

These protocols are for educational purposes only. Discuss how they can apply to you with your doctor.

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Cold, Flu and Covid-19 Recommendations

December 3, 2020webadminNewsUsefull info Links
Cold, Flu and Covid-19 Recommendations

Shorter, colder days have arrived and with them comes an increase in respiratory infections. The following are recommendations for minimizing your risk of infection as well as recommendations for how to manage a respiratory infection.

Prevention

For prevention please follow the standard requests. Wash your hands.  Keep your hands away from your face. Wear a mask and avoid crowded areas whenever possible.

  • Vitamin D3 500-1,000 IU per year of age for children. Adults take 10,000 IU and Vitamin K2 180-200 mcg per 5,000IU of Vitamin D3. We use the brands “K Force” or Sports Research Vitamin K2/D3 for a vegan option. These both have the combination of 5,000 IU D3/180mcg K2 we prefer. Those with a history of kidney stones should not exceed 5,000 IU’s and drink at least 6-8 eight-ounce glasses of fluid per day. Those who allergic to wool should not use K-Force or any non-vegan brand of Vitamin D. 1, 2
  • Vitamin C 1000 mg a day. Blend with some juice/frozen berries and a tablespoon of grass-fed butter or unprocessed coconut oil. This will make it liposomal which allows for better absorption. 3, 4
  • Melatonin 5-10 mg per day. Take about a half hour before bed.5
  • Magnesium supplements. Epsom salt baths are the best. Place 3 cups in a bath, soak for 30 minutes. And/or Magnesium (chelated, glycinate, threonate, citrate or oxide). Take 300-500mg a day or more.6
  • Zinc picolinate 20-50mg per day. 7
  • Quercetin 250mg with zinc. 8
  • Optional: Low dose baby aspirin 80mg, one a day. (adults only. Do not give to children.)
  • Optional: Andrographis: If you happen to have “Quintessence” at home (which contains Andrographis), take one dropper full twice daily. If you have “Cocktail” at home, which also contains Andrographis, you can take 4 drops per day.
  • Optional Propolis tincture or vaporizer.

If Symptoms Develop

If you do develop symptoms of a cold or respiratory infection consider the following:

Make a Korsakov Dilution

This method is useful for most acute viral illness especially if taken early and has frequently helped abort or mitigate acute infections.

  1. Obtain a small glass vial (1/2 oz to 1 oz is ideal) or small glass jar. Fill ¾ of the container with water.
  2. Get a sample of secretions from your throat or nose or lung (swab your throat with a Q-tip and/or cough hard onto a paper towel). Take the swab of the specimen with a Q-tip and swirl it into the container that is filled with water.
  3. Close the container tightly and pound it onto your palm repeatedly and vigorously 50 times. This method of shaking and mixing is called “succussing or succussion”. This solution is now called the mother isode.
  4. Take the mother isode container and gently poor out all of the liquid content into the kitchen drain without shaking the container. There is a remaining liquid that is coating the surface of the container. It is important that you leave this trace amount in the container.
  5. Fill this container ¾ back up with water that has this trace amount of the mother isode and then vigorously succuss the container by pounding it onto your palm. This is now called a Korsakov dilution (#K1).
  6. Repeat step 3 and 4 by gently draining out the water and succussing 50 times. Now you have a K2 dilution.
  7. Repeat steps 3 and 4 again to make a K3 dilution.
  8. Repeat steps 3 and 4 again to make a K4 dilution.
  9. Repeat steps 3 and 4 again to make a K5 dilution. This is the final dilution.
  10. Administer one drop of this final dilution under your tongue at least ½ hour away from eating, chewing gum, brushing your teeth or drinking a flavored beverage. Repeat every 6 hours until you feel well. Make sure you put your name on the container, so you do not mix it with other family members.

Supplements

Take an additional 10,000 IU of Vitamin D of one day and then continue vitamin D at 10,000 IU and Vitamin K2 180-200 mcg per 5,000 IU of Vitamin D3. As stated above, those with a history of kidney stones should not exceed 5,000 IU’s and drink 6-8 eight-ounce glasses of fluid per day. Also, if you were not on Vitamin D before the illness, take a larger loading dose of 20,000 IU’s of Vitamin D for two days and then take 10,000 IU’s a day.1, 2

Vitamin C flush. Increase your vitamin C to 1 gram every ½ hour to every 1 hour. Continue until you reach bowel tolerance i.e. you begin having loose stools or diarrhea. Add up the total dose that you took (4 to 12 pills depending on the individual) then take that dose every 4 to 6 hours (adjust to lower dose if causes diarrhea).  Example: if you took 4000 mg in 2 hours before getting loose stool, you can try taking this dose every 4 to 6 hours. There is almost no upper limit. You can take as much as 30,000 mg a day as long as diarrhea is not severe.3, 4

Melatonin increase to 50 mg-100 mg a day. (if taking orally, divide to 12.5-25 mg every 6 hours).5

Magnesium supplements. Epsom salt baths are the best. Place 3 cups in a bath, soak for 30 minutes.6

Zinc 20-50mg (If you take larger doses you will need to take 1mg of copper with each 50mg increment of Zinc). 7

Quercetin 250mg with zinc.8

Aspirin 80-160 mg a day. There are some early reports that patients who happen to be taking low dose aspirin have lower complication rates when they contract COVID-19.

Additional suggestions

Fevers: studies show that fever reduces the speed of viral and bacterial growth. Generally, we prefer you avoid acetaminophen, ibuprofen and Naprosyn if possible. Instead, go to bed and pile on the blankets. Allow your fever to break naturally. One medical paper pointed out that taking pain/fever reducing medication actually prolongs the viral shedding, will more likely mask your illness and make you feel well enough to socialize or go to work, spreading your illness to others. Stay home and rest.9

Self-quarantine at home. Sleep in a separate bed. If coughing in the house, wear a surgical mask, this will reduce the amount of virus you spread in your home. Wash your hands frequently.

Avoid going to the doctor’s office if at all possible. Most offices do not have on site testing for flu or covid-19. Going to the doctor usually does not reduce the duration of the illness better than following the above recommendations. For our patients, you can call us for a telemedicine appointment. During evenings/nights/weekends call our office to get our answering service; we will respond to advise you as to how to manage.

If you develop difficulty breathing or your blood oxygen level dips below 90% go to the emergency room.  If you do not have a pulse oximeter, a home self-test called the Roth score can give you a rough estimate:  Take a deep breath and count out loud in your native tongue as quickly as you can while watching a watch with a second hand ( a stop watch on the iPhone). If you run out of breath before 8 seconds, you are considered likely to have an oxygen level below 92%. You should administer this test and see how many seconds it takes before you get too ill so that you can have a baseline. The relative change may be a better marker for severity than the absolute number.

To find a testing center near you: https://my.castlighthealth.com/corona-virus-testing-sites/

The information contained or presented on this website is for educational purposes only. Information on this site is NOT intended to serve as a substitute for diagnosis, treatment, or advice from a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only in order to empower you – our protocol is not medical advice – and in no way should anyone infer that we, even though we are physicians, or anyone appearing in any content on this website are practicing medicine, it is for educational purposes only. Any treatment protocol you undertake should be discussed with your physician or other licensed medical professional. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of ANY material on this site or our program to your specific situation. NEVER stop or change your medications without consulting your physician. If you are having an emergency contact emergency services.

As a convenience to our patients the office will have available : “Winter prevention kit”:

  • Vitamin D3/K2
  • Magnesium
  • Zinc picolinate
  • Vitamin C, 1,000mg
  • Melatonin 5mg
  • Glass vial to make Korsakov remedy.

Citations

  1. Bergman, P., Lindh, A. U., Björkhem-Bergman, L., & Lindh, J. D. (2013). Vitamin D and Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. PloS one, 8(6), e65835. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0065835
  2. Martineau Adrian R, Jolliffe David A, Hooper Richard L, Greenberg Lauren, Aloia John F, Bergman Peter et al. Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data BMJ 2017; 356 :i6583
  3. Marik PE. Vitamin C: an essential “stress hormone” during sepsis. J Thorac Dis 2020;12(Suppl 1):S84-S88. doi: 10.21037/jtd.2019.12.64
  4. Carr, A. C., & Rowe, S. (2020). The Emerging Role of Vitamin C in the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19. Nutrients, 12(11), 3286. MDPI AG. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu12113286
  5. Martín Giménez, V. M., Inserra, F., Tajer, C. D., Mariani, J., Ferder, L., Reiter, R. J., & Manucha, W. (2020). Lungs as target of COVID-19 infection: Protective common molecular mechanisms of vitamin D and melatonin as a new potential synergistic treatment. Life sciences, 254, 117808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117808
  6. Reddy, Pramod MD*; Edwards, Linda R. MD Magnesium Supplementation in Vitamin D Deficiency, American Journal of Therapeutics: January/February 2019 – Volume 26 – Issue 1 – p e124-e132 doi: 10.1097/MJT.0000000000000538
  7. Jothimani, D., Kailasam, E., Danielraj, S., Nallathambi, B., Ramachandran, H., Sekar, P., Manoharan, S., Ramani, V., Narasimhan, G., Kaliamoorthy, I., & Rela, M. (2020). COVID-19: Poor outcomes in patients with zinc deficiency. International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, 100, 343–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.014
  8. Colunga Biancatelli RML, Berrill M, Catravas JD and Marik PE (2020) Quercetin and Vitamin C: An Experimental, Synergistic Therapy for the Prevention and Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Related Disease (COVID-19). Front. Immunol. 11:1451. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01451
  9. Dai YT, Lu SH, Chen YC, Ko WJ. Correlation Between Body Temperature and Survival Rate in Patients With Hospital-Acquired Bacteremia: A Prospective Observational Study. Biol Res Nurs. 2015 Oct;17(5):469-77. doi: 10.1177/1099800414554683. Epub 2014 Oct 12. PMID: 25313306.

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Oliver’s Story: Allergies, Infections & Nickel

August 17, 2019webadminPatient StoriesUsefull info Links
Oliver’s Story: Allergies, Infections & Nickel

[vc_column_text]Oliver was a healthy, thriving baby for the first year and a half of his life, hitting all of the regular developmental milestones. He was focused and mild tempered. His mom, Danielle, chose to be as natural and wholesome as possible with his food so she nursed and when he started eating, she made her own baby food.

When he was about 18 months old, Danielle noticed Oliver starting to develop dark circles under his eyes. He had frequent colds, seasonal allergies and recurring ear infections with fevers. He had bronchitis and would have frequent bouts of pink eye; sometimes in both eyes. He was almost always sick.

Danielle took him to an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) and pediatric optometrist. The doctors would treat Oliver’s symptoms but no one was able to explain why he was sick so frequently or why he wasn’t getting better. Between 18-23 months he was in the emergency room (ER) three times with fevers of up to 107 degrees.

The third ER visit happened when Danielle was in labor with Oliver’s younger brother, Julian. Right after giving birth, Danielle went to the ER to be with Oliver. He wasn’t eating, had a double ear infection, bronchitis, and pink eye. She spent 12 hours with him while the hospital staff probed, pricked, and tested him for everything, trying to figure out what was going on. They left the emergency room with no new information, no reason why he was sick.

REMEMBERING A STORY ABOUT A SPECIAL DOCTOR

Before Danielle had any children, she heard a story that stuck with her. A coworker’s son became injured playing sports and despite the best care, he couldn’t heal. Doctors suggested surgery. Danielles’s coworker took her son to the Chung Institute before consenting to surgery. Dr. Chung treated him then he was able to continue his sports career without surgery. That story stuck with Danielle. She knew she would visit Dr. Chung before she would consent to surgery for any of her kids. Oliver was going to visit Dr. Chung.

NICKEL SENSITIVITY

The first visit with Dr. Chung did not disappoint. After he examined Oliver, Dr. Chung explained that Oliver was sensitive to nickel and air born allergens. He thoroughly discussed nickel sensitivity and the nickel free diet with Danielle. He prescribed some supplements as part of his treatment plan. Danielle followed it the plan perfectly.

https://www.chunginstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Nickle-Free-Diet.pdf

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171205092028.htm

Oliver started to look better just one month after following the treatment plan. Within three months he was back to being a perfect, healthy baby boy. Oliver’s ears were clear and he hadn’t had any infections. A year and a half went by without so much as a sniffle.

http://www.vitaviva-info.com/en/healthproblems/nickel-allerg

This spring Oliver had a big allergy flare up. His pediatrician prescribed a steroid nasal spray and two other medications. Danielle really wanted to avoid those medications so she returned to the Chung Institute. Oliver was treated for nickel and seasonal allergies with LDI’s and supplements in the office and he continues those therapies at home.[/vc_column_text]

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Click on link below:

LDA & LDI

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Click on link below:

DETOXIFICATION THERAPIES

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Read the link for information about our detoxification therapies

Oliver is thriving since he’s been on the current treatment plan. He can do things he wasn’t able to do before his allergy treatments at the Chung Institute like visit his grandmothers house. Cats had always been a big trigger for his allergies and his grandmother has two cats. He would sneeze and become stuffy whenever he was around them. His eyes would swell shut and his face would get puffy so a visit to grandmas would mean he’d feel sick. After starting the therapies Dr. Chung prescribed he was able to visit grandma’s and even have a sleepover her house. He came home symptom free.[/vc_column_text]

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