(Blog for October 2014) MTHFR By Janella Purcell
Sometimes life throws a curveball at you, sometimes when you’re least expecting it. I wonder if this happens because subconsciously we were asking for an excuse to change something in our lives that isn’t working for us, or to look at something we’ve buried deep. The struggle can’t be for nothing, can it? The curveball can come in the form being of getting retrenched from your job, discovering your partner has been having an affair, someone close to you betrays you, or you or someone you love is sick. In my case it was the discovery of a gene mutation known as MTHFR, and at least 40-60% of us have it.
[private]I find it impossible not to be philosophical about the events that take place in my life. Why is it happening? What is the lesson I’m meant to be learning? Is there something in my diet, exercise routine or lifestyle that is causing this imbalance, or is it all emotionally based and I’ve ignored the subtle warning signs, so that now it has found its way into the physical body?
In September last year (2013) I had a miscarriage at 6 weeks. Naturally I was devastated and went into full grief and sadness. This lasted months and my hormones didn’t settle for a long time. This is when my MTHFR journey began. Instead of my body and mind returning to its normal healthy self, I was getting worse daily. I was gaining weight, my digestion was seriously bad, my hair was thinning and I was sooooo emotional. Not pretty, for anyone involved. I couldn’t get my equilibrium back, and no amount of herbs, supplements, massage, fasting, smoothies, healing sessions or juices touched the sides. I even did my usual 10 days in Bali on a fasting/meditation retreat in January this year, then the 5 days in Austria in September in order to try to get some relief from the symptoms. Or even to find someone who could shine some light on this mystery called my body and why it was having a tantrum. Nothing!
I had many blood tests and ultrasounds – everything was clear. So why on earth was I sooooo sick, emotional and fat? I could hardly move at times due to overwhelming fatigue and seriously I could eat nothing without being in intolerable pain. Consequently I had a mouthful here and there. Clearly something was very wrong. Plus, I was blowing up like Violet Beauregard in ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, after she ate the blueberry candy. Remember? Mr Wonka had to get the Oompa Lumpa’s to take her to the ‘sqeezing’ room. Just call me Violet. That’s exactly how I felt. Like an over-ripe blueberry.
Regarding digestion – I couldn’t swallow anything. Not even water would go down without a fight. It was getting stuck in my oesophagus for hours and the pain was past intense. This would then cause reflux (unheard of before this period) and then dramatic pain in my stomach, liver, colon – everywhere over my torso, and it moved around. I had colonoscopy and endoscopy in June, and a ‘barium swallow test’ in March – and what a revolting experience that is. This where you drink disgusting liquid that looks and feels like white paint and tastes like toxic flavouring. They X-ray you (a nice hit of radiation) as the toxic paint goes down your oesphagus. Next, you chew a marshmallow just once, then swallow it. OMG! I was outraged at having to be doing this, and in a hospital! Yuck! Resentful! Sad! Teary! Of course this only makes things worse. In fact what I needed to be doing was to surrender. In between tears of self- pity I was trying to do this, and sometimes I achieved it.
So after getting the all clear from western medicine diagnostics – just to make sure I wasn’t dying of some nasty disease, I intensified my own research. My blood results showed that my iron was way below the lower level of low, as was my zinc, B6 and B12. Why? I had my bloods taken 12 months earlier, pre-natally. All was perfect, everything, as it always had been. What was causing this? It couldn’t be my diet. And then I found a possibility. Maybe I had the MTFHR mutation. I knew very little about this but this was my last hope. So I ordered the tests through a friend who is a GP, (no Medicare for this yet) and at the same time I had myself tested for Pyrroluria. (See link at the end of this Blog) I tested positive to both, although my pyrrole levels were only just above normal they probably weren’t causing me too much grief. So now I knew what was wrong I had to find out what it meant, and how to treat MTHFR, naturally.
I’m going to give you a very brief rundown on this as it is mighty complex and overwhelming. (I am starting the e-course with the leading MTHFR specialist in the States soon, and I’m guessing my next book will be about this.)
Around 40-60% of us have this condition, so it’s not uncommon. (Anything over 5% is considered significant.) Shouldn’t we all be getting tested? The thing is if you have this gene mutation then taking folic acid in a supplement is like swallowing poison. Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate (the good stuff in green leafy vegetables), and is added to many of today’s foods, and most all multi-vitamins. And btw, wheat in Australia has been fortified with folic acid (and iodised salt) since 2009, unless it’s organic. http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/science/monitoringnutrients/monitoringfort/Pages/default.aspx
So maybe gluten isn’t the only bad guy. I know that I can digest spelt but not wheat. I was muscle tested at the health clinic I visited in Austria in September for this, and yes I can tolerate spelt, which contains gluten, but I can’t tolerate wheat.) The plot was thickening, and my head was going crazy with the possibility of what all this meant to the decreasing health of our society. No wonder there is so much illness around – both mental and physical.
Naturally I was taking folic acid pre-natally, and then throughout the pregnancy and continued to do so for months after the miscarriage. According to the research available to us so far, taking a folic acid supplement (or an iron or pre-natal supplement with folic acid in it) when you have this gene mutation – can and does cause miscarriage. And do you think I can find ONE pre-natal or iron supplement in Australia that doesn’t contain folic acid? (I have now found one through the website iherb that I give my patients, and take myself. It’s made by ‘Thorne’). Since MTHFR patients are defective in the conversion process from folic acid to methylfolate, they should be given pure methylfolate, which is the already converted and usable form they are deficient in. This way the defect is “by-passed”.
Basically what this is about is ‘methylation’ and your liver. Your major organ of detoxification – your liver – can’t do its job properly, so you are like one big waste disposal. Sigh! Your liver has a very hard time doing its job. It also will make you ‘estrogen dominant’ – hello endometriosis, weight gain, intense emotions – me. Other symptoms include – food intolerance, behavioural issues, heart disease, mental illness, body aches, and so, so much more. See http://mthfr.net/ for more info on symptoms.
The Methylation Cycle is the major biochemical pathway in our bodies that contributes to a wide range of crucial body functions, such as detoxification, immune function, mood balancing, and more. If one pathway is hindered, such as in the case of MTHFR mutations, other pathways, which are reliant on it, will also be hindered. This will end up causing a ‘hindered ripple effect throughout the entire body, and many of its processes, resulting in a myriad of chronic diseases.
Two of the main concerns of the MTHFR mutation are –
So after 3 months of being on the wrong supplements and my symptoms worsening, I am now on the right path. It has been difficult to find a practitioner who specialises in MTHFR, and when you do find one they often don’t take on any more patients, plus they were all a bit strictly clinical for my liking. I have now found a wonderful specialist to guide me through this process, and we are working through this together to create the best protocol for me, and my own individual symptoms.
My new supplements arrived on my birthday last week (BEST birthday present) and it usually takes between 6-12 weeks before you can expect to feel any improvement. Being the sensitive miss I am, after 2 days I started to see the light! I guess my body was just sucking it all up.
Now I am contemplative, looking back on my life and seeing that ‘I’ can be explained by my genes, and my environment. I’ve obviously always had this gene but I’ve been pretty healthy due to my diet and lifestyle. I’ve now been pushed over the edge most likely due to the folic acid supplement, the extra nutritional needs of pregnancy, plus the deep grief surrounding the miscarriage. It’s all starting to make sense now.
I have had an extraordinarily busy year with writing and publishing my new book, then styling and shooting it at my place in 5 days. I’ve also done an Australian tour with my Workshops, serviced both my practices, plus my regular writing assignments, social media’s and a business to run. I love it all. Having the miscarriage knocked me for a 6 emotionally, and the stress of this just made everything so much worse. But you know what, this curveball is probably going to save my life. Finally, I am being forced to slow down. I have to now.
I am now on a mission, after my supplements kick in properly that is. So many of my clients and others of you also have this gene mutation, and don’t know it – and suffering unnecessarily. This truly feels like my next calling – to help get information about this gene mutation out there, testing easier and cheaper and the treatment simpler and widely available to all.
America is way ahead of us on this. In Australia, almost every doctor and fertility specialist I have spoken to about MTHFR (I’m kinda obsessed) knows a little to nothing about it. My theory is because it’s such a complex condition, and until recently there has been no or limited education offered to MDs, so mostly they don’t want to touch it. Plus, there is no drug yet to treat it, so what would they do with it anyway? No doubt there will soon be a patented drug as more and more people are being diagnosed positive all the time. Wed don’t need a drug, we need more practitioners experienced in treating MTHFR naturally, using with the right supplementation for each person.
When I suggest to fertility clinics they could perhaps test their patients for this gene mutation before they put them on a supplement containing folic acid – they respond with it’s not their responsibility to do so. The women apparently should be tested before they come to them for IVF, IUI (intra-uterine insemination) or even planning a natural pregnancy. I am horrified by this of course. How many people trying for a baby (or otherwise) have even heard of MTHFR?
I have been thinking about whether or not to go public with this, but I feel this particular curveball has been thrown to me for a reason. I will get through this and then know how to treat it properly prescribing the right natural supplements for each person’s individual symptoms. Perhaps I’ll study genetics in the future, as my curiosity pertaining to the human genome has now increased, 10 fold.
My check list –
There is just so much we don’t know about the human body still, and the more we do learn, the more we realise how much we don’t know. What an amazing thing this is.
As always, in love and continued Wellbeing for us all,
Janella
For more info’ from experts in this field – Dr. Neil Rawlins, Dr. Ben Lynch, Dr. Amy Yasko, Dr. Katherine Erlich,
More info on Pyrroluria – http://www.vitalityandwellness.com.au/pyrrole-disorder
More on MTHFR – http://www.mthfr.net/
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To enjoy a 15% Janella discount on your @TheHerbFarmskincare order, use this code JANELLA15 and watch your skin take a deep sigh of relief.
Antioxidants are a generic term that describes the mopping up of free radicals (the bad guys) in your body – by increasing oxygenation.
Modern food far from existing in its original state, the stress of living in today’s world, strenuous exercise, sun exposure, pollution, chemicals used to grow our food and make our cosmetics, computers, TV’s and carpets, smoking, and bacterial infections can all cause a rise in free radicals to dangerous levels. This results in damage at a cellular level resulting in premature ageing like wrinkles, bad skin, black rings under the eyes and sometimes, serious illnesses such as cancer.
Many antioxidants are vitamins like C and E, but Carotenoids are the most powerful anti oxidants known. Along with chlorophyll, carotenoids are what give plants their colour. The most powerful carotenoid is Astaxanthin (blue-green algae), and the next is Beta Carotene, of which Spirulina is the richest known natural source. There are other foods high in different antioxidants. This is where you’ll find lots of them –
Astaxanthin
This little known carotenoid is now believed to be the most powerful antioxidant by far. There are only two natural sources of natural astaxanthin—the micro-algae that produce it, and the sea creatures that consume the algae (such as salmon, shellfish, and krill). Astaxanthin is 65 times more powerful than vitamin C, 54 times more powerful than beta-carotene, 550 times more powerful than Vitamin E. No adverse reactions at all have been found for people taking Astaxanthin. It’s perfectly safe. You’ll find astaxanthin in supplement form on line.
You may have heard of astaxanthin before. The synthetic version made in a laboratory is commonly used worldwide to give farmed fish, especially salmon, its pinkish red colour. You really do want to avoid man-made astaxanthin as it’s made from petrochemicals, which makes it a toxic hormone disruptor.
Cacao
According to a study in the “Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry” published in 2003, researchers compared the antioxidant capacity of black tea, green tea, red wine and cocoa, concluding that cocoa has the highest antioxidant activity among the four products and the greatest potential for health benefits.
Garlic and its juice
Garlic is one of the best medicines in the world. It has natural ‘germanium’ and is anti-fungal and antibacterial (just to name a few of its actions). If you’re cooking your garlic, crush it up and let it sit for ten minutes before adding it to your recipe. It has to sit so that the enzymes can create the healing phyto-chemicals we need.
Dried Fruit
Goji berries have an enormous amount of antioxidants, yet dried Pomegranate seeds, (also expensive) have almost double the amount. And then comes dried Indian Gooseberries that have around 10 times more than Goji berries.
Green Super-Foods
Spirulina, chlorella and barley grass are chock full of minerals and enzymes. The enzymes are both anti-mycotoxin (mycotoxins are released by yeast/fungal infections) and antioxidants.
Matcha
This premium green tea powder from Japan is used for drinking as tea, or to use as a vibrant, green ingredient in recipes. Other green teas are grown throughout the world, but Matcha is unique to Japan. One cup of Matcha contains as much as 10 times the antioxidants of one cups of brewed green tea.
Quercetin
An antioxidant belonging to a class of water-soluble plant substances called flavonoids. Some research has shown quercetin-rich foods, such as apples, berries, red grapes, red onions, capers and black tea, are ‘natural antihistamines’ as they prevent histamine release. Quercetin is also available in supplement form.
Selenium
Sources include wheat germ, garlic, Brazil nuts, eggs and brown rice. Brazil nuts are perhaps the best source of this important mineral, and eating just 3-4 Brazil nuts per day may provide adequate intake for most people to maintain levels. Although, a supplement may be necessary if levels are low.
Vitamin A
Is found in dark green leafy veggies such as kale, rocket, baby spinach and all your Asian greens and any fruit or veg’ that is green, yellow, red or green in colour – so pumpkin, carrots, capsicum and broccoli, and spirulina has an enormous amount.
Vitamin C
This vitamin has long been known to battle the effects of ageing and disease. Like Vitamin E, Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant so it will help to reduce free radicals. Most fruits especially guava and paw paw are good sources of Vitamin C as are vegetables like kale, broccoli, cauliflower, tomato, Brussels’ sprouts and cucumber. Goji berries, Gubinge and Camu Camu have more Vitamin C per weight than most other foods on earth.
Vitamin D
Different from other vitamins because our bodies can make most of what we need with exposure to sunlight, unlike having to get it from our diet. In fact most foods aren’t great sources of vitamin D, and there are only a small amount to choose from. The best sources are cod liver oil, sardines, wild Alaskan salmon, mackerel and mushrooms. Sunlight is the best way to get your Vitamin D as it promotes this vitamin’s synthesis from cholesterol in the skin.10-15 minutes a day is enough, and allowing the sun to shine on as much of you body as you can is the way to go.
Vitamin E
Found in olives, nuts and seeds oils, wheat germ and leafy greens.
Zinc
Good sources are oysters, organic red meat, wheat germ, miso, pumpkin seeds, alfalfa, sardines, legumes, mushrooms, pecans, organic soybeans, sunflower seeds and whole grains.
Herbs + Spices
Extremely high in antioxidants, in fact at least 10 times higher than the foods above per weight, and the herbs and spices below are in a class of their own when it comes to antioxidants. Add these foods to your meals but you can also use them as essential oils and some of them as herbal tinctures. Look for 100 percent pure (therapeutic grade) oils, which are highest in antioxidants, and organic or at least wild-crafted herbal medicine. From the highest are cloves, cinnamon, rosemary, oregano, turmeric, cumin, parsley (dried), basil, ginger and thyme
Many of us are now aware that some things are better for our microbiota than others, and to varying degrees. Antibiotics and laxatives, as well as medications against fever and pain, contraceptive hormones (The Pill), or those to alleviate menopausal symptoms all negatively affect gut flora composition. Antibiotics when prescribed responsibly are obviously life saving. They have saved countless lives and wiped out many diseases. But, there’s a price to pay for everything, and in this case the over- use of antibiotics has gotten us into some serious strife.
These days however, it’s pretty hard to avoid them. Even if you’re a raw food vegan who’s never sick, you’re still likely to be exposed to antibiotics. 80% of the antibiotics manufactured world wide are for animals for food, so we’re constantly being exposed to antibiotics, every time we eat or drink, as the manure your veggies are grown with comes from animals that have been fed antibiotics. Antibiotics are in our food and in our water.
Studies are showing that small amounts of antibiotics given regularly, is a whole lot worse than one big hit when you’re sick and you actually need them. Antibiotics are not meant for prevention, but it is a billion dollar industry, so making changes to the system is, well, tricky.
It’s encouraging to see that more and more conscious farmers are using herbs and essential oils like oregano oil to replace expensive and damaging antibiotics that are so commonly and mindlessly used in commercial farming. The over-use of antibiotics both for us and in our food is destroying our gut flora, reduces immunity, increases anxiety and depression and keeps us susceptible to everything. Not to mention the damage they’re doing to our animals and our planet.
So far, western medicine’s answer has been to prescribe yet more drugs, so that now we have arrived in a scary place called ‘antibiotic resistant’. This is now at crisis levels, meaning some infections are becoming untreatable. What we’ve basically done is coat our world in a bubble of antibiotics by our overuse and inappropriate use of them. And antibiotic use is in Australia, which directly affects the development of antibiotic resistance.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is a type of staph’ that has developed resistance to a family of antibiotics similar to penicillin. When we take an antibiotic, the drug kills many bacteria, but a few survive. These surviving bacteria are now resistant to that antibiotic, and then they multiply. What this means is, every time a patient takes an antibiotic, he or she is creating more drug-resistant bacteria. The growing number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a very serious and immediate threat to our health as a species. In 1974, MRSA infections accounted for 2% of the total number of staph infections; in 1995 it was 22%; in 2004 it was 63%. These bacteria were once mainly found in hospitals, doctor’s surgeries and nursing homes, but recently they’ve been showing up in gyms, schools, sports clubs, and other places where people are in close contact.
Two-thirds of the children today have already taken a course of antibiotics by the time they are 12 months old. Antibiotics have been shown to affect the childhood microbiome causing changes associated with allergies, obesity and autism – three of the biggest childhood issues in developed countries. This means long-term health implications for these children. While this link is still being researched, the evidence is mounting.
Bacterial infections need antibiotics, as the infection will only get worse, if it’s not treated. Examples of serious infections that arguably need antibiotics under one year of age are meningitis, whooping cough, pneumonia, infection in the blood and urinary infections. Antibiotics are ineffective for common viral infections however, so treating these with antibiotics results in none of the benefits and all of the disadvantages. These include most respiratory infections – for example of the ear, throat and chest, yet we are still constantly being prescribed antibiotics for these conditions. There are many effective alternatives to synthetic antibiotics. Herbal medicine and essential oils have both undergone much research and the results are exciting.
A recent British report estimated that antibiotic and microbial resistance could kill an extra 10 million people a year and cost up to $100 trillion USD by 2050 if it is not brought under control, and soon.
Btw, scientists often modify seeds using antibiotic-resistant genes in the genetic engineering process. Some people wonder if there’s a link between these GM Frankenfoods and the ever increasing rates of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Castor Oil – coming from the seeds (or beans) of the Ricinus communis plant, is an oil rich in antioxidants and Ricinoleic Acid (RA) and also contains small amounts of linoleic, oleic and stearic acid. The healthiest and safest version of castor oil comes from de-hulling the bean, then cold-pressing the seeds to produce the rich and viscous oil.
Castor oil packs have been used by healers to help reduce a variety of health conditions for many generations. Placed over your abdomen or liver, these packs are used to improve liver detoxification, breakdown kidney stones, reduce period pain, reduce symptoms of autoimmunity, support uterine and ovarian health, improve lymphatic circulation and reduce inflammation.
To DIY: Mix two to four drops of an essential oil – depending on what you’re treating – with enough warm castor oil to lightly soak a piece of cloth, (either a lightweight tea towel, or a piece of linen, or even a face washer). Castor oil has a rather strong smell, so be ready.
Btw, you can buy packs that include a piece of flannel cloth and a pack, with straps – so you’re all sorted. Just Google ‘castor oil packs’. (See images.)
Wring out the cloth to remove any excess oil, then place it over your abdomen or liver for at least 30 minutes, with a heat source like a wheat pack or hot water bottle over the top of it. This helps to stimulate lymph and liver function. Lie flat in bed, and perhaps cover your eyes with an eye pillow and use this time of quiet relaxation to go within.
Placing the pack on the right side of the abdomen or the whole abdomen will help support the liver and digestive systems, as well as reproductive and colon health. These packs are used also to relieve pain. Aim to do it 3 times a week, and relax.
Castor oil packs can be a bit messy, so I wrap mine in a plastic-free cover like a bees wax wrap, or an apron. Be aware of any skin sensitivities, so avoid applying the oils directly to your skin.
Side note – I was once at a sanitarium (health retreat/hospital) in Austria, and part of the program was a daily liver pack, such as this one above. Instead of the oil-soaked cloth though, they used flaked pieces of dried burdock root (a great liver herb) that had been warmed and stuffed in a plastic zip lock bag. It was delivered to my room like this, so all I had to do was lay down on my bed, put a light towel over my abdomen and then the compress over the top. Gawd it was nice. And I really did feel the benefits. Gut and reproductive pain, as well as pent up anger and resentment – all but disappeared using these packs daily for the 5 days I was there.
Either way you decide to do it – it’s going to help.
