A few words on PRP . . .

What is Platelet Rich Plasma?

Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP is blood plasma with concentrated platelets. The concentrated platelets found in PRP contain huge reservoirs of bioactive proteins, including growth factors that are vital to initiate and accelerate tissue repair and regeneration. These bioactive proteins initiate connective tissue healing: bone, tendon and ligament regeneration and repair, promote development of new blood vessels and stimulate the wound healing process.

How does PRP Therapy work?

To prepare PRP, a small amount of blood is taken from the patient. The blood is then placed in a centrifuge. The centifuge spins and automatically produces the PRP. The entire process takes less than 15 minutes and increases the concentration of platelets and growth factors up to 500%. When PRP is injected into the damaged area it stimulates the tendon or ligament, causing mild inflammation that triggers the healing cascade. As a result new collagen begins to shrink causing the tightening and strengthening of the tendons or ligaments of the damaged area.

What are the potential benefits?

Patients can see a significant improvement in symptoms. This may eliminate the need for more aggressive treatments such as long term medication or surgery as well as a remarkable return of function.

Our office strives to ensure that we make a difference in your health and quality of life. To this end, we invite you to come meet with us, at no charge, to discuss your health concerns and goals. Our practitioners and you will be more certain as to the appropriateness of developing a practitioner-patient partnership. Call us at (914) 241-7030 for a 15 minute complimentary consultation.

Hepatitis A-B-C . . .

Hepatitis is a viral infection of the liver. It is spread by close contact – kissing, sharing eating utensils, using the same glass or toothbrush.

Hepatitis A is the mildest form, with a rapid onset of fatigue, nausea and even jaundice. Complete bed rest for three to five weeks is the standard treatment which cures the condition.

Hepatitis B is spread by blood contact, i.e. contaminated needles and contaminated blood transfusion; it usually occurs in IV drug users.

Hepatitis C is the most widespread form throughout the world, especially Asia. Contaminated food and septic systems are additional causes of spread.

Often the patient is unaware that he has been infected since the virus may remain dormant in a person for years. Abnormal liver tests are the first signs of infection.

Treatment in this country consists of Interferon and Ribavirin. Both are somewhat effective, but have severe side effects. However, Japan, the country with the most experience in treatment, has developed many natural protocols some of which appear to be more effective than their American counterparts

The biggest mistake with hepatitis is waiting too long to start treatment. The sicker the patient, the less likelihood of a good recovery.

For more information and a free consultation, please call us at (914) 241-7030.

The ABC's of Heavy Metal Toxicity, Detox and Chelation . . .

Heavy Metal Toxicity, Detox and Chelation

1. Heavy metal toxicity-all health agencies agree that the planet is becoming increasingly polluted with all types of toxic material especially heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, tin et cetera). Heavy metals in the human body affects hormone regulation, reduces the effectiveness of the immune system, creates increased inflammation especially in muscles and joints, and tends to promote abnormal weight gain. The treatment is a specific program of detoxification based upon the patient’s symptoms, kidney function and concentration of metals. Over a period of several months all the symptoms associated with this condition can be reversed and cleared up.
2. Detoxification-this is the process by which the body constantly removes waste and toxic material. This is done by our kidneys, liver, lungs, and even our skin. This process eliminates natural waste products residues of drugs such as antibiotics, as well as food additives. Heavy metals which are poisonous enter our body through the air, water, and food. Some are eliminated but some are stored in our body where they can accumulate to toxic levels over a period of time. There are many programs of detoxification using combinations of specific nutrients, diets, as well as various types of chelating agents. Our office specializes in these programs specific for the individual needs.
3. Chelation-Do I need it and how is it done? Chelation is a treatment developed over 50 years ago and FDA approved for the removal of certain heavy metals from the body. Generally given IV they attract and attach themselves to these heavy metals and are then excreted through the kidneys. Whether your body has an excess burden of heavy metals can be determined by several tests including blood tests and a chelated urine test. As done in our office, this is the most effective way of determining deeply embedded heavy metals. The benefits of such treatment are an improved immune system, decreased inflammation of muscles and joints, improved hormone regulation and better weight management. A similar form of chelation has been used for many years to treat arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.

We invite you to come meet with us, at no charge, to discuss your health concerns and goals. Our practitioners and you will be more certain as to the appropriateness of developing a practitioner-patient partnership. Call us at (914) 241-7030 for a 15 minute complimentary consultation.

A note from Dr. Raff . . .

HEALTH, ILLNESS, AND WHAT ADVANCED MEDICINE IS ALL ABOUT

The human body is the best pharmacy in the world. It produces antibiotics, tranquilizers, digestive enzymes, diuretics, blood pressure pills, pain relievers, and just about everything any drug company can make, only much better since there are no side effects or allergies. In order to do this complex job, our body like any drug company needs a variety of basic materials to work with. This is provided by the food that we absorb, the oxygen in the air we breathe, the water that we drink, and exposure to outside physical forces such as sunshine, gravity, and radiation. The control booth of this amazing factory is our genes, which contains the DNA the blueprint of every function in our body.

Like any manufacturing process, anything that interferes with the proper supply and balance of raw materials will affect how well our bodies can function (grow, heal, repair, fight off infection, reproduce, etc.) and this lack of adequate materials leads to dysfunction and eventually tissue disease.

My approach to the best of health is in three steps:

1. Diagnosis – My aim is to diagnose the problem and the defects in their early, more treatable stages. Since nutrition plays a key role in maintaining good health, we look in detail at these areas. Inadequate nutrition can result from poor diet, malabsorption, unusual metabolic needs, and the malfunction of various digestive processes, and toxins, just to name a few. The degree of inadequate nutrition is extremely important. Most doctors do nothing until the patient suffers an obvious deficiency state. I prefer to test, diagnose and treat before the disease state is reached. No, I am not happy if my six cylinder car is running on four cylinders, even if the mechanic says it is OK. I don’t want OK, or normal, whatever that is. I want the best health possible for myself and my patients.
2. Nutritional Treatment - The more you can narrow down the cause of the dysfunction, the easier it is to treat. Unfortunately, many diseases and dysfunctions are so complex and indirect that it is important to think in terms of allergy, inflammation, autoimmunity, hormone imbalance, stress, and autonomic dysregulation in order to develop an appropriate treatment program. Since every function in the body affects every other function to some degree, the concept of a "specialist" often results in a limited thinking as far as the patient’s total health. This is where experience and judgment comes in because every person is unique and no two cases are ever identical. You must treat the person and not the disease.
3. Traditional medical treatment - Unfortunately, there are many situations in which our body is so severely damaged that it is unable to heal itself even with the appropriate nutrition. For over 100 years, doctors have been searching for other ways to supplement their herbal remedies. This has evolved into the pharmaceutical industry, which can provide valuable treatments in specific areas where nutrition itself is not adequate. Using natural and effective treatments instead of drugs is where good clinical judgment comes in My goal is to treat the person, and not the illness.

In summary, good medical care starts with a proper evaluation of the patient’s condition; it then attempts to bolster and enhance the body’s natural healing, and finally uses pharmaceuticals only when more natural remedies are unable to do the job by themselves.

For more information email: info@neilraffmd.com
or call us at (914) 241-7030

We would love to join you on your path to better health.

Swine flu . . .

The dangers of the swine flu (SF), like all infections, depends on two factors:

1. The strength or virulence of the infecting bug and
2. The effectiveness of our body’s defenses, i.e. the immune system

The interplay between these two factors determine whether we stay well, get sick, recover, or die.

We cannot affect the strength or infectiousness of the bug, but we can do a great deal about our own defenses.

1. Make sure we are receiving and absorbing the optimum nutrition needed to stay in tiptop condition. Deficiencies in vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D are especially important and should be monitored.
2. Avoid antibiotics and prednisone unless absolutely necessary
3. Get extra rest and sleep, avoid exercise, exertions or fatigue
4. Test, treat and remove those pollutants and contaminants that depress our immune system. Remember this all started when a number of “young healthy Mexicans” died of SF. Well, I don’t think they were healthy at all. They were poor people living in a much polluted part of the world. Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, antimony and chemicals are known to severely depress the immune system. They therefore died of an infection that truly healthy people would have easily fought off.

In my practice, I test for the presence of heavy metals in patients with autoimmune disease, chronic inflammation, recurrent infection and Alzheimer’s disease. The results are often positive.

A note about vaccines: They are “watered down” or inactive forms of the bacteria or virus in question and their job is to stimulate our immune system to become more resilient without actually causing the disease. There is a hitch involved in that vaccines sometimes do not work and may even wind up infecting the patient with the disease. If your immune system is healthy to begin with, you will get good protection from the vaccine. If your immune system is down however, you are more prone to infection. And, ironically, administration of the vaccine, which is supposed to protect you, will increase the likelihood of your getting that very disease.

We invite you to come meet with us, at no charge, to discuss your health concerns and goals. Our practitioners and you will be more certain as to the appropriateness of developing a practitioner-patient partnership. Call us at (914) 241-7030 for a 15 minute complimentary consultation.

More on Prolotherapy . . .

Our muscles attach to bone with fibrous tissue called tendons or ligaments, which also holds our joints together. Because they act as support tissue, they have minimal blood supply, which is why they look white. When injured this minimal blood supply results in either slow healing or scarring.

The body’s first step in any healing process is to increase the blood flow to the affected area, bringing in O² and nutritional healing factors. The better the blood flow, the quicker and more complete the healing and repair process. This is called inflammation.

Prolotherapy is an old technique to increase blood flow to injured joints, tendons and ligaments. It involves injecting a sugar type solution into the injury site, which promotes a controlled and beneficial inflammation. The result is decreased pain, increased mobility and strengthening of the injured tissue. Two to six treatments are usually needed, depending on the degree of injury. In certain cases ozone, an activated form of oxygen is used because it produces a better response. This is called prolozone.

The most recent prolotherapy is called Platelet Rich Plasma which uses the patient’s own blood platelets effecting a more rapid and complete healing. This treatment was highlighted on the front page of the New York Times when a key player on the Pittsburgh Steelers considered "out for the season" received PRP and starred in the Superbowl four weeks later.

Because prolotherapy strengthens and repairs injured tissue, it often makes surgery unnecessary. Cortisone shots, on the other hand, provide very temporary relief of pain and swelling, but used repeatedly will actually weaken the underlying tissue. Oral anti-inflammatory drugs – Advil, Motrin are associated with intestinal upset and GI bleeding. There are no side effects with any form of prolotherapy.

For more information and a free consultation, please call us at (914) 241-7030.

A bit more info . . .

Our Diagnostic Programs Include . . .

1. Autonomic Nervous System - testing that part of the nervous system that controls all internal organ functions.
2. Gastric Acid Analysis - Many digestive and acid problems are actually caused by lack of adequate gastric acid, which is accurately measured by this test.
3. Arterial Stiffness Testing - developed by the Mayo Clinic to measure hardening of the arteries.
4. Body Composition - the key to understanding your percent body fat and metabolic needs, in order to create the most effective weight loss program that goes beyond dieting.

Frequently Asked Questions . . .

1. Can I take too many vitamins? Yes, too much of one vitamin can block absorption of another! Like any medication, you should only be taking the right amounts of the proper combinations.
2. My doctor said my blood tests are normal. What does that mean? "Normal" is within an average range and means that you are not terribly sick.
3. What do blood tests cover? They only tell a small part of your health story, and are a poor measure of inflammation, immune function, digestion and stress. Certain nutritional tests give a more accurate picture of factors affecting your health and causing symptoms.
4. I eat a very healthy diet. Should I worry? Your body uses what it absorbs, not what you eat. No, don't worry, but do get a medical nutritional check up to be sure your diet and absorption are providing you with all the nutrients your body needs.
5. I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Can you help? Yes, definitely. Gas, bloating and cramps are some of the most common GI symptoms. Bacterial overgrowth, inflammation and autonomic nerve regulation are often overlooked. Since we test these and other related issues, we can often relieve the uncomfortable symptoms and treat the root causes.

We invite you to come meet with us, at no charge, to discuss your health concerns and goals. Our practitioners and you will be more certain as to the appropriateness of developing a practitioner-patient partnership. Call us at (914) 241-7030 for a 15 minute complimentary consultation.