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MTHFR Gene Mutations

3/6/2022

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​Two years ago I attended the IIPA Annual Symposium and I had the privilege to hear Dr. Michael Salas, ND speak about MTHFR.  At that time I didn’t know anything about MTHFR but Dr. Salas peaked my interest.  After his talk I was convinced I wanted to learn more about MTHFR and wanted to work with him to help improve the lives of myself, my family, my clients, and anyone who would be interested in listening to me.
 
At that time I found out that Dr. Salas had done enough studies on patients with brown pigments to show that when someone has a brown pigment in their iris that they have this gene mutation.  He proved this theory by looking at the irises and then confirmed with blood tests from a reputable lab.
 
This intrigued me because I have both brown and orange pigments in my eyes and many of my clients have not only brown and orange but also yellow pigments.  I was curious what could be connected to the orange and yellow pigments as well.  I therefore decided to conduct an IIPA approved 6-month peer review to continue to prove that the brown pigments are linked to the MTHFR gene mutations.  Amazingly, I’ve found that the orange pigments in both the blue-eyed people and the mixed-biliary eyed people are also connected to the MTHFR gene mutation.  So far all my clients who have had brown and orange pigments have been positive for MTHFR gene mutations based on blood tests. 
 
Since this time I have found out that 70% of the US population have MTHFR gene mutations.  It makes me wonder why doctors do not perform regular blood tests for this since it is making such a huge impact in people’s health.

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Signs in the Iris of the Eye
These pictures are of my irises.  When I learned about iridology back in 1989 from Dr. Bernard Jensen, he told me I had blue eyes and if I cleansed my body my eyes would turn blue.  I can’t count how many bowel, liver, gallbladder, parasite, and blood cleanses I’ve done and my eyes are still the same today as they were 32 years ago.  Now of course with the research we know that my eyes are a mixed-biliary constitution and they will never change.  I will always have to work with my digestive system which is why I was interested in iridology in the first place.

There are a lot of cardio issues on both sides of my family including heart attacks, strokes, aortic and abdominal aneurysms, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, fatty liver, high LDL, and low HDL among other things.  Personally, I first noticed issues when I was pregnant with my daughter 21 years ago as I was diagnosed with preeclampsia.  I had high blood pressure, swelling, and low platelets when I was pregnant with her.  The doctors had to monitor me very closely and finally induced me because my blood pressure was 200/110 and would not go down to normal.  My family also has a history of diabetes and I have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.  In working with doctors, I found they just wanted to put me on beta blockers to control the blood pressure and did not try to find out the cause.  Luckily for me, I had side effects to the beta blockers and had to stop them.  I saw a cardiologist for testing because my blood pressure would not come down after giving birth to my daughter and I wanted to have another child in a couple of years.  The cardiologist gave me 3 months to bring my numbers back to normal or she said she would put me back on medication.  I was able to bring my cholesterol and triglycerides back into normal range after changing my diet and going to the gym.  I was also able to maintain a healthy blood pressure due to the cardio workout program I was on and the low sodium diet.  However, the problem has persisted all these years.  

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​After learning about MTHFR I was curious to find out if the metabolic syndrome was connected to all my cardio issues and infertility issues.  I wanted to learn “why” I have metabolic syndrome and went to see a Functional Doctor in our medical group.  She ran many tests and found so many issues.  At that point I also found out (because of Michael Salas) that I have 2 C677T gene mutations (one from my mother’s side of the family and one from my father’s side of the family) so I am at a higher cardio risk which makes sense because all my relatives in Italy have had heart attacks and strokes. 
 
Because of the results of these tests I have my answers to “why” I have metabolic syndrome and I know what to do about it.  I don’t have to live my life worrying about my health and if I’m going to end up with cardio problems like my family has suffered with. I have been working differently with my body to help my liver methylate.  I have known something has been out of balance all these years but no one has suggested anything to me about MTHFR until I met Michael Salas and no one has offered to help me figure out the cause.  I found out that my lecithin was very high, my homocysteine levels are very high, all my cardio risk tests are high and my liver panel was out of balance.  Now that I know I have this gene mutation I can take responsibility and work on helping my liver methylate.  This also helps all my clients.  Since I’ve opened my office I’ve seen 13 new clients and every single one of them has had either brown, orange, or brown and orange pigments in their irises.  I have sent them all for MTHFR testing and am waiting for the results.
 
My Personal Supplementation Program
Once I found out I had high homocysteine levels I started working with:
  • Omega 3
  • Red Rice Yeast
  • CoQ10
  • Berberine
  • Methylzyme – helps the liver methylate
 
Once I was on these products for 3 months I had another blood test and my levels normalized.  My numbers are better than they have been in 10 years.

Let’s Talk About MTHFR
If you don’t know what MTHFR means you are not alone.  Most people have never heard about it.  Most people don’t know they have a gene mutation unless they have severe symptoms or undergo genetic testing.  Doctors don’t mention it at all when you see them for an annual physical or if you have a problem.  They don’t order any blood tests to check for MTHFR either.  So what is it?
 
MTHFR stands for Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase which is an enzyme that breaks down the amino acid homocysteine. The MTHFR gene that codes for this enzyme has the potential to mutate, which can either interfere with the enzyme's ability to function normally or completely inactivate it.

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​MTHFR Genes C677T and A1298C
People have two MTHFR genes, inheriting one from each of their parents. Mutations can affect one (heterozygous) or both (homozygous) of these genes.  There are two common types, or variants, of MTHFR mutation: C677T and A1298C.  Mutations in the MTHFR gene can affect the body’s ability to process amino acids — namely homocysteine — which can lead to health conditions.

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Homocysteine
Having one or two MTHFR mutations can increase the levels of homocysteine in the blood. This condition is called homocystinemia.
 
Homocysteine is an amino acid that the body produces by breaking down dietary proteins. High levels of homocysteine can damage blood vessels and lead to blood clots. People who have high homocysteine levels tend to have low levels of vitamin B-12.
 
Symptoms of homocystinemia due to MTHFR mutations include:
  • abnormal blood clotting
  • developmental delays
  • seizures
  • microcephaly
  • blood clots
  • poor coordination
  • numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
 
Health Conditions Associated with MTHFR Gene Mutations
  • Homocystinemia: abnormally high levels of homocysteine in the blood or urine
  • Ataxia: neurological condition that affects coordination
  • peripheral neuropathy: neurological condition that damages the nerves
  • microcephaly: condition present at birth in which the head is smaller than usual
  • scoliosis: abnormal curvature of the spine
  • anemia: lack of healthy red blood cells
  • cardiovascular diseases such as blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks
  • mental health and behavior disorders: depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

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Brown and Orange Pigments
During my studies I have repeatedly found that brown pigments are linked to the C677T gene mutation and the orange pigments are linked to the A1298C gene mutation.  It doesn’t seem to matter how old the client is, if they’ve been vaccinated, what they eat, drink, or where they live.  Most of these clients have health issues that are unresolved and are either on medications or are looking for answers the medical profession has not been able to answer.  Some have told me that the doctors have said they are fine when they are not fine.
 
In working with clients I have them fill out my client intake form to learn about their current and past health issues and symptoms and I have them take the MTHFR gene test through a reputable lab either by blood or by saliva.  So far everyone I have tested with pigments has come back positive for the MTHFR gene errors. 
 
Pregnancy
“Women who test positive for an MTHFR mutation may have an increased risk of preeclampsia, blood clots, recurrent miscarriages, or giving birth to a baby with congenital disabilities.”  I had preeclampsia with my daughter.  When I gave birth to her my blood pressure was 200/110, my cholesterol was over 500, and my triglycerides were over 1,000.  My daughter has a mixed-biliary iris like I do and has the same health issues I have.  We have ordered the MTHFR blood test for her and are anxious to find out if she has the MTHFR gene errors as well.
 
References:
Medical News Today
Aquaporin Channels Video:  https://youtu.be/L1TyWo86w4Q
Microbiologic Concepts of Genomic Iridology Video by Dr. Michael SalasPMC Articles: 
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4644301/
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5492960/
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3262611/

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Brachial Plexus Injury and Funnels

3/6/2022

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​Most of you have probably never heard of Brachial Plexus Injury (BPI) before.  I was introduced to it because my son, Joshua, was injured at birth.​On June 7, 2003 my son, Joshua, was born.  He was 9 lbs, 14 ounces at birth.  The doctors decided that I was capable of delivering him vaginally however I had complications.  I had a problem with preeclampsia in the past and the doctors were watching my blood pressure and platelets.  I made it almost to full term when my blood pressure started to increase and my platelets started to drop so they decided to induce labor.  It pretty much took most of the day to induce me.
 
When Joshua was born his right arm and hand were paralyzed.  The doctor told me that even though Joshua was born with only 3 pushes he had to pull him out.  Apparently the doctor grabbed his head, twisted his neck, and pulled.  This caused the injury to the brachial plexus nerves in his neck.

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We were referred by Joshua’s Pediatrician to Shriner’s Hospital and worked with Dr. James for years.  Every time we changed Joshua’s diaper we moved his arms and joints.  We were given 3-4 physical therapy exercises to do throughout the day.  It luckily became a game and something that he enjoyed doing.  As time went on and we continued to see Dr. James she said he was healing well and would not need tendon transfer.  However she did say that his muscles in his right shoulder would never be as strong as those in his left due to the injury and that someday he might need tendon transfer or a shoulder replacement.

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Because of this I began seeking alternative therapy and learned about Reiki.  One of our friends is a Reiki Master and I took Joshua several times to her for Reiki treatments.  I was able to see the difference in his shoulder immediately.  I also took him to our chiropractor who was able to work with pressure points and his spine to help realign areas.  He also had quite a few massages to help relax the muscles in his shoulders.  I took him to a sports therapist as well who worked with him with physical therapy who told him the best therapy for his arm and shoulders would be swim.  Because of this, we put him in swim lessons and he is active on the high school swim team today.
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Today when you look at Joshua you can’t tell he has a problem because it’s mostly healed.  He has been working out at the gym and told us that he’s noticed the right side takes a lot longer to strengthen and build than the left side but he continues to work on it.  He has slight scoliosis in his thoracic spine because of the injury.  When he runs in soccer he holds his right arm down closer to his side so he favors the right side a little bit.

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What Came First?  The Chicken or the Egg?
As I began to learn IIPA iridology I started to wonder about that old saying “What came first:  the chicken or the egg” because of the funnel that resides in Joshua’s right iris at the 10:00 o’clock position in the neck and shoulder reaction fields.  I used to believe that the funnel was created when Joshua was born because of the injury but once I learned that the markings in the irises are genetic I started to really question my old beliefs about that.  Because of IIPA iridology I now know that the funnel was already in Joshua’s iris and the weakness in his shoulder was already there in utero.  Even if he was not harmed during birth he could have fallen and hurt his shoulder when he was a toddler and still ended up with a brachial plexus injury during sports.  No one really knows what could happen. 
 
What is a Funnel
Ellen Tart-Jensen describes a funnel in her book “Techniques in Iris Analysis Textbook for Iridology, page 135” as a marking that is created by an opening in the collarette that sweeps out into the ciliary zone.  It shows a potential genetic deficiency in nerve energy to that particular body area.  It is important to pay attention to the bowel area represented at the opening of the funnel as well as the organ field adjacent.  Sometimes bowel congestion in that area can have a direct effect on the organ represented in the adjacent field.

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What is the Brachial Plexus
The brachial plexus is the network of nerves that sends signals from your spinal cord to your shoulder, arm and hand. A brachial plexus injury occurs when these nerves are stretched, compressed, or in the most serious cases, ripped apart or torn away from the spinal cord.
 
Causes
Damage to the upper nerves that make up the brachial plexus tends to occur when your shoulder is forced down while your neck stretches up and away from the injured shoulder. The lower nerves are more likely to be injured when your arm is forced above your head.  These injuries can occur in several ways, including:
  • Contact sports. Many football players experience burners or stingers, which can occur when the nerves in the brachial plexus get stretched beyond their limit during collisions with other players.
  • Difficult births. Newborns can sustain brachial plexus injuries. These may be associated with high birth weight, breech presentation or prolonged labor. If an infant's shoulders get wedged within the birth canal, there is an increased risk of a brachial plexus palsy. Most often, the upper nerves are injured, a condition called Erb's palsy.
  • Trauma. Several types of trauma — including motor vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents, falls or bullet wounds — can result in brachial plexus injuries.
  • Tumors and cancer treatments. Tumors can grow in or along the brachial plexus, or put pressure on the brachial plexus or spread to the nerves. Radiation treatments to the chest may cause damage to the brachial plexus.

Complications

Many brachial plexus injuries in both children and adults heal with little if any lasting damage. But some injuries can cause temporary or permanent problems, such as:
  • Stiff joints. If you experience paralysis of your hand or arm, your joints can stiffen. This can make movement difficult, even if you eventually regain use of your limb. For that reason, your doctor is likely to recommend ongoing physical therapy during your recovery.
  • Pain. This results from nerve damage and may become chronic.
  • Numbness. If you lose feeling in your arm or hand, you run the risk of burning or injuring yourself without knowing it.
  • Muscle atrophy. Nerves regrow slowly and can take several years to heal after injury. During that time, lack of use may cause the affected muscles to break down.
  • Permanent disability. How well you recover from a serious brachial plexus injury depends on a number of factors, including your age and the type, location and severity of the injury. Even with surgery, some people experience permanent muscle weakness or paralysis.
For your child. If you're the parent of a child with a brachial plexus palsy, it's important that you exercise your child's joints and functioning muscles every day, beginning when your baby is just a few weeks old. This helps prevent the joints from becoming permanently stiff and keeps your child's working muscles strong and healthy.
 
References
  • Mayo Clinic
  • Techniques in Iris Analysis Textbook for Iridology, Ellen Tart-Jensen, pg 135”

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