New Health Home Page

OC Health - December, 2006

"New Frontier for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy"

Over 16million people in the U.S. have diabetes and the prevalence of Diabetic Neuropathy (DPN) is approaching 100% after 5 years of diagnosis. This disease, commonly undiagnosed, is the leading cause of an impaired quality of life and causes 50% to 70% of all non-traumatic lower-limb amputations. Imagine one amputation every ten minutes.

Tingling feelings in the legs or feet can begin to insidiously progress to a loss of sensation of hot and cold and even the slightest pressure. In general, patients with DPN also have diffuse pain in the extremities and may experience numbness, prickling, tingling, and pain that are aching, burning, or lancinating. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy may also lead to poor balance and higher risk of falls. Other patients with insensate feet develop ulcers because they do not sense poorly fitting shoes or unexpected foreign objects.

Early recognition of diabetic complications is critical and physicians must intervene to help limit nerve damage. Waiting often results in foot ulcerations, osteomyelitis (bone infection), or lower extremity amputation. Although peripheral neuropathy can affect people of any age, it is far more prevalent in people age 55 or over. Without adequate “microcirculation”, small blood vessels supplying tissues and nerves are deprived of oxygen and essential nutrients.

General Recommendations
Practitioners all seem to agree that the most important intervention is to aim for stable blood glucose control. The American Diabetes Association, based on a ten year study of 1,441 patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, recommends that tight glucose control is one of the best ways to delay the onset or progression of DPN and decrease complications, but is not achievable in a considerable number of patients.

Pharmacologic approaches that help relieve the symptoms of DPN include tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants, SSRI and others.

Anodyne Therapy – A Proven Non-Invasive Treatment
A new approach involving the use of and FDA cleared, non-invasive, medical device known as the Anodyne Therapy System offers promising results. Light-emitting diodes are fitted into flexible pads that are applied directly to the skin on the area of the body to be treated. When the therapy pads are placed on the skin, the tiny infrared diode emits monochromatic, nearly infrared photon energy that help release Nitric Oxide from hemoglobin in re blood cells. Nitric Oxide increases local microcirculation, (stimulates blood flow) which in turn has beneficial effects on nerve function and pain.

Since diabetic patients produce less nitric oxide than healthy individuals, it is no surprise that the increasing level of nitric oxide significantly helps boos circulation, which in turn helps re-establish improved function in those remaining nerves in the feet of people with DPN. As a result balance improves and pain is significantly reduced. During each therapy session, the patient feels pleasant warmth and each session lasts 30-45 minutes. On the average 12-15 treatments are sufficient.

Over 400 Anodyne Neuropathy Care Centers within the U.S. treat on average 2,000 patients per month for Peripheral Neuropathy and related gait and balance impairments.

Alpha Lipoic Acid – Adjunct to Conventional Therapy
Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like potent antioxidant that is found in liver, potatoes, broccoli and skeletal muscle. It is thought to improve nerve blood flow, reduce free radicals thereby decreasing pain and numbness. In the U.S., ALA can be found in most health food stores. For the best results it is administered intravenously under the supervision of a physician.

Alpha Lipoic Acid has been used extensively in Europe for over 30 years for the treatment of diabetes induced neuropathy. The German Diabetes Research Institute has published that treatment with ALA (600 mg/day IV) over a 3 week period is not only safe but significantly improves DPN associated symptoms. The efficacy and safety profiles have been documented as well by medical clinical scientists in Russia, Romania, Greece, and South Korea.

Supplementation and Acupuncture
Research and field studies are continuing to demonstrate how dietary supplementation with micronutrients *Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Gamma-Linolenic Acid, Thiamin, Pyridoxine, and Taurine) are used as an adjunct to classical therapies. Acupuncture has been also found to be helpful in alleviating the symptoms of DPN.

Jewish Life - October, 2006

"A Nose for Nutrition Newport Beach physician cures the natural way"
By Debbie L. Sklar

Dr. Svetlana Stivi M.D., the founder and medical director of New Health Institute in Newport Beach, has a different take on helping us feel better.

In practice since 1998, the Eastern-European-born Stivi specializes in Integrative Medicine – practical, natural medicine using nutrition, vitamin and mineral supplementation, botanicals use, bio-identical hormone replacement, and human potential for self-healing. She has successfully diagnosed and treated thousands of patients with serious medical conditions.

“I was born in Eastern Europe where practical, natural medicine is widely used in medical establishments,” she said.

After obtaining her medical degree from the UCI School of Medicine, she was surprised to discover that there wasn’t any information on the topic. She became interested in the work of Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon (RAMBAM or Maimonides), born in 1135 and the most prominent Jewish physician of his time.

“His medical approach emphasized preventative medicine. He recognized the whole patient (i.e. body, mind, psyche, and soma), allowing him to be a practicing physician and a teacher. His descriptions of many diseases are remarkably modern by current standards,” she said.

RAMBAM fathered holistic medicine, and his diet, which was written 800 years ago, is still relevant today. His works and information on herbal preparation and lifestyle advice, which are being used in many countries, are related to Indian Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine.

“The European naturopathic and herbal system is directly based on his principles and teachings. Common sense, basic teachings, and natural remedies are timeless. No fancy drug has been able to withstand such a test of time,” she said.

After completing her medical education at Long Beach Memorial Hospital, she pursued her studies in alternative medicine through national conferences, internships, and personal research. After being the medical director of a large medical establishment specializing in alternative medicine in Newport Beach, she started her own practice – the New Health Institute.

“The reason for the interest in Integrative Medicine is very simple. There is no room for harm or side effects as in traditional medicine and the results speak for themselves – doctor and patient working together to eliminate the disease rather than just controlling the symptoms. Practicing Integrative Medicine allows me to see my patients get back to health,” she said.

Dr. Stivi is someone who practices what she preaches, as does her own family.

“We only consume organic food, and every member of my family is on targeted nutritional supplementation for optimal health. Everybody has a schedule of daily physical exercise. I teach my children and patients the utmost importance of self-accountability and responsibility,” she said.

Dr. Stivi pays close attention to her patients, treating the whole person with an integrative approach. “What I like best about what I do is the end result – a very healthy patient who enjoys life and has heartfelt appreciation for my doctoring, guidance, and support,” she said.

In the future, she hopes to lecture nationwide, write health newsletters, continue teaching medical students and residents, and continue taking care of her patients in the “Jewish family doctor way.”