Dr. Molly's Word

1.  Angelina Jolie's decision:  It is all the talk around the world about Angelina's decision about preventative masectotomy. I applaud her decision. With her family genetics, having this type of surgical intervention and having the ability to do reconstruction is certainly less toxic then the anxiety of waiting for the other shoe to drop and then poisoining yourself with chemo and radiation.  If I had had the choice this is what I would have chosen.  It is just sad that the rate of breast cancer is so prevalent. It makes me contemplate the poisoning of our environment and the effects even on our DNA.

 

2.  Vitamins and expriation dates:  I am being asked a great deal about our client's vitamins and expiration dates.  Here is a general guideline:  Expiration dates mean that the strength of that product is good until that date.  So expirations on supplements, unlike food, do not mean they are harmful to you.  It just means that it might be less effective.  Now having said that there are some caviots:

a.  minerals never out date; they are rocks.  Unless there are other things in the product that might deteriorate they are great.

b. homeopathic remedies and herbal tinctures never outdate.

c.  Things that can be hurtful:  oils can go rancid.  How do you tell?  They smell bad like bad food.   Vitamin C and B vitamins will oxidize and they will speckle and turn color.  Not good for you.

d.  Herbs get less potent but not harmful, generally.

So do not throw out your old supplements necessarily, just realize they may not be as effective so you need to take more to get the desired outcome.

3.  Car Accidents:  Please call Emerald City Clinic first (after 911 if necessary) if you have had a car accident.  We are the BEST for managing your PIP claims and look at the whole picture.  Also the sooner we get our anti inflammatories and nutritional support to you, the better the results.   We then manage the whole picture referrring you to the best physical medicine treatment options for your particular case.   We are your prirmary care physicians and we look at all aspects.  People often go to the chiropractor but they will not document insomnia, fatigue, change in menstruation, etc that are all possiblities from a car accident and should be documented thoroughly.  Please get in to us with in 48 hours and same day if possible.