Thoughts

Deanna Minich, PhD, Michael Stone, MD, and I aided by Eric Myers and Crystal Water at Feathered Pipe Ranch have made a very tough decision.  We are going to postpone our “A Functional Medicine Journey: 4 Days to Optimal Wellness” until June 2021.  A much easier decision, I have decided to donate half of our rental fee for the program to Feathered Pipe Ranch as a gift in 2020 to support their important work.

Earlier this week, whether it was a gift from the universe or a seemingly random yet synchronous choice by electrons in a Pandora program, the first song I heard the other morning was “For What It’s Worth” written by Stephen Stills and performed originally by Buffalo Springfield.

“It's time we stop.

Hey, what's that sound?

Everybody look - what's going down?”


It started me thinking.  Who are the voices that I hear?  Am I going to listen to voices of doom and gloom projecting a rather dark future or those of individuals who are being good stewards of their oaths and making commitments to public wellbeing?   Or do I Stop, Breathe, Reflect and Choose to join those active in making a difference by providing education, care and indeed even entertainment and laughter as antidotes to COVID-19.


We're living in unprecedented times that have already shown the resilience of our community and ourcommitment to each other.  I am impressed by the work carried on by many of my colleagues.  Bethany Hayes, MD has written a daily blog keeping us in the Functional Medicine community up to date on COVID-19.  Deanna and Jeff Bland, PhD presented “Personalized Medicine and COVID-19” on the Metagenics Institute on the 31 March.  David Brady, ND, DC, Todd LePine, MD and Peter D’Adamo ND had an excellent webinar entitled “Current Controversies in Natural Therapeutics of immune Support” earlier this week.  I am thankful for my family, friends, patients and fellow practitioners.  


As a physician in private practice, my care and concern can be of crucial value to individual patients, but is rather muted in the outside world.  This is why so much of my time has been committed to research and education over the last 14 years.  Deanna, Michael and Erik Lundquist, MD are my co-Investigators on the LIFEHOUSE project.  One of our focuses in this clinical trial is defining health as function.  We are interested in the health defined as our functional capacities.  We are exploring function by examining its physiological, physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral components.  In our work, a clear finding is that many people through their daily health care choices are Trading Away Their Reserves!  


In his classic New England Journal of Medicine study, “Aging, Natural Death and the Compression of Morbidity”, James Fries postulated that healthy living choices by sustaining function could compress illness into the later years of our lives.   Our work has unfortunately shown that poor choices contribute to a loss of reserves.  


As we struggle with the new reality of a global epidemic, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions seem to be at the highest risk of poor outcomes with COVID-19.   But as has been noted, not all poor outcomes are associated with these groups.  Younger people and seemingly healthy people are dying with COVID-19.  These deaths are not clearly associated with any known medical cause.  Could it be that these represent individuals who have traded away their health reserves?  


Perhaps these choices are as clear as violating Shelter-In orders or perhaps they are more subtle - years of eating SAD (the Standard American Diet), choosing other activities over physical exercise?  Or maybe it is just the consequences of growing up in a world of electromagnetic overload with cellphone transmissions and devices at our fingers 24/7?  Perhaps it is a consequence of increasing environmental toxic burdens interacting poorly with our genetic uniqueness?


While there have been excellent discussions focusing on solutions for bolstering immune health, perhaps another question we should be asking is how to replenish our reserves.  Maybe a worthwhile consequence of our enforced staycations is the opportunity to focus on healthy behavioral choices.   I have been reading an excellent book, “In the Shelter” by Padraig O’Tuama.  He quotes James Allison, a former Catholic priest; “Sin is an addiction to being less than ourselves.”   While I am not qualified to discuss sin, I might suggest that many of our poor healthy choices are an addiction to being less than ourselves.


During our now cancelled retreat, we had planned to explore how lifestyle choices interact with our genetics, our histories, our physiologies and indeed our spirits to modify our experience of health - indeed to define ourselves.   The goal of the course is to provide tools to foster behavioral changes.   Unfortunately, we have rescheduled for 2021 but we remain dedicated to providing these tools in different ways.  

Starting this week and going forward, we will be offering a series of webinars focused on replenishing your reserves.  These are generally going to be informal 30-minute webinars - some as standalone discussions and some as longer series.  

On Facebook Live at Joseph Lamb, MD:

  • Bolstering Immune Health in Trying Times, Mondays at 4 PM PDT 

  • Menu Planning and Helpful Hints for Trying Times, Thursdays at 4 PM PDT

And on Ring Central by invitation: 

  • Basic Strategies for Selecting a Healthy Diet, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 AM PDT

  • Women's Health Concerns, 5 Mondays at 12 N PDT

  • Gut Health Concerns, 5 Wednesdays at 2 PM PDT

  • Cardiovascular and Blood Sugar Health 5 Thursdays at 12 N PDT


We will be repeating these webinars frequently over the next few months - details can be found at the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Center by Metagenics FaceBook Page.  To participate in the Ring Central series, you will need to be a current patient; new patient appointments can be scheduled by calling the PLMC at 253-853-7233.


And finally, we are working with Eric and Crystal at Feathered Pipe Ranch to see what format we can use to present the work we would have presented in June.   


It is more important than ever that we stay connected and utilize the tools of social networking to support our community.  I hope you will find my social media presence a place to garner inspiration, knowledge and resources supporting you on your/our journey of life as an online (and offline) community.  Real and authentic community supports health; indeed, our experience and science shows we're better together.  


Please Follow & share:

Instagram: @josephlambMD

Facebook Page: Joseph Lamb, MD  

Facebook Page: Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Center by Metagenics

Website: www.JosephLambMD.com


Also, I've also coined a few hashtags; if any of my writings, words or upcoming webinars have helped or served you, please tag and use #joelambMD and #serveothersFM to bring awareness to finding opportunity to serve each other through functional medicine. 


I appreciate your friendship and support! Look forward to seeing you. 



Thriving Where You Are

Achieving optimal wellness requires attention to When and Where you are and not just Who you are.   Circadian and seasonal rhythms coupled with environmental factors can have dramatic effects on our metabolism, hormones and wellbeing.  

Each day, our bodies decide whether yesterday was a good day or bad day.  And then our body chooses a strategy to ensure our survival, yet we may be sacrificing wellness as a consequence given that our bodies evolved to deal with different times and environments.

At a recent WOWSER (Women Only Wellness Sisterhood and Exercise Retreat) in Gig Harbor led by Kate Katke, we discussed what this means for making choices as we considered:

•     Is menopause a natural condition?  And how should it influence our choices regarding hormone replacement and botanical treatment choices?

•     Does our hardwired stress response support our daily schedules?

  • Which dietary program best supports healthy endocrine function

•     Is intermittent fasting healthy? 

•     Should we eat seasonally and locally?

The conversation around these questions was found to be informative and helpful by many of the attendees.   At my office, the PLMC by Metagenics, we recently announced a series of webinars on several health topics. One of the topics we will be addressing is “Women’s Health Concerns” in a 5-week series of 30 minute webinars.  Look for details at the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Center by Metagenics Facebook page.

“What is that Sound?”

Whether it was a gift from the universe or a simple seemingly random yet synchronous choice by electrons in a Pandora program, the first song I heard the other morning was “For What It’s Worth” written by Stephen Stills and performed originally by Buffalo Springfield.

“It's time we stop

Hey, what's that sound?

Everybody look - what's going down?”

It started me thinking. Who are the voices that I hear?  Am I going to listen to politicians and pundits with their perverse world views or to young adults who in their angst or ignorance are making what appear to be careless, indeed hazardous choices?   Or do I Stop, Breathe, Reflect and Choose to look elsewhere for voices of light?

We're living in unprecedented times that have already shown the resilience of our community and commitment to each other.  I am impressed by the work carried on by many of my colleagues. Bethany Hayes, MD has written a daily blog keeping us in the Functional Medicine community up to date on COVID-19.  I am thankful for my family, friends, patients and fellow practitioners. I have chosen to acknowledge those who are indeed carrying on and contributing to others. I am making several choices to be a person of action.

At the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Center by Metagenics, we have been doing virtual visits for several weeks now.  Angie Jaeger, CNS and I are doing virtual visits by Zoom on Ring Central. We are finding these to work quite well while waiting to see if we can get activated in our EMR.  Not only are we continuing to work with established patients, I have been doing virtual visits with new patients. 

We are on a Shelter-In here in Washington State so beginning next week, we will be offering a series of webinars both on coping with our current situation as well as topics of general health interest.  These are generally going to be informal 30-minute webinars - some as standalone discussions and some as longer series.

  • Bolstering Immune Health in Trying Times (Lamb) 3/30/20 at 4 PM PDT

  • Menu Planning and Helpful Hints for Trying Times (Jaeger) 4/2/20 at 4 PM PDT

  • Basic Strategies for Selecting a Healthy Diet (Jaeger) 4/7/20 & 4/9/20 at 10 AM PDT

  • Women's Health Concerns (5 weeks) (Lamb/Jaeger) Beginning 4/6/20 at 12 N PDT

  • Gut Health Concerns (5 weeks) (Lamb/Jaeger) Beginning 4/8/20 at 2 PM PDT

  • Cardiovascular and Blood Sugar Health (5 weeks) (Lamb/Jaeger) Beginning 4/9/20 at 12 N PDT

We will be repeating these webinars frequently over the next few months - details can be found at the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Center by Metagenics FaceBook Page.  Anyone may participate in the first two webinars by simply registering with a call to the PLMC at 253-853-7233. To participate in the ongoing series, you will need to be a current patient; new patient appointments can be scheduled by calling the PLMC at 253-853-7233.

I volunteered at the Neighborhood Clinic at St. Leo’s in Tacoma last Monday night.  And I plan to be back on 6 April. The clinic is a free clinic for homeless and uninsured persons with acute and subacute conditions.  The patients lack access to standard healthcare options that many of us take for granted. They need our continued attention for their may health conditions.  You can find out more about volunteer opportunities at https://neighborhoodclinictacoma.org/. 

And finally, the new project I have been working on with Deanna Minich and Michael Stone is “A Functional Medicine Journey: 4 Days to Optimal Wellness”.   During our scheduled June retreat at Feathered Pipe, we had planned to explore how lifestyle choices interact with our genetics, our histories, our physiologies and indeed our spirits to modify our experience of health.   I am reluctant to cancel this experience, but understand completely the uncertainty around any sort of retreat or vacation planning and I expect that we will need to postpone. To provide an increased degree of comfort, we have changed our refund policy.  Full refunds will be available until the 5/15/20. 

We are working with the great people at Feathered Pipe and expect to give a few Webinars beginning in mid-April to cover some of the content we will hopefully be covering in June.  Keep looking for details on my Facebook page and Instagram, Feathered Pipe Ranch’s Facebook Page and on my website, www.JosephlambMD.com.

It is more important than ever that we stay connected and utilize the tools of social networking to support our community.  I have recently launched my online social media presence and would love for you to join me there by following along with us. 

I hope you will find my social media presence a place to garner inspiration, knowledge and resources supporting you on your/our journey of life as an online (and offline) community.  Real and authentic community supports health; indeed, our experience and science shows we're better together.  

I've also coined a few hashtags; if any of my writings, words or upcoming webinars have helped or served you, please tag and use #joelambMD and #serveothersFM to bring awareness to finding opportunity to serve each other through functional medicine. 

I appreciate your friendship and support! Look forward to seeing you. 


Who Are YOU?

When was the last time you searched for who you are?   My trainer, Ross Gilbert, at Tom Taylor YMCA, asked if the upcoming “A Functional Medicine Journey; 4 Days to Optimal Wellness” would be focused on the “why” of lifestyle change.  I replied that it was focused on the “who”. The “who” we were when our imaginations were active and created our world. Do you remember who you dreamed you would be when you were 4 or 5?  And while the dreams of astronaut, movie star, paleontologist, doctor, fashion model or millionaire we chose then might not align with the “who” that now shows up each day, the archetypal roles that were important, meaningful and valuable to that 4 or 5-year-old are likely still important motivators for us today.  The courageous little girl or boy wanting to excel, conquer the world, to help others, still exists in each of us, though it may be hidden. For many, this personal touchpoint for creating optimal wellness has been lost.

Perhaps, take a moment to consider these questions: 

• What do you hope to accomplish each day?

• What causes you to smile?  What makes you happy?

• What were you proud of today?

• Can you remember the last time you laughed?

Contemplating these questions may prove helpful in answering the broader questions of what is especially important, meaningful and valuable to you.  These answers might provide insight to the real you, the person you are truly meant to be. Your authentic self is the person you are at your core; the person you can be if nothing holds you back.  Imagine the person you believe yourself to be right now. Imagine using all the tools at your disposal to be this authentic you. Using each of your strengths, beliefs and values, create this self.  

Your authentic self is the best judge of whether a specific lifestyle change makes sense for you.  Is it functional? Does making that change support expressing your true self and allow you to simply be you.  The “one you” you chose to be when you were 4-5-year-old.

Stress Created the Need for a Retreat

All individuals are worthy of respect and reverence for the deep, intangible meaning and purpose possessed by each of us; yet for many, this personal touchpoint for creating optimal wellness has been lost. Healing involves more than knowing information. Healing requires recreating our story, our wellness and indeed our meaning and purpose. It’s an art. It’s a personalized path. It’s a dynamic dance of science and spirit. 

I am sure that many of you reading this article could find a phrase or sentence in the first paragraph that rings true.  But I am also sure that many feel like an exploration of one’s path isn’t the first task that comes to mind as we face a busy challenging world.  But it is exactly this busy challenging world that creates the stress and dis-stress which fills our days and precludes our finding calm, peace and frequently the reward of joy in our day.   

So what exactly is stress?   Han Selye, PhD, a Canadian physiologist, was one of the first to ask this question in the 1930’s.   Until Selye’s work, stress was the name used to describe the behavior of mechanical objects. Weight on top of an arch or a dome or even its owns weight would lead these structures to collapse.   Early builders of domed basilicas used metals rods to connect one side of a dome to the other. Stress was the force placed on this rod that pulled the edges into the middle and prevented the basilica’s collapse.

Selye noticed in his animal work and in his work with human patients that there seemed to be a non-specific response of the body to a demand.  Too much heat, too much cold, not enough food, an illness; these non-specific demands caused physiologic changes. Interestingly, when he coined the term stress for these non-specific responses, he used stress grammatically as a verb.  He would say something like, “Putting a rodent in a cold temperature room stresses the rodent’s adaptive response to being cold.” Today we talk about stress as a noun collectively. If each of us made a list of these specific demands, I think we would find everyone has pretty similar lists.  The problem with allowing stress to be a noun is that nouns typically take action. When a noun takes an action, it is the cause of cause and effect. The response suddenly becomes not one of “oh, I’m stuck in traffic,” instead it becomes “the traffic is killing me.” Instead of considering whether it’s a good or bad thing, just that act of being in traffic enables our mental shorthand and initiates a response.  

The body’s response is adaptive when we face an acute stressor, but generally for our hunter-gatherer ancestors and even for most of human history, including right up through modern day, these stressors were actual physical danger.  Most urban dwellers experience 50 fight versus flight responses a day. These 50 stress responses, most of which represent more of a perception of danger to our ego than an actual physical danger, trigger our adaptive response. Our bodies are uniquely creative in responsing to a stressful event.  But when constantly activated, these short-term solutions unfortunately create physical harm, making wellness a difficult goal to achieve. 

Environmental stressors, life events, and the daily grind contribute to our perception of a threat, and then perhaps increased vigilance, and maybe eventually a feeling of helplessness.   These stressors provoke a behavioral response. Physiologically, we have used another term, homeostasis, to describe the stability we once believed our bodies desired. We all recognize a normal blood pressure as being approximately 110-120 over 70-80 mm Hg.  Yet, none of us would want a blood pressure of 120/80 if we were competing in an athletic event or getting up on a stage with the need to be enthusiastic in front of 1000 people. In those settings, we would like to see our blood pressure more like 150 or 160 over maybe something like 60 to 70 in order to have the appropriate energy for the situation.  This ability to change in response to our body’s changing needs is called allostasis. Unfortunately, the response to 50 fight versus flight reactions a day may be a chronic elevation of blood pressure with resultant consequences that will manifest as symptoms. These symptoms are stress warning signs. These symptoms may be physical, emotional, spiritual, cognitive, behavioral, and relational. 

Many of us are blind to the toll taken by the lifestyle choices we make and to how they magnify the effect of so much daily stress.   We make choices that aren’t positive. Getting stuck in traffic, we think, “I’m going to be late for that meeting.” Instead of finding a way to bring ourselves back to a calm relaxed place where maybe there is an opportunity to use a discussion about traffic to reestablish rapport when we arrive, we are the one driving down the shoulder of the road putting ourselves and others at hazard. The consequence is the dis-stress and dis-ease we soon see eroding the quality of our lives.   

Better lifestyle choices can help us achieve wellness.  Yet, in making successful lifestyle change we bump up against hurdles.  It is in understanding the hurdles that you can actually overcome them and get through to the other side in an easier way.  Julia Cameron, in an interesting book, The Artist’s Way, noted that “Over an extended period of time being an artist requires enthusiasm more than discipline.”  “Enthusiasm is not an emotional state, it is a spiritual commitment, a loving surrender to our creative process, a loving recognition of all the creativity around us.”  I believe that this is worth considering as we recognize that stress interferes with our daily performances and our ability to focus on lifestyle change. With enthusiasm and creativity, we can be “excited to do this” as opposed to being “Oh my God, I have to do this and it’s one more thing I have to do.”    

Cultivating this enthusiasm is just one of the new ways to envision one’s health.  In our planned 4-day healing retreat at Feathered Pipe Ranch, you will journey through your health landscape; touring through your genetics, family histories, physiology, psychology, and day-to-day lifestyle choices.

The bigger picture of you will be revealed in interactive large and small group activities. Having learned more about you through the combined hologram of modern medicine, scientific thought, and ancient traditions, you can expect to leave with ideas on how to cultivate better health and healing with simple skills to create significant shifts. 

“Revolution"

In the recent Spring edition of Parabola - The Search for Meaning (Volume 45, No.1, Spring 2020), there is a remarkable prose piece by Surnai Molloy entitled “Revolution”.  “And the people learned to love this nature. Loved it wholly and completely and unconditionally. And they learned that they are not excluded, that they are nature too.” She has done an exceptional job linking the spirit of Celtic spirituality as expressed by John O’Donohue with the concept of forgiveness that Marianne Williamson has espoused.  When Michael Stone, Deanna Minich and I head for Feathered Pipe in June; our retreat, “A Functional Medicine Journey - 4 Days to Optimal Wellness”, will seek the path to this nature, this spirit lost in ourselves.