Initial patient contact: Aug. 26, 2013
A 37 y/o male reported to the clinic with a current complaint of joint pain and struggling to lose weight.
Height 174 cm (5 ft 8 ½ in), current weight 120 kg (264 lbs).
Case History: Joint pains worse on waking and first movement in the morning He reported occasional esophageal reflux. High levels of stress and frustration leads to bouts of emotional eating. Reported bloating when consume wheat products, increase in mucus with consumption of dairy. Disturbed sleep pattern. Family history of heart disease and diabetes. He consumes a lot of coffee and he is sedentary, chair bound in an office for 10-12 hours a day.
Blood Work: I normally do the following for baseline and comparison if not recently done, and any suspicion, or family history of cardiovascular, metabolic disease: Total Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides, Glucose, LDL Particle Size, Glycated Hemoglobin (Hba1c/A1c), Vitamin D, Homocysteine, C-Reactive protein,
Abnormal results: Elevated Homocysteine, C-Reactive protein, low Vitamin D.
Iridology Exam: Lymphatic constitution: Disease tendencies: disturbance of lymphatic system, catarrh of the mucous membrane in the upper respiratory tract, tendency to develop stomach ulcers, raised uric-acid levels with rheumatic and allergic tendencies.
Connective tissue weakness: reported umbilical hernia.
Hyperacidic diathesis observed: Disease tendencies: rheumatoid disease types, hyper-uricemia, disturbed lymph detoxification, kidney disease.
Electro acupuncture: Organs that need support: Liver, kidneys, adrenals.
Completed stress and detoxification questionnaires.
Clinical Assessment: I am highly appreciative of the Target of Health that is proposed and used by Dr. Frisch. I have found over years of practice and looking at hundreds of irises that underlying constitutional/inherited weakness and our patients’ lifestyle always predict the symptom picture presented. In nine out of ten cases, if you address pH, stress, digestion and detoxification you will clear or significantly improve the symptom picture. This case is a prime example. I do not often use iridology to look at specifics, but rather to get an overview of possible areas of concern.
We can see in this case that hyper acidity is an issue. We need to look at assisting the body in its detoxification efforts. Support for the nervous system/adrenals are important, while we put strategies in place to deal with stress management.
Case Management: I must mention that in my practice I seldom use the SHAPE Program as a stand-alone. I focus strongly on the wellness portion of the SHAPE Program rather than the weight loss.
The patient was put on the Heel Detox box program, which contains three homoeopathic products that support the Kidney, Liver and the Lymphatic system.
The patient was given a good quality B-complex and Vitamin D supplement. Bromelain was given to assist in digestion as well as for its anti-inflammatory properties.
The SHAPE Program as described in the Program Guidebook was explained to the patient.
A weekly urinalysis was performed using Siemens, 10 parameters reagent strips.
The baseline UA parameters were within normal limits (WNL), except for pH which was acidic.
I find that is very important to take the patient through a process of goal setting in their care so we have a parameter to measure and something to work towards.
Results: The patient reported a change in symptoms after the first week. The patient noticed a decrease in joint pain, increase in energy levels and he lost 3 kg (6.6 lbs). The UA showed no ketones and trace proteins. In discussion he admitted to cheating once during the week while feeling stressed. He reported some severe leg pain as well as a headache that lasted 3 days.
In our discussion I recommended he look at HeartMath and especially the book titled Stopping Emotional Eating: HeartMath Stress and Weight Management Program.
At the week two visit, the patient reported a loss of a further 4 kg (8.8 lbs). The UA showed trace Ketones and trace Protein. He reported that he was also feeling more positive, was handling his stress better and didn’t cheat during the week. For the first time in years he felt energetic enough that he was considering taking up running again and his joint pain has all but disappeared.
At the week three visit, the patient reported a 2 kg (8 lbs) weight loss. The UA showed trace protein and large Ketones. We added extra fruit to his food plan.
At the four-week visit, the patient reported another 3 kg (6.5 lbs) weight loss. The UA showed trace protein and trace Ketones.
At that time the patient transitioned to Phase II of the SHAPE Program. At the eight-week follow-up, the patient reported a further 4 kg (9 lbs) of weight loss. He started an exercise program and he is feeling the best he has felt in years. Blood work was repeated and all normal.
Conclusion: I have seen great results in all my patients placed on the SHAPE Program. What I find is that goal setting and continuous measurement is very important so that the approach can be adjusted as the patient progresses along his path of healing and success can be celebrated. It is also very important to address the mental/emotional component as this often leads to failure as willpower fails and self-sabotage increases due to stress and emotional eating taking place. It is vitality important to keep the motivation and willpower high until a new habit/behavior can be instilled.
It is so important to have a proper first consultation and assess if the patient is ready to start the program. If they are not ready, committed or doing it for anyone but themselves, it is a waste of time to attempt the program.
My aim is to change lives with this program, not just to get people to lose weight. I try and educate all my patients especially the ones on the SHAPE Program so that they can understand that their wellness and weight loss is their responsibility. The program is the catalyst for change and I am the support to guide them along.
It is so important that they are sold on this new lifestyle, rather than the weight loss itself, as the body has incredible inherent potential to heal itself, it just needs a little bit of help and nurturing.
I read something the other day that I think we all know but often forget. It said: “We can start to work on our health when we change the way we eat.”
Submitted by Dr. Leon duPlessis
Dr. Todd’s Teaching Assessment
Wow, so much to comment on with this case.
First please note the thorough case history (stress with emotional eating, reaction to certain foods, sleep pattern, family history). Next, the combining of traditional Western medicine diagnostic entities with the addition of out-of-the-box diagnostic techniques (iridology, electro-acupuncture). I’m fully aware that not everyone will utilize these techniques, but I want to emphasize how valuable they can be.
Remember my philosophy is that one must be two-thirds sick before they will show any abnormalities on a blood test. I think it behooves all of us to consider using techniques that help us determine what’s “not right” instead of asking what is “wrong.” To this end, I plan to share and teach a number of techniques that I personally use at our upcoming symposium in November. I’ll be teaching a friendly version of 5 Element Acupuncture, some facial diagnosis, plus more to help each of you enhance your diagnostic assessment.
Thank you, Dr. duPlessis, for mentioning the Target of Health. This theory came after decades of seeing (and failing) patients. Most doctors are motivated by their successes. I, on the other hand, am haunted by my failures. Because of these failures, I searched for alternatives to traditional medical training as well as my chiropractic training to help me find answers. Thus, fix the pH, help the patient deal with stress and improve the liver/digestive function and you’ll see successes beyond your comprehension.
Dr. duPlessis gets the big idea. The SHAPE Program is not just about weight loss! This case study highlights beautifully how SHAPE ReClaimed can be enhanced by additional therapies (note his case management).
We receive many calls at SHAPE Central regarding an increase in negative symptoms when patients begin the program. Remember, the SHAPE Program is a tremendous detox program. Most of our patients would benefit from doing a 21-Day Quick Cleanse periodically to assist in cleansing their systems. Headaches and muscle cramps (usually lasting no more than 3 days) can occur. Both are classic detox symptoms.
Quoting Dr. duPlessis, “My aim is to change lives with this program not just to get people to lose weight.” This single sentence says it all.
