P5 Protocols

"From ADHD to autism, a guided tour on setting up a framework for treating children with neurological setbacks."

Welcome to the next episode of P5 Protocols with Dr. Nancy O’Hara, who fortunately is based in Wilton, Connecticut, right near my home.  She is a traditionally trained pediatric doctor who is also the child of two doctors; but her approach is anything but traditional.  She started her career as a teacher before attending The University of Pennsylvania Medical School.  Of note, she currently is treating two of my sons who have chronic Lyme.  As I recently started in the last few transcripts, I bold and italicize background information and I bold and underline treatment related information.  Dr. O’Hara was so clear thinking and methodical that most of the transcript is marked up.  In other words, for those who are listening, this is a very dense interview.  The focus is on pediatric neurological disorders from ADHD to Lyme Disease symptoms to Autism.  I do not think you will find a more scientifically, evidence-based doctor in the world.  And, as those who are listening to this and past podcasts will notice a common theme as Dr. O’Hara pivoted from the pure traditional medical world to looking for every edge she could get to help her patients.  Her mentors are some of the best medical doctors and researchers in the world, but she has long reached an age and stage where she is materially contributing and perhaps teaching her mentors a few things.  Ever curious, I think you will enjoy listening to Dr. O’Hara lay out an approach and framework for treating children with various neurological disorders.  Remember that at the end of this transcript are links to resources.  It is long… So let’s get started

"Could cancer be a metabolic disease after all?"

Welcome to the next episode of P5 Protocols with Tom Seyfried, a cancer researcher at Boston College, who is the world’s leading researcher in, well let’s use the title of his book: Cancer as a Metabolic Disease. When you meet Tom, who is 70 and widely experienced, you immediately sense that he is a force of nature!

Next week, I will be at a conference, aptly named Tripping over the Truth, which will have the world’s leading experts in the research and development of metabolic treatment protocols for cancer as well as Alzheimer’s. Tom is one of the organizers and featured speakers, deservedly so. No one with metabolic therapies for cancer does a thing without speaking to Tom!

I recorded this interview back on June 22 of this year, but held it back a bit to coincide with this upcoming conference. As well, since Tom is a researcher and not a practitioner, he does not prescribe treatment protocols, but he does the research needed to create them; and, with other practitioners around the world, he has done just that – and to great effect.

I love contrarian thinkers. As Mark Twain once said: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” However, few do that – especially when their life’s work is on the line. But Tom Seyfried did just that. For decades, Tom was a genetics researcher, who kept looking to find answers and found that virtually all of his past work did not make sense; AND he had the guts to turn his work in entirely different direction, risking the pitfalls of heresy. When I see people like that, I’m in!

I believe Tom is on to something. As some say, he thinks that going on a ketogenic diet will kill cancer. Though at times, when he talks, it sounds that way, if pressed, he emphatically states that is not the case. His entire research is based on putting together protocols that include many different tools and even some current tools that have their place and time of use.

As to the current genetics and immunotherapy approach, I hear of occasional miracles and in certain areas there have been and will be. But is it efficient? When will it work for most? Statistics alone tell me that many millions will die before that approach figures it out, if ever. Remember that the war on cancer started during the Nixon Administration. So, I wonder: If in the 1960’s, when the world’s computing power was equivalent to roughly one iPhone, we were able to put a man on the moon, AND get a lost space capsule back to earth, why, with hundreds of billions spent every year on genetic related approaches including immunotherapy, gene therapy, etc., are we not making any material progress? This should be done by now! Why are cures always around the corner? It makes no sense and for those in need, why not try things now??? Get any edge you can get?

If you are in cancer therapy – as a patient or provider, you have to at least listen to what Tom has to say. If you don’t at least consider it, you are by definition not looking to get every edge you can get, and if your or a loved one’s life is on the line, why not? And with that question, here is Tom Seyfried.

"Could cancer be a metabolic disease after all?"

Welcome to the next episode of P5 Protocols with Tom Seyfried, a cancer researcher at Boston College, who is the world’s leading researcher in, well let’s use the title of his book: Cancer as a Metabolic Disease. When you meet Tom, who is 70 and widely experienced, you immediately sense that he is a force of nature!

Next week, I will be at a conference, aptly named Tripping over the Truth, which will have the world’s leading experts in the research and development of metabolic treatment protocols for cancer as well as Alzheimer’s. Tom is one of the organizers and featured speakers, deservedly so. No one with metabolic therapies for cancer does a thing without speaking to Tom!

I recorded this interview back on June 22 of this year, but held it back a bit to coincide with this upcoming conference. As well, since Tom is a researcher and not a practitioner, he does not prescribe treatment protocols, but he does the research needed to create them; and, with other practitioners around the world, he has done just that – and to great effect.

I love contrarian thinkers. As Mark Twain once said: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” However, few do that – especially when their life’s work is on the line. But Tom Seyfried did just that. For decades, Tom was a genetics researcher, who kept looking to find answers and found that virtually all of his past work did not make sense; AND he had the guts to turn his work in entirely different direction, risking the pitfalls of heresy. When I see people like that, I’m in!

I believe Tom is on to something. As some say, he thinks that going on a ketogenic diet will kill cancer. Though at times, when he talks, it sounds that way, if pressed, he emphatically states that is not the case. His entire research is based on putting together protocols that include many different tools and even some current tools that have their place and time of use.

As to the current genetics and immunotherapy approach, I hear of occasional miracles and in certain areas there have been and will be. But is it efficient? When will it work for most? Statistics alone tell me that many millions will die before that approach figures it out, if ever. Remember that the war on cancer started during the Nixon Administration. So, I wonder: If in the 1960’s, when the world’s computing power was equivalent to roughly one iPhone, we were able to put a man on the moon, AND get a lost space capsule back to earth, why, with hundreds of billions spent every year on genetic related approaches including immunotherapy, gene therapy, etc., are we not making any material progress? This should be done by now! Why are cures always around the corner? It makes no sense and for those in need, why not try things now??? Get any edge you can get?

If you are in cancer therapy – as a patient or provider, you have to at least listen to what Tom has to say. If you don’t at least consider it, you are by definition not looking to get every edge you can get, and if your or a loved one’s life is on the line, why not? And with that question, here is Tom Seyfried.

"A framework for treating and reversing Multiple Sclerosis, Autoimmune and other Neurodegenerative Diseases."

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing Dr. Terry Wahls.  As a patient and person, I am particularly excited when I get to meet and learn from people who have been on both sides of a problem or situation.  Perhaps there is no better example than a doctor / patient, as doctors are typically not used to being wrong, and do not typically have the time to study or verify that there may be better solutions than what they can provide.  Thus, the slow evolution of medicine.  So, you should have already noticed a pattern in my [choice of] interviewees in that they are ever curious and adaptive, contrarian in their thinking, not willing to stop until optimal health is achieved, and quite simply looking to give their patients every edge they can get.  They also do not ignore nor shun western medicine.  Even Dr. Sidney Baker recently took antibiotics for Lyme disease and had surgery on his back.  Everything has its place and fighting the establishment, versus embracing the valuable things it has to offer, is critical.

As to Dr. Wahls, I think that as you read or listen to this podcast, you will find you will hear some of the clearest and simplest on-target thinking about how to address not just Multiple Sclerosis, but also all autoimmune disease, and to a great extent, you will find tactics to support the body for any situation from disease to extreme high performance.  More than most interviewees, Dr. Wahls is quite linear in her addressing cycling through her protocol, so she provides a great framework for building your individual routine or helping your patients build theirs.  I would also suggest you go to Amazon, as the link in the show notes provide, and get her book.  It is a staple for any library.

I am trying something new today.  Instead of creating detailed show notes, we are providing the whole transcript with intermittent highlighting so one can skim and see where the material parts are to slow down and read and absorb.  I hope to get feedback on this method, so please do not hesitate to email us at [email protected].  And with that, here is my interview with Dr. Terry Wahls.

"A framework for treating and reversing Multiple Sclerosis, Autoimmune and other Neurodegenerative Diseases."

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing Dr. Terry Wahls.  As a patient and person, I am particularly excited when I get to meet and learn from people who have been on both sides of a problem or situation.  Perhaps there is no better example than a doctor / patient, as doctors are typically not used to being wrong, and do not typically have the time to study or verify that there may be better solutions than what they can provide.  Thus, the slow evolution of medicine.  So, you should have already noticed a pattern in my [choice of] interviewees in that they are ever curious and adaptive, contrarian in their thinking, not willing to stop until optimal health is achieved, and quite simply looking to give their patients every edge they can get.  They also do not ignore nor shun western medicine.  Even Dr. Sidney Baker recently took antibiotics for Lyme disease and had surgery on his back.  Everything has its place and fighting the establishment, versus embracing the valuable things it has to offer, is critical.

As to Dr. Wahls, I think that as you read or listen to this podcast, you will find you will hear some of the clearest and simplest on-target thinking about how to address not just Multiple Sclerosis, but also all autoimmune disease, and to a great extent, you will find tactics to support the body for any situation from disease to extreme high performance.  More than most interviewees, Dr. Wahls is quite linear in her addressing cycling through her protocol, so she provides a great framework for building your individual routine or helping your patients build theirs.  I would also suggest you go to Amazon, as the link in the show notes provide, and get her book.  It is a staple for any library.

I am trying something new today.  Instead of creating detailed show notes, we are providing the whole transcript with intermittent highlighting so one can skim and see where the material parts are to slow down and read and absorb.  I hope to get feedback on this method, so please do not hesitate to email us at [email protected].  And with that, here is my interview with Dr. Terry Wahls.

"Cancer and Alzheimer’s metabolism, prevention, calorie restriction, metabolic therapies with Dr. George Yu."

A few weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Dr. George Yu.  Quick to tell me he was 70 years old, I was floored.  I had him pegged in his 50’s.  Still in his doctor’s gear and wearing the clogs of an old-time surgeon, he has the energy of a 25-year-old.  Maybe even the energy level of a well-rested and welI-fed child.  Seriously.  So read on or keep listening.

I first heard Dr. Yu speak at a Macrobiotic conference five years ago.  It was a big hall.  I was sitting in the back, as usual, wanting the option to duck out if the speaker proved boring, but this physically small man with a booming voice and huge presence stood up and started speaking.  To paraphrase, he said: “I don’t mean anyone any disrespect, but I have studied the data on The Kushi Institute & Macrobiotics, Omega Institute and The Hippocrates Institute, and with cancer patients I consistently find that you have similar results, and my analysis points to calorie restriction.  You are all providing high nutrient, low calorie diets.  I have found that roughly one-third (1/3) of each of your patients respond very well to low calorie diets.”  I knew I loved this man!  Not afraid to speak his mind!

Having lived in Philadelphia and gone to The University of Pennsylvania, I knew of the department store Wanamaker’s.  John Wanamaker was famous for the quote: “Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is, I don't know which half.”   So, we know that the data suggests that 1/3 of cancer patients will recover simply by eating healthier, lower calorie diets until things clear up, but for now at least, we don’t know which third.  I would also add that other factors including stress, exercise and physical and personal environment matters.  Dr. Yu’s Totally Yu program is, in fact, about “Y-O-U.”

Dr. Yu is a surgeon trained in the pelvic area with a specialty in urology.  Many years ago, his mindset transformed when he became a patient.  Though he continued as a practicing surgeon for many years, he started treating the whole body;  today, he no longer operates, though still refers people to surgery when needed.  For those in the more traditional structured Western Medicine world, I think his experience and success bears listening.  Personally, I have had more than one relative who got completely different opinions between the Mayo Clinic and Sloan Kettering.  So, trust me, even among the best, there are differences in mindset and thus opinion!

The wall in his office is littered with pictures of famous people with more wording and deeper meaning than mere signatures and a “thanks.”  The pictures are also not displayed to beat his chest.  Rather, it feels like he is grateful that they have entrusted their lives to him.

Regardless of what you have: cancer, autoimmune, hormonal imbalances, which can lead to certain cancers, whatever… you should listen to Dr. Yu.  He is thoughtful, scientific, methodical, curious and creative.  And he believes in using standard of care in conjunction with metabolic therapies including a low calorie and / or ketogenic diet among other drugs that mimic that effect.  He also is a believer that when you use these adjunctive therapies that you can make due with lower doses of chemotherapy, and hopefully with success, less radiation and other toxic treatments.  His goal is to give you the most effective treatment that leaves you with the least long-term systemic bodily damage.

"Cancer and Alzheimer’s metabolism, prevention, calorie restriction, metabolic therapies with Dr. George Yu."

A few weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Dr. George Yu.  Quick to tell me he was 70 years old, I was floored.  I had him pegged in his 50’s.  Still in his doctor’s gear and wearing the clogs of an old-time surgeon, he has the energy of a 25-year-old.  Maybe even the energy level of a well-rested and welI-fed child.  Seriously.  So read on or keep listening.

I first heard Dr. Yu speak at a Macrobiotic conference five years ago.  It was a big hall.  I was sitting in the back, as usual, wanting the option to duck out if the speaker proved boring, but this physically small man with a booming voice and huge presence stood up and started speaking.  To paraphrase, he said: “I don’t mean anyone any disrespect, but I have studied the data on The Kushi Institute & Macrobiotics, Omega Institute and The Hippocrates Institute, and with cancer patients I consistently find that you have similar results, and my analysis points to calorie restriction.  You are all providing high nutrient, low calorie diets.  I have found that roughly one-third (1/3) of each of your patients respond very well to low calorie diets.”  I knew I loved this man!  Not afraid to speak his mind!

Having lived in Philadelphia and gone to The University of Pennsylvania, I knew of the department store Wanamaker’s.  John Wanamaker was famous for the quote: “Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is, I don't know which half.”   So, we know that the data suggests that 1/3 of cancer patients will recover simply by eating healthier, lower calorie diets until things clear up, but for now at least, we don’t know which third.  I would also add that other factors including stress, exercise and physical and personal environment matters.  Dr. Yu’s Totally Yu program is, in fact, about “Y-O-U.”

Dr. Yu is a surgeon trained in the pelvic area with a specialty in urology.  Many years ago, his mindset transformed when he became a patient.  Though he continued as a practicing surgeon for many years, he started treating the whole body;  today, he no longer operates, though still refers people to surgery when needed.  For those in the more traditional structured Western Medicine world, I think his experience and success bears listening.  Personally, I have had more than one relative who got completely different opinions between the Mayo Clinic and Sloan Kettering.  So, trust me, even among the best, there are differences in mindset and thus opinion!

The wall in his office is littered with pictures of famous people with more wording and deeper meaning than mere signatures and a “thanks.”  The pictures are also not displayed to beat his chest.  Rather, it feels like he is grateful that they have entrusted their lives to him.

Regardless of what you have: cancer, autoimmune, hormonal imbalances, which can lead to certain cancers, whatever… you should listen to Dr. Yu.  He is thoughtful, scientific, methodical, curious and creative.  And he believes in using standard of care in conjunction with metabolic therapies including a low calorie and / or ketogenic diet among other drugs that mimic that effect.  He also is a believer that when you use these adjunctive therapies that you can make due with lower doses of chemotherapy, and hopefully with success, less radiation and other toxic treatments.  His goal is to give you the most effective treatment that leaves you with the least long-term systemic bodily damage.

"From a world class healer, Dr. Sidney Baker explains how to think and approach diagnosing and treating any disease - with autoimmune in the later part."

In August, I had the true and great pleasure of interviewing Sid Baker. I could not think of anyone that could best kick off P5 Protocols than this sage of pure human, medical and life wisdom. His background and evolution to his current thinking, which by the way, despite being near 80, is still evolving, ever learning, reminds me of Charlie Munger, another sage of life and worldly wisdom. When you listen to his history, it is immediately evident that he didn’t take a linear approach to his education nor his life. What continues to make him so fascinating to me is his desire to upset his own apple cart and seek out new approaches, openly accepting that someone else may have a better way. And this comes from one of The Godfather’s of Integrative Medicine! A valuable lesson in humility. But then again, great people provide lessons by their behavior and actions, i.e. by example.

Whether you are listening for direct medical advice on autoimmune conditions or autism, or whether you want to understand how to develop or refine your approach to your own or your patient’s or loved one’s path through health, OR even if you are in business or need life advice, the parallels between how he sees medicine and life can be of great value. I have now listened to this recording several times more than I needed to get the notes done. I could go on in my praise, but instead of me telling you, I think his words will show you, which of course is a better approach to teaching and learning.

If you are looking for protocols, or what I would term adaptable protocols for health, there are some in the latter half of this interview; however, the direction we took was more broad but also sets the stage for how any one person can manage any illness or approach to peak health, including what s/he should demand from her practitioner or him/herself .

Dr. Sid has that sparkle in his eye that be-tells of his kindness, passion and curiosity and desire to get his patients healthy! To have done everything he can for his patients! Despite his soft-spoken-ness in this podcast, I am sure you will sense that sparkle and strength. And with that, here is Dr. Sidney Baker.

"From a world class healer, Dr. Sidney Baker explains how to think and approach diagnosing and treating any disease - with autoimmune in the later part."

In August, I had the true and great pleasure of interviewing Sid Baker. I could not think of anyone that could best kick off P5 Protocols than this sage of pure human, medical and life wisdom. His background and evolution to his current thinking, which by the way, despite being near 80, is still evolving, ever learning, reminds me of Charlie Munger, another sage of life and worldly wisdom. When you listen to his history, it is immediately evident that he didn’t take a linear approach to his education nor his life. What continues to make him so fascinating to me is his desire to upset his own apple cart and seek out new approaches, openly accepting that someone else may have a better way. And this comes from one of The Godfather’s of Integrative Medicine! A valuable lesson in humility. But then again, great people provide lessons by their behavior and actions, i.e. by example.

Whether you are listening for direct medical advice on autoimmune conditions or autism, or whether you want to understand how to develop or refine your approach to your own or your patient’s or loved one’s path through health, OR even if you are in business or need life advice, the parallels between how he sees medicine and life can be of great value. I have now listened to this recording several times more than I needed to get the notes done. I could go on in my praise, but instead of me telling you, I think his words will show you, which of course is a better approach to teaching and learning.

If you are looking for protocols, or what I would term adaptable protocols for health, there are some in the latter half of this interview; however, the direction we took was more broad but also sets the stage for how any one person can manage any illness or approach to peak health, including what s/he should demand from her practitioner or him/herself .

Dr. Sid has that sparkle in his eye that be-tells of his kindness, passion and curiosity and desire to get his patients healthy! To have done everything he can for his patients! Despite his soft-spoken-ness in this podcast, I am sure you will sense that sparkle and strength. And with that, here is Dr. Sidney Baker.

P5 Protocols - Introduction by David L. Eigen