Desperation Medicine

by Ritchie C. Shoemaker

For 10 million patients suffering from chronic illnesses caused by biotoxins coming from our changing environment, reading this book will be the first step to recovery. From chronic Lyme Disease, sick building syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and more, to illnesses caused by neurotoxins from Pfiesteria, ciguatera, cylindromspermopsis and chattonella, the spectrum of chronic toxin-mediated illness is vast. Physicians can't diagnose the illnesses with standard blood tests -- and antibiotics don't work. A new biomarker, visual contrast sensitivity (VCS), successfully identifies the presence of the effect of neurotoxins. New treatment protocols, described in detail, lead to successful resolution of symptoms and the VCS deficit. These illnesses are environmental in origin and the politics of denial are summarized in the chapter, "The Appearance of Good Science". The case histories are true and the patients are real. The science is rock solid. The book serves as a warning to all of us as our environment is changed by the chemical age. The good news for long suffering patients everywhere is that successful diagnosis and treatment of these destructive illnesses is now at hand! The good news for practicing physicians is that a recently discovered biomarker can rapidly pinpoint the true cause of symptoms which are now being incorrectly blamed on such vaguely defined conditions as depression, fibromyalgia, stress and irritable bowel syndrome.

Genres: Medical

500 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2001

About the author

Ritchie C. Shoemaker MD is board certified in Family Practice. He has practiced in a rural area of Maryland, between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean for 23 years. Named Maryland's Family Physician of the Year 2000, and finalist (1 of 5) as the National Family Physician of the Year 2002, Shoemaker combines a career as a bedside doctor with a passion for making the biochemistry that underlies how things work in the human body abundantly clear to his patients and readers. Shoemaker is an acomplished writer, having published 4 books, numerous scientific articles and multiple essays previously.His interest in weight loss started in medical school in his role as a primary care advocate at a tertiary care institution, Duke University. Much of what was taught then (and still today!) about weight loss just doesn't fit the physiology of what actually happens. Thinking "outside the box" seems to be Shoemaker's basic lifestyle. A simple example is Shoemaker's use of a diabetes drug, Avandia, with his No-Amylose diet. With FDA and IRB approval, Shoemaker showed that the drug is safe in non-diabetics, activates uncoupling proteins, primarily in fat cells, that directly burn fat. The results, not found when Avandia is used without the No-Amylose diet, are astounding. By looking at how things work, Shoemaker showed that the most refractory weight loss patients "burned their hips." His presentation to the Endocrine Society 83rd annual meeting, 6/01, was selected as 1 of 150 papers for special media attention (out of 2400 papers presented). Recently, GlaxoSmithKline sent out a copy of Shoemaker's paper to each of its diabetes sales force due to the number of physician inquiries about the use of Avandia in weight loss.
Shoemaker continues to practice full time, though his patient load increasingly comes from patients all over the country seeking help with illnesses characterized by chronic fatigue and multiple other symptoms related to environmental exposures to neurotoxin forming organisms, including toxin forming fungi (sick building syndrome), dinoflagellates (Pfiesteria is endemic in the Pocomoke River), including ciguatera, blue-green algae and chronic Lyme Disease. His collaboration with researcher Dr. Ken Hudnell, neurotoxicologist, has generated several academic papers already. They have abstracts on several topics that promise to "revolutionize" thinking about biotoxins, pro-inflammatory cytokines and their combined role in human health and illness.

Shoemaker takes his science seriously, but not to the point that the reader will be turned off. His approach to dieting parallels his approach to life-make it full, make it fun, make it right. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Reviews

[Eric Rutulante]

Not sure if it can keep my attention to finish, even as a research assignment. But great info for the non deficient of attention syndrome stricken. I'm sure he discusses this but it's not located soon enough. :/)

[Jennifer Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend all of Dr. Ritchie Shoemakers books to the entire population. It can and will save many lives.