104 Advanced Nutritional Medicine – Nutritional Medicine in Systemic Health Problems

Nutritional Medicine In Systemic Health Problems

This is the fourth of six courses in the ROHP-Qualifying Program (Registered Orthomolecular Health Practitioners).

This course consists of four lessons (each lesson has its own exam):

1. Liver Pathologies
2. Kidney Pathologies
3. Essentials of Pharmacology
4. Blood Tests, Biomarkers, and Longevity

1. Liver Pathologies

In clinical practice, patients often present with a condition or with co-morbidity issue involving the liver. This course reviews the etiology and pathophysiology involved in common disorders of the liver. The program also provides an in-depth discussion of evidence-based dietary and supplementation practices shown to help improve many of these conditions, as well as the dietary factors and supplements that can make these conditions worse, sometimes producing life-threatening consequences.

Learning Objectives:

1. The student will develop an in-depth understanding of the pathophysiological processes that occur in common conditions of the liver (and gallbladder).
2. The student will have an in-depth understanding of the human clinical studies, using various dietary and supplementation interventions, shown to improve various liver conditions
3. The student will have the skills to provide patients who present with various liver conditions with evidence-based, personalized dietary, supplementation and exercise protocols aimed at improving or stabilizing their condition, that work in conjunction with (and not antagonistic to) concurrent medical treatment.

2. Kidney Pathologies

In clinical practice, patients often present with a condition or with co-morbidity issue involving the kidneys. This course reviews the etiology and pathophysiology involved in common disorders of the kidney. The program also provides an in-depth discussion of evidence-based dietary and supplementation practices shown to help improve many of these conditions, as well as the dietary factors and supplements that can make these conditions worse, sometimes producing life-threatening consequences.

Learning Objectives:

1. The student will develop an in-depth understanding of the pathophysiological processes that occur in common conditions of the kidney
2. The student will have an in-depth understanding of the human clinical studies, using various dietary and supplementation interventions, shown to improve various kidney conditions
3. The student will have the skills to provide patients who present with various kidney conditions with evidence-based, personalized dietary, supplementation and exercise protocols aimed at improving or stabilizing their condition, that work in conjunction with (and not antagonistic to) concurrent medical treatment.

3. Essentials of Pharmacology

This seminar educates healthcare professionals on the use of commonly prescribed medications and compares the action and efficacy of these drugs to specific nutritional supplements in regards to the mechanism of action, adverse side effects, clinical efficacy, and contra-indications. Many practitioners are aware that nutrition, exercise, and targeted supplementation interventions may, in some cases, reduce or eliminate a client’s requirement for certain medications, or act as complementary agents to enhance the management of the client outcomes. This program provides an evidence-based review of this subject comparing drugs and supplements that are effective agents in the management of common health conditions.  DC’s and other health practitioners routinely ask clients about their present use of prescription and over-the-counter medications during the intake exam and thus, clients expect them to know how drugs influence the physiology of the

DC’s and other health practitioners routinely ask clients about their present use of prescription and over-the-counter medications during the intake exam and thus, clients expect them to know how drugs influence the physiology of the body or may interact with various supplements, dietary practices, adaptations to exercise and/or hands-on treatment.

Topics Covered and Hourly Breakdown Of Course: 

Hour 1:

Antihypertensive Agents (Diuretics, Beta-Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, ACE-inhibitors, ARB’s)

Hour 2:

Hypercholesterolemic and Hyperlipidemic Agents (Stains, Bile Acid Sequestrants, Fibric Acid derivatives, Niacin)

Hour 3:

• Anti-coagulants
• Angina Management
• Congestive Heart Failure Management
• Analgesics And Sedatives, Including Headache and Migraine Management

Hour 4:

• Muscle Relaxants
• Anti-Anxiety and Sleep Aids
• Menopause, PMS Management

Hour 5:

• Erectile Dysfunction Agents
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Managment
• Gastro-Intestinal Conditions: Antacids, H2 Antagonists, Proton Pump Inhibitors, Laxatives

Hour 6:

• Anti-depressants
• Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism Management
• Antibiotics, Anti-fungal, Anti-viral Agents (Common infections, acne, rosacea herpetic lesions, cankers etc)

Hour 7:

• Asthma Management And Antihistamines
• Osteoporosis Managment
• Parkinson’s disease Management
• Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease Management

Hour 8:

• Gout Management
• Oral Contraceptives
• Anti-convulsant/Anti-epileptic Agents
• Key Drug-Nutrient Interactions

Learning Objectives:

1. The student will have a solid, scientific understanding of how the all the major classes of drugs work in the body.
2. The student will have the skills to identify common and highly relevant adverse drug side effects.
3. The student will have the skills to use diet and supplementation interventions, in conjunction with the patient’s medication program, to enhance clinical outcomes and guard against important drug-nutrient interactions.

4. Blood Tests, Biomarkers, and Longevity

This course reviews the key blood and urine tests required to make an accurate assessment of objective health parameters of importance in the day-to-day nutrition and natural medicine management of a person’s health. The course explains the meaning of each lab test, how the body generates these molecules and the various genetic and environmental factors (including nutrition and drugs) that can affect their values in the blood, urine, and saliva. The course highlights ideal values associated with longevity, disease risk, and disease diagnosis, and provides a high-level overview of how to improve key blood values using evidence-based dietary, supplement, exercise and other natural interventions for certain disorders and biomarkers.

Values Highlighted Include:

• Red Blood Cells, Anemia, and Related Disorders –
• White Blood Cells, Infection, Inflammation and Related Disorders
• Common Liver Function Tests
• Inflammatory Markers And Related Diagnostic Blood Tests
• Kidney Function Tests And Associated Conditions
• Other Standard Blood Tests and Review Of Some Already Mentioned
• Vitamins and Minerals – ideal blood levels
• Hormone and Endocrine Assessment –
• Urinalysis
• Introduction to Urinary Organic Acid Testing

Learning Objectives:

1. The student will develop an in-depth understanding of commonly used blood and urine tests that evaluate objective health parameters in a medical setting.
2. The student will develop an understanding of how various dietary and lifestyle factors can influence blood and urine lab results in regards to disease processes.
3. Based on lab findings, and in concert with other physical exam and consulting information, the student will have the skills to provide patients with evidence-based, personalized nutrition, supplementation, exercise and other lifestyle interventions to help improve or optimize important blood, urine (and in some cases, saliva) values in disease management and prevention.