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Conditions We Treat

Allergies 

    Our approach to allergies may include food elimination diets, removing environmental allergens (include the use of air purifiers), laboratory testing, and nutritional immune system support.  

Various nutrients (as supplements) can raise the allergic threshold or tolerance and improve allergic symptoms. These include: large doses of vitamin C; vitamins A, D, E, B6, B12, pantothenic acid; lipoic acid, MSM, calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, and many others.  

Underlying infections, such as overgrowth of yeast, parasites, and chronic viral illness may need to be identified and treated, as they may contribute to allergies.  

Mind-body therapies as offered at the Center by Peter Reznik, CSW, PhD may be helpful in the treatment of allergies.  NAET (Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique also known as Bioset therapy) is a breakthrough treatment we have available with our acupuncturist, Bob Connolly, D.Sc, L.Ac, who uses acupuncture (without needles) and applied kinesiology to desensitize people to all kinds of allergens.  Some of the Schachter Center practitioners also use homeopathic medications to treat allergies.

Arthritis

    Exciting nutritional discoveries in recent years have expanded the therapeutic options for treating arthritis.  We start by attempting to clean-up the person’s diet by removing poor quality foods and looking for food sensitivities, such as foods in the nightshade family (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers).  

We frequently make use of nutritional supplements, such as the antioxidants, glucosamine sulfate, MSM, anti-inflammatory enzymes, herbs, and many others.  Whenever possible, we try to replace steroid drugs and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) because of the potential of their severe adverse effects.  We have found certain combinations of herbs to be useful in helping patients to get off steroids and other immune suppressing drugs.

    Viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic detection and treatments for these microorganisms may also be appropriate.  We search for heavy metal toxicity (lead, cadmium, and mercury, etc.) as contributors to arthritis and treat them when they are present.  Bob Connolly, D.Sc, L.Ac offers acupuncture and related therapies.  Other therapeutic modalities used include electrical stimulation (Acuscope) and pulsed electromagnetic (Diapulse) treatment.

Cancer

    In managing cancer patients, we emphasize treatment techniques that enable the body to heal itself, including detoxification, dietary protocols and nutritional supplements that enhance and support the immune system and the healing process.  

Oral supplements include: vitamins, minerals, enzymes, herbs, phytonutrients, and other nutritional supplements.  Intravenous hydrogen peroxide and/or intravenous infusions of high doses of vitamin C are often recommended.  We frequently recommend natural substances that appear to have some anti-cancer properties, for certain patients. 

    Extensive testing may be done in certain patients to evaluate nutritional status (direct or functional vitamin tests, serum coenzyme Q10, red blood cell minerals, etc.), heavy metal toxicity (provoked urine tests for mercury, lead, and others), the status of the liver’s  detoxification mechanisms, hormone status (DHEA levels, basal temperatures for thyroid function, and others) and immune status (Natural Killer Cell functional activity, etc.). Of course, standard tests (such as a complete blood count, liver chemistry tests, and blood cancer markers) are routinely ordered, especially if they haven’t been done recently. 

    We also utilize the innovative, non-toxic, biological compounds developed by the late Dr. Mirko Beljanski, with certain patients. 

    Mind-body therapies offered by Peter Reznik, CSW, PhD at the Schachter Center are essential for certain patients.  Reiki, an energy therapy made available by Sandra M. Davis, RM, IARP,  is helpful to some patients and contributes to healing on a deeper level when combined with our total approach to cancer.  Our acupuncturist, Bob Connolly, D.Sc, L.Ac, works with many cancer patients to help reduce pain and stimulate enhanced healing.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

    Our multi-faceted approach to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome includes dietary modification and nutritional protocols.  We use laboratory testing as well as a detailed history and physical examination to determine possible contributing factors including viral loads, heavy metal toxicity, thyroid system problems, hormonal imbalances, food allergies, candidiasis, and nutritional deficiencies.  

Treatment approaches may include: dietary recommendations, nutritional supplements, injectable nutrients, bio-oxidative therapies, chelation therapy, acupuncture, detoxification procedures,  hormone balancing, and mind-body approaches to enhance immune functioning and release stressful tensions.

Candidiasis    

Candidiasis or the overgrowth of candida albicans and other yeasts and molds in the body has become a prevalent malady exhibiting many common symptoms including fatigue and bloating.  This problem is mainly due to eating too much dietary sugar and too many processed carbohydrate foods, exposure to certain medications (such as antibiotics, steroidal drugs, and birth control pills) and possible exposure to toxic minerals (such as mercury from dental amalgam fillings).  

Enhancing immune function through anti-candida dietary changes, nutritional supplements, and the elimination of toxic substances from the body are cornerstones of our approach to dealing with this problem.  Restoring the normal, gut-friendly bacteria by dietary changes and the use of supplements of these friendly bacteria or probiotics go a long way in reducing the candida burden and bringing about long-term improvement.  Sometimes, bio-oxidative therapies (such as intravenous hydrogen peroxide therapy) help to enhance immune functioning.  The appropriate use of medications for bringing candidiasis under control may also be necessary.

Glandular Disturbances

    The major hormones produced by the endocrine system including pancreas, thyroid, adrenal, pineal, pituitary, and sex glands are frequently dysfunctional.  Through careful evaluation and laboratory testing we can often correct or augment these malfunctioning glands and improve hormonal balance, which can lead to increased longevity and quality of life.  New saliva testing is available to evaluate the bioavailability or free-hormone levels of certain hormones in the body.  To help determine functional hormones, standard blood tests for hormones may also be used.  Natural hormones, glandulars, and nutritional pre-cursors of hormones may be utilized as part of a treatment protocol. 

    In general, we are opposed to the use of synthetic hormones that differ from the natural hormones produced by the body, as we believe there is strong evidence that the use of these synthetic hormones are detrimental to the body in many ways.  For example, a study that appeared in a major medical journal at the beginning of 2000 indicated that a woman taking the synthetic hormone—medroxyprogesterone, along with estrogen derived from pregnant mares, had an 8 percent increased risk of developing breast cancer for every year that she took this synthetic hormone combination.  In other words, a woman who received this treatment for menopausal symptoms for ten years had an eighty percent increased risk of developing breast cancer.  For this reason and many others, we prefer using natural progesterone rather than the synthetic forms.  

Gastrointestinal Disorders

    Upper or lower abdominal pain, chronic constipation and/or diarrhea are some of the most common reasons that people seek medical help.  Frequently, these symptoms relate to faulty diets, food allergies, enzyme deficiencies, the presence of abnormal bacteria, yeast or parasites, the relative absence of friendly bacteria, and nervous system imbalances associated with difficulties dealing with stressful circumstances.  These may lead to two possible functional problems.  The first is the inability to absorb into the body from the gastrointestinal system important nutrients (the so-called malabsorption syndrome).  The second, results in the gastrointestinal syndrome failing to screen out substances that shouldn’t enter the system (the so-called “leaky gut syndrome”).

    When these problems become bad enough, we wind up with diseases such as peptic ulcers, colitis, Crohn’s Disease, and irritable bowel syndrome.  By focusing on the 4 R’s, we can frequently help these problems.  The 4 R’s are:  (1) Removing abnormal organisms from the GI tract, usually with natural substances; (2) Replacing enzymes or other missing links needed for the digestive process; (3) Re-innoculating the gut with friendly bacteria; and (4) Introducing substances to Repair the damage to the gut.  We usually recommend Individualized dietary protocols and appropriate nutritional supplements, including some medical foods to help solve these GI problems.

    Many innovative tests are available including liver detoxification profiles and gut permeability tests to help determine the main problems underlying these conditions.  Mind-body protocols are used to help patients deal with stressful circumstances.  Acupuncture and related techniques, such as NAET (Bioset) can also be very helpful.

Gynecological Disorders

    Premenstrual syndrome, menstrual irregularities, endometriosis, vaginal yeast infections, polycystic ovary disease, as well as hormonal replacement therapy are some of the conditions we commonly treat with nutritional and dietary protocols including glandulars and natural hormones.  New tests are available to help assess hormone status.

Heart and Blood Vessel Disorders

    We utilize intravenous EDTA chelation therapy for cardiovascular disease.  Dr. Michael B. Schachter, MD, CNS, FACAM, has been doing this procedure for more than 25 years, and has lectured and written articles about it for physicians and the public during this time. 

    The approach of our Center is to assess as many risk factors as possible with testing, including lipid levels (cholesterol, HDL and triglycerides), lipoprotein (a), serum homocysteine, fibrinogen, high sensitive C-reactive protein, various vitamin and minerals levels, and toxic metal load.  

As much as possible, we try to use non-invasive diagnostic testing either at the Center or with referrals outside the Center.  We are aware of the dangers of invasive cardiovascular testing and try to avoid it, as much as possible.  To check on arterial blockages of the legs, we use a non-invasive approach, which measures blood pressures at various levels of the legs and doppler studies.  We also use a non-invasive approach to check for carotid (neck) artery blockage to help to screen people who have an increased risk for developing a stroke.

    Our treatment approach for cardiovascular disease involves an individual dietary approach, which may utilize a person’s blood type or metabolic type.  However, for all cardiac patients we recommend avoiding highly processed foods, high in sugar or white starch, as well as artificially hydrogenated fats.  We usually recommend a variety of nutritional supplements, which relate to the person’s risk factors.  

Among the supplements most commonly recommended are:  a multi-vitamin and mineral; vitamins A, B3, B6, B12, C, E, and folic acid; the minerals magnesium, zinc, copper, and selenium; the amino acids L-lysine, L-proline, L-carnitine, and taurine; the herbs ginkgo biloba and hawthorne berry; and many others.  Exercise (including aerobics, weight training, and stretching) are strongly recommended.

    We also recommend mind-body programs to help cardiovascular patients learn to handle stress more effectively. 

Immune System Disorders

    Immune disorders may involve a weakened immune system, resulting in chronic infections or even cancer, or a disordered immune system in which the patient attacks his own tissues (so-called autoimmune disorders, like Lupus, ALS, etc.).  Actually, these two seemingly opposite situations may have a lot in common and there may be considerable overlap between them.  For immune system support, we frequently recommend intravenous vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant therapy.  Dietary suggestions and nutritional supplements are essential to the program.   Various detoxification methods are recommended.  These may include bowel cleansing with herbs or enemas, improved liver detoxification through the use of nutrients to feed the liver, infrared saunas, and exercise to produce sweat.  Patients are encouraged to become aware of environmental toxins and their avoidance.  Environmental and food sensitivities need to be considered.  A dental evaluation, which checks for adverse effects of dental amalgam fillings and root canals, and subsequent treatment may play an important role in helping patients recover from immune disorders.  We utilize some bio-oxidative therapies including intravenous hydrogen peroxide treatments for viral or bacterial problems like Lyme disease.  

Musculoskeletal Disorders

    Acupuncture, bodywork techniques,  and NAET are a few of the modalities we can use in treating musculoskeletal conditions.  Also see our Arthritis treatment options above, as the full range of options available at the Center may be brought to bear on these problems, including dietary changes, nutritional supplements, evaluation and treatment of allergies or sensitivities and detoxification procedures.

Neurological Conditions

    Psychiatric as well as neurological autoimmune disorders are often amenable to dietary and nutritional intervention.   Multiple Sclerosis, TIA (transient ischemic attacks) or mini strokes, and peripheral neuropathies are some of the neurological conditions which can often be improved with detoxification, bodywork, dietary, and nutritional interventions.

Pediatric Disorders

    Infants and children with allergies, recurrent ear infections, and attention deficit disorders are often helped with food elimination diets, dietary supplements, and desensitization modalities.  See NAET for additional treatment options.  Homeopathic remedies are also part of our treatment modalities, especially for children.

Psychological Disorders

    Recent studies demonstrate the profound role one’s conscious and unconscious attitudes play in the onset of and recovery from disease.  The immune system is strengthened by such feelings as optimism, love, and hope.  At the same time, it is evident that it can be weakened by fear, guilt, anger, and depression.  For the best possible outcome in treating health conditions, we strongly recommend our healing mind-body assessment program by Peter Reznik, CSW, Ph.D.  

    To reach and engage deeper levels of the self, Reiki is a mind-body modality that can help one to heal both body and spirit.

Psychiatric Disorders

    Dr. Schachter is a board-certified psychiatrist and integrates his knowledge of diet and nutritional supplements into a comprehensive treatment approach for psychiatric disorders.  Orthomolecular ("right" nutrients) psychiatry seeks to rebalance brain and body chemistry with natural substances. 

    Balancing neurotransmitters with nutritional protocols instead of medications and psychotropic drugs can markedly reduce the side effects of treatment with and dependence on drugs.  We believe the integration of mind and body by addressing the physiological as well as psychological factors is a more holistic approach to psychiatry.