Cornerstone DPC

The health fair is almost here! The second annual health fair will be this Saturday the 27th at the First Baptist Church on the corner of Fayette and Banker. I will be giving a talk on Lyme disease and several others will be talking about a range of interesting topics that deal with a healthy life.

The health fair is free to attend and there will be door prizes. You will have the opportunity to talk with community health leaders, learn, and have your questions answered.

Hope to see you there!

The second annual Effingham Health Fair is fast approaching. We will again be hosting in the Effingham First Baptist Church. This is a health fair with many different businesses having displays and giving short presentations with Q&A opportunities. There is no cost to attend and we will be giving away door prizes! Take a look at the flyer, and I hope you see you there on Saturday, January 27th from 8am until 11am.

When guiding patients along their journey to becoming more healthy, the foremost improvement recommendation I make is the diet. What we eat makes a huge impact on how well the body performs and how well we respond to efforts at controlling chronic medical issues.

My recommendations include a discussion of the importance of reducing and eliminating processed foods and simple carbohydrates. I like to get patients started on a food plan that contains the types of foods to provide the necessary nutrients for the cells and organs to thrive and repair themselves.

But what should a person who needs to get started on a healthy nutritional intake right away do? Patients who come to the office to see me want to start feeling better as soon as possible. Until now, I have been reluctant to recommend anything to serve as a bridge between now and when a healthy daily food plan is in operation. My reluctance is based on the fact that I have never found anything of good enough quality to recommend. There are lots of protein powders, concentrated vegetable and fruit concoctions, and plenty of immune-boosting products available. There have been two problems with this. The first problem is finding the highest quality products that are organic, non-GMO, and without preservatives, additives, or other completely unnecessary chemicals. Even the big health-conscious companies sell things that are loaded with nasty chemicals. The second problem is finding an all-in-one product so that one doesn't have to waste time sourcing amino acids, carbohydrates, and all of the micronutrients.

Fortunately, I finally found a very high-quality product that meets my criteria for use in my patients. This product is very clean and all organic. It provides the nutrition for the body to heal, repair the GI tract, and help the immune system function at its best. Going forward, I will be recommending this to all of my new patients who need immediate nutritional support. It is meant to be used for a couple of months while a healthy diet is implemented.

Also, on October 20th, I will be hosting a talk about the role of nutrition and how this product can benefit patients. Michelle McDowell will be assisting me, and we are both excited to get the word out on nutrition! I will be posting more information on this talk in the next few days. Feel free to contact me by email or at the office number to learn more.

Recently, I watched a Facebook reel of a comedian who spoke of the medical profession being the only one in the world where the phrase “I’m not sure, could be anything” is acceptable. While the skit was, indeed, pretty funny, it also struck home that this is true. Why is this something that is said to patients? Why do patients simply accept it and go on?
This is why it is so beneficial to seek out a true functional medicine physician. He or she will go above and beyond the norm to find out the root cause of whatever is ailing you – whether it be a simple, acute rash or a chronic illness. There is always a cause, and once the cause is addressed, then healing can begin. This may or may not include utilization of outside lab companies, such as Genova, Great Plains, or Diagnostic Solutions (and so many more), but also lifestyle modification, such as dietary changes, stress management and sleep issues.
Remember, functional medicine involves an in-depth history and full understanding of the complexity that is the human body – immune, cardiometabolic, endocrine, respiratory, etc. Make sure that the practitioner you are seeing is certified in the field of functional medicine, whether it be through the Institute for Functional Medicine or Functional Medicine University. There are many out there who claim to practice this modality, and yet have had no official education or certification in the field.
If you are looking for answers to your health issues and desire for more than just prescriptions (which only serve to suppress symptoms and never solve the problem) – please call Dr. Sieberg here at Cornerstone DPC, 217-809-0771 or visit our website at www.cornerstonedpc.com for more information.

- Kelly Sieberg

Amino acids are defined as “the building blocks of proteins”, they are also the result from the digestion of proteins. There are 22 amino acids that are required by the human body to create human proteins, and these aminos must be placed in a particular pattern. Fourteen of these are considered non-essential (as the body can manufacture them); eight are referred to as “essential”, meaning that they must be obtained from food and/or supplements.

One such non-essential amino acid is L-carnitine. It is found mainly in the heart and skeletal muscle, and more specifically in the mitochondria (“the powerhouse of the cell”) where it is utilized in employment of fats called beta-oxidation.

Essential fats cannot pe*****te the inner membrane of a mitochondria without a transporter - this is where l-carnitine comes in. L-carnitine utilizes at least three different enzymes in the process, and the success of the aforementioned beta-oxidation process is then determined by not only the transport system itself, but how much carnitine is available for use. Obviously, higher levels of l-carnitine will increase the beta-oxidation while lower levels slow it down.

Regarding weight loss, you want your body to switch from utilizing carbohydrates for energy to using stored fat. For this to occur, you will need a steady and adequate supply of l-carnitine to transport the stored fat into the mitochondria. Now, if you are overweight, your body does not create as much of this amino acid; therefore, you will need to supplement. (Note: exercise is a MUST when adding in l-carnitine for weight loss.). New studies are being done to show that in women diagnosed with PCOS, a deficiency of l-carnitine has been noted.

Another benefit of this amino acid is that it has the backing of multiple studies to show its effectiveness in reducing fat accumulation in the blood and tissues, a major symptom of cardiovascular disease. (This in no way is to be a substitute for a healthy, cardiometabolic diet and exercise program, but rather as a supplement.) Studies showing that a minimum dose of 2000 mg daily helped to reduce the amount of heart attacks in persons with CVD, and at a dose of 3000 mg, it helped these patients to improve their exercise performance. Another groundbreaking study even reported that in patients who were taking anti-arrythmic drugs, supplementing with l-carnitine improved the efficacy of these drugs.

If you have hypothyroidism, be wary of l-carnitine as it can prevent thyroid hormone from getting into the cells; on the other hand, this mechanism of action may help to diminish symptoms of hyperthyroidism. If you are taking anticoagulants or blood pressure medication, please check with your functional medicine provider prior to taking l-carnitine.

There is some proof that l-carnitine may protect against the toxic effects of doxorubicin (a chemotherapy agent) without lessening the efficacy of the drug.

Also, please remember that dietary supplements are there to help supplement the diet (hence the name!) There is absolutely nothing that can take the place of a healthy diet, daily exercise and proper sleep.

Kelly Sieberg, Integrative Health Practitioner and Functional Medicine Certfiied Health Coach

Standard disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information provided here, although backed by research, is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References (some abstracts noted):
Benvenga S, Ruggieri RM, Russo A, Lapa D, Campenni A, Trimarchi F. Usefulness of L-carnitine, a naturally occurring peripheral antagonist of thyroid hormone action, in iatrogenic hyperthyroidism: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001;86(8):3579-3594.
Fatih Celik, Mesut Kose, Mehmet Yilmazer, Gülengül N. Köken, Dagistan Tolga Arioz & Mine Kanat Pektas (2017) Plasma L-carnitine levels of obese and non-obese polycystic o***y syndrome patients, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 37:4, 476-479, DOI: 10.1080/01443615.2016.1264375
Fugh-Berman A. Herbs and dietary supplements in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Prev Cardiology. 2000;3:24-32.
Longo N, Frigeni M, Pasquali M. Carnitine transport and fatty acid oxidation. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2016 Oct;1863(10):2422-35. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2016.01.023. Epub 2016 Jan 29. PMID: 26828774; PMCID: PMC4967041
DiNicolantonio, J, Lavie C, Farres H, Menezes A, O’Keefe, J. L-carnitine in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2013 April 17. 88; 6, 544-551. doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2013.02.007
Talenezhad N, Mohammadi M, Ramezani-Jolfaie N, Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Salehi-Abargouei A. Effects of l-carnitine supplementation on weight loss and body composition: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 37 randomized controlled clinical trials with dose-response analysis. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2020 Jun;37:9-23. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.03.008. Epub 2020 Apr 18.
Wang ZY, Liu YY, Liu GH, Lu HB, Mao CY. l-Carnitine and heart disease. Life Sci. 2018 Feb 1;194:88-97. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2017.12.015. Epub 2017 Dec 11. PMID: 29241711.
Xiapoing, L, Reichetzer B, Trines J, Benson L, Lehotay D. L-carnitine attenuates doxorubicin-induced lipid peroxidation in rats. 1999 Free Radical Biology and Medicine; 26(9-10). 1158-1165

Kelly here, and I am sharing a post that was created by Dr. Sieberg a few months ago. I feel that this is of vital importance, as we are seeing multiple people being taken in and/or harmed by so-called "functional medicine" practitioners.

So, if your provider tells you that he/she practices functional medicine, please find where they obtained their certification. The Institute for Functional Medicine is the gold standard when it comes to this model of healthcare. It was founded in 1991 and consists of intensive training, all of it backed by empirical scientific studies and reports.

Note: a provider is forbidden to use the pictured graphic unless they have been through the training and passed the test with the Institute for Functional Medicine.

REPOST:

This is Dr. Sieberg. I want everyone to know that I'm going to be expanding my functional medicine (FM) services soon. In this post, I would like to explain its importance and why it is important for you to see someone who is fully certified in functional medicine, compared to someone who might have studied one particular area or who has taken a limited number of courses.
I am certified by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), which is the leading educational organization for FM. Achieving this certification consisted of multiple modules of high-level lectures that really delved into the basic sciences of biochemistry, pathophysiology, and genetics. Understanding these sciences beforehand from medical school and then diving in even further with a functional medicine viewpoint has really helped me understand better what's really going on with patients.
Certification involved 6 different modules of a few dozen hours study each. I also attended a one-week in-person intensive training program in Washington, DC that taught us the mindset and how to start looking at patient problems in a more enlightened manner. When all that had been completed, I had to submit a patient case study that demonstrated my knowledge and proper use of functional medicine when approaching that patient’s medical problems. That was quite a bit of work, and I was very happy that they accepted my case study. I also then had to take an examination of several hours in length at a secure testing center in Springfield that demonstrated mastery over the material. That was pretty nerve-wracking, but I was super excited the night found out I had passed and would be given certification by the Institute for Functional Medicine.
Again, functional medicine is a mindset of working to get to the root of a patient's problem. We use a more holistic range of treatments, instead of the current medical system’s exclusive use of prescription medicines or surgeries. Lifestyle modifications are always the most important treatment, including the main goal of optimizing nutrition to support normal functioning of the human body. There are other critical things: getting enough quality nightly sleep so that the body can repair itself, getting enough exercise so that the cellular machinery will work more efficiently, working on psychological stress to reduce inflammation, and having quality relationships with others to improve the spiritual aspect of living. Maybe those sound like rather common-sense things, but these things are not covered in medical school. Functional medicine can also include more natural approaches to treatment, such as supplements and vitamins. Contrary to what many believe, prescription medicines are also sometimes used. Not often, but sometimes they are needed.
The controversy surrounding “functional medicine”?
Functional medicine is a term applied to the more holistic way of thinking about and figuring out patient problems. The government in no way recognizes “functional medicine” as a medical specialty. In every state, healthcare practitioners are required to have licenses in order to practice medicine; this is not so for FM and anyone can call themselves a “functional medicine” practitioner, even if they have absolutely no formal medical education and minimal training. Health coaches, personal trainers, lifestyle coaches, and anyone else can promote that they practice functional medicine.
Because of this, functional medicine is currently the Wild West stage and anyone can call themselves a FM practitioner. That is why it is important to see someone who has been certified by an appropriate agency, such as the Institute for Functional Medicine or Functional Medicine University. Someone who has taken the initiative to invest in a proper training program and go through the rigors of a full educational program makes it much, much more likely that they understand the idea of functional medicine and can actually help people achieve long-term health success.

Just wanted to take a moment to share a spotlight on and support one of our local chiropractors.

Thank you for what you do in improving the lives of your patients, Dr. Borntreger, and more importantly, thank you for your service to our country!

If you are looking for phenomenal chiropractic care, we highly recommend Precision Chiropractic.

MEET THE DOCTORS:

Dr. Borntreger was born and raised in St. Elmo. He received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. Before attending Palmer, Dr. Borntreger completed his undergraduate studies at Eastern Illinois University and graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences. While pursuing his chiropractic studies, Dr. Borntreger focused his time on learning structural corrective techniques that offer both light force and manual adjusting/segmental corrective components. Dr. Borntreger also spent a great deal of time as both a technique class intern and extracurricular intern teaching chiropractic skills to students.

During his undergraduate studies, Dr. Borntreger was also an enlisted Infantry soldier in the Illinois Army National Guard out of Effingham. While enlisted, Dr. Borntreger served in Illinois and saw overseas missions in Poland and Afghanistan. In early 2010, Dr. Borntreger received an Honorary Discharge from the Army after over 6 years of service. Among Dr. Borntreger’s service awards are the Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Faith, Family, and Freedom are of utmost importance in Dr. Borntreger’s life. In his free time, Dr. Borntreger enjoys spending time with his wife and four sons.

What is functional medicine? In a nutshell, functional medicine is what patient care SHOULD be. Chronic illnesses and autoimmune diseases, etc. have risen exponentially. Unfortunately, the traditional method is to simply write a prescription for the latest medicine that may help to “control” the symptoms, albeit with multiple side effects. Often, the side effects will result in the prescribing of yet another medication, and sadly the root cause of the illness is never addressed. As a result, nothing is fixed. Nothing changes. The patient continues to suffer.

Functional medicine physicians will spend time listening to their patients, taking time to gather together a complete medical history. Doing so allows for a timeline in which triggers, mediators and antecedents may be identified as potential causes for the illness. Many times, genetics combined with poor nutrition, stress and environmental assaults are the problem. Scientists are discovering more and more about the gut microbiome and its association with immune, cardiovascular and neurological health, with inflammation being a major driver in many conditions.

Once a root cause (or multiple root causes) is found, then and only then can the condition be properly addressed. Nutrition is always the first step – personalizing a food plan. There is no one-size-fits-all food plan that will help everyone. The second step will then be to add in proper supplements; these are only added in to supplement the diet (hence the name!) They are not to be relied upon as a sole cure for any condition. Third, exercise, sleep, stress management – all of these will be taken into account as well, and once again, an individualized plan will be created for the patient.

The end goal here is recovery – but the one thing that we stress to our patients more than anything is that is a complete lifestyle change! Things didn’t happen overnight and recovery won’t be overnight, but please know that the journey and end result will be completely worth it.

Dr. Sieberg is a family practice physician with 25 years of experience and is certified as an IFMCP by the Institute for Functional Medicine.

For more information, you can visit our website or simply call Dr. Sieberg at 217-809-0771.

Prices for a functional medicine appointment $250/hour; $75 for each 30 minutes following.

Functional Medicine – Cornerstone DPC Functional Medicine What is functional medicine and how can it work for you? The functional medicine model is an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness...

Reposting this fantastic piece of information on vitamin C. Folks, if you are considering getting intravenous vitamin C, please read the following:

Most aesthetic salons that are practicing this for the aesthetics are not considering the health factors that are required prior to dosing intravenous Vitamin C. The practitioner must also pay complete attention to the patient, constantly checking in to see how he/she is feeling. Follow-ups are also very important, to make sure the patient has tolerated the procedure.

For example, someone considering high dose intravenous/oral vitamin C should be given a thorough history and be informed of the risks and benefits of this kind of therapy. Some basic lab work should be done before the IVs, such as checking the kidney and liver functions, the iron level, and a genetic test (G-6-PD) to make sure the patient’s red blood cells would not be affected by the treatments. This is a practice not routinely done by aesthetic salons, nor is the vitamin C compounded locally, but instead a bag of pre-made solution is used; one that has been ordered from an out-of-state company and then shipped during times of extreme heat or extreme cold, thereby affecting the volatility and purity of the mix.

If you are considering high dose vitamin C, please call us here at Cornerstone DPC, 217-809-0771.

(Edit to add: we also do addition intravenous formulas, all individualized for the patient and the condition, as there is no one-size-fits-all formula)

Let's talk about vitamin C. Everyone knows that this vitamin is something we should consume every day and that extra C can even help with colds, but the value of vitamin C goes far beyond that. In today’s post I will describe the its history and the role that this very important vitamin plays in our health.

First, a little background:

Vitamin C is a compound that is used in a variety of processes in the body, including its antioxidant effects, healing of injured tissues, and maintaining the immune system’s effectiveness. Although almost every animal is able to manufacture their own vitamin C, neither humans, primates, fruit bats or guinea pigs do not have this ability, so we have to try to obtain it from the foods we eat (or utilize it from a supplement). All other animals have an enzyme called L-gulonolactone oxidase (GLO) that converts glucose into vitamin C; strangely enough, although humans have the genetic instructions for making the GLO enzyme, that part of our genetic code is not “turned on”. Predictably, researchers are trying to figure out how to activate this genetic code.

That being said, it is likely that a VERY small number of humans have a genetic alteration that has allowed the GLO enzyme to be activated. This possibly could explain why there are some people who drank excessive amounts of alcohol every day or smoked three packs of ci******es daily and still lived to be 99 years old. If they had GLO activity, then their body was better able to repair the damage created by poor lifestyle decisions.

Vitamin C deficiency

Scurvy is the condition that results from inadequate intake of vitamin C. It is a horrible disease as it causes debilitating pain, fatigue, spontaneous bleeding, and eventual death. This condition was noted to affect sailors and finally figured out in the 1700s by Dr. James Lind. In 1753, Dr. Lind wrote “A Treatise of the Scurvy”, in which he treated 12 sailors with various foods in an attempt to learn what would reverse this condition. Two of the men were given two oranges and one lemon daily for six days. They promptly recovered, whereas the others continued to be ill. With Dr. Lind’s observations, the cause of scurvy was established, and ships started carrying plenty of citrus in the form of juice (cool fact: this is why British sailors are called “Limeys”).

Our cells are able to pack away vitamin C (intracellular storage), as plenty is needed for energy production. As the level of vitamin C in the blood falls and approaches zero, the intracellular vitamin C levels will deplete, and symptoms of scurvy will become evident over the course of a few months. Untreated, scurvy will be fatal in every affected person.

Vitamin C recommendations

The government has established recommendations for daily vitamin C intake. For adults, men should consume 90mg and women should consume 75mg of vitamin C every day. The highest consumption is in women who are nursing, as they should take 120mg a day. Smokers need to take more than the recommended amounts, as vitamin C helps to repair the damage done by smoking.

How did the government arrive at these recommendations? They figured out the minimum amount of vitamin C to keep a person from developing scurvy. Doctors see no reason to take more than the above amounts, but please note that there is a difference between optimal doses and taking just enough to prevent scurvy. These doses are simply the RECOMMENDED levels.

I have utilized vitamin C intravenously in former patients for specific conditions, so I am well-versed in its many benefits; however, new information has come to light regarding many more conditions/diseases that have been successfully treated with high-dose vitamin C. So in my next post, I will describe just how this amazing vitamin was employed for the treatment of these illnesses, as well as the dosage and preferred route of supplementation.

-Dr. Sieberg

When the cold weather hits, it is common to want to stay indoors and out of the cold. For many, this can be detrimental as then the risk of viral exposure from others becomes greater. Besides making sure that your vitamin D levels are adequate (more on that later), it is vital that you have proper nutrients on hand; preferably, n-acetylcysteine, or NAC for short.
I had stated in a previous post to not overdo it on the immune supplements, and this still holds true; however, NAC is a more stable form of a (non-essential) amino acid called L-cysteine. NAC is a sulfur-containing amino that acts as a stabilizer for protein structures, but it is more notable as the precursor to the formation of glutathione. Glutathione is the body’s largest and most protective antioxidant, providing detoxification and intracellular defense against oxidative damage.
NAC became widely known as a frontline treatment for the virus of 2020, thanks to its ability to prevent the virus from replicating and forming spike proteins. With influenza and RSV, it has the ability to do the same, and can breakup proteins found in lung mucus – reducing their chain lengths and thereby thinning out the mucus – resulting in better lung function.
There are multiple studies stemming as far back as 2003 showing the benefits of NAC against both RSV and influenza. More recently, scientists have reported that …”NAC has ben shown to inhibit influenza virus replication and to reduce the secretion of inflammatory and apoptotic mediators during virus infection.” The conclusion of this 2022 groundbreaking study showed support for “the use of NAC to exert antimucin synthesis, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral effects on airway epithelium during RSV infection” (Chi, Cui 2022).
Other studies show that “NAC restores the normal functions of the epithelium, inhibiting ICAM1 expression” and “subsequent RSV infection” (Mata, Sarrion, Armengot, et al 2012).
In 2011, scientists reported that use of NAC significantly inhibits inflammatory cytokines, such as MUC5AC, IL8, IL6 and TNF-alpha – all of which can contribute to and result in severe viral infection. This same study also demonstrated that NAC inhibits viral replication of Influenzas A and B, and RSV (Mata, Morcillo, Gimeno and Cortijo 2011.)
Yet another study shows that NAC inhibits virus replication and expression of these same pro-inflammatory molecules in cells that have become infected with influenza A (Geiler, Michaelis, Naczk et al. 2010).
There are dozens more of these types of peer-reviewed studies available that show the benefits of taking NAC daily, and not just for the current influenza and RSV situation that is cycling. Many more studies have been reported that also show its ability to lower oxidative stress and inflammation associated with COPD, diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. NAC taken with selenium and vitamin E has also shown to be beneficial for women suffering with PCOS, and there are studies that demonstrate it may help with anxiety and depression, as well.
Dosing for NAC should stay around 600 – 1800 milligrams a day; if you are going to take 1800, it is best to take the 600 mg capsule three times a day. It may be taken any time day or night.

REMEMBER: please check with your functional medicine physician or practitioner prior to starting or adding in any supplements to your daily routine. This post is for informational purposes only; no claims to treat or cure any disease or illness. The picture is of NOW Foods brand of NAC; we are not endorsing any one product.
Citations available in comments.

- Kelly Sieberg, FMCHC, IHP

It’s that time of year again when everyone is going to be staying inside more often, and the threat of viruses spreading becomes more imminent. Unfortunately, it is also at this time of year that many folks begin to start purchasing multiple supplements that are geared for immune support, in the hopes that they “boost” their immune system and therefore, won’t come down ill.

Many folks don’t even think twice about their immune system functioning until they begin showing symptoms of illness, or if others around them are becoming ill.

“Boosting” the immune system is a concept that is essentially not a good thing. Everyone speaks of “boosting” the system, but it’s often thought of as simply taking several supplements or focusing on a certain food; in reality, the immune system only needs support, not an overload.

If your intent is to “boost” the immune system, what happens is that you begin to over-stimulate this delicate system, and you end up with it over-reacting. This is where people begin to get into trouble. Autoimmune conditions and allergies can develop as a result; this also correlates with over-excessive hygiene practices – and the search for a germless world.

How do we support our immune system then? Well, it is a year-round process!
This is something that can only happen over time, as you can’t outdo years of bad living in a single day.

The best method is to make sure that you consume a nutrient-dense diet, staying active daily, getting an adequate amount of sleep and limiting your chemical exposures. Can you still supplement with immunity products? Absolutely! Providing you are purchasing quality supplements, utilizing the correct dosages for you and not taking too many at one time.

The takeaways here are as follows: while it is absolutely fine to take some supplements (such as D3/K2, a liposomal C, and/or a proper zinc chelate, etc.), the main issue is that you cannot out-supplement a bad lifestyle or a bad diet.

- Kelly Sieberg, FMCHC, IHP, CFN- C