Therapies and Treatments
As a facility that focuses on therapies to help patients with both chronic degenerative illnesses, as well as prevention and health maintenance, we have developed an array of treatment modalities that have been very successful in helping our patients. Click on one of our employed treatments to find out more about the options available to you.
Intravenous Nutrient Replacements:
IV Vitamin C & Mineral Infusions
Mega Nutrient Infusions
Mega Mineral InfusionsChelation:
Detoxification:
Bio Energetic Stress Testing (BEST):
Hormone Replacement & Anti-Aging Medicine
Diet Analysis & Management
Intravenous Nutrient Replacements
Intravenous Vitamin C and Mineral Infusions: To stabilize membranes, boost the immune system, and increase energy. The components of this IV include ascorbic acid, calcium gluconate, magnesium sulfate, B-complex, pyridoxine (B6), hydroxycobalamin (B12), folic acid, pantothenic Acid (B-5), manganese, selenium, zinc, and sodium bicarbonate. This is added to 500cc sterile water and infused over three hours.
Mega Nutrient Infusions: A comprehensive nutrient solution. This formula is higher in mineral content and also has additional amino acids, providing a more complete replacement. The components of this IV include Freamine (amino acid mixture), potassium chloride, calcium gluconate, magnesium sulfate, B-complex, pyridoxine (B6), hydroxycobalamin (B12), folic acid, pantothenic Acid (B-5), manganese, selenium, zinc, copper, chromium, molybdenum, and sodium bicarbonate. This is added to 275cc sterile water and infused over three hours.
Mega Mineral Infusions: High mineral concentrations based on individual patient needs. This protocol is very similar to the Mega Nutrient infusion, with the exception that this infusion does not contain amino acids, but has a higher content of minerals and a small amount of Vitamin C.
Chelation
IV EDTA Chelation: Used for the treatment of heavy metal toxicity, cardiovascular disease, and hypercalcification. This is the classic and standard form of chelation therapy that has been used to treat heavy metal toxicity since the 1930’s and cardiovascular disease since the 1950’s. The following protocol used for chelation is one that has been developed by the American College for Advancement of Medicine. In addition, the American Board of Chelation Therapy oversees the certification process and has given full certification to Dr. Pittman to perform chelation therapy. The components of the protocol include: EDTA, magnesium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate, lidocaine, heparin, vitamin C, B-complex, B-6, B-12, and potassium chloride. These components are combined in 500cc sterile water and infused over 3-4 hours. Patients undergoing EDTA chelation will be given a Mega Mineral infusion after every fifth chelation to ensure replacement of beneficial minerals that could have been removed from the chelating process.
DMPS and DMSA: These are both sulfur containing chelating medications used to both diagnose and treat heavy metal toxicity, especially mercury toxicity.
Detoxification
Liver/Gall Bladder Flush: This is one our first programs developed for treating chronic illness and consists of a 10-day modified fast. The goal of the detoxification program is to put the GI tract to rest, allowing damaged epithelial cells to repair themselves and improve the ability of the GI tract to absorb nutrients. The liver is also put to rest and can then turn its attention to stored toxins, breaking them down and eliminating them. This program is usually recommended after completion of any antibiotic use to destroy pathogenic intestinal organisms, the idea being that after the kill off, there needs to be a clean out. It is during this time that many patients note the greatest improvement in their symptoms with elimination of most fatigue, body aches, muscle pain, joint aches, and any GI distress.
Colon Hydrotherapy: Colon hydrotherapy is a process of removing fecal material from the colon including material adhered within the haustra. This procedure is carried out by a registered nurse using a colon hydrotherapy machine. Constipation is one of the major reasons people pursue this form of treatment, though anyone who suffers from abdominal distention, gas pains, and irritable bowel symptoms can benefit from this treatment. We also find that patients with chronic skin problems experience profound improvement with their symptoms after undergoing a series of colonic treatments.
Other indications for Colon Hydrotherapy include preparation of the bowel for colonoscopy, barium enema, or surgery, as well as treatment of patients with severe fecal impaction. Colon Hydrotherapy also removes stagnant fecal material from the wall of the colon, preventing the buildup of bacterial toxins that can enter the portal and lymphatic system and overburden the liver. Colon Hydrotherapy is a natural method for achieving these goals, sparing patients who respond poorly to laxatives from possibly negative consequences.
Hyperbaric Therapy
Hyperbaric Therapy is the use of oxygen (or air) at greater than atmospheric pressure that results in an increase in oxygen concentration in all tissues of the body. Under these circumstances, no energy is needed to deliver the oxygen into tissues as opposed to normal circumstances with numerous energy- requiring steps being necessary for the movement of oxygen through the lungs, into hemoglobin, and into cells. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is currently indicated as an important adjunctive therapy for:
- Radiation Tissue Damage (Soft Tissue and Osteoradionecrosis)
- Clostridial Myonecrosis (Gas Gangrene)
- Compromised Skin Grafts and Flaps
- Crush Injury, Compartment Syndrome, and Acute Traumatic Ischemias
- Necrotizing Soft Tissue (Subcutaneous, Muscle, Fascia) Infections
- Osteomyelitis (Refractory to antibiotics)
- Problem Non-healing Wounds
Bio Energetic Stress Testing (BEST)
The BEST system is used to conduct a comprehensive body stress assessment and to determine appropriate ways to achieve healthy energetic balance. This system consists of a device that measures the energy status of specific meridians, or energy channels, as identified through Traditional Chinese Medicine. Meridians end in accupoints on the skin, many of which are located on the hands and feet, and these meridians correspond to various organs and tissues. The BEST system is used to evaluate the energy status of these meridians by measuring the conductivity of a very mild electrical signal at the accupoints. This then provides information on the relative health of the corresponding organ or system, either stressed (often associated with acute illness), balanced, or weakened (often associated with chronic illness).
Allergy Desensitization: Specific methods of utilizing the BEST system allow the examiner to determine a wide range of allergies the patient may have. These can include environmental allergies as well as food allergies. Knowing this information can help patients avoid those foods or situations that could cause an allergenic response. But more importantly, this system will allow for the determination of specific homeopathic regimens to desensitize the immune system to these allergens and correct the underlying problem much more quickly and effectively than simply avoidance of the allergen.
Hormone Replacement & Anti-Aging Medicine
With age come progressive reductions in most all hormones that the body produces. These include not only the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, DHEA, and testosterone, but also thyroid and adrenal hormones, and hormones made in the brain, including melatonin and growth hormone. If our bodies are to function more like a younger person, then we will need to have hormone levels like a younger person, so replacement of deficiencies can have dramatic effects not only on illnesses, but also preventive health.
Some of the hormonal therapies we offer include:
a. Bio Identical estrogen and progesterone replacements for menopausal women, offering the greatest protection from cancer and heart disease compared to synthetic hormones such as Premarin.
b. Natural progesterone replacement for pre-menopausal women experiencing PMS, skin problems, menstrual cramps, and other symptoms of estrogen dominance.
c. Testosterone replacement for both men and women for improved muscle strength, stamina, mental function, mood, and sexual function.
d. DHEA replacement for stabilization of all hormones and support of testosterone levels.
e. Natural thyroid hormone replacements to include pharmaceutical and herbal therapies along with detailed laboratory testing to identify those with clinical hypothyroidism and hypometabolism.
f. Therapies to address adrenal dysfunction, both hypo and hyper function, both conditions associated with chronic stress.
g. Replacement of human growth hormone for treatment of documented growth hormone deficiencies in patients with age related degenerative conditions.
Diet Analysis and Management
Diet and lifestyle issues ultimately are the most important to address if one is to truly conquer a chronic illness. The person who is willing to go through expensive and time consuming treatments, take lots of supplements and vitamins, and profess to want to help themselves “naturally”, but who refuses to make the hard changes necessary to change their diet and lifestyle is destined for failure. There may be remarkable improvements observed in the short run, but for it to be sustained, real support must come from the things we do the most – eat, breath, move, and live.
In each office visit, there will be discussions about diet and numerous handouts provided. Certain patients need greater guidance in this area, either due to profound nutritional deficiencies caused by dietary imbalances or with problems being underweight or overweight. The Carolina Center has an association with a Registered Dietician if even greater support and assistance are needed beyond that which can be addressed in a typical office visit.
