Application of Knowledge
June 07, 2005
By: Dr. Sonja Pettersen N.M.D.

The article I wrote this week was actually about a supplement, which has incredible potential for managing inflammation and protecting the cardiovascular system. It is so safe and effective and has the side benefit of anti-aging that I know that when you read the article, you will want all your clients to take it every day for the rest of their lives and you will never miss a dose yourself. Theoretically it appears as if everyone over the age of 25, and sick people of any age should be taking this product. The research is very exciting. I am therefore going to precede that article with this one to help you become more discerning about incorporating newly acquired knowledge into your programs.

Those of us, who want to serve our clients better, are constantly on a quest for the latest knowledge through journals, seminars, the internet, etc. As a word of caution with regards to popular literature on health and fitness: keep an open heart and a skeptical mind. We are in the Information Age, where we are constantly bombarded by "trivia" and opinions. I recommend that you develop a cautious approach to acquisition and application of knowledge to prevent you from being overwhelmed or from taking a schizophrenic approach to your client care.

Generally when someone writes an article on a given topic, they try to convey the benefits or the disadvantages of a particular supplement or technique. A review of the literature would be the exception, and I highly recommend reading these any time you get the chance, but those definitely leave us feeling uncertain as to how to apply our new information, unless the authors are all in agreement.

The critical piece is that *new* information is discovered daily and that almost everything we read is old news. Many people have likely not heard of the supplement in next week¹s article yet its research was done in 1985 and the Europeans have been using it successfully for decades. Now it's "in the news".

When you read next week's article, remember that it is a presentation of information gathered thus far about the product and that we will learn as more people use it and I may change my opinion on it as time goes on. A good current example is the COX2 anti-inflammatory meds, they were supposed to be safer than the COX1 type because they were supposed to be easier on the gut. Well within three weeks of releasing these drugs they noticed that people weren't getting GI bleeds, but they were dying, yet it took years to take them off the market. Again, it wasn't "news" that these drugs had dangerous side effects.

The truth of the matter is that cutting scientific information happens in the treatment room or in the gym where we witness the results of our efforts. Remember that Olack of results is also useful information.

So when you read next week¹s article, you may want to buy stock in the companies that manufacture the product, but don't rush to put all your clients on it. Carefully consider the scientific *opinions* and decide for yourself. As physicians and as trainers we cannot be successful unless we honor the biological individuality in each of our clients and provide individualized care. Human bio-individuality also means that a patient may have any reaction to any substance, no matter how inert you think it may be.

My favorite patient is hypothyroid and she's so unique that when I increased her cytomel (T3 thyroid hormone), her lab values indicated that she was more hypothyroid than ever before. You need a pliable model of medicine to allow for such a medical Oanomaly.

Remember, the mind is the most powerful tool we have, and can override the most potent influences to keep us exactly where we believe we *need* to be. The mind also has the amazing ability to allow us to overcome the greatest of illness with seemingly little effort. See our story on Adrienne Blewitt, the Olympic shot putter, who¹s incredibly positive attitude allowed her to overcome her illness.

Don't forget, next week we will talk about an incredible supplement that has applications for almost all your clients at some point in their care.

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