Category Archives: News

Historic Milestone Reached at Meditech International

Release of MultiPort Systems for Clinical Application

In January 2018, a seminal event occurred at the company with the completion and release for distribution of the MultiPort Series of Laser Therapy Systems. This occasion was particularly rewarding to Dr. Fred Kahn, the founder of the company, who had visualized this achievement almost two decades ago.

The design, manufacturing and operation of a system that could power several arrays or laser probes at the same time posed major technical challenges that the designers and engineers involved found problematic. On occasion, they felt that the project was beyond their scope. Over time, however, everyone involved combined their creative resources and were eventually rewarded by a level of success which, from an operational and functional perspective, has proven to be overwhelming.

The premier version of this product-line, the MultiPort Four, features four power outlets which permit the treatment of four anatomical areas in one patient simultaneously, or the treatment of four individual patients at the same time. A second version in this series of devices is the MultiPort Two which offers only two power outlets and is more suitable for lower volume clinics.

A total of three large surface arrays and two laser probes are available for each specific treatment session and can be used in an infinite number of combinations to produce optimal clinical outcomes.

Just think – with only two of the MultiPort Four Systems, featuring eight power sources, eight individual areas or patients can be treated at once. This is a major step forward with regard to functionality, offering a substantial reduction in clinic space required, and enabling one therapist to apply and monitor eight arrays and/or probes in various combinations at once.

Theoretically, and without any difficulty over a 12 hour period, on average, performing one treatment per hour or less, nearly 100 individual treatment sessions can be administered per week. Over a seven day week, using two MultiPort Four Systems, almost 700 patients can be treated, generating $70,000 in revenue. Taking this one step further and utilizing three MultiPort Four Systems, over 1,000 treatments could be administered weekly, generating over $100,000 in revenue. Moreover, from the patient’s perspective the cost would be moderate, while the overhead of the clinic would be minimal compared to the income generated.

With the precise, consistent and highly reliable performance of the Systems, an extensive number of pathologies encountered in the patient population could be effectively treated utilizing only Laser Therapy, with minimal reliance on surgical intervention, pharmaceuticals, and the many ineffective modalities so abundant in the health care systems prevalent today. Realigning the economics of effective therapy in the treatment of large populations would have a significant impact on the existing scenario, i.e. substantially reducing the costs of therapy while markedly elevating the level of therapeutic success. With this approach an extensive number of diseases – the results of traumatic incidents, degenerative conditions, etc. – many of which are frequently resistant to conventional and traditional therapies, could be resolved in a timely manner.

Clearly this historic event represents a major advance in the field of Laser Technology, requiring over 20 years from the conceptual design to application. The process was concluded by prolonged clinical and ergonomic testing, performed at five individual clinical sites. During this period many revisions and innovations were added to the Systems in order to improve function and subsequently increase the benefits conferred to patients.

This major undertaking, which should provide significant value to patients worldwide, has been approved by both the FDA and the European Economic Union. The regulatory process should be completed by a Health Canada review prior to the end of 2018. Preliminary reports from clinics now using the MultiPort Systems, universally state that this represents a major step forward in health care and to date has been met with an unparalleled level of clinical success.

The economics of acquiring the MultiPort System, particularly the MultiPort Four, will revolutionize the application of Laser Therapy, not only with regard to effectiveness but on a highly scalable basis. As a result of the numerous design innovations, therapists should experience less stress, muscle strain and fatigue with the reduced physical mobility required. This will increase efficiencies and extend hours of operation.

The ability to monitor a unique, high-resolution, large touchscreen – incorporating four mini screens – provides continuous data with regard to each array or probe applied from the beginning to the termination of the treatment.

Many other features will be found on your voyage of discovery which promises to simplify the process of application, improve clinical results, and elevate Laser Therapy to an unprecedented level in the pantheon of superior medical technologies.

Interview With Femevolve

The article posted below was recently published in a new magazine called FemEvolve. This is a publication founded by Christina Paruag, a graduate of the Department of Journalism at Ryerson University. Christina skillfully highlights the story of her past illnesses and the restoration of her health status using Laser Therapy.

The article also includes a brief interview with me and I feel that her story delineates the benefits that can be obtained with this therapeutic approach.

At the same time, Christina and her associates are to be congratulated for launching this new venture, particularly in these difficult times in the print industry.

I was given the book The Brain’s Way of Healing by Norman Doidge for my 21st birthday. I really wanted this book to help in re-wiring my brain to better manage the daily chronic pain I was experiencing from severe endometriosis. Little did I know how life changing this book would be.

As I sat there reading the book one afternoon, I came across a passage in the chapter Rewiring a Brain with Light. This chapter was quite interesting to me as I had been studying physics at the time. I read until I got to one part about a doctor by the name of Fred Kahn. He was previously a surgeon, going on to specialize in vascular surgery, and was very well-experienced in his field.

I learned through reading that he gave all of this up to pursue a career in laser therapy- in which he would help thousands of patients minimize the chronic pain they were experiencing that was limiting them in living their lives to the fullest. I became intrigued and couldn’t stop reading. I got to a passage about a neuroplastician who had suffered with severe endometriosis. I read and read with such speed, I couldn’t believe my eyes. In this book that I thought would help my endometriosis in one way, there existed a real treatment that could get to the root cause! Norman Doidge explained that Dr. Kahn’s laser therapy system helped the neuroplastician to overcome tremendous pain, bowel obstruction and get rid of scar tissue. My eyes welled up with tears and I felt hope pulse through my body. Could this be the answer? I immediately Googled his clinic, Meditech Rehabilitation Centre and booked a consultation with his receptionist.

I found a documentary on CBC about the book and watched the interview with Dr. Kahn in disbelief. This was a real treatment- something that may actually put an end to all my pain and suffering,” I thought. I wanted my life back. I wanted more than anything to feel like a normal 21-year-old, and not have to plan my life around my period or feel restricted from having a job and going to school. I was so excited. I didn’t want to get too hopeful, yet something inside me told me that I had to give this a try. After watching that CBC documentary, I wanted the chance to interview Dr. Kahn. I didn’t know if it would ever happen, but I deeply admired what he was doing. How he gave up what he had worked so hard for and pursued something close to his heart: the chance to put an end to chronic pain, or at the very least, minimize greatly, chronic pain in his patients.

I can gratefully say that Dr. Kahn’s Bioflex Laser systems have given me my life back. I started treatments in November 2016. After my first treatment, my energy levels peaked. I didn’t feel the same levels of chronic fatigue. When I went to sleep that night, I woke up the next morning astonished. I hadn’t been able to remember my dreams for two years before this point due to my noisy brain (chronic pain generally leads to an increase in neuronal activity as the brain fires too many pain signals to the area where pain is experienced. The brain is in constant fight-or-flight mode and sends numerous pain signals to the area, when there is no cause for concern. This was my experience with endometriosis, and no medication was able to help). The laser therapy enabled me to remember vivid and detailed dreams, putting my brain into a restful state as my body healed. After just three treatments, I went from being in severe pain almost every day to being in manageable pain a few days a month. I went from missing three to four days of school/work to missing none, sometimes only one a month. I started walking
properly, not with a limp. I began to cook and clean more often and became more independent, less reliant on family as I was able to get out of bed. I can now say that I can handle a full-time job, a full-course load,
traveling while on my period, or anything else life throws at me. I’ve used laser therapy not just for my severe endometriosis. I told Dr. Kahn in March 2017 of recurrent kidney infections I’d been experiencing. Every ER doctor I saw gave me antibiotics, until I had taken almost io rounds of antibiotics. The infections got so bad at one point I felt like I was dying. They would keep coming back. Until
one month I had all the same symptoms, but no infection could be detected. This went on for almost five months. Every doctor was puzzled as to how this could happen. Dr. Kahn told me that it was possible that the problem was not my kidney, but rather scar tissue affecting my bladder, and suggested lasering my bladder. After only one treatment, I saw a significant improvement and haven’t been on antibiotics since. In June 2017, I suffered a minor concussion. I just started my first full-time job ever and was terrified of losing it at that point. After three treatments, my concussion symptoms (such as a pounding headache on one side, dizziness and difficulty with speech) started becoming less. I was able to keep going to work every day, while I made sure to rest a lot at night and minimize electronic time. My concussion symptoms went away in two weeks with treatments three times a week. Dr. Kahn has been so supportive throughout the past
year and I truly believe that had I not met him, I would still be suffering from severe endometriosis, on multiple rounds of antibiotics and dealing with post-concussion symptoms. I feel like I have my life back, and this is all thanks to Dr. Kahn, his amazing and hardworking staff, and the life-changing therapy that they deliver.

In addition to my own success with laser therapy, well-known individuals such as former NBA star Jerome “Junk Yard Dog” Williams and long driving champion Niilo Schonfeld have benefited from Dr. Kahn’s BioFlex Laser systems for pain in the knees, neck and back. The BioFlex Laser systems have enabled these individuals to continue their careers with reduced pain.
Read on below about the powerful effects of laser therapy and Dr. Kahn’s remarkable work that is helping numerous patients on their journey to a pain-free life.

Can you talk a bit about your initial experiences with laser therapy and what drove your passion to start this research?

I had a shoulder problem. I had a ski injury, I had a rotator cuff injury and it wasn’t getting any better. I like to play golf and swim three to four times a week and I wasn’t able to do that. I don’t like utilizing pain medications, so I missed those activities and went looking for a better therapy. I talked to a couple of surgeons and they wanted to operate, and I just felt like surgery was not the solution. Surgery gives you an additional trauma, another injury. I already had an injury, so surgery would be another injury.

Because you’d have to recover just healing from that.

They cut through tissue, they cause bleeding, they do all kinds of things. Not that surgeons are incompetent, but having been a surgeon; I was a general surgeon with a sub-specialty in vascular reconstructive surgery so that route did not appeal to me and I rejected it. In medicine today, it’s important to know how to protect yourself. Particularly as you get older, you’re gonna have some problems, aside from trauma.

I was looking around for different options. Options, you have to look for them. They won’t come to you. I heard about laser therapy and someone had brought a very primitive Russian device, so I found a guy that had one.

That’s where it started, in Russia?

There were devices built in Japan, in Russia, etc. Poorly engineered devices built all over the world really, but they weren’t good devices. A light source based in some sort of base where you turn on the light and you turn it off.

So it wasn’t LEDs or concentrated laser light?

No, it wasn’t sophisticated. So we use LEDs, red, infrared, lasers. We use all kinds of different lights because all of them have different physiological effects. By adjusting the light source, we manipulate the frequency, the duty cycle, the wavelength, the waveform. There are about six things that we modulate. It’s fairly complex and it’s scientifically-based.

That goes into the protocol that you create for a patient?

Yes. Literally, manufacturers have no idea what I’m talking about when I say these things because they take a light source or a diode, turn it on and turn it off. Then they add all kinds of hype, which is untrue and has no basis in reality, never mind science and they try to sell that light. Their mantra is, “it’s bigger, it penetrates more deeply, etc.” A great deal of advertising hype which is generally not true.

Right. The size of the light has nothing to do with it, it’s the modulation.

From day one I always like to do better than other people.

(Laughs) Well it’s clearly paying off!

Whatever revenue we generate goes right into research, design, manufacturing and educating.

Right. I like that it’s not just the therapy, you take everything into account. You have the clinic, the engineering side.

Health care professionals.

Yes, I had the chance to see that too today.

It’s based on understanding of clinical problems. Understanding of how to put together devices that can treat those problems, and then customizing those devices appropriately. So, design and development of equipment and teaching people how to use it properly are extremely important.

How does laser lead to cellular repair and tissue healing?

Through a series of complex physiological interactions between the light and the intracellular organelles or molecules and it also involves the cell membrane. The process results in the restoration of normal structure and function of the cell.

Laser therapy has been shown to increase oxygenated blood flow to the diseased tissue which accelerates healing. It also promotes the production of collagen (a protein fibre that helps to form connective tissue in the body), while reducing internal scar formation and enhancing tissue elasticity. It repairs damaged muscle fibres and activates myogenic satellite cells which repairs muscle tissue. It also increases inflammatory mediators such as macrophages (which break down foreign and injured cells, and protect the body against infection), neutrophils (which ingest bacteria and help fight infections) and lymphocytes (which regulate the immune system), reducing both inflammation and edema.

So the cells become damaged when the patient has inflammation?

Yes, systemic diseases, local diseases, any kind of disease process. Usually with a disease process, you have an inflammatory change or deterioration of the tissues, like in arthritis it’s inflammation and degeneration. The vast combination of different etiological factors.

Can you explain for our readers, the difference between high intensity and low intensity lasers? Why are low intensity lasers safe?

It’s low intensity because it deals in milliwatts. High intensity is watts. With a high intensity laser, you can cut through steel, through cement, through anything. With low intensity laser therapy, it’s more gentle and lower power settings are used. It’s controlled and ours are designed so that they can’t burn or harm tissue. Some manufactures use high powered lasers and then put a thick piece of glass or plastic between the light and the tissue and you do not know what intensity actually interfaces with tissue, which defeats the purpose of constructive radiation.

What health conditions do you regularly treat with laser therapy?

We have four treatment platforms.

Treatment of musculoskeletal problems: spinal pathologies, soft tissue and sports injuries, arthritis, etc.

Treatment of wounds/dermal ulcers: such as diabetic lesions, and those that occur due to compression, surgery or trauma. This is a highly effective treatment that leads to rapid healing of the lesions.

Treatment of dermatological conditions: eczema/dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, etc.

Treatment of neurological conditions: cerebral concussion (traumatic brain injuries-TBIs), early application for Dementias, Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions.

How do you use laser to treat concussions?

All concussions have neck injuries. Most of the injuries are focused on the junction of the neck and the brain. It involves the central nervous system (CNS), the neck, and the spinal cord. We always start by treating the neck. So we treat the tissues directly, the neck, CNS, etc. and we irradiate structures using photon particles. These are absorbed by the cerebrospinal fluid, which circulates through the spinal canal and around the brain and ventricles. We treat through the vascular and lymphatic systems. Cerebrospinal fluid and direct treatment of the tissues- neurological, skeletal and soft tissues

Some patients also get treated on top of their heads, right? What’s the difference between that treatment and treating concussions with lasers used on the neck only?

Okay, so 70% of patients are cured without treating the hemispheres. If we don’t need to go to the hemispheres, we don’t. If it’s i00% effective treating the neck, we don’t need to do that, if it isn’t then we go to the hemispheres. It’s very elaborate and sometimes the auditory mechanisms are affected so we treat those as well.

Because you get the ringing in your ears and that sort of thing

Right. The ringing of the ears often disappears just when you treat the neck. When you’re treating the neck, you’re treating the spinal cord, the brain stem and the cerebellum. So that’s your basic treatment.

That’s so incredible.

I’ve also categorized concussions into acute stable, acute labile, chronic stable, etc. So there are different categories. Then they fall into different age groups, degrees of severity of concussion. We use all that information and we have a number of protocols developed for each of those. It’s quite sophisticated. It’s like you feed all the material into a computer and you come up with different combinations, permutations, algorithms, protocols that enable you to effectively treat those conditions.

That’s great! Moving towards the women’s health side and lasers: Can it be used to treat or diminish ovarian cysts?

Ovarian cysts are usually benign lesions, all women have them.

You’ve never shrunk them?

Ovarian cysts will do what they will do. I used to do a lot of abdominal surgery, so every woman has them. Can you do anything about them? No. The ones that are huge, they’re gonna burst. When inside the peritoneal cavity, we might prick it like a balloon and suck up the fluid and they’re gone. They relate to ovulation. Malignancy is rare but might be considered.

Okay, that’s good to know. In my experience, before I started laser therapy, I was getting ruptured cysts every three months. Since I started, I’ve only had one. So I was curious if it shrinks them or stops them from forming the same way.

Basically, when you have endometriosis, you have a lot of irregularities, many cysts bursting and enlarging, etc. Only rarely are they malignant.

Can it be used for fibroids?

Fibroids again, are generally asymptomatic. Most therapies, pain medications, anti-inflammatories are used to treat symptoms. I’ve thought about this for a long time. Symptoms are the result of a disease process. Whether it’s organic, systemic, local, generalized, etc. Most medicine is directed to treat the symptoms because that’s profitable. A lot of people encourage symptoms to persist, so the patient comes for more visits, gets more treatments, more analgesics, etc. We’re different as we treat the condition causing the symptoms. We try to figure out what’s causing the symptoms. It’s like the fire and smoke -most people treat the smoke, but the fire will continue to burn.

Right, just like the problematic cysts are a symptom of endometriosis and ovulation. How does it work in eliminating scar tissue in endometriosis?

Enough penetration into the peritoneal cavity which is lined with a very delicate lining com¬posed of cells, it’s very sensitive to increased pressure, inflammation, all those things. It reduces the inflammation essentially. It has a calming effect on the tissues and gets rid of the inflammation. It stimulates the absorption of follicles bursting, fluid in the peritoneal cavity, it gets rid of all those.

What factors are considered when you create a protocol for a patient?

The patient’s weight, padding, how much skin pigmentation. There are about 10-12 factors that come into play. What the problem is, how severe it is. Is it acute? Is it chronic? So there are many factors that we take into consideration. Each case is individualized. No two cases are treated the same way. You can but it’s better if you don’t. There are many common factors, however.

A great advantage of laser therapy is that it is not painful and there are no harmful side effects. Are there any known long¬term effects of laser therapy?

I’ve been using it personally for 20 years and nothing adverse has ever occurred. There may be some, but if so they haven’t become noticeable.

Or you’re just superhuman.

No, I’m definitely not!

(Laughs) I’ve never had a bad experience with it either so that’s good. What factors would lead to laser not being effective for a patient?

We don’t use it on the abdomen during the first or second trimester of pregnancy. That’s the main one. Some people demonstrate photosensitivity, so you might restrict them, or you might start at really low settings and let the tissues/cells adapt.

What countries is laser therapy currently offered in?

Our systems are in 52 countries worldwide.

That’s just the BioFlex itself?

The system, yes.

Wow.

But medicine is very slow to change. It’s very traditional and conventional and it’s fixed. In our system, the people who get the best care are those who are not salvageable or dying unfortunately.

It’s not about prevention, that’s what bothers me.

Prevention should be a major item in all medical school curriculae.

It’s not, it’s just the band-aid options. What does success mean to you?

If I’m helping people, that’s success. If I make money, I will give it away anyway eventually
or use it for research. Money is security against society. I’ve coined a phrase, “It’s easier to be happy when you’re rich than when you’re poor. You may not be happy, but you have the opportunity to rectify that, you can do what you like, you can pay for it.”

What are some things you do that contribute to a healthier life?

I try to exercise everyday. Something, even a half an hour or an hour walk, stretching, golf, swimming. Being active. I read a lot. I think a great deal. Being active, being involved. Being engaged. Diet also is extremely important.

Definitely. That’s great. Can you name someone that has inspired you on your journey in helping others use laser therapy?

There are a lot of people I’ve looked up to during the course of my life. I had a grade school teacher, she was very good to me and I think she helped to guide me. Then I had an English high school teacher who was a big
influence. Taught me how to read and write. I worked for a guy at a golf course for several summers. He had wonderful integrity and business principles. One of the people I admire is Frank Stronach, he’s the president of Magna. I like the things he stands for and the way he conducts himself, along with what he has accomplished.

You feel that it’s aligned with your values?

Yes, exactly. Then I’ve worked with some surgeons that I thought were outstanding. Denton Cooley in Houston, Texas who is the father of vascular surgery.

These are some of the people who have had a positive influence on me.

That’s great! What advice would you give to prospective patients considering laser therapy?

It can’t cause any harm and it may do you a lot of good. In medicine there are no guarantees. I don’t want to sell people anything that they don’t think is going to help them and most of all I want to cure their condition.

To learn more about laser therapy and to discover how Dr. Kahn’s incredible Bioflex systems can help you, visit: http://bioflexlaser.com/

Beware Before Swallowing!

The article below is a typical example of the inappropriate dispensing of medications simply for the easy relief of symptoms. The latter may not even be a significant problem and it would be more appropriate for the physician to deal with these matters by assessing the patient more extensively prior to resorting to prescribing. A few minutes of discussion can most often avoid the “instant gratification” provided by writing a prescription.

According to current trends, cannabis may soon be over prescribed and in many situations, unnecessarily so, yet the downside of that approach is less hazardous than the many toxic chemicals so casually dispensed.

Before you swallow beware! Instant gratification in the form of a pill is seldom a permanent solution and in some cases may be a deadly one.

Fred Kahn, MD, FRCS(C)

Antipsychotics, not anti-insomnia

National Post (Latest Edition)16 Jun 2017
Sharon Kirkey

Recently, after morning rounds seeing patients admitted to his hospital through emergency, Dr. David Juurlink tweeted: “Can the next doctor wanting to prescribe Seroquel for sleep, just not?”

Of the roughly 20 patients he had seen that morning, four had been prescribed Seroquel, an antipsychotic, for insomnia.

Seroquel and its generics aren’t approved as sleeping pills. Quetiapine, the active ingredient, has been officially approved in Canada for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression only.

Yet drug-safety experts are growing increasingly alarmed by the drug’s use as a doctor-prescribed nightcap for insomnia, with a 10- fold increase in quetiapine prescriptions for sleep problems in Canada between 2005 and 2012 alone.

Quetiapine is sedating. Like over- the- counter sleep aids, it makes people drowsy. But it also comes with a multitude of potential side effects, according to experts.

These side effects include an odd sensation of tension and restlessness (akathisia), Parkinson’s- like tremors and movement abnormalities, weight-gain, high blood sugar, new or worsening diabetes and, in rare cases, heart arrhythmia that can cause sudden cardiac death. A recent Health Canada review linked quetiapine and other so- called “atypical” antipsychotics to an increased risk of sleep apnea — breaks in breathing during sleep.

Juurlink, a clinical toxicologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, said quetiapine can also cause a particularly nasty complication known as neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a rare but potentially life- threatening reaction to antipsychotics or major tranquillizers. “Over the last decade, I have seen several patients who have had quetiapine as part of, or one of the contributing causes to NMS,” said Juurlink, whose frustrated tweet to doctors last week was a repeat of one he has sent before.

“I’ve certainly seen people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease that I’m confident were from quetiapine,” he added. “It’s getting to the point now where, when I admit a patient with Parkinson’s, I reflexively look at their other medications to see, ‘are they on quetiapine?’ ”

According to drug market research firm IMS Brogan, of the 33 million prescriptions for tranquillizers dispensed by Canadian retail drugstores in 2016, one quarter — 8.3 million — were for quetiapine.

Doctors say the drug is being prescribed in low- dose formulations to people with no underlying psychiatric conditions, the majority for sleep. University of B.C. researchers found that 58 per cent of B.C. quetiapine prescriptions in 2010 were for the 25 mg tablet. The dose range for the approved disorders is 150 to 800 mg per day.

“It’s popping up as a patient’s typical medication for insomnia all the time,” says Kamloops emergency physician Dr. Ian Mitchell. “It’s not well supported by any science for use in sleep, it has significant side effects and yet it’s massively prescribed.”

“Seroquel is not benign,” Dr. David Gardner, a professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at Dalhousie University said in an email. “It may be more dangerous than our standard sleeping pills, but without research we cannot know or quantify its risks.”

It’s not clear how antipsychotics have become such a big thing for sleep. But observers point to aggressive marketing and industryfunded “opinion leaders” who’ve described quetiapine as a “mild, not harmful” drug that seems to help with sleep.

Some users swear by it. “Seroquel helps me for sleep when nothing else will,” according to one online reviewer. “The only bad thing is 30 ( minutes) to one hour after taking it, I’m starving!!” Others describe feeling spacey and foggy the next morning.

Juurlink said quetiapine might shorten sleep latency — the time it takes to fully fall asleep — by a few minutes. It can also make people less aware of their “nocturnal awakenings” than they might otherwise have been. It’s a potent antihistamine, like diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl and other “nighttime” cold remedies.

“But what’s really driving this is a societal expectation that we should all get eight hours of sleep a night, a pill is a way to go about it, and the willingness of some providers to accede to requests for sleeping pills,” Juurlink said.

While quetiapine has proven safe and effective for approved conditions, and most of the side effects have been reported during highdose treatment, side effects such as tardive dyskinesia — abnormal movements of the face and jaw — have been reported with low-dose regimens as well, according to the UBC Therapeutics Initiative.

Abuse of quetiapine is also a growing problem, with people inhaling or injecting crushed or dissolved tablets.

Mitchell says it’s hard to explain the “inherent hypocrisy” of the massive prescribing of an antipsychotic for insomnia, while medical leaders are warning doctors to be wary of prescribing marijuana for sleep.

“I’m not asking people to smoke a joint in a nursing home for sleep, that’s not what this is about,” he said. “But there may be some alternatives to some of the damaging medications that are out there, or ways to replace them with cannabis.”

Arthritis

There are many forms arthritis, the most common being degenerative osteoarthritis. Some facts excerpted from The World Health Organization literature indicate a number of shocking realities.*

Arthritis is considered to be the nation’s number one crippling disease and the most common chronic disease of people over the age of 40.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 46 million adults in the United States have been told by a physician that they have some form of arthritis, including degenerative osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus or psoriatic arthritis.
By 2030, a startling 67 million Americans age 18 years or older are projected to have arthritis—a 45% increase from current statistics.
The average age that arthritis begins is 47 years, with 1 in 2 Americans over age 65 dealing with some form of arthritis.
The cost of arthritis due to lost wages, medical treatment and other related expenses can run an individual over $150,000 in expenses over their lifetime.

These facts are significant–the solutions less so. Physicians are prone to prescribing analgesics, anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants or inject cortisone, xylocaine and a variety of lubricating solutions. All of these mask symptoms temporarily, however they do not provide a permanent solution.

Laser Therapy, a relatively new technology perfected by Meditech International Inc. in Toronto, Canada currently offers up-to-date, professional therapeutic systems along with Home Units for utilization by individuals who have not had their problems resolved by conventional and traditional methods, including surgical procedures. Symptoms generally improve immediately following the institution of Laser Therapy. Applying treatment in a cumulative fashion stimulates the reduction of symptoms over time resulting in the patient’s return to a normal range of activities without the utilization of analgesics or other medications.

Unfortunately Laser Therapy is seldom mentioned as a solution as it is not covered by the codes, insurance programs, national health care systems and other mainstream regulatory bodies. The reasons: medicine is slow to change and vested interests will go to great lengths to provide protection for their products, regardless of the lack of value induced.

At this point in time, it must be clearly understood that the BioFlex Laser Therapy Systems offer ongoing relief of symptoms of arthritis in all areas of the body by restoring the normal morphology and function of the cells. In addition the therapy provides a potent anti-inflammatory effect and boosts the immune system while restoring the integrity of the cells. Regeneration of cartilage is also a part of this process, which is administered in a pain-free and completely safe manner. Comparatively speaking, the cost is minimal and each treatment stimulates the healing process to a higher level, making surgical interventions such as arthroscopy, joint replacements and spinal surgeries in the majority of instances redundant. As time
progresses the patient can discard all pharmaceuticals and focus on a healthy diet and activities such as swimming, stretching, walking to achieve a complete recovery.

The facts regarding the efficacy of Laser Therapy are undeniable. At our Meditech Rehabilitation Clinics, this reality can be seen many times many times over the course of each day and the changes which patients often describe as “a miracle”, have come to be the standard outcome.

A recent example of results achievable is the case of Jerome Williams, also known as “].Y.D.” or Junk Yard Dog, a brand label that he has acquired over a stellar ten year career in the NBA. Jerome presented for treatment at one of our clinics in April and immediately noted improvement. He acquired a Home System and a month later, a Professional System for stationary therapy at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. The results achieved have been so dramatic that at the age of 44, he has returned to a professional career in basketball in the newly formed 3D League.

Once again, his play is outstanding and in addition he is continuing his long-standing career with the NBA as a good will ambassador of the league. J.Y.D. is also involved in many charitable and educational organizations in his post-NBA career. I am pleased to state that he is a perfect example of what can be accomplished with the intelligent application of BioFlex Laser Therapy, a technology that can replace all current and conventional treatments for arthritis. For additional information, contact Meditech International Inc., Toronto, Canada (416-251-1055), or review our website (www.bioflexlaser.com).

Junk Yard Dog Sees The Light

‘Jerome ‘JYD’ Williams has two BioFlex Laser Therapy Systems… and he’s protecting them like a Junk Yard Dog with a bone.’

Former NBA star and currently on the Power Team of the Big 3 Basketball League, Jerome “Junk Yard Dog” (JYD) Williams relies on BioFlex Laser Therapy to eliminate the pain in his knees. The latter was not only chronic but at times acute, preventing Jerome from playing basketball, the sport that is relevant to his sense of completeness in life. After just two months of self-administered therapy, the pain was relieved to the degree that he was able to resume his professional basketball career in the 3-on-3 league, demonstrating his high level abilities while playing along with other notable former NBA stars. He travels with a BioFlex Personal System on the road and uses a Professional System at home.

treatment1 — Top: Jerome being treated with the BioFlex DUO+ Treatment Array
Bottom: Jerome performs in the 3up League

Top: Jerome being treated with the BioFlex DUO+ Treatment Array
Bottom: Jerome performs in the 3up League

Jerome attended Georgetown University on a full athletic scholarship and as a further testament of his tremendous athletic ability, was picked in the 1st round of the NBA’s 1996 Draft by the Detroit Pistons. His impressive career as an NBA Power Forward spanned nine years with Detroit, the Toronto Raptors, the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks. . At all times, he demonstrated his ability to be a team player and in 2000, he led the league in high rebounding percentages and was ranked third overall in offensive ratings.

Jerome Williams brought his talent, heart and extraordinary passion to the court and holds an impressive 6.6 points per game and 6.4 rebounds. His NBA career included a total of 587 games. Nicknamed “JYD” for his extraordinary work ethic by his teammates in Detroit, he furthered the JYD persona into his own brand.

JYD was excited to join the Toronto Raptors in 2000; so much so that he passed up a morning flight, electing instead to brave a brutal February snowstorm and drive from Detroit to Toronto the night before. He wanted to make certain that he was in the city in time for his first practice with his new teammates.

Toronto fans were jubilant on his arrival. The greetings at the Air Canada Centre by the fans when he played as a Raptor for the first time were overwhelming. Toronto Raptor fans continued to show their love even after JYD was traded, always providing a standing ovation whenever he was on the court.

His impressive NBA career and work ethic, matched by his stellar character, continues to be demonstrated by his involvement in many charitable organizations and his work as a good will ambassador for the NBA.

He initiated an after-school program in the Brewster community in Detroit “right in the middle of the projects”, devoting extensive time and effort to this task.

In an effort to bring his unparalleled knowledge and understanding of the game of basketball to underdeveloped nations, he joined “Basketball Without Borders”. Jerome’s post-NBA career is highlighted by numerous community service awards over the years. He was honoured with a National Home Team award by the Fannie Mae Foundation, was invited to the White House and led a drive to raise money for the Toronto District School Board to buy books for students. His passion to give back to the community was recognized by the NBA principals and he was awarded the NBA Community Assist Award in May 2005. A father of four, he currently serves as Chairman of the non-profit organization, JYD Project Inc. Although Jerome celebrated many firsts as an NBA player, he was the first role player, featuring his own tennis shoe and a Sprite deal.

Incidentally, he is not the first NBA star to rely on BioFlex Laser Therapy systems but he is no doubt the most grateful and enthusiastic individual with regard to the effectiveness of the treatment. As he recalls, many of his Toronto Raptor teammates, including Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, etc. relied upon this amazing technology to treat their many injuries. Feel free to enter Jerome’s DoggPound but with the BioFlex Systems in his healthcare arsenal, don’t ever expect to hear the Junk Yard Dog whimper.

From my interactions with Jerome, he is an outstanding human being, a basketball player for the ages, a solid family man and someone who cares about everyone inhabiting our planet. His existence makes the world a better place. I am certain he will bring all of his stellar qualities to the Big 3 League and entertain everyone that has the privilege and opportunity to watch him perform.

dr_kahn_jerome_williams — *Jerome Williams with Dr Kahn at the Meditech Downtown Clinic*

Update re. Major Athletes

Jerome Williams, also known as Junkyard Dog, presented at our clinic approximately two months ago for treatment of both arthritic knees. He initially began therapy utilizing a Home Unit, which he uses for travel, but he subsequently also purchased a Professional System for use at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This week, Jerome reported that his knees were substantially improved and he has returned to playing in the three-on-three professional league for players who have previously played in the NBA. In his first professional game last weekend, he was highly effective and plans to continue playing on a regular basis in this new professional league.

Another success story for BioFlex Laser Therapy Systems that has now become standard in treating high level athletes for acute and chromic injuries.

Communication to All Laser Medicine Practitioners

In October of 2016, Theralase, a small Laser Therapy company located in Toronto, distributed a questionnaire to BioFlex Laser Medicine Practitioners. Several recipients were confused with regard to the origin of this document. This is understandable as it is a thinly disguised effort to make it appear to have originated at Meditech. I can assure you that this was not the case and unfortunately, this demonstrates the characteristics of some industry principals – projecting a blend of hucksterism, hype, disinformation and deception.

Most significantly, the questionnaire reflects the lack of clinical understanding that prevails within some Laser Industry Manufacturers, as reflected by their literature, press releases, etc., best described as pseudoscience. These communications perform a disservice to the legitimate sector of Laser Medicine, aside from the paucity of comprehension of clinical pathologies and the inappropriate design of devices required to resolve the latter. All manufacturers must focus on the design and building of machines to relieve the many problems that exist, instead of simply building devices to generate profits. Without fully understanding these realities and objectives, their efforts will continue to be self-defeating.

Prior to responding to the five questions included in the questionnaire, we will attempt to provide some overall perspective to this entire situation. Moreover, we regard this as an opportunity to expand the educational process that is so important in qualifying and empowering Laser Therapists.

At this time, at least three knowledgeable and respected medical practitioners, offended by the Theralase comments, have offered to respond to the questionnaire and these reports will be delivered to you sometime in April.

At Meditech, we are reluctant to advertise however we make efforts to share information reflecting current basic research and engineering improvements, many of which are integrated into the systems we manufacture, along with new, effective clinical applications. We prefer to leave the evaluation of our technology and the clinical results achieved to others who have the ability to independently comment on our body of work and how it is affecting current medical practice. To wit:

Dr. Norman Doidge’s book, “The Brain’s Way of Healing”, which was published in 2015, devotes an entire chapter to BioFlex Laser Technology and this text still resonates with the medical and lay community in many parts of the globe.

In 2015, an Australian TV network filmed our activities over the course of two weeks and developed a documentary, extoling our technology in Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania and adjacent regions. The network called Seven Network Limited is similar to the U.S. program, 60 Minutes.

In October 2016, Meditech was featured on David Suzuki’s “The Nature of Things”, which will be broadcast in many countries around the world over the next several years. This achieved considerable favourable international recognition and I stress that this exposure was not solicited.

In December 2016, Dr. Gifford-Jones, a highly respected syndicated medical journalist wrote an article which was circulated in over 70 newspapers in Canada. The article commented favourably on our treatment of cerebral concussion and other neurological conditions.

In addition, many articles have been published with regard to Meditech’s Laser Technology based on our achievements in this field in a number of countries.

At this time, I enclose a prescient article written independently by Dr. Leonard Rudnick, the director of Laser Therapeutics in Tuscon, Arizona. This commentary was written in July 2007 in response to previous comments by Theralase that we originally chose to ignore as being nonsensical, much like the current five questions recently circulated. This article was written over ten years ago and is evidence of the negative trend that Theralase is intent on pursuing.

I also include an article presented by Dr. Jan Tuner, who is based in Sweden and has been highly active in the Laser Therapy sector for over 30 years. Dr. Tuner’s comments with regard to the minimal value on tissue healing of light delivered at 905 nM, the wavelength recommended by Theralase, is particularly relevant. A number of other issues are also addressed in this communication.

On a final note, I refer to a typical Theralase press release sent to me by a biotechnology analyst for my comment. The release is dated October 13, 2016. After reviewing the document, my conclusion is that a company that would release a paper of this nature has a limited understanding of research, science and integrity. Performing a study of brain cancer on a single rate, regardless of the outcome, is irrelevant at best.

Unfortunately in our society, there are no controls over this type of deceptive literature. Our conclusion is that prevarication should not be the standard for success and hopefully over time, activities of this nature should lead to the demise of the company.

Another penny stock disappearing from the Venture Exchange will certainly not be missed.

Conclusion

Some good emanates from all events, no matter what the intentions may be. This matter has provided an opportunity for Meditech to expand the educational process and clarify a number of contentious issues. The answers to the questionnaire that Theralase has posed and answered inappropriately will be fully resolved by a follow-up communication, which you should receive in April 2017.

Fred Kahn MD, FRCS(C)

CEO, Meditech International Inc.

Hopefully a Light at the End of the Tunnel?

Hopefully a Light at the End of the Tunnel? – A commentary on an article from the Globe and Mail, Monday, July 13, 2015.

Reflections on Home Care and Community Clinics as depicted in the Globe article.

All too often the principals who form and control the organizations providing the type of care discussed, have been awarded government contracts to render these services, as rewards for working on political campaigns donating funds to parties and actively aiding politicians to become elected.

The result – the care provided is generally third rate and in many instances, may be counterproductive to the objective intended. Whereas bureaucrats state that these programs save millions of dollars in health care; in essence, more frequently they prolong existing problems at a prohibitive cost. In too many instances, those who propose to render this “high quality care?”, have minimal understanding of the medical aspects of these clinical problems and how to resolve them.

Although I have not directly investigated these organizations as time does not permit, patients that present who have been treated by these groups have seldom been well served and indeed in too many instances, their lesions have become more extensive over prolonged courses of treatment.

One might conclude that this is simply another example of politicians rewarding their friends with lucrative financial contracts and making a mockery of Canadian health care with regard to patient focus.

There is a great deal more to wound care for example than periodic debridement, dressing changes, etc. and often these archaic methods perpetuate an increase in the dimension of these lesions until the limb is amputated or the patient expires.

Quality care unfortunately requires understanding of the pathology, a thorough and careful individual assessment and properly directed therapy, not budgets and outmoded methodologies, which in the long-term are much more expensive than focusing on the problem and resolving it in a meaningful, appropriate fashion.

read the full article here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-shifting-home-care-to-private-clinics-as-province-seeks-savings/article25476203/

Commentary

Statins and their utilization continues to be controversial. Increasing evidence is being presented that their therapeutic value may be open to question.

The two articles provided stimulate independent thought with regard to their status. What is clear is that they provide monumental income to the manufacturers and that physicians have been conditioned to prescribe them, something that clearly requires further discussion and evaluation. The articles speak for themselves.

https://www.spacedoc.com/articles/a-case-for-low-dose-statins

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-aseem-malhotra/great-statin-con_b_9607316.html?utm_hp_ref=uk&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

Commentary

Without question, there are many effective drugs on the market and I endorse those completely. On the other hand, the drawing below clearly demonstrate why over-medication is currently in vogue, at least in North America.

What is the reason for this? Can anyone guess?

Fred Kahn, M.D. FRCS(C)

Commentaries, Insights & Case Reviews