Wisdom Wednesday: Chasing Chemistry

Quintessential Applications (QA) is the format I use to evaluate all patients. It is a form of manual muscle testing based on excitation and inhibition of neural pathways. It uses the nervous system as a window to view the status of the human body.

However, the majority of the testing involves “chasing the chemistry” of the body.

The first pathways that are evaluated are all associated with inflammation. I frequently tell new patients, “If you can eliminate inflammation, 80% of your symptoms will resolve, regardless of the cause.” However, if you cannot reduce inflammation, you cannot properly evaluate or treat the underlying causes that are the ultimate goal of nutritional therapy.

Prostaglandins are the most common inflammatory pathway I find, accounting for 60% of my patient population. PG2 (prostaglandin 2) is released by damaged tissues and is magnified by the liver. While PG2 can be reduced by NSAIDS, like Advil, aspirin, or Aleve, I prefer to use omega 3 fatty acids, like fish oil or flax seed oil that form PG3 in the body. PG1 precursors (omega 6 fatty acids) like black current seed oil, borage oil, or evening primrose oil can also reduce PG2. The beauty of QA is that I can actually determine which one(s) will be most effective in reducing inflammation.

Fish oil is the most common anti-inflammatory supplement that will reduce PG2 inflammation. However, the better the patient’s diet (think fresh fruits and vegetables) the more likely that flax seed oil will work better than fish oil. Virtually all Americans are deficient in omega 3 fatty acids, unless they are supplementing their diet.



When the omega 6 fatty acids test as deficient, I begin to question the general health status of my patient. Omega 6 fatty acids are prevalent in our diet and a patient testing for omega 6 fatty acids often has some aspects of metabolic syndrome disrupting the normal PG1 chemical pathways.

A majority of nutritionists recommend against ever supplementing the omega 6 fatty acids. They cite the abundance in the diet and the propensity to form PG2, pro-inflammatory compounds from these chemicals. However, increasing inflammation from PG1 in the diet only occurs when the chemistry is faulty. This is where “chasing the chemistry” becomes so valuable.

The chemical error that can occur in PG1 synthesis shunts DGLA (dihomo-gamma linolenic acid) from the PG1 pathway to the PG2 pathway. It is catalyzed by the enzyme sesamase, which increases with any and all aspects of metabolic syndrome. Sesame seed oil contains sesamin, which denatures the sesamase.

So “chasing the chemistry” allows me to discover what supplement(s) is needed to reduce prostaglandin inflammation and make my patient better. More importantly, it often leads me to uncover and treat the aspects of metabolic syndrome that lead to diabetes and heart disease. I confirm these findings by running a thyroid profile, serum lipids, and a hemoglobin A1c. It is frightening how many young, apparently fit patients I find that are well on their way to developing diabetes and/or heart disease.

I use the QA protocol to chase the chemistry of all the systems of the body – immune, digestive, endocrine, etc. It is fascinating when you find that a deficiency of molybdenum is impairing liver detoxification, preventing the healing of musculoskeletal injuries and allowing candida to run rampant in the bowel. All those health issues from one micronutrient deficiency.

The Bottom Line:
Chasing the chemistry with QA is an extremely effective tool to reduce symptoms and resolve the root causes of illness using nutritional protocols.