Our Clinic’s Story
Our clinic got its start because Dr Bernhoft became too sick to practice general, liver and pancreatic surgery, and because his wife developed problems in her left hand and foot caused by mercury and lead poisoning.
Dr Bernhoft’s illness began with allergy to all forms of soap, which meant he had to quit his busy Seattle-area surgical practice. At first, this just seemed like a normal allergy, but after a few months, he developed lung congestion which woke him up every night. Then perfumes, molds and chemical smells began to make him dizzy and weak. With the help of a family practice doctor friend who had retrained in Environmental Medicine, Dr Bernhoft began studying Environmental Medicine, to see what light it might cast on his problems.
A few months into his studies, he developed gastrointestinal problems that caused him to lose 35 pounds in four months. He realized he was suffering from the “spreading phenomenon” observed by environmental doctors, and got serious about applying what he was learning to his own case. About this time, also, his wife developed her problems with lead and mercury toxicity, so he also studied Clinical Metal Toxicology, to help her. He found this area of medicine extremely interesting, and, being unable to return to his surgery practice due to intermittently persistent dermatitis, he spent the years 2002-6 studying Environmental Medicine and Clinical Metal Toxicology full time.
During this time, review of home videos led Dr Bernhoft to conclude that their son Andrew, who has Down’s Syndrome, became mildly autistic around age five or six from mercury obtained through childhood immunizations.
As he treated himself and his family, Dr Bernhoft got his life back, his son regained his friendliness and sense of humor, and his wife is continuing to improve. This has motivated him to open the clinic. Experts say that a majority of all chronic illness are aggravated or caused by various environmental toxins. Dr Bernhoft’s personal experience has shown him that many environmental diseases are treatable, with modern biochemical techniques.
Our clinic is dedicated to treating each patient as a biologically-unique individual who lives in a unique situation, with a unique diet and lifestyle interacting with a unique genetic background. With the help of 21st century medicine, it is possible to delve into these unique features and find factors which can be changed for the better. For most people, it is possible to undo much and sometimes all of the damage they have accumulated over the years. It is also possible to identify risk factors of future illness, and nip it in the bud, before it develops.
Doing so takes a lot of attention and detective work, some laboratory studies when appropriate, a variety of non-toxic therapies, and patient education intended to help the individual learn to control his or her own medical destiny – whether that involves getting rid of a troublesome chronic condition, or maintaining maximal wellness. Our job, as caregivers, is to apply all our knowledge and skill to make these goals possible.