We test for and tackle immune deficiencies in central London’s Integrated Immune Clinic at the Hale Clinic. Dirk Budka and a team of highly qualified and successful practitioners will help to boost your immunity.
Hepatitisvirus
courtesy CDC, AtlantaON THIS PAGE:
LINKS
OUR APPROACH
OUR ADDRESS
WHAT ARE IMMUNE DISORDERS?
THE DEGENERATION OF OUR IMMUNE-SYSTEM
TESTS AND PRACTITIONERSe-mail:
info@immunecliniclondon.comfor Nutrition London click herefor IBS Forum click herefor Bacteria Clinic click herefor Parasite Clinic click herefor Virus Medical Clinic click herefor Fungus and Yeast Clinic click herefor the Stop Ready Meals Campaign click herefor Laser Clinic & Ageless Technologies click hereOUR APPROACH
The integrated immune clinic London has an interdisciplinary approach to immune diseases, which includes psychology, neuroscience, immunology, pharmacology, physiology, psychiatry, behavioural medicine, infectious diseases, healing, etc.
When approaching immune disorders, we sometimes have to look at the interactions between psychological processes with the nervous and immune system. The immune system and the nervous system are linked in several ways. One well-known connection involves the adrenal glands. In response to stress messages from the brain, the adrenal glands release hormones into the blood. In addition to helping a person to respond to emergencies by mobilizing the body’s energy reserves, these “stress hormones” can stifle the protective effects of antibodies and lymphocytes.
Hormones and other chemicals known to convey messages among nerve cells have been found to “speak” to cells of the immune system. Indeed, some immune cells are able to manufacture typical nerve cell products, while some lymphokines can transmit information to the nervous system. What’s more, the brain may send messages directly down nerve cells to the immune system. Networks of nerve fibres have been found connecting to the lymphoid organs.
OUR ADDRESSDirk Budka practices in his own clinic and laboratory within the
HALE CLINIC
7 Park Crescent
London W1B 1PF
0207-6310156
WHAT ARE IMMUNE DISORDERS?There are overactive, underactive and inflammatory immune disorders and autoimmune diseases. It is not always possible to categorize them clearly into one group:
- an underactive immune disorder could be at the same time an inflammatory disease,
- what was formerly categorized as an overactive immune disorder is seen by some scientist as an underactive problem,
- there is growing evidence, that some autoimmune disorders are triggered/caused by bacteria and viruses.
Some examples of immune diseases:
overactive immune disorders include allergies, asthma, urticaria/hives, rhinitis, eczema;
underactive immune disorders include influenza, HIV, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, cancer and many infections which are caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites;
inflammatory immune disorders include fibromyalgia, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis;
autoimmune disorders include diabetes type 1, multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis.
Cytomegalovirus: an infection
of the lungs. Picture courtesy of CDC.THE DEGENERATION OF OUR IMMUNE-SYSTEMIt is a sad fact that the immune strength declines with age. In recent years it has become clear that this immune-system decay, which contributes to age-related frailty, suffering and death is NOT caused by a wide range of immunological threats, but one type of virus,
cytomegalovirus (CMV), is largely responsible for the entire problem.
One main reason the immune system fails with age appears to be that chronic infections by the likes of cytomegalovirus (CMV) cause too many of the immune cells to be specialised. Our immune system has evolved to get rid of acute infections in young bodies but it has not been selected to get rid of subclinical viral infections in old age. ...
The constant attempt to suppress slow-acting viruses such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) will throw the immune system out of balance ... CMV is a passive infection in many old people - and more and more of the immune system is devoted to fighting it.
- Your immune system is capped in its use of resources; it can only have a set number of T cells in operation at one time.
- A reserve of naive T cells is needed to effectively respond to new threats. These are untrained cells that will be educated and drafted to combat new intrusions.
- A small reserve of memory cells is needed to respond effectively to previously encountered threats - one reserve per threat.
- The more threats you have encountered, the more cells become devoted to memory; eventually you don't have enough naive T cells left to mount any sort of effective defence.
to read more about the cytomegalovirus (CMV)
go toActivities of "latent viruses" from the Herpesviridae family (Epstein-Barr-Virus, EBV, the cause of Glandaluar Fever and also CMV, Herpes Zoster, Herpes Simplex, Shingles) can cause severe health problems, which are difficult to identify and diagnose. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritability, Migraines, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Depression... just to mention a few. What happens in your body is a decline of immune responses - the immune system is overworked -which can lead to imbalances in your microbial community. Result: more and more health problems.
Dirk BudkaTESTS AND PRACTITIONERS
TESTS AVAILABLE IN OUR OWN MSML - Microbiology and Special Medical Laboratory
Group 1: TESTS FOR: Gastrointestinal Diseases, Digestive Disorders, Fatigue-Syndromes & Fibromyalgia, Allergies-Intolerances-Absorption: Intestinal transit time screening
Absorption / Mal-Absorption
Fructose, Lactose, Sorbitol, Glucose, Lactulose, Carbohydrate Malabsorption/Intolerances
Allergy-test total IgE
SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) test
Hydrogen H2 test
O & P (Ova and Parasite) test
Fungal/Hyphal growth test
Total cholesterol (blood) and special HDL test
Biogenic Amine Absorption
pH (sputum, urine, stool)
LFT Liver Function test
Helicobacter Pylori
Haematology/Biochemistry
DNA based molecular diagnosis for BACTERIA, PARASITES, FUNGI, VIRUSES
The PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) amplifies target sequences and increases sensitivity. It is highly specific for single species of microbes. The tests have clear results, because bacteria/parasites/fungi and hosts have unique DNA. The probes can be designed with flexibility specifically to identify a single parasite/bacterium/fungus species or to detect a group of parasites/bacteria/fungi, viruses. PCR has been called a 'DNA photocopier'. While the concept is simple, PCR is a very complicated process with many reactants. It has the tremendous power and versatility for DNA/RNA analysis. ALL AVAILABLE TESTS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:
Absorption
Ageless Tech Test +
Allergies (total IgE)*
Bilirubin Test*
Biogenic Amine Absorption/Digestion
Candida PCR/Stool Test
Carbohydrate Mal-Absorption
Coeliac D-Xylose Test
DNA based molecular diagnosis +
Dysbiosis/Dysbacteriosis
Fatigue Screening
Fructose Intolerance/Absorption
Fungus Test
GBT – Gut Bacteria Balance Test
Genetically Test +
Glucose Absorption/Bacterial Overgrowth
Gluten Allergy/Intolerance Test
Haematology
Helicobacter Pylori Test
Hydrogen H2 Breathing Test
Hyphal Growth Test (Fungi)
IBS Screen
Intestinal Transit Time
Ketone Test*
Lactose Intolerance/Absorption
Lactulose Absorption/Bacterial Overgrowth
Mal-absorption
Mal-digestion
Milk Allergy/Intolerance
Mould Test
Ova & Parasite Test (Micro/Macroscopy)
Parasite Screening Group 1 (with Polymerase Chain Reaction)
Parasite Screening Group 2 (with Polymerase Chain Reaction)
Parasite Microscopy
pH Test (urine, blood, sputum)*
RNA based molecular tests
SBBO (see SIBO)
SIBO Test (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)
Sorbitol Intolerance
Urine Tests
Stress and Depression Test++
Sucrose Absorption/Malabsorption
Virus Tests **
Yeast Test
* not available as single test
+ More than one consultation maybe necessary prior to tests
** certain classes only to be tested in external laboratories
++ only to be done by Dr. Peter Gruenewald at the Hearthealthclinic, Hale Clinic
GASTRO/IMMUNE TESTS
Individual and/or necessary tests/test-programmes will be put together after an initial consultation with the patient and cost between £ 150 and £ 250. The following special tests are available without prior consultation:
Most sufferers have visited their GP many times, many have been referred to a gastroenterologist, and some had already endoscopies, colonoscopies, barium-meals, scans, sigmoidoscopies, gastroscopies, etc. Having not received the help they expected, many patients try to help themselves by following very restricted diets, taking lots of supplements and visiting many different practitioners, where they might get help or where there very often being misdiagnosed with “Leaky Gut Syndrome”, or “Candida”. Our tests are building a bridge between gastroenterology, microbiology and immunology/psychoneuroimmunology.
“A plausible, scientifically based test must come before any treatment.” (D. Budka, Senior Biomedical Scientist.)
Test A: IBS-ScreenAbsorption/Mal-Absorption (including wheat), Intestinal Transit Time, Dysbiosis/Dysbacteriosis (bacterial imbalance), H. pylori, Stool Analysis (hyphae/fungi/yeast, parasite screen), plus one test for the following: Fructose-, Lactose-, Sucrose-, Sorbitol-, Glucose-, Lactulose-intolerance)
Total price: £ 270.00 / Test last 3-4 hours. Patients need to fast for 12 hours prior to tests. Stool sample to bring in (not older than 36 hours).
Test B: SIBO-Test (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)Lactulose- or Glucose Absorption Test, PCR Microbiology Stool Test (Polymerase Chain Reaction/bacterial DNA-Test for specific bacteria), Biogenic Amine Absorption/Digestion, Intestinal Transit Time, Fungi/Yeast confirmation/exclusion test (specific microbe test with PCR)
Total price: £ 350.00 / Test last 3-4 hours. Patients need to fast for 12 hours prior to tests. Stool sample to bring in (not older than 36 hours)
Test A & B combinedTotal price: £ 440.00 / 2 test-days: 2x 3-4 hours. Patient need to fast for 12 hours prior to both tests. Stool sample to bring in (not older than 36 hours)
Test D: Carbohydrate intoleranceLACTOSE or
FRUCTOSE or
GLUCOSE or
SUCROSE or
SORBITOL or
Total price: £ 120.00 / Test last 3-4 hours. Patients need to fast for 12 hours prior to tests.
Test E: D-xylose H2 test for Celiac Disease/Gluten IntoleranceTotal price: £ 120.00 / Test last 3-4 hours. Patient need to fast for 12 hours prior to tests.
Test F: PFT (Post Food Poisoning Test)Often, food poisoning can create long term dysbiosis and IBS related symptoms.
Absorption/Malabsorption, Gut Bacteria Balance Test, Pathogen-specific PCR test (stool, urine, saliva), Lactulose or Glucose absorption.
Total price: £ 270.00 / Test last 3-4 hours. Patient need to fast for 12 hours prior to tests. Stool sample to bring in (not older than 36 hours).
TEST G: Parasite ScreenOften useful after journeys to foreign countries.
Ova & Parasite Test (Micro/Macroscopy), PCR Parasite Screening Group 1 or 2 (Polymerase Chain Reaction), Gut Bacteria Balance Test, Absorption.
Total price: £ 250.00 / Test last 3-4 hours. Patient need to fast for 12 hours prior to tests. Stool sample to bring in (not older than 36 hours).
TEST H: CFS – Fatigue ScreenTotal price: £ 250.00 / Test last 3-4 hours. Patient need to fast for 12 hours prior to tests. Stool sample to bring in (not older than 36 hours).
ABOUT THE PRACTITIONERSDirk Budka, M.Sc, M.Sc, B.Sc, Dip. Dok. studied Environmental Science, Immune-Biology, Bacteriology, Parasitology & Virology and Mycology. He practices Nutrition, Microbiology and Allergology in different clinics in London and runs a Gastro-Clinic, a Migraine Clinic, an Immunology Clinic and the Travel Clinic at the Hale Clinic, where he also runs his MSML - Microbiology and pecial Medical Laboratory. He believes that a "plausible, scientific diagnosis must come BEFORE any treatment."
His main interests are:
- IBS, Crohn's Disease, SIBO, Ulcerative Colitis
- migraine and cluster headaches
- chronic fatigue
- bacterial products and their health implications
- food poisonings and long-term implications
- histamines, tyramines and other elusive/biogenic amines
- parasites and bacteria - prevention and treatment with natural products
- the 'Candida Myth'
- the dangers of Ready Meals
- food-borne pathogens: Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni, etc.
- H5N1 - is there a gastrointestinal portal for the bird flu virus?
- Blastocystis hominis - a dangerous or harmless parasite?
- Emerging and re-emerging pathogens
Malcolm Kirsh: It doesn’t matter who we are, at times, we all find ourselves struggling with issues. Furthermore, our psychological, physical, and hormonal/chemical/biological states affect each other and our wellbeing.
Malcolm Kirsh is a psychotherapist and counselor with over 20 years experience, based at his practice in Hendon as well as at The Hale Clinic in West London. Working largely with cognitive and behavioural therapy, clients are encouraged to look at the underlying reasons for their issues and feelings, to help cope with them more effectively in everyday life.
The psychodynamic process looks at the things that shape the way we think and behave, including our childhood experiences, the family make up and dynamic and such things as the genetic factors we inherit from our parents. But although this creates our own individual perception of ourselves and the rest of the world, which leads to our own set of fears and insecurities, there are common issues that can affect the way we think and react to the world around us.
Most people first come to see Malcolm when there is some sort of crisis. This could be anything from a relationship problem, anxiety or a phobia, to problems with sleeping, drink, smoking, drugs, sex, gambling, eating, illness or a lack of confidence. But he explains that the crisis is usually a symptom of an underlying problem and even if the presenting problem is not overtly physical, it can have physical manifestations.
