Dr Eric Braverman Bio

Dr. Braverman is one of the foremost experts in Integrative Medicine-the combination of Conventional, Alternative and Holistic therapies recognized as the paradigm for the 21st Century. He views every patient as a whole, with recognition of the brain's global impact on illness and health.

In addition to private practice at PATH Medical, Dr. Braverman maintains Directorship of The PATH Foundation, a nonprofit research organization established to collect and analyze information concerning the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of all aspects of brain biochemical disorders, with specific focus on the impact of brain illness on overall health. PATH Foundation projects, conducted with affiliated associates, have yielded revolutionary research documenting that brain disease or genetic weaknesses significantly contribute to psychiatric disorders. The PATH Foundation also has been intensely involved in the development of both clinic-use and at-home therapies dedicated to improving the health of the brain.

Dr. Braverman has conducted research with renowned scientists in the field of brain research including Rodolfo Llinas, M.D., Ph.D., who developed an in vitro brain model, Ernest Noble, M.D., Ph.D. and Kenneth Blum, PhD who made breakthroughs in the genetics of alcoholism research and the electrophysiology of addictive behavior, as well as Nora Volkow, M.D. who was recently appointed head the National Institute of Drug Abuse.

Dr. Braverman's twenty-six years of medical education, training and clinical practice have focused on the brain's overall health. Many common conditions have their origins in brain chemical imbalances. Each of the four main lobes of the brain has a primary biochemical, called a neurotransmitter that is responsible for a specific brain function. When you are ill, physician prescribe a medication, which restores a specific brain chemical to restore health. Natural substances however can do the same thing, because each of the primary brain neurotransmitter has a precursor, which the body used to manufacture each of the four brain chemicals. That is what prompted Dr. Braverman to develop his own line of nutrient-precursors that target each of these four brain chemicals.

The Extended Biography of Eric R. Braverman, M.D. in his words:

 As a teenager, in 1976 I was mentored by Dr. Carl Pfeiffer, former head of pharmacology at Emory University , chief pharmacist of Parke-Davis, who founded the Princeton Brain-Bio Center . As a premed student and research associate at the center, I explored the bio-chemical basis of psychiatric conditions. Dr. Pfeiffer s studies determined that many individuals with mental health problems had chemical imbalances that were better treated with nutrients and medications than with talk therapy. At last it was recognized that the mind can be controlled by the brain, a chemical organ.

Following classical medical education and training at Brandeis University (Summa Cum Laude), New York University Medical School with honors, and a Yale Medical School affiliate in Greenwich , CT , I dedicated my career to a new path; the integration of conventional medicine with alternative approaches that showed promise.

I worked for one year at Harvard Medical School with Dr. Richard Erbe, editorial board member of the New England Journal of Medicine, and Dr. Lewis Holmes to develop a thesis on folic acid metabolism and deficiency which is now associated with birth defects. At Harvard and the Princeton Brain-Bio Center, I was also exposed to a revolutionary diagnostic tool, the Brain Electrical Activity Map, or BEAM, which uses electrodes similar to those used in an EKG, to show how well the brain functions when stressed, giving concrete evidence of how the brain chemicals can alter brain function.

Having had an early exposure to the role of nutrients in healthcare, I then worked with Dr. Robert Atkins in his New York City office because of his ability to reach a wide public and his recognition of the addictive nature and eating habits. Dr. Atkins had developed a revolutionary diet based upon carbohydrate restriction, consumption of whole grains, and lifestyle changes. Working with Dr. Atkins and gaining experience in treating patients with Dr. Atkins confirmed the efficacy of nutrition and lifestyle changes as a basis of preventing of disease in primary healthcare and more importantly I learned the fundamental basis for addiction treatment, which is abstinence.

After twenty years of medical education and post-graduate training, I founded my own private practice in New York City dedicated to the integration of conventional and alternative medicine. I was also fortunate enough to fulfill two years on staff as an instructor in the department of psychiatry at New York University Medical School , as well as an affiliate of the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital department of family practice. Having those experiences helped me structure my practice today, recognizing the need to merge neurology, psychiatry, internal medicine and nutrition .

Pioneering Early Work

 I participated in, reviewed, and authored research studies that positively impacted the health of his patients, and eventually led to acceptance by the general medical community:

Lead

My work with Dr. Pfeiffer in the late 70s showed that the then-accepted level of lead of 80 ppm was hazardous. Their work, which explained health defects, particularly in children, was instrumental in gradual reductions of accepted lead levels to 10 ppm today or even less today.

Zinc

Studies at the Princeton Brain-Bio Center confirmed the role of zinc in numerous medical conditions, including cancer, diabetes, attention deficit, amino acid deficiencies, and dermatologic disorders. This work formed the basis of my book, Zinc And Other Micronutrients. Now zinc is routinely used by physicians around the United States for taste disorders, depression, and fighting colds.

Folic Acid

Though initially rejected, my studies with Dr. Pfeiffer and at Harvard were subsequently confirmed, showing the positive impact of folic acid and B-vitamins on heart disease, and brain metabolism (neural tube and birth defects).

Nutrition

While universally accepted today, the role of nutrition in medicine was first ignored, and early advocates were castigated for their theories. My research and clinical experience resulted in his books Hypertension & Nutrition, The Healing Nutrients Within, and Lower Your Blood Pressure And Reverse Heart Disease Naturally.

Current Medical Practice

At The Place For Achieving Total Health (PATH), I direct the efforts of two Board-Certified Internists, a family practitioner, a chiropractor, three physician assistants, a psychologist, bone density, ultrasound and brain mapping technicians, phlebotomists, and office staff for the treatment of diverse medical complaints in one location.

While I treat serious medical conditions such as Alzheimer s, Diabetes, Parkinson s, Multiple Sclerosis, anxiety, depression, and heart disease, the primary objectives of my 21^st-Century care are prevention and early detection of any disease which leads to easier, less-invasive, more effective...and less expensive treatments. Furthermore, I believe that medicine is greatly over-regulated and the result has been that 40% of the American dollar is spent in the last year on dying population when physicians are aware that many procedures are performed unnecessarily. I believe I can convince the medical profession that the money spent can be significantly diminished by practicing preventative medicine, which will enable physicians to catch diseases early on. This will result in the aging population being better productive which will lead to a greater  golden age for the American public.

Prevention

The longer one maintains optimum health, the longer serious health issues can be avoided. My prevention paradigm includes:

• Brain health assessment, which recognizes its global impact on all wellness. This includes brain chemistry, electricity, psychology, and cognitive functioning;
• Diet and nutritional supplementation based upon published research and individualized testing;
• Behavior modification, which identifies temperament and type, and their impact on health and relationships;
• Lifestyle review to defend against the stresses of modern living;
• Hormone balancing using bio-identical formulations not synthetic versions which have resulted in serious medical conditions;
• Toxic cleansing: the EPA has reported that the average American has 11 heavy metals and 4-6 plastics and pesticides in the body. Modalities include supplements such as anti-oxidants and N-acetyl Cysteine (NAC) and cranial electrical stimulation (CES).

In sum, I believe in a multi-modal approach which is holistic in which I am capable of effectively communicating these ideas to different groups of physician from conventional to ayurvedic.

Early Diagnosis

Rather than treating a patient one condition at a time by having to visit separate specialists, I recognize the inter-connection of all body organs and systems, where several complaints can have a single cause. Having multiple diagnostic tools in one location allows for a comprehensive and fast head-to-toe evaluation that uncovers the primary cause of patient complaints, which leads to effective treatments that can avoid more serious subsequent illnesses. Diagnostic tools at PATH include:

• BEAM and cognitive testing, for total evaluation of the functioning brain. I have over twenty years of experience with this diagnostic tool, which is being recognized now as vital for health assessment. A recent study at UCLA showed how BEAM can assess the effectiveness of anti-depressants in 3 days, as opposed to the 12 weeks usually required for assessment;
• Psychometrics, for total assessment of the mind;
• Personality testing for psychiatric health assessment;
• Ultrasound, for assessment of heart, cardiovascular, and other organ health;
• Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI), for peripheral vascular health assessment;
• DEXA, for bone health and body fat composition;

Once a comprehensive review is completed for each patient, a customized treatment plan using multiple modalities medications, hormones, diet, supplements, behavior and lifestyle changes, and alternative therapies can be implemented

The Future Is Now

It has now become clear that early disease diagnosis is critical, since most disease forms are nothing more than accelerated aging. As this model has proved to be effective with mammograms and pap smears, it now also seems to be effective with osteoporosis, Alzheimer s disease, hypertension and heart disease.

With the combination of medical education, training, and clinical practice, Dr. Braverman is at the forefront of the future of medicine. His medical paradigm not only delivers more effective treatments to more patients right now, it ultimately results in less-expensive healthcare by avoiding debilitating illnesses and reducing the need for costly medications, surgeries, and hospital stays.

 My landmark current work includes:

P300 Brainwave Test

Advances in organ replacement, nanotechnology, gene therapy, and medications will drastically extend the average lifespan. But studies have suggested that 50% of those reaching age 85, and virtually everyone reaching age 120, will be senile. Extended life will be pointless if one cannot enjoy it or even know that one is alive.

I consider this part of a brain electrical map to be the  cholesterol test of the brain . Just as cholesterol levels indicate future heart and vascular disease, the P300 measures brain voltage and speed, which can predict Alzheimer s and cognitive impairment up to 20 years in advance. I intervene at an early stage to postpone or totally avoid a common ravage of old age affecting millions.

I presented my P300 work recently at medical conferences, including one at the Radcliff Infirmary in Oxford , England , which has been recognized for the discovery of penicillin and the Krebs Cycle, EEG and Clinical Neuroscience Society (ECNS), and American Neuropsychiatric Association (ANPA). Just as my early pioneering work led to general acceptance by the medical community, I believe the P300 test will be universal in primary care offices within ten years;

Addiction

Research supported by the PATH Foundation has identified a genetic component the D2 gene of addiction. Present in 100 million Americans, this gene represents a predisposition to addictions of all kinds: alcohol, drugs, food, and sex. As this gene is related to the dopamine neurotransmitter, prevention and treatment centers around reversal of a dopamine deficiency. This work has been recognized by NIH and addiction treatment organizations countrywide;

Growth Hormone

Adult deficiencies have been linked to osteoporosis, muscle loss, cognitive deficiencies, mood decline, and loss of libido. I have been using growth hormone replacement therapy for over five years, and have contributed to the literature on this topic by presenting his study involving monthly injections at the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine in December 2002;

Attention Deficit

Using the BEAM and other diagnostic tools, I have identified four distinct types of attention deficit only one of which is responsive to Ritalin, which he believes is overly prescribed for children, leading to a lifetime of drug dependence. His ADD treatment protocols are specific for each type of deficit;

The  Pauses Of Life

I have extended the concept of menopause to the entire body for both men and women. I have identified 21 separate early changes in the body starting in adolescence with the loss of melatonin that can be identified and reversed for preservation of good health. These pauses include electropause, the slowing of brainwave activity; psychopause, changes in mood; somatopause, loss of growth hormone; osteopause, loss of bone mass and density; and andropause, changes in adult males which cause loss of drive and libido.

Each patient is unique as to which pauses are occurring, and when. I identify specific pauses for every patient, and devise a customized treatment plan that optimizes health for every individual.