VP Foundation Facts
| Founded | 1992 |
|
| Members (sufferers, health professionals, friends) - 1993 2019 |
8,639 |
|
| Average Current Membership | 750 |
|
| Regional Volunteer Leaders | 33 |
|
| Yearly Operating Budget (most recent fiscal year) |
$100,000 |
|
| New Food Research (costs) |
$3,800 |
|
| Educational Resources Published by VPF (costs) |
$19,255 |
|
| Member Services (costs) | $38,945 |
|
| Documented Recoveries | over 5,000 |
|
| Countries Served Currently: | United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Mexico, Italy, Norway. | |
A Brief History of The VP Foundation
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed its the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead
The VP (Vulvar Pain) Foundation was incorporated in North Carolina (USA) as a nonprofit organization in October 1992. It was started to end the isolation of women suffering from a syndrome that includes genital (vulvar) pain, and to help them get out of pain safely through scientific research.
For nearly fifteen years (1992-2006) the VPF worked with a renowned biomedical research scientist, Clive C. Solomons, Ph.D., director of Scientific Connections laboratory in Colorado. While conducting a research study known as The Pain Project, he discovered the connection between periodic hyperoxaluria (more than normal amounts of oxalate in urine), connective tissue instability, and widespread pain, including genital, urological, muscular, and intestinal pain and discomfort.
By working closely with over 3,000 study participants from 1986-2006, Dr. Solomons developed an effective, reliable treatment protocol that includes a low oxalate diet, calcium citrate without vitamin D; NAG (N-Acetyl-Glucosamine) and CMO (cetyl myristoleate). These therapies reduce oxalate in the body, and stabilize a component of connective tissue known as hyaluronic acid, respectively.
From 1992 to 2004, the VPF sponsored 31 Research Seminars throughout the United States, and one in Canada. Dr. Solomons, along with several nationally recognized clinicians and therapists, met with 1,787 women, men (spouses, partners), and health care professionals, resulting in recovery for the majority of sufferers.
Shortly after organizing, the Foundation instituted a membership program for women, their families, friends, and interested health care professionals. Through membership, the VPF has continuously offered a network of support to sufferers. It is led by experienced volunteers who have recovered through the Pain Project research.
In recent years men with parallel symptoms have joined the VPF, along with other patient groups who are experimenting with a low oxalate diet, including oxalate kidney stone formers.
Since 1993 the Foundation has published 47 issues of The VP Foundation Newsletter. It features information on successful treatments reported by individuals who have actually recovered. The most successful treatments are those developed through the Pain Project research - a low oxalate diet, calcium citrate (without vitamin D), NAG, and CMO.
Additional supportive therapies reported by members to be helpful are physical therapy (pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation), allergy therapy, estrogen, acupuncture, stress reduction (yoga, prayer, etc.), emu oil, and guaifenesin. The VPF does not recommend any type of surgery or conventional pain management (antidepressants, anticonvulsants, anesthetics, etc.).
Based on thousands of successful treatment responses, genital (vulvar) pain is clearly associated with a major syndrome that also includes muscle (fibromyalgia), urological (interstitial cystitis), and intestinal (irritable bowel) discomfort. All of the symptoms respond well to reduced oxalate therapy and connective tissue stabilization.
In 1997 the Foundation published the first edition of a milestone resource, The Low Oxalate Cookbook. It collected all the information extant on the oxalate content of foods and beverages, primarily from (dated) scientific literature. Nearly 5,000 copies of the first edition were sold, including over 200 donated to libraries.
In 2002 the Foundation began collaborating with Michael Liebman, Ph.D., Professor of Human Nutrition, University of Wyoming, to assess the oxalate content of additional foods, beverages, commercial food products, and natural supplements. The resulting data has been reported continuously in The VP Foundation Newsletter (issues 27-47) and The Low Oxalate Cookbook Book Two. At this time (2019), almost 9,500 copies of Book Two have been sold, including those donated to libraries.
Dr. Solomons retired in 2006. The VPF continues to update and build on the knowledge and experience gleaned from his research to guide people to recovery.
Tax deductible donations (PDF) may be made to The VP Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization in the USA, for (a) General Support, (b) the Oxalate Testing Fund for Foods, Beverages & Natural Supplements, and (c) the Clive C. Solomons Memorial Research Fund, and Fund for production of Book Three.
Updated: May 2019
