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admin · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 7:04 pm Post subject: Medical Informations

My friend sent this to me and encouraged me to spread the word. I agree. If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks' lives. Seriously.. Please read:

STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters... S.T.R.
folks. Seriously.. Please read:

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm , Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead. It only takes a minute to read this...
A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognised, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNISING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn! Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognise the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognise a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S * Ask the individual to SMILE .
T * Ask the person to TALK to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today).
R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS .

NOTE : Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke. If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 999 immediately!! and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

admin

New Research Gives Hope For Diabetes Cure

Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, in conjunction with the University of Calgary and the The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, have discovered a link between the inflammation that destroys the pancreatic islet cells in Type 1 diabetes and the nervous system.

In the study, mice with Type 1 diabetes became diabetes free within 24 hours, after an injection of a neuropeptide substance that cleared the inflammation in the cells.

It worked by "turning off" the pain neurons in the pancreas. Scientists had been unaware before this time that the nervous system was involved in the disease process of diabetes. Until now, it was thought that Type 1 was caused purely by an autoimmune response that attacked and killed the islet cells.

The study also concluded that there are more similarities between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and that the nervous system is involved in both diseases, as well as other autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's disease and asthma.

Although the results have been dramatic in mice, researchers say that it will be several years before they know if the same results hold true for humans. They expect human trials to start within the next two years.

What Is Type 1 Diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes is a completely different disease than Type 2. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease of the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Scientists believe that it may be a virus that triggers the immune system to attack the cells and permanently destroy them. The pancreas can no longer make the insulin necessary to transport sugar from the blood into the other cells of the body for energy. Sugar builds up in the blood and over time can damage internal organs and blood vessels.

Insulin and Blood Sugar:

What does this mean to the person who is diagnosed? Someone who has Type 1 diabetes must take insulin everyday to survive. It becomes a delicate balance of finding the right amount of insulin necessary to keep the blood sugar level as close to normal as possible. The person with diabetes has to check their blood sugar levels often and then inject themselves with the correct amount of insulin to counteract the amount of sugar. This mimics the action of the pancreas.

Warning Signs for Type 1:

This can be an overwhelming process for the newly diagnosed person, especially since Type 1 diabetes typically strikes children and young adults, although adults to about age 40 can get Type 1. The onset of the disease happens quickly. As the insulin stops being produced and the blood sugar rises, this causes hyperglycemia. Several warning signs appear. Increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue, weight loss and blurred vision are a few of the most noticeable signs of Type 1 diabetes.

Types of Diabetes

Before we start discussion about type of diabetes we must know what exactly is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism—the digestion system of our body for growth and energy. Almost every food we eat broken down to glucose, the form or sugar which is the fuel for our body.

After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where it is used by cells for growth and energy. For glucose to get into cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach.

When we eat, the pancreas automatically produces the right amount of insulin to move glucose from blood into our cells. For the people having diabetes this is the place of disorder, there pancreas either produces little or no insulin, or the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced.

Types of diabetes: The three main types of diabetes are
Type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes
Gestational diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes (previously known as insulin-dependent diabetes)

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease results when the body's system for fighting infection stops in a part of body. In diabetes, the immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and destroys them. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. A person who has type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily to live.

Type 2 Diabetes (previously known as non-insulin dependent diabetes)

The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. Nearly 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2. This form of diabetes is strongly genetic. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight.

Type 2 diabetes is increasingly being diagnosed in children and adolescents. However, type 2 diabetes in youth are not in common.

When type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, the pancreas is usually producing enough insulin, but for unknown reasons, the body cannot use the insulin effectively, a condition called insulin resistance. After several years, insulin production decreases. The result is the same as for type 1 diabetes—glucose builds up in the blood and the body cannot make efficient use of its main source of fuel.

Gestational Diabetes: (Gdm)
Gestational diabetes develops only during pregnancy. Like type 2 diabetes, it occurs more often in African Americans, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, and among women with a family history of diabetes. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 20 to 50 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years.

admin

Information about the herb "Echinacea"

Echinacea is an herb that has been used to treat or prevent symptoms related to illnesses such as common colds and the flu. To date, studies have revealed mixed results as to whether echinacea prevents or shortens illness.

The species of plants known as Echinacea are flowering perennials that are native to the East and Midwest regions of the United States. There are nine species, and three are used in supplements: Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea pallida. Echinacea is sold under various trade names and is one of the most popular supplements in the United States.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has conducted two studies that have revealed no link between taking echinacea regularly (e.g., on a daily basis) and the prevention of colds and other infections. However, other studies have indicated that echinacea may provide benefits to those with upper respiratory infections. The NIH and other organizations are continuing to explore the potential link between echinacea use and a reduction in the severity and duration of illnesses such as colds and the flu.

In most people, echinacea does not cause side effects. However, some people may experience an allergic reaction, the most serious of which is anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening, whole-body allergic reaction. Other potential side effects include gastrointestinal symptoms, dizziness, nausea and rash.

People with certain allergies should not take echinacea. This is particularly true of people who are allergic to plants in the Asteraceae or Compositae family. Examples of such plants include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds and daisies.

Few studies have been performed on the potential interactions between echinacea and medications, supplements or other herbs. In rare cases, echinacea has been linked with liver inflammation (hepatitis). As a result, patients taking certain medications are urged to avoid taking echinacea.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are also advised against using echinacea. The safety of echinacea supplements has not been established in children.

admin

Statin Users Risk Heart Attacks by Stopping Treatment

People with high cholesterol levels who stop taking the drugs called statins increase their risk of heart attacks by at least 30 percent, a Dutch study finds.

And a lot of people do stop taking statins, which are prescribed to lower cholesterol in individuals at risk of coronary heart disease. More than half of the nearly 60,000 people followed in the study gave up on the drugs within two years, and only one-third were persistent users, taking a high or intermediate dose.

Hospital admissions for heart attacks fell by 30 percent among persistent users of the drugs. That finding is entirely understandable, said Ron Herings, director of the PHARMO Institute in Amsterdam, and an author of the report.

"You have a high risk when you start using these drugs," Herings said. "When you stop, your risk increases to baseline, and that is a 30 to 40 percent increase."

The reduction in risk was affected by how persistent people were in taking a statin and the dose they took, the study found. For example, the incidence of hospital admissions for people who took the drugs on a non-regular basis was reduced from 0.52 per 100 patient years to 0.42 per 100 patient years.

Among people using high or intermediate doses, the risk reduction was as high as 40 percent, while a low dose reduced the risk by only 20 percent.

The study is published in the Dec. 7 online edition of the European Heart Journal.

The findings support the recently adopted view that intensive statin therapy pays benefits, said Dr. Stephen Nicholls, a cardiologist who is director of the intravascular ultrasound laboratory at the Cleveland Clinic.

"We need intensive therapy to get LDL cholesterol levels as low as possible," Nicholls said. LDL cholesterol is the bad kind that clogs arteries.

But the study also illustrates a continuing problem in achieving that goal, Nicholls said. "Despite the fact that we have a large body of evidence that taking statins lowers LDL levels and is beneficial, in the real world, there seems to be a discord in getting this into clinical practice," he said.

One reason people stop taking statins is that they feel no immediate improvement, Herings said. "You do not find a benefit if your lipids are controlled," he said. "Also, it is difficult to take a drug for many years, especially when you have to take many drugs."

Another factor is a widespread fear of adverse side effects, Hering said. "Even a mild drug reaction can make patients stop," he said.

That fear goes against the clinical evidence indicating that statins are "the most rigorously tested class of drugs in terms of the number of patients enrolled in clinical trials," Nicholls said. Those trials show "statins are tolerated by the overwhelming majority of patients with no problems at all," he said.

As the Dutch study shows, "statins will remain an integral part of any strategy to reduce heart disease," Nicholls said.

admin

High-Tech Mammograms Will Change Breast Cancer Care

The mammogram is changing for the better.

New computer-driven technologies should make the yearly exam more accurate and easier on patients than ever before, experts say.

High-tech computer-based digital mammography is already available at about 10 percent of diagnostic centers in the country and growing steadily at a rate of about 4 percent a month, said Priscilla F. Butler, senior director of the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Accreditation Programs.

While filmless mammography doesn't feel any different to women while they are being screened, doctors are discovering that there are benefits for particular patients.

A study of more than 40,000 women published last fall found that compared with standard mammograms, computer-based digital "pictures" were more beneficial for more than half the women.

The findings of that study, the American College of Radiology Imaging Network Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial, were that younger women with dense breast tissue, those under 50 and those who are premenopausal, would benefit most from digital mammograms. The range was so large that some doctors have since concluded that dense breast tissue in all groups is better seen with the help of a computer.

"In other situations, it is probably no different [to film]," said Dr. Carl D'Orsi, co-chairman of the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Commission and professor of radiology and director of the Breast Imaging Center at Emory University in Atlanta.

Other technologies are on the horizon.

In late November, researchers presenting at the Radiological Society of North America's annual meeting, in Chicago, created buzz by announcing data on a new technology called Cone Beam Breast Computed Tomography (CBBCT). According to experts, CBBCT promises to equal or surpass mammography in detecting breast cancer, and it does so without squeezing the breast in a vice.

The CBBCT scanner takes a number of pictures of the breast from various angles then merges them into one three-dimensional image. The system was developed by a professor at the University of Rochester, which holds several patents on the technology. The university licensed the technology to Koning Corp. to make, use and sell the scanners. The National Cancer Institute, along with private investors, helped fund the development of the scanner.

This pilot study used the CBBCT scanner to image 20 volunteers who had had normal mammograms, as well as a group of women who had had abnormalities detected during a physical exam or who had had suspicious mammograms. The goal of the study was simply to see how well the CBBCT could image the breast.

The CBBCT proved itself at least as good as conventional mammogram in imaging the breast, the study's authors concluded.

The system also has the advantage of being more comfortable. The woman lies on her stomach on a cushioned exam table with a cutout in the middle. She suspends her breasts one at a time through the cutout while the CBBCT takes 300 images in the space of about 10 seconds. The radiation dose is comparable to that of mammography. Unlike conventional mammography, the CBBCT system clearly displays tissue around the ribs and outer breast near the armpits.

The pilot study will continue until 60 participants have been imaged. A larger trial is planned for next year.

Koning Corp. hopes to have a commercial scanner on the market as soon as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the device. But other technologies may be further along, said Dr. Joshua Kalowitz, chief of breast imaging at Maimonides Cancer Center in New York City.

"There's a lot of new stuff on the horizon," he said. "Five years from now, we'll be in a lot better shape, but right now, we have to see which ones will end up being the best."

Computerized mammography does have its drawbacks -- at least for now. D'Orsi said there are so many options for setting up and reading the computer images that doctors are somewhat slower at determining their results.

"You have the ability to manipulate the image, invert it, adjust the brightness, which you can't do with film, so it may take longer," he said. "There's a learning curve to it because it's new, but you get faster and faster."

He's excited by the technology, which will soon make it possible to "see" tissue in ways that film and the naked eye cannot.

"We can invent novel new technologies," he said, among them a three-dimensional approach that will improve cancer detection. Already in the works are what he calls a "computerized method of peeling layers of breast away electronically," so that irregularities can be pinpointed more exactly.

And, as doctors and hospitals adapt to electronic patient charts, digital mammography will play an important role, said Butler. "Mammography was one of the last holdouts in going to a filmless environment, which is much more efficient," she said. "All of medicine is pretty excited about it."

But D'Orsi cautions that the most important thing is not the technology itself, but the person reading the results.

And, the National Cancer Institute warns women not to wait for the new technology. The guidelines in place for several years still apply:

Women in their 40s should have mammograms every one to two years.
Women 50 and older should be screened every one to two years.
Women who are at higher than average risk of breast cancer should seek expert medical advice about whether they should begin screening before age 40 and the frequency of screening.

admin

The Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking

Is it possible that millions of people are ignorantly sacrificing their health in exchange for the convenience of microwave ovens? Why did the Soviet Union ban the use of microwave ovens in 1976? Who invented microwave ovens, and why? The answers to these questions may shock you into throwing your microwave oven in the trash.

Over 90% of American homes have microwave ovens used for meal preparation. Because microwave ovens are so convenient and energy efficient, as compared to conventional ovens, very few homes or restaurants are without them. In general, people believe that whatever a microwave oven does to foods cooked in it doesn't have any negative effect on either the food or them. Of course, if microwave ovens were really harmful, our government would never allow them on the market, would they? Would they? Regardless of what has been "officially" released concerning microwave ovens, we have personally stopped using ours based on the research facts outlined in this article.

The purpose of this report is to show proof - evidence - that microwave cooking is not natural, nor healthy, and is far more dangerous to the human body than anyone could imagine. However, the microwave oven manufacturers, Washington City politics, and plain old human nature are suppressing the facts and evidence. Because of this, people are continuing to microwave their food - in blissful ignorance - without knowing the effects and danger of doing so.

How do microwave ovens work?

Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic energy, like light waves or radio waves, and occupy a part of the electromagnetic spectrum of power, or energy. Microwaves are very short waves of electromagnetic energy that travel at the speed of light (186,282 miles per second). In our modern technological age, microwaves are used to relay long distance telephone signals, television programs, and computer information across the earth or to a satellite in space. But the microwave is most familiar to us as an energy source for cooking food.

Every microwave oven contains a magnetron, a tube in which electrons are affected by magnetic and electric fields in such a way as to produce micro wavelength radiation at about 2450 Mega Hertz (MHz) or 2.45 Giga Hertz (GHz). This microwave radiation interacts with the molecules in food. All wave energy changes polarity from positive to negative with each cycle of the wave. In microwaves, these polarity changes happen millions of times every second. Food molecules - especially the molecules of water - have a positive and negative end in the same way a magnet has a north and a south polarity.

In commercial models, the oven has a power input of about 1000 watts of alternating current. As these microwaves generated from the magnetron bombard the food, they cause the polar molecules to rotate at the same frequency millions of times a second. All this agitation creates molecular friction, which heats up the food. The friction also causes substantial damage to the surrounding molecules, often tearing them apart or forcefully deforming them. The scientific name for this deformation is "structural isomerism".

By comparison, microwaves from the sun are based on principles of pulsed direct current (DC) that don't create frictional heat; microwave ovens use alternating current (AC) creating frictional heat. A microwave oven produces a spiked wavelength of energy with all the power going into only one narrow frequency of the energy spectrum. Energy from the sun operates in a wide frequency spectrum.

Many terms are used in describing electromagnetic waves, such as wavelength, amplitude, cycle and frequency:

Wavelength determines the type of radiation, i.e. radio, X-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, etc.

Amplitude determines the extent of movement measured from the starting point.

Cycle determines the unit of frequency, such as cycles per second, Hertz, Hz, or cycles/second.

Frequency determines the number of occurrences within a given time period (usually 1 second); The number of occurrences of a recurring process per unit of time, i.e. the number of repetitions of cycles per second.

Radiation = spreading energy with electromagnetic waves

Radiation, as defined by physics terminology, is "the electromagnetic waves emitted by the atoms and molecules of a radioactive substance as a result of nuclear decay." Radiation causes ionization, which is what occurs when a neutral atom gains or loses electrons. In simpler terms, a microwave oven decays and changes the molecular structure of the food by the process of radiation. Had the manufacturers accurately called them "radiation ovens", it's doubtful they would have ever sold one, but that's exactly what a microwave oven is.

We've all been told that microwaving food is not the same as irradiating it (radiation "treatment"). The two processes are supposed to use completely different waves of energy and at different intensities. No FDA or officially released government studies have proven current microwaving usage to be harmful, but we all know that the validity of studies can be - and are sometimes deliberately - limiting. Many of these studies are later proven to be inaccurate. As consumers, we're supposed to have a certain degree of common sense to use in judgment.

Take the example of eggs and how they were "proven" to be so harmful to our health in the late 1960's. This brought about imitation egg products and big profits for the manufacturers, while egg farms went broke. Now, recent government sponsored studies are saying that eggs are not bad for us after all. So, whom should we believe and what criteria should we use to decide matters concerning our health? Since it's currently published that microwaves - purportedly - don't leak into the environment, when properly used and with approved design, the decision lies with each consumer as to whether or not you choose to eat food heated by a microwave oven or even purchase one in the first place.

Motherly instincts are right

On a more humorous side, the "sixth sense" every mother has is impossible to argue with. Have you ever tried it? Children will never win against a mother's intuition. It's like trying to argue with the arm - appearing out of nowhere - that pinned you to the back of the seat when your mother slammed on the brakes.

Many of us come from a generation where mothers and grandmothers have distrusted the modern "inside out" cooking they claimed was "not suitable" for most foods. My mother refused to even try baking anything in a microwave. She also didn't like the way a cup of coffee tasted when heated in a microwave oven. I have to fully agree and can't argue either fact. Her own common sense and instincts told her that there was no way microwave cooking could be natural nor make foods "taste they way they're supposed to". Reluctantly, even my mother succumbed to re-heating leftovers in a microwave due to her work schedule before she retired.

Many others feel the same way, but they're considered an "old fashioned" minority dating back to before the 1970's when microwaves first overwhelmed the market. Like most young adults at the time, as microwave ovens became commonplace, I chose to ignore my mother's intuitive wisdom and joined the majority who believed microwave cooking was far too convenient to ever believe anything could be wrong with it. Chalk one up for mom's perception, because even though she didn't know the scientific, technical, or health reasons why, she just knew that microwave ovens were not good based on how foods tasted when they were cooked in them. She didn't like the way the texture of the microwaved food changed either.

Microwaves unsafe for baby's milk

A number of warnings have been made public, but have been barely noticed. For example, Young Families, the Minnesota Extension Service of the University of Minnesota, published the following in 1989:

"Although microwaves heat food quickly, they are not recommended for heating a baby's bottle. The bottle may seem cool to the touch, but the liquid inside may become extremely hot and could burn the baby's mouth and throat. Also, the buildup of steam in a closed container, such as a baby bottle, could cause it to explode. Heating the bottle in a microwave can cause slight changes in the milk. In infant formulas, there may be a loss of some vitamins. In expressed breast milk, some protective properties may be destroyed. Warming a bottle by holding it under tap water, or by setting it in a bowl of warm water, then testing it on your wrist before feeding may take a few minutes longer, but it is much safer."

Dr. Lita Lee of Hawaii reported in the December 9, 1989 Lancet:

"Microwaving baby formulas converted certain trans-amino acids into their synthetic cis-isomers. Synthetic isomers, whether cis-amino acids or trans-fatty acids, are not biologically active. Further, one of the amino acids, L-proline, was converted to its d-isomer, which is known to be neurotoxic (poisonous to the nervous system) and nephrotoxic (poisonous to the kidneys). It's bad enough that many babies are not nursed, but now they are given fake milk (baby formula) made even more toxic via microwaving."

Microwaved blood kills patient

In 1991, there was a lawsuit in Oklahoma concerning the hospital use of a microwave oven to warm blood needed in a transfusion. The case involved a hip surgery patient, Norma Levitt, who died from a simple blood transfusion. It seems the nurse had warmed the blood in a microwave oven. This tragedy makes it very apparent that there's much more to "heating" with microwaves than we've been led to believe. Blood for transfusions is routinely warmed, but not in microwave ovens. In the case of Mrs. Levitt, the microwaving altered the blood and it killed her.

It's very obvious that this form of microwave radiation "heating" does something to the substances it heats. It's also becoming quite apparent that people who process food in a microwave oven are also ingesting these "unknowns".

Because the body is electrochemical in nature, any force that disrupts or changes human electrochemical events will affect the physiology of the body. This is further described in Robert O. Becker's book, The Body Electric, and in Ellen Sugarman's book, Warning, the Electricity Around You May Be Hazardous to Your Health.

Scientific evidence and facts

In Comparative Study of Food Prepared Conventionally and in the Microwave Oven, published by Raum & Zelt in 1992, at 3(2): 43, it states

"A basic hypothesis of natural medicine states that the introduction into the human body of molecules and energies, to which it is not accustomed, is much more likely to cause harm than good. Microwaved food contains both molecules and energies not present in food cooked in the way humans have been cooking food since the discovery of fire. Microwave energy from the sun and other stars is direct current based. Artificially produced microwaves, including those in ovens, are produced from alternating current and force a billion or more polarity reversals per second in every food molecule they hit. Production of unnatural molecules is inevitable. Naturally occurring amino acids have been observed to undergo isomeric changes (changes in shape morphing) as well as transformation into toxic forms, under the impact of microwaves produced in ovens. One short-term study found significant and disturbing changes in the blood of individuals consuming microwaved milk and vegetables. Eight volunteers ate various combinations of the same foods cooked different ways. All foods that were processed through the microwave ovens caused changes in the blood of the volunteers. Hemoglobin levels decreased and over all white cell levels and cholesterol levels increased. Lymphocytes decreased. Luminescent (light-emitting) bacteria were employed to detect energetic changes in the blood. Significant increases were found in the luminescence of these bacteria when exposed to blood serum obtained after the consumption of microwaved food."

The Swiss clinical study

Dr. Hans Ulrich Hertel, who is now retired, worked as a food scientist for many years with one of the major Swiss food companies that do business on a global scale. A few years ago, he was fired from his job for questioning certain processing procedures that denatured the food.

In 1991, he and a Lausanne University professor published a research paper indicating that food cooked in microwave ovens could pose a greater risk to health than food cooked by conventional means. An article also appeared in issue 19 of the Journal Franz Weber in which it was stated that the consumption of food cooked in microwave ovens had cancerous effects on the blood. The research paper itself followed the article. On the cover of the magazine there was a picture of the Grim Reaper holding a microwave oven in one of his hands.

Dr. Hertel was the first scientist to conceive and carry out a quality clinical study on the effects microwaved nutrients have on the blood and physiology of the human body. His small but well controlled study showed the degenerative force produced in microwave ovens and the food processed in them. The scientific conclusion showed that microwave cooking changed the nutrients in the food; and, changes took place in the participants' blood that could cause deterioration in the human system. Hertel's scientific study was done along with Dr. Bernard H. Blanc of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the University Institute for Biochemistry.

In intervals of two to five days, the volunteers in the study received one of the following food variants on an empty stomach:

Raw milk;

The same milk conventionally cooked;

Pasteurized milk;

The same raw milks cooked in a microwave oven;

Raw vegetables from an organic farm; (6) the same vegetables cooked conventionally;

The same vegetables frozen and defrosted in a microwave oven; and

The same vegetables cooked in the microwave oven.

Once the volunteers were isolated, blood samples were taken from every volunteer immediately before eating. Then, blood samples were taken at defined intervals after eating from the above milk or vegetable preparations.

Significant changes were discovered in the blood samples from the intervals following the foods cooked in the microwave oven. These changes included a decrease in all hemoglobin and cholesterol values, especially the ratio of HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol) values. Lymphocytes (white blood cells) showed a more distinct short-term decrease following the intake of microwaved food than after the intake of all the other variants. Each of these indicators pointed to degeneration. Additionally, there was a highly significant association between the amount of microwave energy in the test foods and the luminous power of luminescent bacteria exposed to serum from test persons who ate that food. This led Dr. Hertel to the conclusion that such technically derived energies may, indeed, be passed along to man inductively via eating microwaved food.

According to Dr. Hertel, "Leukocytosis, which cannot be accounted for by normal daily deviations, is taken very seriously by hemotologists. Leukocytes are often signs of pathogenic effects on the living system, such as poisoning and cell damage. The increase of leukocytes with the microwaved foods were more pronounced than with all the other variants. It appears that these marked increases were caused entirely by ingesting the microwaved substances. This process is based on physical principles and has already been confirmed in the literature. The apparent additional energy exhibited by the luminescent bacteria was merely an extra confirmation. There is extensive scientific literature concerning the hazardous effects of direct microwave radiation on living systems. It is astonishing, therefore, to realize how little effort has been taken to replace this detrimental technique of microwaves with technology more in accordance with nature. Technically produced microwaves are based on the principle of alternating current. Atoms, molecules, and cells hit by this hard electromagnetic radiation are forced to reverse polarity 1-100 billion times a second. There are no atoms, molecules or cells of any organic system able to withstand such a violent, destructive power for any extended period of time, not even in the low energy range of milliwatts. Of all the natural substances - which are polar - the oxygen of water molecules reacts most sensitively. This is how microwave cooking heat is generated - friction from this violence in water molecules. Structures of molecules are torn apart, molecules are forcefully deformed, called structural isomerism, and thus become impaired in quality. This is contrary to conventional heating of food where heat transfers convectionally from without to within. Cooking by microwaves begins within the cells and molecules where water is present and where the energy is transformed into frictional heat. In addition to the violent frictional heat effects, called thermic effects, there are also athermic effects which have hardly ever been taken into account. These athermic effects are not presently measurable, but they can also deform the structures of molecules and have qualitative consequences. For example the weakening of cell membranes by microwaves is used in the field of gene altering technology. Because of the force involved, the cells are actually broken, thereby neutralizing the electrical potentials, the very life of the cells, between the outer and inner side of the cell membranes. Impaired cells become easy prey for viruses, fungi and other microorganisms. The natural repair mechanisms are suppressed and cells are forced to adapt to a state of energy emergency - they switch from aerobic to anaerobic respiration. Instead of water and carbon dioxide, the cell poisons hydrogen peroxide and carbon monoxide are produced." The same violent deformations that occur in our bodies, when we are directly exposed to radar or microwaves, also occur in the molecules of foods cooked in a microwave oven. This radiation results in the destruction and deformation of food molecules. Microwaving also creates new compounds, called radiolytic compounds, which are unknown fusions not found in nature. Radiolytic compounds are created by molecular decomposition - decay - as a direct result of radiation. Microwave oven manufacturers insist that microwaved and irradiated foods do not have any significantly higher radiolytic compounds than do broiled, baked or other conventionally cooked foods. The scientific clinical evidence presented here has shown that this is simply a lie. In America, neither universities nor the federal government have conducted any tests concerning the effects on our bodies from eating microwaved foods. Isn't that a bit odd? They're more concerned with studies on what happens if the door on a microwave oven doesn't close properly. Once again, common sense tells us that their attention should be centered on what happens to food cooked inside a microwave oven. Since people ingest this altered food, shouldn't there be concern for how the same decayed molecules will affect our own human biological cell structure? Industry's action to hide the truth.

As soon as Doctors Hertel and Blanc published their results, the authorities reacted. A powerful trade organization, the Swiss Association of Dealers for Electro-apparatuses for Households and Industry, known as FEA, struck swiftly in 1992. They forced the President of the Court of Seftigen, Canton of Bern, to issue a "gag order" against Drs. Hertel and Blanc. In March 1993, Dr. Hertel was convicted for "interfering with commerce" and prohibited from further publishing his results. However, Dr. Hertel stood his ground and fought this decision over the years.

Not long ago, this decision was reversed in a judgment delivered in Strasbourg, Austria, on August 25, 1998. The European Court of Human Rights held that there had been a violation of Hertel's rights in the 1993 decision. The European Court of Human Rights also ruled that the "gag order" issued by the Swiss court in 1992 against Dr. Hertel, prohibiting him from declaring that microwave ovens are dangerous to human health, was contrary to the right to freedom of expression. In addition, Switzerland was ordered to pay Dr. Hertel compensation.

Who invented microwave ovens?

The Nazis, for use in their mobile support operations, originally developed microwave "radiomissor" cooking ovens to be used for the invasion of Russia. By being able to utilize electronic equipment for preparation of meals on a mass scale, the logistical problem of cooking fuels would have been eliminated, as well as the convenience of producing edible products in a greatly reduced time-factor.

After the war, the Allies discovered medical research done by the Germans on microwave ovens. These documents, along with some working microwave ovens, were transferred to the United States War Department and classified for reference and "further scientific investigation." The Russians had also retrieved some microwave ovens and now have thorough research on their biological effects. As a result, their use was outlawed in the Soviet Union. The Soviets issued an international warning on the health hazards, both biological and environmental, of microwave ovens and similar frequency electronic devices.

Other Eastern European scientists also reported the harmful effects of microwave radiation and set up strict environmental limits for their usage. The United States has not accepted the European reports of harmful effects, even though the EPA estimates that radio frequency and microwave radiation sources in America are increasing at 15% per year.

Carcinogens in microwaved food

In Dr. Lita Lee's book, Health Effects of Microwave Radiation - Microwave Ovens, and in the March and September 1991 issues of Earthletter, she stated that every microwave oven leaks electro-magnetic radiation, harms food, and converts substances cooked in it to dangerous organ-toxic and carcinogenic products. Further research summarized in this article reveal that microwave ovens are far more harmful than previously imagined.

The following is a summary of the Russian investigations published by the Atlantis Raising Educational Center in Portland, Oregon. Carcinogens were formed in virtually all foods tested. No test food was subjected to more microwaving than necessary to accomplish the purpose, i.e., cooking, thawing, or heating to insure sanitary ingestion.

Here's a summary of some of the results:

Microwaving prepared meats sufficiently to insure sanitary ingestion caused formation of d-Nitrosodienthanolamines, a well-known carcinogen.

Microwaving milk and cereal grains converted some of their amino acids into carcinogens.

Thawing frozen fruits converted their glucoside and galactoside containing fractions into carcinogenic substances.

Extremely short exposure of raw, cooked or frozen vegetables converted their plant alkaloids into carcinogens.

Carcinogenic free radicals were formed in microwaved plants, especially root vegetables.

Decrease in nutritional value

Russian researchers also reported a marked acceleration of structural degradation leading to a decreased food value of 60 to 90% in all foods tested. Among the changes observed were:

Deceased bio-availability of vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E, essential minerals and lipotropics factors in all food tested.

Various kinds of damaged to many plant substances, such as alkaloids, glucosides, galactosides and nitrilosides.

The degradation of nucleo-proteins in meats.

Microwave sickness is discovered

The Russians did research on thousands of workers who had been exposed to microwaves during the development of radar in the 1950's. Their research showed health problems so serious that the Russians set strict limits of 10 microwatts exposure for workers and one microwatt for civilians.

In Robert O. Becker's book, The Body Electric, he described Russian research on the health effects of microwave radiation, which they called "microwave sickness." On page 314, Becker states:

"It's [Microwave sickness] first signs are low blood pressure and slow pulse. The later and most common manifestations are chronic excitation of the sympathetic nervous system [stress syndrome] and high blood pressure. This phase also often includes headache, dizziness, eye pain, sleeplessness, irritability, anxiety, stomach pain, nervous tension, inability to concentrate, hair loss, plus an increased incidence of appendicitis, cataracts, reproductive problems, and cancer. The chronic symptoms are eventually succeeded by crisis of adrenal exhaustion and ischemic heart disease [the blockage of coronary arteries and heart attacks]."

According to Dr. Lee, changes are observed in the blood chemistries and the rates of certain diseases among consumers of microwaved foods. The symptoms above can easily be caused by the observations shown below. The following is a sample of these changes:

Lymphatic disorders were observed, leading to decreased ability to prevent certain types of cancers. An increased rate of cancer cell formation was observed in the blood. Increased rates of stomach and intestinal cancers were observed. Higher rates of digestive disorders and a gradual breakdown of the systems of elimination were observed.

Microwave research conclusions

The following were the most significant German and Russian research operations facilities concerning the biological effects of microwaves:

The initial research conducted by the Germans during the Barbarossa military campaign, at the Humbolt-Universitat zu Berlin (1942-1943); and,

From 1957 and up to the present [until the end of the cold war], the Russian research operations were conducted at: the Institute of Radio Technology at Kinsk,

Byelorussian Autonomous Region; and, at the Institute of Radio Technology at Rajasthan in the Rossiskaja Autonomous Region, both in the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics.

In most cases, the foods used for research analysis were exposed to microwave propagation at an energy potential of 100 kilowatts/cm3/second, to the point considered acceptable for sanitary, normal ingestion. The effects noted by both German and Russian researchers is presented in three categories:

Category I, Cancer-Causing Effects

Category II, Nutritive Destruction of Foods

Category III, Biological Effects of Exposure

CATEGORY I
CANCER-CAUSING EFFECTS
[The first two points of Category I are not readable from our report copy. The remainder of the report is intact.]

Creation of a "binding effect" to radioactivity in the atmosphere, thus causing a marked increase in the amount of alpha and beta particle saturation in foods;

Creation of cancer causing agents within protein hydrolysate compounds* in milk and cereal grains [*these are natural proteins that are split into unnatural fragments by the addition of water];

Alteration of elemental food-substances, causing disorders in the digestive system by unstable catabolism* of foods subjected to microwaves [*the metabolic breakdown process];

Due to chemical alterations within food substances, malfunctions were observed within the lymphatic systems [absorbent vessels], causing a degeneration of the immune potentials of the body to protect against certain forms of neoplastics [abnormal growths of tissue];

Ingestion of microwaved foods caused a higher percentage of cancerous cells within the blood serum [cytomas - cell tumors such as sarcoma];

Microwave emissions caused alteration in the catabolic [metabolic breakdown] behavior of glucoside [hydrolyzed dextrose] and galactoside [oxidized alcohol] elements within frozen fruits when thawed in this manner;

Microwave emission caused alteration of the catabolic [metabolic breakdown] behavior of plant alkaloids [organic nitrogen based elements] when raw, cooked, or frozen vegetables were exposed for even extremely short durations;

Cancer causing free radicals [highly reactive incomplete molecules] were formed within certain trace mineral molecular formations in plant substances, and in particular, raw root-vegetables; and,

In a statistically high percentage of persons, microwaved foods caused stomach and intestinal cancerous growths, as well as a general degeneration of peripheral cellular tissues, with a gradual breakdown of the function of the digestive and excretive systems.

CATEGORY II
DECREASE IN FOOD VALUE

Microwave exposure caused significant decreases in the nutritive value of all foods researched. The following are the most important findings:

A decrease in the bioavailability [capability of the body to utilize the nutriment] of B-complex vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, essential minerals and lipotropics in all foods;

A loss of 60-90% of the vital energy field content of all tested foods;

A reduction in the metabolic behavior and integration process capability of alkaloids [organic nitrogen based elements], glucosides and galactosides, and nitrilosides;

A destruction of the nutritive value of nucleoproteins in meats;

A marked acceleration of structural disintegration in all foods.

CATEGORY III
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE
Exposure to microwave emissions also had an unpredictably negative effect upon the general biological welfare of humans. This was not discovered until the Russians experimented with highly sophisticated equipment and discovered that a human did not even need to ingest the material substance of the microwaved food substances: that even exposure to the energy-field itself was sufficient to cause such adverse side effects that the use of any such microwave apparatus was forbidden in 1976 by Soviet state law.

The following are the enumerated effects:

A breakdown of the human "life-energy field" in those who were exposed to microwave ovens while in operation, with side-effects to the human energy field of increasingly longer duration;

A degeneration of the cellular voltage parallels during the process of using the apparatus, especially in the blood and lymphatic areas;

A degeneration and destabilization of the external energy activated potentials of food utilization within the processes of human metabolism;

A degeneration and destabilization of internal cellular membrane potentials while transferring catabolic [metabolic breakdown] processes into the blood serum from the digestive process;

Degeneration and circuit breakdowns of electrical nerve impulses within the junction potentials of the cerebrum [the front portion of the brain where thought and higher functions reside];

A degeneration and breakdown of nerve electrical circuits and loss of energy field symmetry in the neuroplexuses [nerve centers] both in the front and the rear of the central and autonomic nervous systems;

Loss of balance and circuiting of the bioelectric strengths within the ascending reticular activating system [the system which controls the function of consciousness];

A long term cumulative loss of vital energies within humans, animals and plants that were located within a 500-meter radius of the operational equipment;

Long lasting residual effects of magnetic "deposits" were located throughout the nervous system and lymphatic system;

A destabilization and interruption in the production of hormones and maintenance of hormonal balance in males and females;

Markedly higher levels of brainwave disturbance in the alpha, theta, and delta wave signal patterns of persons exposed to microwave emission fields, and;

Because of this brainwave disturbance, negative psychological effects were noted, including loss of memory, loss of ability to concentrate, suppressed emotional threshold, deceleration of intellective processes, and interruptive sleep episodes in a statistically higher percentage of individuals subjected to continual range emissive field effects of microwave apparatus, either in cooking apparatus or in transmission stations.

Forensic Research Conclusions

From the twenty-eight above enumerated indications, the use of microwave apparatus is definitely not advisable; and, with the decision of the Soviet government in 1976, present scientific opinion in many countries concerning the use of such apparatus is clearly in evidence.

Due to the problem of random magnetic residulation and binding within the biological systems of the body (Category III:9), which can ultimately effect the neurological systems, primarily the brain and neuroplexuses (nerve centers), long term depolarization of tissue neuroelectric circuits can result. Because these effects can cause virtually irreversible damage to the neuroelectrical integrity of the various components of the nervous system (I. R. Luria, Novosibirsk 1975a), ingestion of microwaved foods is clearly contraindicated in all respects. Their magnetic residual effect can render the pyschoneural receptor components of the brain more subject to influence psychologically by artificially induced microwave radio frequency fields from transmission stations and TV relay-networks.

The theoretical possibility of psycho telemetric influence (the capability of affecting human behavior by transmitted radio signals at controlled frequencies) has been suggested by Soviet neuropsychological investigations at Uralyera and Novosibirsk (Luria and Perov, 1974a, 1975c, 1976a), which can cause involuntary subliminal psychological energy field compliance to operative microwave apparatus.

FORENSIC RESEARCH DOCUMENT
Prepared By: William P. Kopp
R. E. C. Research Operations
TO61-7R10/10-77F05
RELEASE PRIORITY: CLASS I ROO1a

Ten Reasons not to Use Your Microwave Oven
Based on Swiss, Russian and German clinical studies

Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term, permanent, brain damage by "shorting out" electrical impulses in the brain [de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue].

The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in micro-waved food.

Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating micro-waved foods.

The effects of micro-waved food by-products are residual [long term, permanent] within the human body.

Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all micro-waved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.

The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in a microwave oven.

Micro-waved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths [tumors]. This has been a primary contributor to the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in the United States.

The prolonged eating of micro-waved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.

Continual ingestion of micro-waved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations.

Eating micro-waved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.

Have you tossed out your microwave oven yet?

After you throw out your microwave you can use a toaster oven as a replacement. It works well for most and is nearly as quick.

The use of artificial microwave transmissions for subliminal psychological control, a.k.a. "brainwashing", has also been proven. We're attempting to obtain copies of the 1970's Russian research documents and results written by Drs. Luria and Perov specifying their clinical experiments in this area.

admin · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:56 pm Post subject: Hong Kong Wakes Up to Smoking Ban

Hong Kong Wakes Up to Smoking Ban...

The Associated Press reported on January 2, 2007 that Hong Kong implemented a comprehensive ban on smoking at the start of the new year. The former British colony now has a ban on smoking in most public places including restaurants, workplaces, schools, karaoke lounges and public areas. Smoking is also prohibited in many outdoor public areas such as public beaches, swimming pools, sports grounds, museums and most areas in public parks. The ban does not yet include nightclubs, bars, mahjong parlors, bathhouses and massage establishments, all of which have until July 1, 2009 to implement the law. The latest government figures showed about 840,000 people aged 15 or above, of Hong Kong's seven-million population, are current smokers.

admin · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:53 pm Post subject: Control of Endocrine Activity

Control of Endocrine Activity

The physiologic effects of hormones depend largely on their concentration in blood and extracellular fluid. Almost inevitably, disease results when hormone concentrations are either too high or too low, and precise control over circulating concentrations of hormones is therefore crucial.

The concentration of hormone as seen by target cells is determined by three factors:

Rate of production: Synthesis and secretion of hormones are the most highly regulated aspect of endocrine control. Such control is mediated by positive and negative feedback circuits, as described below in more detail.

Rate of delivery: An example of this effect is blood flow to a target organ or group of target cells - high blood flow delivers more hormone than low blood flow.

Rate of degradation and elimination: Hormones, like all biomolecules, have characteristic rates of decay, and are metabolized and excreted from the body through several routes. Shutting off secretion of a hormone that has a very short halflife causes circulating hormone concentration to plummet, but if a hormone's biological halflife is long, effective concentrations persist for some time after secretion ceases.

Feedback Control of Hormone Production

Feedback circuits are at the root of most control mechanisms in physiology, and are particularly prominent in the endocrine system. Instances of positive feedback certainly occur, but negative feedback is much more common.

Negative feedback is seen when the output of a pathway inhibits inputs to the pathway. The heating system in your home is a simple negative feedback circuit. When the furnace produces enough heat to elevate temperature above the set point of the thermostat, the thermostat is triggered and shuts off the furnace (heat is feeding back negatively on the source of heat). When temperature drops back below the set point, negative feedback is gone, and the furnace comes back on.

Feedback loops are used extensively to regulate secretion of hormones in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. An important example of a negative feedback loop is seen in control of thyroid hormone secretion. The thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine ("T4 and T3") are synthesized and secreted by thyroid glands and affect metabolism throughout the body. The basic mechanisms for control in this system (illustrated to the right) are:

Neurons in the hypothalamus secrete thyroid releasing hormone (TRH), which stimulates cells in the anterior pituitary to secrete thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).

TSH binds to receptors on epithelial cells in the thyroid gland, stimulating synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones, which affect probably all cells in the body.

When blood concentrations of thyroid hormones increase above a certain
threshold, TRH-secreting neurons in the hypothalamus are inhibited and stop secreting TRH. This is an example of "negative feedback".

Inhibition of TRH secretion leads to shut-off of TSH secretion, which leads to shut-off of thyroid hormone secretion. As thyroid hormone levels decay below the threshold, negative feedback is relieved, TRH secretion starts again, leading to TSH secretion.

Another type of feedback is seen in endocrine systems that regulate concentrations of blood components such as glucose. Drink a glass of milk or eat a candy bar and the following (simplified) series of events will occur:

Glucose from the ingested lactose or sucrose is absorbed in the intestine and the level of glucose in blood rises.
Elevation of blood glucose concentration stimulates endocrine cells in the pancreas to release insulin.

Insulin has the major effect of facilitating entry of glucose into many cells of the body - as a result, blood glucose levels fall.
When the level of blood glucose falls sufficiently, the stimulus for insulin release disappears and insulin is no longer secreted.

Numerous other examples of specific endocrine feedback circuits are presented in the sections on specific hormones or endocrine organs.

Hormone Profiles: Concentrations Over Time
One important consequence of the feedback controls that govern hormone concentrations and the fact that hormones have a limited lifespan or halflife is that most hormones are secreted in "pulses". The following graph depicts concentrations of luteinizing hormone in the blood of a female dog over a period of 8 hours, with samples collected every 15 minutes:

The pulsatile nature of luteinizing hormone secretion in this animal is evident. Luteinizing hormone is secreted from the anterior pituitary and critically involved in reproductive function; the frequency and amplitude of pulses are quite different at different stages of the reproductive cycle.

With reference to clinical endocrinology, examination of the graph should also demonstrate the caution necessary in interpreting endocrine data based on isolated samples.

A pulsatile pattern of secretion is seen for virtually all hormones, with variations in pulse characteristics that reflect specific physiologic states. In addition to the short-term pulses discussed here, longer-term temporal oscillations or endocrine rhythms are also commonly observed and undoubtedly important in both normal and pathologic states.

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Changing the diet will help with hypothyroidism.

Eating goitrogenic foods such as rapeseed, cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, maize, lima beans, soya and pearl millet should be limited. These foods contain natural goitrogens, which are chemicals that cause the enlargement of the thyroid gland by interfering with thyroid hormone synthesis. Cooking is known to make the goitrogens elements less effective but it would be wise not eat these foods raw. Foods that contain iodine such as kelp, beetroot, radish, parsley, potatoes, fish, oatmeal and bananas should be kept in the diet. In the treatment of underactive thyroid, fats, sugars, sodium chloride, red meat and egg intake should also be restricted.

The relationship between iodine and thyroid is complex, iodine is needed by the body to form thyroid hormone, and goitre and hypothyroidism can occur through iodine deficiency. Extreme and prolonged iodine deficiency can lead to serious types of hypothyroidism, such as cretinism or myxedema. On the other hand, consumption of excessive iodine intake can result in either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. The amount of 150 mg that is usually in multi-mineral supplements should be enough to stop iodine deficiency but not enough to do harm.

The amino acid tyrosine is an essential part of the thyroid hormones and neurotransmitters; this has been found to be deficient in people with hypothyroidism. Practitioners often recommended a low dose of thyroxine such as 1000mg to correct hypothyroidism. People with depression also have low levels of tyrosine, this is why it has be linked to hypothyroidism.

Vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and vitamin E are needed for the synthesis of thyroxine. The B vitamins and copper are vital co-factors for tyrosine metabolism. copper, iron, selenium and zinc are essential in the production of T3 from T4.

Some herbs can help combat hypothyroidism, nettle will balance the thyroid with both under and over activity. Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) is a type of brown seaweed that contains iodine. hypothyroidism due to small intake of iodine may possibly improve with bladderwrack supplementation; also kelp has been linked to helping with hypothyroidism. Some people with hypothyroidism have seen improvements by taking Chinese herbs.

Another aspect to look at is chemical sensitivities. Research has shown an association between hypothyroidism and multiple chemical sensitivities. It was found that people with exposure to toxic heavy metals, polybrominated biphenyls and cardon disulfides through their occupations suffered from depression, fatigue, poor memory and constipation which are all symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Another important factor in the treatment of hypothyroidism is exercise. Exercise increases tissue sensitivity to the thyroid hormone and stimulates thyroid gland secretion. This is especially true in people who are dieting; this is because when dieting the metabolic rate decreases but exercise prevents this decline. An exercise regime of between 15-20 minutes per day will be beneficial with hypothyroidism. This exercise needs to be strenuous enough to raise the heartbeat, an exercise such as walking, swimming, running and cycling.

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Diagnosis and Management of Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Task Force on Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Definition, Epidemiology, and Pathogenesis
Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a disease characterized by hypercalcemia attributable to autonomous overproduction of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Although some patients with PHPT may have normal serum calcium concentrations, most have hypercalcemia. Therefore, PHPT can often be detected by routine serum calcium measurement. PHPT is present in about 1% of the adult population. The incidence of the disease increases to 2% or higher after age 55 years and is 2 to 3 times more common in women than in men.

PHPT is caused by a single parathyroid adenoma in about 80 to 85% of cases. The rest of the cases of PHPT can be ascribed to multiple gland hyperplasia affecting all parathyroid glands in about 10%, double adenomas in 4%, and parathyroid carcinoma in 1%. The cause of PHPT may be multifactorial and appears to be associated with overexpression of cyclin D1 and a deficiency of the MEN1 tumor suppressor gene.[1] The clinical features of PHPT are mainly due to the direct and indirect effects of excess PTH on the skeleton, kidneys, and intestine and normally include ( 1 ) bone resorption of calcium and phosphorus, ( 2 ) enhanced intestinal absorption of calcium, ( 3 ) renal tubular reabsorption of calcium, and ( 4 ) hypercalciuria.

Surgical removal of a solitary parathyroid tumor or subtotal resection of all pathologic parathyroid tissue in patients with hyperparathyroidism (HPT) results in normalization of PTH secretion, normalization of serum calcium levels, and a durable cure. Parathyroidectomy is the only curative therapy for PHPT and is both safe and cost-effective.

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Drug treatments for obesity: orlistat, sibutramine, and rimonabant

Antiobesity treatment is recommended for selected patients in whom lifestyle modification is unsuccessful. Two antiobesity drugs are currently licensed for long-term use. Orlistat, a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor, reduces weight by around 3 kg on average and decreases progression to diabetes in high-risk patients; adverse gastrointestinal effects are common. Sibutramine, a monoamine-reuptake inhibitor, results in mean weight losses of 4–5 kg, but is associated with increases in blood pressure and pulse rate. Rimonabant, the first of the endocannabinoid receptor antagonists, reduces weight by 4–5 kg on average and improves waist circumference and concentrations of HDL cholesterol and triglyceride; however, an increased incidence of mood-related disorders has been reported. To date, all antiobesity drug trials have been limited by their high attrition rates and lack of long-term morbidity and mortality data. Other promising antiobesity drugs, including those acting within the central melanocortin pathway, are in development, but are years away from clinical use. In light of the lack of successful weight-loss treatments and the public-health implications of the obesity pandemic, the development of safe and effective drugs should be a priority. However, as new drugs are developed we suggest that the assessment processes should include both surrogate endpoints (ie, weight loss) and clinical outcomes (ie, major obesity-related morbidity and mortality). Only then can patients and their physicians be confident that the putative benefits of such drugs outweigh their risks and costs.

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Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union

The next time European leaders sit down to discuss the future of the EU there will be two new faces at the summit table. For on Jan 1, 2007, Bulgaria and Romania formally became members of the EU. The road to accession has not been straightforward. It has taken 5 years for these two new countries to meet the conditions for entry set by the European Council, which has been closely monitoring the countries' progress in a series of reports. Under this watchful eye, both Romania and Bulgaria have taken great strides in the past few years, including introducing several measures aimed at improving public health.

Romania—which had earned dubious international renown for the poor conditions prevalent in its numerous state institutions housing prisoners, orphans, and those with mental disorders—has improved its child-protection services. Bulgaria has increased social support for people with disabilities. Both governments have enacted legislation to improve the health of people with mental and physical disabilities. And the two countries have developed National Action Plans for the surveillance and control of communicable diseases, a specific prerequisite for EU membership.

But according to the European Commission, several health-related issues require “increased efforts”, particularly the poor conditions in psychiatric institutions. Bulgaria was criticised for its child-welfare provisions in a May, 2006, progress report, which also criticised both countries for failing to address discrimination against vulnerable groups, particularly the Romany gypsy communities of central and eastern Europe.

The fact that accession has been completed as planned this year, rather than being delayed until 2008, is testament to the capacity for positive change both countries have shown. But it remains crucial that issues of concern for health are not neglected in the aftermath of accession success. The European Commission can help by making sure its watchful gaze does not move elsewhere.

The Lancet (Medical Journal)

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The GAVI Alliance - the best of both worlds?

A group of medical students from University College London discuss
whether the corporate sector could affect the decision making at GAVI, and make recommendations on equity, governance, and sustainability.

Student Projects

The Lancet is collaborating with the Institute of Health Science and Public Health Research, University of Leeds and the International Health and Medical Education Centre (IHMEC), University College London, to highlight the output of their intercalated BSc courses for medical students in International Health. Some of the essays and projects of students who have completed the courses are published here. The most recent essays are by Meera Mehta and Robert Harris from University College London.

International Health at IHMEC, University College London

The course aims to help students to understand the true causes of ill health—poverty, conflict, poor-quality health care and education, lack of access to essential medicines—and the roles that we all play in contributing to, preventing, and mitigating ill health

Meera Mehta discusses inequality in access to healthcare in India. Does trade-induced liberalisation under the WTO threaten to further exacerbate these deep-seated disparities?

Robert Harris discusses the exclusion of failed asylum seekers from the NHS: Evidence-based policy change or political opportunism?
Natasha Hezelgrave discusses why, in similar socio-economic conditions in developing countries, some children break ties with their families to become street children, while others maintain close family links for shelter and support.

Catherine Polling highlights the needs of HIV-positive African women living in the UK, with implications for national health policy and international development.

International Health at University of Leeds

The research reports published here are the work of medical students on the Intercalated BSc in International Health at the University of Leeds. The backbone of this course are two projects, Projects A and B, and a research module. Students identify their own area of research, which has a direct relevance to global health. Project A is a literature review, the outcome of which is a research question that is both new and interesting. The research methods module, co-ordinated by Dr Kahryn Hughes (k.a.hughes@leeds.ac.uk) equips the students with the methods to answer their research question. The assignment from this module is a research protocol. Students also seek ethical approval before doing research. No research is done before ethical approval is granted; further approval may have to be sought from host organisations as well. Students negotiate access to field sites with host institutions. They must show that where they propose to do their research is safe. Field work, generally of 4 weeks, is done in May. Of the projects for 2004/05 the two with the highest examination marks are presented here: Naomi Wright, who investigated "The evaluation of a low-technology radiant heater for low-income countries", and Ben Hall, who explored "What are students' opinions and suggestions about capacity building and migration and how might these inform overseas training institutes". Projects A and B were developed and are co-ordinated by Dr Nick Emmel (n.d.emmel@leeds.ac.uk).

How can we significantly reduce global neonatal mortality rates?

In the developed world high-technology radiant heaters have substantially contributed to lower neonatal mortality rates by providing an ideal working environment for resuscitating neonates, whilst maintaining them at the optimum temperature. Low-technology heaters to reduce neonatal mortality are currently being produced for the developing world. Naomi Wright's study evaluated whether such heaters are effective, safe, usable, and useful. >>

What are international students' opinions and suggestions about capacity building and migration and how might these inform overseas training institutes?

Benjamin George Hall interviewed students who have either migrated or returned to Africa to see what they think about the situation and what their suggestions are for overseas training institutes to maximise capacity development.

admin · Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 8:59 pm Post subject: Why You Should Smile More Often

Why You Should Smile More Often

The ability to smile is a gift to humans. It not only fills a mood of happiness and positive energy into one's own soul, but also spreads a feeling of good will, friendship, love, and care for the others to perceive, who happens to be facing you or to whom you are smiling at.

Further, a heartening smile is a non-verbal symbol of acceptance, which is very crucial in our social lives, and a gesture that personifies your confidence, eagerness, aptitude, and willingness to perform your duties with full heart. Have you ever heard an HR personnel lecturing on interview skills telling the candidates not to smile at the interviewer before accepting his invitation to take the seat? Or have you ever met a receptionist attending to your queries with a tight lip?

In fact, not! No friendly interaction could do away with a broad smile on either of the participant's faces. This is a universal truth in fact, but restated by our motivation and success-type of gurus.

So, it is quite obvious why it is important to learn to smile, even in times when you do not feel to smile at all, but to grin or gnaw. Here are top 5 reasons as to why you should smile more often than how you are today. If you are confident enough that you are smiling very often, please skip this article; it is meant for those poor souls who have not still fathomed the importance of a cheek-to-cheek smile.

As mentioned earlier, a full hearted smile sets the tone for the rest of the day. It makes one feel good and better and the positive energy a smile brings into oneself is both self perpetuating and infectious.
A heartening smile makes others also feel welcomed to come and talk to you.

A smile originating from your inner self is a good enough stress buster. It triggers your hormone production, thus soothing the building tension in you.

A smile not only peps up your appearance, but it also plays a major role in toning up your facial muscles. Remember, smiling is a subtle exercise in itself.

Finally, a smile does not cost you anything. And it returns in lot, the results being emotional, social, and biological.

Our world is full of sad people, with long faces. Let you also do not add to their already long ranks. Smile yourself into a new life and let others also follow suit. So, next morning, when you get up, make sure that there is a broad smile originating on your lips. Make it a habit to smile and soon you will realize how substantially this little change can transform your life!

admin · Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 9:07 pm Post subject: Protect Eyes - Avoid Eyestrain

Protect Eyes - Avoid Eyestrain

In today's world, with the predominance of television, computers and videos, people of all ages are suffering from eyestrains. Driving a car and living in the city full of smog can be the other main reasons for the eyestrains. The common symptoms of eyestrains are the blurry appearance of the letters on the computer screen or in the print of the page, which normally appear clear. The eyes hurt so badly that you are forced to shut them for some time.

The most common remedies to cure this problem are: Take breaks from work: If you are working on a computer or doing any other type of work, which involves working your eyes at a close distance, then you need to take a break of about two minutes after every hour. By simply closing the eyes and doing nothing will give the eyes the much needed rest.

Stop reading to refocus: If you are reading continuously, it is highly advisable to take a short break after every 30 minutes and look far away into the distance. When you are working with your eyes close-up, there is a muscle in the eye that contracts. When you shift the focus to an object at a distance, you relieve the muscle of its strain.

Have a tea break: Using an eyebright tea is a gentle balm for the strained eyes. Eyebright tea is a mixture of various herbal material sold by the health food shops as a remedy for the eyestrain. Soak a towel in the eyebright tea. Lie down and place this warm towel over the closed eyes.

Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Take care to ensure that the tea does not drip down into the eyes and should be warm but not scalding hot.

Blink your eyes: Nature has given human eyes their personal masseur viz. the eyelids. Consciously blinking the eyes instead of squinting will cleanse and give them the required massage.

Use glasses: If you have problems seeing but avoid using glasses due to vanity, you are bound to suffer from eyestrain. If your distance vision is good but cannot read up close then it is highly advisable for you to get a good pair of reading glasses to avoid eyestrain. If your distance vision is bad, use of glasses for curing eyestrain is highly recommended.

Exercise the eye muscles: Stand at a distance of about five feet from the blank wall. Ask somebody else to toss a ball while you try to catch it every time it bounces off. Alternatively, hold your thumb at the arm's length, move it in circles and Xs, bringing it closer or far away and follow it with your eyes. These exercises offset the damage caused by eyestrain and improve the brain to nerve coordination for enhanced vision.

Take breaks from work: If you are working on a computer or doing any other type of work, which involves working your eyes at a close distance, then you need to take a break of about two minutes after every hour. By simply closing the eyes and doing nothing will give the eyes the much needed rest.

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Fluoride Was Never FDA
Approved For Ingestion

From Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum.

Furthermore, fluoride interacts with aspartame.
http://www.dorway.com/blaytox.txt

* http://www.swtexaslive.com/node//node/1811

* http://www.swtexaslive.com/node//node/1811/links
Submitted by
http://www.swtexaslive.com/node//user/473

FDA Never Safety-Tested Fluoride Ingestion
FDA approval of fluoridated bottled water may be premature

NEW YORK -- Because of a glitch in the law,3 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) never safety-tested fluoride for ingestion.1 Yet, the FDA recently OK'd cavity-preventing claims on fluoridated bottled water labels,2 giving Americans a false sense of security about the safety and effectiveness of drinking bottled water with fluoride added..

Sodium fluoride was sold before FDA safety and effectiveness testing laws were enacted in 1938 and 1962, respectively. So fluoride was exempt from scrutiny, or "grandfathered in," without any FDA human or animal studies.3 "The premise was that all pre-1938 drugs were considered safe," according to FDA correspondence.3

Sodium fluoride was already sold pre-1938 but not as a decay preventive. As strange as it sounds, it commonly sold as a rat poison. The FDA has no information on the medical uses of fluoride before 1938.3

According to the FDA's website: "New products that are designed to treat human conditions or diseases are scrutinized by FDA's reviewers for safety and effectiveness before they can be made available to consumers." 4 But this never occurred for fluoride or fluoridated bottled water.

In fact, the FDA can't assess whether something added to the water is safe because there's no way to know how much people will consume, according to an FDA spokesperson quoted in a Colorado newspaper. 5 "The drug approval process requires specific dosing and conditions to be treated and clinical trials,' [FDA spokesperson] Koontz said," according to the Daily Camera.

The FDA approved fluoridated toothpaste, as a drug, for topical application as in toothpaste; but not for swallowing. In fact, toothpaste tubes are imprinted with FDA "do not swallow" warnings.

However, fluoridated bottled water is meant to be swallowed. Not a nutrient, fluoride is a drug prescribed to treat humans against tooth decay. The FDA never studied fluoride ingestion, in any form, for adverse health effects or to discover if it really reduces tooth decay.6

Adding fluoride chemicals into public water supplies (water fluoridation) began in the mid 1900's. It was then believed fluoride worked from the inside, that is to say, ingested fluoride incorporated into children's, and only children's, developing tooth enamel to shield against tooth decay. However, modern science proves fluoride absorbs into enamel by topical means alone or from the outside and it can occur over the lifetime of the tooth..

Unfortunately, science also tells us that ingested fluoride has many health risks, including tooth damage or dental fluorosis white spotted, yellow, brown and/or pitted teeth a consequence of fluoride over-ingestion which is a growing U.S. problem.7

The following side effects may be early signs of possible chronic fluoride overdose, according to the Mayo Clinic website: 8

Pain and aching of bones; skin rash; sores in the mouth and on the lips; stiffness; white, brown, or black discoloration of teeth.

"Modern studies also link fluoride to arthritis, allergies, kidney and thyroid dysfunction, bone damage and cancer even at the low levels dentists claim is optimal to reduce tooth decay," says lawyer Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. "Adding fluoride to bottled water implies to the American public that FDA studies give fluoride a clean bill of health and that's not true," says Beeber.

No studies link fluoride-free bottled water to more tooth decay, according to the American Dental Association (ADA).9

"The ADA should lobby for fluoride content labeling on all foods," says Beeber. "Because fluoridated water is used in processing and because of fluoride pesticide residues, virtually all foods and beverages have a fluoride content even soda, candy, french fries, grape juice and some chicken products. Americans are actually over-fluoridated now; and should avoid fluoridated water whether from the tap or the bottle, in our opinion." says Beeber.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture lists the fluoride content of many foods here: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/Fluoride/Fluoride.html

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Michael Fox, Parkinson's and Aspartame

By Betty Martini

Michael Fox, Star of Spin City, Family Ties and many movies, suffers from Parkinson's Disease and once asked how a 30 year old man would get this old man's disease. Michael Fox has also been a Diet Pepsi spokesman and informants say he is addicted drinking many a day.

Aspartame/NutraSweet that is in Diet Pepsi is a neurotoxin that triggers neurodegenerative diseases, and can precipitate Parkinson's. Fox has been going downhill because of the wild movements and writhing he's been suffering. He is unable to control his body. Aspartame, in reality a drug, also interacts with other drugs and changes the dopamine of the brain. There is no way for Michael to improve until someone gets him off the Diet Pepsi.

Dr. James Bowen says: "Many NutraSweet victims report parkinsonian symptoms. This should be no surprise because every biochemical component of the aspartame molecule is implicated in producing Parkinsonian structural damage and creating a biochemical basis for parkinsonian symptoms. Aspartame is a source of methanol alcohol. Experts in neurodegenerative disease from alcoholism recognize that methyl alcohol is the component of beverage alcohol that causes neurodegenerative disease in Parkinson's Disease in Parkinson's Disease in alcoholics.

Beverage alcohol is grain alcohol or methyl alcohol. However, methyl alcohol is also present in very small amounts, although present only in trace amounts in alcoholic beverages. It is the factor that produces the neurodegeneration. Methyl alcohol accomplishes this even though the ethyl alcohol serves as a protective factor. Aspartame on the other hand affords no such protection and the structural components of the molecule are so arranged that the methyl alcohol from aspartame is probably 500 to 5000 times more active in producing toxicity than it would be alone.

Aspartic acid

The structural damage in the basal areas of the brain where Parkinson Disease structural damage occurs from the dicarboxylic amino acid neuroexcitotoxins is a problem long recognized. So aspartic acid even in and by itself is a recognized source of the damage to the basal ganglia where Parkinson's Disease degeneration occurs. As in the case with methyl alcohol the molecular structure of the aspartame molecule probably makes the aspartic acid damage from aspartame 5000 times more potent than from free aspartic acid on a mg. per mg. basis. The brain with loss of neural tissue to produce the dopamine, a neurotransmitter necessary to let the brain circuitry function normally is no longer producing dopamine in sufficient amounts in these structures. The metabolic impact of the phenylalanine isolate from aspartame is to remarkably decrease dopamine production thus making Parkinson symptoms much worse.

Phenylalanine
The phenylalanine isolate out competes all other amino acids at enzyme sites in the brain. This includes the decarboxylase enzyme sites. Therefore, the amino acid tyrosine is not decarboxylated to tramine which is the first step in producing dopamine in the brain. Therefore, the brain dopamine levels plummet remarkably.

Michael Fox has reportedly used L-Dopa to try and increase his dopamine levels. The use of aspartame completely defeats this therapeutic endeavor. Not to mention the fact that it caused the degenerative disease called Parkinson's Disease in the first place. The destructive process will continue as long as he uses it. " James Bowen, M.D.

Somebody please get this message to Michael Fox. There are doctors in another country who have produced a product that could give you 90% improvement in Parkinson's Disease once you're off NutraSweet. I have his number, Michael. I'm waiting for your call. 770 242-2599! Betty Martini, Mission Possible International - www.dorway.com

Michael thinks we are saying this because he advertised it he's responsible for what aspartame has caused in the victims using his product. He took it the wrong way. As long as he uses it there is no chance for him to heal.

Here is Dr. Blaylock's detox program: www.wnho.net/wtdaspartame.htm

And there is a movie now, Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World, www.amazon.com

Aspartame and Parkinson's is discussed in Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic, by H. J. Roberts, M.D., www.sunsentpress.com and Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills by neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock, M.D. www.russellblaylockmd.com

Here's another article that may interest you: http://www.wnho.net/aspartameandgulfwar.htm

I have often wondered if Michael J. Fox parkinson's (if what he has is even really parkinson's) was brought on by aspartame poisoning.I wish nothing but the best care for Michael J. Fox. I'm writing this only from an observational point of view. Michael J. Fox was the 'poster child' for the new aspartame laced diet soft drinks in the 1980's appealing to the 'younger generation' in mass to join in. There wasn't a movie or TV show Michael was in that didn't have him drinking a diet soda. Michael had done ads on diet drinks for Pepsi. With all this, I can only assume he was a diet soft drink user himself.

I wonder if brain and central nervous system problems brought on by aspartame can be misdiagnosed as parkinson's? If aspartame is the real culprit behind Michael's parkinson's, will he ever know what really got him sick?

Pat · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 181 Location: CENLA ,La.

In answer to a healing request:

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NM State Senator Tells Bush - Pull The Plug On Aspartame
President George Walker Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington D.C. 20500

Dear President Bush:

We request that you order FDA Commissioner nominee, Andrew Von Eschenbach M.D., to rescind the FDA approval for the artificial sweetener, Aspartame. Its approval was forced through the FDA in 1981, and the USA has had 25 years to observe the incontrovertible medical effects from Aspartame, which derive from its being metabolized as methanol and formaldehyde, and two unessential amino acids, one of which, phenylalanine is neurotoxic lowering the seizure threshold and depleting serotonin and the other aspartic acid, an excitotoxin. The molecule breaks down to a proven brain tumor causing agent, diketopiperazine. Aspartame is now found in 6000 USA food products and more than 500 medications.

There is a excellent precedent for this: the fact that Richard Nixon in 1969 ordered that the FDA rescind the approval for another proven carcinogenic artificial sweetener, Cyclamates. The incidence of neurodegenerative diseases in the USA like Multiple Sclerosis and Lou Gehrigs Disease have increased substantially since 1981. We think that given the evidence that has accrued thus far concerning Aspartame's harm, its effects as a teratogen, causing birth defects and chromosomal damage; its being the most complained about chemical on the market, according to FDA statistics (FDA stopped taking complaints on Aspartame in 1995); and because of our concern for protecting the health of Americans, as well as the health of the many nations which subsequently approved it for general use as a result of the US FDA approval, we ask that you order Aspartame rescinded by the FDA Commissioner nominee as soon as possible.

As you know, the Institute of Medicine has completed a recent report sharply critical of the FDA regarding the FDA's inability to ensure the safe and effective use of prescription drugs. Our concerns in this letter are not with drugs, but with the obvious need to overhaul the entire process of the FDA granting approval for food additives in general, which are often forced through the approval process based only on the strength of industry paid for studies. The USA needs independent objective source of truth in these processes.

You have a chance to do this as President, which is preferable to the United States Senate having to later make rescinding FDA approval for Aspartame and other deleterious and poisonous substances a condition upon which Dr. Von Eschenbach's nomination approval is contingent. Your concerns should not be with corporate objections and continued allegations that their products are safe. Many heads of state internationally will be grateful for your taking the correct action in this regard.

Respectfully,

Gerald Ortiz y Pino

Members of the New Mexico Legislative Health and Human Services Committee

Senator Ortiz y Pino's earlier article 2/19/2006:
http://www.rense.com/general69/nmm2.htm

Aspartame Buys Time
By Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino
2-19-6

Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to the corrosive influence of money on our public policy. I'm not just talking about the shenanigans inside the beltway of our nation's capitol-that Congress is for sale to the highest bidder has unfortunately become a practically accepted tenet of the American belief system.

So accepted is it that the astounding arrogance and venality being revealed by the current Tom Delay and Jack Abramoff scandals in the District of Columbia scarcely produce raised eyebrows, let alone outrage.

But I'm not just talking about that.

Nor am I talking only about the way that moneyed interests are able to sway local government toward policies that benefit those interests; hey, we apparently prefer a system in which local elections go to the highest bidder and business-as-usual involves twisting contractors' arms to secure campaign contributions.

Instead, today I'd like to zero-in on the pressure applied to our third level of representative government, the carryings-on that occur in the halls of State Government ... in all its branches.

And from among at least a dozen recent, painful examples of how big business manages to protect itself from such wet-blanket considerations as the good of the public, I'd like to select one as a representative: the continued approval of the reliance by processed food and beverage manufacturers on the chemical aspartame.

As an artificial sweetener, one now being added to some 6,000 products, it is difficult for most Americans to not consume aspartame daily. Its safety (and clearing up any doubts about that safety) would seem to be of critical importance to millions of us. But any discussion of this topic has been postponed in New Mexico indefinitely-through influence exerted by representatives hired by the Japanese manufacturer of aspartame, the Ajinomoto Corporation.

Those well-connected hired hands managed, in December, to frighten the State Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) into backing off of the public hearings into aspartame's safety that they had originally agreed to conduct this coming summer. They managed this delay by challenging the authority of the State of New Mexico to review anything already approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and by threatening to sue the state if we tried to do so.

Then those same hired hands resurfaced (augmented by the addition to their team roster of Butch Maki, a close confidant of Gov. Bill Richardson) in time to quash all attempts to discuss the matter during the just-concluded State Legislature.

There was one hearing on the subject and it drew significant numbers of the industry lobbyists, all of whom asserted the same party line: The substance is perfectly safe; the Federal Government has looked at it carefully and who the heck is New Mexico, anyway, to raise any questions about it?

The committee succumbed, and turned down the measure to ban aspartame 7-2.

That half-hour hearing was the total discussion of the matter this year in the public arena in New Mexico, unless the EIB board changes its mind and decides to call Ajinomoto's bluff by going ahead and holding a hearing.

The incredible spectacle of corporate hirelings exerting this kind of influence is, to our great shame, all too common in our state. The Legislature has resisted reforming campaign finance laws to inject some real muscle, which leaves the door wide open to the corporate powers to throw money around strategically, buying whatever access they need or blocking their opposition's access to the policymakers.

But no one should be surprised that Ajinomoto would rely on muscle to protect its profits from aspartame. The entire history of this product's approval by the FDA is rife with muscle flexing ... and very little in the way of science. Originally, it was a patent of the Searle Pharmaceutical Company. And beginning in the late '60s, the FDA repeatedly turned down Searle's submissions for approval, the results of its testings leaving serious doubts in the minds of FDA scientists.

All of that changed in 1981 when Ronald Reagan took the presidency. He listened to the then head of Searle, Donald Rumsfeld, (yes, that Donald Rumsfeld) who bypassed the scientists and went straight to the new Reagan appointee at FDA. Within weeks, the scientists were overruled and aspartame was approved. Several FDA scientists resigned in protest. They even alleged that Searle had fabricated results in the testing submitted.

Twenty-five years later, the evidence is mounting that our growing incidence of brain tumors, organ cancers and neurological diseases has followed the introduction of so many artificially created additives and chemicals in our food. It's only a matter of time until even Ajinomoto's money won't be able to block the unavoidable link between these unnecessary products and our decline in health.

When that happens, as it finally did to tobacco and lead and other heavy metals found in gasoline, we will act. The sad thing is that thousands of deaths and ruined lives will occur between now and then.

One of the cruel ironies to aspartame is that it was supposed to create sugar-free soft drinks for the benefit of diabetics. Since its introduction, the incidence of diabetes has soared. Some critics link the two. What is clear is that it ain't helping.

With all that money and muscle behind it, aspartame has evaded its comeuppance for another year. But the final reckoning can only be postponed, not avoided.

admin

The Netherlands bans private stem cell therapy

The Dutch government has banned the "clinical application" of controversial stem cell therapy being offered by private clinics in the Netherlands for conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis.

The ban has been imposed as part of a new regulation on the transplantation of stem cells governing the way in which they are used to regenerate different tissue and organs—for example, in the heart, liver, or kidneys.

The ministry of health describes such therapy as "promising," with "possible applications" in the future for Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. But it is concerned that "centres in the Netherlands are offering this form of treatment as if it is common practice" while in fact it is in the early stages of development.

The ban, which came into force on 1 January, was imposed because of the therapy's associated health risks and the lack of proved effectiveness. It affects .

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Calcium For Life - Not Just For Kids - What Kind of Calcium - Special consideration

Calcium is not just for kids! We all know that babies and children need calcium for strong, healthy bones and teeth. But did you know that our need for calcium begins at birth, and continues throughout our entire lives? Unfortunately most Americans do not get the recommended amount of calcium from their daily diets.

The best way to achieve the proper daily amount of calcium is through your diet. All dairy products including milk (non-fat dry, low-fat, skim, or whole), yogurt, cheeses, ice cream and ice milk, and tofu.
Did You Know? Just 4 to 5 cups of milk or yogurt daily meets the calcium requirements for most adults.

Other calcium-rich foods include seafoods such as salmon, sardines (an excellent source with 370 mg of calcium in 3 ounces), and shrimp, as well as a number of plant sources (see Plant Sources of Calcium in the link box).

Special Considerations

When taking calcium without a prescription there are several factors that you should consider.

Always read the label, and carefully follow any precautions noted.
Pregnancy is a time when proper calcium intake is of particular importance. The growing fetus depends on its mother to provide a daily supply of adequate nutrients including calcium for healthy growth and development. This does not mean that you should overload on vitamins and minerals such as calcium since too much may be harmful to the mother and/or the developing baby.

If you decide to breastfeed your baby, you need to continue getting the correct amount of calcium so that your baby with grow properly. However, again it is important to get the proper amount of calcium and other minerals and vitamins since too much may be harmful to you and/or your baby.

Do you suffer from the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)? Research has proven that you can reduce up to almost 50% of all symptoms (including mood swings, depression, and menstrual cramps) of PMS by simply consuming 1200 mg of calcium daily.

Calcium is an important nutrient for women and men of all ages for the prevention of osteoporosis in later life. However, older adults may need to take extra amounts of calcium because some older adults do not absorb calcium as well as younger people. Talk with your clinician if you have questions regarding the daily amount of calcium that you should be taking.

Calcium is also believed to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

What Kind Of Calcium Is The Right Kind?

Calcium is available in numerous products throughout the U.S. and Canada. To ensure that you are getting the correct type of calcium for nutritional supplementation read the label. The calcium product you choose must contain one or more of the following types of calcium:

· Calcium Carbonate
· Calcium Citrate
· Oral Calcium Glubionate
· Calcium Gluceptate and Calcium Gluconate
· Oral Calcium Gluconate
· Calcium Lactate
· Calcium Lactate-Gluconate and Calcium Carbonate
· Dibasic Calcium Phosphate
· Tribasic Calcium Phosphate

You also need to understand that calcium salt provides calcium together with some other substance, i.e. carbonate or gluconate. Not all calcium salts contain the same amount of elemental calcium; there is more elemental calcium in calcium carbonate than in calcium gluconate. When you are reading labels on calcium products you should be sure that the amount of calcium refers to the amount of elemental calcium and not to the amount of overall calcium in the product.

When using calcium supplements it's important to remember that magnesium (500 mg to 750 mg daily) is essential to help with the absorption of calcium so that you will achieve the maximum benefit of your calcium supplementation. You should also know that taking more than 500 mg of calcium at one time is not recommended because your body will not absorb over that amount at any one time; if you are taking calcium supplements over 500 mg daily, you need to spread it out during the day.

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The Amazing Healing Power of Honey

Honey is one of mother nature's true wonders and the animals and the Native Americans have known about it for many years. It is known to most people as something that is just plain sweet and it tastes good on ice cream. Yet there is a more serious side to honey that most people are not aware of and that is its wonderful healing properties. As someone that has suffered from allergies and especially hayfever, I have found some relief from the symptoms of my allergies. This is because I use locally raised honey because it is made from the pollen of the local plants that cause my allergies. Taking it in small amounts has helped be build up a tolerance to the pollen that I would normally react to. Honey can also be placed on bee stings and other wounds to help promote the healing of the injury. The effect of applying honey to an open wound is that it provides a moist healing environment. Honey contains a natural anti-biotic that is stronger than anything they currently use for topical treatments. In a three year clinical trial honey was found to promote faster and better healing in all kinds of wounds. It was used on small wounds all the way up to skin ulcers and in 95% of all the cases it worked even when conventional treatments failed to work. "Honey provides a moist healing environment yet prevents bacterial growth even when wounds are heavily infected," notes Dr. Peter Molan of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. "It is a very effective means of quickly rendering heavily infected wounds sterile, without the side effects of antibiotics and it is even effective against antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria." There are several factors that make it possible for honey to do what it does. Its acidity is too high for most bacteria to live in and it has the ability to absorb moisture. The ability helps keep the wound dry and that also prevents bacteria from growing. As the honey absorbs the water that is naturally in your wound it dilutes the honey closest to the surface produces Hydrogen Peroxide, which acts as an effective anti-bacterial agent. Honey also has the ability to reduce inflammation, swelling and pain from deep wounds and burns. The benefits of using honey just keep adding up. You will need to apply honey to the dressing, as honey does not stick to the open wound. Since honey forms its connection through the fluids in the wound it does not tear off or damage the new tissue forming under the dressing. This is a definite plus especially when dealing with kids, no pain when changing dressings. Honey has many other healing properties that will require many more articles. It has been found to work with stomach ulcers, bed-wetting, alcohol metabolism, relieves indigestion and it is also an effective facial. The list of things that honey can be used for continues to grow with each and every day. Author: Ben Adams

admin · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:00 pm Post subject: Can Guggul Lower Cholesterol?

Can Guggul Lower Cholesterol?

Guggul, also known as guggulu and guggulipid, is a substance secreted by the mukul myrrh tree (Commiphora mukul) after it has been injured. It has been used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for centuries to treat obesity, osteoarthritis, and some skin conditions. Recently, research has suggested that guggul also may lower total cholesterol levels, especially triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. The method by which guggul lowers cholesterol is not totally understood, however, there have been many mechanisms proposed. These mechanisms include blocking cholesterol synthesis and increasing removal of LDL cholesterol.

Can Guggul Lower Cholesterol?

Unfortunately, there is not enough data to support guggul’s effectiveness in lowering cholesterol levels. Some of the research performed on guggul suggests that it does modestly lower total cholesterol (between 10 to 27 percent), and LDL cholesterol , however, there are other studies that suggest guggulipid has no effect in lowering cholesterol levels.

One study to date noted that LDL cholesterol was actually elevated in the individuals taking guggul, however this result has not been noted in any other studies. This study was the only randomized guggul study conducted outside of India. The researchers of this study suspect that the cholesterol-lowering abilities of guggul may have something to do with diet. For instance, in this particular study the subjects followed a typical, fatty Western diet, whereas in the previous studies performed in India, the individuals consumed a more low fat, high fiber diet.

Currently, the majority of studies that examined guggul's ability to lower cholesterol only lasted a few months. Therefore, more long-term studies would be needed in order to determine the effectiveness of guggul.
What Should I Know Before Taking Guggul?

Guggul has been shown to interact with CYP3A4, an enzyme system in the body that is responsible for metabolizing many chemicals, including medications. There have been reports that taking guggul with certain medications, such as propanolol, diltiazem, and birth control pills could reduce the effectiveness of those drugs. Conversely, taking guggul with other types of drugs, such as statins, may actually raise the levels of these drugs in the body, causing them to become more toxic.

Guggul also may increase the effectiveness of blood thinners (like Warfarin), which may cause you to bleed more easily. This list is not limited to the drugs listed above, so if you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications, it would be wise not to take guggul, unless you are sure that an interaction between guggul and your medication does not exist. Additionally, you should not take guggul if you are pregnant or if you have a thyroid disorder, since guggul may lower thyroid stimulating hormone levels.

admin · Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:36 pm Post subject: New Warnings About Fluoride

New Warnings About Fluoride

For a long while, the medical and health establishment brushed off claims that fluoridation of drinking water posed any danger to humans.
Not any more.

In a cover story in the August edition of Prevention magazine, the respected publication headlines "New Research: Is Your Water Safe to Drink?”

The article notes that for over fifty years, adding fluoride to drinking
water has been seen as a magic bullet to conquer tooth decay. In fact, in 1999, the Centers for Disease Control named the fluoridation of drinking supplies as one of the twentieth century’s top ten advancements in public health.

But some scientists spent years questioning fluoride’s safety and believed Americans could be ingesting toxic levels. Despite fluoride’s obvious benefits as a cavity fighter, it is, nevertheless, a poison. In fact, before its discovery as a decay-fighting superhero, it was mainly used as a rat and insect poison!

To understand the dangers of fluoride, Prevention says simply look at a tube of toothpaste and read its warning: "Keep out of reach of children 6 years of age. If more than is used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.”

Best of Intentions

The reasoning behind adding fluoride to America’s drinking water seemed logical. In the early years of the twentieth century, most Americans had lost all or most of their teeth by the age of forty. Once fluoride was added to drinking water, cavity rates plummeted.

A 1962 study of Newburgh, New York, one of the first cities to add fluoride to its water supply, found that in fifteen years, cavities dropped by a whopping 70 percent.

But in March of this year, a group of dentists, toxicologists and epidemiologists determined that current fluoride levels, calculated in the days when water was the main source of fluoride, are too high.

The panel, assembled by the National Research Council (NRC), recommended that the acceptable upper limit be lowered.

"Fluoride should be abandoned,” Hardy Limeback, PhD, DDS, and head of preventative dentistry at the University of Toronto, told Prevention. Limeback also was a member of the NRC panel. He added that fluoride "could turn out to be one of the top ten mistakes of the 21st century.”

Too Much of a Bad Thing

Scientists know that too much fluoride stains and discolors teeth, a condition called dental fluorosis. But some disturbing studies, while not offering conclusive proof, have linked fluoride to serious adverse health effects including bone cancer and osteoporosis.

Several Chinese studies found links between high fluoride levels and lower IQs.

Dr. Russell Blaylock, a respected neurosurgeon and editor of the Blaylock Wellness Report, warns that fluoride may be linked to neurological impairment, brain diseases like Alzheimer’s, male impotence and infertility, sleep impairment, retardation in children, and numerous cancers.

Even fluoridated water’s reputation as a cavity-fighter extraordinaire is coming under fire. When National Institutes of Health researchers compared the dental records of a group of 16,000 children, in which half drank fluoridated water and the other half did not, they found only 18 percent less tooth decay in the fluoridated group.

The CDC’s estimates the average American gets between 1mg/L and 3mg/L of fluoride daily and has set a goal of 1mg/L.

However, even that low level may increase health risks. One study showed that elderly men whose water only had 1mg/L had a 41 percent increase in the risk of hip fractures.

admin

Symptoms of GERD

Your Guide to Heartburn / GERD.

Persistent heartburn and acid regurgitation.

These are the main symptoms GERD, though some people have GERD without heartburn.

Pain in the chest

Hoarseness in the morning

Trouble swallowing

May feel like food is stuck in the throat

Choking sensation

Persistent dry cough

Bad breath
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GERD and Asthma

Your Guide to Heartburn / GERD.

Studies have shown that approximately 75% of asthma patients also suffer from GERD. It has also been found that asthmatics are twice as likely to have GERD as non-asthmatics. Further research has also shown that those asthmatics who have a severe chronic form of asthma that is resistant to treatment are the most likely to also have GERD.

Does GERD Cause Asthma?

In a series of studies by Dr. Vikram Khoshoo and other scientists, it has been indicated that GERD can cause or worsen asthma symptoms, and that asthma and asthma medications may in turn cause or aggravate GERD.

The relationship may be based on one or both of the following two factors:

GERD has been shown to worsen asthma symptoms in some patients
Asthma, and particularly some asthma medications, have been shown to worsen GERD symptoms.

How GERD Can Affect Asthma

GERD can affect asthma in a number of ways:

Refluxed acid aspirated into the airways and lungs, making breathing difficult and causing the patient to cough.

Triggered nerve reflex that causes the airways to narrow in order to prevent a foreign material from entering the lungs.
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This will then cause shortness of breath.

Some asthma medications (beta-adrenergic bronchodilators) may trigger GERD symptoms, according to one study.

What You Should Do If You Have Asthma and GERD

The Khoshoo study indicated that treating the GERD may drastically lower the need for asthma medications.

An important step in control of GERD symptoms if you have asthma is to have your asthma under control. Working with your physician is important. Your doctor can prescribe asthma medications for you to take, which you will need to take consistently. Your doctor and you can also discuss what your asthma triggers are, and how you can limit your exposure to them.

The next step is to take a few preventative steps to control GERD symptoms. These include:

Sleep with your head and shoulder on an incline.
Lying down flat presses the stomach's contents against the LES. With the head higher than the stomach, gravity helps reduce this pressure, and keeps stomach contents where they belong--in the stomach. You can elevate your head in a couple of ways. You can place bricks, blocks or anything that's sturdy securely under the legs at the head of your bed.

You can also use a wedge-shaped pillow to elevate your head.

Sleep on your left side.

Studies have shown that this position aids digestion and helps with the removal of stomach acid. Sleeping on the right side has been shown to worsen heartburn.

Eat at least two to three hours before lying down.

If you take naps, try sleeping in a chair. Lying down with a full stomach can cause stomach contents to press harder against the LES, increasing the chances of refluxed food.

Avoid foods that are known to lead to heartburn.

These include foods that can trigger your heartburn, either by increasing acid production and gastric pressure or by loosening the lower sphincter muscle. Also, avoid foods that can irritate the lining of the esophagus, such as spicy foods, coffee, citrus fruit and juices. Especially if you eat any of these foods at dinnertime will increase your chances of having nighttime heartburn. If you aren't sure what foods trigger your heartburn symptoms, try keeping a heartburn record for a week. You can also check out a chart for foods with little risk of causing heartburn.

Eliminate late-night snacking.

Have your last snack no later than two hours before bedtime.

Stop smoking.

Nicotine can weaken the lower esophageal sphincter, which can lead to stomach contents entering the esophagus, with heartburn as a result. Smoking also stimulates the production of stomach acid. Find out the other reasons it's good to stop smoking if you suffer from heartburn.

Avoid alcohol.

Alcohol increases the production of stomach acid. Alcohol also relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), allowing stomach contents to reflux back up into the esophagus. If you still want to consume alcohol, find out how and when to consume alcohol when you suffer from heartburn.

You can also discuss with your doctor if you should take an over-the-counter remedy for your GERD symptoms, such as:

Tums
Zantac
Tagamet
Axid
Pepcid

Your doctor may also prescribe a medication that will reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces. These include:

Prilosec

Previcid

Nexium

admin

Action on bird flu could also boost general health

Three days of hard talking in Geneva has not diminished the pandemic risk. But the strong commitment to action among delegates at last week's WHO meeting means bird flu could represent an opportunity as well as a threat. Hannah Brown reports.

Fear, it seems, is the necessary impetus for international cooperation. As delegates in Geneva listened with solemnity to the myriad gaps in current pandemic planning—and possibilities for a massive escalation in costs if the virus mutates to a human transmissible form—the urge to cooperate and remove bureaucratic barriers to preparedness seemed to grow ever larger.

The meeting in Geneva ended with several points of agreement, including broad support for an urgent resource request for US$35 million to fund high-priority activities over the next 6 months. Delegates also agreed on ten key actions to be implemented from now, which will help to accelerate preparedness planning and stamp out H5N1 in birds. "People are hungry to talk about how to make more concrete the interventions", said a member of the USA delegation.

But the strength of the consensus hides the logistical problems of actually achieving results. Louise Fresco, Assistant Director-General of FAO explains: "We are not starting from scratch. We have worked on [H5N1] for 2 years, so we know how to do it . . . The issue here is need."

Minimising the threat at source—birds—is the first of the ten central action points to come out of the meeting. This means urgently increasing veterinary services in affected areas, humanely culling affected animals and compensating farmers, boosting vaccination campaigns in animals, and rapidly strengthening surveillance and reporting. According to Fresco, expanding these activities will require "a national concerted effort from cabinet level all the way down to villages". And that means coordination.

Speaking in Geneva, David Nabarro, UN System Coordinator for Avian and Pandemic Influenza, proposed that an international consortium be established to coordinate preparedness and response activities, thereby avoiding duplication of efforts and optimising use of resources. "We need a forum for strong and effective working relationships", says Nabarro. "My experience from working with humanitarian crises during the past 3 years has taught me that you have to get these relationships right from the start."

Key to making this consortium work will be harmonising donations from the development aid sector—not known for its effective coordination on humanitarian issues. "Donor communities have an important role to play in reducing the burden on governments of having to deal with many donors", says Vincent de Visscher, External Relations Directorate General - European Commission.

Money will need to be delivered to countries with few resources in a way that is responsive to the countries' needs, and flexible enough to allow quick access in times of emergency. Although urgent cash to kick-start global efforts—the $35 million emergency fund mentioned earlier—will go straight to international agencies, 90% of future money will be channelled through national plans. To handle this financial traffic, there must be systems in place to make sure the money is spent effectively, that it gets to where it is needed, and that the right results are achieved.

Summarising the problem, James Adams, Vice President of Operations Policy and Country Services at the World Bank, quoted from a Norwegian report on aid financing he had recently read: "When all is said and done about aid coordination, a lot more is said than done."

One of the main issues limiting the number of concrete plans to come out of the Geneva meeting was necessarily rough nature of cost estimates. The World Bank came up with a figure of $750 000-$1 billion to combat the spread of bird flu in the first instance, based on the finance needs of programmes already underway. But, according to Fadia Saadah, World Bank Sector Manager for Health, Nutrition, and Population, if a pandemic starts, "all of these figures will be multiplied by several orders of magnitude."

Funders will be asked to make firm commitments in a follow-up meeting hosted by China on January 17-18. Before then, it will be essential to flesh out action plans in more detail. "We need specifics on action plans and on the associated costs with respect to short, medium, and long term", a Canadian representative said. "We need decision making and decision making requires information."

The rational for putting so much money into health system strengthening to fight a possible pandemic goes way beyond the threat of H5N1. Improving health systems and surveillance will protect populations from any new emerging disease, as well as improving services for health all over the world. But there is concern that the high political priority of avian influenza might divert funds from other projects or cause money to be spent in haste, without clear ideas of how to monitor success. "Avian influenza needs an urgent response", said a delegate representing Australia. "But we need to avoid compromising the quality, and therefore the effectiveness, of our responses."

With coordination, however, there is also a need for tailored approaches to individual countries. One size will not fit all. As David Nabarro explained: "Viruses will explore cracks in our defences, but in blocking these gaps we must not shackle ourselves to unreasonable conformity."

admin

Countries call for accelerated adoption of IHR

Repeated pleas for transparency about avian influenza have peppered this week's international meeting hosted by WHO. Several countries are now pushing to make openness a legal requirement by bringing forward the new International Health Regulations (IHR).

China's request this week for help from WHO in establishing whether the Oct 17 death of a 12-year-old girl in Hunan province was linked to H5N1 has reassured international observers of the country's commitment to openness and transparency. But worries about the potential damage to tourism and trade—particularly in poultry-exporting countries—of advertising outbreaks of avian influenza has raised concerns that not all countries will follow China's lead.

Addressing this problem directly, the president of the 2005 World Health Assembly (WHA), Elena Salgado, speaking on Monday (Nov 7), called on all WHO member states to voluntarily adopt the provisions set out in the revised IHR, which were approved in May at this year's WHA. "It would be a good idea for the contents of the IHR to be used to help prevent a pandemic . . . I think we should make use of them", she said.

Salgado's position was later reiterated by Peru: "We need to make sure we are all speaking the same language", a delegation member said.

The IHR, which have developed from conventions drawn up during the mid to late 19th century, when cholera epidemics overran Europe, help WHO monitor and control public-health threats. The 2005 revision of these regulations—the first since 1969—was undertaken to address long-acknowledged limitations. The new document includes several extra requirements for governments.

Among other things, states must now notify WHO of all events that might constitute "a public-health emergency of international concern" and respond to requests for information. Countries are also asked to establish a National Country Focus Point, with corresponding contacts or officials who must be available to communicate with WHO 24 hours a day. And, of particular relevance to pandemic planning, the IHR require states to strengthen detection and reporting systems for monitoring potential public-health threats.

The aim of the revision was to enhance communication between WHO and member states—exactly what WHO now needs to promote to boost the world's defences against pandemic influenza. But there is a problem: the IHR are not timetabled to become legally binding until June 2007, by which time it may be too late

There are some options to get round this issue, but all require agreement from WHO's 192 member states. One option, as suggested by Salgado, is a voluntary agreement that countries should abide by the regulations in advance. However, a member of the Brazilian delegation said in Geneva on Monday that he does not believe such an agreement would be enough. He called on the Executive Board of WHO to discuss accelerated adoption of the full plans.

But this may not be a good way forward either. There are several requirements in the IHR that mean countries have to invest resources in strengthening surveillance, treatment capacity, and boosting border controls—all things that take time and significant investments of cash. Adopting the IHR early would risk a difficult situation if many member states were unable to fully comply.

The Chilean delegation suggested on Wednesday (Nov 9) a third option: selecting just the relevant parts of the IHR, including obligatory notification of influenza and setting up of country contact points, to implement now.

But perhaps the most reasonable plan of action, put forward by Brazil, would be to follow the route taken by the WHA when Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) first emerged in 2003. In that situation, a specific resolution was adopted recognising SARS as the "first severe infectious disease to emerge in the twenty-first century" and urging countries to "report cases promptly and transparently and provide requested information to WHO". If SARS got a resolution all of its own, surely avian influenza should too?

admin · Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:43 pm Post subject: Create the Heartburn-Safe Diet

Create the Heartburn-Safe Diet

Your Guide to Heartburn / GERD.

Foods that are safe for you to eat when you suffer from heartburn
There are some foods that have little or no potention for causing heartburn. The foods listed in the Safe Foods Table are the most common foods that are usually pretty safe for heartburn sufferers to eat. This is by no means a complete list, and in your personal situation, you may either find you can eat the foods from the "Avoid" group with no problem or have problems with foods listed as safe foods. It is a good idea to keep a Food Diary. For approximately two weeks, write down what you eat, when you eat and any symptoms you may experience. This will give you a better idea of what your safe foods are.

To learn more about what are the safe foods you can read this Safe Foods article.

For a printer-friendly of the chart pictured below, you can go to http://heartburn.about.com/library/np_safefoods.htm

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admin

Who is Most at Risk for Skin Cancer?

Your Guide to Cancer.

Everyone is at risk for developing skin cancer. However, there are certain characteristics that make people more at risk for developing skin cancer.
Who is More at Risk for Skin Cancer
people with freckles

Those with fair skin tones

Those who burn easily

People with light colored eyes, like green and blue eyes

People with naturally red or blonde hair

People who spend a lot of time outdoors

People who have a family history of skin cancer or melanoma

Keep in mind that everyone is at risk for skin cancer, even those with darker complexions like African Americans and people Hispanic/Latino origin. Although their risk of developing skin cancer isn't as high as fair skinned people, they are especially at risk for melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer.

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How Can People Most At Risk Protect Themselves from the Sun
Use Sunscreen. I know you have heard it a million times, but sunscreen really is your best bet to prevent skin cancer if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Choose a sunscreen that is at least SPF 15 or higher. Sunscreen should be worn daily.

Avoid direct exposure to midday sun. Basically, this means do not go outdoors when the sun's rays are at its brightest, which is 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Stay shady. Staying in the shade not only will keep you cooler, it will reduce your risk of skin cancer. Stay out of the sun's harmful rays.

Wear protective clothing. Clothing like a wide brimmed hat or sunglasses are a good start to prevent skin cancer. The glasses will protect your eyes and eyelids, while the hat will protect your face. Try to cover areas of the skin that will be exposed to the sun.

admin

Workplace Stress Management Program Reduces Heart-Rate Variability and BP CME

Laurie Barclay, MD

Disclosures

January 16, 2007 — Participation in a workplace stress-management program reduced heart-rate variability and decreased blood pressure in office workers.

"Work stress may increase cardiovascular risk either indirectly, by inducing unhealthy life styles, or directly, by affecting the autonomic nervous system and arterial pressure," write Daniela Lucini, MD, PhD, from the University of Milan in Italy, and colleagues. "We hypothesized that, before any apparent sign of disease, work-related stress is already accompanied by alterations of RR [relative risk] variability profile and that a simple onsite stress management program based on cognitive restructuring and relaxation training could reduce the level of stress symptoms, stress-related autonomic nervous system dysregulation, and lower arterial pressure."

The investigators compared 91 white-collar workers in a stress condition because of work downsizing with 79 healthy control subjects. Psychological profiles were evaluated with questionnaires, and autonomic nervous system dysregulation was assessed using spectral analysis of RR variability. A simple, onsite stress-management program consisting of cognitive restructuring and relaxation training was given to a subgroup of workers; a sham program was given to another subgroup.

Compared with control subjects, workers had a higher level of stress-related symptoms and an altered variability profile

Participation in the stress-management program was associated with a reversal in these changes and with a slight decrease in systolic arterial pressure. No changes were observed in the group participating in the sham program.

"This noninvasive study indicates that work stress is associated with unpleasant symptoms and with an altered autonomic profile and suggests that a stress management program could be implemented at the worksite, with possible preventive advantages for hypertension.

"Stress is a fundamental experience of modern work, and several models have been used to provide a formal description of their relationship in an attempt to design company-wide programs of intervention capable of minimizing the impact of stress on organizational, economic, and health outcomes," the authors conclude. "The present investigation provides a potential model for the assessment of work-related stress at an individual level; in addition, it suggests that SMPs [stress-management programs] can be implemented at the worksite, with a capacity to reduce the stress symptoms level, revert stress-related [autonomic nervous system] dysregulation, and lower resting arterial pressure. The practical long-term impact of this approach on symptoms, well being, and health of interested workers requires specific longitudinal studies on large populations."

Hypertension. Published online January 8, 2007.

Clinical Context

Psychosocial factors, including job stress, have a profound effect on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and may predispose to acute myocardial infarction. The mechanisms linking job stress to cardiovascular risk are complex and probably related to the autonomic nervous system. Noninvasive techniques, such as a spectral analysis of electrocardiogram RR variability profile for the low- and high-frequency components are measures of autonomic nervous system dysregulation that can be used to assess the impact of job stress and psychological measures.

The current article is an open study of 170 subjects, consisting of a stressed group of workers and unstressed controls, to examine the association between autonomic nervous system measures and job stress and the impact of a stress-management program during 1 year on job-stress measures. Stressed workers were divided into 2 groups: 1 underwent the weekly stress-management program at work; the other received passive materials.

Study Highlights

Stressed workers comprised 91 workers of a US multinational company in Italy undergoing a 10% layoff.

Controls comprised 79 healthy volunteers outside the company who did not complain of any stress.

Excluded were those with psychiatric illness.

Stress evaluation was conducted by a psychologist and participants completed the Subjective Stress-Related Somatic Symptom Questionnaire to self-rate overall stress, tiredness perception, and stress-related symptoms.

Autonomic evaluation was conducted after 10 minutes of rest, and subjects were instructed to avoid caffeine and alcohol for 12 hours and to refrain from heavy physical activity within 24 hours.
Workers were studied in an office at the worksite and single-lead electrocardiograph was performed in the recumbent and standing positions.

Variability and blood pressure were measured.

After the measurements, the stressed group was subdivided into 2 groups.

1 group chose to participate in an active stress-management program for 1 year.

The stress-management program consisted of weekly 1-hour on-site encounters with mental relaxation techniques (mental imagery, respiration, and muscle relaxation) in small groups of 8 to 10, delivered by a psychologist and conducted at the workplace with a flexible work schedule.

The other group chose to participate in a sham program, consisting of 1 encounter and monthly emails and articles about stress.

Measures of stress were repeated at the end of 1 year.

Primary outcomes were stress measures by self-report and autonomic nervous system measures of stress.

The stressed group reported both work and personal stress, whereas the control unstressed group reported no significant sources of stress.
Workers showed significantly higher perception of stress and tiredness than controls. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were similar in the 2 groups.

The low-frequency component was higher in stressed workers, whereas the high-frequency component was lower.

After 1 year, those who participated in the stress-management program showed a significantly lower perception of stress. The sham-program group showed the same scores before and after the passive program.

Thus, there was a significant overall effect of stress on autonomic parameters, which was reversed with the stress-management program treatment.

Pearls for Practice

Job-related stress is associated with an elevated level of subjective symptoms and altered autonomic profile.

One year of weekly stress-management sessions is associated with reduction in subjective stress symptoms and normalization of the autonomic profile in stressed office workers.

1. A 43-year-old male worker is stressed. According to this study by Lucini and colleagues, he is more likely than an unstressed worker to show all of the following except:

Increased subjective symptoms of tiredness and stress

Both personal and work sources of stress

Higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure

Higher low-frequency component interval on electrocardiograph

2. According to this study, after 1 year of a stress-management program, stressed workers are more likely than unstressed workers to show changes in all of the following except:

Reduction in stress symptoms

Reduction in tiredness

Lower incidence of disability

admin · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:18 pm Post subject: Januvia - A New Drug For Type 2

Januvia - A New Drug For Type 2

Your Guide to Diabetes.

First In Its Class:

A new oral medication called Januvia (sitagliptin phosphate) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for management of Type 2 diabetes. It's the first in a new class of drugs called DPP-4 inhibitors. Januvia lowers blood sugar levels by blocking an enzyme known as dipeptidyl peptidase IV or DPP-4.

Prolongs Insulin Production:

DPP-4 is responsible for breaking down the proteins that stimulate the insulin producing cells after a meal. If DPP-4 is inhibited, then the proteins can activate the release of insulin for a longer period of time, thereby lowering the glucose level in the blood.

Diet, Exercise and Medications:

Januvia showed good results in recent trials both in combination with other drugs, like metformin, and also by itself. It is prescribed for Type 2 diabetes only. For some people, diet, exercise and conventional medications are not enough to keep blood glucose levels in a good range. Januvia has been successful in clinical trials at helping to lower them when traditional methods aren't enough. Diet and exercise are still important additions to medical management, however.

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How It Works:

Januvia works by prolonging the stimulation of insulin production. The risk of hypoglycemia is unlikely because Januvia only works when it's needed. For example, if there is no glucose in the blood, then there is no action from Januvia, but after a meal when glucose levels rise, then Januvia will work to lower that level. Also, scientists have found that there is little risk of weight gain with Januvia, unlike some other oral diabetes medications.

Side Effects:

The most commonly reported side effects include upper respiratory infection, sore throat and/or headache.

Januvia is processed through the kidneys. People who have decreased renal function may need to have their dose of Januvia adjusted by their doctor to a lower dose. Renal function should be assessed before taking Januvia.

Dose Guidelines:

Januvia will be prescribed in a dose of 100 milligrams once a day. The dose may be adjusted based on renal function. It does not need to be taken with a meal, as some other classes of oral diabetes medications do. Merck & Co., Inc., the company who manufactures Januvia, has set the price of Januvia at $4.86 per tablet. This works out to a little less than $150.00 a month. Januvia should be available at pharmacies soon.

[/i]

admin · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:30 pm Post subject: Know Your Food

Know Your Food

Eating Close To The Earth

The food we eat is a multidimensional aspect of our lives. Food provides us with the energy that enables us to grow and prosper. Yet it can be, and frequently is, much, much more. Our food can be an experience in and of itself if we allow it to be. The dishes we remember from childhood offer unmatched comfort. The act of preparing meals can be an art form of the highest caliber. And the nourishment we derive from this fare promotes wellness within us. But many of us, distracted by daily affairs, forget that the profound pleasures of eating go beyond simple sustenance. We eat foods that are convenient or we eat unconsciously, snacking on whatever happens to be on hand. To understand the true value of food and the impact it can have on our lives, we should acknowledge and honor it by eating close to the earth.

If you have ever shelled and eaten garden-grown peas or bitten into a sun-warmed apple freshly plucked from its tree, you likely understand that there is a marked difference between these foods and those that are processed and stacked on supermarket shelves. Food recently picked contains more of its original life force and thus has a greater store of energy and nutrients. You can ensure you are eating close to the earth-and enjoying the many benefits of doing so-by shopping at a local farmers market and getting to know the individuals who grow your food.

If you make the experience of shopping in this way enjoyable, you will be more apt to reject more convenient canned, packaged, and frozen foods in favor of the real delight you feel while browsing stalls of fresh foods nourished by the same soil you can find in your own backyard. You will soon learn what foods are in season in your area and how to prepare them.

As you savor the vivid flavors of juicy ripe fruits and the hearty crunch of unprocessed vegetables, you can also take pleasure in the fact that, by eating close to the earth, you are supporting farmers in your region, connecting with your local ecosystem, discouraging those who would waste precious fossil fuels by carting produce cross-country, and helping to preserve healthy culinary traditions that have existed for centuries.

Pat · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 181 Location: CENLA ,La.

To Ms. Anne,
Thank you for the article on Honey and I am posting another.
One can not emphasize the miracle of honey.
We are blessed to have it.
News has it that there are a lack of bees to produce
the glowing gold fluid.
I can attest to the fact of having severe breathing problems
due to allergies.
I was placed on all sorts of medicines and none were helping.
In fact the use of predisone was only escalating the problem .
I gave it all up and started using the honey that was suggested
to me by a muslim due to the affirmations of the miraculous
use of honey in the Quran.
All of my symtoms disappear and I have never had to take
another antihistamine again since my own personal discovery.
One more thing I would like to mention regarding the use of
honey.
It is NOT acceptable to give to very young children.
The bacteria levels are too high for them.
Here is another article regarding the usage of honey.

[url]
http://www.kitchenmedicinebook.com/016809.html[/url]
_________________
Many Blessings,
~Pat~

Time and a purpose for everything...
Everything is connected!

admin

Ancient tome on herbal medicine shows new truths

A few years ago, Eric Buenz came across a 17th century book on herbal medicine.

And he wondered if its ancient folk wisdom could withstand a little scientific scrutiny.

So Buenz, then a graduate student at the Mayo Clinic, and a colleague decided to test a tree extract that the book claimed could cure diarrhea.

What they found was that the potion, made from the nuts of the atun tree, works a lot like an antibiotic, killing various types of bacteria.

And in a report in the British Medical Journal this month, they explain how a 300-year-old text by a Dutch naturalist named Rumphius could help scientists in their search for new and better drugs.

"It was lost traditional knowledge," Buenz said.

Buenz, 29, traveled to Samoa to collect the nuts and consult with shamans. "And we tested it and it worked."

Mayo and the scientists have obtained a patent on the medicinal properties of the atun tree nut, in hopes someone might develop it into a drug.

"Our findings," they wrote in the journal, "show that potential drugs can be identified by searching historical herbal texts."

In a way it's not surprising, because many prescription drugs come from natural substances, said Dr. Brent Bauer, one of the co-authors and director of the Mayo Clinic's complementary and integrative medicine program.

"There's a reason why they chose the plants they did, why they prepared them the way they did," he said of traditional healers. "The fact that we can somewhat validate ancient knowledge is cool because a lot of this ancient knowledge is disappearing."

In this case, the "ancient knowledge" probably would have disappeared if not for the dogged persistence of Georg Everhard Rumphius, a mercenary with the Dutch East India Company, whose story is recounted in the Dec. 23 British Medical Journal article.

In 1657, he started collecting plants on the Indonesian island of Ambon and recording their medicinal uses in a text that he illustrated himself. Thirty years later, his manuscripts burned in a fire.

"At that point I'd be reaching for the Prozac or something," Bauer said. "He goes back and just starts writing it all over again."

Rumphius, who was then blind, dictated the second manuscript and commissioned new illustrations. But this, too, was destroyed when the ship transporting the book to Holland was sunk by the French navy.

Rather than "surrender to despair," the authors note, he reworked his surviving notes and completed seven volumes of the book, called Ambonese Herbal.

Fast forward to the 21st century: The surviving copies were essentially gathering dust in rare-book collections until a Dutch-language professor decided to translate part of the text into English.

And Buenz stumbled onto the translation at a botanical library in Hawaii.

Buenz, a scientist who had studied folk medicine while on a fellowship in Samoa, was fascinated.

He and Bauer searched the Rumphius text for references to herbal medicines, and compared them to a database of known medicinal plants. The atun nut/diarrhea treatment was a new one, so they decided to test it.

Buenz, who now owns his own research company called BioSciential in Rochester, returned to Samoa, where healers use the nut to make a sweet-smelling massage oil for sore muscles _ "an historic Bengay," he said, laughing.

He returned to the United States with the nut, ground it up and mixed it with alcohol. In the lab, it killed two types of bacteria, Staphylococcus and Enterococcus (but didn't touch the E. coli).

For now, they don't know if it will work beyond the test tube. "That's the million-dollar question," Bauer said.

If anything ever comes of it, he added, they would share the profits with the native healers who helped them.

But the larger message, he said, is that there may be more to learn from the ancients.

"It should keep us somewhat humble," he said.

admin

Your Body Is A Mirror Of Your LifeBy Martin Brofman

Everything begins with your consciousness. Everything that happens in your life, and everything that happens in your body, begins with something happening in your consciousness.
Your consciousness is who you are, your experience of Being.

You decide what ideas to accept and which to reject. You decide what to think, and you decide what to feel. When these decisions leave you with residual stress, you experience the stress as if in your physical body. We know that stress creates symptoms. The interesting question is, "Which stress creates which symptoms?" When we are able to quantify this process, we are then able to see the body as a map of the person's consciousness, relating particular symptoms to particular stresses and particular ways of being, in the same way that Type "A" Behavior has been able to be associated with heart disease.

Everything Starts In Your Consciousness

To understand this map, we must first orient ourselves to the idea that the causes of symptoms are within. While it's true that germs cause disease and accidents cause injuries, it is also true that this happens in accord with what is happening in the consciousness of the person involved.

Germs are everywhere. Why are some people affected and not others? Something different is happening in their consciousness.

Why do some patients in hospitals respond better to treatment than others? They have different attitudes. Something different is happening in their consciousness When someone is injured in an "accident," why is it that a very specific part of the body is affected, and that it is the same part that has had habitual problems? Is that an "accident," or is there a pattern and an order to the way things happen in our bodies?

You Are A Being of Energy

Your consciousness, your experience of Being, who you really are, is energy. We can call it "Life Energy" for now. This energy does not just live in your brain; it fills your entire body. Your consciousness is connected to every cell in your body. Through your consciousness, you can communicate with every organ and every tissue, and a number of therapies are based on this communication with the organs which have been affected by some kind of symptom or disorder.

This energy which is your consciousness, and which reflects your state of consciousness, can be measured through the process known as Kirlian photography. When you take a Kirlian photograph of your hand, it shows a certain pattern of energy. If you take a second photograph while imagining that you are sending love and energy to someone you know, there will be a different pattern of energy shown on the Kirlian photograph. Thus, we can see that a change in your consciousness creates a change in the energy field that is being photographed, which we call the aura.

This energy field shown in the Kirlian photographs has been quantified, so that when there are "holes" in particular parts of the energy field, these are said to correspond to particular weaknesses in specific parts of the physical body. The interesting thing about this is that the weakness shows up in the energy field before there is ever any evidence of it on the physical level.

Thus, we have an interesting direction of manifestation shown through what we have described.
1. A change of consciousness creates a change in the energy field.
2. A change in the energy field happens before a change in the physical body.

The direction of manifestation is from the consciousness, through the energy field, to the physical body.

Consciousness------1------►Energy Field------2------►Physical Body

When we look at things in this way, we see that it is not the physical body creating the energy field, the aura, but rather the aura or energy field that is creating the physical body. What we see as the physical body is the end result of a process that begins with the consciousness.

We Each Create Our Reality

When someone makes a decision that leaves them with stress, creating a blockage in the energy field with a sufficient degree of intensity, this creates a symptom on the physical level. The symptom speaks a certain language, which reflects the idea that we each create our own reality. When the symptom is described from that point of view, the metaphoric significance of the symptom becomes clear. Thus, instead of saying, "I can't see," the person would have to say, "I have been keeping myself from seeing something." If they cannot walk, they would have to say, "I have been keeping myself from walking away from something." And so on. We must understand that there are no accidents and no coincidences. Things do happen according to a pattern and order.

The Human Directional System

We can say that we have an inner guidance system, a connection to our Higher Self, or our Inner Being, or whatever name we choose to give this Higher Intelligence. This inner guidance system functions through what we call our intuition, or our instinct. It speaks a very simple language. Either it feels good, or it doesn't. All the rest is just politics.

We are told we should move with what feels good, and do not do what doesn't feel good to us. We are told to trust this inner voice. When we don't follow this inner voice we feel tension. We feel not-good.

Then, the voice must get louder. The next level of communication is through the emotions. As we move more and more in the direction that feels not-good, we experience more and more emotions that feel not-good, and at some point we can say, "I should have listened to myself when I thought to move in the other direction." That meant that we heard the inner voice. Otherwise, we could not have said, "I should have listened." If we make the decision we know is the right one for us, and therefore change direction, there is a release of tension, we feel better, and we know we are again on the right track.

If we continue to move in the direction that feels not-good, the communication reaches the physical level. We create a symptom, and the symptom speaks a language which reflects the idea that we each create our own reality. When we describe the symptom from that point of view, we can understand the message.

If we change our way of being, we have received the message, and the symptom has no further reason for being. It is able to be released, according to whatever we allow ourselves to believe is possible.

If we created the symptom with a decision, we are also able to release it with a decision.

As an hypothesis, we can imagine that someone makes a decision that it is not a good idea to express what they want. From that moment, whenever there is something they want, they keep themselves from expressing it, and therefore from having what they want. That feels not-good. The tension grows. They feel more and more not-good as they keep themselves from expressing what they want and not having it.

Eventually, something happens to create a symptom on the physical level, and their right arm is affected. It could have happened through falling from a ladder, or in an automobile accident, or by pinching a nerve in the neck, or by "sleeping in a draft."

Something had to happen on the physical level to create the symptom, in order to give the person the message on the physical level about what they had been doing to themselves. We do to ourselves literally what we have been doing to ourselves figuratively.

The effect is that the person cannot move their arm. They are keeping themselves from reaching for something, and since it is the right arm, on the "will" side of the body, they are keeping themselves from reaching for or going for what they want. They have been giving themselves reasons to not believe that they could have what they want. When they begin to do something different in their consciousness, they notice that something different begins to happen with their arm, and the symptom is able to be released.

Chakras And The Map

To understand the map of the consciousness that the body represents, we can turn to some ancient Hindu traditions which have been studying consciousness for thousands of years, and which use the language of the chakras.

Chakra is a Sanskrit word, and it means "wheel," or "vortex," because that's what it looks like when we look at it. Each chakra is like a solid ball of energy interpenetrating the physical body, in the same way that a magnetic field can interpenetrate the physical body.

The chakras are not physical. They are aspects of consciousness in the same way that the auras are aspects of consciousness The chakras are more dense than the auras, but not as dense as the physical body, but they interact with the physical body through two major vehicles, the endocrine system and the nervous system. Each of the seven chakras is associated with one of the seven endocrine glands, and also with a particular group of nerves called a plexus. Thus, each chakra can be associated with particular parts of the body and particular functions within the body controlled by that plexus or that endocrine gland associated with that chakra.

Your consciousness, your experience of being, represents everything it is possible for you to experience. All of your senses, all of your perceptions, all of your possible states of awareness, can be divided into seven categories, and each of these categories can be associated with a particular chakra. Thus, the chakras represent not only particular parts of your physical body, but also particular parts of your consciousness. When you feel tension in your consciousness, you feel it in the chakra associated with the part of your consciousness experiencing the stress, and in the parts of the physical body associated with that chakra. Where you feel the stress depends therefore on why you feel the stress. When someone is hurt in a relationship, they feel it in their heart. When someone is nervous, their legs tremble and their bladder becomes weak.

When there is tension in a particular part of your consciousness, and therefore in the chakra associated with that part of your consciousness, the tension is detected by the nerves of the plexus associated with that chakra, and communicated to the parts of the body controlled by that plexus. When the tension continues over a period of time, or reaches a particular degree of intensity, the person creates a symptom on the physical level. Again, the symptom served to communicate to the person through their body what they had been doing to themselves in their consciousness. When the person changes something about their way of being, they are able to release the stress that had been creating the symptom, and they are then able to return to their natural state of balance and health.

Reading The Map

When we are reading the body as a map of the consciousness within, we work with the idea that the tensions in the body represent tensions in the person's consciousness concerning what was happening in the person's life at the time that the symptom developed. The person was feeling stress about something that was happening in their life at that time.

We are going to examine the map of consciousness that the chakras provide, in order to understand the language of the symptoms that are associated with each chakra. In order to complete this map, however, we also need to look at ourselves as each a polarity of yin and yang, feminine and masculine characteristics.

For most people, their right side is their yang side, their will side, their acting or active side, and the left side is their yin side, their female side, their feeling or adaptive side. For people who were born left-handed, this polarity is reversed. Thus, for a right-handed person, their right leg can be described as their will leg, or their male leg, or the foundation of their will, but for a left-handed person, their left leg would be their male leg or will leg, and so on. Thus, we can talk about the will arm, or the will eye, or the will nostril, etc., and which side it is on will depend upon whether the person is right-handed or left-handed at birth.

Each of the chakras is energy vibrating at a certain frequency, in a logical and orderly sequence of seven vibrations. As we move up the scale, the elements become more and more subtle, moving through the five physical elements of earth, water, fire, air, and ether, to the spiritual elements of inner sound and inner light. The heaviest element is on the bottom, the lightest on the top. It is a logical and orderly sequence.

The colors of the spectrum also represent a series of seven vibrations in a logical and orderly sequence, as do the notes of the musical scale. Thus, we can put the heaviest vibrations or the longest wavelength on the bottom and the lightest on the top, and a particular color can be used to represent a chakra in its clear state, as can a particular musical note. Music played in a certain key vibrates a particular chakra, and we feel a particular way when we hear that music. Our relationship with a certain color says something about our relationship with the part of our consciousness that the color represents.

The Root Chakra is associated with the parts of our consciousness concerned with security, survival, or trust. For most people, this concerns the parts of their consciousness concerned with money, home, and job. When this chakra is in its clear state, the person is able to feel secure, be present in the here and now, and be grounded. When there is tension in this chakra, it is experienced as insecurity or fear. When there is more tension, it is experienced as a threat to survival.

Parts of the body controlled by the sacral plexus and this chakra include the skeleton system, the legs, and the elimination system. Symptoms in these parts of the body represent, therefore, tensions at the level of the Root Chakra, and we therefore know that the person is seeing the world through a perceptual filter of insecurity or fear. The adrenal glands are also associated with this chakra.

If one leg is affected, we can see whether it is the male leg or the female leg, and thus whether it has something to do with trust in a male or trust in a female. We can also see it as having something to do with trust in the will, or the aspects of trust in the foundations the emotional being, related to what was happening in the person's life at the time the symptom developed.

The physical sense of smell, and therefore the organ of the sense of smell, the nose, is associated with the Root Chakra. Symptoms at the level of the nose or affecting the sense of smell reflect tensions at the level of the Root Chakra.

Each chakra is associated with an element. The Root Chakra is associated with the element of earth, and reflects something about the person's association with the earth, or how they feel about being on the earth, which we call Mother Earth. This chakra is also associated with our relationship with our mother. When someone experiences a sense of separation from their mother, or not feeling loved by their mother, they cut off their roots and experience symptoms of tensions at the level of the Root Chakra until they can again open to accept their mother's love.

When a child comes into the world in the traditional family structure, the mother provides the nourishment and the father provides the direction. Thus, in the child's relationship with its mother, it makes certain decisions about the way things are. The relationship with the mother thus becomes a model for the person's relationship with everything that represents security - money, home, and job.

The Root Chakra is associated with the color red.

The Abdominal Chakra is associated with the parts of our consciousness concerned with food and sex - the communication from the body to the person within it, about what the body wants or needs, and what it finds pleasurable. It also is related to what is happening in their consciousness about having children. When this chakra is in its clear state, the person is in touch with this communication, and listening to and responding appropriately to what the body wants and needs.

Parts of the body controlled by the lumbar plexus include the reproductive system and the abdomen, and the lumbar region of the back.

The sense of taste is associated with this chakra, as is the element of water. When someone does not have a clear relationship with water (swimming, for example, or being on a boat), this reflects their attitudes about the parts of their consciousness that this chakra represents.
Tensions on the will side or the emotional side of this chakra indicate tensions in the person's consciousness as conflicts between either the will or the emotions with what the person's body is asking for.

This chakra is associated with the sense of taste, and with appetite. It is also involved with the person's willingness to feel their emotions.

The second chakra is associated with the color orange.

The Solar Plexus Chakra is associated with the parts of our consciousness having to do with perceptions of power, control, or freedom. In its clear state, it represents ease of being, and comfort with what is real for one's self - being comfortable with who you are.

Parts of the body associated with this chakra include the organs closest to the solar plexus - stomach, gall bladder, spleen, liver, etc. - as well as the skin as a system, the muscular system as a system, and the face in general.

The physical sense associated with this chakra is the sense of sight. Anyone with impaired eyesight experiences tension at the level of their solar plexus chakra about the issues of power, control, or freedom. Nearsighted people also experience tensions at the level of the Root Chakra, and experience the world through a perceptual filter of fear or insecurity. Those who are farsighted experience tension also at the level of the throat chakra, and see the world through a perceptual filter of anger or guilt. Astigmatics see through the emotional perceptual filter of confusion.

The endocrine gland associated with the Solar Plexus Chakra is the pancreas. We can say that diabetics are keeping sweetness from themselves. When someone gets too close with sweetness, they feel threatened in their power to be who they are, and an emotion comes up to create a safe distance again. The emotion is anger. Diabetes is associated with suppressed anger.

The element associated with this chakra is fire, and the person's relationship with the sun says something about their relationship with the parts of their consciousness associated with the Solar Plexus Chakra.

The color of the Solar Plexus Chakra is yellow.

The Heart Chakra is associated with the parts of the consciousness concerned with relationships and our perceptions of love. The relationships we speak of here are with those people closest to our heart - partners, parents, siblings, children.

The parts of the body associated with this chakra include the heart and lungs, and the blood circulatory system as a system. This chakra is also associated with the thymus gland, which controls the immune system. When this is affected, as with AIDS, the person's lifestyle separates them from someone they love.

The physical sense associated with this chakra is the sense of touch, in its aspect of relating to the person inside the body. For example, a massage given to someone with no sensitivity to what the person is feeling inside would be an example of the sensation we associate with the Abdominal Chakra, but when the masseur seems to have a sense of what the person inside the body is experiencing, then it includes the aspect of relating we associate with the Heart Chakra. When someone experiences extreme sensitivity about being touched, we would ask what was happening at the level of the Heart Chakra.

This chakra is associated with the element of air. When someone has difficulty with air, with breathing (asthma, emphysema, tuberculosis, etc.), we say that their relationship with air reflects their relationship with love - difficulty letting it in, or letting it out, for example

The color associated with the Heart Chakra is emerald green.

The Throat Chakra is associated with the parts of the consciousness concerned with expressing and receiving. Expressing can be in the form of communicating what one wants and what one feels, or it can be artistic expression, as an artist painting, a dancer dancing, a musician playing music, using a form for expressing and bringing to the outside what was within. Expression is related to receiving, as, "Ask, and ye shall receive."

The throat chakra is associated with abundance, and with the state of consciousness called, "grace," where it seems that what you want for you is also what God wants for you. Accepting what the abundant universe offers you requires a sense of unconditionally receiving.

This chakra is also associated with listening to one's intuition, and flowing in a particular way where it seems that the Universe supports you in all that you do. It is the first level of consciousness from which one perceives another level of intelligence functioning, and one's interaction with this other level of intelligence.

Parts of the body associated with this chakra include the throat, shoulders, and arms and hands. and the thyroid gland.

The sense of hearing is associated with this chakra, and the element of ether, the most subtle physical element, corresponding to what we find in deep space. The ether is the crossover between the physical and the spiritual dimensions. Someone looking at the world through this chakra watches the manifestation of their goals. The Will Arm represents manifesting what you want, and the Feeling Arm represents manifesting what makes you happy. Hopefully, the two point to the same thing.

Sky Blue is the color associated with this chakra.

The Brow Chakra is associated with the parts of the consciousness concerned with the spiritual view, and the home of the Spirit, the Being within. This level of consciousness is associated with what western traditions call the unconscious or subconscious, the part of our consciousness that directs our actions and our life. From this level we are aware of the motivations behind our actions. We can watch our outer theater from an inner point of view.

This chakra is associated with the carotid plexus, and the nerves on each side of the face, and the pituitary gland. Headaches in the temples or center of the forehead are associated with tensions at this level. This chakra controls the entire endocrine system as a system, and the process of growth.

The Brow chakra, also known as the Third Eye, is associated with extra sensory perception (ESP), the set of all inner senses that correspond to the outer senses, which together comprise spirit-to-spirit communication. The element associated with this chakra is a vibration known as the Inner Sound, the sound that one hears in their ears that does not depend upon something in the physical world. Some consider it a pathological condition. In some of the eastern traditions the ability to hear this is considered a necessary prerequisite to further spiritual growth.

The color associated with this chakra is Indigo, midnight blue, the color of lapis lazuli, or the color of the night sky during a full moon.
The Crown Chakra is associated with the parts of the consciousness concerned with unity or separation, and just as the Root Chakra showed our connection with Mother Earth, this chakra shows our connection with Our Father, Which Art in Heaven. At first, it is associated with our connection with our biological father. This becomes the model for our relationship with authority, and this becomes the model for our relationship with God. When there is a sense of separation from our biological father, the person closes this chakra, and the effect on the consciousness is a sense of isolation and aloneness, being in a shell, and difficult to make contact with those outside the shell.

The person feels as if they are hiding from God, or hiding from themselves, not seeing what is true for them in the deepest part of their consciousness, the part we call the soul.

This chakra is also associated with a sense of direction.

The parts of the body controlled by this chakra are the pineal gland, the brain, and the entire nervous system as a system.

The color associated with the Crown Chakra is Violet, the color of amethyst.

Using The Map

When there is tension in a particular part of the body, this represents a tension in a particular part of the consciousness, about a particular part of the person's life. Being aware of these associations helps one to see the importance of resolving the tense issues in their life.

If it were only a question of doing what is necessary for the person to be happy, that would be reason enough to motivate the person to want to change something that doesn't work for them, but here, we see that it is also a matter of health. The issues that are unresolved in a person's life are, in fact, hazardous to their health.

When we see the correspondences between the consciousness and the body, we see the degree to which we each create our reality. In fact, those words begin to take on a new meaning. We see how everything begins in our consciousness and we are able to look around us at other aspects of our lives in the same way.

When we see how the body carries out the messages and deepest wishes of the Being within the body, we can realize that the process can go in more than one direction. If our consciousness is directing how we develop symptoms, it can also direct how we release these same symptoms. If our consciousness can make our body ill, our consciousness can make our body well.

The logical conclusion of this process is that anything can be healed.

Copyright 1987 Martin Brofman

Martin Brofman, PhD, author of Anything Can Be Healed, and Improve Your Vision, (Findhorn Press) developed the Body Mirror System of Healing and A Vision Workshop after having healed himself of terminal cancer in 1976. Brofman Foundation – www.healer.ch
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Pat · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 181 Location: CENLA ,La.

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Food To Be Avoided to Control Acid Reflux

Your Guide to Heartburn / GERD.

Certain foods can aggravate your heartburn symptoms, and it's best to limit or avoid completely those foods and drinks that result in acid reflux. There are some foods that should be avoided entirely, as they are usually responsible for a higher occurrence of heartburn.

The foods listed in the Table below are the most common foods that can produce heartburn.

For a listing of foods that usually cause little or no heartburn problem, please check out the table for foods that have Little Potential to Cause Heartburn. For a listing of foods that you may be able to enjoy occasionally, please check out the table for foods that can be Consumed With Discretion.

This is by no means a complete list, and in your personal situation, you may either find you can eat the foods from the "Avoid" group with no problem or have problems with foods not listed.

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It is a good idea to keep a Food Diary. For approximately two weeks, write down what you eat, when you eat and any symptoms you may experience. This will help you and your doctor plan your diet and decide on any change in eating habits you may need.

admin · Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:35 pm Post subject: Nestle cuts cereal salt levels

Nestle cuts cereal salt levels

Get the latest Market Reports on Nestlé Shreddies

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Cereal mafufacturer Nestle has announced it is to cut the salt content of one of its leading brands by 15 per cent, appeasing health-conscious consumers and giving the product a healthier image.

From March, a typical serving of Shreddies breakfast cereal will contain 0.5g of salt or nine per cent of an adult's guideline daily amount.
The announcement comes as UK pressure group Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) encourages consumers to boycott high-salt foods and force errant manufacturers into following the example set by the majority of the industry who have reformulated products to respond to consumer concerns.

In a report published by the group today, CASH said the breakfast cereal sector had played its part in salt reduction with most cornflakes in the UK cutting salt content by about a third since 2004.

Nestlé say the company has been reducing salt levels in its UK breakfast cereals for the past ten years and reduced levels of the additive by 30 per cent so far with a quarter of the group's brands containing no added salt.

Nestlé nutritionist Dr Clare Chapman said: “As part of our ongoing commitment, we're continually trying to make all of our cereals even healthier. This latest salt reformulation for Shreddies demonstrates that commitment.”

According to Nestlé, over 250m servings of Shreddies are eaten each year in the UK, making it one of the country's top 10 breakfast cereals. All varieties of the brand – Original, Frosted, Honey and Coco Shreddies – will see salt levels drop by 15 per cent.

admin · Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:47 pm Post subject: How You Grow Sprouts

How You Grow Sprouts 26-01-2007

Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a great source of vitamins, fiber, protein, anti-oxidants, and enzymes. A sprout is produced when a seed starts growing into a vegetable. Sprouts can grow from the seeds of vegetables, from grains such as buckwheat, and from beans. While Mung beans are perhaps the most common source of sprouts, you can also obtain good results from lentils, soybeans and chickpeas just to name a few.

Sprouts can be grown almost anywhere and the best part is you only need a few basic supplies to get started. By following a few simple steps, you can receive a continual supply of nutritious sprouts.

While there are several commercial products available to cultivate sprouts, here are three of the easiest methods to help you get started.

Growing Sprouts in Flower Pots

1. Start with a clean clay or plastic flower pot. Make sure there is a hole in the bottom of the pot to ensure good drainage. Then place a piece of cheesecloth or muslin in the bottom of the pot over the hole so that the seeds/beans cannot fall out.

2. Next, soak the seeds or beans overnight and then put them in the pot. Remove any that are broken or damaged. Cover the plant pot with a dish.

3. Once a day, hold the pot under running water for a few minutes. This is to soak the seeds/beans thoroughly.

4. Once the sprouts begin to show, remove the dish and cover the pot with a piece of clear plastic wrap to let in the light. Place the sprouting pot near a window that allows daylight but is not in direct sunlight.

Growing the Sprouts in Trays

1. Soak the seeds or beans overnight. Remove any that are broken or damaged before you begin the sprouting process.

2. Select a low, flat dish (like a pie plate) or tray. You can purchase growing trays wherever planting supplies are sold.

3. Next, spread out a 2-inch layer of soil and then sprinkle the soaked seeds or beans on top of the soil.

4. Cover the seeds/beans with four layers of damp newspaper.

5. Cover the top of the tray with clear plastic wrap.

6. When the sprouts start to lift the plastic cover, (usually about three days) remove the newspaper.

7. Place the tray in a window so that the light can turn the sprouts green. You will need a space to place the sprouting tray that receives daylight but is not in direct sunlight.

8. Because the thin layer of soil dries out quickly, water twice each day.

9. After about 8-10 days, you will have sprouts tall enough to harvest.

Growing Sprouts in a Jar

1. Soak the seeds, grains, or beans in lukewarm water overnight in a wide-mouth glass jar. Remove any that are broken or damaged before you begin the sprouting process. (Sprouting increases the seed volume. 4- tablespoons will be sufficient for a quart size container.)

2. In the morning, pour off the water in the jar and rinse the seeds/beans thoroughly.

3. Place a piece of cheesecloth or muslin over the mouth of the jar. Use a rubber band to hold the material securely in place. This makes rinsing easier.

4. To keep the sprouts constantly damp, repeat the rinsing 2-3 times a day. Remember to drain any excess water because the sprouts should not stand in water.

5. Keep the jar away from the light for the first few days.

6. When the seeds/beans begin to sprout, (usually about the forth day) move the jar into the light to activate the chlorophyll and turn the sprouts green.

Harvesting and Storing the Sprouts

Newly germinated grain, seed, and sprouts, increase in food value in the very first period of growth.

Grains should be harvested and eaten from when they are six days old until they are 4-5 inches tall.

To harvest, just take your kitchen scissors and cut what you need.

Sprouts from beans, peas, etc., are ready earlier and can be eaten when they are 3-6 days old, depending on the type of sprout. For spouts grown in no soil or in seed trays, you can harvest the green "grass" when it starts to grow. Sprouts, from grain sown in jars, are ready sooner and are edible even before they turn green. Seeds sown in soil take a little longer.

If necessary, wash the sprouts thoroughly to remove the seed coat. Sprouts need to be stored in the refrigerator once they are ready to eat. Put the sprouts in tight sealing bags, and they will remain flavorful and crisp for one to two weeks. Rinsing the sprouts daily under cold water can extend their life.

Sprouts may be frozen by blanching them over steam for three minutes and then cooling them in ice water. Drain them and pack into freezer containers.

Some of the Kinds of Seeds/Beans You Can Sprout

The following list gives some of the popularly sprouted seeds/beans. It is not all inclusive as you can sprout almost any kind of seed. Remember that seeds soak up 2-3 times their dry volume in water and sprouts need at least six times the volume occupied by the seeds. So be sure that your container is large enough, and start with a minimal amount of seed in a container like a jar, until you determine the correct quantity that will grow to the sprout size you like, without being difficult to remove.

Your local garden shop or health food store will carry a line of seeds for sprouting. When purchasing seeds for sprouting, be certain that the seeds are intended for food and not for planting. This precaution is necessary because some seeds meant for planting have been treated with fungicides or insecticides to protect the young seedlings when planted in a field or garden.

Alfalfa - should be soaked for 6-12 hours. The seeds can be planted in the pots or jars and also in the flats with soil. 1-part seed gives 10-parts sprouts in approximately 5-6 days. Sprouts can be eaten after 3 days. When the root is 1-2 inches long, it will begin to develop tiny green leaves. At this stage, it needs to be eaten immediately so the plant will not switch to photosynthesis that exhausts the stored food in the seed.

Peas - when soaked in a glass jar, will grow sprouts in about 3 days. When the roots are 2-inches long, they are ready to eat. 1-part peas gives 2-parts sprouts.

Lentils - can be grown in either a glass jar or a plant pot and need to be soaked for 12-hours. The sprouts are ready in 3-4 days. Lentil sprouts are ready to be eaten when the root is 1-inch long. 1-part lentils gives 6-parts sprouts.

Barley, Oats, and Rye - should be soaked for 12-hours and then can either be grown as "grass" to harvest, or sprouts ready to eat after 3-4 days. The ideal length for eating is about 1/2-inch. 1-part seed gives 2-parts sprouts.

Soybeans - can be grown in a glass jar or a pot. They need to be soaked for 12-hours and sprouts are usually ready after 3-5 days. They are ready to eat when the root is 2-inches long. 1-part beans gives 4-parts sprouts.

Mung Beans - after soaking for 12-hours, these beans can be grown by any method. Mung beans are the most commonly grown sprouts and are usually ready to eat after 3-5 days. When the bright, white root grows from 1-2 inches long, they are ready to eat. 1-part beans gives 4-parts sprouts.

By growing your own sprouts, you will save yourself money because it is less expensive to buy sprout seeds and grow and harvest the sprouts yourself, than it is to buy the sprouts from a market.

Sprouting at home takes only a few minutes a day, and can produce a good part of your daily requirements of the nutrients you need from fresh produce. The hassles are minor, the costs are low, and the freshness is wonderful.

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Breakfast is for Weight Loss Champions!

Your Guide to Weight Loss.
Stay up to date!

You know how mom used to always say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Well, guess what? She was right! Mom knows best when it comes to realizing that breakfast is the fuel that keeps us running throughout the day. Let's talk about the importance of breakfast and some alternatives for anti-breakfast folks.

So, why do we do it? Sometimes it's just too easy to skip breakfast. You're in a rush, you'd prefer to sleep a little later rather than prepare a meal, or it's so hectic getting the kids off, you just can't seem to make the effort or find the time. Slow down or resist that snooze button!

You can even find some breakfast ideas in this article that are portable! Eat it on the way to work or, pack it and eat it once you get there and get settled in. How about fixing the whole family a healthy breakfast instead of setting for Pop Tarts or donuts for the kids? Or perhaps you're taking the (unwise) meal-skipping approach to losing weight.

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Chances are this is going to backfire on you because skipping meals almost always leads us to overeating. This is especially true in the case of breakfast, because you've just been asleep for 7 or 8 hours and your body needs to recover from this brief period of starvation.

If you don't eat something in the morning, you are literally forcing yourself into running on empty. Say the last time you ate was 8 p.m. last night. If you didn't eat lunch until noon today, that's sixteen hours of no refueling! Your body is screaming out, "Give me some help here!"

The fuel that keeps our motors running is glucose. Your brain and your nervous system need glucose to work: that means walking, speaking, stretching, typing - any activity requires this fuel. If you don't supply it, your system resorts to finding stored carbohydrates or it tries to turn fat into glucose. Why put your body through all this? Instead, do what mom said and eat that breakfast!

But... there's a problem. So you don't like traditional breakfast foods. Don't worry! There are alternatives to traditional breakfast fare that you may not have considered!

Breakfast is for Weight Loss Champions (Part 2)

Your Guide to Weight Loss.

Stay up to date!

Part Two: Alternative Breakfasts

Go global! Did you know that in Japan it is common to eat rice, soup or steamed vegetables in the morning? It may take some getting used to, but the benefits are certainly there -- reduced fat and added nutrients from the veggies.

Getting a late start? Prefer "lunch-ish" foods? Melt non-fat cheese onto a slice of toasted wheat bread or spread reduced fat peanut butter onto diet white bread.

Did you learn about the Native Americans eating popcorn for breakfast in elementary school? Well, it's true. What an interesting way to start the day. There are many delicious "light" types of popcorn out there.

Hot cereal may have made you cringe as a kid, but these days there are many tasty low-fat varieties available.

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Add fruit or reduced calorie syrup to give it that extra zing. Hot cereal is perfect for winter mornings and will probably keep you feeling full a little longer than cold cereal.

If you find you are hungry after experimenting with any these low-fat breakfasts, you will probably want to have a protein-based snack mid-morning. Eat a piece of fruit and some low-fat cheese on crackers later in the morning if you feel hungry. Try humus on wheat pita bread.

Prefer a protein punch at breakfast? Eggs are a great protein-rich breakfast, and contrary to popular belief, they are not diet-disaster… their neighbors on your plate are. Eggs are nutrient-rich with vitamins like B and K as well as folic acid, which is especially important to women's health. Some years ago, people thought eggs contributed to health risks, but it has since been proven that they do not significantly contribute to high cholesterol or increase the chance of heart disease.

If you find that cereal and milk just don't tide you over, try yogurt instead. It is more filling and also includes live bacteria cultures that are good for you. Or, supplement your favorite cereal with fruit sliced into it. Watch out for the high-sugar types (if your kids love it, it's probably one of them!). Not only does the extra sugar harm your diet, those cereals also tend to be less filling. You may even wish to think of your cereal as an appetizer -- eat it first thing, but then mid-morning have a larger snack with some fat and protein in it.

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A homoeopathic medicinal product is defined in European legislation (Article 1(5) of Directive 2001/83/EC as amended by 2004/27/EC as: 'Any medicinal product prepared from substances called homeopathic stocks in accordance with a homeopathic manufacturing procedure described by the European Pharmacopoeia or, in the absence thereof, by the pharmacopoeias currently used officially in the Member States. A homeopathic medicinal product may contain a number of principles'.

In the UK, Product Licences of Right (PLRs) were issued to all medicinal products on the market at the time that the Medicines Act 1968 was implemented (in 1971). Homoeopathic products covered by PLRs may have indications (the descriptions of diseases or conditions for which the medicine is intended to be used).

In 1992 Directive 92/73/EC introduced a Simplified Scheme for homoeopathic products. It is regarded as simplified because although the safety and quality of products has to be demonstrated, products are not permitted to make medical claims. The Scheme is restricted to products for oral and external use and does not allow indications. In order to qualify for registration the products must be for oral or external use (this includes all methods of administration with the exception of injections), be sufficiently dilute to guarantee their safety and make no therapeutic claims.

See here for guidance notes for suppliers of homoeopathic products:
http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/idcpl...&noSaveAs=0&Rendition=WEB

Be aware, this applies to human use only and not for animals. There are important differences between the two sectors, not least the meaning of the term "unlicensed", which to the animal sector is synonymous with "illegal"."

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Enhance the Healing Power of Garlic

Garlic is consumed worldwide both as a fresh herb and as a processed spice. Additionally, it serves as an important constituent of preventive and curative herbal medicine. Now, a unique EU-Israeli research group funded under the EU Fifth Framework Programme is carrying out a multidisciplinary ‘Garlic and Health’ study to examine its nutraceutical value (foodstuffs with medical properties) and to develop strains of garlic and cultivation systems that will significantly improve these properties.

The research group, headed by Dr. Chris Kik of Plant Research International Wageningen (Netherlands) has 15 partners from six countries. It includes scores of leading scientists from universities, research institutes and pharmaceutical companies, covering a variety of scientific disciplines such as genetic resources, plant physiology, biochemistry, plant genetics and breeding, cultivation systems, sulphur biochemistry, and pharmaceutics and medicine, with special emphasis on atherosclerosis and cancer. Israel is represented by Dr. Rina Kamenetsky of the Volcani Centre and Prof. Haim Rabinowitch of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

One of the major problems faced by this ambitious project is the fact that all known garlic cultivars are sterile, however the Israeli researchers pulled off a world first by collecting species in the Central Asian Mountains and eventually succeeding in producing tens of thousands of ‘true seeds.’

These have now germinated and are currently being grown under a variety of environmental conditions for physiological studies. Once a seed production system for garlic has been established, it is expected to eventually allow for the execution of improvement programmes in garlic, as well as of genetic research and mapping of desired traits. Another goal is to enhance understanding of the role of garlic in the human diet, its effect in promoting and sustaining health and its role in preventing cancer and cardiovascular-diseases.

admin · Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:02 pm Post subject: Emerging Facts About Aspartame

Very long article - This article was published in the Journal Of The Diabetic Association Of India 1995 : Vol. 35, No. 4.

Emerging Facts About Aspartame
Dr. J. Barua, Dr. A Bal.

INTRODUCTION
Aspartame is a high-intensity, artificial, non-nutritive sweetener which is being marketed under various brand names like Equal, Nutrasweet, Spoonful, Indulge, Equal-Measure etc. It is also added to Diet-Colas, about 1200 food products & even children’s vitamins & chewing gum.

Aspartame is the most widely used artificial sweetener & has captured 50% of the world market since it was introduced in 1981. It is available in 90 countries over the world, in more than 5000 products. The largest consumer is the United States of America ( 54% of adult Americans ). In India it is still being used only as a table-top sweetener ( e.g. Equal, Sugar-Free & Sweetex-Gold ), the users being limited to a part of the diabetic population & the affluent diet-conscious population, mostly in urban areas.

The information in this article has been obtained not only from world experts & highly respected researchers on Aspartame, but also from large voluntary American organisations (like "Operation Mission Possible" & "The Aspartame Consumer Safety Network"), who have made it their mission to alert the people & make them aware of the dangers & adverse effects of Aspartame.

Since in India, it’s use is still limited, we felt it prudent to spread this important informaion to our colleagues & to the people, so as to try & prevent it’s extensive use in the future.
ASPARTAME

Aspartame was discovered by accident in 1965, when James Schlatter, a chemist of G.D. Searle Company was testing an anti-ulcer drug.
Aspartame was approved for dry goods in 1981 and for carbonated beverages in 1983 by the American FDA. In a 1993 act, the FDA approved aspartame as an ingredient in numerous food items that would always be heated to above 86 F (30 C).

Aspartame is, by far, the most dangerous substance on the market that is added to foods. Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Well over 7,000 citizens have submitted adverse reaction reports to the FDA since 1982 (DHHS 1993b, DHHS 1995). These reports detail well over 10,000 complaints of 92 different symptoms.
Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death as recently disclosed in a February 1994 Department of Health and Human Services report.[1].

A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include:

Headaches/Migraines Dizziness
Seizures Nausea
Numbness Muscle spasms
Weight gain Rashes
Depression Fatigue
Irritability Tachycardia
Insomnia Vision Problems
Hearing Loss Heart palpitations
Breathing difficulties Anxiety attacks
Slurred Speech Loss of taste
Tinnitus Vertigo
Memory loss Joint Pain

Many health professionals, including nutritionists have known all along that aspartame was hazardous. Now, a growing number of those professionals are seeing the consequences of medium- and long-term aspartame use and have begun to warn their clients to stay away from aspartame.

FDA officials believe that as little as 1% of the serious adverse drug eactions are reported to the FDA (Kessler 1993). The reporting rate maybe lower than 1% because :

a) there is no requirement that adverse reactions to food additives be reported. b) Many physicians do not take such reports seriously having been told that aspartame is "safe" by the FDA and AMA. c) It is often very difficult for a comsumer to link adverse reactions to aspartame because many of the adverse effects are either delayed and/or gradual damage from prolonged use. Immediate reactions such as headaches and asthma are more easily linked to the culprit.

According to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects of aspartame, the following chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting of aspartame [2]: (Mission Possible 1994)*:

Brain tumors Multiple sclerosis
Epilepsy Chronic fatigue syndrome
Parkinson's Disease Alzheimer's
Mental retardation Lymphoma
Birth defects Fibromyalgia
Diabetes

*Note: In some cases such as MS,the severe symptoms mimic the illness or exacerbate the illness, but do not cause the disease.
COMPONENTS & BREAKDOWN_PRODUCTS OF ASPARTAME & THEIR ADVERSE BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS

Aspartame ( C14H18O5:- L-Aspartyl-L-Phenylalanine Methyl Ester ) is made up of three chemicals, 1.) aspartic acid, 2.) phenylalanine, and 3.) methanol.

Some of the breakdown products include formaldehyde & formic acid.
Real-world products also can contain: aspartylphenylalanine diketopiperazine (DKP) (Some is absorbed intact) beta-aspartame racemized amino acids other dipeptides.

Aspartame becomes unstable

i) when ingested
ii) when exposed to high temperatures & prolonged storage &
iii) in solution.

It could be argued that phenylalanine and aspartic acid are important amino acids and that they are commonly found in many foods (bound to proteins). The amino acids in aspartame are absorbed and metabolized differently from those found in normal foods. This is because the proteins in food are "very gradually" broken down and the amino acids (a full range of them) are gradually absorbed. The gradual absorption leads to a very slow and small increase in some of the plasma amino acid levels.

With aspartame, the aspartic acid and phenylalanine (free and unbound to protein) are very quickly absorbed and this causes a rush of these amino acids into the system (unlike what is seen with foods) which can lead to a spike in the plasma amino acid levels. See the industry study published in Metabolism (36(5):507-12), for example.

It has been pointed out that some fruit juices and alcoholic beverages contain small amounts of methanol. It is important to remember, however, that methanol never appears alone. In every case, ethanol is present, usually in much higher amounts. Ethanol is an antidote for methanol oxicity in humans.[9] In aspartame there is no ethanol.

All components & breakdown products of aspartame are of questionable toxicity.
1.) Aspartic Acid (40% of aspartame)
Dr. Russell L. Blaylock, a professor of Neurosurgery at the Medical University of Mississippi, recently published a book thoroughly detailing the damage that i s caused by the ingestion of excessive aspartic acid from aspartame. Dr. Blaylock uses almost 500 scientific references to prove how excess free excitatory amino acids such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid in our food supply are causing serious chronic neurological disorders and a myriad of other acute symptoms.[3]

Aspartate acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain by facilitating the transmission of information from neuron to neuron. Aspartic acid is an amino acid. Taken in its free form (unbound to proteins) it significantly raises the blood plasma level of aspartate.

The excess aspartate leads to a high level of this neurotransmitter in certain areas of the brain.Too much aspartate in the brain kills certain neurons by allowing the influx of too much calcium into the cells. This influx triggers excessive amounts of free radicals which kill the cells. The neural cell damage that can be caused by excessive aspartate and glutamate is why they are referred to as "excitotoxins." They "excite" or stimulate the neural cells to death.

Some of the areas of the brain affected by spiked levels of aspartate are not protected by the blood brain barrier (BBB). The large majority (75%+) of neural cells in a particular area of the brain are killed before any clinical symptoms of a chronic illness are noticed.

Aspartic acid has a cumulative harmful effect on the endocrine system and reproductive system. Several animal experiments have shown that excitotoxic amino acids can penetrate the placental barrier and cause damage to the fetus.

In both human and animal study experiments, the plasma aspartate level has been shown to spike to high levels after liquid administration of aspartame. Humans are 5 times more susceptible to aspartic acid and glutamic acid than rodents and 20 times more susceptible than monkeys because they concentrate these excitatory amino acids in their blood plasma to much higher levels and for a longer period of time.

A few of the many chronic illnesses that have been shown to be contributed to by long-term exposure to excitatory amino acid damage include:

MS Parkinson's Disease
Hormonal Problems Hypoglycemia
Hearing Loss AIDS Dementia
Epilepsy Brain Lesions
Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroendocrine Disorders
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehriig’s Disease)

The exact mechanism of acute reactions to excess free aspartate is currently being debated. As reported to the FDA, those reactions include [5]:

Headaches/Migraines Vision Problems
Nausea Anxiety attacks
Abdominal Pains Depression
Sleep Problems Asthma/Chest Tightness
Memory Loss
Fatigue (blocks sufficient glucose entry into brain)

2.) Phenylalanine (50% of aspartame)
Phenylalanine is an amino acid normally found in the brain. Persons with the genetic disorder, phenylketonuria (PKU) cannot metabolize phenylalanine. This leads to dangerously high levels of phenylalanine in the brain (sometimes lethal).

It has been shown that ingesting aspartame, especially along with carbohydrates can lead to excess levels of phenylalanine in the brain even in persons who do not have PKU. It was shown in human testing that phenylalanine levels of the blood were increased significantly in human subjects who chronically used aspartame.[6] Even a single use of aspartame raised the blood phenylalanine levels...

Excessive levels of phenylalanine in the brain can cause the levels of serotonin in the brain to decrease, leading to emotional disorders such as depression. Moreover, decrease in serotonin levels can result in carbohydrate craving which could lead to increased consumption of carbohydrates (normally serotonin blunts the sensation of craving carbohydrates and thus is a part of the body’s feedback system that helps limit consumption to appropriate levels.).

In his testimony before the U.S. Congress, Dr. Louis J. Elsas showed that high blood phenylalanine can be concentrated in parts of the brain, and is especially dangerous for infants and fetuses. He also showed that phenylalanine is metabolised much more effeciently by rodents than by humans.[7] As Dr. Blaylock points out in his book, early studies measuring phenylalanine buildup in the brain were flawed. Investigators who measured specific brain regions and not the average throughout the brain noticed significant rises in phenylalanine levels. Specifically the hypothalamus, medulla oblongata, and corpus striatum areas of the brain had the largest increases in phenylalanine. He further elaborates that excessive buildup of phenylalanine in the brain can cause schizophrenia or make one more susceptible to seizures.

Aspertylphenylalanine Diketopiperazine (DKP) DKP is a breakdown product of phenylalanine. DKP has been implicated in the occurance of brain tumors. Dr. John Olney noticed that DKP, when nitrosated in the gut, produced a compound which was similar to N-nitrosourea, a powerful brain tumor causing chemical. DKP has also been implicated as a cause of uterine polyps and changes in blood cholesterol by FDA Toxicologist Dr. Jacqueline Verrett in her testimony before the U.S. Senate.[13]

Before aspartame was foisted upon the public, the amount of this particular DKP in the diet was essentially zero (Federal Register 1983). Therefore, no claim can automatically be made that DKP ingestion is safe. Several quality studies would have to be performed in order to conclude that DKP probably does not have a detrimental effect on humans. No such quality studies have ever been done.

However, statistically significant increase in cancer rates in several of the pre-approval experiments are an indication that aspartame may cause cancer. Two pre-approval studies showed an unusually large number of brain tumors in the test animals. Those studies where called, E33/34 and E70. E33/34 was a 104-week study of Charles River CD rats. Twelve brain tumors were found in the experimental rats and zero in the control rats (Gross 1987b, page 2-3): As Dr. John Olney stated (Olney 1987, page 7):

"Being a neuropathologist, I know that spontaneous brain tumors in laboratory rats are extremely rare. The archival literature documents an incidence not exceeding 0.6%. Since the above incidence in Nutrasweet-fed rats is 3.75%, this suggests that Nutrasweet may cause brain tumors and certainly suggests the need for additional in depth research to rule out that possibility.

In 1991, Dr. H.J. Roberts published an article in the Journal of Advancement in Medicine (Roberts 1991), which showed a possible correlation between the sudden, rising incidence of Primary Brain Cancer and Primary Brain Lymphoma and the years soon after aspartame went on the market. Roberts concludes with a recommendation for a closer look at the relationship between aspartame and brain cancer.

It should be noted that it may take a generation or two of ingesting aspartame before a significant increase in brain cancer incidence (due to aspartame ingestion) is noticed.

3.) Methanol (aka wood alcohol/poison) (10% of aspartame)

Methanol is a deadly poison. Methanol is gradually released in the small intestine when the methyl group of aspartame encounter the enzyme chymotrypsin. The absorption of methanol into the body is sped up considerably when free methanol is ingested. Free methanol is created from aspartame when it is heated to above 86 Fahrenheit (30 Centigrade). This would occur when aspartame-containing product is improperly stored or when it is heated. Whether absorbed quickly as free methanol or somewhat slower in the small intestine from fresh aspartame, the total amount of methanol absorbed will be approximately 10% of aspartame ingested. An EPA assessment of methanol states that methanol "is considered a cumulative poison due to the low rate of excretion once it is absorbed."

The absorbed methanol is then slowly converted to formaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver (DHHS 1993a, Liesivuori 1991). The formaldehyde is then converted to formic acid by aldehyde dehydrogenase in the liver, by formaldehyde dehydrogenase in the blood, or through the tetrahydrofolic acid- dependent one-carbon pool (Liesivuori 1991). Methanol, thus breaks down into formic acid (a venom in ant stings) and formaldehyde (embalming fluid) in the body.

Formaldehyde :

Formaldehyde is a deadly neurotoxin Formaldehye is a known carcinogen (known to cause Squamous Cell Carcinoma in experimental animals.), causes retinal damage, interferes with DNA replication, causes birth defects. [10] Formaldehyde stores in fat cells, particularly on the hips & thighs. It is potentially toxic to the retina & optic nerve.These organs are highly vulnerable to metabolic disturbances & neurotoxins because of their unique metabolic requirements. Methanol & its by-products cause swelling of the optic nerve & degeneration of ganglion cells in the retina.

Repeated exposure to low doses of formaldehyde has been shown to cause a wide range of health problems (John 1994, Liu 1991, Molhave 1986, National Research Council 1981 page 175-220,Srivastava 1992). Srivastava (1992) stated the following at such low level exposure:
"Complaints pertaining to gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems were also more frequent in exposed subjects. In spite of formaldehyde concentrations being well within the prescribed ACGIH [American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists] limits of 1ppm, the high rates of sickness emphasise the need for detailed studies on formaldehyde-exposed subjects...."

Formaldehyde appears to be much more toxic to the body in small amounts than formic acid. The National Research Council (1981, page 179) stated the following about formaldehyde:

"Some adverse effects of formaldehyde may be related to its high reactivity with amines and formation of methylol adducts with nucleic acids, histones, proteins, and amino acids. The methylol adducts can react further to form methylene linkages among these reactants.
"It appears that before formaldehyde reacts with amino groups in RNA, the hydrogen bonds forming the coiled RNA are broken. Formaldehyde reacts with DNA less frequently than with RNA, because the hydrogen bonds holding DNA in its double helix are more stable.

"Reaction of formaldehyde with DNA has been observed, by spectrophotometry and electron microscopy, to result in irreversible denaturation. In reactions with transfer RNA, formaldehyde interferes with amino acid acceptance. The equilibrium reaction of formaldehyde with DNA involves thermally activated opening and closing of hydrogen bonds between matching base pairs in the helix. If permanent cross links are formed between DNA reactive sites and formaldehyde, these links could interfere with the replication of DNA and may result in mutations."

It is now thought by some researchers that persons with certain illnesses may be suffering from formaldehyde toxicity when excess methylamine and semicarbazide- sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) react to form formaldehyde (Yu 1993, Boor 1992). Yu states the following:

"The cytoxicity seems, therefore, to be a consequence of the deamination of methylamine. Our findings suggest that formaldehyde, the deaminated product of methylamine, may be responsible for these toxic effects. Human serum, which also contains SSAO, was also capable of deaminating methylamine and cause cytotoxicity to cultured endothelial cells. Both methylamine and SSAO circulate in human blood, and their concentrations in the blood of normal healthy subjects are quite close to those required to induce cytotoxicity in tissue-cultured cells. Both SSAO activity and methylamine levels have been reported to be increased in the blood of diabetic individuals. ... It is possible, therefore, that an abnormal metabolism of methylamine may be involved in endothelial injury, and that it may subsequently induce atherosclerotic plaque formation and thus be involved in the cardiovascular disorders seen in diabetes."

Therefore, regular ingestion of aspartame may be adding "formaldehyde fuel to the fire" so to speak. It would be especially worrisome to give aspartame to persons with abnormally high SSAO and methylamine levels such as some diabetics.

Persons with chronic immune system disorders are often very sensitive to low level chemical exposure including formaldehyde. As stated by the National Resource Council (1981, pg177):

"In some persons not previously sensitized, repeated exposure to formaldehyde may result in the development of hypersensitivity."
Fujimaki (1992) & Vojdani (1992) have shown immune system alteration from exposure to formaldehyde. Dr. Sherry Rogers, an expert in environmental exposure and chemical sensitivity discusses how aldehydes, especially formaldehyde can cause significant damage in the body (Rogers 1990). She lists the following symptoms found for persons exposed to urea foam formaldehyde insulation (UFFI) at levels of formaldehyde as low as 0.12 ppm:

Depression, dizzy or spacey, poor memory, burning eyes or throat, fatigue, flushing of face, inability to concentrate, laryngitis, can’t think straight, chronic cough, asthma, "like thinking in a fog", arthritis feel unreal, rashes, headache, heart palpitations, and much more...... S
Dr. Rogers cites Main (1983) where adverse health effects to formaldehyde exposure were found at levels between 0.12-1.6 ppm.

"One path the chemical may pass through in order for the body to get rid of it is called the ALDEHYDE PATHWAY. When the adehyde pathway, for example, becomes over burdened through inhaling many other chemicals, or through an undiscovered vitamin or mineral deficiency that is cruicial in that pathway, the body then shunts the chemistry to produce chloral hydrate, the old 'Mickey Finn' or 'knockout drops.' So, indeed, these people have a very good reason for the spacey, dizzy, inability to think and concentrate symptoms that they complain of."

It may very well be that it is the formaldehyde metabolite of the methanol in aspartame that causes the most slow and silent damage, especially in combination with other breakdown products of aspartame. If this is the case the formic acid measurements may not tell us what we need to know about the damage being done by the formaldehyde.

Formic Acid :

After studying workers exposed to formic acid, Liesivuori addressed the issue of it being a cumulative poison (Liesivuori 1986):
"The data indicated that formic acid may have a long biological half-life possibly causing an accumulation of the acid in the body. This might constitute a hitherto unappreciated toxicological hazard, as the acid is an inhibitor of oxygen metabolism."

Liesivuori later points out that formic acid can accumulate in the brain, kidneys, spinal fluid, and other organs because of the slow excretion from the body (Liesivuori 1991). He also described formic acid's effects at the cellular level:

"Exposure to either methanol or formic acid leads to accumulation of acid in the body. Formic acid inhibits cytochrome oxidase, causing decreased synthesis of ATP. This is followed by anaerobic glycolysis and lactic acidosis. At the same time, and also because of acidosis, the generation of superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals is enhanced leading to membrane damage, lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial damage. This, and the decreased pH in acidosis, allows the influx of calcium into the cells. Although the mitochondrial dysfunction may be secondary to calcium overload in the mitochondria, the final consequence is cell death."

While severe acidosis would obviously not be likely by a consequence of small amounts of formic acid, the other damaging aspects of formic acid such as the inhibition of cytochrome oxidase and decreased production of ATP are still possible problems. The recommended limit of consumption is 7.8 mg/day. Heavy users of aspartame- containing products consume as much as 250 mg of methanol daily or 32 times the EPA limit.[9]

Symptoms from methanol poisoning include headaches, ear buzzing, dizziness, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances, weakness, vertigo, chills, memory lapses, numbness and shooting pains in the extremities, behavioral disturbances, and neuritis. The most well known problems from methanol poisoning are vision problems including misty vision, progressive contraction of visual fields, blurring of vision, obscuration of vision, retinal damage, & blindness.

Due to the lack of a couple of key enzymes, humans are many times more sensitive to the toxic effects of methanol than animals. Therefore, tests of aspartame or methanol on animals do not accurately reflect the danger for humans. As pointed out by Dr. Woodrow C. Monte, Director of the Food Science and Nutrition Laboratory at Arizona State University,
"There are *no* human or mammalian studies to evaluate the possible mutagenic, teratogenic, or carcinogenic effects of chronic administration of methyl alcohol."[11]

ARE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ASPARTAME DOSE RELATED ?

The FDA claims that a daily dose of up to 50mg./kg. body weight is safe. Estimated daily consumption of regular users is 2-10mg./kg. body weight.
However, "some people have suffered aspartame related disorders with doses as small as that carried in a single stick of chewing gum. In pregnancy the effects of aspartame can be passed directly on to the fetus, even in very small doses."(Flying Safety Magazine May, 1992.) Even small doses of methanol in the blood stream can damage vision.

Moreover, aspartic acid, phenylalanine & methanol & its breakdown products have a cumulative effect due to rapid absorption & slow excretion. No studies address the issue of long term, chronic ingestion of ‘real world’ aspartame.

SUSCEPTIBILITY

· Folic acid is believed by most researchers to play a large role in protecting from methanol poisoning by increasing the conversion of formic acid to carbon dioxide and water (Roe 1982, Tephly 1984, DHHS 1993a). Persons who have a folic acid deficiency are likely to be much more susceptible to damage from chronic methanol ingestion. Other nutrients may play an important part in protecting from formic acid damage. As Tephly points out (Stegink 1984a, page 114):
"Nutritional differences among individuals, such as folic acid deficiency, may play an important part in the ability of an individual to metabolize formate. Different degrees of nutritional deficiency may be observed in debilitated and inebriated persons who have not had an adequate diet. In addition to the protective factors of ethanol, folic acid, and possibly other nutrients, Posner (1975) pointed out that the presence of food in the stomach seems to lower the toxicity of methanol. The reason food slightly lowers the toxicity is probably because the food offers protective factors (as does alcohol and juices) and/or the food delays absorption (as does the administration of aspartame in capsules). This does not mean that aspartame in food is safe in long-term use, but probably slightly less toxic.

· Methanol ingestion may be even more dangerous for persons taking certain pharmaceuticals. The enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase is believed to play a major role in methanol oxidation and elimination (DHHS 1993a, Liesivuori 1991). The drug disulfiram (trade name Antabuse) inhibits the activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase (Merck 1992, page 2638). Animal experiments have shown a significant increase in toxicity of methanol and a slowing down of methanol elimination when disulfiram was given (Posner 1975). The results are likely to be similar in humans for this particular adverse effect. Antabuse is currently being taken by 400,000 persons in the U.S. and many more are taking generic brands of disulfiram (Roberts 1990a, page 43). Posner (1975) lists research on several pharmaceuticals which shows that ingesting aspartame while on these drugs may present an additional health hazard. Some of these include sulfonylureas (for diabetics), metronidazole (anti-bacterial), and allopurinol (reduces uric acid). There may be other pharmaceuticals which cause adverse reactions when taken with the methanol in aspartame, but few studies have been done.

· Complications are magnified in certain high-risk groups, such as :-
- Diabetes
- Hypoglycemia
- Pregnant women
- Children
- Patients with epilepsy, liver, kidney disease & eating disorders
- Patients with phenylketonuria
- Relatives of aspartame reactors
- Older patients with memory impairment

A search of the medical literature shows that in general, for every study showing no risk associated with aspartame, there are other studies finding health problems associated with aspartame.
A *few* of the many disorders that are of particular concern include the following.

Neuropsychiatric disorders

Some medical studies have demonstrated that aspartame can be neurotoxic, has triggered seizures in previously non-convulsive adults, can increase the risk of human systemic damage when heated, and has induced neurophsychiatric symptoms like panic attacks.[27-34].
Some migraine headacha sufferers maybe especially susceptible to ingestion of aspartame as a precursor of headache, but aspartame has also been linked to the onset of severe headaches in persons without a medical history of migraine.[35-39]. Brain damage and brain cancer in animals have been associated with aspartame ingestion.[40-43].

Some researchers point to aspartame’s excitotoxic activity and suggest it may contribute to a number of neurological disorders, including epilepsy, chronic neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington’s Chorea and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehriig’s Disease) [76].

Another study showed that aspartame exposure during the gestation period of guinea pigs resulted in disrupted odor-associative learning in the newborn, a condition that could affect human newborns.[77].
Dr, John Olney, Neuropathologist, and Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, has written extensively on the dangers of aspartame after he found a higher than normal rate of brain tumours in laboratory rats fed aspartame. He also noted in his research that retinal and hypothalamic lesions as well as brain damage occured in mice fed glutamate and aspartate.[40,41,63]. The connection between both brain damage and weight gain after aspartame ingestion has been reinforced by other animal studies.[42,64,65].

Numerous medical studies cite evidence of the danger aspartame poses for PKU victims because of its phenylalanine content. Phenylalanine can result in brain damage, convulsions and other symptoms for those with the hereditary PKU condition.[46-52]. At least one study suggested that aspartame ingestion increases similar risks for non-PKU individuals by inducing higher than normal ranges of phenylalanine, and researchers advised that manufacturers indicate the amount of aspartame in their products.[53]. In a July 1973 study, two researchers found a correlation between phenylalanine passing in utero and the presentation of cleft lip and cleft palate.[54].

A double blind study of the effects of aspartame on persons with mood disorders was recently conducted by Ralph G. Walton. The study showed a large increase in serious symptoms for persons taking aspartame. Since some of the symptoms were so serious, the Institutional Review Board had to stop the study.

Dr. Walton concludes that "individuals with mood disorders are particularly sensitive to this artificial sweetener; its use in this population should be discouraged."[18] Dr. Walton was recently quoted as saying, "I know it causes seizures. I'm convinced also that it definitely causes behavioral changes." There are numerous reported cases of low brain serotonin levels, depression and other emotional disorders that have been linked to aspartame and often are relieved by stopping the intake of aspartame.

551 persons who had reported reactions to aspartame were surveyed. (Roberts 1988-Journal of Applied Nutrition). The neuropsychiatric adverse effects were as follows:

Neurologic - Headaches 249 (45%)

- Dizziness, unsteadiness, or both 217 (39%)
- Confusion, memory loss, or both 157 (29%)
- Severe drowsiness and sleepiness 93 (17%)
- Paresthesias ("pins and needles," "tingling") 82 (15%)
or numbness of the limbs
- Convulsions (grand mal epileptic attacks) 80 (15%)
- Petit mal attacks and "absences" 18 (3%)
- Severe slurring of speech 64 (12%)
- Severe tremors 51 (9%)
- Severe "hyperactivity" and "restless legs" 43 (8%)
- Atypical facial pain 38 (7%)

Psychologic-Psychiatric

- Severe depression 139 (25%)
- "Extreme irritability" 125 (23%)
- "Severe anixiety attacks" 105 (19%)
- "Marked personality changes" 88 (16%)
- Recent "severe insomnia" 76 (14%)
- "Severe aggravation of phobias" 41 (7%)

Epilepsy/Seizures

At Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 80 people who had suffered seizures after ingesting aspartame were surveyed. Community Nutrition Institute concluded the following about the survey: "these 80 cases meet the FDA's own definition of an imminent hazard to the public health, which requires the FDA to expeditiously remove a product from the market."
Both the Air Force's magazine "Flying Safety" and the Navy's magazine, "Navy Physiology" published articles warning about the many dangers of aspartame including the cumulative deliterious effects of methanol & the greater likelihood of birth defects. The articles note that the ingestion of aspartame can make pilots more susceptible to seizures & vertigo.[20] Articles sounding warnings about ingesting aspartame while flying have also appeared in the National Business Aircraft Association Digest (NBAA Digest 1993), Aviation Medical Bulletin (1988), The Aviation Consumer (1988), Canadian General Aviation News (1990), Pacific Flyer (1988), General Aviation News (1989),Aviation Safety Digest (1989), & Plane & Pilot (1990) & a paper warning about aspartame was presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association (1986).

Recently, a hotline was set up for pilots suffering from acute reactions to aspartame ingestion. Over 600 pilots have reported symptoms including some who have reported suffering grand mal seizures in the cockpit due to aspartame.[21]

Diabetes

While a number of studies have concluded that aspartame use poses no harm to diabetics, researchers at Wayne State University School of Medicine who studied the effects of aspartame on normal and diabetic rats warn otherwise. Their findings indicated that aspartame may adversely affect the capacity to control glucose metabolism in the already compromised diabetic.[45]. According to research conducted by H.J. Roberts, a diabetic specialist, a member of the ADA, and an authority on artificial sweetners, aspartame:

1. Leads to the precipitation of clinical diabetes.
2. Causes poorer diabetic control in diabetics on insulin or oral drugs.
3. Leads to the aggravation of diabetic complications such as retinopathy,
cataracts, neuropathy and gastroparesis.
4. Causes convulsions.

In a statement concerning the use of products containing aspartame by persons with diabetes and hypoglycemia, Dr. Roberts says:

"Unfortunately, many patients in my practice, and others seen in consultation, developed serious metabolic, neurologic and other complications that could be specifically attributed to using aspartame products. This was evidenced by:

"The loss of diabetic control, the intensification of hypoglycemia, the occurrence of presumed 'insulin reactions' (including convulsions) that proved to be aspartame reactions, and the precipitation, aggravation or simulation of diabetic complications (especially impaired vision and neuropathy) while using these products."

"Dramatic improvement of such features after avoiding aspartame, *and* the prompt predictable recurrence of these problems when the patient resumed aspartame products, knowingly or inadvertently."
Dr. Russell L. Blaylock, a professor of Neurosurgery at the Medical University of Mississippi has stated that excitotoxins such as that found in aspartame can precipitate diabetes in persons who are genetically susceptible to the disease.[5]

According to Dr. Roberts, the possible mechanisms maybe:-
*Marked changes in appetite & weight leading to paradoxical weight gain or severe loss of weight.
*Excessive insulin secretion & depletion of insulin reserve.
*Possible alteration of cellular receptor cells for insulin with ensuing insulin resistance.
*Neurotransmitter alteration within brain & peripheral nerves.

Visual Problems

Researchers have noted high concentrations of methanol in the blood of aspartame users.[9,66-69]. Woodrow Monte, R.D.Ph.D. Director of the Arizona State University Food Sciences and Nutrition Laboratory, has warned that aspartame releases into the human bloodstream one molecule of methanol for each molecule of aspartame consumed.
It is true that there is minimal scientific literature regarding the effects of aspartame on vision. There have been no double-blind studies of any reasonable length that looks at such effects and there are only a few case reports in the literature. On the other hand, there are countless reports from patients that aspartame caused changes (sometimes mild, sometimes severe) to their vision. These reports have been filed with the FDA, with the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network, and with concerned researchers.

It is important to consider the "possibility" since there have been such a large number of reports.

There are a number of theories as to which aspartame breakdown products cause the adverse reactions. They may be due to methanol’s metabolites (e.g. formaldehyde, formic acid, fatty acid methyl esters). It is probably the combination of the aspartic acid and the methanol metabolites (i.e. a synergistic reaction).

The following is a letter presented before the U.S. Senate hearings on NutraSweet. It was written by Dr. Margan B. Raiford, M.D., Ps, Msc Med. Ophthalmology (Raiford 1987):

"I had the opportunity, in Atlanta, Ga., to see the effects of methyl alcohol toxicity in 1952- 1953 which resulted in visual damage to the optic nerves and retina in over 300 cases and the deaths of over 30 persons.

"I examined Shannon Roth on July 7, 1986, along with several other patients [65 cases as of July 10, 1986 (Roberts 1990a, page 136)]. I observed evidence of effects in her eye and the eyes of the other patients that were comparable to the effects observed in the patients who suffered methyl alcohol toxicity in 1952-1953.

"There was damage in the central fibers, 225,000 of the total 137,000,000 optic nerve fibers (resulting in optic nerve atrophy) in her case, which would be comparable to that observed from patients suffering methyl alcohol toxicity. The extent of damage to these fibers would explain partial to total blindness.

"But in the kind of chronic low dose exposure to methyl alcohol experienced by Shannon Roth (in NutraSweet consumption) and other NutraSweet consumers, it is likely that they would experience the impact on the optic nerve differently in each eye.

"The important point is that the damage observed in Shannon Roth's eye was identical to the damage I observed repeatedly in the eyes of individuals whose eyes have been damaged by methyl alcohol toxicity."
In an epidemiological study which appeared in the Journal of Applied Nutrition (Roberts 1988), 551 persons who have reported reactions to aspartame were surveyed.

What follows is a listing of the adverse effects related to the eye:
# of people (%)
Decreased vision &/or other eye problems

(blurring,"bright flashes,"tunnel vision) 140 (25%)
- Pain (one or both eyes) 51 (9%)
- Decreased tears, trouble with contact lens or both, 46 (8%)
- Blindness (one or both eyes) 14 (3%)

Further, Dr. Roberts adds that, "in most of these patients, there was no convincing evidence for underlying glaucoma, occlusion of a retinal vessel, toxic amblyopia (related to excessive alcohol or smoking), or optic neuritis due to multiple sclerosis and other causes that might account for the symptoms. CT scans and MRI studies of the brain or optic nerves generally proved normal in these patients.

"Furthermore, that patients had known cataracts, astigmatism, macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy did not necessarily disprove the role of aspartame . . . especially when vision promptly improved after stopping aspartame products.

"Ophthalmologists and other professionals have told me about dramatic improvement of vision in their patients after the cessation of aspartame products."

Dr. Roberts has further recommended that :-

*Surgery of Immature Cataract should be deferred in patients who consume aspartame until after abstaining from it for 1-2 months to determine if spontaneous improvement occurs.

*Impaired Vision in diabetic patients should not be assumed to be due Diabetic Retinopathy without such a "no aspartame" trial. *Similar trial warranted for persons diagnosed as having macular degeneration.

*Diagnosis of "early M.S." based on concommitant eye & neurological features should be deferred pending "no aspartame test".

A history of aspartame use should be inquired into, in patients who present with optic neurites, dry eyes, flashes, unexplained detachments, decreased vision, pain in the eyes, etc.

Cancer (Brain Cancer)
In
In 1981, Satya Dubey, an FDA statistician, stated that the brain tumor data on aspartame was so "worrisome" that he could not recommend approval of NutraSweet.[14]

The late Dr. Adrian Gross, an FDA toxicologist, testified before the U.S.Congress that aspartame was capable of producing brain tumors. This made it illegal for the FDA to set an allowable daily intake at any level. He stated in his testimony that Searle's studies were "to a large extent unreliable"&that "at least 1of those studies has established beyond any reasonable doubt that aspartame is capable of inducing brain tumors in experimental animals"

It is interesting to note that the incidence of brain tumors in persons over 65 years of age has increase 67% between the years 1973 and 1990. Brain tumors in all age groups has jumped 10%. The greatest increase has come during the years 1985-1987.[17] In his book, "Aspartame (NutraSweet). Is it Safe?" Dr. H.J. Roberts gives evidence that aspartame can cause a particularly dangerous form of cancer -- primary lymphoma of the brain.

Birth Defects

A Genetic Pediatrician at Emory University has testified that aspartame is causing birth defects. [7]

In the book, "While Waiting: A Prenatal Guidebook" by George R. Verrilli, M.D. and Anne Marie Mueser, it is stated that aspartame is suspected of causing brain damage in sensitive individuals. A fetus may be at risk for these effects...some researchers have suggested that high doses of aspartame may be associated with problems ranging from dizziness and subtle brain changes to mental retardation."

Perhaps most ironic of all, the artificial sweetener to aid dieters in their quest for weight loss may actually work in reverse, causing a weight gain. S.D. Stellman Garfinkel write in Preventive Medicine that (aspartame) users were more likely to gain weight.[55]. An article that appeared in the Lancet in 1986 echoed the same finding. J.E. Blundell and A.H. Hill wrote that aspartame increased rated motivation to eat and decreased ratings of fullness; these data indicate that aspartame, in some circumstances, has apetite-stimulating properties in comparison with the ingestion of water. After ingestion of aspartame, the volunteers were left with a residual hunger compared with what they reported after glucose….this may contribute to disordered patterns of eating prevalent among certain groups of normal weight individuals.[56].

Donald R. Johns, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, said that a number of adverse reactions to aspartame have been reported, including granulomatous and lobular panniculitis (fat tumours) [59,60], urticaria (severe itching)[61], and the possible association between aspartame and seizures.[62].

Other unusual disorders have been medically attributed to aspartame ingestation, like development of coma in patients with liver disease [70], blockage of normal increase in brain serotonin (a brain chemical necessary for sleep and neural transmissions) [71,72], toxicity to the human brain [73,74], Alzheimers Disease [75], depression [18].

To date, studies have not adequately addressed the insidious issue of cumulative effects of aspartame combined with similar chemicals and food additives like monosodium glutamate. (See informed Consent, Nov/Dec. book review, Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills.)
Erik Millstone, MD, Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex, summed up: "The public cannot be confident that aspartame is safe." [23].

The reason many people do not hear about serious reactions to aspartame is twofold:

1) Lack of awareness by the general population.
2) Most people do not associate their symptoms with the long-term use of aspartame. For the people who have killed a significant percentage of the brain cells and thereby caused a chronic illness, there is no way that they would normally associate such an illness with aspartame consumption.

CONCLUSION

Aspartame is a high intensity, non-caloric artificial sweetner which is the most widely used sweetener today in the world. In India, it has been in use since 5 to 6 yrs, as a table top sweetner (Equal, Sugar-Free & Sweetex Gold).

Scientific reasoning and large body of evidence indicate that this product should not be in the market. However, paradoxically, use of aspartame containing products are on the rise.

Reasons may be many fold :

I. Aspartame has a sweet, clean taste without bitter after taste as experienced with Saccharin. For this reason it is preffered by both the vulnerable diabetic population & the affluent diet-conscious population.

II. There is a rising craze to remain slim in the urban population.

III. There is a lack of awareness of the adverse effects of aspartame both in the population and in the medical fraternity.

IV. Aspartame enjoys a strong clout in order to protect its billion dollar market.

V . High consumer confidence in the safety of aspartame

The components of aspartame can lead to a wide variety of ailments. Some of these problems occur gradually, others are immediate, acute reactions. There are other users of aspartame who *appear* not to be suffering immediate reactions to aspartame. But even these individuals are susceptible to the long-term damage caused by excitatory amino acids,phenylalanine,methanol,& DKP.

Aspartame not only causes individual symptoms, it can mimic entire syndromes! For eg, the CFIDS (chronic fatigue & immune deficiency syndrome) newsletter calls it the "sweet poison, NutraSweet," because it can mimic the symptoms of CFIDS. It can also cause grand mal seizures. According to H.J.Roberts, M.D., it can cause decreased vision, pain in the eyes, decreased tears, ringing in the ears, hearing impairment, headache, dizziness & unsteadiness, confusion, memory loss, drowsiness, sleepiness, slurring of speech, numbness & tingling, tremors, depression, irritability, aggression, anxiety, insomnia, phobias, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, high blood pressure, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, itching, hives, menstrual changes, weight gain, hair thinning & hair loss, urinary burning & frequency, excessive thirst, fluid retention, bloating, increased infection, & even death.

To conclude, it must be kept in mind that aspartame is not an essential life-saving drug but a food additive meant to pamper our sweet tooth. Moreover it does not fulfil its own objectives, i.e. controlling weight gain or diabetes.

Since it is being used freely for various preparations which are consumed by both children and elderly people who are at much greater risk for developing these adverse effects, we felt it necessary to give this health alert.

We suggest that till such time that it is proved conclusively that there are no health hazards on prolonged use of aspartame, it will be prudent to refrain from its use.

Aspartame can be found in:

- instant breakfasts, gelatin desserts, soft drinks,
- breath mints, juice beverages, tabletop sweeteners
- cereals, laxatives, tea beverages
- sugar-free chewing gum, multivitamins, instant teas & coffees
- cocoa mixes, milk drinks, topping mixes
- coffee beverages, pharmaceuticals & supplements, wine coolers
- frozen desserts, shake mixes, syogurt

Acknowledgements :

· We would like to thank Mark D.Gold from Cambridge MA for his guidance and kind help and also for allowing us free access to his exhaustive data on aspartame. · We would also like to thank Betty Martini of "Operation Mission Possible" for making us aware of the adverse effects of aspartame, for her constant encouragement and guidance and for letting us use her data for this article.
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admin · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 8:00 pm Post subject: Beyond Western Medicine

Beyond Western Medicine

From traditional Chinese medicines to naturopathy, the alternative cures to common modern illnesses

Pins and herbs: Acupuncturist Morteza Aleali runs a Chinese pharmacy in NW Portland.

Spring is seven weeks away, and the short, cold days of winter mean that Portlanders are still suffering the coughs, colds and flu endemic this season.

For relief, some people will look past the typically prescribed medications to complementary and alternative medicines-a set of therapies that includes naturopathy, acupuncture and massage. According to a study by environmental think-tank the Worldwatch Institute, 42 percent of Americans have used alternative medicines at some point in their lives.

Why does a person choose alternative medicines instead of a Western-style doctor? Dr. Catherine Gurski, a Portland naturopath and acupuncturist, said she thinks it might owe most to alternative medicine's emphasis on the underlying causes of illness.

"You want to give symptomatic relief but you also want to treat the cause of the problem," she said. "It's not just like someone who has a cold and treats it with cold medicine. That's great, but is it really addressing what caused the cold?"

Morteza Aleali, an acupuncturist who owns a Chinese pharmacy in Northwest Portland's Old Town, said that some people use alternative medicines for illnesses Western medicine cannot treat, because some cannot afford Western doctors, or because people simply prefer alternative medicines.

"Some people just don't believe in Western medicine," Aleali said. "They like traditional, natural medicine with no chemicals."

Naturopathy and traditional Chinese medicine are two of Portland's more popular alternative medicine modalities. Naturopathy is a medical system that emphasizes the body's ability to heal itself, while traditional Chinese medicine treatments include acupuncture (the insertion of needles into the body to move the body's "qi," or vital energies) and the prescription of herbal medicines.

On a typical visit to a naturopathic clinic, patients are asked for an extensive health history.

Face-to-face time with a doctor in a naturopath's office lasts about 40 minutes, said a 2004 study in the Journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. In contrast, a 2005 study in the Annals of Family Medicine said that the average face-to-face time with a Western-style physician lasts 17.5 minutes.

"The thing that naturopathic medicine does differently is that we try to look for the root cause of the disorder and look at how a person's body is out of balance that puts them at greater risk for something," said Dr. Jill Stanard, director of the Natural Health Clinic at the National College for Natural Medicine. "Is this the third or fourth cold or flu you've had this season? We'll treat that differently than if it were an isolated event."

While many people seek out naturopaths to treat chronic illness, Stanard said that in Oregon naturopathic medics work as primary care physicians.

"A person can choose to see a naturopath as their primary doctor," she said. "Many of our physicians are contracted through insurance companies and can bill that way. We can provide that basic health care. Annual exams, sports physicals � there's a naturopath who works up at Jubitz Truck Stop giving exams to truck drivers."

Traditional Chinese medicine differs from naturopathy by using therapies are even more personalized to the individual, Gurski said.

"It's complicated. It's not so easy just to say, 'If you have a cold, take this.' With naturopathy, you can give most people vitamin C, garlic, hydrotherapy," said Gurski. "But in Chinese medicine, it's not one-treatment-fits-everyone."

A first visit to a Chinese medicine practitioner is much like visiting any doctor's office, said Aleali. The acupuncturist will check a patient's pulse, tongue, complexion and eye color, as well as taking an extensive health history. After a diagnosis is made, the traditional Chinese medicine practitioner will either do acupuncture, prescribe herbs, or both.

"Most patients feel relaxed, or they have more energy-you have less pain for example," said Aleali. "[Patients] get a more holistic feeling, like someone's looking at them as a person and not a disease."

For those operating on a student budget, Portland has low-cost naturopathic and traditional Chinese clinics. The National College of Natural Medicine has low-cost naturopathic clinics at PCC Sylvania, PCC Cascade, and Outside In. These clinics cost $10 a visit for community members.

Low-cost acupuncture treatments are available through the National College of Natural Medicine at its Northwest Pettygrove clinic, by the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine at their Southeast clinic, and in Northeast Portland through the sliding-scale clinic Working Class Acupuncture.

In the meantime, the doctors have some free health advice to help students beat the winter germs.

Stanard said that excessive consumption of any given herb, for instance echinacea, is like "beating a dead horse." She recommends taking vitamins A and C to boost immunity, and says taking hot-and-cold showers can shorten the length of a cold.

Gurski said that cold air, especially on the neck, is considered a health risk in traditional Chinese medicine-so to stay well, she said, keep warm, and wear a scarf.

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Spiritual healing: key to tomorrow's health?

Impressive healings are scientifically documented

Mind over matter. Is this just an old saying, or wishful thinking--or is it really possible? Like so many things in life, it depends on the individual point of view. For many, modern medicine is in some ways headed for disaster; for others, it is only a matter of adequate funding and the necessary research--particularly in genetic engineering--for illness to be conquered. Many physicians are meanwhile perplexed. They have often been faced with the limits of the medically feasible. They have lost belief in the salvation that is supposed to come from unlimited research and they can hardly carry out their calling any more.

The system is ailing

"Natural physicians" or healing practitioners are expanding their sphere of influence only hesitatingly. Still, a change of thinking is becoming more and more common on all levels. The old idea, "the more funding, the better the health" isn't working any more. Health insurance plans can hardly cover the overwhelming costs, while at the same time it is very difficult for them to raise their fees. They are sounding the alarm. "If politics doesn't bring about serious policy changes, then it is only a matter of time before the health system is seriously damaged," said Herbert Rebscher, chairman of the Association of Salaried Employees' Health Insurance Plans to the "Berliner Zeitung". Yet, how do you put an end to the misery?

Body and soul are one
Patients who have been informed that there is nothing more than can be done start to wonder whether there isn't an alternative to "incurable". But what would it be? Physicians, too, seek ways to be able to really help their patients. But they hardly learn anything in their medical training about alternatives to traditional medicine. With a little luck they hear something about the "vis vitalis" or "life power" in their lectures on the discipline "History of Medicine". For modern medicine, this has become a relic of earlier centuries. Its existence is not a part of the subject matter learned by today's medical student. He usually no longer has access to the power of life and no longer knows its laws. "True science and true religion are one," a great thinker once said. Man cannot be separated into soul and body. They are deeply intertwined. The significance of the mental-spiritual attitude of a person for the health of his body is becoming ever more clear through psychosomatic medicine and the findings of a new sub-discipline of medicine, psychoneuroimmunology. Nevertheless, these fundamental relationships are all too often ignored, and patients are beaten with diagnoses and baneful prophecies concerning the course of illnesses. Yet the signs of a new time requiring a new way of thinking are becoming ever more evident.

How it all started

Matthias Kamp (39), a physician from Hamburg, was himself interested in increasing his knowledge of alternative methods of healing and therefore concerned himself with the subject of spiritual healing. At a meeting of the Bruno Gröning Circle of Friends he learned how one can take up a force called the "divine healing power". However, he quickly noticed that what was easy for children presented difficulties for him as an intellectually-oriented adult. But when he realized that this power, which you cannot see or touch, is not to be perceived through the head, but rather through the heart, he could also experience it. A pleasant, strong flowing, a tingling in his whole body, became more and more perceptible. It was something that caused a feeling of invigoration and well-being to rise up in him. He had never before experienced such a thing.

Cannot be explained by reason alone

Bruno Gröning, who became known in Germany in the fifties for the astonishing healings that occured during his lectures, called this force that can heal and help people the "divine power" or the "Healing Stream". It is supposed to be abundantly available for everyone; you just have to learn how to open yourself up to it. You cannot see or touch it, but it is perceptible through feeling. Gröning didn't want to be regarded as a healer, and emphasized time and again that no human being can heal. According to Gröning, "God is the great physician," and a human being can only be a mediator of the force that brings about the healing.

The founding of the physician's group

Convinced through personal experience, Kamp investigated with a colleague the healings that had been reported in the Bruno Gröning Circle of Friends. Mr R. (70) suffered from continuous headaches for 25 years. He also had severe chronic lumbago due to the degenerative process of his invertebral discs, heart pains, angina pectoris after the slightest physical exertion, pains from a lung contusion - an old war injury - a chronic gastric ulcer and a disturbed sleeping pattern. After making contact with the teachings of Bruno Gröning and absorbing the healing stream he was spontaneously healed from all his complaints. In the postinvestigation all signs of a circulatory disturbance of the heart had disappeared in the exercise electrocardiogram after the healing. Mr. R. began to walk in the moutains again. These and other inexplicable regressions of illnesses became the basis for the foundation of an international specialists organisation. In 1992 Kamp founded with several other physicians and medical professionals of the Circle of Friends the Medical Scientific Group (MWF). Now over 5,000 members of healing professions, among them hundreds of physicians, participate in this physician's group. In the year 2000 the volunteer physicians and healing practitioners reported in over 400 lectures in over 60 countries on their experiences with spiritual healing through the teachings of Bruno Gröning. The Bruno Gröning Circle of Friends is one of the largest associations for spiritual healing in the world.

Yet the physicians of the MWF are not only active with international lectures. The second task of the specialists of the MWF is the recording, verification, medical documention and scientific evaluation of the healings which take place.

The systematic recording of the Success Reports

The written recording of healings in the form of so-called "Success Reports" has proven time and again to be the indispensable foundation of the entire work of the MWF. It is especially important for people who have suffered for decades from chronic ailments and have tried everything to find healing--only to finally give up hope--that they regain trust and belief in their health. A Success Report describing the healing of a similar ailment can be a big help in this regard. The value of a person's faith is often underestimated. It is irresponsible to take away all hope from a patient, even in the case of "terminal" illnesses. Nothing paralyses more the effect of the healing forces than when a person gives up hope. The possibility of a healing can neither be arranged nor promised. It is always a only matter of "can be". Statistics on the possibility of healing are understandably impossible, since such studies cannot be carried out. The time spans leading up to a healing vary too greatly. Thus, spontaneous healings are observed, while others take weeks or months. In one case the illness may disappear immediately, while in another it may take years; in other cases there may be no healing at all. As important as scientifically-based research in this area may be, most of the knowledge about the "why" of an occurrence or non-occurrence of healing remains accessible only to a spiritual, intuitive, higher discernment. In the final analysis, man will never be able to be the "doer" here, for the gift of healing lies in the hands of the Giver of Life.

To document the work of God

The Success Report is recorded on the analogy of the anamnesis or medical history, with detailed description of the person's condition before absorption of the healing power and at the time of the contact with the teachings of Bruno Gröning, and of the course of the healing. The content of the recorded reports are inspected by physicians as well as by laymen. A summary is prepared in a separate working group, and--insofar as possible--documentation in the form of medical findings and witness reports is introduced. A central working group in Hamburg carries out the archival work. In the case of some reports, a short, easily understandable medical commentary is added to render the course of the illness more clear from a medical point of view.

The laws of healing

Gröning always pointed out that the effect of the healing power is subject to certain laws. Thus, reactions can occur that seem to be like a worsening of the earlier syndrome. He spoke about a cleansing and reversal process that he called "regulations".

Mrs D. M. (35) suffered from rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatism). Increasing pains, swollen joints and an incurvation of her hands marked the progression of the illness which antirheumatic preparations could not stop.

After absorbing the energy in the beginning there was increased pain and swelling of her joints. Everything seemed to be worser. Then all the symptoms of illness disappeared altogether. In an nine-year follow-up period no relapse has occurred. The healing is also impressively evident in laboratory tests.

These reactions, especially, which clearly document the orderly effect of a higher force, are carefully described during the recording of the Success Report. Interestingly, Paracelsus, the great physician of the early modern age, knew this cleansing process as an early sign of healing, "He who wants to become well must realize that it doesn't happen without pain (. . .) and just as we obtain our food through our sweat, it is the same here--in our sweat, we are cured of illness."

Homeopathy, too, speaks of a "initial worsening" that often precedes the healing. Spiritual healing, as it comes about on a large number of people in the Bruno Gröning Circle of Friends, has nothing to do with mysticism. There is nothing mysterious, nor any miracles. People receive the connection to a force that was always there for them--they have only forgotten about it.

Since mid-1998, a systematic documentation has been aimed at (insofar as possible according to each individual case), including medical findings and declarations of witnesses. The Bruno Gröning Circle of Friends also makes many of these healing examples available to the public on its Internet website. (www.bruno-groening.org) With the help of a special search program, you can find relevant Success Reports by using the names of ailments as keywords.

admin

Your Genetic Code Is Not Carved in Stone

By Al Sears, MD

New research is revealing how your environment actually changes your genetics - and it's putting you in the driver's seat.
In November, the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute released the results of their groundbreaking study. They found that a mother's diet during pregnancy not only affects her child, but also her child's offspring.
This means that the lifestyle choices a woman makes can affect several generations of children - a revolutionary idea that flies in the face of conventional wisdom.

For more than 150 years - since the time of Darwin - scientists have believed that any changes to an organism cannot be passed on to the next generation. According to strict Darwinism, if you were to change your diet, lose weight, and become super-fit, your children would not benefit from your efforts. But we now know there is something more at play: the "epigenome." The epigenome plays a powerful role in your health... and could make the difference between whether or not you "inherit" heart disease or diabetes or something else.

Scientists in an emerging field of research - epigenetics - have discovered that your genes are only 15 percent of the total genetic material you get from your parents. For example, your genes give you many individualizing traits like blue eyes or brown hair. The remaining 85 percent - the epigenome - is a scaffolding of proteins that surround your DNA's double-helix pattern.
As it turns out, this "scaffolding" functions as an interface that interacts with your environment. Based on the lifestyle choices you make, the epigenome has the power to turn genes on or off, changing the way your body translates your genetic coding into the proteins that make up YOU.

The Children's Hospital Oakland study, lead by Dr. David Martin, split genetically identical pregnant mice into two groups. The mice had been bred in a way that gave the scientists the ability to monitor a gene that determined both the color of their coats and their tendency to develop chronic disease. So, by tracking coat color, they were able to follow the effects of vitamin supplementation across two generations of offspring.

The first group of mice received a standard diet. The second group received the same diet, with the added benefit of supplemental vitamin B12, folate, choline, and zinc. When the babies were born, the females from both groups were mated and fed identical diets with no supplements. When the offspring gave birth, Dr. Martin's team discovered that the original mice that had the diet with extra vitamins passed the benefits on to both their children and grandchildren.

Findings like these have powerful implications in both directions. It means that, by making healthy choices, your efforts can have a positive effect not only on your children but on your grandchildren as well. On the other hand, a diet of fast food and sodas will not only wreck your own health, it could predispose future generations to chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
That helps to explain why so many schoolchildren suffer from high blood pressure and low HDL (good cholesterol). The poor dietary choices their parents made are coming home to roost.

This discovery gives us new insight into a long-standing debate between Charles Darwin and a guy you may never have heard of - French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck.
Darwin's theory, which has been shaping the direction of modern science, can be summed up in a few words: Genes cannot be affected by the outside world. In other words, your lifestyle choices have no effect on your genetic code or how those genes are expressed.

But Lamarck believed that if an organism changes during its life in order to adapt to its environment, those changes would be passed on to its offspring - and Dr. Martin's study is one of several that are proving he was correct.
So, guess what? It looks like you're no longer a "victim" of your genetic programming. If, for example, if you decide to exercise vigorously to develop new muscle, it now appears that it's possible for you to pass on a predisposition to build muscle with exercise to your children... and perhaps even further down your line of descendants.

Conscious decisions to improve your health will interact with your epigenome. In turn, the proteins in your epigenome can turn off genes that would have otherwise expressed themselves as disease in your descendents.
Instead of the old model, think of your genetic code as a library. You have thousands of choices, but you never check out all of the books. The epigenome interacts with your environment and your choices to determine which books to "read."

Your Genetic Code Is Not Carved in Stone
Vitamins like E, C, and A send messages to your genes that normalize cell division. This alone can aid in preventing many forms of cancer.
For vitamins E and C, I recommend taking more than the U.S. government suggests. Start with 100 IUs of vitamin E and 2,000 mg of vitamin C daily.

Here are four other nutrients that powerfully support detoxification and proper genetic expression:
Vitamin B12: 500 to 1,000 mcg daily
Folic acid: 500 to 1,000 mcg daily
Vitamin B6: 10 to 20 mg daily
Betaine: 200 to 1,000 mg daily

Don't sit back and allow "bad genes" to ruin your health. Take action and make yourself and future generations healthier.

admin · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 7:26 pm Post subject: Red Wine and Cancer

Red Wine and Cancer

Does Red Wine Prevent Cancer?

Could the occasional glass of wine prevent cancer? Some experts say yes, especially red wines. Red wines are rich in phytochemicals, which act as antioxidants, thus possibly preventing cancer.

Red vs White Wine

Red wine has more anti-cancer properties because the skin is maintained during the wine making process. When white wine is being made, their skin are removed before they are crushed. They are not when making red wine.

Isn't is the same as eating a bunch of grapes?

Yes and no. While the skins and seeds of the grape are where the phytochemicals are contained, it is the alcohol in the fermentation process that actually breaks down the phytochemicals.

Does this mean I should drink large amounts of red wine?

No. The effects of red wine against cancer is still in the early stages.
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In fact, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol is linked to many types of cancer. There are however many health benefits to drinking red wine in moderation.

Experts recommend 2 servings a day for men and one serving a day for women of red wine for health benefits. Each serving is 4 ounces.

If you do not currently drink alcohol or are on medication, please talk to your doctor about the benefits of red wine in your diet.

All Red Wines are Not Created Equal

There are several red wines available and some are more phytochemical rich than others. A study conducted at UC Davis found Cabernet Sauvignon to be richest in flavanoids. Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir were also high in flavanoids.

Pat · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 181 Location: CENLA ,La.

I am adlibing mainly for the reason that I cannot drink
wines that have sulfites, due to tremendous headaches
caused by them. Be certain to check your labeling.

Here are 2 urls that I pulled up quickly .

[url]
http://waterhouse.ucdavis.edu/winecomp/so2.htm

[/url]

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/external/faq/wine.htm
_________________
Many Blessings,
~Pat~

Time and a purpose for everything...
Everything is connected!

admin

Increased Risk of Fractures in Women Who Take Rosiglitazone

According to MedWatch, The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program, GlaxoSmithKline has issued a letter of notification to healthcare professionals advising that during the ADOPT trial (A Diabetes Outcome Progression Trial) a 4-6 year study involving rosiglitazone (Avandia), it was noticed that a significant number of female participants who took rosiglitazone suffered fractures of the upper arm, hand or foot. GlaxoSmithKline confirmed the evidence with the results of another large study that was in progress at the same time, and the findings were similar.

The ADOPT study originally was initiated to measure the effectiveness of three medications, rosiglitazone, metformin and glyburide on glycemic control, b-cell funtion in the pancreas and cardiovascular risk over a period of 4 to 6 years. 4,360 people, both men and women, with recently diagnosed Type 2 diabetes participated in the study.

Rosiglitazone is a thiazolidinedione which improves insulin receptivity in Type 2 diabetes. Another recent study that took place in September of 2006, known as the DREAM study showed that combining Avandia (rosigliatazone) with a healthier lifestyle, helped people who are at high risk for getting diabetes, by lowering their chances of ever getting the disease. The results were presented Sept. 15, 2006 in Copenhagen, Denmark, at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.

But, combined with this new information about increased fracture risk, caution should be exercised when prescribing rosiglitazone to female patients. Healthcare professionals are advised by the FDA and GlaxoSmithKline, to consider the risk of fracture when prescribing rosiglitazone to women with type 2 diabetes.

Patients who have questions about their medications should ask their doctors and discuss the possibilities of these and other side effects.

admin

Mobile phones boost brain tumor risk by up to 270 percent on side of brain where phone is held

NewsTarget) Using a cell phone regularly – even a modern one – raises the risk of developing a brain tumor for many users, a new Finnish study published online in the International Journal of Cancer. The study, done by a collection of researchers from many universities and led by Anna Lahkola of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in Finland, found firm corollary evidence that using a cell phone causes the risk of getting a brain tumor called a glioma to rise by 40 to 270 percent on the side of the head preferred for using the phone.

What you need to know - Conventional View

• The study compared 1,521 cellular phone users who received a glioma to 3,301 control participants without tumors.
• For people who have used a modern cellular phone for more than 2000 hours in their lifetime, the risk of getting a brain tumor rose by 270 percent.

• The study is considered the second that firmly correlates cell phone usage with an increased risk of developing certain brain tumors.

• The risk was highest among people under the age of 20.

• Older-style analog cell phones already have been shown as a source of brain tumors, but even with the development of digital cellular phones, the risk is still there.

• According to a scientist associated with the web site foodconsumer.org, the study results should not make readers assume that ten years of cell phone use will correlate to an immediate tumor, but that the tumor will show up later than that.

What you need to know - Alternative View

• Mobile phone manufacturers have tried to suppress the dangers of mobile phones by funding their own distorted research that concludes the phones are perfectly safe.
• All people -- but children and teens especially -- should be warned against using mobile phones due to the increased risk of brain tumors.

admin

The Truth About Skin Cancer, It Is NOT Caused By The Sun
You NEED Sun For Vitamin D

After over 20 Years of Deceit, New Evidence that Dermatologists and Sunscreen Makers Are Making Us All Disease Magnets

Bad but widely accepted advice just might be killing you slowly if you buy into what they say about the dangers of our native sun.
They want you to avoid sunshine... slather on chemical sunscreen if you go outside... stay indoors during peak sun hours... wear long-sleeved shirts and sunglasses even when it's not sunny... and strive to cut your sun exposure to none.

Abide by these instructions and it could spell disaster for your health. By following their "no safe level of sun exposure" rule, you'll put yourself at higher risk for deadly cancers, heart disease and more.

It's time to set the record straight. Real science supports more, not less, sun exposure. If you know how to safely take advantage of the sun, you'll live a happier, longer life for it. You'll see how to enjoy the warm, golden, mood-lifting rays of the sun once again.

The True Crisis is a Deficiency of Vitamin D

When the sun's rays strike your skin, an amazing hormonal reaction
begins. Your skin absorbs the light and uses it to make vitamin D3. Think of it as the human version of photosynthesis.

Next your liver and kidneys metabolize the vitamin D3 into an active hormone called 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. It's quite a mouthful, but this substance plays an important role in almost every system of your body.

For example:

a.. Vitamin D helps build healthy bones. Vitamin D deficiencies contribute to osteoporosis, other bone-weakening conditions, and unhealthy teeth.

b.. Vitamin D helps keep the immune system tuned. Vitamin D deficiencies promote a number of painful autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

c.. Vitamin D helps keep your circulatory system healthy. People with heart disease commonly have a vitamin D deficiency.

d.. Vitamin D helps keep cells healthy. There is a link between higher rates of several deadly cancers and vitamin D deficiency. Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D available. Because of the dire warning about the sun, many doctors recommend you avoid sunlight. This well-meant advice about sun-avoidance is creating an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency.
Twenty percent of children and adults up to age 50 don't get enough vitamin D every day. After fifty, deficiencies affect as much as 95% of he population.1

Let the Evidence Shine... You Need More Vitamin D

Many studies show that vitamin D provides a myriad of specific health benefits like:

a.. Research reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition correlated widespread vitamin D deficiency with osteoporosis, increased cancer risks, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and diabetes. Increased, but safe, sun exposure is a way to counteract vitamin D deficiency.2

b.. Studies show that vitamin D reduces the risks of colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer. Your risk of mortality from each of these deadly cancers falls as your vitamin D levels rise.3

c.. More research shows that adequate vitamin D levels help to control blood pressure levels in patients with high blood pressure. It also helps control blood glucose levels in patients with adult-onset diabetes.4

The most natural and effective way to get adequate vitamin D levels is from sunshine. You want to be sure you get enough sunlight, that you get safe sun exposure, and that you know how to give your vitamin D levels a boost when sun exposure isn't enough.

Sunshine: Get What You Need to Prevent Deadly Disease

The big concern most people have about sun exposure is skin cancer. The vast majority of skin cancers are basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Both of these cancers need attention and you want to avoid them, but they are not deadly cancers.

The third type of skin cancer-melanoma-is very serious and can be deadly. However, safe sun exposure can help protect you against this skin cancer. Research shows that people who get regular sun exposure as part of their jobs are less likely to get melanoma skin cancer than people who work inside all the time.5

So, let me give the rules of safe sun exposure to you in three basic steps.

1. Expose as much of your skin as possible. A swimsuit is perfect. And go without sunglasses.

2. Depending on your pigmentation, go out in the sun for at least 10 to 20 minutes, two or three times a week. If you are fair-skinned, your body can make enough vitamin D in just minutes. If you have darker skin or a deep tan, it will take longer for you to get the vitamin D you need.

3. Do not allow your skin to burn. This is very important. A sunburn will damage your skin, can contribute to all three types of skin cancer and cause aging changes in your skin. You want to get your vitamin D safely... that means getting out of the sun or putting on protective clothing before you burn.

If you live in the southern states, then this is all you need to know to keep your vitamin D levels high year round. However, if you live anywhere north of Georgia, then you need to give your body a vitamin D boost in the winter months. The low angle of the sun during those months prevents the vitamin D synthesis that your body needs.

How to Get Your Vitamin D in the Winter

Between late fall and early spring, if you live in a northern state, there just isn't enough UV light reaching you to make adequate vitamin D. The government recommended amount of vitamin D every day is 400 IU. Yet research shows that your body will use 3000 IU in a day, as long as it is the natural form of vitamin D, cholecalciferol.6 When you choose a supplement, avoid the manmade form of vitamin D, ergocalciferol.

Short of sunshine, the best natural source of vitamin D is cod liver oil. A single tablespoon of cod liver oil contains 1360 IU of natural vitamin D. In the table below, you can see other sources of natural vitamin D and how they match up to cod liver oil.

Food Source Amount Vitamin D

Cod Liver Oil 1 tablespoon 1360 IU

Make cod liver oil a part of your daily supplement routine each and every winter and make safe sun exposure a habit all year round. Make sure you get a brand that is free of mercury and PCB's.

Pat · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 181 Location: CENLA ,La.

Mayo Clinic
[url]
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/...ract-infection/DS00286/DSECTION=1

Nemours Foundation
[/url]
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/infections/common/uti.html
_________________
Many Blessings,
~Pat~

Time and a purpose for everything...
Everything is connected!

admin

Frightening, really important for all women to read!
----------------------------------------------------

If you are a woman and use pads, but especially if you use tampons,
read this and pass it on to your friends. For the men receiving this email,
please forward it to your friends, significant others, sisters,
mothers, daughters, etc. Thanks!

Check the labels of the sanitary pads or tampons that you are going to
buy the next time and see whether you spot any of the familiar signs stated in this email. No wonder so many women in the world suffer from cervical cancer and womb tumors. Have you heard that tampon makers include asbestos in tampons? Why would they do this?

Because asbestos makes you bleed more, if you bleed more, you're going
to need to use more. Why isn't this against the law since asbestos is so
dangerous? Because the powers that be, in all their wisdom (not), did
not consider tampons as being ingested and, therefore, did not consider
them illegal or dangerous.

This month's Essence magazine mentions 2 manufacturers of a cotton
tampon alternative. The companies are: Organic Essentials @ 1-800-765-6491 and Terra Femme @ 1-800-755-0212.

A woman getting her Ph.D. at University of Colorado sent the following:
"I am writing this because women are not being informed about the dangers of something most of us use: Tampons. I am taking a class this month and I have been learning a lot about biology and women, including feminine hygiene.

Recently we have learned that tampons are actually dangerous (for
other reasons than TSS). After learning about this in our class, most of the
females wound up feeling angry and upset with the tampon industry, and
I for one, am going to do something about it. To start, I want to inform
everyone I can, and email is the fastest way that I know how.

HERE IS THE SCOOP: Tampons contain two things that are potentially y
harmful: Rayon (for absorbency), and dioxin (a chemical used in
bleaching). The tampon industry is convinced that we, as women, need
bleached white products in order to view the product as pure and
clean.

The problem here is that the dioxin, can lead to very harmful problems
for a woman. Dioxin is potentially carcinogenic (cancer-associated) and is
toxic to the immune and reproductive systems. It has also been linked
to endometriosis and lower sperm counts for men. For both sexes, it
breaks down the immune system.

Last September, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported
that there really is no "acceptable" level of exposure to dioxin given that
it is cumulative and slow to disintegrate. The real danger comes from
repeated contact (Karen Couppert" Pulling the Plug on the Tampon
Industry"). I'd say using about 4-5 tampons a day, five days a month,
for 38 years is "repeated contact", wouldn't you? Rayon contributes to the
danger of tampons and dioxin because it is a highly absorbent
substance.

Therefore, when fibers from the tampons are left behind in the vagina
(as usually occurs), it creates a breeding ground for the dioxin. It also
stays in a lot longer that it would with just cotton tampons. This is
also the reason why TSS (toxic shock syndrome) occurs.

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES? Using feminine hygiene products that aren't bleached and that are all cotton. Other feminine hygiene products
(pads/napkins) contain dioxin as well, but they are not nearly as
dangerous. So, what can you do if you can't give up using tampons? Use
tampons that are made from 100% UNBLEACHED cotton.

Unfortunately, there are very few companies that make these safe
tampons.

They are usually only found in health food stores. Countries all over
the world (Sweden, Germany, British Columbia, etc.) have demanded a switch to this safer tampon, while the US has decided to keep us in the dark about it. In 1989, activists in England mounted a campaign against chlorine bleaching. Six weeks and 50,000 letters later, the makers of sanitary products switched to oxygen bleaching (one of the green methods
available)

admin

Study: Diabetics Should "Listen" to their Feet

People with diabetes are at much greater risk of requiring foot amputation if their feet become infected. However, research suggests that early detection of foot ulcers helps avoid limb amputation.

The new research proves that if you need 10 good reasons to prevent or treat diabetic neuropathy, you need look no farther than your own toes. Ignoring the nerve degenerative disease often common in people with diabetes can lead to pain, numbness and gradual loss of nerve sensations in the feet and legs.

When this happens, people with cuts, bruises or other injuries to their feet and legs may not notice a problem until it has become badly infected and gangrene has begun. A study published in June 2006 showed that diabetes patients had a 154 percent greater risk of limb amputation and a 55 percent greater risk of hospitalization due to diabetic foot infections.

Experts say that people with diabetes and prediabetes should take special precautions to prevent amputation of portions of their lower extremities caused by diabetic neuropathy. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of hospitalizations due to lower extremity amputations (LEA) rose from nearly 33,000 in 1980 to 75,000 in 2003, although there has been a gradual decline since 1997's peak of 84,000. The rate of LEAs per 1,000 people with diabetes has declined in recent years -- down to 5.2 per 1,000 in 2003 from a high of 10.0 per 1,000 in 1996.

Awareness of diabetic neuropathy and preventive foot care has helped many people avoid painful loss of limbs. People with diabetes can prevent or delay diabetic foot problems by controlling glucose (blood sugar), blood pressure and cholesterol. People with diabetes may be advised to quit smoking to improve circulation and follow their physician's recommendations for diet and exercise to help control glucose and cholesterol.

Nearly 60 percent of the non-trauma related lower limb amputations performed each year are on diabetes patients, according to the CDC.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Diabetes Education Program and other authorities advise people with diabetes to:

Wash the feet daily with mild soap in water that is warm but not hot (90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, about 32 to 35 degrees Celsius).

Test water temperature with a thermometer or elbow before bathing to ensure that it is not too hot.

Although the feet should be washed daily, avoid soaking them.

Dry the feet well, especially between toes, by patting them with a towel, not rubbing.

Use talcum powder or cornstarch to help keep the feet dry.

Use talcum powder or cornstarch to help keep the feet dry.

Apply a moisturizer as recommended by a physician.

Avoid use of lotion between the toes, where moisture forms.

Inspect the feet daily for blisters, scrapes, cuts, sores and other wounds.

If vision is impaired, examine the feet by touch from toe to heel.

Use a hand mirror or floor mirror to help with inspections.

Ask a relative or caregiver to help if self-examination is not possible.

Avoid harsh chemicals such as Epsom salts, iodine and mercurochrome.

Check with a physician before treating calluses, corns and bunions.

In addition, people with diabetes may also be advised to practice good toenail care to prevent ingrown nails, nicks, fungus and other problems that may infect the feet. This includes:

Clipping the nails about once a week along the contour of the toe.
Smoothing the edges with an emery board if needed.
Avoiding cutting the corners to prevent ingrown nails.

Trimming the nails after bathing for easier cutting.
Avoiding nail fungus by using footwear in damp public areas such as showers and pools.

Experts advise people who experience numbness or pain in their legs and feet not to ignore these early warning signals of diabetic neuropathy, especially if they have diabetes or family history of diabetes. They should consult a physician as soon as possible.

admin · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:29 pm Post subject: Echinacea 'can prevent a cold'

Echinacea 'can prevent a cold'

The flower, stem and root of echinacea is used in products
Taking the herbal remedy echinacea can more than halve the risk of catching a common cold, US researchers say.
They found it decreased the odds of developing a cold by 58% and the duration of colds by a day-and-a-half.

The results in The Lancet Infectious Diseases conflict with other studies that show no beneficial effect.

Experts believe echinacea, a collection of nine related plant species indigenous to North America, may work by boosting the body's immune system.

'Marked effects'

Researchers, led by Dr Craig Coleman from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, combined the results of 14 different studies on Echinacea's anti-cold properties.

In one of the 14 studies the researchers reviewed, echinacea was taken alongside vitamin C. This combination reduced cold incidence by 86%.

When echinacea was used alone it reduced cold incidence by 65%.

Echinacea may reduce the duration of illness and decreases the severity of cough, headache, and nasal congestion

Professor Ron Cutler of the University of East London

Even when patients were directly inoculated with a rhinovirus - the most common cold-causing virus - echinacea reduced cold incidence by 35%.

The researchers' report said: "With over 200 viruses capable of causing the common cold, echinacea could have modest effect against rhinovirus but marked effects against other viruses."

Popular product

They found that more than 800 products containing echinacea were available, and that differing parts of the plant - flower, stem and root - were used in different products.

They said more work was needed to check the safety of these different formulations.

Professor Ron Cutler, of the University of East London, said: "The true benefits, and more importantly, how the agents work remains unclear and further better-controlled actual clinical trials still have to be carried out.

THE COMMON COLD

Rhinoviruses are responsible for about half of all common colds in children and adults
School children usually catch between seven and 10 colds a year, and adults two to five
Common colds and flu can be transmitted by hands and contact with commonly-touched surfaces

"Echinacea may reduce the duration of illness and decreases the severity of cough, headache, and nasal congestion. "

He said people with impaired immune function might benefit from taking echinacea during the winter months to prevent colds and flu, but that healthy people did not require long-term preventative use.

"There has also been the suggestion in the past that continuous treatment with echinacea is not recommended - the benefits may only be effective for one or two weeks and after taking the agent for this time people should stop and give the immune system a week without the agent."

Professor Ronald Eccles, director of the Common Cold Centre at the University of Cardiff, said the work was "a significant step in our battle against the common cold".

"Harnessing the power of our own immune system to fight common infections with herbal medicines such as echinacea is now given more validity with this interesting scientific evaluation of past clinical trials," he added.

admin · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:39 pm Post subject: Behind the Label: Diet Coke

Behind the Label: Diet Coke

Far from being the healthy drink implied by its sports sponsorships, Diet Coke is a worrying cocktail of neurotoxic and potentially carcinogenic chemicals

Date:01/06/2006 Author:Pat Thomas

Diet Coke was first introduced in the US in July 1982 and today it is the fourth most commonly consumed carbonated beverage in the world.

Apart from being the beverage of choice for sugar-phobic individuals the world over, Coca-Cola is one of the longest standing ‘corporate partners’ (since 1974) of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). In 1998 the company signed an unprecedented eight-year agreement to sponsor FIFA events – not just the prestigious World Cup, but also the Women’s World Cup, the Confederation Cup, various youth championships and the upcoming World Cup Trophy Trip, a roadshow that will take the FIFA World Cup Trophy on tour to cities throughout the world.

Last year Coca-Cola extended its FIFA sponsorship commitment until 2022, a move that prompted the preposterous statement by company Chairman and CEO, E. Neville Isdell, that Coke’s recommitment to the
world’s most popular sport ‘affords us a new opportunity to bring people closer together through football’.

It also helps them shift a lot of cans and bottles. A recent study by marketing information company ACNeilsen revealed that the Coca-Cola brand is the global leader among beverages, generating well over $15 billion in sales globally each year. Coke and Diet Coke each generate more than a billion dollars in sales yearly.

Five countries – the US, the UK, Germany, Canada and Brazil – guzzle more of this supposedly healthy, sugar-free alternative to regular Coke than anywhere else in the world.

Aggressive marketing like the FIFA sponsorship and clever jingles like ‘Always Coca-Cola’ keep Coke in our consciousness, but before you ‘grab a Coke and a smile’ at this year’s main event, consider just what you are putting into your body. Although Diet Coke has a strong association with sport and health, it is actually a worrying mixture of neurotoxic and potentially carcinogenic high intensity sweeteners (aspartame and acesulfame K), tooth and bone destroying acids (phosphoric acid) and DNA damaging colourings (sulphite ammonia caramel), as well as psychoaddictive caffeine and other undisclosed ‘fl avourings’.

It also contains sodium benzoate, which can be broken down into the listed carcinogen benzene in the presence of strong acids, such as the citric acid found in this product.

Soda manufacturers have been aware of this synergistic possibility since the 1990s, but without pressure from regulatory authorities to change their formula to prevent the formation of benzene, have continued to mix benzoates and acids.

Ironically, the high fructose syrups used in regular drinks seem to slow this reaction down, and the formation of benzene appears to be most problematic in diet drinks.

Ingredients Purpose
Adverse Effects

Aspartame Sweetener

Breaks down easily in heat and during storage to its neurotoxic components phenylalanine, aspartic
acid and methyl alcohol. According to the FDA aspartame is associated with headaches, dizziness, loss of balance, mood swings, nausea, memory loss, muscle weakness, blurred vision, fatigue, weakness, skin rashes, joint and musculoskeletal pain. (For a full report on aspartame toxicity see the Ecologist September 2005). The most recent evidence shows that aspartame ingested at levels that are currently found in daily soft drink consumption raises the risk of otherwise rare brain tumours known as lymphomas.

Acesulfame K Sweetener Causes cancer in animals. Acetoacetamide, a breakdown product, has been shown to affect the thyroid gland in rats, rabbits, and dogs. Although it is commonly blended with aspartame to cover its bitter taste, there are no studies to show if the combination is safe or whether it produces other toxic by-products.

Phosphoric acid Acidifier Can contribute to erosion of tooth enamel; leaches calcium from bones. Children with high intake of phosphoric acid suffer from brittle bones and a higher risk of fractures that follow them throughout life. Children consuming at least six glasses (1.5 litres) of phosphoric acid-containing soft drinks daily have more than five times the risk of developing low blood levels of calcium, compared to children who don’t drink sodas.

Citric acid Preservative, acidifier On its own relatively harmless, though it can be harsh on tooth enamel. When mixed with potassium or sodium benzoate (see below) during storage, and especially at raised temperatures, it can aid the formation of carcinogenic benzene.

Caffeine Flavouring A stimulant, psychoactive compound that can provoke mood changes, lethargy and headache.

Caffeine is addictive and ingestion of high levels can cause miscarriage as well as contribute to peptic ulcers and heart ailments. At the levels added to soft drinks caffeine adds virtually no flavour but does, if consumed regularly, trigger caffeine addiction. Children consuming caffeine have higher incidences of illness, headaches, sleep problems and iron depletion. A 330ml bottle of cola contains about half the caffeine of a cup of coffee.

Sodium Benzoate (E211) Preservatives People who suffer from asthma, rhinitis or urticaria may find their symptoms get worse following the consumption of benzoates. In acidic solutions (such as sodas), benzoates can break down into benzene, a known carcinogen. Surveys have shown that levels in soft drinks can be up to 40 times higher that recognised ‘safe’ doses.

Sulphite ammonia caramel (E150d) Colouring Made by heating sugar, ammonia and sulphite-containing compounds, the sugar can sometimes come from GM maize. Ammonia is toxic by all routes of exposure, and caramels made by an ammonia process may damage genes, slow down growth, cause enlargement of the intestines and kidneys and may destroy vitamin B. This colouring has never been fully evaluated for its potential carcinogenicity or reproductive toxicity.

admin

Attempts To Destroy Royal London Homeopathic Hospital

From concerned UK Homoeopath and teacher, Carol Boyce. Although it is about the fate of the 150 year old homoeopathic hospital in London UK, it epitomises the erosion of natural healthcare happening worldwide and we need your support to get the message out. This campaign is about awareness and communication through any medium you have available - and for those called to action, to follow Carol's suggestions at the end of the letter.

Thanks for your attention - I hope that you will read to the end of this email, for there is a travesty in progress.

The Royal London Homeopathic Hospital (RLHH) - the visible presence of homeopathy within the National Heath Service (NHS) - an institute putting homeopathy in the public mind for the last 150 years - the place where homeopathy was seen to perform so well in the cholera epidemic of 1840's - is being dealt a DEATH BLOW.

The moves are subtle and insidious, but nonetheless relentless and they won't stop until the hospital is closed. In these insane times, I have to protect my source but I have it on absolute authority that without a highly visible, vocal and active campaign, the hospital will be closed within the year, with other homeopathic institutions to follow.

The recent (smear) media campaign led by Prof. Ernst, Exeter University, Chair of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and cost cutting in an NHS strapped for cash, are cited as the main reasons. Yet the RLHH is one of the very few areas of the NHS that actually makes money over it's budget!

Without a doubt politics are at work.

A little history of the Stealth involved.......The In Patient beds at the RLHH were the first to go. Patients then received day care at the hospital and were put up in a local hotel as a means of saving money. Now this has been stopped and treatment restricted to Outpatients only.

In typical media outrage - led again by Prof Ernst - it was claimed that the 43 million pound revamp of the RLHH building was NHS money that should never have been used for a therapy that doesn't work. (As per Prof Ernst's Lancet article in 2005.)

The fact of the matter is that the money for the revamp was donated by benefactors to be used for the HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL ALONE. It was not money that could have been allocated elsewhere in the NHS. BUT of course (and call me cynical) if you allow the hospital to be revamped and THEN push out the homeopaths, you can use a state of the art building for all kinds of other NHS departments.

The Camden PCT (Primary Care Trust - the local control unit of the NHS) dictated that the homeopathic allergy clinic must now be held over at the main University College Hospital site. It's perfect - now the brand new rooms are not being used by the homeopaths and in order to be economically effective must be used by some other department - like the neighbouring neurology department's private practice! (I kid you not - what was initially a once a month event is now several times a week - the neurologists have already got their feet under the consulting desk....)

A number of PCTs have already cut funding and others intend to, so that their patients will not be able to obtain homeopathy on the NHS. Hammersmith and Fulham are not allowing new referrals to the RLHH, six PCTs including Islington have already, or plan to, cut their contracts from April this year, other PCTs plan to follow suit and direct GP's NOT to refer patients to the RLHH. Then Camden PCT can accuse the RLHH of a reducing patient base. Perfect. If this wasn't a literal account of events, it might be amusing in it's bizarre simplicity. And all this at a time when the Government is committed to patient choice in a patient led NHS.

The PCTs even want to change the RLHH's name, and remove the word Homeopathic from the title, despite the building being a local landmark for more than 150 years!

The "Powers that be' at the RLHH have mounted (imho) a token gesture of a campaign - a letter is given to each patient and they are asked to write to their MP. Best case scenario is political naivety. There has been no attempt to utilize the internet, no attempt to contact the royal family, which in itself is mystifying since the Queen is the RLHH's Royal Patron. No attempt to contact the wider homeopathic community. I have heard a serious 'rumour' that staff have been told to keep a low profile.

No matter what your party politics, it seems to me that this is in line with the modus operanda of the day - quiet insidious shenanigans until - oops it's a faite accomplish and too late to do anything. Whatever you might think about the quality of homeopathy being practiced at the RLHH, they are doing important work especially in the areas of allergies, autism and ADD even given their limitation of a 20 minute consultation. They are devoted homeopaths doing their best in a less than ideal situation.

They provide a credible face of homeopathy for the general public and with 40,000 patient appointments every year make homeopathy available on the NHS for a significant number of patients who could not afford to have it otherwise.

In 2005 " 67% of individual GPS and 85% of practices in the host PCT (Camden) referred patients; an increase of 29%...." (Interesting timing of this move to close the hospital .....)

The RLHH provides a: "....holistic, patient centred, low risk, low cost, low tech approach...It offers effective and cost-effective treatments; averts multiple referrals and investigations, and treatments with which many patients fail to comply or find ineffective."

We live in a time when many are afraid to speak their truth for fear of ridicule from colleagues, friends and family; fear of loss of position or status or research funding; fear in many form and guises...... we live in a time when imho building bridges is more important than standing on ceremony. I know first hand that the RLHH people have respect for professional homeopaths, the work we do, the standard of our education.

I presented at a homeopathic educators conference in 2004 in Malvern - 110 homeopaths there - some of you were also there - professional homeopaths, medical homeopaths, homeopathic vets, homeopathic pharmacists - the first time we were all sharing ideas and learning from each other on a level playing field - it was amazing. If we are to keep homeopathy on the table of health care options, we have to work together.

If you share my view, please take action now, this concerted effort to remove homeopathy from the NHS is already in progress. It might be that Prof Ernst will put in motion another campaign to remove the remaining homeopathic community still practicing this 'ineffective' form of medicine.

We all know the issues, it's not about saving the NHS money, it's about politics and multi-national drug companies and the commercialization of medicine etc. etc. and it's my contention that those of us working in the same arena need to support each other. United we stand, divided we....well you know the rest!

So what can we do to preserve this institution?

Tell everyone you know about what is happening and ask them to also take action - your patients, your students, family, friends, anyone interested in free access to health care choices.

Write to the Chief Executive of your PCT, especially if you live in Islington. (Dr. Rachel Tyndall for Islington)

Write to your MP and better yet ask them to ask a Parliamentary question. MP's at: www.parliament.uk/directories/directories.cfm

Ask your MP to: Choose your two favourite questions from the list.

Ask the Secretary of State to estimate the amount of money saved to the NHS in 2005-2006 as a result of patients being referred to NHS homeopathic facilities.

Ask the Secretary of State to confirm that patients who receive NHS complementary medicine have repeatedly testified as to the effectiveness of their treatment.

Ask the Secretary of State to confirm the assurances given that as part of the Delivering the NHS Improvement Plan that patients will be given greater choice and that such choice will be respected by PCTs when patients and their GPs choose complimentary medicine within the NHS.

Ask the Secretary of State to confirm that since the NHS is now 'patient led' that any patient wishing to choose NHS homeopathic treatment will be able to access it from on of the four NHS hospitals.

Ask the Secretary of State to write to PCTs to remind them that access to homeopathy in the NHS should continue to be an option for all patients who choose this form of NHS care and treatment.

Ask the Secretary of State to confirm that the Government's commitment to patient choice will enable patients to choose homeopathy from a local NHS homeopathic clinic or NHS homeopathic hospital.

Ask the Secretary of State to confirm the Government's continuing commitment to providing homeopathy through NHS Homeopathic Hospitals.

Get out your best fountain pen and drop a line to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and ask her to intervene to preserve this 150 year old institution of which she is the Royal Patron.

Anything else you can think - please don't hesitate to send me emails with your ideas and I will pass them on. this is a personal campaign, not associated with anyone at the RLHH and driven purely by my inability to stand by and watch this institution die.

Thanks for your time. I hope you spread the word and make your feelings known.

Onward!

Carol Boyce MCH, CCH, RSHom (NA)
Concerned Homeopath and Teacher
carolboyce@earthlink.net

admin · Last edited by admin on Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:15 pm; edited 1 time in total

Herbal Treatments to be Regulated

11-07-2007

In the UK one in five adults use one or another kind of herbal treatment, however, what most people do not realize is that there is virtually no regulation of herbal therapies. That means that there is no requirement for companies selling herbal treatments to provide any information along with the product nor is there a requirement to have each product independently assessed for safety and quality.

Herbal remedies have been popular for centuries and often people buy herbal treatments after a self diagnosis or a suggestion from the shop staff who are not medically qualified (and by law do not need to be).

Dr Dick Middleton, a former chairman of the British Herbal Medicine Association, said: At the moment a lot of herbal products are of a low standard." He then went on to say: "There are few checks on the manufacturing process and there is often even no batch-to-batch consistency. It makes it difficult to know or to recommend which products to take, because while there are some high-quality remedies, you don't necessarily know which ones they are."

Even more seriously Daniela Turley a lecturer and medical herbalist said: "I know of tests that have been done on products that sometimes show that the remedy didn't even contain an active ingredient. Sometimes the herb in them isn't even the advertised herb. And big companies can be guilty of this."

In 2005, the EU passed legislation requiring the independent assessment of all herbal remedies that are to be sold within the UK. This has to be completed by 2011 and is to be carried out by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

The tests required are for safety and quality and do not indicate whether the product actually works or not. As that would need a series of trials for each herbal remedy the allowance is that so long as the product has been on sale in the UK for more than 30 years or in Europe for over 15 years then it can be sold in the UK.

admin · Last edited by admin on Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:17 pm; edited 1 time in total

Is Mobile Phone Radiation Health Threatening?

10-07-2007

The European Union has recently conducted a survey questioning 27,000 people from the member states to determine people's attitude to radiation from mobile phone and masts. The results are now in. 1,375 of those questioned were from Britain and two thirds of them believe that the radiation from mobile phones and their masts is endangering their health.

This huge majority of concern far out weighs what supporters of the anti radiation campaign expected and also showed that the government media campaign to downplay any health risks has failed dismally.

The survey was conducted by Eurobarometer, a programme within the EU. They took opinions from across the EU. Of Britons, 65 percent believed that mobile phones affected their health and 71 percent felt that mobile phone masts affected their health. The European results were73 percent and 76 percent. This is a significant increase in concern from the results of five years ago when the percentages were 55 and 58 respectively.

For over 10 years, a Scandinavian study has been checking for health risks connected to mobile phone use. They report that there is an increase in the chance of getting brain tumors and that radiation from mobiles can kill brain cells, which could mean that the youth may develop senile symptoms by the time they are forty.

Chairman of the Health Protection Agency, Sir William Stewart said to the BBC's Panorama documentary programme: "I believe that there is a need for a review of the Wi-Fi and other areas ... I think it's timely for it to be done now." As a result of this comment, two councils in the UK, Carmarthenshire and Haringey are reconsidering whether to permit Wi-Fi technology into their schools.

admin

Space Technology Used by Complementary Therapists

06-07-2007

Russian Space Programme Technology Used by Alternative Health Therapists
A special technology first developed for the Russian Space Programme is now being used by health professionals to assess and treat patients in a holistic way.

The technology is called SCENAR and was used for Cosmonauts to activate and direct the body's natural healing system to maintain optimum health and rectify any complaints. It works on the principle of biofeedback.

A version has now been manufactured and released for self assessments in the home. Called the DOVE, it is fully automatic and is only the size of a mobile phone. It also does not require any special training prior to use.

Dr. Irina Kossovskaia is the founder of the Transformational Health Coaching Program and MediSCEN. Dr Kossovskaia said of the device: "Anyone can be trained to use this non-invasive biofeedback tool. I have often recommended TheDOVE for self-treatment as it treats pain and illness quickly and efficiently, and it's safe even for children and pregnant women."

Kossovskaia particularly recommended the Dove for clinics that focus on pain management and home use.
Richard Zapata, a licensed masseur who is also a SCENAR practitioner had this to say about the technology: "I have been a successful therapist for 42 years and wish I had known about the world of frequency medicine a long time ago. It is a great privilege to be able to help those who come to me, especially after going to so many other therapists and physicians with little results."

admin

WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID TAKING VACCINES

By Dr. James Howenstine, MD.

December 7, 2003

Dr. James R. Shannon, former director of the National institute of health declared, "the only safe vaccine is one that is never used."

Cowpox vaccine was believed able to immunize people against smallpox. At the time this vaccine was introduced, there was already a decline in the number of cases of smallpox. Japan introduced compulsory vaccination in 1872. In 1892 there were 165,774 cases of smallpox with 29,979 deaths despite the vaccination program. A stringent compulsory smallpox vaccine program, which prosecuted those refusing the vaccine, was instituted in England in 1867. Within 4 years 97.5 % of persons between 2 and 50 had been vaccinated. The following year England experienced the worst smallpox epidemic[1] in its history with 44,840 deaths. Between 1871 and 1880 the incidence of smallpox escalated from 28 to 46 per 100,000. The smallpox vaccine does not work.

Much of the success attributed to vaccination programs may actually have been due to improvement in public health related to water quality and sanitation, less crowded living conditions, better nutrition, and higher standards of living. Typically the incidence of a disease was clearly declining before the vaccine for that disease was introduced. In England the incidence of polio had decreased by 82 % before the polio vaccine was introduced in 1956.

In the early 1900s an astute Indiana physician, Dr. W.B. Clarke, stated "Cancer was practically unknown until compulsory vaccination with cowpox vaccine began to be introduced. I have had to deal with two hundred cases of cancer, and I never saw a case of cancer in an unvaccinated[2] person."

There is a widely held belief that vaccines should not be criticized because the public might refuse to take them. This is valid only if the benefits exceed the known risks of the vaccines.

Do Vaccines Actually Prevent Disease?

This important question does not appear to have ever been adequately studied. Vaccines are enormously profitable for drug companies and recent legislation in the U.S. has exempted lawsuits against pharmaceutical firms in the event of adverse reactions to vaccines which are very common. In 1975 Germany stopped requiring pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination. Today less than 10 % of German children are vaccinated against pertussis. The number of cases of pertussis has steadily decreased[3] even though far fewer children are receiving pertussis vaccine.

Measles outbreaks have occurred in schools with vaccination rates over 98 % in all parts of the U.S. including areas that had reported no cases of measles for years. As measles immunization rates rise to high levels measles becomes a disease seen only in vaccinated persons. An outbreak of measles occurred in a school where 100 % of the children had been vaccinated. Measles mortality rates had declined by 97 % in England before measles vaccination was instituted.

In 1986 there were 1300 cases of pertussis in Kansas and 90 % of these cases occurred in children who had been adequately vaccinated. Similar vaccine failures have been reported from Nova Scotia where pertussis continues to be occurring despite universal vaccination. Pertussis remains endemic[4] in the Netherlands where for more than 20 years 96 % of children have received 3 pertussis shots by age 12 months.

After institution of diptheria vaccination in England and Wales in 1894 the number of deaths from diptheria rose by 20 % in the subsequent 15 years. Germany had compulsory vaccination in 1939. The rate of diptheria spiraled to 150,000 cases that year whereas, Norway which did not have compulsory vaccination, had only 50 cases of diptheria the same year.

The continued presence of these infectious diseases in children who have received vaccines proves that life long immunity which follows natural infection does not occur in persons receiving vaccines. The injection process places the viral particles into the blood without providing any clear way to eliminate these foreign substances.

Why Do Vaccines Fail To Protect Against Diseases?

Walene James, author of Immunization: the Reality Behind The Myth, states that the full[5] inflammatory response is necessary to create real immunity. Prior to the introduction of measles and mumps vaccines children got measles and mumps and in the great majority of cases these diseases were benign. Vaccines "trick" the body so it does not mount a complete inflammatory response to the injected virus.

Vaccines and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome SIDS

The incidence of Sudden Infant Death syndrome SIDS has grown from 0.55 per 1000 live births in 1953 to 12.8 per 1000 in 1992 in Olmstead County, Minnesota. The peak incidence for SIDS is age 2 to 4 months the exact time most vaccines are being given to children. 85 % of cases of SIDS occur in the first 6 months of infancy. The increase in SIDS as a percentage of total infant deaths has risen from 2.5 per 1000 in 1953 to 17.9 per 1000 in 1992. This rise in SIDS deaths has occurred during a period when nearly every childhood disease was declining due to improved sanitation and medical progress except SIDS. These deaths from SIDS did increase during a period when the number of vaccines given a child was steadily rising to 36 per child.

Dr. W. Torch was able to document 12 deaths in infants which appeared within 3½ and 19 hours of a DPT immunization. He later reported 11 new cases of SIDS death and one near miss which had occurred within 24 hours of a DPT injection. When he studied 70 cases of SIDS two thirds of these victims[6] had been vaccinated from one half day to 3 weeks prior to their deaths. None of these deaths was attributed to vaccines. Vaccines are a sacred cow and nothing against them appears in the mass media because they are so profitable to pharmaceutical firms.

There is valid reason to think that not only are vaccines worthless in preventing disease they are counterproductive because they injure the immune system permitting cancer, auto-immune diseases and SIDS to cause much disability and death.

Are Vaccines Sterile?

Dr. Robert Strecker claimed that the department of defense DOD was given $10,000,000 in 1969 to create the AIDS virus to be used as a population-reducing[7] weapon against blacks. By use of the Freedom of Information Act Dr. Strecker was able to learn that the DOD secured funds from Congress to perform studies on immune destroying agents for germ warfare.

Once produced, the vaccine was given in two locations. Smallpox vaccine containing HIV was given to 100,000,000 Africans in 1977. Over 2000 young white homosexual males in New York City were given Hepatitis B vaccine that contained HIV virus in 1978. This vaccine was given at New York City Blood Center. The Hepatitis B vaccine containing the HIV virus was also administered to homosexual males in San Francisco, Los Angeles, St.Louis, Houston and Chicago in 1978 and 1979. U.S. Public Health epidemiology studies have disclosed that these same 6 cities had the highest incidence of AIDS, Aids related Complex (ARC) and deaths rates from HIV, when compared to other U.S. cities.

When a new virus is introduced into a community. It takes 20 years for the number of cases to double. If the fabricated story that green monkey bites of pygmies led to the HIV epidemic, the alleged monkey bites in the 1940s should have produced a peak in the incidence of HIV in the 1960s at which time HIV was non existent in Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) began a African smallpox vaccination campaign in 1977 that targeted urban population centers and avoided pygmies. If the green monkey bites of pygmies truly caused the HIV epidemic the incidence of HIV in pygmies should have been higher than in urban citizens. However, the opposite was true.

In 1954 Dr. Bernice Eddy (bacteriologist) discovered live monkey viruses in supposedly sterile inactivated polio vaccine[8] developed by Dr. Jonas Salk. This discovery was not well received at the NIH and Dr. Eddy was demoted. Later Dr. Eddy, working with Sarah Stewart, discovered SE polyoma virus. This virus was quite important because it caused cancer in every animal receiving it. Yellow fever vaccine had previously been found to contain avian (bird) leukemia virus. Later Dr. Hilleman isolated SV 40 virus from both the Salk and Sabin polio vaccines. There were 40 different viruses[9] in these polio vaccines they were trying to eradicate. They were never able to get rid of these viruses contaminating the polio vaccines. The SV 40 virus causes malignancies. It has now been identified in 43 % of cases of non-Hodgekin lymphoma[10] , 36 % of brain tumors[11] , 18 % of healthy blood samples, and 22 % of healthy semen samples, mesothiolomas and other malignancies. By the time of this discovery SV 40 had already been injected into 10,000,000 people in Salk vaccine. Gastric digestion inactivtes some of SV 40 in Sabin vaccine. However, the isolation of strains of Sabin polio vaccine from all 38 cases of Guillan Barre Syndrome[12] GBS in Brazil suggests that significant numbers of persons are able to be infected from this vaccine. All 38 of these patients had received Sabin polio vaccine months to years before the onset of GBS. The incidence of non-Hodgekin lymphoma has"mysteriously" doubled since the 1970s.

Dr. John Martin, Professor of Pathology at the Univ. of Southern California, was employed by the Viral Oncology Branch of the Bureau of Biologics (FDA) from 1976 to 1980. While employed there he identified foreign DNA in the live polio vaccine Orimune Lederle that suggested serious vaccine contamination. He warned his supervisors about this problem and was told to discontinue his work as it was outside the scope of testing required for polio vaccine.

Later Dr. Martin learned that all eleven of the African green monkeys used to grow the Lederle polio virus Orimune had grown simian cytomegalovirus from kidney cell cultures. Lederle was aware of this viral contamination as their Cytomegaloviral Contamination Plan[13] clearly showed in 1972. The Bureau of Biologics decided not to pursue the matter so production of infected polio vaccine continued.

In 1955 Dr. Martin identified unique cell destroying viruses termed stealth viruses in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. These viruses lacked genes that would enable the immune system to recognize them. Thus they were protected by the body's failure to develop antiviral antibodies. In March of 1995, Dr. Martin learned that some of these stealth viruses had originated from African green monkey simian cytomegalovirus of a type known to infect man.

The Lederle vaccine experience suggests that the higher-ups are not concerned about sloppy and dangerous preparation of vaccines. Animal cross infection is a huge unsolved current problem for all vaccine manufacturing. If this vaccine production sounds like an unbelievable mess to you, you are right.

The influential Club of Rome has a position paper in which they state that the world population is too large and needs to be reduced by 90 %. This means that 6 billion people must be reduced to 500 to 600 million. Obviously, creating famines and genocidal wars such as wrecked havoc in Africa, and loosing new laboratory-created diseases (HIV, Ebola, Marburg[14] , and probably West Nile virus and SARS) can help reduce the population. Other elitist groups (Trilaterals, Bildenbergers) have expressed similar concerns about excess people on planet Earth.

The company that was projected to produce the new smallpox vaccine in the U.S. was in serious trouble in England because of unsatisfactory quality of operations before setting up their facility in the U.S. Why would their performance here be any better than it was in England?

If there are important powerful groups of people that are determined to reduce the world population, what could be a more diabolically clever way to eliminate people than to inject them with a cancer-causing vaccine? The person receiving the injection would never suspect that the vaccine taken 10 to 15 years earlier had caused the cancer to appear.

[i][b]Other Dangers From Vaccines[/b][/i]

In the March 4, 1977 issue of Science Jonas and Darrell Salk warn, "Live virus vaccines against influenza or poliomyelitis may in each instance produce the disease it intended to prevent. The live virus against measles and mumps may produce such side effects as encephalitis (brain damage).

The swine flu vaccine was administered to the American public even though there had never been a case of swine flu identified in a human. Farmers refused to use the vaccine because it killed too many animals. Within a few months of use in humans this vaccine caused many cases of serious nerve injury (Guillan Barre syndrome).

An article in the Washington Post on Jan. 26, 1988 mentioned that all cases of polio since 1979 had been caused by the polio vaccine with no known cases of polio from a wild strain since 1979. This might have created a perfect situation to discontinue the vaccine, but the vaccine is still given. Vaccines are a wonderful source of profits with no risks to the drug companies since vaccine injuries are now recompensed by the government.

The steady escalation in the number of vaccines administered has been followed by an identical rise in the incidence of auto-immune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, subacute lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, asthma) seen in children. While there is a genetic transmission of some of these diseases many are probably due to the injury from foreign protein particles, mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde and other toxic agents injected in vaccines.

In 1999, the rotavirus vaccine was recommended by the Center for Disease Control for all infants. When this vaccine program was instituted several infants died and many had life endangering bowel obstructions. Prelicensure trials[15] of the rotavirus vaccine had demonstrated an increased incidence of intussusception 30 times greater than normal but the vaccine was released anyway without special warnings to practitioners to be on the lookout for bowel problems. Children's vaccines are often not studied for toxicity possibly because such study might eliminate them from being used.

A large study from Australia showed that the risk of developing encephalitis from the pertussis vaccine was 5 times greater than the risk of developing encephalitis by contacting pertussis by natural methods.

Naturally acquired immunity by illness evolves by spread of a virus from the respiratory tract to the liver, thymus, spleen, and bone marrow. When symptoms begin, the entire immune response has been mobilized to repel the invading virus. This complex immune system response creates antibodies that confer life long immunity against that invading virus and prepares the child to respond promptly to an infection by the same virus in the future.

Vaccination, in contrast, results in the persisting of live virus or other foreign antigens within the cells of the body, a situation that may provoke auto-immune reactions as the body attempts to destroy its own infected cells. There is no surprise that the incidence of auto-immune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, subacute lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, asthma, psoriasis) has risen sharply in this era of multiple vaccine immunization.

Vaccine Induced Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Dr. John Classen has published 29 articles on vaccine-induced[16] diabetes. At least 8 of 10 children with Type 1 (insulin needing) diabetes have this disease as a result of vaccination. These children may have avoided measles, mumps, and whooping cough but they have received something far worse: an illness that shortens life expectancy by 10 to 15 years and results in a life requiring constant medical care.

Dr. Classen has shown in Finland, the introduction of hemophilus type b vaccine caused three times as many cases of type 1 diabetes as the number of deaths and brain damage from hemophilus influenza type b it might have prevented.

In New Zealand, the incidence of Type 1 diabetes in children rose by 61 % after an aggressive vaccine program against hepatitis B.. This same program has been started in the U.S.A. so we can now look forward to many cases of Type 1 diabetes in children. Similar rises in Type 1 diabetes have been seen in England, Italy, Sweden, and Denmark after immunization programs against Hepatitis B.

Toxic Substances Are Needed To Make Vaccines.
Vaccines contain many toxic substances that are needed to prevent the vaccines from becoming infected or to improve the performance of the vaccine. Among these substances are mercury, formaldehyde and aluminum.[17]

In the past 10 years, the number of autistic children has risen from between 200 and 500 percent in every state in the U.S. This sharp rise in autism followed the introduction of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in 1975.

Representative Dan Burton's healthy grandson was given injections for 9 diseases in one day. These injections were instantly followed by autism. These injections contain a preservative of mercury called thimerosal. The boy received 41 times the amount of mercury which is capable of harm to the body. Mercury is a neurotoxin that can injure the brain and nervous system. And tragically, it did.

In the United States the number of compulsory vaccine injections has increased from 10 to 36 in the last 25 years. During this period, there has been a simultaneous increase in the number of children suffering learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder. Some of these childhood disabilities are related to intrauterine cerebral damage from maternal cocaine use, but probably vaccines cause many of the others.

Many vaccines contain aluminum. A new disease called macrophagic myofasciitis causes pain in muscles, bones and joints. All persons with this disease have received aluminum containing vaccines. Deposits of aluminum are able to remain as an irritant in tissues and disturb the immune and nervous system for a lifetime.

Nearly all vaccines contain aluminum and mercury. These metals appear to play an important role in the etiology of Alzheimer's Disease. An expert at the 1997 International Vaccine Conference related that a person who takes 5 or more annual flu vaccine shots has increased the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's Disease by a factor of 10 over the person who has had 2 or fewer flu shots.

When we take vaccines we are playing a modern version of Russian Roulette. We not only get exposed to aluminum, mercury, formaldehyde and foreign cell proteins but we may get simian virus 40 and other dangerous viruses which can cause cancer, leukemia and other severe health problems because the vaccine pool is contaminated due to careless animal isolation techniques. Congress has protected the manufacturers from lawsuits, so dangerous vaccines simply increase profits at no risk to the drug companies.

U.S. children aged 2 months began receiving hepatitis B vaccine in December 2000.No peer-reviewed studies of the safety of hepatitis B in this age bracket had been done. Over 36,000 adverse reactions with 440 deaths were soon reported but the true incidence is much higher as reporting is voluntary so only approximately 10 % of adverse reactions get reported. This means that about 5000 infants are dying annually from the hepatitis B vaccine. The CDC's Chief of Epidemiology admits that the frequency of serious reactions to hepatitis B vaccine is 10 times higher than other vaccines. Hepatitis B is transmitted sexually and by contaminated blood, so the incidence of this disease must be near zero in this age bracket. A vaccine expert, Dr. Philip Incao, states that "the conclusion is obvious that the risks[18] of hepatitis B vaccination far outweigh the benefits. Once a vaccine is mandated the vaccine manufacturer is no longer liable for adverse reactions.

Dr. W.B. Clarke's important observation that cancer was not found in unvaccinated individuals demands an explanation and one now appears forthcoming. All vaccines given over a short period of time to an immature immune system deplete the thymus gland (the primary gland involved in immune reactions) of irreplaceable immature immune cells. Each of these cells could have multiplied and developed into an army of valuable cells to combat infection and growth of abnormal cells. When these immune cells have been used up, permanent immunity may not appear. The Arthur Research Foundation in Tucson, Arizona estimates that up to 60 % of our immune system may be exhausted[19] by multiple mass vaccines (36 are now required for children). Only 10 % of immune cells are permanently lost when a child is permitted to develop natural immunity from disease. There needs to be grave concern about these immune system injuring vaccinations! Could the persons who approve these mass vaccinations know that they are impairing the health of these children, many of whom are being doomed to requiring much medical care in the future?

Compelling evidence is available that the development of the immune system after contracting the usual childhood diseases matures and renders it capable to fight infection and malignant cells in the future.

The use of multiple vaccines, which prevents natural immunity, promotes the development of allergies and asthma. A New Zealand study disclosed that 23 % of vaccinated children develop asthma , as compared to zero in unvaccinated children.

Cancer was a very rare illness in the 1890's. This evidence about immune system injury from vaccinating affords a plausible explanation for Dr. Clarke's finding that only vaccinated individuals got cancer. Some radical adverse change in health occurred in the early 1900s to permit cancer to explode and vaccinating appears to be the reason.

Vaccines are an unnatural phenomena. My guess is that if enough persons said no to immunizations there would be a striking improvement in general health with nature back in the immunizing business instead of man. Having a child vaccinated should be a choice not a requirement. Medical and religious exemptions are permitted by most states.

When governmental policies require vaccinations before children enter schools coercion has overruled the lack of evidence of vaccine efficacy and safety. There is no proof that vaccines work and they are never studied for safety before release. My opinion is that there is overwhelming evidence that vaccines are dangerous and the only reason for their existence is to increase profits of pharmaceutical firms.

If you are forced to immunize your children so they can enter school, obtain a notarized statement from the director of the facility that they will accept full financial responsibility for any adverse reaction from the vaccine. Since there is at least a 2 percent risk of a serious adverse reaction they may be smart enough to permit your child to escape a dangerous procedure. Recent legislation passed by Congress gives the government the power to imprison persons refusing to take vaccines (smallpox, anthrax, etc). This would be troublesome to enforce if large numbers of citizens declined to be vaccinated at the same time.

Footnotes:

1 Null Gary Vaccination: An Analysis of the Health Risks- Part Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients Dec. 2003 pg 78

2 Mullins Eustace Murder by Injection pg 132 The National Council for Medical Research, P. O. Box 1105, Staunton, Virginia 24401

3 Gary Null Interview with Dr. Dean Black April 7, 1995

4 de Melker HE, et al Pertussis in the Netherlands: an outbreak despite high levels of immunization with whole-cell vaccine Emerging Infectious Diseases 1997; 3(2): 175-8 Centers for Disease Control

5 Gary Null Interview with Walene James, April 6, 1995

6 Torch WS Diptheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) immunizations: a potential cause of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) Neurology 1982; 32-4 A169 abstract.

7 Collin Jonathan The Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients 1988 abstracted in Horowitz L. Emerging Viruses Aids & Ebola pg 1-5

8 Harris RJ et al Contaminant viruses in two live vaccines produced in chick cells.J Hyg (London) 1966 Mar:64(1) : 1-7

9 Horowitz Leonard G. Emerging Viruses AIDS & Ebola pg 484

10 Vilchez RA et al Association between simian virus 40 and non-Hodgekin lymphoma Lancet 2002 Mar 9;359(9309):817-823

11 Bu X A study of simian virus 40 infection and its origin in human brain tumors Zhonghu Liu Xing Bing Xue Zhi 2000 Feb;21 (1):19-21

12 Friedrich F. et al temporal association between the isolation of Sabin-related poliovirus vaccine strains and the Guillan-Barre syndrome Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 1996 Jan-Feb; 38(1):55-8

13 Horowitz Leonard Emerging Viruses: Aids and Ebola pg 492

14 Horowitz Leonard G Emerging Viruses: Aids & Ebola pg 378-88 Tetrahedron Inc. Suite 147, 206 North 4th Ave. Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 1-888-508-4787 tetra@tetrahedron.org

15 Null, Gary Vaccination: An Analysis of the health risks-Part 3 Townsend letter for doctors & patients Dec. 2003 pg 78

16 Classen, JB et al. Association between type 1 diabetes and Hib vaccine BMJ 1999; 319:1133

17 Brain 9/01

18 Incao, Philip M.D. Letter to representative Dale Van Vyven, Ohio House of Representatives March 1, 1999 provided to www.garynull.com by The Natural Immunity Information Network

19 Rowen Robert Your first consultation with Dr. Rowen pg 20

© 2003 Dr. James Howenstine - All Rights Reserved

Dr. James A. Howenstine is a board certified specialist in internal medicine who spent 34 years caring for office and hospital patients. Curiosity sparked a 4 year study of natural health products when 5 of his patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis were able to discontinue the use of methotrexate (chemotherapy agent) after trying an extract of New Zealand mussels for the therapy of severe rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr. Howenstine is convinced that natural products are safer, more effective and less expensive than pharmaceutical drugs. This research led to the publication of his book 'A Physicians Guide To Natural Health Products That Work'. This book and the recommended health products are available from www.naturalhealthteam.com and by calling 1-800-416-2806 U.S.A.

Dr Howenstine can be reached by E-Mail at jimhow@racsa.co.cr

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Depleted Uranium, Diabetes, Cancer And You

By Alan Cantwell, MD

© 2007 All Rights Reserved

Recently, I received an intriguing email claiming that the rapidly increasing worldwide epidemic of diabetes was caused by depleted uranium (DU). As a medical doctor I never heard of such an idea. Every physician knows that radiation can lead to cancer, but the DU and diabetes connection seemed ludicrous. Nevertheless, I thought it would be interesting to check it out on the Internet.

The best tool for medical research on the Net is the PubMed website sponsored by the US National Library of Medicine. I typed in the keywords: depleted uranium and diabetes. No citations to scientific papers in the medical journals appeared on my computer screen, which further assured me there was no scientific connection. Even when I used key words - depleted uranium and human disease - only a mere 16 papers were cited on the subject from 1994 to 2005; and only half these papers addressed the medical problems of soldiers exposed to DU in the Gulf War.

What was revealed is that DU accumulates in lymph nodes, brain, testicles, and other organs, and the short term and long term effects of DU were not known. There was a definite increase of birth defects in the offspring of persons exposed to DU; and Gulf War vets who inhaled DU were still excreting abnormal amounts of uranium in the urine 10 years later.

Why was there so little written about DU and its effects on the human body? Having written extensively on the man-made epidemic of AIDS and its cover-up for two decades, I was not surprised. I strongly suspected research into the health effects of DU on Gulf War veterans was "politically incorrect." On the other hand, a quick Google Internet search of - "side effects" + "depleted uranium" - referred me to 71,000 English pages on the web. When I added the key word "diabetes" there were 22,000 pages.

I also discovered that articles about the health dangers of DU rarely, if ever, appear in the major media. In a January 2001 press release FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting) accused the media of "depleted coverage of depleted uranium weapons." Nevertheless, a great deal of information on DU can be found on the Internet.

DU was first used by the US in the 1991 Gulf War, then in the Balkans in the late 1990s, in Kosovo in 2000, in the war against Afghanistan, in Iraq in 2003, and also by the Israelis in the 2006 war with Lebanon. Needless to say, US military and government officials totally deny any health danger from DU. A reassuring New York Times article of 9 January 2001 entitled "1999 U.S. document warned of depleted uranium in Kosovo" by Marlise Simons, noted "while acknowledging the hazards, both the Pentagon and NATO, pointing to medical experts, have denied any links could exist between exposure to depleted uranium and the illness and deaths of veterans."

DU weapons were developed by the US Navy in 1968, and were first given to Israel by the US in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. Since then, the US has tested, manufactured and sold DU weapons systems to 29 countries. Vieques Island, a testing site in Puerto Rico, was repeatedly bombarded with DU in 1999 prior to its use in Kosovo.

DU is a byproduct of the enriching of natural uranium for use in nuclear reactors. As nuclear waste, DU is costly to keep but relatively inexpensive to obtain. Due to their tank armour-piercing capabilities, DU weapons are extremely effective and the reason why the military is so enthralled with them.

Depleted Uranium Whistleblowers

Major Doug Rokke is a leading DU expert who has become a whistleblower against its use. He claims each tank round is composed of 10 pounds of solid uranium-238 contaminated with plutonium, neptunium, and americium. The round is pyrophoric, meaning it generates intense heat on impact, easily penetrating a tank because of the heavy weight of the metal. When DU munitions hit, they produce a firestorm inside any vehicle or structure, resulting in devastating burns and injuries to those who escape immediate death and incineration.

On impact, DU produces uranium oxide dust and pieces of uranium explode all over the place. Once inside the body the tiny nanoparticles enter the lungs and blood stream and are carried throughout the body. When Rokke and his team were assigned to "clean up" the DU after the first Gulf War, all his men got ill within 72 hours with respiratory problems, rashes, bleeding, and open sores. In an Australian interview with Gay Alcorn in 2003, Rokke admitted: "After everything I've seen, everything I've done, it became very clear to me that you can't take radioactive wastes from one nation and just throw it into another nation. It's wrong. It's simply wrong."

According to Asaf Durakovic MD of the Uranium Medical Research Centre in Washington DC, the term "depleted uranium" is a misnomer. Both "depleted" and "natural" uranium are over 99% composed of uranium 238. DU is almost as highly concentrated as pure uranium and may contain plutonium (a deadly element) in trace amounts.

Leuren Moret is an independent American scientist who works on radiation and health issues with communities around the world. At age 61, she is the leading activist against the use of DU, having worked in two nuclear weapons labs, including the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Berkeley, California, run by the US Department of Energy. She is the ultimate antigovernment whistleblower on DU, along with Rokke and Durakovic, and all three have personally suffered (including death threats) for their anti-DU views.

In her article "Depleted uranium: The Trojan Horse of nuclear war," which appeared in the June 2004 World Affairs Journal, Moret claims: "The use of DU weaponry by the US, defying all international treaties, will slowly annihilate all species on Earth including the human species, and yet this country continues to do so with full knowledge of its destructive potential."

DU travels. DU radioactive particles are picked up by the atmosphere and are transferred by wind storms and air currents. They permanently contaminate vast regions and slowly destroy the genetic future of populations living in those areas. As the Trojan Horse of nuclear war, Moret calls DU "the weapon that keeps on killing." There is no way to turn it off - and no way to clean it up. It meets the US government's own definition of "weapons of mass destruction."

Depleted Uranium over the United Kingdom

DU has a very high affinity for cellular DNA and permanently damages it. DU is the "fourth generation" of nuclear weapons. First came the atomic bomb, then the hydrogen bomb, then neutron bombs, and now DU. Moret claims the contaminated DU-dust from the Middle East gets absorbed into the atmosphere. Via dust storms and air currents it ends up in Europe and Britain. Eventually it spreads and get absorbed into the atmosphere globally. There is no safe place; no possible way to escape it.

Moret's concerns are confirmed by a 2006 report from England by Chris Busby and Saoirse Morgan, appearing in European Biology and Bioelectromagnetics and titled "Did the use of Uranium weapons in Gulf War 2 result in contamination of Europe?" Data (obtained with the help of the Freedom of Information Act) from the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston, Berkshire, UK, revealed that after nine days of the "shock and awe" start of the Iraq war on 19 March 2003, much higher levels of uranium were picked up on five sites in Berkshire. On two occasions, levels exceeded the threshold at which the Environment Agency must be informed, though still within safety limits. These levels were the highest levels of depleted uranium ever measured in the atmosphere in Britain. The report also confirmed weather conditions over this war period, which showed a consistent flow of air from Iraq northwards.

Not surprisingly this research was vigorously denied as "uranium of natural origin" by various government officials. However, Busby and Morgan insist the findings are the first evidence that DU particles were able to travel thousands of miles from Baghdad to England. Their report can be found on the Internet.

Gulf War Syndrome

About 300 tons of DU were dispersed over Iraq in 1991. Yet the US Department of Defense (DoD) has found little health risk to soldiers who inhaled DU and continues to claim exposure to DU is safe. Nearly 580,000 soldiers were deployed in the war. 294 soldiers died and 400 were wounded or became ill. As of year 2000, there were 325,000 on permanent medical disability, and over 11,000 have died. Obviously something serious happened to the health of these men and women who served in the Gulf.

DU is known to be neurotoxic. Gulf War vets are twice as likely to come down with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) than vets who did not serve in Iraq. ALS, a fatal neuromuscular disease, is now considered a "service-connected" disease and vets can get disability. Gulf War vets have nearly twice the prevalence of "chronic multi-system disease" than soldiers who served elsewhere at the same time. But so called "Gulf War Syndrome" continues to be denied as a specific illness. The Department of Defense's evaluation does not consider GWS as a unique syndrome, unique illness, or unique symptom complex in deployed Gulf War vets.

The Worldwide Diabetes Epidemic

A half century ago, during the early years of the Cold War when I went to medical school, diabetes was not a common disease. Now in the 21st century it is common to hear of diabetes as an impending epidemic. Certainly the statistics bear this out.

Currently, 7% of Americans have diabetes (17 million). In addition, a Los Angeles Times front-page report on 16 September 2006, claims that there are more than 41 million Americans with abnormal blood glucose abnormalities, "that indicate they may soon develop diabetes." In Puerto Rico (where DU was tested) 10% of the population has diabetes.

The Centres of Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta declares that "unless Americans change their ways," 33% of the babies born this year will be diabetic by the year 2050. Also by 2050 there are expected to be 45 million diabetics in the US. A vet support group, Veterans with Diabetes International, says there are 143 million people worldwide with the disease, and 300 million people are expected to have diabetes in 2025.

Type 1 diabetes, most often seen in children and young adults, comprises 5-10% of the cases. Type 2, a metabolic disorder resulting from the body's inability to make enough or properly use insulin, frequently strikes adults, especially obese adults. This group comprises 90% or more of diabetics. The CDC predicts that Type 2 diabetes will increase 165% by 2050. People with Type 2 diabetes are also twice as likely to get pancreatic cancer.

Thirty-four years after the Vietnam war ended, the DoD finally presented the "strongest evidence" that Type 2 diabetes can be connected to Agent Orange. Eighteen million gallons of this plant defoliant and poison was sprayed over Vietnam by the US military. It is now known to cause cancer and birth defects. Starting in the year 2002 diabetes is now recognised as a "service-connected" disease for all Vietnam vets. At present, diabetes is not service-connected for Gulf War vets.

Nine percent of Vietnam vets have Type 2 diabetes. There is no current evidence that Gulf War vets have a heightened incidence of diabetes, but I could find no solid research to confirm or deny this. Perhaps in one or two more decades government scientists will discover a connection to DU.

The common causes of diabetes are thought to be obesity, poor diet and lack of exercise. Leuren Moret believes the cause of the new epidemic is more sinister: namely the increasing levels worldwide of depleted uranium in the atmosphere, combined with emissions from the proliferation of nuclear power plants.

Unlike government scientists, Moret says DU is very, very, very nasty stuff; and that diabetes is an immediate response to DU, in contrast to the decades it can take for uranium to produce radiation-induced cancer. Although she cannot prove it, she is the first scientist to strongly suggest a connection between the new worldwide diabetes epidemic and DU.

Moret insists the medical profession has been active in the cover-up of low level radiation from atmospheric testing and nuclear power plants. I have been unable to verify this, but it is consistent with the passive role the health profession took during the Cold War nuclear testing in the US (more later). She has also spoken about medical professionals in hospitals who were threatened by government officials with $10,000 fines and jail time if they talked openly about the returning Iraq war soldiers and their medical problems. This could explain the paucity of reports in the scientific literature regarding vets exposed to DU and their war-associated illnesses.

Moret also says reporters have been prevented access to more than 14,000 medically evacuated soldiers from the current Iraq War, brought back to Walter Reed Hospital near Washington, DC. To learn more about Leuren Moret and her research, Google: Leuren Moret + videos. In addition, she appears in the recent documentary film Beyond Treason, detailing the horrific effects of depleted uranium exposure on American troops and Iraqi civilians in the Gulf region in 1991.

Is Depleted Uranium Safe?

Ronald L. Kathren is Professor Emeritus at Washington State University and a leading authority vouching for the safety of DU. Unlike Major Rokke, he does not appear to have ever served in the military or to have come in contact with DU on a battlefield. Nevertheless, his opinions carry a lot of weight in the scientific world.

Kathren does not dispute the fact that military personnel who may have had contact with DU are suffering from various illnesses, but he believes that exposure to uranium is very unlikely to be the cause.

Writing for the Portland Independent Media Centre on 3 July 2005, he declares: "Health physicists are deeply concerned with the public health and welfare, and as experts in radiation and its effects on people and the environment, are quite aware that something other than exposure to uranium is the cause of the illnesses suffered by those who have had contact with depleted uranium from munitions. A truly enormous body of scientific data shows that it is virtually impossible for uranium to be the cause of their illnesses. Despite this body of scientific data to the contrary, misguided or unknowing people continue to allege that the depleted uranium, and specifically the radioactivity associated with the depleted uranium is the cause of these illness. This is indeed unfortunate, for health physicists and other scientists and physicians already know that depleted uranium is not the cause of these illnesses and thus any investigations into the cause of these illnesses should focus on other possible causes. If we are to offer any measure of relief or solace to these suffering people, and to gain some important additional knowledge of the cause of their illness, we should not waste our valuable and limited energies, resources and time attempting to point the finger at depleted uranium as the culprit, when it is already known that uranium is almost certainly not the cause of the problem." (http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/07/320739.shtml)

"No Level of Radiation is Safe for Humans"

As a physician it is inconceivable to me that government-approved experts like Kathren can so quickly dismiss DU as safe and harmless, particularly when on 29 June 2005, a National Academy of Sciences panel in Washington DC has found that no level of radiation is safe for humans.

The panel concluded that "any dose of radiation, no matter how small, can induce cancer. Exposure to radiation is becoming more and more likely for most people because of the growing use of radiation in medicine. The new findings could lead to changes in medical practices and the levels of radiation allowed at former nuclear sites." The panel also contradicted the often heard dictum of some government pro-nuclear scientists that "a little radiation is good for you."

The idea that low doses of radiation are safe is the myth that allowed extensive nuclear testing during the Cold War without a huge protest from every member of the human race. It is this myth that still allows DU weapons to be used on battlefields against "terrorists."

Historically, the proof of the danger of nuclear warfare was provided a decade ago by the publication of a US Congressional committee report authorised by President Bill Clinton and entitled, The Human Radiation Experiments. The report showed clearly that government scientists and physicians could not be trusted in their pronouncements regarding the safety of nuclear weapons. Even worse was the documentation of countless covert and secret radiation experiments conducted on unsuspecting citizens during the Cold War "in the name of science." Unfortunately, this horrific 1996 report did not deter Clinton from allowing DU weapons in Kosovo in 1999, nor did it deter President George W. Bush, who authorised their use again in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Anyone with Internet access can simply Google "the human radiation experiments" for details of the shameful science surrounding nuclear testing and the disastrous health effects on unsuspecting American citizens.

In 2001, a half century after extensive nuclear weapons testing in the American West, the US National Cancer Institute was finally forced to reveal its finding that bomb testing in Nevada, which spread radioactive fallout across every state of the Union, has caused at least 15,000 cancer deaths and up to 212,000 non-fatal thyroid cancers. John LaForge of Nukewatch.com reminds us that "the 67 bomb tests blown off between 1946 and 1958 were said at the time to be safe."

Money, Power and Depleted Uranium

Who is profiting from this global uranium nightmare? In The Enemy Within (1996) Jay Gould reveals that the British Royal family privately owns investments in uranium holdings worth over $6 billion through Rio Tinto Mines, an Anglo-Australian company, which is the world's largest mining company with more than 60 operations in 40 countries. Africa and Australia are two of the main sources of uranium in the world; and the Rothschilds control uranium supplies and prices globally.

Gould notes that nuclear radiation has brought dramatic increases in breast cancer mortality, especially in communities 50 to 100 miles downwind from nuclear reactors. Book reviewer Donna Lee writes: "The Enemy Within has enough scientific data to address those bureaucrats who deny that living near a nuclear reactor is a hazard to one's health. It also includes enough direct, clear prose to convince me, a breast cancer survivor, that I grew up during the Cold War as an unknowing guinea pig, further victimised by the politics of suppression and denial."

Lee continues: "After reading the book, however, I am bothered by one persistent question. I was born and raised and continue to live in San Francisco, California, which has the highest incidence of breast cancer in the world. The Enemy Within concerns itself with breast cancer mortality rates, which are highest in the communities around New York City. San Francisco isn't within 100 miles of a nuclear reactor and it isn't even mentioned in the book. If low level radiation explains clusters of breast cancer throughout the US, what explains us?"

Actually there was a nuclear power plant located in Sacramento, less than 100 miles from San Francisco, which became active in 1975. Gould probably did not include this in his 1996 book because the Rancho Seco Nuclear Power Plant was forced to shut down its operations in 1989, due to a public outcry and a referendum.

David Bradbury says child cancer rates on Vieques Island have soared 250% above the Puerto Rican national average in the last thirty years. In his 2005 documentary film, Blowin' in the Wind, the provocative Australian filmmaker and two-time Academy Award nominee also provides some answers regarding the huge financial interests involved in uranium production and DU weapons. Australia provides one-third of the world's uranium supply, and Bradbury reveals a secret treaty that allows the US military to train and test its DU weaponry on Australian soil. He exposes plans to extract over $36 billion from uranium mines over the next six years, and shows the finished construction of a 1,000 mile railway from the mining area to a port on the north coast of Australia to transport the ore.

The railway project was built by Texas-based Halliburton Company. In 1995 US Vice President Dick Cheney was CEO of that company. The film maker says, "The Queen's favourite American buccaneers, Cheney, Halliburton, and the Bush family, are tied to her through uranium mining and the shared use of illegal depleted uranium munitions in the Middle East, Central Asia and Kosovo/Bosnia. The major roles that such diverse individuals and groups as the Carlyle Group, George Herbert Walker Bush, former Carlyle CEO Frank Calucci, the University of California managed nuclear weapons labs at Los Alamos and Livermore, and US and international pension fund investments have played in proliferating depleted uranium weapons is not well known or in most instances even recognised, inside or outside Australia. God Save The Queen from the guilt of her complicity in turning Planet Earth into a 'Death Star'."

Depleted Uranium and the War on Terror

There is nothing more terrifying than the thought of exposing all life forms on the planet to DNA-altering radiation in order to provide us with "safety" and "democracy." It is truly diabolic to think that the destruction of the planet is now occurring with so few people comprehending what is going on - and still fewer people taking an active stand against this tragedy. It is apparent that most of the world's political and spiritual leaders, as well as scientists, physicians, lawyers, and health professionals do not care about the dangers of DU weapons and other forms of nuclear energy. If they cared we would certainly be hearing and reading about it on television and in the major media.

As a researcher and writer over the past few decades, I have focused on the man-made origin of AIDS and the little-known bacterial cause of cancer, paying little attention to nuclear radiation. However, in 2001 I wrote an article entitled "The Human Radiation Experiments: How Scientists Secretly Used US Citizens as Guinea Pigs During the Cold War", which was published in the September-October 2001 issue of New Dawn, and is posted on several websites. But I must admit I was unaware of the serious planetary problems posed by DU. I simply assumed that no civilized and peace-loving country would ever be reckless and heartless enough to use these radioactive weapons. How wrong I was!

What I find most pathetic and inconceivable is that we have learned nothing from the detrimental health effects unleashed by the atomic bombing of Japan - and nothing from the nuclear testing horrors of the last half of the 20th century. Instead we continue to contaminate vast areas of the world with radiation we don't know how to get rid of.

I remember as an eleven year-old boy how jubilant everyone was by the atomic attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, which brought the war to a rapid end. A half century later my Caucasian niece married a Japanese-American man. Shortly after the wedding she noticed a lump in his neck, which proved to be thyroid cancer. His mother was a child when she lived 50 miles outside of Hiroshima when the bomb was dropped. Decades later, in her forties, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, undoubtedly due to the radiation fallout. The doctors considered the possibility that my niece's husband might have developed thyroid cancer because of radiation-altered and thyroid cancer-causing genes passed on to him by his mother. Of course the family wonders if their two young children will eventually also get thyroid cancer. Who would have thought that the atomic bombing of Japan in 1945 would have a cancerous effect five decades later on my family living in California?

A few years ago I developed a thyroid nodule, which was biopsied and proved non-cancerous. As a teenager in the 1950s I received "superficial" radiation treatments for acne at the recommendation of a well-known New York dermatologist, a treatment that was later banned because of its potential to cause thyroid cancer.

It is almost a cliché to remind people that "all of us are connected." The fallout from DU and nuclear energy now binds us all together in an increasingly radioactive planet. No one is immune from the deleterious effects of radiation, and no one knows how to clean it up.

What can we do about it? The only thing we can do is to stop the madness immediately. However, power and greed and politics and religion make that highly unlikely.

We have met the perpetrators of the new radiation-induced "war on terror." And, sadly, it is us.

Dr. Alan Cantwell is a retired dermatologist and the author of five books on the man-made origin of AIDS and the infectious origin of cancer, all published by Aries Rising Press, PO Box 29532, Los Angeles, CA 90029, USA (www.ariesrisingpress.com). His book, Queer Blood: The Secret AIDS Genocide Plot, is available in Australia through New Dawn Book Service for $24.95 plus $8 p&h. Many of his personal writings can be found on www.google.com by typing in key words "alan cantwell" + articles. His latest book is Four Women Against Cancer: Bacteria, Cancer and the Origin of Life. His books are also available on www.amazon.com and in the US through Book Clearing House @ 1-800-431-1579. Email: alancantwell@sbcglobal.net.

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Older Diabetes Drug Sometimes the Best Choice

July 17 (HealthDay News) -- A new U.S. report says an older drug for treating the most common form of diabetes is better in many cases than a new generation of medications.

The report doesn't recommend that doctors abandon prescribing the new drugs for type 2 diabetes, because they may be appropriate in some instances. But the report does give a boost to the 12-year-old drug metformin, sold generically under a variety of brand names.

"The newer drugs are not necessarily better than the older, less expensive drugs," said Jean Slutsky, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Center for Outcomes and Evidence, which commissioned the report. She added that metformin doesn't cause weight gain and actually decreases "bad" cholesterol levels.

Type 2 diabetes, which is reaching epidemic proportions in the United States, occurs in people who have trouble converting blood glucose into energy for cells. Obesity increases the risks for the disease, with the number of Americans diagnosed climbing from 5.6 million in 1980 to an estimated 16 million today. Diabetes can cause severe problems with the heart, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.

There are large numbers of medication options for doctors to consider, including metformin, which has been available in the United States since appearing under the brand name Glucophage in the mid-1990s. It's one of the most popular drugs in the world.

There are also newer, more expensive drugs like thiazolidinediones (including Avandia and Actos) and meglitinides (Prandin). Avandia has been in the news recently because of reports linking it to a higher risk of heart attack.

In the new report, researchers examined previous studies about the various diabetes drugs. The report was published online Monday and is expected to be in the Sept. 18 print edition of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The report touts metformin and says thiazolidinediones and second-generation sulfonylureas produced the most serious side effects, including congestive heart failure and severe hypoglycemia -- low blood sugar. Another drug, repaglinide, was linked to less-serious forms of hypoglycemia in the elderly and people who skip meals.

Slutsky said the newer drugs are sometimes a good choice. While it has benefits, metformin is more likely to cause stomach problems such as diarrhea, she said.

Dr. Larry Deeb, the American Diabetes Association's president of medicine and science, said the report doesn't break much new ground in its contention that the older drugs still work well. "I think people knew that forever," he said, noting that his association recommends metformin as the first drug of choice.

Still, Deeb suspects that some doctors are so concerned about low blood sugar that they use newer drugs instead of insulin or the older drugs because of concerns about hypoglycemia. "Learning how to use [insulin] and not provoking hypoglycemia is something that I would hope primary doctors would learn how to do," he said.

Slutsky said the new report is important because "there are almost a dozen drugs to control glucose in type 2 diabetics, and it would be very hard for an individual physician to go through the literature for each drug."

For patients, the report's message is that it's important to ask your doctor about the safest drug for you, she said.

SOURCES: Jean Slutsky, director, Center for Outcomes and Evidence, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, Md.; Larry Deeb, M.D, president for medicine and science, American Diabetes Association, Tallahassee, Fla.; Sept. 18, 2007, Annals of Internal Medicine
Publish Date: July 17, 2007

admin · Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 9:40 pm Post subject: About us

About us

Most of us are aware of the physical aspects of our bodies. Few people, however, are aware of our energy bodies and the relationship between these and our physical bodies and our health.

The diagram on the left is a representation of who we are in terms of energy. Our physical bodies are surrounded by a number of energy bodies. These fit inside each other like a set of wooden Russian dolls. The energy vibrations of these bodies are slowest in the physical body and increase outwards from the physical body. Emotions and thoughts are held in the energy bodies immediately surrounding the physical body.

Everyday senses such as taste, touch, smell, sight, hearing, etc., and day to day feelings and thoughts have a relatively low energy frequency and do not give the average person the ability to have much awareness of what is going on in the outer energy fields which have a higher energy frequency. This is why most people are not aware of their energy bodies.
We are all familiar with the need to eat food and to drink liquids. These pass through our physical body, we take the nutrients that we need, and then release from our bodies the waste products. We also need to do the same thing with the life force energy that is in the air all around us. We need to take in this energy, process the ‘nutrition’ that it gives us, and then release the ‘waste products’. This energy is needed in not just our physical bodies but in the energy bodies around us as well. This life force energy helps us to maintain good health in our physical bodies, it helps us to process emotions and feelings in our emotional energy bodies, it helps us to process thoughts and ideas in our mental energy bodies, etc.. The term ‘life force energy’ is a generic term for a range of energies that are all around us but which most of us cannot sense with our physical senses. Life force energy is received into the energy and physical bodies through the ‘chakras’ as shown in the two diagrams on the right. A chakra is a ‘gateway’ though which a vortex of energy flows into our energy and physical bodies and out through which we release used energy. Each person has thousands of chakras, with the seven most important chakras shown in the diagrams. The incoming energy flows through the chakras into the meridian channels and through the nervous system into the endocrine (glandular) system and into the blood stream. The used energy then travels back out through the same routes and is released out through the chakras. Further below are some diagrams of the meridian system, with the meridians represented as the dotted lines. The oriental practices of acupressure and acupuncture are focussed on ensuring that life force energy flows freely along the meridians.

Additionally, the chakras are intrinsically linked to our growth as people through life. Each of the seven main chakras takes about five to six years to develop fully, and they develop in turn, one after the other. The first to develop is the root chakra at the bottom of the spine which has the function of anchoring our energy bodies to the physical body. It develops during the first five to six years of life. It is then the turn of the next main chakra above the root chakra, the sacral chakra, to develop fully. The sacral chakra is linked to a person’s creativity including reproductive creativity, and develops between the fifth and twelfth years of life. The onset of puberty arises when this chakra is fully developed. The next chakra is the solar plexus which is linked to emotional development, developing during the teenage years, followed by the heart chakra which is linked to the ability to have loving relationships. The fifth is the throat chakra which is linked to our ability to communicate and to express our creativity verbally. The third eye chakra is linked to our psychic ability and the crown chakra at the top of our head is linked to our spiritual connection with the world around us and the cosmos. At the bottom of our spines is our own personal pool of life force energy, called kundalini energy, which trickles out into our internal energy system. It flows more freely into each chakra when the chakra has developed fully. When all the chakras are developed, it should flow straight up through all the chakras and through the crown chakra to link with the life force energy all around us. This then opens the door of opportunity for significant spiritual growth and for strong spiritual connection to the world around. This is what happened to me when I was not working for a while.

Linked to the development of the chakras through life are the energies of the stars and planets. These are filtered as constituents of the life force energy through the chakras into our energy and physical bodies. In the west, we are used to the concept that the Moon influences the menstrual cycle of women. What we have less awareness of is the general influence of astrological energies in our energy fields and how they influence our personal growth in life. At the soul level, we process through our energy fields in particular the energies of the stars of the Great Bear, Pleiadean and Sirius systems and the energies represented by the lunar nodes in our horoscopes. In the other energy bodies and in the physical body, we process the energies of the planets in our solar system. The energy of the Moon is connected to our emotions, the energy of the planet Mercury is connected to our mental processes and communications, Venus is connected with love, Mars with our day to day energy, Jupiter with our growth and development through life, Saturn with how we structure and focus our day to day energies, etc.. The energetic relationships between these astrological energies change as the planets move closer to or further away from each other as they orbit around the Sun. Some of these relationships have the ability to influence our personal development. For example, the energy of Saturn challenges the day to day structures of our lives at the age of 14 to 15 as it moves into what the astrologers refer to as an opposite transit. For young people, this represents an opportunity to experience the challenge of growing out of the day to day structures which their parents have given them and to find their own structures in life. This can be quite stressful, especially as they will also have been coping with a lot of hormonal and chemical changes in their bodies at that age. Saturn challenges the structure of our lives again around the age of 29 to 30. Some of these planetary relationships have the ability to influence our energy fields significantly. As a different example, between the ages of 38 and 42, the energy of the planet Uranus in opposite transit pulls on the kundalini to rise upwards very strongly through all the chakras. The section on the Raku-kei energy gives a brief explanation of how a person can experience depression and other symptoms if the kundalini energy cannot move freely under the influence of Uranus.

The free flow of incoming and outgoing life force energy and the flow of the internal kundalini support good health and the development of the chakras. Anything that blocks the free flow of this energy has the potential to cause disturbance to mental, emotional and physical health, and to the development of the chakras. The most common blockages arise from life experiences and from internal behavioural patterns. For example, a person can sometimes encounter a very traumatic event in life such as unfaithfulness by the person’s spouse. If the pain of the trauma is more than the person can cope with at the time, the energy of the trauma ‘sits’ in the energy field waiting for the right time for it to be released. Sometimes, however, the person will avoid dealing with the release of the pain, and there is then the potential for the energy of the trauma to interrupt the natural flow of life force energy through the energy field. If the person feels very bitter or angry about what has happened, there is a need for these feelings to be processed out of the energy field. However, what often happens is that the feelings get held within the energy field. If the person keeps going over and over in the mind and in the emotions what has happened, the energy of these feelings held by the person becomes bigger and bigger and creates further potential for the interruption of the natural flow of energy through the energy field. If the person then holds feelings of suspicion or mistrust for the next close partner and is expecting the next partner also to be unfaithful, that holds further negative energy in the energy field. The cumulative effect of all this is to build up a big ‘lump’ of unprocessed energy in the energy field which affects the person’s emotional and mental state, and which also has the potential to cause physical illness due to the interruption of the free flow of energy through the energy and physical bodies. Such events and behavioural patterns are referred to as ‘issues’ by healers, and their resolution is often linked to improved health conditions.

Relationships with other people can create blockages in a person’s energy field in a different way. Mental and emotional and physical relationships with other people create connecting strands of energy between the chakras of the people in the relationship. If there is a lot of negativity in relationships, the energy in these connecting strands is usually negative and we may find it uncomfortable to deal with. Again, if it then ‘sits’ in the energy field, it can interrupt the free flow of energy and affect a person’s behavioural patterns and health. For example, a parent who often tells a young child that he or she is useless and no good will be sending a stream of very unpleasant energy into the child’s energy field. If the child cannot process this negative energy back out, it can create energy blockages in the child’s energy field. If the negative energy sits in the sacral chakra, it can affect the creativity of the child. If it sits in the solar plexus or heart chakras, it can affect the child’s emotions and capacity to open up to receiving and giving love. If it sits in the throat chakra, it can make it difficult for the child to express him/herself. It can also create the potential for physical illness in the child.

Relationships with other people can also affect our energy fields for another important reason. Although most of us do not have the awareness of where we come from before physical life because of the limitations of the physical senses, we ultimately come from what is called the Universal or Divine Consciousness. Different cultures have different concepts of this. European cultures refer to this as God. Some Asian cultures refer to this as the Source. When we are incarnate in our physical bodies, we become fragmented from the Universal Consciousness. Additionally, the physical world in which we live is one that has been created in polarities or dualities, e.g. male/female. The effect of all this is that in physical life not only are we separated from where we have come from but we are also not complete as we do not have all the dualities within us. If we are aware of this, we can work with spiritual practice to link back to the Universal Consciousness and we can work on issues of duality and have learning experiences from these. If we are not aware of this, however, which is the state of most people, we can often feel that we are not fully integrated with the world around, we can feel isolated and separated, we can feel that we are not achieving full communication and understanding with other people, we can feel incomplete, etc.. Having relationships with other people is a way of dealing with this, and where two or more people come together it is possible to form an integrated energy whole or union in relationships. A negative relationship is where a person uses another person as a crutch to give them access to the energies they are missing, and where there is the potential for negative behavioural patterns to arise such as jealousy, forcing opinions on the other person, emotional manipulation, etc. – all arising intentionally or unintentionally to prevent the loss of the other person and that person’s energy. This throws all sorts of negative energy into the energy links between the energy fields and chakras of the people involved. If this is not processed out properly, the energy fields become clogged up with this negative energy, resulting in emotional and mental behavioural disturbance and sometimes can influence physical health. A positive relationship, however, where there is mutual support and respect and love brings positive energy into the energy links between people and helps to support good health.

Sometimes, the root cause of addictive behavioural patterns is linked to feelings of separation and isolation, and the addiction is a form of nurturing which the person is unable to find externally.

The life force energy that we take in contains the elemental energies of Earth, Water, Air and Fire. These are essential energy building blocks which need to be in place to support the physical manifestation of life. The element of Earth is connected with physicality and materiality, the element of Water is connected with emotions and feelings, the element of Air is connected with mental and thought processes, and the element of Fire is connected with action and making things happen. Lack of or imbalance of these energies can influence behavioural patterns and affect our energy and physical bodies, sometimes affecting our health.

Most people in Western societies hold a number of energy blockages in their energy and physical bodies which affect their behavioural patterns and their health. Relatively few Western people reach the stage where all their chakras are fully developed and where they can experience the subsequent spiritual awakenings as they feel themselves reconnecting to the world all around.

admin · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 8:08 pm Post subject: The Acid/Alkaline Balance

The Acid/Alkaline Balance

It is important to have an understanding of how the acid/alkaline balance within our bodies can affect physical health.

Water ionises into hydrogen (H+) and hydroxyl (OH-) ions. If the number of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions is equal, the water is said to have a neutral acid/alkaline balance. If there are more hydrogen ions than hydroxyl ions, the water is said to be acidic. If there are less hydrogen ions than hydroxyl ions, the water is said to be alkaline. There is a scale to measure acidity and alkalinity called the pH (propensity to hydrogen) scale which ranges from 0 to 14. The scale is logarithmic and is created so that each movement of 1 going from 14 to 0 on the scale is ten times more than the previous point on the scale. For example, point 2 on the scale will be 10 times the measurement of point 3 on the scale. A measurement of 7 on the scale means neither acid nor alkaline. A measurement of 0-7 is an acidic reading and a measurement of 7 to 14 is an alkaline reading.

As we have seen earlier, water is a key component of our physical bodies and the ability of various molecules from our food to bond with water molecules within the body fluids is critical to the correct operation of the cellular processes within the body. The pH levels within the body fluids are also critical to the cellular processes.

The pH level at which cells can function correctly varies in different parts of the body. The following list gives an indication of the acceptable pH ranges:

· Heart 7.0 to 7.4

· Brain 7.1

· Liver 7.2

· Blood 7.35 to 7.45

· Saliva 6.0 to 7.4

· Muscles 6.9 to 7.2

· Urea 4.5 to 8.0

· Bile from Gallbladder 5.0 to 7.7

· Enzymes in the Small Intestine 7.5 to 8.3

As an overall generalisation, our physical bodies work best if they are slightly alkaline.

The pH level in our bodies is influenced most of all by our diet. It can be influenced also by an incorrectly functioning major organ or body system such as the kidneys and the digestive system, by stress and by too much intensive exercise.

When our food has been metabolised (processed) in the body, it leaves a residue or ash which will be either acid, alkaline or neutral. A good diet that would support the overall slightly alkaline balance that the cells of the body are designed to operate in would have around 75% of daily food intake represented by fruit and by vegetables which are cooked in such a way as to minimise loss of minerals and vitamins in the cooking process. (Steaming in a wok is a good way to retain as many nutrients as possible in cooked vegetables.) As a generalisation, the majority of people eating western style diets do not have this level of intake of fruit and vegetables but have a significant proportion of processed foods and dairy/meat products. As a generalisation, this diet produces over-acidity within the body fluids. Processed foods and dairy/meat products tend to leave an acidic ash once metabolised within the body.

Over-acidity means that the cellular processes are operating outside of the acid/alkaline parameters that they were designed to work in. This has an overall effect on physical health conditions. The body has its own reserves of alkalinity which it can call upon and release to correct the acid/alkaline balance. These alkalinity reserves include the alkaline substances such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate and haemoglobin found around the body in the tissue cells, in our bones, in our blood, etc.. These reserves, however, are intended only for short-term quick fixes to an acid/alkaline imbalance and are not sufficient to deal with long term acid/alkaline imbalances. Long term imbalances caused by diet or by a major organ misfunction will result in the depletion of the alkaline reserves and the breakdown of normal cellular activity, and can result in physical health conditions such as the following:

Arthritis.
Aching muscles.
Premature aging.
Stones in the kidneys and the gall bladder.
Being overweight.
Weakness in the immune system.
Osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones caused by the removal of minerals to combat over-acidity).
Reduction in the ability to use the oxygen in the blood fully.
Cardiovascular (heart system) damage.
Accleration of damage caused by free radicals and higher likelihood of developing cancerous consitions.
Low energy, fatigue and depression.
Fungal growth.
Tooth decay.

We looked briefly before at the role of electrolytes in the body. If a person eats a diet that leaves a constant acidic ash, the release of certain ionised salts such as bicarbonate of soda, calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphate, potassium, and sodium into the blood to counteract the acidity will reduce the level of these substances to be available for the usual electrolyte activity in the body.

As healers we will often be called upon to help with physical conditions that are the result of acid producing diets. The correct solution to prevent further recurrence of many of these physical conditions will be change of diet. Until diet is changed, much of the energy healing work that we do will tend to be focussed around alleviating symptoms rather than being able to resolve the causes of the symptoms.

The following table gives an indication of the acid or alkaline ash produced by a range of common foods after they have been metabolised. The acidity or alkalinity of food before it is eaten is not a guide to the acidity or alkalinity of the food after it has gone through the digestive system.

Acid Foods

Alkaline Foods

Red meat

Poultry

Fish and seafood

Cheese

Butter

Cream

Milk

Mayonnaise

Coffee

Tea

Alcohol

Nicotene

Most grains

White flour

Sugars

Carbonated soft drinks

Plums

Cranberries

Blackberries

Kidney beans

Chocolate
Most fruits

Most vegetables

Soy beans

Herbal tea

Garlic

Medical research has shown that the pH levels in our bodies are affected also by stress in our lives. Stress can influence the working of the endocrine system glands and the resulting production of hormones which in turn impact upon the metabolic and cellular respiration processes, and can result in acidity. It is helpful for healers to be aware, therefore, that where a client has a life situation which is causing them ongoing stress, the symptoms will not just be at an emotional and mental level but in the physical body as well as it releases its alkaline reserves to try to maintain the correct levels of alkalinity. We start to look at meditative practice in Chapter 6. Whilst this is introduced into this course as a basis for developing the psychic and intuitive abilities so that we can sense energy imbalances and blockages both within ourselves for self-healing purposes and within others as we try to heal them, it needs to be recognised in the context of the acid alkaline balance in the body that meditative practice is a substantive healing modality in its own right as it helps to calm the mind and the emotions and results in reduced stress levels.

Regular and prolonged periods of intense exercise can also contribute towards acidity in the body. Energy is needed to facilitate the exercise and comes from the release of energy that is stored in the ATP. This release involves the breaking off of one of the phosphate molecules, thereby moving from the three phosphate molecules in the ATP to the two phosphate molecules in the ADP. The breaking of the molecular bonding releases energy for the muscles. The normal store of ATP is not in anyway sufficient to support prolonged exercise so the body will be working at higher than usual rates to replenish the ATP stores once exercising starts. Hydrogen ions which are acidic in nature are a natural by product of the release of energy from ATP. Higher than usual levels of physical activity will result in higher than usual release of energy from the ATP and will result in higher than usual release of the acidic hydrogen ions to beyond the point at which the body’s usual buffer mechanisms to maintain reasonable acid / alkaline balance can cope. What this means is that high levels of repeated and prolonged intense exercise either amongst sports people or amongst overweight people who seek to reduce weight this way can be unhealthy because there is a negative impact upon the acid alkaline balance in the body.

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Apple Juice Shown to Control Asthma

The National Heart and Lung Institute in the UK have just published the results of their study revealing the effects that apple juice has on asthma, in the European Respiratory Journal.

Dr. Peter Burney who led the study, which was focused on children between the ages of 5 and 10, discovered that by drinking apple juice daily the chance of suffering from wheezing is reduced by 50 percent. Wheezing is seen as a good indicator of asthmatic problems approaching.

Dr Burney said that the main symptom of wheezing and asthma is inflamed airways and it is phytochemicals that calm the inflammation. Phytochemicals are found in apples and the main ones are flavonoids and phenolic acids.

Flavonoids are found in fresh fruit and vegetables but the main source is tea, onions and cooked tomatoes and there are more than 20,000 varieties. The effect they have is to prevent hardening of the arteries and damage to cell membranes.

It was found that the apple juice does not need to be freshly squeezed to be effective but can even be the long life version made from concentrate.

Last week the University of Aberdeen published a report of studies they had undertaken which concluded that pregnant women who had eaten a good amount of apples were more likely to provide protection to their babies from developing asthma later in life

Dr Mike Thomas from Asthma UK informed the BBC that the National Heart and Lung Institute study furthered the support in favour of eating apples as a means for providing protective health, saying: "There is some evidence that a healthy diet rich in anti-oxidants and vitamins is good for asthma."

admin · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:49 pm Post subject: Complementary Now Popular

Complementary Now Popular
For a long time alternative therapies and complementary medicines were considered the health care option for hippies and other unusual characters. Now however, it has become so popular that alternative health methods are considered to be mainstream along with regular health care systems.

Mintel, a company specialising in market analysis, conducted a study to estimate the amount of money Britons spend on alternative treatments. They discovered that in the last 5 years the figure has grown by 32 percent to an annual spend of £191 million. As the popularity of alternative health treatments grows, that figure is expected to rise to £250 million by 2011.

Dee Atkinson who is a columnist for 'Vital' and a medical herbalist shared her experience: "I've been with Napiers now for 17 years. When I started, I would see 10 or 11 patients a week. Last year Napiers saw 10,000 patients. It's actually a revival as there used to be herbalists in every town or city, but it's only recently that people have started to look at complementary therapy again. There's an increased awareness of complementary medicine now there's greater access to it and a lot more information about it."

Dee also recommended that people should remain open minded to alternative treatment, despite the inherent scepticism in many people and the sometimes conflicting results obtained from research.

"Herbal medicine is the oldest form of medicine in the world and, while there needs to be more clinical trials on complementary therapy, people have been using these remedies for thousands of years, so the techniques and knowledge have been refined.

"But the really important thing is to see a qualified practitioner. You need to seek out an expert opinion." said Dee, and added "The worst thing to do is to walk into a health-food shop and self-medicate, as you can spend a huge amount of money without getting the best result."

She also concluded that people should remember that natural remedies are drugs and should therefore be prescribed by a medical practitioner who is fully-qualified.

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Natural Foods Contain Cancer Preventive Properties

For years, ever since cancer has become a disease afflicting vast numbers of the world population, the means of prevention and cure has been seen to rest with the big pharmaceutical companies and their research.

Big pharma works on the premise that the prevention of cancer or any illness requires the killing of the relevant pathogen responsible and the illness will go away. This approach carries with it risks of side effects.

There have been several studies that reveal that many foods contain cancer-preventive properties. All one need to do is find out which food contains which phytonutrients with known anti-cancer properties. By choosing the relevant foods, which are mostly fruits and vegetables, your health can be maintained. If a particular ingredient is lacking, it can be added as a pure substance in the form of a supplement.

KP Stoller, MD President of the Hyperbaric Medical Center of New Mexico said:

"There are many nutraceuticals that have both cancer preventive and cancer suppressive properties. You will not hear about them if you do not go out of your way to review the scientific literature, or have access to those that do so. Pharmaceutical companies are sitting on many natural substances that they know can treat any number of diseases, but you will not hear about them unless they can tweak the molecules enough to get a patent and still retain some of the healing properties. Their job is not to let you in on what they know. Their job is to make money."

admin · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:03 pm Post subject: Behind the Label: Diet Coke

Behind the Label: Diet Coke

Far from being the healthy drink implied by its sports sponsorships, Diet Coke is a worrying cocktail of neurotoxic and potentially carcinogenic chemicals.

Diet Coke was first introduced in the US in July 1982 and today it is the fourth most commonly consumed carbonated beverage in the world.

Apart from being the beverage of choice for sugar-phobic individuals the world over, Coca-Cola is one of the longest standing ‘corporate partners’ (since 1974) of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). In 1998 the company signed an unprecedented eight-year agreement to sponsor FIFA events – not just the prestigious World Cup, but also the Women’s World Cup, the Confederation Cup, various youth championships and the upcoming World Cup Trophy Trip, a roadshow that will take the FIFA World Cup Trophy on tour to cities throughout the world.

Last year Coca-Cola extended its FIFA sponsorship commitment until 2022, a move that prompted the preposterous statement by company Chairman and CEO, E. Neville Isdell, that Coke’s recommitment to the
world’s most popular sport ‘affords us a new opportunity to bring people closer together through football’.

It also helps them shift a lot of cans and bottles. A recent study by marketing information company ACNeilsen revealed that the Coca-Cola brand is the global leader among beverages, generating well over $15 billion in sales globally each year. Coke and Diet Coke each generate more than a billion dollars in sales yearly.

Five countries – the US, the UK, Germany, Canada and Brazil – guzzle more of this supposedly healthy, sugar-free alternative to regular Coke than anywhere else in the world.

Aggressive marketing like the FIFA sponsorship and clever jingles like ‘Always Coca-Cola’ keep Coke in our consciousness, but before you ‘grab a Coke and a smile’ at this year’s main event, consider just what you are putting into your body. Although Diet Coke has a strong association with sport and health, it is actually a worrying mixture of neurotoxic and potentially carcinogenic high intensity sweeteners (aspartame and acesulfame K), tooth and bone destroying acids (phosphoric acid) and DNA damaging colourings (sulphite ammonia caramel), as well as psychoaddictive caffeine and other undisclosed ‘fl avourings’.

It also contains sodium benzoate, which can be broken down into the listed carcinogen benzene in the presence of strong acids, such as the citric acid found in this product.

Soda manufacturers have been aware of this synergistic possibility since the 1990s, but without pressure from regulatory authorities to change their formula to prevent the formation of benzene, have continued to mix benzoates and acids.

Ironically, the high fructose syrups used in regular drinks seem to slow this reaction down, and the formation of benzene appears to be most problematic in diet drinks.

Ingredients Purpose

Adverse Effects

Aspartame Sweetener

Breaks down easily in heat and during storage to its neurotoxic components phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methyl alcohol. According to the FDA aspartame is associated with headaches, dizziness, loss of balance, mood swings, nausea, memory loss, muscle weakness, blurred vision, fatigue, weakness, skin rashes, joint and musculoskeletal pain. (For a full report on aspartame toxicity see the Ecologist September 2005). The most recent evidence shows that aspartame ingested at levels that are currently found in daily soft drink consumption raises the risk of otherwise rare brain tumours known as lymphomas.

Acesulfame K Sweetener Causes cancer in animals. Acetoacetamide, a breakdown product, has been shown to affect the thyroid gland in rats, rabbits, and dogs. Although it is commonly blended with aspartame to cover its bitter taste, there are no studies to show if the combination is safe or whether it produces other toxic by-products.

Phosphoric acid Acidifier Can contribute to erosion of tooth enamel; leaches calcium from bones. Children with high intake of phosphoric acid suffer from brittle bones and a higher risk of fractures that follow them throughout life. Children consuming at least six glasses (1.5 litres) of phosphoric acid-containing soft drinks daily have more than five times the risk of developing low blood levels of calcium, compared to children who don’t drink sodas.
Citric acid Preservative, acidifier On its own relatively harmless, though it can be harsh on tooth enamel. When mixed with potassium or sodium benzoate (see below) during storage, and especially at raised temperatures, it can aid the formation of carcinogenic benzene.
Caffeine Flavouring A stimulant, psychoactive compound that can provoke mood changes, lethargy and headache.
Caffeine is addictive and ingestion of high levels can cause miscarriage as well as contribute to peptic ulcers and heart ailments. At the levels added to soft drinks caffeine adds virtually no flavour but does, if consumed regularly, trigger caffeine addiction. Children consuming caffeine have higher incidences of illness, headaches, sleep problems and iron depletion. A 330ml bottle of cola contains about half the caffeine of a cup of coffee.

Sodium Benzoate (E211) Preservatives People who suffer from asthma, rhinitis or urticaria may find their symptoms get worse following the consumption of benzoates. In acidic solutions (such as sodas), benzoates can break down into benzene, a known carcinogen. Surveys have shown that levels in soft drinks can be up to 40 times higher than recognised ‘safe’ doses.
Sulphite ammonia caramel (E150d) Colouring Made by heating sugar, ammonia and sulphite-containing compounds, the sugar can sometimes come from GM maize. Ammonia is toxic by all routes of exposure, and caramels made by an ammonia process may damage genes, slow down growth, cause enlargement of the intestines and kidneys and may destroy vitamin B. This colouring has never been fully evaluated for its potential carcinogenicity or reproductive toxicity

admin · Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:35 pm Post subject: Intereactive Depression Checklist

Intereactive Depression Checklist

For more than TWO WEEKS have you:

1. Felt worthless OR
felt excessively guilty OR
felt guilt about things you should not have been feeling guilty about?

2. Felt sad, down or miserable most of the time?

3. Lost interest or pleasure in most of your usual activities?
If you answered 'YES' to either of these questions, complete the symptom checklist below. If you did not answer 'YES' to either of these questions, it is unlikely that you have a depressive illness.

4. Lost or gained a lot of weight OR
had a decrease or increase in appetite?

5. Sleep disturbance?

6. Felt slowed down, restless or excessively busy?

7. Felt tired or had no energy?

8. Had poor concentration OR
had difficulties thinking OR
were very indecisive?

9. Had recurrent thoughts of death?

admin

“No one cares anyway… they just say I should snap out of it”

Understanding suicide

There are many commonly-held myths about suicide that sometimes make it difficult for people to recognise when someone is at risk. Here are some frequently asked questions to help you gain a better understanding of suicide.

If someone’s talking about suicide, doesn’t it mean they just want attention and won’t actually hurt themselves?

Isn’t there little warning if a person really intends to suicide?

If I ask someone if they’re suicidal, won’t I be planting the idea in their head or pushing them towards it?

If someone is intent on suicide, isn’t it impossible to stop them?

If a person has already attempted suicide and survived, doesn’t that mean they’ll never try it again?

What if someone shows all the warning signs but suddenly seems happy again? Should I still be worried?

What makes someone want to take their own life?

If someone’s talking about suicide, doesn’t it mean they just want attention and won’t actually hurt themselves?

People who complete suicide have usually indicated their intentions in some way beforehand. It’s essential that any talk of suicide is taken very seriously.

Whether they plan to go ahead with it or not, people who talk about suicide or threaten to kill themselves are often looking for help. They’re generally attempting to communicate the degree of emotional pain that they’re experiencing, and it’s important that they’re able to reach out to someone who will be understanding.

You may not think the issues faced by the suicidal person warrant taking their life, but remember that their experience is different to yours. Try to understand their distress and not dismiss it as attention-seeking or label their behaviours as manipulative.

Isn’t there little warning if a person really intends to suicide?

Most people who plan to suicide do express signs of intent, but these are often not recognised or understood.

Some behavioural warning signs include:

Talking about suicide

Making a suicide plan

Self-harming or prior suicidal behaviour

Tidying or finalising affairs

Organising or talking of making a will

Unexplained crying

Withdrawal

Quitting activities that were previously important

Giving away prized possessions

Over or uncharacteristic use of alcohol or drugs

Lack of interest in the future

Uncharacteristic risk-taking or recklessness (eg driving recklessly)

Fighting and/or breaking the law

Some physical warning signs include:

Loss of interest in personal hygiene or appearance

Loss of physical energy

Sudden and extreme changes in eating habits; losing or gaining weight

Major changes to sleeping patterns (too much or too little)

Loss of interest in sex

Increase in minor illnesses

If I ask someone if they’re suicidal, won’t I be planting the idea in their head or pushing them towards it?

The only way to really know if a person is contemplating suicide is to ask. Asking someone if they’re feeling suicidal may feel difficult but it shows them that you care. It’s often a relief for a suicidal person to have someone recognise the seriousness of their distress and to be given permission to talk about it. You won’t be doing any harm to ask and it may reduce their risk.

If someone is intent on suicide, isn’t it impossible to stop them?

Suicide is not inevitable and can be prevented. Immediate practical help, such as staying with the person, encouraging them to talk about how they feel and helping them plan for the future can deflect their suicidal intentions in the short-term. This should be followed by professional support to help them in the long-term, complemented by ongoing social support.

If a person has already attempted suicide and survived, doesn’t that mean they’ll never try it again?

A suicide attempt is regarded as a risk factor, and it’s likely that the level of danger will increase with each subsequent attempt. The risk is high for the first three months to a year after an attempt, and then declines but remains throughout the person’s lifetime.

What if someone shows all the warning signs but suddenly seems happy again? Should I still be worried?

If a suicidal person appears to have a sudden unexpected recovery or turnabout in mood, the danger period may not be over. This may actually be a sign that the person has decided to suicide and is feeling resolved and at peace with their plan to end their life.

It’s important to monitor and question any sudden shift or unexpected positive mood change, particularly if the person is finalising affairs or giving away treasured possessions. Seek professional help so that you are not solely responsible.

What makes someone want to take their own life?

People who feel suicidal are experiencing intense emotional pain. They want to stop this pain and see suicide as an answer.

A number of experiences and circumstances increase a person’s risk of suicide. Some examples of high risk factors include:

Any form of abuse - emotional, physical or sexual, past or present

Any significant loss

Relationship breakdown

Depression or mental illness

Living in remote areas or in social isolation

Previous suicide attempts or deliberate self-harm

Exposure to suicidal behaviour in others, particularly another’s suicidal death.

Parental separation or divorce

Drug or alcohol abuse

Homelessness

Failing grades or dropping out of courses

Legal or court action

Financial crises such as job loss, drought, bankruptcy

Everyone’s different, but there are some common thoughts and emotions that people who are suicidal might experience, which often become overwhelming. Some examples of these are:

Wanting to escape

Thinking through tunnel vision (without the ability to recognise choices)
Sadness
Despair
Apathy
Anger
Distress
Guilt
Loneliness
Hopelessness
Helplessness
Worthlessness
Feeling like a burden to others
Suicidal feelings can be triggered by any life event. The key question is how a person feels about an issue and what meaning it has for the person. The degree of powerlessness, helplessness, hopelessness or worthlessness a person is experiencing affects their level of risk of suicide.

admin

“… don’t know what to say to help him, it’s like he’s shutting me out”

Helping someone who's suicidal

Letting them express their thoughts and feelings can help a suicidal person ‘share the load’ of their troubles and put things in perspective. It’s important not to minimise their problems or be judgmental. Avoid statements such as “You don’t know how lucky you are” and “You shouldn’t feel like that”. Instead, acknowledge the pain they’re experiencing right now. Often, knowing someone cares enough to get involved and listen can be a great help to someone who is suicidal.

Supporting someone who’s suicidal can be exceptionally hard on you and it’s important that you also look after yourself. It might be beneficial to seek professional support yourself, or to talk about things to someone close to you.

How should I talk to them about it?

What if I think something is wrong but they insist they’re ok?

How can I determine how high the risk is?

Should I keep their plans to myself?

What if they don’t want to talk to a professional?

How should I talk to them about it?

Let the person at risk know that you’re concerned and that you care
Let them know what you have observed
Ask directly if they’re feeling suicidal or have had thoughts about suicide
Show respect – be understanding of their situation; be honest and genuine in your concern
Reassure the person that you’re taking their distress seriously
Talk openly and freely; let them talk
Focus on a plan of action to stay safe
Offer realistic hope – remember that their problems won’t be solved overnight
What if I think something is wrong but they insist they’re ok?

Continue to be observant
Trust your instincts
Follow through on any suspicions
Check if others have noticed anything different
Find out if the person is experiencing other warning signs you haven’t yet picked up on.
Reassure the person that you will listen if they have any more suicidal thoughts or feelings

How can I determine how high the risk is?

Find out whether they have a suicide plan. Is the plan very detailed? Do they have the means to carry it out? Have they got a timeframe for carrying it out?

Ask whether they’ve made any prior attempts

The more questions they answer ‘yes’ to, the higher the immediate risk
Should I keep their plans to myself?

Avoid secrecy pacts

Be firm about your intentions to involve others if they won’t – tell them you can’t keep this crisis to yourself for their sake
Encourage them to get professional help and support them to do so
For your own sake as well as theirs, don’t deal with this with alone – you need to look after yourself by sharing the responsibility

What if they don’t want to talk to a professional?

Identify other supports such as parents, friends, family, colleagues or teachers etc

admin

Are Your Cell Phone and Laptop Bad for Your Health?

I have had this following information sent to me in an email from a reliable source.

For years, opponents of cell towers and wireless technology have voiced concerns about potenltial health effects of electromagnetic fields. Once ridiculed as crackpots and Luddites, they're starting to get backup from the scientific community.
In the wee hours of July 14, a 45-year-old Australian named John Patterson climbed into a tank and drove it through the streets of Sydney, knocking down six cell-phone towers and an electrical substation along the way. Patterson, a former telecommunications worker, reportedly had mapped out the locations of the towers, which he claimed were harming his health.

In recent years, protesters in England and Northern Ireland have brought down cell towers by sawing, removing bolts, and pulling with tow trucks and ropes. In one such case, locals bought the structure and sold off pieces of it as souvenirs to help with funding of future protests. In attempts to fend off objections to towers in Germany, some churches have taken to disguising them as giant crucifixes.

Opposition to towers usually finds more socially acceptable outlets, and protests are being heard more often than ever in meetings of city councils, planning commissions, and other government bodies. This summer alone, citizen efforts to block cell towers have sprouted in, among a host of other places, including California, New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois, North Dakota and north of the border in Ontario and British Columbia. Transmitters are already banned from the roofs of schools in many districts.

For years, towers have been even less welcome in the United Kingdom, where this summer has seen disputes across the country.

Most opponents cite not only aesthetics but also concerns over potential health effects of electromagnetic (EM) fields generated by the towers. Once ridiculed as crackpots and Luddites, they're starting to get backup from the scientific community.

It's not just cell phones they're worried about. The Tottenham area of London is considering the suspension of all wireless technology in its schools. Last year, Fred Gilbert, a respected scientist and president of Lakehead University in Ontario, banned wireless internet on his campus. And resident groups in San Francisco are currently battling Earthlink and Google over a proposed city-wide Wi-Fi system.

Picking Up Some Interference?

For decades, concerns have been raised about the health effects of "extremely low frequency" fields that are produced by electrical equipment or power lines. People living close to large power lines or working next to heavy electrical equipment are spending a lot of time in electromagnetic fields generated by those sources. Others of us can be exposed briefly to very strong fields each day.

But in the past decade, suspicion has spread to cell phones and other wireless technologies, which operate at frequencies that are millions to tens of millions higher but at low power and "pulsed."

Then there's your cell phone, laptop, or other wireless device, which not only receives but also sends pulsed signals at high frequencies. Because it's usually very close to your head (or lap) when in use, the fields experienced by your body are stronger than those from a cell tower down the street.

A growing number of scientists, along with a diverse collection of technology critics, are pointing out that our bodies constantly generate electrical pulses as part of their normal functioning. They maintain that incoming radiation from modern technology may be fouling those signals.

But with hundreds of billions in sales at stake, the communications industry (and more than a few scientists) insist that radio-frequency radiation can't have biological effects unless it's intense enough to heat your flesh or organs, in the way a microwave oven cooks meat.

It's also turning out that when scientific studies are funded by industry, the results a lot less likely to show that EM fields are a health hazard.

Low Frequency, More Frequent Disease?

Before the digital revolution, a long line of epidemiological studies compared people who were exposed to strong low-frequency fields - people living in the shadow of power lines, for example, or long-time military radar operators - to similar but unexposed groups.

One solid outcome of that research was to show that rates of childhood leukemia are associated with low-frequency EM exposure; as a result, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has labeled that type of energy as a possible carcinogen, just as they might label a chemical compound.

Other studies have found increased incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (commonly called ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), higher rates of breast cancer among both men and women, and immune-system dysfunction in occupations with high exposure.

Five years ago, the California Public Utilities Commission asked three epidemiologists in the state Department of Health Services to review and evaluate the scientific literature on health effects of low-frequency EM fields.

The epidemiologists, who had expertise in physics, medicine, and genetics, agreed in their report that they were "inclined to believe that EMFs can cause some degree of increased risk of childhood leukemia, adult brain cancer, Lou Gehrig's disease, and miscarriage" and were open to the possibility that they raise the risks of adult leukemia and suicide. They did not see associations with other cancer types, heart disease, or Alzheimer's disease.

Epidemiological and animal studies have not been unanimous in finding negative health effects from low-frequency EM fields, so the electric-utility industry continues to emphasize that no cause-and-effect link has been proven.

High Resistance

Now the most intense debate is focused on radio-frequency fields. As soon as cell phones came into common usage, there was widespread concern that holding an electronic device against the side of your head many hours a month for the rest of your life might be harmful, and researchers went to work looking for links to health problems, often zeroing in on the possibility of brain tumors.

Until recently, cell phones had not been widely used over enough years to evaluate effects on cancers that take a long time to develop. A number of researchers failed to find an effect during those years, but now that the phones have been widely available for more than a decade, some studies are relating brain-tumor rates to long-term phone use.

Some lab studies have found short-term harm as well. Treatment with cell-phone frequencies has disrupted thyroid-gland functioning in lab rats, for example. And at Lund University in Sweden, rats were exposed to cell-phone EM fields of varying strengths for two hours; 50 days later, exposed rats showed significant brain damage relative to non-exposed controls.

The authors were blunt in their assessment: "We chose 12-26-week-old rats because they are comparable with human teenagers - notably frequent users of mobile phones - with respect to age. The situation of the growing brain might deserve special concern from society because biologic and maturational processes are particularly vulnerable during the growth process."

Even more recently, health concerns have been raised about the antenna masts that serve cell phones and other wireless devices. EM fields at, say, a couple of blocks from a tower are not as strong as those from a wireless device held close to the body; nevertheless many city-dwellers are now continuously bathed in emissions that will only grow in their coverage and intensity.

Last year, the RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia closed off the top two floors of its 17-story business school for a time because five employees working on its upper floors had been diagnosed with brain tumors in a single month, and seven since 1999. Cell phone towers had been placed on the building's roof a decade earlier and, although there was no proven link between them and the tumors, university officials were taking no chances.

Data on the health effects of cell or Wi-Fi towers are still sparse and inconsistent. Their opponents point to statistically rigorous studies like one in Austria finding that headaches and difficulty with concentration were more common among people exposed to stronger fields from cell towers. All sides seem to agree on the need for more research with solid data and robust statistical design.

San Francisco, one of the world's most technology-happy cities, is home to more than 2400 cell-phone antennas, and many of those transmitters are due to be replaced with more powerful models that can better handle text messaging and photographs, and possibly a new generation of even higher-frequency phones.

Now there's hot-and-heavy debate over plans to add 2200 more towers for a city-wide Earthlink/Google Wi-Fi network. On July 31, the city's Board of Supervisors considered an appeal by the San Francisco Neighborhood Antenna-Free Union (SNAFU) that the network proposal be put through an environmental review - a step that up to now has not been required for such telecommunications projects.

In support of the appeal, Magda Havas, professor of environmental and resource studies at Trent University in Ontario submitted an analysis of radio-frequency effects found in more than 50 human, animal, and cellular-level studies published in scientific journals.

Havas has specialized in investigating the effects of both low- and high-frequency EM radiation. She says most of the research in the field is properly done, but that alone won't guarantee that all studies will give similar results. "Natural variability in biological populations is the norm," she said.

And, she says, informative research takes time and focus: "For example, studies that consider all kinds of brain tumors in people who've only used cell phones for, say, five years don't show an association. But those studies that consider only tumors on the same side of the head where the phone is held and include only people who've used a phone for ten years or more give the same answer very consistently: there's an increased risk of tumors." In other research, wireless frequencies have been associated with higher rates of miscarriage, testicular cancer, and low sperm counts.

Direct current from a battery can be used to encourage healing of broken bones. EM fields of various frequencies have also been shown to reduce tissue damage from heart attacks, help heal wounds, reduce pain, improve sleep, and relieve depression and anxiety. If they are biologically active enough to promote health, are they also active enough to degrade it?

At the 2006 meeting of the International Commission for Electromagnetic Safety in Benevento, Italy, 42 scientists from 16 countries signed a resolution arguing for much stricter regulation of EM fields from wireless communication.

Four years earlier, in Freiburger, Germany, a group of physicians had signed a statement also calling for tighter regulation of wireless communication and a prohibition on use of wireless devices by children. In the years since, more than 3000 doctors have signed the so-called "Freiburger Appeal" and documents modeled on it.

But in this country, industry has pushed for and gotten exemption from strict regulation, most notably through the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Libby Kelley, director of the Council on Wireless Technology Impacts in Novato, California says, "The technology always comes first, the scientific and environmental questions later. EM trails chemicals by about 10 years, but I hope we'll catch up."

Kelley says a major problem is that the Telecommunications Act does not permit state or local governments to block the siting of towers based on health concerns: "We'll go to hearings and try to bring up health issues, and officials will tell us, 'We can't talk about that. We could get sued in federal court!'"

High-Voltage Influence?

Industry officials are correct when they say the scientific literature contains many studies that did not find power lines or telecommunication devices to have significant health effects. But when, as often happens, a range of studies give some positive and some negative results, industry people usually make statements like, "Technology A has not been proven to cause disease B."

Michael Kundi, professor at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria and an EM researcher, has issued a warning about distortions of the concept of cause-and-effect, particularly when a scientific study concludes that "there is no evidence for a causal relationship" between environmental factors and human health. Noting that science is rarely able to prove that A did or did not "cause" B, he wrote that such statements can be "readily misused by interested parties to claim that exposure is not associated with adverse health effects."

Scientists and groups concerned about current standards for EM fields have criticized the World Health Organization (WHO) and other for downplaying the risks. And some emphasize the risk of financial influence when such intense interest is being shown by huge utilities and a global communications industry that's expected to sell $250 billion worth of wireless handsets per year by 2011 (that's just for the instruments, not counting monthly bills). Microwave News cited Belgian reports in late 2006 that two industry groups - the GSM Association and Mobile Manufacturers Forum - accounted for more than 40 percent of the budget for WHO's EM fields project in 2005-06.

When a US National Academy of Sciences committee was formed earlier this year to look into health effects of wireless communication devices, the Center for Science in the Public Interest and Sage Associates wrote a letter to the Academy charging that the appointment of two of the committee's six members was improper under federal conflict-of-interest laws.

One of the committee members, Leeka Kheifets, a professor of epidemiology in UCLA's School of Public Health, has, says the letter, "spent the majority of the past 20 years working in various capacities with the Electric Power Research Institute, the research arm of the electric power industry."

The other, Bernard Veyret, senior scientist at the University of Bordeaux in France, "is on the consulting board of Bouygues Telecom (one of 3 French mobile phone providers), has contracts with Alcatel and other providers, and has received research funding from Electricite de France, the operator of the French electricity grid." The NAS committee will be holding a workshop this month and will issue a report sometime after that.

A paper published in January in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found that when studies of cell phone use and health problems were funded by industry, they were much less likely to find a statistically significant relationship than were publicly funded studies.

The authors categorized the titles of the papers they surveyed as either negative (as in "Cellular phones have no effect on sleep patterns"), or neutral (e.g., "Sleep patterns of adolescents using cellular phones"), or positive, (e.g., "Cellular phones disrupt sleep"). Fully 42 percent of the privately funded studies had negative titles and none had positive ones. In public or nonprofit studies, titles were 18 percent negative and 46 percent positive.

Alluding to previous studies in the pharmaceutical and tobacco industries, the authors concluded, "Our findings add to the existing evidence that single-source sponsorship is associated with outcomes that favor the sponsors' products."

By email, I asked Dr. John Moulder, a senior editor of the journal Radiation Research, for his reaction to the study. Moulder, who is Professor and Director of Radiation Biology in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Wisconsin, did not think the analysis was adequate to conclusively demonstrate industry influence and told me that in his capacity as an editor, "I have not noted such an effect, but I have not systematically looked for one either. I am certainly aware that an industry bias exists in other areas of medicine, such as reporting of clinical trails."

Moulder was lead author on a 2005 paper concluding that the scientific literature to that point showed "a lack of convincing evidence for a causal association between cancer and exposure to the RF [radio-frequency] energy used for mobile telecommunications."

The Center for Science in the Public Interest has questioned Moulder's objectivity because he has served as a consultant to electric-power and telecommunications firms and groups. Moulder told me, "I have not done any consulting for the electric power and telecommunications industry in years, and when I was doing consulting for these industries, the journals for which I served as an editor or reviewer were made aware of it."

A year ago, Microwave News also reported that approximately one-half of all studies looking into possible damage to DNA by communication-frequency EM fields found no effect. But three-fourths of those negative studies were industry- or military-funded; indeed, only 3 of 35 industry or military papers found an effect, whereas 32 of 37 publicly funded studies found effects.

Magda Havas sees a shortage of public money in the US for research on EM health effects as one of the chief factors leading to lack of a rigorous public policy, telling me, "Much of the research here ends up being funded directly or indirectly by industry. That affects both the design and the interpretation of studies." As for research done directly by company scientists, "It's the same as in any industry. They can decide what information to make public. They are free to downplay harmful effects and release information that's beneficial to their product."

Meanwhile, at Trent University where Havas works, students using laptops are exposed to radio-frequency levels that exceed international guidelines. Of that, she says, "For people who've been fully informed and decide to take the risk, that's their choice. But what about those who have no choice, who have a cell-phone tower outside their bedroom window?

"It's the equivalent of secondhand smoke. We took a long time to get the political will to establish smoke-free environments, and we now know we should have done it sooner. How long will it take to react to secondhand radiation?"

admin · Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:16 pm Post subject: THE WISDOM OF YOUR CELLS: Part 3

THE WISDOM OF YOUR CELLS: Part 3

By Bruce Lipton

Every cell is an intelligent organism. You can remove it from the body, put it into a Petri dish and it will manage its own life: handle the environment, grow, reproduce and form communities with other cells. In the human body we are dealing with a vast community of cells working together in harmony. In a culture dish, cells behave as individual entities. However, in a body cells act as a community; individuals really cannot do whatever they want because then the coherence of the group will fall apart. Therefore, when cells come together in a community they acquire a central intelligence that is involved with coordinating the activity of the individual cells in the group. The cells actually defer to the higher order of that central voice. A human organism is a community of upwards of fifty trillion cells operating in unison and harmony, trying to conform to the requests and demands of that central voice. And it is the central voice that acquires and learns the perceptions that we must deal with throughout our lives.

There are three sources of life-controlling perceptions. Source number one is genetics, which provides for instincts common to all humans, basic things such as automatically pulling your hand out of the fire. A second set of perceptions is derived from the subconscious mind, the part that controls all the functions we don't have to think about. Once you learn how to walk, the program to control walking becomes part of the subconscious mind. You just have to have the intention of walking and the brain will coordinate the behavior. The third source of perceptions is from the conscious mind. The conscious mind can rewrite any of the subconscious programs you acquired and you can even go back and change the genetic activity. The conscious mind is unique because it can change an entire history of perceptions in order to engage in different behaviors and life styles.

How Babies Learn

In human development, when a sperm and egg come together their fate is presumed to be controlled by the inherited genes. The role of the woman in fetal development has primarily been restricted to her contribution in regard to nourishment via the components of her blood that pass through the placenta to the fetus. But her blood contains a lot more than just nutrition. Blood contains all of the information molecules as well, such as hormones and emotional chemicals. The mother is always adjusting her physiology and her emotions to deal with the contingencies of life. Since her blood via the placenta is directed to the fetus, the fetus is experiencing and feeling what the mother senses. This is a super-intelligent idea on the part of Mother Nature. Since the fetus, when it is born, is going to live in the same environment that the mother perceives, the mother is helping the fetus “adjust” to current world conditions. If the mother perceives the world as threatening, this sends completely different signals to the fetus than if she perceives the world as a warm, supporting place.

When stress hormones cross the placenta they have exactly the same target sites in the fetus as they have in the mother. They cause the fetal blood vessels to be more constricted in the viscera, sending more blood to the periphery, preparing the fetus is for a fight/flight behavioral response. In a developing fetus this is going to enhance the development of the musculoskeletal system and make a bigger body, with a coordinated increase in the hind-brain function to control that response. In a truly unstable world, this mother is creating a child that will have a great advantage because its ability to be a fighter and survive is greatly enhanced. Yes, the genes control the unfolding of a body plan but how you enhance some organs and take away from other organs is based on the flow of information chemicals that are transported from the mother's blood into the placenta.

It is now recognized that when the child is born he is fully capable of experiencing almost all the emotions of adults. Newborns can express rage, jealousy, anger, love and sadness. It turns out that both the mother and father are actually tailoring and shaping the child’s physiology and behavior to fit into their world. If the parents find the world troubling, their child will be affected. For example, when parents do not want a child, this information, in the form of emotional chemistry, is crossing the placenta! The fetus already knows that its support is not guaranteed. It is clearly important for us to recognize that creating a child is a very important, dynamic, interactive process between the parents and the fetus. In fact, recent understanding in human pathology clearly reveals that issues that affect us as adults, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and obesity, actually have their roots in the peri-conceptual, fetal and neonatal phases of life. The conditions under which a child is developing in utero profoundly shape her for the rest of her life in regard to behavior and physiology

When the child is born, it will stare into the faces of its parents and within hours it learns to read their facial expressions. The reason for this is very important—the facial expression of the parent serves to instruct the infant about its new world. As the child explores its world, if he encounters something “new” and the parent’s face expresses concern or fear, it immediately learns that thing should be avoided. The child will back away from whatever he perceives as threatening, and that is a healthy response for his life. Through this bonding and in all their interactions, the parents are programming the responses of the child. When parents are not there and do not follow through on this bonding, it leads to problems in development, referred to as an attachment disorder. Such children have trouble focusing and express characteristics similar to attention-deficit disorder. Science has documented how responses to the world that we acquired from our parents are profoundly important in shaping our own physiology, our health and the diseases that we may experience later in life.

Fitting Into Society

Here is how a child learns to rapidly fit into society: a child’s brain can download experiences at a super high rate of speed. From the moment a child is born through about the first six years of life she is in a super-learning state. Children learn and assimilate from how we treat them and how we respond to each other. We understand through hypnosis that you can download information into someone’s subconscious mind and bypass the conscious mind. Why is this relevant? Because between birth and age six, the child’s EEG brain activity is operating in a hypnotic trance state, so that whatever the child is learning is being downloaded into the subconscious mind. The subconscious mind “records” and habitually plays back these programs. Think about all the rules of society, about every way we live, the nuances of our language. A three-year-old child can learn three different languages at the same time and not confuse their grammar, vocabulary or syntax. By age eight or nine just learning one new language is difficult. What is the difference? When the child is under six, the conscious mind is not developed so it does not interfere with the programming. Observed life experiences are directly downloaded into the subconscious mind. At this time, the child also develops an idea of self-identity and these programs play throughout life.

The Power of the Mind

We are powerful and we are capable of doing things that are called miracles. Miracles are actually events that science does not understand yet. Very profound miracles happen every day. For example, some people have cancer and suddenly their perception changes and they may experience spontaneous remission. By changing their perceptions of life, they reprogram their cells. That is the expression of epigenetic mechanisms, molecular processes that give the power back to the individual. Rather than perceiving that “we are victims of the cells,” the new science recognizes the power that we have to control the cells.

There are many stories throughout history that reveal the power of our thoughts. The placebo effect is really the “perception effect.” If you believe that something is going to help you, that belief itself can lead to the healing process. Among the biggest selling drugs on the market are the SSRI drugs—things like Prozac and Zoloft—and it has been revealed by the drug companies themselves through the Freedom of Information Act that these drugs turn out to work no better than placebos. The placebo effect is something that we have not really taken advantage of, the idea that beliefs can control our biology and physiology. In fact, it is now established that one third of all medical healings, including surgery, are the result of the placebo effect.

But what is most important and what has been left out of the picture is the equal and opposite effect called the "nocebo effect." This is when a negative thought or belief is used to shape our biology. For example, if a professional person, a medical doctor or specialist, says you are going to die in three months and you believe him, then you may set this date into your perceptual clock, start to disentangle yourself from your life and actually die in three months. Basically the placebo and nocebo effects are two sides of the same coin and simply represent the perception effect.

But here comes a problem: the conscious mind can process about forty bits of data per second but the subconscious mind can process forty million bits of data in the same second. The relevance is simple. The subconscious mind is one million times more powerful as an information processor than the conscious mind. We all believe that we run our lives with a conscious mind. This is what I want from life. I want to do all these wonderful things. Yet our life doesn't match our intentions; as a result there is a tendency to say, "I can't get the things that I want, the world is not providing them to me." We take on the role of victim. New insights have completely revolutionized this idea. We now recognize that ninety-five to ninety-nine percent of our cognitive activity comes from the subconscious mind; less than five percent is influenced or controlled by the conscious mind.

When we are doing affirmations or positive thinking, we are using the tiny processor that has less than five percent influence, which means that we have to depend on willpower to overpower the subconscious mind. That is a nearly impossible job because the moment we take our eye off the ball, we automatically go back to the preset programs that are in our subconscious mind. Positive thinking is a good idea, much better than negative thinking, but while you are engaged in positive thoughts using the conscious mind, the subconscious mind with its limiting and self-sabotaging programs is running the show! Consequently, positive thinking does not improve the situation for most people.

It is not that the conscious mind is not powerful, for it can run anything in the human body. We used to think it could only run the voluntary system—the skeletal muscles, arms and legs. But yogis have revealed that the conscious mind can change body temperature, blood pressure and heartbeat. The conscious mind, if it focuses on any part of the body or any function, can control it. But the conscious mind, being a small (40 bit/sec) processor, doesn't have the capability of controlling as many things at the same time as the subconscious mind can, operating at 40 million bits/sec.

Most people hardly use the conscious mind. They run their day-to-day existence from programs stored in their subconscious mind. What programs will that subconscious mind run? The answer is the exact programs that were downloaded into it. No variations on a theme. What it has learned it will play for its entire life unless we go into the subconscious mind and rewrite the program. The conscious mind is frequently oblivious of the programs running from the subconscious mind because the conscious and subconscious minds operate in tandem: one does not observe the other. So if the things in my life are not what I'm looking for, is it because the universe isn't offering me the opportunity or is it because I'm sabotaging myself? Almost inevitably we are sabotaging ourselves with limiting programs stored in our subconscious mind.

Must we go back and identify how the subconscious programming occurred? Absolutely not. The subconscious mind does not have a future or a past. It is handling the present moment all the time. A signal from the environment comes up, pushes the receptor that engages the effector that then coordinates the response. That is the subconscious mind. There is nobody in there. There is nobody to talk with or negotiate with in the subconscious mind. We must find other ways of influencing and impacting the subconscious mind’s programming. One approach is what Buddhists call mindfulness—to be fully conscious all the time and make decisions with your creative mind, not from your habitual subconscious mind. The Yoga paths all provide various such practices. Other approaches include clinical hypnotherapy and a new field of diverse modalities that are collectively called “energy psychology,” ways of identifying and rewriting belief programs in our subconscious minds.

Taking Personal Responsibility

The new biology is very important for it addresses why we lack personal responsibility, why we do not recognize how powerful we are in controlling our lives and controlling what happens in our world, why we are on the path where we are facing extinction, and why our world is falling apart. We are destroying the environment. We are in crises of all kinds including a health crisis. The fears we are experiencing are worsening the healthcare crisis because our fears cause protection responses that shut down growth mechanisms and the function of the immune system. We are in an escalating cycle of fear and ill health. All this is a wake-up call. It is up to us as individuals to finally own who we are.

The new sciences of epigenetics and quantum mechanics recognize the important role of the invisible fields in controlling life, which includes the thoughts and energies that contribute to our reality. This new awareness changes our old worldview. We now know that we control our genes. We control our lives. Our thoughts are real and tangible. They influence our physiology. Physicists are now beginning to recognize that the universe is a mental construct. Knowing these things we become empowered. The programs in our subconscious minds are downloaded as the life we are experiencing. What we have to do is review our lives and identify the things we want to change. The things that we strive for and don't work generally reflect a subconscious program that sabotages our efforts to get there. We do not have to go back and find out how we acquired that program; that would be tantamount to killing the “messenger” over the “message” (the resulting acquired subconscious program). Though we can rewrite subconscious programs using a variety of methods, until we do, we are actually victims of our subconscious minds. Not victims of the world, victims of our own belief systems. When we clear these pathways we become empowered. Then and only then will we likely experience what Jesus said: "You could do all these miracles even better than I once you believe you can."

You must recognize something that I also had to recognize. It is not just acquiring the awareness in my conscious mind; it is actually applying that awareness into my life that makes the change. While the mind can lead us there, we actually have to do something to manifest the magic in our lives. We are in a desperate race to change who we are and what we are so that we can bring our environment and our planet back into harmony, to bring back the opportunity for our survival. We are all cells in a larger organism called humanity. When we have that belief we will start supporting each other instead of killing each other. Our future lies in recognizing that we are far greater as a whole than as individuals.

Think about it this way: underneath your skin are fifty trillion cells living in harmony in a very closed environment. These cells are very intelligent. We have always looked down at everything less than human as not being intelligent. That is our hubris and it is going to cost us a lot. If you can look inside the body and see those trillions of cells living in harmony, recognize this: every cell is a sentient being just like every one of us. Every cell lives in a community and has a job to support that community. There are rules and regulations. Cells get services. There is health care by the immune system. The garbage is taken out by the excretory system. The digestive system delivers the food. There is a society consisting of trillions of individuals inside our bodies that can thrive when we are in good health, yet the few billion people on the entire surface of the planet are so out of balance that we are destroying our environment.

This understanding returns us to the age of mystical belief that offered, "The answers lie within.” If we want to understand how to structure a human population of a few billion people on our planet, the answer lies under our skin. Humans are evolving. Humanity will complete itself as a multi-human community and at that time we will recognize that when we fight others, we are fighting ourselves. Humanity is a single body containing cells and each one of us is a cell in that structure. When we understand that, we should stop harming each other and start organizing ourselves into the social structures that reflect what is going on in the human body. When we arrive at that point, the Earth will complete its evolution as a single living cell. What is our role in that living Earth cell? We are the equivalents of the proteins in the Earth’s cell membrane. We are the “receptor” proteins on the surface of the earth that receive the signals from the environment and the “effector” proteins that engage in the behaviors that control the expression of the planet!

We have [lost??] our original mission statement. The aboriginals that are still here remind us that we are the gardeners and what we have done to this point is devastate that Garden. But as we evolve we will start to recognize the power of our consciousness. We must organize our lives now to plan for the future. We can create a whole different experience on this planet. When the planet completes its evolution it will be an individual living cell. Evolutionary history reveals that every time a level of development completes itself, it joins other similar entities to create a more powerful social structure. Therefore, I anticipate at that time that we will begin to interact with other earths, other cells out in space, and start to create a large matrix of living cells as planets that constitute the universe. We have great hope and possibility before us. We are living in a very supportive garden, a garden that should support all of us, where we can enjoy life and peace, prosperity and happiness.

admin · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:13 pm Post subject: Stem Enhance

Stem Enchance

What is it?

StemEnhance is a breakthrough, natural botanical extract that supports wellness by helping your body maintain healthy stem cell physiology. It is the very first product on the market from the latest phytoceutical product category called “stem cell enhancers”.

What are stem cell enhancers?

Recent scientific developments have revealed that stem cells derived from the bone marrow, travel throughout the body, and act to support optimal organ and tissue function. Stem cell enhancers are products that support the natural role of adult stem cells.

Why do I need this product?

As you age, the number and quality of stem cells that circulate in your body gradually decrease, leaving your body more susceptible to injury and other age-related health challenges.

Just as antioxidants are important to protect your cells from “free radical” damage, stem cell enhancers are equally important to support your stem cells in maintaining proper organ and tissue functioning in your body.

admin · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:12 pm Post subject: Fruit Benefits

Fruit Benefits

apples

Protects your heart
prevents constipation
Blocks diarrhea
Improves lung capacity
Cushions joints

apricots

Combats cancer
Controls blood pressure
Saves your eyesight
Shields against Alzheimer's
Slows aging process

Artichokes

Aids digestion
Lowers cholesterol
Protects your heart
Stabilizes blood sugar
Guards against liver disease

Avocados

Battles diabetes
Lowers cholesterol
Helps stops strokes
Controls blood pressure
Smoothes skin

Bananas

Protects your heart
Quiets a cough
Strengthens bones
Controls blood pressure
Blocks diarrhea

Beans

Prevents constipation
Helps hemorrhoids
Lowers cholesterol
Combats cancer
Stabilizes blood sugar

Beets

Controls blood pressure
Combats cancer
Strengthens bones
Protects your heart
Aids weight loss

Blueberries

Combats cancer
Protects your heart
Stabilizes blood sugar
Boosts memory
Prevents constipation

broccoli

Strengthens bones
Saves eyesight
Combats cancer
Protects your heart
Controls blood pressure

cabbage

Combats cancer
Prevents constipation
Promotes weight loss
Protects your heart
Helps hemorrhoids

cantaloupe

Saves eyesight
Controls blood pressure
Lowers cholesterol
Combats cancer
Supports immune system
[/u]

admin

FOOD ADDITIVES ...THE TICKING TIME BOMB

Hello all ...
The findings of this week's Southampton University study for the Food Standards Agency was merely 'revealing' what anyone with a modicum of brain activity had understood for decades. It gave a massively understated, but still welcome, explanation for what these chemical cocktails do to the minds of children (and adults if the truth really be told).

The study, published in the medical journal, The Lancet, involved 153 three-year-olds and 144 eight-year-olds who were given drinks containing either additives or a placebo. The additives were combinations of the colourings sunset yellow (E110), tartrazine (E102), carmoisine (E122) ponceau 4R (E124), allura red (E129), quinoline yellow (E104), and the preservative sodium benzoate (E211). The latter can be found in soft drinks like Dr Pepper, Fanta, Sprite and Pepsi Max.

Afterwards, some children were watched by trained observers, parents and teachers while others were given computer hyperactivity tests. The conclusions were summed up by the study leader, Professor Jim Stevenson:

'The present findings, in combination with the replicated evidence for the artificial food colour and additives effects on the behaviour of three-year-old children, lent strong support for the case that food additives exacerbate hyperactive behaviours.'

In short, the study cost £750,000 of taxpayers' money to tell us that the massive grey thing with the big ears and long nose is indeed an elephant.

The study found that, on average, the children who were given additives in these experiments produced some ten per cent of the symptoms of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - even from the relatively small amounts they consumed. This when, according to a report first published in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine in 1994, about 75 per cent of the Western diet is made up of processed foods, each person consuming an average of between eight and ten pounds of food additives per year, some considerably more.

So this week's Food Standards Agency study was akin to finding a hurricane and reporting a westerly breeze. What we actually have on our hands here is a gathering catastrophe of unimaginable proportions as the brain-poisoned children of today become the adults of not long from now. The effect of this corporate child abuse is cumulative and with daily repetition has the potential to do permanent damage to the mental and emotional state of the population.

It is sobering to read the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine background to child hyperactive disorders and their short and long-term effects given that every time we feed our children this chemical crap we are making it more like that these affects will occur:

Retrospective studies have shown that children diagnosed as hyperactive as an infant suffered considerably more from varied health/ behavioural problems than non-hyperactives. For example, a research database on 357 hyperactive children, based at Surrey University, showed that 82% of them were already extremely restless as an infant, 61% suffered from poor and irregular sleep patterns, 75% displayed excessive crying or screaming, 52% rejected any contact or affection, 50% were poor feeders, 74% seemed to have an exaggerated thirst and 67% suffered from colic.

Hyperactive toddlers are described as children who never walk but run, are incapable of playing with any object for more than a few seconds, and who combine unnaturally impulsive behaviour with a complete lack of any apprehension or fear. When at school, these children are usually extremely restless, inattentive, distractible and frequently display aggressive and anti-social tendencies.

Primarily because of these behavioural problems, their academic school performance is generally poor and failed school grades are not uncommon. In fact, follow-up studies of young adolescents diagnosed as hyperactives when children have shown, when compared to controls, a significantly higher drop-out and expulsion rate from schools, a greater involvement in both drug and alcohol abuse, a higher rate of motor vehicle accidents, a greater risk of developing criminal tendencies, as well as appearing before courts.
One follow up study on 64 adolescents, diagnosed as hyperactive when children, showed that when they reached the ages of 17 to 25 years, 25% of them were still engaged in antisocial and delinquent behaviour. Similar findings have also been observed by other investigators.
In short, the prognosis of hyperactive children, when they mature into adulthood, seems to be relatively poor. Despite an apparent decrease in their ratings of hyperactivity over the years, as adolescents and adults they still seem to continue to use impulsive rather than reflective approaches to cognitive tasks, are still distractible, generally emotionally immature, have a poor self-image and are frequently unable to maintain goals.

Five years ago the United Nations agencies declared that up to one in five of the world's children was suffering from mental or behavioural problems and this, they said, would lead to serious public health consequences in the future unless more was done to address the issue. Depressive disorders were the fourth leading cause of disease and disability and were predicted to rise to second place by 2020.

Yes, of course, there are many causes for this in the insane world we have created, but let us not for a second underestimate the contribution made by the chemical cocktails children consume in what bravely passes for food and drink - and the same with the violent behaviour of some young people.

How ironic that giving children sweets and soft drinks is considered an act of kindness when these 'treats' are systematically poisoning them in mind and body. And we hear constantly about the dangers of young people getting hooked on drugs when they are being legally drugged by the day through what they eat and drink. It is only a matter of degree.

What is a drug? A cocktail of chemicals. What is in corporate food products? Exactly.

Food and drink additives are a highly significant contribution to the war on the human body-computer. There are many access codes - vibrational, electrical and chemical. They're all vibrational fields in the end, but they take different forms. Everything is an expression of everything else, so a chemical will affect the body vibrationally and a vibrational/electrical field can affect the body's chemical balance. This means that when the body is destabilised chemically it disrupts the electrical systems which, in this reality, affect thought and emotion.

That's a given when you see how people are constantly imbalanced mentally and emotionally by medical and other drugs. The body itself has the ability to think and express emotion and our Infinite Awareness communicates with this reality through the body's electrical systems. If the body is chemically imbalanced the electrical communication short-circuits with the endless consequences that we see in medical and psychiatric hospitals and makes it far more difficult for our Infinite Awareness to express itself through the body-computer.

That's the idea behind it all at the level of the Shadow People. They want to destabilise the body-computer in every way they can to stop people connecting to states of awareness that can open their minds to their plight and their true and infinite nature.

A common theme in chemical food and drink additives, the poisons used in the crop growing and animal production processes, medical drugs and vaccines is their effect on genetics and brain activity. This is what you would expect when suppressing body and brain function is what this is all about. They hide this agenda by announcing false causes for diseases and complaints that their poisons are really responsible for. An example is sun tan lotion. We are told that skin cancer is caused by too much exposure to the Sun when the main cause is the chemicals in sun block.

This campaign to confuse is peopled by an army of corporate PRs, government spokesmen and 'health experts', all pay-rolled to deny what an idiot can see. They use every diversion and scam as they bob and weave to stop the truth landing a punch and they avoid at all costs a branch of medicine known as epidemiology. To them it is spelt d..i..s..a..s..t..e..r.

Epidemiology derives from the Greek and means 'the study of what is upon the people'. It observes the population, often by using statistical evidence, to identify health problems and their causes. For example, it would look at the correlation between the introduction and expansion of food additives against the changes in the mental and physical health of the people who consume them. Epidemiological studies have shown a clear connection between the two that cannot be denied, only obscured by PR speak and the pig-trough 'scientists' and 'doctors' who will insist that black is white so long as the corporate suit has arrived with the readies.

But epidemiological studies of our own by the general population - better known as personal experience - are making life an increasing nightmare for the men and women from Bullshitville. 'Don't tell me there is no effect when little Johnnie goes crazy after the second swig.'

We need to take that a stage further and stop buying this trash just because it makes life easier or our children are addicted to demand it. If they demanded the poison bottle would we reach for the top shelf? Of course not, so why do we do it in the shopping aisle?

The additives that scramble our children's minds are only there as a sales gimmick to make the product look more colourful or trick the brain into decoding more taste than is really there. The corporations couldn't give a damn about children or the mayhem they are causing and stoking up for the future. Mr. Bottom Line is the governor of everything.

Government agencies that supposed to protect the population are invariably in league with, or far too close to, the industries they are meant to be regulating. This explains the pathetic response by the Food Standards Agency this week to its own report. Is it going to ban additives in food now it has found how harmful they are? Er, no. Parents should just be careful about what they give their children to eat, it said, doffing its cap to Mr. McDonald.

The responsibility always falls on the victims of corporate chicanery while the culprits are allowed to continue on their wicked way. The public is now being threatened with higher bills and even prosecution with regard to the disposal of household waste when the vast majority of this comes from the ludicrous levels of packaging used by the corporations to sell their products to the eye. While the people are targeted over the symptom of this problem, those who are the cause go on unchallenged. 'Twas always so.

So it's down to us to sort out this mess by refusing to buy the crap whenever we can. The body-computer can handle this stuff in here and there doses, but we are now being overwhelmed by the cascade of chemicals in the mass produced 'food' spewing from the Frankenstein factories.

The corporate food and drink cartel, controlled by the Illuminati families, is systematically poisoning the people (posting a virus in the body-computer) and to this end they have created a problem and offered (for sale) the solution. The problem is the ever-more hectic pace of life that people are pressured to lead, chasing clocks that appear to be moving with a quickening pace. The solution is ready meals, fast food and poison-on-demand.

You don't have time to prepare food that won't poison your body and mind? Don't worry, we'll make the poison taste just great - your kids will love it.

Shhhhhhhhhhh! What's that I hear? There it is again. Can you hear it? It's getting louder all the time ...

... Tick, tick, tick, tick ....

Pasteurized Milk: The Deadly Poison

'What the government doesn't want you to know about milk. We know it contains fat and cholesterol, but did you know it contains the protein CASEIN (which is basically a glue which leads to a lot of mucous build up and other health problems like asthma and congestion), milk also contains ... powerful growth hormones, viruses, a host of deadly chemical and biological bacterial agents, bovine proteins that cause allergies, insecticides, antibiotics, all this can trigger the growth of cancer and contributes to today's problem of obese children (ever notice why young girls breasts develop faster?).'

admin

The PH Miracle - There is no Disease

Robert O. Young _Visit Author's Website_
(http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?read=109084)
September 05, 2007

Disease names like diabetes and osteoporosis are misleading and misinform patients about disease prevention. There is a curious tendency in conventional medicine to name a set of symptoms a disease. I was recently at a compounding pharmacy having my bone mineral density measured to update my health stats.

I spotted a poster touting a new drug for osteoporosis. It was written by a drug company and it said exactly this: 'Osteoporosis is a disease that causes weak and fragile bones.' Then, the poster went on to say that you need a particular drug to counteract this 'disease.'

Yet the language is all backwards. Osteoporosis isn't a disease that causes weak bones, osteoporosis is the name given to a diagnosis of weak bones. In other words, the weak bones are the result of excess acidity, and then the diagnosis of osteoporosis followed.

The drug poster makes it sound like osteoporosis strikes first, and then you get weak bones. The cause and effect is all backwards. And that's how drug companies want people to think about diseases and symptoms: first you 'get' the disease, and then you are 'diagnosed' just in time to take a new drug for the rest of your life.

But it's all hogwash. There is no such disease as osteoporosis. It's just a
made-up name given to a pattern of symptoms that indicate you are over-acid which causes your bones to get fragile.

As another example, when a person follows an unhealthy lifestyle that
results in a symptom such as high blood pressure, that symptom is actually being assumed to be a disease all by itself and it will be given a disease name. What disease? The disease is, of course, 'high blood pressure.' Doctors throw this phrase around as if it were an actual disease and not merely descriptive of patient physiology.

This may all seem silly, right? But there's actually a very important point
to all this.

When we look at symptoms and give them disease names, we automatically distort the selection of available treatments for such a disease. If the disease is, by itself, high cholesterol, then the cure for the disease must be nothing other than lowering the high cholesterol. And that's how we end up with all these pharmaceuticals treating high cholesterol in order to 'prevent' this disease and lower the levels of LDL cholesterol in the human patient. By lowering only the cholesterol, the doctor can rest assured that he is, in fact, treating this 'disease,' since the definition of this 'disease' is high cholesterol and nothing else.

But there is a fatal flaw in this approach to disease treatment: the symptom is not the cause of the disease. There is another cause, and this deeper cause is routinely ignored by conventional medicine, doctors, drug companies, and even patients.

Let's take a closer look at high blood pressure. What actually causes high
blood pressure? Many doctors would say high blood pressure is caused by a specific, measurable interaction between circulating chemicals in the human body.
Thus, the ill-behaved chemical compounds are the cause of the high blood pressure, and therefore the solution is to regulate these chemicals. That's exactly what pharmaceuticals do -- they attempt to manipulate the chemicals in the body to adjust the symptoms of high blood pressure. Thus, they only treat the symptoms, not the root cause.
Or take a look at high cholesterol. The conventional medicine approach says that high cholesterol is caused by a chemical imbalance in the liver, which is the organ that produces cholesterol. Thus the treatment for high
cholesterol is a prescription drug that inhibits the liver's production of cholesterol (statin drugs). Upon taking these drugs, the high cholesterol (the 'disease') is regulated, but what was causing the liver to overproduce cholesterol in the first place? That causative factor remains ignored.

The root cause of high cholesterol, as it turns out, is primarily an
over-acidic diet. A person who eats foods that are acidic will inevitably cause the body to go into preservation mode and produce more cholesterol to neutralize the excess acid thus showing the symptoms of this so-called disease of high cholesterol. Its simple cause and effect. Eat the wrong foods, and you'll produce too much acid which will cause the body to release cholesterol from the liver to bind up that acid which can be detected and diagnosed by conventional medical procedures.

You see it is not the cholesterol that is bad it is the acid producing food
we eat that is bad. Reduce the acid producing foods like beef, chicken, pork, dairy, coffee, tea, soda pops, etc and you will reduce the protective
cholesterol that is saving your life from excess acid foods.

Yet the root cause of all this is actually poor food choice, not some
bizarre behavior by the liver. If the disease were to be accurately named, then, it would be called Acidic Food Choice Disease, or simply AFCD.

AFCD would be a far more accurate name that would make sense to people. If it's an acidic foods choice disease, then it seems that the obvious solution to the disease would be to choose foods that aren't so acidic. Of course that may be a bit of simplification since you have to distinguish between healthy alkaline foods and unhealthy acidic foods. But at least the name AFCD gives patients a better idea of what's actually going on rather than naming the disease after a symptom, such as high cholesterol. You see, the symptom is not the disease, but conventional medicine insists on calling the symptom the disease because that way it can treat the symptom and claim success without
actually addressing the underlying cause, which remains a mystery to modern medicine.

But let's move on to some other diseases so you get a clearer picture of how this actually works. Another disease that's caused by poor acidic food choice is diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the natural physiological and metabolic result of a person consuming refined carbohydrates and added sugars in large quantities, undigested proteins from beef, chicken, and pork without engaging in regular physical exercise that would compensate for such dietary practices.

The name 'diabetes' is meaningless to the average person. The disease should be called Excessive Acid Disease, or EAD. If it were called Excessive Acid Disease, the solution to it would be rather apparent; simply eat less sugar, eliminate all animal proteins, eggs, dairy, drink fewer soft drinks and so on.

But of course that would be far too simple for the medical community, so the disease must be given a complex name such as diabetes that puts its solution out of reach of the average patient.

Another disease that is named after its symptom is cancer. In fact, to this day, most doctors and many patients still believe that cancer is a physical thing: a tumor. In reality, a tumor is the solution of cancer, not its cause. A tumor is simply a physical manifestation of bound up acidic cells so they do not spoil other healthy cells. The tumor is the solution to cells damaged by acids not the problem. The truth is cancer is not a cell but an acidic liquid. When a person 'has cancer,' what they really have is a latent tissue acidosis. They are absorbing their own acidic urine. It that would be a far better name for the disease: Latent Tissue Acidosis or LTA.

If cancer were actually called Latent Tissue Acidosis, it would seem
ridiculous to try to cure cancer by cutting out tumors through surgery and by destroying the immune system with chemotherapy. And yet these are precisely the most popular treatments for cancer offered by conventional medicine. These treatments do absolutely nothing to support the patient's immune system and prevent the build up of acids in the tissues. That's exactly why most people who undergo chemotherapy or the removal of tumors through surgical procedures end
up with yet more cancer a few months or a few years later. It's also another reason why survival rates of cancer have barely budged over the last twenty years. (In other words, conventional medicine's treatments for cancer simply don't work.)

The main reason is current medical science wrongly perceives cancer as a cell when in reality cancer is an acidic liquid, like lactic acid. This whole situation stems from the fact that the disease is misnamed. It isn't cancer, it isn't a tumor and it certainly isn't a disease caused by having too strong of an immune system that needs to be destroyed through chemotherapy. It is simply latent tissue acidosis. And if it were called latent tissue acidosis disease or urine in the tissues, the effective treatment for cancer would be apparent.

There are many other diseases that are given misleading names by western medicine. But if you look around the world and take a look at how diseases are named elsewhere, you will find many countries have disease names that actually make sense.

For example, in Chinese medicine, Alzheimer's disease is given a name that means, when translated, 'feeble mind disease.' In Chinese medicine, the name of the disease more accurately describes the actual cause of the disease which is caused by acids or urine on the brain, whereas in western medicine, the name of the disease seems to be intended to obscure the root cause of the disease, thereby making all diseases sound far more complex and mysterious than they really are.

This is one way in which doctors and practitioners of western medicine keep medical treatments out of the reach of the average citizen. By creating a whole new vocabulary for medical conditions, they can speak their own secret language and make sure that people who aren't schooled in medicine don't understand what they're saying.

That's a shame, because the treatments and cures for virtually all chronic diseases are actually quite simple and can be described in plain language, such as making different alkaline food choices, getting more natural sunlight, drinking more alkaline water, engaging in regular physical exercise, avoiding specific acidic foods, supplementing your diet with green foods and green drinks and alkalizing nutritional supplements and so on.

Western medicine prefers to describe diseases in terms of chemistry. When you're depressed, you aren't suffering from a lack of natural sunlight; you are suffering from a 'brain chemistry imbalance' that can only be regulated, they claim, by ingesting toxic chemicals to alter your brain chemistry. When your bones are brittle, it's not acidic brittle bones disease; it's called osteoporosis, something that sounds very technical and complicated. And to treat it, western doctors and physicians will give you prescriptions for expensive drugs that somehow claim to make your bones less brittle. But in fact, the real
treatment for this can be described in plain language once again: regular
physical exercise, vitamin D supplementation, mineral supplements that include calcium and strontium, natural sunlight, and avoidance of acidic foods such as soft drinks, white flour and added sugars.

In fact, virtually every disease that's prominent in modern society --
diabetes, cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, clinical depression, irritable bowel syndrome and so on -- can be easily described in plain language without using complex terms at all. These diseases are simply misnamed. And I believe that they are intentionally misnamed to put the jargon out of reach of everyday citizens. As a result, there's a great deal of arrogance in the language of western medicine, and this arrogance furthers the language of separation.

Separation never results in healing. In order to effect healing, we must bring together the language of healers and patients using plain language that real people understand and that real people can act upon.

We need to start describing diseases in terms of their root causes, not in
terms of their arcane, biochemical actions. When someone suffers from seasonal affective disorder or clinical depression, for example, let's call it what it is: Sunlight Deficiency Disorder. To treat it, the person simply needs to get more sunlight. This isn't rocket science, it's not complex, and it doesn't require a prescription.

If someone is suffering from osteoporosis, let's get realistic about the
words we use to describe the condition: it's really Acidic Bones Disease. And it should be treated with things that will enhance bone density, such as nutrition, physical exercise and avoidance of acidic foods and drinks that strip away bone mass from the human body to neutralize the excess acids in the blood and tissues.

All of this information, of course, is rather shocking to old-school doctors
and practitioners of western medicine, and the bigger their egos are, the
more they hate the idea of naming diseases in plain language that patients can actually comprehend. That's because if the simple truths about diseases and their causes were known, health would be more readily available to everyday people, and that would lessen the importance of physicians and medical researchers.

There's a great deal of ego invested in the medical community, and they sure don't want to make sound health attainable to the average person without their expert advice. Doctors all want to serve as the translators of 'truth' and will balk at any attempts to educate the public to either practice medicine on their own. But in reality, health (and a connection with spirit) is attainable by every single person. Health is easy, it is straightforward, it is direct and, for the most part, it is available free of charge.

A personal connection with our Creator is the same if we ask humbly in
prayer for a relationship with Him, and guidance. Don't believe the names of diseases given to you by your doctor. Those names are designed to obscure, not to nform. They are designed to separate you from self-healing, not to put you in touch with your own inner healer. And thus, they are nothing more than bad medicine masquerading as modern medical practice.

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Can Hypnosis Ease the Pain of Breast Surgery?

Hypnosis has progressed far beyond the sideshow gimmickry of the carnival midway. Nowadays hypnotherapy is touted as a treatment for everything from smoking addiction to coronary artery disease.

In fact, a recent study found that women who underwent hypnosis therapy before breast cancer surgery reported less pain after the procedure. The women also required less anesthesia and spent less time in the operating room than those who didn't receive hypnosis.

The study, published in an August edition of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, was funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).

The women who were hypnotized as part of the study spent an average of 11 minutes less time in surgery that those in the control group, and experienced less pain, nausea, fatigue and emotional trauma. The researchers estimated that these factors reduced the overall cost of the procedure by almost $800.

Hypnosis is considered a branch of mind-body medicine, which studies the psychological processes that are thought to affect health. When used in a therapeutic sense, it is referred to as hypnotherapy.

Despite popular opinion, hypnotherapy does not involve "putting you to sleep" and there are definitely no swinging watches. Advocates of this therapy are also at pains to point out that, during hypnotherapy sessions, patients are never asked to do anything they don't want to do. On the contrary, through hypnotherapy, the patient is given the tools to control aspects of behavior and consciousness that were previously out of reach.

Hypnotherapists aim to put the patient into a state of extreme relaxation, during which the conscious part of the mind is calmed and the unconscious part is open to suggestion. There are numerous ways to induce the state of hypnosis. Usually, the patient sits or lies in a comfortable position while the therapist talks in soothing tones, sometimes invoking images that are designed to relax and calm the patient.

After the patient has entered this state, the therapist can then give directions designed to help the patient modify his or her behavior. For example, if the patient's aim is to stop smoking, then the therapist can suggest that the patient doesn't want to smoke anymore, or that the taste of cigarettes is deeply unpleasant.

When used to manage pain, hypnotherapists teach patients how to control the impulses that contribute to pain. This may involve aspects of the pain itself, in addition to the anxiety and stress that often accompanies pain, especially during procedures that the patient knows is going to be painful.

In many cases, people who have experienced successful hypnotherapy sessions are able to learn to hypnotize themselves, a technique called "self-hypnosis." They can then call on the tools of hypnosis at any time.

The evidence on the effectiveness of hypnotherapy is mixed but encouraging. Interestingly, there is little evidence to show that hypnotherapy is effective in smoking cessation, which is one of its most widely known uses.

However, hypnotherapy has been shown to be effective in treating certain phobias, as well as reducing "anticipatory" nausea or vomiting, which is caused by past experiences of chemotherapy-induced nausea. Research is ongoing into its uses in other areas of medicine, such as the ability to enhance the immune system or treat chronic conditions such as migraine headaches or even cancer.

Pat · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 181 Location: CENLA ,La.

An article I found on Earthchanges

[url]
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/earthchange-bulletins/message/4244

Pat · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 181 Location: CENLA ,La.

A very good article that was written in the Scotsman regarding the superbug.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1693482007

Just a noted thought here of my own.
I was once told that when taking antibiotics one should take either
acidophilus milk or yogart .
It was a way of counterreact the bad germs with good germs.
I now wonder if this rule would apply in the case of the superbug.
I just had my granddaughter's mommy email me this.