Mental Fatigue and Low Iron: A personal inquiry

QUESTION:

Hello,

I am a 53 year old Naturopathic student. I just finished a class in Iridology.

My instructor advised me to look into cell salts to address the combination of cramp rings and a mental spike in the iris. This indicates great mental activity (which I guess any serious student might have!) and stress on the body from the mental effort. She feels I need more sodium to support the mental activity of studying hard. When I look at the various cell salts, I am not sure which one fits that picture.

In addition,my bloodwork shows a need for more iron and magnesium (not calcium, though). I have been detoxing lead for two years, and my chiropractor feels that the low iron picture may be from liver working very hard on detoxing the heavy metals. Two years ago, I was very tired and suffered with tendonitis and bursitis. At this time, I don't feel any particular symptoms ,however. I have a great amount of energy and do a lot of physical and mental work without feeling much fatigue, so it seems like a paradoxical picture. Any insights?

Thanks,

Mental in Hawaii [changed for privacy]

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ANSWER:

Mental in Hawaii -

Thank you for your question.

I know absolutely nothing about Iridology. We do not study it at Bastyr.

However, based on your student profile of mental activity - I hear that! - the most recommended cell salt combination:

Kali Phos 6x with Silicea 12x. I use this combination when studying for final exams or when in a brain fog. I also used the combination while taking my basic science board exams. I am not sure about the guidance of sodium.

Follow the directions for dosing cell salts - which are sourced from the book below.

The book I highly recommend to buy about cell salts, Natural Healing with Cell Salts. I use it constantly and with effectiveness.

Some may cell salts do not work and that they are nonsense. In the past year of my using them on myself, friends and on my sons, I have seen tremendous results. I was bent over with pain in my abdomen. As I was leaning over, I determined my pain was due to spasm of my intestines - so I took Mag Phos 6x in a dropperful of hot water. I repeated the dose again in 5 minutes. Bam. My spasm was gone. Placebo? Maybe. Even if so, I'll take it. But I do not think babies portray placebo effects when given cell salts or other medicines.

Your second issue of low iron and magnesium - how was that determined for magnesium? Did you specifically test for serum magnesium?

Low iron can be a sign of anemia caused by occult bleeding, lack of iron foods, poor absorption, low vitamin C and/or vitamin A or high copper levels. This is a few of the reasons - there are more but these are the common ones. Determine if you eat enough high iron foods - such as dark leafy greens, beans, multivitamin, meats. If you do not, that may be your reason. If you are a vegetarian, that is fine as you can get ample iron from dark leafy greans, beans, fortified cereals, potatoes cooked with skin. However, iron from non-meat non-hemoglobin sources are Fe+3 and not absorbed very well. Thus it is recommended that you take some vitamin C to help aide the aborption - as vitamin C strips off a proton and makes it Fe+2 - which is the more absorbable form.

Also low iron can be due to eating too much non-fermented soy - like soy milk and tofu. Non-fermented soy has been shown to block the absorption of iron. However, I believe that fermented soys are fine - such as miso and tempeh.

Low iron can also be due to hidden longterm bleeding from internal hemorrhoids, gastric ulcers or, heaven forbid, bladder or colon cancers. That's to name a few.

I am not sure what the chiropractor was saying about your liver being overworked due to detoxifying the lead. If you need something to support your liver in detoxifying, the Bio-Cleanse Functional Food formula may be effective for you. This formula was designed by a naturopathic physician and its function is to support phase I and phase II liver detoxification pathways. There is a full ingredient and instruction booklet available on that page. Simply click the link and download it. It will be handy for you to read.

A good multi-vitamin may be useful as well. A highly rated multi-vitamin for women is called Spectra Woman. This day in age, our soils are depleted in nutrients as is livestock - especially since most are grain-fed, or unfortunately, fed with meats [hello mad cow disease - caused by prions].

Mental acuity is improved with basic sleep, relaxation, nutrition, iron!. Low iron means low hemoglobin. Low hemoglobin means less oxygen binding. Less oxygen binding means less oxygen carried and delivered to your tissues...and less oxygen delivered to your brain. This makes you sleepy.

Ever wonder why people who die from carbon monoxide poisoning from car exhaust fall asleep? Low oxygen as CO [carbon monoxide] competes for oxygen binding to hemoglobin. CO binds much better to hemoglobin than does oxygen. So much better in fact - 200:1 So don't exercise on busy streets. Smokers also inhale high levels of CO which limits their amount of oxygen. This may partially explain the 'head rush' or nausea they get. It is also part of the explanation of cancer as cancer grows in low oxygen environments. So breathe deeply! Preferably in areas free of fumes!

Mental acuity is also improved by consuming foods high in essential fatty acids - such as salmon or cod. If you do not eat those, then consider EPA/DHA by Biogenesis. It is a cold water fish oil that is tested free of metals. Ever hear of the Perricone Prescriptionwhere Dr. Perricone, MD tells of the beauty and brain connection - all he talks about are salmon and essential fatty acids.

That should be enough for you to chew on for awhile.

If you have further questions, do not hesistate to email me.

For asking a health question, you are entitled to a 5% off savings voucher. Simply enter code: xxx [edited] in the voucher box located in the shopping cart.

I hope this information is useful for you.

In health,

Benjamin Lynch

Unexplained Weight Gain: A personal inquiry

QUESTION:

Aloha,
I am female, 52, and moving into perimenopause. I am 140lbs, 5'9" and have always been active and physically fit. My hips are small, my arms & legs are small, I am thin and yet my stomach has been growing and growing for the last 18 months. I have started natrum mur.6X cell salt for water retention, but my mid section keeps growing. We moved to hawaii 2 years ago, and my diet changed "TOTALLY" but I am trying to utilize the healthier diet of this sunny climite verses the heavy foods of a cold climate where I use to live.

I am lost as to what to do. I have looked at many solutions and am stuck.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Tummy [name changed for privacy]

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ANSWER:

Tummy -

My first thoughts are that I have a 1000 questions to ask you. Thus, I believe it would be wise for you to seek the advice of a healthcare professional.

A growing tummy without other areas growing can be many different things. Can be as simple as weight gain due to water retention - as you stated -or it could be something that needs medical attention. What that may be is unknown without geting a thorough history and running some lab tests.

Have you had a pregnancy test?! It is still possible to get pregnant during perimenopause.

So please visit your healthcare provider.

If you have not been in some time, do tell them that your tummy has been growing and that maybe an ultrasound should be done and a CBC with differential. The CBC stands for complete blood count and gives clues to what is going on with all organs of your body - very useful test. Some basic physical exams test are useful as well.

Thank you for asking us a health question.

I apologize that I cannot offer specific information here but seeing a physician is the prudent thing to do.

In health,

Benjamin Lynch

Celiac Disease Information: A Personal Inquiry

QUESTION:

Hi Ben,

My naturopathic physician recommended the Intestinal Repair Capsules, which I have ordered from you in the past. They really work.

The question I have is, what other supplements do you recommend? I have been diagnosed for 1 year, and have since moved from my naturopath. I am feeling much better, able to work full time, walk for an hour every day, eating more organic foods and reading labels to abstain from any gluten products.

However, I still suffer from flare-ups (especially when under stress) and have not yet lost the weight gained while ill. I know most celiacs I have talked to have lost 30 lbs once they got their disease under control. I have not lost any weight and yet am very careful about what I eat.

I also still suffer from severe hunger spells which I believe is my body still seeking out nutrition- hence, why I need to order more repair capsules! My local health food store has suggested a vitamin supplement (Life Force).

Any suggestions you would be able to make are most appreciated-

Thanks,

Improving Celiac [changed name for privacy]
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ANSWER:
Improving Celiac -

Great to hear you are better! ;)

The vitamin store is correct in a multi - that is a good idea esp with digestive issues as absorption of nutrients from food can be difficult. We have a highly rated multi-vitamin for women - it is #2 out of 100's.

The trick to celiac disease is being all inclusive.

* avoiding gluten
* decreasing past inflammation
* supporting digestive organs with their specific nutrients
* exercise
* water
* rest

Sounds like you are doing a good job overall but still have flare ups - due to moods. My first thought - and not advice - is that perhaps you should add meditation to your lifestyle along with yoga.

We have an excellent yoga relaxation cd and meditation book - in the book/dvd sections. However, one does not really need a book to meditate - it is simply allowing 15 min of your day to yourself however you want - sitting quietly gazing at a candle or simply breathing slowing in and long out breaths. If a thought comes into your head, do not fight it - just dont focus on it - let it slide out.

Yoga is awesome - join a yoga group or class. The stretching, toning and breathing all combined will improve your overall energy and lifestyle.

Taking the capsules is a good idea yet there is long standing inflammation that needs to go down. This must happen before you repair the intestines. It is like taking an aspirin for a headache with the aggravating loud music still playing full blast. Turn off the music and then take the aspirin - at the same time.

The severe hunger spells may suggest that you are not absorbing the nutrients well or digesting your foods well. Bloating, gas, constipation and/or diarrhea point to poor absorption and digestive power. These symptoms may be signs that gluten is still in your diet and that inflammation is still present.

It is essential to avoid all wheat containing products - soy sauce, fillers, additives, etc. All of them. In the inflammed stage of celiac, one can react to the smallest amount of wheat or gluten. Check labels on supplements also as there may be fillers in there that you need to avoid. These are typically cheap supplement companies -we do not carry those. A good web resource that lists foods allowed and not allowed for celiac disease is the Canadian Celiac Association

A patient who was excellent in terms of avoiding all gluten-containing foods was having flare-ups caused by a filler in his supplement. Wheat is everywhere - unfortunately. Fortunately, there are awesome resources which help point these out and provide alternatives.

A good website to look for recipes and a forum to help with eating limitations - Living Without

You may want to consider the BioInflammatory Powder - along with the Intestinal repair powder. A refridgerated probiotic may be useful as well - an acidophilis/lactobacilis blend. I dont carry that at the moment - but all stores have them - just ensure they are refridgerated - if not, they are garbage.

The combined efforts in diet improvement, decreasing inflammation, adding intestinal support, multivitamin, relaxation, yoga will do wonders for you. The probiotic may be a good idea as well - bloating may be due to harmful bacteria off-gasing. Yet my guess is that the bloating is due to the inflammation caused by gluten-containing products - so you may want to do the Bio-Inflammatory Functional Food Powder. You may want to try that for a month or two and then you may be good with just the intestinal repair powder and multi-vitamin.

Carlson fish oil may also be beneficial. But we are getting into many supplements here - but in general a multi, fish oil, and a probiotic may be helpful for many individuals.

It takes time to heal. It may seem overwhelming now but that is due to the newness of the information and lifestyle changes. Once it becomes routine, it will be much easier.

I hope this helps. ;)

Disclaimer: This information is not treatment advice. It is always essential to seek the advice of a trained physician. Information here is to provide you with resources and ideas - not treatment. I am not a substitute for a physician nor do I pretend to be.

In health,

Benjamin Lynch

Naturopathic Physician vs. Naturopath

What Is The Difference Between A Naturopathic Physician And A Naturopath

A licensed naturopathic physician (N.D.) attends a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical school after completing a minimum of 3 years undergraduate pre-medical studies. A naturopathic physician is educated in all of the same basic sciences as a M.D. but also studies holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the naturopathic physician is required to complete four years of training in clinical nutrition, oriental medicine, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling. A naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board exams prior to being licensed in a jurisdiction that regulates the practice of naturopathic medicine. A licensed N.D. belongs to a regulatory body that oversees standards of practice, complaints and discipline. Naturopathic physicians must carry malpractice insurance, maintain continuing education and practice ethically and professionally.

A naturopath is a term that has been used by the general public and other medical professions to sometimes inaccurately refer to what more accurately is a naturopathic physician. Considered a somewhat non-specific, derogatory expression by licensed naturopathic physicians, the term naturopath nevertheless, has been around for over 100 years. In reality, the words naturopathic physician and naturopath have often been used interchangeably.

In modern times, the term naturopath has been more accurately applied to non-medically trained natural health providers from correspondence/long distance education programs, short term naturopathy schools, and grandfathered in practitioners of varied backgrounds. Typically, naturopaths practice in unlicensed, unregulated jurisdictions and do not have the same training or privileges as that of a naturopathic physician.

There has been a long history of legal and philosophical disagreements between naturopathic physicians and naturopaths that has only undermined the political and medical progress of naturopathic medicine. Unfortunately, the public has generally not been aware of the differences between the two groups, even though large differences exist.

In Canada [and the US], only naturopathic physicians are licensed, regulated and able to practice legally in the provinces that acknowledge naturopathic medicine.

Copyright © 2003 by Dr. Garrett G. Swetlikoff
Kelowna Naturopathic Clinic Inc.

Breastfeeding Associated with Lower Risk of Diabetes

Breastfeeding is becoming popular once again - and I am thankful for that on numerous accounts. I will address the pros of breastfeeding at some point soon - as I am a huge proponent for it. Both of my sons have been breastfed. Our first for 1.5 years and our second is only 5 months old so he has about another year yet.

The summary by Reuters shown below demonstrates breastfeeding reduces the risk of developing diabetes type II in the mother.

Before we get to the summary by Reuters, another breastfeeding research article points out yet another positive of breastfeeding - this time in the recipient. A breastfed individual has reduced risk of developing obesity later in life.

Yet another review shows that breastfeeding decreases the chances of longterm chronic illnesses in life for the recipient as well. The review from Pediatric clinics of North America. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2001 Feb;48(1):125-41, by Davis MK found:

"A growing body of research suggests that infant feeding practices influence the risk for several chronic diseases of childhood and adolescence. Increased risks for type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, some childhood cancers, and inflammatory bowel disease have been associated with artificial infant feeding and short-term breastfeeding. As genetic susceptibility is understood more completely and gene-environment interactions are elucidated, evidence to either confirm or refute these findings will be forthcoming."

Ok - I'll get off my soapbox and allow you to read about breastfeeding and diabetes.

Enjoy this article - especially if you had gestational diabetes or are on the verge of becoming a type II diabetic, this article may mean a lot to you:

Breastfeeding may reduce mothers' diabetes risk

By Graciela Flores

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who breastfeed longer have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, new research shows.

"Various studies suggest that breastfeeding affects women's metabolism, and that prompted us to look at whether lactation does something in terms of diabetes risk," Dr. Alison M. Stuebe of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston told Reuters Health. "Those studies show that metabolism, lactation, and reproduction are all tied together in a potentially interesting way."

To look for associations between lactation duration and the development of type 2 diabetes, Stuebe and her colleagues analyzed data from two large groups of women who had given birth. The first group included 83,585 women who were part of the Nurses' Health Study, and the second group included 73,418 women who were part of the Nurses' Health Study II. "The second group is a younger group," said Stuebe.

The researchers found that in the first 15 years after a woman's last delivery, each year of breastfeeding was associated with a 15-percent reduction in her risk of diabetes. "In that analysis, we took into account diet, exercise, smoking status, whether or not the women took multivitamins -- which is a marker of whether they are health-conscious or not -- and we still found that 15-percent benefit," remarked Stuebe.

"Beyond 15 years after the last birth there wasn't so much of a benefit, but for at least the first 15 years there seems to be some long-term association that protects women from diabetes," she added.

"In some way, pregnancy is a pro-diabetic state; you have more resistance to insulin, and that's part of the way the body makes sure that the fetus gets enough sugar," explained Stuebe. "Then comes lactation which, in a sense, is an anti-diabetic state."

The researchers' hypothesis is that lactation resets the body after pregnancy. If a woman does not breastfeed for a prolonged period of time, the risk of diabetes might increase.

For Stuebe, one of the nicest things about these findings is that there is no downside to breastfeeding. "It gives us more reasons to encourage women to breastfeed: it's good for babies and it's good for mothers," she concluded.

SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association, November 23/30, 2005.

So breastfeed for you to help protect against Type II Diabetes and breastfeed your babies to protect against them become obese later in life.

Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch: Do NOT Use It

Summary:

• Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch increases risk of life-threatening blood clots
• Exposes women to 60% higher levels of estrogen which pose higher risk of some cancers
• Not very effective in women over 198 pounds
• No evidence of being better than oral contraceptives
• 7% of women on Ortho Evra gained 10 pounds or more during the clinical trial.
  

Source: Provided by Public Citizen on 11/11/2005

Statement of Dr. Sidney Wolfe, Director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group

More than two months ago, we warned readers of our online Web site, www.WorstPills.org, and the 180,000 readers of our Worst Pills, Best Pills newsletter not to use the dangerous new birth control patch, Ortho Evra (Ortho-McNeil), because of the increased risk of life-threatening blood clots in people using this product.

The new warning by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) belatedly acknowledges the increased dangers of using the drug. These dangers were noted by the FDA physician who reviewed the drug before the agency approved it. Despite the fact that the agency has now admitted that “women who use Ortho Evra are exposed to about 60 percent more estrogen than if they were taking a typical birth control pill” – important because increased estrogen means increased risks – the agency still allowed the drug on the market and is stubbornly unwilling to ban it.

Contraceptives are prescribed to younger, mainly healthy women and should be associated with the lowest possible risk of serious adverse drug reactions. Blood clots in the lungs were seen in two women given Ortho Evra in clinical trials conducted before the drug was approved (in addition to an increasing number of similar cases in women after the drug was marketed), and there is no evidence that the patch is a more effective contraceptive compared to older, second-generation birth control pills.

The FDA medical officer who reviewed the drug before approval, in addition to differing with the company about the evidence for increased blood clots, also expressed concern that 211 of 3,088 women (6.8 percent) in pre-approval clinical trials gained 10 or more pounds. He also noted that the contraceptive effectiveness of Ortho Evra was reduced in women weighing more than 198 pounds.

There is no medical reason for women to use the more dangerous Ortho Evra rather than one of the older, better understood, and equally effective oral contraceptives.

Genetically Modified Soy Proving Hazardous in Mice

Source: REGNUM

Genetically modified soy affects posterity: Results of Russian scientists’ studies

On October 10, during the symposium over genetic modification, organized by the National Association for Genetic Security (NAGS), Doctor of Biology Irina Ermakova made public the results of the research led by her at the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). This is the first research that determined clear dependence between eating genetically modified soy and the posterity of living creatures.

During the experiment, doctor Ermakova added GM soy flour to the food of female rats two weeks before conception, during conception and nursing. In the control group were the rat females that were not added anything to their food. The experiment was formed by 3 groups of 3 female rats in each: the first one was control group, the second one was the group with GM-soy addition, and the third one with traditional soy addition. The scientists counted the number of female species to give birth and the number of born and died rats.

After the result of the first stage, the second part took place. Now the rats were divided into two groups – one with GM-soy addition in their food, and other without the GM-soy. In three weeks the scientists received following results:

Additions	Female that gave birth	Born rats	Dead rats (in three weeks)	Percent of dead rats	Rats still alive
Control group	4 (of 6)	44	3	6,8%	41
With GM-soy	4 (of 6)	45	25	55,6%	20
With normal soy	3 (of 3)	33	3	9%	30

Thus, according to these results, the abnormally high level of posterity death has been detected at the posterity of the female species with GM-soy added to their food. And 36% percent of born rats weighed less than 20 grams that is an evidence of their extremely weak condition.

“The morphology and biochemical structures of rats are very similar to those of humans, and this makes the results we obtained very disturbing,” said Irina Ermakova to NAGS press office. According to NAGS Vice-president Aleksey Kulikov, the data received by Dr.Ermakova confirm the necessity of full scale tests of GM-products influence over living creatures.

On the photo: the results of the experiment. Same age rats from the control group (on the left) and the “GM-soy” group.

The NIH Found Glucosamine and Chondroitin Effective - Again.

Glucosamine and chondroitin have been heavily studied by many researchers. Trial after trial, study after study has shown effectiveness of these two supplements. Now the big guns of the National Institute of Health wanted to see what they could find out - are you ready?

They found glucosamine and chondroitin to be significantly effective in providing joint pain relief. Surprised? I'm not but I'm glad that it confirms the point home to those who question them. Having seen numerous patients on these two supplements, I have become a firm believer in the potent effects of glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate.

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 13, 2005 ­­ — The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) said today osteoarthritis patients should welcome the results of a new clinical trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that showed that the combined use of two dietary supplements—glucosamine and chondroitin—provided significant pain relief for sufferers of the joint disease that afflicts tens of millions of Americans.

The Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT) adds to a growing body of scientific evidence showing that the two supplements can safely alleviate pain from osteoarthritis, a chronic condition known as the “wear-and-tear” kind of arthritis that afflicts 21 million Americans each year. Sixty-six million Americans—nearly one in 3 adults—have various forms of arthritis, the leading cause of disability among Americans over age 15, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

The six-month GAIT study involved 1,500 osteoarthritis patients who were given a placebo or daily doses of 1,500/mg of glucosamine hydrochloride and/or 1,200 mg of chondroitin sulfate or 200 mg of the common prescription pain medication celecoxib. GAIT found that a combination of the two supplements “is effective in treating moderate to severe knee pain due to osteoarthritis.”

The new findings are consistent with the vast majority of more than 50 published clinical trials that have demonstrated the safety and benefit of the two supplements, said Andrew Shao, Ph.D., CRN’s vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs. “This gold-standard NIH-sponsored study adds to the strong body of human clinical trials that supports the use of glucosamine and chondroitin for significant and long-lasting relief of joint pain and improvements in mobility,” Dr. Shao said. “The body of science demonstrates that these supplements are both safe and beneficial for joint health.”

In other research, preliminary results from a 24-week clinical trial in Europe—Glucosamine Unum in Die Efficacy (GUIDE) Trial—found that glucosamine sulfate was more effective in relieving osteoarthritis pain than the pain medicine acetaminophen.

Results of both the GAIT and GUIDE studies are being presented this week at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) in San Diego and abstracts are posted on ACR’s website

Commenting from the ACR meeting, Dr. Shao said research also suggests that glucosamine and chondroitin may similarly help others at risk for osteoarthritis or those who are experiencing joint discomfort, including athletes involved in high-impact sports such as basketball or running.

“We believe that the results from this well-executed NIH-sponsored study not only indicate that more research is needed to determine the full potential of glucosamine and chondroitin, but also reconfirm that these supplements can help the growing number of Americans with joint problems reduce the pain of osteoarthritis,” he said.

An effective supplement that is designed to support joint health is ArthroGenX. ArthroGenX contains high amounts of both glucosamine and chondroitin along with herbal anti-inflammatory support.

For other studies on glucosamine, visit the blog entry on glucosamine vs. ibuprofen.

Heavy antibiotic use may raise lymphoma risk

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Using antibiotics more than 10 times in childhood increases the likelihood of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), a cancer that affects the body's lymphatic system, new research suggests.

Dr. Ellen T. Chang of the Northern California Cancer Centre in Fremont and her colleagues also found a marginally increased NHL risk among heavy users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), but no association between the disease and any other types of medication.

Given the rising incidence of NHL, Chang and her team note in the American Journal of Epidemiology, a number of studies have investigated whether certain medications increase the risk of the disease. But results have been inconclusive, with only strong immunosuppressive drugs consistently being tied to NHL. Because a number of medical conditions also may be associated with NHL, they add, the question of whether the drug or the underlying condition is involved has complicated matters further.

To investigate, the researchers looked at data from the Scandinavian Lymphoma Etiology study, which included 3,055 patients with NHL who were compared with 3187 healthy subjects drawn from Danish and Swedish population registers.

The "striking" association between antibiotic use and NHL was seen for all subtypes of the disease. High NSAID use increased overall risk of NHL and of diffuse large B-cell NHL, but did not increase the likelihood of any other type of NHL.

The increasing use of antibiotics in the 20th century could explain the rise in NHL cases, if the drugs are in fact responsible for the association observed, Chang and her colleagues note. However, they add, their study was unable to determine if antibiotics and NSAIDs affected risk apart from the underlying inflammation, infections or susceptibility to infection.

"Biologic data more strongly support the hypothesis that antibiotic use is an indicator of infection and consequent inflammation, which may increase the risk of NHL, and that high cumulative NSAID use is a marker of chronic inflammation," they conclude.

SOURCE: American Journal of Epidemiology, November 15, 2005.

Flu Vaccine: Contains Mercury, Take Caution if Younger or Lightweight

Taken from the NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER newsletter:

A word of caution: Yes this flu vaccine contains potentially harmful levels of mercury - especially in younger children, babies and lightweight adults. However, if one has a severely depleted immune system [immunocompromised], the benefits likely outweigh the risks. Ask your doctor.

Key points:

• It is of interest to note that the EPA considers any material that has greater than 200 ppb of mercury to be hazardous waste. The flu vaccine, as well as tetanus booster, has thimerosal levels that exceed this value by 250 times or 50,000 ppb mercury.
• Giving a 3 yr old child the flu vaccine will raise their blood level of organic mercury beyond what the CDC has defined as a chemical poisoning.
• The current flu vaccine will deliver a dose of organic mercury to a 3 year old that meets the definition of a chemical poisoning by the MMWR, CDC and HHS. Furthermore, the recommended schedule requires that this dosebe given twice (one month apart).
• A 125 pound teenager or adult, who gets a recommended flu and meningococcal vaccination, could be 4-8 times over the EPA limit for a single mercury exposure, depending upon the manufacturers. A teen or adult who got a mercury-containing flu vaccine would have to weigh 551 pounds to be under the EPA limit for a single mercury exposure.
• The Manufacturer's inserts, the package labeling, do not address nor do they warn about the dangerous levels of organic mercury being given.

New Mexico Pediatrician Targets Mercury in Flu Vaccine

"There is an acute public health issue that very few understand even though several states have banned or limited the use of vaccines containing Thimerosal.

The mercury-based preservative, Thimerosal (49.6% ethyl mercury), has been used in killed bacterial vaccines since the 1930's without ever having undergone adequate testing for toxicity. In the past two decades, as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have added many more vaccines containing Thimerosal to the routine vaccination schedule for all children and states have mandated these vaccines, children have been exposed to much higher levels of mercury through vaccination. During this same time period, childhood developmental disabilities have dramatically increased to the point where today the CDC estimates 1 in 6 American children is developmentally delayed with a diagnosis of autism, learning disabilities, attention problems or other learning or behavioral problems. The CDC estimates that 1 in 166 American children has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (the incidence in boys is more like 1 in every 100). Clinical and scientific evidence is now emerging which is linking mercury-containing vaccines to the regressive type of autism in some children. There has been a 2000% increase in reported cases of autism in New Mexico in the last decade.

Mercury is an incontrovertibly proven neuro-toxin that has been proven to cause brain damage in the developing fetus as well as to children and adults exposed to it. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed guidelines for limiting mercury exposures to humans from many different sources, including air and water pollution; contaminated foods, such as tuna; as well as in products sold over-the-counter, such as contact lens solution.

In 1999, the AAP and the Public Health Service (PHS) asked that Thimerosal be eliminated in childhood vaccines, and the EPA and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directed the vaccine manufacturers to remove mercury from childhood vaccines. This did not occur immediately, and six years later, has still not yet been fully realized.

Since 1999, vaccine manufacturers have been reducing the amount of mercury preservatives in killed bacterial vaccines (live virus vaccines such as MMR and chicken pox do not contain Thimerosal) and some now only contain trace amounts, depending upon the vaccine manufacturer, type of vaccine and whether the vaccine is being packaged in multi-dose or single-dose vials. Single-dose vials of killed bacterial vaccines usually only contain trace amounts of mercury.

The thimerosal vaccines were never recalled and lots of the thimerosal vaccines didn't expire till September of this year. So, it has only been in the last two years that most children stopped receiving most of the thimerosal laden routine vaccinations.

In 1995, a 10 pound two month old infant who got the CDC and AAP recommended DPT and HIB vaccines could have been 110 times over the EPA limit and an 18 pound six month old given the recommended DPT, HIB, and Hep B vaccines could have been 76 times over the EPA limit, depending upon the manufacturers of the vaccines.

Ten years later, in 2005, a 10 pound two month old baby who receives the recommended DTaP, HIB, IPV, and pneumococcal vaccines may or may not be at all over the EPA limit for single mercury exposure, depending upon the manufacturers, while an 18 pound six month old who got these vaccines as well as a dose of flu vaccine, could be 31 times over the EPA limit.

A 125 pound teenager or adult, who gets a recommended flu and meningococcal vaccination, could be 4-8 times over the EPA limit for a single mercury exposure, depending upon the manufacturers. A teen or adult who got a mercury-containing flu vaccine would have to weigh 551 pounds to be under the EPA limit for a single mercury exposure.

On January 14, 2005, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR from the HHS/CDC printed a white paper entitled "Case Definitions for Chemical Poisoning." On page 12, the definition for organic mercury toxicity is defined as >10 mcg/L in whole blood. In other words, aside form the EPA, we now have the CDC stating what their definition of a chemical toxicity is for organic mercury.

All the flu vaccine destined for children three years old and older in New Mexico contain thimerosal, which means they will be receiving 25 mcg of organic mercury per dose.

A rough estimate of total blood is 16% of body weight. So, for a 30 lb. child which is the average weight of a 3 year old, this would be 13.64 X 0.16 = 2.18 liters of blood.

All the ethylmercury moves thru the bloodinitially at 25mcg/2.18L or 11.48 mcg/liter. This meets the definition of a chemical toxicity by the CDC. However, ethylmercury doesn't stay in the blood long and is assimilated into the body where it does the damage to the brain and potentially other organs as well, such as the heart.

Giving a three year old child the flu vaccine will raise their blood level of organic mercury beyond what the CDC has defined as a chemical poisoning.

Furthermore, the MMWR toxicity level of 10mcg/liter is based on mercury inhalation of older factory workers and also on individuals with normal ability to excrete mercury. This does not represent the subsets, such as autistic children, that are deficient in their ability to excrete mercury.

Therefore, the current flu vaccine will deliver a dose of organic mercury to 3 year old that meets the definition of a chemical poisoning by the MMWR, CDC and HHS. Furthermore, the recommended schedule requires that this dose be given twice (one month apart).

It is of interest to note that the EPA considers any material that has greater than 200 ppb of mercury to be hazardous waste. The flu vaccine, as well as tetanus booster, has thimerosal levels that exceed this value by 250 times or 50,000 ppb mercury.

The Manufacturer's inserts, the package labeling, do not address nor do they warn about the dangerous levels of organic mercury being given. This omission is in violation of the New Mexico Drug Act, section 26-1-9.

excerpt from: E-NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER, Volume 1, Number 21, November 18th, 2005.

The full article, and source, can be found here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/11/prweb308566.htm

Advair Diskus, Foradil Aerolizer, and Serevent Diskus: BEWARE

Via the FDA:

Today, FDA requested manufacturers of Advair Diskus, Foradil Aerolizer, and Serevent Diskus to update their existing product labels with new warnings and a Medication Guide for patients to alert health care professionals and patients that these medicines may increase the chance of severe asthma episodes, and death when those episodes occur. All of these products contain medicines belonging to the class known as "long-acting beta 2-adrenergic agonists" (LABA), which are long-acting bronchodilator medicines.

The information in FDA's proposed changes to the product labels explains that, even though LABAs decrease the number of asthma episodes, these medicines may increase the chances of a severe asthma episode when they do occur. In one asthma medicine study, an increased number of people taking a LABA in addition to their usual asthma care died from their asthma compared to people taking a placebo in addition to their usual asthma care, although the number of asthma deaths in the study was small. The Medication Guide has information about these risks for patients and caregivers in language approved by FDA and will be given to patients when a prescription for a LABA is filled or refilled.

You may find more information at:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/LABA/default.htm

Dust: Long term harmful effects?

My family and I live on a dirt road that has a lot of traffic and are wondering if there are any health issues associated with breathing in a lot of dirt that we should be concerned with.

Thank you,
Del

----------------------------------

Del -

Dust is not the best thing in the world to be breathing long term as it is a lung irritant. However, your lungs do a great job overall in lifting the dust back up and out via cilia and mucous - it is actually called a muco-ciliary ladder.

Yet there are issues with lung diseases associated with longterm dust exposure.

The best resource I can point you to is PubMed which provides medical research.

Go there and in the search bar type in "dust" - you will get about 23000 medical research articles. You can narrow it down any way you like - such as "dust AND danger" or "dust AND disease" or anything you wish. I got effective search results when entering this into the search bar, 'dust AND health -free' [do not include the quotes] The -free at the end delivers all research that is free to read in its entirety. If not free, only abstracts are available.

Hope this helps you.

I would ask cars to slow down, gravel or asphalt the section in front of your home - speed bumps?

Another solution may be considering a highly rated air filter. We carry the IQ Air HealthPro series which would remove the dust particles from your living space.

In health,
Ben

QUESTION: Is Red Yeast Rice safe?

My friend went to our local health food store after we read your site about lowering cholesterol with natural things like red yeast rice and bought some. The man there did his own research on his computer and told her it was not safe..........any input for me here about safety??

We both have recently been told to lower our cholesterol levels and want to do it without drugs from the doctor.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

My friend also has breast cancer if there is a connection or danger here to be considered with this product.

Sincerely,
Betty

--------------------
Betty,

Thank you for your good question.

Red yeast rice is the natural form of Lovastatin - which is a statin drug designed to lower cholesterol by inhibiting the formation of cholesterol via the HMG-CoA pathway.

This pathway also forms the enzyme, CoQ10. When the pathway is interrupted, low CoQ10 levels will cause myopathy (loss of muscle tone and cardiovascular issues).

Simply supplementing with CoQ10 while on statin drugs is necessary to avoid many side effects.

I have sent you an email from PubMed which lists research on red yeast rice. You may go there directly and type in "red yeast rice" into the search bar.

Interaction between breast cancer and RYR is up to her physician and what drugs she is on. I cannot say if it is safe or not. A good source for drug interactions can be found at Drug Digest.com

All drugs, including herbs and homeopathy, all have potential undesired effects some of which may be very harmful. Thus, it is always necessary to consult with a trained physician - preferably with formal training in herbal medicine and pharmacology. A licensed naturopathic physician has such training.

Hope this helps!

In health,
Ben

A natural lowering cholesterol supplement that has shown effectiveness clinically is Bio-Lipotrol by Biogenesis.

Mad Cow Disease still a threat - thanks to the FDA

FDA Fails to Protect Public from Mad Cow Disease - Again

New Proposed FDA Regulations Fail to Protect the Public from Mad Cow Disease - Again.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new proposed rules in October to address the spread of mad cow disease in the United States. Unfortunately, these new rules continue to put the public at risk. The new rule would only require the exclusion of the brains and spinal cords of cattle 30 months of age and over from use in animal feed. This would still allow younger cattle, blood and blood products, some cattle fat, plate waste and poultry litter contaminated with cattle meat and bone meal, to be fed to cattle.

Despite the knowledge that mad cow (or BSE) is spread through animal feed contaminated with such materials, FDA still refuses to take the only step known to stop the spread of mad cow disease – a complete ban on feeding mammalian materials to food animals.

The second confirmed case of a BSE infected cow in the U.S. should have been a call to action for the U.S. to finally put meaningful protections in place. Instead, FDA seems more concerned about protecting industry than citizens. Take action now and tell FDA their refusal to close these dangerous loopholes is unacceptable.

Though the government has investigated three possible cases of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, in the U.S. – two of which were found to be positive for the fatal brain-wasting disease, they continue to leave the American public vulnerable. Scientists have concluded that exposure to the BSE agent causes a variant form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (nvCJD) in humans. The common characteristics of mad cow disease and nvCJD are that they are both invariably fatal.

In January 2004, the FDA announced they would close the loopholes in the feed ban to address the spread of mad cow. Now, nearly two years later, they have proposed yet another woefully inadequate regulation.

Take Action Now!

[Information taken from the Center for Food Safety website]

BioDiesel Fuel and Winter Weather: Can they mix?

I am a recipient of Dr. Dan's Alternative Fuel Werks newsletter. He recently sent out this information on Biodiesel and winter weather. I am dreaming to get a biodiesel vehicle in the coming months - likely a converted Volkswagon Passat - hopefully. The Passat has excellent mileage and high ratings on Consumer Reports - problem is...expensive.

From Dr Dan:

Winter weather + Biodiesel

We are starting to get questions regarding Biodiesel and cold weather. Yes, folks – it looks like we may get a real winter this year. Here are the Biodiesel winter basics to be aware of:

• Biodiesel’s gel point (the cold filter plug point) is around freezing.
• Frost on your windshield does not mean that your Biodiesel will gel.

• If you drive to and from work, you are heating your fuel. Just like putting a bottle of olive oil in the refrigerator, its takes time for Biodiesel to reach ambient temperature and gel.
• If you drive a truck, your fuel tank is more exposed.
• Your vehicle’s fuel tank will reach ambient temperature sooner than a car whose mass surrounds the fuel tank.

General rule of thumb: if the weather is cold enough long enough to freeze the ground, you need to take action to prevent your Biodiesel from gelling.

*********

Topping off with petro-diesel can lower the cold filter plug point of your fuel.

But buy wisely.

When buying petro-diesel, buy from a high volume retailer.

Purchase a “winter blend” – look for signage noting the cold filter plug point on the pump.

Look for a filter on the pump. Most diesel is only filtered to 30 microns. This is equivalent to a window screen. This may allow particulates into your fuel system, which Biodiesel will clean out and move into your fuel filter. We recommend diesel filtered to at least 10 microns. If you do not see a filter on the pump, ask your retailer to install one.

As we switch from high sulfur to ultra low sulfur diesel this is important. Puget Sound is making a mandatory switch to ultra low sulfur diesel. Ultra low sulfur diesel will have a solvent effect. Diesel retailers will find their tanks and pumps will be moving out sediment and junk as they begin using ultra low sulfur fuel.

We will be offering a winterized Biodiesel soon. Stay tuned for further information.

Thanks for your continued support.

Dr. Dan's Alternative Fuel Werks
912 NW 50th St.
Seattle, WA. 98107
(206) 783-5728

Natural antifungal for horse's hooves?!

I was emailed today by a vet who specializes in hoof illnesses in horses. She wanted to know if I knew of anything natural that would kill fungus on the bottom of horses' hooves.

Who would've thought? She did.

I suggested her to give Saprox Natural Antifungal a shot. If it didn't work, I'd refund her back. I'm really curious. I bet 10:1 it will work.

I was raised on a 100 acre horse ranch in Oregon so I am quite aware of how bad horse's hooves can become. We used a nasty copper solution on our horses' hooves. Imagine the toxicity of that. And I didn't wear gloves.

Good luck, Christina. Way to be proactive and considering the health of horses - and for those of us applying the products!

I do hope we found a solution for your horses!

Vaginal Bleeding During Pregnancy: What’s Normal. What’s Not

Q. What are some causes of normal vaginal bleeding during pregnancy?

A. There are a few normal reasons for vaginal bleeding.

• Implantation of your fertilized egg causes slight spotting in a minority of woman. If it happens, it will be near the time you would normally have your period. This bleeding should be very light spotting and last for a day or two. [Spotting: very light bleeding similar to the end of your period.]

• Cervix is more prone to bleed as blood flow is naturally increased during pregnancy. That said, anything that may touch or irritate the cervix can cause bleeding. Sex, gynecological exam, pap smear, physical work, exercise. This bleeding should only spot and last for a day or two.

• If you notice spotting after exercising or working, ease off a bit and see if the spotting stops. Keep a log of your workouts and spotting frequency. This way you know how much you can work or exercise.

• If you are spotting for more than two days, or see an increase in the amount, or do not see a cause of the bleeding, contact your health provider.

• At around 37 weeks, a mucous plug may come out tinged with blood. This is an early sign of labor.

Q. What are some causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding during pregnancy?

A. As the cervix is more engorged, STD’s or any type of vaginal infection may cause bleeding. Infections irritate the cervix causing bleeding or spotting for more than a day or two. Bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, Chlamydia, Herpes are some common infections that may cause prolonged bleeding. See your health provider. They will do a pap or wet mount slide prep to see if an infection is present and treat accordingly.

Spontaneous abortion is a cause of abnormal bleeding. Of the 10% to 25% of women who report spotting during the 1st trimester, 20% to 50% of those will spontaneously abort. If you cannot pin-point a cause of the spotting or it progresses, see your health provider.

Pain with spotting may indicate an ectopic pregnancy or early signs of miscarriage. Pain and spotting is not normal. An ectopic pregnancy must be terminated for the woman’s safety. Ultrasound can confirm or rule out an ectopic pregnancy. This occurs in the first trimester and occurs in 1.5% of all pregnancies.

Abnormal bleeding in pregnancy may indicate placenta problems (eg. placenta previa during any trimester which presents as painless bleeding) or premature labor. Again, if bleeding is more than spotting, increasing in amount or duration, call your health provider.


Q. What is too much bleeding?

A. Duration or quantity are the keys here. If spotting is happening for more than two days and you cannot pin-point a normal cause, contact your health provider.

If bleeding is increasing beyond spotting, it is necessary to contact your health provider. There does not have to be pain associated. If painless bleeding is present, do contact your provider.

If you think it is too much bleeding and you need reassurance, call. Relaxation is very important for a healthy mom and baby. One cannot relax when unsure. Don’t be tough. Call. Your health provider is there to assist and educate you during this amazing time.

GOOD NEWS! ;)
An ultrasound that shows a heartbeat between 7 - 11 weeks, the chances of continuing the pregnancy are better than 90%

Disclaimer:
This is information only. Seek the advice of a trained healthcare professional. Bleeding during pregnancy can be life-threatening to the woman and/or the baby. Do not delay professional assistance.

Famous Quote by Dr. Seuss

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

--Dr. Seuss

Mind over Matter? Health over Illness? Dr Bruce Lipton Illustrates the Power of Perception

It is amazing how one's mind sees things - and yet it doesn't. How can we see something in front of us and then - poof - it's gone. But it really isn't gone. It's still there.

Or how about we see things that are not really there at all? We make them up. Now we're talking.

Only if we could envision beer and then - poof - there it is.

Sound weird?

Then sit back and enjoy this illusion

On a more serious note:
If we envision health - and it's not present in the body at the moment - will it become so? Dr Bruce Lipton thinks so.

So do I.

The optical illusion linked above is an illustration of how we perceive things - and how we can change that perception. It is to illustrate the point driven home by Dr Bruce Lipton.

Who is Dr Bruce Lipton, PhD?

Formerly a microbiology professor at a medical school, Bruce Lipton is now doing research at Standford University. Bruce travels all around the country educating and informing thousands of people.

Dr. Bruce Lipton's main message: Genes do not control you. You control your genes. Perception of the environment is what turns on or turns off genes. Perception comes from you - your mind, thoughts and beliefs.

This translates into: You control your own health.

It is a big statement. Huge in fact.

I highly encourage you to rent, buy or borrow his DVD lecture entitled, The New Biology, Where Mind and Matter Meet by Dr Bruce Lipton.

I saw Bruce Lipton at my medical school. He is a brillant and engaging speaker. Hilarious as well.

So next time you go to sit down in front on the tube, drop this in. Empower yourself.

Improve your life and your health. It is possible.

The desire to regain health must begin with you. It is not a doctor's job to heal you. They simply provide tools and advice.

The real healer is you. Harness that.

In health,
Ben

NOTE: I am speaking for Dr Lipton here. These are not his words - they are rather my educated interpretation of his views. Dr Lipton did not endorse this article nor see even see it.