Alternative Medicine
Posting an article about an issue involved in this controvery here:
| Recreational Drugs FAR Less Likely to Kill You than Prescribed Drugs! |
By Christopher Kent, D.C., J.D. Recreational drugs, including cocaine and heroin, are responsible for an estimated 10,000-20,000 American deaths per year [1,2]. While this represents a serious public health problem, it is a "smokescreen" for America's real drug problem. America's "war on drugs" is directed at the wrong enemy. It is obvious that interdiction, stiff mandatory sentences, and more vigorous enforcement of drug laws have failed. The reason is simple. Cause and effect have been reversed. The desire to solve problems by taking drugs is a product of our culture. When a child is taught by loving parents that the appropriate response to pain or discomfort is taking a pill, it is obvious that such a child, when faced with the challenges of adolescence, will seek comfort by taking drugs. Drugs are Dangerous Whether Pushed or Prescribed While approximately 10,000 per year die from the effects of illegal drugs, an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that an estimated 106,000 hospitalized patients die each year from drugs which, by medical standards, are properly prescribed and properly administered. More than two million suffer serious side effects. [3] An article in Newsweek [4] put this into perspective. Adverse drug reactions, from "properly" prescribed drugs, are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. According to this article, only heart disease, cancer, and stroke kill more Americans than drugs prescribed by medical doctors. Reactions to prescription drugs kill more than twice as many Americans as HIV/AIDS or suicide. Fewer die from accidents or diabetes than adverse drug reactions. It is important to point out the limitations of this study. It did not include outpatients, cases of malpractice, or instances where the drugs were not taken as directed. According to another AMA publication, drug related "problems" kill as many as 198,815 people, put 8.8 million in hospitals, and account for up to 28% of hospital admissions. [5] If these figures are accurate, only cancer and heart disease kill more patients than drugs. Has the situation improved since the publication of this information? Hardly. Null [6] et al have published the most comprehensive and well-documented study I have seen of deaths associated with medical practice. In this report, their research revealed some shocking facts. The findings are summarized in the abstract: "A definitive review and close reading of medical peer-review journals, and government health statistics shows that American medicine frequently causes more harm than good. The number of people having in-hospital, adverse drug reactions (ADR) to prescribed medicine is 2.2 million. Dr. Richard Besser, of the CDC, in 1995, said the number of unnecessary antibiotics prescribed annually for viral infections was 20 million. Dr. Besser, in 2003, now refers to tens of millions of unnecessary antibiotics. The number of unnecessary medical and surgical procedures performed annually is 7.5 million. The number of people exposed to unnecessary hospitalization annually is 8.9 million. The total number of iatrogenic deaths shown in the following table is 783,936. It is evident that the American medical system is the leading cause of death and injury in the United States. The 2001 heart disease annual death rate is 699,697; the annual cancer death rate, 553,251." Drugs Number One Killer The authors conclude: "When the number one killer in a society is the healthcare system, then, that system has no excuse except to address its own urgent shortcomings. It's a failed system in need of immediate attention. What we have outlined in this paper are insupportable aspects of our contemporary medical system that need to be changed -- beginning at its very foundations." A recent article in Archives of Internal Medicine [7] stated that in the seven year period from 1998 through 2005, reported serious adverse drug events increased 2.6-fold, and fatal adverse drug events increased 2.7-fold. The authors noted that reported serious events increased 4 times faster than the total number of outpatient prescriptions during the period. Another study concluded that the majority(86%) of the adverse drug reactions for which patients were admitted to a medical intensive care unit were preventable. [8] One proposed solution to the illegal drug problem was encouraging potential users to ignore peer pressure and "just say no." Interestingly, this strategy is not being recommended for prescription drugs. Bruce Pomeranz, MD , one of the authors of the JAMA paper, said he is not warning people to stay away from drugs. "That would be a terrible message," he said. Lucian Leape, MD, of the Harvard School of Public Health said, "When you realize how many drugs we use, maybe those numbers aren't so bad after all." [4] Does that mean that the number of deaths due to illegal drugs, suicide, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, accidents, and drunk driving "aren't so bad" either? Does it mean that we shouldn't discourage drunk driving or unsafe sex? The folly of such double standards should be obvious to all. It is time to address the real drug problem -- the cultural notion that the first solution to seek for relief of life's problems is a drug. That's the drug culture we need to address. References
8. Rivkin A: Admissions to a medical intensive care unit related to adverse drug reactions. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy 2007;64(17):1840-1843. |
White tea inhibits oxidative stress to skin
UV exposure of the skin causes aging - affecting both elasticity and skin damage that can lead to diseases such as arthritis, diabetes and cancer.
Certain components of plants have been shown to inhibit the oxidative stress that cause these changes to the skin.
(article link and excerpt below)
Anti-collagenase, anti-elastase and anti-oxidant activities of extracts from 21 plants
© 2009 Thring et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Results
Anti-elastase activities were observed for nine of the extracts with inhibitory activity in the following order: white tea (~89%), cleavers (~58%), burdock root (~51%), bladderwrack (~50%), anise and angelica (~32%). Anti-collagenase activities were exhibited by sixteen plants of which the highest activity was seen in white tea (~87%), green tea (~47%), rose tincture (~41%), and lavender (~31%). Nine plant extracts had activities against both elastase (E) and collagenase (C) and were ranked in the order of white tea (E:89%, C:87%) > bladderwrack (E:50%, C:25%) > cleavers (E:58%, C:7%) > rose tincture (E:22%, C:41%) > green tea (E:10%: C:47%) > rose aqueous (E: 24%, C:26%) > angelica (E:32%, C:17%) > anise (E:32%, C:6%) > pomegranate (E:15%, C:11%).
Total phenolic content varied between 0.05 and 0.26 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/mL with the exception of white tea (0.77 mg GAE/mL). For anti-oxidant assessment, the Trolox equivalent anti-oxidant capacity (TEAC) assay revealed activity for all extracts. White tea had the highest activity equivalent to ~21 μM Trolox for a 6.25 μg aliquot. In addition, seven extracts exhibited activities = 10 μM Trolox with witch hazel (6.25 μg = 13 μM Trolox) and rose aqueous (6.25 μg = 10 μM Trolox) showing very high activities at low concentrations. A high activity for white tea was also found in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) assay in which it exhibited ~88% inhibition of reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium. High activities were also observed for green tea (86.41%), rose tincture (82.77%), witch hazel (82.05%) and rose aqueous (73.86%).
Conclusion
From a panel of twenty three plant extracts, some one dozen exhibit high or satisfactory anti-collagenase or anti-elastase activities, with nine having inhibitory activity against both enzymes. These included white tea which was found to have very high phenolic content, along with high TEAC and SOD activities.
Conclusion
This study reveals that from a panel of 23 plant extracts, ten exhibit anti-elastase activities which are generally high or satisfactory and range up to levels of 90% inhibition. Twelve extracts exhibit high or satisfactory anti-collagenase activities ranging up to 75% inhibition. Six extracts had inhibitory activity against both enzymes. These included white tea and rose tincture which were found to have very high phenolic contents and had good scavenging activity in the TEAC assay and against superoxide radicals. The gallic acid assay shows high phenolic content for some plants for example buchu but low or no activity in the other assays.
White Tea...
Good to hear as I like this kind of tea...well, to be honest I like all varieties of tea (white, green black). Red tea as well, though strictly speaking I don't think that's "tea"or it's not the same plant as white, green and black tea.
A bold but interesting statement
This guy hypothesizes that specialization detracts a person from learning the basic things to take care of our every day needs.
over specialization
Article about tooth implants and holistic dentistry
"...the presence of any metal in your mouth sets the stage for “galvanic toxicity,” because your mouth essentially becomes a charged battery when dissimilar metals sit in a bed of saliva.
All that is needed to make a battery is two or more different metals and a liquid medium that can conduct electricity (i.e., an electrolyte). Metal implants, fillings, crowns, partials, and orthodontics provide the dissimilar metals, and the saliva in your mouth serves as the electrolyte.
An electric current called a galvanic current is then generated by the transport of the metal ions from the metal-based dental restorations into the saliva. This phenomenon is called “oral galvanism,” and it literally means that your mouth is acting like a small car battery or a miniature electrical generator. The currents can actually be measured using an ammeter!"
Dental health reduces the risk of serious disease
>> WebMD >> News Stories >>
Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body? The Impact of Teeth, Breath, & Gum Problems.
Taking good care of your mouth -- teeth and gums -- does more than help ensure you have a bright, white smile. A healthy mouth and healthy body go hand in hand. Good oral hygiene and oral health can improve your overall health, reducing the risk of serious disease and perhaps even preserving your memory in your golden years. The phrase "healthy mouth, healthy you" really is true -- and backed by growing scientific evidence.
Heh...
So the first thing I thought of reading this was what happened to that guy on Lost last season (Alvarez?).
But the stuff in the article about titanium implants is scary--all the ill effects people can suffer from. And then the section about any metal in your mouth: "Moreover, there is the concern that oral galvanism directs electrical currents into brain tissue and can disrupt the natural electrical current in your brain." Wow! (OK, I confess; that also made me think of Lost again...)
Anyway, thanks for posting that info...
Insurance coverage as part of nat'l health care legislation
"Naturopathic doctors, herbal healers, mind-body specialists, and acupuncturists often have been scorned by the US medical establishment, but growing numbers of Americans are seeking such care, and now an influential group of US senators believes the time has come to embrace an array of alternative therapies.
Senator Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat who is a longtime supporter of nontraditional medicine, is at the forefront of the effort to win insurance coverage for such providers as part of national healthcare legislation.
'It’s time to end the discrimination against alternative healthcare practices,’' Harkin said at a congressional hearing.
Harkin is the cosponsor of an amendment that says healthcare plans will not be allowed to “discriminate’’ against any healthcare provider who has a license issued by a state, an amendment Senate aides said was designed to provide coverage for alternative medicine. Backers of the amendment say it could save tens of billions of dollars in the long run by providing less expensive and better alternatives to drugs and surgery in a variety of cases. The amendment was adopted by a Senate committee writing health legislation, but details are still being negotiated."
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
I was following up information about the FDA ban on come Ziccam products (which I use--and am kinda bummed about as it always seemed to help me cut down on length of cold). And I found this site which looks to be a useful place to look up information.
Mushrooms and Green Tea help prevent Breast Cancer
Mushrooms and Green Tea help prevent Breast Cancer
I read that same article and just wanted to post some excerpts in case the link ever "breaks" .
Mushrooms may affect estrogen levels
Researchers compared consumption of mushrooms and green tea between two groups of Chinese women, one with breast cancer and one without. They found that women who ate at least 10 grams (0.35 ounces) of fresh mushrooms per day had a 64 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer than those who did not eat as much. Those who also regularly drank green tea reduced their risk by a total of 90 percent. Dried mushrooms also reduced breast cancer risk, although they were not as effective as fresh ones.
The protective benefit of mushrooms and green tea remained significant even after researchers adjusted for other breast cancer risk factors, including weight, exercise, smoking and education level.
Previous research has supported the cancer-fighting properties of both mushrooms and green tea. Mushrooms are believed to suppress tumor growth and boost the immune system, and may also block production of the hormone estrogen. Green tea contains polyphenols, which have been shown to remove free radicals from the blood and hamper breast tumor development.
"It is important to remember there is no one particular 'super' food that will protect you from cancer," she said. "Large scientific studies have proven that the best way to reduce your risk of many cancers is to eat a healthy balanced diet."
Some other alternative cancer treatments
Also Frankincense appears to have an effect on cancer cells resetting their DNA such that the cancerous growth message is turned off. Further research is trying to isolate the agent in Frankincense that has this property as some parts are allergenic.
Frankincense: Could it be a cancer cure?
(Note: bringing some of these links over from other sites--so credit for finding these belongs to other folks as well.)
Kinesio Taping
I don't know if this counts as an alternative or standard medical practice--I know it's relatively new (or at least I had never heard of before). It's a kind of bandage which works to massage the area it's placed on and thus improve circulation and reduce swelling. My physical therapist put it on one of my fingers this morning 'cause it was bruised and swollen and she said that the bandage should help the bruising go away in about 3 days.
Arnica approved to treat sprains and bruises
Published on Friday, May 22, 2009
by Healthy News Service
Much to the anger of conventional medicine, the homeopathic remedy Arnica has been officially recognised as a successful remedy for treating sprains and bruises in the United Kingdom.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHPRA) has registered the product, which means that the manufacturer can now make claims for its effectiveness.
Arnica 30c, manufactured by Nelsons, is the first homeopathic remedy to be recognised without going through clinical trials. Since 1971, homeopathic products have not been allowed to make any health claim without proper evidence.
But new rules, introduced in 2006, allow a manufacturer to make health claims for a product provided there is a tradition for its use in the UK, and it is for the treatment only of minor problems.
Provided by What Doctors Don't Tell You on 5/22/2009
A difficult situation...
Minn. judge rules teen must see cancer doctor
MINNEAPOLIS -A Minnesota couple who refused chemotherapy for their 13-year-old son was ordered Friday to have the boy re-evaluated to see if he would still benefit from the cancer treatment — or if it may already be too late.
Brown County District Judge John Rodenberg found Daniel Hauser has been "medically neglected" by his parents, Colleen and Anthony Hauser, who belong to a religious group that believes in using only natural healing methods practiced by some American Indians.
The judge allowed Daniel to stay with his parents, noting they love him and acted in good faith, but he gave them until Tuesday to get an updated chest X-ray and select an oncologist.
If the tumor has not grown and if Daniel's prognosis remains as optimistic as doctors testified last week, then chemotherapy and possible radiation appear to be in Daniel's best interest, Rodenberg wrote.
"The state has successfully shown by clear and convincing evidence that continued chemotherapy is medically necessary," he wrote, adding he would not order chemotherapy if doctors find the cancer has advanced to a point where it is "too late."
If chemotherapy is ordered and the family refuses, the judge said, Daniel will be placed in temporary custody.
It was unclear how the medicine would be administered if the boy fights it, which he said he would do, according to his court testimony unsealed Friday.
According to Daniel's court testimony, he believes the chemo will kill him, and said: "I'd fight it. I'd punch them and I'd kick them."
Rodenberg found Daniel has only a "rudimentary understanding at best of the risks and benefits of chemotherapy. ... he does not believe he is ill currently. The fact is that he is very ill currently."
Because of that, and other evidence in the case, Rodenberg said the state's interest in protecting the child override the constitutional right to freedom of religious expression and a parent's right to direct a child's upbringing.
Teen Cancer Patient, Mom on the Run
NEW ULM, Minn. (May 20) -- Authorities nationwide were on the lookout Wednesday for a mother and her 13-year-old cancer-stricken son who fled after refusing the chemotherapy that doctors say could save the boy's life.
Colleen Hauser and her son, Daniel, who has Hodgkin's lymphoma, apparently left their southern Minnesota home sometime after a doctor's appointment and court-ordered X-ray on Monday showed his tumor had grown.
I have to say when I first read this article, there are some very obvious constitutional issues that come to question. I wondered how the court was able to make the decision to override the right to religious freedom on this one.
It then came to my attention that the boy has a learning disability and couldn't read and so it was claimed he couldn't understand the benefits and drawbacks of chemotherapy. I would not have liked to have been the judge on the bench for this one.
The key point made that strikes a chord with me is that the judge mentioned that the child does not know he is gravely ill. That's the point where I found myself starting to really question whether those parents knew what they were doing.
But how to we quantify what this means in the mind of this boy - it's really hard to dig out the facts from the bias on both sides... and how and when do we start legislating what's ok to believe?
Patients with a positive outlook statistically recover better/faster than patients that do not. We could build a whole argument that the stress of the trial is what actually caused the child's cancer to regress and not that the "natural remedies" were ineffective. It's a debate about which science will "win" in the end. This boils down to the definition of negligent behavior and if choosing an alternative, unproven treatment is really the same as doing nothing.
The main point to me is that the boy has an equally valid belief that chemotherapy will kill him. That's a truth that's equally valid as the fact that this cancer he has will possibly do the same. Especially given that he has a genetic relative that responded poorly to chemotherapy.
Side effects may be acute (short-term), chronic (long-term), or permanent. Side effects may cause inconvenience, discomfort, and even death.
I honestly don't know whether I would make the same decisions that this family has made in regard to this boy's treatment, but that to me is really beside the point.
These are the questions still bothering me:
Should the beliefs of a mentally handicapped child be given less weight than the beliefs of a "normal" child? I don't expect that question ever to be fully resolved for me.
But if so, whose right is it to decide the fate of this child?
I'm assuming the parents aren't "IQ challenged". Should they have to prove the efficacy of their treatment choices? That seems like a slippery slope.
It's clear that their moral choice is an option outside the social standard. If they are forced by court order to go against their family's fundamental religious beliefs - should they be allowed the right to sue the state should their child die from this treatment? It's not like this would really make up for the loss of a family member, mind you... but this is the state making a life or death decision for this family.
If we go down this gray area in the definition of what constitutes "negligence" - where do we draw the line? Corporations surely will promote that the public simply doesn't understand the science of why they should pay for and take their medicines... tell me they won't use that to force HPV vaccination laws and any number of questionable "beneficial"remedies padded down with their biased, scientifically disputable reports. Now I certainly put this child's life before any political issue like this. This is a side issue for sure.
But one thing's for certain - this ruling means that the public will need to keep an eye on that line in the sand if they're going to protect their rights .
Mother charged with negligence for grossly overweight son
That...
just seems wrong to me. That she should be held responsible with the other factors that are clear there--the economy which necessitates her working that much, and the kind of food that's available. If she's accountable for this, what about the fast food manufacturers?
I'm responding based on that quotation. The link seems to be broke, DL.
Update on Daniel Hauser
After becoming a fugitive and then remanding himself to the court ordered chemotherapy, he's apparently not responding to the treatment very well - though I'm not sure how his cancer is doing.
I've read all manner of debate on the efficacy of chemotherapy treatment.
The bottom line for me is this:
"If the people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson
I understand why Daniel and his mother fled the authorities:
If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so. – Thomas Jefferson
But they had to choose between keeping their child or not. They did not have a choice about what kind of treatment they felt best. This is a scary state of affairs, if you ask me.
Criminalized non conformity?
USA Patriot Act Defines Chemotherapy Pushers, CPS Aggressors as Terrorists
a difficult situation
I feel a lot of ambivalence about this particular case--and I agree with you, I wouldn't want to be the judge in this case. I read this morning that the mother and child have returned and agreed to his undergoing treatment (and he will stay in his parent's care), and there was the additional information that he is in a lot of pain as the tumor is putting pressure on his trachea. I don't know if that's what changed the mother's mind or not.
The 'negligence' line--I seem to remember that a couple of years ago there were states that mandated the HPV vaccine? I think those mandates got withdrawn in the face of public protest. I wonder if another upcoming area where this will emerge will be with pandemics like swine flu: the after the fact legislative solution instead of dealing with things like the factory farm connection. (Another article on Smithfield farms here with link to an article on factory pig farming in Hardin County, Iowa.
Nearly 1/3 of cancer studies had $$$ conflicts of interest
This sure puts another spin on this topic for me as well.
To document how frequently conflict of interests in clinical cancer research might occur, Dr. Jagsi and colleagues reviewed cancer studies that were published in 2006 in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Lancet, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Lancet Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research and CANCER.
Out of the 1,534 cancer studies identified, nearly a third, 29 percent, had conflicts of interest that were, in fact, fairly obvious from a review of the published studies authors' declarations and authorship lists (which included medical industry funding, consulting fees to the researchers, co-authorship by industry employees, etc.). Some 17 percent had direct industry funding. The conflicts of interest found most often, according to the current CANCER study, were in articles with primary authors from medical oncology departments (45 percent), who were based in North America (33 percent), and those with male first and senior authors (37 percent).
In addition, the findings also show medical industry-funded studies were more likely to focus on ways to treat than studies without industry funding (62 percent vs. 36 percent). They were far less likely than studies not hooked to medical industry funding to concentrate on epidemiology, prevention, risk factors, screening or diagnostic methods.
Source: "Frequency, nature, effects, and correlates of conflicts of interest in published clinical cancer research." Reshma Jagsi, Nathan Sheets, Aleksandra Jankovic, Amy R. Motomura, Sudha Amarnath, and Peter A. Ubel. CANCER; Published Online: May 11, 2009 (DOI 10.1002/cncr.24306) Print Issue Date: June 15, 2009.
Natural remedies
A trove of quick fixes for everything from stomach upset to the common cold
I snagged a few:
To soothe a sore throat
Gargle twice daily with a solution of six pressed garlic cloves mixed into a glass of warm (not hot) water. Follow the regimen for 3 days. A recent study shows that fresh garlic juice has antimicrobial properties that fight pain-causing bacteria. The warm liquid soothes inflamed tissue.
Expert: Ronald Hoffman, M.D.
To curb a cough
Indulge in a square or two of dark chocolate. Researchers found that chocolate's theobromine compound is more effective than codeine at suppressing persistent coughs without the side effects of drowsiness and constipation. To calm a nagging cough that keeps you awake at night, take 2 teaspoons of honey (1 to 2 teaspoons for kids; don't give to children younger than 1), along with 500 mg of Ester C 30 minutes before bed. The vitamin C (the nonacidic Ester type won't upset stomachs) boosts the immune system in the early stages of your cough. Recent research shows that honey works better than either a cough suppressant or no treatment at all for relieving children's nocturnal cough and promoting sleep.
Experts: Jacob Teitelbaum, MD; Mark Moyad, M.D., M.P.H.
To cool a fever
Sip linden flower tea, which works in two ways: It stimulates the hypothalamus to better control your temperature, and it dilates blood vessels, inducing sweating. Steep 1 tablespoon of dried herb (available in health food stores) in a cup of hot water for 15 minutes, then sip. Drink three to four cups a day. If you still run hot after a day of sipping tea, seek medical attention. For a high fever (above 102°F), take a tepid bath, which simply cools the body to match the water temperature. Bathe until your temperature decreases to 101° to 102°F, then sip linden flower tea to lower it even more.
Expert: Eric Yarnell, N.D.
To beat insomnia
Before bedtime, eat a handful of cherries, which scientists discovered are jam-packed with melatonin, the same hormone created by your body to regulate sleep patterns. Then steep yourself in a hot bath to relax your muscles and your mind. In bed, rest your head on a lavender-filled pillow—the fragrance induces sleepiness.
Experts: Mark Moyad, M.D., M.P.H.; Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D.
****
To help get a handle on my sleep patterns I've started the cherry concentrate and I've found that it is not only helpful for me in getting to sleep, but I've slept better as well.
natural remedies
The miracle I call Tumeric
Herbs and spices contain nutrient dense and healing properties. Dr. Mercola has an article about Tumeric that sums up a lot of things that I've read in several reputable sources about this herb.
I really hate that this article ends in an advertisement, but at least this guy really does his research for a sell. I'll pull out some of the useful stuff and post it below. (Click the link for critique of source or morbid curiousity.) I'll post more outside sources and info on this when I get a chance.
One interesting way that many people overlook on improving their health is by taking advantage of unprocessed, organic herbs and spices.
Interestingly most of these herbs add virtually no calories to your diet.
You'll find that herbs and spices:
- Maximize your nutrient density -- They contain healthful vitamins and minerals.
- Help speed up your metabolism -- Because spices are nutrient dense, they are thermogenic. This means they naturally increase your metabolism to help you burn calories.
- May increase your overall feeling of fullness and satiety -- So you'll eat less. Studies show consuming certain herbs and spices prior to each meal can potentially reduce your calorie intake.
- Provide you healthful properties -- Help boost and enhance your overall wellbeing with antioxidants that can be more potent than many fruits and vegetables.
- Benefit your "whole person" -- Herbs and spices tend to enhance your entire body, and not just focus on a particular area.
Tumeric
- Supports your healthy joint function*
- Promotes your radiant skin*
- Helps improve your digestion*
One of the main healthful ingredients in turmeric is curcumin (a curcuminoid), which gives turmeric its yellow color.
Western scientists first isolated the curcumin molecule in 1815, obtained its crystalline form in 1870, and determined its overall structure in 1910.
Curcumin can potentially benefit you by:
- Promoting your immune system against stress*
- Helping maintain your healthy digestive system*
- Supporting your healthy bones, joints, and overall skeletal system*
- Helping you maintain cholesterol levels that are already within the normal range*
- Promoting your healthy blood and liver functions*
How Turmeric Provides Antioxidant Nutrients*
You probably know that antioxidants are important nutrients in supporting your health.
- They help you slow down free radical damage that can seriously damage your cells, organs and DNA
- Turmeric helps protect your cells -- and helps you counteract this process with its antioxidant content.*
- The antioxidant content within turmeric comes from active compounds called curcuminoids.
These curcuminoids deliver antioxidants that may be:
- 5 to 8 times stronger than vitamin E -- and also stronger than vitamin C
- 3 times more powerful than grape seed or pine bark extract
- Strong enough to scavenge the hydroxyl radical -- considered by many to be the most reactive of all oxidants*
Antioxidants are also key nutrients in:
- Supporting your memory function*
- Promoting your heart health*
- Boosting your immune system*
Curcuminoids support important blood and liver functions, healthy joints, and your overall well-being.* This in turn helps promote your radiant, supple skin.*
Turmeric has been considered to be ‘skin food' for thousands of years in India and other cultures.*
Turmeric helps you:
- Cleanse your skin and maintain its elasticity*
- Provide nourishment to your skin*
- Balance the effects of skin flora*
Your Triple-Action Cellular Booster and Adaptogen*
Another potential advantage from turmeric usage involves the smallest living things within you -- your cells.
Turmeric can assist your cells in three ways, by:
- Helping you neutralize substances that can cause cellular stress*
- Maintaining your cells' integrity when threatened by occasional environmental stressors*
- Providing the antioxidants you need to help support your cells against excessive oxidation and free radicals*
- And turmeric is also recognized as an adaptogen -- helping to support your body against stress and providing immune system support.*
Tumeric can also help you lose weight...
Curcumin may cut body fat and weight gain: Mouse study
"Curcumin, the natural pigment that gives the spice turmeric its yellow colour, may prevent reduce body weight gain, and help in the fight against obesity, suggests new data from a study with mice... Read
Mice fed a high-fat diet and supplemented with curcumin were found to have reduced body weight gain, as well as lowering blood cholesterol levels, according to findings published in the Journal of Nutrition.
“The curcumin suppression of angiogenesis in adipose tissue together with its effect on lipid metabolism in adipocytes may contribute to lower body fat and body weight gain,” wrote the authors, led by Asma Ejaz from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.
“Our findings suggest that dietary curcumin may have a potential benefit in preventing obesity.”
Source: Journal of Nutrition
Volume 139, Pages 919-925, doi:10.3945/jn.108.100966
“Curcumin Inhibits Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and Angiogenesis and Obesity in C57/BL Mice”
Authors: A. Ejaz, D. Wu, P. Kwan, M. Meydani "
Tumeric, cilantro, seaweed and coconuttyness
Yeah, I've been an herb super-freak as of late and have simply been collecting random factiods I'd like to accumulate in one place because I find them so cool.
Random stuff like:
Cilantro kills salmonella bacteria
Cilantro removes heavy metals from your system
I've been eating a lot more cilantro too, and started reading about its relative parsley, which is apparently chock full of minerals... I've been adding fresh parsley to everything I can. Especially if you're a vegetarian looking for healthy nutrients, you aren't going to find it in processed foods. With as much as I regrettably have to rely on them for convienence it sends you looking for something, anything to pack a nutritional punch.
I get even more granola with stuff like this:
Red seaweed extract may cut NSAIDs need for arthritis sufferers. -
A natural, multi-mineral ingredient derived from the red seaweed
Lithothamnion Corallioides may allow osteoarthritis sufferers to reduce their
use of NSAIDs by 50 per cent, say the results of a new pilot study.
This is why I'm so happy that I found a soy free, dairy free yogurt and ice cream that actually has seaweed in it. It's spendy, but so worth it to be healthy... and it's made with coconut milk so it's also durn tasty.
I can really get going on the topic of the benefits of coconuts...
Did you know that coconut milk was used as a plasma replacement for blood loss during WWII? The mineral composition to our human mineral balance is apparently that closely related.
Arthritis
Hey that's very cool about arthritis. I have a friend who has psoriatic arthritis--I'll pass onto her. Read in the "Today's Health News" this morning that pomegranate's may also be helpful for arthritis, along with a lot of other inflammation related problems.
And so cool about coconuts (cuckoo for coconuts :-)--really amazing about it being used as plasma replacement.
Hey coconut milk and some turmeric--got some nice ingredients to start off a good curry :-)
Coconut Water
Hmmm yes, amazed, perhaps I should have been as well. I'm off a bit on the facts - in attempting to rediscover that source of mine and found this on pubmed.
It's actually more accuarate to say that green coconut water was a saline substitute they used until a patient was able to get plasma or blood. It was a measure taken in emergencies only. I'm off enough that it really bugs me that I didn't do the second check prior to posting... so I apologize and I hope this helps clarify the situation.
Apparently coconut water is sterile until the shell is cracked, which could prove beneficial in an emergency surgical situation. (It's the clear stuff.)
Technically coconut milk is what is expressed from the coconut fruit itself. The mineral balance and fat is what makes coconut milk nutritionally valuable and I assume it's similar to what you find in the water.
Let's keep making that curry recipe...
Moderate dose of capsaicin makes 80 percent of prostate cancer cells die
(Quoted from a report by Natural News) Additionally, capsaicin had a profound anti-proliferative effect on cultured human cancer cells according to a scientist at the UCLA School of Medicine. It dramatically slowed the development of prostate tumors formed by cells from the same lines as those grown for the mouse models.
The scientists estimated that the dose of pepper extract fed to the mice was equivalent to giving 400 milligrams of capsaicin three times a week to a 200 pound man. This would be about the amount found in three to eight fresh habanero peppers, depending on how hot the peppers were. The hotter the pepper, the greater the capsaicin content. Habanero peppers, which are native to the Yucatan, have the highest amount of capsaicin. On the Scoville Heat Index, habaneros score 300,000 heat units. Jalapeno peppers, popular in the U.S., score between 2,500 and 3,000 heat units.
Capsaicin reduced cancer cell production of prostate specific antigen (PSA), a protein that is a marker for the presence of prostate cancer. Production of PSA is regulated by male sex hormones.
Research from India recently investigated the effect of capsaicin on fat metabolism during induced lung cancer in mice showing abnormal changes in tissue and serum lipids, lipoproteins, and lipid metabolizing enzymes. Treatment of 10 mg per kg of body weight showed an ability to reduce all of these alterations and restore normality that they described as "remarkable". (Archives of Pharmacal Research, February).
In another study investigating how oxidative stress mediated lung cancer, lysomal damage was found to be an indispensable event in the development of some lung cancers. Capsaicin was able to completely prevent lysomal damage, and was effective against induced lung cancer. (Fundamental Clinical Pharmacology, February).
Scientists investing the effects of capsaicin against human breast cancer noted that the compound has been shown to exert powerful biological activity including anticarginogenic, antimutagenic and chemoprotective effects against many cancer cell lines. When they tested it against a highly malignant breast cell line, they found that treatment with capsaicin for 24 hours resulted in dose-dependent death of the cancerous cells. (Oncology Report, March).
A recent study investigating capsaicin on highly metastatic melanoma cells found its anti-mutagenic activity inhibited the migration of melanoma cells at low doses without showing obvious cytotoxicity. The scientists concluded that capsaicin administration should be considered an effective approach for the suppression of invasion and metastasis in malignant melanoma. (Experimental and Molecular Medicine, October, 2008).
In an earlier study at M.D Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, researchers tested capsaicin on human skin cancer cells to analyze how the cells would react. They found that the majority of skin cancer cells exposed to the substance died. Capsaicin seemed to kill cancerous cells by damaging their membranes and limiting the amount of oxygen that could reach them. Drug companies have long searched for a drug that could do just that. Any compound that could limit oxygen in targeted cells would be highly effective against many forms of cancer.
High intake of capsaicin correlates with lower death rates from cancer
In countries where high intake of capsaicin is the dietary norm, cancer death rates for men and women are significantly lower than they are in countries with less chili pepper consumption according to statistics from the World Health Organization. Experiments have shown that capsaicin seems to be able to detoxify a wide range of chemical carcinogens which, if left to roam the body, could create mutations leading to full blown cancers.
Lose weight by eating chili peppers and hot sauce
Researchers have found that adding capsaicin in some form to breakfast foods or appetizers at lunch causes people to eat less during meals and for hours afterwards. Thirteen women, who ate breakfast foods spiced with red pepper ate less than normal at breakfast and during the day. Ten men who ate appetizers laced with red pepper consumed fewer calories at lunch and during a mid-day snack hours later. In addition to acting as an appetite suppressant, red pepper seems to increase the number of calories burned, particularly after high-fat meals. This is because capsaicin is a thermogenic agent, meaning it increases metabolic activity that results in calories and fat being burned. Several popular fat-burners on the market contain capsaicin.
Capsaicin soothes digestive tract stress
Contrary to popular belief, a study has found that ulcer sufferers are helped by eating hot spicy foods. Capsaicin increases blood flow in the stomach's mucous lining, helping to heal stomach tissue. It is effective against H. pylori bacteria, and stimulates circulation sequentially, from the internal organs to the skin surface, and on throughout the entire body. A Duke University study has found that capsaicin may lead to a cure for inflammatory bowel disease. Eating chili peppers has also been shown to protect against the effects to the stomach of aspirin.
Capsaicin helps relieve congestion and prevent sinusitis
Potent antibacterial properties of capsaicin fight chronic sinus infections. Because it is so hot, capsaicin helps stimulate secretions that clear mucus from the nose, relieving nasal congestion. It may also be helpful for sinus related allergy problems.
Protect your heart with capsaicin
Capsaicin reduces cholesterol, triglycerides and platelet aggregation. It has shown evidence of being able to dissolve fibrin, which is necessary for blood clots to form. Tumors often develop a fibrin based protective coating. Dissolving this coating leaves the tumors highly vulnerable. Cultures around the world that engage in the liberal use of hot peppers have significantly lower rates of heart attack and stroke than cultures that do not.
Study on Mice shows topical capsaicin protects heart from damage
Study on Mice shows topical capsaicin protects heart from damage
(article excerpt - click on link above for full article)
New research from the University of Cincinnati shows that a common, over-the-counter pain salve rubbed on the skin during a heart attack could serve as a cardiac-protectant, preventing or reducing damage to the heart while interventions are administered.
University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center (2009, September 15). Common Pain Cream Could Protect Heart During Attack, Study Shows. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 16, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2009/09/090914173010.htm
Turmeric
I've been adding it to my food a lot lately to deal with tendon inflammation and it seems to be having a positive effect--or at least I'm getting over the tendonitis much faster than my Dr. expected me to.
I can't remember where I read this exactly--I think it was when I was doing research into a particular kind of cancer that a relative had--but curcumin has anti-cancer properties. OK--googled and found a site here that suggests it may block harmful estrogen like chemicals.
Tumeric follow-up
Inspiration
If you don't ask your physician, they won't tell...
Doctor Patient Trust has to go both ways
Did you know that a doctor cannot recommend naturopathic cures without risking malpractice? I suppose I was always aware of the liability type issues with stuff like this, but figured that most physicians don't know anything about naturopathy. I guess that isn't necessarily true. According to this article, Universities are beginning to include complementary and alternative medicine into medical school courses.
So what can you do if you seek naturopathic advice from your physician? This article gives some suggestions. The main point being - Know HOW to ask your doctor.
Asking about alternative therapy
I recently tried the advice given in the article above:
I'm not totally shut down. If a patient ASKS me about some alternative therapy, I will give them an honest and well-informed answer. But if you don't ask, I cannot tell. Another suggestion for a patient is to ask something like, "If you had my illness, what would you personally use to treat yourself." That I can answer honestly, because I'm not telling you to do anything.
I asked about using a specific herbal supplement to help with healing a particular wound. You should have seen how excited the physician got upon its mention. Though he worded his reply rather cautiously he mentioned he was aware of scientific studies that showed benefit in cases like the one he was dealing with here and that "it couldn't hurt".
I kind of got a kick out of it.
Another reason why Americans are fat...
There are a lot of reasons for the situation described in this article.
The question is - what can we do about this??? This seems just plain wrong.
Actually, it's a long, healthy life that costs more
Treating obesity and smoking is cheaper than keeping folks fit, study says
Van Baal and colleagues created a model to simulate lifetime health costs for three groups of 1,000 people: the “healthy-living” group (thin and non-smoking), obese people, and smokers. The model relied on “cost of illness” data and disease prevalence in the Netherlands in 2003.
The researchers found that from age 20 to 56, obese people racked up the most expensive health costs. But because both the smokers and the obese people died sooner than the healthy group, it cost less to treat them in the long run.
On average, healthy people lived 84 years. Smokers lived about 77 years, and obese people lived about 80 years. Smokers and obese people tended to have more heart disease than the healthy people.
Cancer incidence, except for lung cancer, was the same in all three groups. Obese people had the most diabetes, and healthy people had the most strokes. Ultimately, the thin and healthy group cost the most, about $417,000, from age 20 on.
The cost of care for obese people was $371,000, and for smokers, about $326,000.
The results counter the common perception that preventing obesity will save health systems worldwide millions of dollars.
Well...
When we say "healthy people", what were the criteria?
Alzheimer's has been potentially linked to high levels of aluminum in the brain. Stop using aluminum foil and aluminum-containing deodorants and you might avoid that disease.
Research shows that cancer cells have a very hard time surviving and multiplying in the presence of Vitamin D. Try a daily supplement and/or drink more milk.
Meth users are skinny. I wouldn't call them healthy.
Cocaine users are skinny. I wouldn't call them healthy.
I'm mainly concerned with the mention of strokes being of the highest frequency in the "healthy" group. While I'm certainly no expert, it would seem to me that to outpace the obese group which is prone to high blood pressure problems, there is likely something going on in our so-called "healthy" group that means they're not so healthy.
As for costs, well, I think they're probably right in general. Healthcare I'm not so certain on, but food costs are extreme. I finally got tired of being overweight and have started making the life changes necessary to be a healthy person, and doing it properly is not cheap.
Medical Marijuana
I'm curious what people think about this topic.
I'll start you off with an interesting article:
Pot vending machines take root in Los Angeles
Machines distribute the drug to people with cards authorizing use
Marijuana use is illegal under federal law, which does not recognize the medical marijuana laws in California and 11 other states.
The Drug Enforcement Agency and other federal agencies have been actively shutting down major medical marijuana dispensaries throughout the state over the last two years and charging their operators with felony distribution charges.
Mehdizadeh said he spent seven months to develop and patent the black, armored box, which he calls the "PVM," or prescription vending machine.
A spokesman for a marijuana advocacy group said the machine also benefits dispensary owners.
"It limits the number of workers in the store in the event of a raid, and it'll make it harder for theft," said Nathan Sands, of The Compassionate Coalition.
The computerized machine requires fingerprint identification and a prepaid card with a magnetic stripe. Once the card and fingerprint are verified, a bright green envelope with the pot drops down a slot.
Mehdizadeh said he sought the advice of doctors, and decided to limit the amount of marijuana per user to an ounce per week. Each purchase from the machine yields 1/8th or 2/8th of an ounce. By eliminating a vendor behind the counter, he said, the machine offers users lower drug prices. The 1/8th ounce packet would cost about $40 — $20 lower than the average price at other dispensaries.
(Not sure if this is done at every site but...) A guard in a black T-shirt emblazoned with the word "Security" on the front stands at the door.
...the vending machine's security measures would at least protect against illicit use of the drug.
"You have kids that want to get high and that's not what marijuana is for," Robert Miko said. "It's to medicate."
New policy on medical marijuana
"The Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws, under new policy guidelines to be sent to federal prosecutors today."
Not that I'm a pot head...
... but low THC cannibis is a very potent herb as well. Omega 3s in the right balance; balanced proteins...
Even so... the "bad" stuff about this plant apparently has its benefits too. Though it is certainly not without cost and should not be used recreationally in my opinion.
Here's just one of many articles:
Marijuana ingredient may reduce tumors: study. -
The active ingredient in marijuana appears to reduce tumor growth, according to a Spanish study published on Wednesday. The researchers showed giving THC to mice with cancer decreased tumor growth and killed cells off in a process called autophagy.
Medical marijuana
Interesting...
I think marijuana should be used legally for medical purposes. A whole lot of people could really benefit. But because of all the propoganda surrounding the drug through the years, it mirrors a bad image with society. The criminalization of pot in the 1950's was influenced mostly by yellow journalism, fear, racism, politics, etc - not because it was scientifically or medically induced to be a dangerous drug.
sigh... for the record, I'm not a "pot head" either... but I've always been irked by the bad images marijuana gets in proportion to alcohol and cigarrettes.
Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Now Have More Freedom
Alternative medicine zone reports...
"Until recently Marijuana Dispensaries faced raid by the federal government,
then the incoming administration of President Obama declared that if
Marijuana is used for medicinal purposes each one of the individual states of
America could decide for itself. "
Medical Marijuana pros & cons
Thought this was a pretty balanced look at the benefits and risks:
Related Stories
Two recent stories that I've read about negative results of drug testing that goes unpublished:
One small note I found
Ever wonder why natural remedies are not prescribed by your general practicitioner?
Medicare and Medicaid have strict governmental regulations that physicians are to follow standards of medical care. This means, if the Medicare providers use natural medicine instead of pharmaceutical drugs with Medicare or Medicaid patients, they can be fined for millions of dollars and be sent to federal prison.
There are pros and cons to this, of course. There are definitely snake oil salemen still around today.
Grow Your Own Drugs