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Researcher Candace Pert wrote a book called ‘Molecules of Emotion‘ in which she presents her findings that every emotional experience produces specific protein sequences in our body.  These are reproducible and she called them molecules of emotion.  This is important to know in relation to the dis-ease process.  We are naturally emotional beings and we’re supposed to have a physiological reaction to an emotional situation.  The problem arises when we have abnormal physiological reactions to ‘emotional triggers.’  I’ll leave this discussion for another post…

If you’ve seen any yogi walk over hot coals or lie on a bed of glass unharmed, you’re witnessing the power of the mind over the physiological reaction of pain.  Basic neurology shows us that we can consciously send signals to interfere or block the pain response.  This is all fine and dandy, but how can the average person ‘develop’ this untapped skill you may be asking?

During our first pregnancy, my wife and I studied a birthing technique called Hypnobabies in which through various mind focus methods you are able to cut off the pain signal.  It’s essential that both partners be trained in this because dads go through pain as well, not the same pain, but we have our own.  But the basics of what they teach can be used in an everyday situation.

Okay…here’s what I teach patients:

1. You must begin with practice…practicing to quiet your mind.  The best way to do this is to focus on a single object and concentrate on slowing down the brain.  At first it will be difficult.  But you’ll know when you reach that ’state’ because it’s like you’re in between being awake and sleeping.
2. Now focus on what you want…say if you have back pain…focus on your back being totally healed.  This must be an intense focus.  One way you can increase your focus is to use a technique called WORKSHOP.  In this technique you visualize a room that has every thing you need to heal your body.  When I say anything, I mean anything.  You can conjure up various things that you put into a cream that you rub on the affected area or make it into a pill you take.  This is highly effective.
3. Now you have to be conscious of the words you speak in regards to your health.  Phrases like ‘oh I just ache all over’ or ‘I’m tired’ will translate into their physical manifestation.  Rather than expressing your current experience, replace it with what you would like to experience.  Let that become your reality.

Learn to control your mind and experience greater possibilities.  Be Well!

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Structural:

• Postural relationship – rolled in shoulders, hunched back.  Basically having a closed off chest cavity.
• Spinal subluxations at T2 often times emotionally related.
• Solution is to get adjusted and work on postural re-balancing.

Biochemical:

• Inflammation, Inflammation, Inflammation
• Blood sugar imbalance causes arteries to spasm
• Adrenal & Kidney balance.  Adrenals produce hormones that affect heart rhythm.  Kidneys make hormones that control how much the heart pumps.
• Toxins
• Cardiac Low Back (Total Body Modification Dr. Victor Frank)

Emotional:

• Emotional broken heart syndrome…coping with loss
• Cardiac Low Back

Financial:

• Law of tithing
• Law of flow

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First of all this article does not present two sides to the issue: the benefits vs. the cost.  They tell you how many people die because of an infection and that it could have been prevented through vaccination, but they don’t tell you how many people died regardless of the vaccines (not because of the vaccines, rather they got the vaccine and still died of the infection). 

Secondly they intermingle the terms ‘vaccination’ and ‘immunization’ which leads the average reader to a false understanding.

Vaccination = the artificial process of inoculating your body with a foreign antigen

Immunization = the natural process of your immune system forming immunity to a foreign antigen

Just because one gets a vaccine does not necessarily equate to immunization.

Thirdly, basic microbiology states that an organism is dependent upon the terrain in order to thrive.  Notice how Streptococcus pneumoniae most commonly affects the very young and the very old.  Well these are the cohorts that have lowered immune resistance.  The bodily terrain is perfect for ‘growing’ these pathogenic organisms.  Here’s a statement from wikipedia (and you can find this in any standard microbiology text):

S. pneumoniae is part of the normal upper respiratory tract flora but as with many natural flora, it can become pathogenic under the right conditions (e.g., if the immune system of the host is suppressed). Invasins such as Pneumolysin, an anti-phagocytic capsule, various adhesins and immunogenic cell wall components are all major virulence factors.

Two key points here:

1. it is part of the normal flora of the respiratory tract
2. becomes pathogenic under the ‘right’ conditions

Okay…so what’s the ‘alternative’ you may be asking?

Well in my professional opinion, getting a vaccine for this stuff is the alternative, meaning that it shouldn’t be your first course of action.  Your first course of action is PREVENTION.  Keeping your immune system boosted through proper diet, supplementation, spinal balance, stress levels in check, enough sleep, exercise and water.

Suggestions:

• High Quality Multi-Vit, Multi-Mineral
• Vit D (5000 IU)
• Grape Seed Extract (180 mg daily)
• Find a great Chiropractor (www.123Chiropractors.com)
• Manage stress levels: use techniques like biofeedback (www.heartmath.com) and holosync (www.centerpointe.com)
• Get at least 7 hours of sleep per night with long REM (supplement with high quality Melatonin if needed)
• Exercise at least 30 minutes 5 times per week
• Do a detox program at least once per year
• Drink at least 2 liters of water per day (if you want to take it one step further, use alkaline water)

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Here’s why I’m making a fuss about this:

• In efforts to live a ‘healthier’ lifestyle people are eating more chicken than beef or fish
• Chicken is marketed as a more healthier choice
• I just recently treated a patient for low-level arsenic poisoning that displayed as peripheral artery disease

Here are some of the symptoms related to arsenic poisoning:

• violent stomach pains in the region of the bowels
• tenderness and pressure
• retching
• excessive saliva production
• vomiting
• sense of dryness and tightness in the throat
• thirst
• hoarseness and difficulty of speech
• the matter vomited, greenish or yellowish, sometimes streaked with blood
• diarrhea
• tenesmus
• sometimes excoriation of the anus
• urinary organs occasionally affected with violent burning pains and suppression
• convulsions and cramps
• clammy sweats
• lividity of the extremities
• countenance collapsed
• eyes red and sparkling
• delirium
• death

Okay take a look at this statement straight from the CDC website:

In June 2001, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) made recommendations for using smallpox (vaccinia) vaccine to protect persons working with orthopoxviruses and to prepare for and respond to a possible terrorist attack involving smallpox (Source)

Two things to notice here:

1. Look at the date of the recommendation.
2. Look at why they’re recommending a smallpox vaccine.

Questions for you to answer:

1. When was the World Trade Center attacked?  (Answer: September 11, 2001)
2. When was there ever a bio-terrorist attack?  (Answer: Never)
3. If President Bush set aside $509 million for smallpox vaccine production, but people never got the vaccine, where did all the money go?  (It’s been estimated that it would actually cost $1 Billion, and who’s paying for that?  Yes…you the taxpayer).

Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way…without any smallpox or anthrax outbreaks (except the imaginary threats portrayed by the media)…let’s jump into the next money maker “Swine Flu.”

Most people aren’t even aware that Swine Flu is not a “new” thing (I was one of them, until I did the research).  The media portrays this virus as the new superstar alongside what Kanye West is stirring up.  And people bite.  With words such as “Pandemic” and “Outbreak” how can it not get your attention right?  But what the media isn’t coughing up is the 1976 accounts of the swine flu.  Yup, same thing happened back then and we’re going through it all over again, with the exact same reactions.

Let me summarize what played out back then:

• A soldier at Fort Dix was diagnosed with the flu of H1N1 strain.
• NIH told the ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) and they planned a mass “vaccination” program.
• The government allocated $137 million for the production of a vaccine.
• The vaccine manufacturers made one request: that the federal government indemnify them against claims of adverse reactions as a requirement for release of the vaccines
• August 2, 1976 – a few men at the American Legion in Philadelphia died from “flu-like” symptoms, but was later discovered they had contracted “Legionnaire’s disease.”  But since the swine flu scare was going around, the media quickly portrayed it to be linked.  Mass hysteria continued.
• Vaccinations commenced
• Reports of Guillain-Barre syndrome from the vaccination surfaces, approximately 565 cases noted and 25 who died.  (I know of a patient who’s family member was affected by this).
• Vaccinations halted after 10 weeks

Here’s a quote that was stated in Reuter’s Health section:

Tests show the swine flu vaccine closely matches the H1N1 virus, which suggests it will protect people well. Children also respond to the vaccine just as they do the seasonal flu, meaning those over 10 need one shot while children 9 and under need two.

Did that say “closely” matches?  Let me let you in on a little immunology secret…your immune system doesn’t function on closely matching in order to be effective.  It’s sort of like a lock & key mechanism…the lock doesn’t open if the key “closely” matches.  It just doesn’t.  The article also states:

Swine flu is already widespread in 21 U.S. states. But the virus so far is proving to be milder than expected, with a death rate similar to that of seasonal flu.

If the death rate is similar to the seasonal flu, why is the media in an uproar over this?  Well, all you have to do is look back into history and see that we’re just repeating what’s been done before.  Unknown scare, media pushes out the message, government responds by allocating tax payer money to drug companies to produce vaccines and people bite.  Give it a few months and people will stop talking about it when Brittney Spears or Paris Hilton hits the town again.  Yup, the swine flu is nothing more than makin’ bacon.

They’re specifically talking about emergency situations that arise from natural disasters or other forms of conflict.  But this also shows the importance of breastfeeding for infant health even in everyday situations.  I’m no expert on breastfeeding, but I do know that it’s very important for infant health.  Typically in my practice, the children who come in with allergies and other ailments are those who were formula fed in lieu of being breastfed. 

So what do you think?  What’s your view on breastfeeding? 

Here’s my critique on this whole situation:

The FDA states: “While elemental mercury has been associated with adverse health effects at high exposures, the levels released by dental amalgam fillings are not high enough to cause harm in patients.” This statement is comparing apples to oranges.  What exactly is high exposure?  Well…what they’re getting at here is an acute exposure to high levels of mercury.  The fact of the matter is that anything at an acute high exposure can induce adverse side effects.  Too much water or even air at an acute exposure can cause adverse health effects.  But what we’re dealing with in this statement is the difference between acute high dose exposure and chronic low dose exposure.  So essentially the basis of this statement is correct, when you just take this statement as it is: acute “low” dose exposure will not induce any harm in comparison to an acute high dose exposure.

Susan Runner (acting director for the FDA division that oversees dental devices) states: “The best available scientific evidence supports the conclusion that patients with dental amalgam fillings are not at risk,” she told reporters on a conference call.  Over the past 20 years, the agency has received just 141 reports of problems in patients with the fillings, she added. Here’s the problem with these statistics: it is very difficult to pinpoint heavy metal toxicity as the ultimate causative factor for a health problem!  Our current medical model does not account for the cumulative effects of low dose exposure and the subtle biochemical changes due to that exposure.  Most chronic diseases cannot be linked to one specific causative factor.  These adverse reports are that of POISONING.  Again, comparing apples to oranges.

Now let’s take a look at the economics behind this.  The FDA’s decision could impact makers of metal fillings, which include Dentsply International Inc and Danaher Corp’s unit Kerr, as well as distributors such as Henry Schein Inc and Patterson Cos Inc. Hmm…I wonder how it can impact these companies?  Charlie Brown, a lawyer for Consumers for Dental Choice, said poorer people or those who receive their health care through large institutions such as the U.S. military are more likely to receive the cheaper, silver-colored fillings and are at greater risk for harm. Oh…yeah now I see it?  Since the economy has been in a decline, more and more people are looking for ways to be frugal.  So when presented with a choice, the majority will always choose the cheaper of the two if they are told that there’s essentially no difference between the two.  This will then drive up the profit margins for the dental supply companies.  Is this part of the economic stimulus package?

Initially the FDA issued a warning regarding dental amalgams (See post here).  Then the “final” verdict was released this past tuesday stating that dental amalgams are safe.  When I did a Google search for “FDA Mercury Fillings”

But then when you click on the link here’s what you get:

Not there anymore (obviously).  It always makes me question when Google has the link in a search, but then the page doesn’t exist anymore and does not direct you to the page where the information was moved to.  Just some food for thought.

When I did find the information on the FDA website here’s a key paragraph:

FDA has reviewed the best available scientific evidence to determine whether the low levels of mercury vapor associated with dental amalgam fillings are a cause for concern. Based on this evidence, FDA considers dental amalgam fillings safe for adults and children ages 6 and above. The amount of mercury measured in the bodies of people with dental amalgam fillings is well below levels associated with adverse health effects. Even in adults and children ages 6 and above who have fifteen or more amalgam surfaces, mercury exposure due to dental amalgam fillings has been found to be far below the lowest levels associated with harm. Clinical studies in adults and children ages 6 and above have also found no link between dental amalgam fillings and health problems.

Very straightforward and to the point.  No frills or gimmicks.  The kind of information that will ease the mind of the average person.  But when I went to dig deeper into their website here’s what I found in the appendix:

On July 27, 2009, FDA issued a final rule that: (1) reclassified mercury from a class I (least risk) device to class II (more risk) device; (2) classified dental amalgam as a class II device; and (3) designated a special controls guidance document for dental amalgam. (Source: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/DentalProducts/DentalAmalgam/ucm171120.htm)

So from what I understand here is that it was formely classified as a “least risk” device and then upgraded to a “more risk” device and then the news headlines come out and state that it’s “safe.”  I’ll let you make the call here.

Here is a very interesting video that will present you with a visual of what’s going on with dental amalgams.

Solutions: do your homework so that you can make an informed decision.  Don’t just take some “authority’s” statement to be your answer.  Don’t even take what I’m saying to be your answer.  Look past all the hype and propaganda and get down to the facts.

I have a proposal to all the CEO’s of these dental amalgam companies and those in the FDA who state that these amalgams are safe.  Put your money where your mouth is (literally) and use the products which you promote and state are safe.  Fair enough?  Even if you have no “need” for it, I think you should at least try the product out right?  I’m just saying.

One study found that men who were taking statins before undergoing surgical removal of their prostate had a lower risk of having the cancer return. “The use of statins at the time of surgery was associated with a 30 percent reduction in the risk of recurrence of prostate cancer,” said lead researcher Dr. Robert J. Hamilton, a urology resident at the University of Toronto Medical Center in Ontario, Canada.

Hamilton thinks that the anti-inflammatory properties of statins may explain the finding. However, it might also be the ability of these drugs to lower cholesterol that has an effect on cancer cells, he said.

Another study focused on inflammation inside prostate cancer tumors. “We looked at the association between statin use and prostate tumor inflammation,” Banez said.

“We found that men who were using statins prior to surgery had a significantly lower risk for inflammation within their prostate tumor,” Banez said.

In fact, men taking statins had a 72 percent reduction in the risk for inflammation of the prostate tumor. The researchers also found that obesity appears to be associated with increased inflammation and more aggressive prostate cancer.

BINGO!  Statins have a slight anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant characteristic that plays a role here, but you’re also forgetting what else it does like block the production of CoQ10 (See blog post).  Why take a drug that will decrease inflammation but block the production of CoQ10 which will then increase the chances of developing other degenerative diseases?  Why aren’t these studies taking a look at natural sources of anti-inflammatory compounds that do not have deleterious side effects?

Natural anti-inflammatories

• Fish Oil (EPA/DHA) plays a huge role in cooling down inflammation.  I usually recommend 2000 – 6000 mg per day of a high quality fish oil.
• Grape Seed Extract is a potent COX-2 inhibitor
• Enzymes help to remove or digest inflammatory compounds like protein wastes.
• Turmeric is a very potent COX-2 inhibitor herb
• Broad spectrum multi-mineral, multi-vitamin.

Remember the hippocratic oath stresses “Doctor do no harm.”  Take control of your health rather than leaving it up to your medical doctor.  Prevention is the key.  Be pro-active rather than retro-active.

“We need to be doing a lot more to reverse the global trend toward fatness, and recognize it as a key factor in the battle to reduce (carbon) emissions and slow climate change,” the British scientists said.

They estimated that each fat person is responsible for about one tonne of carbon dioxide emissions a year more on average than each thin person, adding up to an extra one billion tonnes of CO2 a year in a population of one billion overweight people.

I’m sorry, but this article totally misses the point of weight issues.  If you just look at it from a ‘carbon-footprint’ perspective, the average overweight person’s carbon footprint may actually equal out the carbon footprint of a person who works out and eats healthily everyday.  Let’s see, a person who works out on a regular basis probably goes to a gym which uses electricity to run the workout machines, then they breathe more and then consume more nutrient dense foods that used many different forms of energy to be produced.

The article should be really talking about “save yourself by losing weight” the planet will take care of itself.

From:

Joan E. Baumann

Database Administrator

www.Nutrisearch.ca

At the bottom of the abstract there was a clinical trials Identifier Number: Trial Registration Number NCT0000611.

The identifying number gave a clearer picture of the criteria.  Here is what the Government Trials website stated as to eligibility:

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:         50 Years to 79 Years

Genders Eligible for Study:    Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:  No

Criteria

Postmenopausal women ages 50 to 79.

The Trial Criteria allowed for Postmenopausal Women Ages 50 – 79 BUT excluded healthy volunteers! http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00000611/

The women were asked if they took multivitamins, and a detailed record of their vitamin of choice was kept.  The Data regarding their vitamin use was accepted even if they took their multivitamin as infrequently as once a week!

Some BIG IFS became apparent:  if they took one of the heavier advertised  brands, with their minimal amounts of basic nutrients, if their vitamin contained nutrients that were not optimal in quality, such as synthetic vitamin E instead of the natural form, if it contained very low levels of vitamin C, if it did not include nutrients such as inositol, choline, alpha lipoic acid, quercetin, flavonoids, n-acetyl L-cysteine, coenzymeQ10, beta-carotene instead of vitamin A, optimal levels of Folic Acid ……..then one would expect the outcome the study announced.  Too many IFS! There was no apparent baseline for either levels or quality of nutrients.

Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for the Natural Products Association, a non-profit organization, had a few interesting comments on the study.

Fabricant said it is “unprincipled” that the authors arbitrarily lumped supplement types into generalized categories that do not represent nutrient intake accurately. And when coupled with the fact that nutrient intake through the diet was not accounted for, Fabricant explained, the study has no means of establishing a baseline for which to draw any comparisons or eliminate bias.

He further stated: “ Taken as whole, the research on dietary supplements in the prevention of chronic diseases, is strong and consistent.  To suggest that taking vitamins and minerals with a demonstrated health benefit is unnecessary sends the wrong public health message.”

http://www.naturalproductsassoc.org/site/News2?abbr=pc_&page=NewsArticle&id=10409

There are literally thousands of research studies which have shown the benefits of many nutrients, from food and/or supplements.  To ignore such a large body of research and depend solely upon our food supply to provide the level of nutrition that can keep us healthy makes absolutely no sense.

What is HPV?

HPV is estimated to be the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Most sexually active men and women will probably acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives.  The American Social Health Association reported estimates that about 75-80% of sexually active Americans will be infected with HPV at some point in their lifetime. By the age of 50 more than 80% of American women will have contracted at least one strain of genital HPV.

It was estimated that in the year 2000, there were approximately 6.2 million new HPV infections among Americans aged 15-44; of these, an estimated 74% occurred to people between ages 15-24. Of the STDs studied, genital HPV was the most commonly acquired.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_papillomavirus

What is Gardasil and is it safe?

Gardasil is a vaccine to prevent HPV infections.  It is manufactured by Merck & Co. which is one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide.  The FDA granted approval in 2006 and till present day they claim that there is no evidence to support the claims that Gardasil caused any of the adverse reactions that were reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.  What do you think?

What you have to ask yourself is, do the benefits outweigh the risks and how can you prevent infection from HPV other than a vaccine?

Get knowledge and be informed.

“Get nutrients from food. Whole foods are better than dietary supplements” the lead researcher states.

Okay…hold on here.  Let’s step back and look at the facts behind the sensationalism.

• Firstly, this study is published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.  A little biased towards the pharmaceutical industry?
• Secondly, the cohort was taken from the Women’s Health Initiative study.  So we’re not solely dealing with the intake of multivitamins, but also other factors such as hormone replacement therapy and dietary modification.  If you’ve been keeping up with my articles, you’ve seen that the WHI was cut short because the majority of the cohort developed cancers linked to hormone replacement therapy.  So let’s throw in multivitamins to see if it will prevent cancers from developing due to HRT (because really, that’s the cause of these cancers), but it doesn’t so let’s publish an article saying that multivitamins don’t work!!!
• Thirdly, the study fails to state what multivitamins these people were taking.  Were they all taking the same ones?  What about dosage?  How bioavailable were the supplements?  Were the people even absorbing the supplements?
• Fourthly, the study states that only 41% of the cohort were taking multivitamins.  Hmmm….

The lead researcher does make a good point, however, when she states that people should use supplementation as ‘insurance’ and that they should eat whole foods rather than relying solely on supplements for nutrition.  Exactly!  That’s why they’re called ’supplements.’  They add on to what you’re already getting from your diet.  To prevent cancer and other degenerative diseases, you must take a multi-factorial approach.  Proper diet, exercise, rest, stress management, detoxification, supplementation are all basic parts to optimize your health.

Your take away: don’t buy into the media hype…do your research and be informed!

I recommend the Essentials by Usana Health Sciences as the most bio-available and complete multi-vitamin on the market.  They are rated to be the #1 multi-vitamin/mineral complex on the market, so it makes sense to go with the best.  If you would like more information about theses supplements…please fill out the form below and I will get back to you.

Autism cases on the rise

Over the past decade or so, we have seen a huge increase in autism cases, which many generalists will claim is due to childhood vaccinations.  As of 1995, 1 in 166 children have an autistic disorder and 1 in 6 have a developmental or behavioral disorder.

Each year we have seen an increase in the number of diagnosed cases of autism.  You have to be asking yourself: why is that?  Currently we are almost reaching 300,000 cases in the US alone.

Vaccine Schedules

Here is the current 2009 vaccine childhood schedule

So we’re looking at the following vaccines from birth to 6 years:

• Hepatitis B
• Rotavirus
• Diptheria
• Tetanus
• Pertusis
• H. influenzae b
• Pneumococcal
• Influenza
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Varicella
• Hepatitis A
• Meningococcal

In the 1950’s there were 4 main vaccines:

• Diptheria
• Pertussis
• Tetanus
• Smallpox

And during each visit only 1 shot was given.  Currently, children can receive more than 4 or 5 shots per visit.  (Source: http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=75700) These statements were reviewed by Dr. Paul Offit.

Vaccines and their diseases…

Hepatitis B is transmitted by contact with infectious blood, semen, and other body fluids from having sex with an infected person, sharing contaminated needles to inject drugs, or from an infected mother to her newborn.  Causes liver disease which can lead to cancer.

Rotavirus is primarily transmitted through contact with contaminated stool.  Causes vomitting, fever, stomach cramping and mucus in stool.

Most of these vaccines are for diseases that are transmitted through uncommon routes such as sexual contact, blood borne or fecal-oral.  Also, in order for the majority of these diseases to become life-threatening, the host must have a compromised immune system.  Solution: boost the immune system and keep it at optimum through proper diet, lifestyle and supplementation.

Most of the infectious diseases have been eradicated because of proper sanitary measures.  Sterilization and hygiene (like taking a bath and washing your hands) has had the biggest impact upon the decrease in infectious diseases.

Vaccine contents

A vaccine is not just the vaccine, but it also comes with all sorts of stabilizing chemicals.  Some of the more commonly know ones are Thimerosal (mercury), Aluminum and Formaldehyde.  For a complete list done by the CDC click here.  If you haven’t guessed it, some of these ingredients are toxic to the body. If an infant receives all recommended vaccines they are possibly exposed to 240 micrograms of mercury before 18 months of age.

Newborn’s Immune System

The immune system at birth is still relatively immature.  A newborn is essentially dependent upon the mother’s immune system for protection.  The mother’s antibodies are passed on to the baby during pregnancy and also post-partum through breast milk.  This is called passive immunity.  When the immune system encounters a pathogen it will ultimately become immune to that pathogen through the process of active immunity.  This is the theory behind vaccination: present the body with the pathogen so that it can make antibodies toward that pathogen.  But not all vaccinations result in immunization.  This is where the problem occurs.  Viruses and bacteria can mutate, which is commonly seen with the “flu.”  Each year when people get the “flu” shot, they are getting last year’s strain.  But chances are that this year’s strain will be completely different than last year’s strain.

Vaccine Science

You see on the news that you need to get your annual flu shot and you think to yourself, yeah I don’t want to get sick.  What exactly are you getting in the shot?  Well we already know that you’re getting last year’s strain of flu.  Most vaccines contain what’s called attenuated organisms which are supposed to be non-virulent.  The problems arise when those organisms become virulent.  Have you ever heard of people getting the flu shot and then a few days later say “I have the flu?”  That’s just the flu and usually with older people who have more mature immune systems than newborns.  Think about how a newborn’s immune system will react to the barrage of vaccines thrown at it during it’s immature stage.  The problem is that the most effect vaccines are the attenuated ones, but the risk of infection is also greater.

The flip side of the issue…

Not all vaccines are evil.  Vaccines have helped quite a bit of people.

• Polio vaccine was licensed in the United States in 1955. During 1951 to 1954, an average of 16,316 paralytic polio cases and 1,879 deaths from polio were reported each year. As of 1991, polio caused by wild-type viruses had been eliminated from the Western Hemisphere. We have a goal that by the end of the year 2000, polio, like smallpox, will be a disease of the past.
• A physician entering practice today may never see a case of meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Before the introduction of effective vaccines, in 1988, approximately one in 200 children, under the age of five, developed invasive Hib disease. Hib was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children under age five– accounting for about 60 percent of all cases. From 15 to 30 percent of affected children became hearing impaired and about 420 children died every year despite antibiotic therapy. In addition, Hib vaccine has prevented the leading cause of acquired mental retardation in the U.S. By 1998, vaccination of pre-school children reduced the number of Hib cases by more than 99 percent.
• In the 1960s, many people witnessed first-hand, the terrible effects of rubella, commonly known as German measles. During an epidemic between 1964 and 1965, about 20,000 infants were born with deafness, blindness, heart disease, mental retardation, and other birth defects because the rubella virus infected their pregnant mothers. Today, thanks to nearly universal use of an effective vaccine, the rubella virus poses virtually no threat to the children of expectant mothers.

Source: http://www.hhs.gov/asl/testify/t990803a.html

Autism’s big culprit

Okay let’s start to tie things together here.  First, many researchers have found a commonality in autistic cases: decreased levels of glutathione.  Glutathione is primarily responsible for detoxification.  Autistic children have genetic mutations that disrupt the coding for glutathione and therefore have impairments to detoxification.

So vaccinations are increasing.  Vaccines contain lots of toxins.  Some children have genetic mutations that hinder them from producing glutathione and are unable to detoxify properly.  Hmm…sounds like logical science to me.  Basic molecular biology and biochemistry here folks.  If the gene for detoxification is impaired and you load up on toxins, the body will not be able to detoxify properly and toxins will be stored in the body primarily in fatty tissues such as the brain.

Dr. Mike’s comments & recommendations:

We’ve been too indoctrinated by the medical establishment to take a drug for every single thing that walks the face of this planet.  We often hold our doctors on a pedestal and go with every single recommendation they make without first consulting other outlets.  My recommendation is to do your research.  You may or may not go along with the doctor’s recommendations, but at least you’ve done your research.  There’s an old saying that the ‘lack of knowledge destroys many people.’

If you are concerned about your child getting infected with these diseases, but are also concerned with the safety issues with vaccination here are my recommendations.

• Hold off on immediately vaccinating your newborn.
• Get some genetic testing done to see if your child has an impaired gene for glutathione (www.23andme.com)
• If your child does have impaired glutathione production, load up on glutathione precursors which are: N-acetyl cysteine and alpha lipoic acid.
• If you plan to vaccinate your child use Dr. Sears’ vaccination schedule
• Contact me if you have any questions…

The families sought payment under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, a no-fault system that has a $2.5 billion fund built up from a 75-cent-per-dose tax on vaccines.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE51B4AN20090212

Hmm…something is fishy here.  This statement is taken right from the VICP website:

The VICP is a no-fault alternative to the traditional tort system for resolving vaccine injury claims that provides compensation to people found to be injured by certain vaccines.

So if vaccines were safe, why would the US department of Health and Human services create this program that has accumulated $2.5 billion?  You make the call.

Please read the article below and share with all those you care about and get those products containing HFCS out of your kitchen.

Here is the short list of those products:

• Quaker Oatmeal to Go bars
• Jack Daniel’s Barbecue Sauce
• Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup
• Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce
• Nutri-Grain Strawberry Cereal Bars
• Manwich Gold Sloppy Joe
• Market Pantry Grape Jelly
• Smucker’s Strawberry Jelly
• Pop-Tarts Frosted Blueberry
• Hunt’s Tomato Ketchup
• Wish-Bone Western Sweet & Smooth Dressing
• Coca-Cola Classic: no mercury found on a second test
• Yoplait Strawberry Yogurt
• Minute Maid Berry Punch
• Yoo-hoo Chocolate Drink
• Nesquik Chocolate Milk
• Kemps Fat Free Chocolate Milk

Press Release:

Minneapolis – Mercury was found in nearly 50 percent of tested samples of commercial high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), according to a new article published today in the scientific journal, Environmental Health. A separate study by the Institute for Agricul- ture and Trade Policy (IATP) detected mercury in nearly one-third of 55 popular brand- name food and beverage products where HFCS is the first or second highest labeled ingredient-including products by Quaker, Hershey’s, Kraft and Smucker’s.

HFCS use has skyrocketed in recent decades as the sweetener has replaced sugar in many processed foods. HFCS is found in sweetened beverages, breads, cereals, break- fast bars, lunch meats, yogurts, soups and condiments. On average, Americans consume about 12 teaspoons per day of HFCS. Consumption by teenagers and other high consumers can be up to 80 percent above average levels.

“Mercury is toxic in all its forms,” said IATP’s David Wallinga, M.D., and a co-author in both studies. “Given how much high fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered. We are calling for immediate changes by industry and the FDA to help stop this avoidable mercury contamination of the food supply.”

In the Environmental Health article, Dufault et al. found detectable levels of mercury in nine of 20 samples of commercial HFCS. Dufault was working at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration when the tests were done in 2005. She and co-authors conclude that possible mercury contamination of food chemicals like HFCS was not common knowledge within the food industry that frequently uses the sweetener. While the FDA had evidence that commercial HFCS was contaminated with mercury four years ago, the agency did not inform consumers, help change industry practice or conduct addi- tional testing.

For its report “Not So Sweet: Missing Mercury and High Fructose Corn Syrup,” IATP sent 55 brand-name foods and beverages containing HFCS as the first or second ingredient to a commercial laboratory to be tested for total mercury. Nearly one in three products tested contained detectable mercury. Mercury was most prevalent in HFCS containing dairy products, followed by dressings and condiments. Attached is the summary list of the 55 products and their total mercury content. (Click here to download)

In making HFCS, caustic soda is used, among other things, to separate corn starch from the corn kernel. For decades, HFCS has been made using mercury-grade caustic soda produced in industrial chlorine (chlor-alkali) plants. The use of mercury cells to produce caustic soda can contaminate caustic soda, and ultimately HFCS, with mercury. (This is just ridiculous!)

“The bad news is that nobody knows whether or not their soda or snack food contains HFCS made from ingredients like caustic soda contaminated with mercury,” said Dr. Wallinga. “The good news is that mercury-free HFCS ingredients exist. Food companies just need a good push to only use those ingredients.” (my recommendation would be to avoid all HFCS containing products)

While most chlorine plants around the world have switched to newer, cleaner technologies, many still rely on the use of mercury cells. In 2005, 90 percent of chlorine production was mercury-free, but just 40 percent of European production was mercury-free. Four U.S. chlor-alkali plants still rely on mercury cell technology. In 2007, then-Senator Barack Obama introduced legislation to force the remaining chlor-alkali plants to phase out mercury cell technology by 2012.

The Environmental Health article by Dufault et al. can be found at: www.ehjournal.net.

“Not So Sweet: Missing Mercury and High Fructose Corn Syrup,” by David Wallinga, M.D., janelle Sorens- en, Pooja Mottl and Brian Yablon, M.D., can be found at: www.iatp.org. IATP works locally and globally at the intersection of policy and practice to ensure fair and sustainable food, farm and trade systems. www.iatp.org

A week ago, Oprah featured a segment on her show regarding hormone replacement therapy and the controversy between synthetic and bioidentical.  You can go to Oprah.com to read some of the show’s excerpts.  I can understand the controversy from the stand point of lack of knowledge on both sides (pro and con).  I’ve made my decision to stick with BHRT with my patients based upon the Women’s Health Initiative Study.

On May 31, 2002, the WHI study of conjugated estrogens 0.625 mg/day, plus medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg/day in postmenopausal women was stopped after a mean of 5.2 years of follow-up because the test statistic for invasive breast cancer exceeded the stopping boundary for this adverse effect and the global index statistic supported risks exceeding benefits.

Three years after stopping hormone therapy, women who had taken study pills with active estrogen plus progestin no longer had an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (heart disease, stroke, and blood clots) compared with women on placebo.

Source: FDA website

The estrogen-alone study was stopped at the end of February 2004 because the hormone increased the risk of stroke and did not reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, a key question of the trial. The study was to have ended in March 2005.

Source: National Institute of Health website

Many Medical Doctors and the FDA are standing up to refute claims against BHRT products claiming that BHRT is “a marketing term not recognized by the FDA.”

And the Endocrine Society issued this position statement back in October 2006, expressing concerns about these products: ” ‘Bioidentical hormones,’ particularly estrogen and progesterone, have been promoted as safer and more effective alternatives to more traditional hormone therapies, often by people outside of the medical community. In fact, little or no scientific and medical evidence exists to support such claims… Additionally, many ‘bioidentical hormone’ formulations are not subject to FDA oversight and can be inconsistent in dose and purity.”

Source: Washington Post.com

At the end of the article, they state that testing for hormones through saliva is not as accurate as serum.  But there are numerous studies that refute that claim:

Direct assay for progesterone in saliva: comparison with a direct serum assay.
Webley GE, Edwards R. Ann Clin Biochem (1985) 22:579-585.

Study compares direct serum and saliva assays for sensitivity, precision and recovery. Twenty women in various stages of their menstrual cycle were compared using serum and saliva. Conclusion: Saliva showed a significant correlation (r=0.71, P<0.001) compared to serum with the added advantages of convenience and reduced stress (no needles).

Hormones in Saliva.
Vining RF and McGinley RA. Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences. (1986) 23(2):95-146.

An excellent review article looking at the constituents of saliva. Conclusion: “Saliva flow rate does affect saliva pH and the concentration of many salivary ions. This has led many clinicians to assume that it would also affect all salivary steroid levels. This is not the case—a number of clinically important steroids, such as cortisol, testosterone, estriol and progesterone, have salivary concentrations which are not appreciably affected by saliva flow rate. However, the conjugated steroids (e.g., DHEAS) and some unconjugated (e.g., cortisone) may exhibit marked flow rate dependence.”

One of the big reasons why most MDs disagree with the use of salivary hormone testing and bioidentical hormones comes from how they’re trained in terms of ‘healthcare.’  Modern day medical schools teach the best techniques in emergent care.  We have the best emergent care doctors on the planet.  Modern day medical schools, however, lack the proper instruction on functional wellbeing and solving issues of chronic disease.  Don’t get me wrong here, if I’m having a heart attack or was in some serious traumatic incident, I’m going straight to a medical doctor.  If I’m suffering from a chronic illness, I’m seeing a functional medicine practitioner.  Functional medicine practitioners like Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Jeffrey Bland and myself are trained to look at all aspects of the body not just your ‘digestive system’ or your ‘nervous system.’  Remember the song: “the hip bone’s connected to the knee bone…”  It’s all connected.

We’ve developed a healthcare system of specialists, which has been our downfall. It’s like running into a burning building, but only looking in one room that’s not on fire and saying ‘nothing wrong here.’

So back to the subject at hand: if synthetic HRT was the answer, then we would not have the hormonal issues in our society as we do today.  I state that BHRT is a better choice than synthetic HRT, but I do agree with the FDA and most OB’s that you need to do your research.

• First you need to understand the pros and cons of synthetic HRT (please visit the Women’s Health Initiative study).
• Secondly, understand why your hormones are out of balance.
• Thirdly, get your hormones tested.  In my opinion, I’d do serum, saliva and urine just to cover all bases.
• Fourthly, find a functional medicine practitioner to work with you on rebalancing your hormones.  Remember, it’s not just about your hormones, but you have to look at how the entire body is functioning.  Are you in adrenal gland fatigue?  Do you have some type of impaired detoxification mechanism?  Are you laden with chemical toxins that can act as hormones (xenoestrogens)?  So as you can see, there’s more to it than just getting your blood drawn.  Figure out the cause and eliminate it.  That’s how you achieve wellness.

Links of interest:

Hormone replacement therapy webcast

Labrix resource page on hormone balance

North American Menopause Society

Harvard Medical School: what are bio-identical hormones?

Bio-identical hormones: sound science or bad medicine?

Mayo Clinic: bio-identical hormones: are they safer?

Dr. John Lee’s website on natural hormonal therapy

Compounding pharmacists

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me or leave a comment below.  You may also schedule a complimentary 15 min phone consultation with me via phone 949-559-7999.

Lyme disease is an infectious disease. A spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, a kind of germ, is the cause. Deer ticks or western black-legged ticks bite people and transmit the bacterium to humans. These ticks are about the size of sesame seeds. Lyme disease mostly happens in rural and suburban regions. Lyme disease is found in United States, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Lyme disease also called Lyme borreliosis, is an infection that derives from a tick bite. It is caused by a kind of bacteria (germ) called a spirochete. This bacterium is usually found in animals such as mice and deer. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful in the later stages of disease.

Lyme disease is a systemic infection caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings , and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful in the later stages of disease. Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that causes signs and symptoms ranging from rash and flu-like fever and body aches to more serious ones including joint swelling, weakness, fatigue and temporary paralysis.

Lyme Disease Test Reports

1. One of the most common Lyme disease tests that is given is referred to as the ELISA test, which stands for (enzyme linked immuno assay). While this test is inexpensive and easy to take it does have its glaring drawbacks, such as a high rate of false positives and 10% rate of missed detections.

2. There is another more reliable Lyme disease test however, which is referred to as the Western Blot test, so often times physicians will give both tests before compiling a Lyme disease test report for their patients.

Symptoms Of Lyme Disease:

1. Fever

2. Headache

3. Lethargy

4. Muscle pains

5. Stiff neck

6. Joint inflammation

7. Arthritis and various neurological symptoms

8. Flu-like symptoms

9. Unique enlarging rash

10. Unusual or strange behavior.

Causes of Lyme Disease

Bacterium ( Borrelia burgdorferi ).

Treatment of Lyme Disease

1. Oral antibiotics -usually doxycycline for adults and children older than 8.

2. Use repellents only in small amounts, avoiding unnecessary repeat application.

3. Try to reduce the use of repellents by dressing in long sleeves and pants tucked into socks or boots.

4. Do not apply near eyes, nose or mouth and use sparingly around ears. Do not apply to the hands of small children.

5. Use an insect repellent containing deep or permethrin.

6. Apply deep sparingly to skin according to directions on the label.

7. Apply repellents according to label instructions. Applying directly to clothing appears to be most effective.

8. Avoid plantings that especially attract deer and other animals.

9. Wash area around the tick bite and hands with soap and warm water.

10. Clothing in the woods area, long-sleeved shirt and pants instead of shorts are good protection.

11. Anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, are sometimes prescribed to relieve joint stiffness.

Lyme disease is one of the fastest growing infectious conditions. Prevention of infection can be done by avoiding areas where ticks are found. If you suspect that you may have Lyme disease, see a doctor immediately for treatment.

Read About Home Remedies also Read about Miliaria and Lyme Disease Treatment

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com

Your thyroid gland is a walnut shaped gland that resides on the front part of your throat and is essentially responsible for cellular metabolism.  If thyroid production slows down, so does your metabolism and vice-versa.

Thyroid physiology:

The pituitary gland releases TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) which acts upon the thyroid to make T4 from iodide.  T4 then travels to the Liver and Kidney where it is converted to T3 (active form of thyroid hormone) and reverse-T3 via the enzyme 5′-deiodinase.  This enzyme cleaves off an iodine molecule with the help of selenium.  What???  English doc…

Okay so basically you need adequate supply of iodide/iodine to make T4 and adequate amounts of Selenium to make T3.

If all parts of the puzzle are functioning normally, you’ll get a properly functioning thyroid.

Thyroid menaces:

The biggest menace that leads to thyroid under-function is inadequate intake of iodine.  The RDA for iodine is 0.15 mg.  But people in Japan intake roughly 12.5 mg…that’s 83% what most American’s are getting.  The main reason for such a high intake of iodine is their diet that mainly consists of seaweed and fish.  It’s rare to find Asians with thyroid issues.

The next menace is environmental toxins which inhibit the enzyme 5′-deiodinase, thereby blocking the conversion of T4 to T3.  Environmental toxins such as pesticides, aromatic hydrocarbons, oral contraceptives and heavy metals compromise liver and kidney function.

The last menace that we hardly associate with thyroid dysfunction is STRESS!!!  Stress causes a rise in cortisol, which also inhibits 5′-deiodinase.  Most people turn to a high carbohydrate diet during stressful times.  High carbohydrate intake can also inhibit the 5′-iodinase enzyme.

Action Steps:

Get your thyroid tested: TSH, free T4, free T3 and Thyroid Antibodies.  These are the main tests to get.  You can call our office 949-559-7999 and ask us to order these tests for you.

One of the most commonly prescribed forms of HRT is Premarin, which is actually Pregnant Mares Urine (PreMarIn).  Nice huh?  Most of the other forms of HRT drugs are synthetically produced and have adverse effects upon your body’s biochemistry.  The Women’s health Initiative looked at the effects of HRT on women and found that it had serious adverse effects such as increased risk for heart attack, stroke and blot clotting.  See WHI study here.

So what causes theses menopausal symptoms and what can we do about them?

Cause: Estrogen dominance and progesterone deficiency

Here’s a list of symptoms of estrogen dominance (source: The Estrogen Alternative – Raquel Martin & Judi Gerstung, D.C.)

• Hot flashes, Night sweats, Insomnia
• Weight gain
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Endometriosis
• Depression
• Fluid retenion and bloating
• Thyroid imbalance
• Infertility & risk of miscarriage
• Irregular menses and PMS
• Cramping
• Acne, Psoriasis
• Inflammation
• Loss of libido
• Vaginal atrophy and yeast infections

Solution: test your hormone levels and supplement with topical progesterone cream and phytoestrogens as needed.

I use salivary hormone testing in my office.  You can read why here.  After determining if there is estrogen dominance we supplement with topical bio-identical progesterone cream and we may also use supplements such as black cohosh to help balance the endocrine response.

Q: Why don’t you use oral prescription progesterone?

A: Oral progesterone must pass through the liver before it is distributed in the blood stream.  Topical goes straight through the dermis and into the blood stream, by passing the liver, thus we can use a lower dose.

Q: Why bio-identical and not synthetic?

A: Bio-identical hormones have the same chemical structure as the hormones naturally made in your body.  Synthetic hormones are foreign to the body and may trigger adverse responses.

If you would like to solve your hormonal issues, send me an email with the subject: Hormone Testing and we can mail you a salivary hormone test kit and help you on your road to recovery!

There have been numerous reports about adverse reactions such as death after the administration of the vaccine.  (See Post)

On the Merck website they state:

GARDASIL is contraindicated in individuals who are hypersensitive to the active substances or to any of the excipients of the vaccine.

Source: http://www.merck.com/newsroom/press_releases/product/2008_0708.html

How does one know if they are hypersensitive to the substances within the vaccine, if they’ve never had exposure to that substance?  Oh, yeah, if they have a reaction, then they know that they’re sensitive.

The CDC website contains a report about the adverse reactions to the vaccine:

As of August 31, 2008, there have been 10,326 VAERS reports of adverse events following Gardasil vaccination in the United States. Of these reports, 94% were reports of events considered to be non-serious, and 6% were reports of events considered to be serious.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaers/gardasil.htm

My Suggestions: do your research and form your own opinion.  Get all the information you can so that you can make a true informed decision.

Be well…

Adam Drewnowski states: In Seattle we have found that there are fivefold differences in obesity rates depending on the zip code — the low-income zip codes have a much higher proportion of obese people,” he said.

He added that studies in California suggested that a 10 percent rise in poverty translates into about a 6 percent increase in obesity among adults.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE50805W20090109?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

We will not see a dramatic rise in obesity within the next year, but give it 5 years or so.  We will also see a drastic increase in chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cancer.  The silver lining is that this is preventable.

Action steps:

• Stick to the basics for food: fresh vegetables (dark greens especially), fruits, whole grains, legumes, fish and meat (sparingly).  Remember that your health is your most valuable asset and that cutting corners can have detrimental effects.
• Take time to prepare you own foods and sit down to eat your meals together.  This is also a great way to reduce stress and take your mind off of your daily worries.
• Prioritize your spending.  At the top of your list should be your basic needs: food, clothing and shelter.

‘Generation RX’ addresses many of the alarming issues surrounding the growing use of ADHD drugs, antidepressants, and anti-psychotic medications among children and teenagers worldwide.

‘For decades, scores of doctors, government officials, journalists, and others have extolled the benefits of psychiatric medicines for children,’ said Miller, the film’s writer and producer. ‘Generation RX unveils ‘the rest of the story’ and explains how this era of unprecedented change in Western culture really occurred — and what price has been paid by society.’

By employing the expertise of internationally respected professionals from the fields of medicine, ethics, journalism, and academia, Kevin P. Miller investigates whether collusion between drug companies and their regulatory watchdogs at the FDA exists. He also focuses on the powerful stories of real families who followed the advice of their doctors — and faced devastating consequences for doing so.

‘Generation RX’ is a film about families who confronted horror and found nowhere to turn for help — and how scores of children have been caught in the vortex of mind-bending drugs at the earliest stages of their growth and development. This powerful documentary also examines whether we have forced millions of children onto pharmaceutical drugs for commercial rather than scientific reasons.

Ultimately, Miller says, ‘Generation RX may help parents decide whether the perceived benefits of these medications outweigh the serious risks to children.’

Critics and Hollywood insiders have already begun hailing ‘Generation RX’ as one of the best documentaries of 2008. Paul Haggis, the Academy Award winning Writer/Director said, ‘Generation RX is a powerful and often chilling eye-opener. Many of the stories stayed with me weeks after viewing, and continue to haunt me now.’ Mike Adams, publisher of NewsTarget and Natural News, says the film ‘delivers a jaw-dropping emotional ride,’ and ‘weaves a terrifying tale of criminal conspiracy. It is one of the best films of 2008.’

Jason Buchanan of the ‘All Movie Guide’ stated, ‘Generation RX is a film that every parent should see.’

‘Generation RX’ is being released by Common Radius Films, an Independent media company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information — to view the trailer, or to obtain a copy of the film, visit the movie’s website at GenerationRxFilm.

A patient recently came in who was in the middle of the fires and complained of difficulty breathing.  The fires were literally a mile or so away from her home.  Her garage was covered with ash and soot.  Her house and car smelt like smoke.  If her home was covered in ash and soot, just imagine what she was breathing in.

I live about 20 miles away from some of the fires and it affected my breathing.  I can’t imagine what it would be like if I lived closer.  One of the first things that comes to mind regarding these fires are the chemicals released into the air from the burned homes.  Even more significant are the chemicals used in the fire retardants that are dropped from planes.

“It’s fairly well known that it’s toxic to aquatic organisms, to fish,” said Sue Husari, the fire management officer for the Pacific West region of the National Park Service. “In a lot of cases, we prefer to limit its use, but it’s definitely one of the tools we use.”

The use of the most common type of retardant, a fertilizer-like, phosphate-based compound, can vary by state or by who oversees the land where a fire is spreading. Among federal agencies, the Park Service is relatively cautious with retardant because part of its mission is to protect natural and cultural resources for public use. The State of California, however, has the largest aviation fire operation of any state and uses retardant aggressively not only to contain fires — retardant’s intended purpose — but also to try to extinguish them before they reach populated areas.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/us/16wildfires.html?ref=earth

Tips to help if you’ve been exposed to the fires:

Note: if you live anywhere in the vicinity of Santa Barbara or Southern California, you’ve been exposed.

Increase your detoxification mechanisms. Your lungs and liver are the most heavily impacted and both are primary routes of detoxification.  (If you are having serious respiratory issues due to the fires, please consult with your physician before beginning any self/home therapy).  I usually recommend 1,000 mg N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and 1,500 mg buffered vitamin C with bioflavanoids per day.  These will seriously kick up your detoxification mechanisms.

Drink lots of water. 1 liter for every 50 lbs of body weight.

See your local Chiropractor and have them adjust your rib cage to help increase your lung capacity.  When you’re exposed to airborne toxins your rib muscles and diaphragm go into a spasm and decrease your lung capacity.

If you have any questions please email me

Ask any veteran suffering from the syndrome and they’ll say “duh?”

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

According to the report, Gulf War illness is a “complex of multiple concurrent symptoms” that “typically includes persistent memory and concentration problems, chronic headaches, widespread pain, gastrointestinal problems, and other chronic abnormalities.”

The illness may also be potentially tied to higher rates of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease — among Gulf War veterans than veterans of other conflicts.

The illness is identified as the consequence of multiple “biological alterations” affecting the brain and nervous system.  (Source: http://tinyurl.com/67gh4p)

The article notes that there isn’t an effective treatment for this syndrome.  I partly agree with that statement.  Treatment will depend upon the severity of toxic exposure and overall damage done to bodily tissues and organ systems.

Here’s what we do in our clinic to help decrease toxic load upon your body:

Repair your digestive tract with supplements such as L-glutamine and deglycyrrhizinated licorice.

Mobilize, bind and excrete toxins. I find that using micro-current modalities such as the Energy Balance Pro and far infrared saunas are excellent to mobilize toxins.  I also like to use the Erchonia low level laser to stimulate the tissues to release stored toxins and to help excrete them.  I use N-acetyl cysteine, alpha lipoic acid, buffered vitamin C and silymarin to help with binding and excretion of toxins.

Minimize and avoid subsequent toxin exposure. Listen to my guest appearance on “The Craving’s Coach” podcast about toxins (part 2 here) for more tips on this.

Replace depleted vitamins, minerals, enzymes, proteins, fats and carbohydrates. I recommend at minimum everyone who has past toxic exposure (which is essentially everyone to some degree) be on a high grade multi-vitamin / multi-mineral supplement, enzymes, and high grade fish oil supplements.

If you have any specific questions about any of my recommendations, feel free to email me

Aloha!

Teens are complex youngsters – they’re driven by motives that include peer pressure and the latest fads among the top five. So when you have an overweight teenager who’s extremely conscious of her weight or a normal one who still obsesses about her (weight issues concern the female of the species in these seven years, so I’m going to go with the feminine pronoun throughout this article) figure and shape, you know you’re in a dicey position. In the former situation, you must encourage and help your daughter in tackling her weight problem in a sensible way, and in the latter, you must make sure she doesn’t let the way she looks rule her life.

Both situations though, call for the same measures to be undertaken – making sure that the girls don’t do anything stupid or extreme like resorting to popping diet pills, skipping meals and starving themselves, or throwing up as soon as they’ve eaten. They must be made to understand that they’re still in their formative years, and that a lack of the right nutrients and vitamins could end up doing irreparable damage to their physiology and also have an adverse effect on their ability to become mothers themselves. Read on for a few pointers to get your teen on the sensible path to health and fitness:

Lead by example: Don’t obsess about your weight incessantly in front of your daughter; if you’re overweight or could lose a few pounds, do something positive about it like eating the right foods and exercising at least three times a week.

Cook healthy meals: Rather than giving your child lunch money to buy food from the school cafeteria, make her a healthy meal like a sandwich on whole wheat bread with fruit for dessert. Ensure that she eats all her meals. Make your daughter understand that eating right during her teen years is important for a healthy life in the future.

Keep healthy snack options at home: Rather than stock up on chips and cookies when you shop, buy wholesome and low-fat foods like fresh fruits and raw vegetables that your kids can snack on when they feel like nibbling something. Get them to drink water or fruit juice instead of guzzling down calorie-laden sodas. This doesn’t mean that they must completely forgo all their favorite foods, just that they must limit the portions and eat them once in a while to satisfy their cravings.

Encourage her to take up a sport: While it may not be the cool thing to play a sport in high school (if you’re a girl), being active helps promote a healthier and fitter body and mind.

Talk to your child: Understanding what your child is going through and empathizing with her will go a long way in helping her to help herself. Don’t belittle her feelings, no matter how trivial they seem. Make her see that fads are just passing fancies and that the bodies that models display are not healthy because of the starvation diets involved. Getting involved in the process will make your teen open up to you and listen to what you say.

Losing weight is not a fad to be followed for a while and then dropped like a hot potato – it’s a way of life for as long as you live, and the sooner your child understands this, the healthier she will be.

By-line:

This article is contributed by Sarah Scrafford, who regularly writes on the topic of x ray tech schools. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com.