Good quality honey offers several topical wound-care benefits:
Hiratsuka S, Koizumi K, Ooba T, Yokogoshi H. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2009 Aug;55(4):374-80. PMID: 19763040
Bonus Link: Why Sweeteners Aren't so Sweet: Not good for kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, blood sugar, ect..
Bonus Link 2: This just in from a colleague: New revision to recommendation for Mammograms
Many hospitals, clinics and universities throughout Europe are now testing propolis for its immunity benefits.* One report alone, recently translated by two doctors in America, shows that propolis has been successfully used in more than 70 different studies over the last 17 years."
Number of People Admitted to the Hospital each Year with Viral Pneumonia5
So we see that in 2009 they had 32 fewer people admitted with actual viral pneumonia. The CDC and other public health agents of fear like to imply that mass numbers of people are dying from "flu", that is, actual influenza viral pneumonia, when in fact, most are dying from other complications secondary to underlying health problems -- either diagnosed or undiagnosed.
- 57 people in 2005
- 33 people in 2006
- 69 people in 2007
- 69 people in 2008
- 37 people in 2009
They also found that the average person's risk of ending up in the ICU was one in 35,714 or about three thousandths of one percent (0.00285%), an incredibly low risk. When they looked at actual admission to the ICU, they found that it was people aged 25 to 49 who made up the largest number admitted. Infants from birth to age 1 year had the higher admission per population, and had a high mortality rate.
No, tracking of 2009 H1N1 hospitalizations and deaths will not be the same after August 30, 2009. In an effort to add additional structure to the national 2009 H1N1 reporting, new case definitions for influenza-associated hospitalizations and deaths were implemented on August 30, 2009. The new definitions allow states to report to CDC hospitalizations and deaths (either confirmed OR probable) resulting from all types of influenza, not just those from 2009 H1N1 flu. This is a broader set of data than states were previously reporting as it now includes 1) laboratory-confirmed influenza for all types of influenza, and 2) pneumonia and influenza cases identified from hospital records, most of which will not be laboratory confirmed.
Long's team took a closer look at just the IBD patients in the study and the specific medicines they took. Several types of medications are used to treat IBD, with a goal of decreasing excess activity of the immune system. Long compared 742 IBD patients with skin cancer to 2,968 IBD patients without skin cancer.
Among the findings:
Exactly why the medications seem to boost the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancers, Long says, isn't certain.
Source:
Webmd. Some IBD Drugs May Raise Skin Cancer Risk. (online). October 27, 2009.
Air Quality In Your Home
A recent article in Integrative Practicioner by Jillian Capodice, LAc highlighted some basic techniques to evaluate air quality in the home. Poor air quality and environmental pollution has been linked to an increase in various chronic diseases, including asthma and neurological disorders. Therefore, simple steps to eliminate and evaluate of indoor air pollution can help improve your health!
Dr. Capodice suggested the following assessments to monitor if air quality in your home may be compromised:
1. An increased amount of time stale smells and cooking odor lingers
2. Mold growth in wet areas
3. Any signs and symptoms of family members that suggest poor air quality including: dizziness and headaches, shortness of breath, itchy eyes, sinus congestion
4. Outdoor construction is taking place outside your home.
The following are tips to Green Your Home:
1. Reduce toxic/chemical based cleaning and personal care products and replace them with natural cleansers. (Hint: look for caution or warning signs on the backs of bottles. If ER visits from swallowing the cleanser is recommended, it's probably not natural).
2. Do not smoke inside
3. Exhaust and clean stoves
4. Use HEPA filters
5. Brighten your rooms with green plants to increase ozone and clean the air
Source:
Copodice, Jillian, LAc. Air Quality and Traditional Oriental Medicine. Integrative Practitioner. (online). October 27, 2009.
Rosen, Lawrence. MD. Children's Health and the Environment: A Call to Action. Integrative Practitioner. (online). October 27, 2009.
The list of dangerous ingredients is quite long -- the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has stated that nearly 900 of the chemicals used in cosmetics are toxic -- but here are some of the major ones that you will definitely want to avoid:
Paraben, a chemical found in underarm deodorants and other cosmetics that has been shown to mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen, which can drive the growth of human breast tumors.
Phthalates, plasticizing ingredients (present in nearly three-quarters of 72 products tested by the Environmental Working Group), which have been linked to birth defects in the reproductive system of boys and lower sperm-motility in adult men, among other problems.
Musks, used as fragrances, can accumulate in your body, and have been linked to skin irritation, hormone disruption, and cancer in laboratory studies.
Artificial fragrances, which are among the top five known allergens, and can cause asthma and trigger asthma attacks.
Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), a chemical used in shampoo to prevent bacteria from developing, which may have detrimental effects on your nervous system.
Toluene, made from petroleum or coal tar, and found in most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus.
Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum, these products coat your skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins. They also slow cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging, and are a suspected cause of cancer and disruption to hormonal activity.
1.0 mcg per 0.5 ml dose for influenza vaccines (which equals 2 mcg/ml)
0.5 mcg per 0.5 ml dose for all other vaccines (which equals 1 mcg/ml
Here is another Link to studies on mercury and its effect on the brain
Recently, a lot of my clients have been "coming down with bronchitis" and other flu-like symptoms.
I wanted to share with you some ways to help you protect yourself naturally:
I. Take good care of yourself and practice stress reduction techniques.
High stress can lead to adrenal burnout, this affects your immune system and thyroid gland!
II. Get enough sleep
It's important to allow your body time to heal. Your best times for rejuvenation are between 10pm-1am, so try to get to bed between 10 and 11pm.
III. Boost your immune function
Consult with an Integrative Doctor or functional medical practitioner for an individualized plan to support your genetic predispositions and boost your immune system. Whole food nutrition and lifestyle support are essential.
IV. Immune Supporting & Rejuvenation Protocol:
Doses specified to your individual needs and supplements are usually ordered by your health care practitioner. (They have access to high quality, therapeutic products). Otherwise, make sure you know the quality of the supplements you are buying!
1. Vitamin D
2. Immuplex, allerplex or Congaplex: whole food nutrition for immune system support
3. RC, Raven, & thieves essential oils
Thieves can be applied to the feet everyday for preventative measures
4. Probiotics
I recommend the following to my patients: Flora 20-14, Renew for Life, or theracomplete
5. Minerals
6. Green products such as chlorophyll
7. Adrenal and Insulin regulating supplements
In my practice I use: adrenal complex, adrenal response, licorice, metabolic synergy, endotrim, drenamin, and endoflex essential oil
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Dr. Mercola recently posted an article on artificial sweeteners and the dangers associated with their consumption.
Biochemically, artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, can cause significant neurotransmitter imbalances in your brain. This is due to the fact that its chemical makeup of phenyalalanine, aspartic acid, and methanol releases toxic by-products and excess free radicals when they are broken down by your body.
Aspartame use has been linked to headaches, vision disturbances, cancer, mood disturbances, digestive disturbances, and chronic diseases including diabetes, Alzheimer's, and heart disease.
Due to the fact that these sweeteners can cross the blood-brain barrier, they can become addictive and hard to stop. In fact, stopping cold turkey can create withdrawal symptoms such as headache and diarrhea. I always recommend baby steps and gentle re-balancing when someone is trying to break a habit. It may help to find an integrative or functional doctor that can help you re-balance your biochemistry through various lifestyle changes and nutritional support to make the transition easier.
A recent report by MSNBC summarized findings from the Environmental Working Group on which produce contains the most and least amount of pesticide exposure.
Follow this link to see which produce is worth the extra cost of purchasing organic to reduce your risk of pesticide exposure!
Source: Is it Worth it to Buy Organic. MSNBC.com. October 2009. (online)
More information on the dangers of pesticides can be found here.
Here's an excerpt from the article:
Pesticides and Your Health
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 90 percent of fungicides, 60 percent of herbicides and 30 percent of insecticides are known to cause cancer.
Lab studies also indicate pesticides can cause other serious health problems, including:
Infertility
Birth defects, miscarriages and stillbirths
Learning disorders
Aggressive behavior
Nerve damage
Cancer of the breast, prostate and lymphatic system