HealthBeat News

In This Issue:

7 Simple Ways to Decrease Your Cancer Risk. Modern science knows a lot about what causes cancer. Here are seven proven measures you can take to greatly decrease your risk.

Six- Month Study Shows Low-Carb Diet is More Effective Than Low-Fat Diet for Weight Loss. Reported April 29 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Websites Worth Knowing. Both excellent AND foolish health websites abound on the Internet. Here are some of the top health and wellness websites you should know.

7 Simple Ways to Decrease Your Cancer Risk

Modern medical science knows a lot about the causes of cancer — more, in fact, than we know about its cure. “Carcinogens,” or factors that cause cancer, abound in the environment. Here are some of the leading causes of cancer that you can easily avoid to protect yourself from this disease:

    1. Environmental exposure: cancer-causing agents are all around us; some a man-made, some naturally occurring. Evaluate your surroundings for these known cancer-causing substances:
      A.) Radon: a naturally occurring, odorless gas that comes out of the ground and can infiltrate a house through the basement. If you have a basement in your home, inexpensive tests will tell you if your level is above 4 picocuries per liter (the minimum safe level). Correction is as easy as ensuring adequate ventilation. Radon causes lung cancer.
      B.) Asbestos: Homes built before 1980 may have asbestos insulation. Either leave it alone or have it removed by a qualified contractor. Asbestos causes lung cancer.
      C.) Workplace hazards: If you work with chemicals, including construction materials (paints, thinners, etc.), be sure to wear protective masks, gloves and other clothing. If you are unsure of your exposure, find out what chemicals you are handling and take appropriate precautions.
    2. Water. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: water is a common source of carcinogens and other disease-causing contaminants. Check your water report yearly. If you use city-supplied water, ask for a water report that will be provided for free. If you use well water, have your water tested annually. Go to www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/sco.html to find a local lab for water testing. This service is inexpensive and well (!) worth the cost!
    3. Don’t smoke! (Or chew). Cigarette smoke is associated with a LONG list of diseases, including bladder, bowel, pancreatic, cervical and uterine cancer— oh yes, and lung cancer. (See page 26 of your Holistic Health Handbook for a complete list of problems caused by exposure to tobacco smoke. Even second-hand smoke increases these risks. Stop smoking and avoid breathing second-hand smoke.
    4. Limit sun exposure. A little sunshine is a good thing because sunlight causes natural production of vitamin D in the body. It also serves to normalize endocrine function. Too much, however, is highly associated with skin cancer, including deadly melanoma. Use a sunscreen of SPF15-30 when you are outdoors for more than 20 minutes in bright light, and use even on cloudy days and burning rays still filter through clouds. Do NOT let yourself burn and don’t aim for a “god/goddess-like” suntan!
    5. Maintain a normal weight. Statistics released April 2003 by the American Cancer Society estimate that at least 90,000 cancer deaths annually are attributable to overweight and obesity.
    6. Take nutritional supplements. Numerous nutrient deficiencies are associated with increased cancer risk, including vitamins A,C,D,E, beta carotene, B-1, B-2, B-6, B-12, calcium, zinc, and selenium. Since it is difficult if not impossible to obtain optimal levels of these nutrients from food, be sure to take an optimal-potency multiple vitamin/mineral supplement daily. (I recommend our Wellness Club brand, Maxi Multi, because it contains all these essential nutrients in optimal doses. Please refer to your Holistic Health Handbook or visit us online at for more information.
    7. Eat “Super Foods.” Some foods are especially high in cancer-preventing nutrients. Be sure to include as many servings of these foods daily as you can muster! “Super Foods” include: cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts), garlic and onions, soy beans and soy products, flax seed (ground to a “meal”), salmon, shiitake mushrooms, lemon (especially “lemon zest,” the rind), and green tea.

Low-Carb Diet is More Effective Than Low-Fat Diet

A sixth-month study, reported in the April 29th in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, showed that women on a low-carbohydrate diet lost more weight than those on a low-fat diet even though calorie intake was similar. The low-carb group lost more weight and more body fat during the trial. No differences were noted in cholesterol, triglyceride, and insulin levels between the two groups. In other words, a low carb diet which was presumably higher in fat and cholesterol did NOT adversely affect cholesterol or other levels as some arm-chair critics have hypothesized it might.

Health Websites Worth Knowing.

Beware of many non-informative and downright incorrect health websites. Some sites appear to be government-sponsored or service-related and yet are either a waste of time, dangerous, or both. Here are some of the best health and wellness websites you should know:

www.webmd.com easy to look up disease facts, recent studies, recipes, charts, and recently published medical studies.

www.nhlisupport.com/bmi this site has an automatic calculator for Body Mass Index (BMI). Find out if you are at your healthiest weight. Also discusses the relationship of overweight to heart attack and stroke.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi More than 9 million scientific studies are published here. This is the largest database of published medical research in the world.

www.healthfinder.gov the government’s fast entry to lots of useful information. Includes diseases, screening/diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

www.drmyattswellnessclub.com Oh, come on! You knew I had to say it! We’re one of the most authoritative holistic health websites on the ‘Net.

 

HealthBeat News

In This Issue:

The Product EVERYONE should have on hand! This simple, inexpensive supplement can protect you from a serious consequence of radiation and nuclear fallout. Remember Chernobyl?

Skin Rejuvenation Protocol. Find out the best methods for renewing a youthful appearance to skin. Dr. Myatt summarizes the research, then puts it all together in a comprehensive “Skin Renewal” program. A MUST for Summer skin care!

Member News and Notes

*We heard your feedback and Thank You! By popular vote, HealthBeat will be delivered in “abstract”(summary) form to your mailbox. Simply click the underlined links to go to those articles you are interested in.

* Upcoming topics: by reader request, future topics will include natural hormone replacement therapy; Omega-3 Fatty Acids and how to obtain them; osteoporosis, prostate health, and more.

* Send a sample issue of HealthBeat to a Friend and let them share the medical updates. If they enjoy it, they can sign up at no charge.

The Product EVERYONE Should Have On Hand!

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR A RADIATION EMERGENCY?

Potassium Iodide (KI) Can Shield You From Thyroid Cancer

With 103 active commercial nuclear reactors in the United States, we live in constant threat of a nuclear emergency every day. A terrorist attack on any one of these facilities, or the release of a “dirty bomb” is also a possibility in today’s “highly charged” world. In fact, in an emergency, if you live within 200 miles of a nuclear reactor, you have a high risk of being exposed to significant doses of radioactive isotopes. In the event of a nuclear accident or attack radioactive materials can be released into the atmosphere, a high percentage of which is radioactive iodine. When a radioactive iodine cloud passes through a populated area, the radiation is concentrated into the thyroid gland of those exposed. The result is irreparable damage to the thyroid, which can lead to cancer. The 1986 Chernobyl accident in the Ukraine is a tragic example.

The best protection against thyroid damage and thyroid cancer induced by radioactive iodine exposure is Potassium Iodide. This simple compound protects the thyroid by saturating all of the iodine binding sites in the gland, leaving no room for the binding of radioactive iodine. Potassium Iodide is a low-cost way to protect yourself and your family against the long-term consequences of exposure to radiation. When used correctly, potassium iodide tablets can prevent or reduce the amount of radioactive iodine taken up by the thyroid gland. Even the government and the military stocks up on potassium iodide in case of nuclear disaster.

The body can’t distinguish between radioactive and the benign version of iodine, which is necessary for thyroid function. Taking 130 mg of potassium iodide, the dosage widely recommended for the blocking of radioactive iodine in the event of a nuclear disaster, can quickly and completely protect the thyroid gland, which is one of the organs most commonly damaged by radioactive fallout. Dr. Myatt’s Wellness Club offers a supplement that contains 14 x 130 mg tablets of potassium iodide. Tablets are scored for easy breakage in the case of any need for dosages smaller than 130 mg, as recommended for children and pets.

How many packages do you need?

The FDA recommends that you have one package per person available.* Remember that during an emergency, you may not be able to get to your home, thus it is recommended to have packages stored in several places as well. Since the shelf life of this product is virtually unlimited, you should have to purchase your supply only once. Have this on hand for your family, and remember the children, pets, grandchildren, too!

* To view home preparation procedures for emergency administration of potassium iodide, visit the FDA website at http://www.fda.gov/cder/drugprepare/kiprep.htm Only take potassium iodide tablets when guided by health officials in your area and follow guidelines included with each bottle.

Skin Rejuvenation Protocol

The skin (integument) is the body’s first line of defense in protection from the external environment. If it also one of the first things people notice about us. Healthy skin is both a cosmetic blessing and a sign of a healthy underlying system, yet few people know how best to take care of this important organ. Let’s focus on some of the most important things we can do to protect this amazing bit of our architecture!

A Basic Regimen for Skin Care

    1. Nutrition: Beauty from the Inside Out. Healthy skin requires water, essential fatty acids and nutrients to be truly healthy. No amount of topical cosmetics will make up the difference to skin that is under-nourished. The skin requires the following:

A.) Water ! The body is 60% or more water. Even a subtle dehydration makes lines and wrinkles appear deeper, whereas being well hydrated “plumps” skin and minimizes the appearance of lines. Drink 64 ounces of PURE water per day, especially in the Summer,

B.) UV Light: Small amounts of UV are beneficial to the skin, but excess amounts can cause premature aging and contribute to skin cancer. Ten minutes of early-morning sun several times per week is sufficient for skin health. Beyond that, always wear a UVA/UVB sunscreen with an SPF of 15, especially on the face.

C.) Smoking (and second-hand smoke): Causes a constriction of the small blood vessels that bring nutrients to the skin, depriving skin of both water, vitamins and minerals, and fatty acids. Smoking is one of the absolute WORST things you can do to skin. Don’t go there!

D.) Nutrients:

  1. Multiple Vitamin/Mineral Supplements: An optimal vitamin/mineral/trace mineral formula such as Maxi Multi supplies the important micronutrients required for healthy skin.
  2. Essential fatty Acids: The skin needs essential fats from the inside out to stay moisturized. EFA’s are supplied by flaxseed oil, flaxseed meal, or fish oil. Be sure to take 1-2 TBS of flax oil or 3 Caps of fish oil per day, and include fatty fish such as salmon in the diet twice per week. (You’ll learn more about Essential fats in upcoming installments of The New Keto Diet).
  3. Grape seed extract: 50-100 mg, 2-3 times per day is an optional “metanutrient” that aids the skin by improving collagen formation (the underlying structural material of skin) AND by acting as a potent antioxidant to protect skin from oxidation. (The human equivalent of “rust”!)
    1. A Basic Regimen for Skin Care

I.) Cleanse: The purpose is to gently remove surface debris without stripping natural oils. Most soaps are highly alkali and strip skin of natural oils. Wash skin twice per day in a mild soap like Dove or Ivory (both are highly recommended by many dermatologists).

II.) Skin Cream: Proven ingredients helpful for topical application include antioxidants (A,C,E, alpha lipoic acid) in a form that is easily absorbed by the skin (micronized). Glycolic acid helps break down old cells so they can be replaced more quickly with new cells from beneath. DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) helps firm sagging skin, NaPCA aids moisture retention and Sunscreens that protect from UVA, UVB, and UVC are all useful in keeping skin radiant.

I have found it difficult if not impossible to find a good cream that contains all of these important ingredients until now. Rejuvenex is the first cosmetic preparation that I am aware of to combine the finest, proven ingredients into one easy formula. You can try to duplicate all of these skin essentials yourself, but you will be working hard and paying far more for the individual preparations. (Believe me, I know from experience. That’s how I’ve been making my own cream until now!).

In order to introduce you to the benefits of this formula, plus help you get started on a skin rejuvenation and protection program of your own (especially important as the Summer sun heats up), we have special-purchased Rejuvenex so we can offer it to you at a lower introductory price.

This cream is rich, wonderful, contains “all the right stuff” as listed above, and more, and a little goes a long way. You need only apply it morning and evening to get great results. Both men and women will benefit. As an alternative, you can do as I was doing and mix your own ingredients, just be sure to include the above-listed items for best results.

To order Rejuvenex, CLICK HEREor call 1-800-376-9288

HealthBeat News

Heart Health Breakthroughs

From the medical journals this month, a lot of important new about heart health. Topics include 4 Major Risk Factors for Heart Disease that can be modified; How and Why eating fish lowers heart rate (and which kind is best to eat); How hormone balancing, including DHEA, fights heart disease; Study shows that diet change works as well as drugs for lowering cholesterol.

Big Fat Lies! A deficiency of Omega-3 Fatty Acid OR an imbalance of Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio is associated with heart irregularities, breast cancer, difficulty losing weight and more.

Sex hormone balance. New studies continue to show the danger of conventional hormone therapy (though this has been known for over a decade), but other studies show benefit of natural hormone replacement therapy. Find out what the difference is and how to go about improving your hormone levels.

Risks and Benefits of Soy Soy and soy-related foods have health benefits including cholesterol-lower and anti-cancer effects BUT there are definite cautions as well. Learn more about this up-and-coming food source.

Body/Mind: The Shaman’s Lesson of Worth What I learned from a Native American Medicine Man may prove of value to you as well.

Member News and Notes

Upcoming topics: What else would you like to see in future editions? Keep those requests and letters coming.

Heart Health Breakthroughs

From the medical journals in the past month come these heart-healthy findings:

    1. The Top 4 major heart disease risks can be modified, and isn’t this great news since heart disease is the major cause of death in our country! Nine out of ten people who suffer a heart attack were found to have at least one of these modifiable risks, including cigarette smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels. It was previously believed that these 4 factors accounted for about 50% of fatal heart attacks, but two studies published this week now estimate the number to be between 87-100%. (Journal of the American Medical Association, August 18, 2003)
    2. Eating fatty fish helps keep heart rate low, which in turn decreases the risk of sudden cardiac death. The exact mechanism is not yet known, but I predict it will be discovered to be due to the “essential” nature of the correct Omega-6:Omega-3 fatty acid ratio. (See “Big Fat Lies”, below). (Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, August 12, 2003)
    3. Diet works as well as drugs for lowering cholesterol levels. The test diets included fiber and soy protein, and worked as well at lowering cholesterol as the major “statin” drugs. There are several advantages to the dietary approach, namely lower cost and most importantly, no nasty side effects. (Statin drugs can damage the liver, hence the need for regular blood tests to monitor liver function). (Journal of the American Medical Association, July 23/30, 2003)
    4. DHEA May Fight Heart Disease. A study of middle-aged men taking DHEA found that insulin sensitivity and endothelial function both improved. (Endothelium is the lining of the blood vessels, the area where plaque accumulates). Since both of these factors are known to contribute to atherosclerosis, it is believed that DHEA will be shown to be beneficial to the heart. (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, July 23, 2003). Dr. Myatt’s Note: Please read the article on “Sex Hormone Balance,” below, and DO NOT attempt to take hormone supplementation without guidance. This study is promising but preliminary, and it is possible to drive estrogen and other sex hormones too high with excessive DHEA intake.
    5. Type “A” Behavior Triggers Heart Disease. Those who have “Type A” behaviors—- impatient, competitive, uptight, holding grudges— are heart attacks waiting to happen, and happen much sooner than they would in a person with similar physical risk factors but non-type A personalities. (Psychosomatic Medicine, July, 2003). The bottom line? Practice relaxation techniques, physical activity to burn off excess “hyper” energy, forgiveness— whatever it takes to ease you into a less stressful personality and behavior mode.

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Big Fat Lies!

Unlike carbohydrates, fats are an essential macronutrient and also the most misunderstood. The term “fat” actually refers to an entire family of fatty acids, each with very different biological functions. Only two fatty acids are essential, but the way in which all interact with each other plays an important role in how Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) are utilized. Deficiencies, excesses or relative deficiencies of EFA’s are now known to have serious health consequences. Because imbalanced dietary fats are strongly associated with many diseases, any diet aiming for optimal health must correct fat intake. A number of books address the importance of EFA’s, also called “Omegas,” but most contain elements of spurious science.

The New Keto Diet dives deeper into the description and prescription for optimizing fat intake than any diet ever before, shattering some widely held but incorrect beliefs about certain fats and setting the record straight on others. Let’s look at some of the Big Fat Lies about fat that no other diet book has correctly explained, including:

TRANS fats are the real villains among dietary fats, interfering with absorption of the Essential Fatty Acids, damaging cell membranes, elevating cholesterol level and altering the way normal cell membranes function. Trans fats are prevalent in the American diet, including many weight loss and “health” diets, but their intake should be drastically minimized for health reasons. In fact, the FDA recently passed a law requiring the amounts of trans fats to be listed separately on food nutrition labels.

Saturated fats, the kind we get from eating steak, butter, cheese and eggs, are NOT unhealthy as they have been portrayed. In fact, they are so important that the human body produces them internally. Dietary saturated fat intake is not only safe but also necessary. Because “sat fats” do not compete with the EFA’s for absorption, do not turn “trans” or rancid, and maintain their chemical composition when heated, they are preferable for frying and high-heat cooking. The old belief that “saturated fats are unhealthy” was actually started many years ago based on some unscientific “science,” the edible oil industry in this country (who magnified the unsavory science in ads to discredit coconut oil and improve sales of domestic oils such as corn and cottonseed), and one wealthy businessman who mistakenly blamed his heart disease on saturated fats and paid for a huge, negative marketing campaign. Saturated fats are not villains, and some sat fats, such as coconut oil, have significant health benefits. (Coconut oil is antimicrobial, antiviral, is excellent for cooking for the reasons listed above, and can be used easily and directly as a calorie source, hence, it “burns” faster and “hotter” than many other types of calories).

Further, the belief that monounsaturated oils (such as olive oil) are healthful and desirable is another Big Fat Lie. In truth, they are the white bread of the fatty acid family. Although better than Trans fats, “monos” serve no purpose in the body, are not essential, compete with the Essential Fatty Acids for utilization, and can turn into Trans fats with cooking.

Omega-6 Fatty Acids are an Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) that needs to be balanced with it’s EFA partner, Omega-3, for optimal health. The American diet contains far too much of this essential fat and most people should not be taking supplements of O-6 oils.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids, the other EFA, must partner with O-6 in a 4:1 to 10:1 ratio. Unfortunately, this EFA is exceptionally low in virtually every diet, from the Standard American Diet to Atkin’s to Pritiken, and especially the USDA food pyramid. No one has told us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth regarding optimal fat intake until now. On a truly healthful diet (primarily The New Keto Diet), you can have your steak (its “Omega Ratio” makes it far healthier than chicken), lavish butter on your broccoli and bathe your artichoke in mayonnaise, but that dainty olive oil vinaigrette that most would advise should be replaced by a healthier flax oil dressing.

Heart Disease

One of the best ways to help prevent and treat heart disease is to eat a diet low in trans fats and replace foods rich in trans and omega-6 fats with those that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. EPA and DHA found in fish oil help reduce risk factors for heart disease including high cholesterol and high blood pressure. There is also strong evidence that these substances can help prevent and treat atherosclerosis by inhibiting the development of plaque and blood clots, each of which tends to clog arteries. Studies of heart attack survivors have found that daily omega-3 fatty acid supplements dramatically reduce the risk of death, subsequent heart attacks, and stroke. Similarly, people who eat an ALA-rich diet are less likely to suffer a fatal heart attack.

Stroke

Strong evidence from population-based studies suggests that omega-3 fatty acid intake (primarily from fish), helps protect against stroke caused by plaque buildup and blood clots in the arteries that lead to the brain. In fact, eating at least two servings of fish per week can reduce the risk of stroke by as much as 50%. However, people who eat more than three grams of omega-3 fatty acids per day (equivalent to 3 servings of fish per day) may be at an increased risk for hemorrhagic stroke, a potentially fatal type of stroke in which an artery in the brain leaks or ruptures. Keep in mind that 80% of strokes are due to blood clots, and only 20% are hemorrhagic. Further, it is weak blood vessels, not thin blood, that cause this rarer type of stroke. (Grape seed extract, available in supplement form, helps strengthen blood vessels among its other benefits).

Weight Loss

People who have trouble losing weight when dieting, including those who are resistant to weight loss on a ketogenic (Atkins’) diet, are likely to have a deficiency of Omega-3 fatty Acids OR an imbalanced ratio of O-6 to O-3. Improving this ratio of Essential Fatty Acid intake in the diet, without additional restriction on carbohydrates or calories, is often the key to unlocking this “metabolic resistance.”

Arthritis

Most clinical studies investigating the use of omega-3 fatty acid supplements for inflammatory joint conditions have focused almost entirely on rheumatoid arthritis. Several articles reviewing the research in this area conclude that omega-3 fatty acid supplements reduce tenderness in joints, decrease morning stiffness, and allow for a reduction in the amount of medication needed for people with rheumatoid arthritis.

In addition, laboratory studies suggest that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids (and low in omega-6 fatty acids) may benefit people with other inflammatory disorders, such as osteoarthritis. In fact, several test tube studies of cartilage-containing cells have found that omega-3 fatty acids decrease inflammation and reduce the activity of enzymes that destroy cartilage. In some participants, symptoms worsened before they improved.

Depression

People who do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids or do not maintain a healthy balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in their diet may be at an increased risk for depression. The omega-3 fatty acids are important components of nerve cell membranes. They help nerve cells communicate with each other, which is an essential step in maintaining good mental health.

Levels of omega-3 fatty acids were found to be measurably low and the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids were particularly high in a study of patients hospitalized for depression. In a study of people with depression, those who ate a healthy diet consisting of fatty fish two to three times per week for 5 years experienced a significant reduction in feelings of depression and hostility.

Macular Degeneration

A questionnaire administered to more than 3,000 people over the age of 49 found that those who consumed more fish in their diet were less likely to have macular degeneration (a serious age-related eye condition that can progress to blindness) than those who consumed less fish. Similarly, a study comparing 350 people with macular degeneration to 500 without found that those with a healthy dietary balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and higher intake of fish in their diets were less likely to have this particular eye disorder. Another larger study confirms that EPA and DHA from fish, four or more times per week, may reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration.

Colon Cancer

Consuming significant amounts of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids appears to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. For example, Eskimos, who tend to follow a high fat diet but eat significant amounts of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, have a low rate of colorectal cancer. Animal studies and laboratory studies have found that omega-3 fatty acids prevent worsening of colon cancer while omega-6 fatty acids promote the growth of colon tumors. Daily consumption of EPA and DHA also appeared to slow or even reverse the progression of colon cancer in people with early stages of the disease.

Breast Cancer

Women who regularly consume foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids appear to be less likely to develop breast cancer. In addition, the risk of dying from breast cancer may be significantly less for those who eat large quantities of omega-3 from fish and brown kelp seaweed (common in Japan). This is particularly true among women who substitute fish for meat. The balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids appears to play an important role in the development and growth of breast cancer. The tissue levels of women with breast cancer are found to contain much lower levels of Omega-3 fatty acids than breast tissue from healthy controls.

Some researchers hypothesize that omega-3 fatty acids in combination with other nutrients (namely, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium, and coenzyme Q10) may prove to be of particular value for preventing and treating breast cancer.

Prostate Cancer

Laboratory and animal studies indicate that omega-3 fatty acids (specifically, DHA and EPA) may inhibit the growth of prostate cancer. Similarly, population based studies of groups of men suggest that a low-fat diet with the addition of omega-3 fatty acids from fish or fish oil help prevent the development of prostate cancer. Like breast cancer, the balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids appears to be particularly important for reducing the risk of this condition.

Other

Preliminary evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may also prove beneficial in protecting against infections, ulcers, migraine headaches, preterm labor, asthma, emphysema, psoriasis, glaucoma, Lyme disease, lupus, and panic attacks.

Dietary Sources

Fish oils and plant oils are the primary dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids. EPA and DHA are found in cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, halibut, sardines, and herring. ALA is found in flaxseeds & flaxseed oil. FISH and FLAX are the best sources. Other oils that contain significant amounts of Omega-3 are not recommended because they are also high in Omega-6. these include: canola (rapeseed) oil, soybeans, soybean oil, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed oil, purslane, walnuts, and walnut oil.

Available Forms

In addition to the dietary sources described, EPA and DHA can be taken in the form of fish oil Capsules. Flaxseed, flaxseed oil, and fish oil should be kept refrigerated. Whole flaxseeds should be ground within 1 week of use to ensure maximum potency.

Be sure to buy omega-3 fatty acid supplements made by established companies who certify that their products are free of heavy metals such as mercury.

How to Take It

Flaxseed

1 TBS. ground flax seed per day AND 1 TBS. flax oil per day OR 2 TBS. flax oil per day. (This corresponds to about 12 flax oil Capsules.

Flaxseed: 1 TBS two to three times per day or 2 to 4 tsp one time per day. Grind before eating and take with lots of water.

EPA and DHA

The adequate daily intake of EPA and DHA for adults should be at least 220 mg of each per day. Two to three servings of fatty fish per week (roughly 1,250 mg EPA and DHA per day) are generally recommended to treat certain health conditions.

Fish oil supplements

3,000 to 4,000 mg standardized fish oils per day. (This amount corresponds to roughly 2 to 3 servings of fatty fish per week.)

Typically, a 1,000 mg fish oil Capsule has 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA

ALA. Do NOT use cod liver oil on a regular basis, as it’s high vitamin A & D levels can become toxic. A physician should monitor high intakes of these fat-soluble vitamins. Regular EPA-containing fish oils do not contain vitamin A & D.

Possible Interactions

If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use omega-3 fatty acid supplements without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Blood-thinning Medications

Omega-3 fatty acids may increase the blood-thinning effects of aspirin or warfarin. While the combination of aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids may actually be helpful under certain circumstances (such as heart disease), they should only be taken together under the guidance and supervision of a knowledgeable nutritionally-oriented physician.

Cyclosporine

Taking omega-3 fatty acids during cyclosporine therapy may reduce toxic side effects (such as high blood pressure and kidney damage) associated with this medication in transplant patients.

Etretinate and Topical Steroids

The addition of omega-3 fatty acids (specifically EPA) to a drug regimen of etretinate and topical corticosteroids may improve symptoms of psoriasis.

Cholesterol-lowering Medications

Following certain nutritional guidelines, including increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet and reducing the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, may allow a group of cholesterol lowering medications known as “statins” (such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin) to work more effectively.

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

In an animal study, treatment with omega-3 fatty acids reduced the risk of ulcers from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). More research is needed to evaluate whether omega-3 fatty acids would have the same effects in people.

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Sex Hormone Balance

The so-called “sex hormones,” including estrogens, testosterone, progesterone, DHEA, DHT, appear to play an important role in keeping us health, preventing many known age-related changes. When they are in healthful balance, they also appear to help prevent hormone-related cancers, heart disease, age-related memory changes, osteoporosis and a host of other ills. This is the reason that women, particularly, have been prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause.

Although it was well-known when I first started practicing medicine 14 years ago, only this year have we “officially” acknowledged that conventional hormone replacement therapy can be dangerous. In fact, such HRT can actually INCREASE the risk of heart disease and breast cancer. Fortunately for men, we have not tended to use HRT at middle age.

In contradistinction, natural Hormone Replacement Therapy (n-HRT) appears to have numerous positive benefits for both women AND men. A decline in these sex hormones is highly associated with undesirable metabolic changes of aging, and altering the levels toward a more “youthful” profile can be seen to reverse or slow the aging process. (See the “Heart Healthy” note on DHEA, above).

In women, youthful hormone balance is associated with lower heart disease risk, protection from osteoporosis, breast cancer, depression and age-related memory changes, to name a few.

In men, youthful hormone balance is associated with increased virility and protection from heart disease, prostate cancer, depression and osteoporosis (yes, men get it to), to name a few.

The key difference between HRT and n-HRT is that n-HRT attempts to duplicate a normal hormone profile of a youthful body. Conventional HRT makes absolutely NO attempt to imitate nature, usually giving high doses of the most potent form of estrogen, which is the likely reason for its dismal failure.

Anyone past the age of 40, both men and women, may benefit from n-HRT. Because the “hormone milieu” is a complicated mix in each individual, the only safe and sane way to take hormones is to have a baseline hormone profile performed, and replacement therapy prescribed by an holistic physician. Because of the broad array of physical functions affected by sex hormone balance, this simple measure of evaluation and n-HRT is worth considering for anyone who wants to delay the aging process and enjoy better health past middle age.

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Soy: Risks and Benefits

Like most things in nature, the humble soy bean (Glycine max) can be healthful in moderation, harmful in excess. Because soy and soy products (tofu, miso, soy flour) are currently gaining a lot of media attention and popularity, it is important to understand the risks and benefits of this food and supplement.

Soy contains substances called protease inhibitors. In small to moderate amounts, these substances help prevent cancer and are also useful in controlling cancer. Soy has estrogenic effects, though much weaker than the human estrogen equivalent. For this reason, soy can increase the estrogen effect in someone who is deficient, or decrease the estrogen effect in one who has an excess. (Because it competes for the same receptors as the stronger mammalian estrogens, giving then less available places to bind). Soy may also improve cholesterol levels when eaten with some regularity. Believe me, you’ll be reading and hearing a lot more about this food in the months ahead, but please exercise moderation. Much of what you hear is “hype,” some is valuable medical advice.

Soy is a “goitrogen,” capable of inhibiting thyroid function when consumed in large amounts. In fact, I have seen some particularly sensitive people experience thyroid suppression when eating soy even in modest doses.

Further, soy is a type of protein that many people do not digest and tolerate well. It is especially likely to aggravate irritable bowel symptoms, causing gas and diarrhea, in those who are sensitive to it.

SO, who should eat soy? It appears to be a healthy and even helpful food for many people, 3 to 4 servings per week is my recommendation. If you experience bowel discomfort from eating soy, then this food is not for you. If you elect to eat larger amounts per week than this, consider having your thyroid function tested when you first add more soy to your diet, then again in 3 months to see if it has adversely affected your thyroid hormones levels.

For those who wish to obtain the benefits of soy (such as women desiring alternative to convention hormone replacement, or those with hormone-related cancers under their holistic physician’s guidance), soy supplements can be taken. These contain the isolated active ingredients of soy, primarily genistein and diadzein, without the gut-disturbing proteins that bother many.

I consider soy a useful protein source with positive health benefits when consumed in moderation. Just don’t fall for the plethora of media and soy-growers of America “over-hype” and fall prey to excess. “All things in moderation, including moderation”!

________________________________________________________________

The Shaman’s Lesson of Worth

I was a starry-eyed first year resident when I met the old man, a Shaman (medicine man and spiritual advisor) to his Native tribe in the four corner’s area of New Mexico. It had long been my goal to study with such a healer and learn the “secrets” of the Shaman’s ways. Now here I was, face-to-face with just such a One.

A young man came to see the Shaman about a health problem. From his appearance and description, I guessed him to be no more than twenty. He complained bitterly about the “strange sights” he saw on occasion. By Western standards, schizophrenia was a likely diagnosis. The young man clearly needed help. The Shaman told him that help was available, but that a week-long ceremony would be necessary. Then the Shaman told him the cost. The young man shook his head dejectedly and left. I questioned the Shaman.

What was the fee for the ceremony, and why had the young man gone away without treatment? I wanted to know. The Shaman explained that his fees were approximately equivalent to $6000 in Western money, but that people paid in other means of exchange like goats, sheep, baskets and food items. The man left because he did not have the required fee. Sensing that I was upset by this, the Shaman explained that the young man would return for treatment after he raised the necessary funds.

“But why don’t you help him now and let him pay later?” I wanted to know. “Aren’t there some people that are too poor to afford your services? Do you ever give your services away for free?”

“Never,” he assured me. Then the old man sat me down and carefully explained his reasoning.

“Health is a valuable commodity,” he began, looking to see if I agreed. I nodded. “Like other valuable commodities, the people who want it dearly enough will work to get it. As they work, they increase their appreciation of its value. When I give a man a healing service without a fee, he associates ‘free’ with ‘not valuable.’ The potency of any treatment is not only in the treatment, but also in a person’s belief in its value. When someone pays dearly for a ceremony, they show that they appreciate the value of my treatment. More importantly, they show themselves how much they value their health. A man who values his health will work hard to win it back, and he is more likely to recover.” He paused to let me take his words in.

“But what if someone really can’t afford your treatment?” I persisted.

“People can always afford my ceremonies if they value their health. A poor man will recruit his family to help him raise the necessary funds. If he has no family, he will petition the community to help him raise the necessary funds. By doing this, he will not only value the ceremony he receives, but he will feel the support and good wishes of the community for his recovery. Anyone who truly wants to get well can always find a way to afford the healing ceremony.” With that, the old man stood to indicate that we were through for the day.

In years since, the Shaman’s words have returned to haunt me. How many times have I heard people complain about the cost of supplements, or of my services, while they drive Mercedes, eat out twice a week, own a vacation home in the mountains and subscribe to cable T.V.? I believe that the old Shaman was right. The people who value their health will work to get it. They will pay to get it. And they will value it dearly when it returns.

HealthBeat News

Are Your Supplements Safe? What You Should Know

So, why all the fuss? Why are our Senators getting involved? Are supplements really safe after all? How can you be sure that the supplements you are taking are safe and of good quality? “The dietary supplement market is the wild west” says California Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman. He’s right – Dr. Myatt has known this for a decade, and she has worked tirelessly to bring you the very best products through The Wellness Club.

Dietary and herbal supplements have been used safely for thousands of years. But make no mistake, they are as potent as any drug, and must be used with care. Some can have adverse interactions with medications or other herbs, some can cause adverse effects in the presence of certain medical conditions. Some concoctions can be downright dangerous.

Many supplements may not be all that they claim to be. The popular supplement Glucosamine Sulfate, used to stimulate joint repair and to relieve pain is a perfect example. It is a combination of Glucosamine which stimulates the production of glycosaminoglycans (GAG’s) which are the main structural material of our joints, and elemental Sulfate which is a carrier molecule for Glucosamine and which stimulates the production of joint substances (GAG’s) in it’s own right. When it is bound to Glucosamine, Sulfate acts to carry the Glucosamine molecule into the joint and it helps to activate joint substance production. But here is the rub. There is only one manufacturer that produces Glucosamine Sulfate that is molecularly bound together. This is so important that they have a patent on it. Other manufacturers throw glucosamine and sulfate together in the same capsule and tout it’s benefits based on the research done on molecularly bound Glucosamine Sulfate but it just isn’t the same. Dr. Myatt’s Wellness Club is one of the very few places where you can get the “good stuff” – the molecularly bound product. There are lots of other scams like this out there – poor quality or ineffective supplements, often sold at big prices. Other supplement concoctions claim to have amazing effects (like growing certain body parts “larger” or ending menopause symptoms) but contain only trace amounts of effective active ingredients – “fairy dust” we call them.

How do you protect yourself?

First, Be sure they are safe for you. Don’t take supplements based solely on advertising claims you see in magazines, tabloids, the internet, TV, or elsewhere. Don’t believe that what is good for your friend must be good for you too. A few minutes spent talking with a naturopathic doctor (not the clerk or salesperson in the health food store!) could save you a lot of grief. Secondly, be sure you are buying quality supplements. Don’t take the word of the clerk or salesperson – do the research, or let your holistic medical practitioner do it for you. If it looks like too good a deal, it probably is. When was quality ever cheap? Those supplements on sale for such a low price at your local superstore may have been sloppily manufactured, improperly shipped or stored (most supplements must be kept in carefully temperature controlled conditions), may contain impurities, or may just be old stock. There is usually a good reason for a really low price. Why risk it? Finally, if you have a medical condition or are taking any medications, you really must be in a good cooperative relationship with both your regular doctor and with your holistic health provider and / or Naturopathic Doctor. Only that way can you protect yourself from shoddy or unneeded products and potentially harmful side effects or interactions.


Hot Flashes:

Miracle beverage lowers cholesterol, blocks cancer, fights heart disease, and more!

A nice cup of Oriental Green Tea can be a delicious, relaxing, soothing break in your day. But more than that, recent research is pointing out other benefits as well. A recent article in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that enriched green tea extract may be effective in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Subjects in a treatment study group showed decreases of 6.7% in total cholesterol and 9.6% in LDL-C after only 4 weeks of supplementation, and reductions of 11.3% and 16.4% after 12 weeks! Another study, done at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University and reported in the journal Carcinogenesis showed that green tea may be useful in the prevention of intestinal (colon) cancer in humans. Yet other studies show it useful in the prevention of heart disease, and there are studies suggesting it may be a potent antiviral, effective in combating HIV. It is further thought to have antimicrobial powers. What is so special about green tea? It is a rich source of catechins – flavinoid phytochemical compounds and polyphenols. Both are potent antioxidants, helping to prevent the damaging effects of free radicals.

Nurse Mark’s comment: Both Dr. Dana and I make green tea a part of our day. Traditional flavors are fine, and newer flavors such as fruit or spice offer a nice change. It is a great pick-me-up, and green tea is thought to have thermogenic properties, helping us to burn fat. There really is no down side, unless you just don’t like the taste of it, in which case you can obtain the benefits of green tea in capsule form as green tea extract capsules from the Wellness Club. Either way, you really owe it to yourself to make this simple, relaxing, and delicious addition to your daily wellness protocol.

Herbs for Metabolism and Weight Loss

Dana Myatt, N.D.

Definition: Overweight is body fat in excess often pounds above lean body mass index. Obesity is defined as 20% excess fat above lean body mass index. (BMI).1

Scope of the Problem: An estimated 34% of American adults are overweight with 25% being fully obese.2 more recent studies have suggested that as many as 75% of the adult population is at least some degree above their ideal body mass index.

Risk; Excess body fat is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, Type II diabetes, stroke (cerebrovascalar accident)3, various cancers (including prostate, all gynecological cancers4 5, gallbladder and colon cancer), benign prostatic hypertrophy6, cholelithiasis, infertility, arthritis, degenerative joint disease7, and impaired immune function.8 At only ten pounds above lean body mass index, most of these risks are increased, and the risk increases with increasing body fat.9 Heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. This makes overweight/obesity the single biggest controllable risk factor for disease, and offers a major opportunity for disease prevention and risk intervention.

1Merkow R., Fletcher A. editors. The Merck Manual. 1992; 984
2Davis DL, et al. Decreasing cardiovascular disease and increasing cancer among whites in the United States from 1973 through 1987. JAMA 1994; 271:431-7
3Willett WC, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, et al. Weight, weight changes, and coronary heart disease in women. JAMA 1995; 273:461-5
4Hunter DJ, Hankinson S£, Colditz GA, et al. Very low fat diets and risk of breast cancer. Am J Epidemiol 1996; 143
5Willett WC, et al. Dietary fat and fiber hi Relation to Risk of Breast Cancer. JAMA 1992; 268:2037-44.
6Giovannucci E, Rimm EB, Chute CG, et al. Obesity and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Am J Epidemiol 1994; 140:989-1002.
7Eichner ER. Infection, immunity, and exercise: What to tell patients. Physician Sports Medicine 1993;21:125-33.
8Palmblad J, Hallberg D, and Rossner S. Obesity, plasma lipids and polymorphonuclear (PMN) granulocyte functions. Scand JHeamatol 1977;19:293-303.
9Manson JE, Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, et al. Body weight and mortality among women. NEngUMed 1995; 333:677-85.

Action of Herbs for Overweight/Obesity

antioxidants: herbs that prevent free radical damage and control increased oxidative stress created by fat loss.

aperient: mild laxatives.

carminatives: herbs that help the body expel gas from the stomach, small intestines, or colon.

diuretic: herbs that stimulate the flow of urine

fiber: indigestible plant cell walls that have a variety of effects including increased fecal weight and size, delayed gastric emptying, unproved bowel transit time, cholesterol lowering and satiety.

nutritives: herbs that nourish. They usually have a high mineral content.

psychotropics: herbs used to affect mood.

stimulants: herbs that quicken functional action. They are usually, but not always, thermogenic.

thermogenics: herbs that increase basal metabolic rate. (BMR).

tonics: herbs that tone a physical system or function.

An Extremely Concise Materia Medica

Ephedra ( Ephedra sinica, E. vulgaris, E. nevadensis, E. antisyphihtica & other species) action: stimulant, thermogenic.

Kola ( Cola nitida, C. vera, C. accuminata) action: stimulant, tkermogemc.

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) action: tonic to connective tissue via stimulation of glycosaminoglycan synthesis.1

Aesculus (Aesculus hippocastanum) action: venous tonic.2

i^ucus (Fucus vesiculosus) action: nutritive, esp. to thyroid gland due to high iodine content.

Silybum (silybum marianum) action: antioxidant. liver tonic and stimulant.

Taraxacum (Taraxacum officinale) action: aperient, nutritive, dieuretic.

Tea (Camellia sinesis) action: autioxidant, stimulant, thermogenic, lowers cholesterol.3

Bromelain (Ananas comosus) action: appetite inhibition and enhanced fat excretion.4

Coffee (Coffea arabica) caffeine/rnethylxanthine containing herbs action: stimulant, thermogenic.

Fiber (includes guar gum,psyllium, oat bran, wheat bran, pectin, vegetable fiber) action: satiety, decreases absorbed calories, stabilizes blood sugar levels, improves bowel transit time, aids excretion of cholesterol.5 6

Fructose action: greater thermogenesis as compared to glucose.7 8

Essential Fatty Acids: action: normalizes brown fat activity.910

Urtica (Urtica dioica) action: dieuretic, clears tissue acids, nutritive.

Mate (Ilex paraguayensis) action: stimulant, thermogenic.

Papaya ( Carica papaya) action: digestant.

Hypericum (Hypericumperforatum) action: psychotrophic.

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum, P. hortense, P. sativum) action: dieuretic, nutritive, carminative.

l.Pointel, JP, Boccalon H, Cloarec M, et al. Titrated extract of centella asiatica (TECA) in the treatment of venous insufficiency of the lower limbs. Angiology 1987; 46-50
2.Aniioui F, Mauri A, Marincola F, and Kesele L.F. Venotonic activity of escin on the liurnan saphenous vein. Arzneim-Forsch 1979; 29:672-5.
3.Kouo S., et al. Green tea consumption and serum lipid profiles: a cross-sectional study in northern Kyushu, Japan. PrevMed 1992; 21;526-31.
4.Taussig S,, Batkin S. Broinelain, the enzyme complex of pineapple (Ananas coruosus) and its clinical application. JEthnopharm 1988; 22: 191-203.
S.Krotkiewski M. effect of guar on body weight, hunger ratings and metabolism in obese subjects. Clinical Science 1984; 66: 329-336.
6.Glore SR, et al, Soluable fiber and serum lipids: A literature review. J Am Diet Assoc 1994; 94: 425-36.
7.Schwarz JM, et al. Thermogenesis in men and women induced by fructose vs glucose added to a meal. Am J Clin Nutr 1989; 49: 667-74.
8. Macdonald I. differences in dietary-induced thermogenesis following the ingestion of various carbohydrates. Ann Nutr Metab 1984; 28:226-30.
9.Garcia CM, et al. Gamma iinoleiiic acid causes weight loss and lower blood pressure in overweight patients with family history of obesity. SwedJBiol Med 1986; 4:8-11.
 

Hormone Balance:

Chemical Messengers are Key to Aging Gracefully

Hormones are “chemical messengers” in the body. Together with the nervous system, hormones regulate every aspect of bodily function.

Hormones include male and female sex hormones, adrenal hormones, thyroid, pituitary and “brain hormones,” also called neurotransmitters.

Decreased levels of thyroid hormone can lead to sluggishness, forgetfulness, weight gain and high cholesterol levels. Excess thyroid hormone can cause irregular heart beats, fast heart rate, unintended weight loss, jitteriness and even death.

Altered levels of the adrenal hormones affect heart rate, metabolism and energy, blood pressure and immune function to name just a few.

The “sex hormones” (male and female) not only control fertility and male and female sexual characteristics, but declining levels of these hormones are associated with aging, premature aging, heart disease osteoporosis, mood disorders and the aging process in general.

Imbalanced brain hormones, also called NeuroTransmitters (NT’s) are associated with all manner of mood disorders including depression, anxiety, insomnia, ADD/ADHD and other brain and nervous system disorders. Changes in BT levels are also associated with brain and nervous system diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.

Keeping youthful, balanced hormone levels goes a long way toward preventing “age related” illnesses and the aging process in general.

Top Hormone Balancing Recommendations and Hormone-Related Health Concerns

Hormone Balancing Supplements and Hormone-Related Health Concerns 
DHEA
HerBalance with Pregnenelone
L-5-HTP
Mega Soy
Melatonin
Ostaderm
Progonol
Saw Palmetto
Thyroid Cytotropin
Vitex

Adrenal Health
DHEA
7-Keto-DHEA

Thyroid Hormone Health
Thyroid Cytotropin

Men’s Hormone Health
Male Hormone Profile
Korean (Panax) Ginseng
Mega Soy
Prostate Support
Saw Palmetto
St. John’s Wort
Vitex

NeuroTransmitter
(Brain Hormone) Health
NeuroTransmitter Profile
DHEA
L-5-HTP
St. John’s Wort
St. John’s Wort Plus+
Syncholamine

Women’s Hormone Health
Female Hormone Profile (Post Menopausal)
Female Hormone Profile (Pre Menopausal)
Black Cohosh Plus+
DHEA
Korean (Panax) Ginseng
HerBalance with Pregnenelone
Mega Soy
Melatonin
Ostaderm
Progonol

HAIR LOSS

(Male Pattern Baldness, Female Pattern Baldness, Alopecia, Toxic Baldness)

Many physical imbalances and illnesses can cause hair loss. It is important to get an annual physical exam AND to consult a physician if hair loss is sudden in onset or severe. If no obvious cause can be found, then genetic factors, decreased scalp circulation, hormone changes and aging are the potential causes. Certain medications and diseases can also cause hair loss. An alternative medicine physician can give you further assistance in exploring such causes of hair loss.

Male and female pattern baldness is most often related to genetic factors and aging levels of hormones. Male and female hormone testing and replacement therapy can aid this type of hair loss.

Toxic hair loss, such as that caused by chemotherapy drugs, will return 3-4 months after the offending agent is discontinued.

Alopecia is a form of patchy or sometimes complete baldness that is often due to an autoimmune condition.

DIET AND LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Follow a healthy diet and lifestyle as outlined in the Ten Rules of Good Health.
  • Massage the scalp daily for five minutes, moving skin of scalp over underlying bone.
  • Practice head and neck exercises daily.

PRIMARY SUPPORT

  • Maxi Multi: 3 caps, 3 times per day with meals. Optimal (not minimal) doses of antioxidants (A,C,E,selenium) are particularly important for normal hair growth. Free radical insult to the scalp is felt to be a significant contributing factor to hair loss.
  • Crudeolum Shampoo: Use this each time you shampoo hair. Massage into scalp; leave on for five minutes or more, rinse. This shampoo is very stimulating to the scalp.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

For Male and Female pattern baldness:

  • Saw Palmetto 1 cap, 2 times per day. This is useful in both men and women since it blocks the conversion of excess DHT. A hormone profile is highly recommended to determine the exact nature of male and female hormone imbalances.

For Alopecia:

Please refer to recommendations for autoimmune diseases

DR. MYATT’S COMMENTS:
Additional support will depend on the cause of hair loss. In men, male pattern baldness usually requires hormone balancing. Females with male pattern baldness often also have a hormone imbalance, too. This is best addressed with the help of an alternative medicine physician who can recommend and evaluate hormone levels by using a hormone profile test.

HEALTH APPRAISAL

Health – COMPREHENSIVE

NAME _____________________________________________________ DATE _________________

CIRCLE the number which best describes the frequency of your symptoms. If you do not know the answer to the question, leave it blank. When you are finished, please add the number of points in each section and enter the number in the Total Points box. The points for YES is the number inside the parenthesis ( ).

(0) never or rarely     (1) twice a week or less    (2) Three to six times a week     (3) daily

 

PART I


Section A 1.  Indigestion 0 1 2 3 2.  Excessive belching, burping and/or bloating 0 1 2 3 3.  Gas immediately following a meal 0 1 2 3 4.  Sense of fullness during and after meals 0 1 2 3 5.  Poor appetite, disinterest in food 0 1 2 3 6.  Offensive breath 0 1 2 3 7.  Bad taste in mouth 0 1 2 3 8.  Partial loss of taste of smell 0 1 2 3 9.  Difficult bowel movements 0 1 2 3 10.  Difficulty swallowing 0 1 2 3 11.  Unintentional weight loss N     Y(5) 12.  History of anemia, unresponsive to iron N     Y(5) 13.  Vegetarian (no eggs, dairy) N     Y(3) 14.  Picky eater N     Y(3) 15.  Spoon shaped nails N     Y(3) 16.  Sores in corner of mouth N     Y(3) 17.  Smooth tongue N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section C 1.  Stomach pain, burning, aching 1-4 hrs. after eating 0 1 2 3 2.  Feeling hungry an hour or two after eating 0 1 2 3 3.  Strong emotions, thought, smell of food aggravates stomach 0 1 2 3 4.  Heartburn, especially when lying down or bending forward 0 1 2 3 5.  Heartburn due to spicy and fatty foods, chocolate, peppers, citrus, alcohol, caffeine 0 1 2 3 6.  Difficulty or pain when swallowing 0 1 2 3 7.  Chest pain, difficulty breathing, lung infections 0 1 2 3 8.  Constipation, difficult bowel movements 0 1 2 3 9.  Black, lorry stool 0 1 2 3 10.  Unexplained weight gain N     Y(5) 11.  Temporary relief from antacids, carbonated beverages, cream/milk/food N     Y(5) 12.  Digestive problems subside with rest and relaxation N     Y(5)   Total Points __________ Section B 1.  Indigestion and fullness lasts 2-4 hours after eating 0 1 2 3 2.  Pain, tenderness, soreness on left side under rib cage 0 1 2 3 3.  Bloated 0 1 2 3 4.  Excessive passage of gas 0 1 2 3 5.  Abdominal cramps, aches 0 1 2 3 6.  Nausea and/or vomiting 0 1 2 3 7.  Dry, flaky skin, dry brittle hair 0 1 2 3 8.  Difficulty gaining weight 0 1 2 3 9.  Weakness and fatigue 0 1 2 3 10.  Specific foods/beverages aggravate indigestion 0 1 2 3 11.  Roughage and fiber causes constipation 0 1 2 3 12.  Three or more large bowel movements daily 0 1 2 3 13.  Alternating constipation and diarrhea 0 1 2 3 14.  Stool poorly formed 0 1 2 3 15.  Stool – undigested food 0 1 2 3 16.  Stool – greasy, shiny 0 1 2 3 17.  Stool yellowish, foul smelling 0 1 2 3 18.  Mucus in stool 0 1 2 3 19.  Black stool 0 1 2 3 20.  Rectal spasms 0 1 2 3 21.  Dark urine 0 1 2 3 22.  Bone and back pain 0 1 2 3 23.  Pounding heart 0 1 2 3 24.  Iron deficiency anemia 0 1 2 3   Total Points __________

Section D 1.  Lower abdominal pain, cramping and/or spasms 0 1 2 3 2.  Lower abdominal pain relief by passing stool or gas 0 1 2 3 3.  Raw fruits, vegetables and stress aggravate bowel pain 0 1 2 3 4.  Diarrhea (loose watery stool) 0 1 2 3 5.  More than three bowel movements daily 0 1 2 3 6.  Excessive gas and bloating 0 1 2 3 7.  Painful, difficult, straining during bowel movements 0 1 2 3 8.  Hard, dry or small stool 0 1 2 3 9.  Extremely narrow stools, thin stool 0 1 2 3 10.  Alternating diarrhea / constipation 0 1 2 3 11.  Mucus and pus in stool 0 1 2 3 12.  Feeling that bowels do not empty completely 0 1 2 3 13.  Rectal pain or cramps 0 1 2 3 14.  Bright red blood following bowel movement 0 1 2 3 15.  Anal itching 0 1 2 3 16.  Irritable, moody 0 1 2 3 17.  Rash under breast, armpit, around navel or groin area N     Y(5) 18.  Feel ill in damp, moldy settings or rainy weather N     Y(3)   Total Points __________   PART II


Section A 1.  Moderate to severe pain under right side of rib cage 0 1 2 3 2.  Abdominal pain worse with deep breathing 0 1 2 3 3.  Bitter fluid repeats after eating 0 1 2 3 4.  Bloated, full feeling 0 1 2 3 5.  Belching, heartburn, gas 0 1 2 3 6.  Fatty foods cause indigestion 0 1 2 3 7.  Nausea and/or vomiting 0 1 2 3 8.  Feel restless, agitated, angry 0 1 2 3 9.  Unexplained itchy skin worse at night 0 1 2 3 10.  Yellowish cast to skin, eyes 0 1 2 3 11.  Stool color alternates from clay colored to normal brown 0 1 2 3 12.  General feeling of poor health 0 1 2 3 13.  Fatigue, weakness, exhaustion 0 1 2 3 14.  Unable to concentrate, irritable, confused 0 1 2 3 15.  Aching muscles 0 1 2 3 16.  Trembling hands 0 1 2 3 17.  Weight gain due to water retention 0 1 2 3 18.  Swollen feet and or legs 0 1 2 3 19.  Bleeding tendencies in gums, nose 0 1 2 3 20.  Loss of chest and armpit hair 0 1 2 3 21.  Reddened skin, especially palms 0 1 2 3 22.  Dark urine, diminished flow 0 1 2 3 23.  Dry, flaky skin and/or hair N     Y(3) 24.  Loss of appetite and weight N     Y(3) 25.  Easy bruising N     Y(3) 26.  Thinning of pubic hair N     Y(3) 27.  Feeling of extreme dryness N     Y(3) 28.  Loss of skin elasticity N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section B 1.  Tired, sluggish 0 1 2 3 2.  Feel cold, hands, feet, all over 0 1 2 3 3.  Tight sensation in neck 0 1 2 3 4.  Difficult, infrequent bowel movements 0 1 2 3 5.  Dryness, discoloration skin, hair 0 1 2 3 6.  Thick, brittle nails 0 1 2 3 7.  Puffy face, hands and feet 0 1 2 3 8.  Swollen upper eyelids 0 1 2 3 9.  Eyeballs move involuntarily 0 1 2 3 10.  Muscles weak, cramp, and/or tremble 0 1 2 3 11.  Slow mental processes, forgetfulness 0 1 2 3 12.  Slow heart beats 0 1 2 3 13.  Abdominal swelling 0 1 2 3 14.  Unsteady gait, movements 0 1 2 3 15.  Lack of interest in sex 0 1 2 3 16.  Weight gain easily N     Y(5) 17.  Swelling of the neck N     Y(5) 18.  Outer third of eyebrow thins N     Y(3) 19.  Thinning hair on scalp, face and genitals N     Y(3) 20.  Loss of appetite N     Y(3) 21.  Premenstrual tension N     Y(3) 22.  Infertility N     Y(3) 23.  Excessive menstrual bleeding N     Y(3) 24.  Absence of periods N     Y(3)   Total Points __________   PART III


Section A 1.  Progressive, mild fatigue after exertion or stress 0 1 2 3 2.  General weakness 0 1 2 3 3.  Blurred vision, dizzy when rising 0 1 2 3 4.  Depression 0 1 2 3 5.  Rapid mood swings 0 1 2 3 6.  Irritable 0 1 2 3 7.  Dark circles under the eyes 0 1 2 3 8.  Abdominal pain, indigestion 0 1 2 3 9.  Bouts of nausea, vomiting 0 1 2 3 10.  Diarrhea or constipation 0 1 2 3 11.  Blotchy skin (white patches) 0 1 2 3 12.  Craving for salty foods 0 1 2 3 13.  Decreased appetites N     Y(3) 14.  Gradual weight loss N     Y(3) 15.  Tan skin, no sun N     Y(3) 16.  Gradual loss of body hair N     Y(3) 17.  Black freckles on upper forehead, face, neck N     Y(3) 18.  Sensitive to minor changes in weather and surroundings N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section B

1.  Catch colds easily 0 1 2 3 2.  Infections – eye, ears, nose throat, lungs, skin 0 1 2 3 3.  Diarrhea 0 1 2 3 4.  Puffy face 0 1 2 3 5.  Dark areas on cheeks, under eyes 0 1 2 3 6.  Difficulty seeing at night 0 1 2 3 7.  Eyes tear, burn, discharge 0 1 2 3 8.  Ears, continuously drain 0 1 2 3 9.  Nasal congestion or discharge thick, yellow, green 0 1 2 3 10.  Sore throat or post-nasal drip 0 1 2 3 11.  Cough with mucus 0 1 2 3 12.  Inflamed or bleeding gums 0 1 2 3 13.  Cold sores, fever blisters 0 1 2 3 14.  Gums swelling, bleeding 0 1 2 3 15.  Unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds in last three months N     Y(3) 16.  Lack of appetite N     Y(3)

Section B (continued) 17.  Nail discolorations N     Y(3) 18.  Bumpy skin on back or arms N     Y(3) 19.  Wounds heal slowly N     Y(3) 20.  Hair is easily plucked out or falls out, grows slow N     Y(3) 21.  Lips are red and swollen N     Y(3) 22.  Tongue is red, swollen, raw looking N     Y(3) 23.  Impaired taste and smell N     Y(3) 24.  Neck, armpit groin swelling N     Y(5)   Total Points __________

Section C

1.  Muscles fatigue quickly 0 1 2 3 2.  Moody, irritable, tired 0 1 2 3 3.  Severe fatigue 0 1 2 3 4.  Severe joint pain, redness, swelling 0 1 2 3 5.  Chronic pain, stiffness througout body 0 1 2 3 6.  Migraine headaches 0 1 2 3 7.  Specific food(s) worsen pain, inflamation, stiffness 0 1 2 3 8.  Sensitive to light (skin or ees) 0 1 2 3 9.  Dark circles under eyes 0 1 2 3 10.  Swollen-looking face or body 0 1 2 3 11.  Localized or general itching – eyes, ears, throat, nose, skin 0 1 2 3 12.  Clear, wattery discharge from nose, eyes 0 1 2 3 13.  Extreme dryness of eyes, nasal passages, mouth 0 1 2 3 14.  Sneezing 0 1 2 3 15.  Cough or wheezing 0 1 2 3 16.  Moldy, damp environments trigger sickness 0 1 2 3 17.  Post nasal drip with certain foods 0 1 2 3 18.  Heart palpitations after eating certain foods 0 1 2 3 19.  Weight loss, muscle weakness N     Y(3) 20.  Scalp hair falls out easily in clumps N     Y(3) 21.  Hair loss, entire body N     Y(5) 22.  Easy bruising N     Y(3) 23.  Nails -loosened, pitted, discolored N     Y(3)   Total Points __________   PART IV


Section A 1.  Sense of being overly tired 0 1 2 3 2.  Prolonged recovery after exercise 0 1 2 3 3.  Coldness especially in hands and feet 0 1 2 3 4.  Difficulty breathing on exertion, palpitations 0 1 2 3 5.  Headache, dizziness, spots before eyes 0 1 2 3 6.  Irritable 0 1 2 3 7.  Forgetful, poor concentration 0 1 2 3 8.  Mild yellowing of eyes or skin 0 1 2 3 9.  Ringing in ears 0 1 2 3 10.  Susceptible to infections 0 1 2 3 11.  Jaundice and dark urine 0 1 2 3 12.  Black stool (no iron supplements) 0 1 2 3 13.  Unusual cravings for clay, dirt, ice 0 1 2 3 14.  Fingernails are flattened, spoon shaped, brittle, thin 0 1 2 3 15.  White patches on skin N     Y(5) 16.  Pale lips, gums, eyelids, nail beds N     Y(3) 17.  Red, sore tongue N     Y(3) 18.  Mouth, throat, rectum ulcers N     Y(3) 19.  Unusual bruising N     Y(3) 20.  Spontaneous bleeding – nose, mouth, gums, rectum or vagina N     Y(3) 21.  Small red dots under the skin N     Y(5) 22.  Sores in the corner of mouth N     Y(3) 23.  Smooth tongue N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section B

1.  Nosebleeds 0 1 2 3 2.  Headache, typically in morning 0 1 2 3 3.  Weakness, fatigue, nervous 0 1 2 3 4.  Ringing in ears 0 1 2 3 5.  Dizziness, drowsiness 0 1 2 3 6.  Blushing – no apparent cause 0 1 2 3 7.  Numbness, tingling in hands and feet 0 1 2 3 8.  Blurred vision 0 1 2 3   Total Points __________

Section C

1.  Feel jittery 0 1 2 3 2.  Heartburn that moves to neck, jaws, left shoulder and arm 0 1 2 3 3.  First effort of the day causes pain around chest 0 1 2 3 4.  Dizziness 0 1 2 3 5.  Choking, smothering sensation 0 1 2 3 6.  Exhaust with minor exertion 0 1 2 3

Section C (continued) 7.  Heart pounds easily 0 1 2 3 8.  Heavy sweating (no exertion) 0 1 2 3 9.  Mild or severe chest pain 0 1 2 3 10.  Difficulty catching breath especially during exercise 0 1 2 3 11.  Wheezing or dry cough 0 1 2 3 12.  Heart palpitations – slow, rapid or irregular 0 1 2 3 13.  Swelling in feet, ankle, legs comes and goes 0 1 2 3 14.  Veins on neck are prominent 0 1 2 3   Total Points __________

Section D

1.  Fluid retention 0 1 2 3 2.  Numbness, tingling, prickling sensation in hands, feet 0 1 2 3 3.  Muscle pain in the calves or thighs when walking 0 1 2 3 4.  Muscle pain at rest 0 1 2 3 5.  Cold feet 0 1 2 3 6.  Headaches 0 1 2 3 7.  Dizziness, everything spins 0 1 2 3 8.  Poor concentration 0 1 2 3 9.  Slurred speech 0 1 2 3 10.  Ringing in ears 0 1 2 3 11.  Brief moments of hearing loss 0 1 2 3 12.  Nausea comes and goes quickly 0 1 2 3 13.  Falling without known cause 0 1 2 3 14.  Brief difficulty swallowing 0 1 2 3 15.  Brief difficulty speaking 0 1 2 3 16.  Stammering or twitching of tongue 0 1 2 3 17.  Double vision 0 1 2 3 18.  Difficulty understanding spoken or written word 0 1 2 3 19.  Brief loss of muscular coordination 0 1 2 3 20.  Inability to recognize persons or things that pass very quickly 0 1 2 3 21.  Inability to feel pain or temperature usually on one side that disappears quickly 0 1 2 3 22.  One leg or arm – shiny hairless skin N     Y(5) 23.  Discolored or blue toes N     Y(5) 24.  Open sores on feet and legs N     Y(5) 25.  Fingers and toes numb in response to cold weather even when protected. N     Y(5)   Total Points __________   PART V


Section A

Missing meals or fasting is associated with the following:

1.  Sudden anxiety associated with hunger 0 1 2 3 2.  Tingling sensation in hands 0 1 2 3 3.  Palpitations 0 1 2 3 4.  Feel shaker, jittery, tremors 0 1 2 3 5.  Weakness 0 1 2 3 6.  Profuse perspiration, clammy skin 0 1 2 3 7.  Nightmares 0 1 2 3 8.  Awoke from sleep restless 0 1 2 3 9.  Agitated, easily upset, nervous 0 1 2 3 10.  Poor memory, forgetful 0 1 2 3 11.  Confusion, disoriented 0 1 2 3 12.  Dizziness, feel faint 0 1 2 3 13.  Feeling cold, numbness 0 1 2 3 14.  Mild headache 0 1 2 3 15.  Blurred or double vision 0 1 2 3 16.  Lack of coordination 0 1 2 3   Total Points __________

Section B 1.  Excessive, frequent urination 0 1 2 3 2.  Increased thirst and appetite 0 1 2 3 3.  Blurred vision, failing eyesight 0 1 2 3 4.  Fatigue, drowsiness 0 1 2 3 5.  Crave sweets, but eating sweets does not relieve craving 0 1 2 3 6.  Feel hungry for air (can’t get enough) 0 1 2 3 7.  Breath smells sweet 0 1 2 3 8.  Depressed 0 1 2 3 9.  Tingling, numbness, prickling sensation in extremities 0 1 2 3 10.  Profuse sweating 0 1 2 3 11.  Dribble after voiding 0 1 2 3 12.  Impotency 0 1 2 3 13.  Dizziness when standing from sitting position 0 1 2 3 14.  Slurred speech 0 1 2 3 15.  Unintentional weight loss 0 1 2 3 16.  Reoccurring persistent infection bladder, skin, or gums 0 1 2 3 17.  Boils and leg sores 0 1 2 3 18.  Very slow wound healing 0 1 2 3 19.  Excessive weight gain 0 1 2 3   Total Points __________ PART VI


1.  Weakness and fatigue 0 1 2 3 2.  Chest discomfort, pain 0 1 2 3 3.  Sudden breathing difficulty 0 1 2 3 4.  Shortness of breath 0 1 2 3 5.  Shallow breathing 0 1 2 3 6.  Noisy rattling sounds when breathing in or out 0 1 2 3 7.  Cough – dry or moist 0 1 2 3 8.  Rapid heartbeats 0 1 2 3 9.  Excessive perspiration 0 1 2 3 10.  Anxiety, restlessness 0 1 2 3 11.  Consistent low-grade temperature (100-101°) 0 1 2 3 12.  Bluish nails and lips 0 1 2 3

13.  Post nasal drip 0 1 2 3 14.  Sputum – thick, clear, yellow 0 1 2 3 15.  Sputum – smells offensive 0 1 2 3 16.  Bloody sputum 0 1 2 3 17.  Bad breath 0 1 2 3 18.  Wheezing 0 1 2 3 19.  Loud snoring 0 1 2 3 20.  Sleepy during day 0 1 2 3 21.  Morning headache 0 1 2 3 22.  Difficulty concentrating 0 1 2 3 23.  Unexplained weight loss N     Y(3) 24.  Infections settle in lungs N     Y(3) 25.  Flu symptoms last longer than 5 days N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

 

PART VII


1.  Retain fluid throughout body 0 1 2 3 2.  Mild lower back pain 0 1 2 3 3.  Frequent urge to urinate, but only small amounts pass 0 1 2 3 4.  Interruption of urine stream 0 1 2 3 5.  Excessive urination 0 1 2 3 6.  Excessive urination at night 0 1 2 3 7.  Burning when urinating 0 1 2 3 8.  Frequent urination with urgency 0 1 2 3 9.  Rarely need to urinate 0 1 2 3 10.  Difficulty passing urine 0 1 2 3 11.  Dripping after urination 0 1 2 3

12.  Can’t hold urine 0 1 2 3 13.  Bloody, cloudy and/or darkened urine 0 1 2 3 14.  Strong smelling urine 0 1 2 3 15.  Joint and muscle pain 0 1 2 3 16.  Tingling in joints 0 1 2 3 17.  Dark circles under eyes 0 1 2 3 18.  Gray, blackish caste to skin 0 1 2 3 19.  Back or leg pains associated with dripping after urination N     Y(5) 20.  Poor skin elasticity, dryness N     Y(3)   Total Points __________   PART VIII (Men Only)


Section A 1.  Frequent or urgent need to urinate 0 1 2 3 2.  Delayed, weak, or interrupted urinary stream 0 1 2 3 3.  Pain or burning upon urination 0 1 2 3 4.  Urge to urinate several times a night 0 1 2 3 5.  Rose colored (bloody) urine 0 1 2 3 6.  Difficulty urinating 0 1 2 3 7.  A sense of bladder fullness 0 1 2 3 8.  Ejaculation causes pain 0 1 2 3 9.  Blood in the semen 0 1 2 3 10.  Lack of sex drive 0 1 2 3 11.  Impotency 0 1 2 3 12.  Pain or fatigue in the legs or back 0 1 2 3 13.  Dripping after urination 0 1 2 3 14.  Increased straining with small amounts of urine passed 0 1 2 3 15.  Anemia N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section B 1.  Itchy patches around inner thigh and groin 0 1 2 3 2.  Itching at night 0 1 2 3 3.  Painful testicles 0 1 2 3 4.  Difficulty attaining and/or maintaining an erection 0 1 2 3 5.  Low sexual drive 0 1 2 3 6.  Premature ejaculation 0 1 2 3 7.  Low energy level or stamina 0 1 2 3 8.  Inflammation of the head of penis N     Y(5) 9.  Genital and/or rectal rash or irritation N     Y(5) 10.  Distorted nail growth N     Y(3) 11.  Loss of pubic or armpit hair N     Y(3) 12.  Infertile N     Y(3) 13.  Low sperm count, low sperm motility N     Y(3) 14.  Unexplained weight gain N     Y(3) 15.  Testicles appear smaller N     Y(3) 16.  Development of breasts or nipple tenderness N     Y(3) 17.  Feeling of heaviness or hardness in testicle N     Y(3) 18.  Sparse beard or slow hair growth N     Y(3) 19.  Decreased body hair N     Y(3) 20.  Fine wrinkling in corner of mouth or around eyes N     Y(3)   Total Points __________   PART IX (Women Only)


Section A 1.  Insomnia 0 1 2 3 2.  Abdominal bloating 0 1 2 3 3.  Breast tenderness, swelling 0 1 2 3 4.  Breast lumps appear 0 1 2 3 5.  Heart palpitations 0 1 2 3 6.  Sweating and flushing 0 1 2 3 7.  Depressed, irritable, nervous 0 1 2 3 8.  Easy to anger, resentful 0 1 2 3 9.  Easily overwhelmed 0 1 2 3 10.  Nausea and/or vomiting 0 1 2 3 11.  Diarrhea or constipation 0 1 2 3 12.  Headache 0 1 2 3 13.  Food cravings, binge eating 0 1 2 3 14.  Back pain 0 1 2 3 15.  Numbness, tingling in hands and feet 0 1 2 3 16.  Clumsiness 0 1 2 3 17.  Feeling hopeless, sad 0 1 2 3 18.  Weight gain, water N     Y(3) 19.  Suicidal N     Y(10)   Total Points __________

Section B

1.  Vaginal dryness, pain 0 1 2 3 2.  Painful intercourse 0 1 2 3 3.  Engorged breasts 0 1 2 3 4.  Milk production (not nursing) 0 1 2 3 5.  Disinterest in sex 0 1 2 3 6.  Blurred vision 0 1 2 3 7.  Headache 0 1 2 3 8.  Acne and/or oily skin 0 1 2 3 9.  Aggressive feelings 0 1 2 3 10.  Overwhelming urges for sexual intercourse 0 1 2 3 11.  Absence of menstrual flow for six or more months N     Y(20) 12.  Occasionally skip periods N     Y(5) 13.  Menstruation began after 16 years of age N     Y(3) 14.  Breasts shrinking N     Y(5) 15.  Thinning pubic and armpit hair N     Y(5) 16.  Unable to get pregnant N     Y(10) 17.  Miscarriage N     Y(3) 18.  Excess facial hair N     Y(5) 19.  Poor sense of smell N     Y(3) 20.  Monthly abdominal pain without bleeding N     Y(5)   Total Points __________

Section C

1.  Painful intercourse 0 1 2 3 2.  Menstrual type pain between menses 0 1 2 3 3.  Irregular time intervals between periods N     Y(5) 4.  Extended menses greater than 32 days N     Y(10) 5.  Shortened menses (less than every 24 days) N     Y(5) 6.  Vaginal bleeding between periods N     Y(10) 7.  Vaginal discharge between periods N     Y(5) 8.  Pain during periods is getting progressively worse N     Y(5)

Section C (continued) 9.  Pain, cramps 0 1 2 3 10.  Unusual fatigue, can’t work 0 1 2 3 11.  Irritable and depressed 0 1 2 3 12.  Constipation and/or diarrhea 0 1 2 3 13.  Lower abdominal pain, bloating 0 1 2 3 14.  Nausea and/or vomiting 0 1 2 3 15.  Lower backache 0 1 2 3 16.  Pelvic and/or rectal pressure 0 1 2 3 17.  Urinary difficulties 0 1 2 3 18.  Frequent urination N     Y(5) 19.  Scanty blood flow N     Y(3) 20.  Heavy blood flow N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section D

1.  Lumps are painful, tender 0 1 2 3 2.  Clear, gray or yellow vaginal discharge 0 1 2 3 3.  Vaginal bleeding after sex or between periods 0 1 2 3 4.  Burning or itching of the external genitalia 0 1 2 3 5.  Urgent, painful urination 0 1 2 3 6.  Lower abdominal or back pain 0 1 2 3 7.  Heavy, watery and bloody vaginal discharge 0 1 2 3 8.  Heavy menstrual flow 0 1 2 3 9.  Pelvic cramps 0 1 2 3 10.  Thin, scant white vaginal discharge 0 1 2 3 11.  Greenish, yellow, or offensive discharge 0 1 2 3 12.  Cheesy white discharge 0 1 2 3 13.  Breast lumps or swelling N     Y(10) 14.  Lumps hurt just before period N     Y(5) 15.  Swelling under armpit N     Y(5) 16.  Change in breast size, shape N     Y(10) 17.  White or slightly bloody vaginal discharge, one week prior to period N     Y(10)   Total Points __________

Section E

1.  Insomnia 0 1 2 3 2.  Abdominal bloating 0 1 2 3 3.  Breast tenderness, swelling 0 1 2 3 4.  Breast lumps appear 0 1 2 3 5.  Heart palpitations 0 1 2 3 6.  Sweating and flushing 0 1 2 3 7.  Depressed, irritable, nervous 0 1 2 3 8.  Easy to anger, resentful 0 1 2 3 9.  Easily overwhelmed 0 1 2 3 10.  Nausea and/or vomiting 0 1 2 3 11.  Diarrhea or constipation 0 1 2 3 12.  Headache 0 1 2 3 13.  Food cravings, binge eating 0 1 2 3 14.  Back pain 0 1 2 3 15.  Numbness, tingling in hands and feet 0 1 2 3 16.  Clumsiness 0 1 2 3 17.  Feeling hopeless, sad 0 1 2 3 18.  Weight gain, water N     Y(3) 19.  Suicidal N     Y(10)   Total Points __________   PART X


Section A 1.  Generalized bone tenderness and achiness 0 1 2 3 2.  Localized bone pain 0 1 2 3 3.  Bone deformity or swelling 0 1 2 3 4.  Shins hurt during or after exercise 0 1 2 3 5.  Low back or hip pain 0 1 2 3 6.  Difficulty sitting straight 0 1 2 3 7.  Limp, walking difficulties 0 1 2 3 8.  Crunching or cracking sounds when moving joints 0 1 2 3 9.  Hands, feet, throat spasms or feel numb 0 1 2 3 10.  Joint pain and stiffness – especially spine, hips, knees 0 1 2 3 11.  Hearing loss, headaches, ringing in ears 0 1 2 3 12.  Cavities N     Y(5) 13.  Tooth loss due to gum disease N     Y(5) 14.  Established bone loss N     Y(10) 15.  Calcium deposits N     Y(5) 16.  Spinal curvature N     Y(10) 17.  Recent loss of height N     Y(10) 18.  Bow legs N     Y(5) 19.  Stooped posture N     Y(5) 20.  Hump at base of neck N     Y(5) 21.  Irregular patches of increased pigmentation N     Y(3) 22.  Unexplained bone fracture N     Y(10)   Total Points __________

Section B

1.  Muscle aches and pains 0 1 2 3 2.  Muscle stiffness, tension 0 1 2 3 3.  Specific points on body feel sore when presses 0 1 2 3 4.  Headaches 0 1 2 3 5.  Fatigue, tired, sluggish 0 1 2 3 6.  Difficulty sleeping 0 1 2 3 7.  Feel unrefreshed upon awakening 0 1 2 3 8.  Difficulty speaking, swallowing 0 1 2 3 9.  Muscles cramp or spasm 0 1 2 3 10.  Muscles twitch or tremble – eyelids, thumb, calf muscle 0 1 2 3 11.  Irresistible urge to move legs 0 1 2 3 12.  Legs move during sleep 0 1 2 3 13.  Unpleasant crawling sensation inside calves, while lying down 0 1 2 3 14.  Numbing, tingling sensation 0 1 2 3 15.  Excessive joint mobility 0 1 2 3 16.  Unable to fully straighten or extend legs and/or arms 0 1 2 3 17.  Upper or lower back pain 0 1 2 3 18.  Loss of muscle strength N     Y(3) 19.  Muscle loss, wasting N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section C

1.  Joint stiffness, soreness, swelling 0 1 2 3 2.  Red, swollen painful joints 0 1 2 3 3.  Joint stiffness improves when resting, worsens with movement 0 1 2 3 4.  Dry mouth 0 1 2 3 5.  Dry painful eyes 0 1 2 3 6.  Joint stiffness worsens with rest, improves with movement 0 1 2 3 7.  Cracking joints 0 1 2 3 8.  Limp 0 1 2 3 9.  Shooting, aching, tingling pain down the back of leg 0 1 2 3

Section C (continued) 10.  Joint pain involves one or a few joints 0 1 2 3 11.  Joints hurt when moving or carrying weight 0 1 2 3 12.  Limited range of motion 0 1 2 3 13.  Difficulty standing up from sitting position 0 1 2 3 14.  Walks slowly 0 1 2 3 15.  Headache 0 1 2 3 16.  Difficulty chewing food or opening mouth 0 1 2 3 17.  Intermittent pain, ache on one side of head spreading to cheek, temple, lower jaw, ear neck and shoulder 0 1 2 3 18.  Numbness, prickling, tingling sensation in the neck, shoulder and arms 0 1 2 3 19.  Injure, strain, sprain easily 0 1 2 3 20.  Discomfort or pain in neck, shoulder or arm 0 1 2 3 21.  Involuntary muscle spasms 0 1 2 3 22.  Deliberate movement with hands are difficult 0 1 2 3 23.  Red painless skin lumps on elbows, knees, toes, ear, nose, back of scalp N     Y(5) 24.  Knobby overgrowths on the joints closest to the fingertips N     Y(5) 25.  Muscle loss around inflamed joint N     Y(10) 26.  Double jointed N     Y(3) 27.  One leg shorter than the other N     Y(5)   Total Points __________

Section D Neurological

1.  Head feels heavy 0 1 2 3 2.  Light headedness/fainting 0 1 2 3 3.  Ringing/buzzing in ears 0 1 2 3 4.  Trembling hands 0 1 2 3 5.  Limbs feel too heavy to hold up 0 1 2 3 6.  Loss of feeling in hands and/or feet (toes) 0 1 2 3 7.  Tingling sensation followed by numbness, or pain begins in hands and feet and spreads toward the center of your body 0 1 2 3 8.  Unsteady gait, lose balance 0 1 2 3 9.  Muscles feel weak 0 1 2 3 10.  Weak grip with spasm and arm weakness 0 1 2 3 11.  Exhaustion on slightest effort 0 1 2 3 12.  Need for 10-12 hours sleep 0 1 2 3 13.  Muscular weakness begins in leg and moves upward 0 1 2 3 14.  Difficulty walking, moving around, handling small objects 0 1 2 3 15.  Nervous, anxious 0 1 2 3 16.  Convulsions 0 1 2 3 17.  Confused, forgetful 0 1 2 3 18.  Slowed or slurred speech 0 1 2 3 19.  Difficulty breathing 0 1 2 3 20.  Blurred vision 0 1 2 3 21.  Eyelids droop 0 1 2 3 22.  Impaired hearing, eyesight, sense of touch smell taste N     Y(10) 23.  Accident prone – trip, stumble, feel clumsy N     Y(5)   Total Points __________   WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING MEDICATIONS ARE YOU TAKING [ ] Antacids
[ ] Cortisone/anti-inflammatory
[ ] Oral contraceptives
[ ] Antibiotic/antifungal
[ ] Heart medication
[ ] Radiation
[ ] Antidepressants
[ ] High blood pressure
[ ] Relaxant/sleeping pills
[ ] Anti-diabetic/insulin
[ ] Hormones
[ ] Thyroid medication
[ ] Asprin / Tylenol
[ ] Laxatives
[ ] Ulcer medication
[ ] Chemotherapy
[ ] Lithium

Other: _______________________________________________________________

Recreational drugs: _____________________________________________________


WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DO YOU EAT, DRINK, OR USE

[ ] Alcohol
[ ] Cigarettes
[ ] Fried foods
[ ] Candy
[ ] Coffee
[ ] Luncheon meats
[ ] Carbonated beverages
[ ] Distilled water
[ ] Margarine
[ ] Chew tobacco
[ ] Fast food restaurants
[ ] Saccharine (Sweet & Low)

Vitamins/minerals (please list): _________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________


WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING APPLY TO YOU

[ ] Are under excessive stress
[ ] Do not exercise regularly
[ ] Salt food without tasting
[ ] Are exposed to chemicals at work
[ ] Are exposed to cigarette smoke
[ ] Diet often

LIST YOUR “TOP” HEALTH SYMPTOM COMPLAINTS:

1. _________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________________________

4. _________________________________________________________________

5. _________________________________________________________________

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS NOT COVERED IN THIS QUESTIONNAIRE?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Seven Inconvenient Truths About the 2009 H1N1 Flu Pandemic


by Dr. Dana Myatt

“Selective reporting” about the H1N1 virus and vaccine make it sound like getting a vaccination for the “pandemic flu” is a no-brainer. Thinking men and women should know the under-reported scientific conclusions and plain vanilla government statistics concerning this year’s “Panic-Demic” before making this seemingly simple but potentially life-threatening decision.

To that end I present these “inconvenient truths” (fully referenced) for your consideration. Please note that it is extremely politically incorrect to question the value of the flu vaccine.

In Health,
Dr. Myatt
 

Seven Inconvenient Truths About the 2009 H1N1 Flu Pandemic

by Dr. Dana Myatt

1.) What is a “Phase Six” Pandemic? (Probably NOT what You Think)

Contrary to popular thought (and most dictionaries), “pandemic” does not mean “large numbers” in WHO / CDC language. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Pandemic Phase Descriptions, “pandemic” refers to distribution, not numbers or severity. Here is the WHO criteria for pandemics:

  • A “Phase 4” pandemic means only that a virus is transmissible between humans.

  • A “Phase 5” pandemic means only that one viral disease has been seen in two countries.

  • A Phase 6 pandemic means only that one viral disease has been seen in three or more countries.

Again, the term “pandemic” does NOT refer to numbers of people affected or severity of the disease. (1)

For perspective, The WHO announced as of 20 September 2009 that there have been 3917 total deaths worldwide from H1N1, on par with world-wide mortality from any seasonal or other flu for this time of year. (2) Malaria kills an average of 3,000 people every dayin southeast Asia. (3)

2.) Is The H1N1 Flu Really a Danger to the U.S.?

Of less than 4,000 flu-related deaths world-wide, only 211 have occurred in the US as of August 2009. (4) This represents a death total lower than from seasonal flu for years 2005 through 2008 in the U.S. (5)

Adding H1N1 and seasonal flu together, flu-related deaths are still lower this year compared to previous “non-pandemic” years.

Not only is the total flu rate lower this year in the U.S., but the H1N1 flu has been much milder than predicted here and abroad. (6-10)

According to the WHO, most H1N1 infections are mild, occurring in numbers comparable to seasonal flues, with fast recovery and mostly without need for medical care. Mortality rates so far have been only a fraction of the number of those reported each year from seasonal flu. WHO also acknowledges that “Large outbreaks of disease have not yet been reported in many countries…” (11)

Harvard researcher Mark Lipsitch, PhD, explained at an Institute of Medicine meeting that on a 1 to 5 scale — with 5 being a 1918-like pandemic — this swine flu pandemic is a 1. Deputy Director of the CDC’s flu division, Daniel Jernigan, MD, concurs. “We are likely to have numbers that look very similar to what Dr. Lipsitch had,” Jernigan said. (12)

3.) Why H1N1-related deaths are actually smaller than reported in the U.S.

As of August 2009, ALL flu-associated deaths in the U.S. are being reported together. H1N1, seasonal flu and “influenza-like illness” (ILI) are added together to give the “flu mortality rate.” Reported illness and death totals, now include “influenza-like illness” (ILI) that in some cases may not be any form of flu at all. (13)

Other reports concede that a portion of reported H1N1 deaths have actually been caused by pneumonia, not the H1N1 virus itself. (14)

Because the new reporting system tallies deaths from all types of flu, the reported numbers of total flu deaths are not all attributable to H1N1. This means the true H1N1 mortality rate is only a portion of the total reported. Remember that deaths from all types of flu added together are lower in the U.S. this year than from the four previous “non pandemic” years before. (5,13)

3.) Flu vaccines provide little or no protection from the flu.

Vaccination is claimed to prevent the spread of influenza, protect individuals from acquiring the disease, and do so to a high degree of efficacy. Unfortunately, the majority of scientific studies do not support these claims. In fact, meta analyses (“master studies”) that look at large numbers of scientific studies and their outcomes, show the opposite. Influenza vaccine is minimally or not at all effective for most age groups. Here is how the numbers break down.

In children under two:

In children under the age of two, influenza vaccines are no more effective than placebo. (15)

One meta analysis evaluating fifty-one published studies with 294,159 observations found “no efficacy” in children under the age of two. (16) The authors conclude that “It was surprising to find only one study of inactivated vaccine in children under two years, given current recommendations to vaccinate healthy children from six months old in the USA and Canada.”

Simply put, the authors question why the U.S. is targeting children under the age of two for vaccination when the studies show the vaccine to be ineffective in this age group.

In children over two:

The same meta analysis found influenza vaccines effective 33% of the time in children over the age of two. (16) Followed to it’s logical conclusion, this means the flu vaccines are ineffective 67% of the time in children over the age of two.

Another study found influenza vaccine ineffective up to age 5. (17)

In healthy adults:

A meta analysis evaluating 25 studies conducted on 59,566 adults age 14-40 found a mere 6% decrease of clinical influenza in those vaccinated. The conclusion: “Universal immunization of healthy adults is not supported by the results of this review.” (18)

The recent update to this study, pooling 38 published studies encompassing 66,248 healthy individuals aged 16 to 65 years, found that “serological flu” (lab numbers) were reduced but actual cases of flu were not reduced. This meta analysis concluded that improvements in overall flu rates in those vaccinated “was extremely modest.” (19)

In seniors:

Seniors over age 70 account for 75% of all flu-related deaths. Since 1980, the vaccination rate in seniors has increased from 15% to 65% but the death rate from flu has not declined. The authors conclude that “the evidence is insufficient to indicate the magnitude of a mortality benefit, if any, that elderly people derive from the vaccination program.” (20)

Contrary to popular belief, studies have found that secondary pneumonia in seniors is not decreased by flu vaccination, and that reduction of mortality through influenza vaccination has been greatly overestimated in this age group. (21,22)

5.) “Fast track” approval of flu vaccines, especially H1N1, leaves safety questions unanswered.

“Fast track” approval means that influenza vaccines do not have to go through the normal regulatory procedures. The H1N1 vaccine approval was especially fast because of the “pandemic” designation. One of the approved 4 vaccines was approved after testing in only 221 people for 21 days. (23) Another was approved after testing on 175 adults for 21 days. (24).

The World Health Organization (WHO) admits that people who get vaccinations will be the “field testers” of their safety. From the WHO website:

“Time constraints mean that clinical data at the time when pandemic vaccines are first administered will inevitably be limited. Further testing of safety and effectiveness will need to take place after administration of the vaccine has begun. (Author’s italics)

… On the positive side, mass vaccination campaigns can generate significant safety data within a few weeks. (Author’s italics) (25)

In other words, we won’t know the safety of these vaccines until we vaccinate millions of people (45 million is the U.S. “target” for October) (26,27); the side effects experienced by those vaccinated will be the “safety data.”

The U.S. Government conferred immunity from prosecution to drug manufacturers of the H1N1 vaccine in July 2009. (28)

6.) Vaccines May Be More Dangerous than the Flu Itself.

In 1976, 200 soldiers at Fort Dix were stricken with the flu, with one reported death. A pandemic was declared and nearly 40 million people in the U.S. received the 1976/H1N1 vaccine before the campaign was stopped due to an increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome, a paralytic autoimmune disease. (29)

More than 500 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome were reported, 25 of which resulted in death. This “pandemic that wasn’t” never spread beyond Fort Dix. (30)

In a recent statement by the The American Academy of Neurology, experts said they don’t expect the 2009 H1N1 vaccine to increase risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome or other autoimmune disease but they acknowledged that this is a concern with any pandemic vaccine. (31)

Mild short-term reactions to the vaccine can include soreness, redness, or swelling at vaccination site, low grade fever, runny nose, headache, chills, tiredness/weakness and body aches and pains. (32) These symptoms are very much like the flu itself.

Life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (a paralytic autoimmune disease) can also occur. (33)

These short-term side effects of influenza vaccination are easier to observe because of their close proximity to vaccination, beginning within minutes to several weeks. Long-term and/or cumulative effects of vaccinations are more difficult to monitor, and questions remain about the long-term safety of vaccines.

For example, the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in adults and autism in children has skyrocketed in the last several decades. These rates are continued to increase. (34,35)

The cause of these increases is not known. Some camps maintain that these neurological disease escalations may be caused by vaccinations, especially since many vaccines still contain mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde and other neurotoxic compounds. (36-39)

The US government, CDC, FDA, and drug manufacturers claim there is no correlation between vaccines and these diseases, (40-43) although many question the quality of evidence used to draw this conclusion. (44,45)

7.) “Herd Immunity” Remains Speculative

“Herd immunity” (community immunity) is the belief that if a portion of society gets vaccinated, weaker members of “the herd” who do not respond satisfactorily to the vaccine (children under two and seniors over 65) will be protected from the flu because those around them have been vaccinated. Much evidence contradicts the concept of “herd immunity.” (46-49)

If healthcare workers get vaccinated, they purportedly decrease the risk of influenza in their high-risk patient, hence the “heavy push” that borders on mandate for health care workers to receive the vaccine. One large meta analysis found “no high quality evidence that vaccinating healthcare workers reduces the incidence of influenza or its complications in the elderly in institutions.” (50)

Conclusions

My purpose in presenting these statistics and studies is to assist the reader in drawing independent conclusions about the true risk of H1N1 flu and advisability of vaccination for same.

We are each responsible for our own “due diligence” when making decisions concerning our health, although many people defer to the media and government for their directives.

Here are the points I see from these studies and statistics:

  1. The safety and effectiveness of H1N1 vaccines has not been proven.
  2. The transmissibility of H1N1 flu is small and the severity mild compared to seasonal flu.
  3. My risk of getting the H1N1 flu is small; my risk of dying from this flu is quite small and no greater than for any seasonal flu.
  4. Flu vaccines confer little if any protection from influenza viruses in my age group.
  5. There is much conflicting “proof” that by getting a vaccination, I help make others around me safer through “herd immunity.”
  6. There are known short-term and possibly unknown long-term side effects from vaccines.

All things considered, I’m going to pass on the H1N1 flu vaccine. I believe there are far safer, better-proven methods to increase my resistance to H1N1 and make sure I have a mild case of it (as most cases are) if I do contract the flu.


References:

1.) WHO Pandemic Phase Descriptions and Main Actions by Phase. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/GIPA3AideMemoire.pdf
2.) WHO Website: Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 – update 67. 20 September 2009. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_09_25/en/index.html
3.) Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance. Researchers say new form of malaria poses threat to humans. Sep 11, 2009.
4.) Michael L. Tapper, MD, Chair. Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza: What You Need to Know About Prevention and Management.Medscape CME; Sept. 29 2009.
5.) Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 2008-2009 Influenza Season Week 37 ending September 19, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly
6.) López-Cervantes M, Venado A, Moreno A, Pacheco-Domínguez RL, Ortega-Pierres G.On the spread of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus in Mexico. J Infect Dev Ctries. 2009 Jun 1;3(5):327-30.
7.) Miller, Mark; Viboud, Cecile; Simonsen, Lone; Olson, Donald R.; Russell, Colin. Mortality and morbidity burden associated with A/H1N1pdm influenza virus: Who is likely to be infected, experience clinical symptoms, or die from the H1N1pdm 2009 pandemic virus? Version 2. PLoS Currents Influenza. 2009 Aug 26 [revised 2009 Sep 2]:RRN1013.
8.) Michaelis M, Doerr HW, Cinatl J Jr. An Influenza A H1N1 Virus Revival – Pandemic H1N1/09 Virus.Infection. 2009 Sep 18. [Epub ahead of print]
9.) Gallaher WR. Towards a sane and rational approach to management of Influenza H1N1 2009. Virol J. 2009 May 7;6:51.
10.) Senanayake SN. A pandemic that’s not bird flu? Pigs might fly. Med J Aust. 2009 Jul 6;191(1):38-40.
11.) World Health Organization website: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/levels_pandemic_alert/en/index.html3
12.) Daniel J. DeNoon. First Doses of H1N1 Vaccine Coming Soon. Medscape Today, September 21, 2009.
13.) “2009 H1N1 Flu Situation Update – September 11, 2009”. CDC. 2009-09-11. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/updates/091109.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
14.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Bacterial coinfections in lung tissue specimens from fatal cases of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) – United States, May-August 2009. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009 Oct 2;58(38):1071-4.
15.) ##K## Smith S, Demicheli V, Di Pietrantonj C, Harnden AR, Jefferson T, Matheson NJ, Rivetti A. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jan 25;(1):CD004879.
16.) ##L## / Jefferson T, Rivetti A, Harnden A, Di Pietrantonj C, Demicheli V. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Apr 16;(2):CD004879.[## no efficacy in children under 2 33]
17.) ##M## Szilagyi PG, Fairbrother G, Griffin MR, Hornung RW, Donauer S, Morrow A, Altaye M, Zhu Y, Ambrose S, Edwards KM, Poehling KA, Lofthus G, Holloway M, Finelli L, Iwane M, Staat MA; New Vaccine Surveillance Network. Influenza vaccine effectiveness among children 6 to 59 months of age during 2 influenza seasons: a case-cohort study. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008 Oct;162(10):943-51.
18.) ##N## Demicheli V, Rivetti D, Deeks JJ, Jefferson TO. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(3):CD001269.
19.) ##O## Jefferson TO, Rivetti D, Di Pietrantonj C, Rivetti A, Demicheli V. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Apr 18;(2):CD001269.
20.) ##P## Simonsen L, Taylor RJ, Viboud C, Miller MA, Jackson LA. Mortality benefits of influenza vaccination in elderly people: an ongoing controversy. Lancet Infect Dis. 2007 Oct;7(10):658-66.
21.) ##Q## Eurich DT, Marrie TJ, Johnstone J, Majumdar SR. Mortality reduction with influenza vaccine in patients with pneumonia outside “flu” season: pleiotropic benefits or residual confounding? Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2008 Sep 1;178(5):527-33. Epub 2008 Jun 12.
22.) ##R## ackson ML, Nelson JC, Weiss NS, Neuzil KM, Barlow W, Jackson LA. Influenza vaccination and risk of community-acquired pneumonia in immunocompetent elderly people: a population-based, nested case-control study. Lancet. 2008 Aug 2;372(9636):398-405.
23.) ##S## Greenberg M, Lai M , Hartel G., et al. Response after One Dose of a Monovalent Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Vaccine — Preliminary Report. New Eng J Med. September 10, 2009.
24.) ##T## Clark T, Pareek M, Hoschler K, Dillon H, et al. Trial of Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent MF59-Adjuvanted Vaccine — Preliminary Report.New Eng J Med. September 10, 2009.
25.) ##U## WHO Website: Safety of pandemic vaccines: Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note 6. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/note s/h1n1_safety_vaccines_20090805/en/index.html
26.) ##V## Daniel J. DeNoon. H1N1 Flu Vaccine Fast-Tracked to September? WebMD Health News, July 17, 2009.
27.) ##W## Daniel J. DeNoon. First Doses of H1N1 Vaccine Coming Soon. Medscape Today, September 21, 2009.
28.) Federal Register. Vol. 74, No. 121. Thursday, June 25, 2009. http:edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-1494 8.pdf
29.) ##Y### Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). General Questions and Answers on Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).September 14, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/gbs_qa.htm
30.) ##Z## United Stated Dept. of Health and Human Services. http://www.hhs.gov/nvpo/pandemics/flu3.htm
31.) Gandey A. Report New Cases of Guillain-Barré After H1N1 Flu Vaccine. Medscape Medical News, September 1, 2009.
32.) ##AB## Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), July 24, 2009 / 58(Early Release);1-52.
33.) ##AC## Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Seasonal Flu Shot Questions & Answers. Accessed Oct. 7, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flushot.htm
34.) Hebert, LE; Scherr, PA; Bienias, JL; et al. “State-specific projections through 2025 of Alzheimer’s disease prevalence.” Neurology 2004; 62:1645.
35.) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. Vital and Health Statistics: Mortality Trends for Alzheimer’s Disease, 1979–91. Series 20: Data From the National Vital Statistics System No. 28. Jan 1996. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_20/sr 20_028.pdf
36.) AF / AFLURIA Manufactured by CSL Limited: Package insert: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182401.pdf
37.) AG / Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine Live, Intranasal: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182406.pdf
38.) Novartis Vaccine (Fluvarin): http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182242.pdf
39.) sanofi pasteur 10 September 2009_v0.3 449/454 Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM182404.pdf
40.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Immunization Safety and Autism Thimerosal and Autism Research Agenda. Last updated – January 30, 2009. Accessed online 10-07-09: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/documents/vaccine_studies.pdf
41.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccine Safety: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine. December 23, 2008. Accessed online 10-07-09 http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/updates/mmr_vaccine.htm
42.) Food and Drug Administration. Thimerosal in Vaccines. Website accessed 10-07-09. http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/VaccineSafety/ucm096228.htm#saf
43.) Karen Midthun, M.D. Concerns Regarding a Potential Link Between Vaccines and Autism. FDA News and Events, April 26, 2001. FDA Testimony before the House Committee on Government Reform. Accessed 10-07-09 http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Testimony/ucm115226.htm
44.) ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. Deadly Immunity. Rolling Stone. Posted Jun 20, 2005.
45.) Cal-Oregon Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated Survey. Generation Rescue, PORTLAND, OR, Sep 25. Accessed 10-07-09 http://www.generationrescue.org/survey.html
46.) Glanz JM, McClure DL, Magid DJ, Daley MF, France EK, Salmon DA, Hambidge SJ. Parental refusal of pertussis vaccination is associated with an increased risk of pertussis infection in children. Pediatrics. 2009 Jun;123(6):1446-51.
47.) Cheek JE, Baron R, Atlas H, Wilson DL, Crider RD Jr. Mumps outbreak in a highly vaccinated school population. Evidence for large-scale vaccination failure. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995 Jul;149(7):774-8.
48.) Briss PA, Fehrs LJ, Parker RA, Wright PF, Sannella EC, Hutcheson RH, Schaffner W. Sustained transmission of mumps in a highly vaccinated population: assessment of primary vaccine failure and waning vaccine-induced immunity. J Infect Dis. 1994 Jan;169(1):77-82.
49.) Sutter R.W, Patriarca P, Cochi SL, Pallansch MA, et al. Outbreak of paralytic poliomyelitis in Oman: evidence for widespread transmission among fully vaccinated children. The Lancet, Volume 338, Issue 8769, Pages 715 – 720, 21 September 1991.
50.) Thomas R, Jefferson T, Demicheli V, Rivetti D. Influenza vaccination for healthcare workers who work with the elderly. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 3, 2009.

 

Hay Fever(Seasonal Allergies, Allergic Rhinitis)

Natural Remedies for Pollen and Seasonal Allergies

Hay Fever (also known as seasonal allergy) is caused by an over-reaction of the immune system to harmless airborne particles such as pollen.

Symptoms of Hay fever can include any of the following:

  • stuffy or runny nose and nasal congestion
  • itchy, watery eyes
  • sneezing
  • coughing
  • post nasal drip
  • sinus pain or pressure
  • fatigue

Hay fever is common in the Spring and Fall when airborne pollen counts are highest.

Although hay fever effects some 40 million people annually, not everyone is susceptible to airborne pollens and particulates. So what makes a person vulnerable to seasonal allergies?

Studies have shown that people with inhalant allergies are more likely to have food allergies. A hypo allergenic diet has has shown to help some people with asthma and allergic rhinitis. (1,2,3) Remember that avoidance of a food allergen, even if it does not improve hay fever, would be expected to improve over-all health.

Pharmaceutical anti-allergy drugs often have undesirable side effects. So what can a person do to decrease hay fever symptoms without using drugs? Here are some of the best-proven natural remedies for alleviating seasonal allergies:

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus): Butterbur has been shown in studies to be as effective as drugs at relieving symptoms of hay fever but without adverse side effects (4-8)

One study compared Butterbur to the drug cetirizine (Zyrtec) and found that both relieved symptoms equally well. However, the drug was associated with a higher rate of adverse side effects including drowsiness.(4)

A second study compared butterbur extract with fexofenadine (Allegra). Butterbur was just as effective as fexofenadine at relieving symptoms.(5)

Because butterbur may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids which can cause liver damage, use only extracts which have the pyrrolizidine alkaloids removed. This will be stated on the label.

Symptom improvement is related to dosage, with higher doses producing more symptom relief. Suggested dose for best effect: 1-2 capsule, 3 times per day of an extract standardized to contain 7.5 mg of petasine per capsule. Look for formulas which state that they are pyrrolizidine alkaloid-free.(6)

Grape seed extract — “nature’s anti-histamine.”

Histamine is an irritating substance released from certain white blood cells (mast cells) in response to allergens. Anti-histamines block the histamine receptor and can improve symptoms of sneezing, itchy eyes and nose. Older antihistamines cause drowsiness, newer antihistamines are associated with heart complications. They are also expensive.

Grape seed extract functions as an anti-histamine by stabilizing the mast cell, making it less ‘touchy” about releasing histamine. Grape seed extract has been shown to performs as a natural anti-histamine. (9-11)

The “side effects” of grape seed extract are actually additional benefits, not unwanted side effects. Grape seed has been shown to improve chronic venous insufficiency (12-17), strengthen collagen and blood vessels(18-22),and help prevent cancer and heart disease through multiple mechanisms. (23-41) Grape seed extract is also a potent antioxidant. (27,33-34,42-47)

Many people find grape seed extract effective for hayfever when taken 50-100mg, 3 times per day.

Quercetin is one of the most biologically active flavonoids, widely distributed in the plant kingdom in such species as oak trees (Quercus spp.), onions (Allium cepa) and tea (Camellia sinensis).

Like grape seed extract, quercetin prevents acts as a natural anti-histamine by preventing the release of histamine from mast cells. (48) In fact, quercetin performs this function so well that it is used in medical experiments as a control substance for such activity (49-51). Quercetin is not well-absorbed orally, so higher doses must be taken, especially at the beginning of allergy treatment.

A water-soluble form of quercetin, available as a nasal spray, is a safe and effective alternative to drug nasal sprays. The effects of quercetin nasal spray are felt within several minutes and last up to two hours. Pharmaceutical nasal sprays work by constricting blood vessels. They can have “addictive” effects on the nasal passages, and congestion becomes worse when they are discontinued. Quercetin does not create dependence or have rebound effects upon discontinuation. (52)

References:

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3. Ogle KA, Bullock JD. Children with allergic rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma treated with elimination diet. Ann Allergy 1977;39:8–11.
4.) Schapowal A, Petasites Study Group. Randomised controlled trial of butterbur and cetirizine for treating seasonal allergic rhinitis. BMJ 2002;324:144–6.
5.) Lee DK, Gray RD, Robb FM, et al. A placebo-controlled evaluation of butterbur and fexofenadine on objective and subjective outcomes in perennial allergic rhinitis. Clin Exp Allergy 2004;34:646–9.
6.) Schapowal A; Petasites Study Group. Butterbur Ze339 for the treatment of intermittent allergic rhinitis: dose-dependent efficacy in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Dec;130(12):1381-6.
7.) Lee DK, Carstairs IJ, Haggart K, Jackson CM, Currie GP, Lipworth BJ. Butterbur, a herbal remedy, attenuates adenosine monophosphate induced nasal responsiveness in seasonal allergic rhinitis. Clin Exp Allergy. 2003 Jul;33(7):882-6.
8.) Käufeler R, Polasek W, Brattström A, Koetter U. Efficacy and safety of butterbur herbal extract Ze 339 in seasonal allergic rhinitis: postmarketing surveillance study.Adv Ther. 2006 Mar-Apr;23(2):373-84.
9.) Iwasaki Y, Matsui T, Arakawa Y. The protective and hormonal effects of proanthocyanidin against gastric mucosal injury in Wistar rats. J Gastroenterol. 2004 Sep;39(9):831-7.
10.) Kawai M, Hirano T, Higa S, Arimitsu J, Maruta M, Kuwahara Y, Ohkawara T, Hagihara K, Yamadori T, Shima Y, Ogata A, Kawase I, Tanaka T. Flavonoids and related compounds as anti-allergic substances. Allergol Int. 2007 Jun;56(2):113-23. Epub 2007 Mar 1.
11.) Sharma SC, Sharma S, Gulati OP. Pycnogenol inhibits the release of histamine from mast cells. Phytother Res. 2003 Jan;17(1):66-9.
12.) Dartenuc JY, Marache P, Choussat H. Resistance Capillaire en Geriatrie Etude d’un Microangioprotecteur. Bordeax Médical 1980;13:903–7 [in French].
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17.) Koch R. Comparative study of Venostasin and Pycnogenol in chronic venous insufficiency. Phytother Res. 2002 Mar;16 Suppl 1:S1-5.
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19.) Monboisse J, Braquet P, Randoux A, Borel J. Non-enzymatic degradation of acid-soluble calf skin collagen by superoxide ion: protective effect of flavonoids. Biochem Pharmacol 1983;32:53–8.
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21.) Galley P, Thiollet M. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a new veno-active flavonoid fraction (S 5682) in the treatment of symptomatic capillary fragility. Int Angiol 1993;12:69–72.
22.) Cho HS, Lee MH, Lee JW, No KO, Park SK, Lee HS, Kang S, Cho WG, Park HJ, Oh KW, Hong JT.Anti-wrinkling effects of the mixture of vitamin C, vitamin E, pycnogenol and evening primrose oil, and molecular mechanisms on hairless mouse skin caused by chronic ultraviolet B irradiation. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2007 Oct;23(5):155-62.
23.) Buz’Zard AR, Lau BH.Pycnogenol reduces talc-induced neoplastic transformation in human ovarian cell cultures. Phytother Res. 2007 Jun;21(6):579-86.
24.) Engelbrecht AM, Mattheyse M, Ellis B, Loos B, Thomas M, Smith R, Peters S, Smith C, Myburgh K. Proanthocyanidin from grape seeds inactivates the PI3-kinase/PKB pathway and induces apoptosis in a colon cancer cell line. Cancer Lett. 2007 Dec 8;258(1):144-53. Epub 2007 Oct 17.
25.) Sharma G, Tyagi AK, Singh RP, Chan DC, Agarwal R.Synergistic anti-cancer effects of grape seed extract and conventional cytotoxic agent doxorubicin against human breast carcinoma cells.Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2004 May;85(1):1-12.
26.) Bagchi D, Bagchi M, Stohs S, Ray SD, Sen CK, Preuss HG. Cellular protection with proanthocyanidins derived from grape seeds. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 May;957:260-70.
27.) Zhao J, Wang J, Chen Y, Agarwal R. Anti-tumor-promoting activity of a polyphenolic fraction isolated from grape seeds in the mouse skin two-stage initiation-promotion protocol and identification of procyanidin B5-3′-gallate as the most effective antioxidant constituent. Carcinogenesis. 1999 Sep;20(9):1737-45.
28.) Hu H, Qin YM. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract induced mitochondria-associated apoptosis in human acute myeloid leukaemia 14.3D10 cells. Chin Med J (Engl). 2006 Mar 5;119(5):417-21.
29.) Zhang XY, Li WG, Wu YJ, Bai DC, Liu NF. Proanthocyanidin from grape seeds enhances doxorubicin-induced antitumor effect and reverses drug resistance in doxorubicin-resistant K562/DOX cells. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2005 Mar;83(3):309-18.
30.) Zhang XY, Li WG, Wu YJ, Zheng TZ, Li W, Qu SY, Liu NF.Proanthocyanidin from grape seeds potentiates anti-tumor activity of doxorubicin via immunomodulatory mechanism.Int Immunopharmacol. 2005 Jul;5(7-8):1247-57. Epub 2005 Apr 7.
31.) Agarwal C, Singh RP, Agarwal R. Grape seed extract induces apoptotic death of human prostate carcinoma DU145 cells via caspases activation accompanied by dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release.Carcinogenesis. 2002 Nov;23(11):1869-76.
32.) Kaur M, Agarwal R, Agarwal C. Grape seed extract induces anoikis and caspase-mediated apoptosis in human prostate carcinoma LNCaP cells: possible role of ataxia telangiectasia mutated-p53 activation. Mol Cancer Ther. 2006 May;5(5):1265-74.
33.) Packer L, Rimbach G, Virgili F.Antioxidant activity and biologic properties of a procyanidin-rich extract from pine (Pinus maritima) bark, pycnogenol.Free Radic Biol Med. 1999 Sep;27(5-6):704-24.
34.) Yang HM, Liao MF, Zhu SY, Liao MN, Rohdewald P. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on the effect of Pycnogenol on the climacteric syndrome in peri-menopausal women. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2007;86(8):978-85.
36.) Mendes A, Desgranges C, Chèze C, Vercauteren J, Freslon JL. Vasorelaxant effects of grape polyphenols in rat isolated aorta. Possible involvement of a purinergic pathway. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2003 Dec;17(6):673-81.
37.) Polagruto JA, Gross HB, Kamangar F, Kosuna K, Sun B, Fujii H, Keen CL, Hackman RM.Platelet reactivity in male smokers following the acute consumption of a flavanol-rich grapeseed extract.Platelet reactivity in male smokers following the acute consumption of a flavanol-rich grapeseed extract.
38.) Holt RR, Actis-Goretta L, Momma TY, Keen CL. Dietary flavanols and platelet reactivity.J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2006;47 Suppl 2:S187-96; discussion S206-9.
39.) Zhang FL, Gao HQ, Shen L. Inhibitory effect of GSPE on RAGE expression induced by advanced glycation end products in endothelial cells. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2007 Oct;50(4):434-40.
40.) Edirisinghe I, Burton-Freeman B, Tissa Kappagoda C. Mechanism of the endothelium-dependent relaxation evoked by a grape seed extract. Clin Sci (Lond). 2008 Feb;114(4):331-7.
41.) Ray SD, Patel D, Wong V, Bagchi D. In vivo protection of dna damage associated apoptotic and necrotic cell deaths during acetaminophen-induced nephrotoxicity, amiodarone-induced lung toxicity and doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by a novel IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract.
42.) Hosseini S, Pishnamazi S, Sadrzadeh SM, Farid F, Farid R, Watson RR. Pycnogenol((R)) in the Management of Asthma.J Med Food. 2001 Winter;4(4):201-209.
43.) Carini M, Aldini G, Bombardelli E, Morazzoni P, Maffei Facino R.UVB-induced hemolysis of rat erythrocytes: protective effect of procyanidins from grape seeds. Life Sci. 2000 Sep 1;67(15):1799-814.
44.) Lorenz P, Roychowdhury S, Engelmann M, Wolf G, Horn TF.Oxyresveratrol and resveratrol are potent antioxidants and free radical scavengers: effect on nitrosative and oxidative stress derived from microglial cells.Nitric Oxide. 2003 Sep;9(2):64-76.
45.) Enginar H, Cemek M, Karaca T, Unak P.Effect of grape seed extract on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant activity and peripheral blood lymphocytes in rats exposed to x-radiation. Phytother Res. 2007 Nov;21(11):1029-35.
46.) Dulundu E, Ozel Y, Topaloglu U, Toklu H, Ercan F, Gedik N, Sener G. Grape seed extract reduces oxidative stress and fibrosis in experimental biliary obstruction.J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007 Jun;22(6):885-92.
47.) Du Y, Guo H, Lou H. Grape seed polyphenols protect cardiac cells from apoptosis via induction of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Mar 7;55(5):1695-701. Epub 2007 Feb 13.
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