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Tuesday, December 03, 2002
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"It's easy to be anti-American; there's a lot of it about. But remember when and where this alliance was forged: here in Europe, in World War II when Britain and America and every decent citizen in Europe joined forces to liberate Europe from the Nazi evil. My vision of Britain is not as the 51st state of anywhere, but I believe in this alliance. And I will fight long and hard to maintain it."
"America has its faults as a society, as we have ours. But I think of the union of America born out of the defeat of slavery. I think of its constitution, with its inalienable rights granted to every citizen, still a model for the world. I think of a black man, born in poverty, who became chief of their armed forces and is now Secretary of State, Colin Powell, and I wonder frankly whether such a thing could have happened here. I think of all this and I reflect: yes, America has its faults, but it is a free country, it is our ally and some of the reaction to September 11 betrays a hatred of America that shames those that feel it." - Tony Blair
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10:17:39 PM 
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By Alan R. Gaby, MD
Healthnotes Newswire (November 27, 2002)—Applying magnets over the knees can relieve chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis, according to a report in Alternative Therapies (2002;8:50–5). The results of this study lend scientific support to this popular, though controversial, therapy for chronic pain.
Forty-three individuals with chronic pain in one or both knees were randomly assigned to wear pads containing magnets or placebo pads over their painful knee joints for two weeks. Participants were instructed to place the pad over the most painful part of their knee joint whenever they felt pain, and to remove it when the pain was relieved.
The study was performed in double-blind fashion: neither the investigators nor the participants knew whether or not their knee-pads contained magnets. Each participant completed a questionnaire before and after the treatment period that assessed severity of pain and functional status of the knee joint. The results showed that the group receiving magnet therapy experienced significantly greater improvements in pain, physical function, and walking speed than did the placebo group.
Although magnet therapy has been widely promoted as a treatment for pain, many previously published studies have found it to be ineffective. Most of these studies, however, used relatively weak magnets (less than 0.1 Tesla unit) to treat deep tissues. The new study, on the other hand, used magnets that were more than ten times as strong (more than 1 Tesla unit) as those in the earlier studies. Because the strength of magnetic a field decreases with increasing distance from the magnet, strong magnets would presumably be needed to project a powerful enough magnetic field deep into the knee joint. In addition, the magnets in the new study were unipolar, whereas those in other studies were bipolar, although is not clear whether this difference was important.
Magnet therapy appears to be safe and can be relatively inexpensive (although some proprietary products are quite costly). Additional research is needed, however, to determine which types of magnets are most effective for the treatment of chronic pain.
Other natural treatments that have been used to treat chronic pain include the amino acids L-tryptophan and D,L-phenylalanine. These substances increase the concentration of certain chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in the brain that are believed to play a role in pain perception. Although some research studies support the use of these amino acids, other studies have found them to be ineffective. Glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) have each been shown to effective treatments for pain caused by osteoarthritis. Individuals interested in using any of these therapies should consult a nutrition-oriented doctor.
Alan R. Gaby, MD, an expert in nutritional therapies, testified to the White House Commission on CAM upon request in December 2001. Dr. Gaby served as a member of the Ad-Hoc Advisory Panel of the National Institutes of Health Office of Alternative Medicine. He is the author of Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis (Prima, 1994), and co-author of The Natural Pharmacy, 2nd Edition (Healthnotes, Prima, 1999), the A–Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions (Healthnotes, Prima, 1999), Clinical Essentials Volume 1 and 2 (Healthnotes, 2000), and The Patient’s Book of Natural Healing (Prima, 1999). A former professor at Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences, in Kenmore, WA, where he served as the Endowed Professor of Nutrition, Dr. Gaby is the Chief Medical Editor for Healthnotes, Inc.
Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Healthnotes and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks of Healthnotes, Inc.
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12:15:53 PM
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By Matt Brignall, ND
Healthnotes Newswire (November 27, 2002)—Children with asthma who supplement with antioxidant vitamins C and E are less likely to experience breathing problems triggered by air pollution than are children who do not take supplements, according to a clinical trial published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2002;166:703–9).
For this clinical trial, the authors recruited 160 children with asthma who were living in the Mexico City metropolitan area. Each child was randomly assigned to take either 50 IU of vitamin E and 250 mg of vitamin C per day or a placebo for twelve weeks. Twice weekly, the researchers checked the asthma symptoms of each child by standard lung tests called pulmonary function tests. The asthma symptoms on each day were then correlated with the severity of air pollution in the Mexico City area the previous day.
When ozone levels in the air went up, asthma symptoms increased significantly in the children who were taking placebo. In children taking the vitamins, however, no increase in lung symptoms occurred with increasing ozone levels. That finding suggests that taking vitamins C and E protects against the adverse effects of air pollution. The protective effect of the vitamins appeared to be the greatest in children who tended to have the most severe asthma symptoms.
The researchers believed that the antioxidants helped by improving the function of the smallest airways in the lungs, either by reversing constriction or by reducing secretion. Previous studies in animals and healthy (non-asthmatic) adults have supported this conclusion.
Air Pollution—A Major Public Health Issue
Ozone is not emitted directly into the air, but is instead a by-product of other pollutants. It is formed by the reaction between heat, sunlight, and the volatile carbon compounds given off by automobiles, factories, and other industrial products. Because heat and sunlight are necessary for the formation of ozone, the highest ozone concentrations are found in hot, sunny climates such as those in Mexico City or Los Angeles.
While clean air standards and regulations on automobile emissions have helped reduce air pollution, air quality remains a serious problem in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that at least 20,000 premature deaths occur every year in the United States due to air pollution. Globally, this number may exceed 500,000 per year.
In addition to triggering symptoms of asthma, ozone can worsen symptoms of other lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Ozone exposure in childhood can impair lung development, leading to increased risk of lung disease later in life. Levels of ozone greater than 85 parts per billion (ppb) are thought to be associated with increased disease risk. Parents wishing to find local ozone exposure levels can consult the EPA Web site (www.epa.gov), where daily updates are available.
What Do These Results Mean to Children with Asthma?
This study supports the notion that supplementation with vitamins C and E protects against asthma reactions that can result from ozone exposure.
Previous studies have suggested that supplementing with antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta-carotene, lycopene, and selenium, may reduce the symptoms of asthma, irrespective of the level of pollution in the air; however, not all studies agree.
The results of the new study suggest that it may be wise to take extra vitamins C and E if one is exposed to high concentrations of ozone (as in many large metropolitan areas). It is not as clear whether children living in areas with better air quality would benefit from a similar strategy.
Matt Brignall, ND is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Bastyr University. He works at the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, where he specializes in complementary medicine approaches to cancer. He has been published in several journals, including Alternative Medicine Review, Coping With Cancer, and the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Brignall also teaches clinical nutrition at Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA. He is a regular contributor to Healthnotes, Healthnotes Newswire, and the Healthnotes Quick!Reference series.
Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Healthnotes and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks of Healthnotes, Inc.
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12:14:24 PM
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By Darin Ingels, ND
Healthnotes Newswire (November 27, 2002)—Using a chewing gum that contains pine bark extract (Pycnogenol®) after each meal and throughout the day may reduce bleeding of the gums and plaque formation, according to a study in Phytomedicine (2002;9:410–3). The findings of this study suggest that people with gum disease or poor dental hygiene may be able to improve their overall dental health without necessarily having to brush their teeth more frequently than standard recommended practices, such as brushing after each meal.
The value of pine bark extract (Pinus pinaster) was first discovered by French explorer Jacques Cartier in the early sixteenth century, when he found that drinking a tea brewed from pine bark was able to reverse the oral effects of scurvy (vitamin C deficiency), such as bleeding gums. Although pine bark extract does not contain significant amounts of vitamin C, the authors speculate the decrease in gum bleeding may be due to pine bark extract’s anti-inflammatory activity. The beneficial effect might also be attributable to the flavonoid content of the extract, as flavonoids are known to support the effect of vitamin C in preventing and reversing scurvy.
In this two-week study, 40 dental students were assigned to chew six pieces per day of gum that did or did not contain 5 mg of pine bark extract per piece. Each piece of gum was chewed for a minimum of 15 minutes. Participants chewed one piece after each meal and the other three periodically throughout the day. Measurements of gum bleeding and plaque scores were taken before and after the experiment.
Gum bleeding was reduced by more than 50% in those who chewed the pine bark extract gum and plaque formation remained stable. However, in those who chewed regular gum, bleeding remained unchanged and plaque formation significantly increased. These results suggest that chewing the Pycnogenol gum decreased bleeding and prevented the buildup of plaque. Since this study used chewing gum, it is unknown whether an oral supplement of pine bark extract would produce similar results.
Studies have shown that other nutritional supplements are useful for preventing or treating gum disease. Using a mouthwash containing 0.1% folic acid one to two times a day may help reduce gum bleeding. However, this treatment should be used with the supervision of a doctor, since using large amounts of folic acid can mask a common laboratory test used to diagnose pernicious anemia. Taking 60 mg per day of coenzyme Q10 may also help decrease gum bleeding and improve the integrity of the gum tissue. Other studies suggest that limiting sugar and refined carbohydrates in the diet may help reverse gum disease. Each of these treatments should be used for a minimum of two months to determine whether they will be effective or not. People with gum disease should consult a dentist or periodontist before undertaking a new treatment.
Darin Ingels, ND, MT (ASCP), received his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and his Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA. Dr. Ingels is the author of The Natural Pharmacist: Lowering Cholesterol (Prima, 1999) and Natural Treatments for High Cholesterol (Prima, 2000). He currently is in private practice at New England Family Health Associates located in Southport, CT, where he specializes in environmental medicine and allergies. Dr. Ingels is a regular contributor to Healthnotes and Healthnotes Newswire.
Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Healthnotes and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks of Healthnotes, Inc.
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12:13:52 PM
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Brain cells victims of video violence. Hours of playing violent video games can affect the way the brain works on a cellular level, causing misfiring of signals between nerve cells or slowing brain activity, researchers reported Monday. The researchers said the adverse effects are most apparent among teens that are diagnosed with a condition called disruptive behavior disorder or DBD. These kids, according to Dr. Vincent P. Mathews of the University of Indiana Medical School in Indianapolis, are the ones most likely to... [HeartMath Report]
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10:55:10 AM
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Tommy Smothers. "Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!"
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10:37:04 AM
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© Copyright
2003
Rick@Leaders.net.
Last update:
1/2/2003; 11:40:27 AM.
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