Archive for June, 2010

Seasonal Allergies-Avoiding Pollen

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

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Some suggestions for avoiding pollen offered by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology include:

1)Keep your windows closed to prevent pollens from entering your home.
2) Minimize outside activities early in the morning when pollen is
usually emitted-between 5-10 a.m.
3) Keep your car windows closed when traveling.
4) Stay indoors as much as possible when the pollen count is high,
and on windy days when pollen may be more abundant in the air
5) Vacation in more pollen-free areas during the height of the
pollen season.
6) Avoid mowing the lawn and avoid freshly cut grass
7) Machine dry bedding and clothing instead of hanging outside
where pollen may attach to it.

Season Allergies and Back Pain are Topics of the Holistic Health Show

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

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Dr Carl O. Helvie, Host, the Holistic Health Show completed a series on back pain and started a new series on seasonal allergies yesterday on BBS Radio. Dr Steven Y. Park (left) spoke on seasonal allergies and Mr Lou Paradise (right) and Ms Kathi Casey (lower right) spoke on back pain.
Dr Park is an otolaryngologist, surgeon and author of the book Sleep Interrupted: A Physician Reveals The Number 1 Reason Why So Many Are Sick and Tired. More information was presented earlier on this site or can be found at www.sleepinterrupted.com

Mr Lou Paradise is founder, CEO and Chief of Research for Topical Biomedics. a successful company producing natural solutions for pain management. More information was presented earlier on this site and can be found at: www.topicalbiomedics.com

Ms Kathi Casey is known as the “Healthy Boomer Body Expert” and is a registered hatha yoga teacher, certified acu-yoga teacher, certified pilates teacher, and certified in ayervedic physical healing. More information was presented earlier on this site or can be found at: www.healthyboomerbody.com

A DVD Titled Get Rid of Sciatica Pain for Good by Kathi Casey is still available to the first person who contacts me with a name and address for mailing. Your name will appear in the next issue of Healthy Holistic Aging and also on this site.

The Program follows:

 
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DNA and Key Enzymes Damaged by Smokeless Tobacco

Friday, June 25th, 2010

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In a report in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology researchers concluded that smokeless tobacco not only has adverse affects on the mouth but also affects the normal functioning of a key family of enzymes found in most organs of the body and DNA. Functions of these enzymes include production of hormones including estrogen and testosterone, production of cholesterol and vitamin D, assisting with breakdown of prescription drugs and potentially toxic substances. The smokeless tobacco also damages genetic material in the liver, kidney and lungs. These conclusions were a result of changes observed in enzymes and genetic material in laboratory rats using extracts of smokeless tobacco.

Lower Risk for Lung Cancer Associated With Higher Levels of Vitamin B6 and Common Amino Acid

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

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Researchers publishing in the June 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that those with higher levels of vitamin B6 and the essential amino acid methionine that is found in most protein had a lower risk of lung cancer including current or former smokers. The study analyzed blood samples from 385,747 participants between 1992 and 2000 and by 2006, 899 lung cancer cases were identified. These were matched by country, sex, date of birth, and date of blood collection with 1,770 control participants.
After analyzing the incidence rate of lung cancer within the total cohort, the researchers found a lower risk of lung cancer among those with higher levels of vitamin B6 (comparing the fourth vs first quartile of B6 levels) and also with higher levels of methionine. These same results were seen in those who were never, former or current smokers. The researchers concluded “results suggest that above median serum measures of both B6 and methionine, assessed on average 5 years prior to disease onset, are associated with a reduction of at least 50 percent on the risk of developing lung cancer. An additional association for serum levels of folate was present that when combined with B6 and methionine, was associated with a two-thirds lower risk of lung cancer.”

Back Pain and Seasonal Allergies to be Discussed on the Holistic Health Show

Sunday, June 20th, 2010

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On this show I will complete the series on back pain and start a new series on seasonal allergies.

My guests for Saturday, June 26 on the Holistic Health Show are Dr Steven Y. Park (left), Lou Paradise (right), and Kathi Casey (lower right).

Dr Park is an otolaryngologist, surgeon, and author of the book Sleep, Interrupted: A Physician Reveals The # 1 Reason Why So Many of Us Are Sick and Tired His book has been endorsed by the New York Times best-selling authors Christina Northrup,M.D., Dean Orish, M.D., Mark Liponis, M.D., and Mary Shomon. Dr Park is a Clinical Assistant Professor of otolaryngologist at the New York Medical College.
Steve practices integrative medicine and surgery, with a firm belief that other models of health and disease can complement traditional, western medicine. He provides monthly live tele-seminars with experts not only related to his field but also professionals in other areas-he has interviewed acupuncturist, dieticians, and neuro-linguistic programming and hypnosis experts in the past. He believes that treating the whole person including diet, lifestyle, stresses and emotional states, rather than focusing on one single symptom or area of the body is important. Dr Parks will talk about season allergies. More information is available at: www.sleepinterrupted.com

Mr Paradise is the Founder and Chief of Research of Topical Biomedics, a successful company producing natural solutions for pain management. Lou is a Marine Corp helicopter combat and rescue veteran serving two rotations in Viet Nahm. He is very modest about his combat service but his many decorations are for bravery in combat and rescue missions of wounded soldiers, and fellow Marines and for humanitarian rescues of Vietnamese civilians.
During these missions he developed carpal tunnel syndrome that caused severe pain. Using his knowledge of homeopathy, natural medicine, physiology, herbal medicine, and other natural healing modalities he self experimented for relief of his pain. Herbal medicine did not work and homeopathic medicine did slightly. Using his intuitive ability he decided to combine some homeopathic medications and began to see improvement. He refined the product that is now Topricin that treats a wide range of ailments including arthritis, lower back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Mr Paradise has a 25 year history of researching natural medicines, has developed pain management seminars for senior citizens, is considered an expert on rehabilitation and restorative medicine and has appeared as an expert on doctor hosted medical call in radio shows. He has been invited to participate on a committee that interfaces with both the FDA and FTC addressing the growing national interest in natural medicine.

Ms Casey is known as the “Healthy Boomer Body Expert.” She is an experienced registered Hatha Yoga Teacher, Certified Acu-Yogas Teacher, a certified Pilates Teacher, and Certified in Ayervedic Physical healing. She writes a monthly column for the South Shores Senior News, Life After 50, Boomers Forever, Boomer-Living, and other magazines, produces her own TV show called “To Your Health” and is founder of the Healthy Boomers Body Studio in Otis, Massachusetts. Her latest book is Get off the Couch, Potato. More information is available at: www.HealthyBoomerBody.com

***KATHI HAS A DVD TITLED GET RID OF SCIATICA PAIN FOR GOOD THE FIRST PERSON TO CONTACT ME AT THE END OF THE SHOW ON SATURDAY (12:55 PST/3:55 EST) WITH NAME AND ADDRESS WILL RECEIVE THE DVD. THEIR NAME WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEXT MONTHLY ISSUE OF HEALTHY HOLISTIC AGING. GOOD LUCK.

Popular Cancer Drug Now Being Considered for Visual Problems Can Cause Kidney Damage According to Study

Friday, June 18th, 2010

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A study to be reported in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) concluded that bevacizumab may cause kidney damage as a result of severe loss of protein from the kidney into the urine. Conducting a review of published randomized controlled clinical trials to assess the risk of severe proteinuria in patients taking bevacizumab tresearchers reviewed data from 16 studies comprising 12,268 patients with a variety of tumors. Results showed that severe proteinuria occured in 2.2% of patients taking bevacizumab and when compared to patients taking chemotherapy alone patients taking bevacizumad combined with chemotherapy had a 4.79-fold increase risk of developing severe proteinuria and a 7.78-fold increase of developing nephrotic syndrome–a group of symptoms including protein in the urine, low blood protein levels, high cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, and swelling.
Those taking higher doses and those with kidney cancer had the highest risk of developing proteinuria when taking bevacizumab. More information is available at: American Society of Nephrology (2010,June 12). Popular cancer drug can cause kidney damage, study finds. Science Daily Retreived June 13, 2010 from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100610171708.htm

In a second study in the online British Medical Journal researchers looked at bevacizumab to determine if it is a safe and effective treatment for wet AMD, the leading cause of visual loss in people over 50. They compared the group taking bevacizumad to those receiving standard National Health Service care (NHS) in England. Although not approved for eye problems it is currently being used as a cheaper alternative to the approved ranibizumab to prevent wet age related macular degeneration (AMD) by some people.
One hundred thirty one patients with wet AMD were randomly assigned to either bevacizumad injections at 6 week intervals or to standard NHS care. Visual acuity was measured at the start of the study and monitored over 54 weeks. Results showed that at one year 32% of the subjects in the bevacizumad group gained 15 or more letters from their baseline acuity compared with 3% in the control group. In addition, those who lost fewer than 15 letters from baseline were significantly higher in the bevacizamad group (91%) than the control (67%). There were also fewer severe adverse effects in this group. Although this study shows the drug may be effective for eye problems based upon these findings, much more testing should be carried out to determine its safety it would seem.

Do Expectations and Preferences Predict Outcome of Acupuncture as Back Pain Therapy

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

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In a recent study published in Spine researchers concluded that contrary to previous published studies their results on treatment expectations and preferences of patients were not predictive of treatment outcomes for patients with chronic back pain. This was one of the first studies using acupuncture as the treatment and there were 477 acupuncture naive individuals with chronic back pain as subjects. Subjects were randomized to 1 of 3 acupuncture or simulated acupuncture treatment groups for 10 treatments over a 7 week period and were masked regarding treatment assignments. Before treatment subjects were asked about their expectations of treatment success, impressions, knowledge about acupuncture and treatment preferences. Outcome measures included functional status measured on the Roland score and symptoms bothersome and were measured at 8 and 52 weeks by telephone interviewers who were unaware of which group the person being interviewed was in. Those with high pretreatment expectations for the success of acupuncture were more likely to report higher general expectations of improvement,a preference for acupuncture, had heard that acupuncture was an effective treatment, and had a positive impression of acupuncture. Yet, none of these variables was a significant predictor of improvement of back pain symptoms at 8 or 52 weeks. The researchers concluded that the relationship between expectations and outcomes may be more complex that previously thought.

Natural Ways to Deal with Back Pain Discussed on the Holistic Health Show

Sunday, June 13th, 2010

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Yesterday, Dr Carl O Helvie, Host of the Holistic Health Show interviewed Dr Elizabeth Lombardo (left) , Dr Sigmund Mille (center), and Gary Sandman (right) on natural ways to deal with back pain. Elizabeth has a masters in physical therapy and a doctorate in psychology and combines these areas in practice. She has been interviewed for T.V., radio and magazines. More information was presented earlier on this site or can be found at: www.controlstressforgood.com

Sigmund is a chiropractor who has practiced in Florida and
California. He is now the executive director of the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors. More information was presented earlier on this blog or can be found at www.njchiropractors.com

Gary Sandman has suffered back problems as a result of 3 automobile accidents and now is the CEO Founder, Individualized Health Solutions, llc/Signature Supplements. More information appeared earlier on this site or can be found at www.signaturesupplements.com

The Interview Follows. Enjoy.

 
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Fruit Shows Promise in Treatment of Breast Cancer

Friday, June 11th, 2010

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Research published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry in December, 2009 reported that in lab tests peach and plum extracts killed even the most aggressive type of breast cancer cells while not harming normal cells. Two phenol compounds in the fruit were responsible for the destruction of the cancer cells. These were chlorogenic and neochlorogenic found in most fruits. However, the stone fruits such as plums and peaches have especially high levels of these compounds. Two commercial varieties of the fruit were used in extract form–the “Rich Lady” peach and the “Black Splendor” plum. The researchers also said laboratory tests were carried out that confirmed the compound prevented cancer from growing in animals given the compounds.

Meditation and Pain

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

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Research to be published in the journal Pain concluded that people who meditate regularly “find pain less unpleasant because their brains anticipate the pain less.” The researchers studied a group of individuals with varying lengths of time meditating ranging from months to decades. It was only the most advanced whose anticipation and pain differed from non-meditators. The researchers found that certain areas of the brain showed less activity as meditators anticipated pain and this was least active in anticipation of pain for advanced meditators with up to 35 years of practice. Researchers also stated “meditation trains the brain to be more present focused and therefore spend less time anticipating future negative events. Further research should be carried out evaluating how how the brain is changed by meditation. More information is available at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100602091315.htm