Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients back issues from July 2003:
Eulogy.(for David Horrobin)(Obituary)(Biography)
Jul 01, 2003; ... In April 2003 the scientific community lost one of our greatest treasures, Dr. David Horrobin. Born in England on October 6,1939 he was a scholar of Oxford where he obtained a First Class Honours medical degree. To this he added a clinical medical degree and a doctorate in neuroscience ....
Visit www.nordicnaturals.com.(Brief Article)
Jul 01, 2003 ... Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About EFAs But Were Afraid To Ask Nordic Naturals, Inc. announced the relaunch of its website at www.nordicnaturals.com. The premier website about essential fatty acids (EFAs) is organized by user with entrances for practitioners, stores ...
Standard Process opens Learning Center.(Standard Process Vita Kids Learning Center)(Brief Article)
Jul 01, 2003 ... On April 30, the Standard Process Vita Kids Learning Center had its grand opening celebration. The center, which is primarily subsidized by Standard Process, offers Standard Process employees a cost effective way to provide quality care for their children. The 3500 square foot facility can ...
Low quality ingredient appears widespread among Ginkgo supplements according to consumerlab.com; points to challenge for FDA's proposed regulations.
Jul 01, 2003 ... In contrast to its findings three years ago, ConsumerLab.com announced in April that only 22% of the Ginkgo biloba supplements it recently tested met its quality standards. In late 1999, 75% of the products it tested met these standards. Ginkgo, which is used to improve cognitive ...
UCLA researchers find Garlic has ability to reduce heart disease risk factors.
Jul 01, 2003 ... Investigators find more evidence that aged garlic extract may significantly benefit millions of Americans being treated for heart disease or those at high risk for heart attacks. If you, or someone you know, are taking statin drugs to reduce cholesterol or are otherwise at high ...
Nutrition experts renew focus on the health risks of trans fatty acids.
Jul 01, 2003; ... New findings by America's Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences claim that there is no known safe intake amount of artery-clogging transfatty acids in the diet. This news may soon result in the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requiring the listing of trans fatty acids ...
News and views hot off the wire.(Robert C. Atkins dies)(Obituary)(Biography)
Jul 01, 2003; ... The headline was a shocker: Robert C. Atkins, famed diet doctor, dead at 72. The untimely passing of yet one more medical pioneer saddened the 30 million or more who have bought his books, especially those who benefited from his controversial advice for beating obesity. To one who knew him ...
Cargill Dow's Natureworks. (Shorts).
Jul 01, 2003; ... In 2001, Cargill Dow, a bio-technology company formed by Cargill Inc. and Dow Chemical, announced its development of a new raw material made from corn called polylactic acid (PLA). PLA, also called Natureworks, is a plastic-like material that can be used to make fabric, carpeting, wall ...
Creatine for muscle building. (Shorts).
Jul 01, 2003; ... Supplemental creatine increases muscle mass and body weight, especially when taken in conjunction with exercise. The body, itself, makes creatine from the amino acids arginine, glycine, and methionine and uses it, in the form of creatine phosphate, to re-synthesize ATP (adenosine ...
Cultural values & CFIDS. (Shorts).(Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chrisitianity, & Culture)(Book Review)
Jul 01, 2003; ... Cultural values affect the well-being of people with disabling illness, says anthropologist James M. Rotholz, PhD in his book Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chrisitianity, & Culture (Haworth Medical Press: New York; ISBN 0-7890-1493-9). Dr. Rotholz, who identifies himself as a devout Christian, ...
Drug costs. (Shorts).
Jul 01, 2003; ... The rising expense of prescription drugs is causing insurers and employers who pay for health benefits to pass costs on to consumers, especially if a drug's "advantages over cheaper alternatives are not clear and convincing," says an article in Forbes. The amount spent on prescription ...
Exercise start-up. (Shorts).
Jul 01, 2003; ... According to the American Heart Association, only 10% of the US population exercise regularly; yet, 54% are overweight. How to encourage exercise in a society with sedentary jobs, automobiles, and entertainment that involves watching a computer or TV screen? Exercising regularly reduces ...
Natural environments. (Shorts).
Jul 01, 2003; ... Natural environments are known to encourage reflection, rejuvenation, and feelings of transcendence and interconnectedness. Studies have shown that interaction with nature also benefits well-being on the physical, psychological emotional, and social levels. An article in Alternative ...
Trauma units & alcohol/drug testing. (Shorts).
Jul 01, 2003; ... Dr. Larry Gentilello, who heads the trauma and surgical critical care unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital (Boston, MA), says that testing and counseling trauma patients whose conditions resulted from alcohol or drug use could prevent future visits to the emergency room (ER). In 38 ...
Hospital costs for the uninsured. (Shorts).
Jul 01, 2003; ... Ironically, the people who are least able to pay high cost medical expenses -- the uninsured -- are charged extra by hospitals and doctors. The practice was publicized in a New York Times article about a young woman without health insurance, who found herself owing over $14,000 to a ...
Xylitol. (Shorts).
Jul 01, 2003; ... Fran Gare, ND, has written a book called The Sweet Miracle of Xylitol (Basic Health Publications, Inc., ISBN 1-59120-038-5). Dr. Gare came upon xylitol when she was seeking sugar substitutes for her clients. She was director of nutrition at The Atkins Center for Clinical Nutrition as well ...
The war on cancer.
Jul 01, 2003; ... Scientists Identify Stem Cells As Hidden Cause of Cancer In early April, 2003, University of Michigan (U-M) scientists revealed that a malignant form of stem cells may be responsible for the development of breast cancer. According to a U-M press release, this new understanding ...
Atrazine's assault on health and the environment. (Health Risks and Environmental Issues).
Jul 01, 2003; ... Atrazine, introduced in 1958, is the most widely used pesticide in the United States. Between 70 and 90 million pounds of the active ingredient are used annually to combat weeds in agriculture, commercial, and domestic areas. It is used on lawns, playing fields, roadsides and golf courses ....
The integrated Chinese-Western medical treatment of intracranial hematomas due to traumatic injury. (Chinese Medicine Update).
Jul 01, 2003; ... Keywords: Integrated Chinese-Western medicine, intracranial hematoma, traumatic injury, epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma Trauma is the most common cause of death in young people, and head injury accounts for almost half of these trauma-related deaths. The prognosis following ...
Hypothyroidism, temperature regulation, and ethnoscience. (Medical Anthropology).
Jul 01, 2003; ... As spring opens up the Northern hemisphere to a variety of outdoor activities, many people flock to nature. However unlike our ancestors, who developed rapid physiological adaptations to outdoor activity and temperature changes through adjustments in basal metabolic rate, circulation and ...
Consuming whole foods in their raw, uncooked state: a personal interview with raw food nutrition expert, David Wolfe. (Medicinal Properties in Whole Foods).(Interview)
Jul 01, 2003; ... A short time ago, I had the opportunity to listen to a knowledgeable and charismatic expert in raw, whole food nutrition, David Wolfe. David has written several popular, informative and inspirational books about nutrition including Eating For Beauty and The Sun food Diet Success System ....
Probiotics and enzyme therapy for sports.
Jul 01, 2003; ... Because I do so much work with enzymes and probiotics (my latest book, The Probiotic Solution (1) should be for sale now if you're interested) I got to thinking about how they may apply to sports and sports medicine, from a natural product perspective. In the book, I covered everything ...
Neuroendocrine effects of over-training syndrome in endurance athletes. (Phytotherapy Review & Commentary).
Jul 01, 2003; ... Summary After a discussion of the current research on overtraining syndrome and the involvement of the neuroendocrine and immune systems in the development of this disorder, it will be proposed that overtraining syndrome is primarily an autonomic failure linked to repeated ...
Think homeopathy for sports injuries. (Healing with Homeopathy).
Jul 01, 2003; ... [Some material from this article is excerpted from our book, Homeopathic Self-Care: The Quick and Easy Guide for the Whale Family, Prima Publishing, 1997] Try It and You Will Be Convinced Arnica montana has undoubtedly won more converts to homeopathy than any other ...
Does glutathione enhance exercise performance? A case study.
Jul 01, 2003; ... Glutathione Determinants Endogenous glutathione, a tripeptide often referred to as "Reduced Glutathione," is composed of three amino acids: L-Cysteine, Glycine, and L-Glutamic Acid. Smaller peptides of 2 or 3 amino acids are absorbed without further reduction or delay, but there ...
Trigger point acupuncture and sports injuries-exciting new developments!
Jul 01, 2003; ... Abstract In recent years, many physicians, particularly in Britain, have added to the understanding of acupuncture. Instead of mystical, vague and energetic theories, they have focused on pragmatic, results-oriented techniques. This has resulted in new styles of acupuncture that ...
Chronic fatigue, aging, mitochondrial function and nutritional supplements.
Jul 01, 2003; ... Abstract Intractable fatigue is the most common complaint of patients seeking medical care, and in most patients it is a chronic condition that is not reversed by sleep or rest. Although fatigue is a complex phenomenon, it has been defined recently as a multi-component ...
Biometric analysis of controlled clinical study for sleep formulation on multiple parameters of aging-related dysfunctions.
Jul 01, 2003; ... Abstract In this paper, the authors establish the construct and timing of sleep, and explore the common reasons why adult men and women fail to achieve restful, restorative sleep. From this, the authors submit that natural sleep promoting agents can quicken the time necessary to ...
Current recommended safe levels of vitamin A intake do not cause increased fracture rate.
Jul 01, 2003; ... Abstract Although recent reports suggest a potential link between excess vitamin A levels and risk of fracture, detailed analysis of the data shows that fracture rates increase only among individuals consuming more than the current recommended upper level of safe intake of 3,000 ...
Sugar, sweet suicide--part I.
Jul 01, 2003; ... With only 16 calories per teaspoon, what's the harm in a little sugar? Problem is, we can't get enough of the stuff. In a world where soft drinks and processed foods have become dietary staples in lieu of fresh fruit and vegetables, fiber-rich grains, and pure water, people are swallowing ...
SARS: plans to minimize the risk of viral respiratory infections--"it's all a matter of susceptibility".
Jul 01, 2003; ... Fortifying your body and preparing its natural immune defenses is absolutely essential, more than ever before. In addition to known lethal viruses such as the common flu, Hepatitis B and C, and HIV, the SARS virus represents the latest onslaught of life threatening viruses. Doctors and ...
The doctor as patient. (Letters to the Editor).
Jul 01, 2003 ... Editor: I have often been in the position of discussing the needs of the patient, and how sometimes doctors are unaware of the fears, questions, and general uneasiness engendered by the complex and intimidating nature of medical treatment. However, no amount of reading, ...
Cancer--back to basics. (Letters to the Editor).
Jul 01, 2003 ... Cancer: A wake-up call urging us to make fundamental changes in how we nourish our body. Editor: Cancer, unfortunately, affects Americans across the board in ever-greater numbers. Some segments of the American population are harder hit than others, but as we all ...
The origin of the Atkins diet. (Letters to the Editor).
Jul 01, 2003 ... Editor: I was saddened to learn of the untimely accidental death of my colleague, Dr. Robert Atkins. Your readers may be interested in the stimulus for the "Atkins diet" as personally related to me by Bob when my wife and I dined with him. Bob called three decades ...
Further strategies in treating advanced cancer. (Letters to the Editor).
Jul 01, 2003 ... Editor: Readers of the Townsend Letter may have an interest in what got me involved in medicine. When I was age 15 in 1926, my mother at age 40 was suffering from pernicious anemia. She was bedfast and white as a sheet and not expected to live for long. A young ...
Chelation article critiqued. (Letters to the Editor).
Jul 01, 2003 ... Editor: In the Winter 2003 Journal of Biomedical Therapy, a publication dedicated to better understanding and use of homotoxicological remedies, promoted by the Heel Company, Dr. Bruce Shelton offered a brief article which irritates me as a chelating physician of 19 years. I ...
West Nile Virus heads west. (Letters to the Editor).
Jul 01, 2003 ... Editor: West Nile Virus (WNV) carried by infected mosquitoes and first reported in the New York metropolitan area, summer of 1999, is expected to reach Northwest communities this summer. When transmitted to humans the virus is usually mild with no symptoms at all. It can ...
Bowen therapy: an innovative modality that completes our holistic practice. (Letters to the Editor).
Jul 01, 2003 ... Editor: Bodywork has traditionally been a cornerstone of any complete holistic practice in naturopathy, offering patients assistance with relaxation, immediate improvements in injury-induced pain and diminished mobility, and sometimes even restructuring of the body's energy ...
The mineral that could have saved 4 million women. (Letters to the Editor).
Jul 01, 2003 ... Editor: Modern medicine has made a remarkable admission. Its failure to utilize a simple, inexpensive intravenous mineral drip might have saved the lives of millions of women over the past century. Modern medicine knew about the cure since 1906. [New England Journal Medicine ...
American heart association diet bad for heart. (Letters to the Editor).
Jul 01, 2003 ... Editor: For many years I have been avoiding fluoridated and chlorinated water. I drink bottled spring water and the harder the better. I have some remarks abut the article by Joseph Hattersley on "The Negative Health Effects of Chlorine" in the May 2003 issue of the ...
Von Recklinghausen disease. (Letters to the Editor).
Jul 01, 2003 ... Editor: Recently my 12 month old grandson was diagnosed with "NF1" or neurofibromatosis often called von Recklinghausen disease, or the "Elephant Man" condition. He is showing mild symptoms of being brain affected: has not crawled, when sitting alone does not move himself much ...
Prescription-drug toxicity: a major epidemic. (Editorials).
Jul 01, 2003 ... It has been known since the 1960s that adverse reactions to medications are extremely common. Studies published periodically in the Journal of the American Medical Association, New England Journal of Medicine, Archives of Internal Medicine, and elsewhere, indicate that as many as 5% of ...
Federal Trade Commission policing alternative medicine approaches to SARS. (Editorial).
Jul 01, 2003 ... The SARS epidemic remains a daily news item as Chinese public health officials attempt to control new cases of thc mysterious infection. International cooperation has largely controlled the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) primarily by isolation and quarantine of acute cases. As of ...
Why America may be overconfident about SARS and its worsening global trend. (Guest Editorial).(Editorial)
Jul 01, 2003 ... This is the most important article I have written on Sudden Acute respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Please read it through and take it seriously. I see two extremes here. Some are overreacting to the point that they seldom go outdoors. On the other hand, many in America look at our zero death ...
Arthritis and its Homeopathic treatment. (Book Corners).
Jul 01, 2003; ... This article is excerpted from Homeopathic Family Medicine, an eBook by Dana Ullman, MPH, available at http://www.homeopathic.com (see this website for 7 other free sample chapters, to purchase this eBook, or to purchase a two-year subscription to ongoing updates of this eBook). ...
Keeping up with nutritional research. (Book Corners).(Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease: The Only System Scientifically Proven to Reverse Heart Disease Without Drugs)(Book Review)
Jul 01, 2003; ... www.PowerHealth.net Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease: The Only System Scientifically Proven to Reverse Heart Disease Without Drugs Ivy Books, 2002 (reprint). ISBN: 0804110387. Dr. Ornish's book claims to be based on "the ...
The importance of hormones. (Book Corners).(The Miracle of Natural Hormones)(Book Review)
Jul 01, 2003; ... The Miracle of Natural Hormones, 3rd edition By David Brownstein, MD Published by Medical Alternatives Press, 4173 Fieldbrook, West Bloomfield, Michigan 48323 USA Paperback, ISBN 0-9660882-0-4;232 pp. $15.00; 888-647-5616 The Miracle of Natural ...
Science-based botanical reference. (Book Corners).(Botanical Medicines: The Desk Reference for Major Herbal Supplements)(Book Review)
Jul 01, 2003; ... Botanical Medicines: The Desk Reference for Major Herbal Supplements (2nd edition) by Dennis J. McKenna, PhD; Kenneth Jones; Kerry Hughes, MSc, with Sheila Humphrey, IBCLC Haworth Herbal Press. 10 Alice St., Binghamton, New York 13904-1580 USA; Phone ...
An overlooked health problem. (Book Corners).(Dangerous Grains, Why Gluten Cereal Grains May Be Hazardous to Your Health)(Book Review)
Jul 01, 2003; ... Dangerous Grains, Why Gluten Cereal Grains May Be Hazardous to Your Health by James Braly, MD and Ron Hoggan, foreword by Jonathan Wright, MD 2002, Avery, available from Price Pottenger Nutrition Foundation, 800-366-3748 Quality paperback, 244 pp, $14.95 ...
The healthcare field of fear. (Book Corners).(Healing Without Fear: How to Overcome your Fear of Doctors, Hospitals, and the Health Care System and find your Way to True Healing)(Book Review)
Jul 01, 2003; ... Healing Without Fear: How to overcome your fear of Doctors, Hospitals, and the Health Care System and find your Way to True Healing by Laurel Ann Reinhardt, PhD; Foreword by James Jealous, DO Healing Arts Press, One Park Street, Rochester, Vermont 05767 USA; ...
Treating hormonal deficiencies in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome--Part 1: the importance of treating hormonal deficiencies despite normal blood tests. (Highly Effective Treatments for Pain and Fatigue).
Jul 01, 2003; ... In the last five issues we talked about hypothalamic dysfunction in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia (CFS/Fibromyalgia). The hypothalamus acts as a circuit breaker in the face of severe stress (both physical and/or situational), which can help to protect the body. Unfortunately, ...
Piriformis syndrome & acupuncture. (Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
Jul 01, 2003; ... Keywords: Chinese medicine, acupuncture, piriformis syndrome The piriformis muscle lies deep to the gluteal muscles. It originates from the sacral spine and attaches to the greater trochanter of the femur. Its function is to externally rotate the hip as well as to help abduct ...
Marketing tips what is positioning for success?
Jul 01, 2003; ... You may have heard of the term "positioning." It sounds and is, strategic. But positioning is a necessary part of building your business so that you are recognizable and dramatically different from your competition. Here's another term: "mind share." When you have positioned ...
Web page potpourri: a column devoted to informative alternative health resources on the internet.
Jul 01, 2003; ... Biomedicine and Health in the News http://library.uchc.edu/bhn/ Health and Medicine in the News http://www.biomed.lib.umn.edu/hmed/index.html Newspapers and magazines generally report scientific findings without providing an easy way to track ...
Calendar.
Jul 01, 2003 ... CALL FOR ABSTRACTS for the 1st International Conference on Psychophysiology of Panic Attacks (September 5-8 in London, UK) addressing one or more of the conference themes: individual differences in panic attack symptomology; co-morbidity of panic attacks and anxiety/depression/OCD; panic ...
Sports supplementation for women. (Women's Health Update).
Jul 01, 2003; ... Women have long been aware of the benefits of exercise in reducing the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and breast cancer, not to mention weight management. Ever since title IX in the early 1970s, females have been participating in sports and athletic activities in ever ...
Accelerating the healing of injuries with nutrients. (Nutritional Influences on Illness).
Jul 01, 2003; ... 4751 Viviana Drive Tarzana, California 91356 USA Phone 818-996-0076 Fax 818-774-1575 Recovery from injuries due to outdoor activities can often be hastened with the aid of nutritional supplements. Take vitamin C and the healing of fractures as ...
Correction notices.(Correction Notice)
Jul 01, 2003 ... Editor: thank you for publishing your review of Dr. Rogers' book Detoxify or Die. The correct toll free number is 800-846-6687. roberth@prestigepublishing.com Editor: Thank you for publishing my article "Autoimmune Disease and Women." However, ...
Literature review & commentary.
Jul 01, 2003; ... Ginkgo biloba extract prevents altitude sickness Forty-four individuals undertaking a Himalayan expedition to an elevation of 17,550 feet were randomly assigned to receive 80 mg of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 twice a day or a placebo. As assessed by cerebral symptoms, no ...