Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients back issues from August 2003:
Hyperbaric oxygen: it's fine for burns, okay for horses, but don't ask for it just because you have a leg ulcer or stroke!(Editorial)
Aug 01, 2003; ... In news earlier this summer 5 horses in Lexington, Kentucky were attacked by an unknown human(s) with an injection of a caustic substance, in the middle of the night. The injected material was shot into their upper leg, maiming them immediately. As these horses were saddlebreds, they were ...
Letter from the publisher.
Aug 01, 2003; ... Our theme for this issue was to focus on peripheral vascular disease. Technically, peripheral vascular disease is limited to arterial disease. We have broadened the topic to include vascular disease, both arterial and venous of the lower extremities. In addition, some columnists have ...
Kirkpatrick W. Dilling noted food and drug attorney.(Obituary)(Obituary)
Aug 01, 2003 ... Mr. Dilling was a champion of public health law and counsel to many early pioneers in nutrition; namely Adelle Davis, V.E. Irons, Dr. Royal Lee, and others too numerous to mention. Mr. Dilling died at his home in Northbrook on Thursday, June 19th. He was born in Evanston, ...
Consumerlab.com finds improvement in quality of vitamin C products.(In the News)
Aug 01, 2003 ... In contrast to its prior research, ConsumerLab.com found that all 15 products evaluated in its newly announced Product Review of Vitamin C Supplements passed its testing. CL's previous review of vitamin C products, conducted in 2000, found several products with less vitamin C than claimed ...
Warren M. Levin, MD speaks out on daily exposure to toxic chemicals.(In the News)
Aug 01, 2003 ... Warren M. Levin, MD, Medical Director of Integrative Medicine of Connecticut and Integrative Medicine of New York City is passionately committed to raising awareness regarding the serious health problems related to the daily exposure of toxic chemicals. In that capacity Dr ....
New FDA-cleared, non-pharmacological adjunctive treatment for hypertension.(News Following American Society of Hypertension Annual Meeting)
Aug 01, 2003 ... Results of three new clinical studies presented at the recent Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hypertension (ASH) have highlighted the role of a unique, prescription device indicated for the non-pharmacological adjunctive treatment for hypertension. The pooled clinical ...
Medical students' reflections on patient relationships focus of new book.(In the News)
Aug 01, 2003 ... The same pristine, rural, Upstate New York village that inspired the famed "Leatherstocking Tales" is the setting of a new publication of medical students' most intimate thoughts regarding their earliest encounters with patients. "Let Me Listen to Your Heart," a collection written by ...
Eye health: the $40 billion baby boom problem.(In the News)
Aug 01, 2003 ... Our eyes are our window to the world and reflect our well-being. Over one million Americans over 40 years old are blind. A staggering 20 million are visually impaired. Older Americans' failing eyesight is the leading reason they lose independent living. Deteriorating eye conditions surpass ...
Studies show ingested fluoride needless; children dangerously overdosed.(In the News)
Aug 01, 2003 ... Swallowed fluoride is not essential to prevent cavities and has no nutritional need, according to prominent dental researchers who found that many American children ingest too much fluoride that can decay teeth and damage bones. "Current evidence strongly suggests that fluorides ...
Study shows atherosclerosis in seniors reversed by multimodality natural medicine approach.(In the News)
Aug 01, 2003 ... Older persons with multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease may substantially reduce atherosclerosis through a multimodality treatment program derived from a traditional system of natural medicine, according to a report released in April. The report's findings are ...
Ginseng berry helps fight obesity, diabetes.(In the News)
Aug 01, 2003 ... Studies of the ginseng berry may someday bear fruit for millions of Americans who suffer from obesity and its life-threatening complications. If new work in mice can be duplicated in people, researchers predict the development of novel drugs that deflate spare tires and ward off diabetes. ...
Medical University stops killing dogs for medical training.(In the News)
Aug 01, 2003 ... A doctors' organization that has been campaigning to end animal laboratory exercises at the University of Colorado School of Medicine congratulated the University recently for abandoning such exercises, at least for the present academic year. In a letter to University Chancellor James ...
Nutritional supplementation can protect against many bioterrorism agents.(In the News)(Brief Article)
Aug 01, 2003 ... Dr. Russell Blaylock, a board-certified neurosurgeon, cites in his new book, Health and Nutrition Secrets That Can Save Your Life (Health Press 2002), overwhelming evidence that specifically designed nutritional supplementation can protect against many bioterrorism agents. Dr. Blaylock ...
The indispensable independence tool: Arcoa's EZ Assist Reacher[R] brings items into easy reach for anyone needing an aid to daily living.
Aug 01, 2003 ... Arcoa's EZ Assist Reacher[R] puts hard-to-reach items at the fingertips of anyone needing a little help now and then. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/ cgi-bin/prnh/20021029/LATU020). At home, on the job, or shopping, this new reaching tool is lightweight and easy to use. It ...
Anti-psychotic drugs & diabetes.(Shorts)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Atypical anti-psychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may incite diabetes in some patients, according to The Wall Street Journal (11 April 2003). The results of a FDA review of anti-psychotic drugs and their side-effects, published in Pharmacotherapy (July 2002), ...
Doctor visits by e-mail.(Shorts)(Brief Article)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Surveys indicate that patients who use the Internet want to be able to consult their doctors about questions and non-urgent matters via e-mail, according to a Wall Street Journal article (4 Dec. 2002). A survey by the research firm Harris Interactive found that 77% of adult Internet users ...
Questioning the low fat-high carbohydrate diet.(Shorts)
Aug 01, 2003; ... A variety of low-carbohydrate diets (which allow more protein and fat) are now being tested. A six-month study of Robert Atkins' low-carb diet found that overweight participants on the Atkins diet lost more pounds than those on the American Heart Association's low-fat diet. Those on the ...
High blood pressure.(Shorts)
Aug 01, 2003; ... A recent analysis of national surveys taken in six European countries, Canada, and the United States during the 1990s, revealed that high blood pressure is more common in Europe than in North America. A Reuter Health report (13 May 2003) said that Germany topped the list with 55% of the ...
Lead-linked hypertension.(Shorts)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Lead exposure from paint, water, air pollution and other sources has been linked to high blood pressure in men. Although researchers cannot explain why lead affects blood pressure, a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (26 March 2003) suggests that lead ...
Environmental lead exposure and progression of chronic renal diseases in patients without diabetes.(Shorts)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Studies have shown that low-level environmental lead exposure correlates with age-related decreases in kidney function. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (23 January 2003) found that chelation therapy to lower body lead burden can improve kidney function and slow the ...
Mercury pollution.(Shorts)
Aug 01, 2003; ... An article in Science News (1 Feb. 2003) by Janet Raloff describes how airborne mercury descends to earth and enters the food chain. Coal-burning power plants, gold mining, some chlorine manufacturing plants, and even the breaking of a fluorescent light bulb release mercury into the air ....
Gastric bypass surgery for adolescents.(Shorts)(Brief Article)
Aug 01, 2003; ... An estimated 15% of youngsters are obese. Some adolescents who have been unable to reduce their weight through diet and exercise are turning to gastric bypass surgery, according to an Associated Press (AP) article by Lindsey Tanner. Each year, over 100,000 people, primarily adults, have a ...
Thioctic acid & diabetic neuropathy.(Shorts)
Aug 01, 2003; ... In Germany, thioctic acid, also known as alpha-lipoic acid, is an approved therapy for diabetic neuropathy. The sulphur-containing compound, found in mitochondria, is necessary for converting food into energy. It also regenerates oxidized vitamins E & C, allowing the body to use the ...
Carnitine derivative for intermittent claudication.(Literature Review & Commentary)(Brief Article)
Aug 01, 2003; ... One hundred fifty-five patients with severe intermittent claudication were randomly assigned to receive, in double-blind fashion, propionyl-L-carnitine (2g/day orally) or placebo for 6 months. At baseline, maximum walking time on a standardized treadmill test was a mean of 5.5 minutes in ...
Celiac disease more common than generally recognized.(Literature Review & Commentary)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Serum anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA) were measured in 4,126 individuals who were considered not at risk for celiac disease (blood donors, schoolchildren, and patients seen for routine checkups) and in three groups of people considered at risk for the disease: 4,508 first-degree and 1,275 ...
Oral zinc for warts.(Literature Review & Commentary)(Brief Article)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Eighty patients (mean age, 20 years) with treatment-resistant viral warts (common, plantar and plane; more than 15 warts per person), with a disease duration of 1-10 years, were randomly assigned to receive, in single-blind fashion, oral zinc sulfate (10 mg/kg of body weight/day, to a ...
Vitamin E prevents chemotherapy side effect.(Literature Review & Commentary)(Brief Article)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Twenty-seven patients with solid malignancies were randomly assigned to receive 300 IU/day of vitamin E during cisplatin chemotherapy or cisplatin chemotherapy alone (control group). Vitamin E supplementation was begun 1-8 days (median, 4 days) prior to the start of chemotherapy, and was ...
Ginkgo biloba extract for normal tension glaucoma.(Literature Review & Commentary)(Brief Article)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Twenty-seven patients with bilateral visual field damage resulting from normal tension glaucoma were randomly assigned to receive, in double-blind fashion, 40 mg of Ginkgo biloba extract (standardized to contain 24% flavonoid glycosides and 6% terpenes) 3 times per day or placebo for 4 ...
A hazy shade of winter.(Literature Review & Commentary air pollution)(Brief Article)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured in children aged 9-24 months living in two areas of Delhi, India: one with high levels of air pollution and the other with significantly less pollution. The mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was 54% lower in the former than in the ...
Atkins diet put to the test.(Literature Review & Commentary)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Two new studies support the claim by the late Dr. Robert Atkins that a very low-carbohydrate diet is more effective than a low-fat, calorie-restricted diet for promoting weight loss. In each of these studies, middle-aged obese men and women were randomly assigned to consume a ...
Scrooge department (or, "please don't take away grandma's B12 shots").(Literature Review & Commentary)
Aug 01, 2003; ... One hundred-forty elderly individuals (median age, approximately 75 years) with modestly increased plasma methylmalonic acid but normal vitamin B12 levels were randomly assigned to receive intramuscular injections of 1 mg of cyanocobalamin or placebo weekly for 4 weeks. Patients were ...
Chinese medicine & diabetic acromelic gangrene.(Chinese Medicine Update)
Aug 01, 2003; ... (Abstracted and adapted from The Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus With Chinese Medicine by Bob Flaws, Lynn Kuchinski, and Robert Casanas, Blue Poppy Press, Boulder, CO, 2003) Acromelic gangrene refers to dystrophy of tissue of an extremity due to impaired blood supply secondary to ...
Peripheral circulation and cold adaptation in Raynaud's phenomenon.(Medical Anthropology)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Raynaud's phenomenon is one of those poorly understood disorders that just beg for anthropological treatment. It is a syndrome manifested by attacks of pallor and cyanosis of the digits in response to cold. Raynaud's disease is the most common cause of Raynaud's phenomenon, accounting for ...
Congestive heart failure and biofeedback.(Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology Review and Commentary)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Forty congestive heart failure patients were randomized to be conventionally managed controls or to engage in one session of thermal biofeedback augmented by imagery of hand warming and muscle relaxation. In the intervention group mean increases were: skin temperature 3.1[degrees]F ...
Intermittent claudication/biofeedback.(Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology Review and Commentary)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Eleven patients with intermittent claudication had treadmill walking time limits under 5 minutes, and ankle systolic blood pressure <60 mmHg immediately post-exercise. They were randomized to receive EMG and later thermal biofeedback training for thirty 1-hour sessions over 13 weeks, or to ...
Diabetes, peripheral claudication and biofeedback.(Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology Review and Commentary)(Brief Article)
Aug 01, 2003; ... This is a case history of a patient with type II diabetes mellitus, vascular disease, and intermittent claudication who underwent thermal biofeedback from the hand for five sessions, and then from the foot for 16 sessions, while hand and foot skin temperature were monitored simultaneously ....
Diabetic ulcers and biofeedback.(Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology Review and Commentary)(Brief Article)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Three subjects with nonhealing diabetic ulcers of the toe, ankle and leg participated in 20 sessions of training over 15 weeks with thermal biofeedback at the ulcer site + hand warming training and home practice. Two of the three showed significant healing. Shulimson AD et al ....
Foot ulcers and relaxation training.(Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology Review and Commentary)(Brief Article)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Thirty-two patients with chronic nonhealing foot ulcers were prospectively randomized to either standard medical care or standard care combined with a standardized biofeedback-assisted relaxation training program in the experimental group. The intervention was designed to increase ...
Arterial insufficiency and hypnosis.(Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology Review and Commentary)(Brief Article)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Thirty-eight subjects with peripheral arterial insufficiency, including 14 men and 24 women, age 16-72, were studied in an open fashion. 23 were diabetic, 5 were obese, 3 had Raynaud's, and 7 were healthy. At baseline, during hypnosis, on awakening, and 5 minutes later, oscillometric, ...
Neuropathy.(Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology Review and Commentary)(Brief Article)
Aug 01, 2003; ... This is a review of studies on the psychological assessment and treatment of neuropathic pain conditions, including postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, complex regional pain syndrome, post spinal cord injury, post amputation, and AIDS-related neuropathy. The findings are ...
Wound healing and stress.(Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology Review and Commentary)(Brief Article)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Eleven dental student volunteers submitted to deliberate hard palate 3.5 mm biopsy wounds in the summer vacation time and again 3 days prior to the first major examination of the fall term. During summer, complete healing verified by daily photos took 40% less time (a mean of 7.8 days v ....
Cardiovascular response and mood.(Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology Review and Commentary)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Thirty-two subjects studied while seated and during physical standing exercise for the cardiovascular effects of imagery. Imagery clearly affected cardiovascular patterns (p<.001). DBP increased significantly with anger (p=.005), exceeding changes with happiness, sadness and fear. Anger ...
Peripheral neuropathy: the role of probiotics and other nutrients in neurodegenerative diseases.
Aug 01, 2003; ... When I saw the theme for this edition, I was somewhat taken aback. The reason is that this is a topic close to my heart as a good friend was just diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy. In fact, I'm having dinner with him later tonight to discuss various natural options he has available. ...
The role of insulin resistance in peripheral vascular disease.(Quantum Medicine Update)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Insulin Resistance Syndrome (IRS) plays a primary role in the initiation and perpetuation of disorders of the human vascular system. IRS is an impaired metabolic response to our body's own insulin so that active muscle cells decrease their uptake of glucose. This causes blood insulin ...
The war on cancer.
Aug 01, 2003; ... Teas, Black, Green and Now White What are you drinking? According to a increasing number of scientists your daily beverage of choice should be tea. Black and Oolong tea were standbys for hundreds of years. Then came the taste sensations of the Nineties: green tea, Chai and ...
Butcher's broom: evidence-based phytotherapy for venous conditions.(Phytotherapy Review & Commentary)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Botanical Name: Ruscus aculeatus Other Common Names: Knee holly, pettigree Family: Asparagaceae (including Ruscaceae), and in the broad sense Liliaceae Plant Part Used: Rootstock/rhizome The butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus) is a small ...
Hazards of pressure treated wood.(Health Risks and Environmental Issues)
Aug 01, 2003; ... "Pressure treated" lumber is the euphemistic term for wood treated with extremely dangerous chemicals that are toxic to humans and the environment. Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) gives "treated" lumber a green color. Ninety percent of outdoor wooden structures are made with "pressure ...
Peripheral vascular disease and stasis ulcers: treatment from a naturopathic perspective.
Aug 01, 2003; ... Peripheral vascular disease most often refers to a disease condition of the blood vessels outside of the heart and brain, from which 2 million Americans suffer, and is a leading cause of amputations in the United States. Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) occurs in two general types: ...
The role of dietary polyunsaturated fats in heart disease and atherosclerosis.
Aug 01, 2003; ... In the April 2003 issue of the Townsend Letter there was a letter saying that an article in the Feb/March issue was so much junk. Professor Steve Austin ND had expressed his outrage over the suggestion that saturated fats are good, made by Teri Johnson and John Teta in their article. ...
Sugar, sweet suicide--part II.(Bibliography)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Studies on Sugar's Detrimental Effects If you need more convincing that sugar is bad for you in so many ways, take a look at these studies provided by Nancy Appleton, PhD: (78) Addiction "Sugar, White Flour Withdrawal Produces Chemical Response," The ...
Living longer, yes! But living well? (Simple measures that will help keep you healthy).
Aug 01, 2003; ... Living exacts a toll on us all. There is fossil evidence of arthritic-like conditions in some dinosaurs. Sharks, rats, humans and other species get cancer. But by and large, most nonhuman mammals are spared high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and similar conditions ...
Chewing the fat: the low-carb diet phenomenon.
Aug 01, 2003; ... Richard Allen knew something was very wrong. In the late 1980s, the graphic designer and father of two suffered a heart attack at the age of 35. Thankful that he survived, Richard followed his doctor's instructions to the letter to avoid another heart attack and to avoid making a widow of ...
SARS: breathe easy with herbal solutions.
Aug 01, 2003; ... Modern living poses many new challenges to our immune systems. Not the least of these is the rapid development of new infections, especially from viruses, which with high-speed jet travel now have the ability to spread rapidly across the globe. We witnessed with horror the rise of HIV ...
Nutritional immune modulation therapies for CFIDS--part 1.(Chronic fatigue syndrome)
Aug 01, 2003 ... Immunity today is such an important subject, especially as it relates to the diagnosis and the treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. When I wrote the book Solving the Puzzle of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I wrote that ten years ago, and here I am, still down in the trenches with my ...
Plans to minimize the risk of viral infections--it's all a matter of susceptibility part II: SARS, West Nile, and Monkeypox.
Aug 01, 2003; ... Following the SARS outbreak, we now have to contend with another round of sensationalized, albeit deadly viruses such as West Nile and Monkeypox. Each is its own type of disease, with a single shared commonality--viral in cause. An important observation is that each illness is really the ...
A missing link to chronic illness, allergies and longevity? Vagus Nerve Imbalance/Hiatal Hernia Syndrome.
Aug 01, 2003; ... Could there be a factor either unknown, or not fully understood, by both mainstream and alternative medicine, that can initiate much chronic illness including allergies? Could there be a very dangerous condition in the body that can cause virtually every other organ of the body to ...
The role of Padma Basic[R], a Tibetan-based herbal formula, in circulatory and cardiovascular disease.
Aug 01, 2003; ... Introduction Padma Basic is a mixture of 20 botanical ingredients that are based on a Tibetan formulation known to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Extensive in vitro and in vivo research over the last 30 years has demonstrated that this unique herbal preparation can ...
Nutraceutical consulting firm, Longevity Through Prevention, Inc., launches new website.(In the News)(Brief Article)
Aug 01, 2003 ... Wisconsin-based consulting firm, Longevity Through Prevention, Inc. (LTP) announces the launch of their new website, WWW.LTPONLINE. COM. The site offers a comprehensive overview of the services offered by LTP, along with their client list, client comments and samples of their work. LTP was ...
A critical review of IgG immunoglobulins and food allergy--implications in systemic health.
Aug 01, 2003; ... Food allergy is defined as an adverse clinical reaction due to an immune-mediated hypersensitivity response resulting from the ingestion of a food. A wide variety of foods have been shown to produce allergic reactions including cow's milk; chicken eggs; legumes; fish and shellfish; and ...
From tragedy to triumph one man's journey back to health.
Aug 01, 2003; ... Our Body's Intricate Connection To Soil In the not-so-distant past, people used to ingest beneficial soil and plant-based microbes through their food, once grown in rich, unpolluted soil. During the last 50 years however, our soil has been sterilized with pesticides and ...
Nickel and Bromide for Psoriasis.(Letters to the Editor)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Editor: I would like to discuss some things I learned in re: "Nickel and Bromide for Psoriasis" article (May 2003, #238, pg 88). I have read very many BAD things about nickel; one is that it is the most carcinogenic of all metals ... but anyway, I had mercury poisoning from the ...
Medical intuitive Rhonda Lenair.(Letters to the Editor)
Aug 01, 2003 ... Editor: In your December 2002 issue, you had an article by Dr. Morton Walker about medical intuitive and addictive treatment specialist Rhonda Lenair. I had seen her ads locally, and on the basis of Dr. Walker's article, I called Ms. Lanair's office and spoke to Barry Chalfin ....
Effectiveness of dicalcium EDTA questioned.(Letters to the Editor)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Editor: I would like also to criticize the letter of Dr. Bruce Shelton, promoting the use of dicalcium EDTA. This product has been available in Canada for over 30 years and I began using it in Ontario in place of disodium EDTA in 1987 when the College of Physicians banned ...
Correction notice.(Correction Notice)
Aug 01, 2003 ... The article "Two Anticancer Mechanisms of Vitamins in Humans: A Review" by Reagan Houston, MS, PE, ...
Senate Bill S-722 will give greater authority by the FDA over supplements.(Letters to the Editor)
Aug 01, 2003; ... Editor: When we began Carlson Laboratories in 1965, the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was attempting to classify nutritional supplements as Drugs so they could limit what was sold and limit RDA levels. Passed in 1974, The Proxmire Bill prevented the FDA from ...