Townsend Letter back issues from February 2008:
Letter from the publisher.(Editorial)
Feb 01, 2008; ... In a recent series of articles, the Seattle Times lambasted alternative medicine, particularly the use of devices employed for "treatment and diagnosis," devices that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (1) The series was more characteristic of a National ...
Remembering John W. Gofman: scientist, physician, teacher, and pre-eminent messenger of the health hazards of ionizing radiation.(Obituary)
Feb 01, 2008; ... For many of us who advocate prevention as essential to health, the recent death of John Gofman, MD, PhD, is a great loss. If one were to describe the essence of Dr. Gofman, it would be scientific and personal integrity, and this informed his brilliant and original work. Because he stood up ...
Evidence mounts implicating Lyme disease in the autism epidemic.
Feb 01, 2008 ... More proof has arrived that infections play a role in the epidemic of autism. A new article in Medical Hypotheses, "The Association Between Tick-Borne Infections, Lyme Borreliosis, and Autism Spectrum Disorders," was released this week. For this paper, Robert Bransfield, MD, the main ...
Coalition of doctors condemns FDA decision to deny women access to bioidentical hormones.
Feb 01, 2008 ... A coalition of gynecologists, internists, allergists, emergency room physicians and general practitioners responsible for treating thousands of women today criticized the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for taking action that threatens to deny hundreds of thousands of women access to ...
Essential oils combat MRSA bacteria.(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008 ... Essential oils usually used in aromatherapy have been found to kill the deadly MRSA bacteria that is causing increasing numbers of deaths in hospitals round the world. Researchers at the University of Manchester say they have identified three essential oils that killed MRSA and E. coli as ...
Recently tested magnesium supplements free of lead, but one product missing most of its ingredient, according to ConsumerLab.com.(ConsumerLab.com)
Feb 01, 2008 ... ConsumerLab.com reported today that its tests of magnesium supplements revealed one product contained only 46.4% of its claimed amount of the essential mineral, despite boasting a "GMP" (Good Manufacturing Practices) seal on its label. None of the products were contaminated with lead--a ...
Report shows fluoride damages the thyroid.
Feb 01, 2008 ... There is clear evidence that small amounts of fluoride, at or near levels added to US water supplies, present potential risks to the thyroid gland, according to the National Research Council's (NRC) first-ever published review of the fluoride/thyroid literature. (1) Fluoride, in the form ...
Eat chocolate, drink wine, add fun to your life: noted geriatrician shares secrets of staying young--new book packs practical strategies to live better, feel youthful.
Feb 01, 2008 ... Little lifestyle changes can pay big dividends to aging baby boomers who want to stay vibrant, says John Morley, MD, director of the division of geriatric medicine at Saint Louis University, in a new book that outlines a ten-step program to improve quality of life as we age. ...
Fibromyalgia's new foe: high-tech medical device shows increasing efficacy for the debilitating symptoms of FMS.(Fibromyalgia syndrome)
Feb 01, 2008 ... Fibromyalgia patients worldwide are seeing rapid improvement in their symptoms from a high-tech medical device indicated for depression, anxiety, insomnia, and pain. The device employs two distinct technologies, Microcurrent Electrotherapy Technology (MET) and Cranial ...
Longevity news and review.
Feb 01, 2008; ... Longevity News and Review provides readers with the latest information in breakthroughs pertaining to the extension of the healthy human lifespan. These news summaries are compiled by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M; www.worldhealth.net), a non-profit medical society ...
Fibromyalgia and sensory-motor conflict.(Shorts)
Feb 01, 2008; ... A pre-existing sensory-motor conflict may contribute to the pain and sensory perceptions reported by people with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), according to a study by C.S. McCabe, H. Cohen, and D.R. Blake (Rheumatology. 2007; 46(10): 1587-1592). McCabe and colleagues created motor-sensory ...
Fibromyalgia and intravenous micronutrient therapy (Myers' cocktail).(Shorts)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... David Katz, MD, director of the Integrative Medicine Center at Griffin Hospital (Derby, Connecticut), has been investigating the use of intravenous micronutrient therapy (IVMT) to help people with fibromyalgia. Under his lead, the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center initiated a ...
Cognitive behavior therapy, exercise, and CFS/FM.(Shorts)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) helps people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS; a.k.a. myalgia encephalomyelitis) and fibromyalgia learn how to pace their activities and develop an accurate perspective of their energy levels. People with these conditions often live in fear that symptoms ...
Chronic fatigue syndrome and abnormal heart function.(Shorts)
Feb 01, 2008; ... An August 2003 study, performed by Arnold Peckerman, PhD, and colleagues, found a correlation between poor cardiac function and symptom severity in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). In this study, the authors explain that previous research had identified circulatory-related ...
RNase L Pathway and CFS.(Shorts)(chronic fatigue syndrome )
Feb 01, 2008; ... Paul Cheney, MD, PhD, believes that abnormalities in the RNase L pathway, first reported by R. J. Suhadolnik and colleagues (Clin Infect Dis. 1994 Jan; 18 Suppl 1:S96-104) may explain the progression of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). RNase L destroys all cellular and viral RNA within a ...
The Council on Wireless Technology Impacts.(Shorts)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Because we cannot see or feel electromagnetic radiation, most of us do not give its effects a second thought. Yet, electromagnetic fields (EMF) do affect biology. Widespread use of mobile and cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices generates EMF in amounts previously unknown ...
Ribose for chronic fatigue syndrome.(Shorts)
Feb 01, 2008; ... In 2006, Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, and Valen Labs released the results of a study that looks at the effect of D-ribose on people with fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) (J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Nov;12(9):857-62). D-ribose is the sugar that mitochondria use to make ATP ...
Minocycline and strokes.(Shorts)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Minocycline, an antibiotic and antiprotozoal, appears to protect against stroke damage in humans, according to an Israeli study published in Neurology (October 2, 2007). The antibiotic produced significant neuroprotective effects in earlier studies involving animal models of multiple ...
DMSO.(Shorts)(Dimethyl sulfoxide)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a by-product of paper manufacturing, is a powerful solvent that has several physiological effects. It relieves pain, reduces inflammation, softens scar tissue, increases vasodilation, and increases hydroxyl radical scavenging. US investigation of its therapeutic ...
Galileo's Lawyer by attorney Richard A. Jaffe recalls courtroom battles in alternative health care.(Townsend's New York Observer)(Interview)
Feb 01, 2008; ... For over twenty years, I have represented complementary and alternative health practitioners around the country. Some are medical doctors or have other types of health care licenses. Others are unlicensed with varying amounts of training. Their common bond is that they all use treatment ...
Quick and easy raw food.(Web Page Potpourri)(Recipe)
Feb 01, 2008; ... There's no better cure for fibromyalgia than a varied, colorful diet of raw fruits and vegetables. These quick and easy recipes come from a demo I did for our local EarthSave chapter. Enjoy! Useful Tools Knife Cutting board Magic Bullet or ...
Helfgott Research Institute: exploring the evidence for natural medicine.(Pathways to Healing)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Natural remedies are generally less expensive than pharmaceuticals, and natural medicine often relies on diet and lifestyle changes to bring about profound changes in health. In the past, this has meant there wasn't much scientific research on natural remedies. After all, research is ...
Acetyl-L-carnitine for fibromyalgia.(Literature Review & Commentary)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... One hundred and two patients with fibromyalgia were randomly assigned to receive, in double-blind fashion, acetyl L-carnitine (ALC) or placebo for ten weeks. During the first two weeks, patients received daily 1,000 mg orally and 500 mg intramuscularly. During the next eight weeks, the ...
Intravenous vitamins and minerals for fibromyalgia.(Literature Review & Commentary)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Seven patients with treatment-resistant fibromyalgia, with disease duration of at least eight years, received an intravenous infusion of nutrients once a week for eight weeks. Each infusion contained 400 mg of magnesium chloride hexahydrate, 40 mg of calcium gluconate, 3,000 mg of vitamin ...
D-ribose for fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome.(Literature Review & Commentary)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Forty-one patients (mean age, 48 years) with fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome received, in open-label fashion, D-ribose at a dose of 5 g, three times per day, for a total of 280 g. Significant improvements were seen in all five visual analog scale categories assessed: energy, ...
Folinic acid for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.(Literature Review & Commentary)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Forty-two patients (aged 19-64 years) with chronic fatigue syndrome, with or without fibromyalgia, received 25 mg of folinic acid three to four times per day for one to two months. Thirty-four patients (81%) reported a significant increase in energy level and a reduction in pain within two ...
Preventing complex regional pain syndrome with vitamin C.(Literature Review & Commentary)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Four hundred and sixteen patients with 427 wrist fractures were randomly assigned to receive, in double-blind fashion, placebo or vitamin C (200, 500, or 1,500 mg/day) for 50 days. The incidence of complex regional pain syndrome was 76% lower in the vitamin C group than in the placebo ...
Thyroiditis as a cause of chronic fatigue.(Literature Review & Commentary)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Two hundred and nineteen patients with a history of chronic fatigue for more than one year underwent fine-needle aspiration of the thyroid gland. Forty percent of the patients had definite histological evidence of chronic lymphocytic (autoimmune) thyroiditis. In the patients with ...
Allergy to folic acid.(Literature Review & Commentary)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... In a case report, a woman had three episodes of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, after ingesting synthetic folic acid. Intradermal testing with folic acid was positive. A graded, blinded challenge with a folic acid solution led to widespread urticaria at a dose of 160 mcg. The ...
Can vitamin D help you live longer?(Literature Review & Commentary)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... The risk of dying from any cause was examined in a pooled analysis of 18 randomized trials (including a total of 57,311 participants) of vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 supplementation. In most of the trials, the primary outcome measure was related to the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis ...
Do statins increase the risk of cancer?(War on Cancer)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Few drugs are more widely known and prescribed than the statins, which are designed to lower elevated blood cholesterol. These drugs are indisputably effective in reducing low-density lipoprotein, or LDL--the so-called "bad" cholesterol--which has been linked to an increased risk of heart ...
Phytotherapy for chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia: recent developments.(Phytotherapy Review & Commentary)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Rhodiola and Depression Depression is a feature of both chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM). Whether it is a causative factor in these disorders or a consequence is controversial. Either way, depression needs to be treated because it can become a considerable ...
Two tonics evaluated in chronic fatigue.(Phytotherapy Review & Commentary)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Eleutherococcus senticosus is an adaptogenic herb useful in managing the deleterious effects of stress. Ganoderma lucidum is a mushroom used in Chinese medicine as a tonic for immune support. The value of these herbs for chronic fatigue was recently evaluated in two separate clinical ...
Hawthorn and the heart in CFS.(Phytotherapy Review & Commentary)
Feb 01, 2008; ... An early study identified cardiac abnormalities as a finding in CFS. A study of 24 CFS patients who were 50 years or younger found that 100% had slightly abnormal ECG readings, compared to only 22.4% of controls (p<0.01). (1) Mild left ventricular dysfunction was found in eight of 60 ...
Fibromyalgia: turning a diagnosis into a treatment plan.(Optimizing Metabolism)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Give Whole-Person Care Fibromyalgia is sometimes called a diagnosis of exclusion. This is medical jargon for a name that explains a cluster of symptoms for which no underlying cause has been identified. Sometimes medical care centers around sleuthing the underpinnings of the ...
Exercise is medicine.
Feb 01, 2008; ... Exercise and Mood Throughout the vast majority of human existence, movement has been a necessity. It has allowed the migration of the species, been the chief means of acquiring food, and been the primary protection against danger. Movement provided the physiological stimulus ...
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: the warning of a century.
Feb 01, 2008; ... At first, I noticed people were wearing too much perfume, so much that I could taste it. It made me nauseous. I noticed the essential oils my boss used in the diffuser at the supplement store where I worked started to bother me. I found myself complaining about the "insane" amount of ...
Cranial electrotherapy stimulation as a proven effective treatment for fibromyalgia.
Feb 01, 2008; ... Fibromyalgia (FM) has been reported to affect up to ten percent of the population. (1) In most cases, patients are living with the constant, unrelenting symptoms of the condition, including widespread pain in muscles and joints, stiffness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, irritable bowel ...
Super antioxidant from the sea: more potent than EGCG from green tea.(Ecklonia Cava Extract)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Keywords: fibromyalgia, hypertension, sexual and erectile dysfunction, memory enhancement, relaxation and alertness, deep sleep, allergies, asthma ********** Ecklonia Cava Extract (ECE), a polyphenol/phlorotannin rich nutraceutical, is derived from a specific species ...
Statins and increased cancer: The Hidden Story and a new solution.
Feb 01, 2008; ... As early as the late 1990s, almost half of all Americans and Europeans died of heart disease. (1) It has been predicted that, by 2010, virtually all Americans will die of either heart disease or cancer. Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD), a "clogging" of the arteries, became the ...
Healing with electromedicine and sound therapies, Part One.
Feb 01, 2008; ... Introduction In the 1960s, counterculture hippies were urging us to give peace a chance (great advice). To expedite that process, it was helpful to have "good vibrations"--considered so important, the Beach Boys wrote a catchy song with that title. It was easy to tell who had ...
Increasing human body size and its physical and environmental ramifications.
Feb 01, 2008; ... Abstract This article reviews various factors related to increasing body size and its impact on chronic disease and longevity. The health and environmental impacts of high birthweight, rapid growth, early maturation, early adiposity and adult obesity are also covered. ...
The importance of Essential Fatty Acids.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... I want to congratulate Dr. Collin and the staff of the Townsend Letter for the magnificent presentation of Alternative Therapies for Cancer as perceived from the Integrative Medicine perspective. Most of the August/September 2007 issue was devoted to this subject. Especially appealing was ...
Health Canada censoring the Klenner Protocol.
Feb 01, 2008 ... In July 2007, Health Canada began opening Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients' packages from the US with no explanation and returning them to the shippers. This time was chosen because the Canadian House of Commons was in summer recess, and no complaints from opposition parties could be heard ...
Changing habits can reverse diabetes.(Letters to the Editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Type 2 diabetes (commonly called adult onset diabetes) has more than quadrupled in the last 30 years, becoming a major health problem. Diabetes is a direct result of personal choices, and that's why, with proper commitment and determination, it is entirely possible to reverse this growing ...
A call to action.(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2008; ... I am writing to provide information about a potentially serious threat to patients' freedom to choose medical care. To put it bluntly, there is currently an organized nationwide effort to destroy the specialty of Environmental Medicine and to eliminate from practice physicians who diagnose ...
Making progress slowly.(Editorial)(Editorial)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Several weeks ago, I received an email from an Arnold Williams, an 80-year-old man who had some questions regarding the use of riboflavin to prevent migraines. He had been corresponding with a number of people who had had good results with this treatment, and he contacted me because I had ...
Important health information at your fingertips.(Book review)
Feb 01, 2008; ... The Health Detective's 456 Most Powerful Healing Secrets by Nan Kathryn Fuchs, PhD, Editor-in-Chief, Women's Health Letter Basic Health Publications, Inc., 28812 Top of the World Drive, Laguna Beach, California 92651; 949-715-7327 www.basichealthpub.com ...
A step-by-step guide to help you navigate your way through cancer.(Book review)
Feb 01, 2008; ... AFTER SHOCK: From Cancer Diagnosis to Healing by Puja A. J. Thomson Roots & Wings Publishing, P.O. Box 1081, New Paltz, New York 12561 www.AfterShockFromCancer.com or http://www.aftershockfromcancer.com (for press kit) ISBN 1-928663-05-2; Softcover, c ....
Seven Steps to Less Pain & More Energy.(Book review)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Seven Proven Steps to Less Pain & More Energy by Fred Friedberg, PhD New Harbinger Publications, Inc., 5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, California 94609; www.newharbinger.com ISBN 1-57224-459-3; Softbound; c. 2006; ...
From Fatigued to Fantastic: A Clinically Proven Program to Regain Vibrant Health and Overcome Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia (3rd edition).(Book review)
Feb 01, 2008 ... From Fatigued to Fantastic: A Clinically Proven Program to Regain Vibrant Health and Overcome Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia (3rd edition) by Jacob Teitelbaum Avery Publishing Group, New York; Available at: www.amazon.com Paperback; c.2007; $15.95; 448 pp. ...
Successful homeopathic treatment of ulcerative colitis.(Healing with Homeopathy)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Case History We chose to present the following cases for several reasons: 1) ulcerative colitis is a chronic, often debilitating condition not always successfully addressed by conventional medicine; 2) conventional medicine often resorts to using strong medications, including ...
Chronic fatigue syndrome and depression.(Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Forty-one chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients who did not have depression prior to diagnosis were compared to 19 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), 17 with depression, and 36 healthy controls. A battery of questionnaires assessed functional status, mood, fatigue, and psychiatric ...
Chronic fatigue syndrome, neurocognitive function, and perceptions.(Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... In 15 subjects with CFS and 15 healthy controls, CT scans were completed at rest and while performing the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT). No group differences were found for PASAT performance despite CFS subjects' perceptions of exerting more mental effort to perform the task ...
Chronic fatigue syndrome/psychiatric disorders.(Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... In 28 patients meeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition for chronic fatigue and immunodeficiency syndrome (CFIDS), there was a much higher incidence of psychiatric disorder preceding the CFIDS compared to chronically ill medical patients. Seventy-five percent of ...
Perfectionism.(Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... The construct of "clinical perfectionism" has been developed in response to criticisms that other approaches have failed to yield advances in the treatment of the type of self-oriented perfectionism that poses a clinical problem. This study investigated the efficacy of a theory-driven, ...
Chronic fatigue and somatization syndrome.(Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... This German study compared the prevalence of chronic fatigue (CF) and aspects of the somatization syndrome (SSIndex: [greater than or equal to]4/6 somatoform symptoms in men, 6/6 in women) in the general population; 2,412 adult subjects completed a fatigue questionnaire and a screening ...
Chronic fatigue and cognitive impairment.(Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Patients with CFS often have concentration and memory problems. Neuropsychological test performance is impaired in at least a subgroup of patients with CFS. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for CFS leads to a reduction in fatigue and disabilities. Using data of two previous randomized ...
Chronic fatigue and pre-existing emotional aberrations.(Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... The objective of this study was to describe the incidence, prevalence, risk factors, and prognosis of fatigue, chronic fatigue, and chronic fatigue syndrome in 11-15-year-olds. A random general population sample of 842 British adolescents and their parents were assessed at baseline and ...
Dysfunctional adult syndromes.(Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and CFS may share common features with adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In an outpatient psychiatric clinic, a number of adult patients who presented primarily with symptoms of ADHD, predominately inattentive type, also reported unexplained ...
Chronic fatigue syndrome and early experiences.(Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Chronic fatigue syndrome is an important public health problem. The etiology of CFS is unknown, and effective prevention strategies remain elusive. A growing literature suggests that early adverse experience increases the risk for a range of negative health outcomes, including fatiguing ...
Chronic fatigue syndrome and sleep.(Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
Feb 01, 2008; ... CFS has been associated with altered amounts of slow wave sleep, which may reflect reduced delta electroencephalograph activity and impaired sleep regulation. This study examined the response to a sleep regulatory challenge in chronic fatigue syndrome. The first of three consecutive nights ...
More on CFS and sleep.(Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)(chronic fatigue syndrome)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) present a disordered sleep pattern and frequently undergo polysomnography to exclude a primary sleep disorder. These studies have shown reduced sleep efficiency, a reduction of deep sleep, prolonged sleep initiation, and alpha-wave intrusion ...
Chronic fatigue and delta sleep.(Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
Feb 01, 2008; ... Fourteen successively seen chronic fatigue patients (mean age, 41) who denied sleepiness agreed to participate along with 14 healthy controls (mean age, 34) and were monitored during sleep recorded in parallel. After performing conventional sleep scoring, Fast Fourier Transformation data ...
Calendar of events.(Calendar)
Feb 01, 2008 ... FEBRUARY 14-17: HOLISTIC HEALTH ASIA '08 @ the Philippine Trade Training Center, in Manila, Philippines. CONTACT: tel. 632-633-2002; fax 632-634-2387; holistichealth_asia@gsmi.com.ph; hha2008@gsmi.com.ph FEBRUARY 15-16: INTRODUCTION AND CLINICAL APPROACH TO BIO-IDENTICAL ...