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Tag Archives: natural health
5 Reasons Why You Should Take Cold Showers
There's nothing like a warm shower when we want to relax or even warm up on a cold winter day. The idea of subjecting ourselves to cold showers can actually seem crazy at times given how luxurious it has become to enjoy hot showers. But the truth is a cold shower can provide a lot of benefits that you may want to consider.
1. Improves Immunity & Circulation
Running cold water over your body at the end of a shower can improve circulation as blood is sent throughout your arteries to surround your organs. It can be viewed in the same way we run certain systems at high performance every so often to keep it maintained and well oiled. Increased blood flow can also help certain skin and heart issues as well as lower blood pressure, help clear blocked arteries and improve our immune system.
2. Improves Hair and Skin Condition
Hot water can dry out your skin and hair. Of course, it doesn't help that there are high levels of chlorine coming out of our showers which has a drying-out effect on skin and hair as well. If you can run your shower colder or finish cold at the end, it's a natural way to keep your skin and hair from drying out as cold water tightens cuticles and pores. This helps to prevent natural oils on the scalp and skin to be stripped away so easily. By keeping a proper oil balance you will have soft, shiny natural looking hair. This also helps to keep the skin and scalp cleaner as well.
3. Increase Alertness
Have you ever woken up early in the morning and felt tired hopping in the shower and as you feel the warm water running over your body you want to jump right back into bed? This is where cold showers can come in handy. As cold water hits your neck it causes you to do that almost slightly shocked deep breath. This increases oxygen intake and also gets the heart rate up which pumps blood through the body faster giving the body a nice natural surge of energy.
4. Eases Stress & Depression
Cold showers have also been shown to help decrease stress levels. One study found that exposure to cold helped decrease uric acid levels and increase glutathione, an antioxidant considered to be one of the most important for a healthy body.[1] The participants swam regularly in ice-cold water during the winter months and it was found that they adapted to repeated oxidative stress.
Another study found that cold hydrotherapy (i.e. cold showers) helped to improve moods and had an anti-depressive effect with no bad side effects or creation of dependency. Subjects were tested with one to two cold showers at 38 degrees Fahrenheit that were two to three minutes long. These were followed by a five-minute gradual adaptation to make the procedure less shocking.[2]
5. Speeds Up Muscle Soreness and Recovery
A study conducted in 2009 found that people who rested or immersed themselves in cold water after their exercise saw a decrease in onset muscle soreness caused by resistance training, cycling or running. It was found that a 24 minute bath in water with temperatures around 10 – 15 degrees celsius (50F – 59F) was most effective. Taking a cold shower after your workouts would still have a positive effect on muscle soreness as well. The longer you go the greater the benefit.[3]
How To
So how do you do it? Well you turn on the water cold and hop in.. sort of. There's actually some differing ideas on exactly how to take a cold shower and one of the ways that I've used most is listed below from blog.iamgary.com.
- Turn the water on, set to cold. Some people will tell you to start warm and decrease the temperature slowly each time you shower, then start a little colder each day. Yes, that method will eventually result in taking a cold shower but you're going to miss out on the heart-pounding exhilaration that you only experience fully the first couple times you take a cold shower. It doesn't have to be ice cold, just cold.
- Feet first. Your feet will adjust to the temperature fastest so get them under the spray and work your lower body under the water as quickly as you can. By the time the water is splashing your stomach you'll be looking for a distraction so…
- Hands second. Get your hands and arms wet, then splash water over your torso. By now your legs and front should be thoroughly wet.
- Head under! You're going to be be breathing heavily and involuntarily so be careful not to inhale any water through your nose or mouth. You're going to feel alright, like hey I can do this, but you've forgotten part of your body…
- Back last. Millions of nerve fibres are routed through your spine so getting your back wet is the hardest part. You're going to feel a lot of sensations, almost an electrical charge crackling up and down your back. Get this wet last then finish washing and scrubbing. Good job, you've taken a cold shower.
Guide To Using Citrus Oils For Wintery Ailments
Essential oils are used in the practice of aromatherapy for certain health problems. Citrus oils are light, uplifting oils that are particularly useful as the darker winter months approach. Although we traditionally think of warming oils, such as ginger and nutmeg, for winter ailments, citrus oils can uplift your mood and remind you of the warmer summer months!
Orange Essential Oil
There are various types of orange oil; these include bitter orange, sweet orange, orange blossom and petitgrain essential oils. However, both bitter orange (Citrus aurantium var. amara) and sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) oil are the traditional citrus oils. Bitter orange and sweet orange are obtained from similar trees, although the sweet orange tree is smaller than the bitter orange tree. The fruits of the bitter orange tree are smaller than the fruits from the sweet orange tree. Both oils, which are obtained by expression of the fruit, have a sweet, orange aroma. Orange essential oil is useful for stress, colds and flu.
Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon (Citrus limon) oil is also obtained by expression of the fruit from the lemon tree. Lemon is a light, uplifting aroma. It has several properties but is especially useful for the treatment of colds, flu and infections. Lemon is traditionally found in many over-the-counter remedies.
Grapefruit Essential Oil
Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi) oil is not as well known as lemon or orange oil but it also has several aromatherapy uses. Grapefruit is a hybrid of Citrus maxima and Citrus sinensis. It is also obtained by expression of the fruit from the grapefruit tree. You can use grapefruit oil in a similar way to both lemon and orange oils. In addition, grapefruit is recommended for depression and nervous exhaustion.
Lime Essential Oil
Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) is sometimes used in place of lemon oil because the two oils share similar properties. Lime oil is extracted by expression of the fruit of the lime tree, although there is a distilled variety available too. Use lime oil for winter ailments such as colds, flu and infections.
Mandarin Essential Oil
Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) oil is often confused with orange oil, as the two fruits look very similar. Mandarins originated from the Far East and were brought to Europe and North America in the 19th century. In North America, mandarin is known as tangerine, although the tangerine species is slightly different in appearance than the European mandarin. Both oils are useful for insomnia, nervous disorders and digestive problems.
How to Use Citrus Oils for Winter
You can use citrus oils for winter problems in a couple of ways, depending on the type of problem. An aromatherapy diffuser is a good idea if you want to disperse the fragrance around a room to create an uplifting aroma or dispel cold and flu symptoms. However, for more specific cold and flu problems, use citrus oils in a massage oil. You can also use citrus aromatherapy candles; just make sure that they contain true essential oils and not fragrance oils, as fragrance oils have no therapeutic properties.
Cautions for Using Essential Oils
The majority of citrus oils are photo-toxic, which means that your sensitivity to sunlight increases, if you use them directly before going out into sunlight. However, citrus essential oils that are distilled are usually not photo-toxic. In addition, sweet orange essential oil is not known to be photo-toxic. If you are unfamiliar with the use of essential oils, consult a qualified aromatherapist for further advice before using them. Consult a medical practitioner also, if you have a health condition that may present contraindications for use (such as high blood pressure, pregnancy etc).
Citrus Oils for Winter
Citrus oils are an uplifting alternative to more traditional winter oils. They have several properties that help with common winter problems – and remind us that the warm days of summer may be gone for now, but the aroma still lives on!
Why The Apple Is One Of The World's Most Healing Superfoods
This commonly overlooked superfood protects the body from nuclear fallout, kills a wide range of cancers, and keeps the arteries unclogged — to name but a few, experimentally confirmed ways in which the apple awakens your inner physician.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
This age old saying has never rang with greater promise and authority than it does today. As in the modern era, doctors bring with them a battery of tests, drugs, and interventions, all of which carry unintended, adverse health risks that often outweigh their purported benefits, and are therefore best avoided whenever possible.
Also, apples are also far cheaper than doctors, and in the worst case scenario of coerced or mandatory treatment can be thrown as a non-deadly (downright nutritious) form of self-defense.
While some might take this opening aphorism as mere folk medicine fantasy, the reality is that the medicinal properties of apple are well-documented within the biomedical literature.
For instance, apple consumption has been the subject of quite a few studies on colorectal cancer risk reduction. [i] [ii] [iii] Other cancers that apple constituents have been studied to kill in pre-clinical research include:
- Liver Cancer: apple juice, apple pectin and apple peel has been experimentally confirmed to kill liver cancer,[iv]
- Breast Cancer: apples have been found to both prevent and to suppress mammary cancers in the animal model.[v]
- Multi-Drug Resistant Cancer: carotenoids extracted from apple have been found to inhibit drug resistant cancer cell line proliferation.[vi]
- Esophageal Cancer: An apple-derived procyanidin has been found to suppress esophageal cancer. [vii]
- Stomach Cancer: One of the ways in which apple constituents prevent stomach cancer is through their inhibition of Helicobacter pylori, one of the main infectious agents linked to both ulcer and gastric cancer.[viii] But apple procyanidin has also been studied for its ability to directly induce programmed cell death within stomach cancer cells.[ix]
It is likely that many of the fundamental processes involved in cancer initiation and promotion are inhibited by apples and their constituents, and therefore apples may protect against far more cancers than referenced above. It appears that no matter what part of apple is studied, it has anti-tumor properties. Apple cider vinegar, for instance, has been found to contain an anti-tumor compound which results from the acetic acid fermentative process known as alpha-glycan.
Another proven way in which apples reduce the risk of cancer is through their ability to remove carcinogenic radioisotopes that have accumulated in our bodies as a result of the fallout from nuclear weapons, depleted uranium munitions, and nuclear energy and disaster-associated pollution, e.g. Chernobyl and Fukushima.
Post-Chernobyl, for instance, apple pectin was used to reduce Cesium-137 levels in exposed children, in some cases by over 60%.[x] From 1996 to 2007, a total of more than 160,000 "Chernobyl" children received pectin food additives. As a result, levels of Cs-137 in children's organs decreased after each course of pectin additives by an average of 30-40%.[xi] Significant reductions were noted in as short a time period as 16 days.[xii] Apple pectin has even been found to prevent the most deadly, and entirely man-made radioisotope, Plutonium-239, from absorbing in the gastrointestinal tract of animals fed it.[xiii]
We could, therefore, modernize our apple aphorism by saying "an apple a day keeps the nuclear fallout away." And truly, there are very few other substances, natural or synthetic, that have ever been found to protect against plutonium exposure. Apples, therefore, are truly super-foods in this respect.
Other noteworthy "evidence-based" medicinal properties of apple include:
- Diarrhea: Apple, in combination with chamomile, shortens the course of unspecific diarrhea in children.[xiv]
- Hardening of the Arteries (Atherosclerosis): Preclinical research indicates that apple contains compounds which prevent the formation of plaque within the arteries.[xv] One rabbit study, for instance, found that apple juice was capable of preventing the progression of atherosclerosis in a high cholesterol diet induced model of atherosclerosis.[xvi]
- Overweight: A human study found significant weight loss associated with a daily intake of three apples or three pears among overweight women.[xvii]
- Anti-Aging (Brain): Apples have been found to prevent oxidative damage and impaired maze performance,[xviii]as well as decreases in cognitive performance in aging mice.[xix] Also, a study performed on mice found that apple juice actually reduced the production of pathological amyloid-beta levels (associated with Alzheimer's disease) in the mouse brain.[xx]
- Bowel Inflammation: Preclinical research has found that apple procyanidins [xxi]reduces bowel inflammation.[xxii]
- Vaccine-Induced Toxicity: Many natural substances, including breast milk, have been found to decrease the synthetically-produced immune reaction associated with vaccines, and their adjuvants. Apple polyphenol counts among these, and has been found to prevent cholera toxin when used as an immune stimulant within vaccines from doing as much damage than it would otherwise do.
- Periodontal Disease: We all know the sensation that follows eating an apple – that astringent property, where our gums feel squeaky clean. This is due, in part, to quercetin, which is found in apples, tea and onions, for example. It bears significant antimicrobial properties.[xxiii] Apple polyphenol also protects against periodontal ligament cell destruction associated with Porphyromonas gingivalis, a pathogenic anaerobic bacteria, infection.[xxiv]
- Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs): AGEs are associated with the oxidation of blood sugars, primarily. These sugars becomes caramelized when exposed to oxidants, and then binds to cell structures, e.g. fats/proteins, causing damage. Apple leaves have been found to have significant anti-AGE activity, including the vasoconstriction associated with AGE-induced endothelial dysfunction.[xxv]
- Hair Loss: Remarkably, a procyanidin, labeled B-2, from apples promotes hair growth, in the cell model.[xxvi]
- Staphylococcal Infections: Apple pectin has been shown to inhibit synthesis of types A and B staphylococcal enterotoxins, which can cause profound bodily damage.[xxvii]
- Influenza Infection: Over 60 years ago researchers found that the complex carbohydrates that make up apple pectin inhibit the infectivity of influenza A virus in chicken blood, as well in embryonated eggs, indicating its potential anti-influenza properties.[xxviii]
The list of evidence-based therapeutic properties of apple is rather extensive. To view the full range of experimentally confirmed benefits view them here: Apple's Health Benefits.
Ultimately, this research on apples indicates how important whole foods are to our overall health. Apples are not medicine, rather, they are the means by which medicines become unnecessary. It is through authentic nourishment and detoxification – both functions which are provided to us through most fruits – that we prevent and treat disease (note: these statements likely will never be evaluated or approved by the FDA, because they are true). Also, fruit are archetypally beneficial foods for the human species; we have indexed over 300 experimentally confirmed health benefits of fruit on our database so far. Our evolutionary legacy (confirmed through modern genetic testing*) indicates that our pre-human ancestors lived in a jungle setting, where fruit would have been available year round.
This would, in fact, explain why we no longer synthesize vitamin c from glucose – we were so "spoiled" by the abundance of fruit available for so long that we gave up (via genetic mutation or atavism) our ability to provide it to ourselves. Plants and animals live in symbiosis. For the same reason that our lungs take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide (which is live-giving to plants), the fruits of these same plants provide a seed (which we help disperse), and a flesh to entice us to consume it. Fruit, therefore, is a food source that is as ancient as human origins itself. Could this be one reason why apples seem capable of these amazing feats of healing? Perhaps.
Next time you crunch into a crisp, fresh, organic apple, consider all that it has to offer, not theoretically, but viscerally. Experience the joy (the word fruit, etymologically, comes from the Latin word frui, meaning ENJOY), on a first hand basis. Also, if you have never done an apple mono-diet before, consider it. It is not so much a fruit fast, as a feast. Grab a bag of organic apples, and whenever you are hungry eat one. You will be surprised by how immediate you are satiated, and how cleansing and liberating on the body the exclusive consumption of such a simple, perfect food like the apple really is. One can easily go a day or two using this approach, often with the result of feeling completely renewed and refreshed.
*Note: It is a little known and under-appreciated fact that all humans are born with a serious, life-threatening genetic defect: namely, the inability to manufacture Vitamin C.
This defect occurred approximately 63 million years ago, when our haplorrhini ("simple nosed") primate predecessors lost the gene (Gulnolactone oxidase pseudogene – GULOP), responsible for the manufacture of Vitamin C from glucose.
The ability to synthesize Vitamin C, in fact, has been lost several times in vertebrates, e.g. in guinea pigs, some bats, some fishes, passeriform birds and in primates of the suborder Haplorrhini, which includes monkes, apes and humans.
- [i] Wieslaw Jedrychowski, Umberto Maugeri. An apple a day may hold colorectal cancer at bay: recent evidence from a case-control study. Rev Environ Health. 2009 Jan-Mar;24(1):59-74. PMID: 19476292
- [ii] Wieslaw Jedrychowski, Umberto Maugeri, Tadeusz Popiela, Jan Kulig, Elzbieta Sochacka-Tatara, Agnieszka Pac, Agata Sowa, Agnieszka Musial. Case-control study on beneficial effect of regular consumption of apples on colorectal cancer risk in a population with relatively low intake of fruits and vegetables. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2009 Mar;104(3):262-71. Epub 2009 Jan 20. PMID: 19926998
- [iii] H Deneo-Pellegrini, E De Stefani, A Ronco. Vegetables, fruits, and risk of colorectal cancer: a case-control study from Uruguay. Nutr Cancer. 1996;25(3):297-304. PMID: 8771572
- [iv] GreenMedInfo.com, Apple's Anti-Liver Cancer Properties
- [v] GreenMedInfo.com, Apple's Anti-Breast Cancer Properties
- [vi] Péter Molnár, Masami Kawase, Kazue Satoh, Yoshitaka Sohara, Toru Tanaka, Satoru Tani, Hiroshi Sakagami, Hideki Nakashima, Noboru Motohashi, Nóra Gyémánt, Joseph Molnár. Biological activity of carotenoids in red paprika, Valencia orange and Golden delicious apple. Phytother Res. 2005 Aug;19(8):700-7. PMID: 16177974
- [vii] Roberto Pierini, Paul A Kroon, Sylvain Guyot, Kamal Ivory, Ian T Johnson, Nigel J Belshaw. Procyanidin effects on oesophageal adenocarcinoma cells strongly depend on flavan-3-ol degree of polymerization. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2008 Dec;52(12):1399-407. PMID: 18683822
- [viii] GreenMedInfo.com, Helicobacter Pylori and Apples
- [ix] Hiroshige Hibasami, Toshihiko Shohji, Ichirou Shibuya, Kazuko Higo, Tomomasa Kanda. Induction of apoptosis by three types of procyanidin isolated from apple (Rosaceae Malus pumila) in human stomach cancer KATO III cells. Int J Mol Med. 2004 Jun;13(6):795-9. PMID: 15138614
- [x] V B Nesterenko, A V Nesterenko, V I Babenko, T V Yerkovich, I V Babenko. Reducing the 137Cs-load in the organism of "Chernobyl" children with apple-pectin. Swiss Med Wkly. 2004 Jan 10;134(1-2):24-7. PMID: 14745664
- [xi] Vassily B Nesterenko, Alexey V Nesterenko. 13. Decorporation of Chernobyl radionuclides. Phytother Res. 2009 Apr;23(4):564-71. PMID: 20002057
- [xii] G S Bandazhevskaya, V B Nesterenko, V I Babenko, T V Yerkovich, Y I Bandazhevsky. Relationship between caesium (137Cs) load, cardiovascular symptoms, and source of food in 'Chernobyl' children — preliminary observations after intake of oral apple pectin. Swiss Med Wkly. 2004 Dec 18;134(49-50):725-9. PMID: 15635491
- [xiii] V S Kalistratova, G A Zalikin, P G Nisimov, I B Romanova. [Study of the effect of a food additive Medetopect on metabolic kinetics of transuranic radionuclides in animal body]. Radiats Biol Radioecol. 1998 Jan-Feb;38(1):35-41. PMID: 9606404
- [xiv] Brigitta Becker, Ulrike Kuhn, Bettina Hardewig-Budny. Double-blind, randomized evaluation of clinical efficacy and tolerability of an apple pectin-chamomile extract in children with unspecific diarrhea. Arzneimittelforschung. 2006;56(6):387-93. PMID: 16889120
- [xv] GreenMedInfo.com, Apple's Anti-Atherosclerosis Properties
- [xvi] Mahbubeh Setorki, Sedighe Asgary, Akram Eidi, Ali Haeri Rohani, Nafiseh Esmaeil. Effects of apple juice on risk factors of lipid profile, inflammation and coagulation, endothelial markers and atherosclerotic lesions in high cholesterolemic rabbits. Lipids Health Dis. 2009;8:39. Epub 2009 Oct 5. PMID: 19804641
- [xvii] Maria Conceição de Oliveira, Rosely Sichieri, Anibal Sanchez Moura. Weight loss associated with a daily intake of three apples or three pears among overweight women. Nutrition. 2003 Mar;19(3):253-6. PMID: 12620529
- [xviii] Flaubert Tchantchou, Amy Chan, Lydia Kifle, Daniela Ortiz, Thomas B Shea. Apple juice concentrate prevents oxidative damage and impaired maze performance in aged mice. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2009 Jul-Sep;21(3):148-61. PMID: 16340085
- [xix] [No authors listed]. Apple juice concentrate maintains acetylcholine levels following dietary compromise. J Alzheimers Dis. 2006 Aug;9(3):287-91. PMID: 16914839
- [xx] Amy Chan, Thomas B Shea. Dietary supplementation with apple juice decreases endogenous amyloid-beta levels in murine brain. Int J Mol Med. 2010 Oct;26(4):447-55. PMID: 19158432
- [xxi] Naoto Yoshino, Kohtaro Fujihashi, Yukari Hagiwara, Hiroyuki Kanno, Kiyomi Takahashi, Ryoki Kobayashi, Noriyuki Inaba, Masatoshi Noda, Shigehiro Sato . Co-administration of cholera toxin and apple polyphenol extract as a novel and safe mucosal adjuvant strategy. Vaccine. 2009 Jul 30;27(35):4808-17. Epub 2009 Jun 17. PMID: 19539583
- [xxii] GreenMedInfo.com, Apples and Bowel Inflammation
- [xxiii] F Geoghegan, R W K Wong, A B M Rabie. Inhibitory effect of quercetin on periodontal pathogens in vitro. Phytother Res. 2009 Dec 2. Epub 2009 Dec 2. PMID: 19957242
- [xxiv] Hiroaki Inaba, Motoyuki Tagashira, Tomomasa Kanda, Takashi Ohno, Shinji Kawai, Atsuo Amano. Apple- and hop-polyphenols protect periodontal ligament cells stimulated with enamel matrix derivative from Porphyromonas gingivalis. J Periodontol. 2005 Dec;76(12):2223-9. PMID: 16332233
- [xxv] Thomas Dugé de Bernonville, Sylvain Guyot, Jean-Pierre Paulin, Matthieu Gaucher, Laurent Loufrani, Daniel Henrion, Séverine Derbré, David Guilet, Pascal Richomme, James F Dat, Marie-Noëlle Brisset . Dihydrochalcones: Implication in resistance to oxidative stress and bioactivities against advanced glycation end-products and vasoconstriction. Phytochemistry. 2009 Dec 18. Epub 2009 Dec 18. PMID: 20022617
- [xxvi] A Kamimura, T Takahashi. Procyanidin B-2, extracted from apples, promotes hair growth: a laboratory study. Sci Total Environ. 2010 Feb 13. Epub 2010 Feb 13. PMID: 11841365
- [xxvii] F S Fluer, D D Men'shikov, E B Lazareva, V Ia Prokhorov, A V Vesnin. [Influence of various pectins on production of staphylococcal enterotoxins types A and B]. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol. 2007 Nov-Dec(6):11-6. PMID: 18277535
- [xxviii] R H Green, D W Woolley. INHIBITION BY CERTAIN POLYSACCHARIDES OF HEMAGGLUTINATION AND OF MULTIPLICATION OF INFLUENZA VIRUS. J Exp Med. 1947 Jun 30;86(1):55-64. PMID: 19871655
Article Contributed by Sayer Ji, Founder of GreenMedInfo.com.
Sayer Ji is an author, researcher, lecturer, and advisory board member of the National Health Federation. He founded Greenmedinfo.com in 2008 in order to provide the world an open access, evidence-based resource supporting natural and integrative modalities. It is internationally recognized as the largest and most widely referenced health resource of its kind.
Natural Remedies To Get Rid Of Gingivitis
According to the CDC Division of Oral Health, nearly 50% of American adults and more than 70% over the age of 65 suffer from gum disease, also known as periodontitis or periodontal disease. Gum pain and the effect it has on eating aren't the only concerns. Studies have shown gum disease is linked to heart and vascular disease. But, there's good news! You can effectively support your oral health at home and avoid suffering from gum disease.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Red, swollen gums, or gingivitis, is commonly the first symptom. You may know this condition by the very sensitive, sore gums that may bleed when you brush and floss your teeth. Constant bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth may also indicate periodontal disease. Symptoms of full onset of gum disease include pain while chewing, gums pulling away from your teeth, pus between your gums and teeth, or a loose tooth or teeth.
Causes of Gum Disease and Gingivitis
Poor dental hygiene is the number one factor that leads to gum disease. It allows bacterial growth in your mouth, and while some bacteria are friendly, many are not. Most of the sugar-loaded, processed foods we eat encourage the growth of these 'bad' bacteria in the plaque that forms between your teeth and gums. Without proper brushing and flossing, the bacteria can cause inflammation and if left untreated, it can lead to the erosion of the gum tissue and bone in your jaw.
While oral hygiene is the number one determining factor for gum health, some conditions may increase the risk. Hormonal changes, like those during pregnancy, puberty, and menopause can increase gum sensitivity. The high blood sugar of diabetes weakens the immune system and allows bad bacteria to take hold. Smoking damages gum tissue reducing its ability to recover. And if your family has a history of gum disease, you may be genetically inclined to it, but that doesn't mean you'll get it; you just need to take care of your teeth and gums. It may be possible to reduce the risk of serious diseases simply by approaching your gum health.
Natural Home Remedies for Gum Health
Natural home remedies have healed gum disease for centuries. Here are five simple ways to avoid periodontal disease you can start using today:
Salt Water
Salt water kills bacteria and cleanses the infected area of the gums. Mix 1 Tbsp of sea salt in a cup of warm water. Swish it around in your mouth for a minute or two and then spit it out.
The anti-inflammatory and cleansing properties of sage have made it a home remedy for centuries. Chop up a fresh sage leaf or take a pinch of dried sage, rub it on the infected area of your gum and then pack it on the infected area. Leave it for 2-3 minutes. Mix in sea salt with the sage for additional cleaning.
The curcumin in turmeric possesses powerful anti-inflammatory effects and turmeric also has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This cleanses the wound and encourages healing. Combine turmeric powder with water or mash up some fresh turmeric root. Brush this paste onto your teeth and gums with a soft toothbrush.
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is an ancient technique has been used for centuries to keep the teeth and gums healthy. It uses oil to cleanse infected areas and help the gums heal. Take a tablespoon of sesame, coconut, or sunflower oil and swish it around your mouth for a couple minutes, focusing on the infected gum. Spit out (do not swallow!) and rinse immediately with warm water.
Baking Soda
This may be the simplest preventative solution around. You could use a baking soda paste regularly instead of toothpaste, but be careful–baking soda is highly abrasive and should be used gently in combination with olive oil. If your gums do get infected, rather than brushing it on, make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to your gums. Do this for 2 minutes, two to three times a week.
Ozonated Olive Oil Boosts Oral Health
In some cases, unhealthy gums may need a more powerful response and ozonated olive oil can deliver powerful healing right at your home. [1] Olive oil helps clean and supply essential vitamins to the gums, and studies show topically applied ozone acts fast to improve wound healing and gum injuries without side effects. [2] [3] Research finds it is effective against swollen gums and the bleeding gums. In one clinical trial, patients using ozonated oil healed "significantly" faster than the control group that used normal healing protocols. [4] And take it from one of my clients, ozonated oil works!
"Great for my gums! Dentist told me I had the gums of a 60 year old (I'm 31). I started swishing with O2-Zap® after brushing my teeth and my gums are getting healthier. This stuff is now part of my dental regimen. Thanks!" – Ben
Here's how to use an ozonated olive oil like O2-Zap®.
- First, brush gently with a soft toothbrush and non-fluoride toothpaste.
- Next, take the time to floss thoroughly by flossing each side of the tooth down to the gum line to remove plaque and debris.
- Finally, massage the gums gently with ozonated olive oil for 10 minutes.
- Additionally, brush your teeth with ozonated olive oil as a supplementary approach.
Follow these steps to experience healthier gums and improved oral health. Have you used ozonated olive oil? Share your experience with us!
- Mohammadi Z1, Shalavi S, Soltani MK, Asgary S. review of the properties and applications of ozone in endodontics: an update. Iran Endod J. 2013 Spring;8(2):40-3. Epub 2013 May 1.
- Patel PV1, Patel A, Kumar S, Holmes JC. Effect of subgingival application of topical ozonated olive oil in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: a randomized, controlled, double blind, clinical and microbiological study. Minerva Stomatol. 2012 Sep;61(9):381-98.
- M.Y.M. Shoukheba, Sh.A. Ali. The effects of subgingival application of ozonated olive oil gel in patient with localized aggressive periodontitis. A clinical and bacteriological study. Other info.
- Patel PV1, Kumar S, Vidya GD, et al. Cytological assessment of healing palatal donor site wounds and grafted gingival wounds after application of ozonated oil: an eighteen-month randomized controlled clinical trial. Acta Cytol. 2012;56(3):277-84. doi: 10.1159/000336889. Epub 2012 Apr 26.
Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM has studied natural healing methods for over 20 years and now teaches individuals and practitioners all around the world. He no longer sees patients but solely concentrates on spreading the word of health and wellness to the global community. Under his leadership, Global Healing Center, Inc. has earned recognition as one of the largest alternative, natural and organic health resources on the Internet.
The American Medical Association Wants To Limit Your Health Freedom (Again)
The conventional medical paradigm was established to remedy symptoms of disease, causing most people to be unaware that conditions have a root cause. Medical authorities in most countries are leading a crusade against all forms of natural health modalities, and their continuation of these efforts is suppressing crucial scientific-based evidence supporting the efficacy of natural complementary health approaches. The American Medical Association (AMA), in response to the recent backlash against MDs like Dr. Oz, are spearheading a campaign to quell the voices of many reputable natural doctors. Fortunately, their attempts are being counteracted by those in the natural health community, and even your voice can help reduce the AMA's actions.
The AMA and the Repression of Health Freedom
There's a great deal of dissent among medical professionals when it comes to natural health, and many refuse to entertain the idea that healing involves more than pharmaceutical chemicals. The American Medical Association has recently set forth new guidelines that will: "create ethical guidelines for physicians in the media, write a report on how doctors may be disciplined for violating medical ethics through their press involvement, and release a public statement denouncing the dissemination of dubious medical information through the radio, TV, newspapers, or websites."
With this, the AMA will have the right to do everything in their power to silence integrative medical practitioners against voicing their opinions in the media. While trying to reduce the accumulation of misinformation in the public is noble, it is widely misguided, particularly when it groups all natural health practitioners into the single "quack" category. The terms "quack" and "pseudoscience" are terms that the AMA uses to describe any medical professional who diverts from their own view of the medical paradigm in an attempt to reduce their credibility and silence their voice.
How to Take Action
The AMA wants to limit your choices when it comes to health education. Ultimately, they would like to be the sole source of health information for the public. Don't let this dictator-style organization rule your life. You can take action against the AMA now by sending a simple message through Citizens for Health Freedom to the AMA. Read more about the recent AMA gag order and send your message today!
Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM has studied natural healing methods for over 20 years and now teaches individuals and practitioners all around the world. He no longer sees patients but solely concentrates on spreading the word of health and wellness to the global community. Under his leadership, Global Healing Center, Inc. has earned recognition as one of the largest alternative, natural and organic health resources on the Internet.
9 Simple Tips To Prevent Antibiotic Resistance
It seems to me that whenever I travel by air, I come home with a sniffle or two. It is not that I am not careful because I am. It is just that being squeezed into a miniscule airline seat surrounded by strangers who are breathing, chewing, coughing, and sneezing makes contact unavoidable. Travelers can carry some DIY Anti-Viral Spray with them but other than donning a mask and gloves, they run the risk of exposure to all kinds of nasties during their flight.
Often, when someone catches a common cold, the first words out of their mouth are "I better call the clinic to get some antibiotics just in case." My response is: Just in Case of What?
These days, it appears to me that the slightest sniffle sends parents, their kids, and even knowledgeable adults to the nearest clinic to pick up a dose of these once-upon-a-time miracle drugs. And clearly, antibiotic drugs can save lives. But something quite deadly has happened along the highway to miracles: Antibiotic Resistance.
Today I offer a basic, layman's primer on antibiotic resistance along with 9 simple tips to prevent antibiotic resistance. No preaching, no panic, just some general, information to make you think and to make you evaluate your own actions the next time you get a sniffle.
And why is this important? When the SHTF, you are going to want your antibiotics to work and not be rendered useless to fight a bacterial or parasitic infection.
What Causes Antibiotic Resistance?
Antibiotics normally work by killing germs such as bacteria. Or, if they do not kill the bacteria, they severely retard the bacteria from growing. They are also used as an effective medicine to fight or prevent infections caused by certain parasites and some types of fungus.
But sometimes things go wrong and not all of these bad boys are stopped or killed. Alas, sometimes the strongest ones are left to grow and spread. When this happens, the person being treated can get sick again. And this second time around, the germs become harder to kill.
This becomes a never ending cycle. The the more often a person uses a particular antibiotic, the more likely it is that bacteria will resist it. And at the end of the day? The illness or disease becomes difficult to control, keeping you sick for a longer period and requiring stronger and stronger drugs.
Plus guess what? The stronger the drug, the more costly the drug. And the more costly, the greater the likelihood that your drug insurance plan will require a large co-pay (that is, if they pay for it at all).
Antibiotics Do Not Have Any Effect on Viruses
Now here is the tricky part. Germs come in two major flavors: bacteria, as mentioned above, and viruses. Antibiotics, used sparingly and only when medically dictated, can be effective in killing and stopping bacteria but they they are ineffective and do not work in treating viruses.
Repeat after me: Antibiotics do not have any effect on viruses.
Part two of that equation is that the common cold is caused by a virus or viral infection and not bacteria!
Just to refresh what you may already know, viruses are the typical culprit in the following maladies:
- Colds
- Coughs
- Sore throats
- Flu
- Sinus problems
- Bronchitis
- Ear infections
Why is this important? Because in taking an antibiotic for one of these ills, you are increasing the chance of making yourself antibiotic resistant. Besides, they won't work and might even harm you since each time you take one, you increase the possibility and probability that bacteria in your body will begin to resist and become ineffective against bacterial infections just when you need them most.
If We Know This, How Does Antibiotic Resistance Occur in the First Place?
That is a great question and fairly easy to answer. Patients ask for antibiotics they don't need. For example, they ask for antibiotics to treat a cold. And doctors, whether too busy, too lazy, or simply worn out by the system, give in to the patients request.
Something else that happens is that after securing a legitimate prescription of antibiotics for a bacterial infection, patients fail to take them in the manner prescribed. A good example is when they stop taking the drug before all the pills or capsules are used. Think abut it. The weakest germs (bacteria) get killed right off but the drug is discontinued before the the strongest germs are eliminated. Stop the drug and these strong germs continue to grow. And then they mutate and grow some more.
Adding to the problem, some folks hoard the antibiotics so they have them available the next time a sniffle or cough or sore throat occurs. They do this not realizing the antibiotics are useless for those ailments.
The worrisome part of this is that if you take antibiotics that cannot fight the bacteria they are intended to kill, your infection can last longer. Instead of getting better, your infection may get worse. This will result in multiple visits to the doctor or clinic and an eventual Russian roulette of drug treatments to finally knock out the germs. Worst case, you may end up in the hospital in order to have an even stronger antibiotic administered intravenously.
While all of this is going on, family members, co-workers and others you come into contact with will be exposed to the same resistant bacteria you have. And so the cycle continues.
The situation is even worse following a disaster or disruptive event. Healthcare workers, if they exist, may be overwhelmed and medical supplies may be non-existent. This will lead to self-medication
9 Tips For Preventing Antibiotic Resistance
Here are some tips for helping insure that you do not promote antibiotic resistance in your own body.
1. Do not ask for or demand an antibiotic when your doctor says you don't need it.
2. Don't take an antibiotic for a virus (cold, cough, or flu).
3. Take your medicine exactly the way it was prescribed. Finish the complete dosage and do not skip doses. Yes, you may feel better but that does not mean you are cured.
4. Ask questions. If a doctor prescribes an antibiotic, or any drug for that matter, ask what it is and why he or she is prescribing that particular medication. If you don't understand the answer, say so and do not leave until you are satisfied.
5. Also talk to your pharmacist about drug interactions, and recommended food to eat (or not eat) along with the drug. Also discuss common side effects since many antibiotics have annoying side effects including dizziness and gastrointestinal distress. This is not the time to be bashful.
6. Don't take antibiotics left over from a previous illness unless you are confident that you are dealing with a bacterial infection.
7. Self-dosing with fish antibiotics should be reserved for true emergencies that may occur when the stuff hits the fan.
8. Practice healthy hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water before you eat and after you use the bathroom. Try your best to keep your hands away from your face and mouth after being exposed to anyone that is sick or showing symptoms of illness.
9. Learn about using herbs (nature's antibiotics) and essential oils to combat viral infections without the use of drugs.
The Final Word
Another issue, while not an explicit topic of this article, is the use of antibiotics in our food stock. Did you know that it has been estimated that eighty percent of antibiotics sold in the U.S. are given to food animals? Furthermore, the drugs are often given non-therapeutically to promote growth and to compensate for the effects of unsanitary and overcrowded conditions.
Many of the antibiotics used in food animal production are similar or identical to the antibiotic drugs used in human medicine to cure serious diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, because these classes of antibiotics are similar, bacteria resistant to antibiotics used in animals also will be resistant to antibiotics used in humans.
I am not a health industry professional but I can connect the dots and this concerns me. I suspect that if bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, and it is spread by the handling or eating contaminated meat or produce fertilized by contaminated manure, we are all at risk.
My hope is that with good hygiene and the sensible use of antibiotic drugs, we can mitigate the risk and live a healthy life.
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye Levy, also known as the Survival Woman, grew up and attended school in the Greater Seattle area. After spending many years as an executive in the software industry, she started a specialized accounting practice offering contract CFO work to emerging high tech and service industries. She has now abandoned city life and has moved to a serenely beautiful rural area on an island in NW Washington State. She lives and teaches the principles of a sustainable and self-reliant lifestyle through her website at BackdoorSurvival.com. At Backdoor Survival, Gaye speaks her mind and delivers her message of prepping with optimism and grace, regardless of the uncertain times and mayhem swirling around us.
Research: Insulin Can Kill Diabetics; Natural Substances Heal Them
A paradigm-shifting study indicates that the standard of care for diabetics, including synthetic insulin and oral anti-diabetic drugs, increases morbidity and mortality from diabetes. Natural substances, on the other hand, have proven healing properties that if used could mitigate the global diabetes epidemic.
A new study titled, "Glucose-lowering with exogenous insulin monotherapy in type 2 diabetes: dose association with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events, and incident cancer," renews concern over the harms caused by synthetic insulin in type 2 diabetics previously highlighted in a 2013 study that found double the death rate in type 2 diabetics on insulin therapy.
Contrary to popular notions about the 'life saving' value of synthetic insulin — a belief cleverly inculcated by Big pharma over the past three decades — bioidentical-sounding insulin brands such as Humulin (1978) and Humolog (1996) are less like human insulin in form and function than pig pancreas-derived forms, which they displaced from the market soon after being introduced (you can no longer buy pig-derive insulin in the U.S.). Originally produced from genetically modified yeast, synthetic insulin's structure, and subsequent folding pattern (conformation) and function, radically diverge from the type of insulin our bodies produce naturally. For instance, one of the best-selling forms on the market today Lantus (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection), which is manufactured from Sanofi from GM engineered E. Coli, does not even have the same primary structure as human insulin:
"Insulin glargine differs from human insulin in that the amino acid asparagine at position A21 is replaced by glycine and two arginines are added to the C-terminus of the B-chain."
Synthetic insulin is the pride and joy of the biotech industry, being the first successful product produced through recombinant DNA technology; a technology which would eventually take the world by storm through its use in developing most of the GM crops in our present-day Biotech/Big Chem owned agricultural model, and is now the basis for billions of dollars of products in the food, medical and chemical industries, with an untold vastitude of mostly unexplored health risks.
The new study enrolled 6,484 subjects with type 2 diabetes who were eventually given progressed insulin monotherapy from 2000 onwards and who were tracked for an average of 3.3 years.
The number of adverse events in the insulin treated group were reported as follows:
Deaths: 1,110
Major Cardiovascular Events [MACE]: 342
Cancer Diagnoses: 382.
The adjusted hazard ratios (a measurement of health risk) in relation to one unit increases in insulin dose were a 54% increased risk for all-cause mortality, 37% increased risk for Major Cardiovascular Events, and a 35% increased risk for cancer, clearly indicating that the insulin they were given were both cardiotoxic and carcinogenic.
The study concluded:
"There was an association between increasing exogenous insulin dose and increased risk of all-cause mortality, cancer and MACE [major adverse cardiovascular events] in people with type 2 diabetes."
GMO Insulin Accelerates the Demise of Type 2 Diabetics
As we reported recently in an article titled, "GMO Insulin Causes Type 1 Diabetes in Type 2 Diabetics, Study Finds," synthetic insulin produced through genetically modified organisms accelerates disease progression in type 2 diabetics, contributing to the condition known as 'double diabetes' which is the development of type 1 (insufficient endogenous insulin) following unsuccessful treatment of type 2 (inability to respond to insulin) diabetes. This is all the more tragic considering that research on turmeric extract, ginger, and the Mediterranean diet, to name but a few natural alternatives, shows that type 2 diabetes can be both treated and even reversed naturally. Additionally, type 1 diabetes, which is widely promoted as 'incurable' by the dominant medical establishment, may be reversible through the stimulation of the regeneration of the insulin-producing beta cells within the pancreas and/or removal of the root causes of damage to the insulin-producing cells. See our article: 10 Natural Substances That Could Help Cure Type 1 Diabetes
It All Depends on The Folding Pattern of Insulin (Conformation)
Probably the most fatal error in the field of molecular biology over the past half century is the hypothesis — known as the central dogma (1956, Francis Crick) — is that all biologically/physiologically important information is located solely in the primary sequence of nucleic acid stored within the 3 billion base pairs that make up the DNA of our genome. According to this theory, when a complex protein like insulin is produced, RNA simply transcribes the information templated in the DNA to produce the structure of insulin: the insulin polypeptide (51 linearly attached amino acids), end of story.
But nothing could be further from the truth. In order for a protein to assume its native, functional state (e.g. the insulin molecule in its fully folded 3D configuration) it must move through a practically infinite number of potential three-dimensional forms that it could randomly fold into to reach its natural (native), perfect form. This remarkable fact is known as Levinthal's paradox.
How does insulin, or any complex folded protein, get the information (literally 'to put form into') to do so? We simply don't know. But what we do know is that it must come from the 'outside,' or 'above,' which is what the field of epigenetics is dedicated to understanding. Also, it means one can not construct from the 'bottom up,' as the pharmaceutical industry has attempted thus far, the thing itself.
In other words, we know that while genetically modified yeast or bacteria can produce a primary structure of 51 linearly connected amino acids similar to human insulin, it does not have the same secondary, tertiary and quaternary folding patterns and therefore can not perform the same functions in the body as the natural form. This could account for why insulin replacement and/or adjunct therapy, even though it may effectively lower blood sugar (the target determinant for drug efficacy), is still associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
Said differently, for insulin replacement to work when there is a clear need (e.g. death of insulin producing cells), that is to say, for it to have a net health benefit, it must contain the correct information not only on the primary structural level, but on secondary, tertiary and quaternary levels of folding (conformation). Only the miracle of the human body, and as a close surrogate – porcine insulin — can produce the necessary, life sustaining and promoting end product.
Admittedly, this is a confusing topic. For those with a more scientific/clinical bent, you can explore the subject further with this recently published analysis of synthetic insulin's many possible variations as far as structure/function: "Human insulin analogues modified at the B26 site reveal a hormone conformation that is undetected in the receptor complex."
What Is A Diabetic To Do?
None of what is written in this article should be misinterpreted as medical advice, or advice to self-treat or go off of medication or the medical supervision of one's physicians — all of which could result in significant harm. We only wish to bring to the attention of the public and medical community alike what underreported scientific research clearly indicates about the potential risks of relying solely on pharmaceutical interventions to both manage and reverse the symptoms of diabetes. In order to alter the fatalistic trajectory of declining health, which is considered the norm within conventional thinking about diabetes, it is instructive to look for natural alternatives that have been vetted through clinical research…
Our ongoing indexing project here at Greenmedinfo.com has identified a wide range of natural interventions that have shown promise through experimental, clinical and epidemiological research. First, our Health Guides section on Blood Sugar Disorders contains both the relevant research abstract sections, as well as article written for the layperson and medical professional to better ascertain the implications of the first-hand literature on complementary and alternative (CAM) approaches to blood sugar disorders.
Of the dozens of relevant subtopics, our Type 2 Diabetes page contains over 350 study abstracts on over 180 natural substances studied to have therapeutic relevance to prevention or treatment of the condition. This section includes research on over 40 problem substances, e.g. statin drugs, pesticides, fructose, which contribute to worsening the condition, and 18 Therapeutic Actions, e.g. yoga, various dietary modifications, exercise, which prove that lifestyle changes can have deeply positive impacts on the condition.
This research includes highly compelling studies, such as one published in 2013 in the American Diabetes Association's own authoritative journal Diabetes Care which found that a turmeric extract (curcumin) was 100% successful at preventing pre-diabetic patients from becoming diabetic over the course of a 9-month intervention. If a simple spice-based intervention can prevent the development of a life-threatening disease afflicting hundreds of millions worldwide, this is could be considered one of the most important medical discoveries of our time. Even more profound is the fact that the turmeric extract curcumin has been identified to have over 600 side benefits, with a history of thousands of years of safe use as both a food, spice and medicine.
Consider also that newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics are almost universally prescribed oral antidiabetic medications that have now been shown through extensive meta-analyses of the extant literature to increase heart attacks by 43% and increase the risk of dying from heart disease by 64% versus placebo. Pharmaceutical interventions clearly appear — through the scientific evidence itself — to be oftentimes worse than the diseases they appear to be treating.
As interest in botanical interventions increases, we see almost weekly a new clinical study appear showing the value of traditional medicine in preventing or treating chronic diseases like diabetes. For example, a new study published titled, "An 8-wk, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial for the antidiabetic effects of hydrolyzed ginseng extract," found that so-called pre-diabetics with impaired fasting glucose responded to a ginseng extract by seeing a drop in fasting glucose levels and post-meal blood sugar elevations.
We won't see the pharmaceutical industry invest the between 1-12 billion dollars of capital required to obtain FDA drug approval for turmeric or ginseng extract in correcting the condition of type 2 diabetics because natural substances are not patentable. While mother nature's formulas are proprietary — meaning, refractory to scientific understanding due to the infinite complexity at play within nature — they do not lend themselves to being patented, or controlled by any particular entity. This is why we must educate and empower ourselves with the research freely available through tax-payer funded resources like pubmed.gov, and of course sites like ours that use an open access model. All 23,000 of our carefully organized abstracts are free for anyone to access publicly.
Article Contributed by Sayer Ji, Founder of GreenMedInfo.com.
Sayer Ji is an author, researcher, lecturer, and advisory board member of the National Health Federation. He founded Greenmedinfo.com in 2008 in order to provide the world an open access, evidence-based resource supporting natural and integrative modalities. It is internationally recognized as the largest and most widely referenced health resource of its kind.
Breastfed, Homebirthed Babies Taken Away From Parents For Not Using Hospital
By: Terry LaPoint | Medical Kidnap –
All three of their babies have been taken away from them and placed in the care of strangers. Levi was 10 months old when his mother, local singer and songwriter Erica May Rengo, gave birth to his twin brother and sister, at their home in Bellingham, Washington.
"Our birth was glorious," she said, and the twins were reportedly healthy, full-term babies, who had no problem quickly figuring out how to breastfeed. The little family was overjoyed until CPS stepped in to "help."
It is another medical kidnapping according to the parents. The Rengos have chosen a wholesome, holistic lifestyle, based in their Christian faith. But CPS has stepped in to override the parents' decisions. Now Erica and Cleave are living what they call a nightmare, separated from their children for reasons that don't make any sense at all to them.
Decision to Home Birth
It was only natural for Erica to choose normal, family-centered birth. Erica herself was born at home, and says that her mother was a homebirth educator and La Leche League leader (a world-wide support and education group for breastfeeding mothers). She and Cleave chose a birth-center birth with their first baby, but decided to birth at home the second time. She knew that her body was perfectly designed to work for birth. She believed this was the direction God was showing them for the birth. Erica was very careful during her pregnancy to watch her diet and exercise, in preparation for the birth. She read, researched, and prepared.
She describes her homebirth as "exquisite" and "empowering." Morna Kai Grace and Daniel Clemente were born into their parents' loving arms.
The birth was perfect. There were no complications with the birth or afterwards. But Erica and her husband Cleave had agreed to notify the local paramedics, in an effort to appease concerned family members who were fearful of their decision to birth at home. That is where their problems began.
The Medical System Gets Involved
Sometime after the babies arrived on October 2, paramedics arrived to find the twins nursing and everybody doing fine. The twins each weighed over 5 lbs, and the paramedics allegedly verified that everyone appeared healthy. The paramedics allegedly recommended that they go to the hospital for evaluation, which is standard procedure for EMTs.
The Rengos say they declined, telling them they didn't want to expose their newborns to the dirty environment of the hospital. They were planning to follow recommendations they had found, which stated that newborn twins should stay home for the first six weeks of life, to give their immune systems the opportunity to build up.
CPS Shows Up
The parents' believe that because they chose not to go to the hospital at that time, somebody called CPS. A couple of social workers showed up the next day, and wanted to see all of the children. CPS told Erica that they were "here to help." But Erica says that is not at all what happened.
When the social worker found some eczema on Levi's skin Erica told her that she was treating it with some herbal remedies, including comfrey and calendula, as well as applying coconut oil and giving probiotics. She was also doing an elimination diet to try to locate what could be causing the skin condition. Even though it was in the healing process, the social worker became critical that Erica wasn't treating his eczema with steroids, a treatment option that Erica wanted to save as a last resort because of the side effects. The CPS agent would later testify to the judge that Erica had neglected to treat him completely.
Even so, the eczema was the only thing wrong. Erica says, "right away they found out that the children were not in danger." The twins were completely healthy; the house was clean; and there are no drugs or alcohol involved.
The Rengos agreed to take the children to a pediatrician, who said the babies were doing fine. The only concern was that the twins were slow to gain weight. At the time, Erica was trying to maintain a supply for three breastfeeding babies. She says she followed the pediatrician's advice to supplement with formula, and the babies promptly got back on track with weight gain.
This was allegedly verified by a nurse sent out by CPS to check on them.
Erica May and Cleave are holistic in their approach to life and health, preferring natural alternatives, like herbs and diet changes, to medicinal treatments. Those things appear to be options only if CPS is not involved.
CPS Takes Custody of Children
On November 6, CPS showed up at the front door while Erica was softly singing and playing her guitar to her resting babies. When she checked the door, they told her that they were there to take her children, citing neglect for not giving Levi steroids for his eczema, and the home-birth without medical prenatal care with the twins, as well as the allegations of abuse, accusations which Erica had already assured them were completely unfounded. She also had prenatal care, just not with a doctor.
With one baby on her back, the frightened mother fled out the back door with her children to a neighbor's house, but police and CPS "hunted her down," and took all three breastfed babies from their mothers' arms. The twins were 5 weeks old.
Erica broke down into sobs as I spoke with her. "My children were safe and healthy with me." Since they have been taken by CPS, Daniel has reportedly had pneumonia, and Levi has reportedly been diagnosed with "behavioral problems" because he screams and cries all the time.
He is screaming, Erica says, because he wants his mom and dad.
Why Are Children with No History of Abuse Being Taken Away from Loving Parents for Medical Reasons?
Children who have allegedly not been abused in any way have been taken by CPS from loving parents for reasons so flimsy that it has left the Rengos and their friends stunned. Several of their friends write that Erica is "a great mama."
"This is not the right thing to do to mothers and children," Erica emphasizes. "If they thought we needed help, they should have brought help in, not taken the children out. They have suffered and I have suffered since our separation."
Erica feels that she and her children are being abused by the system. When they separate babies from their loving mothers, she says "they are dehumanizing people. The outcome of that is so much worse than any kind of dispute for medical reasons."
Cleave and Erica were supposed to have their visitation with their children on Monday, but there wasn't a social worker available to supervise the visit. Levi's first birthday is on Black Friday. The day will be black for Erica and Cleave, but for very different reasons than the holiday retailers. They will miss their first child's first birthday because CPS won't have any workers available to supervise a visit that day either.
The Stressful Separation of Infants from Parents
Erica is a brokenhearted postpartum mother who wants nothing more than to be at home with all of her children by her side. Research shows that infants do not comprehend separation from their mother; they feel abandoned when they aren't with her. Has it really come to the point where CPS can justify the emotional trauma to the children simply because parents don't choose to follow every recommendation of the medical associations?
In President Obama's immigration speech last week, he asked, "Are we a nation that accepts the cruelty of ripping children from their parents' arms? Or are we a nation that values families, and works to keep them together?"
Yet it is this very nation whose Child Protection Service agencies have ripped tiny babies from their parents' arms simply for the crime of disagreeing with a medical decision. If this could happen to a family who has only sought the most natural of care, then whose children are safe from CPS? Should this type of apparent medical tyranny be tolerated?
Erica May and Cleave Rengo face a court date on December 2. They don't know what they will face then. Supporters are hoping that their story will be shared far and wide, and their children can be returned home quickly.
The Governor of Washington is Jay Inslee. His office number is 360-902-4111. You can email him from here.
The parents next court date is December 2, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. at the Whatcom County Courthouse, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham Washington.
Elderberry Extract: Nature's "Tamiflu"
The most important weapon against influenza that you can add to your herbal arsenal is elderberry extract.
Whether you are concerned with the seasonal flu or the potential of a deadly strain of influenza becoming pandemic, elderberry extract is a vital addition to your vault of flu remedies.
Unlike the highly touted flu shot, black elderberry has actually been conclusively proven to be effective. It is one of the few natural remedies that has been written up in the medical journals. The studies I'm listing here are based on black elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L) – name brand Sambucol.
According to PubMed:
Sambucus nigra L. products – Sambucol – are based on a standardized black elderberry extract. They are natural remedies with antiviral properties, especially against different strains of influenza virus. Sambucol was shown to be effective in vitro against 10 strains of influenza virus. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, Sambucol reduced the duration of flu symptoms to 3-4 days.
The Journal of International Medical Research concurs that elderberry extract is a proven treatment, referencing a different study:
Elderberry has been used in folk medicine for centuries to treat influenza, colds and sinusitis, and has been reported to have antiviral activity against influenza and herpes simplex. We investigated the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry syrup for treating influenza A and B infections. Sixty patients (aged 18 – 54 years) suffering from influenza-like symptoms for 48 h or less were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study during the influenza season of 1999 – 2000 in Norway. Patients received 15 ml of elderberry or placebo syrup four times a day for 5 days, and recorded their symptoms using a visual analogue scale. Symptoms were relieved on average 4 days earlier and use of rescue medication was significantly less in those receiving elderberry extract compared with placebo. Elderberry extract seems to offer an efficient, safe and cost-effective treatment for influenza.
An Ancient Panacea
The medicinal use of the elderberry is nothing new. Mentioned in ancient medicinal texts, the humble black elderberry has been used as a multi-purpose treatment for centuries. In 400 BC, Hippocrates referred to the elderberry bush as his "medicine chest" because of its varied uses, and it was mentioned several times in the writings of Pliny the Elder when he recorded the practices of the ancient Romans.
To learn more about the historical uses of all components of the elderberry bush, check out this detailed article on Botanical.com.
How It Works
Scientists have isolated the active compound in the elderberry. It is called Antivirin and is found in proteins of the black elderberry. The compound prevents the flu virus from invading the membranes of healthy cells.
The main flavonoids present in elderberries are the anthocyanins cyanidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-sambubioside, and are detectable in plasma after oral intake of elderberry extract. A possible mechanism of action of elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza is that the flavonoids stimulate the immune system by enhancing production of cytokines by monocytes. In addition, elderberry has been shown to inhibit the haemagglutination of the influenza virus and thus prevent the adhesion of the virus to the cell receptors. Anthocyanins also have an antiinflammatory effect comparable to that of acetylsalicylic acid; this could explain the pronounced effect on aches, pain and fever seen in the group treated with elderberry syrup. (source)
Avian Flu
This is especially important with something like the Avian flu, which, according to the CDC, has a mortality rate of 60% in the 600 cases reported worldwide. At this point the Avian flu is rarely transmissible to, or between, humans. The fear is that a mutation of the virus could change that, instigating a deadly pandemic. (Alarmingly, the Avian virus has been successfully mutated by scientists, causing public outcry that this "research" could be weaponized in the future, but that's a different article.)
Since the first avian influenza outbreak, in 1997, there has been concern that the influenza A (H5N1) virus might either mutate and adapt to allow efficient transmission during the infection of mammals or reassort its gene segments with human influenza viruses during the coinfection of a single host, resulting in a new virus that would be both highly lethal and transmissible from person to person. Such events are believed to have preceded the influenza pandemics of 1918, 1957, and 1968. Several lines of evidence indicate that the currently circulating influenza A (H5N1) viruses have in fact evolved to more virulent forms since 1997, with a higher mortality among human cases, different antigenic properties, a different internal gene constellation,and an expanded host range. (source)
According to a study by Zacay-Rones in 1995, black elderberry was proven to be effective against the Avian flu, specifically Panama B strain.
A standardized elderberry extract, Sambucol (SAM), reduced hemagglutination and inhibited replication of human influenza viruses type A/Shangdong 9/93 (H3N2), A/Beijing 32/92 (H3N2), A/Texas 36/91 (H1N1), A/Singapore 6/86 (H1N1), type B/Panama 45/90, B/Yamagata 16/88, B/Ann Arbor 1/86, and of animal strains from Northern European swine and turkeys, A/Sw/Ger 2/81, A/Tur/Ger 3/91, and A/Sw/Ger 8533/91 in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. A placebo-controlled, double blind study was carried out on a group of individuals living in an agricultural community (kibbutz) during an outbreak of influenza B/Panama in 1993. Fever, feeling of improvement, and complete cure were recorded during 6 days. Sera obtained in the acute and convalescent phases were tested for the presence of antibodies to influenza A, B, respiratory syncytial, and adenoviruses. Convalescent phase serologies showed higher mean and mean geometric hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers to influenza B in the group treated with SAM than in the control group. A significant improvement of the symptoms, including fever, was seen in 93.3% of the cases in the SAM-treated group within 2 days, whereas in the control group 91.7% of the patients showed an improvement within 6 days (p < 0.001). A complete cure was achieved within 2 to 3 days in nearly 90% of the SAM-treated group and within at least 6 days in the placebo group (p < 0.001). No satisfactory medication to cure influenza type A and B is available. Considering the efficacy of the extract in vitro on all strains of influenza virus tested, the clinical results, its low cost, and absence of side-effects, this preparation could offer a possibility for safe treatment for influenza A and B. (source)
Sambucol has been shown to reduce the symptoms and the duration of flu sufferers. It has been tested on both Influenza A and Influenza B strains. In one study it was noted that subjects taking Sambucol instead of a placebo took fewer over the counter medications to relieve symptoms like fever, aches and congestion.
Thom's findings were presented at the 15th Annual Conference on Antiviral Research in 2002. The study has been accepted for publication in the Journal of International Medical Research.
The study involved 60 patients who had been suffering with flu symptoms for 48 hours or less; 90% were infected with the A strain of the virus, 10% were infected with type B. Half the group took 15 milliliters of Sambucol or and the other group took a placebo four times a day for five days.
Patients in the Sambucol group had "pronounced improvements" in flu symptoms after three days: Nearly 90% of patients had complete cure within two to three days. Also, the Sambucol group had no drowsiness, the downside of many flu treatments.
The placebo group didn't recover until at least day six; they also took more painkillers and nasal sprays. (source)
Sambucol will not prevent the flu, but will shorten the duration and severity of the flu.
How to Take Elderberry Extract
In the Israeli study, mentioned above, each day children were given 1/2 tablespoon of Sambucol extract four times per day, and adults were given 1 tablespoons four times per day. It's important to note that the only form of elderberry extract that has been used in studies is Sambucol, which is based on a standardized black elderberry extract.
(NOTE: I'm not affiliated with the company Sambucol in any way. I am recommending this product because our family uses it, it is standardized and it is the product used in all of the studies referenced in this article. I receive no commission or payment of any type from this company.)
There are a few different ways you can take the pleasant tasting liquid:
- Right out of the spoon
- Mixed with hot water and honey for a tea
- Mixed with sparkling water and served over ice for a refreshing "soda pop"-like beverage
Store your elderberry extract in a cool dry place – we keep our bottle in the refrigerator.
Unlike chemical medications, there have been no reported side effects from Sambucol. Although you should always check with your physician before taking this or any other remedy. It is safe for children over 2 and the elderly. No studies have been done regarding the safety of Sambucol during pregnancy or breastfeeding. There are no reported contraindications for those taking other medications, or those who suffer from asthma or high blood pressure.
Research is ongoing regarding the use of Sambucol for the treatment of allergies, cancer, inflammatory disorders and HIV.
Daisy Luther is a freelance writer and editor. Her website, The Organic Prepper, offers information on healthy prepping, including premium nutritional choices, general wellness and non-tech solutions. You can follow Daisy on Facebook and Twitter, and you can email her at [email protected]
The National Betrayal Of Dr. Harvey Bigelsen
By Joshua Foster with Katherine Carroll, Associate Editor NHF –
SUPPORT DR. BIGELSEN and visit http://bigelsen.thenhf.com/. Just as the FDA and Codex are stripping away your ability to use nutritional supplements with therapeutic levels so are your alternative practitioners being attacked in a vicious attempt to force them out leaving you at the hands of an outdated medical model and Big Pharma.
We often hear the tremendous respect and gratitude for men and women in our armed forces. The ones who survived and the ones who were not as fortunate. They are considered by many to be the front-line defenders of our freedoms and our liberties. Often, though, they come home to find out that both their freedom and their liberties are in jeopardy on home turf; their enemy is domestic, not foreign. They also find out that the respect and gratitude fade fast once back in the U.S.
Harvey Bigelsen, M.D. witnessed the Vietnam War from a viewpoint many of us would not wish on our worst enemy. His work as a trauma surgeon specializing as an Ophthalmologist allowed many to see family trees continue to flower. Dr. Bigelsen was on the front lines where triage was concerned, literally holding lives in his hands and in his quick, expertly trained, decision-making process. This impeccable medical judgment was service at the very highest level, no matter your perspective on war. He saved the lives of people who were sentenced to death and on death's door when they came to him. Legally.
Fast forward in the doctor's life past years of experience at the highest levels of healing and the highest levels of understanding the human body deepening his education and embracing other disciplines as time passed. Fast forward past four enlightening books he authored. You will inexplicably and inevitably arrive at the recent charges and confiscations that plague Dr. Bigelsen in his hometown of Nevada City, California. It is one of the most notorious cases of Nation turned traitor – the ultimate payback for years of dedicated service – namely betrayal at the hands of the medical mafia. His presumed weapon? Darkfield microscopes used to examine blood samples. His crime? A lot of menial accusations over nutritional supplement and homeopathic labeling that were not initiated by Dr. Bigelsen. Yet, he is facing jail for others' product labels … a war hero turned criminal healer.
In Dr. Bigelsen's own words, "On March 20, at approximately 11:00 a.m., seven uniformed officers came into my office and confiscated two microscopes. I was pretty overwhelmed and wanted to know why they took the microscopes, however they did not tell me. I stood at the doorway and said, 'This is my personal property,' and they physically shoved me out of the way. I called the local police and they came over; however, they sided with the uniformed officers. They placed a couple of slips of violations on my counter in the office and left." Strangely, the charges brought against Dr. Bigelsen, for which he could be jailed as a felon, had to do with labeling of healing remedies, for which he was not directly responsible.
He faces the medical tyranny he swore an oath to defend us against. If it is believed that a silver lining always exists, the newest investigations into his work may be his greatest validation. If it did not embody what he claims or its truth could not stand on its own, would it still be met with such great resistance? In a case of simple quackery, one is usually debunked with a heavy dose of factual evidence against ones hypothesis. Apparently when a rebuttal is unavailable suppression is substituted.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident." You cannot cast doubt on a self-evident truth. You must eliminate its availability to the public. "Over the course of his 25 years of research, Harvey Bigelsen has learned how to interpret images created by the blood in order to understand a person's total health. He has found that blood, like water, is a messenger of a person's emotion and consciousness. This is exciting and spectacular research and my hope is that it will be shared with the world!" Dr. Masaru Emoto, who needs no introduction, leaves only monumental praise for Dr. Bigelsen. This type of against-the-grain, revolutionary research, though, often finds itself with few allies. Extraordinary minds reaching each other is like preaching to the choir. But reaching the mind of the 100th monkey is a task often defended to the dying breath of the one profiting from withholding the vital, healing truth.
As this reaches you, NHF is helping to defend Dr. Bigelsen to not only protect his truths but to bring them to you as well. But that means taking on the battle of a humble healer, Dr. Bigelsen, to fight for his professional life like he fought for the lives of relatives of yours perhaps. NHF has been fighting for alternative practitioners, like our battle in the 60s to help chiropractors become legally licensed in over 40 states.
In the meantime, please visit Dr. Bigelsen on Facebook and the "I Stand Behind Dr. B" Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Stand-Behind-Dr-B/233041773564709. We are stronger together and Dr. Bigelsen's whole story you will feel the same duty as NHF to defend his work. A short video of Dr. Bigelsen telling his story and the impassioned work he's done over the years since his Vietnam tour can be viewed at: http://youtu.be/eV0wVFKZy3E.
The following are some of the key allegations made against Dr. Bigelsen:
(1) Bigelsen allegedly manufactured products without a license from the California Department of Public Health, Food and Drug Branch. They said he was manufacturing products labeled as Lung, Liver, Female, when in fact he was not.
(2) Bigelsen allegedly relabeled the products unlawfully without stating the accurate contents and the quantity and adequate directions for its use.
(3) Bigelsen allegedly sold a product that was labeled "Pleo Rec and the label was misleading as it had an over label on it listing some company as a distributor. Pleo Rec is already labeled when Dr. Bigelsen receives it!
(4) Bigelsen allegedly unlawfully labeled products that were called "Ney Calm," "Anti-focal," and "Aorta Heart" and Bigelsen allegedly did not mark down the quantity or any details about it. Interestingly enough, those names were the company's own names.
He could go to jail for those things. All of the charges are false and intended simply to stifle someone who was working through a naturopathic practitioner to help people become well without harmful drugs.
There comes a time when we know the right thing to do is to give back. We've had access to a caring healer for decades. Now he needs access to your help to survive this medical tyranny. If you would like to donate to the Bigelsen Defense Fund, please visit the donation link on the National Health Federation website at http://bigelsen.thenhf.com/. Just as the FDA and Codex are stripping away your ability to use nutritional supplements with therapeutic levels so are your alternative practitioners being attacked in a vicious attempt to force them out leaving you at the hands of an outdated medical model and Big Pharma. Are you going to stand by and leave Dr. Bigelsen with his back against the firing squad wall without coming to his aid as he came to so many of your family member's aid during the war?
This is war folks. And we of the health freedom community at NHF stand by our own. Just $25 or more donated at http://bigelsen.thenhf.com/ using PayPal or phoning your credit or debit card number into Tina at NHF's main office at 1.626.357.2181 will strip the blind-folder off the FDA and force down their guns aimed at Dr. Bigelsen right now. NHF has hired the top legal minds in this country and along with the legal guidance of our President and General Counsel, Scott Tips, Dr. Bigelsen – and YOU – have a fighting chance to defend your right to choose the alternative practitioner and the modalities of healing that you want.
But choose to do nothing and don't come complaining when you lose your practitioner to the reign of medical tyranny. Move into the front lines now. Get off the sidelines please and help not only Dr. Bigelsen but set the precedent for the FDA letting them know that NHF's health freedom warriors don't abandon their own, we don't stand down, and we will never surrender and tolerate this medial mafia harassment!
Kat Carroll is Associate Editor of the National Health Federation's magazine, Health Freedom News, and is on the Board of Directors of the National Health Federation Canada. She also writes for several blogs, magazines, and is currently compiling a book on Codex Alimentarius based on first-hand experience attending International Codex meetings. Kat is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and Clinic Administrator at her and her husband's Optometry clinics. Additionally, Kat enjoys hosting guests at Adytum Sanctuary, their Pacific Northwest retreat. [email protected]. www.adytumsanctuary.com. www.thenhf.com
Nature's Wonder: Coconut Oil Benefits And Uses
Coconut oil is one of nature's most powerful wonders. It is readily available, extremely affordable, and offers many health benefits the average person probably would never consider.
In addition to imparting great flavor to food dishes, coconut oil has been known to:
- Kill numerous bacteria, viruses and fungi
- Kill a number of parasites and protozoa
- Prevent the spread of cancer
- Fight infection and enhance the immune system
- Suppress inflammation and repair body tissues
- Promote weight loss
- Moisturize the skin and condition the hair
- Boost energy
Additionally, coconut oil is non-toxic for both humans and animals while having no harmful side effects.
Coconut Oil for Weight Loss
One of the most exciting benefits of coconut oil is its ability to promote weight loss. Not only does it increase energy, but it helps the body burn fat more efficiently by temporarily boosting metabolism. The key lies in the molecular structure of the oil and how the body digests it. Coconut oil contains medium chain triacylglycerols (MCTs), which are shorter and more water-soluble than those in other oils. For this reason, they reach the liver more quickly and are burned for fuel rather than being stored as fat. To reap the benefits, use it for sautéing and in your morning coffee for a sustained energy boost.
I have absolutely loved using coconut oil when cooking lately. The taste is amazing not to mention the aroma when cooking! We have sautéed veggies and replaced regular olive oil and other oils in most dishes. So tasty.
Coconut Oil for Beauty
Coconut oil is a great pre-wash conditioning treatment for your hair. The unrefined oil has a light, pleasant fragrance that won't overpower your sense of smell. To use, massage the oil into your hair. Cover with a plastic cap and wait at least 2 hours before washing out with your favorite shampoo.
Coconut oil also makes an excellent skin moisturizer. Wash your face as normal. Then rub a tiny amount around your eyes to improve elasticity while minimizing dark circles. Use a very small amount to moisturize other dry areas/patches on your face. Also use the oil to moisturize your entire body after a shower or bath.
The oil may also be used to treat eczema, smooth the hair, and reduce the appearance of scars. Keep in mind a little goes a long way.
Type of Coconut Oil
For best results, select a coconut oil labeled 'virgin' or 'extra virgin'. These oils are extracted using delicate methods such as cold pressing. They contain more antioxidants than other types, but they also have a stronger coconut flavor and aroma.
If you do not necessarily enjoy the taste of coconut, choose refined, or 'expeller-pressed', coconut oil. Refined oil has a higher smoke point and can be used in dishes where you do not want the coconut flavor. Before choosing a refined coconut oil, research brands and be sure to select one that doesn't use harsh chemicals for refinement.
Do you use coconut oil? If so, what is your favorite uses? recipes?
Kombucha Health Benefits
More than 2,000 years ago, the ancient Chinese discovered the health benefits of Kombucha tea, and they called it an "immortal health elixir." Today, this tea has gained recognition around the world as a potent health beverage. Kombucha tea is made from the fermentation of a mixture of sweetened tea and SCOBY, which is a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast. It is known to be effective in reducing the risks of certain health problems and promoting overall health.
Detoxifies the Body
One of the most important health benefits of Kombucha tea is that it can detoxify your body. It contains many of the bacterial acids and enzymes that are needed for detoxifying your system, and it can reduce pancreatic load and prevent your liver from becoming overburdened. Regular consumption of Kombucha tea can help you maintain a healthy liver.
Prevents and Treats Cancer
Kombucha tea's detoxifying properties and its high content of glucaric acid can aid in the prevention and treatment of cancer. One of the more effective ways to fight cancer is to detoxify the body. Some people have managed to overcome cancer by taking detoxifying measures such as maintaining an organic and natural diet, removing products that contain chemicals from their homes and drinking Kombucha tea on a regular basis.
Nobel Prize-winning Russian author Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote in his autobiography that his stomach cancer was cured by regular consumption of Kombucha tea. After President Ronald Reagan came to know about the author's claim, he decided to use Kombucha tea to prevent his cancer from spreading. The president survived his cancer, and he died of old age in 2004.
Reduces Risk of Arthritis
Kombucha tea contains high amounts of glucosamines, which are substances that are needed by your body to maintain healthy joints. Glucosamines work to enhance the production of hyaluronic acid, an acid that can help preserve cartilage structure and reduce arthritic pain. It is known that hyaluronic acid provides pain relief that is comparable to NSAIDs. This acid makes it possible for connective tissues in the body to bind great amounts of moisture, and it facilitates the maintenance of healthy tissue structure as well as the lubrication and flexibility of joints.
Boosts Immune System
Kombucha tea is a beverage that is very rich in antioxidants. These antioxidants can strengthen your immune system and suppress the activities of free radicals that can cause serious damages to your body. Consequently, your body will become less susceptible to infections and illnesses.
Increases Energy Levels
The detoxifying effects of Kombucha tea ensure that the systems in your body will function more efficiently. When all body processes are running smoothly, your energy levels will increase significantly.
Promotes Weight Loss
Another great benefit of Kombucha tea is its ability to improve metabolism. When your metabolism rate is higher, you will be able to lose more weight.
Provides Mental and Emotional Calmness
Kombucha tea also contains certain acids that can calm your body and mind. Regular consumption of the tea can help you overcome stress, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety and other mental and emotional problems.
A Modest Dose Of Ginger Improves 8 Markers Of Diabetes Type 2
A promising new study published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition reveals that the popular kitchen spice ginger may be an effective treatment for the prevention of diabetes and its complications.
Ginger is in the same plant family (Zingiberacea) that includes the medicinal powerhouse turmeric, and which only recently was proven to be 100% effective in preventing the development of type 2 diabetes in prediabetics, according to a study published in the American Diabetes Association's own journal Diabetes Care.
In the new ginger study, titled "The effect of ginger consumption of glycemic status, lipid profile and some inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus,"[i] 70 type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial, the objective of which was to assess the effect of ginger consumption on glycemic status, lipid profile and some common inflammatory markers associated with the condition.
The trial participants were divided randomly into a ginger group and control group, receiving either 1600 mg ginger or a 1600 mg placebo daily for 12 weeks. The patients were measured before and after the intervention for blood sugar levels, blood lipids, C-reactive protein, prostaglandin E2 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα).
As a result of the intervention, ginger treatment reduced the following parameters significantly compared with the placebo group:
- Fasting plasma glucose
- HbA1C (aka glycated hemoglobin) – a measurement of how much damage is being caused by sugars to red blood cells in the body, reflective of body wide damage caused by chronically elevated blood sugar
- Insulin
- HOMA (the homeostatic model assessment) – which measures insulin resistance and beta-cell function (the pancreatic cells that produce insulin)
- Triglycerides
- Total cholesterol
- C-reactive protein (CRP) – a marker of inflammation
- Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) – a marker of inflammation
No significant differences in HDL, LDL and TNFα between two groups (p > 0.05).
The researchers concluded:
"Ginger improved insulin sensitivity and some fractions of lipid profile, and reduced CRP and PGE2 in type 2 diabetic patients. Therefore ginger can be considered as an effective treatment for prevention of diabetes complications."
Ginger Already Proven To Have Anti-Diabetic Properties
(click to enlarge)
This is, of course, not the first study to establish the value of ginger for diabetes. Simply dropping the two search terms "diabetes" and "ginger" into Pubmed.gov will draw up 63 results. Our database of abstracts on ginger contains a number of gems on its benefit for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes which can be viewed here: Ginger Health Benefits.
Additionally, the research on turmeric (and its primarily polyphenol curcumin) as a diabetes aid is far more plentiful, with 123 results for the search terms "turmeric" and "diabetes," and 252 for "curcumin" and "diabetes," on the National Library of Medicine's Pubmed.gov database. To view our curated research on turmeric's diabetes benefits (as well as for 600 other disorders), view our page on the topic: Turmeric Health Benefits.
How Much Was Used?
The amount of ginger used in the study amounted to 1.6 grams, which is a non-heroic, 'culinary' dose of approximately a quarter of a teaspoon. In the study, participants were given two doses of 800 mg, delivered twice daily, orally through capsules. This dose scheme points to the fact that higher doses does of complex plant extracts within the spice category are not necessarily better, and in fact, in some cases, may actually have effects opposite to the expectation. This study, for instance, found that rosemary at a lower dose (750 mg) improved cognition whereas a higher dose (6,000 mg) interfered with it. The point is that lower doses, as used traditionally in culinary applications, passed down to us through previous generations as 'recipes' (literally: 'medical prescriptions'), may be more effective than higher ones; a perspective that obviously turns conventional pharmacological wisdom and practice on its head. Learn more here.
Other Essential Resources for Type 2 Diabetes
The GreenMedInfo.com database now contains 350 abstracts on 180 natural substances that have been researched to have potential value in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes, and which can be viewed on our Type 2 Diabetes Research page. The resource also includes Problem Substances (e.g. fructose, BPA), Therapeutic Actions (e.g. yoga, low carb diets) and Problematic Actions (e.g. vaccination, microwave cooking) linked to this condition in the published research. We also have a curated health portal on Blood Sugar Problems (click hyperlink to view) which aggregates both our research sections on type 1 and type 2 diabetes and our reporting on various studies related to these conditions in greater depth.
[i] Tahereh Arablou, Naheed Aryaeian, Majid Valizadeh, Faranak Sharifi, Aghafatemeh Hosseini, Mahmoud Djalali. The effect of ginger consumption on glycemic status, lipid profile and some inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2014 Feb 4. Epub 2014 Feb 4. PMID: 24490949
Article Contributed by Sayer Ji, Founder of www.GreenMedInfo.com
Sayer Ji is an author, researcher, lecturer, and advisory board member of the National Health Federation. He founded Greenmedinfo.com in 2008 in order to provide the world an open access, evidence-based resource supporting natural and integrative modalities. It is internationally recognized as the largest and most widely referenced health resource of its kind.
10 Amazing Health Benefits Of Chlorophyll
You may have heard a lot of buzz surrounding the healthiness of vegetables, especially leafy green vegetables with deep, rich color tones. In many ways, they're perfect foods and part of the credit is owed to the chlorophyll they contain. Chlorophyll is a green pigment that's instrumental in photosynthesis. Research also suggests it's instrumental in promoting good health. The following 10 benefits demonstrate its amazing versatility and power.
1. Helps Control Hunger and Cravings
A study released in September of 2013 determined that compounds containing chlorophyll might help suppress hunger. Twenty moderately overweight women were given test meals on three separate occasions one week apart — two meals with chlorophyll, one without. They reported reduced hunger following the meals containing the chlorophyll and blood tests showed stable blood sugar levels. [1] These results suggest chlorophyll should be considered as an effective way to manage hunger and promote weight loss.
2. Controls Body Odor
Chlorophyll is good for your body from the inside out, literally. This includes body and fecal odors. When tested in a nursing home with 62 patients, one study reported improvements in the odors emanating from the test subjects. In addition to odor reduction, it also alleviated constipation and gas. [2]
3. Encourages Healing
The use of chlorophyll to promote the healing process was first reported nearly 100 years ago. One report published by Butler University (in 1950!) discussed its use for improving healing times. [3] A more recent study found that, when used as a spray, chlorophyll significantly helped wound therapy. [4] The research clearly backs its effectiveness in this area.
4. Promotes Cleansing
Environmental pollutants such as toxic metals can quickly destroy health. Chlorophyll binds with toxic metals to hamper absorption, and research has shown it can do the same with some carcinogens. A crossover study with 4 human volunteers tested chlorophyll's ability to remove ingested aflatoxin, a known carcinogen. Each volunteer received three servings of the aflatoxin, followed with a meal, the latter two included a tablet of chlorophyll. The results showed rapid elimination with 95% evacuated within 24 hours. [5]
5. Protects DNA Against Fried Foods
Fried foods aren't just bad for your waistline, they also contain chemicals known to damage colon tissue and the DNA of colon cells. In one study, participants who ate fried foods coupled with protective foods, including chlorophyll, were observed to have less DNA damage of colon cells. [6] Don't take that as just cause to go crazy with the fried foods, the best idea is to avoid them altogether.
6. Super Potent Antioxidant Action
Chlorophyll's status as a superfood is due to its nutritional and potent antioxidant properties. It protects cells from oxidative damage by eliminating free radicals. [7] One plant known for its high chlorophyll levels, Conyza triloba, showed very active superoxide scavenging behavior. An in vitro study found it capable of reducing free radicals while reducing cell damage. [8]
7. Promising Potential for Cancer Therapy
Although the research doesn't currently show that chlorophyll is an all out cancer cure, researchers are excited about its potential as a therapy. One study found men with lower levels of dietary chlorophyll had higher risks of colon cancer. [9] Another study noted it effective at stimulating liver detoxifying enzymes and may protect against other carcinogens. [10]
8. Effective Against Candida albicans
Candida infection is a big problem for many individuals and can lead to fatigue, depression, and digestive problems; just to name a few. Research has shown that isolated chlorophyll solutions stop Candida albicans growth. [11]
9. Relieves Systemic Redness and Swelling
Traditional medicine has long used green leaves for infections. With modern approaches that have limited effectiveness and a long list of side effects, natural remedies are getting another look. Animal studies have found that green leaves help to reduce swelling and redness! [12]
10. Promotes Healthy Iron Levels
A modified form of chlorophyll known as chlorophyllin may be highly effective for anemia. By swapping iron for magnesium at the center of the molecule, it provides a bioavailable form of iron the body can use. [13] While scientists may look for ways to develop patent-able medicines, no one needs to wait to take chlorophyll to gain its benefits.
Chlorophyll: An Excellent Dietary Supplement
Chlorophyll possesses an amazing range of benefits and is readily available to everyone. Chlorophyll rich foods are also healthy in their own right and contain essential vitamins and nutrients needed for cardiovascular, muscular, and neural health. Consume foods containing chlorophyll or take a dietary supplement for best effect. Blue-green algae is one of my favorites. Do you take chlorophyll? What effects have you noticed? Please leave a comment below and share your experience with us!
-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM
- Stenblom EL, Montelius C, Östbring K, Håkansson M, Nilsson S, Rehfeld JF, Erlanson-Albertsson C. Supplementation by thylakoids to a high carbohydrate meal decreases feelings of hunger, elevates CCK levels and prevents postprandial hypoglycaemia in overweight women. Appetite. 2013 Sep;68:118-23. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2013.04.022. Epub 2013 Apr 28.
- Young RW, Beregi JS Jr. Use of chlorophyllin in the care of geriatric patients. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1980 Jan;28(1):46-7.
- Esten, Mabel M. and Dannin, Albert G. (1950) "Chlorophyll therapy and its relation to pathogenic bacteria." Butler University Botanical Studies : Vol. 9, Article 21.
- Weir D, Farley KL. Relative delivery efficiency and convenience of spray and ointment formulations of papain/urea/chlorophyllin enzymatic wound therapies. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2006 Sep-Oct;33(5):482-90.
- Jubert C, Mata J, Bench G, Dashwood R, Pereira C, Tracewell W, Turteltaub K, Williams D, Bailey G. Effects of chlorophyll and chlorophyllin on low-dose aflatoxin B(1) pharmacokinetics in human volunteers. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2009 Dec;2(12):1015-22. doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-09-0099. Epub 2009 Dec 1.
- Shaughnessy DT, Gangarosa LM, Schliebe B, Umbach DM, Xu Z, MacIntosh B, Knize MG, Matthews PP, Swank AE, Sandler RS, DeMarini DM, Taylor JA. Inhibition of fried meat-induced colorectal DNA damage and altered systemic genotoxicity in humans by crucifera, chlorophyllin, and yogurt. PLoS One. 2011 Apr 25;6(4):e18707. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018707.
- Zhang YL, Guan L, Zhou PH, Mao LJ, Zhao ZM, Li SQ, Xu XX, Cong CC, Zhu MX, Zhao JY. [The protective effect of chlorophyllin against oxidative damage and its mechanism]. Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi. 2012 Jun;51(6):466-70.
- El-Sayed WM, Hussin WA, Mahmoud AA, AlFredan MA. The Conyza triloba extracts with high chlorophyll content and free radical scavenging activity had anticancer activity in cell lines. Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:945638. doi: 10.1155/2013/945638. Epub 2013 May 23.
- Balder HF, Vogel J, Jansen MC, Weijenberg MP, van den Brandt PA, Westenbrink S, van der Meer R, Goldbohm RA. Heme and chlorophyll intake and risk of colorectal cancer in the Netherlands cohort study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2006 Apr;15(4):717-25.
- Dingley KH, Ubick EA, Chiarappa-Zucca ML, Nowell S, Abel S, Ebeler SE, Mitchell AE, Burns SA, Steinberg FM, Clifford AJ. Effect of dietary constituents with chemopreventive potential on adduct formation of a low dose of the heterocyclic amines PhIP and IQ and phase II hepatic enzymes. Nutr Cancer. 2003;46(2):212-21.
- Lilian Eiko MAEKAWA, LAMPING Roberta, MARCACCI Sidnei, Marcos Yasunori MAEKAWA, Maria Renata Giazzi NASSRI, Cristiane Yumi Koga-Ito. Antimicrobial activity of chlorophyll-based solution on Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis. Revista Sul-brasiliera de Odontologia 01/2007.
- Subramoniam A, Asha VV, Nair SA, Sasidharan SP, Sureshkumar PK, Rajendran KN, Karunagaran D, Ramalingam K. Chlorophyll revisited: anti-inflammatory activities of chlorophyll a and inhibition of expression of TNF-? gene by the same. Inflammation. 2012 Jun;35(3):959-66. doi: 10.1007/s10753-011-9399-0.
- Miret S, Tascioglu S, van der Burg M, Frenken L, Klaffke W. In vitro bioavailability of iron from the heme analogue sodium iron chlorophyllin. J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Jan 27;58(2):1327-32. doi: 10.1021/jf903177q.
About Dr Edward Group III DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM
Dr. Group has studied natural healing methods for over 20 years and now teaches individuals and practitioners all around the world. He no longer sees patients but solely concentrates on spreading the word of health and wellness to the global community. Under his leadership, Global Healing Center, Inc. has earned recognition as one of the largest alternative, natural and organic health resources on the Internet.
Health Benefits Of Lemon Water
After visiting some friends recently who drank copious amounts of water spiked with fresh organic limes and lemons from trees in their yard and freely offered this delicious concoction to all their guests, the following article reminded me of the value of our mutual dedication to planetary health and wellness through simple healthful remedies.
There are basic lifestyle habits that are important to incorporate into your daily life, and this is certainly one of them. However, we are talking about organic lemons that are tree ripened. If you are buying commercial lemons from the store, learn kinesiology and muscle test the lemons you buy so that you know one way or another whether the lemons you are purchasing are actually therapeutic for you.
"When life gives you a lemon… squeeze it, mix it with six ounces of distilled water and drink twice daily."
The value of eating lemons is reported by Jethro Kloss in his book Back to Eden:
"The medicinal value of the lemon is as follows: It is an antiseptic, or is an agent that prevents sepsis [the presence of pathogenic bacteria] or putrefaction [decomposition of tissue]. It is also anti-scorbutic, a term meaning a remedy which will prevent disease and assist in cleansing the system of impurities."
Due to the digestive qualities of lemon juice, symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, bloating and belching are relieved. By drinking lemon juice regularly, the bowels are aided in eliminating waste more efficiently thus controlling constipation and diarrhea.
On page 659 of Back to Eden, Mr. Kloss points out that, "The lemon is a wonderful stimulant to the liver and is a dissolvent of uric acid and other poisons, liquefies the bile, and is very good in cases of malaria. Sufferers of chronic rheumatism and gout will benefit by taking lemon juice, also those who have a tendency to bleed, uterine hemorrhages, etc.; rickets and tuberculosis. In pregnancy, it will help to build bone in the child. We find that the lemon contains certain elements which will go to build up a healthy system and keep that system healthy and well. As a food, we find, owing to its potassium content, it will nourish the brain and nerve cells. Its calcium builds up the bony structure and makes healthy teeth.
"Its magnesium, in conjunction with calcium, has an important part to play in the formation of albumen in the blood. The lemon contains potassium 48.3, calcium 29.9, phosphorus 11.1, magnesium 4.4. Lemons are useful in treating asthma, biliousness, colds, coughs, sore throat, diphtheria, la grippe [flu or influenza], heartburn, liver complaint[s], scurvy, fevers and rheumatism."
Since many people today suffer from what they used to call biliousness, it is important to edify our readers to the definition.
Biliousness — 1. A symptom of a disorder of the liver causing constipation, headache, loss of appetite and vomiting of bile. 2. excess of bile; a bilious fever.
Why the lemon works so well
On page 19 of A.F. Beddoe's book "Biological Ionization in Human Nutrition," he states that: "Man does not live off the food he eats but off of the energy that is produced from the food he eats."
The energy you get from your food comes from the atoms and molecules of energy in your food. A reaction takes place as cationic food enters the digestive tract and encounters anionic digestive enzymes.
To explain further, an ion is part of a molecule con-atom or a group of atoms that carry an electrical charge. Ions which carry positive charges are "cations." Lemons are considered to be anionic, having more electrons (negatively charged ions) of energy as compared to cations (positively charged ions) in their atomic structure. Saliva, hydrochloric acid, bile and the stomach's other digestive juices are also anionic.
Lemon is one of the only foods on the planet that has more anions than cations in its atomic structure.
When considering the electromagnetic properties of food Dr. Beddoe points out that all foods are considered cationic with the exception of fresh, raw lemon juice. Some have suggested that the reason fresh lemon juice is similar to digestive enzymes is due to the low amount of sulfur in lemons. It should be noted that pasteurized and packaged lemon juice is cationic and, therefore, ineffective as a health remedy.
Who Can Benefit From Lemon Water
Dr. Beddoe continues on page 194: "Lemon water is used in every person that can tolerate it. That is, if there is no allergy to lemon (a very few have a true allergy to lemon) and no active ulcers, then all adults and most children should use the lemon water. The purpose of the lemon is to:
provide a natural strengthening agent to the liver enzymes when they are too dilute.
The liver can make more enzymes out of fresh lemon juice than any other food element.
The lemon helps fix oxygen and calciums in the liver because it regulates blood carbohydrate levels which affect the blood oxygen levels."
In the above book, Dr. Beddoe also cites an article by Dr. Michael Lesser on the medical promise of citric acid in "Anabolism, Journal of Preventive Medicine." He uses this article to validate the value of using fresh lemon juice daily: "It appears that citric acid, the major carrier of biochemicals in the body's energy system, shows important promise, primarily because of its excellent properties as a chelator. Its ability to form soluble complexes with calcium offers major promise in the successful treatment of pancreatic stones and has also been employed to dissolve kidney stones. Since calcium deposits are of major significance in the much greater problem of hardening of the arteries, citric acid may possibly contribute to a safe and effective reversal of this widespread degenerative disease."
Even though medical doctors are not currently employing lemon juice in the treatment of the above conditions, this article substantiates the fact that one of the benefits of fresh lemon water is the way the citric acid is able to act upon the body's systems differently than any other food.
Lemon Remedies Published by Jethro Kloss in Back to Eden
For sore throat, dilute lemon juice with water and gargle frequently. Dilute one-half lemon juice with one-half water. It is even better to use straight lemon juice.
A slice of lemon bound over a corn overnight will greatly relieve the pain.
A slice of lemon bound over a felon [pus formation on a finger joint] will not fail to bring the pus to the surface where it can be easily removed.
To relieve asthma, take a tablespoon of lemon juice one hour before each meal.
For liver complaints, the juice of the lemon should be taken in a glass of hot water one hour before breakfast every morning.
To break up la grippe [flu or influenza], drink a large glass of hot water with the juice of a lemon added, while at the same time have the feet in a deep bucket or other vessel of water with mustard added to it. The water should be deep enough to where it comes nearly up to the knees. Keep adding hot water to the patient's tolerance and until the patient begins to perspire freely (about 20-30 minutes). Be sure there is no draft on the person while this is done. The patient should be near a bed so he can get in it easily and avoid any danger of getting chilled. If convenient, a full hot bathtub would be good in place of the foot-bath. The lemon water should be taken every hour until the patient feels that all the symptoms of the cold are gone.
A teaspoon of lemon juice in half a glass of water relieves heartburn.
For rheumatism, one or two ounces of lemon juice diluted in water should be taken three times a day: one hour before meals and at bedtime.
In cases of hemorrhage, lemon juice diluted in water and taken as cold as possible will stop it.
Scurvy is treated by giving one to two ounces of lemon juice diluted with water every two to four hours.
In excessive menstruation the juice of three to four lemons a day will help check it. Best to take the juice of one lemon at a time in a glass of cold water.
Mr. Kloss explains how lemon juice can even help someone with stomach ulcers:
"How can one with an inflamed or ulcerated stomach partake in the juice? Would not a strong acid like that of the lemon act as an irritant? That would depend on how it was taken. If in quantity, yes. But to take it very weak at first [diluted sufficiently in water], it will cease to burn. The sufferer afflicted with ulcerated stomach has to use great perseverance to affect a cure, and it can be cured if care and patience is used. The gastric juice in the stomach is four times as strong as lemon juice."
In these cases, I recommend one to two tablespoons of Aloe Vera Gel before the lemon water. Taking 500 mg. of Bromelin has also proven to be helpful.
Buying a sweet lemon
Some lemons are more sweet than others. A rule of thumb for selecting a lemon that is both sweet and high in mineral content, is to pick one that has a high specific gravity measurement and is heavy for its size. By comparing equal-sized fruit, the one with the greatest weight will have the most mineral content and sugar. A thick skinned lemon will not be as heavy as a thin skinned lemon and will not have the desired sweetness or mineral content.
The method I use to ensure the purchase of sweet lemons is to look at the stem end of the lemon. There are two ends on the lemon. One end has a point where the blossom started to grow; the other end has a stem or a dimple where the stem used to be located. On the stem end of a highly mineralized, sweet lemon, you will see little lines radiating out of the stem like sunbeams. These little lines can look like a star shaped structure and is called a calyx. The calyx may have three, four, five or more points to the star. The greater the number of points on the calyx, the higher the mineral content of the lemon.
How much lemon to use
If you are in good health and weigh less than 150 pounds, squeeze the juice of one half a lemon (one ounce) into a glass of purified water and drink this mixture twice a day (one whole lemon a day.) If you weigh over 150 pounds, squeeze the juice out of an entire lemon (two ounces) into a glass of purified water and drink this mixture twice a day (two whole lemons a day.) The lemon juice can be diluted more according to taste.
To help your body get the energy from the food you are eating, drink lemon water regularly. Next to drinking plain purified water, drinking lemon water daily is the most important thing you can do for your health.
What Is Kava? 10 Must-Know Facts
A few years ago, my wife and I were on Hawaii's big island and walking through a quaint shopping area when I noticed a small, hole-in-the-wall establishment that served kava. For the uninitiated, kava is a relaxing, non-alcoholic beverage made from the root of the kava plant, it's popular in the Pacific islands. I'd heard of it but hadn't tried it and figured it'd be a good opportunity. I walked up, paid $6 for a coconut shell of liquid that resembled dirty dishwater, and down the hatch it went. It didn't take long before I was enveloped in a feeling of clear relaxation and realized why Polynesian culture appreciates it so much. Kava isn't some big secret, but it's not terribly mainstream on the mainland, so let's take a look at the top 10 things you need to know about kava.
1. What is Kava?
Kava, also known as piper methysticum, kava kava, and 'awa, is a small shrub native to the islands in the South Pacific. The root and stems are made into a non-alcoholic, psychoactive beverage that has been used socially and ceremonially for hundreds of years in Hawaii, Fiji, and Tonga. [1]
Kava is traditionally prepared by placing ground root and stem into a porous sack, submerging in water, and squeezing the juice into a large, carved, wooden bowl. Coconut half-shell cups are dipped and filled — punch bowl style. After drinking a cup or two a feeling of heightened attention combined with relaxation begins to come on. Although it is soothing, it is unlike alcohol in that thoughts remain clear. The flavor is largely inoffensive, but some find that it takes getting used to; it really depends on your preference for earthy flavors.
2. Kava as a Therapy for Anxiety
Kava has been marketed since the early 90′s as an herbal remedy for stress, anxiety, and insomnia; its popularity has grown ever since. [2] [3] [4] The excitement is justified, as the clinical evidence supporting its use is quite extensive. [5] Kava contains compounds known as kavalactones, they're responsible for its psychoactive qualities. In the brain, they operate on non-opiate pathways to offer a natural and non-narcotic action against anxiety. [6] Some clinical research even suggests that they're as good or even better than pharmaceutical drugs like benzodiazepines. [7]
According to Duke University Medical Center, kava is beneficial for anxiety and doesn't produce dependency or negatively affect heart rate, blood pressure, or sexual function. [8] In a 75-participant, 6-week, double blind trial conducted by the University of Melbourne Department of Psychiatry, kava was found to reduce anxiety and, aside from a few reported instances of headache, was well tolerated. [9] It's even been described as a promising candidate for future research into improving attention disorders. [10]
3. Kava May Remedy Menopausal Mood Swings
For many women (and men), menopause is a time when hormone levels go haywire and lead to mood swings. Although hormone replacement therapy and mind medicines are frequently used, many women prefer natural therapies. In this regard, menopausal women may find kava to be an excellent option. It is known to help psychological status without affecting the therapeutic action of estrogen — this is especially important when osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease are a concern. [11] [12]
In 2003, a clinical study reported that kava encouraged a healthier, pleasant mood among menopausal women. [13] Coincidentally, or perhaps not, research conducted earlier this year also found that kava significantly increases libido in women. [14]
4. There are Questions Surrounding Kava and Liver Health
If you start researching kava, warnings about liver damage are the first you'll discover. This is a subject with much contention. While some suggest it is toxic to the liver, most research indicates there is little evidence to support this notion. [15] [16] [17] Both Ohio State University and the South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy conducted animal studies and found that not only was kava non-toxic to the liver, but may even protect the liver. [18] [19] One of the primary arguments is that liver damage from kava is unpredictable, dose-independent, and not reproducible; thus individual metabolic differences are more likely. [20]
5. Kava May Turn You Into a Fish
Well, not really, but one noted side effect of long-term, heavy, consistent consumption of kava is development of a scaly skin rash known as dermopathy. There are several hypotheses concerning its cause. Some speculate it may be the result of interference with cholesterol metabolism. [21] Niacin deficiency, which can cause skin changes, has also been examined but cleared as a potential cause. [22] Another idea is that certain metabolites bind to skin proteins and cause an immune response. [23] Regardless, it's often only associated with heavy, prolonged use and is reversible when consumption stops. [24]
6. Kava May Offer Therapeutic Support for Addiction
Substance abuse is a large and expensive problem in the United States and the chemistry of craving has become a focus within addiction research. Within this realm, kava may have significant value. Kava contains compounds known as kavapyrones that bind to brain locations associated with addiction and cravings. Although preliminary and exploratory, some clinical studies have shown that kava may be able to reduce drug cravings. Hopefully future investigations will continue to examine these potential benefits! [25]
7. Kava Shouldn't Be Mixed With Prescription Drugs
This isn't exclusive to kava, it applies to all herbal therapies. Your body is an ongoing chemistry experiment, and everything you consume can affect it. The metabolizing enzymes that process food and nutritional supplements are the same that metabolize prescription drugs and interactions can occur. If you're taking prescriptions, talk to your prescribing doctor before starting supplemental therapies, including kava. [26]
The South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy warns that kavalactones inhibit several enzymes and block certain receptors and uptake channels. While this is not inherently a problem, it can be if taken with drugs that are metabolized by those enzymes or have similar pharmacological properties. [27]
8. Think Twice About Concentrated Extracts
As explained before, traditional kava preparation involves extracting the active compounds with water; it's very similar to making tea. Some companies, however, have taken the chemistry a step further and offer concentrated extracts that are produced using harsh solvents such as acetone or methanol. Although some studies suggest that extracts are mostly void of toxic effects, others have raised the idea that perhaps extracts are what cause liver damage. [28] Solvents may react with kava to produce harmful, reactive metabolites. [23] Additionally, not only does water extract the kavalactones, but it also extracts glutathione — a compound that promotes liver health. [29] Besides, water is the traditional preparation medium and it's more efficient at extracting the beneficial kavalactones. [30]
9. Some Folks are Tarnishing Kava's Image
Unfortunately, there is always a seedy side of society that has to pervert the holistic use of herbs like kava. It can't just be left alone and appreciated in its traditional form — some unscrupulous dregs always have to gunk it up. For example, the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy discovered a number of questionable online merchants whose marketing efforts have completely discarded the traditional attitudes regarding kava and simply promote it as a "legal alternative" to illegal drugs. [31] Certain brands of "herbal ecstasy" have included kava in the formula. [32] More recently, the antithesis to energy drinks, known as "relaxation drinks" have become available. They contain ingredients such as melatonin, valerian, kava, and tryptophan, which is fine… except that they're lamely advertised as smooth, cool sedatives in a can. [33] To really top off the ridiculousness, some "bust enhancing" products even contain kava! (In case you're wondering, they don't work.) [34]
10. Be Safe — Don't Drive
Concerns have been raised over the effect of sedatives — prescription and herbal — on driving ability. It's a valid concern, safety is extremely important and kava does elicit a certain physically tranquilizing effect. To assess the situation, researchers at the University of Melbourne conducted a driving simulation experiment with 22 adults who were given a "small" serving of kava. Although no impairing effects were observed, researchers cautioned that "small" is relative and the conclusion was, by no means, conclusive; additional research is required before an all-out safety rating can be assessed. The best idea? Play it safe, if you're going to enjoy kava, don't drive. [35]
Supplementing With Kava
Kava isn't found at many retail locations outside the Pacific islands, but it can be found online. If you give it a try, I recommend finding fresh ingredients and fixing a traditional preparation. I haven't had much luck with dehydrated mixes and powders, but others might have had better experiences. Have you tried kava? What'd you think? Please leave a comment below and share your experience with us!
-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM
- Shimoda LM, Park C, Stokes AJ, Gomes HH, Turner H. Pacific island 'Awa (Kava) extracts, but not isolated kavalactones, promote proinflammatory responses in model mast cells. Phytother Res. 2012 Dec;26(12):1934-41. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4652. Epub 2012 Apr 4.
- O'Sullivan HM, Lum K. The poisoning of 'awa: the non-traditional use of an ancient remedy. Pac Health Dialog. 2004 Sep;11(2):211-5.
- Baker JD. Tradition and toxicity: evidential cultures in the kava safety debate. Soc Stud Sci. 2011 Jun;41(3):361-84.
- Stacy S. Relaxation drinks and their use in adolescents. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2011 Dec;21(6):605-10. doi: 10.1089/cap.2011.0026. Epub 2011 Dec 2.
- Larzelere MM, Campbell JS, Robertson M. Complementary and alternative medicine usage for behavioral health indications. Prim Care. 2010 Jun;37(2):213-36. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2010.02.002.
- Sarris J, LaPorte E, Schweitzer I. Kava: a comprehensive review of efficacy, safety, and psychopharmacology. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2011 Jan;45(1):27-35. doi: 10.3109/00048674.2010.522554. Epub 2010 Nov 15.
- [No authors listed] Piper methysticum (kava kava). Altern Med Rev. 1998 Dec;3(6):458-60.
- Connor KM, Davidson JR, Churchill LE. Adverse-effect profile of kava. CNS Spectr. 2001 Oct;6(10):848, 850-3.
- Sarris J, Stough C, Bousman CA, Wahid ZT, Murray G, Teschke R, Savage KM, Dowell A, Ng C, Schweitzer I. Kava in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2013 Oct;33(5):643-8. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0b013e318291be67.
- Sarris J, Kean J, Schweitzer I, Lake J. Complementary medicines (herbal and nutritional products) in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): a systematic review of the evidence. Complement Ther Med. 2011 Aug;19(4):216-27. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2011.06.007. Epub 2011 Jul 26.
- Geller SE, Studee L. Botanical and dietary supplements for mood and anxiety in menopausal women. Menopause. 2007 May-Jun;14(3 Pt 1):541-9.
- De Leo V, La Marca A, Lanzetta D, Palazzi S, Torricelli M, Facchini C, Morgante G. [Assessment of the association of Kava-Kava extract and hormone replacement therapy in the treatment of postmenopause anxiety]. Minerva Ginecol. 2000 Jun;52(6):263-7.
- Cagnacci A, Arangino S, Renzi A, Zanni AL, Malmusi S, Volpe A. Kava-Kava administration reduces anxiety in perimenopausal women. Maturitas. 2003 Feb 25;44(2):103-9.
- Sarris J, Stough C, Teschke R, Wahid ZT, Bousman CA, Murray G, Savage KM, Mouatt P, Ng C, Schweitzer I. Kava for the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder RCT: Analysis of Adverse Reactions, Liver Function, Addiction, and Sexual Effects. Phytother Res. 2013 Nov;27(11):1723-8. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4916. Epub 2013 Jan 24.
- Rowe A, Ramzan I. Are mould hepatotoxins responsible for kava hepatotoxicity? Phytother Res. 2012 Nov;26(11):1768-70. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4620. Epub 2012 Feb 8.
- Teschke R, Lebot V. Proposal for a kava quality standardization code. Food Chem Toxicol. 2011 Oct;49(10):2503-16. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2011.06.075. Epub 2011 Jul 3.
- Grace RF. Kava drinking in Vanuatu–a hospital based survey. Pac Health Dialog. 2003 Sep;10(2):41-4.
- Singh YN, Devkota AK. Aqueous kava extracts do not affect liver function tests in rats. Planta Med. 2003 Jun;69(6):496-9.
- DiSilvestro RA, Zhang W, DiSilvestro DJ. Kava feeding in rats does not cause liver injury nor enhance galactosamine-induced hepatitis. Food Chem Toxicol. 2007 Jul;45(7):1293-300. Epub 2007 Jan 26.
- Teschke R, Sarris J, Lebot V. Contaminant hepatotoxins as culprits for kava hepatotoxicity–fact or fiction? Phytother Res. 2013 Mar;27(3):472-4. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4729. Epub 2012 May 14.
- Norton SA, Ruze P. Kava dermopathy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1994 Jul;31(1):89-97.
- Ruze P. Kava-induced dermopathy: a niacin deficiency? Lancet. 1990 Jun 16;335(8703):1442-5.
- Olsen LR, Grillo MP, Skonberg C. Constituents in kava extracts potentially involved in hepatotoxicity: a review. Chem Res Toxicol. 2011 Jul 18;24(7):992-1002. doi: 10.1021/tx100412m. Epub 2011 May 3.
- Gounder R. Kava consumption and its health effects. Pac Health Dialog. 2006 Sep;13(2):131-5.
- Steiner GG. Kava as an anticraving agent: preliminary data. Pac Health Dialog. 2001 Sep;8(2):335-9.
- Bressler R. Herb-drug interactions: interactions between kava and prescription medications. Geriatrics. 2005 Sep;60(9):24-5.
- Singh YN. Potential for interaction of kava and St. John's wort with drugs. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Aug 22;100(1-2):108-13.
- Teschke R, Gaus W, Loew D. Kava extracts: safety and risks including rare hepatotoxicity. Phytomedicine. 2003;10(5):440-6.
- Whitton PA, Lau A, Salisbury A, Whitehouse J, Evans CS. Kava lactones and the kava-kava controversy. Phytochemistry. 2003 Oct;64(3):673-9.
- Kubátová A, Miller DJ, Hawthorne SB. Comparison of subcritical water and organic solvents for extracting kava lactones from kava root. J Chromatogr A. 2001 Jul 20;923(1-2):187-94.
- Dennehy CE, Tsourounis C, Miller AE. Evaluation of herbal dietary supplements marketed on the internet for recreational use. Ann Pharmacother. 2005 Oct;39(10):1634-9. Epub 2005 Sep 13.
- Yates KM, O'Connor A, Horsley CA. "Herbal Ecstasy": a case series of adverse reactions. N Z Med J. 2000 Jul 28;113(1114):315-7.
- Stacy S. Relaxation drinks and their use in adolescents. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2011 Dec;21(6):605-10. doi: 10.1089/cap.2011.0026. Epub 2011 Dec 2.
- Fugh-Berman A. "Bust enhancing" herbal products. Obstet Gynecol. 2003 Jun;101(6):1345-9.
- Sarris J, Laporte E, Scholey A, King R, Pipingas A, Schweitzer I, Stough C. Does a medicinal dose of kava impair driving? A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Traffic Inj Prev. 2013;14(1):13-7. doi: 10.1080/15389588.2012.682233.
About Dr Edward Group III DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM
Dr. Group has studied natural healing methods for over 20 years and now teaches individuals and practitioners all around the world. He no longer sees patients but solely concentrates on spreading the word of health and wellness to the global community. Under his leadership, Global Healing Center, Inc. has earned recognition as one of the largest alternative, natural and organic health resources on the Internet.
7 Natural Alternatives Better Than Drugs For Health And Healing
Natural medicine is an amazing field, full of inspiring stories and an ever-accumulating body of scientific research to support its increasingly popular view of health.
In fact, at GreenMedInfo.com we specialize in dredging up from the National Library of Medicine's 23-million citation deep, seemingly oceanic database, highly promising clinical pearls indicating not only the value of natural substances in disease prevention and treatment, but sometimes their clear superiority versus drugs. What's not to like about that?
But our project, and natural medicine at large, is not without its challenges, one of which is that it is quite easy to get caught up in the allopathic model of treating surface symptoms, albeit naturally. This 'natural allopathy,' if you will, entices people to look for 'natural cure' shortcuts and Band-Aids instead of address the deeper issues associated with avoiding, limiting and addressing environmental exposures, reducing stress, and improving diet and exercise, for instance. In a culture that pops hundreds of millions of doses of drugs and supplements on a daily basis, it is increasingly difficult to break free from the powerful psychological pull to ingest something — be it a natural or synthetic "magic pill"; its effects real or imagined — instead of address the underlying problems.
This is also why part of our project is to identify peer-reviewed published research from biomedical journals indicating that there are therapeutic actions, from walking to yoga, dietary changes to exercising, that are at least as effective and often superior to conventional drug-based treatments.
So, here is a good smattering of data that edifies the notion that sometimes, we do not need to "take anything" to stimulate our body's innate self-healing abilities, as non-invasive therapies – including doing nothing (i.e. watchful waiting) — can accomplish favorable results:
- Colored light versus Benzyl peroxide for Acne: A combination of blue and red light irradiation therapy was found superior to 5% benzoyl peroxide in treating acne vulgaris without side effects. [i] Another study found blue light irradiation therapy alone as effective as 5% benzyl peroxide in the treatment of acne, but with fewer side effects.[ii]
- Dietary changes versus Drug Treatment for Hypertension: A high fiber, low sodium, low fat diet is superior to the beta-blocker drug metoprolol in hypertensive type 2 diabetic subjects. [iii]
- Acupuncture and moxibustion versus pharmaceutical treatment for Sudden Deafness: Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy was found to be superior in treating sudden deafness as compared with the routine drug-based therapy.[iv]
- Acupuncture versus Drug Treatment for treating Migraines: Acupuncture treatment exhibited greater effectiveness than drug therapy with flunarizine in the first months of therapy for migraine and with superior tolerability.[v]
- Dietary changes versus high-dose steroid for Crohn's disease: An elemental diet is as effective as high dose steroid treatment in improving Crohn's disease activity in children, while superior in supporting the growth of the children.[vi] Two additional studies found similar results in adults with mild-to-moderately active Crohn's disease.[vii] [viii]
- Aromatherapy massage versus Tylenol for Menstrual Pain: Aromatherapy massage on the abdomen was found superior to Tylenol for alleviating menstrual pain in high school girls.[ix]
- Hypnosis versus Valium for Anxiety: Hypnosis during embryo transfer is as effective as diazepam in terms of pregnancy ratio and anxiolytic effects, but with fewer side effects.[x]
- Yoga technique versus Antidepressant Drug for Depression: Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (a rhythmic breathing technique) was found superior to the drug imipramine in the treatment of depression.[xi]
- Yogic intervention versus Drug treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Yogic intervention consisting of poses and breathing exercises was found superior to conventional treatment in diarrhea-predominant IBS.[xii]
- Foot Reflexology versus Drug treatment for Insomnia: Foot reflexology (Wooden needle technique) was found superior to the drug Alprazolam in the treatment of insomnia.[xiii]
- Watchful waiting versus Drug treatment for childhood Ear Infection: Watchful waiting compares favorably to immediate antibiotic treatment for some children with non-severe acute otitis media.[xiv]
This sampling reflects only a minor subset of data within our Therapeutic Actions index, one of six databases on the GreenMedInfo.com open access site. Presently, we have 216 distinct actions indexed, which can be viewed on our Therapeutic Actions Display Page. You may be surprised how simple conscious acts such as chewing your food thoroughly, laughing or a walk in the forest can produce healing responses within the human body.
[i] P Papageorgiou, A Katsambas, A Chu. Phototherapy with blue (415 nm) and red (660 nm) light in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Br J Dermatol. 2000 May;142(5):973-8. PMID: 10809858
[ii] Lúcia H F de Arruda, Vanessa Kodani, Antonio Bastos Filho, Carla Bassanezi Mazzaro. [A prospective, randomized, open and comparative study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of blue light treatment versus a topical benzoyl peroxide 5% formulation in patients with acne grade II and III]. An Bras Dermatol. 2009 Oct;84(5):463-8. PMID: 20098847
[iii] P J Pacy, P M Dodson, A J Kubicki, R F Fletcher, K G Taylor. Comparison of the hypotensive and metabolic effects of metoprolol therapy with a high fibre, low sodium, low fat diet in hypertensive type 2 diabetic subjects. Diabetes Res. 1984 Nov;1(4):201-7. PMID: 6099231
[iv] Xin-hua Fan, Ya-nan Ding, Xiang-hui Chang, Yu-lu Ouyang, Qiang Xie. [Comparative observation on acupuncture-moxibustion and western medication for treatment of sudden deafness]. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2003 Jan;180(1):263-9. PMID: 20942277
[v] Gianni Allais, Cristina De Lorenzo, Piero E Quirico, Gisella Airola, Giampiero Tolardo, Ornella Mana, Chiara Benedetto. Acupuncture in the prophylactic treatment of migraine without aura: a comparison with flunarizine. Bone. 2009 Nov 26. PMID: 12390610
[vi] I R Sanderson, S Udeen, P S Davies, M O Savage, J A Walker-Smith. Remission induced by an elemental diet in small bowel Crohn's disease. Arch Dis Child. 1987 Feb;62(2):123-7. PMID: 3548602
[vii] M Okada, T Yao, T Yamamoto, K Takenaka, K Imamura, K Maeda, K Fujita. Controlled trial comparing an elemental diet with prednisolone in the treatment of active Crohn's disease. Hepatogastroenterology. 1990 Feb;37(1):72-80. PMID: 2179093
[viii] G Zoli, M Carè, M Parazza, C Spanò, P L Biagi, M Bernardi, G Gasbarrini. A randomized controlled study comparing elemental diet and steroid treatment in Crohn's disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 1997 Aug;11(4):735-40. PMID: 9305483
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Article Contributed by Sayer Ji, Founder of GreenMedInfo.com
Sayer Ji is an author, researcher, lecturer, and advisory board member of the National Health Federation. He founded Greenmedinfo.com in 2008 in order to provide the world an open access, evidence-based resource supporting natural and integrative modalities. It is internationally recognized as the largest and most widely referenced health resource of its kind.