Mercola article abstracts -- 04

Mercola Profile



INDEX


2008-09-12
How You Can Keep Your Digestive and
Immune System Happy and Healthy.
http://products.mercola.com/probiotics/?source=nl

Limited Time Special Offer!
Expires September 16, 2008

For a limited time only, get FREE SHIPPING & HANDLING on your ENTIRE ORDER* when you order a 3-pack of New and Improved Complete Probiotics.

.. This product took me over 15 years of painstaking investigation to find.
I spent hours pouring over the latest research and newest studies to be sure I had what I felt to be the best formula anywhere.

And this Amazing Probiotic Formula Delivered...

In fact, it's one of the few supplements that I take every day.
I even carry a bottle with me when I travel out of the country.

Digestive SystemProbiotics are important.
They're one of the few supplements I believe can benefit nearly anyone.*
Unfortunately, they are also one of the trickiest of all supplements to recommend.

In the last fifteen years, I‘ve evaluated nearly 20 different brands of probiotics, and new research constantly updates my thinking in this area.

This is due mainly to the numerous potential bacterial strains that can be included in the formula. Manufacturing and the delivery of the organisms to the digestive system are also important. ..

Fermented foods are part of nearly every traditional culture.
As far back as Roman times, people ate sauerkraut because of its taste and benefits to overall health. In ancient Indian society, it became commonplace (and still is) to enjoy a before-dinner yogurt drink called a lassi. At the end of the meal, they'd have a small serving of curd.

These Indian traditions were based on the principle of using sour milk as a probiotic delivery system to the body.

Other examples are all around us.
Bulgarians are known both for their longevity and their high consumption of fermented milk and kefir. In Asian cultures, pickled fermentations of cabbage, turnips, eggplant, cucumbers, onions, squash and carrots still exist today. ...

1. About 80% of your immune system lives in your gastrointestinal tract.
2. 500 different species of bacteria live inside you.
3. About one hundred trillion bacteria live inside you
---- more than TEN TIMES the number of cells you have in your whole body.
4. The weight of these bacteria is about two to three pounds.
5. Some of these bacteria are referred to as "good", but others do not provide any benefit.
The ideal balance between them is 85% good, 15% "other".


This ratio between the "good" bacteria and the other bacteria becomes one of the critical factors determining your optimal health.* ..

This remarkable formulation brings together two of the most well known probiotics -- Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium -- species that are known to work together to maintain a balance of "good" bacteria along your digestive tract.*

    Unlike other probiotics you may have seen, each and every jam-packed capsule of New and Improved Complete Probiotics brings you...

  1. Bifidobacterium lactis:
    a friendly bacteria often found in yogurt that is known to help stimulate immune responses.*

  2. Lactobacillus acidophilus:
    --- guards the health of your entire digestive tract.*

  3. Bifidobacterium longum:
    keeps your digestive system running smoothly, and helps enhance your immune system.*

  4. Bifidobacterium bifidum:
    helps promote a healthy balance of flora in your intestine.
    * What's more, this organism is especially helpful for enhancing immune response.*

  5. Lactobacillus casei:
    works with other helpful organisms, and helps to encourage the growth of other "good" bacteria.*

  6. Lactobacillus plantarum:
    helps to ensure that the nutrients in vitamins and supplements are getting to your cells.*

Add to this a friendly trio of good bacteria blended in the proprietary Kyo-Dophilus® blend. These specially-cultured organisms are at home in your digestive tract, able to survive hostile stomach acid and settle right in to begin promoting healthy intestinal function.*

NOTE: from a-virus-report-brief.htm
Avail at: http://www.keephopealive.org/report18.html

L-Casei and L. Plantarum -
Lactobacillus that promote IL-12 and IFN-gamma.

L. Plantarum - potent inducer of IL-12
L. Casei - induces IL-12, IL-2 & IFN-gamma - suppresses IL(4,5,6 and 10) anti(viral & bacterial), anti-cancer effects.
L-Casei vs. Cytomegalovirus (CMV).

L. Casei and Bifidobacterium animalis (B animalis) significantly reduced candida albican colonization in the intestines ...

.. streptococcus thermophilus .. promote Th2 cytokines.

Bifidobacterium longum increases IgA supports mucosal immunity.

(Bacillus Subtilis and Bacillus Lichenformis) inactivate HIV, SIV and other lipid envelope viruses, along with mycoplasmas, fungus and bacteria by producing “surfactin” a lipopeptide antibiotic.

By taking these easy-to-swallow capsules with food as directed, you'll ensure the live organisms will find themselves in a less hostile environment (with a pH of 3 to 4), that makes it far more likely that they survive and reach their destination.*

Once they arrive, this remarkable probiotic formula goes one step further to ensure the multiple strains of good bacteria survive.

By including NutraFlora® short chain FOS, good bacteria are nourished and supported while they settle into your digestive tract and begin working for you.* (Basically, the FOS formula provides "food" for the probiotics.) ...

The product does NOT need refrigeration, making it convenient to take anywhere.

This formula is manufactured to prevent heat, air and moisture from having an effect on the organisms. ..

    • Supports production of B vitamins, especially folic acid and biotin, and vitamin K*
    • Promotes mineral absorption*
    • Supports protein and carbohydrate digestion via probiotic enzymes*
    • Aids in metabolism and the breakdown of toxins*
    • Helps maintain appropriate bowel transit time*
    • Supports immune system function by helping to remove toxins*
    • Produces lactic acid for support of digestive processes and colon pH balance*
    • Helps maintain serum lipid and blood pressure levels in the healthy range*
    • Supports normal immune response*

One bottle of New and Improved Complete Probiotics sells for $39.95,
but if you order now you'll pay just $29.95 -- more than 25% off.

Or save even more... Three bottles should cost $119.85,
but can be yours today for only $77.85 -- more than 35% off.
30 capsules per bottle, 1 bottle per month regular dosage.
http://shop.mercola.com/Complete-Probiotics-3-Pack-P1059.aspx?addtocart=true

[Guided that for CFS-ME persons, a dosage of 3 capsules daily would be best for as many months as is necessary to reach a point of recovery, which depends upon other actions taken for other health problems.]


2008-09-21
Are Your Vitamin D Test Results Valid?

[These are summarized in the CFS-tests article].

... Linus Pauling defined orthomolecular medicine as "the treatment of disease by the provision of the optimum molecular environment, especially the optimum concentrations of substances normally present in the human body." Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness.
For more information: http://www.orthomolecular.org

Take the Orthomolecular Quiz at http://www.orthomolecular.org/quiz/index.shtml


2008-09-23
History Proves
Many Doctors' Recommendations are Disasters.
Video: History Proves Many Doctors' Recommendations are Disasters.
A powerful video detailing why the modern health care system is now the leading cause of death.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/09/23/
history-proves-many-doctors-recommendations-are-disasters.aspx
6 min 30 sec.

  1. America spends more money on health care than any other country.
    In 2007, we spent $2.3 trillion, which was 16% of our Gross National Product (GNP).
    That averages out to $7,600 per person.

  2. Yet the USA ranks 42nd in the world for life expectancy, and 37th for infant mortality ...

  3. How can this be? We place blind trust in our physicians.

  4. Many times, good scientific information was shoved under the rug by ego-driven physicans and rigid institutions that resisted change to preserve the status quo.

  5. Many dangerous treatments were perpetuated by doctors who feared losing their patient's confidence if they tried a novel new approach.

  6. Bloodletting .. used for centuries ... for every ailment .. many times patients died ... assumed cause was the illness ... no confirmation of benefit .. killed George Washington in 1799.

  7. Germ theory confirmed, and disregarded for 150 years, until Louis Pasteur.

  8. Antiseptic was first used in 1865 by surgeon Josef Lister.
    --- dramatic positive results resisted for 20 years.

  9. In 1846, washing hands before surgeries was introduced.
    Igaz Semmelweis, Austrian-Hungarian physician struggled with rampant childbed fever in maternity wards. Women entering the ward after giving birth did not become ill. A surgeon cut his finger during an autopsy and died of childbed fever symptoms, himself. Semmelweis recognized that doctors doing autopsies before delivering babies was associated with those mothers who became ill. Semmelweis was labeled insane and ostracised by his peers for demanding hand washing, sent to an asylum, and died there.

One-third of adults with health problems reported mistakes in their care in 2007, and rates of visits to physicians or emergency departments for adverse drug effects increased by one-third between 2001 and 2004.

Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that drug overdoses killed 33,000 people in 2005 -- second only to car accidents in the category of accidental deaths -- up from 20,000 in 1999, and 10,000 in 1990. Contrary to popular belief, this major increase in drug overdoses is not due to a heroin or crack epidemic. These deaths are largely due to prescription drugs.

In addition to accidental prescription drug overdoses, an estimated 106,000 hospitalized patients die each year from drugs that, by medical standards, are properly prescribed and properly administered!
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/01/15/
recreational-drugs-far-less-likely-to-kill-you-than-prescribed-drugs.aspx

.. do you trust your doctor because you have been brainwashed by 50 billion dollars a year of advertising by the food and drug industry, causing you to fear that you will suffer some awful fate if you don’t opt for the latest pill, surgical intervention or delight in the latest "necessary" procedure?

  1. Doctors believed they were doing good, so patients believed in them too. This is a very powerful intervention sometimes referred to as the placebo effect and can frequently trigger healing reactions in patients.

  2. Many diseases were self-limiting, and the health improvements that doctors took credit for actually resulted from the body’s natural healing processes.

  3. For centuries, a disease was viewed merely as a disorderly condition of a particular patient, not a typical condition of many patients. It wasn’t until disorders began to be categorized that standard treatments could be compared.

  4. Doctors feared that they would be seen as not doing their best for a particular patient if they prescribed a different remedy (or none at all), perpetuating bogus or ineffective treatments.

      Some of medicine’s most glaring historical {mistakes}:
    • Bloodletting as cure-all
    • Evolution of germ theory
    • Dr. Semmelweiss and his hand-washing recommendation
    • Promotion of cocaine, heroin, and other narcotics
    • Promotion of cigarettes
    • Blindness in babies
    • The shoe-fitting fluoroscope
    • Lobotomy
    • Thalidomide
    • DES
    • HRT: The menopause “cure”
    • H. pylori, the true cause of ulcers
    • The Human Genome Project
    • The Vioxx disaster that killed 60,000

...

politics and Big Pharma, download www.abc.net.au/tv/hollowmen, shown 17.9.08. It is still available, but don't know for how long - so hurry! This is an Australian programme ...

Fidarsi è bene, non fidarsi è meglio.
(To trust is good, not to trust is better.)
--Italian proverb

.. One doctor told me she show a man with a horrible swollen, gangrene knee, on the road to amputation, see a 80% recovery in less than hour, thanks to properly applied leeches.

....


2008-09-23
Vitamin B12 Keeps Your Brain Young.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/09/23/
vitamin-b12-keeps-your-brain-young.aspx?source=nl

Brain atrophy is associated with Alzheimer's disease and impaired cognitive function.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a public health problem, especially among older people.

In a study involving more than 100 volunteers aged 61 to 87, all participants underwent annual clinical exams, MRI scans and cognitive tests, and had blood samples taken. Individuals with lower vitamin B12 levels at the start of the study had a greater decrease in brain volume. Those with the lowest B12 levels had a sixfold greater rate of brain volume loss compared with those who had the highest levels.

However, none of the participants were actually deficient in vitamin B12 -- they just had low levels within a normal range. ...

It’s been estimated that 40 percent of the U.S. population is deficient in vitamin B12, a serious public health problem when you consider how important this vitamin is for your health. Vitamin B12:

  1. Is needed for proper digestion, food absorption, carbohydrate and fat metabolism.
  2. Helps folic acid regulate the formation of red blood cells, and helps your body use iron.
  3. Keep your nervous system healthy by assisting the nerves of your body to function and communicate in an optimal manner.

  4. Helps in cell formation and cellular longevity.
  5. Helps support female reproductive health.
  6. Promote normal nerve growth and development by maintaining the fatty sheaths. These fatty sheaths play a vital role as they cover and protect your nerve endings.

  7. Is critical to your circulation and adrenal hormone production
  8. Helps boost your immunity.
  9. Supports a healthy mood and feelings of well-being, and provides excellent support for your memory, mental clarity, and concentration.

  10. Helps to boost your energy levels.

.. Vitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in animal tissues, including foods like beef and beef liver, lamb, snapper, venison, salmon, shrimp, scallops, poultry and eggs. And, the few plant foods that are sources of B12 are actually B12 analogs. Simply put, an analog is a substance that blocks the uptake of true B12. The result being, your body’s need for the nutrient actually increases.

You may also be at risk of B12 deficiency if you have stomach problems. This is because B12 needs the help of a protein in order to be absorbed. That protein is called intrinsic factor, and if your stomach is irritated or inflamed, it may stop producing intrinsic factor, making it nearly impossible for your body to absorb B12.

      Other factors also influence your body’s B12 levels:

    • Age: People over 50 tend to have a limited ability to absorb B12.

    • Drinking coffee: A study in Clinical Chemistry found that people who drank four or more cups of coffee a day had a 15 percent reduction in multiple B vitamins compared to those who drank no coffee.

    • Taking medications: Many prescription drugs diminish your body’s levels of B12, including antibiotics, anticancer medications, anticonvulsants, anti-gout medications, antihypertensives, antiParkinson's medications, antipsychotics, antituberculosis medications, birth control pills, cholesterol-lowering drugs, and potassium replacements.

    • Those who have undergone weight-loss surgery, which can impair your body’s ability to absorb B12 and other vitamins.

    • Those exposed to laughing gas anesthesia or nitrous oxide.

... Vitamin B12 is a microbe - a bacteria - it is produced by microorganisms. Vitamin B12 is the only vitamin that contains a trace element - cobalt - which gives this vitamin its chemical name - cobalamin - which is at the centre of its molecular structure. Humans and all vertebrates require cobalt, although it is assimilated only in the form of vitamin B12.
" -THE VITAMIN B12 ISSUE
by Dr Gina Shaw, D.Sc, M.A., Dip NH, AIYS (Dip. Irid.).

... Beware anyone who promotes the use of cyan cobalamin as it is only 10% as well absorbed as the Methyl form and is harder to convert to anything usable. It does however cost about 5% as much to make. Contrary to opinion, there is a B-12 spray available that is more absorbed than most sublinguals. It is a Methyl form of B-12 and even though it is a small amount, the effect is dramatic if you are deficient. It is from Lumina Health products and has 100% of A, E, C, D, the B vitamins, Folic Acid, and Biotin. No I have no monetary interest here either and it can be gotten through Vitacost.com for about half the normal retail price.

... I am coming to the conclusion that Dr D'Adamo (Eat Right for your blood type) could be right. I have always eaten meat, but, for various reasons, went vegan a few months ago. For the last week I have been exhausted, needing 10 hours sleep at night, and waking feeling tired.

... these two forms – methyl and hydroxo – are far more expensive because they are more advanced forms of this vitamin B-12. They are more readily available to your body. Your body can use them without having to donate energy to the chemical reaction that is necessary to free them from their current chemical bonds. .. these forms of cobalamin or vitamin B-12 actually donate energy to your cells instead of stealing energy from your cells.


2008-09-25
Olive Leaf Extract Lowers Blood Pressure.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/09/25/
olive-leaf-extract-lowers-blood-pressure.aspx?source=nl
(Olea europaea)

The leaves of the olive tree have been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times, and research has suggested that olive leaf extracts have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Now it also appears that a supplement containing olive leaf extract could help lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

A study looked at 20 sets of identical twins with "borderline" hypertension -- blood pressure that is above the optimal level of 120/80, but below the cutoff of 140/90 used to diagnose high blood pressure. One member of each twin pair was given tablets containing olive leaf extract, while the other received no supplements but did get lifestyle advice on lowering blood pressure.

After eight weeks, supplement users taking 1,000 mg of olive leaf extract per day showed a substantial dip in their blood pressure overall, and lowered levels of LDL or “bad” cholesterol. The twins who received no supplements showed no significant change in their blood pressure and a smaller improvement in cholesterol.

      Sources:
    • Reuters September 3, 2008
    • Phytotherapy Research September 2008; 22(9):1239-42

Dr. Mercola Dr. Mercola's Comments:
The medicinal use of the leaves from the olive tree (Olea europaea) dates back thousands of years. In fact, it’s the first botanical healing herb cited in the Bible (Ezekiel 47:12): “The fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.” There’s also recorded evidence that the ancient Egyptian and Mediterranean cultures used the leaves to treat a variety of health conditions.

The Traditional Uses of the Olive Plant

According to an in-depth phyto-pharmacological plant review of the olive plant in the January-May 2007 issue of Pharmacognosy Reviews, olive fruit, oil and leaves can be a significant natural source for treating a wide variety of health ailments. Traditionally, the olive plant has been used as a:

    • Diuretic
    • Hypotensive
    • Emollient
    • Laxative
    • Skin cleanser
    • Treatment of urinary infections, gallstones, bronchial asthma and diarrhea

      Traditional uses of olive leaves include
      1. Orally for stomach and intestinal diseases
      2. Chewed as a mouth cleanser
      3. Decoctions of the dried fruit and leaves taken orally for diarrhea and to treat urinary tract infections
      4. Hot water extract of the fresh leaves taken orally to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and to induce urination (diuresis)
      5. Hot water extract of the dried plant taken orally for bronchial asthma
      6. Infusion of the fresh leaf taken orally as an anti-inflammatory

      Traditional uses of olive oil include
    • Seed oil taken orally with lemon juice to remove gall stones, and for kidney inflammation associated with lead intoxication
    • Seed oil applied to the scalp nightly to prevent hair loss
    • Seed oil taken orally as a laxative
    • Applied externally as an emollient and skin moisturizer

... consider the damage that many, if not most, drugs can do. For example, beta-blockers -- a class of drugs frequently prescribed to manage high blood pressure and as cardioprotection after a heart attack -- have been found to cause type 2 diabetes by decreasing your insulin sensitivity.

As molecular biologist and lead researcher Tania Perrinjaquet-Moccetti stated in the article above, no single ingredient of the olive leaf extract can fully account for its confirmed blood pressure benefits. Rather she attributes the benefits seen in this study to the synergistic blend of various bioactive components of the olive leaf, the most significant of these being a compound called oleuropein.

... oleuropein .. was isolated back in the 1950s by Panizzi et al, ... one of the primary compounds responsible for the bitter taste of the olive fruits and the leaves. They also determined that oleuropein was the active agent responsible for the hypotensive action of the extracts of the olive plant, which acts as an antioxidant and helps relax and dilate your blood vessels.

What this latest research does do, .. establish an effective dosage: 1,000 mg of olive leaf extract per day. ...

... limiting the formation of arterial plaque, by inhibiting LDL oxidation. Other studies have shown that olive leaf extracts may also possess antispasmodic, vasodilator, and anti-arrhythmic properties.

The Anti-Viral, Anti-Microbial Benefits of Olive Leaves

      ... a potent broad-spectrum antiviral agent, active against all viruses tested, including:
    • Rhinovirus
    • Myxoviruses
    • Herpes simplex type 1and 2
    • Herpes zoster
    • Encephalomyocarditis
    • Polio 1, 2 and 3
    • Two strains of leukemia virus
    • Numerous strains of influenza and para-influenza viruses.

One 2005 study ... could be used as a safe and natural antiviral. ... fighting colds and flu, yeast infections, and viral infections such as the hard-to-treat Epstein-Barr disease, shingles and herpes.

In-vitro studies have also established that olive leaf extract is an effective antimicrobial agent against a variety of pathogens that cause intestinal or respiratory infections, including:

    • Salmonella typhi
    • Vibrio parahaemolyticus
    • Stapholycoccus aureus, including penicillin-resistant strains
    • Klebsiella pneumonia
    • Escherichia coli

It works by inhibiting the replication process of the pathogens, which disables the infection long enough for your immune system to eliminate it and prevent it from spreading.

.. also have .. anti-diabetic properties; have a beneficial impact on your thyroid; and the ability to inhibit cancer growth. ...

Normally, high blood pressure goes down quite quickly and easily by addressing these three important factors:

1. Eliminate grains and sugars as described in my nutrition plan. This will lower insulin levels and normalize blood pressure in about 75 percent of people.

2. Address the common stresses in your life that tend to elevate blood pressure. EFT is a simple, effective, and inexpensive tool that you can use to help in this area.

3. Getting one hour of exercise a day seems to be an important contributor to the long-term benefits of those currently suffering from high blood pressure.

If you want to incorporate olive leaves as a natural adjunct, I’d recommend sticking with the fresh leaf liquid extracts for maximum synergistic potency. You can also prepare your own olive leaf tea by placing a large teaspoon of dried olive leaves in a tea ball or herb sack. Place it in about two quarts of boiling water and let it steep for three to 10 minutes. The tea should be a medium amber color when done.


2008-09-25
Arthritis Drugs Cause Fatal Fungal Infections.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/09/25/
arthritis-drugs-cause-fatal-fungal-infections.aspx?source=nl

Enbrel, Remicade, Humira and Cimzia work by suppressing the immune system to keep it from attacking your body. For people with rheumatoid arthritis, the treatment provides relief from swollen and painful joints. But the drugs also lower your body's defenses against various kinds of infections.

The FDA became concerned after discovering that doctors seemed to be overlooking a particular kind of fungal infection called histoplasmosis. The infection is prevalent in much of the middle part of the country, and it can have grave consequences if it isn't caught early and spreads beyond the respiratory system to other organs of your body.

Of 240 cases reported to the FDA in which patients taking one of the four drugs developed this infection, a total of 45 (or about 20 percent) died.

Sources:

  • USA Today September 4, 2008

    Dr. Mercola's Comments:

    .. Studies have shown that people who take the drugs Humira or Remicade double their chance of getting a serious infection, and triple their risk of developing a number of different kinds of cancer. These drugs have also been linked to lymphoma, tuberculosis and pneumonia, along with skin, gastrointestinal, breast and lung tumors. Enbrel has also been found to worsen congestive heart failure, and all four drugs are being investigated for increasing the risk of cancer in children and young adults.

    Enbrel, Remicade, Humira, and Cimzia are powerful drugs, all of which block a protein called tumor necrosis factor, and are therefore known as TNF-blockers. They work by blocking a part of your immune system, and are used to treat not only rheumatoid arthritis but also psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and other immune diseases.

    TNF blockers have been among the most successful of all biotechnology drugs. Remicade, Humira and Enbrel had combined sales of more than $13 billion in 2007!

    Why are these drugs so popular, despite their very serious side effects and astronomical price tags (taking Remicade for one year will set you back about $12,000)? Because rheumatoid arthritis can be an extremely painful and debilitating disease, and most doctors direct people to these medications for relief. ...

    I have treated over 3,000 patients with my revision of Dr. Brown’s Antibiotic Protocol since the late '80s, and the success rate is well over 80%. It really is amazing how powerful the healing potential of your body is once you address causal factors and provide it with the essential healing tools and resources.

    Dr. Brown’s Antibiotic Protocol involves:

    1. Improving your diet using a combination of my nutritional guidelines and nutritional typing.

    2. Getting plenty of omega-3 fats by taking a high-quality, animal-based omega-3 supplement, like krill oil.

    3. Getting your vitamin D levels checked and, if necessary, taking a supplement if you can't get daily sun exposure. This is absolutely crucial and, in my opinion, gross medical negligence and malpractice if it is not performed on nearly every RA patient, as nearly all RA patients have low vitamin D levels.

    4. Having an effective method of addressing the nearly universal underlying emotional distresses that are present in most all autoimmune diseases like RA.

    5. Incorporating regular exercise into your daily schedule.
    If your joints are painful, gentle exercises like yoga and Tai Chi are recommended. You may also want to have a consultation with an exercise professional so no permanent joint damage is done as a result of joint deformities.

    Rather than suppress your immune system like most rheumatoid arthritis medications, these steps will actually help to repair the underlying imbalances in your body that are causing the disease. ...




    2008-10-13
    'Detoxifying' Foot Pads are a Scam
    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/10/14/
    detoxifying-foot-pads-are-a-scam.aspx?source=nl

    An NPR experiment on Kinoki foot pads tested to see if they'd drawn anything out of a reporter's body.

    Reporter Sarah Varney and her husband bought some “detoxifying” Kinoki foot pads and wore them to bed. In the morning, they both awoke find the pads covered in the brown mess that the advertisement had promised. But when they took the foot pads to a lab and had them analyzed and compared with unused pads, the used pads were almost identical to the blank.

    Further experimentation showed that the “gunk” in the pads shows up if you hold the pad over a pot of boiling water. Who knew steam had "metabolic waste"?

    Mercola Comment:
    In my recent two-hour Inner Circle interview with my good friend, Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt -- who is a pioneer and one of my primary mentors in natural medicine, and founder and president of the American Academy of Neural Therapy – I had the opportunity to ask him for his perspective and experience with detoxifying foot pads.

    I came in contact with the foot pads about ten years ago through a Swiss-based company that was marketing the first footpad in Europe. The company is called Seguin, and they’re marketing the traditional Japanese foot pad.

    It’s been out for over 100 years; the Japanese are using fermented bamboo vinegar.
    Now, what struck me at the time is that this bamboo juice had to be fermented for nine years before it was used.

    We tried other foot pads, and there was clearly an effect similar to acupuncture, where people’s energetic systems improved.

    I did not see any significant triggering of detoxification — we just saw improvements in the autonomic nervous system, depending on where you put the foot pad.

    Typically, by putting it on the soles of the feet, there is, in acupuncture, a relationship to the kidney meridian. And we did find that an improvement in urine, and in the organic acids. The kidneys bind toxins to organic acids, and the more organic acids come out, the more effective the kidneys are working.

    And we clearly saw an improvement with that.

    So, the benefit is not really relating to heavy metals, but more to the carbon-based toxins.

    Then several other companies came out with different concoctions of things that they put in a footpad -- that were not fermented for 9 years -- other sorts of more exotic things, and they made all sorts of claims…

    I simply use my muscle testing in my autonomic response testing system, and none of the [commercial] pads have held up. Some of them looked promising, but none of them held up and have become part of my approach. I don’t want to say that all of them are bad or worthless, but the ones I tested certainly didn’t hold their promise.

    There’s always an initial placebo effect when you do something like this.

    (the) bamboo vinegar in the original pads had clear benefits that we could also biochemically demonstrate, but I think there is a lot of questionable science out there with that, so I have stopped using them. ...

    There may be some biochemical benefits from the original Japanese foot pads that contain more expensive ingredients, such as 9-year old fermented bamboo vinegar.

    But, as far as detoxing heavy metals and toxins, not even the original foot pads could accomplish that. ...

    20/20 asked NMS Labs, a national laboratory in Willow Grove, Pa., to analyze used Kinoki and Avon pads from eight volunteers. They tested for heavy metals, including arsenic and mercury, and 23 solvents such as benzene, tolulene and styrene.

    None of these common toxins were found in the used pads.

    So what’s that brown, foul-smelling gunk?
    It’s just a natural reaction between the ingredients and the moisture from the bottom of your foot.

    Exposing the pads to moisture, either by placing them over a steaming pot of water, or putting a few drops of water on them will make the ingredients turn a darker color and emit an unpleasant odor.

    Dr. Devra Davis, director of the Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh and an expert on toxins, also conducted a similar experiment on her own, leaving the pads out overnight without their protective packaging. In an article for MSNBC she stated the pads contain “little more than green tea and vinegar,” and that the color and odor are likely the result of these ingredients “interacting with oxygen, heat or moisture.” ...

    Detoxing… For Real
    Your environment does indeed have a profound impact on your health.
    Everything from the quality of the air you breathe to what you put into, and onto, your body makes a difference. Mercury alone can mimic or cause any illness currently known, or at least contribute to it. Detoxing and cleansing your body of toxins periodically can definitely help.

    But what is the best way to rid your system of toxins?
    As I write this I just returned from a three day think-tank outside of Los Angeles with some of the top experts in autism detoxification (www.thriiive.com). We explored some of the major modalities that are available.

      The group came up with the following consensus and priority
    1. Healthy Living
    2. Avoiding Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)
    3. Clean Water
    4. Healthy Food
    5. Healthy Movement
    6. Emotions & Relationships
    7. Tests
    8. Organ Support
    9. Supplements
    10. Detox Tools

    As you can see detoxification is a very important tool but it is clearly not high on the priority list of what to do if you are sick. It is one of the last steps in the process. I will be providing more information about these in the future as our group comes to a consensus but the key is that detoxification is a late step done after you have started the basics.

    If you fail to follow an orderly process and begin detoxification processes prematurely before you are ready you can become very sick.

    When Should You NOT Detox?
    So please remember do not start a detox regimen when you are sick.

    You need to start your healthy lifestyle FIRST, before you start detoxing, so you have a reserve that your body can draw on to allow your liver to do its job properly.

    If you fail to do this you can easily overwhelm your liver's ability to process these toxic substances that are being eliminated and you will become VERY sick, wishing you had never done the detox in the first place. I have seen this many times, so please use some caution.

    Reader Response:
    Sheila C
    I have always used Bodi Detox Patches available at www.straussheartdrops.com They are the only kind that I know of that have been tested for contaminants by a Health Canada certified lab and contains none. They may not work for everyone, but for me after 3 days of use, my chronic yeast infection disappeared. After 2 weeks my yellow toenails turned white and the bags under my eyes are gone. I now use them as maintenance on my whole family and lots of friends continue to use them as well. They rid the body of mercury, isopropyl alcohol, benzene, nickel, asbestos, DAB dye and PCB's. They work as well as if not better than intravenous chelation. ..


    Guided Feedback:
    Many of the concerns are valid IF the beneficial ingredients are replaced.
    ANY formulation will turn dark and become sticky when wet.
    Effectiveness is NOT determined by how much toxin is found in the pads.
    Homeopathics and herbs detox by encouraging the body to release toxins.
    Mustard and other plasters do NOT draw toxins out through the skin.
    They encourage the body to expel toxins.
    The ONLY relevant test of foot pads would be to test both the pads, urine, sweat, breathe, and stool from the person using them to determine if additional amounts of minerals, heavy metals, chemicals, bacteria, fungi, and viral elements are expelled with their use. No one will do this due to the cost.

    The bottom line is that if the pads are used by an individual and that individual obtains clearly defined reductions in symptoms, the brand of pad used is possibly effective. Long-term symptom reduction will depend upon whether the major source of the toxin, (i.e. heavy metals in amalgams) has been removed, whether the air or water pollution contributions are reduced or removed, and whether the drug, supplement, or food sources have been stopped.


    Black Raspberries Slow Cancer
    by Altering Hundreds of Genes.
    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/09/16/
    black-raspberries-slow-cancer-by-altering-hundreds-of-genes.aspx?source=nl

    Researchers examined the effect of freeze-dried black raspberries on genes altered by a chemical carcinogen in an animal model of esophageal cancer. The carcinogen affected the activity of 2,200 genes in the animals’ esophagus in only one week. However, 460 of those genes were restored to normal activity in animals that consumed freeze-dried black raspberry powder. ...

    Mercola's Comments: ..

    1. Blueberries contain antioxidants that can slow the aging process and reduce cell damage that can lead to cancer.

    2. Cherries are rich in queritrin -- a flavonoid that's a potent anti-cancer agent -- and ellagic acid (another potent anti-cancer agent).

    3. Strawberries contain phytonutrients called phenols that protect your heart, fight cancer and are anti-inflammatory.

    4. Blackberries contain antioxidants, vitamins C and E, and ellagic acid, all of which may protect against cancer and fight chronic disease.

    5. Cranberries are rich in polyphenols, a potent antioxidant, and researchers have found that they may inhibit the growth of human breast cancer cells and reduce the risk of gum disease and stomach ulcers.

    6. The acai berry, a Brazilian berry, contains antioxidants that destroyed cultured human cancer cells. In fact, the berries triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested.

    7. Black raspberries seem to be particularly potent cancer fighters as well. These fruits are actually different than both red raspberries and blackberries, and are slightly harder to find because there aren’t many cultivators (the majority of black raspberries in the United States are grown in Oregon). Meanwhile, only a small percentage of these berries are sold fresh, which means if you want to enjoy black raspberries you may need to look for them frozen.

      .. black raspberries actually have about three times the antioxidant levels of blueberries, according to the Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission. Their coloring is also so incredibly deep that the USDA used black raspberry juice for their meat stamps for a number of years.

      Fruit is Not for Everyone
      Even with all of their antioxidants, large quantities of berries and other fruits are not ideal for everyone. To a large extent, whether or not fruits are good for you depends on several factors including:

      • Your current state of health
      • Your nutritional type
      • The type of fruit

    8. If you are overweight, have diabetes or high blood pressure you are best off avoiding fruits or limiting them to a small handful of berries a day. If you are currently healthy, a small amount of fruit should not be a problem as long as you follow the guidelines of your nutritional type.

    9. .. if you’re a protein type, fruits are generally not beneficial for you with the exception of coconut, which has a higher fat content that is beneficial for protein types.

    10. ... carbohydrate types tend to fare well with fruit and can safely consume moderate amounts. This is an important distinction, and all nutritional types should try to eat primarily the specific fruits that are best for their unique biochemistry. ...

        Other potent foods to include in your anti-cancer diet include:
      • Broccoli and broccoli sprouts
      • Apples
      • Garlic and onions
      • Green tea
      • Turmeric and curry powders
      • Red chili peppers
      • Mushrooms

    ..Comments from Visitors, included ..

    Book,
    How I Cured Stage 4 Cancer in Two Weeks
    For Less Than The Cost Of A Night At The Movies.
    By Kelley Eidem
    http://hubpages.com/hub/How-I-Cured-Stage-4-Cancer-in-Two-Weeks
    -For-Less-Than-The-Cost-Of-A-Night-At-The-Movies




    Ayurveda is an ancient holistic system of medicine.
    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/10/18/
    ancient-healing-art-becoming-more-popular.aspx
    http://mercola.fileburst.com/PDF/Ayurveda-The-Wisdom-of-Life.pdf

    The word Ayurveda roughly translates as “The Science of Life.”
    It is merger of two Sanskrit words: ‘Ayu’ (the root of ayur & ayus ) which means ‘life,’ and ‘Veda’ which means a combination of ‘science, knowledge and wisdom.’

    According to Ayurveda, first noted by the ancient Ayurvedic scholar Charaka: human life is the combination of mind, body, senses and soul.

    Ayurveda sees that the senses and the mind work in conjunction with one another and greatly influence our physiology.

    Ayurveda is not just a medical system.
    It sees human beings as an integral part of nature. It believes that human beings should live in harmony with nature just as the animals and plants do, and utilize the laws of nature to create health and balance within. It adheres to this focus in guiding human beings to maintain health by using the inherent principles of nature to bring an individual back into equilibrium with his or her true self.

    The ancient texts reveal that Ayurveda was also originally used as a regime to remove obstacles on one’s path to Self-Realization. At some point the medical aspects began to take priority over the spiritual forms of healing.

    Today, these spiritual aspects of Ayurveda have taken a back seat to the medical focus. As Ayurveda becomes more commercially viable, the spiritual aspects may continue to lose ground. Yet there are a growing number of practitioners who employ these spiritual therapies and find better results than limiting their approach only to the medical, physical realm. ...

    Herbs are often recommended to supplement the nutritional requirements on a regular basis to build and maintain a healthy physiology. As some of the Ayurvedic herbs are now recognized to be the most potent and powerful adaptogens on the planet -- and since stress is now known to be a significant factor in over 80 percent of all illnesses -- these herbs are essential in any health program designed to promote and maintain a healthy human body...

    ..Ayurvedic herbs such as Neem, Ashwagandha, Tulsi, Shatavari, Turmeric, Amalaki and Brahmi as well as traditional preparations such as Triphala and Trikatu have long been known to have significant medicinal value without adverse side effects. ..

    ..biopiracy is an epidemic.

    Neem, haldi, pepper, harar, bahera, amla, mustard, basmati, ginger, castor, jaramla, amaltas and new karela and jamun have all been patented. The problem is not, as was made out to be in the case of turmeric, an error made by a patent clerk. The problem is deep and systemic. And it calls for a systemic change, not case-by-case challenges. The potential costs of biopiracy to the Third World poor are very high since two-thirds of the people in the South depend on free access to biodiversity for their livelihoods and needs. Seventy percent of seed in India is saved or shared farmers’ seed; 70 percent of healing is based on indigenous medicine using local plants.”

    Obtaining Potent, Efficacious, Organic (Heavy-Metal Free) Ayurvedic Herbs

    It is only recently that a few companies have started producing high quality organic Ayurvedic herbal products, most notably,
    ORGANIC INDIA Pvt. Ltd.
    Headquartered in Lucknow, UP. North India.

    Ayurveda Moving West
    The NAMA (National Ayurvedic Medical Association-USA) is one of several groups seeking to set standards for Ayurveda in the west.

    There are 26 schools in the US and dozens in Europe which are teaching 500+ hour courses for proficiency at Ayurvedic Health Practitioners, certified but not licensed.

    In the United States, the NIH NCCAM expends some of its $123 million budget on Ayurvedic medicine research. In addition, the National Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine, established by Dr. Scott Gerson, is an example of a research institute that has carried out research into Ayurvedic practices.

    Dr. Gerson has published part of his work on the antifungal activities of certain Ayurvedic plants in medical journals. Other notable researchers on ayurveda in the West include Dr. Bala Manyam, the Maharishi Ayurveda group in Fairfield, Iowa, and Dr. Mano Venkatraman at the University of Washington, Seattle. ...


    Mercola Profile

    Personal Comment:

    I DO state that this product will be effective for some persons who have more singular or less devastating forms of ill health, including a number of cancers. CFS-ME is defined by a person acquiring any 5 or more of 13 specific acute and chronic illnesses. I have experienced significant health improvement personally from this product or service, and/or, witnessed a number of other people benefiting from this product or service.


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    Always be sure to muscle test or use Spiritual Guidance to determine if it is applicable to you, or for someone else from whom you have the permission to ask for, at the time of your interest.

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