Chiropractic care is often thought of only in terms of relief from a back or neck injury, perhaps suffered in an auto accident or in lifting a too-heavy weight improperly.  But the plain truth is that case studies suggest many different health problems may respond to a regular program of chiropractic care. According to a recent case study, the condition known as fibromyalgia, a neurological disorder characterized by pain and a lack of coordination in muscle movements, was resolved following a regimen of chiropractic adjustments.

“There are certainly no guarantees with any course of care,” said Dr. Ray Nannis, a Richardson-based chiropractor who strives to keep current with the latest research and developments in health and wellness.   “And every case depends on the specific factors associated with that case.  But we see, from time to time, individual case studies that give rise to hope for many.”

Dr. Curtis Fedorchuk, the Georgia chiropractor who conducted the study, says fibromyalgia is a widespread pain syndrome of unknown cause affecting an estimated 1% to 4% of the U.S. population.  It is diagnosed based on two factors being present: (1) pain lasting more than 3 months in multiple upper and lower body locations; and (2) pain created by applying less than 4 kilograms of pressure to 11 of 18 trigger points in the body.

“Common symptoms include persistent fatigue, problems with sleeping, and depression,” said Dr. Nannis, “and women are 10-20 times more likely to be affected than men.”

The 40-year old female in this particular case had been experiencing fibromyalgia symptoms for eight years and had been taking both prescription and non-prescription medications, with little success in treating the problem or its symptoms.  The patient underwent a thorough chiropractic exam, and a trans-neuronal dysfunction to the right cerebellum was noted and a diagnosis made.  Subluxations were also noted as a result of the examination.

“A subluxation is a misalignment of the spine that disturbs normal nervous system function,” said Dr. Nannis.  “Many chiropractors, including myself, have non-intrusive technology allowing them to conduct Surface Electromyography (sEMG) and thermal imaging tests to assist in locating where such conditions exist.”

According to the case study, reported last fall in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research,

This patient received chiropractic care for . . . nine months.  Objective, reliable, and valid findings of subluxation reduction were demonstrated through radiographic analysis, sEMG, and thermography readings.  This patient’s reduction in subluxations correlated with increased quality of life in seven of eight measured domains of wellness . . . .  This patient also experienced reduction in her fibromyalgia-related symptoms of widespread pain, fatigue, depression, and headaches.

“This is just one case study,” Dr. Nannis emphasized, “and more studies are needed before any absolute conclusions can be drawn.  But as chiropractors, we believe that the nervous system is the master-controller of the systems and functions of the human body.  It stands to reason, then, that improvement in nervous system function, which is what we do as chiropractors, can have a beneficial effect on overall health.”



The following letter was sent in response to a local newspaper article supporting health insurance reform.

Doesn’t Matter Which Health-Insurance Program is Passed. This is a response to Joel Mitton’s article in Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Morning Call edition.

To recap his article, he makes the argument on why we should pass health care reform now. His reasoning is that the only beneficiaries of not passing the bill are the insurance companies. He goes on to state that the US economy spent 17% on our healthcare and that the next closest countries in health care spending is Switzerland, France, Germany, Canada and Great Britain. What his article fails to to recognize is why we’re spending a significant portion of our economy on healthcare. His argument is from a shortsighted straight economic viewpoint. An interesting comparison between the countries mentioned would yield some interesting information.

Currently 10% of health-care expenditures are on obesity and obesity related diseases. In a comparison of 34 countries, the United States is 33rd in juvenile obesity with 25% considered pre-obese and 7% obese. The rest of the countries mentioned in his article ranks from the best which is Switzerland at 9% obese 2% pre-obese to the worst which is Canada at a 15% obese and 4% pre-obese. Currently United States spends 10% of its health-care dollars on obesity and obesity related issues. It estimated that by the year 2018 that number will jump to 20%. These estimates are based only on obesity and its complications such as diabetes, heart disease and other cardiovascular problems. These estimate are not based on those lifestyle choices that lead to obesity. If you start to add up the cost of the lifestyle choices that lead to obesity, and those related health issues the total health cost escalates.

To solve any problem you first need to clearly state what the problem is. The problem discussing national healthcare is first to realize we do not have a health-care system. We have a disease care system. Nowhere in the discussion of health-care reform, on both the Democrat and Republican side, is the root cause of many of our healthcare problems ever discussed. Necessity is the mother of invention. It is out of necessity resulting from our poor health choices that the “invention” of our current healthcare/disease care system has developed.

A case in my office a month ago illustrates on a microcosm level the problems we have in our current healthcare/disease care delivery system. A woman came into the office complaining of fatigue, inability to sleep, weight gain, inability to lose weight, and constipation. Any healthcare provider reading this list of symptoms would start to formulate certain ideas about what was wrong with this individual. Her medical doctor ordered bloodwork, the gastroenterologists performed a G.I. scope, the endocrinologist performed more bloodwork, and rheumatologist perform additional work. The team of physicians were trying to rule out cancer, thyroid problems, G.I. problems, arthritic problems. After all the test came back inconclusive she was referred to a psychiatrist because it was deemed her problems must be in her head.

On her first visit into this office she was asked for a diet diary. She broke down in tears as she was asked for this. She related to me that none of her other physicians ever asked her this. None of her physicians asked her how she was fueling herself. How was it possible for her to improve her health if she continued to fuel herself with junk.

What this one case illustrates is a number of problems we have in the whole health care\disease care system. It begins with the patient who has no clue, or has not been educated on what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and continue to make poor health choices. This continues with the doctors looking to label conditions in order to have a billable diagnosis. Add to this the marketing done by pharmaceutical companies to convince us we have the disease that their drug can fix. Nowhere along this line is health care ever discussed. The only discussion is disease care.

Going back to Mr. Blake’s article, frankly it doesn’t matter which health-care package we go with.  If we keep on making the choices of consuming harmful obesity creating foods, and keep on raising our children on unhappy meals of french fries we will continue to feed our Disease Care Model. We as a nation have been making terrible choices. When the top three products consumed are sugar, tobacco and alcohol and we keep dumping these into our bodies we will continue to look for that elusive combination of medications to make us feel better. As long as we continue to believe the myth that help comes from a pill or a drug then the inevitable financial escalation will continue to occur. I hold no hope on a health-insurance bill based on personal responsibility. The the only choice we are left with is taking personal responsibility for our own health. I will continue to educate those who are willing to take responsibility for their health. I have the illusion that if enough of us will are willing to make the proper choices. If we don’t start making better choices in our own personal health collectively, our healthcare expenditures will continue to skyrocket.e can make a difference. As a side note the patient mentioned in this article, after changing her diet and adding a few inexpensive supplements, no longer had the symptoms which caused her to seek help.

- by Dr. Thomas Parkes; BioVeda Health and Wellness Center of Yardly, PA

Patients often come into our office complaining of aches and pains. When asking what was it that caused the pain, often times a patient won’t mention a specific incident. However, they’ll usually say,” Nothing specifically happened, I just always feel achy all over”. These patients are often suffering from chronic tissue inflammation. There is no blood test for this pain, but the patient is acutely aware of its existence.

For decades, medical researchers have tried to figure out more effective ways to diminish pain without causing unwanted side effects. Even cancer patients who are in the end stage of life are given morphine, a drug that was used even during the Civil War times. There has even been talk recently about the use of medical marijuana for pain control.

The most powerful pain reliever, corticosteroids, are effective, but they knock out all eicosanoids, both good anti-inflammatory and bad pro-inflammatory, all at the same time. They can also have severe side effects, including an impaired immune system and diabetes.

The same problem exists with aspirin and non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs. They knock out all of the good anti-inflammatory eicosanoids, though at a slower rate than corticosteroids. All these drugs work by inhibiting the action of enzymes that make “bad eicosanoids.”

Is there an alternative approach to help alleviate pain associated with chronic tissue inflammation? Yes! By taking ultra-refined fish oil every day, this will actually reduce the building blocks (arachidonic acid) necessary to make the same bad eicosanoids. These medications people take everyday do not reduce the buildup of bad eicosanoids. So, in the end, it’s a hopeless battle. Fish oil supplementation works by reducing the materials necessary to make the pro-inflammatory eicosanoids.

So, how can I help myself in conquering this enemy of pain?

1. Supplement your diet with an ultra-refined molecularly distilled fish oil. This will help to deflame your body tissues.

2. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet consisting of:

• • Fruits and vegetables
  • Red and sweet potatoes
  • Fresh fish (avoid farm raised talapia and catfish)
  • Meat, chicken and eggs (grassfed)
  • Omega-3 eggs or egg whites
  • Raw nuts
  • Spices (ginger, tumeric, garlic, dill, oregano, coriander, fennel, red chili peppers, basil, rosemary)
  • Oils, fats, organic butter, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil
  • Beverages – water, organic green tea, red wine, or stout beer

3. As much as possible, avoid these pro-inflammation foods:

• • All grains (all breads, cereal, pretzels, crackers, cookies, sugary desserts)
  • Partially hydrogenated oils (margarine, deep fryed foods)
  • Corn oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, peanut oil, mayonnaise, tartar sauce
  • Soda and sugar
  • Dairy and soy
  • Meat and eggs from grain fed animals

Follow these recommendations as your drug of choice, and say “Bye Bye” to your pain. For more information, visit www.deflame.com, a web site created by Dr. David Seaman, or pick up a book by Dr. Barry Sears.

Disturbing Facts About Pesticide (Over)Use
Americans dump approximately seventy million tons of fertilizer and seventy to ninety million pounds of pesticides on their lawns each year. 40-60% of nitrogen from fertilizer runs off or leaches away, ending up in ground or surface water, including wells.  60-70 million birds die from pesticide poisoning each year in the US alone.  If birds are dying, pesticides must be toxic to humans on some level!

Weed Killers as Endocrine Disrupters
A study released and reported on CNN this week, “Pesticide inhibits frogs’ sex lives“, finds that a common herbicide, atrazine, can emasculate male frogs and turn some into females, causing amphibian declines around the world. The scientists involved in the study believe that the pesticide interferes with endocrine hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. The effect of atrazine on humans is still not known, however it could pose a risk to reproductive health.  The weed killer Atrazine was banned by the European Union in 2004, because it was showing up harmful levels in drinking water.

Pesticides and Asthma
BeyondPesticides.org whose mission is to rid the world of toxic pesticides, explores the connection between pesticide use and asthma in their article, “Asthma, Pesticides and Children“,

“Although no single study can conclusively prove that a certain pesticide causes asthma, numerous studies have found compelling evidence that exposure to pesticides is correlated with higher rates of asthma. One research focus has been on farmers and pesticide applicators, groups typically exposed to higher levels of pesticides than the average population. Many studies have shown that this population has higher rates of asthma and other respiratory problems due to their use of pesticides. Yet occupational pesticide exposure is only one piece of the puzzle—household and community exposure to pesticides can also lead to respiratory problems.

An early study done in the 1960s in Hawaii found that frequent household use of insecticides is correlated with an increased prevalence of respiratory disorders, including asthma and chronic bronchitis. The majority of the pesticides used were bug sprays for mosquitoes, flies, and cockroaches.

A landmark study done in 2004 shows that not only do environmental exposures lead to above-average asthma rates among children, but that timing of exposure is crucial. The researchers studied over 4000 school-aged children in California and discovered that children exposed to herbicides during their first year of life are four and a half times more likely to be diagnosed with asthma before the age of five; toddlers exposed to insecticides are more than twice as likely to get asthma. This study further clarifies the fact that young infants and toddlers are most susceptible to the harmful effects of pesticides on the respiratory system.”

Holistic Approach to Lawn Care!
Much like BioVeda Health and Wellness Centers holistic approach to health care, natural and organic lawn care takes a holistic, preventative view rather than reacting to various problems using chemical pesticides or herbicides. By building healthy soil many of the problems with lawns are solved, eliminating the need for poisons and harsh reactionary measures. So, before you reach for toxic herbicides and pesticides, consider some of the following organic methods for killing weeds and overall yard maintenance:

• Vinegar – a powerful, safe alternative to chemical herbicides, vinegar requires precise application as it will kill grass and other plants.  Make sure you apply directly to the base of the weed or paint it on with a brush.  You may need to apply several times to get the job done.
• Corn Gluten – A nontoxic byproduct of corn processing, corn gluten kills weed seedlings within days of application. It also adds nitrogen to your soil. Just one application, before weeds emerge, reduced weed survival by 60%, according to research at Iowa State University. After several years, this method provides as much as 90% weed control.
• Time-released, Water Insoluble Nitrogen Fertilizer - These fertilizers are less likely to burn your lawn with excess nitrogen, and slow-release allows the roots to absorb the nutrients as needed. In most instances, choose fertilizers containing at least 35% – 50% of their nitrogen supply in the “slow-release” form, such as sulfur-coated urea, methylene urea or various natural organic products. With fast-acting fertilizers, some nutrients are washed away with watering or rain, and the wasted fertilizer pollutes ground water supplies.

Find out more!

Pesticide Look-up on Wikipedia

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Pesticides

Journal of American Medical Association – Acute Illness Associated with Pesticide Exposure in Schools

MSG and Its Impact on Health
-By Liz, Guest Columnist

Do you have Headaches? Does your body ache? Most of us just chalk these symptoms up to just part of life or getting older. But is it? Could these symptoms be related to what we are eating? They could be caused by monosodium glutamate or MSG!

What are the possible health effects of MSG? There are many symptoms of a sensitivity. They range from mild to severe. Some of the mild reactions would be headaches and flushing of the skin. Other more severe reactions linked to MSG consumption include: depression, rage, mood swings, hormone changes, memory loss, obesity, stunted growth, infertility, asthma attacks, paranoia, Parkinson’s, Lou Gehrig’s and Alzheimer’s disease.  Research has also shown that behavioral problems and learning disabilities in children are associated with MSG. People that are most vulnerable to the effects of MSG are elderly, children, infants and the unborn.

MSG is a food additive and is used to enhance the flavor of foods. Behind salt and pepper, it is the most commonly used flavor enhancer today. It comes from the amino acid glutamic. It has been used for decades and has become a staple in the food industry. It is found in all processed foods, Chinese food, canned vegetables, and soups. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), MSG as a food ingredient is “generally recognized as safe.” Even though the FDA takes this stance, the use of MSG remains controversial and therefore the FDA requires that it be listed on labels.

So, if MSG is a food additive that makes our food taste better, then why should we be concerned? According to the book, “In Bad Taste, The MSG Symptom Complex“, written by George R. Schwartz “The answer is plain and simple – MSG is a drug added to our food that causes wide spread toxicity.” The book cites case studies of MSG sensitive individuals and tells us where, how, and why it is being hidden in our food! Dr. Schwartz says his book will help people learn to identify reactions, and then how to avoid eating it. He adds, “Knowing how to avoid this flavor enhancer can dramatically change lives.”

Trying to eliminate MSG from your diet would be extremely hard if not impossible.  It is difficult to identify which foods contain this commonly used flavor enhancer because the manufacturers try to hide it. A label that reads “no MSG,” may not mean  it’s a MSG-free product. In certain cases, the manufacturer simply did not add MSG! Also, there are hidden names for monosodium glutamate. Some of the hidden names include: Gelatin, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP), Hydrolyzed Plant Protein (HPP), Autolyzed Plant Protein, and Sodium Caseinate.

As a busy mother, I want to ensure the best possible food is used for all of our meals. I want to feel confident that my family is not going to be harmed in any way! So, the next time you go to the grocery store, please make sure you are checking the labels for MSG! Know what you are buying and how it could affect your loved ones.

The first thing that I would like to point out is that our need for minerals such as zinc, iron, copper, molybdenum is as essential as our need for oxygen. The body can tolerate a deficiency of vitamins for a longer period of time than a deficiency of minerals.

• Like oxygen and water. Minerals are inorganic substances, they are elements, which means that they are composed of only one atom and none of them contain carbon. Approximately 5% of every cell is made up of minerals.
• Minerals are coenzymes, which mean they are essential to the activation of enzymes.
• Neither muscles nor nerves function properly unless they are bathed in tissue fluids which contain a balance of mineral salts. A severe imbalance in the concentration of minerals can result in paralysis or convulsive movements.
• The mineral balance is regulated chiefly by hormones, and hormones rely upon certain fatty acids, vitamins, and amino acids for their manufacture. Minerals are inorganic elements that originate in the earth and cannot be made in the body. Most of the minerals in the human diet come directly from plants and water, or indirectly from animal foods.
• Only about 1/200th of the daily supply of minerals comes from water.
• Nutritionally, minerals are grouped into two categories; macro minerals, and trace minerals or micro minerals. Macro minerals such as calcium and magnesium are needed by the body in larger amounts,100 Mg. or more. Trace minerals are needed in much smaller amounts, usually given in Mcg. (Less than 100 Mg).
• The term mineral is not exactly correct. We are talking about ions not chemical compounds of actual minerals.

What is an ion?

An ion is a particle (either an atom or a group of atoms) that carries an electrical charge.

There are two types of ions : positively charged ions called cations, and negatively charged ions called anions. Examples of important cations in the body include magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium, and hydrogen. Important anions are bicarbonate, chloride, and phosphate. Once dissolved the so called minerals do not exist as such, sodium chloride breaks down into sodium ions and chloride ions in solution.

Three basic classifications of minerals exist. They are “metallic minerals,” “chelated minerals,” and “colloidal minerals.” Metallic minerals are found in their pure elemental form or as salts such as sodium chloride and zinc sulfate. They are the most commonly used form in nutritional supplements. They are the least expensive form of minerals. Their degree of absorption is the least of all three forms.

Chelated minerals are the next step up the ladder in so far as the body’s ability to assimilate. A metallic mineral is “chelated” with an amino acid. The amino acid actually surrounds the metallic mineral. Examples of chelated minerals are the magnesium aspartate (magnesium chelated with the natural aspartic acid) and chromium picolinate (chromium chelated with picolinic acid). Chelated minerals are about 40% more efficient in regards to absorption and assimilation into the body than metallic minerals.

Colloidal minerals are those that occur in nature in the colloid state. That is, they are minute particles that can be easily dispersed in a medium such as water. Plant-derived colloidal minerals provide the best of all forms of minerals because they are associated with natural plant tissue. This gives them all the advantages of chelated and metallic minerals and more!

Minerals and proteins must be taken in at the same time. Adequate digestive acids must be present to ionize the mineral and also break down the proteins to amino acids. Then amino acids must combine in a stable formation with the base minerals.

The greatest lesson I can give you regarding trace minerals is their total integration and interdependence on one another. Remember, any substance can be toxic at certain levels, regardless of how essential it may be. The most important trace minerals are iron, zinc, copper, chromium, iodine, selenium, manganese, and molybdenum. Some others, such as arsenic, boron, cobalt, nickel, silicon, and vanadium, are recognized as essential for some animals, while others, such as barium, bromine, cadmium, gold, silver, and aluminum, are found in the body, little is known about their role in health.

IRON

A severe lack of iron deprives body tissues of oxygen and may cause anemia. Some of the early warning signs of iron deficiency include fatigue, paleness, and dizziness, sensitivity to cold, irritability, listlessness, poor concentration and heart palpitations.

Things that inhibit iron absorption: coffee, tea, soy-based foods, antacids, and tetracycline. Also, excessive amounts of calcium, zinc, and manganese can inhibit iron absorption. Symptoms of iron toxicity include diarrhea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, fatigue, stomach cramps, and weak pulse.

ZINC

Zinc is a trace mineral that is found in every fluid, tissue, cell, and organ, in the human body. Inadequate intake of Zinc or zinc deficiency can affect any of over 200 enzymes in the body.

In patients with either bulimia nervosa (binge-purging ) or anorexia nervosa (self-induced starvation), zinc deficiency can directly affect cognitive and perceptual processes that help maintain these eating disorders. Recently it has been shown that there is an inverse relationship between morbid obesity and zinc, meaning that the more morbidly obese the individual the lower their zinc status. This suggests that zinc plays an important role in the entire continuum of eating disorders, from obesity to anorexia nervosa.

A similar example would be the mineral magnesium which plays a role in over 300 enzyme reactions in the body, many of which are directly related to cardiovascular health.

Zinc is integral to the synthesis of RNA and DNA, the genetic material that controls cell growth, division and function

• bone development and growth;
• cell respiration;
• aiding enzymes in digestion and energy metabolism;
• wound healing;
• the liver’s ability to remove toxic substances such as alcohol from the body;
• immune function;
• the regulation of heart rate and blood pressure

An adequate zinc intake enhances the ability to taste (standard process), promotes healthy skin and hair, enhances reproductive functions, and may improve short-term memory and attention span. As an anti-inflammatory agent, zinc is sometimes used to treat acne, rheumatoid arthritis, and prostatitis. Zinc gluconate lozenges (containing 23 mg of zinc each) taken every 2 hours significantly reduces the average duration of common colds by seven days Most susceptible to zinc deficiency are young children, pregnant women, vegetarians, and elderly people. Some of the more common symptoms of zinc deficiency are: loss of taste, hair loss or discoloration, white streaks on the nails, dermatitis, and loss of appetite, fatigue and poor wound healing. In children, zinc deficiency can retard growth and stunt sexual development in boys. Zinc deficiency is a well-known complication of Crohn’s disease. Zinc is involved in virtually all aspects of insulin metabolism (synthesis, secretion and utilization). Zinc is also very important in treating periodontal disease. Zinc has also been shown to reduce the size of the prostate.

Treatment with topical and oral zinc has been shown to reduce the duration and severity of herpes outbreaks. High levels of zinc are also toxic to Chlamydia and trichomonas and have been used successfully in cases which did not respond to traditional antibiotic therapy.

Too much zinc can also cause problems: Problems such as nausea, headaches, vomiting, dehydration, and stomachaches. Ingesting extreme amounts of zinc daily can impair immune function, cause poor muscle function, fatigue and possibly kidney failure.

COPPER

Recommended Dietary Allowances in adults are 1.5 mg to 3 mg. Its many functions include; helping to form hemoglobin in the blood, facilitating the absorption and use of iron, assisting in the regulation of blood pressure and heart rate, strengthening blood vessels, bones, tendons, and nerves, promoting fertility; and insuring normal skin and hair pigmentation. Excess calcium and zinc will interfere with copper absorption. A true copper deficiency is rare and is associated with albinism, or with acquired mal-absorption ailments such as Crohn’s Disease and celiac disease.

Deficiencies may also occur in infants who are not breast-fed and some premature babies.

Symptoms of copper deficiency include: Brittle, discolored hair; skeletal defects; anemia; high blood pressure; heart arrhythmias; and infertility.

Taking more than 10 mg of copper daily can bring on nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, and stomach aches. Women who are pregnant or taking birth control pills are susceptible to excess blood levels of copper. Some research suggests that high levels of copper and iron may play a role in hyperactivity and autism.

CHROMIUM

Recommended Dietary Allowances in adults is 50 mcg to 200 mcg. Chromium works with insulin to regulate the body’s use of sugar and is essential to fatty-acid metabolism.

Its contribution to metabolism makes chromium a helpful supplement in weight loss programs. Inadequate chromium can result in alcohol intolerance, elevate blood sugar levels, and possibly induce diabetes-like symptoms such as tingling in the extremities and reduced muscle coordination. Chromium is not absorbed well, so the body must take in far more than it uses.

IODINE

Recommended Dietary Allowance for adults is 150 mcg and pregnant women is 175 mcg. Iodine was one of the first minerals recognized as essential to human health.

For hundreds of years, it has been known to prevent and treat enlargement of the thyroid gland, a condition known as “goiter”. Iodine influences metabolism, nerve and muscle function, nail, hair, skin condition, and physical and mental development low-salt, or non-seafood diet

Common effects of iodine deficiency are: Goiter, weight gain, hair loss, listlessness, insomnia and some forms of mental retardation. Hypothyroidism and an iodine deficiency are associated with a higher incidence of breast cancer. There is also evidence of an association between low thyroid function and Fibrocystic Breast Disease (FBD).

On the other hand, extremely high intake, while it may not be toxic, since most excess is excreted by the kidneys, may cause nervousness, hyperactivity, headache, rashes, metallic taste in the mouth and goiter (due to thyroid hyperactivity).

SELENIUM

Selenium supports immune function and neutralizes poisonous substances such as cadmium, mercury, and arsenic that may be ingested or inhaled. A word of caution, in high doses, selenium and selenium compounds are very toxic, causing hair loss, nail problems, accelerated tooth decay, and swelling of the fingers, among other symptoms.

Livestock grown in areas containing high amounts of selenium in the soil and in which a plant called Astragalus (“loco weed”) is present are poisoned. This is because Astragalus concentrates selenium.

MANGANESE

Recommended Dietary Allowances for adults are 2.5 mg to 5 mg. Manganese is essential for the proper formation and maintenance of bone, cartilage, and connective tissue. It contributes to the synthesis of proteins and genetic material, and helps produce energy from foods. It also acts as an antioxidant and assists in normal blood clotting. Manganese is an important co-factor in the key enzymes of glucose metabolism. It has been found that a deficiency results in diabetes in guinea pigs. Another interesting fact is that diabetics have been shown to have half the level of manganese that normal individuals have.

MOLYBDENUM

Recommended Dietary Allowances for adults is 75 mcg to 250 mcg. Molybdenum is a component of the enzyme “xanthine oxidase”. It helps generate energy, process waste for excretion, mobilize stored iron for the body’s use, and detoxify sulfites (chemicals used as food preservatives). Molybdenum works with vitamin B2 in the conversion of food to energy. The average adult body contains about 9 mg with the highest concentrations in the liver, kidneys, bone, and skin. Molybdenum deficiency is extremely rare. Symptoms include rapid heartbeat and breathing, headache, night blindness, anemia, mental disturbance, nausea and vomiting. Marginal molybdenum deficiency has been associated with the development of cancer. In China, people consuming molybdenum deficient diets have been found to have an increased risk of throat cancer. Low molybdenum levels have been linked to an increased allergic reaction to sulfite food additives. Toxic effects of excess molybdenum intake include weight loss, slow growth, anemia, diarrhea, increased blood levels of uric acid and swelling in the joints. This may occur at intakes of 10 to 15 mg.

BORON

Boron is primarily needed for healthy bones and teeth. Boron also enhances brain function, promotes/improves alertness, helps to prevent osteoporosis, and builds muscles. Boron is required to activate certain hormones including estrogen. Although most people are not deficient in boron, the elderly usually benefit by supplementing their diets with boron in 2mg to 3mg daily doses.

A study conducted by the Unites States Department of Agriculture indicated that within eight days of supplementing their daily diet with boron, a test group of postmenopausal women lost forty-percent less calcium and one-third less magnesium through their urine than they had before beginning boron supplementation.

COBALT

Cobalt is a mineral constituent of cobalamin which is recognized as Vitamin B12. Cobalt helps form red blood cells and also maintains nerve tissue. Inorganic cobalt has no nutritional value, but is sometimes added to beer as an anti-foaming agent.

Vitamin B12 / cobalt is not produced by plants, but can only be supplied through animal products. Dietary deficiency is usually only found in alcoholics, strict vegetarians, and pregnant or nursing women. Signs of Vitamin B12 deficiency are sore tongue, weight loss, body odor, back pains and tingling arms and legs.

As stated earlier in this article minerals are essential to proper body function and your health. Therefore taking a mineral supplement is a very important aspect of your daily wellness routine. When taking minerals make sure they are organically bound minerals for the best absorption.

Ref: Rennert, O.M. Chan, W-Y. Metabolism of Trace Metals in Man, Vol. I. CRC Press, 1984, p. 71.

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]]> http://biovedawellness.com/2010/02/are-minerals-more-essential-to-health-than-vitamins/feed/ 2 http://biovedawellness.com/2010/02/a-pill-for-every-problem/ http://biovedawellness.com/2010/02/a-pill-for-every-problem/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:10:13 +0000 Bioveda Wellness Administrator http://biovedawellness.com/?p=1600 Dr. Thomas Parkes at BioVeda Health and Wellness Center in Yardley, Pennsylvania writes an compelling and entertaining article on his BioVeda of Yardley blog this week:

I remember a few years ago reading an article in a magazine about the experience a third grade teacher had while giving a spelling test. She would ask the students how to spell a word and the students would have to write the word down on their test paper. After grading the papers, she was startled to find that over 50% of the third graders spelled the word relief -ROLAIDS.

Yes, as a society we are very much influenced by what we see, what we hear, and by what we read. If we are constantly told that all we need to do for this ache or that pain is take a pill, then what do we grow up believing?

There’s a pill for every problem!

BACK PAIN ? No problem. Take a pill. Cover it up.
Headaches? No problem. Take a pill. Cover it up.
Stomach a little achy and bloated after eating that pepperoni and bologna pizza? No problem. Take a pill. Cover it up.
High Blood Pressure? No problem. Take the pill that will artificially lower it.

Yes, we have turned into a plop, plop, fizz, fizz society. Instant coffee! Instant tea! Instant relief!

We never talk about treating the cause. Rather, we often just try to cover up the symptoms of an unhealthy lifestyle. Stress is the cause of most of the symptoms we develop, and it comes in three flavors: physical, chemical, or mental. In order to have true health and wellness, we need to learn how to manage these stressors through proper diet, exercise, and a properly functioning neurological system.

The Bax 3000 and the utilization of NSRT (Neurological Stress Reduction Therapy) is a wonderful therapy that can help us alleviate some of the enormous amounts of environmental stressors we’re subjected to every day. So, go ahead, eat right, exercise, read an inspirational book, and get Bax 3000 therapy. You’ll be glad you did.

Depression can affect up to 14% of pregnant women. Characterized by feelings of dread, gloom and hopelessness, and a loss of interest in normally pleasurable activities, depression during pregnancy is suggested to be caused by an influx of hormones combined with the stress of a major life change. If left untreated, depression can be dangerous for both mom and baby, and is linked to poor birth outcomes and postpartum depression. Antidepressant medication is sometimes prescribed during pregnancy, however many women opt not to take antidepressants while pregnant due to safety concerns. “Because there’s this concern about medication among pregnant women and their physicians, it’s important to find an alternative,” said Rachel Manber, PhD, who led the study.

The women who participated in the Acupuncture study were randomized to receive one of three treatments: acupuncture specific for depression; control acupuncture, during which needles were inserted in points not known to help alleviate depressive symptoms; or massage. The researchers found that women who received acupuncture specific for depression experienced a greater rate of decrease in symptom severity. The response rate was 63 percent for the women receiving depression-specific acupuncture, compared with 44 percent for the women in the other two treatment groups combined.

The researchers conclude:

“Overall, the acupuncture protocol we tested yielded a response rate comparable to the rates observed in standard treatments for depression and was associated with relatively few and mild side effects, suggesting that this standardized acupuncture protocol could be a viable treatment option for depression during pregnancy.”

Many of the BioVeda Health & Wellness Centers offer Acupuncture services as part of our Holistic Healing program.  Contact us to find a center in your area that offers Acupuncture and benefit from holistic healing today!

“Very nasty, very foul odor and full of undigested food particles,” said Houston resident Michelle Groogan of her then 18-month-old son’s bowel movement. “It was the classic autism poop.”

Garrett was diagnosed with autism when he was 2, and Michelle Groogan began researching ways to ease her son’s digestive issues, which she felt were autism-related. It wasn’t long before she came across the Gluten Free Casein Free, or GFCF, diet.  Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. Casein is the protein in cow’s milk, as well as all mammalian milk.

“It was very overwhelming,” Groogan said. “I mean, everything has gluten and dairy in it.”

Groogan said health food stores and grocery stores such as Whole Foods make it easier to find GFCF foods, but it comes with sticker shock. She spends about $75 a week on Garrett’s food, the same amount she spends for food for the rest of the family.

“We had nothing to lose by trying it,” Groogan said. “Within a few months we started seeing normal stools. When his digestive system was feeling better, we noticed he picked up more language.”  Garrett, now 6, has been on the diet for more than three years.

“It certainly hasn’t healed him completely,” Groogan said, “But we’re not ready to stop the diet any time soon.”
Katherine Loveland, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and director of the Center for Human Development Research at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, said the American Academy of Pediatrics released a statement recently that said it’s possible that kids with autism have some problems that are related to gastric disturbances, but they do not see evidence that this is a cause of autism.

“That does not mean it might not be important,” Loveland said. “The percentage of kids with autism that has gastrointestinal difficulties can be 10 percent or 70 percent depending whom you study and how you study them. So it’s not clear how many of them have it, or how many are relieved of it through diet.”

Anecdotally, for some, the proof is in the pudding.

“The observer is biased,” Loveland said. “That’s one possibility. Or it could be that the child did have some gastric distress, pain they were not able to report, and the child is now more comfortable day to day, and therefore feeling better, so behaving better. To put it simply, it’s complicated.”

Sugar Land resident Scott Jackson said he heard about the diet after his son Tyler was diagnosed with autism when he was 2.  “It seemed to be the first question people asked when they found out about Tyler’s diagnosis,” Jackson said. “We decided to give it a try because just like every family desperately looking for ways to help their child, we will try most things that can help, with or without proof.”

Tyler, now 5, spent about 10 weeks on the diet without any noticeable improvement, Jackson said.

Dr. Robert Sears, who will release The Autism Book in April, said any parent starting their child on the diet should give it a good six months, but children age 7 and older need at least a year.  Food allergies, Sears said, are the single most common medical problem shared by children with autism.  He devotes an entire chapter of the book to diet changes, in which he writes about the GFCF diet. He said one survey of 1,800 autistic children revealed 65 percent showed improvement on the diet.

He said chronic diarrhea resolves, first words emerge, hyperactivity diminishes, and potty training becomes easier.
Sears said the diet works best in conjunction with supplements, including digestive enzymes, probiotics, cod liver oil, vitamins and minerals.

Sears relates the stories of five families from his own practice who have had some success with biomedical treatments, including dietary changes and the addition of vitamins and minerals.

The children Sears talks about include those with classic regressive autism, which means kids who are “completely normal” the first year or two, and then go backwards developmentally, sometimes suddenly and dramatically.  Sears drives homes the point by saying early intervention “can change a life.” He also says he has had cases of children who don’t fit the classic story of regressive autism with gastrointestinal symptoms, but who still benefit from the GFCF diet.

One such patient didn’t have constipation or diarrhea and didn’t regress socially or developmentally, but was quite developmentally delayed. The child was diagnosed with autism, and Sears said he showed improvement after going on the GFCF diet, and adding vitamin B12 and zinc.

Sears wraps up his book with a chapter titled “Prevention for Your Future Children.”

“I know it’s controversial to talk about prevention of autism when we don’t actually know what the cause is,” Sears said. “Where I’m coming from is that a lot of similar medical problems seem to occur in kids with autism, and that when we fix those medical problems, the symptoms of the autism tend to get better. One of the main ones is food allergies. Identify food allergies early by taking colicky babies and chronic, loose stools seriously.”

BAGHDAD – Since the Army introduced the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program in October 2009, there has been much focus on a holistic approach to physical, emotional, social, spiritual and family well-being.

But what is holistic healing exactly?

According to Lt. Col. Erica Clarkson, a U.S. Forces-Iraq physical therapist, holistic healing is an approach that uses natural methods to improve health, without using drugs or surgery to correct problems.

Clarkson has been practicing holistic healing for 17 years, and has continued to treat service members in Iraq at the Courage Clinic, in the Al Faw Palace on Camp Victory.

Some of Clarkson’s holistic modalities include acupuncture, manual therapy, relaxation techniques and prescribed exercises specific to each patient’s physical ailment.

“There are no significant adverse side effects like there are with using drugs to treat problems,” she said. “Different medicines have been linked to ulcers and other gastrointestinal irritations, and even death.”

For Lt. Col. Chad Sundem and Maj. Dorothy de Leon, the holistic healing approach has proved very beneficial in recovering from injuries they sustained.

Sundem, the aide-de-camp for I Corps commander Lt. Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., was suffering from calf strains, a pinched nerve and arm numbness when he began seeing Clarkson. He received weekly acupuncture treatments for the problems.

The treatment has been tremendous in helping his condition, he said.

“I didn’t have to resort to any other methods of treatment. Acupuncture healed the problems quickly. In my case, it brought semi-instant pain relief and a more rapid recovery overall,” Sundem said.

De Leon was suffering from plantar fasciitis in her left foot and tendonitis in her right elbow before seeking acupuncture treatments with Clarkson. Although the USF-I Red Team officer had to use anti-inflammatory medication in addition to the acupuncture, she also performed prescribed stretching exercises.

“Before this deployment, I’d always wanted to try acupuncture for other pains, but never had the opportunity. I’m completely sold on the treatment,” de Leon said.

Ice, rest and massage have also contributed to de Leon’s successful treatment, all of which she did on her own time.

For those who are not able to receive the acupuncture portion of holistic healing, Clarkson recommends doing Internet research for things that can be done during someone’s down time.

“You will get the most benefit from this when you do the prescribed exercises on your own time, which is much preferred,” Clarkson said. “The Internet is a great resource. Without acupuncture, you can still research and find your acupressure points.”

Each point is linked to a different part of the body, Clarkson said. For example, acupressure points in the right hand are linked to the left foot. By applying pressure to acupressure points in the body, pain can sometimes be relieved.

The holistic approach to treatment is also offered at stateside military hospitals, and has become a growing skill set.

“You can’t give a pill for everything. You have to get to the root of the problem,” said Clarkson.

Clarkson said the new holistic approach the Army has taken is a step in the right direction and is gaining popularity throughout the service.

“It has taken the Army a long time to get to this point,” she added. “(The Army) is opening up and seeing the benefits. It’s really a great thing.”

Editor’s note: Sgt. Lindsey Bradford works in the U.S. Forces-Iraq Public Affairs Office.