Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients articles from February 2003

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients archives from February 2003

Letter from the publisher.
February 1, 2003... We've entitled this issue, somewhat audaciously, the "Best of Naturopathic Medicine." In November we invited students, faculty, and clinical physicians at the US and Canadian naturopathic colleges to submit articles for an impromptu contest for...

The NFAM 2002 founder's awards for excellence in the field of complementary & alternative medicine.
February 1, 2003... Candace Campbell Executive Director of the national advocacy organization, The American Association for Health Freedom, Ms. Campbell has lobbied intensively for the passage of the "Access to Medical Treatment Act" and her organization...

White bean extract reduces starch absorption by 66% in pilot study.
February 1, 2003... Pharmachem Laboratories, Inc. presented the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, human cross-over study showing that "starch absorption averaged 66% lower in the group taking Phase 2[TM] (Phaseolamin 2250[TM])," a standardized, white...

Cancer patients' survival rates increase with use of MGN3.
February 1, 2003... MGN3, a natural immune enhancer marketed by LaneLabs-USA, Inc. (www.lanelabs.com), has increased the lifespan of terminally ill cancer patients by more than 60% according to a recent study. Over 200 patients with a variety of terminal cancers...

Obituary.
February 1, 2003... Victor Herbert, MD, JD, MACP, FUSM February 22, 1927 -- November 19, 2002 NCAHF Victor Herbert, MD, JD, 75, internationally recognized hematologist, nutrition scientist and one of the world's leading authorities on questionable...

In memoriam.(Donald G. Snyder)(Obituary)
February 1, 2003... Donald G. Snyder, PhD Proper Nutrition, Inc., regrets to announce that Dr. Donald Snyder passed away on December 25 at the age of 76. "Doc" Snyder founded Proper Nutrition, Inc., in 1994, and served as the company's CEO. Doc received...

Free Prescription Drugs available.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Is your medication too expensive for your budget? If so information in a new booklet might help. The Cost Containment Research Institute in Washington, DC has just published a 48-page booklet, "Free & Low-Cost Prescription Drugs." The...

Arizona State University offers bachelor's degree in CAM.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The first bachelor's degree program focusing on CAM is now being offered by Arizona State University East. The program, called Human Health Studies, examines holistic health practices from a multidisciplinary, body-mind-spirit perspective....

Castor oil. (Shorts).
February 1, 2003... One of the most frequent recommendations that psychic healer Edgar Cayce made for restoring health was the use of castor oil packs. In his book The Oil That Heals, William A. McGarey, MD, presents information from the Cayce readings plus his...

Intention & healing. (Shorts).
February 1, 2003... Since 1979, the Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR) program has studied how human consciousness affects random physical processes. In his May 1996 article for Alternative Therapies, Robert G. Jahn, professor of aerospace sciences...

Magnet Therapy. (Shorts).(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... Magnet Therapy, an Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide by William H. Philpott, MD, and Dwight K. Kalita, PhD, with Burton Goldberg, explains magnetic field therapy and gives examples of its therapeutic use for 35 health conditions. ...

Medical supply & demand. (Shorts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... When comparing medical use by Medicare patients in Miami, Florida, to that of patients in Minneapolis, Minnesota, researchers at Dartmouth Medical School found that more medical care did not result in greater life expectancy or in better...

Encouraging exercise in schools. (Shorts).
February 1, 2003... In recent years, physical education (PE) has been cut from school curricula throughout the US as school districts with tight budgets make room for academic subjects. According to an article in Teaching Tolerance (a magazine published by the...

Pain & sympathy. (Shorts).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A study by German psychologist Herta Flor of the University of Heidelberg found that a spouse's reaction can affect how much pain a person with chronic back pain experiences. The study compared two groups of people with chronic back pain. One...

Sound & healing. (Shorts).
February 1, 2003... In a talk for the Royal Bank Calgary International Organ Festival & Competition Speaker Series (August 12, 2002), Dr. Mitchell L. Gaynor explained how he uses sound and music in his practice as an oncologist and hematologist. Dr. Gaynor is...

Care teams. (Shorts).
February 1, 2003... In his book From Chaos to Care, David Lawrence, MD, Chairman Emeritus of Kaiser Permanente, advocates a medical system based on care teams rather than on "independent, autonomous craftsmen." He believes that care teams improve the quality and...

Coenzyme [Q.sub.10] for Parkinson's disease. (Literature Review & Commentary).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Eighty patients with early Parkinson's disease (PD) that did not require treatment were randomly assigned to receive, in double-blind fashion, placebo or coenzyme [Q.sub.10] (Co[Q.sub.10]), at a dose of 300, 600, or 1,200 mg/day. After 16...

L-carnitine benefits dialysis patients. (Literature Review & Commentary).
February 1, 2003... Twelve patients (mean age, 55.5 years) undergoing regular hemodialysis received L-carnitine (15 mg/kg of body weight intravenously 3 times per week, after each dialysis session) for 6 months. Prior to treatment, plasma carnitine concentrations...

L-carnitine treatment of ADHD. (Literature Review & Commentary).
February 1, 2003... Twenty-six boys (aged 6-13 years) with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were randomly assigned to receive, in double-blind fashion, one of two treatment protocols: placebo-carnitine-placebo or carnitine-placebo-carnitine. Each...

Successful treatment of recurrent miscarriages. (Literature Review & Comment).
February 1, 2003... Twenty-five women (aged 20-37 years) with elevated plasma homocysteine levels (frequently at least twice the upper limit of normal), no biological children, and a history of 3-5 episodes of unexplained early spontaneous abortion were studied....

Vitamin E: the importance of gamma-tocopherol. (Literature Review & Comment).
February 1, 2003... These articles discuss the importance of gamma-tocopherol, one of the naturally occurring forms of vitamin E. Gamma-tocopherol represents approximately 70% of the vitamin E in a typical American diet. Although, in humans, plasma concentrations...

Vitamin E increases severity of respiratory infections. (Literature Review & Comment).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Six hundred fifty-two well-nourished non-institutionalized elderly individuals (mean age, 73 years) were randomly assigned to receive, in double-blind fashion, 1) a multivitamin-mineral preparation containing physiological doses of vitamins and...

Not tonight, dear, I have scurvy. (Literature Review & Comment).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Forty-two healthy young adults (mean age, 24.4 years) with a current sexual partner were randomly assigned to receive, in double-blind fashion, 3,000 mg/day of vitamin C or placebo for 2 weeks. Among women, the frequency of sexual intercourse...

Selenium effective against autoimmune thyroiditis. (Literature Review & Comment).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Seventy-seven patients with autoimmune thyroiditis received one of the following (blinding and randomization not specified) for 6 months: 1) 200 mcg/day of selenomethionine plus L-thyroxine (T4) at a dose that normalized the TSH level, 2)...

Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology review and commentary.
February 1, 2003... Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology is the term describing the unity of mental, neurological, hormonal. and immune functions with its many potential applications. PNIE addresses the influence of the cognitive images of the mind (whatever its elusive...

Web page potpourri: a column devoted to informative alternative health resources on the internet.
February 1, 2003... This column features a special focus on vaccination. It's a complex issue, but you'll find a wealth of resources at the sites profiled below. They represent a mix of views from government agencies, non-profit organizations (both large and...

Alternatives to HRT the best opportunity for naturopathic medicine in 2003. (Phytotherapy Review & Commentary).
February 1, 2003... On the 9th July 2002 a press release announced that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) had stopped a major clinical trial investigating the risks and benefits of combined estrogen and progestin in healthy menopausal women. The planned...

Sleep apnea & Chinese medicine. (Chinese Medicine Update).
February 1, 2003... Keywords: Chinese medicine, acupuncture, sleep apnea Definition & nosology: Apnea comes from the Greek, a meaning "no," pnea meaning "breathing." Therefore, apnea means "no breathing." Sleep apnea (SA) refers to recurrent cessation of...

Wild Salmon don't do drugs, and other fish stories. (Health Risks and Environmental Issues).
February 1, 2003... Fish is an excellent protein staple, low in saturated fat, yet high in vitamin E and selenium. Fish oils reduce the risk of strokes by preventing blood platelets from sticking together. Fish supports cardiovascular health because it is a good...

Landmark conference on eco-labels at tufts university. (Medical Anthropology).
February 1, 2003... Today, a casual stroll down any supermarket or drugstore aisle makes visible the exploding demand for environmentally-based products, called variously "eco-products," "natural products," "wellness products" or many other names. Clever marketers...

Highly effective treatments for pain and fatigue; nutritional support: part 1.
February 1, 2003... So what is going on in CFS/FMS? As we discussed in last month's column, I do not view CFS and fibromyalgia (FMS) as the enemy. Rather, I see these syndromes as attempts on the body's part, like circuit breakers in a house, to protect...

The best of homeopathy learning directly from a master. (Healing with Homeopathy).
February 1, 2003... The Tradition of Mentorship There is no better way to learn any art than to study in the presence and under the guidance of a master. Homeopathy was in its infancy when we began to practice in the late 1970s. Training has taken a quantum...

The role of Teaching in Naturopathic medicine. (The Best of Naturopathic Medicine).
February 1, 2003... Teaching Naturopathic medicine is a passion and an honor. When done well it is of service to the Spirit within us and supports the evolution of both professor and student. Teaching is also one of the ways in which we as a Naturopathic community...

A position paper on the nature of the counseling relationship within the philosophy of naturopathic medicine. (The Best of Naturopathic Medicine).
February 1, 2003... Abstract: This paper explores the dynamics of the counseling relationship specific to Naturopathic philosophy. The role of the physician and the responsibility of the patient in the process of healing are central to the discussion of the...

The healthy side of saturated fats. (The Best of Naturopathic Medicine).
February 1, 2003... Introduction For many years the vegetable oil industry and other related politically-biased agricultural groups have been telling us that saturated fats are unhealthy. In fact, it is a common belief that saturated fats are the "bad" fats...

A case report on the successful use of inositol hexaniacinate for the treatment of achlorhydria: its possible mechanism of action upon the central nervous system and parietal cell-adenosine Triphosphate-dependent [K.sup.+]/[H.sup.+] pump.
February 1, 2003... Abstract Achiorhydria is a gastrointestinal disorder where the parietal cells no longer function and acid secretion does not occur. We report on a case where the therapeutic use of inositol hexaniacinate (IHN) was effective for the...

Ecological perspectives on naturopathic and allopathic medicine. (The Best of Naturopathic Medicine).
February 1, 2003... "To be in a state of positive health is to be on good terms with the cosmos." Skolimowski Introduction According to Western thought, humans are meant to command and control Nature. Since Descartes, it has been believed that matter...

Need of frequent repetition of the remedy in high potency in chronic cases with causal hypothesis. (The Best of Naturopathic Medicine).
February 1, 2003... Abstract The single dose prescribing is the cardinal principle of homeopathy for the chronic diseases as well. It forbids repetition, warning that it can cause violent aggravation and even spoil the case. But it showed that the single dose...

The future of naturopathy is in whole systems education and research. (The Best of Naturopathic Medicine).
February 1, 2003... The conventional medical mainstream enjoys the inherent dignity of affluence. The victor of any conquest enjoys the right to make the new rules and rewrite the history of the conflict. Mainstream medical science has become sanctified as the...

Visceral release massage: an effective approach for some liver, stomach, gall bladder and heart problems, including chronic fatigue.
February 1, 2003... Introduction Fred is a 50 year-old man who had a coronary bypass two years ago. He has had a long unfortunate medical history dating back 30 years to radiation treatment for Hodgkins disease. Since his bypass, he has had a severe stomach...

Cancer remission rates increase from use of the safe and effective lipoic acid palladium complex poly-MVA. (Medical Journalist Report of Innovative Biologics).
February 1, 2003... "I had this terrible bone pain in my head, spine, ribs, and all over. Then the doctor told me he had discovered holes in my skull the size of nickels and dimes. I felt just terrible pain and needed to sleep all the time to escape it. I took...

Selection criteria for probiotic supplements.
February 1, 2003... All probiotic products are not alike and do not have similar nutritional and therapeutic values. The name probiotic does not mean anything unless it contains the right strain, in the right amount, in the right formulation and in the right...

Mitochondrial dysfunction, nutrition and aging: the most effective nutrients for defending against age-related mitochondrial decline.
February 1, 2003... Every cell in the human body is packed with tiny organelles called mitochondria (Fig. 1). Mitochondria are often referred to as "intracellular powerhouses" because they produce most of the energy used by the body. Cells with a high metabolic...

Diabetes, cancer and weight: a Metabolic Typing survey.
February 1, 2003... Our work with Metabolic Typing puts us in a unique position to observe relationships between particular disease conditions and the different Metabolic Types. A Metabolic Type can be understood as the characteristic way in which an individual...

Attacking the seven causes of inflammation.
February 1, 2003... We seek alchemy in all aspects of our lives. We may not discover a universal cure for disease, or a way to indefinitely prolong life, or even a way to turn base metals to gold. But if we apply a more modest definition to the 14th century term,...

The fluoride controversy continues: an update -- Part 3.
February 1, 2003... In Parts 1 and 2 of this three-part series, we discussed a number of problems surrounding the use of water fluoridation, including questions about its effectiveness in reducing dental decay, the thin margin of safety that exists for fluoride...

Smallpox vaccine: does it work?
February 1, 2003... The debate over use of the smallpox vaccine has focused on the risks of side effects and deaths caused by the vaccine, as well as the problems associated with the vaccine's outmoded technology, but these discussions have ignored questions about...

Correction notices. (Letters to the Editor).
February 1, 2003... Eidtor: In the letter of mine in the January 2003 issue there is a mistake. On page 94 I was telling of a trial getting under way by the NIH on treating prostate cancer with a combination of vitamin E and selenium. The mistake is you...

Empirical detection & measurement of Savely Savva's [Suggestion No. 1] Bio-Field. (Letters to the Editor).
February 1, 2003... Reference: TLfDP May 2000 Article "The Biofield & Psychoenergetics [a Cybernetic Model of the Organism: Suggestions for an Empirical Study]" by Savely Savva Editor: Savely Savva's Bio-Field has been detected, measured and used in an...

Vitamin C and magnesium used as placebo in chelation study. (Letters to the Editor).
February 1, 2003... Editor: "Would it surprise you to learn that drug companies make their own placebo pills for research purposes? And that they choose the ingredients? And sometimes they purposely put ingredients into the placebos that match those in the...

Rapadura evaporated sugar cane juice. (Letters to the Editor).
February 1, 2003... Editor: This new sugar advertises the following: only sugar where sugar is not separated from molasses, where the whole natural juice of sugar cane is dried, it retains most of its essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals, organically...

Nutritional medicine and addictions: an important over-looked component in detoxification & recovery. (Letters to the Editor).
February 1, 2003... Editor: People with addictions to alcohol and drugs may be considered some of the most under-nourished and nutrient deficient populations in healthcare. Treatments for these groups typically involve pharmacotherapy (medications),...

Re: objections to US draft positions CODEX committee on nutrition and foods for special dietary uses.(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... US Delegation to the CODEX Convention Elizabeth Yetley, PhD c/o Nancy Crane Submitted by electronic transmission While I have already written a letter to the US CODEX delegation expressing my concerns over the establishment of...

Coley's Toxins for sarcoma and intractable cancer. (Letters to the Editor).(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... Editor: This is the story of the wonderful possibilities of Coley's Toxins. It is so simple to make and use. First a word about William Coley MD. As a very young surgeon in New York City he was in 1891, age 29. He was able to get far...

Caregiver stress syndrome. (Letters to the Editor).(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... Editor: As a long-time avid reader of the Townsend Letter, I would first like to congratulate you on such a beneficial and resourceful publication. I was turned on to your great read many years ago by the late Dr. Townsend Hopkins, who...

Opposition to naturopathic licensure harms the public. (Editorial).
February 1, 2003... A recent article in American Medical News (October 28, 2002), a newspaper published by the American Medical Association (AMA), discussed the medical establishment's opposition to the licensing of naturopaths by state medical boards. While the...

Whole foods -- getting back to the basics our foundation as physicians. (Guest Editorial).
February 1, 2003... The beginnings of natural medicine lay in the use of whole foods, spanning to the onset of human history. Our ancestors utilized nature's whole foods pharmacy in their natural forms, without intending to improve upon them, other than possibly...

Monographs on Naturopathic Medicines. (Book Corners).(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... Alternative Medicine(r) Review, Monographs -- Volume One Kelly Czap, Managing Editor Thorne Research, Inc., P.O. Box 25, Dover, Idaho 83825 USA, 1-800-228-1966, www.thorne.com 2002, Softcover, $49.95, 488 pp. Since its premier...

A New Vision for Treating Cancer. (Book Corners).(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... Comprehensive Cancer Care by James S. Gordon, MD and Sharon Curtin Perseus Publishing, 11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142 USA; 617-252-5298 Softbound, ISBN 0-7382-0486-2, 2000, 314 PP., $18 Comprehensive Cancer Care...

Discover the Wonders of "Trigger Point Therapy". (Book Corners).(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... Pain Erasure: The Bonnie Prudden Way by Bonnie Prudden M. Evans & Company, Inc., 216 East 49th Street, New York, New York 10017 USA Lge Softcover, 1980, reprinted 2002, $14.95, 272 pp. Bonnie Prudden first published her work...

"Transforming Loss". (Book Corners).(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... what doesn't kill you makes you stronger: Turning Bad Breaks Into Blessings by Maxine Schnall Perseus Publishing, 11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142 USA 2002, 243 pp., $24.00, hardback In her book, what doesn't...

Introduction to CAM Textbook. (Book Corners).(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... Essentials of Complementary and Alternative Medicine edited by Wayne B. Jonas & Jeffrey S. Levin Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 351 West Camden Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201-2436 USA 800-638-3030 or 301-714-2324 Softbound,...

The quantum naturopath[TM]: activating quantum healing with new flexoelectric technology. (Quantum Medicine Update).
February 1, 2003... Interwoven, energy fields govern our existence and determine how fast we heal or recover from an illness, trauma, stressor, or an infection. The quantum process describes the body's communication system as a complex network of resonance and...

Office experience impacts your success. (New Column).
February 1, 2003... If you stop and think about the best patient experience you've had, what were the deciding factors that really made an impression on you? Hopefully the result of that experience encouraged you to come back if you needed additional help or refer...

Creatine Phosphate Complex and Creatine Serum. (Medicinal Properties in Whole Foods).
February 1, 2003... Effectively Administering a Key Component of the ATP Energy Cycle in its Natural Form; in Physiologic Rather than Pharmacological Doses, for Optimal Athletic Performance. Creatine has recently achieved immense popularity among fitness...

BodyCushion[TM]. (Tools for Physicians).
February 1, 2003... As all physicians have noted, even the best padded examination/treatment tables lack the necessary contours for long periods of use. As the human body has no flat shaped areas, this results in an ergonomic problem for practitioners. During...

Electroacupuncture compared to maprotiline in the treatment of depression. (Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
February 1, 2003... Keywords: Chinese medicine, electroacupuncture, depression, maprotiline Maprotiline is an antidepressant which was first introduced in 1974. It is no longer used very much in the US due to newer, more effective antidepressants, but its use...

The war on cancer.
February 1, 2003... Spirulina Against Cancer Spirulina is a blue-green microalgae that grows abundantly in either fresh or sea water. It is sold as a concentrated food supplement widely available in natural food stores. Most comes from Hawaii and is...

Calendar.
February 1, 2003... FEBRUARY 7: THE GENTLE WIND PROJECT-Science & Engineering for the Human Spirit - Open House & Seminar in Boca Raton, Florida. Also FEBRUARY 8 in Miami, Florida and FEBRUARY 20 in Berkeley, California. During Open House public is invited at no...

Research and developments in women's health. (Women's Health Update).
February 1, 2003... More good news about calcium Calcium supplementation of 1,000mg per day for a year can significantly improve HDL levels in postmenopausal women. In this randomized, placebo controlled trial, calcium citrate increased HDL levels by 7%...

Nutritional influences on illness.
February 1, 2003... Menorrhagia Menorrhagia (excessive uterine bleeding) has many causes, including hormone imbalances, uterine fibroids, endometrial cancer, thyroid conditions, liver, kidney and blood disorders, polyps, and inflammation or infection of the...