Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients articles from January 2004

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients archives from January 2004

Letter from the publisher.
January 1, 2004... With the holiday season we are bombarded each fall with great recipes for the Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, followed like clockwork with "resolutions" to diet and lose weight in the New Year. (We resolve to do neither to our readers.)...

Metagenics helps lead the charge towards Naturopathic Doctor licensing.
January 1, 2004... Metagenics, Inc., announced its support of the recently passed Naturopathic Doctors Act, SB 907. Introduced by Senator John Burton and sponsored by the California Association of Naturopathic Physicians (CANP), the bill to license naturopathic...

2003 American Holistic Veterinary Conference healing animals & ourselves.
January 1, 2004... The September 2003 American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) Annual Conference in Durham, North Carolina, proved that alternative and complementary therapies are benefiting animals as well as humans. Founded in 1982, by Carvel G....

Obituary--John Lee, MD.
January 1, 2004... John Roland Lee, MD is an American icon. He changed the face of women's medicine, and he changed me--forever. I first met John in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, 1995 during one of his lectures. Just a short five weeks earlier, I was sent...

Some problems persist with Ginseng supplements but overall quality improves according to ConsumerLab.com.
January 1, 2004... In contrast to its testing three years ago in which nearly 60% of Asian and American Ginseng supplements were found to have significant problems, testing of recently purchased products by ConsumerLab.com found problems with a far lower...

Don's Tale--a tribute to Dr. Donald Carrow, MD.
January 1, 2004... From his first breath, Dr. Donald Carrow was unique, destined to be newsworthy. His birth in 1934, announced in newspaper headlines, hailed his arrival--the first baby born at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital's brand spanking new maternity ward....

Shorts.
January 1, 2004... Bone Density Tests Many consider osteopenia (a symptomless measurement of low bone density) to be an early sign of osteoporosis, but an article by New York Times science reporter Gina Kolata questions the significance of this diagnosis. In...

Literature review & commentary.
January 1, 2004... Unreliability of hair analysis A split hair sample taken from near the scalp of a single healthy volunteer was sent to six commercial laboratories, which perform 90% of the hair mineral analyses in the United States. For 12 of the 31...

The war on cancer; Femara takes the cancer world by storm--Part 1.
January 1, 2004... It is being hailed as the biggest break-through in the treatment of breast cancer in years. An anti-estrogen drug called Femara (letrozole) has been found to decrease the risk of recurrences in post-menopausal women who have been treated for...

Chinese medicine update: tongue diagnosis in Chinese medicine.
January 1, 2004... Keywords: Chinese medicine, pattern discrimination, tongue diagnosis In last month's issue of The Townsend Letter, I described the role of pulse diagnosis in standard professional Chinese medicine. This month I would like to discuss tongue...

Healing with homeopathy; the use of laboratory tests in a classical homeopathic practice.
January 1, 2004... Homeopathic Physicians Often Order Fewer Lab Tests Homeopaths are famous for spending long periods of time with patients and delving into nearly every imaginable aspect of the person that is relevant to finding the correct medicine. Our...

Phytotherapy review & commentary; measuring herbal quality--the role of laboratory analysis.
January 1, 2004... For most herbs there exists considerable debate and uncertainty as to the definition of a high quality product. In particular, the phytochemical components which are necessary for therapeutic activity are usually not known. This then poses the...

Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology review and commentary.
January 1, 2004... Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology describes the unity of mental, neurological, hormonal and immunological functions with its many potential applications. PNIE addresses the impact of cognitive images of the mind (whatever its elusive definition)...

Highly effective treatments for pain and fatigue; eliminating food allergies.
January 1, 2004... I have found that most of my patients' food and other sensitivities resolve when I treat their underlying yeast overgrowth, parasitic infections, and underactive adrenal glands. Sometimes food sensitivities persist, however, and are often hard...

Laboratory food allergy testing: evaluating the necessity for this diagnostic approach.
January 1, 2004... Headaches, arthritis, joint pain, depression, fatigue, hypoglycemia, recurrent infections, mood swings, acne, eczema, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and attention deficit disorder (ADD). These are just some of the health problems many...

The clinical relevance of IgG food allergy testing through ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay).
January 1, 2004... Allergic reactions to foods may be classified as either IgE-mediated or nonIgE-mediated--the role of the former in food allergy being well-established. However, interestingly enough, the majority of food allergies are associated with specific...

Clinical importance of delayed immune reactions to antigens and haptens detected by functional Lymphocyte Response Assays (LRA by ELISA ACT tests) in primary management of chronic disease--part II.
January 1, 2004... Procedure, method & clinical results for LRA by ELISA/ACT tests The LRA by ELISA/ACT procedure is straightforward. It requires a 12 hour period of water only followed by a one-ounce blood draw. This is the amount of blood the bone marrow...

A natural liquid cartilage extract brings new hope for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
January 1, 2004... Abstract The latest progress and trends in antiangiogenic therapy were recently presented at the "Angiogenesis: New Opportunities & Solutions for Drug Development" meeting held on September 29-30, 2003 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The...

Definitions of Clinical laboratory reference limits.
January 1, 2004... Introduction It is clearly established that macro and micronutrient factors play important roles in the etiology of most diseases that are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in modern society. (1) Clinical laboratories now have...

Food allergies: establishment of diagnosis.
January 1, 2004... Allergies, it seems, are everywhere. And does it not seem like more and more of the people you know are developing some type of allergic symptoms that they did not have before? A highly complex phenomenon, allergies and their increased...

A new benchmark for reliability in food allergy testing; testing for all four IgG sub-fractions leads to over 90% reproducibility, verified by blind split-sampling results.
January 1, 2004... Changing food habits have led to rapid growth in the incidence of food allergies. Food allergies have been linked with migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), arthritis, ADHD in children and many life-threatening conditions...

Seasonal Affective Disorder: avoiding the winter blues.
January 1, 2004... Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) sometimes known as "winter depression" or "winter blues" belongs to a group of depressive disorders known as major depressive disorder. Characterized by ongoing or recurrent depressive episodes that are...

The healing power of full-spectrum light.
January 1, 2004... Ultraviolet Light: Myths and Facts America has a phobia, an irrational fear, about ultraviolet (UV) light. In a new science fad, unwise practices are being urged on us. The resulting sickness and misbehaviour will mystify yet enrich...

Naturopathic urinalysis.
January 1, 2004... Abstract: Naturopathic physicians employ objective tests to not only diagnosis common health complaints, but also look for the early warning signs of our silent killers--cardiovascular disease, looming malignancy, and prerenal failure....

Microscopy and the search for the soul.
January 1, 2004... The search for the essence of living beings has found an obscure outlet in microscopy. This search for the invisible, the driving force, the soul or nature behind living things, included the 1860s heated debate between Louis Pasteur and Antoine...

Clinical value of 24-hour urine hormone evaluations.
January 1, 2004... Background Hormone replacement therapy is the corner stone of anti-aging medicine. It represents a means by which physicians can make a great impact on the health and well being of their patients. Exciting developments in urinary hormone...

Saliva hormone testing.
January 1, 2004... Introduction As I frequently write on the topic of laboratory testing and analysis of steroid hormones in saliva, I have chosen to collect and augment my writings for purposes of this article, to encompass the advantages and disadvantages...

MS is not "hopeless".(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Editor: I was happy to receive the November TLfDP with the focus on MS by the various health care disciplines and disappointing but not surprising--there are no mentions of a cure (or a permanent remission if you prefer). In fact, nothing...

My experience with mercury toxicity.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Editor: After dissolving yet again into tears of frustration, pain, and perplexity, I went to a local Emergency Room (ER) in March of 2002. Approximately six months prior to my ER visit I had begun feeling slowly progressing lower leg...

Hiatal Hernia/Vagus Nerve Disorder: a leading cause of allergies & chronic illness.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Editor: In this update to my article on the Hiatal Hernia/Vagus Nerve Disorder Syndrome, (1) I will emphasize two new, related matters. One is a common, but serious additional stomach/esophagus anomaly that may actually be causing some of...

Foot in mouth?(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Editor: I must comment on Dr. Gaby's remarks about mercury amalgams in his "Literature Review & Commentary" from November's Townsend Letter. While I agree that patients need to realistically weigh the potential benefits of amalgam...

Correction/clarification.(Letters to the Editor)(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2004... In the November 2003 issue, a review of the book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Autoimmune Disease, by Stephen Edelson, MD and Deborah Mitchell, incorrectly stated that the authors believed that autism is an autoimmune disease. ...

Clinical validity of hair tissue mineral analysis (TMA): a psycho-physiological viewpoint.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Editor: A few years ago in the Townsend Letter Dr. Alan Gaby wrote some critical editorial comments about hair tissue mineral analysis (TMA). Dr. Gaby's editorial comments were a useful stimulant to discussion of several important...

Hair mercury testing: an accepted and viable test.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Editor: Recently, it was brought to my attention that an inaccurate article on mercury testing appeared on a website that is dedicated to discrediting and eliminating alternative health therapies. The article titled "Dubious Mercury...

Blood vs. saliva.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... Editor: What is the Issue? Many medical doctors question the effectiveness of transdermal steroid hormones such as testosterone and progesterone. They say that these hormones are not appreciably absorbed into the bloodstream from the...

Before you order that lab test ... part 2.(Editorial)
January 1, 2004... In the last issue of the Townsend Letter, I argued that, for many patients, an appropriate diagnosis and effective treatment plan can be developed solely from a careful history and physical exam, supported by a few basic lab tests....

Medical journalist report of innovative biologics: friends in the US Senate need our support to strengthen the influence of DSHEA within the FDA.
January 1, 2004... Readers encouraged to speak out in support of US Senate Bill S.1538.IS The year 1994 stands as a milestone on the rocky road for advancement of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the United States. Just nine years ago, the...

Non-prescription Healing aids.
January 1, 2004... Healing Without Medication by Robert S. Rister Basic Health Publications, 8200 Blvd E., N. Bergen, New Jersey 07047 USA Oversized quality paperback, notes, index, 2003, $24.95, 738 pp Healing Without Medication is a...

Refining the blood labs.
January 1, 2004... Blood Chemistry and CBC Analysis, Clinical Laboratory Testing from a Functional Perspective by Dicken Weatherby, ND and Scott Ferguson, ND Vis Medicatrix Press; Jacksonville, Oregon USA; 888-378-3224; www.Health-Alliances.com,...

The Genius of Royal Rife.
January 1, 2004... The Rise and Fall of a Scientific Genius (video) written & directed by Shawn Montgomery Zero Zero Two Productions, 3 Baldoon Rd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1B 1V6; www.zerozerotwo.org 74 minutes; available in North American...

Physical, emotional & spiritual health at midlife.
January 1, 2004... Yoga and the Wisdom of Menopause by Suza Francina Health Communications, Inc., 3201 SW 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442 USA; 800-851-9100; kimw@hcibooks.com Quality paperback, 2003, $12.95, 269pp. Today more...

Medical anthropology: anthropometrics testing and design of human-compatible technologies.
January 1, 2004... Anthropometrics is the study of quantitative measurement of human variation. Traditionally, it has been limited to studies of physical variation in terms of human body measurements such as weight, height, waist to hip ratio, and skin-fold...

Acupuncture and moxibustion: Akabane testing: a simple way of measuring the qi in acupuncture channels.
January 1, 2004... Keywords: Chinese medicine, acupuncture-moxibustion, Japanese acupuncture, Kobe Akabane, Akabane testing, jing well points Kobei Akabane was a Japanese acupuncturist practicing 50-plus years ago. He came up with a novel diagnostic method for...

Medicinal properties in whole foods; assessing individual susceptibility to increased herbicide exposure caused by the production of genetically engineered crops.
January 1, 2004... This month's article is the second part of a two-part discussion on GMO foods, focusing in particular on the role that genetically engineered (GE) herbicide-resistant crops play in disrupting detoxification mechanisms in humans and increasing...

Calendar.(Calendar)
January 1, 2004... CALL FOR ABSTRACTS for 1st INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON PARADOXICAL EFFECTS IN BIOPHYSICS & MEDICINE. Conference is December 12-17, 2004 @ Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, California. The Symposium will provide a platform for exchange...

Women's health update: Rhodiola rosea.
January 1, 2004... An Overview of its Versatility, Effectiveness and Indications Fatigue? Depression? Stress? Tension headaches and sleep disturbances? Poor memory? Amenorrhea? A little known herb, Rhodiola rosea, could be the perfect solution for these varied...

Nutritional influences on illness.
January 1, 2004... Laboratory Testing in Nutritional Medicine--Part 2 Selenium The definitive test for selenium deficiency remains the response to selenium supplementation. (1) Of the available tests, blood glutathione peroxidase is one that has been...

Web page potpourri: a column devoted to informative alternative health resources on the internet.
January 1, 2004... Chemical Body Burden--Part 2 Last month I covered key reports on pollution in the human body, which is sometimes called the "chemical body burden." This month I focus on activist resources and tools for policy reform. Just knowing about...