Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients articles from July 2003

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients archives from July 2003

Eulogy.(for David Horrobin)(Obituary)(Biography)
July 1, 2003... In April 2003 the scientific community lost one of our greatest treasures, Dr. David Horrobin. Born in England on October 6,1939 he was a scholar of Oxford where he obtained a First Class Honours medical degree. To this he added a clinical...

Visit www.nordicnaturals.com.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About EFAs But Were Afraid To Ask Nordic Naturals, Inc. announced the relaunch of its website at www.nordicnaturals.com. The premier website about essential fatty acids (EFAs) is organized by user...

Standard Process opens Learning Center.(Standard Process Vita Kids Learning Center)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... On April 30, the Standard Process Vita Kids Learning Center had its grand opening celebration. The center, which is primarily subsidized by Standard Process, offers Standard Process employees a cost effective way to provide quality care for...

Low quality ingredient appears widespread among Ginkgo supplements according to consumerlab.com; points to challenge for FDA's proposed regulations.
July 1, 2003... In contrast to its findings three years ago, ConsumerLab.com announced in April that only 22% of the Ginkgo biloba supplements it recently tested met its quality standards. In late 1999, 75% of the products it tested met these standards....

UCLA researchers find Garlic has ability to reduce heart disease risk factors.
July 1, 2003... Investigators find more evidence that aged garlic extract may significantly benefit millions of Americans being treated for heart disease or those at high risk for heart attacks. If you, or someone you know, are taking statin drugs to...

Nutrition experts renew focus on the health risks of trans fatty acids.
July 1, 2003... New findings by America's Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences claim that there is no known safe intake amount of artery-clogging transfatty acids in the diet. This news may soon result in the Food & Drug Administration...

News and views hot off the wire.(Robert C. Atkins dies)(Obituary)(Biography)
July 1, 2003... The headline was a shocker: Robert C. Atkins, famed diet doctor, dead at 72. The untimely passing of yet one more medical pioneer saddened the 30 million or more who have bought his books, especially those who benefited from his controversial...

Cargill Dow's Natureworks. (Shorts).
July 1, 2003... In 2001, Cargill Dow, a bio-technology company formed by Cargill Inc. and Dow Chemical, announced its development of a new raw material made from corn called polylactic acid (PLA). PLA, also called Natureworks, is a plastic-like material that...

Creatine for muscle building. (Shorts).
July 1, 2003... Supplemental creatine increases muscle mass and body weight, especially when taken in conjunction with exercise. The body, itself, makes creatine from the amino acids arginine, glycine, and methionine and uses it, in the form of creatine...

Cultural values & CFIDS. (Shorts).(Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chrisitianity, & Culture)(Book Review)
July 1, 2003... Cultural values affect the well-being of people with disabling illness, says anthropologist James M. Rotholz, PhD in his book Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chrisitianity, & Culture (Haworth Medical Press: New York; ISBN 0-7890-1493-9). Dr. Rotholz,...

Drug costs. (Shorts).
July 1, 2003... The rising expense of prescription drugs is causing insurers and employers who pay for health benefits to pass costs on to consumers, especially if a drug's "advantages over cheaper alternatives are not clear and convincing," says an article in...

Exercise start-up. (Shorts).
July 1, 2003... According to the American Heart Association, only 10% of the US population exercise regularly; yet, 54% are overweight. How to encourage exercise in a society with sedentary jobs, automobiles, and entertainment that involves watching a computer...

Natural environments. (Shorts).
July 1, 2003... Natural environments are known to encourage reflection, rejuvenation, and feelings of transcendence and interconnectedness. Studies have shown that interaction with nature also benefits well-being on the physical, psychological emotional, and...

Trauma units & alcohol/drug testing. (Shorts).
July 1, 2003... Dr. Larry Gentilello, who heads the trauma and surgical critical care unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital (Boston, MA), says that testing and counseling trauma patients whose conditions resulted from alcohol or drug use could prevent future...

Hospital costs for the uninsured. (Shorts).
July 1, 2003... Ironically, the people who are least able to pay high cost medical expenses -- the uninsured -- are charged extra by hospitals and doctors. The practice was publicized in a New York Times article about a young woman without health insurance,...

Xylitol. (Shorts).
July 1, 2003... Fran Gare, ND, has written a book called The Sweet Miracle of Xylitol (Basic Health Publications, Inc., ISBN 1-59120-038-5). Dr. Gare came upon xylitol when she was seeking sugar substitutes for her clients. She was director of nutrition at The...

The war on cancer.
July 1, 2003... Scientists Identify Stem Cells As Hidden Cause of Cancer In early April, 2003, University of Michigan (U-M) scientists revealed that a malignant form of stem cells may be responsible for the development of breast cancer. According to a U-M...

Atrazine's assault on health and the environment. (Health Risks and Environmental Issues).
July 1, 2003... Atrazine, introduced in 1958, is the most widely used pesticide in the United States. Between 70 and 90 million pounds of the active ingredient are used annually to combat weeds in agriculture, commercial, and domestic areas. It is used on...

The integrated Chinese-Western medical treatment of intracranial hematomas due to traumatic injury. (Chinese Medicine Update).
July 1, 2003... Keywords: Integrated Chinese-Western medicine, intracranial hematoma, traumatic injury, epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma Trauma is the most common cause of death in young people, and head injury accounts for almost half of these...

Hypothyroidism, temperature regulation, and ethnoscience. (Medical Anthropology).
July 1, 2003... As spring opens up the Northern hemisphere to a variety of outdoor activities, many people flock to nature. However unlike our ancestors, who developed rapid physiological adaptations to outdoor activity and temperature changes through...

Consuming whole foods in their raw, uncooked state: a personal interview with raw food nutrition expert, David Wolfe. (Medicinal Properties in Whole Foods).(Interview)
July 1, 2003... A short time ago, I had the opportunity to listen to a knowledgeable and charismatic expert in raw, whole food nutrition, David Wolfe. David has written several popular, informative and inspirational books about nutrition including Eating For...

Probiotics and enzyme therapy for sports.
July 1, 2003... Because I do so much work with enzymes and probiotics (my latest book, The Probiotic Solution (1) should be for sale now if you're interested) I got to thinking about how they may apply to sports and sports medicine, from a natural product...

Neuroendocrine effects of over-training syndrome in endurance athletes. (Phytotherapy Review & Commentary).
July 1, 2003... Summary After a discussion of the current research on overtraining syndrome and the involvement of the neuroendocrine and immune systems in the development of this disorder, it will be proposed that overtraining syndrome is primarily an...

Think homeopathy for sports injuries. (Healing with Homeopathy).
July 1, 2003... [Some material from this article is excerpted from our book, Homeopathic Self-Care: The Quick and Easy Guide for the Whale Family, Prima Publishing, 1997] Try It and You Will Be Convinced Arnica montana has undoubtedly won more...

Does glutathione enhance exercise performance? A case study.
July 1, 2003... Glutathione Determinants Endogenous glutathione, a tripeptide often referred to as "Reduced Glutathione," is composed of three amino acids: L-Cysteine, Glycine, and L-Glutamic Acid. Smaller peptides of 2 or 3 amino acids are absorbed...

Trigger point acupuncture and sports injuries-exciting new developments!
July 1, 2003... Abstract In recent years, many physicians, particularly in Britain, have added to the understanding of acupuncture. Instead of mystical, vague and energetic theories, they have focused on pragmatic, results-oriented techniques. This has...

Chronic fatigue, aging, mitochondrial function and nutritional supplements.
July 1, 2003... Abstract Intractable fatigue is the most common complaint of patients seeking medical care, and in most patients it is a chronic condition that is not reversed by sleep or rest. Although fatigue is a complex phenomenon, it has been defined...

Biometric analysis of controlled clinical study for sleep formulation on multiple parameters of aging-related dysfunctions.
July 1, 2003... Abstract In this paper, the authors establish the construct and timing of sleep, and explore the common reasons why adult men and women fail to achieve restful, restorative sleep. From this, the authors submit that natural sleep promoting...

Current recommended safe levels of vitamin A intake do not cause increased fracture rate.
July 1, 2003... Abstract Although recent reports suggest a potential link between excess vitamin A levels and risk of fracture, detailed analysis of the data shows that fracture rates increase only among individuals consuming more than the current...

Sugar, sweet suicide--part I.
July 1, 2003... With only 16 calories per teaspoon, what's the harm in a little sugar? Problem is, we can't get enough of the stuff. In a world where soft drinks and processed foods have become dietary staples in lieu of fresh fruit and vegetables, fiber-rich...

SARS: plans to minimize the risk of viral respiratory infections--"it's all a matter of susceptibility".
July 1, 2003... Fortifying your body and preparing its natural immune defenses is absolutely essential, more than ever before. In addition to known lethal viruses such as the common flu, Hepatitis B and C, and HIV, the SARS virus represents the latest...

The doctor as patient. (Letters to the Editor).
July 1, 2003... Editor: I have often been in the position of discussing the needs of the patient, and how sometimes doctors are unaware of the fears, questions, and general uneasiness engendered by the complex and intimidating nature of medical treatment....

Cancer--back to basics. (Letters to the Editor).
July 1, 2003... Cancer: A wake-up call urging us to make fundamental changes in how we nourish our body. Editor: Cancer, unfortunately, affects Americans across the board in ever-greater numbers. Some segments of the American population are harder...

The origin of the Atkins diet. (Letters to the Editor).
July 1, 2003... Editor: I was saddened to learn of the untimely accidental death of my colleague, Dr. Robert Atkins. Your readers may be interested in the stimulus for the "Atkins diet" as personally related to me by Bob when my wife and I dined with him....

Further strategies in treating advanced cancer. (Letters to the Editor).
July 1, 2003... Editor: Readers of the Townsend Letter may have an interest in what got me involved in medicine. When I was age 15 in 1926, my mother at age 40 was suffering from pernicious anemia. She was bedfast and white as a sheet and not expected...

Chelation article critiqued. (Letters to the Editor).
July 1, 2003... Editor: In the Winter 2003 Journal of Biomedical Therapy, a publication dedicated to better understanding and use of homotoxicological remedies, promoted by the Heel Company, Dr. Bruce Shelton offered a brief article which irritates me as...

West Nile Virus heads west. (Letters to the Editor).
July 1, 2003... Editor: West Nile Virus (WNV) carried by infected mosquitoes and first reported in the New York metropolitan area, summer of 1999, is expected to reach Northwest communities this summer. When transmitted to humans the virus is usually mild...

Bowen therapy: an innovative modality that completes our holistic practice. (Letters to the Editor).
July 1, 2003... Editor: Bodywork has traditionally been a cornerstone of any complete holistic practice in naturopathy, offering patients assistance with relaxation, immediate improvements in injury-induced pain and diminished mobility, and sometimes even...

The mineral that could have saved 4 million women. (Letters to the Editor).
July 1, 2003... Editor: Modern medicine has made a remarkable admission. Its failure to utilize a simple, inexpensive intravenous mineral drip might have saved the lives of millions of women over the past century. Modern medicine knew about the cure since...

American heart association diet bad for heart. (Letters to the Editor).
July 1, 2003... Editor: For many years I have been avoiding fluoridated and chlorinated water. I drink bottled spring water and the harder the better. I have some remarks abut the article by Joseph Hattersley on "The Negative Health Effects of...

Von Recklinghausen disease. (Letters to the Editor).
July 1, 2003... Editor: Recently my 12 month old grandson was diagnosed with "NF1" or neurofibromatosis often called von Recklinghausen disease, or the "Elephant Man" condition. He is showing mild symptoms of being brain affected: has not crawled, when...

Prescription-drug toxicity: a major epidemic. (Editorials).
July 1, 2003... It has been known since the 1960s that adverse reactions to medications are extremely common. Studies published periodically in the Journal of the American Medical Association, New England Journal of Medicine, Archives of Internal Medicine, and...

Federal Trade Commission policing alternative medicine approaches to SARS. (Editorial).
July 1, 2003... The SARS epidemic remains a daily news item as Chinese public health officials attempt to control new cases of thc mysterious infection. International cooperation has largely controlled the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) primarily by...

Why America may be overconfident about SARS and its worsening global trend. (Guest Editorial).(Editorial)
July 1, 2003... This is the most important article I have written on Sudden Acute respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Please read it through and take it seriously. I see two extremes here. Some are overreacting to the point that they seldom go outdoors. On the other...

Arthritis and its Homeopathic treatment. (Book Corners).
July 1, 2003... This article is excerpted from Homeopathic Family Medicine, an eBook by Dana Ullman, MPH, available at http://www.homeopathic.com (see this website for 7 other free sample chapters, to purchase this eBook, or to purchase a two-year subscription...

Keeping up with nutritional research. (Book Corners).(Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease: The Only System Scientifically Proven to Reverse Heart Disease Without Drugs)(Book Review)
July 1, 2003... www.PowerHealth.net Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease: The Only System Scientifically Proven to Reverse Heart Disease Without Drugs Ivy Books, 2002 (reprint). ISBN: 0804110387. Dr. Ornish's book claims to...

The importance of hormones. (Book Corners).(The Miracle of Natural Hormones)(Book Review)
July 1, 2003... The Miracle of Natural Hormones, 3rd edition By David Brownstein, MD Published by Medical Alternatives Press, 4173 Fieldbrook, West Bloomfield, Michigan 48323 USA Paperback, ISBN 0-9660882-0-4;232 pp. $15.00; 888-647-5616 The...

Science-based botanical reference. (Book Corners).(Botanical Medicines: The Desk Reference for Major Herbal Supplements)(Book Review)
July 1, 2003... Botanical Medicines: The Desk Reference for Major Herbal Supplements (2nd edition) by Dennis J. McKenna, PhD; Kenneth Jones; Kerry Hughes, MSc, with Sheila Humphrey, IBCLC Haworth Herbal Press. 10 Alice St., Binghamton, New York...

An overlooked health problem. (Book Corners).(Dangerous Grains, Why Gluten Cereal Grains May Be Hazardous to Your Health)(Book Review)
July 1, 2003... Dangerous Grains, Why Gluten Cereal Grains May Be Hazardous to Your Health by James Braly, MD and Ron Hoggan, foreword by Jonathan Wright, MD 2002, Avery, available from Price Pottenger Nutrition Foundation, 800-366-3748 Quality...

The healthcare field of fear. (Book Corners).(Healing Without Fear: How to Overcome your Fear of Doctors, Hospitals, and the Health Care System and find your Way to True Healing)(Book Review)
July 1, 2003... Healing Without Fear: How to overcome your fear of Doctors, Hospitals, and the Health Care System and find your Way to True Healing by Laurel Ann Reinhardt, PhD; Foreword by James Jealous, DO Healing Arts Press, One Park Street,...

Treating hormonal deficiencies in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome--Part 1: the importance of treating hormonal deficiencies despite normal blood tests. (Highly Effective Treatments for Pain and Fatigue).
July 1, 2003... In the last five issues we talked about hypothalamic dysfunction in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia (CFS/Fibromyalgia). The hypothalamus acts as a circuit breaker in the face of severe stress (both physical and/or situational), which...

Piriformis syndrome & acupuncture. (Acupuncture and Moxibustion).
July 1, 2003... Keywords: Chinese medicine, acupuncture, piriformis syndrome The piriformis muscle lies deep to the gluteal muscles. It originates from the sacral spine and attaches to the greater trochanter of the femur. Its function is to externally...

Marketing tips what is positioning for success?
July 1, 2003... You may have heard of the term "positioning." It sounds and is, strategic. But positioning is a necessary part of building your business so that you are recognizable and dramatically different from your competition. Here's another term:...

Web page potpourri: a column devoted to informative alternative health resources on the internet.
July 1, 2003... Biomedicine and Health in the News http://library.uchc.edu/bhn/ Health and Medicine in the News http://www.biomed.lib.umn.edu/hmed/index.html Newspapers and magazines generally report scientific findings without providing an...

Calendar.
July 1, 2003... CALL FOR ABSTRACTS for the 1st International Conference on Psychophysiology of Panic Attacks (September 5-8 in London, UK) addressing one or more of the conference themes: individual differences in panic attack symptomology; co-morbidity of...

Sports supplementation for women. (Women's Health Update).
July 1, 2003... Women have long been aware of the benefits of exercise in reducing the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and breast cancer, not to mention weight management. Ever since title IX in the early 1970s, females have been participating...

Accelerating the healing of injuries with nutrients. (Nutritional Influences on Illness).
July 1, 2003... 4751 Viviana Drive Tarzana, California 91356 USA Phone 818-996-0076 Fax 818-774-1575 Recovery from injuries due to outdoor activities can often be hastened with the aid of nutritional supplements. Take vitamin C and the...

Correction notices.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2003... Editor: thank you for publishing your review of Dr. Rogers' book Detoxify or Die. The correct toll free number is 800-846-6687. roberth@prestigepublishing.com Editor: Thank you for publishing my article "Autoimmune Disease and...

Literature review & commentary.
July 1, 2003... Ginkgo biloba extract prevents altitude sickness Forty-four individuals undertaking a Himalayan expedition to an elevation of 17,550 feet were randomly assigned to receive 80 mg of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 twice a day or a placebo. As...