A History of Natural Alternative Medicine Part 1
By 1a2b | July 1, 2010
Since the 1930s there has been research involving natural
alternative medicine. Here are some notable examples of
physicians who came to note the power of natural medicine.
Dr’s. Wilfred and Evan Shute. In 1933 Dr’s. Wilfred and Evan
Shute were some of the first doctors to use large doses of
vitamin E to treat heart disease. At that time, antioxidants and
free radicals were rather obscure concepts in the chemistry of
oxidation, far removed from issues of health and disease. Also at
that time, using vitamins to treat serious diseases such as heart
disease and diabetes was considered by the medical establishment
as misguided at best and outright fraud at worst.
In 1985, Linus Pauling wrote: “The failure of the medical
establishment during the last forty years to recognize the value
of vitamin E in controlling heart disease is responsible for a
tremendous amount of unnecessary suffering and for many early
deaths. The interesting story of the efforts to suppress the
Shute discoveries about vitamin E illustrates the shocking bias
of organized medicine against nutritional measures for achieving
improved health.”
Dr. Szent-Györgyi. Dr. Györgyi became interested in a chemical
agent, present in plant juices, which had the effect of delaying
oxidation, such as the browning of a sliced apple exposed to the
air. He suggested that this agent, which was also present in
cabbages and oranges, was the mysterious Vitamin. By 1933, he had
isolated the substance in kilogram lots and named it “ascorbic
acid” which means “the acid which prevents scurvy.” In 1937, he
won the 1937 Nobel Prize for his discovery of vitamin C. He was
the first to predict the use of Vitamin C for cancer.
Irwin Stone, PhD Irwin Stone became interested in the anti-oxidant
properties of ascorbic acid, then newly discovered, as a means of
protecting food against deterioration. He continued his study of
vitamin C for the next 50 years, and in the 1950s he established
that humans would benefit from ingesting much larger amounts of
ascorbates than the medical and nutritional establishments
considered adequate.
Dr. Fredrick Klenner. “In the early 1950s, Dr. Fredrick Klenner
began his work with mega doses of vitamin C. He used doses up to
100 grams per day orally or intravenously. In clinical reports he
recorded the excellent response he saw when it was given in large
doses. For example, polio patients given vitamin C suffered no
residual defects from their polio. A controlled study in England
on 70 children, half given vitamin C and half given placebo,
confirmed that none of the ascorbate treated cases developed any
paralysis while up to 20 percent of the untreated group did. This
study was not published because the Salk Vaccine had just been
developed and no one was interested in vitamins. Dr. Klenner’s
work was ignored.”
Dr. Klenner was the first physician to emphasize that small
amounts of ascorbate do not work. He said, “If you want results,
use adequate ascorbic acid.” As a result of seeing consistent
cures of a great variety of viral and bacterial diseases with
huge doses of vitamin C, he published over twenty medical reports.
Orthodox medicine’s rejection of his lifesaving work stands as a
reminder to all medical mavericks practicing today. “Some
physicians,” Klenner wrote, “would stand by and see their patient
die rather than use ascorbic acid because, in their finite minds,
it exists only as a vitamin.”
Dr. William J. McCormick. Over 50 years ago, it was Toronto
physician William J. McCormick, M.D., who pioneered the idea that
poor collagen formation, due to vitamin C deficiency, was a
principal cause of diverse conditions ranging from stretch marks
to cardiovascular disease and cancer. This theory would become
the foundation for Linus Pauling and Ewan Cameron’s decision to
employ large doses of vitamin C to fight cancer.
Topics: General | 4 Comments »
The Power of Natural Alternative Medicine Part 2
By 1a2b | June 30, 2010
Allopathic physicians and pharmaceutical drugs are, and always
will be, necessary for acute, emergency medical care and trauma,
as well as for conditions that cannot be controlled with
lifestyle changes, good nutrition and supplements. But many
conditions can be prevented and controlled with lifestyle changes
and biologically based medicine. Just as many pharmaceutical
drugs can interact with other drugs, some biologically based
supplements may interact with drugs and cause side effects, so a
healthcare provider should always be consulted before adding
supplements to the diet. In some cases, alternative therapy may
actually have beneficial synergistic effects in conjunction with
existing medical therapy, even when not feasible as a replacement.
Biologically based medicine is not new. It was practiced for
thousands of years before pharmaceutical companies began
manufacturing the first synthetic drugs. In addition, many of the
pharmaceutical preparations used around the world are based on
plants. As late as the 1930’s, the formulation of about 80% of
synthetic pharmaceutical drugs began with a natural compound.
Today, about 25% of prescription drugs contain active ingredients
derived from plants.
The United States has the most advanced medical system in the
world, yet the population is increasingly turning to natural
healing methods. However, the U.S. still lags behind world stats.
A survey of 31,000 U.S. adults conducted by the National Center
for Health Statistics in 2004 showed that 35 percent use some
form of complementary and alternative medicine. Today, the World
Health Organization estimates that herbal medicine is still the
primary source of health care for approximately 80 percent of the
world’s population.
Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are
the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.
These diseases and other chronic diseases such as obesity,
depression, metabolic and digestive disorders, rheumatoid
arthritis, osteoporosis, and fibroids, account for 7 of every 10
deaths and affect the quality of life of 90 million Americans.
Chronic diseases are among the most prevalent and most costly,
yet they are the most preventable.
Conventional physicians treat chronic diseases with expensive
pharmaceuticals that may temporarily relieve the painful or
uncomfortable symptoms, but the drugs do nothing to resolve the
underlying cause, and may actually cause other side effects and
serious problems. Because nutrition affects our immune system,
organ function, hormonal balance and cellular metabolism, many of
these chronic conditions and diseases can be traced to a
nutrition deficiency. When the deficiency is not corrected,
symptoms begin to appear and eventually lead to disease and
premature aging.
Many pharmaceuticals can effectively be replaced with multi
vitamin supplements, botanicals, amino acids, prebiotics and
probiotics, fresh foods and functional foods for both prevention
and treatment. Because herbs work synergistically, combinations
of herbs with similar properties enhance the properties of each.
This is why choosing a product containing a combination of
different herbs is usually more effective than choosing
individual selections. An example of this is the combination of
valerian, passion flower and hops to promote relaxation and
restful sleep. All three have a relaxing effect on the body.
Valerian relaxes muscle tension, while hops relaxes the nervous
system, and passiflora acts as a sedative. Popular alternative
medicine company Melaleuca even offers a product called RestEZ
that offers a supplement that contains all three natural sleep
enhancers: valerian, passion flower and hops.
Topics: General | No Comments »
The Power of Natural Alternative Medicine Part 1
By 1a2b | June 29, 2010
The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest
his patients in the care of the human body, in diet and in the
cause and prevention of disease.”…Thomas Edison, 1902.
We have many different options for health care today, but the
focus will be on biologically based treatments and prevention.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
(NCCAM) defines the scope of biologically based practices to
include, but is not limited to, botanicals, animal-derived
extracts, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, proteins,
prebiotics and probiotics, whole diets, and functional foods.
But first, let’s take a look at the different philosophies of
healthcare practiced today. Allopathic, alternative,
complementary, integrative-what does it all mean? Each includes
many different kinds of therapies, and although alternative,
complementary and integrative are sometimes used
interchangeably, the general focus of each is different.
Allopathic medicine focuses on disease and the treatment of the
physical body with drugs and surgery. These are conventional
physicians with the title of M.D. that are universally
recognized as having a medical degree.
Alternative medicine includes those therapies not generally
recommended by allopathic physicians. It includes Energy Medicine,
Ethnomedicine, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Homeopathic Medicine,
Botanical or Herbal Medicine, Bio molecular Medicine, Manual
Medicine, Spiritual Medicine.
Complementary medicine includes therapies used by both
alternative and allopathic physicians. It includes Exercise
Medicine, Environmental Medicine, Social Medicine, Nutritional
Medicine.
Integrative medicine is the attempt to integrate the many
philosophies of medicine, allopathic, complementary, and
alternative, to treat the whole person, physical, emotional,
spiritual, and intellectual.
Many people are hesitant about trusting their healthcare to
anyone other than an allopathic physician. But did you know that
Naturopathic Medical Doctors are the only physicians who receive
complete training in conventional medicine as well as natural
medicine? Licensed Naturopathic medical doctors (N.M.D./N.D.)
attend a four-year graduate level Naturopathic medical school
where they are educated in all of the same basic sciences as a
conventional M.D. In addition to this training, they are
extensively educated in the philosophy and implementation of
safe and effective natural therapeutics with a strong emphasis
on disease prevention. Unfortunately, some states do not yet
offer licensing for Naturopathic Doctors.
Topics: General | 1 Comment »
Send Jim a card on my nickel
By 1a2b | May 19, 2010
On my last post I wrote about Jim’s struggles past, and current. I would like to let him know that there are others that care.
I would like anyone who is proud of the freedom that we have in this country to send Jim a card to let him know he has friends. Let him know you appreciate the sacrifices he made, Let him know what you did today, just say hi, whatever.
If you could spend a few minutes writing a card online I’ll pay for the card and postage. You can also send another card to anyone else you like.my treat. Just follow the instructions below.
Yes this is part of a network marketing program I am signed up with, but to help Jim out, I set it up so you are not required to put in your email and phone number. I won’t contact you back if you don’t want me to. Just have some fun and let an old man know he is appreciated.
Here is how to send Jim a card. Just go to https://www.sendoutcards.com/1a2b and click on the banner at the top that says Click to Send a Free Card then follow the directions that walk you through sending a card.
Here is Jim’s address. Use this when sending him a card.
Jim Kroptavich c/o
Trinity Mission Health & Rehab
46 North Midland Boulevard,
Nampa, ID 83651-2145
The internet is a great way to bring new and old friends together. Thanks for your help.
Topics: General | 1 Comment »
WWII Vet Former POW is He a Prisoner Again?
By 1a2b | May 17, 2010
I don’t write a lot about personal issues but this is about a man who fought for our freedom and in the end is losing his.
the 159th Platoon U.S.M.C San Diego 1941
James S. Kroptavich spent 44 months in a Japanese prison camp after his unit the 159th Platoon U.S.M.C San Diego, was captured on Wake Island. December 23,1941. He now thinks He is the last one alive from his unit. At 91 he may be right.
The Battle of Wake Island began simultaneously with the Attack on Pearl Harbor and ended on December 23, 1941, with the surrender of the American forces to the Empire of Japan.
It has been almost 65 years since he was released from the prison camp named Tok-04B-Naoetsu. Since then married raised 3 children and lived a rather unassuming life. The kind of life most of us hope to have.
JamesSKroptavich1941
In February the last of his children passed away. His son a Vietnam vet himself was helping to take care of his father. The state services came in and took control of him and his wife Millie so they wouldn’t harm themselves. They took control of both their finances and care without even contacting the rest of the family The representative sealed up his home took him out and put him into a nursing home at his expense of course.
The State has him diagnosed with dementia but I haven’t seen it in him but maybe its because I’m not a doctor. Wait… I am a doctor. But I’m not his doctor. He was confused right after the death of his son but the state came in before he could even grieve the loss of his son.
My life partner is James’ niece and never heard about the court proceedings until a day after a court appointed a representative to handle his financial and living care. His niece was initially granted only supervised visits. Then was allowed to visit on her own but still can’t take them out to dinner or take them to the store to buy proper fitting clothing.
Now that the state is taking care of his health and welfare, little things like his reading glasses from his (sealed) home were a struggle to get.
Memorial Day is coming up soon. When we honor those solders who have fallen in the service of their country. I feel that men like Jim Kroptavich are national treasures in themselves. Men who sacrificed all out for our freedom. A freedom he enjoyed himself until last Feburary.
If you are proud of the freedom you have in this country send Jim a card and just say Hi. Let him know he has friends. He has his glasses now.
Jim Kroptavich c/o
Trinity Mission Health & Rehab
46 North Midland Boulevard,
Nampa, ID 83651-2145
Leave your comments below.
Topics: General | 3 Comments »
End Anxiety
By 1a2b | May 1, 2010
The positive behavior will occur if you practice relaxation
techniques. The stress and anxiety free lifestyle you adapt will
be a normal part of your life if you eat correctly and hold tight
to the conviction that less is most times more. Other wise
anxiety can affect us in an unhealthful manner quite rapidly.
Anxiety is not a hidden agenda in our lives. It is powerful,
available and gratefully controllable. As a wise man once said we should not ask why we are anxious we should ask why not? With every aspect of modern life being fast paced and overloaded we have to make a concerted effort to slow down. We also have to be careful not to cause anxious behavior to overflow and spill into the lives of the people with which we are in contact.
Coworkers, spouses, and our children can all be affected by the power our anxiety has on us. Sometimes others can see it long before we even notice it is crowding in on us. Sometimes we can inadvertently create anxiety in others merely by our choice of words or actions. If the cycle of anxiety is going to end it has to be recognized, addressed, and extracted from every aspect of our lives.
Coworkers or employees can experience inadequate work performances simply by working in a stress filled workplace.
Slowing the pace and considering how people work better in a
stress-free environment is a major step in the right direction.
It is not a difficult step and has so many great benefits for
everyone involved.
Spouses may only realize there is something wrong yet not fully
recognized that stress and anxiety are occurring and causing
ripples in the marriage. It is very likely that if one marriage
partner is anxious due to money problems, working too much, or
parenting issues the other partner is also anxious. This vicious
cycle can wreak havoc on a typically loving home and the people
who dwell within.
Children live what they learn. They may truly believe they are
creating the anxious behavior in mom or dad because of something
they did. Young children will internalize and reflect their
concerns in guilt. Older children will more likely rebel and act
out in school to attempt dealing with the emotional overload of
dealing with parents who are not relaxed.
The good news is anxiety is effectively treated in various ways.
You can choose to treat anxiety medically, holistically, or
personally and gain immediate results. The key to successful
treatment of anxiety is to recognize it for what it truly is.
There are numerous self-help books, web pages, and meetings
available to all ages.
If you find yourself becoming anxious, search out what you do
atother times to relax and try to focus on that. Maybe listening
to music, thinking up some affirmations, remembering some
enjoyable times, breathing long and slow can be a help also.
Topics: fullfilment | No Comments »
Lose 10 Pounds With Fun Fiber Foods
By 1a2b | October 1, 2009
Lose 10 pounds by eating fun fiber foods that taste good and improve your over all health. There are so many ways to get the fiber your body needs without sacrificing flavor. Most people think adding fiber to their diet means eating dry bran muffins but there are many simple foods with fiber in them. By having a bowl of steel-cut oats oatmeal in the morning gives you 3.9 grams of fiber per 3/4 cup. Add half a cup of blueberries and you have an additional 2 grams of fiber plus a high dose of antioxidants.
The recommended amount of daily fiber is 20-35 grams. This sounds like a lot of rabbit food to eat but it all adds up quickly. Dietary fiber is either soluble or insoluble. This means that if it’s soluble, it will become gel-like in your intestines, which is a good thing. It removes cholesterol and keeps it and saturated fats from getting absorbed into your bloodstream. Insoluble fiber fills you up quickly, keeps hunger at bay longer, regulates blood sugar more evenly and keeps you “regular”, especially if you add more water to your eating habits. Not only does added fiber help the weight come off more quickly but it can add years to your life by protecting you from colon cancer and other intestinal diseases. Fiber also helps the heart by clearing out bad cholesterol which lowers your risk of heart attacks, strokes and high blood pressure.
Lose those 10 pounds by adding these fun fiber foods to your salads: blueberries, dried cherries, pine nuts, artichoke hearts, dried figs, dry roasted mixed nuts or pumpkin seeds. These all have over 3.9 grams (up to 7.4 grams) of fiber per serving. One serving of dried figs is 3. Three dried figs have 5.2 grams of fiber so by munching on 9 of them, say as a snack or in a bulgar salad, you just ate 15.6 grams. That was easy! Two cups of fresh blackberries for dessert put 14.4 grams of fiber into you. You see, those fiber grams add up quickly and they taste good. Make a spinach salad for lunch or dinner and in just one cup of plain baby spinach you have 7 grams of fiber. Add some carrots, radishes, artichoke hearts and celery and you have almost a full day’s recommended amount of fiber.
Lose 10 pounds with fun fiber foods and watch how much better you feel. The more whole grains, fruits, legumes, vegetables and nuts you eat the faster those pounds will fall off of you. Your heart will get stronger, you’ll be more “regular”, your intestines will be protected from diseases and you’ll be doing all this while having a happy mouth.
Topics: diet | No Comments »
Lose 10 pounds in a week with belly dancing
By 1a2b | August 11, 2009
Can you lose 10 pounds in just 7 days? Yes you can AND have a blast doing it. Belly dancing is aerobic exercise at its most fun. You can shimmy, shake and spin your way to a sleeker, more fit you. Belly dancing teaches you to be more aware of how your body moves; it connects you to all your moving parts. As you train yourself with hip lifts, foot work and flowing arm actions, you gain a sense of empowerment. The more you practice the deeper you connect to your inner strengths without even trying.
There is another personal benefit of losing 10 pounds in 1 week with belly dancing that’s amazing; you begin to feel sexier and more attractive. You’ll notice you walk differently, sit differently and your self-confidence will be stronger. All this leads to wanting to eat more sensibly, exercising a little more and keeping the new shape you see forming.
A good source for learning to belly dance is the DVD if you can’t get into a class. You can rent the DVDs from your video store or use your local library to get started. There are some great instructional videos out there so try different ones until you find a instructor you like. Renting or borrowing videos also lets you preview teaching methods before you buy and that will save you hard-earned cash.
You want to lose 10 pounds in one week and not have it feel like “one more thing to do” so get up and DANCE. Feel sexier, more sleek, happier and more confident with a body that knows how to wiggle, squiggle and strut. Feel more connected to your body than you have in years while you watch that weight drop.
Topics: diet | No Comments »
Lose 10 Pounds and Still Eat Fast Food
By 1a2b | August 8, 2009
Yes, you can lose 10 pounds and still eat fast food. The biggest reason diets fail is the sense of being denied food you enjoy. The first temptation trying to ruin your efforts at dropping the pounds is usually fast food.
There are so many times when the hectic schedule of the day has us too tired to think about cooking. Somebody seems to always want a burger or burrito on those days. The golden crunchiness of hot french fries calls your name and after days or weeks of resisting, you give in. How do you not throw your hands up in the air and call it quits? Moderation is the key. If you want a combo meal, get the kids’ meal and a salad for example. Pick up or download a copy of your favorite fast food chains’ and grocery stores’ deli calorie counter sheets to help make more informed choices on your visits. Several fast food chains and grocers’ delis offer special low-carb and low-cal items now, making it even easier to munch on a taco or bunless burger.
To lose 10 pounds and still eat fast foods, one important change you may consider is how you eat your food. When you eat your food slowly enough so a feeling of reward settles on you, you’re less likely to crave “sinful” foods as often. If ice cream treats or a Rueben panini are haunting you, split one with someone you really like and you’ll both feel rewarded. As you share your treat, talk about what you’re enjoying in its texture and flavor while you savor your bites. Be aware of what you’re eating, how it makes you feel to eat it and then pat yourself on the back for neither over indulging nor denying yourself a little treat.
If losing 10 pounds and keeping it off is your goal, remember you can eat fast foods, you just have to be a bit more creative in your ordering. There’s no sense in setting yourself up for failure by smelling comfort foods with the feeling you’ll never eat any of them again. There are lots of things on the menu besides just salads to pick from now. Arm yourself with a calorie counting information sheet, pick wisely and no beating yourself up if you slip at first. Successful weight loss comes down to making gradual changes to your lifestyle without feeling punished or deprived. As the weight comes off and you see you aren’t depriving yourself, the sinful foods will call to you less often. The deli items will shift themselves toward healthier choices as well while you feed the whole family with a sense of better nutritional values.
Topics: diet | 1 Comment »
Lose 10 Pounds Faster With Water
By 1a2b | August 6, 2009
Lose 10 pounds faster when you consume more water. Water is a highly underrated dieting tool. Not only does water increase your metabolism’s burning ability, it keeps everything flowing smoothly through your body. It helps keep joints lubricated for more effective exercising, moves fiber out of your body while adding bulk to it so you feel more full for longer and water boosts the bioavailability of plant nutrients. The average person needs 64 ounces, minimum, throughout the day, to fight off hunger pangs, allow the proper absorption of nutrients into the body’s tissues and keep your energy up all day. Water shouldn’t be drunk quickly for its best effects, it should be drunk in 6 ounce increments every hour, except after exercising.
To drop those 10 pounds more quickly and efficiently, water absorption is best when the water is drunk at room temperature but ice water burns more calories. By alternating one icy water bottle and one room temperature water bottle you get the best of both worlds. Your body burns more calories heating the ice water up while the tepid water keeps your body from unnecessarily retaining tissue fluid, keeping the pounds melting off. If you dehydrate yourself, even just a little, your body will start storing in your tissues out of self-defense. This can add an extra 5 pounds, or more, to the weight you want to lose. Drinking the right type and temperature of water will also help keep hunger at bay. Purified water is the easiest type of water for your body to process.
To lose 10 pounds faster, drinking more water will boost your metabolism. The more water you drink, the lower your fat deposits will be because your liver doesn’t have to work so hard at metabolizing fat. The liver is your main fat burning organ and cholesterol producer. This is why keeping hydrated during exercising is especially important. After you’ve been sweating and getting your blood racing, your body needs to flush out the sludge you stirred up. You should drink 16-24 ounces after. Water helps significantly with the cleaning process; it provides an easy exit for flushing these toxins out of your system while increasing your liver’s abilities without straining it. The more hydrated your liver is the easier it can process and sort out the nutrients it needs from the things that need to be eliminated.
Dropping 10 pounds is easiest when you increase your water intake. Water fights hunger pangs, keeps your tissues from retaining unhealthy water weight and is the major component in detoxification. Your energy will increase, your liver function will increase and your waist will decrease just by adding more water to your day. So fill up your water jug, sip it all day and see some great results.
Topics: diet | No Comments »