Pumpkin Seed Medicine

The fall is my favorite season.  The cooler weather and changes in the color of the landscape feels good.  It is also the season of the pumpkin, one of my favorite pies.  The winter squash known as pumpkin was part of the Native Americans diet shared with the Pilgrims.  Although most discard the pumpkin seed,  it is a useful nutritious food.  (Roasting Pumpkin Seeds)   It is odd that many prefer seedless grapes and then buy grape seed extract.

What you may not know is that the pumpkin seed is also a valued medicine that is rich in nutrients and medicinal properties, includes Vitamin A, C, and E.  It is also rich in minerals including zinc, manganese, potassium and phosphorous. 

Cucurbita pepo seeds (pumpkin seeds) is mentioned in many of the old Materia Medica (materials of medicine) references.  One primary use is in the treatment of parasites, including round and tape worms.  But the seeds and oils are also well known as a treatment for non-cancerous enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia). It is also useful for intense nausea and vomiting especially related to motion sickness or pregnancy.

 

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I'm Pretty Healthy

While there is a place for medication, by design it exists to suppress symptoms.  Drugs do not heal.  We are trained via culture and media to take one pill for this and one for that.  We live in a drug culture that trains us as children the way of the pill.

I have observed that most people think they are “pretty healthy”.  They can be on six or more prescription medications, have a current cold and they will say, “Overall, I am pretty healthy.”  It often takes a lot for them to make the shift to something is wrong.  How would you define “pretty healthy?  I can still get up in the morning and go to work?  I can make it to the mail box and back?  I go to the doctor and take my prescriptions?

I love positive thinking but it could be an obstacle to making change.  Sometimes we slip toward poor health so gradually that we don't even notice.  For some there may be a feeling of, "this is as good as it will get, or I am getting old".  I am sure that at some point in time, I will be old and it really will be as good as it gets.  However, there is a time before that where something really can be done.

Do we deceive ourselves into thinking we are healthy when we also know we have health problems?  Is it our survival mechanism to keep going, or do we truly believe we are healthy in spite of evidence to the contrary.  Perhaps it is a strong spiritual perspective carries you forward.  Are we intentional or unintentional in our self-deception?  A newsman once said, "we view things thru the prism of our experience".  Interesting. 

Advertising has pounded the message that drugs are good, the flu shot is good, and anything we tell you to do is for your benefit.  Many are sincere in this belief.  We know what we are doing because we are smarter than you are.  We have done all the research so you don't have to.  If you do not do as we say you are just ignorant.  Oh contraire.  Just some thoughts.

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Chagas Disease, Kissing Bug, Parasites, Vegetables

I often hear “disease starts with inflammation”!   No it doesn’t.  Ask the question, “Why do I have inflammation?”  “Where does it come from?”  It is because there is a toxin of some type that the body cannot deal with or is in the process of dealing with.  In this world we have a lot of possible toxic voluntary and involuntary “choices”.

As an example, an individual may come in contact with a parasite that uses a living person or animal as a host.  A parasite consumes your resources and creates waste (a toxin) that your body must deal with.  The Triatome (kissing) bug recently came to my attention. Known as the insect “vector” for Chagas disease is a major killer in Latin America.  The Triatomine Beetle is the American version of trypanosomiasis, the carrier for the parasite trypanosomes.  This is similar to the disease carried by the tsetse fly in Africa causing sleeping sickness. 

The normal venue for these beetles is a secretive nocturnal life in the cracks and holes of substandard housing or in any outdoor/indoor environment including doghouses, chicken houses, woodpiles, etcetera.  They like to bite faces, suck blood, and defecate leaving the parasite.  The area itches, is scratched, and unknowingly rubbed into mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth.   Other possible transmissions is thru blood transfusions, organ transplantation, and the ingestion of food contaminated with the parasite.  How much of our food comes from Central or South America?

With the world’s mobile population, you can disregard the old textbook world parasite prevalence maps.  There are currently hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Latin America living in the U.S. 

The worst possible impact is a massive enlargement of the heart causing sudden death (cardiomyopathy).  Have you ever heard of a dog suddenly dying in the kennel?  The scary part is that most are symptom free.  Mild symptoms include fatigue, fever, headache, diarrhea and vomiting.  There may also be a swollen eyelid on the side of the bite.

If you are at risk for parasites (blog), consider Verma Comp, Vermasode, and Verma HP.  A preventative for pets is diatomaceous earth(blog) dusted in the kennel.

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Arsenic, Victorian Lace, Draft Teams and Chicken

The old Belgium team survived on oats and arsenic.  Yes, arsenic was commonly fed to older horses to help them maintain their weight.  The old horse trader’s story was that one-month after buying a beautiful team the purchaser, who did not know about arsenic, witnessed his team turning to skin and bones. 

Arsenic is commercially used in insecticides, fungicides, and in treated lumber.  Victorian women consumed it to make their skin paler to show that they did not work outside. It is theorized that Napoleon Bonaparte’s death was due to arsenic poisoning.   I recently learned that it is or has been used as feed additive for poultry and swine production.  It improves weight gain and meat color.  What kind of twisted mind decided arsenic would be good to feed to chickens?  I guess chickens are made to sell and not to eat.

Chronic arsenic exposure is associated with lung, bladder and skin cancers.  It is also associated with heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive problems.  Less associated symptoms include burning pains, diarrhea, anxiety, and restlessness.  The mental impact may include obsessive-compulsive disorder.  These individuals also have a fear of poverty, death, disease, and “germs”.  This is another example of a toxicity having a mental impact.

Ironically, homeopathic arsenic, known as Arsenicum album is a premier remedy that is especially useful for food poisoning.  Remember that a homeopathic is highly diluted and does not contain the element arsenic.  Homeopathy is in the realm of physics.  Arsenicum album 30C is a remedy you should always have available.  I remember being in Phoenix the day before a 6AM flight back to Charlotte.  Unfortunately, about midnight, I discovered that I had made a poor choice of restaurants.  Without the Arsenicum, I would not have been able to leave the motel at 4AM.

Know Ledge

Some take what they know as something that will not change.  Knowledge can become a fixed idea that ignores all else.  What if a new piece of information changes my mind?  It happens, so, how do you know that what you know is all there is?

After all, I have the complete ability to objectively perceive, analyze, and experience information without emotion or prejudice. I think I will just look for evidence that supports my preconceived fixed idea, which allows me to maintain my cerebral security.  That is simple.  “A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest “ (The Boxer, Simon & Garfunkel).

There are those that make fun of past medical interventions as ignorant.  George Washington’s medical treatment, the bleeding of about 5 pints of blood in less than 16 hours contributed to his death.  That was the medical treatment of the day and I am sure the physicians were well intended.  I like the false security of just knowing how far we have come and how smart we are now.  

There are those that religiously believe in allopathic (today’s prescription/surgical treatments) medicine or “natural” medicine.  Some Allopaths make fun of natural medicine.  Some Naturopaths make fun of allopathic medicine.  There are strengths and weakness in both.  Stay open to both possibilities.

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Constitutional Amendment-The Remedy?

Gus is a one-year-old male German Shorthaired Pointer that seemed to have that adolescent teen personality.  He has great physique and ability but is entirely bashful in new situations.  Even though he was well socialized he still did not meet people well and would cower with a new person or loud noises.  Conversely, he was completely comfortable with pointing birds and a shotgun blast.  Gus also had a poor appetite and ate the occasional bite all day long.  I decided it was time to give him a constitutional remedy. 

A constitution is the emotional, mental and physical state of an individual.  It is his or her nature or temperament.  This can be genetic and/or acquired.  While most of our focus is on the physical aspects of health, the more important is the emotional or mental health.

A constitutional remedy is one that fits most of the entire person: physical, mental and emotional.  Ideally a constitutional remedy is used on a healthy person to fortify them.  However, most remedies are used when something is out of balance.  When “out of balance”, the remedy selected may not be the individual’s “constitution” but is the remedy picture presented.  Each homeopathic remedy has physical, mental, and emotional aspects.  It is the homeopaths job to select the remedy that best fits the total person. 

While most use homeopathics for a single purpose, such as Arnica for bruising, each homeopathic remedy can influence a number of seemingly unrelated symptoms.  Lycopodium (club moss) is commonly used for gas and poor digestion.  The mental aspect of Lycopodium includes indecision, timidity, loss of confidence or poor self-esteem.  There is a fear of strangers and a fear of being alone.  The key note here is impotence.  This is not a sexual impotence but overall ineffectiveness. 

Gus received one dose of Lycopodium 1M with no results.  With the second dose one day later he made a complete shift.  He was more confident and happy to meet anyone new.  It was as if he thought everyone had a gift for him.  He also began eating all of his food when presented.   The only down side was that he was interested in mounting any other canine of any sex.  No more ineffectiveness of attitude.  Hopefully, better judgment would come with experience.  Pretty amazing.  

(Note:  most homeopaths would not use a 1M potency first and would start with a 30C, but this was not my choice). 

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The Pill Problem- Nutrition Depletion, Disease, and Decreased Libido

The advent of the oral contraceptive “pill” in the 1960’s certainly changed the female, how do you say it...uh...I will reframe from characterizing this from a male perspective.  From a woman's perspective, "The pill gave women an sense of control, or what we perceived as control."...."In the 1960's men were still telling their wives who to vote for in elections.  Freedom is so incredibly powerful when when you've never had it....to be in charge of our own bodies!"  While there were obvious benefits, there were also problems. 

Ross Pelton, Pharmacist/Certified Clinical Nutritionist, has written a book “The Pill Problem” as a means to educate women primarily in the area of nutrient depletion.  While the medical world is aware of some drug induced nutritional deficiencies the majority are never addressed.  Educated pharmacists have been talking about this for years.  Keep in mind the chemistry of the body requires nutrients to function properly.  It has always bothered me that a folic acid deficiency creates the birth defect of neural tube defects.  At the same time oral contraceptives create such a deficiency which is never addressed until one is pregnant.

“Oral contraceptives cause a depletion of a wide range of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants in women’s bodies.  These nutrient depletions increase the risk of depression, sleep disorders, anemia, low energy, migraine headaches, heart attacks, strokes, blood clots, diabetes, a weakened immune system, giving birth to an infant with birth defects, and cancers in the uterus, colon and breast.”          ALARMING!

The most common deficiencies include all the B vitamins, magnesium(calcium/magnesium blog), Co Q 10,Vitamin C, tyrosine and selenium.  Anyone taking these synthetic hormones found in oral contraceptives should consider supplementation. 

Oral contraceptives can also have an impact on overall hormone balance that ultimately results in decreased sex drive, arousal, and orgasm.  The drug that allowed women to have more sexual freedom ironically quelled what they desired.

“The Pill Problem” is an excellent educational tool for the woman that wants to be proactive with her health.  Utmost importance in this is this day and age!

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Mind Mimizing Drugs at a Pharmacy Near You......

From a health perspective there is nothing more worrisome as having memory or mind processing issues.  This is especially true if you have seen the impact of Alzheimer’s disease.  The study published online, November 2012, in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia offered a look at common drugs that impact cognition.  In just as little as two months, this class of drugs, known as anticholinergics, showed a 50 % increased risk of “mild cognitive impairment”.  Personally, I need all the brain power I can get.

Anticholinergics impact the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.  This communication chemical works in the brain and in nerve tissue for muscle activation.  It functions in memory, decision making and in sleep.  Acetylcholine is made from acetic acid (vinegar) and choline, a B vitamin.  A good source of choline is found in lecithin as phosphatidyl coline and is a good memory supplement.

Ironically, Benadryl® (diphenhydramine), an anti-histamine has long been used for sleep due to its drowsiness side effect.  Most would consider it as generally harmless.  But if it decreases your acetylcholine then sleep quality can be affected.  This is one of many drugs in a class of anticholinergic drugs that impair cognitive function.  Interesting is that many of the Alzheimer’s drugs work to inhibit an enzyme that degrades acetylcholine.  Some of these patients are also receiving some of the above drugs.

Others include but are not limited to:

Hyoscyamine (Levsin®, Donnatal®, Levbid®, HyoMax SR®)

Methscopolamine (Pamine®)

Dicyclomine (Bentyl®)

Bupropion (Wellbutrin®)

Dextromethorphan (common cough suppressant)

Ipratropium (Atrovent®)

Tiotropium (Spiriva®)

Products that may help memory include lecithin, coconut oil, Cerecomp, and Gaia Mental Alertness.

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Coke, Cocaine, Acid and Addiction

John Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist at Jacobs’ Pharmacy created Coca-Cola in 1886.  That was a time when pharmacies dispensed cocaine, heroin and other currently illegal drugs at will.  Such medicines were thought to be helpful and harmless.  What a great way to have repeated sales for a fountain drink.  And what a bargain at just five cents a glass!

As a child the small 6-ounce green bottle was an occasional treat.  We would always look at the bottom to see where the bottle was made.  Collecting the bottles for the one cent deposit (nothing new about recycling) at the local filling station was the order of the day.  This practice eventually shifted to the no deposit no return concept for our modern convenience. 

“Soft” drinks have evolved from the occasional treat to a way of life.  The new addiction was not cocaine but sugar and artificial sweeteners.  Did I say addiction?  Just ask a long time user of diet drinks to stop and notice the blank stare on their face.  That information did not register.  For some these drinks completely replaced water.  After all, there is water in it…..right?

Smart Americans have becoming more health conscious to the point that even Coca Cola has noticed.  They realize they must change their marketing toward promoting their product as healthy.  So, we should drink our Coke and go to the gym?  After all it is really too much sugar that is the problem?

There is no doubt that the empty calories in sugar are not healthy and contributes to just about every known disease including cancer.  There are, however, many other considerations.  Normal body pH (the potential of hydrogen) of urine or saliva is a generally little acidic at 6.5 to 6.7.  Body pH is relative as the stomach pH is about 2 and the small intestine is 7.4.  Cellular pH is more acidic in the nucleus than in the cytoplasm.  We are actually like a battery with positive and negative charged areas.

Soft drinks can have a pH of around 3 depending on the drink.  In order to remain normal, your body will have to buffer this back up to 6.5.  Calcium is the most abundant buffer in the body.  The more you consume the more calcium you loose.  At some point your body may not be able to keep up resulting in a more acidic overall pH.  This can make you more susceptible to diseases of all types including cancer. 

Water is the recommended fluid of choice.  The most common water recommendation is weight divided by two equals the number of ounces per day.  This can vary due to weather and overall exertion.  Make sure you consume water without chlorine or fluoride.  There are water filters that will remove these harmful chemicals.  Water can be enhanced by adding lemon or lime.  Other options include Nitro Powder for electrolytes.  Hydrate I or Hydrate II can enhance the body’s ability to utilize water.

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Deer Antler Velvet, Bone Growth and Sperm Count

Eleven years ago, my female German Shorthaired Pointer produced Buster.  He became a Dual Champion (Field Champion and Show Champion).  His owner called me earlier this year and offered him to me as he was getting out of the dog business.  I really wanted another litter sired by this exceptional dog but that was a gamble due to his age. 

Buster arrived, a little over weight with some joint stiffness.  A trip to the vet to check his sperm count produced the following comment from the vet.  “The port wine color of Buster’s ejaculate is quite alarming…..The good news is that he is producing viable sperm cells.”  The vet recommended a three-month course of antibiotics.  Given my background, she knew I probably would take an alternative approach.  I started him on Prostate Advantage an herbal prostate formula.  Arnica 30C and Phosphorous 30C were added to his water every other day to address the blood issue.  I also added Avinotripin every day.  Avinotropin is a product made from deer antler velvet, which has concentrated growth factors. 

 

 

Three weeks later the prostatic fluid was clear and the sperm count was still low at a few hundred thousand.  One week later the sperm count was 2 BILLION (yes this was done by a lab machine), with 90 percent motility and good morphology.  Buster was also leaner,  moved freely, and could jump in the front seat of my truck.

Buster is back in business.  

Deer antlers are distinguished from horns, as they are re-grown each year.  The velvet is a soft spongy growth that supplies nutrients to growing bone.  This is the fastest growing bone structure in nature.  Growth starts in late spring and is completed by the end of the summer.  At some point in time, usually late winter, the deer shed the antlers.  These become a source of minerals for forest animals.

In Chinese medicine deer antler velvet is valued for the nutrient, minerals and hormone related issues.  The benefits reported are many.  Last year, my wife had a traumatic compound fracture of the ankle and lower leg.  After 2 months, x-ray showed one small bone that was not healing.  After one month of Avinotropin, the bone was healed. 

Amazing stuff!

Nocebo Expectations?

Some will remember the Andy Griffith Show where Emma Watson was taking her pill for her aches and pain.  The pharmacist, Ellie Walker, was conflicted about refilling her prescription with a placebo.  Emma simply could not live without her pill.  In a clinical trial some get a real drug and others get a placebo.  There can be a placebo effect on individuals taking the real drug.  This means that the placebo effect can be beneficial to the results for the real drug.  If you believe a medical treatment will have a positive effect then you are more likely to have that experience. 

The nocebo is just the opposite.  A harmless substance creates a negative effect.  If you are uncomfortable with a medical treatment, the inability to embrace it could be a problem.  What if a physician prescribes a statin drug for elevated cholesterol, which you do not want?  Every time you swallow you have a negative feeling.  The results can be about one’s expectations.

Interesting. 

Stay well!

Safe Weed Killer

The ever popular Round Up weed killer is toxic to humans and the environment.  Here is a cheap and effective way to kill unwanted weeds and grass without the harsh chemicals.  The picture is one day after I sprayed the formula in a strip.  The dying vegetation was the same as the right and left.

One Gallon of Vinegar
1/2 cup of table salt
1 teaspoonful of dish washing detergent.

If you use this in your garden you could substitute Himalayan Salt to add trace minerals to the dirt.

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Shingles?

 

“I awoke with bumps on the top of my head, but didn’t think much about it.  There was light pain.  The next day the pain caused me to shave my head, so I could see what was going on.  Initially, I thought that I had been bitten by a spider multiple times. The pain was heavy.  On day four the pain became oppressive and was constant and unceasing.  By day six there were blood blisters and continuous misery.”  (From a shingles sufferer)

Most would think the end of the symptoms of infection means you will no longer have to deal with that illness.  In childhood many got chicken pox (Varicella zoster virus), producing a skin rash that lasts about 6 days.  This usually creates a permanent immunity to Chicken Pox.  However, this virus lays dormant in nerve tissue and can be reactivated in older adults as Herpes zoster (shingles).  This usually happens when the immune system is compromised, particularly after an emotional upset.  So the same organism causes two different sets of symptoms with different names.  The pain of shingles known as postherpatic neuralgia can be almost unbearable. 

A shingles vaccination, known as Zostavax, became available in 2006 but had limited availability.  It is the same virus as the Chicken Pox vaccine only stronger.  Over the last 5 years, I have observed an increase in the number of shingles patients.  Some speculation suggests a correlation with the chicken pox vaccine, or shingles vaccine causing reactivation of the virus.  I know of one individual that got shingles after getting Zostavax.  Other factors could include an overall lowering of community immune function. 

Prescription treatments include antivirals, gabapentin, and other pain medications.  The homeopathic approach includes Apis mellifica for initial burning and tingling sensations.  Rhus toxicodendron is used for the blister stage.  Mezereum can be used for the crusting stage.  Cortsym Gel or Calendula cream can be applied topically.  Neuropain HP can be used for nerve pain. 

Another product is the Herpes Zoster Series Therapy that contains 10 single vials of the virus in homeopathic form.  Each vial is a different potency and can be taken as a preventative or treatment. 

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Chicken Pox Party?

My child has chickenpox, bring your children over for a party!  Such was a common practice since the 50’s; before vaccination, parents had few options.  Exposure to any “wild” virus offers better immunity that a vaccination.  This is a logical assumption since all viruses generally enter the body thru the eyes, nose or mouth and follow a normal immune response verses as a puncture wound.  Getting chickenpox is reported to give permanent immunity to chickenpox while vaccination is only temporary requiring booster shots.  Many of the earlier complications included Reye syndrome that was associated with giving a child aspirin while they had a viral infection.  Never give a child aspirin.

As some parents continue this practice, The Atlantic reports some state health officials are “cracking down on these parents who play Russian roulette with their children’s health.”  They are particularly baffled since a vaccine for chickenpox was approved in 1995.  Having an unequivocal belief that any vaccine is worthwhile could be a barrier to looking at actual risk, benefits, and options.

Varicella zoster (Chickenpox), a member of the herpes family, is a relatively mild childhood disease but can be difficult for adults.  Whether you choose exposure to the wild virus or a vaccination, make sure your child is healthy at the time.  Never vaccinate a child that is sick.  Recently vaccinated children can be contagious so they should not be around pregnant women or individuals with compromised immune systems.

Prior to 1986 the risk of deaths from chickenpox complications was less than 50 children per year, which is 0.0014% (Preblud, S.R. Pediatrics 1986;78:728-735).  These are generally associated with previously compromised immune systems.  Women that contract chickenpox while pregnant during the first 16 weeks have a higher risk of birth defects in their child. 

Complications of the vaccine include pneumonitis (<1%) and seizures (<0.1%) The FDA Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System during the first year of the vaccine reported over 1,500 events, 76 were serious, with 2 deaths.  Vaccine injury information documented a decreased incidence of chicken pox but an increase in the Herpes Zoster (shingles) infection or a reactivation to Herpes Zoster.  Normally the Herpes Zoster does not occur in children.  There are also reported outbreaks of chicken pox in vaccinated children. 

It seems clear that natural immunity is superior.   However, parents should make informed choices about their children's health.  This includes actually looking in to vaccine information concerning risks and benefits.

Stay Well!

 

Got Gravel?

Last Friday, one of my college friends sent me a picture of this big toe that was red and inflamed.  His doctor diagnosed it as gout but drew blood to be sure.  “What can I do about this until the blood test comes back?”  I asked him, “how much water and soft drinks do you consume every day?”  “Little water and 3 Mountain Dews a day.”

The short answer was 80 to 100 ounces of water, stop the soft drinks, Colchicum 30C, and Stinging Nettle tincture.  Also find someone with an ionic footbath to unload some of the toxin.

Most of the individuals with gout, kidney stones and in some cases gallstones consume too many soft drinks and too little water.  This is a great way to create internal gravel that requires drugs and/or surgery to resolve. You must have water for the body to function properly including the dilution of metabolic toxins.  Daily “soft” drink consumption is a form of slow poisoning that creates an acidic environment making you ripe for disease. 

An original family copy of Gunn’s Domestic Medicine (1839), describes gout with grim possibilities.

 “In gouty subjects, whose vital powers have been greatly impaired by frequent or violent paroxysms; by indulgence in spirituous liquors or wines or in savoury dishes, or by any other cause, and especially when the stomach does not perform its office, and general debility prevails.”

“The vital powers in gouty subjects advanced in years, and even in young gouty invalids who have abused their constitutions by intemperance are often in so reduced a state, that life is only kept up by general or local irritation, or what may be termed morbid nervous excitement; and, on subduing it by an anodyne, death suddenly ensues.”

The prescription and homeopathic treatment for acute gout and rheumatism is Colchicum autumnale (Meadow Saffron).  Prescription colchicine was available at least since the 1930 for about 10 cents a tablet.  This was before the FDA and their 2006 initiative to test unapproved drugs.  A generic company did the necessary testing and was granted a patent in July of 2009.  The drug now cost over 5 dollars a tablet.  The FDA’s wisdom took a drug that had been use for hundreds of years in this country and in Europe to require real scientific testing for safety and effectiveness.  Most would agree that this is a ridiculous price increase, and perhaps manipulation of the system.  At the same time manufacturer did invest a lot of money to satisfy the FDA requirements.

Colchicine can be a violent poison with the most common side effect as diarrhea.  The homeopathic Colchicum autumnale 30C is economical and does not carry the same toxicity profile as the prescription drug.

The herb, Stinging Nettle (Urtica urens) is an old treatment for gout as a tea or tincture.  It aids in the breakdown of metabolic waste such as the uric acid.  Homeopathic Urtica can also be used for gout.

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Poison Ivy- The Plant, The Song, The Villain

My least favorite plant as a child, poison ivy has been the focus of more than just the miserable skin rash that some have endured.  It was also a 1959 song recorded by the Coasters (I remember 45’s).  Poison Ivy in the song was a temptress and code for a carrier of a sexually transmitted disease.  Perhaps the song was the inspiration for the fictional character in DC Comics, Poison Ivy, Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley, an enemy and interest of Batman. 

Rhus radicans (Poison Ivy) and Rhus toxicodendron (Poison Oak) are well known for their production of urushiol, a plant resin that causes mild to major skin irritation.  The remedies of the 60’s were primarily white shoe polish, oatmeal baths, and a good mopping of calamine lotion.  Failed plant identification in emergency situations with children in the woods could result in a rash in places the sun does not normally touch.

The homeopathic, Rhus tox 30C has been used both as a preventive or treatment for poison ivy.  It is also used for the relief of joint inflammation and stiffness.  Another use is the treatment of shingles in the blister stage.

If exposed to poison ivy you can use Tecnu as a wash to remove the oil.  My all time favorite remedy is Cortsym Gel by Natural Creations.

Stay Well!

PCB's and Hand-Me-Down Poisons

On April 9, 2013, the NC Department of Health and Human Services issued a fish consumption advisory for Lake Norman.  Due to elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) you should not consume Stripped Bass and Large Mouth Bass.  This is the first fish consumption warning for the 32,475 acres lake that was filled in 1963.  PCB’s have beenused as insulators for electrical transformers, lubricants and electric motors.  PCB’s are an environmental toxin that can cause neurological damage, reproductions, immune disorders and cancer.

Biphenyl compounds have been the chemical curse of the environment.  They also include diethylstilbesterol (DES), Bisphenol A (BPA), and DDT.  These chemicals do not readily break down, are fat-soluble, and readily penetrate the skin.  This means they can be stored in the fat of animals with an end storage point in humans.  Such a hand-me-down poison can be an underlying toxic load and a contributor for disease.  Theoretically, the larger and older fish will accumulate higher levels of toxins as they consume other contaminated fish.

The following are the chemical structures of these toxins, included only to demonstrate their structural similarity.

Picture of biphenyls

PCB



DDT


BPA

DES

It is not known why the Lake Norman fish have such elevated levels since there is no known contamination in the area.   They are made by electrically chlorinating a bisphenyl.  The most likely explanation could be related to the number of hydroelectric facilities or unauthorized dumping on the Catawba River.

At one time I was highly allergic to poison ivy as a child and adult.  I had mentioned this to Dr. Jack Hinze, a mentor and friend.  Questions led back to the DDT fogged in the summer streets.  He suggested homeopathic Addazen by Natural Creations along with herbal liver (Hepata Comp) and kidney (Kidney Comp) support as a possible detox.  I took his suggestion and, much to my surprise, my allergy to poison ivy decreased dramatically.  In theory, since homeopathy is based in “likes cures likes”, this product may be helpful in other biphenols. 

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Doctor....You want do WHAT?

The most talked about new therapy, the fecal transplant, is a bit disturbing.  Can you imagine the physician explaining that he/she wants to share someone’s healthy stuff with you?  The concept is to take the feces of a healthy individual and put it in the colon of the recipient to re-inoculate the bowel with healthy bacteria.  Is it the answer for individuals with severely disrupted bowel bacteria suffering from Clostridium difficile (C.diff) infection?  C. diff is usually created by the use or overuse of antibiotics that destroyed the natural bacteria or flora of the intestine.  The result is life threatening diarrhea (not at the top of my list) and inflammation of the colon.  The C. diff is actually part of your normal bacteria and the standard treatment is more antibiotics.

Probiotics are becoming more mainstream.  At the same time, many hospitals do not routinely give probiotics to their antibiotic patients, nor are they generally recommended in the community.  How about an ounce of prevention?  If you take an antibiotic, always, always, always take a probiotic.

As a side note, there are over 100 species of Clostridium including C. botulism, C. tetani (tetanus), and C. perfringens (food poisoning and gangrene).  The effects of these bacteria are due to the toxins they excrete.

The New England Journal of Medicine (January 2013) reported a 81% cure rate of pseudomembranous colitis caused by C. Diff using fecal implants.  The use of fecal bacteria is not new.  Dr. Anthony Bassler wrote of Intestinal Toxemia in 1874.  Dr. Edward Bach (Bach Flower Remedies) isolated, studied and treated patients homeopathically with his seven bowel nosodes in the 1920’s.  In World War I, a strain of Escherichia coli was isolated from the stool of a soldier who survived an outbreak of shigellosis without developing entercholitis.  This strain was successfully used to treat acute infectious intestinal disease.  And Dr. John Paterson detailed the role of bowel flora in chronic disease in 1948.

The bacterial environment of the intestines includes over 400 species of bacteria and yeast that can weigh as much as 6 pounds.  This is no doubt a complex ecosystem that is a part of our immune system.  Other killers of our good bacteria include cortisone, birth control pills, stress, and the consumption of chlorine treated water. 

A more common, persistent problem is the overgrowth of yeast after antibiotics.  This may require a good probiotic for an extended period of time.  My favorite probiotic is Enterobiotic SBO.  It contains 13 strains of the good bacteria, Saccharomyces boulardii (a beneficial) yeast, soil based organisms, and FOS to support friendly bacteria.  Soil based organisms are naturally occurring bacteria that release powerful enzymes.

Stay Well!

Spring Allergy Relief

I welcome the spring but for many it is the beginning of the new allergy season.  An allergy is when the body becomes hypersensitive to a particular antigen.  The antigen categories are: inhaled (pollen, dust, mold, pet dander), foods (dairy, grains, shellfish, peanuts), contact (chemicals, plants), or from injections (medications and insects).

Theoretically, it is not natural to be allergic to grass and trees.  An unreconized food allergy can increase the sensitivity to inhaled antigens.  For some this could also be a sign of either a problem with one’s immune system or a chemically toxic body.  Think of it as a full glass of water and one more drop causes an overflow.  The body is already doing all it can to maintain health and the allergen is the final insult. 

Some immunotherapies use antigen to evoke an immune response resulting in the production of antibodies.  Antibodies help protect the body from future contact with antigens.  Homeopathic (likes cures likes) antigens can offer temporary relief of allergic symptoms until the season or sensitivity has passed.  Of course it is best to improve one’s immune system and avoid contact of any offending substance if possible.  The dosing is 10 drops under the tongue three times daily as needed.
Per my request, Natural Creations has made an exclusive allergen mix for the Southeast.
Allergy-Southeast Mix
 
Other antigen products include:
Allergy Pollen
Flower Antigen
Grain-Seed Antigen
Mold Antigen
Nightshade Antigen (peppers, potatoes, tobacco, tomatos, & eggplant)
Tree Antigen
Vegetable Antigen
Weed & Grass Antigen
Household Antigen (cleaners)

Another favorite homeopathic remedy for allergy- Allergy HP

Stay Well!

Causes of Mental/Emotional Dis-ease: Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

While the mental emotional and spiritual can create disease, the opposite is also true.  There are physical situations that can create diseases of mental or emotional problems.  Heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, or mercury are well known for this.  Remember the Mad Hatter that got mercury poisoning from the making of felt hats.

Environmental toxins such as the pesticide DDT (see blog) mimics estrogen and can play hormone havoc.  The pharmaceutical product of the pre -1950’s diethylstilbesterol (DES), a synthetic estrogen, was given to mothers to aide in a healthier baby.  The female offspring receiving the drug in the first trimester suffered from a rare form of cancer, infertility, and an increased incident of lesbian or bisexual orientation.  Any health problem can bring on anxiety and depression.  These horrors of the past are not currently taught in medical or pharmacy schools so we will likely repeat these errors.

Steroids such as prednisone or food allergies that increase cortisol can lower the working threshold of neurotransmitters in the brain, which can contribute to panic attacks, emotional instability, and attention deficit.

Today, a common drug therapy (proton pump inhibitors) that prevents the stomach from creating acid for digestion is a potential setup for such brain problems.  Acid is needed to breakdown protein into small enough components to be absorbed and to create many of our brain chemicals, known as neurotransmitters.  Most of our neurotransmitters are created in the gut. 

Neurotransmitters control nerve conduction and are either excitatory or inhibitory. They either speed up nerve conduction or slow it down.  Epinephrine or adrenaline, known to be the “fight or flight” neurotransmitter is excitatory.  Serotonin and GABA are examples of inhibitory neurotransmitters.  Serotonin is associated with depression and GABA is associated with anxiety.

Common antidepressants allow the serotonin to remain available longer hence increasing the excretion in the urine, therefore actually contributing to its depletion.  Some targeted amino acid (protein) therapy works to help build such neurotransmitters.    This provides the building blocks (precursors) for the body to make it’s own neurotransmitters.  Natural Creations product Inhibitory Neurotransmitter is a helpful intervention for depression.

Gaba is another neurotransmitter that may be viewed as the brains natural tranquilizer.   The supplement approach is Gaba Calm which can be helpful in anxiety, panic attacks and sleep.   HPA Calm is helpful for high stress anxiety related to elevated cortisol and racing thoughts. 

Stay Well