Essential Points Acupuncture

Breastfeeding Reduces Breast Cancer Risk For Older Moms

2012-01-22T22:04:00.000-08:00

(NaturalNews by: David Guitierrez, staff writer) Women can reduce their risk of breast cancer by breast-feeding, even if they have their first child later in life, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Los Angeles.

Researchers analyzed data on women who had participated in the Women's Contraceptive and Reproductive Experiences (CARE) Study, the results of which were published in 2003. In the current study, researchers looked at the data for women over the age of 54, 995 of whom had breast cancer and 1,498 of whom did not. They compared the women's risk of acquiring breast cancer with their history ofbreastfeeding and their age at first birth.

There are 200,000 new cases of breast cancer in the United States every year, and it is the third most common cause of cancer death in the country. There are two main types of breast tumors: those that contain hormone receptors, and those that do not.

Researchers have previously found that having a first child after the age of 25 increases a woman's chance of acquiring hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Among women who have their first child before the age of 25, those who have many children have an even lower breast cancer risk.

In the current study, researchers found that breastfeeding decreased a woman's risk for both receptor-positive and receptor-negative cancers, regardless of the age at which she had her first child.

"As more women may choose to delay pregnancy until after 25, it is important to note that breastfeeding provides protection against both estrogen and progesterone receptor positive and negative tumors," said Giske Ursin, an associate professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California."

"Breastfeeding may have a protective effect that negates the increased risk of breast cancer associated with late pregnancies," Ursin said.

http://www.naturalnews.com/027746_breastfeeding_mothers.html

'Inner-Pass' Acupuncture Point Improves Health By Reducing Stress

2011-12-23T10:46:00.000-08:00

(NaturalNews by: Lindsay Chimileski) Pericardium 6 or Inner Pass (PC6, Neiguan) is one of the most well-known, highly researched and often utilized Acupuncture points. It is indicated to calm the spirit and regulate the heart, making it useful for conditions like heart pain, palpitations, hypertension, insomnia, fear, mania, nausea and menstrual irregularities to name a few. How can one little point benefit so many vastly different conditions? Because it works to treat the underlying cause and common denominator of most illnesses: stress.

Recent studies are proving that PC6 stimulation has powerful effects in the body - acting to relieve stress, as well as to repair the damage stress has already caused. It is also a well-known acupressure point for nausea. This action has been utilized by the development of wristbands that stimulate the point to treat motion sickness.

PC6 is located on the inner forearm, 2 cun distal from the crease of the wrist. Cun are the measurements used by acupuncturists to locate points on the body. Its measure is unique to each individual's anatomical structure, to compensate for differences in body types. 1 cun is approximately the width of the individual's thumb.

New Research on Inner Pass
One recent study by Kim et al. looked at both the detrimental effects of stress and the subsequent relief and restoration of health PC6 can provide. Rats exposed to chronic mild stress exhibited decreased memory and retention as well as significantly lowered Acetylcholine esterase (AchE). In the study, PC6 was then stimulated while biochemical and behavioral changes were monitored. The study found that, AchE, or Acetylcholinesterase, brain activity was increased by PC6 stimulation and that the rats who received acupuncture at PC6 were able to restore AchE activity faster than those in the control group.

AchE, which is found primarily in the cholinergic nervous system and neuromuscular junctions, plays a vital role in synapse transmission. It is responsible for neurotransmitter conversion and the breakdown of acetylcholine to choline and acetate. It is responsible for the termination of synaptic transmission, which allows relaxation to occur.

AchE levels are directly related to Acetylcholine levels. Without AchE, Acetylcholine is allowed to build up. Depending on the degree of excess, high Acetylcholine can cause a spectrum of symptoms, including aggression, depression, neuromuscular paralysis and even asphyxiation. Low levels can be detrimental as well, causing impaired memory function. This proves the importance of having balanced Acetylcholine levels. Acupuncture's ability to balance AchE is beneficial because it works to balance Acetylcholine levels, resulting in both improved memory and relaxation.

This study also looked at behavioral changes of the rats using passive avoidance tests: the rat would be trained not to step into a hole and then repeatedly tested every day for 6 days to monitor retention. The group exposed to chronic mild stress exhibited impaired memory, but again, the group that then received treatment at PC6 had much better retention, improved memory, and learned skills than the control. The study concluded that PC6 could be used to improve memory, increase AchE hippocampus reactivity and repair stress-induced damage to learning and memory.

Keep in mind, TCM is a highly complex medical system that functions within a paradigm all its own. There at least 360 standard acupuncture points on the classical meridians and over 100 extra points. Most importantly, treatments are tailored to the individual, so any study using standardized treatments are not utilizing the medicine completely. These studies are helpful to show some of the many potential changes acupuncture induces within the body, but its healing powers may simply go beyond the parameters we can currently measure.

Sources for this article include
Brett, J. Point Location I & II. University of Bridgeport Acupuncture Institute. Bridgeport, CT. 2011.

Deadman P, Al-Khafaji M, Baker K. A Manual of Acupuncture. 2001. Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications. England

H.Y. Kim, H.J. Park, S.M. Han, D.H. Hahm, H.J. Lee, K.S. Kim, I. Shim, The effects
of acupuncture stimulation at PC6 (Neiguan) on chronic mild stress-induced
memory loss, Neurosci. Lett. 488 (2011) 225-228.

H.Y. Kim, H.J. Park, S.M. Han, D.H. Hahm, H.J. Lee, K.S. Kim, I. Shim, The effects
of acupuncture stimulation at PC6 (Neiguan) on chronic mild stress-induced
biochemical and behavioral responses, Neurosci. Lett. 460 (2009) 56-60.

About the author:
Lindsay Chimileski: I am a graduate medical student currently pursuing dual degrees in Naturopathic Medicine and Acupuncture, expecting to graduate in 2013. I have a passion for health education, patient empowerment and the restoration of balance, both on the individual and communal level. I believe all can learn how to live happily, in harmony with nature and in ways that support the body's innate ability to heal itself.

Please note: I am not a doctor and not giving any medical advice, just spreading the word of natural living, and the pressing health revolution.

http://blossomingconsciousness.com/

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/034467_acupuncture_inner-pass_stress_reduction.html#ixzz1hNwbEOEu

Low Vitamin D In Children Behind Current Explosion Of New Diabetes Cases

2011-12-15T18:43:00.000-08:00

(NaturalNews by John Phillip) Researchers publishing inThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolismhave found that children with low vitamin D levels, especially when overweight and obese, are at much higher risk for developing insulin resistance that progresses to full-blown diabetes by early adulthood. Based on cellular saturation of the vitamin/prohormone, children and adults require higher amounts of vitamin D as body weight increases. The vast majority of children are vitamin D deficient, a problem exacerbated further by additional fat stores. In addition to a healthy lifestyle including plenty of physical activity and proper diet, parents will want to ensure their children reach proper blood levels of this critical vitamin through exposure to the sun or adequate supplementation.

Past research studies have concluded that high rates of vitamin D insufficiency are found most prominently in overweight and obese populations and are linked to dramatically increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. These studies have not explained the mechanism by which excess fat stores and low vitamin D saturation result in chronic disease development and progression.

Low Vitamin D Levels Lead to Insulin Resistance and Diabetes in Overweight Children

Dr. Micah Olson and his team from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center examined the association between vitamin D levels and dietary habits in 498 obese and non-obese children. The researchers checked for levels of abnormal glucose metabolism and blood pressure in the participants. Additionally, the scientists measured vitamin D levels, blood sugar levels, serum insulin and BMI. Study participants were also asked to provide dietary information including daily intake of soda, juice and milk, average daily fruit and vegetable intake, and whether or not they routinely skipped breakfast.

The study authors determined that 92% of the obese children tested had a vitamin D saturation (using the standard 25(OH)D test) below the 'adequate' level of 30 ng/mL. 50% of the participants were classified as 'deficient' with a level below 20 ng/mL. Dr. Olson commented:"Poor dietary habits such as skipping breakfast and increased soda and juice intake were associated with the lower vitamin D levels seen in obese children."The study concluded that obese children with low serum blood levels of vitamin D had higher degrees of insulin resistance that played a significant role in the development of Type II diabetes.

New cases of diabetes and prediabetes are now found in young adults and even children at an alarming and increasing rate. This research highlights the connection between low vitamin D levels, excess body weight and diabetes risk, and it underscores the importance of vitamin D blood testing for all children and adults. Alternative health practitioners recommend maintaining a vitamin D level between 50 and 70 ng/mL using the 25(OH)D blood test.

Sources for this article include:
http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/early/2011/11/03/jc.2011-1507.abstract
www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-12/tes-lvd113011.php
www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Low-vitamin-D-status-may-be-associated-with-diabetes-development/

About the author:
John Phillip is a Health Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance and improve the quality and length of life. John is the author of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan', a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise, Mind and Targeted Supplementation to achieve your weight loss goal. Visit My Optimal Health Resource to continue reading the latest health news updates, and to download your Free 48 page copy of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan'.

Learn more: www.naturalnews.com

DHA Used In Infant Formula Products Comes From Genetically Modified Algae

2011-12-09T18:46:00.000-08:00

(NaturalNews by: Selena Keegan) One of the most vulnerable segments of the population -- infants -- are being affected as chemical giant Martek Biosciences uses cronyism to have its patented GMO products classified as organic. The National Organic Program is trying to correct this, but in the meantime the "organic" infant formula or baby food parents feed their children could contain industrial Frankenfood.

History of Irresponsibility

The story of how this state of affairs came about reveals much on how politics and profit can undermine food safety. Here's a timeline on how the word "organic" is being undermined, creating a health threat for babies who are fed with formula.

2002: Food manufacturers begin supplementing infant formula and baby food with synthetic forms of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA). These polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, naturally present in breast milk, are important components of the human brain and eyes. Although the form of DHA/ARA used in infant formulas is structurally incompatible with the form found in human milk, food manufacturers market their products with the claim that their formulas will make babies more intelligent.

2006: In spite of the fact that its synthetic DHA/ARA is from laboratory-grown fermented algae and fungus through the use of hexane, a petroleum by-product and EPA-identified neurotoxin, Martek applies for organic status for its products. The USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) tells Martek its synthetic DHA and ARA does not quality as organic. Martek attorney J. Friedman ignores the decision of NOP staff and contacts NOP director Barbara Robinson to have the decision reversed.

2009: A front page Washington Post article, "Integrity of Federal 'Organic' Label Questioned" uncovers the Martek story. The article quotes Martek's lawyer saying "I called Robinson up, I wrote an e-mail. It was a simple matter."

2002-2010: Parents and medical professionals observe reactions in babies fed with products containing Life's DHA, the product name Martek gives its patented GMO version of naturally occurring fatty acids. The range of infant health problems includes difficulties breathing and gastrointestinal disorders. When affected babies are no longer fed the formula, the ailments disappear. Although Freedom of Information Act requests reveal hundreds of FDA adverse event reports, the FDA is slow to react.

2011: FDA announces it will investigate claims that DHA/ARA infant formulas support brain and eye development. The National Organic Program is now trying to remedy its 2006 decision by asking Martek to formally ask permission of the NOP's National Organic Standards Board to use its DHA and AHA in organic products.

Products Containing this GMO

In the meantime, Life's DHA is being sold in many so-called organic brands which many consumers trust. Paying higher prices for products labeled as organic does not necessarily mean your family's food does not include this particular Frankenfood. From Martek's own website, here is a list of infant formulas containing their product which is both genetically modified and typically manufactured using a known toxin:

Earth's Best Organic Soy with DHA & ARA (Hain Celestial Group)

Enfamil LIPIL (Mead Johnson Nutritionals)

Enfamil Next Step (Mead Johnson)

Isomil 2 Advance (Abbott Laboratories)

Nestle Good Start Supreme with DHA & ARA (Nestle USA)

Parent's Choice Organic (Wal-Mart)

Similac Advance (Abbott Nutrition)

Ultra Bright Beginnings Lipids (PBM Products, LLC)

There is also a long list of pre-natal supplements as well as vitamins and dietary supplements for infants, children and adults containing this product. A surprisingly wide range of foods and beverages use this GMO substance including Apple Bran Muffins sold at Starbucks; Farm Pride Omega-3 Eggs; Horizon Organic Milk; Kroger Active Lifestyle Premium Light OJ Beverage; Minute Maid Enhanced Pomegranate Blueberry Juice; Pediasure Children's Beverage; Pompeian OlivExtra Plus and Silk Soymilk. The list of products containing this GMO is multinational, with products in many countries across the globe. If you want to check whether a supplement, food, or beverage you use contains Life's DHA, the full list is here:
www.lifesdha.com

Sources:

http://current.com/green/93562887_gmos-being-used-in-organic-baby-food.htm

www.cornucopia.org/DHA/DHA_FullReport.pdf

www.naturalnews.com/027437_DHA_baby_formula_Martek.html

www.organicconsumers.org/documents/MartekStatmentfororganiccustomers.pdf

Study Finds Connection Between Prenatal Exposure To BPA And Aggression During Toddler Years

2011-12-02T21:56:00.000-08:00

(NaturalNews by Jonathan Benson, staff writer) Researchers from the Harvard University School of Public Health have made a disturbing new discovery about the plastics chemical bisphenol-A (BPA). It turns out that prenatal BPA exposure can spur aggressive and undesirable behaviors in girls after they are born and reach their toddler years.

Published in the journalPediatrics, the study analyzed a group of 244 mothers and their three-year-old daughters living in the Cincinnati, Oh., area. The study team gathered and studied gestational and childhood BPA exposures using urine samples from the mothers, and compared various exposure levels among the children to their respective behavioral profiles.

The team discovered that for each ten-fold increase in gestational BPA exposure levels, young girls exhibited significantly more indicators of anxiety and depression than their less- or non-exposed counterparts. Young girls exposed to high BPA levels were also more emotionally disturbed than the others and had a more difficult time controlling their inhibitions.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) jointly funded the study as part of an investigation into the safety of BPA.

"Parents should be concerned about these findings," says study author Joe Braun. "As the mothers concentration of BPA rose, the girls born to those mothers had higher scores on these behavior problem indices. If pregnant women or parents are concerned about exposure to BPA, they can try to reduce it by limiting their exposure to canned foods and packaged foods."

Although these particular findings were limited strictly to females, previous studies have found a similar connection between prenatal BPA exposure and poor behavior in both sexes. Back in 2009, a study published in the journalEnvironmental Health Perspectivesfound that BPA's endocrine-disrupting effects can harm both girls and boys.

Besides impairing proper neurological development, which is likely the reason for behavior problems later in life, prenatal BPA exposure was found to "masculinize" unborn females, and "feminize" unborn males. It appears, based on that study, that BPA actually blocks the proper growth and development of human sex hormones (http://www.sciencenews.org/view/gen...).

Both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Chemistry Council (ACC), however, continue to insist that BPA is safe, despite the plethora of scientific data showing that the chemical is harmful.

www.naturalnews.com

New Research – IVF Fertility Success with Electro-Acupuncture

2011-11-14T14:40:00.000-08:00

(September 28, 2011)

A randomized placebo-controlled study of 309 women concludes that electro-acupuncture “significantly improved the clinical outcome of ET (embryo transfer).”¹ IVF (in vitro fertilization) live birth rates jumped from 21.2 percent for women who did not use acupuncture to a 42 percent success rate for women who received acupuncture twice. The women received acupuncture 24 hours before the IVF procedure and 30 minutes after IVF. In another control group, women who only received acupuncture once, 30 minutes after IVF, had an increased success rate of 37.3 percent.

IVF is a treatment for infertility. This involves controlling a woman’s ovulatory process with medications, removing the ova (eggs) from the body, fertilizing the ova with sperm outside of the human body and then implanting the fertilized ova (zygote) into the uterus. Acupuncture for the treatment of infertility has received a great deal of press because singers Mariah Carey and Celine Dion used acupuncture with success. Mariah Carey used acupuncture to balance her body after a miscarriage in 2008. Carey said she did not use IVF but used acupuncture for stress relief and hormone therapy to boost her fertility. Celine Dion used acupuncture to achieve success with her 6th attempt at IVF. Both singers gave birth to healthy twins.

References:
Fertility and Sterility. Volume 96, Issue 4, October 2011, Pages 912-916. Increase of success rate for women undergoing embryo transfer by transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation: a prospective randomized placebo-controlled study. Rong Zhang Ph.D., Xiao-Jun Feng B.S., Qun Guan B.S., Wei Cui M.S., Ying Zheng M.S., Wei Sun B.S., Ji-Sheng Han M.D.
Research Centers:
Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology, Peking University Health Science Center, Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public Health, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Reproductive medical center, The second hospital affiliated to Shandong University of traditional Chinese medicine, Jinan, People's Republic of China.

www.healthcmi.com/index.php/acupuncturist-news-online

Why MSG Is Unhealthy

2011-11-06T23:00:00.000-08:00

(NaturalNews by: Shona Botes) Monosodium Glutamate, or MSG as it is most commonly known as, is found in almost all convenience foods, fast foods and processed foods. It is used as a flavour enhancer in cheap, processed foods to make their taste more appealing. While making bland foods taste more appealing, this chemically structured ingredient is shown to cause neurotransmitter damage and is also linked to the skyrocketing cases of obesity we see today.

MSG was discovered in 1908 by Kikunae Ikeda, a Japanese scientist at the Tokyo Imperial University. He managed to isolate the flavour from a seaweed broth, and with the help of Ajinomoto Corporation of Japan, he patented it in 1909. It was then that it became available commercially for the first time. It is used in most restaurant cooking, especially in vegetarian dishes and low-protein foods.

MSG masquerades on food ingredient labels under many names: including glutamic acid, glutamate, autolyzed yeast, autolyzed yeast protein, yeast extract, textured protein, monopotassium glutamate, sodium caseinate, natrium glutamate, flavours, so-called `natural` flavours, hydrolyzed corn, yeast food and ultra-pasteurized and any enzyme-modified ingredients. Many manufacturers of medications use MSG as a filler ingredient in tablets and other medications.

Even personal care products like shampoos, soaps and cosmetics are not exempt from containing MSG. Look for ingredients that include the words `hydrolyzed,` `protein` and `amino acids.`

MSG has been known to cause an extreme rise or drop in blood pressure, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), depression, dizziness, anxiety or panic attacks, migraines, mental confusion, stiffness, muscular swelling, lethargy, seizures, joint pain, flu-like body aches, chest pains, loss of balance, slurred speech, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, sneezing, nausea, vomiting, skin rashes, hives, blurred vision and difficulty in concentrating.

MSG is a glutamic acid which stimulates brain cell activity. This is why it is also known as an excitotoxin. Glutamates are responsible for the signaling of nerve impulses in certain neurons. Tests done in the 1950s showed that when rats were given a single dose of MSG, it destroyed the neurons in the inner layer of their retinas. The hypothalamus of the brain was also severely damaged in the process. It has been shown that humans are up to six times more sensitive to the effects of MSG than rats.

Evidence has shown that MSG disrupts the endocrine system and reduces the thermogenicity of brown fat while also suppressing the intake of food. In other words, even if you were to significantly reduce your caloric intake in order to lose weight, consuming any food which contains MSG or any of its derivatives would actually cause you to gain weight instead.

MSG is definitely a food additive which should be avoided as much as possible, especially where children are concerned.

For further reading:

www.advancedhealthplan.com/msgstudy.html

http://nikas-culinaria.com...

www.resourcesforlife.com/docs/item1225

www.ourlittleplace.com/article13.html

www.ehow.com/about_5432119_health-risks-monosodium-glutamate.html

www.msgtruth.org/avoid.htm

www.naturalmedicine.com/news/hot-topic/what-food-products-have-msg/

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/034031_MSG_health_effects.html#ixzz1d06CWbw9

Folic Acid Supplements During Pregnancy Help Prevent Language Delay In Children

2011-10-14T07:36:00.000-07:00

Taking folic acid during pregnancy results in decreased risk of giving birth to a child with a serious language delay, a Norwegian study found.

"Maternal use of supplements containing folic acid within the period from four weeks before, to eight weeks after conception was associated with a substantially reduced risk of severe language delay in children at age 3 years," said researcher Christine Roth, a Ph.D. student in mental health at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo.

The data came from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study of nearly 39,000 children, conducted from 1999 through 2008, in which mothers assessed their child's language skills using a scale. Of the children, 204 had a severe language delay, and 0.9 percent of those whose mothers took no supplements had severe language delays. But just 0.4 percent of children whose mothers took folic acid supplements alone or in combination with other supplements had severe language delays.

Folic acid is already recommended during pregnancy due to its proven ability to prevent neural tube defects by helping nerve cells restore themselves. Roch said she suspects the nutrient acts in a similar way to prevent language delays, but that more research is needed.

"This is an interesting study showing an association with severe language delays, but I don't know that there's enough here to show causality," Dr. Deborah Campbell, the director of the division of neonatology at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, told HealthDay.

The study appeared in the Oct. 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

BPA Alters Development Of In Vitro Ova And Could Increase Risk Of Down Syndrome

2011-10-13T14:39:00.000-07:00

Bisphenol A is omnipresent in the plastic of common products such as beverage bottles, cans or baby bottles

By Montserrat Garcia Caldes
Montserrat.garcia.caldes@uab.cat

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, in collaboration with the Vall d'Hebron Hospital Fetal Tissue Bank, the Department of Gynaecology and the Research Unit of Paediatric Endocrinology, analysed the effects of Bisphenol A (BPA), a polymer widely used to manufacture plastics, in an in vitro culture of ovaries. The research demonstrated that exposure to this substance gravely altered the development of oocytes and future ova, possibly diminishing the fertility of a woman's offspring and at the same time increasing the risk of Down Syndrome in following generations.

The research, published in Human Reproduction, was carried out with a culture of 21,570 in vitro oocytes. Results demonstrated that exposure to Bisphenol A in concentration levels permitted by health authorities is harmful to the fetus. BPA reduces the number of oocytes (cells which develop into ova) and therefore can affect negatively a woman's fertility and double the risk of chromosome exchange during the cell division process. Specific observations of chromosome 21 in the development of 90 oocytes revealed that exposure to BPA could increase the risk of Down Syndrome in the future offspring of the fetus.

The research provides conclusive data for the debate on how BPA affects the health of individuals. Previous studies on mice and worms demonstrated that reproduction is affected and that exposure to BPA during gestation affects the viability and quality of the cells which later become ova developing in the fetus.

For the first time, human cells were used in a research to analyse the process of cell division of the oocytes - meiosis - in which chromosomes join and exchange material, i.e. meiotic recombination. Oocytes were cultured for 7, 14 or 21 days in different environments, with the presence of BPA and in control cultures without the substance. Data obtained in vitro with human cells was practically identical to that obtained with in vivo animal models, while the effects on meiotic recombination, which could lead to the appearance of Down Syndrome, in humans are even greater than those observed in mice.

"According to our results, BPA does not directly affect the fertility of pregnant women, but that of their daughters and granddaughters. It is a multigenerational effect", explains UAB professor Montserrat Garcia Caldés, director of the research. She goes on to say that "the increase in oocyte mortality in the fetus could diminish ovarian reserve numbers and the quality of the future mother's ova. At the same time, alterations in the recombination of chromosomes in the process of cell division increase the possibility of numerical alterations, such as monosomy (only copy of a chromosome in embryo cells) or trisomy (three copies)."

Concentration levels applied in the experiments were within the safety limits marked by European (EFSA) and US (EPA) authorities. The research therefore suggests that staying within legal limits does not imply that exposure to the substance is innocuous.

"We are exposed to BPA on a daily basis, mainly through oral exposure, since we can find it in lunch boxes,beverage bottles and food storage containers", Miguel Àngel Brieño-Enríquez reminds us. First author of the article, Brieño-Enríquez, from the University of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, is now researcher at the UAB Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology. According to him, "although we generally metabolise the substance, pregnant women retain more fluids and the fetus could be affected by high concentration levels."

http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Non-food/Environment/bpa_alters_development_of_in_vitro_ova_0922110715.html

Bad For Baby - Hazardous Hidden Chemicals Lurk In The Personal Care Products of Children

2011-10-11T09:09:00.000-07:00

(NaturalNews by: Melissa Melton) Many parents these days are aware that spotlighting nutrition early in a baby's life can set the stage for lifelong health. A wide array of jarred baby foods at stores now come in organic options, and the word "natural" has been added to the packaging on many child products to stifle parental suspicions that what we buy for our little ones could be unhealthy for them. While nutrition becomes a prime focus for many parents, we rarely hear about what is lurking in the products used daily on their skin. Human skin is our largest organ and entrance to our bodies. Walk down the store aisle of any baby needs section, and there are tons of skin-related products -- baby bath, baby shampoo, baby wipes, baby lotion, diaper rash ointment, infant sunscreen -- and that is just for starters. These products are applied to our baby's skin multiple times every single day. So what is in them?

Mystery ingredient one:fragrance. Sounds harmless enough or even pleasant, right? Unfortunately, personal care companies use the word "fragrance" to describe a chemical cocktail of undisclosed dispersants such as diethyl phthalate (DEP). In high-dose exposures, DEP has presented as a mucous membrane irritant that can depress the immune system. In one study, liver tumors appeared in mice that had direct DEP skin contact daily for two years. Earlier this month, the Australian Department of Health and Ageing called for a consultation process regarding the health risks of DEP.

Mystery ingredient two:DMDM hydantoin. This chemical is known by at least 15 other label synonyms such as dimethylol and hydroxymethyl. According to the Environmental Working Group, DMDM hydantoin is an antimicrobial formaldehyde releaser and immune system intoxicant. Formaldehyde, a widely used gas most often recognized as an embalming agent, is a known carcinogen.

Mystery ingredient three: retinyl palmitate, otherwise known as vitamin A retinol and palmitic acid. Anything with "vitamin" in the name must be healthy by default, right? Wrong. When this concoction is exposed to UV rays, it breaks down, causing a toxic release of free radicals in the body which can damage DNA and lead to cancer. The Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances has published over 25 studies confirming retinyl palmitate's hazardous effects. A recent 2010 study by the National Toxicology Program found an increase in the development of skin tumors and lesions when retinyl palmitate is applied in the presence of sunlight. Ironically, this ingredient is commonly found in most commercially available sunscreens.

Mystery ingredient four: methylparaben. Studies have shown this low-cost preservative and commonly used food additive mimics estrogen in the body, negatively impacting reproductive glands.Reproductive Toxicologyreported a link between methylparaben and decreased sperm production in January 2009. In addition, a 2006 study showed that when methylparaben was applied to skin cells that were later exposed to sunlight, these cells died.

This short list shows just four of the ingredients commonly found in baby skin care products including wipes, soaps, diaper rash ointments, and sunscreens. The prevalence of known harmful ingredients in products used on the tiniest members of our race is mind-blowing. The human skin is an organ that allows easy access to the body just like the mouth, nose, and eyes. While parents are more aware of digestible nutrition via food, we also need to be aware of chemicals ingested through skin care products and their scientifically proven impact on the growing body.

[Editor`s Note: NaturalNews is strongly against the use of all forms of animal testing. We fully support implementation of humane medical experimentation that promotes the health and wellbeing of all living creatures.]

Sources

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=602&tid=112

www.environmentwriter.org/resources/backissues/chemicals/diethyl_phthalate.htm

www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/702196/DMDM_HYDANTOIN/#

www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/705545/RETINYL_PALMITATE_%28VITAMIN_A_PALMITATE%29/#

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890623808002682

http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/about_ntp/trpanel/2011/january/drafttr568.pdf

www.naturalnews.com/032996_sunscreen_cancer_risk.html

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/.......

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/033775_toxic_chemicals_children.html#ixzz1aUSQlHSf

Typical North American Diet Is Deficient In Omega-3 Fatty Acids

2011-10-04T07:58:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (Mar. 11, 2008) — New research from the Child & Family Research Institute shows the typical North American diet of eating lots of meat and not much fish is deficient in omega-3 fatty acids and this may pose a risk to infant neurological development. Omega-3 fatty acids are unsaturated fats found in some fish such as salmon and herring and in smaller amounts in eggs and chicken. This discovery is an important step towards developing dietary fat guidelines for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Current dietary recommendations evolved from the 1950's emphasis on reducing saturated fat intake to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

"Omega 3 fatty acids are important for the baby's developing eyes and brain," says Dr. Sheila Innis, the study's principal investigator, head of the nutrition and metabolism program at the Child & Family Research Institute at BC Children's Hospital, and professor, department of pediatrics, University of British Columbia.

"During pregnancy and breastfeeding, fat consumed by the mum is transferred to the developing baby and breastfed infant, and this fat is important for the baby's developing organs. Our next task is to find out why the typical North American diet puts mothers at risk. Then we can develop dietary recommendations to help women consume a nutritious diet that promotes optimal health for mums and babies."

The researchers found that the women who ate lots of meat and little fish were deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, and their babies didn't do as well on eye tests as babies from mothers who weren't deficient. The results were noticeable as early as two months of age. The study is ongoing as the researchers intend to follow the children's development until four years of age.

For the study, the researchers recruited 135 pregnant women and randomly assigned them to either a group that took an omega-3 fatty acid supplement or one that took a placebo. All the women continued eating their regular diets. The supplement added the equivalent of two fatty fish meals per week, an amount that the researchers estimated would prevent deficiency. The researchers tested the women's blood samples at 16 and 36 weeks of pregnancy and measured the amount of DHA (docasohexaenoic acid), a type of omega-3 fatty acids that's known to be important for brain and eye function.

After the babies were born, the researchers did vision tests to evaluate the infants' ability to distinguish lines of different widths. It's an innovative way of evaluating neurological maturity in babies who are unable to talk. Since the eyes are connected to the brain, they reflect the brains development.

The aim of this study was to contribute to a growing body of knowledge that focuses on the dietary needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women. More research is needed to identify recommended daily amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.

"For better health, it's important for pregnant and nursing mums -- and all of us -- to eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, eggs, and fish while minimizing consumption of processed and prepared foods." says Dr. Innis.

The study is published March 7th, 2008 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Martek Biosciences Corp. provided the supplements.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Child & Family Research Institute, Via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS

Reduce Stress Through Correct Diet

2011-10-04T07:36:00.000-07:00

(NaturalNews by: Fleur Hupston) Stress is activated by various factors. Too much stress paves the way for a variety of illnesses, diseases and emotional problems. Since we all react in different ways to stressful situations and it is something impossible to avoid completely, recognizing and addressing the symptoms of stress induced imbalances can help the body cope.

Of course, not all stress is bad for you. For example, getting married or winning a sports event are stressful situations in themselves, but they have happy results. However, many people subject their bodies to relentless stress on a continual basis, the effects of which are cumulative.

Dr. Selye, author of the book Stress Without Distress, defines stress as "the non-specific response of the body to any demands made upon it". In other words, the stress response is the human body's reaction to anything that throws the body off balance - injury, infection, fear, exercise or pain. The body reacts with an alarm phase, then a resistance phase during which it tries to remedy the imbalance; thereafter there is an exhaustion phase.

While most people realize that, for example, over-work and sleeping too little place stress on the body, few pause to consider the subtle but persistent effects of stress due to factors such as an incorrect diet or noise pollution. As far as the latter is concerned, it has been found that people living near noisy, high-traffic highways or near airports tend to have more illnesses, especially cardiovascular illness. This is because noise is a form of stress.

Stress and Diet

The hard-working liver is the organ that has to detoxify practically every chemical that we ingest. Each time an individual drinks too much, takes antibiotics, consumes excess fats or inhales chemicals, the liver has less energy to take care of 'alarm' hormones, and these hormones then stay in the blood stream longer than they should. Refined, processed foods, preservatives and additives are sources of continuous biochemical stress on the human body.

To avoid placing the body under this kind of subtle stress, follow some simple tips:

A vegetarian diet is generally considered to be a healthy diet. However, certain individuals are affected by natural compounds found in fruits and vegetables called salicylates, which means their diet may be severely restricted. A nutritionist would be able to arrange for a test to assess the suitability of a diet and advise accordingly.

Eliminate certain grains, dairy products or meats from the diet if there is sensitivity or intolerance to these types of foods.

Everyone should avoid eating large amounts of refined and processed foods. If one must eat foods that fall into these categories from time to time, eat simple, fresh foods in order to allow the body to heal. Go on a juice fast or liver detox diet regularly to give the hard-working liver a break.

Supplement your diet with appropriate vitamins and minerals to help the body withstand stress.

Sources for this article include:

Foods for Moods by William Vayda, 2007 edition, Published by Geddes & Grosset, pages 114 - 121

http://www.biologyreference.com/Se-...

http://www.bodydetoxdietplans.com/r...

http://salicylatesensitivity.com/info1/

About the author

Fleur Hupston is a professional freelance writer. She is passionate about natural, healthy living and is currently studying to be a naturopath. She divides her time between writing for Natural News and various other sites, home schooling her children and studying part time.

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/033732_diet_stress_reduction.html#ixzz1ZpAY2uHo

Supplement Could Be Key To Pregnancy For Older Women

2011-09-29T18:46:00.000-07:00

Co-enzyme Q10 results in healthier eggs, delays onset of menopause during experiments on mice

By Sharon Kirkey. Canadian scientists are working on a way to make older human eggs young again - and maybe even slow menopause - experiments that could make it easier for women in their 40s and perhaps beyond to have babies.

The answer may lie in a single vitamin.

Toronto fertility doctors say their experiments in mice show that co-enzyme Q10 makes older mice produce more and healthier eggs. The doctors are now preparing to test the supplement on women aged 35 and older undergoing fertility treatments.

The work comes as women are pushing back motherhood ever later in life.

Across Canada, pregnancies in women over 35 are increasing, and fertility clinics are seeing more women over 40.

"Our mean age for patients first coming to see us is now 37," said Dr. Robert Casper, medical director of the Toronto Centre for Advanced Reproductive Technology.

Five years ago, it was 33.

Not only do older women find it more difficult to get pregnant, they run an elevated risk of miscarrying or of conceiving embryos with chromosomal abnormalities that cause conditions such as Down syndrome.

A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have, and by the time she reaches her late 30s, the quality of those eggs begins an irreversible slide. They have less chance of leading to a normal live birth.

Eggs have 46 chromosomes to begin with, but they undergo a change when a woman ovulates. Each egg discards 23 of its own chromosomes and, if it's fertilized, takes in 23 from the sperm cell to replace them. But this takes a lot of energy.

The energy in eggs, and essentially in all human cells, is produced by mitochondria, little power packs inside all our cells. But these weaken with age so that they don't produce as much energy, resulting in a steady decline in tissue and organ function.

"Somebody who is 20 will have eggs with 20-year-old mitochondria in them, and somebody who's 40 will have 40-year-old mitochondria that will produce less energy," said Casper, professor in the division of reproductive sciences at the University of Toronto and a senior scientist at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital.

If there isn't enough energy to separate the chromosomes properly, some get left behind.

"They don't get pulled out," Casper explains.

Extra chromosomes can lead to aneuploidy, an abnormal number of chromosomes, the string-like structures that carry our genetic material.

"That's why Down syndrome increases with age - it's all an energy issue," Casper said.

"It's not that there is anything wrong with the eggs, it's just that the batteries have run down."

Casper's team has been studying mitochondria for years, trying to understand whether it's possible to boost energy production in human eggs.

Together with Dr. Andrea Jurisicova, an associate professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Toronto, the researchers originally tried injecting young mitochondria into old mouse eggs, using a preparation made from cordblood stem cells, which are fetal cells, so that the old eggs would have young, healthy mitochondria.

The technique worked - it improved the quality of the eggs and the embryos. The problem was, the embryos had two different mitochondrial DNA - essentially, two different mothers. When Canada's Assisted Human Reproduction Act outlawed mitochondrial gene replacement in 2004, Casper's team abandoned that avenue of research.

Now they're taking a different tack, using co-enzyme Q10.

Mitochondria need co-enzyme Q10 to make energy.

The vitamin is also a powerful anti-oxidant that may prevent mitochondrial DNA damage, Casper said. Co-enzyme Q10's production by the body also decreases as we get older, starting around age 25.

"One of the theories about why we get old and die in the first place is that our cells just run out of energy - the mitochondria stop working properly and there's just not enough energy for cellular function so organs start to fail," Casper said. "A simple explanation could be that there's not enough fuel from the co-Q10 around."

In a pilot study using 52-week-old mice - mid-life for a mouse, and the equivalent of 40 to 50 for a human - Casper's team gave half the group co-enzyme Q10, and the other half a placebo. Next they compared eggs retrieved from both groups of mice with eggs from 10-week-old mice.

"What we found was that just treating the mice with co-Q10 we got more eggs than when we gave them fertility drugs," Casper said. The nuclear spindles that pull the chromosomes apart were more like those in young eggs. The litter size was bigger, and the eggs from the vitamin-treated mice had improved mitochondrial function.

Even more surprising, when the researchers examined the mouse ovaries, there were significantly more egg follicles in the old mice treated with the co-Q10 - suggesting, Casper said, "that we actually were able to delay the onset of the equivalent of menopause in the mice."

The glitch is that the mice were pre-treated for 18 weeks - the equivalent of 10 years or so relative to a human lifespan.

"We might be able to delay menopause, but it might take a decade of pre-treatment," Casper said. The more immediate application might be in improving an older woman's fertility by improving her egg quality. When word got out about his early research on the Internet, women undergoing fertility treatments began taking co-enzyme Q10.

Casper is now trying to recruit women over 35 for a study testing whether taking 600 mg daily of the supplement can lead to a higher number of chromosomally normal eggs.

The rub is that, as soon as the researchers explain the mouse results, none of the women want to be randomized to the placebo group, "especially if they're 40."

The Toronto researchers need 50 women for their study; they're up to 25 so far, after a year-and-a-half of trying.

If the mice experiments hold up in the clinical trials, the implications would be significant, Casper said. "Women could get pregnant easier when they're older."

It also could buoy calls for more single-embryo transfers. For years, fertility clinics have been putting three, four or more embryos back into women over 40 in the hope that at least one would implant and a baby would result.

"If we could improve the percentage of normal eggs, you wouldn't have to put back so many embryos."

The other hope is that, "if we can increase the energy for chromosome separation, then we could eliminate Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities," said Casper.

Acupuncture and Pain Relief - Discover How It Really Works

2011-09-23T23:36:00.000-07:00

(NaturalNews by: James Schreiber) Let's be real here: Attending frequently with chronic low back pain can be distressing for both patient and doctor. Because conventional treatment options tend to be ineffective and limited, many sufferers now seek help from licensed acupuncturists, who have repeatedly provided the safest, quickest, and most effective treatment available. The secret to its effectiveness, however, lies in our brain.

It's common knowledge that acupuncture relieves pain and treats migraines, but until recently, we didn't know why - the mechanisms of acupuncture responsible for pain reduction were unclear. Dr. Aziz Asghar and his colleagues at the University of York and the Hull York Medical School discovered that it may be because of acupuncture's ability to deactivate areas in the brain associated with the processing of pain.

Their 2010 study, published inBrain Research, revealed that patients receiving acupuncture treatment experience a sensation known as "deqi", which triggers changes in certain neural structures, leading to the aforementioned brain deactivations. "The results are fascinating," says Asghar, who believes that the new research will help raise awareness of acupuncture as a widely accepted treatment option for patients with various ailments. "Whether such brain deactivations constitute a mechanism which underlies or contributes to the therapeutic effect of acupuncture is an intriguing possibility which requires further research," he adds.

Coping with Pain through Acupuncture

Another study, presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, confirmed the beneficial impact of acupuncture on reducing pain. Researchers in Germany utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare 18 individuals, who agreed to take part in the study, to determine how the brain processes pain with and without acupuncture.

During the fMRI sessions, scientists captured pictures of the brain while patients were exposed to an external pain stimulus. The interesting part? The obtained data revealed that significantly reduced was not only the pain perception, but the patient's expectation of pain, too.

"Activation of brain areas involved in pain perception was significantly reduced or modulated under acupuncture," explained Dr. Nina Theysohn, who led the research at University Hospital in Essen. "Our findings support that both these nonspecific and specific mechanisms exist, suggesting that acupuncture can help relieve pain."

Sources used:
University of York. "Study maps effects of acupuncture on the brain." ScienceDaily, 5 Feb. 2010. Web. 25 Aug. 2011.

Radiological Society of North America. "Acupuncture changes brain's perception and processing of pain, researchers find." ScienceDaily, 30 Nov. 2010. Web. 25 Aug. 2011.

JAMA and Archives Journals. "Real And Simulated Acupuncture Appear More Effective Than Usual Care For Back Pain." ScienceDaily, 15 May 2009. Web. 25 Aug. 2011.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/033574_acupuncture_pain_relief.html#ixzz1YqjKZAdn

Pesticide Exposure in Expectant Mothers Causes Lower IQ in Newborns

2011-09-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

(NaturalNews by: PF Louis) Three separate studies recently published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives indicate prenatal pesticide exposure to fetuses negatively impact a child's learning ability. Their IQs tend to be lower. The greater the umbilical cord pesticide blood levels, the lower the child's IQ.

Research Focus

These toxins originated mostly from conventional agriculture's heavily sprayed foods. But farmers and farm workers were studied the least.

The three studies focused mostly on urban dwellers who consume those sprayed foods. One was done in UC Berkley, CA, another by Columbia University in NYC, and the other by Mt. Sinai Hospital researchers, also in NYC. It doesn't get much more urban than that.

What's Bad About Pesticides

Most effective pesticides contain different types of organophosphates. As of the turn of our current century, many nations had banned chlorpyrifos and diazinon, from domestic use. Those two pesticides were so heavily loaded with organophosphates that just having bug and ant poisons stored in one's domicile caused health problems to occupants.

Organophosphates (OPs) are spinoffs from biochemical warfare research to create nerve gases for killing humans. Scientists soon discovered that the OPs killed bugs too. Of course, the usual toxicology index that protects the industry is based on the notion that if you don't drop dead soon after exposure to any chemical agent, it's safe!

But eventually, long term neurological deterioration was detected among OP users, even if they hardly used them. The link was made to these organophosphate nerve gas components in chlorpyrifos and diazinon.They were disallowed for home use, but not for agricultural use.

Back on the Farm

Since workers on farms using these pesticides are often subject to skin exposure and inhalation of organophophates, the CDC issued a paper categorizing symptoms of poisoning from biochemical nerve agents and pesticide toxicity.The symptoms described were the same for both.(CDC source below)

If you're having thoughts about Monsanto's Roundup, it is actually an herbicide for killing weeds.Roundup kills all plants.That's why Roundup Ready GM seeds are necessary. They enable using the herbicide while the GMO seed plants supposedly thrive.

Roundup's active ingredient is glyophosate, which is a type of organophosphate that isn't as nasty to the nervous system as other organophosphates. Over 30 organophosphate pesticides used in non-organic commercial farming are USDA approved.

So what if we eat daily while other environmental toxins overload our immune systems. Remember, if it doesn't do great harm immediately, it's safe.

If you have to go with conventionally grown produce occasionally, find out the most and least sprayed from the Environmental Working Group's dirty dozen and clean fifteen list here:http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/

Sources for more information include:

Three new studies reveal children are dumbed down by pesticide exposure in womb http://www.naturalnews.com/032158_pesticide_exposure_intelligence.html#ixzz1Y3DUmP4O
Guide to pesticides in produce http://www.naturalnews.com/033163_pesticides_fresh_produce.html

CDC nerve toxin paper http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/nerve/tsd.asp

Explaining organophosphates http://www.panna.org/resources/specific-pesticides/organophosphates

Explaining Glycophosate in Roundup http://archive.greenpeace.org/geneng/reports/gmo/gmo009.htm

Main stream media article reporting the three pesticide studies http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1379245/Pesticide-exposure-womb-linked-lower-IQ-children.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Pregnancy Stress & Anxiety - Acupuncture During Pregnancy, relief right to the point

2011-09-14T08:26:00.000-07:00

By Phyllis Edgerly Ring

In most medical treatment, the words "needle" and "relaxing" don't generally go together.

One Harvard University study estimates that Americans visit acupuncturists more than five million times a year. The National Institutes of Health reports ever increasing use of acupuncture by thousands of doctors, dentists and other practitioners to treat or prevent many illnesses.

But when Holly Buchanan of Newmarket, N.H., turned to acupuncture to induce labor at 42 weeks, she experienced "a wave of warmth and realization that gave me a moment to reflect on my body, instead of having my head filled with worry over my first baby being overdue."

As more women seek drug-free treatment for the conditions of pregnancy, this ancient Chinese healing art has much to offer, says acupuncturist and midwife Valerie Hobbs, director of the Boulder, Colo., campus of Southwest Acupuncture College. With no contraindications, it can treat many conditions for which there is rarely another lasting or effective remedy.

Chinese medicine identifies more than 2,000 acupuncture points connected with pathways called meridians that conduct vital energy or qi (pronounced "chee") throughout the body. Illness or symptoms are associated with an imbalance of this vital energy. Acupuncture uses hair-thin, disposable needles to stimulate specific areas associated with organ functions in order to restore balance and help the body maintain its own health.

Acupuncture treatment during pregnancy benefits both Baby and Mother, Hobbs says. "Certain [infant] organ systems develop at certain points in the pregnancy. Babies may be influenced by what is termed 'maternal toxins,' resulting in a childhood tendency for higher fevers when sick, more frequent childhood illness and a tendency for skin problems such as diaper rash and eczema. Regular balancing treatments throughout pregnancy enhance the health of the mother, prevent complications and influence the development of the baby."

Treatments are normally given once a month until the last month, when weekly sessions help prepare for labor, she says. An average session lasts 45 minutes, and women usually only feel a mild sensation such as a feeling of slight heaviness at the site of needle insertion.

Among the many benefits of acupuncture during pregnancy, a recent study has shown its particular effectiveness in relieving morning sickness or the potentially more dangerous hyperemesis gravidarum (severe vomiting during pregnancy). The Australian study published in the journal Birth reportes that of 593 women less than 14 weeks pregnant who participated, those who received traditional acupuncture reported having less frequent and shorter periods of nausea than the women who received no acupuncture. These improvements were felt immediately and lasted throughout the study's four-week duration. In the first trimester, acupuncture can also relieve fatigue, migraines and bleeding.

While some treatments may cause a slight increase in fetal movements, no treatment, unless intended to start labor, should significantly increase uterine activity, Hobbs cautions. In most states except California, acupuncturists must be nationally certified as a diplomate of acupuncture. An additional national certification is available in Chinese herbology, says Hobbs, who holds both certifications.

Third-trimester treatment can bring much-needed relief from sciatica, backache, pubic and joint pain and even carpal tunnel syndrome, and benefits are sometimes immediate, notes Hobbs. This is also the time when special attention is given to proper positioning of the baby. "By 32 to 34 weeks, the acupuncturist should begin to encourage a head-down position," she says. "In the last four to six weeks, the mother will receive treatments to normalize and optimize labor."

As it helps maintain balance during the second trimester, acupuncture can alleviate heartburn, hemorrhoids and stress. While acupuncture can also be used to treat edema, elevated blood pressure or excessive weight gain, the root cause of these may be deeper complications, says Hobbs. "Acupuncturists with adequate training in the care of pregnant women would recognize the potentially serious nature of these symptoms and only offer care concurrent with adequate Western medical care."

Research reported in a November 1998 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that an aspect of acupuncture called moxabustion, when applied to 130 pregnant women with breech presentations, significantly increased the number of head-first births. Used for centuries in China to turn breech babies, moxabustion employs long sticks of the herb moxa to produce a gentle, smoldering heat and a smoke that are held close to an acupuncture point in the little toe. The treatment, most effective at 32 to 36 weeks, should only be used in healthy pregnancies.

Acupuncture is used during labor itself mainly to facilitate pain relief and boost energy. But if needed, it can also help stimulate contractions without the use of drugs, says Hobbs. "This is best accomplished over two to three successive days of one-hour treatments, so early referral is essential."

Buchanan first sought acupuncture for relief from a prolonged asthma attack. Successful treatment made her more confident about acupuncture as a means to induce labor. "It has less impact on an unborn baby than the drugs that are used," she says. Although she didn't receive acupuncture during labor itself, Buchanan did receive acupressure during labor with her second child. "It helped tremendously with low back pain, as my babies have big heads and were posterior [deliveries]," says Buchanan.

Acupuncture can provide other benefits post-delivery, too. "Right after her baby was born, a friend of mine started to bleed very heavily," Buchanan says, remembering. "My acupuncturist got out her needles and poked my friend's toe, and it was like a faucet had been immediately turned off."

Postpartum is one of the most critical times for a woman to receive regular preventative care from a Chinese medical practitioner, says Hobbs. Acupuncturists can often offset years of "suboptimal" lifestyle and stress in the first few weeks postpartum, as well as intercept abnormalities in lochial flow to rectify years of menstrual irregularities and prevent them from occurring. "We theoretically prevent serious postpartum depression from occurring by addressing the normal recuperative cycle in the woman," she says.

In addition to restoring a mother's energy levels after the stress of birth and alleviating depression and anxiety, acupuncture can be used postpartum to relieve backache, perineal or other kinds of pain. Isabel Viana of Durango, Colo., has appreciated acupuncture's effectiveness ever since it relieved a 30-year-old pain in her lower back related to undiagnosed food allergies. Two years ago, she sought acupuncture again to help with healing after the Cesarean section that delivered her daughter.

"I recovered rather fast and completely," Viana says. "I had two treatments, once a week, starting about a week after I gave birth. Two weeks after surgery, my abdomen was pain free. I've heard from other moms who still feel pain in their scar years after surgery. My doctor, who had a C-section herself, said that seven years later, she still felt a numbing in the area."

Acupuncture can provide serious help, but Buchanan notes that it can have its light moments, too. During the induction of her labor, "my practitioner applied electrical stimulation to some of the needles, and the machine, for some reason, kept on playing 'Happy Birthday' over and over!" she says. "She couldn't get it to shut off, and it made us all laugh since we were trying to stimulate labor. I took it as a good sign."

www.pregnancytoday.com

Antioxidants May Improve Chances of Conceiving in Male Subfertility

2011-09-13T21:08:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (Jan. 19, 2011)Antioxidant supplements may benefit couples who have difficulty conceiving naturally, according to a new systematic review published January 18 2011 in The Cochrane Library. The review provides evidence from a small number of trials that suggest the partners of men who take antioxidants are more likely to become pregnant.

Male subfertility affects one in 20 men. Chemicals called reactive oxygen species (ROS) are said to cause damage to cells, and in particular sperm cells, which may result in lowered sperm counts and interfere with their ability to fertilise eggs. Antioxidants include natural and synthetic chemicals, including certain vitamins and minerals, which help to reduce the damage caused by ROS.

The review focused on 34 trials involving 2,876 couples undergoing assisted reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilisation and sperm injections. Most men in the trials had low sperm counts or low sperm motility. The trials explored the use of many different types of oral antioxidants, including vitamin E, L-carnitine, zinc and magnesium.

Compared to controls, a couple was more likely to have a pregnancy or live birth if the man took antioxidants. However, these results are based on just 964 of the couples in the review for pregnancies and 214 couples for live births. Other trials tested the effects of antioxidants on sperm motility and concentration and showed mostly positive effects, although study group sizes were small.

"When trying to conceive as part of an assisted reproductive program, it may be advisable to encourage men to take oral antioxidant supplements to improve their partners' chances of becoming pregnant," said lead researcher Marian Showell, who works in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Auckland in Auckland, New Zealand. "However, these conclusions are currently based on limited evidence."

There were not enough data comparing different antioxidants to reach any conclusions about the relative effectiveness of supplements. "We need more head-to-comparisons to understand whether any one antioxidant is performing better than any other," said Showell.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110118200813.htm

Vitamin D Intake in Pregnancy Prevents RSV Infections in Infants

2011-09-07T20:55:00.000-07:00

(NaturalNews by: T.M. Hartle)The Journal of Pediatrics published a study that found infants, who are deficient in vitamin D at birth, have a six times higher risk of developing RSV during their first year of life. Nearly 100,000 children under the age of one are hospitalized every single year due to RSV infections. Pregnant mothers must ensure they have adequate levels of the crucial vitamin throughout pregnancy in order to protect their unborn child.

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, generally causes mild cold or flu like symptoms in older children and adults. An RSV infection in babies can be much more serious and is more likely to result in complications including pneumonia. Infants under one year of age generally experience the greatest severity of RSV infections. Researchers identified low vitamin D levels at birth as a significant risk factor for RSV infections in the first year of life.

Researchers evaluated cord blood samples for vitamin D levels and found that over 50% had deficient levels of vitamin D. Researchers also surveyed the mothers on vitamin D supplementation and found that nearly half of the mothers surveyed did not take a vitamin D supplement during pregnancy. Dr. Jennifer Shu, a practicing pediatrician and CNN health expert, stated: 'RSV is just one of the infections of early childhood that may be impacted by in-utero vitamin D.' Vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune function and reduced inflammation.

A study published in the Journal of Immunology found that vitamin D decreased the inflammatory response to viral infections. Researchers concluded that vitamin D could reduce inflammation and reduce the severity of RSV infections. Recent research highlights the critical role vitamin D plays in proper immune function. A reduction in RSV infections could be attained if mothers take the initiative to ensure adequate sun exposure or supplement intake.

Vitamin D enhances immune function, reducing RSV infections as well as other illnesses. T cells in the body seek out and destroy any invading bacteria or virus. Vitamin D has shown in recent research to trigger T cell function thereby enhancing the immune system. Adequate vitamin D levels are crucial to the function of the immune system and higher levels protect infants and children from a myriad of infections.

Vitamin D is produced in the skin through exposure to sunlight. It is important to get adequate sun exposure without allowing the skin to burn. Sun exposure should be 10-15 minutes in full sun for adequate vitamin D production. Pregnant women should include a dietary supplement of vitamin D in a dosage recommended by a health practitioner. There is much debate as to how much vitamin D is necessary for optimal health. The Institute of Medicine recommends 400 to 600 IU's for women during pregnancy to provide adequate levels and prevent RSV and low immune function in infants.

Sources:

www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7379094/Vitamin-D-triggers-and-arms-the-immune-system.html

www.jimmunol.org/content/184/2/965.abstract

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002531/

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/09/vitamin-d-in-pregnancy-may-protect-infants-from-virus/Learn

Zen Motivation: The Stress Free Way To Get Things Done

2011-08-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

(NaturalNews by: Mike Bundrant) During my high stress years as an executive in corporate America, my least favorite part of the day was hearing the alarm clock go off in the morning. Getting up to face a new day of tough work challenges and even tougher office politics wasn't exactly a walk in the park for me. So, I needed a little extra motivation in the morning to put my feet on the floor and head for the coffee pot. How did I do it? Easy. I scared the hell out of myself.

Here's the scenario. I am awakened from sweet slumber by the alarm clock. Naturally, I hit the snooze button. It goes off again five minutes later. You know the deal.Snooze. Alarm. Snooze. Alarm. Snooze. As I keep this up, an image begins to grow in my mind of the consequences of being late for my morning meetings. With each passing moment, the pressure increases until I am imagining the utter embarrassment of being 30 minutes late to a meeting that I am supposed to facilitate. Soon, I am witnessing my whole career flash before my eyes. With a shot of pure adrenaline, I bolt out of bed, bypass the coffee and rush to save my job.

You can imagine after a few years with this self-motivational style, my adrenal glands were not happy. Burn out was inevitable. We all know the benefits of high stress - a lower immune system, poor sleep, high blood pressure - I could go on. My way of motivating myself came at a high price.

Actually, negative motivation styles are common and they are all inherently stressful and ineffective. NLP trainers have narrowed down four typical negative self-motivational styles. I'd like to mention each one and then show how Zen motivation transforms them all.

The Four Negative Motivational Styles

1. The Negative Motivator: You become motivated to act only after imagining the horrible consequences of waiting any longer. This was my getting out of bed strategy.

2. The Dictator: You give yourself "orders" in a stern, commanding voice, much like a military commander. The commands often contain words like: must, have to, should, etc...Not many people like to be ordered around. It is fascinating that many people who report ordering themselves around also report "rebelling" against their own orders.

3. Imagine Doing It: You imagine doing an unpleasant task and feel bad, rather than imagining the task completed and feeling compelled to get that result so you can feel good. If you need to do the dishes and don't enjoying washing, rinsing and drying, then imagining yourself doing just that will not be very motivating.

4. Overwhelm: You imagine an entire project, for example, as one global mass of work and do not chunk it down into one step at a time. The feeling of overwhelm is discouraging.

These four common, stressful and unproductive self-motivational strategies tend to defeat their own purpose. Even when they "work" they do not promote health and productivity in the long run.

Secret of Zen Motivation

Amazingly, Zen motivation overcomes all four negative motivational styles in one stoke. The key is getting to a Zen-like state. Again, NLP offers some handy tools for accomplishing this.

Zen has much to do with being present and being present has much to do connecting to what is going on in your environment right now. Tuning in to the external world in a particular way automatically calms the mind and eases bodily tensions, allowing a peaceful, grounded, present state of mind to emerge. To prepare for Zen motivation, experiment with some alternatives from among the following.

1. Look at your surroundings, but only notice colors, textures and shapes.

2. Listen to sounds in your immediate environment, but not voices. Tune into mundane sounds like the hum of your computer, the whirl of a fan or the running refrigerator motor. You can also listen to the sound of the wind blowing or the distant traffic, even crickets etc...

3. Feel outside textures and temperatures, such as the fabric of a piece of furniture or the carpet. Perhaps the coolness of a glass of ice water, etc...It also works to feel environmental pressure, such as the pressure of your body against the seat or the general feeling of gravity pulling you toward the earth.

Pick just one external sensory experience such as those listed above and merely tune into it for 20-30 seconds. If your attention wanders, that's fine. Just return to noticing the particular external sight, sound or feeling you had been noticing. After several moments, you will feel yourself "settle" a bit. You will relax and your bodily tension will ease. This is the beginning of a more present, Zen-like awareness.

From here, it's simple. While in this state, gently consider what you need to do, then follow your natural instinct! The steps to Zen motivation are simple:

1. Enter a Zen-like state using your external senses
2. Gently consider what you need to do
3. Follow your natural instinct to act.

Zen motivation is a wonderful alternative to forcing yourself, psyching yourself out or pumping yourself up. These attempts at self-motivation can work, but the pressure put on your mind and body is enormous. So, instead of hitting the snooze button until you just know the world will end if you don't get up, why not gently feel the texture of the sheets against your skin as you awaken? Then, tune into the sounds within your awareness, allowing your mind to settle into each one. These experiences will welcome a new day and actually make getting out of bed a pleasure.

When you are in the shower, pay attention to the feeling of the water running down your back. Enjoy the scalp massage you give yourself while washing your hair. Listen to the water going down the drain. Give into your senses! It's a much richer experience than the usual mind wanderings of the average shower taker.

The sights, sounds and feelings of the world are always with you. Use them to your advantage. Get out of your head and tune into your environment. Once you are grounded in the present, motivating yourself is as simple as considering what needs to be done.

About the author:
Mike Bundrant is a retired mental health counselor, NLP trainer and publisher of Healthy Times Newspaper.

Mike offers online NLP training and certification with the iNLP Center. Visit the iNLP site to receive a free alternative health articles. For more on the Healthy Times printed newspaper in Southern California, visit Healthy Times Newspaper.

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/033444_stress_zen.html#ixzz1WX0NklZP

Beat Stress And Improve Health By Cycling

2011-08-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

(NaturalNews by: Shona Botes) Many health and fitness experts agree that cycling is one of the best forms of exercise available. Bicycles were first introduced in Europe during the late 19th century. Shortly thereafter, they made their way to the US. Not only does cycling burn a significant amount of calories, but it also helps to improve fitness levels and overall health.

Studies have shown that cycling is able to promote circulation in the body, eliminate the appearance of cellulite from the thigh region and even lower blood pressure. It is also able to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes by up to 50%. Those who cycle regularly display fitness levels equivalent to that of being ten years younger.

Cycling helps to strengthen the immune system and can even decrease the formation and activity of tumour cells within the body. It also has the ability to reduce one's Body Mass Index (BMI). Middle-aged women who took up cycling for just a few minutes each day gained approximately 1.5 pounds less over a 16 year period than those who didn`t. Those who only used cycling as a form of commuting experienced a significant improvement in their overall health.

Cycling is able to increase bone density and strength. It also helps to relax mind and body, which makes it an ideal way to fight against depression and other psychological conditions. It can also be beneficial to those suffering from any form of hormonal imbalance. It provides the balance between relaxation and exertion, which is important in maintaining the body`s inner equilibrium. It also greatly improves stamina levels to promote an overall sense of well-being. Those who cycle experience less strain on back muscles as well as reduced impact on knee and ankle joints. This makes it the ideal form of exercise for those who are slightly overweight.

Cycling can be a highly social activity because of the fact that you sometimes meet fellow cyclists along the way while cycling. It is also a lot cheaper to maintain a decent bicycle than a car. Those who cycle help our environment by reducing the amount of carbon monoxide emissions and other pollution created by driving.

It should be taken into account however, that you should always consult with a physician if you suffer from any form of back problem, joint condition or arthritis before taking up cycling as a form of exercise.

About the author

Shona Botes is a budding blogger, as well as a fabulous frugalist. Her spare time is spent engaged in blogging, cycling, photography, as well as green living and natural healing and remedies.
Her blog may be viewed here
Some of her photography work may be viewed here
Other articles written by her may be viewed here

Sources:

www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/17/bike-to-work-week_n_863152.html

www.24hrfitness.co.uk/fitness/cycling.html

cyclehelmets.org/1015.html

www.losethattyre.co.uk/the-mulitple-health-benefits-of-cycling/
Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/033430_stress_cycling.html#ixzz1WUA0svDn

Pregnant Women and Strokes

2011-08-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

(NaturalNews by: Mark Sircus., AC, OMD)We have known for a while that increasingly, children are having strokes, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. In a study of over 200 children who had suffered a stroke, nearly 80 per cent were found to have abnormalities in the brain's arteries. These abnormalities were due to an inflammation, a narrowing or a tear in the artery walls and researchers believe they were caused by a variety of infections or diseases. Now we have to sadly look at what's happening to pregnant women.

Women rarely have strokes during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth, but researchers have seen a big jump in such events over the past 12 years, according to a U.S. study published the 27th of July. A total of 4,085 pregnancy-related stroke hospitalizations were documented in the United States in 1994-95, and that number rose 54 percent to 6,293 in 2006-07, said the study inStroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Of course medical officials and doctors have not the slightest idea of what might be the most basic cause of this alarming rise. They speculate that more women are overweight when they become pregnant, which can add to the likelihood of complications from diabetes and high blood pressure.

"Now, more and more women entering pregnancy already have some type of risk factor for stroke, such as obesity, chronic hypertension, diabetes or congenital heart disease," reported Dr. Elena Kuklina, the study's author. The question remains, what is the underlying condition or conditions that lead to chronic hypertension, diabetes or congenital heart disease?

What good is the medical press when they publish an article like this without going further to address the underlying causes of these strokes pregnant woman are suffering from? This recently published information about strokes fails to mention, for example, the detriment of drinking diet soda and the increased risk of stroke that comes from drinking products from Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola and many other companies. Researchers found that people who said they drank diet soda every day had a 48 percent higher risk of stroke or heart attack than people who drank no soda of any kind. The beverage findings should be "a wakeup call to pay attention to diet sodas," said Dr. Steven Greenberg. He is a Harvard Medical School neurologist and vice chairman of the International Stroke Conference in California, where the research was presented on Wednesday. A simple solution, health experts say, is to drink water instead. Aspartame, a toxic chemical, is found in over 6,000 diet products and is being consumed by an estimated two-thirds of the population.

The National Institute of Health tells us that magnesium deficiency can cause metabolic changes that may contribute to heart attacks and strokes. Dr. Tavia Mathers and Dr. Renea Beckstrand from Brigham Young University published in theJournal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitionersin 2009 that magnesium has been heralded as an ingredient to watch in 2010 and noted that magnesium is helpful for reduction of the risk of stroke.

Dr. Saver and colleagues investigated the neuroprotective effect of early magnesium infusion in ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke in the field; three quarters of the infarct cohort were treated with magnesium within two hours of onset, and nearly one-third within one hour of onset. Dramatic early and good results were reported in the early (42% of According to the current European treatment guidelines, no
neuroprotective treatment is recommended for stroke patients.

Dr. Jerry Nadler says, "Higher dietary intake of magnesium was among the factors associated with a reduced risk of stroke in men with hypertension. In a survey of almost 45,000 men ages 40 to 75,the overall risk of stroke was significantly lower for men in the highest quintile of intake of potassium, magnesium, and cereal fiber, but not of calcium, compared with men in the lowest quintile of intake. A similar relationship was reported this year by Meyer and colleagues, who observed that a diet rich in magnesium, grains, fruits, and vegetables reduced the likelihood of developing type-2 diabetes in a group of almost 36,000 women. While no consistent effect of magnesium on blood pressure has been noted among persons with diabetes, a significant blood pressure reduction was noted in diabetic patients with hypertension after dietary sodium was replaced with potassium and magnesium."

The results of a 10-year study published in the August 28, 2008 issue of theNew England Journal of Medicinefoundthat magnesium administered to women delivering before 32 weeks of gestation reduced the risk of cerebral palsy by 50 percent.The Beneficial Effects of Antenatal Magnesium (BEAM) trial was conducted in 18 centers in the U.S., including Northwestern Memorial, and is the first prenatal intervention ever found to reduce the instance of cerebral palsy related to premature birth. Magnesium sulfate and magnesium chloride are used in obstetrics to stop premature labor and prevent seizures in women with hypertension.

Pregnancy cannot be normal unless magnesium levels are adequate. The concentration of magnesium in the placental and fetal tissues increases during pregnancy. The requirements for this element in a pregnant woman's organism generally exceed its supply; hence, pregnancy should be considered a condition of "physiological hypomagnesemia."

Magnesium is Always Good for Mother and Fetus

Magnesium is used intravenously to prevent hypertensive crises or seizures associated with toxemia of pregnancy. Magnesium is needed for reproductive fertility and the use of pharmaceutical contraceptives is known to diminish magnesium stores in our body. The rate of premature births has increased more than 30 percent since 1981, but a central obvious cause is ignored by doctors. Magnesium plays a crucial role in fertility, pregnancy, and in early newborn life and many of the problems associated with pregnancy and birth can be resolved by magnesium supplementation.

In 1991 Dr. Jean Durlach said, "Primary magnesium deficiency may occur in fertile women. Gestational magnesium deficiency is able to induce maternal, fetal, and pediatric consequences that might last throughout life. Experimental studies of gestational Mg deficiency show that Mg deficiency during pregnancy may have marked effects on the processes of parturition and of postuterine involution. It may interfere with fetal growth and development from teratogenic effects to morbidity: i.e. hematological effects and disturbances in temperature regulation. Clinical studies on the consequences of maternal primary Mg deficiency in women have been insufficiently investigated." Magnesium is frequently used as the treatment for stopping premature labor and the seizures of eclampsia at the point it starts, but might be more helpful in preventing these if supplemented throughout the course of pregnancy.

Dr. Durlach has also shown the increased safety of using magnesium chloride over magnesium sulfate. There is also evidence that magnesium deficiency/depletion is involved in the etiology of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The evidence is clear that inadequate magnesium intake is common
during pregnancy and that the plasma levels of magnesium tend
to fall, especially during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Dr. Mildred S. Seelig

It really is a crying shame that contemporary medicine cannot put its shoes on and tie the laces when it comes to magnesium medicine. When it comes to helping pregnant mothers weather the stress of pregnancy, and navigating around the potential risks of strokes, seizures and many other complications associated with pregnancy and birth, there is nothing like magnesium.

Doctors who practice pharmaceutical-driven medicine are like builders who forget to build the foundation. They prescribe medicines that further strip the body's cells of their magnesium stores without paying any attention to the deficiencies that are there. That's medical negligence and malpractice all rolled into one.

For all the references, sources and more articles please visit Dr. Mark Sircus blog.

About the author:
About the author:
Mark A. Sircus, Ac., OMD, is director of the International Medical Veritas Association (IMVA)http://www.imva.info/.

Dr. Sircus was trained in acupuncture and oriental medicine at the Institute of Traditional Medicine in Sante Fe, N.M., and at the School of Traditional Medicine of New England in Boston. He served at the Central Public Hospital of Pochutla in Mexico, and was awarded the title of doctor of oriental medicine for his work. He was one of the first nationally certified acupuncturists in the United States. Dr. Sircus's IMVA is dedicated to unifying the various disciplines in medicine with the goal of creating a new dawn in healthcare.

He is particularly concerned about the effect vaccinations have on vulnerable infants and is identifying the common thread of many toxic agents that are dramatically threatening present and future generations of children. His book, The Terror of Pediatric Medicine, is a free e-book offered on his web site. Humane Pediatrics will be an e-book available early in 2011 and then quickly as possible put into print.

Dr. Sircus is a most prolific and courageous writer and one can read through hundreds of pages on his various web sites.

He has recently released a number of e-books including Winning the War Against Cancer, Survival Medicine for the 21st Century, Sodium Bicarbonate, Rich Man’s Poor Man’s Cancer Treatment, New Paradigms in Diabetic Care and Bringing Back the Universal Medicine: IODINE.

Dr. Sircus is a pioneer in the area of natural detoxification and chelation of toxic chemicals and heavy metals. He is also a champion of the medicinal value of minerals and seawater.

Transdermal Magnesium Therapy, his first published work, offers a stunning breakthrough in medicine, an entirely new way to supplement magnesium that naturally increases DHEA levels, brings cellular magnesium levels up quickly, relieves pain, brings down blood pressure and pushes cell physiology in a positive direction. Magnesium chloride delivered transdermally brings a quick release from a broad range of condition. His second edition of Transdermal Magnesium Therapy will be out shortly. In addition he writes critically about the political and financial crises occurring around us.

International Medical Veritas Association:http://www.imva.info/
http://publications.imva.info/

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/033402_pregnant_women_strokes.html#ixzz1VzDHalg3

New research: Moving For Just 15 Minutes A Day Can Save Your Life

2011-08-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

(NaturalNews by: S. L. Baker,) Imagine a Big Pharma prescription that will slash your risk of dying by 14 percent and give you at least an extra three years of life. How much you would be willing to pay for it? Many people would find a way to take this disease-preventing pill, no matter what the cost. Although there is no such drug, there is a free non-chemical prescription that can provide you with the amazing health benefits described above. There's just one catch: you have to take responsibility for your health and get moving for 15 minutes a day.
That's the dramatic conclusion of a study just published in the online version ofThe Lancet. Dr. Chi-Pang Wen of the National Health Research Institutes in Taiwan and China Medical University Hospital, and Dr. Jackson Pui Man Wai of the National Taiwan Sport University, headed a research team that investigated a large range of physical activity levels to see just how much exercise produces important health benefits. Previous research has come up with unclear results about whether exercising less than 150 minutes a week can help you live longer.

The new study involved over 400,000 Taiwanese people who participated in standard medical screening in Taiwan between 1996 and 2008, with an average follow-up of 8 years. Based on how much the research subjects said they exercised each week, the study participants were placed into one of five categories of exercise: virtually no exercise (inactive), or low, medium, high, or very high physical activity. Next, the scientists calculated hazard ratios (HR), a statistical measurement used to figure out the odds of an event occurring within a group at a particular time, to see what the risk of death was for every group that was active compared with the inactive group. Then the research team calculated life expectancy for each research participant group.

The results? Compared with individuals in the inactive group, those who were active had dramatic health benefits.Even the research participants in the low activity group who only exercised for an average of 92 minutes per week (about 15 minutes a day) had a 14 percent reduced risk of all-cause mortality, a 10 percent reduced risk of dying from any type of cancer and, on average, a three year longer life expectancy.

What's more, every additional 15 minutes of exercise each day beyond the minimum amount reduced death from all causes by another four percent and reduced death from cancer by another by one percent. These benefits were found across all age groups and among both men and women. The benefits were even applicable to the people with risks for cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, those in the inactive group who had a 17 percent increased risk of mortality compared with individuals in the low exercise group.

"In Taiwan, if inactive individuals engage in low-volume daily exercise, one in six deaths from all causes could be prevented," the scientists said in a statement to the media. "If the minimum amount of exercise we suggest is adhered to, mortality from heart disease, diabetes, and cancer could be reduced. This low volume of physical activity could play a central part in the global war against non-communicable diseases, reducing medical costs and health disparities."

In commentary about the study, Dr. Anil Nigam and Dr. Martin Juneau of the Montreal Heart Institute and Universite de Montreal in Quebec, Canada stated: "The knowledge that as little as 15 minutes per day of exercise on most days of the week can substantially reduce an individual's risk of dying could encourage many more individuals to incorporate a small amount of physical activity into their busy lives. Governments and health professionals both have major roles to play to spread this good news story and convince people of the importance of being at least minimally active."

For more information:
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/l...

Learn more:http://www.NaturalNews.com/033333_exercise_lifespan.html#ixzz1VJdNrsNQ

In IVF Treatment, Mind/Body Program Increases Pregnancy Rates

2011-08-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

There is no doubt that undergoing infertility treatment is stressful, with high rates of anxiety and depression reported by many patients. Mind/body therapies designed to help women reduce stress earlier in the treatment process result in higher pregnancy rates, but little is known specifically about the impact of these therapies on women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

A new study published June 1 in Fertility and Sterility, a publication of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, shows that women who participate in a mind/body program for stress reduction while undergoing IVF treatment have a significantly higher pregnancy rate than those who do not (52% versus 20%).

"The intersection of stress and fertility is a controversial one, but we do know that stress can reduce the probability of conception," said principal investigator Alice Domar, Ph.D, OB/GYN, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Executive Director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health at Boston IVF.

In 1987, Domar introduced the Mind/Body Program for Infertility at the BIDMC main campus in Boston, later moving it to Boston IVF in Waltham in 2002. The goal of the program is to help couples learn effective relaxation and stress management strategies while attempting to conceive. The ten week stress management program focuses on "cognitive behavior therapy, relaxation training, negative health behavior modification and social support components."

To study the effects of the Mind/Body Program on IVF pregnancy outcomes, Domar's team approached women who were about to begin treatment at Boston IVF and who met the study criteria: 40 years or under with normal hormonal levels. None of the participants had previously participated in a mind/body group.

Participants were randomized into a study group that entered the Mind/Body Program for Infertility or a control group who received no mind/body intervention. All patients underwent IVF treatment. Domar tracked the groups through two IVF cycles.

In the first cycle, there was no difference in conception rates between the study group and the control group. "We noticed that only half of the study group had begun the Mind/Body Program and those who had started the program were only a couple of sessions in," said Domar. "This seemed to rule out the possibility of a placebo affect. The mere suggestion of help with stress, it seems, does not increase the pregnancy rate."

In the second cycle, the majority of the patients in the study group had at least five sessions under their belts. "By that point, they had acquired some real life skills to deal with their stress," said Domar. "And that's when we saw the significant increase in pregnancy rates."

Domar found that 52 percent of the women participating in the Mind/Body Program for Infertility became pregnant compared with 20 percent of the control group participants, a statistically significant difference.

"The study supports the theory that psychological distress may be an important detriment to IVF outcome," the authors write.

"We worked with a small group, about a 100 women total, so we'll need to continue with a larger group of patients to see if the results bear out," said Domar. "But there is a strong indication that stress levels and IVF outcomes are linked and that intervening with mind/body therapies can help."

The study was funded through a grant by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.

Source:
Kelly Lawman
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/224787.php

Large Study Confirms That Omega 3s Produce Healthy Babies

2011-08-10T10:39:00.000-07:00

(NaturalNews) Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids is crucial for the development and maintenance of the brain and nervous system, especially in young children (http://www.naturalnews.com/016353.html). And a new study published in the journal Pediatrics adds to this, having found that pregnant women who supplement with Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) during their pregnancies produce children that are much healthier and less prone to sickness than those born to women who do not supplement with, or otherwise consume enough, DHA.

Dr. Usha Ramakrishnan, associate professor at Emory University's Hubert Department of Global Health, and her team conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial on 1,100 pregnant women and 900 infants from Mexico. Some women received 400 milligrams (mg) of DHA, while others received a placebo, during the 18 to 22 weeks of gestation through childbirth.

After all the women eventually gave birth, children born to mothers in the DHA group experienced less overall sickness, and shorter duration of sickness. Some of the results are as follows:

-At one month of age, babies from the DHA group were 25 percent less likely to catch a cold or have a cough with phlegm or wheezing.

-At three months of age, babies from the DHA group experienced 14 percent less illness time than those from the placebo group.

-And at six months, DHA babies had less fevers, nasal secretions, breathing problems, and rashes than babies from the control group.

"This is a large scale, robust study that underscores the importance of good nutrition during pregnancy," remarked Ramakrishnan. "Our findings indicate that pregnant women taking 400 mg of DHA are more likely to deliver healthier infants."

The form of DHA used in the study was derived from algae, which is not necessarily an ideal form. In some cases, companies are actually using genetically-modified (GM) algae to create omega-3 oils. Monsanto is even working on gaining FDA approval for a GM soybean that artificially produces omega-3s which is why it is important to know the source of your omega-3s before consuming them (http://blogs.forbes.com/jeffmcmahon...).

DHA, as well as the entire gamut of omega-3s that includes arachidonic acid (ARA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), can be found in natural foods like grass-fed meats, salmon, flax, and hemp. They can also be found from high-quality fish and cod liver oils, as well as salmon oil (http://www.naturalnews.com/omega-3.html).

Learn more:http://www.NaturalNews.com/033281_omega-3s_healthy_babies.html#ixzz1UeI1QcQ2

Sources for this story include:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-08/eu-ssp080111.php

Health Buzz: BPA Linked to Sperm Problems

2011-08-08T16:21:00.000-07:00

Bisphenol A, or BPA, May Hurt Sperm

by Kurtis Hiatt

Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in everything from plastic bottles to tin cans, may harm sperm, suggests a study of about 200 Chinese factory workers. The five-year study, published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, compared men who were directly exposed to the chemical on the job to men who were not; it found that those with high levels of BPA in their urine were more likely to have poor semen quality—including low sperm concentration and issues with sperm mobility—than those who had low levels of BPA in their urine, NPR reports. Although previous studies have linked BPA to reproductive problems in male rats, this study is among the first to suggest a negative effect on sperm in humans, according to a press release from Kaiser Permanente, which conducted the study. However, the workers in the study were exposed to much higher BPA levels than the average American, according to NPR, and it's unclear if the impact on sperm would affect their fertility. Still, "The general public should probably try to avoid exposure to BPA as much as they can," De-Kun Li, an epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanante's Division of Research in Oakland, Calif., told the Washington Post. (Li and colleagues have published two similar studies linking BPA to sexual problems in men.)

BPA's potentially detrimental effects extend beyond sperm. In January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voiced concern about its adverse effects, especially on fetuses, infants, and young children. A 2008 study even linked the chemical to diabetes and heart disease. Here are some good rules of thumb for reducing your exposure to BPA, U.S. News's Deborah Kotz writes.

From: 5 Ways to Keep BPA Out of Your Food

1. Buy your tomato sauce in glass jars. Canned tomato sauce is likely to have higher levels of BPA because the high acidity of the tomatoes causes more of the chemical to leach from the lining of the can. Think beyond plain tomato sauce to any canned pasta—like ravioli and those fun-looking kids' meals.

2. Consume frozen or fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned. In addition to their BPA-free benefit, fresh and frozen produce usually have more nutrients, which often get lost in the process of canning. Eden Foods does offer canned beans that are BPA-free.

3. Purchase beverages in plastic or glass bottles. Canned soda and juice often contain some BPA. You don't need to worry, though, about disposable plastic water bottles. Most don't contain bisphenol A, and those that do are usually marked on the bottom with a number 7 recycling code.

4. Use powdered infant formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid. A separate assessment from the Environmental Working Group found that liquid formulas contain more BPA than powdered brands.

5. Think in terms of moderation. You don't need to avoid all canned foods. Just consult the chart below and follow a sensible approach, eating less of those foods that are high in BPA. Click here for the full report on canned foods.

Reduce Birth Defects with Folic Acid

2011-08-04T17:56:00.000-07:00

By Richard N. Waldman, MD
President, The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Approximately 2,500 children each year in the US are born with defects of the neural tube—the part of a growing fetus that will become the brain and spinal cord—which can cause severe mental and physical disability or death. Spina bifida, the most common form of neural tube defect, occurs when the bones of the spine do not completely form around the spinal cord. Anencephaly, another defect, is a fatal condition in which an infant is born missing parts of the brain.

Folic acid—an essential B vitamin necessary for proper cell growth and vital to the development of a baby’s neural tube and central nervous system—is an integral component in preventing birth defects. Women who get enough folic acid have a 50–70% reduced risk of having a baby with neural tube and other defects, such as cleft lip and palate.

Folic acid is most effective when it is abundant in a woman’s body before she gets pregnant and during the first three months of pregnancy, around the time when the neural tube begins to develop. Neural tube defects occur in the first weeks of fetal development, often before a woman even knows she is pregnant. But because nearly half of all pregnancies in the US are unplanned, many women are at risk of beginning a pregnancy with a folic acid deficiency.

Therefore, The College recommends that all women of childbearing age take a daily multivitamin that contains 400 micrograms (.4 milligrams) of folic acid, regardless of whether they are currently planning a pregnancy or not. Taking folic acid before pregnancy ensures that the nutrient is present, even if an unplanned pregnancy occurs or if a pregnancy is not discovered for several weeks.

It’s also a good idea to eat a diet rich in natural sources of folic acid including leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, and beans, and folic acid-enriched grain products, such as breads, cereals, flours, pastas, and rice. Most women will still need a supplement because it can be difficult to meet the daily requirement through food sources alone.

Women who have had a child with a neural tube defect or certain other birth defects, are pregnant with twins, have particular medical conditions (such as sickle cell disease), or take some forms of medication (such as antiseizure medication) require 10 times the amount of folic acid recommended for most women. A daily 4,000 microgram (4 milligram) folic acid supplement can be prescribed. Women should not consume large amounts of folic acid through regular multivitamins because the quantities of other vitamins and minerals included may be harmful.

For more information, the ACOG Patient Education Pamphlet “Reducing Your Risk of Birth Defects” is available in English and Spanish at

www.acog.org/publications/patient_education

Read more: http://njtoday.net/2011/01/04/reduce-birth-defects-with-folic-acid/#ixzz1A5si4YPa
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Scientists Hyping 'Universal' Flu Shot To Perpetuate Vaccine Scam

2011-08-04T17:19:00.000-07:00

(NaturalNews) Influenza vaccination rates are on the decline as Americans increasingly learn not only that flu shots contain harmful additives like Thimerosal (mercury), but also that they do not even work as claimed (one of the "side effects" of getting a flu shot, after all, is the flu itself).

So in order to convince the public into believing that flu vaccines are useful and necessary, experts from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) are now touting the advent of a "universal" flu vaccine currently in the works that will supposedly protect against all types of flu.

According toUSA Today, scientist are currently working on a universal flu vaccine that targets certain unchanging characteristics of flu viruses that are common among many strains. Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the NIH, says that the viral coatings of every flu strain contain some of the same, universal characteristics. So it is theoretically possible, he says, to design a vaccine that targets these universal characteristics, and thus target virtually all flu strains.

"There are parts of the viral coat that don't change," said Collins concerning the vaccine concept. "If you designed a vaccine to go after the constant part of the virus, you'd be protected against all strains."

But is creating such a vaccine actually possible, or is the NIH announcement just a pipe dream based on wishful thinking? Or perhaps the idea of a universal flu vaccine is just a ploy to convince people that vaccine science is legitimate, and that

vaccines actually work?

These are some of the glaring questions that stand out in this matter since, as many of us now know, the vaccine industry has no intention of actually "curing"the flu, and thus killing its flu vaccine cash cow.

Universal flu vaccine an attempt to convince public that vaccines are legitimate

Let's face it. More and more Americans are growing reluctant to take vaccines just because their doctors and various public health agencies are telling them they should. Last fall, aConsumer Reportsstudy revealed that flu vaccination rates are on the decline, with only about 37 percent of respondents to a survey indicating that they planned to get vaccinated that year.

Nearly half indicated that negative side effects were the primary reason why they planned to skip the shot, while roughly the same percentage expressed concern about the safety of flu shots in general. Many also claimed that flu shorts are probably not even necessary in the first place (http://www.naturalnews.com/030242_flu_shot_vaccine.html)

And every year, an increasing number of people are expressing such sentiments, as the number of willing volunteers for the flu shot continues to decline.

Questioning the legitimacy of the flu shot is important. After all, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which many look to as the "be all, end all" source of health information, has basically admitted that flu vaccines are useless.

This is why the agency says individuals need to be re-vaccinated every year. But even a cursory knowledge of how antibodies work in the human body proves that vaccines do not work to boost immunity in the way the CDC alleges, otherwise there would be no need to re-vaccinate. (http://www.naturalnews.com/032558_flu_shots_wear_off.html).

Then, there is the inconvenient truth that flu vaccines are ineffective more than 99 percent of the time anyway. In other words, for every 100 people that get a flu shot, only one of them will derive any perceived benefit from it -- and that one percent is a generous estimate! (http://www.naturalnews.com/029641_vaccines_junk_science.html)

The natural result of all these facts, of course, is an overall decline in the number of people willing to get jabbed every single year. And authorities are taking notice of this, which appears to be why they are now attempting to quell the growing wave of dissent towards vaccinations with promises of a scientific breakthrough.

The flu shot is not the answer, nutrition and lifestyle is

The truth, though, is that no vaccine is truly effective at preventing the flu, including any supposed "universal" flu vaccine. Real immunity against influenza is not built by the injection of viral fragments and toxins like formaldehyde and mercury-- it is built by being naturally exposed to viruses while maintaining optimal immunity through good health and lifestyle.

Maintaining high levels of vitamin D through natural sunlight exposure and consumption of vitamin D3 is one very effective way in which you can strengthen your immune system and be ready to fight off influenza naturally (http://www.naturalnews.com/029760_vitamin_D_influenza.html).

Getting good rest, drinking clean water and consuming immune-boosting superfoods will do wonders for your health, not only in preventing the flu, but also in preventing a myriad of other health conditions.

Learn more:http://www.NaturalNews.com/033206_universal_flu_shot_vaccinations.html#ixzz1U6tSwUk9

List Of Ingredients To Avoid

2011-08-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

Below is a mostly complete list of the most common ingredients found in processed foods. Here is your first assignment toward taking responsibility for your health,

Train yourself to read labels. You and only you are responsible for your health.
Commit to memory these ingredients (or carry a cheat sheet)
Avoid products that contain the ingredients below.

(All punctuation by the author Mike Adams)

"Acrylamides- Toxic, cancer-causing chemicals formed in foods whencarbohydratesare exposed to high heat (baking, frying, grilling). They're present in everything from bread crusts to snack chips, and because they aren't intentional ingredients, acrylamides do NOT have to be listed on labels.

Aspartame- Chemical sweetener that causes neurological disorders, seizures, blurred vision and migraine headaches. (http://www.naturalnews.com/030918_a...)

Autolyzed Proteins- Highly processed form of protein containingfree glutamateand used to mimic the taste-enhancer chemical MSG.

BPA (Bisphenol-A)- A hormone mimicking chemical found in nearly all food packaging plastics. Active in justparts per billion, BPA promotes cancer, infertility and hormone disorders. It also "feminizes" males, promoting male breast growth and hormone disruption (http://www.naturalnews.com/032860_B...).

Casein- Milk proteins. Hilariously, this is widely used in "soy cheese" products that claim to be alternatives to cow's milk. Nearly all of them are made with cow's milk proteins.

Corn Syrup- Just another name for High Fructose Corn Syrup (see below). Frequently used ininfant formulaproducts (http://www.naturalnews.com/029863_S...).

Food Colors- FD&C Red #40, for example, is linked to behavioral disorders in children. Nearly all artificial food colors are derived frompetroleum, and many are contaminated withaluminum.

Genetically Modified Ingredients- Not currently listed on the label because the GMO industry (Monsanto and DuPont) absolutely does not want people to know which foods contain GMOs. Nearly all conventionally grown corn, soy and cotton are GMOs. They're linked to severe infertility problems and may even cause the bacteria in your body to produce and release apesticidein your own gut. If you're not eating organic corn, you're definitely eating GMO corn. (http://www.naturalnews.com/026426_G...) Learn more atwww.ResponsibleTechnology.orgor watch myGMO music video(hilarious) atwww.NaturalNews.com/NoGMO

High Fructose Corn Syrup- A highly processed liquid sugar extracted with the chemical solventglutaraldehydeand frequently contaminated with mercury (http://www.naturalnews.com/032948_h...). It's also linked to diabetes, obesity and mood disorders. Used in thousands of grocery items, including things you wouldn't suspect like pizza sauce and salad dressings.

Homogenized Milk- The fats in the milk are artificially modified to change them into smaller molecules that stayin suspensionin the milk liquid (so the milk fat doesn't separate)(http://www.naturalnews.com/022967_m...). While it makes milk look better on the shelf, it's also blamed for promoting heart disease and may contribute to milk allergies.Raw milkis healthier, which is why the government had outlawed it (http://www.naturalnews.com/029322_r...).

Hydrochloride- When you seeanythinghydrochloride, such as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride or Thiamin Hydrochloride, those arechemical forms of B vitaminsthat companies add to their products to be able to claim higher RDA values of vitamins. But these are synthetic, chemical forms of vitamins, not real vitamins from foods or plants. Nutritionally, they are near-useless and may actually be bad for you. Also watch out forniacinamideandcyanocobalamin(synthetic vitamin B-12). (http://www.naturalnews.com/032766_c...)

Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein- A highly processed form of (usually) soy protein that's processed to bring out the free glutamate (MSG). Use as a taste enhancer.

Partially Hydrogenated Oils- Oils that are modified using a chemical catalyst to make them stable at room temperature. This createstrans fatty acidsand greatly increases the risk of blocked arteries (http://www.naturalnews.com/027445_f...). It also promotes what I call "sludge blood," which is thick, viscous blood that's hard to pump. This is usually diagnosed by doctors as "high blood pressure" and (stupidly) treated with blood-thinning medications that are technically the same chemicals asrat poison(warfarin) (http://www.naturalnews.com/023149_d...).

Phosphoric Acid- The acid used in sodas to dissolve the carbon dioxide and add to the overall fizzy-ness of the soda. Phosphoric acid will eat steel nails. It's also used by stone masons to etch rocks. The military uses it to clean the rust off battleships. In absolutely destroys tooth enamel (http://www.naturalnews.com/021774.html). Search Google Images for "Mountain Dew Mouth" to see photos of teeth rotted out by phosphoric acid:http://www.google.com/search?q=moun...

Propylene Glycol- A liquid used in the automotive industry to winterize RVs. It's also used to make thefake blueberriesyou see in blueberry muffins, bagels and breads. (Combined with artificial colors and corn syrup.) See shocking "Fake Blueberries" video at:http://www.naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=7...

Sodium (Salt)- The processed white salt lacking in trace minerals. In the holistic nutrition industry, we call it "death salt" because it promotes disease and death. Real salt, on the other hand, such as "dirty" sea salt or pink Himalayan salt, is loaded with the trace minerals that prevent disease, such as selenium (cancer), chromium (diabetes) and zinc (infectious disease). Much like with bread and sugar,white saltis terrible for your health. And don't be fooled by claims of "sea salt" in grocery stores. All salt came from the sea if you go far back enough in geologic time, so they can slap the "sea salt" claim on ANY salt!

Sodium Nitrite- A cancer-causing red coloring chemical added to bacon, hot dogs, sausage, beef jerky, ham, lunch meats, pepperoni and nearly all processed meats. Strongly linked to brain tumors, pancreatic cancers and colon cancers (http://www.naturalnews.com/007024.html). The USDA once tried to ban it from the food supply but was out-maneuvered by the meat industry, which now dominates USDA regulations. Sodium nitrite is a complete poison used to make meats look fresh. Countless children die of cancer each year from sodium nitrite-induced cancers.

Soy Protein- The No. 1 protein source used in "protein bars," including many bars widely consumed by bodybuilders. Soy protein is the "junk protein" of the food industry. It's made from genetically modified soybeans (often grown in China) and then subjected to hexane, a chemical solvent (http://www.naturalnews.com/026303_s...) that can literally explode.

Sucralose- An artificial chemical sweetener sold as Splenda. The sucralose molecule contains a chlorine atom (http://www.naturalnews.com/027491_a...). Researchers have repeatedly found that artificial sweeteners make people fat by actually promoting weight gain (Y).

Sugar- The bleached, nutritionally-deficient byproduct of cane processing. During sugar cane processing, nearly all the minerals and vitamins end up in the blackstrap molasses that's usually fed to farm animals. (Blackstrap molasses is actually the "good" part of sugar cane juice.) Molasses is often fed to farm animals because every rancher knows that farm animals need good nutrition to stay alive. Amazingly, conventional doctors don't yet realize this about humans, and they continue to claim that eating sugar is perfectly fine for you. Sugar promotes diabetes, obesity, mood disorders and nutritional deficiencies.

Textured Vegetable Protein- Usually made of soy proteinwhich is extracted from genetically modified soybeans and then processed using hexane, an explosive chemical solvent (see Soy Protein, above). Widely used in vegetarian foods such as "veggie burgers" (most of which also contain MSG or Yeast Extract, by the way).

Yeast Extract- Hidden form of MSG that contains free glutamate and is used in many "natural" food products to claim "No MSG!" Yeast extract contains up to 14% free glutamate. You'll find it in thousands of grocery store products, from soups to snack chips. I even once spotted it used on fresh meat!"
The above list and commentary has been provided by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger.
Learn more:http://www.NaturalNews.com/033162_food_ingredients_chemicals.html#ixzz1ToK9TFdR

There you go, just eliminate the consumption of the above ingredients and you are well on your way toward a vibrant health.

Telemedicine Fertility Monitor As Successful As IVF

2011-07-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

By Ben Rooney

: Getty Images; Close monitoring of core temperature can be more successful than IVF

Shamus Husheer’s opening line as a speaker is guaranteed to get him a laugh: “My name is Shamus Husheer and my job is to get the women of Britain pregnant.”

Behind the laughs, though, Mr. Husheer has developed a technology that is helping thousands of women get pregnant without recourse to drugs or invasive techniques for a fraction of the cost of IVF. In the U.K. a cycle of IVF costs on average some £4,500 ($7,200).

New Zealand born Mr. Husheer, who started his company, Cambridge Temperature Concepts, straight after being awarded a PhD from the chemistry department at Cambridge University says the fertility monitor, called DuoFertility, is as effective as conventional IVF.

“We published a peer-reviewed paper that showed that six months use of the monitor has the same success rate as a round of IVF. ”

They are confident that unpublished research which uses additional data will show that a year of use is better than IVF.

So confident is Mr. Husheer, that the company offers a money-back guarantee. If a woman is not pregnant after 12 month’s use, and has complied with the instructions, then the company will refund the £495.

The medicine underpinning the technology was established in the 1930s and relies on differences in a woman’s body basal temperature (BBT)* at the time of ovulation.

“This change in temperature is only about 0.3ºC measured over the whole month,” said Mr. Husheer. “But a woman’s temperature can change by as much as 2.5ºC a day.” The technology to do that, which is patented, came directly from Mr. Husheer’s PhD in instrumentation, finding signals hidden among very noisy data.

Solving patient compliance

DuoFertility comprises a small sensor, slightly larger in diameter than a €1 coin, which a woman wears under her arm, affixed with medical tape. The sensor, which can take up to 20,000 readings a day, has to be worn all night and preferably during the day as well. It is designed to fit into the natural pocket under the arm.

The monitor has to be synched with the base station which is connected to a PC. The data is then relayed back. From the information it can identify the day of ovulation and suggest the three day fertilization window.

The woman can use the base station to report other things with the temperature data, such as the first day of her menstrual cycle, or report back when intercourse has taken place. It can also be used to report events such as interrupted sleep, which will affect the readings, or if the woman is ill.

“Patient compliance, in other words patients following the courses prescribed for them, is a real issue in healthcare. Because this is a telemedicine device, we can see if the woman has complied.”

The device has been licensed by the British NHS and is undergoing approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The NHS is looking at using the system for the 4,000 patients a year who have unexplained infertility. Since the system is as least as effective as IVF, it means fewer patients need go down the medical route. “From a woman’s perspective, IVF is pretty awful. With us, all they have to do is wear a patch.”

Data capture is transforming business

And in a great example of how data capture is transforming businesses, the monitoring data has proved to be a valued resource for sleep researchers. The monitor contains a three-axis accelerometer which it uses to determine when the woman is asleep which is when the BBT can be established.

“For the first time, we have extensive data on what normal sleep looks like,” said Mr. Husheer. Sleep monitoring is usually done in expensive sleep monitoring stations and typically only for people with sleep problems. His company is working with the NHS to use the monitor in other sleep trials.

Telemedicine has long been hailed as one of the great advances that technology will bring, but has often failed to live up to its promise. Part of the problem, says Mr. Husheer is that the wrong sort of monitoring is attempted. “Typically it has been attempted for cardiac cases, which requires constant 24×7 monitoring. Even now the technology isn’t really up to it.”

Having established the efficacy of their product to detect very small temperature changes, Mr. Husheer says that the medical community is looking closely at using similar technology for post-operative care. “In the U.K. alone there are some nine million operations a year, compared with 35,000 couples looking for fertility treatment.”

Other uses include monitoring infants for sudden infant death syndrome and patients suffering from Type 1 diabetes.

*Body basal temperature

A woman’s BBT patterns consist of two phases during the menstrual cycle, her BBT is lower before ovulation than after. The small increase in BBT, of the order of 0.3ºC occurs within 48 hours of ovulation and will remain elevated until her next period.

However recording BBT has historically been difficult. Traditional methods involve taking an oral, rectal or vaginal measurement at the same time each morning which must be taken on waking. However, even the act of waking or getting out of bed will increase her temperature, leading to inaccuracies in the measurement.

The Wall Street Journal, Tech Europe

Ginger Reduces Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy and Relieves Menstrual Pain

2011-07-18T21:19:00.000-07:00

(NaturalNews) Ginger, that aromatic root that has livened up food for centuries, is a treasure chest of health benefits that keep bodies lively too. Recent research has found ginger to be effective for reducing the nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy, and the pain associated with menstruation. It has also shown ginger to be effective against colon cancer and the devastating effects of liver cancer.

A daily dose of ginger makes pregnant women feel much better

Sixty-seven women receiving prenatal treatment at a clinic were the subjects of a study reported in the March 15 edition of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Each had complained of nausea and vomiting as a result of pregnancy. The women were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group received 250 mg capsules of ginger to be taken four times a day for four days, and the control group received placebos with the same prescriptive form and direction. Effects of treatment for nausea were evaluated twice daily for four days by a before-and-after treatment questionnaire. The ginger users demonstrated a higher rate of improvement compared to the placebo users (85% versus 56%). The decrease in vomiting times among ginger uses was also significantly greater than among the women who received the placebo (50% versus 9%).

Ginger halts menstrual pain as effectively as drugs

Another study compared the effects of ginger, ibuprofen, and mefenamic acid (another NSAID typically used to treat menstrual discomfort) on women with primary menstrual pain. This was a double blind comparative clinical trial conducted over a six month period. Participants were 150 students, aged 18 years and older, who were divided into three equal groups. Students in the ginger group took 250 mg capsules of ginger rhizome powder four times a day for three days from the start of their menstrual periods. Members of the other groups received 250 mg mefenamic acid capsules or 400 mg ibuprofen capsules on the same protocol. A verbal multidimensional scoring system assessed the severity of their menstrual pain.

Severity of disease, pain relief, and satisfaction with treatment were compared between the groups after one menstruation period. At the end of treatment, severity of pain and discomfort decreased in all groups and no differences were found between the groups in degree of pain relief or satisfaction with the treatment. No severe side effects occurred. The scientists concluded that ginger was as effective as the NSAID drugs in relieving menstrual pain. This study can be found in the February 13 issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

By: Barbara L. Minton

For complete article go to,http://www.NaturalNews.com/025979_ginger_cancer_pain.html#ixzz1SWNpyZRF

Hepatitis B Vaccine: What Parents Need To Know

2011-07-11T17:44:00.000-07:00

We go to such lengths to conceive a child and maintain good health during pregnancy it would be catastrophic to have a misjudgment during the important first year of life. It’s becoming common knowledge that breastfeeding the newborn correlates to increased health and proper development. Vaccination of newborns used to be considered a “given” but now concerned citizen are revisiting that idea. Specifically speaking the hepatitis B vaccine has been coming under some scrutiny. In fact on March 23, 2011 the United States Federal Court stated in HARRIS v. SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, that the hepatitis B vaccine involves too much risk without sufficient benefit. The court acknowledged that newborns are not in the two groups most susceptible to hepatitis B (intravenous drug users sharing needles and those who practice unsafe sex.)

So how did we get to this place of vaccinating our newborns since the early 90’s against a disease that they are likely not to be exposed to? The Center for Disease Control gives “grants and other financial incentives to state health departments to reward them for promoting mass vaccination. Since 1965, the CDC has given state health departments hundreds of millions of dollars through categorical grant programs to promote mass use of federally recommended vaccines. At the same time, if state health officials do not show federal health officials proof they have attained a certain vaccination rate in their state, federal grants to state health departments can be withheld.’ ‘In addition to federal grants, many states get money from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Johnson & Johnson), which operates All Kids Count, to set up vaccine tracking systems to enforce state vaccination mandates. (In 1989 Merck & Co., the U.S. manufacturer of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), chicken pox and hepatitis B vaccines, joined with Johnson & Johnson to form Worldwide Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co. with the goal of becoming “one of the premier worldwide consumer products companies.” Merck’s 1997 vaccine sales reached 1 billion dollars.) .”National Vaccine Information Center. So how can the public be confident in the mandates of the CDC when they are essentially funded by big pharmaceuticals? They can’t. So for the hepatitis B vaccination the risks seem extreme, especially for a newborn with an immune system that has not fully developed. Just because the masses do it doesn’t mean its safe. Take the above facts and examine the research and educate yourself before your told to vaccinate.

--William Harnage

Sources:

http://childhealthsafety.wordpress.com

www.nvic.org

www.NaturalNews.com

www.uscfc.uscourts.gov

Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to More Aggressive Breast Cancers

2011-07-05T22:19:00.000-07:00

Study supports notion that maintaining healthy levels of the nutrient is key to patient outcomes

FRIDAY, April 29, 2011(HealthDay News) -- Breast cancer patients with low levels of vitamin D have more aggressive tumors and poorer outcomes, a new study finds.

Experts say the new findings support what many oncologists have long suspected.

"There has been suspicion that vitamin D is related to breast health in some way, although the particular pathway is still unknown," noted Dr. Laurie Kirstein, a breast surgeon at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. "Many oncologists are already following vitamin D levels in their breast cancer patients, and recommending supplements for low levels," added Kirstein, who was not involved in the new study. "To link vitamin D levels to the aggressiveness of a particular type of breast cancer is an interesting finding; one that should be validated with a controlled trial."

In the study, to be presented Friday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, a team from the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) tracked 155 women who had surgery for breast cancer between January 2009 and September 2010.

The team examined blood tests that provided vitamin D levels for all the patients in the one-year period before and after surgery. They also analyzed relevant patient breast cancer data, such as age, race, cancer stage at diagnosis, menopause status, gene expression, and estrogen and progesterone status.

The researchers found an association between low vitamin D levels (less than 32 milligrams per milliliter of blood) and poor scores on every major biological marker used to predict a breast cancer patient's outcome.

"The magnitude of the findings was quite surprising," lead researcher Luke J. Peppone, research assistant professor of radiation oncology, said in a URMC news release. "Based on these results, doctors should strongly consider monitoring vitamin D levels among breast cancer patients and correcting them as needed."

Another expert said the findings do raise a red flag, but more study may be needed.

"There appears to be increasing evidence linking vitamin D levels and breast cancer," said Dr. Sharon M. Rosenbaum Smith, a breast cancer surgeon at the Comprehensive Breast Center at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Medical Center in New York City. "This study certainly shows another link between the two. However, a direct cause and effect relationship has not been proven. This study certainly suggests that continued optimization of a patient's vitamin D level may be advantageous."

Vitamin D is found in certain foods, but humans synthesize most of the nutrient they need via the action of sunlight on exposed skin. Supplements can also boost levels of vitamin D.

The Rochester team said their study is one of the first to look at the link between vitamin D levels and breast cancer progression. Previous studies have concentrated on vitamin D deficiency and the risk of cancer development only.

According to study leader Peppone, further research is required to learn more about the biological basis of the association between vitamin D and breast cancer outcomes, but this study shows the importance of checking vitamin D levels in breast cancer patients.

Experts note that research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until it is published in a peer-reviewed journal.

-- Robert Preidt

SOURCES: Laurie Kirstein, M.D., breast surgeon, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York City; Sharon M. Rosenbaum Smith, M.D., breast cancer surgeon, Comprehensive Breast Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Medical Center, New York City; University of Rochester Medical Center, news release, April 29, 2011

Scientists reverse stance on sun and cancer: Now they admit sunlight can prevent skin cancer

2011-06-28T22:34:00.000-07:00

Friday, May 27, 2011 by: Tara Green

(NaturalNews) Since the 1980s, physicians and cancer groups have regularly warned the public against the potential health dangers of direct sunlight on skin. As a result, many people have stayed out of the sunlight completely, covered their limbs even in warm weather or slathered themselves with UV protection products, all in the interest of lowering their risk of melanomas.

However, more recent findings indicate that this kind of nearly vampiric avoidance of the sun may not benefit your cancer odds after all.

A 2009 study by a group of Leeds University researchers found that higher levels of Vitamin D were linked to improved skin cancer survival odds. Other studies have found that Vitamin D has a connection to a strong immune response in the body. In fact, Vitamin D may hasten the death of tumor cells.

Unfortunately, most people have low levels of Vitamin D, leaving them at higher risk for a host of diseases including breast cancer, prostate cancer, bowel cancer, cervical cancer, rickets and osteoporosis. (For more in-depth information on this, see this report:http://www.naturalnews.com/rr-sunli...)

"It's common for the general public to have low levels of vitamin D in many countries," said Professor Julia Newton Bishop of the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine and author of the Leeds study. "Melanoma patients tend to avoid the sun as sunburn is known to increase the risk of melanoma. We use sunshine to make vitamin D in the skin, so melanoma patients' levels of vitamin D may be especially low."

Bishop also noted that people can get more Vitamin D through dietary sources such as fatty fish. She points out that balance is key, as extremely high levels of Vitamin D can have a negative effect on health.

The mainstream media continues to run stories every summer warning people against the sun even two years after the Leeds study. While hours of sunbathing may be risky behavior for your long-term health, receiving a moderate amount of sunlight while out gardening or walking is actually as good for you as eating a low-fat diet and engaging in regular exercise. In fact, laying off the sunscreen may help you not only absorb sunshine into your skin to help fight tumors, but also helps you avoid the chemicals in most commercial sun blocking products. Some studies have indicated that these chemicals can actually generate harmful free radicals in the body.

So this summer, relax, and enjoy the sunshine.

Sources for thisarticleinclude:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...
http://www.skinbiology.com/toxicsun...

Learn more:http://www.NaturalNews.com

Researchers Recommend Pregnant Women Take 4,000 IU Vitamin D A Day

2011-06-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – Taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy is not only safe for mother and baby, but also can prevent preterm labor/births and infections, according to results of a randomized controlled study to be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

In the 1950s and ’60s, people were concerned that vitamin D could cause birth defects, according to Carol L. Wagner, MD, lead author of the study and a pediatric researcher at Medical University of South Carolina. It now is known that vitamin D is important for maternal and infant health, including bone health and immune function.

Recent studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is a serious public health issue.

“Diet doesn’t provide enough vitamin D, and we don’t go in the sun as much as we need,” Dr. Wagner said.

Therefore, she and her colleagues, including Bruce W. Hollis, PhD, who has worked in the field of vitamin D research for the last 30 years, set out to determine the optimal dose of vitamin D supplements for pregnant women without doing harm.

Researchers randomized 494 pregnant women at 12-16 weeks’ gestation into three treatment groups. Group one received 400 International Units (IU) of vitamin D a day until delivery; group two received 2,000 IU and group three received 4,000 IU. The women were evaluated monthly to ensure safety.

“No adverse events related to vitamin D dosing were found in any of the three arms of the study,” Dr. Wagner said.

Investigators also looked at the effects of vitamin D supplementation on complications during pregnancy, including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, infections, and preterm labor and birth.

“The spectacular part of the study was it showed women replete in vitamin D had lower rates of preterm labor and preterm birth, and lower rates of infection,” Dr. Wagner said.

The greatest effects were seen among women taking 4,000 IU of vitamin D per day. Therefore, the researchers recommend this daily regimen for all pregnant women.

Dr. Wagner will discuss the two parts of the study in separate presentations. The outcomes of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy will be presented on Saturday, May 1, and the safety of vitamin D supplementation will be presented on Sunday, May 2.

Reporters wanting to interview any of the speakers should call the PAS Press Office at 778-331-7694. Reporters who wish to attend the session must first check in with the PAS Press Office at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre to receive press credentials.

To view part 1 of the study on safety, go to http://www.abstracts2view.com/pas/view.php?nu=PAS10L1_2450&terms.
To view part 2 of the study on outcomes, go to http://www.abstracts2view.com/pas/view.php?nu=PAS10L1_2481&terms.

http://www.aap.org

Prescription Painkiller Use Linked To Serious Birth Defects

2011-06-23T19:03:00.000-07:00

by Nancy Shute

Women who use oxycodone, codeine and hydrocodone painkillers early in pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects, according to a study led by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Women who used these prescription pain medications just before they got pregnant, or in the first trimester of pregnancy, were twice as likely to have a baby born with a serious heart defect, the researchers report in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

As far back as the 1970s, studies have shown a link between using opioid painkillers in the first trimester of pregnancy and birth defects. But that didn't change doctor's prescribing practices at all, says Cheryl Broussard, the CDC epidemiologist who led this new study. She looked at data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, which has been collecting information on women's use of medications since 1997.

Heart defects saw the greatest increase, including hypoplastic left heart syndrome, in which the left side of the heart doesn't develop properly. It is fatal if not treated with surgery.

And this is the first study to link spina bifida, in which the backbone and spinal canal don't close before birth, with opioid use.

The new study also found slight increases in congenital hydrocephaly, which can cause mental retardation; congenital glaucoma; and gastroschisis, in which a baby is born with intestines outside the body.

The increased risk of birth defects for each woman was very small overall. For instance, the risk of having a baby with hypoplastic left heart syndrome rose from 2.4 per 10,000 live births, to about 5. But almost 3 percent of women say they use prescription opioid pankillers while pregnant; they are commonly prescribed for pain from surgery, infection, chronic illness and injuries. About 1 in every 33 babies in the U.S. is born with a birth defect.

Many women — and their doctors — don't realize that these popular painkillers could pose a risk to their babies, Broussard says.

"It's really important that women talk with their doctors," she says, "and talk about the potential benefits for these medications, as well as the potential risk for heart defects."

http://n.pr/gzj68b

Formaldehyde finally makes the cancer list!

2011-06-15T20:21:00.000-07:00

Too often money from chemical industry lobby interests gets in the way of the public safety. In April of this year, “the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released its long-awaited report on formaldehyde. The report confirms the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) determination that formaldehyde causes cancer in humans. The Academies recommended that the EPA re-write its report to more clearly communicate the scientific reasoning underpinning its assessment, and to finalize it as soon as possible. In addition to scientific consensus that formaldehyde causes cancer of the nose and nasal cavity in humans, the EPA identified a risk of leukemia associated with formaldehyde. Although the chemical industry disputes this, The National Cancer Institute (NCI), the World Health Organization (WHO/IARC), and the National Toxicology Program (NTP) have all identified a possible link with leukemia. While asking the EPA to state it’s reasoning more concisely, and to separate out leukemia risks from lymphoma risks, the Academies supported the EPA in developing a cancer risk estimate for leukemia.”

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jsass/national_academy_of_sciences_f.html

This past Friday, June 10, 2011 the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services added formaldehyde (along with 7 other substances) to a list of known carcinogens. Formaldehyde is found in plastics and often used in plywood, particleboard, furniture, and hair salon chemicals. This listing is important because the public needs to be informed of the dangers of chemicals we are exposed to. I’m not surprised that these developments were hardly recognized by the media but feel it’s worth more attention. Many of us are subjected to high doses of cancer causing toxins and don’t have the slightest idea. Every time your car heats up in the sun the VOC’s (Volatile Organic Substances) like xylene, formaldehyde, PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) and acetaldehyde are released from the car’s interior components. As the temperatures rise so do the levels of toxicity. At just 85-90 degrees fahrenheit the car can be extremely toxic. These substances can exacerbate allergy and asthma symptoms and cause eye, nose and throat irritation, cough, headache, general flu-like illnesses, and skin irritation. The warning labels on the windows of new cars state the chemicals used in the manufacture of the car are known to the state of California to cause cancer. On hot days be sure to roll the windows down or even open both doors to allow toxins to escape first. The older the car the less off-gassing there is.

Anywhere the environment is closed can be a potential for high toxicity. Indoor levels are almost always higher than outdoor especially if there are manufactured wood products like particleboard present. Environments can include mobile homes, RV’s, modular buildings and even conventional homes and offices. The recent hurricane Katrina relief effort is a good example of the effects of toxic chemicals indoors. The new travel trailers provided to the displaced residence were emitting five times the acceptable level of formaldehyde. Two years after the displaced residence took possession of the trailers the government urged them to seek safer housing because of the formaldehyde levels. “The EPA’s chemical risk assessments are crucial to protecting the public’s health because they are the government’s most comprehensive analysis of the dangers the chemicals present and are used as the scientific foundation for state and federal regulations. But it usually takes years or even decades to get an assessment done, or to revise one that is outdated. Often the industry spends millions on lobbying and on scientific studies that counter the government’s conclusions. The EPA has been trying since 1998 to update the formaldehyde assessment, which was first written in 1989. But the agency’s efforts have repeatedly been stalled by the industry and Congress.” http://www.propublica.org/article/how-senator-david-vitter-battled-formaldehyde-link-to-cancer

The chemical industry will undoubtedly move to further stall this process allowing them to continue to make money at the expense of the public. The realization that the public’s health is second to business profits in our world furthers my interest to inform my friends and colleagues so as to make better decisions for our families health and welfare.

What does it mean to be ABORM certified?

2011-06-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

A new chapter has opened for me in that I have now become board certified by the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM). This is a specialty board that qualifies practitioners of Chinese medicine for treating reproductive issues. They are devoted to teaching, research and the practice of Oriental Medicine as it relates to the treatment of reproductive disorders. I devoted a few hours a day for months in advance in preparation for the annual 6 hour exam. This certification has broadened my knowledge of treatments further providing solutions for reproductive challenges. This certification requires me to take continuing education classes in reproductive medicine every year to remain current with the board. This requirement ensures that the Fellows will always be abreast of new Oriental and Western treatments of reproductive disorders.

For more information on the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine visit them at www.aborm.org.

Magnesium...reasons you might not be getting enough of this very important mineral

2011-01-10T14:45:00.000-08:00

Magnesium intake in the average American diet has declined dramatically in the past 100 years. Boiling vegetables causes 50 percent magnesium content loss, brown rice loses 80 percent of its magnesium content when refined into white rice, and furthermore, magnesium is rarely added back in to the soil in conventional farming methods. Additionally, most Americans now eat fewer of the foods traditionally rich in magnesium (legumes, seeds, nuts, whole grains, and leafy green vegetables).
After Potassium, magnesium is the most concentrated intracellular mineral and although Calcium supplementation gets all the hype, magnesium deficiency is much more likely to be a problem. Magnesium is involved in energy production, protein formation, cell replication, and muscle relaxation. It is also hugely important in contractile tissue such as muscles and arteries. Many cardiovascular problems can be helped with magnesium supplementation because it can improve energy production in the heart and dilate the coronary arteries. Adequate magnesium levels will protect against angina, arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, hypertension and stroke.
Common symptoms of magnesium deficiency include asthma, chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, kidney stones, nervousness and anxiety, muscle spasms and cramps, memory and concentration problems, insomnia, rapid or irregular heartbeats, chronic constipation, and migraines.
When supplementing with magnesium look for aspartate, citrate, glycinate or malate. It is best to take magnesium in the evening because it can help to promote relaxation and good sleep. A daily dose can be anywhere from 300 mg to 500 mg depending on body weight. If you are supplementing with magnesium and calcium together make sure to take it in equal amounts. If you take 500 mg of calcium and only 200 mg of magnesium the magnesium absorption will be blocked by the calcium.

Our newest team member...

2010-09-08T16:04:00.000-07:00

I am writing to let you know about a new team member that has joined our office...we are now offering massage therapy by Melissa Ferral of Be Serene Massage. Melissa is a California Licensed Massage Therapist working toward her Holistic Health Practitioner certification through the International Professional School of Bodywork. She specializes in a Therapeutic Lomilomi and Swedish Blend with a primary focus on Neuromuscular Therapy and Deep Tissue Sculpting.

Melissa is offering all patients of Essential Points Acupuncture an Introductory Serene Special of $50 for a 60 minute massage. This is a great opportunity to get to know Melissa and experience her therapeutic work. This offer will expire October 9, 2010. Please contact Melissa directly if you are interested.

Melissa Ferral, LMT
(619) 804-5987
melissa@beserencemassage.com
www.beserenemassage.com

Yours in Health and Wellness,
Annette

Sunscreens can disrupt your endocrine system?

2010-07-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

The sun is finally out here in San Diego and the one thing that most people will be applying to theirs bodies over the next several months is sunscreen. Did you know that most sunscreens may act as an endocrine disruptor? Basically that means when you apply sunscreen to your skin and let it soak into your pores you are giving yourself a dose of some chemicals that could mess with your hormones! I am not suggesting that you go completely sans sunscreen because it is important to protect yourself from skin cancer. What I do recommend is that you do your research and find one that is free from chemicals such as oxybenzone or 4-MBC, both of which are chemicals that have been found to have a direct affect on your reproductive, thyroid and immune systems. This is especially important for children, if you are trying to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Mineral sunscreens seem to be the safest on the market because they stay more on the surface of the skin and yet still provide adequate protection. For more information please click on the link below.

http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/full-report/nanomaterials-and-hormone-disruptors-in-sunscreens/

Aaahhhh the summer is here...

2010-06-25T16:13:00.000-07:00

Now that summer has officially arrived there is no better time to get out and use our beautiful San Diego weather to your advantage and jump start your health.

Essential Points Acupuncture, The AHAPC and SGO Fitness are teaming up to bring you are very special Saturday Bootcamp on July 10th at 9AM...just the kick start you need to get healthy this summer. You will get a great workout and have an opportunity to hear Annette Romios, L.Ac. and Dr. Andrea Dorris give some health tips for keeping your body balanced and well...all for only $10. Come check it out and bring a friend.

When desperate times call for desperate measures...

2008-08-12T13:57:00.000-07:00

Just had to share this because I thought it was funny. I had gone to home depot to pick up the quarter round to go against the base boards on top of the hardwood floors. What I didn't think about before I got there was how I was going to get it to the clinic...this is when the brilliant idea came to me to open the sun roof and just stick the 9 foot pieces of quarter round out of the top of my car. I think this ingenuity is a result of watching my dad strap anything and everything possible, including lumber and mattresses, to the roof of his VW bug when I was little. Like father like daughter!

Open for business!

2008-08-12T13:51:00.000-07:00

So it is actually starting to look like a real clinic now!!! With the addition of carpet in the waiting room and hallway and hardwood floors in the treatment rooms the space is complete. Now there are just a few minor decorating things and finishing touches to be done but all in all the hard work is over with (or should I say just the physical labor is over with) and now the fun begins...bring on the patients!

Signs and more!

2008-07-27T17:57:00.000-07:00

So things are really coming together now more than ever...we actually have a sign up now with a phone number so that people can find us. We also got our counter top this week. I am happy to report that thanks to the good measuring of my brother Michael the installation went off without a hitch. Did you hear my sigh of relief...ha ha ha! And last but not least our new windows were also installed this week and they look really great too.

Almost there...

2008-07-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the more recent photos of our progress. There is paint on the walls and light fixtures in now, yeah!!! We have come such a long way but there is still so much more to do...sometimes I feel like it will never be finished. I was able to get it set up enough to see my first few patients this week though and what a good feeling that was.
This has been quite an experience to say the least. I think over the past six weeks I have experienced every emotion possible...from happiness and joy to anger, frustration, fear and anxiety! We are really through most of the rough stuff now though it is really just more about finishing touches. Except for my floor! I decided to leave the floor as bare concrete and just paint it but it has proven to be one of the biggest headaches. We will see how that turns out...I got on the phone with Behr paint last night and they were able to give me extremely helpful technical advice. This is really a great service that this company provides.
Stay tuned for more updates!

We have walls, doors and...power agh, agh, agh

2008-06-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

So, I have been a little behind in my posts but here is last weeks progress. Things are coming together now!

Ready for walls!

2008-06-18T20:59:00.000-07:00

We are ready for walls now. My dad and little brother came down on Sunday to help us with the build out. We have all been working so hard to get what normally would take about 4-6 months done in about 6 weeks. We are right on schedule for a July 1st opening!

The floor is finally finished!

2008-06-10T20:48:00.000-07:00

Well first it was carpet, then tile, then linoleum and now we are finally down to bare concrete. After many days of hard labor including shoveling tile and grinding concrete we are ready to move on to the next step...framing. Stay tuned for more progress!

2008-05-28T20:40:00.000-07:00

the view from my front door...aaaahhhh!

Here it goes...

2008-05-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

Here it goes...I have leased a space for my new clinic! We started construction on it this weekend and I have decided to chronicle this adventure for family, friends and anyone else who wants to read about our progress. While the task is very daunting it is also extremely exciting. I realized, as we were knocking down walls and shoveling tile, that this is the culmination of all of the hard work I have done over the last 4+ years.
My new clinic (for which I am still trying to decide on a name) is located in the beautiful neighborhood of San Carlos in San Diego, California. It is a 700 square foot space that is, as of now, just a big rectangle. When we are finished it will be equipped with three treatment rooms each with its own sink and an office for moi!

What can Acupuncture treat?

2007-11-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

Acupuncture is a comprehensive system of care that treats both acute and chronic diseases. The World Health Organization lists over 40 diseases that acupuncture has proven to be effective in treating in controlled clinical trials. Traditionally, acupuncture treats a multitude of ailments, only some of which are listed below.

Neurological and Musculo-Skeletal Disorders
- Headaches and Migraines
- Depression and Anxiety
- Pain
- Insomnia
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Post-operative pain and recovery
- Sciatica

Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Acute and Chronic Gastritis
- Chronic Duodenal Ulcers
- Gastric Reflux/GERD
- Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn's Disease
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and Vomiting

Respiratory Disorders
- Sinusitis/Allergies
- Common Cold
- Asthma
- Bronchitis

Women’s Health
- Menopause
- Infertility
- Painful Periods/PMS
- Endometriosis/PCOS
- Amenorrhea
- Insufficient Lactation
- Post-partum depression

What is Aupuncture?

2007-11-08T13:20:00.000-08:00

Acupuncture is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that has been in practice in China for nearly 3,000 years. It is based on the principle that every human body has 14 major channels, called meridians, flowing through it. The meridians follow various pathways throughout the body. A form of energy called Qi (pronounced "chee") circulates in these meridians. Qi is necessary for all bodily functions. When the flow of Qi in these meridians is disrupted, Qi stagnates, and the body becomes unbalanced. This is when disease happens. Think of it like a freeway system. The freeways represent the meridians and the cars represent the Qi. A traffic jam can cause a lot of problems right? It is the same way in the body. An Acupuncturist works to resolve the blockage of Qi through the use of needles. Acupuncture needles are inserted at certain points along the meridians to restore the smooth flow of Qi and thus bring the body back into balance.