Continuum Wellness News

The following article comes from the Indian homeopath Dr. Anil Singhal, MD (Homeo)

Practicing evidence based homeopathy

Evidence based practice (EBP) revolves around improved patient outcomes. Health professionals use the best evidence possible to make clinical decisions for individual patients. It involves complex and conscientious decision making based on the available evidence, and also on patient characteristics, situations, and preferences.

EBP recognizes that health care is individualized and ever changing. Finally, I would say EBP is the formalization of the care process based on requirements of individual patient. This individualization is practiced by homeopathic physicians for the last 200 years.

Homeopathy is a system of therapeutics founded in 1796 by Samuel Hahnemann on the principle that “like cures like”. Homeopathy, since its inception, has been used to treat a wide range of illnesses based on individualisation or in a way EBP. Hahnemann was the first person who advocated this strongly. (more…)

Tags: evidence based medical care, evidence based medicine, evidence based practice

Sugar is over consumed in the West and its over consumption is an underlying cause of numerous ailments. In a search for ‘healthy sweeteners’ agave nectar will inevitably surface on the list. Agave nectar is touted as suitable for diabetics and is seen as a healthy alternative to highly refined sugars. However there are differing points of view. The following article is written by the Nourished Kitchen. It offers food for thought.

When Natural Foods Aren’t Natural: Agave Nectar
Agave nectar seems to be taking the health and natural foods communities by storm. Why wouldn’t it? After all, it’s labeled as a “natural” sweetener. It’s not sugar. It’s not high fructose corn syrup. It’s mildly flavored and can therefore be used in a variety of recipes unlike honey or maple syrup with their unique flavors that can overpower a mild-flavored dish. And it’s proponents are quick to point out that that it’s lower on the glycemic index than other sweeteners. (more…)

Tags: agave, agave nectar, glycemic index, natural sweeteners, sugar

Even the boss doesn’t follow the doctor’s orders

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Only 68 percent of corporate executives took their cholesterol lowering medication as prescribed by a doctor, a new study shows.

Overall, the executives who took their medication even sporadically were twice as likely to meet their cholesterol goals. The study finding also questions the prevailing wisdom that income is a primary factor in medication adherence.

University of Michigan researchers studied 1,607 executive level managers at a major financial institution from 1995 to 2004, said Alyssa Schultz, health science research associate at the U-M School of Kinesiology Health Management Research Center, and one of the study authors.

Researchers wanted to discover the rate of medication adherence, and also what happened to cholesterol levels in executives who did or didn’t take statins. Statin drugs lower the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or the so-called bad cholesterol. Statins are proven effective and are a first-line treatment for lowering cholesterol.

Adherence was defined as taking medication as prescribed at least 80 percent of the time. Overall, statin users were twice as likely to meet the near optimal goal of 130 mg/dL or less, than non-statin users. Among executive who took statins, 70 percent achieved the near-optimal goal and 30 percent achieved the optimal goal of 100 mg/dL or less, compared to 55 percent and 21 percent, respectively, for non-statin users who weren’t prescribed the drug

Even executives who took their medication sporadically did much better than the non-statin users, Schultz said. “It seems to show that some medication use is better than none, however adherence is associated with the best outcome of all,” she said. The executives who actually did adhere to the statin regimen were significantly more likely to achieve their cholesterol goals than those who took the medication sporadically.

Researchers in this study did not look at reasons why the executives did or didn’t follow their doctor’s orders, but past research on the topic suggests cost is a factor. However, this study population was predominately white male and more highly educated and compensated than more than the average person.

“Many people think cost is the main reason for medication non-adherence but this doesn’t appear true since these people have relatively high salaries,” said Schultz.

Using statins could actually save money. Previous research on the effectiveness of statin use in a population at high risk for cardiovascular disease found that a health plan with 210,000 covered lives and 9,336 at-risk employees could yield a $1,735 reduction in costs per treated patient.

So what can employers do? Make sure statins are a covered benefit, said Schultz. Do screening to identify at-risk employees. Partner with health care and pharmacy providers to address reasons for poor medication adherence.

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And suggestions from Catherine at Continuum Wellness:
Actually 68% is rather high. There have been numerous studies describing the problem with statins, and the questioning their need. Why should a company partner to have statin medications paid for? Why isn’t their choice to cover my healthy way of eating or herbs, or acupuncture of homeopathic remedies? Why is everything slanted to covering drug costs? Let us explore other options…they do exist. And many prefer them.

Employers can promote wellness activities, and programs. High cholesterol isn’t a given. It is the result of eating certain food groups, inactivity, inflammation, stress and other factors. If we focus on restoring balance and increasing our innate ability for well-being, cholesterol won’t be a problem. Perhaps intuitively the bosses wonder why they have to take medication daily to be healthy. This is a first in the human history, where the populace is encouraged to take prescription medication, for an unspecified amount of time, supposedly as a necessity to be healthy. Does this make sense? Is this truly medicine?

Tags: employee health, wellness at work, workplace wellness

Message from Masaru Emoto, Author of “Message from Water”

Announcement of “Water & Peace” Global Forum 2010 at Lake Biwa
March 20-22, 2010
Biwako Hall, Otsu City, Shiga, Japan

http://www.masaru-emoto.net/english/lake-biwa/main.html

========================================================================

To Those Whose Body Is Mainly Composed Of WATER:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am Masaru Emoto, a missionary of water and an author of “Message from
Water” and “The Hidden Messages in Water”.

Recently, many forums and conferences have been organized with water as
its main theme. Yet, most of them are focusing only the physical aspect
of water.

However, in addition to the physical body, we have the mind (and spirit).

We have learned from water itself, through “Message from Water”, that
water is not only essential to our body but also it has an intimate
relationship to our mind.

In other words, water is the mirror to reflect our mind.

As a matter of fact, we believe that the abnormal weather conditions
such as floods and droughts and natural disasters like tsunamis and
earthquakes are caused by the pollution of water on Earth, which in
turn is ultimately brought by the distortion and disharmony in our
mind, thoughts and emotions.

Other serious problems in politics, economy, education, medicine and
so on are also concerned with the mind of our collective consciousness,
and therefore it can be said that water is ultimately involved in all
of those problems.

Don’t you think that we can take a step toward the solution of these
water-related problems by considering the aspect of water which is
connected with our mind, thoughts and emotions?

For this purpose, we have decided to hold “Water & Peace” Global Forum
2010 at Lake Biwa, Mother Lake in Japan, on March 20 to 22 (March 22 is
the World Water Day declared by the United Nations).

Musicians and artists who understand water deeply will perform their
music, dance and art, and scientists and spiritual leaders will talk
about water and consciousness. There will be a lecture on a completely
novel method to extract energy from liquid water.

Also, there will be several live experiments that will scientifically
prove that our consciousness affects water. And, all the participants
will pray for the water of Lake Biwa and the whole world with our
sincere Love and Gratitude at the closing ceremony.

The energy of our Love and Gratitude will be amplified and expanded
by the power of the Golden Pyramid of Peace, which is presented by our
co-organizer Gudni Gudnason, and carried to every corner of this planet.

This will be the world’s first Water Forum of this kind with “Water &
Peace” as its main theme. After this Forum, our consciousness toward
water will be elevated significantly, and the water on this planet
will be changed completely and become crystal clear!

There will be a new vortex of energy, like a pair of dragon gods,
emerging from Lake Biwa to create a world of Truth and Great Harmony.

We are honored by the presence of Princess Martha Louise of Norway at
the Forum. Also, Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Russia, will send us his official message regarding this
Forum.

Would you please join us in this Forum and become one of those who
co-create this historical moment?

If, unfortunately, you could not come to Lake Biwa and attend this
Forum directly, we would really appreciate if you could send us a
donation to show your intention that you agree with the purpose of
this Forum and support this Forum financially.

For each one of you who have made a donation, we will prepare a bottle
of water with your name on it and put it under the Golden Pyramid of
Peace during the ceremony so that the amplified energy of Love and
Gratitude will come to you through the water.

We would be grateful if you could send your prayer of Love and
Gratitude to Water on March 22 simultaneously with our prayer ceremony
in the Forum.

You will experience by yourself the energetic connection of Love and
Gratitude through the water with you.

By the way, if you are interested in spreading the Truth of Water to
the general public, we strongly recommend you to attend the
International HADO Instructor School which will be held on March 23
and 24 at Lake Biwa and learn the Secret of Water directly from myself.

Tags: appreciating water, healing power of water, Masaru Emoto, messages from water

UAB Study Shows African-Americans Have Highest Stroke Rate, Southerners More Likely to Die

February 26, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – African-Americans age 65 and younger are more than twice as likely to have a stroke compared with Caucasians in any region, and people who have a stroke are more likely to die in the South than elsewhere, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health.

The findings are from UAB’s Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, one of the largest ongoing health studies that includes more than 30,200 U.S. participants.

This new report is among the first to show major regional and racial disparities in stroke rates. It also underscores the need for targeted stroke-prevention and care strategies in those at greatest risk, said Virginia Howard, Ph.D., a UAB associate professor of epidemiology and a REGARDS co-principal investigator.

The study was presented Feb. 26 at the International Stroke Conference in San Antonio.

“This is the first study to take national data and really lay it out on the table,” Howard said. “We found in the 45-54 age group that blacks have a 2.5-fold greater stroke rate compared to whites, which is startling.”

The study also shows a stroke rate greater than 12 percent higher in eight Southeast states known as the Stroke Belt – Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina and Tennessee – with the highest stroke rate in the coastal states of Georgia, North and South Carolina.

“These are stroke-incidence data. It doesn’t tell us how to fix the problem, but it gives us our clearest stroke picture to date in this country,” Howard said.

In the new study, REGARDS researchers reviewed data on more than 26,500 participants with no history of stroke. They kept in periodic telephone contact with the participants for nearly five years and documented 299 strokes to which they applied a rate formula. In the 45-54 age group, the stroke rate is 192 percent for African-Americans compared with 74 percent for whites.

“That disparity in the incidence rate evens out and changes as you monitor stroke in older Americans. In fact the racial differences reverse, so by the time they reach about age 80 and older, whites have a higher stroke rate compared with blacks,” Howard said. It is not clear why the differences change with age, but it may have to do with different types of strokes occurring in different age groups.

The bottom line is that certain subgroups are at greater risk and need to pay closer attention to their stroke-risk factors, said George Howard, Dr.PH., a UAB professor of biostatistics and a REGARDS co-principal investigator. Stroke-risk factors include family history, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, tobacco use and other variables.

The new study was collaboration between UAB, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Vermont in Burlington, Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Funding for this study comes from NINDS.

About the UAB School of Public Health

The UAB School of Public Health is a community of scholars and professionals working and teaching in varied arenas of public health with the goal of fostering research and best practices crucial to the health of our nation and its peoples. The school offers more than 20 areas of study and manages dozens of research and community-service centers.

Tags: African American health, African American health care, ethnic health disparity, health disparity

Why make your own snack? First, consider the ingredients in the popular snacks, just don’t cut it if you are looking for healthier snack choices. Too much salt, hydrogenated oils, artificial colors and that’s just a partial ingredient list. We didn’t even mention the fat and the salt. And then there is the price. Economic factors have made snacks kind of pricey, most are over 3.00. Really, one could buy real food, for as much as snacks cost.
So here is a quick recipe for tortilla chips:

Stack up five 8-inch flour tortillas and cut into eight wedges to make forty chips. Spread these in a single layer on two baking sheets, bake for ten to fifteen minutes at 375 degrees, or until crispy. Quick, yummy, and you avoid the likes of red dye #40.

Tags: good snacks for children, healthy snack, make your own snacks, tortilla chip recipe, tortilla snacks

Former President of the United States Bill Clinton received quadruple bypass heart surgery in 2004. Four blocked arteries were propped open by inserting tubing, know as stents, into blocked arteries. According to cardiologists this is par for the course. This procedure is not a cure, it is a fix; a patch. Seen as a progressive disease it is treated by surveillance. There is no attempt to heal the body from what may be the underlying causative factors.

Is this the best in health care can offer?
Hereditary factors? Lifestyle factors? Heart disease? medication? Heart Bypass surgery? angioplasty, this is a rather typical progression. The costs for the procedures escalate.
Prices for these varied procedures can range from $7,000 to in some cases over $100,000. The care is invasive. There is no such thing as minimally invasive surgery. It is still major and intense. The public is involved in a game of wait and see, as people in need of healing, deteriorate and then told surgery is their only option.

A heart attack or myocardial infarction occurs when a plaque ruptures, allowing a blood clot to form. This completely obstructs the artery, stopping blood flow to part of the heart muscle, and that portion of muscle dies.

The cost of stents
Balloon Angioplasty with Stent Placement for Coronary Artery Disease

Actually there are “cures” for heart disease. There always have been. That does not mean that an individual may not eventually die because of heart failure. But it is possible to live in health without balloons, or mesh or the advanced options using mesh with stainless steel – inserted into your arteries to prop them open. Start now, avoid waiting until the prognosis is poor.

The physical heart resides in the chest cavity, but it is not in a vacuum. When you are comfortable with your heart, that joy translates throughout your life.

The public can let the medical profession that we want healing, not management. The public can let the medical profession that we want healing, not lifetime prescriptions drugs.

Below is an abstract of the research. Ultra-diluted remedies refer to homeopathic remedies. Four remedies were studied: Carcinosin, Phytolacca, Thuja and Conium in the test.

Cytotoxic effects of ultra-diluted remedies on breast cancer cells.

Frenkel M, Mishra BM, Sen S, Yang P, Pawlus A, Vence L, Leblanc A, Cohen L, Banerji P, Banerji P.

Integrative Medicine Program-Unit 145, Department of Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA. frenkelm@netvision.net.il

The use of ultra-diluted natural products in the management of disease and treatment of cancer has generated a lot of interest and controversy. We conducted an in vitro study to determine if products prescribed by a clinic in India have any effect on breast cancer cell lines. We studied four ultra-diluted remedies (Carcinosin, Phytolacca, Conium and Thuja) against two human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and a cell line derived from immortalized normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMLE). The remedies exerted preferential cytotoxic effects against the two breast cancer cell lines, causing cell cycle delay/arrest and apoptosis. These effects were accompanied by altered expression of the cell cycle regulatory proteins, including downregulation of phosphorylated Rb and upregulation of the CDK inhibitor p27, which were likely responsible for the cell cycle delay/arrest as well as induction of the apoptotic cascade that manifested in the activation of caspase 7 and cleavage of PARP in the treated cells. The findings demonstrate biological activity of these natural products when presented at ultra-diluted doses. Further in-depth studies with additional cell lines and animal models are warranted to explore the clinical applicability of these agents.

There are particular occasions where typical food choices follow a standard type of format. Thanksgiving is associated with turkey (not to their amusement), Easter with hams and so forth. And while the Superbowl is not associated with any organized religion, it does have its rituals, high on the list is the food.

America, it is no secret as a nation struggles with how to eat in ways that promote health in an enjoyable way. Now I want to let you in on a secret, that is not really a secret which is, this, healthy food and good taste easily go hand in hand; for real, easily.

In Philadelphia cheese steaks are practically sacred. When people visit the city, having a Philly cheese steak is a must have. Well, I made a seitan cheese steak that was delicious, even, beef eating meat eaters agreed. My recipe was inspired by Christine Pirello. If you are not familiar with her story she healed herself of a serious health problem (cancer) by changing from a S.A.D. (standard American diet) diet to a macrobiotic one. Here’s a link to numerous tasty, healthy recipes, from her PBS show. Browse freely there are about 31 pages. Plan a tasty, healthy menu. No one will feel shortchanged and there will less chance of heartburn, belching and other discomforts. Enjoy the game.

Tags: Health, healthy eating, recipes for super bowl, super bowl, vegan recipes

A comedic view of conventional medicine in America. True of false?
Be forewarned, the language is a bit raw.