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A New Pediatrics to Heal Sick Children (and Keep Well Kids Healthy) |
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2563
(3 votes, average 4.33 out of 5)
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Written by Alice Shabecoff
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Thursday, 03 September 2009 22:17 |
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| photo by Julia Smith |
If your baby were suffering from colic, would you treat him with artificially dyed and sweetened simethicone (the chemical in drugs such as Mylanta and Mylicon) or first try an emulsion of fennel seed oil? If your young daughter developed a persistent rash, would prefer the doctor to prescribe antihistamines or a diet rich in omega fatty acids?
More and more, it's likely you'd give the second choice a try. The big news is that mind-body pediatrics has come of age over the past generation. (Focus on Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume XIV, No. 1: Winter 2007.) It's a trend that seems very appropriate for a generation of parents looking for foods without pesticides and cosmetics without solvents.
A major symptom of its acceptance is the publication of the first textbook book on Integrative Pediatrics, edited by the avuncular and reassuring Dr. Andrew Weil, the U.S.'s best known nonconventional medicine practitioner and spokesperson (Integrative Pediatrics, Oxford University Press, 2009). The august National Institutes of Health has set up a center devoted to its study (www.nccam.nih.gov/health) while the American Academy of Pediatrics has formed a practitioners' Section. And you can now find pediatricians across the nation who will use integrative practices to care for your children (www.aap.org/sections/CHIM/ParentResources.html, click on hyperlink to members, select Section on Complementary and Alternative, for a listing by zip code.; also, www.aaemonline.org).
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 09 September 2009 01:35 |
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Pesticides and Herbicides: Know the facts and think twice |
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2557
(2 votes, average 4.00 out of 5)
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Written by Chris Wrinn
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Monday, 31 August 2009 13:00 |
 It is widely known that the pesticides/herbicides we use on our lawns can cause health problems. Many are toxic and are hormone disrupters. They're meant to kill both plants and insects and can cause birth defects, nerve damage, cancer and other problems that can manifest in people in different ways. This would all depend on the extent of exposure. These toxins lodge in the fatty tissues of our bodies accumulating over years which is why it takes years for health issues to become recognizable. Children and pets are especially vulnerable to pesticides. These toxic chemicals wash into the groundwater and into our precious harbor and sound. We are currently seeing problems with lobsters, bats, bees and frogs. This is a clear warning. Some insects and plants become stronger and are able to adapt to pesticide/herbicide use making the chemical companies create an even stronger mix. Our nation alone used 540 million pounds of pesticides in 1964 and a staggering 1.1 billion pounds in 1993. The numbers are shocking. When you purchase food at the supermarket, not only is your family ingesting pesticides & herbicides, but huge Agra farms are using billions of pounds which eventually seep into groundwater. All water everywhere in the world is polluted, it's just a matter of degree.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 09 September 2009 01:35 |
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2520
(9 votes, average 4.33 out of 5)
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Written by Roman Bystrianyk
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Sunday, 09 August 2009 17:45 |
 Cancer. When you hear that word it sends a cold fear through you. You can think the worst - a possible slow agonizing slide towards sickness and death mixed in with medical treatments of chemicals and radiation that seem even worse than the cancer itself. At age 79, Wasyl made periodic trips to the doctor to make sure his health was good. He prides himself on being healthy - eating very healthy with large salads for lunch almost every day, working actively in the yard, and exercising. He takes a number of vitamins and isn't on any medications which he says is a rarity these days. "Most of our friends and other people we meet at group events and dances are all on one or more drugs." He and his wife Daria often receive compliments on how young they look for their age and how active they both are. In April of 2007, a routine blood test showed that his PSA level had risen to a level of 9.3 ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter). A PSA, or Prostate-specific antigen, test measures the amount of a protein produced by cells of the prostate gland. PSA can be used to detect disease and is sometimes called a biological marker or a tumor marker. It is normal for men to have a low level of PSA in their blood. Prostate cancer or benign (not cancerous) conditions can increase a man's PSA level. Most doctors considered a PSA level below 4.0 ng/mL as normal and are concerned if the PSA level rises above that. In Wasyl's case the doctor decided to retest a short time later to "watch the PSA level". In June of 2007, a new PSA test showed his PSA had actually increased to 11.8 ng/ml. Wasyl's doctor referred him to a urologist that would schedule a biopsy.
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Last Updated on Monday, 12 April 2010 23:36 |
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Cholesterol medication can cause muscle damage |
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2510
(4 votes, average 3.75 out of 5)
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Written by Roman Bystrianyk
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Tuesday, 04 August 2009 00:11 |
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 Like many seniors Dolly made periodic visits to the doctor. During one visit she was put on Lipitor for what the doctor said was high cholesterol. A short time later Dolly experienced joint pains that the doctor said was age related. The doctor said that he could prescribe pain medication if necessary for her "touch of arthritis". When she spoke with her daughter Dolly found out that these medications could be the cause of the muscle aches. She decided to stop taking the Lipitor and the pains went away.
Years later Dolly was again put on another cholesterol medication called Zocor. Again she had complained to her daughter that she was having pains and trouble getting out of bed and walking. Her daughter took her to the new doctor and they talked about the problem. Dolly's daughter pointed out that these medications can cause muscle pains where upon the doctor said to immediately stop the medication. Interestingly a review of Dolly's medical records showed she did not have high cholesterol to even justify the use of these medications. Dolly is again pain free and is living her life with a normal cholesterol level.
Statin medications are among the most prescribed drugs in the world. Muscle pain, or Myalgia, is often considered by doctors and patients as a minor adverse consequence of taking statin medications. Observational studies have shown that 10% to 15% of statin users have some amount of muscle pain. A study in Canadian Medical Association Journal examined to determine if this statin associated pain was connected with any underlying muscle damage.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 09 September 2009 01:37 |
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Licorice effective in decreasing problems with postoperative sore throat |
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Written by Roman Bystrianyk
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Friday, 31 July 2009 19:26 |
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Postoperative sore throat, or POST, is a well recognized complication of anesthesia in patients who have had an endotracheal tube inserted. It can lead to patient displeasure and discomfort after surgery and can slow down a patient's return to normal routine activities.
Postextubation cough, or PEC, although not life threatening causes considerable discomfort to the patients and can be associated with increased rate of postoperative problems. Adverse side effects can include increased blood pressure, increased and abnormal heart rate, and increased pressure in the skull and eyes.
Licorice, which is derived from the root of the Glycyrrhiza glabra has been used as an alternative medicine for the treatment of inflammation, allergies, and gastric and duodenal ulcers. Licorice has been shown to have anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory, and cough suppressive properties.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 09 September 2009 01:38 |
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Press Release: H.R. 2749 "Food Safety" Bill - Defeated |
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Written by Roman Bystrianyk
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Wednesday, 29 July 2009 23:20 |
The U.S. House of Representatives, at 3:30 PM EST, on July 29th, voted against H.R.2749, the so-called “Food Safety Act of 2009.” This Act would have given the Federal Government unprecedented powers and control over the United States food supply, all in the supposed name of “food safety” but at great expense to health freedom. Fortunately, enough U.S. lawmakers saw through this charade to vote against the House Leadership’s strong push to pass this Bill through a special parliamentary procedure that limited debate but required a higher percentage vote in order to pass.
The vote today was 280 For and 150 Against the Motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R.2749. Under suspension, 2/3rds in favor are needed, or 287 Yea votes, for a Bill to pass. 148 No votes were needed to defeat the Bill. Many Democrats joined with Republican House members in opposition, voting against this Bill that would have made food less safe, not safer.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 July 2009 23:27 |
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Reversing autism and seizures – Jonathan’s story |
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2461
(4 votes, average 4.00 out of 5)
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Written by Roman Bystrianyk
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Thursday, 23 July 2009 22:36 |
 When Jonathan was four years old it was apparent that he wasn't quite the way a four-year-old should be. He didn't focus and was not very verbal. He often got angry and punched his own head and physically attacked others. He didn't sing. He just didn't seem normal.
His parents, Denise and Jose, took their son to the pediatrician. After several visits he was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) and more specifically with autism. PDD refers to a group of disorders characterized by delays in the development of socialization and communication skills.
After his diagnosis, a pediatric neurologist saw Jonathan and performed and EEG. An EEG or electroencephalogram is a test to detect abnormalities in the electrical activity of the brain. Although there were no petit mal or grand mal seizures detected, as you would see in epilepsy, there was clear evidence of brain seizures.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 09 September 2009 01:38 |
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Mercury’s Blowback - Autism |
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2443
(1 vote, average 1.00 out of 5)
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Written by Roman Bystrianyk
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Monday, 10 March 2008 00:00 |
Mercury, also known as quicksilver, is the only common metal which is liquid at ordinary temperatures. Metallic mercury is used in a variety of household products, such as barometers, thermometers and fluorescent light bulbs. Alkali and metal processing, coal-burning power plants, medical and other waste, and mining of gold and mercury contribute greatly to mercury concentrations in some areas. However, the dominant source of mercury over most of the landscape is when mercury enters the atmosphere. Once in the atmosphere, mercury is widely disseminated and can circulate for years, accounting for its wide-spread distribution.
Mercury is a neurotoxin. The “mad hatters” of the 19th century suffered from mercury poisoning which caused personality changes, nervousness, trembling, and even dementia. The hatters were exposed to mercury in the felting process when mercury was rubbed onto cloth to preserve it.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “for fetuses, infants, and children, the primary health effect of methylmercury is impaired neurological development. Methylmercury exposure in the womb, which can result from a mother's consumption of fish and shellfish that contain methylmercury, can adversely affect a baby's growing brain and nervous system. Impacts on cognitive thinking, memory, attention, language, and fine motor and visual spatial skills have been seen in children exposed to methylmercury in the womb.”
According to a recent article in USA Today, the EPA states that as many as 600,000 babies may be born in the USA each year with permanent brain damage because pregnant mothers ate mercury-contaminated fish.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 09 September 2009 01:38 |
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