Traditional Chinese medicine sweeps South America

Traditional Chinese medicine sweeps South America

Ancient Chinese medicine practices are gaining much attention and growing in popularity in the South American nation of Brazil. According to a recent report in China Daily, acupuncture http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33574 in particular is fast becoming a new favorite in the country after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said it cured his shoulder arthritis.



A delegation of physicians assembled in Brazil back in 2006 to teach the ways in which Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) helps treat various skin problems, menopause symptoms, insomnia, anxiety, dementia, joint pain, rheumatism, diabetes, and many other illnesses. The program showed so much promise that the committee is planing a TCM follow-up forum on health and beauty in 2011.

"We try to resolve external problems by curing the body internally," Chen Juan, vice secretary general of the committee, is quoted as saying. "Some skin problems can be tackled through herbal treatments while others may require the use of traditional techniques such as acupuncture, Chinese massage, cuppinghttp://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=109&t=32407, and skin scraping."

Brazil has a long history of using its own traditional remedies for treating illness, so it makes sense that the nation is widely accepting of alternative treatments. According to the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, Brazil has roughly 10,000 physicians who specialize in acupuncture and Chinese massage, 3,000 of which are in Sao Paulo. And more than half a million Brazilians come to Sao Paulo each year to seek out TCM treatments.

Not everyone in Brazil is open to TCM concepts, though. Some still see the practice as opposing modern scientific methods, as does much of the Western world. But because many people have experienced incredible success from TCM treatments, it is gaining respect around the world, including in Australia where an act was recently passed to allow TCM practitioners to be officially licensed as doctors.


Sources for this story include:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2010-10/20/content_11433127.htm

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Kidney Stones and Pregnancy: What Every Woman Should Know

Kidney Stones and Pregnancy: What Every Woman Should Know

Kidney stones affect both the mother and the unborn baby, negatively impacting health, development, and delivery. Now, being pregnant doesn’t necessarily increase the chances you’re going to develop kidney stones http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=33569, but it is important to note that being pregnant can increase the difficulty in remedying them… and every pregnant, or may-become pregnant, woman should pay special attention to habits that discourage kidney stones.



Why Should Pregnant Women Be Aware of Kidney Stones?

Aside from being extremely painful, kidney stones can affect the fetus and complicate birth — sometimes even causing preterm labor. Addressing kidney stones early is absolutely vital for drastically reducing the likelihood of premature delivery. [1]

What Causes Kidney Stones?

There are a variety of factors that contribute to kidney stones, including:

Fluid Intake

Not consuming enough water http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=33388 will tend to promote urine that is highly concentrated with nutrients like calcium or phosphorus, dramatically increasing the risk for developing kidney stones. [2]

Your Genes

Genetic factors also play a role in kidney stone formation http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=33579. Families who have a high incidence of hypercalciuria, a condition where an abnormal amount of calcium is leached out into the urine, will have a heightened risk for developing kidney stones. [3]



Bowel Irritation

If gastrointestinal sensitivity is a problem for you, take note. Chronic inflammation of the bowels http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=32985 can increase your risk for developing kidney stones, especially during pregnancy. [4]

Calcium Intake

Pregnant women typically need additional nutrients, including calcium http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=33973. Too much calcium, however, can strain the kidneys. Additionally, calcium absorption is increased during pregnancy. Both of these factors can elevate the risk for developing stones. [5]

UTIs

Anatomical and physiological changes during pregnancy can increase a woman’s risk of developing kidney stones. Chronic and persistent urinary tract infectionshttp://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=33567 may be a symptom of kidney stones. Pregnant women who suffer from UTIs should mention and discuss the problem with their healthcare provider. [6]

What to do?

For most people, a stone is a painful experience; yet, around 70-80% of stones pass spontaneously without intense medical intervention. If an aggressive approach is required, surgery may be considered or even required.

X-rays

X-rays are a method of choice for determining stone presence; however, most health professionals discourage their use during pregnancy. Radiationhttp://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=33603 is emitted from X-ray machines, possibly affecting the developing fetus. [7] Currently, very little research is available to determine the exact effects radiation has on both the mother and the unborn child. With the risks of surgery and anesthesia, not to mention the risk of radiation exposure, minimally-invasive approaches are often the best course of action for pregnant women. [8]

Ureteroscopy

A ureteroscopy involves placing a thin tube in the urethra to the site of the kidney stones, effectively removing them from the body. [9] As the complication rate for ureteroscopy during pregnancy is relatively low, it’s no wonder why physicians are becoming increasingly fond of using this stone-removal method. [10]

Shockwaves

Shockwave therapy uses sound waves to target and fragment stones and is a highly-utilized, minimally-invasive treatment. [11] While it’s safe for most people, it’s not clear if it’s a viable option for pregnant women. [12] The effects of sound waves on the developing fetus is too much of a risk, and most researchers and experts discourage the practice. [13]



Patience

Conservative management like bed rest and hydration can encourage stone passage. Medications aren’t good during pregnancy as most are contraindicated as the use of drugs may interfere with fetal health. [14]

Preventing Kidney Stones

Obviously, avoiding kidney stones in the first place is the most ideal solution. Although there are no guarantees, the best way to prevent kidney stones during pregnancy is by promoting normal function of the kidneys by maintaining a healthy weight, staying hydrated, and eating kidney supporting foodshttp://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=33021.

Were kidney stones a problem for you during pregnancy? How did you deal with them? Please leave a comment below and share your experience with us!

by Dr. Edward Group DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

References:

1. Proia L, Lippa A, Valente A. Review on renal calculosis in pregnancy http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9528203. Clinical Therapeutics. 1997 December;148(12):667-73.

2. Carter MR, Green BR. Renal calculi: emergency department diagnosis and treatment http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22164398. Emergency Medical Practice. 2011 July;13(7):1-17.

3. Bushinsky DA, Asplin JR, Grynpas MD, Evan AP, Parker WR, Alexander KM, Coe Fl. Calcium oxalate stone formation in genetic hypercalciuric stone-forming ratshttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11849452. Kidney International. 2002 March;61(3):975-87.

4. McConnell N, Campbell S, Gillanders I, Rolton H, Danesh B. Risk factors for developing renal stones in inflammatory bowel diseasehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12010224. BJU International. 2002 June;89(9):835-41.

5. Leanne Kolnick, MD, Bryan D. Harris, MD, David P. Choma, MD, PhD, and Neesha N. Choma, MD, MPH. Hypercalcemia in Pregnancy: A Case of Milk-Alkali Syndromehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3138978/. Journal of General Internal Medicine. August 2011; 26(8): 939-942.

6. Marlow RA. Nephrolithiasis in pregnancy http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2672750. American Family Physician. 1989 September;40(3):185-9.

7. Buchholz NP, Biyabani R, Sulaiman MN, Talati J. Urolithiasis in pregnancy–a clinical challenge http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9758255. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 1998 September;80(1):25-9.

8. Denstedt JD, Razvi H. Management of urinary calculi during pregnancy http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1507335. The Journal of Urology. 1992 September;148(3 Pt 2):1072-4.

9. Evans HJ, Wollin TA. The management of urinary calculi in pregnancy http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11429497. Current Opinion in Urology. 2001 July;11(4):379-84.

10. Semins MJ, Matlaga BR. Management of stone disease in pregnancy http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19996751. Current Opinion in Urology. 2010 March;20(2):174-7. doi: 10.1097/MOU.0b013e3283353a4b.

11. Monga M. Treating urinary tract stones: common questions about a common problem http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20862877. Minnesota Medicine. 2010 August;93(8):36-8.

12. Ackermann D, Merz V, Marth D, Zehntner C. Clinical experiences with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2799324. Swiss Medical Weekly. 1989 July 1;119(26):935-40.

13. Asgari MA, Safarinejad MR, Hosseini SY, Dadkhah F. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of renal calculi during early pregnancyhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10510103. BJU International. 1999 October;84(6):615-7.

14. Maikranz P, Coe FL, Parks JH, Lindheimer MD. Nephrolithiasis and gestation http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3330492. Baillière’s Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 1987 December;1(4):909-19.d

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Passion for eating healthy food declared a mental disorder by 'expert' psychiatrists

Passion for eating healthy food declared a mental disorder by 'expert' psychiatrists

It's no secret to tens of millions of Americans that Big Food is poisoning us daily with their fare. If that were not the case, then GMO-free restaurant chains like Chipotle wouldn't be as popular as they are, and sales of organic foods would not be reaching record levels https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/us-organic-food-sales-reach-record-39-billion-2014 year after year.



Big Food, of course, isn't taking that lying down http://www.frankenfoods.news/. "Mainstream" food producers may be enlisting the help of academia in getting Americans who believe in sustainable, clean food, declared mentally unstable.

As reported by Waking Times, scientists at the University of Northern Colorado, who recently conducted a case study about the obsession with healthy eating, have concluded that such clean-food preoccupation could be a mental disorder. They've even given it a name (because you can't have a disorder without a name, right?) – orthorexia nervosa, or ON for short, and researchers say the condition is made worse by a fear of being unhealthy and shunning low-quality, pesticide-ridden, GMO-laden, gluten-stuffed foodshttp://www.cleanfood.news/.

It's 'mental' to eat processed foods

As the Waking Times reported further:

The psychologists conducting the study argue that healthy eating can become dangerous if one becomes fixated on the types of ingredients in food, how the food is cooked, and what materials are used to prepare it. Those "suffering" from orthorexia may take extra time to prepare their food and carefully consider what they are willing to eat.

The horror.

The news site noted that today, 90 percent of products sitting on grocery store shelves in the U.S. are packed with processed foods, much of which are scientifically engineered to create physical and mental addiction http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=23481. As such, these overly processed foods, which are also mega-portioned, have led to all sorts of medical problems – diabetes especially, but also heart disease and cancer, obesity and other chronic conditions. Given that even traditional medical science knows this, why would conscientious efforts by Americans to lower their risk of contracting these diseases – thereby driving the cost of health care down – not be encouraged, rather than vilified and misdiagnosed as crazy?

That just seems silly – at least, for rational people. So what's the problem? Co-author of the recent study, Thomas Dunn, an associate professor at the University of Northern Colorado, notes:

Such draconian diets can lack essential nutrients, and they make the vitamins and minerals a person does get from meals of exclusively, say, leafy greens, impossible for the body to absorb. This can lead to fragile bones, hormonal shifts, and cardiac problems, along with psychological distress and entrenched, delusional thinking.

"Draconian diets?" If the good professor wants to talk about "draconian diets," he needn't look any further than what the average American household consumes on a daily basis: fast foods, processed sugars, sugary soda and food that is manufactured, not served in a natural form. If that weren't the case, then why is there an obesity epidemic in the U.S.?

Eating clean isn't crazy

In Dunn's mind, if you meet two of the following, you might need some mental fixing:

1. You consume a nutritionally unbalanced diet because of concerns about "food purity."
2. You're preoccupied about how eating impure or unhealthy foods will affect your physical or emotional health.
3. You rigidly avoid any food you deem to be "unhealthy," such as those containing fat, preservatives, additives or animal products.
4. You spend three or more hours per day reading about, acquiring or preparing certain kinds of food you believe to be "pure."
5. You feel guilty if you eat foods you believe to be "impure."
6. You're intolerant of other's food beliefs.
7. You spend an excessive proportion of your income on "pure" foods.

Is Dunn part of the emerging medical/academia clique attempting to work with the administration to get more people declared mentally incompetent so the FBI can take their guns away http://fbi.fetch.news/?

The reality is, good nutrition actually helps prevent mental disorders, as we have repeatedly noted. [Here http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=22710, herehttp://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=22489, and here http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=23481, for starters]. Clean eating is the key to sound mental health – not processed junk. And it's not "crazy" to eat that way.

Sources:

http://www.wakingtimes.com/2016/01/08/experts-claim-passion-for-eating-healthy-has-become-a-mental-disorder/

http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=23481

http://www.thedailysheeple.com/experts-claim-passion-for-eating-healthy-has-become-a-mental-disorder_012016

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Sun exposure tremendously improves MS symptoms - research

Sun exposure tremendously improves MS symptoms - research

Increased exposure to sunlight may help alleviate the depression and fatigue associated with multiple sclerosis (MS)http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/mm/multiplesclerosis.php, and may even reduce the overall level of disability caused by the disease, research suggests.



Prior research has linked both vitamin D deficiency and lower levels of unprotected sun exposure to a higher risk of developing MS. Likewise, other studies have linked lower vitamin D levels to higher rates of depression. Because depression http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/dd/depression.php, along with anxiety, fatigue and cognitive impairment, are common and potentially disabling symptoms of MS, researchers from Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands recently conducted a study to examine the relationship between these separate factors. The study was recently published in the journal Acta Neurologica Scandinavica.

The researchers followed 198 MS patients for an average of 2.3 years. Twice per year, participants reported on their levels of sun exposure, and researchers measured participants' vitamin D blood levels and evaluated the participants for depression, anxiety and fatigue. Once a year, participants were evaluated for cognitive impairment.

The researchers found that higher levels of sun exposure were significantly associated with lower levels of depression and fatigue. Notably, while they also found an association between higher vitamin D levels and lower depression and fatigue levels, this association disappeared after adjusting for the influence of sunlight. Thus the researchers concluded that it is exposure to sunlight and not vitamin D levels that lead to improvement in symptoms of depression and fatigue among MS patients.

Because the vitamin D levels found in the study were all relatively low, however, the researchers did not rule out the fact that higher levels might lead to further improvements in depression and fatigue.

No association was found between sun exposure or vitamin D levels and levels of anxiety or cognitive impairment.

Sunlight improves more than mood

Another recent study suggests that for some MS patients, exposure to sunlight may also reduce their risk of disability. The study was based on a survey given to 1,372 people registered with the Flemish MS Society in Belgium. Participants reported their sun exposure, skin type and disability-related MS symptomshttp://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/mm/multiplesclerosis.php. Researchers assigned each participant a score on the Expanded Disability Status Scale, with a score of 6.0 or higher indicating disability. A score of 6.0 indicates an inability to walk without at least some assistance.

The researchers found that among people with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), those who "always" wore sunscreen were 1.8 times more likely to suffer from disability then those who "sometimes" or "never" wore sunscreen. Similarly, RRMS patients whose sun exposure was equal to or greater than that of the non-MS population were 30 percent less likely to suffer from disability.

The researchers also found that among respondents with primary progressive MS (PPMS), those who reported "sun sensitivity" from birth were 1.8 times more likely to suffer from disability than those who had not had lifelong sensitivity. Sun sensitivity was defined as being able to spend only 30 minutes or less in the sun without burning.

Of course, such research does not prove that exposure to sunlight is a direct cause of less MS-related disability, or that such exposure would equally benefit all MS patients. However, given the widespread prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, increasing numbers of doctors are now recommending that people try to increase the amount of time that they spend exposing their unprotected skin to sunlight. For light skinned people, a minimum of 15 to 30 minutes per day of sun on the face and hands are recommended, while people with darker skin may need significantly more exposure.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.vitasearch.com/get-clp-summary/40724

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ane.12155/abstract

http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Nutrition/Vitamins/sunshine_makes_you_happy_0617131011.html

http://blog.nationalmssociety.org/2012/04/sunlight-and-ms.html

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Top Natural Remedies For Depression

Top Natural Remedies For Depression

The experience of emotional and psychological depression has been noted and subjected to various explanations since the dawn of recorded history and quite probably before. The current model, which reduces all depression to a deficiency in serotonin, seems as overly simplistic and inadequate as those before it. This is to say, at least in part, that depression is a complex and age-old illness with a storied history of treatment. There are a number of herbs that have been used successfully to help relieve symptoms of depression, and thoughtful consideration of various root causes of psychological malaise can serve to steer one toward improvement.

Recent studies have reinforced the potential efficacy of a number of traditional herbal aids for depression http://bit.ly/goodmoods.



St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

One of the most widely known herbs purported to help with depression; St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) has been the subject of much debate in recent years. While the data on St. John’s Wort is confusing to say the least, it is worth noting its long and extensive use throughout the world, along with several independent investigations reinforcing its efficacy. A 2009 meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded that “Overall, the St. John’s wort extracts tested in the trials were superior to placebo, similarly effective as standard antidepressants, and had fewer side effects than standard antidepressants [1].”

Another thoughtful and extensive meta-analysis published by four physicians in the British Journal of Psychiatry considered 37 prior studies and found that “Hypericum perforatum extracts improved symptoms more than placebo and similarly to standard antidepressants in adults with mild to moderate depression [2].” Furthermore, hypericum extracts caused fewer adverse effects than questionable antidepressants.

Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea)

Lesser known, but also an interesting aid in depression is the adaptogen Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea). In a very well designed and executed study of Rhodiola rosea, 89 individuals, male and female, ranging from 18-70 years of age and selected according to DSM-IV criteria for depression, were divided into three groups. One group received 340 mg of rhodiola per day, in two tablets, a second received 680 mg/day in two tablets and a third received two placebo tablets. Both groups receiving the rhodiola experienced significant improvements in overall depression, insomnia, emotional instability and somatization as scored in the Beck Depression Inventory and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) questionnaire. The placebo group showed no such improvement. No serious side effects were reported among any of the three groups [3].

Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)

This herb has been used extensively to relieve depression that occurs during menopause http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/mm/menopause.php or in other times of hormonal fluctuation. Recent debate about possible liver damage resulting from long-term and excessive use is worthy of note, but certainly not reason to disregard the potential benefits of this herb. Like all herbal remedies, responsible use requires responsible consideration of the whole cost-benefit picture.

Rhaponticum (Rhaponticum carthanmoides)

Another interesting alternative for menopause http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=33619 related mood disorders is Rhaponticum (Rhaponticum carthanmoides): in a study of 109 women, published in 2007 in the journal Menopause, over 80% of women who took Rhaponticum daily for twelve weeks reported a “a marked improvement in health state and general well-being.”



Lavender and Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Two lovely herbs to investigate: Lavender and Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis). A fascinating study from the Neuroscience Unit of University of Northumbria in Newcastle found that a 600 mg serving of melissa officinalis alleviated the physiological effects of laboratory induced stress in healthy individuals, suggesting that the herb may have great potential in mitigating deleterious effects of stress outside the laboratory [4].

Researchers in Korea investigated the effects of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) aromatherapy on insomnia http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/ii/insomnia.php and depression http://www.dreddyclinic.com/findinformation/dd/depression.php among 42 female college students, and found that both maladies showed improvement [5]. In another study that suggests lavender may have more powerful effects than previously speculated, Japanese scientists found that lavender “may have beneficial acute effects on coronary circulation.”

Other herbs frequently used by herbalists to reduce depressive symptoms include:

- Mimosa (Albizzia julibrissin)
- Pulsatilla (Anemone pulsatilla)
- Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium)
- Cactus (Selenicereus grandiflorus)
- Schizandra (Schisandra chinensis)

And of course, when all else fails, don’t forget about body cleansing http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=33506. A clean intestinal tracthttp://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=33500 and liver http://www.dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=30722 can do wonders for depression.



by Dr. Edward Group DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

References:

1. Linde K, Berner MM, Kriston L. St. John’s wort for treating depression http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD000448/st.-johns-wort-for-treating-depression.. Cochrane Summaries. 2009 October 7.

2. Klaus Linde MD, Michael Berner MD, Matthias Egger MD, Cynthia Mulrow MD MSc. St John’s wort for depression meta-analysis of randomised controlled trialshttp://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/186/2/99.abstract. The British Journal of Psychiatry (2005) 186: 99-107 doi: 10.1192/bjp.186.2.99.

3. NYU Langone Medical Center. Rhodiola rosea http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=111798. 2012 July.

4. Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Tildesley NT, Perry EK, Wesnes KA. Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?cmd=historysearch&querykey=11. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2002 Jul;72(4):953-64.

5. Lee IS, Lee GJ. [Effects of lavender aromatherapy on insomnia and depression in women college students] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?cmd=historysearch&querykey=12. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi. 2006 Feb;36(1):136-43. Korean.

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