Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:24:19 -0800WeeblySun, 07 Feb 2010 09:26:20 -0800http://www.healingpointnc.com/4/post/2010/02/consequences-of-antibiotics-by-jake-paul-fratkin-omd.htmlWestern medicine, brilliant and advanced in diagnosis and crisis management, seems to limit itself in therapeutic choices for common illnesses and injury. This is due to an over-reliance in pharmaceutical medicine, whose choices are small, expensive, and often with side effects. Western doctors are hesitant to try or prescribe natural medicine alternatives, due to lack of training and fear of reproach from their fellow doctors.

Let’s compare this to the situation in France or Germany. In those countries, only
medical doctors may prescribe medicines of any type. Yet 50% of the doctors include some form of natural medicine in their practice, choosing from homeopathy, western herbs or acupuncture. A graduate of a medical school is considered trained and independent, and may pursue a variety of healing therapies. Many practitioners are proud to be “village doctors”, caring for families from cradle to grave. They are open to therapies that work, without side effect, based on their own clinical experience and observation rather than hard scientific evidence. This is not to say that they ignore or belittle science, but they are willing to use medicines without the hard evidence if it appears useful and not dangerous. They call these “soft medicines” as opposed to pharmaceutical drugs.

In China, the availability of natural medicine is dramatic. With a population of 1.2
billion, 40% of the people use clinics or hospitals that are strictly Traditional Chinese Medicine – herbal medicine, acupuncture or massage-manipulation. Imagine a health care delivery system for 480 million people using only herbs and acupuncture! The Beijing hospital where I studied had 1500 outpatients every morning, each prescribed Chinese herbs.

In the United States, there exist health care professionals offering therapeutic
alternatives for pediatric conditions. We have practitioners of Oriental medicine, like myself, who prescribe Chinese herbal pills and tinctures and provide pediatric
acupuncture treatments. Naturopathic physicians prescribe homeopathic medicines, western herbs, and nutritional medicine, and chiropractors offer spinal manipulation and nutritional support. Also, more and more western medical doctors are studying and prescribing “soft medicine”. All of these offer benefit to children in acute and chronic conditions, and I encourage parents to develop a relationship with a practitioner of alternative medicine having an expertise in pediatric treatment.

Does this mean abandoning your conventional pediatrician? Absolutely not. Western doctors are still the best trained in both well-child assessment and as the gate-keepers for assessing serious conditions that may require medical specialization or hospitalization. Western doctors have more training than practitioners of alternative medicine, namely seven years, versus the four years of naturopathic or chiropractic physicians, or the three years of an acupuncturist. (Some acupuncturists will pursue one to four years of postgraduate training).

The Consequences of Antibiotics
Despite the advanced training of western medical doctors, I have a concern with the over reliance on pharmaceutical drugs, even for benign conditions. There is an overuse particularly of antibiotics, which is given for all infections affecting the ear, throat, lungs, urinary tract, skin or gums. Clearly, 80% of these infections are viral in nature, and antibiotics are not destroying the real viral pathogen. Antibiotics provide relief of symptoms in many viral infections, including inflammation, phlegm production, and malaise, because they inhibit white blood cell activity which triggers these natural responses. However, by inhibiting white blood cell production, they lower the body’s natural immune response.There are three serious consequences of overuse of antibiotics. 

The first, recognized by western medicine, is the mutation of bacteria into drug resistant offspring. When you hear of “super-bacteria” in the media, it means that there are bacteria impervious to all of the known antibiotics. Science keeps searching for new and stronger antibiotics, although researchers know that these too will become obsolete in a short time. The rampant application of antibiotics, both through medicines and more importantly through the food chain (chicken, beef, eggs, milk and dairy products) are potentially creating mutant pathogenic bacteria that can seriously affect the health of our whole population.

The second consequence, unacknowledged by the typical doctor, is the damage done by antibiotics to the body’s overall health. We have about five hundred different species of beneficial bacteria in our small and large intestines. These bacteria do the lion’s share of digesting toxins that the liver dumps from the blood, neutralizing the caustic effects of secreted bile, and providing enzymatic cofactors so that beneficial nutrients from food can be absorbed across the small intestine wall and into the blood. When we take antibiotics for a pathogenic microbe, we destroy all of the beneficial bacteria of the intestines. By doing so, we actually become malnourished because we cannot efficiently transport nutrients into our blood. This happens no matter how nutritious our food is or how many vitamins we take.As for bile, it is a necessary substance to detoxify poisons in the liver and acts as a lubricant to carry poisons out of the liver and into the small intestine. Good bacteria converts the bile into harmless salts, but without these bacteria, bile is caustic and irritating to the large intestine lining. Chronic use of antibiotics, I think, is a contributing factor to our modern epidemic of colon cancer.

The third consequence, unaccepted by the typical doctor, is the damage caused by the growth of the fungus Candida Albicans following antibiotic use. Antibiotics not only clear beneficial bacteria from the intestines, but they change the pH, providing a cool alkaline environment conducive to fungal growth. Candida grows rapidly and inhibits the reestablishment of beneficial bacteria. The problem with Candida, besides inhibiting the growth of beneficial bacteria, is the secretion of a chemical aldehyde which irritates and ruptures the cells lining the small intestine. This slowly but surely lowers the immune response in the intestinal mucus, and allows infiltration of toxins into the blood stream.

This has come to be known as Leaky Gut Syndrome, and significantly affects the body’s immunity. Studies in northern Europe have shown that children who have taken antibiotics for an ear infection have a three-fold increase in a second ear infection within six weeks than children who did not take antibiotics. They also found that children who take antibiotics versus children who have not taken antibiotics for ear infection have the same rate of recovery, and subsequently have recommended that children not be given antibiotics for ear infection.

Leaky gut syndrome, a direct consequence of antibiotics causing Candida growth, is responsible for a steady infiltration of toxins back into the body. I believe that it is a significant contributing factor to asthma, chronic allergies and chronic infections. I also believe it leads to food allergies, because foods are absorbed before they are completely digested, and are “tagged” as foreign by the body’s immune system.

Doctors minimize the consequences of Candida growth by saying that all people carry Candida, but not all people are ill. This is because doctors do not utilze lab tests that quantify the amount of Candida in the intestines. Low levels are insignificant, but higher levels are associated with obvious symptoms of illness. Unfortunately, there are only three or four labs in the country willing to do an accurate Candida count. Where does this lead? Do we deny ourselves antibiotics under all conditions? Are we to avoid treatment for common pediatric infections? The answer to both of these questions is no. Antibiotics are an important medicine in the healing arsenal, but given their consequence they should be recognized as heavy-duty. I consider antibiotics to be a hospital-level medicine for a bacterial infection has entered the bloodstream, the bone, the spinal cord, or organs such as the heart or kidney. It usually exhibits high fever, and these cases need to be hospitalized. Antibiotics are also necessary in open wound trauma
and following surgery.

Most pediatric cases routinely given antibiotics involve the epithelia (open skin type tissue) for the throat, ear, sinuses, lungs, skin, and urinary tract. In my clinical
experience, Chinese herbal medicines in pill or powder form are effective for the viral or bacterial infections affecting these areas. Western herbs and homeopathics can also be effective. When possible, consulting a trained practitioner is the best course, but significant relief and control in mild or early cases can happen with self-medication from the shelves of the natural food stores.

JAKE PAUL FRATKIN, OMD is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine in practice since 1978. After seven years basic training in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in this country, he went to Beijing and did eight months advanced hospital training in pediatrics and internal medicine. He is the author of CHINESE HERBAL PATENT FORMULAS, 1987, and is at work completing two volumes on 900 available Chinese patent medicines. This year he received a national award as Acupuncturist of the Year from the American Association of Oriental Medicine.]]>Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:31:50 -0800http://www.healingpointnc.com/4/post/2010/02/if-you-drink-coffee-make-sure-it-is-organic.htmlPosted by: Dr. Mercola 
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/01/30/if-you-drink-coffee-make-sure-it-is-organic.aspx

Many Mesoamerican farmers here are starting to give up on organic coffee. The premium price that it used to fetch is disappearing.From Mexico to Costa Rica, at least 10 percent of growers have returned to chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the past three years, at a significant cost to the environment.

Although organic still pays a premium of as much as 25 percent over conventional coffee, it’s not enough to cover the added cost of production and make up for the smaller yields.

Under specialty “green” labels at places like Wal-Mart and McDonald’s, organic beans and brews have become cheaper and more widely available recently.

Sources:
  Christian Science Monitor December 29, 2009 Americans drink 400 million cups of coffee every day, which adds up to over $4-billion worth of imported coffee each year.

Now I am not a fan of coffee -- personally I never acquired a taste for it, and it is far from a health food -- but it is a sad state of affairs that Latin American farmers are abandoning their organic coffee crops faster than rats leaving a sinking ship.

These farmers were promised they would benefit financially from ditching their toxic pesticides in favor of organic crops, but in order to profit they need to be certified. And farmers cannot become certified organic until their soil is free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers for three years.

This means the farmers have to absorb the extra costs of organic farming for three years before they’ll start to see the returns, and many just could not do it.

Meanwhile, while there is some demand for organic coffee, the market is still very small. Starbucks, for example, reported that only 3 percent of its coffee purchases in 2009 were organic.

Now, as more organic coffee growers abandon their crops, it’s not only limiting the quantities available but also driving up prices. This, in turn, is keeping the organic coffee market from really merging into the mainstream …

And this is a very bad trend not only for the environment, but also for your health.

Most Coffee is Heavily Sprayed With Pesticides

Most people are not aware that regular coffee consumption can be a significant source of pesticides. According to the CS Monitor, conventional farmers apply up to 250 pounds of chemical fertilizers per acre!

Pesticides contribute to a wide range of health problems, including prostate and other types of cancers, Parkinson’s disease, and miscarriages in pregnant women.

So when you sip on your non-organic morning brew, you are also sipping on pesticide residues. Further, the U.S. has limited input and control over the type and quantity of pesticides used in the countries from which we import.

Since the vast majority of coffee, both organic and non-organic, consumed in the U.S. is grown outside this country, a return to non-organic farming of coffee beans in Latin America means a return to heavy use of pesticides.

Now is a Good Time to Kick Your Habit

If you’re going to drink coffee, going organic is the “healthiest” way to do it. Of course, coffee is really not healthy at all.

Caffeine is a drug.

It’s a legal and widely available drug, but a drug nonetheless, and very powerful. My position is that coffee is not nearly as bad for your health as soda or high fructose corn syrup, but nevertheless it is something you or your family would best be served by avoiding -- or strictly limiting your consumption.

Caffeine actually alters the way your brain works, and can cause temporary changes in your behavior and mood. If you are especially sensitive to the drug, as is the case with many protein nutritional types, the effects are even more pronounced.

Just a few of the symptoms of caffeine use include:

• A rise in blood pressure and stress hormone levels
  
• Heart palpitations
• Feeling jittery, nervous, anxious and even panicky
• Insomnia

More Coffee Adverse Effects

Coffee increases your risk for rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia, stomach cancer, and stroke. It can further wreak havoc on your health by:

• Raising your cholesterol
• Sending your insulin levels out of control
• Damaging your blood vessels
• Increasing your risk of heart disease
• Damaging your body’s metabolism
• Increasing your risk of osteoporosis

Coffee also interferes with your body’s ability to use folate and vitamins B12 and B6. These nutrients are important in order to keep your homocysteine level in the healthy range. Elevated homocysteine levels are associated with a wide range of devastating health conditions.

Coffee also stimulates your adrenals -- the hormones that activate your fight or flight response. If your adrenal hormones are stimulated too often, which is bound to happen if you are a daily coffee drinker, your adrenal glands may eventually burn out.

When your adrenals no longer function effectively, your body will go in search of a replacement hormone -- which happens to be progesterone.

Progesterone has its own full-time job to do, part of which is to keep your body’s estrogen in balance. As your progesterone is used up compensating for your exhausted adrenals, you run the risk of becoming estrogen dominant.

Estrogen dominance can lead to osteoporosis.

Coffee also raises the acidity level of your blood, causing calcium to be pulled from your bones and teeth for use as a buffering agent. The combination of estrogen dominance and high blood acidity puts you at an even greater risk for osteoporosis. In fact, research has established an undeniable link between coffee consumption and hip fractures.

If You’re Planning a Family, Coffee Should Not be on the Menu

If you’re pregnant or planning to be, you should avoid coffee altogether.

Over 300 mg of caffeine a day, which is the equivalent of two to three eight ounce cups of coffee, can increase your risk of:

• Miscarriage
• Delivering a low birth weight baby
• Having a child with certain birth defects like cleft palate

Four or more cups of coffee a day may increase your baby’s risk of SIDS.

When you’re pregnant, any caffeine you ingest passes easily through the placenta to your unborn child.

It is also transferred through breast milk, and stays in your body – and the body of your un born child or infant – longer than average. Your unborn baby has no ability to detoxify this drug.

If You Must Drink Coffee …

If you simply MUST drink coffee here are a few tips to help reduce the chances of harmful effects:

1. Use organic coffee – Again, coffee is a heavily sprayed crop, so drinking organic coffee might reduce or eliminate the exposure to toxic herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. The only drawback is that the countries where coffee is produced probably have less control and monitoring for compliance to organic practices. You will also be helping to protect the health of the people working in the coffee fields, as you will be helping to reduce their toxic exposure as well.
   
   If you want to go a step further, look for fair-trade certified coffee, which means the coffee farmers have been paid fairly and treated well.
   
   
2. "Swiss Water Process" decaf -- If you are going to drink decaffeinated coffee, be sure that it is one that uses a non-chemical based method of decaffeination. The "Swiss Water Process" is a patented method and is the best choice. Most of the major brands are chemically decaffeinated, even if it says "Naturally Decaffeinated" right on the container. If you are unsure of the methods, contact the manufacturer.
   
   
3. Avoid sugar and/or milk -- These are actually much worse for you than the coffee itself. Don't compound the detrimental health effects by adding milk or sugar to your coffee.
   
   
4. Unbleached filters -- If you use a "drip" coffee maker, be sure to use non-bleached filters. The bright white ones, which most people use, are chlorine bleached and some of this chlorine will be extracted from the filter during the brewing process.
   
   

What Makes a Healthy Coffee Alternative?

As my regular readers know, my first recommendation for a healthy beverage is always pure water. It is by far the best choice you can make.

But if you’re looking to kick your coffee habit to improve your health, a cup of high-quality tea can be a great alternative as a warm, soothing morning beverage.

When I drink green tea, I personally prefer Matcha tea, as the color is a vibrant bright green and it is far less processed and of much higher quality than most green teas.

Also, rather than being steeped and strained like typical tea, matcha tea is made of tea leaves ground into a powder, and the powder gets added right into the water. Because you are actually consuming the whole leaf, matcha tea is said to be one of the healthiest green teas out there.

My other favorite is Tulsi tea, which is a powerful adaptogenic herb that provides important therapeutic benefits. The combination of antioxidants and phytochemicals found in tulsi can promote your overall health in a variety of ways, including:

• Support for your immune system
• Improving digestion
• Increasing your resistance to stress
• Promoting healthy metabolism
• Maintaining healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels
• Providing you with skeletal and joins support

Whatever you do, avoid substituting fruit juice or soda for coffee, as they are much worse for you. The sugar, especially fructose, is a far more serious metabolic poison than coffee.

If you use coffee as a crutch to get a quick burst of energy, remember that cultivating a healthy lifestyle will supply all the power you need to get through your day.

And, again, if you do choose to drink coffee, at least switch over to an organic variety for the sake of your health and the environment.




]]>Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:05:59 -0800http://www.healingpointnc.com/4/post/2010/01/sugars-effect-on-your-health.htmlhttp://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/sugar.htm

The average American consumes an astounding 2-3 pounds of sugar each week, which is not surprising considering that highly refined sugars in the forms of sucrose (table sugar), dextrose (corn sugar), and high-fructose corn syrup are being processed into so many foods such as bread, breakfast cereal, mayonnaise, peanut butter, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, and a plethora of microwave meals. In the last 20 years, we have increased sugar consumption in the U.S. 26 pounds to 135 lbs. of sugar per person per year! Prior to the turn of this century (1887-1890), the average consumption was only 5 lbs. per person per year! Cardiovascular disease and cancer was virtually unknown in the early 1900's.

The "glycemic index" is a measure of how a given food affects blood-glucose levels, with each food being assigned a numbered rating. The lower the rating, the slower the absorption and digestive process, which provides a more gradual, healthier infusion of sugars into the bloodstream. On the other hand, a high rating means that blood-glucose levels are increased quickly, which stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin to drop blood-sugar levels. These rapid fluctuations of blood-sugar levels are not healthy because of the stress they place on the body.

One of sugar's major drawbacks is that it raises the insulin level, which inhibits the release of growth hormones, which in turn depresses the immune system. This is not something you want to take place if you want to avoid disease.

An influx of sugar into the bloodstream upsets the body's blood-sugar balance, triggering the release of insulin, which the body uses to keep blood-sugar at a constant and safe level. Insulin also promotes the storage of fat, so that when you eat sweets high in sugar, you're making way for rapid weight gain and elevated triglyceride levels, both of which have been linked to cardiovascular disease. Complex carbohydrates tend to be absorbed more slowly, lessening the impact on blood-sugar levels.

Sugar depresses the immune system.We have known this for decades. It was only in the 1970's that researchers found out that vitamin C was needed by white blood cells so that they could phagocytize viruses and bacteria. White blood cells require a 50 times higher concentration inside the cell as outside so they have to accumulate vitamin C.

There is something called a "phagocytic index" which tells you how rapidly a particular macrophage or lymphocyte can gobble up a virus, bacteria, or cancer cell. It was in the 1970's that Linus Pauling realized that white blood cells need a high dose of vitamin C and that is when he came up with his theory that you need high doses of vitamin C to combat the common cold. We know that glucose and vitamin C have similar chemical structures, so what happens when the sugar levels go up? They compete for one another upon entering the cells. And the thing that mediates the entry of glucose into the cells is the same thing that mediates the entry of vitamin C into the cells. If there is more glucose around, there is going to be less vitamin C allowed into the cell. It doesn't take much: a blood sugar value of 120 reduces the phagocytic index by 75%. So when you eat sugar, think of your immune system slowing down to a crawl.

Here we are getting a little bit closer to the roots of disease. It doesn't matter what disease we are talking about, whether we are talking about a common cold or about cardiovascular disease, or cancer or osteoporosis, the root is always going to be at the cellular and molecular level, and more often than not insulin is going to have its hand in it, if not totally controlling it.

The health dangers which ingesting sugar on an habitual basis creates are certain. Simple sugars have been observed to aggravate asthma, move mood swings, provoke personality changes, muster mental illness, nourish nervous disorders, deliver diabetes, hurry heart disease, grow gallstones, hasten hypertension, and add arthritis.

Because refined dietary sugars lack minerals and vitamins, they must draw upon the body's micro-nutrient stores in order to be metabolized into the system. When these storehouses are depleted, metabolization of cholesterol and fatty acids is impeded, contributing to higher blood serum triglycerides, cholesterol, promoting obesity due to higher fatty acid storage around organs and in sub-cutaneous tissue folds.

Because sugar is devoid of minerals, vitamins, fiber, and has such a deteriorating effect on the endocrine system, major researchers and major health organizations (American Dietetic Association and American Diabetic Association) agree that sugar consumption in America is one of the 3 major causes of degenerative disease.

Honey is a simple sugar. There are 4 classes of simple sugars which are regarded by most nutritionists as "harmful" to optimal health when prolonged consumption in amounts above 15% of the carbohydrate calories are ingested: Sucrose, fructose, honey, and malts.

Some of you may be surprised to find honey here. Although honey is a natural sweetener, it is considered a refined sugar because 96% of dry matter are simple sugars: fructose, glucose and sucrose. It is little wonder that the honey bear is the only animal found in nature with a problem with tooth-decay (honey decays teeth faster than table sugar). Honey has the highest calorie content of all sugars with 65 calories/tablespoon, compared to the 48 calories/tablespoon found in table sugar. The increased calories are bound to cause increased blood serum fatty acids, as well as weight gain, on top of the risk of more cavities. Pesticides used on farm crops and residential flowers have been found in commercial honey. Honey can be fatal to an infant whose immature digestive tracts are unable to deal effectively with Botulinum Spore growth. What nutrients or enzymes raw honey does contain are destroyed by manufacturers who heat it in order to give it a clear appearance to enhance sales. If you are going to consume honey, make sure it is raw, unheated honey. Good to use in special cures, but not as an every day food. It is not much better than white or brown sugar.

Here is a list of ways sugar can affect your health:

• Sugar can suppress the immune system.
• Sugar can upset the body's mineral balance.
• Sugar can contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children.
• Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
• Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
• Sugar can reduce helpful high density cholesterol (HDLs).
• Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDLs).
• Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
• Sugar contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection.
• Sugar can cause kidney damage.
• Sugar can increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
• Sugar may lead to chromium deficiency.
• Sugar can cause copper deficiency.
• Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
• Sugar can increase fasting levels of blood glucose.
• Sugar can promote tooth decay.
• Sugar can produce an acidic stomach.
• Sugar can raise adrenaline levels in children.
• Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
• Sugar can speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and grey hair.
• Sugar can increase total cholesterol.
• Sugar can contribute to weight gain.
• High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
• Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
• Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin senstivity.
• Sugar leads to decreased glucose tolerance.
• Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
• Sugar can increase systolic blood pressure.
• Sugar causes food allergies.
• Sugar can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream.
• Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
• Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
• Sugar can overstress the pancreas, causing damage.
• Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
• Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.
• Sugar can cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver.
• Sugar can increase the amount of fat in the liver.
• Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
• Sugar can cause depression.
• Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention.
• Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance.
• Sugar can cause hypertension.
• Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.
• Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly.
• Sugar can increase blood platelet adhesiveness which increases risk of blood clots and strokes.
• Sugar can increase insulin responses in those consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets.
• Sugar increases bacterial fermentation in the colon.

Source: www.nancyappleton.com

 

Sugar and cancerOf the over 4 million cancer patients being treated in the U.S. today, almost none are offered any scientifically guided nutrition therapy other than being told to "just eat good foods." Many cancer patients would have a major improvement in their conditions if they controlled the supply of cancer's preferred fuel: GLUCOSE. By slowing the cancer's growth, patients make it possible for their immune systems to catch up to the disease. Controlling one's blood-glucose levels through diet, exercise, supplements, meditation and prescription drugs - when necessary - can be one of the most crucial components to a cancer treatment program. The saying "Sugar feeds cancer" is simple. The explanation is a little more involved.

German Otto Warburg, Ph.D., the 1931 Nobel laureate in medicine, first discovered that cancer cells have a fundamentally different energy metabolism compared to healthy cells. The gist of his Nobel thesis was this: malignant tumors frequently exhibit an increase in "anaerobic glycolysis" - a process whereby glucose is used by cancer cells as a fuel with lactic acid as an anaerobic by-product - compared to normal tissues.(1) The large amount of lactic acid produced by this fermentation of glucose from the cancer cells is then transported to the liver. This conversion of glucose to lactate creates a lower, more acidic PH in cancer cells, as well as overall physical fatigue from lactic acid build-up.(2,3) Therefore, larger tumors tend to exhibit a more acidic PH.(4) Hence, cancer therapies should attempt to regulate blood-glucose levels through diet, supplements, exercise, medication when necessary, gradual weight loss and stress reduction. Since cancer cells derive most of their energy from anaerobic glycolysis, the goal is not to eliminate sugars or carbohydrates entirely from the diet but rather to control blood-glucose within a narrow range to help starve the cancer cells and boost immune funtion.


References

(1) Warburg O. On the origin of cancer cells. Science 1956 Feb;123:309-14.

(2) Volk T, et al. pH in human tumor xenografts: effect of intravenous administration of glucose. Br J Cancer 1993 Sep;68(3):492-500.

(3) Digirolamo M. Diet and cancer: markers, prevention and treatment. New York: Plenum Press; 1994. p 203.

(4). Leeper DB, et al. Effect of i.v. glucose versus combined i.v. plus oral glucose on human tumor extracellular pH for potential sensitization to ther . moradiotherapy. Int J Hyperthermia 1998 May-Jun;14(3):257-69

]]>Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:23:48 -0800http://www.healingpointnc.com/4/post/2009/12/walking-meditation-awakening-the-feet.htmlTaken from the book Chakra Meditation, by Swami Saradananda.

1. Choose a peaceful spot outside and stand on the ground. If you are walking with others, measure an arm's length between each person, and maintain this distance throughout the the meditation.


2. To ground yourself, place your feet parallel and hip-width apart, and distribute your body weight evenly over both feet.


3. Close your eyes halfway. Fix your gaze approximately 2ft. in front of your feet. Place your left hand on top of your right hand at the waist level, palms facing upward to receive inspirational energy. Take a few deep breaths.


4. Step your right foot forward about 6 inches. Take a moment to ground yourself, then step your left foot forward by the same amount. Ground yourself again (see step 2), then move your right foot forward, as before, setting up a slow rhythmic walking motion. As you continue to move forward in this way, maintain your focus on each step.


5. Tune each step with your breath. Inhale as you lift your foot. Exhale as you place it back on the ground. Notice how a natural rhythm develops. 


6. As you walk, center your weight over the mid-line of your body; do not allow it to shift forward or hang back. Feel each foot rooting deeply. 


7. Observe how your body is involved in the action. See how each knee bends, lifts, and straightens. Be aware of your moving ankles, hips, aspine and shoulders. Keep bringing your attention back to the soles of your feet and their meaningful interaction with teh earth. 


8. If desired, silently repeat the earth mantra LAM each time you inhale and each time you exhale. Practice this meditation for as long as it feels right, before returning to your regular activity. 


Chakra ]]>Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:14:53 -0800http://www.healingpointnc.com/4/post/2009/12/healing-challenge-5.htmlA Reflection of You...
Take a pen and piece of paper and write down 3 people in your life that you absolutely LOVE and 3 people in your life that you don't resonate with.

1. Write down 5 qualities about their personality that you like about them (Yes, even the people whom you don't like-I'm sure there are traits that you do like, even if you don't resonate with their whole persona).

2. Write down 5 qualities that you do not like about them.

It is often said that the people we have in our lives are a reflection of us. The traits that we enjoy about people are qualities that we, ourselves, have and the qualities that we don't care for in people are ones that we also possess. This can explain many reasons why when we don't care for someone, something inside of us gets 'triggered.' 

Take your time and look at the qualities that you wrote down for each person. You may want to write down where these qualities play a role in your own life. Does this help create more compassion and understanding for the people who you don't resonate with? Does this help show you how you can relate to others in your life?
Thank you! 

]]>Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:00:02 -0800http://www.healingpointnc.com/4/post/2009/12/why-your-body-needs-water-to-survive.html Water, Water, Everywhere...
Then why are so many people chronically dehydrated?? 

A trend that I've seen in my clinical practice is that most patients do not drink the amount of water that is necessary for their body! Water is a key element on this planet and is essential for the healthy functioning of the body. If the body does not have a sufficient amount of water, metabolic wastes cannot be removed as efficiently through the excretory system and toxins will build up within the body, creating imbalance and dis-ease.


                                  Reasons to Drink Water

1. Combats Common Ailments: 

Headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, constipation? Yep, drinking water throughout your day combat these common ailments, which can simply be a result of dehydration. Help your body and drink more water! You will notice a decrease in joint and muscle problems, a decrease in headaches, and an increase in energy! 

2 Helps Weight Loss:  

Before heading to the refrigerator or pantry for snacks when you're feeling hungry, drink a glass of water and wait 5 minutes. Usually hunger pains are a result of water deficiency.

3. Helps Skin Complexion: 

(Psoriasis, Eczema, Puffy Eyes, Wrinkles)
Drinking inadequate amounts of water will lead to a build up of toxins within the body. Instead of being excreted through the excretory system, toxins will find other ways to exit the body. One way toxins will exit the body is through the skin, which can create acne. Drink ample amounts of water to help flush the toxins out via the excretory system! Water also benefits the cells underneath the skin to ensure proper hydration and cellular formation, which helps give your skin a supple and youthful appearance.

4. Helps Prevent Dis-ease:Again, drinking an adequate amount of water helps flush waste out of the body. In addition to helping maintain proper circulation, helping digestion and excretion, it also aids bringing the proper nutrients to the cells in your body, which help maintain proper health.                           How Much Water Should I Drink?

Your body will tell you how much water you need! Pay attention to the signs that you could be dehydrated. 

• Thirst
  
  
• Dark Urine
  
  
• Muscle Aches/Pains
  
  
• Headaches
  
  
• Fatigue
  
  

Your can start by drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day, but it's preferable to drink half your body weight in fluid ounces. This amount also varies depending on your activity level and body temperature. 

When you increase your water intake, you will most likely increase your trips to the bathroom! This will stabilize within your body after 1-2 weeks. Just be consistent and stick to it, despite the bathroom trips every hour.

If you're not a fan of water, because of the lack of taste, try adding some lemon, lime, orange, mint, or cucumbers to your water for a refreshing flavor!

Take care of your body with proper hydration, it's the only one you've got in this life!

]]>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:50:15 -0800http://www.healingpointnc.com/4/post/2009/11/natural-home-remedies-cold-and-flu.html Seasonal Cold and Flu:
Here are some natural home remedies that are helpful in easing the symptoms associated with the cold and flu. Chinese Medicine is amazing at treating colds and flu! In addition to using many of the methods below, Chinese Medicine uses Acupuncture, Herbs, Gua Sha, and Cupping to help with the cold and flu. I also incorporate Healing Touch therapy, which has immediate results at clearing congestion! Children especially, respond quite well to Chinese Medicine. So, before going to the doctor to get a shot or antibiotics, try the natural pharmacy in your body first!!

Spinal Pinch: This is great for immune boosting! Pinch the sides and center of the spine from the base of the spine to the neck. You can do this several times a day.

Nutrition and Supplements:
Stay away from dairy, wheat, sugar. Eat bland foods; not heavy, spicy, or greasy. It is important for your food to be easily digestible, that way your body can expend the energy it needs to heal, instead of digesting.

Grapefruit Seed Extract: This is a natural antibiotic (great for cold, flu, viruses and bacteria), but because it's properties are bitter and cold-which can aggravate the digestive system, it is important to take probiotics along with the grapefruit seed extract.

Garlic: This is a great antibacterial remedy.

Probiotics: These serve to help replenish the healthy flora and fauna in the gut! Especially when taking Antibiotics or grapefruit seed extract.

Here are some great recipes for Healing Foods at the onset or during your cold/flu. 

1. Water!! (with Lemon) Water is essential in everyday life, especially when someone is sick! The lemon is detoxifying and kills bacteria. You can drink some hot water with lemon and this helps support the body's function, while cleansing.
   
2. Miso Soup:Get some miso paste and a LOT of scallions (you can add veggies like spinach, mushrooms, seaweed, mung beans, etc) and eat this at the onset of any sickness. Eat 2-3 bowls a day. This helps rid the body of the pathogen.
3. Pears: (Cough, Sore Throat, Chest Congestion) Pears are very good for nourishing the Lungs. Cut pears in half, core and place honey within the center. Sprinkle cinnamon and bake for 15 minutes.
4. Ginger Tea: (Nausea/Vomiting) 3-5 fresh slices of ginger; 4 qts of water. Boil water and ginger together. Add sweetner to taste. (Evaporated cane sugar, agave, honey, stevia leaves). Drink 1 cup 3x/day until N/V resolved. 
   

Symptoms:
Fever: If there is no sweating with a fever, the goal is to make the person sweat. 

• Spinal Pinch from back of neck where the head meets the neck all the way down the spine-especially the back of the neck. Fever will decrease.
  
• Take a Hot bath/shower to create sweating.

Sinus Congestion:

• Boil stockpot of water with essential oils in it-such as peppermint, eucalyptus, wintergreen. Place pot on safe surface: hold your head over the pot hot water and cover your head with a towel. Slowly breathe, taking time to fill the lungs.
• Take your hands and cup them. Gently tap on the back/chest over the area of lungs. If you are cupping your hands correctly, it will resonate a hollow sound.

Cough:

• Honey:Slowly Swallow a teaspoon of honey 3-5x a day until throat is eased. Not only does it soothe and coat the throat, honey is a natural antibiotic.
  
• Boil stockpot of water with essential oils in it-such as peppermint, eucalyptus, wintergreen. Place pot on safe surface: hold your head over the pot hot water and cover your head with a towel. Slowly breathe, taking time to fill the lungs.
• Take your hands and cup them. Gently tap on the back/chest over the area of lungs. If you are cupping your hands correctly, it will resonate a hollow sound.
  

Body Aches:

• Hot epsom salt bath-try to create enough heat to sweat. No longer than 15 minutes for people with hypertension.
  
  

Nausea/Vomiting:

• Ginger Tea: (Nausea/Vomiting) 3-5 fresh slices of ginger; 4 qts of water. Boil water and ginger together. Add sweetner to taste. (Evaporated cane sugar, agave, honey, stevia leaves). Drink 1 cup 3x/day until N/V resolved.
  

Sore Throat:

• Honey: Slowly Swallow a teaspoon of honey 3-5x a day until throat is eased. Not only does it soothe and coat the throat, honey is a natural antibiotic. Also helps with allergies!
  
  
• Lemon: Cut thin slices of ripe lemons, add a pinch of salt and eat whole with the peel. This is an astringent and kills bacteria.
  
  
• Cleanser: 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 3 parts warm water. Gargle for 1 minute 2x/day. This helps disinfect the throat and kill bacteria and viruses.
  
  
• Child's Tea: Boil 1 tsp. Honeysuckle, 1 tsp mint, 1 tsp licorice root in 12 oz water for 15 minutes, and add 1 tsp honey. Strain, and drink as a tea 3x/day.

 Please contact me with any questions or comments you might have!!




]]>Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:37:08 -0800http://www.healingpointnc.com/4/post/2009/11/healing-challenge-4.htmlIt's been awhile, I'm back.

Think of somebody in your personal life that you have an in depth relationship with and take a week and try not to say or think ANY negative things about that person. No easy feat. There are many times you will be annoyed, angry, or hurt by them and your body and mind will automatically be triggered; they will go to the place where you complain about them in your mind and with your words. Stop yourself, at whatever point you catch yourself! No matter what the reason. However mad or upset you are, just stop yourself and stop mental tape player. Take it minute by minute, if you have to. Start thinking of things that you are truly grateful for in your life. If even thinking of the offending person makes you mad and think mad thoughts about them, stop thinking of them! Have something else occupy your mind. Keep going until you are no longer thinking negatively about the person. PHEW!! It's tough, but very rewarding. You will be amazed at what you discover!

This challenge helps you take the time to reflect on how negative the mind can be and how this negativity influences many other areas of your life. It will challenge you to think of new things! Try It! Even if for one day. (Although, I encourage and challenge you to do this for a week!)
]]>Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:58:17 -0800http://www.healingpointnc.com/4/post/2009/06/healing-challenge-3.htmlWe all have books that we have been meaning to read and have been collecting dust on our shelves or we have books that we are in the middle of reading...
Well, the Healing Challenge this week is to pick up one of those books and read the book for at least 15 minutes each day/night.

Please also try to incorporate the previous Healing Challenges this week, as well!! Enjoy!!

]]>Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:59:19 -0800http://www.healingpointnc.com/4/post/2009/06/healing-challenge-2-thank-you-steps.html Healing Challenge #2: Thank You Steps...

We are on the Healing Challenge #2! I hope the first week went well, if you haven't already tried out HC #1, take the opportunity to try it this week! You can also keep doing HC #1 and still incorporate HC #2 this week...this is a great way to keep nourishing your growth on various levels.

Take at least 15 minutes a day to walk around your neighborhood, house, office, wherever-and find things that you are grateful for!

When you walk, use your five senses to observe what is going on in your surroundings. You might find that you are grateful for:
     Your legs for enabling you to walk
     Your Heart for pumping all this fantastic blood throughout your body
     Your Eyes for the ability to see
     The flower on the side of the road
     The birds that are singing
     Be grateful for the time you took to be grateful!
     The list goes on and on and on....use your imagination!

Get Creative with this!

I used to go for daily walks in my neighborhood and anytime I'd find myself mulling over anything for too long, I would take a mental pause and shift gears. I would get in touch with my Five Senses and really observe what I could taste, smell, see, hear, and touch throughout my walks. In addition, there was this flight of stairs that I would run up and down (sometimes it would be one time, sometimes it would be 20 times) and during my time on these stairs-I would just spew out gratefulness in an audible whisper (and if I couldn't think of anything, I would just say 'Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!). I would feel so mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually invigorated after these sessions!

Set aside time during the day, preferably in the morning, to nourish your inner beauty through this exercise.

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