Homeopathy For Women Blog

Scientist Examines Possible Link Between Antibiotics and Obesity - NYTimes.com

2011-11-02T22:09:00.001-07:00

Scientist Examines Possible Link Between Antibiotics and Obesity - NYTimes.com
In Some Cases, Even Bad Bacteria May Be Good

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/health/scientist-examines-possible-link-between-antibiotics-and-obesity.html

By KATE MURPHY

THE HYPOTHESIS
Overuse of antibiotics increases the risk of obesity.

THE INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Martin Blaser, New York University Langone Medical Center.

Overuse of antibiotics has led to the creation of drug-resistant bacteria so-called superbugs, like methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. But now some researchers are exploring an equally unsettling possibility: Antibiotic abuse may also be contributing to the increasing incidence of obesity, as well as allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and gastroesophageal reflux.

Among those sounding the alarm is Dr. Martin Blaser, a professor of microbiology at New York University Langone Medical Center. In a commentary published in August in the journal Nature, he asserted that antibiotics are permanently altering microbial flora of the human body, also known as the microbiome or microbiota, with serious health consequences.

The human gut in particular is home to billions of bacteria, but little is known about this hidden ecosystem. Take Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium associated with an increased risk of ulcers and gastric cancer. Many doctors are quick to prescribe antibiotics to kill it even when the patient has no symptoms.

But in 1998, in a paper published in the British Medical Journal, Dr. Blaser was more circumspect, arguing that H. pylori might not be such a bad actor after all. “We’re talking about a bug that’s been in the human gut for at least 58,000 years,” Dr. Blaser said in an interview. “There’s probably a reason for that.”

His lab has since produced a stream of findings supporting his suspicion. Dr. Blaser and his colleagues discovered, for instance, that the stomach behaves differently after a course of antibiotics eradicates resident H. pylori.

After a meal, levels of ghrelin, a hunger hormone secreted in the stomach, are supposed to fall. But in subjects without H. pylori, the amount of ghrelin in the bloodstream held steady, in essence telling the brain to keep eating.

Moreover, mice in Dr. Blaser’s lab fed antibiotics in dosages similar to those given to children to treat ear and throat infections — which is enough to kill H. pylori in many patients — had marked increases in body fat even though their diets remained the same. (Indeed, farmers have long given antibiotics to livestock to promote weight gain without increasing caloric intake.)

Thes! e results dovetail with research by Peter Turnbaugh, a Harvard University geneticist, in collaboration with Dr. Jeffrey Gordon, a gastroenterologist at Washington University in St. Louis. They have found that the ratios of various bacteria in the guts of obese mice and obese humans were significantly different from those of lean controls, suggesting that altering the stomach’s microbial balance with antibiotics might put patients at risk for gaining weight.

Antibiotic overuse may be the root of other health problems, too. An epidemiologist at New York University, Yu Chen, has found an inverse correlation between H. pylori infection and childhood-onset asthma, hay fever and skin allergies in 7,600 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Survey.

Observation research has shown that the elimination of H. pylori actually increases the risk of gastric reflux, which is itself associated with asthma as well as esophageal diseases. Researchers in Switzerland and Germany have reported that mice given H. pylori actually are protected against asthma.

Dr. Barry Marshall, the professor of clinical biology at the University of Western Australia in Perth who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2005 for his part in the discovery of H. pylori and its role in gastritis and peptic ulcer disease, had a more measured reaction. “I’ve never killed anyone giving them antibiotics for H. pylori, but people have been killed who didn’t get antibiotics to get rid of it,” he said.

Patients whose internal flora are disrupt by antibiotics tend to reacquire the bugs over time, particularly if the person lives with others, Dr. Marshall said.

Nevertheless, he agreed with Dr. Blaser that antibiotics are overused and even said he foresaw a day when a detoxified strain of H. pylori might be administered as a treatment for conditions like obesity and asthma.

But wider use of antibiotics may be wreaking havoc far beyond that resulting from the loss of H. pylori. “We have so far focused on H. pylori because we have the diagnostic tests to detect it, but you could say H. pylori is an indicator organism for what is probably a vast and disappearing microbiota and increasing disease risk,” said Dr. Blaser.

The National Institutes of Health shares his concern, not only awarding him a $6.5 million grant last year to investigate the role of the disappearing microbiota in the current obesity epidemic but also allocating $115 million in 2008 to fund the Human Microbiome Project, which proposes to identify microbes that reside on and within a healthy human being.

“You can think of it as the second human genome project, where we will sequence the genes of the tremendous diversity of bacteria that populate our bodies,” said Julie Segre, senior investigator at the N.I.H.’s Human Genome Research Institute. “We will take samples from 200 healthy volunteer! s to get an idea of what is a normal, healthy microbiota.”

It’s an ambitious project, given that bodily bacteria outnumber human cells 10 to one. But researchers involved in the effort said advances in DNA sequencing technology make it an achievable goal. The effort is so far focusing only on microbes on the skin and in the nose, mouth, gut and genital area.

Dr. David Relman, professor of microbiology and immunology at Stanford University, said the Human Microbiome Project is important because it’s not just antibiotics that are changing the human microbiota: “Many aspects of modern life, including diet, smaller families, more hygienic practices and improved public sanitation, are affecting our bacterial communities.”

Getting a genetic snapshot of bacteria populating humans today would provide a benchmark for tracking further degradation and resulting disorders.

“We need to get an understanding of how our microbial communities operate and what to feed them so they will bloom again,” said Dr. Relman. “It’s intriguing and entirely possible that in the future we will get a cocktail of strains and species of bacteria to repair the collateral damage that antibiotics and other practices have done to our inner ecology.”

Dr. Blaser’s ideas have not always been popular, but he is gratified by the gathering interest in the human microbiome and its links to health. “I know I am now doing the most important work of my career,” he said.

Article - Homeopathy vs. Naturopathy/Herbal Medicine

2011-08-24T16:51:00.001-07:00

Question: Is homeopathy the same as naturopathy and herbal medicine?
Answer: No.

Homeopaths, herbalists and naturopaths each encourage good health through nutritious food, clean air and water, sunlight, regular exercise, and supportive relationships they usually treat health problems – but according to very different principles.

The underlying principle of homeopathy is the Law of Similars, also known as 'like treats like'.

By it, homeopaths use substances in potentized form. This is done by using a process called titration and many dilutions, depending on the potency. The potentized homeopathic remedies will mimic the very symptoms of the unwell person has, in order to stimulate a healing response from the body.

Naturopathic and herbal treatments do not use this principle - except by accident. Treatments that oppose, palliate or suppress symptoms are usually prescribed in these methods.

While medicines or remedies used by naturopaths and herbalists are likely to be less risky than their conventional counterparts, they won't be able to trigger a healing response from the body unless that 'like treats like' effect is present.

Instead, symptoms will be suppressed or palliated for the short-term and this is often done at the risk of deeper chronic problems arising in the future. In contrast, the homeopathic effect of mimicking symptoms works with the body rather than against it and so supports its efforts to heal.

Natural Insect Repellents!

2011-06-30T13:36:00.001-07:00

Happy Summer!

Keeping bugs away with a conventional insect spray can help, but many insect repellants leave skin and clothing oily and smelling like heavy chemicals, some that are toxic.

Some examples of natural ingredients which may already be in your cupboard and work to ward off summer insects include…..

· Natural mint leaves and grinding it up into a paste, diluting with water and putting in a spray bottle for use as bug spray.

· Chopped peppers also work when watered down in a spray.

· Pure vanilla extract can also be rubbed behind the ears, on the neck, and wrists to ward off pests.

· Cinnamon oil is very effective, but should not be applied in raw form to skin.

· Lavender oil or a lavender flower rubbed behind the neck and ears helps keep the bugs away, and provides a pleasant fragrance.

· Catnip oil has ten times the effectiveness of DEET repellent.

· Celery extract keeps bugs away

· And eating a diet rich in garlic also helps.

Tip: Homeopathy and Traveling by Airplane Through Security

2011-05-18T10:30:00.001-07:00

Here is an airplane travel tip regarding homeopathic remedies:

According to the TSA website, homeopathic remedies are considered medication and fall under the same regulations.

Here are the details, which state you have the right to request a visual inspection rather than x-ray, and how to do that:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1374.shtm#4

World Homeopathy Awareness Week -- April 10-16!

2011-04-02T13:26:00.001-07:00

World Homeopathy Awareness Week is April 10-16!

It always begins on April 10, Hahnemann's birthday. This year's annual international campaign to promote homeopathy around the globe is Musculoskeletal Well-Being. To learn more, visit the World Homeopathy Awareness site.

April 1 - Intro to Homeopathy Online/Email Classes - 2 different ones!

2011-03-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

Please see below about On-Line Homeopathy Classes!

All classes are taught by Sheri Nakken Email: homeopathycuresyou@gmail.com

Please REGISTER ON-LINE at the links below.

April 1 Introduction to Homeopathy Online/Email Classes

I've had a HUGE interest in my homeopathy online/email class that I have been teaching for nearly 9 years now.

I have created 2 introductory classes - one that is 4 months (and then has an optional Part 2) and one that is 6 weeks (and has optional Part 2 & Part 3 for those who want to go further.)

A. Introduction to Homeopathy, Part 1 of 2 - 4 month course - next class starts Friday, April 1, 2011 - for those that have the time and dedication (or a background in use of homeopathy) to really get into the laws and principles and how to take a case, repertorize and find & give a remedy.

B. Introduction to Homeopathy, Part 1 of 3 - 6 week course - next class starts Friday, April 1, 2011 - for those that don't have much time to devote to learning homeopathy in detail as in above 4 month course - this is a shorter, easier, quick introduction so you can get started using homeopathy right away (then there are further classes if you want to go into it more deeply after this shorter Part 1.)

All classes are taught by:
Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath
Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA
Vaccines - http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/
Homeopathy http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com
Vaccine Dangers, Childhood Disease Classes & Homeopathy Online/email courses - next classes start March 25 & April 1

Article: Prepare, Don't Panic Article by Dr. Sherri Tenpenny

2011-03-21T12:40:00.003-07:00

Prepare, Don't Panic Dr. Sherri Tenpenny

While our thoughts and prayers go out to persons in Japan and their families, across the country, concerns about the potential for nuclear exposure are in our thoughts here at home.

According to the media and government experts, Americans on the West Coast are not at high risk for radioactive fallout.

But as large aftershocks continue to occur, the world may only be one hard shake away from a global disaster. It's not too early for everyone in North America to prepare. But what is the best course of action? Read Dr. Tenpenny's important blog post about what you should do.

http://tenpennyimc.com/Blog/post/2011/03/17/Prepare-but-dont-overreact.aspx

Prepare But Don't Overreact

Thursday, 17 March 2011 09:24 by Dr Sherri

NaturalNews.com is putting out a lot of good information about the uses of iodine and disaster planning. I'm working on an article about iodine that will be done soon. In the mean time, I wanted to share a few important points.

Iodine chemistry, iodine/thyroid issues are really complex. When it is ingested, it is rapidly absorbed in the stomach and duodenum. Iodate, widely used in salt iodization, is reduced in the gut and absorbed as iodide. Iodine doesn't stay in the blood stream for very long; under normal circumstances, it has either been absorbed into tissues or eliminated by the kidneys in less than 12 hours.

In my experience, you won't know how you will respond to iodine until you start taking it. In some, iodine is truly the "cure" to a long list of ailments. In others, it can cause a lot of problems and side effects. Iodine can correct Hashimoto's thyroiditis in some; in others, especially those who are low in selenium, it can *cause* Hashimoto's disease (an autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid). Given the necessity of iodine for life, it is not clear why some people react to iodine in salt or seafood. Side effects can include gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, epigastric pain, and diarrhea), significant total-body rash, and something called "iodide fever". Toxic reactions generally require large doses, but some people are very sensitive and even small doses can cause a reaction. For patients on thyroid medications, taking iodine can effect their required dosage -- they may require less...or more. In almost everyone, the TSH will go up while on iodine, as explained below.

It takes 150 micrograms per day to prevent a goiter, but iodine is also required for the rest of the body requires more. For example, 3000 mcg/day (3mg) is necessary to keep breasts healthy and it has been recommended that approximately 12,000 mcg/day (12mg/d) is needed to keep the entire body healthy. The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for iodine is the amount expected to meet the needs of 50% of people in a specific age group, based on a review of the medical/scientific literature. The government also suggests something called the UL, the Upper Limit dose that most healthy people can tolerate without a side effect. Here is a table that gives an idea of the recommended amounts for you and your children. Up to 10 times these amounts, if added gradually, will not cause a problem.

Iodine is necessary for health of many organs including the pancreas, liver, and mucosa of gastric, small, and large intestine, nasopharynx, choroid plexus and the ciliary body of the eye, the skin, and the following glands: saliva, lacrimal (tear ducts) and both lactating and non-lactating mammary glands. TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) increases the activity of the Sodium-Iodine Symporter (NIS) that drives iodine into the thyroid and into the cells of the other organs. That is the reason that the TSH blood levels increase when patients are taking iodine -- the TSH is needed to drive iodine into the cells.

Since many, if not most, people in the US and Canada are at least mildly iodine deficient, it is necessary to gradually increase the amount of iodine in your diet or as supplementation to avoid complications of suddenly introducing large amounts into your diet. Rapid addition of iodine can cause a list of side effects including thyroid suppression, palpitations, and skin rashes. Interestingly, a sudden increase in iodine intake may be linked to the development of a goiter, which is paradoxical since most goiters are linked to iodine deficiency.

The best way to be proactive is to start adding foods into your diet that are very high in iodine. Here’s a short list:

* Kelp (sea vegetable) – ¼ ounce, 415.00 mcg

* Yogurt (low-fat) – 1 cup, 87.22 mcg

* Cow’s milk (2%) – 1 cup, 58.56 mcg

* Egg (whole, boiled) – 1 each, 23.76 mcg

* Sardines and mackerel, fish with the highest iodine concentrations have approximately 250 µg of iodine/100 g

* Strawberries – 1 cup, 12.96 mcg

* Seaweed is particularly rich in iodine: that is, concentrations are 100-1000 times higher than in fish. Kombu, a commonly consumed seaweed, contains approximately 130,000 µg of iodine/100 g

Other foods with small amounts iodine include Miso soup, spirulina, chlorella, brassica vegetables, beans and lentils. Cod liver oil and olive oil have vitamin A and D, both important for overall health.

When taking iodine supplements, it is important to also take the mineral selenium (100-200mcg/day). Selenium interacts uniquely with iodine. It has antioxidant properties and protects the thyroid during the synthesis of thyroid hormones. It is also important for both activation and inactivation of thyroid hormone at the cellular level. Increasing iodine foods and/or adding supplments slowly is a reasonable response to the current conditions. Potassium iodide, whose chemical formula is KI, is the recommended form of iodine to take in the event of radiation exposure because it saturates the thyroid gland. Once saturated, the thyroid – and the body – cannot absorb radioactive iodine if the tissues are saturated with healthy iodine. Another form of iodine, potassium iodate, is second option. Potassium iodate includes one molecule of oxygen that not only extends the product's shelf life, but helps to eliminate the bitter taste of potassium iodide. While KI has been the most studied, both types of the tablets can provide protection.

While iodine is sold primarily as a supplement, it deserves respect. Consuming anything other than small quantities should be done under the supervision of a physician or healthcare provider familiar with its chemical quirks. This is especially true if you are taking thyroid medication or have other thyroid problems. Taking massive dosages of iodine, such as the government- recommended 130 mg/day in the event of a radiation exposure, is definitely not necessary, unless you are right next to the reactor. Massive doses should be reserved for only extreme and confirmed exposures. In fact, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine done to determine the dose of KI in the event of a nuclear accident or fallout have shown that a single dose of 30 mg of iodine will suppress the uptake of radioactive iodine to less than 1.5% within 24 hr, Daily doses of 15 mg will maintain uptake of radioactive iodine below 2%.

It is always good to be prepared. In this instance, it is really important to not overreact.

Dangers of Gardasil (HPV) - Watch 5 minute video

2011-03-21T12:40:00.001-07:00

Please view this 5 min video “Gardasil Vaccine Victims and Deaths” at http://bit.ly/eLj4Th

This video was made to share with doctors and nurses for them to consider stopping Gardasil use in their offices.

Webpage is linked at bottom of above video http://www.DutytoInform.org

Bestselling New Book Vaccine Epidemic Released

2011-02-10T11:23:00.001-08:00

Buy Here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN%3D1616082720/wellwithinA/002-5765073-2088068

Bestselling Book, Vaccine Epidemic, Released Today

Epidemic: How Corporate Greed, Biased Science, and Coercive Government Threaten Our Human Rights, Our Health, and Our Children.

An Amazon Reviewer Tells You Why to Read Vaccine Epidemic:

With the tone that has overwhelmed the media coverage of the debate over America's childhood vaccination program... it is a refreshing surprise to find a book that adopts an entirely different tone. Habakus and Holland, an activist/advocate and a legal scholar, edit a book that is calm, cool, and collected, as it makes the case for vaccination choice as a fundamental human right. The two editors bring together essays by attorneys, epidemiologists, scientists, historians, and others to illuminate all angles of this complex issue, including the historical basis for government-mandated vaccination, the U.S. and international legal framework that is at odds with current U.S. vaccine policy, and the science that shows just how far we are from being able to say that current U.S. vaccine policy is worth the risks it poses.

Habakus and Holland take a clear stand: they believe that parents have the right to choose not to vaccinate their children. However, they invite people who disagree with them to read the book--and given the tone of civil discourse with which the book's argument is imbued, this invitation should be accepted. America's childhood vaccination program is a matter of public policy whose time has come to revisit, and in light of the evidence marshaled by Habakus and Holland, to change.

Homeopathic Remedies for Chicken Pox

2011-02-10T10:31:00.001-08:00

Homeopathic Remedies for Chicken Pox
http://www.homeopathyforwomen.org/chicken_pox.htm

Chicken pox is a common childhood viral illness. Many cases are mild; however, those that are uncomfortable can often be helped with homeopathy. Fatigue and low fever typically begin ten days to three weeks from the time of exposure.

A flat red rash comes out, transforms into pimples, then develops into blisters that eventually break and harden into itchy crusts.

If fever is very high and persistent, or if a person seems to be extremely ill, consult a licensed physician.

Antimonium tartaricum: This remedy may be indicated when eruptions are large and slow to emerge. The child feels sweaty, fussy, and may be nauseous with a white-coated tongue. If chest congestion with a rattling cough develops, or a bubbly sound on breathing, Antimonium tartaricum is likely to be the appropriate remedy.

Antimonium crudum: A child who needs this remedy usually is irritable and may object to being touched or looked at. The eruptions are sore, and touching them may bring on shooting pains.

Apis mellifica: When this remedy is indicated, the skin around the eruptions is pink and puffy and very itchy, with stinging pains. The eyelids may also be swollen. The person feels worse from warmth, is irritable, and usually is not thirsty.

Belladonna: This remedy is indicated when a child is hot and feverish, with a red flushed face, and eyes that are sensitive to light. A pounding headache may be felt, accompanied by either restlessness or drowsiness. The rash usually is red, with a feeling of heat and throbbing.

Bryonia: When fever persists for several days during chicken pox, and a dry nagging cough develops, this remedy may be useful. The person’s mouth is dry, with thirst for long cold drinks. The person may be very grumpy, feel worse from motion, and dislike being interfered with in any way.

Mercurius solubilis: This remedy may be indicated if eruptions are large and become infected. The child is very sensitive to temperature changes and feels worse at night. Perspiration and drooling during sleep, swollen lymph nodes, and offensive breath are strong indications for Mercurius.

Pulsatilla: A child who needs this remedy is often sweet and tearful when ill and wants a lot of attention and comforting. Itching and other discomforts are worse from warmth and in stuffy rooms, and improved by cool fresh air. The person is rarely thirsty, even during fever.

Rhus toxicodendron: This remedy is useful in cases of chicken pox with tremendous itching that is worse from scratching and relieved by warm baths or applying heat. The child may be very restless, both physically and mentally. The eyes may become inflamed and sticky. Muscles can ache and feel very stiff, also relieved by warmth and gentle motion. (Some homeopathic physicians recommend Rhus toxicodendron to people who have been exposed to chicken pox, to help prevent infection.)

Sulphur: If itching is so severe that the person finds it impossible to keep from scratching—or if eruptions have a nagging, burning pain—this remedy may bring relief. The symptoms (and the person) become worse from warmth and aggravated after bathing. Both heat and chills are felt during fever. The person may feel drowsy in the afternoon and restless and hot at night.

Urtica urens: Eruptions with stinging, burning pain and itching may be relieved by this remedy. Symptoms are aggravated by exertion and from overheating.

ON-LINE INTRO TO HOMEOPATHY COURSE: New shorter easier 6 week course!

2011-02-01T20:27:00.001-08:00

For those of you wanting to know and understand more about homeopathy and prescribing, this is a wonderful on-line class taught by:

Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath
http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com/ & http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/
ONLINE/Email classes in Homeopathy; Vaccine Dangers; Childhood Diseases

____________________________________________________________

New shorter easier 6 week Intro to Homeopathy class so you can use homeopathy right away!

Sheri writes:
I have been teaching classes online for many years now (by email and online). But some are not able to commit to the 4 months and finish the class. So I have designed a new, shorter easier class so you can begin to use homeopathy right away. Then there will be Part 2 and Part 3 classes to get deeper into it. I really want people to start to learn homeopathy and be able to use it with themselves and their families and decided this would be helpful

Starting a simpler class using a different book (Dana Ullman's Everybody's Guide) that will help you get started sooner (for those who just don't have the time to get into it as deeply as we have in the past Part 1 class).

This is the website for the class: http://www.wellwithin1.com/homeo2A.htm

Next Class starts Friday February 4, 2011 (6 weeks)

Introduction to Homeopathy On-Line Class - Class #63a - Part 1 of 3 , Basic Level

(Also CEU's for those who are nurses - see below)

I've had a HUGE interest in my homeopathy online class. But I have found after teaching 62 classes online that many can't dedicate 4 months and the time needed to finish the class. So I have divided the class into 3 parts (instead of 2 as before). I have made the first part much more basic and easy to get started with (and then Parts 2 & 3 will be for those who want to go into more depth)

This next class will be the 63rd one and start on Friday February 4, 2011 and I anticipate it will last about 6 weeks. Lessons sent once or twice a week or 2 weeks-worth at a time when I am traveling.

Steps to sign in

1. Create a Googlegroups account and sign on with link below
2. Order the book below
3. Make payment as below

Book:
For USA students - Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicines: Safe and Effective Remedies for You and Your Family by Stephen Cummings, Dana Ullman

Cost: For Part 1 is $35.00 (Part 2 or Part 3 will be a separate cost)

Homeopathic Remedies For Common Colds, Coughs and Flu

2010-12-27T13:27:00.001-08:00

Homeopathic Remedies For Common Colds, Coughs and Flu
http://www.homeopathyforwomen.org/cold_and_flu_remedies.htm

· Aconitum Napellus (Acon.)
A state of fear, anxiety; anguish of mind and body. Restlessness. Sudden and great sinking of strength. Complaints and tension caused by exposure to dry, cold weather. Eyes feel dry and hot, as if sand in them. Pain at root of nose. Tingling in cheeks and numbness. Gums hot and inflamed. Tongue coated white. Vomiting, with fear, heat, profuse sweat and increased urination. Bitter taste of everything except water. Intense thirst. Cough, dry, short, hacking; worse at night and after midnight. Tingling in chest after cough.

· Allium Cepa (All-c.)
Watery and acrid nasal discharge which becomes worse in warm room. Oppressed breathing. Tickling in larynx. Eyes sensitive to light. Burning in nose, mouth, throat, bladder and skin. Sneezing, especially when entering a warm room.

· Antimonium Tartaricum (Ant-t.)
Respiratory problems, rattling of mucus but little expectoration. Thirst for cold water but little and often. Great drowsiness.

· Arsenicum Album (Ars.)
Influenza with thin, watery and excoriating nasal discharge. Sneezing. Photophobia. Restlessness. Intolerance of smell of food.

· Belladonna (Bell.)
Sudden and violent complaints and inflammations. Headaches with pains which come and go suddenly. No thirst. Redness of affected organs. Skin sore and sensitive. Eyelids red and swollen. Spasmodic hiccough.

· Bryonia Alba (Bry.)
Excessive irritability. Dryness of all mucous membranes. Great thirst for large quantities of water. Constipation. Dry cough. Joints red and swollen. All complaints are aggravated by motion.

· Causticum (Caust.) Dryness, rawness, hoarseness, aphonia, cough hard, and racks the whole chest. Chest feels full of mucus, feels as if only they could cough a little deeper it would raise up the mucus, must swallow the sputum raised, inability to expectorate. Cough with involuntary emissions of urine. Much better drinking cold water. Intensely sympathetic, sensitive, individuals who take a great interest in the welfare of others.

· Chamomilla (Cham.)
Excessive irritability and impatience specially in children. Violent earache. Diarrhea of children during dentition. Tickling cough.

· Drosera Rotundifolia (Dros.)
Spasmodic, dry, irritating, choking cough (much like whooping-cough) with hoarseness of voice. Nose bleed. Disinclination to speak because talking creates breathing difficulties. Spasmodic, nervous and sympathetic cough, deep sounding, hoarse and barking, with pain in the hypochondrium, must hold the part with the hands. Cough with paroxysms following each other very rapidly, can scarcely breath, chokes. Harassing and titillating cough in
children which commences as soon as the head touches the pillow at night. Worse immediately on lying down, after midnight, warmth, drinking, laughing, singing, weeping.

· Dulcamara (Dulc.)
For flu aggravated by the transition from summer to fall. This is one of the best remedies in the acute form; the eyes are suffused, the throat is sore and the cough hurts because of the muscular soreness. Brought on by damp, cold changes in the weather.

· Euphrasia (Ephr.)
Similar to Allium in all respects with profuse bland nasal discharge and acrid, scalding tears which is reverse with Allium. An eye remedy, conjunctivitis with violent attacks of profuse secretion stinging eyes, dust or sand in the eyes.

· Ferrum Phosphoricum (Fer-ph.)
Headache better by cold applications. Eyes red, inflamed, with burning sensation. Face flushed; cheeks sore and hot. Ulcerated sore throat. Tonsils red and swollen. Eustachian tubes inflamed. Congestions of lungs. Expectoration of pure blood in pneumonia. Palpitation; pulse rapid. Restlessness and sleeplessness.

· Gelsemium (Gels.)
Acute influenza (flu) or sore throats, with weakness, limp limbs, chills, fever, headaches with double vision, and heavy, drooping eyelids. There may be a lack of thirst, even during fever. Slowly developing acute coryza days after an exposure to warm moist, relaxing weather. Frequent sneezing with fluent excoriating coryza, sore throat, difficulty of swallowing; dry, tickling cough; a feeling of hot water passing through the nostrils; relieved near the fire; general prostration.

· Hepar Sulphuris Calcareum (Hep.)
Cough when exposed to dry and cold wind. Croupy cough, with loose, rattling phlegm in windpipe. Rattling, choking cough, worse after midnight. Severe laryngeal catarrh, with roughness and pain in the upper part of throat. Cannot bear to be uncovered, least exposure of cold excites cough (Rumex). Anxious, hoarse, wheezing respiration. Worse cold, dry weather. Better in warm, moist weather. Suits thin, irritable, impatient, chilly, oversensitive individuals.

· Hyoscyamus (Hyos.)
Dry spasmodic cough, especially at night when lying down, relieved by sitting up, from itching in the throat, as if uvula were too long. Suited to hysterical females and young girls.

· Ignatia (Ign.) Dry spasmodic cough in the evening, feels as if there is fumes or dust in the throat pit. The longer they cough the more irritation
they feel. Suited to nervous, young people or women with hysterical tendencies. Cough due to emotional difficulties such as grief, unrequited love, and sadness.

· Ipecac (Ip.)
Nausea and vomiting due to any reason. Diarrhea with grass-green stool. Sleep with eyes half open. Suffocating and wheezing cough.

· Kali Bichronicum (Kali-bi.)
Thick, ropey, sticky secretions. Loss of smell. Loose cough, with rattling in chest. Cough with thick, heavy expectoration of bluish, yellow, or white lumpy mucus. Cough with expectoration of tough, stringy, mucus which adheres to the parts and can be drawn out in long strings. Catarrhal laryngitis, coughs have a brassy sound. Suits far, light-haired persons, or fat, chubby, short-necked children disposed to croupy affections.

· Kali Carbonica (Kali-C.) Cough, wheezing, asthmatic, must lean forward with head on knees. Cough with cutting or stitching in chest with respiration and between the breath (Bryonia, stitching on breath only). Sputum of small, white, round lumps that fly from the mouth when coughing or hawking. Edema, above the eyes, morning, disappearing during day, constipation. Suits conservative, rigid, possibly dogmatic individuals, who dislike change. Never quiet or contented, desires to be with people but treats them outrageously.

· Lachesis Mutus (Lach.)
Left sided sore throat. Other complaints related with throat and respiratory system.

· Lycopodium (Lyco.)
Aggravated on the right side. Symptoms go from right to left. Aggravated 4 to 8 pm., afternoon, in morning on waking, on fasting. Ameliorated in evening and in open air. Ear infection (Otitis media) aggravated on the right side. Sinusitis which is aggravated on the right side. Complete stoppage of nose, breathes with open mouth and protrudes the tongue; frontal sinuses involved. Obstruction is aggravated at night. Snuffles of infants. Pharyngitis and Tonsillitis. Aggravated or starts on right side, ameliorated by warm drinks. Cough is a chronic, dry tickling cough. Bronchitis, pneumonia, aggravated on the right side.

· Mercurius Vivus - Mercurius Hydrargyrum (Merc.-v)
Yellow, bloody discharge from ears. Sneezing in sunshine. Swelling of nasal bones. Intense thirst for cold drinks.

· Mercurius Sublimatus Corrosivus (Merc. Cor)
Inflammation and soreness of eyes. Red, swollen and painful throat.

· Mercurius Solubilus (Merc.)
Ear infections either chronic or acute. Nose has chronic coryza with offensive, greenish discharge. Sneezing ameliorated by lying. Cough is aggravated at night, by warmth of bed, lying on right side. Mouth ulcers or canker sores. Throat INFLAMMATION, acute or chronic. Pharyngitis, tonsillitis. Swelling of glands. Diarrhea with strong urging. Stool is offensive, greenish, bloody, slimy.

· Nux Vomica (Nux-v.)
Initial stage, caused by dry cold weather or by sitting on cold steps or in cold places. Headache in sunshine and on waking in the morning. Right sided complaints. Sneezing, nose stuffed up at night and in open air but fluent in a warm room and during day, with scraping rawness in the throat. Dullness or oppression in the frontal sinuses and watering of the eyes.

· Phosphorus (Phos) Dry cough, arising from tickling in the throat and chest, excited by reading aloud, talking, laughing, drinking (Bryonia., Drosera, Pulsatilla). Dry tickling in the evening, with tightness across the chest. Trembling of the whole body with the cough. Sputum frothy, bloody, rust colored, purulent, white and tough, cold mucus, tasting sour, salty or sweet. Cannot lay on left side or with head low, pains in the chest compel them to sit up. Desire for cold water and cold food. Suits tall, slender individuals, who are open, bright, sympathetic, suggestible, and lively in the beginning of an illness but become slow, tired and apathetic as the disease
advances. Worse physical and mental exertion, twilight, change of weather, in evening, lying on left or painful side, during thunderstorm. Better lying on the right side, cold food, cold open air, sleep.

· Phytolacca Decandra (Phyt.)
Dark redness of throat with swollen tonsils.

· Podophyllum (Podo.)
Profuse, painless, watery, gushing diarrhea.

· Pulsatilla Nigra (Puls.)
Mouth is dry but no thirst. Taste of mouth keeps changing. Secretions from eyes, nose and mouth are all thick. Measles. "Ripe cold" in which the discharges are green and bland, not in the least excoriating; bad smell in the nose, as of old catarrh. Secretions from eyes, nose and mouth are all thick. Measles.

· Rumex Crispus (Rumex)
Conditions are aggravated by cold, open air, undressing or uncovering, or change of temperature. Violent sneezing, aggravated in evening, night. Throat has a scraping, raw feeling, aggravated by open air.

· Spongia Tosta (Spong.)
Dry, hacking, croupy, barking cough, day and night, exhausting the person. Worst at midnight. Better with hot drinks. From exposure to dry cold winds. This remedy is indicated when a cough is loud, harsh, dry, and sounds like barking or sawing wood. The person may wake up feeling suffocated, as if the throat is plugged or the breathing passages are dry. Problems are usually made worse from being in a room that is too warm, or from lying down with the head too low. Talking aggravates the cough, and so does exposure to cold air and smoke. Sitting up usually helps, and drinking something warm or eating small amounts brings some relief. This
remedy is often helpful during croup and asthma.

· Stannum Loose cough, with heavy, green, sweet or salty sputum. Sensation of great weakness and emptiness in the chest, worse from talking, laughing, reading aloud, singing. so weak they can hardly talk. Sad, despondent, feels like crying all the time, but cry makes her worse.

· Sulphur (Sulph) Night cough, suffocating at night, wants the doors and windows open. Congestion of blood to the head and chest with burning chest, head, face and soles of the feet at night, must stick them out from under the covers. Worse bathing.

· Veratrum Album (Verat.)
Extreme coldness, blueness and weakness. Pale face. Painful diarrhea followed by great weakness.

Effect of Bar Code Scanners, X-rays, Microwave Ovens and Cell Phones on Homeopathic Remedies

2010-12-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Do NOT store your remedies near your microwave, near your cell phone or in a purse with your phone, etc.

Manufacturers and homeopaths are often overly cautious about what damages the subtle energy of homeopathic remedies. This is because research into what does and doesn't affect remedies has been limited. As a result, they have frequently recommended that they shouldn't be scanned or x-rayed at airports.

Fortunately, recent research shows that airport x-rays and red barcode scanners don't have any effect on remedies.

Other things such as the emissions from mobile phones and microwave ovens do, however. See the full article below.

Tadpole Research: Homeopathic Remedies Harmed by Mobile (Cell) Phones and Microwave Ovens
http://homeopathyplus.com.au/tadpole-research/

Would you believe it? Not only have tadpoles shown skeptical scientists that homeopathy really does work, they have also given us information on how to keep our remedies safe.

Researchers in two different countries have recently tested homeopathically prepared thyroxine, a hormone that influences body metabolism and energy, on tadpoles that were being artificially stimulated by chemical thyroxine.

Those that had a dose of potentized thyroxine added to their water did not grow as fast as those that received a placebo dose of just plain water. In other words, the potentized thyroxine cancelled out the stimulating effects of the chemical thyroxine.

Those who have experienced the effects of homeopathic remedies will not be surprised by this result. In spite of homeopathic remedies appearing to be nothing more than water, alcohol and sugar molecules when viewed under a microscope, their energetic nature can have health-changing effects when prescribed according to the ‘like treats like’ action of homeopathy.

These experiments were repeated six times with similar results over two countries.

The really interesting part for those of us who use homeopathy, is that the scientists also decided to check the effect of different electromagnetic fields had on the remedies.

For centuries it has been known that coffee, mint and camphor can sometimes antidote homeopathic remedies in sensitive people. Polluting electromagnetic radiation, however, is a relatively new phenomenon and we are still unsure of its full effects.

So, our tadpole researchers looked to see if the potentized thryoxine, when exposed to radiation from mobile (cell) phones, airport X-rays, red light barcode scanners, and microwave ovens, still had an effect on the tadpoles.

The results? Apparently it’s safe for your remedies be x-rayed at the airport, and scanned by red-light barcode scanners. The potentized thyroxine still worked after being exposed to them.

The radiation from a mobile phone, however, even when 25 cm away, destroyed the energetic nature of the potentized throxine – it could no longer slow the tadpoles rate of growth. This is information is obviously important for those of us who would like to carry remedies in our bags with a mobile phone – they can be damaged.

Early model microwave ovens with their high leakage rates also cancelled out any effects from the remedy. Unfortunately, the study did not look at the effects of more modern ovens.

So, we can all be grateful to those little tadpoles. While we are not sure why they had to be stimulated with chemical thyroxine to prove that potentized thryoxine could ‘unstimulate’ them, they have clearly provided us with other valuable information such as- don’t, under any circumstance, cook your remedy in the microwave!

Reference:

Weber S, Endler PC, Welles SU et al. The effect of homeopathically prepared thyroxine on highland frogs. Homeopathy, Volume 97, Issue 3, July 2008, Page 165

Homeopathic Treatment of Fibromyalgia

2010-11-15T10:44:00.000-08:00

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/fibromyalgia-homeopathy_b_781144.html

The Huffingtonpost just published Dana Ullman's article on homeopathy and fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is an increasing common syndrome, and good research published in leading conventional medical journals has confirmed the efficacy of homeopathic treatment of this ailment. This article also verifies that there is much more research on homeopathy than most people realize. Please consider spreading this good news with others who may benefit from it.

Article: How to Judge the Response To The First Intake Of A Remedy

2010-11-08T10:43:00.000-08:00

http://www.drluc.com/lecture-four.html

Lecture 4 for the Public: “How to Judge the Response To The First Intake Of A Remedy” (and the Consequent Doses)
by Dr. Luc De Schepper

A correct interpretation to the first response of the patient to his first remedy dose is essential for the future success of the case. Even when the homeopath has selected the right remedy on the first consultation, the most difficult work is still to be done: “How to judge the response? Was it a good response indicating a true cure has started, or was it rather an improvement of a local problem, possible notifying a suppression of the symptoms, which only guarantees a worsening of the future natural disease?” This is the topic of this lesson: I want to empower the patient to first of all know what to expect and not to take some fantasy answers for a fact, and secondly, it will empower the patient to assist his homeopath more efficiently towards the cure of his illness.

The answer to this question remains the same, if your practitioner uses the 4th (dry doses), the 5th or 6th edition of the Organon. The previous lectures already have shown the great advantages of the watery doses, but the issue here is to know if the first step has been made towards cure rather than suppression or palliation (suppressing symptoms where a cure is possible).

After the first dose, the patient has to ask himself the following questions?

Was there an improvement according to A253: “The very beginning of improvement is indicated by a sense of greater ease, composure, mental freedom, and higher spirits?” And I would add: “A sense of well being and a better sleep, often more sleep required? Or as a first sign we may see a change in the topic of dreams: going from nightmares with killing to a dream with festivities, traveling, meeting people, connecting to dead people?” If so, then the remedy was chosen well (dose, potency included) and even if the chief complaint might not be improved at all (especially when of physical nature) the cure is set into movement. The test dose (see lesson 3) will determine the repetition of your remedy, so it is truly individually tailored to you the patient.
Here is the true question the patient (and the homeopath) needs to ask himself: “Did the picture, once the action of this first dose has ceased, come back unaltered or unchanged?” What exactly does this mean? Homeopaths and patients must ask themselves this question because if you can answer yes to this question, then you have initiated your cure with the right remedy, dose and potency. When I say “unchanged” this means not that nothing changed: the chief complaint, let’s say a chronic headache might have decreased in intensity and frequency, but with “unchanged” we mean no other symptoms have been added to the chief complaint. We will discuss further what “other symptoms” mean. The first thing we can see here, as mentioned in lesson 3, is that the advanced 5th and 6th edition prescriber already assesses this answer on the third day where the 4th edition prescriber (dry doses) will do so only after 3 or 4 weeks! Much can go wrong in 4 weeks, not much can go wrong in three days! Correcting a situation the third day or the 4th week makes all the difference in the world.
Did the picture remain the same with an aggravation of the existing symptoms? This is called a similar aggravation which leads to unnecessary suffering. A 4th edition prescriber wants to see this aggravation as it confirms the choice of his remedy but Hahnemann limited and did away completely with this similar aggravation in the 5th and 6th edition of the Organon. The watery doses allow the homeopath to choose very carefully the minimum dose and the potency which is now tailored to each patient. If there is any similar aggravation it is very minimal and again discovered the third day with the advanced methods, and only later in the 4th edition method. Of course even if the 4th edition prescriber hears about the aggravation, he will say, “great we are going to cure the case.” Curing maybe but it will be a tough road and absolutely not necessary! What if the child wants to kill his father to marry his mother (true case)? So we aggravate him and he might just do it! This is one of the reasons to prescribe with the advanced watery methods: “you don’t have to get worse before you get better!”

What if the picture of your disease comes back changed after the first visit?
There are different options and each one is followed by a different action to be taken.

First option: the patient comes back after the first dose of the remedy with new symptoms, which he had never before! One word of caution here: often the patient has a defective memory about previous symptoms, so make sure to check with other family members. But if they are truly new symptoms, creating much discomfort, then the remedy is wrong and the case needs to be retaken! There are exceptions: if you see discharges from any opening in the body or rashes appear after the remedy and you never had such symptoms, it is a sign of cure as the disease is pushed outwards (exteriorization). So never suppress these symptoms with creams or suppositories as you will work against the good work of the remedy and Nature!
There are one or two new symptoms but in a low degree of intensity while the other symptoms are getting some relief and the A253 symptoms (see before in this text) are present. The homeopath must immediately check if these new symptoms, are belonging to the remedy he has given. We call these symptoms accessory symptoms. What to do with these accessory symptoms is explained further!
Old symptoms are returning: symptoms that were present before can now reappear again simply because they were suspended by later and stronger symptoms. This is A38, where a stronger disease suspends the weaker one (not cure it): see lesson 1 and 2. Always ask yourself: “Did I ever have these symptoms in the past?” If so, you are on your way to cure and the remedy should not be changed! There is only one possibility that the dose and/or potency have to be adjusted (not a change in remedy): when the returning symptoms are too strong and too frequent. Here again the watery solutions are easily adjusted and this is not the case with the dry doses again!

The problem of accessory symptoms. They can take two forms.

The first one: A253 is followed and only one or two symptoms belonging to the remedy are present in a low intensity while many of the original symptoms have improved: this is called a close simile (almost the simillimum) and in that case nothing needs to be changed as it will not impede the cure! (A163). So this will happen: suppose you had initially 10 symptoms and after the first prescription, 5 improve and one new symptom, belonging to the prescribed remedy appears, then you are on the right track! No changes needed!
The second option is called the distant simile and a total different matter. It means maybe 2 of the ten initial symptoms improve (and the two might even include your chief complaint) but now 5 new symptoms belonging to your remedy appear: your case must be retaken as the wrong remedy was prescribed. If such remedy is repeated, your initial disease will now be replaced entirely with a disease made up of symptoms of the prescribed remedy, symptoms you never had! So in other words you got a worse disease! Do not think this is not possible, I have seen it enough!

What else can you see after the first prescription (and the next ones)?

· If mental symptoms are now replaced by emotional ones and later emotional by physical ones. Let’s take a case of an autistic child I saw. Before he always said no to everything (contradictory) now he readily agrees to doing things and behaving better towards his sister. Before he runs away when someone wants to take a picture of him, now he likes it. He is friendly, walks now the dog (before indifferent), etc…All this while his eczema comes more out! This is a shift from the emotional plane towards the physical plane and counts as the direction of cure. He is on his way to a cure because all the rules we need to observe in homeopathy are followed. On the other hand, if a physical symptom disappears (for instance eczema) and now the child exhibits emotional or mental symptoms: wrong remedy!! Needs to be stopped and case must be retaken!

· I hope this lesson helps you understanding your case follow up of that of your loved one. In the next lesson I will explain what information is important to communicate to your homeopath and what is not important. I also will touch on the integration of other modalities (psychology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, allopathy, vitamins) with homeopathy. A special approach will be taken in account for the ASD children.

Homeopathy: A Healthier Way to Treat Depression?

2010-09-29T22:52:00.001-07:00

Homeopathy: A Healthier Way to Treat Depression?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/healthier-ways-to-treat-d_b_740720.html

Depression lowers the spirits and drowns the eyes in sorrow, though tears aren't the only reason why depressed people sometimes can't see straight. Depression also caves in the chest, slumps the shoulders, and inhibits full breathing, usually forcing unhappy people to try to catch their breath by frequent sighing. It is sometimes said that depression brings you down to sighs (my apology to those readers who get depressed by bad puns).

On a much more serious note, depression can be a temporary passing experience or a deeply disturbing condition that may lead to suicide. Except in cases of minor depressive states, professional attention is generally recommended to help a person go through this emotional experience in a conscious manner.

The Real Dangers of Conventional Medical Treatment

Recent studies published in leading medical journals have seriously questioned the efficacy of conventional pharmaceutical treatment of people with mild or moderate depression.

In early 2010, major media reported on a significant review of research testing antidepressant medications.(1) What is unique about this review of research is that the researchers evaluated studies that were submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), though the researchers discovered that many studies submitted to the FDA were unpublished (they found that the unpublished research consistently showed negative results of antidepressants).

This meta-analysis of antidepressant medications found only modest benefits over placebo treatment in published research, but when unpublished trial data is included, the benefit falls below accepted criteria for clinical significance.

Perhaps most startling about this research is the fact the FDA only requires drug manufacturers to provide them with two positive studies on depression to attain FDA-approval status, even if these same drug companies submit many more studies with negative results. Such information forces consumers to question the efficacy of "FDA approved drugs," and it explains why so many conventional medications eventually get withdrawn from marketplace.

At the same time that the above review research was published, another review of research was published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), and they found similar results, "The magnitude of benefit of antidepressant medication compared with placebo increases with severity of depression symptoms and may be minimal or nonexistent, on average, in patients with mild or moderate symptoms."(2) These researchers did find benefits from the use of antidepressants in the treatment of severe depression, but because the majority of people taking antidepressants today do not have "severe depression," it is prudent for many people with depression to talk to their doctors about safer and more effective alternatives.

Sadly (and strangely), when conventional doctors today do not obtain adequately effective results with one drug, they often simply prescribe more drugs in hopes that one of them, or their combination, will be more effective (whether this increased use of drugs is effective or not, there are certain "benefits" that drug companies receive from this strategy). However, increasing research is finding that "polypharmacy" (the use of multiple drugs concurrently) may lead to worse, not better, results. New research has shown that polypharmacy with psychotropic medications in suicidal adolescent inpatients has been linked to a significantly increased risk for early readmission.(3)

Presented at Ohio State University and Nationwide Children's Hospital, the researchers found that suicidal adolescent inpatients receiving three or more different classes of psychotropic medications had a 2.6-fold increased risk of being re-admitted within 30 days of discharge.

Cynthia A Fontanella, PhD, the lead researcher, asserted, "Our finding that polypharmacy was associated with an increased risk of readmission is concerning, although not surprising." Even though the serious problems with polypharmacy are known and expected, polypharmacy is growing in mental health care, not decreasing.

Other researchers discovered a disturbing trend among the over 13,000 visits of outpatients with mental disorder diagnoses: the number of psychotropic medications prescribed increased in successive years. Visits in which two or more medications were prescribed increased from 42.6 percent in 1996-1997 to 59.8 percent in 2005-2006, and those in which at least 3 medications were prescribed virtually doubled from 16.9 percent to 33.2 percent.(4)

Why Mental Illness is Increasing

There are numerous theories for why the number of people suffering from mental illness is increasing and why it is afflicting people at younger and younger ages. The homeopathic analysis for this epidemic is unique and may provide additional insight as to why this is occurring.

Like most observers of health and medicine today, homeopaths do not believe that there is simply one reason for the increase in mental illness, though many homeopaths assert that iatrogenesis (doctor-induced disease) plays a much greater role than is commonly recognized.

Homeopaths, like modern-day physiologists, understand that symptoms of illness represent the body's defenses in its efforts to adapt to and respond against infection, environmental assault, or stress of some kind. As discomforting as symptoms can be, they still represent the living organism's best efforts at the time to try to defend and heal him or herself. Such defenses are an innate part of our evolutionary efforts to survive. The symptoms that a person experiences are a part of the body's innate wisdom, commonly referred to as "vis mediatrix naturae" (the healing power of nature).

Using conventional medications to inhibit or suppress a symptom may be effective temporarily, but THIS is often the "bad news." Because symptoms as diverse as fevers, coughs, nasal discharges, or even high blood pressure are recognized by physiologists as adaptations and defenses of the body, drugs that inhibit these symptoms may provide a short-term benefit, but such drugs also reduce the person's ability to get over the illness. More significantly and more seriously, conventional medications may actually suppress the disease process and the wisdom of the body, thereby creating a deeper and more serious illness.

The irony to "modern scientific medicine" is that the evidence that doctors proudly show that a drug "works" is often actually evidence that the drug is effective in suppressing, not curing, a specific symptom (there are, of course, many exceptions to this general observation, such as antibiotics, but antibiotic drugs create other problems about which this writer and many others have commented already).

For over 200 years homeopaths have observed the ability of many conventional drugs to suppress acute illness into more deep chronic illness. During this time, homeopaths have also found that this disease suppression also creates more and greater mental illness. When reviewing the side-effects of many drugs, it is not uncommon to find that drugs are known to lead to various states of mental illness from depression to delusion to suicidal propensities.

Just as suppressing one's emotions often leads to a later explosion of these emotions to someone who happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, suppressing physical symptoms can lead to a more serious physical disease or a more disturbing mental illness. Using drugs to provide temporary relief does not have some type of cost, and the cost is usually a later and more serious ailment.

Homeopathic Treatment of Depression

The Menninger Clinic is world-renowned as one of the leading mental health centers for research and treatment. Most people don't know it, but the founder of the Menninger Clinic, Charles Frederick Menninger, MD, was originally a homeopathic physician. He was even the head of his local homeopathic medicine society and was so frequently impressed with the results that he got from homeopathic medicines, he once said, "Homeopathy is wholly capable of satisfying the therapeutic demands of this age better than any other system or school of medicine." (5)

Numerous studies have shown benefits in using the herb, St. Johns wort, to treat mild to moderate depression. However, homeopaths generally find that it is preferable to prescribe individualized homeopathic remedies to each patient to attain better long-term sustained results without having to take continual doses of any medicine (natural or otherwise). In fact, a recent study published in a medical journal published by Oxford University Press found that individualized homeopathic treatment is as effective and is safer than Prozac in the treatment of people with moderate or severe depression.(6)

This study included 91 outpatients with moderate to severe depression who received an individually chosen homeopathic medicine or fluoxetine (Prozac) 20 mg/day (up to 40 mg/day) in a prospective, randomized, double-blind double-dummy eight week trial. The primary efficacy measure was the mean change in MADRS depression scores (MADRS is a commonly used observer rated depression scale, with a score of 32 representing the "severe depression"). The average MADRS of patients in this study was 29.

The mean MADRS scores differences were not significant on the fourth (p=0.654) and eigth weeks (p=0.965) of treatment, which suggests that the two methods are treatment are equally effective. There were also no significant differences between the percentages of response or remission rates in both groups. The study also found a higher but non-significant percentage of patients treated with Prozac reported troublesome side effects, and there was a trend toward greater treatment interruption for adverse effects in the Prozac group.

Those people who claim to be "skeptics" of homeopathy will be surprised and impressed to know that two specialty medical journals published a double-blind and placebo controlled study on mice and found that one of the medicines in the above study, Gelsemium sempervirens, had anxiety-related effects.(7)(8)

Jonathan Davidson, MD, a professor of psychiatry at Duke University, conducted a small study of adults with major depression, social phobia, or panic disorder. He found that 60 percent of the patients responded favorably to homeopathic treatment.(9) When one recognizes the considerable safety of homeopathic medicines and the benefits that some patients get from this safer method of treatment, it is remarkable that the majority of psychiatrists and psychologists do not yet refer appropriate patients to homeopaths prior to prescribing powerful conventional drugs for them.

A clinical outcome study of interest involved 14 physicians of the United Kingdom's Faculty of Homeopathy (13 NHS GPs and 3 private practitioners) who treated a wide variety of people with chronic ailments.(10) The outcome scores from 958 individual patient conditions having two or more appointments found that 75.9 percent experienced a "positive outcome," 14.7 percent had no change, and 4.6 percent experienced deterioration in health. Patients with the highest positive scores (over 50 percent of patients who self-scored a +2 or +3 on a 7 point Likert scale from -3 to +3) were achieved in the treatment of anxiety, catarrh, colic, cystitis, depression, eczema, irritable bowel syndrome, and PMS. A total of 63.6 percent of patients with depression self-scored a +2 or +3 result from homeopathic treatment.

More information on the homeopathic treatment of mental illness and more scientific evidence verifying its efficacy is contained in a newly published textbook on the subject, Homeopathy and Mental Health Care: Integrative Practice, Principles, and Research .

How NOT to Use Homeopathy for Depression

In early 2010, Alexa Ray Joel, the daughter of singer Billy Joel and actress/model Christy Brinkley, supposedly tried to kill herself by taking a homeopathic medicine, called Traumeel. Anyone with the simply elementary knowledge of homeopathy knows that one cannot commit suicide taking homeopathic medicines due to the extremely small doses in these medicines. Even homeopathy's most ardent skeptics must have had a good laugh at this media report.

After the initial media report about Alexa Ray Joel's suicide attempt, she went public with the fact that she suffered from depression as a result of a break-up in a relationship. And yet, Ms. Joel did not correct the misunderstanding of homeopathic medicine or the assertions made claiming that she (or anyone) could kill themselves with a homeopathic remedy. Sympathy is certainly appropriate for anyone who experiences such emotional trauma from the break-up of a love relationship to consider suicide. However, we should be wary of actions that inappropriately seek to tarnish the reputation of good companies or safe medicines.

Why Homeopathy Makes Sense for Depression

Homeopathic medicines are not prescribed based on the person's diagnosed disease but on the unique way the person experiences his or her disease. In other words, homeopathic medicines are prescribed based on the SYNDROME of various physical and psychological symptoms, not just a single symptom or disease label. Although the selection of the correct homeopathic prescribing is more complex than the use of conventional drugs or even many herbal preparations, the system of prescribing that is individualized to the whole person is intellectually sound... and its results are often significant if not substantial.

The premise behind homeopathy is that symptoms of illness are not just something "wrong" with the person but are actually efforts of their bodymind to fight infection and/or to adapt to stress. Instead of using large doses of pharmacological agents to inhibit or suppress symptoms, very small and specially prepared doses of medicinal substances are individually prescribed to a person for their unique ability to cause in overdose the similar symptoms that the sick person is having. By finding a medicine that matches the symptoms of the sick person, the medicine supports and augments the body's defenses. Ultimately, homeopathy is what Stewart Brand, founder of the Whole Earth Catalog, called "medical aikido" because it goes with, rather than against, the force of the disease. It is also a type of "medical biomimicry."

There is, indeed, much more that could be said about the sophisticated system of healing that homeopathy embodies and on the historical and scientific evidence that verifies its safety and efficacy, but the above information and insights provide a good introduction to why people with mild to moderate depression might be consider seeking professional homeopathic care.

REFERENCES:

(1) Kirsch I, Deacon BJ, Huedo-Medina TB, Scoboria A, Moore TJ, et al. (2008) Initial Severity and Antidepressant Benefits: A Meta-Analysis of Data Submitted to the Food and Drug Administration. PLoS Med 5(2): e45. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0050045 http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.0050045

(2) Fournier JC, DeRubeis RJ, Hollon SD, Dimidjian S, Amsterdam JD, Shelton RC, Fawcett J. Antidepressant Drug Effects and Depression Severity: A Patient-Level Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2010;303(1):47-53. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/303/1/47?home

(3) Fontanella CA, Bridge JA, Campo JV. Psychotropic medication changes, polypharmacy, and the risk of early readmission in suicidal adolescent inpatients. Ann Pharmacother. 2009 Dec;43(12):1939-47.

(4) Mojtabai R, Olfson M. National Trends in Psychotropic Medication Polypharmacy in
Office-Based Psychiatry. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67:26-36.

(5) Menninger, C. F. The Application as Well as the Similar, Transactions of the American Institute of Homeopathy, 1896, pp. 317-324.

(6) Adler UC, Paiva NMP, Cesar AT, Adler MS, Molina A, Padula AE, Calil HM. Homeopathic individualized Q-potencies versus fluoxetine for moderate to severe depression: double-blind, randomized non-inferiority trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009 Aug 17. http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/nep114v1

(7) Bellavite P, Magnani P, Zanolin E, Conforti A. Homeopathic Doses of Gelsemium sempervirens Improve the Behavior of Mice in Response to Novel Environments. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009 Sep 14. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19752165?dopt=Abstract

(8) Magnani P, Conforti A, Zanolin E, Marzotto M, Bellavite P. Dose-effect study of Gelsemium sempervirens in high dilutions on anxiety-related responses in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2010 Apr 20.

(9) Davidson, J, Morrison, R, Shore, J, et al., Homeopathic Treatment of Depression and Anxiety," Alternative Therapies, January, 1997,3,1:46-49.

(10) Mathie, RT, Robinson, TW. Outcomes from Homeopathic Practice in Medical Practice: A Prospective, Research-Tarageted, Pilot Study, Homeopathy. 2006,95:199-205.

Dana Ullman, MPH, is America's leading spokesperson for homeopathy and is the founder of www.homeopathic.com . He is the author of 10 books, including his bestseller, Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicines. His most recent book is, The Homeopathic Revolution: Why Famous People and Cultural Heroes Choose Homeopathy (the Foreword to this book was written by Dr. Peter Fisher, the Physician to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II). Dana lives, practices, and writes from Berkeley, California.

The 2009 Swine Flu Pandemic Is Officially Over...

2010-09-07T22:40:00.001-07:00

2009 Pandemic Flu & 2010 Flu Vaccine: The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the swine flu pandemic officially over on Aug. 9, 2010.

"The swine flu, which we were warned would kill millions, if not tens of millions of people, turned out to be a complete 'dud' as far as pandemics go, but health agencies and governments around the world still managed to create massive fear of this hybrid flu virus. And, of course, vaccine makers made millions off their novel H1N1 vaccines."

Listen to Audio & Video Interview featuring Dr. Joe Mercola and NVIC Co-founder & President Barbara Loe Fisher discussing the outcome of last year's swine flu debacle and this year's flu vaccine.

Study: Homeopathy and Coffee-Related Insomnia

2010-09-01T21:20:00.000-07:00

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20673648

Effects of homeopathic medicines on polysomnographic sleep of young adults with histories of coffee-related insomnia.

Bell IR, Howerter A, Jackson N, Aickin M, Baldwin CM, Bootzin RR.

Department of Family and Community Medicine, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA; Department of Psychiatry, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA; Department of Psychology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Homeopathy, a common form of alternative medicine worldwide, relies on subjective patient reports for diagnosis and treatment. Polysomnography offers a modern methodology for evaluating the objective effects of taking homeopathic remedies that clinicians claim exert effects on sleep quality in susceptible individuals. Animal studies have previously shown changes in non rapid eye movement sleep with certain homeopathic remedies.
METHODS: Young adults of both sexes (ages 18-31) with above-average scores on standardized personality scales for either cynical hostility or anxiety sensitivity (but not both) and a history of coffee-induced insomnia participated in the month-long study. At-home polysomnographic recordings were obtained on successive pairs of nights once per week for a total of eight recordings (nights 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23). Subjects (N=54) received placebo pellets on night 8 (single-blind) and verum pellets on night 22 (double-blind) in 30c doses of one of two homeopathic remedies, Nux Vomica or Coffea Cruda. Subjects completed daily morning sleep diaries and weekly Pittsburgh sleep quality index scales, as well as profile of mood states scales at bedtime on polysomnography nights.
RESULTS: Verum remedies significantly increased PSG total sleep time and NREM, as well as awakenings and stage changes. Changes in actigraphic and self-rated scale effects were not significant.
CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated the feasibility of using in-home, all-night sleep recordings to study homeopathic remedy effects. Findings are similar though not identical to those reported in animals with the same remedies. Possible mechanisms include initial disruption of the nonlinear dynamics of sleep patterns by the verum remedies.

Homeopathy for Intestinal Parasites and Worms

2010-08-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

Homeopathy for Intestinal Parasites and Worms

Natrum Phosphoricum is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of individuals affected by intestinal parasites and those suffering worm related disorders.

This problem also results because of excess sugar, milk and over acidity in the blood complicated by the internal parasites.
Physical symptoms include the persistent sour belching, the production of abundant stools, and heavy sweats and persistent perspiration.
This remedy is also for use with internal parasites in babies who are still being bottle fed at the time of infection.
Physical symptoms can also include the production of excessive gas and a persistent colic state in infants.
The patients will crave and desire fried food-especially eggs, he or she will also love a lot of tangy foods and spices.
The saliva is yellow, and there is a creamy coating in the mouth and the tongue, this is accompanied by discharges in the eyes.
An itchy nose also tends to be always present in the person.
Psychological symptoms include apprehension and persistent anxiety.
The person is apathetic and seems indifferent to everything happening around him or her.
The condition of the person may worsen if he or she eats bread and butter.

Sabadilla is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of individuals with internal parasites such as pinworms and related nematodes like the beef or pork tapeworms.

Physical symptoms in the patients include anal itching which is very persistent; this sensation often alternates with a persistent itching in the nose or in the ears at the same time.
Physical symptoms also include compulsive muscular twitching, the sudden appearance of convulsions and constant trembling in the body.
Other conditions that can be triggered are similar to hay fever, sudden bouts of sneezing.
Conditions such as nausea, vomiting, and colic are also often seen.
The person is affected by a peculiar condition known as worm headache.
Psychological symptoms include the presence of persistent and mostly imaginary symptoms.

Spigelias Marilandica is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of patients afflicted by internal parasites such as worms.

The physical symptoms during the condition are an itching anal region and the presence of a persistent bad breath at all times of the day and night.
The patient may also complain of a persistent pain around the navel area.
The person is very sensitive to the effects of tobacco.
Physical symptoms also include neuralgia in the face, in the eyes, and a great sensitivity to being touched by others.
Other symptoms often observed are the presence of a persistent headache from sunrise to sunset and this is repeated daily.
Psychological symptoms also begin to manifest themselves, and the patients may be very fearful of the future and anxious about things.
The patient is also often affected by stuttering even though he or she may not normally stutter.
Symptoms such as palpitations are also seen.
The condition of the patient often worsens in cold and damp environments.

Tanacetum is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of individuals afflicted with internal parasites.

Physical symptoms include the persistent muscle spasms which occur over the course of the day and in the night.
There is as lot of twitching during sleep, and the patient may often wake up in fright at night.
Physical symptoms also include physical fatigue, other disorders such as epilepsy, which suddenly arrives when the person is sleeping or while he is walking normally.
Other symptoms also include the presence of sudden bouts of diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain; this situation may only be relieved by passing some stool.
Psychological symptoms include irritability, and a great sensitivity to noises and loud sounds.
The person may make many contorted gestures in the face at nighttime, and he or she may suffer from tics.

Teucrium is to be used in the homeopathic treatment of individuals afflicted by internal parasites such as pin and thread worms or even those affected by round worms.

Physical symptoms include persistent nervousness and irritability.
The person may be extremely restless and affected by sleeplessness at night.
Physical symptoms also include crawling and itching sensations in the rectum and the nose, the condition of the patients worsens from the warmth in bed.
The person may also be affected by a chronic mucus production problem.

Research: Girls Now Begin Puberty At Age 9

2010-07-07T23:01:00.001-07:00

Research: Girls Now Begin Puberty At Age 9
http://healthfreedoms.org/2010/07/04/girls-now-begin-puberty-aged-9/

GROWING numbers of girls are reaching puberty before the age of 10, raising fears of increased sexual activity among a new generation of children.
Scientists believe the phenomenon could be linked to obesity or exposure to chemicals in the food chain, and is putting girls at greater long-term risk of breast cancer.

A study has revealed that breast development in a sample of 1,000 girls started at an average age of 9 years and 10 months — an entire year earlier than when a similar cohort was examined in 1991. The research was carried out in Denmark in 2006, the latest year for which figures were available, but experts believe the trend applies to Britain and other parts of Europe. Data from America also point to the earlier onset of puberty. Scientists warn that such young girls are ill-equipped to cope with sexual development when they are still at primary school.

“We were very surprised that there had been such a change in a period of just 15 years,” said Anders Juul, head of the Department of Growth and Reproduction at the University hospital in Copenhagen, a world leader in the study of hormones and growth.

“If girls mature early, they run into teenage problems at an early age and they’re more prone to diseases later on. We should be worried about this regardless of what we think the underlying reasons might be. It’s a clear sign that something is affecting our children, whether it’s junk food, environmental chemicals or lack of physical activity.”

Hitting puberty early can mean longer exposure to oestrogen, which is a factor in breast cancer. There is also a greater risk of heart disease.

A number of artificially produced chemicals have been blamed for interfering with sexual development, notably bisphenol A, a plastic found in the lining of tin cans and babies’ feeding bottles.

Juul’s research team is now testing blood and urine samples from girls in the study to see if a direct link can be drawn between early sexual maturation and bisphenol A.

Another factor in puberty could be diet. Children are eating more than previous generations and growing bigger — and in many cases becoming obese.

There has been a steady lowering in the onset of puberty. In the 19th century, it was at about 15 for girls and 17 for boys.

The international standard for normal puberty in white girls was set in the 1960s at 12Å for the age when periods begin and at about 14 for boys when their voices break and their growth surges.

A more recent consensus in Britain has proved elusive. “Although we don’t have clear data here, there is evidence the same thing [as in Denmark] is happening for reasons that we don’t understand,” said Richard Sharpe, head of the Medical Research Council’s human reproductive sciences unit in Edinburgh.

“We don’t know if this is the result of better nutrition or environmental factors, but it does create social problems for girls who are already living in a sexualised society.”

Sharpe said boys had also been affected by the phenomenon. Choir schools have reported an increasing number of boys dropping out because their voices had broken at the age of 12 or 13.

Richard Stanhope, an expert in hormonal disorders in children who recently retired from Great Ormond Street hospital, said specialists in his field believed they were seeing more children going through early puberty.

“All the things we experience as teenagers are difficult enough to cope with, but when it happens at 10 or 11 it is much worse,” he said.

“These children are also at a much higher risk of being sexually abused because it is hard for some adults to understand and behave appropriately towards them.”

Girls who reach puberty early often find themselves teased at school. “I had to wear a bra at 9,” said one girl, who did not want to be named. “I used to pretend to be ill to get out of changing for PE.

“The worst part was men coming on to me as though I was an adult when actually I was 11.”

A study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition last Friday showed a link between high meat consumption and earlier puberty in girls.

Researchers at Brighton University found that 49% of girls who ate meat 12 times a week at the age of 7 had reached puberty by the age of 12 1/2, compared with 35% of those who ate meat four times a week or less. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article7148975.ece

Homeopathic Remedies for Conjunctivitis or "Pink Eye"

2010-06-22T22:56:00.001-07:00

Homeopathic Remedies for Conjunctivitis or “Pink Eye”

Conjunctivitis or “Pink Eye” means inflammation of the conjunctiva. Conjunctivitis can also be caused by allergy, irritation from pollutants, windburn, or exposure to too much sun. It often troubles children, but adults can also be afflicted and it is very contagious, but is rarely serious. If subterraneous layers of the eye are affected, there is concern for deeper pathology, but this is an uncommon occurrence. If viral in nature, no antibiotics will affect it and it will secrete clear and watery tears, while discharges that are colored thick, yellow or greenish are bacterial. Homeopathic remedies can help to reduce inflammation and ease discomfort in conjunctivitis. Even without treatment, most of these infections resolve within 10 days or so.

All the homeopathic remedies given below are to be used only at the early stages of conjunctivitis; they will help minimize the inflammation and ease the pain and discomfort felt. Consult a medical professional if a significant improvement is not observed in the course of a week or after the treatment has been followed for a considerable length of time.

Apis mellifica: Puffy, pink, watery swelling that feels better from cold applications is a strong indication for this remedy. Stinging, burning pain may be experienced, and the eyelids may stick together. A person who needs this remedy often feels irritable, disliking interference.

Argentum nitricum: Swelling with yellowish or pus-like discharge, and redness and inflammation of the whites and inner corners of the eyes, suggest the use of this remedy. The person’s eyes may be tired and achy, worse from light and warmth, and better from cool water, cold compresses and fresh air. People who need this remedy often have a strong desire for both salt and sweets.

Belladonna: The first homeopathic remedy to consider. The need for this remedy is determined by the intense redness of the eyes, including bloodshot appearance to the whites. There may be pain that is throbbing in nature or the eye may be experienced as hot. External environments affect the comfort, such as too many lights and even loud noises. The conjunctivitis might also be accompanied by a fever or it may not. Use Belladonna when the eye infection comes on quickly and use it as soon as possible.

Euphrasia: Most valuable when there is a large quantity of clear flow of watery tears that burn the eye and surrounding skin. This may, in time, develop to a greenish or white discharge and there can be a sensation as though a foreign object, such as sand, is embedded in the eye. If purchased in alcohol as a tincture, it needs to be diluted 1:25. That is, one drop of tincture to 24 drops of warm water. This mixture is then dropped by an eye dropper directly into the eye. If this is not possible, a clean cloth dipped in the solution can be gently placed and squeezed into it.

Hepar sulphur: When the eyes feel sore or bruised, with inflammation and burning pain, or a feeling as if the eyes are being pulled back into the head, this remedy may be indicated. Yellow discharge can stick the eyelids shut, especially in the morning. Warm compresses and warmth in general, often ease discomfort. Extreme sensitivity to cold, as well as to light and noise, is often seen. The person may be very irritable and touchy.

Mercurius solubilis: People needing this remedy often feel ill and tired, with erratic body temperature and sensitivity both to heat and cold. Discharge is greenish-yellow and can irritate the lids and margins of the eyes. A person who needs this remedy often has swollen glands, offensive breath, and excessive salivation. There are also eruptions around the eyes and on the lids of someone who needs this remedy.

Natrum muriaticum: Swollen lids with burning tears and a feeling that the eyes are bruised suggest a need for this remedy. Mucus or pus forms and can make the eyelids stick together. People who need this remedy often feel sad and tired, acting irritable if someone shows them sympathy.

Pulsatilla: For pink eye that has a great deal of thick, yellow, itchy discharge (often accompanying a cold or the measles). There is often a thick yellow to greenish discharge that doesn't excoriate the skin. The person needing this remedy is extra clingy and may be made worse in a warm room and more comfortable in cool breezes. Cool water applied to the eyes is often soothing and they will crave this. Often this person has little to no thirst. The person is emotional and sensitive, feeling worse from warmth and in stuffy rooms and relieved by cool fresh air.

Sulphur: This remedy may be helpful if the eyes are very red and irritated, with burning, smarting, sticking pains and a nagging itch. The whites of the eyes look red and bloodshot, and the tears feel hot. Symptoms are worse from heat, and light will hurt the eyes. The eyelids may look contracted, especially in the morning.

Homeopathy for Sports Injuries

2010-05-24T21:23:00.000-07:00

Homeopathy for Sports Injuries
http://www.homeopathyforwomen.org/sports_injuries.htm

Below are some of the most common and effective remedies for various muscle aches, pains, bruising and injuries from sports, physical exercise and/or exertion:

Arnica montana
Arnica is the sine qua non for all forms of trauma, including soft tissue injuries, falls, blows, bruises, contusions, sprains, strains, broken bones, overexertion, mental stress, shock, and PTSD. Arnica is an essential addition to any sports first aid kit. Arnica can be helpful at the time of acute injury or even years later for injuries that have failed to completely heal.

Hypericum perforatum
Hypericum is one of the best medicines for injured nerves, especially in sensitive areas like the fingers, toes, and under the nails. It is useful in crush injuries, painful lacerations, and when intolerable, violent, shooting, and sharp pains are present. It is helpful in cases of brain and spinal cord injury. Hypericum can be used when wounds feel more tender than they look. It can also be helpful post-operatively for nerve injuries or after tooth extractions.

Rhus toxicodendron
Rhus tox is helpful in cases where there is pain and stiffness of muscles and joints known as the “rusty gate” phenomenon. Helpful in strains and sprains caused by over-lifting or overexertion.

Ruta graveolens
Ruta is highly effective in cases of injured or bruised bones, joints, and tendons that present sore, aching pains and restlessness. Ruta has special affinity for the flexor tendons of the ankles and wrists. It is helpful in cartilage injuries and bruises of the periosteum. Helpful in sciatic pain that is worse when lying down at night and for persistent lameness and weakness after sprains or strains.

Symphytum
Symphytum is particularly helpful in injuries to bones, cartilages, and periosteum when there is excessive pain. It is good for old painful injuries that have failed to heal properly. Useful in fractures and broken bones where there is a pricking or stitching sensation that remains after the wound is healed. Symphytum is known for its ability to help heal nonunion of fractures.

Role of Homeopathy in the Management of Autism

2010-05-12T06:57:00.001-07:00

M.A. Rajalakshmi BHMS, M.S.

Consultant Homeopathic Physician and Psychotherapist
Anjana Homeo Clinic
Faculty, Gokula AYUSH Arogyadhama, Center for Holistic Well-Being of M.S. Ramaiah Medical College & Hospital

Address: Bangalore

Source: The Internet Journal of Alternative Medicine™ ISSN: 1540-2584

Citation: M. Rajalakshmi : Role of Homoeopathy in the Management of Autism: Study of Effects of Homoeopathic Treatment on the Autism Triad . The Internet Journal of Alternative Medicine. 2008 Volume 6 Number 1

Abstract:
Autism is a disorder with a wide range of severities. The major issues that come up while dealing with autism are in the following areas: Firstly there are the behavioural issues such as hyperactivity, temper tantrums, poor attention span, decreased concentration and poor focusing. Secondly there are the speech, language and communication issues that are a major concern for parents. Thirdly there are the social skills impairment such as poor eye contact and poor interaction with peers. It has been seen that it is not possible to manage the above mentioned problems with just training alone. Learning is not possible when the child is hyperactive or is not able to focus or concentrate. Also the behavioural and communication problems may stem from an internal rather than an external cause that needs to be rectified. In such a situation it has been observed that with homoeopathic treatment the child's understanding, eye contact and in the long run, communication also improve. For example: In one case, a parent mentioned that she was trying to train her son in self care activities that was very tedious, as she had to make him do it step by step and he would forget it immediately. She would then have to repeat the whole process every day. But after homoeopathic treatment, she just had to ask him to do that activity and he would comply without making any mistakes as his understanding and receptive language skills had improved.

Homoeopathy and other natural treatments have recently come into focus as possible effective treatment modalities for autistic spectrum disorders. The book, Impossible Cure: The Promise of Homoeopathy by Amy Lansky is a case in point.

This study aims to throw light on how Homoeopathy can be used as an effective tool for the management of Autism.

In this paper I attempt to highlight the effectiveness of Homoeopathic treatment for autism with case studies, based on my experiences of treating Autism Spectrum Disorders in a special school setting where I worked as a consultant for four years and in my private practice.

Read All About This Study At This Link: http://www.ispub.com/journal/the_internet_journal_of_alternative_medicine/volume_6_number_1_2/article/role_of_homoeopathy_in_the_management_of_autism_study_of_effects_of_homoeopathic_treatment_on_the_autism_triad.html

Acute Homeopathy 200C Remedy Kit (50 Remedies) At A Very Affordable Price

2010-04-22T12:51:00.001-07:00

Every family using homeopathic care on a regular basis should have a homeopathic remedy kit available for emergency acutes, illnesses and injuries!

For all our clients, we recommend this very affordable kit of 50 of the most commonly used remedies in a 200C from Natural Living at http://www.natural-living.com/lucs_kit.php

Price: $83.95 USD

The Homeopathic Remedy Kit Includes:

50 remedy emergency kit in #15 pellets
"Peoples Repertory" book the non-professional by Dr. Luc De Schepper

This 50 remedy kit is manufactured by Bengal Allen Medicine in India who has been making hand-succussed remedies for 99 years and who is known for quality worldwide. Many of the employees of this company have been working for Bengal Allen for generations. A well known Indian homeopath Dr. Banerjea is the director of the company. This kit has most of the remedies one might need in acute conditions.

All the remedies are in size #15 pellets (these are the tiny poppy seed size pills). The vials come in a carrying box for easy and convenient storage, including for travel.

* Shipping is FREE (in USA 48 states).

* Tax is applicable in CA.

* Kits are normally stocked in the USA so they can be shipped immediately.

Popular Veggie Burgers Contain Poisonous Chemicals

2010-04-17T12:59:00.001-07:00

Would You Like Some Neurotoxin With Your Soy Burgers?

Summertime is around the corner, and many of the city's [New York] vegetarians are gearing up for their rooftop BBQs with their soy burgers and tofu dogs, resting peacefully with the fact that no animals had to die so they could eat. But were other humans harmed in awful factory conditions that exposed them to deadly chemicals? Probably.

A new study shows that a number of popular soy products contain trace amounts of hexane, which listed as a "hazardous air pollutant" by the EPA and is known to cause nervous system failure and skin disorders in humans. It's unclear how much hexane you need to eat before getting side effects, but do you feel lucky, veggie?

The 37-page report [PDF] says that though the use of hexane is prohibited in "organic" food processing, it's widely used in the "natural" soy industry, and even by some companies that use the wording "made with organic ingredients." Mother Jones reports that since many fake meat producers aim to have as little fat as possible in their products, they will soak soybeans in a hexane bath to separate the oil from the protein. One researcher said, "If a non-organic product contains a soy protein isolate, soy protein concentrate, or texturized vegetable protein, you can be pretty sure it was made using soy beans that were made with hexane."

So what brands out there contain the hazardous chemical? Sadly, most of the good ones. Here's a little list:

Amy's Kitchen
Boca Burger, conventional
Franklin Farms
Garden Burger
It’s All Good Lightlife
Morningstar Farms
President’s Choice
Taste Above
Trader Joe's
Yves Veggie Cuisine

Below, the safe brands:

Hexane-free brands:

Boca Burgers "Made with organic soy"
Helen's Kitchen
Morningstar "Made with organic"
Superburgers by Turtle Island
Tofurky
Wildwood

The verdict is out on Whole Foods brands and Silk soymilk, as they did not participate in the project, but the Village Voice has the whole toxic list here. The worst part may be that many popular baby formulas also contain hexane! The report states, "Nearly every major ingredient in conventional soy-based infant formula is hexane extracted."

Link to the above article:

http://gothamist.com/2010/04/13/popular_veggie_burgers_contain_pois.php

Link to complete PDF Soybean Report with Hexane chapter:

http://www.cornucopia.org/soysurvey/OrganicSoyReport/behindthebean_color_final.pdf

Homeopathic Remedies Effective Against Melanoma (Skin Cancer)

2010-03-26T08:24:00.001-07:00

Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer. While it accounts for less than 5% of all skin cancer cases it is responsible for a large percentage of skin cancer deaths. It’s the fastest growing of all cancer groups and worldwide is increasing in incidence.

Surviving melanoma largely depends on how quickly it is detected and excised. The best chance of cure comes from the early surgical removal of thin tumors. Once the melanoma has spread (metastasized) or thickened, survival rates plummet.

Normal chemotherapeutic options are limited and not very successful with melanomas. They are also associated with significant side effects such as bone marrow damage, reduced blood quality, and pronounced nausea or vomiting.

But perhaps a better and more humane approach to this deadly disease is on the horizon.
Recently, Brazilian researchers showed that a complex (mixture) of homeopathic remedies was able to:

1. Prevent melanoma and bowel cancer cells from invading or sticking to the cells and tissues that surrounded them,
2. Improve the immune system’s ability to kill cancer cells,
3. Make cancerous melanoma tumors shrink or become dormant
This complex was tested repeatedly in both in vivo tests (using laboratory animals) and in in vitro tests using melanoma and colon cancer cells.

The potentized remedies included: Aconitum napellus; Arsenicum album; Asafoetida; Calcarea carbonica; Conium maculatum; Ipecacuanha; Phosphorus; Rhus toxicodendron; Silicea; Sulphur; and Thuja occidentalis.

To read a provisional pdf of this exciting and peer-reviewed research, click here
To read other research about homeopathy’s effect on breast cancer cells, click here

Vacinne Withdrawn: Rotarix

2010-03-25T12:40:00.001-07:00

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. health officials are telling pediatricians to temporarily stop using one of two vaccines against a leading cause of diarrhea in babies - GlaxoSmithKline's Rotarix.

The Food and Drug Administration calls Monday's move a precaution after the discovery that Rotarix doses have been contaminated with an apparently benign pig virus.

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg says Rotarix has been used in millions of children worldwide - and 1 million in the U.S. - with no signs of safety problems. Nor is the pig virus known to cause any kind of illness in people or animals. But vaccines are supposed to be sterile, so FDA is investigating.

Meanwhile, FDA told doctors to use a competing vaccine against diarrhea-causing rotavirus, Merck's Rotateq.

Acute Care Services - Homeopathic Care For Acutes

2010-03-21T22:38:00.001-07:00

Homeopathy for Women offers ACUTE CARE SERVICES (short term illness or injury) through the Homeopathy For Women website at: www.homeopathyforwomen.org/acute.htm. We serve families throughout the USA and Canada with email services for all types of acute homeopathic care.

The fee for ACUTE CARE is a flat rate of $50 (USD), paid via Paypal, per person, for which homeopathic care is requested.

Our ACUTE CARE includes the initial analysis, repertorization and the necessary acute remedy prescription(s). The cost of the remedies required is additional, and remedies prescribed can be purchased from us, through local pharmacies and health food store or on-line.

Because acutes like colds, ear infections, flu’s, fevers, etc. can change rapidly over the course of hours or days, our ACUTE CARE includes the prescribing of the required remedy/remedies needed during all the phases of the illness or injury.

The $50.00 USD flat rate fee covers email correspondence related to the acute for 7 (SEVEN) consecutive days of care, with daily follow-ups available with the homeopath by email. If more consultation time is needed, it can be arranged in weekly increments. Client acutes are repertorized using RADAR professional homeopathic software (version 10.5) and reportizations can be emailed to you upon request.

Our success rate on acute prescribing is 98% in the first 7 days.

Our Homeopaths have successfully prescribed homeopathic remedies for all types of acute illness and injuries, including:
coughs, colds, fevers, flu, earaches, sore throats, swine flu, migraines, sinusitis, pneumonia, croup, stings, bites, hives, eye injury, allergic reactions, cracked teeth injuries, sprains, bad falls, shoulder injuries, sciatica, various sport injuries, grief issues, menstrual cramps, lactation difficulties, post-partum issues, other women's issues - etc.

If you require ACUTE CARE services with homeopathy, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

New Study on Breast Cancer: Homeopathic Remedies Effective and Non-Toxic!

2010-02-13T09:19:00.001-08:00

New Study on Breast Cancer: Homeopathic Remedies Effective and Non-toxic!

http://homeopathyplus.com.au/hplus/research/breast-cancer-homeopathic-remedies-effective-and-non-toxic.html

A recent study (February 2010) just published in the International Journal of Oncology reveals that homeopathic remedies have a similar action to chemotherapy but none of their toxicity.

Dr. Moshe Frenkel, the lead researcher for this study said, "We felt that homeopathy needed to be tested in the same way that we test new chemotherapeutic drugs. We were quite impressed to find that homeopathic remedies have similar effects to chemotherapy on breast cancer cells but without affecting normal cells, a very exciting finding."

The homeopathic remedies tested included: Carcinosin; Conium maculatum; Phytolacca decandra; and Thuja occidentalis.

The researchers concluded, "the ultra-diluted natural homeopathic remedies investigated in this study offer the promise of being effective preventive and/or therapeutic agents for breast cancer and worthy of further study."

HERE IS THE LINK AND ABSTRACT: http://www.spandidos-publications.com/ijo/36/2/395

Cytotoxic effects of ultra-diluted remedies on breast cancer cells

Authors: Moshe Frenkel, Bal Mukund Mishra, Subrata Sen, Peiying Yang, Alison Pawlus, Luis Vence, Aimee Leblanc, Lorenzo Cohen, Pratip Banerji, Prasanta Banerji

Affiliations: Integrative Medicine Program-Unit 145, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA. frenkelm@netvision.net.il
Pages: 395-403

Abstract: 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.

Discover Your Homeopathic Constitution On-Line

2010-01-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

NOW YOU CAN EASILY BEGIN TO DISCOVER YOUR HOMEOPATHIC CONSTITUTION ON-LINE!

Take our newly launched "What is My Homeopathic Constitution" Survey on-line in only 15- - 20 minutes, for only $18.00 (USD) per use.

The link for this new Survey is www.homeopathyforwomen.org/survey.htm

Once you have completed these easy to answer questions and submitted your survey, you will immediately receive a written report by email that contains all of the questions and your answers, along with numeric scores for each section.

Your final score will indicate the top 3 most likely homeopathic constitutions for you, based on your answers submitted to the Survey.

Your Survey report by email will also include the basic descriptions of each homeopathic constitutional type including: Appearance, Mental and Emotional Aspects, Physical Weaknesses, Dietary Factors, Traits in Children, and Other general characteristics.

Completing our "What is My Homeopathic Constitution" Survey is the first step in beginning to understand your homeopathic constitution and how homeopathy can work to gently bring better health and wholeness to your life!

Homeopathy for Sore Throats

2009-12-17T10:03:00.000-08:00

Homeopathy for Sore Throats
Bookmark this article at http://www.homeopathyforwomen.org/sore_throats.htm

Below are some of the most common homeopathic remedies for sore throats to be considered during the winter cold and flu season:

Crot-h: Left-sided throats with low form of blood poisoning. Bleeding from orifices of the body, body appears mottled, yellow and blue, gangrenous or diphtheritic throat, much swelling of glands, impossible to swallow liquids, throat slightly constricted. Low passive delirium, muttering and mumbling speech.

Lachesis: Left-sided or left to right. Sensation of fullness of neck, difficult breathing, choking ongoing to sleep or swallowing, aggravation of throat symptoms from warm drinks, unable to swallow, pain worse empty swallowing; purple throat.

Lac-c: Throat with alternating sides, right to left and to right again, throat looks red and glazed and shiny with silver grey deposit, pains relieved by swallowing cold or warm drinks.

Lycopodium: Right-sided remedy of right to left, relieved form swallowing warm drinks, opposite to Lach; and there is also no aggravation during sleep, and no constriction of throat. Pain extends into ear (as in Belladona, Hepar Sulphur, Lachesis, Cantharis, Phytolacca.

Mercurius: Spongy throat, fullness and stiffness of neck, throat dry, swallowing is difficult. Mercurial odor marked, tongue thickly coated, takes imprint of teeth, sub-maxillary glands enlarged, dark red throat, acute prostration, weakness, offensive sweat, patient worse at night, trembling of limbs.

Merc-p: Strongly right-sided, remains on right side, tongue very thickly coated with yellow or light brown base, excessive secretion of tenacious mucus in the throat, which is difficult to move, especially in the morning, offensive fetid odor, warm drinks aggravate pain (opposite Lycopodium), patient very languid and excessively tired, nausea at sight of food.

Merc-b: Left to right, constant desire to hawk, a lump in throat, tenacious mucus, empty swallowing aggravate, gland swollen, fauces dark red, dreams troublesome, feels light headed as if floating.

Hepar Sulphur: Ulcers in throat, sensation of splinters or fish-bones in throat, pain extends to ear, on yawning and swallowing and turning the head, ameliorated by warm drinks (Lycopodium), patient feels very cold, particularly affected each time he goes out in dry cold winds, or cold east winds. Fever with sweating and a desire to be covered up; profuse perspiration, yet he wants several blankets over him; objects to drafts, open doors and windows.

Kali-bich: Has deep scooped-out ulcers on tonsils, the saliva is sticky and stringy.

Phytolacca: The vegetable Mercury is frequently indicated in sore throats, glands swollen, thick tenacious mucus, symptoms worse nights. Aching in all bones, body feels bruised and sore, bed feels hard. Mouth is fetid, tongue coated, swallowing cold liquids relieves pain, warm drinks aggravate pain (Lachesis). Pain and stiffness in the cervical region.

Read more about the most common homeopathic remedies at http://www.homeopathyforwomen.org/remedies.htm

Discover Your Homeopathic Constitution On-Line at www.homeopathyforwomen.org/survey.htm

2009-11-25T10:13:00.000-08:00

NOW YOU CAN EASILY BEGIN TO DISCOVER YOUR HOMEOPATHIC CONSTITUTION ON-LINE!

Take our newly launched "What is My Homeopathic Constitution" Survey on-line in only 15 - 20 minutes, for only $18.00 (USD) per use.

The link for this new Survey is www.homeopathyforwomen.org/survey.htm

Your final score will indicate the top 3 most likely homeopathic constitutions for you, based on your answers submitted to the Survey.

Homeopathy for Preventing Cavities! Learn More About Calcarea Phosphorica (Calc-Phos.)

2009-11-20T10:01:00.000-08:00

Calcarea Phosphorica (Calc-Phos.)

(Phosphate of Lime)

Calcarea Phosphorica keynotes area: Calc-phos. is very essential to the proper growth and nutrition of the body. This salt is found in the blood - plasma and corpuscles, saliva, gastric juice, bones, connective tissue, teeth, milk, etc. It gives solidity to the bones. . Calc-Phos. can help to preventing cavities!

Calc. phos. has a special chemical affinity for albumen, which forms the organic basis for this salt in the tissue - cells, and is required wherever albumen or albuminous substances are found in the secretions. It also supplies new blood - cells, becoming the first remedy in anemia and chlorosis. It is of the greatest importance to the soft and growing tissues, promoting cell growth, supplying the first basis for the new tissues, hence is necessary to initiate growth.

It is the nutritive salt for the periosteum and through it for bones.

Important for the life of the blood, without it there is no coagulation. Cal-Phos is of vital importance to growth and maintenance of healthy cells.

It is a good remedy for children who develop slowly and people who catch colds easily.

Calc-Phos can also be used to prevent cavities!

Homeopathy for Preventing Cavities

Follow this simple directions for Dosing Calc. Phos. as a preventative for Cavities:

·         Be sure to use Calc-Phos 6x (not a 6c)

·         ONE pellet dissolved in 4 oz water.

·         Take 1 tsp. directly from the cup, for everyone in the family.

·         Discard the extra remedy.

·         Next time you dose, make up new cup, with no succussions ever.

·         Dose one month on and then one month off.


Read more about Calc-Phos: http://www.homeopathyforwomen.org/calcarea_phosphorica.htm.

Lear more about many other homeopathic remedies at our website: http://www.homeopathyforwomen.org/remedies.htm

Remedy of the Month: Arsenicum for Flu Prevention and Flu Treatment

2009-11-03T09:56:00.000-08:00

Arsenicum Album: Flu Prevention Dosing with Homeopathy

You may use the Arsenicum album remedy as a flu or flu epidemic preventative as follows:

Option 1: Arsenicum album 30C once a week
Put 2 pellets of Arsenicum album 30C in an 4 oz. cup of filtered water, dissolve and stir it. Take 1/2 tsp. from this cup once a week as the dose and give 1/2 tsp. dose to everyone in the family from this cup. Discard the cup. Make new cup every week. Repeat this dosing during flu season (October through May).

Option 2: Arsenicum album 200C once a month
Put 2 pellets of Arsenicum album 30C in an 4 oz. cup of filtered water, dissolve and stir it. Take 1 tsp. from this cup once a week as the dose and give 1 tsp. dose to everyone in the family from this cup. Discard the cup. Make new cup every week. Repeat this dosing during flu season (October through May).

Option 3: Arsenicum album 200C once a week (use only if there is an epidemic)
Put 2 pellets of Arsenicum album 200C in an 4 oz. cup of filtered water, dissolve and stir it. Take 1 tsp. from this cup as the dose once a week and give 1 tsp. dose to everyone in the family from this cup. Discard the cup. Make new cup every week. Repeat this dosing weekly during flu season if you are in a flu epidemic (October through May).

Arsenicum Album Keynotes are:

Influenza with thin, watery and excoriating nasal discharge. Sneezing. Photophobia. Seaside complaints. Restlessness. Food poisoning. Intolerance of smell of food. Jaundice. Anemia. Skin dry, rough, scaly. Psoriasis which is worse in winters. Periodic fever. Typhoid. Thoughts of committing suicide.

More About Arsenicum Album:
Text below reprinted by permission from The People's Repertory by Dr. Luc De Schepper

"Yes, the greatest poisons make the best remedies, as long as they are administered in a homeopathic dose. Arsenicum is one of the most widely used homeopathic remedies. You should "never leave home without it" as it is the best indicated remedy for food poisoning. The diarrhea and vomiting are quickly relieved and no further consequences are expected. Always travel with Arsenicum album!

People who need Arsenicum are often very restless individuals, anxious and often labeled "hypochondriacs" as they always seem to be searching for a disease. An Arsenicum state is one of great restlessness, with extreme fatigue and severe anxiety. Therefore it is often used acutely in a severe asthma attack, especially for an attack between 1-3 a.m., in which the person has to get out of bed to relieve his shortness of breath and severe wheezing. These people typically require an extra pillow for sleeping to make breathing easier and are thirsty for small sips of cold water. There is often a periodicity (regular recurrence) to these asthma attacks: every two days, every three days, every seven days, etc.

Besides its uses for food poisoning and asthma, Arsenicum is the first remedy to think of for any beginning cold with a clear, runny nose (with or without relentless sneezing or a right-sided sore throat). It is a great flu remedy (a universal one) which can also be used for flu prevention.

No remedy brings more relief to the dying patient than Arsenicum: it calms the struggling patient without doping him. He stays alert yet anxious, which is a relief for the family and patient alike. The picture of a dying patient wanting to hang onto life is not a pretty one, and can cause additional anguish to the family in their time of grief."

Homeopathy for Allergies: Nothing to Sneeze At

2009-10-22T16:58:00.001-07:00

Homeopathy for Allergies: Nothing to Sneeze At
by Dana Ullman, MPH, Expert in Homeopathic Medicine

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/homeopathy-for-allergies_b_320998.html

The word "allergy" did not even exist a century ago, and yet, respiratory allergies today are the 5^th leading chronic disease in the U.S. and are the 3^rd most common chronic disease among children under 18 years old. [1] It has been estimated that one in seven Americans had a respiratory allergy in 1950, but one in four have one now.

To those of us who do not believe in coincidences, it is not surprising that my father was a physician who specialized in allergy. Allergy is the medical specialty that commonly uses small doses of an allergen in order to desensitize a person to that allergen. This concept of using small doses of what might cause a problem in order to help prevent or heal the person is an ancient observation of healers/physicians all over the world, and it is the basis for a type of natural medicine called homeopathy.

It is therefore not surprising that one of the three physicians who founded the American Academy of Allergy was a San Francisco homeopathic physician, Dr. Grant L. Selfridge. [2] Another small and forgotten footnote in medical history involves a homeopathic physician from Scotland, C.H. Blackley, who in 1871 was the first physician to identify pollen as the cause of hay fever. [3]

Although homeopaths have a history of being at the forefront of medical research and discovery, it is particularly appropriate and even predictable that they would lead the way in the field of allergy. Because the primary principle of modern allergy treatment derives from the homeopathic principle of "treating like with like," the spirit of homeopathy has lived on, despite the tendency of orthodox physicians to ignore it.

Research in Leading Medical Journals

Respiratory allergies represent the condition for which there is a relatively strong research base for efficacious treatment with homeopathic medicines. A group of researchers at the University of Glasgow published four studies, three of which were published in the BMJ (British Medical Journal) and the Lancet, two highly respected medical journals. Each study was randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. Each trial used an oral 30C homeopathic preparation. The first two trials involved patients with hay fever, [4] [5] where patients were either give a placebo or homeopathic doses of 12 common flowers to which people are allergic.

The third trial involved patients with asthma, where patients underwent conventional allergy testing to determine to what substance they were most allergic. [6] Half of the patients were given a placebo and half were given a homeopathic dose of the substance to which they were most allergic (the most common allergen was "house dust mite" and thus, these patients were given House Dust Mite 30C).

The fourth study was the treatment of patients suffering with perennial allergic rhinitis (a broad technical term for respiratory allergies that are not seasonal). [7] Like the previous study, half of the patients were given a placebo, while the other half was given a homeopathic dose of whatever substance the person was most allergic. The patients given the homeopathic medicine experienced significant improvement in nasal inspiratory flow comparable with the improvement typically experienced by patients given steroidal drugs…without side effects!

When evaluating all four trials together (there were 253 patients in all of their clinical trials), there was a 28 percentimprovement in homeopathic subjects versus a 3 percent improvement in placebo subjects.

Following in the footsteps of the above research, a 4-week, double-blind clinical trial comparing homeopathic preparations with placebo was conducted in the Phoenix metropolitan area during the regional allergy season from February to May. [8] The treatment group was given a homeopathic preparation (6X) of common allergens in the Southwest region of the U.S. Participants included 40 men and women, 26-63 years of age, diagnosed with moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms.

In addition to the above research, a group of German researchers conducted annual controlled clinical trials using a single homeopathic medicine (Galphima glauca) on over 1,000 hay fever subjects. The last six clinical trials were randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. These studies consistently showed benefits from this homeopathic treatment as compared with those patients given a placebo. [9]

It should be acknowledged that not all research has confirmed success in the treatment of respiratory allergies using homeopathic medicines. For instance, one study tested homeopathic doses of birch trees to treat people with birch tree allergies, but such treatment was not any more effective than a placebo. [10]

Specific Treatment Options

What this research suggests is that homeopathic medicines provide an often effective and extremely safe means of treatment for patients with respiratory allergies. Further, due to the widely recognized safety of homeopathic medicines, it makes sense to consider safe methods before resorting to more risky treatments. There are specific treatment options using homeopathic medicines that people can consider:

1) Follow the studies of the Glasgow researchers and use conventional allergy testing to determine to what you are allergic and then take the 30C dose of this substance (these products are available through select homeopathic pharmacies).

2) Two of the Glasgow studies involved subjects with hay fever, and these studies used a combination homeopathic medicine that included flowers to which the patients were allergic. People might consider prescribing a homeopathic medicine that contains many of the common flowers to which the hay fever subject is sensitive (most health food stores have homeopathic combination remedies that include such ingredients).

3) People with hay fever could consider taking Galphimia glauca 3X, 4X, 4C, or 6C as long as hay fever symptoms persist, or use a homeopathic combination remedy in which this remedy is an ingredient.

4) People with allergies could consider prescribing an individualized single homeopathic medicine as recommended in various homeopathic acute care guidebooks. [11] Individualizing a homeopathic medicine to a specific person and his/her unique syndrome of symptoms is the preferred method of "classical homeopathy" and has a long-time history of significant success.

Generally, these treatment options provide safe and effective care for patients suffering from respiratory allergies, but it is uncertain how long-term the therapeutic benefits will last. It may be necessary to refer the patient to a professional homeopath who will prescribe a homeopathic constitutional medicine that is, a remedy that is highly individualized to the patient genetic makeup, personal health history, and totality of physical and psychological symptoms. Clinical experience commonly observes more long-term results.

Skeptics commonly assert that homeopathic medicines comprise of too small of a dose to have any effect, and yet, there have been 200+ clinical trials that have evaluated homeopathic treatment, most of which found positive results from homeopathic medicines. Although it is not presently known with certainty how homeopathic medicines work, conventional medicine has a long history of using treatments for which they didn't understand but that worked anyway.

Future blogs will discuss more clinical research, some modern theories about how and why homeopathic medicines work. I also plan to discuss why so many of the most respected cultural heroes since the early 19^th century have used and/or advocated for homeopathy, including 11 U.S. Presidents, two British prime ministers, six popes, and many of the most respected physicians, scientists, literary greats, corporate leaders, heads of state, sports superstars, musical and artistic geniuses, women's rights leaders, and clergy of the past 200 years.

REFERENCES:

[1] Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America

[2] Cohen SG. The American Academy of Allergy: a historical review. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1979;64: 332-333.

[3] Reilly D, Taylor MA, McSharry C, Aitchison T. Is homoeopathy a placebo response? Controlled trial of homoeopathic potency, with pollen in hayfever as model. Lancet October 18, 1986; ii: 881-886.

[4] Reilly, DT, Taylor, MA, Potent placebo or potency? A proposed study model with initial findings using homoeopathically prepared pollens in hayfever, British Homoeopathic Journal 1985,74:65-75.

[5] Reilly D, Taylor MA, McSharry C, Aitchison T. Is homoeopathy a placebo response? Controlled trial of homoeopathic potency, with pollen in hayfever as model. Lancet October 18, 1986; ii: 881-886.

[6] Reilly, DT, Taylor MA, Beattie NGM, et al, Is evidence for homoeopathy reproducible? Lancet 1994,344:1601-1606.

[7] Taylor MA, Reilly D, Llewellyn-Jones H, McSharry C, Aitchison TC, Randomised controlled trial of homoeopathy versus placebo in perennial allergic rhinitis with overview of four trial series, BMJ August 19, 2000,321:471-476.

[8] Kim LS, Riedlinger JE, Baldwin CM, Hilli L, Khalsa SV, Messer SA, Waters RF. Treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis using homeopathic preparation of common allergens in the southwest region of the US: a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Ann Pharmacother. 2005 Apr;39(4):617-24.

[9] Wiesenauer M, Ludtke R, "A Meta-analysis of the Homeopathic Treatment of Pollinosis with Galphimia glauca," Forsch Komplementarmed., 3(1996):230-234.

[10] Aabel S. Prophylactic and acute treatment with the homeopathic medicine Betula 30C for birch pollen allergy: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of consistency of VAS responses. Br Homeopath J 2001;90:73-78.

[11] Cummings S, Ullman D, Everybody’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicine, New York: JP Tarcher/Putnam, 2004.

"Stop the Shot" Litigation Filed Today in DC Court on 10/9/09

2009-10-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?p=3617

Natural Solutions Foundation
The Voice of Global Health Freedom™
http://www.GlobalHealthFreedom.org/

“STOP THE SHOT” Litigation Filed
Health Freedom Advocates and NY Health Care Workers Seek Protection from DC Federal Court in Legal Effort to Void FDA Swine Flu Vaccine Approval

Washington DC – October 9, 2009: Despite the FDA’s intention to begin delivery this week of the novel “Swine Flu” 2009-H1N1-A live virus nasal mist vaccine to 90,000 government-approved locations nationwide, six New Yorkers and several NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs) filed for an Emergency Injunction in the US District Court for the District of Columbia to prevent the distribution of what they believe are illegal, unnecessary and dangerous vaccines.

The case of Null, Laibow et al. v FDA et al. [Docket No. 1:09-cv-01924] challenges the legality of the September 15th licensing of four vaccines prior to any safety testing for what the government calls a “novel flu virus with pandemic potential.” The complaint alleges that the government failed to follow its own rules and applicable legislation in rushing the vaccine approvals in the absence of any of the requisite minimum scientifically sound and appropriate testing for both safety and effectiveness as required by law since 1964.

Link to Complaint:http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?page_id=3619
Link to Brief: http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?page_id=3624
Link to Action eAlert: http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?p=3635
Link to “I’m Not a Pharma Serf” Action Item: http://bit.ly/4FxB4r

The New Yorkers are all health care workers who are therefore subject to that State’s new legal mandate (promulgated August 13, 2009) requiring that nearly all of the State’s half million health care workers receive all Federally recommended flu vaccines or lose their jobs. This requirement puts the health care workers in significant jeopardy since these newly approved vaccines have never been tested for either safety or efficacy and may carry major risks.

The lawsuit, announced at a demonstration by the health care workers last week at the State Capitol in Albany on September 29, 2009, is expected to be just one of the suits filed challenging various government “emergency” actions for a flu that has proven (during the just concluded Southern Hemisphere flu season) to be neither pandemic nor virulent despite dire predictions to the contrary and despite a Health Emergency declared by the CDC on April 25, 2009, 11 days after the first alleged death from Swine Flu on April 14, 2009 and a Level 6 Pandemic declaration by the World Health Organization followed on June 11, 2009 (which was only possible since W.H.O. downgraded the definition of a “Level 6 Pandemic”).

The Plaintiffs include health care professionals such as Dr. Gary Null, PhD, a well-known New York nutritionist, Rima E. Laibow, MD, a New York licensed physician who is Medical Director and a Trustee of the Natural Solutions Foundation, Dr. Tedd Koren DC, head of Foundation for Health Choice and four other health care workers covered by the mandate, including a Registered Nurse who has had prior adverse reactions to flu vaccines; a pregnant Nurse’s Aide, a health care student who has been told that she cannot see the patients whom she must see in order to finish her training, and a woman who works in the billing department of a hospital. All have been denied exemptions and told they will lose their positions under the new mandate if they are not vaccinated with all flu vaccines, including the new “Swine Flu” vaccine.

The Complaint alleges that the FDA erred in determining that safety testing was not needed because the 2009-H1N1-A vaccines are a mere “change of strain” not requiring safety testing. The Plaintiffs claim there is no significant scientific agreement that supports the government’s actions. The experts presented by the Plaintiffs include Sarah Schon MD, a Board Certified Immunologist and Paul G. King PhD, a noted analytical chemist with decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

The Plaintiffs further allege that the Live Attenuated Influenza Virus (LAIV) nasal mist vaccine could trigger the very pandemic the government claims people should fear, calling the decision to allow a LAIV vaccine using a WHO and CDC declared “novel pandemic virus” an “arbitrary and capricious decision without any basis in the scientific record.”

Citing HHS Secretary Sebelius’s September 15th testimony before a Congressional committee when she announced the vaccine licensing, that even the FDA’s own scientists would not “sign-off” on the use of the most toxic vaccine ingredients (known as “oil in water adjuvants”) the Plaintiffs allege the government has a plan to nonetheless approve these substances, never before approved for drug use in the United States, under an “Emergency Use Authorization” (EUA) permitted by the 2005 Project Bioshield Act. On July 13, 2009, according to a press release on the www.HHS.gov web site, the government purchased nearly a half billion dollar’s worth ($485 Million USD) of the deadly adjuvnt squalene, an oil in water adjuvant, blamed by many nongovernmental physicians as a “Gulf War Syndrome” causative agent in more than 25% of the soldiers who were subjected to an experimental anthrax vaccine, Vaccine A, containing squalene. Vaccine A was later authorized under an EUA propmpting a Court ruling that makes its use legal only in voluntary situations. The government’s stockpile is enough squalene to “stretch” the 167 million doses of “Swine Flu” vaccine the government has purchased to cover the entire American population since the purpose of an adjuvant is to increase immune response to the injected material. The FDA web site indicates that the adjuvanted vaccines will be provided under an EUA which will allow the agency to skirt “Good Manufacturing Practices” and any issue of whether squalene is too dangerous to be permitted.

Secretary Sebelius further testified before Congress that a single company will be contracted by the government to deliver the vaccines to 90,000 locations around the country. The FDA site further indicates that the squalene will be mixed with the approved vaccines at those sites before administering the shots, without regard to normal pharmaceutical manufacturing requirements. The Plaintiffs claim that this will result in dangerously adulterated vaccines that may cause much more injury than the infamous 1976 “Swine Flu” vaccine program that killed hundreds and maimed thousands before it was stopped just ten weeks after it began, with nearly fifty million Americans having received that deadly shot or the dangerous squalene-adjuvanted Vaccine A which caused so many cataclysmic illnesses and deaths in Gulf War I military personnel. These shots, too, were both unnecessary and untested.

In their submitted Complaint, Brief and Certifications the Plaintiffs remind the Court that as early as 1905, even before the Federal authorities had the legal power to license vaccines, the Supreme Court stated, in Jacobson v Massachusetts (197 U.S. 11),

“We are not to be understood as holding … that the judiciary would not be competent to interfere and protect the health and life of the individual … ‘All laws,’ this court has said, ’should receive a sensible construction. General terms should be so limited in their application as not to lead to injustice, oppression or absurd consequence.’ …”

The lead attorney for the Plaintiffs, Leslie Fourton JD, of New York, is working with the respected Washington regulatory law firm of Swankin and Turner and a team of legal experts from around the country, including Larry Becraft JD, Alabama, Alan G. Phillips JD, North Carolina, and Ralph Fucetola JD, New Jersey.

Counsel Fourton stated,

“Without taking into account serious objections raised by many scientists, FDA approved four “Swine Flu” 2009-H1N1-A Vaccines without enough concern about any definitive safety testing and the quality thereof. The Secretary of Health and Human Services testified before Congress, announcing the approvals and a program to widely distribute the Vaccines which were purchased by the federal government. The administrative record appears to be defective in that the record as posted on the Agency web site does not include, for all the approved Vaccines, a drug package insert or label with an accurate list of ingredients. We don’t know what was approved or how dangerous it may be. The Plaintiffs seek immediate relief.”

The nongovernmental organizations who are supporting the New Yorkers threatened by the “Swine Flu” vaccine approvals, by joining in the legal action, are the National Solutions Foundation (www.HealthFreedomUSA.org), whose President is Maj Gen Bert Stubblebine (US Army Ret.), Dr. Tedd Koren’s Foundation for Health Choice (www.FoundationforHealthChoice.com) and the Gary Null organization (www.GaryNull.com).

For further information contact:

Ralph Fucetola JD – 973-300-4594
Natural Solutions Foundation Counsel and Trustee
ralph.fucetola@usa.net

Remedy of the Month: Gelsemium sempervirens (Gels.) - Yellow Jasmine

2009-10-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

Remedy of the Month Gelsemium sempervirens (Gels.) - Yellow Jasmine

Gelsemium is used to treat acute influenza (flu) or sore throats, with weakness, limp limbs, chills, fever, headaches with double vision, and heavy, drooping eyelids. There may be a lack of thirst, even during fever. In addition, the remedy can be given for hay fever if accompanied by these symptoms.

GELSEMIUM KEYNOTES:

Gelsemium has many predominant keynotes that a trained homeopath looks for when prescribing this remedy.
Many of the predominant ones are shown below and in capital letters:

WEAKNESS LEADING TO PARALYSIS, on all levels.
FEELING OF WEAKNESS, of not being able to cope with daily life, responsibilities, work. Timidity.
ANTICIPATION. Desire to be quiet, to be left alone. Avoid people and distress of life.
STAGE FRIGHT, fear of exams, to take on new tasks. Feel almost paralyzed.
Mental weakness. Dullness. Forgetful.
AILMENTS FROM ANTICIPATION, FRIGHT, EXCITEMENT, BAD NEWS.
Flushes of heat alternating with chills, aggravated on back.
Acute coryza, agg. left side, with dull headache.
Face Flushed. Hot, dusky red. Dull, heavy expression.
Pain from throat to ear on swallowing.
DIARRHEA FROM ANTICIPATION, EXCITEMENT, FRIGHT, BAD NEWS.
CHILLINESS UP AND DOWN THE BACK. TREMBLING AND WEAKNESS.
Heavy feeling, especially lower limbs.
Sleeplessness from exhaustion, anticipation, excitement. Drowsiness. Sleepiness of students.

More About Gelsemium
Text below reprinted by permission from The People's Repertory by Dr. Luc De Schepper

Gelsemium is characterized by the "D's": drowsy, dopey, dizzy, dumb, disoriented and dull. You can see right away why it is such a classic flu remedy. The person feels all of the above "as if a truck drove over me." He has chills going up and down the spine, he feels so tired that he thinks he cannot even lift a finger to take something and he even has aching upon moving his eyes. Yet he can't fall asleep. Curiously enough, in spite of the fever, he has absolutely no thirst and a slow pulse! Symptoms are made worse by motion, light, noise and stuffy rooms. There is trembling although the person is listless and has low stamina. The flu is accompanied by a headache. Gelsemium was the main remedy for the 1996-97 flu epidemic!

Besides being good for flu, Gelsemium is a great remedy for "hearing bad news" : the person reacts to hearing bad news (for example a doctor saying that your mammogram is positive and it might be cancer) as if she is paralyzed, she can't move, she just sits trembling.

It is also effective for fright with trembling after earthquakes and in case of anticipation anxiety (like Argentum nitricum). However, unlike with Argentum nitricum (where the anxiety can start weeks in advance), with Gelsemium the anticipation anxiety starts just before the event takes place; for example, you have a speaking engagement, everything seems to be all right until you have to start speaking, then you are overcome with fear and trembling.

Gelsemium is the #1 remedy for fear of the dentist, and I give it to my dog when he has to go to the vet. It is greatly indicated in headaches, especially ones precede by an aura of blurred vision and improved when the person passes great amounts of urine. In the past, acute cases of polio were cured by Gelsemium.

What You Need to Know About the Dangers of the Gardasil Vaccine!

2009-09-25T12:10:00.001-07:00

What You Need to Know About the Dangers of the Gardasil Vaccine!
http://www.homeopathyforwomen.org/gardasil_vaccine.htm
Reprinted by permission. May 2007
by Erica McPhee, Homeopathic Consultant, Florida

The Gardasil vaccine is not a vaccine for protection against cervical cancer as the pharmaceutical company would like you to believe. It is a vaccine intended to prevent 4 types of HPV (Human Papillomavirus). According to the Gardasil package insert, there are more than 100 types of HPV! The American Cancer Institute reports HPV-16 (one of the strains the vaccine is intended to protect against) is found in approximately 50% of cervical cancer cases connected to HPV. Merck, the vaccine manufacturer, states approximately 70% of cases are connected to 2 of the 4 types of HPV the vaccine is intended to prevent.

In 90% of HPV cases, the virus is asymptomatic, will not cause disease, and goes away without treatment. Thus other factors are necessary to trigger precancerous lesions and/or cervical cancer. As an adult, if you have already been exposed to those types of HPV, which approximately 50% of people have, the vaccine is virtually useless. Thus the reason they are targeting young girls.

The vaccine has not been studied extensively and its long term effectiveness is unknown. In one study reported in the November 2002 New England Journal of Medicine, of the 1533 women left in the study (after ruling out the 859 who already had HPV and abnormal cervical issues), 41 in the placebo group developed HPV-16. Nine of these women went on to develop pre-cancerous lesions. However, 22 other women in the placebo group went on to develop pre-cancerous lesions not associated with the HPV strains in the vaccine.

By comparison, none of the women receiving the HPV vaccine contracted this specific strain of HPV-16, but another 22 women in the vaccinated group developed precancerous lesions! How does this prove the vaccine prevents cervical cancer?! It doesn't. It simply shows it may prevent some cases of HPV. But this still leaves women vulnerable to cervical cancer! And 17 months is not enough time to determine if any of these women will then go on to develop cervical cancer later in life when it is most likely to occur.

According to Merck's website, in further studies, the efficacy of the vaccine in 9-15 year old girls is "inferred" (based on antibody production), not proven. Historically, other vaccines have shown antibody production does not prove immunity. It further states on the website, vaccination with Gardasil may not result in protection in all vaccine recipients.

Not to mention, the vaccine offers no protection against AIDS, chlamydia, herpes, the 96+ other types of HPV, or any other sexually transmitted disease. Whether intentional or not, it fosters a false sense of security. Like with any vaccine, it carries the risk of damaging the immune system and other vaccine reactions.

It states right in the package insert if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, you should not receive this vaccine. How many little girls and young women are planning to get pregnant?!

The longevity of the vaccine has not been studied so it is unknown whether the alleged protection will last more than a few years or whether there are long term side effects. In addition to the normal vaccine reactions of swelling and itching, reactions include fever, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and severe allergic reaction. Fainting has been reported following the vaccine, as stated on the package insert, which is an uncommon reaction to most vaccines. Reports of reactions in the VAERS (National Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System) include seizures, fever, pain, and Guillain-Barre syndrome (a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system causing paralysis and other dangerous symptoms).

The vaccine also includes aluminum, sodium chloride, L-histidine, polysorbate 80, water, and sodium borate - boric acid - (poison)! Boric acid, an insecticide and anti-fungal, is banned in the United States as a food additive. It is toxic to all cells. The negative effects of aluminum and other heavy metals are widely reported.

L-histidine is an essential amino acid which is a precursor to allergic reactions. It stimulates the inflammatory response of skin and mucous membranes (one possible cause of the allergic reactions reported). It is also responsible for forming metal bearing enzymes (such as the toxic metal storage protein metallothionein). Metals such as zinc, copper, and nickel are transported by binding to L-histidine and the binding is essential for excretion of excess heavy metals. Many parents of autistic children are quite familiar with Metallothionein and MT deficiency.

Anyone familiar with the principles of homeopathy and "like cures like" knows if you highly dilute and potentize something and apply it to a well person, it can cause symptoms and ill health. This is how they prove homeopathic remedies - by giving the remedy to healthy people and determining the symptoms it produces. This vaccine could theoretically be the perfect formula for creating allergy and autism in healthy children. One has to ask, are the pharmaceutical companies really that devious or just that stupid?!

The National Cancer Institute states cervical cancer in the United States is "extremely rare." It estimates the lifetime risk for cervical cancer is 0.73% - that is less than 1 percent. Many would argue it would make a difference if you were part of that one percent. It is my opinion this vaccine is a bad idea, despite the fact I had pre-invasive cervical cancer at 23 – with no indication of HPV. This came three years after a disastrous MMR revax in college which brought on severe environmental allergies, reactions and allergies to almost all foods, exercise induced anaphylaxis, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue lasting for almost 20 years until dramatically improved with homeopathy.

The University of Maryland Medical Center reports several studies show a strong relationship between cervical cancer and extended use of oral contraceptives, genetics, smoking and second-hand smoke, harmful chemicals, unprotected sex with numerous partners, and having multiple children. The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research also reports cigarette smoking increases the risk of precancerous changes and cervical cancer. Regular Pap smears are the best defense in early detection of precancerous cervical changes.

As with any vaccine, only the parent can decide what is in the best interest of their child. But they need all the facts to make this decision. We have to ask ourselves, does the benefit outweigh the risk? Hopefully, this article will prevent `one less' parent from being misinformed by TV and magazine advertisements.

The Dangers of the Gardasil Vaccine: A Short Video

2009-09-25T12:09:00.001-07:00

If you have a pre-teen or teenage daughter, niece or friend.....

Please watch this short video on the Homeopathy For Women website about the Dangers of the Gardasil Vaccine at http://www.homeopathyforwomen.org/gardasil_vaccine.htm

This video is produced by Jenny Thompson at the Health Sciences Institute (http://www.hsibaltimore.com/hsialert.htm)

Risks of FluMist Vaccine

2009-09-21T12:28:00.001-07:00

http://www.whale.to/a/ten13.html

Risks of FluMist Vaccine

An Investigation By Red Flags Columnist, Dr. Sherri Tenpenny

www.nmaseminars.com

"MedImmune, the manufacturer of FluMist, recently announced that it signed an agreement that makes FluMist, the new intranasal influenza vaccine, readily available to people as they shop at Wal-Mart, the worlds biggest retailer." [1]

As the physician in charge of a bustling Integrative medical clinic, questions about vaccines frequently arise. After reading about the MedImmune-Walmart joint venture, I felt compelled to warn our patients and our internet subscribers of the potentially serious complications that may come from direct and passive exposure to this new vaccine. I also wanted to give a "heads up" to everyone regarding the onslaught of advertising that is about to besiege them.

Hundreds of TV and print advertisements have been designed to persuade everyone into taking the FluMist plunge. The campaign will be the "most intense, direct-to-consumer marketing campaign ever waged for a vaccine," costing an estimated $25 million over the next 2.5 months [2]. In addition, Wyeth, MedImmune's partner, plans a three-year, $100 million campaign to encourage use of the nasal flu vaccine among physicians.[3]

The television arm of the blitz campaign will focus on the "inconveniences" that your family, friends and co-workers will endure if you don't get the flu shot and subsequently contract the flu. Print advertisements and magazine articles apparently will use scare tacticssimilar to those that were used while promoting the smallpox vaccinewhich warned of the high possibility of a "bioterror attack using the flu virus."[4]

Apparently, the goal seems to center around frighteningor inducing enough guiltthat everyone would begin to demand the vaccine as soon as it is available. And at nearly $70 a dose, this will be a financial bonanza for MedImmune and Wyeth, who are expecting the vaccine to become the blockbuster new drug that will push MedImmune's revenues to more than $1billion/year. [5]

However, there are many reasons for caution. FluMist contains live (attenuated) influenza viruses that replicate in the nasopharynx of the vaccine recipient. The most common side effects include "cough, runny nose/nasal congestion, irritability, headaches, chills, muscle aches and fever > 100° F."[6] These symptoms are nearly identical to those the flu vaccine is designed to prevent. [7]

A cause for significant concern is the vaccine's most prevalent side effects: "runny nose" and "nasal congestion." It has been documented that the live viruses from the vaccine can be shed (and potentially spread into the community) from recipient children for up to 21 days,[8] and even longer from adults.[9] Viral shedding also puts breastfeeding infants at risk if the mother has been given FluMist.[10]

In addition to shedding via nasal secretions, the virus can be dispersed through sneezing. What is the normal physiological response when an irritant enters the nasal passages? A sneezesometimes a big sneezesometimes several big sneezes. Therefore, the risk for sheddingand spreadinglive viruses throughout a school, church, workplace, or store especially one which is administering the vaccine.

In the section of the FlumMist package insert labeled "PRECAUTIONS," the manufacturer states the following warning:

"FluMist® recipients should avoid close contact with immunocompromised individuals for at least 21 days."

The warning is specifically directed toward those living in the same household with an immunocompromised person, but the on-going release of live viruses throughout the community may be a significant risk to everyone who has a weak, or weakened, immune system.

The number of immunocompromised people in the United States is enormous:

* It is estimated that at least 10%, or more than 28 million people have eczema. [11]
* More than 8.5 million people have cancer. [12]
* There are reported to be 850,000 individuals with diagnosed and undiagnosed HIV infection or AIDS [13] and
* Based on 2001 data, there were 184,000 organ recipients [14]

An even more extensive list of at-risk people includes the untold millions on drugs called corticosteroids. Prednisone®, Medrol®, and a variety of similar medications are given to both adults and children. These drugs are prescribed for dozens of conditions including asthma; allergies; eczema; emphysema; Crohn's disease; multiple sclerosis; herniated spinal discs; acute muscular pain syndromes; and all types of rheumatoid and autoimmune diseases. As much as 60% of the entire population could be considered to be "chemically immunosuppressed." It is important to realize that FluMist is CONTRAINDICATED for people who are immunocompromised. People who receive FluMist and are living with an immunocompromised person put their loved ones at risk.

Will this make stores that administer the vaccineslike Walmart and the other pharmaceutical chain stores that have announced they will carry FluMist [15]risky places to shop for large segments of the population? What measures will be taken in these stores to ensure that the virus will not become commingled with food? What hand washing policy is going to be enforced in the stores for all Walmart employees and customers who have received FluMist? These are reasonable questions that deserve answers.

The target market for FluMist is "healthy children and adults, ages 5 to 49 yrs." Some believe that by vaccinating these people, a type of "herd immunity" will occur that will protect the very young and the elderly who are excluded from getting this vaccine. However, it is these very "at-risk" populations who may suffer the most from the flu by being exposed to people who are given FluMist.

According to information presented at the May, 2003 National Influenza Summit,[16] approximately 85% of Americans between the ages of 20 and 50 go unvaccinated, and nearly 66% between the ages of 50 and 64 do not receive the flu vaccine. Have there been "raging epidemics" across the country due to lack of flu vaccinations? It appears that the massive campaign to vaccinate everyone this year appears may be motivated, in part, by economics.

The viruses suspected to be the most likely cause for the flu this season were negligibly different from the strains used in last year's flu vaccine. Therefore, the influenza vaccine produced for the 2003-2004 season is identical in composition to the one used last year. This marks only the second time that the same strains have been used during two consecutive flu seasons.[17] Consider that antibodies from other viral vaccinessuch as MMR, polio and chickenpox vaccineslast at least 3 years, and in some instances, up to 15 years. If the viruses used in the vaccine are the same as last year, why is this year's vaccine even necessary?

An ever greater concern about FluMist is the contents within the vaccine. Each 0.5ml of the formula contains 10 6.5-7.5 particles of live, attenuated influenza virus. That means that between 10 million and 100 million viral particles will be forcefully injected into the nostrils when administered. The viral strain was developed by serial passage through "specific pathogen-free primary chick kidney cells" and then grown in "specific pathogen-free eggs." That means that the culture media was free of pathogens that were specifically tested for, but not a culture that was necessarily "pathogen-free." The risk that the vaccine may contain contaminant avian retroviruses still remains. In addition, a stabilizing buffer containing potassium phosphate, sucrose (table sugar) and nearly 0.5 mg of monosodium glutamate (MSG) is added to each dose. [18]

One of the most troubling concerns over the injection of this "chemical soup" is the potential for the viruses to enter directly into the brain.. At the top of the nasal passages is a paper-thin bone called the cribriform plate. The olfactory nerves pass through this bone and line the nasal passages, carrying messenger molecules to the brain that are identified as "smells" familiar to us. The olfactory tract has long been recognized as a direct pathway to the brain. Intranasal injection of certain viruses has resulted in a serious brain infection called encephalitis, presumably by direct infection of the olfactory neurons that carried the viruses to the brain.[19] Time will tell whether the live viruses in FluMist will become linked to cases of encephalitis.

The pharmaceutical companies do not necessarily always do a reasonable job of considering the "down side" when they are pushing new drugs or new vaccines. FluMist has the potential for causing the worst, most severe flu epidemic seen in years. Parents tell their young children not to put things up their noses because they might cause them harm. It would be wise to consider that advice for adults. With all the risks involved, one should be extremely cautious about what one allows to be sprayed in one's nose.

REFERENCES

   1. DowJones Business News. Sept. 12, 2003. FluMist Available In Pharmacies This Fall.
   2. Washington Post. Nasal spray for flu to get big media launch. Sept. 10, 2003, pg. E01
   3. Washington Post. Spray vaccine for flu wins FDA clearance. June 18, 2003. pg. A01.
   4. Mohammed, Madjid. Influenza as a bioweapon. J.R.Soc.Med. 2003;96:345-346.
   5. Adler, Neil. MedImmune awaits the $1 billion mark and a new flu drug. The Business Gazette. Feb. 7, 2003.
   6. FluMist package insert.
   7. Vesikari T., et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlledtrial of the safety, transmissibility and phenotypic stability of a live, attenuated, cold-adapted influenza virus vaccine (CAIV-T) in children attending day care. Presented at the 41st Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, (Chicago, IL). 2001
   8. ibid. (Chicago, IL). 2001
   9. Zangwell, Kenneth. Cold-adapted, live attenuated intranasal influenza virus vaccine. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 2003; 22(3):273-274.
10. Drug information.
11. Diepgen TL. Is the prevalence of atopic dermatitis increasing? In: Williams HC, ed. Atopic Dermatitis: The Epidemiology, Causes and Prevention of Atopic Eczema. New York: Cambridge Univ Pr; 2000:96-112.
12. National Cancer Institute. CanQues. Available at http://srab. cancer.gov/Prevalence/canques.html. Accessed January 3, 2002.
13. Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. Epidemiological Fact Sheets on HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections: United States. Available at www.unaids.org/ fact_sheets/index.html. Accessed January 14, 2002
14. United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). All Recipients: Age at Time of Transplant. Available at www.unos.org /. Accessed January 14, 2002.
15. Allan and Harold Rubin, MS, ABD, CRC. September 26, 2003. Vaccinations and the Elderly..
16. May 20-21, 2003, the National Influenza Summit. Chicago, IL..
17. ibid.
18. FluMist package insert.
19. Knipe, David. M. Ed. Fields Virology. Philadelpthis: Lippincott, 4th ed. 2001. pg. 1057

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Arnica For Pain Relief!

2009-09-18T12:27:00.000-07:00

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/the-alternative-medicine-cabinet-arnica/?hp&apage=3#comments

The Alternative Medicine Cabinet: Arnica for Pain Relief

By Anahad O'Connor

Tony Cenicola/The New York Times What alternative remedies belong in your home medicine cabinet?

More than a third of American adults use some form of complementary or alternative medicine, according to a recent government report. Natural remedies have an obvious appeal, but how do you know which ones to choose and whether the claims are backed by science? Today, New York Times “Really?” columnist Anahad O’Connor begins a weekly series exploring the claims and the science behind alternative remedies that you may want to consider for your family medicine cabinet.

The Remedy: Arnica

The Claim: It relieves pain.

The Science: Arnica Montana, a plant native to mountainous areas of Europe and North America, has been used for centuries to treat a variety of pain. Athletes rub it on muscles to soothe soreness and strains, and arthritis sufferers rub it on joints to reduce pain and swelling. It’s believed that the plant contains derivatives of thymol, which seems to have anti-inflammatory effects.

Either way, scientists have found good evidence that it works. One randomized study published in 2007 looked at 204 people with osteoarthritis in their hands and found that an arnica gel preparation worked just as well as daily ibuprofen, and with minimal side effects. Another study of 79 people with arthritis of the knee found that when patients used arnica gel twice daily for three to six weeks, they experienced significant reductions in pain and stiffness and had improved function. Only one person experienced an allergic reaction.

The Risks: Arnica gels or creams can cause allergic reactions in some people, but it is generally safe when used topically. However, it should never be rubbed on broken or damaged skin, and it should only be ingested when in a heavily diluted, homeopathic form.

READ MORE ABOUT ARNICA ON THE HOMEOPATHY FOR WOMEN WEBSITE at www.homeopathyforwomen.org/arnica.htm

__,_._,___

Remedy of the Month: Dulcamara

2009-09-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

Dulcamara – a possible flu remedy – aggravated by the transition from summer to fall.

This is one of the best remedies in the acute form; the eyes are suffused, the throat is sore and the cough hurts because of the muscular soreness. If brought on by damp, cold changes in the weather, so much the surer is Dulcamara indicated.

Dulcamara, also known as bitter-sweet, woody nightshade and dog-wood comes from the solanaceae plant family. The sensation of this plant family is described by adjectives such as sudden, violent and explosive. The passive reaction is stupor, faintness, unconsciousness and the active reaction is hurried, shrieking, spasm, panic, fight or flight response. The better known remedy Belladonna also comes from this plant family.

Dulcamara is often a remedy that is over – looked. One of the keynote aggravations of this remedy is worse from cold and damp weather. It is an ideal remedy for the transition between the long hot days of the end of summer and the cooler, colder nights that indicate autumn is in the air.

Dr. James Tyler Kent, famous homeopath and author writes, “Every year women bring their babies back from the mountains at the end of the season, and then we get some Dulcamara cases. One needs to be in the mountains at the close of the summer season to know what the condition is. If you go into the mountains at such a time, either in the North or in the West, you will notice that the sun’s rays beat down during the day with great force, but along toward sunset if you walk out a draft of cold air comes down that will chill you to the bone. This will make the baby sick; it is too warm to take the child out in the middle of the day, and so he is taken out in the carriage in the evening, he has been overheated in the house during the day, and then catches his draft in the evening. Dulcamara is suitable for conditions that would arise from such a state.”

Bittersweet is also used in naturopathy and herbalism. Its main usage is for conditions that have an impact on the skin, mucous membranes and the membrane around the joints. (Synovial membrane) Bittersweet is considered by some to be a herbal remedy for treating herpes and allergies.

Keynotes:

· General aggravation from damp or cold weather

· General aggravation from change of weather especially when the warm days are followed by cold evenings as in autumn

· General aggravation from catching cold – diarrhea worse cold, damp weather

· Cough or asthma which comes on in cold, damp weather. Bronchitis and pneumonia

· Chills beginning in the back – (compare Gelsemium and Eup – per)

· Hay fever, especially at the end of summer or in the fall

· Headache from suppression of sinusitis

· Stiffness and joint pains worse cold, damp weather or from getting wet

· Herpes about the lips

· Flat smooth warts

· General aggravation from suppressed eruptions

Read more about Dulcamara at: www.homeopathyforwomen.org/dulcamara.com as well as many other remedies on our website!

Treating Swine Flu With Homeopathy

2009-09-07T17:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.naturalnews.com/026839_homeopathy_homeopathic_doctors.html

(NaturalNews) Homeopathy had an amazingly high cure rate in the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic in the USA. Just recently, during the 2009 Mexican Flu outbreak, a small group of Mexico City homeopathic doctors have revealed that homeopathy is up to the task again. This is good news considering that many over the counter and prescribed pharmaceutical flu remedies not only hazard negative side effects, but they may also not really cure current flu strains.

Pharmaceutical Flu Remedies Efficacy Questioned

Recombinomics, a viral/vaccination research and tracking group`s website, this July 8, 2009 commentary, reports: "... resistant Novel H1N1 in Saskatchewan Raises Concerns". "This new influenza . . . has been combined with two genes from the H1N1 seasonal flu," said Dr. Frank Plummer, scientific director-general of the national microbiology laboratory in Winnipeg. Dr. Plummer noted that this mutation may make it almost impossible for current pharmaceutical flu remedies to cope with this new strain of Swine Flu. You can view that commentary here: http://www.recombinomics.com/News/0...

The New York Times reported in a January 8th, 2009 article titled "Major Flu Strain Found Resistant to Leading Drug, Puzzling Scientists". The article goes on to explain how throat swabs for common flu infected patients showed a higher rate of resistance to pharmaceutical flu remedies this year than last year. Read it yourself here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/h...

Despite all this, the government wants you to believe that only the flu remedies of Big Pharma are appropriate for curing Swine Flu. They want you to believe this so much, the FDA recently posted warnings, with enforcement penalties, to curb anyone from saying there is any other natural product that can cure H1N1 (Swine Flu).
Details on the FDA ruling here: http://www.naturalnews.com/026473_t...

Homeopathy Flu Therapy Is Not Affected by Viral Mutations

Homeopathy does not depend on one drug or feature particular drugs for curing any type of flu. Homeopathy is a non allopathic healing method that was once the mainstream medicine of the 19th century. Because different remedies and combinations and strengths are prescribed according to exact symptomatic readings, homeopaths can successfully adapt treatments to handle viral mutations. Homeopathy was enjoyed by many until certain moneyed interests almost pushed it out of existence. Now there is somewhat of a resurgence of its use.

In an article posted on the website Homeopathy for Everyone, four Mexican Homeopathic doctors posted their first hand observations on the 2009 Mexican flu, and revealed the exact protocol they used to cure those afflicted under their care. The doctors who reported these findings from Mexico City, in May of 2009 are: Est. Luis Jamil Bonilla Galicia, Dr. Oscar Alberto Legaria Garcia, Dr. Emmanuel Alvarez Lorenzo, and Dr. Fernando Dareo Francois Flores.

These doctors included historically documented observations regarding the 1918 flu pandemic. For historical references they used "... the thesis written by Dr. Manuel Mazari to obtain his qualification at the Escuela Libre de Homeopata de Mexico: "Short Study of the Last Influenza Epidemic in Mexico City (1918)",as well as reports published by the Ministry of Health, news published in the media in general, and some clinical cases mentioned by homeopathic physicians"

Not surprisingly, the symptoms of the 1918 flu and the so called `swine flu` of 2009 are very similar. It`s interesting to note both pandemics started in the spring, in the month of April, and not in the official flu season which is autumn. Two additional symptoms, one of which is an emotional aspect that is part of homeopathy diagnosis, are noted by this study: "fear of death" and a "high fever" at the onset of the infection.

Mainstream, medical, literature, sources conclude:"...that this virus {A(H1N1) influenza virus} was the causative agent of the influenza epidemics in (1918 -1919), (1933-1935), (1946-1947), (1977-1978)."
The basic purpose of the Mexican Homeopaths` study was to identify common symptoms of the 2009 swine flu in order to outline a specific homeopathic based prevention and treatment model that could be used by homeopathic doctors around the world.

NOTE: The following is copied directly from their report, and some of it is beyond lay understanding. The formulaic remedy details of their report should be put into a homeopath`s hands.

"Recommendations for the Prevention and Control of the Influenza A (H1N1)"

General hygienic actions of each person during an epidemic.

1.- Hand washing after coughing and sneezing.
2.- Cover the mouth with a disposable handkerchief when coughing or sneezing.
3.- If there is no handkerchief available the inner side of the elbow can be used.
4.- Avoid crowded places.
5.- Avoid greeting ill persons by hand or kissing.
6.- Avoid spitting on the ground and other surfaces.
7.- Throw handkerchiefs away in closed plastic bags.
8.- Don`t share glasses, plates, cutlery, food or drinks.
9.- Follow the recommendations as given by the physician and don`t self-medicate.
10.- Ventilate your working place and house, and permit sun to enter.
11.- Drink much and eat foods rich in vitamin C.
12.- Avoid sudden change of temperature.
13.- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

PROPHYLAXIS (meaning preventive)

1. Homeopathic remedies
a. BAPTISIA TINCTOREA
b. INFLUENZINUM
c. ARSENICUM ALBUM

From the Mexico City Doctors Report

"In homeopathy there are no specific medicines for a particular nosological picture (for which the most common symptoms are taken into account). But in epidemics, due to the common causative agent, susceptibility of the population in this particular moment, and the repetition of symptoms, a group of the most useful remedies can be deduced. The remedies determined in this way are called the Genius Epidemicus. They consist of a group of medicines with symptoms most similar to those presented by most patients suffering this flu."

"For homeopathic treatment is it necessary to take into account the degree of reaction of the patient and the symptoms with which the disease manifests itself. We considered this and the symptoms observed during the last epidemic (1918) to find the similar remedy."

Homepathic Remedies Listed by the Mexican Doctors and Directly Copied Here Which They Successfully Employed Against the 2009 Mexican Flu

Aconitum napellus, Actea racemosa, Allium cepa, Ammonium phosphoricum, Antimonium tartaricum, Arnica montana, Arsenicum album, Baptisia tinctoria, Belladonna atropa, Bryonia alba, Camphora, Carbo vegetabilis, Carbolic acid, Causticum, Chamomilla, China officinalis, Drosera rotundifolia, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Euphrasia, Ferrum phosphoricum, Gelsemium sempervirens, Glonoinum, Hepatica triloba, Hyosciamus niger, Influenzinum (corresponding to the epidemic), Ipecauanha, Lachesis trigonocephalus, Lycopodium clavatum, Mercurius vivus, Natrum sulphuricum, Nux vomica, Opium, Phosphorus, Phytolacca decandra, Pulsatilla, Pyrogenium, Rhus toxicodendron, Sticta pulmonaria, Sepia officinalis, Sulphur.

Most Used Remedies in Hemorrhagic Influenza

Arnica montana, Arsenicum album, Baptisia tinctoria, Belladonna atropa, Bryonia alba, Camphora, Carbo vegetabilis, Chamomilla, China officinalis, Ferrum phosphoricum, Influenzinum (corresponding to the epidemic), Ipecacuanha, Lachesis trigonocephalus, Mercurius vivus, Phosphorus, Sepia officinalis, Sulphur.

Nosodes

Influenzinum (corresponding to the epidemic), Pyrogenium, Anthracinum.

That Ends the Doctors` Report. Here`s More General Information on Homeopathy

Classic homeopathy is a healing methodology that is based on the wisdom of treating a specific individual and their specific symptoms (including body, mind, emotions, and environment), as opposed to the allopathic model which bases treatment on agreed upon disease symptoms and averages.

It is also important to note that homeopathy is primarily an energetic and vibrational medicine. Simplistically speaking, homeopathic remedies are created by diluting a physical substance into a distilled water and alcohol and creating a vibrational or energetic substance by shaking it rapidly with machinery. This is how a nosode is created. Therefore, even a toxic physical substance prepared in a nosode will not retain any toxicity that will be transferred into the body.

And the nosode is taken orally, thereby not bypassing the initial stage of the immune system. Inoculations do bypass this important first phase of the immune system by ignoring the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat and going directly into the bloodstream. Homeopathic remedies are applied by a counterintuitive method. A homeopathic doctor is skilled in matching the individual`s current symptom picture with exact remedies that produce those exact same symptoms. This is actual immunization. Keep in mind when an individual`s symptoms change, new homeopathic remedies are prescribed to replace the previous homeopathic recommendations. This process continues until there are no more symptoms.

However, when there is an epidemic or pandemic disease, a homeopathic doctor can use the `common` symptoms widely reported by the public as an individual body and prescribe homeopathic remedies accordingly.

Homeopathy and the 1918 Flu

WW I was the first time that USA military personnel were ordered to receive vaccinations. There was and is a strong suspicion that mandated vaccinations used on troops actually created the initial infections for this pandemic. It`s recorded that many died after being vaccinated, while most who did not receive vaccinations survived.

Those factors did not affect or alter what homeopaths managed to put together during this pandemic. Understanding symptoms which have been closely scrutinized and categorized are the determining factors for administering classic homeopathic remedies, including the follow up remedies for complete recovery as symptoms change.

Undisclosed to the public at large, despite the strange and unusually virulent flu strain resulting in the "White Plague", the cure rate of homeopathy during the 1918 so called Spanish Flu has been reported as 98%.

Sources:

An Important Article Recommending Over the Counter Homeopathic Remedies
http://www.examiner.com/x-11705-NY-...

The Mexico City homeopathic doctors` 2009 Mexican complete report http://www.hpathy.com/papersnew/gal...

Homeopathy for Everyone http://www.hpathy.com/

Observations of Mexican Flu 2009
http://www.hpathy.com/papersnew/gal...

Homeopathy and the Flu
http://www.cure-guide.com/Flu/Homeo...

Website for general flu information and homeopathy
http://flusolution.net/

Important for Swine Flu Epidemic: Homeopathy Successfully Treated Flu Epidemic of 1918 http://www.naturalnews.com/026148.html

Documentary Video On Treating Autism With Homeopathy!

2009-09-06T10:21:00.000-07:00

View this film at: http://www.savingalostgeneration.com

This is an excellent short 6 minute documentary video (still in progress) being produced in the United Kingdom by a homeopath and others involved in the recovery of children with autism using homeopathy.

Similar work with autism spectrum disorder recovery is being done in the USA. Please take a look!

All of the Associated Homeopaths on the Homeopathy For Women website have experience with treating ASD cases, as well cases of children with other learning disabilities or emotional issues.

Visit us and request a homeopathic consultation at www.homeopathyforwomen.org/contact.htm

Swine Flu: Live Vaccine for Children Safety in Question

2009-08-24T09:02:00.003-07:00

Stay informed about the dangers of the upcoming SWINE FLU VACCINES. Remember that HOMEOPATHY has a track record for successfully treating flu epidemics during the past 200 years.

http://www.i-sis.org.uk/LASIVCSQ.php

ISIS Press Release August 17, 2009

Live Attenuated Swine Influenza Vaccine for Children Safety in Question

The live attenuated swine flu vaccine intended for millions of children has dangerous side effects and is genetically unstable, risking generation of new pandemic strains should mass vaccinations go ahead.
Prof. Joe Cummins and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho

This report has been submitted to Sir Liam Donaldson, UK Chief Medical Officer, and to the US Food and Drug Administration Please circulate widely, with all the hyperlinks included, to your elected representatives, wherever you are

The swine flu vaccines being prepared for release to combat the current pandemic will be fast tracked without the usual clinical trials to ensure their safety. Five different companies were contracted to produce vaccines worldwide - Baxter International, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis. Sanofi-Aventis and AstraZeneca - using a range of technologies from traditional chicken egg production to cell culture [1] ( Fast-tracked Swine Flu Vaccine under Fire , SiS 43).

Most of the vaccines will not contain live virus and will be delivered by injection. However AstraZeneca will produce a genetically engineered live attenuated vaccine through its global biologics unit, MedImmune, using cell culture or eggs [2]. The MedImmune vaccine will be used primarily for children, to be delivered as a nasal spray. The nasal spray vaccine against pandemic H1N1 influenza has been fast tracked for global distribution [3].

The live-attenuated vaccine appears more effective than the inactivated virus vaccine, but it resulted in significantly higher rates of severe adverse events. Furthermore, there is evidence that the live vaccine is highly genetically unstable in warm body cells and that has not been thoroughly evaluated in the children vaccinated .

Live attenuated versus inactivated influenza vaccine

MedImmune sponsored a safety and efficacy trial of the nasal spray live- attenuated, cold adapted (see below) influenza vaccine compared with inactivated vaccine on infants and young children 6 to 59 months of age [4]. . The study was conducted at 249 sites in 16 countries; US (49 percent of subjects), 12 countries in Europe and Middle East (45 percent), and 3 countries in Asia (6 percent).

A total of 7852 children completed the study. The results showed that there were 54.7 percent fewer cases of culture-confirmed influenza in the group that received live attenuated vaccine than in the group that received inactivated vaccine (153 cases, 3.9 percent vs 338 cases, 8.6 percent). For all culture-confirmed symptomatic influenza (both vaccine and non-vaccine strains), the overall attack rates were 5 percent in the group that received live attenuated vaccine and 10.0 percent in the group that received inactivated vaccine, indicating that neither vaccine was particularly good at preventing illness from non-vaccine strains. These results broadly confirm those of a comprehensive review carried out in 2006-2008, which could not provide safety analysis [5].

It is important to note that the MedImmune study explicitly excluded children with a history of hypersensitivity to any component of the live attenuated vaccine or the inactivated vaccine, known immunosuppressive condition , medically diagnosed or treated wheezing within 42 days before enrolment, a history of severe asthma , body temperature higher than 37.8 C within 3 days before enrolment and the use of aspirin or salicylate-containing products within 30 days before enrolment. The conditions italicized are precisely those considered especially at risk from swine flu and identified as ‘priority groups' for receiving the vaccine by the UK government, which intends to vaccinate the entire UK population starting in October [6], and there is already evidence that the inactivated flu vaccine tripled the risk of severe events in children with asthma [7]. These findings are confirmed in the Medimmune study, which exposes the highly inadequate safety considerations in the UK government's mass vaccination programme.

The results showed that among previously unvaccinated children, wheezing within 42 days after the administration of dose 1 was more common with live attenuated vaccine, primarily among children 6 to 11 months of age, which had 12 more episodes of severe wheezing (3.8 percent, compared with 2.1 percent, p=0.076). Furthermore, rates of hospitalization for any cause during the 180 days after vaccination were significantly higher among the recipients of live attenuated vaccine who were 6 to 11 months of age (6.1 percent compared with 2.6 percent, p = 0.002).

The authors stated [4, p. 694]:“Until additional data are available, the observations related to medically significant wheezing and rates of hospitalization will restrict the use of live attenuated vaccine in children younger than 1 year and in children 12 to 47 months of age who have a history of asthma or wheezing.”

With that proviso, perhaps, they concluded that an “evaluation of the risks and benefits indicates that live attenuated vaccine should be a highly effective, safe vaccine for children 12 to 59 months of age who do not have a history of asthma or wheezing

Immunizing school children finds favour with governments because it provides herd protection for the population and is considered more effective than immunizing elderly and high risk patients [8]. The MedImmune nasal live attenuated influenza vaccine for seasonal and pandemic influenza is called FluMist.

Producing live attenuated influenza vaccine

Influenza virus infection depends on two genes coding for haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA and NA are on the surface of the virus, and are therefore targets for vaccination. Because classical reassortment methods (see [1]) for producing influenza vaccine are time-consuming and cumbersome, a new , more efficient and faster “reverse genetics” method was devised that assembles RNA virus from the genes on DNA plasmids. For vaccine production, eight plasmids -containing the HA and NA genes from pathogenic influenza strains plus six genes from a non pathogenic master strain - along with additional plasmids encoding proteins necessary for replication and transcription, are transfected into cell lines [9]. Virus can then be harvested from these cells for the production of inactivated or live attenuated vaccine. ` Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) was originally derived by cold adaptation of an influenza type A strain by serial passage at sequentially lower temperatures in chick kidney cells. During that process, multiple gene mutants were selected for cold adapted (ca), temperature sensitive (ts) and attenuated (att) phenotypes of master donor viruses (MDVs). The MDVs represent the live attenuated virus backbone that are updated for annual influenza or pandemic influenza HA and NA genes from disease strains The vaccine seed strain selected in the process is then used to produce quantities of live attenuated vaccine. No preservatives are added to the vaccine produced from the vaccine seed strain [10].

The Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line was chosen to produce quantities of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV). The MDCK cell line was compared with the Vero cell line derived from kidney epithelial cells of the African green monkey and other cell lines derived from foetal lungs of humans or Rhesus monkey. Both MDCK and Vero cell lines supported high level production of LAIV for some strains of the virus while the other cell lines were less productive. However, only the MDCK cells produced quantities of all of the LAIV strains [11].

Problem with genetic instability of LAIV

LAIV replicates primarily in the ciliated epithelial cells of the nasopharyngeal mucosa to induce mucosal immune responses. LAIV viruses do not replicate well at the warmer temperatures found in the lower airways and lung. In the course of replication, all LAIV viral proteins would be presented to the immune system in their native conformation and the resultant immune responses mimic those of natural infection with influenza virus [10].

A potential problem was observed in studies of LAIV as it encounters restrictive temperature in the lung. The viral polymerase function is reduced and virus replication, assembly, and release become impaired [12]. The morphology of the temperature restricted virus was affected and the virus particles contained high levels of heat shock protein. Impairment of the viral replicase is a matter of concern because replicase may create new pandemic strains. Restrictive replication of LAIV at the restrictive temperature occurs in multiple steps in the virus replication cycle [13]. Shedding of LAIV is observed in individuals between 5 to 49 years of age up to 11 days after vaccination, and vaccinated individuals were advised to avoid contact with severely inmunosuppressed individuals for a week after vaccination [14].

Millions of children may soon be vaccinated with LAIV. But there is a large deficit in scientific studies on the molecular biology of LAIV exposed to restrictive temperature. The restricted viruses are genetically unstable and may result in gene alterations that serve to seed pandemic strains of influenza. This possibility must be thoroughly investigated before we expose millions more people to such live viruses.

References

1 Ho MW and Cummins J. Fast-tracked swine flu vaccine under fire ISIS Report 27/07/09 http://www.i-sis.org.uk/fastTrackSwineFluVaccineUnderFire.php ; also SiS 43 (in press).
2 MedImmune pandemic flu vaccine 2009 http://www.medimmune.com/pipeline/pipeline_phase1_detail.asp
3 MedImmune making significant progress in development of live attenuated nasal spray vaccine for novel influenza A (H1N1) 2009, http://www.medimmune.com/h1n1.asp
4 Belshe RB, Edwards KM, Vesikari T, Black SV, Walker RE, Hultquist M, Kemble G, Connor EM; CAIV-T Comparative efficacy study group. Live attenuated versus inactivated influenza vaccine in infants and young children. N Engl J Med 2007, 356(7), 685-96.
5 Jefferson T, Rivett A, Harnden A, DiPietrantoni C, and Demicheli V. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy children (Review). Cochrane Database Systematic Review 23 April 2009,
6 http://mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD004879/pdf_fs.html
7 “Swine flu latest from the NHS”, NHS choices, 13 August 2009, http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/04April/Pages/Swineflulatest.aspx
8 Flu vaccination may triple risk for flu-related hospitalization in children with asthma, 25 May 2009, http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/703235
9 Glezen WP Universal influenza vaccination and live attenuated influenza vaccination of children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2008, 27(10 Suppl), S104-9.
10 WARF Improved reverse genetics method to produce influenza virus, 2009
11 http://www.warf.org/technologies.jsp?techfield=Pharmaceuticals&msnum=885&casecode=P04379US
12 Ambrose CS, Luke C, Coelingh K. Current status of live attenuated influenza vaccine in the United States for seasonal and pandemic influenza. Influenza Other Respi Viruses 2008, 2(6), 193-202.
13 Liu J, Shi X, Schwartz R, Kemble G. Use of MDCK cells for production of live attenuated influenza vaccine. Vaccine 2009 Jun 24. in press doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.06.024
14 Chen Z, Aspelund A, Kemble G, Jin H.Molecular studies of temperature-sensitive replication of the cold-adapted B/Ann Arbor/1/66, the master donor virus for live attenuated influenza FluMist vaccines. Virology 2008, 380(2), 354-62.
15 Chan W, Zhou H, Kemble G, Jin H. The cold adapted and temperature sensitive influenza A/Ann Arbor/6/60 virus, the master donor virus for live attenuated influenza vaccines, has multiple defects in replication at the restrictive temperature. Virology 2008, 380(2), 304-11.
16 Block SL, Yogev R, Hayden FG, Ambrose CS, Zeng W, Walker RE. Shedding and immunogenicity of live attenuated influenza vaccine virus in subjects 5-49 years of age. Vaccine. 2008, 26(38), 4940-6.

Gardasil & Swine Flu Vaccines: Inconvenient Truths

2009-08-24T09:02:00.001-07:00

Gardasil & Swine Flu Vaccines: Inconvenient Truths

By Barbara Loe Fisher

The summer of 2009 revealed two inconvenient truths about vaccination:
first, the Gardasil vaccine is not as safe for girls as the government,
medical organizations and Merck have said it is; and second, the H1N1
influenza pandemic is not as serious as health officials are telling us it
is. Which means that fast tracked swine flu vaccines children will get in
schools this fall may end up being more risky than getting the flu.

Doctors Question Benefits & Merck Marketing Tactics

On August 19, the Journal of the American Medical Association published two
important articles written by doctors questioning whether HPV vaccine
benefits outweigh the risks of recommending it for all young girls. The
intellectually honest doctors publicly criticized the aggressive marketing
of Gardasil vaccine by Merck and certain Merck-funded U.S. medical
organizations and asked for more scientific evidence that universal HPV
vaccination is necessary, safe and effective.

Bad Outcome Report After 1 in Every 1,855 Gardasil Shots

In the third article, written by government health officials, it was
revealed that 1 in every 1,855 Gardasil shots is followed by a bad health
outcome report to the government's Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System.

These bad health outcomes reported after Gardasil shots include lots of
girls suddenly passing out and having seizures within minutes or hours of
getting vaccinated and suffering head injuries and broken bones when they
hit the floor. In fact, there is a larger than expected rate of girls
passing out after getting Gardasil vaccine.

Girls Passing Out & Having Car Accidents

Back in 2007, the National Vaccine Information Center warned that many girls
given Gardasil shots were losing consciousness within minutes or hours. Some
girls have left doctors offices and fallen unconscious while driving and had
car accidents......

Homeopathy For Women Blog

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World Homeopathy Awareness Week is April 10-16!

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Cost: For Part 1 is $35.00 (Part 2 or Part 3 will be a separate cost)

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Research: Girls Now Begin Puberty At Age 9 http://healthfreedoms.org/2010/07/04/girls-now-begin-puberty-aged-9/

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Remedy of the Month: Arsenicum for Flu Prevention and Flu Treatment

Homeopathy for Allergies: Nothing to Sneeze At

Homeopathy for Allergies: Nothing to Sneeze Atby Dana Ullman, MPH, Expert in Homeopathic MedicineRead more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/homeopathy-for-allergies_b_320998.html

"Stop the Shot" Litigation Filed Today in DC Court on 10/9/09

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Swine Flu: Live Vaccine for Children Safety in Question

ISIS Press Release August 17, 2009

Live attenuated versus inactivated influenza vaccine

Producing live attenuated influenza vaccine

Problem with genetic instability of LAIV

References

Gardasil & Swine Flu Vaccines: Inconvenient Truths

Book:
For USA students - Everybody's Guide to Homeopathic Medicines: Safe and Effective Remedies for You and Your Family by Stephen Cummings, Dana Ullman

Research: Girls Now Begin Puberty At Age 9
http://healthfreedoms.org/2010/07/04/girls-now-begin-puberty-aged-9/

Homeopathy for Allergies: Nothing to Sneeze At
by Dana Ullman, MPH, Expert in Homeopathic Medicine

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/homeopathy-for-allergies_b_320998.html