New Supplements to Sharpen Your Memory, even if Early Alzheimer’s is a Concern

Robert Rowen’s insightful newsletter, Second Opinion, May, 2009 issue, reports that researchers from University of California have found a cheap, safe way to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease. They used high doses of niacinamide (vitamin B3 in its salt form, not Niacin, which is used to lower cholesterol). The dose is 1500mg twice a day. Just in case, liver function should be monitored. Other sources have recommended a form of Vitamin B1 that is called lipothiamine, high-dose vitamin D, and a precursor of the neurotranmitter, acetylcholine, called CDP choline. If you put these altogether, you would likely have a great combo to sharpen your mind with a reasonable cost and a less risk of side effects than the drugs like Aricept. However, this is preliminary information, waiting for more definitive research to follow.

See Second Opinion, PO Box 8051, Norcross, GA 30091. J Neurosci, 2008 November 5:11500-10.

The Importance of Sleep

The American Council on Collaborative Medicine publishes an excellent newsletter on health issues. Their June, 2009 issue focused on sleep. A good night’s sleep is important to help control pain, relieve stress, and prevent cardiovascular problems. The most common sleeping pill is probably Tylenol, simply because it eases pain. Antihistamines are often taken over-the-counter because drowsiness is a side effect, but continuing drowsiness into the next day is common. Prescriptions include Ambien, Rozerem, and Lunesta. These meds work but they can be habit forming (despite claims to the contrary), and they can cause bizarre side effects, such as sleep walking and sleep eating. Natural substances include tryptophan or its less potent cousin 5 hydroxy-tryptophan, melatonin, L-theonine, valerian, hops, lemon balm, and other herbal preparations. Each person is different in his/her response. If depression is a problem, it should be treated, preferably with an appropriate natural product, like St. John’s Wort or SAMe. Acupuncture can also be more effective than medication.

See ACCM, 3575 N. Beltline Rd., No. 365, Irving, Tx 75062, annual subscription $19.95. Wang XY, Acupuncture Electrother Res, 2008; 33: 33-41.

New Problems with Hormone Replacement Therapy

A presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology by Dr. Rowan Chlebowski reported that the notorious combination of synthetic hormones, Prempro, not only increases the risk of breast and uterine cancer, but also increases the death rate from lung cancer if you happen to get that as well. A second study showed that women with breast cancer who take common anti-depressants, such as Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil at the same time as tamoxaphen will have most of the benefit of the tamoxaphen cancelled out. These anti-depressant drugs are commonly used to treat the hot flashes that are made worse by the hormone blocker. About 500,000 women are taking tamoxaphen at this time. Celexa and Lexapro are safer to take. At the same time, the FDA has forbid physicians from prescribing the natural hormone Estriol from compounding pharmacies, even though it appears to be much safer than the synthetics. It is important that women get good advice from Integrative Physicians to look at ways to get relief from menopausal symptoms safely.

To locate a knowledgeable physician on bio-identical hormone replacement International College of Integrative Medicine (click here) or American Association of Environmental Medicine (click here)
See Associated press articles, May 31, 2009.

It’s not your Fault you’re Fat!

This was a title of a fascinating book a decade ago. Researcher Dr. Cindy Visness reported in the Associated Press on a study that showed first that overweight children are 50% more likely to be allergic to milk than those of normal weight. Further, about 25% of overweight children have at least one food allergy. Other common food allergies include eggs, peanuts, wheat, corn and citrus. These findings are probably understated because they likely looked only at IgE mediated food allergies, when we find that most food sensitivities are IgG mediated. The study just looked at children, but adults are commonly affected as well. Sometimes food allergies are the underlying cause of increased inflammation (detected by the C reactive protein) that has been linked to heart attacks and strokes. Possible food allergies can be identified with an Elisa blood test and then confirmed with an elimination diet. If the allergies are to common foods, desensitization is available from most Integrative Physicians.

See Visness CM. May, 2009, issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (click here-subscription required) and Associated Press (click here), June 1, 2009.
For an Integrative Physician, go to International College of Integrative Medicine (click here) or American Association of Environmental Medicine (click here)

Using the Immune System to Fight Cancer

Dr. Len Lichtenfeld of the American Cancer Society and Dr. John Niederhuber of the National Cancer Institute were quoted in an Associated Press article that cancer vaccines are beginning to show effectiveness. This is an important breakthrough because the cancer establishment has not approved any treatment other than surgery, chemotherapy and radiation for generations, even though there have been many promising therapies available to boost the immune system. High dose vitamin C is one example. Twenty years ago, a group of alternative physicians formed an Institutional Review Board to review research projects using more natural treatments that were automatically rejected by University IRB’s. Initially, we were approved by the FDA, and we supervised a good many of important projects. However, in time the FDA decided that they were going to put us out of business, and they flooded us with demand after demand. Finally, we gave up because we could not afford the extra requirements. Now the infamous “quackbusters” are posting as many negative comments about our work as they can dream up. Fortunately, no one is paying much attention. But I mention this because one of the projects we approved involved successful work with cancer vaccines 15 years ago. The FDA and the Cancer societies attacked it viciously at that time, and now they are embracing it as their own idea. I sincerely hope they will not continue to drag their feet as they have in the past.

See Associated Press (click here), June 1, 2009.

Cigar Smoking is Dangerous

Dr. Ranit Mishori wrote about the considerable dangers of cigar smoking, which include cancer of the lips, tongue, mouth, throat, lungs, pancreas and bladder, as well as heart disease and chronic lung disease. Second-hand smoke is more dangerous from cigar smoke than that from cigarettes. One cigar has 23 times the nicotine content of a single cigarette. An article in the Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology showed that the toxin of carbon monoxide was higher at two cigar social functions in San Francisco than on a busy California freeway. One-third of teenagers start smoking cigars after seeing it glorified in the movies. It is way past time for this to stop.

See Mishori R, The Hidden Dangers of Cigars, Parade Magazine, May 31, 2009 (click here).

Anti-depressant Found Worthless for Treating Autism

A study funded by the NIH showed that the risks of taking Celexa for Autism outweighed any benefits. Previously, Prozac had similar results. These drugs are widely used by conventional medicine to treat Autism. Wake up, American physicians! There is an epidemic going on and these families need your help and they desperately need effective treatment. The parents will tell you what works and what does not. The Defeat Autism Now protocol of casein/gluten avoidance, metal detoxification, allergy and yeast treatment, nutritional supplementation, B12 shots, and hyperbaric oxygen helps a great deal with virtually all autistic children. Music therapy helps, neuromuscular retraining helps. We have to rid ourselves of physician drug dependence if there is true hope for this problem. Many states still do not mandate that treatment for autism be covered by insurance. This is criminal.

See Associated Press, June 2, 2009, (subscription required-click here to go to the AP website) Dr. Fred Volkmar, June issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
See Autism Research Institute (click here)

Alcoholism

The CAGE questionnaire is a simple way to detect if too much alcohol is interfering with your life: Have you ever: 1) felt the need to Cut down your drinking? 2) felt Annoyed by criticism of your drinking? 3) had Guilty feelings about your drinking? taken a morning Eye opener? A score of 2 or 3 yes answers is highly suspicious and a score of 4 is virtually diagnostic of alcoholism. Alcoholics die early of liver and heart disease, and they ruin their family structure and relationships. Essential for a full recovery is rebuilding your body’s health and detoxifying with great nutrition: 3 meals a day, lots more fruits and veggies, whole, organic foods, healthy oils, no caffeine, no junk food and minimal sugar. The New England Journal of Medicine proposed a simple, inexpensive, safe, effective treatment as well, naltrexone at 25-50 mg a day. It really works to cut way back on the craving for alcohol. Food allergy desensitization can also be very helpful.

See
Anton RF. Naltrexone for the Management of Alcohol Dependence, NEJM, August 14, 2008. Obrien CP (click here)
The CAGE questionnaire for Detection of Alcoholism (click here), JAMA, November 5, 2008, 2054-2056.
Siple M. Eating for Recovery, De Capo Press 2008. http://www.dacapopress.com/ (click here)