Newsletter Archive

October 2012 Classical Medicine Health and Wellness Journal

2012-10-08T14:54:48Z

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October 6, 2012

It's fairly safe to generalize and say we Americans like things "big." Big sky, big country, big dreams, big hearts. On the flip side, big soft drinks (now banned in New York City?), big waistbands, big debts. We also like our research big and last month produced a good harvest of big studies with big results, like:

* The synopsis a six-year study financed by the National Institutes of Health, using data from 18,000 patients, which proved acupuncture helps ease migraines and arthritis and other forms of chronic pain. Now if we could only convince insurance companies and Medicare to cover it...

* A Gold Standard study (meaning double-blind, with placebo, randomly controlled) of a French homeopathic formula called Acthéane documented a 33% reduction in hot flashes. The formula produced a "near-immediate drop" in the severity of hot flashes which continued throughout the trial, a blessing only a menopausal woman can fully appreciate.

* A huge study launched in India reminds us that "necessity is often the mother of invention." Like the situation in Cuba last year, both need and an absence of funds has motivated the government to distribute "homeopathic drugs" to combat dengue fever to 25 lahk (ie, 2.5 million) residents of the Chittoor region in southeast India. We'll post updates on results as we find them, since it's not terribly likely you'll be reading about this one in any other outlet.

* Yet another big result for medical marijuana proponents. After 20 years of research, two scientists are ready for the first human trials of Cannabidiol, a non-toxic, non-psychoactive chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. Laboratory and animal testing have found Cannabidiol can stop the spread of aggressive cancers like breast, brain and prostate when administered in highly concentrated dosages.

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September 2012 Classical Medicine Health and Wellness Journal

2012-09-17T14:53:00Z

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September 3, 2012

Seems only fitting to send an update on Labor Day, seeing it's been two months since last we wrote. Happily, CMJ readers kept busy without any prompting and new readers continue to seek out the topics we scour the web-world to bring you.

Away from the shores of the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, it's been a long hot summer -- perhaps one reason why Mark Bittman's opinion post on some consequences of the greenhouse effect drew a lot of interest. In food news, a love-letter to the avocado details the nutritional value and cancer-fighting compounds in this potassium-dense fruit. Speaking of, it's been recently discovered that strawberries contain compounds that may protect skin against the adverse effects of UV-A radiation. Sunscreen never tasted so good? Anyone with arthritis might want to try swigging some tart cherry juice; do your own version of the study and drink it twice a day for three weeks. Best case, inflammation is reduced; worse case, you get a tasty tart reminder of summer everyday.

High-tech medicine continues to make headlines for advancements that hold great promise for treating a host of serious conditions with a minimum of side-effects. There's exciting research from USF using hyperbaric chambers to treat brain injuries (current tests may lead to improved treatment for wounded veterans); a study has begun in Japan using minimally-invasive cryoablation to treat early-stage breast tumors; and from the University of Missouri, a study showing a compound in tea delivered via radioactive gold nanoparticles may be an effective treatment for prostate cancer.

Low-tech medicine has a place, too. An article first published in Family Practice News suggests regular qigong may reduce chronic fatigue symptoms (only 30 minutes a day, three times a week). Thanks to the 2012 Olympics, there were stories galore about athletes and alternative therapies: acupuncture for the Korean women's volleyball team; acupuncture and homeopathy for Usain Bolt; and even McKayla Maroney finds acupuncture impressive for emergency rehab (although with such a severely broken toe, it's amazing she was able to compete at all).

But now it's time to say adieu to summer and focus on remaining sane, polite and patient with each other as issues are debated, accusations fly, and civil discourse gets lost in the cacophony. Of course, the hottest of topics is the future of heath care in America, meaning mainstream medicine. Here's a new article from the venerable New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) challenging doctors and hospitals and insurance companies to consider that we the people want health as opposed to after-the-fact care. Might not sound radical for a CMJ reader but for the NEJM, it's a bold start to asking new questions.

Happy Labor Day and welcome back from the summer.

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June 2012 Classical Medicine Health and Wellness Journal

2012-06-11T14:51:00Z

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June 6, 2012

Our northern neighbors may be onto something big from the tiniest of the tiny. The Canadian Forest Service's investment in "transformative technologies," technologies that create "core rather than marginal changes," has led to some startling developments in the field of nanotechnology...yes, nanotechnology may prove a boon to sustainable forestry. It has to do with "buckyballs," a super-strong molecule comprised of 60 carbon atoms in an arrangement that looks surprisingly like a soccer ball (and/or, Buckminister Fuller's famous dome). A 16 year old Canadian student won the 2012 BioGENEius Challenge for binding tiny particles in tree pulp (nano-crystalline cellulose) to buckyballs to create a "super anti-oxidant compound" that works like a vacuum to "suck-up and neutralize free-radicals." Put less scientifically, it's just possible that the fountain of youth may be flowing through the trees all around us and tiny, tiny nano vacuum cleaners -- crafted from carbon and tree pulp -- may someday erase the effects of aging.

But until the Nano Fuller Brush Man comes to the door, diet can boost health and vitality. A handy summary of benefits, expected and not, from a host of common herbs was the #1 most-read CMJ story in May. First published in the Daily Mail, the original story presents the information not unlike a popularity contest. Follow the link at the bottom of our post for some cross-cultural journalistic voyeurism. Don't miss the other most-read food story detailing new research the proves you need -- yes, need -- to eat almonds, macadamias, pistachios, walnuts and cashews. The benefits of nut consumption (ie, moderate snacking) range from lower BMI to lower risk of heart disease and diabetes. Now will you move cashews off the guilty pleasure list?

Finally, in honor of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee, we call your attention to a new story with some light-hearted insight into the practical precautions the Queen takes to maintain her health and composure during her busy schedule of non-stop duties. Of course, there's a plug for homeopathy in the mix but there are also some charming details of the wisdom gained from a life of spectacle and service.

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May 2012 Classical Medicine Health and Wellness Journal

2012-05-07T14:49:00Z

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May 3, 2012

Who, within a fairly wide certain age band, doesn't remember the blistering line from A Few Good Men when Jack Nicholson snarls at Tom Cruise: "You can't handle the truth!" Classical Medicine Journal readers stared down the temptation of blissful ignorance and learned the truth about dangers lurking in our food supply through two breaking stories detailing the surprising cocktail of drugs found in factory-farm-raised chicken and a more detailed explanation of the drug residue in chicken and feather meal which is fed back to chickens. Surely motivation to opt for organic whenever possible, hoping against hope that the "USDA certified organic" label has teeth.

CMJ readers turned from snarling Jack to sweet, smiling Mahatma with other top stories, seeking simple ways to "be the change" by adding foods to reduce stress (all good stuff like salmon, basil, blueberries, Greek yogurt, broccoli, quinoa, edamame), learning about new research into aspirin's benefits (traces reportedly found in medicines from as long ago as 400 BCE) and getting suggestions for foods high in vitamin C to help alleviate allergy symptoms (usual citrus and fruit suspects but also sweet peppers, broccoli again, Brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower and peas). Yum. Eating right is sounding better and better -- and like a perfect diet for summer.

But we cannot tell a lie and the truth is, one story in April clobbered all the others in number of new readers. Once again, some random Internet robot phenomena happened and our post on a new documentary highlighting the successful results of a small study using topical cannabis extract to treat skin cancer blew up. This is a purely medical application of a drug which has suffered under a propaganda campaign since the 1930's. At some point, clearer heads must prevail and its benefits investigated in a sober manner. No joke.

If you want to get a jump on next month's "hot topics," check out the story just posted about a researcher using folk wisdom passed along by her grandmother to address oil spill clean-up. Maybe there's more truth than we realize in old knowledge?

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April 2012 Classical Medicine Health and Wellness Journal

2012-04-04T18:50:00Z

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4 April 2012

"It's all in your head."

Who hasn't heard -- or said -- those words in a multitude of circumstances? When you're on the receiving end, this is sometimes a comforting concept. But sometimes, it sounds pejorative or dismissive. It might also be factual. According to the Tampa Bay Times, new evidence in brain scan technology is showing that meditation changes the brain's reaction to pain. So the pain from the brain can be tamed ... with a lot of practice, focus and perseverance. Still, an encouraging idea and for dedicated meditators, life-altering. Must be why this was the #2 most-read Classical Medicine Journal story in March.

What held that #1 spot? Thanks to the vagrancy of the Internet, a story we ran last March about The Who front-man Roger Daltrey crediting homeopathy with saving his son's life. Some celebrities have an eternal shelf life and it's always nice when one voices support for a non-mainstream alternative. Their words resonate.

A handful of the other top stories were focused on "don'ts." No one likes a know-it-all so we're glad readers forgave us a bit of crowing about our early reports on some statin complications (new FDA warnings); and kept reading even though the news discouraged diet soda consumption (potential link to heart disease); and even pushed through a study on the perils of eating red meat (increases risk of heart disease and cancer by 20%).

But don't let this news keep you up at night. No, really; don't. Because another new study warns of the danger of consistent use of sleeping aids thought safe until very recently. Reactions among MDs are mixed but it's well worth a read if you or anyone you love uses the products on a regular basis.

Looks like there's only one answer: we need to grow our own vegetables, eat no meat, drink no diet sodas and above all else, meditate. If the Debbie Downer news we share today isn't sufficient motivation to practice the latter, watch a classic except from Bill Moyers' ground-breaking special on China that features a qi gong demonstration by Master Shi. There is no trick photography at work here. The slight elderly man is literally up-ending the young bucks with a flick of his wrist. If that.

If you're in the Tampa Bay area and want to learn a little qi gong for yourself, class info is here. If you want to veg, check out PCRM's Kickstarter Plan. But above all else, vow to make this your summer quaff:

Cheers!

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March 2012 Classical Medicine Health and Wellness Journal

2012-03-01T19:52:00Z

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4 March 2012

The season may be over but fan interest never wanes, as one of the most-read stories in February was about the diet of Baltimore Raven linebacker Ray Lewis. The story caught our eye for Lewis' admission that he probably takes 50 pills of various vitamins and supplements a day. As anyone who uses supplements can attest, you can rather quickly acquire the "handful habit." Lewis' continued NFL success at the ripe old age of 36 (ahem) attests to the benefits of adhering to his clean regimen of diet-and-supplements. Not to mention, he gets more exercise than do most of us non-pros. It's only a tiny bit ironic that an equally popular story in February was about a compound from Chinese herbology that may offer relief for hangovers and potentially ease the Central Nervous System symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

Since we clearly do not have enough to worry about in these troubling times, CMJ readers learned why suburbs may be hazardous to our health (reliance on cars decreases natural, daily exercise; isolation promotes depression and stress) and even why we should be suspicious of our olive oil (from an NPR interview with Tom Mueller, author of "Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil"). Not-so-fun fact from the suburbs article: "In 1974, 66 percent of all children walked or biked to school. By 2000, that number had dropped to 13 percent." Ouch.

An opinion piece from the New York Times questioning the long-term efficacy of ADD drugs got a lot of attention. L. Alan Sroufe, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development outlines a compelling argument for limiting long-term use but acknowledges the limitations of virtually all traditional treatment options. Of course, classical homeopathy can be a dramatic help -- but the remedy prescription is only as good as the homeopath making it and the therapy requires a lot of involvement and commitment from the patient (or parent). As in every profession, there are brilliant and not-so brilliant practitioners, not to mention vast differences in training and specialties. A good resource for finding homeopaths with the board-certification Certified in Classical Homeopathy is the Council for Homeopathic Certification (check the "Find a homeopath" link).

While top-tier homeopaths may be rare, Tai Chi classes are getting much more common and a new study shows Parkinson's Disease patients may benefit from a Tai Chi prctice. Specifically, Tai Chi can help improve balance and lower the risk of falls. While we're on the topic of Oriental Medicine: you might want to visit your local Acupuncturist before scheduling surgery to see if you find that acupuncture helps relieve carpal tunnel symptoms.

Until next month...stay away from tornadoes and oak pollen!

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February 2012 Classical Medicine Health and Wellness Journal

2012-02-01T19:26:00Z

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5 February 2012

Bet you thought the Chinese New Year began on January 23rd, didn't you? Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first new moon of the first month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar system (this year, 1/23). But in fact, the year of the Water Dragon began yesterday, because February 4th was the first day of 2012, or the first day of the 4,709th Chinese year, in the Chinese Astrological Calendar system. Called the Start of Spring, yesterday delineates the point where a new animal sign begins in Chinese astrology. In other words, that restaurant menu list you've been using all your life? If your birthday is right around now, you might be in for a surprise. To update your personal animal status, here's one of many sites that can waste 20 minutes of your life if you're not careful.

Given the weather lately, it really does feel like the start of spring -- or here in Florida, summer.

January brought a ton of new visitors to the Classical Medicine Journal thanks in part to our post on the 256-year old Qi Gong master being picked up by "discovery engine" StumbleUpon. And here's another inner-Internet-workings time-line: on January 4, CMJ posted a story on urban fish farming which originally ran in the Baltimore Sun on December 26; on January 28, the Los Angeles Times reprinted the same story. Ha! We do try to bring you stories of interest on varied topics and put a premium on information that might not otherwise be easy to find in regular media.

Speaking of, a story that is at once exciting and ludicrous got attention. Many readers were shocked -- shocked! -- to learn that acupuncture may relieve stress. In all seriousness, a study from Georgetown University Medical Center has shown molecular proof of acupuncture's ability to reduce a protein-like substance linked to chronic stress. So far, only rats have experienced the phenomenon. The millions of people for thousands of years who could also vouch for this finding? Purely anecdotal; but soon, perhaps, not written off as placebo.

Finally, readers continue to check the update on Vidatox, the Cuban “homeopathic” cancer drug made with the venom of the blue scorpion. While we're happy to provide a platform for sharing this information, isn't it a bit amazing you haven't heard of this anywhere else?

Until next month, be well and exercise your inner Water Dragon.

P.S. Check out Martin Keane's very first venture into video on the Classical Medicine homepage (scroll down to lower right corner). We're working on a series of informational videos and will put them all together on a Classical Medicine YouTube channel. This first one is intended to introduce the practice. (Gulp) Tell us what you think?

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January 2012 Classical Medicine Health and Wellness Journal

2012-01-01T19:22:00Z

This post covers December 2011 - January 2012

3 January 2012

Where did the lovely holiday season go so quickly? And oh, what an interminable horse race we face in 2012. Even tonight, it begins. A recent Classical Medicine Journal post casts a surprising slant on why our divided selves can't seem to see each other's point of view. A simple experiment performed by researchers at New York University and UCLA shows that liberals and conservations actually think differently. This news falls somewhere between extremely encouraging and highly depressing; but no matter what, it's an interesting read. Both Right and Left might want to heed research published in theJournal of Neuroscience that reveals increasing the concentration of magnesium in the brain increases cognitive ability, the facility that controls fear and anxiety. More magnesium leads to less anxiety. So, instead of arguing politics, perhaps we should all break broccoli together?

End-of-the-year reading brought some treats for people interested in homeopathy: a summary of results from an observational study in Austria that showed homeopathic allergy treatment delivered success without side-effects; an announcement from India of the first study using humans to test the effectiveness of homeopathy to combat Japanese Encephalitis (JE); and an almost poetic look at new research into the possibility of water retaining "memory."

Another popular post profiled Mr. Li Qing Yun, a Chinese medicine physician, herbal expert and qi gong master who was believed to be 256 years old when he died in 1933. Mr. Li's advice for achieving such longevity? “Keep a quiet heart, sit like a tortoise, walk sprightly like a pigeon, sleep like a dog.” He drank goji berry tea but not "hard liquor." A vegatarian and non-smoker, he embodied the "early to bed, early to rise" adage. He also liked to play cards and gamble, doing both badly and always maintaining a cheerful demeanor while losing. There has to be a lesson in all that. If you're in the Tampa Bay area, you can learn some of his daily qi gong routine at these weekly classes. BYO goji juice.

By the way, it's probably best to severely limit the amount of time any laptop device spends in your lap. A study in the journal Fertility and Sterility found that exposure to radiation from laptop WiFi for four hours damaged sperm DNA and decreased motility. Of course, this adverse effect was only observed in sperm. But could it be good for ovaries, either? Might just have to dust off one of those old paperbacks. You knew you kept some around for a reason.

Happy New Year. Let's all resolve in 2012 to eat broccoli, not words -- or friends with differing views.

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November 2011 Classical Medicine Health and Wellness Journal

2011-11-10T20:05:39Z

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9 November 2011

Now that yoga is virtually mainstream and everyone has an older relative with at least one tai chi DVD sitting around (albeit dusty -- and perhaps it's a video tape), can qi gong be far behind?

This begs the question: what exactly is qi gong? Cue a stock photo of a contemplative person, probably a man, holding up his hands at 90-degree angles and peering off with a compassionate but firm look about him. Instead, here's a definition from the International Institute of Medical Qigong:

"Qigong is a combination of two ideas: "Qi" (pronounced chee), which means air, breath of life, or vital life-force energy; and "Gong" (pronounced gung, as in lung) which is the skill of working with, or cultivating, self-discipline and achievement.

Qigong is a mind-body practice that improves ones mental and physical health by integrating postures, movement, breathing techniques, and focused intention."

Articles recently posted in the Classical Medicine Journal highlight benefits of a regular qi gong practice (practice being the operative word here, as all once and future yogis will appreciate); perhaps making time for a regular qi gong class will become the next big thing. Here's some inspiration for that aspiration:

First, new research suggests practicing qi gong can help control diabetes symptoms. And too, practicing qi gong can help regulate high blood pressure (it's in with the "Breathe Deeply" set of recommendations). Perhaps the most dramatic is an article published in the CMJ today which reports on new research suggesting qi gong massage for young children with autism, administered by a trained parent, "resulted in improvement of measures of autism as well as improvement of abnormal sensory responses and self-regulation." This is pretty exciting news by our accounting. Time to learn how to breathe deeply while standing and staring contemplatively off in space. Just teasing -- there's a lot more to it. But qi gong has to be the easiest form of "exercise" ever invented, and it was invented a long, long time ago.

More good news for couch potatoes (ie, most of us): even 15 minutes a day of exercise is beneficial. The excuses are getting harder and harder to find.

No sense in fretting over the inevitability of our need to "eat less, move more." Readers sought out an article on nine different foods that naturally elevate moods for good reason. How about some walnuts and sunflower seeds for that cottage cheese? Go ahead and binge on avocados and oranges. But somehow, bananas in lentils just doesn't sound appetizing.

One more story to check out if you missed it comes from Cuba, whose research seems trapped behind an iron curtain still. Then again, due to a lack of infrastructure and funding, Cuba has liberally experimented with various forms of alternative medicine and consequently, has large samples for their results. Good news about alternative therapies is not welcomed in all quarters of our own country, despite our much-touted freedom of the press. The recent article is about the release of the world's first the world's first therapeutic vaccine against lung cancer. Previously published articles detail stunning results using a homeopathic vaccine to divert a projected outbreak of a vile tropical fever -- not to mention the article about Vidatox, the so-called homeopathic anti-tumor cancer drug developed in Cuba from the venom of the blue scorpion.

Wishing you a peace-filled Thanksgiving and a happy holiday season. Don't let any scorpions bite you -- unless they're blue.

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October 2011 Classical Medicine Health & Wellness Newsletter

2011-10-01T19:00:00Z

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10 October 2011

Happy Columbus Day! How many of you, upon hearing or reading those words, cannot help but think: "In fourteen-hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue..."? And now you scratch your head to try to remember the rest of it, when you know those first lines so well.

If memory is an issue, you might want to check out an article about how eating beets can improve cognitive functioning. We posted this research last fall; but, for reasons that remain a mystery, this was one of the most-read Classical Medicine Journal stories in September. The people in this study drank beet juice for breakfast for two days and then had MRIs done to measure blood flow to their brains. The MRIs showed that drinking beet juice improved blood flow to the white matter of the brain’s frontal lobes, the area that degenerates in dementia. Will beets replace Wheaties as the "breakfast of champions?" Drink a big glass and then say with confidence: "He had three ships and left from Spain; He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain."

Speaking of research, a very interesting brief published by the National Institutes of Health summarizes research from Mumbai, India that was designed toobserve and measure the action of homeopathic medicines on heart rate and blood flow. Amazingly enough (at least to western scientists), it turns out that the impact of homeopathic remedies can be measured by physiologic parameters of the autonomic nervous system. So see...it's not all in your head! And your infants and animals are not necessarily demonstrating the power of placebo when they improve after a dose or two of a correctly-prescribed remedy.

Speaking of "in your head," did you get this far? "He sailed by night; he sailed by day; He used the stars to find his way. / A compass also helped him know How to find the way to go." Ouch. Maybe the best lines are in that first couplet?

While not a medical topic, our re-post of a New York Times story about how the earth's carbon cycles are revealed by inclusions in diamonds drew CMJ readers. Read carefully to learn how the ocean floor seems to function like some kind of giant conveyor belt, continually drawing slabs down to a distance of over 400 miles beneath the earth’s surface, recycling carbon between the oceans and the earth’s mantle -- the shell of rock, about 1,800 miles thick, that lies directly beneath the earth’s surface. The impurities in the diamonds formed during this process provide clues about the composition of ancient seabeds and also hold evidence of the distances these rocks have traveled, cycling from ocean floor down to the earth's mantle and then eventually, slowly, back up again.

No matter how much beet juice you consume, bet you (happily) forgot this passage: "Ninety sailors were on board; Some men worked while others snored. / Then the workers went to sleep; And others watched the ocean deep. / Day after day they looked for land; They dreamed of trees and rocks and sand." Do the prehistoric diamonds have similar dreams as they make their 100-million-year journey?

Finally, readers are watching a video clip from CBS Newsreporting on how cancer patients -- even extremely young ones -- are finding vital support from a variety of alternative therapies. Acupuncture, massage, yoga, meditation and homeopathy are just a few of the therapies that some cancer patients are using to support their journies through chemotherapy and radiation. It's an inspiring story and an idea whose time is long past-due.

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