June 2012 Classical Medicine Health and Wellness Journal

 

  

Please Load Images for best viewing

 

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.

 

Forward to a Friend (link below)

For appointment information or to send a message to Martin Keane, AP, CCH

please call (727) 821-7771 or write

          

May 2012 Classical Medicine Health and Wellness Journal

 

  

Please Load Images for best viewing

 

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?

Forward to a Friend (link below)

 

For appointment information or to send a message to Martin Keane, AP, CCH

please call (727) 821-7771 or write

          

April 2012 Classical Medicine Health and Wellness Journal

 

  

Please Load Images for best viewing

 

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!

Forward to a Friend (link below)

 

For appointment information or to send a message to Martin Keane, AP, CCH

please call (727) 821-7771 or write

          

March 2012 Classical Medicine Health and Wellness Journal

 

  

Please Load Images for best viewing

 

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!

 

Forward to a Friend (link below)

 

For appointment information or to send a message to Martin Keane, AP, CCH

please call (727) 821-7771 or write

          

February 2012 Classical Medicine Health and Wellness Journal

 

  

Please Load Images for best viewing

 

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?

 

Forward to a Friend (link below)

 

For appointment information or to send a message to Martin Keane, AP, CCH

please call (727) 821-7771 or write