Year: 2010

I just heard that Clayton College of Natural Health has closed it’s doors! That is very sad news! I trust that the same economic forces won’t effect my alma mater, Trinity College of Natural Health!

Green tea has many health benefits, but one that I saw recently is intriguing! It may strengthen your teeth! Check out this article:

GREEN TEA MAY STRENGTHEN YOUR TEETH

“A cup of green tea a day may keep the dentist away. That’s the finding of new research published in Preventive Medicine. The findings show that drinking at least one cup of green tea a day increases the odds of keeping your teeth as you age. The researchers suspect that antimicrobial molecules called catechins present in green tea and in lesser amounts in oolong tea provide the benefit. But be careful if you like your tea with sugar: sweetener may negate the effect, the team found. ‘Green tea may have bacteriocidal effects, which would affect teeth, but only if you drink it without sugar,’ said Alfredo Morabia, of Columbia University in New York and editor of Preventive Medicine, who wrote an editorial accompanying the new research. ‘They also reported that drinking sweet coffee was actually deleterious,’ he added. ‘Coffee alone had no problem, but sweet coffee would actually make you lose your teeth.'”

Chuckie: So, Doctor Bill, what’s up with Candida?

Dr. Bill: Candida is a form of yeast, and these “infections” are sometimes called “yeast infections.” There has been a rise in yeast infections, mainly due to two things: one, the huge amount of sugar consumed by the population these days, and two, the use (some would say, over-use) of antibiotics. Antibiotics are literally “anti” (against), “bio” life, in other words they kill things! Now, most of the time, properly used, antibiotics kill bacterial infections, and that is good. However, there are good bacteria in your gut called probiotics. (Pro=”for,” Bio=”life”) In other words, these good bacteria promote a healthy life, and healthy digestion… their presence also keeps the amount of yeast infections down. The problem with antibiotics is that they kill off the good bacteria in your gut as well as the bad! Then, you are “ripe” for a yeast infection… especially if you eat a lot of sugar, the perfect growth medium for the yeast!

Chuckie: Ouch! So, what can we do?

Dr. Bill: Well, take it up with your healthcare professional, but you can fight yeast naturally with a combination of diet (cut out sugar!) And, anti-candida herbal treatments like Pau De Arco. Probably the easiest way to take Pau De Arco is in tea. Teabags are available from many online pharmacies and supplement stores. Caprylic Acid (or Octanoid Acid) is an anti-fungal agent found naturally in coconuts and breast milk. It is available in capsules, and is very beneficial in fighting off a Candida infection. Also beneficial, is probiotic capsules that will then replace the probiotics that have been “killed off” in your gut! If at all possible, try and find probiotic capsules that are “enteric-coated” so that they will make it through the digestive tract, and to the intestines, where they are really needed!

Chuckie: Are there symptoms of yeast infection?

Dr. Bill: Some of the symptoms include: abdominal gas and bloating, headaches, migraines, excessive fatigue, cravings for alcohol, anxiety, cravings for sweets, inability to think clearly or concentrate, hyperactivity, mood swings, diarrhea, constipation, hyperactivity, itching, chronic pain and many more! I know it sounds like a “catch-all,” but that it why it so often goes undiagnosed! It is particularly responsible for stopping the progress of someone losing weight! That is one reason Dr. Atkins had a whole chapter of his book on low carb dieting that covers just this one issue!

Chuckie: Well, thank for the info, Doc!

According to a recent study in Japan, good old, natural Vitamin D is better than the flu vaccine!

Vitamin D Study in Japan

“It now appears there is proof that Vitamin D is better at preventing flu than vaccinations. The risk of children suffering from flu can be halved if they take vitamin D, doctors in Japan have found. The finding has implications for flu epidemics since vitamin D, which is naturally produced by the human body when exposed to direct sunlight, has no significant side effects, costs little and can be several times more effective than anti-viral drugs or vaccine.

Only one in ten children, aged six to 15 years, taking the sunshine vitamin in a clinical trial came down with flu compared with one in five given a dummy tablet. Mitsuyoshi Urashima, the Japanese doctor who led the trial, told The Times that vitamin D was more effective than vaccines in preventing flu.

Vitamin D was found to be even more effective when the comparison left out children who were already given extra vitamin D by their parents, outside the trial. Taking the sunshine vitamin was then shown to reduce the risk of flu to a third of what it would otherwise be.

Altogether 354 children took part in the trial, which took place during the winter of 2008-09, before the swine flu epidemic. Vitamin D was found to protect against influenza A, which caused last year’s epidemic, but not against the less common influenza B.

The trial, which was double blind, randomized, and fully controlled scientifically, was conducted by doctors and scientists from Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo, Japan.

The children were given a daily dose of 1200 IUs (international units) of vitamin D over a period of three months. In the first month children in the group taking the vitamin became ill just as often as those taking the dummy tablet. But by the second month, when the vitamin level in the children’s blood was higher, the advantage of the vitamin was clear.

The Japanese scientists, writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, say that the anti-viral drugs zanamivir and oseltamivir reduce risk of flu infection by 8 per cent in children who have been exposed to infection, compared with a 50 per cent or greater reduction with vitamin D.”

Chuckie Daniel begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting has a Blog called “Riding the Lifetrain,” on personal, and community, interest issues.

Chuckie: I suppose the best place to start is to ask; what is “Naturopathy?”

Dr. Bill: Well, Stewart Mitchell, in his book, Naturopathy: Understanding the Healing Power of Nature, said, “Naturopathy is a philosophy which encompasses a view of life, a model for living a full life. The word naturopathy is a Latin-Greek hybrid which can be defined as “being close to or benefiting from nature.”

A traditional naturopath specializes in wellness. That is to say, teaching people, referred to as “clients,” how applying natural lifestyle approaches can act to facilitate the body’s own natural healing and health building potential. The traditional naturopath does not undertake to “diagnose” or “treat diseases,” but rather recognizes that the majority of sub-health conditions are cumulative lifestyle effects, and that the underlying cause of what we call “disease” (or, “dis-ease”) is improper diet, unhealthy habits, and environmental factors which cause biological imbalances leading to a weakening of the bodies’ natural defenses and subsequent breakdown in health. The practice of Traditional Naturopathy is not considered the practice of medicine and is currently legal in all 50 states.

From a legal perspective, the practice of Traditional Naturopathy is recognized as a common occupation at the Federal level (U.S. Congress 1928, 1929, 1930 and 30 Federal Court rulings between 1958 and 1978) and as such, it is a profession protected under the 14th and 9th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Several states have also made this stipulation either by statute or in the Courts.

All disease (dis-ease) is a “lack of ease” or lack of homeostasis in the body. “Homeostasis” is the ability, or tendency, of an organism, or cell, to maintain internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes. What Allopathic (medical) doctors call diseases are only symptoms of a greater underlying problem. Disease is nothing more than a manifestation of our bodies trying to correct imbalances. These Imbalances are due to faulty nutritional patterns, improper rest, stress management and other lifestyle considerations which over time can result in a weakening of the body. By the time disease appears on the scene it is very late in the game!

Our body tells us early on when there is a problem and we can either respond to these “messages” or try to suppress the symptoms the body uses to tell us there is a problem. You can take Tylenol, or other drugs, to suppress the symptoms and they will help for a while but, unless the underlying problem is corrected, eventually the symptoms will no longer be suppressed by these drugs and one will need to take stronger and stronger drugs to quiet the body’s message.

Eventually, if the underlying problem has not been addressed, the body will begin to break down structurally. It is at this time modern medicine is finally capable of diagnosing something is really wrong and offer interventions to fix the structure, but still medical doctors fail to address the underlying problem.
Naturopathy concentrates on identifying destructive aspects of the lifestyle in the early phases, when lifestyle changes can occur to bring long-term benefit. Before symptoms manifest and long before a diagnosis can be rendered, these destructive aspects of our lifestyle can be identified and corrected. Once corrected, the body automatically begins to correct itself. Diagnosing disease and illness is totally unnecessary to correcting the underlying problems which result in disease and illness.

A true healer does not waste his time concentrating on naming diseases but rather on identifying those underlying factors, which if not addressed, will eventually result in the manifestation of disease and illness. These factors can be identified and corrected long before it is even possible to make any diagnosis. Even after a diagnosis is made, the same concepts of healing used by Traditional Naturopaths are equally effective; because once balance is restored, the body automatically heals itself!

Chuckie: Wow! That’s a lot to take in! Do what we think of as regular medicine and Naturopathy co-exist well?

Dr. Bill: Well, if you are in an accident, or break your arm, you should immediately go to an Allopathic doctor, a “regular MD,” and get the emergency care that you need! A Naturopath should be thought of as a “lifestyle consultant” that can help you see how to gradually make an improvement in your overall health. Many MDs and Naturopaths work together, in concert, in holistic clinics and “alternative practices.” Though, from my perspective, Naturopaths are more the “historical” healers of old, and Allopathic practices are the more recent, and therefore, “alternative” practice! But, Allopathic disciplines are what most people today think of as “medicine.”

Chuckie: Can you give us an example of a Naturopathic approach to relieving a condition in conjunction with an MD?

Dr. Bill: I have many personal examples of cooperative work with the medical profession. My own son was diagnosed with severe plantar warts that the podiatrist said would require either “freezing” of the tissue (which we were told would be very painful,) to minor surgery to “cut out” the warts! As our son was only nine years old at the time (he is now 17,) I did not relish the thought of subjecting him to such treatment, and possible “coloring” his view of the medical arts! So, in the two weeks intervening between doctor’s appointments, we used a simple, non-invasive orthomolecular treatment that I had learned during my Naturopathic training… my wife and I applied simple (non-prescription) Vitamin A in 10,000 I.U. capsules directly to the warts as a topical rub. We did this by breaking open two 10,000 I.U. gelatin capsules and rubbing the contents on the warts. At the end of the two weeks, when we took him to the doctor, the warts were gone! No pain… no surgery, or “freezing” treatments were required! The doctor was pleased, we were pleased, and my son was relieved that no further treatment was required as well (as you can imagine!) This is but a simple example of the benefits of Naturopathic knowledge combined with the medical profession in a synergistic fashion!

Chuckie: That sounds great! I think we have time for one more example of a natural approach to helping a condition; do you have one you can share?

Dr. Bill: Sure, however, keep in mind that you should ALWAYS consult your own healthcare professional before you do anything! OK? That said; I will share a personal story. I monitor my blood pressure, because like many folks, stress, and excess weight can bring on higher than normal blood pressure. Mine was borderline normal, but my MD was saying that we did needed to monitor it. So, I started taking an Ayurvedic herb called, Coleus Forskohlii. Now, it is important to point out that I am not on ANY pharmaceutical drugs! Coleus Forskohlii is very effective at lowering blood pressure, so it would NOT be appropriate to take it while on a blood pressure reducing drug! Anyway, my blood pressure came down to textbook normal levels, with NO side effects, or adverse interactions. To me, this is a great example of using an herb, which is basically just a food, to address an issue in the body.

Chuckie: Excellent! Thanks, Dr. Bill!

Dr. Bill Bailey is a Certified Natural Health Professional, and holds a doctorate in Natural Health in the field of Naturopathy. He also has a Ph.D. in Theology, and is a Certified Traditional Naturopath, certified by the American Naturopathic Certification Board (ANCB.) He is also a Master Herbalist, and a Professional Member of the American Association of Nutritional Consultants, and of the Coalition for Natural Health. He is one of the founders, and currently serves as the Webmaster, of the North Carolina Chapter of the Certified Natural Health Professionals. He also serves as Webmaster for the North Carolina Citizens for Healthcare Freedom.

“Eating pomegranates or drinking pomegranate juice may help prevent and slow the growth of some types of breast cancer. A new study shows a group of phytochemicals called ellagitannins found in abundance in pomegranates inhibited the growth of estrogen-responsive breast cancer in laboratory tests. ‘Phytochemicals suppress estrogen production that prevents the proliferation of breast cancer cells and the growth of estrogen-responsive tumors,’ researcher Shiuan Chen, PhD, director of the Division of Tumor Cell Biology and co-leader of the Breast Cancer Research Program at City of Hope in Duarte, Calif., says in a news release. Researchers say the ellagitannins in pomegranates work by inhibiting aromatase, which is a key enzyme used by the body to make estrogen and plays a key role in breast cancer growth. ‘We were surprised by our findings,’ Chen says. ‘We previously found other fruits, such as grapes, to be capable of the inhibition of aromatase. But phytochemicals in pomegranates and in grapes are different.’ Researchers say pomegranates have recently been hailed for their potential anti-cancer and heart healthy benefits thanks to their high antioxidant content. But they say this is the first study to look at their effects on aromatase and breast cancer growth. In the study, published in Cancer Prevention Research, researchers examined the impact of 10 ellagitannin-derived compounds from pomegranates on aromatase activity and breast cancer cell growth in laboratory tests. The results showed that of those 10 compounds, urolithin B most significantly inhibited breast cancer cell growth.”

Pomegranates May Fight Breast Cancer

Don’t you love the fact that natural photochemicals in fruit are this effective and powerful? This is why I love natural research and finding the benefits of good, wholesome foods!