Gout

From westonaprice.org:

Finally, it will probably come as no surprise to the readers of Wise Traditions that the specific nutrient that seems to prevent the buildup of uric acid is vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that is particularly associated with the kidney. In fact, gout can be seen as a problem of the kidneys not being able to excrete enough of the uric acid to prevent the buildup, rather than simply a matter of excessive protein intake.
In my years of treating patients with gout, a program of decreasing protein intake along with liberal use of all the usual animal fats (butter from healthy cows, cream, etc) and the regular use of gelatinous stocks has been the key to preventing uric acid buildup and further attacks of gout.
As for other medicines, cherry juice is a virtual specific for preventing uric acid buildup and further attacks of gout. I have patients with gout take 1 teaspoon 2 times per day of cherry juice concentrate (without the sugar), literally for the rest of their lives. I also make sure they take 1 teaspoon per day of high-vitamin cod liver oil to supply the vitamin A [Green Pasture's Blue Ice Fermented Cod Liver Oil--the only brand acceptable], which antagonizes the uric acid buildup and also nourishes the kidneys. Of course, the patient should avoid refined carbohydrates and alcohol (which contributes to syndrome X).
As for medicines, I use arginex from Standard Process at a dose of 1-2 tablets three times per day. Arginex is made from fermented beets and helps stimulate excretion via the kidneys. For acute attacks, I use the antiinflammatory Boswellia comp from Mediherb 1-2 tablets three times per day. Hopefully, with these measures your client will be able to overcome the tendency for these painful attacks.

From me:
Below my note are a bunch of cut and pasted notes from various sources all concerning gout. The things that seem to work are the raw apple cider vinegar (Braggs), Buffered vitamin C with bioflavinoids (3000-5000 a day separated), Celery Seed extract, cod liver oil, digestive enzymes, grape seed extract, vit E, sour unsweetened cherry juice and sour cherries. And putting DMSO on it for pain relief. Cut out all sugar, high fructose corn syrup, fried foods and processed foods, pop (especially diet pop), alcohol and coffee. When one does this it seriously subsides within several hours. If one would do this for two weeks it would go completely away. Eating eggs either over easy, soft boiled or raw is good. If you are going to eat beef make sure it is good quality and cooked rare or raw. Cooked beef is no good for gout. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Strawberries are good too. Eat no margarine, vegetable oils or shortening. The fats that are allowed are butter, extra virgin olive oil, lard (from a good source) and organic coconut oil, raw milk and plain yogurt and kefir (plain). Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Salads with either the raw apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice with olive oil. I would have to say drinking the apple cider vinegar (2 T in a cup of water) a couple times a day (up to 5 times a day) is the most important thing to do. Balance your pH. Chew your food well!

comments from various sources:

I had gouty arthritis last summer and went to earthclinic.com to find a remedy. The number one remedy was raw apple cider vinegar. I used 2 tablespoons in about 12 ounces of water 3 times per day and the pain was gone within hours. The swelling mostly gone in less than one day and all gone in two days. My mother saw my swollen foot and ankle which were huge and could not believe it when it was mostly gone the next day! I had the problem which was worsening day by day for weeks and couldn't believe how quickly it was gone myself. I also noticed how much better I felt on the ACV so still use it twice per day.

While most of the comments are saying that sour cherries or its juice has shown to help, it seems that most do not understand the reason why. Cherries, and to be more specific sour cherries, are an alkaline fruit. The alkalinity helps reduce the acidic effect of our diets and life styles. As stated in my earlier comment, drinking alkaline water does the same thing but with greater efficiency. Kangen Water is water that has had the molecular structure of the water broken down so that it has a greater absorbency factor, thus allowing it to more readily enter your blood stream. I as well as many others I know have had miraculous results from drinking Kangen Water.

I think that saying gout is caused by excessive uric acid not the whole story. The inflammation in gout is triggered by the tissue deposition of uric acid crystals, but why does one have excessive uric acid in the first place. Yes gout is an inflammatory disease and as such is influenced by all major inflammatory triggers like Insulin and prostaglandins - resulting from high glycemic foods, to much arachidonic acid (one of the omega 6 fats) and trans and long chain saturated fats. Obviously leaky gut, ( and thus candida and heavy metal toxicity ) poor digestion (too much cooked food and lack of digestive enzymes) and circulating immune complexis can increase inflammation. An acidic environment will lead to earlier crystallization and poorer excretion, but where does uric acid really come from. In the catabolic pathway DNA is converted (with Xantienoxidase) to Uric acid - a means to make it more water soluble. I believe any catabolic trigger is the real cause of gout and that proper nutrition with all that it entails is your best anticatabolic means. Decrease catabolism and thus formation of uric acid, support the kidneys and excretion of uric acid by taking water and alkalinizing the body. Decrease inflammation. Gerrit Gouws

This is a very old time farm based recipe for gout based on one of the most successful ways of addressing removal of excess uric acid from the body through the use of pure celery juice. and raw cider vinegar...especially if you prefer to enjoy your medicine! Try this really tasty salad and add to your regular diet..... 3-4 stalks of organically raised green celery chopped - add chopped cucumber (skin removed) and chopped or thin sliced onion (yellow), raw cider vinegar and blend well with raw organic honey to sweeten very lightly and be very sparing on seasonings if any at all - 1 clove crushed garlic pieces and/or just a bit of sea salt and pepper is enough - you will be amazed at the results.

Kris sometimes the pain is in the big toe but it can also be any part of the foot. I would add that the real cause of gout is really your kidneys are not functioning correctly. The kidneys are not filtering out the waste ( uric acid). Some of the comments on how people dealt with gout here supports this. It is thought that purine in the diet is causing the problem but I have read doctors will use a high purine diet ie grass fed meats and home made broths to correct the problem. Kidney function is really the root of the problem

I posted this in a previous article regarding HFCS:
Well I have 2 anecdotes for you that (to me at least) proves there are not the same.
1) If I drink typical "corn syrup" Cokes regularly (1+ every day) for an extended time (week or so) I will develop gout in my foot. I can switch imported Cokes (from Mexico) that are sweetened with sugar and the gout will go away.
2) My mother (in her late 50's) was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (shortly after being treated with major antibiotics for a suspected MRSA infection). She can drink a bottle of US Coke and her blood sugar will spike extremely high (I can't remember the #'s, but 600-900 sticks in my head). If she drinks the Mexican Cokes it is unaffected...
But you can rest assured that there is no difference, because those pushing this crap on us tells us so! (Coke is not recommended)

My husband has gout. The cure for him is Apple Cider Vinegar. Works wonders!
Since gout is like a symptom of kidney failure, those who "died of gout" in reality probably had undiagnosed kidney failure.
Alcohol, HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) , poor food choices contribute to gout.

used celery seed for his gout and many others have. As for the celery seed pills- save your nickels and buy celery seed in bulk at your Health Food Store. Make it in to a tea. don't drink more than 1/2 cup 2x a day, and don't take it indefinitely. Celery Seed is a potent cleanser of the kidneys and used long term can be irritating.
Sour cherry juice.
My brother juices celery for his gout and it works great, but I just buy a gallon of aloe vera juice at Sam's Club for under $6 and it also works great with less fuss. I wonder how much the celery seed pills are?
relieving a potassium deficiency can relieve it somewhat

As we all know, gout is caused by uric acid. Most all of the health problems we have are caused by too much acid in our bodies. Interesting that some of the responses talk about coke and its effect on gout. All soft drinks are very, very, very acidic. What I have found, and have gotten almost 100% relief from, is drinking electrolyzed water that turns ordinary tap water into alkaline hexagonal water. I have Kangen Water machine attached to my tap that changes my tap water to Kangen Water. I have many testimonials from people that are using Kangen Water to relieve symptoms of many various problems such as acid reflux, diabetes, arthritis etc. All of these are the result of to much acid in our systems. Relief could be a glass of water away. You can check it out at www.water4unow.com
I have had the question in my mind for awhile of whether or not excessive coffee drinking could cause gout. As it leeches calcium from the bones, and causes dehydration as well, it makes sense that it would increase uric acid levels.

In another narration by Abu Dharr (A.S.), he said, "The Prophet (PBUH) was given a basket full of figs as a present. He said to us, "Eat!" He ate of it and said: "If I could say that a fruit was sent down from Heaven, it would be this, as the fruit in Heaven has no stones. Eat it, as it cures hemorrhoids and it is useful for treating gout (or arthritis)."

I have had gout for many, many years. During that time, I have taken white willow and MSM to reduce inflammation. I also drank cherry juice. All of these things helped incredibly. Also, chocolate, black tea and coffee seemed to cause it to flare up. We finally bought a water ionizer or alkalizer. In three days, my back pain and leg cramps, which I had also had for years, went away and they never came back! My gout went away a little more gradually, but after a month, it was hardly noticeable. My husband also got rid of heartburn and bloating after twenty years. We bought the Alkalizer and I would highly recommend it to any one as the single most important step you can take to improve your health.

In my chiropractic practice we prescribe tea made from celery seeds. Take two to four cups per day works just about every time. I do agree with staying away from bad fats and sugars, this will inflame the condition every time. Also, EXERCISE(pain free range) and vitamin D.
Thank you for talking about Uric Acid and how it affects the joints when it crystallizes in the joints. This is all because we are over acidic. If you ever drink any soda pop, sports drinks, vitamin water, or even reverse osmosis or distilled water, you are drinking highly acidic around 2.5PH. There are all very toxic.
The key to eliminating gout and any of the arthritic conditions we suffer from is drinking Alkaline, Anti-Oxidant Water. This water is produced in your home by a device that has been used in Japanese hospitals and clinics for nearly 40 years. Good health is as simple as the water you drink.

You can get information on the internet, just look for Whole Life Water. I got one nearly 2 years ago and the arthritis in my hands that I had suffered with for 5 years was gone in less than 24 hours. It works just as well for Gout as it dissolves the Uric acid crystals and flushes them out of your body.

I take a 600 mg tablet of Bromelain on an empty stomach 2 times/day when I feel a twinge of gout (also arthritic twinges). Usually takes care of the problem before the 2nd dose. I did the same thing both times I had a synovial cyst on the back of my hand (from surgical excision of trapezoid, each hand). Surgeon expected to do second surgeries for the cysts but I wiped each one out using Bromelain within 2 days. They never returned. Now he recommends it to his patients (quite a sacrifice for him, income-wise!).
Bromelain seems to consume uric acid (and some other bad proteins) in the joints and surrounding tissue. I'm sure Doc Mercola could expand on Bromelain's uses...

I agree. I have seen much quicker relief from gout by using bromelain than cherries or other diuretics. I like plain bromelain over enzyme combinations with acidic ingredients because it can be taken in very large amounts without stomach upset. I have seen gout cured in a single day with 10 capsules of high potency (2000GDU) and drinking a cup of water every couple of hours.
Uric acid is a byproduct of incomplete protein digestion so using protein digesting enzymes should always stop it from occurring.

I would suggest that anyone who accepts that uric acid is the cause of gout has been misinformed. Dr Mercola in the above article says this:
"Because the REAL underlying problem causing the inflammation, and subsequent damage, is likely due to having chronically elevated blood sugar. (The sugar molecule causes far more damage than any other molecule.) And, your number one way of normalizing your blood sugar and insulin levels is through your diet".
To this, I subscribe. Serendipitously I discovered that the cause of my own gout was indeed diet and principally the high intake of carbohydrates. Immediately those were reduced in the diet the gout disappeared. This problem is not connected to animal protein which, together with saturated fat, is our body's natural food.
The problem, however, and many other health problems, is not always directly related to diet (which, obviously is a contributory factor) but more connected to digestion. It is not easy to distinguish this difference but leptin studies are indicating that the stomach needs longer periods of fasting between meals than traditionally we have allowed. Furthermore, to those who suffer from nocturnal cramp then do two things, stop snacking between meals (which is not as easy as it sounds) and have the last meal of the day at least three hours prior to retiring; it is best to go to sleep on an empty stomach. Nocturnal cramp will then be found to have decreased by 95% and what little one suffers will be of a milder form.
inadequate magnesium can also cause nocturnal cramps. I tell my patients to take 1 tbsp liquid calcium/magnesium and it works within a day or two. even for those with long term muscle cramps.

May I add that blood thinners (taken over a long time) causes gout in some people, such as Plavix and Aspirin.

Thank you, Kerstin, that was my impression from personal experience (the only time that I had gout). And it wasn't only taken over a long time. I was forced to take these drugs in four days and caused horrendous symptoms - gout was one of the adverse reactions.

True Story: I had a heart attack at age 30. My cholesterol had been 250 or higher for 5 consecutive years. My blood pressure was never lower than 135/85. After the mild heart attack I was put on blood pressure, blood thinning, and cholesterol medication. For the next 3 years I was on this medication and I was on a very strict diet and I was running 2 miles a day in 15 minutes (started out 25 minutes). I was also doing strength training 3 days a week for 45 minutes each day. My blood pressure stayed the same and my cholesterol went up over 300. The last 4 months I was on this low fat (no fat) high carb diet I actually grew my own garden. It included corn, okra, purple hull peas, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, and water melon. The garden itself was a major work out because I had no tiller. It required at least an hour of my time every day. My cholesterol went to over 350. I told my doctor what my diet was and that I only ate foods I grew out of my own garden and that I did hard labor at least an hour a day on top of my 2 mile run a day and he called me a liar. Needless to say, I changed doctors. I found a doctor in Little Rock. AR who has a reputation for thinking outside the box. He has a PHD in Bio-Chemistry and Psychology and he has an MD. I told him I would rather die than to continue this unsustainable life style of growing my own foods and working out every day while taking tons of medication. I gave him the whole spill of the medications I was on, the heart attack I had, and the diet I was own and told him I was going to end all of it and go back to eating the foods I love like Ribeye steak!! He told me that was a great idea which totally blew me away. He told me to stop exercising because it maybe aggravating inflammation due to arthritis. He told me to stop eating anything "low fat" and anything containing sugar. Then he said for 2 weeks to limit my total carb intake to 3 grams/day. I immediately felt better. I was able to sleep and much of my pain went away. Within another 2 weeks I went to the local clinic to have my cholesterol checked and to my surprise it was 140. For the first time in 10 years it was normal!! That was 1998. 10 years later, I still don't exercise and I still eat mostly high protein/high fat foods. The highest my cholesterol has been in the last 10 years is 190 (lots of vegetables and so called "health food" contributed to that 190). I continue to amaze myself every 6 months when my cholesterol comes back 120, 135, and sometimes 160. All the joint pain and gout I experienced my entire life is gone. I rarely even have a stiff neck at 43 years of age. There were days when I was 30 that I missed work due to neck and back pain. All this low fat high carb diet the doctors promote is for one thing: to keep you coming back to their office. It's a money making machine. For all you people that are tired of being sick do something different. Buck the system. Tell your doctor to K.Y.A.!!! Guess what? Most diseases are related to chronic inflammation. Medications treat the symptoms and not the causes of the inflammation. Get off the insulin producing foods and your life will change.......
The best rule of thumb is this: If you can make bread or alcohol out of it don't eat it. If it is out of a can or box don't eat it. If it says "LOW FAT" don't eat it. If it says "Contains Alcohol Sugars" don't eat it. If it is green, yellow, orange, or red you can eat it. If it is white or brown don't eat it. You can eat any meat in any quantity you like. Of course, meats high in Omega 3's is best but you have to be concerned about heavy metals. Therefore, stick to beef and preferably GRASS fed beef. Try this for 4 weeks and see if your not able to quit your "anti-inflammatory" drugs.

Every one is different! My husband suffered gout for years, and we tried everything! Best for short term was taking baking soda in water (alkalizes the body). Consuming huge amounts of water and sweating is what works for him. I'm sure a sauna would work too.
... lead toxicity causing gout is interesting...

High Blood Pressure revisited

Swanson's is the place to get certain supplements. Lee Swanson Signature Line Ultimate Probiotic Formula , Alpha Lipoic Acid, digestive enzymes, Kyolic Digestion garlic , buffered vitamin C with bioflavinoids 1000 , magnesium (espsom salt baths). Swanson Health Products

Things one can do if one has high blood pressure:
1. Eat lots of raw cloves of garlic. Eat it on your salads and in your
soup (squeezed in your bowl) or you can take garlic caps (Kyolic Digestion garlic). My grandmother brought her blood pressure down by eating fresh garlic when she had it really high and was hemorrhaging from the nose profusely.
2. Eat good fats: raw organic butter, coconut oil, lard(homemade), and raw animal foods (raw dairy and meat--raw yolks, over easy eggs, soft boiled eggs, meat cooked rare or just seared or raw--only high quality, pastured), unfiltered extra virgin cold pressed olive oil.
3. Eat bone broths, organic leafy green veggies especially salads, and live sour kraut (homemade from organic cabbage). Look for foods high in potassium and magnesium.
4. Take cod liver oil every day (the only one to take: Green Pasture's Blue Ice fermented cod liver oil).
5. Avoid all processed foods and commercial salt, high fructose corn syrup, MSG, aspartame, sucralose, sugar and white flour products, unfermented soy in any form. Do use Celtic sea salt.
6. Avoid alcohol, coffee, soft drinks, and fruit juices from concentrate.
7. Temporarily avoid all grains for a few weeks then use only sparingly.
8. Exercise, I can't stress this enough. Walks are great and use the rebounder.
9. Pray. This is good for your soul and it helps reduce stress, but most importantly you're loving God.
10. Do deep breathing exercises and make sure you breath deeply. Many people especially in America breath shallowly thus causing stress and a lack of oxygen.
11. Get enough regular sleep--set bedtime and wake time preferably be asleep by 10:00pm.
12. Drink enough good water (spring water, Perrier (expensive and some say the carbonation is bad--it makes me feel hydrated the best) or Reverse Osmosis with minerals added back, I put a pinch of Celtic sea salt in).
13. Herbs: cayenne (capsicum), chamomile, fennel, hawthorn berries, parsley, and rosemary. You can get these in teas, capsule form or tinctures from Swanson Health Products
14. Probiotics and digestive enzymes seem to help just about everyone.
15. Kumbacha tea (make your own) essiac tea (make your own).
16. Balance your pH. (fresh lemon juice and/or raw apple cider vinegar with water)
17. Take Epsom salt baths-- this is very important. Lack of magnesium plays a significant role in hypertension. This is a great way to absorb and utilize magnesium.
18. I also like to use essential oils.
19. Eliminate stress--it can kill you. Laugh.

But consult your doctor or alternative health practitioner if you want to. I am not a doctor, every body is different, use your own best judgment. See what works for you.

Why MSG is so Dangerous

From Mercola:

One of the best overviews of the very real dangers of MSG comes from Dr. Russell Blaylock, a board-certified neurosurgeon and author of “Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills.” In it he explains that MSG is an excitotoxin, which means it overexcites your cells to the point of damage or death, causing brain damage to varying degrees -- and potentially even triggering or worsening learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease and more.

Part of the problem also is that free glutamic acid is the same neurotransmitter that your brain, nervous system, eyes, pancreas and other organs use to initiate certain processes in your body.[4] Even the FDA states:

    “Studies have shown that the body uses glutamate, an amino acid, as a nerve impulse transmitter in the brain and that there are glutamate-responsive tissues in other parts of the body, as well.

    Abnormal function of glutamate receptors has been linked with certain neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's chorea. Injections of glutamate in laboratory animals have resulted in damage to nerve cells in the brain.”[5]

Although the FDA continues to claim that consuming MSG in food does not cause these ill effects, many other experts say otherwise.

According to Dr. Blaylock, numerous glutamate receptors have been found both within your heart's electrical conduction system and the heart muscle itself. This can be damaging to your heart, and may even explain the sudden deaths sometimes seen among young athletes.

He says:

    “When an excess of food-borne excitotoxins, such as MSG, hydrolyzed protein soy protein isolate and concentrate, natural flavoring, sodium caseinate and aspartate from aspartame, are consumed, these glutamate receptors are over-stimulated, producing cardiac arrhythmias.

    When magnesium stores are low, as we see in athletes, the glutamate receptors are so sensitive that even low levels of these excitotoxins can result in cardiac arrhythmias and death.”[6]

Many other adverse effects have also been linked to regular consumption of MSG, including:

    * Obesity

    * Eye damage

    * Headaches

    * Fatigue and disorientation

    * Depression

Further, even the FDA admits that “short-term reactions” known as MSG Symptom Complex can occur in certain groups of people, namely those who have eaten “large doses” of MSG or those who have asthma.[7]

According to the FDA, MSG Symptom Complex can involve symptoms such as:

    * Numbness

    * Burning sensation

    * Tingling

    * Facial pressure or tightness

    * Chest pain or difficulty breathing

    * Headache

    * Nausea

    * Rapid heartbeat

    * Drowsiness

    * Weakness

No one knows for sure just how many people may be “sensitive” to MSG, but studies from the 1970s suggested that 25 percent to 30 percent of the U.S. population was intolerant of MSG -- at levels then found in food. Since the use of MSG has expanded dramatically since that time, it’s been estimated that up to 40 percent of the population may be impacted.[8]

To be on the safe side,you should also know what ingredients to watch out for on packaged foods. Here is a list of ingredients that ALWAYS contain MSG:

 Autolyzed Yeast Calcium Caseinate Gelatin 

 Glutamate Glutamic Acid Hydrolyzed Protein 

 Monopotassium Glutamate Monosodium Glutamate   Sodium Caseinate 

 Textured Protein Yeast Extract Yeast Food 

 Yeast Nutrient    

       

These ingredients OFTEN contain MSG or create MSG during processing:[10]

 Flavors and Flavorings Seasonings   Natural Flavors and Flavorings   Natural Pork Flavoring Natural Beef Flavoring 

 Natural Chicken Flavoring Soy Sauce   Soy Protein Isolate   Soy Protein   Bouillon 

 Stock   Broth   Malt Extract   Malt Flavoring   Barley Malt 

 Whey Protein Carrageenan   Maltodextrin   Pectin   Enzymes 

 Protease   Corn Starch   Citric Acid   Powdered Milk   Anything Protein Fortified 

 Anything Enzyme Modified Anything Ultra-Pasteurized        

So if you do eat processed foods, please remember to be on the lookout for these many hidden names for MSG.

Antibiotics

Comment on Mercola site:

As far as antibiotics go, I won't use them. We use colloidal silver for infections. I worked in the hospital way too much to see how often they are over-used and the nasty side effects (C-Difficile). Most uneducated or undereducated people run to the doctor for every little thing and want antibiotics as a cure all. This is why there are so many resistant super bugs. Prevention is really key here. Take care of yourself. Get rest, exercise, eat healthy, organic foods. If I need it, I use colloidal silver and probiotics. Works like a charm. It all really starts in the gut. You want to stay healthy and have a great immune system, keep your digestive system healthy and you won't need antibiotics.

Excerpts from Pope Benedict's Lenten Message on Fasting

prayer, almsgiving, fasting -- to prepare us to better celebrate Easter and thus experience God's power that, as we shall hear in the Paschal Vigil, "dispels all evil, washes guilt away, restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy, casts out hatred, brings us peace and humbles earthly pride"

fasting is a great help to avoid sin and all that leads to it.

Saint Peter Chrysologus writes: "Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others, you open God's ear to yourself" (Sermo 43: PL 52, 320. 322).

In our own day, fasting seems to have lost something of its spiritual meaning, and has taken on, in a culture characterized by the search for material well-being, a therapeutic value for the care of one's body. Fasting certainly bring benefits to physical well-being, but for believers, it is, in the first place, a "therapy" to heal all that prevents them from conformity to the will of God.

...to mortify our egoism and open our heart to love of God and neighbor, the first and greatest Commandment of the new Law and compendium of the entire Gospel (cf. Mt 22, 34-40).


The faithful practice of fasting contributes, moreover, to conferring unity to the whole person, body and soul, helping to avoid sin and grow in intimacy with the Lord. Saint Augustine, who knew all too well his own negative impulses, defining them as "twisted and tangled knottiness" (Confessions, II, 10.18), writes: "I will certainly impose privation, but it is so that he will forgive me, to be pleasing in his eyes, that I may enjoy his delightfulness" (Sermo 400, 3, 3: PL 40, 708). Denying material food, which nourishes our body, nurtures an interior disposition to listen to Christ and be fed by His saving word. Through fasting and praying, we allow Him to come and satisfy the deepest hunger that we experience in the depths of our being: the hunger and thirst for God.

Clothes cause SIDS? (flame retardants plus)

from Daily Dose:

Clothing chemical could cause SIDS

"Organic" is another trendy product claim, but it's far more tightly regulated than "natural." But while we normally associate the term "organic" with foods, there's increasing demand for organic floors, carpets, mattresses, window covering, and clothes. Some may think this could be taking the whole "goodness of mother Earth" thing a little far – myself included. As much as I advocate all things natural, I'm not sure I care too much about how organic the floors in my house are, or that my shirts are made from organic cotton.

But a new study is making me wonder if I should start caring. Quickly.

Most consumers believe that cotton is the most healthy and natural material available. It's by far the most popular clothing material out there. But even though cotton makes up just 2.4 percent of the world's total agricultural acreage, 25 percent of global pesticide use is applied to cotton crops. That's a lot of chemicals. In fact, it takes about a third of a pound of pesticides and fertilizers to grow enough cotton for just one T-shirt.

But it doesn't stop with crop dusting. Cotton is saturated with herbicides before it's harvested in order to defoliate the crop so it's easier to pick. Then it's off to the textile mills where even more chemicals are applied — bleaching agents, dyes, stain and odor resistance formulas, wrinkle reducers, static-reducers, flame retardants and a dozens more.

But wait! There's more! Then the finished products must be washed before shipping, so there are detergents and fabric softeners, which leave their residue in the clothes. The finishing process uses chemicals like formaldehyde, caustic soda, sulfuric acid, and halogens.

Is this a T-shirt they're making, or Frankenstein's monster? With all that processing, it can be hard to tell.

These chemicals are no joke, and allergies and skin irritations are the least of your worries. A European study discovered that the fire retardant chemical antimony used in some crib mattresses can actually leach through the mattress into a baby's skin – and they've connected these findings to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The livers of autopsied SIDS victims were found to contain high levels of antimony.

Another study on flame retardants found an 18-month-old baby with chemical flame retardant levels in the blood that were two or three times the levels that are known to cause neurological damage in laboratory rats.

Here's what's frightening about that: US law mandates that flame-retardant chemicals be applied to children's CLOTHING. Imagine: if chemicals like antimony have the ability to be absorbed into the skin through a mattress with a sheet over it, how much is being absorbed by children wearing it NEXT TO THEIR SKIN?

Next time you're out shopping for kids clothes … think organic.

Naturally,

William Campbell Douglass II, M.D.

B Vitamins Offer Migraine Relief

from Mercola.com:

B Vitamins Offer Migraine Relief

Vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid may reduce the frequency, severity and disability of migraines, according to new research. Daily vitamin supplements were found to produce a two-fold reduction in migraine disability.

About 12 to 15 percent of people suffer from migraines, with twice as many women as men affected. The headaches are sometimes preceded by flashes of light, blind spots, tingling in the arms or legs, or anxiety. Sufferers generally experience a pounding sensation on one side of their head and many undergo nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and noise. The symptoms are often severe and debilitating.

Scientists recruited 52 people diagnosed with migraines. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either vitamin supplements or a placebo for six months. The supplements were associated with a reduction in the prevalence of migraine disability from 60 percent at the start of the study to 30 percent after 6 months. No reduction was observed in the placebo group.

Reductions in the frequency of the headache and the severity of the pain were also observed in people in the B vitamin group, while no such changes were observed in the placebo group.

Sources:

NutraIngredients.com April 2, 2009

Pharmacogenetics and Genomics In press “The effects of vitamin supplementation and MTHFR (C677T) genotype on homocysteine-lowering and migraine disability"

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

More than 300 million people worldwide -- about 6 to 7 percent of men and 15 to 18 percent of women -- suffer from migraine headaches, which can last anywhere from a few hours to three days. An estimated 20 million migraine attacks occur every single day.

Despite that, it’s still one of the least understood and poorly treated medical disorders, as they are likely due to a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors that vary from person to person.

Adding to the complexity is that the experiences of those suffering from migraines also vary greatly. Aside from throbbing, searing pain, which may or may not be one-sided, some experience “auras” prior to onset, while others do not. Other symptoms that may or may not be present include nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, sweating, and/or sensitivity to light, sound, and smells.

What Causes Migraines?

There are a number of different theories about the cause of migraines, but no one hypothesis can explain the occurrence of migraines in all sufferers. These (sometimes conflicting) theories include:

• Changes in your brain chemical serotonin. When levels drop, blood vessels including those in your brain become swollen and inflamed, which can lead to migraine pain.
  
  
• Vascular constriction in your brain; from initial blood vessel constriction and a drop in blood flow, followed by dilation and stretching of blood vessels, which activates pain-signaling neurons.
  
  
• Excessive increase of blood flow in your brain. In direct contrast to the preceding theory, other research has found that migraines are not preceded by constriction and decrease in blood flow, but rather by an increase of nearly 300 percent. However, circulation then appears normal, or even slightly reduced, once the attack is in full swing.
  
  
• A neurological disorder related to nerve cell activity that sweeps across your brain, causing pain. In this case, it is thought that a wave release of neurotransmitters across your cortex can directly stimulate your trigeminal nerves, setting off the chain reaction that ends in the transmitting of pain signals.
  
  
• A nervous system disorder originating in your brain stem. Your brain stem is your control center for alertness, perception of light, noise and smell, cerebral blood flow, cardiovascular function and pain sensitivity -- many, if not most, of which are part of the symptoms of a migraine attack.
  
  Research has revealed that three clusters of cells in your brain stem are active during and after migraine. According to this hypothesis, abnormal activity in those cells could induce the sensation of pain, even when there are no pain signals being received from your brain membrane or blood vessels.
  
  
• A disruption of the subtle energies circulating throughout your body, along with unresolved emotional issues that manifest in your body as headaches.
  
  
• Mutation or dysfunction of certain genes.

Are Your Migraines Due to a Vitamin Deficiency?

In this latest study, vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid supplements were found to produce a two-fold reduction in migraines over a six-month period. Previous studies, such as a 2004 study in the European Journal of Neurology, have also reported that high doses of B2 (riboflavin) can help prevent migraine attacks.

Certain gene mutations and dysfunctions can lead to higher levels of homocysteine production, which can make you more susceptible to migraine attacks. Here they found that vitamins B6 and B12 work by reducing your homocysteine levels. They also discovered that depending on your genotype, you may need a higher or lower dose in order for it to work. Said Professor Lyn Griffiths:

“… if all patients received the same vitamin dosage for the same period of time it would be expected that those with TT genotypes, having a reduced enzymatic rate, would metabolise less homocysteine over the treatment period compared to C allele carriers, thus resulting in a smaller reduction in homocysteine and consequent migraine symptoms.

Indeed, it may be that TT genotypes although having a higher risk of disease actually require a larger dosage of vitamins to exhibit the same effect as C alleles. Further clinical trials of much larger patient cohorts are required to test this hypothesis.”

According to Professor Griffiths, their aim is to determine the optimal dosage of B vitamins based on your genetic profile.

"The success of our trial has shown that safe, inexpensive vitamin supplements can treat migraine patients,” she said.

However, there may be yet another, even more widespread, vitamin deficiency underlying your migraine symptoms.

Just last year, researchers presented results of an observational study at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Headache Society, showing that nearly 42 percent of patients with chronic migraine were deficient in vitamin D. The study also showed that the longer you suffered from chronic migraines, the more likely you are to be vitamin D deficient.

This is yet another brand new discovery that can be tacked on to the literally hundreds of health ramifications of being vitamin D deficient.

For more information on getting tested, and how to optimize your vitamin D levels, please see this previous article. I also recommend you take the time to view my free one-hour video lecture on vitamin D, in which I go over the nearly unbelievable benefits you will receive by understanding this essential nutrient.

Common Migraine Triggers to Avoid

However, it is important for everyone to fully appreciate that treating migraines by using a simple remedy is rarely effective. So while using supplements like these B vitamins might be useful, this is still an allopathic approach that is very similar to using medications.

It is my belief that pain can be one of your strongest allies if you use it to help you to find what is truly contributing to the cause of the problem.

Just as there are numerous theories on the actual mechanics of migraine pain, there are a wide number of potential triggers -- and what triggers a migraine for you might not trigger it in someone else. So rather than just popping some B vitamins you will want to consider a more comprehensive strategy.

However, here are several of the most commonly reported triggers:

• Food and Drink: Many people experience migraines when they eat certain foods, especially wheat, dairy (especially pasteurized), sugar, artificial preservatives or chemical additives. Cured or processed meats, alcohol, aspartame, caffeine, and MSG are common culprits.
• Allergies: Including food allergies and food sensitivities, and chemical sensitivities.
• Dehydration and/or Hunger
• Changes in sleeping cycle: Both missing sleep and oversleeping can trigger a migraine.
• Stress: Any kind of emotional trauma can trigger a migraine, even after the stress has passed.
• Physical exertion: Extremely intense exercise or even sex has been known to bring on migraines.
• Hormones: Some women experience migraines before, or during their periods, during pregnancy, or during menopause. Others may get migraines from hormonal medications like birth control pills, or hormone replacement therapy.
• External stimuli: Bright lights, fluorescent lights, loud noises and strong smells (even pleasant ones) can trigger a migraine.
• Weather changes, seasonal changes, and changes in altitude

How to Relieve Migraine Pain Without Dangerous Drugs

Migraine pain can be seriously debilitating and may be one instance where you could justify popping a pill for instant relief. Unfortunately, migraine medications tend to only work in 50 percent of people, half the time...

They also have intense side effects such as “medication overuse headache,” which often occurs when people take too much of a headache drug. Worse than that, if you take tryptamine-based drugs, which bind to serotonin receptors to constrict your cranial blood vessels, but your pain is not due to engorged blood vessels, then constricting them can potentially do a lot of harm. And, lo and behold, serious cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke, are in fact side effects of these types of drugs.

Fortunately, there are better ways to treat migraines than pharmaceutical drugs.

First, you’ll want to make sure you avoid the triggers.

Most often this means eating healthy whole foods and avoiding processed ones. Avoiding wheat, grains, sugar and all fluids but water also seem to be particularly effective. In fact, following my eating plan typically reduces migraines by about 80 percent, as it virtually eliminates all common food-related causes of headaches.

Regular exercise will also help to keep migraines away by improving your response to stress, along with the underlying inflammatory conditions that can trigger migraines.

Those are the lifestyle choices that you’ll need to focus on long-term, if you want to reduce your migraines. But if a migraine does strike and you need immediate relief, here are a several safe, healthy alternatives that you can try:

1. Use Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Newcomers who use this simple process by themselves achieve relief 50 percent to 80 percent of the time and, in many cases, the relief is complete and permanent. More sophisticated uses by an EFT expert may be required for some migraine sufferers.

2. Stimulate your body's natural painkilling ability. By putting pressure on a nerve just under your eyebrow, you can cause your pituitary gland to release painkilling endorphins immediately.

3. Take 10 teaspoons of cayenne pepper in a glass of water. Endorphins are released by your brain when the cayenne hits your stomach lining.

4. Sniff green apple scent. One study found that the scent significantly relieved migraine pain. This may also work with other scents that you enjoy so consulting with an aromatherapist may be beneficial. Other aromas that stand out of the crowd include peppermint, sandalwood, lavender, and eucalyptus.

5. Hot and cold packs. For some people, heat will do the trick, while others get more relief from cold. Experiment to see which one works for you, but avoid extreme temperatures. You can also try placing your hands in hot (but not scalding) water, which seems to pull pressure from your head.

I recommend trying all of them, and in various combinations, to find the one that works best for you.

Related Links:

Acupuncture 'Beats Headache Pain'

Migraine Headache Relief Without Medication

The Dangerous Link Between Migraines and Heart Attacks

comments from:
foxtroter_203 :We must be careful here in evaluating this. While capsaicin is a natural substance that is well established in its pain control ability by depleting Substance P, it is still just treating the symptom .

KelleyEidem :Of course it can. There's already a series of cayenne products made by SinusBuster that uses hot peppers. They have a headache formula and a separate migraine formula. I've seen it work in two minutes. A customer came into my store with a significant headache. He tried the SinusBuster. He came out of the bathroom two minutes later. He said it was working, that his headache was much better already.

Dr Rik :The most common form of Headache is Tension Headache; diagostically the same as Cervicogenic Headache (caused by the cervical spine). The research group that formulated guidelines for Chiropractic care for Low Back Pain, AHCPR, started research for Headache Guidelines. Forces in Government promptly dismantled that guideline group. Their research wasn't giving the results that those in power want to see. Most Headaches improve or are cured by appropriate Chiropractic care. You won't see that on any front page. Good luck on getting the rest of the story.

leppert :Dr. Donsbach has a pain remedy on his site that I've used for years now. It helps take the edge off my pain. I'm disabled and yes, I'm doing therapy now for the last five years that is really helping. At any rate I was in a meeting a few years ago with a gal who looked like death warmed over. She'd been suffering from a migraine for four days and all her heavy duty meds didn't work. I gave her one of my RE-LEV-IT and told her it would take about 45 minutes. She wanted another one 1/2 hour later(she was impatient) and I gave it to her. 15 minutes later she was smiling. It uses curcurmin and a few other goodies. www.letstalkhealth.com is the site.

Conjeanneal :One thing missing from Dr. Mercola's article that I have found to be a HUGE trigger for migranes/headaches is the use of MSG....to be found in countless foods today, even foods from the health food store! (Did we ever think that one day we would have to read the labels on foods from the HEALTH FOOD STORE?!!!)

aussieman : My 11 Y.O daughter had a blood nose so I gave her a pinch of Cayenne in warm water and within 10 sec the nose bleed stopped , then she said "and my headaches gone too dad! This was just amazing , I have used it directly on any cuts and it stops the bleeding immediately.

Birdlady :I used to get headaches and migraines all the time a few years ago. Finally I made the decision to get off of birth control pill and about 6 months later my headaches had gone away completely. I think it took 5-8 months for my body to heal itself from all those artificial hormones!

minister :When dealing with a headache, I have always found that a teaspoon of powered ginger (fresh ground or packaged) in a full glass of water gave relief to my pain, no matter how intense. I received this this method from a Chiropractor many years ago, and it works. Plain and simple and all natural.

T_rex :Caveat emptor on the publicity about the capsaicin in cayenne, to quote Dr Mercola,"...even though they are narrow-mindedly focusing on picking out the active ingredients to be able to patent it and put it in a pill" While the natural capsaicin in cayenne is no doubt greatly beneficial, the synthetic "equivalent" can no more be trusted than synthetic vitamin C or synthetic hormones or synthetic anything.

LEWRA : This whole concept of the "active ingredient" should be rejected by all sane people. As Dr. Mercola alluded to above, they only do this to make a patent possible. Implied in the concept of "active ingredient" is that the rest of the herb is irrelevant. What could be further than the truth? I studed with world famous herbalist Dr. John R. Christopher. He used to say that when they isolate the "active ingredient" from an herb to make a drug out of it, it becomes a poison. But then, why should we expect big pharma to have any respect for plants? Yes, cayenne pepper really is good for numerous ailments, but always use the whole herb.

Magnolia : I used to get them years ago while working for a company that used overhead fluorescent lighting. Drinking plenty of water seems to be the best remedy for me, and as I am a certified aromatherapist, I have found that both lavender and peppermint essential oils are soothing. I use them in a burner/diffuser. I get very few headaches these days as I stay hydrated and eat right for my nutritional type (most of the time).

happydee: Your mention of fatigue and caffeine makes me think that you might have a rare type of headache that may go undiagnosed often. You could have a spontaneous leak of spinal fluid through a tiny hole in your spinal dura. (The caffeine helps your brain keep floating up where it belongs in spite of the depleted fluid.) It's diagnosed by MRI - don't let anyone give you a spinal tap to diagnose it! I've dealt with this twice, have talked to practitioners who know about it, have tried lots to fix it and would be glad to share what I've learned. I'd also love to talk to anyone else who's had this!

mohammad kazemi :BUTTERBUR (petasites hybridus) CO2 Extract (root). Also Riboflavin and ginger WORKS!!!!! DO THE RESEARCH PEOPLE Cayyene probably helps too.

Drywall from China

From Daily Dose or HSI:

Yet another Chinese-made good is threatening the health of people here in the U.S. This time the culprit isn't something that you'd have your kids play with – like a toy coated with toxic paint. Or something you'd put in your mouth – like poisonous toothpaste, or tainted milk, or corrupted pharmaceutical ingredients. No, this time it's none of those – but it could be even worse. It's drywall.

Florida homeowners have complained that the drywall in their homes, which was imported from China, is not only giving off a foul odor like sulfer, but is also emitting corrosive gases that are destroying home appliances. There's one documented case of the sulfide gases from this drywall rotting the copper coils of an air conditioner.

So you can just imagine what it's doing to people's lungs.

In fact, some homeowners with this drywall have already filed lawsuits against builders and suppliers, claiming that they're not only surrounded with walls smelling of rotten eggs, but that they're also suffering from sore throats and headaches as a result.

The rotten egg smell is no surprise. The Chinese drywall has large amounts of sulfer in it. In the U.S., the chief component of drywall is gypsum. It's just a shot in the dark, but I'm guessing the reason there could be high levels of sulfer in the Chinese drywall is that sulfer is cheaper than gypsum.

The Chinese drywall entered the country during a building material shortage from 2004 to 2007 (spurred by the rebuilding boom in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina), so the homes using it were completed recently.

The Florida Department of Health is looking into all this, but claim that more time and testing are needed to find out if the drywall is indeed a health hazard to homeowners. According to the state toxicologist of Florida Dr. David Krause, this determination could take months.

Of course it could.

Florida's hot, humid climate could play a large role in the drywall's stink. It's similar to a story I told you about last year about formaldehyde seeping from the walls of FEMA trailers in New Orleans due to the rapid deterioration of the materials because of the moist conditions.

This is hardly an excuse. I don't recall any U.S.-made drywall that causes copper coils to corrode, regardless of the climate. I know there are American companies at stake – and they will be at the business end of the lawsuits about this shoddy drywall from China, the world capitol of useless and dangerous goods.

I've said it before, and here I go again: If you value your health, don't buy anything from China. 

Video Games

From: Daily Dose

But when the Brigham Young team surveyed more than 800 U.S. college students, the results linked these effects to extended game play:

    * Poor relationship quality with parents and friends

    * Poor academic performance

    * Greater risk of alcohol and drug use

    * Lower self-worth

    * Lower perceived social acceptance 

As you might expect, violent games increased the risks of these effects. 

Foot patches for detoxing

from vital votes on mercol.com
first post by kansasherbalist:
As a natural health practitioner I have used a certain kind of foot patch with success. I have also used foot baths with success. (I do not have a foot bath machine...I send clients to get them.) I have been practicing for 25 years or more. Several caveats here: Nothing works for all people all the time. Some things do not work ever due to poor quality of ingredients, methodologies, equipment etc. However, high quality foot patches and foot baths done appropriately by the right people with the right equipment at the right time are very effective. I never assume that anything will work for a person or not work. I use muscle testing and try to avoid bias.The "lab tests" could easily be inconclusive because a) the patches were genuinely worthless b) the person who used it did not need it, at least at that time c) the lab does not test for all possible results d) the person did not use it correctly for them i.e. know which foot to place it on or elsewhere on the body.

Natural health practices, supplements, are subject to being fraudulent just as in mainstream practice. Dr. Mercola needs to consider the above paragraph before being too hasty in judgment, however. Just because the FDA or some lab "disqualifies" a product or therapy may not make it so. The reverse is also true: Just because a lab endorses something does not mean it is always effective for everyone either. I have yet to find one product or therapy that everyone needs all the time.

You cannot put people, their health or lack thereof, in a box. Each person is an individual and requires individualized therapies. I do not recommend foot baths or patches to everyone...in fact, to only a few and with very specific instructions for them when I do recommend them. There are many, many possibilities for therapies, many of which cost very little or nothing.

second post by 2fit4u:
I work very closely with several companies who have had tremendous results with reversing terminal illnesses. I have several clients who have not only beat the odds their medical doctors gave them...but are experiencing life and life abundantly after their treatments. Myself included. I had adrenal tumors and breast cancer and I worked with organizations like spicemedint.com and Lectro Chi Premier Energy Foot Spas and of course structured water...oral chelation and proper lifestyle management (eating right, exercising, massage, chiropractic, EFT, etc)! I am not only cancer free, I have already outlived the "time frame" my doctors gave me. I am a fitness and lifestyle instructor and trainer...living life to the fullest. I have used most of the major reputable companies with ionic cleansing and the Lectro Chi is by far the best. In regards to the foot patches, I have some clients who have gone on camping trips and needed to continue their "foot bath treatments" and took the patches...I agree that some are better than others...but if you are in the backwoods and are not up to date with the latest techno tools...using the patches to balance and stimulate the body's energy zones...meridians, even a foot soak in an epsom salt foot soak is beneficial...or a foot massage...proper fitting shoes. Research your products...try them for yourself...and make quality decisions. Don't take just anyone's word for it...try it!!!!

Are Weeds Taking Over Your Yard?

From Six Wise:

It's time to fight back, using all-natural methods of course. (The last thing you want to do is douse your outdoor living space with toxic yard chemicals.) Fortunately, the following non-toxic methods are all very effective at killing weeds (and are totally harmless to you as well):

Pour boiling water on them (this works best for weeds in driveway cracks and sidewalks).
      

Pull them out by hand.

Spray them with vinegar (be careful not to spray plants you want as it will kill them too).

Apply mulch, it will help to keep weeds away. For even more weed prevention, put a barrier such as newspaper or paper bags underneath the mulch.

To fertilize your plants naturally use crushed eggshells or even the water from boiled eggs. Certain plants like roses, evergreens, hydrangeas and gardenias also love coffee grounds.

Migraines

From Mercola?

What Typically Triggers Migraine Headaches?

There are many potential triggers, and what triggers a migraine for one might not trigger it in another. However, here are several of the most commonly reported triggers:

* Food and Drink: Many people experience migraines when they eat certain foods, especially wheat, dairy, sugar, artificial preservatives or chemical additives. Cured or processed meats, alcohol, aspartame, caffeine, and MSG are common culprits.
* Allergies: Including food allergies and food sensitivities, and chemical sensitivities.
* Dehydration and/or Hunger
* Changes in sleeping cycle: Both missing sleep and oversleeping can trigger a migraine.
* Stress: Any kind of emotional trauma can trigger a migraine, even after the stress has passed.
* Physical exertion: Extremely intense exercise has been known to bring on migraines.
* Hormones: Some women experience migraines before, or during their periods, during pregnancy, or during menopause. Others may get migraines from hormonal medications like birth control pills, or hormone replacement therapy.
* External stimuli: Bright lights, fluorescent lights, loud noises and strong smells (even pleasant ones) can trigger a migraine.
* Weather changes, Seasonal changes, and changes in Altitude

Quick, Natural Tips to Relieve a Migraine

Preventing migraines begins by avoiding the triggers. Most often this means eating healthy whole foods (avoiding most processed ones) and managing your stress effectively.

Avoiding wheat, grains, sugar and all fluids but water seem to be particularly effective.

Regular exercise will also help to keep migraines away by improving your response to stress along with the underlying inflammatory conditions that can trigger migraines.

Ideally, these are the things to focus on so that you can reduce your migraines altogether.

But if a migraine does strike and you need relief NOW, try:

1. Stimulating your body's natural painkilling ability. By putting pressure on a nerve just under your eyebrow, you can cause your pituitary gland to release painkilling endorphins immediately.

2. Taking 10 teaspoons of cayenne pepper in a glass of water. Endorphins are released by your brain when the cayenne hits your stomach lining.

3. Using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Newcomers who use this simple process by themselves achieve relief 50 percent to 80 percent of the time and, in many cases, the relief is complete and permanent. More sophisticated uses by an EFT expert may be required for some migraine sufferers.

4. Green apple scent. One study found that the scent significantly relieved migraine pain. This may also work with other scents that you enjoy so consulting with an aromatherapist may be beneficial.

Other useful techniques include:

o Putting a cold compress on your forehead or behind your neck
o Massaging your ears and ear lobes
o Massaging the "crown" of your head -- the ring of muscles that circle your head where a crown would sit

Some people even say that having a purring cat, which sends out low frequency vibrations, next to their head relieves migraine pain.

The point is that there are many, many, non-drug options out there, and finding the one that works for you is likely just a matter of trial and error.

Also see my other posts on this subject

If you have psoriasis...

Here are some ideas from HSI:

[psoriasis is not a fungus as far as I know, but here are comments left at HSI]

Both psoriasis and seborrhea are fungal afflictions fed by faulty nutrition. Many have eliminated either condition by eating two eggs every day. Results are seen in under thirty days. Temporary topical treatment consists of 1% hydrocortisone cream (with aloe vera is best) twice a day."

"Get a small bottle of oil of oregano. Mix a few drops into your shampoo. It will kill the fungus within a few days. These symptoms are also the same for the onset of type 2 Diabetes...itchy skin that flakes, even in moustache or eyebrows."

Steve: "For psoriasis and eczema you can use Olive leaf extract internally. You can also do colon and liver cleanses which can help clear many diseases and skin conditions. I think Eastpark Research is the best brand, it is antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, antiparasitic and your condition could be related to any one of these or all. You can use Eastparks topical cream as well. I have also seen excellent results applying colloidal silver spray topically. Sovereign Silver is an excellent brand but others will work as well. The key with colloidal silver is that if it is wet it is working, if it's dry reapply. Wet gauze with colloidal is a good way to apply if the rash is localized."

Mary Heckler: "I had a friend who had psoriasis really bad. She started going to the beach everyday and swimming in the salt water... her psoriasis started clearing up a lot."

Let's do the math: If milk thistle supports liver health, and if poor liver function is one of the triggers that sets off psoriasis, then…I'll let this message from an HSI member named Angus complete the equation. "I tried the usual psoriasis remedies from the MDs and had no success. Three months ago I started getting psoriasis on my legs, up until then it had remained on my scalp. Something in the back of my mind (I read all your emails and monthly newsletters) said to me that when the liver can't clean the blood properly the results can show up on the skin. So I got out a bottle of liquid milk thistle and started taking two tablespoons a day. One in the morning and one in the late evening. The result is – drum roll please – the psoriasis on my legs has cleared up and gone away, and my scalp is almost completely cleared up (this has been confirmed by my barber). I expect within a couple of months I will be psoriasis free for the first time in about 15 years.

Cancer

Some info on alternative cancer care: CancerTutor.com has a lot of different information. (I found out about this site from a man from church. He has stage 4 cancer, please pray for him.) I also like Gerson.org, and  curezone.com. Other sites with good eating info are westonaprice.org and mercola.com. 

Some different things I heard that other people have done to cure themselves from cancer is: drink Young Living's NingXia Red, drink a cup of fresh juiced veggies at least 5 times a day, eat only raw food, cut out all garbage from the diet (eat things as closely to the way God made them, no: MSG, aspartame, spenda, HFCS, white flour, refined anything, fluoride, chlorine, pasteurized anything, preservatives, pesticides, margarine, vegetable oils, sugar etc.) this means eat organic and buy your eggs, milk and meat and poultry from a farm you know raises these things correctly. Good bone broth. Coffee enemas described at Gerson and CureZone. Eliminate toxins from the house: plastic, any new carpeting and furniture (it out-gasses higher amounts of formaldehyde) chemical cleaners and products. Do cleanses of parasites, colon, bladder, liver and heavy metals. Sleep and good water and relax and pray and trust. God's most holy will be done. Research and do things specific to your type of cancer. Garlic, habanero peppers, cod liver oil. Increase vitamin D, A, B12 and K2, get a lot of sunshine. Most (if not all) people who get cancer are deficient in vitamin D, this is very important. Do not put anything on your skin or in your mouth that you wouldn't eat. Detoxify. Clean out electromagnetic pollution. As always this is not to be construed as medical advice. These I things I have heard helped other people in various combinations. I am not a doctor. You have to take your health into your hands. See a doctor if you can find a good one that will work with you. Use essential oils (ones that don't use solvents to extract oils). 

Go Barefoot

My kids have always really liked going barefoot. I'm glad I never forced them to wear shoes constantly! This is from Mercola.com---
One of the classic works on the topic of going barefoot is Take Off Your Shoes and Walk by Simon J. Wikler D.S.C. In it he explains that improperly shaped shoes -- including high heels and pointed toes -- are responsible for modern-day foot troubles. In fact, the book describes a study from the late 1950s that found children who were allowed to go barefoot had:
-Greater agility
-Denser muscles on the bottom of their feet
-Less deformed toes
-Greater flexor strength
-More ability to spread the toes
-More flexibility of the gluteal and hamstring muscles
Meanwhile, an article last year suggested that shoes lead to what's called "cow-walk." Cow-walk puts tremendous pressure on your joints. Starting with the squeezing of your foot inside the shoe, jarring the knees as they're locked straight upon the pole-driving impact of the heel, which then travels straight up your spine, all the way up your neck.In contrast, "fox-walking" is the walk of the natural hunter-gatherer -- the graceful flow of your body in total synchronization. Your knees are bent, rather than locked, the ball of your foot touches the ground first, followed by your heel, in a virtually soundless step motion. If you've ever seen a baby walking barefoot, they actually display the correct walking technique that we adults have lost touch with.
Should You Go Barefoot? Bunions are non-existent in barefoot populations of the world, but from a practical perspective, going barefoot all the time is just not an option for most people. But you can certainly do so inside of your home or backyard -- and you may even feel some benefits, particularly from walking on a natural surface.If you decide to go barefoot, do it slowly, progressing to more and more time spent without shoes.
There have been some very compelling studies suggesting that when you are "grounded" free electrons can easily come up from the earth and essentially nullify free radicals in your body. So walking barefoot -- on clean, natural surfaces -- could be an easy way to contribute to your overall health.

Bad Breath

All this is from Mercola and his vital votes: It can be caused by several factors, including systemic diseases, gastrointestinal and/or upper respiratory tract disorders, and microbial metabolism from your tongue, saliva or dental plaque.
Certain bacteria residing on your teeth or tongue surface, or in periodontal pockets are particularly odor-inducing, as are bacterial species associated with gingivitis.
Mouthwashes are only effective against bad breath caused by intraoral factors. Gargling and swishing can't help you much if your problem stems from an imbalance of bacteria in your intestinal tract, for example.
Treating Bad Breath from the Inside Out
Maintaining a healthy digestive system is far more important than most people can imagine. An imbalance between healthy and unhealthy bacteria here can lead to a wide variety of health problems; foul breath and body odor being some of the least problematic.
However, if you suffer from either, I'd highly recommend limiting the primary fertilizer for the bacteria that cause bad breath and that is, you guessed it: SUGAR, and grains that rapidly break down to sugar. When you eat these highly processed foods they cause bad odor-causing bacteria to grow out of control.
Once you have cut down the fuel that causes them to grow you can then replenish the good bacteria by taking probiotics to re-establish proper balance and health to your digestive system. By keeping your digestive system healthy, combined with an all-natural essential oil mouth rinse, bad breath should be a thing of the past.
(The smell of rot is what we are talking about. That unmistakable smell of putrefaction associated with rotten eggs, decomposing abscesses, periodontal diseases, sinus and lung infections, rotting undigested fecal matter, or spoiled fish. Putrefaction is the rotten egg smell of scavenging bacteria digesting and decomposing structural sulfur-bonds in proteins. An inflammatory crisis has occurred. Significant numbers of immune cells are dying.........
Sometimes the source of odor is a thick coating on top of the tongue. Sugar disables protein-digesting enzymes produced by the pancreas and puts our patrols of cleansing gobbler white blood cells to sleep.........
When one has bad breath or smelly tongue or gums, the brain is frying and thought processing is fuzzy. Bad breath is immune and metabolic crisis.......
Support your health of your mouth and body with the proper diet for your metabolic type and supplement with whole food supplements.)"--vital votes

"A 1995 study by Nicole Didry at the College of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences in Lille, France, found that thyme oil at very small concentrations (<500 ppm) killed the pathogenic organisms responsible for tooth decay, gingivitis, and bad breath, and a six-month, double-blind controlled clinical study at the University of Maryland similarly found that the essential oils of thyme, peppermint, wintergreen, and eucalyptus dramatically improved oral hygiene. "

"The essential oils most commonly used for mouthwashes and herbal rinses include:
Thyme
Peppermint
Wintergreen
Eucalyptus
(I use the most divine mouthwash which is great for a pick up after brushing or as needed. It is certified organic and has the following ingredients: aloe vera, spearmint essential oil, peppermint essential oil, sea salt, cinnamon, clove essential oil, nyrrh essential oil, sage extract and thyme extract.)"--vital votes

(Swishing around hyrdogen peroxide before I brush my teeth helps take my bad breath away.
I also take the Standard Proccess protocol for halitosis [bad breath]. It also seems to be working, which is the good thing!)--vital votes

(Instead of using artificial mouthwash, try this: chew cinnamon, or cardamom, if brave, cloves. Brush your teeth by sea salt.)

(For the past several months we have been cleaning our teeth with a paste made of approx. 2 parts baking soda (1-1/2 cups), to 1 part coconut oil (3/4 cup), 1/2 part olive oil (about 1/3 cup) and about 1+ tsp essential oil - peppermint and/or spearmint - I prefer peppermint. I adjust all ingredients, it's never exact. Store in small baby food jars - when it's very warm you have to stir this up sometimes. I love this recipe because my mouth always feels clean, placque is history, no more sensitive teeth, and our toothbrushes and sinks never have all that gunk buildup. I even notice a difference in my mouth when I wake up in the morning. After reading this article I can see why it works, and I will add a little thyme essential oil and perhaps some eucalyptus.)

(We've used a special formula I came up with in my house for a while now. I take a pint mason jar as my start and fill it 1/3 of the way up with raw apple cider vinegar. The rest is clean filtered water. I decant that into blue, green, or amber bottles with corks or lids so light can't penetrate. To each bottle, I add anywhere from 5-10 drops each of usually two essential oils. I like to experiment with the flavors, but you can use lemon, tea tree (great if you have gum disease), tangerine, rosemary, peppermint, spearmint, lavender, myrrh, lime, bergamot. All of these have some anti-microbial type protection in one form or another. You don't have to mix them, but we like lemon-peppermint and lavender-peppermint a lot here. I also like to switch off different oils each time I make it so the bacteria doesn't build a resistance to whatever oil we're using.)

[See post on Teeth and Gum Health for other tips. Also if you have Candida (yeast) you should get rid of it as it can cause bad breath. See post relating to that.]

Nature's Natural Chemotherapy (Two ways)

As always, this is not to be construed as medical advise. See your doctor if you are so inclined. You do what you want. It's your life and your health

1. From vital votes:
"An old fellow now has 3 patents on his discovery that Chocolate and lots of veggies and weeds contain Oxalic acid, which He believes when is in VERY small amounts found in all mammals blood, could be part of mother nature's natural chemotherapy.
He suggests no alcohol except 1 glass of red wine, also avoid dairy and any product that contains citric acid added to it because it destroys all the oxalic acid in your system. Any source of Free calcium is dangerous to upsetting oxalate levels in the blood. If one takes calcium, it is best to have some chocolate or tea some hours later to restore it. B-6 will also destroy all of it.
He discovered this by accident by eliminating all oxalic acid from his diet and promptly got a cancerous melanoma on his (unexposed to direct sunlight) inner leg.
He went back to eating weeds, veggies and foods high in oxalic acid and the tumor went away. He is in his 80s when this happened, and he is now in his mid 90s. coljoe.com is his site and he has a book out which has some more dietary info. "Hart Dietary plan"
I absorb one small square of 73% dark chocolate from Trader Joe's every day by putting it between my gums and teeth for absorbing into the many blood vessels in the gums. It takes a long time to dissolve,, Yumm!
Or I take a small cup of green tea with 3 bags and sip and hold the tea in my mouth as long as I can stand it, then spit out and sip another sip.
Too much oxalate in the blood can kill. Don't go down to the chemist and take a bunch of it direct, it will shut down Your kidneys and you will be gone. When eating veggies or strong green tea or too much chocolate a backache around the kidney area may be a sign that Your levels are getting high. Joe suggests 50 mg of B-6 to lower levels.
A friend who was air sampling in the B-29 over Trinity atomic test got a rare blood cancer in 2005, eats some 73% choc. every day. His strength came back and he can walk now. Beats living of of transfusions. "
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"I believe they are called 'cacao nibs' when they are raw, crushed beans. "

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[A yummy recipe I made up (you have to have a vita-mix) is a few tablespoons of cocoa nibs, a quarter to half cup of cream, a little vanilla, several dates (for sweetener and their good qualities), ice, optional: walnuts and raw egg yolks. My kids think of this as a healthy cookies and cream shake as it had the appearance and texture of it. (And a much better taste, my personal opinion)]

2. Another person cured his cancer with:

"How I cured my stage 4 cancer:
http://www.squidoo.com/stage4cancer
(1) Grate one habeneros pepper each day, putting it on bread [a possible substitution is fresh grated ginger]
(2) Grate two cloves of garlic each day, putting them on bread
(3) 1-2 Tablespoons of Emulsified cod liver oil each day.*

(4)Smother the grated garlic and habeneros peppers with real butter and eat it. No margarines of any type, etc.

The potent active ingredients from the peppers and the garlic disperse quickly. So they must be grated each day, and eaten immediately. You're probably thinking, whoa that's gotta be hot
Yes, it is. And it will make you breathe deeply! That's a good thing, because heavy breathing pumps the lymph system. As you know, cancer cells often gather there. What I did was put the habeneros and the garlic on one side of the bread and folded it over. Plus, it's handy to have another half slice at the ready to cut the burning sensation in my mouth. So let yourself breathe deeply for a minute or two and then eat the extra half slice of bread."