Integrative Medicine News

Natural Therapy for Scars

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 23:07:18 -0400

If you’ve had an accident recently or are planning to have surgery, you've undoubtedly thought about to how to get rid of those nasty scars and speed the healing process. Healing wounds whether from accidental injury or surgical intervention requires a delicate interplay of multiple cell types, nutritional factors, immune processes and growth factors. New therapies can influence healing and promote normalization in appearance. Read more...

Putting Cancer On The Hot Seat

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:03:25 -0400

Researchers at Charité-Universitätsmedizin in Berlin, Germany have developed a new way to focus tumor killing heat treatment on the prostate gland. Using futuristic techniques, doctors inject metallic nanoparticles into the prostate gland. A magnetic field then excites the particles causing them to heat the surrounding tissue to temperatures as high as 113 degrees F and destroy the tumor. The therapy also produced a decline in prostate specific antigen levels that lasted an average of 4.5 months after therapy. Read More

More Good News About Omega 3's

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 13:50:02 -0400

Are you finding that you can't read those street signs so well anymore or that fine print has gotten smaller? Well, you're not alone. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness and vision impairment in mature North Americans. There is no cure for AMD, and treatment does not usually restore vision but only prevents disease progression to a slight degree. (In childhood and middle age diabetic retinopathy is the more common disorder affecting over 1.5 million people).One critical problem common to both diseases is the loss of blood vessels and abnormal re-growth after injury.

A new study in published in Nature Medicine (June 2007) this week, showed that increasing omega-3 fatty acids by dietary means could reduce the pathological effects of these diseases in an experimental model. This study supports the clinical trials done in humans that show a connection between improved eye health and dietary micronutrients. We only have one set of eyes. They're not one of those body parts that can be functionally replaced. To help protect your eyesight now, read more here

Can We Still Trust organic Food?

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:34:54 -0400

I raise my kids on organic foods and apparently so do an increasing number of parents. Pesticides used in agricultural production have been shown to cause leukemia associated (cancer type) changes, lower the anti-oxidant fighting ability of our body's enzymes while genetically engineered foods raise other health concerns. Although most U.S. consumers aren't aware of it, ingredients made from genetically modified crops are present in various products made by Morningstar Farms (Kellogg Co.) and other "natural" foods companies. That's why we choose organic. We believe that our organic foods are safe and we are willing to spend a little more to protect the health of our families.

But what I found this week really shocked me. Most brands in national grocery chains have been acquired by large corporations. That is to be expected. But what caused me to get up out of my seat who these large companies are. Philip Morris, the tobacco company notorious for its callous and calculated mission of addicting the public to nicotine- all the while knowing tobacco's direct link to cancer- is a principal financial stakeholder in the vegetarian Boca Burger and Silk soy milk brands. What's more, Monsanto (the freedom of information fighting purveyor of genetically engineered agriculture) is a major stakeholder in the Hain Food Group (Garden of Eatin', Health Valley, Imagine Foods / Rice Dream) Can we trust companies with histories of environmental sabotage to produce our organic food? What are we to do? Read the full article here.

African-American Cancer Patients Report More Chemotherapy Related Side Effects

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 20:07:47 -0400

Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are the treatments of choice for cancer. Each has its own set of complications and side effects that range from minor to severe. A recent study by researchers at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in Rochester, NY found that black patients reported more skin problems at the treatment site than white patients.The study also found a direct correlation between pain at the treatment site and severity of skin reactions. Although some reactions can be self-managed, certain conditions require immediate medical attention. Burning and pain should always be reported to your physician. IV medication can leak out of the vein and possibly cause skin damage.Other conditions that should be reported include:

Severe itching that lasts more than 3 days
Pus coming from a wound or cut
Skin turning yellow (an indication of possible liver problems)
Dark colored urine (tea or coffee color)

Relief from itching may be provided by keeping the treatment area clean, moist and protected for excess sunlight. For more information on evidence based integrative cancer treatments, visit www.DrDonnaDouglas.com

Better Breast Health...Naturally

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 19:05:25 -0400

For centuries, Asian societies have relied on the amazing properties of healing botanicals. More importantly, the path to timeless vigor is embodied in a way of life. This knowledge has been highly regarded and given a sacred place in traditional society. Here in the West we are only beginning to appreciate and respect the power of nature to re-balance us from the inside out. As "gate-keepers" to our family's health, we as women must educate ourselves so we and our families can thrive. And when it comes to breast health, knowledge truly is power- the power to beat breast cancer before and after a diagnosis. Walk your way to better health. Walking is a natural form of exercise that requires no special equipment or membership program. Regular exercise reduces the chances of accidental injury, promotes bone formation, prevents bone loss and osteoporosis and lowers stress. Exercise also burns fat. Adipose tissue contains an enzyme responsible for the conversion of the female hormone estrone or estradiol- a potent tumor cell stimulator. Research has revealed another reason why exercise is important in beating breast cancer. Exercise increases the level of whole body oxygen 10-20 fold. The gene HIF-1, one of the key regulators of oxygen balance within the cell, detects a low oxygen environment and in a cancer cell activates critical genes for disease progression, metastasis and resistance to radiation therapy. Many tumors thrive in a low oxygen environment. Manage Stress.We will never get rid of stress but we can control how we reactto stress. You see, stress management is not about time management or schedule management or positive thinking. Stress management is about self management. We can manage ourselves. We can manage our actions. This is fundamental in creating a healthy lifestyle. Vibrant health depends on making the appropriate choices in all areas of life. Eat "Food". I heard a joke the other day that the four food groups are alcohol, sugar, caffeine and fat. For some that is sadly true. Many of the things we put into our mouths cannot be considered food.They have little resemblance to anything in nature. dditives, preservatives, and the like can act in the body to burden the liver, raise blood pressure and even stimulate cancer cell growth. Food - fruits and vegetables, grains and nuts- are incredibly un-sexy nowadays though they provide all the nutrients the latest "discoveries" tell us we need to be healthy. "Food" has the ability to replenish nutrient shortages, hydrate and detoxify the body, build blood, muscle and bone, create natural energy, boost immunity, fight infection and build the enzymes needed to repair DNA. Breast cancer begins with damaged DNA. So, whatever protection we can provide to our DNA is worth the effort. Eat a Variety of Fruits, Vegetables and Whole Grains. Wiser words were never spoken. Even the common apple is chock full of quercetin, a natural chemical that has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. As if understanding this principle, the Food and Drug Association considers botanicals to be food products. Proper food choices can delay the onset of cancer through myriad pathways (i.e. enhancing DNA repair), protect normal cells from damage done by chemotherapy and radiation, decrease side effects and destroy cancer cells. Getting five to nine servings everyday will put you well on your way to better health.