The Health Plus Letter
November 6, 2006, Vol. 4, No. 24
By Larry Trivieri, Jr. – founder & publisher,
http://www.1healthyworld.com
If you prefer to read this issue online, you can read it, along with all other back issues, at http://www.1healthyworld.com/ezine.
Table Of Contents
New This Issue
Quote of the Day
Fast Fact
Toxic Rocket Fuel In 93 Percent Of U.S. Lettuce & Milk
Big Pharma: The Republican’s Friend by Christopher Brauchli
Self-Care Tips for Dealing with Infections
Recommendations
Medical F/r/e/edom
New This Issue
Welcome to another issue of The Health Plus Letter. Since it’s one day before the U.S. elections, I decided to be a bit political in scope this week. As a result, you’ll find an article that explores the close relationship Big Pharma has with the Republicans. At the end of the article, however, you’ll also find a link to another article that makes clear that Republicans overall are more likely to favor medical freedom than Democrats are. This is especially true of Congressman Henry Waxman, a Democrat from California, who has for well over a decade opposed alternative medicine whenever and however he could.
Also in this issue, you’ll find self-care tips for dealing with infections, and an alarming new report proving how toxic the American populace is becoming.
As always, please continue to send me your comments and suggestions. And please spread the word about The Health Plus Letter by passing it along to your friends and inviting them to subscribe.
Quote Of The Day
“After all is said and done, more is said than done.”
-- American proverb
Fast Fact
Cosmetic companies are among the most visibly active in promoting their support for breast cancer awareness, yet a 2004 study by the Environmental Working Group found that only 18 of 7,500 cosmetic and toiletry products sold by the cosmetics industry have been fully tested for safety. The majority of such products contain a number of cancer-causing chemicals, including parabens and phtalates, both of which have been linked to breast cancer.
Source: Williams, Rose Marie, MA. “Health Risks and Environmental Issues,” Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Oct. 2005 # 267.
Unabashed Plug
Learn the Truth about Heart Disease, Stroke and Hypertension. Most of what conventional medicine has to offer for treating these conditions is based on faulty and potentially dangerous assumptions. Discover the real causes behind these diseases and learn what you can do today to prevent and reverse them using safe and natural alternatives that have been scientifically proven to be effective. Read the critically-acclaimed eBook Burton Goldberg’s Definitive Guide to Heart Disease, featuring the contributions of Dr. Garry Gordon, Dr. Stephen Sinatra, and many other leading heart specialists. To order or to find out more about this potentially lifesaving guide, visit http://www.1healthyworld.com/ebooks/Heart-Book-Info.cfm.
Toxic Rocket Fuel In 93 Percent Of U.S. Lettuce & Milk
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has released its long anticipated report on the human health effects of perchlorates, a byproduct of rocket fuel. Perchlorates, which are a common pollutant near military sites, have recently been found in drinking water in 35 states as well as in 93 percent of lettuce and milk.
Along with the report, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set drinking water standards indicating that perchlorates are roughly ten times more toxic to humans than the Department of Defense has been claiming. Perchlorates can inhibit thyroid function, cause birth defects and lower IQs, and are considered particularly dangerous to children. Monitoring wells across the U.S. are finding perchlorate levels as high as 30,000 times what the EPA indicates would be safe exposure.
To avoid liability, the Pentagon is currently pressuring Congress to pass a new bill that states the military does not have to adhere to any environmental regu.lations (as a matter of national security). Please take 30 seconds to send a quick online letter urging your Congressperson to protect the nation's food and water by reducing perchlorate pollution.
Take action and learn more about this issue visit: http://www.organicconsumers.org/perchlorate.htm
Big Pharma: The Republican's Friend by Christopher Brauchli
“Oh true Apothecary! Thy drugs are quick.” --Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Drug companies use part of their pro.fits to make sure that the very best people are elected to the House of Representatives and the U.S. Sen.ate. To them, the very best people are Republicans.
Through September 2006 drug companies had given $8.7 million to political campaigns. If both Democrats and Republicans were equally good, those funds would be distributed evenly between the two parties. Democrats and Republicans are not equally good-Republicans are better. That’s why 69% of drug company contributions have gone to Republican candidates. (In fairness it must be noted that although Pfizer sent 67% of its contributions to Republicans before October, its most recent disclosures show that it has had some sort of epiphany and during October gave only 41% of its contributions to Republicans and 59% to Democrats. There is no logical explanation for this change of heart.)
Drug companies are, of course, deeply indebted to the Republicans. In crafting the Medicare prescription drug benefit that went into effect in 2006, the Republicans left drug pricing to the fr.ee market place. One of the proposals that Democrats favored would have permitted Medicare to negotiate prices for drugs that were part of the prescription drug benefit. Republicans did not like that idea since that inserts the federal government into a decision that should be only between the senior and his or her pharmacist. Thanks to the failure of that proposal he.re is a scene that is repeated thousands of times a day around the country.
The senior walks into the pharm.acy and asks for prescription X and is told how much it costs. If the senior does not like the price the senior tells the pharmacist that if the price does not come down, the senior is going to buy the drug at a different pharm.acy. Most pharmacists will immediately ask the senior how much the senior is willing to pay and as soon as the senior tells the pharmacist what a fair price is the pharmacist fills the prescription at the lower price and notifies the drug company that in the future the pharmacist will be paying the drug company less. This is an example of the Republican’s idea of the fr.ee market in action and that is why they refused to let Medicare negotiate drug prices. They knew seniors could do a better job on their own. That is not all the Republicans did for seniors. The Republicans made sure that the new prescription drug program would not permit the federal government to start its own drug program that would provide seniors with lower prices. That, too, would not be the American way.
All of this helps explain why the drug companies have given Republican Jim Talent of Missouri $900,000 this year. He was one of the big supporters of the drug bill. Republican Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania was another. He, too, is a big beneficiary of the drug companies’ generosity. According to the Center for Responsive Politics he has been well rewarded for his efforts in addition to feeling good, knowing he’s done something for (a) seniors (b) the drug companies and (c) himself. In 2000 when he last ran for the U.S. Sen.ate he was 15th among those receiving funds from drug companies. This year he’s number one and has received almost $500,000 in contributions from drug companies. His opponent, Bob Casey has not, however, been forgotten. He’s a Democrat and he’s gotten $11,850 so far this year.
In addition to wanting to express their gratitude to Republicans for helping preserve the attributes of democracy we all cherish, the drug companies do have a non-altruistic motive. It pertains to the so-called donut hole that seniors dislike. When the combined total that a senior and the senior’s insur.ance company have paid for drugs in a given year reaches a certain amount ($2,250 in 2005), the senior enters the donut-hole and must pay the full cost of drugs until a certain total ($3,600 in 2005) has been spent by the senior.
Nancy Pelosi, who would be speaker of the House if the Democrats w/i/n in November, says the first thing Democrats will do if they take control is launch an attack on the fr.ee enterprise system loved by Republicans. That’s not how she puts it. She says Democrats will change the rules to enable the government to negotiate drug prices paid for by Medicare. She says the resultant savings would be so great that there would be no need for the donut hole. The losers would be the drug companies. The winners would be the seniors. That is another reason drug companies give most of their support to Republicans. It is a reason seniors should vote for democrats.
Christopher Brauchli is a Boulder lawyer and formerly wrote a weekly column for the Knight Ridder news service.
[Note: My inclusion of the above in this issue in no way means that I support the Democrats. Overall, I think both political parties are corrupt and nonresponsive to we the people they are elected to serve. And my own political leanings are libertarian in nature, making me very much a minority among the American populace these days, most of whom look to government to take care of them, and willingly give up their freedoms for the illusion of security. That said, I highly recommend that you also read “Before voting, consider the alternatives” by investigative journalist and health expert Peter Barry Chowka, which can be found at his website: http://naturalhealthline.com - as usual, he’s done an excellent job of examining the underlying issues involved in health care in the U.S. today.]
Self-Care Tips for Dealing with Infections
Infections are caused by the growth of disease-causing pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi) in the body. These infectious agents grow in colonies that are invasive and multiply, damaging cells by various means, including directly, through release of toxins, or through allergic reaction.
Symptoms of infection include redness, inflammation, pain, swelling, and pus formation (abscess) at the site of the infection. Fever, cough, sneezing, fatigue, and bowel dysfunction (diarrhea) can also arise due to infection.
What To Consider
Although antibiotics can be effective when used appropriately, especially for serious or life-threatening bacterial infections, their indiscriminate use is not advised. In addition, antibiotics do not protect against viral infection or inflammatory conditions, although they are often prescribed for such conditions. Moreover, antibiotics destroy both harmful bacteria and the beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, potentially causing digestive and gastrointestinal problems and systemic yeast (Candida albicans) overgrowth.
The indiscriminate use of antibiotics has produced multiple-drug-resistant bacterial strains of “super bugs” and is in danger of rendering antibiotics ineffective against life-threatening infections.
If you suspect you have a bacterial infection, ask your doctor to take a culture of saliva or tissues or fluids from the infected area. If it is a bacterial infection, samples of different antibiotics can be placed in the growing bacteria to determine which will be the most effective in killing that specific bacteria; this is called a sensitivity test. If you do take antibiotics, be sure to supplement with acidophilus during and after the course of treatment.
Caution: If fever and painful joints occur, this may be a sign of an infectious disease that is spreading throughout the body. To be sure, seek immediate medical attention.
Self-Care
Diet: Increase your intake garlic and unflavored yogurt, and add infection fighting foods, such as diluted orange juice, apples and apple juice, grapes and grape juice, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, plums, figs, cabbage, onion, kelp, and raw honey to your diet. Avoid all fo.rms of sugar, as well as all forms of simple carbohydrates. Emphasize fresh, organic foods and drink plenty of filtered water.
Nutritional Supplementation: The following nutritional alternative to antibiotics is often effective in treating infection, particularly in the initial stages: vitamin A (400,000 IU daily for five days), liquid garlic extract (up to two 4-ounce bottles a day) or the equivalent in high-quality garlic in capsules or tablets, and vitamin C to bowel tolerance. (Note: This protocol should only be used only under your doctor’s guidance. The dosages are for an average 175-pound adult and should be scaled down proportionately according to wei.ght. The vitamin A should be taken for a period of at least three days, but no more than five days. In addition, vitamin A in these doses can cause headaches in about 1% of those who use it. Should this occur, decrease the dose.)
Other useful nutrients for dealing with infection include: essential fatty acids (EFAs), bromelain (an enzyme with anti-inflammatory properties), calcium, magnesium, vitamin B complex, vitamin B6, and zinc.
Aromatherapy: For fungicidal infections, cedarwood is effective, while for infected wounds, frankincense, tea tree, and/or patchouli can be useful.
Herbs: Herbs that act as anti-infectious agents include echinacea, goldenseal, garlic Oregon grape, barberry, and adaptogenic herbs such as Siberian ginseng. Grapefruit seed extract also has strong antibiotic-like properties and can be applied topically or taken orally. Olive leaf extract has both antibacterial and antiviral properties, making it useful for a wide range of infections.
Hydrotherapy: Constitutional hydrotherapy of alternating hot and cold water applications one to two times a day can help boost the immune system.
Juice Therapy: Combining the juices of carrot, celery, beet, cantaloupe, and ginger can be helpful.
Professional Care
If your symptoms persist despite the above measures, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following professional care therapies have all been shown to be useful for treating infection: Acupuncture, Craniosacral Therapy, Detoxification Therapy, Environmental Medicine, Magnetic Field Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, Oxygen Therapy, Reflexology, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
(The above information in adapted from Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide, edited and co-written by Larry Trivieri, Jr.)
Unabashed Plug
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Recommendations
Book:
The Prestige by Christopher Priest. I was moved to read this book after seeing the recently released film from which it is adapted. I liked the movie immensely. More so than the book, in fact. Still, it’s a compelling read and the end is spookier and more compelling than that of the film.
Websites:
http://www.thelastoutpost.com/site/1285/default.aspx- Using this link, you can watch a film documenting the health risks associated with cell phones.
http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org - This website of the Breast Cancer Action group is, in its own words, “concerned about what appears to be a trend of companies claiming to support the fight against breast cancer while using or producing toxins that may increase a person’s risk of developing the disease.” Find out what companies who partake in the pink ribbon campaign are actually worth supporting.
http://reactor-core.org/none-dare.html - At this site you can reads the full text of the expose None Dare Call It Conspiracy by Gary Allen. Originally published in 1971, this book does a good job of providing an overview of the cartels behind the scene that have influenced world history since the beginning of the 20th century. I highly recommend it.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-ambramson3nov03,0,6368691.story?coll=la-opinion-right - An excellent article by the Los Angeles Times about the waste and poor results endemic in our nation’s health care system.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/11/02/national/a083252S07.DTL&type=health - This article explains how US businesses and insur.ance companies are conspiring to send US citizens to third world countries in the event that they need surgery.
Unabashed Plug
Discover and Gain Control of Your Human Energy Field. Read Dr. Valerie Hunt’s Mind Mastery Meditations: A Workbook for the “Infinite Mind,” the empowering guide created by one of the world's foremost researchers into the human energy field, energy medicine, and the relationship between consciousness and health. Each of the meditations this eBook contains is designed to give you mastery of your mind and to empower you to discover the answers to why you are the way you are, your soul's needs, your unique talents and capacities, and your self-designed destiny. By practicing and mastering these meditations, you will become able to live your life with greater ease and success, speed your self-healing, and dramatically increase your ability to manifest your deepest goals. To order this life-changing guide, visit
http://www.1healthyworld.com/ebooks/Mind-Mastery-Book-Info.cfm.
Medical F/r/e/edom
Please contact and support the following organizations dedicated to protecting our health freedoms.
Citizens for Health - http://www.citizens.org
Alliance for Natural Health – http://www.alliance-natural-health.org (The leading organization fighting to preserve health f/r/e/edom in England and the EU.)
Institute for Health F/r/e/edom – http://www.ForHealthF/r/e/edom.org
International Advocates for Health F/r/e/edom (IAHF) – http://www.iahf.com
And to learn how corrupt and extensive Big Pharma’s monopoly is, visit http://www.pnc.com.au/~cafmr/online/research/index.html the website for the Campaign Against Fraudulent Medical Research. In particular, read their in-depth report The Pharmaceutical Drug Racket that you will find th/e/re.
That’s all for this week.
Health and Blessings!
Larry Trivieri, Jr. (larry@1healthyworld.com)
Disclaimer: The Health Plus Letter is a weekly eZine published by Larry Trivieri, Jr. and Library of Health, LLC (dba www.1healthyworld.com) 1514 Genesee Street, Suite 52, Utica, NY 13502. It is made available without charge for info/rmation purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical care. If you are experiencing a health problem, seek prompt medical attention.
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Le/gal Notice: The info/rmation in this eZine may be f/r/e/ely and widely disseminated so long as full attribution is made as follows: The Health Plus Letter, November 6, 2006, Vol. 4, No. 24. Copyright © 2006 by Larry Trivieri, Jr. All rights reserved.
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