Swine Flu Vaccine to be Ready By Early September
June 26, 2009 by mike
Filed under Government, Health
June 26, 2009
AP
by Mike Stobbe
Swine flu has infected as many as 1 million Americans, U.S. health officials said Thursday, adding that 6 percent or more of some urban populations are infected. The estimate voiced by a government flu scientist Thursday was no surprise to the experts who have been closely watching the virus.
“We knew diagnosed cases were just the tip of the iceberg,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectuous diseases expert who was in Atlanta for the meeting of a vaccine advisory panel.
Lyn Finelli, a flu surveillance official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, made the 1 million estimate in a presentation to the vaccine panel. The number is from mathematical modeling, based on surveys by health officials.
Regular seasonal flu sickens anywhere from 15 million to 60 million Americans each year.
Also at the meeting, CDC officials made projections about flu vaccines expected to be available to protect against both seasonal and swine flu this fall.
More than 25 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine should be available by early September, CDC officials and vaccine manufacturers said.
The same five manufacturers that make the seasonal vaccine are producing swine flu vaccine as well. As many as 60 million doses of vaccine to protect against the new virus could be ready by September, said Robin Robinson, an official with the federal agency that oversees vaccine manufacture and distribution. That prediction seemed a bit optimistic, others at the meeting said.
The vaccinations might be given as two shots, spaced 21 days apart. But the vaccine has to be tested before it’s made available to the public.
Why Apples, Avocados and Red Wine Could Ease Your Arthritis
June 22, 2009
UK Daily Mail
Arthritis is the term used for nearly 200 painful conditions of the joints and bones. It affects about 7million people in the UK and all types have similar symptoms of swelling, inflammation of joints, stiffness and restriction of movement.
The good news is that many cases of arthritis can be relieved, postponed or even prevented by good joint care.
Research shows a definite link between the food you eat and the severity of your symptoms. Like your heart, your joints thrive best on plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Try to eat at least five (and preferably eight or more) servings a day.
Fruit and vegetables provide an array of antioxidants that reduce the rate at which cartilage breaks down, helping to slow the process of osteoarthritis. Antioxidants can also reduce inflammation and help combat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and gout.
Apples and avocados are anti-inflammatory superfoods. Don’t peel your apples – the skin contains five times more antioxidants than the flesh. Oily fish are a rich source of omega-3 essential fatty acids that oil the joints and damp down inflammation.
Research shows that omega-3 can reduce the long-term need for painkillers in those with joint problems. You should aim to eat oily fish such as salmon, sardines, herrings and mackerel two to four times a week. You can also take an omega-3 fish oil supplement.
Drink plenty of fluids – approximately three to five pints (two to three litres) – a day to maintain good hydration and a steady flow of nutrients to your joints. Choose from water, soups, tea and juices.
You may find your symptoms are triggered by particular foods. Culprit foods vary, so it’s important to keep a food-and-symptom diary to help pinpoint the foods that irritate. This is not always easy, as symptoms can worsen up to 36 hours after eating a trigger food.
The foods most commonly found to worsen arthritis are wheat, corn, rye, sugar, caffeine, yeast, malt, dairy products, oranges, grapefruit, lemons and tomatoes. Meats most likely to provoke symptoms are bacon, pork, beef and lamb.
A number of foods may trigger joint pain in those with arthritis. Research shows that when these are avoided, about 70 per cent of sufferers report less pain and improved mobility.
Some are particularly sensitive to foods from the nightshade (Solanaceae) family. Commonly eaten nightshade foods include potatoes, tomatoes, aubergine, sweet peppers, paprika, cayenne and all other types of pepper (except black pepper).
Try to minimise your intake of vegetable oils rich in omega-6, such as sunflower oil, because these promote inflammation. Switch to olive oil for cooking, and macadamia nut oil or walnut oil for salad dressings.
Studies have also shown an association between the amount of meat and offal consumed and arthritis.
Eating a vegan (no animal products) diet can reduce the number of tender and swollen joints.
Weight loss is one of the most effective ways to reduce pain in your knees and hips, whatever form of arthritis you have. When you walk, the load on your knees increases by four times your body weight. This means that if you are 10lb (4.5kg) overweight, the load on your leg joints is up to 40lb (18kg) more than if you were at a healthy weight.
Studies show that weight loss can at least halve the level of pain experienced by those with arthritis affecting their lower limbs – this is a better result than standard drug treatments.
The foods below have a natural anti-inflammatory action that’s particularly beneficial for those with arthritis – however, some (such as chilli peppers) may trigger an idiosyncratic reaction in some sufferers:
Apples: Contain anti-inflammatory antioxidants. Red Delicious apples contain the most. The antioxidants are five times more concentrated in the apple’s skin than the flesh.
Avocados: Contain antioxidant monounsaturated oils, essential fatty acids and Vitamin E. Promote cartilage repair in osteoarthritis.
Chillies: Contain capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin which block transmission of pain messages. They also trigger endorphins - the brain’s own morphine-like painkillers.
Dark green leafy vegetables: Broccoli, spinach, cabbage and parsley, for example, supply antioxidants, Vitamin C, calcium and magnesium.
Macadamia nuts: The richest source of monounsaturated fatty acids. Also contain Vitamin E and selenium.
Oily fish: A great source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Red wine: A good source of antioxidant polyphenols which reduce inflammation.
Walnuts: A rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. Some research shows that eating them daily can help alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL ARTICLE FROM THE DAILY MAIL
Senator Seeks Med Schools’ Disclosure Policies
June 26, 2009 by mike
Filed under Government, Health
June 24, 2009
Reuters
by Julie Steenhuysen
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley on Wednesday asked 23 medical schools for information about their policies on conflicts of interest and requirements for disclosure of financial relationships between faculty members and the drug industry.
Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, said in a statement the schools did not respond to an earlier request made by the American Medical Student Association for the same information.
“There’s a lot of skepticism about financial relationships between doctors and drug companies,” Grassley said in a statement. “Disclosure of those ties would help to build confidence that there’s nothing to hide.”
Grassley has been aggressively pushing to limit the influence drugmakers have over the practice of medicine in the United States, after investigations last year revealed that prominent Harvard University psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Biederman and others failed to fully disclose payments from drug companies.
A report in April by the Institute of Medicine, one of the National Academies of Sciences that advises U.S. policymakers, called for doctors to strictly disclose research funding to strengthen protections against financial conflicts of interest.
The report called for virtually anyone involved in the practice of medicine — academic medical centers, journals, professional societies, researchers and doctors — to set up or strengthen conflict of interest guidelines.
According to Grassley, the American Medical Student Association had surveyed 149 medical schools, requesting their financial disclosure policies. Only 126 complied. Grassley is seeking policies from the schools that answered either “no response” or “decline to submit policies.”
Schools on the list include Tulane University School of Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Howard University College of Medicine, Louisiana State University School of Medicine – New Orleans, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of the New York Institute of Technology, University at Buffalo School of Medicine and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.
Institutions receiving research grants from the National Institutes of Health are required to track financial relationships.
Grassley co-sponsored a bill, “Physician Payments Sunshine Act,” that would require payments from the drug industry to be publicly reported.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL ARTICLE FROM REUTERS
My Recommended Cleanses
June 25, 2009 by KT
Filed under Kevin's Blog
Whether you want to reverse the negative effects of taking in toxins through air, water, foods, or vaccines; OR if you’re just looking to feel better, a cleanse might be a good place to start. But what specifically should you cleanse and which program works the best? Here are some of my favorite cleanses for the colon, liver/gallbladder, kidney/spleen, heavy metals, parasites, candida, fat tissue, and two sites on the harms of metals in your mouth:
Colon Cleanse
15 Colonics in 30 Days
Be Pure Cleanse: http://healthfreedomusa.bepurecleanse.com/
Dual Action Cleanse: http://www.dualactioncleanse.com/
Rise and Shine: http://www.ariseandshine.com/
Liver-Gallbladder Cleanse
Dr. Schulze: https://web0.herbdoc.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
Dr. Sandra Cabot: http://www.liverdoctor.com/
Kidney -Spleen Cleanse
Dr. Schulze: https://web0.herbdoc.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
Heavy Metal Cleanse
Zeolite: http://www.zeolite.com/
Oral Chelation: http://www.vitalityproducts.com/products/ORAL_CHELATION_w_EDTA_180_Capsules-51-3.html
Parasite Cleanse
Quantum Nutrition Center: http://www.qnlabs.com/
Dr. Hulda Clark’s ParaZapper: http://www.paradevices.com/
Arise and Shine: http://www.ariseandshine.com/antiparasitedietarysupport.aspx
Candida
Dr. Jeff McCombs: http://www.mccombsplan.com/
Threelac cleanse: http://www.candidasupport.org/3lac.html
Fat Tissue Cleanse
The Purification Program: http://www.clearbodyclearmind.com/overview.shtml
Anti- Silver Fillings
http://www.iaomt.org/
http://www.toxicteeth.org/
Warning on Vaccines!!!
June 25, 2009 by KT
Filed under Kevin's Blog
Before you allow someone to jab you, your children, or other loved ones (including elderly relatives), there are some things you should know about vaccines. The harms FAR outweigh any “benefit”. Need proof? Well you’re at the right place…
Why are vaccines harmful? Here are some of the basics:
http://www.vaccinationdebate.com/web5.html
A number of scientific studies have documented the hazards of vaccines for AIDS, Autism, Cancer, Diabetes, Polio, et al:
http://thinktwice.com/studies.htm
Dr. Mercola provides excellent documentation as to the dangers of vaccines on his site. Here he explains how these jabs suppress the immune system, leaving the inoculated more exposed to illness:
http://www.mercola.com/article/vaccines/immune_suppression.htm
And Dr. Mercola shows big money ($30 million!) has been doled out by the drug companies, persuading ”doctors” to push vaccines on people:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/06/25/Vaccine-Doctor-Given-at-Least-30-Million-Dollars-to-Push-Vaccines.aspx
The most mainstream exposure vaccines receive relates to shots given to children. The evidence of harm is ample:
http://www.naturalnews.com/022617.html
http://www.know-vaccines.org/parent.html
http://vaccineinfo.net/immunization/vaccine_facts.shtml
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/04/01/the-dangers-of-excessive-childhood-vaccinations.aspx
http://www.naturalnews.com/025595_vaccination_vaccinations_health.html
The Good Doctor (and one of our heroes) TX Rep Ron Paul gives his take on vaccines:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul66.html
The flu vaccine offers ZERO protection to the elderly:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2006/11/23/flu-vaccines-offer-no-protection-for-the-elderly.aspx
The mercury preservative, thimerosal has received a lot of attention. On a side-note, although it’s claimed this is no longer in MOST vaccines, interestingly it’s acknowledged thimerosal is still a part of flu vaccines:
http://www.wanttoknow.info/060215vaccinesmercurydangers
And a great site providing MANY more links showing what THEY don’t want you to know about vaccines:
http://www.whale.to/vaccines.html
Cancer Drug Found to Promote Tumor Growth
June 25, 2009
NaturalNews.com
by David Gutierrez
(NaturalNews) A new anti-cancer drug actually promotes tumor growth at lower doses, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Institute of Cancer and published in Nature Medicine. This means that as the body removes large doses of the drug from its system, leaving behind successively smaller doses, the cancer-promoting characteristics of the drug kick in.
“We’ve got evidence now that low doses can enhance tumor growth,” said lead researcher Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke. “So there is no benefit of giving a high dose, which then drops, and then a high dose again.”
The study was conducted on the drug cilengitide, an anti-angiogenesis drug in the same class as the anti-cancer medicines Avastin and Sutent. It is intended to prevent the cells in blood vessels from moving or sticking together, a critical part of the process that allows tumors to develop their own blood vessels (angiogenesis) and thereby support unlimited growth.
The researchers found that when mice were given low doses of cilengitide, a molecule known as VEGFR2 was activated, which stimulated angiogenesis and led to accelerated tumor growth.
Cilengitide has been tested on patients with brain tumors, but has proven effective in only a few cases. Hodivala-Dilke suggested, based on the new findings, that the drug might be more effective if given by an infusion pump that keeps levels in the body continually high.
Avastin is approved for the treatment of colorectal cancer, while Sutent is used for kidney cancer. Both drugs currently extend life by an average of a few months, but have also been known to inexplicably fail. Researchers now suspect that like cilengitide, they might be promoting tumor growth as they break down.
“Sutent and Avastin have proven effective enough for use … but there is still need to understand why they can sometime fail,” said Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK. “It may be that there are similar mechanisms at work.”
Click here for the full NaturalNews.com story.
Opera ‘is music for the heart’
June 22, 2009
BBC News
Rousing operatic music, like Puccini’s Nessun Dorma, full of crescendos and diminuendos is best and could help stroke rehabilitation, say the authors.
Music is already used holistically at the bedside in many hospitals.
Not only is it cheap and easy to administer, music has discernible physical effects on the body as well as mood, Circulation journal reports.
Music with a faster tempo increases breathing, heart rate and blood pressure, while slower-pace music does the reverse.
Dr Luciano Bernardi and colleagues, from Italy’s Pavia University, asked 24 healthy volunteers to listen to five random tracks of classical music and monitored how their bodies responded.
They included selections from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, an aria from Puccini’s Turandot, Bach’s cantata No 169, Va Pensiero from Nabucco and Libiam Nei Lieti Calici from La Traviata.
Every musical crescendo – a gradual volume increase – “aroused” the body and led to narrowing of blood vessels under the skin, increased blood pressure and heart rate and increased respiratory rates.
Conversely, the diminuendos – gradual volume decreases – caused relaxation, which slowed heart rate and lowered blood pressure.
Tube to platform inspiring words
June 24, 2009
BBC News
Turner Prize-nominated artist Jeremy Deller has compiled a list of quotations to be used by Tube drivers.
The phrases will be included in communications with passengers on the network’s Piccadilly Line.
The initiative is said to be an attempt to make travelling on the Underground more enjoyable and thought-provoking.
The Tube system already has Poems on the Underground, launched in 1986, featuring written verse on advertising space inside carriages.
London Underground also has a long tradition of promoting art on the network, dating back more than a century.
And earlier this year novels were loaned out free to commuters outside five Tube stations.
The Caduceus Decoded: Secret Symbols Reveal Dark Agenda of Western Medicine
June 25, 2009
NaturalNews.com
by Mike Adams
(NaturalNews) Everywhere in western medicine you find the Caduceus symbol: It’s the staff entwined with two serpents, with wings at the top. You’ll find it emblazoned on medical texts, medical school certificates, medical websites and even in hospitals and medical buildings.
But what does the symbol mean, exactly? I decided to conduct a bit of research to find out some possibilities.
The Caduceus, it turns out, was a staff carried by the Greek god Hermes. Hermes is best known as the messenger of the gods, but he is also well known as the protector of liars, gamblers and thieves. He’s also prominently known as the guide of the dead.
According to Wikipedia, the name of the staff, Caduceus, is adapted from the Greek word kerukeion, which means “herald’s wand” — the staff of the public messenger. It’s related to the words kerux and kerusso, which pertain to someone who announces information to the public.
From a Biblical point of view, the two serpents on the staff are, of course, symbols of evil and deception. There is a Greek myth about the two serpents on the staff which states that Tiresias found two snakes copulating and he beat to death the female snake with his staff.
So far, then, we have a staff carried by the Greek god Hermes, a protector of liars and thieves (who is also the guide of the dead), named as a staff or wand related to announcing information to the public, encircled by two serpents representing evil, and tied to yet another Greek myth about the female being beat to death.
This is the symbol of modern-day western medicine.
Click here for the rest of the NaturalNews.com story.
ABC ObamaCare Special Turns Into Presidential Filibuster
June 25, 2009 by mike
Filed under Government
June 25, 2009
The Business & Media Institute
By Jeff Poor
Call this a teachable moment, but even with ABC’s best-laid plans to kickstart the debate about health care reform and not allow the “Prescription for America” special to become an “infomercial,” as many have complained – the president spent more than twice as much time as his questioners vaguely answering or not answering the questions asked of him. But the network consistently presented the event as part of the need to fix a “broken system.” When asked, every one of the 164 hand-picked audience members said they felt that health care needed to be changed.
President Barack Obama appeared on the ABC network in a town hall format broadcasted from the White House on two separate programs on June 24 – an hour-long primetime special during the 10 p.m. Eastern Time hour and later on the “Nightline” program that aired during the 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time hour.
ABC’s “Good Morning America” co-host Diane Sawyer billed the event as “a serious conversation” about the issue and she moderated the discussion along with her former “GMA” partner, now “World News” anchor Charles Gibson. ABC medical editor Dr. Timothy Johnson, a long-time network advocate for universal health care plans going back to Hillarycare, also participated in the event.
While Obama had to field some difficult questions — from the audience and ABC — he faced no Republican critics of his proposals. The network also allowed him to dominate the program with long-winded and vague answers. Out of the 75 minutes the network dedicated over the two programs (commercials excluded), the president managed to take 60 percent of that time: 45 minutes to give 19 vague responses – not exactly the “dialogue” advertised by ABC.
Click here for the full, detailed story from the Business & Media Institute.
