The breaking news on Avian flu is both discouraging and hopeful.? The bad news is that the flu has been showing up increasingly in China with the same high mortality rate (>50%) as in VietNam and other countries.? The good news comes out of recent trials of H5N1 flu vaccines which show good immune response to the current deadly strain.? This helps us to know that there can be preventive measures taken if the H5N1 avian flu ever becomes more widespread.? The department of Health and Human Services of the US government has purchased 20 million doses of this vaccine and contracted for more.? The other good news is that researchers at Penn State have developed a test that detects all strains of flu virus (including H5N1) within a few hours rather than the previous incubation period of 3-10 days.? This shorter time to diagnosis would allow me as a medical professional to take a much more aggressive approach to treatment if H5N1 was found.?

If we did have an outbreak of avian flu here in the U.S. and vaccine supplies were short we would want to test for the H5N1 strain and proceed with a two-pronged approach.? We would want to find out whether or not vaccine could be secured and administer it ASAP and consider using Tamiflu if it was effective against the particular strain.? The other prong would be the non-drug approach and could be done along with vaccine and drug or by itself.? this would include using proven herbal and nutritional strategies that boost immunity and have specific anti-viral activity:

1. Oral and IV vitamin C (10 grams to 75 grams respectively)
2. Beta 1-3,1-6 glucan
3. Shitake and maitake mushrooms
4. Lomatium Dissectum (40 drops extract 3x perday)
5. Black Elderberry Extract (2 teaspooons extract 3x per day)
6. Vigorous hand washing and careful hygiene avoiding touching face in the areas of mouth, nose and eyes
7. Lactobacillus acidophillus and other probiotics 4-40 billion units?daily
8. Stress reduction, exercise and deep breathing

It seems that most of the people who have contracted the flu have had exposure to the diseased chickens in their backyards, in poultry processing plants or through eating raw or partially cooked poultry.? Since most of these exposures are unlikely it is probably best to remain cautious but take no specific action.? Immune support makes great sense all the time.? Exercise and stress reduction enhance immune function and just about every other function.? Vaccines to this specific H5N1 strain will probably be available in the next couple of years.? In the event that this specific H5N1 strain mutates to become:

• contagious from human to human or through other animals
• still lethal in a mutated form
• responsive to vaccine
• responsive to Tamiflu or other drugs

we'll need to be very precise in dealing with each infected person.? The stakes would be very high indeed, but at this point there is a lot of concern and a high probability that all those mutations will not happen.? Looking ahead I would recommend taking great care of yourself and remembering that God is still in the game and your life doesn't hinge on the digestive tract of a chicken!

I have a unique style of practice and people ask me for referrals to doctors that treat patients like?I do in?their area.? I am almost always at a loss to provide them with a good answer.? I need to know which part of my care "style" they want to find:

• All (not possible)
• Osteopathic treatment (easily found through www.academyofosteopathy.org)
• Acupuncture (www.medicalacupuncture.org)
• Progressive Medical Treatment (www.acam.org)
• Prayer and Christian Ministry (local church resources)
• Naturopathic Doctors (www.naturopathic.org)
• Holistic MD or DO (www.holisticmedicine.org)
• Laser aesthetics (www.cutera.com)

Then, of course, there is just plain old vanilla family doctor stuff.? Almost anyone can find a well-trained F.P. if they look around a little bit.? The most important part of this process begins with taking the time to find a doctor that fits with you.? Call their office and spend the time and money to find a doctor that will listen and respect your ideas.? Check out their website and make sure?the practice?fits your needs.? If you have a doctor that is already working well with you, be thankful.? You are in a good situation and can use other resources to fill in the blanks in your care.

The World-wide-web is probably the most valuable resource for finding current information that matches your needs.? Through forums, blogs, chatrooms and websites an amazing amount of information can be collected and used.? At www.centeru.com we are working to provide tools and information that people can use with their doctors to promote healthy living in a reasonable and effective way.? One of my favorite sites for searching the more radical fringe of alternative treatments is www.mercola.com.? I know Dr. Mercola and he is very committed to his website being a force for transforming the healthcare system in the U.S.A.?

You have more knowledge of what you need than anyone else on earth.? Insist on having a say in everything that has to do with your care.? Learn the ropes about what your body is telling you so you can be a partner with your doctor in the process of getting well.? Our customized health improvement system is a great place to start.? The promotional pricing is still in effect as of this writing, so take advantage of it now at www.betterbodybrightermind.com.? Have a great Thanksgiving weekend and I pray you find health and happiness in the upcoming year!

Our CTO (Chief?Technology Officer),?also known as the top geek, asked me what I thought about treating head colds, sore throats and coughs with amoxicillin.? I think back on my career and remember when an amoxicillin prescription was the ultimate escape route from?an exam room.? I had the doses and weights memorized so well that I didn't have to calculate at all but could "eyeball" a little kid and have the exact measurement written and signed before any questions could be asked.? It was all I knew at the time (I was not on a drug company's payroll or?trying to use up all of our stock on the storeroom). It was just the way we?were trained?in medical school.? So, it moved out into my practice and I continued to use amoxil as a quick fix for anything that looked like it might be an infection.? Experience and results have dramatically changed the way I look at prescribing antibiotics of all kinds.? It's especially true of amoxil.

Amoxil is a "broad-spectrum" antibiotic.? that means it kills all sorts of bugs with all sorts of different activities.? It kills bad bacteria in 40% of sinus problems (not so good a choice) and many of the good bacteria that line the digestive tract.? That's why it can cause diarrhea in so many people.? If the side effects from the drug are strong and the benefits are limited then it just makes sense to rethink some other options.? Thankfullly, I have had great mentoring and training since my residency and understand the use of?plant-based medicines, homeopathics and special treatments like sinus lavage (washing) with salt solution.

Quick Sinus Congestion Recipe:

1. Take 6-8 ounces of warm purified or spring water in a small drinking cup ?
2. Add one teaspoon sea salt (table salt works in a "pinch")
3. Gently sniff this mixture into your sinus by holding the cup up to your nose as if you were going to drink it into your nostrils
4. Hold both nostrils closed while gently blowing your nose
5. After several minutes of coughing and sputtering blow the remaining water and debris from your nose
6. Repeat two or three times every couple of hours

I know it sounds really gross but it's a great way to clear the sinuses with readily available household materials.? I have many patients who have used a "netty pot" for the same purpose.? It's a little teapot-like gizmo that makes the nasal rinse a little more elegant (hard to imagine isn't it?).? Other less handy but very valuable remedies for sinus troubles include:

• Olive leaf extract 500 mg. take two twice daily
• Fenugreek and Thyme (50:50 mix) 600 mg. three times daily
• Grapefruit Seed Extract diluted spray in sinus or orally 100-200 mg. three times daily
• Probiotics ("friendly intestinal bacteria") 4-40 billion units daily
• Oregano Oil capsules one three times daily

In the past a green nasal discharge was my cue for beginning antibiotic medications.? Now, if the infection has only been a few days in the making and/or is not causing a fever I prefer to employ non-drug solutions.? Many of these plant-based treatments also eliminate fungus from the sinuses.? The medical community is just?beginning to recognize that that's a big part of the problem with chronic infections.? I always want to make sure that there are no complicating factors like an ear infection or chest infection.? After those things have been eliminated as possibilities I watch, wait and treat naturally.? Your doctor may want to know about the things you have decided about your health.? If he doesn't I would find another doctor.

Amoxicillin is very important for people who have infections that have been proven (by culture and sensitivity) to be susceptible to treatment with it.? It should always be?started?a few days before?dental work to prevent?life-threatening problems?in people who have heart valve abnormalities.?? Amoxicillin is a perfectly?good medication.? I recommend using?a doorknob as the preferred method for exiting an exam room.??

The Nov. 17 issue of the Journal Environmental Health Perspectives?(published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences?of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) carried an article that studied Aspartame's (NutraSweet or Equal are common brands) effect on cancer risk.??The doses of aspartame?include?normal levels that people would actually consume.? The rats were studied by autopsy and had a much higher rate of cancer than would have been expected.? The lead researcher?Morando Soffritti, MD said the results speak for themselves.? The manufacturers of these sweeteners claim that 30 years of studies have proven that synthetic (artificial) sweetener can be safely used.? The common sense response to this dilemna really is simple.

Natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, and molasses have been used for thousands of years with a great safety record.? They do cause blood sugar to increase and add calories to the diet.? Other sweeteners that are lower calorie or have no calories at all include:

1. Stevia (I like Jay Robb's product)
2. Xylitol
3. Sorbitol
4. Chinese Magic Fruit

Common Sense would dictate that you should err on the side of caution.? There are always two sides to every argument and I want you to be able to recognize that each party has an interest in proving their point.? If artificial sweeteners break down to methanol (wood alcohol) and formaldehyde (a known cancer producer) it would probably be wise to limit your exposure to them.? There is at least one recent study that strongly suggests this.? If the manufacturer of the product claims that the study is flawed and "doesn't count" they could be protecting their financial interest or really being scientific.? The researchers developed the study to look for something interesting.? Increased risk of cancer certainly fits the bill.? I'm not saying that either group lacks integrity.? I'm only concerned that your viewpoint and judgement is unclouded.? It doesn't really matter what motivates each party.? What matters is that you eat, drink and enjoy foods that will make you feel and function optimally.? Artificial sweeteners probably don't fit the bill.? Common sense isn't really that hard is it?

The big news this Thanksgiving is that you don't have to worry about bird flu in your turkey dinner.? Still, you can avoid some of the more "vanilla" kinds of flu bugs and sore throats by following the same advice that they're giving in the far east to prevent the spread of "bird flu!"? It seems a little less exciting but it sure is a lot more peaceful.? The fear-mongering about the bird flu has been just a little "over-the-top" in my opinion.? The experts are beginning to re-evaluate their publid discourse and are tempering their talk with common sense ideas to prevent transmission of deadly or simply bothersome infections.? Wash your hands!

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2005-11-21T134551Z_01_RID137846_RTRUKOC_0_US-BIRDFLU-BASICS.xml

"It's very glamorous to talk about (antiviral drug) Tamiflu and vaccines, but actually, wash your hands, cover your mouth when you sneeze, then wash your hands," Sian Griffiths, director of Hong Kong's School of Public Health at the Chinese University, told Reuters in an interview.

"It is really basic, it's a bug that spreads like any other bug," she said. Griffiths was part of an international committee of experts which examined what went wrong in Hong Kong during the SARS epidemic in 2003, which killed early 300 people here and 800 worldwide.

I love turkey.? I'm so happy to know that we can celebrate a fearless Thanksgiving the good old-fashioned way!? I pray for a wonderful holiday for all of our friends!? Blessings to you!

I just finished listening to a syndicated radio show that hosted the "world's experts" on avian flu and the possible coming pandemic. The upshot of the interview was that the likelihood of the pandemic happening was really quite low. They reasons they gave were:

1. ?The flu hasn't mutated to spread from human to human
2. ?If it did spread it is likely that it would be a "dead-end" mutation allowing very low contagiousness
3. ?It hasn't infected anyone except those who have had contact with bird droppings or eaten raw or undercooked flesh or blood.
4. ?The H5N1 strain has been around for many years without mutating

The?horrifying part is the mortality rate.??52% of people who have gotten this particular flu have died from respiratory problems after several days of the flu. The less problematic issue is that it devastates the poultry industry where it occurs. The most?certain of all possible problems is the undue pressure being put on government officials to support the pharmaceutical industry in developing vaccine manufacturing capability. In essence the deal that is in the works would provide three basic advantages to the vaccine manufacturers:

1. Legal cover for bad reactions to the vaccine (this is reasonable within certain limits-malicious negligence should be a criminal issue)

2. Financial support to develop capability rapidly (maybe OK)

3. A guarantee that the production capabilities would be supported over the long term by providing a market for vaccine products!

.

.

Health and human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said in October, "We received expressions of vigorous support from the vaccine industry, their willingness to aggressively help us prepare. We talked about the need for short-term and long-term preparations, talked about the importance of a vigorous domestic vaccine market and the need for us to be planning" for avian flu and a potential flu pandemic.

Leavitt added that vaccine manufacturers must "have a sense of certainty" that a market will exist, possibly through the expansion of other federal vaccine programs. "By creating an ethic of vaccinations, for example, for the ordinary flu, it increases not only the health of our country, but the certainty of the capacity that we need in time of crisis," Leavitt said (Douglas/Landay, Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/8). In addition, Leavitt said that the federal government will "have to deal with the indemnity issue" and "create a streamlined regulatory process for the development of new facilities" (AP/Washington Times, 10/8).

.

.

WHAT??? Yes, part of the deal includes a provision that the vaccine manufacturers would be guaranteed a "market" for their other products that would make creating this production system profitable. In other words there will be government sanctioned promotion of vaccines for the purpose of rewarding manufacturers for helping to meet the need for bird flu vaccine. I get the feeling that there's more to this than simple public health preparedness. I get a really sick feeling that vaccine laws will become more and more mandatory and less and less optional. How else could this deal be viable?

.

.

I rarely sound alarms because there are plenty of organizations that spend their energy doing that all day long. I don't want to be the one who cried wolf. At this point I am genuinely concerned that what was once media hype has become a potentially devastating political and medical disaster. The problems with a pandemic are worth addressing from every possible angle. Saddling the American public with a permanent obligation to be injected with immune-modulating agents for the rest of our history makes no sense at all. That is a fool-proof recipe for disaster. We can ill-afford to transfer our rights to our bodies and our health to profit-driven entities that have shown their colors many times. Their primary color is green. I think you can take it from there.

.

.

You can prepare for the flu season and take great care of yourself all you like. If the government contracts with for-profit companies to provide your body as a dump site for their products it may be a labor in vain. The reasonable solution to this dilemna would be to remove the profit motive and put the project on a war footing. As a taxpayer I am willing to help fund public health infrastructure. I am not willing to prostitute my family or myself to assure the long-term profitability of someone else's business.? Selling your body is still prostitution.... isn't it?

The Associated Press released a story on November 18th that revealed the imprecision of medical science.? The FDA of the U.S government reviewed cases of Japanese children who died after taking Tamiflu.? They all had symptoms of the flu (of course) as well.? The FDA said there was "no link" between the deaths and the medication.? The Japanese?Tamiflu distributor?said that these deaths could be realted to the drug.? It was impossible to rule that out.? Since Tamiflu is not our only choice in combatting flu-like illnesses it would seem appropriate to limit its use to only the worst situations while this controversy is settled.? The FDA seems to think that is not necessary but a warning on the package about skin problems is in order.

Maybe it has to do with the particular flu bug or maybe the kids involved were already weakened by some other factor.? Either way, a drug that may cause death, certainly causes neurological and psychiatric problems and definitely can cause skin diseases should be withheld for only the worst of the worst cases.? The use of natural compounds to support immune function and reduce viral illness impact seems like a "no-brainer."? The medical literature has many references to studies that prove the efficacy and safety of probiotics, black elderberry extract, lomatium and many more substances against flu.? If your doctor refuses to support your health and instead blindly relies on the mainstream approval systems to make decisions, it's time you had a little talk about your expectations.

Do the research for yourself.? This blog is a good place to start as I've begun to cover this topic in some depth.? Send this to friends and family and I encourage a spirited debate about what would be the best course to help and heal our children and national health system.? You can always reference abstracts from the Pub Med database and follow up with full articles if you want to get "serious."

To learn the ropes go to:? www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/pubmed_tutorial/m1001.html

To just get the pub med stuff on natural medicine go to: www.nlm.nih.gov/nccam/camonpubmed.html

Avian flu has still not mutated so that it can spread from human to human.? In fact, avain flu has infected a little over 100 people since 1997 and has not mutated.? Though the severity of the H5N1 strain is undeniable in humans, birds frequently carry it in their intestines without significant illness.? The only way that people have gotten the flu so far is from handling infected birds or raw and/or eating partially cooked birds or their blood.? The World Health Organization has five keys for avoiding avian flu and foodborne diseases in general.

5 Keys to Safer Food and the Bringing Food Safety Home

1. keep clean (wash your hands thoroughly)
2. separate raw and cooked food
3. cook food thoroughly
4. keep food at safe temperatures (refrigerate raw poultry)
5. use safe water and raw materials

It almost seems silly to have to say it but staying healthy at this point requires simple hygienic measures.? Someday in the future we may need to be worried about avian flu spreading from person to person.? Who's to say that the mutation won't render the particular H5N1 strain harmless?? No one knows exactly what to expect.? I think that it is likely that we'll still need to take care of our health through immune-boosting strategies like those listed in the previous note.? The news seems to point to the need for better cleanliness to control the flu outbreaks, not more drugs!

Whether or not you like immunizations the news out of Sweden should make everyone sit up and pay attention.? Today Reuters reported the results of a study that?gave a?"probiotic" bacteria?drink for 80 days?to employees and studied the number of sick days.? The ones who drank the good bacteria had many fewer sick days than those who drank the plain drink.? The effect was even more noticeable in the night shift workers.? What this means to you and me is that taking probiotics in a capsule form or in a drink may provide us with some protection against infections.? While the world fearfully anticipates the next pandemic flu you can be building immune power by taking good bacteria in your diet.? Good sources of probiotic bacteria include:

• Kefir

• Organic yogurt

• Probiotic capsules and powder

• Fermented vegetables

A company called body ecology has a great website http://www.bodyecologydiet.com/?on the benefits of kefir and fermented products.? I recommend probiotic capsules to most of my patients because they're so convenient.? Some can be stored at room temperature until they're opened but I think it's always best to refrigerate them to assure maximum potency.? A good dose is 2 billion to 40 billion units per day.? If you tend to have problems with your digestive tract it's probably a good idea to see a health professional who understands which probiotic to use in your circumstance.

Immunizations are offered as "the" preventive for infectious disease by traditional medical practitioners and most public health authorities.? I believe that everyone needs to become informed about what immunizations can do and when they're appropriate.? There are times when they make sense and there are times when they are clearly not a logical choice.? They can cause serious problems and may be at the root of many immune illnesses.? We will learn more about this controversy in the coming years.? Safe and reasonable measures to reduce the likelihood of infectious illness include:

1.????? Probiotics (of course)

2.????? Selenium (at least 100 micrograms daily)

3.????? Check thyroid status http://www.centeru.com/tools/Thyroid/thyroid.php

4.????? Regular exercise

5.????? Remove all chronic infections (Candida, parasite, etc.)

6.????? NO SUGAR OR HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP!!!

7.????? Consider Shitake and Maitake mushroom extracts

8.????? Vitamin C 1-2 grams daily? (more when ill)

9.????? Have fun as often as possible-[don't take yourself too seriously)

There's lots more that you can do including cleanses and juicing and other support products.??It just makes sense to do the simple things that you can to avoid illness instead of wringing your hands worrying about problems you're unlikely to ever experience!

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) November 9, 2005 has a great little article about the treatment of sore throat in kids.? They say that more than 50% of kids got antibiotics when only about 15-30% could possibly have strep.? That matters because strep can cause all sorts of ugly heart and kidney problems if not treated. On the other hand overuse of antibiotics for sore throats that aren't strep can cause resistant bacteria and immune problems in little ones.

I recommend a nice integration of this article's strengths with alternative treatments for upper respiratory infection.? If you have the following symptoms you should get tested for strep throat:

1. Rapid (acute) onset of sore throat
2. Fever
3. Headache
4. Abdominal Pain (did you know that?)
5. Nausea and/or vomiting
6. Neck lymph node swelling and tenderness

Other symptoms suggest that the problem is probably viral :

1. Runny and red eyes
2. diarrhea
3. cough
4. hoarseness (almost always viral)
5. cold sores in the mouth and throat

If the problem is clearly strep then the drug of choice is penicillin.? If it's something else then the choice is different.? Let me make a few suggestions.? If the problems is a virus then the treatment should?anti-viral.? Lomatium Extract, Black Elderberry Extract and others available at the health food store will help shorten the course of illness and improve symptoms during recovery.? Other agents stimulate immune function and are broad-spectrum against a whole range of "bugs":

1. Olive Leaf Extract
2. Grapefruit Seed extract
3. Uva Ursi
4. Garlic and Oregano (great on Italian bread as well!)

The contemporary medical literature is nearly devoid of the consideration of plant-based compounds.? Because these agents aren't part of the main- stream approach their use is mostly ignored.? People generally know better than to take this single opinion as fact and venture out to the health food store or somewhere that embraces natural solutions. I advise a respect for both camps.? Strep is serious business and a conventional doctor has the tools to do combat effectively.? When that same doctor tells you to just "suck it up" and deal with the infection without treatment besides pain medicine it's time to look further.? There is a world of solutions that can work for you and your family if you're willing to become informed.? This winter will be like most others.? There will be sore throats and colds.? Choose wisely when it comes to treatment.? Natural?might just?be better this time around.

I see many patients in my practice that have recovered from myofascial pain syndromes and fibromyalgia.? The common denominator is that they refuse to quit trying.? It can be "exhausting" trying to figure it out but it's worth it.? I just finished the mini-course I promised to one of our forum posters and wanted to post some of it here.

Just for the record my most effective treatments for FMS, CFIDS etc... are:

• acupuncture
• thyroid treatment with T3
• Vitamin C (IV and orally)
• Osteopathic treatment
• Compassion

WHAT IS FIBROMYALGIA or MYOFASCIAL PAIN SYNDROME?

?

FMS (fibromyalgia syndrome) is a musculoskeletal pain and fatigue problem that may be caused by virus, toxicity, genetics or a combination of all of these factors.? Fibro relates to fibrous tissues.? Myo means muscle.? Algia means pain.?? Taken together the word fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles and connective fibrous tissues.? There?s much more to the problem than that but it?s a good starting point.

?

Most patients with FMS say that they ache all over. They feel like they have the flu all the time and that someone ?pulled the plug? on their energy systems!? Their muscles may feel like they have been pulled or overused. Their muscles may twitch, feels like electrical shocks are going through them and at other times they feel like they burn. More women than men have the symptoms of FMS, and it shows up in people of all ages.? Most authorities say that there is no known cause but I believe that there are many underlying problems that can be addressed to make the symptoms much better if not altogether resolved:

?

1.????? Hypothyroidism

2.????? Adrenal failure

3.?? Structural Problems (bones, muscles and connective tissues)?

4.????? Heavy metal toxicity and petrochemical?toxicity (PCB and dioxin)

5.????? Emotional blocks

6.????? Severe insomnia

?

In our practice we use the Better Body Brighter Mind? System to get a handle on which direction to go to get started with patients who have complicated problems like FMS.? Our internet version is available at www.betterbodybrightermind.com.

?

Other helpful links include:

?

www.endfatigue.com/home.nsf? (Fatigued to Fantastic-Dr. Teitelbaum)

?

www.cfids.org/about-cfids/do-i-have-cfids.asp (questionnaire from CFIDS foundation)

?

www.ncf-net.org/ (research oriented national foundation)

What is the flu? (from www.lef.org)

Influenza is a respiratory disease spread via airborne droplets of infected respiratory fluid (from the coughing and sneezing of an infected person). Influenza almost never causes gastrointestinal symptoms and should not be mistaken with "stomach flu" (characterized by vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea). Physicians diagnose influenza by the presence of flu symptoms in the community and whether the patient's complaints fit the current pattern. Rarely is laboratory testing used to identify the virus. Flu viruses can be classified into three groups: types A, B, and C. Type A is the most prevalent and associated with the most serious epidemics. Type B is milder and has rarely been associated with epidemics. Type C has never been associated with epidemic outbreaks. Usual flu symptoms include:

• Fever and chills
• Weakness and aching in legs, arms, back
• Headache
• Nasal congestion
• Loss of appetite
• Sore throat
• Dry cough
• Burning eyes

Avian flu (also H5N1 variety) has been creating a huge scare among my patients?though I am not particularly frightened.? There have been nearly 2 years of known avian flu activity with less than 200 deaths to date.? The mortality rate is unbelievably high (around 50% of the people who get the flu die)?and that is a concern.? Fortunately, unless you?live around chicken blood or uncooked parts (or eat them) it is unlikely you'll get infected from the? deadly H5N1 strain.? I know that many of the victims have been?under 18 years of age?but we don't have any idea about the immune status of the individuals involved.? The last and most critical issue is the "prediction" that this WILL mutate into a virus that can be transmitted from human to human.? No one knows whether or not this will happen.? I think it is foolish to fear what may happen.? Preparation for the winter that includes buying winter coats makes sense.? Buying IV supplies for the possibility that you?might possibly?contract pneumonia does not!?

I have been asked to write prescriptions for Tamiflu and I'm reluctant because we don't know that it will work against this kind of flu.? I believe there are better ways to prepare:

1. Exercise to enhance immune function
2. Sambucol 1-2 teaspoons once or twice daily to reduce severity and length of viral illnesses like flu.
3. Lomatium Dissectum 10-30 drops of extract 3 times daily when feeling "fluish" (prevented death in many in the 1918 "deadly" Spanish flu)
4. Vitamin C 2-20 grams until bowels become loose and then reduce dose to 2/3 of that dose
5. Water, water, water and more water
6. Wash hands regularly with soap (not antibacterial)
7. Eat healthily according to type and take great care of yourself with my computerized health improvement system at www.betterbodybrightermind.com

Fear Not.? God told Joshua to be courageous when he took on the unknown in the Promised Land.? He didn't tell him that so he would look good in his warrior outfit.? He told him that because it is the essence of victory in every situation.? Fear is the mind killer.? It will disable with a greater vengeance than any known force. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.? In all that you do recognize God's ability and willingness and you'll be directed to exactly what you need.? (Loosely translated from the Old Testament)

My family and my patients receive the same treatment. I plan to treat my children and wife with Sambucol and Lomatium if flu problems become apparent.? Of course we'll avoid contact with raw poultry parts and blood.? If the virus EVER becomes contagious from person to person we'll consider vaccination and quarantine measures as any prudent person should.? We eat well to supoort immune function and avoid milk, wheat and sugar as much as possible.? You can purchase the e-book "Nurture Diet" that details the benefits of this lifestyle.? It's really the only book like it.? www.centeru.com/online_store/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=23&

I couldn't help but notice the fabulous absence of candy and non-food trash from my children's diet this Haloween season.? Nonetheless, it became hard to avoid when?I was?confronted with a blatant case of "sugar dumping" during?my 5-year-old daughter's soccer game this weekend.? It serves as an example of a larger reality where well-meaning people contrive a simple way to rid themselves of toxic stuff.? For my part, I consumed a baby "Almond Joy" to reduce the excess population of candy.? It was partly melted and tasted as they always have but I still felt compelled to participate in the "dump."? I was amazed at the rationale we all bought........ hook, line and sinker.? "I just didn't want to waste the food."

There are only two options.? Eat food that makes your body better or eat food that makes your body worse.? I chose an Almond Joy.? So what?? I'm not perfect but I am conscious and alert.? As of today I refuse to waist food any longer.? I will place food (so-called) in an appropriate receptacle and allow the town authorities to bear the burden of guilt in its disposal.?

Waisting food is your only option when sugar or high-fructose corn syrup are your only options.? Your waist will expand and your health will diminish.? It really is that simple.? I am driving a stake in the ground today.? I refuse to "waist" food ever again.? Every time you choose to eat food that you know will make you less healthy you will get exactly what you are expecting:

1. higher triglycerides
2. more inflammation
3. "a gut"
4. irritability
5. other bad stuff we haven't figured out yet

Waisting food is the worst possible personal scenario for food disposal.? Let's get together as a family and waste "junk food" by throwing it away without any sense of sin, guilt or condemnation.? Just say NO!

Journal of Family Practice October 2005 pp876-886 had a helpful little article about the use of herbs to lower blood sugar and cholesterol in type 2 diabetes.? Especially important information from hand-reviewed documents (some translated from Indian literature)?from small studies using non-toxic herbs including:

1. Coccinia Indica (C indica) from freeze-dried powder 900mg. to 3000mg. capsules or tablets?twice daily produced "marked improvement" in blood sugar levels
2. Cinnamonum tamala (C tamala) two heaped teaspoons four times per day reduced fasting sugars from average of 153 to 113mg./dl.? Other cinnamon has been shown to produce good results.
3. Gymnema sylvestre (G sylvestre) and GS4 at 400 mg. daily produced lowered blood sugars in type 2 AND type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetics allowing reduction in medications and insulin in most patients.

These results may not be typical for everyone but the low toxicity of the herbs make it a reasonable choice for anyone interested in a non-drug treatment of diabetes.? These options may also have some appeal to those who would like to improve their blood sugars while using insulin for tight control of Type 1 diabetes.

I am excited that the Family Practice journals are carrying useful information from herbal studies.? Restricting grains, exercising and eliminating processed foods (sugar and high-fructose corn syrup) will go a long way at normalizing blood sugars.? It's up to you to decide how it's gonna be..............................

Antibacterial soaps are probably not a whole lot better than regular liquid soap for cleaning and overall health.? In fact, antibacterial soaps may cause more problems than they solve.? The resistance to bacteria that is becoming a problem all over the world may be caused from so much triclosan (the most common antibacterial ingredient) being in our environment.? USA Today recently (Oct 20, 2005) posted an article that pointed out the problems with antibacterial products outside of health care settings.? I agree.

More importantly, my wife is excited about having cleaning products that are made from baking soda, borax and vinegar around the house.? Not only? because they work and they are healthy, but because she can store them under the sink in any part of the house without worrying about the kids getting into trouble by touching them or (God forbid) eating them.

I'm always happy to see better health products at a better price being promoted by the press.? Check out the cleaning products course at CenterU for recipes and more details. www.centeru.com/library/householdCleaning.php