Every Christian knows that our Lord Jesus Christ was "pierced" for our sins and died for our iniquity (unrighteousness and unholiness).? It is an undeniable truth that God chose to present His son as a sacrifice so that we could live forever in His presence.? As I sit here working through the mechanics of the ancient art of acupuncture I'm stricken with an awareness that until we meet Him in person we'll have a very limited understanding of what He went through to buy us back from the devil.?

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The art of acupuncture is very difficult to master and has many elements that fly in the face of Christian doctrine.? For instance, there are treatments that are called "Seven dragons to chase the seven internal devils (or demons)."? The fact is that these treatments have been designed to address internal medicine issues like infectious disease, emotional imbalances and toxicity.? The acupuncture?terminology is descriptive of the thinking?of the ancient?healers who hadn't had the opportunity to hear the "Good News" of the gospel, let alone incorporate these new ideas into their medical system.??Still, no one should blindly embrace acupuncture or any Eastern medical system because?of symptomatic benefit from their use.? Every healing event, including taking antibiotics and heart bypass surgery has a spiritual context.? You should be aware of the spiritual basis of your choices.? Outside of divinely inspired prayer, all medical systems have their basis outside of Christianity.

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Hard to believe?? It shouldn't be.? There are no medical systems that are purely Christian in their founding or application.? The Biblical Guide to Alternative Medicine by Michael Jacobson D.O. and Dr. Neil Anderson makes this point well.? I recommend it for anyone who is seriously interested in alternative medicine and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.? Jesus said "Do not believe every spirit!"? It would be wise to find out what this admonition really meant.? Trying the "spirit" requires specifically asking or investigating whether a spirit emanates from the One True God and Father of Jesus Christ.? A demonic spirit will deny the existence of God-made-flesh in the person of Jesus Christ and His resurrection and ascension to His place at the right hand of God.? Christian acupuncture may be possible in the future.? I'm certainly giving it a careful examination!? Until I know more about oriental medicine and its full spectrum of effects I know of only one episode of Christian acupuncture.? It happened around two thousand years ago when a Roman soldier pierced the side of my Lord and the Christian church was born.?

San Diego, February 25, 2006 will be the site and date for a phenomenal course on "Five element Acupuncture."? This ancient form of acupuncture focuses on the relationship between the character and genetics of each individual as it relates to their health and wellness.? The idea of "patient-centered" care is nothing new in Eastern Medicine disciplines and has been worked out for thousands of years in India and China.? The five elements include:

1. Fire
2. Earth
3. Metal
4. Water
5. Wood

Each has their own personality traits, tastes, disease tendencies and?nutritional needs.? By recognizing the combination of elements in each person it's possible to discover hidden cues for improving health and avoiding serious disease.??The Better Body Brighter Mind (B3M) System is built on these principles as well as modern medical literature and research.? During this upcoming conference I will have the opportunity to increase the accuracy of the B3M System by applying advanced interview and study technique.? I'm looking forward to building the new concepts into the system.? time and truth are marching on..........

Brain function and thought development (cognitive function) are directly related to adequate iron levels.? Depression, anxiety and other mental afflictions may be traced to iron levels.? Foods that inhibit iron absorption are common in our diets and should be limited in cases where mental challenges, low energy and anemia can be traced to iron deficiency.

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Iron can be found in meat, grains and vegetables.? Meat sources of iron (heme)?are the most easily absorbed.? The others (non-heme) tend to be dependent on the body's status at the time they are eaten.? A variety of whole foods in the diet tends toward a more normal iron balance.? Supplements may be necessary and should contain?the more absorbable "ferrous" form as fumarate or succinate.?

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Some foods contain iron inhibitors of "ligands" that bind with iron and prevent it from passing through the gut (intestinal walls) into the bloodstream. Besides tannin in tea, other iron-inhibitors include phytates (found in unprocessed cereals and bran and soy) and certain spices (such as oregano). Calcium blocks iron absorption as well. One glass of milk (about 165 mg on calcium) halves iron absorption, so experts recommend that people take calcium supplements between meals, and not at the same time as an iron supplement. In addition, certain foods can bind the non-heme iron in another food eaten at the same time. For instance, wheat and rice contain ligands that bind most of the non-heme iron in kidney beans.

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So, wheat, rice?and dairy are "no-nos" when iron absorption is at "Steak!" Get it?? It is probably best to consume iron in beef broths by itself without mixing any of the blocking foods. This "heme" iron source is awesome and will be absorbed regardless of?the body's mechanimsms?to inhibit its impact.? If in doubt you should consider seeing a health-oriented physician who can steer you in the right direction and get lab work including:

• ferritin
• CBC with differential
• Total Iron Binding Capacity
• Serum Transferrin Receptor (last resort)

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Iron does what it sounds like it shoud do. It makes us strong!

The American Institute of Cancer Research has begun to look at energy balance as a major factor in the development and avoidance of cancer.? The problem with obesity is cosmetic, metabolic and cancerous according to their new "push."? The body stores toxins in fat and therefore has the ability to promote the development of cancer from petrochemicals and heavy metals stored in these tissues.? The AICR is more interested in a simple look at the effects of eating less, eating better and exercising more.? They have some pretty simple recommendations that will probably sound familiar.

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The AICR's recommendation, A Closer Look at Energy Balance urges individuals to slowly increase their daily physical activity, and offers examples of activities that make it easier to maintain energy balance.?

The Bottom Line

The three steps AICR recommends for achieving energy balance are:

1. Increasing the proportion of vegetables, fruits and whole grains in the diet
2. Reducing portion size
3. Increasing physical activity

?If a person adopts these simple strategies, it won?t be too long before they find themselves in a state of energy balance,? said Collins.? ?Once there, they?ll receive two big health payoffs at once:? they?ll keep off excess pounds and enjoy extra protection against cancer.??

The full text of A Closer Look at Energy Balance can be read at www.aicr.org/balance.? A free single copy can be ordered by calling 1-800-843-8114, ext. 452, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.?

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I think they are on the money and you can design your own program that meets your specific needs at www.betterbodybrightermind.com.? Have a great healthy day.?

I am always looking for ways to simplify my life.? If I can put together a meal in a few minutes I'll be able to save time, money and energy (A 9, 6 and 2-year-old at a restaurant can be a lot of work!).? We're having Dover sole tonight with some cauliflower and a little red leaf lettuce and avocado.? This is my first recipe in the blog.? Hope you like it!

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Quick and Savory Fish Fillets

"A delicious, quick recipe everyone will enjoy."

Prep Time:5 Minutes

Cook Time:10

Total time:15 Minutes

Servings:6

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INGREDIENTS:

6 (4 ounce) fine-textured fish fillets (such as tilapia, sole or cod)

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup finely grated Romano or Parmesan Cheese

1/2 cup cornflake or bread crumbs

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)

1/4 teaspoon wheat-free soy sauce

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DIRECTIONS:

Heat oven to 450 degrees F.

Dip fish in egg; coat with combined cheese, crumbs and pepper.

Place in greased shallow baking dish. Bake 5 to 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork.

Easy chicken variation: Substitute boneless skinless chicken breast halves for fish. Decrease oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (it should feel firm to touch but still have some springiness to it).

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a brand new class of drug for the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes.? It's an inhaled insulin called "Exubera."? The great news is that many of my diabetic patients have problems with injections for many different reasons.? They may be too thin and not have enough muscle or they may tend to be too squeamish to poke themselves as often as they really need.? Whatever the reason, it's a blessing to have drug companies working to create products that serve a real need.? I am exhuberant about "Exubera."

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Warning:? All new drugs do not have adequate testing to be absolutely sure that they are safe.? My rule of thumb is simple:

1. A drug must be on the market for at least 2-3 years
2. Unless no other options are available
3. The drug must be low toxicity
4. Unless it would result in death to not use it

The other nuances are too subtle and need to be on a patient-by-patient basis.? Nevertheless, I am excited to be part of a movement that will give people the opportunity to experience the benefit of "COMPLETE MEDICINE" that incorporates the latest breakthroughs in modern medical treatment with all the wisdom and power of ancient methods from around the world.? With the "double-whammy" of complete care we can all "breathe easier!"

The New York Times reported today that the major banks are lining up plans to participate in Health Savings Accounts.? These insurance plans that link a high-deductible policy to a savings account (like an I.R.A.) will bring billions of dollars into the banking and financial services industry.? What this means to me is that I am on the right track.? I believe that we are rapidly moving to a two-tiered health system.? One tier is for those that have the resources (money) and interest (brains) to take their health into their own hands.? The other tier is for the poor (literally and figuratively) folks who trust in the government and medical system to keep them healthy.

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The time is right for everyone who has a "lick-of-sense" to start taking better care of themselves.? The insurance company can't and won't assume the liability for poor health choices played out over a lifetime.? Think what you like, but?the costs of smoking, not exercising and eating low-quality high calorie foods are catching up to all of us and eating into the bottom line of every part of American Society.? The banks and financial institutions know that this is no "flash-in-the-pan" this time.? Health savings accounts are here to stay.? In the next ten years over 10% of all Americans will have a checkbook to pay for acupuncture, herbs, vitamins, massage, chiropractic, yoga classes and any other treatment that will save them money and illness in the future.? I say "Bring it on!"

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It's about time that the entrenched medical model was given a good run for its money.? The idea of a Health Savings Account is the precise funding mechanism that will provide people the opportunity to let their health choices be known.? They will pay with their own money choosing their own treatments that they feel work best for them.? Now, every choice that a health consumer makes must be in accord with their insurer's?mandates.? Yuck!? The insurer has a primary responsibility to make money for shareholders.? The patient has a primary responsibility to spare no expense to stay alive and functioning well.? These are goals that are clearly at odds.? The cure is in the Health Savings Account model and I can't wait to see how things develop over the next few years.? Prepare to be in charge of your own health care dollars AND decisions.? It's gonna be great!

On January 17, The Journal of the American College of Cardiology reported an interesting study for those of us given to the occasional double-shot latte at Starbuck?s.? The study showed that exercise after coffee reduced blood flow to the heart by as much as 39% at higher altitudes.? If blood flow to the heart is already limited by disease or deficiency then it might be the thing that creates the environment for a cardiac arrest.? That?s not good!? In fact, many athletes have been directed to drink coffee before competitive events as a ?warm-up? agent.? This study suggests that this might not be good advice for many people.

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I love coffee.? I love the way it feels warmly reaching the back of my throat and finally warming me up from the inside out.? All the while I have had a strong suspicion that the evolving story of coffee would show us that it has a dark side as well.? And I?m not talking about French Roast!!!? The powerful stimulant activity of caffeine can?t be ignored.? Whether the heart effects are from tightening of blood vessels (vasospasm) or just from the nervous system getting too active it pays to consider the impact coffee is having on our whole being.? I would suggest limiting coffee to a couple of cups a day at the very maximum and drinking none at all before strenuous activity.? If in doubt, a cardiac stress test may help to alleviate anxiety better than anything else.

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I am in the process of reducing my coffee intake for many reasons.? The most immediate reason is that my ?coffee-buddy? (Sven) has moved to Oregon to sip the bean in cooler climes.? His absence has decreased my need for social ?drinking.?? Caffeine withdrawal is less of a problem for many people than the social withdrawal of missing the ?coffee klatch? time.? Just as exercise buddies can help with increasing exercise consistency, drinking buddies (coffee or any other drink) can increase the probability of maintaining negative behaviors.? That?s why Alcoholics Anonymous is a successful program.? It replaces old community relationships with a new community that supports the healthy choice of abstaining from a deadly habit.

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I recommend avoiding coffee before a strenuous workout for everybody.? There seems to be no good justification for exposure to that level of risk.? Since the study revealed little impact on cardiac blood flow with low activity or at rest it seems premature to recommend complete coffee abstinence.? Coffee should be consumed in moderation (2 cups a day maximum) without sugar.? I believe that full fat cream is better than any other milk products as long as small amounts are consumed.? Cheers!

Yesterday the FDA required drug manufacturers to place a "black box" warning on two new skin creams for the treatment of eczema.? The drugs, protopic and elidel, may cause skin cancer and lymphoma according to the FDA.? The good news is that the FDA is paying attention to the problem and won't sweep?more than?70 cases of cancer under the rug.? The bad news is that people with inflamed skin from eczema, psoriasis and even someting as mild as dandruff don't know that there are natural methods for treating the immune system and decreasing the inflammatory response on the skin.?

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Steroid creams have been a very effective way to treat the symptoms of eczema but usually only?"scratch the surface" of the problem.? They are safe when used wisely and with competent oversight.? The newer drugs may have cancer-causing potential that far outweighs the benefit of skin improvement.? These drugs are less effective than steroids in my experience.? The improvements that can be seen in skin problems with diet and natural approaches borders on miraculous if you ask the folks we have treated for the causes of the problem:

1. fungal overload
2. adrenal stress
3. bowel problems
4. toxic exposures

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It seems too simple to be true.? It isn't and I've seen natural approaches be far more effective than a "drug-only" approach.? The great thing about doing "complete medicine" is that drugs don't need to be removed from the equation.? We frequently use steroids tyo treat the symptoms of eczema while we deal with the underlying problem.? Over time the cause of the eczema is addressed.? Frequently the eczema is dramatically improved.? Sometimes the eczema is healed.? Very rarely there is no improvement.? In each of these situations the person with eczema need not be exposed to cancer-causing agents!

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I love the?old saying "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.........."? That's what I think about a "new" drug that will remove all the problems that are part of a complex system like human skin.? I say "Out with the new and in with the old!"? Until there is good reason to use a new drug (within the five years of release) I always want to stick to the tried and true safe medication while addressing the underlying problem through natural non-toxic solutions.? Why not you??

Pfizer Pharmaceuticals reported that the top dose for their drug (80 mg. Lipitor) for cholesterol control is safe and causes minimal long-term damage.?Well, this should come as no surprise that the data may be interpreted to allow the sale of one of the most profitable medications to ever come down the pike.? Pfizer and other drug companies have had great success with the sale of the concept that cholesterol must be driven down as low as possible.? Several years ago a 220 level was "O.K.!"? Now, the studies are being designed to support the idea that any cholesterol -lowering is good lowering.? Hogwash!!!

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There are lots of reasons to be cautious with monkeying with the machinery of life.? Cholesterol makes steroid hormones and balances mood and sexual function among many other activities.? Cholesterol should be viewed as a contributor to bad and GOOD body chemistry.? Some of my favorite heart and life-saving interventions include non-drug cholesterol reducing agents:

1. Policosanol (A waxy alcohol)
2. Red Yeast Rice Extract
3. Niacin
4. Guggulipid
5. Plant stanols
6. Fiber
7. Fish Oils

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I could go on and on but I'd only bore you.? Take every thing a Pfox (sic) says with a grain of salt.? Be especially careful regarding?your own ?"henhouse!"? Natural treatments for cholesterol reduction are becoming more and more available every day.? Use them first if you can.? If your cholesterol is in the mid 300's or above you may need medication no matter what you try.? But try!

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A brand-new study found that men with painless hernias can safely go without surgery unless things really start to hurt. ?"Not every hernia needs to be fixed," said Dr. Olga Jonasson of the University of Illinois at Chicago, co-author of the study in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.? The study included 720 men.? Half were assigned to wait for their hernia surgery until it caused them pain or they just decided they wanted to go ahead with surgery for some other health reason.? The other half had them immediately repaired even though they had little or no pain.? Only two of the men who decided to wait developed ?serious problems???

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Of all those who had surgery in the following four years over 20 percent had surgical complications.? Three of them were serious life-threatening problems.? This provides more proof that when it comes to medical treatment, less is often better.? In the case of hernia surgery, the decision to wait for repair of minor problems seems to make good sense.?

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There are reports of spontaneous closure of some hernias after fever and infections like strep throat.? Sclerotherapy (www.acopms.com) can be helpful in lieu of surgery in properly chosen circumstances. This particular type of sclerotherapy involves a physician injecting small amounts of irritating chemical into the tissues around a hernia to cause it to scar down. ?Occasionally, another health problem arises that requires surgery and anesthesia that provides an opportunity for hernia repair at the same time.? Any way you slice it, surgery is definitely a serious matter and should only be performed when absolutely necessary.? I?m very interested in helping patients to avoid surgery and medication through natural means whenever it?s possible.

Today, January 17, 2006, The Washington Times reported an exciting story about the effects of curry and specific vegetables on prostate and other cancers.? Over a half million cases of prostate cancer occur each year and despite ?the war on cancer? most advanced cases are very poorly responsive to any kind of curative treatment.? In fact, in the past 20 years the incidence and death rate from prostate cancer hasn?t budged.? I?m especially concerned about this topic because I have a strong family history of prostate disease!? The good news is that something can be done by anyone with an interest in taking charge of their own health.

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Cauliflower, kale, cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, watercress and turnips all contain a plant-based chemical that is a significant cancer-preventive. ?That chemical is phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC). ?By adding curry powder to the recipe we can dramatically enhance these effects.? New research shows that vegetables and the spice are effective in treating established prostate cancers, the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men.

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It all boils down to a pair of crucial chemicals that "hold real potential for the treatment and prevention of prostate cancer," the Rutgers study stated. The curry contains curcumin, a yellow pigment from the spice itself. "The bottom line is that PEITC and curcumin, alone or in combination, demonstrate significant cancer-preventive qualities in lab mice, and the combination of PEITC and curcumin could be effective in treating established prostate cancers," said Ah-Ng Tony Kong, the study's lead author and a professor of pharmaceutics at Rutgers.

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