Was Linus Pauling Right About Vitamin C’s Curative Powers After All?

Dear Patients &Friends:

Here's a great article on one of my favorite vitamins.
It was written by Dr. Mercola and can be found in its entirety at http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/11/23/vitamin-c-curative-power.aspx.

Enjoy and go out and some Vitamin C aka ascorbic acid!!

Was Linus Pauling Right About Vitamin C’s Curative Powers After All?

By Dr. Mercola

Vitamin C is one of the most well-established traditional antioxidants we know of, and its potent health benefits have been clearly demonstrated over time, especially for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

A perfect example of the healing power of this antioxidant vitamin is the drbiochamatic case of Allan Smith, who contracted a serious case of swine flu, and was brought back from the brink of death using a combination of IV and oral vitamin C.

While most animals have the ability to produce vitamin C internally, three species cannot. Guinea pigs, primates, and humans must obtain their vitamin C from their diet.

Vitamin C has numerous functions in the human body,1 including acting as an essential cofactor in enzymatic reactions.

In this way, it plays a role in your body’s production of collagen, carnitine (which helps your body turn fat into energy), and catecholamines (hormones made by your adrenal glands).

Vitamin C is also used by your body for wound healing, repairing, and maintaining the health of your bones and teeth, and plays a role in helping your body absorb iron.

A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C also helps prevent damage caused by free radicals. Over time, free radical damage may accelerate aging and contribute to the development of heart disease and other health conditions.

It’s through this antioxidant effect that it’s thought vitamin C may play a role in protecting heart health.

Linus Paulding - The Vitamin C Man

One of the most famous forerunners of high dose vitamin C treatment for colds and other disease was Linus Carl Pauling (1901-1994), a physical chemist and peace activist who won two Nobel Prize awards; one in chemistry in 1954, followed by a Nobel Peace Prize in 1962.

The New Scientist magazine ranked him as one of the 20 greatest scientists to ever live. He almost won a third Nobel, but Watson and Crick narrowly beat him to the discovery of the structure of DNA.

Despite being a well-respected scientist, his views on vitamin C were all firmly rebuffed by the medical community.

He detailed his discoveries in a series of books, starting with Vitamin C and the Common Cold in 1970, followed by Vitamin C, the Common Cold and the Flu (1976), Vitamin C and Cancer (1979), and How to Feel Better and LiveLonger(1986).

Many felt Pauling was too far out of his field of expertise with his research into nutrition, and he was largely ignored by mainstream medicine and nutritional science.2

Was Pauling Right About Vitamin C After All?

While the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin C had been established at 40 to 60 mg per day — an amount more than sufficient to prevent scurvy — Pauling advocated amounts of 1,000 mg or even higher.

Pauling himself is said to have taken 12,000 mg per day. He noted that veterinarians recommended far higher doses of vitamin C for primates than what was recommended for people.

So he initially extrapolated the dosages from monkeys, and determined that humans likely need a minimum of six grams per day — 200 times more than the RDA.

Painful Joints? – Natural Solutions!

Painful Joints? – Natural Solutions!

Here's something you can try to battle the effects of arthritis and it involves natural solutions with no side effects. Not that medications don't work but who wants to take a chance on developing problems from the side effects.

I came across this article from Margaret Durst and her website is https://naturalcowgirl.wordpress.com/

Feel free to comment and I hope this helps.


Painful Joints? – Natural Solutions!
By Margaret Durst
Natural Health Blog
July 28, 2015

JOINT PAIN or arthritis is the number one chronic illness in America. One person in 7 suffers from it.

Many people are use GLUCOSAMINE, CHONDROITINS and MSM to manage pain and to supply building materials for joint repair. While these are very helpful, particularly with osteoarthritis, I would like to mention some other natural remedies for arthritis.

DIET CHANGES can be as remarkable as any drug or supplement in eliminating joint pain and inflammation throughout the body. Eliminating foods that trigger inflammation in the body such as white flour, orange juice, coffee, dairy, red meat, white sugar, or nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers) can be very helpful. Most of the foods I mentioned create excess acid in the body which can create not only joint problems, but other problems as well. These include indigestion, allergies, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.

A WHOLE BODY CLEANSE is an amazing tool to get rid of excess acid and stored toxins that overload the body – sometimes leading to joint pain. Try one and see if it helps. Note that if you don’t change your diet, the cleanse will not be able to eliminate ` than you are putting in on a daily basis – so give the body a chance to heal by changing your diet too.

OMEGA 3 OILS are anti-inflammatory and lubricating to all cells including the joints. A good high quality fish oil can be very helpful for arthritis.

DEVILS CLAW and YUCCA have both been used traditionally for arthritic and rheumatic conditions. They are anti-inflammatory and cleansing to the joints. The cleansing action is particularly useful in gouty arthritis.

CELADRIN is a fatty acid that acts as a lubricant, an immune system modulator and an anti-inflammatory. Celadrin resets the immune system such that it does not attack and tear down the joints. Several customers have switched to a glucosamine / celadrin formula with very favorable results.

HYALURONIC ACID is used to lubricate and preserve moisture in the joints and it helps get nutrients to cells that don’t possess a blood supply – like your joints. Hyaluronic acid is also great for aging skin and dry eyes. It is available topically, for internal use, and by injection, and it is an ingredient in several joint formulas.

NATURAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES, or COX-2 inhibitors, help calm inflammation and joint pain. Prescription drugs such as Celebrex and Vioxx are COX-2 inhibitors – with side effects typical of prescription drugs. Well known natural COX-2 inhibitors include ginger, rosemary, turmeric and boswellia. Zyflamend is a best selling combination with lots of research behind it, but the single herbs are good as well.

HYDRANGEA is worth mentioning – it is an ingredient that helps break down abnormal calcification. It is also helpful with bone spurs (as is magnesium) and is worth a try if nothing else has worked.

There are many products that will help support JOINT HEALTH naturally. Sometimes it takes a little experimentation to find what will work best for you. Not all arthritis is the same, so when in doubt, ask for advice from someone who has knowledge of how the different products work.

Why Butter and Eggs Won't Kill Us After All: Flawed Science Triggers U-turn On Cholesterol Fears

I've always have believed - based upon my chiropractic education - that the benefits of eating eggs and butter far outweigh the risks of margarine, egg substitutes, etc. Fat and cholesterol are necessary for human survival. As a matter of fact, your liver produces 8 times more cholesterol than you can consume. Well, I am happy to report that eggs and butter are not the evil food that has been portrayed.  I hope you find this article informative and will start you thinking "outside the box".

This was published on the Daily Mail website and a link is posted below in the article. Enjoy.

Dr. Geoff Sandels

Why Butter and Eggs Won't Kill Us After All: Flawed Science Triggers U-turn On Cholesterol Fears

• Foods high in cholesterol branded a danger to human health since 1970s
• Now US government is to accept advice to drop cholesterol from list of 'nutrients in concern' 
• Doctors are now focusing concern on sugar as the biggest dietary threat

By CHRIS BROOKE FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 16:40 EST, 25 May 2015 | UPDATED: 19:16 EST, 25 May 2015

For decades they have been blacklisted as foods to avoid, the cause of deadly thickening of the arteries, heart disease and strokes.
But the science which warned us off eating eggs – along with other high-cholesterol foods such as butter, shellfish, bacon and liver – could have been flawed, a key report in the US has found.
Foods high in cholesterol have been branded a danger to human health since the 1970s – a warning that has long divided the medical establishment.

A growing number of experts have been arguing there is no link between high cholesterol in food and dangerous levels of the fatty substance in the blood.
Now, in a move signalling a dramatic change of stance on the issue, the US government is to accept advice to drop cholesterol from its list of 'nutrients of concern'.

The US Department of Agriculture panel, which has been given the task of overhauling the guidelines every five years, has indicated it will bow to new research undermining the role dietary cholesterol plays in people's heart health.

Its Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee plans to no longer warn people to avoid eggs, shellfish and other cholesterol-laden foods.

The U-turn, based on a report by the committee, will undo almost 40 years of public health warnings about eating food laden with cholesterol. US cardiologist Dr Steven Nissen, of the Cleveland Clinic, said: 'It's the right decision. We got the dietary guidelines wrong. They've been wrong for decades.'

Doctors are now shifting away from warnings about cholesterol and saturated fat and focusing concern on sugar as the biggest dietary threat.

The Daily Mail's GP Martin Scurr predicts that advice will change here in the UK too. He said last night: 'I think we're at a tipping point where cholesterol is concerned. There have been a lot of vested interests in people talking about cholesterol because it's easy to convey to the public that fatty foods like butter, cheese and red meat are furring up their arteries. In fact there are many other risk factors involved but somehow we've become obsessed with cholesterol.'

London-based cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra, science director of campaign group Action On
Sugar, wrote in the British Medical Journal that it was time to 'bust the myth of the role of saturated fat in heart disease'.

He added that the food industry had effectively contributed to heart disease by lowering saturated fat levels in food and replacing it with sugar.

Matt Ridley, a Tory peer and science author, yesterday said there should be an inquiry 'into how the medical and scientific profession made such an epic blunder'.

He described the change of advice in the US as a 'mighty U-turn' and said studies linking high cholesterol and saturated fat in food to heart disease were 'tinged with scandal'.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3096634/Why-butter-eggs-won-t-kill-Flawed-science-triggers-U-turn-cholesterol-fears.html#ixzz3bvqqkozB

Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Can't sleep? Try the 4-7-8 breathing technique that claims to help you nod off in 60 SECONDS

I found this article at the Dailymail.com.uk. I use a similar technique for sleep but I'm going to try this one, too. I hope this helps those with insomnia!  Enjoy.

Can't sleep? Try the 4-7-8 breathing technique that claims to help you nod off in 60 SECONDS

    Method has been pioneered by Harvard-trained Dr Andrew Weil
    It involves regulating your breathing to various counts of 4, 7 and 8
    It lets oxygen better fill the lungs, calms the mind and relaxes muscles

By Ellie Zolfagharifard For Dailymail.com

Published: 12:04 EST, 4 May 2015 | Updated: 18:39 EST, 6 May 2015

You've tried a warm bath, a hot, milky drink and even counting sheep, but you're still lying wide awake wondering why you can't fall asleep.

Now, one scientist claims he has a way of getting insomniacs to slip into a slumber in just 60 seconds – and it doesn't involve prescription drugs or strange lighting.

Dubbed the 4-7-8 breathing technique, the method is described as a 'natural tranquiliser for the nervous system' helping to reduce tension in the body.


It was pioneered by Arizona-based Dr Andrew Weil who says on his YouTube channel: 'It is utterly simple, takes almost no time, requires no equipment and can be done anywhere.'

To do the 4-7-8 breathing technique, you first need to exhale completely through your mouth while making a 'whoosh' sound.

Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four.

Now hold your breath for a count of seven.

After this time has elapsed, exhale completely through your mouth, making another whoosh sound for eight second in one large breath.

Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three times for a total of four breaths.

'Note that you always inhale quietly through your nose and exhale audibly through your mouth.

'The tip of your tongue stays in position the whole time,' Dr Weil says.


'Exhalation takes twice as long as inhalation.

'The absolute time you spend on each phase is not important; the ratio of 4-7-8 is important.'

The technique is based on pranayama, an ancient Indian practice that means 'regulation of breath.'

The Harvard-trained doctor claims that 4-7-8 is such a powerful technique because it allows oxygen to better fill the lungs.

This extra oxygen can have a relaxing effect on the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes a state of calmness.

During times of stress, the nervous system becomes over stimulated leading to an imbalance that can cause a lack of sleep.

As well as relaxing the parasympathetic nervous system, Dr Weil says 4-7-8 helps you feel connected to your body and distracts you from everyday thoughts that can disrupt sleep.

He says it can also help anxiety.

"I take meds for OCD and anxiety...I was feeling anxious when I stumbled onto this. One set of four and I feel way less anxious.'

Dr Weil suggests practicing the technique twice a day, for six to eight weeks until you've mastered it enough to fall asleep in just 60 seconds.


Fall Asleep In 60 Seconds

Exhale completely through your mouth while making a 'whoosh' sound.

Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four.

Now hold your breath for a count of seven.

Exhale completely through your mouth, making another whoosh sound for eight second in one large breath.

Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three times for a total of four breaths.

10 Effective Natural Painkillers That May Surprise You!

Patients are inquiring frequently about what else they can do for pain relief.  Here's a great article that can help them and you as well.

This is on the Bel Marra website. One of my favorites! Enjoy!


10 Effective Natural Painkillers That May Surprise You!

By: Bel Marra Health | Friday, April 17, 2015

Painnatural-cure-for-pain affects all of us at some point, but it seems the older we get the more pain we experience. Sure it’s easy to take a pill to combat this pain, but throughout the day you may be topping up to six pills! The damage these can do to your body isn’t good, so finding effective, natural painkillers is ideal.

No matter your level of pain or location of your pain, natural cures for pain are available and should be given a fair chance. If you’re looking for natural painkillers that work, here are some of the best and most effective natural pain-relievers you should try!
Natural painkillers

From foods, to spices to even heat and ice, there is a long list of effective natural painkillers out there suitable for all levels of pain. So whether your pain stems from long-time exercise or just old age, here are our top picks for natural painkillers that work.

Cherries: Not just a delicious fruit, cherries are natural cures for pain as well. Cherries contain compounds called anthocyanins. These not only provide cherries with their bright red color but are natural painkillers that work.

Anthocyanins block inflammation which causes pain, similar to aspirin. Cherries are also high in antioxidants which are necessary in the treatment of arthritis.

Whether you have tart cherry juice – no artificial sugars added, of course – or enjoy the fresh fruit, cherries come in as one of the best and most effective natural pain-relievers.

Heat and ice: This effective natural painkiller you may have already heard of or are currently doing. But it’s important to know which to use on a particular pain for highest effectiveness.

Heat is commonly applied as a natural cure for pain when the pain is a result of arthritis. Cold, on the other hand, is used when the pain is a result of a muscle, tendon or ligament strain. This is because cold works to reduce swelling and inflammation. Furthermore, once the ice has been applied to reduce the swelling, heat can then be used to alleviate stiffness. Both are great natural painkillers for moderate and severe pain.

Cloves: A common spice in cooking and baking, cloves contain a special property called eugenol which makes them natural painkillers that work. Eugenol is a natural pain-reliever and is most effective when dealing with toothaches, headaches and arthritis inflammation. Cloves can be used topically and simply rubbed onto the painful area, but they do come with some warnings: People who use blood-thinners should use cloves with caution as they can lead to abnormal bleeding.

Willow bark: Use of willow bark to combat inflammation and as a natural cure for pain has been done for centuries. Willow bark contains salicin, which is similar to one of the main ingredients in aspirin. Willow bark is a natural painkiller that works on headaches, arthritis pain, osteoarthritis and lower back pain. It can either be chewed directly or steeped as a tea.

Although willow bark is an effective painkiller, it can also cause side effects similar to aspirin; so if you cannot take aspirin, willow bark may not be the best option for you.

Turmeric: Turmeric, most commonly found in Indian cuisine, has been used in situations to help upset stomachs and indigestion, but it’s also an effective natural painkiller. Turmeric contains curcumin which is an antioxidant that can help ward of free radicals preventing damage. It may also help combat inflammation brought on by osteoarthritis, making tumeric a natural remedy for pain.

Cod-liver oil: Cod-liver oil is continuously praised for its health benefits so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the best and most effective natural pain-relievers. In a Scottish study of participants with rheumatoid arthritis, 40 percent of those who took cod-liver oil every day reduced their use of anti-inflammatory medications by one-third. Furthermore, the University of Pittsburg performed a similar study on participants who had neck and back pain. After 10 weeks, these individuals stopped using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Cod-liver oil is great to incorporate into your daily health routine as it  is ideal for optimal health.

Ginger: Not only an effective treatment for nausea, ginger is a natural cure for pain as well. Research published in the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine revealed that women taking ginger found it to be an effective means to relieving menstrual pain.

Ginger can be easily consumed, either in a tea, stir-fry or even in backed goods, but if you’re going to have it in a cookie, opt for a low-sugar variety.

Oranges: Oranges’ vitamin C isn’t just to ward off a cold. Oranges are also effective natural painkillers. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that vitamin C can help reduce the risk of anti-inflammatory conditions which can eventually lead to pain. So while you’re taking your vitamin C to keep your immune system strong, you’re also protecting yourself from developing pain.

Qigong: Pronounced “chee-gung” is an ancient Chinese exercise which involves the body and mind to increase energy flow. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School studied the benefits of qigong on women with fibromyalgia. The women in the study reported 73 percent less pain after five to seven sessions. Qigong is definitely a natural painkiller for severe pain.

Patient Outcomes Proves More Effective with Chiropractic Combined with Standard Medical Care Than Standard Medical Care Alone in the Military

Friends & Patients,

Here's a great article that I think you will find interesting. It proves what we all know already that Chiropractic care is an important part of health care, even in the military. Now if we can have chiropractic care covered by Tricare and at VA Hospitals for our military vets!!

Patient Outcomes Proves More Effective with Chiropractic Combined with Standard Medical Care Than Standard Medical Care Alone in the Military

BY: D. Scott Ferguson

DC, William J. Owens DC, DAAMLP

 Mark Studin DC, FASBE(c), DAAMLP, DAAPM

Many people suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives.  Most will seek the advice of a healthcare professional. However, many times this care is fragmented and not based on current evidence and can result in poorer outcomes. When considering outcomes, all doctors must consider creating a diagnosis, prognosis and then conclude a treatment plan. It is that treatment plan, which then determines the outcome after an accurate diagnosis. Many times, low back pain patients seek solely standard medical care and bypass a more effective chiropractic solution. This type of self-referral and physician triage has also been prevalent in the military and asks the question based upon outcome studies, is that in the best interest of both the military and the general public?  

In a recent paper by Goertz et al. (2013), the objective was, “To assess changes in pain levels and physical functioning in response to standard medical care (SMC) versus SMC plus chiropractic manipulative therapy (chiropractic adjustments) for the treatment of low back pain  among 18 to 35-year-old active-duty military personnel” (p. 627).  The authors stated, “Lifetime prevalence of low back pain has been estimated to be as high as 84%, with a median cost per quality-adjusted life year of $13,015” (p. 627).  The fact that lower back pain is a major source of disability and abuse of pain medication makes providing the best care possible a priority based upon outcome studies.  In this paper, it was reported that, “The majority of systematic reviews find that chiropractic manipulative therapy (adjustments) seems to reduce pain and disability at least moderately for many patients with low back pain” (p. 627).  Therefore, the questions are, “Should chiropractic care be part of your treatment plan and should it be included with standard medical treatment for lower back pain?” 

In the Goertz et al. (2013) study, the patients were allowed to seek standard medical care in an unrestricted fashion which meant they could go to their medical doctors as they normally would for lower back pain.  “Standard care included any or all of the following: a focused history and physical examination, diagnostic imaging as indicated, education about self-management including maintaining activity levels as tolerated, pharmacological (drug) management with the use of analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents, and physical therapy and modalities such as heat/ice and referral to a pain clinic” (p. 628).  On the chiropractic side, the authors stated “Treatments consisted of HVLA [high velocity low amplitude a.k.a. chiropractic adjustment] manipulation as the primary approach in all cases, with ancillary treatments at the doctor’s discretion, including brief massage, the use of ice or heat in the lumbar area, stretching exercises, McKenzie exercises, advice on activities of daily living, postural/ergonomic advice; and mobilization” (p. 628).  This is important since chiropractors view the spine as an entire system and the approach to patients is different as well as the therapeutic intervention.

In conclusion, the authors reported, “The results of our pragmatic pilot study indicate a statistically and clinically significant benefit to those receiving chiropractic manipulative therapy (adjustments) in addition to standard medical care” (p. 631).  Finally, they report, “The results of this trial suggest that chiropractic, in conjunction with standard medical care, offers a significant advantage for decreasing pain and improving physical functioning compared with only standard medical care, for active-duty men and women between 18 and 35 years of age with acute low back pain when delivered in a pragmatic treatment setting” (p. 633).

This study concurs with a previous study by Liliedahl et al. (2010) who studied 85,402 patients and adds to the growing body of evidence in diverse forums that chiropractic for mechanical back pain is more effective and cost-effective than standard medical care. Evidence such as this helps to dispel the partial truths and overcome the prejudices to help the public make informed choices.

References:

1. Goertz, C. M., Long, C. R., Hondras, M. A., Petri, R., Delgado, R., Lawrence, D. J.,…Meeker, W. C. (2013). Adding chiropractic manipulative therapy to standard medical care for patients with acute low back pain: Results of a pragmatic randomized comparative effectiveness study. Spine, 38(8), 627-634.

2. Liliedahl, R. L., Finch, M. D., Axene, D. V., & Goertz C. M. (2010). Cost of care for common back pain conditions initiated with chiropractic doctor vs. medical doctor/doctor of osteopathy as first physician: Experience of one Tennessee-based general health insurer. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 33(9), 640-643.

Harvard Report Points to Chiropractic Care for Pain Relief & The Safety of the Chiropractic Adjustment

Harvard Report Points to Chiropractic Care for Pain Relief

& The Safety of the Chiropractic Adjustment

By

Noah Herbert, D.C., CCSP®

William J. Owens DC, DAAMLP

Mark Studin DC, FASBE(C), DAAMLP, DAAPM

A recent article released by Harvard Health Publications at Harvard Medical School points to chiropractic care as a form of pain relief. There are currently many Americans that seek out chiropractors, but many people don’t realize the wide variety of treatments that a chiropractor can provide for pain relief. The article states “while the mainstay of chiropractic is spinal manipulation, chiropractic care now includes a wide variety of other treatments, including manual or manipulative therapies, postural and exercise education, ergonomic training (how to walk, sit, and stand to limit back strain), nutritional consultation, and even ultrasound and laser therapies. In addition, chiropractors today often work in conjunction with primary care doctors, pain experts, and surgeons to treat patients with pain.”

While this is nothing new for the chiropractic community, it may serve to further educate the public as to the many tools a chiropractor possesses to help patients. While the majority of research on chiropractic has focused on spinal manipulation, or adjustment of the spine, for pain relief, there have been studies done on the effectiveness of chiropractic for treating musculoskeletal pain, headaches, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome and fibromyalgia (Harvard Health Publications). The author goes on to state “a recent review concluded that chiropractic spinal manipulation may be helpful for back pain, migraine, neck pain and whiplash.” It should be pointed out there have been reports of serious complications, including stroke, but this has been shown to be extremely rare and some studies suggest this may not be directly caused by the treatment provided by the chiropractor (Harvard Health Publications).

Spinal manipulation, or adjustment of the spine, is a term used to describe providing a high velocity, low amplitude thrust to the vertebra. Chiropractors use this technique to correct the body’s spinal alignment to relieve pain and improve function and to allow the body to heal itself. Treatment usually takes between 10 to 20 minutes and most patients are scheduled 2-3 times per week initially. Patients generally see improvement of their symptoms in the first two to three weeks (Harvard Health Publications).

Harvard Medical School is now saying what chiropractors have been saying for over 100 years and although their article was based on pain, it does add more evidence to the false rhetoric of chiropractic patients having a greater risk of stroke. In the future, reports from Harvard and other medical academic institutions will embrace the growing body of scientific evidence of the varied maladies that respond to chiropractic care.

References:

Harvard Health Publications. (2015). Chiropractic Care for Pain Relief. Retrieved from http://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/chiropractic-care-for-pain-relief