No Historical Benefit in Vaccines: Polish Study

No Historical Benefit in Vaccines: Polish Study

Posted on: Tuesday, May 21st 2013 at 2:00 pm

Written By: Heidi Stevenson

The evidence continues to mount. That vaccines are doing a great deal of harm is well beyond denying. Worse, though, the evidence that vaccines have had little or no effect on infectious diseases is clear, as documented in new graphs. The precautionary principle, which is enshrined in a UN directive, should have been implemented before vaccines were ever routinely injected.

Sad Little Girl, by Espen Faugstad (negative and grayscale)

by Heidi Stevenson

Yesterday's article, Vaccines Do Irreparable Harm: Study from Poland, documents the revealing information brought out by Polish scientists' review of the scientific literature on vaccination's adverse effects and immune system effects. Today, the rest of the study covering neurological symptoms following vaccination and a history of vaccines demonstrating little benefit is reviewed.

Post-Vaccine Neurological Complications

The authors focused primarily on the preservative thimerosal's active ingredient, mercury, in their discussion of vaccine-induced neurological damages. They noted that the percentage of people who have allergic reactions to thimerosal has been calculated at a low of 13% in the Netherlands to a high of 21% in Austria. Allergic responses to mercury are often initially triggered by vaccine injections. It's noted for toxicity to the heart, liver, kidneys, and nervous system, along with being a carcinogen.

Readers of Gaia Health are probably aware that much current research on vaccine adjuvants indicates that aluminum may be the greatest concern. The reduced mercury load in the United States' vaccines did reduce the autism burden for a short time in the US. However, a great number of vaccines was added to the schedule shortly after, and many of them included aluminum as an adjuvant, thus increasing the autism burden.

Over the last 20 years, neurological conditions such as autism, ADHD, mental retardation, epilepsy have increased many times over across the world. The authors wrote:

[F]rom the 1990s new vaccines for infants containing thimerosal began to be used in America. In the DTP, Hib and Hep B vaccines, children received a dose of 62.5 ug of mercury, which is 125-fold more than the dose considered safe (0.1ug/kg/day). These reports were the reason that Scandinavian countries already prohibited the use of mercury in 1990

The deaths of 19 infants of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) shortly after vaccination with two hexavalent vaccines were described in a paper. Those authors suggested that, though it hadn't been proven that  vaccines had caused their deaths, "it is a signal that brings to attention the need to monitor the course of vaccination and its complications."

Epidemiological research has shown a direct relationship between increasing doses of thimerosal and the rate of autism in the US from the late '80s through the mid '90s. They found a correlation between the number of measles-containing vaccines and autism prevalence during the '80s. The same researchers also found odds ratios that were statistically significant, indicating that increasing doses of mercury from vaccines with thimerosal correlate to increasing rates of autism.

Several of Poland's childhood vaccines contain mercury, including

• Euvax: Hepatitis B, made by LG Life Sciences in Korea – 50μg/dose
• DT: Diphtheria & Tetanus, made by Bio-med in Krakow, Poland – 50μg/dose
• Td: made by Biomed, Krakow, Poland – 50μg/dose
• DTP: Diphtheria, Tetanus, & Pertussis; made by Biomed, Krakow, Poland – 50μg/dose
• D,d: Diphtheria, made by Biomed, Krakow, Poland – 50μg/dose
• TT:  Typhus, made by Biomed, Krakow, Poland – 50μg/dose

 Note: Not included in the review is the fact that Poland's vaccination schedule is mandatory. Notice that all but one of the vaccines listed above are made in Poland. It's one way to assure profits for the home-grown pharmaceutical industry!

The authors discuss particular concern over the DTwP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, & whole cell Pertussis) vaccine. It is known to result in cytomegalovirus, which can result in severe neurological sequelae, including coma, hypotonia, seizures, and necrotizing encephalopathy. They state that replacing DTwP with DTaP (acellular) vaccine, and OPV (oral polio vaccine) with IPV (inactivated polio vaccine), can reduce the risk of fever after the first dose by 99%, the risk of inconsolable crying by 87%, and the risk of hypotonic-hyporesponsive episodes by 56%.

Other complications found with vaccines on the Polish schedule include;

• Guillain-Barré syndrome after influenza, hepatitis, meningitis C, polio and HPV vaccines
• Transverse myelitis after cholera, typhoid, and polio vaccines
• Influenza, flaccid paralysis, meningitis, encephalitis, convulsions and facial palsy after oral polio vaccine
• Rapid progression of retinopathy in premature infants after BCG vaccination

Vaccination History

In 1996, Poland introduced a monitoring system to record adverse effects of vaccinations. A study done by Zieliński of adverse effect reports from 1996-2000, stated:

[T[hey met astonishing examples of ignorance of the medical staff, including specialists, in their duty to report the AEFI [adverse effects following inoculation].

Unfortunately, there is no laboratory test to confirm a cause and effect association between an adverse effect and vaccination. While that makes it difficult, the authors of this review report:

[T]here are also no reports in the literature (except those listed above) of research work in immunology in the context of reactions following vaccination. It should also be noted that in more developed countries, there is little incentive for doing appropriate follow-up and laboratory tests on individuals who suffered serious adverse reactions following vaccinations.. The reason for such oversight is likely due to the fact that historically, vaccines have not been viewed as inherently toxic by the regulatory agencies.

So, the upshot is that there is precious little research into the adverse effects of vaccination. As the authors state:

The resulting lack of evidence of causality between vaccinations and serious adverse outcomes has thus been filled with an assumption that vaccines are safe.

However, even if adverse effects were minor or rare, it is still necessary to demonstrate that vaccinations are beneficial. If they are not, then no amount of risk in vaccination is acceptable.

This is where historical records of infectious disease cases and deaths come in handy. Take, for example, these two graphs on the number of cases of tuberculosis  (TB) and number of deaths from it:

They are reports from Germany showing, on the left, the number of TB mortalities from 1956-1988, and on the right, the number of reported cases from 1949-1987. The BCG vaccine against TB was introduced in 1970. (The area in the rectangles represents the total number of vaccinations given during the decade from 1970-1980.) It matters not whether you take a quick look or a long one, it's obvious that the TB vaccination had absolutely nothing to do with the reduction in either cases of TB or deaths from it.

The graph above of pertussis (whooping cough) mortality rate from 1946-1987 in Germany, with the times that the original pertussis vaccine was introduced and the diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine took its place. As can be seen, the death rate from pertussis stayed on approximately the same downward trajectory it had been on at the time of vaccine implementation.

The graph above shows the pertussis mortality rate in Switzerland from 1910-1980. The shaded area (at the top right of the graph) shows the introductory date of the pertussis vaccine in 1944, and shows how that vaccine's coverage increased to nearly 100% by 1980. However, it is not possible to see any change in the trajectory of reduced pertussis deaths.

.

The next graph above, shown to the right, shows the number of diphtheria deaths in Germany from 1920-1987. Notice that the diphtheria vaccine was introduced in 1925, with an enormous increase in the rate of disease rate!

On looking at these graphs, how seriously can we take claims that vaccines have saved lives? We can't see any improvement in either mortality or number of cases before and after vaccinations were initiated—and in the case of diphtheria, it certainly looks like vaccinating aggravated the rate of disease!

Conclusion

The review refers to a report in the 2002 Lancet that states:

[T]he weight of evidence collectively suggests that personal and environmental hygiene reduces the spread of infection ...

... Thus results from this review demonstrate that there is a continued, measurable, positive effect of personal and community hygiene on infections.

Our review authors state that the same article in the Lancet also showed that mortality from infectious diseases in general had decreased to "nearly negligible levels long before introduction of universal vaccination practices."

They point out that the vaccine schedule has increased dramatically since the time of these studies, and antigens are being injected again and again. They then state:

Doctors and researchers point to the worsening state of health of the child population since the 1960s, which coincided with increasingly introduced vaccinations. Allergic diseases, including asthma, autoimmune diseases, diabetes and many neurological dysfunctions – difficulty in learning, ADD (attention deficit disorder), ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), seizures, and autism – are chronic conditions, to which attention has been brought.

So, for no apparent benefit in reducing infectious diseases, vaccines are being mandated, in spite of the fact that evidence points strongly to the suggestion that vaccines are fueling the astronomically rising rates of chronic autoimmune and neurological disorders.

Of course, political realities do exist for these researchers. In spite of their powerful findings, they still don't suggest that vaccines should be eliminated. They do, however, offer several suggestions around the idea of reducing their application. They conclude with:

It seems that it would be worthwhile to apply the precautionary principle – the ethical principle (from 1988) according to which if there is a probable, although poorly known, risk of adverse effects of new technology, it is better not to implement it rather than risk uncertain but potentially very harmful consequences.

So, we're back to the precautionary principle, something that should have been applied decades ago. It's difficult to imagine the massive amount of harm that's been brought to generations of children, with each succeeding one suffering worse than the last. Will those in power ever listen to reason, or will they continue to be led around by their greed, leaving our children and future generations to suffer? Do they really believe that society can continue to function when most people are chronically ill?

Resources

• Neurologic adverse events following vaccination; Progress in Health Sciences; Sienkiewicz D., Kulak W., Okurowska-Zawada B., Paszko-Patej G.

Heidi Stevenson is Allopathy's Gadfly. She's an iatrogenic survivor whose prior career in computer science, research, and writing was lost as a result. She has turned her skills towards exposing the modern medical scam and the politics surrounding it, along with providing information about the effectiveness of much alternative medicine, without which she would not be here today acting as Allopathy's Gadfly. Find her work on GaiaHealth.com

Recent studies have shown that 76% of new mutations originate in the paternal lineage and provide unequivocal evidence for an increase in mutation with paternal age.

Trends Genet. 2013 May 16. pii: S0168-9525(13)00070-X. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2013.04.005. [Epub ahead of print]

Properties and rates of germline mutations in humans.

Campbell CD, Eichler EE.

Source

Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.

Abstract

All genetic variation arises via new mutations; therefore, determining the rate and biases for different classes of mutation is essential for understanding the genetics of human disease and evolution. Decades of mutation rate analyses have focused on a relatively small number of loci because of technical limitations. However, advances in sequencing technology have allowed for empirical assessments of genome-wide rates of mutation. Recent studies have shown that 76% of new mutations originate in the paternal lineage and provide unequivocal evidence for an increase in mutation with paternal age. Although most analyses have focused on single nucleotide variants (SNVs), studies have begun to provide insight into the mutation rate for other classes of variation, including copy number variants (CNVs), microsatellites, and mobile element insertions (MEIs). Here, we review the genome-wide analyses for the mutation rate of several types of variants and suggest areas for future research.

Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PMID: 23684843 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

More Younger Women Getting Breast Cancer

More Younger Women Getting Breast Cancer

May 21, 2013 | 2,849 views | + Add to Favorites

By Dr. Mercola

Revealing new data from the charity Cancer Research UK reports that a record number of women under the age of 50 are being diagnosed with breast cancer.

For the first time, more than 10,000 women under 50 were diagnosed with the disease in the UK, which translates to one out of every five women diagnosed with breast cancer.

The news comes on the heels of a JAMA study published earlier this year, which similarly found that the number of young women (aged 25-39) in the US being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer is also increasing.1

Typically, cancer is much more likely to develop as you get older. The non-profit BreastCancer.org even states:2

“ … the aging process is the biggest risk factor for breast cancer. That's because the longer we live, there are more opportunities for genetic damage (mutations) in the body. And as we age, our bodies are less capable of repairing genetic damage.”

So why is it that so many younger women are now being struck by this potentially deadly disease?

What is Causing Breast Cancer in Young Women?

No one knows for sure, but it’s fairly safe to say that there are likely multiple contributors, many of them environmentally based. Cancer Research UK has singled out hormonal factors, such as having children later in life, having fewer children or taking birth control pills, as probable culprits, for instance.

This makes sense, as in 2002 one of the largest and best-designed studies of hormone replacement therapy was halted because women taking these synthetic hormones had such a higher risk of breast cancer (and heart attack, stroke and blood clots) that continuing forward with the study would have been unethical.

The news made headlines because millions of women were already taking these synthetic hormones, but fortunately it prompted many of them to quit. And what do you think happened a year after millions of women quit taking hormone replacement therapy? Incidence of breast cancer fell dramatically -- by 7 percent!

What does this have to do with the Pill? Birth control pills contain the SAME type of synthetic hormones -- estrogen and progestin -- that were used in the ill-fated study!

Even women who aren’t taking birth control pills are exposed to synthetic hormones that have become increasingly widespread in recent years.

For instance, parabens are chemicals with estrogen-like properties, and estrogen is one of the hormones involved in the development of breast cancer. Parabens are widely used in personal care products like shampoo, lotion, deodorant, shaving gel and cosmetics.

These chemicals have been detected in breast cancer tissues at concentrations up to 1 million times higher than the estrogen (estradiol) levels naturally found in human breast tissue.3 Propylparaben, in particular, was found in the highest concentration in the underarm area (axilla), where underarm deodorants are most used and breast cancer prevalence is at its highest.

Clearly these chemicals are accumulating at alarmingly high concentrations, likely because of their widespread and persistent daily use. And exposure often begins as early as in the womb, the health effects of which are completely unknown.

Another Breast Cancer Risk Hiding in Your Milk …

Not only are children and young women inundated with hormone-mimicking chemicals in personal care products, but such potentially cancer-causing chemicals are also found in a dietary staple for many: milk.

RBGH, or recombinant bovine growth hormone, is a synthetic version of natural bovine somatotropin (BST), a hormone produced in cows' pituitary glands. RBGH is the largest selling dairy animal drug in the US, where cows are injected with it to boost their milk production. But it is banned in Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and in the 27 countries of the European Union because of its dangers to human health.

RBGH milk contains increased levels of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 regulates cell growth, cell division, and the ability of cancer cells to spread to your distant organs (invasiveness). In other words, IGF-1 has potent growth-stimulating effects in human breast tissue, especially in the presence of estradiol (a form of estrogen). Growth factors such as IGF-1 are "catalysts" for the transformation of normal breast tissue into breast cancer tissue, and are critically involved in the aberrant growth of human breast cancer cells.

One study showed that premenopausal women with elevated IGF-1 levels had up to a seven-fold increase in breast cancer.4 And separate research showed women younger than age 35 who have elevated IGF-1 have more aggressive breast cancer.5

The breast tissues of female fetuses and infants are especially sensitive to hormonal influences and cancer-causing chemicals. Infants and children exposed to high IGF-1 early on may become "sensitized," leading to health problems later in life, such as breast enlargement in infants and young children, and breast cancer in adult women. Yet, despite these elevated risks to children, few schools make rBGH-free or organic milk available, nor do most state governments under low-income food programs

Toxic Insults, Nutritional Deficiencies Behind Many Breast Cancer Cases

The primary causes of breast cancer -- nutritional deficiencies, exposure to environmental toxicity, inflammation, estrogen dominance and the resultant breakdown in genetic integrity and immune surveillance – still manifest as disease primarily among those over 50. However, the toxic insults are now hitting younger generations, who are much more susceptible to their adverse health effects.

For instance, girls who receive radiation to the chest to treat childhood cancer have a high risk of developing breast cancer at a young age, according to research. Even those who received low doses of the common cancer treatment face an increased risk of breast cancer later, the scientists said.

Plus, in the US, women are still urged to get an annual mammogram starting at the age of 40, despite the fact that updated guidelines set forth by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in 2009 urge women to wait until the age of 50, and to only get bi-annual screening thereafter.

The primary hazard of mammography is ionizing radiation that may actually increase your cancer risk. According to a 2010 study,6 annual screening using digital or screen-film mammography on women aged 40–80 years is associated with an induced cancer incidence and fatal breast cancer rate of 20-25 cases per 100, 000.  This means annual mammograms cause 20-25 cases of fatal cancer for every 100,000 women getting the test. And now with the “new and improved” 3D TOMOSYNTHESIS mammogram, women will be exposed to even more radiation.

Screening Ultrasound Catches Cancers Missed by Mammography

Many women are unaware that if they have dense breast tissue (40 to 50 percent of women), mammograms are basically useless for them. Dense breast tissue and cancer both appear white on an X-ray, making it nearly impossible for a radiologist to detect cancer in these women. It’s like trying to find a snowflake in a blizzard.

Some radiologists already provide density information to their patients, and encourage them to utilize other screening options like thermography, ultrasound and/or MRI. Recent research, in fact, revealed that for women with dense breasts, receiving a screening breast ultrasound after mammography detected an additional 3.4 cancer or high-risk lesions per 1,000 women screened.7

I believe it reasonable for a woman to trust that her radiologist is not withholding vital density information, however only California, Connecticut, New York, Virginia and Texas have passed laws making it mandatory for radiologists to inform their patients about this issue. Unfortunately, many have kept this potentially lifesaving data from women for decades, and our government agencies have failed to protect them from this unethical practice.

Top Breast Cancer Prevention Strategies

Cancer screening does NOT equate to cancer prevention, and although early detection is important, using a screening method that in and of itself increases your risk of developing cancer is simply not good medicine ... Preventing breast cancer is far more important and powerful than simply trying to detect it after it has already formed, which is why I want to share my top tips on how to help prevent this disease in the first place.

In the largest review of research into lifestyle and breast cancer, the American Institute of Cancer Research estimated that about 40 percent of US breast cancer cases could be prevented if people made wiser lifestyle choices.8 I believe these estimates are far too low, and it is more likely that 75 percent to 90 percent of breast cancers could be avoided by strictly applying the recommendations below, which are the same for young women and older women alike.

• Avoid sugar, especially fructose. All forms of sugar are detrimental to health in general and promote cancer. Fructose, however, is clearly one of the most harmful and should be avoided as much as possible.
• Optimize your vitamin D. Vitamin D influences virtually every cell in your body and is one of nature's most potent cancer fighters; recent research suggests maintaining your vitamin D levels may cut your cancer risk by 77 percent. Vitamin D is actually able to enter cancer cells and trigger apoptosis (programmed cell death). If you have cancer, your vitamin D level should be between 70 and 100 ng/ml.
• Vitamin D works synergistically with every cancer treatment I'm aware of, with no adverse effects. I suggest you try watching my one-hour free lecture on vitamin D to learn more.
  Remember that if you take oral vitamin D3 supplements, you also need to increase your vitamin K2 intake, as vitamin D increases the need for K2 to function properly. See my previous article What You Need to Know About Vitamin K2, D and Calcium for more information.
  Please consider joining one of GrassrootsHealth’s D*Action’s vitamin D studies to stay on top of your vitamin D performance. For more information, see my previous article How Vitamin D Performance Testing Can Help You Optimize Your Health.
• Get plenty of natural vitamin A. There is evidence that vitamin A also plays a role in helping prevent breast cancer.9 It's best to obtain it from vitamin A-rich foods, rather than a supplement. Your best sources are organic egg yolks, raw butter, raw whole milk, and beef or chicken liver.
• Lymphatic breast massage can help enhance your body’s natural ability to eliminate cancerous toxins. This can be applied by a licensed therapists, or you can implement self-lymphatic massage. It is also promotes self-nurturance.
• Avoid charring your meats. Charcoal or flame-broiled meat is linked with increased breast cancer risk. Acrylamide — a carcinogen created when starchy foods are baked, roasted or fried — has been found to increase breast cancer risk as well.
• Avoid unfermented soy products. Unfermented soy is high in plant estrogens, or phytoestrogens, also known as isoflavones. In some studies, soy appears to work in concert with human estrogen to increase breast cell proliferation, which increases the chances for mutations and cancerous cells. It is believed that fermentation actually transforms soy phytoestrogens like daidzin, glycitin and genistin to the more active phytogestrogenic compounds dadzein, glycitein and genistein.  But, these phytoestrogens are adaptopgenic and can even block out endogenous estradiol and xenobiotic estrogens, reducing their harm as least in theory.
• Improve your insulin receptor sensitivity. The best way to do this is by avoiding sugar and grains and making sure you are exercising, especially with Peak Fitness.
• Maintain a healthy body weight. This will come naturally when you begin eating right for your nutritional type and exercising. It's important to lose excess body fat because fat produces estrogen.
• Drink a half to whole quart of organic green vegetable juice daily. Please review my juicing instructions for more detailed information.
• Get plenty of high-quality animal-based omega-3 fats, such as krill oil. Omega-3 deficiency is a common underlying factor for cancer.
• Curcumin. This is the primary active ingredient in turmeric and in high concentrations, especially when combined with a phospholipid such as phosphatidyl choline or the black pepper compound piperine, can be very useful adjunct in the treatment of breast cancer. It shows immense therapeutic potential in preventing breast cancer metastasis.10 It's important to know that curcumin is generally not absorbed that well, so I've provided several absorption tips here.
• Avoid drinking alcohol, or at least limit your alcoholic drinks to one per day.
• Breastfeed exclusively for up to six months. Research shows breastfeeding can reduce your breast cancer risk.
• Avoid wearing underwire bras. There is a good deal of data that metal underwire bras can heighten your breast cancer risk.
• Avoid electromagnetic fields as much as possible. Even electric blankets may increase your cancer risk.
• Avoid synthetic hormone replacement therapy. Breast cancer is an estrogen-related cancer, and according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer rates for women dropped in tandem with decreased use of hormone replacement therapy. (As mentioned, there are similar risks for younger women who use oral contraceptives. Birth control pills, which are also comprised of synthetic hormones, have been linked to cervical and breast cancers.)
• If you are experiencing excessive menopausal symptoms, you may want to consider bioidentical hormone replacement therapy instead, which uses hormones that are molecularly identical to the ones your body produces and do not wreak havoc on your system. This is a much safer alternative. 
• Avoid BPA, phthalates and other xenoestrogens. These are estrogen-like compounds that have been linked to increased breast cancer risk
• Make sure you're not iodine deficient, as there's compelling evidence linking iodine deficiency with breast cancer. Dr. David Brownstein,11 author of the book Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It, is a proponent of iodine for breast cancer. It actually has potent anticancer properties and has been shown to cause cell death in breast and thyroid cancer cells.
• For more information, I recommend reading Dr. Brownstein's book. I have been researching iodine for some time ever since I interviewed Dr. Brownstein as I do believe that the bulk of what he states is spot on. However, I am not at all convinced that his dosage recommendations are correct. I believe they are likely too high.

4 Natural Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

4 Natural Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

by Elizabeth Renter 

May 17th, 2013 

Updated 05/17/2013 at 1:39 am

Multiple sclerosis is a bit of a mystery. It is a disease that occurs when the immune system damages the myelin sheath surrounding nerves, with effects being from mild to severe. Science is truly at a loss as to why it happens, why it is more common in northern latitudes, and why the damage that occurs varies so widely. But rest assured, there are numerous lifestyle tips for preventing and treating multiple sclerosis naturally.

MS is considered an auto-immune disease, where the immune system attacks the nervous system. A definite cause is unknown, but symptoms can vary from mild (numbness, tingling, tremor, etc.) to severe (extreme weakness, loss of vision, electric-shock sensations, slurred speech, extreme fatigue, and limited mobility). Usually, the symptoms come and go. In most cases, the disease worsens with time, with periods of remission getting shorter or nonexistent as the disease progresses.

Because the disease is a bit of a mystery, so is treating it. Of course, Big Pharma has come out with prescription solutions, but they are very expensive, come with a long list of side effects, and aren’t guaranteed to work. Fortunately, many people with multiple sclerosis have found relief through natural means.

Some Potential, Natural Solutions for MS

Because the disease varies widely, so too do the solutions. MS patients are cautioned that what works for one person, may not work for them – not so surprising. However, these potential solutions have had success in many people who suffer from the potentially debilitating disease.

• 1. Practice Healthy Living - While this tip may seem vague, things like stress and lack of sleep can worsen the symptoms of MS. For that reason, it’s important to take care of yourself. Exercising regularly, meditating, and sleeping on a set schedule could help to minimize your symptoms. Don’t sit around all day, and try not to fill your day with stress and anxiety.

• 2. Eliminate Some Foods - Some foods have been shown to aggravate the symptoms of MS. These include highly processed foods, polyunsaturated vegetable oils (like those in margarine), artificial sweeteners and preservatives, and gluten. For many, eliminating grains altogether seems to lessen symptoms markedly.

• 3. Add Other Foods - Other foods have shown promise in healing the body and reducing MS symptoms. These include: foods rich in Omega-3 fats (fish, nuts, etc.), grass-fed proteins, healthy fat sources (coconut oil, olives, avocados, etc.), and fermented food and drinks (kefir, apple cider vinegar, kimchi, and sauerkraut).

• 4. Use Herbs - Anti-inflammatory herbs may help when symptoms are at their worst. Some helpful herbs and spices that are easily added to foods are turmeric, ginger, thyme, cinnamon, oregano, rosemary, and clove. Evening primrose oil, more difficult to find, may also help because of its concentration of gamma-linoleic acid, which helps optimize nervous system function.

In addition to these changes, a vitamin D supplement may help with MS. Some research suggests there is a link between low vitamin D levels and the rate at which MS patients experience relapses. The best vitamin D source is regular sunshine, however, you can also get a D3 supplement if you fear you are deficient.

Another study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry found that a cannabis extract has positive effects on the treatment of multiple sclerosis symptoms.

Natural treatments for multiple sclerosis depend mostly on living a healthy lifestyle and abstaining from highly processed and dangerous foods. This can be done with a significant amount of determination and motivation. And when the symptoms of MS are at their peak, they provide a serious amount of motivation to maintain even tough lifestyle changes.

Additional Sources:

NaturalNews/036983

Read more: http://naturalsociety.com/4-broad-natural-treatments-for-multiple-sclerosis-ms/#ixzz2TrczPvDh 

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Better than Wheatgrass: Raw Veggie Juice and Sprouts

Better than Wheatgrass: Raw Veggie Juice and Sprouts

May 20, 2013 | 18,716 views | + Add to Favorites

By Dr. Mercola

If you want to improve your nutrition and are itching to grow your own food, sprouts are an ideal choice.

Virtually all sprouted seeds and grains fall in the “superfood” category, and they’re really easy to grow, even if you don’t have a lot of space or an outdoor garden. But what about green grasses like wheatgrass?

Wheatgrass is grown from wheat seeds, and contains high amounts of chlorophyll. Most people juice it, but wheat grass is also available in supplement form.

My main objection to wheatgrass is I believe vegetable sprouts like sunflower, broccoli, and pea sprouts are far more beneficial as a food if you want to improve your nutrition.   If you're going to grow sprouts, I wouldn't put wheatgrass at the top of the list.

As reported in the featured article by the Chicago Tribune:1

“Its health benefits and curative powers were promoted in the 1940s by Ann Wigmore, a Lithuanian immigrant to Boston and holistic health practitioner.

Wigmore believed humans could benefit by following the practice of dogs and cats by eating grass and regurgitating to feel better.

She developed the wheatgrass diet, a program which, in addition to consuming wheat grass juice, avoids all meats, dairy products and cooked foods, and focuses on 'live' foods such as sprouts, raw produce, nuts and seeds.

The diet and its many touted health and curative claims -- detoxification of the body, controlling diabetes, prevention of bacterial infections, the common cold and fever; and protection against ailments like skin problems, gout and even cancer -- took off and continues to be alive and well today.”

Potential Benefits of Wheatgrass

As you can see, Wigmore’s inspiration for eating wheatgrass is not really based on its nutritional content but rather the idea that humans might benefit in the same manner as some animals which, upon eating grass, vomit and thereby feel better.

Many alternative health practitioners believe in wheatgrass as being highly beneficial. The Hippocrates Health Institute,2 for example, has a long list of purported benefits of wheatgrass, including the following (for the full list, please see the HHI web site):

• Increases red blood-cell count; cleanses the blood, organs and gastrointestinal tract; simulates metabolism
• Stimulates your thyroid gland
• Reduces over-acidity in your blood and relieve peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, constipation, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal complaints
• Detoxifies your liver and blood and chemically neutralizes environmental pollutants
• Its high chlorophyll content may help oxygenate your blood. Keeping a tray of live wheatgrass near your bed may also enhance the oxygen in the air and generate healthful negative ions to help improve your sleep
• May help reduce damaging effects of radiation, courtesy of the enzyme SOD—an anti-inflammatory compound

They also claim there are a number of health benefits you can reap simply from topical exposure, such as rubbing some juice onto your skin or adding wheatgrass to your bath.

“[Wheatgrass] can double your red blood cell count just by soaking in it. Renowned nutritionist Dr. Bernard Jensen found that no other blood builders are superior to green juices and wheatgrass. In his book 'Health Magic Through Chlorophyll'

He mentions several cases where he was able to double the red blood cell count in a matter of days merely by having patients soak in a chlorophyll-water bath. Blood building results occur even more rapidly when patients drink green juices and wheatgrass regularly.”

Others, like Mother Nature Network,3 point out that there are no medical studies to support Dr. Jensen’s findings. According to Dr. Chris Reynolds,4 who goes by the moniker “Dr. Wheatgrass,” the benefits of wheatgrass are primarily biological, not nutritional.

“Reynolds argues that there is plenty of evidence to support wheatgrass extract’s role in supporting biological functions, including one preliminary study in the Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research,5 which suggests that fermented wheatgrass extract 'exerts significant antitumor activity.'

The study concludes that the extract requires further evaluation as a candidate for clinical combination drug regimens,” Mother Nature Network writes.

Important Details to Know BEFORE You Use Wheat Grass

Wheatgrass contains large amounts of chlorophyll, and is thought to have a wide variety of health promoting properties; however these benefits are largely related to the quality of how it is grown.  Like any food or supplement, quality is highly variable and if you chose to use it, this is important to pay attention to. It is far less expensive to grow your own, but more importantly you can typically grow a much higher quality grass.

Harvest time is crucial and that is typically around one week after you germinate the seeds at what is called the “jointing stage.”  Some stores that sell wheat grass will harvest it once and then let it grow again for a second harvest  Some also sell frozen wheat grass but this is far less effective than freshly harvested wheat grass.

Most wheat grass tastes very bitter  Many believe that they need to grow it in direct sunlight but this actually contributes to the bitterness. Expose the grass only to indirect sunlight, and harvest it right at the jointing stage when it is at its sweetest.

One of the complications of growing wheat grass is that it is very easy to be contaminated with mold due to it's tightly bound roots in moist soil. If this occurs, the mold can make you sick. Mold typically grows at the bottom of the wheat grass near the soil. Keeping a gentle breeze blowing, keeping the humidity low, and reducing the quantity of seed so the growth is less dense are three approaches to help limit this. 

If you decide to use wheat grass you need to be very careful though, as excessive amounts of wheat grass can cause you to become very nauseous and catalyze a healing crisis that could make you very sick.  It is also not a food but a detoxifying herb and should not be consumed every day for long periods of time.

It is not uncommon for people who drink wheatgrass juice daily for several months or years to develop an aversion to the taste, or even become nauseated by it. Since it is such a highly detoxifying medicinal herb that can cause cleanse or “Herxheimer” reactions,  it’s a good idea to use wheatgrass juice judiciously. When first starting wheatgrass you should only use one ounce once or twice a day, gradually working up to two ounces.

The Benefits of Raw Juice

While I’m not convinced that wheatgrass is an ideal choice as a food, there’s no doubt that sprouts and green juice play a significant role in optimal nutrition. At the end of this article, I’ll review growing your own sprouts, but first, let’s look at juicing.

Virtually every health authority recommends that we get 6-8 servings of vegetables and fruits per day and very few of us actually get that. Juicing is an easy way to virtually guarantee that you will reach your daily target for vegetables. There are three main reasons why you will want to consider incorporating vegetable juicing into your optimal health program:

1. Juicing helps you absorb all the nutrients from the vegetables. This is important because most of us have impaired digestion as a result of making less-than-optimal food choices over many years. This limits your body's ability to absorb all the nutrients from the vegetables. Juicing will help to "pre-digest" them for you, so you will receive most of the nutrition, rather than having it go down the toilet.
2. Juicing allows you to consume a healthier amount of vegetables in an efficient manner. If you are a carb type, you should eat one pound of raw vegetables per 50 pounds of body weight per day. Some people may find eating that many vegetables difficult, but it can be easily accomplished with a quick glass of vegetable juice.
3. You can add a wider variety of vegetables in your diet. Many people eat the same vegetable salads every day. This violates the principle of regular food rotation and increases your chance of developing an allergy to a certain food. But with juicing, you can juice a wide variety of vegetables that you may not normally enjoy eating whole.

Drinking your juice first thing in the morning can give you a natural energy boost without resorting to stimulants like coffee. Since the juice is already in an easily digestible form, it can help revitalize your energy levels within as little as 20 minutes. For more information about juicing, including detailed recommendations for the types of vegetables to use; different types of juicers, and other helpful tips, please see my three-part interview with Cherie Calbom, better known as The Juice Lady (Part 1, part 2, and part 3). Below, I give a quick overview of juicing, and how to find a juicer that doesn’t cost a fortune.

Sprouts—A DIY Superfood

Wheatgrass is not to be viewed as a food; it is a potent healing agent if used carefully and cautiously. There are other sprouts that fill the role of food very well.  Sprouts are important to optimize your health, as they are an oft-ignored powerhouse of nutrition. They can contain up to 30 times the nutrition of organic vegetables grown in your own garden, and allow your body to extract more vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fats from the foods you eat.

During sprouting, minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, bind to protein, making them more bioavailable. Furthermore, both the quality of the protein and the fiber content of beans, nuts, seeds and grains improves when sprouted. The content of vitamins and essential fatty acids also increase dramatically during the sprouting process. While you can sprout a variety of different beans, nuts, seeds and grains, sprouts in general have the following beneficial attributes:

• Support for cell regeneration
• Powerful sources of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and enzymes that protect against free radical damage
• Alkalinizing effect on your body, which is thought to protect against disease, including cancer (as many tumors are acidic)
• Abundantly rich in oxygen, which can also help protect against abnormal cell growth, viruses and bacteria that cannot survive in an oxygen-rich environment

My two favorites are pea and sunflower sprouts. They provide some of the highest quality protein you can eat. Sprouted sunflower seeds also contain plenty of iron and chlorophyll, the latter of which will help detoxify your blood and liver. Of the seeds, sunflower seeds are among the best in terms of overall nutritional value, and sprouting them will augment their nutrient content by as much as 300 to 1,200 percent! Similarly, sprouting peas will improve the bioavailability of zinc and magnesium.

Planting and Harvesting Sprouts at Home

I used to grow sprouts in Ball jars over 10 years ago but stopped doing that. I am strongly convinced that actually growing them in soil is far easier and produces far more nutritious and abundant food. It is also less time consuming. With Ball jars you need to rinse them several times a day to prevent mold growth. Trays also take up less space. I am now consuming one whole tray you see below every 2-3 days and to produce that much food with Ball jars I would need dozens of jars. 

I am in the process of compiling more specific detailed videos for future articles but I thought I would whet your appetite and give you a preview with the photos below. For now you can get instructions on how to grow them by viewing a step-by-step guide at rawfoods-livingfoods.com.6 One of the important details that many fail to do is to cover the sprouting tray with a cover that not only puts the sprouts in darkness but has a heavy weight on it. The weight is necessary to produce a high quality sprout. It needs the exercise to simulate breaking through the soil.

About to plant wheat grass and sunflower seeds - 2 days after soaking	Wheat grass and sunflower seeds – 3 ½ days post germination
Sunflower seeds and pea sprouts – 3 days until ready for harvest	Sunflower seed sprouts and wheat Grass - ready to harvest

Sprouts are a perfect complement to fermented vegetables. My current salad consists of about half a pound of sunflower sprouts, four ounces of fermented vegetables, half a large red pepper, several tablespoon of raw organic butter, some red onion, a whole avocado and about three ounces of salmon or chicken. It is my primary meal. In the late afternoon, I typically only have macadamia nuts and home made coconut candy in addition to drinking 16-32 ounces of green vegetable juice. I break it up occasionally by going to a restaurant with friends.

Arthritis Linked to Gingivitis Bacteria

Arthritis Linked to Gingivitis Bacteria

Posted on: Sunday, May 19th 2013 at 5:00 am

Written By: Case Adams, Naturopath

A growing body of research is confirming that the bacteria that infect our gums may well be the cause of many cases of arthritis.

Dentistry researchers from Germany's Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg recently analyzed the synovial fluid of 42 patients - average age of 54 years old - with rheumatoid arthritis. They compared this information with 114 control subjects around the same age who had no arthritis and no other rheumatoid conditions.

The synovial fluid is the fluid within the joint capsule, which will typically contain inflammatory components relating to the arthritis. The researchers analyzed the synovial fluid for DNA that matched the genome of oral bacteria – specifically Porphyromonas gingivalis – the bacteria most known to be at the root of most gingivitis infections.

The researchers found that the rheumatoid arthritis patients were about four-and-a-half times more likely to harbor the DNA of the Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteria within their synovial fluid compared to the non-arthritic adults.

They also found that the arthritic patients were 12 times more likely to have Porphyromonas gingivalis infections and Porphyromonas gingivalis DNA in the joint fluid.

Furthermore, missing teeth correlated directly with cases of rheumatoid arthritis in this study. In other words, the more missing teeth, the more likely the patients had rheumatoid arthritis.

The researchers concluded: "DNA of periodontopathogens can be found in synovial fluid and oral bacteria may play a role in the pathogenesis of arthritis."

Learn about natural solutions for arthritis.

This study underscores similar findings in other studies.

Last year researchers from New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases analyzed newly diagnosed and new onset rheumatoid arthritis patients for links between gingivitis and their arthritis.

The researchers utilized pyrosequencing to analyze the joints along with their oral cavities. They also compared these findings with healthy control patients and with existing chronic rheumatoid arthritis patients. The researchers also utilized analysis of the anti-porphyromonas gingivalis antibody to determine previous exposure to P. gingivalis.

The researchers found that the patients with arthritis had an increased amount of gingivitis bacteria exposure, notably of P. gingivalis. They also found that the worse the gingivitis infection and periodontal disease, the more severe the rheumatoid arthritis.

The newly onset RA patients had a 78% similar match with the P. gingivalis in their oral cavity.

In their conclusion, the researchers stated: "Patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis exhibited a high prevalence of periodontal disease at disease onset, despite their young age and paucity of smoking history."

Research from Case Western Reserve University reviewed multiple studies and reports of arthritis and other infections linked to oral bacteria or the DNA of oral bacteria. The researchers found that oral bacteria including Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans, and Campylobacter rectus are implicated in what the scientists referred to as "extra-oral translocation."

Quite simply "extra-oral translocation" means the bacteria are moving – translocating – from the oral cavity to other parts of the body.

Researchers from the European University of Brittany and the University of Rennes have determined that another oral bacteria - Capnocytophaga spp. – which will infect both human gums and animal gums – have been found infecting joints of immune-suppressed people and causing arthritis as well as bone implant infections.

Researchers from Japan's Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences studied 54 patients with both rheumatoid arthritis and chronic periodontitis (also considered gingivitis). The researchers found that the inflammatory agents found among the oral cavities – especially evident during probing – correlated with the inflammatory responses relating to their arthritis. This is specific to changes in a bone inflammation agent called matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), relating to interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Researchers from New Zealand's Dunedin School of Medicine have also found the correlation. Their findings stated that: "The oral cavity has its own characteristic microbiota, which concentrates in periodontal tissues and is in close association with a permeable epithelium."

They went on to state: "Evidence is presented to support the theory that an altered microbiota is a factor in the initiation and perpetuation of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis...." and

"Mechanisms through which the microbiota may be involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases include altered epithelial and mucosal permeability, loss of immune tolerance to components of the indigenous microbiota, and trafficking of both activated immune cells and antigenic material to the joints."

Belgium doctors have described two cases where Streptococcus gordonii has been implicated in septic arthritis. The doctors found the same bacteria in the oral cavity and in the joints among the patients.

Learn more about oral bacteria and oral probiotics.

References

• Piau C, Arvieux C, Bonnaure-Mallet M, Jolivet-Gougeon A. Capnocytophaga spp. involvement in bone infections: a review. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2013 Jun;41(6):509-15.
• Scher JU, Ubeda C, Equinda M, Khanin R, Buischi Y, Viale A, Lipuma L, Attur M, Pillinger MH, Weissmann G, Littman DR, Pamer EG, Bretz WA, Abramson SB. Periodontal disease and the oral microbiota in new-onset rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2012 Oct;64(10):3083-94.
• Han YW, Wang X. Mobile Microbiome: Oral Bacteria in Extra-oral Infections and Inflammation. J Dent Res. 2013 Jun;92(6):485-91.
• Reichert S, Haffner M, Keyßer G, Schäfer C, Stein JM, Schaller HG, Wienke A, Strauss H, Heide S, Schulz S. Detection of oral bacterial DNA in synovial fluid. J Clin Periodontol. 2013 Jun;40(6):591-8.
• Kobayashi T, Okada M, Ito S, Kobayashi D, Ishida K, Kojima A, Narita I, Murasawa A, Yoshie H. Assessment of Interleukin-6 Receptor Inhibition Therapy on Periodontal Condition in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Chronic Periodontitis. J Periodontol. 2013 Mar 14.
• Pääkkönen M, Peltola H. Bone and joint infections. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2013 Apr;60(2):425-36.
• Yeoh N, Burton JP, Suppiah P, Reid G, Stebbings S. The role of the microbiome in rheumatic diseases. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2013 Mar;15(3):314.
• Yombi Jc, Belkhir L, Jonckheere S, Wilmes D, Cornu O, Vandercam B, Rodriguez-Villalobos H. Streptococcus gordonii septic arthritis: two cases and review of literature. BMC Infect Dis. 2012 Sep 13;12:215.

Case Adams is a California Naturopath and holds a Ph.D. in Natural Health Sciences. His focus is upon science-based natural health solutions. He is the author of 25 books on natural health and numerous print and internet articles. His work can be found at http://www.caseadams.com.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of GreenMedInfo or its staff.

An Incredible Superfood: The Many Benefits of Coconut Oil

An Incredible Superfood: The Many Benefits of Coconut OilAn Incredible Superfood: The Many Benefits of Coconut Oil

by Elizabeth Renter 

May 5th, 2013 

Updated 05/05/2013 at 5:52 am

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If you haven’t noticed lately, the western world is on a bit of a coconut oil kick. It’s in all the popular blogs—from nutrition to hair care—and it’s no longer difficult to find a few different varieties of the oil in normal grocery stores. This is a good thing. Coconut oil should have never been demonized, as it was, and deserves a top spot in the natural health world.

Vilified Coconut Oil

Several decades ago, coconut oil was vilified. It was made to look like the “bad guy” in comparison with its competitors from the corn and soy industries. They were successful in their campaign to squash the coconut oil competition by highlighting it’s saturated fat content and tying that to heart disease. Now, however, coconut oil and its medium chain triglycerides (saturated fats) are back on top and being recognized for numerous health benefits.

The health benefits of coconut oil are amazing; the oil possesses antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-bacterial, and antioxidant properties. The lauric, capric and caprylic acids within the oil are credited with many of these benefits. It’s the lauric acid, for instance, that is converted into monolaurin which in in turn fights the bugs associated with herpes, giardia, listeria, influenza, and even HIV.

Coconut oil benefits truly are many, and it doesn’t take much. Just a tablespoon or so a day could make significant differences in your health. Coconut oil for Alzheimer’s and dementia has been proven especially beneficial.

Coconut Oil Benefits – Topical Applications

Topically, coconut oil can be used on the skin and hair. For your skin, it’s great for soothing dryness and even irritation from rashes. It is also good for fighting wrinkles and signs of aging. Common skin disorders like psoriasis and eczema can be taken care of, along with simple chores like removing eye makeup without the use of chemicals.

Used on your hair, coconut oil can increase shine and reduce static electricity. It can also be used as a scalp massage to eliminate flaking and itchy dry scalp.

Taken Internally

Most people use coconut internally. And it’s here we see the majority of its benefits. Potential internal benefits of coconut oil include:

• Anti-cancer
• Alzheimer’s treatment
• Dental health including cavity prevention and reversal
• Diabetes management
• Weight loss aid
• Improved digestion
• Increased immune function
• Heart disease prevention
• And more…

Best of all, coconut oil is easy to add to your daily regimen. Use it in sautéing vegetables, raw in smoothies and juices, and in your baking and cooking. It’s flavor goes well with sweeter dishes but can temper a spicy dish just as well.

Read more: http://naturalsociety.com/incredible-superfood-coconut-oil-benefits/#ixzz2ThkxNc6U 

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