Mind and Body Part 1

What to Do About Stargardt's Disease - Dr. Sam Berne - Holistic Eye Care

What to Do About Stargardt's Disease - Dr. Sam Berne - Holistic Eye Care: Howdy folks, it’s Dr. Sam and I want to talk to you for a minute about Stargardt’s disease. Stargardt’s is a type of age-related macular degeneration, but it occurs in children and is caused by a gene mutation. In terms of dietary changes, you want to use carotenoids that do not convert to beta-carotene and …

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Increase Your Magnesium Intake

Increase Your Magnesium Intake

1.7K	January 29, 2018 • 138,350 views Edition: English

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Story at-a-glance

• Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in your body and the second most common intracellular cation (positively charged ion) after potassium
• Magnesium is required for the healthy function of most cells, especially your heart, kidneys and muscles. A lack of magnesium will impede your cellular metabolic function and deteriorate mitochondrial function
• Magnesium resides at the center of the chlorophyll molecule, so if you rarely eat leafy greens, you’re likely not getting all the magnesium you need unless you’re supplementing
• Some researchers insist the magnesium RDA is inadequate, warning that many suffer from subclinical magnesium deficiency that can compromise their cardiovascular health
• Evaluate your signs and symptoms of magnesium insufficiency and make sure you eat magnesium-rich foods and/or take a magnesium supplement, balanced with vitamins D3, K2 and calcium. Low potassium and calcium are also common laboratory signs indicating magnesium deficiency

30 Tips in 30 Days Designed to Help You Take Control of Your Health

This article is part of the 30 Day Resolution Guide series. Each day in January a new tip was added to help you take control of your health. For a complete list of the tips click HERE

By Dr. Mercola

As the fourth most abundant mineral in your body and the second most common intracellular cation1 or positively charged ion (after potassium), magnesium is required for the healthy function of most cells in your body, especially your heart, kidneys and muscles. A lack of magnesium will impede your cellular metabolic function and deteriorate mitochondrial function, which in turn can lead to more serious health problems.

Unfortunately, magnesium insufficiency or deficiency are extremely common around the world. According to 2011 data,2 45 percent of American adults do not get the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) amount of magnesium from their diet, and teen statistics3 published in 2014 suggests nearly 92 percent of teenagers between 14 to 18 do not meet the estimated average requirement for magnesium from food alone. The most likely reason for this is because they do not eat fresh vegetables on a regular basis.

Magnesium resides at the center of the chlorophyll molecule. So, if you rarely eat leafy greens, you’re probably getting very little magnesium from your diet. Moreover, some researchers insist the RDA is inadequate, warning that many suffer from subclinical magnesium deficiency that can compromise their cardiovascular health.4 Adding to the problem is that a regular serum magnesium is a poor test, as only 1 percent of the magnesium in your body is actually found in your bloodstream.

Your best bet is to have an RBC magnesium test done, which measures the amount of magnesium in your red blood cells. You can also evaluate and track signs and symptoms of magnesium deficiency, and to make sure you eat magnesium-rich foods and/or take a magnesium supplement, balanced with vitamins D3, K2 and calcium. Alternatively, keep an eye on your potassium and calcium levels, as low potassium and calcium are common laboratory signs of magnesium deficiency.5

Why Most People Need Magnesium Supplementation

While eating organic unprocessed foods will help optimize your magnesium from food, it’s not a surefire way to ward off magnesium deficiency. Most soils have become severely depleted of nutrients, including magnesium, which is why some experts believe most people need supplemental magnesium. If you frequently eat processed foods, your risk of deficiency is magnified. As noted in a 2001 paper:6

“Unfortunately, [magnesium] Mg absorption and elimination depend on a very large number of variables … Mg absorption requires plenty of Mg in the diet, [selenium] Se, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamins B6 and D. Furthermore, it is hindered by excess fat.

On the other hand, Mg levels are decreased by excess ethanol, salt, phosphoric acid (sodas) and coffee intake, by profuse sweating, by intense, prolonged stress, by excessive menstruation and vaginal flux, by diuretics and other drugs and by certain parasites (pinworms).”

Taking a magnesium supplement is particularly advisable if you:7

Experience symptoms of insufficiency or deficiency

Have hypertension

Engage in strenuous exercise on a regular basis. Research shows just six to 12 weeks of strenuous physical activity can result in magnesium deficiency,8 likely due to increased magnesium demand in your skeletal muscle

Are taking diuretics or medication for hypertension, especially thiazides, which have been shown to induce undetectable magnesium deficiency9 (while patients may have normal or even high serum magnesium, their bodies are actually depleted of magnesium)

Have had or are planning heart transplant or open heart surgery

Are at risk for or have had a heart attack, or if you experience ventricular arrhythmia

Are insulin resistant or diabetic (as this increases magnesium depletion)

Have congestive heart failure

How Magnesium Benefits Your Body

Magnesium is involved in more than 600 different biochemical reactions in your body, which play important roles in:

Creation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of your body10,11	Metabolism of calcium, potassium, zinc, phosphorous, iron, sodium, hydrochloric acid, acetylcholine and nitric oxide, as well as 300 enzymes, and the activation of thiamine.12 Magnesium is also required for DNA, RNA and protein synthesis and integrity13
Mitochondrial function and health. Magnesium is required both for increasing the number of mitochondria in your cells and for increasing mitochondrial efficiency	Regulation of blood sugar and insulin sensitivity, which is important for the prevention of type 2 diabetes14,15,16,17 (In one study,18 prediabetics with the highest magnesium intake reduced their risk for blood sugar and metabolic problems by 71 percent)
Relaxation of blood vessels and normalizing blood pressure	Detoxification, including the synthesis of glutathione and likely lowering the damage from EMF by blocking voltage gated calcium channels
Muscle and nerve function, including the action of your heart muscle	Antioxidant defense via a number of different mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory activity and support of endothelial and mitochondrial function19
Maintenance of ionic gradients — keeping intracellular sodium and calcium low and potassium high — and maintaining cellular and tissue integrity20	Mental and physical relaxation; stress antidote21

Signs and Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

Common signs and symptoms of magnesium insufficiency include the following.22,23 For a more exhaustive list of signs and symptoms, see Dr. Carolyn Dean’s blog post, “Gauging Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms,”24 which will give you a checklist to go through every few weeks. This will also help you gauge how much magnesium you need to resolve your deficiency symptoms.

Seizures; muscle spasms, especially “charley horses” or spasms in your calf muscle that happen when you stretch your leg and/or eye twitches	The Trousseau sign.25 To check for this sign, a blood pressure cuff is inflated around your arm. The pressure should be greater than your systolic blood pressure and maintained for three minutes. By occluding the brachial artery in your arm, spasms in your hand and forearm muscles are induced. If you are magnesium deficient, the lack of blood flow will cause your wrist and metacarpophalangeal joint to flex and your fingers to adduct. For a picture of this hand/wrist position, see Wikipedia26
Numbness or tingling in your extremities	Low potassium and calcium levels
Insulin resistance	Increased number of headaches and/or migraines
High blood pressure, heart arrhythmias and/or coronary spasms	Low energy, fatigue and/or loss of appetite

Common Pathologies Associated With Magnesium Deficiency

Considering the influence of magnesium, it’s no great surprise that deficiency can snowball into significant health problems. When magnesium intake is low, your body compensates, trying to maintain a normal serum magnesium level by pulling the mineral from your bones, muscles and internal organs. Common pathologies associated with magnesium deficiency include but are not limited to:27,28

Hypertension,29 cardiovascular disease,30 arrhythmias31 and sudden cardiac death32	Recurrent or persistent bacterial infections such as sinus, vaginal, middle ear, lung and throat infections due to low levels of nitric oxide
Conditions associated with peroxynitrite damage, such as migraines,33,34 multiple sclerosis, glaucoma and Alzheimer's disease	Kidney and liver damage
Impotence (also associated with low nitric oxide levels)	Fungal infections due to depressed immune function
Increased risk of death from all causes35	Type 2 diabetes.36 Estimates suggest nearly half of all diabetics are magnesium deficient.37 Low magnesium levels also affect insulin resistance, a precursor to Type 2 diabetes.38 High levels of insulin in the blood, common with insulin resistance, also lead to further loss of magnesium39
Premenstrual syndrome, mood swings, aggression, anxiety and depression40 (as magnesium acts as a catalyst for mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin)	Impaired hearing
Osteoporosis	Muscle cramps and muscle weakness

Even Subclinical Magnesium Deficiency May Place Your Cardiovascular Health at Risk

Magnesium is particularly important for heart health, helping you maintain normal blood pressure and protect against stroke, and even subclinical deficiency can lead to cardiovascular problems. The importance of magnesium for heart health is addressed in “Subclinical Magnesium Deficiency: A Principal Driver of Cardiovascular Disease and a Public Health Crisis,” published in the Open Heart journal. According to the authors:41

“… ‘Various studies have shown that at least 300 mg of magnesium must be supplemented to establish a significantly increased serum magnesium concentrations …’ In other words, most people need an additional 300 mg of magnesium per day in order to lower their risk of developing numerous chronic diseases.

So while the recommended … (RDA) for magnesium (between 300 and 420 mg /day for most people) may prevent frank magnesium deficiency, it is unlikely to provide optimal health and longevity, which should be the ultimate goal.”

A scientific analysis42 of 40 studies published between 1999 and 2016, involving more than 1 million participants in nine countries, also found that, compared to those with the lowest intakes, those with the highest magnesium intakes had:

• A 10 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease
• 12 percent lower risk of stroke
• 26 percent lower risk of Type 2 diabetes

Increasing magnesium intake by 100 mg per day lowered participants’ risk for heart failure by 22 percent; stroke by 7 percent; diabetes by 19 percent and all-cause mortality by 10 percent. While the analysis was based on observational studies and did not prove a direct link, the researchers noted the results support the theory that increasing your magnesium intake may provide overall health benefits. An earlier review,43 which included studies dating as far back as 1937, suggests low magnesium may in fact be the greatest predictor of heart disease.

Magnesium-Rich Foods

While you may still need magnesium supplementation (due to denatured soils), it would certainly be wise to try to get as much magnesium from your diet as possible. Organic unprocessed foods would be your best bet, but if they’re grown in magnesium-depleted soil, even organics could be low in this vital mineral. Dark-green leafy vegetables lead the pack when it comes to magnesium content, and juicing your greens is an excellent way to boost your intake. Greens with the highest magnesium levels include:

Spinach	Swiss chard	Turnip greens	Beet greens	Collard greens
Broccoli	Brussel sprouts	Kale	Bok Choy	Romaine lettuce

Other foods that are particularly rich in magnesium include:44

Raw cacao nibs and/or unsweetened cocoa powder One ounce (28.35 grams) or raw cacao nibs contain about 65 mg of magnesium.

Avocados One cup of avocado on average (values differ depending on whether they come from California or Florida) contains about 44 mg of magnesium. Avocados are also a good source of potassium, which helps offset the hypertensive effects of sodium.

Seeds and nuts Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds score among the highest, with one-quarter cup providing an estimated 191 mg, 129 mg and 41 mg of magnesium respectively. Cashews, almonds and Brazil nuts are also good sources; one-fourth cup of cashews contains 89 mg of magnesium.

Fatty fish Interestingly, fatty fish such as wild caught Alaskan salmon and mackerel are also high in magnesium. A half-fillet (6 ounces) of salmon can provide about 52 mg of magnesium.

Herbs and spices Herbs and spices pack lots of nutrients in small packages and this includes magnesium. Some of the most magnesium-rich varieties are coriander, chives, cumin seed, parsley, mustard seeds, fennel, basil and cloves.

Fruits and berries Ranking high for magnesium are papaya, dried peaches and apricots, tomato and watermelon. For example, 1 cup of papaya can provide nearly 30 mg of magnesium; 1 cup of tomato gives you 17.

Organic, raw grass fed yogurt and natto Yogurt made from raw organic grass fed milk with no added sugars; 1 cup of natto yields 201 mg of magnesium.

Don’t Let Subclinical Magnesium Deficiency Take You Down

If you’ve not been paying attention to your magnesium status before, make a point of doing so this year. Chances are, your health is being silently undermined by a lack of magnesium. Remember, this mineral is required for hundreds of enzymatic processes, healthy cellular metabolism and mitochondrial function, which in turn are crucial for optimal health and disease prevention.

Also, while the RDA for magnesium is around 310 to 420 mg per day depending on your age and sex,45 many experts believe you may need around 600 to 900 mg per day. As noted in Open Heart:46

“Investigations of the macro- and micro-nutrient supply in Paleolithic nutrition of the former hunter/gatherer societies showed a magnesium uptake with the usual diet of about 600 mg magnesium/day … This means our metabolism is best adapted to a high magnesium intake … In developed countries, the average intake of magnesium is slightly over 4 mg/kg/day … [T]he average intake of magnesium in the USA is around 228 mg/day in women and 266mg/day in men …”

Personally, I believe many may benefit from amounts as high as 1 to 2 grams (1,000 to 2,000 mg) of elemental magnesium per day. The reason why I believe the higher dose is warranted is because most of us have EMF exposures that we simply are unable to mitigate, and the extra magnesium should help lower the damage from that exposure.

Be careful when using higher magnesium doses though, as magnesium is a powerful laxative. In some ways, this is good — it’s hard to overdose on magnesium as excessive magnesium is simply flushed out. If you decide to do a five-day water fast, be careful to stop all your oral magnesium, or you’ll end up with “disaster pants.”

You may want to use magnesium threonate to provide at least some of your magnesium, as it appears to be most efficient at penetrating cell membranes, including your mitochondria and blood-brain barrier. Another effective way to boost your magnesium level is to take Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) baths, as the magnesium will effectively absorb through your skin.

I actually prepare a supersaturated solution of Epsom salts by dissolving 7 tablespoons of the salt into 6 ounces of water and heating it until all the salt dissolves. I pour it into a dropper bottle and then apply it to my skin and rub fresh aloe leaves over it to dissolve it. This is an easy and inexpensive way to increase your magnesium and not suffer from the major laxative side effect of most oral magnesium dosing schedules, especially at the higher levels.

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Bone chilling speech about threat of Islam in Europe

Flu vaccine BOMBSHELL: Flu shots found to SPREAD influenza infections

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Most furniture is full of toxins which pollute your indoor air; here are 5 ways to eliminate the poison

Monday, January 29, 2018 by: Zoey Sky
Tags: badcancer, badhealth, badpollution, chemicals, dangerous chemicals, furniture, green living, indoor air, toxins, VOC, VOCs, volatile organic compounds

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(Natural News) Your home is supposed to be a place where you can relax and unwind, but did you know that your furniture can contain various toxins?

Even brand new furniture can be full of toxic chemicals used in various “harmless” features. These compounds that make furniture comfy to lounge around in belong to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a class of chemicals.

VOCs are compounds that act as toxic gases. They can pollute the air and once inhaled, can cause negative side effects like “eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, and nausea.” VOCs can even harm your liver, kidneys, and your central nervous system. Some VOCs can also cause cancer.

Listed below are some of the various toxins that can be found in furniture.

1. Acetaldehyde — A chemical used in perfumes for that “new-car” or “new-furniture” smell, polyester resins, dyes, rubber production, and for tanning agent production.
2. Benzene — Benzene can be found in detergents and dyes, which can be used on your furniture. It is also used as a solvent for waxes, resins, and plastics that are used to make furniture.
3. Formaldehyde — A a colorless chemical with a strong odor, formaldehyde is often found in pressed-wood products, glues, adhesives, plywood, fabrics, and coatings for various products.
4. Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) — HBCH belongs to a category of toxic flame retardants.
5. Perchloroethylene — Commonly used for dry cleaning fabrics and metal degreasing.
6. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) — Often used to make carpets, leathers, and upholstering to waterproof and stain-resistant.
7. Phthalates — A class of chemicals used in various products, phthalates are used on floor tiles, furniture upholstery, carpet backings, and packaging for different products.
8. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers — These are additional flame retardants classified in a cluster because they contain several chemical combinations. They seep out of foams, plastics, and fabrics. They can pollute the air and accumulate in the environment.
9. Trichloroethylene — A VOC used as a solvent for dry cleaning and metal degreasing.
10. Vinyl Acetate — A chemical used to make polyvinyl, adhesives, paints, films, and lacquers.

Removing toxins in your furniture

Here’s how to remove or minimize the toxin levels in your furniture:

1.  Air purifiers and PCO cleaners — A high-quality air filter can significantly reduce the dangerous chemicals that are released into the air from your furniture. Take note that while PCO cleaners use UV light to change gas-based pollutants into harmless products, they can’t remove particles like air purifiers.
2. Baking soda — A lot of VOCs are acidic so you can use baking soda, which is alkaline, as a deodorizer. Baking soda can trap harmful gases and provide some relief. Sprinkle baking soda on your furniture or over carpets. Using the brush attachment on your vacuum, work it into the material. Let the baking soda sit for a while, then vacuum the furniture or carpet clean.
3. Charcoal filters — Use a charcoal filter to remove some of the VOCs in the air. Always change the filters to maximize its efficacy.
4. House plants — Several varieties of house plants can help absorb chemicals in the air. Try some purple waffle plant (Hemigraphis alternata), English ivy, purple heart, foxtail fern, and wax plant, which all have incredible air-filtering abilities. (Related: 8 Air Purifying Plants to Naturally Clear Toxins From Your Home.)
5. Ventilation and “off-gassing” — After you buy new furniture, let it “air out” on your lawn or garage. This lets the chemicals evaporate from the furniture quickly. This won’t eliminate VOCs completely, but it can help off-gas other VOCs.

Aside from following the tips above, you can also minimize the toxins in your home by getting rid of any toxic cleaning products that you own. Replace them with eco-friendly products that can be bought from the local natural market.

You can even make your own cleaning products. Try some vinegar and water for a natural disinfectant and degreaser. Baking soda with some clove oil can help disinfect your bathroom.

Ensure that your home is also well-ventilated. Regularly air out the rooms to prevent the accumulation of chemicals.

It’s virtually impossible to eliminate all the toxins in your home, but these tips can help minimize exposure.

You can read more articles about other toxins and how to avoid them at Toxins.news.

Sources include:

Blog.PaleoHacks.com

NaturalNews.com

Congress Quietly Pushing Bill to Require National Biometric ID for 'ALL Americans' -- Here's How to Stop It /react-text

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Earlier this month, Rep. Bob Goodlatte [R-VA-6] introduced H.R.4760 - Securing America's Future Act of 2018, a sweeping bill that entails everything from Education and the Workforce to Homeland Security to the military. Also, tucked away in this 400-page behemoth of a bill are the details of a new biometric National ID card that could soon be required for everyone.

Not surprisingly, there is almost no media coverage on this legislation.

H.R. 4760 establishes a mandatory National Identification system that requires all Americans to carry a government-approved ID containing "biometric features." Without this card, according to the legislation, you will not be able to work in this country.

The legislation was drafted under the auspices of providing a legislative solution for the current beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

However, as Ron Paul points out, "this bill would give DACA recipients a 3-year renewable legal status while forcing a biometric National ID card on virtually everyone else."

"That’s right -- the statists want to control you," said Paul.

Naturally, this bill is wholeheartedly supported by the anti-immigration sect and has gained 70 co-sponsors already in only a few days. As with most police state-promoting legislation, fear of illegal immigration is being pushed to garner such support. However, as Ron Paul points out, the bill won't just target illegals—it targets everyone—and it will use your most private information to track you.

"Under the statists’ National ID scheme, you’d be forced to carry around your National ID card, tied to this massive database, chockfull of biometric identifiers like fingerprints and retina scans," Paul noted. "Without this ID, you won’t be able to legally hold a job -- or likely even open a bank account or even board a plane!"

Paul said there is a very good chance this bill will become law as the support for it seems overwhelming. He laid out three key factors that are detrimental to the freedom of all Americans.

• Allow federal bureaucrats to include biometric identification information on the card, potentially even including fingerprints, retinal scans, or scans of veins on the back of hands, which could easily be used as a tracking device;
• Be required for all U.S. workers regardless of place of birth, making it illegal for anyone to hold a job in the United States who doesn’t obtain an ID card;
• Require all employers to purchase an “ID scanner” to verify the ID cards with the federal government. Every time any citizen applies for a job, the government would know -- and you can bet its only a matter of time until “ID scans” will be required to make even routine purchases, as well.

The control freaks in the US government have been trying for years to pass a National ID card law and it has been successfully resisted every time. This time, however, it appears that the Republicans—who used to be vocally opposed to such measures—are now fully onboard likely because of the bill's anti-immigration language.

As Paul points out,

For years now, statists in BOTH parties have been fighting to RAM their radical National ID-database scheme into law.

In fact, this scheme was a key portion of the infamous failed “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” bills BOTH parties tried to ram through during the Obama administration.

Now, using the momentum behind Trump’s tough talk on immigration and border security, I’m afraid the statists believe the best way to finally enact their National ID scheme is by promoting their bill on Capitol Hill as a “DACA fix” while they sell it to the GOP base as a border “security” measure.

Of course, that’s nothing more than a buzzword meant to trick Americans from all over the country into thinking that Congress is going to seal our southern border.

But in reality, it means something far different.

The “security” members of BOTH parties in the U.S. House want doesn’t target any U.S. border. Instead, it’s meant to create an all-out police state within them.

The truth is, this is exactly the type of battle that often decides whether a country remains free or continues sliding toward tyranny.

Paul's Campaign for Liberty is planning a massive crusade against this tyrannical legislation in the form of billboards, commercials, and other advertising. He's even started a petition to let your representative know how you feel about them ushering in a new level of despotism and control. You can sign this petition here.

Please share this article with your friends and family so we can stop the tyrants in their path.

Are all homeopathic Products Now Illegal?

All Homeopathic Products Now Illegal?

1.7K	January 30, 2018 • 28,742 views

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Story at-a-glance

• In a draft guidance document released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency takes aim at homeopathic remedies
• In a reversal of a long-standing decision to treat homeopathic remedies differently from other drugs, the FDA has now labeled virtually all of these products as “new drugs” that are “subject to FDA enforcement action at any time”
• Homeopathic products are now a close to $3 billion industry and such remedies have been shown effective for a variety of ailments, from the flu and allergies to vitiligo

By Dr. Mercola

About 5 million U.S. adults and 1 million U.S. children use homeopathy every year, and the remedies are known to be “generally safe and unlikely to cause severe adverse reactions,” according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.1 Yet, if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues on its latest crusade, this natural health modality may soon be much harder to come by.

In a draft guidance document released in December 2017, the FDA takes aim at homeopathic remedies, or as they put it, “drug products labeled as homeopathic.”2,3 In a reversal of a long-standing decision to treat homeopathic remedies differently from other drugs, the FDA has now labeled virtually all of these products as “new drugs” that are “subject to FDA enforcement action at any time.”

FDA Declares Homeopathic Drugs Illegal, Plans to Ramp Up Enforcement Actions

While deaths from drugs like opioids are now a public health crisis, homeopathy has maintained a much lower, and presumably safer, profile. Yet, the FDA is using its limited resources to target the latter, citing a need to “protect consumers who choose to use homeopathic products.” Why now? The FDA also cited a “large uptick in products labeled as homeopathic that are being marketed for a wide array of diseases and conditions,” to the extent that homeopathic products are now a close to $3 billion industry.4

Perhaps that’s $3 billion too much for Big Pharma, FDA’s cozy partner in crime. “[I]n one fell swoop, the FDA has declared that virtually every single homeopathic drug on the market is being sold illegally,” the Alliance for Natural Health USA (ANH USA) wrote5 — and it’s not an exaggeration. In essence, the FDA’s guidance reads:6

• Any homeopathic drug that has not been considered “generally recognized as safe and effective” (GRAS/E) is considered a new drug
• FDA has not determined that any homeopathic drugs are GRAS/E
• A new drug cannot be marketed unless it goes through the FDA’s approval process
• No homeopathic drugs have gone through FDA approval nor can any producer afford to take them through the approval process

The FDA then states that it’s proposing a “new, risk-based enforcement approach” and first plans to target the “unapproved drug products labeled as homeopathic that have the greatest potential to cause risk to patients.” This includes:7

Products with reported safety concerns	Products that contain or claim to contain ingredients associated with potentially significant safety concerns
Products for routes of administration other than oral and topical	Products intended to be used for the prevention or treatment of serious and/or life-threatening diseases and conditions
Products for vulnerable populations	Products that do not meet standards of quality, strength or purity as required under the law

FDA Does About-Face, ‘Penalizes an Entire Industry’

The draft guidance is a complete turnaround from the FDA’s prior stance on homeopathic remedies, which stated, under the 1988 Compliance Policy Guide (CPG) 400.400, Conditions Under Which Homeopathic Drugs May be Marketed, they did not need to get FDA approval prior to coming on the market. Instead, the ingredients in homeopathic remedies were to be verified by the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS). As noted by law firm Venable:8

“Essentially, the HPUS creates a monograph for homeopathic drugs to follow, not dissimilar to the OTC drug monographs that FDA has developed for allopathic drugs. Accordingly, by virtue of an ingredient’s inclusion in the HPUS, the ingredient has already been closely examined and determined to be safe and effective by the HPCUS [Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the United States].

Compliance with the HPUS functions as a premarket review of safety and effectiveness in the homeopathic context. By classifying homeopathic drugs as unapproved new drugs, the FDA is requiring a second showing of safety and effectiveness, a step that is unnecessary, not to mention impractical, given that the Agency intends to hold homeopathic products to an allopathic standard that is inappropriate, given the nature of homeopathic products.”

Further, it was by the FDA’s own deliberate decision that homeopathic drugs were excluded from former drug approval processes and intended to be a separate category. Venable continued:9

“The FDA deliberately excluded homeopathic drugs from both the Drug Efficacy Study Implementation (DESI) review (the process by which all drugs approved between 1938 and 1962 were retrospectively evaluated by the FDA for effectiveness) and the OTC Drug Review in 1972 (the process used to develop OTC drug monographs for allopathic drugs), deciding instead in the latter case to regulate homeopathic products separately because of their uniqueness.

By withdrawing the CPG and classifying all homeopathic drugs as unapproved drugs subject to FDA drug approval, the FDA is now requiring higher regulatory thresholds for OTC homeopathic drugs than are applicable to allopathic OTC drugs, many of which are permitted to be sold pursuant to the FDA monograph system. This move in effect penalizes an entire industry for the Agency’s 1972 decision.”

FTC Targeted Homeopathy in 2016

The FDA isn’t the first government agency to target this centuries’ old natural medicine system. In a notice filed in November 2016, the FTC stated that in order for homeopathic remedies to claim they are effective, their makers must provide proof. If no proof is provided, the remedies must state there is “no scientific evidence that the product works.”

In order to not mislead consumers, the FTC further stated that homeopathic remedies lacking sufficient proof must communicate to consumers that “the product’s claims are based only on theories of homeopathy from the 1700s that are not accepted by most modern medical experts.”10 Dana Ullman, MPH, CCH, one of the leading advocates for homeopathy in the U.S., said at the time:11

“Considering the longtime safety history of homeopathic medicines, it is surprising and even shocking that the FTC would consider proposing new regulations now.

One cannot help but wonder who or what is pulling their strings … policies … commonly result from powerful economic forces at play … it is clear that this governmental agency is ignoring important scientific evidence, and one must wonder if they are protecting Big Pharma from competition more than protecting the consumer.”

Does Homeopathy Work?

Based on the theory that “like cures like,” or the Law of Similars, homeopathy was founded by German physician Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. The idea is that health conditions can be healed by treating a person with minute doses of a substance that would produce similar symptoms to their health condition if given in larger doses.

Homeopathy’s other guiding principle is that of the minimum dose, which is based on the premise that the more a substance is diluted, the more potent homeopathic remedy it becomes, known as the “law of infinitesimals.” Homeopathic remedies may be made from plants, minerals or other substances and are commonly administered in pellet form, dissolved under the tongue. A number of intriguing studies suggest homeopathy is effective and safe for a variety of ailments, including flu. According to Ullman:

“The use of a homeopathic medicine called Oscillococcinum is an example of a remedy that can be effective for many people with the flu, though clinical experience suggests that it is most effective when used within 48 hours of getting flu symptoms. Although most homeopathic medicines are made from the plant or mineral kingdom, Oscillococcinum is unusual in that it is made from the heart and liver of a duck.”

In one study, nearly twice as many patients who were given Oscillococcinum recovered from the flu within 48 hours as those given a placebo.12 Further, Ullman noted:

“A different group of researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind study involving 372 patients (188 treated with Oscillococcinum and 187 with placebo) of both sexes, ranging in age from 12 to 60, who presented rectal temperature ≥ 100.4 F, muscle pains, headache, or at least one of the following symptoms: shivering, chest pain, spine pain, coughing, irritation of nasal mucosa or feeling of malaise.13

Patients received three tubes of Oscillococcinum or placebo each day (morning, noon and night) for three days. The results of this trial show a highly statistically significant difference between the two groups, for what concerns disappearance of symptoms after 48 hours (19.2 percent in the Oscillococcinum group versus 17.1 percent in the placebo group) and improvement in symptoms (43.7 percent versus 38.6 percent for placebo).”

Additional research shows homeopathy’s promising role in the following conditions:

In patients with allergies, those using homeopathy reported improvements in nasal airflow compared with a placebo group. With homeopathic treatment, the researchers described a “clear, significant and clinically relevant improvement in nasal inspiratory peak flow, similar to that found with topical steroids.”14	Homeopathy significantly reduced the severity and duration of chemotherapy-induced stomatitis (swelling and sores in the mouth) in children.15
Homeopathic medicine was effective in treating acute childhood diarrhea, decreasing both the duration of the diarrhea and the number of stools per day.16,17	Homeopathy has positive effects in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), particularly in the areas of behavioral and cognitive functions.18
Homeopathy lessened tender point pain and improved quality of life in people with fibromyalgia.19	Homeopathic was effective in treating the early stages of vitiligo in a report of 14 cases20

FDA Continues to Crack Down on Natural Substances, Protect Big Pharma

The FDA’s new push to regulate homeopathic products is eerily reminiscent of their recent crackdown on the plant kratom. Leaves from the kratom tree have been used for pain relief for hundreds of years, but scientists now know they contain compounds that target the brain similarly to opioids, helping to relieve pain. It appears the plant may be safer than opioids for pain relief and could even act as a tool to help those suffering from opioid withdrawal.

In November 2017, however, rather than targeting the prescription opioids that are the root of the opioid epidemic, the FDA issued a public health advisory regarding risks associated with kratom use, suggesting that its usage could “expand the opioid epidemic.” What this comes down to, for some, is the right to choose what form of “medicine” to put in your body. As Dr. Lee Hieb, an orthopedic surgeon and past president of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, wrote in WND:21

“I’m not here to tout any particular over-the-counter remedy, but who gave the FDA total ability to limit what we can take into our bodies, while virtually forcing us to be given what they prescribe? It’s none of their business whether a ‘homeopathic remedy’ is worthless.

That’s an issue of commerce and truth in advertising. I, for one, want the freedom to research and decide for myself what supplements to take, even if my supplements ultimately do me no good. (Many do a great deal of good as Big Pharma knows only too well.)”

People have the right to choose their treatment, and doctors (many of whom admit to prescribing placebos to their patients) also retain the right to offer treatments they deem useful, whether it be homeopathy or another remedy.

As for the FDA’s new draft guidance on homeopathic drugs, it’s attempting to discredit such remedies’ proven healing powers before their mechanisms of action have even been fully understood. If you want to express your opinion on the matter, the FDA is accepting comments from the public until March 30, 2018.

1/28/2018 -- Global Earthquake Forecast -- New activity brewing -- Pacif...

Urgent: Why Microwaves Are Bad for You

7 best natural home remedies for your personal flu season pharmacy

The 7 best natural home remedies for your personal flu season pharmacy (recipes included)

Monday, January 29, 2018 by: Derek Henry
Tags: Colloidal Silver, essential oils, Eucalyptus oil, goodhealth, Himalayan Salt, home remedies, immune support, immune system health, natural cures, natural medicine, natural pharmacy, natural remedies, nature's antibiotics, nutrients, Oil of Oregano, outbreak, superfoods, turmeric, vitamin C

(Natural News) The idea of prescriptions and surgery as reasonable solutions to health conditions is ridiculous in the majority of cases, once you realize that the body can resolve many symptoms and health concerns naturally. Of course, this takes some know-how and experience, something few people have in a world dominated by pharmaceutical companies who are teaching the doctors who then pass on that “wisdom” to their patients.

So what if you were taught another way? A natural way that could help eliminate symptoms and actually get to the source of the issue? Some of the most reliable and proven ways to get better, without a trip to the germ-filled waiting room?

If this sounds good to you, cozy up to these seven suggestions and help bulletproof your health this winter.

Immune supporting tonic

One of the finest, all-around home remedies is this immune supporting tonic. A special warning comes with this powerful, immune supporting elixir – it’s made to work, not to taste. So, it’s not for the feint of heart, but it will provide a synergistic shot of nutrients that will fortify your body and help your body eliminate a toxic burden that is making your life difficult.

Here are the ingredients and directions, courtesy of Healing the Body:

• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1/2 small onion
• 1 piece of turmeric (1 inch or 1/4 tsp ground)
• 1 piece of ginger (1/2 inch or 1/4 tsp ground)
• 1 lemon
• 1/2 small jalapeño or dash of cayenne pepper
• 1 oz of apple cider vinegar (ACV)
• 1 dash of black pepper
• Optional: 1 piece of horseradish (1/2 inch)
• Optional: 1 tsp raw honey

Simply put the fresh produce through a good masticating (preferable) juicer and add in the liquid and dry ingredients at the end (ACV, pepper, honey). If you don’t have a juicer, you can also use a blender for a more chunky version (or filter it out), if desired. This formula will keep well in a cool dark place for months.

Colloidal silver

Colloidal silver has been used for thousands of years for healing, dating back as far as the ancient Greek and Roman Empires. When used properly, the safety and effectiveness is remarkable, and with little to no taste, it can be used by even the pickiest of tastebuds. Use it to support the immune system and to facilitate the body’s natural elimination process.

To get the full benefits of colloidal silver, get Sovereign Silver Bio-Active Silver Hydrosol, and to keep the oral cavity clean (the source of many illnesses), try this Colloidal Silver Mouthwash.

Find out ten ways to use colloidal silver for healing, here.

Oil of oregano

Oil of oregano is another keeper for the medicine cabinet for effective immune system support when you need it the most. In fact, essential oils like oregano are purported to support the body’s natural elimination processes for removal of dangerous pathogens, which would be a much nicer solution than popping a prescription pill.

Be careful not to take oil of oregano directly as it will burn. Instead dilute 1-2 drops in a glass of water for the medicinal benefits. Try the Health Ranger’s 100% Organic Oregano Essential Oil for effective results.

Eucalyptus oil

Eucalyptus is a great essential oil to consider due to its pleasant smell and ability to support the lungs and respiratory system. In a season where these areas are stressed, extra support is always welcome and eucalyptus can be very helpful for that.

To use this oil effectively, put 10-20 drops in a big bowl of hot water, along with some pink Hiamlayan salt, and let it cool slightly. Then, put a towel over your head and the bowl (careful to not burn yourself), and breathe in the steam slowly through your nose and exhale through the mouth as long as possible (or until the water cools). Do this several times daily. You can also add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a carrier oil, and rub on the upper chest for relief. Put some in a diffuser to eliminate germs in the air.

Try the Health Ranger’s 100% Organic Eucalyptus Essential Oil and Pink Himalayan Salt to make this home remedy more potent.

Himalayan salt

One of the simplest and most effective home remedies is Himalayan salt. The pinker it is, the more macrominerals and trace minerals it contains. These nutrients help the body’s natural elimination system work properly, so anything that doesn’t belong inside the body can be removed.

Use Himalayan salt to bathe in to soak up the healing properties, or put a pinch in a small glass of water and gargle in the back of the throat and swish around the oral cavity. Do this a couple times to properly cleanse the entire area.

Vitamin C

Perhaps one of the most well known home remedies, vitamin C has been used effectively for nearly a century. This high antioxidant, immune supporting nutrient was historically found in foods eaten by sailors to prevent scurvy, a disease of vitamin C deficiency. This gives you an idea of it’s potential as a natural remedy!

To get a buffered (easier on the stomach) vitamin C for your home remedy kit, the Health Rangers Nutrition Rescue Non-GMO Buffered Vitamin C Powder is a great option. If you prefer a synergistic whole food format, the Health Ranger’s 100% Organic Camu Camu Powder is a fine option.

Turmeric

No stranger to the health world, turmeric has been making its rounds due to its incredible power to heal. If you thought vitamin C was impressive (and it is) consider that turmeric has 5-8 times the antioxidant strength of vitamins C and E. It supports the immune system, helps improve digestion, and promotes healthy blood and liver functions.

You can juice turmeric as in the Antibiotic Tonic, or if you don’t want that hassle and just want to take it straight up in a very palatable format, consider the Health Rangers Organic Turmeric Gold Liquid Extract. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.

There are certainly more home remedies one could add to this list, such as probiotics, apple cider vinegar, coconut kefir, medicinal mushrooms, echinacea, and more. The list is long because nature’s bounty holds the answers to the best remedies that are virtually risk free with great upside potential — exactly what you want when keeping yourself and your household in good health. [For more home remedies, visit Cures.news.]

Sources include:

Healingthebody.ca

Naturalnews.com

The 7 best natural home remedies for your personal flu season pharmacy (recipes included)

The 7 best natural home remedies for your personal flu season pharmacy (recipes included): The idea of prescriptions and surgery as reasonable solutions to health conditions is ridiculous in the majority of cases, once you realize that the body can resolve many symptoms and health concerns naturally. Of course, this takes some know-how and experience, something few people have in a world

How to Get an Intravenus Vitamin C drip Given to a hospitalized patient: A checklist

How to Get Intravenous Vitamin C Given to a Hospitalized Patient: A Checklist  by Andrew W. Saul  1) Know before you go. It is immeasurably easier to get what you want if you contract for it beforehand. Prenuptial agreements, new car deals, roofing and siding estimates, and hospital care need to be negotiated in advance. When the tow truck comes, it is too late to complain about who’s driving. Same with an ambulance, or a hasty hospital admission. You have to pre-plan, and here’s how: 2) Get a letter.  Yes, a “note from the doctor” still carries clout. Have your general practitioner, today if possible, sign a letter stating that he backs your request for a vitamin C I.V. drip, 10 grams per 12 hours, should you (or your designated loved one) require hospitalization. Have copies made and keep them handy. Update the letter annually. You now have your G.P.’s permission. Good start, but not enough. 3) Get some more letters.  Obtain a similar letter form every specialist that you have used, are using, or may use in the foreseeable future. This sounds cumbersome, but is no more unmanageable than most people’s grocery lists. Keep it in perspective: this is just as important as wearing a medical alert bracelet or keeping a fresh battery in Grandpa’s pacemaker. 4) Make some calls. Telephone a representative or two from every hospital within one hundred miles of your home. Find out which wants your business the most. When you find a “live one” on the phone, write down their name and title, and follow up with a letter.   5) Write for your rights. In your letter, ask for the hospital’s permission to have a vitamin C IV drip, infusion, push or injection, as well as oral vitamin C, should you or your designated family member(s) come in to that hospital. YOU MUST GET THIS IN WRITING. Now, do NOT say, “I want that in writing,” because people do not like that. But if you WRITE to them, they will naturally write back to you. Bingo. Helpful hint: Do NOT correspond by email; you want a real signature on hospital letterhead. (And no, don’t ask for that either! It will happen automatically if you write first.) You might be wondering, What if they write back, “No, we won’t.” Hold onto that letter. You can make a real stink with it should you need to play hardball in court, and I do NOT mean a handball court. These actions are much more likely, however: a) They simply will not write back. OK, so ask yourself this: What if your credit card company didn’t respond to your letters? So would you entrust your life to a hospital that refuses to even answer their mail? Make a point to go someplace else. If you live in a rural community or smaller city, you might be thinking that you do not have a choice of hospitals. Maybe not for the first 24 hours in an unexpected circumstance. But people can be moved. That’s what modern transportation is for. Famous hospitals get people from all over. How many people do you know that live within walking distance of Sloan-Kettering, Roswell, the Brigham, or the Mayo Clinic? b) What is most likely is that the hospital’s representative will send you a garbage answer, with a response so noncommittal as to be unusable. This may mean that you wrote the wrong person, or wrote the wrong letter. Try this: have your doctor issue the letter you write. The doctor’s letterhead and signature; your composition. Go ahead; you can give a professional a rough draft of what you want said. I had lawyer ask me to do exactly that when I sought (and succeeded in getting) a vitamin C IV into my hospitalized father. I wrote it and faxed it to the attorney; his staff rewrote it on his stationery and he signed it. It saves time. Helpful hint: Be sure your (doctor’s) letter clearly REQUESTS A REPLY. Another Helpful hint: FAX wherever you can to save time. Always send a back-up copy of the letter by postal mail. Then, write again to confirm that they received it. c) It is also quite possible that they will ask for more information. This could be a genuine interest, but it is more likely a stall. If you think Nero fiddled whilst Rome burned, you should see what medical bureaucrats can do. To cut through the treacle, you need to understand the nature of the beast. The first rule of lion taming is, You have to know more than the lions. Therefore: 6. Know the law.  Many states have enacted legislation that makes it possible for a physician to provide any natural therapy that a patient requests without fear of losing his or her license. If your state has such a law, it will make it somewhat easier to get a doctor to prescribe a vitamin C IV. 7. Know the power structure.  Find out who is in charge.  I have heard doctors say that they’d be happy to start a megavitamin C IV but the hospital will not let them. Then, when asked, I have heard the hospital say that they allow vitamin C IVs but the doctors won’t do them. To avoid an endless Catch-22 situation, you have to know the ropes and where everybody stands. On the doctor side: Which physician (as opposed to witch doctor) is in charge?  It could be the attending surgeon; it could be your general practitioner; it could be the chief resident. One thing is for sure: someone has the power to prescribe. Go to the person that can do you the most good (or harm) and start your negotiations there.  If you can persuade the king, the castle is yours. On the hospital side: Which of the administrators has the clout? Talk to their secretaries (they are the people who really run things anyway) and you will find out. It could be that the most influential person for you may be the hospital’s patient rights advocate or V. P. for customer service. It may be the hospital chaplain. It might even be the hospital’s public relations director. Who knows? You sure don’t, so remove the veil of anonymity and find out. On the patient side: The patient, if conscious, has all the power because it is his/her body. If a patient insists loud and long enough, s/he can get almost anything. Since patients tend to be sick, and therefore easily slip into becoming non-combatants, a family member has to get in there and pitch for them. A highly experienced nurse told me that she would never leave a family member in a hospital without a 24-hour-a-day guard in the form of a friend or family member or other advocate. That is sound advice from a lady who’s seen it.  Next to the patient, the most powerful family member is the spouse. After that, it would be children. You do not have to have power of attorney to have power, but it helps. If the patient is unable to speak, act, or think, it may be essential. Do not wait until the patient is incapacitated to plan this. Your family needs to come together (difficult though this may be) and present a preplanned, unified front to the medical and administrative people. You may think I am overstating the case, but I have seen patients die simply because NO ONE TOOK THE REINS AND GOT THE VITAMIN C IN THE VEINS. I have seen vitamin C IVs halted simply because the patient was moved to (or from) intensive care. Think that one over. I have seen vitamin C prescriptions over-ridden by a nurse or a pharmacist. You would not think that possible, would you. Well, it is. There is no nice way to phrase this. Stay on top of the situation or you will have a premature burial on your hands. 8. Know your recourse.  If you are rich, get your lawyer on the phone. Better yet, bring your lawyer into the hospital. If you are like the rest of us, you may simply have to bluff if you threaten to call your attorney. The purpose here is to save the life of your loved one, not to make a buck from a malpractice suit. Personally, I think malpractice suits are often a sign of the most abject failure on the part of the family, as well as the medical profession. In the same way that accident insurance does not prevent accidents but only pays the costs, so do malpractice settlements fail to resuscitate a dead family member. “Death control” is somewhat like birth control in that you have to act before the event takes place. But if we push the analogy, we realize a grim truth: there is no such thing as a “morning after” pill for rigor mortis, nor can you abort a funeral. 9. Know the facts about vitamin C IVs.  For this, there is absolutely no alternative to reading up on the subject. Here is what you will want to begin with: http://www.doctoryourself.com/klennerpaper.html http://www.doctoryourself.com/vitaminc.html http://www.doctoryourself.com/titration.html http://www.doctoryourself.com/biblio_cathcart.html http://www.doctoryourself.com/ckorea2008.html http://www.doctoryourself.com/naturedoc.html http://www.doctoryourself.com/hospitals.html Professionally speaking, I am not really all that interested in vitamins. I am, however, extremely interested in saving life. The reading I referenced above may make all the difference in your case. 10. Know how to settle controversy and avoid the run-around. Doctors and hospitals are quick to offer rather bogus reasons why they would deny your request for a vitamin C IV. Each of these arguments is a lot of bull, and easily refuted. Their argument: We do not have Vitamin C for intravenous infusion in our pharmacy. Your response: So get some. From another hospital; by Fed Ex, by med-evac helicopter. Or, just make it yourselves. Look: here’s instructions on how to prepare it, written by a highly experienced physician: http://www.doctoryourself.com/vitciv.html.  And here’s a free download of detailed instructions for administrating IV vitamin C, also written by physicians: http://www.doctoryourself.com/RiordanIVC.pdf Their argument: We have never done this before. Your response: Then this is a wonderful opportunity to learn. I’ve never lost a (insert family member’s position here) before.   Their argument: The patient is too ill. Your response: That’s why we want the vitamin C IV. Their argument: We might get into trouble if we do this. Your response: You will be in legal trouble for sure if you don’t. Their argument: There is no scientific evidence that this is safe, effective, appropriate for this case, blah, blah, blah . . .   Your response: Read this. (This short phrase is to be spoken as you produce a large stack of actual medical studies written by medical doctors who have successfully used vitamin C IV’s. See references mentioned above.)  Their argument: But we do not have time to read all those papers. Your response: That’s OK. I already have, and it’s my body (or my father’s, or my mother’s). Run the vitamin C IV. Start with 10 grams every 12 hours and do not stop it without my written authorization. Their argument: This hospital operates under our authority, these are our rules, and this is the way it is done.  Your response: This is my mother. If you deny her the treatment the family requests, you will be sued, and we will win. Do you really want to go to the wall on this one? Confrontational? Admittedly, yes. But I have seen too many people die too soon. Dr. Frederick Robert Klenner was right when he said, “Some physicians would stand by and see their patient die rather than use ascorbic acid (vitamin C) because in their finite minds it exists only as a vitamin." Don’t let it happen to your family. From the book DOCTOR YOURSELF, pages 194-197. Copyright 2003 and prior years by Andrew W. Saul. Revised and copyright 2010. "Thank you so much for this. I think it is great. The only thing I might add is that if the patient has been taking vitamin C before hospitalization, I would threaten the hospital, physician, or whoever with neglect, criminal malpractice, etc., for deliberately causing withdrawal scurvy at the patient's time of greatest need. That ought to throw a curve at them. I am linking to your article on my website." (Robert F. Cathcart, MD) Andrew Saul is the author of the books FIRE YOUR DOCTOR! How to be Independently Healthy (reader reviews at http://www.doctoryourself.com/review.html ) and DOCTOR YOURSELF: Natural Healing that Works. (reviewed at http://www.doctoryourself.com/saulbooks.html )

The Dangers of GMO Insulin for Type 2 Diabetics

The Dangers of GMO Insulin for Type 2 Diabetics No One Talks About

Posted on: Sunday, January 28th 2018 at 7:45 am

Written By: GreenMedInfo Research Group

This article is copyrighted by GreenMedInfo LLC, 2018

Visit our Re-post guidelines

A growing body of concerning research indicates that conventional medicine's standard of care for type 2 diabetes, including synthetic insulin and oral anti-diabetic drugs, may actually increase morbidity and mortality. On the other hand, recently validated traditional approaches relying on plant-based medicines may greatly mitigate the global diabetes epidemic. 

A highly concerning study published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism titled, "Glucose-lowering with exogenous insulin monotherapy in type 2 diabetes: dose association with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events, and incident cancer," adds to a growing body of research indicating that administering genetically engineered insulin to type 2 diabetics greatly increases their risk of all-cause mortality. 

Contrary to popular notions about the 'life saving' value of synthetic, genetically engineered insulin for type 2 diabetics -- a belief inculcated by pharmaceutical interests -- bioidentical-sounding insulin brands such as Humulin (1978) and Humolog (1996) are less like human insulin in form and function than pig pancreas-derived forms, which they displaced from the market soon after being introduced (you can no longer buy pig-derive insulin in the U.S.). Originally produced from genetically modified yeast, synthetic insulin's structure, and subsequent folding pattern (conformation) and function, radically diverge from the type of insulin our bodies produce naturally. For instance, one of the best-selling forms on the market today Lantus (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection), which is manufactured from Sanofi from GM engineered E. Coli, does not even have the same primary structure as human insulin:

"Insulin glargine differs from human insulin in that the amino acid asparagine at position A21 is replaced by glycine and two arginines are added to the C-terminus of the B-chain." (Source: Sanofi-Aventis LANTUS®)

Synthetic insulin is the pride and joy of the biotech industry, being the first successful product produced through recombinant DNA technology; a technology which would eventually take the world by storm through its use in developing most of the GM crops in our present-day Biotech/Big Chem owned agricultural model, and is now the basis for billions of dollars of products in the food, medical and chemical industries, with an untold vastitude of mostly unexplored health risks.  

The Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism study enrolled 6,484 subjects with type 2 diabetes who were eventually given progressed insulin monotherapy from 2000 onwards and who were tracked for an average of 3.3 years.

The number of adverse events in the insulin treated group were reported as follows:

• Deaths: 1,110
• Major Cardiovascular Events [MACE]: 342
• Cancer Diagnoses: 382.

The adjusted hazard ratios (a measurement of health risk) in relation to one unit increases in insulin dose were a 54% increased risk for all-cause mortality, 37% increased risk for Major Cardiovascular Events, and a 35% increased risk for cancer, clearly indicating that the insulin they were given were both cardiotoxic and carcinogenic.

The study concluded:

"There was an association between increasing exogenous insulin dose and increased risk of all-cause mortality, cancer and MACE [major adverse cardiovascular events] in people with type 2 diabetes."

GMO Insulin Accelerates the Demise of Type 2 Diabetics

As we reported recently in an article titled, "GMO Insulin Causes Type 1 Diabetes in Type 2 Diabetics, Study Finds," synthetic insulin produced through genetically modified organisms accelerates disease progression in type 2 diabetics, contributing to the condition known as 'double diabetes' which is the development of type 1 (insufficient endogenous insulin) following unsuccessful treatment of type 2 (inability to respond to insulin) diabetes. This is all the more tragic considering that research on turmeric extract, ginger, and the low-carbohydrate diet, to name but a few natural alternatives, shows that type 2 diabetes can be both treated and even reversed naturally. Additionally, type 1 diabetes, which is widely promoted as 'incurable' by the dominant medical establishment, may be reversible through the stimulation of the regeneration of the insulin-producing beta cells within the pancreas and/or removal of the root causes of damage to the insulin-producing cells. See our article: 10 Natural Substances That Could Help Cure Type 1 Diabetes

It All Depends on The Folding Pattern of Insulin (Conformation)

Probably the most fatal error in the field of molecular biology over the past half century is the hypothesis known as the central dogma (1956, Francis Crick) that all biologically/physiologically important information is located solely in the primary sequence of nucleic acid stored within the 3 billion base pairs that make up the DNA of our genome. According to this theory, when a complex protein like insulin is produced, RNA simply transcribes the information templated in the DNA to produce the structure of insulin: the insulin polypeptide (51 linearly attached amino acids), end of story.

But nothing could be further from the truth.  In order for a protein to assume its native, functional state (e.g. the insulin molecule in its fully folded 3D configuration) it must move through a practically infinite number of potential three-dimensional forms that it could randomly fold into to reach its natural (native), perfect form. This remarkable fact is known as Levinthal's paradox.

How does insulin, or any complex folded protein, get the information (literally 'to put form into') to do so? We simply don't know. But what we do know is that it must come from the 'outside,' or 'above,' which is what the field of epigenetics is dedicated to understanding. Also, it means one can not construct from the 'bottom up,' as the pharmaceutical industry has attempted thus far, the thing itself.     

In other words, we know that while genetically modified yeast or bacteria can produce a primary structure of 51 linearly connected amino acids similar to human insulin, it does not have the same secondary, tertiary and quaternary folding patterns and therefore can not perform the same functions in the body as the natural form. This could account for why insulin replacement and/or adjunct therapy, even though it may effectively lower blood sugar (the target determinant for drug efficacy), is still associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Said differently, for insulin replacement to work when there is a clear need (e.g. death of insulin producing cells), that is to say, for it to have a net health benefit, it must contain the correct information not only on the primary structural level, but on secondary, tertiary and quaternary levels of folding (conformation). Only the miracle of the human body, and as a close surrogate - porcine insulin -- can produce the necessary, life sustaining and promoting end product.

Admittedly, this is a confusing topic. For those with a more scientific/clinical bent, you can explore the subject further with this recently published analysis of synthetic insulin's many possible variations as far as structure/function: "Human insulin analogues modified at the B26 site reveal a hormone conformation that is undetected in the receptor complex." Also, a recent study directly addresses the relative toxicities and effectiveness of insulin analogues by looking at the differences in folding patterns between them: "Acylated-based long-acting insulin analogues: Is "misfolding" the problem? Commentary letter on Hamasaki H and Yanai H. The switching from insulin glargine [Lantus] to insulin degludec [Tresiba] reduced HbA1c, daily insulin doses and anti-insulin antibody in anti-insulin antibody-positive subjects with type 1 diabetes."

What Is A Diabetic To Do?

None of what is written in this article should be misinterpreted as medical advice, or advice to self-treat or go off of medication or the medical supervision of one's physicians -- all of which could result in significant harm. We only wish to bring to the attention of the public and medical community alike what underreported scientific research clearly indicates about the potential risks of relying solely on pharmaceutical interventions to both manage and reverse the symptoms of diabetes. In order to alter the fatalistic trajectory of declining health, which is considered the norm within conventional thinking about diabetes, it is instructive to look for natural alternatives that have been vetted through clinical research...

Our ongoing indexing project here at Greenmedinfo.com has identified a wide range of natural interventions that have shown promise through experimental, clinical and epidemiological research. First, our Health Guides section on Blood Sugar Disorders contains both the relevant research abstract sections, as well as article written for the layperson and medical professional to better ascertain the implications of the first-hand literature on complementary and alternative (CAM) approaches to blood sugar disorders.

Of the dozens of relevant subtopics, our Type 2 Diabetes page contains over 350 study abstracts on over 180 natural substances studied to have therapeutic relevance to prevention or treatment of the condition. This section includes research on over 40 problem substances, e.g. statin drugs, pesticides, fructose, which contribute to worsening the condition, and 18 Therapeutic Actions, e.g. yoga, various dietary modifications, exercise, which prove that lifestyle changes can have deeply positive impacts on the condition.

This research includes highly compelling studies, such as one published in 2013 in the American Diabetes Association's own authoritative journal Diabetes Care which found that a turmeric extract (curcumin) was 100% successful at preventing pre-diabetic patients from becoming diabetic over the course of a 9-month intervention.  

If a simple spice-based intervention can prevent the development of a life-threatening disease afflicting hundreds of millions worldwide, this is could be considered one of the most important medical discoveries of our time. Even more profound is the fact that the turmeric extract curcumin has been identified to have over 600 side benefits, with a history of thousands of years of safe use as both a food, spice and medicine.

Consider also that newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics are almost universally prescribed oral antidiabetic medications that have now been shown through extensive meta-analyses of the extant literature to increase heart attacks by 43% and increase the risk of dying from heart disease by 64% versus placebo. Pharmaceutical interventions clearly appear -- through the scientific evidence itself -- to be oftentimes worse than the diseases they appear to be treating.

As interest in botanical interventions increases, we see almost weekly a new clinical study appear showing the value of traditional medicine in preventing or treating chronic diseases like diabetes. For example, a new study published titled, "An 8-wk, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial for the antidiabetic effects of hydrolyzed ginseng extract," found that so-called pre-diabetics with impaired fasting glucose responded to a ginseng extract by seeing a drop in fasting glucose levels and post-meal blood sugar elevations.

We won't see the pharmaceutical industry invest the between 1-12 billion dollars of capital required to obtain FDA drug approval for turmeric or ginseng extract in correcting the condition of type 2 diabetics because natural substances are not patentable. While mother nature's formulas are proprietary -- meaning, refractory to scientific understanding due to the infinite complexity at play within nature -- they do not lend themselves to being patented, or controlled by any particular entity. This is why we must educate and empower ourselves with the research freely available through tax-payer funded resources like pubmed.gov, and of course sites like ours that use an open access model. All 37,000 of our carefully organized abstracts are free for anyone to access publicly. 

The GMI Research Group (GMIRG) is dedicated to investigating the most important health and environmental issues of the day.  Special emphasis will be placed on environmental health.  Our focused and deep research will explore the many ways in which the present condition of the human body directly reflects the true state of the ambient environment.

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.

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