Substance Abuse (Depressants or Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs) - Treatment

Treatment The first goal of treatment is detoxification (withdrawal from the drug). Detoxification usually involves g... Read more

Detoxification

Stimulants cannot give the body what it needs. Only natural food can promote a healthy and thus happy physiological function.

You could look at it this way: the only natural way to feel good is the one that is a by-product of a normally functioning body that is producing sufficient energy at the cellular level. Any other way to feel good is phony and a result of stimulants, how innocent these stimulants may look.

Your body detoxifies itself all day and for the biggest part during your sleep. Especially until noon it is therefore sensible to eat fruit only. Your body has to dispose of the toxic elements it receives from stimulants, nutrition and pollution.

If you stop the stimulating of your body with a certain stimulant there is a good chance that the following is the result:

an immediate loss of energy;
emotional symptoms such as headaches, sickness and depressions.

So, if you stop the use of a stimulant you will not feel better right away. It's obvious that these products are really addictive. In some cases if someone improves his eating habits an immediate increase of energy is experienced but the opposite is just as often the result. The body has not only to deal with the moment but also with the problems that have resulted from the past...

Study Suggests Cure for Hepatitis C

(HealthDay News) -- Researchers are reporting a potential "cure" for hepatitis C, a blood-borne viral infection that's the leading cause of cirrhosis, liver cancer and the need for liver transplants in the United States.

Use of the drug peginterferon, either alone or in combination with the drug ribavirin, reduced levels of the virus to undetectable levels for up to seven years, the researchers said.

"This paper strongly suggests, for the first time, that hepatitis C is a curable disease," said lead researcher Dr. Mitchell Shiffman, a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and chief of hepatology and medical director of the school's Liver Transplant Program. "After treatment, 99.6 percent of the patients remained virus undetectable for over five years," he added.

In the study, 997 patients with hepatitis C or with both hepatitis C and HIV were treated with either Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a) alone or in tandem with ribavirin. Shiffman's team then monitored blood levels of hepatitis C once a year for an average of 4.1 years, and as long as seven years.

The researchers found that 99 percent of patients with hepatitis C who were treated successfully with peginterferon alone, or in combination with ribavirin, had no detectable virus up to seven years later.

"This is the first long-term study that confirms what we believed for many years that these individuals are truly cured of hepatitis C," Shiffman said.

The remaining eight patients tested positive for hepatitis C at an average of two years after treatment. There was no pattern to the patients as far as age, gender or hepatitis C genotype. It isn't known whether these patients had a relapse or were re-infected with the virus, the researchers noted.

The findings were to be presented Monday at the 38th annual Digestive Disease Week conference, in Washington, D.C.

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infectious disease of the liver and is one of the most important causes of chronic liver disease in the United States. An estimated 4.1 million Americans have been infected with hepatitis C, and 3.2 million are chronically infected. The number of new infections each year declined from an average of 240,000 in the 1980s to about 26,000 in 2004, the latest year for which statistics are available. The number of hepatitis C-related deaths could increase to 38,000 a year by the year 2010, surpassing annual HIV/AIDS deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The virus is usually spread through contact with infected blood and blood products. Blood transfusions and the use of shared, unsterilized, or poorly sterilized needles, syringes and injection equipment have been the main routes of transmission in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Most people who have hepatitis C don't know they have it, Shiffman said. "Of those who have been diagnosed, only about 25 percent have received treatment, because of the side effects of treatment," he said. "The reason why you should treat it is because you can cure hepatitis C, and we finally have the data to definitively document it."

Dr. Eugene Schiff, chief of the division of hepatology and professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, agrees that most cases of hepatitis C can be cured.
"In contrast to hepatitis B or HIV, this virus can be totally eradicated and cured," he said.

But, many patients find the side effects of treatment off-putting. Those side effects can include fever and chills, Shiff said. "You feel pretty lousy. After treatment starts, you feel worse the day after your shot, but it tapers off over the course of the week," he said. "Along with that anxiety, irritability and Depression can develop. And we are quick to use antidepressants to allow these people to stay on the medication."

Additional side effects include a drop in the production of white blood cells and anemia. Often patients are giving additional drugs to combat these conditions, Shiff said.

Treatments can go on for as many as 72 weeks, depending on the reaction to therapy Shiff said. "Some people are reluctant to get treatment, because they heard that the treatment isn't so pleasant," he said. "But they should come out and get treatment."

Schiff noted that new antiviral drugs to treat hepatitis C are being tested. "It is hoped that these new antivirals will be more effective and have less severe side effects and may even be used without peginterferon alfa-2a or ribavirin," he said.

More information
For more on hepatitis C, visit the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Poor Sleep Contributes to Health Problems

(HealthDay News) -- New studies are discovering just how vital sleep is to overall health.

So, sleep habits should become a standard part of a complete check-up, researchers say.

"There is increasing evidence that there is a very strong relationship between sleep quality and physical and mental health," said Dr. Phyllis C. Zee, a professor of neurology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

"If you have poor health, that is associated with poor sleep. Also, if you have poor sleep, there is an association between that and poor health," Zee said. "What we don't have yet is the research to categorically say that if you improve sleep, you will improve conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension, or other medical conditions."

Still, physicians should be asking their patients about the quality and quantity of their sleep, Zee said. "Sleep should be another vital sign," she said.

Zee wrote an editorial in the Sept. 18 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, a special, themed issue on sleep and its relationship to overall health.

In one study, led by Richard L. Nahin, a senior advisor for scientific coordination and outreach at the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, looked at why people had trouble sleeping and how many were using alternative drugs to help them sleep.

Insomnia and trouble sleeping are most often associated with high blood pressure, heart failure, anxiety and depression, according to a national survey of 31,044 adults. "That's unusual. It had been most often thought that insomnia was quite prevalent on its own, but only 4 percent of the people who said they had insomnia said they had it without any of those conditions," Nahin said.

The researchers also found that 1.6 million Americans are using alternative therapies, such as melatonin to treat their insomnia. "That's quite high when you consider that there is very little reliable data on the efficacy and safety of using the products people are using," Nahin said.
These findings have implications for treating sleep problems, Nahin said.

"Instead of treating the insomnia itself, a health-care provider might be better off treating one of these comorbidities," he said. "In addition, a physician seeing a patient for insomnia should ask if the patient is using any alternative and complementary treatments, because they might upset the treatments the health-care provider wants to apply."

Another study found that people who have sleep-related breathing disorder -- marked by frequent pauses in breathing, labored breathing, or reduced breathing during the night -- were two to 2.6 times more likely to develop depression. Moreover, the odds of depression increased as breathing disorders became more severe, according to researcher Paul E. Peppard and colleagues from the University of Wisconsin.

And a study by French researchers found that people with allergic rhinitis, caused by hay fever and other allergies, have more difficulty sleeping and more sleep disorders than people without allergies. "The results show a significant impact of allergic rhinitis on all dimensions of sleep quality and, consequently, a lower quality of life as reflected by more somnolence [sleepiness]; daytime fatigue and sleepiness; and impaired memory, mood and sexuality, with a significantly increased consumption of alcohol and sedatives in cases compared with the control group," the study authors wrote.

One expert agrees that sleep problems shouldn't be ignored.

"If you think insomnia is an annoyance and merely something you should tough out, that may be a mistake," said Michael L. Perlis, director of the Sleep Research Laboratory at the University of Rochester, in New York. "It may lead you down the path to other morbidities. It would also be a mistake because it's treatable."

Other studies in the same journal issue found that:

• Fewer hours of sleep may contribute to poor health in young adults.
• Those in rural areas who sleep fewer hours appear to weigh more.
• The immune system may play a role in narcolepsy, a disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to sleep.
• The immune system may be affected by a lack of sleep that contributes to inflammation and a variety of diseases.

More information
The National Sleep Foundation can tell you more about getting a good night's sleep.

Feeling Stressed?

(HealthDay News) -- You just missed a deadline at work, you're supposed to chaperone your son's school field trip, and your mechanic called to tell you your car's transmission is shot.
Stressed to the max?

Everyone experiences stress. And many people are stressed every day. But, stress isn't always as obvious as in the example above. In fact, some people don't even realize how much stress they're under until they suffer serious physical consequences of that stress.

Psychologist Anie Kalayjian, professor of psychology at Fordham University, said she's had patients end up in the emergency room, convinced they were having a heart attack, but instead, it was just the body's extreme response to stress.

"If you're a person running around with high energy or nervous energy, you may not realize that you're stressed until you collapse!" said Kalayjian.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, some possible signs that you're under too much stress are: Anxiety, back pain, stiff neck, depression, fatigue, trouble sleeping, unexpected weight changes, headaches, relationship troubles and high blood pressure.
"People need to start proactively trying to prevent episodes before they have extreme reactions," recommended Kalayjian.

But that doesn't mean you should make managing stress just another item on your "to-do" list, cautioned Gail Elliott Evo, the integrative medicine coordinator at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.

"We talk so much about stress now. It's to the point that people are now feeling judgmental when they experience stress and can't eliminate it. But, unless you're a guru sitting in a temple in Tibet, I don't think you can avoid stress. There will be periods where you'll have stress," she said.

Still, managing stress or reducing it as much as you can is a smart idea, because constant stress leaves your body flooded with stress hormones, which can increase your risk of heart attack and other serious health problems.

"Stress causes physical and psychological reactions. It can alter your sleep. It leaves you constantly in fighting-mode and leaves your immune system suppressed. You may get sick a lot," Kalayjian said.

There's no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to managing stress.

"Some things will be right for one person but not for another. Be open, and try things. Give something a try, and if it's not right for you, move on to something else. You'll eventually find something that's right for you," said Evo.

Some of the approaches she recommends include: Massage, healing touch, yoga, tai chi, walking, meditation and guided imagery.

Kalayjian said a good place to start de-stressing is with deep breathing.

"One minute per each hour of the day, you need to sit and do nothing but focus on breathing. No phones, no lists, no responsibilities. It's almost like how you recharge your battery for your mobile phone. We need to recharge, too," she said.

She also recommends exercise. "Don't wait to feel stressed. Get at least a half an hour of exercise every day. It gets a lot of the toxins and stress out of our bodies," Kalayjian said.
Kalayjian also advocates something she calls "journaling."

"It helps to put things on paper and outside of yourself. You don't have to store it in your heart, body or mind. When we journal, we let go of things and that acts as a release," she said.

She also suggests getting organized. "Many people waste 20 percent of their time looking for things. Try to be organized. Label things. Have organizers. It seems very mundane, but helps tremendously in saving your energy," Kalayjian said.

Evo said many people use a combination of techniques to relieve their stress.
"Be playful with it. Try different things," she said.

Kalayjian agreed, adding that people need to "learn how to have a sense of humor, to laugh and make others laugh, too."

Finally, Kalayjian advised that if you try several different methods to "de-stress" and just can't seem to relax, you could probably benefit from seeing a psychotherapist.

More information
The National Mental Health Association offers tips on coping with stress.

Arsenic

Arsenic diagnosis, especially from low doses of inorganic arsenic (the type found in Chromated Copper Arsenate or CCA-treated lumber) is not easy. According to the EPA, CCA is a highly toxic chemical formulation that contains water, arsenic acid, chromic acid, and copper oxide, and is primarily used as a wood preservative and insecticide/fungicide.

It is found virtually everywhere. It is sold in lumber and hardware stores nationwide and is used by consumers and contractors to construct decks, playgrounds and fences. There is no one set of symptoms; responses vary, depending upon exposure means and levels.

Arsenic can be inhaled, ingested (swallowed) or absorbed through contact. Arsenic poisoning is difficult to pin down; most of the arsenic leaves the body within three days of exposure.

The arsenic that remains is stored in the brain, bones, and tissue and continues to do serious damage. Some people have no immediate symptoms but the exposure can cause diabetes and many types of cancer later on.

There is new evidence that arsenic may also lead to heart disease and strokes. It may cause long term liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage.

Arsenic exposure, even at low levels, can result in a range of symptoms. Swallowing or inhaling low levels of inorganic arsenic can result in stomach ache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

It can also result in decreased production of red and white blood cells, which may cause fatigue, abnormal heart rhythm, blood-vessel damage (resulting in bruising), and impaired nerve function. One of the early warning signs of arsenic poisoning is a “pins and needles” sensation in the hands and feet.

Long-term oral exposure to inorganic arsenic can result in skin changes including a darkening of the skin and the appearance of small “corns” or “warts” on the palms, soles, and torso.

Other signs and symptoms include skin thickening, fluid accumulation (resulting in puffiness) especially around the lower eyelids, face and ankles, diarrhea, garlic breath, perspiration, excessive salivation, generalized itching, oral inflammation, sore throat, runny nose, excessive tearing, numbness, skin inflammation, hair loss, weakness, and loss of appetite.

Arsenic can also cause a range of neurological effects, including headaches and vision problems. It can cause noticeable behavioral changes, most commonly aggression or depression.

Toxic Heavy Metals

We have been exposed to heavy metal toxins for an immeasurable amount of time. The industrialization of our planet has drastically increased the environmental burden of heavy metal toxins, to the point that we are dependent upon them for proper functioning.

Industry and commercial processes are actively mining, refining, manufacturing, burning, and manipulating heavy metal compounds for many reasons. Presently, heavy metals are abundant in our drinking water, air and soil due to our increased use of these compounds. They are present in virtually every area of modern consumerism.

Toxic metals are found in construction materials, cosmetics, medicines, processed foods, fuel sources, appliances, personal care products and so much more. It is very difficult, if not impossible, for anyone to avoid exposure to any of the many harmful toxic heavy metals that are so ubiquitous in our environment. It doesn’t look like we will successfully neutralize the threat of heavy metal toxicity in our communities, nor diminish our use of the many commercial goods that they help produce. We can, however, take steps to understand and deal with this threat. Cadmium, aluminum, mercury, antimony, lead and arsenic are some of the heavy metals added to our food chain from upstream industrial discharges, pesticide runoff, incinerator emissions, and smokestacks, as well as aviation.

Heavy metals are found in the air we breathe, from factories, automobiles and in places you wouldn’t imagine. Low-level metal toxicity is recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as by individual state health departments.

The American Heart Association states that blood-levels of lead and cadmium may increase the risk of peripheral artery disease — even at levels currently considered safe. Low-level toxicity from heavy metals and the resulting “oxidative stress” are associated with a depressed immune system, increases in infertility, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality.

Emerging evidence shows that blood and bone lead levels, reflecting relatively modest exposures, are also associated with hypertension, renal insufficiency, and cognitive impairment. Studies conducted at the National Academy of Science (NAS) show clear and present danger of heavy metals in our bodies. Tuna, dental fillings and vaccinations containing mercury, can cause problems including birth defects, brain damage, depression, fatigue, hearing loss, vision loss, kidney damage and many more ailments.

The really bad news is that, according to the EPA, 99% of our population contains chemicals that are linked to the development of cancer. Most heavy metals are carcinogenic and can cause free radical damage. They can cause the energy factories in our cells (known as mitochondria) to stop working, which essentially causes cells to die. In the process, the DNA for those affected cells may also be damaged, causing a malfunction in the next generation of cells of this type.

When cells are programmed to die off more quickly or to wildly multiply, we see problems such as weaker tissue, maligned function, or tumors. In short, heavy metals lead to serious illnesses and shorten our lives. There are more than twenty different heavy-metal (environmental) toxins that can impact human health—each toxin producing unique behavioral, physiological, and cognitive changes in an exposed individual.

The degree to which a system, organ, tissue, or cell is affected by a heavy metal toxin depends on the toxin itself and the degree of the individual’s exposure. Here we examine just five of the many hazardous heavy metals that we are commonly exposed to.

Chemical & Heavy Metal Cleanse Starter Kit $149.85 [ learn more ] The Chemical & Heavy Metal Starter Kit was designed by Dr. Group for individuals that are new to the cleansing process, or are simply looking for an easy-to-perform, cost effective cleanse program. The Heavy Metal Starter Kit is comprised of LIFE Detox Foot Patches™, NDF Plus™, and Quantum Zeolite™.

Detoxamin EDTA Chelation Therapy Suppositories are a new patented method of Ca-EDTA chelation therapy medically equivalent to I.V. chelation therapy.

Detoxamin EDTA Chelation Therapy Suppositories are a new patented method of Ca-EDTA chelation therapy medically equivalent to I.V. chelation therapy.

The difference is that Detoxamin introduces a smaller dosage of Calcium Disodium EDTA on a nightly basis.

By applying the highly efficacious Detoxamin suppository containing EDTA, you remove toxic metal from cells all over the body.

The self-administration is performed rectally before retiring so that as you sleep you are taking chelation therapy with EDTA. There's no need for intravenous infusions or quantities of nutritional supplements.

What is EDTA chelation therapy and what is it used for?Chelation (pronounced key-lay-shun) is the process by which a metal or mineral (such as lead, mercury, iron, arsenic, aluminum, etc.) is bonded to another substance-in this case an amino acid called EDTA, Ethylene-Diamine-Tetra-Acetic acid. It is a natural process, basic to life itself. During EDTA chelation therapy, the EDTA infusion bonds with unwanted metals in the body and quickly carries them away in the urine.

Chelation therapy is a safe, effective alternative to drugs and surgeries and is used to treat many illnesses now known to be linked to the presence of toxic heavy metals. Illnesses such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes, circulatory disorders, neuropathies, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, and adverse reactions to many environmental pollutants. Traditional chelation therapy uses an intravenous drip, and is administered in the outpatient setting.

The number of treatments vary based on each person's individual condition and/or goals of treatment. The average therapy is given one to three times a week for twenty to thirty treatments.How long has EDTA chelation therapy been in use? Why don't more people use it?EDTA chelation therapy for the detoxification for heavy metals has been in continuous use since the 1940s when it was introduced specifically for the treatment of lead poisoning. It was very quickly observed that as the metals were eliminated, not only did the signs and symptoms of lead poisoning abate, but problems related to the circulatory system like heart attacks, angina, strokes, and peripheral vascular disease also improved.

For the past 50 years, well over one million people have received the intravenous form of EDTA chelation. As beneficial and life saving as this therapy has become, it is very expensive and very time-consuming, making it out of reach for most people.Why is Ca-EDTA, Calcium Disodium EDTA, so much better than other types of chelation therapy?According to Dr. Bruce Halstead, "The chemistry of all chelators is such that a change of pH can dramatically effect the process of chemical binding needed to chelate a mineral or metal. When you use a less effective chelator, such as Magnesium EDTA, you lose all chelating ability of the two most essential heavy metals: lead and mercury. Magnesium di-Potassium EDTA has a dramatically lower chelating effectiveness than Calcium EDTA because both magnesium and potassium dramatically decrease the pH in the blood environment to which it is introduced. Any factor decreasing pH renders EDTA less effective.

Once the pH is lowered more than 7.38, it's no longer chemically conducive to any bonding or chelating." (Dr. Halstead is well known as the 'Father of Chelation Therapy'.)

Dr. Morton Walker Speaks on Detoxamin - Toxic Metals Induce Degenerative Diseases; Rectal Chelation Therapy Overcomes Them.

Environmentalists warn us repeatedly that we live on a poisoned planet. Toxins from mercury, lead, aluminum, cadmium, iron, nickel, and about 20 more metallic minerals permeate the Earth's milieu. Heavy and light metals poison us by combining to create deleterious signs and symptoms often referred to collectively as Toxic Metal Syndrome.

This syndrome, an indicator of serious systemic pathology, results in degenerative diseases which affect no less than 92% of the populations of Western industrialized nations, in particular, those people living in apartment high-rises and other polluted city dwellings. What happens to them? These poisoned people eventually come down with manifestations of degenerative illnesses such as heart and/or blood vessel deteriorations; pancreatitis; gout, rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis; the syndromes of yeast, chronic fatigue, and/or irritable bowel; Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, parkinsonism, and many more which may be deadly-cancer for instance.

Although a poisoned person's bones remain toxic for life, excellent self-treatment exists to reduce or reverse most symptoms of illness in other body parts. First, get tested for the extent of toxicity, then neutralize metallic poisoning with a chelating agent such as Detoxamin. By applying the highly efficacious Detoxamin suppository containing EDTA, you remove toxic metal from cells all over the body. The self-administration is performed rectally before retiring so that as you sleep you are taking chelation therapy with EDTA. There's no need for intravenous infusions or quantities of nutritional supplements.Rectal chelation therapy does the job of detoxifying in a low-cost, convenient manner; it's an effective way to effuse EDTA through the bowel's walls and into your blood stream to clean toxic metals from all body cells.

Do I need Ca-EDTA chelation therapy?
We find ourselves existing in a far more toxic and hostile environment than our bodies were designed to handle. Experts have shown that almost every health problem-from learning disorders to cancer and heart disease-is aggravated by the approximate 1,000% increase in lead levels in our bones. In 1999, it was reliably reported that hearts with some form of disease have 20,000 times more toxic heavy metals than healthy hearts."Human exposure to heavy metals has risen dramatically in the last 50 years as a result of an exponential increase in the use of heavy metals in industrial processes and products." says Maile Pouls, Ph.D (Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, July 1999).A recently concluded "Body Burden" study by New York's Mt. Sinai Hospital and the Environmental Working Group was reviewed by University of Oregon Professor Joseph Thornton: "It shows the universality of chemical contamination of people's bodies," Thornton said.

All the studies "confirm the general message that everybody in our society has these chemicals building up. Some people have it worse than others, but everyone has it. No one is clean anymore." (From Being Careful Can't Keep Chemicals Out of Your Body, Miami Herald, February 1, 2003.)Today we know that about one out of every 2.5 Americans will get cancer. Ninety eight percent of cancer is caused by toxic chemicals. When 50% of all men and 33% of all women living now will die of cancer, something is terribly wrong. (Mortality from cancer was reduced by 90% during an 18-year study of 59 patients treated with Calcium-EDTA. This and over 40 other studies prove the efficacy of Ca-EDTA, Calcium Disodium EDTA chelation therapy and Detoxamin. We will all function better and live longer if we lower the overall burden of toxic metals within ourselves. If you eat or breathe, you will probably benefit greatly from chelation therapy.

Is Detoxamin safe for children?
Yes. In fact, Detoxamin case studies were conducted on lead poisoning in children. The study showed no significant increase in BUN or creatinine levels even in very young children. Due to our lower dosage and time release formulation, no renal toxicity was encountered.BEHAVIORAL, STRUCTURAL, FUNCTIONAL ABNORMALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH VARIOUS HEAVY METAL TOXINS.Reference: Published in the August issue of Alternative & Complimentary Therapies (a magazine for doctors) and Published in Townsend Letter for Doctor's and PatientsPsychiatric Disturbances:
Social Deficits, Social withdrawal

Mercury
Repetitive, perseverative, stereotyped behaviors; OCD-typical behaviors
Mercury
Depression, mood swings, flat affect; impaired facial recognition

Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury
Schizoid tendencies; hallucinations; delirium
Mercury
Irritability, aggressive behaviors, temper tantrums
Lead, MercurySuicidal Behaviors
Copper, MercurySleep difficulties / disturbancesLead, Mercury, Thallium
Chronic fatigue (CFS); weakness, malaise
Aluminum, Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium
Anorexia; symptoms reflecting eating disorders, loss of appetite/weight
Arsenic, Lead, Mercury
Anxiety; nervous tendencies

Thallium
Attentional problems (ADHD), lacks eye contact, impaired visual fixation
Lead, Mercury

Speech and Language Deficits: Speech disorders
A luminum, MercuryLoss of speech, developmental problems with language Mercury
Speech comprehension deficits

Mercury
Dysarthria; articulation problems; slurred speech, unintelligible speech
Mercury
Cognitive Impairments:Mental retardation, borderline intelligence

Arsenic, Lead, Mercury
Uneven performance on IQ scores, low IQ scores
Copper, LeadPoor concentration, attention deficits (ADHD, response inhibition

Aluminum, Lead
Poor memory (short term, verbal, and auditory)
Aluminum, Lead

Difficulties understanding abstract ideas; difficulty carrying out complex commands

X metals
Dementia; pre-senile and senile dementia
Aluminum
Stupor

Aluminum, Arsenic

Impaired reaction time; lower performance on timed tests

Lead
Sensory Abnormalities:
Abnormal Sensations in the mouth and extremities
Arsenic
Hearing loss, difficulty hearing
Arsenic, Lead, MercuryAbnormal touch sensations; diminished touch sensations, aversion to touch
Arsenic
Blurred vision; sensitivity to light
Arsenic, Mercury
Motor Disorders:
Choreiform movements, myoclonal jerks, unusualpostures

Copper, Mercury
Difficulty walking, swallowing, talking
Copper, Mercury

Flapping, circling, rocking, toe walking
Mercury
Problems with intentional movements or imitation
MercuryAbnormal, gait/posture; incoordination, loss of balance; problems sitting, lying, crawling and walking
Mercury

Decreased locomotor activity
Aluminum, Arsenic
Convulsion; seizure
Aluminum, Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium

Physiological Impairment, Brain and Central Nervous System:
Neurofibrillary tangles
Aluminum
Neuritis, retrobulbar neuritis; neuropathy
Aluminum, Arsenic, Lead, Thallium
EncephalopathyAluminum, Arsenic, Lead, Thallium
Cerebrovascular diseaseX metals

Alterations in nerve conduction velocity
Lead
Alterations in the spinal cordThalliumAccumulates in CNS structures
Aluminum, MercuryAbnormal EEGs

Arsenic, Lead
Autonomic disturbancesCopper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium

Peripheral Nervous System:Peripheral neuropathyArsenic, Mercury

Alterations in peripheral nerves
Arsenic
Loss of feeling/ numbness in the extremities; paresthesia

Arsenic, Mercury, Thallium

Gastrointestinal Tract:
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; loss of appetite

Arsenic, Mercury

Abdominal pain, stomach cramps; burning of the throat of the mouth

Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Thallium

Esophagitis; gastroenteritis; colitis

Arsenic, Mercury, Thallium Cancers (colon, pancreatic, stomach, or rectal) Arsenic

Renal and Hepatic Impairment:Hepatotoxicity; Liver dysfunction, damageArsenic, Copper, Thallium

Cirrhosis of the liver; hepatitis

Copper

Kidney disease; kidney failureArsenic, Lead, MercuryRenal toxicity; tubular proteinosisArsenic, Copper, LeadKidney Damage, histological alterations

Arsenic, Lead
Cardiovascular System:Blood vessel damage

ArsenicAnemia; decreased red blood cell count

Arsenic, CopperHypertension; increased heart rate (tachycardia)

Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Thallium

Electrocardiac disorders, Peripheral vascular disease; cardiovascular disease, vascular collapse

Arsenic, Lead
Respiratory System:Pulmonary Fibrosis

Aluminum, Arsenic
Pulmonary edema

X metals
Pneumonia, laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis

Aluminum, Arsenic, Mercury
Restrictive airway disorders, asthmatic conditions, pneumoconiosisArsenic, Aluminum

Nasal ulcers, perforation of the nasal septumX metalsImmune System:Increased incidences of asthma, autoimmune-like symptoms, & allergies
X metals

Inhibition of lymphocytes, T-cells, monocytes X metals
Immunosuppression

LeadDecreased white blood cell count
Arsenic, ThalliumReproductive System:Genital abnormalitiesAluminum, ThalliumDisturbances in menstrual cycle; menstrual painsCopper, MercuryBirth defects; premature births; Spontaneous abortionArsenic, Lead, MercuryReproductive dysfunctionArsenic, AluminumOther Physical Disturbances:Hypotonia or hypertonia; decreased muscular strengthX metalRashes, contact dermatitis; eczema, itchy/irritating skinAluminum, Arsenic, Copper, MercuryMuscle pain; headache; acrodynia; colicArsenic, Copper, Lead, ThalliumAlopecia (hair loss)Thallium Reference: Published in the August issue of Alternative & Complimentary Therapies (a magazine for doctors) and Published in Townsend Letter for Doctor's and Patients.

Detoxamin Usage Instructions: Detoxamin EDTA Suppositories are solid, bullet-shaped preparations designed for easy insertion into the anus (back passage). Detoxamin is manufactured in a cocoa-butter base, a time-release agent (fatty acid base), and 750 mg of Calcium-Disodium EDTA. Detoxamin will dissolve at body temperature and will gradually spread over the lining of the lower bowel (rectum), where it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Detoxamin is designed to release 750 mg Calcium Disodium EDTA slowly, over an 80-minute period.

A. Detoxamin Protocol for More Severe Cases:
1. Take one suppository at night, prior to bedtime.
2. Take every night for up to 90 days. This will provide the medical equivalence of 30 IV Chelation treatments.
3. Take proper mineral/trace mineral/vitamin replacement every day.
4. Take all other suplementaion every day.B. Detoxamin Protocol for Less Severe Cases/Anti-Aging/Prevention:
1. Take Detoxamin every OTHER night, prior to bedtime.
2. Take Detoxamin every other night for 180 days (90 suppositories). This will provide the medical equivalence of 30 IV chelation treatments.
3. Take proper mineral/trace mineral/vitamin replacement every day.
4. Take all other supplementation every day.

Detoxamin Protocol AFTER A or B is completed:
Your bones are toxic for life. Lead and other heavy metals are stored in the bones and get re-distributed into the bloodstream. Therefore, it is highly recommended to continue maintenance with Detoxamin, this provides the ultimate in Anti-aging benefits.

1. Take 5 Detoxamin suppositories over a 30-day period. This porvides medically equal to about 2 EDTA IV treatments.
2. Take porper mineral/trace mineral/vitamin replacement every day.

Note: Detoxamin is designed to be taken at night, however some patients and physicians prefer taking a suppository in the morning after evacuation. (Optional)

How to Use Detoxamin:
Insert Detoxamin suppositories at night, prior to bedtime.
Eat early in the evening, about 4 hours prior to bedtime. (Reduces any discomfort).
1. Go to the toilet and empty your bowels if necessary.
2. Wash your hands.
3. Remove the plastic wrapping from Detoxamin.
4. Either squat or lie on your side with one leg bent and the other staight.
5. Gently but firmly push the suppository into the rectum, FLAT end first until past the sphincter muscle. By inserting the flat end first opposed to the pointed end, the suppository will travel higher up in the rectum more easily. If necessarey moisten the suppository with a little water. Push it in far enough so it doesn't slip out.
6. Close your legs and sit or lay still for a few minutes.
7. Wash your hands again.
8. Try not to empty your bowels for at least 80 minutes.
9. It is optional to take Detoxamin in the morning, after evacuation.

STORAGE: Store Detoxamin in a cool dark place, but not in the fridge. If Detoxamin suppository gets warm it may melt, put the fridge for a few minutes, this will return the suppository to its original state so it may be inserted.
Shelf Life: 2 Years
More information’s: here Chelation

Mom's Mental Health Woes Can Pass to Kids

(HealthDay News) -- The children of mothers who have mental health, substance abuse or domestic violence problems a year after delivery are more likely to experience behavioral problems at age 3, a U.S. study finds.

In their three-year study, researchers at Mathematica Policy Research Inc., in Princeton, N.J., followed nearly 2,800 children born in 18 large U.S. cities.

A year after delivery, half the mothers had a condition in at least one of the three categories -- mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence -- and 22 percent of the children had at least one type of behavior problem such as aggression, anxiety-depression, or inattention/hyperactivity. The more problems reported by a mother, the more likely her child was to develop behavior problems by age 3.

The study also found that when mothers reported difficulties in zero, one, two, or three areas, reports of aggression among their children at age 3 increased from 7 percent to 12 percent to 17 percent to 19 percent, respectively; anxiety and depression increased from 9 percent to 14 percent to 16 percent to 27 percent; and inattention/hyperactivity increased from 7 percent to 12 percent to 15 percent to 19 percent.

The authors noted that mothers' mental health problems, substance abuse and domestic violence tend to accompany each other and have cumulative negative effects on children.
However, "there is evidence that mothers appear open to empathic inquiries about how they are doing, and that mothers also understand that their own well-being is related to that of their children," the study authors wrote.

"Whether a clinician is focused primarily on the care of children, adults or pregnant women, there is the potential to help disrupt this intergenerational transmission of poor health," they concluded.

The study appears in the May issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
More information
The American Academy of Pediatrics has more about children's behavior.

Ritalin May Keep Mental Distraction at Bay

(HealthDay News) -- Ritalin, a drug widely used to treat attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), appears to work by tweaking the brain so it isn't as easily distracted by stimuli from the outside world, a new study in rats suggests.

Experts caution that the findings aren't definitive and may have nothing to do with how the drug works in children and adults with ADHD. Still, the research could lead to better understanding of both Ritalin and the disorder, said co-author Barry Waterhouse, a professor of neurobiology and anatomy at Drexel University, in Philadelphia.

"It will begin to help us understand how ADHD may work," he said.
People with ADHD often have trouble focusing on tasks, and may be hyperactive and impulsive. However, some skeptics question whether more people are being diagnosed with ADHD than actually have it.

What's also been unclear is just how Ritalin (methylphenidate) and other stimulants successfully treat as many as 80 percent of ADHD patients -- a success rate higher than any other class of psychiatric drugs, said Dr. David W. Goodman, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University and director of the Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Center of Maryland.

In fact, it's "counterintuitive" that Ritalin -- a stimulant -- would dampen ADHD symptoms, noted study co-author Waterhouse. That's because the disorder itself manifests as a form of neurological overstimulation.

Researchers suspect that Ritalin somehow affects neurotransmitters, the chemicals that help signals travel through the brain.

In the new research, Waterhouse and colleagues studied the brains of rats who were given Ritalin and then had their whiskers stroked, to stimulate their brains. Their findings appear in the May 30 online edition of the Journal of Neurophysiology.

Ritalin appeared to change the way the rodents' brains reacted to the stimulus by dampening signals that alert rats that something is going on, Waterhouse said. "The signal is being suppressed, and therefore irrelevant signals are not receiving the same level of brain response" as more important signals, he said.

In essence, the drug may allow the rats to not be easily distracted, he said. According to him, this could reflect what happens in mentally healthy humans who take Ritalin: they become better able to concentrate.

However, the rats in the study weren't an ideal match for human patients, because they didn't have a rodent equivalent of ADHD, Goodman said. While some animals have conditions that reflect human mental illnesses, such as depression or anxiety, he said he's not aware of any animal that develops something like ADHD.

So, while the new study is "interesting," Goodman said, "it's a quantum leap to take the findings and say anything about ADHD in humans."

More information:
For more on treating ADHD, head to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Antipsychotic Drug Prescriptions for Kids Soaring

(HealthDay News) -- The use of antipsychotic drugs prescribed for children has soared six-fold since the early 1990s, a new report finds.

The surge appears to be largely due to doctors who prescribe the drugs to treat mental illnesses -- including behavior disorders and mood disorders -- that don't have a psychotic component. In many cases, the U.S. government frowns on such "off-label" treatment, but it is legal.

The report findings are a cause for concern, because it's not clear how the drugs work in children, said study lead author Dr. Mark Olfson, professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons.

"They've been used in ways that haven't been as extensively studied and for which they haven't been approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)," Olfson said. "Whenever the practice gets out in front of the science, there's reason for concern."

Olfson and his colleagues examined figures from annual federal surveys of doctors about their practices. The study findings appear in the June issue of the journal Archives of General Psychiatry.

Based on the survey results, the researchers estimate that the number of office visits by children 20 and younger that included prescriptions for antipsychotic drugs grew from 201,000 in 1993 to 1.2 million in 2002. About 18 percent of visits to psychiatrists resulted in prescriptions for antipsychotic drugs.

Antipsychotic drugs are designed to treat people with psychotic disorders that give them a warped sense of reality. But the study shows that doctors are using them for other purposes for children, including behavior disorders (38 percent) and mood disorders (32 percent).

In some cases, the drugs aren't federally approved for treatment of those conditions, but doctors can still legally prescribe them for "off-label" uses.

Children with behavior disorders may be threatening or intimidating other children, Olfson said. What's more, the decline of psychiatric hospitalization of children is forcing psychiatrists to treat children with more severe symptoms. "Part of it is, also, that there aren't a lot of other alternatives to help with the management of kids who have serious behavioral problems," he said.

But it remains unclear exactly how antipsychotic drugs affect children, said Dr. William Cooper, associate professor of pediatrics at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, who's familiar with the study's findings.

"For things like attention-deficit disorder, depression and bipolar disorder, the bottom line is we don't know whether they work for those conditions in children, and we don't know what side effects they have in kids," Cooper said.

Some newer antipsychotic medications seem to cause weight gain, diabetes and heart rhythm irregularities, Cooper said.
Still, when psychiatrists "find themselves faced with a child having out-of-control behavior, they may think there's not a lot of other options," he said.

More information
Visit the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry for more on psychiatric medication for children.

Indication for Siberian Ginseng

Indication for Siberian Ginseng

Depression: Depression is, of course, affected by every aspect of our lives. Those suffering from mild to moderate depression can often be helped just by the increase in energy and the resilience towards stress. However, Siberian ginseng also seems to have a specific action against the condition itself.

Stress and associated symptoms: Similar to the other forms of ginseng, Siberian ginseng is used to treat a plethora of conditions. For instance, since Siberian ginseng contains substances that exert beneficial effects on the adrenals (small glands on top of the kidneys that secrete stress-fighting hormones) it effectively combats the symptoms of stress. These include insomnia, moodiness, and fatigue.

Chronic illnesses (such as cancer): The herb is often used as part of a recovery program from chronic illnesses such as cancer. The supplement increases energy stores and helps to relieve the stress of chemotherapy (or other invasive treatments). For these same reasons it is often given to athletes during training. Siberian ginseng is also very effective in the treatment of prolonged exhaustion and debility, resulting from overwork and long-term stress.

Mental functions: Mental acuity can also be improved by Siberian ginseng. Many people swear by the use of it during tests. Often times, stress is the cause for faulty memory, lack of focus, and other common complaints. It’s a cycle in which the symptoms produce more stress, which produces more symptoms. Siberian ginseng seems to be able to defuse this by relieving tension and allowing the mind to focus.

Anorexia nervosa: Increasing energy gradually is important to those struggling with anorexia nervosa. Although, the other forms of ginseng are too strong for this situation, Siberian ginseng seems to work gently and effectively to improve the overall condition of patients. This makes recovery more likely.

Resisting Illnesses: The herb also stimulates immune resistance and is often used as a preventative during flu and cold season. As a general tonic, Siberian ginseng helps to prevent infection and maintain well being. Because of this immune boosting effect, Siberian ginseng is frequently included in nutritional support programs for people with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia.

Alzheimer’s disease: It may benefit people who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease by increasing mental alertness. Research is still needed in this area but patients given Siberian ginseng seem to respond favorably.

PMS, Menopause, & Fertility: By slightly altering hormone levels and toning the uterus, Siberian ginseng may be effective in treating menstrual irregularities and symptoms of menopause. It also appears to be helpful in preventing female infertility. When alternated with Panax ginseng, it may even be an effective treatment in some cases of impotence.

Other conditions: Other conditions for which Siberian ginseng is occasionally recommended are arthrosclerosis, impaired kidney function, kidney pain, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, blood pressure disorders, symptoms of coronary atherosclerosis, symptoms of radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-induced leukopenia (decrease in white blood cells), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

An Immunological Test to Indicate Chronic Fatigue

Jay Levy, M.D., of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of alifornia. San Francisco, has developed an immunological test that distinguishes patients with CFS from healthy people and from those with other disorders having similar symptoms, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, documented depression, acute viral-like illness, and prolonged fatigue without other CFS criteria.a

Dr. Levy emphasizes that the test is not yet diagnostic, but it is used as a kind of prescreening to identify possible CFS candidates for further study. Dr. Levy and his colleagues have found that the immune systems of people with CFS, unlike those of healthy people, are in a constant overactive state and never return to a normal operating level. This over-activity is what is behind the deep fatigue; paradoxically, this heightened activity overlays a condition of dysfunction and immune incompetency.

In this test, CFS patients with the most r. severe symptoms (based on a study sample Of 147 patients) tend to have increased activation markers on CDS cells, with reduced numbers of CDS suppressor cells. This reveals the immune imbalance: one aspect is inappropriately activated, the other exists in insufficient numbers.

The test involves monitoring CDS cells (the proteins on killer T cells that are attacked by viruses). "Most noteworthy is the statistical evidence that an individual with two or more of the CDS cell subset alterations has a high probability (90%) of having active CFS," says Dr. Levy."

Other Factors That Can Generate Fatigue

Fatigue can result from a variety of conditions other than chronic fatigue syndrome, according to Leon Chaitow, N.D., D.O.

These include:
• Adrenal insufficiency caused by excessive stress and/or the overuse of stimulants (tea, coffee, chocolate, cola, alcohol, tobacco, drugs)
• Anemia (low levels of iron or vitamin B12 in the blood result in anemia; a blood test can verify this diagnosis)
• Candidiasis (often misdiagnosed as CFS in women)
• Cardiovascular causes (if breathless-ness and/or chest pain on exertion accompanies fatigue, the heart may be involved)
• Chronic ill-health (many chronic diseases have fatigue as a symptom)
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Headaches
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Obesity
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) (the connection will be obvious if fatigue occurs at the same time in the monthly cycle)
• Sleep disturbance or inadequate
• Stress
A number of the causes listed above are also symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. This highlights the circularity of symptoms and illness. Depression is both a symptom and a cause of fatigue, as are headaches, candidiasis, PMS, poor stress-coping skills, and sleep disorders. The presence of these factors can produce a downward spiral of illness and it becomes difficult to tell which came first, the fatigue or the other exhibited symptoms.

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Concise Definitions of the Three Related Epidemics

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an um­brella term for a multiple-symptom disorder characterized most commonly by the sudden onset of extreme, debilitating fatigue, pain in the muscles and joints, headaches, and poor concentration. The fatigue is not alle­viated by rest and results in a substantial reduction in previous levels of daily activity.

CFS is often cyclical, with periods of relative health followed by debilitation. Other symp­toms include depression, anxiety, digestive disorders, memory loss, allergies, recurring infections, and low-grade fever. According to the CDC, CFS predominantly affects white women, 25-45 years old.

Fibromyalgia is a multiple-symptom syn­drome primarily involving widespread mus­cle pain (myalgia) that can be debilitating in its severity.

The pain seems to be caused by the tightening and thickening of the myofascia, the thin film of tissue that holds the muscle together. Typical tender sites include the neck, upper back, rib cage, hips, and knees.

Other symptoms include general fatigue and stiffness, insomnia and sleep­ing disorders, anxiety, depression, mood swings, allergies, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, the sense of "hurting all over," tender skin, numbness, irritable bowel symptoms, dizziness, and exercise intoler­ance. Post-traumatic fibromyalgia is be­lieved to develop after a fall, whiplash, or back strain, whereas primary fibromyalgia has an uncertain origin. The majority of fibromyalgia sufferers are women between the ages of 34 and 56.

Environmental Illness is a multiple-symp­tom, debilitating, chronic disorder involving prolonged, heightened, and often incapaci­tating allergies or sensitivities to numerous common substances found in one's envi­ronment. Symptoms may include head­aches, fatigue, muscle pain and/or weak­ness, coughing or wheezing, asthma, weight loss, infections, and emotional fluctuations, depression, and irritability. The illness is sometimes referred to as "twentieth cen­tury disease" because patients become allergic to and functionally incompatible with many products and substances found in the modern world, such as car exhaust, synthetic carpets, plywood and other build­ing materials, cleaning agents, office machines, and plastics, among others.

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Researchers Explore Psychological Link to Bowel Disorder

THURSDAY, June 1 (HealthDay News) -- As many as one in five Americans suffers from the pain, bloating and embarrassment caused by irritable bowel syndrome, one of the most common disorders diagnosed by doctors.
But little is known about the disorder. In fact, doctors have been unable to pinpoint a specific cause, or find any cure.
Increasingly, research is focusing on the effect the mind may have on gut function. Many doctors believe the link between brain and body might prove the key to effective treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

"It's really a brain-gut disorder," said Dr. Lin Chang, an associate professor at the University of California, Los Angeles' Division of Digestive Diseases and School of Medicine. "We're gaining more information from many different aspects, but I don't think we have the whole story down yet."

Abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, constipation, and diarrhea are the main symptoms of IBS, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

But specific symptoms vary from person to person. Some have constipation, while others experience diarrhea. Some find their symptoms wax and wane, subsiding for a few months and then returning, while others say their symptoms get worse as time passes.

Awareness of IBS has grown over the past decade, said Chang, who is also director of the Women's Digestive Health Center at UCLA's Digestive Diseases Research Center. "

Most people may not understand what the symptoms are, but they recognize the name."
However, IBS remains a highly embarrassing and taboo disorder. Many people are ashamed of their symptoms, and find it hard to confide even in their family physician. Up to 70 percent of people suffering from IBS are not receiving medical care for their symptoms, according to federal statistics.

"The majority of patients with IBS don't seek medical treatment," Chang said. "I wouldn't say this is an easy topic to talk about at all."

Researchers have not discovered any specific cause for IBS, but several theories have gained some traction.

Chang said it appears that IBS could be initially triggered by some sort of serious physical or psychological problem, such as a runaway infection, a major surgery, or a deep depression.
The sufferer's colon grows particularly sensitive, and reacts violently to certain foods and stress.
Once IBS has been triggered, a number of mental and physical occurrences have been associated with a worsening of symptoms, according to the NIH.

These include:

• large meals,
• certain medicines,
• particular foods, including wheat, rye, barley, chocolate, milk products or alcohol,
• caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea or soft drinks,
• stress, conflict or emotional upsets.

Antidepressants are typically used to treat flare-ups of IBS and provide some relief to patients. Fiber supplements or laxatives for constipation, medicines to decrease diarrhea, or antispasmodics drugs to control colon muscle spasms and reduce abdominal pain also are commonly prescribed.

Interestingly, doctors have found that psychological treatments like hypnosis, relaxation training or psychotherapy provide the same amount of relief -- or even more -- than drug therapy.

"Treating the patient really requires a holistic approach where you treat both the body and the mind," said Dr. Charles Gerson, co-director of the Mind-Body Digestive Center in New York City and an associate clinical professor of gastroenterology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. "In the short term, therapy has proven more effective than medicine. Western medicine has forgotten how much the mind and body interact."
A vicious circle can develop with IBS when the patient's body and mind interact in a way to make the disorder grow worse, Gerson said.
For example, the gut can cause discomfort that makes the patient feel depressed or anxious. That depression or anxiety can then turn around and make the discomfort even more severe, he said.

"It just keeps going around and around," Gerson said. "You have to treat both sides of the circle to see positive benefit."

Research has shown that IBS is affected by the immune system, which is affected by stress. Because of that, stress management is an important part of IBS treatment. Patients are urged to deal with stress through counseling, regular exercise and a healthy amount of sleep.

On the physical side, careful eating has been shown to reduce IBS symptoms.
With advice from a doctor or dietitian, IBS patients have been able to reduce their discomfort by removing problem foods from their diet such as dairy products, or by increasing their fiber intake.

Eating smaller meals more often, or eating smaller portions, has also been found to help IBS symptoms in some people. Another effective habit involves eating meals that are low in fat and high in carbohydrates, such as pasta, rice, whole-grain breads and cereals.

More information
To learn more, visit the National Library of Medicine.

A Painful Reminder of Shingles?

A Painful Reminder of Shingles?
Provided by: DrWeil.com

Q: Do you have any advice for dealing with postherpetic neuralgia? -- Reg W.

A: Postherpetic neuralgia is a complication of shingles that affects the nerve fibers and skin and can be extremely painful.

The symptoms are usually confined to the area where the shingles occurred and may include a sharp, burning or deep, aching pain, extreme sensitivity to touch and temperature change, or itching and numbness. These problems can go on for months, in some cases years, and are most likely to occur among older people. In fact, the older you are when you develop shingles, the more likely you are to develop postherpetic neuralgia. This complication rarely occurs before the age of 50 but does develop in at least 50 percent of shingles patients over 60 and in almost 75 percent of those 70 or older.

Conventional medicine treats postherpetic neuralgia with skin patches that release the pain killer lidocaine and relieve pain for four to 12 hours. Antidepressants, in doses smaller than those used to treat depression, especially tricyclics like amitryptaline (Elavil), seem to make the pain easier to tolerate.

Other allopathic options are anticonvulsant drugs such as neurontin, prescription pain medications, and TENS units (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), which involves placing electrodes in the painful area to deliver tiny electrical impulses to nearby nerve pathways.

I suggest trying acupuncture or hypnosis, both of which can help relieve the pain of postherpetic neuralgia. You can also use topical capsaicin, a cream made from hot chili peppers. This medication depletes nerve cells of "substance P," a natural chemical that is involved in sending pain signals to the brain. You rub the cream on the affected area of skin three times a day. Capsaicin cream is sold over-the-counter as Zostrix or Capzasin-P.
Andrew Weil, M.D. –

Author of:

• Eight Weeks to Optimum Health
• Spontaneous Healing
• The Natural Mind
• The Marriage of the Sun and Moon
• Health and Healing
• Natural Health, Natural Medicine
• From Chocolate to Morphine (with Winifred Rosen)

Getting Enough Omega-3?

Getting Enough Omega-3?
Provided by: DrWeil.com

Q: Your recent article mentioned one's "omega-3 level." How do I measure mine or find what my level is? I'm trying to increase my intake of omega-3s with flaxseed (ground), fish and lentils. -- Shirley

A: Omega-3 fatty acids are special unsaturated fats our bodies need for optimum health. Unfortunately, most Americans are deficient in omega-3s, and as a result are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, cancer, inflammatory disorders, and mental and emotional problems. Eating foods rich in omega-3s can reduce these risks and also help treat depression, bipolar disorder, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

I don't think there is any practical way to measure your omega-3 levels. If there were, and if they were low, the solution would be to do what you should do anyway: increase your intake. Instead of worrying about what your levels are, try to calculate how much omega-3s your diet provides.

These fatty acids are found principally in oily fish that live in cold water, primarily wild salmon, mackerel, herring, and sardines. Bluefish is also rich in omega-3s as is - to a lesser extent - albacore tuna, but both of these tasty fish are contaminated by mercury and should be avoided.

Other dietary sources of omega-3s include walnuts, flaxseeds and hemp seeds - and the oils extracted from them - as well as soy and canola oils and specially fortified eggs. If you're eating three ounces of fish two to three times a week, as I recommend, snacking on walnuts and adding flaxseeds to cereals and salads you're probably getting enough omega 3s.

A 3-ounce serving of Alaskan salmon or herring contains about 2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, while 3 ounces of sardines has about 1.3 grams. You can substitute one ounce of walnuts for a serving of fish, or add a tablespoon or two of freshly ground flaxseed or hemp oil to your diet.

These plant sources provide you with alpha linolenic acid, which the body converts to the omega-3s the body needs. The only problem with plant sources of these nutrients is that some people may not be able to convert alpha-linolenic acid to the longer-chain forms that occur in fish, the forms the body needs.

If you are not getting adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, I recommend taking a good quality fish oil supplement. This is particularly important if you have high cholesterol, diabetes, symptoms of PMS, coronary artery disease or a family history of heart attack or sudden cardiac death, breast cancer, memory loss, depression, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, or rheumatoid arthritis. Distilled fish oils are free of mercury and other contaminants, and some taste quite good. Start with one to two grams a day.
Andrew Weil, M.D. –

Author of:

• Eight Weeks to Optimum Health
• Spontaneous Healing
• The Natural Mind
• The Marriage of the Sun and Moon
• Health and Healing
• Natural Health, Natural Medicine
• From Chocolate to Morphine (with Winifred Rosen)

Can chelation destroy the AIDS virus?

Archives of Virology 73, 171-183 (1982)
Disintegration of Retroviruses by Chelating Agents

By V. Wunderlich and G. SydowCentral Institute for Cancer Research, Robert-Rossle-Institute,Academy of Sciences of the German Democratic, Berlin

German Democratic RepublicWith 2 figures Accepted April 2, 1982
Summary

Exposure in vitro of various mammalian retroviruses to the chelating agents EDTA or EGTA in millimolar concentrations resulted in partial disintegration of viral membranes as measured by accessibility or even release of reverse transcriptase, an internal viral protein, without any other treatment usually required.

AMong the viruses responding to chelators were mammalian type C viruses, primate type D viruses and Bovine leukemia virus. The effect was dose-dependant. The avain type C virus AMV, howeveer, was found to be not susceptible to the agents. Rauscher mouse leukemia virus treated in vitro with EDTA or EGTA showed reducedinfectivity in mice.

The results are considered as evidence for some association of divalent cations with membranes of mammalian retroviruses. The disintegrating activity of EGTA suggests that Ca2+ is an integral constituent of viruses but Mg2+ may also be involved.

These cations seem to be responsible for maintaining the integrity of retroviral membranes which, after chelation of ions, are either disrupted or become permeable for the exogenous template of reverse transcriptase. In addition, the disintegrating activity of trifluoperazine may indicate that a calmodulin-like protein occurs in retroviral membranes.

Introduction
Retroviruses contain a single stranded RNA genome and the enzyme reverse transcriptase (RT), both of which are located with the virion core. Viral particles are released by budding from the surface of infected cells and the cores are thought to acquire in this process an outer unit membrane of host cell origin.

However, little is known about the composition, architecture and topography of the viral membrane witht he possible exception of spikes and knobs protruding from the exterior of the envelope. The porphological elements are composed of predominantly glycosylated proteins encoded in the viral genome and determine many of the biological properties of the virus. (see 23 for a review). Therefore, previous investigations on the retroviral envelope have mainly been focused on those components.

The demonstration of RT activity requires the disruption of virus particles as usually performed with the aid of detergents. Our observation that the preparation of type D retroviruses in buffers containing the chelating agent ethylene-diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) results in considerable accessibility or even release of RT activity without the use of any detergent (32) led us to investigate more systematically the action of chelating agents on different types of retroviruses.

The results presented in this study demonstrate that susceptibility to such agents is a characteristic property of various retroviruses. Thus, the structure of retroviral membranes obviously stabilized by divalent cations may be more complex than hitherto known. Appreciation of this complexity may allow a better understanding of certain aspects of virus-cell interaction and may facilitate the future design of antiretroviral compounds.

Materials and Methods
Chemicals
EDTA (Chelaplex III, p.a.) was purchased from VEB Berlin-Chemie, Berlin-Adlershof, GDR. EGTA [ethylene glycol bis 92-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, Dr. Th. Schuchardt GmbH., Munchen, FRG) was kindly provided by Dr. H. Will, Berlin. Propranol was obtained from Isis-Chemie KG< la=" 1-"> Chelation and EGTA obviously disassociated some membrane components as indicated by the appearance of RT activity in otherwise undestructed virus samples.

This effect however, was sometimes hard to reproduce possible owing to some irreversible chelator induced activation of RT, a zinc metallozyme not reactivable by Mg++ or Mn++ (25), even although either ion was additionally added to the RT reaction mixture in amounts equimolar to the chelator. (Tables not included here but an be faxed to you if you are interested in seeing them.)

Efficacy of EDTA and EGTA in Disintegrating Various Retroviruses To circumvent the problems just described, most experiments were performed in a fashion allowing a more favorable ratio of chelator to virus during exposure as well as the subsequent elimination of major amounts of chelating agents before assaying for RT activity, i.e., sedimentation of viruses through a solution containing the agent under study. Results are expressed as lytic activity LA as defined in Materials and Methods.

This index reflects the ability of a given agent to bring about a partial or complete disintegration of virus particles. Partially disintegrated particles, although to a variable extent damaged by exposure to chelator, remain sedimentable but exhibit RT activity as seein in aliquots (c) treated with agent but not with detergent.

On the other hand, the proportion of virus particles completely disassembled during exposure may be obtained by the difference of RT activities appearing in aliquots (b) and (d) treated without or with agent followed by disruption of the remaining virus with detergent.

To give an example with RLV exposed in aliquots (c) and (d) to 1 mmol/l ETA: the four viral aliquots displayed RT activities of (a) 1.1, (b) 38.0, (c) 10.4, (d) 32.7 dis/min (each x 10 to the third), respectively, yielding an LA value of 40. It appeared, however, not meaningful to discriminate between partial and complete disintegration and the LA value included by definition both events was therefore used. Fig. 1 (not shown) depicts the action of EDTA and EGTA on various retroviruses. These include mammalian type C viruses (RLV, SSV), primate type D viruses (MPMV, SMRV, PMFV) and BLV. Both chelating agents exert in millimolar concentrations a pronounced lytic activity upon most of the viruses tested so far.

Mammalian type C viruses seem to be somewhat less susceptible than the other viruses. The avian type C virus AMV, however, was exceptional in that it did respond to neither EDTA or EGTA. The reason for that was not investigated but may be related to some peculiarities of the envelopes of the avian type C viruses as compared to their mammalian counterparts (23). Since RLV just as AMV was obtained from the plasma of leukemic animals and there was no difference in the susceptibility of RLV irrespective of originating from infected animals or tissue cultures, it appears to be unlikely that unresponsiveness of AMV is due to certain conditions of extracellular viral maturation.

Concentration Dependence of Disintegrating Activity of EDTA and EGTA In initial experiments it was noted that retroviruses respond to chelating agents in a dose dependant manner. Fig. 2 (not shown) illustrates that PMFV, studied in greater detail, is susceptible to chelators over a wide range of concentrations. Complete disintegration, however, was reached with neither EDTA nor EGTA even in high concentrations up to 50 mmol/l.

This may indicate that only a certain fraction of particles present in a given virus population is sensitive to these agent possible owing to variations in age, stage of maturity, or other factors. Such variables are known to influence the response of retroviruses to detergents (43). Which Ion Is Involved in Disintegration A major question arising from the experiments described so far is the nature of the cation complexed by the chelating agents and probably somehow responsible for the integrity of viral particles. Effectiveness of EGTA with its high binding affinity for Ca++ (stability constant log K=10.9) and relatively low affinity for Mg++ (log K=5.9) (3) clearly supports a role of calcium in virus integrity.

However, the ability of EGTA to produce disintegration even in low concentrations may suggest that magnesium is also involved in maintaining the integrity of retroviruses, since the EDTA has binding affinities to both Ca++ (log K = 10.7) and Mg++ (log K = 8.9). The low amount of virus available for analysis did not yet allow an identification of the respective cation(s) by means of chemical or physicochemical methods. The possibility that EDTA and EGTA chelate different cations in retroviral membranes led us to examine a possible synergistic action of both agents on retroviruses.

Thus far, however, no increase in LA values has been observed after exposure of viruses to equimolar mixtures of both chelators. To further substantiate the involvement of one of the ions under consideration, experiments were performed to ascertain whether the addition of divalent cations could prevent the action of EDTA or EGTA (not shown). As already reported for PMFV (32) and now confirmed with other viruses, both MgCl2 and CaCl2 prevented disintegration of retroviruses when simultaneously added with the chelating agent.

However, addition of these cations at a later time did not cancel the effect produced by EDTA or EGTA. These results corroborate the assumption that both Ca++ and Mg++ ions are associated with retroviruses. Moreover, they exclude the possibility of involvement of such heavy metal ions binding more strongly to EGTA than Ca++, because in that case addition of CaCL2 or MgCl2 would not have prevented disintegration.

Effect of EDTA and EGTA on Infectivity of RLV That chelating agents indeed adversely affect retroviral membranes was independently demonstrated in another set of experiments. RLV, contained in cell-free spleen homogenates, was incubated in vitro with EDTA or EGTA and then injected into mice for analysis of leukemogenic capacity.

As compared to saline incubated virus in the controls, this treatment led to a marked inhibition of splenomegaly as well as to a doubling of mean survival time of infected animals (Table 2 not shown). Therefore, disintegration of virus particles as biochemically measured is paralleled by an equivalent loss of infectivity. The remaining virus, however, was still able to cause leukemia being diagnosed (courtesy of Prof. F. Fey) at the time of death of animals. Nevertheless, antiviral activity of chelating agents was also reflected in the pronounced depression of particle bound RT activity in the plasma of mice inoculated with treated virus.

During the course of development of leukemias, there was a considerable delay in reaching comparable levels of RT activity in blood of treated as against control mice. Susceptibility of BLV to Different Beta Blockers The hypothesis that Ca++ may be associated with retroviruses was further tested in animals with beta receptor blocking drugs.

Propranolol, a nonselective beta blocker used in medical practice, has been shown to be able to interact with membranes under concomitant Ca++ displacemant (2). It also disrupts membranes of type C and type D retroviruses (41). Contrary to propranolol, some of its congeners cardioselective beta blockers like practolol, sotalol and atenolol lacking the hydrophobicity of propranolol, do not essentially influence membrane phospholipids and membrane boud Ca++ (2,17,24).

For that reason it appeared of interest to examine the susceptibility of a retroviruses to these drugs. BLV was chosen because it was not included in our earlier studies. Table 3 (not shown) shows that exposure to propranolol in vitro clearly disintegrates BLV, as previously demonstrated with other retroviruses. Exposure to one of the propranolol congeners however produces only a small, if any, disintegration of BLV.

These results may thus provide additional evidence for calcium as the ion to take into consideration. Lytic Action of Trifluoperazine on Retroviruses The effect of trifluoperazine (TFP) on retroviruses ws investigated because

(i) other phenothiazines have been found to exert a lytic effect on retroviruses in vitro (41),

(ii) drugs of this type are known to produce, along with a variety of other effects on biological membranes, a displacement of Ca++ from membrane components (29) and

(iii) TFP is able to bind in a Ca++ dependant manner (18,19) highly effectively to calmodulin, a widespread regulatory protein (16), and is therefore widely considered as a specific probe for calmodulin. In view of these properties disintegrating activity of TFP on retroviruses could serve as an indicator both for the presence of Ca++ and for the identification of a putative Ca++ binding molecule in retroviral membranes. In fact, following exposure to TFP retroviruses of type C or type D as well as BLV displayed a release of RTactivity (table 4) [not shown].

The effect was again dose dependant. To favor a Ca++ specific binding of TFP to viral components, exposure was performed at pH 7.2 and not at pH 8.3 as usually, because pH values above 7.5 diminish the specificity of binding (36) .

Despite some variations with different viruses, TFP showed a similar disintegrating activity as various phenothiazines (41). Although AMV failed to respond to EDTA and EGTA, this virus was found to be susceptible to TFP, similarly as to other phenothiazines (41), too. From the results of this set of experiments it is tempting to conclude that retroviral membranes donot only contain Ca++ but possible also a Ca++ binding protein (7) which may be calmodulin like in sharing with this protein the property of responding to TFP.

Discussion In the present work designed to evaluate the action of the action of chelation agents on retroviruses in vitro we have mainly used a procedure sonsisting of centrifugation of intact virus particles through a solution of each respective agent and subsequent assay for RT to detect disintegration of the viral membrane.

The results show that these agents are capable of disintegrating all of the mammalian retroviruses tested. This finding was supported by experiments showing decreased infectivity of RLV after the virus had been treated with chelating agents. Principally, disintegration of retroviruses in vitro may occur either spontaneously or by treatment with membrane active agents. Spontaneous disintegration thought to be due simply to aging of particles is variable but usually low.

On the other hand, a variety of agents including detergents (21) , lipid solvents (21), and neurotropic drugs (41) as well as proteins such as human (37) or nonhuman primate complement (30) and melittin (12) cause a complete or nearly complete lysis of retroviruses. Complement mediated virolysis affects the P15(E) protein known to be embedded directly into the retroviral membrane (1).

Other interesting agents are the polyene antibiotics and membrane channel formers filipin (22) and nystatin (12) which induce some alterations in but nor disintegration of the membranes of retroviruses while retaining their infectivity.

This study revealed still another type of response with some dissociaton of membrane components that affects the infectivity of virus but does not necessarily result in complete destruction of viral particles because a variable proportion of them remains sedimentable even after treatment with chelators. Thus, retroviruses may exhibit a broad range of response to exogenous factors. However, among such factors, chelators like EGTA are rather exceptional in that they do not represent true membrane active agents, although several observations point to a role of Ca++ in membrane stability. (6).

There is increasing evidence for some association of Ca++ with viruses and a role of this ion in maintaining viral structure. The observation of calcium binding sites is nearly 20 plant viruses including tobacco mosaic virus, and also bioenergetic considerations, led DURHAM (10,11) to propose that Ca++ might generally control disassembly of such viruses. Other authors succeeded in disassociated of polyoma virus by chelation of Ca++ (4) and reassembly of infectious viral particles by subsequent addition of Ca++ (5). Exposure of rotavirus particles to calcium chelators resulted in an unmasking of internal RNA polymerase activity (9).

On the basis of these findings it is tempting to assume that association with Ca++ is a widespread property among viruses of different families. The viral components associated with Ca++ have not been identified. One possibility is that the attachment of Ca++ to phosphatidylserine (13) known to occur in the so far analyzed retroviral membranes (28). Distinctive features of model membranes have been attributed to interactions of Ca++ with membrane phospholipids and there is evidence that the viral membranes behave in this respect similarly as model membranes, e.g., in virus induced cell fusion processes (27). On the other hand, certain proteins could serve as receptors for Ca++ owing to their ability to bind Ca++ in a selective and reversible fashion.

The prototype of such Ca++ binding proteins is calmodulin, which, upon binding of Ca++, undergoes a confirmational change needed for its biological activity (16). In the presence of Ca++, calmodulin avidly binds phenothiazines (with TFP being the most effective one) and becomes thereafter biologically inactive (36). Propranolol is another antagonist of calmodulin (35).

Consequently the strong retrovirus disintegrating activity of TFP, other phenothiazines, and propranolol (41) may be considered as preliminary evidence for the occurrence of calmodulin like proteins in retroviral membranes, though it remains to be identified. During complex formation of Ca++ both with phospholipids (26) and proteins (39) there is some synergism with Mg++ and it is, therefore, well conceivable that both cations simultaneously occur in rteroviral membranes.

Whatever the mode of Ca++ binding to viral components is, and irrespective of whether Ca++ is accidentally or even specifically complexed to them, the occurance of Ca++ in retroviral membranes may have biological implication with regard to the assembly and disassemble of viral particles in and their budding from infected cells. Generally Ca++ has been found to influence a wide variety of functional properties of biological membranes.

Finally, identification of Ca++ binding viral components may eventually prove useful in the search for new and effective retroviral agents. The presently limited success of virus chemotherapy with chelating agents (20) might be generally augmented by considering such components as drug targets, too. Our recent demonstration that haloperidol, a colmodulin binding butyrophenone (19), exerts an antiviral effect on Raucher murine leukemia virus in vivo (42), may support the feasibility of this approach.

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