FDA may legalize pot medicine, but only for Big Pharma

(NaturalNews)The pressure is on for researchers and pharmaceutical companies to develop drug-based, non-synthetic versions of marijuana for medical use, as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is poised to approve such varieties in the near future. But this potential approval…

Exposed: New York health officials ignore own fluoride report, continue to lie about fluoride dangers

(NaturalNews) Twelve million New Yorkers, 8.4 million of which live in New York City (NYC), continue to involuntarily consume fluoridated water regularly, despite a report issued from the New York State Department of Health (DoH) back in 1990 which warned that the chemical additive is toxic. To this day, many officials not only deny this report, but also falsely insist that “water fluoridated at the optimum level poses no known health risks.” The original report, entitled Fluoride: Benefits and Risks of Exposure , provided a sharp warning to officials that fluoride chemicals are especially harmful to kidney disease patients, diabetics, and those who are hyper-sensitive to the chemical. It also warned that because fluoride puts incredible toxic pressure on the kidneys, those with weaker kidneys are at an increased risk of developing skeletal fluorosis, a severe bone disease marked by symptoms of pain, tenderness and bone fractures. The toxicity of fluoride is so great that in 2007, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) withdrew its endorsement for fluoride as a beneficial water additive. The group has stated that “individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) should be notified of the potential risk of fluoride exposure.” In 2006, the National Research Council issued a now-famous report that explains how the initial studies used to promote water fluoridation in the first place did not properly assess how fluoride would affect renal (kidney) function. According to that report, those with impaired renal function, or those on hemodialysis, “tend to accumulate fluoride much more quickly than normal.” Further investigation into the matter was urged, but was never completed. “We know almost half of US kids are fluoride-overdosed as evidenced by their fluoride-discolored teeth, or dental fluorosis,” said attorney Paul Beeber, President of the NYS Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. “What has fluoride done to their bones, glands and organs known to collect fluoride? Are they fluoride-hypersensitive? Without such critical studies, claims that fluoridation is safe for everyone are unproven and groundless.” Legislation currently before the NY City Council would amend the administrative code of NYC to remove fluoride from water. The legislation currently has seven cosponsors, and if passed could spark a much-needed nationwide backlash against water fluoridation (http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nys-health-officials-disregard-own-fluoride-cautionary-advice-118917219.html). Sources for this story include: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nys-health-officials-disregard-own-fluoride-cautionary-advice-118917219.html

Common weed helps treat herpes, study finds

(NaturalNews) Tansy, a flowering plant that has long been used as a folk remedy to treat fevers, rheumatism, and other conditions, may now have another known health benefit. According to a recent study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research , antiviral compounds naturally present in tansy show effectiveness in treating the herpes virus. Dr. Solomon Habtemariam from the University of Greenwich in the UK and Professor Francisco Parra from the Universidad de Oviedo in Spain together set out to research the medicinal properties of tansy and verify the plant’s efficacy. They not only observed the plant to be a powerful antiviral, but they also identified which substances are responsible for this effect. “Our research focused on the antiviral properties of tansy, especially the potential treatment it may represent for herpes,” said Parra. “[W]e found that tansy does contain known antiviral agents including 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-DCQA) as well as axillarin, which contributes to its antiherpetic effect,” adding that the multiple antiherpetic agents present in tansy work together to fight viruses. A 2008 study out of Morocco found that tansy, also known more properly as Tanacetum vulgare, is effective at treating hypertension and promoting rapid relaxation. And a 2006 study explains that tansy leaves have also been commonly used in folk medicine as a effective diuretic. Other known uses for tansy include treating nervousness, fatigue, head ailments, mental irritability, ear ringing, stomach pains, digestive problems, and respiratory ailments. Tansy extracts also kill internal parasites and works as an effective insect repellant. Certain compounds in tansy are highly toxic, however. Ingesting tansy oil can cause liver and digestive tract problems, for instance, when not used correctly. Be sure to consult your physician before undertaking any protocol involving tansy. Sources for this story include: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-02/w-ofr022211.php http://www.webhomeopath.com/homeopathy/homeopathic-remedies/homeopathy-remedy-Tanacetum_Vulgare.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18760343 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17113735

Government offers cash prizes to doctors who recruit new mental illness patients

(NaturalNews) The U.K. National Health Service (NHS) has decided to turn its health care system into a giant game where doctors who recruit the most new mental patients win cash prizes. The equivalent of over $243 million is set to be divied out based on which general practitioners (GP) garner the most new business in the mental health field, an effort that is sure to add thousands of new people, including young children, into the category of having mental diseases. The effort, say authorities, is to help craft a better preventive approach to mental health by catching problems early, and thus saving money in the long term. Sources say NHS currently spends the equivalent of over $16 billion a year treating mental health disorders. So by helping people early, overall costs will subside, so they say. But the endeavor also has the potential to tag thousands of otherwise healthy people as mentally ill, which will plunge them into various therapies, including drug interventions, for disorders they likely do not even have. Everything from getting angry to excessive emailing is now considered to be a sign of mental illness, and the list of “disorders” continues to grow. Just last year, psychiatrists even tried to say that choosing to eat healthy foods is a mental disorder (http://www.naturalnews.com/029098_orthorexia_mental_disorder.html). Check out this video at NaturalNews.tv for a simple, clever, and to-the-point look at how the field of psychiatry falsely labels normal people as having mental disorders: http://www.naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=79F04FDDB029F7E5DF59E508D1281DE0 And now, U.K. GPs will be able to rake in a whole lot of dough for recruiting new mental health patients into the tangled, fraudulent web of psychiatric medicine and treatments. The contest is a perfect opportunity to recategorize potentially millions of ordinary folks as having made-up diseases so they can begin to undergo things like “cognitive behavioral therapy” (CBT), as well as take extensive drug regimens that mellow out the brain and induce conformity. Sources for this story include: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/feb/02/gp-bonus-spotting-mental-illness

More research needed on diet and environmental influences on childhood asthma

Two new studies explore the possible relationship between nutrition and asthma. Researchers reviewed the rationale for investigating associations between diet and asthma, discuss the potential for dietary intervention to complement conventional asthma treatment, and summarize the recent data suggesting that diet may influence the development of asthma.

Birch bark nutrient prevents obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol

(NaturalNews) Researchers from the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (SIBC) in China have identified a powerful compound in birch bark called betulin that helps lower cholesterol and prevent both diabetes and obesity. And betulin works particularly better than the statin drug lovastatin at lowering cholesterol, except without the harmful side effects. Dr. Bao-Liang Song and his colleagues from SIBC tested the effects of betulin and found that it specifically targets the genes responsible for making harmful blood fats like triglycerides by effectively lowering their activity and protecting against disease. And since the compound is “abundant in birch bark,” it has the potential to revolutionize the way blood fat levels are managed. Concerning cholesterol levels, betulin was shown to lower lipid levels more effectively than lovastatin. And insulin-wise, betulin helps keep artery walls free and clear of build-ups and blockages, also known as atherosclerosis. Long used as an herbal remedy, betulin has been investigated for many other medicinal purposes as well: -The medicinal mushroom Chaga, for example, is rich in betulinic acid. And the betulin is recognized as one of the mushroom’s many anti-cancer compounds (http://www.naturalnews.com/024869_Daniel_Vitalis_mushrooms_medicinal.html). -A study out of the University of Latvia found that betulin helps lower inflammation (http://www.privatemdlabs.com/blood-testing-news/Heart_Health_and_Cholesterol/Ingredient-in-birch-bark-may-improve-cholesterol-levels—$800323971.php). -A 2003 study out of Russia found that betulin is a powerful antiviral nutrient (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VSC-48XH7DR-D&_user=10&_coverDate=07/31/2003&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1599076185&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=5a5b3402fe293d465b6b46ea560e07c2&searchtype=a). Despite the fact that some reports have falsely identified betulin as a “drug”, the compound is really nothing more than a natural phytonutrient that birch trees themselves use as a natural protective “medicine”. Betulin is nothing like the pharmaceutical drugs sold at pharmacies; when formulated as an extract, it is a simple herbal supplement like the many others sold at health food stores. Sources for this story include: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/221167/Tree-bark-drug-could-battle-heart-disease

Doctors should be forced to tell patients they are seriously impaired from lack of sleep before they operate

(NaturalNews) Here’s another one of those stories about mainstream medical practices that sounds like it couldn’t be true — but it is. According to an editorial just published in the New England Journal of Medicine , there are currently regulations in place to restrict the work hours of doctors in training — but no such rules for fully trained physicians. That means doctors who are severely sleep deprived are currently performing operations on unsuspecting patients who have no idea their surgeons are as impaired as if they were drunk out of their minds. “Studies have shown that sleep deprivation impairs psychomotor performance as severely as alcohol intoxication,” the authors of the study pointed out in a media statement. The editorial presents a compelling case that these sleep-deprived physicians should not be allowed to perform elective surgery unless their patients give informed, written consent agreeing to be operated on by an impaired doctor. “This approach would represent a fundamental shift in the responsibility patients are asked to assume in making decisions about their own care and might prove burdensome to patients and physicians and damaging to the patient-physician relationship,” the authors wrote. “This shift may be necessary until institutions take the responsibility for ensuring that patients rarely face such dilemmas.” So just how dangerous is it to be operated on by a doctor who is sleep-deprived? A 2009 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found a significant increase in the risk of complications in patients who underwent elective daytime surgical procedures performed by surgeons who hadless than a six-hour opportunity for sleep during a previous on-call night. What’s more, doctors who are sleep-deprived are often not able to accurately recognize how severely they are impaired. “Sleep deprivation affects clinical performance. It increases the risks of complications. And it is clear from survey data that patients would want to be informed if their physician was sleep deprived and that most patients would request a different provider,” Michael Nurok, M.D., Ph.D., an anesthesiologist and intensive care physician at Hospital for Special Surgery who is first author of the editorial, said in a press statement. “We think that institutions have a responsibility to minimize the chances that patients are going to be cared for by sleep-deprived clinicians.” The editorial concludes that sleep-deprived physicians should be required to inform patients of their condition; it also argues that patients have the right to be told of the potential hazards that can come from surgery performed by sleep-impaired surgeons. And patients should be given the opportunity to go ahead with the procedure, proceed with a different doctor, or reschedule for another time. If patients decide they want to go ahead with a planned operation performed by a sleep deprived doctor, Dr. Nurok and his co-authors believe they should be required to sign a consent form on the day of the procedure in front of a witness to show they understand the potential risks. Although it would seem like a no-brainer that patients have a right to know a surgeon they are trusting their bodies and lives to is not impaired, the editorial authors say there are many barriers to the idea of this informed consent. Not surprisingly, one of the biggest problems is based on the fear that when patients learn doctors are impaired from lack of sleep, there will be financial consequences for hospitals and physicians. Some doctors will lose cases and have a drop in income and medical centers will lose money if patients reschedule and go elsewhere for their surgery. However, Dr. Nurok and his colleagues counter that by giving patients the facts and true informed consent, any income lost by docs and hospitals will be offset by improved surgical outcomes and reduced complications. “There has been widespread discomfort with the idea that patients are having procedures performed by physicians who are fatigued,” Dr. Nurok concluded. “New policies are needed.” For more information: http://www.hss.edu/newsroom.asp

Artificial ‘nano-food’ could soon show up at a store near you

(NaturalNews) The scientific community has once again caught food-tampering fever. Recent reports indicate that food scientists are busy developing nanoparticle-modified (NM) food that could one day end up on your dinner plate — and you may never even know about it. By shifting around nanoparticles, food scientists say that fat-free foods can taste like full-fat foods, and they can be programmed to digest more slowly–two changes that some say may help reverse the obesity epidemic. But most of this research is going on in secret because of fears over how the public will respond. Like genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), nano-modifying food involves literally changing its molecular properties, which has never been proven safe. So naturally, consumers are likely to reject NM food if given the choice. “These particles could be hazardous and we need to know more about their effects both in the body and in the environment,” said Frans Kampers, coordinator of research on food nanotechnology at Wageningen and Research Center in the Netherlands. “Since these particles are very small, they can…enter cells or even the nucleus of a cell if they have the right characteristics.” The stated goal of nanotechnology research in food is to create foods that behave differently than real ones in terms of digestion, assimilation, taste and nutritional value. By altering the “nano-structure” of food, so to speak, NM food can be programmed to make people feel fuller faster, for instance. And nutrients in food can also be nano-encapsulated to release at timed intervals to specific parts of the body. Even though NM food has yet to see the light day, the European Union (EU) is already taking proactive steps to make sure that, if it does make it to consumers, NM food will at least be regulated and labeled. Thus, the EU has developed a research project called NanoLyse to address the “very limited knowledge [that is] available on the potential impact of engineered nanoparticles on consumers’ health.” Sources for this story include: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68E24W20100915

New biodegradable foam could replace oil-based plastics

(NaturalNews) Scientists from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, have developed a new biodegradable foam material that has the potential to replace a number of commonly-used plastic foams made from petroleum. The new material — which is made from a type of milk protein, simply clay, and a reactive enzyme — is extremely lightweight and seems to work very well even in heavy-use commercial applications, which makes it a viable alternative to many currently-used plastic and foam products.. Many people are already aware that synthetic plastics are a detriment to the environment. After being dumped in landfills, these plastic materials can take hundreds and even thousands of years to decompose. They also require the continual usage of non-renewable fossil fuels for their production. But according to research published in the journal Biomacromolecules , the new foam material begins to break down very quickly after being disposed of, with as much as thirty percent of it decomposing in as little as 30 days. By mixing casein, a milk derivative, with ordinary clay and a reactive molecule, researchers were able to create the new “aerogel” material. Based on initial findings, aerogel could replace commonly-used pillow and cushion stuffing, building insulation, foam packaging materials, and other similar materials. It is also one of the lightest and most airy biodegradable foam materials ever created, with its developers actually referring to it as “solid smoke”. The ingredients used in the new foam material are also derived from renewable sources. So as far as being environmentally friendly, it appears to fit the bill nicely. And by shifting plastic production away from petroleum sources, the new technology could help reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Sources for this story include: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-11/acs-bfp111710.php http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/bm100615a

Educated families increasingly refusing vaccinations

(NaturalNews) Educated Americans with private insurance plans are becoming increasingly less prone to vaccinate their children, according to this year’s annual State of Health Care Quality report released by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The report states that there was a four percentage point drop in vaccination rates among middle- and upper-class families between 2008 and 2009. “This was the first time we’d seen a drop — and it was a pretty big drop,” Sarah Thomas, vice president of public policy and communication at NCQA, is quoted as saying to HealthDay. “We didn’t really explore the reasons [for the trend], but one leading hypothesis is that parents have decided not to get their children vaccinated because of concerns about the potential for side effects and even autism.” Meanwhile, vaccination rates among poorer individuals on government welfare programs like Medicaid have been on the rise. Programs like “Vaccines for Children” (VFC) that provide free (taxpayer-funded) vaccines to doctors who serve eligible children are among those that have spurred the increase within this socioeconomic group. Many experts insist that vaccines are one of the greatest public health achievements in the world, but numerous studies point not only to their ineffectiveness, but also to the harm they cause to both children and adults (http://vactruth.com/). Of course, there are other studies out there that insist vaccines are safe and effective, but most, if not all, of these studies are funded by the very drug companies producing the vaccines (http://www.naturalnews.com/030025_vaccines_October.html). In fact, a former editor of The New England Journal of Medicine , commented on the extent of industry corruption by revealing that “[i]t is simply no longer possible to believe much of the clinical research that is published, or to rely on the judgment of trusted physicians or authoritative medical guidelines.” Even though many will criticize families who choose not to get vaccinated as being “irresponsible” and “misinformed”, avoiding vaccinations because of safety concerns actually makes a lot more logical sense than simply trusting the tainted “studies” used to quell fears and increase vaccine sales. Sources for this story include: http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20101103/hl_hsn/manyhigherincomeparentsforgoingkidsvaccinationsreport

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