Thursday, 31 January 2008
are needle biopsies safe?
A June 2004 report from the John Wayne Cancer Institute in California has rekindled a long-standing debate over whether or not needle biopsies are safe. The paper set out to examine whether this technique, widely used to obtain specimens in cases of suspected cancer, might itself allow malignant cells to spread from an isolated tumor to nearby lymph nodes. The authors reluctantly conclude that a needle biopsy may indeed increase the spread of the disease by 50 percent compared to patients who receive the more traditional excisional biopsies (or "lumpectomies").
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Alternative and complimentary health care
Alternative and complimentary health care is becoming more and more mainstream because that's what people want. It's a consumer driven phenomena. It's much more cost effective to stay healthy than to get sick. I think the authorities are slowly waking up to this and, when they do, holistic therapies will have a much larger role to play.
Sunday, 27 January 2008
great quotes from woody allen
. I asked the girl if she could bring a sister for me. She did. Sister Maria Teresa. It was a very slow evening. We discussed the New Testament. We agreed that He was very well adjusted for an only child.
. And my parents finally realize that I'm kidnapped and they snap into action immediately: they rent out my room.
. I am at two with nature.
. My parents were very old world. They come from Brooklyn, which is the heart of the Old World. Their values in life are God and carpeting.
. Eternal nothingness is fine if you happen to be dressed for it.
. My one regret in life is that I am not someone else.
. I took a speed reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It's about Russia.
. If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name at a Swiss bank.
. I had a terrible education. I attended a school for emotionally disturbed teachers.
. I'm astounded by people who want to 'know' the universe when it's so hard to find your way around Chinatown.
. If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative.
. If you want to make God laugh, tell him your future plans.
. What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I definitely overpaid for my carpet.
. It is impossible to travel faster than light and certainly not desirable, as one's hat keeps blowing off...
. I don't think my parents liked me. They put a live teddy bear in my crib.
. And my parents finally realize that I'm kidnapped and they snap into action immediately: they rent out my room.
. I am at two with nature.
. My parents were very old world. They come from Brooklyn, which is the heart of the Old World. Their values in life are God and carpeting.
. Eternal nothingness is fine if you happen to be dressed for it.
. My one regret in life is that I am not someone else.
. I took a speed reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It's about Russia.
. If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name at a Swiss bank.
. I had a terrible education. I attended a school for emotionally disturbed teachers.
. I'm astounded by people who want to 'know' the universe when it's so hard to find your way around Chinatown.
. If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative.
. If you want to make God laugh, tell him your future plans.
. What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I definitely overpaid for my carpet.
. It is impossible to travel faster than light and certainly not desirable, as one's hat keeps blowing off...
. I don't think my parents liked me. They put a live teddy bear in my crib.
Saturday, 26 January 2008
apple cider vinegar benefits
intesting stuff from http://www.applecidervinegarweightloss.com/benefits.html :
"I can personally attest to the benefits of apple cider vinegar when it comes to weight loss, but many people don't know that it has lots of other positive uses. The idea of an all natural substance being able to help the body rid itself of many aches, pains, and infections is an attractive prospect. While I certainly don't suffer from most of these ailments on a regular basis, I have read about lots of people who do, and have benefited from using apple cider vinegar.
Headaches: This one was surprising how much it was mentioned. Many chronic headache sufferers begin taking apple cider vinegar immediately when they wake up on days where they can feel a day-long headache coming on. They believe that the apple cider vinegar was able to get to the headache before it set in completely, thereby avoiding it. It should be noted that a lot of these people claimed to be migraine sufferers, but these were certainly not controlled scientific tests, just people's experiences.
Nausea/Queasiness: This one went hand in hand with the headache section. More often than not, people who suffered from chronic headaches also had some degree of nausea that accompanied the headaches. If they were able to avoid the headache, the nausea went with it.
Sore throats: This one is no surprise. People that mixed apple cider vinegar with honey and water had almost instant relief from sore throats. I have tried this one myself and it is quite effective. The honey serves to numb the throat and soothe pain almost on contact, while the vinegar disinfects the germs that are causing the discomfort, thereby providing some longer term relief. Visit the recipe section for simple directions on this one.
Sinus cavities: Along with my sore throat, of course, came a stuffed up head. A positive side-effect of the concoction I made to soothe my sore throat was that it opened up my nasal passage so I could breathe properly again. I suspect this is mainly due to the vinegar.
I was able to gain relief from some of these ailments while taking apple cider vinegar strictly to lose weight. It was a nice unexpected surprise!
Many people have claimed that apple cider vinegar has helped them in their fight with high blood pressure, arthritis, high cholesterol, and bad circulation. These are definitely more serious problems that are apparently helped by apple cider vinegar, but it is best to seek medical attention first."
"I can personally attest to the benefits of apple cider vinegar when it comes to weight loss, but many people don't know that it has lots of other positive uses. The idea of an all natural substance being able to help the body rid itself of many aches, pains, and infections is an attractive prospect. While I certainly don't suffer from most of these ailments on a regular basis, I have read about lots of people who do, and have benefited from using apple cider vinegar.
Headaches: This one was surprising how much it was mentioned. Many chronic headache sufferers begin taking apple cider vinegar immediately when they wake up on days where they can feel a day-long headache coming on. They believe that the apple cider vinegar was able to get to the headache before it set in completely, thereby avoiding it. It should be noted that a lot of these people claimed to be migraine sufferers, but these were certainly not controlled scientific tests, just people's experiences.
Nausea/Queasiness: This one went hand in hand with the headache section. More often than not, people who suffered from chronic headaches also had some degree of nausea that accompanied the headaches. If they were able to avoid the headache, the nausea went with it.
Sore throats: This one is no surprise. People that mixed apple cider vinegar with honey and water had almost instant relief from sore throats. I have tried this one myself and it is quite effective. The honey serves to numb the throat and soothe pain almost on contact, while the vinegar disinfects the germs that are causing the discomfort, thereby providing some longer term relief. Visit the recipe section for simple directions on this one.
Sinus cavities: Along with my sore throat, of course, came a stuffed up head. A positive side-effect of the concoction I made to soothe my sore throat was that it opened up my nasal passage so I could breathe properly again. I suspect this is mainly due to the vinegar.
I was able to gain relief from some of these ailments while taking apple cider vinegar strictly to lose weight. It was a nice unexpected surprise!
Many people have claimed that apple cider vinegar has helped them in their fight with high blood pressure, arthritis, high cholesterol, and bad circulation. These are definitely more serious problems that are apparently helped by apple cider vinegar, but it is best to seek medical attention first."
what I do
just been trying to define what I do as a chiropractor:
what I do as a chiropractor:
We understand that the brain and the nervous system control all the
systems and functions of the entire body - the brain runs the body
through the nerves. Due to past stresses and injuries the body develops
health problems. We look for the cause of health problems by examining
the posture and alignment of the neck and spine and limbs and if we
find a bone out of place that is causing nerve interference
('subluxation'), we adjust the area using very gentle chiropractic
techniques. When nerve interference is removed then the body can heal
itself. We also can help with most muscular problems using appropriate
and effective soft tissue techniques. We also use acupressure
techniques. Acupressure (acupuncture without needles) deals with
problems all over the body using the traditional chinese concept that
the body is connected by meridians. We can enhance the flow through
these meridian pathways to correct and rebalance the body.
what I do as a chiropractor:
We understand that the brain and the nervous system control all the
systems and functions of the entire body - the brain runs the body
through the nerves. Due to past stresses and injuries the body develops
health problems. We look for the cause of health problems by examining
the posture and alignment of the neck and spine and limbs and if we
find a bone out of place that is causing nerve interference
('subluxation'), we adjust the area using very gentle chiropractic
techniques. When nerve interference is removed then the body can heal
itself. We also can help with most muscular problems using appropriate
and effective soft tissue techniques. We also use acupressure
techniques. Acupressure (acupuncture without needles) deals with
problems all over the body using the traditional chinese concept that
the body is connected by meridians. We can enhance the flow through
these meridian pathways to correct and rebalance the body.
chlorine dangers
In 1992, the American Medical Association published information that stated "nearly 28% of all cancer of the intestines and 18% of all cancer of the bladder were caused by the drinking of chlorinated water."
A surprising but growing concern is the effect that chlorine and other chemicals have on serotonin levels(could therefore cause depression). Recent research demonstrates that recalcitrant organochlorines may play a role in the etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome. The chlorine emitted from showering and other household water use breaks down into free radicals that can lead to cancer and cardiovascular disease. Chlorinated water also contains hypochlorite, which increases levels of singlet oxygen in the body. Clearly it is vital to good health to filter as much chlorine from your home water system as possible.
Chlorine is one of the most reactive elements found in nature. It readily dissolves in water, where it combines with molecules of oxygen and hydrogen to form hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ion. Chlorination of water is achieved by adding chlorine gas directly to the water supply, or by adding the chemicals calcium hypochlorite or sodium chlorite, both of which are known as "free available chlorine".
Water utilities routinely disinfect drinking water to prevent microbial diseases, especially cholera, dysentery, and typhoid fever. To date, the greatest contribution to the protection of public health in the United States has been the disinfection of public water supplies, yet chlorine itself has been shown to cause a number of health problems.
Two decades after the start of chlorinating our drinking water, the present epidemic of heart trouble and cancer began.
Potential Contribution to Heart Disease
The patent for chlorination was granted in 1888 to Dr. Albert R. Leeds, Professor of Chemistry at Steven's Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. The next year, the first chlorination of a public water supply was attempted in Adrian, Michigan. It wasn't until 1908, however, that chlorination was used on a large scale, at Boonton Reservoir waterworks in Jersey City, New Jersey. By the 1940s, chlorination was widespread in the United States.
Concerns about chlorine and health began in the 1960s. In one study, an association was shown to exist between chlorination and heart disease, evidence that was, interestingly, discovered in Jersey City, the site of the first large-scale chlorination project. The severity of heart disease among people over the age of 50 correlated with the amount of chlorinated tap water they consumed. A statistically significant correlation demonstrated that those persons over 50 who did not suffer from heart disease drank mostly unchlorinated fluids such as bottled water, or boiled water (chlorine is released as a gas when boiled).
Dr. Joseph Price, author of Coronaries, Cholesterol, Chlorine, has stated that he believes chlorine is the cause of "an unprecedented disease epidemic which includes heart attacks and strokes ... Most medical researchers were led to believe it was safe, but now we are learning the hard way that all the time we thought we were preventing epidemics of one disease, we were creating another. Two decades after the start of chlorinating our drinking water in 1940, the present epidemic of heart trouble and cancer began."
Although numerous studies have been conducted in the attempt to discover how chlorine may be a factor in cancer, no research has determined specifically that chlorine is a responsible agent. (See, for example, T. Pate, R. H. Harris, S. S. Epstein, "Drinking Water and Cancer Mortality in Louisiana," Science Vol. 193, 1976, 55-57). But the relationship between heart disease and chlorinated water is well established-alas, even chickens and pigeons used in tests to determine the effects of chlorine showed evidence of either atherosclerosis of the aorta or obstruction of the circulatory system.
Removal of Chlorine from Showers
In confined spaces, such as a shower or bathroom, we can sometimes smell chlorine. Frequent exposure to chlorine gas even at the low levels found during normal activities such as showering may reduce the oxygen transfer capacity of the lungs.
When we shower, we also expose our skin to a large amount of diluted chlorine. It's likely, given the strong oxidizing power of chlorine, that regular exposure to chlorinated water will hasten the skin's aging process. Fortunately, over the last ten years, water filters have become more sophisticated and it is now possible to remove chlorine from your home shower.
References:
Paul Caro, Water, McGraw Hill, 1993, passim.
R. Hugh Dunstan et al, "A Preliminary Investigation
of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons and Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome," The Medical Journal of Australia,
September 18, 1995; 163: 294-297.
Patrick Flanagan, Elixir of the Ageless: You Are What
You Drink, Flanagan Technologies, 1986.
Colin Ingram, The Drinking Water Book: A Complete
Guide to Safe Drinking Water, Berkeley, CA:Ten
Speed Press, 1991.
Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw, Life Extension: A
Practical Scientific Approach, New York: Warner
Books, 1983; 260-261.
Sanetaka Shirahata et al, "Electrolyzed-Reduced
Water Scavenges Active Oxygen Species and
Protects DNA from Oxidative Damage," Biochemical
and Biophysical Research Communications, 234,
269-274, 1997 (Article NO. RC976622).
J.C. Steward, Drinking Water Hazards,
Envirographics, 1990.
A surprising but growing concern is the effect that chlorine and other chemicals have on serotonin levels(could therefore cause depression). Recent research demonstrates that recalcitrant organochlorines may play a role in the etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome. The chlorine emitted from showering and other household water use breaks down into free radicals that can lead to cancer and cardiovascular disease. Chlorinated water also contains hypochlorite, which increases levels of singlet oxygen in the body. Clearly it is vital to good health to filter as much chlorine from your home water system as possible.
Chlorine is one of the most reactive elements found in nature. It readily dissolves in water, where it combines with molecules of oxygen and hydrogen to form hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ion. Chlorination of water is achieved by adding chlorine gas directly to the water supply, or by adding the chemicals calcium hypochlorite or sodium chlorite, both of which are known as "free available chlorine".
Water utilities routinely disinfect drinking water to prevent microbial diseases, especially cholera, dysentery, and typhoid fever. To date, the greatest contribution to the protection of public health in the United States has been the disinfection of public water supplies, yet chlorine itself has been shown to cause a number of health problems.
Two decades after the start of chlorinating our drinking water, the present epidemic of heart trouble and cancer began.
Potential Contribution to Heart Disease
The patent for chlorination was granted in 1888 to Dr. Albert R. Leeds, Professor of Chemistry at Steven's Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. The next year, the first chlorination of a public water supply was attempted in Adrian, Michigan. It wasn't until 1908, however, that chlorination was used on a large scale, at Boonton Reservoir waterworks in Jersey City, New Jersey. By the 1940s, chlorination was widespread in the United States.
Concerns about chlorine and health began in the 1960s. In one study, an association was shown to exist between chlorination and heart disease, evidence that was, interestingly, discovered in Jersey City, the site of the first large-scale chlorination project. The severity of heart disease among people over the age of 50 correlated with the amount of chlorinated tap water they consumed. A statistically significant correlation demonstrated that those persons over 50 who did not suffer from heart disease drank mostly unchlorinated fluids such as bottled water, or boiled water (chlorine is released as a gas when boiled).
Dr. Joseph Price, author of Coronaries, Cholesterol, Chlorine, has stated that he believes chlorine is the cause of "an unprecedented disease epidemic which includes heart attacks and strokes ... Most medical researchers were led to believe it was safe, but now we are learning the hard way that all the time we thought we were preventing epidemics of one disease, we were creating another. Two decades after the start of chlorinating our drinking water in 1940, the present epidemic of heart trouble and cancer began."
Although numerous studies have been conducted in the attempt to discover how chlorine may be a factor in cancer, no research has determined specifically that chlorine is a responsible agent. (See, for example, T. Pate, R. H. Harris, S. S. Epstein, "Drinking Water and Cancer Mortality in Louisiana," Science Vol. 193, 1976, 55-57). But the relationship between heart disease and chlorinated water is well established-alas, even chickens and pigeons used in tests to determine the effects of chlorine showed evidence of either atherosclerosis of the aorta or obstruction of the circulatory system.
Removal of Chlorine from Showers
In confined spaces, such as a shower or bathroom, we can sometimes smell chlorine. Frequent exposure to chlorine gas even at the low levels found during normal activities such as showering may reduce the oxygen transfer capacity of the lungs.
When we shower, we also expose our skin to a large amount of diluted chlorine. It's likely, given the strong oxidizing power of chlorine, that regular exposure to chlorinated water will hasten the skin's aging process. Fortunately, over the last ten years, water filters have become more sophisticated and it is now possible to remove chlorine from your home shower.
References:
Paul Caro, Water, McGraw Hill, 1993, passim.
R. Hugh Dunstan et al, "A Preliminary Investigation
of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons and Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome," The Medical Journal of Australia,
September 18, 1995; 163: 294-297.
Patrick Flanagan, Elixir of the Ageless: You Are What
You Drink, Flanagan Technologies, 1986.
Colin Ingram, The Drinking Water Book: A Complete
Guide to Safe Drinking Water, Berkeley, CA:Ten
Speed Press, 1991.
Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw, Life Extension: A
Practical Scientific Approach, New York: Warner
Books, 1983; 260-261.
Sanetaka Shirahata et al, "Electrolyzed-Reduced
Water Scavenges Active Oxygen Species and
Protects DNA from Oxidative Damage," Biochemical
and Biophysical Research Communications, 234,
269-274, 1997 (Article NO. RC976622).
J.C. Steward, Drinking Water Hazards,
Envirographics, 1990.
Thursday, 17 January 2008
a letter to promote a weight loss product
"My ex-husband brought that young bimbo to our favorite restaurant again last Friday night - but he couldn't keep his eyes off me. He was so obvious about it, she lost her temper, threw a glass of wine in his face, and stormed out - and he had to chase after her like a puppy!"
Friday, 4 January 2008
a "virtuous woman"
definition of a "virtuous woman" from Proverbs 31:
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She ariseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard… She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle… She maketh herself coverings of tapestry… She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant… She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her...”
A virtuous woman sounds busy doing many, many things, including working for financial gain.
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She ariseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard… She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle… She maketh herself coverings of tapestry… She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant… She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her...”
A virtuous woman sounds busy doing many, many things, including working for financial gain.
Tuesday, 1 January 2008
Are you an alcoholic?
Ask yourself the following questions and answer them as honestly as you can.
1. Do you lose time from work due to drinking?
2. Is drinking making your home life unhappy?
3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people?
4. Is drinking affecting your reputation?
5. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking?
6. Have you got into financial diffi culties as a result of drinking?
7. Do you find yourself in bad company or in a bad environment when drinking?
8. Does your drinking make you careless of your family’s welfare?
9. Has your ambition decreased since drinking?
10. Do you crave a drink at a definite time of day?
11. Do you want a drink the next morning?
12. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
13. Has your efficiency decreased since drinking?
14. Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business?
15. Do you drink to escape from worries or trouble?
16. Do you drink alone?
17. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of drinking?
18. Has your doctor ever treated you for drinking?
19. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?
20. Have you ever been to a hospital because of drinking?
If you have answered YES to any one of the questions, it is a warning that you may be an alcoholic. If you have answered YES to any two, the chances are that you are an alcoholic. If you have answered YES to three or more, you are in all likelihood an alcoholic.
(These questions were compiled by Dr. Robert V. Seliger for use at John Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, in deciding whether patients are alcoholic.) Copyright © Recovered Alcoholic Clergy Association, 2000
1. Do you lose time from work due to drinking?
2. Is drinking making your home life unhappy?
3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people?
4. Is drinking affecting your reputation?
5. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking?
6. Have you got into financial diffi culties as a result of drinking?
7. Do you find yourself in bad company or in a bad environment when drinking?
8. Does your drinking make you careless of your family’s welfare?
9. Has your ambition decreased since drinking?
10. Do you crave a drink at a definite time of day?
11. Do you want a drink the next morning?
12. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
13. Has your efficiency decreased since drinking?
14. Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business?
15. Do you drink to escape from worries or trouble?
16. Do you drink alone?
17. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of drinking?
18. Has your doctor ever treated you for drinking?
19. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?
20. Have you ever been to a hospital because of drinking?
If you have answered YES to any one of the questions, it is a warning that you may be an alcoholic. If you have answered YES to any two, the chances are that you are an alcoholic. If you have answered YES to three or more, you are in all likelihood an alcoholic.
(These questions were compiled by Dr. Robert V. Seliger for use at John Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, in deciding whether patients are alcoholic.) Copyright © Recovered Alcoholic Clergy Association, 2000
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