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July 15, 2007 Dear Readers: It's the middle of summer in our hemisphere, never a better time to focus on health of the entire family. At kSero, we're fortunate to have the expertise of Marc Micozzi, M.D., author of texts and a near-mountain of articles on complementary and alternative medicine. In this issue, he reports on the factors contributing to increased use of complementary medical services, and how Americans are incorporating them into their lifestyles. |
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Also in this issue I discuss parenting issues for the summer months. Too often parents let discipline and healthy eating take a back seat, only to have more difficulties at the start of the next school year. Unfortunately, this type of parenting gives children the message that procrastination and taking the easy road in the short run are acceptable. Help yourself to be a better summer parent by following the tips below-- SBH |
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By Marc S. Micozzi, MD, Ph.D.
Have you been to a practitioner besides your family physician? Whether chiropractic care, acupuncture, yoga or homeopathy, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has become increasingly common in the United States, and 72% of adults use some form of CAM therapies according to the US National Centers for Disease Control and US National Center for Health Statistics.
While conventional health care becomes more expensive, unpleasant and dangerous with short visits, long waits and ineffective outcomes, patients continue turning to alternative therapies, especially for pain and many common functional complaints and chronic conditions. A recent cover story in The New York Times Magazine highlighted how chronic pain tends to be under treated because doctors worry about over prescribing medications, and being liable for malpractice or even criminal penalties. Many doctors fear entering the field of pain management at all. Many patients are also concerned about becoming dependent on medication or about the invasiveness and dangers of surgery and anesthesia CAM therapies, which are able to treat pain and help manage diseases without medication or surgery, are rapidly growing services as people search out better, safer approaches.
So how effective are Complementary and Alternative Medicine therapies?
One recent study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics tracked data from a unique organization, the Independent Physicians Association (IPA) where chiropractors serve as first-contact, primary care physicians. This study found patients treated by these practitioners reported lower costs and higher satisfaction rates than those treated by conventional medical doctors. One of the co-authors of the study James Winterstein DC, said that they found that, "patients visiting CAM-orientated primary care physicians (PCP) - primarily chiropractors - experienced fewer hospitalizations, underwent fewer surgeries and used considerably fewer pharmaceuticals than HMO patients who received traditional medical care."
Another study, in the Journal of Rehabilitation, Research & Development examined the effectiveness of a wide range of complementary and alternative medicines in the treatment of chronic pain. This encompassing study examined clinical trials and previous studies done on the therapies. A large national survey of all studies on treatments for back pain, the most common cause of disability in working Americans, lead by William Meeker, DC, Ph.D., and Marc Micozzi, MD, Ph.D., found that chiropractic was more effective at reducing pain and restoring function, and was less costly and dangerous than medical and surgical management.
For acupuncture, it is an effective treatment for chemotherapy related pain, dental pain, low back pain, and probably premenstrual syndrome pain. They found massage therapy effective for lower back pain and shoulder pain, but found less evidence for its treating fibromyalgia, neck pain, headache, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Yoga in turn has been found to very effective for carpal tunnel syndrome and many forms of arthritis. For some therapies like reiki, homeopathy, and therapeutic touch ("laying on hands"), there are few clinical trials done, making it difficult to prove effectiveness.
Still, for the many who routinely seek out alternative and complementary treatments, it has less to do with clinical trials than with their own experience.
By Susan Hardwicke, Ph.D.
There's no question that parents look forward to the end of school nearly as much as their children do. Parents who struggle with homework, behavior issues, or school performance are particularly relieved to have a break. It's tempting to let many rules go during the summer. I speak from experience as both a practitioner and a parent: the need for sound discipline and a healthy diet doesn't take a vacation. In fact, the summer vacation from school presents a wealth of opportunities to develop and reinforce new habits that will benefit everyone in the years to come.
Here are some simple tips for summer:
- No couch potatoes allowed! Minimize electronic media, particularly television and video games. Indoor activities such as puzzles, games, cooking, and reading develop the brain far better. NEVER allow a television in the bedroom of a child (any age).
- Don't equate fun with sugary, fatty, or chemical-laden "food." I use quotation marks because much of what is sold in grocery stores is so processed that it really isn't food. Fun should mean healthy enjoyment or excitement, or relaxing activities. Fun should be nurturing.
- Fun shouldn't start before good behavior does. Expect and reinforce better behavior and help with family chores. Do not bribe your child with theme park or pool trips in order to secure good behavior. Expect them to manage their rooms and belongings (age appropriate level, of course), which will result in a smoother transition to school.
- The brain doesn't need a vacation! The years from birth through early adulthood (through age 11, in particular) are critical for acquiring foundational structure and skills needed throughout life. Summer fun activities should engage the mind and challenge it, as well as reinforce skills and knowledge acquired earlier. History and museum trips can help to accomplish this.
- Eliminate fast and junk food. If you've used the excuse that you're too busy during the school year to stop the fast food habit, you need to slow down enough during the summer to build healthy bodies and healthy habits. Warning: ice pops and snow cones are particularly dangerous-they're loaded with chemical colors and flavors.
- Know more about what you're eating. Read labels, particularly on those pretty beverage bottles that appear healthy. Don't drink anything with high fructose corn syrup (can damage the liver and lead to obesity). Beware of the term "natural and artificial flavors": it's often used to obscure the addition of chemicals that you or your child could be sensitive to.
- Have fresh fruits and vegetables every day. The best fruits and vegetables are often available locally during the midsummer weeks. Use this opportunity to train the family's taste buds for fresh foods. When you're traveling, or can't get enough each day, use a high quality supplement that offers similar nutrients.
Summer is a great season to enjoy what nature has to offer - fresh fruits and vegetables. Whether you're trying to lose weight or just want to eat healthy, summer provides your pick of produce. Summer fruits and vegetables, in addition to having lower calories than snack foods, offer antioxidants.
Antioxidants are micronutrients that play a role in the preventing chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke, and arthritis. The best way to get antioxidants is not from supplements, but from fresh fruits and vegetables. (Although due to poor dietary choices and habits, and declining food nutrient composition, most Americans probably need to supplement to obtain optimal levels)
Not all antioxidants are equal. The USDA surveyed the antioxidant capacity of volunteers who had just eaten blueberries, cherries, dried plums, dried-plum juice, grapes, kiwis or strawberries. They found that some antioxidants are easier to absorb and use than others.
Grapes and kiwi fruits came out winners, leading to noticeable spikes in antioxidant capacity. For blueberries a larger than normal serving - ½ cup, was needed to make an impact on antioxidant capacity levels. Plums, despite their high antioxidant content weren't found to have any effect on antioxidant capacity. However, they have other effects on gastro-intestinal function.
Getting your daily servings of fruits and vegetables is a good thing, because there is a lot more to foods than what is routinely measured by the USDA. So visit the local farms and farm stands this weekend. Getting back in touch with nature is also good for your health.
For more information: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/070612.htm
The US healthcare system is in crisis and does not appear to be sustainable. Fortunately, alternative and holistic approaches to much of health and medicine are available. Presently, three-quarters of Americans use health services now labeled as "complementary and alternative medicine" (CAM) for health and wellness. Americans now pay for CAM services primarily out-of- pocket. These payments now exceed total out-of-pocket charges for all outpatient mainstream health services.
CAM services are usually available in the US only in an outpatient (ambulatory care) setting. This setting provides only limited potential for the full therapeutic benefits of CAM. Many people would benefit from the application of CAM therapies and protocols (formerly known as "a cure") during succeeding days of residential care in a holistic and healthful environment.
Residential CAM care can be provided in more holistic environments and at lower costs than in hospitals while providing vastly enhanced levels of hospitality services. Ideal settings for providing residential CAM health services exist in healthful environments with the benefits of nature. Historically, much of today's CAM may be thought of as natural medicine, or "nature cures." There is a great deal of now largely forgotten historical evidence about the benefits of "nature cure" during the late 1700's,1800's and early 1900's in the United States. The hidden or forgotten history of American medicine is highly relevant to fully understanding the potential benefits of CAM and natural healing in holistic environments today.
The first such health program, "Turning Point", integrating all these aspects will be held at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania, September 19-23, 2007. For more information call 1-866-417-6957 or visit www.nemacolin.com/turningpoint
Don't forget: Exercise improves adult memory
New research has shed light on adult neurogenesis, which is the formation of new neurons in the adult brain. It has been known for some time that exercise stimulates the growth of new cells in the brain, but evidence was lacking in exactly how these new entrants operated. Research by Hongiun Song and his colleagues at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore shows that the "young" cells (1 to 1.5 months old) grown in adult brains respond similarly to cells in the developing nervous system. The implication is that new connections can be established in the adult brain, helping to adapt to change or new information. Read more in Neuron, vol 54, p 559. -- SBH
More on the HPV Vaccine
Judicial Watch, a public interest organization, obtained adverse event information on Gardasil from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 1637 adverse reactions were filed in accordance with the agency's adverse event reporting system. Of these, three deaths were reported to have occurred close in time to immunization. Judicial Watch also reported that these deaths included one that was not well documented arising from a blood clot three hours after immunization, and two deaths where heart disease or clotting were existing problems.
After receiving a similar vaccine in Australia, 25 girls experienced nausea, dizziness, and headaches, resulting in hospitalization for two. Click here to read the article from the British Medical Journal.
(Note: we received some very ominous-sounding emails on our first article about this controversial vaccine. States such as Texas and Virginia have made the vaccine mandatory for middle school girls, generating heated debate on both sides of the issue. kSero avoids unnecessary controversies. We are against putting harmful chemicals such as aluminum into the bodies/brains of people who cannot make an informed choice for themselves.)-- SBH
Sincerely,
Susan Hardwicke, Ph.D.
Director
kSero Centers for the Mind
©kSero Corporation Inc. 2007