Your Life-Your Choice November, 1998 ===================== issue 18A Question & Answer Supplement Happy Thanksgiving to our U.S. subscribers! I hope you've got a terrific weekend planned for this upcoming holiday. Dr. Abrams has been out of the country more than expected this month and wasn't be able to provide his usual answers. So this month Dr. Joe Carr, Marge Clark, and myself are helping out. We're always anxious to hear YOUR story. Many Your Life-Your Choice readers share the same or similar health issues. By sharing your experiences with us you help thousands of others. Tell us what helped you through a particular situation. What modality did you use to resolve your health issue. Help others find relief the way you did. Send in your testimonials and encourage your friends to send in theirs. Send your testimony to mailto:testimony@life-choices.com with "Testimony Your Life-Your Choice" in the subject heading. Size limitations prevent us from publishing all the questions & answers. If your question is time sensitive, Dr. Abrams is extending an offer for you to call him on his toll free number to ensure a timely response. This is a toll free call from anywhere in the U.S.A and Canada; 1-800-777-1328. I encourage you to take advantage of this generous offer. Brigitte Synesael Your Life-Your Choice Editor Traditional Medicine Needs Our Help! Your life is your choice-don't make it the doctor's choice! http://www.Life-Choices.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This newsletter is meant to educate and inform. It is not intended to diagnose or prescribe. As the editor of Your Life-Your Choice, I encourage you to consult with a reliable professional in your area in regards to any specific health issue. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subscribe: You can subscribe by using the form at the Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.Life-Choices.com. Unsubscribe: You can unsubscribe by using the form at the Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.Life-Choices.com. Copyright 1997-1998 by Brigitte Synesael All rights reserved ********************************************** Please take a moment and visit our sponsors: Over 30 Outstanding Products! All Natural Unique NO Side Effects! Benefits: - Wellness and Weight Loss - Relief from Arthritis, Diabetes, Fibromygalia, and many others - Improve skin, hair and nails - Hundreds of testimonies - Noticeable Results in 4-6 weeks See a sampling at http://www.Life-Choices.com/calorad.htm OR Visit my Website http://www.eyiteam.com. Remember to copy & paste this IMAC code into the space provided: A9127N0401. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Squirrely Herbs warmly invites you to our online herbal farm for the best in herbal information whether its for your health or a visit to our kitchen for great free recipes. From Gardening to Emotional Health you'll love your visit to Squirrely Herbs. We offer more than great gifts and nutrition, we teach total herbal living! Visit our country farm today at: http://www.squirrelyherbs.com ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Your Life-Your Choice's Questions & Answers Today's Answers provided by: Dr. Joe Carr Marge Clarke Brigitte Synesael 1. What is your opinion of androstenedione? Is it safe or not? Can you explain the side effects, health risks, long term or short term? Popularized by the St. Louis Cardinals' first baseman Mark McGwire, the interest in androstenedione has exploded. Everyone wants to know about its safety and effectiveness. Androstenedione is an androgen, a male sex hormone, produced by the body as a precursor to testosterone. It is a steroid hormone found in all animals (meat) as well as some plants (extracts). It is a metabolite of DHEA that serves as a direct precursor (one step removed) in the bio-synthesis of testosterone. In all mammals, androstenedione is produced in the gonads and adrenal glands. Supplements of it are touted as a "fuel" for testosterone production that in turn leads to superior athletic performance and lean muscle mass. There are just too many unknowns about androstenedione supplements to warrant their use. First of all, it doesn't appear to remain in the body very long, so to raise testosterone production you have to take it throughout the day. As soon as you stop, testosterone levels drop back to normal. This means taking the compound indefinitely -- not a good idea, since androstenedione may convert to estrogen as readily as it does to testosterone. According to Carlon M. Colker, M.D., director of Peak Physique of Greenwich, Conn., and a health consultant who has worked with Olympic athletes, the longer you take androstenedione, the greater the chance that it will convert to estrogen instead of testosterone. To avoid conversion of androstenedione to estrogen, some manufacturers have added an inhibitor to their products including chrysin (sometimes called flavone X). Research on this substance is quite thin and the scientific basis for combining androstenedione and chrysin is shaky at best. In addition, consistently high levels of either hormone put you at signficantly increased risk for several cancers, and, in the case of testosterone, for heart attacks as well. Overall, I'm opposed to relying on any hormonal supplements said to bolster athletic performance and I think it would be a mistake for young athletes to emulate McGwire in this way. They would be much better off developing healthy habits of nutrition and exercise. If you really want to experiment with performance-enhancing compounds, try extracts of Cordyceps sinensis, a Chinese mushroom used by Chinese athletes that's really turned heads. If you are interested in its use in treatment or support for menopause, this is another matter. But, I suspect that this is not the case. 2. I would like to know more about the Noni juice. Does it have any negative side effects? The noni, also known as the painkiller plant, grand morinda, cheesefruit and headache tree, is said to have a 2,000-year history of healing the people of Polynesia, the South Pacific and the Caribbean Islands. With the scientific name of Morinda citrifolia, the noni is a small evergreen shrub or tree, usually less than 10 feet high, occasionally up to 20 feet. It is well-known to be one of the main healers among the traditional Hawaii medicinal plants. As a medicine, the fruit and its juices have been used in the treatment of diabetes, heart troubles and high blood pressure, with different portions prescribed for different illnesses. The problem I have with noni is not what it does but how it is being marketed. The multilevel marketing claims being made seem to go way beyond the traditional medical indications. One distributor claims that scientific studies have shown noni's potential to stimulate the immune system, inhibit the growth of tumors, regenerate damaged cells and help increase absorption of vitamins and minerals. More research, testing, double-blind studies and documented case histories may one day prove that noni is indeed some or all of what the distributors promise, but there is little such evidence now. Additionally, in order to accommodate the MLM payment structure, the product has a tendancy to become a bit expensive. If you can find a noni product in a health food store or through a distributor at a price you're comfortable with, I see no problem in incorporating it into your daily supplements. 3. If you have essential oils that were purchased as massage oils, can you also use them in the bath? If so, will they still have the same efficacy as oils that were purchased for the bath? And is the same answer true in reverse. (Can oils purchased for the bath be used for massage?) Of course. Now, the thing to keep in mind is that you want to use a total of 8 - 10 drops of UNDILUTED EO (essential oil) per bath... and about a 2.5% dilution of EO in a massage oil. Which equates to 15 drops of EO or blended EO's to one ounce of carrier oil. When you buy a Premixed bottle, you don't know how strong/weak it is. So, the answer is yes...but how do you know how much to use? I would GUESS that the bought massage oil is at a 2% dilution... in which case 8 ounces would have 120 drops of EO in it. So to get 8-10 drops in a bath you would need to use one tablespoon of it in the bath. It's harder to judge going from bath oil to a massage, cause you have no idea what the dilution is. It might be worthwhile writing the manufacturer. Which is why *I* blend my own...mix the oils that I want to use as a synergy, and then add the right amount of the synergy to the carrier for the purpose I've designed it for. Then I KNOW the amount of oils I'm using, and the quality of them. 4. We receive a number of questions about Candida and Yeast Infections; how to identify them and what to do about them. To begin with, there is a parasitic fungus that resides in the vagina and in the mouth. Typically, their growth is kept under control by the normal bacteria also present in these areas. A number of circumstances can cause the fungus to get out of control, causing a variety of infections or health issues. POSSIBLE CAUSES OF INFECTION: - If taking antibiotics, too many bacteria could be destroyed - Low immune system - Chemotherapy (because it destroys the immune system) - Hormonal changes such as pregnancy, taking oral contraceptives, or menopause - Certain disorders such as Diabetes - Sexual intercourse with an infected partner Candidiasis is much more common in women than in men. Generally it starts in the vagina, but because it can travel through the bloodstream, it can spread to many parts of the body; mainly the mouth, ears, nose, and gastrointestinal tract. Although it is rare in men, those who do contract it have likely not been circumcised. SYMPTOMS: Infections such as these can be very ambiguous. It is important to note that it is not necessary to have ALL of the following list of symptoms to suspect infection. In fact some women have NO symptoms. - vaginal irritation, burning, itching sensation - a thick white "cottage cheese" type vaginal discharge - discomfort when passing urine - discharge may have a foul odor - abnormal colour in discharge - constipation or diarrhea - rectal itching - oral Canadidias; sore, creamy-yellow, raised patches in the mouth - white spots on the tongue and in the mouth - burning tongue - in men, inflammation of the penis head If you suspect infection of any kind, I strongly encourage you to see your physician. A laboratory analysis of the vaginal discharge is necessary to determine the presence or type of infection. NOTE: Although it is easily treated, DO NOT take this lightly. In some instances, these infections can be a symptom of a much more serious condition, like gonorrhea, syphilis, or chronic inflammation of the cervix. Once your physician has properly diagnosed your situation, you can work together to address it through natural means. CAUTIONS: Discuss the following options with your Doctor, Homeopath or Naturopath before using. Your individual situation may mean that a certain treatment is not recommended. Or if the wrong treatment is used you could make the infection worse. Pregnant women should not use douches of any kind. Do not use commercial douches (during vaginal infection), dusting powders, contraceptive foams or jellies, or feminine deodorant sprays. These can further promote infection. SOME NATURAL OPTIONS: - Warm sitz baths using herbal teas, apple cider vinegar, or epsom salts can help relieve itching and burning. - Acidophilus and a small amount of Garlic oil diluted with warm water makes a solution excellant for douching. Yogurt can also be used. CAUTION: - Use these ONLY for Yeast Infections. - Too much garlic oil can cause burning. - Tampons can be saturated with Boric Acid or Acidophilus and placed on the vagina for treatment. Other substances that can be used are licorice, diluted white vinegar, or a 2% solution of zinc sulphate diluted in 1 pint of warm water. - The vaginal area can be cleansed thoroughly with a cotton swab soaked in calendula to remove the bacterially saturated discharge. - Golden Seal and Oregon Grape are both herbs that contain the antibacterial alkaloid berberine. They can be used internally or as a douche. - Pau d'arco Tea has antifungal properties and can help fight infection. - Colloidal Silver is a natural antiseptic that fights infection, subdues inflammation and promotes healing. - Adding fiber to your diet will help to prevent future episodes. 5. I just found out that a co-worker has hepititus C. Is this a contagious form of the disease and should I take precautions? This is a very serious issue. To ensure you have the most accurate information, I am providing you with information directly from 2 very credible sources of information; the American Public Health Association and the New York State Department of Health. The following information was provided by A. Bensen, Control of Communicable Diseases in Man, American Public Health Association. Hepatitus C Transmission Contact with the blood of infected individuals. This risk of spreading this virus to close contacts is very low. Incubation 2 weeks to 6 months Most commonly 6 - 9 weeks Symptoms The majority of patients with this virus do not have any symptoms and may feel quite healthy. Some individuals will develop fatigue, jaundice, anorexia, abdominal discomfort, vomiting. Prevention Universal precautions Avoid sexual intercourse during menstrual bleeding Never share needles, razors, scissors or toothbrushes Treatment Alpha interferon is medication that may interfere with the reproduction of the virus after it has invaded the body Prognosis 50% of people have a mild, short-lived illness. Others, where inflammation in the liver continues longer than 6 months, are considered "chronic" and the virus may continue for several decades New York State Department of Health informs: What is hepatitis C? Hepatitis C (formerly called non-A, non-B hepatitis) is a liver disease caused by a recently identified bloodborne virus. Other types of viral hepatitis include hepatitis A (formerly called infectious hepatitis), hepatitis B (serum hepatitis), hepatitis D (delta hepatitis) and hepatitis E (a virus transmitted through the feces of an infected person). Approximately 200 cases of hepatitis C are reported in New York State each year. Who gets hepatitis C? Hepatitis C occurs most often in people who have received a blood transfusion or who have shared needles. How is the virus spread? Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C is spread by exposure to blood from an infected person, such as through a blood transfusion or sharing needles. The risk of sexual transmission has not been thoroughly studied but appears to be small. There is no evidence that the hepatitis C virus can be transmitted by casual contact, through foods or by coughing or sneezing. What are the symptoms? Some people experience appetite loss, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, vague stomach pain and jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes). How soon do symptoms occur? Symptoms may occur from two weeks to six months after exposure but usually within two months. When and for how long is a person able to spread hepatitis C? Some people carry the virus in their bloodstream and may remain contagious for years. The disease may occur in the acute form and be followed by recovery or it may become chronic and cause symptoms for years. What is the treatment for hepatitis C? There are no special medicines or antibiotics that can be used to treat people with the acute form of hepatitis C but the FDA has approved a drug called recombinant alpha interferon for treating people with chronic hepatitis C. Is donated blood tested for this virus? Since May 1990, blood donation centers throughout the U.S. have routinely used a blood donor screening test for hepatitis C. Widespread use of this test has significantly reduced the number of post-transfusion hepatitis C cases. What are the possible consequences of hepatitis C? Approximately 25 percent of people infected with hepatitis C virus will become sick with jaundice or other symptoms of hepatitis. Fifty percent of these individuals may go on to develop chronic liver disease. How can the spread of hepatitis C be prevented? People who have had hepatitis C should remain aware that their blood and possibly other body fluids are potentially infective. Care should be taken to avoid blood exposure to others by sharing toothbrushes, razors, needles, etc. In addition, infected people must not donate blood and should inform their dental or medical care providers so that proper precautions can be followed. The risk of sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus has not been thoroughly investigated but appears to be minimal. Several studies suggest that spread seldom occurs from people with chronic hepatitis C disease to their steady sexual partners. Therefore, limitations on sexual activity with steady partners may not be needed. However, people with acute illness and multiple sexual partners may be at greater risk and should use condoms to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting hepatitis C as well as other sexually transmitted infections. Is there a vaccine for hepatitis C? At the present time, a hepatitis C vaccine is not available. *************************************** If I haven't answered your question, call me on my personal 800 HOTLINE, it's a toll free call and I'll be happy to answer your question. The HOTLINE is 1-800-777-1328. It's available in the U.S.A. and Canada. I'll be looking forward to talking with you, just for the health of it. Dr. Norman R. Abrams /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Enjoy back issues of Your Life-Your Choice in our Library of Archives at the Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.Life-Choices.com/archive.html While your there vote for your favorite issue and article! *********************************************** Subscribe: You can subscribe by using the form at the Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.Life-Choices.com. 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