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Your Life-Your Choice Issue 59
Your Life-Your Choice ISSN 1488-0253
August, 2000
Issue 59
Letter From the Editor
With each day more people are turning to herbs and vitamin
supplements to ease their pain and/or enhance their overall
health. People are taking control over their own health and
we're telling the medical profession that they are NOT the
only answer. We are pressuring our doctors to become more
enlightened and to educate themselves on natural alternatives.
I have only one concern. Too often people just jump onto
the herbal bandwagon blindly without doing the necessary
research. It's common to think that "herbs and vitamins are
natural, they can't hurt you." Well, a cactus is all natural,
but I wouldn't recommend you take a bite out of one!
For those of you who are not convinced, let me give you
this analogy. You decide that you're going to calculate
your own income tax this year. Unfortunately this is new
to you and you're not up on all the tax laws. A licensed
accountant provides you with a sample income tax return
from a "typical" family. Would you just copy those numbers
onto your form and send it in? NEVER! Your income may
vary significantly from the sample given and you may have
more dependants than they. You may have health care
expenses or investments that are not reflected in the sample.
You may have to do some independent research to determine
exactly what to claim, and how this is going to affect the
final outcome of your tax return. You how devastating it
can be to submit your income tax without doing the
necessary research. Did that accountant give you bad advice?
No. He gave you a guideline to work with, a starting ground.
Now you need to incorporate your "unique" information
into that guideline in order to make it work effectively
for YOU.
Yes, herbs and vitamins can be very beneficial. But it is
critical that you consider ALL of your health issues, and
ALL medications you're on before deciding which
supplements to take. You could be doing yourself harm,
by helping one condition you may be hurting another.
Here is just one example. It is well known that vitamin E
is a powerful antioxidant and is helpful to your health in
numerous ways. It is beneficial for all heart conditions,
cancer, cholesterol, arthritis, cataracts, Alzheimers, and
many other health issues. You have likely read articles
encouraging the use of vitamin E.
However, I caution you! If you are taking aspirin on a
daily basis, or blood thining medications such as
warfarin, DO NOT blindly take vitamin E. In fact, you
should also be cautious of the following herbs in the
same situation; garlic, ginkgo biloba, ginger and feverfew.
Each of these herbs as well as vitamin E also prevent
blood clotting. A combination of these could cause very
serious health problems.
So you see how easy it is for big mistakes to happen?
You may have read an article written by a qualified
naturopath suggesting how helpful vitamin E can be for
arthritis. You think to yourself "Great! Finally, I'll get
some relief. I'll try it. It's only a vitamin, it can't hurt."
Then off you go to your local health food store to buy
vitamin E. Meanwhile there's been no consideration
given to the fact that your doctor has you taking an
aspirin every day for your heart.
Understand that the articles and books you read are
suggestions... starting grounds. Now you must determine
how this suggestion fits into your "unique" situation. It's
not a bad idea to keep a Health Diary. List all your health
conditions and the medications you take. As you make
discoveries like this make note of them in your diary, so
you don't forget.
I encourage you to find about 6 credible sources that you
can refer to when making these decisions. Remember that
nobody knows everything, not even your doctor. If we are
going to exercise our right to take control over our health,
we must also take on the responsibility that comes with it.
It is YOUR health after all. And nobody cares more about
you than you!
Until next time I wish you the best of health,
Brigitte Synesael
Editor of Your Life-Your Choice
Make it your business to be informed!
No one cares more about you than YOU.
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SIDS Protection
Certain fungal organisms, commonly found in baby
mattresses, can produce poisonous gases from chemical
compounds containing antimony and arsenic. Virtually
all baby mattresses and bedding manufactured in the
United States contain these chemicals.
These gases have been implicated in SIDS. Therefore
baby mattresses, especially those that have been
previously used and likely contaminated with mildew,
significantly increase the risk of SIDS. The Babesafe
Cover-designed by a New Zealand chemist to fit and
completely enclose standard crib and bassinet mattresses-
has been slept upon by over 100,000 babies, over the
past five years without a death. The Babesafe Cover is
safe, inexpensive, washable and reusable.
Price $29.95/cover plus $5.00 shipping and handling.
Contact Denton Davis, M.D. for more information
mailto:drd@criblife2000.com or 1-800-951-9255.
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ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE:
1. LOWER BACK PAIN MYSTERIES REVEALED
AND HEALED: PART 2" by Laurel Duran, CMT
2. POUNDS AND PREDATORS by Danielle Carrie
3. A SIMPLE EXPLANATION FOR SIDS (Crib Deaths)
By Dr. Denton Davis. MD
4. TIME ZONE CHANGE (jet lag) SYNDROME
5. Talk to GARLIC from Furry and Fed up!
===========================================
Section 1
Lower Back Pain Mysteries
Revealed and Healed: Part 2"
by Laurel Duran, CMT
In part 1 of this series on healing lower back pain, I
addressed proper exercise and diet. In this final
installment I will address the pscyho/emotional causes
and describe the therapeutic massage techniques I have
successfully used to eliminate clients' lower back pain.
If a person is in a state of fear about his physical safety
and security, his lower back muscles can contract. Many
areas of our daily lives seem to provide us with a sense
of physical security: substantial bank accounts, secure
jobs, happy homes, loving and supportive families,
vibrant physical health. If any of these physical foundation
areas of our personal lives seem to be endangered and
beyond our ability to control, then the lower back, buttocks
and colon can pick up the fearful psycho/emotional
undercurrent and hold it.
Every person I've ever met, including myself, has
experienced periods in life when we feel our base of
security is threatened. Losing a source of income
unexpectedly, having a serious health problem, losing a
family member to death or divorce are just a few examples
of the major changes that life can present us with that we
often have difficulty accepting and trusting. Many of these
situations can threaten to hurl our lives out of control,
but we may still try to hold onto control. Such a state of
internal conflict can manifest as lower back, buttock and
colon pain. Our thoughts and feelings are powerful affectors
of our bodies, and just as negative thoughts and feelings
can cause painful physical contractions, positive thoughts
and feelings can relax and heal the body.
When I had my near-death experience car crash that broke
my neck and paralyzed me completely, I was going through
a divorce, my business was in financial trouble, and I was
in the earliest days of detoxification from alcohol addiction.
You could accurately say that every aspect of my physical
security (home, family, finances, physical health) was
crumbling, but because I was also a quadriplegic, I literally
could do nothing about it! This drastic life change called
for one thing: spiritual faith. What got me through that
period in my life was not a medical cure or a physical
technique. It was an idea, a thought/feeling that I relied
upon completely during my miraculous healing process
and it went something like this:
"Spirit, I trust that You hold me in your loving care. Please
heal my body and my life. I safely rest in your power and
rely on You to provide all that I need."
While most massage clients' physical security issues take
less dramatic forms than mine did, we are all fallible
human beings who can occasionally become fearful for
our safety. The same idea of faith and trust in divine
intervention can universally be relied upon to help release
tension in the lower back, buttocks and colon. I might say
aloud as I massage a client's lower back, "I trust Life to
provide all that I need. My muscles are relaxing now. All
is well. I am safe." Such spoken ideas can help the client's
psyche absorb a more positive healing reality into their
tissue.
Believe me, it works!
Whenever a massage client complains of lower back or
neck pain, I focus the bodywork session on emptying the
excess tension out of their "bottom floor". First I massage
the feet, particularly the heels, because the feet are the final
spillage areas for the entire body, and the lower back,
buttocks and sacrum regions spill out the heels. By
clearing out the exits (feet), I've cleared the path for the
the lower back tension to leave.
Next, using both hands I combine kneading and friction
ACROSS the fibers of muscle and connective tissue of
the lower back and buttocks. Once this "digging up" of
old excess tension has begun, I mentally picture what I do
next while I am doing it. While I apply pain-point-holding
with one hand, the other hand contacts the heel exit drain,
thereby making myself like "jumper cables" for the excess
static energy to move from the low back/buttock region,
down the leg and out the bottom drain (heel). I say aloud
to the client "You may notice the pain energy beneath my
hand on your lower back is draining out your foot. Just
watch as this happens." By sharing the mental picture
suggestion with the client, we are joining our minds
together as one, thereby strengthening the power of
positive results.
In every case, when I ask the client several seconds later
if they feel reduced pain in the lower back point, the
answer is always "yes". After I've thoroughly emptied the
pain from the client's lower back, I address the neck. The
neck and lower back are on the same Earth-element energy
circuit, and as such, if there is a blockage in one it is
inevitably shared by the other. I have also found that most
neck tension is secondary to lower back tension, and that
when working to relieve neck pain, I must first address
their lower back tension. I usually apply the same kneading
and cross-fiber friction to the muscles and connective tissue
of the neck.
Next I apply pain-point-holding with one hand, while
using my other hand to contact first the lower back/buttock
areas, and next, the feet. In this way I am again acting as
jumper cables on the Earth-element energy circuit,
unblocking and opening up the body's natural energy
flow from the neck to the lower back/ buttocks to the feet.
The exciting result is all circuits are cleared, the patient
is at last released from pain, and all is right with the world!
-----
Read about Laurel Duran on our Meet the Team page;
http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html
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Section 2
Pounds and Predators
by Danielle Carrie
Weight is an issue that affects a large majority of the
population. With all the hype these days on looking good
and being thin even people with mild or no weight problems
are soon starving themselves to keep up to societies standards,
or so it seems.
Women, have been used as a pawn in the weight loss game
for years. Society plays on the role of the 'ideal' woman
being slender and fragile. It is more acceptable in this day
and age for a man to be overweight then it is for a woman.
It is time to stop!
I am not going to say that there are ANY quick fixes to
weight loss. If I did, I would be one of "them". I will
however, try to show you that the solution lies within
the problem, which in this case. The solution is you!
You are your own best friend when dealing with weight
loss and you are also your own worst enemy.
"Lose 10 pounds in 3 days", "lose all the weight you want
for only 1 dollar per pound", "never crave food again".
These are just some of the catchy ads you see, surfing the
web, watching TV or reading through magazines. I guess
the real question is... do you believe in magic?
Well of course you do, this is how the weight loss industry
generates such a high revenue. With such a sensitive issue,
people dream of a quick fix that will take away the
problem and deal with itself, by itself. Leaving you
stress and worry free. I hate to be the bearer of bad news ,
but this method does not work and also not very safe.
For example, how safe do you think it is to NEVER crave
food again. Food is not always the problem and cutting
your main source of energy that is needed to live an active
and healthy life is not a reasonable weight loss solution.
Think of it this way, if weight gain happens naturally
then natural weight loss is a logical solution to loosing
weight. It is not filled with gimmicks and pills which
just end up leaving you broke in the end, and its success
comes from you and only you. You have control over
your own weight problem. It is up to you to get involved
and find out the reason for your weight gain and find
reasonable natural solutions to help lose the weight.
It is possible. Fill yourself with positive self talk and
believe in you. Not a product or gimmick. You are your
own solution. Remember, what goes up must come down.
Naturally!
I welcome any comments or questions you have related to
diet or weight loss mailto:research@life-choices.com and
put "Diets Don't Work" in the subject heading.
-----
Read about Laurel Duran on our Meet the Team page;
http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html
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Section 3
A Simple Explanation for SIDS (Crib Deaths)
By Dr. Denton Davis. MD
I am a physician who has become convinced that the crib
environment consisting of chemical compounds, mildew
and mites is a real hazard. Since 1995, over 50,000 New
Zealand babies have slept on mattresses, which have been
protected by a Babesafe cover, without a single crib death.
Statistically speaking this means 100 New Zealand babies
didn't die from SIDS.
A mother-to-be probably never gives much thought to the
bassinet or crib mattress she is about to place her newborn
on when she returns home from the hospital. After all,
what was good for a prior child is probably good enough
for the new baby. And besides, what could possibly be
dangerous in a used mattress, anyway? The answer may
be shocking to many mothers, as well as grandparents,
nurses, midwives, and also doctors who have collectedly
taken mattress safety for granted. This sense of security,
however, may not be well founded for several reasons.
First the material which is used in the mattress manufacturing
process is most often polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The epidemic
of sudden unexplained infant deaths appeared at approximately
the same time that PVC was introduced and placed in and
around baby mattresses. Chemical compounds were added
to the PVC to soften, strengthen and to prevent fires. No
one appears to have been concerned about the possibility
that certain common forms of mildew would be able to
digest these chemicals and release poisonous gases.
Herein may lay the environmental mistake and the disaster
we have sadly come to know as SIDS.
Simple microorganisms consume large amounts of nitrogen.
A baby's environment is rich in nitrogen containing
chemicals, which are found in detergents and fabric
softeners. Ammonia is an example of a gas, which is
produced by microorganisms consuming nitrogen.
Unfortunately, a common household mildew can form
other gases from the other chemical elements found in
PVC. These elements include phosphorus, arsenic and
antimony. The gases of these elements are poisonous and
may even become deadly, especially for an infant. Over
time, all mattresses develop mildew. The fact that over a
thousand babies died from the mildew generated gas of
arsenic 100 years ago should have served as a warning.
The gases of antimony and phosphorus resemble the gas
of arsenic. Therefore, none of these chemicals should have
been placed in crib mattresses. The likelihood of a crib
mattress becoming contaminated and dangerous is
extremely high. Sadly, no one appears to have paid much
attention to mildew's potential harm until 1989. Barry
Richardson, an English chemist and materials preservation
expert, was asked if crib mattresses might be a cause of SIDS.
A report surfaced from his laboratory that a danger could
exist, if this interaction took place. His subsequent work
confirmed that a mildew he identified in crib death
mattresses could release the poisonous gases of
phosphorus and antimony. Dr. Richardson recommended
the removal of the dangerous elements, the back position
for sleep, and a simple polyethylene cover to enclose the
dangerous mattress if a new one could not be purchased.
While Richardson was conducting his experiments, a
friend named Peter Mitchell was analyzing SIDS data.
He recognized a pattern he found very disturbing, because
it appeared the risk of SIDS was not equal, for every baby.
He found the risk of SIDS was twice as great for a second
and still greater for a third or later child born to the same
mother. He also noted a strong correlation of SIDS with
mothers in lower socioeconomic circumstances, especially
those mothers who were unmarried. Mitchell's work
forced him to also conclude that used mattresses were the
most important risk factor for SIDS, but his data, like
Richardson's, has gone largely ignored by the medical
community. Fortunately, the media, at least in England
and New Zealand, made this information available to
parents.
The poisonous gas explanation became big news in the
newspapers, and on television in these countries, because
of the apparent link to SIDS. Simply covering older,
previously used baby mattresses, with a thick non-porous,
polyethylene material, which is free of phosphorus,
arsenic, and antimony, would be protective. In New
Zealand a polyethylene cover called Babesafe, was
designed and developed in 1995 by a chemist, Dr. T.
James Sprott. Since the introduction of this cover there
have been no SIDS deaths in the last five years among
those babies protected from their mattresses by a Babesafe.
As an emergency physician, I believe in the old expression,
"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." I am
currently recommending that no infant during the first
year of life be placed upon any new or old, unprotected
mattress made from PVC. In addition, I would recommend
that all babies be placed on their backs upon mattresses
protected with a polyethylene cover.
In conclusion, Dr. Richardson and Dr. Sprott have made
the recommendation to cover crib and bassinet mattresses
containing these potentially harmful chemical and
biological ingredients, or to entirely remove them from
the manufacturing process.
This makes excellent common sense and, in the process,
can do NO harm. A simple heavy gauge cover, such has
the Babesafe, has not been a cause of any other problem
such as overheating or suffocation over the past five years.
Therefore the choice becomes relatively simple: a mother
can choose to continue to ignore the fact that they are
placing their baby in a contaminated environment that has
the possibility of creating dangerous gases, or she can
choose a new mattress for each additional baby. If it is
not possible to buy a chemical free mattress, a cover made
similar to the Babesafe may be lifesaving.
---
Dr. D. Denton Davis, M.D. is an independent contractor to
Associated Emergency Physicians (Richard Stennes, M.D.)
for clinical work at Scripps and Paradise Valley Hospitals
and to the Martha's Vineyard Hospital through Nolan and
Nolan Physician Services, Orlando, Florida. I have
organized, staffed, directed and provided clinical services
for numerous hospitals from 1971-1986, total clinical hours
were 30,000. My hours each of the last eight years have
averaged 2100/yr., primarily at Paradise Valley Hospital,
which is an extremely busy facility with high acuity.
Recently, the Scripps East County Hospital contract was
taken over by EPMG San Francisco. I have worked as a
locum tenens for EPMG. Also I have worked as a locum
tenens for JJ&R Emergency Group in Marina Del Rey at
Punta Gorda Hospital in Florida.
Website: http://www.criblife2000.com
***********************************************
Section 4.
Jet Lag Syndrome
Time zone change (jet lag) syndrome consists of varying
degrees of difficulties in initiating or maintaining sleep,
excessive sleepiness, decrements in subjective daytime
alertness and performance, and somatic symptoms (largely
related to gastrointestinal function) following rapid travel
across multiple time zones. The severity and duration of
the symptoms vary considerably, depending on the number
of time zones crossed, the direction (east or west) of the
travel, the timing of takeoff and arrival, and individual
susceptibility. The sleep-wake disturbances generally
abate after two to three days in the arrival location.
Symptoms are often associated with, but are not entirely
dependent upon, sleep deprivation. Symptoms typically
last longer following eastward flights. Adaptation of the
timing of physiologic functions other than sleep and
waking may take eight or more days. Individuals who
routinely travel back and forth across time zones (e.g.,
airline flight personnel, diplomats, multinational
corporation executives) may experience chronic symptoms
of sleep disturbance, daytime malaise, irritability, and
performance impairment similar to those experienced by
shift workers.
---
Resource:
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
http://www.assmnet.org
***********************************************
Section 5.
Dear Garlic,
My best friend has 10 cats, they are her babies !!
Whenever I visit they are everywhere, on the table
when we eat, on my head!!
I go home covered in Cat hair, ugh!
Help... how can I tell her I don't like being
covered in Cat hair or having those darn cats
at the dinner table, without hurting her feelings?
Signed : Furry and Fed up!
Dear Furry and Fed up!
I understand how annoying this could be. First of all,
unless your friend lives on a farm I am not to sure how legal
it is to have that many cats in one house. However, that is
beside the point.
I suggest you take control when you are there. Put the kittens
back on the floor when they jump up on the kitchen table.
Let them know who is boss. It is simple, what would you
do if a person walked across the dinner table? You'd say
"Get Down!" Don't feel ashamed. It is a completely
natural reaction. Take the opportunity to explain to the
cats how rude and impolite it is to do that. Maybe your
friend will clue in.
*****************************************
Like to talk to Garlic? Yes, men are welcome too:
put "Dear Garlic" in Subject line. We can talk about
*Note that the Dear Garlic segment of Your Life-Your Choice
is for entertainment purposes only. The advice is intended
to tickle your funny bone so put your Sense of Humor hat
on and let's take a look at the "lighter side" of life.
After all, LAUGHTER is supposed to be the BEST medicine.
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