My wife is a dog trainer and this lady is a client – learning to handle her dogs.  Now my ears are focused and I wanted to know more.  I’ve spend most of my life dealing with alternative health and wellness therapies.  I wanted to know all  about this green lipped mussel.

Green Lipped Mussel – Here is what I’ve learned so far.  Green Lipped Mussel is really a miracle food? In case you don’t know this, green lipped mussels are a type of shellfish which are found only on the shores of New Zealand. They owe their name to their appearance-the edges of their two shells (where they meet when they are closed together) have a green color thus giving them the visual resemblance of green lips.

These shellfish actually caught the attention of the medical community when they studied the life of the Maoris – the indigenous people of New Zealand. What was striking about them was that, even elderly people over seventy years old, were still able to move around and do demanding physical activity like mountain climbing, with impressive agility, displaying no symptoms of arthritis.  That said, I played rugby against the New Zealanders in my youth and they were all tough as nails.  So maybe its just genetics?

After considerable research, it was concluded that the secret of their amazing youthfulness most probably was attributed to their nutrition-specifically to the green lipped mussels that were a big part of their daily diets.

In light of this discovery and corresponding superior health benefits, green lipped mussels have been labeled by many marketers as being “miracle food”, the reasoning being that it is currently one of the most whole complete foods known to man.

In addition,  the mineral salts that are found in this type of mussel have a striking resemblance to the mineral composition of the human body.

During the last few decades and after the results of more thorough research in terms of their nutritional value have been known to the public, green lipped mussels have become increasingly popular.

The local people prefer to take advantage of the health benefits that they have to offer in many different ways: Some buy them either frozen or marinated and cook them because they like their taste, while others  include them in their diet in supplement form, either in oil or powder form in capsules or soft gels.

However, there is a caveat here, which you should definitely take note of: While they can be quite a delicious food when taken on their own, the sad reality is that green lipped mussels don’t retain their nutritional value once they are cooked or even frozen.

Therefore, if you are interested more in their health rather their culinary value, then you should eat them either raw or take them in a supplement form. Of course, as you realize, since eating them raw is not a very attractive or practical option, then what you should really do is dig into more information about your options regarding supplementation.

I will be testing the efficacy of this product with family and friends over the next six months or so.  Stay tuned for more information and feedback as the results come in.

In the meantime, if you want to try them for yourself, here’s a link to where we get ours.

New research reveals a startling new finding: fluoride is likely contributing to the epidemic of cardiovascular disease by stimulating calcification of the vascular system, including the coronary arteries.
http://www.infowars.com/fluoride-linked-to-1-cause-of-death-in-new-research/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21946616

FLUORIDATION: Mind Control of the Masses – by Ian E. Stephen (1995)
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/salud/salud_fluor06.htm
(Anyone interested in a PDF file of this Nexus article(s), send me a PM with your email address)

Material Safety Data Sheet -Sodium fluoride MSDS
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927595

Material Safety Data Sheet – Fluosilicic acid MSDS
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924083

FLUORIDE OVERDOSE: National Institutes of Health – POISON CONTROL
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002650.htm

Fluoride Action Network
http://www.fluoridealert.org/

Scientific Facts on the Biological Effects of Fluorides
http://www.all-natural.com/fleffect.html

Why EPA’S Headquarters Union of Scientists Opposes Fluoridation
http://www.nofluoride.com/epa_hirzy_letter.htm

FLUORIDE … The Aging Factor
How to Recognize and Avoid the Devastating Effects of Fluoride
John A. Yiamouyiannis, Ph.D. (1943-2000)
http://fluoridationqueensland.com/blog/2010/08/03/fluoride-the-aging-factor/

The Greatest “Scientific” Fluoride Fraud Yet?
http://www.nofluoride.com/nexus_article.cfm

50 Reasons to Avoid Fluoridation
http://www.fluoridealert.org/50-reasons.htm

Fluoridation:
Governmentally Approved Poison
http://www.arthritistrust.org/Articles/Fluoride.pdf

Fluoride does not reduce cavities and does causes brittle bones and a soft brain
http://harmonyhealth.wordpress.com/2008/02/29/floride-does-not-reduce-cavitie…

Fluoride: A Chronological History
http://www.infiniteunknown.net/2010/10/31/fluoride-a-chronological-history/

I got an email today from Eric Merola that is worth re-posting.

Antineoplastons are gene-targeted cancer medications that have completed Phase 2 FDA clinical trials in 2009, with permission granted to enter the final Phase of FDA testing. These medicines are the first in medical history to cure inoperable childhood brainstem glioma with a 27.5%-50% cure rate, among other cures. Other gene-targeted cancer medications have been given accelerated FDA-approval without demonstrating a single cure. Antineoplastons, proven to be non-toxic, remain unapproved for public use. For the sake of public health, the results from Phase 2 clinical trials of Antineoplastons need to be publicly acknowledged by the FDA and audited by Congress. These medicines have been in FDA clinical testing since 1995—it’s time for the general public to have access to them.

The White House itself did not respond to the petition, they instead asked the FDA to respond. Not only that, the FDA did not address or respond to the petition itself at all. The entire point of petitioning the White House was to petition the White House. If we wanted to petition the FDA, we would have done that (we didn’t do that because we understand that the FDA is a part of the problem). I specifically asked within the petition: “For the sake of public health, the results from Phase 2 clinical trials of Antineoplastons need to be publicly acknowledged by the FDA and audited by Congress.” I worded this very specifically to have the results publicly acknowledged. It makes sense for the FDA to not want this data publicly acknowledged by Congress, because if they did this—the American public and the rest of the world would be furious to find out that nothing is being done about a cancer treatment that has been consistently curing certain types of cancer within Phase 2 FDA clinical trials that have verifiably never before been cured before in the history of medicine.

FDA (Janet Woodcock) petition response Part 1: Thank you for your petition asking the Obama Administration to accelerate the approval of antineoplastons for the treatment of cancer.

My response: Thanks, but no thanks Ms. Woodcock, you failed to address anything that the petition was related to and why it was drafted in the first place. For the sake of this petition response, and it’s purpose, I will be addressing only “childhood diffuse intrinsic brainstem glioma”, as the petition itself stated, in regards to the accelerated approval of antineoplastons.

FDA petition (Janet Woodcock) response Part 2: As you know, cancer treatments go through a careful research process to prove that they are safe and effective. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has recommended that controlled clinical studies be conducted in order to assess the safety and efficacy of the therapy. To date no randomized, controlled trials showing the effectiveness of antineoplastons have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals nor have all of the trials needed to approve antineoplastons as a treatment for cancer been conducted.

My response: This is where the FDA uses complicated language to try to fool the uneducated citizen. Ms. Woodcock states, “To date no randomized, controlled trials showing the effectiveness of antineoplastons have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals nor have all of the trials needed to approve antineoplastons as a treatment for cancer been conducted.” To the average citizen not familiar with the drug approval process in the USA, Woodcock tries to make it sound as if antineoplastons have never undergone any clinical trials, and if a substance has not undergone any clinical trials, there can’t be anything in the peer-reviewed literature showing their safety or effectiveness.

For those that do not understand, a “randomized, controlled clinical trial” is what “Phase 3 trials” are. They are called “randomized” because the patents are sadly placed “randomly” into one of two groups of patients in this clinical trial. The first group consists of the “standard of care group”. In this case, the “standard of care” group for this type of brainstem glioma is “radiation only” (since there has not been any medicines to show enough safety and efficacy to ever be approved for brainstem glioma in children—nor has any substance in history ever shown enough safety and efficacy to have ever been granted randomized trials in medical history for this type of tumor—the only “standard of care” available for it is “radiation”). The second group is the “new medicine on trial”. The FDA then compares the results of the “new medicine group” to the existing “standard of care” group. If the “new medicine group” fares better than the “standard of care” group, and also shows less side effects, then the FDA will then grant that new medicine approval for market. [2]

So, to say “no randomized trials have been conducted” makes the reader believe that the FDA has not overseen any testing whatsoever regarding this therapy. This is entirely untrue. The FDA has supervised and authorized Phase 2 trials of antineoplastons for nearly two decades, and they have since granted permission for “randomized controlled clinical trials” of antineoplastons in 2009 for childhood diffuse intrinsic brainstem glioma. ]]> [23]

The FDA does not at all care that the therapy has cured an upward of 30% of patients treated of this disease without the inclusion of radiation. So, in an apparent effort to thwart the success of antineoplastons in Phase 3 randomized trials, the FDA is mandating radiation into the “new medicine group”, even though they know what it will do to these children, and even though they know radiation is not necessary to cure any of these kids while using antineoplastons. Their very own data shows it. They verified it. It was the FDA’s own data that proved antineoplastons to be safe and effective enough to be granted “randomized phase 3 trials”. [23]

In summary, it has been proven impossible to conduct Phase 3 randomized trials of “childhood brainstem glioma” due to the FDA forcing all kids who undergo this therapy to have their brains fried by radiation treatment at the same time. Even if 30% of the kids are cured, they will be deaf, they will be stuck in the body of whatever age they started treatment, and they will likely be an non-functioning vegetable for the rest of their life.

Does this sound like an agency that is looking out for the health and well-being of its public? Or does this sound like an agency that doesn’t want to see this medicine available to the public?

This is the reason I started this petition, and no other. We want the world to know what the verified cure rate is for antineoplastons in this type of cancer, to help the world understand, and to make sure they are eventually granted accelerated approval. Accelerated approval is our only option, since “phase 3 randomized trials” are impossible to conduct due to the FDA’s barbaric radiation mandate.

So, you might be asking, “what is accelerated approval?” Accelerated approval was something that Dr. David A. Kessler [8 (timecode 4:18-6:14)] started in 1996 under the idea of pushing important drugs through without them having to be subjected to “phase 3/randomized trials” in the name of “public health”. This was specifically for drugs that show promise for diseases that have no good or any existing treatments for them. What could be more fitting for this than “brainstem glioma” in children? There is no medicine on the market at all for this treatment, only radiation. The FDA doesn’t care that antineoplastons are the first to cure it. And frankly, it seems it is out of their control anyway since over 50% of their drug evaluation money comes from PhRMA thanks to the drug user fee act of 1992 [9]. If PhRMA has the ability to push unsafe and ineffective drugs through accelerated approval in the name of profit, what will stop them from preventing a competing medicine like antineoplastons from getting a fair chance in the testing process? I appears that we are witnessing exactly that—right now before our eyes—we are witnessing the “privatization” of our federal government agency: The Food & Drug Administration.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the cancer medicines recently given “accelerated approval” by the FDA:
Avastin (breast cancer) 2008: The FDA granted accelerated approval for Avastin in the treatment of advanced breast cancer in 2008. The results that allowed it to be “accelerated”: Only 11.3 months of “Progression-free survival”. [10]

The FDA took it off the market for this condition in November 2011 because it doesn’t work at all if not properly prescribed [11] (or at least for the oncological world who simply does not understand how to prescribe this gene-targeted medicine—which is pretty much all of them). But don’t feel bad for the company that owns it, they made their fortune from it already for this condition, making up for 17% of the entire company’s sales. [12]

Avastin (Glioblastoma brain cancer) 2009: The FDA granted accelerated approval for this medicine for Glioblastoma. The FDA’s reasoning was “People with this type of brain cancer have had no new treatments in more than a decade”. [13] Well, what about “brainstem glioma” patients? They haven’t had a new treatment for that condition—ever. But it gets better. Only 58 patients were treated in a single Phase 2 study. The median “response duration” was a mere 3.9 months. That is a “response”, not a cure, or even any real extension of life at all. Antineoplastons have a 30% cure rate in “brainstem glioma”, not a “response rate”. During this single Phase 2 arm of 58 patients that got Avastin accelerated approval for Glioblastoma—none of them were cured.

Avastin is a gene-targeted therapy, which can only target certain specific genes. Oncologists do not test the patient to even see if they have these genes. Dr. Burzynski does, as demonstrated in this short film here. [14]

Antineoplastons have an upward of a 9% cure rate for Glioblastoma. [15] [16] [17] Most of the public could care less about “response rates”—they want to see actual cures. But, if “response rates” are important, how about the total of 368 patients treated with antineoplastons in Phase 2 trials for Glioblastoma where 40.5% of them had a stable disease? [15] That is of course if we care about “response” vs. “cure”.

Temodar (Anaplastic Astrocytoma brain cancer) 1999: In 1999, the FDA granted accelerated approval for Temodar for Anaplastic Astrocytoma brain cancer. Only 12 of 54 patients “responded”, with only 9% of them being “cured” [18]. As the film shows [19], Antineoplastons have a 25% cure rate for this condition. [20] And, unlike Temodar which is a poisonous chemotherapy—the 25% of patients cured of Anaplastic Astrocytoma using Antineoplastons can actually one day have children. Like most toxic chemotherapies, Temodar impairs or destroys a person’s ability to remain fertile, among other hideous side effects. [21] Again, what about the 30% cure rate for “brainstem glioma”? Why does Temodar get favored for accelerated approval based on inferior 9% results in their Phase 2 trials?

Afinitor (ubependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) brain tumor): In 2010, the FDA granted accelerated approval for Afinitor after a single Phase 2 study of only 28 patients. 32% of the patients experienced a 50% reduction of their tumor, none of their tumors went away completely. [22]

FDA (Janet Woodcock) response Part 3: The timely review and approval of safe and effective new treatments are central to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) mission to protect and promote the public health. In fact, over the past 12 months, FDA approved 35 new medicines, including three cancer drugs that were approved in less than six months. This is among the highest number of approvals in the past decade. Many of the drugs are important advances for patients, including: two new treatments for hepatitis C; a drug for late-stage prostate cancer; the first new drug for Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 30 years; and the first new drug for lupus in 50 years. The approvals came while drug safety standards have been maintained.

My response: To say “The timely review and approval of safe and effective new treatments are central to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) mission to protect and promote the public health,” is simply not true based on their response to this White House petition. Perhaps that means all of the public except those children who are unlucky enough to be diagnosed with brainstem glioma. Perhaps those kids do not matter to the FDA or qualify as “the public”. Then to go on and boast about their 35 new approved cancer drugs in only 12 months, I can’t think of a bigger slap in the face to the “public health” of the American people on behalf of our newly privatized FDA.

FDA petition (Janet Woodcock) response Part 4: A report released last month by FDA, FY 2011 Innovative Drug Approvals, shows faster approval times in the United States when compared to the FDA’s counterparts around the globe. Of the 35 approvals in FY 2011, 24 occurred in the United States before any other country in the world, and also before the European Union, continuing a trend of the United States leading the world in first approval of new medicines.

The Administration remains committed to the timely approval of safe and effective drugs to improve the treatment of cancer and other illnesses.

My response: If “The Administration remains committed to the timely approval of safe and effective drugs to improve the treatment of cancer and other illnesses,” then why are they ignoring—or worse—denying their own data regarding antineoplastons in the treatment of childhood diffuse intrinsic brainstem glioma? It seems the pharmaceutical grade medicines known as “antineoplastons” are disqualified from playing the FDA’s approval game, even though their results are far more superior than any other cancer therapy our planet has ever seen.

Janet Woodcock is the Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at the Food and Drug Administration. You can click here to contact her yourself.

In solidarity,
Eric Merola

NOTE: This article was written by Eric Merola, the director of the documentary Burzynski: Cancer Is Serious Business. Mr. Merola and his documentary are not affiliated with the Burzynski Clinic, or The Burzynski Research Institute, Inc. Mr. Merola is an independent investigative journalist working on his own, and is not in any way supported by The Burzynski Clinic.

SOURCES:

1. https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%21/petition/antineoplastons-cancer-drugs-fda-trials-1995-results-publicly-audited-congress-gain-final-fda/M1hH28lk
2. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=39532
3. Removed
4: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16484713?dopt=Abstract
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12718563?dopt=Abstract
6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17278121
7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15565574
8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1buiXWr_QTQ
9. http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/articles/2007/02/26/taking_back_the_fda/
10. http://www.drugs.com/newdrugs/fda-grants-accelerated-approval-avastin-combination-paclitaxel-chemotherapy-first-line-advanced-852.html
11. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/ucm279485.htm
12. http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Roche_Pharmaceuticals_(RHHBY)
13. http://www.drugs.com/newdrugs/fda-grants-accelerated-approval-avastin-brain-cancer-glioblastoma-has-progressed-following-prior-1342.html
14. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCrsn8ziGWU
15. http://www.burzynskiclinic.com/images/Pub_SRB_2006_Targeted_Therapy_for_Brain_Tumor.pdf
16. https://www.burzynskimovie.com/index.php?option=com_content&;view=article&id=80&Itemid=37
17. http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/11/19/6767.full
18.https://www.burzynskimovie.com/images/stories/JodiRec/Statistics%20for%20Anaplastic%20Astrocytoma%20-%20Newly%20Diagnosed.pdf
19. http://www.drugs.com/pro/temodar.html
20. http://www.novartis.com/newsroom/media-releases/en/2010/1457419.shtml
21. Email from the FDA verifying the permission on begin Phase 3 trials for childhood brainstem glioma
22. Childhood brainstem glioma patient Jessica Ressel interview with medical records

I urge each of you to take the time to learn this information and to write to your representatives to voice your concerns and your support for the cure for cancer.

In solidarity…

Can High Cholesterol Really Save Your Life?
Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology looked at 52,087 individuals between the ages of 20 and 74. After adjusting for factors like age, smoking and blood pressure, researchers found women with high cholesterol (a reading of more than 270) had a 28 percent lower mortality risk than women with low cholesterol (a reading under 193). The risk for heart disease, cardiac arrest and stroke also declined as cholesterol levels rose.

The researchers involved in the study admit this contradicts commonly accepted beliefs about cholesterol. They say current guideline information is misleading because the role of cholesterol in heart disease is overestimated.

These results are diametrically opposed to what most of us have been led to believe about cholesterol. Our misconceptions about cholesterol may, in fact, be endangering countless lives. For instance, millions of people are prescribed statin drugs to lower their cholesterol levels, believing that this will save their lives. Not only do statin drugs come with a plethora of dangerous side effects, but now the very reason for their existence is brought into question.

Our focus on lowering cholesterol to prevent heart disease and mortality is misplaced and misguided. It also fails to serve in the best interest of our personal health and wellness. In fact, I begin to wonder at what point does a “belief” cease to be a belief and start to become a “delusion”?  My English professor friend tells me that a delusion is defined as:  “the steadfast defense of an understanding, regardless of overwhelming evidence that suggests the material facts supporting the belief are either erroneous or contrived.”

We already know that big pharma pressured Harvard Medical school into pushing Dr. Kilmer McCully out of his job when McCully first discovered that it was not cholesterol, but rather homocysteine, that was the problem with heart disease.  The real question is, how much more of this kind of behavior are we going to tolerate from our public employees at the FDA and in congress?

You future is really in your hands.  Don’t be sitting on them when you should be voting someone out of office!

Related articles

• FDA: The Greatest Show On Earth (h3roich3alth.wordpress.com)
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In the body, L-arginine is converted to nitric oxide, which relaxes the blood vessels and regulates blood vessel tone and flexibility.  The health benefits are vast.

L-Arginine Plus also contains Citrulline. This amino acid is metabolized to yield more l-arginine, which provides additional nitric oxide. Citrulline increases blood flow throughout the body and promotes healthy energy levels.

• Helps to regulate blood pressure and reduce healing time for bone and other injuries!
• Quickens repair of damaged tissue
• Improves cardiovascular health
• Promotes healthy sexual performance

How does L-Arginine Plus work?

L-Arginine Plus supplies your body with two vital amino acids, L-Arginine and L-Citrulline. The first triggers cellular production of Nitric Oxide. Increased levels of this tiny “miracle molecule” provide many of the health benefits of L-Arginine Plus.

Nitric Oxide is a powerful neurotransmitter that reduces stress on the heart, lowers blood pressure and prevents clots by enlarging blood vessels through a process called vasodilation. This process produces multiple effects including lower blood pressure, improved circulation, reduced stress on the heart, and reduced plaque in blood vessels.

It has been called the “miracle molecule” ever since the publishing of three UCLA doctors’ work that won them the Nobel Prize in 1998.

L-Arginine also has many health benefits aside from what Nitric Oxide alone can do. In recent clinical studies it has been proven to build lean muscle, boost HGH production and preserve bone density. Naturally, L-Arginine has grabbed loads of attention for its heart and general health benefits.

The second amino acid, L-Citrulline aids in the sustained production of more L-Arginine and increases energy levels. No other supplement is as complete as L-Arginine Plus. Beside the two amino acids, it provides your body with a perfect blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to reverse the aging process and improve overall health.

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Many Canadians try herbal medicines in a bid for a natural way to better health. But some of these products lack warnings that they can cause dangerous effects when mixed with pharmaceutical medications if not used properly.

The reporter has it exactly backwards!  Since when does the ship tell the lighthouse to get out of the way?  If people are consuming healthy natural food, it is not the responsibility of the food growers to warn people that horribly acidic pharmaceutical drugs might interact with their food!  It should be assumed that people are eating well to stay healthy.  Drug manufacturers should be forced to label their drugs as incompatible with certain healthy foods.  Consumers should not sit by and let mainstream media do the dirty work for Big Pharma.  We need to get on these people and set their heads straight.

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• Medical ghostwriters should be sued, lawyers argue (ctv.ca)

Image via Wikipedia

I thought it was time I wrote an article on iodine deficiency.  I’ve been studying the issue of heart palpitations for about 10 years now and recently ran into some information that connects that issue with a lot of new issues that seem to be happening lately.

Probably the most renowned medical doctor studying the body’s relationship to iodine balance, is  Dr. David Brownstein.  Dr. Brownstein operates a medical practice dealing primarily with thyroid patients. Over the years he has been uniquely successful treating hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism with the iodine/iodide supplement “Iodoral”. This drug is available over the Internet without prescription. Dr. Brownstein believes that the standard thyroid medication prescribed by doctors may be the wrong treatment because it does not deal with the underlying iodine deficiency problem.

Every cell in the body needs iodine for proper functioning. Dr. Brownstein believes that we need iodine for the production of most hormones. An iodine deficiency, then, could lead to what Dr. James Lavallee calls a “state of dysbiosis.”   Dr. Brownstein believes that iodine deficiency is a major cause of breast cancer and other diseases of the reproductive organs such as ovarian, uterus and prostate cysts and cancers.

Iodine levels in US soil have fallen nearly 60 per cent over the past 57 years. Areas of North America that once boasted strong iodine levels pale in comparison today.   As you might imagine, those areas now report high rates of cancer.

Dr. Brownstein has a significant body of research demonstrating the efficacy of iodine treatment for such issues as fibrocystic breast disease. In one case, Dr. Brownstein reports that a woman with severe fibrocystic breast disease was completely cured after supplementing with 50 mgs of iodine a day for two months. One thing is quite clear today.  Medical authorities agree that iodine deficiency can lead to fibrocystic breast disease and/or ovarian cysts.

iodinedef.mp3

Iodine is also shown to  reduce uterine fibroids and one of the first conventional medical treatments for severe fibroids was to paint the uterus with iodine.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that iodine deficiency is the largest single cause of mental retardation. Interestingly, Iodine also detoxifies the body by removing mercury, fluorides, chlorides, and bromides.

So if iodine is so crucial in the body, why hasn’t there been more research studies published? I really want to avoid ranting on about Big Pharma here…. BUT…. Dr. Brownstein very rightly believes that because iodine cannot be patented there is no incentive for the drug companies to perform the research.

Iodized salt and the iodine supplements usually found in health food stores contain the iodide form of iodine. Dr. Brownstein has had little success treating patients with only iodide. This is why the  supplement “Iodoral” contains both the iodide (reduced) and iodine (oxidized) forms of iodine because the body needs both forms. The US RDA for iodine is 150 mcg. Iodoral contains 100 times (12.5 mgs) the RDA’s requirement of iodine/iodide.

According to Dr. G. E. Abraham, “Of all the elements known so far to be essential for health, iodine is the most misunderstood and the most feared. Yet, it is by far the safest of all the trace elements known to be essential for human health. It is the only trace element that can be ingested safely in amounts up to 100,000 times the RDA.

Seafood and sea plants such as kelp (seaweed) are good dietary sources of iodine but few people in the US consume enough of these foods.

For those interested in knowing more about iodine’s function in preventing and treating diseases, Dr. Brownstein’s videos can be easily found by going to YouTube and searching “Brownstein and Iodine.” Dr. Brownstein’s books include “Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It”, and “Overcoming Thyroid Disorders and Salt”

Informative research papers about iodine are at:  Iodine Research

Iodine deficiency may be a major contributor to the widespread arthritis problems in the US. A home remedy for arthritis is consumption of two drops of Lugol’s solution each day. Two drops of Lugol’s solution contain the same amount of iodine as one Iodoral tablet. Lugol’s solution is a water solution of 10 per cent potassium iodide and 5 per cent iodine.

We all know that hormones control body weight. Malfunctioning glandular systems due to iodine deficiency may be just another contributing factor to the major epidemic of obesity in the North America.  And in 2010 and beyond, local health agencies and government organizations began campaigns to convince the population to cut down on salts.  If people follow that advice, there could be devastating results.

Image via Wikipedia

What Exactly Is Psoriasis?  

Psoriasis is a common skin problem. It causes a thick, rough, dry buildup of your outer layer of skin. The thick areas of skin are called plaques. They can develop anywhere on the skin. They usually occur on the scalp, elbows, knees, cheeks (in children) and buttocks.

Psoriasis is a chronic disease, which means you will likely have it all your life if you are predisposed to this condition. The extent and severity of the disease vary widely. Early treatment of the plaques, however, may help stop the problem from becoming more severe. People of all ages can have psoriasis and while it may appear so, it is actually not contagious.

OK.  What Causes 

When you have psoriasis, your outer layer of skin makes new cells more rapidly than normal. The extra cells become thick plaques. To be truthful, Doctors don’t know why this happens.  There is a lot of speculation out there. Some folks believe that psoriasis may be inherited. You are more likely to have psoriasis if members of your family have it.  In reality, I believe that this notion is folly.  The reason family members have psoriasis likely has more to do with the fact that they will have similar lifestyles and similar dietary and environmental factors that influence them.  Does that make it genetic?  Hardly.

Recognizing the Symptoms?  

The symptoms are rough, dry, thick areas of skin. Often the skin under the plaques is slightly red. The skin usually does not itch, but that is not a hard and fast rule as some people (in the minority) have very itchy bouts of psoriasis.

Most psoriasis occurs in patches. Sometimes, however, it appears as many small, drop-like, scaly areas. This is called guttate or raindrop psoriasis and it often occurs on your back.  Psoriasis can also affect your fingernails and toenails, causing them to have pits or dents in them. In severe cases the nails become thick and misshapen. It should be noted however, that because doctors don’t know the root cause of psoriasis, the condition affecting the nails may be symptomatic of collateral health issues that result from a specific set of environmental factors that, at the same time, support the growth of psoriasis.  They are not necessarily one and the same.

In this same vein, a few people manifest arthritis or joint pain with psoriasis.  These symptoms can vary from mild to severe. They may change when you are upset, sick, or injured. In recent years, this factor has caused some doctors to look at hormonal issues as well as environment factors in determining the causes of psoriasis.  Flareups can also occur when:

• You have a skin injury, such as a cut, burn, rash, or insect bite.
• You consume a lot of alcohol.
• You have very little exposure to sunlight.
• You have a severe sunburn.
• Your skin is exposed to toxic exposure from clothing.

The severity of the symptoms may change with the seasons. Psoriasis usually gets better when you spend more time out in the sun.  This factor tends to lead researchers to look at vitamin and mineral deficiencies as a potential risk factor for psoriasis.  In particular, Vitamin D3 (cholicalciferol), is deficient in most North Americans who life north of the 35th parallel (Boston).

How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed?

Your health care provider examines your skin and nails. If your provider needs more information, she or he may do a skin biopsy. The biopsy is done by removing a small sample of skin after the area has been numbed.

How Is Psoriasis Treated?

Your treatment depends on your symptoms and upon your doctor’s understanding of the complex sets of risk factors that lead to this skin disease. The goal of most physicians has been to slow the production of skin cells. This is believed to help prevent the formation and buildup of plaque.  Your health care provider will often recommend or prescribe a cream or ointment to rub on your skin. These will include a variety of medicines, such as:

• steroidal cream or ointment
• salicylic acid cream or ointment
• tar preparation (commonly ointment or shampoo)
• anthralin cream or ointment
• vitamin-D-like cream or ointment (calcipotriene)

Your health care provider is normally more inclined to treat the symptom rather than help you find a cure to what is causing the problem.  When you make choices about what to do, you will need to consider whether hiding the problem or curing the problem is more important to you.

Opting for pharmaceutical drugs is a risky proposition at best.  A group of medicines called retinoids have been used to treat severe psoriasis. One of these, tazarotene, is a very potent gel used on the skin. This medicine may cause birth defects if it is used just before or during pregnancy. Another drug in this category is an oral medicine called acitretin, which is also very likely to cause birth defects according published reports.

More severe psoriasis may cause your health care provider to prescribe medicines to suppress your body’s immune response. Examples of such medicines are methotrexate and cyclosporin.  Your health care provider may want you to use more than one type of medicine. If you choose this route and you are using a combination of psoriasis medicines, it is recommended that you make a chart of when you use each medicine and review it with your provider.

How Can I Help Myself To Avoid Psoriasis?  

To help reduce incidence of psoriasis, many people try to eliminate the risk factors.  Take a good look at your lifestyle, your diet, your clothing, your exposure to toxins and your outdoor environment.  You may need to start mitigating the effects of certain risk factors one by one until you find out what is creating the environment on your body that allows psoriasis to thrive.  You might:

• Avoid skin injury and skin infections.
• Avoid stress
• Exercise daily according to your health care provider’s recommendation and maintain a normal weight
• Avoid excessive alcohol
• Get a good supply of proper essential fatty acids (EFA oil)
• Follow your health care provider’s recommendations for keeping your skin soft. Ask your provider to suggest soaps, lotions, and cosmetics.
• Avoid toxin
• Drink Alkaline Water and consume alkaline foods as much as possible!

Because the cause of psoriasis is not officially known, it is believed to be not yet possible to prevent it. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that mainstream healthcare providers may not have considered all of the risk factors.  Since traditional health care providers rely upon an economic system that needs a continual supply of people with health issues, there is little incentive to actually “cure” anything.  Many health blogs will tell you that this very fact is one reason that the FDA (who, for all intents and purposes, work for the big pharmaceutical companies) will attempt to shut down any person or company that finds a cure for anything!  The executives of these organizations have cross-pollinated are can be found in government, regulatory agencies, and the private sector.  They control the levers of power and will protect their “club” and its members at any expense.  If you don’t believe this, or think it to be an excessive opinion, then I encourage you to check out “Burzynski the Movie” (posted at the top of the right side panel).

Politics aside, you may be able to prevent serious outbreaks by treating small plaques when you first see them. Follow your health care provider’s instructions for treatment, but do not neglect a little research of your own!  You can beat this thing.  It just takes a little time and effort.

Related articles

• Psoriasis Cream (myjournal4all.wordpress.com)
• Psoriasis severity (gotclearskin.typepad.com)
• Can people experience acute psoriasis? (zocdoc.com)
• Scientists Close in on Origins of Psoriasis, Eczema (nlm.nih.gov)
• How can I control my psoriasis? (zocdoc.com)
• What are some symptoms of plaque psoriasis? (zocdoc.com)
• Personal Health: For Many Millions, Psoriasis Means Misery (nytimes.com)

This article will address three specific natural remedies for eczema, including explaining why they work and how to prepare them. These three therapies will help you find much deserved relief from eczema.

Whether or not you happen to have eczema, keeping your skin hydrated is important. Chances are you use a skin lotion for this purpose, but it is vital to use a lotion which soothes, rather than irritates your skin in order to reduce irritation and help you to heal more quickly.

Many commercial lotions are full of manmade chemical, allergens, and other items that are known to actually trigger eczema. Those that do not cause eczema can aggravate the itching, redness, and pain.

Natural moisturizers are the best eczema natural remedies of all, especially those which contain blueberry leaf and licorice extracts. These ingredients help to soothe your skin and in the case of blueberry leaves, can protect your skin from bacteria and other disease-causing microbes.

This type of moisturizer can help to prevent infections from setting in and give your skin a little help in healing itself. It will also help to reduce the inflammation, redness and itching which accompanies this common skin condition.

Licorice extract has been proven to quickly reduce swelling and redness. It is known to relieve pain related to skin wounds and open lesions, like those from eczema. It also helps relieve itching and children were shown to scratch less when using licorice, which helps the skin heal more quickly.

You can buy lotions and moisturizers from natural stores that contain both blueberry leaf and licorice extract. However, it is not necessary for you to give up your favorite natural lotion. You can also add these extracts to your lotion and get the same fantastic results.

Make sure you always start with a natural lotion that is free of dyes, oils, and fragrances. An aloe vera and/or zinc based lotion is the best choice among lotions that are eczema remedies.

To add the extracts to your lotion, start by applying your normal quantity of lotion to the palm of your hand. Then add 2 drops of blueberry extract and 1 to 2 drops of licorice, depending on how bad your eczema is, to the lotion in your hand. Use your finger to mix the extracts into the lotions. Then, apply the lotion as you normally would.

If you are having a severe outbreak you might try a more concentrated solution of licorice extract to relieve acute symptoms.

There are a lot of different eczema remedies out there, but this is one of the most effective in terms of relieving the discomfort of eczema and allowing your skin to heal naturally.

If you want to know more eczema natural remedies, search on the web, or visit my website. You can find there more remedies along with other natural therapies. Also, it has very helpful information on eczema in general so that you can better understand your eczema and the best treatment options. If you are suffering from eczema, information will guide you to safe, natural relief.

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