A new study shows that regular consumption of probiotics can ease seasonal allergies.  Holistic doctors have been prescribing probiotics for allergies for years--this new study lends credence to the practice.  Researchers found that people who regularly consumed a fermented milk product had a decreased immune response to grass pollens that they were previously allergic to.  The following is extracted from an article on yahoo on the study:

"The probiotic strain we tested changed the way the body's immune cells respond to grass pollen," added Kamal Ivory, a researcher who worked on the study. In the study volunteers with a history of seasonal allergies drank a daily milk drink with or without Lactobacillus casei -- a bacteria widely studied for its beneficial properties -- over a five-month period. The researchers took blood samples before the grass pollen season, at its peak and after the end of season. They found that people who had been drinking the probiotic drink had lower levels of an antibody that help produce allergy symptoms.  At the same, these people also had higher levels of a different antibody, called IgG, that may play a protective role against allergic reactions.

These same mechanisms are in part why raw milk is far superior to pasteurized milk--raw milk is full of beneficial bacteria and enzymes, whereas pasteurized milk is sterile.  Other health-giving that are full of beneficial bacteria include kefir, yogurt, sauerkraut, miso, tempeh, and kimchee.  I recommend daily consumption of fermented foods.

Read the study here.

 

 

 

The use of high-dose antibiotics to treat children's middle-ear infections increased over 20-fold between 1996 and 2004.  One would expect that dramatic results are obtained by this treatment in order to justify the huge increase in a treatment riddled with side-effects.  A new study shows that this is not the case.  Failure rates in treatment have dropped only 1.3%, and relapse rates have increased by only .3%!

We would be much more productive if we treated with a combination of prevention and natural remedies.  Most research over the past decade has actually supported using less antibiotics for ear infections (see this paper that supports rational guidelines for antibiotic use).  We also know these things:

• Using herbs during cold and flu season, or when your child's immune system is run down, decreases the risk of developing colds, flu's, and other upper respiratory problems that put your child at risk of developing an ear infection.  These include:  echinacea, propolis, and Andrographis .
• Eating fermented foods rapidly increases the presence of healthy bacteria in mucous membranes--the bacteria compete with "bad" bacteria to help prevent ear infections.
• Chiropractic adjustments reduce the risk of ear infections and hasten recovery.

We also know that there are a host of side-effects associated with antibiotic use--some of which can be life long (read more here).  That being said, there absolutely are times when antibiotics are appropriate--if your child has a sustained high fever (over 103 degrees f), is listless, or is unable to kick an ear infection after several days, take him or her to see your holistic doctor for an opinion.

Read the study here. 

Flu and cold season is upon us, and I hope you are keeping in mind my past blogs on the potent effect of Andrographis Paniculata in the treatment and prevention of these pesky problems (if not, read them here, then buy it here in my store—I haven’t had a cold or flu in 2 years since using this stuff!).

A new study shows more benefits from Andrographis.  Researchers found that it both has an antiplatelet effect and a vasorelaxive effect.  This means that blood vessels are able to relax—lower blood pressure and decreased likelihood of blood vessels going into spasm around a clot as happens in a heart attack, and that the blood is less likely to form a clot in the first place. 

Check out the abstract here.

Another new study just came out documenting the incredible effects of the herb Andrographis Paniculata on the immune system.  The study reported the following findings:

• Andrographis supplementation increases the production of cytotoxic T cells—an immune cell that destroys caner cells.
• Mice with thymoma—a cancer of the thymus gland (which produces immune cells) live more than twice as long when treated with Andrographis extract for 10 days.
• Andrographis extract exerted beneficial effects on several cytokines (chemical messengers that direct the immune response), resulting in suppression of tumor growth.

I recommend the use of Andrographis anytime you feel signs of flu or cold coming on.  I offer an excellent product in my office and in my web store.  Since I have been using this product I have not had a cold or flu—2 years!

(NOTE: a very similar study to the one described above was done using another of my favorite herbs, ashwagandha.  The results were similar with a large increase in immune function and a suppression of tumor growth—here is a link to that study.)

Read the study here.

A new study reports an increased incidence of a severe neurological disorder in people who get the flu shot.  The disorder, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, is potentially life threatening.  Victims report pain and numbness in the toes and ankles, then the fingertips.  The discomfort moves inward toward the trunk, and muscle weakness develops.  In many the disorder moves trunk-ward until it affects the diaphragm and breathing is affected--some people have to be put on respirators.

I have seen this disorder 3 times in 3 years of practice--each time was within 6 weeks of getting the flu shot!  Other facts to consider this flu season are that the CDC reports the flu shot to be less that 20% effective in the general population, and that it contains aluminum--a possible cause of Alzheimer's disease.

 Remember too that Andrographis Paniculata is an excellent, proven preventative and treatment for flu--and its safe!

Link to the research.

We're getting closer to having medical policy that limits antibiotic use to cases where it is actually necessary. The September 15th, 2006 edition of The American Family Physician noted the following: otitis media (ear infection) with effusion (inflammatory fluid behind the eardrum) should not be treated with antibiotics unless accompanied by several signs that indicate bacterial infection--most ear infections are viral, "nearly all cases of acute bacterial sinusitis resolve without antibiotics"--this means that even when you spike a moderate fever and have thick, green mucous, your sinus infection will most likely resolve without antibiotics, and finally that bronchitis and upper respiratory infections should almost never be treated with antibiotics! The researcher's primary concern in limiting antibiotic use was the development of antibiotic resistant bugs. They did not consider the huge individual health burden caused by antibiotic use. These include cancer, gastrointestinal problems, and greatly increased prevalence of immune dysfunction and autoimmune disease (see my article "Fostering A Healthy Immune System" in the article archive). They go on to note "Increased antibiotic resistance is not inevitable. For example, Finland demonstrated the success of a nationwide effort to reduce antibiotic resistance following an increase in erythromycin resistance among patients with group A streptococci in the early 1990s. Nationwide recommendations were developed for the appropriate use of macrolide antibiotics; these efforts led to a reduction in the use of macrolides and a subsequent decrease in the rate of erythromycin resistance." So get on the wagon--eat right, rest, enjoy your relationships and your work, exercise, and have faith in the innate intelligence acting through your immune system! Link to the study.

In the Great Flu Pandemic of 1918 it was actually pneumonia that claimed most of the lost lives. The flu weakened people to the point where secondary bacterial infections could run rampant. In past blog I wrote about the benefits of supplementing with andrographis paniculata to prevent and treat colds and flu. But what can you do to fight bacterial infections--particularly bacterial pneumonia? A great deal of research in recent years has shown that zinc reduces the duration of pneumonia. Researchers point out that "Adjuvant treatment with 20 mg zinc per day accelerates recovery from severe pneumonia in children, and could help reduce antimicrobial resistance by decreasing multiple antibiotic exposures, and lessen complications and deaths where second line drugs are unavailable." (read the study here ). Other research has confirmed these findings. This is yet more information in the mounting evidence for the role of excellent nutrition in fighting disease. An excellent source of bioavailable zinc is pumpkin seeds. These make an excellent snack, or can be ground up in a smoothie. Follow this link for other zinc-rich foods and recommended daily intakes.

There is an excellent study in a recent edition of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The researchers looked at rhinoconjunctivitis (inflammation of the nasal passages and eyes due to allergy), eczema, asthma, and general allergies in children. They found that antibiotic use during the first year of life increased rates of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema. Anitpyretic use (tylenol, ibuprofen)increased rates of asthma and eczema. MMR vaccination increased risk of rhinoconjunctivitis while children without MMR vaccination who actually got measles had lower risk of eczema.These results are vitally important since allergies, asthma, and eczema rates have risen dramatically in the past few decades. Clearly it is time to stop overmedicating our children. Read the study here.

A new article in the Associated Press describes "Sinuplasty", a technique where a ballon is inserted into the sinuses, then blown up to stretch the passages. "I think there's a huge number of people who can benefit from this, its really the most exciting thing that's happened in our specialty in probably 15 years" says Dr. Michael Friedman, an otolaryngologist and chief of head and neck surgery at Chicago's Rush University Medical Center. The technique works incredibly well for people suffering from sinusitis. What the article fails to mention is that chiropractors have been using this technique for 100 years!  In chiropractic the technique is called "Nasal Specifics."  I use this technique with great success in my own practice. Many patients who have tried antibiotics, allergy medications, and nasal sprays with no result are literally cured in one treatment! Home treatments including diet, nasal lavage (also known as netti pot treatment), and steam baths with essential oils can all be beneficial. Here's a link to the article . If you are interested in this treatment give my clinic a call!

It's April in Nevada County and the rain keeps falling--cold season seems to be lingering with the prolonged winter. The best herb I've found to combat colds is andrographis paniculata (called Kan Jang in Chinese and Kalmegh in Hindi). This herb has been proven again and again to shorten the duration of the common cold and flu, and to be an effective preventative. It has been compared to Echinacea by researchers, and was found to be superior. It is safe for children to use. It is also preventative against cancer and there is some research showing that it actually reverses atherosclerotic plaqueing in blood vessels! Here's links to a few research studies: Andrographis vs. Echinacea , Andrographis for Upper Respiratory and Sinusitis , Andrographis for viral infection in kids . The next time you begin to catch a cold, try taking 1/2 teaspoon of andrographis paniculata 4 times per day. You'll be amazed!