Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Lappe's Diet for A Small Planet
The forward of the first edition of this book influenced vegetarianism dramatically with its discussion of combining foods to create a whole protein at every meal. What many vegetarians don't realize is that Lappe altered her forward with new nutritional information. Her original assumption was that a complete protein was necessary at every meal based on the egg as the ideal human food. But the body is capable of using different, incomplete proteins given to it throughout the day. Some theorists claim it is possible to sustain human life with a constant diet as restrictive as just broccoli (Please don't try this.) For most people, it gives freedom to not be concerned about protein malnutrition because they did not get their combinations right at every meal.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
J.R.R. Tolkien: A Man with a Mission
One of the things I now appreciate about the Hobbit and the following trilogy was that Tolkien was out to create an English mythology equating to the Greek pantheon or the Norse Gods. He succeeded in that much of the fantasy literature is derivative and certainly things like Fantasy video games owe much to Tolkien. Reading the wikipedia entry just now, I was thrilled to find Tolkien employed working on the letter W for a dictionary maker at one point.
Tolkien wasn't writing about fantasy, he was writing about courage in the face of extraordinary adversity. I think it is time to read the books to my own children.
For those who have not been keeping up, Tolkien's son has been publishing all of Tolkien's background work. Truthfully, it is very dull stuff, though I imagine we already have a body of scholarly work and very likely we have Tolkien majors and PhDs. Bravo, let the deconstruction begin. I'm sure Sam and Frodo...
Tolkien wasn't writing about fantasy, he was writing about courage in the face of extraordinary adversity. I think it is time to read the books to my own children.
For those who have not been keeping up, Tolkien's son has been publishing all of Tolkien's background work. Truthfully, it is very dull stuff, though I imagine we already have a body of scholarly work and very likely we have Tolkien majors and PhDs. Bravo, let the deconstruction begin. I'm sure Sam and Frodo...
Weight Loss: So Many Options.
I just posted a new video discussing weight loss. You can also read two years of work online at www.maloneymedical.com under weight loss.
If you are still looking for an "easy" solution to weight loss, might I suggest the following book. The author lost his weight by simply being aware when he ate. That's right, no restrictions, just awareness of the food going in. It's a lot harder than it sounds.
If you are still looking for an "easy" solution to weight loss, might I suggest the following book. The author lost his weight by simply being aware when he ate. That's right, no restrictions, just awareness of the food going in. It's a lot harder than it sounds.
Friday, July 23, 2010
New Lyme Books
My dear patients have loaned me two Lyme books. The first, Healing Lyme Disease Naturally, can be broken down to one word: Teasel. If you haven't tried it, get the book. (It might be worth it for the picture of Wolf in the back alone).
The second book, The Top 10 Lyme Disease Treatments, is a laundry list of a number of different treatments. I assume the top ten were selected based on popularity. Teasel, from the book above, gets a paragraph mention as a possible antibiotic.
In neither book did I see what I've begun to put together from the medical literature. The concept is that the antigens from the spirochete interact with the immune system so that continuing Lyme symptoms have much more to do with autoimmune response than continuing spirochete counts.
The second book, The Top 10 Lyme Disease Treatments, is a laundry list of a number of different treatments. I assume the top ten were selected based on popularity. Teasel, from the book above, gets a paragraph mention as a possible antibiotic.
In neither book did I see what I've begun to put together from the medical literature. The concept is that the antigens from the spirochete interact with the immune system so that continuing Lyme symptoms have much more to do with autoimmune response than continuing spirochete counts.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Hypothyroidism: new video.
For anyone who has wondered about hypothyroidism, I've posted a video talking about the standard treatment and alternatives: Youtube hypothyroidism video
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Blueberries: cardiovascular and now dementia benefits?
Study out in April showing preliminary data that blueberry juice has a significant benefit in memory function. Also tracing the anti-cancer benefits of something called "blueberry punch," basically Sangria with lots of blueberries. Where is it being marketed? You guessed it, southeast Asia. Meanwhile we're drinking noni and acai berries from very far away. While don't we just focus on our own local high anti-oxidant foods?
I was just featured in Eat Locally! Yay!
J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Apr 14;58(7):3996-4000.
Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults.
Krikorian R, Shidler MD, Nash TA, Kalt W, Vinqvist-Tymchuk MR, Shukitt-Hale B, Joseph JA.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0559, USA. robert.krikorian@uc.edu
Abstract
The prevalence of dementia is increasing with expansion of the older adult population. In the absence of effective therapy, preventive approaches are essential to address this public health problem. Blueberries contain polyphenolic compounds, most prominently anthocyanins, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, anthocyanins have been associated with increased neuronal signaling in brain centers, mediating memory function as well as improved glucose disposal, benefits that would be expected to mitigate neurodegeneration. This study investigated the effects of daily consumption of wild blueberry juice in a sample of nine older adults with early memory changes. At 12 weeks, improved paired associate learning (p = 0.009) and word list recall (p = 0.04) were observed. In addition, there were trends suggesting reduced depressive symptoms (p = 0.08) and lower glucose levels (p = 0.10). We also compared the memory performances of the blueberry subjects with a demographically matched sample who consumed a berry placebo beverage in a companion trial of identical design and observed comparable results for paired associate learning. The findings of this preliminary study suggest that moderate-term blueberry supplementation can confer neurocognitive benefit and establish a basis for more comprehensive human trials to study preventive potential and neuronal mechanisms.
PMID: 20047325 [PubMed - in process]
I was just featured in Eat Locally! Yay!
J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Apr 14;58(7):3996-4000.
Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults.
Krikorian R, Shidler MD, Nash TA, Kalt W, Vinqvist-Tymchuk MR, Shukitt-Hale B, Joseph JA.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0559, USA. robert.krikorian@uc.edu
Abstract
The prevalence of dementia is increasing with expansion of the older adult population. In the absence of effective therapy, preventive approaches are essential to address this public health problem. Blueberries contain polyphenolic compounds, most prominently anthocyanins, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, anthocyanins have been associated with increased neuronal signaling in brain centers, mediating memory function as well as improved glucose disposal, benefits that would be expected to mitigate neurodegeneration. This study investigated the effects of daily consumption of wild blueberry juice in a sample of nine older adults with early memory changes. At 12 weeks, improved paired associate learning (p = 0.009) and word list recall (p = 0.04) were observed. In addition, there were trends suggesting reduced depressive symptoms (p = 0.08) and lower glucose levels (p = 0.10). We also compared the memory performances of the blueberry subjects with a demographically matched sample who consumed a berry placebo beverage in a companion trial of identical design and observed comparable results for paired associate learning. The findings of this preliminary study suggest that moderate-term blueberry supplementation can confer neurocognitive benefit and establish a basis for more comprehensive human trials to study preventive potential and neuronal mechanisms.
PMID: 20047325 [PubMed - in process]
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Homeopathy: Would you trust congress to dictate the validity of your healthcare?
Here in the U.S., we have a great debate about whether congress should control healthcare spending. In the U.K. the parliment has decided it will dictate what constitutes valid medical practice and is specifically attacking homeopathy.
Apologists may argue that since homeopathy is placebo, it may actually have beneficial effects.
Meanwhile, it is unlikely that the report was unbiased.
But the issue remains, does homeopathy have any effect beyond placebo? The basis of this belief is a faulty assumption that a consistent placebo effect exists. It does not. The largest Cochrane database study of drugs vs. placebo vs. no treatment found no effect of placebo pills beyond a variable effect on subjective pain. So those using the placebo effect in reference to sugar pills giving any measurable clinical difference in outcomes are basing their opinion on some preliminary information from the 1950's. In reference to the doctor/patient relationship, which does provide comfort and reduces many illnesses, homeopaths are at the forefront of working to differentiate that effect from the active benefit from homeopathic remedies. A good doctor/patient relationship should not be termed a "placebo" effect because all medical practices encourage a good bedside manner.
So do homeopathic remedies clearly show significant benefit beyond a good doctor/patient relationship? Not consistently. Certainly not when given in the same way drugs are given out. The best studies consistently show individualized treatments are more effective than a blanket prescription for something like arnica. But homeopaths have never claimed otherwise. The equivalent blanket style studies would be giving aspirin for everything and concluding it does not work because it did not provide significant relief for a broken leg or a brain tumor. That's not how you practice homeopathy.
I'm attaching below the Cochrane Systemic Review of the Placebo effect and a nice study on homeopathic Crataegus, which was found to be equivalent (non-inferior) to standard drug treatment in every area except blood pressure reduction. Think about a dilute, low-side-effect compound that can be manufactured for pennies and costs patients next to nothing. It would be impossible to compete with and allow treatment of chronic conditions even in desperately poor countries with a problematic healthcare infastructure. Of course the parlimentary witnesses were on the drug company payroll.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Jan 20;(1):CD003974.
Placebo interventions for all clinical conditions.
Hróbjartsson A, Gøtzsche PC.
The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 3343, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2100.
Update of:
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(3):CD003974.
BACKGROUND: Placebo interventions are often claimed to substantially improve patient-reported and observer-reported outcomes in many clinical conditions, but most reports on effects of placebos are based on studies that have not randomised patients to placebo or no treatment. Two previous versions of this review from 2001 and 2004 found that placebo interventions in general did not have clinically important effects, but that there were possible beneficial effects on patient-reported outcomes, especially pain. Since then several relevant trials have been published. OBJECTIVES: Our primary aims were to assess the effect of placebo interventions in general across all clinical conditions, and to investigate the effects of placebo interventions on specific clinical conditions. Our secondary aims were to assess whether the effect of placebo treatments differed for patient-reported and observer-reported outcomes, and to explore other reasons for variations in effect. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library Issue 4, 2007), MEDLINE (1966 to March 2008), EMBASE (1980 to March 2008), PsycINFO (1887 to March 2008) and Biological Abstracts (1986 to March 2008). We contacted experts on placebo research, and read references in the included trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised placebo trials with a no-treatment control group investigating any health problem. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for additional information. Trials with binary data were summarised using relative risk (a value of less than 1 indicates a beneficial effect of placebo), and trials with continuous outcomes were summarised using standardised mean difference (a negative value indicates a beneficial effect of placebo). MAIN RESULTS: Outcome data were available in 202 out of 234 included trials, investigating 60 clinical conditions. We regarded the risk of bias as low in only 16 trials (8%), five of which had binary outcomes.In 44 studies with binary outcomes (6041 patients), there was moderate heterogeneity (P < 0.001; I(2) 45%) but no clear difference in effects between small and large trials (symmetrical funnel plot). The overall pooled effect of placebo was a relative risk of 0.93 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88 to 0.99). The pooled relative risk for patient-reported outcomes was 0.93 (95% CI 0.86 to 1.00) and for observer-reported outcomes 0.93 (95% CI 0.85 to 1.02). We found no statistically significant effect of placebo interventions in four clinical conditions that had been investigated in three trials or more: pain, nausea, smoking, and depression, but confidence intervals were wide. The effect on pain varied considerably, even among trials with low risk of bias.In 158 trials with continuous outcomes (10,525 patients), there was moderate heterogeneity (P < 0.001; I(2) 42%), and considerable variation in effects between small and large trials (asymmetrical funnel plot). It is therefore a questionable procedure to pool all the trials, and we did so mainly as a basis for exploring causes for heterogeneity. We found an overall effect of placebo treatments, standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.23 (95% CI -0.28 to -0.17). The SMD for patient-reported outcomes was -0.26 (95% CI -0.32 to -0.19), and for observer-reported outcomes, SMD -0.13 (95% CI -0.24 to -0.02). We found an effect on pain, SMD -0.28 (95% CI -0.36 to -0.19)); nausea, SMD -0.25 (-0.46 to -0.04)), asthma (-0.35 (-0.70 to -0.01)), and phobia (SMD -0.63 (95% CI -1.17 to -0.08)). The effect on pain was very variable, also among trials with low risk of bias. Four similarly-designed acupuncture trials conducted by an overlapping group of authors reported large effects (SMD -0.68 (-0.85 to -0.50)) whereas three other pain trials reported low or no effect (SMD -0.13 (-0.28 to 0.03)). The pooled effect on nausea was small, but consistent. The effects on phobia and asthma were very uncertain due to high risk of bias. There was no statistically significant effect of placebo interventions in the seven other clinical conditions investigated in three trials or more: smoking, dementia, depression, obesity, hypertension, insomnia and anxiety, but confidence intervals were wide.Meta-regression analyses showed that larger effects of placebo interventions were associated with physical placebo interventions (e.g. sham acupuncture), patient-involved outcomes (patient-reported outcomes and observer-reported outcomes involving patient cooperation), small trials, and trials with the explicit purpose of studying placebo. Larger effects of placebo were also found in trials that did not inform patients about the possible placebo intervention. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We did not find that placebo interventions have important clinical effects in general. However, in certain settings placebo interventions can influence patient-reported outcomes, especially pain and nausea, though it is difficult to distinguish patient-reported effects of placebo from biased reporting. The effect on pain varied, even among trials with low risk of bias, from negligible to clinically important. Variations in the effect of placebo were partly explained by variations in how trials were conducted and how patients were informed.
PMID: 20091554
Eur J Heart Fail. 2003 Jun;5(3):319-26.
Efficacy of a homeopathic Crataegus preparation compared with usual therapy for mild (NYHA II) cardiac insufficiency: results of an observational cohort study.
Schröder D, Weiser M, Klein P.
Börsenstrasse 17, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
Comment in:
Eur J Heart Fail. 2004 Jun;6(4):511; discussion 517-8; author reply 519.
Eur J Heart Fail. 2004 Jun;6(4):509; discussion 517-8; author reply 519.
Eur J Heart Fail. 2004 Jun;6(4):513; discussion 517-8; author reply 519.
Eur J Heart Fail. 2004 Jun;6(4):515; discussion 517-8; author reply 519.
OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of the homeopathic Crataegus preparation Cralonin for non-inferiority to standard treatment for mild cardiac insufficiency. METHODS: Multicentre non-randomised cohort study in patients aged 50-75 years in New York Heart Association class II. Patients received Cralonin (n=110) or ACE inhibitor/diuretics (n=102) for 8 weeks. To adjust for confounding by baseline factors, populations were stratified according to propensity score. After adjusting, there were no statistically significant differences between treatment groups. Treatment efficacy was assessed on 15 variables. A stringent non-inferiority criterion for the upper limit of the 97.5% one-sided confidence interval of the treatment difference was set to 0.2x the standard deviation (S.D.). RESULTS: Both treatment regimens improved scores on most variables studied, with the greatest effect on double product after exercise (average score reduction 15.4% with Cralonin vs. 16.0% for the control group). Stringent non-inferiority of Cralonin was demonstrated on 7 variables. Medium-stringent (0.5xS.D.) non-inferiority was indicated by 13 variables (exceptions: systolic blood pressure (BP) during exercise and diastolic BP at rest; for these, differences between treatments were not significant). Both treatments were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: The Crataegus-based preparation Cralonin is non-inferior to usual ACE inhibitor/diuretics treatment for mild cardiac insufficiency on all parameters except BP reduction.
PMID: 12798830
Apologists may argue that since homeopathy is placebo, it may actually have beneficial effects.
Meanwhile, it is unlikely that the report was unbiased.
But the issue remains, does homeopathy have any effect beyond placebo? The basis of this belief is a faulty assumption that a consistent placebo effect exists. It does not. The largest Cochrane database study of drugs vs. placebo vs. no treatment found no effect of placebo pills beyond a variable effect on subjective pain. So those using the placebo effect in reference to sugar pills giving any measurable clinical difference in outcomes are basing their opinion on some preliminary information from the 1950's. In reference to the doctor/patient relationship, which does provide comfort and reduces many illnesses, homeopaths are at the forefront of working to differentiate that effect from the active benefit from homeopathic remedies. A good doctor/patient relationship should not be termed a "placebo" effect because all medical practices encourage a good bedside manner.
So do homeopathic remedies clearly show significant benefit beyond a good doctor/patient relationship? Not consistently. Certainly not when given in the same way drugs are given out. The best studies consistently show individualized treatments are more effective than a blanket prescription for something like arnica. But homeopaths have never claimed otherwise. The equivalent blanket style studies would be giving aspirin for everything and concluding it does not work because it did not provide significant relief for a broken leg or a brain tumor. That's not how you practice homeopathy.
I'm attaching below the Cochrane Systemic Review of the Placebo effect and a nice study on homeopathic Crataegus, which was found to be equivalent (non-inferior) to standard drug treatment in every area except blood pressure reduction. Think about a dilute, low-side-effect compound that can be manufactured for pennies and costs patients next to nothing. It would be impossible to compete with and allow treatment of chronic conditions even in desperately poor countries with a problematic healthcare infastructure. Of course the parlimentary witnesses were on the drug company payroll.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Jan 20;(1):CD003974.
Placebo interventions for all clinical conditions.
Hróbjartsson A, Gøtzsche PC.
The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 3343, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2100.
Update of:
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(3):CD003974.
BACKGROUND: Placebo interventions are often claimed to substantially improve patient-reported and observer-reported outcomes in many clinical conditions, but most reports on effects of placebos are based on studies that have not randomised patients to placebo or no treatment. Two previous versions of this review from 2001 and 2004 found that placebo interventions in general did not have clinically important effects, but that there were possible beneficial effects on patient-reported outcomes, especially pain. Since then several relevant trials have been published. OBJECTIVES: Our primary aims were to assess the effect of placebo interventions in general across all clinical conditions, and to investigate the effects of placebo interventions on specific clinical conditions. Our secondary aims were to assess whether the effect of placebo treatments differed for patient-reported and observer-reported outcomes, and to explore other reasons for variations in effect. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library Issue 4, 2007), MEDLINE (1966 to March 2008), EMBASE (1980 to March 2008), PsycINFO (1887 to March 2008) and Biological Abstracts (1986 to March 2008). We contacted experts on placebo research, and read references in the included trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised placebo trials with a no-treatment control group investigating any health problem. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for additional information. Trials with binary data were summarised using relative risk (a value of less than 1 indicates a beneficial effect of placebo), and trials with continuous outcomes were summarised using standardised mean difference (a negative value indicates a beneficial effect of placebo). MAIN RESULTS: Outcome data were available in 202 out of 234 included trials, investigating 60 clinical conditions. We regarded the risk of bias as low in only 16 trials (8%), five of which had binary outcomes.In 44 studies with binary outcomes (6041 patients), there was moderate heterogeneity (P < 0.001; I(2) 45%) but no clear difference in effects between small and large trials (symmetrical funnel plot). The overall pooled effect of placebo was a relative risk of 0.93 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88 to 0.99). The pooled relative risk for patient-reported outcomes was 0.93 (95% CI 0.86 to 1.00) and for observer-reported outcomes 0.93 (95% CI 0.85 to 1.02). We found no statistically significant effect of placebo interventions in four clinical conditions that had been investigated in three trials or more: pain, nausea, smoking, and depression, but confidence intervals were wide. The effect on pain varied considerably, even among trials with low risk of bias.In 158 trials with continuous outcomes (10,525 patients), there was moderate heterogeneity (P < 0.001; I(2) 42%), and considerable variation in effects between small and large trials (asymmetrical funnel plot). It is therefore a questionable procedure to pool all the trials, and we did so mainly as a basis for exploring causes for heterogeneity. We found an overall effect of placebo treatments, standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.23 (95% CI -0.28 to -0.17). The SMD for patient-reported outcomes was -0.26 (95% CI -0.32 to -0.19), and for observer-reported outcomes, SMD -0.13 (95% CI -0.24 to -0.02). We found an effect on pain, SMD -0.28 (95% CI -0.36 to -0.19)); nausea, SMD -0.25 (-0.46 to -0.04)), asthma (-0.35 (-0.70 to -0.01)), and phobia (SMD -0.63 (95% CI -1.17 to -0.08)). The effect on pain was very variable, also among trials with low risk of bias. Four similarly-designed acupuncture trials conducted by an overlapping group of authors reported large effects (SMD -0.68 (-0.85 to -0.50)) whereas three other pain trials reported low or no effect (SMD -0.13 (-0.28 to 0.03)). The pooled effect on nausea was small, but consistent. The effects on phobia and asthma were very uncertain due to high risk of bias. There was no statistically significant effect of placebo interventions in the seven other clinical conditions investigated in three trials or more: smoking, dementia, depression, obesity, hypertension, insomnia and anxiety, but confidence intervals were wide.Meta-regression analyses showed that larger effects of placebo interventions were associated with physical placebo interventions (e.g. sham acupuncture), patient-involved outcomes (patient-reported outcomes and observer-reported outcomes involving patient cooperation), small trials, and trials with the explicit purpose of studying placebo. Larger effects of placebo were also found in trials that did not inform patients about the possible placebo intervention. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We did not find that placebo interventions have important clinical effects in general. However, in certain settings placebo interventions can influence patient-reported outcomes, especially pain and nausea, though it is difficult to distinguish patient-reported effects of placebo from biased reporting. The effect on pain varied, even among trials with low risk of bias, from negligible to clinically important. Variations in the effect of placebo were partly explained by variations in how trials were conducted and how patients were informed.
PMID: 20091554
Eur J Heart Fail. 2003 Jun;5(3):319-26.
Efficacy of a homeopathic Crataegus preparation compared with usual therapy for mild (NYHA II) cardiac insufficiency: results of an observational cohort study.
Schröder D, Weiser M, Klein P.
Börsenstrasse 17, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
Comment in:
Eur J Heart Fail. 2004 Jun;6(4):511; discussion 517-8; author reply 519.
Eur J Heart Fail. 2004 Jun;6(4):509; discussion 517-8; author reply 519.
Eur J Heart Fail. 2004 Jun;6(4):513; discussion 517-8; author reply 519.
Eur J Heart Fail. 2004 Jun;6(4):515; discussion 517-8; author reply 519.
OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of the homeopathic Crataegus preparation Cralonin for non-inferiority to standard treatment for mild cardiac insufficiency. METHODS: Multicentre non-randomised cohort study in patients aged 50-75 years in New York Heart Association class II. Patients received Cralonin (n=110) or ACE inhibitor/diuretics (n=102) for 8 weeks. To adjust for confounding by baseline factors, populations were stratified according to propensity score. After adjusting, there were no statistically significant differences between treatment groups. Treatment efficacy was assessed on 15 variables. A stringent non-inferiority criterion for the upper limit of the 97.5% one-sided confidence interval of the treatment difference was set to 0.2x the standard deviation (S.D.). RESULTS: Both treatment regimens improved scores on most variables studied, with the greatest effect on double product after exercise (average score reduction 15.4% with Cralonin vs. 16.0% for the control group). Stringent non-inferiority of Cralonin was demonstrated on 7 variables. Medium-stringent (0.5xS.D.) non-inferiority was indicated by 13 variables (exceptions: systolic blood pressure (BP) during exercise and diastolic BP at rest; for these, differences between treatments were not significant). Both treatments were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: The Crataegus-based preparation Cralonin is non-inferior to usual ACE inhibitor/diuretics treatment for mild cardiac insufficiency on all parameters except BP reduction.
PMID: 12798830
Monday, July 19, 2010
A Little Light Homeopathic Reading
Here's a link to a series of positive studies on homeopathy. I get so tired of people saying no one is researching alternative medicine; it's so eighties (1880's that is).
Two Suzukis that have changed my life.
Did you think I was talking about vehicles? Sorry. The first is one of the first men to actively teach Zen meditation in the U.S. His book, compiled from short lectures he made to audiences, is a classic of clarity about the reality of a meditation practice.
The second Suzuki is much less well known in Buddhist circles, but has his own fanatic followers in the world of music. The Suzuki Method has fundamentally changed how we view early music teaching. I've spent hundreds of hours reading and rereading the basic violin texts with my older son. If I'd done the same with the first Suzuki, I'd probably be enlightened, but instead I'm a middle-aged beginning violinist.
What both men have in common is a focus on right-minded persevering effort without an obsession with "getting somewhere." Too often in modern society we need to accomplish something, no matter how poor the results. We need to return to the careful process of doing.
The second Suzuki is much less well known in Buddhist circles, but has his own fanatic followers in the world of music. The Suzuki Method has fundamentally changed how we view early music teaching. I've spent hundreds of hours reading and rereading the basic violin texts with my older son. If I'd done the same with the first Suzuki, I'd probably be enlightened, but instead I'm a middle-aged beginning violinist.
What both men have in common is a focus on right-minded persevering effort without an obsession with "getting somewhere." Too often in modern society we need to accomplish something, no matter how poor the results. We need to return to the careful process of doing.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
IBS: more than a "just live with it" diagnosis.
One of the saddest things is to have a patient mention they have IBS at the end of a visit as if it were something like a curse. IBS simply means that no organic (big ulcers) illness was found in the bowel, which is a good thing. But many conventional doctors are still under the impression that IBS is a mental condition, when mental health treatments don't work and a variety of functional disorders (malabsorption and fermentation of various sugars, for one) are clearly involved in a percentage of cases. I've posted a page on IBS at http://www.maloneymedical.com/ to give an overview of some of the research. Anyone who has a strong stomach can watch the following video (mostly shots of colonoscopies before and after dietary change). Colonoscopies with dietary change. Dr. Shinya promotes a variety of enzymes and Kangen water (think alkaline water with minerals added.)
If I were to get a book from Dr. Shinya, it would be his older work on colonoscopies, not his newer stuff on microbes and enzymes. Colonoscopy: Diagnosis and Treatment of Colonic Diseases
. He's done a lot more research in that area.
If I were to get a book from Dr. Shinya, it would be his older work on colonoscopies, not his newer stuff on microbes and enzymes. Colonoscopy: Diagnosis and Treatment of Colonic Diseases
. He's done a lot more research in that area.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Hypothyroidism
I wish there was a definitive book on this subject, but everything I've read misses the major point: a great many people have this as a problem without getting treatment. I've posted research I compiled seven years ago, and none of it has made it into conventional practice. We need to be testing patients for a variety of markers, and looking for other beginning autoimmune conditions. For anyone with a weight problem that does not respond to self-discipline, a complete thyroid work up would be a good idea.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Eating locally.
It's very important to be aware of what you eat. Every year we "vote" with our food dollars for the kind of food we want in the future. Make sure you're not voting for high fructose cardboard. Here are two books that may help.
Here's a letter to the editor I wrote that gives one of the many reasons for eating locally. http://www.kjonline.com/opinion/letters/Local-farmers-provide-alternatives-to-antibiotics.html
Here's a letter to the editor I wrote that gives one of the many reasons for eating locally. http://www.kjonline.com/opinion/letters/Local-farmers-provide-alternatives-to-antibiotics.html
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Elements of Style
Such a short book, and yet so underread. A classic that explains that messy sentence structure leads to messy thoughts.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Listening to the Alvin Maker Series
Although Card is a great storyteller, the unfortunate reality is that he's got a very cool idea of an alternative America but he spends all his time in the courtroom. Two books, Journeyman and Heartfire, have Alvin "volunteering" to sit in the courtroom while people argue weighty issues.
I'm listening to the books for free from a wonderful service called Overdrive.com. If you have a library card, then it is likely that you can download free audiobooks. For those of you without a library card or with a penchant for older, scholarly texts, check out the Gutenberg Project. The readers volunteer to read uncopyrighted older texts online for all of us.
I'm listening to the books for free from a wonderful service called Overdrive.com. If you have a library card, then it is likely that you can download free audiobooks. For those of you without a library card or with a penchant for older, scholarly texts, check out the Gutenberg Project. The readers volunteer to read uncopyrighted older texts online for all of us.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Born To Run
If you haven't read this book, let me paraphrase. Big guy learns to ultramarathon, finds that too much shoe is a bad thing. Maybe we should all be barefoot? Not an option here in Maine. If they make a decent thick waterproof sock... oh wait, that's an LL Bean boot.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Orson Scott Card, beyond Science Fiction
For those of you old enough to remember the combination of war and childhood, Ender's Game was a classic. I just remember thinking of how cool it would be to be able to play around in the war rooms without gravity.
Card didn't stop, and he combines deep character development with complex, well thought out plots. My most recent favorite is this Seventh Son series, which covers an alternative American Revolution and follows an extraordinary child through adulthood while bringing a new version of what might have been in the American colonies. I just got the fourth in the series and can't wait.
Card didn't stop, and he combines deep character development with complex, well thought out plots. My most recent favorite is this Seventh Son series, which covers an alternative American Revolution and follows an extraordinary child through adulthood while bringing a new version of what might have been in the American colonies. I just got the fourth in the series and can't wait.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Think on These Things
A very old book, but with very pertinent questions. Simply asking the questions, not taking anything for granted, is too rare a tactic. At times he seems belligerent about modern life, but his questioning of the assumptions of modern society are sound.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
An old, new, possibly Austenish book.
Surprisingly good beginning, making the case for an Austen like modern life. I found myself unable to put it down despite nothing really happening. In the end, mostly nothing happens, but it's a great nothing.
New article on liver fibrosis
New article out on liver fibrosis reversal. Read it for free online at Liver Health Today (p.28).
Monday, July 5, 2010
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