HealthBeat News

Category: Family Health

  • Mom Wishmeyer’s Good Old-Fashioned Mustard Plaster.

    Mom Wishmeyer’s Good Old-Fashioned Mustard Plaster.

     

    This old-fashioned but very effective and safe home remedy is applied to the chest of those suffering lung congestion due to colds or chest infections.

    Materials needed:

     

    Discard-able fabric, like old cotton sheeting or pillowcase or old (clean) cloth diapers about one foot by two feet or so. It is easiest to just throw this away after use.

    Wax paper to place under the fabric to protect your work surface from the mustard paste.

    Alternatively, a disposable underpad such as can be purchased inexpensively at any pharmacy, works very well and can be trimmed to size.

    3 Heaping tablespoons of flour.

    1 Heaping tablespoon of dry powdered mustard.

    Plain water sufficient to mix the flour and mustard powder into a paste the consistency of slightly runny pancake batter – so that it can be spread easily.

    You will also need: some plain Vaseline, and a towel and a microwave oven to heat things with.

    How to do it:

     

    Mix the flour, mustard, and water into a spread-able paste, just a little less thick than a pancake batter.

    Lay down a sheet of wax paper and place your cotton material on that, or place your disposable underpad down with the absorbent side up.

    Spread the flour / mustard paste evenly over this pad to within about an inch of the edges.

    Fold the pad with its mustard paste so that it will fit into your microwave oven, and heat it for 10 to 15 seconds – until hot but not scalding.

    Apply a little Vaseline to the patient’s nipples to protect these sensitive areas, and with the patient resting in bed apply the hot mustard plaster to the chest with the wax paper or plastic of the underpad to the outside and the mustard paste in contact with the chest.

    Cover this with a warmed towel – it can be warmed by tumbling in your clothes dryer for a few minutes or by heating in the microwave for a few seconds.

    Pull up the bedclothes and settle the patient in for a rest.

    Check the patient in about 20 minutes – the skin under the mustard pack should be pink, or even a little red, but should not be angry or becoming blistered. If the patient is tolerating this well, it can be left on for up to a half hour, then removed and discarded.

    The patient should then rest and even sleep for an hour or two – the mustard pack can be repeated as above one or two more times, with 2 hours or so between applications.

    This is a very effective old-time remedy; it quickly relieves chest congestion caused by colds and other chest infections.

    Most people respond very well and are greatly improved by the next day.

  • Pneumonia – In The Summertime?

    Pneumonia is not just an illness of the “Bad Weather” seasons – It can strike at any time of the year!

     

    Pneumonia – Deadly But Preventable – Here’s How:

     

    By Dr. Myatt

     

    Pneumonia is a lung inflammation usually accompanied by infection. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi or by accidentally inhaling a liquid or chemical. (The most common cause is a virus). People over age 65 or younger than 2 years of age, or those who have other health problems, are most at risk.

    Symptoms of pneumonia include difficulty breathing and a cough and fever. Antibiotics are only effective for bacterial pneumonia, but viral pneumonia is the most common type of infection.

    Studies show that using acid suppressing drugs (acid blockers) — even the “over-the-counter” kind — increase the risk of pneumonia four-fold.

    Instead of decreasing stomach acid, I recommend taking digestive enzymes such as Similase and performing an inexpensive gastric acid self-test.

    [Nurse Mark note: correcting weak digestive juices will be far more effective in relieving “heartburn” than shutting down your stomach’s acid production – please see the HealthBeat article “What’s Burning You?”]

    Low levels of zinc are associated with increased risk of infection, and adequate zinc status is associated with both lower risk of infection, less serious infections and shorter duration of infection. For those taking daily Maxi Multis, “we’ve got you covered.”

    Simple mouth bacteria is also associated with increased risk, especially in the elderly. Rinsing the mouth with hydrogen peroxide twice a day after brushing can greatly decrease harmful bacteria in the mouth.

    Finally, remember that bromelain has been shown to be highly effective — in some cases more effective than antibiotics — in treating respiratory infections including pneumonia.

    A protein-digesting enzyme from pineapple stems, bromelain dissolves the mucous coating that many bacteria use to “shield” themselves from the body’s immune system. It also thins mucous, making it easier to cough up the crud (or drain sinuses).

    A potent combination of inhaled essential oil vapors, as found in a novel product called Inspirol, is extremely helpful is preventing and treating pneumonia.

    To prevent pneumonia and respiratory infections:

    1. Maxi Multi: daily multiple vitamin mineral formula.
    2. Immune Support: taken daily during cold and flu-season months, or year-’round in elderly or immune compromised people.
    3. Brush teeth and rinse mouth with 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, twice daily.

    If you get a cold (to prevent pneumonia) take:

    1. Bromelain: 1 cap, 3-4 times per day between meals.
    2. Inspirol: inhale 4 times per day (or more).

    If you have a lower respiratory infection (bronchitis, “chest cold” or pneumonia):

    NOTE: Always see a doctor for diagnosis with shortness of breath or sever chest congestion; bacterial pneumonia is a life-threatening disease, especially in seniors. But also remember that antibiotics alone are often ineffective even in bacterial pneumonia, and completely worthless in viral or other types of pneumonia. Follow the above recommendations no matter what, and you won’t “expire” from a case of pneumonia!

    References

    • Acid suppression associated with increased pneumonia risk.
      The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Volume 4, Issue 12, Pages 715-715.
    • Zinc Supplementation Decreases Incidence of Infections in the Elderly: Effect of Zinc on Generation of Cytokines and Oxidative Stress. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 85, No. 3, March 2007.
    • Serum Zinc and Pneumonia in Nursing Home Elderly. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 86, No. 4, October 2007, ajcn.org
    • Pneumonia in nonambulatory patients: The role of oral bacteria and oral hygiene. J Am Dent Assoc, Vol 137, No suppl_2, 21S-25S, 2006.
    • The use of proteolytic enzymes in the therapy of acute and chronic bronchopathies. Minerva Med. 1969 Aug 25;60(67):3060-71.
    • A double-blind clinical evaluation of bromelains in the treatment of acute sinusitis. Headache. 1967 Apr;7(1):13-7.

  • PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) – Tragic But Treatable

    PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

     

    PCOS is a tragedy because it affects so many young women who desperately want to have babies of their own – and it affects their partners and other family members as well.

     

    What is PCOS?

     

    PCOS is a condition in which a woman’s ovaries and, in some cases the adrenal glands, produce more androgens (a type of hormone) than normal.  High levels of these hormones interfere with the development and release of eggs as part of ovulation.  As a result, fluid-filled sacs or cysts can develop on the ovaries.

    Because women with PCOS do not release eggs during ovulation, PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility.

    How does PCOS affect fertility?

     

    A woman’s ovaries have follicles, which are tiny, fluid-filled sacs that hold the eggs. When an egg is mature, the follicle breaks open to release the egg so it can travel to the uterus for fertilization.

    In women with PCOS, immature follicles bunch together to form large cysts or lumps. The eggs mature within the bunched follicles, but the follicles don’t break open to release them.

    As a result, women with PCOS often have menstrual irregularities, such as amenorrhea (they don’t get menstrual periods) or oligomenorrhea (they only have periods now and then). Because the eggs are not released, most women with PCOS have trouble getting pregnant.

    What are the symptoms of PCOS?

     

    In addition to infertility, women with PCOS may also have:

    • Pelvic pain
    • Hirsutism, or excess hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, thumbs, or toes
    • Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
    • Acne, oily skin, or dandruff
    • Patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin

    Also, women who are obese are more likely to have PCOS.

    Although it is hard for women with PCOS to get pregnant, some do get pregnant, naturally or using assistive reproductive technology.  Women with PCOS are at higher risk for miscarriage if they do become pregnant.

    Women with PCOS are also at higher risk for associated conditions, such as:

    • Diabetes
    • Metabolic syndrome—sometimes called a precursor to diabetes, this syndrome indicates that the body has trouble regulating its insulin
    • Cardiovascular disease—including heart disease and high blood pressure

    What is the treatment for PCOS?

     

    Conventional medicine says here is no cure for PCOS, but holistic doctors like Dr. Myatt believe that many of the symptoms can often be managed, improved greatly, or even eliminated with carefully targeted natural therapies.

    It is important to have PCOS diagnosed and treated early to help prevent associated problems.

    Conventional medicine will offer medications that may help control the symptoms, such as birth control pills to regulate menstruation, reduce androgen levels, and clear acne. Other medications can reduce cosmetic problems, such as hair growth, and control blood pressure and cholesterol. Many of these medicines have significant, serious, even dangerous side effects.

    Naturopathic physicians like Dr. Myatt can offer more natural solutions including metabolic modification diets, hormone testing and balancing, strategies for the reduction of inflammatory factors, and more.

    Lifestyle changes such as corrective diet and regular exercise will aid weight loss and help reduce blood sugar levels and regulate insulin levels more effectively.  Weight loss can help lessen many of the health conditions associated with PCOS and can make symptoms be less severe or even disappear.

    Surgical treatment may also be offered as an option, but it is not recommended as the first course of treatment.

    Recent research has also examined the effects of the anti-diabetes drug metformin on fertility in women with PCOS. Dr. Myatt can help her patients to understand the mechanisms of this option.

    How is PCOS diagnosed?

     

    Your health care provider will take a medical history and do a pelvic exam to feel for cysts on your ovaries.  He or she may also do a vaginal ultrasound and recommend blood tests to measure hormone levels.

    When examining hormone levels, remember that your conventional doctor will almost always order a blood test. (and it is likely that a blood test is the only hormone test your disease insurance will pay for) This blood test, while technically accurate, is only a “snapshot” – an accurate picture of your hormone levels only at the moment the test was performed.

    Sex hormones are made and secreted in “waves” over a 24 hour period and a blood test cannot show the averages of those waves or highs and lows.

    A more accurate test is an examination of saliva – this will provide a look at hormone levels over the past few hours. It still runs the risk of catching a “peak” or “trough” of a hormone level and thus providing an erroneous result. Dr. Myatt finds this to be a useful test when performed and interpreted correctly and offers it as an economical alternative to more expensive (and more accurate) 24 hour urine testing – find more information here.

    The “Gold Standard” of hormone testing is considered to be the 24 hour urine collection. While it may be a bit time-consuming and awkward for someone who is busy and “on-the-go” it will provide the most accurate possible look at overall hormone health as it will show your body’s hormone production over a full 24 hour period.

    Dr. Myatt finds that the 24 hour  COMPREHENSIVE PLUS HORMONE PROFILE is the most accurate and useful of the hormone tests when performed and interpreted correctly. Interpretation of the results of this test, which includes and examination not only of the major sex hormones but of their intermediates and metabolites as well, is time consuming and complicated – this may be one reason most conventional doctors are reluctant to perform it. Dr. Myatt spends a great deal of time analysing the results of this test for her patients and she offers Physician Interpretation for a modest fee to non-patients who order this test.

    Other tests may include measuring levels of insulin, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides. Vitamin D levels, and Iodine levels.

    Iodine Testing is especially important to PCOS since so many Americans are Iodine deficient and Iodine Deficiency is a major contributor to cystic conditions of all sorts – especially the breasts, ovaries, and thyroid.  Learn more about Iodine testing here – Dr. Myatt offers two accurate Iodine tests.

  • Fukushima – Worse Than Chernobyl?

    Fukushima – “The China Syndrome” realized? YES says the International Atomic Energy Agency!

     

    IAEA confirms meltdown at Japan’s Fukushima

     

    In a news conference today, June 2nd, The IAEA has confirmed that the core of the stricken reactor unit 1 has melted and escaped it’s containment vessel and is now resting on the floor of the reactor building – this is exactly the situation described in the 1979 movie thriller called “The China Syndrome” where a runaway nuclear reactor core could melt it’s way through the reactor building and into the soil below. It then would contaminate groundwater and render huge areas uninhabitable.

    The IAEA assures us on their website that nitrogen has is being pumped into the reactor building in an attempt to prevent a hydrogen explosion and that water continues to be pumped in to try to cool the melting fuel pellets.

    Wow – I sure feel safer!

    Potassium Iodide – will it keep you safe?

    There was a “run” on potassium iodide immediately following the tsunami and the revelation that the Fukushima nuclear plant had suffered mortal damage. Governments immediately snapped up supplies for their own people. The public, around the world, quickly followed suit and this lead to shortages that drove prices out of sight and saw bogus and counterfeit products offered as the ghouls and profiteers went to work.

    Fortunately as with most such situations the shortages have been brief, manufacturers have caught up with the demand, and prices are returning to normal. Prices have always been normal at The Wellness Club – we refused to raise our prices simply because there was a panic and a demand!

    Still, quality products are always more expensive and potassium iodide is no exception. We continue to offer a top quality product – Iodoral – at a reasonable price. But what if you don’t want or need a whole bottle of 90 tablets? After all, you want to have a supply for emergency use, and a 90 tablet bottle is not really convenient and is probably more than you need.

    Dr. Myatt has an alternative – a top quality emergency supply of 130 mg tablets – in a convenient, rugged emergency card format that is cheap enough that you can afford a card for each member of your family and an extra few cards to have in your car, at the office, and at any other place you might find yourself if a disaster strikes.

    Potassium Iodide Emergency Pack

    These tablets don’t “expire” until 2014 – and to be quite honest, these are a mineral – as long as the packaging is undamaged they won’t go bad – they will be fine long after that!

    Now is the time to get some cheap health insurance for your family – don’t wait until the next disaster (or until the IAEA officials tell us that Fukushima has finally exploded and released a cloud of radioactive fallout into the atmosphere…) when there will be another run of panic buying, and shortages, and price gouging.

    Find more information on 14 tablet Potassium Iodide Emergency Cards here! At only 5.99 per card these are a family health assurance bargain.

    Finally, if you want to read depressing news about the ongoing disaster at Fukushima, here is a link to the IAEA website that has been set up to report on it. http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/tsunamiupdate01.html

  • Beat The Bacteria That Cause Tooth Decay

    You are infected with Streptococcus Mutans! – How you can beat this tooth-destroying bug.

     

    By Nurse Mark

     

    James wrote recently to ask us if we could prescribe him an antibiotic or some treatment to deal with strep (streptococcus) mutans – an all-too-common bacteria that is found in the mouth and that contributes to dental decay and other problems.

    James texted us to ask:

    Can u prescribe me anti biotics for STREP MUTANS
    I’ve tried every wholistic treatment i can find
    and they have all failed
    I’m hoping to knock it out then keep it at bay with continued remedies
    thanx
    James

     

    What is Streptococcus Mutans?

    S mutans is a bacteria that is common in the human oral cavity (the mouth) and it has been detected in children even before they have teeth for it to attack. It is widely recognized as being the main cause of dental caries (cavities). Since the conditions in the human mouth vary widely and tend to be generally quite harsh and toxic to most organisms (though not to us fortunately!) S mutans is a very tough and resilient bacteria – not much bothers it.

    Antibiotics tend to not be useful against it, in part because oral S mutans is not a “systemic” infection and in part because any antibiotic powerful enough to deal a blow to this tough bug would also cause widespread  and serious side effects and problems in other areas of our bodies – and as we know all too well, the overuse, misuse, and inappropriate use of powerful antibiotics is producing deadly and untreatable “superbugs” at an alarming rate.

    S mutans has also been proven to cause bacterial endocarditis – a potentially fatal infection. In this circumstance, powerful antibiotics such as erythromycin, lincomycin, penicillin, methicillin, vancomycin, and tetracycline were found to be the most active, depending upon the exact serotype and strain of S mutans – there are some 82 strains in 7 serotypes that were identified in one research work on antibiotic sensitivity!

    Attempts have been made to develop a “vaccine” against it, but these have been unsuccessful – perhaps fortunately, for some research has suggested that S mutans itself may paradoxically produce certain antibodies that inhibit the formation of dental cavities! Also, as we will see, S mutans is but one of many bacteria living in a delicate balance in our mouths – and we know what happens when we upset the balance of nature…

    It simply laughs at mouthwashes and “antibacterial rinses”. While brushing and flossing are effective at removing food particles following a meal and at scraping away some of the plaque, Streptococcus mutans is a bacteria – it will come back out of hiding after such oral hygiene and it will continue to thrive, producing it’s tooth-damaging effects 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.

    Even so, this bacterial tough-guy is not without chinks in it’s armor – weaknesses that we can exploit as we seek to minimize it’s destruction.

    There are some 25 species of Streptococci that are known to inhabit the mouths of healthy people – these bacteria normally live in a delicate balance, each different species (or “tribe” to put it into a different context) living in different areas of the mouth and serving to keep other, competing species at bay and resisting external attacks. If this balance is upset then one species may gain the upper hand and begin to dominate – to the detriment of our oral health.

    When Streptococcus mutans gains the upper hand and becomes more prevalent that it should be, dental caries (cavities) are the result. It may also cause other problems, and has even been linked to Sjorgens Syndrome – an auto-immune condition characterized by extreme dry mouth and lack of saliva production.

    The main health-damaging effect of S mutans that we are concerned with right now is it’s ability to create both a sticky plaque that coats teeth and to produce an acid that combines with that plaque to demineralize tooth enamel and cause teeth to decay.

    How does Streptococcus mutans do it’s “Dirty Work”?

    Streptococcus mutans is a very specialized organism that is actually equipped with receptors that allow it to adhere (stick) to the slick surface of our teeth – no small feat!

    Once stuck to the teeth S mutans then digests the sugar Sucrose and creates a sticky polysacchride coating that we call plaque. Sucrose is the only sugar that S mutans can use to produce plaque, and even if that was all it did that would be bad enough. “But wait – There’s More!”

    S mutans likes other sugars too. Glucose, fructose, and lactose (and others – these are just the main ones that we think of as being “healthy sugars”) are all digested by this hard-working bacteria which then excretes the end product lactic acid.

    The combination of this sticky plaque and the lactic acid is what causes tooth decay.

    What can be done?

    As was mentioned earlier, Streptococcus mutans is a tough bug. Antibiotics are largely ineffective, vaccines useless, and it laughs at our feeble attempts with mouthwashes, toothbrushes, and flossing. Is there no hope at all for our poor, beleaguered teeth?

    Perhaps our best way of dealing with Streptococcus Mutans is to not deal with it at all! As we saw, it is not the bacteria that causes the problem, it is the plaque and the lactic acid that it produces that results in tooth decay. Why not just stop it from making plaque and acid?

    To make plaque, S Mutans needs the sugar Sucrose.

    To make lactic acid, it needs other sugars such as glucose, fructose, and lactose.

    Why not simply starve S mutans into submission? Just take away it’s sugar! (That means starches too – for these are quickly converted into sugars by the saliva in your mouth.)

    No sugars means no plaque and no acids. No Plaque and no acids means no tooth decay. The math is simple.

    Your mom was right when she warned you that all those sugary treats that you loved as a kid would “rot your teeth!” 50 years later I can still hear my mom’s words ringing in my ears, and mom, you were right!

    What else can be done?

    Xylitol, a “tooth-friendly” non-fermentable sugar alcohol is widely known to inhibit S mutans and to alkalinize saliva in the mouth. It also has properties that actually promote the remineralization of tooth enamel. And it is sweet! What’s not to love?

    Xylitol’s beneficial effects are well-known even in conventional medicine and dentistry – there are hundreds of articles in the archives of the conventional medical resource Medscape alone that discuss the benefits of Xylitol and Xylitol gum in preventing dental cavities. Here is an excerpt from just one of those articles – a 39-month study involving 8-year-old children who were given Xylitol gum to chew at school:

    CONCLUSIONS: Long-term use of xylitol-containing chewing-gum can reduce the growth of streptococci mutans in saliva and dental plaque, and lactobacilli-type bacteria in saliva, even if xylitol is used only on school days. The results also suggest that xylitol gum use can have a long-term, delayed growth-retarding effect on these micro-organisms, since reduced bacterial growth was still observed 15 months following the termination of xylitol use. http://www.medscape.com/medline/abstract/18350853

    Wow – kids love to chew gum, and Xylitol gum can protect their developing teeth! (And it can protect us older folk too…) This is far better than the toxic flouride treatments that are now being shown to be worse than useless!

    What about knocking out the S mutans bug itself?

    As we discussed earlier, S mutans is a tough little bug(ger), requiring some risky “Big Guns” antibiotics to kill it. Still, recent research is showing that while there may not currently be any Big Pharma solutions that are both safe and effective, some natural substances are looking very promising:

    Curcuminoids, the active part of the spice Turmeric, are being shown to have numerous pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, anti-mutagenic, anticancer and antimicrobial activities. These studies are promising enough that even Big Pharma has taken notice of this age-old spice! Will we see your turmeric disappear from your grocers spice rack, only to reappear as a prescription-only item at your local pharmacy? Let’s hope not…

    It is important to remember though that because S mutans lives in the mouth and on the teeth – not “systemically” – turmeric taken internally in capsule form may not be as effective as turmeric spice in foods or a tea made from the purified and potent turmeric found in supplement capsules and allowed to remain in the mouth, in contact with the S mutans bacteria, before being swallowed.

    Licorice root is coming under scientific scrutiny as well. One study found that a compound found in licorice roots, Glycyrrhizol A, had strong antimicrobial activity against cariogenic bacteria like S mutans. Researchers then produced herbal extracts that could kill bacteria such as S. mutans. Subsequent studies on humans showed a reduction of cariogenic (cavity-causing) bacteria in the oral cavity after eating sugar-free lollipops made with these herbal extracts that contain Glycyrrhizol A.

    At this time these experimental “lollipops” are not available – but a product derived from licorice root called Rhizinate 3X is available and has a great soothing effect on the digestive system and “heartburn” or GERD as well as having antimicrobial effects. Since it is chewable (and has a great German Chocolate flavor) we can assume that it will deliver it’s important polyphenol compounds directly to the oral cavity (the mouth) allowing them to work directly on the S mutans bacteria.

    Licorice teas are widely available, but be aware that excessive consumption of licorice can cause elevated blood pressure in some individuals.

    So, here is a summary of this rather long-winded answer to James’ question:

    • Streptococcus mutans is the primary causal agent and the pathogenic species responsible for dental caries (tooth decay or cavities)
    • Streptococcus mutans is hardy and resistant to antibiotics, vaccines, mouthwashes, toothbrushes, and flossing.
    • Streptococcus mutans metabolizes sucrose to create plaque and glucose, fructose, and lactose to produce lactic acid. These two by-products of sugar metabolism combine to cause dental caries (cavities).
    • A diet low in sugars can result in less production of both plaque and lactic acid by the bacteria.
    • Xylitol, and specifically Xylitol chewing gum has been proven to reduce the growth of S mutans in plaque and saliva, and can have other benefits as well.
    • Curcumins, found in turmeric have been shown to have many beneficial effects, including being antimicrobial in action against S mutans bacteria.
    • Licorice root, containing a polyphenol compound called Glycyrrhizol A is being investigated as a potential antimicrobial (like an antibiotic) against the S mutans bacteria.

     

    Resources:

     

    To make turmeric tea:

    • Bring 4 cups of water in a small pot to a boil.
    • Add 1 tsp. of turmeric spice or the contents of several turmeric capsules and 1 tsp. of ginger powder or the contents of several ginger capsules to the boiling water and allow to simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. This will extract the beneficial polyphenolic compounds from the turmeric and ginger. Ginger also has many health benefits.
    • Remove the pot from the stove and strain the tea into a cup. The particles of turmeric and ginger will be filtered out.
    • To make this tea more palatable you might sweeten with xylitol and add a slice of lemon.

     

    Further Reading:

     

    Growth inhibition of Streptococcus mutans with low xylitol concentrations. Curr Microbiol.  2008; 56(4):382-5 

    Thirty-nine-month xylitol chewing-gum programme in initially 8-year-old school children: a feasibility study focusing on mutans streptococci and lactobacilli. Int Dent J.  2008; 58(1):41-50

    Oral Manifestations of Sjogren’s Syndrome http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/584927

    Antibacterial compounds from Glycyrrhiza uralensis. J Nat Prod.  2006; 69(1):121-4

    Antibiotic Susceptibility of S mutans: Comparison of serotype profiles. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC352679/?page=1