HealthBeat News

Category: Health Questions

  • Niacin And Niacinamide Confusion!

    Niacin And Niacinamide Confusion!

     

    By Nurse Mark with Dr. Myatt’s replies to reader inquiries.

     

    We have written recently about both niacin and niacinamide – two different forms of one vitamin. The similarity in the names seems to be causing some confusion in our readers – as will be seen by these two recent inquiries and Dr. Myatt’s responses to them.

    Rene recently wrote:

    I have arthritis in my left knee.  I have had a total knee on the right knee and do not wish any more surgery if possible.  I take glucosamine with MSM.  I read on your site about nacinamide 1000iu TID and would like to try this but am a little concerned about the safety of such a large dose.  Some sites state that nacinamide can be damaging to the liver in high doses and some sites say it is just the nicotinic acid.  I need assurance that this large dose won’t hurt my liver.
    Thank you, Rene

    And Dr. Myatt replied: 

    Niacin and niacinamide are different forms of a B vitamin.

    I have never seen niacinamide cause elevated liver enzymes.

    It is NIACIN that can sometimes cause this effect, although that is rare as well.

    Niacinamide does not effect cholesterol levels the way niacin does.

    I’m getting really great feedback from people who are using niacinamide for arthritis.

    It also has a wonderful effect on memory.

    Get the full story with references here: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/Niacinamide.htm

    In Health,
    Dr. Myatt

    Then Ray wrote to ask:

    hi! a question, I take 500 to 750 mg. of niacin a day. you talk about niacinamide for arthritis does both work the same or is one better than the other? I prefer the burn but if niacinamide is better than I’ll need to switch. thank you for your advice it’s appreciated.

    To which Dr. Myatt answered:

    Hi Ray:

    Niacin is for lowering cholesterol and raising the “good cholesterol,” HDL. It works better than any drug for raising HDL.
    Learn more here: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/niacin.htm

    Niacinamide, a different form of the same vitamin, is the form used for arthritis and memory.
    Learn more here: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/Niacinamide.htm

    They are not interchangeable for these purposes.

    Please feel free to use our website as a great, free, scientifically-based “look-’em-up” for a wide variety of health conditions plus information about vitamins, minerals, herbs and other natural remedies.

    In Health,
    Dr. Myatt

    There you have it – even though they sound similar, Niacin And Niacinamide are very different forms of the same vitamin with very different effects and uses.

    Hope that clears up any confusion for the rest of our readers!

  • Warning – Vit A Blocks Vit D Absorption – NOT!

    There is no shortage of misinformation and breathless warnings out there in the various popular natural health websites and blogs. Sometimes it seems like some of the natural health writers get a significant part of their daily exercise from all of the jumping to conclusions that they do!

    Julie recently wrote, following our recent Special Report On Vitamin D to say that she has seen an article, written by one of the “bigs” in the natural health field who enjoys a large and faithful following, that seemed to warn that by taking Vitamin A at the same time as taking Vitamin D would result in interference of the absorption of the Vitamin D. Fortunately, Julie knows that when Dr. Myatt makes a statement it is backed up by solid scientific research, and that research is never squeezed, massaged, or misrepresented to make it say what she wants it to say rather than what it actually does say.

    Julie was concerned that Dr. Myatt’s Maxi Multi Vitamins contain both Vitamin A and Vitamin D.

    Here is what Dr. Myatt had to say to Julie:

    Hi Julie:

    Hope this finds you and Yours feeling well and enjoying some emerging Springtime weather!

    It wounds like you read Dr. Xxxxxxx? Wherever you found this information, the article in Dr. Xxxxxxx’s blog was misleading (as I find many of his articles are). If you were to look up the references he provided, you’d see that the problematic doses of Vit A occur at 30,00-50,000 IU per day for long stretches of time. These are not doses that anyone would or should take except under the guidance of a physician! Smaller doses of vitamin A, under 5,000IU, do not appear to interfere with anything including vit D absorption.

    Also important is the fact that some parts of the body require pre-formed vitamin A, not beta carotene, in order to function normally. Pre-formed vitamin A is especially important to the eyes, skin and immune system.

    I am ever-watchful of our supplements including Maxi Multi to make sure our formulas reflect the best and most current science. And yes, I DO read and check out all of our references, something it does not appear to me that all newsletter-writing docs do!

    Although Maxi Multi’s contain 800IU of vitamin D, I find that many people who are deficient may need up to 10,000IU of vit D to get up to “optimal” levels. You will want to consider having your vit D levels tested so you know what ballpark of daily vit D intake you should be aiming for. Even people who live here in Arizona are turning up deficient, probably because of sunscreen, clothes and not spending enough time in the sun.

    Hope this answers your question but if not, let me know and I’ll try again!

    In Health,
    Dr. Myatt

  • Aspirin Or Grapeseed For Blood Thinning?

    Aspirin Or Grapeseed For Blood Thinning?

     

    By Dr. Myatt with Commentary by Nurse Mark

     

    Modern medicine is awfully quick to whip out the ol’ prescription pad and alter someone’s ability to clot their blood. Coumadin (AKA warfarin – rat poison – it’s other use) is perhaps the most popular of the prescription anticoagulants with a relative newcomer Plavix nipping at Coumadin’s heels in popularity among doctors. Since Coumadin is such an old drug and the patents have long expired and generic versions of the drug all fight for profits. Plavix on the other hand is still under patent meaning that drug giants Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis still get all those lovely profits.

    For non-prescription “blood thinners” – most doctors will recommend “an aspirin a day” for just about anything – despite recent findings that this is not only outdated but is actually downright dangerous according to a recent article in the British Medical Journal.

    Fortunately, many folks are catching on to this “you gotta take a blood-thinner” scam that conventional medicine and Big Pharma pushes on us – but the subject is still fraught with confusion and misinformation. After all, if your conventional doctor paints pictures of doom and gloom for you if you don’t follow his advice and just take that little aspirin each day… well, most folks just take it. “After all, my doctor must know what he’s doing, right?”

    Personally, as a Nurse I really dislike the term “blood thinner” – because that is not really what we are trying to do. The term “blood clotting inhibitor” would be more accurate, and what we really need to accomplish is normalization of the clotting pathways so that our blood can clot when it should and not clot when it shouldn’t.

    Here is a recent letter that is an example of the confusion and uncertainty that we see about this subject.

    Wendy writes:

    I recently went to emergency diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack. The doctor prescribed one full strength aspirin per day, which from what I have found seems a large dose. They found no reason for the TIA in all their tests. Heart & arteries are good, no brain damage they were able to detect, cholesterol levels are all below normal, no high blood pressure, blood sugar okay. I am a smoker and I have been under a great deal of personal stress. I have been taking 100 mg of CoQ10, 600 mg of L-Carnitine, Vitamin E, and I started taking grape seed extract, but got concerned when a small shallow cut bled copiously. I picked up some low dose aspirin and need to know if it is safe to take the aspirin and grape seed together. Any other recommendations would be appreciated.

    Wendy is on the right track – and here is Dr. Myatt’s reply:

    Hi Wendy:

    Here’s the full scoop on preventing TIA and blood viscosity problems: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/stroke.htm

    The whole purpose of taking aspirin (or grape seed) is to thin the blood, so if you noticed that you were bleeding more easily with grape seed, that what it is SUPPOSED to do! You are at far less risk of excess bleeding using herbs like grape seed, bromelain, or ginkgo than with something nasty like rat poison… uh, I mean coumadin (or even aspirin).

    As you will see on the stroke info. page, smoking is a HUGE risk factor for such an event. If you’ve ever though of quitting, now would be the time.

    You will also note the long list of imbalances than can cause such an “event.” Conventional medicine does not evaluate for all of these risk factors. I am available for consultation by phone if you would like to examine why this happened to you and how to prevent any future such events.

    Hope this helps and I hope you Kick Butt!

    In Health,
    Dr. Myatt

    Finally, the whole aim of the game really shouldn’t be to just “thin the blood” to somehow prevent it from clotting – it should be to normalize the blood’s ability to clot and to prevent it from clotting inappropriately. There are many herbs that will accomplish this very safely and effectively. High-dose Fish Oil like Dr. Myatt’s Maxi Marine O3 can also contribute to healthy normal blood viscosity as well as providing a host of other health benefits.

    Another supplement recently developed by Dr. Myatt is Maxi Flavone –  a superior broad-spectrum blend of antioxidant flavonoid herbs that is highly protective against a wide variety of radical oxygen species (ROS) and will also serve to normalize blood viscosity and clotting pathways.

    All this without the risk of hemorrhaging from the slightest cut or injury – just imagine what might happen if you were taking a drug like Coumadin or Plavix or aspirin- and you were involved in, say, an automobile accident…

    With that in mind, remember that Vitamin K – the “clotting factor” is essential to keeping our blood clotting mechanisms normal and healthy. Vitamin K does not make blood clot – it makes it possible for blood to clot when it needs to. Vitamin K is also important to healthy bones and deficiencies are associated with osteoporosis as well as with blood that clots poorly.

    As always, please feel free to follow the links within this article to find further information and references regarding those items.

  • Eczema – An Itchy Childhood Problem

    Eczema – An Itchy Childhood Problem

     

    By Nurse Mark

     

    Our recent article on Psoriasis generated some feedback – who knew that this would be so important for so many? There were some heart-wrenching letters – like this one from an obviously at-wits-end mom:

    Robin wrote:

    Please help me help my daughter. She will be 8 in February and suffers from horrible eczema. What she has been through with this ailment, I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. She itching is the worst and the rash caused by scratching looks so bad. Any ideas you could offer to help her would be appreciated.
    Thank You.
    Robin

    Well Robin, here are some thoughts for you on eczema:

    Eczema, while it may seem similar to psoriasis, is actually quite different. It is also a disease that can leave a parent feeling helpless and frantic to find relief for their child.

    Fortunately, eczema tends to be a disease of childhood – most kids outgrow this itchy problem. Unfortunately, they can be miserable until they do outgrow it.

    There is little agreement in conventional medicine about causes and treatments for eczema beyond those offered by the drug companies – that is, antibiotics, corticosteroids, and antihistamines – all of which have undesirable side effects.

    So, what can be done? Is there some natural substance or herb that will relieve the itch and help clear up the problem quickly?

    Sadly, no. Eczema is a complicated condition, and there is not a simple solution.

    Since there are so many things that can cause or contribute to the problem, there are a number of things that should be looked at when seeking relief. I’ll do my best to offer some places for a parent to start.

    Allergies: Perhaps the first place to look is at diet – for dietary allergies and eczema seem to go together frequently. Food allergy testing can be very helpful, and a good-old-fashioned elimination / challenge diet can be revealing. Either form of food allergy testing – the high-tech blood-test or the elimination / challenge diet – will offer best results when interpreted with the assistance of a knowledgeable doctor. For little people, the elimination / challenge diet testing may be less distressing and challenging, though more time consuming, than the blood test. More information about food allergies can be found here.

    Other allergies can trigger eczema symptoms as well. Pet dander, dust mites – anything which can trigger an allergic reaction – all should be carefully sought out and exposures reduced or eliminated if possible.

    Sugar – Many scientists and dermatological researchers feel there is a strong connection between sugar intake and eczema symptoms. Many parents report that a sugar-free diet goes a long way toward lessening their child’s suffering. Sugar is well known to compromise immune function for several hours after ingestion, and sugar intake can contribute to both candida and bacterial overgrowths. For kids this means that fruit juices, sweetened cereals, sugary jams and jellies, syrups, and other sweet treats are a definite no-no. Moms, do your kids a favor and read the labels on foods: Cut out the high-fructose corn syrup, evaporated cane juice, natural cane sugar, or whatever other misnomer the Big Food Corporations use to disguise dextrose / sucralose / fructose / lactose – sugar. Your kids may complain at first that they are being deprived of their sugary junk, but if you persevere you will be rewarded with a big improvement in overall health and behavior as well as with reduced eczema symptoms.

    Drugs and Alternatives: Conventional doctors will suggest antihistamine drugs – Benadryl is one popular suggestion – but these can be sedating and have other undesirable side effects. Grape Seed Extract is a far more natural choice with excellent antihistamine properties and no known side effects – it is well worth a try.

    Often, after children have been prescribed a round or two of antibiotics (and what child hasn’t had antibiotics!) the normal intestinal flora (the good gut bugs that help us to digest and assimilate our foods) can be seriously compromised. A good probiotic like Suprema-Dophylus can help to restore this balance.

    Bathing can dry the skin – and especially during the winter when kids are indoors (and not getting as dirty while playing) daily bathing may not be necessary. Brief baths (what we nurses call “top and tail”) using minimal soap may be all that’s needed. Brisk rubbing and scrubbing of irritated areas is definitely not what you should be doing –  try a brief gentle wash, using warm water not hot, mild unscented soaps,  gentle drying (blotting dry, not rubbing) and mild unscented moisturizers applied to the whole body to help keep that nice moist skin from drying out. Some parents have reported good results using zinc-oxide based creams such as diaper rash creams applied to irritated areas to promote healing. Just remember, as always, unscented is best!

    Humidity – or more precisely a lack of humidity as can occur during the winter heating season – can be problematic. A whole-house humidifier can have whole-family benefits, but if that is not possible then a small humidifier wherever the child spends the most can be helpful. Even simple pans of water on or near heating sources can help increase humidity and provide relief.

    Temperature – Many parents report that an overly-warm child is an itchy child – especially at night. A slightly cooler sleeping area, and not being heavily bundled may be helpful to reduce nighttime itching. Wool can be itchy even to those not sensitive to it – as can some synthetics. Cotton is often the best for children’s pajamas, and loose-fitting PJs can be more irritating than the snug-fitting knit variety.

    Clothing and bedding should be washed in unscented detergents, and double-rinsed to ensure that no soaps remain to cause irritation. Dryer sheets and other softeners should be avoided since they impart potentially irritating scents and chemical residues to clothes.

    Fingernails must be kept short and edges and corners rounded to prevent damage when the child scratches – and babies and children will scratch no matter how often you tell them not to! Clean mittens or socks to cover a baby’s hands can be helpful – but children may not be so tolerant and may be less likely to keep them on for long.

    When scratching does happen, cool compresses to itchy areas can be soothing – this is nothing more complicated than just a washcloth soaked in cool water and wrung out and held to the area.

    Finally, many parents report that stress plays a part in triggering or exacerbating symptoms – too busy a schedule, too many activities, stress at school or with homework – remember, kids need someone to talk to about stress. Also remember that your stress rubs off on your children! Try not to nag at them about scratching at the rashes and try to not be too stressed about the rashes themselves.

    Eczema in kids can be a challenge – but with patience and perseverance almost every case can be improved.

  • Another "Miracle" Product – Is It Real? A Scam? Both?

    Another “Miracle” Product – Is It Real? A Scam? Both?

     

    By Nurse Mark

     

    Our friend Ron is back safely from Iraq – welcome home Ron!

     

    Ron wrote us to ask about the latest “miracle product” that he has been reading about. Here is his note:

    Hey Doc. & Mark . Its Ron & I’m back from Iraq for a while.. I was home reading… [and] …any way I had someone talking to me about MMS  They said they used it and it is absolutely the greatest all natural gift from God. So I went to Ebay and looked some up. Most sellers have  free ebooks  that can be downloaded. It was some very very interesting reading. Just wanted your thoughts on it. I hope you are doing well and I look forward to your emails. Thanks Ron

    We’ll cut Ron some slack on this one – after all, he has been overseas for a while and probably did not catch our recent HealthBeatNews articles where we discussed MMS: see Is It Real, Or Just Another Sales-Pitch? Dr. Myatt Will Know! and Login problems, Comments, And MMS Feedback.

    Hopefully Ron will have a look at these two articles and get a pretty good idea of our thoughts on the subject.

    Here is the “short course” when it comes to sorting out the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to any of these products:

    • Does the product sales pitch refer to real, genuine, peer-reviewed studies and journal articles in support of it’s claims? Or are the claims based on nothing more than glowing “testimonials”? ‘Scuse me – my “Bogus Alarm” buzzer just went off…
    • Is the product presented as being “absolutely the greatest all natural gift from God”? This sort of claim has to really raise red flags – since the same could be claimed for Prozac or Lipitor or any number of other drugs… Claims like this really get my B.S. Detection Meter pointing ‘way up in the red zone…
    • Is this a product being sold via multi-level marketing, or on eBay, or by high-pressure pitchmen on television shopping channels? Oops – my Scam Alert warning lights are flashing…
    • Is there a “free e-book”  that you are supposed to read? Uh, I think that this “free” e-Book is actually a sales pitch – don’t you? Remember: TANSTAAFL – “There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch”! In this case the “free e-book” tells us all about how wonderful MMS is, and why we all need to have it, and even how we should use it to cure all illnesses known to man while achieving spiritual enlightenment, but it doesn’t tell us how to make the stuff, or exactly how to use it – that information is reserved for the other e-book; the one that is not free…

    So, our thoughts on MMS? It may well be useful – for it should certainly function as an antimicrobial, and possibly an antiviral – as does good ol’ chlorine, to which this is very closely related. It is not, however, “absolutely the greatest all natural gift from God” – there is nothing particularly natural about it, and it is not really a substance that our bodies need to be fed on a regular basis to maintain health. Try it for malaria – the anecdotal stories are plentiful for that and there is little else that works well. But if you don’t actually have an infectious disease that you are trying to treat, why would you take a chemical intended to kill infections? Just in case? Say… I just happen to be selling a bridge – in Brooklyn – and I’ll make you a great deal on it… And while you’re at it, Big Pharma would like for you to take Lipitor just in case you might ever be at risk for developing high cholesterol… “Just In Case”…

    Should anyone be using MMS in deference to, say, a good daily multiple vitamin vitamin supplement? Don’t be silly! Vitamins are required by your body for the maintenance of your good health – MMS is not!

    Folks, money is tight these days. Spend your hard-earned coin wisely – a good optimal-dose daily multiple vitamin (like Dr. Myatt’s Maxi Multi) is far better health insurance than oxygenated chlorine. If you have money to burn you might want to have some MMS on hand in case you get, say, malaria or tuberculosis or AIDS, – but a multiple vitamin is more likely to keep you healthy in the first place!