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  • Salvia divinorum : Turning Herbs Into Illegal Drugs

    Commentary by Dr. Myatt

    Just when you thought the outlawing of non-toxic nutritional supplements, bioidentical hormones and herbs couldn’t get any sillier, along comes a new twist: Big Brother trying to outlaw common garden herbs. Next up on the “hit list,” a member of the mint family, Salvia divinorum.Salvia divinorum, commonly known as “Diviner’s sage,” is a small leafy green member of the mint family found in Mexico. The plant was traditionally used by indigenous peoples as a healing and “visionary” aid.Internet “smoke shops” often sell and tout it as a “marijuana alternative,” although users on internet forums report that it has very mild effects that are short-lived. (5-15 minutes). There is no known LD-50 (lethal dose).

    Several states already outlaw the herb, and Florida and others are looking to join the prohibition. The concern seems to be that people — especially teens — might smoke this herb and get “high.”

    Well guess what? Aside from the fact that this herb probably doesn’t deliver much of a buzz, and when it does, that “buzz” lasts only a few minutes, and the herb is safe (no known lethal dose), kids and other folks seeking a “high” are going to use something — anything — to alter consciousness. Looks like Big Pharma and Big Alcohol want to be sure they’re making a buck on the buzz.

    Look, kids smoke oregano to try and get high. Should we outlaw oregano? They inhale diflouroethane (canned, compressed gas – the stuff you clean dust from your computer with) to try and cop a buzz, and more than a few have died from this. They hold their breath and “hang” themselves hoping for an altered experience. Whether we outlaw a simple member of the mint family or not (and one that no deaths can be attributed to), people will seek altered experience.

    Juxtapose this with the strange fact that Ritalin, a stimulant drug, is approved for use in children, and in 1995 six million — that’s MILLION — kids are legally drugged with this “upper.” (Newer statistics are difficult to find – is Big Pharma hiding something?) And “head meds,” although known to cause serious damage to children in their formative years,  are approved for use in children. What conclusion are we left with?

    Here’s my conclusion. The outlawing of a “probably-not-mind-altering” and for SURE not dangerous common herb is ridiculous. But “let’s outlaw everything that’s not a prescription drug (or alcohol) because we’d hate to see Big Pharma and Big Alcohol lose money” is a transparent example of Big Money “buying” Big Government.

    Can you say, “adios, Freedom”?
     

  • Beating Flu And Colds The Natural Way

    The Flu and Colds – How to beat ’em the Natural Way!

    Colds and flu are a fact of life – sooner or later you will catch one or the other. But you can make it easier for your body to resist them, and when you do get sick you can do plenty to help your body get well and to lessen the severity of the symptoms.

    First, let’s remember one really important thing about colds and the flu – they really do not respond to “antibiotics”! In the medical business we like to explain that your cold will last for about a week if we give you antibiotics, or for about seven days if we don’t give you antibiotics. Now, having said that, what can you do to avoid these two scourges of winter?

    First, make sure your immune system is in the very best shape possible:

    • Get regular exercise: exercise stimulates the immune system. Just 10 minutes of good, all-out exercise each day is all it takes!
    • Use immune-enhancing herbal formulas.
    • Practice stress reduction.
    • Use positive visualization and affirmations – Dr. Myatt’s Body / Mind video will help you develop this skill.
    • Practice meditation.
    • Give your body the materials it needs to keep the immune system fit: Eat plenty of protein. The body needs it for maintenance and repair. Avoid fruit juices and sugars – sugars suppress the immune system.
    • Be sure to use a good multi-vitamin. Dr. Myatt’s MaxiMulti is the very best available.
    • Drink 64 ounces (2 quarts) of pure water or herb teas (non-caffeinated) daily.
    • Be well-rested.

    Colds and flu are caused by over 100 different strains of viruses. Vaccinations are sometimes useful for people with weakened or compromised immune systems but they do not offer complete protection because there are so many different strains of virus that cause colds and flu. Antibiotics are useless against viruses and can cause harm.

    Symptoms of the Common Cold include nasal discharge (runny nose) with sneezing and sore throat, usually without fever. Flu (Influenza) is characterized by fever, cough, headache, malaise (feeling weak, achy & “blah”) and all the other symptoms of a cold.

    When is a cold or flu serious? If you are having trouble breathing, or if you (as an adult) have a fever over 104° that is unrelieved by aspirin or ibuprofen (remember – no aspirin for anyone under 21 years of age!), or if you are unable to eat or drink and are becoming dehydrated then you should call your doctor. If you are recovering from a serious illness, are immunocompromised or on immunosuppressive drugs, or have just had or are about to have surgery you should contact your doctor for instructions. Otherwise, it is best to stay out of the Emergency Room or clinic. Those places are just full of sick people!

    What else can you do to avoid getting sick? Avoiding crowds will help, frequent hand washing definitely helps (most of these viruses are spread through contact), and avoid those inconsiderate people who insist on going in to work or out visiting when they are sick.

    So, what about the “Flu Shots” that get so much attention nowadays? Well, they only protect from a very few viruses – the ones that the drug companies guessed might be the biggest problems when they designed the shots many months ago. If you are not at special risk, you might want to pass on them, for they can have side effects. There is also a new nasal vaccine, FluMist, that the drug companies are pushing because of the “shortage” of injectable vaccines. It uses a live strain of flu virus, as compared to the injectable vaccines that use a “killed” virus – would I willingly snort a live flu virus? Not likely! There are some new “anti-flu” drugs being marketed, that claim to be able to “possibly” shorten the duration of a flu (by one day!), if they are taken within 48 hours of the very first onset of symptoms. That doesn’t sound to me like a very good bet either, so I’ll just use the tried and proven herbal remedies.
     

  • How can I stay healthy while traveling?

    Ask Dr. Myatt:

    Q: Is there anything specific someone could take to help prevent catching a virus while flying on a plane.  I leave Friday for the holidays to spend with my family and I will be on the plane for about 10 hours going from a warm climate to freezing temperatures.  What can help keep me healthy?

    A: Wow! Ten hours on a plane! You probably know most of the drill… be really well-rested before your flight, avoid caffeine and alcohol while traveling, drink plenty of pure water, get up and stretch frequently, wash hands ~VERY~ frequently (remember, all those things that you touch in the terminal and aircraft have also been touched by a gazillion other people!). I have seen some people even wearing paper masks while in public areas and on aircraft (very common in Japan too) but really, most of these bugs are transmitted by hand contact. Be sure to eat high-protein meals and avoid sugars, fruit juices and simple carbs. Protein keeps the immune system strong, sugars and simple carbs suppress the immune system.

    Now to some specifics – you will hopefully have all of this on hand…

    • In addition to your regular daily MaxiMulti (you are taking 3 caps, 3 times daily, right?) you should take an extra 1000 mg of selenium http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/selenium.htm daily from now ’till you get home.
    • Bromelain, 400 mg of 2400 GDU, one capsule three times daily between meals will help your immune system better resist any bugs, and will also help to prevent blood clots that can form while sitting immobile for a long time on the plane.
    • Dr. Myatt’s Immune System Support – one capsule two times daily, and may increase to 2 caps three times daily for additional support if the immune system is under stress (like when travelling)
    • Echinacea & Goldenseal tincture is a classic herbal immune formula. Dr. Myatt has the most potent available.

    Now, if the above doesn’t keep you from catching something, your herbal “first aid kit” should contain:

    • B.A.M. (Broad Anti Microbial) – 60 to 80 drops, 3 to 4 times a day
    • Immune Boost http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/immuneformulas.htm#Immune Boost – 1 teaspoon, 1 to 4 times per day
    • Energy Rehab – one-half to one teaspoon, 1 to 4 times per day
    • Vitamin C – 500 to 1000 mg every two hours

    These, taken AT THE VERY FIRST HINT OF A COLD OR FLU can be a big help to your body and can help to lessen the severity and possibly even the duration of the infection.

    Additionally, for nasal congestion you can use INSPIROL inhalant; 4 to 6 times per day, for cough: Herbal Cough Elixer II , one teaspoon every 1 to 2 hours as needed, and for sore throat use Throat Mist every hour as needed.

    This is a great question, and really timely – we will be including it in the next HealthBeat! If you don’t have some of the above items, and time is too short to get them before you leave, why not place an order for what you need, and have it shipped to your destination? That way it can be waiting for you when you arrive!

    Have a great trip, and a wonderful holiday.

  • Low Stomach Acid – Could It Really Cause Problems?

    A reader recently wrote to ask about a variety of symptoms, and whether they could be related to low gastric acid.

    Hi there, I wondered if you could help me.
    I am pretty sure that I am suffering from low gastric acid or something similar. I think I’ve had this for years. I have pretty extensive vitiligo which I have had since a young boy and I’ve read that this is linked. I have not been able to explain the anxiety I get sometimes which comes on all of a sudden, my aching leg muscles when I’m walking, which makes my legs weak/wobbly, the depressed low feeling I get and the fact that I seem to feel better after some foods than others (i.e. less bloated, more energy, better concentration). I can literally change from being a bright young sparky guy with energy to a depressed anxious person with spacy head and weak legs which find it difficult walking up hills or gradients. Are the symptoms I’ve mentioned linked to low gastric acid? How should I go about addressing this problem. I would be most grateful if you could give me some advice.
    Kindest Regards,
    Robin

    Robin, this is one of our areas of expertise! Yes, deficient gastric acid can cause all sorts of problems since it is so absolutely required for proper digestion and assimilation of foods. You can find more information on our page about Indigestion http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/indigestion.htm and here, in one of our previous newsletters titled “What’s Burning You” http://www.healthbeatnews.com/GastricAcid.htm .

    Here is an excerpt from that article:

    Low stomach acid is associated with the following conditions:

  • Acne rosacea
  • Addison’s disease
  • Allergic reactions
  • Candidiasis (chronic)
  • Cardiac arrhythmias
  • Celiac disease
  • Childhood asthma
  • Chronic autoimmune hepatitis
  • Chronic cough
  • Dermatitis herpeteformis
  • Diabetes (type I)
  • Eczema
  • Gallbladder disease
  • GERD
  • Graves disease (hyperthyroid)
  • Iron deficiency anemia
  • Laryngitis (chronic)
  • Lupus erythromatosis
  • Macular degeneration
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Muscle Cramps
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)
  • Osteoporosis
  • Pernicious anemia
  • Polymyalgia rheumatica
  • Reynaud’s syndrome
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Scleroderma
  • Sjogren’s syndrome
  • Stomach cancer
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Vitiligo

    • It also appears that many cases of depression, which appear related to too little neurotransmitters (which in turn are made from amino acids) may in fact be inability to absorb the necessary precursors due to – you guessed it – low stomach acid. I suspect there are a large number of other diseases that begin with a failing digestive system and that have not yet been recognized as such.

    So you see, Robin, your complaints could most certainly be related to low gastric acid. But how to know for sure? Will it require expensive tests or examinations? Nope! You can easily and inexpensively perform a Gastric Acid Function Self Test right there in the comfort of your own home!

    Dr. Myatt has put together a put together a “Gastric Acid Function Self Test Kit” that includes full instructions for testing your own stomach acid (it’s easy with the instructions) plus “test sizes” of the supplements – including hydrochloric acid and pepsin – needed for the test.

    Check it out and let us know how you do!

    Cheers,

    Nurse Mark
     

  • Regarding The “Nude Firemen” Calendars:

    Each year any number of photographers create nude and semi-nude images of firemen, usually in support of some charity or other. Most of these photos are tastefully done, some are truly works of art.

    Posing for one of these projects is not easy – we salute these young people who are willing to “bare all” and allow the rest of us to appreciate their healthy, happy, unselfconscious form in this way.

    Similarly, enjoying such photos is not for the bashful or overly modest either – and with that proviso, we wish to present for your appreciation this fine image – a truly tasteful and pleasurable work of art.

    CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NUDE FIREMAN