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altmedzine ISSUE 12 15th February 2007
Alternative
Therapy Put on Trial
An
experiment in allowing NHS patients easier access to alternative and complementary
therapies has been launched by NI Secretary Peter Hain. The £200,000
year-long trial will run in two health practices in Londonderry and Belfast.
The main focus will be on anxiety and musculoskeletal problems.
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on this Story]
Allergy
Fears over Dyeing Hair
An
obsession with staying young could be putting people at risk of allergic
reactions to hair dye, with facial swelling and the skin condition dermatitis
among the risks for people who colour their hair. More than two thirds
of hair dyes currently contain para-phenylenediamine (PPD) and other
related substances, which can cause a reaction.
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on this Story]
Complaint
Against The Purist Company Upheld
A
complaint from The Cosmetic Toiletry & Perfumery Association
Ltd (CTPA) objecting to a magazine ad for The Purist Company was
upheld according to information published by the Advertising Standards
Authority (ASA).
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on this Story]
Complaint
Against The Redbush Tea Co Upheld
A
complaint objecting to a magazine ad for The Redbush Tea Company
Ltd was upheld on all of the six objections according to information
published by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
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on this Story]
Gillian
McKeith to Drop Dr Title after Complaint to Advertising Watchdog
TV
nutritionist Gillian McKeith has agreed to drop the title Dr
from her company's advertising following a complaint to the
industry watchdog, it was confirmed on 12th February.
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on this Story]
London College of Traditional Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (LCTA) has moved into new premises in North Finchley and is promising to transform college life for its students and staff with the introduction of a range of modern facilities.
What
People are Saying about True Success
True Success, Successful Private Practice is a new, easy
to follow course that will help you establish your practice
in the complementary and alternative medicine field. Here's
what a few people in the industry have to say about it:
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on this Story]
Patient
Safety Tops NHS Complaint Reviews
Patient
safety comes top of the list of concerns for people having
their NHS complaint reviewed. Around 100,000 complaints
are made against the NHS every year, with roughly 8,000
sent for review by the health watchdog if a patient is dissatisfied
with the outcome.
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on this Story]
Organic
Companies Threatened by Government GM proposals
A
delegation representing 74 organic businesses, with a combined
turnover of about £950,000,000 met at the House of
Commons to express their grave concern at Government proposals
to allow up to 0.9% GM in organic food without it being
labelled.
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on this Story]
Ayurveda's
Healing Touch for Cancer Patients
Ayurveda,
the ancient Indian system of medicine, might not have found
a cure for cancer as yet but it is now being used to make
radiation and chemotherapy more effective and also help
patients recuperate speedily from painful after effects
of therapy.
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on this Story]
Supplements
Reduce Stress Fractures in Navy Recruits
Calcium
and vitamin D supplementation, even over a short
time period, can significantly reduce stress fractures
(overuse injuries to the bone) in female military
recruits, according to a study reported on February
11th, at the 53rd annual Orthopaedic Research Society
meeting at the San Diego Convention Centre.
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on this Story]
FDA
Due to Expand Oat Heart Health Claim
Oat
products with a higher fat content could be eligible
to carry a heart health claim, according to a
new proposal by the US Food and Drug Administration
(FDA).
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on this Story]
Cancer
more Prevalent among Black Community
Cancer
rates are still higher among black Americans compared
to their white counterparts, according to recent
statistics released by the American Cancer Society.
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on this Story]
Cancer
Risk Lowered by Vitamin D - even in Sunlight
Increasing
vitamin D intake through sunlight, diet
or supplements may decrease a person's risk
of contracting breast cancer by 50 percent
and of contracting colorectal cancer by
more than 65 percent, according to two recent
studies conducted at the University of San
Diego.
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on this Story]
Raising
Vitamin D Intake could Lower Breast, Colorectal
Cancer Risk
Increasing
the daily intake of vitamin D to 2000
International Units could halve the risk
of developing breast and colorectal cancer,
two studies have reported.
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on this Story]
Polyphenols found in olive oil, a mainstay of the Mediterranean diet, may prevent infection with the Helicobacter pylori bacteria, said to be the cause of millions of cases of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease each year.
Suggestions on a Greek television chat show that consuming extract of olive leaves can lower cholesterol and fight cancer have led to the Greek health ministry calling for calm, and a row between two brothers over whether to give a third brother with cancer the extract ended with one stabbing the other to death.
Insurance Coverage for Integrative Treatments in the USA
Americans spend $48 billion every year on complementary, alternative or holistic medicine. With the alternative health sector surging, insurers are starting to notice the fact that holistic treatments are cheaper than surgery, a lifetime of prescription refills or Western-style occupational therapy.
Flaxseed Oil Shown to Reduce Blood Pressure
A recent study indicates that diet fortified with flaxseed oil, which is rich in plant omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), may significantly lower blood pressure.
Dairylea
Cuts Salt and Fat in Kids' Snacks
Dairylea
snacks aimed at children have
been made healthier, according
to its manufacturer. Kraft, which
owns the brand, is cutting fat
and saturated fat in Dairylea
Lunchables by around one third.
The salt content of the lunchtime
snack is being reduced by around
9 per cent.
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on this Story]
Robinsons
Squash - Artificial Colours and
Flavours Taken Out
All
artificial colours and flavours
are to be removed from Robinsons
squash drinks. Soft drinks firm
Britvic which owns the brand,
said it would be the first squash
manufacturer to make the change.
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on this Story]
World
Federation Annual Conference -
Tokyo 2007
Registrar
for Sports Therapy UK, Tim Paine
has recently returned from the
World Federation of Athletic Trainers
and Therapists Annual Conference
in Tokyo, where he was invited
to present to delegates from around
the world.
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on this Story]
Prevent
Stress Setbacks
Stress
has a way of creeping back into
your life and making you miserable.
These simple stress management
strategies can help you keep stress
at bay.
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on this Story]
Yoga:
Minimise Stress, Maximise Flexibility
and Even More
Besides
relieving stress and improving
your body's flexibility, yoga
can help you manage health conditions
and cope with disease. Explore
yoga's benefits, risks and how
to select a class.
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on this Story]
Complaints
over Yoga Centres in Singapore
Soar
Complaints
against yoga and fitness centres
in Singapore have soared with
grouses including hard-sell tactics
and poor service, a consumers
watchdog group said on Monday.
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on this Story]
FTC
to Continue Policing Marketers,
with Focus on Health Fraud
The
Federal Trade Commission has said
that it will continue to prioritise
policing dietary supplement marketing
practices, thereby sending out
a warning to companies making
exaggerated or unsubstantiated
claims.
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on this Story]
Older
Americans Not Discussing CAM Use
with Doctors
In
spite of the high use of complementary
and alternative medicine (CAM)
among people age 50 or older,
69 percent of those who use CAM
do not talk to their doctors about
it, according to a new survey
conducted by AARP and the National
Centre for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (NCCAM)
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on this Story]
Air
Pollution Increases Risk of Heart
Disease and Stroke, Study Says
A
new study published in the New
England Journal of Medicine has
discovered a significant correlation
between the air pollution around
a woman's home and her risk of
heart disease.
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on this Story]
Stop
Smoking with Acupuncture
England
will be a different place from
1st July 2007, when the smoking
ban comes into effect. The new
law will help the 72% of current
smokers who want to give up, but
many may not be aware that acupuncture
is a great way to help you quit.
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on this Story]
Some
Hints & Tips from True Success
Ltd
1.
By far the most effective thing
you can do right now before you
have a practice or within your
practice is to establish some
very clear goals or aims for your
practice. Without these goals
and vision it is very difficult
to know whether you are moving
in the 'right' direction or wandering
off the path.
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on this Story]
altmedzine ISSUE 11 1st February 2007
Bird
flu Virus Mutates into Tamiflu-resistant Strain
Egypt
has announced it is on high alert after the World Health Organisation
found a mutated H5N1 strain of bird flu that was more resistant to the
Tamiflu vaccine - the primary treatment governments are counting on in
the event of an outbreak.
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on this Story]
Skinbuddy
to the Rescue!
Early
in December last year a lady from Betty TV contacted me (writes Mike
Harmon). They were filming a TV series for the BBC and could I help
them with one of the episodes? Of course I was intrigued and asked for
more details.
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on this Story]
Need
help Starting your Practice or Boosting your existing Client Base?
‘True
Success is an amazing new, easy to follow course to sky rocket your
success in setting up a practice in the complementary and alternative
medicine field. Here’s what a few people in the industry have
to say about it:
[More
on this Story]
Soil
Association Action For Climate Friendly Food And Farming
The
Soil Association Standard's Board decided at a meeting this
week that it will consult on a range of options to tackle the
environmental impact of airfreighting organic food.
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on this Story]
Smarter
Working Organisation Backs Stress Down Day
Work
Wise UK, the national campaign backed by the TUC and CBI to
promote smarter working practices has announced its support
for national Stress Down Day, which took place today, February
1st.
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on this Story]
Highgate's alternative therapy industry is in top shape this week after the opening of a £1.2million health clinic. The Summit health centre at 40 Highgate West Hill - the site of the old Fox and Crown inn - is the project of businessman Jeffrey Salmon.
ConsumerLab
Product Review: Multivitamins
Eleven
multivitamins for people and one for pets failed ConsumerLab.
com tests. A number of products were short of important
vitamins or minerals. A children's vitamin contained too
much vitamin A - exceeding tolerable levels.
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on this Story]
The
Vitamin Shoppe Calls for Independent Testing Procedures
Following
the withdrawal of its women's multivitamin product - as
a result of allegations of high lead content by ConsumerLab.com
- the Vitamin Shoppe has expressed both its desire to get
to the truth of the matter and for industry to devise new
testing methods.
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on this Story]
Chocolate
Addicts Don't Need to Feel Guilty
The
results of a consumer survey on healthy chocolate suggests
that the substance once considered solely as a sweet confectionery
item has made strides towards acceptance as a health food.
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on this Story]
Employers
Urged to Improve How they Handle Mental Health at Work
The
UK government has called on employers to improve how they
handle mental health in the workplace. Local businesses
just across the South West are estimated to be losing more
than £572 million every year because of mental health
problems at work.
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on this Story]
UK
Mental Health Patients Overdosed
Mental
health patients in UK trusts are routinely prescribed
medications in excess of the highest recommended
dose, and most patients are not granted proper access
to consultations with pharmacy staff, according
to a new report by the Healthcare Commission.
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on this Story]
MRSA
Shows Downward Trend but C. difficile up
New
figures published by the Health Protection Agency
(HPA) on 30th January showed the third consecutive
reduction in MRSA levels in England - down 5.0%
from the same period in 2005. There was however,
a 5.5% increase in cases of Clostridium difficile.
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on this Story]
Natural
Salt Products Boast Healing Benefits that Cannot
be Ignored
With
users finding relief from respiratory ailments,
improvements in skin condition, increased energy
levels, pain relief, stress relief and more, mineral
rich, unrefined and crystallized natural salt
delivers an array of health benefits.
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on this Story]
Crackdown
on Therapists who Abuse Vulnerable
The
role of alternative therapists is to be
regulated by the government in a new crackdown
on medical professionals who abuse their
patients, including inappropriate sexual
relationships.
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on this Story]
Doctors
Far from Talking Herbals to Patients,
Survey
Another
survey has highlighted a need for better
communication between consumers and their
physicians over the use of herbal supplements.
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on this Story]
Drinking, or even immersing yourself in, chlorinated water may increase your risk of bladder cancer, says a new study.
Millions of Americans who will get the flu this season can shorten its duration with the help of clinically proven Sambucol® black elderberry extract.
Government NICE Guidelines Advise Expert Dietitians
The latest NICE Guidance released by the government this month - 'Management of Obesity' - has once again stressed the importance of working with trained experts such as dietitians to advise on healthy eating.
Fibre
could Halve Young Women's Breast
Cancer Risk
Pre-menopausal
women who eat 30 or more grammes
of fibre a day could cut their
risk of breast cancer by 52 per
cent, says a UK-based epidemiological
study.
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on this Story]
Holistic
Nursing Achieves American Nursing
Association Speciality Status
The
profession of Holistic Nursing
has attained new levels of acceptance,
now officially recognised by the
American Nurses Association (ANA)
as a nursing speciality with a
defined scope and standards of
practice.
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on this Story]
Infinite
Health Resources Celebrates One
Year Anniversary
Infinite
Health Resources, www.infinitehealthresources.com,
an online one stop destination
offering support for a new healthy
lifestyle, is celebrating its
first anniversary.
[More
on this Story]
Magnesium
for Teenagers may Boost Bone Health
Magnesium
supplements during adolescence,
a key time for bone formation,
boosted bone health in 120 girls
in the US - research that suggests
the mineral could have long-term
benefits.
[More
on this Story]
Tai
Chi Can Help Peripheral Neuropathy
According
to a recent study, a new application
has been found for the venerable
Chinese exercise Tai Chi: the
treatment of the effects of peripheral
neuropathy.
[More
on this Story]
Texas
Authorities Force Cancer Patient
through Chemotherapy Against her
Will
Months
after a Texas teenager was diagnosed
with cancer, state authorities
have finally decided to let her
return home to her family after
a long legal battle in which Texas
officials - not the girl's parents
- attempted to determine the course
of treatment for her disease.
[More
on this Story]
Heart
of Healing
At
the upcoming Heart of Healing
Conference, the following teachers
will educate and inform the audience,
both professional and public who
have a desire to understand complementary
forms of healing and health options.
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on this Story]
Coral
Calcium Watchdog Releases Product
Reviews
In
the competitive coral calcium
market, companies often source
the least expensive ingredients
in order to survive or thrive,
and the consumer ends up with
a low grade finished product.
[More
on this Story]
Pfizer
Ends Development of Cholesterol
Drug after Patient Deaths
Pharmaceutical
giant Pfizer announced that it
has ended a clinical trial for
the highly anticipated cholesterol
drug torcetrapib - which raises
levels of 'healthy' HDL cholesterol
- after a high number of patients
participating in the trial died
or experienced cardiovascular
problems.
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on this Story]